The Use of Video Surveillance Cameras in the Workplace Should Be Abolished/Reaffirmed

Introduction The use of video surveillance cameras in the workplace is a controversial issue that has elicited mixed feelings in different people. The issue has both opponents and proponents. Opponents claim that the use of surveillance cameras in the workplace is unethical because it violates the right of employees to privacy (Weckert, 2005, p.35).Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Use of Video Surveillance Cameras in the Workplace Should Be Abolished/Reaffirmed specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, they claim that video surveillance intimidates workers because it is used by organizations to coerce employees to work more. However, with the prohibition of the use of video camera surveillance in private facilities such as change rooms and bathrooms, video surveillance is not a critical issue. The privacy rights of employees are thus respected and maintained. They propose that it should be abol ished. In contrast, proponents of the use of video surveillance in the workplace claim that it is ethical and beneficial. They cite reasons such as improved employee safety, improved employee productivity and the overall output of the organization, efficient time management and loss prevention (Weckert, 2005, p.35). The use of video surveillance in the workplace should be reaffirmed because its advantages override its disadvantages. Discussion More than 50% of employers in the United States use video surveillance at the workplace (Hegar, 2011, p.62). According to a survey conducted by the American Management Association Electronic Monitoring and Surveillance group, approximately 45% of organizations in the United States monitor the use of mobile phones and computers by employees (Hegar, 2011, p.85). Many organizations have policies that oversee the use of video surveillance in the workplace to avoid the misuse of information gathered from surveillance camera footages. New employees are notified on the use of video surveillance by the organization and its main purpose. Organizations practice caution in using their video surveillance systems because they may tarnish their image if they are used inappropriately (Hegar, 2011, p.63). The use of video surveillance has many benefits that make it indispensable and beneficial at the workplace.Advertising Looking for critical writing on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More First, video surveillance improves employee productivity (Weckert, 2005, p.38). This is easily achieved because the company is able to motivate employees to manage their time well and give priority to productive activities. For example, a company may monitor employees to determine the amount of time they spend on unproductive activities. Afterwards, the organization may include extra productive activities in the tasks of employees to cover the time employees waste on unproductive activitie s (Weckert, 2005, p.38). In addition, information retrieved from video surveillance may help employers to enact policies that focus on improving areas that reduce employees’ productivity. Employees in organizations that do not use video surveillance waste a lot of time doing things that reduce productivity and misuse the organization’s resources. Secondly, installing surveillance cameras in the workplaces helps employers to determine the productivity of different employees, and hence make the necessary changes (Weckert, 2005, p.41). This has the effect of improving teamwork and personal productivity in employees. For example, it eradicates the problem of some employees doing most of the work while their colleagues participate in unproductive activities such as playing video games. Generally, video surveillance promotes fairness in the workplace because all employees participate equally in achieving the goals and objectives of the organization. Moreover, no employee wou ld want the management to get the indication that they do not perform their duties as expected. This creates an organizational culture of personal responsibility and involvement in the organization’s goals. Video surveillance simplifies the work of supervisors because employees assume responsibility and perform their duties as expected. This gives supervisors time to do other things that benefit the organization.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Use of Video Surveillance Cameras in the Workplace Should Be Abolished/Reaffirmed specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thirdly, video surveillance cameras improve the safety of employees in the workplace (Hegar, 2011, p.72). Video surveillance enhances the security of employees in different ways. It eradicates sexual abuse in the workplace and discourages any form of violence that may result from arguments among employees. In addition, it prevents superv isors from taking advantage of their juniors. This creates a safe work environment. Employees work more effectively when they are assured of safety than when they are not. In addition, video surveillance inculcates a feeling of being valued and treasured by an organization (Hegar, 2011, p.74). The fact that the organization installs video cameras to improve security, assures employees of the organization’s interest in their well-being. Fourthly, video surveillance protects an organization’s property and reduces losses (Hegar, 2011, p.76). Some employees take advantage of being alone and steal from their employers. People are afraid to steal from organizations that use video surveillance to safeguard their premises. This is because footages from the surveillance cameras are used to track them down. These footages give organizations documentation of events that aid them in solving cases of theft. As such, video surveillance discourages and eradicates theft in the organiz ation. On the other hand, it protects the organization’s property. Research has shown that most employees do not consider taking care of an organization’s property as one of their responsibilities. Therefore, they handle the organization’s property recklessly. Video surveillance encourages employees to take caution when dealing with an organization’s property (Hegar, 2011, p.77). Office equipment such as printers, fax machines, photocopiers and scanners are extremely expensive. Organizations spend a lot of money to purchase and maintain them. Reckless handling may result in huge expenses because repairing or replacing damaged equipment is expensive. Opponents of the use of video surveillance in the work place claim that it should be abolished because it infringes on the privacy of the employees (Casilly and Draper, 2009, p.64). In addition, they claim that it intimidates employees and increases their stress levels because it puts them under pressure to wo rk more in order to impress the employer and avoid victimization.Advertising Looking for critical writing on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More First, use of video surveillance encourages the invasion of employee privacy that is unlawful and unethical (Casilly and Draper, 2009, p.64). For example, video surveillance cameras installed in restrooms and other private areas may e used to spy on employees, which is inappropriate. In addition, with such personal moments captured on camera, there is a potential danger of illegal use of such video footages (Casilly and Draper, 2009, p.65). For example, videos of employees in the changing room may be posted on the internet thus violating their privacy rights. This may have severe implications to the organization because every organization has the responsibility to respect and maintain the privacy of its employees. In most workplaces, the problem of video surveillance is negligible because there are state laws that prohibit the use of video surveillance in private places. These places include change rooms, bathrooms and toilet facilities. Secondly, video surveillance is intimidating because employees consider it a method used by the employer to force them to work more (Hegar, 2011, p.82). This has a negative effect on the morale of employees because they are watched and evaluated by supervisors all the time. Long-term effects include increased stress levels because employees are always under pressure to perform, owing to the fact that they are being watched all the time (Hegar, 2011, p.82). This may lead to resentment of the employer by employees due to the development of distrust. Employees feel like the employer does not believe that they are responsible enough to execute their duties without surveillance. Conclusion The use of video surveillance cameras in the workplace has elicited controversy, with different people giving different opinions. Opponents of the use of video surveillance in the workplace claim that it should be abolished because it is unethical. They cite reasons such as a violation of employee rights to privacy and employee intimidation. In c ontrast, proponents claim that the use of video surveillance in the workplace is beneficial and ethical. They cite reasons such as improved employee safety, improved employee productivity, effective time management and a reduction in the organization’s expenses. Video surveillance may result in violation of employees privacy rights. In addition, it may reduce productivity because it creates a feeling of distrust in employees. This increases their stress levels and consequently reduces their output. However, the benefits are innumerable. Video surveillance improves employee safety by discourages behaviors such as sexual abuse and violence, improves employee productivity and protects the property of the organization. In addition, it reduces expenses because employees take responsibility and practice caution in handling the organization’s property. The use of video surveillance in the workplace should be reaffirmed because its advantages override its disadvantages. Refere nces Casilly, L., and Draper, L 2009, Privacy in the Work Place, Pike Fischer, New York. Hegar, K 2011, Modern Human Relations at Work, Cengage Learning, New York. Weckert, J 2005, Electronic Monitoring in the Workplace: Controversies and Solutions, Idea Group Inc, Philadelphia. This critical writing on The Use of Video Surveillance Cameras in the Workplace Should Be Abolished/Reaffirmed was written and submitted by user Melody Gentry to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

