Biodiversity and The Endangered Species Act of 1973 Essay

Biodiversity and The Endangered Species Act of 1973 - Essay Example It is vital to put the ESA in a universal environment of species biodiversity and extinction loss. A majority of biologists and ecologists take high biodiversity to be a sign of a healthy environment. Species in an ecosystem rely on one another as food and shelter sources in order to survive. Species create symbiotic relations, operate in a complex chain, do away with one species from the chain, and the repercussions are not easy to foretell. An ecosystem that counts on a few species is more susceptible to infection, famine, and other types of destruction. The more the species the more the possibility that several of them are well prepared to endure a transformation in the environment (Glen, 2006). Owing to habitat loss, contamination, hunting, invasive species, and other causes, many species are quickly becoming extinct. Some of the extinction is a part of the ordinary course of nature, the United States of America geological Survey approximates that without human interference extinction would occur 100 times less and that this rate over time goes on to speed up. Subsequent to the passing of the ESA in the USA, the global community came up with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora that facilitates the preservation of species around the world (Minteer & Collins, 2005). The ESA should not be by any chance be rewritten to benefit commercial interests. It is however important to ensure a sense of balance in the need for economic growth and development with the need for ecological protection and conservation, as well as become accustomed to universal principles to local conditions however, this is extraordinarily tricky. By serving commercial interests such as mining, the already alarming rates of extinction will only be higher. Mining for example destroys habitats that are homes to some of this endangered species and therefore mining would only serve to fasten the process of extinction of some plant and

Swot Analysis Essay Example for Free

Swot Analysis Essay This paper gives a detailed description of the business plan that I have chosen. The SWOT Analysis will discuss strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for my proposed tanning salon. The paper will discuss in detail and, in some instances, how different factors of external forces and trends and internal forces and trends have different effect on the SWOT Analysis. The Business Plan The company and business plan that I selected was a business plan made specifically for a tanning salon. The business plan was an executive summary. It included the objectives, mission, and the keys to success. It also included a summary of the company and the products and services that the salon will offer. Strategy, Implementation, and Management summaries were included. Finally, it gives a detailed financial plan. This business plan is extremely detailed and can help give anyone an clear understanding of how to get a business started, what it takes in detailed to get started, and actually how much work and precision it will take to get started. This business plan helped me to understand and outline the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that could affect my proposed tanning salon. SWOT Analysis – Strengths The strengths of my proposed tanning salon are significant. The main strength that will make this salon become and remain successful is the desire and passion I have for the tanning business and the dream of expanding to different areas. Another strength that I have is the strategic planning and development before the salon ever opens. My planning has been extensive. I have planned around some more common pitfalls and possible failures. I also plan to send all of my management team to training so that they can receive the skills necessary to run my salon with minimum errors. SWOT Analysis – Weaknesses I have tried to minimize my weaknesses for the salon. However, there are some known weaknesses that I will have to face and overcome without any down time. The greatest weakness that I will be faced will is the challenge of competing with our salons in the area and getting my clientele built up. Another small weakness is the hiring of new employees. The weakness falls in to place by having to take the time to train and educate the new employees on all the rules and regulations. SWOT Analysis – Opportunities The opportunities for my proposed tanning salon are endless. The greatest opportunity for the salon would be the potential for growth in all areas of the business. The growth potential for this salon to expand to different regional areas is unlimited. The opportunity for new and up-to-date training for all employees will always be available and offered. Improvements within the day to day running of the salon and customer feedbacks are opportunities that can be taken advantage of. These opportunities can improve the overall customer satisfaction and efficiency of daily tasks. Through trail and error and making necessary improvements, the opportunity of making a better, more pleasurable tanning experience for the customer is very much available. Opportunities can be taken advantage of every day. With this business, there is no stopping point and the opportunities are never-ending. SWOT Analysis – Threats Threats are another component that I have planned and prepared for to the best of my ability. The best threat that stands against the success of my proposed tanning salon is competitors and competing businesses. My tanning salon will always have to stay on top of its marketing, special offers, and customer improvements. If anything lacks in these areas, my competitors will get ahead and gain the attention of current or potential customers. My staff can be another threat to the success of the tanning salon. If the management team is not effective in their leadership or faulty in their actions then the employees will become nonchalant in their actions and responsibilities. Having a disrespectful and disobedient staff will be a down fall to the success of the business. I plan to try to avoid this from happening by continually training and periodically inspecting my staff’s action. Although I can not make the threats disappear, I can effectively handle them as they come. Conclusion It can be said without a doubt that to establish a good tanning salon business is not an easy task. It requires extensive planning and preparation. A detailed and thorough business plan along with a well thought out SWOT Analysis should be an outstanding starting point. Although every detail can not be planned or worked out, the key to success is learning from a mistake and correcting it two-fold. In order for my proposed tanning salon to be a success, I must endure the tribulations and accomplishments through my own trails and error.

GM case study :: essays research papers

The action plan of GM should be to extensively evaluate all of their foreign alliances, and through analysis determine the overall benefits of each of their partnerships. GM should eliminate any alliances, which are not beneficial to the firm, or could be seen as not mutually beneficial between both GM and the partner alliance. Alliances, which are not mutually beneficial or more beneficial to one of the firms, are generally viewed as more advantageous and opportunistic rather than as beneficial partnership where the two firms help each other acting as partners. Alliances where one firm benefits more than the other usually do not last for long periods of time and can harm one or both of the firms in the long run. In such cases, the partnership should be either eliminated, or avoided in the future. Goals Short-term:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The short-term goals of GM should mostly be of an evaluative nature. GM needs to collect and gather data on each of their foreign partnerships. The financial, informational and opportunistic advantages of each alliance should be analyzed and evaluated to determine GM’s overall need for and benefits from each particular alliance. Longevity should also be considered. Alliances taken on only for short term benefits could ending up costing GM more than they gained in lost information, technology or competitive supremacy over an allied firm. Firms should be evaluated only on the long-term benefits of the partnership. Long-term partnerships are the only true beneficial alliances on this case. The reason for the other firms desire and reason to partner with GM should also be analyzed to ensure that neither firm’s corporate goals are of conflicting nature. Mutually beneficial alliances are much more successful in the long term and can lead to long lasting, h ighly profitable and beneficial arrangements. Medium-term:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  GM should begin to eliminate their lesser alliances, alliances, which are only advantageous in the short-term, and alliances which tend to be more beneficial to the foreign firm. This however, should be done cautiously and contractually to ensure as little information knowledge, technological knowledge and operational knowledge are lost or transferred to the separated firm. Former partners have a distinct advantage over other competitors to steal some portion of the market share. Also in the medium-term, GM should further coordinate with their strong partner firms to attempt to exploit as many advantages from each other as they can. Partner firms who are suppliers to GM should be fully integrated into the supply chain, and some elements of each firms corporate structure and policy should become transparent to further benefit both firms.

Integrated Information Management Essay

Economic, sociological, political, and technological environments make up the four external considerations. The sociological domain covers community values and the larger political divisions and their agencies. It comes up with lists – of people, their problems, needs, strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities – in a data form that is easy to report. The political domain encompasses what the Board of Directors will manage, and how to handle their concerns. The economic domain is sources of funds, contributions, and referrals, and also includes customers and the company’s competitors. It aims to get the most from these sources. The technological domain includes technological advancement, so that a company remains on top of new technology. Organizational purpose, mission statement and philosophy, organizational planning, organizational operations, Human Resources, technological factors, and financial assets are the Internal considerations. The factors that influence a company’s goal sare covered by organizational purpose. It checks that all data about populations and expected outcomes has been gathered so that it can move ahead. Organizational planning keeps track of goals and marks their achievement. Organizational resources makes sure that the members of each department are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Human Resources wants information about its demographics, licensing, certifications, and staff training. Technological resources makes sure that the newest technology and know-how is being put into practice. Financial resources follows income and expenses, so that managers can predict a financial problem.

