Organisational Effectiveness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organisational Effectiveness - Essay Example It can be said that effectiveness translates into productivity where its absence can be projected in failure like, employee absenteeism and turnover, conflicts, performance instability and communication breakdown (Kaplan & Norton, 1996). Organizations that enjoy the benefits of effective organization for instance display features such as maximized output, lowered costs and advancement and excellence in technology. There are several methods of assessment techniques that can be adopted to determine the level of effectiveness that an organization is operating at. The varied methods can be as many as there are researchers in this field. Used at different times of necessity, the approaches target a different point of view on the organization (Cameron & Whetten, 1983). A few of these approaches are discussed in the paragraph below. When goal approach is adopted, the management attaches critical importance to the output or results that are achieved at the end of operational timeline (NCCI, 2007). The achieved output level is a measure of effectiveness in a proportionate relationship. Assessment could also be done using internal process approach where favourable results are deemed to emanate from the vital processes that are used to make transformations on input to achieve goals. Features of management such as coordination as well as employee welfare are given the centre stage in this approach. Ideally, output is the result of management and organization that is used to transform input towards achievement of goals. Alternatively, the system resource approach puts much emphasis on the acquisition capability of raw materials and other important resources from the environment that the organization has (NCCI, 2007). Effectiveness is attached to the efficiency of the first stage of operation which involves input. Con stituency approach is the other

Summer Solstice Essay Example for Free

Summer Solstice Essay The Summer Solstice is a short story written by Nick Joaquin. The book tells the story of a ritual performed by women to call upon the gods to grant fertility. The ritual they perform is to dance around a century-old Balete tree. The ritual was known as Tatarin and lasted for three days during the summer months. The last day of Tatarin is the same day as St. Johns Day. The story is set on St Johns Day in the 1850s in the Philippines. Entoy tells Dona Lupeng that Amada has participated in the ritual. While they are on board a carriage, Dona Lupeng talks about why Amada still believes in the ritual. The carriage comes to a halt and everyone watches a procession taking place. Dona Lupeng mocks the arrogance of the men taking part in the procession. When they arrive at a house Dona Lupeng discovers that Guido, Don Paengs cousin, had taken part in both the procession they have just witnessed and in the Tatarin ritual. Guido lifted Dona Lupengs skirt whilst she was looking for her children. Dona Lupeng then tells Don Paeng about the incident and tells him that Guido had even kissed her feet. Don Paeng is disgusted that the woman has been shown adoration, as he feels that love and respect are more befitting. Dona Lupeng and Don Paeng go to witness the ritual and Dona Lupeng joins in with the ceremony.Once home, Dona Lupeng makes Don Paeng tell her that he adores her. He submits by kissing her feet. SETTING It was 1850’s during the Spanish period and the 2nd-3rd day of St. John’s Day. The main events in the story happened in the Moretas residence and at their town’s mini plaza and those happened during the night. CHARACTERS Donya Lupeng Moreta- long-married woman with three children Don Paeng Moreta- the highly moral husband of Donya Lupeng Guido- young cousin to the Moretas who studied in Spain Amada- the family cook and Entoys wife Entoy- the family driver RESOLUTION Paeng kissed her feet despite of his bruises. Lupeng shocked not knowing that he will actually do it. POINT OF VIEW Third person omniscient was the point of view of the sorry where in the both reader and writer observe the thoughts of more than one character.

Powerful Imagery in To His Coy Mistress :: Andrew Marvel, To His Coy Mistress

Andrew Marvel's "To His Coy Mistress" has the persuasiveness of a late night informercial. But in this instance the narrator does not want money for his "product": he wants a girl's virginity. Informercials have an advantage over Marvel. They not only persuade consumers with words but images pf their products as well. Marvell overcomes this obstacle in his use of descriptive imagery. He utilizes if not maximizes imagery to magnify his persuasiveness. . The first stanza opens the poem "Had we but world enough, and time,/ This coyness, Lady, were no crime"(1-2) as though he were a victim of her reserved nature. He tries to pull some reverse psychology here to make her think that it is her fault for not having sex with him (against her will). He goes on to say that he would indeed love her "Till the conversion of the Jews," (10) ithere were time enough, but the narrator never directly says "forever." Instead he uses phrases that conjure images of eternity: "ten years before the Flood(8); "An age to every part"(17). His descriptive use of imagery makes forever seem an overused word that does not fully encapsulate the time he would spend waiting for her. "But" makes the transition from eternity to the present. He continues, "at my back I always hear/ Time's winged chariot hurrying near"(21-22)). Again the narrator makes himself the victim, first of the lady's coyness and now of death. With death soon to knock on his door,, the narrator reminds his mistress of her inevitable death. "They beauty shall no more be found, in they marble vault..."(25-66). They virginity that his mistress is trying to withhold from hom will be lost is she waits too long. Yes. she is at the prime of her youth and beauty today, but it will soon be "turn[ed] to dust"(29)/ This dust and the "deserts of eternity"that lie before them both are used in stark contrast to their ripe youth. This stanza appeals to the girl's immortality and youth. They should both be "like amorous birds of prey" who do not deny their primal instincts. Amorous, meaning eortic, is the pivotal word of this excerpt and one of the most subtly descriptive passages in the entire poem. This words seems to be carefulyy (and craftily) chosen to epitomize the lust he has for this woman; his desire for her to feel the same (or at least act on what she is feelingn). Powerful Imagery in To His Coy Mistress :: Andrew Marvel, To His Coy Mistress Andrew Marvel's "To His Coy Mistress" has the persuasiveness of a late night informercial. But in this instance the narrator does not want money for his "product": he wants a girl's virginity. Informercials have an advantage over Marvel. They not only persuade consumers with words but images pf their products as well. Marvell overcomes this obstacle in his use of descriptive imagery. He utilizes if not maximizes imagery to magnify his persuasiveness. . The first stanza opens the poem "Had we but world enough, and time,/ This coyness, Lady, were no crime"(1-2) as though he were a victim of her reserved nature. He tries to pull some reverse psychology here to make her think that it is her fault for not having sex with him (against her will). He goes on to say that he would indeed love her "Till the conversion of the Jews," (10) ithere were time enough, but the narrator never directly says "forever." Instead he uses phrases that conjure images of eternity: "ten years before the Flood(8); "An age to every part"(17). His descriptive use of imagery makes forever seem an overused word that does not fully encapsulate the time he would spend waiting for her. "But" makes the transition from eternity to the present. He continues, "at my back I always hear/ Time's winged chariot hurrying near"(21-22)). Again the narrator makes himself the victim, first of the lady's coyness and now of death. With death soon to knock on his door,, the narrator reminds his mistress of her inevitable death. "They beauty shall no more be found, in they marble vault..."(25-66). They virginity that his mistress is trying to withhold from hom will be lost is she waits too long. Yes. she is at the prime of her youth and beauty today, but it will soon be "turn[ed] to dust"(29)/ This dust and the "deserts of eternity"that lie before them both are used in stark contrast to their ripe youth. This stanza appeals to the girl's immortality and youth. They should both be "like amorous birds of prey" who do not deny their primal instincts. Amorous, meaning eortic, is the pivotal word of this excerpt and one of the most subtly descriptive passages in the entire poem. This words seems to be carefulyy (and craftily) chosen to epitomize the lust he has for this woman; his desire for her to feel the same (or at least act on what she is feelingn).

Buddhists’ religious beliefs with regard to health and healthcare

Buddhism is considered as both a philosophy and a religion involving a number of practices, beliefs and traditions based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, commonly referred to as Buddha – â€Å"the awakened one†. Buddha, who lived in the northeastern part of India in the 6th and the 4th centuries BCE, taught about dukkha (helping the sentient beings escape suffering), achievement of nirvana as well as about escaping what Buddhists believe, is the cycle of suffering and rebirth. The religion has got two branches – the Theravada and the Mahayana (Coward & Rattanakun, 1999).While these two branches enjoy a widespread following across Asian countries, Buddhism has grown tremendously over the centuries and can now be found in every part of the world. Considered one of the world largest religions, the current estimates by different sources put the followers of Buddha at about 1. 5 to 1. 6 billion people. The understanding of ill health by westerners and Buddhists is similar but the latter group lays more emphasis on having a balance interaction between the body and the mind and also between life and the environment as the source of good health.According to Buddhists, when this balance is upset, illness would arise. In correcting such imbalances, the Buddhists’ practices stress the need for a spiritual strength couple with an overriding sense of purpose in life which is based on a compassionate service for others (Coward & Rattanakun, 1999). According to Buddhists, this does not only make it possible for a person to create value even when faced with the severest of adversities like sickness or disease but enables one to learn from the experience for his or her personal growth.Since Buddhists believe in rebirth, human birth is considered as the start of a highly precious opportunity. To them, it is a unique occurrence since it presents an opportunity for the full development of human mind as well as realization of the compassion. With regard to conception, Buddhists believe that a child is conceived when consciousness merges with an already fertilized egg. It is then therefore that life begins. It is for this that Buddhists permit birth control methods that prevent conception but prohibit abortion. Death in Buddhism is an important occurrence and is viewed as a transition to the next life.A lot of spiritual energy is devoted to death and there are practices that must be observed to provide peace for the dying people. According to the Buddhists, death occurs in stages which involve disintegration of life’s physical elements into various subtle elements which culminates into the disappearance of the consciousness from the body (Coward & Rattanakun, 1999). Because when a person dies peacefully he or she would have high chances of a better rebirth, Buddhists strive to composed and calm the mind of the dying person through prayers and some special texts.Buddhism is a religion full of rituals that are geared tow ards promoting health. The Theravada Buddhists are known to burn the bodies of the dead. Because the body of the Buddha was cremated, this group of Buddhists practices this ritual in every part of the world. When a person is dying, monks are invited to comfort him or her. Prayers and verses are said to them to prepare them for their peaceful death. The bodies are then burn upon death (Coward & Rattanakun, 1999). A major conflict between Buddhism religious beliefs and the popular medical culture is on the bioethical decision making.While Buddhists uphold life and consider it sacred and therefore everyone should continue to live as much as possible, they do not believed that this should be promoted at all cost (Coward & Rattanakun, 1999). For example, Buddhists have little regard for the life support machines which they consider useless when the mind is no longer conscious. Being conscious and feeling less pain are the two basic factors that determine when a person should die accordin g to Buddhists. Once the conditions are extreme, Buddhists believed that it would be appropriate to die and therefore a natural and peaceful death would be much in order.In conclusion, it is clear that the views on health by Buddhists and the modern medicine are quite incompatible. However, they can be used to complement each other. An understating of the Buddhists’ perspective on health and healthcare may serve to widen the scope of the modern medicine through adoption of the rich philosophies of Buddhists on health and life. References Coward, H. G. & Rattanakun, P. eds (1999). A cross-cultural dialogue on health care ethics, Wilfrid Laurier University Press: Toronto.

