Factors Affecting Firm s Foreign Exchange Risk Hedging...

Factors Affecting Firm’s Foreign Exchange Risk Hedging Policy Abstract Mostly foreign currency derivatives are used for hedging foreign exchange rate risk caused by exchange rate adverse fluctuation. This study is aimed to determine different factors that affect the foreign currency derivatives usage. Secondary data of 112 non financial firms, taken from their annual reports and balance sheet analysis issued by State Bank of Pakistan, is used for analysis for the period 2008 to 2013. Mann Whitney U test was used to check differences in characteristics of foreign currency derivatives users and non-users. Results show that users of the foreign currency were categorized as to be those firms having higher liquidity, lower growth options, larger in size, lower leverage, higher managerial ownership, lower profitability and higher foreign exposure as compared to the non users of foreign currency derivatives. Logit regression model was used to investigate different factors affecting firm’s derivatives usage for hedging its foreign exchange risk. Results of the logit model illustrate that there is significantly positive relationship between firm size, liquidity, foreign exposure and managerial ownership. The results also show that corporations with higher liquidity, larger size, and larger managerial ownership are more likely to use foreign currency derivatives usage for hedging. Further results illustrate negative significant relationship between growth opportunities, leverageShow MoreRelatedForeign Exchange Exposure And Toyota2063 Words   |  9 PagesGERALD FERNANDO LAUAN 2013059085 VICTORIA 2013059087 Foreign Exchange Exposure and Toyota Globalization has allowed the integration of national economies into the international market, giving easier access to information, goods and services through trade around the world. 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This paper reviews the traditional types of exchange rate risk faced by ï ¬ rms, namely transaction, translation and economic risks, presentsRead MoreResearch on Foreign Exchange Risk Management13065 Words   |  53 PagesResearch Paper On Foreign Exchange Risk Management Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirement Of Masters of Business Administration Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 CHAPTER 1: PLANRead MoreForeign Exchange Risk Management14141 Words   |  57 PagesREVIEW 1 The survey of foreign currency risk awareness and management practices in Tanzania REVIEW OF LITERATURE Foreign exchange risk management Foreign currency exchange risk is the additional riskiness or varience of a firm’s cash flows that may be attributed to currency fluctuations (Giddy, 1977, Brigham and Ehrhardt, 2005). Normally, foreign currency risk exists in three forms; translation, transaction and economic exposures. Foreign currency risk management involves taking decisionsRead MoreHedging Currency Exposures in a Multinational Corporation26743 Words   |  107 PagesMASTER’S THESIS Financial theory offers several rationales for financial risk management. Hedging enables firms to maintain their access to internal funds as well as reduces the costs of financial distress. The theoretical framework offers, however, few tools for currency risk identification and for choosing a proper hedging instrument. This Thesis seeks to help firms manage risks better by defining the currency risk exposures of a multinational corporation, by describing their effects on theRead MoreExecutive Summary : Austral Pvt. Ltd Contracts With Import And Export Industry2528 Words   |  11 Pagesproduct in various part of globe. Dairy, fish, meat and seafood product are the product they trade with. The firm would have the greatest competitor risk in import and export business is the duplication and quality of goods. These competitors company advantage of the lower cost of expenses such as materials, Inventories and labour cost to produce the product to the same consumer market. Natural ris ks if they mentioned, then earthquakes, floods, landslides and storms were decrease consumer, delay the transportationRead MoreEnvironment For Fdi : An Ambitious Campaign1162 Words   |  5 Pageshundred smart cities in India (Kaur, J. 2016). The policies of the campaign are as follows: ï  ¶ New Initiatives: This policy strives to improve the ease of doing business in India by doing away with opaque procedures and also tries to speed up the process of implementation of protocols. The government has already implemented the availability of obtaining environmental clearances online, which would be invaluable to an energy firm (Kaur, J. 2016). ï  ¶ FDI: Out of the 25 sectors that the governmentRead MoreRunning Your Own Mnc4433 Words   |  18 PagesContents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 CHAPTER 1: COMPANY PROFILE 3 CHAPTER 2: ASSESSMENT OF COUNTRY FACTORS 5 Factors Affecting Balance of Trade between United States and Maldives 5 Import Controls in Maldives 7 CHAPTER 3: USING THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET 8 The Spot Market 8 Analysis of USD/MVR Cross Rate for the Last 1 Month, 3 Months and Last Year 9 CHAPTER 4: USE OF FORWARDS AND FUTURES MARKET 11 Analysis of Future Price Vs Spot Rate 12 CHAPTER 5: USING CURRENCY OPTIONS 13 CHAPTERRead MoreInternational Business Competing in the Global Marketplace 8th Edition Charles W. L. 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Mullah Mohammed Omar Free Essays

Mullah Mohammed Omar is one of the most influential and devoted spiritual leaders and founders of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan. Along with Osama Bin Laden and other Islamic activists, he was behind the 9/11 attacks. Currently, as he fled into hiding and remains at large, Omar is considered to be a serious threat to the USA and its allies. We will write a custom essay sample on Mullah Mohammed Omar or any similar topic only for you Order Now That is why he is among the â€Å"Most Wanted† terrorists, and American Government is ready to pay up to 10 million dollars for any true information bringing to his capture (Rewards for Justice). Born in 1959, he participated in the resistance battles against the Soviet Union army in the Afghan War and was wounded. After the collapse of Soviet regime in Afghanistan, Omar and a group of his loyal supporters (including Bin Laden) organized the Taliban movement. In 1996 this organization, led by former military commanders, took over the power in Afghanistan, making Omar the Ruler (Emir) titled â€Å"Commander of the Faithful†.   He imposed a very tough version of Islamic laws and unlimited severity upon the country. Omar expressed support of devastating attacks on the US in 2001. Like all Taliban leaders, he revealed his extremist viewpoints on the policies of the US. In his interviews right after the tragic events of September 11, he repeatedly underlined seriousness and brutality of terrorist plans: â€Å"..The real matter is the extinction of America..† (BBC). â€Å".. Everyone is afraid of America and wants to please it. But Americans will not be able to prevent such acts like the one that has just occurred [9/11]..† (The Guardian). After the attacks Omar is reported to shelter Bin Laden and his al-Qaeda activists in Afghanistan. But in the end of the year 2001 he was forced to break away from his residence in Kandahar during the military operation. Despite the fact that his current location is unknown, Mullah Omar continuously releases some politically daring or threatening statements, which are delivered by his messengers and spokesmen. Recently he is alleged to hide somewhere on Pakistan territories. Bibliography:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Interview with Mullah Omar.† BBC News. Official Web-site of BBC. 24 Aug. 2001. 03 Nov. 2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1657368.stm.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   MacDonell, Pat. â€Å"Mightier Than the Sword.† The Middle East 1 Feb. 2007: 75.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Mullah Omar in His Own Words.† The Guardian 26 Sept. 2001: 46.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Rashid, Ahmed. â€Å"Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia.† New Heaven, CT: Yale University Press, 2003.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Wanted. Mullah Omar.† Rewards for Justice Program. US Department of State. 03 Nov. 2007 http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=MullahOmar. How to cite Mullah Mohammed Omar, Essay examples

Construction Contracts in Context-Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Read this legal briefing paper (by Fenwick Elliott) relating to relatively recent case law on contractual liquidated damages, and penalty. Write an internal company memo explaining the key legal and practical implications for construction contracts of these developments in the case law. Answer: Internal memo To, Contract team/ project control office From, Contracts Manager Subject: primary legal and practical implication of liquidated damage in construction It is a common fact that the contractor of a commercial contract will suffer irreparable loss if the project delays and the profit margin will also be affected by that. In every contractual agreement, there are certain provisions on the liquidated damage to protect the employer or the contractors to sustain loss from the project. However, it has been advised that the provision of liquidated damage has been widening by the Supreme Court and it is therefore, required to be applied after proper evaluation. While considering the scope and impact of the liquidated damage in commercial contracts or construction, the Court has made a distinction in between the liquidated damage provision and law of penalties in the light of two historical cases of Cavendish Square Holdings v MakdessiandParking Eye Limited v Beavis. It has been observed by the court that the employers are not mandatorily required to prove the actual estimated loss under the liquidated damage provision and options are still open for them to make claim for liquidated damage. However, if the liquidated damage is unable to characterize the pre-estimated loss of the employer, the contractor can challenge the provision on the basis of penalty clause[1]. The difference between the liquidated damage and penalties has been established for the first time in the case of Dunlop v Matthew Tyre Co Limited v New Garage Motor Co Limited[2]. It had been observed by the court that penalty will be imposed on the parties if any breach has been made against any contractual terms and the breach must be extravagant and unconscionable. In the case of Cavendish Square Holdings v Makdessi[3], it has been observed by the court that where the level of liquidated damage does not represent the pre-estimate loss of the employer and failed to justify the commercial credibility, it will be excluded from the provision of penalty clauses. It has further been observed by the court that in case of penalty, the nature of liquidated damage clause should be penal and unconscionable and where the clauses are primary; the breaching parties are required to pay the liquidated damage only for delay in the work. The court was of the view that liquidated damage is differen t from penalty as it is extended beyond the recovery of financial loss and the same principle has been established in Parking Eye Limited v Beavis appeal[4]. Therefore, it can be concluded that the provision of the liquidated damage should be reviewed for evaluating the claim made by the employer for the purpose to determine whether the application for claim can be challenged or not and it has a primary legal obligation. Kind Regards Dated: Signed Contracts Manager References: Cavendish Square Holdings v Makdessi [2013] EWCA Civ 1539 Dunlop v Matthew Tyre Co Limited v New Garage Motor Co Limited (1915) AC 79. Nicholson, Alex. "Too entrenched to be challenged? A commentary on the rule against contractual penalties post Cavendish v Makdessi and ParkingEye v Beavis."European Journal of Current Legal Issues22.3 (2016). Parking Eye Limited v Beavis appeal [2015] UKSC 67 Nicholson, Alex. "Too entrenched to be challenged? A commentary on the rule against contractual penalties post Cavendish v Makdessi and ParkingEye v Beavis."European Journal of Current Legal Issues22.3 (2016). (1915) AC 79. [2013] EWCA Civ 1539 [2015] UKSC 67

