Secondary Data - 2036 Words

Q) What are Secondary Data? Secondary Data Secondary data is information gathered for purposes other than the completion of a research project. Data previously collected by someone else, possibly for some other purpose that can be used later for making decisions if found suitable for the purpose, other than the original one. Secondary data can be acquired from the internal records of the organization, their departments, subsidiaries or sister organizations and also from external sources, such as chambers of commerce, government, professional and commercial consultants subject to the availability of data . †¢ e.g., data in books, journals, newspapers, magazines, etc. †¢ e.g., data in reports, surveys,†¦show more content†¦Accounting and financial records. These are often an overlooked source of internal secondary information and can be invaluable in the identification, clarification and prediction of certain problems. Accounting records can be used to evaluate the success of various marketing strategies such as revenues from a direct marketing campaign. There are several problems in using accounting and financial data. One is the timeliness factor – it is often several months before accounting statements are available. Another is the structure of the records themselves. Most firms do not adequately setup their accounts to provide the types of answers to research questions that they need. For example, the account systems should capture project/product costs in order to identify the company’s most profitable (and least profitable) activities. Companies should also consider establishing performance indicators based on financial data. These can be industry standards or unique ones designed to measure key performance factors that will enable the firm to monitor its performance over a period of time and compare it to its competitors. Some example may be sales per employee, sales per square foot, expenses per employee (salesperson, etc.). 3. Miscellaneous reports. These can include such things as inventory reports, service calls, number (qualifications and compensation) of staff, production and RD reports. AlsoShow MoreRelatedSecondary Data4906 Words   |  20 PagesCollecting, Reviewing, and Analyzing Secondary Data WHAT IS SECONDARY DATA REVIEW AND ANALYSIS? Secondary data analysis can be literally defined as second-hand analysis. It is the analysis of data or information that was either gathered by someone else (e.g., researchers, institutions, other NGOs, etc.) or for some other purpose than the one currently being considered, or often a combination of the two (Cnossen 1997). If secondary research and data analysis is undertaken with care and diligenceRead MorePrimary and Secondary Data3550 Words   |  15 Pages1. PRIMARY ANDSECONDARY DATA We explore the availability and use of data (primary and secondary) in the field of business research.Specifically, we examine an international sample of doctoral dissertations since 1998, categorizingresearch topics, data collection, and availability of data. Findings suggest that use of only primarydata pervades the discipline, despite strong methodological reasons to augment with secondary data. INTRODUCTION Data can be defined as the quantitative or qualitativeRead MoreIntroduction to Secondary Data1935 Words   |  8 Pagesof the research project specifies both the data that are needed and how they are to be obtained. The first step in the data-collection process is to look for secondary data. These are data that were developed for some purpose other than for helping to solve the problem at hand. The data that are still needed after that search is completed will have to be developed specifically for the research project and are known as primary data. The secondary data that are available are relatively quick andRead MoreDifference Primary and Secondary Data923 Words   |  4 Pages d) Malls e) Saloons Market stategy: f) Target g) Demography h) Packaging i) Labeling j) Pricing Q.7) Market research is generally either primary or secondary. Primary market research is when a company carries out research first hand. Primary market research is more reliable than secondary research because you know that the information you have gathered is accurate, as you have collected it yourself. It is also specific to your type of product/service. On the other handRead MoreSecondary Analysis of Qualitative Data2317 Words   |  10 PagesThis essay aims to examine the practice of secondary analysis on qualitative data in terms of barriers to overcome and advantages of its practice. Over the last decades, archives of qualitative data have become widely accessible to research-es and there has been a smaller revolution in the practice of secondary analysis on such data. (Seale, 2004) There are both practical and methodological ad-vantages for researchers to use data that has been collected by others in order to pursue new research.Read MoreSecondary Data And Sales Potential848 Words   |  4 PagesSecondary Data Sales Potential In order to accurately predict sales potential, the measurement of market size in which the product will be introduced is a vital factor in the initial marketing process. An analysis of the relating demographic factors, market trends, and competitor market share should be executed to achieve this. The following secondary data and market research will allow for one to determine how, when, and to whom the Skarp Razor should be launched into the current Canadian consumerRead MoreMain Advantage Of Secondary Data For My Research969 Words   |  4 PagesSecondary Research Secondary data is data collected from other reliable sources. Common sources of secondary data include census reports, Government records, newspaper articles and many more. Secondary research plays vital role in any kind of research. This is as of now gathered and accessible. Secondary data has the upside of being accessible quickly, is frequently cheap and simple to get yet the weakness is that it may not meet all the needs of research. Advantage The main advantage of secondaryRead MoreThe Origin Of Secondary Data And How The Samples Will Be Selected1944 Words   |  8 Pages 3. Methodology This chapter will present how the author finds answers to our research questions, the author will explain the origin of secondary data and how the samples will be selected. Figure 9 is the schematic presentation of the methodology. Figure 9 Methodology Process (Foster, 1998, p. 81) 3.1 Purpose of the Research In the chapter of Research Purpose and Objectives, the purpose of this research has been briefly explained. Generally, there are three common types of purposes of academicRead MoreUsing Secondary Data Collected From Online Sources Essay1311 Words   |  6 Pages3.0 Methodology The paper uses a comparative case analysis through the use of secondary data collected from online sources. Some of the data include news, books, organisational and football club website. 3.1 Comparative Case Study A comparative case study is an in-depth investigation of a person, group, institution or phenomena through comparison with another . The paper will do a comparative case study of FC Barcelona with the leading clubs in terms of revenue generation, namely Real MadridRead MoreComparing Techniques For Collecting Data On Primary And Secondary Sources2212 Words   |  9 Pages Statistical Inferences Purpose: In this unit we have studied how to: †¢ comparing techniques for collecting data in primary and secondary sources. †¢ Making sense of the position of the mean and median in skewed, symmetric and bimodal displays to describe and interpret data. †¢ Constructing histograms and back-to-back stem-and-leaf plots. †¢ Calculate relative frequencies †¢ Investigate data used and its validity Now it is your turn to demonstrate your fluency and understanding of these concepts

To Be a Doll Essay - 1328 Words

In the play â€Å"A Dolls House† by Henrik Ibsen, the character of Nora uses the phrase â€Å"the most wondrous thing† to refer to something she has done outside of her husband’s knowledge and what she imagines his reaction will be when he finds out. Throughout the play Nora wants to be and to remain only a doll to her husband and acts with utter childish selfishness when she cannot maintain her romantic illusions by keeping secrets, performing kid like distractions, and running away from her problems. Nora, with the best of intentions, has caught herself and her family in a legal trap caused by her disregard of the law, when she forges her father’s signature on a bond. In her conversation she first discusses with Mrs. Linde â€Å"Yes, a wonderful†¦show more content†¦Ibsen shows that Torvald controls his wife to the point that he specifies what she is to eat. He shows this when Torvald asks Nora â€Å"Hasnt Miss Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today?† (I.6). Noras resulting childish rebellion shows later when she secretly eats a macaroon or two she had hidden in her pocket. Torvald also asks Nora about household money and how she seems to spend it all when he says â€Å"You are an odd little soul. Very like your father. You always find some new way of wheedling money out of me, and, as soon as you have got it, it seems to melt in your hands† (I.6). The character Torvald is voicing his personal beliefs when talks about the way she spends money as being more a part of her heredity and beyond her control due to her sex rather than a learned personal habit. Men of that era and to some extent now, believed that women are simply on the level of a child just by being a woman. Thereby women are incapable of adult understanding; much less responsible for their own actions. Nora comes to the realization that her deceit is soon to come back to her. In her desperate situation she comes up with one scheme after another in an attempt to distract her husband, so that he does not find out what she has done. She tries to pick the lock in the letter drop. She begs for Torvald to pay attention to her instead of his business. She even dances poorly so that sheShow MoreRelatedDoll : A Doll1637 Words   |  7 PagesSerena im glad I found you. You wont believe what just happened! Alex frantically said. Alex. So glad you could make it. Serena said meanly crossing her arms. Look Im sorry I missed you. Chaka- Alex motioned back with a thumb. Serena looked like she wasnt having it. She put her hand on her hip with a slightly disapproving look. Then he realized what she was wearing. She looked amazing in the deep red skirt and corset that showed off plenty of her chest. Wow you look incredible- I meanRead MoreDolls and New Heritage Doll3976 Words   |  16 Pages4212 SEPTEMBER 15, 2010 TIMOTHY LUEHRMAN HEIDE ABELLI In mid-September of 2010, Emily Harris, vice president of New Heritage Doll Company’s production division, was weighing project proposals for the company’s upcoming capital budgeting meetings in October. Two proposals stood out based on their potential to strengthen the division’s innovative product lines and drive future growth. However, due to constraints on financial and managerial resources, Harris knew it was possible that theRead MoreA Doll s House : Dolls2775 Words   |  12 Pages A Doll’s House: Dolls in Real Life Introduction Today, the accepted roles of both women and men judged by society’s expectations is an extremely controversial topic. Feminism is a battle that many women are fighting, because even though today’s women can be and accomplish almost anything, men often play the more superior role in many relationships. The role of women has been viewed differently throughout different points in history and in different areas. However, many people don t realize thatRead MoreA Doll s House : Dolls2775 Words   |  12 Pages A Doll’s House: Dolls in Real Life Introduction Today, the accepted roles of both women and men judged by society’s expectations is an extremely controversial topic. Feminism is a battle that many women are fighting, because even though today’s women can be and accomplish almost anything, men often play the more superior role in many relationships. The role of women has been viewed differently throughout different points in history and in different areas. However, many people don t realizeRead MoreThe Youngest Doll1174 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Mason Lewis Dr. Taylor English 110 7, March 2014 The Youngest Doll Throughout the year we have read many stories where reality and fantasy come into question. Once again we have this same problem with â€Å"The Youngest Doll†. What makes us question reality or fantasy in the story is the vivid description the author gives of the dolls that the aunt makes for the girls. With the description of the â€Å"wax mask of the child’s face† or the â€Å"porcelain of the hands and face†, it gives off the allusionRead Morea dolls house1153 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ A Doll’s House South University Ibsen’s a doll house centers around a time where men worked and women were the care givers of the home. In a Doll’s House there were some major points made that eventually led up to that one defining moment. The defining moment for me was when Nora decided that she no longer wants to live the lifestyle of being the â€Å"doll†. It starts with Torvalds reading the letter about her borrowing the money and Nora’s secret is finally exposedRead MoreA Doll HOuse941 Words   |  4 PagesIn the play A Doll House, there are many references pertaining how a woman was expected to behave and how men were expected to behave in the time that this play was written. Nora’s character first appears to be very â€Å"female†. For an example, she doesn’t have a real job, she spends money carelessly, and she say and do things to make her appear very dependent on Torvald. On the other end Torvald her husband, makes the money for the family and he appears to be the nice one in the house. Role playingRead MoreDoll House799 Words   |  4 Pagestransferred from papa’s hands into yours. You arranged everything according to your own taste, and so I got the same tastes as your else I pretended to† (III. 142). Nora is a woman made to be a doll, and she plays the role with lies and misdeeds. Nora again demonstrates the lack of opinion. Nora’s life as a deceptive doll is further showcased by the dangerous decisions she makes. Nora takes out a fraudulent loan against her father’s name because she wants something and cannot have it. Nora realizes theRead MorePlastic Doll655 Words   |  3 PagesPlastic Doll 1. What is the difference between energy and power? What is a unit of power? How does speed relate to power? .energy is the ability of doing work while power is the rate at whch work is done unit of power = Watts = 1J/s power = force * velocity 2. Explain how a sound is actually a form of energy? In what medium do sound waves travel? The longitudinal waves generated by sound will create a wave that transfers at some rate , corresponds to transfer of energy. They travelRead MoreNew Heritage Doll1375 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿New Heritage Doll 1. Compute the Free Cash Flows for the years 2010 to 2020 for both projects See excel File attached. Assumptions: * We assumed the required working capital in table 2 and 3 is the amount required in 2010, for further years we computed the WCR based on the ratio’s of minimum cash balance, number of days sales outstanding, inventory turnover and days payable outstanding (deducting the depreciation as instructed) * We assumed the SGA and fixed production costs were project specific

