The use of financial statements - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 11 Words: 3186 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? The use of financial statements to show the states of affairs of an undertaking is crucial in the quest of satisfying many a stakeholder. The government expects tax payments whose calculation depends on an accurate statement, while shareholders await for dividends declared on the basis of the results of the financial statements and potential investors also view this as a document that provides guidance as to when, how and where to invest their money. The accuracy of the statement is therefore paramount to the success not only of the company but also of all the other stakeholders. This paper evaluates how the regulatory policies of financial statements have been effective by providing a critique analysis of the same. The writer will use examples of companies, to demonstrate situations where the regulations have been effective and where the regulations have failed. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The use of financial statements" essay for you Create order We will evaluate various reports related to this topic in order to ascertain their applicability and effectiveness. These are; Greenbury 1995 , Hampel 1997, Townbull report 1999, Walkers 2009, Cadburys 1992, Myners 2001, Higgs report 2003, The Smith report 2003. The financial statements and the regulations At this juncture, it is important to look at the books which fall under the category of financial statement as the basis for analysing the regulations thereof. The financial statements compose of four main books of accounting, including; The income statement The balance sheet or statement of balances The statement of the retained earnings and The statement of cash flow. Eliot B., and Eliot J. (2005: 168-171), presented a levelled discussion by looking at the various stakeholders whose interests should be served in different ways when there is proper presentation of financial statement. These stakeholders include; The customers, who will get value for the products which they buy because, as the company uses good practice to write their accounts, there are all chances that benefits will be passed on to the customers. The customers also want to be assured that they are dealing with a company that adheres to the legal requirements of the country, and so this is a matter of corporate social responsibility. Workers, who expect to be paid adequately, when they put their honest efforts to serving in the company,. Workers will also feel proud on knowing that the company which they deal with respects the law and does what is right in the law. Shareholders, who are the owners of the company and of whose interests, the board exists and should serve. It is important for the management to understand that wealth maximisation depends on accurately presented financial information. Failure to do this may result in shareholders taking punishing steps. Granted, shareholders, by the virtue impossibility of all of them working to run the company, they expect to be given a fair statement at the Annual General Meeting which reflects all that has been happening. The financial regulations are meant to protect their interest, and so regulations should be such that makes the directors to consider working in Ubarrimae Fidei with regards to the shareholders. Government; the government expects to get taxes at the end of the year, if not for anything else, for sustaining a viable environment for the business to operate. It is important for the board therefore to present a true picture of the financial position. On personal view, loss or profits are acceptable to the government as long as they are just. Unfair representation of the statement to influence a certain outcome is less objective and if the current legislations cannot discourage such, then it has failed. And society, which expects to accommodate a business that operates in utmost good faith. Therefore on personal view, the effectiveness of financial statement can be judged by how well the financial statements serve the interests of these stakeholders. Eliot B., and Eliot J. (2005: 168) noted that there is therefore need to have regulations to ensure that the managers run the company in the best possible way, hence the need for the regulations. Their work has been impressive by their discussion of what makes the financial statement to be useful or of good quality, which include; The relevance of the statement Reliability Comparability and Understandability However, one striking piece of their discussion is the admission that the Directors and Accountants in the UK are often restricted by a multitude of regulations which come from three sources, which are; the Legislations of parliament, the professional accounting bodies and from the FSA Financial services authority. In view of this, it can be objective to claim that the multitude of regulations may obviously make the directors to fail to present the true satisfying statements not because they do not want but because they are striving to meet so many conditions and someone a failure to meet on may be the beginning of problems for the organisation hence the ineffectiveness of the regulations. If we consider the case of Lehman brothers, the failure came as a result of among others, the downgrading of its credit status, and when Barclays bank had offered to acquire the profitable assets of the company, which they explicitly said would be acquired along the pre-set rules by the Financial services Authority, the deal failed to work out because, as put by Barclays, the time had run out for the shareholders approval for this take over, this is because, the approval could be acquired before the duration needed as required by the regulations (New York Times 2008). However, it was disclosed that actually the regulator had discouraged the bank from acquiring Lehman Brothers, on personal view, probably because, this would have had negative effect on Barclays banks financial position which would be reflected on its financial statement and in this time of crisis, it could destabilise Barclays bank, which is one of the stable companies in the banking sector. Here is an instance where w e can view the dependence on the guidance of the financial regulations before any move is made. Therefore, we can say that, the impact here, however indirect it appears to be, has been quite effective in shaping companies financial reporting. The review work conducted by Walker (2009: 13-15) highlights 39 important recommendations in the management of companies under four specific heading, including the governance of the institution, the duties of the board of directors including their performance, the role of the companys shareholders and finally, the governance of risk and remunerations. Of particular interest is the governance of risk and remunerations, where among the recommendations included, the need to have a risk committee responsible for advising the board, the committee should also advise about current risks and their advise should be taken into account. With relations to remunerations where the remuneration committee is responsible for overseeing that the companys policy on pay is clear and fair, also, the there must be a way to monitor how the high end employee are paid and if the pay does not result in risky undertakings in their job roles. But the above case shows the dependence and a form of respect to the regulations by the buyers of the failed company, but, we surely should be asking ourselves, what happened to the failed company. Some of the examples that the writer shall use to explain this scenario, these are the cases of Enron and the Northern Rock. Enron The case of Enron is even more interesting because, it touches on two main issues, one was the failure to follow the regulatory procedures by the accountants who were to oversee the pricing of the mark-to-market shares and secondly, in the UK, there were claims of political interference with the enforcement of regulations. In the first instance, as discussed by Peter C., and Ross M., (2002: 12-14), the accountants worldwide are often torn between using accurate prices or conservative prices (where depreciation is considered) when valuing the shares. The accountants of Enron did not follow the regulations in this valuation which made them to hide companys debts from stakeholders for several years. Anyone would questions where the regulator was to enforce the regulations or was there just no regulation on such valuation? Obviously, if the accountants have all along been in this dilemma, there, well defined regulations touching on this matter should have been given. Secondly, in the UK, the labour government was accused of aiding Enron to succeed in the UK market by changing the energy policy. This could have affected the regulations effectiveness. The Northern Rock The last case is that of Northern Rock, which continued to lend huge sums of money to fist time investors, the loans were given at 125% of the value of the property, for a company that depended on short term borrowing to fund long term loans. It was noted that in this case, the Treasury admitted that the regulations for dealing with the companys financial affairs especially at the time of trouble were very weak and that action had to be taken. This is a case of the failure of the regulation to consider the future happening (Willem H. 2008: 137). Failure to have plans for dealing embattled companies is in itself a weakness of the regulations since it shows lack of foresight. There is a need to consider the harmonisation of the working objectives of the tripartite bodies in the UK which deal with financial matters of the organisations. These are; the Treasury, the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority, with much of the problems facing companies in their financial statement reporting comes from the failure by the FSA to have clear regulations (Willem H. 2008: 137-142) All the above mentioned cases present us with a desire to seek more about the nature of corporate governance especially in the UK. On the surface of it, while, directors have a duty to run the affairs of the company for the stakeholders especially the shareholders, often the problem of interest occurs. In their study of International Corporate Governance, Diane K., and John J., (2003) blamed the agency problem (often occasioned by the selfish desires of the directors to keep their jobs and benefits), for all the problems facing the corporate world. They further stated that since corporate governance involves seeking to run the company on behalf and for the benefit of others, if the managers do what is wrong, the company fails, because, corporate governance advocates, transparency and accountability. But could we then conclude that failure which has been occasioned by the directors disregard for the rules is the failure of the financial regulations or failure of adherence to the corporate Memorandum of association?, the blame on the former still persists, this because, the regulations should guide the creation of the Memorandum of Association, hence the composition of the board members who run the organisation. David S., et al (2000: 12- 17), termed their research work, Some cost benefit issues in Financial Regulation, where they noted that there are more benefits than costs in having a regulator to guide and oversee the preparation of financial statements. however, on the negative side, they noted that the existence of financial regulations have not prevented the management of the company from manipulating the figures and presenting to the ignorant shareholders, a good state of affairs of the organisation, which may involve, misappropriating the shareholders funds to create profits and pay dividends thereof. This view is in line with the agency problem meaning that the regulations are not effective. If we consider the issue of supervision, we are immediately drawn to the Cadburys report (1992) which was commissioned after the Death of Robert Maxwell, the owner of Mirror group where it was found that the company had taken untold risks which resulted in huge debts. Sir Adrian Cadbury, did a report whose main recommendations included, first, having clearly defined responsibilities to diffuse power in the company, to have many independent non executive directors, and at in the audit committee there should be at least three, there should be some non executive directors in the salaries committee and that these non executives must be picked by the entire board (Boyd C., 2004: 167-182). But is this feasible? Obviously, no, because, this report was commissioned to deal with a specific scenario, but, it can be credited with providing a framework for operation which has obviously set governance precedence for companies. The conclusion here was that the problem of the UK regulator is not the lack of regulations to regulate the industry, but the problem has been lack of supervision which makes managers and directors to either take unnecessary risks or flout the rules. The issue of supervision was also raised in the House of Lords by Baroness Cohen of Pimlico on 10th Nov, 2009, who noted that while the process of harmonising the European Union financial regulations is necessary, the need to strengthen the UK regulators management and supervisory authority cannot be any greater, in view of the financial crisis that has plagued the world (The Daily Hansard 2009). Greenbury R., (1995: 19) produced a report in which dealt with the directors remunerations considered the issues of bonus payment to the directors as part of their package to work hard, but, many especially in the recent past, bonus payment has been the cause of unnecessary risks leading to economic crisis, yet the regulations in place cannot do anything about it, because it is an acceptable practice for the directors especially in the banking sector. The potential of the European Union financial regulations to have overriding powers over the UKs Financial services regulations has made most members of parliament in UK to cry foul with Lord Myners noting that this goes beyond Ecofin agreement and must be reconsidered because it gives ESA immense power to control UKs regulations and render them in-effective in dealing with specific national situations The Turnbull report (2005: 4-26), seem to agree with the verdict given by the ACCA by stating that above all the financial regulation needs to be supervised to sustain enforceability. The report touched on four main areas of regulations which must be followed by the corporate managers when presenting their financial statements, these include; The relevance of having an internal control in the organisation for risk management. The sustenance of a reliable internal control system. Having a periodic review on how effective the internal control system is. Having the board to present a statement to the stakeholders on the current position of the internal control. But Turnbull Report looks at the wholesome role of the regulations and its verdict stands, yet we may also need to consider Sir Robert Smiths Report (2005) on the audit committees, on which he states the role of committees as that of monitoring and reviewing the financial statements and providing the necessary recommendations to the directors of the company. This report suggests that there should be deliberations regarding the nature of risks in the company, categories, the likelihood of such risks becoming real and the companys ability to mitigate them. Turnbull further states that an internal control system should; Be integrated in the organisation and be part of its culture Should be able to respond quickly to risky scenarios Have steps for indicating any form of control failure to the right persons and as soon as possible. But this report has been found to have several loopholes, for instance; Boards view issues of risk management as not within their concern Most companies are still concerned with matters of internal financial controls, There may be lack common objectives among directors Normally, internal control issues are regarded as matters of regulations for the sake of public relations. On these issues, Turnbull opines that a good audit system should be able to provide the board with sufficient assurance about its effectiveness, help in process improvement for risk identification and lastly, help board members to make viable decisions. But the critics of this report note that this report has not offered a real solution on how to ensure that external audit system complements the internal system. Therefore, the co-ordinating function of this report goes missing (John I., 2003: 11-12). But Sir Robert Smiths Report (2003: 8-11) gave a more comprehensive detail on the role of audit committees among which include; See that there is integrity in financial statement Review internal control process. Advise the board about who to appoint as external auditor and to monitor their independence Take part in process of setting policies in case external auditor will be given other tasks to undertake. However, anyone may raise the issue of collusion however remote, between the internal auditors and the potential external auditors which may lead to compromise in preparation of the financial statements. But these reports explicitly provides guidance to the bigger organisations and not the medium and smaller ones with just a few directors, therefore, should the smaller and medium organisations flout their financial statements, the regulation takes the blame. Lastly, according to the research conducted by Kern A., (2004) on the nature of International financial regulations, the UK regulations have been a product, partly, of the informal practices of the Bank of England, which relates to the activities of the banks and other companies, but, that these regulations on their own cannot guarantee fair representation of the financial statement by organisations and that there is a need to involve private participation in this process. Private participants here mean the other stakeholders who should work with the regulator and keep directors on check. However, he has not stated how this can be feasible, or / and practical. From the discussion presented above, we can say that the financial regulations have been less than effective in determining the accuracy of the financial statement and by extension in guiding the actions of the corporate managers. Financial regulations need to be; Reviewed on periodic basis in order to make them compatibles with the changes in the corporate world, this is not only affected by the national factors but by global conditions. The financial regulation allow for more supervisory role in order to ensure that from time to time the activities of the corporate directors are checked. The financial services authority and other regulatory bodies must work together by sharing information within appropriate legal framework in a way that will guarantee effectiveness in the preparation and presentation of financial statements. It is also, not possible to have general regulations touching on all the sectors, because this may give some sectors i.e the Manufacturing sector, undue leeway and advantage at the expense of other sectors like the banking industry. Conclusion In this discussion, we have seen how the financial regulations, have, however well intended, have failed to stop bankruptcy or failure by the banks. There is a cross sectional agreement that unless the supervisory duties of the regulators are strengthened, it is impossible to see the regulations being effective. It is also worth noting that with European Union becoming active, most decisions are not country specific, because they are being made in Brussels, the, country specific regulations cannot be effective anymore if the rules require trading and financial representation in a way that reflects the corporate sector within the Union. Effectiveness can only be achieved, if not guaranteed, by there being drastic changes and multi agency working to create harmony and enforce the rules, thereby benefit the stakeholders.

