Research hypotheses and questions free essay sample

It is speculated that first grade young ladies will show preferred perusing appreciation over first grade young men. In Example 1, the creator is anticipating that the person will discover higher appreciation among young ladies than young men. To test it, a nonexperimental study would be suitable in light of the fact that nothing in the speculation recommends that medicines will be given. A straightforward examination theory predicts a connection between two factors. From your investigation of factors, it ought to be certain that the two factors in Example 1 will be (1) sex and (2) understanding appreciation. The speculation expresses that perusing cognizance is identified with sexual orientation. Model 2 is a speculation for a trial study. Model 2 It is guessed that kids who circular segment demonstrated a video with gentle viciousness will be more forceful on the play area than the individuals who are indicated a comparable video without the brutality. In Example 2, the free factor is brutality (mellow versus none), and the needy variable is forcefulness on the play area. We will compose a custom exposition test on Examination speculations and questions or on the other hand any comparative subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page The speculations in Examples 1 and 2 are instances of directional theories. In a directional theory, we anticipate which gathering will be higher or have a greater amount of something. In some cases we have a nondirectional speculation. Think about Example 3. Model 3 It is theorized that the youngster raising acts of Tribe An are unique in relation to those of Tribe B. The creator of Example 3 is stating that there will be a distinction yet doesn't anticipate the bearing of the distinction. This is totally worthy when there is no reason for making an informed speculation. Rather than a nondirectional theory, we may express an exploration reason. Model 4 shows an exploration reason that compares to the nondirectional speculation in Example 3. Model 4 The reason for existing is to investigate the distinctions in childrearing rehearses between Tribe An and Tribe B. An examination question may likewise be fill in for a nondirectional theory. Model 5 shows an exploration question that compares to the nondirectional theory in Example 3. Model 5 The examination question is â€Å"How do the childrearing rehearses in Tribe An and Tribe B contrast? † When utilizing an examination question as the reason for research, we as a rule ought to be mindful so as not to state it as an inquiry that can be replied with a straightforward â€Å"yes† or â€Å"no,† as is done in Example 6. Model 6 The inquiry is, â€Å"Do the youngster raising practices in Tribe An and Tribe B contrast? † Example 6 just asks â€Å"do they vary? † This is definitely not an extremely intriguing exploration question. Model 5 is prevalent in light of the fact that it asks â€Å"how do they contrast? † The decision between a nondirectional speculation, an examination reason, and an exploration question, is simply a matter of individual taste†all are satisfactory in established researchers. Obviously, when we are happy to foresee the result of an examination, we should express a directional theory. On the off chance that you’ve read research reports, you may have experienced references to another sort of hypothesisâ€the invalid speculation. This is a measurable theory, which will be investigated straightaway. EXERCISE 1. Which sort of proclamation (speculation, reason, or question) predicts the result of an investigation? 2. â€Å"It is guessed that understudies who have firm profession objectives accomplish higher GPAs than the individuals who don't have firm vocation objectives. † Is this a directional or nondirectional speculation? 3. Would a trial or nonexperimental study be better for testing the speculation being referred to 2? 4. â€Å"It is theorized that offspring of outsiders and offspring of local conceived residents will contrast in their perspectives toward school. † Is this a directional or nondirectional speculation? 5. â€Å"The objective of this investigation is to analyze school students’ mentalities toward religion. † Is this announcement a theory or reason? 6. â€Å"Are offspring of heavy drinkers diverse in their social change than offspring of non-drunkards? † Is this examination question expressed suitably? Why? Why not? 7. When we are happy to foresee the result of an examination, would it be a good idea for us to express a directional or nondirectional theory? Inquiries for Discussion 8. Repeat this theory as an exploration reason: â€Å"It is guessed that there is a distinction in work fulfillment between the individuals who get ordinary criticism on their activity execution and the individuals who get sporadic input. † 9. Is the speculation being referred to 9 directional or nondirectional? Clarify. 10. Could an investigation be led to test the speculation being referred to 8? Clarify. 11. Rehash this theory as an examination question: â€Å"It is theorized that the individuals who practice consistently and the individuals who don't practice routinely will contrast in different practices that influence wellbeing. † ANSWERS 1. speculation 2. directional 3. nonexperimental 4. nondirectional 5. reason 6. no, in light of the fact that it is expressed in a manner that can be addressed yes or no 7. directional 8. Test answer: The intention is to investigate contrasts in work fulfillment between the individuals who get standard criticism on their activity execution and the individuals who get unpredictable input. 9.â nondirectional on the grounds that it doesn't foresee which gathering will have more noteworthy occupation fulfillment 10. Test answer: truly, in light of the fact that we could genuinely control the consistency of criticism 11. Test answer: How do the individuals who practice consistently and the individuals who don't vary in different practices that inf luence wellbeing? Prologue TO THE NULL HYPOTHESIS Suppose we drew arbitrary examples of architects and analysts, regulated a self-report proportion of friendliness, and processed the mean (the most usually utilized normal) for each gathering. Besides, assume the mean for engineers is 65. For instance, possibly the analysts were reached during December, when numerous get-togethers occur and the architects were reached during a miserable February. The best way to preclude predisposition as a clarification is to find a way to forestall it. For this situation, we would need to ensure that the friendliness of the two gatherings was estimated similarly simultaneously. 3. Maybe the populaces of analysts and specialists are the equivalent however the examples are unrepresentative of their populaces as a result of irregular examining blunders. For example, the irregular draw may have given us an example of therapists who are increasingly amiable, by and large, than their populace. The third clarification has a name †it is the invalid theory. The general structure wherein it is expressed differs from scientist to specialist. Here are three forms, which are all reliable with one another: Version An of the invalid theory: The watched contrast was made by testing blunder. (Note that the term inspecting blunder alludes just to arbitrary errorsâ€not mistakes made by a predisposition. ) Version B of the invalid speculation: There is no obvious contrast between the two gatherings. (The term genuine contrast alludes to the distinction we would discover in an evaluation of the populaces, that is, the distinction we would discover if there were no inspecting blunders. ) Version C of the invalid theory: The genuine contrast between the two gatherings is zero. Essentialness tests decide the likelihood that the invalid theory is valid. (We will consider the utilization of explicit importance tests in future weeks. ) Suppose for our model, we utilize an essentialness test and find that the likelihood that the invalid theory is genuine is under 5 out of 100; this would be expressed as p

Self Harm essays

Self Harm papers Self-hurt is a developing and disturbing pattern. Its a terrifying issue, generally regular among ladies, where harmed and estrangement are communicated by harming oneself. There are a few sorts of self-hurt. Self-mutilation and different dietary problems are among the most widely recognized types of implosion. These types of self-hurt regularly lead to self destruction. There are three sorts of self-mutilation. The rarest and most extraordinary structure is Major self-mutilation. This structure typically brings about changeless deformation, for example, maiming or appendage removal. Another structure is Stereo-run of the mill self-mutilation. This typically comprises of head slamming, eyeball squeezing, and gnawing. The third and most normal structure is Superficial self-mutilation. This includes trimming, consuming, hair pulling, bone breaking, hitting, impedance with wound recuperating, and fundamentally anything that makes hurt oneself. Its practically unbelievable that one would perpetrate injury upon oneself. Notwithstanding, cutting, consuming, slicing, wounding, and wounding happens while clearly no physical agony is felt. Upwards of 3,000,000 Americans are accepted to be experiencing this mental issue. (Simpson) The very idea of this issue is covered in mystery. It is nothing unexpected that it possesses taken some energy for individuals to get insightful to this developing issue. There are a few distinct hypotheses with respect to why one takes part in such conduct. One well known hypothesis is that its a control issue. There are likewise a few explanations behind a requirement for control. For example, when youngsters are mishandled, they are in a circumstance of no control. Their abusers can hurt them at whenever, and the kids are to a great extent weak to stop it. At the point when the youngster becomes more established and is confronted with upsetting circumstances, it is anything but difficult to feel wild. There is regularly a powerful urge or desire for torment, since torment is related with worry in that people mind. Individuals who have had these associatio... <!

Philosophy of Education Essay -- Philosophy of Teaching Statement

Theory of Education Since the time I was a young lady I had this fantasy about being an educator. Regardless of whether it was making up â€Å"pretend† tests or having my more youthful sibling endure my guidance, I realized that I was a conceived instructor. What's more, since I have developed and developed into a mindful young lady, I feel that my place in this world is in the homeroom. I feel that the youngsters are our future and we should train them all that we know as well as could be expected. Each late spring since the age of 13, I have been minding neighborhood families in my little old neighborhood of Pineville. Truth be told, 2 years prior I had been keeping an eye on an Optometrist and his better half and they were anticipating their subsequent kid. As a respect, they inquired as to whether they could name their second girl after me. Kara Nicole was conceived in June of 2001. In actuality, I have discovered that my sentiments on instruction frequently mirror the melody The Greatest Lov e of All by Whitney Houston. She states in her tune that she feels that the youngsters are our future and I should state that I concur totally with her assumptions on the training of our childhood. At the point when I grew up to enter school, there was no doubt in my brain regarding what field I needed to enter. Rudimentary training was the main choice for me. One of my preferred statements, in spite of the fact that I don't have a clue about the creator, says that â€Å"To the world you might be one individual, however to one individual you might be the world† and I should state this mirrors my way of thinking on instruction. To me, this statement uncovers each caring idea I have on instruction alone. Educators in some little manner or another can be the daylight in a child’s life. As I would like to think, instructors, assume numerous jobs; guides, compatriots, wellsprings of motivation, and disciplin... ...Accord College. I wish to enter a bosses program at some other foundation of advanced education. Nonetheless, as of now, I am uncertain where that foundation might be. I know without a doubt, that I do anticipate accomplishing something with the Special Education division. Alongside these additional classes, I will consistently be open for Summer classes or workshops that instructors frequently go to keep themselves refreshed on current patterns. In my job as an instructor, I feel that I should invite every single type of progress that happens during my time. Regardless of whether I concur with it or not, the fact is that one must give it a possibility. I feel that our state and nearby governments, just as national governments, will keep on doing the best for our instructive framework as could be expected under the circumstances. Change, to me, is only a progress from old to new. You should invite the change regardless of how troublesome it might be.

