Friday, December 27, 2019
A Literature Review of Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa
Brett Holberg Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa Attacks on foreigners in South Africa have been on the rise since the transfer of power to the ANC in 1994. These violent outbursts, which have resulted in riots and dozens of murders, have been described as xenophobic in nature. After the months of summer 2008 in South Africa where there was a sudden wave of anti-immigrant violence, scholars are asking what is the driving force behind these attacks. Scholars see continuity in the ideology behind these xenophobic attacks occurring in South Africa. In his article, ‘Fortress SA’: Xenophobic Violence in South Africa, John Sharp writes about the causes of the violence and the Human Sciences Research Council’s response on the matter. He†¦show more content†¦South Africans allow their national issues to be represented by foreigners who they feel brought them upon them. Adejunmobi makes and interesting case by identifying South Africa’s xenophobic violence with the trend of anti-alien violence in Africa in the past 20 years and by doing this opens up a continent wide discourse about what he calls the â€Å"ethics of locality†(Adejunmobi 2009). Even in examining different phenomena continent wide he is able to come to a conclusion, which supports a congruent ideology for the attacks, and puts them in a larger perspective. In his article in Third World Quarterly, David Mario Matsinhe, Africa’s Fear of Itself: the ideology of Makwerekwere in South Africa, he uses the term makwerekwere to represent South Africans uneasiness with outsiders. The phrase originates out of the fact that word makwerekwere sounds very distinctly un-South African. Makwerekwere is so distinct for South Africans because it shares no similarities with any South African words (Mario Matsinhe 2011). He writes â€Å"Since the collapse of apartheid, the phantom of Makwerekwere has been constructed and deployed in and through public discourse to render Africans from ou tside the borders orderable as the nation’s bogeyman.†(Mario Matsinhe 2011). He provides a great argument and uses a variety of sources including human rights network publications. HeShow MoreRelatedNew World Order in Conspiracy Theory13987 Words  | 56 Pages10 Brave New World * 3 Postulated implementations * 3.1 Gradualism * 3.2 Coup dà ©tat * 3.3 Mass surveillance * 3.4 Occultism * 3.5 Population control * 3.6 Mind control * 4 Alleged conspirators * 5 Criticism * 6 Literature * 7 In popular culture * 8 References | ------------------------------------------------- History of the term During the 20th century, many statesmen, such as Woodrow Wilson and Winston Churchill, used the term new world order to refer to
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Analysis Of Kate Chopin s Desiree s Baby - 987 Words
Kendavid Stenhouse Professor Perkins English 204 3 October 2017 Racial Identity James A. Forbes say, â€Å"When people rely on surfaces appearances and false stereotypes rather than in-depth knowledge/[the] understanding of people are compromised.†Kate Chopin’s story, â€Å"Desiree’s Baby†is a story solely of racial identity, sexism, pride and love. Throughout, there’s symbolism to indicate unequal gender functions, as well as racial prejudice. Readers become mindful of the effects love and pride has over actions, as the story foreshadows numerously. Thoroughly, analytical evidence will focus on the irony of racial identity, symbolism of sexism, pride and love. Desiree’s Baby is a short story centered directly upon human relationships during the†¦show more content†¦During the time, individuals’ backgrounds determined marriages. Referring to the thesis, effects of love over actions are ironized in the story, as Armand cautiously shows passion for Desiree while hastily ignoring her background; intentionally marrying and having a baby with Desiree. Racial identity is portrayed heavily in Desiree’s Baby. Desiree’s Baby sets prior to the Civil War, a time were slavery is imposed and interracial relationships are denounced. Armand is a slave owner, who’s denying the rights of African Americans. Desiree care from the waiting nurse, is assumed to be a slave, pertaining to the slave land, which is a depiction of racial identity. Chopin’s uses an offensive term â€Å"quadroon†which indicates a person that’s one quarter black by descent, as Desiree related to the nurse as yellow (indicates a light skinned black person). Though Valmonde cautioned Armand of Desiree’s background, Madame Valmonde exclaimed, â€Å"This is not the baby!†Madame; astonished of the baby’s aspect, sees the baby differently from Desiree. Chopin writes, â€Å"She lifted it and walked with it over to the window that was lightest,†an interpretation the narrator creates for the readers to mean e xactly that or the contrast to the skin tone of the baby. Though Armand loves Desiree, Armand love is questioned. Desiree creates the assumption that there’s love between the father and baby. Questioning stems from the hatred and suddenShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Desiree s Baby By Kate Chopin1446 Words  | 6 PagesAnalysis of Desiree’s Baby In the story Desiree s Baby by Kate Chopin the plot mainly revolves around race issues and also includes elements of sexism. In terms of race the difference between being white and being black shows vital importance in the characters lives through the story. As Desiree and Armand both originally associate themselves with the white class, once the plot unveils their black heritage they are faced with uncertainty, and ultimately their lives become meaninglessRead MoreAn Analysis Of Kate Chopin s Desiree s Baby Essay1067 Words  | 5 Pages Kate Chopin life and her short story Dà ©sirà ©e’s Baby Chopin was an American novelist and she also wrote many short stories. Chopin was a feminist pioneer movement on American literature and the world. Chopin was born in St. Louis Missouri on February 8, 1850. Her father was an Irish immigrant who was a very successful businessman. Chopin father died when she was a little girl. For that reason, she grew up with her mother and grandmother since she was a child. She was an insatiable reader and thatRead MoreAn Analysis Of Kate Chopin s Desiree s Baby 1705 Words  | 7 Pagesand published in 1893, Kate Chopin’s work â€Å"Desiree’s Baby†is a short story about miscegenation within a French family living in Louisiana in the late nineteenth century. Miscegenation is defined as the mixture of different racial groups, through marriage or cohabitation, between a white race and a member of another race. Chopin writes this piece of realistic fiction which exposes the issues of society that would not be faced until many y ears after her death. â€Å"Desiree’s Baby†revolves around two mainRead MoreAnalysis Of Desiree s Baby By Kate Chopin919 Words  | 4 PagesDesiree’s Baby†: An Annotated bibliography Thesis: Kate Chopin combines the racial and social differences on the eighteen century, in which people have to face racial discrimination amongst a social empire, which brings many conflicts within diverse couples about their firstborns. Chopin, Kate Desiree’s Baby. Short Stories (print 7/14/2015). In the short story, Desiree’s Baby, written by Kate Chopin there is a about of karma and consequences that produce the drama on the literature. The storyRead MoreAnalysis Of Kate Chopin s Desiree s Baby 951 Words  | 4 Pagesa major problem in the late nineteenth century. In Kate Chopin’s â€Å"Desiree’s Baby†, there were characters with extreme views towards race which led to a gruesome death. The major conflicts in â€Å"Desiree’s Baby†are from Armand assuming what he thought about Desiree was right, and not taking another answer that could be a possibility. Armand was the antagonist of the story and struggles against the beliefs that the country has about race. Desiree, the protagonist was in conflict with Armand over whoRead MoreAnalysis Of Kate Chopin s `` Desiree s Baby ``822 Words  | 4 PagesRegionalism reflected in Kate Chopin’s Writings During the latter half of the nineteenth-century, American literature had a renaissance with the development of new writing styles that strived to fully grasp and express the American way of life. Regionalism, which is a writing style that incorporates setting, dialect, and local color of certain regions of the United States was prominent among these new writing styles. Kate Chopin, one of the most prominent feminist writers of the nineteenth-centuryRead MoreAn Analysis Of Armand Aubigny s Desiree s Baby 1538 Words  | 7 PagesArmand Aubigny’s Pride in â€Å"Desiree’s Baby†by Kate Chopin Through history, we have always yearned independence and equality as human beings. Undoubtedly, Kate Chopin is an extraordinary example She has landed a commendable place among American writers worthy of recognition. Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1850, Kate was raised by strong women who taught her the value of an education. Her family gave her a revolutionary vision and a feminist personality, but it was her talented and passionate skillsRead MoreAn Examination Of How Kate Chopin s Work1298 Words  | 6 PagesENGL 1102 – Comp/Lit Essay 2 (Mulry) Sellers, James R – 920022413 Due Date: April 20, 2015 An Examination of How Kate Chopin’s Works Taken Together Contribute to our Understanding of Her Time and the Place of Women in Society Looking at themes present in his short stories and novels, Kate Chopin presents examples of female strength and an assertive rebellion to the social norms during the late 1800s. By seeking to transparently and boldly portray the risquà © behavior of her lead characters, whichRead MoreInferences Lead to Tragedy: Irony that Ruins in Kate Chopins Desirees Baby744 Words  | 3 Pages Kate Chopin utilizes irony in â€Å"Desiree’s Baby†to warn people of the dangers of racism and how it can victimize not only the hated race, but also the one who is racist. â€Å"Desiree’s Baby†is a tale about a young slave owner, Armand, with a well-respected name in Louisiana. He marries an adopted woman named Desiree and once they have their child, he notices that the baby has black features. He assumes that since he does not know his wife’s racial background that his wife must have some sort ofRead MoreDesiree s Baby : A Literary Analysis1582 Words  | 7 PagesDesiree’s Babyâ€â€A Literary Analysis In the short story, â€Å"Desiree’s Baby,†Kate Chopin exposes the harsh realities of racial divide, male dominance, and slavery in Antebellum Louisiana. Although written in 1894, Chopin revisits the deep-south during a period of white privilege and slavery. Told through third-person narration, the reader is introduced to characters whose individual morals and values become the key elements leading to the ironic downfall of this antebellum romance. As Chopin takes the
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Marketing Opportunities of Zara-Free-Samples -Myassignmenthelp
Question: Discuss about the Marketing Opportunity of your Choosen Company. Answer: Introduction Marketing opportunity study of a company signifies the business opportunities of a company in terms of enticing new customers to buy their products and thereby help to increase the productivity rate of a company. Marketing opportunity helps a company to forecast its future business vision (Mullins, Walker Boyd Jar, 2012). This report outlines the fact to state the business opportunities of Zaras secret through marketing. Marketing opportunities of Zara:- Zara is a globally recognized fashion company in the world. Zara specializes in providing run away fashionable clothes and accessories to the customers, all over the world. Zara is headquartered in the northwestern city of Arteixo in Spain (Caro, 2012). Amancio Ortega is credited for originating the concept of Zara in the year 1975. According to the financial reports in 2017, Zara has earned the commendation of administering up to twenty unique attire collections, per annum. In terms of marketing opportunities of Zara, a lot of literature has been attempted in this issue. Marketing Opportunity related to Product quality and range:- If the topic of product is discussed, then it can be said that Zara is the only fashion company in the world who does not spend resources excessively on advertisement and yet manages to sell its products at huge numbers. Zara provides a wide range of sublime products such as childrens dresses, mens attire, womens stylish attire, eye-catching lingerie wear and others. As per reports, Zara places 450 million products at all its worldwide stores in a year. Indeed, Zara possesses ample market opportunity in terms of their product quality and range. Marketing Opportunity related to Place:- If the topic of place is discussed, then it can be said that Zara is self reliant in all its marketing activities. Zara has single-handedly integrated all the departments of design, prefabrication and distribution under in its own unit. This is one of the key factors in the rapid expansion of Zara stores all over the world. In the coming years, Zara is expected to spread its wings in every possible global location. Indeed, Zara possesses ample market opportunity in terms of place. Marketing Opportunity related to Target Consumers:- If the topic of target consumers is discussed, then it can be said that Zara has artfully captured the attention of the target audience in fashion. Zara manufactures collections, which are suitable to people in the twenty to thirty age bracket. Generally, people of this above range are extra conscious about the overnight changes, which occur in the fashion world. Therefore, in order to sustain the attention of the fashionable young, Zara continuously implements new cuts and changes in their products including shoes, trousers and blazers. This actuates the trendy and the stylish lot to venture into Zara for fashion modernity and novelty. Indeed, Zara possesses ample market opportunity in terms of holding the competitive attention of the target consumer. Marketing opportunity related to pricing:- If the topic of pricing is discussed, it is widely known that Zara practices affordable pricing strategy in all its product portfolios. The most mentionable fact here is that the customers are genuinely appreciative of the availability of reasonable priced products at Zara. The marketers at Zara have started to practice affordable pricing strategy by implementing modifications in their indoctrination and development prices (Caro Gallien, 2012). This has made Zara among the top affordable fashion firms in the world. Indeed, Zara possesses ample market opportunity in terms of their pricing strategy. Marketing Opportunity related to promotion strategy:- If the topic of promotions is discussed, Zara is one of the least promoted fashion firms in the business world. The unique selling proposition of Zara is that the marketers of Zara are extremely proficient in the assumption of the demands and needs of the consumers and this is what distinguishes it from the other big fashion house rivals (Gamboa Gonclaves, 2014). The promotional quality of Zara is reasonability, specialty, variety and distinction. Indeed, Zara possesses ample market opportunity in terms of their promotion strategy. Conclusion In the conclusion, it can be said that marketing is a very substantial concept of business management. Marketers are highly responsible for bringing glory and fame to a company by increasing the productivity, market share and the ultimate revenue share. Zara is a brilliant example of a company who has successfully established itself in the global market by having high-yielding market opportunities. References Caro, F. (2012). Zara: Staying fast and fresh.The European Case Clearing House, ECCH Case, 612-006. Caro, F., Gallien, J. (2012). Clearance pricing optimization for a fast-fashion retailer.Operations Research,60(6), 1404-1422. Gamboa, A. M., Gonalves, H. M. (2014). Customer loyalty through social networks: Lessons from Zara on Facebook.Business Horizons,57(6), 709-717. Mullins, J., Walker, O. C., Boyd Jr, H. W. (2012).Marketing management: A strategic decision-making approach. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
