Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Human Resource Management - Essay Example Some people believe the HR function can be performed by any person since traditionally; the role was performed by individuals who were the masters of the business. However, the business climate is dynamic and the role of HR has become more complex to be performed by any individual. Efforts such as certification are therefore being made to professionalize HRM and make HR professionals to be taken seriously by the senior management just like other fields and be considered as the strategic partner (Price, 2007). The nature and scope of HRM are very wide hence HR professionals perform many functions in the organization. This may warrant them to be recognized as professionals since their role is essential to the business. However, HR professionals need to demonstrate their value to the organization by showing results for them to be taken seriously. They also need to demonstrate certain qualities such as business knowledge, ability to support policies with data, strategic thinking among ot hers (Roehling et al. 2005). Most importantly, the managers must â€Å"continue to change and adapt to today’s complex, dynamic and fast-paced organizations if they are to grow and add value to the organization† (Sims 2007, p. 28). Scope and Concept of HRM The concept of HRM has evolved over time from personnel management to the current strategic human resource management. Just like other disciplines such as finance or marketing which are considered professional, HRM continues to grow and become more valuable especially as a result of globalization and other changes in the environment which require organizations to adapt to the changes and remain competitive or be pushed out of the market. For example, the growth of multinational has made the role of HR practitioners more complex as they have to deal with diversity issues (Redman & Wilkinson, 2009). Sims (2007) traces the origin of human resource management to England whereby craftspeople organized into guilds to regul ate employment conditions and also ensure quality. Later, the industrial revolution changed the nature of work to the factory system where employees were supervised by a person who was not the owner of the business. The workers undertook a trade test in order to join an organization and their jobs became more stable. Organizations in the 1920s began to have personnel departments to deal with employee payments, recruit workers and ensure compliance with government regulations. After World War II, there emerged new trends in personnel management with the formation of unions. The personnel managers had to deal with the unions to negotiate workers employment conditions hence the role of industrial relations emerged. According to Sims (2007), the personnel managers also undertook the role of recruiting and training women who were absorbed in the labour market. There was also the need to improve productivity hence the matching of people with jobs and concern for the worker's needs. It was believed that a satisfied worker was more productive. The development of theories such as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs led to the emergence of new ways of managing people.

Partnership and Its Types Essay Example for Free

Partnership and Its Types Essay A partnership arises whenever two or more people co-own a business, and share in the profits and losses of the business. Each person contributes something to the business such as ideas, money, or property though management rights and personal liability will vary. In Pakistan the partnership firms are registered under the partnership act 1932 which defines the partnership as â€Å"The relation between persons who have agreed to share the profits of a business carried on by all or any of them acting for all† There should be at least two or maximum twenty partners in a firm with the exception of banking where maximum of ten partners could make the partnership A partnership may be registered with the Registrar of Firms of an area where the office of the firm is situated or proposed to be situated. A statement in prescribed form must be delivered to the relevant Registrar stating: †¢Firm name †¢Place or principal place of business of the firm †¢Names of any other places where the firm carries on business †¢Date when each partner joined the firm †¢Names in full and permanent addresses of the partners †¢Duration of the firm †¢Foretasted statement signed and verified by each partner Types of partners Active or working partner: Such a partner contributes capital and also takes active part in the management of the firm. He bears an unlimited liability for the firms debts. He is known to outsiders. He shares profits of the firm. He is a full-fledged partner. 2. Sleeping or dormant partner: A sleeping or inactive partner simply contributes capital. He does not take active part in the management of the firm. He shares in the profits or losses of the firm. His liability for the firms debts is unlimited. He is not known to the outside world. 3. Secret partner: This type of partner contributes capital and takes active part in the management of the firms business. He shares in the profits and losses of firm and his liability is unlimited. However, his connection with the firm is not known to the outside world. 4. Limited partner: The liability of such a partner is limited to the extent of his share in the capital and profits of the firm. He is not entitled to take active part in the management of the firms business. The firm is not dissolved in the event of his death, lunacy or bankruptcy. 5. Partner in profits only: He shares in the profits of the firm but not in the losses. But his liability for the firms debts is unlimited. He is not allowed to take part in the management of the firm. Such a partner is associated for his money and goodwill. 6. Nominal: Such a partner neither contributes capital nor takes part in the management of business. He does not share in the profits or losses of the firm. He only lends his name and reputation for the benefit of the firm. He represents himself or knowingly allows himself to be represented as a partner. He becomes liable to outsiders for the debts of the firm. A nominal partner can be of two types: 7. Minor as a partner: A minor is a person who has not completed 18 years of age. A minor cannot become a partner because he is not qualified to enter into a contract. But he may be admitted to the benefits of partnership with the mutual consent of all the partners. On being so admitted, a minor becomes entitled to a share in the profits of the firm. He can inspect and copy the books of account of the firm but he cannot take active part in the firms management. His liability is limited to the extent of his share in the capital and profits of the firm. He cannot file a suit against the firm or its partners to get his share except when he wants to disassociate himself from the firm. After becoming a major, the minor must give a public notice within six months if e wants to break off his connections with the partnership firm. If he does not give such a notice within six months or if he decides to remain in the firm, he becomes liable to an unlimited extent for the debts of the firm from the date he was admitted to the benefits of partnership. He also becomes entitled to take active part in the management of the firms business. 8. Sub partner: He is a third person with whom a partner agrees to share his profits desired from the firm. He does not take part in the management of the firm. He is not liable for the firms debts.

The Fatal Jet Ski Ride :: Memoir Essays

The Fatal Jet Ski Ride Walking down the cold, white, hospital hall, my mind was racing a million miles an hour. How could she be dead? Two people in two days...what are the chances? We rounded the corner, my cousin Daniele holding on to me as hard as she could, me gripping her arm to keep myself in pace. There she was, Pam Doan, her body I should say, lying there under that white sheet. Pam, was my cousin's best friend, and mine too, for the fourteen days I'd been there. Two weeks earlier I had arranged for my boyfriend, Charles, to come pick me up and take me back with him to Bridgeport, Nebraska to stay with my Aunt Annie, Uncle Gaylen and my cousins Casey, 18 and Daniele, 15. I arrived there June 23rd, 2002, the day after my 17th birthday. The first few days consisted of Daniele teaching me how to drive her car, seeing how I didn't have one of my own there, and she couldn't drive yet. I had never driven a stick shift before, and it was a pretty comical experience for the both of us. But once I had mastered it, we drove all over that little town. Just Daniele, Pam and I. Pam was 17 also, looking forward to her 18th birthday in November. Our days started routinely. Daniele and I getting up and showering, convincing her dad to take the boat out to the town lakes so we could go tubing and water skiing. Meeting Pam out there and the three of us spending all day in our swimsuits getting tan and sore from riding those damn tubes around the lakes. A few trips here and there into town to my aunt's mexican restaurant to get some food. Then it was back into the shower as we got ready to go out for the night. There were places to go and people to meet. I met my cousin's ex-boyfriend, Aron, and his friend Kyle. Then there was "Perv", whose real name I haven't a clue. At one social gathering, Daniele and I were having a conversation with a couple of guys, one who was Aaron Houston and the other was Stuart Klassen, who will always be known to Daniele and I as "Possum". Then along came the 4th of July weekend that will haunt me forever. My uncle took their family camper out to the lakes and Daniele and I took turns with her brother, Casey, staying out there.

K to 12 programs: Implementation is it worth it or Burden Essay

To start with, what does Education means to you? In the dictionary, it is defined as the act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character, or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense education is the process by which society deliberately transmit it’s accumulate knowledge, skill and values from one generation to another. In my own words, Education is the process of learning by which the knowledge, character and behaviour are produced and modified. In this essay, I will impart upon my readers my opinion of what education means to me. My education given to me by my grade school was one which provided me with sufficient skill about academics performances however I have hard time in arithmetic, knowing my own limitation in academics makes me comprehend that I must build up more. As time goes by, our education improves. The DepED implied new curriculum. This is the K to 12 programs. Under this curriculum there will be additional 2-years in secondary level. Is the K to 12 curriculums â€Å"worth it†? In my point of view it is worth it. Why? Because it helps all the students to learn more about entrepreneurship and livelihood business and our country will become globally competitive. The K to 12 curriculums will be sufficient to prepare students for work and this is the betterment of our education system and our economy. And the good thing in this curriculum is when you are graduated in this curriculum you can immediately work without continuing college but you can’t have a degree but if decide to continue college it is better because you can have a superior work and have a degree. While on the other hand, it is â€Å"Burden†. Well they say that this K to 12 curriculums is an additional burden to the parents particular when they are having deficient in money sending their children in schools. Of course all of the parents desire to send their children to have high-quality education but in various cases because of poverty their option is to not educate them. In conclusion, the K to 12 curriculums is worth it neither it a burden. Without doubt, education can affect one’s future. It is undeniably that through education, we can pursue our dream and ambition in life. The choice is in our hands. We must equip ourselves with plenty knowledge in order to be successful in life. It is depending on us what will be our future; education is just a tool to reach our ambition in life. The work is still in our hands. And education is the best gift you could ever  receive, because once you have it, no one can ever take it. I believe this understanding of the DepED will be a big chance to achieve our objective in life. I have come to think that the K to 12 curriculums is a brilliant project but the question is â€Å"Will the K to 12 programs facilitate the students intending to pursue a higher education†. A relationship is like a rose, How long it lasts, no one knows; Love can erase an awful past, Love can be yours, you’ll see at last; To feel that love, it makes you sigh, To have it leave, you’d rather die; You hope you’ve found that special rose, ‘Cause you love and care for the one you chose.