Rene Descartes an Example of the Topic Arts Essays by

Rene Descartes I. Introduction Rene Descartes was a French philosopher, scientist, and mathematician. At a time when the intellectual movements of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance had become moribund, he conceived fresh programs for philosophy and science and elaborated and defended them with great originality and brilliance. Descartes founded modern philosophical rationalism and had a profound and pervasive influence on subsequent philosophers of all schools. He was among the first to construe philosophy as providing a necessary foundation for science and rejecting the traditional contemplative ideal, to regard science as a means of acquiring mastery over nature for the benefit of mankind. In addition to being an innovator in philosophy, he was one of the creators of mathematical physics, the inventor of analytic geometry, and an important figure in the histories of optics, physiology, and other branches of science (Cottingham, 2002). Need essay sample on "Rene Descartes" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed II. Background A. Early life Rene Descartes was born on March 31, 1596, in La Haye, a small town in the Tonraine district, now called La Haye-Descartes in his honor. He claimed, mistakenly, that his mother died while giving birth to him: in fact, she died while giving birth to another child about a year later. He was raised first by one of his grandmothers and then by the other until, at the age of 10, he entered the Jesuit school at La Fleche, near Le Mans, in 1614 he graduated from this school: two years later, perhaps to satisfy his father (who was an official of the Parlement of Britanny) he obtained a degree in law from University of Poitiers. Descartes family was well-to-do, and he received an income that enabled him to live in moderate comfort throughout his life. He appears to have had considerable difficulty, as a young man, in finding himself. Until he was about 30 his devotion to the philosophical and scientific interests he had developed at La Fleche was somewhat intermittent and unsystematic. Periods in which his intellectual activity was remarkably intense and productive alternated with periods in which he led a more or less dilettantish life (Cottingham, 2002). Descartes spent several years as a soldier, a customary occupation for younger sons of his social class. In 1617, he went to the Netherlands and joined the army of Maurice of Nassau. He found garrison life boring in the extreme until he met Isaac Beeckman, a mathematician and physicist who recognized Descartes talent and whom Descartes credited with having aroused him from his intellectual torpor. After serving briefly in Germany with the Duke of Bavaria in 1619, Descartes ended his military career. There is no evidence that he was ever in combat. Several years later, however, while living in Paris, he disarmed a man in swordplay over an insult to a lady (Moyal, 2001). B. First Creative Period During his stay in Germany, Descartes had maintained and intensified the intellectual momentum previously generated in him by his discussions with Beeckman. Not long after leaving the Netherlands, he made some important mathematical discoveries, and this success inspired him with ambition. His efforts to extend his achievement reached their climax in the fall of 1619, when he conceived the plan of a universal science, in which all problems susceptible to human reason could be solved and in which all philosophical and scientific truth could be unified as a single system (Kenny, 2004). The exaltation induced in him during this sustained period of strikingly creative work was followed shortly by exhaustion and self-doubt, and he suffered a brief emotional crisis. On the night of Nov. 10-11, 1619, he had three dreams that impressed him deeply. He understood the dreams as reflecting his conflicts concerning the value of his ideas and the risks involved in committing his life to them. His anxieties were apparently resolved when he interpreted the dreams to mean that his conceptions were sound and that it was his mission to create the system of thought whose possibility he believed he had discovered. Between 1619 and 1627, Descartes lived in Paris for several years and spent the rest of time traveling. He lived in Italy for about 18 months, during which period he made a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Virgin Mary at Loreto, fulfilling a vow he made following his three dreams in November 1619. For a while he joined the whirl of Parisian social life, but the role of a cavalier did not satisfy him, and he sloughed it off neatly by changing his residence without notice to his friends. He wrote very little during this period, but his reputation was growing, and he had access to the most advanced intellectual circles (Cottingham, 2002). Part of Descartes vision of universal science was a notion of the method of inquiry by which progress in philosophy and in the sciences might most reliably be made. Episodes of distracted idleness apart, he devoted himself largely to practicing the use of this method and to refining his conception of it. He was especially fascinated by the telescope, which had recently become known in France, and he worked successfully on various problems in optics that arose in the course of his efforts to design more effective telescopic lenses. Late in 1627, Descartes had a long conversation about his philosophical and scientific program with Pierre Cardinal de Berulle, a leading figure in the Roman Catholic renaissance in France. He convinced Berulle that the enterprise he had conceived might lead to progress in medicine and in the useful arts generally, and therefore would be of enormous practical benefit to mankind. Berulle strongly counseled him to devote all his energies to the enterprise and to make it possible for others to join him in his work (Moyal, 2001). The conversation evidently had a decisive impact on Descartes. Imbued with a vivid sense of the urgency of his responsibility, he resolved to improve his conditions of work and to commit himself wholeheartedly to achieving the results that he believed his method made possible. It was at about this time that he decided to leave France for the Netherlands, where the climate was cooler and where he would not be subject to the distractions of French life. C. Move to the Netherlands Descartes settled in the Netherlands in 1628 and, except for a few rather brief visits of France, remained there until 1649. By 1633, he had completed a major work, entitled The World (Le Monde), in which presented parts of his system of physics and the results of his research in physiology and in embryology. The book was about to be published when he learned that the Roman Catholic Church had just condemned Galileo for espousing the Copernican theory of the solar system. Because the astronomical theory developed in The World was also Copernican, Descartes suppressed the book, and it did not appear until many years after his death (Kenny, 2004). In 1637, Descartes published anonymously three essays (Essais) reporting the results of his work in geometry, in optics, and in meteorology, prefaced by a lengthy Discourse on Method (Discours de la methode). Although most learned writing at that time was in Latin, Descartes wrote the Discourse and the essays in French. He hoped they would be read not only by scholars but by intelligent men generally and even by women; his intention was to go over the heads of the scholarly community to people who had no vested interest in the traditional doctrines he was eager to supplant. The Discourse is written for the most part with great lucidity and charm, and it is widely regarded as one of the classics of French literature. It contains an intellectual autobiography, sketches of Descartes method and metaphysics, examinations of certain scientific questions (including an account of Harveys discovery of the circulation of the blood, which Descartes was among the first to appreciate and to publicize), and a discussion of the conditions and prospects of further progress in the sciences. Despite its title, it does not provide a detailed account of his method. In 1628, before he left France, Descartes has begun to write, in Latin, a treatise on method called Rules for the Direction of the Mind (Regulae ad directionem ingenii). It was his only substantial work on methodology, but he did not complete it and his manuscript was not published until 1701, more than 50 years after his death (Dicker, 1993). In 1641, Descartes published in Latin his most important book on metaphysics, Meditations Concerning Primary Philosophy (Meditationes de prima philosophia), in which he attempted to establish the framework of concepts and the basic assumptions that he believed the progress of science required. He dedicated the meditations to the theological authorities in France. III. Discussion A. Doctrines By the end of the 16th century, the coherence and authority of the primarily Aristotelian intellectual culture of the late Middle Ages (not to mention its social, political, and religious institutions) had been decisively undermined. But no equally comprehensive alternative view of the world, and of mans place and role in it, had yet been satisfactorily established. For many of the most sensitive and conscientious intellectuals of the period the result was a deep sense of uncertainty (most notably expressed by Montaigne) to abandon active life and to withdraw into oneself (Dicker, 1993). Descartes reinvigorated the philosophical thought of his time by transforming its skepticism and emphasis on self from expressions of despair into creative instruments contributing to intellectual progress. a.) Method Descartes regarded the syllogisms of Aristotelian logic as worthless for the purposes of inquiry. He found them suitable for displaying in a convincing manner the evidence for conclusions that had already been established, but of no value whatever in the effort to make fresh discoveries. On the other hand, he believed that his own method was a powerful means of acquiring new truths. This method was essentially rationalistic. It involved, first, identifying by conceptual analysis the simple elements to which all more complex objects of thought may be reduced, and second, synthesizing an understanding of the structure of reality by perceiving the necessary relationships in which these elements must stand to one another (Dicker, 1993). His initial moves in applying this method were to press uncertainty to its ultimate limit by subjecting to the most uncompromising criticism the evidence on which his accustomed beliefs rested, and to suspend every opinion, however plausible, in which he found even the slightest rational basis for doubt (Kenny, 2004). This ruthless gambit had a double purpose. First, Descartes intended to regain complete control over his own mind by eliminating the preconceptions and prejudices he had acquired during the time when he was not yet capable of exercising his critical faculties autonomously. And, second, he hoped to uncover some preposition that would prove itself immune to even the most relentless skepticism and that could thus provide a firm foundation for the reconstruction of his system of beliefs (Kenny, 2004). His plan was to proceed from this proposition, once he had found it, by steps so cautious and well-defined that there would be no risk of error or of misunderstanding. In pursuing this strategy, Descartes consciously imitated what he took to be the method of mathematics, whose peculiar lucidity and certainty he wished to introduce into the other branches of learning with which he was concerned. b.) Senses and Reason Descartes methodological skepticism led him first to a suspension of all beliefs based on the evidence of the senses. Sensory evidence is never in itself conclusive, he argued, since it is always possible (so far as can be determined by the senses) that a person is dreaming or that a supernatural power has arranged for him to be deceived. But while Descartes therefore provisionally regarded the existence and character of physical objects (including his own body) as uncertain, like Montaigne he found the reality of his mind uniquely secure against all doubts (Cottingham, 2002). However determined his skepticism, he could not doubt that he was doubting; this preposition was confirmed by the very effort to refute it. In what is surely the most famous statement in philosophical literatureI think; therefore I am (cogito ergo sum)he expressed the unimpeachable certainty of his own existence as a thinking being and identified the point from which his efforts to reconstruct his beliefs could confidently proceed (Moyal, 2001). IV. Conclusion In conclusion, Descartes last book was Treatise on the passions (Les passions de lame, 1649), in which he dealt mainly with psychology, ethics, and the relation between mind and body. IN 1649, he went to Stockholm at the invitation of Queen Christina of Sweden, who wished him to teach her philosophy and to establish an institute for the advancement of science. When his friend Chanut, the French ambassador in Stockholm, became ill with pneumonia, Descartes helped to care for him and contracted the disease himself (Cottingham, 2002). Descartes died in Stockholm on February 11, 1650, and was buried in Sweden. In 1666, his remains were taken to Paris and buried in the Church of Ste. Genevieve du Mont; in 1819, they were moved to the Church of ST. Germain des Pres, except for his skull, which is in the Musee de lHomme. Reference: Cottingham, John, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Descartes. Cambridge University Press, 2002. Standard handbook, with good guide to further reading. Dicker, Georges. Descartes: an Analytical and Historical Introduction. Oxford University Press, 1993. Rather more substantial than title suggests. Kenny, Anthony. Descartes, a Study of his Philosophy. 2004. New York: Random House; New York; London: Garland, 1999. Another classic study, by a leading British philosopher. Moyal, George D., ed. Ren Descartes: Critical Assessments. 7 v. London: Routledge, 2001. Comprehensive collection.

