Poll week 6 dis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Poll week 6 dis - Essay Example Key among the causes of global financial crisis was the credit crunch in which US investors lost confidence in the value of sub-prime mortgages that in turn led to a liquidity crisis. The step by the US Federal Bank to inject large sum of capital into financial markets also contributed to this global crisis (â€Å"Crash course,† 2013). The crisis widened by September 2008, when the stock markets across the globe crashed, by that, becoming highly volatile. The event of September 14, 2008, when the Lehman Brothers collapsed, profoundly contributed to global financial crisis. The decision by Federal Reserve Chairpersons to dismiss the build-up of the housing bubble until 2007 from 202, contributed to this crisis. They never took the initiate to control the housing bubble or regulate mortgage companies. The Wall Street Executives’ decision to ignore policies focusing on internal risk management and their aim to increase revenues in a short time led to the crisis. In addition, the decision by US Presidents to hire former Wall Street lobbyists to serve as government policy makers, led to bailing out of banks without any regard to moral hazard. The decision risked the future of the national economy and shifted the burden to taxpayers. Timeline: Key events in financial crisis. (2013, September 9). Retrieved February 12, 2015, from

Assessing the marketing and business capability of small to medium Assignment

Assessing the marketing and business capability of small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) - Assignment Example Diagnostic audit is one of the important audit tools that examine the marketing operation of a specific business unit. Objective of the study The study has provided the backdrop for the crystal clear review of the marketing components and activities of the companies under the small and medium scale enterprise. The study has been conducted considering three companies such as Jain Estates, Multisoft Systems and Infinity Informatics. Multisoft Systems is an India-based software development company listed under growing SMEs in India. Infinity Informatics is an information technology products development company situated in Bangalore. Jain Estates is one of the emerging real estate company listed under SMEs list in India. These three small and medium scale enterprises are increasing their market reputation slowly and gradually. The major objective of the study is to review or assess the marketing and business capabilities for these small and medium-scale enterprises. In order to uncover t he study, the following objectives can be set for the purpose of research work. Determining and closing the marketing and business capability gap. Implementation of marketing audit and toolkits in order to betterment the SMEs business and marketing capabilities. Importance of the Diagnostic audit to measure the marketing performances of the three companies. Elaborating the findings of thorough analysis and recommendation plan for the problem statements. In order to draw a decision, the study needs a conclusion whether the marketing audit is effective or not in terms of the business practices of the three small and medium-scale enterprises. Marketing and business capability gap The gap between the...It is necessary as it identifies and rectifies the problems in business practices. The marketing audit efficiently assesses the business performance of a company. The owners of SMEs need to learn and implement the audit for the betterment of their business practices. The government should organize some events or programs related to the awareness and importance of the marketing audit considering the SMEs as the SMEs significantly contribute to countries’ economical development. The SMEs owner can be benefited by such awareness programs. Moreover, it is necessary that small and medium-scale enterprises appoint an external market auditor due to the small size of industry. In order to evaluate marketing planning and performances and establishment of improved and integrated business strategy, the marketing auditor is need to be appointed in a SME. Conclusion Without effective assessment of previous business performance, SMEs cannot rectify and improve their business performance in the near future. The above study has clearly stated the potential of small and medium-scale enterprises. Moreover, it is feasible from the research work that effective marketing audit will help structure the marketing budget for sales and marketing activities of specific products and services.

Budgeting Process Is a Waste of Time and Valuable Resources Essay Example for Free