A financial quagmire Essay

The whole world is in a financial quagmire. A myriad of financial woes have engulfed financial institutions and any other corporations in this domain all the world round. This financial meltdown came to the light following the collapse of Lehmann Brothers, after which this financial crunch came to be addressed in the open and by all the governments. The United States of America was at the core of this crunch. This was further aggravated by the fact the Bush administration was finalizing on its clench to power. A presidential election was looming and the major rivals; Barack Obama and John McCain were faced with the uphill task of unveiling their plans regarding keeping the crisis at bay and mitigating the effects. Both unveiled their economic plans to the American public and the public chose to go as per Mr. Obama’s plans; a bailout through a federal stimulus package (BRUNE, para 4). After his election, the Congressional Democrats in partnership with President Obama came forth with an $825 billion dollar fiscal recovery package known to many as the Federal Stimulus Package. This would give the unemployed Americans a chance to improve their lives and ensure that each and every American faces little or no difficulty in dealing with the costs of living during this period. Analysts have come forward and allegedly claim that the effects of this crisis would be felt for the next several years. The package would be used on education, aid to states for Medicaid costs, increase in unemployment benefits and on an arena of public works and projects in order to increase the jobs available to the public (HERSZENHORN, para 2 ). The proposal of the stimulus came under serious criticism and has become subject to a lot of intense haggling, fierce lobbying by the Republicans and its core details have come under intense negotiations. A lot of pessimism has been expressed over this stimulus. Many bear the taciturn notion that it will only plunge the country into deeper waters. The Americans would have to face an ugly recession, which is in its all-time high, and a nationwide unemployment rate of 12%. The plan, christened by the Democrats as â€Å"American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009†, has been President Obama’s core agenda as many see it as the determining factor of the direction of his presidency. The fact that it was one of his major campaign promises that gave him an edge over his rivals leaves him with no choice but to be more pragmatic and see to it that this succeeds. A breakdown of the package includes $87 billion towards the aid to states for Medicaid costs, $79 billion for colleges and local public schools to avoid cutbacks, $90 billion for infrastructure, $54 billion to push for the production of energy from renewable sources, $10 for science and research, $6 billion for enhancement of broadband services in rural areas, $13 billion for the disabled students, $1 billion towards technology enhancement and $43 billion to extend jobless benefits and retraining; to name but just a few. Though viewed by critics as a step of misplaced ambitions and misdirected energy, it is a major leap and a good example of walking the talk rather than sitting back to let nature take its course (HERSZENHORN, para 8). Economic experts are quick to add that though the stimulus is huge, it is not close to enough in stabilizing the economy of the United States of America. This is the highest amount of bailout that a single government has ever instituted on its economy. It is a great effort and jolt to the American economy, seen as a move to curb economic catastrophe. Bearing in mind that there is no other viable fiscal plan at hand, the stimulus package is worth a try. Many are wise enough to note from history of The Great Depression that counteraction is the measure and any procrastination would translate to nothing short of economic suicide. Work Cited: HERSZENHORN, D. M., Congress Moves on Stimulus Bill and Bailout Money. Retrieved on 2nd April 2009 from: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/business/economy/16webstimulus.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1, 2009 BRUNE, T., Economic stimulus package could reach $1.2T. Retrieved on 2nd April 2009 from: http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/nation/ny-usstim085956982dec08,0,5280976.story, 2008

English 101 Reflecting Bullying Essay as a Therapeutic Experience

English 101 Reflecting Bullying Essay as a Therapeutic Experience English 101 Reflecting Bullying Essay as a Therapeutic Experience According to the UK Annual Bullying Survey 2017, 53% of 10 000 people aged between 12-20 years old have been bullied at some point in their life. They experienced verbal or physical bullying, cyberbullying, social exclusion or extortion. In fact, this type of conflict is so widespread nowadays that encountering it on daily basis isn’t surprising for anyone. Some American states have even adopted laws against bullying while the UK even doesn’t have a legal definition for it (but conducts surveys and researches on the issue). Man showing business graph on wood table Anyway, we bet you understand the seriousness of the issue. But we aren’t here to explain you something that you are well aware of. We want to tell you about therapeutic effects of writing a bullying essay. If you or your friend has ever been bullied, you always can use this approach to deal with the trauma. It Improves Your Health According to the research conducted by James W. Pennebaker, an American social psychologist, people who write about their negative emotional experience demonstrate a visible improvement of health – they visit physicians more seldom, their immune systems become stronger and some chronic illnesses recede a bit. It seems like magic, but it really works this way. It Uplifts Your Mood Long-Term Though the process of writing about the traumatic experience is quite tough as reported by the participants of the research, the aftereffect is a long-term improvement of mood and overall well-being. Writing lowers stress by allowing people to get their problems off their chest and look at them objectively, like from a distance. This way they can soberly reflect upon the impact of this negative experience and relieve some pressure. It’s like NZT-48 from Limitless! Do you remember Eddie Morra from Limitless who came across NZT-48 pills? After taking these drugs, he turned into a completely different person. Although this movie is a figment of talented Niel Burger’s imagination, the effects of NZT are pretty real and can be achieved by writing about the negative experience. Adults who described their traumas and problems in journals or notes got jobs quicker, students improved grades and started to skim classes less. They began socializing more and feeling more successful. It’s Better than Talking or Working out If you want to compare talking and exercising with writing in terms of therapeutic effects, writing pulls off a win. Why? Because the thing is in the cognitive outcome – when you translate experience into written language, you can see the story from the perspective of the observer and contemplate over it more. However, combining writing with working out and talking sessions brings much more results than using these methods separately. Writing bullying essays have much greater benefits than getting good marks for the topic you are good at. If you have ever experienced an act of bullying or you have a friend who suffers from it (even if it happens seldom), try or advise spilling everything out on the paper or Word document. You’ll be surprised by the result. Anyway, if you experience troubles in writing a paper on bullying topics, contact our English essay writing service right now.

Songs Do Have Meanings essays

Songs Do Have Meanings essays Songs are an integral part of everyday life. Most people wake up to them, or listen to them on the way to work or even at work. However, most people do not look deeper into the song in order to find the real meaning. Most of the meanings that people come up with are so far off from the true meaning. If one looks for three phrases or lyrics that stand out in a song, and does not try to manipulate the words to make them mean something that they are not actually stating, then one would have a better chance of finding the true meaning of the song. A song that one could interpret very easily would be by The Dave Matthews Band entitled So Right. When a person reads the lyrics the first four lines stand out. The first four lines are: Oh but tonight were dancing in the fate light This lyric is the easiest for anyone to understand because the meaning is stated very obviously and all one has to do is read the lyric to understand that. Matthews is saying that people should go out and do everything they can. People should party hard, go where they want to go, and do not stop until the sun comes up. The reason is that no one knows when they are going to die, and everything anyone is doing could be ended by fate in a split second. Other lyrics help support the idea of what the song is about. The second lyric is: Dont rob yourself of all that you could be This would support the first lyric in that it is emphasizing the point that people should not hold back therefore people need to go out and give it their all every chance that they get. In a sense, they should go hard, meaning that people should do everything that is in their power to do what they would like to do and when they would like to do it. ...