Discrimination in Labor

In the case of Sarah Crone vs. United Parcel Service, Inc. , decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the court decided against the complainant, and held that there was lack of evidence to show that the employer was discriminatory in not considering her for the promotion. In said case Crone, a dispatcher of the employer corporation wanted to be promoted to the dispatcher supervisor position, when the said position became available.However, she was not promoted because the Department Manager and the Division Manager feared she might not be able to deal with confrontations, which are necessarily attached to the supervisory position. For Crone, this ground was discriminatory on account of sex. According to the court, Crone was unable to show that the company’s reason was a mere pretext to cover up its discriminatory purpose. (Crone v. UPS, Inc. , 2002).The issue of discrimination can indeed be raised in this case, considering that it initially appears that Crone was not considered for promotion merely because of some trait that the managers ascribed to her on account of her being a woman. It should be noted that discrimination exists where distinctions are made, â€Å"in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit. (Dictionary. com). Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Laws prohibit all sorts of discriminatory practices of employers, which include making â€Å"employment decisions based on stereotypes or assumptions about the abilities, traits, or performance of individuals of a certain sex, race, age, religion, or ethnic group, or individuals with disabilities. † (Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Laws).These EEO laws, which have been passed in most states, enjoin companies to provide equal employment opportunity to all their employees, without regard to irrelevant characteristics such as age, religion and sex. EEO laws, having been based on the fundamental principle of fairness, urges companies to allow equal opportunity for employees to succeed. (Fair Measures). Following these laws, therefore, the company’s decision to choose another person over Crone falls within the category of employment decisions that should not be tainted with discriminatory considerations.However, it cannot be said that the court’s decision in this case in dismissing the complaint could lead to unlawful excuses for discrimination in other settings, because the ruling was not a statement of a policy favoring the creation of biases against women. The ruling was based on facts. The company was able to substantiate its defense that it was justified in finding Crone unqualified for the position because of her lack of necessary skills to deal with confrontations, which evaluation was supported by an occasion where Crone came close to tears while a driver became confrontational with her.Thus, the court upheld the ruling in Kiel v. Select Artificials, Inc. , 169 F. 3d 1131, 1136 (8th Cir. ) (en banc), cert. denied, 528 U. S. 818 (1999), which said, â€Å"In the absence of any evidence of discriminatory intent, however, it is not the prerogative of the courts or jury to sit in judgment of employers’ management decisions. † (Crone v. UPS, Inc. , 2002). Thus, it would be premature to conclude that this decision veers away from the policy against discrimination, as it is clear that the company’s decision was based on cold facts.This writer believes that the above case does not require elaborate changes in the present EEO structure, as there is no danger of discrimination, provided that the law’s nuances and policy are carefully followed. The law provides for instances that could be considered discrimination. In the absence of sufficient proof of such discrimination, the law is correct in providing equal protection to employers who have the right to man age their business in accordance with their preferences.

Review of «Adapting Kohlberg to Enhance the Assessment of Managers Moral Reasoning» by James Weber

Review of  «Adapting Kohlberg to Enhance the Assessment of Managers Moral Reasoning » by James Weber Introduction This write-up intends to review an article written by James Weber titled Adapting Kohlberg to Enhance the Assessment of Managers’ Moral Reasoning. The main areas that this essay will tackle include: the basis of the article, the main points presented in the article and a critical evaluation of the article with reference to how well the article achieves its goals, shortcomings, possibilities suggested by the article and conclude with the most convincing points.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Review of  «Adapting Kohlberg to Enhance the Assessment of Managers’ Moral Reasoning » by James Weber specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the article, Weber seeks to illustrate how to enhance Kohlberg’s Moral Judgment Interview and the Standard Issue Scoring Method by conducting an empirical study that uses four adaptations. The main purpose of the article was to illustrate that, there are ot her scientifically acceptable methods, which are, a modification of Kohlberg methods that can be utilized in the quest of enhancing the assessment of the level of moral reasoning for managers. Based on the evidence presented inform of discussions and sample interview questions, Weber was able to convince me on the applicability and generalization of his findings. Background information Conflict resolution in any organizational setting is an essential facet that ensures proper workplace relations, interactions and performance thus ensuring that organizational goals are met in due time. Weber in this article strives to provide better ways of assessing the manager’s level of reasoning with reference as to how they deal with emerging conflicts in the workplace. In order to critically evaluate the applicability, generalization and the internal validity of Weber’s empirical research, I will evaluate the nature and scope of his literature review, sample size, data collection tools, data presentation and analysis and discussions. Summary Weber has justified the relevance of assessing the level of moral reasoning for managers by indicating that managers are continuously faced with substantial conflicting issues in the work place thus, the need to assess their level of ethical and moral reasoning in dealing with such issues (293). Further, to justify for the need to come up with adaptation strategies that are relevant for assessing the moral reasoning for managers, Weber identifies the major shortcomings of Kohlberg instruments of moral assessment by indicating that, â€Å"Kohlberg’s objective was to assess the development of an individual’s moral reasoning from childhood to adult hood†, which is contrary to what Weber sort to assess (294).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Further, Weber has explained Kohlberg assertio n of the reasoning development stages as proconvetional, conventional and postconventional. Weber explains that, according to Kohlberg method of assessing the level of moral reasoning, this stages are relevant in the sense that they present an individual’s reasoning from childhood through to adult hood in relation to the environment that the inhabit (295-296). To test his hypothesis, Weber prescribes four adaptation strategies that build on Kohlberg’s methods. They include more moral dilemmas that are familiar to the client as opposed to familiar dilemmas, probe questions that expound on organizational values, written interviews, as opposed to oral interviews and a Standard Issue Scoring that is more particular on moral concepts (297-304). Weber’s findings indicate that when the managers’ moral reasoning were assessed based on familiar dilemmas, and unfamiliar dilemmas, the responses assessed indicated that familiar dilemmas scores were low and, that they were better placed to assess the level of moral reasoning. Results also indicate that more managers were willing to be interviewed through written interviews â€Å"97%† as opposed to the â€Å"50† response rate recorder for oral interviews (304). Further, the introduction of follow up questions that were related to organizational values was significant in evaluating the managers’ moral responses. Results also indicate that the inclusion of a Standard Issue Scoring tool that was centered on moral concept was insignificant (308). Critical evaluation The main agenda behind Weber’s article was to demonstrate that, there were other viable recognize scientific options other than the conventional Kohlberg moral reasoning assessment tools. Through a well though sample size for the two sets of interviews (oral and written), Weber was able to prove that more managers were inclined to written interviews as it took less time (304-305). Further, the inclusion of the used interview questions (Appendix A) and the use of correlation analysis were tremendously important in this study in order to indicate the differences between Weber’s adapted methods and the original Kohlberg methods. Therefore, the article was able to achieve its goals. The article suggests that, it is possible to come up with a Standard Issue Scoring method that is more competent than Kohlberg’s, by conducting more research on the tool.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Review of  «Adapting Kohlberg to Enhance the Assessment of Managers’ Moral Reasoning » by James Weber specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He also suggests that, there is a possibility that, a researcher who uses his third adaptation (use of probe questions that focus on organization value) might not get the exact level of moral reasoning because, that adaptation requires careful considerations with reference to the type of que stions asked (308). Generally, the article indicates that, it is possible to use the four adaptations and arrive at a much better conclusion. The general format and presentation of the article was excellent; however, there were some minor shortcomings which included an extremely short literature review and a shallow discussion that had minimal comparison to other research findings on the same topic. Conclusion In conclusion, Weber’s article was exceptionally informative as it derived various convincing points such as it is possible to conduct better moral reasoning assessments for managers by using interviews in written form as opposed to oral interviews and using more familiar dilemmas as opposed to unfamiliar dilemmas. The article also acknowledges that, organizational values have a lot of bearing on how managers resolve conflicts and that a more consistent Standard Issue Scoring tool needs to be developed. Weber, James. â€Å"Adapting Kohlberg to enhance the assessment o f managers’ moral reasoning.† Business Ethics Quarterly 1.3 (1990): 293-318. Print.