My Favorite Childhood Memory essays

My Favorite Childhood Memory essays Childhood is packed with memories of events and activities that have touched their lives. These events have shaped them into the person that they are today. For me, it was attending Vacation Bible School from the time I was in pre-school until I was in the sixth grade. I truly believe that I would be a different person if I did not attend Vacation Bible School as a young child. Vacation Bible School was a week long event, three to hours each night, when children were taught the word of the Lord through songs, lessons, and skits. The program would begin with everyone meeting in the sanctuary and sing bible songs. Then we separated into different groups (depending on their ages) and went off to their classes. Within the classes, I learned the stories of the bible and how they related my lives. Also, I memorized different bible verses, ate snacks, and made crafts that related to the bible story that I learned about. Before we went home for the night, we gathered back in the sanctuary and said a prayer. On the last night, we performed a closing program for their parents. I enjoyed Vacation Bible School, and it became an event that not only I looked forward to all summer, but all year as well. I met new kids, played games, sang songs, and laughed at the adults who performed funny skits. Could I have had any more fun? Even though I had a great time, sometimes there were slow moments. At the time, some of the stories may have been long and boring, but I got a free snack; hence, I always had something to look forward to. Vacation Bible School was a time when I could gather with friends, learn about the Lord, and have a good time; however, at the time I was more interested about being with friends and the snacks than the values and lessons of the Lord. As I grew older, I realized how much Vacation Bible School affected my life. All of the lessons I learned at Vacation Bible School stayed with me. Vacation Bible School gave me a found...