Conquering Everyday Dilemmas Of a Content Officer With Ann Handley

Conquering Everyday Dilemmas Of a Content Officer With Ann Handley How can you improve your content marketing? How can you take advantage of an opportunity to entice people? Every company has the typical branding and collateral, but goes above and beyond with a tower of donuts! Today, we’re talking to Ann Handley, award-winning content marketing expert and Chief Content Officer (CCO) for MarketingProfs. Ann shares how she organizes her team, what’s she focusing on for the company, and how she measures effectiveness and success. CCO: Person at a management level who manages content what a company sells and does MarketingProfs educates and trains marketers; helps them figure out how to use modern digital tools, tactics, and techniques Six Elements of Campaign Marketing: Strategy, plan, create, communicate, analyze, and management Identify whats important to marketers; always ask what does our audience need to know to be successful in marketing? Focus on the Future: Plan what needs to be done now to know what you will offer in the next six months Remote teams require knowing what everybodys working on and where things are at; MarketingProfs’ philosophy is â€Å"When in doubt, cc† Utilize project management tools; don’t buy helpful tools and then not use them Hire people who are able to work in your company’s environment and who value and crave the type of autonomy offered Metrics used to measure success depends on the content; review open rates, trends, and other indicators what metrics matter more holistically and broadly Ann redesigned and re-launched her Website because to align her personal and professional worlds Focus on your distribution strategy to make your content stand out; distribute conversational and helpful content via email to connect directly with people Links: Ann Handley MarketingProfs Everybody Writes MarketingProfs Campaign Framework Total Anarchy Newsletter Confab ClickZ Andy Crestodina Value vs. Vanity: Revealing Which Marketing Metrics Really Matter The Most What topics and guests should be on AMP? Send your suggestions! If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Ann Handley: â€Å"In my heart, Im really more of a storyteller. The idea of really crafting a story to connect with an audience really was my sweet spot.† â€Å"For me, its not about one particular metric. Its really getting a sense of the metrics that matter more holistically and more broadly.† â€Å"What does our audience need to know to be successful in marketing? Thats really the lens that we look through to identify what it is that we need to either develop or to promote.† â€Å"What am I all about? Im all about content.†

Critically discuss the change management models using examples from Essay

Critically discuss the change management models using examples from different organisations to support your argument - Essay Example Change management refers to the process, techniques and tools that are used to manage employees in order to achieve a desired business result. It is about the transition from one stage to (problem stage) to another (the solution stage). A company’s change means that a company is restructuring, reengineering, keeping up with the trends in the industry or promoting cultural transformation. The 8-Step Process for Leading Change This model was proposed by John Kotter a Harvard professor who studied over a hundred companies that were going through change management ranging from well-established companies to small companies. He found that 70 percent of the change activities within companies fail (Burton, 2010: 45). This malfunction can be attributed by the companies’ failure to adopt a holistic approach towards change management. Therefore, Kotter came up with eight stages through which companies can achieve sustainable change and business improvement. Although the steps are depicted in a linear fashion, experience demonstrates that it is better to think of the steps in a continuous manner to ensure that the rapport of the change is maintained. In addition to, he identified possible setbacks that can negatively affect the change process (Czerniawska and May, 2004: 53). The steps are discussed below: Create urgency For change to happen in an entity, it is important for there to be an urgency for change that will help spark the motivation to get things done (Vogelsang et al., 2012: 18) This involves the identification of potential threats and come up with situations showing what is likely to happen in future and opportunities that could be exploited. It also involves the start of discussions to start the process of thought among the employees. Forming a powerful coalition This involves convincing people that change is required and this requires for strong leadership and support from key people within the entity (Cameron and Green, 2004: 34). Creating the vision for change When a company comes up with the decision to implement change in a n organization, there will probably be numerous ideas and solutions available (Morgan, n.d.). These concepts should be combined to form a general vision that people can easily understand and practice. Communicate the vision The events that take place after creation of the vision determine success or failure of the change management. Frequent communication of the vision is considered more effective than holding official routine meetings to communicate the vision. Empowering others to act on the vision This involves changing the systems that may hinder the change and moving any obstacles to the change process. Plan for short-term wins Success is known to be one of the most effective motivating factors. The company should evaluate the progress that has taken place within a one month period (Chapman, 2006). Criticism is also important at this point as t helps to identify the success or failure of the ch ange. Short- term goals are considered more achievable and this leaves failure less chances. Consolidate improvements and produce yet more change Kotter argues that projects fail because victory is announced too early (Cameron and Green, 2004: 34). Real change is considered comprehensive and companies should be careful as short term wins are only the beginning of the process towards long- term change. Institutionalize the new approaches or make the changes part of the corporate culture Finally, the

Strategic Financial Management Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Financial Management - Coursework Example In the recent past, Wetherspoons plc has become famous in converting the large and unconventional residential premises into pubs. According to the set pub standards in Britain, premises often tend to be large, using open plan layouts, which Wetherspoons has devoted to follow. The success of the company has seen it being quoted on the Stock Exchange in London becoming an active component of FTSE 250 index on the stock exchange. In the recent past, Wetherspoons has started giving support to cask ale at the time it has deemed it unfashionable to do it, something that has established it as the largest in terms being the single purchaser from the microbreweries in the United Kingdom (Martin 2012, 8). This paper examines the financial performance of Wetherspoons Company, analyzing its rations from the perspective of the investor. One of the things that make most companies successful is the fact that they have effective and successful financial management platform. Proper financial management is very important to companies and other kinds of business organisations as it helps to illustrate the accountability plans that the business soften has. It is this kind of accountability which financiers and other investors use in determining the net worth of the business for additional investments. For this reason, any business that is determined to make profits and expand its boundaries has to ensure that it creates sound financial management systems. This is actually one of the things that have Wetherspoons Company manage its growth and expansion, reaching its current form, having almost a thousand outlets with plans to increase its market share (Woodger 2010, 9). Investors are the most important people in the growth and success of any business; they always give their money and resources to the business in the expectation that the business will be profitable for them to get their expected returns in

Obsessive-Complusive PD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Obsessive-Complusive PD - Essay Example Most of their waking hours are spent in worrying about unwanted thoughts and mental images (Hyman & Pedrick, 2009, p.7). People suffering from obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are incapable of leading a normal life as their obsession draws most of their energy, and most of their actions are influenced by their obsessions. Hence, the only way to cure the Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is to manage the obsessive thoughts through different psychological therapies, as only by managing and understanding the nature of obsessive and compulsive thoughts can one manage the obsessive-compulsive behavior. Definition To understand OCD, it is important to define the words ‘obsession’ and ‘compulsion’. DSM-IV (1994) defines obsession as â€Å"persistent ideas, thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress† (Jakes, 1996, p.6). DSM-IV (1994) defines compulsions as â€Å"the r epetitive behavior and mental acts† which are intended â€Å"to remove anxiety or distress and not to provide pleasure or gratification† (Jakes, 1996, p.6). Hence, according to DSM-IV (1994), OCD can be diagnosed when the excessiveness and the unreasonable nature of the obsessive and compulsive behavior and thoughts is realized by the people suffering from it (Jakes, 1996, p.6). ... To cure OCD, it is necessary to understand the cause of it. Nature Of OCD Researches in past 60 years have found that OCD is a disorder that depends on different factors (Pauls, Alsobrook, Goodman, Rasmussen & Leckman, 1995, p.76), and hence, it is not easy to reach the conclusion regarding its nature. Familial history was found to be factor in some cases of OCD, while in other cases, there was no evidence of familial history (Pauls et al., 1995, p.76). This shows that the basis of OCD is still controversial. It was widely believed that the genes are responsible for the OCD in human beings (Arnold & Richter, 2001, p. 1353). However, no specific genetic factor has been identified as responsible for OCD (Arnold & Richter, 2001, p. 1353). This led the researchers to believe that when the â€Å"underlying genetic susceptibility† interacts with the environmental risk factors, then it results in obsessive-compulsive behavior pattern and leads to development of OCD in that person (Ar nold & Richter, 2001, p. 1353). Hence, it is very necessary to detect the OCD as soon as the symptoms start appearing in a person. However, it has been found that most of the times, OCD goes undetected. OCD is not common in young children (Heyman, Fombonne, Simmons, Ford, Meltzer & Goodman, 2001, p.324). However, the rate of OCD in young adults in their puberty has been found to be increasing (Heyman et al., 2001, p.324). Hence, it is important to detect OCD early to manage it in behavior. Researches in many countries have revealed that one out of every forty people suffer from OCD (Hyman & Pedrick, 2009, p.17). OCD develops gradually in personality (Hyman & Pedrick, 2009, p.19). However, an unexpected distressing event in

Various Key Competencies of The Crocs Inc Shoe Company Case Study

Various Key Competencies of The Crocs Inc Shoe Company - Case Study Example Crocs Inc can employ this strategy through making shoes from foam clogs (a croslite material) manufactured by a Canadian company (Snyder, 2011). This material is a mixture of inexpensive ingredients from many suppliers. This material is very easy to wash with water and it does not slip on wet boat decks. It prevents bad odor because of the presence of large ventilation holes. The foam is closely celled in shape of the wearer’s foot to provide maximum comfort. These new designs of shoes may be sold to sailors from a leased warehouse. They can also have a brand name â€Å"clogs†, which can capture the attention of many sailors. Synder (2011) postulates that the company may also hire experienced consultants in combination with their own representatives and distributors who will be experienced in sales and marketing to manage its sales and control costs. A supply chain that provides a competitive advantage can also be developed by Crocs Inc managers. Through this supply chain, retailers can place bulk orders to be supplied during the selling season. These orders can be quickly manufactured and shipped to new retail stores. This will no doubt offer a competitive advantage over other manufacturers. Crocs Inc may also expand through acquiring ideas from executives, Flextronics, and built infrastructure. The shoe company can also launch their sales worldwide to increase profits. It can also be helpful in getting a brand name that would stand out in the competing market in Europe (Snyder, 2011). Funky looking shoes would then be introduced in the market. The company should buy most of the competitors’ stakes so as to take control of the market. The company should also consider increasing more shoe companies. This can be done by opening more branches in different territories around the world. These new companies will add more ideas to the business and increase the rate of growth.

