The slotting fee Essay Example

The slotting fee Paper In the financial report, Burns Philp, at the time of each acquisition, created a provision for rationalization. When restructuring cost was subsequently incurred, related expense was written off against the provision until the provisions were exhausted and, then, the expense was directly charged against the annual profit. This aggressive accounting treatment gave rise to problems as high restructure costs increased asset value in financial reporting despite uncertainty about the realization of the benefit in future. A slotting fee is an extra payment to supermarkets to ensure the availability of shelf space in supermarkets for the companys products. In aggressive competition with McCormick, Burns Philp paid substantial slotting fees to increase market share. Slotting payment contracts were often made for three or four years. In the first year, the relevant payment was charged directly against profit in that year. Meanwhile, the amount relating to subsequent years was capitalised in Other Assets which would be charged against profit in later years. According to AASB SAC4, expenses may be capitalized only when there is a reasonable expectation that future benefit will be realized to recover the amount. Otherwise, it is more appropriate to expense the total amount immediately. For Burns Philp, Large amounts of capitalised slotting fee were subsequently written off against profit in 1996($33. 9M) and 1997($136. 4M). Intangible assets valuation (1) Tradename asset valuation. VRC valued tradename assets using the relief from royalty method. We will write a custom essay sample on The slotting fee specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The slotting fee specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The slotting fee specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The valuer gets net profit in current year and assumes net profit from future years and then divides the royalty rate to calculate the royalty value in the current year and discount to the present value. One way to check the appropriate royalty rate is to see whether sufficient net profit has been derived from the use of a tradename to recover payment of the royalties in past years. Otherwise, the royalty rate should be adjusted to a lower level and the tradenames value should be written down. In the table above, the trend in these two rows was obviously not correlated. Another check focuses on calculating net profit. According VRC approach, the upfront slotting fees and the Ankeny restructuring costs which supported the achievement of long term strategy were not considered a relevant expense. With the poor performance in 1997, the cost was not recovered by long-term economic benefit and should appropriately be recognised as an expense. (2) Another issue is internally generated asset valuation. Regarding AASB1013, goodwill value is only recognised in financial reports when it is purchased. While when VRC valued the tradename, it included both purchased and internally developed tradenames. The consolidated value will make the value of tradenames overstated. As the tradename value of herbs and spices business was materially overvalued, it was written down by $435. 5M in 1997. Audit risk is the risk that the auditor may express an inappropriate opinion or accept financial information that is materially misstated. Audit risk is commonly assessed within three components. Inherent risk, control risk and detection risk.

Current Event Related To Health Policy

Current Event Related To Health Policy Introduction Many current health events have given emphasis on the importance of having a global Millennium Development Health plan. This involves Health Policies that are intended to be a vehicle for the exploration and discussion of health issues.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Current Event Related To Health Policy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The main aim of global Millennium Development Health plan is to enhance communication between health policy researchers, legislators, decision-makers and professionals concerned with developing, implementing, and analyzing health issues (Weaver, 2011, May 3). The plan is a guide for the overall health improvement internationally and not just for specific countries. Main Body The global Millennium Development Health plan is guided by the international Health Policy Framework. This policy framework is based on the analysis of international health situation to provide guid ance on the policy objectives that the sector needs in order to achieve goals of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing of mankind (Ricciardelli, 2009). The global Millennium Development Health plan has its strategic theme as ‘Investing in health’. Its overall stated goal is ‘To promote and Improve the health of all people internationally through the deliberate restructuring of the health sectors in different countries and make all health services more effective, accessible and affordable’ (Ricciardelli, 2009). This information can always be found in the current health events related to international Health Policy. In some African countries, strategic imperatives have been identified as the key policy objectives in their health sector. They will also work towards the achievement of the global Millennium Development Health plan. These imperatives are: To ensure equitable allocation of resources for involved countries in order to reduce disparities i n health status. To Increase the cost effectiveness and the cost efficiency of their resource allocation and use. The countries involved will be required to control their population growth. The above policy objectives will form the basis for prioritization of strategic objectives in the subsequent strategic plans which will specifically focus on defining strategies for;Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Strengthening governance. Improving resource allocation. Decentralisation of health services and management. Shifting of resources from curative to preventive. However, it is expected that the overall implementation may not manage to make a breakthrough in terms of transforming the critical health sector interventions and operations towards meeting the most significant targets and indicators of health as expected by the plan (Ricciardelli, 2009). Nevertheless the glob al Millennium Development Health plan has its goals to contribute to the reduction of health inequalities and to reverse the downward trend in health related impact and outcome indicators. Its strategic objectives in this case will be; To increase equitable access to health services. To improve quality and the responsiveness of services in Health. To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery for international Health. The global Millennium Development Goals are signed up to guide prioritization of countries as they move towards improvement and development in their health sectors. Scaling up universal access to cost effective interventions that tackle key causes of ill health and death are also being polished (Villegas, 2010, May 13). Interventions addressing the burden of disease due to malaria, TB, HIV, immunization amongst others have been scaled up significantly particularly in the past 10 years but still they need to be improved. Conclusion For the global Mil lennium Development Health plan to work out well, a strong guide line is needed for the process towards its generation. This process involves both qualitative and quantitative methods to generate and apply information. Qualitative methods involve group interview techniques that generate perceptions of clients, service providers and managers on key aspects that will be analyzed. The Quantitative methods on the other hand will involve desk reviews of key reports and data available for different aspects being analyzed. References Ricciardelli, M. (2009) Health Law and Policy Program. Health reform watch, 9, 10.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Current Event Related To Health Policy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Villegas, A. (2010, May 13) Public Health Policy. Science daily, 06. 13-18. Weaver, C. (2011, May 3) Global Millennium Development Health plan. The standard news, pp. 21.