Jewish Humor - 5500 Words

Jewish Humor (Term Paper Sample) Content: JEWISH HUMOR OF LAUGHTER AND TEARS Student’s Name Course Date Introduction This paper delves to explain the relationship between laughter and tears in the context of Jewish humor while utilizing the theory of dimensional accrual and dissociation. Furthermore, the discussion scrutinizes the extent to which the humor has transformed as impacted upon by globalization orientation of the current world. The Jewish society, through the hardships of life, has turned to be realists (without illusions); with a Jewish joke not limited to fun but often, the joke has an important message for the audience. Hence, a listener, more often than not, frequently becomes silent and thoughtful after laughing at the quip or joke as attributed to the fact that the Jews are mostly jesting philosophers. More interesting is the fact that the Jewish culture is such that it can utilize the moments of sorrow/cries to create sudden bursts of joy. Nevertheless, the period s of laughter and tears may interchange at a particular instant of communication in the Jews world. Is there some connectedness between laughter and sorrow? How do the two elements of humor differ? It is true that we often realize tears are trickling down our faces during the instances of laughter, and frequently hearty laugh at the termination of a ‘good’ cry. Considering the feeling one has after either a hearty laugh or a good cry may give a reasonable insight into the two phenomena. A drained feeling accompanies the instances of a cry, but with relief as the closing sensation; exactly how one feels after a hearty laugh. Superficially, humor may be perceived as a simple concept in which either, something is said (or happens) and there erupts a hearty laugh or cries. However, understanding the psychology behind the humor is quite a tricky task, hence the conception of several theoretical frameworks to examine its complexities. Such was the cause for an alarm to int roduce the theory of dimensional accrual and dissociation to help account for the technical concepts of humor in a laugh-cry domain. The perspective of dissociation and dimensional accrual accounts for the many temporal and spatial communicative behaviors in human culture; and postulates that as individual shifts from the worlds of magic univalent, mythic bivalent, and perspectival trivalent, there is a subsequent increase in the dimensional awareness. In the method, dissociation implies a state of affairs in which a factor observed and the subjective observer are increasingly and mutually separated; the subject and object are inseparable and you cannot have one without the other. Is that the relationship between laughter and tears in the Jewish symbolic world of humor? To answer such an interesting question, it is important to thoroughly, comprehend the concepts of the theory of dimensional accrual and dissociation. The Theory of Dimension Accrual and Dissociation It clarifies tha t as an individual change from the worlds of magic univalent, mythic bivalent, and perspectival trivalent, there is a subsequent increase in the dimensional awareness. In the method, dissociation implies a state of affairs in which a factor observed and the subjective observer are increasingly and mutually separated; the view of subject and object is inseparable. Hence, in the magic world, the method acknowledges that no separation occurs between a thing and its function; for example, stealing a magical object does not transfer the power from the original owner as only the latter is familiar with the magic words. Nevertheless, the object and subject (the actual owner and power possessor) are inseparable, and only that subject can invoke the functioning of the object by uttering perfect incantations. The magic world is, therefore, typical of a one-dimensional communication, having strictly one meaning, the figural meaning. Besides, the mythic world is two-dimensional and symbo lic in nature and trying to separate an object from the owner may not be considered as serious an offense as in the magical world. For example, mishandling a crucifix may upset a Christian as it amounts to disrespect of their God. However, the one who mishandles the object is unlikely to be killed but punished in another way. Because the crucifix is a symbol but not the actual God, the followers are not greatly upset. The concepts of metaphor dominate the world of mythology in the globe and in which things have more than a single meaning i.e. both literal and figural meaning at the same time. Finally, the perspectival world is trivalent (three-dimensional); it is a world of discrete duality where an individual experiences a critical distance that permits disinterest, doubt, and irrelevance. Like the mythological world, perspectival communication is signolic, stimulating little emotions. However, it is spatial and only conveying one meaning at a time; a classic example of perspectiv al communication is the use of modern codes of 1 and 0 in computers. As one shift (accrues) from magical to mythological and perspectival communication, he or she becomes increasingly disengaged (dissociated) from the rest of the world. For example, an individual’s name may be regarded as to identify the quality of that person like strength and wisdom; however, people’s names lack meaning for most perspectival dissociated moderns. Also, modern arts may serve as a complete dissociation. Radically, contemporary arts claim a peculiar isolation from the rest of the world during scrutiny alongside religious iconography and ritual artifacts. Furthermore, with the prevalence or accrual of dimensional awareness prevails, dissociation incidences increase with a broad range of related consequences; for instance, issues of metaphysical denial of meaning, increased sense of isolation, and a hyper-valuation of lack of interest may result. In the civilized world characterized by t he quest for development and improvements, it is imperative to understand the position of culture. Humor, coined around laugh and tears, is an important aspect of culture worth scrutiny. A complex phenomenon is only well understandable under analysis using the theory of dimension accrual and dissociation. Humor of Laughter and Tears-what it entails Regarding balance, there is a delicate relationship between laughter and tears. How effective can humor be when coping with life constraints of depression, death, anxiety, and sickness? Humor usually surfaces during a healthy recovery or healing process. Forced laughter or contrived humor is usually risky (just in the case of blasphemy in the magical world) and therefore, considerable caution must be applied while using humor during tragic moments. Conversely, humor is a great healer during moments of grief and disaster; notably, humor is either beneficial or destructive/hurtful in nature. The advantages of humor include building relat ionships with friends and relatives, creating a nurturing living environment, helping people to cope, and pain management. First, enhancing positive relationships with colleagues/friends is perhaps one of the greatest strengths of humor. Realistically speaking, laughter is indicative of humor in action, reflecting the social aspect of humor; it is a distinct vocalization that unfolds during the positive social relations. It has a biological origin as a relief’s shared expression at the termination of danger (tears). The calming sensation felt after a hearty laugh may aid in inhibiting fear, making it a behavioral symbol of trust in one’s companion. Laughter is an aspect of human behavior controlled by the brain; it helps human subjects to make clear their intentions in socialization while providing an emotional tinge for conversations. It signals one’s acceptance of an interaction group and may be as contagious as to provoke laughter from others; hence its mode rn use in the television comedy shows. Second, humor builds a nurturing environment for living; a positive emotional touch (humor) provides the emotional baseline for the neurological establishment of children from birth. Those who lack the necessary emotional development seem to lack ability to interact appropriately to the humor of joy, laughter, fun, and cry. Third, humor has also been tested to help people cope and as such, a sense of humor implies a human’s ability to respond the challenges of life while optimistic; it aims at enhance optimistic patterns of response alongside positive emotional experience. Moreover, in reaction to life tragedies, there is always the issue of dark or sick humor and on that basis; humor can be utilized as a tool to provide an easement owing to the most painful life experience like the loss of a loved one. For example, in the New York’s 2011 terrorist attack, Jay Leno made fun of the color-coded terror alert system, reiterating that the system was confusing: â€Å"Yesterday the alert changed from blue to pink; now half the nation feels we are pregnant, Leno joke. Hence, there existed a positive emotional impact among tense citizens who watched the late night show.† Finally, humor is an essential arsenal for pain management; for example, a study of cancer and chemotherapy-related symptoms and the immune/endocrine stability between subjects watching either humorous or non-humorous DVD proved the notion. The results depicted that there was a decrease in the symptoms among humorous observers compared to the non-humorous counterparts. Besides, the group showed physiological shifts indicative of better immune functions; hence, humor may be critical in positively influencing health outcomes. Most data emerging from biological research have thus proved the link between humor and quality living although it is evident that fear and stress or depression antagonize human’s well-being. However, the real discovery of the already researched work that humor maximize learning, build relationships, relieve stress/...

What Makes a Monster Essay - 620 Words

What Makes a Monster? Monsters are often thought of as green, abnormally large and scary. They are believed to hide in dark shadows and forgotten street corners. Monsters have a bad reputation and the very nature of the term monster is not smiled upon. I believe these thoughts are generic and relics of a much safer past. In our morally bankrupt society monsters exist in the realist scariest form. As we step into adulthood and take our heads out of the comic books that shows us the danger of the Green Goblin we must now be alerted the real demons. Adolf Hitler killed thousands upon thousands of people. His persona and legacy can only be thought of as sick and sadistic. Adolf Hitler did by himself what would take an entire army of†¦show more content†¦This lead to a total DNA change that turned him into a huge psychotic lizard. Peter Parker who had been bit by a radio active spider was now on a search to rediscover who he really is and only at the age of sixteen. If Stan Lees classic comic was mea nt to teach us anything it was meant to teach us that we have a choice. Peter Parker a low income orphan, who was bullied and weak used his powers to become a hero. Osborne decided other wise. Using not Spiderman, but Peter Parker as my last explain I would like to show you that what makes a monster is more than the struggle for power as I earlier stated. It is the choice we make with that power whether it is given to us or taken. In conclusion I want to provide you with a few points of clarity. Power did not make Adolf Hitler a monster. Self-love, greed, and ill convinced passion made Hitler the monster history remembers him as. Passions gone wrong made Dr. Osborne into an actual scaly green monster he became. Passion may have drove these men to extreme lengths, but their bad choices made them monsters. Good thing that in every comic, movie, and history book, there is always a few Peter Parkers to save the day. You can not have the bad guys with out theShow MoreRelatedWhat Makes A Monster? Essay1461 Words   |  6 PagesWhat defines a monster? Is it their grotesque, unnatural appearance that separates them from the rest of mankind, or is it their lack of remorse and compassion that makes them different? The word monster conjures up figures from gothic horror of exotic peoples with horrifyingly exaggerated features, and the kinds of impossible delusive beasts inhabiting the pages of medieval bestiaries. Well at first I thought exactly that. When I used to hear the word â€Å"monster†, my mind immediately pictured theRead MoreA Monster Can Be Hard To Define. Describing A Monster Can1332 Words   |  6 PagesA monster can be hard to define. Describing a monster can be easier than defining one. The term ’monster’ is broad and vague and as a result, it is easier to describe a monster rather than to define one. Tina Boyer says: â€Å"A monster is a cultural construct. By definition, it is a thing that shows or reflects cultural fears and forbidden obsessions, social and moral problems that express themselves in the body and behavior of the monstrous creature (Boyer 240).† What makes a monster scary differsRead MoreThe Most Monstrous Being In Mary Shelleys Novel, Frankenstein1465 Words   |  6 Pagesword dabbled to describe the way Frankenstein looks for body parts in graves. These could have been from people who had families or other loved ones, but Frankenstein treats them as pieces of meat, materials for his experiment, and this makes the reader disgusted at Frankenstein. This is the first sign that Frankenstein is immoral. Despite this, might be forgiven as his judgement is affected by his desire to create rather than destroy life. Although this could shock a modernRead MoreCritical Essay On Frankenstein1219 Words   |  5 Pagesall based around how Frankenstein creates a monster in his laboratory. This monster is made of old human body parts, and Frankenstein brings it to life. The monster is unable to fit into society and he is called ugly often. Throughout the novel the monster just wants to fit in and be accepted by others. Frankenstein being his creator should have helped him fit in and guide him, because in a way the monster is like Frankenstein’s child. Although the monster murdered Henry Clerval, William FrankensteinRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book St. Lucy s Home For Girls Raised By Wolves1215 Words   |  5 PagesKanye West said it best, â€Å"Everybody knows I’m a M*f**ing monster† and honestly, as humans we are. In Seven Monster Theses, Jeffery Cohen develops an idea that â€Å"monsters† are essential to society. In fact, they construct what is â€Å"normal†, â€Å"rational†, and â€Å"civilized†. Specifically, â€Å"monsters† are foundational to how we view ourselves. â€Å"Monsters† contain all the traits deemed unacceptable and odd. It can be concluded that every outlier is a â€Å"monster†. In St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, KarenRead More Frankenstein Version by Kenneth Branagh Essay780 Words   |  4 PagesKenneth Branagh In 1931 Hollywood made a simplified version of Frankenstein and stereotyped the monster to be evil with bolts in his neck and a big, green square head. In the 1960s an English company called Hammer Horror revitalised Frankenstein movies and Christopher Lee made the monster look more like a man. All of the Frankenstein movies before Kenneth Branaghs version had made the monster evil. In Kenneth Branaghs version of the story he filmed the entire book and tried to stick closelyRead MoreMonster Culture By Jeffery Cohen1202 Words   |  5 PagesIn â€Å"Monster Culture†, Jeffery Cohen develops an idea that â€Å"monsters† are essential to society. In fact, they construct what is â€Å"normal†, â€Å"rational†, and â€Å"civilized†. Specifically, â€Å"monsters† are foundational to how we view ourselves. â€Å"Monsters† contain all the traits deemed unacceptable and odd. It can be concluded that every outlier is a â€Å"monster†. In St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, Karen Russell tells the story of a pack of wolf girls who are transitioning into young ladies. RussellRead MoreAlexandra Giambruno. Mrs.Schroder. English Iv Honors. 231030 Words   |  5 Pagesto create what the story is. The story of Frankenstein has mysterious aspects that help the main character Victor create the monster. In a gothic novel, there are a ton of abstract thoughts that can be in play pertaining to the type of story that the author creates. Power and Constraint is one point that plays a lot in the novel itself, it all started with the main creator. 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Monsters are symbols of the inherent evil of human nature and of the dark truths of the natural world. Monsters are also challenges, tasks a hero must complete. Sometimes monsters are the ultimate measure of a hero’s worth, other times just another step in a hero’s journey. In the book Bulfinch’s Mythology, Thomas Bulfinch writes

