Monday, September 30, 2019

International Biss

‘Arrow and the apparel industry: Solved Case Study Arrow and the apparel industry Q1. Why did Arvind Mills choose globalization as the major route to achieve growth when the domestic market was huge? Ans. : The reasons of choosing global market by Arvind Mills are: 1. Market seeking motives, such as exclusiveness of product and service with high productivity, stringent in-line quality control and an encouraging manufacturing atmosphere. 2.Economic motives, such as profit making by implementing cutting edge technologies to achieve economies of scale and spreading R;D costs. etc. 3. Strategic motives, such as buying-up of sick units, departing worldwide and gaining German and US brand names. Q2. How does lifting of ‘Country-wise quota regime’ help Arvind Mills? Ans. : The lifting of ‘Country-wise quota regime’ surged a demand for high quality garments from India; while Arvind brands crossed over Rs. 60 crore in the year 2002 and planned to setup two more high tech export-oriented factories in India.And now, Arvind has the largest network of 64 outlets with 30 retail chains and 200 multi-brand outlets all over India. The current turnover of Arvind Brand is about Rs. 85 crore, which aimed to reach Rs. 100 crore with 1200-3000 outlets across 480-800 towns. Q3. What lessons can other Indian businesses learn from the experience of Arvind Mills? Ans. : Arvind Mills is one of the trademarks of Indian market, which executed diverse patterns of business. Arvind brand extended the international brands in small towns of India.Of course, many other business brands in India now follows Arvind brand. The other Indian businesses should learn a lot from Arvind Mills: international outset of market; Multi-regional integration approach; union and attainment, strategic alliances, international delegates, global network formation; changes in internal organization, etc. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Case 1:-BPO – BANE OR BOON? Which of the theories of international trade can help Indian services providersgain competitive edge over their competitors?The theory of free markets can help indian services providers gain competitive edgeover their compititors because India has got an edge over other countries at this pointof time but other nations may try to make their products look cheaper bymanipulating their currencies or by imposing restrictions on imported serviceespecially from india We need to do something like this – do something better than your competitors (either make a better product, market it better, service it better, price it cheaper, whatever). Pick up some Indian services providers.With the help of Michael Porter’sdiamond, analyze their strengths and weaknesses as active players in BPO. WNS, which was established in 1996 and transformed from a captive provider to athird-party provider in 2002, announced in December 2004 a new organizationalstructure focused on its vertical business units. The change to th e vertical focus wasmade to sharpen the company's domain expertise; develop new services andtechnologies; create superior career paths for talented managers; continue toemphasize entrepreneurship and empowerment, and win and retain business bydelivering exceptional value to its clients.The company's business units are organized into the following vertical sectors: travelservices; insurance services; financial services; enterprise services (including financialand accounting services, human resource accounting and health care processing),and knowledge services (including primary and secondary research, and analytics). Each unit is managed by a chief executive officer and has its own operating and salesteams, and draws upon support and â€Å"enabling† services across the company. â€Å"We have seen numerous tangible benefits to our decision in 2004 to more sharply focus our vertical structure,† stated Neeraj Bhargava, Group CEO. Specifically, wehave strengthened our leade rship role in the BPO industry; continued to distinguishWNS from our competitors through our differentiated strategy; maintained our recordof creating value for our key constituencies, especially customers and employees, and broadened our global perspective, thus enhancing our ability to help companies meettheir business challenges. â€Å"These developments reflect positively both on the soundness of our decision, as wellas the breadth and depth of WNS' management team, which is uniquely qualified tolead this company. â€Å"Mr. Bhargava added hat WNS' travel unit continues to be the offshore industry leaderin this segment with a dominant market share, but that â€Å"WNS' formalization of ourvertical structure clearly allowed us to devote additional resources to our non-traveloperations – especially financial services, which include mortgage and insurance. As aresult, we have strengthened our expertise and operations in each of our offerings, aswell as across the company as a whole. † Compare this case with the case given at the beginning of this chapter. Whatsimilarities and dissimilarities do you notice?Your analysis should be based onthe theories explained. Evalueserve: Based in Gurgaon, it has 650 people engaged in market research andbusiness intelligence. Nearly 45% of the company’s revenues come from math relatedprojects. Evalueserve has a research firm called Global Sourcing Now, whichspecialises in high-quality research reports. WNS: A Mumbai-based BPO, WNS has just started its KPO division for market researchwith 300 people. It operates in the knowledge services business segment and offershigh-end services such as market, investment and business research.Wipro BPO – In 2002, Wipro took a quantum jump in the BPO services by acquiring thethen Spectramind. Wipro Limited (Wipro) is engaged in the areas of information technology (IT), services,IT products and consumer care and lighting products. The Company is organized infour segments: IT services, IT products, consumer care and lighting, and others. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 (fiscal 2009), 94% of Wipro’s operatingincome was generated from its IT Services. In Fiscal 2009, IT products represented3% of its operating income, and consumer care and lighting, and others represented3% of operating income.The Company’s IT services segment provides a range of ITand IT-enabled services. In January 2009, Wipro Technologies acquired Citi Technology Services Ltd. (India), the India-based captive provider of technologyinfrastructure services (TIS), application development and maintenance services forcards, capital markets and corporate banking. Similarities: 1. Require knowledge transfer of the organization's business processes2. Involve migration of jobs (along with some people too) to another country3. Necessitated by business compulsions such as cost reduction or shortage of resources4.Technology intensive exercise/process needing a ‘global delivery model'5. Requires structured migration process to minimize the probability of failure6. ITO and BPO Partners are both affected severely by attrition in the workforceDifferences:1. Skills required in the people are different – IT requires strong technology focuswhile BPO requires strong process understanding focus2. Replacement of resources (on account of attrition) is easier and cheaper in BPOsthan ITOs3. ITO staffing strategy is to hire â€Å"trained people† whereas BPO staffing strategy aimsto â€Å"hire the crowd and train them†4.ITO results in loss of jobs to â€Å"knowledge workers† – but they don't care since theycan get plenty of jobs elsewhere; BPO results in loss of jobs to lower skilled â€Å"processworkers† – often they do not have anywhere else to go ITO – Information Technology OutsourcingBPO – Business Process Outsourcing These are two heads, ITO is bent towards technology i. e. softw are outsourcing,whereas BPO is inclined towards process outsourcing. When we say process that could be functional (admin, HR, accounts) shared by all theindustries or technical depending upon each industry and skills required.Moreover, the KPO>RPO>MPO>PPO>EPO and all the newbies are parcel of nicheindustries vis-a-vis skills required. Case 2 PERU What are some current issues facing Peru? What is the climate for doing businessin Peru today? During the 1970s, the Peruvian government nationalized a number of industries andfactories and began running them for the profit of the state in most cases, these state– run ventures became disasters. Peruvian government are facing problem with lack of advance and latest equipmentfor both locating as well as catching and then loading and unloading the fish.Peruvian government might step in during the next couple of years and again takeover the business. If this were to happen, it might take an additional decade for theloan to be repaid. If the government were to allow the fleet owner to operate thefleet the way he has over the last decade, the fleet the way he has over the lastdecade, the loan could be repaid within seven years. Peru is located on the west coast of South America What type of political risks does this fishing company need to evaluate? Identifyand describe them. Political Risk can be divided into several types of threats. Interference with operations †¢ Confiscation (they take a piece of equipment) †¢ Expropriation (they take the whole company) †¢ Nationalization (they take all the companies in a business sector) †¢ Economic instability, which effects production †¢ Currency Repatriation, not being able to get your money out †¢ Currency Inconvertibility, not being able to exchange your money for another currency of international value (yen, dollars, pounds) †¢ Contract Repudiation Persistent and deliberate refusal †¦ to honor obligations as set forth in a Contractà ¢â‚¬ ¦ What types of integrative and protective and defensive techniques can the bankuse? Some prevention techniques apply to individual banks, independently of the rest of the economy. * A bank can take deposits from depositors who do not observe commoninformation that might spark a run. For example, in the days before depositinsurance, it made sense for a bank to have a large lobby and fast service, to preventa line of depositors from extending out into the street, causing passers-by to inferthat a bank run is occurring. [1]* Banks can encourage customers to make term deposits that cannot be withdrawnon demand.If term deposits form a high enough percentage of a bank's liabilities itsvulnerability to bank runs will be reduced considerably. The drawback is that bankshave to pay a higher interest rate on term deposits. * A bank can temporarily suspend withdrawals to stop a run; this is calledsuspension of convertibility. In many cases the threat of suspension prevents the run,which m eans the threat need not be carried out. [1]* Bank regulation or other constraints can impose a reserve ratio requirement,which limits the proportion of deposits which a bank can lend ut, making it less likelyfor a bank run to start, as more reserves will be available to satisfy the demands of depositors. [5] This practice sets a limit on the fraction in fractional-reserve banking. * Full-reserve banking is the hypothetical case where the reserve ratio is set to100%. Under this approach, the risk of bank runs would be eliminated,[11] and bankswould match maturities of deposits and loans to avoid vulnerability to runs. Would the bank be better off negotiating the loan in New York or in Lima? Why?We can think like that New York Bank is in better position to do negotiation with Limain their own terms and condition. The biggest problem is that the ships are getting oldand they needs an influx of capital of make repairs and add new technology. As theyexplained it to the new York banker. â€Å"Fishing is no longer just an art. There is a greatdeal of technology involved. And to keep costs low and be competitive on the worldmarket, you have to have the latest equipment for both locating as well as catchingand then loading and unloading the fish †Case 3:RED BECOMING THICKERWhy that Coke is has not been able to make profit in its Indian operations? Coca-Cola's operations in India have come under intense scrutiny as manycommunities are experiencing severe water shortages as well as contaminatedgroundwater and soil that some assert [18] are a result of Coca-Cola's bottlingoperations. A massive movement has emerged across India to hold the Coca-ColaCompany accountable for its actions. The state of Kerala imposed a ban of colas fromthe state only to be quashed by Coca Cola; the matter is pending in the supremecourt. citation needed] The Plachimada plant in Kerala state, one of Coca-Cola'slargest bottling facilities in India, has remained shut for 17 months now becau se thevillage council has refused to renew its license, blaming the company for causingwater shortages and pollution. In the initial period of setting the business in India, the COKE was not able tomake profit fromthe Indian operation. This is due to a number of factors. †¢ The local population is not accustomed to drinking cola drinks. †¢ The market needs to be developed. †¢ The initial bottleneck was the lack of adequate network of distributors. †¢ Product distribution was weak. The poor distribution created negative impaction the market growth. †¢ Volume was low. †¢ Overheads were growing. †¢ The operation profit was negligible. Do you think that Coke should continue to stay in India? If yes, why? I would like to mention some points if in order Coke wants to continue its operation inIndia. The allegations in other ways helped Coca-Cola Company, India to show theircorporate social responsibility and to maintain good product quality standards. The initiatives all over India helped them reach villages for a good cause and alsoindirectly marketed their products with establishing a trust among the public.After allthese allegations, the CSE is still not convinced of the quality of the product. Therefore, Coca-Cola must prove that they have upgraded their lab with sophisticatedinstrument which is capable of measuring pesticide residue in soft drinks. As per therecent reports by CSE, they claim that the pesticide residue has gone up 27 timeshigher than expected level by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)Coke is facing different type of problem in which some are mention below Critical Issues/Problems:Solid waste and water issue: The communities near the bottling plant in Indiacomplained about the passage of sludge as fertilizer, causing health andenvironmental damage. The most important issue concerning these communities isthe depletion of water levels caused by the Coca-Cola bottling operations which havedrastically reduced avail ability of water for irrigation purposes. Pesticides in soft drinks: The other issue concerning human health caused by Coca-Cola is that their bottled water and soft drinks contain pesticides which were testedby the reputed NGO, CSE.Dual product standards: Coca-Cola is accused of having dual standards in terms of their products and safety measures concerning human health with respect to USA,Europe and India. Community issue: These allegations affected Coca-Cola largely with its sales and alsocaused the closure of one of their bottling plants in Kerala, India. Additionally, Coca-Cola’s products are banned in the state of Kerala, India. What cultural adaptations would you suggest to the US expatriate managersregarding their management style?A key reason for the return of expatriates before the official end of their foreignassignment is the uncertainty and frustration resulting from poor cross-culturaladaptation. The literature provides this general, normative view without much to sayabout the interpersonal conflict expatriates experience in the workplace abroadcaused by cultural differences. Our exploratory study finds that conflicts with co-workers in host countries occur frequently causing high stress and discomfort, andprovides three specific sources of conflict as recounted by sample managers.Theimplications of our findings include: selecting expatriate managers with highemotional intelligence, providing extensive pre-departure cultural training thatconsists not only of cultural facts but also interpersonal skills such as active listening,conflict management, and ethical reasoning, utilizing sensitivity training techniquesto better prepare managers for new situations, and sending the expatriate on one ortwo pre-sojourn visits to familiarize themselves with the host culture and workplacenorms even before the actual expatriate assignment begins.An additional implicationis training the host-country workers, particularly those who will work most closely w iththe expatriate manager, on home country cultural beliefs and workplace norms. Weaim to stimulate managerial thinking and further research on the workplace conflictsthat challenge expatriates managers. Using the Hofstede and the value orientations cultural models, how can youexplain some of the cultural differences noted in this case? When business consultants and professionals in the field of workplace learning and developmentdiscovered Hofstede's dimensions, applications began to emerge in many areas.The following aremerely a few examples of how the field has translated the abstract theory into a series of concreteapproaches. In expanding their market to the global level with clear and consistent global brand images acrossnations, marketers are ever confronting the issue of how to deal with different cultural values. Cultural value is identified as an influential factor on brand image and is widely accepted as one of the crucial concepts in understanding consumer consumption val ue, which determines choices of consuming everyday products and services.Most firms endeavoring to establish and maintainconsistent global brand images, however, adopt a standardized brand image strategy that usuallydoes not consider individual target markets characteristics, including the concepts of cultural valueand consumption value. This study developed a conceptual framework which incorporated culturalvalue not only as a direct antecedent of brand image, but also as an indirect antecedent of brandimage through consumption value, and empirically tested it using the category of apparel.Following this framework, this study hypothesized the differences in brand image, cultural value,and consumption value between the U. S. and South Korea. Data were gathered through surveying university students residing in the San Francisco and Seoul metropolitan areas using a conveniencesampling method. A total of 329 completed questionnaires were used in factor analysis,discriminant analysis, an d structural equation modeling. The results provide insights intostandardized brand image strategies and suggest some implementable tools that might proveeffective in both countries.Case 4THE ABB PBS JOINT VENTURE IN OPERATIONWhere does the joint venture meet the needs of both the partners? Where does itfall short? â€Å"One of the most common instances that encourage learning and sharing is culturaldifferences. In the case study involving the ABB PBS Joint Venture the two companiesfound it rather difficult to understand certain cultural differences. These differencesexisted because the managers and employees of the venture were from the post-communist country of the Czech Republic and were new to the structure of a freemarket economy.The venture had a difficult time interacting and understanding theculture of the European nations that they were conducting business with. To facilitatelearning and knowledge the managers of the venture had to change the mentality of employees and dev elop ways to motivate them to reach the goals of the company. (â€Å"The ABB PBS Joint Venture in Operation†)† What lessons one can draw from this incident for better management of technology transfers? Technology transfer is the process of developing practical applications for scientificresearch.It is a term used to describe a formal transfer of rights to use andcommercialize new discoveries and innovations resulting from scientific research toanother party. It is, regrettably, not uncommon to find big companies and major industrial concernsin the developed countries turning a blind eye to the ethical questions when it comesto technology transfer. The need to show profits, the desire to please shareholdersand the compulsion to transfer technology to the South, whatever the outcome, haveblurred the vision and concept of fight and wrong. Mahatma Gandhi said the solution in India is not mass production, but production bythe masses.Mass production by organized industry has brought in sophisticatedtechnology and militant trade unions, and has been one of the major factors formigration from the rural to the urban areas. The establishment of small scaleindustries, and better facilities for the rural workers, will ease the tension in the citiesand reduce migratory pressures – but it will mean less profits. This ill-conceived approach has almost destroyed indigenous institutions. Thetechnology input from the developed countries should have strengthened,supplemented and supported the existing, proven structures instead of replacingthem.It has increased dependency on the outside, for spare parts, for expertise and forconsultation, thus controlling and co-opting rather than decentralizing anddisseminating. People forget that what is best and most sophisticated could easily bea ball bearing on bullock cart wheels, or a simple set of hand tools for villageblacksmiths. ——————————â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Top of Form Search Bottom of Form Search History: Searching†¦ Result 00 of 00 00 results for result for ? p.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Personal Account of a Woman in the American Revolution