Refurbishment of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne

Refurbishment of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne The Royal Exhibition Building located within Carlton Gardens in Melbourne Australia is a gem in comparison to other famous exhibition pavilions in the world. This site is ideal for large public or trade exhibitions and prominent main events. Having been completed in 1880, this iconic building has seen better days.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Refurbishment of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A growing demand in new market areas and the subsequent advancement in technology has placed new demands on this facility. This has prompted the authorities in charge to come up with strategies aimed at upgrading the venue into an amiable facility worthy of a six star status. The spot features first-class interior floor space of 12 000sq. m. over two levels, 7 000sq. m. of multipurpose outdoor grounds, exceptional public transport access and covertly secured parking lot (Cadamer 2008 , pp.101).  Scope of Feasibility Study for the Refurbishment of the Royal Exhibition Building Melbourne. Introduction The Commission for Sustainable Development in Australia has voted to commission a feasibility study to evaluate the technical and economic issues that would result from a refurbishment of the Royal building in the city of Melbourne. The intended refurbishment aims to upgrade this majestic venue to a level where it attains six star statuses. The study will consider the most viable options that can be undertaken to ensure that this historic site maintains its grandeur and it is also able to sustainably compete at the world market. The study will be ultimately used to support the use of readily available resources and technologies for the improvement of one of the worlds heritage sites so as to tap in to emerging market trends and also in an attempt to maintain the cultural heritage synonymous with the site. Its accessibility and connectivity to the rest of Melbournes financial, transportation and communication services will play a long way in ensuring this (David 2006 pp. 108).  This project is being overseen by the Department of Cultural heritage, Commission of Sustainable development, National Geographic and Natural Resources (Australia) and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Australia). This project is funded under the Asian Pacific Economic Program for Asian Pacific countries in conjunction with the Australian ministry of cultural heritage. This Program aims to address the economic and social disadvantages which can result from the refurbishment of the Royal Exhibition building. Under this major Program, several Measures will be undertaken to improve the general ambiance of this historic site.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is supposed to be accompanied by a tangible and sustainable upgrade in the transport, energy and communications infrastructure within the eligible area, in order to facilitate economic development and social co-operation that would match demands of the 21st century. Objectives of Study The object of this study is to evaluate the technical and economic issues that would arise in refurbishing the Royal Exhibition building in Melbourne such that it acquires a six star status. Bringing six stardom status to the Royal Exhibition Building is the core objective of this whole venture and this has to naturally fall under a careful sort out set of assumptions which will include the following. Determine the feasibility of providing a venue worthy of a six star status which is able to avail the desired competitive advantages to be able to tap in the numerous economic advantages being presented by the 21st century (Ihde 2001).  Identify the financial ramifications that might be associated with the said project. Provide an estimate of the human capital requirements a ssociated with the refurbishment of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. Define any relevant geographical and archaeological features that would be encountered within the envisaged refurbishment activity, Carry out a Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment, Define the major components, potential locations and basic layouts for connecting all the present and potential stake holders. Prepare a project budget to an accuracy of +/- 10%, Prepare a project schedule.  In order for a project of such a magnitude to come into effect, several stakeholders have to put their act together. In this case the possible stakeholders are the Department of Cultural Heritage. This is mandated with the preservation and promotion of Australias cultural sites and since the Royal Exhibition Building lies in its domain then it is inevitable that they be a stake holder. The Commission of Sustainable development has been mandated in coming up with possible ways of enhancing developments that are su stainable in both the short and long term economic future. The National Geographic and Natural resources Commission is a national body that ensures that all natural resources are harnessed and exploited accordingly. Hence it would seem a very viable option for the refurbishment of the Royal Exhibition Building to enable it to reap full benefits of its economic potential.  Development of Enterprise, Trade and Investment movement is movement that would want to promote the said refurbishment in view of a potential upsurge in trade and business ventures once the venue acquires six stardom statuses.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Refurbishment of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Municipal Council of Melbourne, being a local government duly elected by the people, it would be an ideal opportunity for the council to invest and hence enable the electorate to benefit from the accrued revenues generating from the refurbished sites. UNESCO. Having endured 130 years since its construction, the Royal Exhibition building is rated highly by the United Nations body as an important heritage site and thus is likely to get an instant node as a site worthy of getting an upgrade so as to march up to the demands of 21 st century. Refurbishments are bound to occur at some point in the lifespan of a building. A buildings construction and design should put into consideration how future refurbishments can be undertaken. It must have occurred to the original designers of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne to put in place certain measures that would have ensured that this majestic structure would in future allow for some sustainable renovations to take place in view of not only prolonging its life but also to improve its aesthetic value so as to draw a larger clientele. From a Similar point of view, the building’s original blue print could have revealed a d eliberate attempt to accommodate renovations which would enable the building to get acceptable returns on investment if it was ever to be put up for sale.  This feasibility study was prompted by the desire to achieve the following objectives; First there was the desire to extend the life of the iconic Royal Exhibition building in Melbourne so that future generations would be able to behold in real essence the grandeur and panache that was originally associated with the said building. Then it was considered quite crucial that the building should uphold and retain its attractiveness to the already changing clientele. It is also of paramount importance that the building is able to measure up to the ever changing environmental demands i. e being compliant under the green technology adage while at the same time retaining its attractiveness to clients. The building is also expected to continue attracting greater rents and also present a considerable return on investments in case of a po ssible sale. The building is also through its refurbishments supposed to attract a six star recognition while at the same time achieving the much coveted competitive edge. Any sustainable renovation has to face up to challenges posed by constraints presented by time limitation and the fact that refurbishments and reconstruction present extra expenses and an interruption to the businesses that operate from the particular venue (Ihde,2001 pp.111)). Due to the following reasons, the need to act swiftly and minimize expenses are the main challenges that formulators of renovation designs have to constantly deal with. During renovation, huge amounts of waste is generated, thus it is very vital that a suitable approach for dealing with reclaimed materials, equipment and resources be put in place. It is also worthy to note that budget allocations could considerably reduce if effective processes of ensuring that proper waste management practices are put in place. This should also be accompan ied by a proper utilization of reclaimed material Access to eco-friendly and reclaimable resources is linked to a structure’s blueprint.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There is a close link between the two since the necessity of materials at a construction blueprint stage basically influences when, and to what degree, a structure requires renovation or remodeling. Secondly, design influences ease of access to required material so much so that if it fails to identify appropriate ways of using eco-friendly/reusable resources, then it follows that unnecessary expenses will be incurred while at the same time having to deal with identifying practical ways of dealing with the waste material (Hillary 2005 pp 101). Up to 97% of the construction work in Australia is carried out on already existing structures. Thus, building activities in the country have a great opportunity to embrace the concepts widely advocated the champions of a greener technology. Market analysis Australia is one of the fast developing countries in the world. The country has experienced several tremendous improvements over the last couple of years and this is not going to slow down. O ne of the areas noticeable is on tourism. Although tourism, one of the countrys key sectors, is having to endure an ever increasing competition from other Asian pacific countries, studies have indicated that a steady flow of tourists have continuously flocked Australia since the Sidney Olympics in 2002. This coupled with the fact that Australia is experiencing growing demand in new market areas such as venture and intellectual tourism, eco-tourism and upscale hotels, offers an opportunity for the country to revitalize the full-grown tourism sector, in addition the amplification of eco-tourism across the country. Other positive examples are the presence of offshore education and information and communication technology (ICT) enabled practices seen as possible additional sectors of potential development, especially from English-speaking countries. Foreign exchange earnings from both the agricultural and manufactured goods have immensely increased within the last 5 years, this has also seen an upward surge in developments in tourism, learning and monetary service providers.  Over 4,200 firms in Australian are doing business directly with China, there has also been a tremendous increase of small and medium sized enterprises from Australia in china in the last two years. Our resources companies has been joined by architectural, building, engineering, logistical, accountancy and legal firms are some of the companies from Australia that are now taking part in the Chinese market Export of manufactured goods to the least developed countries has increased from a partly 43% from the last ten year to an impressive 53% this current year. UBS has pointed out to India, South Africa, Papua New Guinea, and the UAE as emerging future markets for Australia products. With upsurge of economic developments in most countries that traditionally had shared little or no economic ties with Australia, It has thus become increasingly necessary for Australia to review its trade relations with these countries in attempts to tap into the new but lucrative business opportunities presented. In short, the emergence of these economic ventures is bound to present an ideal ground for the Royal exhibition building as a focal business/commercial center. 1st July 2004 marks the day when the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens got duly recognition by UNESCO and were therefore subsequently placed on the World Heritage list. Hence, they became the first sites within Australia to achieve a listing in World Heritage. Presently, the Royal Exhibition Building is a component site of Museum Victoria while the adjacent gardens fall under the jurisdiction of the City of Melbourne. With its fabulously lavish interior, all-embracing galleries and lofty arena, the Great Hall is second to none when it comes to hosting superb trade shows, fairs and artistic and public events. Hence with anticipated refurbishments, this majestic venue will not only attract high caliber clientele but will also enhance a long and an illustrious history as one of the worlds, cultural.business and heritage sites. Technical Analysis The Royal Exhibition is located in Carlton Gardens Melbourne Australia. It is made of brick and has been set on a bluestone base. It has long central naves and stunted transepts. For access, it has four triumphal entrance porticoes one on each side. Refurbishment works of for this building are aimed at embracing a variety of green building aspects. It is aimed at achieving high levels of carbon neutrality and water balance. Innovative technologies such as lowering the use of energy and recycling of used water in the building for cleaning and watering the adjacent gardens are some of the technologies that will be used. Figures in US $ Activity Duration Cost Moving and setting machines and equipment 2 months 2,000,000 Renovation of the e and w wings of the building 8 months 48,000,000 Renovation of the s and w wings of the building 8months 48,000 ,000 Restoration of adjacent parking area 2 months 6,000,000 Total cost 104,000,000 Dynamo Company limited which has taken part in the construction of numerous mega structures in Australia will be providing the necessary machinery and equipment. They were considered since they have all that was needed in terms of machines and equipment. The centrality of the building makes it most ideal for access of building materials. This is also enhanced by the availability of building material in Melbourne and good infrastructure which ensures smooth transportation.Above is an illustration of the time and amount of finances projected for complete renovation of the building. It has been decided to follow the following sequence so as to allow for continuation of business by half of the premises operating there even when renovation work is ongoing. This is only a projection and it has also been taken into account that financial implications at completion of the project might exceed the pro jected figures due to factors such as price inflation. It might also take longer than two years to complete due to other unforeseen circumstances such as erratic weather conditions.  Since the construction industry in Australia has grown considerably, there is abundant skilled labor to undertake the renovation. The various cadres required to undertake a successful construction venture for instance, architects, designers, engineers, masons, laborers, machine operators etc are in constant supply. Most of the waste material from the renovation will be put into good use. Rabble and debris from the site will be used to lay the foundation of the adjacent park. Discarded steel will be smelted and recycled. Statement of anticipated problems and risks Refurbishment of the Royal exhibition building is bound to experience the following hiccups; inadequate funds. Though there are potential stakeholders who might be willing to fund this project, their budgetary allocations might not be enough to see the project to its conclusive stage. The project also faces the problem of having to experience lapses in the time frame within which it is supposed to have commenced and gained completion. There is also the problem of price and market fluctuations in building materials which will mean that the original operating budgets cannot sustain the project to its conclusion. This project might also experience difficulties in having to deal with the numerous and stringent legal legislations required by the authorities. The emergence of other new and modern business venues might mean that this project is deemed vague and an attempt in futility. There can also emerge conflicting refurbishment designs (Seebhom, 2004). Financial analysis The proposed project is estimated to cost around one hundred and twenty ($120) US dollars. Twenty million is expected to cover the cost of labor while the rest is supposed to cover the cost of the building materials needed for the completion of the project . The vast amount of funds that this project is expected to require will call for several investors to chip in. However, the Australian government should be expected to contribute a substantial amount through its various bodies namely; Commission for sustainable development, National Geographic and Natural Resources commission and the development of Enterprise, Trade and Investments Program. Other potential investors include UNESCO and the Municipal Council of Melbourne. Having that the Royal Exhibition Building is a venerated business hub in Melbourne, several financial institutions might also consider it as good business and decide to finance the project anticipating improved returns once the project is complete.  Currently the Royal Exhibition Building has a usual turnover of about twenty five million dollars per annum. With improved facilities after the refurbishment, this revenue is expected to double. For all the investors to recoup their invested funds, it is estimated that it will take a minimum of five years for the hundred and twenty million dollars plus interest to be fully recovered by the investors. After that, the building is estimated to be accruing revenues of around forty million dollars per year. Financial Cash Flow Statement: Renovation of the Royal Exhibition Building  (figures in US$ ) EvaluationTo objectively and judiciously unearth the strengths and weaknesses of an existing business or projected endeavor, be able to identify the opportunities and threats involved, take stock of the available resources, coming up will ways of applying these resources to attain an anticipated amount of success is in most of the cases the reason why most feasibility studies are carried out. This has been the case with my case study. However, sound capital budgeting techniques must be adhered to so as to determine beyond doubt that the project will be viable financially. This not only helps in making sound economic decisions but it also allows for the exploration of profitable investment opportunities. I will confine myself to mainly three techniques to measure the worth of this particular project against its expected return on investment. Payback method It represents the number of years required to recover the original cash outlay invested in a project. It is based on the principle that every capital expenditure pays itself back over a number of years. It attempts to measure the period of time it takes for the original cost of a project to be recovered from the additional earning of the project. The formula for calculating payback period is; This shows a strong indication that the project is highly viable. Though the above method is favored due to its, simplicity, liquidity, safety and reliability, it fails to capture the time value of money, disregards the productivity and cost of capital and doesn’t capture the entire lifespan of projects. Net Present Value Method The net present value is the difference between the pr esent value of the future cash inflows after tax and the present value of cash out lay. It is expressed as follows; Conclusion This is also a good indication that the project is viable.  Inasmuch as one would want look forward to formulating a foolproof feasibility study, it should be noted that there are some underlying factors that will inevitably influence the course of events and which can be hardly be anticipated neither accounted for. For example a schedule feasibility study may fail to account for delays emanating from maybe erratic climatic conditions or may be due to a sudden inflation in world markets (Thomas 2004, pp. 222). List of References Cadamer. H. 2008. Feasibility Study. California: University of California Press. David A. 2006. Learn About Building Green and Sustainability. Warsaw: Trane  Publishers. Ihde, D.2001. Expanding With Sustainable Technology. Illinois: North West  University Press. Jean. 2001. Feasibility Study Simplified. New York: State Univer sity New Press.  Hillary. B. 2005. Emerging Technologies and Practices. Chicago: Chicago  University Press. Ramburg, B. 2009. Boosting Efficiency energy with emerging  Technologies.Chicago:Summer2009 Hacket. Seebhom. T. 2004. Feasibility methods Methodology ISBNI-4020=2618-8(e-book)Dordrecht,Netherlands:KluwertPublishers. Stephen, J. 2011. Building Community Using Social Technology. Maryland:  United Press.  Thiselton, D.2000. Sustainable energy. Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing  Company. Thomas, G. 2004. The Royal Exhibition Building. Melbourne: University of  Melbourne Press.