Comparing Genesis And The Epic Of Gilgamesh - 945 Words

While the book of Genesis in the bible and The Epic of Gilgamesh have striking similarities in the sense of creation and the great flood, the interactions between the divine beings and humans differ greatly. One matter that impacts the entire relationship between gods and humans in both accounts is that the gods in the epic are not almighty beings like God in Genesis since they cannot control each other’s domains. Because of this, they must travel from place to place and work with other gods to carry out a certain task. The gods in The Epic of Gilgamesh were very much like humans and interacted more with them in daily life. In contrast, the all-powerful god in Genesis seems distant and far from having human-like characteristics and does not need to interact with other gods. At the same time, both stories display the reverence and fear humans have for the supreme beings because of their authoritative qualities. In both stories, the gods are respected and feared in some way, but this was not always the case. To enforce His authority over all living creatures, the god in Genesis â€Å"saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,† so He created a flood to rid the world of the evil that He created (King James Version, Gen. 6.5). However, not all humans were wicked; He spared Noah and his family because he remained so devoted to God, then later made a promise that â€Å"waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh† (Gen. 9.15). Likewise in The Epic of Gilgamesh, theShow MoreRelatedComparing the Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis1005 Words   |  5 Pages The Epic of Gilgamesh has many similarities to the Bible, especially in Genesis and it’s not just that the both begin with the letter â€Å"g†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢! One major similarity being the flood story that is told in both works. The two stories are very similar but also very different. 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The Makah Essay Example For Students