What Is an AP Scholar Advantages and Requirements

What Is an AP Scholar Advantages and Requirements SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You might think the term â€Å"AP Scholar† just refers to anyone who takes studying for AP exams really seriously. But it’s actually an awards program offered by the College Board.In this article, I’ll go over what an AP Scholar is, what you need to achieve to become one, what it means to be one, and some tips on getting the award if it’s something you’re interested in. What Is an AP Scholar? An AP Scholar is, broadly speaking, someone who has received an award from the College Board for doing well on several AP exams. There are several award levels according to how many exams the student scored highly on, as well as their average AP score. What Does It Mean to Be an AP Scholar? If you have an AP Scholar award, you can list it on resumes and college applications. It will signal that you did well on multiple AP exams. The designation will appear on your official AP exam scores, and you will receive a certificate in the mail the September following the time you receive the designation. Sadly, you do not get any money from this award, but it’s nice to have recognition of all your hard work!Of course, the higher-up your designation, the more impressive it is. Gold star for you! AP Scholar Awards and How You Earn Them What â€Å"level† of award you are offered generally depends on three criteria: How many AP exams you have gotten a score of 3 or higher on. Your average AP exam score. Where your high school is located. You can receive the next â€Å"level† of award in subsequent years as you take more AP exams.In this table, I’ll lay out all the criteria for the different AP Scholar award tiers- the AP Scholar requirements, if you will. AP Scholar Requirements Award Designation School Location Requirements Score/Number Requirements Required Average AP Score on all APs taken AP Scholar (none) 3 or better on 3+ AP exams (n/a) AP Scholar with Honor (none) 3 or better on 4+ AP exams 3.25 AP Scholar with Distinction (none) 3 or better on 5+ AP exams 3.5 National AP Scholar United States 4 or better on 8+ AP exams 4 National AP Scholar (Canada) Canada 4 or better on 5+ AP exams 4 National AP Scholar (Bermuda) Bermuda 4 or better on 5+ AP exams 4 State AP Scholar (granted to 1 male and 1 female student per state) Each US state Greatest number of exams with scores of 3 or higher in the state Highest average of those who took the greatest number of exams with scores 3+ DoDEA AP Scholar (granted to 1 male and 1 female student) DoDEA(Department of Defense Education Activity) school students Greatest number of exams with scores of 3 or higher in DoDEA schools Highest average of those who took the greatest number of exams with scores 3+ International AP Scholar (granted to 1 male and 1 female student) Attends school outside US or Canada that is not DoDEA school Greatest number of exams with scores of 3 or higher in international schools Highest average of those who took the greatest number of exams with scores 3+ Step one to becoming an AP Scholar: pick your books off the floor. How to Becomean AP Scholar If you want to be an AP Scholar, at the most basic level you need to take AP exams! You also need to make an effort to score a 3 or higher on every exam you take, not just the minimum number for the Scholar designation you’re going for since lower scores will bring your average down and limit your ability to meet the score average requirements to be an AP Scholar. If you want to meet a certain level before you apply to college, you’ll need to take the requisite AP exams by the end of your junior year, so that you’ll get the award by your senior fall. However, my recommendation would be not to stress too much about the AP Scholar program. For one thing, when you get to the highest levels of the award, whether you get the award or not is somewhat outside of your control, since you can’t control how many AP exams other people take or what their average score is. If you get an AP Scholar award, great! But colleges will be able to see your complete AP score report either way, and they know which APs and AP courses are most challenging. It’s better to take a rigorous course of study and not quite qualify for the next Scholar level than to front-load with content-light APs to get the award. This strange baby-man is actually a National AP Scholar. Key Takeaways The AP Scholar awards are a series of awards given by the College Board for students who have gotten high scores on a number of AP exams. There are different â€Å"levels† of the award depending on the number of AP exams a student has gotten a high score on, their average AP exam score, and where they go to school. If you want to be an AP Scholar, you’ll need to take AP classes and be sure to do well on your exams! However, I don’t recommend stressing too much about these awards - your time is better spent on other projects that will be more impressive to colleges. What's Next? To prep for AP success, see when you should start studying for AP exams, and how you should prepare. If you're thinking about other AP achievements, you might be wondering if you need an AP test perfect score.Or you may want to know the average score for each AP exam, or even how AP exams are scored. Trying to figure out your AP schedule? See our guides to which AP exams to take, and how many APs you should plan on taking. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Customer's Grade Course Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Customer's Grade Course - Essay Example The focus in the third article is on performance variance among different airlines. The fourth conducts a multivariate analysis to assess the relationship between an airline’s financial and operating characteristics and the service quality. In the fifth study, the service quality is assessed on the basis of the Analytic Hierarchy Process which involves the evaluation and comparison of service quality among different companies. The sixth study looks at how competition can determine service quality by looking at the connection between market concentration and the delay of flights. The Scope and Objectives In the first article, the authors present an analysis of the underlying dimensions of service quality for low cost carriers. The study also seeks to determine the relationships between the aspect of service quality and the satisfaction of the passengers on the airlines services (Asbudin, 2010). The investigations of Park, Robertson and Wu (2005) were centered on the effects of airline service quality on its image and passengers’ future behavioral intentions in the Australian International Air. Thereafter, another study by Rhoades and Waguespack (2000) dwelt on service quality in the U.S. Airline industry. ... quality variables such as complaint rates, delays and involuntary denials of boarding; and operating and financial variable(market share, load factor, revenue per passenger) Mazzeo (2003) study examined the effect of competition in a given route on quality of services delivered in the U.S. airline industry. Finally, the last paper uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (Ahp) to come up with an evaluation of service quality of airlines (Pei, Peng & Mustafa, 2005). Methodology Ariffin, Salleh, Aziz & Asbudin sampling method to acquire their respondents through questionnaire method. The respondents who qualified for the study had flown in a three hour local low cost flight in Kuala Lumpa. Twenty seven questions enquiring on the service quality were at hand and 125 questionnaires were distributed, 100 filled ones were used for analytical findings. 17 queries were on the airline service operation expectations while 7 incorporated the original SERVQUAL parameters. The last three aimed at pres enting special service extent in the Industry. Eigen value measure, factor loading and multiple regression analyses were used in the final analysis of the data obtained. Those with Eigen value less than 1 and factor loading less than 0.5 were discarded. Rhoades and Waguespack article dwelt with airlines in the U.S. numbering 25 between 1987-1996 whereby 12 were major ones and 13 were regional carriers. Data on various complaints were obtained from the Department of Transport Air Travel Consumer Report. The one on departures from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and used in the normalization of the quality measures. Service quality rate was calculated adding the following: late flights, consumer complaints, involuntary deprived of boarding and mishandled luggage reports divided by

Social Work Practice with Children in Schools and Therapeutic Settings Essay

Social Work Practice with Children in Schools and Therapeutic Settings - Essay Example The essay outlines the effective use of various play therapies. It is also significant that Ramon Rivera develops mastery over his own traumatic experiences and the therapist can employ effective play therapies with him. The therapist can benefit from the good insights gained from Adlerian play therapy and as Morrison observes the posttraumatic play therapy can offer the child a unique opportunity for Rivera â€Å"to express fully and gain mastery over his experience† and â€Å"to gain insight and understanding to establish social interest and a sense of belonging† . There is no doubt that the childhood trauma has adversely affected the child’s emotional, physical, cognitive and social faculties and has contributed to his social and emotional difficulties in such a way that he fails to cope up with his studies, peers and the social world around him. One has to bear in mind the fact that Rivera will not be able to express himself or share his feelings completely t o the therapist through normal conversations or dialogues just as an adult is able to do. Therefore, it is imperative that the therapist elicits responses regarding the boy’s experiences, inner feelings, emotions and frustrations through play therapy. The therapist needs to derive significant play themes through the four phases of counseling that include ‘building an egalitarian relationship’ with the client, ‘exploring the client's lifestyle’, ‘helping the client gain insight into his or her lifestyle’ and ‘reorientation’ whereby the therapist offers other positive alternatives to the client to solve the problem behavior.