Embedding Ethical Leadership and Organization Levels †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Embedding Ethical Leadership and Organization Levels. Answer: Introduction Oil and gas are the world's most valuable commodities. However, the oil and gas industry is faced with various environmental risks. These may range from oil spills, leaks, explosions and emission of dangerous gases into the atmosphere which may encourage global warming, (Burnham et al., 2011, p. 619). Serious accidents that have faced gas and oil industries in the past have resulted from unethical practices. These accidents include the Exxon oil spill which happened in 1989 resulting in the contamination of the ocean, incapacitation of fishing activities and liabilities to the company in terms of cleanups and compensation, BP explosion incident in 2010 which resulted in the death of eleven workers and the methane gas emissions which result from fracking activities, (Gill, et al., 2012, p. 3). There is, therefore, need for oil and gas companies to embrace ethical leadership and ensure ethical risk management activities are put in place to reduce the accidents. According to Thiel et al. (2012, p. 49), ethics refers to the right behavior expected of a person, corporate body or group of individuals. It defines what is right or wrong in an organization. When a company is faced with unethical practices, then it may be exposed to several ethical risks. Moral risk refers to unexpected negative consequences that result from immoral activities, (Ford Richardson, 2013, p. p. 20). Ethical risk management deals with several ways in which ethical risks can be identified, mitigated and transformed, (Valentine et al., 2011, p. 358). Ethical risk management in the oil and gas companies relates to the reduction of accidents in the following ways: Management of change Change management enables the company to adjust to risk. When a corporation has transparent change management procedures, it will be able to identify the dangerous areas of the business and adapt to them before any accidents occur, (Craft, 2013, p. 228). Change management closely relates to the strategy formulation. Companies should formulate strategies that allow for change. Whenever there is a change in operations, proper policies should be put in place to support such changes, (Hartman et al., 2014, p. 108). Changes can be exerted on employees, technology or the management structure of the organization as a whole. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill gives an example of improper change management, which led to a fatal explosion. In this case, the emergency responder had died five years ago before the accident happened, yet there was no replacement made, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 426). The emergency responder would play a vital role in responding to unusual occurrences like an explosion. This shows that the organization did not embrace change, as the employees were not properly evaluated to determine whether they handled their activities. Proper preparedness for disaster The gas and oil industry may be faced with various risks. These may result from unethical practices in the firms. Companies must embrace ethical leadership, and formulate strict risk policies to deal with ethical risks, (Crane Matten, 2016, p. 201). Some ethical risks like an explosion, leakage and oil spillage are common in gas and oil industries, (Finkel Law, 2011, p. 784). However, if proper preparation and safety procedures are put in place, then such occurrences may easily be tackled. A good example to illustrate this point can be derived from the case of Deepwater Horizon spill. In this case study, the oil rig was not well-maintained as it lacked a remote control shut off switch that could be used to plug the leakage, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 428). The blowout on the rig was also faulty. This showed clearly that the company was not prepared to handle emergencies such as explosions in case they occurred. Exxons case is also not an exemption. There is a clear evidence of unpreparedness. APSC which was operating the shipping terminal and the Alaska Pipeline at Valdez was not effectively prepared to contain the spillage, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 427). Therefore, it took several hours to put together the equipment. It was also not sure whether to use a tug or barge for containing the spillage, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 427). This resulted in a lot of time wastage in containing the spillage. Organizations can offer on-the-job training to the employees to ensure that they have the right skills to handle activities extended to them. Proper training and certification also ensure that workers are fully qualified to do their jobs and that they fully understand the risks that they may be exposed to while handling different tasks in the firm, (Shapiro Stefkovich, 2016, p. 99). In Exxon Valdez disaster, the third mate who steered the tanker ship did not have a license. This showed that the captain was not competent and certified to handle the activities of a captain. This could be one of the causes of the accident that resulted into the oil spillage Providing incentives to change the safety culture During the extraction of crude oil, dangerous gases may be emitted into the atmosphere. This may cause air pollution. Oil may also spill on the oceans posing threats to the health and safety of aquatic life, (Finkel Law, 2011, p. 784). The employees may also be exposed to health risks, whenever they inhale the gases emitted. Accidents such as explosions may also result into loss of lives of the employees, (North et al., 2014, p. 8389). Therefore, ethical risk management is necessary for reducing accidents and risk exposure levels, through prioritizing on safety and sustainability. Sustainable operations are operations geared towards reducing adverse effects to the environment. Companies which major on the sustainability of their activities, usually ensure that they do not pollute the environment, or expose their employees to health risks, (Elsenbeiss, 2012, p. 792). In the case of Exxon, the rupturing of the hull could have been prevented if the company could use a double hull in the tanker. However, the company could incur 22 million in costs. BP also used a faulty blowout preventer on the rig, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 428). This only showed disregard to safety, which later led to an explosion. Employees should follow proper codes of behavior to operate efficiently in the organization. Codes of conduct dictate how employees should handle themselves in the organization, (Thiel et al., 2012, p. 50). Proper ethical considerations ensure that workers adhere to the company rules. It is evident from Exxons case study that the captain's system had a considerable quantity of alcohol, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 426). Therefore, he was not supposed to be allowed to operate the ship. The captain who had the credentials to run the ship was also asleep at the time of the accident. This showed clear ethical lapse which may have contributed to the worsening of the situation during the spillage. Comparison of the risks faced by Exxon, BP, and the Fracking industry as they strive to provide a constant energy supply. Some of the risks faced by Exxon, BP and the fracking industry in their attempt to provide sufficient energy supply are leaks, explosions, and spills. The companies are also faced with the loss of reputation due to the accidents, political risks, and financial risks. These are discussed as follows: Spills occur when oil finds their ways out of the cargos and into the oceans. Many of the world's largest oil reserves are located beneath the sea, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 426). Therefore companies must take adequate measures to reduce spills during extraction. The Exxon oil spill which happened in 1989 illustrates one of the risks that oil and gas companies face. The spill had important effects which included the death of sea birds, interference with fishing activities and loss of reputation of the firm among its customers, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 427). The company also incurred legal expenses and other cleanup costs. Oil and gases are always highly flammable. Therefore the companies face a risk that the gases and oil may explode, (Michel et al., 2013, p. 65087). This is precisely demonstrated in the case of BP, whereby there was an explosion in 2010 that led to the loss of lives of eleven employees. The oil also continued leaking into the Gulf, for three months, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 429). Thousands of aquatic animals were killed in the oily waters, and most of the people who derived their income from the Gulf of Mexico lost all or parts of their earnings. The also beaches turned black because of the oil. Hydraulic fracturing results in the emission of methane gases into the atmosphere. These may cause safety risks to the employees. However, most companies have not carried out proper education to the community regarding the adverse effects of hydraulic fracturing, (Brandt et al., 2014, p. 733). The risk of emissions makes fracking activities more harmful than beneficial to the communities living in the areas where fracking is conducted, (North et al., 2014, p. 8389). While oil extraction industries pose substantial effects to the environment through emission of harmful gases, spills, leakages, and explosions, fracking activities expose individuals living near the fracking sites to safety risks through emission of radioactive gases like methane. As stated by Thiel et al. (2012, p. 50), reputation refers to the respect a company holds among its stakeholders such as the customers, employees, creditors, and suppliers. Whenever a company operates ethically, then it may derive respect from the community, (Valentine et al., 2011, p. 354). However unethical operations may lead to deterioration of a companys reputation. The best example can be extracted from BP's case study. The company was formerly respected by its customers and employees as it concentrated on safety and sustainability of its operations especially after learning from Exxon oil spill, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 428). This was until the 2010 explosion occurred, leading to the death of eleven employees when it lost its reputation. The company could therefore not defend its preparedness regarding the safety of its employees in times of emergency. Hydraulic fracturing activities may also not hold reputation in the community as the emissions of gases like methane into the atmosphere expose their employees and the community as a whole to safety and health risks. Exxon also lost its reputation after the 1989 oil spill, which led to the death of sea birds, incapacitation of fishing activities and liabilities in the form of clean-ups and other legal liabilities in the form of compensation, (Ritchie, 2012, p. 188). These examples only show how the accidents faced by Exxon, BP and the fracturing continue to reduce the level of reputation they hold in their operational environment. They all face political risks Political risks are always faced by states, investors or organizations, when the political decisions made have a high tendency of making them incur losses. Political risks may arise from liabilities that emanate from unethical practices conducted by firms, (Ford Richardson, 2013, p. 20). Exxon, BP and the fracking have continued to face different political risks in the course of their operations. To start with, Exxon was exposed to liabilities worth 10 billion due to the spill, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 426). These included clean-up, fines and compensation expenses. BP also had to spend 36.5 billion dollars for cleanup and plugging the leakage, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 429). These are political risks that face the oil and gas industries. Fracking activities also lead to the emission of methane gas into the atmosphere. The fracking companies may, therefore, be exposed to liabilities related to compensation, whenever they expose the employees to health and safety risks, (Vangosh et al. 2014, p. 8334). Financial risk is the possibility an enterprise or its shareholders may make some loses when they invest in a business that has a debt. Debts may be caused by unethical practices that a company involves in, (Craft, 2013, p. 222). For example, if a company exposes its employees to health risks, making the employees sick or get injured, then the company may be forced to compensate such workers. After the spill, Exxon was forced to pay for cleanup costs. It also paid legal expenses to inform of fines and compensation, (Palinkas, 2012, p. 220). Therefore, the company lost money in the process. This is a clear example of a financial risk. BP was also forced to pay cleanup costs and other compensation costs after the 2010 explosion, (Gill et al., 2012, p. 23). Fracking companies are also not exempted from financial risks. This is because they may lose money, paying for compensations to their injured employees and community members as a result of dangerous gases emitted through their operations. How ethical Leadership helps the oil and gas industry manage risk Leadership involves getting things done through people. A good leader must be able to motivate and inspire the workers to achieve the desired organizational goals, (Schaubroeck et al., 2012, p. 1053). Ethical leadership is usually directed by respect of beliefs, values, rights, and dignity of others, (Pless Maak, 2011, p. 10). It is, therefore, related to concepts like consideration, charisma, fairness, and trust. Ethics is usually concerned with the virtuousness of individuals and their motives, (Thiel et al., 2012, p. 49). The following are how ethical leadership may help oil and gas industry in managing risk: Transparency involves doing things in the right way and as required by the organization. Responsibility, on the other hand, refers to a situation whereby, employees are held accountable for their actions, (Shapiro Stefkovich, 2016, p. 98). Ethical leadership enables employees to be motivated to be responsible for conducting their duties in the right manner. The case of Exxon reflects an example of unethical leadership. The captain who was entrusted with operating the ship was fast asleep at the time of the spill, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 426). This shows how irresponsible the captain was. The third mate who operated the tanker ship did not have a license, hence was not qualified for the job, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 426). In the case of BP, the emergency responder had died five years before the explosion occurred. These examples show cases of unethical leadership. Environmental risk refers to the potential or actual adverse effects on living organisms and the environment by resource depletion, emissions, wastes and effluents arising out of the activities conducted by an organization. Proper ethical leadership would ensure that the company adopts sustainable operations to minimize emissions into the atmosphere, (Schaubroeck et al., 2012, p. 1053). The oil and gas companies are faced with the risk of emissions, spills, and leakages, (Finkel Law, 2011, p. 785). These risks can only be controlled through exhibiting ethical leadership. Proper detoxification procedures should be taken in place to ensure the emissions are not hazardous to the environment. Leaders should make sure adequate preparedness is respected to ensure emergencies are handled accordingly. The BP explosion that occurred in 2010 could be controlled if the company had prepared adequately for emergencies. In the case of Exxon, if the company concentrated on safety, then it could have acquired enough emergency equipment, which could be used to conduct cleanups, during the spill. However, it was evident that there was lack of preparedness, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 426). The company also depended on skimmer boats to clean up the oil spills, which broke down frequently. Safety and quality management Safety of the employees and the community as a whole should be considered by every company before venturing into any activity. Enterprises should put in place safety measures to control health risks that the employees may be exposed to in the course of their operations, (Crane Matten, 2016, p. 200). Proper equipment should be installed to control accidents. Organizations should also ensure that its equipment is properly inspected for any faults, (Crane Matten, 2016, p. 200). Quality of the material used by businesses should be monitored to ensure that they do not expose the workers and the organization generally to any form of risk. In Exxon's case, if the company could use a double hull in the tanker, then it could have prevented the hull from getting ruptured which resulted into oil spillage. The company also lacked proper communication channels, (Ferrel Fraedrich, 2015, p. 426). This inhibited the communication between the shore and APSC crew during the spill. Ethical leadership ensures that companies are fully prepared to handle risks. This can be enhanced through the creation of a risk policy, (Craft, 2013, p. 222). The risk policy statement states the level of risk accepted by the company and the level beyond which the organization should not take a risk, (Craft, 2013, p. 222). Taking risk without proper evaluation is one of the leading causes of accidents. In Exxon and BP's cases, there is an apparent show of unpreparedness for risk. This reflects unethical leadership. If the companies in the oil and gas industry formulate adequate risk policies and put in place proper machinery to handle risk, then it could help in managing their risk exposure. Conclusions The activities of oil and gas companies are as socially and politically complex. In the last two decades, some oil and gas companies have made commendable strides in doing their businesses in more sustainable and socially responsible ways. However, most accidents in the oil and gas industries have been caused by unethical leadership. Oil and gas companies should, therefore, embrace ethical leadership to ensure the promotion of a culture of transparency and responsibility, proper environmental risk management and avail adequate safety and quality control measures to ensure they operate responsibly and reduce ethical risks. In the case study, Exxon, BP, and the fracking industry continue to face similar risks, in their attempts to provide adequate energy supply. These risks which include leaks, spills and explosions, reduction of reputation from customers and the community in which they operate, political risks and financial risks can only be managed through embracing ethical leadershi p. References Brandt, A. et al., 2014. Methane Leaks from North American Natural Gas Systems. Science, 343(6172), pp.733-735. Burnham, A. et al., 2011. Life-cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Shale Gas, Natural Gas, Coal, and Petroleum. Environmental Science Technology, 46(2), pp.619-627. Craft, J.L., 2013. A Review of the Empirical Ethical Decision-making Literature: 20042011. Journal of Business Ethics, 117(2), pp.221-259. Crane, A. Matten, D., 2016. Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization. Oxford University Press. Pp. 200-305. Eisenbeiss, S., 2012. Re-thinking Ethical Leadership: An Interdisciplinary Integrative Approach. The Leadership Quarterly, 23(5), pp.791-808. Ferrell, O. Fraedrich, J., 2015. Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making Cases. Nelson Education. Pp. 427-436. Finkel, M.L. Law, A., 2011. The Rush to Drill for Natural Gas: a Public Health Cautionary Tale. American Journal of Public Health, 101(5), pp.784-785. Ford, R.C. Richardson, W.D., 2013. Ethical Decision Making: A Review of the Empirical Literature. In Citation Classics from the Journal of Business Ethics (pp. 19-44). Springer Netherlands. Gill, D.A., Picou, J.S. Ritchie, L.A., 2012. The Exxon Valdez and BP Oil Spills: a Comparison of Initial Social and Psychological Impacts. American Behavioral Scientist, 56(1), pp.3-23. Hartman, L.P., Desjardins, J.R. MacDonald, C., 2014. Business Ethics: Decision Making for Personal Integrity and Social Responsibility. New York: McGraw-Hill. Pp. 105-118. Michel, J. et al., 2013. Extent and Degree of Shoreline Oiling: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Gulf of Mexico, USA. PLoS One, 8(6), p.65087. North, D.W., Stern, P.C., Webler, T. Field, P., 2014. Public and Stakeholder Participation for Managing and Reducing the Risks of Shale Gas Development. Environmental Science Technology, 48(15), pp.8388-8396. Palinkas, L.A., 2012. A Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Mental Health Impacts of Oil Spills: Lessons from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. Psychiatry: Interpersonal Biological Processes, 75(3), pp.203-222. Pless, N.M. Maak, T., 2011. Responsible Leadership: Pathways to the Future. Journal of Business Ethics, 98(1), pp.3-13. Ritchie, L.A., 2012. Individual Stress, Collective Trauma, and Social Capital in the Wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Sociological Inquiry, 82(2), pp.187-211. Schaubroeck, J.M. et al., 2012. Embedding Ethical Leadership within and across Organization Levels. Academy of Management Journal, 55(5), pp.1053-1078. Shapiro, J.P. Stefkovich, J.A., 2016. Ethical Leadership and Decision Making in Education: Applying Theoretical Perspectives to Complex Dilemmas. Routledge. Pp. 98-115. Thiel, C.E.et al., 2012. Leader Ethical Decision-making in Organizations: Strategies for Sensemaking. Journal of Business Ethics, 107(1), pp.49-64. Valentine, S., Godkin, L., Fleischman, G.M. Kidwell, R., 2011. Corporate Ethical Values, Group Creativity, Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention: The Impact of Work Context on Work Response. Journal of Business Ethics, 98(3), pp.353-372. Vengosh, A. et al., 2014. A critical Review of the Risks to Water Resources from Unconventional Shale Gas Development and Hydraulic Fracturing in the United States. Environmental Science Technology, 48(15), pp.8334-8348.