6 successful ways to start your workday

6 successful ways to start your workday Do you have a hard time hitting the desk running, so to speak, on any given work day? Try following some of these strategies to jumpstart your work mornings and make yourself more productive and engaged from the get-go. 1. Establish a pre-work routine at home.First, you have to lay a solid foundation, which means a good night’s sleep. Then, when you hopefully wake up well rested, throw in a nice stretch or short bit of exercise. Get your blood moving- whether you have five minutes to spare for some yoga or can squeeze in 30 minutes of a solid workout. You’ll feel more awake, more grounded, and more capable. Then eat something with a bit of protein that will fuel your morning. Finally, if you’re a caffeine person, have your coffee or tea.2. Dress to feel and perform your best.You don’t have to go formal to â€Å"dress the part.† If you work from home, at least change out of your pajamas to differentiate your lounging self from your working self. If y ou don’t, aim for work clothes that make you feel comfortable and empowered.3. Start on time.Whether your commute is the five steps it takes you to get from the kitchen table to the couch or 45 minutes of driving, busing, or biking, arrive at your desk on time. To perform your best, consider â€Å"on time† to be five minutes early–that gives you time to collect your thoughts and set yourself up for the day ahead.4. Take a moment to just think.A moment of peace can be a moment well-spent- every morning pause to have a nice, mindful think about how things are going, what you’ve been accomplishing, and what you’d like to get done that day. Reacquaint yourself with your to-do list. Pause for a second and engage. Your work day will be much more bearable this way because you  will be in charge of managing the day (and not the other way around). Map out your day, allowing for small adjustments here and there.5. Get comfortable.Figure out the most ideal work set-up for your productivity. Maybe that’s a standing desk, or an exercise ball, or a lumbar support, or a footrest under your desk. Make sure everything in your workspace is de-cluttered and positioned to make yourself physically capable of sitting there and doing what you need to do.6. Eliminate distractions.Devise a system that will make you less vulnerable to interruptions. When you sit down for the day, turn off notifications, put your phone in a bag or a drawer, and focus- at least for long stretches of time. If it helps, set a timer to help you keep break time, mindless task time, and productive project time separate. And do yourself a favor: don’t check your email all the time. Set yourself designated times instead.The main takeaway from these tips is to remain mindful and put systems in place. If you establish a morning routine and stick with it for at least 2 weeks, these good habits will soon become the norm!

The War of 1812 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The War of 1812 - Essay Example A lot of incidents related to the war also happened in the sea. Background Events Leading to the War: The war was instigated in 1783 after the termination of American Revolution. That was a time when US was irritated with Britain’s lack of consent to ratify commercial agreements in favor of America and Britain’s failure to retreat from the territory of America alongside the Great Lakes. The French Revolutionary Wars that happened between 1792 and 1802 and the Napoleonic Wars that started after that and continued till 1815 flared up American resentment. France and Britain were the primary contestants in these wars. With the passage of time, France dominated most of Europe. On the other hand, Britain ruled over the seas. France and Britain had commercial fights with each other in which Britain tried to blockade Europe while France did all to make sure that British goods were not sold in the French possessions. The maritime policies of Britain and France indulged into seve ral conflicts with the US in the 1790s. The difficulties became intense and grew manifolds after 1803. The British Orders in Council of 1807 tried to channel all neutral trade to continental Europe through Great Britain, and France's Berlin and Milan decrees of 1806 and 1807 declared Britain in a state of blockade and condemned neutral shipping that obeyed British regulations. (gatewayno.com, n.d.). Causes of the War: US felt that her rights upon seas were being subdued by France and Britain. Because of British dominance upon the seas, the British maritime policies were more disliked. British felt that it was their right to the British sailors with them from the merchant ships of America. In their haste, they took many Americans with them as well. This was the fundamental cause of tension between the two countries. There were numerous causes of the war. There was war going on between Great Britain and France in the early 1800s. In that war, England fell short of skilled sailors. In order to make up for the deficiency of sailors, Great Britain started stopping American ships and forcefully took sailors from them. In addition to that, Great Britain forbade US from entering into any trade with France. According to the Treaty of Paris (1783), Great Britain was supposed to remove her soldiers from the American territory, though she continued occupying US territory. A vast majority of the British soldiers remained along the Great Lakes and offered full support to Indians like Tecumseh, the Shawnee leader so that they may fully revolt against the American settlers. Proceedings of the War: US first tried to alter the European powers’ policies economically. The British ship Leopard attacked Chesapeake, which was an American frigate in 1807. At that time, Congress placed a ban upon American ships from trade by passing the Embargo Act. As a result of that, New England shipping was devastated but the French and British policies were left unaltered. Americans were i n the economic depression and were distressed. They resolved to commence the war in order to restore national honor. In 1810, the Congress was elected. In November, 1811, the War Hawks joined the Congress and asked to commence war against Great Britain. As a result of the aforementioned attempts by Great Britain all of which went against the interests of US, President James Madison convinced the Congress to declare war upon Great Britain in 1812. Battles of the War: In 1812,