The relationship between business strategy and IT strategy Essay Example for Free

The relationship between business strategy and IT strategy Essay Introduction The decision of enveloping IT into a business is one of the biggest decisions which need to be evaluated for their success and long term planning. Business strategy must be broken down into thought generation process, specifically the â€Å"what of the system†, evaluating the positive and negative sides of the business after IT alignment and forecast of the future direction for its customers and suppliers would make the strategy stand for success. The modernized view of things is to typically involve to the desired extent the suppliers and customers in the design process of the product so that they get what they want. Relationship between IT and Business strategy The relationship between the IT and business strategy can be attributed for organizing the business in a planned and organized manner so that all the business functions are effectively and efficiently performed giving optimum utilization of resources. Enveloping IT for a business enhances its capability to reduce cycle costs, allow other enterprises to collaborate in product design and production. It further helps in linking all the business departments and modules so that all the various organizational functions are merged together and combined together to create an collaborative enterprise. Business strategy is a goal-oriented approach and is the synchronization of all business decisions made and propagated among the departments for further processing and operation. To ease up this process IT comes in the picture to give it a new dimension. It not only brings every process in the same page but facilitates the flow of information and timely implementation of crucial decisions which can take advantage of a business opportunity for prosperity. The major components of IT in designing the process flow in an organization are quite essential in the long road of creating an environment of efficient communication and utilization of resources to avoid wastage and evaluate productivity at every stage. Enterprises require maintaining good communication with external environment so that it is able to focus on the challenges with regard to innovation of products and services. Good consumer and supplier relations are extremely essential for business continuity and steady progress.    Were there problems with Strategy formulation? Appropriately identifying the crucial static and dynamic variables shaping in the business environment and capitalizing on those resources is the absolute geniuses of any strategist. At the moment of framing the strategy the appropriate positive and negative factors of IT implementation must be considered for an organization. The amount of association to be represented among the various departments would be quite a challenging task and would include plan and awareness on the part of the strategist. Correct identification of the business workflow and the system functionality can be made with proper evaluation and walkthrough of the business scenario. Strategic formulation is to some respect responsible for the failure of the enterprise; however it can be argued that the variables considered can be judged with different eyes so that the ultimate formulation of the ideas generated is perfectly matched with the business scenario. The scope of the business must also be defined quite well so that the analysis phase is performed well. Were there problems with strategy implementation? The implementation of strategy is utmost essential for making the planned architecture by the strategists successful. Unless the plans are implemented well they stand quite baseless in the space of ideas. Definite implementation of the agreed plans must be undertaken so that all the concepts which were built around the fence would get a representation otherwise they would stand baseless. The technology faults get visibility in the scenario where appropriate implementation of strategy is not made. If the initial stages are not taken care and given a proper representation, the implementation of the strategy is almost impossible to the extent that all the wrong elements and plans would be implemented. Were there problems with the strategic process? The problems in the strategic process keep most of the resources out of view so that they are not indulged in the process of development. The process management must be accordingly taken care so that all the appropriate business processes are managed well and all the crucial processes are enveloped. Evaluation of the positive and negative impacts of a particular decision in the business must be researched thoroughly and accordingly the strategic process would be designed so that the other businesses in the atmosphere would feel advantaged with your business scenario and supplier relations. Creating a monopoly would make other enterprises quite envy. Strategic process must also focus on the past problems, present needs and future requirements. Enough analysis of the business scenario and modularizing of the business functions would make it more advantageous to cover the entire process cycle for its success. All such smaller process cycles would combine together to meet the focus of the central objective. Conclusion The value added services like including the concept of collaboration with other companies, suppliers and customers would make the enterprise a global entity. In addition to it, appropriate identification of such strategy must be responsible for its formulation and successful implementation for the benefit of all. Bibliography Sawhney Mohanbir. B2B: Execution of the Concept Is Key to Success. See: http://www.cio.com/article/ 31078/B_B_Execution of_the_Concept_Is_Key_to _Success Worthen   Ben. COLLABORATIVE COMPUTING and True Enterprise Architecture Is Still Two Years Away. See: http://www.cio.com/article/30605/COLLABORATIVE COMPUTING_and_True_Enterprise_Architecture_Is_Still_Two_Years_Away