Life On The Mississippi Essays - Fiction, Literature,

Life On The Mississippi ?Life on the Mississippi', by Mark Twain, is a signet classic. It is a romantic history of the great Mississippi River and autobiography of Mark Twain's early days as a steamboat man. It has many interesting stories about nights on the watch and brawls between the men aboard. This is Twain's own experience on learning to navigate the mighty Mississippi. Mark Twain is one of America's greatest writers of all time. His real name was being Samuel Langhorne Clemens. He introduced us to the stories of ?The adventure's of Tom Sawyer', ?The Prince and the Pauper', and Mark Twain's finest novel ?Huckleberry Finn'. ?Life on the Mississippi' is 383 pages long. It has about forty lines on each page and nine to eleven words on each line. The book has a lot of southern dialect, which makes you feel the mood of the story, but is also harder to read. This book is much like Twain's later books in which it is intended for the more adventurous types so that you can follow the every move of young Sam. In my personal opinion, a trip down the Mississippi on a steamboat is quite boring and not adventurous. ?Life on the Mississippi' is much like ?The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and ?Huckleberry Finn'. Critics rank this book in the twain canon with Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. This book has been made in to a movie. It was PBS-TV presentation of ?Life on The Mississippi'. I do not know if the movie is better or if the movie corresponds with the book. I have not seen the movie. This book is unusual in the way that it is setup. It starts off talking about Sam's childhood and then goes to his adult years all in one chapter. The change over is not consistent. There is a time lapse there. Mark Twain's purpose for writing this book was to tell about years of being a steamboat man on the mighty Mississippi. He tells all he can remember from his loves to his enemies. There are many characters in this. First there is young Sam. Sam is a young Mark Twain. Sam pays 500 dollars so he can ride along on a boat to learn the Mississippi so that he can one day become a steamboat pilot. Horace Bixby is the steamboat captain who took the cub Sam. Uncle Mumford is Sam's uncle who is a mate on a lot of boats, he was also at West Point for four years. Tom is also a young cub like Sam. He is also one of Sam's better friends on the ship. Mr. Drown is an old businessman that gets himself into a lot of trouble on the ship. Finally there is Mr. Pellicrew. He is a riverboat passenger that is caught bringing life jacket on the boat because of his fear of drowning. A quote that I found meaningful is ?Well, I can follow the front hall in the dark if I know it is the front of the hall; but suppose you set me down in the middle of it in the dark and not tell me which hall it is; how am I to know I think that Sam showed Mr. Bixby up on this little fight. Mr. Bixby knew he was wrong, but still got his last word in by saying, ?Well, you've got to, on the river!? Another quote that stood out to me was in chapter one. ?The world and the books are so accustomed to use, and over-use, the word ?new' in connection with our country, that we early get and permanently retain the impression that there is nothing old about it.? I think this mean that people are changing with the times and that the are excepting as well. This book is a non-fiction book that is not up to dates because like Twain said in the book the river is always changing. He was right about that. The book does have photographs, which were taken during the PBS-TV movie ?Life on the Mississippi,? in the middle of the book. The only way that I would recommend this book to a friend was if he liked the river and stories about the river. My

Carnivalism And Its Effect On Literature Essays - Grotesque

Carnivalism And Its Effect On Literature Essays - Grotesque Carnivalism And Its Effect On Literature Carnivalization is the term used by Mikhail Bakhtin to describe the shaping effect on literary genres. The idea of carnivalism is the discourse of structuralism. Carnivalism is the opposite of everything deemed normal. Bahktin describes it as: ...the true feast of time, the feasts of becoming, change and renewal. (45) Carnival originated from the Feasts of the Church. The feasts were a serious, formal occasion in which strict patterns were closely followed. Emphasis was placed on social standing. It was considered a consecration of inequality (45). However, during Carnival, everyone was considered equal. The festivities of Carnival were very popular, everything was turned upside down (the smart become stupid, rich become poor, etc.; fantasy and reality become one). The jolly relativity of all things is proclaimed. (45) Carnivalism is evident throughout literature, but it is very noticeable during the Renaissance. The Socratic dialogue is an example of the earliest carnivalised literary forms. Two of the most familiar forms of carnivalism are Alisoun; the Wife of Bath from Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales and Falstaff, from Shakespeare's Henry IV. Alisoun, asserts her own overbearing assessment of the roles of women in society and relationships. The Wife has often been written off as a shrew-like bombast simply sprouting her dissatisfaction. She is the opposite of what women were expected to be in her time. She seems to take pride in being so contradictory to societal ideals. Falstaff, like the Wife; enjoys being the center of attention and shocking people with his outlandish proclamations. He is a con man, coward, and thief. Although people would never admit it, they secretly enjoy hearing the lewd stories told by the Wife and Falstaff. The Wife and Falstaff could be described as grotesque realism. Grotesque realism has no lower level. It is the dark side of society. The term perfectly describes both characters. They represent the subconscious of people- the things and ideas that people are afraid to say or do. Falstaff and the Wife both use apologia to justify their actions. The Wife has her own unique interpretation of the Bible. She asks where in the Bible is virginity commanded. She also questions the traditional moral values of medieval British culture in asking, ... to what end were reproductive organs made, why are people made so perfectly? Falstaff justifies his actions by saying banish plump Jack, banish all the world. In essence, everyone is just like him; the only difference is that he doesn't hide it. Bakhtin's emphasis on carnival goes against the idea that literature must be unified. He suggests that major literary works may be multi-leveled and resistant to unification. (41) In his essay, Discourse of the Novel, he states when someone else's ideological discourse is internally persuasive for us and acknowledged by us, entirely different possibilities open up.(43) This is the case with the Wife and Falstaff. They represent the idea that life does not have to be so rigid, it is o.k. to bend the rules a bit. The Wife of Bath and Falstaff are examples of carnivalism, grotesque realism, and authoritative discourse. The characters appear to be larger than life when they are actually only one side of the coin of society. Heads shows society as it is expected to be, tails shows life as it really is. Bibliography Rivkin, Julie and Michael Ryan, eds. Literary Theory: An Anthology. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers Inc, 1998. Thomas, Michael et al. The Complete Anthology of Literary Theories. London: W.W. Norton and Company, 1979. The Effect of Carnivalism on Literature and Society By Monquita Ransom Literary Theory May 5, 2000 Dr. Lavazzi