NAZISM Essays (2384 words) - Adolf Hitler, Nazi Germany,
NAZISM The National Socialist German Workers' Party almost died one morning in 1919. It numbered only a few dozen grumblers' it had no organization and no political ideas. But many among the middle class admired the Nazis' muscular opposition to the Social Democrats. And the Nazis themes of patriotism and militarism drew highly emotional responses from people who could not forget Germany's prewar imperial grandeur. In the national elections of September 1930, the Nazis garnered nearly 6.5 million votes and became second only to the Social Democrats as the most popular party in Germany. In Northeim, where in 1928 Nazi candidates had received 123 votes, they now polled 1,742, a respectable 28 percent of the total. The nationwide success drew even faster... in just three years, party membership would rise from about 100,000 to almost a million, and the number of local branches would increase tenfold. The new members included working-class people, farmers, and middle-class professionals. They were both better educated and younger then the Old Fighters, who had been the backbone of the party during its first decade. The Nazis now presented themselves as the party of the young, the strong, and the pure, in opposition to an establishment populated by the elderly, the weak, and the dissolute. Hitler was born in a small town in Austria in 1889. As a young boy, he showed little ambition. After dropping out of high school, he moved to Vienna to study art, but he was denied the chance to join Vienna academy of fine arts. When WWI broke out, Hitler joined Kaiser Wilhelmer's army as a Corporal. He was not a person of great importance. He was a creature of a Germany created by WWI, and his behavior was shaped by that war and its consequences. He had emerged from Austria with many prejudices, including a powerful prejudice against Jews. Again, he was a product of his times... for many Austrians and Germans were prejudiced against the Jews. In Hitler's case the prejudice had become maniacal it was a dominant force in his private and political personalities. Anti-Semitism was not a policy for Adolf Hitler--it was religion. And in the Germany of the 1920s, stunned by defeat, and the ravages of the Versailles treaty, it was not hard for a leader to convince millions that one element of the nation's society was responsible for most of the evils heaped upon it. The fact is that Hitler's anti-Semitism was self- inflicted obstacle to his political success. The Jews, like other Germans, were shocked by the discovery that the war had not been fought to a standstill, as they were led to believe in November 1918, but that Germany had , in fact, been defeated and was to be treated as a vanquished country. Had Hitler not embarked on his policy of disestablishing the Jews as Germans, and later of exterminating them in Europe, he could have counted on their loyalty. There is no reason to believe anything else. On the evening of November 8, 1923, Wyuke Vavaruab State Cinnussuiber Gustav Rutter von Kahr was making a political speech in Munich's sprawling B?rgerbr?ukeller, some 600 Nazis and right-wing sympathizers surrounded the beer hall. Hitler burst into the building and leaped onto a table, brandishing a revolver and firing a shot into the ceiling. "The National Revolution," he cried, "has begun!" At that point, informed that fighting had broken out in another part of the city, Hitler rushed to that scene. His prisoners were allowed to leave, and they talked about organizing defenses against the Nazi coup. Hitler was of course furious. And he was far from finished. At about 11 o'clock on the morning of November 9--the anniversary of the founding of the German Republic in 1919--3,000 Hitler partisans again gathered outside the B?rgerbr?ukeller. To this day, no one knows who fired the first shot. But a shot rang out, and it was followed by fusillades from both sides. Hermann G?ring fell wounded in the thigh and both legs. Hitler flattened himself against the pavement; he was unhurt. General Ludenorff continued to march stolidly toward the police line, which parted to let him pass through (he was later arrested, tried and acquitted). Behind him, 16
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Change Management Strategy in an Organisation
Change is inevitable: it is brought about by globalisation, change in customer needs, and technological developments among other factors. As much as change is inevitable, the nature of human being resists change; how well an organisation adopts to change, determines the competitive a company.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Change Management Strategy in an Organisation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Leaders have the role of implementing strategies to effect change effectively in their organisation. Change may be rapid, where there is minimal time to plan and adjust processes and products in line with the expected change (Hayes 12-23). This paper discuses change management strategy in an organisation. Strategy A strategy is a thought system and process to be followed, with the aim of attaining certain set objectives. The strategy may be made by an expert, or it can be developed internally in an organisation to ensure that better processes have been adopted. Implementing and managing a strategy is the final stage of a strategy, where elements and components of the strategy are put in place. In the case of change, a change strategy should be implemented and pioneered by change agents. Change management strategy Leadership of an organisation has the mandate of implementing and managing change. Businesses, countries and the world in general is facing massive change and developments, there are transition and development in different areas. Change should be gradual but should adopt a pace that ensures that the organisation will benefit from opportunities offered by change or mitigate any threats offered by changes in business world. An effective change management policy will ensure a smooth transition from old process development methods to the new form of production. Objectives of a change management program There are different reasons why change should be undertaken in an organisation. The pr evailing condition offers the objective to meet by the change process. Major objectives of a change management strategy are: Improve current working condition; this is through adoption of modern or relevant strategies, for example to implement risk management strategy, there are some change that need to be accommodate in an organization Adopt a different way of doing things and take advantage of available opportunities as other business opportunities are created Make new combinations of resources in an organization; this is mostly when better combination ways have been innovated Adopt new technology; scientific innovations and developments have resulted to technological innovation that robust organization should adopt for efficiency and effectiveness in internal and external processes. Change of business, target market, production formulae, management, job schedules, job description among other; this is where an organization need to take a different approach in business Have a diff erent human resource management system, computer system among others Change management program The success of a change program is dependent on how employees in the organisation are going to adjust and the way they will perceive the change. The attitude towards change determines whether the process will be affected effectively or not. The change agents should take certain deliberate measures and follow a well thought process that is influenced by organisational culture of a company.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To implement a change strategy, the following process should be followed: Planning change This is where the need for a change in an organisation is recognised; at this stage, an analysis of prevailing condition in the industry is important. An internal and external audit is conducted to ensure that current position in market is recognised. Change agents should und ertake massive research on an area of deficit recognised so that they can devise appropriate mechanisms and strategies to an effective solution (Newman 56-78). Pilot study and management sensitisation After the area that need change has been recognised, the report of the change should be discussed with top management. This is a very important task since how well top management understand the change to come in an organisation, the more support they are likely to give to the change. Through brainstorming and involvement of experts, alterative are devised; if there are past organisations that have implemented any of the set alternatives, its performance should be evaluated. The risk areas are established to ensure that mitigation measures have been established. It is at this stage that the best alternative is chosen; this stage may take varying durations depending with the urgency of the problem at hand, however it should address all areas. Staff sensitisation and involvement After the management have decided on the way forward, before taking any step further, they should involve their employees at all levels seeking their support. At this stage, employees are likely to have a number of questions regarding the change and how will be affected by the change. Change agents should be well versed with the expected change results and the effects it is likely to have on employees. In case some employees have some recommendations to the change, their views should not be locked out but should be included in the change process as long as they will not contradict the objectives targeted by the change. Employees should be made aware that they are part and parcel of the change process and the process should not be implemented on them rather they should be fully involved in the change process (Sadler and James 34-46). Consolidating change When all things are set to go and attitude of employees towards the perceived change is positive, then the new strategy of doing things s hould be launched. Before switching the old strategy of doing things, the new strategy and the old one should be run concurrently to give a testing chance of the new strategy as employees learn and adjust to the new system.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Change Management Strategy in an Organisation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Sometime there are improvements that become necessary after implementation; such improvements should be done before the old system has been switched off. Support, monitoring, improvement and control of the new system should also be embarked on. Managers role in change Management Leaders in an organisation are mandated with the task of pioneering a business to its desired objectives; they are the change agents. In transitional period the leaders is the one who guides subordinates to the desired path. They make rules and policies to be followed in attaining the goals: without disregar ding their subordinates. Change needs to be planned at all, times when it is being implemented and conducted in such a way that it will be accepted in the business (Hiatt and Creasey 8-12). Change best practice Change Best practice is the approach that a company can adopt to undergo the change process effectively; it involves accommodating all people. Although different strategies of change management are used in different companies, John P Kotter’s has come up with an eight-stage change best practice model, as follows: Increase urgency After the top management has understood and backed the change process, change agents goes down the hierarchy to create awareness on expected changes in the company. Focus is on the specific departments that will be affected. Having round table meetings where the expected change is discussed is necessary. Relevant inputs from employees are accommodated. Build the guiding team At this stage, people have diverse views, fears and optimisms; depend ing with an individual. Change agents should work closely to explain finer details of the projects and remove doubts and tensions created. This stage call for professionalism since it can break the entire system if a negative perception is created in the mind of the employees. Communicate for buy-in This stage, employees undergo necessary training on how they are expected to conduct themselves after the change process. Those employees who are still resistance should be given one-on-one approach where issues and their fears are aired out. Empower action Change agents guide the employees to see the practicability of the new way of doing things, depending with the development; this stage can be delayed to later date. Any issues and misunderstandings are polished at this stage as employees learn more about the new system and its operations. Note at this stage, the old system still is on.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Create short-term wins The new change is given a full test without doing away with the old one. The new system dominate in activities, this stage gives the company the chance to evaluate the new system as employees learn it further. Don’t let up In case the new system has disappointments, it should not be done away with; it should be reinforced and accustomed further for the business. Make change stick At this stage, the company will have understood the change and ready to work with it. The old system is switched off and mechanisms mechanism to evaluate, appraise and upgrade to the new system are put in place (Sadler and James 45-76) Conclusion People are static to change; however, if an organisation implements an effective change program, then change can be smooth and effective. An effective change strategy should involve employees of an organisation at different levels and sort for their continued support. Works Cited Hayes, Johns. The Theory and practice of Change Manag ement . New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010. Print. Hiatt, Jeff, and  Creasey Timothy. Change management: the people side of change. Colorado: Prosci, 2003. Print. Newman, Janet. Modernising Governance. Belmont: SAGE Publications, 2001. Print. Sadler, Philip, and James Craig. Strategic management. London: Kogan Page Publishers, 2003. Print. This report on Change Management Strategy in an Organisation was written and submitted by user Tanner Park to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Understanding Ecological Succession