Oil Spills Clean-up Technology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7750 words

Oil Spills Clean-up Technology - Research Paper Example Proactive measures ought to be taken to prevent such catastrophes from occurring. Some of the accidents are caused by the neglect of the management and other members transporting the oil. The BP Company for instance has been one of the current culprits of oil spill. Reports indicated that the company was aiming at reducing the cost of operation and therefore had poor methods that would have been used to prevent oil spills. Other companies that have been caught in the same incidence include the Union Carbide in India. The company was concerned with the issues of cutting on the cost of operation. In the process, it failed to repair and maintain the gas cylinders leading to leakage of gases. The negative effects of this were death of thousands of people. It would therefore be imperative to have ways that would be used to prevent these incidences from occurring. Punitive measures should be used to ensure that the responsible companies pay for the damage caused. This may include confiscat ion of their certificates of operation until such companies can show their readiness to prevent the situation. The following discussion will focus on the oil spill cleaning techniques, limitations and classification. Literature review Current oil spill cleaning techniques There are a number of oil spill cleaning techniques, which have been used for decades to address this problem. These methods however differ in terms of cost, the effects on the environment, flora and fauna, and complexity. The other main determining factor of the technique to use include whether the oil spill has taken place in the deep sea or near the shore. The following are some of the current methods, which are used to clean oil spills: 1. In-situ burning of oil This is one of the most common techniques... This essay stresses that major oil spills have been blamed on poor strategies used by the management to deal with the problem. Some of the policies that are stipulated are poor due to the need to cut down the cost of operation. Some of the companies that have been blamed for such poor policies include the BP Company. Due to the 2007/08 economic turmoil, the company management was in the process of cutting down cost of operation. As a result, this led to the problems, which have been witnessed. It is for this reason that some of these companies need to be punished. Other methods that would also be used in to prevent oil spills include regular check of machinery and the piping systems. This is done for the purpose of preventing of detecting any anomalies on such machines. Any leaks should be repaired immediately they are detected. Any loose valves ought to be tightened to prevent any spills. However, majority of the companies fail to address this issue due to the current the current co mpetition in the world of business. The high demand for oil and other related products prevents the management to take the safety precautions. This paper makes a conclusion that the bottom-line is that there is no effective method, which can effectively address the issue of cleaning the oil spills. For that reason, there is need for more innovation in order to have such methods. The current ones are not only expensive but also lead to major environmental problems. All measures ought to be taken to prevent the oil spills since the cost of such catastrophes are high.

Building construction and it's effect on the Fire Service Essay

Building construction and it's effect on the Fire Service - Essay Example Type II is Noncombustible, this type represents those building having steel beams and girders, they are susceptible to steel deformation and resulting collapse with less or no warning. Type III is the ordinary construction which consists of a mix of materials, including steel, wood and concrete, the older this type of building gets the more it is prone to fire. Type IV is the Heavy Timber almost all types of members and load bearing structures are made of wood and as a result the burn time of these structures are normally very long before the structure fails or collapse completely. The connections, usually of steel, are the weak points in this type of construction. Type V is Wood Frames, they normally consist of common houses and other small structures made of wooden frames. The appendix 1 contains a extract of the NFPA 220: Standard on Types of Building Construction, Edition which gives the fire resistive rating of each type of building construction given. There are many aspects of the building that are to be considered for fire protection and safety. The issue is that what these steps and aspects should be gauged and standardized too, for this there are several standardization bodies, research organizations and codes working significant among which are National Fire Protection Association, International Building Codes (IBC), International Fire codes, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and ASTM. Where as the codes that dictates the fire services and building construction at the same time are NFPA 1: Uniform Fire Code, NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, NFPA 241: Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations, NFPA 1141: Standard for Fire Protection in Planned Building Groups, NFPA 5000: Building Construction and Safety Code. (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). The fire services and its specifications are designed on many considerations of the buildings construction, the first consideration would be the typ e of construction as mentioned before, second major consideration is the height, no of floors and working space of the building, thirdly are the structural systems and their connections, failures points and fourthly the material of construction also known as the fuel for the fire and lastly the occupancy of the facility. Firstly it is the type of construction that governs the fire services, the resistance of the construction directly affects the fire protection system and the no of hours the building can sustain fire. The method of calculation is given below and it corresponds to those written in the appendix 1. Type II (000), it requires sprinklers and If it is a Type II (222), sprinklers are not required. So the type of construction dictates the type of fire fighting. Now as we know the fire resistance of the building, the major building codes dictates all the fire services accordingly, the most widely used and implemented building construction code is International Building Code IBC 2006 and International Fire Code. Now I would like to highlight the main components of fire services which are affected my the fire resistance capabilities of the structure. According to IBC the first consideration is fire walls that need to be build and which is summarized in the table below. The section 715 of the IBC 2006 has a detailed standards on

Oil Spills Clean-up Technology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7750 words

Oil Spills Clean-up Technology - Research Paper Example Proactive measures ought to be taken to prevent such catastrophes from occurring. Some of the accidents are caused by the neglect of the management and other members transporting the oil. The BP Company for instance has been one of the current culprits of oil spill. Reports indicated that the company was aiming at reducing the cost of operation and therefore had poor methods that would have been used to prevent oil spills. Other companies that have been caught in the same incidence include the Union Carbide in India. The company was concerned with the issues of cutting on the cost of operation. In the process, it failed to repair and maintain the gas cylinders leading to leakage of gases. The negative effects of this were death of thousands of people. It would therefore be imperative to have ways that would be used to prevent these incidences from occurring. Punitive measures should be used to ensure that the responsible companies pay for the damage caused. This may include confiscat ion of their certificates of operation until such companies can show their readiness to prevent the situation. The following discussion will focus on the oil spill cleaning techniques, limitations and classification. Literature review Current oil spill cleaning techniques There are a number of oil spill cleaning techniques, which have been used for decades to address this problem. These methods however differ in terms of cost, the effects on the environment, flora and fauna, and complexity. The other main determining factor of the technique to use include whether the oil spill has taken place in the deep sea or near the shore. The following are some of the current methods, which are used to clean oil spills: 1. In-situ burning of oil This is one of the most common techniques... This essay stresses that major oil spills have been blamed on poor strategies used by the management to deal with the problem. Some of the policies that are stipulated are poor due to the need to cut down the cost of operation. Some of the companies that have been blamed for such poor policies include the BP Company. Due to the 2007/08 economic turmoil, the company management was in the process of cutting down cost of operation. As a result, this led to the problems, which have been witnessed. It is for this reason that some of these companies need to be punished. Other methods that would also be used in to prevent oil spills include regular check of machinery and the piping systems. This is done for the purpose of preventing of detecting any anomalies on such machines. Any leaks should be repaired immediately they are detected. Any loose valves ought to be tightened to prevent any spills. However, majority of the companies fail to address this issue due to the current the current co mpetition in the world of business. The high demand for oil and other related products prevents the management to take the safety precautions. This paper makes a conclusion that the bottom-line is that there is no effective method, which can effectively address the issue of cleaning the oil spills. For that reason, there is need for more innovation in order to have such methods. The current ones are not only expensive but also lead to major environmental problems. All measures ought to be taken to prevent the oil spills since the cost of such catastrophes are high.

Cultural diversity in human resource management within hospitality Essay

Cultural diversity in human resource management within hospitality industries - Essay Example The literature published on the particular issue is explored. It seems that the forms of cultural diversity as part of the HRM in hospitality industry can be differentiated across firms in accordance with the local social and cultural principles; the ethics of each organization in regard to this issue have also an important role in choosing the HRM strategies of firms operating in the hospitality industry. The aspects of HRM in three major organizations in the hospitality industry, Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott are presented in order to show the common forms and effects of cultural diversity for HRM in organizations operating in this industry. It has been proved that the practical forms and implications of cultural diversity in the workplace can be differentiated from their theoretical context, at the level that market conditions tend to change continuously requiring different approaches when developing critical organizational decisions, such as decisions related to the level of cultura l diversity accepted within each organization. In order to understand how diversity can impact human resource management it would be necessary to refer to the role of HRM within modern organizations. Human Resource Management (HRM) can be characterized as a framework for managing employee issues across organizations. The role of HRM, even if seems simple, it could be described as quite complex, having to align the needs and the skills of individuals with the needs and the resources of the organization. The above view is verified through the following fact: HRM is divided into many categories, i.e. forms, each of which aims to address specific organizational problems, for instance, hard and soft HRM, the strategic HRM Management and so on (Talwar 2006). In accordance with Lee-Ross et al. (2010) HRM aims to support the relationships between employer and employees; it is explained that these relationships are often difficult to be managed, due to the lack of communication skills of HR managers but also due to the lack of willingness by the employees to support innovation and change. From a similar point of view, Saee (2006) supports that HRM is used for resolving disputes between the employer and employees especially in regard to the methods and the time framework related to the completion of various organizational projects or the alteration of existing business practices. It is also noted that HRM is a framework indicating the level of capabilities of managers involved in the relevant activity. On the other hand, Riley et al. (2002) supports that HRM is a mechanism/ framework reflecting primarily the interests of the organization; it is for this reason that HRM policies are usually based on the organizational aims and targets, either in the short or the long term. The level at which cultural diversity is promoted by HR managers within a