I was a woman who had lived during the boisterous era of the American Revolution. It was a time when not only men were needed to gain the most coveted American independence from Britain.One might wonder how a woman with no weapons or battle skills could contribute in the realization of American independence. As a woman of the 18th century, I was an ordinary housewife tending to my husband who was continuously fighting in battle against the British. I was always following him just as any woman and wife did for their men in battle. My husband’s task was to load the cannon so the gunner could fire a shot towards the British army.One fateful day, I saw how my husband was killed by a gunshot which ultimately ended his life. I was there trying to mend his wounds despite the fact that he was already dead. While I was in the middle of finding a place where I could place my husband safely in the barracks, the gunner summoned me to load the cannons.Everything was happening so fast that I had no time to think about my dead husband’s body. All I wanted to do was to fight for what he died for. I hurried to the cannon as fast as I could and loaded the cannon. It was not an easy job to lift cannon balls, but the raging adrenalin in my system helped me throughout.The cannon loading went on for a week until they finally found a more capable man to replace me. Afterwards, I was given the task to tend to the American soldiers. I cooked for them, washed their clothes, attended to their medical needs, and cleaned their wounds. We were like nurses and housewives in one who provided all the basic needs that our soldiers called for.It might have seemed like a simple job to take care of these wounded men as they have fought and died for the country’s liberty. However, one thing is for certain. The Declaration of Independence would not have existed without the full support and love of women in the American Revolution.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