10 Facts About the Geography of Baja California

10 Facts About the Geography of Baja California Baja California is a state in northern Mexico, the westernmost in the country. It encompasses an area of 27,636 square miles (71,576 sq km) and borders the Pacific Ocean on the west; Sonora, Arizona, and the Gulf of California on the east; Baja California Sur to the south; and California to the north. By area, Baja California is the 12th largest state in Mexico, which has 31 states and one federal district. Mexicali is the capital of Baja California, and more than 75 percent of the population lives in that city or in Ensenada or Tijuana. Other large cities in Baja California include San Felipe, Playas de Rosarito, and Tecate. Baja, California Facts The following is a list of 10 geographic facts to know about Baja California: It is believed that people first settled on the Baja Peninsula around 1,000 years ago and that the region was dominated by a few Native American groups. Europeans did not reach the area until 1539.Control of Baja California shifted between various groups in its early history, and it was not admitted into Mexico as a state until 1952. In 1930, the Baja California peninsula was divided into northern and southern territories. However, in 1952, the northern region (everything above the 28th parallel) became the 29th state of Mexico, while southern areas remained as a territory.The dominant ethnic groups in the state are white/European and Mestizo, or mixed Native American and European. Native Americans and East Asians also make up a large percentage of the states population.Baja California is divided into five municipalities. They are Ensenada, Mexicali, Tecate, Tijuana, and Playas de Rosarito.As a peninsula, Baja California is surrounded by water on three sides with borders on the Pacif ic Ocean and the Gulf of California. The state also has diverse topography but it is divided in the middle by the Sierra de Baja California, the Peninsular Ranges. The largest of these ranges are the Sierra de Juarez and the Sierra de San Pedro Martir. The highest point of these ranges and of Baja California is Picacho del Diablo at 10,157 feet (3,096 m). Between the mountains of the Peninsular Ranges are various valley regions that  are rich in agriculture. However, the mountains also play a role in Baja Californias climate, as the western portion of the state is mild due to its presence near the Pacific Ocean, while the eastern portion lies on the leeward side of the ranges and is arid through much of its area. The Sonoran Desert, which also runs into the United States, is in this area.Baja California is extremely biodiverse along its coasts. The Gulf of California and Baja Californias shores are home to one-third of Earths marine mammal species. California sea lions live on the states islands, while various types of whales, including the blue whale, breed in the regions waters.The main sources of water for Baja California are  the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers. The Colorado River naturally empties into the Gulf of California, but because of upstream uses, it rarely reaches the area. The rest of the states water comes from wells a nd dams, but clean drinking water is a big issue in the region. Baja California  has 32 universities with 19 serving as research centers in fields such as physics, oceanography, and aerospace.Baja California also has a strong economy and is 3.3 percent  of Mexicos gross domestic product. This is mainly through manufacturing in the form of maquiladoras. Tourism and service industries are also large fields in the state.

Essay on a disease ( OBESITY) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

On a disease ( OBESITY) - Essay Example He has been battling this disease since his teens and by age fifteen he was 23 pounds overweight and by thirty he was 45 pounds in excess of what his normal weight should have been. Brett was not skinny as a kid but just a regular chubby guy and like all kids adored sweets and junk food, and as an only child he was indulged in both. Not that this may have been the only cause, since both his parents were also on the heavy side, not exactly obese but definitely generously proportioned and quite alien to the concept of healthy food and exercise. From a chubby kid Brett morphed into a fat pre-teen and soon into an obese teenager. Through the years he has tried various diets, exercise regimes and numerous weight loss products that have all guaranteed weight loss, but each time he failed and lost hope. In fact the constant yo-yo dieting and weight loss products have contributed to his weight gain and health problems. Obesity has not only caused him numerous physical problems like diabetes and sleep apnea, but this disease has mentally demolished him as well. Due to his weight stigma he became withdrawn as a teenager unable to deal with the constant ridicule and later a complete recluse, refusing even to attend family gatherings. Doctors again have been more of a hindrance than help due to their biased perceptions and weight stigma. Disease implies some form of physical failure, and is associated with some form of damage to the body, that is usually accompanied by suffering, or by death. Obesity easily fits all of these criterions as it produces malfunctions in many organ systems and structures, and leads to inexpressible misery, and results in large number of deaths. Obesity actually is the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue2 i.e. body fat to such an extent that it causes health difficulties. There are many causes for obesity like genetic and hormonal problems,

E-government benefits Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

E-government benefits - Research Paper Example Convenience is also characterized by availability of many channels brought about by e-government that enables the citizens to choose where and when to receive government services. In addition, citizens with disabilities do not have the trouble of moving from one geographical area to the other seeking government services. Secondly, e-government has simplified application processes. Yigitcanlar & Baum (2006) asserts that citizens can easily apply for government services easily. Through the government websites, a citizen can get answers to his or her question without wading through hundreds of irrelevant information. With e-government, records can be signed digitally, certified legally and delivered electronically to the appropriate locations via the internet. Information can easily be accessed using a standardized feel and look using MassCares suite applications. A MassCares suite application has enabled citizens to serve themselves because routine work of government officials has been automated. In addition, citizens can visit many government agencies with a click of the mouse. With e-government, application process has also been made simpler through single-windows and single-sign –on. Third, e-government has increased citizen’s effectiveness and efficiencies. ... Citizens have found out e-government reduces the amount of time, money as well as materials spend on seeking government services. This is because correspondence between the government officials and citizens can be done via email, shot messaging services or chat rooms. Furthermore, e-government has reduced the chances of citizens making errors in application because automation informs the user in real-time when the error occurs and allow him or her to rectify it on the spot. Effectiveness and efficiency brought about by e-government has enabled some citizens to plan better their personal and professional work. Fourth, e-government has increased democratization. Citizens can easily express their opinions on government policies and activities via online surveys or blogs. In fact, it has been established that citizens especially those who are younger participate on online discussions of political issues and are appealed by e-voting procedures. The citizens can easily exert direct and pro minent influence to legislative processes by increasing their political participation on issues affecting them. According to Roy (2004), e-government allows citizens to interact with government officials as well as politicians on major issues affecting their lives. Instant-messaging, online interactive survey, audio/video presentations and blogging will allow government officials and politicians see and understand people’s views (Alston, 2003). Fifth, e-government has increased transparency and accountability in government agencies. With e-government, citizens (voter) are allowed to get insight on how government decisions and policies are made in real time basis.