Witches Role in Macbeth - 2482 Words

Most people in Shakespeare time believed in the powers of witches, and witchcraft became the object of morbid and fevered fascination. Between 1560 and 1605 hundreds of people (mainly women) were convicted as witches and executed. Witches were credited with diabolical powers. They could predict the future, bring on night in daytime, cause fogs and tempests and kill animals. They cursed animals with fatal wasting disease and could raise evil spirits by concocting a horrible brew with nauseating ingredients. It was believed witches allowed the devil to suck their blood in return for a familiar (an animal used as an evil servant). Accused witches were examined for the devils mark, a red mark on their body from where Satan had sucked their†¦show more content†¦Following the murder of Duncan, Macbeth realises that the murder has put him into the control of demon forces which are the enemy of mankind. At the beginning of the play we are shown that the Elizabethans strongly believe in God. After Macbeth has killed Duncan he makes several holy references. Elizabethan audiences believed in the divine right of kings. This is the belief that the kings is a special person and has been appointed by God. As did James I and Shakespeare, most people believed in the divine right of kings, so killing a king would be worse than a normal murder. People thought that if God had been upset then he would cause other tragic events to take place. This is why the audience would have been expecting the dreadful events following the death of King Duncan. Shakespeare mentions how the town had become panic stricken, and how there had been weird goings on. ha, good father, thou seest the heavens, as troubled with mans act, threatens his bloody stage. In Act 2 scene 4, Ross and an old man exchange views on the darkness and unnaturalness of the events that mirror Duncans murder. Duncans horses, beauteous and swift, turned wild in nature, contending gainst obedience. The two men discuss how they have seen with their own eyes, the sun being obscured, owls killin g falcons and Duncans horses eating each other. These misconducts would not have surprise the audience, but confirmed their beliefs. The way theShow MoreRelatedThe Role Of The Witches In Macbeth735 Words   |  3 Pages In the play Macbeth the three witches managed to change the future to what they had predicted. Other types of fantasy also played a role in making the tragic ending. These sorts of witchcraft or in other words magic made the play what it is and conveyed character such as Macbeth to do and think of certain things. The witches played a huge role in the story of Macbeth and made him become who he ends up as. Macbeth was a very honorable knight that served king Duncan till his last breath. He didRead MoreThe Role Of The Witches In Macbeth1395 Words   |  6 Pages In the novel Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is told his prophecy by the three witches, mysterious, secretive creatures, who we are left to develop our own vision of. Witches are known to represent evil, envy, and are always the villains of the story. In this novel, they are illustrated very similarly. In the beginning of the story, we learn that the witches are somehow associated with the weather, can cast spells, and like to take revenge. Macbeth pays the witches a visit to ask for hisRead MoreRole of the Witches in Macbeth1040 Words   |  5 PagesMacbeth is a play about morals and how people can be easily influenced. The audience at the time when the play was written were more superstitious than we are. They believed in witches and thought that they were the devils disciples. They were believed to be able to control the weather, blamed many things, such as outbreaks of disease on them. The first people to meet the Witches are Banquo and Macbeth. They find the witches appearance is vile. We can see this as Banquo says that â€Å"(they) look notRead More Roles of the Witches in Macbeth Essay787 Words   |  4 PagesThe Roles of the Witches in the Play Macbeth In this essay I will look at the role of the three witches and the influence they have on many of the central characters within Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. I will begin by outlining how the audience would have viewed the appearance of the witches on stage, and move on to show how Shakespeare used language to make them into a mystical yet strong presence. In Jacobean England, when Macbeth was first staged, the audience would have had a veryRead MoreThe Role of the Witches in Macbeth Essay996 Words   |  4 PagesThe Role of the Witches in Macbeth In the play, Shakespeare used the witches to represent the supernatural, evil, a destructive force and an inversion of natural order. At the time the play was written, people believed this, and feared witches. People believed that witches had the power to change the weather and other special powers such as predicting the future and the power of flight. In Act 1 SceneRead MoreRole Of Witches In Macbeth1160 Words   |  5 PagesThe Wicked Witches of Scotland Throughout history, people have often fought over power and used it to dominate others. There are many forms of power such as physical strength, knowledge, wealth, possessions, and fear. These are simple, mundane powers that people can wield. However, in many religions and some superstitions, people believe in beings who possess supernatural powers. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth there are such beings, more specifically witches, who have many paranormal capabilitiesRead More Supernatural in Shakespeares Macbeth - Role of the Witches1288 Words   |  6 PagesThe Role of the Witches in Macbeth  Ã‚   When Shakespeare wrote his play, Macbeth in 1606 a large majority of people were interested in witchcraft. This is why Shakespeare made the witches and the witches’ prophecies play a major part in the storyline of the play. In the time of Macbeth witches were not thought to be supernatural beings themselves, but supposedly gained their powers by selling their souls to Satan. There can be little doubt that most of Shakespeare’s audience would have believedRead More The Role of the Witches in the Downfall of Shakespeares MacBeth688 Words   |  3 PagesThe Role of the Witches in the Downfall of Shakespeares MacBeth MacBeth by William Shakespeare is a play which shows the uprise of MacBeth, the treachery and his eventual downfall. Witchcraft plays a major part in MacBeths actions and his weak character is easily manipulated. Although being an honest and brave man earlier, his ambition clouds his judgement. His life is tragic and through some terrible deeds ends in catastrophe. MacBeth is Thane of Glamis and a highly honorable and respectedRead MoreThe Roles of Witches in William Shakespeares Macbeth Essay1067 Words   |  5 PagesThe Roles of Witches in William Shakespeares Macbeth In the Elizabethan times, the people believed in witches and witchcraft. They were described as ugly and evil. Nowadays the people would not believe in them. The people in the Elizabethan times would be very scared of witches. This was equivalent to the people of nowadays being frightened about terrorists. The people thought that they were powerful beings. They thought that they would cast spells on them; they thoughtRead MoreThe Role of the Witches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare Essay1108 Words   |  5 PagesThe Role of the Witches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare some time between 1603 and 1606 and is set in Scotland around 1040. The time it was written coincides with the reign of King James the First of England. King James showed a great interest in witches and powers of the supernatural and Macbeth was arguably written to impress the king in what were violent times. Shakespeare used witches as pivotal characters to create