A Study of Macroeconomics in Relation to Supply and Demand

A Study of Macroeconomics in Relation to Supply and Demand Macroeconomics can be best defined as ,the part of a countries economy which is primarily concerned with large-scale or general economic factors, such as interest rates as well as national productivity, national income, gross domestic product (Kaplan, J. (2002). Specifically, as the topic of Macroeconomics pertains directly to both the Supply as well as Demand for Health Insurance it is especially vital to acknowledge that Macroeconomics is a phenomena which also effects our countries (United States) inflation range, price levels, rate of growth, massive changes in unemployment(Staff, I. (2016, September 07).This essay will effectively highlight the overall extent in which Macroeconomics effects both the Supply as well as overall Demand of Health Insurance within the United States, including why the Macroeconomics system is not the preferred method system to apply in relation to our nations healthcare system. Lastly, this essay will thoroughly highlight the overall effects of Americ as Inflation Rate, Price levels of Insurance/Premiums, as well as massive changes in the rate of employment as they effect both the Supply as well as Demand of Healthcare Insurance The Overall Extent to Which Macroeconomics Effects Both the Supply as well as Demand for Health Insurance When it comes to the Macroeconomics system, there can be no doubt of the sheer importance of this particular discipline however, in order to more actively explore both the massive healthcare system in relation to the Macroeconomics system as a whole, we must come to a completely absolute and rather disappointing fact! And the fact of the matter is that, despite the Macroeconomics system working well for a vast majority of our current societys needs, it still doesnt work well nor efficiently for our Nations most basic Healthcare System needs, despite having some rather noteworthy and rather specific areas of research including both the researching of Business Cycles the economic growth aspect of the discipline. At large, The demand for healthcare really sees no limit, especially if cost is not a factor for the consumer, and that is the case, of course, in most third-party payment situations (Christensen, T. (2010, October 23). As a result, prices will steadily rise overtime and without stopping! Furthermore, when it comes to taking care of sick people as well as others in need of the basic medical services, it is important to mention that, in many cases, when it comes to both the supply and demand within the field of healthcare, its almost ,if not practically impossible for healthcare workers, fellow hospital staff, the facilities Human Resource Management Departments and even fellow nurses and physicians alike to absolutely know exactly how much demand they should expect to plan for on a daily basis. Thus, rather medical professionals are in a private practice or working in the Emergency Room, issues involving both the Supply as well as Demand within the Healthcare Industry effects all med ical professionals as well as ERs, Hospital and other various medical facilities on an operative level .Unfortunately, due to the circumstances, the supply can become an issue when demand is not accurately known. In this case as well as others like it, the much needed numbers/statistics will not be present to report accurately back to governmental officials nor to state departments and other respective governmental agencies. Lastly we must take into account that, the supply of physicians and providers is not driven by normal market forces. We see a lot of increasing specialization for reasons that arent necessarily fitting with the supply-demand curve (Christensen, T. (2010, October 23). The latter reason is because, when doctors attend medical schooling, they are free to choose their chose their medical specialty. Consequently, most doctors tend to pursue the healthcare professional specialties which pay the most in salaries (financial compensation) as well as have the most benefi ts associated with them. It is because of this Freedom of Choice amongst doctors as it pertains to their preferred medical specialty that the costs for such medical treatment and consequently healthcare professional services varies by such staggering amounts Nevertheless, the latter issues also effects both the primary Doctors and their Nursing staff .members as well as those medical doctors whom chose to become specialized because, most specialized physicians get compensated more than the average traditional family practice doctors. Subsequently, due to such a drastic increase in doctor specialization the supply demand curve is highly insufficient to say the least in field of healthcare and medicine. The Overall Effects of Americas Inflation Rate, on the Supply Demand of Health Insurance By its very definition an Inflation Rate is the overall, Rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services are rising and, consequently, the purchasing power of currency is falling (Financial-dictionary. (2013). This means that when an individual sees both the prices for goods (such as food water, shelter, and all store purchased items) As well as services (such as the ability to be both seen and treated by a doctor (not to mention any other service) will be effected. As briefly mentioned previously, both primary care physicians as well as their specialist Physician (Doctor) counterparts most often chose their specialty based on their potential salary and offered benefits package. This is makes perfect sense when prices for such services grow exponentially. Unfortunately when it comes to inflation, Healthcare, in addition to other vital needs, goods and services are oftentimes the first expenses to increase exponentially as inflation rates begin to rise. The increase f or medical insurance companies, including their billing and collection departments as well as volume and case load also increases leading to more work for less money (and an overall decrease in purchasing power).As reported by Forbes Magazine, additional costs are due to several different reasons, and can include but may not notably be restricted to, political decisions such as additional taxes and increased regulations which can impact health care costs (Patton, M. (2015, June 29). In addition to the amount the steadily increase in hospital/physician lawsuits, and consequently increased medical malpractice coverage. Macroeconomics- The Price Levels of Insurance/Premiums Unfortunately, since these changes are yet to be corrected by The System nor our elected representatives (politicians), as healthcare prices continue to soar and both medical insurance companies in addition to patients/clients and healthcare providers still continue to deal with the crunch. According to the November 2013 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the primary reason for the rise in health care costs between 2000 and 2011 accounting for 91%, was an increase in the price of drugs, medical devices, and hospital care (Compassphs. (2015, September 18).Nevertheless, it has also been revealed that, out of these costs that Administrative cost make up approximately, 5.6%/year, and are mainly health insurance costs, while the prices of health services is expected to increase by a massive 4.2% yearly, drugs medical devices another 4% yearly and Professional service fees for doctors to increase by 3.6% each year(Compassphs. (2015, September 18). Highly depr essing figures to look forward to as well as cope with in the near future! How Macroeconomics effects Massive Changes in the Rate of Employment As it pertains to (Macroeconomics) the Supply Demand for Health Insurance can and does effect massive changes in the overall Rate of Employment. As revealed by the Employment Policies Institute The cost of this insurance has increased by more than 59 percent since 2000, with no accompanying increase in the scale or scope of benefits (Employment Institute Policies (2017, February). Unfortunately as this happens, significant effects on both health insurance markets and labor markets, including changes in the number of jobs, hours worked per employee, wages, and compensation packages (Employment Institute Policies (2017, February) can and often do occur. As this happens, more and more individuals and their families find themselves spending more money as well as being essentially limited to which doctor practices they can see ( as per coverage). Lastly, the unemployment rates as well as the amount of Americans living without health insurance could drastically increase and cause a massiv e economic disaster as more and more employers (business owners) would be forced to lay off employees in order to save money or discontinue the standard work week so that the employer no longer has to pay for their employees health insurance coverage. A Study of Macroeconomics in Relation to Supply and Demand A Study of Macroeconomics in Relation to Supply and Demand Introduction Thesis Statement: â€Å"Macroeconomics† can be best defined as ,â€Å"the part of a countries economy which is primarily concerned with large-scale or general economic factors, such as interest rates as well as national productivity, national income, gross domestic product† (Kaplan, J. (2002). Specifically, as the topic of Macroeconomics pertains directly to both the â€Å"Supply as well as Demand for Health Insurance it is especially vital to acknowledge that â€Å"Macroeconomics† is a phenomena which also effects our countries (United States) â€Å"inflation range, price levels, rate of growth, massive changes in unemployment†(Staff, I. (2016, September 07).This essay will effectively highlight the overall extent in which Macroeconomics effects both the â€Å"Supply† as well as overall â€Å"Demand† of Health Insurance within the United States, including why the Macroeconomics system is not the â€Å"preferred† method system to apply in relation to our nation’s healthcare system. Lastly, this essay will thoroughly highlight the overall effects of America’s Inflation Rate, Price levels of Insurance/Premiums, as well as massive changes in the rate of employment as they effect both the â€Å"Supply† as well as â€Å"Demand† of Healthcare Insurance The Overall Extent to Which Macroeconomics Effects Both the â€Å"Supply† as well as â€Å"Demand† for Health Insurance When it comes to the Macroeconomics system, there can be no doubt of the sheer importance of this particular discipline however, in order to more actively explore both the massive healthcare system in relation to the Macroeconomics system as a whole, we must come to a completely absolute and rather disappointing fact! And the fact of the matter is that, despite the Macroeconomics system working well for a vast majority of our current society’s needs, it still doesn’t work well nor efficiently for our Nation’s most basic â€Å"Healthcare System† needs, despite having some rather noteworthy and rather â€Å"specific areas of research including both the researching of â€Å"Business Cycles† the â€Å"economic growth† aspect of the discipline. At large, â€Å"The demand for healthcare really sees no limit, especially if cost is not a factor for the consumer, and that is the case, of course, in most third-party payment situations† (Christensen, T. (2010, October 23). As a result, prices will steadily rise overtime and without stopping! Furthermore, when it comes to taking care of sick people as well as others in need of the â€Å"basic medical services†, it is important to mention that, in many cases, when it comes to both the â€Å"supply† and â€Å"demand† within the field of healthcare, it’s almost ,if not practically impossible for healthcare workers, fellow hospital staff, the facilities Human Resource Management Departments and even fellow nurses and physicians alike to absolutely know exactly how much â€Å"demand† they should expect to plan for on a daily basis. Thus, rather medical professionals are in a private practice or working in the Emergency Room, issues involving bo th the â€Å"Supply† as well as â€Å"Demand† within the Healthcare Industry effects all medical professionals as well as ER’s, Hospital and other various medical facilities on an operative level .Unfortunately, due to the circumstances, the â€Å"supply† can become an issue when â€Å"demand† is not accurately known. In this case as well as others like it, the much needed numbers/statistics will not be â€Å"present† to report accurately back to governmental officials nor to state departments and other respective governmental agencies. Lastly we must take into account that, â€Å"the supply of physicians and providers is not driven by normal market forces. We see a lot of increasing specialization for reasons that aren’t necessarily fitting with the supply-demand curve† (Christensen, T. (2010, October 23). The latter reason is because, when doctors attend medical schooling, they are free to choose their chose their medical â⠂¬Å"specialty†. Consequently, most doctors tend to pursue the healthcare professional â€Å"specialties † which pay the most in salaries (financial compensation) as well as have the most benefits associated with them. It is because of this â€Å"Freedom of Choice† amongst doctors as it pertains to their preferred medical â€Å"specialty† that the costs for such medical treatment and consequently healthcare professional services varies by such staggering amounts Nevertheless, the latter issues also effects both the primary Doctors and their Nursing staff .members as well as those medical doctors whom chose to become â€Å"specialized because, most â€Å"specialized physicians† get compensated more than the average â€Å"traditional† family practice doctors. Subsequently, due to such a drastic increase in doctor specialization the supply demand curve is highly insufficient to say the least in field of healthcare and medicine. â€Å"The Overall Effects of America’s Inflation Rate, on the Supply Demand of Health Insurance By its very definition an â€Å"Inflation Rate† is the overall, â€Å"Rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services are rising and, consequently, the purchasing power of currency is falling† (Financial-dictionary. (2013). This means that when an individual sees both the prices for goods (such as food water, shelter, and all store purchased items) As well as services (such as the ability to be both seen and treated by a doctor (not to mention any other service) will be effected. As briefly mentioned previously, both primary care physicians as well as their specialist Physician (Doctor) counterparts most often chose their â€Å"specialty† based on their potential salary and offered benefits package. This is makes perfect sense when prices for such services grow exponentially. Unfortunately when it comes to inflation, Healthcare, in addition to other vital needs, goods and services are oftentimes the first expenses to increase exponentially as inf lation rates begin to rise. The increase for medical insurance companies, including their billing and collection departments as well as volume and case load also increases leading to more work for less money (and an overall decrease in purchasing power).As reported by Forbes Magazine, additional costs are due to several different reasons, and can include but may not notably be restricted to, â€Å"political decisions such as additional taxes and increased regulations which can impact health care costs† (Patton, M. (2015, June 29). In addition to the amount the steadily increase in hospital/physician lawsuits, and consequently increased medical malpractice coverage. Macroeconomics- The Price Levels of Insurance/Premiums Unfortunately, since these changes are yet to be corrected by â€Å"The System† nor our elected representatives (politicians), as healthcare prices continue to soar and both medical insurance companies in addition to patients/clients and healthcare providers still continue to deal with the crunch. â€Å"According to the November 2013 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the primary reason for the rise in health care costs between 2000 and 2011 accounting for 91%, was an increase in the price of drugs, medical devices, and hospital care† (Compassphs. (2015, September 18).Nevertheless, it has also been revealed that, out of these costs that Administrative cost make up approximately, â€Å"5.6%/year, and are mainly health insurance costs, while the prices of health services is expected to increase by a massive 4.2% yearly, drugs medical devices another 4% yearly and Professional service fees for doctors to increase by 3.6% each year†(Com passphs. (2015, September 18). Highly depressing figures to look forward to as well as â€Å"cope with† in the near future! How Macroeconomics effects Massive Changes in the Rate of Employment As it pertains to (Macroeconomics) the â€Å"Supply Demand for Health Insurance can and does effect massive changes in the overall Rate of Employment. As revealed by the â€Å"Employment Policies Institute† â€Å"The cost of this insurance has increased by more than 59 percent since 2000, with no accompanying increase in the scale or scope of benefits† (Employment Institute Policies (2017, February). Unfortunately as this happens, â€Å"significant effects on both health insurance markets and labor markets, including changes in the number of jobs, hours worked per employee, wages, and compensation packages† (Employment Institute Policies (2017, February) can and often do occur. As this happens, more and more individuals and their families find themselves spending more money as well as being essentially limited to which doctor practices they can see ( as per coverage). Lastly, the â€Å"unemployment rates† as well as the amount of Americans living without health insurance could drastically increase and cause a massive economic disaster as more and more employers (business owners) would be forced to â€Å"lay off† employees in order to save money or discontinue the standard work week so that the employer no longer has to pay for their employee’s â€Å"health insurance coverage†.

