CORE BUSINESS TOPICS QUESTIONS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Center BUSINESS TOPICS QUESTIONS - Essay Example In spite of the fact that this is the situation, the subjective objectives which are alluding to the client saw components of value based on items or administrations, are considered as the most significant. This is the objective to accomplish consumer loyalty which can be identified with the way that nature of administrations and items can be meant seriousness of the organization (Karlof, 1993, p.83). This implies focusing on consumer loyalty is taking the key proficiency course just as the upper hand to progress rather than the employable effectiveness (p.5-7). Instances of organizations that work on this way of thinking are the up-showcase vehicle brands, for example, Jaguar, Mercedes, BMW and Saab (Karlof, 1993, p.5-7). It is significant in the changing present day economy however to have balance between consumer loyalty and cost effectiveness to have the option to endure. In any case, on the off chance that one factor ought to exclusively be picked, nature of administrations offered and items produced ought to be the principle need. The information on the contrast between business examination and announcing can be considered as an essential business idea required in the foundation and activity of a business. Business exploration can be characterized as the information social events methods attempted comparable to business. It likewise covers the investigation of the information accumulated with the points in fixed with the improvement of the business as far as benefit and consumer loyalty (Bryman and Bell, 2007). Business covering the other hand, manages the introduction, conveyance and dispersal of the accumulated information and data with respect to the activity and the executives of the business. In the advancement of new innovation, new ways are being utilized in the said order, for example, PC based business revealing (Beattie and Pratt, 2003, p.155). One case of the improvement in business announcing is the EBR or the Enhanced Business

John Henry Newman’s Changing Attitude to Infallibility Essay -- Religio

Look at John Henry Newman’s changing demeanor to Infallibility, between the finish of Vatican 1 out of 1870 and Gladstone’s assault in 1875. In this paper I propose to examine Newman’s demeanor to Infallibility during the period plot above. I will look at his letters specifically to take note of the scope of reporters and the methodologies taken. I will endeavor to see an example comparable to his perspectives communicated to insignificant enquirers keeping in touch with him, to national and expert scholars looking for data or discussing focuses and to loved ones regarding the convention of Infallibility. Over this five-year time span I will conclude from for the most part essential sources, his perspectives communicated on Infallibility and his created thinking and afterward present ends. Right off the bat a short authentic foundation to Victorian Britain will set the specific circumstance. Mid-Victorian Britain considered political to be as a principle plan. There was a set up request of houses of worship, described by group however all the more telling, by social class, and a characterized place in the public eye. The situation of poor people and the overwhelming impacts of industrialisation were not highest in the church’s job. These perspectives were being tested with an expanding secularization of society, by developments set up to change and give more individuals a voice in government, and scrutinizing the importance of the congregation. The congregation assumed a job in for example the Christian Socialist Movement, set up as a lot to control and breaking point change as it was to help poor people. This was a period of extension by the Catholic Church, since the re-foundation of the hierarch in 1850. Well known liberal perspectives scrutinized the devotion of Catholics to the state and since the 1850’s papers and periodicals described this view as ... ...ring 1982), pp. 86â€88. Rahner, K. ‘A Critique of Hans Kung’. Admonitory and Pastoral Review 71, May 1971, pp.10 †26. Schatz, K. Ecclesiastical Supremacy: From its Origins to the Present. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1996, pp.151-162. Weird, Roderick. John Henry Newman: A Mind Alive. London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 2008. Sugg, J. ed. A Packet of Letters: a choice of correspondence of John Henry Newman. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1983. Tierney, B. Starting points of Papal trustworthiness 1150 †1350. (‘Studies in the History of Christian Thought’).Leiden: EJ Brill, 1972. Ward, W. William George Ward and the Catholic Revival. London: Longmans Green andCo.1893, p.274. Gotten to 9 March 2014: https://archive.org/subtleties/riwilliamgeorgeward. Wolfe, J. Religion in Victorian Britain: Culture and Empire. Manchester: The Open University Press, 1997.

Negetive Effects of Technology Essay

In this century that we are living, there are a wide range of approaches to convey and cooperate with the individuals we need. New created advancements have made our lives a lot simpler than the past times. Numerous individuals like to take a gander at a screen and investigate new things, get our work done, visit with our nearby ones, tune in to a melody, watch a film, purchase new garments, etc. These are the things that we can do. In addition, it sets aside time and cash. One of the significant choices we make is to work at home before a PC. Be that as it may, high created innovation has impediments like on the off chance that we take a gander at a screen it is awful for you wellbeing, we don't have the foggiest idea whether it is valid and ensured for hundred percent. Initially, when we discuss the effect of innovation on society, we generally talk about the beneficial outcomes of innovation and about how innovation has made life simple. We talk about the Internet as a data asset and a correspondence stage and advantageously overlook the way that an overexposure to it prompts Internet dependence. We regularly talk about how innovation has made life simple yet effectively overlook that it has made us excessively subject to it. see more:<a href=https://studymoose.com/innovation makes-us-lethargic article title=is innovation making us lazy>is innovation making us lethargic Have you thought of the effect of innovation starting here of view? I am certain, a large portion of you haven’t. Let us take a gander at this part of innovation here. Individuals will (and are starting to) pass up eye to eye contact and accordingly their social abilities will decay. It is conceivable that following quite a while of having no, or amazingly constrained human contact, that we will free the capacity to peruse non-verbal communication. This could cause a wide range of errors and issues. Furthermore, contingent upon a screen as opposed to meeting up close and personal is terrible for wellbeing. It will make our spine back sick. Sitting for extended periods of time and looking to a screen additionally makes our eye awful. At the point when I was little I played and watched motion pictures on a PC for extended periods of time since it is was enjoyable. From that point forward my eye continued getting terrible and I needed to wear glasses. It truly bothers me a great deal when I play ball and to run in the first part of the day. What’s progressively, four days prior my back hurt since school began and I have been sitting for extended periods of time and been taking a gander at a PC screen Having restricted human contact will make us have even less trust in others, and thus, we will be even less agreeable and significantly more stand-offish. Thirdly, for individuals who do their works by utilizing the web has additionally awful sides to the general public. We are getting apathetic and not going outside for a walk. Our development gets constrained distinctly in our home. Additionally, it is making the individual disengaged from the general public outside which the person is may turn out to be desolate simply speaking with the PC. My best friend’s elder sibling doesn’t have any companions to go out with in light of the fact that he invests the entirety of his energy in he PC. I think it is a negative behavior pattern for him to get confined from the reality. Think about the days when there were no PCs and no cutting edge methods for transport. Human life was exceptionally limited because of the inaccessibility of innovative applications. Every day life included a great deal of physical action. Life of the regular man was not as rich as that of present day times, however he was progressively dynamic. Exercise was incorporated into routine physical exercises. It was in opposition to the stationary way of life of today, which allows for exercise and fills days with idleness and laze. Today we don’t need to, and gratitude to innovation, don’t even need to, walk, move around or apply genuinely to complete things. We have the world is readily available. We consider innovation an aid to society. I am apprehensive; it’s not totally a shelter. The Internet has reared numerous untrustworthy practices like hacking, spamming and phishing. Web wrongdoing is on the ascent. The Internet, being an open stage needs guideline. There is no guideline on the substance showed on sites. Web betting has become a habit for some understudies. Overexposure to the Internet has incurred significant damage. In this virtual world, you can be who you are not, you can be practically living considerably after you pass on. Isn’t this odd? Kids are investing all their energy playing on the web and less or practically no time playing on the ground. Adolescents are investing a large portion of their energy long range interpersonal communication, missing on the delights of genuine public activity. Additionally, we have gotten unnecessarily reliant on innovation. Is such a large amount of reliance great? Is it option to depend on machines to such a degree? Is it option to rely upon PCs as opposed to depending on human keenness? PC innovation and mechanical technology are attempting to fill in for human acumen. With the quick propelling innovation, we have begun tackling man-made consciousness in numerous fields. Where is the computerized separate going to take us? How is our ‘tomorrow’ going to be? ‘Machines supplanting human beings’ doesn't depict a ruddy picture, isn't that right? It can prompt significant issues like joblessness and wrongdoing. An over the top utilization of machines in each field can bring about a nder-use of human minds. After some time, we may even lose our scholarly capacities. You are aware of the declining numerical capacities in understudies because of utilization of number crunchers since school, don’t you? Taking everything into account, as innovation is showing signs of improvement individuals are attempting to make their work simple and quick. From this we become apathetic, feeble and sick. It causes our invulnerable framework to turn sour and we can get the sicknesses quick. From all the models above it demonstrates eye to eye contact is as yet vital in our lives and society.

Ernest Rutherford Essay Example For Students

Ernest Rutherford Essay Rutherford was conceived on August 30, 1871, in Nelson, New Zealand. He was taught at the University of New Zealand and the University of Cambridge. He was an educator of material science at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec from 1989 to 1907. He was likewise educator at the University of Manchester in England. After 1919 he was teacher of test material science and executive of the Cavendish Lab at the University of Cambridge in addition held a residency, after 1920, at the Royal Institution of Great Britain in London. Rutherford expressed that a particle comprises to a great extent of void space, with an electrically positive core in the middle and electrically negative electrons circling the core. He distinguished the 3 principle parts of radiation and named them alpha, beta, and gammy beams. Alpha particles are really the cores of helium iotas. Every alpha molecule is comprised of two protons and two neutrons, with a charge of 2+ and a mass of 4 nuclear mass units. All things considered, their speed is around 1/10 the speed of the light. Typically they travel just a couple of centimeters through air. They can be halted by a solitary piece of paper. Alpha particles electrically charge atoms noticeable all around through which they travel. Beta particles comprise of surges of electrons going at high speeds, frequently moving toward the speed of light. They have a mass of 0.000 55 nuclear mass unit and a charge of 1-. They have a more prominent capacity to enter than alpha particles yet less electrical charge capacity. Beta particles can be halted by a slim sheet of aluminum. Gamma beams are sort of electromagnetic radiation. They are like X beams however have more noteworthy entering power than X beams, alpha or beta particles. It takes a few centimeters of lead and a considerably more noteworthy thickness of iron to square gamma beams. Gamma beams, similar to alpha and beta particles, can ionize molecules they strike. His investigation of radiation prompt ed his plan of the hypothesis of nuclear structure, which was the first to portray the iota as adense core about which electrons flow in circles. We will compose a custom exposition on Ernest Rutherford explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now He directed his most significant examination in atomic material science when he shelled nitrogen gas with alpha particles and acquired molecules on oxygen isotope and protons. This transmutation of nitrogen into the oxygen was the first falsely instigated atomic response. It enlivened he serious research of later researchers on other atomic changes and on the nature and properties on radiation. In his examination, Rutherford utilized the arrangement appeared in the following page. As appeared in the drawing, Rutheford utilized a meager sheet of gold as an objective. On one side of the foil was a lead box containing a radioactive molecule. A little opening in the crate allowed a restricted stream of alpha particles to shoot out. These particles were aimed at right points to the outside of the foil. Encompassing the foil was a screen covered with zinc sulfide. Each time an alpha particles hit this covering, a glimmer of light, it was conceivable to see whether the alpha particles that went through the foil had been redirected. Rutherford and the British physicist Fedrick Soddy built up the clarification of radioactivity that researchers acknowledge today. The rutherford, a unit of radioactivity was named in his respect. Illustrious Society in 1903 and filled in as leader of that establishment from 1925 through 1930. His effective examination drove him to be individual of Royal Society. He granted Nobel Prize in science. He kicked the bucket in London on October 19, 1937, and was covered in Westminster Abbey. He additionally distributed numerous books. He composed the book Radioactivity in 904 : Radiation from Radioactive Substances in 1930, which he composed with British physicists Sir James Chadwick and Chales Drummond Ellis, and which has become standard content; and The Newer Alchemy in 1937. His examination brought new thoughts of radiation by recognizing three principle radioactive particles. A ton of researcher in today examines radioactivity concurring Rutherfords hypothesis.