Heaneys Poem Follower Essay -- Heaney Follower Essays

Heaney's Poem "Follower" Follower is a poem about the poets love and admiration for his father. It is also about the changes that occur between father and children as children move out from their parent’s shadow. In the first half of the poem the poet draws a vivid portrait of his father as he ploughs a field. The poet, as a young boy, follows his father as he goes about his work and, like most boys, he idolises his father and admires his great skill, ‘An expert. He would set the wing and fit the bright steel – pointed sock’. In the poem, Heaney looks up to his father in a physical sense, because he is so much smaller than his father, but he also looks up to him in a metaphorical sense. This is made clear by the poet’s careful choice of words. An example of this is in the lines, ‘His eye narrowed and angled at the ground, mapping the furrows exactly.’ These words effectively suggests his father’s skill and precision. We are also told that young Heaney ‘stumbled in his hob – nailed wake,’ which brings to our mind a picture of the ploughman’s heavy boots, the carefully ploughed furrow and the child’s clumsy enthusiasm. The poet uses onomatopoeic words to capture the details of his father as he works the plough. At the end of the first stanza he describes him leading the team of plough-horses, instructing them with his â€Å"clicking tongue†. In the second stanza his father guides the horses with â€Å"a single pluck Of Rains†. It is interesting that the onomatopoeia here emphasises the great skill with which the poet’s father controls and guides his horses. It shows again his â€Å"expertise† and ease with the animals as he ploughs the field into furrowed lines. In the second half of the poem, the focus shifts... ... burst" shows growth and reproduction. Heaney's school teacher, Ms Walls, is hiding the reality of reproduction from the young children as they are not yet ready to accept the reality of the situation. He is disgusted at the thought of reproduction because he sees things through the surrealistic eyes of a child because of the stage he is at. He isn't ready to accept sex. He can't rationalise. Puberty makes him feel guilty. In the end he runs away, "I sickened, turned and ran", which shows that he has not fully grown up. In this poem, Heaney uses terms we do not expect to see in poetry, and presents nature as the very opposite of beautiful. Heaney shows how children are very ingenuous and naà ¯ve and see the world as being very pure and wholesome just as it is in their imagination. He also shows that there is a transformation from childhood to adult hood.

Feral Hogs

Feral hogs have recently become a problem in middle Tennessee. Although these animals are not native to this area, it is believed that the hogs were brought in illegally for sport hunting. Although this move was ill advised, the wild hogs were trapped and brought into North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. If not controlled, the overpopulation of these animals will continue to cause extensive damage for residents. Wild hogs have continued to overpopulate areas and in an effort to find new land and areas of food sources, have continued to move west.These hogs are becoming a nuisance as far west as Wilson County in Tennessee. Feral hogs are hunted for sport in east Tennessee, as they have been for many years. With the illegal transportation to Tennessee, and migration east, the animals have become a nuisance quickly. A female pig can reproduce twice a year with a litter of up to eight piglets each time. This can add up quickly since there are not many predators of wild hogs. Pigs are hi ghly adaptable to most areas and can tolerate a wide range of climates.Wild hogs also eat mostly plants but will also eat insects, worms, bird eggs, small birds, and reptiles. Feral hogs reproduce rapidly, increasing their population dramatically and very quickly. The hogs not only cause damage to farms, they can also transmit diseases to livestock. Jason Garrett of the Overton County Cattleman’s Association says, â€Å"This is a serious threat to all of agriculture† (Garrett). If the wild hog population is not controlled, these animals can take a toll on farmland and also on revenues from crop and livestock production.Wild hogs can be an extreme nuisance to farmers. A total of $1. 5 billion lost annually because of wild hog damage plus the potential crippling effects that disease transmission could have on the livestock industry. They can damage cropland in various ways: eating crops, trampling crops, rooting in the farmland and damaging the plants roots. â€Å"They just tear up everything that they come to, and make trails across all the fields†¦ And just wander out in the corn stalks and maul down what they don't eat†¦ just mow them down. said Overton County farmer, Freddie Paul (Paul). While making these trails, they also create ruts that can damage farm equipment and endanger the operator of the equipment. This can be not only dangerous but also costly to repair. The way the economy is presently, most farmers cannot afford to deal with costly or unexpected repairs. Wild hogs will also prey on livestock. This is another hit on a farmer’s checkbook. Cattle are the main income for most livestock farmers in middle Tennessee. The diseases spread by theses hogs pose a serious threat to farmers income as well.As of July 31, 2011, the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) put an end to sport hunting of wild hogs and placed into effect some new hunting regulations to assist in population control of wild hogs. The TWRA has remove d wild hogs from big game status and place them in a nuisance category. This implementation technically takes the sport out of wild hog hunting and turns it into eradication efforts. This will allow landowners to use more methods to trap and kill the hogs, methods such as using rifles during daylight hours and live traps with bait.Landowners are also allowed to shoot hogs at night, using bait all year, with no weapon restrictions. During an interview with TWRA Officer, Pete Geesling, he explained some of the new changes: Landowners, family members legally allowed to hunt the property without a license and up to 10 designees may assist in the control effort provided by the methods exemption. No more than 10 individuals may be used as designees annually. The exemption will allow shooting at night with the aid of artificial light, shooting over bait during big game season, or any other methods, approved by TWRA.Dogs may be used as part of the experimental management program in Overton, Fentress, Cumberland and Pickett counties, but no dogs may be used during November or December (Geesling). The TWRA has previously and continues to adjust hunting regulations to aid in eradication efforts. However, research has shown that until these eradication hunts become more evenly spread across the affected area, they may only multiply the problem. Overpopulation will exacerbate in regions, causing more damage, and the efforts to find new food sources will lead these hogs to new areas.The citizens and farmers of Tennessee, along with TWRA, must work to spread awareness to areas that are beginning to see this problem and try to eliminate it early. The heavily affected areas must continue an eradication effort until the wild hog population is reduced drastically, allowing farmers to reclaim their land. Works Cited â€Å"Controlling Wild Hogs. † Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Web. April 02, 2012. ;http://tn. gov/twra/feralhog. html;. Garrett, Jason. Personal Intervi ew. 1 April 2012. Geesling, Pete. Personal Interview. 1 April 2012. Paul, Freddie. Person Interview. 31 March 2012.