Friday, September 27, 2019

From Literate to Electronic Communication Essay

From Literate to Electronic Communication - Essay Example Lorimer, et al. (2012, p 39) explains that there exists interpersonal and mass media in activities of media as it tries to define various aspects of the society. Interpersonal media links the sender to the receiver of information while mass media de-links the two. Apart from thee two categories of media, there has emerged a third one; network media. Its uniqueness is that it combines the other two. It can create a geographical network for sharing information where everyone in the internet is both sender and receiver of information depending on the circumstance one is in. Examples of network media in use include teleconferencing, the World Wide Web and email. Networking media has brought into perspective the overlapping nature of the other two such that we can not precisely define the boundary between interpersonal and mass media. This is because even the interpersonal media such as telephone can be used to reach most people through broadcasting. Today, media has recreated itself and as such, is categorized based on mode of operations which include: the channel of communication such as print or electronic, the sense of experience of the media whether visual or aural, economic modality such as direct cost, indirect cost and pay per usage costs. The ever changing nature of media has led to considerations to categorize media material based on the institutions that produce and distribute them. Technology level involved in the production of the media is also used to classify them. Availability of information on the World Wide Web through the internet has met great criticism and opposition from authorities in the society such as parents as well as the government and organizational administrators. People access... From Literate to Electronic Communication Evolution of communication Lorimer, et al (2012 p 26) suggests that the evolution from literate to electronic communication can be dated back to the discovery of the printing press which ultimately changed the landscape as the society switched from the overreliance on monks for information to typed and stored literary materials. Ultimately, the authority of controlling writing and translation moved from the church to secular world leading to the development of secular society and knowledge as opposed to the previous existing religious knowledge. The battle the ensued between the church and the secular writers and this was the jump pad towards information independence. The ability to retrieve, through scanning, such written materials enabled people to do critical analysis of information and point out inconsistencies. This was not possible with the spoken word which was considered highly perishable and could not be stored. Writing provided a form of interpersonal media other than mass media as people could communicate personally and individually through written messages. Media has transformed to become the identity of reality since it is through the media that truth is passed to the targeted audience. As such, there is the ambiguous concept of ‘mediamaking’ where as the media defines the direction of the world, the world also shapes the media to become what it should people. Media passes information while the people receiving the information improve the media to serve them best.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

The psychological contract does not exist in the minds of employers in Essay

The psychological contract does not exist in the minds of employers in mature states and mature organisations. What is key is the legal contract. The psycholog - Essay Example ent the employer may promise to offer something to the employee or at the time of appraising an employee’s performance the employer could declare a reward for his satisfactory performance. Mutual obligations sometimes act as promises and sometimes as expectations. However, the employee is required to have trust in such promises or expectations as part of the relationship with the employer (The psychological contract, 2007). There is a vast difference between a legal contract and a psychological contract with regard to employment. Legal contracts offer a limited set of expectations and imperfect identification of the relationship involved in the employment. With the exception of refusing to accept such terms and conditions, the employee can do anything about the relationship mentioned in legal contracts. The courts and employment tribunals examine the nature and content of the legal contract of employment. These enforcing bodies interpret the nature of employment on the basis of the legal contract (The psychological contract, 2007). A psychological contract examines the practicality and reality of the work place environment as perceived by the employer and the employees. It has greater effect than a legal contract in determining the activities of the employees and the management. Under a psychological contract, the employees have a clear idea of their duties and the necessity to discuss them by adopting the process of collective bargaining. It also explains to them their expectations from the employer (The psychological contract, 2007). A psychological contract does not require to be enforced strictly. The courts examine the underlying relationship between employer and employee while interpreting the common law principles with regard to mutual trust and confidence. Researchers claim that there would be a negative effect on job satisfaction and a deterioration of employee commitment towards their job, if the management fails to fulfill its promises to its

Working Mothers Benefit Familes Vs Stay-at-Home Mothers Benefit Essay

Working Mothers Benefit Familes Vs Stay-at-Home Mothers Benefit Families - Essay Example One major reason for which working mothers have been praised is the influence that they have on their children. It has been observed that the children of working mothers have a generally positive attitude towards women. The thoughts on sex and gender roles are also less rigid as compared to their counterparts. Their daughters and especially have an acquired and greater self esteem and a more positive view of themselves as workers in the society at large. Meanwhile, the sons acquire a positive attitude of shared roles that they take to their own marriages. The overall effect of working mothers would be an increased number of women in the labor force, as equal partners with men. This would mean that the attitudes of children and their psychologies would be less focused on their sexes or gender (Valente, 272). Additionally, working mothers, contend that there are more positives than negatives to being a working mother both from a family and a personal standpoint (Valente, 270). Such a situation ensures that the woman gets a varied life that is not confined to the home. Unlike staying at home mothers whose experiences are the same, working mothers say that the interactions that they have with their husbands are mostly at a peer to peer level, the financial position of the family is complimented and as a result the needs of the family are quickly and easily met. The typical day of a working mother involves the duties of a mother in addition to her responsibilities as a worker. Such women sometimes get the advantages of both sides but the disadvantages of only one side, being a working mother. While it is true that they may employ the services of a housekeeper or baby sitter, there are others who do not. Moreover, such a move would detach them from their families and children if their whole focus is on their careers. On the contra side, there are quite a number of women who are opting or reconsidering the idea of becoming stay at home

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Reincarnation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reincarnation - Essay Example Reincarnation appears to have caught the thoughts of many and the notion receives frequent mentions in popular books, feature films and popular music.( Stevenson, 37) Discussion Written by Doctor Jim B. Tucker the book ‘Life before life’ is a scientific analysis of kids’ memories of former lives. The book brings forth an overview of over forty years of reincarnation investigation which was done at the â€Å"University of Virginia division of personality studies†. in addition the book also deliberates over birth defects and birthmarks that look like those of a departed person who is recognized in a child. Doctor Jim is an apprentice of the late Doctor Ian Stevenson who back in the 1960’s started printing case studies of kids who remembered alleged previous life memoirs. From then on Dr. Tucker, Dr. Stevenson and their associates have put together an incomparable number of study cases in which young kids usually between age 2 and 8 spontaneously analyz ed experiences and memoirs of a post presence. The kids often delivered an extensive amount of evidence which included places and specific names from an alleged past life, birthmarks and facts of certain events from that life to back up the idea that a part of their awareness have somehow remained intact and have been passed on from a previous life to another. The cases became more captivating when a certain personality of a supposed past incarnation is successfully discovered normally by the child, family or neighbors. Dr. Tucker brings forth his findings clearly and systematically all the way through the book, for example in a specific chapter he would begin by summarizing a specific sequence of kid s’ cases with a similar character, e.g. occurrence of a birthmark on the kid that resemble to injuries of the kids’ previous character or even existence of printed records describing a kids reports that are dated earlier than the kids’ supposed previous character i s recognized after thoroughly outlining the cases, he goes further to discuss the possible substitute explanations to reincarnation for those cases (ordinary explanations which include faulty memory, fraud, coincidence or paranormal explanation e.g. possession) and then he further goes to conclude if reincarnation offers the most convincing explanation for each individual case. He takes the reader on a universal voyage into regions of the globe with hugely differing views on reincarnation, into homes infiltrated by widely-differing socio-economic conditions and into the lives of kids with very diverse stories. Nevertheless, his assumption that reincarnation as he describes is the most conceivable explanation for most of precise cases and definitely in the frame of cases as a whole, remains unwavering all through the book. Of tuckers In most of Doctor Tuckers cases, the amount of material supposedly recalled by the kid in question is quite amazing. in one certain case, Doctor Tucker tells of a kid from whom even before he was three years old began telling her life as a vendor of incense in a community approximately a hundred and forty five miles away. For 4 years she stated specific details about the life she had led as this gentleman including the exact type of incense he had sold (a type unavailable to and somewhat unknown in the township where that girl lived), the exact location where he lived, the identity of his mother, names of his wife and the

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Belks and Goffmans Theories of Extended Self Essay