Interactive TV Essays - New Media, Science And Technology Studies

Intelligent TV The Web and the Internet are the most recent innovations to be outfit by organizations attempting to create intelligent TV. This paper audits the endeavors of innovation organizations and telecasters to consolidate TV and the Web in their items and exercises, and how clients are as of now utilizing them both at home. It surveys some exploration in transit that TV and the PC/Internet are utilized at home, and recommends some way that the Web could be incorporated with TV use. Dissimilar to prior intuitive TV ventures, where the development was to a great extent directed away from public scrutiny and among consortia of organizations, the development condition in which Web-based intelligent TV is being created incorporates an immense number of existing clients, innovation and content providers who assume a functioning job the development procedure. The idea of social learning is recommended as a region of improvement of instruments for comprehend the procedure of specialized, social and social change around advancement of this sort. Specifically posts of fascination is acquainted with comprehend why a colossal quantities of flexibly side players and clients are arranging towards the Web as a potential answer for intuitive TV. 1. Presentation Of all the dreams of things to come of TV (note 1), intelligent TV (I-TV) is maybe the most radical and ground-breaking. In this vision the omnipresent TV will change from being a gadget to sit in front of the TV programs or films into a home terminal for access to and association with organized intuitive innovation, projects and administrations. The conceivable outcomes and advantages of the innovation appear to be plainly obvious, if no one but they can be made to work successfully and at a humble cost. Ordinarily we have been advised to anticipate intuitive TV any day now. (note 2) However, after a large number of dollars spent, and numerous pilots and administration terminations, a large portion of us are still no nearer to having intelligent TV than two or three hundred accessible teletext pages, and some telephone in TV appears. In the endeavors to make I-TV, various applications and advances have been attempted, with organizations pulled in by the conceivable outcomes of each new age of innovation, and reacting to the ceaseless strain to grow new items, be they innovations, administrations or projects so as to keep up a lot of buyer spending. The blast of the Internet and Web is another shaft of fascination for intuitive TV designers that appears to take care of a large number of the issues and vulnerabilities of prior frameworks: out of nowhere the advances, substance, clients and employments of intelligent administrations are there and demonstrating extremely fruitful, every one of that should be done it incorporate them into TV. For the examiner of new developments in TV, three issues emerge as organizations are pulled in to the Internet and the Web as an answer for intelligent TV. 1. Rather than being constrained by few corporate players, the innovation and administration of the Web and Internet are in the open space, and evolving quick. The advancement condition is assorted, heterogeneous, and includes a large number of organizations and in particular clients in molding the innovation and administrations, which makes the board of advancement progressively mind boggling and give the market an a lot more grounded voice. 2. There is major vulnerability over the significance of Web-style intuitiveness to the utilization of TV. Numerous reporters accept that substance and administrations on the Internet or on the other hand intended for the PC terminal may not be applicable for some clients of the TV, while others wager on the blast of web based business through TV Web terminals. 3. The TV is not, at this point the main window for intuitive administrations to the home. The PC is an undeniably normal other option, and is a increasingly adaptable and open stage or intuitive administrations. The modest web set-top box may confine advancement and fix administration and uses in a manner that is baffling to end clients and specialist organizations the same. Additionally, there is an developing worldview in the innovation business of numerous 'position of safety' terminals for intuitive administrations. This could dismiss speculation and consideration from both the PC and the TV. What connects these issues is the significance of the end clients as dynamic players in the development dissemination process. It was end-and middle clients receiving the Internet and Web that pulled in intelligent TV designers, and it is these clients who are presently legitimately engaged with the development procedure. This paper utilizes social learning (S?rensen 1996) as an scientific structure of socio-specialized change that incorporates a joining of end clients in the development and dispersion process. Social learning goes past the advancement and dispersion of innovation and substance to incorporate the

Seven Early Evenings

Seven Early Evenings Theres a lot that happens after 5PM. 1 // Sunday coming home I visited home last week over Thanksgiving Break.  Boston is amazing, but there are some things that New York just does better. I had forgotten how impressive the New York skyline was until I was looking at it again. The pizza I once took for granted tasted like a Michelin star meal. On Sunday evening, I left New York on an Amtrak to back to Boston. After getting off the train, I took an Uber back to campus01 I could have taken the T (Bostons subway system) but I was carrying a lot of luggage full of winter clothes. Fun fact: MIT student ID cards double as Charlie Cards â€" the pass Bostonians use to ride the T. . I was surprised when I finally got back to my dorm. My friends who stayed at MIT over the break had redecorated our main lounge! home sweet home, redecorated 2 // Monday lobby 10, from above I went to a meeting for Chroma, MITs science and humanities magazine. Editor-in-Chief Michelle X. 20 presented the final version of the magazine we worked on this semester! It took several weeks and dozens of writers, artists, and designers to put together. After celebrating, we also planned for an upcoming fundraiser in Lobby 10. This is a popular space for student organizations to advertise events, recruit volunteers, and raise money. At our fundraiser, well be selling boba and giving out free Chroma laptop stickers. 3 // Tuesday nice to meet you I spent Tuesday evening with the  Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), where I ate delicious food and worked on mastering the basics of Vietnamese. Through bingo, charades, and tongue twister competitions, I learned quite a lot and met a lot of great people! I came from a high school with just one other Viet student. Im really excited to keep exploring my Viet heritage with the VSA â€" its great to have a place where I can eat familiar food and hear familiar words. Whatever your background or interests, MIT likely has a student organization for it. 4 // Wednesday I swung by a cookie-decorating event run by Women in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (WiEECS). WiEECS has been an excellent opportunity for me to befriend upperclassmen who are excited to share their experiences as Course 6 (EECS) students. There are events every couple of weeks for WiEECS members, usually involving food and puppies. wheres i? After WiEECS, I went to my dorm (MacGregor House) for a GRT dinner with my entry. MacG splits its 313 residents into nine entries labelled A through J02 Note that there is no I entry, sinceem i/em is imaginary. . Each entry has one or two GRTs (Graduate Resident Tutors) â€"   graduate students who live with and mentor the undergraduate residents. MacG is a cook-for-yourself dorm. There is a kitchen in every suite (and each suite has a maximum of just 8 people). Some MacG residents cook all their meals, some enroll in a dining hall meal plan, and some (like me) do a bit of both. At least once a week, my GRTs invite our entry to go one of MITs five dining halls for dinner. They use a special GRT dining card to swipe all of us into the dining hall. I look forward to these dinners each week â€" the people in my suite and entry have become some of my best friends. 5 // Thursday I went to the Student Center for  Tech Twinkles, an event run by the the MIT Undergraduate Association (UA) to celebrate the tree lightings around campus. Off campus, the streets of Boston are literally pulsing with brightness and festivity. My friends and I then went to the Compton Lounge â€" colloquially known as the Banana Lounge â€" to do some psetting. The lounge has several tables (each with a basket of bananas), legos, nap space, and a station for making coffee and tea. After psetting, we walked back to MacG together and took pictures of the lights. let the festivities begin 6 // Friday RKB (left) and the Asymptones (center) I went to  Thanksgiving II, a show by Roadkill Buffet (MITs improv comedy troupe) and Asymptones (one of MITs many acapella groups). I really enjoyed their alternating performances â€" RKB was hilarious and the Asymptones sounded beautiful! I ended the night at Johnson Ice Rink with my neighbor, Isabella K. 21. We  both skated competitively when we were younger, and after arriving to MIT, we both found ourselves being drawn back to the ice. Isabella and I are both  amazed by how our muscles magically remember spins, jumps, and footwork that we havent attempted in years. MIT is one of a few universities with its own ice rink. Best of all, the rink is open to all students nearly every day. Its located right inside the Z (MITs fitness center), about a five minute walk from our dorm! 7 // Saturday My evening started out messy, with a Bob Ross paint-along I did with my entry. Supplied with canvases, oil paints, brushes, and a lot of paper towels, we hit play on the video and scrambled to replicate Bobs art03 Did we succeed? Well, we tried. . crazy rich syncopasians I then went to another acapella concert. This time, it was  Crazy Rich Syncopasians, performed by the Syncopasians. Throughout the show, they performed skits inspired by the movie  Crazy Rich Asians,  but adapted to a romance between MIT students. There was free boba afterwards! Upon returning to my dorm, I stayed up until about 2AM frying beignets, baking Christmas cookies, and discussing poetry with my friends. Josiah W. 22 directed the baking. He did a fantastic job â€" we didnt set off the fire alarm! Post Tagged #Chroma magazine #dining #MacGregor House #Vietnamese Student Association I could have taken the T (Boston's subway system) but I was carrying a lot of luggage full of winter clothes. Fun fact: MIT student ID cards double as 'Charlie Cards' â€" the pass Bostonians use to ride the T. back to text ? Note that there is no 'I' entry, since i is imaginary. back to text ? Did we succeed? Well, we tried. back to text ?