The Makah Essay The Makah are a Native Indian tribe who have recently decided to enact their treaty rights, and start to hunt for whales. These actions have caused an uproar in North America. The Natives state that they are not doing anything but exercising their legal rights. Opponents to their hunting of whales argue that the Makah are a group of uncivilized and inhumane individuals, and that they are harming nature. The reportage of the controversy surrounding the Makah can be seen as ethnocentric in many ways. Through the language used by the media involved in the controversy, one can constantly see the Native people being viewed as inhumane savages. In turn, this language allows readers to be sent mixed messages about the Makah and their position in the whaling dispute. Finally, the protestors themselves have contradictory arguments which leads one to question the motivating factors behind their position. In order to fully understand the whaling controversy, it is necessary to understand the history of the Makah. They were a group of Native people who hunted gray whales. As a result of their increased trade with the Europeans, the white man decided to also enter this hunt for the whale. This competition between the Makah and the white man lead to the whale coming close to extinction. Due to their love for nature and respect for the whale, the Makah decided to voluntarily refrain from hunting whales. It is important to note however, that in 1855, the Governor of Washington State agreed to the Treaty Of Neah Bay, which gave the Makah a right to hunt for whales. This is what is at the heart of the controversy. The Makah have recently enacted their hunting rights of the whale after seventy years, and are now resuming their hunt for whales. The Makah reasoning is a relatively simple one. In 1946, the gray whale population was 2000, and now their count is over 26,000. They believe that it i s safe to hunt for whales again. The Makah have been a group of people who have relied on whale hunting. . They used the blubber from the whale to feed their families, and they used the rest of the whale to provide themselves with shelter and tools. However, their opponents have dismissed this practice of hunting whales as inhumane. Through the language that is being used by the media, one can see Native people being viewed as savages. The language being used is not blatantly discriminatory against the Native people, but is done in a subtle, yet powerful way, in order to evoke a message that Native people are inhumane. One of the reasons for this negative commentary regarding Native people hunting for whales could be due to ethnocentrism. This is the belief that ones own culture is considered to be normal, therefore, other cultures are considered abnormal. The media carefully uses words that show their bias towards the Native People. The media tries to make the Makah look like a band of savages. While writing about a recent anti-whaling demonstration, Peggy Andersen writes, In a simmering dispute that ended with a scuffle and arrests, angry Makah Indians pelted a protest boat with rocks as the two sides bickered over a tribal plan to hunt gray whales. The wording of this opening paragraph leads the reader to thi nk that it was Makah who were causing trouble, and that they were the ones that were arrested. However, if one were to complete the article, they would realize that this was not the case. Another example of media bias against the Makah people is when Jonathan Dube writes, As much as its possible for one dead animal to give new life to an entire nation, thats what has happened here. Dube is implying that it is impossible for an animal that has died to bring life to a nation, however, that is what has occurred. He does not understand how killing this whale could give life to the Makah, and therefore, he conveys this message of doubt to his readers. Dube is indirectly stating that the Makah need to kill in order to have life. The Ethics Of Computers With AiThe white man took away their tradition in the 1920s, and they will take it away again. This will be done either by giving the right to whale to everyone, and once again bring the gray whale close to extinction, or by crushing the remains of the tribe until they give up their right on their own. BibliographyAuthor Unknown. (1999, May 18) Stop the Whale Hunt. October 30, 1999}Available: http://www.oregonlive.com/oped/99/05/ed051801.htmlAuthor Unknown. (1999, May 22) Racism Enters Whale Dispute. October 25,1999} Available: http://www.spokane.net/news-story-asp?Date=052299;ID=s580242;cat=Anderson, Peggy. (1998, November 2) Melee during anti-whaling demonstration Shakes both sides. November 2, 1999}Available: http://oregonlive.com/todaysnews/9811/st110213.htmlAnderson, Peggy. (1999, May 21) Anti- Makah Protests Turn Ugly. November 3, 1999} Available: http://www.spokane.net/news-story-body. asp?Date=052199;ID=s580004;cat=}Dark, Alx. (1999, April) The Makah Whale Hunt.October 28, 1999}. Available: http://www.conbio.rice.edu/nae/index.htmlDube, Jonathan. (1999, May 18) Plenty of Meat To Go Around. October 26, 1999} Available: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/makahs990518.htmlWebster, John. (1998, November 3) Anything for an unworthy cause. October29, 1999} Available : http://www.spokane.net/news-story-body.asp?Date=11039;ID=s477881;cat=Anthropology

Verbal Aggression Is Message Behavior Which Attacks A Persons Self-con

Verbal aggression is message behavior which attacks a person's self-concept in order to deliver psychological pain.(Infante, 1995) Studies of verbal aggression have focused primarily on children and adolescents in educational and social settings. Very few studies were found to examine verbal aggression in adults in the workplace.(Ebbesen, Duncan, Konecni, 1974) The consequences of verbal aggression in the workplace can lead to social isolation, job related stress, health related problems, as well as problems in career advancement. It therefore should be considered important, for the individual and management, to identify and address the causes of verbal aggression. This program attempts to understand verbal aggression by 1) identifying the various functions of verbal aggression. 2) identifying the antecedent conditions of verbal aggression. 3) Avoiding the antecedent conditions of verbal aggression. Method Subject The subject, Shirley J., is a 49 year old African American fem ale. Shirley J. has several advanced degrees and is employed as a school psychologist in a metropolitan school district. She is married with two adult children. The subject readily agreed that the target behavior, verbal aggression, is a problem as it interferes with her relationships with others. She was enthusiastic in her desire to reduce, if not eliminate, this behavior. It would seem that self-monitoring for verbal aggression and antecedent control would be valuable as it would allow for consistent avoidance of verbal aggression. As a school psychologist the subject was very familiar with the basic principles of applied behavioral analysis and frequently offered programmatic suggestions. A behavioral contract was developed jointly between the therapist and subject. The contract outlined the target behavior, success criteria, and individual responsibilities of the therapist and subject. (see Appendix A) Apparatus A basic checklist was used to document the frequency of verbal aggression on a daily basis. The checklist was designed to track only the occurrence of the behavior. It was felt by the therapist that the content of the verbally aggressive message would be too open for subjective interpretation and that no meaningful data would be gained from such documentation. In addition the subject made frequent comments of significant success or failure in avoiding verbal aggression for discussion with the therapist. The weekly discussions were used to evaluate the appropriateness of the procedures used and make any necessary adjustments to the program. Procedure For the first two weeks of the program no intervention was applied. Given that the subject self-reported that verbal aggression was a problem it was important to determine if the frequency of the behavior merited intervention. Therefore, the subject documented the daily frequency of verbal aggression. The results of the baseline period revealed a high rate of verbal aggression. (see Appendix B ) Given the results of the baseline data as well as the demanding, often stressful, nature of the subjects job, it was mutually agreed that reducing verbal aggression would be the focus of the program. Verbal aggression was defined as cursing, yelling, and screaming at others. The agreed upon goals of the program was to decrease verbal aggression by 75% of baseline for four consecutive weeks. Treatment would consist of identifying and avoiding the antecedent conditions to verbal aggression. Avoidance of the antecedents is considered less restrictive, more proactive, and most effective. During the initial consultation it was determined that the antecedent conditions included, but was not limited to: work stress, time of day, verbal behavior of others (ie. tone of voice, inflection of voice and content of conversation, etc.), and non- verbal behavior of others (ie. facial expression, body posture, eye contact, etc.). In addition, the subject was required to self monitor for the fo llowing antecedents: clenched fists, tight jaw, rapid heart beat, and the emotions of anger, frustration and disappointment. Lastly, it was suggested by Infante (1995) that appropriate strategy must be taken to prevent verbal aggression from escalating. Successful avoidance of the antecedent conditions consisted of removing oneself from stressful situations, when possible, as well as not responding verbally when provoked. Weekly consultation revealed that verbal aggression was most often used to: 1) Escape demand situations. 2) Avoid demand situations. 3) Relieve job stress. The subject was to document the frequency of verbal aggression and record the circumstances of significant success or failure during the work

The Articles of Confederation - Document-Based Question (DBQ) essays

The Articles of Confederation - Document-Based Question (DBQ) essays Between 1781 and 1789, the Articles of Confederation provided the United States with an ineffective government. When drafting the document, the thirteen states were cautious about creating an overly powerful central government because they feared the denial of their individual and state rights. The document was purposely established to bestow greater power in the hands of the states rather than centralization. They formed a committee of delegates compiled of representatives from each of the states. This committee established the national legislature and was referred to as Congress. Under the Articles, Congress was responsible for negotiating foreign policy, declaring war and sustaining an army and navy. Reasons for the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation were Congress' inability to collect taxes, regulate international commerce and negotiation and implement domestic laws. During this time, the United States lacked an adequate taxation system. Congress was not granted the power, under the Articles of Confederation, to tax each of the thirteen states. The government held a dependency for state donations in place of taxes. The states intended to maintain their sovereignty and therefore opposed any form of federal taxation. The states felt that allowing Congress to collect money from their trade and commerce would shift freedom and power from the state to national government (Document A). Because the states would not conform to the idea of a national taxation, the United States was soon overwhelmed by inflation. This is the first example of the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation as system of government. Secondly, the Articles of Confederation hampered foreign trade and policy. At the conclusion of the American Revolution, after granting freedom to the United States, Great Britain halted all trading in between the two nations. Congress was also unable to control international commerce. The combination of ...