Belks and Goffmans Theories of Extended Self - Essay Example Emphasising on this particular issue, the discussion henceforth will be based on analysing self-concept from the perspective of Belk and Goffman. Belk’s Theory of Extended Self Belk’s advancement of extended self has been argued to render an innovative viewpoint regarding the study of self in consumer behaviour. Contextually, the theory of ‘extended self’ has provided a valuable motivation in the acknowledgement of requirement to extend the understanding of consumer behaviour beyond the traditional limitations of individuals as mechanical consumers of goods. According to Belk, possessions reflect the personality of possessor and sequentially these possessions contribute to the individuality (Belk, 1988). Goffman’s Theory of Self As affirmed in his theory of self, Goffman believed that every participant in social interactions is engaged in certain activities in order to avoid being embarrassed or embarrassing others. Goffman further observed that the connection between the type of activities which people usually conduct in their regular life and theatrical performances determine their identity and behavioural pattern. He believed that when individuals come in communication with other people, they intend to control or direct the impression by shifting their situation (Barnhart, n.d.). Analysis Blog 1: â€Å"Migration to Mobile I - How is Consumer Behaviour Changing?† The blog is based on the understanding of consumer behaviour towards purchasing mobile phones. The explanation depicted that in mobile phone market, consumer behaviour is highly impacted by the attributes of ‘extended self’. Mobile phone, as a possession can reflect the personality of possessor which in turn influences the purchasing behaviour of the potential customers. Furthermore, with respect to the Goffman’s theory, the social communication also tends to influence the purchase of products like mobile ph ones (Strategysmm, 2013). Blog 2: â€Å"Consumer Behaviour on Tattoos† The blog deals in learning the behaviour of consumers

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Specific problemsolving process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Specific problemsolving process - Essay Example To fail to plan is to plan to fail. As teacher, I have resources, associations and institutions to acquire the best syllabus and information. I have the contacts, connections, qualification, experience, creativity, and libraries memberships for reference and guidance. However, all these are of no use if I do not plan on their use in the course of my daily activities. My options do not exhaust with my professional resources. They extend to my personal dimension also. I have to constantly work and rework my mission goals, responsibilities, priorities, skills and abilities. I have to seek better results by my students, acquire skills and techniques to improve my communication skills, achieve promotions, keep track of my position in healthy competition, and above all fulfill my familial responsibilities. It is bound to provide me the necessary inputs and momentum to reach the top position in the institution where I work or in another similar institution. It will earn me more respect, improve my social and professional status and my earning capacity and perk, provide me more means to solve rudimentary as well as complex problems, and last but not the least, it will make me a better human being. Specific problem-solving process is an important tool for self-satisfaction and clients' satisfaction.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Of Kind and Cruel Fates Essay Example for Free

Of Kind and Cruel Fates Essay Irony, in its essence, is the humor of contradiction. It is contradiction, in the sense that where we would expect events to lean on one way, events instead completely take the opposite direction. A crude example would be where a string of freak accidents occur at a factory where the manager is showing off to his potential clients that his company is â€Å"accident-free†. Irony is humorous because if one saw it with impartiality, one would find it funny. Having a car accident right after a road is â€Å"improved† to avoid further accidents, would be funny. To study irony further, one could study an average persons sense of humor. While as a child, he may delight in the curiosities of the environment, eventually he becomes adjusted to seeing it everyday, and eventually his enjoyment of it fades. Humor takes on a different characteristic for him. There is the slapstick comedy, where he finds the antics of the performers as funny and absurd, and there is the situational comedy, where he finds funny ordinary people falling to ridiculous situations. The common thread to this humor is that it attacks at something. Whether it is to ridicule a person behaving out of the social norm (as the slapstick), or to ridicule a persons belief or principle that is generally viewed as absurd (the parody), the higher the degree of abuse at the object of humor, the funnier. Irony, then, is humorous in the sense that it attacks something, through its contradiction. As an impartial viewer, we may find funny things that we know to be true as envisioned by the ironic set-up, but which is obscured in the minds of those who are involved in the irony. Humor moreover has intrinsic values it seeks to instill to its impartial witnesses, and consequently irony occurs as some way to inform the viewer of a cosmic lesson. We can delve in this further through the study of three stories, Tartuffe, The Princess of Cleves, and Nathan the Wise. There are several ironic situations that occur throughout the play Tartuffe. The story revolves around a household scandalized by having its head (the father) entertain and welcome as part of the family a man who openly and vocally shows his displeasure at what he deems as vices borne by the various members of the family and the house. One of the first ironic situations occurs with the son, Damis, who hides in the room while Tartuffe has a private conversation with his mother, Elmire. His intention is to unmask Tartuffe to his father as a hypocrite and get him out of the house (Moliere, 39-46). When he finally sees evidence of the mans scandalous behavior towards his mother and reveals it to his father, not only does his father not believe (owing to the hypocrites skillful use of words), but has Damis instead kicked out and even encourages Tartuffe to continue his scandalous behavior towards his wife, in order to spite his family (47-51). The humor in the situation centered on how big a fool the father was to believe in Tartuffes virtue, and an even bigger fool not to see the truth when it is right in front of him. This is further stressed in the next ironic situation, where after Orgon (the father) finally realizes the extent of his friends deceit, he tries to tell his mother, who was also fooled by the hypocrite. For all his protestations she does not believe him until she sees it herself (Moliere, 68-71). The irony is that where he once ignored the loud protests of his family, likewise his mother does not believe him, even for his loud protests. The final ironic twist, however, turns out for the good as the hypocrite Tartuffe, having been unmasked and set his plans for revenge, intrigues on the King and plans to have them all arrested, only to have him as the object of arrest, as the King was â€Å"wise† to his intrigues (77-80). The play has these alternating reversal of fortunes, and its ironic humor attacks two things: that blind faith without reason in open Virtue is folly, and that any malice masked in virtue never remains unpunished. A more tragic tale of irony is that of the Princess of Cleves. Introduced to a court as Madam Chartres, she wins the affection of the Prince of Cleves, who endeavor to marry her despite the protests of his father; she falls, however for someone else, the Duke Nemours (Lafayette, 15-17). The story then centers around him trying to find the opportunity to confess his love, and she, now married, desperately tries to stave off his affections while suppressing hers. We do not see the irony unfold until the very end: the Princess anguishes over her affection for the Duke throughout her marriage, but following the death of her husband suddenly she has a change of heart and is convinced that her husband was a far better man than the Duke (101-107). It is only after the husband dies and they finally have an opportunity to be together does she decide not to be with the Duke. The irony here attacks the notion that love borne from adulterous intention will eventually bear fruit. It might have been attack towards the growing acceptance of the public towards the notion of infidelity, (almost every character is involved in an affair with someone else) and their giving it idealistic fervor. The Princess of Cleves, despite the best of her intentions, continued to bear her love to someone else, and pined for that other person, and consequently, in her husbands death she realized her folly too late, and chose to suffer the rest of her life in that guilt. Nathan the Wise has such a complicated string of ironies, that one who skims through even the slightest of details would not appreciate the ironies that eventually occur. Originally, the story of the Jewish merchant Nathan centered around the Muslim conqueror Saladin trying to fool him out of his money—and this tale has found itself in the pages of Boccaccios Decameron. Nathan answers so skillfully that ironically it was Saladin who was put to shame by his own question and humbled before the Jew (Lessing, 90-97). This story is, however, expanded by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, and this encounter between the Egyptian conqueror and the Jew becomes the main theme. The tale then revolves around a Templar, who was pardoned by Saladin for the reason that he resembled the conquerors brother (Lessing, 36); the consequences of his rescue of a Jewish maiden (and subsequent encounter of the grateful surrogate father Nathan), and the intrigues of the Patriarch who would have him either kill Saladin or turn over Nathan, who he found had raised a Christian child to the Jewish faith (the same Jewess he rescued) (37-40). The irony, from an impartial point of view, might have been to some degree absurd. The Templar, in almost the fashion of Oedipus, tries desperately to seek the truth, and unmask what he sees in his prejudice as malice committed by the Jew Nathan (Lessing, 109-127). And, also in the fashion of Oedipus, not only does he discover that the girl he was trying to save (and hope to marry) was his sister, but Saladin who he would have killed had he agreed to the Patriarch, was his uncle after all (165-172). The irony also hits Saladin, as his pardoning the Templar Conrad because he looked like his brother, redounds to the truth that Conrad was his brothers son. While the ironic twist might seem ridiculous to the trained eye, in the sense it fits to the lesson first imparted by Nathan to Saladin: that all men are equal before God, regardless of Faith. This is a happier chide at the Medieval sensibility of hostility between Faiths. Irony is humorous, because we find that the contradiction it creates makes sense. We might have felt our sensibilities offended when we saw that the Princess of Cleves did not end up with the Duke Nemours, but the cosmic twist was to show to us that infidelity was wrong. We would have preferred that the Templar should have instead ended up marrying the Jewess, but the irony was there to impart the lesson that prejudice has, after all, no place in the world. We sometimes do not find ironic circumstances that funny, as if we lived the life of Duke Nemours or became as aghast as the Templar Conrad. But eventually, we will learn that the contradiction was to impart to us that our plans may go completely the other way, because they may not have been right in the first place. And, the wiser we become to this truth, the more we will realize that irony, though it might strike sad for us, has a reason. The better we accept this, the more we will be prepared to just take a step back, take a view of the bigger picture, and laugh. WORKS CITED Lafayette, Madame de. The Princess of Cleves. New York: Project Gutenberg. 27 Sept. 2008 http://www. gutenberg. org/files/467/467. txt. Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim. Nathan the Wise. New York: Page, Curtis. Project Gutenberg. 01 Mar. 2003. http://www. gutenberg. org/dirs/etext03/natws10. txt. Moliere, Jean Baptiste. Tartuffe. New York: Project Gutenberg. 26 Oct. 2008. http://www. gutenberg. org/files/2027/2027. txt.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Hazards In Sewage Treatment Plants Biology Essay