Brand Management Case Study Essay

1.0 Summary Communities across the United States are enjoying healthier food grown by local farmers; and farmers are reaping better returns and helping to revitalize rural and urban communities by selling close to home instead of through distant markets. Local marketing has expanded beyond farmers’ markets and farmlands, although these are still popular and the number of US farmers’ markets is growing rapidly. New regional supply networks are linking farmers with their customers in innovative ways and taking advantage of opportunities for marketing to institutions such as public schools, hospitals and universities. In the process, they are bringing a host of other benefits to communities within the networks. But significant barriers must be overcome to increase the potential of these new marketing mechanisms and expand them to meet the needs of underserved farmers and customers. 2.0 Different Policies To do marketing easily, there are different policies that we should adopt. Some of the key policies are given below: †¢ Identify infrastructural gaps and other barriers that prevent local and regional farmers from marketing more of their crops, livestock and value added products within the region. †¢ Give small†scale and mid†scale farmers the tools they need to meet growing consumer demand for local and regional products, such as financing and technical assistance to make the transition to crops customers want and more sustainable production methods. †¢ Expand the infrastructure needed for local agricultural production and the processing and distribution of locally grown produce, meats, dairy, and other products. †¢ Ensure that farmers and consumers who have been underserved by farm and food policy benefit from these steps. Underserved farmers, including socially disadvantaged, women, and beginning farmers, benefit particularly from local and regional markets because they can accommodate small scale producers. †¢ Support mechanisms and access to information that farmers can use to aggregate regional supply in order to access high†volume markets such as large institutions. †¢ Enforce existing restrictions against excessive concentration of buying power and tighten up legislation to allow fair competition for smaller†scale processors, distributors and retailers. †¢ Support training, resources, assistance and credit for beginning farmers and youth interested in farming and food†related careers. †¢ Accommodate needs of small†scale and mid†scale enterprises in food processing regulations. †¢ Facilitate the development of convenient local and regional retail outlets for small†scale and mid†scale farmers. †¢ Compensate farmers for protecting the environment and maintaining the cultural and aesthetic values of working farmland. †¢ Educate the public about advantages of buying locally and regionally grown food. †¢ Fund the establishment of local and regional food policy councils. 3.0 Scopes of new marketing opportunities †¢ Remove of infrastructure gap and other barriers according to the policy local and regional farmers can expand their business and can inform the broader target customers to fulfil their demands with their products. †¢ If funding is possible for small and mid level farmers they supply the accurate quantity of product during the time in the time of increasing demand which will provide trust and strong customer relationship with them. †¢ Infrastructure expansion will lead to produce better quality of agricultural production and distribution that will create a brand image of the regional farmer toward the customers. †¢ Support mechanism and access of adequate information about customer’s demand and wants will help farmers gain the satisfied and loyal customers. †¢ Training, resources, assistance and credit for beginning farmers will make them competitive and efficient to agricultural field. †¢ Improvement in food processing area will improve the quality of goods as well as the health condition of the customers. †¢ When people will learn the advantage of having regional grown food the farmers will get more opportunities to produce and serve the customers according to the demands.[pic]

Essay on Private Investigating OrganizationEssay Writing Service

Essay on Private Investigating OrganizationEssay Writing Service Essay on Private Investigating Organization Essay on Private Investigating OrganizationThis paper places emphasis on the role of effective management in criminal justice organizations. The organization under study is the Michigan Council of Private Investigators. This is a non-governmental criminal justice organization that is specialized on provide high quality private investigation services. This paper provides an overview of the organization, defines the structure of the organization, the type of management utilized and the ways used to maintain moral and motivation of personnel. The major goal of the Michigan Council of Private Investigators management team is to provide effective leadership in order to ensure professional private investigation services to clients in the state of Michigan. The organization has articulated the required values in the Code of Ethics, emphasizing the importance of ethical decision making and problem solving in the context of private investigation issues. In general, the Michigan Council of Pri vate Investigators is effectively managed as the members of the organization are well-motivated to perform their duties in a proper way.Introduction  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Criminal justice management deserves special attention as it provides an example of comprehensive management practices for many organizations. According to Richard R.E. Kania and Richards P. Davis (2011), â€Å"management is the art of overseeing, controlling and exercising authority over the workforce of an agency and the organizational activities needed to guide it to accomplish a purpose or function† (p. 1). The management of a criminal justice organization stands for the management of the leadership team, which consists of the chief executive of the organization, several department heads, mangers at middle levels, as well as the members of their supporting staff. Managing criminal justice organizations is not an easy task. Many criminal justice organizations have their individual ma nagement techniques. In general, there are governmental and non-governmental criminal justice organizations. Private investigating organizations are non-governmental organizations. Today the â€Å"growth of non-governmental justice-related services, agencies and alternative programs to support the traditional government justice organizations has expended the field considerably in recent years†(Kania Davis, 2011, p. 19). Many of these private criminal justice organizations have introduced new managerial and administrative challenges in the field of traditional justice administration, organization and management.   Private investigating organizations offer high quality investigating services, such as finding missing family members, collecting private information about individuals, their activities and behaviors, etc. According to researchers, â€Å"management of most of these private law enforcement organizations will follow business models because the organizations exist t o achieve a profit as well to provide public services†(Kania Davis, 2011, p. 22). The Michigan Council of Private Investigators is an effective private investigating organization that has developed and effectively performs the key management functions, such as planning organizing, leading and controlling.The major goal of this paper is to provide an overview of any criminal justice organization, paying due attention to the type of management utilized, the structure of the organization and the ways used to maintain moral and motivation of personnel. The Michigan Council of Private Investigators is one of the well-known private investigating organizations in the U.S. This organization has developed effective management to contribute to the growth of private investigation industry.The overview of the organization  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Michigan Council of Private Investigators is a successful private investigating organization that is focused on providin g private investigation services and security services to its clients. Michigan Council of Private Investigators is located in Lansing, MI, the Downtown neighborhood. The full address is 235 N Pine St., Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: 517-482-0706 Fax: 517-372-1501 (Michigan Council of Professional Investigators. Official Website, 2014).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Michigan Council of Professional Investigators was established in1983. Since that time, the Michigan Council of Professional Investigators has been comprised of several corporations and individual private investigators â€Å"who care deeply about the private investigation industry and the public image presented† (Michigan Council of Professional Investigators, Membership, 2014).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This private investigating organization is specialized in a wide range of services, includingArmored Transportation servicesAudio/Video Enhancement Authentication servicesAuto Reco very servicesCase ManagementComputer Forensics servicesForensic AccountingForensicsInformation ProviderLegal servicesInsurance-related servicesPrivate investigation training (The Michigan Council of Professional Investigators, Official Website, 2014).The Michigan Council of Professional Investigators is a group of professional private investigators that are assembled in order to improve education opportunities of each investigator’s education, provide the appropriate resources, organize effective network, and monitor legal issues that affect the field of private investigation (Michigan Council of Professional Investigators. Official Website, 2014).The structure of the organizationThe Michigan Council of Professional Investigators has a standard organizational structure. The Board Leader and Board Members are at the head of the organization. The President of the Michigan Council of Professional Investigators is Daryn Rollins P.E.M. The Vice President of the organization is Che ryl Gelnak. The secretary is Dan Klimek. The Sergeant at Arms is Steve Crane. The Board members include Linda Milam, Sonya Terburg and Peter Psarouthakis (The Michigan Council of Professional Investigators, Official Website, 2014).The mission of the Michigan Council of Professional InvestigatorsThe mission of the Michigan Council of Professional Investigators is to â€Å"secure a more professional relationship among licensed private investigators; encourage the elevation of an impeccable degree of standards so as to form an elite corps of investigators and promote and encourage the continuing training and education of its members in the many and diverse areas of the profession of private investigation† (Michigan Council of Professional Investigators, Membership, 2014). The organization is focused on monitoring the established legislative and regulatory activities at federal and state levels, which have an enormous impact on the private investigation industry in the U.S.The ty pe of management utilized in the organization  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The key feature of the private investigating organization is that the policies, services and initiatives developed by this organization are aimed at fulfilling the needs and requirements of the private individuals or companies employing them. According to Richard R.E. Kania and Richards P. Davis (2011), â€Å"because the laws of each state differ, some have powers equal to those of public law enforcement officers, while others have very limited law enforcement powers† (p. 22). The Michigan Council of Professional Investigators management is focused on the development and application of effective leadership skills, supervision practices, communication and analytic skills. The organization’s management team is focused on solving various management-related issues and effective methods, placing emphasis on the established ethical considerations, laws and regulation. There are four key functions performed by the organization’s management team: planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Management plays a crucial role in the organization, including informational and decisional roles.Essay on Private Investigating Organization part 2

Proofread Essay

Proofread Essay Proofread Essay Proofread Essay: Essay which is Doomed to Success Only such essay is worth of the highest grade which content is interesting and informative one and which is free of different kinds of mistakes. Well, to write an essay is as important as to proofread it, that is why do not neglect the proofreading of the essay, obviously do it if you do not want to spoil the result. Proofread essay is any essay, which is domed to success with your professor. You can get a proofread essay with the help of different ways. First, you can reread your essay by yourself and edit it. However, they say that this very way is not a very effective one, as when the person proofreads his or her own essay, he or she is not able to see all the mistakes your essay contains and correct them. At this point, it is essential to ask someone to proofread your essay. You can appeal to your parents, relatives, friends, etc, to get your proofread essays. Of course, if the person sees an essay for the first time with, so to say, a fresh eye, he or she will be able to correct the majority of mistakes that is for sure. That is why better ask someone for help before you essay presenting. There exists one more way of how to get a proofread essay which is considered to be the best and most effective one. This way is called custom essay writing service. You see, within the servicing of our custom essay site, you may turn to such a service, which goes under the title of proofreading. If you make use of such an option, kindly offered by our site, your proofread essay will be worth of the highest grade, as it is going to be free of any kinds of mistakes. Our custom essay writing service will not only present you a proofread essay, but also will check your essay in terms of correspondence to the existing requirements from it. If it happens that some of the parts of your essay are not going to meet all the requirement from it or just will not be either cohesive or smooth, our custom essay writing service w ill correct these mistakes as well. After you have proofread essay with the help of our site, your professor will fail to find even a single mistake in it. We do not leave any chances to your professor to spoil your grade for your work, as proofread essay is always the essay, which gets A+ grade.