Porter’s 5 Forces of Age Advantage

1. Bargaining power of supplier – HIGH As it has been mentioned before in the external analysis, staffing difficulties is one of the issues threatening the aged care service company. The issue of labor shortages then limits the ability of Age Advantage to recruit key people and add up the bargaining power of suppliers who provide workers for aged care service. As labor costs represent the largest fixed costs for aged care service providers, this can be considered as a threat for the business. 2. Bargaining power of buyer – MEDIUMBased on our research, there is a fair level of choice and options regarding age care service providers in Malaysia resulting in medium level of bargaining power of buyer. However, it is assumed not to be a significant problem for Age Advantage. As with our unique age in place service, we believe that we have a higher degree of competitive advantage compared to other aged care service providers existing in Malaysia. 3. Threat of substitutes â₠¬â€œ LOW The threat of the development of robotics for assisting with health care and aged care can be said as embryonic at the moment as it faces cost and price barriers as well as low social acceptance.Also, the existence of aged home can be said as not hazardous with the trend of ageing people preferring to receive service at home rather than residing in aged care facilities. Hence, the threat of substitutes for this business can be considered as low. 4. Threat of new entrants – LOW The low threat of new entrants is a result of high start-up costs for this kind of business as well as the length of the franchise agreement which could reach up to 10 years as people tend to avoid this kind of too-long-term contract.Besides, adequate training and well-trained labor force is essential for aged care service as this business deals with the life of people. Not forgetting as well the requirement of license approval from the government in order to enter the aged care service industr y. As a result, it results in a high degree of entry barriers causing a low degree of threat of new entrants. 5. Intensity of rivalry – LOW As it has been stated previously, there is only a fair level of choice and options regarding aged care service providers in Malaysia.Derived from the research we have done, age in place service is still rare in Malaysia as most aged care facilities have not provided a service of aged care at clients’ own homes. With the competitive advantage we own, it is believed that intensity of rivalry surrounding our business is low as the kind of service we provide is still considered one of a kind in Malaysia. 6. Complementary product We also add up a complementary product like insurance that when released pays the cost of aged care. Therefore, the insurer and their products become the complementor and the consumer gains additional value.