HRM Assignment Guide Each individual student will be required to Essay

HRM Assignment Guide Each individual student will be required to prepare a written assignment on the following two questions - Essay Example In addition to this, the study will discuss the similarity and differences of these principles. A multinational or a domestic organization when develops human resource strategies and policies according to the host country’s work or religious culture, then it can be defined as domestic practices and policies. On the other hand, an organization develops human resources policies or strategies in several global operating market places according to the cultural or religious background of people or employees, it can be considered as multinational human resource policies and practices. Discussion Global business environment has become highly competitive as several leading organizations are operating within a similar industry. In addition to this, these organizations are continuously developing unique business strategies in order to maintain its significant competitive edge in global market place. Human resource department is considered as one of the important department of an organiz ation. Several leading national and multinational organizations have given significant importance to their human resource department in order to ensure effective business performance. ... National or multinational organizations generally try to develop human resource policies to improve the workplace environment and motivate the employees to perform well (Cooke, 2003, p.72). Each and every organization develops human resource policy in host or international country to foster recruitment and workplace performance management process. A multinational organization follows same step or process in all the operating countries regarding the recruitment activities. Job posting, advertising and interview procedures follow same structure in all the countries. Differences in human resource policy in domestic and international countries take place regarding organizational culture of an organization, workplace diversity programmes in an organization, leadership styles in the organizations and use of motivation tolls in the organization (Colling and Terry, 2010, p.98). It is true that an organization has to develop these strategies differently in several global markets due to differ ence in cultural background and behaviour of people. In addition to this, multinational organizations generally develop different types of policies due to various political aspects in different countries, such as wage distribution regulation, labour policy and employment policy. Differences It is important for a multinational organization to implement cultural or social research and survey activity before entering into the international market. It is very much essential to considered different external environmental factors as it helps the human resource department to develop policy. It already has been discussed that there are significant similarities in domestic and international

Project Controls Essay Example for Free

Project Controls Essay I have developed a proposal that would create a secure system within our organization. Below is the outline that should help prevent disaster recovery or in the case, backup our disaster recovery procedures. Duration Critical Task Sequencing The project will detail an array of critical task sequences including: * Pre-project Envisioning – Evaluation of HR database and corporate objectives, formulation of cost/benefit analysis, establishment of project scope and major milestones, securing of executive sponsorship and buy-in * Planning Structure – Project assembly, computing and testing environments, preliminary design, system array, and maintenance orientation * System deployment – Deployment of hardware and software systems, pilot test evaluations * Post-Implementation Review – Backup/restore maintenance, performance monitoring, system re-forecasting, establishment of ongoing infrastructure team Variance Baseline Achieving the desired outcome for the HR Resource Deployment will require a stringent and concentrated focus on maintaining adherence to the project timeline. Throughout this timeline, variance data will be closely observed and documented. Capturing variance data is an adamant goal for the project managers. Variance data will help to expose possible weaknesses of the planning process, and serve as priceless information for future endeavors. The means of collecting variance data will be comprised of the following: Delegation of variance targets. Prior to the project start, prime areas of variance will be decided upon for tracking. These areas will be closely monitored and documented. Targeted variances will form the baseline of the project, and will consist of measurements of quality, project milestones achieved, performance metrics,  and budget adherence. The success versus failure Planned versus actual. Variance data will be looked at according to what is planned as opposed to what the actual outcome will be. This will largely be focused on the proposed scheduling timeline and project cost expectancies. As the project advances, variance data will be tracked according to what deviates from the planned objectives. This data will be captured in real time in order to provide insight for future milestone proceedings. Estimates versus planned. This variance metric will focus on what was estimated for project details, such as schedule and cost, prior to the approved project plan. Such data will assist in greater accuracy of project planning, and will help to eliminate the guessing game. These variance metrics will be acquired through the collaboration between all stakeholders and resources. Maintaining high quality controls is a process that includes a lot of planning but when well maintains it builds the trust in the customers and eventually helps both organization businesses. As an organization maintains a high quality control one must know that there is also other aspects which is where being innovative and keeping a reasonable price adds to the equation. As many new customers are acquired a lot of the times this might be a direct result of on customer recommending another new customer. When this statement is true the new customer expects the same treatment and if not better. Therefore, one must stay innovative and open to new ideas and changes in order to fulfill the new customers’ needs. On-Going Evaluation and Status of Project There will be a definitive checklist for who will be responsible for the development and submission of projects reports. Evaluations will be performed on an as-we-go basis as to attempt to not miss anything important along the way. If there is anything that will be confidential or require a security clearance, these things will be handled by either the Project Manager or a member of management. Any projects that require the participation of stakeholders will be documented for future use and testing. All ongoing reports will also be given to all principal stakeholders along  the way. As each goal or milestone is met, it will be tested and retested for consistency to make sure what was done will stand the test of time (until the next project or upgrade). Method Used The Method that is used for determining whether the project has met its objectives is a survey. The survey can be done to figure if everything has been a success. Riordan employees will fill a survey out to give feedback on, if they are satisfied with the projects performance or not. Surveys can only provide estimates for the population, but cannot be a true measurements. You can measure surveys by the consistency of responses to questions about the project over a long amount of time period. REFERENCE Microsoft Office. Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project-help/leading-practices-for-applying-variance-data-to-future-projects-HA010174487.aspx

The Crazy Lady in The Yellow Wallpaper :: Yellow Wallpaper essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Yellow Wallpaper does nothing but confuse me.   It seems to be about a high strung, mentally ill woman who is obsessed with rotting wallpaper.   This yellow wallpaper obsesses her so much that she begins to distrust everyone, even her husband.   She is terrified that someone will take her wallpaper or find out more about it than she knows.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One point I found interesting is that she sees a woman behind bars trying to get out in the pattern of the wallpaper.   This might be the only thing in this story that made sense to me.   The pattern with the woman seems to be related to the way she is being treated by her husband, John.   John is very protective of her wife because she is in all reality a very sick woman.   She feels trapped because of this and the way she sees the paper must be an indication.   She stays up late at night and hours on end during the day to stare at worthless, tattered, yellow wallpaper.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This story really bored me to death.   All I could think of was, "when is this story going to be over?"   I remember having a highly active imagination as a child but this is ridiculous. She sees mushrooms sprouting and women shaking bars and she's a middle aged woman.   The last time I ever saw anything close to that was when I was 10 years old and I saw G.I.Joe's crawling up and down my walls at night.   I don't understand this woman behavior nor have I ever experienced anyone in real life who acted this way.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   John's wife is not an abused woman.   She is actually well taken care of and