Week 4 discussion questions Essay Example for Free

Week 4 discussion questions Essay Describe a time when your assumption about a situation was incorrect. What do you think led to your incorrect assumption? How did your assumption interfere with your ability to think critically about the situation? A: When I first became a student at the University of Phoenix I assumed that I would take class in the morning once a week. What lead me to believe this assumption was that I thought it would be like any other normal college. This assumption affected my ability to think because I originally set my mind to morning mode, when class was night. Use your favorite Internet search engine to locate three automobile commercials. Identify a fallacy used in each commercial. How are these fallacies used in the commercials? Why do you think they were included? A in the first commercial Toyota Camery, they focus more on the acting scene then promoting the Camary. They make it seem like those situations happen. The second commercial was a mustang commercial. the fallacy is that they make people believe that by having that care it makes you look cool that way people can go out and buy it. The third was a fiat commercial, they say that the interest and payments are low and no credit check, but once your in the dealer none of what the commercial promoted is applied. They do this type of advertisement to try an get the consumer to buy and to make the commercial interesting and so the audience is engaged. How might you use critical thinking to help someone who is struggling with low self-esteem and a low sense of self-worth to see beyond the media messages they receive on a daily basis? A: The best thing that I can do to help someone is by giving them my self knowledge and what I know about it. that no one is perfect and there is no need to follow what celebertys do because its all show. We can then discuss this particular topic, then research about it and show what the consequences and lead to. In his inaugural speech, President Kennedy used means of persuasion to win over his supporters and those who were possibly dissatisfied with his election. Suppose you opposed President Kennedy’s ideas and wanted to find  fault with his speech. What steps would you take to evaluate his arguments? A: I would carefully listen to what the speech is about and carefully go over it and find simple cons and consequences to a particular topic that he addresses or want s to make happen. Reading, re-reading, looking for main points, researching, questioning, and finding information that is opposed to what he thinks he can make happen. How do you think being open to criticism might help you solve problems in your daily life? Being open to criticsm can help in my daily life because I can simply take that criticsm and use it in a positive way to improve myself in any situation. What types of questions would you use as you talk with her to help her make a decision based on critical thinking rather than emotion? Why are questions such a valuable aspect of critical thinking? A: I would help her focus more on the facts and details rather than the emotional part on how she feels. After focusing on the facts she can develop feelings towards it that are positive. Asking questions are important because once they are answered they can change a persons perspective on a certain topic.