Ethical Behavior of Employee Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Ethical Behavior of Employee - Essay Example Menzel’s compliance model suggests that the employee’s conduct is regulated to spur obedience to minimum standards and legal prohibitions; what the law says, what the rules mean, and what one needs to do (Ethical Moments in Government page number). Employees must abide by the applicable rules and practices to stay out of trouble. If they break the rules, they will be subject to punishment. Punishment would be harsh to those who break the rules with willful intention and less harsh if the rules are broken due to ignorance (Menzel, â€Å"PM Plus†). In sharp contrast, Menzel’s integrity-based model is value driven, not rules driven. It combines the awareness of public service ethos, ethical standards, and legal prohibitions, as well as the process of moral reasoning to inspire exemplary actions and ethical conduct (Menzel, Ethical Moments in Government page number). Values may differ depending on the mission, leadership, incentives, awareness, education, and training, aspirations, and culture (Menzel, â€Å"PM Plus†). The employee must choose what is right and what is wrong depending on these considerations. Let us take the city manager’s ethical dilemma here. From a strict compliance point of view, the city manager has no deal with the neighboring community. A verbal agreement is not enforceable under law or under contract in such a situation. As there is no compliance-based ethical issue here, he could go back on his word with the neighboring community and accept the higher offer from his own community without violating professional ethics.

Unit 3DB The Green Revolution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unit 3DB The Green Revolution - Research Paper Example In this regard, energy conservation should be highly rated and considered if indeed the long term effects of environmental conservation are to be realised. In order to reduce personal energy consumption, the following changes can be made that would in the long run create a significant difference. To save car fuel energy consumed on daily drives to work, commuter trains and or bicycles can be used to achieve the same. This will not only reduce gasoline fuel consumption, but also help in environmental pollution. Concerning the other forms of energy use, such as the ones on lighting heating and cooking, renewable energy, specifically, solar and wind energy can be utilised. These energy forms are sustainable and also clean. On the other hand, to increase energy efficiency requires discipline in the use of already in place energy sources. This means small changes such as switching off unnecessary lights around the house, and using energy efficient light saver bulbs. In addition to this, electric appliances should be used as per the manufactures specifications. Household electric appliances account for nearly thirty per cent of home electric consumption. Therefore, efficient use will directly translate to efficient energy consumption. An electric vehicle consists of electric motors that are used to drive the car. These can be powered externally, through stored electric energy such as batteries, and through an internal energy source such as generators. Electric cars are considered to be efficient, clean, and most of all environment friendly. In this regard, yes I would purchase an electric vehicle because of its long term benefits. Fuel costs are bound to rise, that is guaranteed, In addition to that fossil fuel is not renewable and as such contributes to environmental degradation. Based on this alone, using an electric vehicle contributes to energy conservation, has long term cost benefits, and is also energy

Question Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Question - Assignment Example A company that uses agile management is likely to have increased growth and expansion because of the increased productivity. It also reduces time wasted building a project using various cycles. This approach uses iterations and breaks down the long cycles into less time. The popularity of the model over the waterfall model is because of its efficiency in increasing the client’s involvement in the process of software development. The end result of agile project management is always a little less predictable as compared to waterfall model. One would take this as a disadvantage, but that is not true. Agile adapts to changes in a much positive manner. It responds to issues as they arise and resolves them. Agile management and the Waterfall management both have advantages and disadvantages. Agile is very fast, quick and a more reliable approach to managing projects that need constant improvements. Unlike waterfall approach, agile is done in iterations. Agile management is oriented on offering quality services while waterfall management deals with construction projects and hardware Installation projects. Agile is suitable for projects that are new and yet to be tried Schmidt (2) This is a systematic and organized approach in your company to enable staff to transition from their current practices to those that the company focusses on. It involves influencing a good number of people to positively accept the changes being made. If there is no change management in a company, it could lead to failure of the business. IT departments need changes especially due to the current changes in the technological information. The critical success of an IT organization is highly dependent on its capability to control the IT changes. It should protect existing services during and after and ensure accurate changes are made. Change management programs help to align and organize the organization when undergoing major

Unit 3DB The Green Revolution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unit 3DB The Green Revolution - Research Paper Example In this regard, energy conservation should be highly rated and considered if indeed the long term effects of environmental conservation are to be realised. In order to reduce personal energy consumption, the following changes can be made that would in the long run create a significant difference. To save car fuel energy consumed on daily drives to work, commuter trains and or bicycles can be used to achieve the same. This will not only reduce gasoline fuel consumption, but also help in environmental pollution. Concerning the other forms of energy use, such as the ones on lighting heating and cooking, renewable energy, specifically, solar and wind energy can be utilised. These energy forms are sustainable and also clean. On the other hand, to increase energy efficiency requires discipline in the use of already in place energy sources. This means small changes such as switching off unnecessary lights around the house, and using energy efficient light saver bulbs. In addition to this, electric appliances should be used as per the manufactures specifications. Household electric appliances account for nearly thirty per cent of home electric consumption. Therefore, efficient use will directly translate to efficient energy consumption. An electric vehicle consists of electric motors that are used to drive the car. These can be powered externally, through stored electric energy such as batteries, and through an internal energy source such as generators. Electric cars are considered to be efficient, clean, and most of all environment friendly. In this regard, yes I would purchase an electric vehicle because of its long term benefits. Fuel costs are bound to rise, that is guaranteed, In addition to that fossil fuel is not renewable and as such contributes to environmental degradation. Based on this alone, using an electric vehicle contributes to energy conservation, has long term cost benefits, and is also energy

Critical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Critical Analysis - Essay Example This report compares two journal articles highlighting competitor analysis, identifying the varying approaches to competitor analysis and key findings as to best practice for strategic management through competitor monitoring and assessment. Identifying potential opportunities and threats associated with competitor activities is the fundamental purpose of competitor analysis in order to determine whether the business can maintain a competitive advantage and how best to go about doing this. Bergen & Peteraf (2002) describe the importance of competitor analysis as being a positive motivator to increase managerial awareness of external threats and risks, essentially creating a leader who does not take a rather myopic approach to business strategy. The authors suggests that once the competitor has been identified, it is a primary goal to define the market in which the business thrives and determine whether competitors have an edge in finance, product or marketing and look for avenues by which to close this edge through positive business changes. Through this method of competitor analysis, the business understands the overall relevance of competitive activities and prevents the company from being blindsided by surprise moves in similar market environments. The authors propose a detailed, two step framework in competitor analysis in which the most important element is recognizing the level of threat stemming from each competitive entity. For instance, indirect competition is measured along with potential competition and direct competition (Bergen & Peteraf). By identifying competition in this fashion, business leadership creates a company profile based on the level of threat that each competitor maintains in any given business situation. This profile is then compared to long-term company strategy to determine which, if any, internal or external company resources should be allocated to

The Role Public Administration Play in This Modern Society Essay Example for Free

The Role Public Administration Play in This Modern Society Essay Public administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a field of inquiry with a diverse scope its fundamental goal is to advance management and policies so that government can function. Some of the various definitions which have been offered for the term are: the management of public programs; the translation of politics into the reality that citizens see every day; and the study of government decision making, the analysis of the policies themselves, the various inputs that have produced them, and the inputs necessary to produce alternative policies. According to Dubios Fattore (2009), the goals of the field of public administration are related to the democratic values of improving equality, justice, security, efficiency, effectiveness of public services usually in a non-profit, non-taxable venue; business administration, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with taxable profit. For a field built on concepts (accountability, governance, decentralization, clientele), these concepts are often ill-defined and typologies often ignore certain aspects of these concepts. Public administration is centrally concerned with the organization of government policies and programmes as well as the behavior of officials (usually non-elected) formally responsible for their conduct Many unelected public servants can be considered to be public administrators, including police officers, municipal budget analysts, HR benefits administrators, city managers, Census analysts, and cabinet secretaries. Public administrators are public servants working in public departments and agencies, at all levels of government. Every public officer charged with the duties of administration must therefore implant in his mind that secrecy breeds suspicion and suspicion erodes public trust. An administrator who has no trust of the public is like an administrator who has no authority to do what he or she has been appointed or elected to do. Accountability is important in the face of the truth that there is a need to make the work right, the truth that imperfections are a way of life and the truth that men tend to be consumed by greed, pettiness and desire for power and fame, and the truth that those who caused the work to be done not right must answer for his or her fault. Now, it is a way of life that those who want works that are not right are those who want their deeds hidden. With this reality, there ought to be a system that keeps accountability strong and invincible against these imperfections of life and, with more reason, against those who want to do not right by the impulsion of greed. With these principles in mind, the next challenge really of public administration is how to make use of the modern things offered by modern times. (Evardone) In answering this question, the best way is to know the fundamental governance principles that public administration is a result of the collective consent of the citizens to be governed and the fact that the world has gone too modern. The Definition of Public Administration Public administration, developed in the early 1900s, is a special field of study within the academic discipline of political science. It emphasizes the structure and operation of bureaucracies and organizations, including budgeting, personnel, and formal and informal internal controls. Some public administration programs include study of the special management skills required in governmental (as distinct from private) organizations. Its always hard to make a simple, clear and precise definition to academic subjects, this also happens to public administration. Scholars have long been trying to use a simple phrase to define it, but yet after nearly half century of hard work, it still remains in vain. Although making progress, a perfect phrase length definition is still in process. So what is the problem of defining Public Administration? Some think that its multidiscipline characteristics contribute to the absence of a common definition.