Quotes to Heal the Wounded Heart

Quotes to Heal the Wounded Heart It is ironic that the ones you love deeply are also the ones who you can hurt or who can hurt you the most. The truth is that when you are in love, be prepared to get hurt. When you love someone, you trust them and share your vulnerabilities and secrets. These can be turned against you when the relationship sours. How will you pick up the shreds, when your lover  breaks your heart? At such times, love hurts. The abrasions of love have inspired many a great writer. From Shakespeare to Jane Austen, many writers have at some time or the other dwelt upon the anguish called love. The following quotes bring out the heartache caused by love. Yes, love does hurt. But that does not mean that you should withdraw into a shell. Find the courage to fight for your dignity and survival. Bandage your broken spirit with these love hurts quotes. The best thing to do when you fall down is to dust yourself and get up once again. Shrug off that feeling of despondency, and chin up. As Mahatma Gandhi wisely said, Nobody can hurt you without your permission. Jane Austen One does not love a place the less for having suffered in it unless it has all been suffering, nothing but suffering. Carroll Bryant The shattering of a heart when being broken is the loudest quiet ever. Anonymous If love is so important to have that one doesnt want to lose it, why is it when we find true love we often dont notice it? Harry Crews There is something beautiful about all scars of whatever nature. A scar means the hurt is over; the wound is closed and healed, done with. Oscar Wilde When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving oneself, and one always ends by deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance. Philip Larkin What will survive of us is love. Daphne Rae, Love Until It Hurts I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. Seneca We are more often frightened than hurt, and we suffer more from imagination than from reality. Diane Arbus Love involves a peculiar unfathomable combination of understanding and misunderstanding. E. Y. Harburg Oh, innocent victims of Cupid, Remember this terse little verse; To let a fool kiss you is stupid, To let a kiss fool you is worse. Joan Lunden Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache, and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life. Anonymous It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Bill Clayton The folks you help wont remember it and the folks you hurt wont ever forget it. William Shakespeare Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs. Victor M. Garcia Jr. Love is like the truth, sometimes it prevails, sometimes it hurts. William Somerset Maugham The love that lasts the longest is the love that is never returned. Spanish proverb Where there is love, there is pain. Oscar Wilde Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love; it is the faithless who know loves tragedies. Sir James M. Barrie If you have it [love], you dont need to have anything else, and if you dont have it, it doesnt matter much what else you have. Toba Beta Love hurts when it changes us. Francois de La Rouchefoucauld There is only one kind of love, but there are a thousand imitations. William Shakespeare The courses of true love never did run smooth. George Granville Of all pains, the greatest pain, Is to love, and to love in vain. Anonymous Why is it that we dont always recognize the moment love begins, but we always recognize the moment it ends? Marie E. Eschenbach We dont believe in rheumatism and true love until after the first attack. Felice and Boudleaux Bryant Love hurts, Love scars, Love wounds and marks Any heart not tough or strong enough To take a lot of pain... Love is like a cloud, it holds a lot of rain... Love is like a flame, it burns you when its hot.

An investigation in to a link between emotional intelligence and Dissertation

An investigation in to a link between emotional intelligence and leadership stylea study in the public sector of South Africa - Dissertation Example However, in the advent of â€Å"emotional intelligence†, the element of human emotions and its effect on self and other people have been seriously considered as an essential factor in leadership. It has brought about a trend in the academic, corporate and political world, bringing a new dimension in the way things are run in organisations affecting company philosophy, policy, mission and vision. In the public sector, with leaders being targeted with scandals about corruption and greediness, good governance needs to be reinstated. Mokgolo et al. (2012) contend that relevant studies on leadership add knowledge that can elevate public service practices with the implementation of effective leadership, retention of valuable staff and quality of service delivery. Such relevant studies include the possession of emotional intelligence in good leadership. Statement of the Problem This study will investigate the possible links between emotional intelligence and effective leadership styl es that may be applicable in the public sector. Specifically, it will explore how it can be applied to the public sector of South Africa. Aims and Objectives The research purports to establish strong links between emotional intelligence and leaders who may be identified as effective and efficient by their subordinates. It will gather sufficient evidence from available literature as well as get first-hand information from subordinates and constituents of public sector leaders in South Africa. It aims to seek a clearer perspective on the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership. It hopes to be a useful resource to future leaders to guide them in the right path in leading the organizations they will be tasked to lead to success. Methodology This qualitative study investigates the importance of emotional intelligence in successful leadership and management in the public sector. Going beyond the surface in the review of literature, this study will probe beneath the issue of lea dership in organisations and delve into the emotional intelligence of leaders or the lack of it. Primary sources will be respondents’ answers to open ended questions in a questionnaire about the leadership styles of the leaders in their respective departments, further elaborated on in a focus group interview conducted on a later date. Secondary sources will be information culled from the literature review. Both sources shall be cross-referenced in a quantitative analysis of the themes that may surface from the questionnaires and focus group discussion. Literature Review Much research has been devoted to the topic of leadership. Yukl (2006) presents a comprehensive collection of studies on leadership, identifying various approaches to leadership. The behavior approach studies the leader’s typical pattern of behaviour to manage and lead. The power-influence approach takes on a more leader-centered perspective in that power is used not only to manage subordinates but also to influence peers, superiors, and even people outside the organization. The situational approach sees leadership as affected by contextual factors such as characteristics of followers, nature of the work performed, the type of organization and the nature of the external environment. Finally, the integrative approach involves more than one type of leadership variable and incorporates other perspectives of leadership (Yukl, 2006). In most of

Stem cell research Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Stem cell research - Term Paper Example Stem cell research is divided in to embryonic stem cells, cord blood stem cells and adult stem cell research (Freedman, 2007). The adult stem cells are taken from the bone marrow, brain and spinal cord while cord blood stem cells are taken from newborn’s umbilical cord. The third is the most controversial embryonic stem cells that are taken from the embryo and thus leading to the death of the embryo since the embryo comprises mainly stem cells (Forman, 2008)). Accordingly, totipotent stem cells can differentiate in any form of cell while unipotent stem cells have unlimited reproductive capabilities and can only differentiate in to single type of tissue or cell (Freedman, 2007). In this paper, I will argue that stem cell research is essential research since its findings lead to medical advancements that can be used to cure complex diseases and disorders thus improving the overall quality of life in the society. Proponents of stem cell research assert that it has demonstrated the capability of regenerating all body areas and repairing damaged body tissues thus curing degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer related complications (Freedman, 2007). In addition, the field of study is holds key to reversing the negative impacts of ageing process thus it is critical in prolonging life and ensuring high standards of living among populations (Forman, 2008). The proponents counter the argument that stem cell research leads destroying innocent young life by claiming that the embryo does not have the psychological, emotional and physical properties associated with human beings before it is implanted in to the uterus. It is follows that the embryo lacks the criteria for personhood and thus has not any interests that should be protected and is why it should be used for the future benefit of those who meet the personhood criteria (Freedman, 2007). Accordingly, some biological

Head Nurse Essay Example for Free

Head Nurse Essay A head nurse has the following important duties and job responsibilities: * Planning and scheduling the work activities of junior nurses in her section. * Making sure that the medical reports and instruments are kept properly and safely. * Ensuring that the patients obey the instructions and advice of the doctors and follow their prescriptions sincerely. * Ensuring that the areas where the patients are admitted are sanitized properly on a regular basis. * Directing the patients to have their meals regularly and receiving feedback from them in case of faulty food items or other issues. * Making her patients relax in case of adversities and major surgeries being performed on them. * Comforting her patients and injecting them with the required medicinal doses as advised by the doctors. * Cleaning the areas that contained medical instruments, medicines and syringes in order to ensure safety for all those who visit these areas. * Sanitizing the rooms where the patients are dressed and changed in order to avoid microbial infections. * Assisting her patients with calling their relatives and helping the old ones move from one place to another. * Walking with the doctors during their routine rounds and check-ups and noting down the directions of the doctor with regard to the health and care of the patients. * Ensuring that she provides all the health care facilities and services to the patients with accordance to the rules, regulations and policies of the state. * Placing demands for new medicines and documenting their amounts properly and ordering fresh stocks of the medicines that have expired. * Ensuring that all the needs and demands of the patients are fulfilled during their stay in their hospitals. * Making sure that the patients are comfortable and feel at home. * Executing all other tasks that need her assistance and patient health care services. * Duties and Responsibilities of a Head Nurse: * Head nurses manage all the administrative duties of the departments which they are assigned to work in * They schedule shifts for the nurses and assign duties to them * They collect work reports from all the nurses regarding their day-to-day activities and maintains a record of them * They present the records collected from all the nurses to the respective doctorswho are handling cases of those patients * They assist and conduct training programs for the nurses who are new and need help * They also solve any issues related to the patients * Head nurses also come in direct contact with the patients and diagnose theirhealth problems * Inventory management is also one of the responsibilities of the head nurses * Head nurses review and supervise the pre-operative settings made by the nurses in the operating room and make sure that they have provided required equipments to the doctors * Head nurses often accompany the doctors when they go on their rounds to check the patients where they present the reports collected by them * They provide necessary help to the doctors such as carrying diagnostic equipments, etc., to the doctors while they are on round for check-up They maintain a log of the entries of the patients in their wards and their health Reports * Head nurses also look for the hygiene in the hospital and in the rooms and make sure that the patients are provided with enough facilities and entertain all types of complaints from the patients *

Iago’s Soliloquies and Intentions Essay -- William Shakespeare, Othell

Iago’s Soliloquies and Intentions In every play, there is at least one character that jumps off the page and begs for your attention. In The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare, this character is Iago. Iago is a devious man, a liar, a manipulator, and a psychopath. It seems Shakespeare developed a very maniacal character but not one that is unreal. I feel as though we have our fair share of Iago’s in today’s society. Many politicians seem to fit into this category, manipulating people for manipulation sake. However, to me the most interesting psychopath of all, is in the play Othello. In this play, Iago is Othello’s trusted ensign. However, Iago is not what he portrays himself to be, to the characters in the play. In his soliloquies, he exclusively reveals to the audience his mal intent. He betrays Othello in the most deceitful ways, abusing Othello’s trust. Plotting against him, Iago seeks revenge on an unknowing Othello. One would conclude that Iago would have motive behind his ruthless and elaborate plans. However, it seems that Iago committed these amoral crimes, for power, for psychopathic reasons, and for sport. He has displayed his power over Othello by proving to himself, that he could in fact exploit those around him, distorting what they believe to be true. We will look into Iago’s soliloquies, dissect them, and discover his plans. Iago, the obvious villain in this love story gone array. Shows us his true colors from the beginning of the play. In act one scene one, Iago is speaking with Roderigo, he confides in Roderigo telling him â€Å"I know my price; I am worth no worse a place†. Here Iago is holding himself in high regard in an exceedingly conceited manner. He ... ...ful newly wed couple and destroyed them. In some respect, you have to admire how truly devious Iago is. He takes the innocent Desdemona and making her look so guilty when she did absolute nothing wrong. He successfully convinced Othello that Desdemona was unfaithful to him, so much so that Othello kills his innocent wife. Iago receives his title of lieutenant if only for a moment, and his revenge against Othello. Iago throughout the play uses his manipulation of words to destroy those around him. In the end, his plan was unveiled, however it was too late the deeds were done. Iago has the last laugh, his gift of language he keeps to himself "Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word". He laughs knowing that he will never give the others the satisfaction of knowing why he did this. Evil is triumphant at the end of Othello.