Alternative Approaches to Strategic Management

Question: Discuss about the Alternative Approaches to Strategic Management. Answer: Introduction Strategic management refers to the formulation and implementation of significant goals and initiatives by an organisations executive management team on behalf of the shareholders. These decisions are often based on the consideration of the available resources and evaluation of all internal and external environment factors that affect the business operations. Strategic management provides organisations the overall direction and involves the specification of the entitys goals, designing of plans to achieve the objectives, and development of various policies. The strategic management process also entails allocation of allocating resources to attain the objectives (Rialp, Rialp, and Knight 2014). Academicians and practicing managers have over time developed a number of models and frameworks to help in the strategic decision-making processes. The models work differently in varied context, complex environments, and competitive dynamics. It is important to note at this state that strategic management is not static, but is rather dynamic. As a result, most of the models that have been developed over time include a feedback channel to help managers monitor the implementation of the strategies, hence, base their future decision on such findings (Hitt, Ireland, and Hoskisson 2012). One of the current strategic management models is the linear approach. The standard liner approach entails planned determination of initiatives, goals, and the allocation of resources along the lines of an all-encompassing strategy. The strategy often focuses on long term perspectives of the business, and emphasis is laid on managers exchanging information back and forth to make sure that all departments within the business follow the same strategic approach (Morecroft 2015). Scholars indicate that the approach is the most consistent with most strategic planning approaches and is likely to have an impact in the long planning horizon of the firm. One of the limitations, however, is that the strategist who uses the approach often deals with the environment as opposed to the specific issues that the business faces. That has led to the adoption and use of three main strategic approaches, which deal with the problem at hand and not just the business environment. These include the stakehol der approach, dynamic capabilities, and sustainable model (Kapferer 2012). The next sections of this essay discuss the three approaches and gives clear examples of their application. Finally the last section of the paper discusses the availability of each of the three strategies, suggests the benefits of each, looks at the implementation issues, and the limitations associated with the use of the three approaches. Three Main Approaches to Strategic Management Stakeholder Approach Strategic management has long been attributed with numerous competitive advantages, especially in congested markets. It is for the same reasons that strategic management has invented several approaches to ensuring that the practice takes both a business and socio-corporate effect. This is to imply that strategic management strives to ensure that enough revenue is generated from a given investment. On the other hand, socio-corporate virtue ought to be promoted by the same practice increasing product preference in the market. One of the main approaches used by firms includes the stakeholder approach which has come with a number of factors (Oliver and Holzinger 2008). The term stakeholder in a business entity implies to all those individuals who directly or indirectly affect the operations of the involved firm. These would mainly include the employees, the management, investment partners, consumers or customers and sometimes, competitors. For any management to be considered strategic, all of the above stakeholders should be well accounted for. Stakeholders approach to strategic management come with numerous incentives to a firm given that motivation levels and working conditions are ever conducive. This is to imply that profits take an upward curve in the performance graph as reflected in financial statements (Reed, et al. 2009). The objectives of strategic management using stakeholder approach tend to be all-inclusive as well as comprehensive. In most instances, stakeholder approach ensures that there is minimal resistance from all stakeholders as all of their prime needs are highly prioritized. For instance, dividends are equitably shared among investment partners leaving a minimal room for complains on unattended shares. From another angle, employees are perfectly fitted into the involved firms objective drive by ensuring that their wages are timely met and added incentives fairly distributed. With such an approach, it would be very rare to have internal and external resistance inhibiting revenue generation (Harrison, Bosse, and Phillips 2010). It would also be of essence to note that in stakeholder approach policies are jointly enacted by all of the involved parties. Whenever there is a change that has been deemed necessary for implementation, a joint meeting is conducted with all stakeholders representation present to ensure that the process is comprehensive and transparent. In such a management environment, it is expected that all of the requirements agreed upon in the meeting should be met amicably within the shortest time period. All of the barriers to the implementation of a policy are tabled during the joint meeting to avoid instances of delays. It should also be wise to acknowledge that a highly structured communication flow is developed for the management to be efficient (Jamali 2008). Dynamic Capability Approach In most organizations, the diversity in capability tends to be a vital element of management. This depends highly on the nature of operations that the firm is engaged in especially when it comes to complex and huge projects (Wu, et al. 2012). Logically, organizations include teamwork as one of the main channels of accomplishing both simple and complicated tasks. When an assignment is conducted individually, in most cases, there are numerous cases of irregularities in terms of unattended elements and mishandled requirements. It is for this main reason that organization adopts a dynamic capability approach to strategic management (Lee, et al. 2012). Nevertheless, there are two main factors that necessitate a dynamic capability approach. To begin with, a dynamic capability approach ensures that employees work at their best in terms of their skills. The competency is optimized by aligning their trained knowledge with a task at hand. For a teamwork assignment, this approach becomes most effective when individuals are expected to submit their scheduled modules (Beske 2012). The main hurdle in this approach tends to be that ability to map ones capability to the requirements of a given task. Aside from that, it would be very true to mention that this approach to strategic management especially in the production arena or department of a firm (Rodriguez, Ricart, and Sanchez 2002). Addressing the above from another angle, optimizing competency with respect to dynamic capability tends to be a motivational attribute in strategic management. This would be well explained by the fact that one assumes the responsibility of a task with full intention of submitting a quality assignment. From a personal point of view, any individual feels at ease working with less pressure on an area they are vast in. In turn, this intrinsically motivates an employee who works hard to ensure that they submit an assigned task to the best of their ability. In the business world, having quality submissions for assignments to employees is one of the main driving factors to success (Ambrosini and Bowman 2009). From a conclusive point of view, a dynamic capabilities approach becomes more effective when the management is able to integrate all of its expertise from different employees. It would be a very futile process if a firm has rich-skilled employee base yet it is unable to maximize on such resource. Therefore, strategic management ensures that dynamic capabilities are well incorporated into the firms goals and objectives for a successful venture. If a management would incorporate this approach and fail to have a complete integrating platform, then the entire approach would ever be faulty (Augier and Teece 2009). Sustainable Approach Given the statistics of organization management, it is estimated that a substantial number of both regional and global firms use the above approach for their strategic management. In simple terms, sustainable approach is a method of management where relevance describes the structure of operations. In other terms, the management approach used perfectly fits the operations of the firm regardless of the latters nature. This would imply that the involved firms management does not take a particular direction in terms of adhering to a particular management approach (Sala, Farioli, and Zamagni 2013). There are some firms which prefer dynamic capabilities approach to stakeholder approach. However, with the described management approach in practice, any management platform is used where necessary. This approach tends to be effective with respect to some vital underlying factors (Gupta and Kumar 2013). First and foremost, sustainable approach in strategic management focuses (primarily) on the results. The sustainability effect of the management practice ensures that assignments are always submitted in time with minimal errors. In general terms, any sustainable approach adopted for strategic management depicts a typical modern management which operates in rapidly changing market or environment (Hall and Wagner 2012). Just like any market, it would be very true to note that consumer needs keep on changing from time to time. It is for this reason that sustainability approach is mostly preferred over other management approaches (Castiaux 2012). It would also be of essence to note that sustainability approach assumes the role of one fit all for most organizations. This is to state that this approach would be used for any firm irrespective of the nature of its operation. Sustainability approach ensures that an organization stays in business for as long as it meets the demands of the market. This would include incorporating any management approach that would fit onto the operations of the involved firm (Hall and Wagner 2012). It would also be of essence to note that this approach can integrate other approaches using some of their vital elements for a given operation. For instance, having a task that requires specific expertise would be well managed by dynamic capabilities approach. The same task would also play an effective role in ensuring that the firm accrues as much revenue from the market as possible. In such a phenomenon, the stakeholder approach is used to sensitize on the importance of the task and its meaning to the f irm (Wheelen and Hunger 2011.). Summary of Application FiberTech uses the stakeholder approach strategic management in its Light Wave Cable project. The first step when using the strategy is to identify and classify the stakeholders of the project. The next step is to determine the role, power, interest, and influence of each of the stakeholders. That helps management indentify the key stakeholders in the project. In the formulation of the strategies for the implementation of the project the managers base their decisions on the needs, interest, and aspirations of the most important stakeholders in the project. That helps minimise the risk of the project encountering competing goals and maximises the resources required to successfully complete the undertaking (Jamali 2008). If the firm was to use the dynamic approach, the managers would focus on the changing aspects of the project. At each stage they would have to come up with an idea of how to implement the changes that take place throughout the process. The dynamic approach is best suited for a highly changing business environment is it ensures that the managers incorporate the changing elements of their environment as they progress with the implementation of the project. On the other hand, if the firm was to use the sustainable approach the aim would be to ensure that the project lasts for a long time and remains relevant in the long-term future. The first stage in the implementation of the sustainable approach is to forecast the future needs and trends of the business environment. That helps the managers form a basis for their project and determines what clients or stakeholders will require in the unforeseen future period (Hall and Wagner 2012; Jamali 2008). Conclusions Several scholars argue that the stakeholder approach is only applicable in short term projects, which at achieving specific goals. That is because the approach targets the most crucial stakeholders in a project. The managers of the firm use the interests, expectations, and goals the most crucial stakeholders after an analysis of all the parties involved in the execution of the project, to determine next course of action in the implementation process (Oliver and Holzinger 2008). The dynamic capabilities approach is considered a valid model to use in an extremely dynamic environment. That is the case because the approach aims at maximising the capabilities of the employees and managers in a project. The idea is to equip them with the latest competences required to compete fairly with other major players in the industry. Proponents of the dynamic capabilities argue that the aim of the business is to create additional value. Therefore, for the firm to ensure continued competitiveness, the managers must adopt a flexible approach to the business so that it adapts to the changing nature of its competitive environment (Hall and Wagner 2012). The stainable approach is based on the need for the form to accept that the business environment is part of the natural and social systems. That means that for the firm to survive into the long-term unforeseen future, the managers must respect members of the social and natural environment in which it operates. Academicians and scholars agree that the approach is valid in projects that the firm intends to continue operating in the long-term future (Sala, Farioli, and Zamagni 2013). Suggested Benefits There are suggested benefits for each of the approaches discusses in this paper, Fir the stakeholder approach open of the main benefits is that the enhances objectivity in the attainment of a projects goals. Anther benefit is that it is economic in the sense that the firm does not waste resources implementing interests of stakeholders who will not influence the project in the first place. The dynamic capabilities model is said to be flexible and efficient in terms of skill and competency development in the firm. Finally, the sustainable approach makes it easy for the firm to survive and remain relevant in the business in the long-term future (Sala, Farioli, and Zamagni 2013). Implementation Issues The main implementation issue faced in the execution of the three approaches is the dynamic nature ft he business environment, it is difficult to predict accurately the future occurrences within the business world. As a result, mangers need to take the time and research thoroughly to determine the best and most effective approach and one that they can implement without many uncertainties in the future (Hall and Wagner 2012; Oliver and Holzinger 2008). Limitations Each of the three approaches has some limitations. The main limitation of using the stakeholder approach is that it is difficult to compromise or balance stakeholders interest against one another. By assuming that some of the stakeholders are important than others, the approach fails to implement some crucial strategist that would help steer the firm foreword. The dynamic capabilities approach is considered to be expensive by some managers as they have to constantly review the business trends and revise their existing strategies (Hall and Wagner 2012). Finally, the sustainable approach is costly and time consuming, which limits its application in most businesses. However, it is important to note that from the analysis in this essay, the sustainable approach to strategic management is the most effective for use if the firm intends to remain relevant for a long-time in the future (Oliver and Holzinger 2008). Reference List Ambrosini, V. and Bowman, C., 2009. What are dynamic capabilities and are they a useful construct in strategic management?International journal of management reviews,11(1), pp.29-49. Augier, M. and Teece, D.J., 2009. Dynamic capabilities and the role of managers in business strategy and economic performance.Organization science,20(2), pp.410-421. Beske, P., 2012. Dynamic capabilities and sustainable supply chain management.International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management,42(4), pp.372-387. Castiaux, A., 2012. Developing dynamic capabilities to meet sustainable development challenges.International Journal of Innovation Management,16(06), p.1240013. Freeman, R.E., 2010.Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Cambridge University Press. Gupta, S. and Kumar, V., 2013. Sustainability as corporate culture of a brand for superior performance.Journal of World Business,48(3), pp.311-320. Hall, J. and Wagner, M., 2012. Integrating sustainability into firms' processes: Performance effects and the moderating role of business models and innovation.Business Strategy and the Environment,21(3), pp.183-196. Harrison, J.S., Bosse, D.A. and Phillips, R.A., 2010. Managing for stakeholders, stakeholder utility functions, and competitive advantage.Strategic Management Journal,31(1), pp.58-74. Hitt, M.A., Ireland, R.D. and Hoskisson, R.E., 2012.Strategic management cases: competitiveness and globalization. Cengage Learning. Jamali, D., 2008. A stakeholder approach to corporate social responsibility: A fresh perspective into theory and practice.Journal of business ethics,82(1), pp.213-231. Kapferer, J.N., 2012.The new strategic brand management: Advanced insights and strategic thinking. Kogan page publishers. Lee, S., Geum, Y., Lee, H. and Park, Y., 2012. Dynamic and multidimensional measurement of product-service system (PSS) sustainability: a triple bottom line (TBL)-based system dynamics approach.Journal of Cleaner Production,32, pp.173-182. Morecroft, J.D., 2015.Strategic modelling and business dynamics: a feedback systems approach. John Wiley Sons. Oliver, C. and Holzinger, I., 2008. The effectiveness of strategic political management: A dynamic capabilities framework. Academy of Management Review, 33(2), pp.496-520. Reed, M.S., Graves, A., Dandy, N., Posthumus, H., Hubacek, K., Morris, J., Prell, C., Quinn, C.H. and Stringer, L.C., 2009. Who's in and why? A typology of stakeholder analysis methods for natural resource management.Journal of environmental management,90(5), pp.1933-1949. Rialp, A., Rialp, J. and Knight, G., 2014. International entrepreneurship.The Routledge Companion to International Entrepreneurship, p.7. Rodriguez, M.A., Ricart, J.E. and Sanchez, P., 2002. Sustainable development and the sustainability of competitive advantage: A dynamic and sustainable view of the firm.Creativity and Innovation Management,11(3), pp.135-146. Sala, S., Farioli, F. and Zamagni, A., 2013. Life cycle sustainability assessment in the context of sustainability science progress (part 2).The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment,18(9), pp.1686-1697. Wheelen, T.L. and Hunger, J.D., 2011.Concepts in strategic management and business policy. Pearson Education India. Wu, Q., He, Q., Duan, Y. and O'Regan, N., 2012. Implementing dynamic capabilities for corporate strategic change toward sustainability.Strategic Change,21(5?6), pp.231-247.