Understanding Ecological Succession Ecological succession is the progressive change, in an ecosystem, of species composition over time. With the change in species composition comes a series of modifications in community structure and function. A classic example of succession involves the series of changes observed in an abandoned field in what is normally a forested area. Once the field is no longer grazed or mowed, the seeds of shrubs and trees will sprout and rapidly start growing. Before long, shrubs and tree saplings will be the dominant vegetation form. The tree species will then grow to the point of shading out the shrubs, eventually forming a complete canopy. The species composition in that young forest will continue to turn over until it is dominated by a stable, self-maintaining group of species called a climax community. Primary vs. Secondary Succession Ecological succession where there was no vegetation prior is called primary succession. We can observe primary succession on bulldozed sites, after an intense fire, or following a volcanic eruption, for example. The first plant species to show up have the ability to very quickly colonize and grow in these bare areas. Depending on the region, these pioneer species can be grasses, broadleaf plantain, Queen Anne’s lace, or trees like aspen, alder, or black locust. The pioneers set up the stage for the next phase of succession, improving soil chemistry and adding organic matter which provides nutrients, better soil structure, and greater water-holding capacity. Secondary succession occurs when a new set of organisms appears where there was an ecological set-back (for example a clear-cut logging operation) but where a cover of living plants was left behind. The abandoned agricultural field described above is a perfect example of secondary succession. Common plants during this stage are raspberries, asters, goldenrods, cherry trees, and paper birch. Climax Communities and Disturbance The last stage of succession is the climax community. In a forest, climax species are those that can grow in the shade of taller trees – hence the name shade-tolerant species. The composition of climax communities varies geographically. In parts of the eastern United States, a climax forest will be made of sugar maples, eastern hemlock, and American beech. In Washington State’s Olympic National Park, the climax community may be dominated by western hemlock, Pacific silver fir, and western redcedar. A common misconception is that climax communities are permanent and frozen in time. In reality, the oldest trees eventually die and are replaced by other trees waiting under the canopy. This makes climax canopy part of a dynamic equilibrium, always changing but overall looking the same. Significant changes will occasionally be brought about by disturbances. Disturbances can be wind damage from a hurricane, a wildfire, an insect attack, or even logging. The type, size, and frequency of disturbances vary by region – some coastal, wet locations experience fires on average once every few thousand years, while eastern boreal forests may be subject to spruce budworm kills every few decades. These disturbances knock back the community into an earlier successional stage, restarting the process of ecological succession. The Value of Late Successional Habitat The dark shade and tall canopies of climax forests provide shelter for a number of specialized birds, mammals, and other organisms. The cerulean warbler, wood thrush, and red-cockaded woodpecker are dwellers of old forests. The threatened spotted owl and Humboldt fisher both require large stands of late successional redwood and Douglas-fir forests. Many small flowering plants and ferns rely on the shady forest floor beneath old trees. The Value of Early Successional Habitat There is also considerable value in early successional habitat. These shrubland and young forests rely on recurring disturbances that set succession back. Unfortunately, in many places, these disturbances often turn forests into housing developments and other land uses that short-cut the ecological succession process. As a result, shrublands and young forests can become quite rare on the landscape. Many birds rely on early successional habitats, including the brown thrasher, golden-winged warbler, and prairie warbler. There are also mammals that need shrubby habitat, perhaps most notably the New England cottontail.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Summary response waiting for supermanby Dir. Davis Guggenheim Essay
Summary response waiting for supermanby Dir. Davis Guggenheim - Essay Example I was crying because no one was coming with enough power to save us†(Guggenheim). It is also documented that Canada was the co-founder of the Harlem Children’s Zone. He was successful in managing the private funded institution. According to the director, he intends the film to serve as an education reformer. Guggenheim links this to the â€Å"inconvenient truth†which attempted to take part in climate change reform. He concludes that the problem that he may face is the teachers union. The union defends its workers against any dismissals. Later he asserts that the only savior which he may have is the charter school system. Apart from the weltering of socioeconomic reasons, Guggenheim also explains why we are having this mess. Furthermore, he delves into the highly scholastic and even records of the charters. Thus, the real crisis among the American public-school education roots from the relative low pay which the full time teachers get. Thus, he addresses ways of eliminating some of the few incentives which is tenure instead of proposing for a higher pay. According to Guggenheim, his proposal will attract competent teachers. The director frames his film basing on competition. He implies the case where five children await for news about their admission in a charter school. They are not lucky, for instance, Francisco who is a Bronx and a first grader is among the 792 applicants who are eying for the 40 vacancies at Harlem success academy (Guggenheim). Therefore, â€Å"waiting for Superman†is a call to the arms. It aims at calling anyone who would like to step up and help fix problems in education. It is also a cry for mercy and help. That is, ‘someone calling to become the children’s
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Should College Athletes Be Paid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Should College Athletes Be Paid - Essay Example The key question posed by many previous reformists is whether college athletes should be paid. Given the consideration of many factors such as health, behavior, multi-billion dollar industry, moral decay, physical condition, talent and popularity, it stills remains an issue at stake whether student athletes should be paid (Sack & Staurowsky 139). Various magazine articles have been presented, covering the issue which has necessitated immediate action from reformists and ranking professional in the field. The National College Athletic Association over the previous year provided that schools should award the students two thousand dollars per year as a stipend but dropped the proposal after concerns were raised on how it would be achieved by the media. Upon pressure by the highlighted events through media coverage such as Euro sports and sports columnists, prominent coaches think that this idea should be revived and have sought to have it implemented. This is based on the argument that the playoffs fetch more money that is given to the directors, coaches and NCAA and which should also be given to the students. In my opinion, the media have enhanced the speed of consideration of this issue by providing information on the step taken and direction thus far. Student athletes should be get non cash payments from their colleges while if hired by companies they should receive monetary compensation for their time and energy. In this case, payment depends on a variety of things and can be achieved in many forms. Television coverage of sports competitions among the various institutions to determine the winner generates millions of dollars as additional revenue for the participating schools in which case the thousands of college and university students should be part of the cake (Shropshire & Davis 156). Cash payments should be made when the students play for an outside team or when hired by the companies outside the scope of the school. Through the media, open discussions a nd forums have come up to discuss issues relating to payments of athletes. Some magazines provide coverage on certain players posing probable concerns on payments and television shows invite athletes on talk show trying to get their views on the matter and other issues in the federation. Colleges on the other side need to focus on the students as a motivational tool and award them benefits in kind such as insurance schemes, proper housing, full educational scholarships and other fringe benefits (Griffin 91). The coverage of significant presentations such as ESPN show that student athletes spend more time in the field practicing and in most cases utilize most of their energy to gain money for the schools which then should have a responsibility to motivate them by offering them some form of payment. It is essential to note that talented students will most likely attend colleges that offer rewards for their efforts and thus most of management will seek them immediately after high schoo ls with enticing propositions such as scholarships awards. This is not enough though, and they need to further offer cash and remuneration after the games athletes participate (Shropshire & Davis 162). Sporting events are also covered in movies which try to bring more action on what actually transpires in the field. High school
Sunday, November 17, 2019
The Hunger Games and Reality TV Essay Example for Free
The Hunger Games and Reality TV Essay In the novel The Hunger Games, many aspects relate to reality TV. Through the Gamemakers and, in television producers the truth is altered. The line separating fact and fiction is truly blurred. The producers do their job so well that it leaves the audience questioning every move on the show. They wonder â€Å"where is the real in reality TV? †The answer is that due to their mixed genre and producer editing there is not any. Reality TV is not just one genre, but a mix of two. The producers â€Å"[use] the documentary-fiction genre mix to help market its product. †[ ] This â€Å"new†genre allows some leeway in the reality and fictional aspects of the show. â€Å"Reality series use documentary techniques to generate emotional accuracy; that is, the sense that these people are showing you their true emotions or are behaving in psychologically convincing ways, even if the events they are reacting to are obviously staged. †[1] The fictional aspect of this genre is what producers rely on for more ratings. Treating the show as a fictional sitcom lets the producers stage events to create more drama. They can do this easily but still have to be wary of the documentary side of the genre. If the audience can tell that there are too many fake scenes on the show they will not watch it. Viewers can go from â€Å"this show is so good,†to as Samantha Bee put it, â€Å"a totally, unabashedly fake, phony, manipulated, a sham. †[ ] Some shows can not only rely on the genre mix but also must rely on their editors. Editors of reality TV shows are the true stars because they choose what kind of story to tell. In The Hunger Games, the Gamemakers chose to tell the story of the star-crossed lovers of District 12. In reality TV the editors do the same. IF anything would harm the shows view ratings the editors take care of it. Take for instance on the CBS show Big Brother; racists comments were made during the online live feed, but knowing that would hurt the viewer ratings the editors chose to take it out of the episode air on television a few days later. [ ] This caused uproar since because it showed how manipulated reality TV shows are. Editors can also make shows more interesting by combining clips to create drama. They do their job so well that it leaves the audience questioning every move on the show. The editors also take weeks and weeks of filming and squeeze it into a 45 minute show. In reality TV, the fictional part of the genre outshines the documentary part. Through the producers’ and editors actions the truth is altered and the audience is feed lies. The line separating fact and fiction is not blurred, but broken. The audience may think it is real but it is all fake.