How To Calculate the Margin of Error

How To Calculate the Margin of Error Many times political polls and other applications of statistics state their results with a margin of error. It is not uncommon to see that an opinion poll states that there is support for an issue or candidate at a certain percentage of respondents, plus and minus a certain percentage. It is this plus and minus term that is the margin of error. But how is the margin of error calculated? For a simple random sample of a sufficiently large population, the margin or error is really just a restatement of the size of the sample and the level of confidence being used. The Formula for the Margin of Error In what follows we will utilize the formula for the margin of error. We will plan for the worst case possible, in which we have no idea what the true level of support is the issues in our poll. If we did have some idea about this number, possibly through previous polling data, we would end up with a smaller margin of error. The formula we will use is: E zÃŽ ±/2/(2√ n) The Level of Confidence The first piece of information we need to calculate the margin of error is to determine what level of confidence we desire. This number can be any percentage less than 100%, but the most common levels of confidence are 90%, 95%, and 99%. Of these three the 95% level is used most frequently. If we subtract the level of confidence from one, then we will obtain the value of alpha, written as ÃŽ ±, needed for the formula. The Critical Value The next step in calculating the margin or error is to find the appropriate critical value. This is indicated by the term zÃŽ ±/2 in the above formula. Since we have assumed a simple random sample of a large population, we can use the standard normal distribution of z-scores. Suppose that we are working with a 95% level of confidence. We want to look up the z-score z*for which the area between -z* and z* is 0.95. From the table, we see that this critical value is 1.96. We could have also found the critical value in the following way. If we think in terms of ÃŽ ±/2, since ÃŽ ± 1 - 0.95 0.05, we see that ÃŽ ±/2 0.025. We now search the table to find the z-score with an area of 0.025 to its right. We would end up with the same critical value of 1.96. Other levels of confidence will give us different critical values. The greater the level of confidence, the higher the critical value will be. The critical value for a 90% level of confidence, with a corresponding ÃŽ ± value of 0.10, is 1.64. The critical value for a 99% level of confidence, with a corresponding ÃŽ ± value of 0.01, is 2.54. Sample Size The only other number that we need to use the formula to calculate the margin of error is the sample size, denoted by n in the formula. We then take the square root of this number. Due to the location of this number in the above formula, the larger the sample size that we use, the smaller the margin of error will be. Large samples are therefore preferable to smaller ones. However, since statistical sampling requires resources of time and money, there are constraints to how much we can increase the sample size. The presence of the square root in the formula means that quadrupling the sample size will only half the margin of error. A Few Examples To make sense of the formula, let’s look at a couple of examples. What is the margin of error for a simple random sample of 900 people at a 95% ​level of confidence?By use of the table we have a critical value of 1.96, and so the margin of error is 1.96/(2 √ 900 0.03267, or about 3.3%.What is the margin of error for a simple random sample of 1600 people at a 95% level of confidence?At the same level of confidence as the first example, increasing the sample size to 1600 gives us a margin of error of 0.0245 or about 2.5%.

Articles 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Articles 2 - Essay Example It was identified that the culprit in this dilemma is not lack of skills but rather the use of Black Berries, as the means to send faster emails creating tendencies to make grammatical errors. Further, the contemporary practice of senior executives to rely on their managers and subordinates to do all the writing and resort to quick reviews tend to exacerbate the issue. The more executives climb the organizational ladder, the more their writing skills are not harnessed nor utilized. Personally, I agree with Lopez-Pacheco in proffering the problems in communications skills of today’s generation. However, apart from putting the blame on technology alone, it seems more appropriate to identify the roots of the problem. Black Berries and the internet technology are not the main source of the dilemma – through these technological accessories is contributory to the decline in communication skills. The main cause remains lack of skills in writing and communicating. When one has gained some form of expertise on the English language - verb dropping, mistakes in punctuation marks, and simple grammatical errors - normally seen in email messages should have been avoided. There are still ways to abbreviate words or messages without making grammatical errors. The fact remains that more contemporary graduates lack training and skills in writing and communicating. It is the training methodologies and technological advancement of today that contribute to the laxity in monitoring the honing of communication skills. The accessibility and availability of information at the flick of the fingers from web sources make students rely on alternative sources rather than on development of their own writing and communication skills. Therefore, their sloppy work is Writing is a skill which can be honed over time. It just takes a good grasp of the English language, an artistic flare, a degree of

Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Case - Essay Example ionally, the salary ranges and fringe benefits awarded by the college are moderately lower than the payments offered at equivalent colleges in the area. Some of the colleges in the area pay full or at least half of the travel expenses, but Northwest College does not compensate for travel cost if candidates are not employed. The college provides travel expenses if the applicant is given a position and accepts full reimbursement for travel cost given. The recruiting policy of the college requires final applicant approval by the head of department, academic affairs vice president, and the college president. Additionally, the college has a policy demanding that a minimum of two applicants be summoned to the school before any applicant can be employed, for appropriate screening. Other applicants are contacted after two months’ waiting period between the first contact, application and college interview. The new recruiting system will include at least twenty or more full-time instructors in the business administration department, and the head of the department. This will promote quick candidate selection, contact and appointment into various positions needed. It will also distribute different job responsibilities and allow quick candidate

Legal Aspects of Health Care Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Legal Aspects of Health Care - Case Study Example Dr. Andrews (doctor) owed the duty to Bobby with regard to treatment of his left hand (amputation). He amputated the wrong hand, thus violating his duty; which also led to Bobby's loss. In addition to elements of negligence, the action by Dr. Andrews is res ipsa loquitur (that is, it speaks for itself). So there can be no two opinions that the doctor committed negligence while treating Bobby; and can be held liable to pay the damages. The actions of Nurse Williams at City General Hospitals can be reviewed using EMTALA (Federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act). EMTALA was passed in 1986 to prevent hospitals from refusing to treat a patient coming to their emergency room; on grounds of not having enough money or insurance to pay for the treatment. The Act places two main obligations on hospitals (Lafferty, 2000): 2. If it can be established that the patient's condition is in fact, an emergency; the hospital must take steps to 'stabilize' the condition before the patient can be asked to contact any other hospital for detailed treatment. In the given case, a screening examination was not conducted to determine the severity of wounds. Although, Nurse Williams attended Bobby immediately and put towels on his wound, probably to stop the flow of blood; and may be this would be presented by the hospital in defense. Yet there is no evidence that any screening examination was carried out to ascertain if the condition can be classified as emergency; and any attempt to 'stabilize' the emergency condition other than above which can hardly be classified as an attempt to stabilize Bobby's condition. The delay thus caused, resulted in deteriora36tion of the injury, which ultimately resulted in amputation. Bobby and his parents can sue

What comparisons do the calculations of financial ratios enable us to Essay

What comparisons do the calculations of financial ratios enable us to make Take two of these comparisons, and say why the process enables management to make better decisions - Essay Example It indicates that the liabilities have increased during the year or some assets have been sold. Similarly, current ratio can be used to make comparisons with similar business. For example, a steel manufacturer may have a current ratio of 2 while another has the current ratio of 1.5. Thus, current ratio of the former is higher but it may also be due to a lot of unused assets affecting its profitability. Gross Margin, which is a profitability ratio and is the ratio of gross profit to sales, makes a lot of sense for competitor analysis. Higher gross margins as compared to other companies in similar business lines indicate healthy position of the firm. Similarly a comparison with past periods is important. For manufacturing industries, the gross margins generally reduce over time and it is the volumes that drive the profitability (Analyzing your financial ratios). Price Earnings (P/E) Ratio is the most widely used investment ratio. An increased price earnings ratio as compared to past years may indicate positive outlook for the company but if the ratio increases above a certain limit say 20, it indicates overheating and chance of immediate correction in the stock price. A continuously decreasing P/E ratio may indicate bad stock fundamentals. Similarly, comparisons with similar companies can be used by an investor to take a rational investment decision (Drake, Pamela P). Inventory Turnover ratio is a widely used investment ratio. It is the ratio of Cost of Goods sold to average inventory and indicates the speed of replenishment of stock. An increased inventory turnover ratio over previous years implies better inventory management and faster sales. However, it could also be due to lower production due to some issues. Similarly, comparison with similar businesses can be used to analyze whether the company has been able to catch up with consumer demand for its products (How to Analyze Your

Electronic Fundamentals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Electronic Fundamentals - Essay Example The inverting input of the first comparator is attached to the voltage divider at the level of two thirds VCC, and the non-inverting input carries the THRESHOLD signal. The non-inverting input of the second comparator is connected to one third of VCC, and the inverting input carries the TRIGGER signal. The functions of THRESHOLD and TRIGGER will be explained in the operations section. The use of the voltage divider means that the device can operate across a range of supply voltages. The outputs of the comparators are connected to the reset and set terminals, respectively, of a flip-flop gate. This is the heart of the device and is responsible for the switching behaviour utilized in most of the device’s applications. It is important to note that the rest of the circuit is connected to the complement of the flip-flop logic. The base of bi-polar junction transistor (BJT) is connected to the output of the flip-flop, and is made available to discharge (hence the signal name DISCH) external capacitors. Finally, there is an output stage that increases the available output current, and inverts the logic of the flip-flop output. 1.2 Operation The 555 has three modes of operation: astable, monostable, and bistable. Each of these modes of operation requires the connection of a slightly different set of external components. In each application, however, the basic functioning of the device remains the same: THRESHOLD Signal THRESHOLD Comparator Output TRIGGER Signal TRIGGER Comparator Output Flip-Flop Output (Complement) 555 Output > ? VCC HIGH > ? VCC LOW HIGH LOW > ? VCC HIGH ? VCC LOW Keep state Keep state < ?VCC LOW < ? VCC HIGH LOW HIGH 1.2.1 Astable In astable mode the 555 puts out a continuous stream of rectangular pulses at a frequency determined by the external circuit. The circuit is said to be ‘astable’ because it does not stay in a given output state, but continuously switches back and forth between high and low states. Figure 2 - Astable ci rcuit diagram [3] The external resistor R1 is connected between VCC and the DISCHARGE pin (7), and R2 is connected between DISCHARGE and the input signals. The input signals, TRIGGER (2) and THRESHOLD (6), are connected together as well as to the external capacitor C1. This capacitor is charged through R1 and R2 when the discharge pin is isolated from ground (flip-flop output is LOW), and discharged through R2 when the discharge pin has a low impedance path to ground (flip-flop output is HIGH). The continuous oscillation of the device can be seen as follows: -C1 is initially discharged, TRIGGER is below 1/3 VCC, THRESHOLD is below 2/3 VCC, the F-F output is HIGH, and the discharge transistor is off. -C1 charges to ? VCC and the flip-flop output switches to low. The discharge transistor opens and the capacitor discharges to ground through R2 and pin 7. -Once the capacitor discharges to ? VCC, the logic in the flip-flop reverses, and the circuit is back to its initial state. The versa tility of the 555 is demonstrated by the fact that the time