Evaluation Of Fountas And Pinnell Benchmark

Evaluation Of Fountas And Pinnell Benchmark The Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System, created by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell, is designed to place students appropriately into a guided reading program, show the gains in student achievement, progress monitoring and identify students in need of intervention (those who are not meeting the districts proficiency levels). In short, it relates reading ability. The sub-contents addressed include: Word Analysis Skills, Reading Strategies, Comprehending Reading Materials, Literary Elements and Techniques and Literary Works. The test consists primarily of running records, in which the teacher records oral fluency, reading errors and self-correction ratios. In addition, it is followed by a retelling and comprehension conversation between the student and teacher. Finally a writing prompt (optional) is given to the student. In the setting where I am directly working with the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark, we are requiring all students to complete the writing prompt. I have addressed the reason for the issue below in the evaluation portion. The test is administered in kindergarten through eighth grade at the end of each quarter. The assessment usually takes twenty to thirty minutes. This could take longer if more than one assessment is needed to find the appropriate benchmark level. Specific features of the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System allows you to determine your students independent and instructional reading levels, group students for reading instruction, select texts that will be produc tive for a students instruction, assess the outcomes of teaching, assess a new students reading level for independent reading and instruction, identify students who need intervention and extra help, document student progress across a school year and across grade levels, create class profiles and inform parents. (Heinemann, 2011) In addition to an accuracy percentage, reading rate, self-correction rate and fluency score, the assessment has a Comprehension Conversation that completes the assessment procedures. Students are required to read a text and to have this comprehension conversation, with specific prompts to obtain key understandings for three kinds of thinking- Thinking Within the Text (getting the literal meaning by processing words and stated ideas), Thinking Beyond the Text (getting the implied meaning and synthesizing information) and Thinking About the Text (responding to the authors craft). (Placeholder1) The content that is covered in the benchmark includes reading accuracy, reading comprehension, reading fluency and self-correction ratio. This is similar to the informal assessments being given to students through- out a literacy block in a reading workshop approach. This assessment can be used both formatively and summatively. It is a standardized, teacher-administered, one-on-one assessment; it is hand-scored by the teacher. The assessment should be administered by classroom teacher after they have been trained to administer the test. A video is provided to view for staff development or individual teacher viewing. This can help to ensure that the assessment is delivered in a standardized way. The BAS (Benchmark Assessment System) is based on research in language development, vocabulary expansion, reading acquisition, and reading difficulties. Five areas addressed by the National Reading Panel as fundamental to student success in literacy acquisition are assessed in the BAS. These are: phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. The assessment also addresses student motivation and interest in overall reading. According to the official field study document of the assessment: The field data were collected systematically and analyzed on an ongoing basis to determine the programs achievement of its objectives. Reports were developed and used as a basis for determining the soundness, complexities, and utility of the program. Due to the process incorporating ongoing feedback gathered by field-test examiners, the program authors and developers were able to make informed decisions regarding adjustments and refinements. At the conclusion of the field study, an independent data-analysis team was brought in to evaluate the programs reliability and validity. This formative research was conducted in two phases. Phase I of the study addressed research questions 1 and 2; Phase II addressed research question 3. Prior to the formative evaluation, an editorial process was used to establish the text leveling. Field testing included a total of 497 students spanning grades K-8. Field testing of System 1 included 252 students and System 2 included 245 students. School sites from which these students were drawn were socioeconomically, ethnically, and geographically diverse. The research goal was to identify typical students. Accordingly, students were selected on the basis of their ability to read and understand texts that were written approximately at grade level or above. Participants were also proficient speakers of English. Each field test examiner determined an individual students eligibility after discussing his or her reading profile with their respective teachers. Thirteen field-test examiners were selected. All field-test examiners were educators who had extensive training in administering running records and in using other forms of benchmark assessments to assess students reading levels. Field-test examiners were not affiliated with the field sites and therefore could be objective in both identifying students and in administering assessments. Prior to the beginning of the field testing, a two-day intensive training session led by the authors, guided the field-test examiners in the formative evaluations protocols and procedures. A total of 22 different schools participated in field testing of either System 1 or System 2 (some schools participated in both field tests). Field testing took place across the following geographic regions of the United States: Boston Metropolitan area 1 examiner; 1 school / Providence, Rhode Island 1 examiner; 2 schools / Houston Metropolitan area 2 examiners; 5 schools / Los Angeles area 4 examiners; 6 schools / Columbus, OH, area 3 examiners; 5 schools / Orlando, FL, area 2 examiners; 3 schools. (Field Study of Reliability and Validity of the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment Systems 1 and 2). (Fountas and Pinnell, 2011, pp. 2-3) Assessment Appearance and Content The assessment includes two options of books for each level- System 1 (Grades K-2, Levels A-N) contains 28 Books (14 Fiction and 14 Nonfiction) and System 2 (Grades 3-8, Levels L-Z) contains 30 Books (15 Fiction and 15 Nonfiction). The Fountas and Pinnell levels gradient is a defined continuum of characteristics related to the level of support and challenges that a reader meets in a text. At each level (A to Z) texts are analyzed using ten characteristics: (1) genre/form; (2) text structure; (3) content; (4) themes and ideas; (5) language and literary features; (6) sentence complexity; (7) vocabulary; (8) word difficulty; (9) illustrations/graphics; and (10) book and print features. Texts are leveled using a highly reliable process in which teams of trained teachers, working independently and then through consensus, assign a level to books after analyzing them according to the ten factors. They are then analyzed by Fountas and Pinnell. The benchmark books were actually created to pre cisely match the gradient, and they were independently analyzed using the same process. (Heinemann, 2011) The Assessment Guide to the BAS describes the administration of the assessment as follows: The students appropriate reading level for the assessment to be administered is based in the students current guided reading level, or can be determined by a Where to Start word list that was developed by the authors to assist examiners in quickly placing a student at his or her appropriate reading level. Next, the administer is to assess the students ability to read and comprehend three levels of books. They are to determine one book that is easy the students independent reading level; one book that offered just enough difficult vocabulary and/or concepts to make the reading interesting and challenging , the students instructional reading level; and a third book that was too challenging the students hard reading level. Accuracy of reading guidelines, consistent with Fountas and Pinnells framework (2006b), is as follows: independent level (95-100 percent accuracy); instructional level (90-94 percent accuracy), and hard level (below 90 percent accuracy). (Fountas Pinnell, pp. 180- 181) The assessment should be given in the classroom or other familiar setting. A reasonably quiet and comfortable environment is necessary so that distractions do not interfere with the assessment. All materials should be ready to go accessible to the teacher, so that the assessment may run smoothly with few distractions. If the student seems to be getting frustrated after reading one or two texts, it may be necessary to stop the assessment and begin at a later time. Each of the areas assessed relates to the content and sub-content (in various levels) taught to kindergarten through eighth grade students during their literacy block. The BAS lets the administrator think about, assess and identify a variety of different skills and strategies the reader may have strengths or deficits in. It is designed to measure progress in each of the sub-skills in a way that informs instruction. It is linked to a continuum of observable behaviors to assess and teach for at every level. (Heinemann, 2011) Each teacher in grades kindergarten through eighth grade has a copy of the continuum. The assessment format is similar to the informal assessments (running records and conferring with readers) used in the classroom. These informal assessments are used periodically throughout the quarter. The Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System does require a more in-depth conversation than traditional classroom conferences. The students fluency level is also assessed using the following criteria: Readers phrase or group words, through intonation, stress, and pauses. They emphasize the beginnings and endings of phrases by the rising and falling of pitch or by pausing. Students adhere to the authors syntax or sentence structure, reflecting their comprehension. Readers are expressive; their reading reflects feeling, anticipation, and character development. Once a students instructional reading level is determined, the student is engaged in a comprehension conversation about that particular book. If students are unresponsive or give an incomplete response, educators may prompt them according to a predetermined set of questions. Next, the teacher rates the students understanding of a text using the Fountas and Pinnell comprehension guidelines. The areas are rated on a scale from 0-3: Thinking within the text, thinking beyond the text and thinking about the text. Evaluating the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System A review of the benchmark assessment shows no bias towards individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, gender or disabilities. Students with disabilities are given the assessment that aligns with their individual progress along the literacy continuum and text gradient for the reader. At times, when the fluency level is timed, an educator may note on the side specific speech issues. All other accommodations as mandated by their IEPs are allowed. The assessment is used to determine reading ability, therefore, students with IEPs requiring that test be read for certain circumstance are not allowed this accommodation for the benchmark. The wording and content of the benchmark assessment is predominately age and grade appropriate. However, for students reading extremely below their age or grade level peers, the text may seem immature for their age. The gradient levels of difficulty of the text chosen for the assessment were carefully thought out and field tested. I feel the content validity of the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System can be improved by adding a more rigorous requirement in the writing about reading area. I do not feel that one prompt adequately show how a student can write about reading. In addition, I feel that as students move into the older grades, that comprehension should be judged more on the students writing about the text than a comprehension conversation. One other area of the assessment could be improved. There are only two books, one fiction and one nonfiction, at each level. This does not give educators much room for error or special education teachers room to reassess at a similar level, identifying strengths in a particular sub-content and not just text level gradient. There is at least one item per target, with some items having more than one item per target. Some of the sub-content areas did not have a target for each taxonomy level, but with further investigation (into the upper grade Benchmark Assessment, possibly) it would most likely cover each taxonomy level. In addition, each item does belong on the assessment and relates to a specific sub-content area/taxonomy level. The Illinois Reading Standards addressed include: 1.A.1b Comprehend unfamiliar words using context clues and prior knowledge; verify meanings with resource materials, 1.B.1c Continuously check and clarify for understanding (e.g., reread, read ahead, use visual and context clues, ask questions, retell, use meaningful substitutions), 1.B.2d Read age-appropriate material aloud with fluency and accuracy, 1.C.2b Make and support inferences and form interpretations about main themes and topics, 1.C.2d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate to purpose of material, 1.C.2e Explain how authors and illustrators use text and art to express their ideas (e.g., points of view, design hues, metaphor), 1.C.1f Use information presented in simple tables, maps and charts to form an interpretation, 2.A.2b Describe how literary elements (e.g., theme, character, setting, plot, tone, conflict) are used in literature to create meaning and 2.B.1a Respond to literary materials by connecting them to their own experience and communicate those responses to others. Classroom Assessment Blueprint and Learning Targets The classroom assessment blueprint and the list of learning targets appear below. Assessment items and the number of the associated learning target are included in the blueprint. Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating Total Targets Word Analysis Skills 1. Identify the meaning of unfamiliar words using prior knowledge 2. Discover the meaning of unfamiliar words using context clues. 22. Monitors own understanding and accuracy. 20. Constructs literal meaning of the text through solving words. 4 Reading Strategies 4. Reads primarily in larger, meaningful phrases or word groups. 23. Predicts information about the text. 5. Demonstrates fluency by reading using mostly smooth, expressive interpretation and pausing guided by authors meaning and punctuation. 3. Assess and clarify for understanding (e.g., reread, read ahead, use visual and context clues, ask questions, retell, and use meaningful substitutions). 4 Comprehend Reading Materials 6. Recall ideas by reference to details in the text. 18. Identify the main ideas and supporting details of a story or fiction passage. 9. Summarize a story or non-fiction passage. 19. Demonstrate excellent understanding of the text through summarizing. (Includes almost all important information and main ideas.) 10. Demonstrate understanding of characters in a story or non-fiction passage (i.e. through retell). 11. Identify connections with prior knowledge or personal experiences. 25. Infers what is implied but not stated in the text. 22. Monitors own understanding and accuracy. ** Two places** 17. Tell the main idea of a non-fiction paragraph. 27. Write a response about the reading (from given prompt). 10 Literary Elements and Techniques 7. Define setting in a story or fiction passage. 8. Recall sequence of events. 12. Summarize the major events in a narrative. 29. Demonstrate an understanding of the craft and structure of a text (literary language, story structure, perspective, etc.). 16. Distinguish elements of the authors craft. 30. Support knowledge and ideas (and act on them) to include ones thinking by writing in response to text 15. Construct chronological sequence of events after reading a story or fiction passage. 7 Literary Works 24. Identify key details when summarizing a story or non-fiction passage. 28. Remember and report key ideas and details from texts, including understanding characters. 13. Point out the authors purpose. 14. Interpret how the authors purpose affects the interpretation of the reading selection. 26. Tells new information by synthesizing and changing own ideas. 5 Learning Targets Students will be able to: 1. Identify the meaning of unfamiliar words using prior knowledge. 2. Discover the meaning of unfamiliar words using context clues. 3. Assess and clarify for understanding (e.g., reread, read ahead, use visual and context clues, ask questions, retell, and use meaningful substitutions). 4. Reads primarily in larger, meaningful phrases or word groups. 5. Demonstrates fluency by reading using mostly smooth, expressive interpretation and pausing guided by authors meaning and punctuation. 6. Recall ideas by reference to details in the text. 7. Define setting in a story or fiction passage. 8. Recall sequence of events. 9. Summarize a story or non-fiction passage. 10. Demonstrate understanding of characters in a story or non-fiction passage (i.e. through retell). 11. Identify connections with prior knowledge or personal experiences. 12. Summarize the major events in a narrative. 13. Point out the authors purpose. 14. Interpret how the authors purpose affects the interpretation of the reading selection. 15. Construct chronological sequence of events after reading a story or fiction passage. 16. Distinguish elements of the authors craft. 17. Tell the main idea of a non-fiction paragraph. 18. Identify the main ideas and supporting details of a story or fiction passage. 19. Demonstrate excellent understanding of the text through summarizing. (Includes almost all important information and main ideas.) 20. Constructs literal meaning of the text through solving words. 22. Monitors own understanding and accuracy. 23. Predicts information about the text. 24. Identify key details when summarizing a story or non-fiction passage. 25. Infers what is implied but not stated in the text. 26. Tells new information by synthesizing and changing own ideas. 27. Write a response about the reading (from given prompt). 28. Remember and report key ideas and details from texts, including understanding characters. 29. Demonstrate an understanding of the craft and structure of a text (literary language, story structure, perspective, etc.). 30. Support knowledge and ideas (and act on them) to include ones thinking by writing in response to text.