Color Imagery in Ethan Frome essays

Color Imagery in Ethan Frome essays Color plays an important part in the novel Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. There are many examples where you can tell by the imagery what mood the author is trying to convey. One example is in the first chapter when Ethan knows to look for Mattie by searching for her red scarf (Wharton 14). The color is cheery and vibrant, characteristics that embody Mattie. Also, in Chapter 2, Matties cheeks are very red, unlike the dismal-looking Zeena. When Mattie ties the red ribbon in her hair, Ethan is more attracted to her and it emphasizes her pretty features (Wharton 37-39). When Mattie and Ethan are eating dinner alone together in Chapter 6, the cat accidentally breaks the red pickle dish. He comforts Mattie and commands her to finish supper thinking, he had never known such a thrilling sense of mastery (Wharton 36). This parallels to the breaking of Ethan and Zeenas relationship and marriage. Later in the novella, Ethan remembers the picnic by the lake and tells Mattie she was as pretty as a picture in [her] pink hat (Wharton 66). She responds by laughing with pleasure. When they are riding together, Ethan ha[s] the illusion that he [is] a free man, wooing the girl his [is] meant to marry (Wharton 66). This is the first time that they acknowledge their love for one another and their desire to be with one another. As they drive away in silence, the sun sinks behind the hills and the landscape turns from a deep red to grey. That Mattie is always associated with the color red shows that she is a fiery, bubbly, and emotional person, unlike Zeena, who is usually dreary and dull. ...

How to Use College Scorecard Find the Right School for You

How to Use College Scorecard Find the Right School for You SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Figuring out which colleges to apply to and selecting a college to attend can feel overwhelming. How do you narrow down your college search from the thousands of college options? How do you figure out if a school is preparing its students for future success? How do you determine whether a college is worth its cost? College Scorecard is a website developed by the government to help you answer these questions. It provides extensive information on colleges to help you evaluate them and aid you in your college search. In this article, I'll do the following: Explain College Scorecard Detail its uses and the information it provides Explainthe benefits and drawbacks of the website Let you know how you should be using the scorecard What Is College Scorecard? College Scorecard is an interactive website launched by the US Department of Education in September of 2015. President Obama claimed that colleges had been effectively raising costs and focusing on things like alumni outreach to game ranking lists like those of US News, but they were ignoring student outcomes. College Scorecard was created to provide detailed information to help consumers of college education determine the value and effectiveness of different colleges. Specifically, the site focuses on providing financial information to help you compare colleges' costs and the earnings of their graduates. This information is seen by the government as a more accurate way to assess the quality of colleges, and you can use this information to help determine which colleges will potentially provide you with the best return on your investment. In terms of how you use it, the scorecard is very similar to other college finders on the internet. You're able to narrow your college search by selecting various search options, and each school profile will provide data like the school's graduation rate, freshman retention rate, and standardized test scores. The primary benefit of using College Scorecard compared to other finders is the financial information that it offers. For example, you can determine the median salary of students from different colleges 10 years after they graduate, and you can get a rough estimate of how much you would have to pay for a certain school after receiving financial aid. How Does College Scorecard Work? You can use the College Scorecardwebsite to look for colleges that match your interests, or you can look up a specific school to check its profile and review the available statistics. I’ll walk you through how to use thescorecard as a college finder, and then I’ll explain the information on the school profiles. Step 1: Click on the addition signs next to each category to select filters to narrow your college search. Select the qualities that you want in your dream college. You may not find the specific major you’re interested in under the â€Å"programs/degrees† category because the options are more general, but select the subject area your major of interest would fall under. Step 2: Once you’ve completed selecting your filters, click â€Å"find schools.† Step 3: You can sort your search results by "% earning above HS grad," "average annual cost," "graduation rate," "salary after attending," "name (A to Z)," or "size (small to large)." Step 4: Your search results will show you basic info, and, for the schools you’re interested in, you can click â€Å"view more details.† Step 5: Look at the full profiles of any schools that interest you. The full profiles provide information about the student body demographics, costs, financial aid and debt, graduation and retention rates, earnings after school, standardized test scores, and academic programs. Step 6: For any schools that still interest you after looking at their profile, make a note of the school name and do more extensive researchonthat school to help determine if you want to apply to that school. Step 7: After you apply to schools and get your acceptances, you can use College Scorecard to compare your college options and get assistance in choosing a college. College Scorecard can help you decide your college path. Benefitsof College Scorecard The best part about the scorecard is the detailed information related to money. For example, you can get information about the average annual cost for colleges, which is the net price for students who receive financial aid. Also, you can calculate what your net price would be for a given school, and you can see what students from different income brackets have to pay on average. Here’s information for Northwestern University: Northwestern's average annual cost is $28,544, which is above the national average of $16,574. You can also see its average cost for each income bracket. Families that make $0-$30,000 pay an average of $15,841 annually, and families that make more than $0,000 pay $41,946. Also, you get information about the amount of debt students graduate with and how well graduates of the school are doing compared to those from other schools at paying back their loans. At Northwestern, 96% of students pay down their debt. The percentage of students paying down their debt is the number of students who have repaid at least $1 on the principal balance of their federal loans within three years of leaving school. Also, students from Northwestern leave school having to pay an average of $213 per month to repay their loans in 10 years at a 6% interest rate. From the costs and debt information, combined with the median salary for graduates, you can get an idea of the return on investment for different schools and determine which schools are more worth what you have to pay. Drawbacksof College Scorecard Like the Forbes ranking list, College Scorecard does focus on student outcomes, but that may not be the best way to evaluate colleges. The scorecard emphasizes the financial success of graduates, not the actual student experience. There’s no information about class sizes, professors, or extracurricular activities. The median salary for graduates tells you something about the quality of a college, but that figure can be misleading. Schools that have a higher proportion of engineering students may have higher median student earnings because engineering graduates usually make more money irrespective of where the engineering degree was earned. For example, Northwestern has a â€Å"salary after attending† of $64,100, while Illinois Institute of Technology has a â€Å"salary after attending† of $68,200. By most ranking lists and other objective statistics, Northwestern is considered the better school, but Illinois Tech focuses on engineering and technology. Perhaps a more worthwhile comparison to evaluate schools would be the salaries of liberal arts majors, since the earnings of those with STEM degrees don’t appear to be significantly influenced by the college they attended. Also, thescorecard offers far fewer search categories and less data than other college finders and websites. For example, college finders like Big Future and College View allow you to search for schools that have more focused majors. On College Scorecard, you can search for schools that offer engineering, but on Big Future, you can search for schools that offer aerospace engineering or chemical engineering. Similarly, other college finders let you search for schools that offer specific extracurricular activities, athletic teams, or support services. Those options aren't available on College Scorecard. Finally, because College Scorecard relies on federal data, some of its statistics are limited.The â€Å"typical student debt† figure given on College Scorecard only includes federal loans. It doesn’t include private loans or Parent PLUS loans. Because many students rely on private loans and PLUS loans to pay for school, the â€Å"typical student debt† is likely significantly lower than the actual median debt for undergraduates who borrow money to pay for their education. Other sites will give you more info. How Should You Use College Scorecard? The scorecard should be one of many resources you utilize to help with your college search. I recommend using this siteafter you've done some research on colleges and are looking for more specific financial information about costs and the earnings of graduates. Also, it's a good tool to use after you've been admitted to schools and aretrying to make your college decision. Keep in mind that, even though College Scorecard does offer worthwhile information, it won’t reveal what life is like on campus or whether a school would be a good fit for you. You should also use other college finders, search websites, ranking lists, and guidebooks in your college search. Additionally, you can go to college fairs or on college tours to become more acquainted with your college options. If you’re focused on the value of different colleges, look at a website like payscale.com,whichranks schools and majors by their return on investment. Finally, if possible, consult with teachers, counselors, parents, and alumni to help you select a college. What's Next? If you're just starting your college research, make sure you stay on task by familiarizing yourself with the complete college application timeline. Also, figure out where in the country you should go to college, and determine if you'd be more comfortable at an urban, rural, or suburban school. Finally, if cost is a concern for you, find out which colleges will meet 100% of your financial need. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Compliment Responses between Male and Female Essay

Compliment Responses between Male and Female - Essay Example This essay stresses that analysis of compliment response, which was in a contractive nature between the Kuiti speakers both the male and the female was used to identify the compliment response pattern between the three groups. The table below gives out a sample of the participation where S stands for situation, and then P stands for participation, R for rejection and lastly A for acceptance. Furthermore, the participants were assigned special numbers. Therefore, the numbers that accompanies this abbreviation represents their assigned codes. Also in the same way, the code might represent types of strategies at the level of micro representation and situations. This paper makes a conclusion that this research study demonstrated the compliment response strategies that both the male and Female Arabians usually use. It should be noted that the universal model portrayed in the study above concerning the compliment response is of positive outlook. This is because, different gender and origin portrays a different set of protocols. However, although not represented above, it should be noted that age is another important factor when it comes to response made to compliments. The finding in this research explains that the cross-linguistic compliment response patterns portray a different phenomenon at both the micro and macro levels. Notably, the three groups followed a certain preference order of rejection, evasion, and acceptance.

Security system at the United States airports Research Paper

Security system at the United States airports - Research Paper Example The FAA was mandated with the responsibility of setting the least security requirements needed to govern the airport as well as the air carriers. In addition to this, the FAA has the power to ensure the standards set are met through issuing of fine, undertaking inspections, and revoking operating certificates. The responsibilities undertaken by the air carriers were preventing unauthorized entry to the plane, screening of baggage, passengers and cargo and training of the crewmembers on emergency tactics and procedures. The airports on their part had the responsibility of ensuring ample security is provided within the airport premises by stationing of law enforcement officers. The congress is also mandated with the responsibility of legislating aviation security law and undertakes partial implementation of the same laws (Johnstone & National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, 2006, p. 24). In the past, the security policies in United States and the world at large have mainly been established after a public’s reactions to different incidents of insecurity. A good example is the use of air marshals in the 1960s by airlines due to the numerous hijacking that were taking place at that time. It was soon after, that the U.S. government established laws to tackle the air piracy. Transportation security One of the main aspects that surround the national security of United States is the transportation process from and to the United States. In addition to this transportation within the borders of the nation is also part and parcel of the national security aspects. The September 11, attacks not only indicated the weaknesses of United states air port security systems but also the role that the air transport plays in the national security of America. Privatization of airport security is said to have raised a debate in the public domain. The approach used by United States in tackling the issue of airport security is much more different as compared to its European allies. In the European nations, the security inspection is normally undertaken by private contractors, while in America government control on airport operations has become visible especially after the terrorist attacks of September 11. The mare fact that terrorists had access to the airport facilities and airlines and thus using the airlines as their weapons of mass destruction only goes on to indicate the drastic measures needed to tackle the weaknesses of our airport security systems. According to Verkuil, this airport security system has incorporated private employees who are working on the behalf of the airlines and over seen by the Federal Aviation Administration. Previously, the airlines perceived and regarded the security function as one of the item of cost control and passed on its quality measures downwards. This is one of the reasons that makes the security systems fail in their critical purposes (Verkuil, 2007, p. 57 & 58). The largest aviation system of security was implemented in 2001 in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. These terrorist attacks were not only a wakeup call to the American government but also to the world as well. The public debate still lingers on whether the government could have taken extra steps to prevent the terrorist att