How does MAPUA relate to R.A. 9163? Essay

MAPUA relates to R.A 9163 by means of acknowledging that R.A 9163 is a program that targets to develop civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by developing the morals of service and patriotism by having a training in any of its three program components such as ROTC, CWTS and LTS which is specifically designed to develop the youth‘s active contribution to the general welfare and was said that all incoming freshmen students, male or female, enrolled in any baccalaureate and in at least two-year technical-vocational or associate courses, are required to complete one NSTP component of their choice, as a graduation requirement. That’s why, the National Service Training Program of the Mapua Institute of Technology Office also known as NSTP-MAPUA Office organizes the application of the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) and the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). Its application is administrated by R.A. 9163. It also helps the students to socialize through community services. 2. Explain the MAPUA CWTS Support and Delivery System? The MAPUA-CWTS has three Support and Delivery Systems that harness MAPUA‘s expertise which can be offered to the community. The first one is the ENGINEERING AND HEALTH SUPPORT AND DELIVERY SYSTEM (EHSDS). It involves students who work in terms of engineering expertise and health services. These students will do some projects that are related to their fields and that will benefit the community. The second one is the LEARNING SUPPORT AND DELIVERY SYSTEM (LSDS). It involves students who work in terms of literacy programs. The MAPUA-CWTS offers Alternative Learning Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ALEAP) for out of school youths and adults where the students will be the mentors of the program using modular method. Lastly, THE SOCIO-CIVIC SUPPORT AND DELIVERY SYSTEM (SCSDS) where students who work in terms of socio-civic programs are involved. These students will serve and act as ambassadors of the MAPUA-CWTS that will strengthen the relationship between MIT and the communities.

History of forensic medicine Essay

The necessity of understanding the reasons why a loved one suddenly becomes missing, his/her whereabouts difficult to trace and the difficulty of establishing the probability of that person’s survival is one of the many realities of families today. Should threats actually pose on a person’s life or the missing member left traces of his/her whereabouts are stuffs that not only fill the minds of those who are after detective stories; these are matters that provide meaning and hope for those families and individuals with real, missing loved ones. The popularity of shows on television such as CSI and police crime stories in a weekly slot has virtually lined almost all of networks around the globe. Films and theaters make sure they profit and usually they do whenever they strike the old formula of suspense and crime. Embedded in these formats is the dependable work of forensic medicine and the people behind it. It is no wonder that many children and adolescents today list the job of a forensic specialist as one of their ambitions. Purpose of the Paper Forensic medicine is a distinct discipline dedicated to accomplish the ultimate which is to solve crimes and prevent, limit or reduce its occurrence with the application of a wide-ranging field of sciences in response to inquiries in relation to the legal set-up. It utilizes scientific methods and the application of pharmacology and other related schemes in the pursuit of justice. Basically derived from the time of the Romans when both the accused and the accuser are given their day in â€Å"court† to present their speeches to persuade the court of the issues of their cases; today, an intricate system of a combination of knowledge from different sectors is used to achieve the purposes of the legal system. It uses modern technology and the expertise of behavioral sciences in law enforcement. Myths have been built around notorious serial killers and rightly so, because many of those who perpetrate such heinous activities manage to cause people to tremble just by hearing stories about their â€Å"exploits. Many were astounded by such names or tags as â€Å"BTK† and others like him who tried to carve their names in history though rather infamously. More modern types in the likes of Ted Bundy for instance and the â€Å"happy face† killer still evoke fear as well amazement that such people do exist. What was more amazing though is that they had been caught and that the breakthrough of forensic medicine in the early years to its modern developments had made the capture more successful and a credit to the science. In the case of jack the Ripper, he was popularized in London many years ago, around 1880, when this man started to murder prostitutes in the East End portion of this metropolis. He was never caught and his identity remained clouded in mystery. But the details as to the methods of his killing (or ripping) and whether he reaped them or not (his victims) became known only when the developments that had brought forensic medicine to the forefront started to become available (Barbee, 2006). The paper is written to explain, enlighten where forensic medicine is today and where it started. With the view that many of high profiled cases were solved due to the advances in the field which includes computer and digital forensics, use of forensic analysis tools of all kinds i. e. , sampling techniques, and a host of other manners of gathering evidence, the author seeks to establish the history of forensic medicine in precis. Problem Statement The literature today is rich to provide an enthusiast and serious student of the field with sufficient information concerning the issue on how this particular discipline emerged. It therefore seeks to answer the following question: What is forensic medicine and what are the major developments that helped established its place in the legal system? Basing on that primary inquiry, the following are the paper’s sub-problem statements: o How is forensic medicine defined? o What are the developmental milestones significant in the understanding of the discipline? o What are the current medical and scientific breakthroughs that are being employed in the application of forensic medicine? o What are its successes in terms of accomplishments as solving such high profiled crimes as BTK and insights into the legendary Jack the Ripper? What are its failures and the deficiencies in the system that needs to be improved and addressed? Definition of Terms Forensic medicine is a distinct science that â€Å"involves the principles and techniques that identify evidence at a crime scene† (UKTV people, 2007). Crime scene investigation refers to the protocol that peopl e in the uniform employs whenever a crime occurs such as the incidence of murder that brings the trained to examine the scene of the crime. The intention is to find traces or clues that might lead to the solution of the crime (UKTV people, 2007). DNA which represents the chemical Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is the â€Å"chemical found in virtually every cell in the body and which carries genetic information from one generation to the next. When translated, this information determines our physical characteristics and directs all the chemical processes in the body† (UKTV people, 2007). Fingerprint evidence. â€Å"Fingerprint evidence rests on two basic principles: A person’s â€Å"friction ridge patterns† – the swirled skin on their fingertips – never change and no two people have the same pattern of friction ridges. † (UKTV people, 2007). Ballistics.  The science of ballistics is often a highly important element in finding out who did the â€Å"killing. † It deals with the motion, behavior and effects of bullets. Theoretical Framework ~On criminality: Factors contributing to the incidence This refers to the body of knowledge that provides a basis to the current understanding of the different facets of the field. There are various scientific viewpoints where criminality is concerned and its reduction and prevention as goals. The author attempts to discuss various theoretical perspectives as knowledge base for the strength of its proposition. Sociologists, in an attempt to explain and point out the reasons behind delinquency, have concluded that there are connections between specific youth behaviors with the home environment, family background, the neighborhood, associations, and many other aspects that together, or separately affect the formative years of young people’s social environment. Delinquent children usually come from a background of difficult circumstances. Parental alcoholism, poverty, breakdown of family, abusive conditions in the home, death of parents during armed conflicts or drug overdose, and the HIV/AIDS scourge, and etc. re some of the various reasons that can leave children virtually orphaned. One or both parents may be physically present, but because of irresponsibility on their part (if even one of them is addicted to drugs or alcoholic), a child may grow developing certain ways and attitudes that are directly/indirectly caused by the parent/s addiction or drug-related behavior. In this case, true delinquency lies on the parents; and the children are, in a way, orphaned or unaccompanied, and without any means of subsistence which, in the first place, the parents’ fundamental responsibility to provide. Generally, and increasingly, these children are born and/or raised without a father. They are first in the line of those who are at greatest risk of falling into juvenile delinquency. Without noticing it as it is typical of any youth to be lacking in prudence, with newly embraced group, the gang, a corresponding subculture starts to assimilate them, and before long, they start to engage in activities of adult criminal groups. It is usually after being engaged in criminal activities for an extended period of time with its accompanying consequences (such as ending up in prison or rehabilitation institutions for drug addicts) that delinquents realize they are into a very dangerous zone. A large portion of all juvenile violations (between two-thirds and three-quarters) are perpetrated by youths who are members of certain gangs (Venkatesh, 1997). Unlike in school and their family, these have no strict rules to be followed except loyalty to the group. It gives young people esteem when they somehow feel they are the â€Å"rule† in themselves. This is the lure of gangs. It gives the promise of fulfillment to would be delinquents. Popularity, access to the powerful figures on the streets, freedom to express one’s self, as well as easy flow of money (if the gang is also involved in some illegal activities such as drug dealings, which is common in most gangs) are seemingly within grasp of anybody who just have the guts to dare (OJJDP, Mar. 2003).