Ethiopian Economy Growth Essays

Ethiopian Economy Growth Essays Ethiopian Economy Growth Essay Ethiopian Economy Growth Essay Economic change The park management process and the new Japan manufacturing methods that were borrowed and employed by the government played a significant role in the service industry. Manufacturing and production processes had to be changed from the traditional expensive methods to the current inexpensive and convenient methods that suit various processes. The state had to come up with good measures to deal with the farming communities and the pastoralists so that feuds that would result between them would be managed and reduced. Despite the differing desires of the various cultural groupings, the government through collaborative efforts of the devolved leadership system has been able to control the better part of the problems. To some extent, the pastoral communities remained victims to state developments since the better part of the land that they used traditionally had to be taken away for other development agenda such as conversion into agricultural fields to enhance the growth of food to reduc e shortages and poverty that faced the people. Another important step that the state was able to realize is the mobilization for better pay and welfare of the peasants that worked in various plantations and industries. The state was able to argue for the better living condition of the same and resettlement of the local people in much better ways than the previous forceful evacuation of the people from their lands. The state also embarked on nation building by sparing lands for parks that were later promoted to attract tourists for the economic gain (Bernstein and Woodhouse 284). The direct ties that were initiated by the APF and the government in the year 2004 ensured that people were peacefully resettled and left space for the parks so that the territory could be marked and fenced. Another method that the government was able to use to promote tourism was through the promotion of various cultures in the country to the world. Various traditions and norms were practiced by the Ethiopian people and to market the nation for economic wellbeing, the government created a platform that enhanced upholding of cultures without undermining or degrading the lifestyle of any single culture grouping. Since the independence of the nation, the people decided uniformly to take part in the nation building. The nation, in particular, has been interested in building a strong security to its wellbeing, property, boundaries and fro its people both internally and internationally (McMichael 2451). This could be done through collaboration and integration of efforts in various positions and categories. The people, under the leadership of Meles, have been able to defend their nation through authorship of policies that foster growth and promote independence. Decentralization of work both in the public platforms and the manufacturing sectors have been encouraged through participation leadership and education systems. The people have the right to give and provide their ideas and opinions over the nation building process Eliminating Poverty in Ethiopia The greatest challenge that the nation has experienced since the introduction of the new government systems was the elevation of poverty and gaining self-reliant state. The government has over the years tried to come up with structures that can help the nation in building a framework where it can trade and invest in building the economy other than rely on donations and giving by much richer nations like the US. The strategy that was outlined by the prime minister helped outline the desire for the government to bring a permanent solution to famine and poverty. In response to the same, humanitarian crisis warning solutions were introduced in areas that were more indigenous. The desire to promote such economic building faced challenges. Many people lived in the rural places and had very poor spending habits. The nation then resorted to building more health facilities to take care of its populations from dangers of the diseases and illness. This helped to reduce sanitation and malnutriti on problems that for a long time were a threat to the peace of the people. Food, being one of the life necessities was given priority in the nation building. The program that was introduced by the prime minister was an eye opener, and many people were encouraged to produce their food so that they were not hunger stricken because the land had been given to the rightful owners. Peasants were settled and housed well, and the farmers in large plantations were also encouraged to grow food crops. This helped reduce the poverty level with some margin in comparison to the previous traditional governance systems that was expensive and famine stricken. Ethiopian economic growth and development The growth in the economy could be witnessed by the improving infrastructure and the continued development of the same. The enhancement and creation of international trade brought good ties with international investors that played a critical role in the nation building. Domestic direct investments increased. Agriculture and manufacturing increased because of the increasingly good infrastructure that saw the nation record increased growth then. Its improving economy made it appear among the fastest growing nation globally coupled with its sudden rise in GDP. Agriculture being one of the chief sources of wealth creation, it demanded improvements and use of modern methods. Presently the country has been able to major on using modern tools and fertilizers to foster its economic prosperity and yield per hector. The countrys diverse weather pattern and topography can support farming throughout the year. The coffee production increased for instance to respond to the world increasing demand thus fostering economic progression. Building a strong manufacturing industry has also been one of the goals of the country. This helped spread the risk and increase employment to the Ethiopian population. Private sector development and ease of advancements of loans helped the nation promote entrepreneurship and introduction of new systems that contribute a share in the economic cake of the nation (Rodriguez and Rodrik, 261). The country has also been able to form part of the East African trade association that has enhanced direct trade partnerships. As a fo cus to take part in the world trade organizations, it has also commenced ties with other nations so that it can mutually benefit from products produced in nations that it cannot produce while at the same time selling those that she produce. Conclusion Ethiopia has seen economic progression since she attained the economic independent from the previous regime of the tyranny and dictatorship leadership. The transformation process has never been smooth. Obstacles existed, and many lives have paid to the constitution that has finally resulted in peace within the many cultures in the country and international dealings. The economy of the nation has been catapulted by agriculture and the transformation manufacturing sector. Its main source of revenue results from the agricultural produce ranging from growing food crops to cash crops. The government has been able to take a role in this by the provision of fertilizers and encouragement of the use of modern tools in farming t increase output. Other service industries such as the manufacturing and tourism sectors have also boosted the economy positively. The country, for it to remain competitive in the global front, has to continue producing products that will maximize its benefits while dev eloping relations to get those that it does not produce. Giving the power to the people through the constitution has helped to foster democracy and good governance. However, the government needs to do more research and develop policies that promote better governance, domestic and international trade and enhance better relation with direct foreign investors to fund these projects. Work cited Abbink, Jon, and Tobias Hagmann, eds. Reconfiguring Ethiopia: the politics of authoritarian reform. Routledge, 2016. Bernstein, Henry, and Philip Woodhouse. Telling Environmental Change Like It Is? Reections on a Study in SubSaharan Africa. Journal of Agrarian Change 1.2 (2001): 283-324. Debelo, AsebeRegassa. Contesting views on a protected area conservation and development in Ethiopia. Social Sciences 1.1 (2012): 24-43. Hagmann, Tobias, and BenediktKorf. Agamben in the Ogaden: Violence and sovereignty in the EthiopianSomali frontier. Political Geography 31.4 (2012): 205-214. McMichael, Philip. Contemporary contradictions of the global development project: geopolitics, global ecology and the development climate. Third World Quarterly 30.1 (2009): 247-262. Rodriguez, Francisco, and Dani Rodrik. Trade policy and economic growth: a skeptics guide to the cross-national evidence. NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2000, Volume 15. MIT Press, 2001. 261-338.

Motivation in the NHS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Motivation in the NHS - Essay Example The new concepts which are incorporated into the NHS are now including resources, funding allocated to assist with services and the building of communities which can assist with the needs in health care and the concepts associated with this. Connections to corporations as well as physicians are furthering the success of this organization while allowing new funding and high performance to be associated with the main corporation (NHS, 2011). While there are several opportunities available for NHS, there are also curtain standings that are altering the way in which the corporation functions and what is available for those in need of health assistance. The main concept that is now being initiated is linked directly to the government, which is moving into a reform with the service. This is designed to offer equitable solutions for those who are in need of health care. The initial structure of the NHS is linked to the governmental sector, making all restrictions and obligations with polici es and reforms directly responsible for those who are involved in this movement. Legitimacy that is associated with health costs, regulating healthcare providers and liberating the restrictions that are associated with the NHS are the three main objectives of the government and the link to NHS. The main ideal is to keep the standards of equity while ensuring that each individual that links to the NHS is able to receive the comprehensive health care needed (DH, 1: 2011). The liberation which is being structured with government policies and concepts is furthered by the structure which is continuing to grow with the NHS. The first is based on the main structure. This is divided first by the... This paper stresses that the various concepts which are associated with motivation among the National Health Service employees is based on various dimensions which continue to affect the interactions of those which are involved with the professional concepts of the industry. When looking at the interactions, it can be seen that there is a direct relationship to the economic and political shifts. These are each involved with motivations that come from policies, expectations in the industry and the involvement which individuals have in the profession to receiving benefits in terms of political and economic opportunities. This reprot makes a conclusion that there are considerations within the NHS, specifically because of the structure and relationship which is associated with the health care industry. The current structure is one which provides human resource management tools to customers, other health care assistants and from the governments. The constraints of this are related to the policies and political agendas that come from each of these branches of the NHS. There are also constraints with the economic expectations and how this relates to the overall industry. For the NHS to begin to change, there is the need to look at the motivational factors within health care, specifically in relation to the policies and how this affects the human resources, available opportunities for those involved with the NHS and the abilities which are a part of growth in the industry. By understanding these different levels, changes can be made in terms of motivation and how individuals and customers now relate to the health care industry.

The Government System of the State of Nebraska Term Paper

The Government System of the State of Nebraska - Term Paper Example Politically, the agitation for statehood was largely by Republicans who were also behind the drafting of the constitution. Early amendments were undertaken such that the most formal definition of the Nebraska Constitution is the document written and approved in 1875, which makes it the 17th oldest state constitution (Miewald, Longo and Schultz, 2010). Â  A good number of changes have been made to the constitution of the state of Nebraska such that it is nearly unrecognizable from the 1966 draft as it has been amended 228 times (Gless, 2008). Throughout its timeline and amendments, perhaps, the most notable and significant moment is the conversion of the state's legislature to unicameral one in 1934. After 68 years of traditional bicameral-senate and house of representatives-legislature, the people of Nebraska voted in the unicameral legislature with the first session being held in 1937. The change took effect after observing on-goings in Queensland Australia, which had itself adopted the unicameral legislature ten years earlier. The proponents in Nebraska observed that the bicameral legislature was based on the British system where there is the presence of the House of Lords, which was deemed as undemocratic. To date, Nebraska remains the only state in the USA with a single-house legislature (Foran, 2002). Â  This consists of six officers, a number of departments, several governmental agencies and several state bodies (Heineman, 2010). The six executive officers are the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of public accounts, treasurer and the attorney-general. The supreme executive power of the state is vested in the governor, with their duty being to ensure the constitution is protected, and the state is run efficiently.

Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men Essay Choice A When looking at literature through the lens of Marxist Theory, it is not just art to be passively appreciated; it is a product of the socioeconomic and ideological conditions of the time, even if the author did not intend for it to be. Because the writing is a reflection of the reality of the time in which it was written, Marxist critics examine the literary work to see if it either a) reinforces the ideologies it embodies (i.e. capitalism is great), or b) invites the reader to criticize the ideologies it represents. What does Steinbeck do with his novel, Of Mice and Men? Does he reinforce the idea of capitalism, or is this a criticism of it? In what way(s) does he either reinforce or criticize this ideology? Choice B: New Historical critics believe that literary texts are cultural artifacts that can tell us something about the belief systems and about the power struggles operating in the time and place in which the text was written. They can do this because the literary texts themselves are part of history. They shape and are shaped by their historical contexts. What does Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men suggest about the experience of groups of people who have been ignored, under-represented, or misrepresented by traditional history? Choice C: Broadly defined, feminist criticism examines the ways in which literature (and other cultural productions) reinforces or undermines the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women. We live in a patriarchal society. Patriarchy is defined as any culture that privileges men by promoting traditional gender roles. Looking through a Feminist Theory lens, discuss the following questions about Of Mice and Men: How are women portrayed? Does the work reinforce or resist patriarchal ideology? How does the work define masculinity and femininity? Does the work seem to accept or to reject the traditional idea of gender?

Greek Fire, the Most Powerful Weapon of Byzantine Army Essay -- Byzant

"War is the father of all things."1 Volkman begins his book, Science Goes to War, with this quote from Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher. Volkman uses the quote to suggest that many, if not all, scientific advancements owe their birth to the desire for or the fear of war. Fire is undoubtedly a part of this advancement as Bert Hall points out, "Fire is one of the primordial forces of nature, and incendiary weapons have had a place in armies' toolkits for almost as long as civilized states have made war."2 Of all the tools at the disposal of the Byzantine Empire's military, the 'so called' Greek fire was the most important.3 Greek fire was a weapon system that allowed Byzantine ships, as early as the seventh century, to spew fire at its enemies. On the ship's prow was the head of a lion or some other monstrosity, cast in brass or iron. In it's mouth was a bronze siphon that could swivel back and forth.4 The flaming liquid that spewed from this siphon came with the roaring sound and a black cloud of smoke. What makes it worse is that it even burns while in water.5 The fear it instilled in enemies sometimes egged men in full plate armor to leap in the water, knowing they will be dragged down to the bottom simply because drowning was preferable to being burned alive.6 Such an awe-inspiring beast of a weapon was already predisposed to legend and rumor. However, even as cinematic as Greek fire was, its cloud of ambiguity is, frankly, ridiculous. Put as accurately and elegantly as possible, Greek fire was "a misnomer wrapped in a misconception, confused in translation, veiled in secrecy, and embellished with apocrypha."7 At one point, one of the Byzantine emperors wrote in a letter to his son that Greek fire "was revealed and ta... ...timore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1960. p. 19. Parkington, James Riddick Parkington. Origins and Development of Applied Chemistry. New York: Arno Press, 1975. Roland, Alex. Review of A History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder, by James Riddick Parkington, Technology and Culture, Vol. 41. No. 1 (Jan., 2000). Roland, Alex. â€Å"Secrecy, Technology, and War: Greek Fire and the Defense of Byzantium, 678-1204.† Technology and Culture Vol. 33, No. 4 (1992): 655-679. Russel, Bertrand. History of Western Philosophy. London: George Allen and Unwin LTD, 1946. p. 60. Stannard, Jerry. Review of A History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder, by James Riddick Parkington, Philosophy of Science, Vol. 29. No. 4 (Oct., 1962). Volkman, Ernest. Science Goes to War: The Search for the Ultimate Weapon, from Greek Fire to Star Wars. New York:John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2002.

Evaluation of Canon’s Strategies Essay

The first part of this investigation involves an evaluation of the strategies used by Canon and the key factors for success. In order to being this review, it is first necessary to consider how the company has performed in recent years. Table 1 provided below provides an overall review of the organization’s performance in recent years. The data clearly suggests that Canon has made notable progress toward developing market share, revenues and profitability. In addition to reducing its debt to asset ratio in 2008, the organization also increased its stockholder equity to assert ratio. Table 1: Key Performance Indicators for Canon, 2004-2008 [pic] Data courtesy of: http://www. canon. com/ir/annual/2008/report2008. pdf Other indicators of Canon’s success are provided in Figures 1 and 2 below. These illustrations provide a review of net sales and ROE/ROA for 2003-2007. Figure 1: Net Sales for CanonFigure 2: ROE/ROA for Canon Data courtesy of: http://www. canon. com/ir/annual/2007/report2007. pdf With the realization that Canon has performed so well in recent years, it is pertinent to consider the specific areas which have promulgated success for the organization. A crucial review of the case information provided on the organization suggests that there are a number of pertinent strategy elements which have been pertinent to the success of the organization. In particular the organization has worked to develop a mission and vision which it has incorporated on all levels of its operations. The development of a guiding mission for the organization is essential for success (Henry 2007). Missions provide the foundation for the development of actionable processes which can be used for moving the organization toward specific goals (Johnson, Scholes & Whittington, 2008). In addition to developing a mission and vision which provided the organization with a directive for action, Canon also developed a firm strategy focused on attainable goals for operations. Specifically, the organization set the specific goal of obtaining 30 percent of the world market by the 1980s. Research regarding the current state of achieving this objective suggests that even though Canon has not been able to maintain a 30 percent market share in the industry, it has overcome competitor Xerox to become second only to Hewlett Packard. Figure 3 below provides a review of global market share for companies competing in Canon’s industry. Figure 3: Global Market Share for Canon and Competitors [pic] (Data courtesy of â€Å"Office electronics industry profile,† 2008, p. 12) The focus on a specific goal for the organization has clearly had an impact on outcomes for operations. By using this specific goal for development, Canon has been able to set clear, measurable objectives which can be evaluated by the organization to determine outcomes. Setting measurable goals is an important component of developing a strategic plan for the organization (Huang, 2009). Measurable goals are viewed as essential to the successful implementation of a strategic plan which provides significant results for the ongoing development of the organization. Another issue which appears to have had notable implications for the successful development of Canon is the use of specific core competencies to ensure the outcomes of operations. In addition to developing a strategic plan which provided clear and measurable objectives, the organization delineated specific core competencies which it has been able to optimize in order to coordinate its strategic objective and achieve its goals. A review of what has been noted regarding the use of core competencies suggests that core competencies can provide the organization with the ability to focus development in particular areas (Zook, 2007). This process, in turn, sets the stage for the development of management practice and shapes how the organization approaches the market and its competitors. Collis and Montgomery (2008) provide a more integral review of core competencies noting the importance of review intended core competencies in the context of the external environment in which an organization competes. As reported by these authors, organizations need to consider the external environment and competitors in developing core competencies. While it is evident that core competencies must meet the internal demands and capabilities of the organization, Collis and Montgomery assert that improper alignment of core competencies in light of competitors and the larger industry in which the organization operates will result in failure of core competencies to be effective. In developing its core competencies, Canon appears to have taken these issues into consideration. The specific outcomes in this area are witnessed by the fact that in the 1970s, Xerox held a majority market share, which it has subsequently lost to Canon. In the 1970s, Canon recognized that the formula for success being used by Xerox was not the same formula which it wanted to pursue in the development of its organization. In this context, Canon chose to pursue a different pathway for competitive development; one which enabled the company to synthesize its internal capabilities with the market environment to create a unique competitive advantage against its largest rival. Because of this process of developing particular core competencies for operations, Canon was able to maximize its internal capabilities and use this as a strategic advantage in the marketplace. In summarizing the overall approach used by Canon to develop its strategic plan and subsequent management processes, it seems reasonable to argue that Canon did more than just place words on paper to establish a foundation for the organization. Rather, the organization developed a comprehensive plan for vision, strategy and development which were implemented on every level of the organization’s operations. In addition to delineating the larger objectives for the organization, Canon developed all of the intermediate steps that would be needed to achieve these objectives. In doing so, the organization aligned all of its activities toward the achievement of the organization’s overall strategy. The development of strategy in this manner is commensurate with what scholars note about the strategic planning and management processes. Kaplan and Norton (2008) assert that the strategy planning and development processes for the organization often end in failure because of the inability of the organization to effectively execute its strategy. Further, these authors assert that strategy failure is common because of implementation problems which manifest as organizations attempt to make critical connections between strategy objectives and specific outcomes which will be achieved to ensure that objectives are reached. Placing this information into the case of Canon, it becomes evident that these issues did not arise. Rather than struggling to implement, the organization developed to tools and resources needed to effectively ensure that it built a foundation which would enable success. It is this specific process which has enabled the success of Cannon. When strategy development is formulated as more than just specific words on paper the end result is the development of a strategic plan which provides concrete action steps for the organization to take. With these action steps in place, the organization is better poised to control the development of the strategic plan and its implementation (Neilson, Martin & Powers, 2008). This element of control in the strategic planning process has been noted to be an important contributor to the success of strategic implementation. When control is established in the strategic planning process, the organization is able to dictate the specific changes which will occur and respond to outcomes in a manner that is commensurate with the capabilities of the company and responsive to the specific external environment which will impact the outcomes of operations. What Other Companies Can Learn With a basic review of the success of Canon in the development of its strategy provided, it is now possible to consider what, if anything, can be learned by other companies from this case. In examining the development and outcomes of Canon, it becomes evident that the specific protocols and practices which have been used by the organization to achieve success should not be mimicked by other companies. Even though Canon has been quite successful in its efforts to develop its products and services, the reality is that other companies cannot expect to use the same formula for success and to achieve the same outcomes achieved by Canon. Other companies have attempted to use this approach in the past—i. . Circuit City, K-Mart, etc. Even though mimicking another organization may provide some benefits in the short-term, the reality is that the outcomes achieved will not provide an organization with a long-term foundation for development. Even though companies examining the case of Canon may not be able to use the same specific tactics employed by the organization, Canon did employ a number of general models for strategic planning and development which could be considere d by other organizations. In particular, the development of core competencies for operations is an important tool which other companies could consider for success. An examination of models for the development of core competencies in the organization suggests that companies need to begin with a core strategy for the development of their operations. Once this core strategy has been delineated, it is then possible to articulate specific areas of organizational development by attaching them directly to the core strategy. Figure 4 on the following page provides a generic model of how core competency development for the organization has been conceptualized in for translation of core competencies into organizational practice. The application of this model to the development of core competency planning for the organization would serve as the foundation for the development of the basic ideas which could then be used for the further development of the organization. Based on the specific core competencies decided upon by the organization, a formal strategic plan for organizational development could be implemented. This plan would need to reflect the development of measurable goals to ensure the overall success of achieving core competencies. Figure 4: Generic Model for Core Competency Planning [pic] Image courtesy of: http://www. ulv. edu/cbpm/business/img/mba_exp_graphic. jpg Once the core competencies for the organization have been delineated, it will then be possible for companies to consider the development of a strategic plan. Examining the specific steps used by Canon, it becomes evident that solid advice for planning and development in this area are provided in the case. In addition to developing a driving vision and mission, the organization also implemented critical success factors which enabled the organization to formulate goals. The goals were codified in the context of action steps which provided a concrete foundation for the organization to achieve success. All of these issues were supported by the core competencies established by the organization. Figure 4 below provides a review of this process and demonstrates how other organizations could effectively adopt this process to generate success in their strategic planning and management processes.