Article Rebuttal Essay Example for Free

Article Rebuttal Essay Abortion is a disagreement that has been discuss for years. Kenny, Ph. D. and Swope (2013) of American Thinker has share with its’ audience the understanding of the struggle women has in making a decision to continue a pregnancy or to abort an unplanned pregnancy. In analyze the information in the article the reliability, credibility, and validity of the data used by Kenny, Ph. D. and Swope comes from independent psychological analysis of women’s hidden, emotional response to pregnancy, abortion, and motherhood (Kenny, Ph. D. Swope, 2013). The writers of this article indicated that the interviews took from 75 to 110 minutes, which require them to visualize, replicate, and use relaxation techniques in accessing these individual emotional minds, and to uncover deeply seated emotional needs and barriers (Kenny, Ph. D. Swope, 2013). Significantly, some of these problems that relates to abortion are ethical, and religion. However, a woman has right to do whatever she want to her own body and upon her own judgment, whether it is to keep the baby or to have an abortion. In Fact, a woman has the authority to make the decision whether to have an abortion or not based on her personal desire, financial status, or unwanted pregnancy. Kenny, Ph. D. and Swope (2013) have provided information regarding the circumstances and how abortion can affect a woman mental state of mind. Most important is to deny a fetus by terminate the fetus merely does not mean that the person is slaughter a person. It could be that the pregnancy was an unplanned pregnancy from rape, incest, or the feeling of not wanting to bring a child in the world under certain circumstances. An example would be a medical condition that may be a live or dead situation or simply because she not ready for motherhood because of her age. For instant, a teenage girl between the age of 14 and 20 still in high school and going to college and who is struggling with finances are liable to have an abortion. She may become remorseful, but she has to think about how pregnancy can affect her future and life. In conclusion, a woman rights to be pregnant or to abort an unwanted pregnancy should solely be left up to her no matter what her reason may be. Because she is the one that have to deal with the issues of bring a child in the world or removing the fetus to remove the stress not those groups such as the pro-lifer.

What Role Should The Government Play in Gun Control? Essay -- Second Am

What Role Should The Government Play in Gun Control? A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gun control is a real issue with Americans today. Many people have different opinions about how to handle our growing dilemma concerning guns. There are those who believe we should ban guns altogether and those who believe we should not ban or restrict the people's right to own guns at all. Both sides have valid arguments, but neither side seems to know how to compromise because of their very different opinions. I personally believe guns should be banned. However, those against gun control have very good arguments.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Second Amendment was written because of the colonists' fear of an all-powerful central government taking over, but there are many interpretations of how the Second Amendment reads. The court has never found the Second Amendment to clash with the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process clause which states that, "No state shall...deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law" (McClenaghan 522). This gave each state the right to set up their own rules and regulations, which I believe, is one reason why we have the problems that we do.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There have been four major cases heard by the Supreme Court which found that the fire-arm control laws are constitutional; United States v. Cruikshank (1986), Presser v. Illinois (1886), Miller v. Texas (1894), and the United States v. Miller (1939) (Strahinich 41). United States v. Miller was the most important. It supported a section of the National Firearms Act of 1934, basically stating that it is a crime to ship sawed off shotguns, machine guns, or silencers across state lines unless registered with the Treasury Department (McClenaghan 522).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States already has more than twenty thousand gun laws, but they do not seem to be making an impact. The first American gun control laws were written before the Revolutionary War. The most effective and more recent laws have been the Gun Control Act of 1986 and the Brady Law. The Gun Control Act of 1986 has a lot of impact on our rights concerning firearms today. It requires federal licensing and inspection of dealers with new and stricter guidelines. It restricted the sale of ammunition and firearms betwe... ...on of law enforcement officials and military. We might not be able to stop all of this gun violence but at least we can close loopholes that control the sale and distribution of guns in America. Next to automobiles, guns are the second most deadly consumer product on the market. There are over two hundred million guns in circulation today, compared to the mere fifty four million in 1950 (Roleff 142). Works Cited Dolan, Edward, Margaret Scariano. Guns in the United States. New York, New York: Moffa Press, Incorporated, 1994. pp.. 29-30, 55. Lott, J.R. More Guns Less Crime. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1998. pp.. 1-2. McClenaghan, William. American Government. Needham, Massachusetts:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Prentice Hall, 1993. pp.. 489, 522. Netzley, P.D. Issues in Crime. Sandiego, California: Lucent Books Inc., 2000. pp.. 32 Roleff, T.L. ed. Gun Control, Opposing Viewpoints. Sandiego, California:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Greenhaven Press Inc., 1997. pp.. 22-23, 25, 45, 47, 65-67, 76, 85, 117, 142. Strahinich, Helen. Guns in America. United States: Walker Publishing Company,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1992. pp.. 41, 48, 51. http://www.alphadogweb.com/firearms/gun_control_is_a_nice_phrase.htm