Breaking Down the Pros and Cons of Grade Retention

Breaking Down the Pros and Cons of Grade Retention Grade retention is a process in which a teacher believes that it would benefit a student to keep them in the same grade for two consecutive years. Retaining a student is not an easy decision and should not be taken lightly. Parents often find the decision agonizing, and it can be difficult for some parents to climb entirely on board. It is necessary to note that any retention decision should be made after much evidence is collected and after several meetings with parents. It is essential that you do not spring it on them at the final parent/teacher conference of the year. If grade retention is a possibility, it should be brought up early in the school year. However, intervention and frequent updates should be the focal point for most of the year. What Are Some Reasons to Retain a Student? There are many reasons that a teacher may feel that retention is necessary for a particular student. The biggest reason is typically the development level of a child. Students enter school at around the same chronological age but with ​varying developmental levels. If a teacher believes that a student is behind developmentally compared to the majority of students in their class, then they may wish to retain the student to give them â€Å"the grace of time† to mature and catch up developmentally. Teachers may also choose to retain a student because they simply struggle academically when compared to students at the same grade level. While this is a traditional reason for retention, it is necessary to note that unless you figure out why the student is struggling, it is likely that the retention will do more harm than good. Another reason teachers often retain a student is due to the student’s lack of motivation to learn. Retention is often ineffective in this case as well. Student behavior can be another reason that a teacher chooses to retain a student. This is especially prevalent in lower grades. Poor behavior is often tied to the developmental level of the child. What Are Some Possible Positive Effects? The biggest positive effect of grade retention is that it provides students who are truly behind developmentally a chance to catch up. Those type of students will begin to thrive once they are developmentally on grade level. Being in the same grade two years in a row can also provide a student with some stability and familiarity, especially when it comes to the teacher and the room. Retention is most beneficial when the child that is retained receives intensive intervention specific to the areas in which they struggle throughout the retention year. What Are Some Possible Negative Effects? There are many adverse effects of retention. One of the biggest negative effects is that students who are retained are more likely to drop out of school eventually. It is also not an exact science. Research says that students are more negatively impacted by grade retention than they are positively affected by it. Grade retention can also have a profound impact on a student’s socialization. This becomes especially true for older students who have been with the same group of students for several years. A student who has been separated from their friends could become depressed and develop poor self-esteem. Students who are retained are likely physically bigger than their classmates because they are a year older. This often causes that child to be self-conscious. Students who are retained sometimes develop serious behavior issues, especially as they age. What Grade(s) Should You Retain a Student? The rule of thumb for retention is the younger, the better. Once students reach fourth grade, it becomes virtually impossible for retention to be a positive thing. There are always exceptions but, overall, retention should be primarily limited to early elementary school. There are so many factors that teachers need to look at in a retention decision. It is not an easy decision. Seek advice from other teachers and look at each student on a case-by-case basis. You could have two students who are remarkably similar developmentally but due to external factors, retention would only be appropriate for one and not the other. What Is the Process for a Student to be Retained? Each school district typically has its own retention policy. Some districts may oppose retention altogether. For districts that do not oppose retention, teachers need to make themselves familiar with their district’s policy. Regardless of that policy, there are several things a teacher needs to do to make the retention process much easier throughout the year. Identify struggling students within the first few weeks of school.Create an individualized intervention plan to meet that students individual learning needs.Meet with the parent within a month of initiating that plan. Be straightforward with them, provide them with strategies to implement at home, and be sure you let them know that retention is a possibility if significant improvements aren’t made over the course of the year.Adapt and change the plan if you are not seeing growth after a few months.Continuously update the parents on their child’s progress.Document everything, including meetings, strategies used, results, etc.If you do decide to retain, then follow all school policies and procedures dealing with retention. Be sure to monitor and comply with dates concerning retention as well. What Are Some Alternatives to Grade Retention? Grade retention is not the best remedy for every struggling student. Sometimes it may be as simple as providing a student with some counseling to get them going in the right direction. Other times it is won’t be that easy. Older students, in particular, need to be given some options when it comes to grade retention. Many schools provide summer school opportunities for students to attend and make improvements in the areas in which they struggle. Another alternative would be to place a ​student on a plan of study. A plan of study puts the ball in the student’s court sort of speak. A plan of study provides students with specific objectives that they must meet over the course of the year. It also provides assistance and increased accountability for the student. Finally, a plan of study details specific consequences for not meeting their specific objectives, including grade retention.