Budgeting Process Is a Waste of Time and Valuable Resources Essay A budget is a plan for financing an enterprise or government during a definite period, which is prepared and submitted by a responsible executive to a representative body (or other duly constituted agent) whose approval and authorization are necessary before the plan may be executed. In the case of Uganda, it is a financing plan for one year prepared by the president and approved by Parliament. Some scholars have argued that budgets are a waste of time and valuable resources. But this statement is not entirely true as the budget process has some very useful roles in public administration as shown below;- Financial control. Government needs to be able to exercise control over the ministries and departs i. e. to make sure that the ministries are keeping to plan and that necessary actions can be taken to put them back on track when needed. Government needs to have control tools to make sure that financial plans and targets are being achieved, and the best tool is the budget. The budget is a plan set out in numbers, which enables the government to exercise control. The difference between what is budgeted to happen and what actually happens is termed a variance. A favorable variance means that ministry or department is doing well while an adverse variance shows those that are not. Allocation of scarce resources. One of the biggest tasks of government is the allocation of scare resources. This is often done through the budget. Resource allocation refers to the distribution of resources, and in particular finance, from the center to peripheral levels. Because the budgetary process is often participatory, it enable the various ministries and local governments to identify their needs and present them to the centre. Programme Coordination. The budget process serves very well to coordinate government departments and ministries. It is at this budget process that the government can get to know who is doing what and at what cost. Government can for example be able to tell that water for irrigation has been covered under the Ministry of Agriculture and should therefore be omitted from the Ministry of Water and Environment. Communication. The public budget serves as a communication tool to a variety of audiences. The general public, civil society, and legislators all receive information from the budget process. Once the budget has been approved by the legislature and signed into law, the ministries and other agencies become the information recipients. Importantly, each of these actors perceives the budget differently. Budget also communicates upwards. Ministries and various agencies must prepare a budget that persuades the president that they support him and his manifesto. At this level of the process, the information in the budget document must explain why a program deserves continued support, how it meets the president’s policy priorities, and how well it is using the resources it has been given. After a ministry budget has been incorporated into the national budget the primary audience for communicating information shifts from the executive to the legislative branch of government. The primary goal at this stage is to provide information to legislature with the recommendations and analysis that serve as the basis for their decisions. Perhaps the most important purpose for public budgeting is to communicate a ministry’s intentions and performance to the citizens. The media also plays a major role in presenting budgets to the citizens. The key events in the budget processes and budget documents must serve to support a mass communication task. Successful communication helps to build legitimacy for the government and its programs. Budgeting as a Governing Tool. Public budgeting has become an increasingly central galvanizing force for both the administrative and policy side of governance. This process begins with the preparation of program-level, agency-level, and then ministry-level requests for the coming fiscal year. This budget process presents a political platform for the selection of policy choices and for the allocation of resources to support those choices. The development of a national budget provides the foundation from which to organize a coordinated response to these complex problems and needs. Financial Accountability. Reflecting its roots, the budget process provides the tools to ensure financial accountability. Legislative oversight and audit functions are important activities that provide an opportunity for ministries to demonstrate that they have complied with legislative directives. This compliance provides assurances to both elected officials and to the public that the ministry and its programs are serving the public interest. Influence on the Economy . The spending and taxation policies of the central government and local governments have economic impact. Of course, the central government, with its sh11 trillion for 2012/2013 has far more impact on the economy than billions the local governments spend. From an economist’s point of view, the budget serves the following combination of economic objectives: * funds social service programs for those in need, thus increasing the demand for private sector goods and services; * reflects tax policy that affects business and individuals; * reflects and funds the enforcement of commercial, transportation, land use and environmental regulations that affect the business climate; * funds education and other training programs that enhance the country’s human and economic resources; * funds routine purchases (like stationary) and capital projects (like Bujagali dam) that stimulate economic activity; * serves to redistribute wealth across the country’s residents; and * Supports the government as the largest single employer. Public Budgeting as Political tool. The budget process presents a series of opportunities for elected officials and interest groups. The perspectives and needs of elected officials and interest groups may fr equently contrast with the values and hopes of most public administrators. Understanding these contrasting needs is a useful key to understanding the budget process. Elected officials must respond to their constituent’s needs and demonstrate a record of leadership. MPs must demonstrate an ability to use government to solve problems in their constituencies. Survival of an MP rests on this ability. In contrast, civil servants often rely on public service and professional values to guide their sense of action and accomplishment. For example, at the ministry of finance, the minister (who is not elected) and budget analysts are primarily committed to acquiring the resources necessary to maintain the efficient and effective delivery of programs, not delivering on promises to constituents. The budget process provides leadership opportunities to bridge and reconcile these competing perspectives. The promises of an election campaign must be quickly translated into policies and programs. Campaign goals and visions must be translated into legislation and directives that can reform and reorient the ministries. The budget also provides an opportunity for the executive to engage with the legislature. When executive and legislative branches are divided, compromise is usually necessary to meet the constitutional duty shared by the Executive and legislative branches i. e the president must present a budget to the legislature and the parliament is constitutionally required to enact a budget. Waste of time. On many instances, however, budgets may appear of a waste of time when they are not adhered too. In Uganda for example, The Monitor newspaper reported that the budget for Sate House had jumped from Shs66. 1 billion approved in September last year to Shs204. 4 billion. On the day to day running, there always unforeseen consequences that governments have to cater for and often need extra resources beyond what is budgeted for. An example in Uganda was the Bududa landslides, In the US we have seen incidences such Hurricane Katrina that devastated New Orleans in 2005. But that is only a perception. Budgets play a very big role in public management and administration.