HSBC Formerly Named The Hong Kong Banking Marketing Essay

HSBC Formerly Named The Hong Kong Banking Marketing Essay 1. Introduction HSBC formerly named the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited was established 1865. With assets of US $1,502 billion, HSBCs international network comprises over 9,500 offices in 76 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the America, the Middle East and Africa. This paper examines HSBCs International Business Strategy with particular emphasis on North America and the US. Firstly, the relevant literature on International Business is reviewed and a comparison between the literature and HSBC is presented. Secondly, HSBCs business environment is looked at; analysing such factors as industry competitiveness. Next, HSBCs International business strategy is critically evaluated and finally, a conclusion along with recommendations is provided. 2. Literature Review The rapid globalization of business in the last two decades has prompted an increasing number of firms to develop strategies to enter and expand into markets outside their locations (Osland et al. 2001:153). Reliability on solely domestic markets is therefore a reliable source for competitive advantage (Rugman Collinson, 2006). Firms must therefore develop strategies of Internationalisation in overseas markets. According to Johanson and Wiedersheim-Paul (1975:306) the term international refers to the activities implemented abroad or attitude of the firm towards foreign activities. Relevant studies on the banking industry and HSBC will be examined below. According to Hoskisson et al., 2000; strategies are moderated by the characteristics of the particular context in which firms operate. In particular, institutions-the rules of the game-in the host economy also shape firm strategies such as foreign market entry (Peng, 2003; Wright et al., 2005). In a broad sense, macro-level institutions affect transaction costs (North, 1990). However, traditional transaction costs research (exemplified by Williamson, 1985) focuses on micro-analytical aspects such as opportunism and bounded rationality. This consequently raises questions on macro-level institutions, such as country-level legal and regulatory frameworks, influence transaction costs have been relatively unexplored, remaining largely as background. However, a new movement in research posits that institutions are far more than ancillary elements, and that institutions directly influence what resources a firm has at its disposal as it strives to develop and launch strategy. An analysis of theory developed specifically out of changes to global markets shows little development of the standard theories of market segmentation, differentiated pricing and appropriate distribution channels which underpinned local and domestic marketing theory. However, the literature over the past five years has shown a particular set of theoretical models specific to global marketing. Hollensen (2007) discusses the Uppsala International Model demonstrating a sequential pattern of entry into international markets with an increasing commitment to overseas markets as the international experience of the firm grows (Johanson and Vahlne, 1977). Hollensen (2007) contrasts this with a traditional approach of what is termed as the Penrosian tradition which is based on economy of scale and a cost-led approach working from the firms core competencies. Dunning (1998) suggests a similar Ownership-Location-internalisation (OLI) framework identifying an ownership advantage of establishing overseas production facilities, a locational advantage which builds a logistics network around the overseas production and, finally, an internalisation advantage where it must be economical for a firm to utilise the previous two advantages rather than sell them to a foreign firm (Hollensen 2007). Similarly, the standardisation-localisation model focuses on specific choices related to internatio nal market entry and the identification of risk mitigation factors salient to international marketing. Baker, M (1993) recognises the risk mitigation inherent in internationalisation, protecting the firm from adverse fluctuations in the national economic cycle. Hollensen (2007) concurs, outlining the ownership, operating and transfer risk in being attached purely to domestic markets. All of the literature is strong on identifying the risks of domestic-based marketing; however there is scant coverage of the specific risks of internationalisation. 2.1 The Strategy of International Business Firms operating in the global marketplace are required to balance concerns for globalisation (economic integration) with national responsiveness (Rugman Collinson, 2006). Globalisation is defined by Rugman Collinson (2006:454) as the production and distribution of products and services of a homogenous type and quality on a worldwide basis. National responsiveness is defined by Rugman Collinson (2006) as the ability to understand different customer requirements in different countries and responding to those local demands by providing the required products and services. Globalisation strategy advocates claim that human needs are homogeneous in every country supporting product standardisation within world markets (Levitt 1983 cited in Schlie and Yip, 2000). Some authors however argue that the globalisation strategy fails to address customer needs in national markets (Rugman Collinson, 2006). In order to analyse the distinction between integration and national responsiveness Figure 1 (Adapted from Bartlett and Ghoshal) will be used. Fig. 1 Source: Bartlett and Ghoshal, 1989, in Rugman and Hodgetts, 2001, p.335. As highlighted above, quadrant 1 represents high economic integration and low national responsiveness. This is a global strategy used by firms to achieve economies of scale (Rugman Collinson, 2006). Quadrant 4 represents high national responsiveness but low economic integration. This is a national responsiveness strategy used to customize products/services to local demand(Rugman Hodgetts, 2001). Quadrant 3 meanwhile, represents both high economic integration and national responsiveness. Quadrant 3 is the most demanding of all and is also where many successful transnational firms operate (Rugman Collinson, 2006). Finally, quadrant 2 is where the need for national responsiveness and economic integration is low. The banking industry uses a combination of mergers, acquisitions, subsidy and Greenfield strategies. However, economic integration is counterbalanced by national responsiveness in terms of how each strategy is designed and implemented (Rugman Collinson, 2006) given that consumer needs may differ from region to region indicates that a product or service introduced in one part of the world is usually rejected by consumers in other parts of the world (Rugman Hodgetts, 2001). HSBC provides a good example in relation to the notions mentioned above. Although, HSBCs international network comprises over 9,500 offices in 76 countries, its entry into the US began as a weak and poor performer. Peek et al. (1999) found that US subsidiaries of foreign banks generally perform poorly due to acquisition of unsuccessful US banks in conjunction with the inability to improve performance sufficiently. Taking this into consideration, HSBC pursued a localisation strategy in different regions of the worl d which is similar to Barclays use of integration in tandem with national responsiveness. 3. The International Business Environment of HSBC In order to understand HSBCs International Strategy, the companys business environment is going to be examined using Porters five Forces because as Sandler (2007:3) points out many of the problems and opportunities affecting a single firm may be associated with broader based systemic issues impacting an entire industry. Secondly, HSBCs business environment is going to be studied using pestle analysis. 3.1 Porters Five Forces Theory Porters 5 Forces theory demonstrates the influences of the five competitive forces which are used to define the characteristics of the target market (Crum 1998, p.307). The main competitive forcers include Porters 5 Forces theory demonstrates the influences of the industry competitiveness (Rugman Collinson, 2006) (See Appendix 1). 3.1.1 Level of Competition (Rivalry) Competition in the banking industry is extremely fierce and HSBC is in strong competition with other major banks, such as Barclays and Lloyds TSB. In an environment of strong competition, banks will find themselves involved in intense price competition. HSBC can avoid price competition by differentiating themselves from the competition as expressed by Porter (1985). HSBC also has competition online debit, insurance and mortgage companies that offer competitive prices. 3.1.2 Threat of Substitutes The threat of substitutes for HSBC is low because money cannot be replaced. However HSBC do have enormous competition from other banks and mortgage lenders and if customers are not happy with the prices and services they are receiving from their bank, they can easily move to a competitor. 3.1.3 Threat of New Entrants The threat of new entrants is extremely high, and not only from banks. Companies such as Sainsburys and Virgin also sell financial products. Ind Bjerke (2007) believe that brand loyalty is an important marketing factor, and HSBC certainly has this advantage. Customers may want a personal service, so the threat of small bank operators whom offer an intimate experience may be favoured over a large bank, such as HSBC (McDonald 2007). HSBC have been operating for many years and therefore has a lot of knowledge and customers can trust them. A new entrant would not have this advantage; especially in many of the countries that HSBC operates such as China, where trust is imperative to the culture (Brett et al 2006). Bargaining Power of Buyers Bargaining power of buyers is extremely high as customers can switch to a rival company with lower rates and offers such as free mobile phone insurance. The customer has the choice of going to a wide array of high street branches and therefore has great power which can affect the market share of HSBC. HSBC need to ensure that they offer something more than the other competing banks, such as holiday insurance. 3.1.5 Bargaining Power of Suppliers Bargaining power of suppliers with regards to HSBC is twofold. Firstly HSBC rely on its customers (suppliers) to bring in its product (money), therefore the bargaining power of suppliers is very high. Secondly, the suppliers are not a threat to HSBC because it is unlikely that they will open their own bank, so the bargaining power of suppliers here is very low. Table 1. Summary of Porters Five Forces Analysis Force Intensity Level of Competition High Threat of substitutes High Threats of New Entrants Low Bargaining power of buyers Very High Bargaining power of suppliers High Pestle Analysis Political Obtaining funding from the money markets has become more costly for HSBC as a result of uncertainty in financial markets and shortage of funds caused by the global credit crisis (BBC 2008). Because HSBC has branches all over the world, they must comply with changes in legislation with regards to their countries of ownership. An example of this was in 2006 when Vietnamese regulations proposed to increase the foreign ownership cap from 10 per cent. As a result of this new regulation, HSBCs FDI rose by 55 per cent (HSBC 2007). HSBC are also affected by political instability. This occurred in Thailand in 2006 when the political crisis had a negative impact on consumption patterns and the number of people taking out loans dropped, oil prices and interest rates increased. Due to all these issues, HSBC only reported a 4% growth in the Thai economy, far less than the other Asian banks (HSBC 2006). Other wars and conflicts in HSBC operating countries will have a direct negative impact on the company. 3.2.2 Economic The credit crunch has seen many major banks tighten their lending criteria in order to reduce the number of credit write-offs. Barclays recently wrote off  £1.67billion, Lloyds TSB  £1.26billion and HSBC  £943million (Hosking 2008). HSBCs profit before tax in 2007 was  £4,081million, and the bank reported a strong start to 2008 despite the global financial crisis. In the first quarter of 2008, HSBCs profit was ahead of the equivalent period last year (HSBC 2008). Compared to other major banks, including Barclays and Lloyds TSB, HSBC is doing well in the face of the crisis. Changes in foreign exchange rates affect HSBC and new frameworks, similar to one introduced in 2007 by the International Monetary Fund causes instability for HSBC (BBC 2007). Consumer perceptions at the emerging economic downturn has people concerned about their spending patterns and less likely to take out loans and spend what they have. Many banks have been withdrawing mortgage offers, however HSBC are now offering competitive rates (Budworth 2008). Due to their differentiation strategy, consumers are attracted to their mortgages. Social A report published in the Independent newspaper highlighted the fact that the number of people going to University increases each year, hence people are becoming better educated (Hilpern 2008). The range of services that HSBC offers to university students has increased over the years, however there have been recent campaigns against HSBC from Student Unions with regards to interest free overdrafts students receive upon leaving University (Coughlan 2007). Housing trends greatly affect HSBC and the current economic crisis has meant that major banks, including Barclays and Lloyds TSB have been urged to cut interest rates (Murchie 2008). Technological The Internet has consolidated itself as a very powerful platform that has changed the way businesses operate (Pieter 2007). People now have access to their finances easily, in any location and for 24 hours. There is vast room for improvement of M-Banking (mobile banking). People are so dependent upon mobile phones and have easier access to their mobile than a computer. The GLT (Global Technology Centre) within HSBC are responsible for new technological advances and operate throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. Environmental With growing environmental pressures, HSBC has become the worlds first major bank to become carbon neutral. HSBCs commitment to change ensures that they provide environmentally responsible advice to lenders and have become involved in a variety of initiatives, including the introduction of renewable energy technology, water and waste reduction programmes and employee engagement (HSBC 2007). Consumers have the option to go green with HSBC and reduce the impact on the environment by saving paper and energy. Customers will receive email statements instead of paper statements, there are no cheque or paying-in books and the customer will be contacted by telephone instead of post (HSBC 2008). Legal HSBC must comply with a wide array of laws and regulations, including consumer protection. Consumer complaints have been paramount in the media lately regarding high bank charges for overdraft limits. The High Court has now ruled that bank charges are to be assessed under consumer protection law. It is now up to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to decide the fairness of bank charges. Because of this new legislation, consumers have received millions of pounds back from these charges (Pollock 2008). HSBC has to comply with data security measures set by the Financial Services Authority after HSBC admitted to losing a disk that contained the personal details of 370,000 customers in March 2008 (Booth et al 2008). 