Friday, November 15, 2019
Land Use And Land Cover In Ethiopia Environmental Sciences Essay
Land Use And Land Cover In Ethiopia Environmental Sciences Essay This research will focus on population dynamics and effects on the state of natural resources and processes of degradation in the lowlands of Ethiopia. Many developing countries are using their natural resources at rates faster than the natural rate of replacement to sustain their rapid population growth; to generate foreign exchange; and to produce raw materials for industries. Millions of poor farmers destroy vast tracts of forest lands to make room for agricultural activities that will provide sufficient food for their household, community or country (Bartelmus, 1986; Drechsel et al., 2001; McNeill, 2006; Appiah et al., 2007). Agriculture, which dominates most of the African economies, has been the main focus of national development plans of governments. In line with this, a variety of land policies and reforms have been instituted in many African countries in an effort to improve the performance of the agricultural sector, but not always with success. In most countries, traditional agricultural practices and low productivity still persist despite major reforms and large monetary investments to transform the sector. Where agricultural innovations have been introduced, short-term successes have often been followed by long- term environmental problems (Miay, 1976; Drechsel et al., 2001; Appiah et al., 2007). The most frequently occurring and rapidly accelerating problem related to agricultural activities is environmental degradation. In practice, most agricultural programs tend to place a heavy emphasis on increasing production and less on resource management and conservation. As a result, the social and environmental implications of population and land-use and land cover changes are overlooked until a serious physical deterioration occurs (Miay, 1976; Fischer, 1993; Davol, 1998; Makhanya, 2004; Long et al., 2006). In Ethiopia, agriculture is the largest source of employment and foreign exchange: it supports some 85% of the working force, produces about 50% of the gross domestic product and generates over 90% of the countrys export earnings. Because the sector is overwhelmingly dominated by subsistence endeavors land degradation is widely prevalent (Dejene, 1990). This problem is further exacerbated by the heavy concentration of population and economic activities on climatically-favored highland areas of the country. The highland areas (defined as lands above 1,500 meters above sea level) constitute 40% of the total area of the country, 66% of the total cultivated land, 90 % of its arable land and nearly 45% of the grazing land, and support about 80% of the livestock and 88% of human population. As a result, these areas happen to be the most vulnerable and degraded physiographic regions in the country (Bruene, 1990; Woldemariam, 1990; McCann, 1995). As a consequence of population growth and hea vy economic activities, land suitable for cultivation is running short in much of the highland regions of the country. As a result, recent years have seen population relocation to the lowland areas where population size and densities are relatively low. However, this has brought about complex changes in the socio-cultural, economic and ecological conditions in the Beles valley of Metekel, northwest Ethiopia (Abute, 2002), one of the areas to which population shifts have taken place. Yntiso (2003) and Abute (2002) document these changes by indicating how massive resettlements in the 1980s have impoverished the indigenous population and created hostility among ethnic groups in Beles valley, Metekel. These studies, however, give much less emphasis to population dynamics and land use and land cover changes resulting from these changes. Assessing ongoing changes in population dynamics and land use and land cover in this region is vital given the fact that more development endeavors (for example, hydropower generation, irrigation, and mechanized agriculture) are being undertaken by the government. At three percent, this area also has one of the fastest population growth rates in the country (CSA, 2008). The consequences of all this on natural resources degradation and management need further investigations. Review of Related Literature This section reviews existing literature on population and environment interactions and the effects of these interactions. In doing so various perspectives on how population dynamics affects the environment are reviewed. Views on Population Dynamics and the Environment The study of the size, growth and characteristics of human population has a long history. Yet, there is no consensus pertaining to its consequential effects on the environment and the ways to solve the resultant problems (Jolly, 1994; Stock, 1995). Population experts offer four different perspectives (models) regarding population dynamics, consequences and ways of overcoming its effects. These perspectives include the models of classical economists, neo-classical economists, dependency and intermediate variables (Jolly, 1994; Stock, 1995; Kalipeni, 1996). Classical economists argue that high population growth results in environmental degradation. Their theory is grounded on the work of economist Thomas Robert Malthus (1873) who argued that population grows faster than food supply. Furthermore, he suggests that humans have to take actions to reduce fertility. Consequently he suggested abstention from sexual intercourse and chastity. If population growth is left unchecked, he argued, natural checks such as famine, pestilence, and war will reduce population growth. Today, neo-Malthusian population experts like Paul Ehrlich and Garrett Hardin (cited in Sherbinin et al., 2007) and others believe that Malthus prophecy is currently happening in Africa where the pace at which population is growing is higher than the rate at which the economy is growing (Jolly, 1994; Stock, 1995; Muriithi, 1996; Panayotou, 2000; Drechsel et al., 2001; Perz et al., 2005). These experts suggest fertility reduction as the key to preventing environmental destructi on and to improve living standards (Jolly, 1994:72; Sherbinin et al., 2007). Neo-classical economists, on the other hand, stress that inefficient market and inappropriate pricing policy as the causes of environmental degradation (Jolly, 1994; Sherbinin et al., 2007). In other words, inept government policies are responsible for this problem. Jolly (1994:66) and Panayotou (2000) suggest a course of actions like reducing subsidies that encourage over exploitation of resources, make people to pay full costs of using common resources that make the market more efficient and effective as the best way to overcome this problem. The proponents of the dependency model, on the other hand, argue that uneven distribution and consumption of resources is more culpable than population size and growth. In this case equitable distribution and consumption of resources is the obvious solution to tackle the problem (Jolly, 1994; Stock, 1995; Kalipeni, 1996; Perz et al., 2005; Sherbinin et al., 2007). Proximate causes Proximate causes Other Factors Environmental Factors Soil quality, topography, etc Biophysical Drivers Fires, droughts, floods, etc Social Events Social disorder, sudden displacement, abrupt policy shifts, etc Wood extraction Fuel wood Charcoal Production Infrastructure Expansion Transport Market Settlements Public Service Private Company Agricultural Expansion Permanent Cultivation Shifting Cultivation Cattle Ranching Colonization Demographic factors Natural increase Migration Population density Population distribution Cultural Factors Public attitudes and beliefs Individual household behavior (unconcerned about resources, rent-seeking) Policy and Institutional Factors Formal Policies (economic development, credit) Policy climate (Mismanagement) Property rights Technological Factors Agro Technical Change ( Intensification) Agricultural production factor Economic Factors Market growth Commercialization Economic structure Urbanization Price increases, etc Proximate and Underlying Causes of deforestation (Source: Geist Lambin, 2002, figure 1, p. 3) Underlying Causes Figure 1.1: Conceptual framework of Proximate and Underlying Causes of land use and land cover changes (Source: Geist Lambin, 2002, figure 1, p. 3) Theorists known as the proximate determinists argue that high population growth alone does not cause environmental degradation. They contend that population increase should be linked to other factors to result in environmental degradation. In other words, high population increase aggravates resource loss in conjunction with other factors like level of technology, consumption, institutions, poverty and policies (Jolly, 1994; Turner, Meyer and Skole, 1994; Barrow, 1995; Lambin et al., 2001Carr et al., 2005; Perz et al., 2005; Harte, 2007; Pabi, 2007; Sherbinin et al., 2007). In sum, there is no simple co-relation between population dynamics and environmental degradation. It is, however, very important to consider critically the relationship between environment and population and the resultant impact from demographic and non-demographic variables as indicated in the conceptual framework below (Figure 1.1). Causes of Land Use and Land Cover Changes This section reviews existing literature on causes of land use and land cover changes. In doing so, various empirical findings on causes of land use and land cover changes worldwide including Ethiopia are reviewed. Land use and land cover changes are the results of the interplay of many factors. The simple assumption that land use and land cover changes have been caused by few factors do not hold true. Rather, many interrelated complex factors best explain the processes of land use and land cover changes (Lambin et al., 2001; Lambin et al., 2003; Liverman et al., 2008). The same authors further contend that Identifying the causes of land-use change requires an understanding of how people make land-use decisions and how various factors interact in specific contexts to influence decision making on land use (Lambin et al., 2003:216). Decision making processes in turn are affected by different factors prevailing at local, regional and global level. Different researchers have put the reasons for land use and land cover changes in two broad categories as proximate (direct) and underlying (indirect or root causes) (Geist Lambin, 2002; Liverman et al., 2008). Lambin et al., (2003) further contend that proximate factors occur at local or household/farm level whereas underlying factors emanate from regional, country or even global level. As a consequence, proximate variables are context and region specific while the root causes on the other hand will be the result of complex political, economic and social conditions occurring at a distance. Farm level analysis allows to address proximate causes and to interpret them in reference to underlying causes (Mottet et al., 2006). Long, et al., (2007) identify industrialization, urbanization, population growth, and Chinas economic reforms as major factors of land use changes in Kunshan. Another study in Zimbabwe also recognized that pressure for agricultural land, building materials and fuel wood triggered land use and land cover changes (Mapedza et al., 2003). The study by Brink and Eva (2009) also reveals that there is a significant degree of land use /cover change in Sub-Saharan Africa. These changes have resulted due to manmade and natural drivers related to high rate of population increase, economic development and globalization on one hand and natural hazards such as floods, landslides, drought and climate change on the other end of the spectrum (Brink and Eva, 2009). The study conducted in Afar, Ethiopia, identified more than fifteen factors that cause land use and land cover changes (Tsegaye et al., 2010). The driving forces documented in the study include migration from nearby highlands triggered by drought, land tenure and government policy changes only to mention some (Tsegaye et al., 2010). Another study in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia reveals that population growth, decline in agricultural productivity, land tenure change and erratic rainfall have the major drivers of land use and land cover in the area (Garedew et al., 2009). The land use and land cover dynamics study in the northwestern Ethiopia suggests that population dynamics, exiting land tenure, institutional and socioeconomic conditions should be critically examined to put in place any land related policy (Zeleke Hurni, 2001). In sum, the factors that affect land use and land cover changes are complex and at time interrelated. Thus, the study of land use and land cover changes demands a careful investigation into these complex and interrelated factors at local, national and global level as indicated in the conceptual framework above (Figure 1.1). Statement of the Problem The impact of population dynamics, especially the absolute increase in human numbers each year due to