Technology Evolution in The Modern Society

The modern society is being greatly reshaped by the rapid developments in information technologies where it is evident that computers, telecommunications networks, and other related digital systems have combined to increase people’s capacity to know, achieve, and even collaborate (I. T. L. Education Solutions Limited, 2009).Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Technology Evolution in The Modern Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The presence of these technologies has motivated people to participate in activities of transmitting information more quickly and widely, connecting distant locations and creating global communities that almost one and half decade ago, such experiences were unimaginable (I. T. L. Education Solutions Limited, 2009). Notable is the fact that information technology is uniting people through different forms while at the same time integrating cultures and creating new social dyna mics. Information technology is further resulting into formation of closely bonded and widely dispersed communities of people who largely are united by their desire to transact business or just sharing experiences and pursuing academic and knowledge goals (I. T. L. Education Solutions Limited, 2009). Numerous areas of humankind world are being transformed and affected by information technology such as the business, media, education, security, and many more. Particularly in business, information technology enabled through IT communication, electronic service networks and multimedia continue to contribute to new and effective means of processing business transactions, integrating business processes, transferring payments and delivering services electronically (I. T. L. Education Solutions Limited, 2009). Thus, E-commerce has evolved to become a unique developmental product of information technology advances in business, which is tremendously changing business fronts and operation in t he entire world.Advertising Looking for term paper on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More E-Commerce Electron commerce is regarded an emerging concept which among other variables involves the process of buying and selling or exchanging pf products, services and information through the use of telecommunication and computer support system networks largely involving the internet. E-Commerce has received numerous definitions as a concept that continues to undergo changes. For instance according to definition provided by I. T. L. Education Solutions Limited (2009) e-commerce refers to, â€Å"the electronic means of conducting commerce between business communications and transactions over the internet† (p.179). Accordingly this definition suggest that e-commerce involves â€Å"buying and selling over the internet, electronic fund transfers, smart cards, digital cash and all other ways of doing business over dig ital networks† (I. T. L. Education Solutions Limited, 2009, p.179). According to Janice Reynolds, e-commerce has evolved as the mainstream that is enabling businesses to sell products and services to consumers on a global basis hence e-commerce can be seen as the platform upon which new methods to sell and to dispense innovative products and services electronically are tested (Reynolds, 2004). Kalakota and Whinston (1997, cited in Bushry, 2005) define e-commerce concept using different perspectives such as follows. Communication perspective- where e-commerce is seen to constitute the delivery of information, products or services, orders and payments over telephone lines, computer networks or any other electronic means. Business process perspective – which on the other hand postulates that, e-commerce is the employment of technology towards automation of business transactions and workflow. Service perspective – which holds that e-commerce constitute a tool that fu lfills the needs and desires of companies, customers and management with aim of reducing the transaction costs while at the same time being able to excel in quality of goods and services and further be able to increase the speed of delivery.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Technology Evolution in The Modern Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Lastly, an online perspective on its conviction state that e-commerce possess the ability and capacity to for buying and selling products and information mainly on internet and other related online services (Bushry, 2005). E-Commerce has also been defined by Reynolds (2004) to comprise the paperless exchange of business information by largely using electronic data interchange, electronic mail. Electronic bulleting boards, electronic funds transfer, World Wide Web, and other network-based technologies (Reynolds, 2004). At the same time, e-commerce apart from automa ting manual processes and paper transactions again contribute and helps organizations to move fully to electronic environment thereby modifying how businesses operate. E-commerce has widely affected the world and business in numerous ways and the impacts are likely to accelerate in future as new innovative developments takes place. E-commerce today continue to exert concerted positive and negative influence on world economy, global markets, international trade, financial markets, and many more sectors of business (Bajaj, Nag and Bajaj, 2005). As the world continues to benefit from industrial activities, internet will continue to shape the world in form of e-commerce activities. In general, e-commerce involves moving organizations from dormant traditional environment to full electronic environment that in turn leads to â€Å"change in their work procedures, reengineering their business processes, integrating them with their business partners beyond their traditional boundaries† (Bajaj, Nag and Bajaj, 2005). Observation is that, e-commerce has revolutionalized the way business is conducted, as modern businesses have been intricate and complex.Advertising Looking for term paper on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Transactions at the same time are involving several global trading partners located in different parts of the world, and to effectively handle these complexities and interdependences of business processes, the role of e-commerce has become important since it is able to knit different organizations objectives or goals through a viable electronic environment. From these literatures, e-commerce concept has been summarized by two groups: The Aberdeen Consulting Group and Giga Group. According to the Aberdeen Consulting Group, e-business which is used interchangeably with e-commerce constitutes, â€Å"the application of electronic network technologies to transform business processes† (Bajaj, Nag and Bajaj, p.20), while Giga Group defines e-business as, â€Å"the application of electronic network technologies to transform business processes† (Bajaj, Nag and Bajaj, 2005, p.20). E-Commerce and Business Business organizations both small and large have inevitably embraced intern et for the delivery of numerous information-based services. Due to its numerous potentials and opportunities organization, especially those involved in business activities continue to appreciate the internet in a variety of tasks (Botha, 2004). A business to full benefit from numerous aspects of internet has to go through certain but key