Analysis of SDB

This report aims to provide an analysis of a proposed investment in Sheen Development Bank (SAD) by Unabridged in 2002 and assess whether the P/B ratio of 1. 6 for Unabridged to pay for its 18% stake in SAD is appropriate. The analysis of Newbie's acquisition of Sad's stocks Is based on several aspects of Sad's asset quality, earnings capability and capital adequacy. According to price-to-book ratio of SOB's Industry peers and some acquisition precedents by foreign Investors, Unabridged made a correct decision that It paid 1. Times book value of Sad's stake on basis of SOB's performance. This Is because of Sad's high P/B ratio and low ROE Indicating that SOB's share price was overvalued; therefore, Unabridged acquisition of Sad's stocks was appropriate with a P/B ratio of 1. 6. Finally, this report provide a reasonable recommendation for Investors to make a correct occultation decision In terms of real profitability of occultation targets. Table of contents: Four Chinese banks had be gun to accept investments from foreign banks or financial investors since 1999.As a listed bank with huge developing potentials, SAD was snagged by government officers and encumbered by massive low-quality loans which resulted in high Naps, an under-capitalized balance sheet and disappointing profitability. In order to bring to SAD the best management practices and expertise in banking, the Sheen government was primarily seeking long-term foreign strategic investors. Therefore, SAD decided to sell its four Joint shareholders' 18% non-traceable legal person stake of SAD.At the same time, Newbie's successful experience in South Korean bank and its strong expertise in financial institution significantly enhanced the quality of its loan portfolio and its operating performance. Then, Unabridged was actively acquiring Sad's 18% stake in order to improve Sad's bad performance. This report will analyze how Sad's ratios in its balance sheet influence Newbie's acquisition decision as to Sad's price-to-book ratio. The paper also Justifies that Unabridged pays 18% Sad's shares with a reasonable P/B ratio. 3. 0 Main Body 3. Asset quality Difficulties in cash flows in a bank are always caused by a high NAP ratio. NAP ratio is a crucial tool to assess a banks performance, which is calculated as net non- reforming loans divided by total gross loans. Banks often report their NAP ratio as a measure of the quality of their outstanding loans. The higher the NAP ratio, the more possibility such returns will be lost and vice versa. As is shown in the Appendix 2, the NAP ratio decreased from 22. 7% to 1 1. 6% during the period from 2000 to 2002 Compared with Sad's industry peers, Sad's NAP ratio is higher than the average amount of its peers.The NAP ratio of SAD was only below Bosom's, but far higher than other Joint-stock banks in 2002. Sad's NAP ratio was 1 1. 6% in 2002, to some extents, this ratio means that Sad's cash flows were falling into much more troubles and difficulties than other Joint-stock banks. On the other hand, Loan Loss Reserves by Gross Loans determines the quality of loans of a bank. LARK is a percentage that reflects accumulated provision expenses and gives an indication of the management's expectation of future loan losses. The higher the ratio, the more suspicious the loans are and vice versa.The LARK ratio of SAD declined from 7. 1% to 3. 9% from 2000 to 2002, which was approximately the them. Although the LARK ratio of SAD decreased by nearly 3% during these three ears, Sad's loan loss reserves increased almost 100 million. By comparison with its industry peers, Sad's LARK/NAP was largely lower than the average level. Hence, Sad's high NAP ratio led to a low asset quality in 2002. 3. 2 Earnings capability Obviously, Sad's net interest margin declined by 1% from 2000 to 2002; compared with its industry peers, Sad's net interest margin was 0. % higher than the average ratio of other five Joint-stock banks in 2002. This indicates that S ad's ability of making profits is stronger than the average level. Meanwhile, Sad's non-interest income level ND operating expense were above the average level in 2002. Nevertheless, Sad's ROAR was 0. 9% in 2000 and was only 0. 3% in 2002. This ratio was merely half of the average ROAR of other five Joint-stock banks in 2002 indicating that Sad's profitability of the assets was relatively weak as well as its ROAR at the same time. Sad's ROAR was only one-third of the average ROAR of five Joint-stock banks.Therefore, Sad's performance was not good compared with its industry peers; the reason of Sad's bad performance is that an increasing assets generating low net income. 3. 3 Capital adequacy In commercial banking, capital adequacy ratio (CAR) is used to monitor a banks situation of capitalization by regulators and managers. CAR is calculated as the sum of tier 1 capital (equity and retained earnings) and tier 2 capital (subordinated debt and reserves) and dividing it by its risk-wei ghted assets. Sad's CAR decreased from 10. 6% in December 2001 to 9. % in December in 2002, but still above the Chinese regulatory floor of 8%. It is particularly worth mentioning here that Sob's CAR was 0. 7% higher than the average CAR of other five Joint-stock banks in 2002. Not all the mime the CAR is good if high; a high CAR means that a banks large amount of money is stuck in provisions or risk management, and there would be fewer money left for investment or for the continuation of some activities. Therefore, from the situation of Sob's declining CAR, SAD suffered in substantial loan quality troubles caused by its poor credit management. . 4 Price-to-book ratio It would be appropriate for Unabridged to pay 1. 6 times book value to get 18% stocks of SAD. There were some precedent that foreign banks and financial investors acquired domestic banks' minority-stake from 1999 to 2001. For example, AFC acquired Bank of Shanghai 5% stake at a price-to-book ratio of 1. 5 in September of 1999; and acquired 15% stake of Nanjing City Commercial Bank at a price-to-book ratio of 1. 2 in November 2001. Even if Newbie's acquisition of Sad's stake at the price-to-book ratio of 1. Is higher than If's; however, it was still lower than the average ratio of other three domestic listed banks. Significantly, the price-to-book ratio of SAD was around 5. 5 to 5. 9 from 2002 to 2003; and at the same, the other three banks average price-to-book ratio was 3. 1 to 2. 2. Hence, the appropriate ululation range should be below 2. 2 for Newbie's acquisition. As we can calculate that the ROE of SAD was decreasing from 12. 07% to 9. 02% from 2000 to 2002. P/B provides a valuable reality inspection for investors seeking growth at a reasonable price.Large differences between P/B and ROE, a key growth indicator could sometimes send up a red flag on companies. As a result. Sad's low ROE and high P/B ratio indicate that Sad's shares were overvalued at that time. If a company's ROE is Unabridg ed pays 1. 6 times book value that is far lower than Sad's price-to-book ratio, it would be an appropriate decision. . 0 Conclusion By way of conclusion, this report introduces the background of Chinese banks' stocks acquired by foreign financial investors and analyzes lots of ratios in Sad's balance sheet.The report also proves that Unabridged paying 1. 6 times book value through assessing Sad's asset quality, earning capability, capital adequacy and comparing its industry peers' P/B ratio and analyzing the relationship between P/B ratio and ROE ratio is appropriate. In addition, this report provides a considerable recommendation for investors to acknowledge a banks real performance. 5. 0 Recommendations However, much attention should be paid to comparing a banks key ratios analysis before acquisition its stocks for foreign investors.

Early Childhood Website Critique Essay

Earlychildhood. com is a website that provides an ample amount of information on providing the proper care and educating young kids at a low cost. This site offers teachers, caregivers and parents ideas and concepts related to child development. Moreover, the early development stages are the most crucial time for children because this is the point when they get a chance to explore the things that surround them. More so, the guardians of these children must be responsible and knowledgeable enough to gear them towards the right direction. There is a comprehensive collection of date incorporated in this website which is comprised of tips on where to buy discounted school supplies, sources for childcare, forum about enhancing the learning environment and many others. Overall, this site is like a one-stop shop for those who want to know everything about child development from learning materials to scholarly resources to the opinions or words of wisdom from fellow teachers, caregivers and parents. Among all the sections featured in the site, the Discount School Supply was the one that caught my attention. It contains a list of equipment and materials needed in educating children. Additionally, it is a 500 pages online catalogue of â€Å"arts and crafts materials for early learners with a single focus which is to offer the highest quality products at the lowest possible cost supported by an extraordinary level of service. † Also, another aspect of this section that suggests high-quality products and services is the inclusion of â€Å"e-commerce websites, a news magazine and thousands of arts and crafts materials, school supplies, educational toys and instructional materials† wherein most of these were designed for earlychildhood. com (Earlychildhood. com, 2008). I believe that this part of the website can really help in giving teachers, caregivers and parents awareness on the variety of learning products out in the market. More so, it provides free delivery to all the products that will be ordered making it an inexpensive and yet practical way of acquiring resources which are usually expensively priced, to enhance the development and progress of children. Meanwhile, in terms of strengths and weaknesses of the site, there are features that have advanced the objective of website and there were also missing elements that would have made the look of the site more professional and more interesting. For the strengths, the site had tackled the different aspects needed to properly and successfully teach adults about the significance child development for the welfare of the children. Also, the websites or the sections embedded within Earlychildhood. com were well-structured and the contents were highly-informative and very helpful to the readers. Meanwhile, for the weakness of the site, the layout of the main page was not systematically arranged and some vital information was excluded such as the background information about the site and the people behind it. In addition, it should have a site map in order for the readers or viewers to easily navigate the entire website. If these things are addressed by the website coordinator or designer, Earlychildhood. com can provide a trouble-free access to all those who want to see and obtain helpful information about proper childcare. Furthermore, this website can serve as a reliable source for a research that involves childcare and child development. It has all the necessary facts and information including current news, teaching modules, learning materials, scholarly articles and recommendations from professional or people working within the field. Through all of these, collection and dissemination of information will be uncomplicated which is very beneficial when doing research. References Earlychildhood. com. (2008). Discount School Supply. Retrieved October 3, 2008, from http://www. discountschoolsupply. com/Help/HelpFAQTopic. aspx? help_faq_id=25

Technology, Changing our lives essays

Technology, Changing our lives essays The 21st century was never predicted to be what it is by our founding fathers. The truth is nobody ever expected our country to come down to the way we see it today. Computers and technology are now part of our daily lives. Weve come upon to depend on them to function and to live. Today in airports and other facilities we all must go through a metal detector or have someone pass over us a hand-held detector. Who wouldve thought that wed ever have such a thing like hidden cameras, or motion sensors? Nobody expected it, but now its part of us. The fourth amendment protects us as citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures. Probable cause and warrants must be issued before entering a civilians home. However the bill of rights was written in 1787, thats almost 200 years ago. Do the same principles and understandings still apply today? More Exceptions than rules? Justice Lewis Powell has even admitted that certain parts of Fourth Amendment law are intolerably confusing. Some of the cases being presented before our judges today seem unreasonable and confusing. They find themselves making exceptions to the fourth amendment. Some of the things we have today wouldve shocked and scared the hell out of the people who wrote the fourth amendment. Guns and drugs are a big problem to our country and being in the safety of your house may not always prove effective against law-enforcement. Communication technology is very useful for those who want to pass information quickly and effectively. However, what if this is used against the greater good? Criminals can easily set up plans and use technology to their advantage. Also drug dealers with their pagers and cell phones can make quick money in a matter of a few seconds. Did the people who wrote the fourth amendment take these things into account? ...