Jose Rizal free essay sample

To many Filipinos, Dr. Jose Rizal’s life had been an open book, but his works and sacrifices seems not to achieve independence for his country and countrymen but still admired and remembered up to this day. His life was full of controversies and unanswered issues about his works and beliefs. One of them was the issue of his supposed retraction. Retraction is defined as to withdraw a promise, statement or opinion.(Miriam Webster, 1999 p520). It was said that he refuted his writing against the teachings and practices of Catholic Church, returned to the Catholic faith, and abominated masonry, but there seemed to be a discrepancy in the documents linked to his retraction. Rizal’s alleged retraction was declared to be true by the friars who were with him before his execution. During the last 24 hours before Rizal will be executed, Jesuits came in and out together with other visitors, including members of his own family. We will write a custom essay sample on Jose Rizal or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page That night Rizal wrote out a retraction based on the formula of Father Pi and signed it about 11:30 pm. The retraction contains two significant points: First: the rejection of Masonry (â€Å"I abominate Masonry†) and Second: a repudiation of â€Å"anything in my words, writings, publications, and conduct that has been contrary to my character as a son of the Catholic Church.†(Dr Eugene Hessel, Rizal’s Retraction: A Note on the debate, 1965). Father Visa, one of the Jesuit priests who visited Rizal, testified that, â€Å"Rizal wrote and signed in his own handwriting in my presence the document of retraction.† His testimony was later on notarized on May 22, 1916. There were also circumstantial evidences pertaining to Rizal’s retraction, for instance, his marriage to Josephine Bracken. Father Balaguer, another Jesuit priest who visited Rizal, claimed that he officiated the marriage of Rizal to Josephine Bracken subsequent to Rizal’s returning faith to the Roman Catholic, but no proof or record that Rizal really married Bracken. Although there were numerous notarized testimonies and circumstantial evidences concerning Rizal’s retraction, the side who didn’t believe Rizal’s Letter of retraction are still intrigued on the authenticity of the documents, they believed that the retraction paper was forged. Dr. Ricardo Pascual of the University of the Philippines made a study about the authenticity of the document. He notes a  number of variations with the hand writing of the Retraction Document. Pascual also noted differences between the text of the document found in 1935 and other versions of the Retraction including the one issued by Father Balaguer (Dr. Eugene Hessel, Rizal’s Retraction: A Note on the debate,1965). Also, when the family came looking for the document of Retraction, it was said to be lost not until 1935 when it was made public. I believe that Dr. Jose Rizal did not sign the Document of Retraction for the reason that he come to the terms with the fact that even if he signs the retraction paper, he will still be executed. Rizal knew that eventually the authorities would try to stop him permanently with his influential convictions against them. Rizal himself has a mature state of mind and would stick to what he believes in. He has been consistent with his behavior and I think for the friars to be able to change it would be absurd. Moreover, I do not think that the Jesuits were that irresponsible to have lost the original copy of the document as well as to not issue a marriage certificate of Rizal’s marriage with Josephine Bracken. I recognize that many study will arise concerning Rizal’s retraction, but it does not invalidate his works and contributions for the better Philippines, but for me he should not be the National Hero of the Philippines even he sacrifices a lot I’m not convince why, even he retracted or not from all allegations he wrote the idea of his is not for Independence but for equality of treatment by the Spaniards to the Filipinos and to be a colony of Spain, because Rizal believed that the Philippines is not yet ready for Independence.

10 Summer Retail Jobs to Look Out Forâ€and How to Get Them

10 Summer Retail Jobs to Look Out For- and How to Get Them When you think â€Å"summer job,† you don’t necessarily think â€Å"career path,† or â€Å"40 hours a week in a cubicle.† You probably think of something where you’re working with people, maybe at oddball hours, building experience and making bank before moving on to something else at the end of the season (school, a new job, etc.). Seasonal jobs can be great because they don’t have to be your forever job, but are a useful stop along your path. Whether you’re looking for a flexible second job or a summer job in between semesters, here are the retail jobs you might want to consider. CashierThis is kind of the classic entry-level retail job. Cashiers are responsible for checking customers out, handling different forms of payment, and using the store’s point-of-sale (POS) system. They may also be responsible for maintaining the checkout area, handling returns or other customer issues,The pay: An average of $9.18 per hour, per PaySc ale.What you’ll need: People skills, good math skills, and general trustworthiness, since you’ll be handling money on the store’s behalf.Stock ClerkStock clerks, who are most often found in big box department stores or grocery stores with high traffic and turnover, keep shelves full. Throughout the day, merchandise can get depleted or scattered, so these clerks are responsible for keeping shelves looking orderly, and tracking inventory. Clerks typically move between the store floor and the warehouse/storage areas throughout their shifts.The pay: An average of $11.14 per hour, per PayScale.What you’ll need: Clerical skills (for managing inventory and keeping records), customer service skills, attention to detail.Overnight Stock ClerkThis is a variation on other types of stock clerk positions, except these nocturnal professionals get their work done after the store is closed. Overnight stock clerks are responsible for inventory management, and getting the s tore ready for business the next day.The pay: An average of $11.14 per hour, per PayScale.What you’ll need: Clerical skills (for managing inventory and keeping records), customer service skills, attention to detail.MerchandiserIf you see displays as you walk into a store (or strategically placed along the way to convince you to buy cookies while you’re on your way to pick up milk and eggs), that’s usually the work of a merchandiser. Merchandisers are responsible for setting up product displays to maximize attention to specific products or sales. They work with an eye toward placement, design, and inventory.The pay: An average of $12.04 per hour, per PayScale.What you’ll need: Attention to detail, design skills, strong organizational skills.Store SecurityWhether during business hours or after the store is closed, just about every store needs security officers keeping a sharp eye on things. Security officers may be responsible for loss prevention (shoplifti ng by employees or customers), general store security, and safety procedures.The pay: An average of $11.65 per hour, per PayScale.What you’ll need: Attention to detail, possibly a background check.Retail AssociateRetail associates are usually at the front lines in every store. Answering customer questions, making sure the store shelves are well-stocked, handling transactions or returns, and generally being an ambassador for the store are all parts of a retail sales associate’s job.The pay: An average of $11.65 per hour, per PayScale.What you’ll need: Customer service skills, attention to detail, organizational skills, math skills, and problem solving skills.Retail Store ManagerIf you have previous retail experience, there may be opportunities for seasonal store managers as well, particularly in stores or industries where summer is a busy time. Managers may be responsible for managing staff, payroll, store policies, opening and closing, customer queries (and inte rvening when necessary), and basically keeping the ship moving smoothly.The pay: An average of $14.65 per hour, per PayScale.What you’ll need: Customer service skills, leadership skills, attention to detail, organizational skills, math skills, and problem solving skills.Customer Service AssociateCustomer service can be one of the most challenging jobs in retail, but if you have the people skills to turn an irate shopper into a happy customer for life, then this is the retail niche for you. Customer service associates are usually faced with problems- product returns, customer questions, customer complaints, etc., so troubleshooting is their game. Ideally, they help customers resolve whatever issues come up, while providing a good customer experience.The pay: An average of $10.63 per hour, per PayScale.What you’ll need: Customer service skills, patience, problem solving skills, attention to detail.BakerIf straight-up retail isn’t your thing, there are also ways to combine food service and retail for your summer job. Many grocery stores and department stores have in-store bakeries. These bakery associates typically help prepare baked goods and displays for the day ahead, so if you’re an early bird, this may be a great retail option for you.The pay: An average of $11.38 per hour, per PayScale.What you’ll need: Customer service skills, baking/cooking skills, punctuality, possibly food handling certification.Omnichannel AssociateThis is a new front in retail, as many companies start offering a multi-format approach to selling their products online and in brick-and-mortar stores. (Think Amazon, or department stores that let you ship from their warehouse directly to your local store for in-store pickup.) Omnichannel retail employees are retail sales associates that often work on the fulfillment side of things, preparing orders to be shipped or delivered. They help create a seamless process for customers who want to move from online s hopping to in-person shopping.The pay: An average of $11.38 per hour, per PayScale.What you’ll need: Customer service skills, attention to detail, organizational skills, math skills, and problem solving skills.How to Snag Your Summer Retail JobOnce you’ve figured out what type of retail job would be a good fit for you and your skills, what next? Here are five tips to help get you hired in time for summer.Time it right.Retail stores typically hire year-round, so when should you apply if you’re looking for that summer sweet spot? Right before summer is your best bet- store employee turnover can be high, and stores may not be able to plan staffing too far ahead of time.Find summer-friendly stores.Your best chances to snag a summer job will come at stores that are busy during the summer (sorry, Christmas ‘R Us). Home improvement stores or gardening centers are good bets for the summer, since people are outdoors and active. Ditto sporting goods stores, or offic e supply stores gearing up for back to school sales. Big box stores like Best Buy, Costco, Target, WalMart, etc. are usually perennially hiring, so keep an eye on those evergreen stores as well.Be ready to go.When you start scoping out places that might be hiring, have your resume ready to roll. Again, high turnover means you might have to jump on any opportunities right away. If you hear about an opening and spend three days spiffing up your application, it may be too late!Be proactive.Don’t wait for opportunities to come up. If you’re targeting a particular store, don’t wait for someone to put a â€Å"we’re hiring† sign in the window. Keep an eye on their website, or do it the old-fashioned way- stop in and ask! But remember #3: if you go into a store to inquire about potential jobs, make sure you’ve got your resume in hand.Use your network.You never know who might know of retail places that are hiring soon, so make sure to let people know you’re on the hunt. Your neighbor, your teacher, your old football coach- any of them could have good leads, so definitely mention that you’re looking for a new job. Plus, they know you, and may be able to vouch for you.A summer retail job doesn’t have to be a forever career (unless, of course, you find you have a passion for customer service, or a level of zen in creating floor displays), but it can be an excellent way to pay the bills and build experience before you get to your next step. There are a lot of opportunities out there, so you can find jobs that work best for you and your needs (part-time vs. full-time), your skills, and your experience level. Plus, you’ll be in air conditioning all summer. Not a bad deal!