Art Deco And Rene Lalique

Art Deco And Rene Lalique Art Deco, a popular international art design movement of the 1920s to 1940s influenced the decorative arts like architecture, interior design and industrial design along with visual arts such as fashion, paintings, the graphic arts and films. This style came across as elegant, glamorous, functional and modern in those times. The movement was a blend of many different styles and movements of the early 20th century, including Neoclassical, Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, Art Nouveau, and Futurism. Its popularity peaked in Europe during the Roaring Twenties and continued strongly in the United States through the 1930s. Art Deco was purely decorative, although many other design movement had political or philosophical roots or intentions. A decline in the popularity of Art Deco was seen in the late 30s and early 40s, but later in the 1980s revived with the popularization of graphic design. Art Deco had a profound influence on many later artistic movements, such as Memphis and Pop art. Linear decorative designs that were reminiscent of modern technology were characteristics of Art Deco, also known Art modern. In order to symbolize the expanse of the machine age, emphasizes was laid on long, thin forms, curved surfaces and geometric patterns. Although the movement was popular in the 1920s and 30s, the movement received its gained its name in the 1960s derived from the 1925 Paris expositions of decorative arts. Art Deco was a modernization of many diverse artistic styles and themes from the earlier period. It took inspiration from Far and Middle East design, Greek and Roman themes, and also Egyptian and Mayan influence. The movement emphasized abstraction, distortion, and simplification by use of geometric shapes and intense colours, it derived these characteristics from the avant-garde painting styles of the early twentieth century, including Cubism, Constructivism, and Italian Futurism. Art Deco is distinguished from Art nouveau and precisionist movement by a more modern look. Art Deco was influenced arts and architecture, primarily the decorative, industrial, and graphic arts. It was also a well-liked style in fashion, furniture, jewelry, and textiles. The most renowned Art Deco artist is glassmaker and jeweler, Rene Lalique. Two well-known U. S. buildings executed following the Art Deco approach include Rockefeller Center and the Chrysler Building. Art Deco, an opulent style, credits its lavishness to the reaction to the forced sternness imposed by World War I. Its rich, festive character fitted it in the modern contexts, including works such as the Golden Gate Bridge, interiors of cinema theaters and ocean liners such as the ÃŽle de France, Queen Mary, and Normandie. To reflect the modernity and efficiency of the train in the united states, Art Deco was employed extensively throughout the train stations in the 1930s. The most significant feature of Art Deco was its dependence upon ornaments and motifs alongside making use of many other distinctive styles. The style is said to have reflected the tensions in the cultural politics of its day, with eclecticism having been one of its defining features. As quoted by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the distinctive style of Art Deco was shaped by all the nervous energy stored up and expended in the War. The style that Art Deco employs is the description of eclecticism. It draws inspiration from a wide variety of sources and has its own unique look that is difficult to define. Its range of characteristics makes it an extremely versatile style, and an enjoyable one to work with, since Art Deco is easily integrated into a wide variety of personal styles making it liked by many and a favorite among collectors. Renà © Lalique 1860 1945 Rene Lalique, one of the few artists who successfully made the transition from the mannered, self-consciously opulent and sinuous Art nouveau(1800s-1900s) artistic culture to the sweeping modern elegant functionality of Art Deco (1910-1940), for which periods he is considered to be one of the worlds greatest glass artists and jewellery designers. His superb work features naturalistic elements inspired by nature, Greek classical themes, and social pursuits of his time such as hunting. Lalique in his work retained the handmade look while he also employed the most modern manufacturing techniques and equipment of his time to mass-produce his work. Museums and glass enthusiasts still collect his clear and frosted glass creations, which were also very popular during his lifetime. Early Years Jewellery Career Born on April 6, 1860 in the village of Aà ¿ in the Champagne region of France, Lalique family moved to Paris when he was two years-old. Beginning at age of 16, Lalique began to work as a trainee with Louis Aucoc, one of the best jewelers of Paris, while continuing his drawing classes at the Ecole des Arts Dà ©coratifs de Paris. He developed a unique naturalist style which was to influence his style as a jeweler while he studied drawing at Sydenham College in London. Lalique worked as a designer for a relative while freelancing on the side for jewelers such as Aucoc, Boucheron, Cartier, Destape, Gariod, Hamelin and Jacta, in Paris. He also studied sculpture modeling and etching. It all began in 1885; Lalique began manufacturing his jewellery designs out of his own workshop. For these he employed non-conventional materials such as translucent enamel, semiprecious stones and ivory. Success followed in 1893 when he won second prize in the Centrale des arts Dà ©coratifs goldsmiths competition for his Chardon glasses and an honourable mention for his Pampas and Satyrs vase. The following year, Lalique exhibited at the Salon de la Socià ©tà © des Artistes Franà §ais in the sculpture section and began creating jewellery for Sarah Bernhardt. Four years later, he won the Grand Prix at the International Exhibition in Brussels and was made a Chevalier de la Là ©gion dHonneur. In 1902, Lalique was living, manufacturing and showing out of his mansion in Paris, which featured his designs on the balconies, entrance and hall. By 1908, he had begun creating fashion accessories such as handbags, scarves and belts as well as perfume bottles for Franà §ois Coty. These bottle designs, which evoked the enclosed fragrance, revolutionized the perfume industry and led to work for other leading perfumers such as Roger Gallet, Houbigant, Molyneux, dOrsay, Molinard and Worth.