stages: first, there is exposure stage, where the organization utilizes the technology mainly for electronic brochure and bulletin board. This is done to provide information to the company’s clients. Second, there is the interaction stage, which is a point where the internet is viewed as the link between the firm and the customer; here, the internet is perceived to be a communication channel and it becomes integral component in the operation of the organization. Third, there is the e-commerce stage, where internet is believed to have evolved and become part of the economic bloodline of the company generating need for new operational procedure s, financial management and marketing skills. In essence, a part from conducting communication with the organization using the internet the customer is at the same time able to purchase goods and services through the internet. The organization reacts to these by ensuring that adequate facilities to facilitate purchased products by customers and subsequent delivery are done effectively using the internet. Lastly, there is the e-business stage, where business is able to expand from its internal-focus role to exploitation of new market opportunities and in this way the internet become vital and useful in influencing the organization and business unit strategy (Botha, 2004). E-commerce constitutes five major types that continue to dominate modern business world: Business-to-Consumer (B2C), Business-to-Business (B2B), Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C), Peer-to-Peer (P2P), lastly, Mobile commerce (m-commerce). Primarily, Business-to-Consumer type of e-commerce entails the applications that †Å"provide interface from businesses directly to their consumers† (Sun and Finnie, 2004). Consumers are the main target of the business goals and objectives where electronic transactions in marketing, ordering and paying, and sometimes after sales service takes place more easily without requiring the consumer to move to the physical location of the product (Sun and Finnie, 2004). Most businesses have resorted to B2C e-commerce in order to attract new customers, reach new markets, and promote products and services (Sun and Finnie, 2004). Business-to-Business (B2B) on the other hand comprises the largest form of e-commerce in modern market. Modern companies associate and interact in business aspects of selling, negotiating, and contracting business products and opportunities through the web. E-commerce in this type (B2B) is used to improve communication within the organization and reduce costs while at the same time increase efficiency of business processes (Sun and Finnie, 2004) . Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) form of e-commerce on the other hand benefit consumers as it eliminates the hurdles of intermediaries. C2C Websites have been designed to enable consumers to have that ‘direct’ dealing with other consumers and these websites constitute online communities, free personal classified pages, and auction houses (Sun and Finnie, 2004). In modern world, e-bay found at www.ebay.com is a clear form of C2C e-commerce application that has gained popularity among consumers. Consumers open their own stores at e-bay.com where they are able to display and sell all their products in e-bay stores (Sun and Finnie, 2004). With advances in internet technology C2C traditional distance has become zero and communication largely free, an opportunity regarded to benefit and complement B2B e-commerce and B2C e-commerce in future. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) e-commerce constitutes new form of modern e-commerce concept that in its operation is characterized by lack of centralize d control (Mitchell and Institution of Electrical Engineers, 2005). P2P e-commerce has become popular due to its ability of being file-sharing networks, and providing means of distributing mostly copyrighted materials (Mitchell and Institution of Electrical Engineers, 2005). Nevertheless this form of e-commerce has been drawn back largely by lack of addressing security issues which is further compounded by conflict that arise with requirement to provide anonymity for users and increasing need to provide forceful access control, data integrity, confidentiality and accountability services (Mitchell and Institution of Electrical Engineers, 2005 ). The last type of e-commerce is mobile commerce. Mobile phones have become popular and constitute widely used mobile devices (Lim and Siau, 2003). Mobile phones especially those that are GSM enabled have become vital facilitating mobile commerce. Other mobile devices that are becoming important in mobile e-commerce include palmtops, and PDA, w hich are accelerating mobile e-commerce (Lim and Siau, 2003). Mobile e-commerce enables the users to conduct electronic commerce activities using their mobile devices and the e-commerce activities include obtaining marketing and sales information, receive ordering information, make purchase decision, make payments, obtain the product or service, and finally receive necessary customer support (Lim and Siau, 2003). Mobile e-commerce continues to get acceptance due to its convenience of being available anytime and anywhere. On overall e-commerce role in most businesses cannot be ignored or underrated. It is clear that businesses have grown and expanded as a result of e-commerce. Smaller business have been presented with opportunity to compete bigger and established businesses on equal grounds and business activities and operations have defied geographical barriers to establish in new markets and regions as a result of e-commerce (Botha, Bothma and Geldenhuys, 2008). Therefore, e-commer ce contribution to business has resulted into extended hours of operations for the business, geographical barriers have been broken, online tenders and contracts are enormous, business costs have drastically reduced, competition continue to be transparent, lastly, weak and inefficient middlemen have been eliminated (Botha, Bothma and Geldenhuys, 2008). E-Commerce and Technology As evidences show, it would be impossible to have electronic business without technology. Technology for e-commerce has originated in the use of internet and other computer networks to fulfill goals of online buying and selling, electronic funds transfer, business communications and other activities that involve buying and selling goods and services online (Zhou, 2004). The use of internet and other information technology techniques, which in wide sense constitute e-commerce has become an important part of meeting the needs and wants of consumers while the company benefits by gaining profit. Technology usage by companies has resulted in companies achieving greater value from e-commerce. In essence, companies with appropriate and superior technology infrastructure coupled with efficient human resource adopt e-commerce more easily than those lacking these aspects (Kraemer, 2006). Analysis of e-commerce adoption in developed and developing countries indicate that it is the technological readiness that account as the strongest factor influencing adoption of e-commerce. Technology is seen to be relative diffuse in developing nations while integrated in developed nations (Kraemer, 2006). E-commerce is further influenced and affected by the digital divide where in the past access and utilization of technology was