natural increase and/or mobility, plays a crucial role in resource degradation. As population continues to expand in number, it exerts increased pressure on eco-system and natural resource stocks. One of the reasons for the shrinking size of land holdings as well as the degradation of forest, soil, and water resources in many areas of the developing world is the direct result of rapid population growth (Arnon, 1987; UNFPA, 1991; Drechsel et al., 2001; Etter et al., 2006; Pabi, 2007, Boone et al., 2007, Nguyen, 2008). Resources have to be created to meet the changing and rising demands of the people. The larger the number of people, the greater the density and the more will be the pressure on resources (Onwuka, 2006). Various studies indicate that there is a marked resource loss because of population pressure in Sub-Saharan Africa (Drechsel et al., 2001), Eastern Madagascar (Kull, 199 8), China (Long et al., 2006) and Dominican Republic (Sambrook et al., 1999). Turner et al. (1994) also contend that land cover change stemming from human land uses represents a major source and a major element of global environmental change. The same authors underscore that human actions are altering the terrestrial environment at unprecedented rates, magnitudes, and spatial scales (1994). In Ethiopia, too, fast population growth and uneven spatial distribution of population have been affecting resource use, leading to its gradual deterioration. Rapid population growth (currently exceeding 2.6 % per annum) is resulting in increased demands for additional arable land which is surely not adequately available (Mamo, 1990; CSA, 2008, Teferra, 2009). As Mamo and Teferra (1990, 2009) argue population growth leads further to unnecessary natural resource exploitation such as forest clearing both for farming and settlement purposes, short fallow periods, and land fragmentation which has a direct adverse effect on agricultural output. Most of the population of Ethiopia is settled on the highlands, with the northern and central highlands being the oldest settled regions of the country. These regions are the most exploited and environmentally degraded areas in the entire country. Due to the shortage of arable land, land is continuously utilized year after year, thus giving diminishing yields (Kebede and Jacob, 1988; Assefa and Zegeye, 2003). This condition, coupled with the occurrence of recurrent drought and famine, has forced people from the northern and central highlands to move to the southern, southwestern and northwestern parts of the country for resettlement in both planned and spontaneous ways. These resettlements have resulted in population increase and consequent environmental and of natural resources depletion or degradation (Assefa and Zegeye, 2003; Paterson, 2007). Resulting from the north-south move, a noticeable population change has gradually prevailed in the Metekel region, leading to increased pressure on existing resources. According to Yntiso (2003), resettlement has caused rapid changes in both the distribution and types of land cover and land-use in Metekel zone. Due to increased population resulting from the resettlement program, vegetation cover has been cleared and replaced by crop lands, the length of fallow period has been reduced and, more importantly, land degradation, deforestation and cultivation of marginal lands have become the order of the day (Dejene, 1990; Mamo, 1994; Yntiso, 2003). Furthermore, the livelihoods of the indigenous people (hunting, gathering, shifting cultivation and fishing) have substantially decreased due to significant land use and land cover changes (Abute, 2002; Yntiso, 2003). Recent studies have also revealed that due to improvements in socio-economic conditions (for example, new construction of an all-weather road and government-led development programs), population size has increased in the northwest lowlands of Metekel. Land-use patterns have shown changes in this area as well. Migration from highland to lowland areas, voluntary as well as involuntary, has caused changes in the socioeconomic relations between migrants and the indigenous people by increasing conflict between them (Pender, 2001; Taddese, 2001; Yntiso, 2003; Patterson, 2007). Over the past several years, a number of studies related to resource degradation have been carried out in many places of the Ethiopian highlands. However, similar studies related to population dynamics and land use and land cover changes in lowland areas are either scanty or non-existent. The above discussions testify that there is a significant land use and land cover changes in the study area since the 1980s. An assessment of the processes and factors leading to population dynamics and the resultant land use and land cover change becomes indispensable and timely to promote sustainable economic, social and ecological development in the study area in particular and the country in general. Such a study would also serve as a basis to influence development interventions and policy discussions related to population changes and natural resources degradation and management. Objectives of the Study The main objective of this thesis research is to investigate the impact that demographic and non-demographic variables have on land use and land cover and their effects on population and natural resources in Mandura district, northwest lowland of Ethiopia. The study also intends to suggest plausible policy option(s) to address the consequential problems in the study area. The study would include the following specific objectives: To analyze the extent and patterns of population dynamics since the 1950s; To investigate land use and land cover changes since the 1950s in the study area; To examine the perception of people on trends and drivers of land use /cover changes and population dynamics in the study area; To investigate the effects of policy changes on land use and land cover changes and population Dynamics; To analyze livelihood changes since the 1950s in the study area. Research Questions Based on the stated objectives above, the principal research questions of this study, therefore, are: how have demographic and non-demographic factors heighten land use and land cover changes in Mandura district since the 1950s? What are the effects of such changes on the population and the natural resources of the study area? Other sub-research questions will include: What demographic changes had been taken place since the 1950s? What are the extents of land use and land cover changes since the 1950s? What are the major drivers of land use and land cover changes? How do major actors at different levels perceive the changes in land use land cover and population? How have government policies (during the three regimes) intensified land use and land cover changes population dynamics? How have land use and land cover and population dynamics contributed to livelihood changes since the 1950s? Development Relevance for Ethiopia/Africa In the recent past, planned and spontaneous population relocation has taken place in the Ethiopian lowlands where population size and densities are relatively low, including the study area of this research. Such relocations have undoubtedly brought about complex changes in the local economic, socio-cultural and ecological conditions. These complex changes in the study area have motivated me to undertake this research. The study will contribute to the development efforts in Ethiopia in particular and in Africa in general on the ground that: Many African countries are experiencing rapid and accelerating population growth which has induced adverse effects on the environment. This study will thoroughly assess the degree and extent of population-induced adverse environmental changes and will attempts to provide possible solutions to address the problem. Future development endeavourers in Ethiopia are shifting from the highlands to the lowlands where there exists low population pressure and ample agricultural land. This study will generate relevant information that will contributes to the development plans of the country. The lowland areas of Ethiopia are the least studied parts as compared to highlands. The knowledge gained from this study could serve as a guide for future research/development activities. Methodology Description of the Study Area The study will be conducted in Mandura district, Metekel zone of Benshangul-Gumuz Regional state. Mandura is situated between 100.50.743 N and 110.10.766 N and 360.02.48E and 360.32.42E longitude, about 546 kilometers away from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. The total area of the district is about 1,045 square kilometer. Physiologically it is part of the northwestern lowlands where many development endeavors are currently taking place. The study will be undertaken in the district where the land use and land cover change is significantly high (Figure 1. 2). According to the third Ethiopian national census, Metekel Zone has a total population of 235, 638 of which Mandura district constituted 15.52 % (36,568 people) (CSA, 2008). Climatically the study area is characterized by the following features. It receives rainfall from March to September. The mean annual maximum and minimum temperatures are 320C and 160C respectively (Kebede, 2006). With regard to some bio-physical information, the study area has different types of woodlands and the soil is broadly classified as vertisols (black clay soils), Nitisols (red or reddish brown laterite soils) and intermediate soils of a blackish brown (Kebede, 2006). Data Collection and Analysis The triangulation mixed method specifically the concurrent triangulation approach is selected as research design. The concurrent mixed approach is a kind of research design where quantitative and qualitative data are gathered at the same time (Creswell, 2003; Gay et al., 2009). Creswell (2003)) and Gay et al., (2009) further contend that this method is used by the researcher in an attempt to substantiate, cross-validate, or confirm findings within a single study. The rationale behind selecting this approach is the research under consideration (population-environment interaction and identifying factors driving land use and land cover changes) is complex and needs to be examined from various angles. In addition, it demands the employment of diverse data collection instruments to capture as many factors as possible that explain land use and land cover changes in the study area. Furthermore, this strategy enables the researcher to collect data in a short time period (Creswell, 2003; Gay et al., 2009). To this end, both quantitative and qualitative data will be collected simultaneously using questionnaire survey, focus group discussion, intensive personal interviews, and field observations. Details are given below Data for this study will be obtained through questionnaire survey, interpreting remotely sensed images, and aerial photograph interpretation to generate information on land use and land cover changes over time in the study area. Other researchers have used similar techniques (Tegene, 2002; Makhanya, 2004; Appiah et al., 2007 Rain et al., 2007; Sherbinin et al., 2007; Ningal et al., 2008; Salehi et al., 2008, Garedew et al., 2009). Also data pertaining to population dynamics, livelihood changes over time, causes and consequences of land use and land cover changes will be obtained using questionnaire survey, intensive interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Inherently, a study of resource- population interactions and land use and land cover changes need the employment of diverse methods so as to find out the many factors that involve in land use and land cover changes (Ewel, 2001; Tegene, 2002; Bewket, 2003; McCusker, 2004; Campbell et al., 2005:; Long et al., 2006 ). Published and unpublished documents produced by governmental and non-governmental organizations will provide secondary data at different jurisdictional levels. For instance, the Central Statistical Agency (CSA), various regional state documents and FAO/UNDP provide information on land resources and land-use patterns. The SPSS software will be used for statistical analysis. Below are details of data collection and methods of analysis for each objective of the research. Objective 1: Analysis of population dynamics over time Data related to population dynamics are obtained from publications generated by the Central Statistical Agency (CSA). These publications provide information on population size, growth, density, migration and urbanization over time at zonal and district levels. The national census results of the 1984, 1996 and 2007 are relevant in this regard. In depth interviews and focus group discussions will supplement this information. Three study sites will be selected for this investigation. The sites selection is based on the degree of human interference assessed in terms of high degree of land use and land cover changes in comparison with other sites in the region. A Stratified random sampling technique will be used to select households for the survey. The