Organization management Essay

Contents Click to go to section: The organizational problem. The Organizational Development intervention they wanted. The thinking behind the design of the OD intervention. The constraints I needed to work within. The tools I decided to use in the one day workshop. The workshop design. How I used the change puzzle kit. The end result Top Drag Me Contents Click to go to section: The organizational problem. The Organizational Development intervention they wanted. The thinking behind the design of the OD intervention. The constraints I needed to work within. The tools I decided to use in the one day workshop. The workshop design. How I used the change puzzle kit. The end result The organizational problem. I was called into a hospital by their HR manager. The hospital needed to improve 1 of 7 4/9/2013 2:36 PM OD interventions case study. An employee morale problem. file:///C:/Documents and Settings/staff/Desktop/OD interventions case stud†¦ morale amongst its nurses. But as I spoke to different stakeholders, the issue became more complex. The HR managers told me that morale amongst nurses was at an all time low. At the same time the hospital was trying to change its culture to become more patient and profit centric. It started off as a morale problem. But as I spoke to different stakeholders, it becam e more complex. The matron of the hospital was concerned about the poor relationships between the nurses, their unit managers and the doctors. The unit managers were upset by the way that doctors by-passed them and shouted at their nurses. The nurses and their managers blamed arrogant doctors for the poor morale in the hospital. The CEO was concerned that the doctors, who he saw as clients and partners of the hospital, were not happy with the service they were getting. The doctors, chose to locate their independent practices at the hospital, but had the freedom to take their business to another hospital, anytime they wanted. Losing specialists to competing hospitals would affect his hospital’s brand and offering – as well as its profitability. He was also tired of being the only leader in the organization, and wished that the managers would begin to take responsibility and act like leaders. The Organizational Development intervention they wanted. The CEO, matron and HR manager all agreed that they wanted a one-day workshop for all internal managers in the hospital. They wanted the workshop objective to be: â€Å"To help the managers to develop a common focus regarding what they would need to do as a united team, over the next 18 months. † The thinking behind the design of the OD intervention. I knew that I had to provide far more than what they’d asked for in their workshop objective. And far more than even the problems they had briefed me on. In choosing my design for the workshop, I needed a tool that would: Build trust. Allow the managers to vent their frustrations in a way that allowed every manager to be heard. But not in a way that would degenerate into a negative gripe session about the doctors. Get the managers to see all the problems facing the hospital – not only their own problems. Get the managers out of the habit of blaming doctors or the hospital for problems that they could resolve themselves. Get them to take responsibility and begin acting as leaders. Get them to stop seeing themselves and their nurses as being victims of the arrogance of doctors, and to start seeing the doctors as important customers of the hospital. Support the move to a patient centered and profit oriented culture. Help them to identify the most important issues that they as a leadership team need to deal with. Help the managers to develop a common focus for the future. One that not only solved their frustrations, but one that would make them excited 2 of 7 4/9/2013 2:36 PM OD interventions case study. An employee morale problem. file:///C:/Documents and Settings/staff/Desktop/OD interventions case stud†¦ about their future in the hospital. Help the managers to identify the core changes they would need to make to achieve the future they wanted. Help them identify projects that would help them to implement those changes. To do all of this in a way that would build a leadership team. One in which team members take responsibility and support one another. The constraints I needed to work within. The hospital could only afford the time for a one-day workshop. There would be 32 people in the group. In this workshop, the process would be as important as the content. Therefore the way in which the group developed their own solutions, was as important as the solutions they developed. We needed a process that would encourage participation, buy-in, ownership, build the managers confidence and energize them. The tools I decided to use in the one day workshop. 1. The main tool I used was The Change Puzzle Kit I had one kit for each group of 8 delegates. Each kit consists of: Two laminated charts. (A1 size). The first chart is called The Organisation Of Today. The second chart is called The Ideal Organisation Of The Future. The design on each chart is of the organization as a puzzle comprising 20 organizational development pieces. The organizational development tool I chose for this complex OD intervention was â€Å"The Change Puzzle Kit. † A set of water soluble pens which allows the delegates to write directly onto the laminated charts. The charts can be wiped clean and used again. A box of clue cards to help the groups think about the 20 organizational elements from an Organizational Development and systems thinking perspective, as they complete their charts. 2. The secondary tool I used was a single activity from The Powerful Facilitation cards. These workshop activity cards are designed like recipes. They provide detailed workshop activities to achieve specific workshop goals. I chose a card that helped a group to create a vision in a way that created fun and positive energy. The workshop design. I chose The Change Puzzle Kit because it allows a group to do the complex systems thinking they needed to do to solve their own problems, in a very practical and very participative way. This is the process I followed. To ensure that everyone could participate, I divided the larger group into 3 of 7 4/9/2013 2:36 PM OD interventions case study. An employee morale problem. file:///C:/Documents and Settings/staff/Desktop/OD interventions case stud†¦ 4 groups of 8 delegates per group. These groups were mixed to provide as much variety as possible. We mixed the groups so we had different functions (HR, marketing, administration & nursing), and people of different ages and races working together in each group. Each group had their own change puzzle kit to work with. I used this diagram to explain the process we would be following which was: We would take a ‘systems thinking’ photograph of the hospital as it was today – with all its frustrations and all its strengths. To do this we would use The Organisation of Today charts and cards. We would do a right brained exercise to look at what the hospital would be like 3 years into the future, if it was delighting its patients, was profitable, and a place where the managers would be proud to work. We would translate that right brain ‘vision of the future’ back into left brained, systems thinking. We would look at the elements that would need to be in place for that vision to work. To do this we would use ‘The Ideal Organisation Of The Future charts and cards. We would then compare what came out of our two charts. From this, we would choose a few core changes. Changes that would help us to solve the most important of today’s problems, and move us towards the future we wanted. We would then create some projects to make achieve these changes. How I used the change puzzle kit. Step 1. Provide an overview of the change puzzle The attention span of most groups for listening to a presentation is less than half an hour. So, to keep the group’s attention, I provided a very quick overview of the charts and clue cards they would be using. Step 2. The groups analyze their organization as it exists today – using ‘The Organisation of Today’ charts and cards. 2. 1 Instructions: Each group was given the chart â€Å"The Organisation Of Today† plus the 20 clue cards about the current organization. They were also given a set of water soluble pens. They were asked to write on their chart how they saw their hospital today in terms of each puzzle piece or OD element. They could use the clue cards to help them. Each person was encouraged to write how he/she viewed the situation independently of their group as the group didn’t need to achieve a consensus. I also explained that some people see things in a positive light, others in a negative light and others prefer to put down facts. All of these views were equally valuable. 2. 2 Activity: Each group spent about an hour recording their answers. Then instead of having formal feedback, each group simply read what the other groups had written on 4 of 7 4/9/2013 2:36 PM OD interventions case study. An employee morale problem. file:///C:/Documents and Settings/staff/Desktop/OD interventions case stud†¦ their charts. This was to prevent a very tedious feedback process – and potential conflict. 2. 3 What came out: The three groups were surprised that they had similar responses. For example: They felt their roles were not clear enough. They were too ‘rank obsessed. ‘ They felt doctors had too much status and that they needed to be empowered more. There was too much gossip. People operated in cliques. No one was taking responsibility. They felt they needed to acknowledge one another more. They wanted to create a culture where people ‘don’t feel intimidated when someone shares skills. ‘ But most of all, they were surprised by how much negativity came out. ‘Surely there are some good things too? ‘ One person asked. 2. 4 Why this happened: Their common responses were due to two design factors – the mixing of the groups, and the systems thinking behind the design of the chart they used. Negative responses are common amongst groups when they analyze their current situation. Groups are more positive when they create their own future. Step 3. Groups develop a vision of the future. I used a creative activity from the Create fun and energy section of the Powerful Facilitation cards. I needed to turn around the group’s energy from negative and powerless, to positive and creative. I also needed the groups to develop a vision of their future, which was far more creative than simply that of solving their frustrations of today. As they developed their right brain picture of the future hospital, the groups became energized. Alive. Full of fun. They began laughing. They worked well as a team. They started coming up with brilliant ideas of how they could add value to the doctors, and earn their respect. They created slogans for themselves showing how they would care – for their patients, their doctors and one another. This was the turning point of the workshop. Step 4. Groups complete The Ideal Organisation of the Future charts. 4. 1 Instructions and activity I remixed the groups – so that each of the four visions were now represented by members within each new group. I then asked the groups to complete the Ideal Organisation of the Future charts. In doing so, I asked them to think about what would need to be in place for them to be able to live their visions. I encouraged them to be creative. This is because I wanted them to come up with more than simply the opposite of the problems they’d identified in their The Organization Of Today charts. I wanted them to capture all the wonderful ideas they’d had in their right brain vision, onto the ‘Ideal organisation of the future charts. ‘ I suggested they also look at the future clue cards to generate even more creative ideas. 4. 2. What came out What came out of this activity were wonderful positive ideas that not only solved the problems they’d identified in their organization of today charts, but started achieving all the objectives I’d hoped for when designing the workshop. For example, in order to clarify roles, they though of having a monthly picture board, entitled ‘meet the team’. They decided to have a day where they would 5 of 7 4/9/2013 2:36 PM OD interventions case study. An employee morale problem. file:///C:/Documents and Settings/staff/Desktop/OD interventions case stud†¦ change roles with one another. They decided to have a programme where as managers, they would ‘go back to the floor’ for a day, to better understand some of the issues that both nurses and doctors faced. They would visit the receptionists of doctors to find out all the doctors preferences. Then they would educate one another and their nurses on how to provide great service to each doctor. They decided that one thing that would demonstrate patient centered care, was to think of ways for caring for families of patients who came from out of town. They created slogans for themselves that demonstrated customer care. They decided to lead their teams by getting each unit to develop their own vision linked to the hospital vision. The team became quite excited about what was possible. 4. 3 Why this happened. The groups’ energy had already turned during the previous exercise. Building on this, we know that groups are always more positive when they are allowed to be creative, and when they focus on the future. The â€Å"Ideal Organisation of the Future† charts are designed in a way that combines creative thinking and a future vision. Also, by analyzing all the OD elements that would be in place to support their vision, the group could see that achieving their vision was possible and practical. This made them feel hopeful about their future. Step 5. The groups choose core changes. The group was blown away by all their wonderful ideas. But there were too many to implement all at once. They needed to apply the 80/20 principle. Once again I remixed the groups. I asked them to choose 2 changes that would: Solve the biggest problems identified in â€Å"The Organization of Today charts† Help them move towards their most exciting ideas in â€Å"The Ideal Organization Of The Future† charts. I asked them to record these changes in a ‘From’ and ‘To’ table. The ‘From’ would be drawn from â€Å"The Organization Of Today† charts. The ‘To’ would come from â€Å"The Ideal Organization Of The Future† charts. † The four groups were surprised that they all came out with the same core changes. This happened because of the design of The Change Puzzle Kits which gets everyone to use systems thinking, and because we kept mixing the groups. They immediately started volunteering for projects around the core changes. The end result I then got the groups to list what they’d achieved as a leadership team during the day, and what they wanted to do after the workshop. What came out was how amazed they were at what they’d been able to achieve in one day. They left the session excited and motivated. You may also like: Case studies: A strategy implementation case study This describes a two-day workshop. 6 of 7 4/9/2013 2:36 PM OD interventions case study. An employee morale problem. file:///C:/Documents and Settings/staff/Desktop/OD interventions case stud†¦ to help an executive and management team to develop a comprehensive plan to implement their strategy. Member tools: Poor morale in the workplace – a diagnostic tool Based on a complex decision tree, this powerful coaching tool provides a quick way to diagnose your particular morale problem. It provides over forty possible solutions and helps you choose the best solution for your particular problem. How to rebuild morale after an organizational restructure. 4 OD interventions to rebuild trust, focus, morale and commitment after an organizational restructure. A CEO’s guide to implementing strategy What to do after you’ve developed a strategic plan. How to use your vision to lead an executive team. The 12 steps for aligning your organization to your strategy and getting them to implement it. Develop an innovation system that results in a cultural change. How to develop an innovation culture in your organization. Articles: Team leader skills – Managing Morale Managing morale is a key leadership skill because it determines whether or not a team has the energy, confidence and commitment to perform at their best. Inspiration at work How to inspire and motivate your team at work. Practical EQ and SQ tips for leaders. Restructuring Organizations: Leadership problems after an organizational restructure. Typical problems experienced by leaders after a restructuring exercise. The role of a change agent during an organizational restructure. The role a change agent can play during a restructure. When to do strategic planning. Strategic planning as an OD intervention. Participative tools to use in OD interventions The Change Puzzle KitA powerful tool for any OD intervention that requires group participation, systems thinking or a diagnosis of a problem. Powerful Facilitation CardsA set of OD activities to choose from to use in your OD intervention workshop. Winning the Game of Change A powerful planning tool for developing an OD strategy for your organization, or for helping your executive team to plan to implement their strategy. Contains 20 cards covering the major OD interventions. 7 of 7 4/9/2013 2:36 PM.