Hazards In Sewage Treatment Plants Biology Essay Wastewater consists of a mixture of domestic sewage which includes waste from sinks, household toilets, showers, washing machines. It also consists of industrial effluent, occasional run-off of surface water and ground water which has infiltrated into the sewers. 99.99% of wastewater consists of water, and 0.01 % of it comprises of dissolved or suspended solid matter (www.fairfield-city.org/wastewater.cfm Date Accessed 14.02.13) 2.1 Wastewater Biology Untreated sewage may contain a number of disease causing organisms including bacteria, viruses, fungus, worms and protozoa (McCunney, 1986; Weldon et al, 2000; Schlosser et al, 1999). Airborne bacteria concentrations are usually very high where sewage is agitated, such as near incoming wastewater inlets and sludge treatment areas (Laitinen et al, 1994). Compare to other areas of a WWTP, a few airborne bacteria have also been found in clean areas such as control rooms (Laitinen et al, 1994). The major route of exposure to these microorganisms is the foecal-oral route (McCunney, 1986). This commonly occurs during eating, drinking, smoking or by touching the face with contaminated hands or gloves (HSE, 1998). Inhalation of aerosols containing microorganisms is not so common. Nevertheless it is an essential method of entry. Skin absorption is less frequent since pathogens only enter skin damaged by cuts, burns, blisters, or puncture wounds (Laitinen et al 1994; McCunney, 1986). The mucous membranes such as in the eyes and nose may also provide a pathway of entry for certain disease causing microorganisms. 2.2 Hazards in sewage treatment plants 2.2.1 Biological Hazards in wastewater Diseases are caused by infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, helminths and fungi which are present in the raw domestic wastewater mainly from human origin and in agricultural wastes. Diseases are also caused by contact with the toxins released by the infectious organisms, by insects or rodents thriving in the sludge drying beds (ILO Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 1983). The following infectious agents can be found in raw wastewater: Table 2.1: The biological organisms in wastewater Organism Signs Symptoms Bacteria Salmonella Nausea, headache, diarrhea and vomiting; almost always with a fever. Tetanus (lockjaw) Muscular stiffness in jaw, neck. Sweating, fever, difficulty swallowing. Shigella Cramps, diarrhea, fever, bloody stool, nausea, vomiting. Leptospirosis (Weils Disease) Intestinal problems, liver and kidney disease, jaundice. E. coli Diarrhea, vomiting, little or no fever, blood often seen in stool. Tulareisis Chills, fever, swollen lymph nodes, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting. Yersinia Diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain that resembles appendicitis. Viruses Hepatitis A Fever, abdominal pain, nausea, jaundice, dark-colored urine. Hepatitis B Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, jaundice, joint pain. Hepatitis C Develops slowly, loss of appetite, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. Jaundice is less common. HIV Destroys immune system, prone to opportunistic infections. Polio Fever, headache, nausea, muscle pain and stiffness, paralysis. Parasites Entameoebahistolytica (amebiasis) Mild nausea, loose stool, abdominal tenderness. In severe cases can spread throughout the body and attack other organs, especially the liver. Giardia lamblia Cramps, weight loss, loose/greasy stool, bloating. Fever is rare. Sources: AFSCME; Utah Dept. of Health. 2.2.2 Virus 2.2.2.1 Hepatitis A A study was carried out to determine whether or not occupational exposure to sewage is associated with a higher seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus. In order to carry out the study about 600 sewage workers in Singapore were tested. The study showed that sewage workers had an increased occupational risk of acquiring HAV infection and should be protected by active immunisation (B. H. Heng, K. T. Goh, S. Doraisingham, and G. H. Quek, 1994). 2.2.3 Bacteria 2.2.3.1 Helicobacter pylori Several studies have shown that there was an increased risk for gastric cancer among sewage workers. During the last decade, the bacterium Helicobacter pylori has appeared as one important risk factor for gastric cancer and is now considered a class I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (Rajnarayan R. Tiwari, 2008). 2.2.3.2 Legionella Legionella pneumophiliais usually spread by water aerosols caused either pneumonia or a no pneumonic disease (Pontiac fever). An investigation on American sewage workers found that there was no increased risk of infection with L pneumophilia. But recently some cases of Pontiac fever have been reported in workers exposed to aerosols from a sewage plant in the food industry treating only organic industrial waste. L pneumophilia, similar to that present in the infected workers was cultured from the sludge (Gregersen P, Grunnet K, Uldum SA, Andersen BH, Madsen H. 1999). 2.2.4 Parasites There has been a significant positive association between the finding of protozoa in faeces from sewage workers and the duration of exposure to sewage, (Knobloch J,Bialek R,Hagemann J. Intestinaler Protozoenbefall durchberufsbedingten Abwasserkontakt,1983). It has been reported that the prevalence of infestation with intestinal parasites was decreased by adopting good hygienic practices (Schlosser, O., et al, 1999). An increased risk for giardiasis has been reported among workers in France and Germany (Schlosser et al, 1999; Knobloch J, Bialek R, Hagemann J. Intestinalerb Protozoenbefallb durchberufsbedingtenb Abwasserkontakt,1983; Doby JM, Duval JM, Beaucournu JC.Amibiase, 1980; Clark CS, Linnemann CC, Clark JG, Gartside PS.1984; Sullivan R, LinnemannJr CC, Clark CS, Walzer PD.1987).An increased incidence of Entamoebahistiolytica has been reported in sewage exposed workers in France, but not in Germany (Bialek R, Hagemann J. Intestinaler Protozoenbefalldurchberufsbedingten Abwasserk ontakt. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1983; Doby JM, Duval JM, Beaucournu JC.Amibiase, 1980). 2.3 Chemical Hazard Wastewater contains a great amount of industrial contaminants which may harm those people who come into contact with sewage. According to the Pennsylvania DEP, methane and carbon dioxide were the most common chemical byproducts of wastewater. If found in a small enclosed space with a quantity of sewage, these gases could crowd out oxygen and asphyxiate anyone trapped in the area (Nellie J.Brown, 1997). Sewage workers were also exposed to gases such as hydrogen disulfide, methane, ammonia and carbon monoxide. Watt and his colleagues carried out a study on 26 sewer workers exposed to smell and it was found that 53.8% developed sub-acute symptoms including sore throat, cough, chest tightness, breathlessness, thirst, sweating and irritability. Severity of symptoms seemed to be dose related (Watt MM, Watt SJ, Seaton A. 1997). 2.4 Physical Hazard Physical hazards were caused due to exposures to excessive noise levels from mechanical equipment, UV radiation and adverse weather such as low or high temperature, and rain. (ILO Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 1998) 2.5 Ergonomic Factors Musculoskeletal injuries were caused by over exertion during handling heavy loads, such as containers of chemicals, or by awkward working postures including frequent bending (ILO Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 1983). Sewage workers have reported osteoarthritic problems and intervertebral disc herniation which are the common spinal disorders (ILO Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 1970). An investigation was carried out by Friedrich on 255 sewage workers to determine the occurrence of spinal troubles (i.e., neck, upper back and lower back pain [LBP]). He reported that the 12-month prevalence rates of neck, upper back and LBP were 52.4%, 54.8% and 72.8%, respectively. He concluded that the occurrence of spinal troubles and work disability due to LBP increased with age, weekly duration of stooping, lifting and higher abnormal illness-behavior scores (Friedrich M, Cermak T, Heiller I, 2000). 2.6 Psychosocial and organizational factors Discomfort and psychological problems were related to prolonged wearing of protective clothing, the bad smells of the wastes, the feeling of working with soiled liquids in a dirty and not too respectable occupation, and to the worries caused by awareness of the dangers of the workplace (ILO Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 1983). 2.7 Accidental hazards Accidental hazards which occurred in wastewater treatment plants included the followings: Slips and falls on floors made slippery by water, aqueous solutions or solvents. Falls into ponds, pits, clarifiers or tanks causing injuries or drowning. Hazards related to entry into confined spaces. Suffocation can occur due to oxygen shortage, poisoning such as hydrogen sulfide. Burns, by steam or hot vapors, by splashes of hot plating baths, solvent sand other liquids, by contact with hot surfaces (e.g., annealing ovens), Electric shock caused by contact with faulty electrical equipment and cables. Cuts and pricks by sharp tools sharp edges. Injuries especially of eyes caused by flying particles, in particular from rotating brush cleaning or wheel grinding. Fire and explosions due to the formation and release of flammable gases such as methane, hydrogen during processing. Strong chemical reactions caused by uncontrolled mixing of chemicals For example when mixing water with concentrated sulfuric acid during the preparation of reagents for wastewater treatment. Acute poisoning caused by various chemicals such as gaseous chlorine present in the wastes which is used as reagents, or released during the treatment. Acute intoxication caused if mistakenly drank untreated wastewater. Poisoning by phosgene, this may be formed if a worker smokes in the presence of chlorinated-solvent vapors, or if welding or other flames or arcs are used. Chemical burns by corrosive liquids. Damage to eyes by splashes of irritating or corrosive liquids (ILO Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 1998). At a sewage treatment plant in Homeballe in Kimberley,five men aged between thirty and fifty who were repairing the pipes had lost their lives after drowning in a bay. It was believed that they may have gone unconscious due to the toxic fumes from the sewage and the area that they were in then filled up with water and sewage causing all five men to then drown (Jonckie on November 6th, 2012). 2.8 Health problems of workers at the treatment plant 2.8.1 Effects on skin and mucous membranes among the workers Many sewage workers have reported skin disorders (Lundholm M, Rylander R, 1983; Scarlett-Kranz JM, Babish JG, Strickland D, Lisk DJ, 1987) and inflammation of the eyes (Lundholm M, Rylander R, 1983; Mattsby I, Rylander R., 1978).After an accidental exposure to dust containing sludge, several incinerator workers at a sewage treatment plant in Toronto, Canada were affected by irritant contact dermatitis (Nethercott JR, 1981). 2.8.2 Effects on the nervous system Studies have also revealed that central nervous system symptoms such as headache, unusual tiredness, and concentration difficulties have been found among the sewage workers. In addition, an increased risk for non-specific work related gastrointestinal symptoms was found among the sewage workers (J Thorn, L Beijer, R Rylander, 2002). 2.8.3 Respiratory symptoms Several studies have been done to study the respiratory function of sewage workers. All of them demonstrated that respiratory symptoms such as chronic bronchitis and toxic pneumonitis were common among these workers (J Thorn, L Beijer, R Rylander, 2002). Moreover, abnormal respiratory functions which arose due to exposure to endotoxins and airborne bacteria by way of bio aerosols were also discovered in those sewage workers. Furthermore, Zuskin et al. reported that sewage workers were exposed to different occupational noxious agents, which may lead to the development of chronic lung function changes (Zuskin E, Mustajbegovic J, Schachter EN, 1993). 2.9 Health Safety of workers According to OSHA, the employer should give the worker: Training and education about the hazards present at the wastewater treatment plant. A place onsite with clean water for washing hands A place to wash and clean up after work. The right PPE, such as gloves, goggles, a face shield, water-resistant suit, or respirator, depending on the job type. Clean areas for eating and smoking. Cleaning facilities or services for clothing and equipment. (If clothing is badly soiled, change out of it. Keep equipment clean to limit your exposures to the disease-causing agents (Anon, 2004). 2.9.1 Safety of workers In wastewater treatment plants, engineering controls and work practices are the best ways to protect workers from exposures to disease. When engineering controls are not possible, the use personal protective equipment (PPE) is encouraged (Anon, 2004). 2.9.1.2 Engineering controls Engineering controls remove or reduce the hazard either by initial engineering design specifications or by applying methods such as substitution, isolation or ventilation (Raterman, 2002). 2.9.1.3 Administrative control Administrative controls that minimise employees exposures by scheduling reduce work times in contaminant areas, good work practices and employee training. Appropriate training which includes hazard recognition and work practices specific to the employees job that can help reduce exposures are given (Raterman, 2002). 2.9.1.4 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Personal Protective Equipment means any equipment intended to be worn or held by an employee and which protects him against risk to his health or safety. It includes: (a) Any addition or accessory designed to meet that objective; and (b) Clothing affording protection against the weather; (Occupational Safety and Health act, 2005) Workers handling sewage are provided with proper PPE. The following PPE are recommended for workers handing sewage: Goggles: to protect eyes from splashes of human waste or sewage. Protective face mask or splash-proof face shield: to protect nose and mouth from splashes of human waste or sewage. Liquid-repellent coveralls: to keep human waste or sewage off clothing. Waterproof gloves: to prevent exposure to sewage. Rubber boots: to prevent exposure to sewage.(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002). 2.9.1.5 Training for Workers All workers who handle sewage receive training. The training should include information on basic hygiene practices; use and disposal of personal protective equipment; proper handling of sewage; signs and symptoms of the different types of diseases present; and ways in which diseases can be transmitted. Workers are also advised to immediately seek medical attention if displaying any signs or symptoms such as vomiting, stomach cramps and watery diarrhea (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002). 2.10 Hygiene Practices 2.10.1 Hygiene Hygiene is the association of human sciences, professions, technologies and disciplines for the purpose of protecting the health of individuals and community from any harmful exposure (Goldner, 2009). The science of hygiene comprises of disciplines, microbiology, parasitology, immunology, toxicology, entomology, pharmacology, environmental health including geography, topography, and engineering, all with a view to limit, inhibit, or block sources and characteristics that deter from normal living. 2.10.2 Hygiene at Work Protecting workers against disease, ill-health or impairment due to chemical, microbiological and physical health hazards, not only during, but after work, has been the traditional goal of occupational hygiene. Prevention of occupational diseases emanating from the workplace due to toxic exposures has been one of the primary roles (Pityn, 2007). A well planned and properly executed sanitation program for the workplace is of great importance for both the workers and the employers as it helps a company to attain better productivity in a safer work place and it ensures good working conditions for the workers. 2.11 Medical surveillance According to Occupational Safety and Health act, health surveillance should be provided to employees who are exposed to potentially hazardous substance. The medical surveillance should be free of charge and should be carried out at intervals of not less than once every 6 months or at shorter intervals as the medical practitioner may advise. (Occupational Safety and Health act 2005). 2.12 The role of Waste Water Management Authority (WMA) The WMA manages the public sewerage system which consists of 515 km of sewer network, 19 treatment plants and 50 pumping stations with the main treatment plants located at St-Martin, Grand-Baie, Baie-du-Tombeau, and Montagne Jacquot. The Wastewater Management Authority (WMA) has been established as a corporate body under the Wastewater Management Authority Act to be responsible for all matters relating to the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater. It operates as an autonomous organization under the aegis of the Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities. The WMA thus plays an important role in the protection of the environment and in ensuring the countrys sustainable development by the provision of appropriate water pollution standards, wastewater control systems and management services to the entire population of Mauritius (www.gov.mu Accessed on 16.12.12). 2.13 The purpose of this study The general aim of the present study is to identify the general conditions of workers, the possible communicable and non-communicable disease which may affect the workers, the different types of symptoms experienced by the workers at the workplace, the personal protective equipment provided to the workers and the potential risk that can affect the workplace. In addition, information collected from the survey shall broaden the knowledge of sewage workers in regards to the harmful effects of sewage on health.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Morality in Slaughterhouse Five :: Essays Papers