Germany Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Germany - Essay Example So while in some ways he did not want to enter the war, being a pacifist at heart, Wilson knew that the outcome of the war could have drastic impacts on the way the world worked after it, and these impacts would be decided upon solely by the victors. Knowing all this, Wilson wanted to have a seat at the victor’s table, in order to be a part of determining the new world order. His championing of the League of Nations following the First World War shows what kind of world order he imagined, and he perhaps thought that, through going to war this one time, he could help prevent future conflicts from ever occurring again. He was sadly mistaken, obviously, both because of the harsh reparations demanded by the allies and because o the US government’s unwillingness to take part in the League, but his aspirations were high all the same. So while the Zimmerman telegram was certainly inflammatory, there are definitely ways in which would could argue that it was used more as a pretext to enter the war than being the sole cause of the US’s entrance – Wilson had a lot to gain in going to war for the Victorious side, and so probably would have taken much less inflammatory bait had it been presented. It is impossible to know for certain how the world would have turned out had the United States never entered the war: it is even hard to know which side would have won, or if victory ever would have happened in any kind of real way. I would argue that without US intervention, neither side would really have been able to win the war, and a much less harsh peace process would probably have had to occur, which would have led to better consequences. The defining feature of much of the First World War was a terrible stale-mate – lines of trenches were established, and because defensive technology was, for this brief time period, so

Electronic Fundamentals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Electronic Fundamentals - Essay Example The inverting input of the first comparator is attached to the voltage divider at the level of two thirds VCC, and the non-inverting input carries the THRESHOLD signal. The non-inverting input of the second comparator is connected to one third of VCC, and the inverting input carries the TRIGGER signal. The functions of THRESHOLD and TRIGGER will be explained in the operations section. The use of the voltage divider means that the device can operate across a range of supply voltages. The outputs of the comparators are connected to the reset and set terminals, respectively, of a flip-flop gate. This is the heart of the device and is responsible for the switching behaviour utilized in most of the device’s applications. It is important to note that the rest of the circuit is connected to the complement of the flip-flop logic. The base of bi-polar junction transistor (BJT) is connected to the output of the flip-flop, and is made available to discharge (hence the signal name DISCH) external capacitors. Finally, there is an output stage that increases the available output current, and inverts the logic of the flip-flop output. 1.2 Operation The 555 has three modes of operation: astable, monostable, and bistable. Each of these modes of operation requires the connection of a slightly different set of external components. In each application, however, the basic functioning of the device remains the same: THRESHOLD Signal THRESHOLD Comparator Output TRIGGER Signal TRIGGER Comparator Output Flip-Flop Output (Complement) 555 Output > ? VCC HIGH > ? VCC LOW HIGH LOW > ? VCC HIGH ? VCC LOW Keep state Keep state < ?VCC LOW < ? VCC HIGH LOW HIGH 1.2.1 Astable In astable mode the 555 puts out a continuous stream of rectangular pulses at a frequency determined by the external circuit. The circuit is said to be ‘astable’ because it does not stay in a given output state, but continuously switches back and forth between high and low states. Figure 2 - Astable ci rcuit diagram [3] The external resistor R1 is connected between VCC and the DISCHARGE pin (7), and R2 is connected between DISCHARGE and the input signals. The input signals, TRIGGER (2) and THRESHOLD (6), are connected together as well as to the external capacitor C1. This capacitor is charged through R1 and R2 when the discharge pin is isolated from ground (flip-flop output is LOW), and discharged through R2 when the discharge pin has a low impedance path to ground (flip-flop output is HIGH). The continuous oscillation of the device can be seen as follows: -C1 is initially discharged, TRIGGER is below 1/3 VCC, THRESHOLD is below 2/3 VCC, the F-F output is HIGH, and the discharge transistor is off. -C1 charges to ? VCC and the flip-flop output switches to low. The discharge transistor opens and the capacitor discharges to ground through R2 and pin 7. -Once the capacitor discharges to ? VCC, the logic in the flip-flop reverses, and the circuit is back to its initial state. The versa tility of the 555 is demonstrated by the fact that the time

The history of Antibiotics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

The history of Antibiotics - Research Paper Example Thus the drugs to treat these infections have to be numerous, so that they target the susceptibility of each bacterial pathogen. Thus, the advances in pharmacology have brought forward a new era of antibiotics with vast options to treat the infections that were once considered lethal in the history of mankind. Major disease epidemics in the history of the world, like the Black Death by plague in early 1900s that caused deaths of millions of people were brought under control successfully with the help of antibiotics (Levinson 2008). Endemic diseases like Tuberculosis, that have been a scourge for humanity for ages and were uncontrollable despite the use of innumerable drugs and therapies, have been found to be susceptible to different combinations of antibiotics. Worldwide measures are now being taken to eradicate such diseases from the face of the earth. Thus, single or in combination, antibiotics have opened the new doors to healthy life for the sick people who had no chances of sur vival. Antibiotics themselves are the products of microorganisms. The drug substance produced by one microorganism has adverse effects on certain other microorganisms and serves to kill them. This is how the antibiotics were produced initially. Due to their remarkable effects on wound healing and recovery from infections, soon they became famous with the names like ‘magic bullet’ and ‘wonder drug’ (Aminov 2010, Levinson 2008). The origin of the use of antibiotics for treating the infections is as old as the infections themselves. Different communities in the past used living organisms to treat infections. In ancient times, different types of moulds were used by people to heal wounds and infections. Tetracycline antibiotics have the ability to get incorporated in the bones and accumulate in them. Studies on bones of ancient Romans of Egypt and the Nubian population of Sudan reveal traces of