Modern Mythology: Influence on the Society

Modern mythology is characterized as that by which are considered to be beings far from those who inhabit the earthly component of what seemed to be typical in the view of humankind.   The influence of myths in the standpoints and views of individuals had been one of the initial bases of our ancestors’ beliefs which are in a way creating a whole new dimension of their respective approaches in daily living (Bell, 1997).The broad landscape of myths had been sought to be traditionally passed on until the contemporary society of today, and as to how recent studies have stressed, the level of influence triggering the rationality of the masses had already been declining in some sort.   Such argument raised on why myths, which used to be the towering implication of human rationality had increasingly changed and depleted had been answered in the arena of sociological innovative as well as with the transformational changes in human beings sagacity of liberalism.Catastrophic EventHo wever, on the contrary of the proposition, one myth which I found to have been helpful, although factual data seem to mesmerize my stand is the Myth of the Gift of the Goddess, which caters an array of goddess-lined embodiment and correlating the goddess of fertility as that which conveys the essentiality of humanistic needs such as ‘sex’ and all the other forms of intimate relationships (Te Paske, 1982).Suppressing the realm of mythical, religious and cultural arena has been established to be that which serves as a symbol of the skills and capabilities of woman in performing its duties coherent with certain models, or what traditionalism presumed to be the representations of the kind of person any woman in the contemporary society incorporates.Freudian DoctrinesIn further illustration of the matter, shifting the scenario to Freudian doctrines, related with one of the mythical goddesses is Artemis, who is defined as the goddess who enjoys the gift of life and fertility or childbirth.   She is also known as the goddess of wilderness, thus given with such fact, it may be taken to assumption that women are capable of extracting and involving in ‘intimate’ relationships and thus have beliefs which are taken consideration initially before they are to dwell upon it (Te Paske, 1982).Sexual SolipcismFreud’s belief in the art of ‘sexual solipcism’ which never fails to mystify the society of today, is a proof that the level of rationality of human beings today, compared to that of the past decades had evolved in a rather more open echelon on ‘openness’ (Bell, 1997).   Freud established this so-called numerological fantasy connected to menstrual cycle of the female species by which on the hard line feminist critique of psychoanalysis is conceived as the predictable reaction to numerous psychologically based primacy of the internal organ of the male (Bell, 1997) and in the larger and rather explicit scale of s uch portrays the fact that all men are rapists and oppressors and women are the victims pious in their innocence (Te Paske, 1982).   The issue is deliberatively raised on the worst and animus shadow of the whole gist of what seemed to be a fact among the perception on men, thus creating a dim image of the men’s purity in mind and deed (Te Paske, 1982).Life Changing EventPerceivably, the only problem established by myths is its capability to change gradually the behavior and the personality of an individual who was able to acquire it.   21st  Century analogy and basis blatantly argues that myths create a negative impact on the society and thus must be given focus on to by behavioral analysts so as to fully eradicate the perception that myths are effectual ‘guiding stars’ (Wolin, 1995) and must be followed and given consideration on to by an individual.Numerous interpretations in the arena of mythological succession had been crucially studied and determined b y socio-political analysts.   With the objective to save the victims of false beliefs, they emerged in a form of research which indulges in transcendence and immanence to take a claim of the juxtaposition of modern and traditional conviction.Power of MythThe power of myth, according to mythologist Joseph Campbell and world renowned journalist Bill Moyers, myth is a sociological and at the same time a behavioral dynamic of individuality whereas enthusiasm of such somehow serve as a steer in decision making.   However, in his documentary show, he also stressed the negative effects of myths which denotes that the fallacious beliefs, taken from the word ‘fallacy’ itself is in a ratio of 10:90 adequate in helping people know and understand their inner self (Nicholson, 1999).Abandoning Mythological SkepticismMoreover, the argument on myths had been prudently expounded the EM Risse, in his article, Shape the Future.   In his article, he contended that the problem of the society on why development is dawdling in motion is because of the citizen’s counterfeit confidence on traditional notions.   Advising the community to jump out of the skin of life’s conventionalities and start exploring the rather challenging schemes of the highly regarded components of human settlement patterns (Bell, 1997).RelicWhat I have cited as an instance where the myth had been believed to be true to fact, is the dispute of a suspect in a rape case, wherein the bark of defenses of the offender laid a table of mythological explanations, which of course, had not been accepted by the court.   A perfect representation and actuality that modern world justice system and form of regulation on justifications of individuals are well studied and are not in point of fact based on that which is falling on the stream of false beliefs and other traditional saga eaten by criminals to escape from the bars of justice.The mere fact that there were still individuals who beli eve in the power of myth, it had been cited that the aforementioned kind take the risk of following the potent nature of myths and thus believe that their salvation or their scheme in life is already written in a book and thus cannot be changed (Nicholson, 1999).Reality versus IdealismFurthermore, I would barely like to support the argument on such statement.   Basing the idea on ‘reality’ versus ‘idealism’ will unfold the life living in myths as well as the twists and turns one may divulge in it (Wolin, 1995).Perhaps it may not be as sufficient as that if the scientific explanations rendered by critical research and studies, but for people who were not able to experience the privilege of knowledge and of literacy do not have any other outlet and sense of support to dwell on. Rather, what myths tend to offer already gives air to their living and thus making the people able to perform what is expected by the community or the culture that they inhabit, rega rdless the quintessence of universality or societal acceptance.ConclusionIn the light, what used to be the ‘bible’ of the medieval individuals’ daily basis has transformed in a rather conceptual and modernized state that such myths instilled by our forefathers had been locked in the jar of the times of yore.   The advent of mythological representations was noted to be either that of which is invented, or which had freely flown into place due to gossip (Bell, 1997; Wolin, 1995).   For the reason that humans are prone to interacting with the like is quite inevitable to take to assumption that the sufficiency and factuality of myths are deliberately hanging thoughts or perspectives.Every person has a certain point of enthusiasm in mythology in them (Wolin, 1995).   It may not be as obvious as one may seem to show the society or the people he or she is involved to, but the inevitability of the ‘vain thoughts’ within oneself is already a subconsciou s mythical ocean (Bell, 1997).   If one tends to believe that death will take him tomorrow, or that one will see his ‘loved one’ after an hour because a red Volkswagen passed by, those are already proofs that the existence of myth and its influence to people has not yet abandoned the modern limelight.   In conclusion, the never ending debates on how true or how sufficient myths are in explaining the phenomena occurring in this earthly place shall always be a part of every human’s query in life.   How people think and act today, may be a manifestation of what one has been before; and how they are today may affect the myth of their future (Nicholson, 1999).ReferencesBell, M. (1997). Literature, Modernism and Myth: Belief and Responsibility in the Twentieth Century. Cambridge, Great Britain: New York Cambridge University Press.Nicholson, P. Y. (1999). Who Do We Think We Are?: Race and Nation in the Modern World. Armonk: N.Y. ME Sharpe, Inc.Te Paske, B. A. (198 2). Rape and Ritual: A Psychological Study. Toronto: Canada Inner City BooksWolin, R. (1995). Labyrinths: Explorations in the Critical History of Ideas. Amherst: Mass. University of Massachusetts Press.

Youth Leadership essays

Youth Leadership essays Todays youth still face many attitudinal challenges to self-empowerment. Both the problem and the solution begin at home with their parents. Leadership training must start from an early childhood, as these young adults learn to take gradual responsibility for their own decisions. Only through self-determination, can these youth eventually achieve leadership in their respective communities. In addition to parental guidance, society has responsibility to create opportunities for these young adults to exercise good leadership. We must focus on the practice of leadership rather than the theory. Young adults should be given the opportunity to practice what they learn, such as being responsible for designing, organizing, and implementing their own conferences. Yet for many youth leadership implies a broader involvement. We need to encourage youth to pursue their own interests, and help them integrate into their local communities. Ultimately, the establishment of leaders in all asp ects of society will eventually improve the lives of all youth and people. As great leaders it is time for young adults to carry on the torch. Are the youth of America ready to assume the responsibilities? Have they been properly prepared to become the new leaders of tomorrow? As a leader, I have met face-to-face with the best talent that our country has to offer, I have as a leader had the privilege of demonstrating exactly what leadership is. There is no doubt in my mind that they as youth posses the potential to be great leaders. Just look at many personal accomplishments of some youth, and it is clear that we have far exceeded the prior generation. However, my pride and optimism are tempered by the inconsistency in leadership development among youth. The development of leadership potential is a slow and gradual process that must begin from early childhood. Our own perception of self-worth is heavily influenced by the expectations of o...

Revising an Essay

Revising an Essay Revising an Essay Revising an Essay: It Is of Critical Importance They say that to write any essay is a very complicated and brainstorming task. Well, there is a bit of sense about that. However, revising an essay is as hard assignment as essay writing. Without revising essay, it is impossible to receive the highest grade for your essay writing, as even the most professional and experienced academic writers make some definite mistakes. Machines are even mistaken, and we are only people with our problems and thoughts; that is why there is nothing weird about the presence of mistakes. Nevertheless, there is a special way to get rid of those mistakes which are called revising essays. With the help of proofreading, you receive your revision essay and the proper grade, as a result. A Couple of Findings for Your Consideration According to the latest researches of psychologists, it was stated, that as a rule, a person, who makes the revision essays written by his or her own does not notice 37 percent of the made mistakes. However, it does not mean that it is useless to accomplish revising an essay. It only means that if you really want to get rid of the existing mistakes, you have to read your essay out loudly for several times. When you make revising essay for the first time, you just correct the spelling, syntax, and grammar mistakes. When you revising essays for the second and the third times, you start to pay attention to the content and correct lexical mistakes and all the other slips of the tongue. That is why it is just but natural to maintain revising essays. Ways to Revise Your Essay However, there is one more way to receive revision essay. With the help, for example, of our custom essay writing services you can order the service of revision essays. Revising an essay is a rather often used service by the students, as some of them like to write their essays by themselves. However, if they want to be sure that their essays are free of different weaknesses they order revising an essay within the services of our site. Our professional proofreaders do not give any chance to the existing mistakes. That is why revising essay is the perfect option for you to choose in order to receive the high grade for your essay. Revising An Essay is A Key To Success To sum up, it is necessary to emphasize one more time that without revising essay it is impossible to present a good work free of mistakes, as all of us make mistakes. Revising an essay is your key to success and high grade. It does not matter whether you are going to proofread your essay on your own or you are gong to run to the services of revision essay. The only thing, which matters, is the positive result after having revision essays: Interesting posts: Thesis Ideas PhD Thesis Master Thesis How to Make a Thesis Get Dissertation Help

Individual business proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individual business proposal - Essay Example The product will be highly purchased due to its high quality that will meet the needs of our customers. Initially, the business will be established as a sole proprietorship but in future it will increase its capital base by becoming a limited company. Political- UK political system is democratic and the government has created a good business environment. Despite the 2008 economic crisis and, the UK government has ensured that its investors and business communities are provided with opportunities to borrow from banks for the purpose of expanding their businesses. Environment- In order to ensure that firms are in line with the government regulations, the UK government has continued to create conducive environment for the companies (Werner, 1984). For example, the government has established simple six steps to establish a business in the country. In addition, the government reduced the corporation rate from 26% in 2012 to 23% in 2014. In this way, companies have higher net profits an aspect that makes them to easily expand in other areas. Social- Due to social as well as political campaigning, business and individual consumers have increased the rate at which food has been wasted. This implies that UK government should come up with better policies curb food wastage. Legally, the government has also come up with a regulation that requires banks to expanding lending rates otherwise they may be highly taxed. Technological- Based on the high technology that UK adopts for example the use of smart phones among other innovation, firms are able to effectively market their products. Other companies that have penetrated the UK market include Google, Apple, Symbian and Microsoft among others. The use of face book by approximately 73% of internet users also makes the country a very viable business opportunity. This implies that Great Coffee will employ the modern

Evaluation Questions and Data Collection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evaluation Questions and Data Collection - Essay Example The task becomes formidable when the ultimate objects of the evaluation are latchkey children. An abandoned child lacking the custody and care of the natural parental environment cannot find satisfactory solace and nurture in an attention span of a few hours. Child rearing is a 24 hours job. Since the evaluation is undertaken for children facing deprivation and their neighborhood, the stakeholders cannot but be those largely based in the locality. Thus, the stakeholders comprise the school whose facilities are being used for the purpose of after-school care for the target children, the school authorities, the ministry of education, the parents of the regular students, child psychologists, donors and well-wishers of the school, and all others who have personal interest in the school such as former students. (Report on the causes of poverty and Civil Society Recommendations for the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper in Montenegro) The first evaluation questionnaire is addressed to the stakeholders in order to get their views to what extent they are prepared to go to fill the gap necessary to restore normalcy in the children's lives. A group discussion is ideal for the purpose of eliciting view from a group of 12-15 individuals representing different segment of the stakeholders. The questionnaire will dwell on personal information to begin with like name, age, sex, occupation, marital status, number of children, and move on to areas of interest like favorite sports, extra curricular activities, club membership. Thereafter, questions addressing the objectivity of the evaluation and seeking information on the stakeholder's personal involvement with any children's organization, local or international and since how long, must be included. One or two direct questions asking if they are ready for adoption must also be included. Since financial needs meet only a part of the deprived child's requirement, questions desiring information on the amount of time the stakeholder is capable of spending with the child or children must also find place in the framework. Undoubtedly, the exercise is intended to not only involve individuals but also the entire community. The issue of latchkey students impacts the entire community because it assumes social implications. The consequence of ignoring deprived children has all too often proved disastrous with criminal elements only too ready to accept them for their own ignoble purposes. (David A. Dzewaltowski et al) Questions for the deprived children The framework to fix questionnaire for evaluation and data collection of latchkey students is complex and challenging for the simple reason no two child are alike. One deprived student may be doing exceptionally well in studies, while another may be normal or mediocre. It is in