Book Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Book Review - Essay Example This method is further reinforced by a huge number of diet books, television and internet advertisements. In contrast to people’s beliefs and expectations of diets, they fail to work. The factor of urgency is the main contributor to the failure of the diets. Many people who use these products meant for dieting want the results to occur immediately after use. Moreover, there are people who claim to be experts and have the latest diet products that can deal with the overweight problem. Initially, these products seem to work, and an individual may lose most of the weight in the shortest duration possible, but he or she gains the weight back and sometimes extra weight is added. According to Covert Bailey, this is the up and down cycle of gaining or losing weight. He goes on to refer to it as the girth control rhythm method. This paper will be a review of Covert Bailey’s The Ultimate Fit or Fat. Many health professionals are of the same opinion that muscular strength, muscul ar endurance, body composition or body weight, and the capacity of cardiorespiratory are the main element of an individual’s fitness. The view that body weight contributes to one being fit brings the belief that one cannot be fit, unless he or she has a body composition that is predefined. In spite of everything, if the components of fitness are a true measure of capacities of functioning, then weight cannot be presumed to be an element of being fit because body composition are not functional capacities measures. Nevertheless, Covert Bailey made the most of the fit or fat notion by illustrating that taking part in exercise helps in losing weight and becoming physically fit, and one can only be fit by losing the body weight or fats in the body (Bailey 26). The Fit or Fat book proposes an individual to have a target diet in which he or she aims for the core. The person should consume the foods outlined in the core most frequently, the foods on the outside of the circle less fre quently, and the foods located on the exterior not at all if possible. While referring to this schedule, it is clear that Covert Bailey is recommending for more consumption of skim milk, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and water-packed tuna; and low consumption of foods that constitute a lot of sugars and fats (Bailey 37). This program guides a person on what to eat and what not to eat. In addition, he has stated four rules: eat foods with low sugar content, eat a diet that is balanced, eat low fat foods, and eat high fibre foods. Covert Bailey also talks about the advantages of taking part in aerobic exercises. According to him, people who are sedentary have a tendency of becoming fat because their bodies have insufficient intercellular metabolic enzymes responsible for converting fat into energy. These people’s bodies utilize sugars that are readily and easily available for work in predilection to fats that are stored. Fat people become fatter because their bodies utilize little stored energy for activities than sugars (Bailey 83). Additionally, the body can develop intercellular metabolic enzymes that have the ability to burn extra fat and keep a person in shape rather than the use of diets that are not usual. Additionally, exercises enable people to use fat in a ratio that is high in everyday activities than people who are sedentary. The exercises make a person have an appropriate body weight. Covert also argues

Contrast between Bartleby.com and Merriam-Webster Online Essay

Contrast between Bartleby.com and Merriam-Webster Online - Essay Example The credibility of both the websites under consideration is duly recognized by many prominent scholars and the teachers of English language hailing from a number of reputed academic institutions. As already mentioned, Bartleby is a leading publisher of online and digital resource works that are easily accessible on the company's website and at most of the famous online bookstores like the amazon.com. On the other side, Merriam-Webster happens to be a seasoned and time tested publisher of the print and electronic resource works, which has enjoyed an unblemished reputation for credibility and reliability since the year 1982. Veracity, reliability, and credibility are the hallmarks of any worthwhile academic endeavor and research and the given two websites amply satisfy all these criteria. Language is not a static phenomenon, but an alive and pulsating entity that alters and changes on a regular basis. The staff at both the Bartleby.com and the Merriam-Webster Online promptly responds t o this challenge by updating them on a continuous basis. Bartleby.com comes with an off white background that scarcely interrupts its dark blue text, making it easier to read and highly legible. The usage of dark blue text over an off white background enhances the website's visibility and aesthetic appeal. Overall, this website gives a presentable impression and is definitely pleasing to the eye of any visitor. Images and the sections of the text are tastefully separated by white and grey spaces, thus facilitating an easy view. The text is neither too big nor too small and is bold enough to allow for an amenable reading by a majority of the visitors. Columns of the text are wide enough to make the on-screen presentation facile and hassle-free. Merriam-Webster Online also adheres to a two-color scheme, using light blue text and columns over an off white background.     

Business Prppopsal Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business Prppopsal - Article Example Key factors to our success will be the satisfaction of families with our services. We are particularly suited to the task being educators and parents ourselves. There were advantages and disadvantages to both a non-profit versus for-profit operations. The advantages of non-profit are that we may receive preferential treatment in rent and locations, and it will help with fund-raising in the event we need it. The disadvantages are that it limits our size. An advantage for a for-profit daycare is that we may be able to provide less expensive service in the form of family daycare in the home of the child. The disadvantages are that there are disparate policies regarding the legislation of such enterprises. We will measure our performance using regular but brief client and worker surveys. We will implementation. Interaction between our organization and our client families and between every operational division will enhance our ability to provide effective low-cost service. We aim for a June grand opening to take advantage of the good weather. Nevertheless we are still in need of resources including a location, equipment, food, bedding, toys, supplies, and electronics. Any donations help. Our pricing is based on our costs. At $4 per hour per child for 60 kids for 40 hours for 50 weeks we would net about $480,000.

No Universal Definition of Human Rights Essay -- Argumentative Persuas

In the minds of many people human rights are defined as a set of governmental Do’s and Don’ts that protect people from their governments in terms of the freedom of speech, assembly, etc. without infringement. Of course, most people would agree that these are fundamental rights and deserve to be upheld, however many feel that there are a set of universal human rights that can be used to secure the freedom of all people around the world. One such document, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights written by the United Nations, claims to be the â€Å"common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations†. While I agree with most of the points made in the declaration, I simply do not believe that the human race is homogenous enough for a single piece of paper to encompass human rights issues for all cultures and types of people, and I find this very assumption to be problematic. I believe that human rights are relative to every culture and/or nation, and should be left to the people to decide. I think that on the issue of human rights, people will not go wrong if they are allowed a fair forum for voicing their opinions and an equal manner in making decisions. Cruel and unusual punishment from a Western point-of-view may be an African tribe using neck braces to elongate the necks of women, whereas others may think the same of the death penalty in use in the United States. My personal experience of moving from Iran to the United States and witnessing many different atrocities in both cultures has led me to this view. For instance, in Iran there is no freedom of speech or assembly and any resistance to the government is smashed by imprisonment or oftentimes death. This is clearly a violation of human rights by most people, and if... ...ny the ownership of private land, and many people in those countries are happy with that. Many of these people believe that private ownership is the basis for inequality in a society. They would not consider lack of private property a human rights violation. Again, the Universal Declaration is attempting to umbrella all nations and people while in reality contradicting itself. Overall, from my own experiences I have come to the personal conclusion that it is impossible to create a doctrine that addresses human rights for every culture and nation in the world. In my opinion, human rights are a set of rights determined by people of individual nations or cultures for the purpose of living best in society. These rights cannot be pre-determined nor can they be forced upon people in the form of a list, such as is attempted by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Pakistan: Recent Economic Developments and Future Prospects