confined in a small group of rich people. The masses especially in developing and least developed countries were left out leading to their inadequate acquisition of technology. This has hampered their effort to be part of the global community appreciating and enjoying the benefits of e-commerce (Wahab, 2003). As such, what is needed is a well-orchestrated scheme that enhances to incorporate the developing and least developed nations into the mainstream of technological learning and training, which in turn possess the capability to transform the larger society into embracing e-commerce. E-Commerce and Society Society is one at the receiving end of technological products. People in the society are the ones facilitating and at the same time benefiting from technology. Nevertheless, people do not just act as passive consumers of technological products but also largely participate in influencing and directing invention and adoption of various technologies. Different people in different regions of the world hold specific and unique values and norms, which has power in shaping and controlling the direction of information technology usages (Thanasankit, 2003). Adoption of technology and to extent e-commerce has been facilitated through language and communication. Techno logy development and adoption tends to take place within the functioning capacities of economy, political, legal, social, religious, and education institutions. On overall these institutions and structures affect or influence the level, propensity, type and period for invention and subsequent adoption of particular technological products. On overall the use of e-commerce has been associated with specific potential problems that emanate from issues to do with customer perception and cultural orientation, fear of loss of personal data, linguistic obstacles, difficult in integrating data and the high cost associated with adopting and running e-commerce technology (Reynolds, 2009). Transparency, global and efficiency of e-markets Electronic markets can be said to be still infant and online exchanges are yet to gain considerable acceptance especially by those in developing and less developed societies. Nevertheless, electronic markets are seen to possess the potential to â€Å"reduce tr ansactions costs, add product and pricing transparency, generate market liquidity, and facilitate bidding by a broad spectrum of potential suppliers in a standardized platform† (Zhu, 2002 cited in The Gale Group, 2004, p.1). Accelerating activities of electronic market, internet is seen to be at forefront in generating improved and flow of information (Kemerer, 1998 cited in The Gale Group, 2004). Electronic markets in this sense is seen to constitute a platform on which information is collected, synthesized, availed and circulated among various suppliers and consumers. The rise of electronic markets has resulted in creation of huge information with regard to products, prices, transactions, and competitors. As a result of this, information in electronic markets has become more transparent as compared to traditional convectional markets (The Gale Group, 2004). According to Zhu (2002), information transparency can be seen as, â€Å"the degree of visibility and accessibility of information† (The Gale Group, 2004, p.1). Benning (2007) notes that, the movement of the markets from their traditional form and location to the screen has been accompanied by numerous key developments. E-commerce in relation to electronic markets is changing the overall markets in the global perspective are organized, analyzed, quoted and priced (Benning, 2007). Transactions costs have been eliminated in turn has led to increase in trading volumes, prices have become more transparent and much easier to obtain and markets further react with increasing speed to new information (Benning, 2007). According to Mandorf (2008), electronic markets have become foundations of e-commerce when the possibilities of internet economy with regard to initiation, negotiation, and handling of contracts have been made easy by informational systems. Electronic markets have been characterized to reflect: virtual meeting rooms where suppliers, customers ‘meet’, and these rooms are indep endent of location and time; electronic markets have greatly contributed to improvement of market transparency since they are able to relieve suppliers and consumers into getting relevant information. Compared to traditional markets where markets were largely full of disequilibrium of information between supplier and consumers, which could in turn be used to gain undue competitive advantage; electronic markets have resulted into reduction of transaction costs as compared to traditional markets; lastly, electronic markets are more open providing a larger international audience (Mandorf, 2008). According to Loebbecke, electronic markets as compared to traditional markets are relatively low in prices that in turn include low margins (Loebbecke, n.d, p.1). As a result of this, the market is further seen to be more transparent exercised by suppliers, customers and products (Loebbecke, n.d, p.1). Electronic markets pool numerous offers from the world and these offers can be found online a nd consumers have the opportunity to sample and compare potential suppliers of products or services on the internet which in turn leads to lower transaction costs (Loebbecke, n.d, p.1). Transparency of the electronic market is further boosted by the utilization of search tools where at the same time competition among suppliers cause constant pressure on market prices and demand for extra services to be delivered (Loebbecke, n.d, p.1). Eugene Fama in 1970 developed the efficient market theory, which in essence is based on the economic theory of price equilibrium that originates from the interface of forces of supply and demand (Grover, Lim and Ayyagari, 2006). Generally, in an efficient market, information in great depth is available in terms of accessibility and cost and is handed to stakeholders at about the same time (Grover, Lim and Ayyagari, 2006). Electronic markets consists of inter-organizational information systems, which support and facilitate seller-buyer information commu nication regarding products and services (Bakos, 1991 cited in Grover, Lim and Ayyagari, 2006). As the internet continue to grow in great measures many expert and analysts’ predictions points to the fact that e-markets will continuously results into reduction of information asymmetry thereby paving way for price convergence operating at the lowest competitive level (Grover, Lim and Ayyagari, 2006). Why much confidence in reduction of information asymmetry? Many authors who have written on e-markets efficiency express that lower search costs and availability of information in great measure through the internet reduction information asymmetry and opportunistic behavior, should be seen to be main reasons leading to efficient e-markets (Alba et al., 1997; Bakos, 1997; Bailey, 1998 cited in Grover, Lim and Ayyagari, 2006). Globalization of e-markets is taking place at a first rate. E-markets are seen to be escalating into interrelated hubs of online exchange that pledge economies of scale that are greater than separate exchanges (Foley, Bacheldor and Wallace, 2000). Due to expansion of e-markets into global scene, marketplace operators are viewed to be prepared to