Company Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Company Performance - Essay Example It is calculated by getting the difference of the current assets from the value of our stock and any prepayments the company has made. Their total is then divided by the totals for the current liabilities to get the quick ratio (Needles and Powers, 2010). In other words the formula for calculating the quick ratio can be given as, This is the ratio of the company’s current debt to the amount of capital they have invested in the company. This is calculated by dividing the total debt that a company owes their creditors to the amount they have invested in the business (Banjerjee, 2005). It is given by, The company has a total debt ratio of 30.25 in comparison to the industry’s 31.96. This implies that there are other companies that have greater debts than it since their value is less than the industry’s. This ratio is also referred to as the stock turnover and is the ratio of the sales a company makes in a certain trading period to the totals of their inventories. It is calculated by dividing the total number of sales made in the period over the total recording’s of sales made (Clarke, 2002). Thus, it is calculated using the formula, The company has a sales turnover of 3.53 in contrast to the industries 4.15. This means the company is performing dismally when compared to the industry since their indexes are lower (Banjerjee, 2005). It is a measure used in accounting to quantify the effectiveness of a firm in giving out credit facilities along with the collection of debts. It is a ratio that describes the level of activity within an organization (Clarke, 2002). It is calculated using the formula, The company has a receivables turnover ratio of 7.52 which is low compared to the industry’s 19.51. This implies that the company should make a reassessment of their debt collection policies to ensure their money has been collected and is bringing gains to the firm. This is the ratio of the sales the company