Regulatory Bodies with Roles in Accounting Essay

IRS (Internal Revenue Service): It is the oldest in the United States regulatory body also called the internal revenue service or IRS. The main goal of IRS is to manage and implement the internal revenue law. Their responsibility is to help individuals to understand their tax obligations as well as to tax collection. SEC (Security and Exchange Commission): SEC also called the Securities and Exchange Commission. Their main objective is to protect investors, maintains the Integrity of the market and facilitates capital formation. The SEC also ensures that public companies follow the rules and regulations set by the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or GAAP. Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF): Their responsibility is to establish and improve financial accounting, the administration and finances of the financial accounting of its standard-setting board, the financial accounting standards advisory council, the governmental accounting standards board or better known as GASB and their advisory council. Standards of non-government financial accounting and reporting like not-for-profit organizations are examined by FASB (Financial Accounting Standard Board). The GASB was formed to establish accepted accounting principles for state and local government. It was also established to examine the image of FASB on the state and local levels. FASAB (Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board): The FASAB was established in 1973 with the purpose to create and improve standards of financial accounting and reporting by nongovernmental entities that provides information to investors and other users of financial reports. The IASB (International Accounting Standards Board) is established to develop accounting standards through an international consultation process. This is done with representatives from countries all over the world to ensure the quality and feasibility of the financial reports. The PCAOB (Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) was created through the development of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to protect investors and their investments from the auditors of public traded companies. ACIPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.): It is the last major regulatory body and its function is to create the standards for accounting and reporting. The standards are set by working with the FASB, assisting the FASB in enforcing the standards, and assisting them with their technical support.

Free Essays on Nefertiti

Nefertiti (The Great Wife) The Egyptians always named the pharaoh’s wife the â€Å"great wife,† somewhat in the way that Americans refer to the president’s wife as the 1st lady. The great wife legitimized her husband’s exercise of power through religious beliefs. The Egyptians believed that she was divinely born and that Amon took the human form of her husband, impregnated her, oversaw the development of the child in her womb, and ensured a healthy delivery. Thus the child was the offspring of both the god and the pharaoh. The great wife couldn’t legally be pharaoh, for only a male could exercise that power. But she could make a man’s right to power. The Egyptians literally and formally considered hers the throne of power, although her power was passive rather than active. Egyptians artists depicted the great wife with much care as the pharaoh. They stylized her body as that of th4e ideal woman, and her portrait was more idealized than realistic. So stood things until Nefertiti, who was an exceptional great wife. She was not content to play a passive role in Egyptian life. Like her husband Akhenaten she passionately embraced the worship of Aton. She used her position to support her husband’s zeal to spread god’s worship. Together they built a new palace at Akhenaten, the present Amarna, away from the old centers of power. There they developed and promulgated the cult of Aton to the exclusion of the traditional deities. Nearly the only literary survival of their religious belief is the â€Å"Hymn of Aton† which declares Aton to be the only god. It also mentions Nefertiti as the great royal consort whom he Akhenaten loves, the mistress of the Two Lands. Akhenaten later stripped Nefertiti of her crown name, which was equivalent of divorce, and exiled her to a palace in the northernmost part of Amarna. It is quite possible, but beyond proof, that Akhenaten wanted a reconciliation with the old gods and their priests. The ... Free Essays on Nefertiti Free Essays on Nefertiti Queen Nefertiti Nefertiti was one of the most famous and beautiful Ancient Egyptian. Her name means, " the beautiful one has come." Nefertiti ruled with her husband, Akhenaten. They ruled together for 17 years from 1362-1379 B.C. Nefertiti and Akhenaten believed in one god, Re, the sun god. Due to this belief they destroyed all of the other god's temples and built a new capital city called Akhetaten. They also had a big family with six daughters. One of her daughters married King Tut. Nefertiti joined her husband in worship of a new religion that celebrated the power of the sun-disk Aten. Akhenaten formed a city where only this religion was practiced. He named this city Akhetaten which means the â€Å"horizon of Aten†. This put much impact on the Egyptian culture. After taking part in helping her husband, Nefertiti changed her name to Neferneferuaten_Nefertiti which means â€Å"The Aten is radiant of radiance because the beautiful one has come†. Together they transformed the religious practices of ancient Egyptians. Queen Nefertiti was known as the most beautiful woman in the world. One of the best known Egyptian treasures is a bust of her that can be found in the Egyptian Museum in Berlin. But she was more than just a beautiful face because she was also the daughter of Ay, a nobleman who was the brother of Queen Tiy. Nefertiti is perhaps one of the best known queens of Egypt who is in more artwork and sculptures than even King Akhenaten. In 1340 B.C. Nefertiti died. Nefertiti and her husband's tomb have not yet been found. I think she had an impact on Africa because she established one of the world’s first monotheistic religions.... Free Essays on Nefertiti Nefertiti (The Great Wife) The Egyptians always named the pharaoh’s wife the â€Å"great wife,† somewhat in the way that Americans refer to the president’s wife as the 1st lady. The great wife legitimized her husband’s exercise of power through religious beliefs. The Egyptians believed that she was divinely born and that Amon took the human form of her husband, impregnated her, oversaw the development of the child in her womb, and ensured a healthy delivery. Thus the child was the offspring of both the god and the pharaoh. The great wife couldn’t legally be pharaoh, for only a male could exercise that power. But she could make a man’s right to power. The Egyptians literally and formally considered hers the throne of power, although her power was passive rather than active. Egyptians artists depicted the great wife with much care as the pharaoh. They stylized her body as that of th4e ideal woman, and her portrait was more idealized than realistic. So stood things until Nefertiti, who was an exceptional great wife. She was not content to play a passive role in Egyptian life. Like her husband Akhenaten she passionately embraced the worship of Aton. She used her position to support her husband’s zeal to spread god’s worship. Together they built a new palace at Akhenaten, the present Amarna, away from the old centers of power. There they developed and promulgated the cult of Aton to the exclusion of the traditional deities. Nearly the only literary survival of their religious belief is the â€Å"Hymn of Aton† which declares Aton to be the only god. It also mentions Nefertiti as the great royal consort whom he Akhenaten loves, the mistress of the Two Lands. Akhenaten later stripped Nefertiti of her crown name, which was equivalent of divorce, and exiled her to a palace in the northernmost part of Amarna. It is quite possible, but beyond proof, that Akhenaten wanted a reconciliation with the old gods and their priests. The ...