4. EVALUATION OF HSBCS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STRATEGY 4.1 HSBCs Entry into North America HSBC began its growth in North America by acquiring failed and weak banks. In effect, shareholders lacking a comparative advantage relative to HSBC, with respect to owning and governing given banks or branches (Lichtenberg and Siegel, 1987), sold them to HSBC. Generally, growth through acquisition is difficult to execute as it is vulnerable to problems of over-reach due to managerial hubris (Roll, 1986; Baradwaj et al., 1992 Seth et al., 2000). One cannot arrive at strong conclusions from studies of the profitability of subsidiaries. Banks transfer profit across borders (Demirgà ¼Ãƒ §-Kunt Huizinga, 2001), and foreign banks may prefer to book some business from their headquarters (Peek Rosengren, 2000). One may surmise that HSBC initially chose to acquire weak banks as much out of necessity as design. For any given size, a profitable bank will cost more than an unprofitable one, so in order to achieve diversification goals, HSBC needed to acquire large banks. Now that HSBC is one of the worlds largest banks, whether one measures by market capitalization or total assets, it has more flexibility. Banking concentration is apparent in many developed countries (Marquez Molyneux, 2002). In response, policymakers within these countries have restricted banks from further domestic mergers and acquisitions. Some recent failed attempts in Canada are a case in point (Tickell, 2000). Growth opportunities therefore arise through cross border growth. Interestingly, each of the owners of the largest subsidiaries of foreign banks in the US is disproportionately often the largest bank in its home country (Tschoegl, 2002 2004). Strategy viability assessment is the classic area of determining how a foreign firm competes against local facing lower cultural issues (Zaheer, 1995). One issue then is whether having operations in contiguous countries represents a competitive advantage. Tschoegl (1987) Dufey Yeung (1993) have argued that, where markets are well developed and competitive, there is no reason to expect foreign banks to be better than local banks at retail banking. At the same time th ere is evidence for the existence of a liability of foreignness vis-à  -vis the foreign banks host-country competitors (Parkhe Miller, 2002). Of course, there is also evidence that suggests that, the liability is minimal (Nachum, 2003) or wanes over time (Zaheer Moskowitz, 1996). However, these last two studies examine the liability in the context of corporate and wholesale banking markets. The liability may be more salient in the retail markets, where national differences between the home and host market are likely to be more profound. Claessens et al. (2001), Demirgà ¼Ãƒ §-Kunt Huizinga (1999) found that foreign banks tend to have higher margins and profits than domestic banks in developing countries, but that the opposite holds in industrial countries. Similarly, Dopico Wilcox (2002) found that foreign banks have a greater share in under-banked markets and a smaller presence in mature markets. This implies there must not be a high expectancy for coss-border mergers in commercial banking within developed regions. One can specu late that on the production side, differences in products across markets and privacy laws appear to be limiting parents ability to consolidate processing. As far as depositors are concerned, there seems to be little value to having an account with a bank that operates in other countries, especially now that travelers can draw cash from networked ATMs. HSBC has a service for wealthy individuals-HSBC Premier-that provides cross border advantages as transfer of an individuals credit rating when they relocate, and some other services. However, these facilities are not available to ordinary accounts. The literature on trade flows is instructive here; the evidence on NAFTA has shown that borders have a substantial damping effect on trade flows (McCallum, 1995). In North America, HSBC is even poorly positioned to take advantage of cross-border retail banking that is currently drawing attention: remittance flows from Mexican workers in the US. Although HSBC now has a strong presence in Mexi co, it has almost no offices in California or other US states with large populations of Mexican immigrants. By contrast, Bank of America, the largest bank in California and in many other US states in 2002, bought a 25 percent stake in Santander-Serfin, Santanders subsidiary, which has amalgamated Mexicos oldest and third largest bank. If there is reason to believe that, HSBC benefits from cross-border demand or production effects, what is left as a source of advantage? One candidate is what Kindleberger (1969) called surplus managerial resources. When a bank such as HSBC can no longer grow at home, it may find itself with a management team that is underemployed in terms of the demands on its time. The bank may then choose to grow abroad when it can combine these surplus resources with what Berger et al. (2000) call a global advantage. As Nachum et al. (2001) point out, the competitiveness of firms depends on the kind of assets that firms can transfer internally from country to country, but are difficult to transfer from one firm to another, even within a country. Still, it is, extremely difficult to measure an intangible asset as subtle and hard to define as better management (Denrell, 2004), especially when, recent events have shown, stock market performance or accounting measures are of doubtful reliability. 5. HSBCs International Business Strategy HSBC, a growth oriented company from earliest days decided to launch concrete strategies to attain market leadership in all sectors operated in. Though the company was amongst the leading players in areas such as consumer finance, personal financial services, commercial and corporate banking, it also wanted to establish its presence in areas such as investment banking, mortgage, insurance and credit card business. To strengthen its product portfolio and geographical reach, HSBC embarked on an aggressive acquisition strategy. The focus was on areas where it was either weak or did not have a presence. Simultaneously, the company launched an aggressive branding exercise to complement its growth strategy. The geographical reach of the bank could be estimated by its presence in the form of the subsidiaries and franchises. It can be said that HSBC uses the multinational strategy since it operates in a range of markets. According to Prahalad and Doz (1987), the prime consideration here is t he extent of pressures for global integration and extent of pressures for local responsiveness. In addition, Schlie and Yip (2000:343) argue, the key in global strategy is to find the best balance between local adaptation and global standardisation. In order to achieve the benefits of globalisation, businesses need to recognise when industry conditions provide the opportunity to use global strategy levers (Yip, 1992). Authors Morrison and Roth, Rugman Verbeke (see Schlie Yip, 2000) maintain that Regional Strategies offer such an optimal balance. In order to analyse the globalisation drivers of HSBC, the Yip Framework drivers for internationalisation was adapted from Yip, 1992. According to Campbell (2002), Yip identified four drivers (See Appendix 2) which determines the nature and extent of globalisation in an industry. Table 2. Globalisation drivers of HSBC Market Globalisation Drivers Global customers Global distribution channels Presence in lead countries Common customer needs Cost Globalisation Drivers Global scale economies Difference in exchange rates High product development costs Rapid change in Technology Government Globalisation Drivers Common marketing regulations Government owned customers (Subsidies) Host government concerns (Policies) Competitive Globalisation Drivers Competitors globalised Competitors from different continents 6. Strategies and Performances of Principal competitors 6.1 Branding and Diversification Brand development creates an identity for businesses which creates a competitive edge depending on its effectiveness (Montoya, 2002). The groups chairman stated commitment to making HSBC one of the worlds leading brands for customer experience (HSBC, 2007). In 1998, the Group adopted the HSBC brand and the hexagon symbol as a unified brand in all the markets where it operated which emphasized its global reach. HSBC adopted taglines such as Your world of financial services in 1999 to enable customer awareness on the range of financial services available for each customer. HSBC ensures that its understanding of varied markets and cultures are integrated into its brand through the tagline The worlds local bank developed in 2002. Similarly its competitors, Barclays uses a branding strategy which promises to deliver value through financial expertise the fluent in finance strapline (Brand republic, 2004) and Lloyds TSB on the other hand, develops a global strategy through the development of a strong brand image by reducing local customization and selectively satisfying common customer demands across markets (Osono et al., 2008:28). Diversification Strategy is the launching of new, retail-focused services, Link with enabling competitive advantage (Hitt, et. al., 2006), Although HSBCs core brand is strong, customer recognition may have saturated, therefore integrating both fresh brands into subsidiaries in tandem enables its growth through Merger and acquisitions providing a competitive advantage, enabling HSBC to play a central role in two of Europes biggest-ever merger and acquisition deals i.e. Mittal Steels hostile bid for Frances Arcelor and German utility company Eons offering for Spanish rival Endesa (Digital look.com 2009). 6.2 Technology use and strategy Through advances in technology, HSBC presents customers with a broad spectrum of financial services including personal financial services and investment banking, amongst others, to create competitive advantage through strategic alignment (competitive potential) (Venkatraman et. al., 1993). Similarly, Barclays and Lloyds TSB use strategic alignment (Service level) to ensure the effective use of IT resources and be responsive to the growing and fast-changing demands of the end-user population (Cio.co.uk, 2010). 6.3 Performance Evaluation It is argued that positive relationships between marketing spend, market share and marketing activities have an incremental impact on market share however this does not apply to the big four banks (Digital look.com, 2009). The graph below demonstrates decline of share prices for RBS and Lloyds in the last two years. Both banks have lost between 75% and 85% of its values in comparison to the past 2 years. Fig2: Market Shares Trends of the Top Major Banks In summary, the results demonstrate varied results for UK banks in 2009. HSBC for example, report significant improvements whereas others such as Barclays and Lloyds TSB demonstrate decline due to the impact of the global financial crisis. In addition, according to Digital look.com (2009), HSBCs success attaining the top of investors is as a result of the following: Largest bank in the UK with a well-capitalised balance sheet. Solid defensive stock with a stable and resilient earnings track record. Well-placed to benefit from the continued economic growth in emerging markets. Currently trading on attractive valuations with a forward P/E of 11.6 times and a dividend yield of 3.4%. HSBC demonstrates a lack of focus and development with regards to investment banking which has prevented HSBC becoming a major player in investment banking. Focus and development is essential for performance improvement due to continuous sub-prime mortgage fallout and credit tightness influences on the retail banking sector (Digital look.com, 2009). The last three years demonstrate the emergence of HSBC as an investment banking brand. 7. CONCLUSION The findings indicate that HSBC dominates the banking industry with record profits, however the bank has reported increasing debts and this will not be helped by the current credit crisis in the US and the UK. As consumers become increasingly aware of the rising cost of living they are likely to shop around for the best interest rates and they are likely to find this on the internet with online mortgage and debt companies. Although the introduction of online banking has proved popular among HSBC customers, the company should ensure that extra security measures are in place that will guarantee maximum security of consumer data. As HSBC is a multinational company and therefore people trust the brand and confidence that their finances are being well maintained, there are development opportunities for the future in destinations, such as Afghanistan and Brazil. 8. RECOMMENDATIONS In order to rectify the shortcomings in its international strategy, the author of this report recommends that consideration be given to the following: HSBC should seek to identify optimal investment packages and strategies HSBC should expand its products and services to suit the various markets and the times. HSBC should focus on driving growth of brands and improving performance by ensuring that their strategies create value and growth. HSBC can stay ahead in competition by offering better services for its customers such as exceptional customer service, environmentally friendly policies including the HSBC Communities Policy which aids developing countries. BIBLIOGRAPHY Amel, D., Barnes, C., Panetta, F., Salleo, C. (2004). Consolidation and efficiency in the financial sector: A review of the international evidence, Journal of Banking and Finance, Vol. 28, No. 10, pp. 2493-2519. Anand J, Delios A. 2002. Absolute and relative resources as determinants of international acquisitions. Strategic Management Journal 23(2): 119-134. Barney JB. 1991. Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management 17: 99-120 Baradwaj, B.G., Dubofsky, D., Fraser, D.R. (1992). Bidder Returns in Interstate and Intrastate Bank Acquisitions, Journal of Financial Services Research, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 261-73 Berger, A., DeYoung, R., Genay, H.Udell, G. (2000). Globalization of financial institutions: Evidence from cross-border banking performance, Brookings-Wharton Papers on Financial Service, Vol. 3 Brand Republic, 2004. [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/214994/sutherland-plays-wise-man-cynic-oldman-barclays/ [Accessed 4 April 2010]. Buckley PJ, Casson MC. 1976. The Future of the Multinational Enterprise. Macmillan: London, UK. Buckley PJ, Casson MC. 1998. Analyzing foreign market entry strategies: extending the internalization approach. Journal of International Business Studies 29: 539-562 Campbell, D., Stonehouse, G., Houston, B. 2002. Business strategy: an introduction CIO.CO.UK, 2010. HSBC: CIO 100. The UKs largest users of IT. [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.cio.co.uk/cio100/hsbc/4141/ [Accessed 4 April 2010]. Demirgà ¼Ãƒ §-Kunt, A.,Huizinga, H. (1999). Determinants of Commercial Bank Interest Margins and Profitability: Some International Evide