To Lie on the Bottom Essay Example for Free

To Lie on the Bottom Essay There is a reason that World War II and the Holocaust are considered turning points in human history, a point from which everything changed: philosophy, art, music, film, architecture, politics, history, even the very concept of humanity was altered in an often imperceptible way. Something in us died; extinguished by a darkness so all-encompassing and cold that all hope and beauty and reason and love could not survive it, nothing could, not even God himself. This darkness, this ephemeral force worse than death eventually destroyed Primo Levi, but what it couldn’t destroy, was his soul. His soul witnessed and suffered something worse than death, â€Å"a journey towards nothingness, a journey down there, towards the bottom†(Levi, 17) and this tale from the very bottom of hell showed us a side of man never before seen. Dante’s Inferno where there is no God or heaven or right or wrong, but only hunger and despair. A moral hierarchy envisaged by the masterminds of the Final Solution, a cold, remorseless world where the innocent are destroyed and the strong enslaved. A world guided by the â€Å"ferocious law which states: ‘to he that has, will be given; from he that has not, will be taken away’. †(88) The hierarchy of this realm is distant from the rest of humanity, a timeless realm devoid of any remnants of what has been or what is yet to be. A barren, flat, colorless landscape scarred by never-ending paths of metal and wood all leading into the maw of a churning, smoke belching monster marked with a grim, foreboding preface â€Å"Arbeit Macht Frei, work gives freedom†(22). This is Auschwitz, a place unlike anywhere else in the annals of human history, â€Å"This is hell. Today, in our times, hell must be like this. A huge, empty room: we are tired, standing on our feet, with a tap which drips while we cannot drink the water, and we wait for something which will certainly be terrible, and nothing happens and nothing continues to happen†(22). In a place where the old, the young, and the weak are swallowed into the night and are gone forever, in a godless place like this nothing is as it should be. At the top of this mad house lies the most depraved of all, for in this place the insane rule over the sane, and the cold, mechanical fist of the S. S. is law. An extension of the mad-man responsible for this place, they are hand-picked and forged into thoughtless, remorseless killing machines and entrusted with Hitler’s most important goal: the destruction of the Jew. Little is said about these brutal men, they are above the camp and therefore distant from it, the camp to them is merely their work place and â€Å"they behave with the calm assurance of people doing their normal duty of every day. † At times they speak to the prisoners like animals whipping them into attention â€Å"in that curt, barbaric barking of Germans in command which seem to give vent to a millennial anger†, but during the selections when they decide who lives or dies with the slightest glance they are indifferent and speak â€Å"in a subdued tone of voice, with faces of stone†¦ We had expected something more apocalyptic: they seemed simple police agents. It was disconcerting and disarming†(19). Levi would soon discover that despite their outward appearance, these cold agents of doom were the most apocalyptic men on earth entrusted with the unspeakable mission of the destruction of his people. Below the SS men in the next rung of hell resided the ‘Prominenz’, inhabitants of Block 7 in which no regular prisoner has ever entered, they were â€Å"the aristocracy, the internees holding the highest post†(32). Below them were the Reichsdeutsche, the Aryan Germans, and the Kapos â€Å"they were particularly pitiless, vigorous and inhuman individuals, installed (following an investiture by the SS command, which showed itself in such choices to possess satanic knowledge of human beings) in the posts of Kapos, Blockaltester, etc†(89). These individuals established the backbone of authority, doling out punishment with reckless abandon knowing in the back of their heads if they showed the slightest hesitancy or remorse they would be quickly disposed of. Below them resided the rest of the political prisoners and British POW’s who were given special privileges and leniency. Below them resided the Jewish prominents: a sad and notable human phenomenon†¦ if one offers a position of privilege to a few individuals in a state of slavery, exacting in exchange the betrayal of a natural solidarity with their comrades, there will certainly be someone who will accept†¦ When he is given command of a group of unfortunates, with the right of life or death over them, he will be cruel and tyrannical, because he will understand that if he is not sufficiently so, someone else, judged more suitable, will take over his post. Moreover, his capacity for hatred, unfulfilled in the direction of the oppressors, will double back, beyond all reason, on the oppressed; and he will only be satisfied when he has unloaded on to his underlings the injury received from above. (91) These Jewish prominents were particularly hated by Levi and his fellow Jews and this hatred only served to further distance themselves from the rest of the group. Abhorrent as it may seem to abandon your compatriots and become part of the hated ruling class of the camp; the need to survive overrode any moral dilemma, because â€Å"in the Lager things are different: here the struggle to survive is without respite, because everyone is desperately and ferociously alone. †(88) There is no good and evil here because if you are not a prominent you are only ‘the saved and the drowned’. The saved and the drowned are those at the very bottom of hell with nothing between them and gas chamber, only those deemed capable and fit even survive the first day, the others are exterminated immediately. Most who remain quickly succumb to the all-consuming hunger and exhaustion of the camp, â€Å"their life is short, but their number is endless; they, the Muselmanner, the drowned, form the backbone of the camp, an anonymous mass, continually renewed and always identical, of non-men who march and labour in silence, the divine spark dead within them, already too empty to really suffer†(90). They are the forgotten masses of victims, abandoned by the world to their fate and quickly forgotten; no one remembers their names or their faces for they were condemned by all of humanity to a fate worse than death. â€Å"Imagine a man who is deprived of everyone he loves†¦, his house, his habits, his clothes†¦ everything he possesses: he will be a hollow man, reduced to suffering and needs, forgetful of dignity and restraint, for he who loses all often easily loses himself†(27). It’s in this way the Germans destroyed the humanity of a people before killing them further. The drowned are those who are unable to adapt, they sink down deep until it is too late for in this place â€Å"to sink is the easiest of matters†(90). After their children, women, and parents have all been swallowed up and everything they possess stolen, most give up. â€Å"They follow the slope down to the bottom, like streams that run down to the sea†(90). The saved are the few that remain, the ones who still battle for salvation, who have thrown off all moral constraints that hold them back, resolved to fight â€Å"against the current; to battle every day and every hour against exhaustion, hunger, cold and the resulting inertia; to resist enemies and have no pity for one’s rivals; to sharpen one’s wits, build up one’s patience, strengthen one’s will-power. Or else, to throttle all dignity and kill all conscience, to climb down into the arena as a beast against other beasts, to let oneself be guided by those unsuspected subterranean forces which sustain families and individuals in cruel times†(92). Elias, Schepschel, Alfred L. , and Henri, four very different men, all struggling on the own path to salvation, all willing to do anything; they are not good men, for a good man means nothing in here, all the good men died a long time ago or at least ceased to be good, for only scoundrels remain now. The Germans in a sense created â€Å"a gigantic biological and social experiment†(87), an alien world like no other in history, stripped of all moral and ethical boundaries, all reason and justice destroyed, replaced with a twisted, sadistic existence of perceived order masking the uncontrolled debauchery of it all. From this horror only a few are blessed with the talents needed to survive, some like Elias have â€Å"survived the destruction from outside, because he is physically indestructible; he has resisted the annihilation from within because he is insane†¦ he is a survivor†¦ the human type most suited to this way of living(97)†¦ Henri, on the other hand, is eminently civilized and sane†¦ he is extremely intelligent, speaks French, German, English, and Russian†¦ is perfectly aware of his natural gifts and exploits them with the cold competence of a physic using a scientific instrument†¦ there is nothing in the camp that he does not know and about which he has not reasoned in his close and coherent manner†¦ hard and distant, enclosed in armour, the enemy of all, inhumanly cunning and incomprehensible like the Serpent in Genesis†(98-100) Elias and Henri are two sides of the same coin, one physically invincible the other mentally, the rare, extraordinary survivors of a biological experiment gone too far, perfectly molded for the hostile world created to destroy them. They are interesting only in the fact that they are the statistical anomalies of a mathematically-precise extermination process, one which inevitably would destroy even them. Most who survive are not so lucky, not naturally blessed with ability or strength, but simply scratch and claw their way out. They learn quickly, they learn a little German, begin to make alliances with those who have something to offer. They steal when they can, grabbing anything of value, anything that can be traded for in the ‘Exchange Market’, â€Å"where scores of prisoners driven desperate by hunger prowl around, with lips half-open and eyes gleaming, lured by a deceptive instinct to where the merchandise shown makes the gnawing of their stomachs more acute and their salvation more assiduous†(78). These exchanges are necessary to survive, for to try to live with just the meager sustenance given is impossible, the system was created to destroy them, only by breaking the rules can one hope to survive. Often the saved are assisted by civilian workers or gain the favor of a Prominent who provides them with extra food or clothing. One of the few people Primo Levi’s speaks kindly of in the entire book is such a person, a civilian worker named Lorenzo. I believe that it was really due to Lorenzo that I am alive today; and not so much for his material aid, as for his having constantly reminded me by his presence, by his natural and plain manner of being good, that there existed a just world outside our won, something and someone still pure and whole, not corrupt, not savage, extraneous to hatred and terror; something difficult to define, a remote possibility of good, but for which it was worth surviving. The personages in these pages are not men. Their humanity is buried, or they themselves have buried it†¦ The evil and insane SS men, the Kapos, the political, the criminals, the prominents, great and small, down to the indifferent slave Haftlinge, all the grades of the mad hierarchy created by the Germans paradoxically fraternized in a uniform internal desolation. But Lorenzo was a man; his humanity was pure and uncontaminated, he was outside this world of negation. Thanks to Lorenzo, I managed not forget that I myself was a man. (121-122) Lorenzo represents the last vestige of a better world, a glimpse of sanity and reason that seems to no longer exist. He reminded Levi that there still remained a world outside the Lager, where humanity endured; that someday this world would no longer exist and your life would continue, and all that was thought lost forever would be returned to you. The Holocaust was not decided upon with anger, but with a cold, calculating necessity, hell-bent on destroying every Jew on Earth, to extinguish an entire people. To the Germans the Jews were a disease, a parasitic organism, which required extermination. The Jews of America and England, the Jews of the Soviet Union and of Spain, the Jews of North Africa and the Middle East, they were all to be dealt with eventually. This is the mindset of the creators of this alien world. The depravity of the camp; its cruel, ordered madness reflected the depravity and evil that emanated from the souls of those wicked men. The SS were their finest pupils, there most willing executioners, those entrusted with the sacred task of the Nazi regime: the destruction of its enemies, a war against all of humanity. The morals and ethics of their creation were the ethics and morals of Hitler himself, of Reinhard Heydrich, of Adolf Eichmann, of Heinrich Himmler, of Rudolph Hess, the masterminds of this unparalleled killing machine. This is what Primo Levi experienced deep down in the belly of the beast, inside the heart of darkness. The orchestra of the camp that emanated it throughout its boundaries â€Å"the perceptible expression of its geometrical madness†(51), the driving force behind this choreography of the dead. The SS instilled the camp with their notorious character, driven by their remorseless zeal, controlled by their obsessive discipline. The camp is as much a reflection of them as they are a reflection of their creators, the men who molded them into hardened killing machines. The lack of morals apparent in the camp derives itself from the lack of morals apparent in the individuals who created and ran it. The moral codes and fundamental laws of the Lager are based on three basic assumptions which in accordance formed a deranged society: â€Å"the privileged oppress the unprivileged†(44) and â€Å"to he that has, will be given; from he that has not, will be taken away†(88), and most importantly the complete inferiority of the Jew. The Jew was nothing, the slaves of the slaves, and everyone acted to continually reaffirm this assertion. The Kapos, the Blockaltesters, the cooks, the nurses, everyone, even the Jewish prominents constantly reminded the Jews of their inferiority, every rule and regulation instilled it further. For many non-Jews this place is nothing but a prison, they lived in relative comfort with adequate food, clothing, and shelter. As soon as they enter they are made at ease for at least there are many much worse off than they; they are given special privileges and â€Å"are automatically invested with offices as they enter the camp in virtue of their natural supremacy†¦no ‘Aryan’ Haftling was without a post, however modest†(90-91). For them Auschwitz is but a prison, but to the Jew on the contrary, â€Å"the Lager is not a punishment; for us, no end is foreseen and the Lager is nothing but a manner of living assigned to us, without limits of time, in the bosom of the Germanic social organism†(82-83). This ‘manner of living assigned’ to the Jews has the effect of reducing them to their most basic needs, their dignity and integrity stripped from them. When Levi first arrived he is still a man, cognizant and alive, searching in the distance for his loved ones, â€Å"at the other end of the platform; then we saw nothing more. Instead, two groups of strange individuals emerged into the light of the lamps. They walked in squads, in rows of three, with an odd, embarrassed step, head dangling in front, arms rigid. On their heads they wore comic berets and were all dressed in long striped overcoats, which even by night and from a distance looked filthy and in rags. We looked at each other without a word. It was all incomprehensible and mad, but one thing we had understood. This was the metamorphosis that awaited us. Tomorrow we would be like them†(20-21). They are transformed into tired beasts, desperate and alone, aware of only hunger and cold; they show no signs of solidarity or camaraderie, for in the Lager everyone is on his own. They must shut themselves off from reality to survive; they must dispose of all morality and thought before it destroys them. Only in this way can they survive and even then they are guaranteed nothing. They begin to despise themselves, the sad, pathetic faces they see each day, each a reflection of the other, all reduced to ghosts by the machinations of the Lager. This moral hierarchy based on the depraved morals of madmen, sought to destroy the soul of the Jewish people, to torture them into oblivion. They created a monstrous world, where the weak are crushed and the only escape was through the Chimney. This tragedy beyond all comparison in human history told a story. A story that must be told over and over again, no one should be allowed to forget them. Their stories are all the same â€Å"all full of tragic disturbing necessity†¦ simple and incomprehensible like the stories in the Bible. But are they not themselves stories of a new Bible? †(65-66). This new Bible, this new Exodus would renew the life of the Jewish people, and like all the times before they would begin again. They survived â€Å"to tell the story, to bear witness†¦ to save at least the skeleton, the scaffolding, the form of civilization†(41) and with their help the world would be revived, its humanity restored, and that alien world destroyed and those responsible for it punished. The Lager would remain, a stark reminder of â€Å"what man’s presumption made of man in Auschwitz. †(55)