Natural product chemistry

Natural product chemistry Introduction Of Natural Product Chemistry In the beginning of organic chemistry was natural products chemistry. For a long period, up to the 1960s the structural studies of natural products served as the principle driving force for the discovery of new chemical reactivity. The introduction of spectroscopic techniques, however, removed much of the intellectual challenge involved in structure elucidation. Furthermore, natural products chemistry suffered a dramatic decline from the mid 1990s when major pharmaceutical companies disinvested in this area and switched to more rational combi-chem approaches. Nevertheless, the improvements in spectroscopic methods have historically stimulated natural products chemistry and the efforts to examine new compounds from unusual organisms rapidly and systematically. Natural products chemistry survived and began to flourish again in recent years also through chemical biology and chemical genetics and the realization that natural product structures often explore structural space unavailable t o combi-chem approaches. As a result, challenges for natural product chemists are not diminishing, they are just changing. Natural product chemistry turned to an interdisciplinary science, where the success of a chemist would only be possible in close collaboration with biologists, pharmacologists, and clinicists. Thus many novel biological activities such as beta-tubulin assembly inhibitors for example, could only have emerged from the natural products arena. Contents Of Natural Chemistry Steroids.- Terpenoids.- Fatty Lipids and Prostaglandins.- Alkaloid.- Amino Acids and Proteins.- Nucleic Acids.- Carbohydrates.- Plant and Insect Growth Regulators.- Phenolic Compounds and Natural Dyes.- Marine Natural Products.- Antibacterials.- Vitamins and Hormones. Natural product A natural product is a chemical compound or substance produced by a living organism found in nature that usually has a pharmacological or biological activity for use in pharmaceutical drug discovery and drug design. A natural product can be considered as such even if it can be prepared by total synthesis. These small molecules provide the source or inspiration for the majority of FDA-approved agents and continue to be one of the major sources of inspiration for drug discovery. In particular, these compounds are important in the treatment of life-threatening conditions. Natural sources Natural products may be extracted from tissues of terrestrial plants, marine organisms or microorganism fermentation broths. A crude (untreated) extract from any one of these sources typically contains novel, structurally diverse chemical compounds, which the natural environment is a rich source of. Chemical diversity in nature is based on biological and geographical diversity, so researchers travel around the world obtaining samples to analyze and evaluate in drug discovery screens or bioassays. This effort to search for natural products is known as bioprospecting. Animal sources Animals can sometimes be a source of new lead compounds. For example, a series of antibiotic peptides were extracted from the skin of the African clawed frog and a potent analgesic compound called epibatidine was obtained from the skin extracts of the Ecuadorian poison frog. Screening of natural products Pharmacognosy provides the tools to identify, select and process natural products destined for medicinal use. Usually, the natural product compound has some form of biological activity and that compound is known as the active principle such a structure can act as a lead compound (not to be confused with compounds containing the element lead). Many of todays medicines are obtained directly from a natural source. On the other hand, some medicines are developed from a lead compound originally obtained from a natural source. This means the lead compound: can be produced by total synthesis, or can be a starting point (precursor) for a semisynthetic compound, or can act as a template for a structurally different total synthetic compound. This is because most biologically active natural product compounds are secondary metabolites with very complex structures. This has an advantage in that they are extremely novel compounds but this complexity also makes many lead compounds synthesis difficult and the compound usually has to be extracted from its natural source a slow, expensive and inefficient process. As a result, there is usually an advantage in designing simpler analogues. The plant kingdom Plants have always been a rich source of lead compounds (e.g. morphine, cocaine, digitalis, quinine, tubocurarine, nicotine, and muscarine). Many of these lead compounds are useful drugs in themselves (e.g. morphine and quinine), and others have been the basis for synthetic drugs (e.g. local anaesthetics developed from cocaine). Clinically useful drugs which have been recently isolated from plants include the anticancer agent paclitaxel (Taxol) from the yew tree, and the antimalarial agent artemisinin from Artemisia annua. Plants provide a large bank of rich, complex and highly varied structures which are unlikely to be synthesized in laboratories. Furthermore, evolution has already carried out a screening process itself whereby plants are more likely to survive if they contain potent compounds which deter animals or insects from eating them. Even today, the number of plants that have been extensively studied is relatively very few and the vast majority have not been studied at all. The marine world In recent years, there has been a great interest in finding lead compounds from marine sources. Coral, sponges, fish, and marine microorganisms have a wealth of biologically potent chemicals with interesting inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer activity. For example, curacin A is obtained from a marine cyanobacterium and shows potent antitumor activity. Other antitumor agents derived from marine sources include eleutherobin, discodermolide, bryostatins, dolostatins, and cephalostatins. The microbial world Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi have been invaluable for discovering drugs and lead compounds. These microorganisms produce a large variety of antimicrobial agents which have evolved to give their hosts an advantage over their competitors in the microbiological world. The screening of microorganisms became highly popular after the discovery of penicillin. Soil and water samples were collected from all over the world in order to study new bacterial or fungal strains, leading to an impressive arsenal of antibacterial agents such as the cephalosporins, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, rifamycins, and chloramphenicol. Although most of the drugs derived from microorganisms are used in antibacterial therapy, some microbial metabolites have provided lead compounds in other fields of medicine. For example, asperlicin isolated from Aspergillus alliaceus is a novel antagonist of a peptide hormone called cholecystokinin (CCK) which is involved in the control of appetite. CCK also acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and is thought to be involved in panic attacks. Analogues of asperlicin may therefore have potential in treating anxiety. Other examples include the fungal metabolite lovastatin, which was the lead compound for a series of drugs that lower cholesterol levels, and another fungal metabolite called ciclosporin which is used to suppress the immune response after transplantation operations. Venoms and toxins Venoms and toxins from animals, plants, snakes, spiders, scorpions, insects, and microorganisms are extremely potent because they often have very specific interactions with a macromolecular target in the body. As a result, they have proved important tools in studying receptors, ion channels, and enzymes. Many of these toxins are polypeptides (e.g. É‘-bungarotoxin from cobras). However, non-peptide toxins such as tetrodotoxin from the puffer fish are also extremely potent. Venoms and toxins have been used as lead compounds in the development of novel drugs. For example, teprotide, a peptide isolated from the venom of the Brazilian viper, was the lead compound for the development of the antihypertensive agents cilazapril and captopril. The neurotoxins from Clostridium botulinum are responsible for serious food poisoning (botulism), but they have a clinical use as well. They can be injected into specific muscles (such as those controlling the eyelid) to prevent muscle spasm. These toxins prevent cholinergic transmission and could well prove a lead for the development of novel anticholinergic drugs. Traditional Medicine In the past, traditional peoples or ancient civilizations depended greatly on local flora and fauna for their survival. They would experiment with various berries, leaves, roots, animal parts or minerals to find out what effects they had. As a result, many crude drugs were observed by the local healer or shaman to have some medical use. Although some preparations may have been dangerous, or worked by a ceremonial or placebo effect, traditional healing systems usually had a substantial active pharmacopoeia, and in fact most western medicines up until the 1920s were developed this way. Some systems, like traditional Chinese medicine or Ayurveda were fully as sophisticated and as documented systems as western medicine, although they might use different paradigms. Many of these aqueous, ethanolic, distilled, condensed or dried extracts do indeed have a real and beneficial effect, and a study of ethnobotany can give clues as to which plants might be worth studying in more detail. Rhubarb root has been used as a purgative for many centuries. In China, it was called The General because of its galloping charge and was only used for one or two doses unless processed to reduce its purgative qualities. (Bulk laxatives would follow or be used on weaker patients according to the complex laxative protocols of the medical system.[2]) The most significant chemicals in rhubarb root are anthraquinones, which were used as the lead compounds in the design of the laxative dantron. The extensive records of Chinese medicine about response to Artemisia preparations for malaria also provided the clue to the novel antimalarial drug artemisinin. The therapeutic properties of the opium poppy (active principle morphine) were known in Ancient Egypt, were those of the Solanaceae plants in ancient Greece (active principles atropine and hyoscine). The snakeroot plant was well regarded in India (active principle reserpine), and herbalists in medieval England used extracts from the willow tree(salicin) and foxglove (active principle digitalis a mixture of compounds such as digitoxin, digitonin, digitalin). The Aztec and Mayan cultures of Mesoamerica used extracts from a variety of bushes and trees including the ipecacuanha root (active principle emetine), coca bush (active principle cocaine), and cinchona bark (active principle quinine). It can be challenging to obtain information from practitioners of traditional medicine unless a genuine long term relationship is made. Ethnobotanist Richard Schultes approached the Amazonian shamans with respect, dealing with them on their terms. He became a depswa medicine man sharing their rituals while gaining knowledge. They responded to his inquiries in kind, leading to new medicines.[3] On the other hand Cherokee herbalist David Winston recounts how his uncle, a medicine priest, would habitually give misinformation to the visiting ethnobotanists. The acupuncturists who investigated Mayan medicine recounted in Wind in the Blood had something to share with the native healers and thus were able to find information not available to anthropologists.[4] The issue of rights to medicine derived from native plants used and frequently cultivated by native healers complicates this issue. Isolation and purification If the lead compound (or active principle) is present in a mixture of other compounds from a natural source, it has to be isolated and purified. The ease with which the active principle can be isolated and purified depends much on the structure, stability, and quantity of the compound. For example, Alexander Fleming recognized the antibiotic qualities of penicillin and its remarkable non-toxic nature to humans, but he disregarded it as a clinically useful drug because he was unable to purify it. He could isolate it in aqueous solution, but whenever he tried to remove the water, the drug was destroyed. It was not until the development of new experimental procedures such as freeze drying and chromatography that the successful isolation and purification of penicillin and other natural products became feasible. Synthesis Not all natural products can be fully synthesized and many natural products have very complex structures that are too difficult and expensive to synthesize on an industrial scale. These include drugs such as penicillin, morphine, and paclitaxel (Taxol). Such compounds can only be harvested from their natural source a process which can be tedious, time consuming, and expensive, as well as being wasteful on the natural resource. For example, one yew tree would have to be cut down to extract enough paclitaxel from its bark for a single dose. Furthermore, the number of structural analogues that can be obtained from harvesting is severely limited. A further problem is that isolates often work differently than the original natural products which have synergies and may combine, say, antimicrobial compounds with compounds that stimulate various pathways of the immune system: Many higher plants contain novel metabolites with antimicrobial and antiviral properties. However, in the developed world almost all clinically used chemotherapeutics have been produced by in vitro chemical synthesis. Exceptions, like taxol and vincristine, were structurally complex metabolites that were difficult to synthesize in vitro. Many non-natural, synthetic drugs cause severe side effects that were not acceptable except as treatments of last resort for terminal diseases such as cancer. The metabolites discovered in medicinal plants may avoid the side effect of synthetic drugs, because they must accumulate within living cells. Semisynthetic procedures can sometimes get around these problems. This often involves harvesting a biosynthetic intermediate from the natural source, rather than the final (lead) compound itself. The intermediate could then be converted to the final product by conventional synthesis. This approach can have two advantages. First, the intermediate may be more easily extracted in higher yield than the final product itself. Second, it may allow the possibility of synthesizing analogues of the final product. The semisynthetic penicillins are an illustration of this approach. Another recent example is that of paclitaxel. It is manufactured by extracting 10-deacetylbaccatin III from the needles of the yew tree, then carrying out a four-stage synthesis. Use Of Natural Product Ayurveda Chinese medicine Ethnobotany Journal of Natural Products Pharmacognosy Phytotherapy Secondary metabolite During the last few decades, research into natural products has advanced tremendously thanks to contributions from the fields of chemistry, life sciences, food science and material sciences. Comparisons of natural products from microorganisms, lower eukaryotes, animals, higher plants and marine organisms are now well documented. This book provides an easy-to-read overview of natural products. It includes twelve chapters covering most of the aspects of natural products chemistry. Each chapter covers general introduction, nomenclature, occurrence, isolation, detection, structure elucidation both by degradation and spectroscopic techniques, biosynthesis, synthesis, biological activity and commercial applications, if any, of the compounds mentioned in each topic. Therefore it will be useful for students, other researchers and industry. The introduction to each chapter is brief and attempts only to supply general knowledge in the particular field. Furthermore, at the end of each chapter t here is a list of recommended books for additional study and a list of relevant questions for practice. Combined with pharmacological screening, natural products chemistry has always provided highly useful leads for drug discovery. The searches for new biologically active compounds are most often based on hints coming from ethnobotany but there are still a huge number of unstudied plants, not to speak of mushrooms, marine organisms, insects, and microorganisms. There is a wealth of molecular diversity out there, waiting to be discovered and utilized. The central issue of such type of studies, structure elucidation, although often believed to be trivial, is still a process full of adventure, discovery, and even unavoidable pitfalls. Thus structure elucidation has still much to offer, especially when combined with biological tests. Chemistry Central Journal is waiting for your results to publish. Besides the classic studies connected to pharmacological activities, new developments challenge natural products chemists, such as metabolomics, the large-scale phytochemical analysis in the functional genomics era. Metabolomic requires from a natural product chemist brilliant knowledge of modern analytical techniques and chemometry and close collaboration with biochemists and biologists. Chemical ecology, too, could not advance properly without natural product chemistry. Approximately 60% of the worlds population relies almost entirely on plants for medication. However, if phytopharmaceuticals want to be regarded as rational drugs, they need to be standardized and pharmaceutical quality must be approved. For this reason, another important task for natural products chemistry is connected to standardization: to develop proper analytical methods of quality control, to make sure that medicines obtained from natural sources are safe and of reproducible efficacy. The publication of natural product research results in an open access journal is of great importance with respect both to research activities and to effective use of natural resources, removing both price and permission barriers. It is also important to authors, giving them the opportunity to publish their results where they will be most easily accessed by those who mostly need them. Natural Product Chemistry for Drug Discovery provides a comprehensive summary of where natural product chemistry is today in drug discovery. The book covers emerging technologies and case studies and is a source of up-to-date information on the topical subject of natural products. The authors, all experts in their respective fields, provide compelling arguments as to why naturel products should be considered important tools in the drug discovery process. The book will appeal across the board from scientists to professionals, postgraduates and industrial chemists. The case studies selected for inclusion highlight recently marketed drugs and development candidates that have been derived from natural products. These real-life examples show how new technologies, such as advances in screening, isolation, dereplication and prefractionation, have significantly enhanced the discovery process. Introduction Of Synthetic Chemistry In primitive societies, even today, clothes are cleaned by beating them on rocks near a stream. Certain plants, such as soapworts, have leaves that produce sapions, chemical compounds that give a soapy lather. These were probably the first detergents people used. If you look up detergent in a dictionary it is simply defined as cleaning agent. During the last two to three decades, however, the word detergent has tended to imply synthetic detergent, or syndet for short, rather than the older soap. In fact, commercial formulations consist of a number of components, and we shall use the term surface-active agent, or its abbreviation surfactant, to describe the special active ingredients that give detergents their unusual properties. Soap, by this definition, is a surfactant. In fact, it is the oldest one and has been in use for over 4500 years. Some soap manufacture took place in Venice and Savona in the fifteenth century, and in Marseilles in the seventeenth century. By the eighteenth century, manufacture was widespread throughout Europe and North America, and by the nineteenth century the making of soap had become a major industry. As a matter of fact, soap became a detergent in 1907 when a German company put the product Persil on the market. In addition to the carboxylic acid soap, Persil contained sodium perborate, sodium silicate and sodium carbonate. Hence perborate + silicate = PERSIL. Synthetic Surfactant or Soap? You may well ask why soap, which served well for so many years, was eventually displaced. Soaps are cheap and they are manufactured from a renewable source, whereas many of the synthetic detergents are made from petrochemicals. Soaps are also biodegradable; that is, they are readily broken down by bacteria, and thus they do not pollute rivers. However, due to their gelling properties, soaps do have a greater tendency to clog sewerage reticulation systems than synthetic detergents. The grease trap of a non-sewered house was often laden with soap. But the most important reason for the displacement of soap is the fact that, when a carboxylic acid soap is used in hard water, precipitation occurs. The calcium and magnesium ions, which give hardness to the water, form insoluble salts with the fatty acid in soap and a curd-like precipitate occurs and settles, of course, on what ever is being washed. By using a large excess of soap, it is possible to redisperse the precipitate, but it is ext remely sticky and difficult to move. This problem with soap can be demonstrated by a simple experiment in which a concentrated solution of hard-water salts is added to a 0.1% solution of soap and also to a 0.1% solution of synthetic surfactant. The soap precipitates, but the synthetic surfactant remains clear because its salts are water soluble. You may live in an area where the water is extremely soft. But calcium and magnesium ions are present in the dirt that you wash out of your clothes, so that some precipitation still occurs if soap is used, and gradually deposits are built up in the fabric. There are other disadvantages with soap; it deteriorates on storage, and it lacks cleaning power when compared with the modern synthetic surfactants, which can be designed to perform specialised cleaning tasks. Finally and very importantly from a domestic laundry point of view, soap does not rinse out; it tends to leave a residue behind in the fabric that is being washed. A residue gradually builds up and causes bad odour, deterioration of the fabric and other associated problems. Whats the Difference? Whats the difference between a surfactant and soap? In general terms, the difference can be likened to the difference between cotton and nylon. On the one hand, soap and cotton are produced from natural products by a relatively small modification. On the other hand, synthetic surfactants and nylon are produced entirely in a chemical factory. Synthetic surfactants are not very new, either. Back in 1834 the first forerunner of todays synthetic surfactants was produced in the form of a sulfated castor oil, which was used in the textile industry. The development of the first detergents in an effort to overcome the reaction of soaps with hard water provides a good illustration of one of the standard chemical approaches. If a useful substance has some undesirable property, an attempt is made to prepare an analogue, a near chemical relation, which will prove more satisfactory. The petroleum industry had, as a waste product, the compound propylene, CH3-CH=CH2, which used to be burnt off. By joining four of these propylene molecules together and if benzene is attached at the double bond, the resulting compound reacts with sulphuric acid. Then sodium hydroxide is added to neutralise the sulfonic acid and a sodium salt is obtained. The new substance is closely related to an ordinary soap, and is an excellent detergent. Detergent Foam Level The relationship between foaming power and detergency has always been of interest, and foaming power has become associated in many consumers minds with high detergent power. The first liquid detergent on the Australian market was Trix. It was non-foaming, so was soon replaced because of consumer resistance. However, it is generally conceded by detergent technologists that foam height has no direct relationship to cleaning power in ordinary fabric washing systems. In systems where the amount of washing fluid is low, foam may play an important role. The individual foam films tend to take up and hold particles of soil that have been removed from the item, preventing them from being re-deposited and allowing them to be washed or scraped away. Front loading washing machines work by bashing clothes against the side of the tub the high tech version of beating clothes on rocks. Front loaders clean clothes better than top loaders, but only if a low-suds detergent is used, because the suds cushion the impact and reduce the cleaning action. Chemical Characteristics Of Synthetic Chemistry Synthetic detergents dissolve or tend to dissolve in water or other solvents. To enable them to do this, they require distinct chemical characteristics. Hydrophilic (water loving) groupings in their molecular structure, and hydrophobic (water hating) groupings, help the detergent in its â€Å"detergency† action. This detergency depends on the balance of the molecular weight of the hydrophobic to the hydrophilic portion. This is called the HLB value, and can range from 1 upwards. HLB is Hydrophilic-Lypophilic Balance. As the 0HLB value increases, the product can tend towards being a paste or solid. The lower number HLB values tend to be less water soluble, and more oil soluble. The higher the HLB the more water soluble the product. Mixtures of low and high HLB detergents produce good detergents to handle oil, fat and grease, the higher HLB detergent helps solubilise the less water soluble, low HLB detergent into an aqueous system.