Existentialism in Albert Camus The Plague and Samuel Becketts Waiting

All of the characters in The Plague and Waiting For Godot exist in their fictional worlds. However, none is able to explain why. Neither work gives the reader an explanation of human existence except to say that humans exist. Providing an answer to the question of existence would constitute a paradox. To an existentialist, if you answer the question, then you've missed the whole point. Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts (Bigelow 134). Basically, existentialism addresses man's existence. An existentialist believes that man does not exist under God or as part of a society or race. Man does exist, and that is all. An explanation as to why man exists cannot be found. Finally, an individual exists not as a function of a greater good or evil; thus, the individual is free to live his life (135). Existentialism as a literary movement is most often associated with post World War II France. The images that come to mind are of Frenchmen with uncombed beards, smoky basement cafes, and beatniks conversing with one another on the subject of despair between sips of absinthe. However, many of the most prominent existentialist writers had rigorous and significant experiences in the Resistance during the Nazi occupation of France (Lottman 54). Out of true despair they formed ideas and posed questions of great importance. They sought to understand and explain human existence. They concluded that existence is to be acknowledged, but can never be explained. Two existentialist works are Samuel Beckett's Waiti... ... them to reevaluate their relations to others and to question their own existence. At first, most citizens assume that they will not get the plague, but they soon realize that even they are not immune to it. In this way they question their own humanity and are faced with something bigger than they have ever contemplated. They, like Vladimir and Estragon, are unable to come up with answers. All of the characters in The Plague and Waiting For Godot exist in their fictional worlds. However, none is able to explain why. Neither work gives the reader an explanation of human existence except to say that humans exist. Providing an answer to the question of existence would constitute a paradox. To an existentialist, if you answer the question, then you've missed the whole point. The key is in asking the question. The realization is in accepting that there is no answer

Design and Development of Mobile Multimedia Learning Application Essay

Introduction The development of mobile technology today has its own effects on society globally. There are many benefit that are experienced from the implementation and use of mobile technology. Mobile technology are made to drive global commerce especially in mobile multimedia learning application. This is because, nowadays, mobile technology has upgraded to such an extant that you are able to keep updated for all your lesson requirement everywhere and anytime you want to. In other words, learning can be done anytime and anywhere as long you have a mobile phone or any mobile electronic device and a multimedia learning application. There are many types of application for learning purpose for example Google etc. The Advantages The most advantage of a mobile learning is the ability to access information. User can easily get information from the web site and download it. Education as a process relies on a great deal of coordination of learners and resources. Mobile device can be used by teacher for attendance reporting, general access of school data, reviewing students mark, and managing their schedule more effective. With access to information, special knowledge is put in the hands of students to support their study. Students also can access to lab asignments, formulae and others such a diagram. This can affects students performance in learning environment while facilitating their education. It is important to manage different education. All students catch up information at different speeds in different ways. Educational currently support advance way and special classes to manage these needs. Mobile learning is ideally geared to enable students to learn at their own speed, by uniquely catering to their requirements ... ...kills can be improved through the use of mobile learning. It provides access to learning during previously unproductive times, it allows more flexible and immediate collaborative options, it allows controlled learning in contextual situations, and provides greater options for teacher to observe and assist in independent learning. Works Cited Brown, M.D. ( 2001 ). Technology in the Classrooms: Handhelds in the Classrooms. Education World. http:// www.education-wprld/a-tech/tech083.shtml McCartney, M ( 2004 ). Mobile learning. Aclearn.net: The community learning resource. http://www.aclearn.net/technical/hardware/m-learning/ Shotsberger, P and Vetter, R. ( 2001 ). Teaching and Learning in Wireless Classrooms, 2001 Griffeon J, Seales, W.B and Lumpp, J.E ( 1998 ). Teaching in Realtime Wireless Classroom. University of Kentucky, Kentucky, 1998, pp.1-3