Marriage in Shakespeares Othello :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Marriage in Othello  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marriage is a part of life. Something that many people, if not everybody, look foward to. Marriage is a sacred thing, it is when two people dedicate their life to their love of their life. Your whole life revolves around it as evrything you do and evrything that happens affects your marriage. It is dedication, to live your whole life next to your partner making tough and easy decicions. There are going to be good times and there are going to be tough and difficult times. Regardless of what comes, you stick through it and side by side you support each other and stay together. Or do you? Many times the struggles and the pressure is too much for many marriages. The experiences that they go through is sometimes too much for a couple to handle and this causes a lot of stress and problems between the two. Sometimes the problems are so strong that it brakes up the marriage and they both go their seperate ways. Maybe their love wasn't strong enough. Maybe their commitment wasn't strong enough. Depending on your definition of love. Love can be very tricky sometimes. It can evenm blid a man from seing reality and it takes him far apart from the real world. He lives in a strange state of mind where what seems obvious to everybody else, can be overlooked by his or her love. Shakespeare uses jeoulousy as the biggest test of love in the book Othello. Is jeoulousy strong enogh to brake a marriage such as the one between Othello and Desdemona. They are both deeply in love with each other. How about love being blind? Was Emilia blind from reality because she was so in love with her husband Iago? We have learned the tragical ending of the book. Unfortunate ending for both marriages. Before discussing the ending, lets discuss the facts and the event that lead up to the ending. What was it that caused such a tragic ending? We already know that Desdemona was devoted to the love of her life, Othello, the General that made his friend Cassio Lt. So why would Iago want to brake up the marriage of Othello and Desdemona? Othello and Cassio were really close friends for many years. Cassio was the one that helped Othello get Desdemona's love. Iago, was also Othello's friend, and Othello did trust him a lot.

Kate’s children Essay

It is a dark damp day; the rain is beating down on the corrugated iron of my four-roomed cottage on Condobolin Road. It is still early hours, however my husband William has already left to visit his parents Frederick and Mary on their property, as the wind and rain has brought down two of their great gum trees. My children are still sleeping soundly. I am not feeling well again today, I have not felt well since Maggie’s death, some two years ago. My head has not felt right; it tells me to do things that women shouldn’t even think of. I am not a well human being; I do not feel anymore, this haunts me. I feel great remorse and pity for myself. I am however fit to right my story, my life. My name is Catherine Ada Foster, however I am better known as Kate Kelly, sister of the renowned Ned Kelly. I was born in Beveridge on the 12th of July 1863, as the seventh child born to my parents John ‘Red’ Kelly and Ellen Quinn. Mary, the eldest is the sister I never knew, as she passed away at infancy. Second born was Anne then came Edward- everyone knowing him as Ned, then Margaret, James and Daniel. At the young age of just three years old in 1866, many events took place that changed my life; my little sister Grace came into the world around the same time we as a family moved to Avenel. That year my father John Kelly also passed away of dropsy, an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body tissues, or cavities causing swelling or distension of the affected parts. This left my mother a widow and seven children fatherless, so we moved in with my aunt in Greta. After living there for twelve months, mother took up her own selection on the Eleven-Mile-Creek in the Glenrowan district, and there we moved into a newly erected two-roomed hut built by Ned. In Greta, I attended school and upon finishing I spent my time helping mother with the younger children, as she had remarried George King in 1874, and had two more children, Ellen and John- making a family of eleven, most of us being exceptional horsemen. It was just five years before in 1969 when Ned was first bought before the police court for two cases, at just fifteen years of age. He was charged with assault of a fowl and pig dealer named Ah Fook, and secondly aiding a bushranger, Harry Power, in some of his robberies. Luckily for Ned and Mother, he was found not guilty in both cases. However before the end of that year, Ned was convicted again for assault and indecent behaviour resulting in six months hard labor. Our family name was becoming well known around our area, as the police were giving us a bad name for petty things my older brother did. When Ned was released from prison, just three weeks later he received a beautiful brown mare off a friend he met during his labor times. However the police were on to him and arrested Ned as the horse was stolen, Ned had no idea of this, but this didn’t seem to matter to the police as he received three years hard labor. I was about fifteen years of age when the suitor Constable Alexander Fitzpatrick became attracted to me. He did not have a good name for himself, already fathering two children to different mothers. He tried to pose as a friend of the family, however my brothers were not fools to be reckoned with, and they did not trust him. On the 15th of April 1878, Fitzpatrick rode up to our house and Dan went outside. He asked Dan to go to Greta with him, as he had a warrant for stealing Whitty’s horses. Dan refused and asked to see the warrant, and Fitzpatrick said he had none. My mother told Fitzpatrick he had no business on her premises so he pulled out his revolver and said he would blow her brains out if she interfered. Mother said that Ned was present and he would come out and ram the revolver down his throat. It was obvious that Fitzpatrick had been drinking. As he was sitting on the stool waiting for Dan to finish his meal, I in my course of duties passed by him and he tried to kiss me. All my brothers tried to stop him. Fitzpatrick was drunk, they were sober but his story was believed above ours. He stated that my mother had struck him with a fire shovel, Dan had beaten him and Ned had shot him in the wrist and wounded him. He also incriminated William Williamson and Maggies husband William Skillion who he insisted on being there when the incident took place. The outcome resulted in long harsh sentences for mother, and our neighbours Skillion and Williamson. Ned and Dan hadn’t waited for their arrest and fled into the Wombat Ranges. 1 I was very angry that even the doctor who attended Fitzpatrick’s wounds, did not confirm that there was a bullet wound, and also that there was a strong smell of liquor on his breath.