Fall in Oil Prices in the mid 2014

Fall in Oil Prices in the mid 2014 Introduction There has been a dramatic fall in oil prices across the world in the recent past beginning in mid-2014. The decline in oil prices will have impacts on the economies of the world. One of the economies that have already begun experiencing economic effects of the declining oil prices is the United Kingdom (UK).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Fall in Oil Prices in the mid 2014 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The fall in oil prices has been described as either a big tax cut or a contributor to potential deflation in the UK. However, these two arguments are subjective since they will vary in terms of consistency and industry. It is expected that the drop in oil prices will boost employment and investment and hence raise revenues in the UK. It is also projected that the drop in oil charges will negatively affect the oil and gas extraction industry. However, the cost of the input will fall to counter the nega tive effects. Oil-consuming industries such as the transport sector will also benefit since people will relocate their capital, especially from less oil-dependent sectors. Household income will also increase with a decline in oil prices. The overall outcome will be a rise in consumer spending. Household income will go up due to two major factors that are pegged to oil prices. First, prices of consumer goods will fall with the falling oil prices in the UK. However, the reduced prices of goods and services will result in devaluation of the UK economy. Inflation rates will also decrease to the extent of forcing the UK banks to reconsider their lending rates (Bloomberg 2015). Secondly, the real wages will also rise with the falling oil prices. In fact, Lincoln (2015) addresses the issue of inflation in the UK. In fact, the Bank of England tabled a written document to a British government official demanding answers concerning the witnessed deviations (Lincoln (2015). This outcome will be attributable to the fact that a fall in oil prices will result in a fast growth of various sectors of the economy. As a result, these sectors will highly require labour. Competition for the available labour will result in an increase in wages. This paper seeks to explore the assumption that a fall in oil prices is either a big tax cut or a contributor to potential deflation in the UK.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Oil Decline and its Impacts Inflation The argument that a decline in oil prices has resulted in tax cut in the UK is a misplaced projection. On the contrary, a fall in world oil prices has resulted in increased revenue and tax collection by the government of the UK. Since a fall in oil prices increases economic activities in the UK, the amount of government tax revenue has also been on the rise. The amount of tax to be collected from personal income b y the government has also increased with the increased employment and spendable income. Moreover, tax collection from the corporate sector also increases with a fall in oil prices since many companies intensify their manufacturing activities with reduced cost of production. The trade deficit has been narrowly affected by the fall in oil prices. A low cost of oil prices translates to a decline in the cost of production, especially for oil-intensive industries. If the prices of oil continue to fall or fall permanently, the cost of production in industries that depend on energy is expected to be low. The low cost of manufacturing will then be transferred to the clientele of the manufactured products, thereby reducing the rates of inflation directly. However, a rise in the real GDP and collective demand is likely to make the charges of merchandise go up. In his view, Barwell (2007) says that this effect will be offset by the saved purchasing cost, thereby resulting in low consumer price s. Therefore, the low oil prices are good news for the UK consumers and the government. Consumers are expected to continue benefiting from the cheaper prices of goods and services. They have increased their spendable income following the cost-saving mechanisms that have come with the decline in oil charges. On the other hand, the government has collected more tax from the increased number of employed people and from the increased amount of goods that citizens have been able to purchase. As Rafiq (2014) asserts, the balance between GDP and the reduced cost of goods and services will result in reduced inflation.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Fall in Oil Prices in the mid 2014 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Household Spending Consumers in the UK market will benefit from the reduced oil prices. Household spending increases with the available cost-saving strategies that result from the reduced oil prices (Misati, Ny amongo Mwangi 2013). Since most of the industries depend on energy for production, a reduction in energy prices in the UK has translated to the witnessed low cost of production. As a result, the industries have reduced the cost of their goods and services to the advantage of the UK consumers. Real house spending has also increased with the reduced oil prices. Since low oil prices increase the activities of most of the industries, labour demand has also increased to the extent of raising the wage levels in the UK economy. Increased wages have augmented the spending power since money is available in the hands of the UK people. However, according to Misati, Nyamongo and Mwangi (2013), if the demand for goods and services continues to increase, there is a possibility that goods will run out of stock and consequently result in high prices. This claim implies that the projected devaluation in the UK economy is unlikely to happen due to this balancing effect. It is important to consider t he likely direct effect of reduced oil prices on spendable income that has to be witnessed, regardless of whether the changes in price are temporary or permanent. Government Revenue Barwell (2007) confirms how the UK government collects revenue from the process of oil exploration, production, and distribution. Such taxes are classified as petroleum revenue tax, supplementary tax, and corporation tax. Trends in revenue collection by the UK government have followed the situation in the oil industry over the years. However, this condition may not hold in the near future. For example, there has been a decoupling relationship between the prices of oil and the amount of collected revenue since other factors in the economy may offset the expected decline in revenue because of the reduced oil prices. In the UK oil industry, revenue collection declined by 45% in the 2012-2013 fiscal year and 25% in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. This state of affairs was attributed to the low levels of oil produ ction and the increased expenditure. However, as Rafiq (2014) reveals, low revenue collection from the oil industry may not necessarily mean low proceeds to the economy.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the contrary, a reduction in oil prices across the world has a positive impact on government tax revenue in the UK. It is true that the total amount of tax revenue that the government of UK collects from the oil industry will decline with reduced oil prices in the world market. However, it is clear that the avenues that low prices of oil are likely to open will increase tax revenue with a higher mark compared to the amount that is currently gathered from the oil industry. The implication is that the balance of revenue tax that could have been collected from the oil industry will be easily offset by the contribution from other sectors (Misati, Nyamongo Mwangi 2013). Such contribution will include employee taxable income, tax levies from the expanded industrial avenues, and the increased tax collection from consumer goods whose demand will have gone up following the available high spendable income. The UK Trade Deficit A balance of import and exports is crucial to the UK economy. MacCoille (2008) confirms how both domestic spending and exports are great contributors to the economic growth of a particular country. Although the UK is a big importer of oil and oil products, a decline in the world oil prices may have a small effect on its economy. However, a decline in oil prices results in the expansion of the UK’s domestic industries that in turn lift people’s spending power (Guidi 2010). This outcome is expected to narrow the UK’s trade deficit. It is also likely that the decrease in oil prices will result in an increase in exports as the UK economy continues to expand. The low cost of production in the UK’s oil-intensive industries implies a higher rate of production and hence more goods and services for the export market. However, this economic situation is likely to be balanced by the increased spendable wages. Since low prices of oil will result in discounted goods in the UK, the long-term effect will be an increase in spendabl e income and hence wealth creation. Empowerment of the local citizenry means that most of the goods that are produced locally have to be consumed locally since people have the money to spend in purchasing the products. When the UK domestic spending rises, there is a likelihood of wealth creation within the country. Industries will expand their production since the cost will continue to be low while people will continue to save and purchase more with the available spendable income. In the end, exports will significantly go down. MacCoille (2008) confirms how a decline in exports implies reduced export taxes. Since the available income is anticipated to be high, part of the spending will be focused on buying more imports. The implication is that tax collection from imports will also increase. Guidi (2010) asserts that the quickly expanding economy that will result from the low cost of production will also lead to the growth of the overall UK economy. The intensification of the economy will translate into increased demand for imports such as machinery, labour, and raw materials. As a result, the economy of the UK will experience a narrowing of trade deficit with the decline in world oil prices. Conclusion A decline in the world oil prices will result in increased tax collection and devaluation of the UK economy. The overall impact of the falling oil prices will be positive economic growth in the UK. Industries and economic activities will expand. The cost of industrial production will decrease, thus allowing quick expansion and increased production of goods by industries that are currently highly reliant on oil. However, low prices of oil in the world market will affect the UK’s oil industry negatively, thereby contributing to low tax revenue to the economy. This discussion finds that low tax revenue from the oil industry will not affect the overall revenue collection by the UK government. On the contrary, various industries will expand with the decline in oil prices. Low cost of production, for example, in the agriculture industry, transport, and manufacturing industries will be witnessed. These industries will increase their tax remittance to the government. Moreover, the industries will raise employment in the countries. Consequently, many employees will also pay taxes to the government. Consumers will also have a spendable income, meaning that they will purchase more products and save money through the reduced prices of goods. Hence, the low cost of production in industries because of the reduced oil charges will end up at the consumer doors since the prices of goods and services will go down. Therefore, this discussion confirms that devaluation of goods and services will not necessarily imply a tax cut since a tax decline in the UK’s oil extraction, production, and transport industry will be offset by other sectors that will grow rapidly, thanks to the reduced oil prices. References Barwell, R 2007, ‘The macroeconom ic impact of higher energy prices on the UK economy’, Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin, vol. 47 no. 4, pp. 522-532. Bloomberg 2015, UK Annual Inflation Rate Falls Below Zero. Web. Guidi, F 2010, ‘The Economic Effects of Oil Prices Shocks on the UK Manufacturing and Services Sectors’, IUP Journal of Applied Economics, vol. 9 no. 4, pp. 5-34. Lincoln, H 2015, British Monetary Policy: Wrong Target. Web. MacCoille, C 2008, ‘The impact of low-cost economies on UK import prices’, Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin, vol. 48 no. 1, pp. 58-65. Misati, N, Nyamongo, M Mwangi, I 2013, ‘Commodity price shocks and inflation in a net oil-importing economy’, OPEC Energy Review, vol. 37 no. 2, pp. 125-148. Rafiq, S 2014, ‘What Do Energy Prices Tell Us About UK Inflation?’, Economica, vol. 81 no. 322, pp. 293-310.