Barratt Development Account Information Analysis

Barratt Development Account Information Analysis Assessing the role of accounting information and accounting information system at Barratt Development Abstract Accounting information and accounting information systems (AIS) in todays information age play critical roles in facilitating decision-makers with accurate financial status of the organization and activities to pursue strategic objectives. Accountants, who are the disseminators of accounting information, need to ensure that the information provided to decision-makers such as managers, executives and board of directors is up-to-date to achieve organizational objectives, monitor performance and/or amend strategic objectives when needed. Sometimes accounting information is not as useful and even impacts negatively on the users. This is due to a host of issues that plague accounting information and its systems including authenticity, integrity and quality of the information generated. For these reasons, companies have to develop and maintain accounting information systems congruent with their business objectives to ensure usefulness, integrity and transparency to avoid ethical, legal and business conflicts. In the following evaluation, the researcher shall demonstrate the role of accounting information and accounting information system at Barratt Development Plc, with special emphasis on how the implementation of computerized accounting information systems affects issues of quality, integrity and reliability. Barratt Development Overview Barratt is one of the UKs largest homebuilders. Founded in 1958, the company today has an extended growing network of divisions spread throughout the UK. The breadth and scope of Barratt’s organizational structure can be measured by the number of resources and other pioneering projects development it serves to the communities. The company boasts market share with specialization in creating high quality, value for money homes for sale, rent and shared ownership, often in partnership with local authorities, housing associations and others (Official Website 2007). The majority, that is 80%, of the projects, are based on brown field recycled land. This commitment towards sustainable development has been congruent with the Governments future plan in sustainable development and innovation in homebuilding and construction (Official Website 2007). Even though the company has been founded since four decades, it is growing at an unprecedented speed. Since its listing in the London Stock Exchange in 1968, Barratt Development Plc has achieved high turnover. For the year 2006, the company has had a group turnover of  £2,431m. With 33 operating divisions throughout the country to serve all sectors of the market, Barratt is considered one of the most powerful groups of builders in planning and developing of the countrys housing sector (Official Website 2007). According to its executives, Barratts success lies in its geographical spread and extensive product range. The company has always ensured that sales of its homes and buildings are congruent with the average market place to appeal to a variety of buyers, yet maintains quality throughout the project. In addition, Barratt does not believe in remaining stagnant and following other players. Instead, part of its success lies in its ability to grow through innovation, and using green technologies effectively to develop projects that cost less, have more valuable benefits to the customer and environment, as well as customized to the end users preferences. Problems such as energy efficiency, health and safety, and regeneration are taken into consideration seriously (Annual Report 2006). With a strong team of specialists on its hand, Barratts management is confident in its performance and in creating value for its shareholders and stakeholders. Role of Accounting Information and AIS at Barratt Development The emergence of the digital economy and globalization has precipitated the concept of organizational systems for managing knowledge and information. In the financial context, digitized information reporting has become a link between the different units of the organization. It is through this network of information that organizations are able to utilize information in individualized management. Accounting information systems are enablers of information provision to synthesize financial information such as reports for non-standard managerial decisions. The AIS has come to be the managers knowledge through which the organization deploys knowledge for various purposes in decision frameworks (Bhimani 2003). Thus, AIS can be defined as a subsystem of the organizations information system in which quantitative data are processed to provide information for individuals or group of people with similar information needs, to use in understanding organizational activities and support decision-mak ing. Accounting information refers to processed data converted into information for the purpose of decision-making (OpenLearning ). This ideology can be exemplified by studying Barratt Development and its AIS. Accounting information at Barratt serves various groups of individuals and mainly those who are in direct relation with the business. From the top of the decision tree, the board of directors who need to direct and control the organization are the principal users of accounting information. Accounting information is used to study the trend in revenues, pre-tax profit, losses, group activities, cash flow, return on capital employed, forward order book, land, net assets, interest rates, selling price, volume of business, product sale and earnings per share to estimate the status of the business. They base their assessment on future plans, the types of project they will focus on, the kind of resources they plan to employ, and the kind of risks involved in the business (Annual Report 2006). Apart from the board of directors, accounting information provides valuable information for monitoring purposes for external groups of individuals such as the auditing committee. They study the integrity of the financial statements to objectively evaluate its relation with the organizational performance. They are also responsible for studying the financial management and reporting system to ensure that accounting procedures, system of control and processes are congruent with standards prescribed by the regulators (Annual Report 2006). The accounting information also provides useful status of the kind of credit transactions that have taken place with suppliers, the terms for repayment and how much debt the company is in without risking the companys integrity. After the Board of Directors, the auditors, and the creditors, the executives and managers are the ones who make use of the accounting information. They utilize make use of accounting information for assessing operational performance and how to improve it through strategic plans. Accounting information provides insight pertaining to the gaps or problems inherent in the skills, resources, and financial constrains that hinder the maximization of efficiency of resources to achieve organizational objectives and targets (Annual Report 2006). External users of accounting information also include the shareholders and speculators who are keen on studying the performance of the company from time to time to safeguard their interests. Information pertaining to earnings per share, share pricing, profitability, rates of returns and announcement of new shares being floated are all useful for shareholders to make investment decisions. Apart from the above-mentioned core decision-makers, accounting information is also used at the operational level for information like salaries, benefits, bonuses, pension benefits, as well as ensuring that divisional leaders are able to gauge the status of inventory, receivables, cash flow activities, assets, land, payables and taxes etc. which will impact on the overall status of the projects. The accounting information that these individuals utilize is processed by an accounting information system, which generates information from daily transactions such as sale receipts, invoices, payment slips, taxation forms, salary slips, suppliers transactional slips, and trade receivables etc. The AIS comprises of sub-sub systems set up based on accounting standards such as inventory system, supply chain system, sales proceeds systems, human resource system, and capital investment systems. The AIS is also formed based on various internal transactions recorded in these systems. Hence, the AIS at Barratt Development is based on both internal and external accounting information processing. Accounting Information Strategy at Barratt Development Although AIS has been in existence in organizations since the invention of accounting, today it is interpreted synonymously with the computerization of accounting function. The fundamental purpose of AIS is to collect, record and process data from activities related to the organizations (Stefanou 2006). The resultant information has implications in maintenance, decision and communication by internal and external stakeholders, depending on the extent of the impact of environmental factors, social factors, technological factors and organizational factors. According to Stefanou (2006), accounting information and AIS are critical for organizations to respond to highly competitive and dynamic business environments that often alter production processes and organizational structures. For this purpose, information systems such as AIS play an important role in facilitating change management and allow cross-functional requirements. At Barratt, the company has engaged Weber Shandwick Square Mile as the financial PR advisors to develop a communication framework especially designed for providing information to its shareholders and stakeholders at all times. However, this step towards transparency is limited by the companys policy not to divulge sensitive financial information to the public without the expressed approval of the Company Secretary. The company believes that this strategy helps it to ensure that key accounting information is only communicated to those genuinely concerned such as investors, private shareholders and analysts (Annual Report 2006). Barratts AIS is based on the International Financial Reporting Standards, complies with the Companies Act of 1985 and uses the generally accepted accounting principles. Under GAAP, the company also has to include estimates and assumptions that affect the companys overall financial performance, especially on assets and liabilities, while reporting of revenues and expenses. Accounting information is based on the managements interpretation of amount, activities, actions and actual/estimates and their impact on the performance of the company. For this purpose, Barratt takes into account of results/estimates from holding companies, as well as its subsidiaries, to be included in it financial statements to record revenue, expenditures, assets, liabilities, and cash flows. For example, when considering cost estimation, the company includes materials, labour and overheads of work in progress. Similarly, when considering property, plant and equipment, the company includes deferred purchase cre dit terms and costs, less depreciation of the assets (Annual Report 2006). Developing and managing accounting information is critical for inter and intra organizational information dissemination. Accurate information is required for decision support throughout the organization, as well as to ensure that the quality of information supports efficiency of operational activities. By using the GAAP principles, the companys