Dynamic Character vs. Static Character How Are They Different

Dynamic Character vs. Static Character How Are They Different Dynamic Character vs. Static Character: How Are They Different? A common piece of criticism you'll hear in fiction is that characters are "too static." Modern audiences can tell when a character isn’t interesting or realistic, based on their own lack of emotional investment in that character’s journey. As a result, authors feel compelled to ensure that their protagonist is a dynamic character - and that many of their other characters are, too.And we want to help them out! Which is why in this article, we'll take a look at the different types of dynamic characters and how authors can write them into their books. We'll also examine static characters and why authors should avoid them most (but not all) of the time.As a fun bonus, we've created an exciting new infographic that illustrates three common narratives associated with these characters. To jump straight to the infographic, click on Infographic: "The Book Deal" in the table of contents to your left! You can also watch our video on how to create dynamic characters below. Otherwi se, let's dive in. What is a dynamic character?A dynamic character  is a character who undergoes substantial internal change - in personality, attitude, or worldview - over the course of the narrative. This change usually happens gradually, though sometimes a character will have a revelation that changes everything about them very suddenly.Most well-developed characters are naturally dynamic. After all, characters who don't change at all typically don't have book-worthy adventures. And no matter what the story, readers almost always prefer reading about dynamic characters over static ones. That's why some of the most classic tales of all time feature distinctively dynamic protagonists: Ebenezer Scrooge, Elizabeth Bennet, Don Quixote, the list goes on and on.Keep in mind that protagonists, antagonists, and minor characters can all be dynamic. For the sake of focus, this article deals with main characters. However, everything we cover re: how to write a dynamic protagonist can also apply to supportin g characters. Ebenezer Scrooge - one of the most famous dynamic protagonists ever. (Image: Walt Disney Studios)The difference between "dynamic" and "well-rounded"Many people mistakenly believe that a dynamic character is exactly the same as a well-rounded character. But "dynamic" simply means that the character changes, while "well-rounded" means that they're fleshed out with a backstory, motivations, strengths, weaknesses, etc.There's a great deal of overlap, and most well-written protagonists are both dynamic and well-rounded. However, it's possible to have a character that changes throughout the story, but otherwise lacks substantial development (though this is a pretty unusual occurrence).You'll more commonly see well-rounded characters who change very little (if at all) in a story - usually to serve as a constant for another character. For example, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is clearly well-rounded. But that doesn't mean he's dynamic; indeed, his attitude and views remain the s ame through the story. His steadfast morality serves to teach his daughter, Scout, about right and wrong. Consequently, she is the dynamic protagonist, while he facilitates that change. Dynamic character = well-rounded character: true or false? Find out here! What is a static character?As you might expect, a static character does not develop or change throughout a narrative. Their beliefs do not evolve, their personalities remain the same, and their worldview does not expand or adapt whatsoever.So why do static characters even exist? The answer is twofold. Firstly, static characters exist because not all authors know how to write a good character arc. Particularly in shorter pieces of fiction, you'll often see a character who seems  like they should undergo some kind of development or change, but ultimately doesn't.But secondly, sometimes static characters are written that way intentionally, to make a point or poke fun at a certain type of person. For example, Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice is a static character. However, he acts as an example of a silly society man, and his foolishness and pomposity contrast humorously with Lizzy's perceptive wit.Static characters may be used as foils or even enemies to the dynamic protagonist, such as the Dursleys in Harry Potter, or just about every Disney villain ever. Finally, static characters can sometimes be positively symbolic or instructive, as in the TKAM example above. But this is relatively rare compared to the other types of static characters, who tend to be stupid and/or malevolent.The important thing to remember about static characters is that they should almost always be accompanied by dynamic characters. Dynamic characters give static characters purpose; without them, our static friends would just be languishing in a plotless wasteland. The sole exception to this rule is satire - if the entire story functions as a critique, all the characters may be unchanging in order to demonstrate their unintelligence or weakness. The wicked stepsisters are static character "foils" to the sweet, kind Cinderella. (Image: RKO Radio Pictures)How to write a dynamic characterIn a creative writing course, you could spend weeks learning different approaches for writing dynamic characters. This guide won't provide you with "the key" to creating a dynamic protagonist, but it will offer questions and considerations to guide you toward that goal.We also won't talk about how to write static characters, as you want to avoid them most of the time. However, if you're hoping to create a static character to serve some significant purpose in your story, know that most of the steps are basically the same - you'll just stop short of actually setting them on a journey.We recommend downloading this free character profile template before you start. Then read on for some helpful tips!Character creationThe first step to writing  any  character, but especially a dynamic one, is to get their essentials down first. For this, many au thors find it useful to create a character sheet. This is  a little dossier that answers some basic questions about each individual in your story, both physically and personality-wise.So let's say your protagonist is a doctor. Her character sheet might answer these questions:What kind of medical school did she go to, and what kind of student was she?How is her relationship with her family? Does she currently have a partner?What is her religious faith and how does it affect her work (if at all)?Does she have any bad habits  or strange quirks?How self-conscious or confident is she?How frugal is she with her money?And so on. The answers to these questions might not always make it onto the page, but knowing even seemingly inconsequential details about your characters can have a big impact on your story. These kinds of character development exercises really help build believable people to populate your book - characters who readers want to follow, even before they begin to change.Ch aracter motivationAnother critical component of dynamic character creation is  motivation.  In order for a protagonist to go on a journey of self-discovery, they have to pursue something that they want, need, or are otherwise compelled toward.For instance, your main character might be a jet-setting career man who wants romance and a family; an army medic who wants to survive the war; or a retired gunslinger who wants to be left alone. This desire don’t have to be grand and philosophical! There have been great stories told about no more than a young boy who wants a new pair of shoes. There's that retired gunslinger. (Image: Warner Bros)A protagonist’s desires will become a driving force in the story. How close or far a character comes to achieving a goal creates tension and moves their journey along. Typically, in order to change, a character must either A) reach their goal, or B) fail to do so, but realize something greater in the process.Here are a few questions to help you determine your characters' motivations and trajectories:Will the character get what they  want, but at a dear cost?What personal obstacle(s) must they overcome before the desire is reached/obtained?How will securing this goal - or failing to do so - alter them as a character?What if your protagonist’s greatest desire is simply impossible?Internal character conflictWhile conflict is often interpreted as "protagonist vs. antagonist," it’s far more important to consider a character’s internal conflict. When telling the story of your character’s personal jo urney, it's important for them to encounter conflict, as they  themselves  hinder their own success. Here are a few examples of dynamic characters' inner conflicts to show you what we mean:Dumbo