Emphasis named in Learning and Performance Institute’s top 20 learning providers

Emphasis named in Learning and Performance Institute’s top 20 learning providers Emphasis named top-20 learning provider Training is only worthwhile if it works. It needs to do far more than simply let you tick a box. That’s why we’re proud to announce that the Learning and Performance Institute (LPI) has named us one of the top 20 highest-performing learning providers in its latest report. Since 1995, the LPI has been evaluating, consulting on and promoting training that makes a real, demonstrable difference for individuals and organisations. Like us, it prioritises outcomes: no matter how good the delivery, it’s the results that matter. The best of the best When we gained LPI accreditation last year, we joined the ranks of learning providers including Pitney Bowes, SAS and Ricoh – organisations deemed to be continuously raising both learning standards and performance outcomes. The top-20 report goes a step further, highlighting those accredited providers who scored highest against the LPI’s key performance indicators – which range from client integrity to consultancy, and from live learning to quality management. The resulting list represents those organisations that clients can trust to match their offering to individuals’ needs and the organisation’s strategy. And the top performers had to do more than prove the quality of what they deliver – they had to guarantee the best user experience for prospective and existing clients too. This makes us, as LPI CEO Edmund Monk puts it, ‘trusted business partners, acting always in the best interests of their clients’. Your results are our reward Of course – as with any good acceptance speech – even as we grasp the award to our chests and beam with pride, we have to acknowledge we couldn’t have done it alone. Our training works because you do. So we want to thank every client and delegate who took it upon themselves to embrace the techniques we teach and put everything they learned into practice. As our CEO Rob Ashton puts it, ‘Every one of the 50,000 people we’ve helped down the years has been a critical part of our success. Enabling them to achieve the results they deserve through better written communication continues to be its own reward.’ See you at Learning Live in September And because we plan to continue to spread the good word about training that works, we’ll be exhibiting at the LPI’s Learning Live event on 5 and 6 September this year. If you’re going to be there, drop us a line to let us know or come and see us at our stand. We look forward to joining you as part of an event that explores practical solutions to the challenges people like you and your team face in the workplace today.

International Financial Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Financial Markets - Essay Example They lend such surplus fund to the borrowers like households, businesses, governments who want to finance their personal expenditures like purchase of houses, cars and furniture. This kind of flow of funds form the lenders to the borrowers follows two ways known as direct finance and indirect finance. In the former concept the borrowers have access to the finance from the lenders directly. They do this by selling their fiscal tools which represent a claim on the potential proceeds and assets of the borrower. Financial instruments are assets for individuals who buy them and are liabilities for individuals who sell them. Through this process of buying and selling of securities the flow of money is occurs in the economy which is very vital for the economy. Hence financial markets are the medium through which such transactions happen. The financial markets comprises of equity market, debt market, derivative market and foreign exchange market. Each of this market acts as the medium of flo w of fund in the economy. This report will analyse the importance of the financial markets and the role which they play in the development of international trade and economic development. Discussion Financial System Structure The financial system of an economy comprises of three components Financial markets Financial institutions Financial regulators Each of the above components has a specific role in the economy. The financial institutions are important players in the financial markets since they perform the role of an intermediary and hence they determine the flow of funds. The financial regulator’s role is to monitor and regulate the participants of the monetary system. At the heart of this is the fiscal market. It facilitates in the flow of funds in the economy (Cho, 1989, pp. 88-92). Figure 1: Structure of Financial System The financial institutions use financial instruments to regulate the flow of funds in the economy. Financial assets or financial instruments are intan gible assets that are expected to provide future benefits to the owner of the instrument in the form of future cash. Some financial instruments are known as securities which include bonds and stocks (Fry and Maxwell, 1995, p. 282). Financial markets and their economic importance Financial market is a place where there is exchange or trading of financial instruments. The major economic functions of the financial markets are Liquidity Price discovery Reduction of transaction costs. Liquidity The financial markets provide an opportunity to the investors to sell their financial instruments. Liquidity means the ability of an investor to sell an asset in the market at its fair market value anytime he wants. Without this liquidity, an investor had to hold on to the financial instrument till the conditions arise to sell it or the issuer of the asset is contractually obligated to clear the obligation (Stiglitz, 1989, pp. 55-61). The liquidity of an equity instrument is until the company is l iquidated voluntarily or involuntarily. For a debt instrument liquidity comes when it matures. All international financial markets provide some liquidity to the investors though they have different degrees of liquidity associated with it (King, Robert and Ross, 1993, pp. 717-723). Price discovery It denotes to the determination of the price of a traded asset in a financial market by means of transactions between