Samuel Johnsons Essay on the Decay of Friendship

Samuel Johnsons Essay on the Decay of Friendship For more than three years British author, poet, and lexicographer Samuel Johnson almost single-handedly wrote and edited a biweekly journal, The Rambler. After completing his master work, A Dictionary of the English Language, in 1755, he returned to journalism by contributing essays and reviews to the Literary Magazine and The Idler, where the following essay first appeared. Of the innumerable causes of decayed or destroyed friendships, Johnson examines five in particular. The Decay of Friendship from The Idler, Number 23, September 23, 1758 by Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) Life has no pleasure higher or nobler than that of friendship. It is painful to consider that this sublime enjoyment may be impaired or destroyed by innumerable causes, and that there is no human possession of which the duration is less certain. Many have talked in very exalted language, of the perpetuity of friendship, of invincible constancy, and unalienable kindness; and some examples have been seen of men who have continued faithful to their earliest choice, and whose affection has predominated over changes of fortune, and contrariety of opinion. But these instances are memorable, because they are rare. The friendship which is to be practiced or expected by common mortals, must take its rise from mutual pleasure, and must end when the power ceases of delighting each other. Many accidents therefore may happen by which the ardor of kindness will be abated, without criminal baseness or contemptible inconstancy on either part. To give pleasure is not always in our power; and little does he know himself who believes that he can be always able to receive it. Those who would gladly pass their days together may be separated by the different course of their affairs; and friendship, like love, is destroyed by long absence, though it may be increased by short intermissions. What we have missed long enough to want it, we value more when it is regained; but that which has been lost till it is forgotten, will be found at last with little gladness, and with still less if a substitute has supplied the place. A man deprived of the companion to whom he used to open his bosom, and with whom he shared the hours of leisure and merriment, feels the day at first hanging heavy on him; his difficulties oppress, and his doubts distract him; he sees time come and go without his wonted gratification, and all is sadness within, and solitude about him. But this uneasiness never lasts long; necessity produces expedients, new amusements are discovered, and new conversation is admitted. No expectation is more frequently disappointed, than that which naturally arises in the mind from the prospect of meeting an old friend after long separation. We expect the attraction to be revived, and the coalition to be renewed; no man considers how much alteration time has made in himself, and very few inquire what effect it has had upon others. The first hour convinces them that the pleasure which they have formerly enjoyed, is forever at an end; different scenes have made different impressions; the opinions of both are changed; and that similitude of manners and sentiment is lost which confirmed them both in the approbation of themselves. Friendship is often destroyed by opposition of interest, not only by the ponderous and visible interest which the desire of wealth and greatness forms and maintains, but by a thousand secret and slight competitions, scarcely known to the mind upon which they operate. There is scarcely any man without some favorite trifle which he values above greater attainments, some desire of petty praise which he cannot patiently suffer to be frustrated. This minute ambition is sometimes crossed before it is known, and sometimes defeated by wanton petulance; but such attacks are seldom made without the loss of friendship; for whoever has once found the vulnerable part will always be feared, and the resentment will burn on in secret, of which shame hinders the discovery. This, however, is a slow malignity, which a wise man will obviate as inconsistent with quiet, and a good man will repress as contrary to virtue; but human happiness is sometimes violated by some more sudden strokes. A dispute begun in jest upon a subject which a moment before was on both parts regarded with careless indifference, is continued by the desire of conquest, till vanity kindles into rage, and opposition rankles into enmity. Against this hasty mischief, I know not what security can be obtained; men will be sometimes surprised into quarrels; and though they might both haste into reconciliation, as soon as their tumult had subsided, yet two minds will seldom be found together, which can at once subdue their discontent, or immediately enjoy the sweets of peace without remembering the wounds of the conflict. Friendship has other enemies. Suspicion is always hardening the cautious, and disgust repelling the delicate. Very slender differences will sometimes part those whom long reciprocation of civility or beneficence has united. Lonelove and Ranger retired into the country to enjoy the company of each other, and returned in six weeks, cold and petulant; Rangers pleasure was to walk in the fields, and Loneloves to sit in a bower; each had complied with the other in his turn, and each was angry that compliance had been exacted. The most fatal disease of friendship is gradual decay, or dislike hourly increased by causes too slender for complaint, and too numerous for removal. Those who are angry may be reconciled; those who have been injured may receive a recompense: but when the desire of pleasing and willingness to be pleased is silently diminished, the renovation of friendship is hopeless; as, when the vital powers sink into languor, there is no longer any use of the physician. Other Essays by Samuel Johnson: On the Style of Jonathan SwiftConversationThe Bugbear StyleAn Encomium on Sleep The Decay of Friendship, by Samuel Johnson, was first published in The Idler, September 23, 1758.

Im One Archie Anderson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Im One Archie Anderson - Essay Example Environmental campaigns have also raised the need for alternative, renewable sources of energy within the society to conserve natural resources for posterity. The issue of environmental pollution caused by the burning of the fuels from this industry has led to an extensive criticism of the oil and gas industry in a harsh way. The I’m One Campaign sought to handle these crises by documenting all the benefits oil and gas to the American society. It reviews numerous aspects in which oil and gas are fundamental to the society to persuade them to support the industry. The advertisements states facts about the dependence of oil and the benefits it has to the American fraternity. Jobs, education and day to day activities within the American society get reviewed in the advertisement, and their relation to the existence of oil gets developed in the advertisement to enlighten the American consumers. (AmericanPetroleumInstitute) According to the campaign, 9.2 billion jobs in the US get maintained by the gas and oil industry. The capitalist nature of the US makes this statistic a welcome one as the citizens are in a constant mission to attain economic stability. The recession hit the country dearly leading to reduced job security, and thus any effort to improve the situation shall get immense support. This advertisement aims at this niche to enable the embracing of the oil and gas industry. The jobs that got covered in the campaign that get supported by the oil and gas industry were numerous. Among them were mechanics, power pricers, researchers, marketing coordinators, design engineers, field engineers, chemists, landmen and environmental, health and safety technicians. This long list in their advertisement brings out the quantity aspect of the benefits of the oil and gas industry. It goes to a personal level in naming the respective discipline apart from mentioning the staggering statistic of 9.2 billion

Investment Banking in 2008 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Investment Banking in 2008 - Essay Example This paper demonstrates the result of deregulatory measures initiated by the authorities of the United States in the decade of 1990s.The reason for such hype of the deregulatory measures has been primarily the universal bank model. The deregulatory measures allowed the investment banks to participate in the depository functions. The supporters of the deregulations believed that modern day clients preferred to do all of their business ranging from life insurance to commercial lending, from mergers and acquisition advisory to retirement planning, under one roof. And only a deregulated market could allow this to happen. Therefore, replacement of Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 (which prevented depository and brokerage functions) by the Gramm-Leach Bliley in 1999 opened a whole lot of opportunities for the bankers. With the approval to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act in 1999, investment banks, insurance companies and commercial banks were equally placed in respect to the products and the markets. This led to the concentration of financial power in fewer hands and soon the investment banks were being absorbed by the commercial banks. The deviation led to the rise in pressure on investment banks to create return on equity compared to the universal banks like Duetsche Bank and as a result investment banks laid more emphasis on the traditional services like M&A, underwriting, sales and trading. Also, the intense competitive pressure led to the withdrawal of Net Capital rule. and SEC allowed unlimited and unregulated leverage (in way of debts) to their brokerage units which proved to be fatal in the long run. Remaining Competitive Against the Trend From the analysis of the case, it appears that Goldman Sachs (and also Morgan Stanley, if not others) could have surely remained competitive without increasing its leverage to boost its return on investment. In fact, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley were honest enough at the outset and had written down the losses in residential mortgages and leveraged loans and tried to avoid the excessive exposure to the mortgage industry. But as Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley faced increasing pressure from the investors as their profits eroded and return on equity subsided. Consequently, they decided to be the bank holding companies (under FED regulations) and initiate the depository functions which would allow them to play as commercial banks and have diversified banking operations apart from invest banking functions, which in turn would help them to stay competitive. Collapse of Lehman Brothers but Bear Stearns Saved For the purpose of bail out of Bear Sterns , Federal Reserve lent JP Morgan Chase $ 30 Billion out of which JP Morgan Chase agreed to assume responsibility for $ 1 Billion leaving the charge of other $ 29 Billion to the U.S. tax payers. But when the Lehman Brothers, which had almost 75% higher valuation of the assets (compared to Bear Sterns as on 30/11/2007) approached Federal Reserve they did not get the nod. The prime reason of such a decision by Fed is believed to be the political dominos. The decision makers hesitated to take another bail-out measure

Managing People and Organisations Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Managing People and Organisations - Case Study Example PEST analysis shows that ALSTOM political situation was feeble in 1999 and continued to remain till 2003 until they change their HRM policies to unite the new and old employees. Among the major concerns were lack of funds, updated technology and unskilled labour which they overcome in 2005 by revising their policies and considering social factors on a cultural basis which gained customers' trust and trained their unskilled managers and employees so that they could move with the 'new' labour department. ALSTOM currently should consider economic conditions to be updated on a weekly basis as this would provide the managers with the latest updates to take financial decisions regarding investment and budgeting control. ALSTOM should also sought new ways to lower its' costs and increase its plant's efficiency. ALSTOM unintentionally became dual service business which consisted of a two-fold unit, the existing sector and the newly formed sector. This was the main reason why the industry started engaging in various conflicts. The service sector that was considered 'useless' in ALSTOM was promoted on 'managerial' post while the 'production' unit that consisted of the people who were considered as the real pioneers of the Industry, were merged with the newly formed staff. Any proposal suggested by the new comers and qualified staff was immediately opposed by the existing sector. ... This was the main reason why the industry started engaging in various conflicts. The service sector that was considered 'useless' in ALSTOM was promoted on 'managerial' post while the 'production' unit that consisted of the people who were considered as the real pioneers of the Industry, were merged with the newly formed staff. Any proposal suggested by the new comers and qualified staff was immediately opposed by the existing sector. The conflicts were not limited to the people alone, managers were also involved. Industrial unity began to fragile in the face of multiple pressures; some of them were even brutal which gave rise to the political involvement of managers which widened the potential scope of internal conflict and therefore threatened the basic industrial unity. As a result there started a cold war in two sectors which resisted unity simply as a means of self-protection. (Minkin, 1991, p. 8) The emergence of Uncertainty The existence of 'uncertainty' tended to further reinforce the sense of there being a political sphere distinct from the industrial world which is evident from the development of two distinct centres, the OEM and the newly emerged sector the one growing out of the other seemed to imply the acceptance of two orders and two sets of functions. All of this enhanced the possibility of political and employees' union role-playing in a way that accounts for much of the subtlety and flexibility of the organisational relationship. Walter's management was aware of the fact that ALSTOM was lacking experienced employees; therefore with the formation of OEM, ALSTOM hired capable employees. Inflexibility The more united the organisation, the better is its' structure in terms of flexibility. Walter perceived the two