Race to the bottom

Following the first administration of the new SAT, the College Board released a highly unscientific survey comparing  8,089 March 2016 test-takers to 6494 March 2015 test-takers.   You can read the whole thing here, but in case you dont care to, here are some highlights: 75% of students said the Reading Test was the same as or easier than they expected. 80% of students said the vocabulary on the test would be useful to them later in life, compared with 55% in  March 2015. 59% of students said the Math section tests the skills and knowledge needed for success in college and career. Leaving aside the absence of  some basic pieces of background information that would allow a reader to evaluate just how seriously to take this report  (why were different numbers of test-takers surveyed in 2015 vs. 2016? who exactly were these students? how were they chosen for the survey? what were their socio-economic backgrounds? what sorts of high schools did they attend, and what sorts of classes did they take? what sorts of colleges did they intend to apply to? were the two groups demographically  comparable? etc., etc.), this is quite a remarkable set of statements. Think about it: the College Board is essentially  bragging   bragging about how much easier  the new SAT is. Had a survey like this appeared even a decade ago, it  most likely would be have been in  The Onion.  In 2016, however,  the line between reality and satire  is considerably more porous. To state  the obvious, most high school juniors  have not  ever taken an actual college class (that is, a class at a selective four-year college),  and it is exceedingly unlikely that any of them  have ever held a full-time, white collar job. They have no real way of knowing what  skills vocabulary, math, or otherwise will actually be relevant to their futures. Given that exceedingly basic reality, the fact that the College Board is touting  the survey  as being in any way indicative of the tests value is simultaneously hilarious, pathetic, and absurd. So,  a  few things. First,  Ive said this before, but Ill reiterate it here: the assertion that  the SAT is now more aligned with what students are learning in school overlooks the fact  that the entire purpose  of the test has been altered. The SAT was always intended to be a predictive test, one that  reflected the skills students would need in college. Unlike the ACT, it was never intended to be aligned with  a high school curriculum in the first place. Given the very significant gap between the skills required to be successful in the average American high school  and the skills necessary to be successful at a selective, four-year college  or university, there is a valid  argument to be made for an admissions test aligned with the latter. But regardless  of what one happens to think about the alignment issue,  to ignore it  is to sidestep  what should be a major component of the conversation surrounding the SAT redesign. Second, the College Board vs. ACT, Inc. competition illustrates the problem of  applying the logic of the marketplace to  education. In order to lure customers from a competitor, a company  must of course aim to provide those customers with an improved, more pleasurable  experience. That principle works very well  for a company that  manufactures, say, cars, or  electronics. If your customers are students and your product is a test, however, then the principle becomes a bit more problematic. The goal then becomes  to  provide students with a test that they will  like. (Indeed, if I recall correctly, when the College Board first announced the redesign,  the new test was promoted as offering  an improved test-taking experience.) What sort of test is that?   A  simpler test, of course. A test that inflates scores, or at least percentile rankings. A more gameable test: one on which it is technically possible to obtain a higher score by filling in the same letter for  every single question than by answering any of the questions for real. A test  that makes students feel good about themselves, while strategically  avoiding anything that might directly expose gaps in their basic knowledge   gaps  that their parents probably dont know their children possess and whose existence they would most likely be astounded to discover. (Trust me; Ive seen the looks on their faces.) Most of the passages on the English portion of the ACT are written  around a middle school level, as are the Writing passages on the new SAT. Unlike the ACT, which assigns separate scores to the English and Reading portions, the new SAT takes things a step further and combines Reading and Writing portions into a single Verbal score. As a result, the SAT allows students reading below grade level to hide their  weaknesses much more effectively. Indeed, Id  estimate that most of my ACT students, many of whom switched from the SAT because the reading was  simply too difficult, were reading  at somewhere between a seventh- and a ninth-grade level. Those students are pretty obviously  the ones  the College Board  had in mind when it redesigned the verbal portion. Forgive me for sounding like an old fogey from the dark ages of 1999 here, but should  a college admissions test really be pandering to these types of students? (Sandra Stotsky, one of two members of the Common Core validation committee to reject the standards, has suggested that the high school Common Standards be applied to  middle school students as a benchmark for judging whether  they are ready for  high school.) And for colleges,  do the benefits of collapsing the distinction between solid-but-not-spectacular readers  and the exceptional readers truly  outweigh the drawbacks? Those sorts of differences are not always captured by grades;  that is exactly what has traditionally  made the SAT useful.   Obviously, the achievement gap is the omnipresent elephant in the room. Part of the problem, however, is the college admissions system poses such vastly different challenges for different types of students; theres no way for a single test to meet everyones needs.   Im not denying that for students aiming for elite colleges, the college admissions process can easily spiral out of control. Ive stood on the front lines of it for a while now, and Ive seen the havoc it can wreak although much of the time, that havoc also stems from unrealistic expectations, some of which are driven by rampant grade inflation. An 1100 (1550) SAT was much easier to reconcile with Bs  and an occasional C than  with straight As.   A  big part  of the stress, however, is simply a numbers game: there are too many applicants for too few slots at too few highly desirable schools. Changing the test wont alter  that fact.   If anything, a test that produces more high-scoring applicants will ultimately  increase stress levels because yet more students will apply to the most selective colleges, which will in turn rely more heavily on intangible factors. Consequently,  their decisions are likely to become even more opaque.   At the other extreme, the students at the bottom may in fact be  lacking basic academic vocabulary such as analyze and synthesize, in which case it does seem  borderline sadistic  to test them on words like redolent and obstreperous.   Its pretty safe, however, to assume that students in that category will generally not be applying to the most selective colleges. But in changing the SAT so that  the bottom students are more likely to do passably well on it, the needs of the top end up getting seriously short shrift. No one would argue that  words like analyze arent relevant to students applying to the Ivy League; the problem is that those students also need to know words like esoteric and jargon and euphemism and predicated. The easiest  way to reduce the gap between these two very disparate groups is of course to adjust to the test downward to a lower  common denominator while inflating  scores.  But does anyone seriously think that is a good solution? Lopping off the most challenging part  of the test, at least on the verbal side, will not actually  improve the skills of the students at the bottom. It also fails to expose  the students at the top to the kind of reading they will be expected to do. And even if the formerly ubiquitous flashcards disappear and stress levels temporarily dip, the  underlying issues will remain, and in one guise or another they will inevitably resurface.   Im not naive enough to think that the SAT redesign will have an earth-shattering effect on most high school students.  The students who have great vocabularies and read non-stop  for pleasure wont suddenly stop doing so because a handful of hard words are no longer directly tested on the SAT. The middling ones  who were going to forget all of those flashcards they tried to memorize will come out pretty much the same in the end. The ones who never intended to take the test will sit through it in school because they have no choice, but I know of no research  to suggest that are  more likely to complete a four-year degree as a result. Plenty of students whose parents initially thought Khan Academy could replace Princeton Review will discover that their children need some hand-holding after all and sign them up for a class especially if all of their friends suddenly seem  to be scoring above the 95th percentile. Not to mention the thousands of kids who  will ignore the red esign altogether and take the ACT, just as they intended to do in the first place. Rather, my real concern is about the message that the College Board is sending. Launching a smear campaign to rebrand  the type of moderately challenging vocabulary that peppers serious adult  writing as obscure might have been necessary to win back market share,  but  it was a cheap and irresponsible move. It promotes  the view  that a sophisticated vocabulary is something to be sneered at; that simple, everyday words are the only ones worth knowing. Even if that belief is rampant in the culture at large, shouldnt an organization  like the College Board have some obligation  to rise above it? It suggests that knowledge  acquired  through memorization is inherently devoid of value. It misrepresents  the  type of reading and thinking that college-level work actually involves. It exploits  the  crassest type of American anti-intellectualism by smarmily wrapping  it  in a feel-good blanket of social justice. And it  promotes the illusion that  student s can  grapple with adult ideas while lacking the vocabulary  to  either fully comprehend them or to articulate  cogent responses of their own.   What is even more worrisome  to me, however, is that the College Boards assertions about the new test  have largely been taken at face value. Virtually no one seems to have bothered to look at an actual recent SAT, or interviewed people who actually teach undergraduates  (as opposed to administrators or admissions officers), or even stopped to consider whether the evidence actually supports the claims   that whole critical thinking thing everyone claims to be so fond of.   And  that is a problem  that goes far, far beyond the SAT.

Destruction and Failure of a Generation in Fitzgerald’s...