offer services such as â€Å"automated real-time credit, connections to shipping and logistic providers, and integration with enterprise resource management and inventory systems† (Foley, Bacheldor and Wallace, 2000, p.1). As such, e-markets are fast becoming global supply-chain centers aimed at ensuring that businesses are all-round efficient; for instance, Oracle has in place Oracle Exchange, which is a horizontal e-marketplace in which majority of companies are able to buy and sell non-production goods and services (Foley, Bacheldor and Wallace, 2000). Globalization of e-markets has further expanded to initiate and facilitate online financing, supply chain planning, and collaborative design (Foley, Bacheldor and Wallace, 2000). Global companies such as Daimler Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors have moved numerous steps forward to integrate their online purchasing activities. Through the global e-marketing plan, the companies have formulated their operations in form of business-to-business exchange in which the overall aim is to enable them and other automakers to easily buy materials for constructing automobiles while at the same time collaborate with other partners (Foley, Bacheldor and Wallace, 2000). The advantages to which most companies are attaching their aim of globalization of e-markets emanate from the numerous advantages e-markets holds. For instances e-markets reduce costs for business buyers as a result of increased choice and price competition while at the same time giving sellers a new and modified profitable channel for delivering inventory (Foley, Bacheldor and Wallace, 2000). E-market rise: role of push or pull factors? E-commerce and to extend e-markets have evolved to permit almost every aspect of human daily life. As from 1990s when internet bec ame more popular among business and individuals, its utilization has is felt in almost all aspects of human sphere. Internet technologies have resulted into increased productivity; maximize convenience and improved communication in most parts of the world (Anonymous, n.d, p.1). Online banking, online payment, online buying, and selling are just some aspects that have been produced by growth of technology. In other words, internet, and to extent technology, has become integral to daily lives of many people and organization. However, few years back the growth of and acceptance of internet technologies was not hot issue as it is today and the likely question that may be asked is why? The answer to this considering the numerous information technology literatures available is that the necessary information infrastructural development that is evident today was not available (Anonymous, n.d, p.1). Put it simple the supportive infrastructural for adoption of internet technologies was limite d by lack of necessary infrastructures. However, as time lapsed, more information technologies gadgets found their way in people’s home, and individuals’ technological knowledge and experience increased. At the same time, most companies acquired more technologies, which apart from addressing the internal business issues and needs were seen to have the capacity of enhancing business operations and growth through e-commerce. Therefore, as consumers’ needs arose for more internet products and services businesses were left with no alternative, except aligning and incorporating consumer needs with the business objectives and capacities. Therefore, the intense pressure for the development of e-markets was a direct response from outside pressure emanating from consumers and internal business pressures to adapt to efficient and more reliable technologies. Push factors emanated internally in form of need to compete effectively in the market with other equally well-placed competitors and this required businesses to adopt efficient and sophisticated technologies. At the same time to leverage competitive advantage companies were forced to become innovative in inventing online business activities, this was due to need to ease consumers need to move to physical locations, expand business with disregard to geographical barriers, reduce costs and largely increase consumer base. These needs prompted most businesses to embrace online markets. On the other hand, consumers were becoming more informed, wanted to reduce transactional costs related to information search, wanted convenience and wanted to be part of global citizens, as a result they preferred and demanded for prefect forms of market they would operate with easiness. This resulted into development of e-commerce and subsequent electronic markets. Today markets are seen to be driven by consumer choice and in turn the consumer choice affects and influences the company’s strategy. What is being observed is consumer need-based business model which is rising in the marketing and replacing the older model which was push-based model (Kalakota and Whinston, 1997). In the push model companies have upper hands in making decisions while the pull model put much emphasis on the customer to make decisions which in turn translate and directs the company’s strategy. Pull model, also known as ‘demand-driven model’ postulate that today technology has empowered a large population to search and utilize information more faster which in turn is used in making key purchasing decisions (Kalakota and Whinston, 1997). Once the information has been searched it is translated into preferences where consumers use it in becoming more conscious about choice. As consumers demonstrates caution in relation to preference it becomes the duty of the company to translate the consumer wants and needs into appropriate products and the company that take early lead in doing this is able to ga in competitive edge over its rivals (Kalakota and Whinston, 1997). The pull model dictates a need for: supporting increased variability; reduced lead times; improved quality and lower unit cost; operation excellence; and comprehensive performance measures for control purposes (Kalakota and Whinston, 1997). In summary today consumers are seen to be pushing sellers to the wall demanding lower processes and prices, better and improved quality, and large selection of in-season goods. In return sellers are reacting to these demands by working hard to improve, reducing operational costs, reducing cycle times, buying more wisely, and making a lot of investments in technology. In short, e-markets have risen and expanded from both internal push factors and external pull factors which are further likely to influence future growth of technology in businesses. Conclusion For the last two decades, technology has transformed humankind world. From its slow development and acceptance in early 1990s to its current vibrant use in the 21st century it can be said with confident that technology will inevitably remain part of human’s society growth and expansion. Notably, information technology through internet has revolutionalized the marketplace through the electronic market (e-markets). Electronic markets are growing at a faster rate, which in turn has resulted into the transparency, efficiency, and globalization of the e-market. Consumers and sellers are able to interact in virtual rooms, anywhere in the world and at any time. This has resulted into convenience on the part of consumers while enabling businesses to increase their product. Nevertheless, e-markets are yet to be embraced by greater population of the world although statistics shows it is steadily increasing as more people become technological-knowledgeable. Therefore, what is suggested is for the digital divide issue to be addressed. This is especially necessary in developing and least developed societies whe re adoption of technology is still low. As globalization continues to influence the world and disintegrate economic, political, and social barriers, digital divide is an issue that should be addressed to realize equal and faster adaptation to e-markets and e-commerce. References Anonymous. (N.d). Types of E-Business Models and Markets. Retrieved from http://forums.techarena.in/guides-tutorials/6051.htm. Bajaj, K. K., Nag, D. and Bajaj, K. K. (2005). E-Commerce. New Delhi, Tata McGraw-Hill. Benning, J. F. (2007). Trading Strategies for Capital Markets. NY: McGraw-Hill Professional. Botha, J. (2004). E-Commerce. Cape Town: Juta and Company Ltd. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=SbSXCmsO5VMCprintsec=frontcoverdq=e-commercehl=enei=rdzsTLOPDMzpOeqJhZ0Bsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=10ved=0CF8Q6AEwCQ#v=onepageqf=false. Bushry, M. (2005). E-Commerce. NY: Firewall Media. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=0Untt_GF8M0Cprintsec=frontcoverdq=e-commercehl=enei=rdzs TLOPDMzpOeqJhZ0Bsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=6ved=0CEgQ6AEwBQ#v=onepageqf=false Foley, J., Bacheldor, B. and Wallace, B. (2000). E-Markets are expanding. Information Week, No.775, pp.22. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=64did=50614703SrchMode=1sid=5Fmt=4VInst=PRODVType=PQDRQT=309VName=PQDTS=1290639106clientId=29440. Grover, V., Lim, J. and Ayyagari, R. (2006). The Dark Side of Information and Market Efficiency in E-Markets. Decision Sciences, Vol.37, No.3, pp.297. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=3did=1158964821SrchMode=1sid=5Fmt=4VInst=PRODVType=PQDRQT=309VName=PQDTS=1290637208clientId=29440. I. T. L. Education Solutions Limited. (2009). Introduction to Information Technology. New Delhi: Pearson Education India. Kalakota, R. and Whinston, A. B. (1997). Electronic commerce: a manager’s guide. NJ: Addison-Wesley. Kraemer, K. l. (2006). Global e-commerce: impacts of national environment and policy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press . Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=uDvPfcV2yFgCpg=PA374dq=how++technology+affects+e-commercehl=enei=hRjtTMzfFIGBlAfZnpWPAQsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=7ved=0CEgQ6AEwBg#v=onepageq=how%20%20technology%20affects%20e-commercef=false. Lim, E. P. and Siau, K. (2003). Advances in mobile commerce technologies. PA: Idea Group Inc (IGI). Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=441qCYlVjK8Cpg=PA19dq=Mobile+commerce+e-commercehl=enei=TwrtTJytMIqWOvzBvJABsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=1ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA#v=onepageq=Mobile%20commerce%20e-commercef=false. Loebbecke, C. (1998). Business Information Management Conference. Retrieved from http://www.chris-kimble.com/Courses/mis/e-commerce.doc. Mandorf, F. (2008). Processes in the Internet Economy: The View of Electronic Processes. Berlin: GRIN Verlag. Mitchell, C. and Institution of Electrical Engineers. (2005). Trusted computing. London: IET. Reynolds, G. (2009). Information Technology for Managers. OH: Cengage Learning. R eynolds, J. (2004). The complete e-commerce book: design, build maintain a successful Web-based business. CA: Focal Press. Sun, Z. and Finnie, G. R. (2004). Intelligent techniques in E-Commerce: a case based reasoning perspective. NY: Springer. Thanasankit, T. (2003). E-commerce and cultural values. PA: Idea Group Inc (IGI). The Gale Group. (2004). Information transparency of business-to-business electronic markets: a game-theoretic analysis. Management Science Journal. Retrieved from http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4130535/Information-transparency-of-business-to.html. Wahab, M. (2003). The Digital Divide, E-Commerce, and ODR: Constructing the Egyptian Information Society. Proceedings of UNECEF Forum. Retrieved from http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=vq=cache:CCPwrj7NnWcJ:www.odr.info/unece2003/pdf/wahab.pdf+digital+divide+and+e-commercehl=engl=kepid=blsrcid=ADGEESj5tm7pLGnOdc1Rip_XMtpVrFDMywj4OF2jZXuWunNdZ5yJ7y16VLwKs6MwTA9xka9hHRnydZ9EBXgco16sAYEUaaA-roWiRSUZF8t7NVo8eOZF-F35 eZATYyWopswwnOTQ9Ca5sig=AHIEtbR_EMNX1ijpSpF2Q6b8kp-BBXSzbw. Zhou, Z. (2004). E-commerce and information technology in hospitality and tourism. OH: Cengage Learning.. This term paper on Technology Evolution in The Modern Society was written and submitted by user Jazmin Sutton to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

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buy custom External Financing essay External funding is a highly variable figure for the United States corporate sector. Acme can raise its funds from sources outside of the company. There are various types of external financing which the company may use. These sources include debt financing, equity financing, cash flow lending and corporate bond and debentures (Schulz Wasmeier, 2008). Megginson Smart (2000) say that external funding is extremely unpredictable in the United States because of the market trends and lending rates. The use of external financing involves high legal and transaction costs. The company should note that the outstanding nature of external funding needs of Acme means that $500M will be exceedingly variable from year to year for the company (Megginson Smart, 2000). Sources of external funding Debt Financing Acme can obtain external financing from debt financing which means borrowing money. Schulz Wasmeier (2008) says that in the course of debt financing, in return the creditor will receive the promise that the principal and interest on the debt will be repaid by the company. The interest rate to be paid by Acme characteristically includes the so called market rate of interest rate plus a risk premium because Acme is a well established company and certain will be collaterals used to secure the debt. Acme will pay its interest rate depending on the maturity of the loan and the volume of the loan. Apart from specific loan agreements such as mutual or syndicated loans, common types of debt financing that Acme can use includes overdraft funding, and loans against asset (Schulz Wasmeier, 2008). Merson (2011) noted that debt finance will allow Acme to raise cash without giving any share capital or equity. This type of external financing can balance interest payments against tax and therefore there is a good reason to expect debt finance to be relatively cheap. Merson (2011) noted that in theory debt finance has a lot in its favor. However in practice, it may not be asy to obtain. Banks lend their money in return for interest. There are several types of debt finance which include overdraft and obtaining loans against assets. Overdraft funding is uncertain for the bank and Acme. This is because an overdraft can be called in at any time, hence it is a high-risk strategy for the multinational to rely on it for longer-term financing (Merson, 2011). From Acmes point of view it will pay high interest rates to reflect the risk. Obtaining financing through loans