decision-makers are able to negotiate and manage costs for determining cost price, selling price and service price of its products in the market. It is also critical for the decision-makers at the divisional level to gauge the financial implications of the project undertaken and, hence, determine its value to the overall organizational strategy. In smaller companies, it is easier to emphasize on control mechanisms such as cash, monitoring performance and maintaining relationships with external entities (Collis and Jarvis 2002). However, in an organization such as Barra tt, where holding companies, subsidiaries, supply chain and such external value chain units are connected with the companys operations, accounting estimates, though give a rough picture of the financial status, do not really provide correct financial status (Ramos 2004). Furthermore, due to the changing business environment and trend, traditional notions of control systems no longer prove effective in understanding and controlling factors that affect organizations. Bhimani (2003) is of the view that management operational strategies nowadays require a balance of all units within the organizational framework linked by an effective communication network, which emphasize on information and knowledge transfer. Any information system must facilitate information for monitoring and evaluation of the knowledge. Boland (1999) too is of the view that information systems such as the AIS must be present in the organization to create reports, support report regeneration, support decision systems, smoothen workflow and provide enquiry function. Therefore, the AIS should represent the organizational control system (Stuerke 2005). To begin with, Barratt maintains an effective financial information system that provides relevant and up-to-date information pertaining t o the organization for the purpose of maintaining investment relations. One cannot deny the fact that information pertaining to earnings forecasts, capital returns, announcements, financial performance and the like are easily available at the click of a button at Barratts investor relations web site. The purpose of this web site is to smooth the workflow of the investors, traders and analysts so that they engage in trading Barratts shares and securities (Barratt Official Website 2007). Likewise, one observes that Barratt has used its financial information system to effectively direct and control its corporate governance through which it sets standards and values for maintaining its relationship with shareholders, customers, staff, suppliers, contractors and stakeholders. It is through its corporate governance strategy that the company is able to develop an operational plan, budget, financial statements, decide on projects, conduct acquisition and disposal of units, as well as monitor business performance, set internal control for risk management and ensure transparency is existent throughout the organization (Annual Report 2006). An effective information system is dependent on a regulatory body. It is this body that monitors and evaluates the efficacy of the implementation of policies and strategies. Maintaining an information system with sensitive information, such as financial data, is useless if there are no regular checks and balances. In a financial context, this is usually carried out by the auditors. Congruent to the breadth and size of the company, Barratt has two groups of auditors internal and external. The Audit Committee (internal) comprises of executive directors with financial experience who are responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of the audit process, financial management and reporting systems, as well as ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of its accounting processes. The internal control systems are reviewed regularly to monitor potential risks or discrepancies in the audit function. An external auditing company, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC has been engaged to authenticate the v alidity of the internal audit committees reports (Annual Report 2006). This approach is not new in terms of companys evaluation and monitoring. Apart from the auditing committee, Barratts Directors are also responsible for safeguarding the companys assets by monitoring for fraud and irregularities in its financial system and operations. Their task is governed by an internal control and risk management system. Although, this system may seem effective in defining risk control operations and reportage, nevertheless it is usually limited by the authority of the same directors who report, evaluate and audit the financial information disseminated at interim and annual meetings. The directors are a select group who are made responsible for the transparency of the whole companys accounting system. For example, when considering issues of land viability for acquisition, work in progress, and sub-contractor payments etc., the executive directors are dependent on the input system, which is controlled at the divisional level. Accounting of purchases, sales, and acquisitions is authenticated by the divisional heads, while the executive di rectors are dependent on these divisional units for authentication of their own reportage. Consequently, the researcher is of the view that the system only provides reasonable assurance. The risk of fraudulent activities cannot be really assured at all levels as the checks and balances are limited to the top executives only. Conclusion From the above discussion, one understands that although the digital economy has substantially revolutionized accounting information systems, it is essentially based on the same framework. Traditional accounting values such as integrity, authenticity and quality of information for the purpose of decision-making critically have remained the same. All processes in recording and processing accounting data for generating information serve the purpose of accountability and authentication of the factors of production, work in progress and performance of the firm. What has changed is the significance of the AIS as the intra and inter communication framework for stakeholders and shareholders. This is evident from the above study of Barratt Development, one of UKs top house-builder companies. Barratt, based on its operational infrastructure, has developed a complex financial information system governed by policies, procedures and disciplines for governing it. Its management has appointed top decision-makers (its directors) as gatekeepers for monitoring, evaluating and safekeeping of financial information. It has adopted standardized accounting principles for reportage and accountability so as to facilitate its shareholders and stakeholders with easy-to-access accounting information for making decisions that affect the company. Nevertheless, if one analyzes this accounting system, it is filled with gaps, which may compromise the integrity and quality of information provided to its users. Consequently, the researcher is of the view that AIS cannot guarantee authenticity, quality and integrity of information, regardless of the kind of system adopted. What is needed is a check and balance system integrated, congruent with the AIS, at all levels of the organization to ensure independent authentication of information and knowledge management. Bibliography Barratt Official Website. Company Profile. Online accessed on 20 January 2007 from: http://www.barratt-investor-relations.co.uk/corporateoverview/companyprofile.aspx Barratt Report and Accounts 2006. Bhimani, A. (2003) Management Accounting in the Digital Economy. Oxford University Press: Oxford. Boland, R. J. (1999) Accounting as a Representational Craft Lessons for Research on Information Systems in Rethinking Management Information Systems: An Interdisciplinary Perspective, Currie, W. and Galliers, B. (eds) Oxford University Press: Oxford. pp. 229 Collis, J. and Jarvis, R. (2002) Financial Information and the Management of Small Private Companies. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 9, No. 2 pp.100-110 Ramos, M. M. (2004) Interaction between management accounting and supply chain management. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal. Vol.9, No. 2, pp.134-138 Stuerke, P. S. (2005) Financial analysts as users of accounting information. International Journal of Managerial Finance Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 8-24 Barratt Report and Accounts 2006. Barratt Official Website. Company Profile. Online accessed on 20 January 2007 from: http://www.barratt-investor-relations.co.uk/corporateoverview/companyprofile.aspx Bhimani, A. (2003) Management Accounting in the Digital Economy. Oxford University Press: Oxford. Boland, R. J. (1999) Accounting as a Representational Craft Lessons for Research on Information Systems in Rethinking Management Information Systems: An Interdisciplinary Perspective, Currie, W. and Galliers, B. (eds) Oxford University Press: Oxford. pp. 229 Ramos, M. M. (2004) Interaction between management accounting and supply chain management. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal. Vol.9, No. 2, pp.134-138 Collis, J. and Jarvis, R. (2002) Financial Information and the Management of Small Private Companies. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 9, No. 2 pp.100-110 Stuerke, P. S. (2005) Financial analysts as users of accounting information. International Journal of Managerial Finance Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 8-24

Exiles :: essays papers

Exiles Exiles Response In the essay "Exiles," Carolyn Steedman uses different voices throughout the story. Steedman uses her mom, dad, and grandma's voice to speak her essay to the reader. She does this by either using someone else's memories of the instant by referring to what their mom did, told by the father or grandmother. She also uses memories or voices that her mom or dad said. An example of this would be the telling of Steedman mom's story, which was told by her father at the time "in bits and pieces throughout the fifties". Her father says about Steedman's mother, "Your mother drank gin once," contradicting what Steedman heard when she was young from her mom that "she didn't go out dancing or drinking." Showing that this secret was revealed "years later, with nostalgic regret by her father". Knowing that her mom, at the time, she remembers, was a good mother and later in life to be lied to and deceived for her own good. The author uses voices in the essay while remembering what her mom and dad we re saying to her about memories of each other. So in other words, the author remembers what her parents said to her about each other and includes their voices in the essay. She also includes what she remembers exactly from her parents. "If it wasn't for you two, my mother told us, I could be off somewhere else". The quote obviously shows that this is what she remembers her mom saying. The author puts voices in the essay by using memories of her past. Steedman uses voices in her essay so that the reader can get a background and see perceptions or feelings. "She was a good weaver; six looms under her by the time she was sixteen". This paragraph of a story was told about her great-grandmother and as an eleven-year-old and how she was exploited. The author uses this as a voice because it tells how her mother also used her hands at her jobs. The author also shows where she received her traits in house cleaning from her mom. The author feels that "I sometimes find myself thinking that if worst comes to the worst, I can always earn a living with my hands". "If you want something, you have to go out and work for it. Nobody gives you anything; nothing comes free in this world".