The Great Gatsby and the Destruction of a Generation The beauty and splendor of Gatsbys parties masks the decay and corruption that lay at the heart of the Roaring Twenties. The society of the Jazz Age, as observed by Fitzgerald, is morally bankrupt, and thus continually plagued by a crisis of character. Jay Gatsby, though he struggles to be a part of this world, remains unalterably an outsider. His life is a grand irony, in that it is a caricature of Twenties-style ostentation: his closet overflows with custom-made shirts; his lawn teems with the right people, all engaged in the serious work of absolute triviality; his mannerisms (his false British accent, his old-boy friendliness) are laughably affected. Despite all this,†¦show more content†¦Despite these admirable qualities, he dies alone, drunk, and betrayed. Through Dan Cody, Fitzgerald suggests that 1920s society manipulates its visionaries, milks them for their hard-earned money, and then, promptly forgets them. This formula is reiterated through the story of Gatsby. A child growing up in a nameless town in the middle of Minnesota, Gatsby dreams of the impossible and makes the impossible a reality. He begins this grand undertaking in an endearingly methodical way: he makes a list of General Resolves: Study electricity, baseball, practice elocution and how to attain it. . . Less than two decades later, he is one of the richest men in New York. Gatsby, too, is exploited by the very society of which he longs to become a part. At his own parties, Girls were swooning backward playfully into mens arms, even into groups, knowing that someone would arrest their falls - - - but no one swooned backward on Gatsby, and no French bob touched Gatsbys shoulder, and no singing quartets were formed with Gatsbys head for a link. His home was full of the Leeches, Blackbucks, Ferets and Klipspringers or at least it was while the champagne was flowing, at Gatsbys expense. When he dies, no one attends his fune ral: Gatsby dies alone, and only a handful of people mourn hisShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby and the American Dream1442 Words   |  6 Pagesimpossible to reach, like F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby examines the Jazz-Age generations search for the elusive American Dream of wealth and happiness and scrutinizes the consequences of that generations adherence to false values. In the years following World War one, many American writers, known as the Lost Generation, were disillusioned with American society and they rejected the values of American materialism. The generation was lost in the sense that they believed itsRead MoreFitzgerald Explores the Jefferson ´s Ideal of ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’ in The Great Gatsby2090 Words   |  9 Pagesoriginally inserted into the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson and is a clear and overriding concern in The Great Gatsby. In the 1920s, when the novel is set, America was experiencing a newfound level of prosperity; the economy was booming and the possibility of gaining wealth became an achievable reality. As a result, the pursuit of happiness in The Great Gatsby is far from the founding fathers’ initial intentions and instead, in this new context, Fitzgerald demonstrates the confusionRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1210 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby, as th e iconic book of the 1920s. In the novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald used setting, symbol and character to convey his critique of American society. The symbol of green light, detailed description of the party at Gatsby s house and the character of Myrtle all serve to show that in the modern society, Americans tend to have less mortality, and be more careless and materialistic. Many young Americans witnessed death and massive destruction during WW1, or the Great War.Read MoreEssay about The Great Gatsby the American Dream4402 Words   |  18 PagesThe Great Gatsby and the American Dream The Great Gatsby is an interesting and thought-provoking novel by the American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald that sets to explore important and complex social themes such as the hollowness of the upper class and the characteristics and decline of the American Dream during the prosperous years preceding the Great Depression. The Great Gatsby is presented at the surface as a thwarted love story between a man, Jay Gatsby, and a woman, Daisy Buchanan. However, theRead MoreThe Disillusionment of American Dream in Great Gatsby and Tender Is the Night19485 Words   |  78 PagesThe disillusionment of American dream in the Great Gatsby and Tender is the night Chapter I Introduction F. Scott Fitzgerald is the spokesman of the Jazz Age and is also one of the greatest novelists in the 20th century. His novels mainly deal with the theme of the disillusionment of the American dream of the self-made young men in the 20th century. In this thesis, Fitzgerald’s two most important novels The Great Gatsby(2003) and Tender is the Night(2005) are analyzed. Both these two novelsRead MoreJay Gatsby s American Dream2866 Words   |  12 PagesLauren Sizemore ENGL 204-1 Dr. Peterman October 15, 2014 Research Paper Draft #3 Jay Gatsby’s American Dream Ever since its publication in April 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel â€Å"The Great Gatsby† has become one of the most criticized, cited, and analytical pieces of fiction in American literature history. It is a great representation of an era known as the Jazz Age when anything and everything was possible, or at least that is what people thought. Fitzgerald provides the reader with an insightRead MoreShort Summary of the Great Gatsby11203 Words   |  45 PagesStar-Spangled Banner (after whom Fitzgerald was named), his mothers family was, in Fitzgeralds own words, straight 1850 potato-famine Irish. As a result of this contrast, he was exceedingly ambivalent about the notion of the American dream: for him, it was at once vulgar and dazzlingly promising. It need scarcely be noted that such fascinated ambivalence is itself typically American. Like the central character of The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald had an intensely romantic imagination; he once called it a heightenedRead More Mythology and Archetypes in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird2536 Words   |  11 Pagesall the various approaches to criticism, the Mythological/Archetypal achieves the greatest impact over the entire literary scope, because the themes and patterns unearthed apply universally to all works, yielding results that can be applied to a great many texts. This is because the very nature of the Mythological/Archetypal approach is the exploration of the canon for widespread and pervading symbols, plots, and characters. These are all greatly extant in Harper Lees classic novel To Kill a

P4 Describe Sources of Internal and External Finance for a...

Report to: Head of Finance Report From: Monaj Gurung Date: 23rd October 2012 Title: sources of internal and external finance for Waitrose Source of Finance All business needs money in order to operate properly. Finance simply means the management of some amounts of money. And source of finance is generally the place where money comes from. Example Waitrose gets money by selling their products to the customers and hence customers are the different classes Internal and External source of finance. Internal Sources: Internal source are usually from inside of the business organisation which are often preferable to any organisation as they will usually be cheaper and perhaps easier to arrange. However, the potential of arranging large†¦show more content†¦According to Rod Gammon a personal assistance in Waitrose, he said Waitrose gains lots of profit through Sales and without sales Waitrose, can be in financial crisis. Hence this will give them access to some capital, even though they are then burdened with annual leasing costs. Sales are a good way to raise financial from substances that is no longer needed. But even though there is some disadvantage for business. Some businesses are unlikely to have profit from the substances that they sell and can be slow method of raising finance for organisation. 4) Capital from Profits: Once a business starts to run properly it may be able to invest its money that came for their profit. This means that even bigger profit can be ma de in upcoming days. The amount of profit in Waitrose depends on how much profit the owners want to keep for themselves against how much they wants the business to expand. External Sources: External sources of finance are generally from outside the business. It involves business owing money to outside individuals or institutions. There are a number of different external sources that can be used to fund a business. 1. Banks: Banks are the most commonly used external source of finance. Waitrose do depends upon Banks as a part of External source. Sometimes they can be in loss but however they do need to pay their employees, rent, electrical and gases bills, etc. Hence they can take loan form the Bank and pay it later. AsShow MoreRelatedDescribe Sources of Internal and External Finance for a Selected Business, Unit 2 P41424 Words   |  6 PagesDescribe sources of internal and external finance for a selected business For a business to run successfully on a daily basis it needs finances. Success comes when a business expands, reinvests and uses human recourses to run. Bentalls need money to run their business effectively and successfully. It needs finance for its daily running of the business for example, paying staff wages, paying bills for electricity and rent, paying taxes on time and ordering stock regularly. For a long term goal, BentallsRead MoreUnit 2 P4830 Words   |  4 PagesUNIT:2 P4 P4: Describe sources of internal and external finance for a selected business. Introduction: In this particular task of the unit I will describe the internal and external finance sources for a particular selected business. In this task I will use the same company as I did before in the previous part of the unit. The name of the company is : Media Markt. In this task we will get to know where money actually comes from to actually create such a big company which is well known of itsRead MoreGfsgsdf Hshsdfshfd Sdhgw1479 Words   |  6 PagesCambridge TECHNICALS OCR LEVEL 3 CAMBRIDGE TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA IN IT BUSINESS RESOURCES D/502/5409 LEVEL 3 UNIT 30 GUIDED LEARNING HOURS: 60 UNIT CREDIT VALUE: 10 BUSINESS RESOURCES D/502/5409 LEVEL 3 UNIT 30 PURPOSE OF THE UNIT The unit looks at how a range of resources including human, physical, technological and financial resources are used and managed within business. This unit will help the learner to have an understanding of how human resources are managed and ofRead MoreBtec Level 3 Business Business Enviroment Essay725 Words   |  3 PagesUnit 2: Business Resources – Assessment activity front sheet This front sheet must be completed by the learner (where appropriate and included with the work submitted for assessment Learner name: | Assessor name: | Date Issued: | Hand in date: | Date submitted: | Qualification :BTEC Level 3 National Business | Unit 2 – Assignment 1Business Consultancy | Criteria Reference | To achieve the criteria the evidence must show that the learner is able to: | Taskno | CriteriaAchieved | DateRead MoreUnit 21450 Words   |  6 PagesAssignment brief | Unit number and title | Unit 2 – Business Resources | Qualification | BTEC Level 3 Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma amp; Diploma in Business | Start date | September 2010 | Deadline | December 2010 | Assessor | L.McNeill | CRITERIA COVERED | | | P4, P5, P6, P7, M3, M4, D2 D3. | | | | | Assignment title | The Role of Financial Resources | Purpose: The aim of this unit is to develop learner knowledge of the range of human, physical, technological andfinancialRead MoreP1- bUSINESS UNIT 22223 Words   |  9 Pages Wrotham School BTEC Task Sheet Front Cover Name of Centre: Wrotham School Title of Course: BTEC National Subsidiary Diploma in Business Studies Unit Number and Title: Unit 2: Business Resources Name of assessors: Mr Williams Mr Toher Deadline for completion: Statement of Context: At the core of every organization are the human, physical, technological and financial resources that enable it to function. In this unit you learn the importance organizations placeRead More2014 15 Assignment4484 Words   |  18 Pagesnumber and title L3 BTEC National Diploma in Business (Marketing) UNIT 1: The Business Environment Assignment title Working at Business Review In this assessment you will have opportunities to provide evidence against the following criteria. Indicate the page numbers where the evidence can be found. Criteria reference To achieve the criteria the evidence must show that the student is able to: Task no. Page numbers P1 Describe the types of business, purpose and ownership of two contrasting businessesRead MoreAssignment Help1995 Words   |  8 Pages | |1.1,1.2,1.3,2.1, | | |Outcome 1: Explore the sources of finance |2.2,2.3,2.4,3.1, | | |available to a business |3.2,3.3,4.1,4.2,4.3 | | | | Read MoreAssignment Help2001 Words   |  9 Pages | |1.1,1.2,1.3,2.1, | | |Outcome 1: Explore the sources of finance |2.2,2.3,2.4,3.1, | | |available to a business |3.2,3.3,4.1,4.2,4.3 | | | | Read MoreBusiness Resources1984 Words   |  8 Pagesbusiness resuirces BTEC Nationals – Unit: 2 Business Resources Assessor: Sam Ramsay | Internally Verified By: Michele Carman | Criteria Achieved | | Comments Against Target Grade: | | Assignment 1 | P1, P2, M2 | | Assignment 2 | P3, M1 | | Assignment 3 | P4, P6, M4, D3, D1 | | Important ResubmissionWhen you resubmit your assignment, you MUST ensure that YOUR CHANGES are shown in red. Failure to do this is likely to result in your work being missed and your original grade standing

The President Speech on BP Oil Spill Free Essay Example, 500 words

ï » ¿The President Speech on BP Oil Spill President Obama’s introduces his speech by greeting his audience and gives a brief view of the state of the United States as it faces numerous challenges. The president then goes directly to introduce the core of the matter which is the BP oil disaster. THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. As we speak, our nation faces a multitude of challenges. At home, our top priority is to recover and rebuild from a recession that has touched the lives of nearly every American. Abroad, our brave men and women in uniform are taking the fight to al Qaeda wherever it exists. And tonight, I’ve returned from a trip to the Gulf Coast to speak with you about the battle we’re waging against an oil spill that is assaulting our shores and our citizens. (Whitehouse, par 1). The president, in the second and succeeding paragraphs - which form the partition, delves deeper into the subject of his speech. He states that on 20th April, the Gulf coast BP oil spill occurred. This was as a result of digging oil deep in the sea and the carelessness of the BP Oil Company. We will write a custom essay sample on The President Speech on BP Oil Spill or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