Maggie the Girl of the Streets and innocence essays

Maggie the Girl of the Streets and innocence essays "Maggie, A Girl of the Streets" by Stephen Crane is an illustration of the morals and views of innocence in the early 1900's. The story chases the young and innocent Maggie into a life of sinfulness. The opinions of all of those around her change during her growth, and express the ideals of life during that time. Innocence is defined as freedom from sin, wrong, or guilt. (Barnhart 413) Many people value innocence as a very respectable virtue to have. The poeple around Maggie in this story have an opinion close to this. Maggie begins her life with little sin, but as she grows older, this ideal begins to weaken. Maggie's relationship with Pete is esentially what begins and pushes her along this path to indecency. Pete is her brother's friend, whom she has liked for many years. He carries with him an air of superiority, and Maggie looks up to his higher social status. Maggie is incredibly happy when Pete finally asks her out. However, at the end of the date, when he asks for a kiss, she refuses. (Crane 25) This refusal shows Maggie's naive nature and how, at this point she is still maintaining her innocence. From here on, however, it is all downhill for Maggie and her innocence. Her change in attitude and demeanor, caused by Pete, affects many people. The way Pete took her out and introduced her to a life of drinking and going out every night, a life of wealthier society than the people around her had, bothered many people. Her brother becomes jealous and shows up at Pete's pub and starts to fight. (Crane 39-41) jimmie, Maggie's brother, believes that Pete has betrayed their friendship and that Pete has ruined his sister. After she met Pete, Maggie also pulled away from her family and stopped living with them. She would very rarely come home. Maggie's mother is also affected by Maggie's changes such as these. Although a drunkard before, Maggie's mother begins to blame her drunkenness and the tr...

Human Resources-Employee Selection Process Term Paper

Human Resources-Employee Selection Process - Term Paper Example The functions of HR department include management of all activities regarding employee management of the organization. The process of employee management starts from employee selection and ends when an employee leaves the company. Henderson (2008) asserts that human resource management is concerned with the management of employee population in an organization. These activities include employee recruitment, employee selection, employee training, dealing with workplace issues regarding employees, performance appraisal systems, analysis of employees’ performance and productivity, and employee development. Groenewald (2009) asserts, â€Å"Staffing, training, compensation and performance management are basically important tools in the human resources practices†. Employee Selection Process There is a difference between recruitment and selection processes. Recruitment is a process in which a company identifies vacant jobs and publishes them in the newspapers and in internal va cancy lists in order to hire suitable employees for those positions. In job advertisements, a company also specifies the required set of skills and qualifications in order to let the candidates know about the skills required for a job. Claude (2010) states, â€Å"Employee recruitment forms a major part of an organization's overall resourcing strategies†. In the process of employee selection, a company conducts job interviews and various tests in order to select the most appropriate candidates for the vacant positions. â€Å"The key to effective selection is the ability to match the right person for the right job at the right time† (Hauenstein, 2011). Employees are the most valuable assets of a company because they make the company reach heights of success. â€Å"Employee Selection is a key strategy that can save organizations tremendous resources, time, and energy† (Young, n.d.). Proper employee selection acts as the foundation for employee retention whereas neg ligence shown in employee selection process puts adverse effects on the company. It is a fact that hiring a low profile employee is just like adding an expense to the company because such an employee is not able to deliver high quality services because of lack of knowledge and required skills and abilities. Therefore, it is very important for the HR department to hire such employee for the company who should be fully competent for the job and should possess the qualities of enthusiasm, commitment, dedication, motivation, and innovative mindset. Key Activities of Employee Selection Process Employee selection is the most important part of the HR department’s responsibilities. The activities related to this process include application assessment, call for tests, written tests, employment interviews, and issuance of appointment letters. Let us discuss all of these steps in detail in order to know their importance in the employee selection process. Application Assessment This is t he very first stage of the employee selection process. During the process of application assessment, no face-to-face interaction takes place between the candidates and the company. Candidates send their applications along with resumes to the company and the company analyzes all applications to shortlist the most appealing ones. At this

Motion of Dismissal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Motion of Dismissal - Research Paper Example Details of section 2-619 of the Illinois codes of civil procedures It is evident from the daily business activities regarding mortgages, that all mortgage transaction contains an acceleration clause. This clause in different instances requires the lender to make provisions to the borrower with a default notice, and the intent to accelerate. There is also an emphasis that the lender should provide the instructions, which can be taken as a remedy of the default date, and a new date set within 30 days in which the borrower must remedy the default (Lauterpacht and Greenwood, 1999). Lenders often ignore the clause; this is a condition, that actionable by a court of law in a foreclosure action. However, the precedent condition must be considered before another action. Such instances force the lender to follow the guidelines outlined in the mortgage acceleration clause before finding the foreclosure. Failing to follow the above guidelines do not invalidate the mortgage, though it may cause temporal dismissal of the foreclosure claims, therefore, resetting the borrower’s clock for the distress. In Illinois State, the 2-619 motion results from modification of the 2-615 motion and the 2-1005 motion. That is; they dismiss for failure motion on state claim, and the summary judgment motion. They both have a defensive nature, thus disposing the issues of facts and law. The motion adheres to the sufficiency and truth of the claim though it does not purpose the asserted affirmative matters (Lauterpacht and Greenwood, 1999). Affirmative matters refer to defenses that, either refutes critical conclusion, or negates a cause of action. Section 2-619 makes provisions for affirmative defenses; one can bring it regardless of the fact that it is retaining past the point of filling a 2-619 motion. Filling a Defamation Complaint Libel is a false statement from an individual, which in turn causes suffering to the other person. Defamation refers to a libelous statement in a print s tate. Traditionally, a print refers to a statement published in a newspaper or a letter, but in the recent days, it refers to the internet, and other mass media. Technology has been an element which is leading to increase in cases of defamation. Ideal examples are social networking sites such as Facebook, which brings the highest level of defamation that ever in the history. A court of law requires one to prove defamation through the following: 1. There must be a false statement from the defendant to the plaintiff 2. The statement must have reached a third party, through provable means. This means that the defendant must communicate the statement to the other person or persons. 3. The statement has to be harmful to the plaintiff 4. There must be damages on the part of the victim Making false statements If there is a false statement published about a public figure, it is the responsibility of the public to prove that the statement has a malicious intention in making the untrue statem ent. There are different standards for public figures, as they expect statements based on their public status. There have been arguments on the definition of public status, but there they not yet fruitful. The current definition from leading philosophers’ state that, public figure is something the public value in ones character. In many

Is Ham correct that connection between science and naturalism is Thesis

Is Ham correct that connection between science and naturalism is arbitrary - Thesis Example Nye supports science by citing evolution theory to prove that creationism or naturalism is not connected to science. Scientists based their evidence on evolution theory that explains the origin of flora and fauna. Nye also confirms the arbitrary connection between science and naturalism when he says in the debate that creationism should not be offered in school alongside the scientific theory coursework. While Nye argues that the scientific theory is false, Ham arguments are based on religious beliefs that have been captured in the book of Genesis. Additionally, Ham’s interpretation about the creationism in Genesis shows that the earth was created 6,000 years ago through supernatural powers. On the other hand, Nye describes the earth that was formed 4.5 billion years ago by using proof such as homologies, fossil, and distribution of time and space. The disparities in Earth’s age brought forward by Ham and Nye confirms further that the link between naturalism and science is a random occurrence (Etchells). Scientific theories are essential because they are used to explain the historical origin of the phenomena under study. The criteria debunk myths when they provide consistent results to the public. Scientific theory is used in creating awareness through education about the essence of science as a whole. Students use the theories as point of reference when they are given scientific-based prompts. Additionally, scientific theories promote lessons of intelligence and research. Observations that are made are based on theories brought forward by ancient scientists. There would be limited knowledge about natural phenomena if there were no existing theories such as evolution. Ham makes his remarks by quoting importance of science and creationism in school. He reveals that researchers such as Stuart Burgess have embraced both science and creationism as separate entities. However, the professor uses scientific