Most of the news emanating about Pakistan in the Western media relate to terrorism, bomb blasts, Islamic fundamentalism, nuclear non proliferation, military rule etc. Seldom does one see a positive story appearing about Pakistan’s remarkable economic turnaround. But the fact of the matter is that despite such negative image Pakistan is one of the favored destinations for foreign direct investment. Foreign direct investment flows have surged by 95 percent during July – February 2007 and are expected to touch $ 5 billion or 3. percent of GDP – several times higher than FDI flows to our large neighbor in relative terms.Pakistan’s international bond issues and equity floatations through GDRs have been consistently oversubscribed and are priced at fine margins. Standard Chartered Bank has made acquisition of a domestic private bank for around half a billion dollars. China Mobile – the largest mobile company in terms of subscriber base – has bought out majority shareholding in one of the local cellular phone companies for over $ 400 millions.Philip and Morris has entered into an agreement to purchase 50. 2 percent shares of the second largest Cigarettes Manufacturing Company of Pakistan for US 339 million. A number of other similar mergers and acquisitions are in the pipeline. 2. What is that inspite of such adverse publicity, perceived security risk and travel advisories the global investors, fund managers and international financial institutions from the United States, Europe, East Asia and Middle East all look upon Pakistan favorably and show such tremendous amount of confidence in the economy.Sophisticated investors from all over the world are willing to purchase billion of dollars of sovereign paper issued by Pakistan for 30 year duration. There must be something right the country ought to be doing which fails to reach the radar screen of the popular and highly influential western media. 3. As an international developmen t economist I can venture a number of reasons for this apparently highly paradoxical situation. First of all, Pakistan is a country of 160 million people which is growing at an average growth rate of 6-7 percent for the last five years.Thirty million Pakistanis earning $ 10,000 – $ 15,000 (PPP terms) constitute a large and solid market for purchase of goods and services of all kinds. There are very few markets except China, India and Indonesia that are underpinned by the size and scale that the fast growing Pakistani middle class offers. Projections show that if the current growth A paper presented at the IPRI-RUSI Conference on â€Å"Pakistan: Strategic Challenges & Prospects† At Royal United Service Institute London on April, 17 2007 ates are attained for the next ten years, Pakistan’s per capita income will double in real terms by 2020. At that time the size of the middle class will rise to 50 million enjoying purchasing power incomes of average $ 30,000 â₠¬â€œ equivalent to those of some of the European countries today. Goldman Sachs has placed Pakistan in the next eleven category of largest economies among developing countries for its long term projection. The requirements of energy, infrastructure, goods and services of these 50 million will have to be met at world class standards.Multinational firms and holders of capital with excess liquidity, eyeing these prospects in emerging countries and feeling saturation in advanced economies, are rethinking their strategies and repositioning themselves. Pakistan along with other Asian countries is one of the beneficiaries of this strategy. The changing demographics of a youthful population and labor force in Pakistan staring against the stark reality of ageing population in Europe, Japan, and US and after a while China reinforce these promising prospects for the future.Of course, none of this will be either automatic or easy and good policies, good governance and good luck will be needed t o realize this scenario. 4. Second, the economic performance in terms of macroeconomic stability, growth, poverty reduction and employment generation has been stellar. Economic growth rates have risen from 1. 8 percent in 2000/01 gradually to average 6 -7 percent a year in the last four years making Pakistan one of the fastest growing economy in the Asia region. For Pakistan these rates are not spectacular but a reversion to mean.The average growth rate of GDP ver 50 year period of Pakistan has been 5. 2 percent per annum. Manufacturing sector output growth was over 15 percent, exports have doubled in US dollar terms in these five years, and an open trade regime has allowed imports from all over the world to triple. Tax revenues have risen by 14 percent a year reducing fiscal deficit which used to average 7 percent a year in the 1990s to average 4 percent. Current account turned around from chronic deficit to a surplus for three successive years mainly due to renewed export growth a nd resurgence of workers’ remittances.Although it has become negative since 2005/06 due to phenomenonal growth in imports of machinery and equipment and increase in world oil prices it is being fully financed by foreign capital flows. Inflation rate during the first four years of the current government remained below 4 percent but oil price pass through and food shortages have led to 8 percent on average since 2004-05. External debt burden has been halved from 52% to 26% of GDP and is projected to be on a declining path.The country’s capacity to service its debt has considerably improved as debt servicing ratio which used to preempt almost 60 percent of public revenues is now down to 28 percent. Poverty incidence has fallen from 34 percent to 24 percent and unemployment rate is down to 6. 5 percent from 8. 4 percent. These movements are in the right direction but they are not acceptable as one in every fourth Pakistani is still living below the poverty line. Table-I su mmarizes the changes in the key economic indicators between October 1999 and June 2006. 5.Third, the basic premise of policy reform agenda was that macroeconomic stability will remain short lived if it was not accompanied by structural reforms to remove microeconomic distortions and by bringing about improvement in economic governance. Pakistan has successfully implemented the first generation of structural reforms that have made the economy more efficient and resilient to face unanticipated exogenous shocks. The main thrust of these reforms was to allow greater freedom to the private sector to own, produce, distribute and trade goods and services while gradually withdrawing the public sector from this arena.The promotion of public private partnership in large infrastructure projects as a policy initiative is likely to overcome some of the problems that are inherent in private infrastructure projects at the same time easing the financing constraints faced by the public sector. The r ole of the state in Pakistan has been redefined as a facilitator, enabler, protecter and regulator rather than directly managing and presiding over the commanding heights of the economy. Government intervention is justified for social protection of the poor, provision of public goods or when there is a clear case of market failure i. externalities, imperfect market structure etc.6. Fourth, Pakistan occupies a key strategic location that links India with Iran, Afghanistan and the Central Asian States, provides access to sea for land locked countries of Central Asia, Afghanistan and Western China, acts as the energy and transit corridor and opens up to the oil rich Gulf States next door. This strategic location alongwith the completed and new investments in ports, highways, pipelines, etc. will throw up vast new opportunities that can be highly attractive.Risk-return relationship in these projects is highly favorable and a number of foreign firms are keen to take the first mover advan tage by locating their investment particularly in Gawadar port area. 7. Leaving aside the current situation that I have described I would like to address two important questions this afternoon that agitate the minds of all potential investors and businessmen – domestic or foreign in respect to Pakistan. First whether the stability and growth that have so far been achieved will prove to be transitory in nature or will be sustained over time.Second, a question that has attracted a lot of attention is whether the September 11,2001 events have much to do with the economic turn around of Pakistan or whether the changes are more fundamental. To examine these two questions we have to look at the strength of economic policies, depth of structural reforms and the quality of economic governance. Before addressing these two questions let me make two broader points to set the context for our subsequent discussion. SUSTAINABILITY OF GROWTH .It should be reiterated that widespread economic reforms in Pakistan were initiated in 1991 by the Nawaz Sharif Government, continued under the Benazir Bhutto Government and further intensified and implemented under the Musharraf Government. Thus there should be no doubt in any body’s mind that the major direction of economic policies being pursued in Pakistan presently enjoys wide political consensus and support among all the leading political parties of Pakistan.The underlying philosophy that the Government should not be in the business of running businesses but regulating the markets and laying down the enabling policy framework has been demonstrably practised by all the successive governments in the past. Deregulation, liberalization, privatization and private sector – led development have been consistently followed for the last 16 years, and there is very little doubt in my mind, that these will remain the pillars of future economic policy in Pakistan irrespective of which political party assumes power.Of cours e, there will be differences in approaches, tactics and nuances, episodes of point scoring, distancing from the specific transactions of the previous governments, coming up with new modalities but the substance and thrust of economic policies will remain the same and transcend partisan politics. 9. The second important point that should be kept in mind is that Pakistan has a long, uninterrupted history of an open, non-discriminatory and liberal foreign investment regime. The Government of Mr. Z. A.Bhutto in early 1970s nationalized domestic manufacturing industry, banks and insurance companies but did not touch foreign investment. Not only that the risks of expropriation and transfer are almost zero the level playing field that is afforded to foreign investors is unparalleled in developing world. This is a deliberate policy measure as Pakistan is squeezed between two economic giants – China and India – and we cannot afford to keep the same bar on the entry of foreign i nvestors as our great neighbors have placed.We have to be much more accommodating and keep the door wide open to allow foreign investors to help our economy by bringing in capital, managerial skills, transfer of technology and integration into global markets. This policy of liberal foreign investment regime is solidly grounded in the political ethos and economic imperatives of Pakistan. 10. Now let me take up as to how a combination of strong economic policies, structural reforms economic governance and good luck has changed the economic landscape of Pakistan in many fundamental ways. Strength of economic policies 11.The bane of Pakistan’s economic problems stemmed from fiscal indiscipline over a decade that plunged Pakistan into a debt trap. This root cause had therefore to be surgically removed so that the likelihood of its further recurrence in the future is minimized A Fiscal Responsibility Law has been approved by the Parliament, which keeps a lid on the future governmen ts’ propensity to borrow their way out. Debt / GDP ratio has to be reduced by 2. 5 percentage points each year and the Debt/ GDP ratio cannot exceed 60 percent. Any deviation has to be explained to the Parliament and need its approval.This law will hopefully act as a major restraint on fiscal recklessness in the future. 12. Monetary policy is now operated by an independent central bank keeping the objective of price stability, financial stability and growth in mind. Although it involves a fine balancing act and inflationary pressures have surfaced during the last two years the Central Bank is committed to pursue a monetary policy that keeps inflation under control. Indirect market- based policy instruments have replaced credit ceilings, caps on deposit and lending rates, preferential treatment to government and directed credit to priority sectors.Interest rates and exchange rates are market determined and credit allocation decisions are made by the individual banks based on o bjective criteria but guided by prudential regulations. 13. External debt management policy was focused on (a) reprofiling of the stock of official bilateral debt, (b) substituting concessional loans for non-concessional from international financial institutions, (c) pre-paying expensive loans and (d) liquidating short term liabilities.Debt ratio has thus been reduced from 100 percent of GDP to 56 percent in five years time. This restructuring of debt has put Pakistan on a firm footing as the debt and debt servicing ratios are on a declining path. This has provided scope and enlarged the capacity of the country to meet all its future foreign exchange liabilities and obligations without much difficulty. Credit worthiness indicators have all improved and Pakistan is no longer that vulnerable to external shocks as it was in 1998 at the time of the nuclear tests. 14.Trade policy in Pakistan has been categorized by the World Bank as one of the least restrictive in South Asia along with S ri Lanka and this policy has gradually provided incentives to exporters to increase their market share in the global markets. Exchange rate policy is pursued to maintain stability in the foreign exchange markets while at the same time keeping the competitiveness of Pakistani exports intact. Large accumulation of foreign reserves played an important role in stabilizing the exchange rate and cushioning the economy from the adverse and abrupt exogenous disturbances.One of the tests that the country successfully met in the last two years was to absorb the oil price hike from $ 25/ barrel to $ 75/ barrel without any serious dislocation of economic activity or any loss of foreign reserves. Five years ago if this escalation had happened the exchange rate would have tumbled and inflation rate would have hit double digits. 15. Pakistan has also made significant efforts in unilaterally liberalizing its trade regime since the 1990s. The maximum tariff rate has declined from 225 percent in 1990 -1 to 25 percent; the average tariff rate stands at just 9 percent compared to 65 percent a decade ago.The number of duty slabs has also been reduced to four. Quantitative import restrictions have been eliminated except those relating to security, health, public morals, religious and cultural concerns. The statutory orders that exempted certain industries from import duties or provided selective concessions to privileged individual firms have been phased out and import duties on 4,000 items were reduced. Protection to domestic industry is no longer a policy objective and a uniform, across – the board, transparent regulatory regime with level playing field has been put in place.These measures have brought down effective rate of protection, eliminated the anti-export bias and promoted competitive and efficient industries. A number of laws have also been promulgated to bring the trade regime in conformity with World Trade Organization regulations. These include anti-dumping and countervailing measures and protection of intellectual property rights. This unilateral opening up to global trade has benefited the domestic firms in improving their efficiency and making themselves competitive.STRUCTURAL REFORMS 16. It was realized by the policy makers that stability will remain elusive and short lived if it was not accompanied by structural reforms to remove micro economic distortions and by bringing about improvement in economic governance. Concurrently with the debt restructuring, the country embarked on the fiscal policy reforms and consolidation by raising tax revenues, reducing expenditures, cutting down subsidies of all kinds and containing the losses of public enterprises.Tax reforms were undertaken to widen tax base, remove direct contact between tax payers and tax collectors, introduce value-added tax as the major source of revenue, simplify tax administration and strengthen the capacity of the Central Board of Revenue. Although these reforms are still u nderway, the adoption of universal self assessment followed by random audit of selected tax returns, automation and reorganization of the tax machinery have begun to help improve tax collection.Tax-GDP ratio in Pakistan is lower in comparison to other developing countries and has to be raised in the next five years to reach the average level of comparator countries. 17. As one of the sources of fiscal problems was the losses and inefficiencies of public enterprises the Musharraf Government actively pursued an aggressive privatization plan whose thrust was sale of assets in the oil and gas industry as well as in the banking, telecommunications and energy sectors, to strategic investors, with foreign investors encouraged to participate in the privatization process.Pakistan’s record on privatization since 1991 has been impressive but the transactions completed in the last few years have yielded $ 3 billion stopping the hemorrhaging of public finances that were used to underwrite the losses of these enterprises. These privatized banks are now contributing substantial sums to the national exchequer as they have all become profitable. 18. As Pakistan would continue to rely on foreign capital flows for augmenting its domestic savings it had to demonstrate its seriousness in encouraging foreign investment.There has been a major and perceptible liberalization of the foreign exchange regime. Foreign investors can set up their business in Pakistan in any sector of the economy – agriculture, manufacturing real estate, retail trade, services, banking etc. , bring in and take back their capital, remit profits, dividends, royalties and fees etc. , without any prior approvals. Foreign companies are allowed to raise funds from domestic banks and capital markets.They are treated equally with national firms in all respects and can bring in expatriate staff to run their businesses. 19. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) can also enter and exit the market freely witho ut any restrictions or prior approvals. In the Karachi Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of US$50 billion and over 650 listed companies corporate earnings were on average in 20-25 percent range much higher than those in most emerging countries. This makes Pakistan an attractive place to invest for foreign portfolio investors too.As part of this liberalization, non-residents and residents are allowed to maintain and operate foreign currency deposit accounts, and a market-based exchange rate in the inter-bank market is at work. 20. Financial sector reforms in Pakistan were also initiated early in the 1990s when new banking licenses were granted to private domestic banks to set up their shops along with the nationalized commercial banks and foreign banks. Although these reforms were implemented with fits and start, they were accelerated since 1997.The Central Bank was granted autonomy and the control of the Ministry of Finance over banking institutions was diluted. More deep rooted reforms were undertaken since 1999 when net non-performing loans of the banking system were brought down to less than 3 percent of total advances and loans, minimum capital requirements were raised to $100 million, the quality of new loans was improved, mergers and consolidation of financial institutions eliminated a number of weaker players and the range of products and services offered by the banks was widened.But the most crucial policy action taken by the Government, in my view, was the privatization of Habib Bank, United Bank, and Allied Bank – three large nationalized commercial banks of the country. As a result of these reforms, the share of the private sector ownership of the banking assets has risen to 80 percent and the banking sector is facing a healthy but strong competitive environment. The banks are highly profitable and the average lending rates have declined considerably as automation, on-line banking and multiple channels of delivery have improved the efficiency of services in response to market competition.1. Agriculture credit, SME financing, consumer loans and microcredit have become mainstream products of the banking industry and the borrower base of the banking system has multiplied from 1 million to 4 million households. The middle and lower middle class which had been completely shut off from access to banking services are now enjoying car loans, mortgages, credit cards, consumer durables. Small farmers are using bank credit for buying chemical fertilizers, certified seeds, insecticides, small implements and hiring tractor services.Small and medium entrepreneurs are expanding their fabrication and manufacturing capacities and upgrading technology. Landless labor and poor women in the rural areas are receiving loans for poultry, small livestock, sewing machines, etc. The main beneficiaries of these reforms are the customers of financial services although it must be recognized that market determined deposit rates have also d eclined significantly. But as the lending rates are surging upwards, deposit rates are also going to depict an upward movement with time lag.The outreach of banking sector is still very sparse outside the urban areas and has to be extended to cover at least 50 percent of rural households if any meaningful results are to be achieved in poverty reduction and urban – rural income inequalities. 22. Deregulation of oil and gas, telecommunication and civil aviation sectors have also brought about significant positive results. Oil and gas exploration activity has stepped up in recent years and constant discovery and production from new gas fields operated by private sector companies have added new capacity to meet the growing energy needs of the country.Independent power producers – both domestic and foreign private companies – have played a critical role in filling in electricity generation requirements of Pakistan since 1996. Telecommunication has witnessed a boom si nce the private sector companies were allowed licenses to operate cellular phones. One million new cellular phone connections are being added every month and the number of phones has already reached about 50 million or a penetration rate of almost 33 percent.Long distance international and local loop monopoly of Pakistan Telecommunications Corporation has been broken and new licenses including for wireless local loop have been issued. The customers are reaping rich dividends as the prices of phone calls – local, long distance, international – are currently only a fraction of the previous rates. One of the advantages of privatization of the state monopoly, i. e. , the PTCL would be felt in form of higher bandwidth penetration that has lagged behind other Asian countries. Economic Governance 23.The most significant shift introduced by the military government is in promoting good economic governance although we have still a long way to go. The reforms in some of the most important federal institutions – the Central Board of Revenue (CBR), Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP), the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Pakistan Railways – initiated some years ago – are already beginning to take some hold and making a difference as far as governance is concerned. Discretionary powers have been significantly curtailed but corruption at lower echelons of the Government is still widely rampant.Freedom of press and access to information has had a salutary effect on the behaviour of decision makers but this has not trickled down to the lower bureaucracy yet where implementation of the policies takes place. The post 2003 period has witnessed some decline in the Transparency International ratings of Pakistan compared to the 1999-2002 period. 24. The cornerstone of the governance agenda is the devolution plan which transfers powers and responsibilities, including those related to social services from the federal and provincial governments to local levels.This plan was put into effect in 2001. The main premise of the devolution plan is the belief that development effort at the local level should be driven by priorities set by elected local representatives, as opposed to bureaucrats sitting in provincial and federal capitals. Devolution of power will thus strengthen governance by increasing decentralization, de-concentration, accountability and people's participation in their local affairs. However, in the meanwhile the transition has created its own set of dislocations and disruptions in the delivery of services that need to be addressed. 25.Other essential ingredients for improving economic governance are the separation of policy and regulatory functions which were earlier combined within the ministry. Regulatory agencies have been set up for economic activities such as banking, finance, aviation, telecommunications, power, oil, gas etc. The regulatory structures are now independent of the ministry and enjoy quasijud icial powers. The Chairman and Board members enjoy security of tenure and cannot be arbitrarily removed. They are not answerable to any executive authority and hold public hearings and consultations with stakeholders. 6. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been functioning quite effectively for the last five years as the main anti-corruption agency. A large number of high government officials, politicians and businessmen were sentenced to prison, subjected to heavy fines and disqualified from holding public office for twenty-one years on charges of corruption after conviction in the courts of law. Major loan and tax defaulters were also investigated, prosecuted and forced to repay their overdue loans and taxes. 27.Civil service reforms aimed at improving recruitment, training, performance management, career progression, right sizing of ministries and attached departments, and improving compensation for government employees are part of the second generation reforms of the go vernment for building strong institutions in the country. Proposals have been developed to depoliticize recruitment, promotions and career development, enhance the independence and responsibilities of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) and systematically introduce merit based recruitment and promotions.The Civil Service Act has to be amended to reflect performance based career progression enabling the government to reward efficient and competent civil servants. The public sector educational training infrastructure is also being restructured to strengthen skill based training of civil servants at all levels. These are highly demanding reforms and a consensus has to be built among the stakeholders before they can be accepted and implemented. 28. Reforms in access to justice, under implementation since 2001 will deal with delays in the provision of justice, case management, automation, and court formation systems.In addition, human resources, management information systems an d the infrastructure supporting judicial system are being revamped and upgraded. Small Causes Courts have been established to provide relief to the poor who have small claims. Alternate Dispute Resolution mechanisms have proved to be successful in bringing expeditious disposal of commercial and tax disputes and are being replicated for wider application. IMPACT OF SEPTEMBER 11 EVENTS. 29.A large number of observers and casual empiricists both within and outside Pakistan have been making bold but untested assertion that it is the massive aid flows and debt relief resulting from Pakistan’s participation in the war against terror after September 11, 2001 that has been responsible for the large reserve accumulation and economic turnaround. It is true that September 11 did help in diverting workers’ remittances from open market to inter bank, in providing some debt relief and new loans and grants, in removing official sanctions, but there were also huge costs incurred by Pa kistan.Export orders of more than $1 billion were cancelled. Visits by foreign buyers were suspended and are still avoided due to travel advisory, higher war risk premium was charged on freight and insurance premiums were raised. 30. The data presented in Table-II shows that even if we assume the extreme case that all official transfers, debt relief and all foreign loans/ credits represent the â€Å"gift† of September 11 to Pakistan, this combined amount represents only 8. 5% of total Foreign Exchange Earnings of the Country in FY-06.At its peak in FY-02, this amount was 21. 6%. But this entire amount is not a direct fall out of September 11 because Pakistan has been receiving foreign loans and grants every year since the 1950s. For example, in FY-00 and FY-01, the two years prior to September 11, we received 16 per cent and 19. 9% of Foreign Exchange Earnings in form of foreign loans and grants. The country had a positive overall balance and positive current and capital acco unt balances in FY 2000-01 much before September 11, 2001 occurred.Even in FY 1999-00 the deficit on overall balance was quite small less than 1% of GDP. Pakistan’s reserves had started accumulating in FY 2000-01 and SBP’s own reserves had almost doubled after paying off foreign currency deposits of almost $1. 7 billion to the non-resident and institutional holders and $. 2. 8 billion in debt servicing to external creditors. Thus, this perception that every thing good that has happened to the country is a direct consequence of September 11 is not only incorrect but highly exaggerated for the reasons described below. 1. It should be recognized that any external financial relief such as provided in the aftermath of Sept 11 would dissipate quickly and thus remain temporary and transitory in nature until it is accompanied by fundamental structural reforms that clean up the economic landscape, unshackle the entrepreneurial energies of private economic actors, lay the founda tions for competitive markets under the vigilant eyes of regulators and expand the productive and foreign exchange earning capacity of the country.As pointed out earlier unless the reforms of financial sector, liberalization of trade and tariff regime, improvement in tax policy and administration, deregulation of oil and gas and telecom sectors and privatization of state owned enterprises were put in place it would not have been possible to take advantage of the situation offered by Sept. 11 for its contribution to the dynamism of the economy and sustained growth during the last four years. 32.The data presented in Table-II clearly demonstrates that Pakistan’s foreign exchange earning capacity has expanded from $ 15 billion annually to $ 40 billion during the last six years or 33% GDP from 20% of GDP. Contrary to popular perception, it is the Pakistani businesses and nationals working abroad who provide the bulk of the foreign exchange earnings of the country. It is totally f allacious to argue that if the foreigners particularly Americans withdraw their financial assistance then the country will be in dire trouble.Less than $ 3. 5 billion are received through all types of foreign assistance while about $ 30 billion are generated by Pakistani businesses and nationals and the remaining amount accrues from foreign direct investment, privatization and international markets. If this pattern of foreign exchange earnings persist in the future the relative share of foreign assistance in form of grants or loans from United States, other friendly bilaterals and multilaterals will continue to decline and will become insignificant in the next 5-10 years. 3. In order to further evaluate the veracity of the assertions of the theory of dependence of our economy on the US, four key indicators are selected (a) US assistance as percent of Pakistan’s total budgetary expenditure (b) US assistance as percent of Pakistan’s total foreign exchange receipts (c) US assistance as percent of total current account receipts of Pakistan and (d) US assistance as percent of total value of imports of Pakistan.These indicators have been carefully chosen to see as to how much damage will accrue to our balance of payments and fiscal accounts if the US for one reason or the other abruptly decides to withdraw its assistance of all types. 34. The results of this analysis shown in Table III indicate that even under the worst case scenario of zero aid flows and no reimbursements for logistics services rendered to the US troops the diminution in foreign exchange receipts or budgetary resources would be insignificant – varying between 4. 5% of total foreign exchange receipts to 7. % of total budgetary expenditures. The other two indicators i. e. the proportions of total value of imports and current account receipts financed by U. S. assistance account for 6. 4 % and 5. 8% respectively – not worrisome amounts. 35. There is no doubt that the Govern ment of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan do very much appreciate the financial and moral support demonstrated by the U. S Government at the critical moment of Pakistan’s economy. Several other collateral benefits accrued to the economy as a result of the U.S bilateral debt forgiveness, strict scruntiny of remittances through informal channels, the US EXIM Bank and OPIC’s highly positive initiatives towards Pakistan and the withdrawl of all different types of economic sanctions. U. S Administration played a helpful role in ensuring larger volume of concessional assistance to Pakistan through the IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank. The prompt and generous response to the Earthquake of October 2005 by the U. S Government, private sector and on-governmental organizations left a very favorable impressions in the minds of Pakistanis. 36. US is an important trading and investment partner of Pakistan and we should continue to remain friends with this superpower. The purpose of this analysis is not to show that we care little for our friendly relations or do not cherish friendship with the Government or the people of the United States. As a matter of fact we should expand our relations with the United States in the areas of higher education, science and technology transfer, trade, investment and labor flows.We should also seek duty free market access for the products exported from the Reconstruction opportunity Zones (ROZs) in the Tribal areas as part of our joint strategy to provide economic benefits to the 3 million population living on the porous border with Afghanistan. But the main argument of this analysis is that the pundits in the US who believe that they can use the leverage of US official aid to paralyze Pakistan’s economy are sadly mistaken as they have an exaggerated sense of the importance of these official flows.Any attempt to impose conditions that impinge upon the sovereignty of Pakistan or conflict with our own national interests can be resisted without creating a serious dislocation to our macro economic stability or growth prospects. 37. Despite these reforms, Pakistan is facing many difficult challenges and will continue to face new unforeseen challenges. There is no room for complacency. One fourth of the population still lives below the poverty line.Human Development Indicators remain low as almost half of the population is illiterate, infant and maternal mortality rates are high, access to quality education and health care particularly by the poor is limited, income and regional inequalities are widespread, infrastructure shortages and deficiencies persist, skill shortages are taking a toll in the economy's productivity while at the same time, there is high unemployment and underemployment. Most worrying to me is that Pakistan's image abroad is quite negative.Foreigners are reluctant to visit Pakistan as they perceive the country to be a dangerous place. The worldwide preoccupation with the l arge economies of China and India and the ever-increasing quest to enter these markets is also working to the disadvantage of countries such as Pakistan. But the lesson we have learned is that there is no point in complaining and whining about this but to get on with the job, to work even harder, to overcome these deficiencies and constraints and to hope for the best.