is a story about fighting fears and self-doubt. Dumbo’s buddy, Timothy Mouse, gives him a "magic feather" to help him fly. He loses this feather in the final scene, and must overcome his internal fear and self-doubt to save the circus.In Great Expectations, it is only when Pip realizes his worldview has been wrong - that Miss Havisham is not his benefactor, that Estella has not been promised to him, and that he has treated his closest friends and family terribly in order to "become a gentleman" - that he can start to make things right.Elizabeth Bennet has feelings for Darcy, but before she can find happiness, she must overcome her own wounded pride. Likewise, Darcy must grapple with his class-bred prejudices before he can successfully woo Ms. Bennet. These internal conflicts are the essence of Pride and Prejudice.Before you write your first draft, consider how your protagonist’s flaws or specific worldview will work as an obstacle between them and their goal. Likewise, consider how the resolution of these issues will bring your protagonist closer to their desires - and ultimately to a different state of being.Use external conflict to show internal strugglesMost novels can’t unfold in an entirely internal, psychic landscape. Authors need to find ways to move their protagonists through time and space as they undergo internal changes. In other words, you have to show character development via external conflict, instead of just letting characters sit around thinking about self-improvement 24/7.Jay Gatsby’s extravagant parties and upper-class affectations show his desire to rewrite his history and transcend the American class system. If Gatsby’s fatal flaw is his refusal to accept that the past is past, the external conflict that re flects plays out in his pursuit of and affair with Daisy, and the fatal repercussions it has.Fitzgerald more extensively shows this conflict by putting Gatsby at odds with Tom Buchanan. A cruel, unlikable figure, Tom is nonetheless everything Gatsby aspires to: an old-money WASP married to Daisy, Gatsby’s childhood crush. But because Gatsby cannot turn this desire into a change he can actually make - i.e., he can't go back in time and change the circumstances of his birth - he becomes increasingly desperate, careless, and ultimately meets his karmic maker. Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Tom Buchanan from The Great Gatsby (Image: Warner Bros)Can they change for the worse?Growth is subjective, as is morality. Characters sometimes fall to the "dark side" over the course of a story, like Walter White in TV’s Breaking Bad. Walter White is a family man and high school chemistry teacher with terminal cancer. To make money before his death, he starts manufacturing drugs and becomes involved with the criminal underworld.Over the course of the series, Walter White's morality is put to the test in ever more extreme ways. Each external conflict Walter faces has an internal result, and throughout the series we watch him toe the line between good and evil. His original intentions - to protect his family even after his death - are noble, but his means to this end are nefarious. As a result, Walter must â€Å"break bad† in what has become a modern exemplar of character evolution.But what if the protagonist doesn’t really change ?If the mark of an interesting lead character is their personal growth, then their story will chart a journey from the person they were in chapter one to the person they are on the final page. But surely there are plenty of compelling characters who encounter conflict, yet do not change all that much over the course of a narrative?As we've discussed previously, it's definitely possible for a character to be well-rounded without changing very much. But what about a main character? Let's look at a few examples here.From the outside, Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games wouldn’t be your first example of a dynamic character. She starts out courageous, resourceful, and principled, and stays that way throughout the story. Even after the Games put her ideals to the ultimate test, it's only through her selflessness and resourcefulness can she beat the system and leave with them intact.In Andy Weir’s The Martian, supremely chill botanist Mark Watney is trapped on Mars. He quick ly realizes that only his ingenuity and knowledge of science can save him. He encounters a chain of disasters that threaten to break his resolve. Instead of finding some internal flaw that needs resolving, it’s only by maintaining his trademark cool and returning time and again to science, that Watney is able to escape the Red Planet. Matt Damon as Mark Watney in The Martian (20th Century Fox)Don't worry: they're still dynamicBoth Katniss and Mark Watney find the strength to survive by sticking to their guns and having faith in their beliefs. But this doesn't mean they haven't changed at all - it's just that the primary change they've undergone is a strengthening of their core beliefs, rather than a fundamental alteration. They also experience smaller, more subtle changes, such as becoming more hardened to their surroundings and wary of danger.In other words, Katniss and Watney aren't what you'd call "exemplary" dynamic characters, but they're not static characters either. And clearly their journeys were compelling enough to engage readers, since both The Hunger Games  and  The Martian  became mega-hit bestsellers and blockbuster movies!Speaking of which, let's take a look at this awesome infographic (featuring some of your favorite characters) to really nail down the arc of a dynamic character.Infographic: "The Book Deal" Infographic: What does a dynamic character's arc look like? To see how a protagonist's wants, strengths, and flaws will  influence  how a story plays out, we took three familiar characters and placed them in an unfamiliar setting. Let's see how they develop over the course of a  narrative: Failure to change results in tragedyWhen your protagonist grapples with inner and outer conflict,  but fails to adapt, they are almost always punished - by themselves, another person, or the universe. This is what we call  tragedy.In Cyrano de Bergerac,  the titular character is in love with Roxane. However, his self-doubt prevents him from revealing that he has written the words that have won her heart. Cyrano does not overcome this doubt in time, and becomes mortally injured before Roxane realizes that she loves him.And in an example we've already covered, Jay Gatsby learns too late that â€Å"there are no second acts in American lives.† He wants to force his way into the upper classes, but he’s unable to see that this world will not allow him in. He refuses to divert his course so, in the end, we find him bleeding out, alone, in his swimming pool.Both of these characters encounter conflict and grapple with their flaws in a fascinating way. But in the end, thei r failure to change themselves results in their tragic deaths.How much change is too much?Assuming you want your book to remain within the realm of believability, your character’s change should be relatively small. Human beings are capable of great change, but only a bit a time.Again, Ebenezer Scrooge is perhaps the most classic example of a dynamic protagonist. But if we’re being honest, the man at the end who buys 300-pound turkeys for the poor does not remotely resemble the penny-pinching miser in the first scene. However, nobody questions the psychological truth of Scrooge’s overnight transformation because A Christmas Carol is a moralist fable. It's not meant to be realistic, only to instruct.That said, if you’re writing a modern series, you should also be conscious of changing your characters too quickly or drastically. Let’s say that your breakout character is an irreverent, womanizing highwayman. You can have him confronted by a victim of h is crime or philandering - something that forces him to reassess his lifestyle choices.Yet you don’t want him to learn too much. Otherwise you run the risk of turning your series into the ongoing narrative of a former highwayman, who now very much respects property rights and does not flirt with women quite so aggressively. The key is balance: don't stray too far from your character's original personality, but allow them to change in an organic way, at a reasonable pace.Remember: there's no formula for great charactersShould your story not follow one of these common patterns, you may find it’s harder to nail down exactly how internal flaws and external conflicts play out over the course of your book. But even in unconventional narratives, always remember to think of the basics: What does your character want? What’s stopping them from getting it? And will they find the strength to change? These questions will help you - and your characters - find the right way .If you have any questions, thoughts or observations, please share them in the comments below.