New Testament Essay Example for Free

New Testament Essay â€Å"This weakness is displayed in the special terms that are employed by the theory —innocent, combatant, aggression, authority and so on. These terms are subject to the slipping and sliding of deconstructive analysis and forever need further, technical definition. For example, what constitutes an act of ‘aggression’? Is it Ð ° physical assault on one’s territory? An insult to the national pride? Ð  trade embargo, an attack on one’s ally? Osama bin Laden justifies his attack on 9/11 as an act of self-defense against American ‘aggression’, which has destroyed the ‘religion and life’ of his people. For over seven years the United States has been occupying the lands of Islam in the holiest of places, the Arabian Peninsula, plundering its riches, dictating to its rulers, humiliating its people, terrorizing its neighbors, and turning its bases in the Peninsula into Ð ° spearhead through which to fight the neighboring Muslim peoples. If some people have in the past argued about the fact of the occupation, all the people of the Peninsula have now acknowledged it. The best proof of this is the Americans’ continuing aggression against the Iraqi people using the Peninsula as Ð ° staging post, even though all its rulers are against their territories being used to that end, but are helpless†¦ All these crimes and sins committed by the Americans are Ð ° clear declaration of war on Allah, his messenger, and Muslims. And ulema [religious leaders] have throughout Islamic history unanimously agreed that the jihad is an individual duty if the enemy destroys the Muslim countries. This was revealed by Imam Bin-Qadamah in ‘Al-Mughni’, Imam al-Kisa’i in ‘Al-Bada’I’, al-Qurtubi in his interpretation, and the shaykh of al-Islam in his books, where he said: ‘As for the fighting to repulse [an enemy], it is aimed at defending sanctity and religion, and it is Ð ° duty as agreed [by the ulema]. Nothing is more sacred than belief except repulsing an enemy who is attacking religion and life’. In fact, this same justification is not so remote from what we hear in our own country, where the left-wing often blames American imperialism and the international system of capitalism for raping the cultures of third world countries, exploiting the people, producing poverty, and sowing the seeds for Ð ° violent response. The criteria do not seem to help the special problem at hand. Most scholars seem to think that just war theory allows for pre-emptive strikes, but the conditions and details are not so clear. The Bush administration and the ‘National Security Strategy’ contend that pre-emptive strikes against Iraq are consonant with just war theory, international law, and Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. Legal scholars and international jurists are said to sanction the right of Ð ° pre-emptive strike based on the condition of an imminent threat. † (Gabriel 2006 27-33) â€Å"However, the Vatican seems to interpret its own codes as Ð ° justification for fighting Ð ° defensive war against Ð ° particular act of aggression, and most scholars seem to agree with its interpretation of the tradition. Jeff McMahan, Ð ° professor at the University of Illinois, says that the theory has Ð ° strong aversion to pre-emptive war. Normally we prefer to punish Ð ° crime already committed, rather than speculate over future possibilities. Just war theory does not like to exchange its certitude for Ð ° more problematic or sordid enterprise. 18 William Gaston, professor at the University of Maryland, finds it necessary to create more criteria to justify his opposition to the administration’s policy, he concedes that ‘anticipatory self-defense has Ð ° place in international law and just war theory’, but he does not concur with the current application of this most difficult step. His criteria would involve Ð ° consideration of the enormity, probability and imminence of the threat, as well as the cost of delay, According to these criteria, the Bush policy is unnecessary in the present circumstance—at least for the time being. Saddam Hussein is not Ð ° present danger (imminence); other options for Ð ° number of months could prove fruitful (cost of delay); and it is unlikely that Saddam would hand WMD to terrorists based on his past actions and present interest. The conclusion is that ‘the case for Ð ° pre-emptive strike has not been made’. Those who list criteria often cast Ð ° negative vote toward an action. Just war treatises often demand fulfillment of all of its conditions. Thomas Aquinas, when he composed his conditions for just war (proper authority, just cause and right intention), insisted that all three conditions must be met as Ð ° necessary apologia for war. The scholastics went on to develop the maxim bonum ex integra causa, malum ex quocumque defectu. â€Å"However, with the United States issuing Ð ° â€Å"with us or against us ultimatum after September 11 and simultaneously dangling the carrot of long-term economic and military assistance in return for logistic support for Americas war effort, each Central Asian state rushed to strike unilateral deals with the United States based on its own self-interest, thereby allowing the United States to establish Ð ° strategic foothold in Central Asia with little or no thought for Chinas concerns. For Central Asians, it was Ð ° golden opportunity to lessen the overbearing influence of their neighboring giants (Russia and China). They view the expanded U. S. military presence in the region as an insurance policy against any future bid by Russia and China to reassert control. However, the lack of strategic policy coordination post-September 11 among the SCO member states left the multilateral forum seriously weakened, undercut the groups solidarity, and represented Ð ° â€Å"major failure for the fledgling group† established to provide Ð ° regional response to terrorism in the region. 65 It also highlighted the tenuous nature of Chinas â€Å"strategic influence† in Central Asia where local ethnic and religious rivalries and conflicting interests present formidable obstacles to Beijings desire to knit the regions governments into Ð ° solid security partnership to further Chinas grand strategic objectives. â€Å" (Mohan 2002) This meant that an action cannot have any moral defect if it is to find justification before God. Ð  war must involve the perfection of God, or it cannot proceed under his blessing. The conditions of war is wholly good, universal and absolute. They do not serve as simple rules of thumb, which may have tensions and become subject to compromise between them. However, this preference for absolute, deontological ethics does not allow the tradition to meet the changing needs of the human condition. It becomes Ð ° pretext for doing nothing because it is based upon past concerns and does not relate to modern times. Its view of the world comes from the Greek philosophical notion of kosmos, not the biblical concept of history, Its world is Ð ° closed shell of eternal laws that contain no openness to the changes of history or the historical nature of humankind. It often strait-jackets its proponents into following rules and failing to take the best course of action in the present circumstance. It limits itself to Ð ° past set of rules that are composed without the prescience of future, historical constellations. The absolute dogmatic claims of the system are somewhat surprising since so much of the analysis depends upon the power of human reason. Its basis of authority does not reside in scripture so much—maybe because the questions it asks are removed from the basic message of the New Testament. † (Elizabeth 2004 6)

Nietzsches Revaluation of All Values Essay -- Philosophy Nietzsche Es

In the nineteenth century, popular philosophy - particularly the Hegelian dialectic - professed that mankind was developing in an upward direction, becoming more angelic as it were. Man's moral laws were more advanced, as support for democracy and equal rights were beginning to become popular. However, Friedrich Nietzsche believed that mankind was entering a downward spiral towards complete decadence. Modern man, with its 'advanced' morality, was, in truth, decaying on the inside. Claims of morality merely masked modern man's decay: he is veiled behind moral formulas and concepts of decency?. [not] to mask human malice and villainy?. [but] it is precisely as tame animals that we are a shameful sight?. The European disguises himself with morality because he has become a sick, sickly, crippled animal that has good reasons for being ?tame?. [GS 352] Nietzsche believed this to be a form of nihilism because mankind valued precisely what was halting his advancement. With this in mind, Nietzsche began his bold movement towards the revaluation of all values. We need a critique of moral values, the value of these values should itself, for once, be examined?. [What if] morality itself were to blame if man, as a species, never reached his highest potential power and splendour? [GM P 6] In this essay I will first look at several reasons for the necessity of a revaluation of all values. Then I shall look at Nietzsche?s conception of the ?noble? and how through egoism, they can undertake the revaluation of all values. Nietzsche?s most famous statement is, without a doubt, that ?God is dead? (GS 108/125, Z P 2, etc.). Through many years of being quoted, contemporary society seems to have lost the significance of such a profound statement. Perhaps the most frightening aspect of this statement is that ?we have killed him - you and I. All of us are his murderers? (GS 125). It is important to remember that Nietzsche did not believe this to be a literal event. Instead, he explains ?that the belief in the Christian god has become unbelievable? (GS 343). Such disbelief has begun to cast morality, indeed mankind?s meaning, into doubt. Without God, how can universal moral truths be justified? Where is the meaning of man? What were we doing when we unchained this earth from its sun? Whither is it moving now? Whither are we moving? Away from all suns? Are we not plung... ...ss that of all, all! [GS 335] Nietzsche believed that the ego is very important for the revaluation of values. It provides a person with the proper attitude to look within himself and determine those values that are in accordance with personal well-being. The ego also gives the person the conviction to act upon them. In the end, Nietzsche began to perceive that his ?wicked thoughts? on the revaluation of all values were themselves becoming eternal truths: ?you have already taken off your novelty, and some of you are ready, I fear, to become truths: they already look so immortal, so pathetically decent, so dull!? (BGE 296) Nietzsche implies that his views on issues might not be correct, such as when he claims ?assuming that it is now known at the outset how very much these are after all only - my truths? (BGE 231) before beginning a sad tirade on women. The danger of stating a method of creating truth that is indefinite is that certain aspects will be cast into truths in the future, much against the spirit of Nietzsche. While his elitist views might seem extreme, perhaps he is only offering his truth to creating meaning, and it is our individual duty to come up with our own.