against asset is the most common way a bank can make sure that its position is protected. This implies that if Acme goes under, the bank can lay claim to and sell the asset against which it had secured the debt (Merson, 2011) Cash Flow Lending The second type of external financing that can be used by Acme is cash flow lending. Since Acme is an established company with a good track record, the firm can take advantage of cash flow lending. Merson (2011) noted that in this type of financing, instead of taking security against specific assets, a bank relies on the cash flow that the business expects to generate (p. 124). In this context, the bank will look for safeguards in the form of guarantees based on such measures as profitability, enterprise value and ratios comparing profit with interest. If the agreements are breached, the bank has the right to recall the loan (Merson, 2011). One disadvantage of this type of financing is that the bank generally puts measures in place that allow it to take control of the companys cash flow if it defaults on loan repayments. Its advantage is that cash flow lending is more focused than asset based lending on the ability for a business to repay its debts (Merson, 2011). Corporate Bond and Debentures Acme can also obtain financing through corporate bond and debentures. Merson (2011) mentioned that a corporate bond or debenture is long-term debt instrument with a maturity date, a redemption value and a coupon. Acmes bbonds will be traded on markets. Merson (2011) noted that the markets discernment of the riskiness of the debt is mirrored in its market price, which in turn affects the real interest rate earned by the obtainer of the bond. The main disadvantage of this form of financing is that bond markets are regulated, and sourcing money in this way can be costly, and consumes more management time. Its advantage is that a corporate bond will enable Acme to access financing without the help of a bank. This might allow Acme to raise money for a lower interest rate. Merson (2011) says that this type of financing may allow Acme to put its debt out for a longer period than a bank might be prepared to countenance. The fourth type of external financing that can be used by Acme is equity financing. In the United States this is known as stock ownership. Merson (2011) says that equity financiers of Acme will not be comfortable with security but they look instead at the robustness of the offer, the quality of the prospect, the return it will generate and the companys ability to repay the investment. Through equity financing, Acme is likely to incur high cost of capital than a debt financing and will likely cause a drop in earnings per share for the company and in turn unenthusiastically impact the companys share price (Stowell, 2010). The equity financing option will strengthen the companys balance sheet and may lead to a higher bond rating from a credit financing agency. This may result in lower future bond financing costs and higher long term value for the company (Stowell, 2010). Debt financing usually has a lower cost of capital, but may weaken Acmes balance sheet and reduce financial flexibility. Acme and its banker must consider the risk adjusted cost of debt when comparing this form of financing with an equity financing. Equity financing and cash flow lending are the best options for Acme. Cash flow lending is the best option is because it is more centered than asset based lending on the capability of the company to repay its debts. Buy custom External Financing essay

Walker Surname Meaning and Origin

Walker Surname Meaning and Origin Walker is an occupational surname for a fuller, or one who originally walked on raw, damp cloth in order to shrink and thicken it. Derived from the Middle English walkcere, meaning a fuller of cloth, and the Old English wealcan, to walk or tread. Walker is the 28th most popular surname in the United States and the 15th most common in England. Surname Origin:   English, Scottish Alternate Surname Spellings:   WALLKER, WALKAR, WALKERE   Where in the World is the WALKER  Surname Found? The Walker surname is mainly characteristic of the midlands and of the north of England, according to  surname distribution data from  Forebears, especially in Yorkshire, where it ranks 5th, as well as Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Durham and Lancashire. Based on their data, Walker ranks as the 18th most common surname in England, 14th in Australia, 12th in New Zealand, 21st in Scotland and 25th in the United States. WorldNames PublicProfiler  identifies  the Walker surname as most common in East Riding of Yorkshire, England, followed by the regions of middle and northern England and southern Scotland.   Famous People with the Surname WALKER: George F. Walker - Canadian playwrightCharles D. Walker - American astronautDorothy Walker Bush - mother of the 41st U.S. President George H. W. Bush, and grandmother of the 43rd U.S. President George W. BushHerschel Walker - American football playerMary Edwards Walker - American activistWilliam Walker - American adventurer, filibuster and soldier; President of Nicaragua (1856-1857).Alice Walker - African American novelist and author of The Color Purple.Craven Walker - Inventor of the lava lamp. Genealogy Resources for the Surname WALKER: 100 Most Common U.S. Surnames Their MeaningsSmith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 census? Common English Surnames Their MeaningsExplore the meanings and origins of the 100 most common English surnames. Walker Family History ProjectThis site is dedicated to collecting and recording genealogical information about Walker ancestors worldwide, and includes a number of online databases. John Walker Family OrganizationFamily history of the descendants of Robert Walker and Sarah Leager who came from England to Boston via the Winthrop Fleet of 1630. Walker Surname DNA ProjectOver 500 Walkers from around the world have joined together to establish a database of Walker DNA haplotypes to determine which Walker lineages share a common ancestor. FamilySearch - WALKER GenealogyExplore over 10 million historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Walker surname and its variations on the free FamilySearch website, hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. WALKER Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Walker surname. DistantCousin.com - WALKER Genealogy Family HistoryFree databases and genealogy links for the last name Walker. Walker Genealogy ForumSearch the archives for posts about Walker ancestors, or post your own Walker query. - References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.    Back to  Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins

Shakespeare's Prince Hamlet as medical professional (Nurse) Essay