Kiss Of The Spider Women By Manuel Puig - 1397 Words

The novel Kiss of the Spider Women by Manuel Puig charts the interactions between two men: Molina and Valentin who share a cell in an Argentine prison. Molina who is perceived as the maternal figure is a charismatic homosexual man convicted for the corruption of a minor, while Valentin who is perceived as a masculine figure is a man convicted of being part of a revolutionary. Puig uses the setting of the prison as an experimental space which allows him to explore the extent to which pleasure of both the maternal and the body impacts the interactions and creates conflict between two individuals who carry opposing social and political ideals. Moreover, pleasure is of interest because it deconstructs the power dynamics established within society. In doing so, Puig uses pleasure to ultimately argues how power is on a spectrum and thus not rigid in nature. Puig uses the pleasure of the maternal which is derived from the action of both giving and receiving to deconstruct authoritarianism i n the world outside of the cell. The novel begins with the act of giving which is illustrated through Molina’s narration of the panther woman film. At the end of the narration Molina questions Valentin, â€Å"Do you like it [the narration]?† which Valentin responds to by saying, â€Å"Yes†¦ I’ve become attached to the characters†¦I get attached to anything that reminds me of her† (Puig 41-42). This dialog implies that the narrations have begun to nourish Valentin becauseShow MoreRelatedThemes and Motifs in the Kiss of the Spiderwoman777 Words   |  4 PagesManuel Puig uses many recurring themes and motifs to convey his views and opinions on many highly political, and also controversial, matters, from his attitude towards Marxism, and his belief that people should be free to express themselves as well as being tolerant of others’ views, to his homosexuality being reflected in one of the two main characters. Themes: †¢ Tolerating each other’s and other people’s views: Molina and Valentin obviously have contrasting views on sexuality and politicsRead MoreAnalyzing Social Roles as Constructs Pertinent to Sex1100 Words   |  5 PagesPertinent to Sex. In Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew as well as Manuel Puig’s Kiss of the Spider Woman the characters feel conflict between society’s rules and their more private desires. They are forced to perform social roles that are in a more private respect artificial. This pertains mostly to social roles that define sexuality. Elizabethan ideas of social roles were inextricably bound with gender. The social role of women, especially in courting and marriage arrangements was strictly a business

The Strengths and Weakness of the key Methods of concepts of Usability Free Essays

string(42) " effect in the experience of interaction\." The method used in any form of media analysis is crucial to the outcome of the particular piece of research. This can be applied to any scientifically based source of analysis. This also includes the social sciences. We will write a custom essay sample on The Strengths and Weakness of the key Methods of concepts of Usability or any similar topic only for you Order Now In relation to the study of computer systems, this also applies as computer systems are ultimately utilised by human agents. This has meant that the human-computer interaction inherent to computer systems are now undeniably twinned with the social sciences and humanities. Therefore, the relationship between methodologies and outcomes also applies to any analysis based upon computer use and development. For this essay, the particular concept based upon human-computer interfacing to be scrutinised was that of usability. Like most other concepts in the human sciences, the concept of usability has its own particular methodological components and tools. The particular methodological tools relating to usability chosen for this analysis were the qualitative measurements used in focus groups, interview techniques and the concept of usability itself. As usability is essentially a cognitively focused concept then the data used in the analysis of usability is primarily qualitative. This means that to measure usability, feedback is usually qualified in terms of empirical rather than positivist data as it is based upon experience. This is why the empirical methods of the focus group and interview technique that pertain to the social sciences are used and were to be addressed in this essay. The main conceptual components of usability were outlined by its forefather Jacob Neilson, who stated that a heuristic analysis of interactive experiences could be judged on the basis of their success to ascertain as to whether a computer system was good or bad. This means that we must first of all look at the strengths and weaknesses of usability before we critique them. However, we must also identify the components before we begin the analysis. As we have already suggested, usability is not a quantitative term relating to any fixed data outcome. This means that to identify the key conceptual components in the analysis of usability, we must clearly define what they are. Further, Neilson also states that the key components of usability are essential to any analysis. It is from this overview of the concept of usability that we will turn to an analysis highlighting its strengths and weaknesses in methodological approach. The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Key Methods and Concepts of Usability It is clear that there is a relationship between computer systems and the construction of human social systems. The computer is become an essential component in advanced technological cultures. In many ways it has become the dominant tool of communication now that it has implemented the formerly distinct mediums of television and text. In relation to the computer as a social medium, it is its interactive nature that separates it from other mediums. This can be seen as being realised as early as the 1970s, in an age before interactive communication had actualised. For example, the notion of the hypertext put forward by seminal thinker and post modern philosopher Jean Baudrillard highlights the way in which interactivity constructs not only social relations with each other, but also the sensual relationship that we have individually with the computer interface. In one crucial extract, Baudrillard states that the relationship with the interface is one: ‘Based on contact, a sensory mimicry and a tactile mysticism, basically ecology in its entirety, comes to be grafted on to this universe of operational simulation, multi-stimulation and multi response. ’ (Baudrillard, 1976, p. 9) It is from the realisation in the extract that contemporary theorists and experts in the field of human-computer relations have developed the concept of usability. This is essentially the yardstick by which the connectivity between the computer system and human cognitive functioning can be devised and then measured in terms of its success. In essence, it is part of the interactive feedback produced by the human through their experience that determines whether the interactive process in any particular experience is successful or not. This measurement can therefore be referred to as its usability. Basing his approach on this philosophical realisation, Jacob Neilson devised a way in which this interactive process could be qualitatively measured. This includes the methodologies associated with empirically based social science, including focus groups and interview techniques. To utilise these factors in the potential success, or successful construction of web design, Neilson outlined ten primary factors. These were developed as part of a heuristic system. These factors include: ‘1. Visibility of system status, 2. Match between system and the real world, 3. User control and freedom, 4. Consistency and standards, 5. Error prevention, 6. Recognition rather than recall, 7. Flexibility and efficiency of use, 8. Aesthetic and minimalist design, 9. Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors, 10. Help and documentation’ (Neilson, 1994) By developing a system based upon these key factors, Neilson created a rigid conceptual model for successful user-face design, implementing the functional principles of human contact with the computer interface. This heuristic formulation has had success in both developing web design and measuring the interactivity of the design. For instance, it‘s methodology has been found to be able to identify ‘major usability problems’ (CHFCS, 1992). Further, by implementing this measuring tool based upon empirical feedback, such as in the case of the focus group and interview technique, the success of identifying and treating any problems in the functioning of a problematic web site have a ‘higher probability of being found in a heuristic evaluation’ (CHFCS, 1992). The strength of using such methodologies is that they arrive at experience driven results that indicate problems relating to cognition. Further, this allows the problems associated with web design to be identified in relation to usability when utilised in terms of feedback. Essentially, the qualitative data can be measured in relation to the themes indicated by Neilson that have a known cognitive effect in the experience of interaction. You read "The Strengths and Weakness of the key Methods of concepts of Usability" in category "Papers" This is further exemplified in the rationale on Neilson’s own web site devoted to the heuristic analysis of computer systems. The site follows the principles of the design, whilst explaining the way in which to utilise the principles of usability. The extent to which Neilson demonstrates the use of these principles and validates the evidence that can be used is revealed in a number of examples that have achieved success through usability. This is highlighted in the extract which states that: ‘Rapid Application Development (RAD) processes such as Agile, Scrum, and the like, simultaneously pose an opportunity and a threat to achieving a quality user experience. It all depends on how it’s handled. The standard methodologies as described in books don’t work in practice, if you care about the usability of your products. But small modifications work wonders’ (Useit. com, 2009) This notion of adaptability is another strength of the methodology as it recognises the need for human feedback in a thematic and conceptual format. Furthermore, it reveals the diverse nature in which feedback can be drawn before being applied to the core conditions laid out in the heuristic principles. Rather than using quantitative data or rigid data referring to hypotheses, the data is given in a thematic sense highlighting the individual’s experience with the site and the cognitive problems that may have occurred in the process. The key heuristic principles then allow for problem identification and adjustments made in a bid to enhance the experience of usability. In essence, the measurements are set for a versatile analysis of computer systems in relation to interactivity. This can utilise a wide range of empirical and qualitative methodologies. However, the methodologies will not simply address the likes and dislikes of the individuals, but also relate their experience to the cognitive disparity between human and computer. Contrastingly, the weaknesses in this approach and its methodologies can be seen in a return to the philosophical underpinnings of usability and the significance of the immersive experience. Rather than there being any problem with the methodologies used in relation to the heuristic principles, it is in the conceptual basis of usability itself that we see the greatest amount of criticism being applied. This is primarily because the notion of usability is founded upon one key principle indicated by Baudrillard at the rejection of the other. Essentially, although Neilson outlines interactivity and marries this to the concept of human cognition with a degree of success, it is conceptually focused upon functioning. That is to say, that the immersion of the user experience is only measured in terms of how the interface functions and its success in that outcome. Further, this success is only relative to the user’s cognitive functioning. By basing his principles and outcomes on cognitive functioning, he denies any aesthetic or intellectual action made by the user in relation to the experience. For example, the lack of aesthetic design can be evidenced in relation to his own web site. This is because it takes a functional approach at the expense of any aesthetic. However, the aesthetic experience to functioning can not be overlooked in the experience of the user. The irony here is that while Neilson may be dismissing aesthetics in his design, his consumers i. e. the users of his site are nevertheless subject to an aesthetic experience. While being functional in terms of usability, the site is aesthetically detrimental to the experience of the user. In this sense, it would appear that Neilson is simply rejecting the role and significance of aesthetic experience from the experience of interfacing. The other major criticism of usability and the methodologies that it utilises is in relation to the extent of interactivity that the heuristic principles allow for. Essentially, with such a simple form of processing information, then the role of interactivity is lost in the experience. That is to say that the computer system is simply conforming to the will of the user rather than engaging with them. This denies the validity of the interactive process to some degree in terms of immersion. For example, Sherry Tuckle denotes the significance of interactivity in the construct of the self. Essentially, she suggests that the chances of immersion within the web site are better increased by a degree of socialised feedback that can be sensually registered in terms of another intelligent entity, rather than coded responses (Turkle, 1997). The suggestion here is that the more diverse the computer can respond in terms of immediate sensual feedback, the greater the chances of immersion become. In relation to designs based upon a purely functioning information source, the experience becomes that of an entity wishing to ascertain information as if the computer itself. This is quite a contrast to the actual human experience that is found in the process of interaction. With this notion of seeking information we can see another criticism. Rather than being subject to the experience of a user world based upon multi-stimulus, the user is driven by a purpose to collect information through a cognitively mutual function. While this perhaps serves well as the provision of a service based upon receiving or extracting information, it denies the process of immersion and interactivity that may instil or insight a relationship between the user and the web site. This oversight is highlighted well in Neilson’s claims that ‘evolution did not intend humans to navigate in 3D space’ (Molich Neilson, 1990). What is indicative of oversight in this idea is that humans already inhabit a 3D space in the real world. Essentially, the notion of the interactive experience is one that negates the actual experience. This means that the experiences being utilised by the methodologies are overlooked and reinterpreted to arrive at the web sites success in providing a service based upon function. This emphasises Neilson’s dualistic belief that there is a cyber-reality based upon function and a real-reality that bears no relation. This is contradictory in that it goes against the principles of hyper-reality outlined by Baudrillard and many other theorists and critics who highlight the way in which computer systems interact to create a virtual world based upon our own real world. Conclusion We can see from this essay that Neilson’s notion of usability is immensely significant in relation to the computer medium and how it is used. It has a good and practical methodological component borrowed from the social sciences, based upon the cognitive relationship between humans and computers. It is a good approach that utilises experience and addresses the cognitive relationship between user and web site. However, at a more intricate level, it rejects the aesthetic experience from the design that constitutes much of the potential for immersion. In this, it rejects or denies the very essence of any engaged human experience and replaces it with outcomes. Further, it supports the notion of a dualism between that of user reality and actual reality, which denies any notion of virtual reality. Essentially, the experience of the interactive process is supported by usability in its utilisation of the methodologies of the social sciences, yet denies it in its reduction of the user experience to that of a static functionally directed process based upon stimulus and response. Although it has borrowed from Baudrillard and hypertext to great effect, it has negated the principles of a multi-faceted aesthetic activity and denied much of the sensual and tactile experience that immersion involves. Bibliography Baudrillard, J. , (1976) Symbolic Exchange and Death Taken from: The Order of Simulacra (1993) London: Sage. Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. , (1992) Finding usability problems through heuristic evaluation Monterey, California, United States, p. 373 – 380 Molich, R, Nielsen, J. , (1990) Improving a human-computer dialogue, Communications of the ACM, v. 33 n. 3, p. 338-348 Nielsen, J. (1994). Heuristic evaluation. In Nielsen, J. , and Mack, R. L. (Eds. ), Usability Inspection Methods, John Wiley Sons, New York, NY. Turkle, S. , (1994) Constructions and Reconstructions of Self in Virtual Reality: Playing in the MUDs. † Mind, Culture, and Activity: An International Journal 1, no. 3 : 158-167. Useit. com (2009) Taken from: www. useit. com. How to cite The Strengths and Weakness of the key Methods of concepts of Usability, Papers