selection involves two steps: First, households will be categorized into two strata: indigenous households and migrant or settler households. Second, household heads to be interviewed will be randomly selected from each stratum. A total of 210 households (70 from each study sites; 35 for each stratum) will be randomly selected and surveyed using structured and pre-tested questionnaire. A sample size of 35 is believed to be adequate for analysis because with a sample size of 30 or more observations, it is possible to have estimates of accuracy from the mean (Clark and Hosking, 1986; Cohen, Manion and Morrison, 2000). Simple frequency and contingency tables will be used to analyze the data. A group containing 8-10 elderly people with deep knowledge of the study sites will be selected for an in-depth interview and focus group discussions. Qualitative data will be analyzed following procedures given below. First the data collected will be described and classified. Then the data will be connected with each other depending upon their similarities and differences. Classification is concerned with identifying coherent classes and connection on the other hand involves the identification and understanding of the relat ionships and association between different classes (Kitchin Tate, 2000:235). Objective 2: Land use and land cover changes Land use and land cover changes will be assessed by analyzing aerial photographs of different time periods (1950s and 1980s) using ArcGIS. Field visits will be carried out to reinforce the accuracy of the interpretation. Remotely sensed images will also be used to assess the current land use and land cover changes. Questionnaire surveys, in depth interview and focus group discussions will be arranged to generate additional information and to strengthen data generated from aerial photographs and remotely sensed images. To properly understand land use and land cover dynamics, identification of independent (explanatory) and dependent variable is crucial. Accordingly, the independent (explanatory) variables will be population dynamics expressed as change in population size, growth rates, density, migration and settlement expansion. Additionally, government policies, existence of an all-weather road famine and drought will also be used as non-demographic explanatory variables. On the other hand, changes in proportion of cultivated land, changes in forest cover (bamboo and thickets), grasslands, and expansions of arable land will be dependent variables used to analyze land use and land cover dynamics. The data will be analyzed using simple frequency tables, cross tabulation and correlation coefficient to see whether or not there exists a relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Multivariate regression analysis is chosen (a) to determine the existence of significant relationships bet ween demographic and non demographic factors and land use and land cover changes and (b) to assess the possibility of obtaining predictions from the equation. In addition, the identified variables mean are compared using the cross tabulation method. Correlation coefficients will be employed to figure out the existence of a relationship between demographic and non-demographic variables and land use and land cover changes. Multivariate analysis by way of discriminate analysis will be employed to ascertain the key factors determining land use and land cover changes in the study area. Focus group discussion, mapping, Semi-structured interview and other participatory methods will be employed to ascertain information gained from aerial photograph interpretation. These methods can give deep understanding about the timing and causes of land use and land cover changes than aerial photo analysis alone (Mapedza et al., 2003). Objective 3: Investigating perception of people on trends and drivers of land use /cover changes and population dynamics; This objective attempts to figure out peoples perception of the possible causes of land use and land cover changes. This can be attained by generating information through questionnaire surveys, in depth interviews and focus group discussions with, indigenous people, migrants, local experts and policy makers at different jurisdictional levels. The data will be analyzed using simple frequency tables, cross tabulation and correlation coefficient to find out if differences exist between the views of different actors on land use and land cover changes and population dynamics. Qualitative data will be analyzed following procedures given below. First the data collected will be described and classified. Then the data will be connected with each other depending upon their similarities and differences. Classification is concerned with identifying coherent classes and connection on the other hand involves the identification and understanding of the relationships and association between differen t classes (Kitchin Tate, 2000:235). Objective 4: Investigating effects of policy changes on land use and land cover and population dynamics One of the issues this study will try to investigate is effects of go
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Chapter Essay
What do you think are the prime advantages and disadvantages of National City Corporation’s virtual tryouts? The advantages of using virtual tryouts are competitive edge against other companies. Allows them to pick candidates better suited for their work environment, allows candidates the knowledge that they are applying for a company that is at the cutting edge of technology and they want to move forward with the times. Unfortunately there are also disadvantages associated with virtual tryouts. Employers may grab the interest of candidates, however if real day to day activities at work do not contain some of the aspects that the virtual test had, then employees will get uninterested and quit. 2. Do you think there would be any EEO concerns regarding this system? I don’t think there would be any EEO issues with this system, otherwise it would not be offered in the market. However I do believe that this new system â€Å"Virtual Tryouts†is not necessarily right for all hiring aspects for every type of position/ company. There are aspects of a perfect employee to company match that a computer test cannot guarantee. Example, you can have a candidate that gets great results in the virtual tryouts given the situation that they are told to address, yet in the real day to day situation of the position they do not do very well, and vice-versa. 3. Would you suggest the company tailor its system for different types of candidates? Yes, I recommend that the company tailor its system for the different types of positions and the different types of candidates required to fill those positions. Chapter 8 Case Study Appraising Employees at the San Diego Zoo. 1. Do you think the San Diego Zoo’s old appraisal system needed to be changed? I think it needed to be changed because before they weren’t taking it seriously and it was a low priority to them. Now with the new system the employees will get raises depending on their performance which in turn will ncrease company performance. 2. What do you think are the pros and cons of using a Web-based appraisal system? The pros of using a web-based appraisal system is that it is convenient because a large group of people can be rated in less time and it will control personal bias. The cons of using a web-based appraisal system is that it gives too little attention to the overall performance of workers and in person interviews are more effective in rewarding or po inting out deficiencies in workers. 3. How do you think the new appraisal system will affect employees and the types of employees who work at the zoo? The new appraisal system will affect employees positively for those employees that are looking to grow with the company and be a part of the growth. When an employee is given targets and goals to reach, then they know what they are working towards and they are aware that if they reach the targets and goals there is a gain for them at the end. With this set, you will get employees that are willing to do the work and the time to get a job done right.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Business Economics Essay
Table of Contents 1.INTRODUCTION 2.MAIN BODY 2.1THE NATURE OF RESOURCE COST STRUCTURE AND THE PRACTICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF DIFFERENT COSTS 2.2 THE FACTORS INFLUENCING OPTIMUM SIZE AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DEMAND AND SUPPLY RELATIONSHIPS 2.3UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELEVANCE AND LIMITATIONS OF ECONOMIC THEORY TO MANAGE DECISIONS 3.CONCLUSION 1.INTRODUCTION: From the economic perspective, there are a full range of wants from individuals, firms and government but there is only a few number of resources or factors of production such as land, labour, capital and enterprise. The raw material will come from land, taking the example of oil, gas. The labour relates to the individuals able to work. The capital covers machinery, computers, offices or shops for retail people. Enterprise will bring all of these factors together and allow them to produce goods and services in order to make a profit. This individual report will be identifying the nature of resource cost structure and the practical significance of different cost. It will also explain the factors influencing optimum size and the significance of demand and supply relationships. It will finally demonstrate an understanding of the relevance and limitations of economic theory to management decisions. 2.MAIN BODY: 2.1 ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE IN ORDER TO RUN THE COMPANY EFFICIENTLY: Considering an example of project of creation of a manufacturing company based in the UK, the resources needed for the realisation of the project will be established before the start of the project. Knowing that any resource has a cost associate with it, identifying the resources needed, will lead to work towards establishing all costs for the whole project. Resource can be physical or virtual, but the report will be interested in the physical resources as skills are manifested in people, who are physical entities. Three types of resources have to be considered: People, materials and equipment. People can be skilled, semi-skilled and non-skilled. Materials, tangible items such as steel, concrete, lights, wood, cables, paint required by the project. Equipment, everything used to bring all the materials together, for example, cranes, welding sets, computing time, mobile offices. It is also important to know how much m oney committed to spend at any point in time. 2.1.1The microeconomics perspectives: This focuses on the market behaviour of individual consumers and firms to help understand the decision making process of firms and households. This is at a level of individual buyer and individual seller, meaning demand and supply. How much to produce and how much to charge for it. The law of the demand is that the demand decreases when the price increases and the demand increases when the price decreases. Also more demand of a product results in an increase of the price the price of that product. (See graph below). 2.1.2The macroeconomics perspectives, focuses on the big picture of the national economy as a whole and provides a basic understanding of how things work in the business environment. The macrocosmic policy goals will be achieved by the monetary policy and the fiscal policy. The monetary policy is the management of the nation money supply, the decision of the interest rate and the banking system to promote economic growth, lower unemployment and inflation. 2.2The factors influencing optimum size and the significance of demand and supply relationship: The demand and the supply are two main concepts of the economy. Demand is what quantity of product or service the buyers need at a certain time at a precise price. The supply is the quantity the market can offer at that same time and price. The relationship between the quantity demanded and the price is the demand relationship and the relation between the supply and the price is the supply relationship. The price is a reflection of supply and demand. The law of demand: When the price of a product goes up, the quantity demanded of that product goes down. On the other hand, when the price of a product goes down, the quantity demanded of that product goes up. The graph above shows that relationship between the demand and the price: p1 higher, Q1 smaller than Q2 and Q3. The law of supply: Unlike the law of the demand, the law of supply shows that at a higher price the supply increases. The producers supply more at a higher price to increase their revenue. The relationship between supply and price is shown in the graph above: at P3, price greater than P2 and P1, the corresponded quantity Q3 is greater than Q2 and Q1. 2.2ECONOMICS THEORY TO IMPROVE THE RUNNING OF THE COMPANY: 2.3THE COUNTRY OF EXPANSION OF THE COMPANY: 2.3.1Macroeconomic conditions of the country 2.3.2Current economic policy (fiscal and monetary) Report writing: 1. describe different aspects of business in order to run a company efficiently. Microeconomics and Macroeconomics perspectives 2.Explain using economics theory using real world examples 3. Company to be expanding internationally by opening a new manufacturing facility in a non-EU country a) Macroeconomic conditions of the country b) Current economic policy (fiscal and monetary)