Investigate the effect of one factor on the boiling temperature of a liquid Essay

Salt (NaCl) is a substance with a low vapour pressure. In comparison to any type of liquid, salt still has a lower vapour pressure. If salt was to be dissolved in water (H2O), in this case for the experiment, then consequently the salt will cause the overall vapour pressure of the solution to decrease and have a lower vapour pressure. Lowering a solution’s vapour pressure means that the solution will have a higher molecule vaporising point then pure water (without added salt). In other words, the boiling point of the solution will increase and therefore have a higher boiling point temperature. A term used to describe this outcome is also known as boiling-point elevation. [1] In this experiment the affect of table salt on the boiling point of tap water will be measured. Pure tap water without table salt added will be the control of this experiment and all results will be compared to the results of the pure tap water. The temperature of the water will be measured in degrees Celsius (à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C) and the amount of table salt added will be measured in grams (g). This experiment will be carried out at Standard Lab Conditions (SLC); Research Question: How does table salt affect the boiling point of water? Hypothesis: It is hypothesised that adding table salt will cause the water to boil at a higher temperature. Variables: Independent variables: The amount of table salt added to water. (g) * 0 grams (control) * 10 grams * 20 grams * 30 grams * 40 grams * 50 grams Dependent variables: The temperature of water when it boils (à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C) Controlled variables: Controlled variables How it will be controlled The conditions of the surrounding area (temperature, wind, humidity etc) of where the experiment is carried out The experiment will be carried out on one day only and at standard lab conditions Avoid salt residues left on the thermometer when testing water temperature Distilled water will be used to clean the thermometer before every testing of water The type of water used for the experiment Tap water for the science lab will be used for this experiment The point at which the water temperature will be recorded The temperature of the water will be recorded when the whole surface of the water is boiling and bubbling The length of time the thermometer is left in the beaker of water The thermometer will be left for 30 seconds in the beaker, to show clear results of the water temperature The depth at which the thermometer is left in the beaker The end tip of the beaker will be placed right at the centre bottom of the beaker The Bunsen burner flame that will heat the beaker The heat of the blue flame will boil the water in the beaker The length of time the Bunsen burner is left undisturbed on blue flame to reach its optimum temperature When the Bunsen burner safe flame is changed to blue flame, the Bunsen burner will be left on the bench undisturbed for 2 minutes The repetition and speed of stirring the solution When the beaker is placed onto the tripod with the blue flame on, immediately 5 slow circle rotations of the stirring rod will be performed to dissolve the salt into the water The amount of water used for this experiment For this experiment, 500 millimetres of water will be measured in the beakers. When measuring the water level, the observer must get down to eye level to avoid parallax error and misreading of the water level Avoiding contaminations to the equipment used in this experiment Before using equipments, distilled water will be used to thoroughly clean all equipments to avoid contamination and residues The brand and type of table salt used for this experiment Woolworths Iodated Table Salt will be used for this experiment The accuracy of measuring small amount of salt The sampler spoon will be filled with salt right to the top, (touching the edges but not overflowing) with salt. 2. A wash bottle was used to thoroughly clean all equipments of this experiment. Including: beakers, graduated cylinder; thermometer, stirring rod 3. With a permanent marker pen, each beaker was labelled (near the top mouth of the beaker): Control; 10g; 20g; 30g; 40g; 50g; respectively, in relation to the amount of salt that will be added to the water 4. The graduated cylinder was used to measure 500mL of tap water, and the tap water was then placed into a beaker. This was repeated until all six beakers were filled with 500mL of tap water 5. The sampler spoon was used to weigh the amount of table salt that each beaker of water needed according to the labels of the beakers Eg; If the beaker is labelled 30g, then 30g of salt must be added to the beaker. Which means salt will have to be scooped three times with the spoon 6. The Bunsen burner was set up and the safe flame was left on. The tripod was placed directly above the flame 7. When the Bunsen burner was changed to the blue flame, the stopwatch was used to record 2 minutes of the flame left undisturbed 8. The beaker that read Control was immediately placed onto the tripod after two minutes was up 9. The stirring rod was instantly retrieved and 5 slow circle rotations were performed to dissolve the salt into the water 10. The beaker was left stable on the tripod. Whilst waiting for the water to boil, changes to the solution was carefully observed. Observations were recorded as qualitative data. When the whole surface of the water boiled, the tip of the thermometer was immediately placed at the centre of the beaker for 30 seconds. The degree of the water was then recorded. 11. In avoiding dangers, the blue flame was changed to the safe 12. The beaker tongs was used to remove the beaker from the tripod and the beaker was then placed away from the experiment area 13. The wash bottle was used to clean residues off the thermometer. 14. Steps 7-12 was then repeated for the rest of the beakers labelled; 10g; 20g; 30g; 40g; 50g 15. In obtaining more accurate results, the whole experiment was carried out another three times and the average was then calculated: Test 1 result + Test 2 result + Test 3 result Bibliography 1. How Does Salt Affect the Boiling Point of Water. David Bradley. 27 Dec 2006. 07 Feb 2009. http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-does-salt-affect-the-boiling-point-of-water.html

You Decide: Leonard Cooper Charter School Is a K-12 School

Print This Page Scenario Scenario Summary Leonard Cooper Charter School is a K-12 school with approximately 1,000 students. The school wants to develop a local area network that meets the needs of the school now and is scalable for the future. There have been numerous complaints about the speed and reliability of the network, especially since a new addition to the building was added a few years back. Your Role and Assignment You are the systems administrator contracted by Leonard Cooper to upgrade the local area network to meet the ever-increasing needs of the building's students and faculty members.Your first task is to interview key stakeholders to determine what the key areas of concern are. Activity The charter school's CEO has requested your help in updating the network to meet the demands of the building's faculty members and students. Your job is to interview the key stakeholders and to take action to remedy the issues that they have. Write a two to three page proposal address ing each of the stakeholder concerns. Use the technologies below for the areas of concern. All of the technologies listed below will not be used, so be careful with your choices.You must use one of the solutions below to address each area of concern. Be specific in your responses, and justify the use of each technology based upon the concern. Category 2 UTP 10Base – T Ethernet Cabling Category 5 UTP 100Base – T Ethernet Cabling Category 6 UTP 1000Base – T Ethernet Cabling Server Farm File Server Print Server 8 port hub 16 port hub 24 port hub 8 port switch 16 port switch 24 port switch Storage area network RAID Fiber 1000Based-F Domain controllers Bus topology Topology Microwave wireless media Infrared wireless media Radio wireless media K E Y P L A Y E R S Helen Ross, Network Technician, FemaleBack to top â€Å"I don't know who designed our old network or what they were thinking. You see, my job is to support the faculty in the building and to fix minor networ k issues. Well, we often have major issues in our building, and I'm hoping that you can make things better. Printing is a really problematic area for us. You see, we have over 50 networked printers in this building. Although we do need the printers, we need some way to consolidate the management of print jobs, as the queues on these printers often are filled. We also need to navigate to each printer individually to clear them.There has to be a better way because this is ridiculous. Collisions have become a problem for us as well since we started to add new computers a few years ago. In the morning when everyone gets in, network performance slows to a crawl because everyone is busy on the network with their morning attendance and checking e-mail. After performing a network analysis, I figured out that there were way too many collisions on the network. There has to be a way to fix this. † John Fischer, HVAC Tech, Male Back to top â€Å"You know, 20 years ago when I started in t his business, I never had to have discussions with the computer folks.My, how have times changed! Today, about 90% of my equipment located within the facility can be managed via my laptop and Web browser. Whenever I plug my laptop into the telephone looking jack in the wall, my operating system says that I'm now operating at 10 megabits. Then, whenever I browse to my equipment, I cannot retrieve any data. After going back and forth with the HVAC support techs, they determined that my connection needed to be 100 megabits. They said it must be my network because they were able to walk me through confirming my network card supported up to a 1 Gigabit connection.It would sure make my job a lot easier if I could manage this equipment via the Web. It would also be great to have the option of connecting to this equipment via a wireless connection of some sort. † Selena Daniels, Principal, Female Back to top â€Å"Thank goodness you are here to fix this mess. A few years ago, we adde d a new wing to the building. I'm glad we were able to fund the construction, but the network must have been underfunded. Each of the classroom areas does not have a live network connection port, and that has been a big problem for us because we cannot add additional network devices to the classroom.I asked the previous systems contractor about this, and she said that we have the ability to connect up to 7 classrooms, not 23. She said that's way too many. It's not too many when you have faculty members who now have desktops that are, basically, large paper weights. I need my people connected to the network in this wing, and that equipment needs to be used – bottom line. As for the seven classrooms I do have connected, the faculty there often complain that the connection from their area to the mail server at the other end of the building is often very slow. â€Å"Alfred Wingfield, IT Director, Male Back to top â€Å"This has been a long time coming. I told the contractors th at expanded our building a few years ago that we needed two things: just two simple things. One was and updated cable infrastructure that would enable us to integrate our voice over an I. P. system with our current data system. The other was that all of our backbone switches would be connected to each other with a high speed connection. What did I get? I got neither one of these request taken care of. I swear, I don't know how that crew left here with a pay check. Our voice over I.P. phones will not work because the vendor says we should be running at least a 1,000, 100 based network. As far as the backbone is concerned, after our last testing, I can honestly conclude that it is not running up to par. There is an extreme bottleneck, and communication from one end of the building to the other is sporadic at best. They gave us a twisted pair connection between our old wing backbone switch and the new wing backbone switch, which are about 120 meters apart. You have to have a better sol ution for us than this because this has been one frustrating ordeal! â€Å"