Impact of Climate Change on Electricity-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Impact of Climate Change on Electricity Demand and Supply. Answer: Research Aim This research thus aims to determine the electricity forecast and the demand of electricity in different weather condition. Research objectives To find out the change in electricity consumption depending on the changing weather To identify the impact of the changing weather on the electricity consumption To recommend some effective strategies for accurate electricity forecasting Research Questions What is the change in electricity consumption depending on the changing weather? What are the impacts of the changing weather on the electricity consumption? Short literature review Introduction The prime objective of the research is to evaluate the impact of climate change on electricity demand and supply. Gans et al. (2013) stated that in the demand of the electricity is measured through the units of consumption by the people of a nation. In this literature review, proper data and research previously made on the similar research topic is highlighted. The following session shows that in which season the electricity consumption or the demand of the electricity is high. The process used for forecasting the material is also discussed in the following literature. Literature review However, the process of measuring the demands changed from conventional time to the contemporary period. In conventional time, electricity feedback is taken for analyzing the demand of the electricity. Electricity feedback was carried out mostly by psychologists and questionnaire containing set of questions is given to the consumers based on which the evaluation of the electricity consumption is evaluated (Auffhammer Mansur, 2014). Son and Kim (2017) depicted that direct and indirect feedback method is used, where assigned electricity staffs did self-meter-reading, assessing unit numbers in direct displays, keypad meters, meter reading in presence of energy adviser. On the other hand, in the process of indirect feedback, raw data processed by the utility and sent out to customers is taken into consideration. These feedbacks comprises of the data of high among of electricity by the nations consumers, electricity readings along with historical feedback, detailed annual or quarterly en ergy reports and disaggregated feedbacks (Moshovel et al., 2015). It is said that electricity use varies with the weather as depending on the weather and humidity the demand for the less or more electricity consumption depends. There are majorly three sectors that consume electricity- residential, commercial and industrial (Eia.gov., 2017). Image 1: Electric Power Monthly Consumption (Source: Eia.gov., 2017) It is also found that residential people shows much variation in their electricity consumption as there is a peak in demand of electricity mainly in summer and winter. The prime reason is that people have air-conditioners in their homes and they need power for AC in summer and heaters in winter that on the other hand also consumes electricity (Auffhammer and Wolfram, 2014). There is a less variation of electricity use for commercial sectors through it is found that demands in summer increases compared to the winter season. Lastly, in industrial sector the variation of the electricity needs is more flat with slight increase during the summer. Taken for incident, the household people and it is found that in winter and fall, the consumption of electricity is higher compared to other seasons that are- spring and summer in United States of America (Sexton, 2015). Non-renewable source of energy are used in all these cases. Moreover, during the fall, the electricity consumption is high in case of summer and fall but the consumption of renewable energy sources like geo-thermal, solar and biomass is low throughout the year. Thus, it can be stated that the highest amount of energy consumption is during the winter season. Image 2: Electricity consumption in U.S. throughout the year (Source: Sexton, 2015) Cooling versus Heating Electricity is used for heating to a very limited extent and is fueled by oil and gas; however, other aspects like refrigerators, washing machines and lighting, electricity are used (De Felice et al., 2013The above figure shows is relevant example of the concept of cooling and heating. Temperature should be associated with a rising electricity demand if it is intended to find the association between electricity consumption and summer temperatures. This result can be better understood in nations with higher base temperatures. The primary reason for this aspect is that climate discomfort should be convex in temperature levels and the process if known as cooling effect. On the other hand, the reduction in fuel consumption for heating purposes is known as heating process. It is also said by Dahl et al. (2017) that higher temperatures in spring and fall having more impact compared with the winter season. Moreover, gas and oil products are used for heating and thus it is expected that dema nds for these energy needs does not possess a positive relationship with average temperature levels (Da Silva et al., 2014). Thus, it can be said that the impact of the temperature of climate on the gas and oil products demands can be predicted but there is an increase in energy demand when the temperature is very low and when the temperature is very high. Non-linearity of the energy demand - temperature relationship It is mentioned earlier that energy demand may have affect in a non-linear way. De Felice et al. (2015) stated in the research work that the non-linearity may arise due to the different usage of different fuels, geographical differences and seasonal variations. Important variables that can be considered that address the research aims and objectives are- seasonal temperatures and cold-and-hot country. Bossavy et al. (2013) portrays the evidence of the importance of geographic variability as cooling and heating effect are felt in hot and colder regions respectively. In addition to that, cooling should occur during the summer, whereas heating depends on the duration of the cold season. Another aspect that can be considered is that temperature increases at the beginning and at the end of the cold season and thus, due to this season change, people avoid using heating systems. Image 3: Relationships between Energy Demand and Temperature Levels (Source: Bossavy et al., 2013) Furthermore, if the research can be made in-depth to the hours in a day for every season, different graphs have been obtained. However, in the cases, it has been found that at midnight the consumption of the electricity is low compared to other hours of the day. It is found that in winter season, the energy consumption is lower people do not use any electricity gadgets but during the day time, the consumption of electricity due to the use of other appliances like refrigerators, television, music systems are high (Hong et al., 2014). The electricity demand in the winter is high in Qubec and thus government in such nations helps them to limit the spike in demand. Image 4: Electricity consumption curve during a day in winter season (Source: Hong et al., 2014) However, in summer, the electricity consumption is high in all the hours compared to winter but in comparison with the summer season the electricity consumption at midnight is less for not using the home appliances. Image 5: Electricity consumption curve during a day in summer season (Source: Hong et al., 2014) The scenario, for the spring and fall curve illustrates that the energy consumption is greater in the day time compared to that of the midnight. However, in this case, consistency in energy consumption can be seen and thus, forecasting the unit of electricity consumed can be forecasted easily. Image 6: Electricity consumption curve during a day in spring and fall season (Source: Hong et al., 2014) Techniques for forecasting the electricity demands There are several techniques that help in determining the electricity forecasting- modeling techniques, projecting peak demand from energy, incorporating load management and conversation measures and determining capacity needs from demand forecasts (Alessandrini et al., 2015). However, Trotter et al. (2016) stated that the electricity forecasting affects due to several factors- economic activity, interruptible customers called upon, price of compelling fuel and weather. Usually, three different methods are used in forecasting- time series, econometric and end use (Hong et al., 2014). In the time series forecasting, conception trends is analyzed and can be furthermore categorized in three divisions- liner trend, polynomial trend and logarithmic trend. In all these trends, forecasting the demand of electricity is easy and it can be expected that the consumer demands will also follow the same unit of electricity as per as the developed line or unit of electricity consumed by consumer of that nation. In some cases weather ensembles are used so that demand in electricity can be utilized. In some cases, nonhomogeneous exponential model is used even through there is a gap between the forecasted electricity consumption results and actual consumption of the electricity. Xu et al. (2014) stated that electricity consumption forecasting is usually divided into two categories: short-term and mid/long-term. Experts also evaluate the estimation of GDP, price and GDP per capita elasticity in order to assess the non-domestic and domestic electricity consumption (Xu et al., 2014). In this case, example of Asia country can be taken into consideration. India being the large South Asian developing country and witnessed high increase in GDP and the co untry also suffers from energy shortage due to current lag. The mode developed in the research paper developed by Xu et al. (2014) shows the difference between the actual and the estimated forecasted electricity consumption graph. Image 7: Indias electricity consumption curve and respective comparison among different forecasting results (Source: Xu et al., 2014) Research plan The research project is estimated to be completed within 3 month. The topic selected for the research is already done in the first month. The topic that is selected for the research is impact of climate change on electricity demand and supply. The data that is selected for the research is only secondary data and it needs 4 weeks of time that is from week-1 to week-4. Moreover, framing of the research layout and formulation of the literature review is intended to complete in the 3rd and 4th week together. The data sources selected to develop literature review is different electricity distribution companys websites and government sites. In the next two months that is week 5 and 6, formation of the research plan and selection of appropriate research techniques is completed. The 7th and 8th week is taken for extracting relevant data from the selected data sources. The content of the sources are associated with the selected research topic. The analysis and conclusion drawn from the data c ollection and the research made on the selected topic is intended for the week 9 and 10. Lastly, the formulation of the rough draft and submission of the final project is made on 11th and 12th month. Proposed method of analysis Mackey and Gass (2015) stated that methods of analysis illustrate the research methodology for accomplishing the research project. The aim of the research is to investigate the impact of climate change on electricity demand and supply. Thus, in order to conduct a successful research, interpretivism research philosophy, deductive research approach and descriptive research purpose is utilized in the research. The data that are collected is secondary and analyzed through qualitative data analysis method. The data that are collected illustrate the change of demand in electricity based on the deferent weather and climate. This will help to forecast the electricity consumption of a particular nation. The sources that are selected for data collection are from websites of electricity distribution companies and government websites. The data are collected based on the outcome from the secondary research is then aligned with the research aims and objectives in order to obtain the research outco me. Reference List Alessandrini, S., Delle Monache, L., Sperati, S., Cervone, G. (2015). An analog ensemble for short-term probabilistic solar power forecast. Applied energy, 157, 95-110. Ang, B. W., Wang, H., Ma, X. (2017). Climatic influence on electricity consumption: The case of Singapore and Hong Kong. Energy, 127, 534-543. Auffhammer, M., Wolfram, C. D. (2014). Powering up China: Income distributions and residential electricity consumption. The American Economic Review, 104(5), 575-580. Auffhammer, M., Hsiang, S. M., Schlenker, W., Sobel, A. (2013). Using weather data and climate model output in economic analyses of climate change. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 7(2), 181-198. Bossavy, A., Girard, R., Kariniotakis, G. (2013). Forecasting ramps of wind power production with numerical weather prediction ensembles. Wind Energy, 16(1), 51-63. Da Silva, P. G., Ilic, D., Karnouskos, S. (2014). The impact of smart grid prosumer grouping on forecasting accuracy and its benefits for local electricity market trading. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 5(1), 402-410. Dahl, M., Brun, A., Andresen, G. B. (2017). Using ensemble weather predictions in district heating operation and load forecasting. Applied Energy, 193, 455-465. De Felice, M., Alessandri, A., Ruti, P. M. (2013). Electricity demand forecasting over Italy: Potential benefits using numerical weather prediction models. Electric Power Systems Research, 104, 71-79. Eia.gov. (2017). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). [online] Available at: https://www.eia.gov/ [Accessed 22 Aug. 2017]. Gans, W., Alberini, A., Longo, A. (2013). Smart meter devices and the effect of feedback on residential electricity consumption: Evidence from a natural experiment in Northern Ireland. Energy Economics, 36, 729-743. Hong, T., Pinson, P., Fan, S., Zareipour, H., Troccoli, A., Hyndman, R. J. (2016). Probabilistic energy forecasting: Global energy forecasting competition 2014 and beyond. Mackey, A., Gass, S. M. (2015). Second language research: Methodology and design. Routledge. Moshvel, J., Kairies, K. P., Magnor, D., Leuthold, M., Bost, M., Ghrs, S., ... Sauer, D. U. (2015). Analysis of the maximal possible grid relief from PV-peak-power impacts by using storage systems for increased self-consumption. Applied Energy, 137, 567-575. Sexton, S. (2015). Automatic bill payment and salience effects: Evidence from electricity consumption. Review of Economics and Statistics, 97(2), 229-241. Son, H., Kim, C. (2017). Short-term forecasting of electricity demand for the residential sector using weather and social variables. Resources, conservation and recycling, 123, 200-207. Trotter, I. M., Bolkesj, T. F., Fres, J. G., Hollanda, L. (2016). Climate change and electricity demand in Brazil: A stochastic approach. Energy, 102, 596-604. Xu, X., Niu, D., Meng, M., Shi, H. (2014). Yearly electricity consumption forecasting using a nonhomogeneous exponential model optimized by PSO algorithm. Applied Mathematics Information Sciences, 8(3), 1063.