Morality in Slaughterhouse Five The destruction of Dresden was not "moral," nor is any destruction, really. We as mere mortals do not have the right to judge what is moral or not, however. That jurisdiction is left to the powers that be. But, we can still make haphazard guesses as to what strikes us as moral and immoral. Killing other humans is not something we were given the authority to do. The means yes, the will, yes; but not the authority. We have no right to decide who lives or dies. Think of it this way, how would you like it if someone decided you should die for something you had done, malicious or not. Events like the utter destruction of Hiroshima or Baghdad, or anywhere else for that matter, are completely detestable. Despite the fact that the inhabitants of those places had done some things to us that were unacceptable, we still had no right to take the action we took. There is no excuse for such action, there is almost always an available alternative to annihilation. Now, Sodom and Gomorrah, on the other hand, were destroyed morally and rightly by the powers that be. The fact that Lot’s wife, and innocent in the matter (despite the fact that she had compassion for the doomed), just happened to make a foolish choice. The cities were destroyed by the powers that be, whether God or the gods, for reasons they saw fit. It would seem the lesson did not take very well. However, this was an exception to the rule. No individual or group of individuals was directly involved in this. Those that were fit to be saved, were, and those unfit for salvation were demolished. With mass killings as undertaken by mortals, there is no determining or innocence or guilt. Innocents are killed alongside guilty. Those not even involved are massacred along with the rest. That is not to say that people should be sorted through, it is just to say that there is no rhyme or reason to it. It is simply senseless killing. The morality of the crusades is also in question. Christians (a.k.a.—the crusaders) believe in acceptance, forgiveness and universality. However, they proceed to kill those that do not comply with their religion. Am I the only one missing something? It seems to me that people of a religious nature would rather discuss and compromise than storm and pillage.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Lost Lenore Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A raven is a dark and mysterious bird, and in this poem a raven visits a man with a message. Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Raven† is about a man who is having a mental breakdown because of the death of a dear friend. The narrator presents a frightening and sad setting, while throughout the poem, talking about his dear friend Lenore, who has passed away. Later, the mysterious figure of the Raven is introduced as he appears in the narrator’s chamber. Puzzled and terrified by the appearance of this dark vision, the narrator questions his guest in various ways to find out the meaning of his visit. No matter what the narrator asks, the Raven has only one eerie reply.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The narrator describes his frightening and sad surroundings, which reflect his state of mind caused by the death of his dear friend. The narrator opens his sad tale with â€Å"Once upon a midnight dreary† and later offers, â€Å"it was in the bleak December.† He describes his chamber as containing â€Å"many quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore† and his fireplace as â€Å"each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.† With such images as the old musty books and the dying fire, a mood is set that represents the lonely and frightened state of mind of the narrator. Later, he sees curtains moving without a window open, and hears someone tapping on his chamber door. We begin to see that the narrator is losing touch with reality because he is deeply depressed by of the ...

Tillie Olsens Yonnondio Essays -- Yonnondio

Tillie Olsen's Yonnondio    In contrast to many other Depression-era novels, in which the teamwork of the common man is seen as society's glue, Tillie Olsen's Yonnondio looks with great admiration at one family's struggle to keep above water. Through the travails of a coal-mining/farming family, Anna Holbrook becomes the one constant in a society that turns man against himself, and where fortune is evanescent.    The thirst for something stable is evident as the children show their awe of the physical world. As an adult explains the stars to Mazie, Olsen writes: "As his words misted into the night and disappeared, she scarcely listened†¹only the aura over them of timelessness, of vastness, of eternal things that had been before her and would be after her, remained and entered into her with a great hurt and wanting." (33) The present, the words describing the stars, hold no intrigue for Mazie; the idea of a permanence stronger than the Depression does. Two pages later, Olsen writes of Mazie stripping corn silk: "Ã…  she would dream of weaving it into garments incredible. But the tassells withered, grew brown and smelly, and she had to throw them away." (35) Her actual life results only in death, and she must again call up something enduring, "a poem learned from Old Man Caldwell." (35)    Olsen views the Holbrook's struggle as heroic. Says Caldwell, "'Mazie. Live, don't existÃ…  Better to be a cripple and alive than dead, not able to feel anything. No, there is more†¹to rebel against what will not let life be.'" (37) It is this very nobility that allows the Holbrook family to survive past expectations. Life is filled with hurdles, most coming from other people. After learning about different natio... ... emotional resource for the split family. The last passage reveals Mazie's mixture of compassion and strength necessary for survival in the dusty, cold world: "Her hand on the arm around him was open and tender, but the other lay fisted and terrible like her father's that night in the kitchen. Till the dayÃ…  " (152) Olsen has faith in the family; they have waded through hardship after hardship, encountered abandonment and death, and still they will wake the next day. Survival here is not accomplished by reliance upon others, but on one's own reserve of will. This is a stark departure from Steinbeck's and others' views on the Depression; nonetheless, both schools of thought hold tremendous sympathy for the lives full of misery about which they wrote.    Work Cited Olsen, Tillie.   Yonnondio: From the Thirties, Delacorte, 1974, reprinted, Dell, 1989.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Relationships Between Society and Religion Essay