Concept of suicide

Concept of suicide 1.0 Concept of Suicide 1.1 Background Sir Thomas Browned originates the word suicide in 1642 in his Religio Medici. It was derived from SUI (of oneself) and CAEDES (murder).since then, this word has caused much controversy and evoked many professionals to continuous research and debate upon its definition in various ways from every aspects: medical, social, psychological, administrative, legal, spiritual and religious purposes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Suicide is no longer uncommon in the society and every day, there are people from many walks of life living under the same roof without us knowing what problems they are plagued with. Back centuries, suicide was a taboo subject to be discussed and yet, many are engaged in such behavior although it is believed that most suicide cases are unreported. To some, suicidal actions are glorified especially to cults and religion purposes. As time progresses, the mentality of the society changes along with time and the stigma of suicide is slowly undergoing much debate and understanding. Now, suicide is regarded more of a tragedy instead of ritual because part of the reason is that the society undergoes globalization and no longer practices scarification. Even if there is a minority of tribes who endorses scarification, the groups are negligible throughout the globe. Also, suicide in this era more often is done due to personal reasons; be it mentality, spiritual etc. In 1763, the first attempt was done scientifically by Merian to understand the rationale behind suicide. It is believed that suicide was not perceived as a sin or a crime. Instead, suicide has been regarded as a disease of mankind. After the death of Jean Jacques Rousseau in 1822, which had sequentially and graphically described circumstances of his death, Farlet manages to conduct a first in-depth examination on suicide. This enables better understanding on suicide with broader perspective. A famous psychiatrist, Dr R. Gaupp, says that amongst people committing suicide they possess unique and bizarre personality traits. For the past 50 years, it is concluded by series of researches that suicide begins from the state of mind, coupled with external factors, resulting in suicide. Herein, we will look in depths of suicide amongst Malaysian school students. 1.2 Definition A suicide idea is when one thought of ending ones own life. One thing leads to another, suicide ideas often leads to suicidal attempt and suicidal behaviour. Suicidal behaviours are thoughts or tendencies that started off a person and put them at risk for committing suicide. Simply said, suicide is an intentional or voluntary determination to end ones life, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). A suicidal person often closed ones options in life, and looks at another darker side of negativity. To them, dying is a pre-requisite for the end of all sufferings. A famous sociologist, Emile Durkheim whom not only proposes the theory of functionalism but also studied on Suicide, states that: the term suicide is applied to all cases of death resulting directly or indirectly from a positive or negative act of the victim himself, which he knows will produce this result (1982, p. 110 [excerpt from Suicide]). 1.3 Description Suicide is not an uncommon issue these days and it is widely discussed in institutions although it is still condemned by the society. Much about discussing facts and truths behind this dark sentiment of life, there are common myths about suicide which we need to eradicate in order to comprehend the problem better we are able to curb this issue. When we listened to people whom talks about suicide, we assumed that these people would not do it since they are open to discussion. To include, people who are open to discussion should not be overlooked because they might also consider the options of suicide since the minds of a person is incomprehensible. In addition, the society views the troubled ones as people whom cannot be saved and are unwilling to seek help. Since they intend to commit suicide, nothing can stop him. These misconstrued assumptions are proven wrong because they are lost and sometimes hope for care and understanding. Indeed, these are individuals whom should not be segre gated. Another notion that should be avoided is that people believed that suicide indicates lack of faith in religion. This is incorrect because there are certain religions which encourage suicide in the name of faith. Thoughts and attempts of suicide as well as committing suicide are major concerns throughout the world and it is still a growing concern amongst the society. Very much obvious, most suicidal case involves adolescents and young teens. The teenage years are one of the most difficult stages in life, as identified by psychologists. Although teenagers are thought to enjoy life without worries of financial stability and mid-life crisis, suicide seems way an inconsiderable option to them since they ought to have no problems at this phase of life besides studying. But many changes in the mind which takes place during puberty can change their identity and their vulnerable self if they may have to cope with a broad range of personal and social obstacles. Since young people are so fragile, they may experience difficulty in dealing with stress. Children prior to puberty had hardly been bothered by suicidal behavior, probably due to their inability to envisage or execute a suicide plan. When puberty hits adolescence, risky psychiatric factors, such as depression and drug abuse become imminent and play a part in contributing to the causes of frequency in suicidal behaviour. Some children especially girls, view the transition from primary to middle school stressful. In addition, as one gets older parental supervision decreases, so teenagers are more likely to engage in unhealthy behavior without their parents consents. Suicide is divided into several commonly used terms to identify its symptoms and causes. Here are the descriptions provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding suicidal terms that needed to be taken into account:- Suicide: a planned act of killing oneself intentionally. The act can be performed by the person with or without the full knowledge or expectation of any fatal outcome. Suicidal attempt: A medical intervention is required in this case, after the person whom intended to end his or her life committed a life-threatening act with a conscious intent. Suicidal gesture: A series of self-threatening behaviour on display, which may be detrimental or non- detrimental. Suicidal idea: The power of mind to thought or set up the process to end ones own life. Suicidal risk: The tendency of ending ones life depends on this characteristic, depending on its presence or absence. Suicidal pact: Two or more people in agreement to die concurrently by committing the act of suicide. Suicidal cluster: People who gather in groups to commit suicide together, usually for a common objective. Suicidal counters: To prevent suicide, this set of factors operates within the individual, family or society. 1.4 Facts and Figures With many reasons believed to be the causes for suicide, facts and figures of statistics below are generally shown to highlight suicide from methods of ending life in different ethnic groups (inference is drawn from analysis of data from suicidal cases from the University Malaya Medical Centre mortuary ) to why it is committed : It is estimated that 450 million people suffered from mental of behavioral disorder. Every year, close to 1 million people committed suicide and 1 in 4 families have at least a member with mental disorder. There are 25 million schizophrenic patients and 50 million who suffer from epilepsy, which About 40 million or 80% are assumed to live in developing countries Most of them lived for 33% of the years with disability are due to neuropsychiatric disorders (depression, alcohol-use disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder). From 2000-2004, University Malaya Medical Centre found suicides of 164 male (65%) and 87 female (35%) victims with their ages ranging from 15 to 80 years. The age group with the highest total of cases between 21 to 30 (83 of 251; 33.1%) The highest rate of suicide was among Chinese (ethnic groups) with a total of 120 cases (120 of 251; 47.8%) by using the common method; jumping from height (41%). Whereas, Indians commonly commit suicide by hanging themselves (49 of 87) and poisoning (20 of 37; 54.1%); and Muslims had shown the lowest cases of suicide (18 of 251; 7.2%). 1.5 Types of suicide Collective tendencies have an existence of their own; they are forces as real as cosmic forces, though of another sort; they, likewise, affect the individual from without (Thompson, 1982, p. 109 [excerpt from Suicide]) To separate true suicides from accidental deaths, Durkheim proposed this definition of suicide: the term suicide is applied to all cases of death resulting directly or indirectly from a positive or negative act of the victim himself, which he knows will produce this result (1982, p. 110 [excerpt from Suicide]). Then, Durkheim proposes four types of suicide: 1) Egoistic suicide Minimal social integration allows outcasts and segregation of individuals who are not considered fit to be bounded to specific social groups. These individuals are left with little social support or guidance. Thus, tendency to commit suicide increases. For example, students especially girls in schools wanted to belong in groups or so-called cliques. Most of the times, the ones whom are shunned off are the ones to be laughed at and criticized. 2) Altruistic suicide The opposite of egoistic suicide. This type of suicide results from too much of integration. Self-sacrifice is the prominent trait and members of the group were so integrated that they lost their individuality and ever so willing to sacrifice for the groups interest. For example, black metal groups in school do underground sacrificial methods at times in their act of worshipping. 3) Anomic suicide (of moral regulation)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When means were unable to fulfill needs, an imbalance of means and needs arise. i. Acute economic anomie Traditional institutions such as religion and government failed to practise moral restraints on a capitalist society. Hence, the ruling of private individuals to determine ones fate in life. This type of suicide does not apply in Malaysia because it is a democratic country where everyone has the equal rights to flourish in their own ability. ii. Chronic economic anomie Social regulation gradually diminishes after a revolution or urbanization. As a result, traditional social rules deteriorated. Wealth and property was not enough to make individuals happy, as was demonstrated by higher suicide rates among the wealthy than the poor. For instance, richer students gain easier access to drugs because of their high allowance making it affordable for them. Later on, usage of drug substances will lead to suicide (will be discussed later in this topic). This also explains why students in urban schools are more prone to suicide instead of rural area students. iii. Acute domestic anomie   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The inability of an individual to adapt to sudden changes in life results in this suicide. For instance, a student who could not cope the loss of his or her family members might consider suicide as an option to end the suffering. iv. Chronic domestic anomie The way marriage is seen in different regulations and needs for each gender. Bachelors tended to commit suicide at higher rates than married men because of a lack of regulation and established goals and expectations. On the other hand, bachelorettes are lower risk to commit suicide because without marriage, they are not confined to boundaries set by the household. This is not an issue for students in Malaysian schools unless if young girls are married off during schooling. Such cases are rare in Malaysia unless in rural areas like in Sabah or Sarawak. 4) Fatalistic suicide This type of suicide did not receive much attention because it is a rare phenomenon of the real world. People who are over regulated and receive unrewarding lives like the slaves or childless married women might consider suicide. Their future is relies on others to determine. Cases do happened like prostitution or human trafficking, but this type of suicide does not relate much to the field of education. 1.6 Warning signs Rarely, suicide spurs a moment of intense decision, says Dr Suarn Singh, Head of Psychiatry, Ministry of Health Malaysia. More often, there are many clues to look out for to identify school students at risk of mental and social distress and signs leading to the actual attempt, such as: A change in behavior- speech or actions such as constantly saying that I cant go on or I want to end it all. Attitudes or appearance takes a toll on health and individual becomes recluse and not care of how they look usually by not grooming. Behaving recklessly by not taking safety measures, e.g.: crossing the road without looking. Giving away prized possessions and valuable items. Individual may be accompanied with unpredicatable mood swings like crying, self-mutilation and impulsiveness. Identify the distress and dramatic change that affects the students performance in school (e.g.: attendance and behavior) Lack of interest in school, overall decline in performance, misconduct in class, unexplainable absence or truancy. Abuse of substance, smoking or drug (including cannabis). Violent behaviour which sometimes involves the police. 