The Journal of Nepalese Business Studies free essay sample

The Journal of Nepalese Business Studies The Journal of Nepalese Business Studies Vol. III No. 1 Dec. 2006 Application of Management Control System in Nepalese Commercial Banks Saroj Rijal ABSTRACT This paper attempts to examine the application of management control system in Nepalese commercial banks. The Nepalese commercial banking sector is very competitive. The commercial banks are competing mainly in service and many of them adapting differentiation strategy. The priority of the majority of commercial banks is customer retention. Commercial banks are encouraging employees to upgrade their knowledge and skill. The working environment is also congenial in Nepalese commercial banks and the informal organization and communication system also gradually exist in some of the commercial banks of Nepal. However, the future research needs to examine the relationship between management control system and effectiveness of the commercial banks of Nepal. Key words: commercial bank, management control system IN NEPAL, DURING 1990S AND later many organizations faced major changes in competitive business environment. Before 1990s organizations such as those operating in the airlines, utilities, and financial sectors were either government owned monopolies or operated in a highly regulated and non-competitive environment. These organizations were not subject to any great pressure to improve the quality and efficiency of their operations or by eliminating services that were making losses. Some public enterprises were getting direct subsidies from government for equalizing their operational losses. Privatization of some of the government owned enterprises and deregulation in early 1990s changed the competitive environment in Nepalese business environment. Large number of joint venture commercial banks and development banks were established and the process is being continued. Commercial banks play significant role in the economic development in the nation. In Nepal 19 commercial banks are in operation and providing services to the business and industries through long-term and short-term loans and facilitating business for foreign exchange and remittance via national and international network. The development of banking system in Nepal was emerged after the liberalization and free market concept. In the beginning of 1980s, private commercial banks came into operation in collaboration with foreign banks. It took pace after 1990s and number of financial institutions has been increased. All the newly established commercial banks tired to operate efficiently and effectively resulting high competition in Nepalese banking industry. In this connection, the service operation of commercial banks has become more important for the number of reasons: ? Competition in financial markets has intensified with the entry of new joint venture and domestic banks, and other financial intermediaries. ? The cost of operating the bank branches has been increased with the need of better quality service. ? Increased in Non Performing Assets and 92 Application of Management Control System in Nepalese Commercial Banks Increased in liquidity position Today and more precisely in future, companies, organizations and other decision making entities whether profit making or not, will face major management challenges. Irrespective of whether the main goal of the organization is to make profit or not, it becomes necessary to institute a mechanism in those entities to control the activities of managers so that they remain on track of the proper routes as established by management. In order to keep activities of the organization in track a management control system is essential. Control in the broad sense of the term relates both organizational structure (Chandler 1962) and informal process (Cyert and March 1963). Management control system a logical integration of techniques to gather and use information to make planning and control decision, to motivate employees behavior, and to evaluate performance (Horngren, Sundem and Stratton 2002). It is the process by which managers assure that resources are used effectively and efficiently in the accomplishment of the organizations objectives in other words control using both financial and non-financial objectives. It is specifically concerned with the process by which managers influence other members of the rganization to implement the organizational strategies (Govindarajan and Anthony 2001). It involves number of activities: ? Planning what the organization should do ? Coordinating the activities of several parts of the organization ? Communicating information ? Evaluating information In coping with the competitive forces, there are three potentially successful generic strategic approaches to outperforming other firms in an industry; overall cost leadership, differentiation and focus (Porter 1998). A control system is a set of formal and informal systems that designed to asset management in steering the organization towards the achievement of its purpose by bringing unity out of the diverse efforts of subunits and individuals (Marciallo and Kirby 1994). The formal system and informal system are independent but they are highly interrelated, indistinguishable, subdivision of control system. Formal system makes possible the delegation of authority. Formal documentation of structure, policies, and procedures assist members of the organization in performing their duties (Wu 2003). An effective set of formal control includes three major mechanism-operational plans, performance measurement systems, and feedback mechanism (Stewart, 2002) Operational plans: Operational plans include the firms annual master budget and related supporting work plans. They provide the linkage between senior managements strategic plans and the day-to-day organizational activities of each employee. Performance Measurement: Performance measurement systems compile and report the result of the collective work activities on periodic basis. An effective performance measurement system presents both financial results and operating data on a responsibility basis. Feedback Mechanism: Feedback mechanism reports the variances between actual and planned performance. The variance is communicated to mangers and others within the organization periodically through various interim reports. Informal system requires management a mindset that differs from that required for formal controls. Informally refers to the flexibility to deal with any action beyond the documentary discipline and regulation. In this ? 93 The Journal of Nepalese Business Studies respect formally leads to a pattern of defined behaviors whereas informally leads to a pattern of interacting roles between two systems (Marciall and Kirby 1994). The informal control system consists of five components: Informal Control Process: Under certain conditions and uncertainty, management will try to gather more and accurate information from the dynamic environment and adapt organizational goal. All these goal-directed actions are based on the experience and skill of management. Infrastructure: Infrastructure includes personal contacts and network. A personal contact is a model of communication within the organization that acts an efficient method to exchange ideas and information between different levels of the organization Management Style and Culture: Management and culture represent the dominant way that the top management and whole organization have chosen to conduct their work. Informal Rewards: Informal rewards are status oriented. Individual employees are rewarded not only in financial terms. The informal rewards are important because it encourages employees to carryout their job efficiently Coordination and Integration: Coordination and integration is considered as interpersonal relationship, which can be changed and adapted to meet the needs of the organization members. Informal communication helps deeper discussion of sensitive issues in a softer and flexible environment. The reward system is not so much the money; it is also the friendship and working relationship (Wo 2003). The quality of work life is having work environment where an employees activities become more important (DeCenzo and Robbins 1996). It means implementing procedure that makes the work less routine and more rewarding for the employees. These procedures include autonomy, recognition, belongingness, progress and development, and external rewards. The importance of management control system has been increased significantly in recent years (Kald, Nilson Rapp 2002). One indication of this growing importance is the impact of balance scorecard. The balance scorecard is a management system (not only measurement system) that enables organization to clarify their vision and strategy and translate them into action. The balance scorecard suggests that management views the organization from four perspectives, and to develop metrics, collect data and analyze it relative to each of these perspectives: 1. The learning and growth perspective 2. The business process perspective 3. The customer perspective and 4. Financial perspective The four perspective of the scorecard permit a balance between ? Short term and long term objectives ? External measures for shareholders and customers and internal measures of critical business process, innovation, and learning and growth ? Outcomes designed and the performance drives of those outcomes ? Hard objectives measures and softer, more subjective measures In recent years a new financial theory-Economic Value Added (EVA) has been developed for the measurement of financial performance of a company (Stern Stewart 1993). 94 Application of Management Control System in Nepalese Commercial Banks EVA is both a measure of value and also measure of performance. The value of a business depends on investors expectation about the future profits of the enterprise. Stock prices track EVA far more closely than they track earning per share or return on equity. A sustained increase in EVA will bring an increase in the market value of the company. EVA is changing the way managers run their business. When business decisions are aligned with the interest of the shareholders, it is only a matter of time before these efforts are reflected in a higher stock price (Durant Micheal 1998). 1. Problem Identification Banking industry is high-risk business but not necessarily high profit industry. It is quite difficult to manage risk and return in banking industry. The internal management system in some of the commercial banks of Nepal is inebriated from traditional management system of government. The pyramid shape organizational structure of some banks caused adverse effect in their business development. In any institution human resources, which is not listed in balance sheet but very important intangible assets? Modern economy entered into information age. Competitive business environment in banking industry also caused lateral movement of human resources. The traditional management theory could not completely fit the operational environment in banking business in Nepal. In this context, this paper attempts to find some hints from the well-developed theory to get some new ideas. To sum up, the major issues discussed in this paper are as follows: ? Competitive situation in Nepalese banking sector ? What kind of management control system do the Nepalese commercial banks apply? ? How the performance is evaluated? ? What reward system the commercial banks have been adopting? ? How commercial banks are encouraging their employees to learn new skill and knowledge? 