JRR Tolkiens The Hobbit Essay -- Essays Papers

JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit The Hobbit tells the story of a comfortable, friendly creature named Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo, like most hobbits, is similar to a human, but about half the size, and much more nible because they have leathery soles on thier feet, and not nearly as loud. Bilbo gets caught up in mysterious affairs much greater than his own hobbit-life affairs when, at the recommendation of a mysterious old wizard named Gandalf, he is hired as a "burglar" by a group of dwarves. These dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, son of Throror, son of Thrain are going to the Lonely Mountain in the East to reclaim their family's massive treasure from the great dragon Smaug who lives deep in the bowls of the lonely mountain. Along the way, the company gets into trouble with goblins who live in the misty mountains, spiders who live in Mirkwood forest, and other destructive and harmful creatures, and they often escape only because of the assistance of Gandalf and other good creatures they meet. Bilbo proves himself essential to the quest, saving the dwarves on many occasions with his valor and skill. His success is partly due to a magic ring that he takes from a strange, dark creature named Gollum, who lives in the dank, dark caves below the Misty Mountains. Gollum is clammy and slimy and he refers to his ring as my precious. Bilbo even manages to discover Smaug's weak spot, the bare area under his ear, which allows the dragon to be killed and the treasure divided. However, the ...

Ethics in Grant Essay

Ethics is described as moral principles and obligations that determine the wrongness and correctness of actions. It is associated with values and righteousness of every individual conduct. As a human being we are responsible for our actions and we have moral obligations for the welfare of others. Ethics cover our everyday life from what we think, decisions we make our philosophy and behavior to our everyday actions. In different professional field, standard and code of ethics are practiced to ensure proper conduct and behavior of those involved in the field. Ethics in grant has always been controversial. Issues associated with ethical behavior often arise from grant projects. The involvement of large amount of money causes the issues and suspicion to rise. An example of an issue that may arise from a grant project is commissioning. Commission refers to the fee paid to an employee after venturing to a successful business or closing a deal. However, professional organizations and funders consider commissioning unethical in nature. This is because compensation with regards to commissioning based on charitable contributions and donations are ugly site to see. Unlike salesmen, who get a cut from the proceeds they made, professionals who are involved in grant projects are considered skilled and talented people who lend and utilized their expertise in order to obtain huge support and following for the work and project that an organization is aiming to achieve. These are usually projects that requires huge amount of funding. If commissions are paid in favor of the grant workers in order to generate money, it would seems people are working because of the money involved and not because of the dedication one has to obtain support for the completion of the project In fact, the Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practices of the Association of Fundraising Professional, clearly outlines that compensation based on a percentage of fundraising should not be accepted. Sincerity and honesty is another issue that that is usually associated with Grant projects. Honesty comes into play when errors are committed while the project is being done. This happens when proposals made is not enough for the project to be successful and major changes are needed. Employees often resort to covering things up in an effort to conceal the miscalculations and mistakes done during proposal. Cover up is done because the fear of losing the funder since the original plans agreed upon fail to materialize. Employees then tend to lie and pretend everything runs smoothly. To prevent ethical issues rising from Grant Projects, it is important to be honest and to tell everything that that is going on to the funder. By being honest, one can earn the funder’s trust and trust is important in every project to be successful. Furthermore, Grant makers and funders appreciate sincerity and honesty and they are open to changes from original plans that have been set, since changes that are made will yield promising results for the project. If an error with the project has been discovered, it is necessary to report at once. Also, it would be ethical to issue an apology if things are not carried out properly as promised. With the huge sum of money involved in Grant Projects, it will be helpful for anyone to be honest in every little way to prevent ethical issues from occurring. Sincerity for the project’s completion and the responsibility one owes from the funder and from those who support the organization in building the project should make one realize the misconduct of falling into the temptation the large sum of money brings. One should understand that an arrangement in which one obtain a kickback is unethical. To preserve one’s name and his reputation as a person and professional one must keep away from doing them.

Describe The Scope Of Business Ethics

The scope of ethics indicates its subject matter. Ethics as normative science deals with moral ideal or the good in order to enquire the nature of our conduct. It enquires into the nature of the springs of actions, motives, intentions, voluntary actions and so on. It determines rightness or wrongness of human actions. It does not enquire into the origin and growth of human conduct. As a science of morality ethics discusses the contents of moral consciousness and the various problems of moral consciousness.Ethics is concerned with the highest good or absolute good. It investigates the nature of its fundamental notions i. e. right, duty and good. Moral judgments passed on our voluntary actions are also included within the scope of ethics. In discussing the moral judgment it has also to concern with the nature, object, faculty and standard of moral judgment. Moral sentiments and feelings are arising in our mind when we contemplate about the moral judgment and therefore, ethics has to di scuss the nature of moral sentiments to moral judgment.The scope of ethics includes whatever has reference to free human acts, whether as principle or cause of action (law, conscience, virtue), or as effect or circumstance of action (merit, punishment, etc. ) Ethics discusses the nature of human freedom. Ethics investigates what constitutes good or bad, just or unjust. It also inquires into-what is virtue, law, conscience and duty? What obligations are common to all? What is the good in all good acts? These questions lie within the scope of ethics. The sense of duty, oughtness or moral obligation and the responsibility for actions are also included within the range of ethics.The particular aspect under which ethics considers free acts is that of their moral goodness or the rectitude of order involved in them as human acts. A man may be a good artist or orator and at the same time a morally bad man, or, conversely, a morally good man may be a poor artist or technician. Ethics has mer ely to do with the order which relates to man as man and which makes of him a good man. Thus we find that although Ethics is not a guidebook of moral rules as a branch of philosophy Ethics seeks clarification of terms used in moral language.The ‘meta-ethical† problems fall within the scope of philosophical aspect of Ethics. There are other ‘meta ethical discussions related to the nature of moral judgments, the logical basis of ethical evaluation etc. The applied dimension of Ethics is known as â€Å"Applied Ethics’ that falls within the broad field of Ethics. These comprise the areas of situational Ethics while Meta Ethics deals with logical and semantic questions like ‘What do we mean by â€Å"freedom† and â€Å"determinism† etc.Ethics is essentially related to all other branches of knowledge like sociology, political science, jurisprudence, law and legal study, psychology, anthropology, culture study, ecology and environmental study, e conomics, religion, aesthetics and other similar areas. Ethics is concerned with political, sociological, cultural, psychical, economic, environmental, religious problems in pursuit of highest good. So these problems have an additional place in the scope of ethics. With the emergence of new technology there is scope for widening the scope of ethics to address new issues

Defining Race and Ethnicity Essay

Whether this definition is accurate or not, this is what the terms â€Å"race† and â€Å"ethnicity† mean to me: Race is a term that describes a group of people with similar descent. I believe race is determined physical specifications such as color, language, eye shape, or even things such as blood types. Human beings as a whole are described as the â€Å"human race;† I believe this to be an accurate definition as human beings (despite color, language, or any other physical characteristics) are all the same. Genetically speaking, we are all made up of the same â€Å"parts.† The term â€Å"race† is an all-encompassing statement used to define a large group, overall. Ethnicity defines the background of a particular person or thing. This term encompasses many backgrounds and associations. Foods can be â€Å"ethnic† if they originate or are commonly consumed in a specific country or region. The same applies to human beings. One’s ethnicity may be determined by his or her birthplace, religion, of beliefs. Ethnicity does not define physical characteristics, but rather backgrounds and traits. The United States is a melting pot. This country is made up of thousands and thousands of different people from different places. The USA is home to many ethnic backgrounds; however, the population (in my opinion) is a single â€Å"race.† We are all humans, as I have previously stated. Although our ethnic backgrounds may differ in many different ways, all in all, we are one race. This is important to bear in mind. Heritage should always be recognized, as it typically is in the United States. But acknowledging the vast backgrounds that exist in this country is the most important concept of all.

Hurricane Katrina - New Orleans Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hurricane Katrina - New Orleans - Research Paper Example Hurricanes basically originate due to the temperature difference between the land and the sea. The peak time of these tropical cyclones is during the September season. The month of May is usually inactive with regard to the tropical cyclones because the temperature difference is the least. The cyclones formed in the Atlantic Ocean in the end of the summer season are referred to as tropical cyclones because they usually originate from tropical locations and one more fact that makes them different from normal cyclones is that their cores or center of the large spiral is warmer as compared to any other part of the spiral at any point of height. The spiral of the cyclone comprises of thunderstorm clouds that are ready to burst out and hence when they move they produce high and strong winds and heavy rainfalls. A special characteristic of tropical cyclones is that they have extremely low atmospheric pressures. Some of the pressures of tropical cyclones are the least that have been recorde d above the seas. Several factors have been found out as the reason for the origination of tropical cyclones but still not all the responsible factors have been discovered and tropical cyclones are a common topic of research and study (Reider, & Connecticut, 1999). The year 2005 was a devastating year with respect to the hurricanes and tropical cyclones that it brought with itself. Each year almost around 10 tropical cyclones originate and around half of them turn into hurricanes and a half of that lie in the severe category but the Atlantic hurricane season of the year 2005 was an extremely active season in which almost 27 tropical cyclones originated and around 17 of them turned into hurricanes and there were 7 hurricanes that fell into the severe category that is of category 3 or above. Among these severe hurricanes one was named Katrina and this was the deadliest hurricane as compared to other hurricanes. Hurricane Katrina has been placed in the category five if the hurricanes

The Rule of Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Rule of Law - Essay Example There some theorists and researchers who have written about the rule of law lately. In this essay we deal mainly with two of such writers: Brian Z. Tamanaha and Rachel Kleinfeld Belton. We have chosen their papers as our source material because their points of view seem to be rigorous and comprehensive in the different facets of the rule of law that they talked about. Tamanaha does his best to be epistemic when dealing with the rule of law as a general principle that it is often misunderstood while Belton does her best to find a proper definition of what we mean by rule of law as she is completely aware of the generalised state of confusion about this term. Both writers shed light on this topic, and their insights are very useful in order to get an adequate understanding of the rule of law as a fundamental principle that should be taken into account with a sense of commitment and responsibility not only by government officials, politicians, lawmakers or law people, but by everyone in any society at any time. Nobody is exempt from the rule of law, so everybody has to worry about it. "The rule of law is fundamental to the western democratic order. ... in the case of Proclamations (1610) 77 ER 1352: 'The King himself ought not to be subject to man, but subject to God and the law, because the law makes him King'. (Cooray, 1995). This last assertion is quite bold and brings with it the idea of sovereignty. It can be misinterpreted like the concept of the free will of man. When we analyse carefully the Bible, as it is the Westerne standard as its sacred book, we will clearly see that there is not free will, but free agency. This means that man is not free to act as he pleases, but man is free to act according to the design of his own limited nature. So man is still responsible and accountable for his own deeds before God and man. The same happens with any sovereign who is supposed to act under the duty and the call of the law. Why Plainly because the law is the mechanism that makes him sovereign, that makes him king. Dr. Cooray keeps on analysing the rule of law with the following statements: "The rule of law in its modern sense owes a great deal to the late Professor AV Dicey. Professor Dicey's writings about the rule of law are of enduring significance. The essential characteristic of the rule of law are: i. The supremacy of law, which means that all persons (individuals and government) are subject to law. ii. A concept of justice which emphasises interpersonal adjudication, law based on standards and the importance of procedures. iii. Restrictions on the exercise of discretionary power. iv. The doctrine of judicial precedent. v. The common law methodology. vi. Legislation should be prospective and not retrospective. vii. An independent judiciary. viii. The exercise by Parliament of the legislative power and restrictions on exercise of legislative power by the executive. ix. An underlying moral