Book Review on Poor Economics

BOOK REVIEW POOR ECONOMICS: A RADICAL RETHINKING OF THE WAY TO FIGHT GLOBAL POVERTY By: Abhijit V Banerjee & Esther Duflo POOR ECONOMICS argues that so much of anti-poverty policy has failed over the years because of an inadequate understanding of poverty. The battle against poverty can be won, but it will take patience, careful thinking and a willingness to learn from evidence. Banerjee and Duflo are practical visionaries whose meticulous workoffers transformative potential for poor people anywhere, and is a vital guide to policy makers, philanthropists, activists and anyone else who cares about building a world without poverty.CHAPTER 1: THINK AGAIN, AGAIN Poverty and development can sometimes feel like overwhelming issues – the scale is daunting, the problems grand. Ideology drives a lot of policies, and even the most well-intentioned ideas can get bogged down by ignorance of ground-level realities and inertia at the level of the implementer. In fact, we call these the â₠¬Å"three I’s† – ideology, ignorance, inertia – the three main reasons policies may not work and aid is not always effective.But there’s no reason to lose hope. Incremental, real change can be made. Sometimes the change seems small, but by identifying real world success stories, facing up to real world failures, and understanding why the poor make the choices they make, we can find the right levers to push to free the poor of the hidden traps that keep them behind. CHAPTER 2: A BILLION HUNGRY PEOPLE? Jeffrey Sachs, an advisor to the United Nations and director of Columbia University's Earth Institute, is one such expert.In books and countless speeches and television appearances, he has argued that poor countries are poor because they are hot, infertile, malaria-infested, and often landlocked; these factors, however, make it hard for them to be productive without an initial large investment to help them deal with such endemic problems. But they cannot pay for the investments precisely because they are poor — they are in what economists call a â€Å"poverty trap. † Until something is done about these problems, neither free markets nor democracy will do very much for them.The basic idea of a nutrition-based poverty trap is that there exists a critical level of nutrition, above or below which dynamic forces push people either further down into poverty and hunger or further up into better-paying jobs and higher-calorie diets. These virtuous or vicious cycles can also last over generations: early childhood under-nutrition can have long-term effects on adult success. Maternal health impacts in  utero  development. And it’s not just quantity of food – quality counts, too. Micronutrients like iodine and iron can have direct impacts on health and economic outcomes.But if nutrition is so important, why don’t people spend every available extra cent on more calories? From the look of our eighteen-count ry dataset, people spent their money on food†¦ and festivals, funerals, weddings, televisions, DVD players, medical emergencies, alcohol, tobacco and, well, better-tasting food. CHAPTER 3: Low-Hanging Fruit for Better (Global) Health? Every year, nine million children under five die from preventable diseases such as diarrhea and malaria. Often, the treatments for these diseases are cheap, safe, and readily available.So why don't people pick these ‘low-hanging fruit'? Why don’t mothers vaccinate their children? Why don’t families use bednets, or buy chlorinated water? And why do they spend such large amounts of money on ineffective cure instead? There are a number of possible explanations. These can include unreliable health service delivery, price sensitivity, a lack of information or trust, time-inconsistent behavior and the simple fact that the poor may not be able to tackle big, chronic illnesses. None of these reasons explains everything in isolation.But understanding what stops the immediate spread of our ‘low-hanging fruit’ – bednets, de-worming medication, vaccines, chlorinated water – is an important step in improving global health, and may finally help to eliminate health-based poverty traps. CHAPTER 4: TOP OF THE CLASS Over the past few decades, children have flocked into the schools, but schools seem to have delivered very little: teachers and students are often absent, and learning levels are very low. Why is this happening? Is it a supply issue, where the government needs to provide children with better schools, better textbooks, better teachers and better facilities?Or is it demand, where parents would lobby for quality education if and only if there were real benefits? There seems to be a problem with both. For example, parents expect both too much and too little from the schools: government jobs for those who graduate from secondary school, and nothing for the rest. Teachers seem focused on te aching small elite, and undervalue the regular students. These expectations affect behavior and generate real world waste. But the good news is that these expectations and these real world outcomes can be changed CHAPTER 5: Pak Sudarno's Big FamilyMost policy makers consider population policy to be a central part of any development program. And yet, unexpectedly, it seems that access to contraception may not be the determining factor in the poor's fertility decisions. So how can policy makers influence population? Instead of contraception, other aspects like social norms, family dynamics, and above all, economic considerations, seem to play a key role, not only in how many children people choose to have, but how they will treat them. Discrimination against women and girls remain a central fact of the life for many poor families.Going inside the â€Å"black box† of familial decision-making – that is, understanding how and why decisions are made the way they are – is essential to predicting the real impact of any social policy aimed at influencing population. CHAPTER 6: BAREFOOT HEDGEFUND MANAGERS The poor face a huge amount of risk – a friend of ours from the world of high finance once noted that they're like hedge fund managers. These risks can come from health shocks – like an accident – or agricultural shocks – like a drought – or any other number of unexpected crises.Often, the poor just don't have the means to weather these shocks, and so they get pushed into poverty traps. The steps they take to protect themselves form these risks are insufficient and often costly: they choose less profitable and less risky crop, they spread themselves too thin across a great number of activities; they exchange favors with neighbors. Yet all this doesn't always even cover large shocks. CHAPTER 7: MICROFINANCE The fact that banks are often unwilling to lend to the poor, coupled with the extremely high interest rates m oneylenders charge, was a call to action for the founders of microfinance.Enforcing credit contracts involves collecting extensive information about the borrower to ensure repayment. The high cost of gathering this information makes neighborhood moneylenders the easiest source of credit. Microfinance institutions rely on their ability to keep a close check on the customer, in part by involving other borrowers who happen to know the customer: This was a recipe for enormous success, there are more than 200 million microfinance borrowers today. Many MFIs were unwilling to evaluate whether their lending programs were helping the poor.The MFIs were financially sustainable and borrowers kept coming back, which the MFIs saw as proof enough. When an Indian MFI, Spandana, was rigorously evaluated, there was clear evidence that microfinance was working. People in Spandana neighborhoods were more likely to have started a business and made large purchases. However, there were no detectable impa cts on women's empowerment, spending on education or health, or in the probability that kids would be enrolled in private schools. One of the limits of microfinance is its inflexible structure and focus on â€Å"zero default. It may not be an effective borrowing channel for entrepreneurs who are willing to take risks and will go on to set up a large business. More established businesses do not find it that much easier to get credit. In particular, they run the risk of being too large for the traditional moneylenders and microfinance agencies, but too small for the banks. We need to see the equivalent of the microfinance revolution for small and medium firms; figured out how to do it profitably on a large scale is the next big challenge for finance in developing countries. CHAPTER 8: SAVING BRICK BY BRICKJust as with lending, banks have not found a good way to adapt their services to the poor. The administrative costs associated with managing small accounts are too high. Instead, th e poor find unusual and ingenious ways to save. They buying durable goods like jewelry or new bricks for their house. Many form savings â€Å"clubs† such as the popular rotating savings and credit associations (ROSCAs) in Africa. However, the fact that the poor have to adopt complicated and costly alternative strategies to save means that saving is harder than if they had a bank account: access to a saving accounts increases profits and consumption.With new technology and innovations like M-PESA in Kenya which allows cell phone users to send money with their phone, microsavings might become the next microfinance revolution. However, not all barriers to savings are externally imposed. The poor, like anyone else, easily give in to the temptation to spend money in the present rather than save it for the future. They have difficulty, for example, saving enough over a short season to buy fertilizer; but a program to help them buy it early increased fertilizer use. The poor may be more subject to temptations than the rich because the items they dream of may be further from their reach.Poor people who feel that they have opportunities have strong reasons to cut down on â€Å"frivolous† spending and invest in the future. Those who feel that they have nothing to lose, in contrast, save less: hope matters! CHAPTER 9: RELUCTANT ENTREPRENEURS Many expect that the poor will find successful business opportunities. They haven't been given a chance, so their ideas are fresher: MFIs have many examples of successful clients, like a garbage collector turned recycling empress! The sheer number of business owners among the poor is impressive. When tiny grants were made to small businesses in Sri Lanka, their profits increased rapidly.However, while many of the poor operate businesses, most of these businesses are tiny. The businesses of the poor tend to have few if any employees and very limited assets. The businesses run by the poor are also generally unprofitable, which may well explain why giving them a loan to start a new business does not lead to a drastic improvement in their welfare. Many businesses suffer from the â€Å"empty shelf† problem: a space a created for a shop, but no inventory fills the shelves. Even a small investment in more inventory will have large marginal returns, but once the shelves are full, the business has no further scope to grow.Despite initial large returns to small investments, many small businesses hit at point at which a substantial capital investment is needed in order to continue growing. However, few people are willing to give such large loans to the poor. Because of this trap, the poor may not invest as much (both money but also emotions and intellectual energy) into their businesses because they know that their business will always remain too small to make real money. Often, the enterprises of the poor seem more a way to buy a job when more conventional employment opportunities are not available t han a reflection of a particular entrepreneurial urge.One of the most common dreams of the poor is that their children become government workers – a stable, though not always an exciting job. A sense of stability may be necessary for people to be able to take the long view. People who don’t envision substantial improvements to their future quality of life may stop trying and end up staying where they are. Creating good jobs could go a long way in increasing the stability of the lives of the poor, which will, in turn give the poor the opportunity and the urge to invest in their children and save more.There are more than a billion people who survive off of the earnings of their own farm or business. We must be impressed by their resilience. But these small businesses will probably not pave the way for a massive exit from poverty. CHAPTER 10: POLICIES, POLITICS Even the most well-intended and well-thought-out policies may not have an impact if they are not implemented pro perly. Corruption, or the simple dereliction of duty, creates massive inefficiencies. Many people believe that until political institutions are fixed, countries cannot really develop. There may be no natural process to completely eliminate bad institutions.Institutional change from the outside is probably an illusion. But it is not clear that things will eventually fix themselves. However, fighting corruption appears to be possible to some extent even without fixing the larger institutions. Relatively straightforward interventions, such as threatening audits or publicizing corruption results have shown impressive success. Often, small changes make important differences. In Brazil, switching to a pictorial ballot enfranchised a large number of poor and less educated adults. The politicians they elected were more likely to target their policies to the poor.In China, even imperfect elections led to policies that were more favorable to the poor. In India, when quotas for women on villag e councils in India were enacted, women leaders invested in public goods preferred by women. Policies are not completely determined by politics. Good policies (sometimes) happen in bad political environments. For example, Suharto built tens of thousands of schools in Indonesia. And bad policies happen in good environments, because what the government is trying to do is hard: generally, the government tries to convince people to do something they would not like to do, like wearing a helmet on a motorcycle!The opportunities for corruption are rife. Bad policies are often a product of the three I's: ideology, ignorance, inertia. For example, nurses in India, whose job description is so overwhelming that they have decided that they cannot possibly do it, and instead do nothing. Careful understanding of constraints can lead to policies and institutions that are better designed, and less likely to be perverted by corruption. Changes will be incremental, but they will sustain and build on themselves, and perhaps even improve the political process.