1.7 Risk Factors and Risk Situations When accessing suicide patterns amongst students, all parties including school staffs, families and friends should be aware of the victims behaviour. Repetitive self mutilation should also be taken into note because distraught teenagers tend to repeat their acts. Particular suicide behaviour under circumstances is interdependent with the environment and genetic factors. Various states or neighbouring countries that features factors of cultural, political and economic differences may play a role in risking the youths decisions of suicide. On the other hand, risk situations are hurtful or injurious events which are experienced by the victims. These occurrences may wound the victims personal dignity and self-image. Example, a suicidal student may encounter with peer pressure in school, bullying, disappointment and failure in academic or high expectations from parents during examination. Suicide has become an intense debate, yet, it still remains as an ambiguous subject to fully grasp. A normal person will never understand to what extent these youth will do just to end their lives. Researches were done and found that major risk factors are linked to young people who are plagued with these causes that might have been the reasons leading them to suicide. The major risk factors to include are: Cultural and sociodemographic factors Family pattern and negative life events during childhood Cognitive style and personality Anxiety disorders Substance abuse Eating disorders Psychotic disorders Current negative life events as triggers of suicidal behavior Cultural and sociodemographic factors Different countries are linked to different cultures and demographic structures. In the third world countries, low socioeconomic status, lack of education system and unemployment are risk factors for suicide. Although Malaysia is a developed country and cannot be compared to third world neighbours, suicide still happens rampantly in urban areas, which is developed and suicide rates are expected to be lower instead of a drastic statistics to show. When urbanization enforces competitions, psychological impact of torture may lead to self-conflict between oneself and the society. One is expected to perform to the standards of societys customary demands. Likewise, in Malaysian schools, students are very academic inclined. This is a powerful risk factor for students to be depressed and may resort to self-destruction. Also, students and adolescents whom lack of self-identity and cultural roots may opt for this choice of suicide under stressful environment. That said, Each individual young p ersons growth is intertwined with collective cultural tradition, as stated by World Health Organization (WHO). Since Malaysia is a multiracial country, there are more than one race that plays a greater attribution of gender nonconformity and identity issues. Imagine an Indian girl being placed at a Chinese school with the majority of Chinese, she is hardly accepted into the culture of the majority. When a student begins to fear a serious acceptance problem, they will lack of support in order to experience an optimum growth during that phase of life. Family pattern and negative life events during childhood Personal loss and conflict, associated with parents or romantic attachments are one of the commonest reasons for suicide amongst students. Physical or sexual abuse, family feud played a part in suicide contemplation as well. Usually, suicidal youth will leave a note or tracks that they are about to suicide. Like the diary, short notes of apologies, so on and so forth. More often, suicidal students want to escape the pressure from demands of the environment or from psychological aspects that the truth is a painful unbearable fact to handle. Broken families and traumatic experiences e.g. rape, mental torture, etc. leave a scar for life in the child especially when the child is unable to manage with the aftermaths of trauma. There are evidences that suggest suicidal students often come from destructive families with more than one factor risks. The effects are cumulative and these problems are usually not known because suicides are more likely to refrain from seeking help from others. He re are a few negative aspects to take note of a dysfunctional family that often characterizes cases of suicidal students: Family with the history of suicide. Alcohol and substance abuse member in the family. Abusive family (physically, mentally or sexually). Divorce and separation of family Very high or very low demands of standards from the parents. Lack of attention and care from family members. Cognitive style and personality It is arguable between the relationship of a certain suicidal trait and an array of cognitive style and personality that risk suicides amongst young people. It is generally equivocal and ambivalent because suicidal patterns vary amongst different individuals. The following traits are observed in a suicidal youth, particularly students during adolescence: Instability in mood. Aggressive and needs anger management. Anti-social High impulsiveness Inability to grasp realities and rigid mentality, often in their own world of illusion. Great feeling of worthlessness and despair. Anxiety and inferiority. Provocative behaviour towards others including family and classmates. Ambivalent relationships with the society (family, friends, people). Suicidal behaviour is overrated amongst school children and adolescents with the following psychiatric disorders: Anxiety disorders and Depression It is known from studies that have proven the connection between anxiety disorder and suicide. Whilst traits of anxiety appear to be independent of depression, its effect always leads to psychosomatic symptoms if not treated. Unlike depression, anxiety disorder is prominent to detect and victim will always shows signs of worries and unhappiness with themselves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Discussion about depression should be taken seriously. Depression is often beyond recognition. Students may seem fairly disappointed or angry at minor disturbances and may never considered suicide. But if the symptoms of depression last for more than a week or so without improvement, help is needed. The signs of depression noticed amongst students or youth include: Utter degree of sadness Gradual withdrawal from everything. Student becomes recluse and isolated. School performance dropped with no apparent reasons. Loss of interest in activities that student used to enjoy. Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness Lack of motivation. Differences in sleeping habits and fatigue. Change in appetite and eating patterns. Self-neglect and self-hatred. Physical complaints, sad thoughts or death. Anger management needed for reckless attitude and temper. Substance abuse. Restlessness and agitation with one self or others. School students with depression symptoms oftentimes present anti social behavior and both are precursor to suicide. It is noticed that depressed female student will be more silent and withdrawn from others, whereas on their male counterpart, students of that gender becomes aggressive and disrupted and seek a great deal of attention. Prior to that, students can kill themselves too without having to be depressed and they can also be in a state of depression without killing themselves. Substance abuse   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Students who abused alcohol and drugs are often linked to suicide. Teenagers are oftentimes found to have committed the act of suicide after consuming the substances. Sometimes, students used these substances to ease their stress and depression. In another case, youth whom have never thought of suicide may have done so after taken alcohol because alcohol suppresses rationale thinking. Simply, their actions are based on an impulsive act which leads them to ending their lives even so they might never have contemplated suicide when they are sober. Eating disorders Eating disorders happen mostly to the female genders whom are dissatisfied with their own bodies. In the eye of the society, thin slender girls are objects of desire. The media often portrays catwalk models, who are skinny and scrawny. In schools, fat students are always being sneered and jeered as well as being outcast. Anorexic and bulimic girls are susceptible towards depression and suicide risk for anorexics are as much as 20 times more than youth in general. Psychotic disorders Albeit, we hardly heard of Malaysian students suffering from severe psychiatric disorders like the schizophrenia or manic-depressive disorder, those affected are still in jeopardy with suicide risks. But most psychotic youths started off with other risk factors, such as excessive smoking and substance abuse. Current negative life events as triggers of suicidal behavior As aforementioned due to inherited genetic factors, destructive families and negative aspects in life, students of this age find themselves susceptible towards suicide because when current negative life events happen in concurrent with their condition they find it difficult to cope furthermore. This susceptibility makes it difficult to cope with negative life events adequately, and that said, stressful life events precede suicide. They reminds of the student of sense of hopelessness and despair. 2.0 How Schools can Prevent Suicide Usually, suicidal students hardly attempt suicides within the school compound. But when the outbreak of a students suicide takes place, even off schools territory, the news will shock others, causing extreme emotional distress amongst students, staff, and parents whilst school activities will come to halt for weeks before it is resumed. Hence, schools play an important role for preventing suicides. Many young students whom are affected by mood disorders or substance abuse later on contemplate suicide. Whilst the other emotional setbacks linked to suicide includes conduct disorders, aggression, split personality disorder, and intense feeling degree of hopelessness (Berman, Jobes, and Silverman, 2006). Here, the schools responsibility and roles to play are summarized by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) (Poland and Lieberman, 2003): 2.1 Detection/ Awareness School administration and staff personnel should take note of students behaviour for signs of suicide. Interaction on a regular basis is encouraged amongst the school and students. School counselor must play his or her responsibility in helping problematic students before any occurrence of suicide. 2.2 Parent notification When awareness is created, any changes in attitudes or suspicious acts arise the school should update the parents or guardian of students. Face to face discussion is recommended to come about ways of preventing the student from suicide, which includes close supervision or referral to professionals. Also, a record of victims parent and victim should be kept confidential. 2.3 Support for students at risk of suicide The school, psychologists and counselors, should monitor and support suicidal students. Counseling and follow-up services shall be recommended. 2.4 School-Based Suicide Prevention Programs Schools should train teachers and staffs to help recognize students at risk of suicide. This can be done through training and appropriate mechanisms necessary. These mechanisms include a series of programs specially designed to counteract suicidal risks. Schools must heed these vital steps to control suicide among their students: Ø School-based suicide prevention program and school-based mental health services Health screening, mental health survey and educational activities are carried out at school level to help students recognize and seek help when needed. Programs like health promotion program and risk prevention can be effective if made comprehensive to students. Ø Suicide prevention gate keeping program People who have regular interaction and contact with students in school are teachers. They need to know how to recognize students behavioural patterns and warning signs. Also, teachers need to be actively involved in dialogue to explore the risk of suicide amongst students and to ensure that the victim must receive proper guidance and treatment when it is necessary. Records must be kept up to date and problematic students must be scrutinized. Ø School crisis preparation and response plan This prepares the school in the case of emergency, from natural disaster to violence within the school. The school crisis preparation plan should include procedures of preventing self-destructive students as well as students in the midst of contemplation. Also, guidance must be taken into account as a reference for teachers and staffs to respond such cases when such tragedy arises. Ø Postvention Such term is used to measure preventions to be implemented after a tragedy takes place. The purpose of this program is to lessen the risk of those witnesses to be affected directly after the incident. Suicide or unexpected death of another student can result in a traumatized individual. This program includes grief counseling for students and school party. Postvention helps to identify other students whom may be at risk after a trauma, and to support students. Sometimes, school works with the media to ensure such coverage of news does not lead to additional risks of suicide. 3.0Suggestions: A guide for Teachers and School Staffs It takes time for a student to attempt suicide. Rarely, suicide occurs out of sudden with no warning. Most cases, teachers and members of the society who observe the victim on a daily basis is able to distinguish a behaviour of norm and suicidal. The following are three (3) steps of prevention: before, during and after a suicide: 3.1 General prevention: before any suicidal incident Early recognition helps save lives. Experts advised that it is not a wise approach to teach about suicide explicitly. Rather, they recommend tackling this problem by replacing issues of suicide with a positive mental health approach. a) Mental health of schoolteachers and other school staff Teachers are the role model in any causes. A positive teacher is able to change the outlook of a persons perspective in a brighter light. Hence, strengthening the mental health of a teacher only can he or she guides the students into the correct path in life. b) Students self-esteem Positive self-esteem is vital to protect students against suicide. One with topnotch of esteem will cope better with stress even how difficult ones situation may be. To nurture positivity amongst the students, a few rules should not be taken lightly. Firstly, students must never been pressured constantly to fare better than other students. They must always look on the brighter side of life experiences in order to forge a positive identity. Every student should be cherished as who they are and be accepted for what they are. In addition, the school should work on introducing life skills by having experts giving talks and later on assimilate a positive workshop as part of the curriculum. Most importantly, the programme is able to send out messages of knowledge to peers on how to be supportive and seek help if necessary. Plus, the school should revise and review the education system to enhance the development of every student holistically. c) Emotional expression Students should learn on how to express their emotions appropriates and to take charge of how they feel seriously. When things gone awry, they should confide in parents, teachers, adults, doctor, friends or even religious advisors. d) Bullying and violence at school Issues on bullying have been a serious matter for ages since bullying make suicide seemed more pleasant to students to escape from humiliation and personal dignity. Because the victim could not determine what others had done to him/her, the victim had only his own life to control. Thus, specific skills should be taught in schools to prevent bullying and violence. This way, only the school can provide a sanctuary for safety and intolerance of the negative aspects. e) Information about care services In Malaysia, Befrienders are not unfamiliar to the society these days. Students should be aware about the availability of these services and by making it accessible to the young people, so that they can utilize the help lines in the case of crisis and psychiatric emergency. To include, there are over 240 Health Centres nationwide in Malaysia that have psychiatric units and also counseling unit for help. The latest news up to date, Prof Hu