2. Data and Methodology The paper is based on both primary and secondary data. Primary data have been collected from the structured questionnaire developed for branch manager and employees of different commercial banks at different branches. The responses were received from the 26 managers and 76 supporting employees of 13 commercial banks. Secondary data have been collected from the website of Nepal Stock Exchange Limited, Nepal Rastra Bank, and concerned commercial banks. The data, collected from various source have been analyzed using statistical tools and with the support of previously developed theory. 3. Results Competitive Environment in Nepalese Commercial Banking Sector: The degree of competition in Nepalese commercial banking sector is very high. The majority (76. percent) managers of the branches of the commercial banks of Nepal feel intense competition. The commercial banks of Nepal are competing mainly on service followed by the cost and other factors respectively. 95 The Journal of Nepalese Business Studies Generic Strategy of Nepalese Commercial Banks: The generic strategy of Nepalese commercial banks has been divided for two main areas of business: deposit and lending. The different branches of the same c ommercial banks at the different geographical location are adapting different strategy. Around fifty two percent branches of commercial banks are concentrating on differentiation strategy and 47. 4 percent are following focus strategy to attract the depositors. In case of lending, majority of branches (52. 6 percent) of such banks are adapting differentiation strategy followed by focus (42. 1 percent) and cost leadership (5. 3 percent). Services Offered by Nepalese Commercial Banks: Nepalese commercial banks have been offering number of services to their customers. The services are ranging from 3 to more than 25. The majority of such branches of commercial banks (42. percent) are offering more than 21 products. Similarly, 15. 4 percent and 30. 8 percent of such braches of commercial banks are offering 16-20 and 5-10 services respectively. Only few (11. 5 percent) are offering 1-5 services to their customers. In order to compete in highly competitive environment, these banks are continuously introducing new services through their branches established at different places in the country. Majority (76. 9 percent) of such commercial banks are introducing 3-4 services every year, and only 11. 5 percent of such braches of the commercial banks are offering 5-6 and 6-7 services every year. Marketing of New Services: Twenty-three percent branches of the commercial banks of Nepal promote their products/service very aggressively. Similarly, 30. 8 percent and 46. 2 percent branches promote/advertise their new services aggressively and normally respectively. The majority of the commercial banks branches are concentrating in maintaining (retaining) customers and only 28 percent of such branches are competing for customer acquisition. Target Setting Practice: All the commercial banks of Nepal set target for their branches for the purpose of planning and controlling the activities. In majority (96. 2 percent) of the branches the target is fixed in terms of number of clients, amount of deposit, and the amount of lending. Only in few (3. 8 percent) braches the target is fixed in other terms. Concerning to individual level, 83. 3% employees responded their banks set target for them and only 16. 7% responded they dont get any target for their performance. Out of the individuals who think their bank set target for them, 95. 4% feel the target is clearly communicated to them and only 4. 6% feel that the target is not clearly communicated to them. Performance Measurement: All commercial banks compare actual performance with predetermined target of their braches frequently. Coming to the individual level, 65. 4 percent respondents feel their actual performance is compared with predetermined target and remaining do not know whether their actual performance is compared with standard or not. The managers of different commercial banks still desire to evaluate the performance of their banks and branches on the basis of net profit margin (Table 1). After net profit margin they tend to support ROE, ROI, EVA and others (including the degree of NPA) respectively. 6 Application of Management Control System in Nepalese Commercial Banks Table 1: Performance Evaluation Criteria in Nepalese Commercial Banks Criteria Return on Investment Net Profit Margin Return on Equity Economic Value Added Others 1 4 4 2 3 0 13 2 3 5 4 1 0 13 3 2 2 7 2 0 13 4 4 2 0 7 0 13 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 13 13 13 13 13 Weight Value 32 28 31 39 65 1 Mean Value 2. 46 2. 15 2. 38 3. 00 5. 00 Rank 3 1 2 4 5 Reward System: Employees in any organization work for reward, and most important reward is money, but individual expect more than wages or salary from their employees (DeCenzo and Robbins 1988). In Nepalese commercial banking sector, salary/benefit/promotion is mostly determined by performance followed by education, experience, relationship, and other factors respectively. Table 2: Employees Response to Factors Affecting Salary and Benefit Criteria Performance Experience Relation Education and Training Others 1 30 3 0 4 2 39 2 6 15 2 16 0 39 3 1 19 3 15 1 39 4 0 2 17 4 16 39 5 2 0 17 0 20 39 Total 39 39 39 39 39 Weight Value 55 98 166 97 169 Mean Value 1. 41 2. 51 4. 26 2. 49 4. 33 Rank 1 3 4 2 5 Regarding additional benefit for better performance (performance higher than the standard), 53. 8 percent responded they get additional benefit for better performance. Seventeen percent respondents say they dont get any additional benefit for better performance and 28. 2 percent did not provide any comment on this dimension. Majority of commercial banks are providing bonus to their employees out of profit. The amount of bonus is based on the amount of salary the employees are getting. It indicates that the bonus is not based on the outstanding performance of an employee or a group of employees. Encouragement to employees to learn new skills: At present all commercial banks are encouraging their employees to discharge better performance and enhance educational qualification and attain trainings. It is supported by the response provided by managers and employees of such commercial banks in Table 3 and Table 4 respectively. Table 3: Managers Response Relating to Factors Affecting Employees Benefit and Compensation Criteria Number of Years in Job Training Related to Job 1 3 0 2 4 0 3 5 7 4 0 9 5 4 0 Total 16 16 Weight Value 46 57 Mean Value 2. 88 3. 56 Rank 3 4 7 The Journal of Nepalese Business Studies Educational Qualification Performance Relationship 4 9 0 16 5 7 0 16 4 0 0 16 3 0 4 16 0 0 12 16 16 16 16 38 23 76 2. 38 1. 44 4. 75 2 1 5 Table 4 Employees Response Relating to Factors Affecting Employees Benefit and Compensation Criteria Performance Experience Relation Education and Training Others 1 30 3 0 4 2 39 2 6 15 2 16 0 39 3 1 19 3 15 1 39 4 0 2 17 4 16 39 5 2 0 17 0 2 0 39 Total 39 39 39 39 39 Weight Value 55 98 166 97 169 Mean Value 1. 41 2. 51 4. 26 2. 49 4. 33 Rank 1 3 4 2 5 The majority of employees (77. percent) working in Nepalese commercial banks responded that they generally get leave/deputation sanctioned from their bank to attain training related to their job. It also supports that the commercial banks are encouraging employees to learn new skill and knowledge. Cooperation and Communication: Majority of the employees (96. 2 percent) working in Nepalese commercial banks feel they get complete cooperation from their coworkers. It indicates the working environment is very conducive in Nepalese commercial banks to discharge better performance. The majority of Nepalese commercial banks are organizing some sort of recreational activities for their employees. Those who responded that their bank organize recreational activities, 71 percent says they talk about the official job during the time with the executive/boss other than their immediate supervisor. It indicates employees use informal organization/time to communicate the official matter with their seniors. 4. Conclusion The Nepalese commercial banking sector is very competitive. The commercial banks are competing mainly in service in order to put in competitive position, majority of the branches of commercial banks have been adapting differentiation strategy. The response shows that different branches of the similar bank have adapted different strategy and few of the banks have followed more than one strategy at the same time. Majority of commercial banks are offering more than 21 services to their customers through different branches established at different geographical location. Most of the commercial banks (76. percent) are introducing 3-4 services in a year. When new services are offered 53. 8 percent of them promote aggressively. The priority of the majority of Nepalese commercial banks is to retain customers whereas 28 percent of them are concentrating on customer acquisition. All the commercial banks are applying the concept of management control system by setting target for their branch and at individual and comparing it with actual performance. The target for a branch is fixed in terms of number of clients, amount of deposit and lending. Target is also fixed for the majority of the individuals. Around eighty-three percent 98 Application of Management Control System in Nepalese Commercial Banks employees responded that they get target for their performance and it is clearly communicated to them. The target of branches and individual level is frequently monitored. The manager of the different branches of the different commercial banks desire to evaluate the performance of the branch on the basis of traditional tools like NIM, ROE, and ROI. Regarding individual level, 65. percent employees, of those commercial banks think that their performance compared with predetermined standard. Around eighteen percent employees do not know whether their performance is evaluated or not, and 3. 8 percent responded feel their performance is not compared with the standard. According to employees response, their financial and non financial benefit is based on performance followed by education and training and experience respectively. But the yearly bonus is based on the percentage of salary they are getting.