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan: The Great Teacher Essay

5 September is celebrated as TEACHER’S DAY in India. Different countries celebrate the ocassion on different dates like 11 September in Argentina, 15 October in Brazil as Teacher Appreciation Day etc. UNESCO recognises October 5 as World Teacher’s Day. Teacher’s day is a day to honour our teachers and thank them for all that they have done for us in our educational lives. Specially 5 September is the birth day of India’s 2nd President as well as great philosopher cum teacher Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. One of India’s most influential scholars of comparative religion and philosophy, Radhakrishnan built a bridge between the East and the West by showing how the philosophical systems of each tradition are comprehensible within the terms of the other. He wrote authoritative exegeses of India’s religious and philosophical literature for the English-speaking world. His academic appointments included the King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Scie nce at the University of Calcutta (1921–1932) and Spalding Professor of Eastern Religion and Ethics at Oxford University (1936–1952). Radhakrishnan was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India, in 1954. Among the many other honors he received were the British Knight Bachelor in 1931 and the commonwealth Order of Merit (1963), but ceased to use the title â€Å"Sir† after India attained independence. His birthday is celebrated in India as Teachers’ Day on 5 September. He was also awarded the Templeton Prize in 1975 in recognition of the fact that â€Å"his accessible writings underscored his country’s religious heritage and sought to convey a universal reality of God that embraced love and wisdom for all people†. In April 1909, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was appointed to the Department of Philosophy at the Madras Presidency College. Thereafter, in 1918, he was selected as Professor of Philosophy by the University of Mysore, where he taught at its Maharaja’s College, Mysore. By that time he had written many articles for journals of repute like The Quest, Journal of Philosophy and the International Journal of Ethics. He also completed his first book, The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore. He believed Tagore’s philosophy to be the â€Å"genuine manifestation of the Indian spirit†. His second book, The Reign of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy was published in 1920. In 1921 he was appointed as a professor in philosophy to occupy the King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science at the University of Calcutta. He represented the University of Calcutta at the Congress of the Universities of the British Empire in June 1926 and the  International Congress of Philosophy at Harvard University in September 1926. Another important academic event during this period was the invitation to deliver the Hibbert Lecture on the ideals of life which he delivered at Harris Manchester College, Oxford in 1929 and which was subsequently published in book form as An Idealist View of Life. In 1929 Radhakrishnan was invited to take the post vacated by Principal J. Estlin Carpenter at Harris Manchester College. This gave him the opportunity to lecture to the students of the University of Oxford on Comparative Religion. For his services to education he was knighted by George V in the June 1931 Birthday Honours, and formally invested with his honour by the Governor-General of India, the Earl of Willingdon, in April 1932. However, he ceased to use the title after Indian independence, preferring instead his academic title of ‘Doctor’. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University from 1931 to 1936. In 1936 Radhakrishnan was named Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at the University of Oxford, and was elected a Fellow of All Souls College. In 1939 Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya invited him to succeed him as the Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU). He served as its Vice-Chancellor till January 1948. When India became independent in 1947, Radhakrishnan represented India at UNESCO (1946–52) and was later Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union, from 1949 to 1952. He was also elected to the Constituent Assembly of India. Radhakrishnan was elected as the first Vice President of India in 1952. He was elected as the second President of India (1962–1967). When he became President, some of his students and friends requested him to allow them to celebrate his birthday, 5 September. He replied, â€Å"Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if 5 September is observed as Teachers’ Day.† Since the time we have been civilised education has become part of our life and after the parents in home our teachers in school ,colleges take care of us. They are emotionally attached to us. It is our prime duty to obey them with great gratitude. Not only one day in a year; but also in each moment we should behave gently and respect our teachers. Teachers also should follow the ideals of great teacher Radhakrishnan. A good teacher is one who is always ready to share his knowledge to his disciple with love and like a frie nd.