Innovation Management and its Critical Success Factors Research Paper

Innovation Management and its Critical Success Factors - Research Paper Example    Across the world, competition is intensified due to increasing globalisation. Hence, businesses today are facing numerous challenges besides issues of cost or quality of their products and services. Gaining customer loyalty and satisfying their expectations are at the forefront in business operations; hence companies have to products and services that are considered as valuable. By becoming innovative organizations, it is possible for companies to compete in this dynamic and changing business environment. Evidence from research reveals that innovation is one of the paths to maintaining increasingly progressive organisational performance. It is also the key element â€Å"for sustaining competitiveness and ensuring an organization’s future potential† (Wong & Chin, 2007, p.1290). The critical role played by organizational innovation management in organizational performance and progress, makes it necessary for organizations to manage and sustain organizational innovati on well. The inadequate involvement of several companies in innovation management is because of inconclusive and inconsistent research on the subject. This results in organizations failing to capture comprehensive concepts of innovation, and are unable to translate these into practical organizational innovation procedures (Wong & Chin, 2007). Research conducted by Wong and Chin (2007) investigated organizational innovation management as one of the critical means to sustain competitiveness in the long term.  ... Hence, businesses today are facing numerous challenges besides issues of cost or quality of their products and services. Gaining customer loyalty and satisfying their expectations are at the forefront in business operations; hence companies have to products and services that are considered as valuable. By becoming innovative organisations, it is possible for companies to compete in this dynamic and changing business environment. Evidence from research reveals that innovation is one of the paths to maintaining increasingly progressive organisational performance. It is also the key element â€Å"for sustaining competitiveness and ensuring an organization’s future potential† (Wong & Chin, 2007, p.1290). The critical role played by organisational innovation management in organisational performance and progress, makes it necessary for organisations to manage and sustain organisational innovation well. The inadequate involvement of several companies in innovation management i s because of inconclusive and inconsistent research on the subject. This results in organisations failing to capture comprehensive concepts of innovation, and are unable to translate these into practical organisational innovation procedures (Wong & Chin, 2007). Research conducted by Wong and Chin (2007) investigated organisational innovation management as one of the critical means to sustain competitiveness in the long term. The purpose of the study was to develop and validate an organisation-wide innovation management framework. An extensive literature review helped to develop core values and concepts of an organisational innovation management system. Wong and Chin (2007) identified organisational