Friday, November 8, 2019
Unemployment_Statis Example
Unemployment_Statis Example Unemployment_Statis – Assignment Example number Publish Interpreting Unemployment Statistics Unemployment may be ified using a number of different classifications including structural unemployment and cyclical unemployment. Structural unemployment comes about as the skills of the available labor do not match the skills required for the available jobs. Essentially in such a case labor is available but it is unable to fulfill the requirements of the available job positions. In contrast, cyclical unemployment results from the Keynesian stand point that economies tend to vary between high and low points. In such situations, when the economic equilibrium is disturbed such that the demand for labor is lower than the available labor, a cyclical unemployment situation is created. There is the possibility that structural unemployment may come about as a result of prolonged cyclical unemployment (OSullivan and Sheffrin). Following the recent global economic crisis, various economists in the United States are blaming structural and cyclical unemployment for current economic woes. Calabrese suggests that unemployment is still out of control in the United States even though the gross domestic product (GDP) is picking up. Unemployment is proposed as being structural in nature though the data presented by Calabrese is not consistent with this proposition. Figure 1 - Unemployment and Labor Trends sourced from (Calabrese) In order to classify the labor and unemployment situation as being structural in nature, it is essential that available labor and demand for labor are segregated into occupational specialties before comparison. Structural comparisons require that demand and supply of labor be looked into detail to see the actual gap between demand and supply. In contrast, the graph above presented by Calabrese to support his proposition does not provide such classifications. Instead, Calabrese’s work merely provides the demand and supply gap for general labor in the United States which fails to prove anything. Cyclical unemployment can turn into structural unemployment over a sizable amount of time such as during the seventies and eighties under Margaret Thatcher’s government in Great Britain (OSullivan and Sheffrin). If Calabrese’s assumption was tested in this regard, it would become clear that there are large gaps in labor supply and demand. Gaps in labor demand and supply are amplified in the post 2002 period to reach a localized peak in late 2003. The gap tends to shrink up to 2007. This gap emerges sharply in the post 2008 period and persists well into 2010 where some slowdown occurs. The total data presented by Calabrese is for around a decade with localized peaks and troughs which fail to meet the criteria for cyclical unemployment to transform into structural unemployment. In the case presented above, if cyclical unemployment were to transform into structural unemployment, it would require the labor demand and supply gap to widen consistently over the entire period o f time being presented. The presence of little data (between 2008 and 2010) signifies that cyclical unemployment is in its infancy as yet and cannot be classified for transformation into structural unemployment as yet. Overall, the data presented by Calabrese to support his argument is irrelevant to the overall argument being made. References Calabrese, Anthony. Data Show Wide Gap Between Numbers of Jobs and the Jobless. 12 August 2010. 26 October 2012 . OSullivan, Arthur and Steven M. Sheffrin. Economics: Principles in Action. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2003.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
At the opening of act V of the tempest Essay Example
At the opening of act V of the tempest Essay Example At the opening of act V of the tempest Paper At the opening of act V of the tempest Paper e. g. the use of antithesis tells us about the once evil Prospero (`fury` and `vengeance`),and tells us about the now kind and forgiving Prospero (`reason` and `virtue`). This essay has now analysed and explained some of the numerous ways in which Shakespeare assists the audience into believing in Prospero’s abrupt change of heart.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
The security technology of e-commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
The security technology of e-commerce - Essay Example Most reputable financial institutions and e-commerce service providers take all measures to protect the data and transactions online and simultaneously they provide the details to the customers, how to protect their transaction. Although the risks are generally avoided while dealing with internet transactions, even then the threats are enormous. The various threats include cyber terrorism, credit card number may be intercepted, cyber attacks during the war on terrorism, viruses and worms, hacking and malware techniques, one of the service providers may deny that the deals ever took place, hackers may exploit data from web page due to some improper security measures, hackers may gain access to the system. Sometimes customers may also become a victim of identity theft. According to a survey conducted by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), identity theft is affecting millions of household in the US and costing an estimated $ 6.4 billion per year. To avoid all these consumers must take s ome proactive steps and practices to access the computer before carrying out any financial transaction. Some of the most common practices include the use of updated versions of software and operating systems, ensure proper network security, avoid opening unknown emails and attachments, use of passwords, use of updated antivirus software and use of encryption.In the present paper, the author attempts to deal with the type of risks available to the internet user, the present security system available to the consumers and future security trends. trends. The finding of available security system has been summarized. 3.0 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS STATEMENT: While going before the literature as cited in bibliography, author made an attempt to a hypothetical statement as , " Are the current security systems able to provide security to the e-commerce users" 4.0 EXPLANATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY: 4.1 BACKGROUND: In the early 1990's digital break-ins, kidnapping were the terms used by many popular journals to hackers. The early targets were educational institutes and
Friday, November 1, 2019
Free Healthcare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Free Healthcare - Essay Example (explanation) 2. The goal of free healthcare perfectly harmonizes with the ideals enshrined in the American constitution and the ethical moorings of the American society. Absence of free healthcare is un-American and un-democratic and interferes with the objective of social justice. (explanation) B. Absence of free healthcare exposes the lower strata of the American society to excessive stress and anxiety, thereby deteriorating its quality of life. 1. Citizens hailing from the weaker sections of the American society often have to face unwarranted stress and apprehension because of being unable to afford proper healthcare for themselves and their family members. (explanation) 2. Even if the poor Americans somehow manage to afford medical remedies for their health problems, it puts excessive burden on their financial resources and curtails their ability to allocate money for other basic necessitates like housing, nutrition, education and sanitation. (explanation) C. Absence of free healthcare is making America more vulnerable to pestilence and epidemics. 1. Many people being unable to afford medical care for their health problems simply carry on with their lives, without coming under the scrutiny of any health professional or agency. Presence of such unattended patients with potential infectious and contagious diseases jeopardizes the safety and well-being of the entire society. (explanation) 2. For example, the recent proliferation of Swine Flu in North America made it mandatory to quarantine and isolate... 2. The goal of free healthcare perfectly harmonizes with the ideals enshrined in the American constitution and the ethical moorings of the American society. Absence of free healthcare is un-American and un-democratic and interferes with the objective of social justice. (explanation) 1. Citizens hailing from the weaker sections of the American society often have to face unwarranted stress and apprehension because of being unable to afford proper healthcare for themselves and their family members. (explanation) 2. Even if the poor Americans somehow manage to afford medical remedies for their health problems, it puts excessive burden on their financial resources and curtails their ability to allocate money for other basic necessitates like housing, nutrition, education and sanitation. (explanation) 1. Many people being unable to afford medical care for their health problems simply carry on with their lives, without coming under the scrutiny of any health professional or agency. Presence of such unattended patients with potential infectious and contagious diseases jeopardizes the safety and well-being of the entire society. (explanation) 2. For example, the recent proliferation of Swine Flu in North America made it mandatory to quarantine and isolate the infected individuals.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Reveiwing the titanic movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Reveiwing the titanic - Movie Review Example Simon Adams writes, â€Å"The Titanic’s builders, Harland and Wolff, claimed that the ship’s system of watertight bulkheads made the vessel virtually unsinkable.†(8) But the power of the ocean was awesome, once the ship was caught in its watery trap. The shooting of the movie is the saga of the technical expertise of the highest order. Once the ship sank, it began to move towards its resting place in the ocean bed. Most of the underwater shots of the wreckage of the ship were real. â€Å"James Cameron hired in 1995 the Russian vessel Akademik Mstislav Keldysh and its two submersibles. The technical team worked at a depth of 12,500 feet below the North Atlantic. The special cameras and housings withstood the 6,000 pounds per square inch of water pressure. He made twelve dives of fifteen hours each and the cameras succeeded in storing 500 feet of film only. Twelve minutes of footage was shot per dive. (www.imdb.)So, one can see introduction of many fake underwater shots in the movie. The sinking process of Titanic has gathered momentum. The ship is moving towards its final destination in a rapid pace and grandeur in consistent with its gigantic size. Jack and Rose rush to the stern of the ship, along with many others, as it rises higher and higher. A priest is remembering God with the Rosary prayer. The passengers in freight, mob him. Jack and Rose reach out to the stern and are clustered together and lean on the railings. Rose looks to Jack and says to him, "Jack, this is where we first met!†(www.imdb)Cameron credits Kate Winslet with writing the heart-wrenching line during the final sinking. Jack kisses her forehead and presses her to him even more firmly. The ship now seems in a hurry to reach its final destination. It hangs in the air with a 30-degree angle between it and the water. People lose balance, slip and begin to fall/slide and crash into water. Many fall from the stern,
Monday, October 28, 2019
Research Paper Taxation Essay Example for Free