The relationship between religion and society has provided the focus for some of the greatest works of sociology (one thinks of Durkheim, Pareto, and Weber, as well as Marx and Parsons). Samuel Delbert, a Canadian sociologist, rebelled against what he saw as the static concerns of American sociologists, trained his eyes on the process of social change, and placed the study of religion as a major item on the agenda of social analysis in Canada. In three important works, Clark argues that the changing structure of religious organization provided a measure of the pace and character of social change. Clark undoubtedly made the study of religion an important topic in Canadian sociology. At the same time, however, his work intended to limit the range of sociological concerns by linking the study of religion to questions of the forms of religious organization and politics (Artibise, 1990). The Essence of Religion In order to further understand the context between the relationship between religion and society, it becomes clear only after we have determined the basic essence of religion, that which is common to them all. Many different attempts to conceptualize the essence of religions have been made. These definitions usually reflect the viewpoint of the defining subject more than the essence of the defined object. When, for instance, Immanuel Kant defines religion as the â€Å"fulfillment of all of our duties as divine commands,† this doesn’t reflect the essence of religion which is concerned with a completely different sphere, but rather the rationalistic standpoint of Kant, for whom religion is essentially theonomic ethics. Often the essence of a specific historical religion is held up as the ideal and norm for all religion (Mensching, 1976). Prophecy presupposes a relationship between religion and society that conflicts profoundly with established religion. Established religion sees religion as the sacred ideology of the established social order. It is the â€Å"handmaiden† of the ruling class. It pronounces the established social order to be created by God and to be a reflection of the divine will (Riemer, 1996). The Founding Fathers In their sociological writing, Marx, Weber, and Durkheim were responding to the economic and social changes of the 19th and early 20th centuries, timely more often than not by the disastrous effects that fleeting industrialization had imposed on the European community of which they were sector. The course of religion could scarcely be averted with this foundation, for religion was seen as an important area of the society that seemed to be shifting beyond identification. By at least a period, Karl Marx (1818-83) predates the other. There are known two important factors in the Marxist thoughts on religion: The first is descriptive, the second evaluative. His dependent variable is religion; in other words, its structure and nature are liable on social and most importantly economic relations, which constitute the foundation of social examination. It can never be understood separate from the economic form and the association of the capitalist or worker to the basis of formulation. The second factor connects from this however, has an assessing component. Religion is said to be a form of indifference or alienation; it is a symptom of social malformation which disguises the exploitative relationships of capitalist society. Religion persuades people that such relationships are natural and, therefore, acceptable. It follows that the real causes of social distress cannot be tackled until the religious element in society is stripped away to reveal the injustices of the capitalist system; everything else is a distraction. Subsequent debates concerning Marx/s approach to religion have to be approached with care. It has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between (a) Marx’s own analysis of religious phenomena, (b) a subsequent school of Marxism as a form of sociological thinking, and (c) what has occurred in the twentieth century in the name of Marxism as a political ideology. The essential and enduring point to grasp from Marx himself us that religion cannot be understood apart from the world of which it is a part; this is a crucial sociological insight and central to the evolution of the sub discipline. It needs, however, to be distinguished from an over deterministic interpretation of Marx that postulates the dependence of religion on economic forces in mechanical terms; this is unhelpful. The final point is more political. It may indeed be the case that one function of religion is to mitigate the very evident hardships of this world and so disguise them.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Identifying Potential Risk, Response, Recovery

In this paper I have just been hired as an Information Security Engineer for a video game development company. I have previously identified all of the potential Threats, Vulnerabilities and Malicious Attacks for the videogame development company. The CIO have reviewed my report and has now requested that I draft a report analyzing and assessing any potential Malicious Attacks, Vulnerabilities and Threats that may be carried out against the company’s network. I will then choose a strategy for dealing with risk, such as mitigation, assignment, risk and avoidance.Next I will develop controls that will be used to mitigate each risk. Now let’s begin by discussing the threat of the Web/FTP server, some servers, or hosts, must be open to the internet. Web servers are examples of such hosts. You want any user to be able to access your web server- but you don’t want everyone to be able to get to your internal network (Fundamentals of Information Systems Security). The sim ple solution for this is just to isolate the host that is connected to the internet from the internal networks and then create a demilitarized zone.The risk mitigation for the Web/FTP, the FTP is very useful for working with remote systems, or to move files between systems. On the other hand the use of FTP across the internet or other untrusted networks, exposes you to certain security risk. Your object authority scheme might not provide enough protection when you allow the FTP on your system. The next risk for FTP is a hacker can mount a denial of service attack with your FTP server to disable user profile (FTP Security). This is usually done by repeatedly trying to logging on with the incorrect password for a user profile, generally until the profile is disabled.This kind of attack will disable the profile if it reached the maximum sign on count of three. If the company use a FTP server logon exit program to reject logon requests by any system user profile and those user profiles that the company designate will not be allowed FTP access. Now we will discuss the NIDS, the primary purpose of a network-based intrusion detection system is to identify attackers trying to expose vulnerable network services. The NIDS can respond to the attack or alert personnel, who can take the necessary and appropriate actions for this type of attack.NIDS allows administrator to respond to attacks with actions appropriate to their security policy. To properly analyze false alarm reduction strategies, it is necessary to quantify risk and the NIDS role in risk reduction. The NIDS uses two formulas, one formula assumes that risk is roughly equivalent to single loss expectancy. This formula for this quantification is SLE= (Asset Value x Exposure Factor) (Fundamentals of Information Systems Security). The next formula states that risk is equal to exposure multiplied by threat. Risk= Exposure x Threat.This equation determines threat and the type of threat. For example there are threats of port scans, automated scans and sweeps, Denial of Service and Service attacks and compromises. Now we will move on to Windows 2008 Active Directory Domain Controllers (DC), because domain controllers provide critical services to their clients, it is crucial to minimize the risk of any disruption of these services that may be caused by malicious attacks. Antivirus Software can be used to mitigate the risk of malicious attacks in Windows 2008 Active Directory Domain Controllers.Make sure that you verify the antivirus software you select is confirmed to be compatible with your domain controllers. Do not use domain controller systems as general workstations. Another way to prevent malicious attacks on domain controller systems is to not allow users to use domain controllers to surf the web or to perform any other activities that can allow the introduction of malicious code. Only allow browsing on sites that are known to be safe, this will be did strictly for the purpose of supportin g server operation and maintenance.Another practice to keep in mind is to make sure that all of the company’s files, including the shared ones, should be ran against a virus scanning software. This bring me to the file servers, have the potential to receive different viruses such as worms, Trojan horses and logic bombs. To allow an end user to upload files to your website, is like opening another door for a malicious user to compromise your server (acunetix. com). File uploads are permitted in social network applications. File uploads are also allowed with blogging, e-banking sites and you tube.All of these network sites allow users the opportunity to efficiently share files with corporate employees. Users are allowed to share files with corporate employees, through uploaded videos, pictures, avatars and many other types of files. The best way to prevent malicious attacks through the company’s file servers is to make sure that the file that is being uploaded is validat ed. This will prevent a hacker from uploading files with malicious codes that can lead to a server compromise. Another way to prevent a malicious attack on the file server is for the company to block all dangerous extensions.In cases like this, there would be a blacklist, the list will show the dangerous extensions and there access will be denied if the extension of file they are trying to upload is on this list. The best practices to follow when uploading files onto websites and web applications. The first risk mitigation in a file server is to estimate the size of programs, files, and transaction. Then you will need to prevent deviation in size of the files as well as the amount of users that have access to the files. Now we will move forward the Wireless access point (WAP), this is the connection between a wired and wireless network.This is also a wireless security protocol designed to address and fix the known security issues in WEP. WAP’s are radios, sending and receivin g networking information over the air between wireless devices and the wired network wireless (Fundamentals of Information Systems Security). The best way to prevent malicious attacks on a WAP is to increase security. Presently WPA provides users with a higher level of assurance that their data will remain protected by using Temporal Key Integrity Protocol for data encryption.If the data is not encrypted then it is considered as fair game, because it would be very easy for anyone that have access to a radio to access this data. The mitigation risk for a Wireless access point is to make sure your technology is updated. Failure to upgrade to newer, more advanced technologies could potentially impact productivity and lead to significant downtime, security vulnerabilities, and non-compliance issues. Older wireless technology do not support new features and functions that are proving to be so valuable.Next you will need to choose the right carrier, ensuring information is secure within t he supply chain, complying with all the latest government and retailer mandates and taking advantage of all the latest features and functions to save time and money can seem like a daunting task ( Wireless technology Migration: Mitigating risk and increasing supply chain efficiency). Now we will discuss the 100- Desktop/Laptop computers, both of these computers are subject to viruses such as worms, hoaxes, Trojans and other security vulnerabilities.The best way to prevent these from occurring is to install and use a firewall. Always make sure you are installing and updating the latest critical security software. Add a virus software scanner, to allow the software to scan your computer for potential viruses. Next we will discuss the VOIP telephone system, this is one of the newest technologies that is being rapidly embraced by the market as an alternative to the traditional public switched telephone network. The malicious attacks that can occur with this system is denial of service, impersonation or spoofing or toll  Ã‚  fraud.The best way to prevent this from happening is to add port security, cisco secure access control server, DHCP Snooping, Cisco firewall solutions and intrusion prevention. Data transit can also be used to protect the voice traffic over the wireless LAN’s. The risk mitigation for desktop/laptop is as followed is to target malware with automated defenses. One of the first line of defenses for any PC or laptop is to block or eliminate viruses, worms, spyware, and other malware, including Trojan downloaders and keystroke loggers, both on endpoints and at the gateway.Deploy anti-malware and filtering software for all email gateways, to prevent malware and spam from ever reaching the PC’s. Next you would want to patch your vulnerabilities as quickly as possible, create a password to access your PC or laptop. To really maximize security in a minimal amount of time, as part of the â€Å"acceptable use† policy, prohibit users from installing unauthorized software on PC’s or laptops (10 Ways to mitigate your security risk).