Research Paper Taxation Essay Wage is the fixed amount of compensation for service rendered covering a fixed period of time, usually hours, or fixed amount of work. It is usually a compensation given to skilled and unskilled labor. Commission is usually a wage given to skilled and unskilled labor. Commission is usually a wage given to a salesperson based on the amount of his sales. This amount is usually added to basic salary. Bonus is given to simulate employees to work more efficiently and effectively (Valencia Roxas, 2009) To make sure that employees comply with BIR regulation and local government laws, companies must include crucial employee and company information in their payroll systems. Setting up and running the different components that comprise a payroll system requires due diligence and adequate knowledge of tax legislation. Employee’s benefits In Philippine Accounting Standards (PAS) 19, paragraph 7 states that employees benefits are all forms of consideration given by an entity in exchange of services rendered by employees. These benefits may be paid directly to the employee’s or to their dependents, such as their children or spouses. These can be settled by payment in cash in form goods and services. Paragraph 4 of PSAS 19 enumerates the following four classes: (a) short term employee benefits; (b) post-employment benefits; (c) other term employee benefits; and, (d) termination. Employee information During the new hire process, companies must collect information such as medical insurance and W-2 forms to determine what should be deducted from an employee’s paycheck. These forms also provide employers which crucial information, such as the employee’s Social Security number and their withholding amount for government tax purposes. The systems must also track and process changes made to the employee’s tax exemption status, pensions, insurance plans or retirement funds. Salary information As part of the new hire process, payroll systems include a component that designates which employees are full time, part time and contractors. Classifying worker in a payroll system is important since the government levies high penalties on companies that categorize employees incorrectly. Applicable taxes and deductions The National internal Revenue Code (R. A 8424) requires the employer to withhold portion of the salaries earned by employees that will at least approximate an income tax due of the earner relative to the income earned. The monthly or semi-monthly withholding s taxable could be obtained from the BIR to serve as guide as to what amount to be withheld from the salary of the employee (http://www. ehow. com/list_6725482_components-payroll-system. html, 17 July 2010). In preparing a payroll, certain government mandated contributions needed to be deducted from the gross play of each employee. These include withholding taxes, PAG-IBIG, SSS (Social Security System) and PhilHealth contributions. Withholding taxes is remitted to BIR while PAG-IBIG is remitted to Home Development and Mutual Fund (HDMF) (Cabrera, Ledesma Lupisan, 2009). Other payroll withholdings include employee contributions to benefits, retirement accounts, and charities, these are determined by the employee during the fringe benefits selection process offered by their employer and must be taken into account as well as any employer matches when reporting payroll . Methods of Payroll Computation A payroll system involves everything that has to do with the payment of employees and the filing of employment taxes. This includes keeping track of hours, calculating wages, withholding taxes and other deductions, thus appropriate methods must be applied in the computation to achieve a desirable output. More and more aspects of payroll are being handled electronically. Methods include direct paycheck deposit, debit cards, payroll and non-payroll, use Web-based information system to allow employees access, with a secure password, to their individual payroll records including pay stubs, an earnings record and in some cases, employer information, such as the company manual or health insurance plan overview (Banning, 2008) Giove (1993) stated the seven methods for computing payroll: Hourly Rate Plan Employees paid on an hourly rate plan receive a fixed amount for each hour they work. An employee’s regular earnings are equal to the employee’s hourly rate multiplied by the number of hours worked during the payroll period. Salary Plan Salaried employees receive a fixed amount for each payroll period, whether weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or monthly. If an employee on the salary plan works less than the regular hours during a payroll period, the employer may deduct for the time lost, although in most cases the employer does not make such a deduction. Regular earnings would be determined by multiplying that hourly rate by the actual number of hours the employee worked during the payroll period. Overtime Pay All employees in all establishments and undertakings whether for profit or not are entitled to overtime pay for work rendered beyond eight (8) hours. But this does not apply to managerial employees, field personnel, and members of the family of the employer who are dependent on him for support, domestic helpers, person in the personal service of another, and workers who are paid by results. Employees in the government are also entitled to overtime pay but they are governed by Civil Service laws and rules. Only employees in the private sector are covered by the Labor Code. Guaranteed Wage It is a written agreement to pay an employee a guaranteed minimum amount regardless of the hours worked, with an extra half-hour premium for hours over 40. Piece – Rate Plan It is a compensation plan whereby employee earnings depend on the units produced. Commission Plan Sales commission plans vary greatly from company to company but are generally based on the sales made during payroll period. Combination Plan This is a compensation method whereby employees receive a fixed amount of salary for each payroll period plus an extra amount for production (piece-work) or sales (commission). Timekeeping Records Accurate timekeeping is an essential part of an efficient payroll system. Every business must have an orderly method of recording the hours employees worked during the payroll period. The time records show the date and the time the workweek starts, the number of hours worked each day, and the total hours worked during the week. Time records are filed after the payroll is prepared and, in accordance with the requirements of the law, retained up to three years. The most common methods of timekeeping use a time clock with timecards or a time sheet. There are two primary reasons to maintain accurate payroll records. First, is the collection of the data necessary to compute the compensation for each employee for each payroll period. Second, provision of information needed to complete the various government report-federal and state- required of all employees. All business enterprise both large and small are required by law to withhold certain amounts from employees’ pay for taxes, to make payment to government agencies by specific deadlines, and submit reports on official forms. (McQuaig Bille, 2008). Other Aspects of Payroll Accounting System Payroll Register The payroll register summarizes employee earnings and deduction information in a journal entry that is inserted into the general ledger for accounting and general research purposes. Payroll registers are also used to create tax report. These documents are prepared by payroll staff or generated using payroll computer system. Payroll Services The meteoric success of payroll services is not accidental, but rather a reflection of the business community’s willingness to outsource the tedious and complex task of payroll accounting to outside specialists. The upside of outsourcing payroll is that payroll services ensure that the company complies with laws pertaining to payroll. That is a big deal considering the time investment it would take the payroll officer to stay current on payroll-related legislation. Another big plus is that payroll services are responsible for keeping track of each employee’s accumulated earning, tax withholding, and other information needed to issue W-2 forms at the end of the year. They also stay on top of things like direct deposits, salary adjustment, quarterly tax payments and all of the other details that can be distraction from the important job of leading the company (http://Gaebler. com/payroll-services, 8 Aug, 2010). In-house Payroll If contracting a payroll service does not sound like a good fit for a business, the management also has the option of doing it in-house. But if the management plans on saving money by personally administering the payroll, having more alternatives will be a better idea. Even if the company only has a few employees, dealing with payroll-related details can be a waste of time. Instead, designating the job to an employee who can give it the time it requires so precious time can be dedicated to other things (http://Gaebler. com/in-house-payroll, 8 Aug, 2010). Whoever ends up doing payroll in the company will be happy to know that there is a lot of software out there to help them. In fact, most accounting software solutions have payroll modules. Start by assessing the capability of their current accounting software program. If it does not have a built-in payroll function, chances are it is available from the manufacturer as an add-on. If it is not, then the company needed to decide whether to change accounting to one that does or attempt to find a payroll program that is compatible with the current system. Either way, it is worth the time to find a computerized system that meets the company’s needs rather than trying to do it the old-fashioned way. Internal Control A district’s accounting and payroll functions are critical for the maintenance of a solid financial foundation. Accurate and timely financial reports are crucial to administration and board decision-making. Payroll must be accurate, as it represents the district’s largest budgeted expenditure. Internal controls must safeguard the district’s assets from misappropriation. Payroll processing is an error prone activity. If organizations have just one or two employees it may seem relatively easy to compute salaries outstanding, taxes etc, but as small business starts adding employees they find spending more and more time in computation of salaries including variable pay. Errors are common in the full and final settlement and increases when employees join in the middle of a term as the processes are manual (http://ezinearticles. om/? expert=Mikael Anderson, 4 Aug, 2010). Waterhouse (2010) said in one of his studies that the objective of internal controls for payroll is to ensure that payroll disbursements are properly recorded and that related legal requirements (such as payroll tax deposits) are complied with. Segregation of duties is an effective internal control. The bank reconciliation clerk reconciles the bank accounts and is not involved in processing or approving items for payment. A payroll administrator, supervisor, specialist and six clerks perform the payroll function. The Human Resources Department (HRD) enters employee data into a database share by Personnel and Payroll and sets the rate of pay. The software system controls the ability of individuals to change information based on their access to the system. This prevents unauthorized individuals from changing this information (http://window. state. tx. us, 6 Aug, 2010). Gelinas, Sutton and Hunton (2005) included in their study some of the procedures that can be used to prevent or detect schemes. First is the direct deposit of payroll to eliminate alteration, forgery and theft of paper check. Second, is checking for duplicate names, addresses, and Social Security number in the employee data, finally is comparing actual to budgeted payroll. Expense Accounts are often an area of fraud and abuse. This include: (a) using legitimate documentation from personal expense for the business expenses; (b) overstating expenses by altering receipts; (c) submitting fictitious expenses by submitting copies of invoices. Such abuses can be minimized by formulating reasonable policies that compensate employees for their out-of-pocket expenses. Copies of invoices should only be accepted in extreme circumstances. Finally, expense account activities should be monitored on a regular basis to detect unusual patterns (Gelinas, Sutton Hunton, 2005). Payroll Fraud Connection Payroll, similar to cash disbursements, is an area ripe with fraud potential. After all, large organizations will make thousands of payments to employees for payroll and expenses account reimbursement every payroll period. Firth (2006) expresses that Payroll Fraud is an important issue that needs to be addressed by both Finance and Payroll professionals. Some of the key activities need to be considered include: improving the quality of master file data, reviewing the end to end payroll process, and reviewing the people that are performing each step in the payroll function. It is worth remembering that improving each of these areas will not only reduce the risk of payroll fraud, it will also result in many other business improvements right across the organization. Here are some of the types of payroll frauds, along with the median loss for each to an employer: (a) Ghost Employee, employees do not actually work for the company but receives paychecks. These can be recently departed employees or made-up persons; (b) Falsified hours and salary, employees exaggerate the time that they work or are able to increase the salary in their employee date; (c) Commission Schemes, employees falsify the sales on which commissions are based or increase the commission rate in their employee date; and, (d) False worker’s compensation claims, employees fake injuries to collect disability payments (Gelinas, Sutton Hunton 2005).
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