Shakespeare's Prince Hamlet as medical professional (Nurse) - Essay Example To illustrate this point, several attributes of a good nurse will be discussed and then applied to a well-known fictional character, Shakespeare’s Prince Hamlet, to conjecture whether this character would have made an effective nurse. Nurses are often the first and most frequent care-giver of a person in need of medical services. Because everyone living will need medical services at some point or another, nurses must be dedicated to providing them while respecting the rights of all people to be treated with dignity and respect. â€Å"Nurses must respect the rights of all people regardless of age, race, social status, sexual orientation and religious beliefs. Nurses demonstrate unbiased compassion for all† (â€Å"Is Nursing Right†, 2000). In this respect, Hamlet would not make an effective nurse as there are several instances within the play where he is not able to display unbiased opinions or respect for others. He demonstrates outright disdain for Polonius, openly accusing him of being false, shows disgust for his uncle and chastises his mother for her actions. His anger at his mother carries over into his treatment of Ophelia as well, causing him to accuse her of thoughts and intentions sheâ€℠¢d never dreamed of. This is deemed a very important characteristic for a nurse to have as there is no avoiding the need to treat all individuals requiring medical assistance and Hamlet’s inability to overcome his rage, however justified, would be a difficult trait to overcome. Another characteristic of a good nurse is a willingness to learn. More than simply being willing to put in the extra training and hard work necessary to pass mandatory nursing certification tests, â€Å"Nurses are motivated to keep up with trends and research in the profession and to value life-long learning† (â€Å"Is Nursing Right†, 2000). This is a trait that Hamlet possesses. He is back in Denmark after having been away to study, called to return to his

Discussion week 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion week 2 - Essay Example system results to wrongful conviction because a public defendant has very many cases to handle and lacks ample time to spend on each case, and this affects the quality of representation (Collica & Furst, 2012). In the long rand, there is wrongfully conviction because the Public defender does not comprehensively analyze the case. There is also poor contact between the public defender, and there is unfair conviction. In contrasting the level of representation illustrated by Bright to the level of representation to white collar, corporate, and environmental crimes is to say that money has power and influence. A plaintiff without money to hire a competitive Public defender receives poor representation in the court of law, and the case does not favor him/her (Collica & Furst, 2012). In solving these issues, every state should adequately fund the public defender system because everyone should get fair and justified trial. It becomes difficult to receive a fair trial if the representation is poor. Adequate resourcing and funding the public defender program results to a fair trial and effective representation. The war on drugs has resulted to increased imprisonment. There has been heavy taxation in order to imprison and rehabilitate the drug victims. According to Collins (2012), since the commencement of war on Drugs, there has been a great increase of those convicted. There has been unequal percentage of the minority groups convicted and imprisoned without proper investigation. In the year 2003, there was a high rate of imprisonment of African Americans accuses of drug abuse in US (Collica, 2012). However, the use and trafficking of illegal drugs among the white and the African Americans is equal, yet the African Americans are the ones accused and imprisoned. This is unfair and against the constitutional rights on discrimination based on race and color (Collica, 2012). The increase of immigrants in US has reduced the crime rates. Indeed, immigration has a

Review of Literature Essay Example for Free

Review of Literature Essay Dear client, please fill in the dates in the submissions and the blanks. thank you. Key milestones have already been established for this project, as recommended by the KBS’s PLS FILL UP PROGRAMME NAME. : Interim Project Submission 12 July 2006 Draft Project Submission 1 September 2006 Final Project Submission 30 September 2006 Through these dates, a draft of the programme has been formulated in addition to the enumeration of the additional milestones. At this point the framework is an estimation of the dates of deliverables of the objects in the milestones as these depend on the coordination and the cooperation of the identified proponents of this proposed research. At this point the research aims to get the appropriate permissions and letters needed that requests for the formalisation of the participation, especially as this requires working with bars and clubs. DEAR CLIENT, PLEASE FILL UP THE APPROPRIATE DATES FOR YOUR RESEARCH PROGRAMME IN THIS TABLE, THANK YOU. Activity No of Days Start Date Finish Date. Project Proposal Submission 0 Thu 04/05/06 Thu 04/05/06 Literature Review 90 Mon 01/05/06 Fri 01/09/06 Refine Methodology 31 Thu 04/05/06 Thu 15/06/06 Meet with potential project sponsor(s) 3 Thu 01/06/06 Mon 05/06/06 First Draft of Questionnaire 10 Thu 01/06/06 Wed 14/06/06 Identify Questionnaire Addressees 10 Thu 01/06/06 Wed 14/06/06 Identify and contact potential interviewees 10 Thu 01/06/06 Wed 14/06/06 Meet with Supervisor 0 Mon 19/06/06 Mon 19/06/06 Final Questionnaire 5 Tue 20/06/06 Mon 26/06/06 Pre-test questionnaire 3 Tue 27/06/06 Thu 29/06/06 Contact Interviewees 10 Tue 20/06/06 Mon 03/07/06. Send out questionnaire 1 Fri 30/06/06 Fri 30/06/06 Interim Project Submission 0 Wed 12/07/06 Wed 12/07/06 Follow-up to questionnaire 5 Wed 12/07/06 Tue 18/07/06 Interviews 10 Mon 17/07/06 Fri 28/07/06 Meet with Supervisor 0 Mon 31/07/06 Mon 31/07/06 Analysis of Primary Research 20 Mon 31/07/06 Fri 25/08/06 Telephone follow-up/interview as required 25 Mon 07/08/06 Fri 08/09/06 Meet with Supervisor 0 Wed 23/08/06 Wed 23/08/06 Draft Project Submission 0 Fri 01/09/06 Fri 01/09/06 Meet with Supervisor 0 Mon 11/09/06 Mon 11/09/06 Refine and amend Submission 19 Mon 04/09/06 Thu 28/09/06. Final Project Submission 0 Fri 29/09/06 Fri 29/09/06 Contingency As previously mentioned, one of the challenges of this paper is the lack of accessible scholarly and academic studies concerning events management in the bar and club businesses. In this regard, this research aims to utilise of the available literature and studies from similar sources such as case studies on certain events and similar operations such as restaurants. This study therefore relies on direct primary data which will be gathered depending on the degree of participation of identified club and bar owners. A contingency is that this paper goes on ahead with the research activity and source information from secondary sources as the foundations of this study; there will be therefore a heavier approach to analysis and the research framework is most likely modified should problems in resources come up. Cited Works and Bibliography Bowdin, Glenn, Harris, Johnny, OToole, William, Harris, Rob, McDonnel, Ian. Events Management, 2nd Ed. London: Elsevier, 2006. Brown, Douglas Robert Miron, Amanda. The Professional Bar Beverage Managers Handbook: How to Open and Operate a Financially Successful Bar, Tavern and Night Club. Florida: Atlantic Publishing Company, 2005. Chatterton, Paul Hollands, Robert. Urban Nightscapes: Youth Cultures, Pleasure Spaces and Corporate Power. New York: Routledge, 2003. Craven, Robin. The Complete Idiots Guide to Meeting Event Planning, 2nd Edition. Exton, PA: Alpha, 2006. Culp, Christopher. The Risk Management Process: Business Strategy and Tactics. New York: Wiley, 2001. Dommermuth W. P. Promotion: Analysis, creativity, and strategy, 2nd ed. Boston: PWS- Kent, 1989. Goldblatt, J. Special Events: Best Practices in Modern Event Management, new York: van Nostrand Reinhold, 1997. Henderson, Karla. â€Å"Marketing Recreation and Physical Activity Programs for Females†. JOPERDThe Journal of Physical Education, Recreation Dance, 66(1995): 53+. Hormozi, Amir Dube, Leon. â€Å"Establishing Project Control: Schedule, Cost, and Quality†. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 64(1999): 32+. Jones, K. S. Night club promotions manual source list: How to create exciting, profitable event calendars for your bar. Hughes Company, 1993. Mack, Rhonda W. â€Å"Event Sponsorship: An Exploratory Study of Small Business Objectives, Practices, and Perceptions†. Journal of Small Business Management, 37(1999): 25+. Michman, Ronald. Lifestyle Market Segmentation. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1991. Roche, Maurice. Mega-Events and Modernity: Olympics and Expos in the Growth of Global Culture. New York: Routledge. Soares, Eric. Promotional Feats: The Role of Planned Events in the Marketing Communications Mix. New York: Quorum Books, 1991. Shore, Anton Parry, Brynn. Successful Event Management. London: Thomson, 2004. Silvers, Julia. Event Management Body of Knowledge. 2009. Julia Rutherford Silvers. 16 June 2009. http://www. juliasilvers. com/embok. htm. Professional Event Coordination (The Wiley Event Management Series). New Jersey: Wiley, 2003. Smith, Robert. An Entrepreneurs Guide to Running a Profitable Club Operation. Fairfax, Vermont: Upland Publications, 2001. Webster, Francis Knutson, Joanne. What is Project Management? Project Management Concepts and Methodologies. The AMA Handbook of Project Management, P. Dinsmore J. Cabanis-Brewin, Eds. New York: AMACOM, 2006. Westerbeek, Hans, Smith, Aaron, Turner, Paul, Emery, Paul, Green, Christine, van Leeuwen, Linda. Managing Sport Facilities and Major Events. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen Unwin, 2005.

The Stroke :: essays research papers

The Stroke   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Every second, of every day, something happens to someone in the world. Sometimes it is for the best, and sometimes it is not. I truly believed that the bad only happened to those who deserved it. The human population lives in their safe little world believing that nothing bad will happen to them. Or at least this is what I believed. Unfortunately, as the saying goes â€Å"shit happens.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On July 31st, of 2004, Judy Kolstad was walking back to the bed from the bathroom. Without warning she fell over, and her head proceeded to land on the floor. During the week prior to this she had complained of flu like symptoms, headaches, and problems with her menstrual cycle. She was taking many medications for these symptoms, and was beginning to feel better. She had been drinking wine the night of the accident, and wasn’t able to fall asleep. After falling to the floor, her husband, my step-father, came to her aid. and called Buffalo Hospital. She began to experience trouble breathing, and was none responsive to us. Because of the fact that she had been drinking we assumed her fall was caused by a mixture of alcohol and prescription drugs. She was rushed to the hospital where she underwent many tests in attempt to locate the source of the problem. Three hours later they reached the bottom of the list, and came to the conclusion that it may have been a stroke. By this time my mother was in a coma. She was transferred to Mercy Unity Hospital in Fridley, Minnesota. It was there that she underwent neurological testing to try and discover the root of the problem. On August 1st, my stepfather came home from the hospital, where he was discussing my mother’s condition with the neurological surgeon. From the moment he walked into the house, my sisters and I knew something was wrong. He began telling us in a somber voice tha t our mother had had a stroke. From that moment in time, life has changed dramatically.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Judy was a workaholic, and full of life. She was a strong headed German woman, and I held great respect towards her from the moment I was born. My mother lived for the day, and took pride in all the little aspects of life. She maintained a home, a family, a husband, and a career. Judy had worked as a field rep for a large sales company in the machining industry.

Banking and Its Influential Factors in the Economy

Banking is one of the most influential factors on the economies of today†s society. As with everything these days, technology is changing where, when and most of all, how we do things, specifically banking and other related financial transactions and arrangements such as mortgages, etc. Recently, in Toronto, the very city we live in, we were in the midst of two possible bank mergers, which would have changed banking and on a larger scale the entire economy, in many ways. In comparison to the larger banks of the world, Canada†s most major banks are not even close to the size and caliber of international banks like ING Direct, for example. This would not typically be a problem for Canadian banks, however when these international banks move into Canada, which has happened already, and is bound to happen even more as time passes and Canada becomes a more prosperous country, it quickly becomes a very large problem. Banks are an extremely affluent business. Regardless of where you are in the world banks are right at the top of the list when it comes to capital, equity and earnings. Canada fits right in, in comparison to the rest of Canada. But when we compare Canada†s banks to those of other countries, or even better, international banks, they are simply insignificant. For example, hypothetically speaking, if the entire world were opting whether or not to adopt a single currency, most deciding factors would be made by the banks of each individual country. Canada, although it is a major world leader in many other categories, would not be looked upon as a country that knew much about international stature, in terms of banking. In this essay I will try to prove how banking is one of the most influential factors on the economy by using factual cases from recent times. What does better customer relations† mean? Increasingly, customers are demanding more convenient ways to do their banking. An Ernst and Young study (Technology in Banking Report) concluded, â€Å"nothing changes in the banking world if customers cannot get financial services when and where they wish†¦this means anywhere, at any time. † Statistics show that ATM†s telephone banking, and home banking account for over fifty percent of all banking transactions today, and total non-branch activity is growing at fifteen percent a year. In one survey (Web-Tech, Inc., May 17, 1995), eighty-two percent of 18- to 34-year olds polled preferred banks with 24-hour service. Customers are also demanding a more sophisticated mix of products tailored specifically to their financial needs, and non-bank competitors are better fulfilling these needs. Banks today hold only 20% of household financial assets, versus 34% twenty years ago; they have 30% of business deposits, versus 42% only seven years ago. Non-bank credit card providers have gained inroads against banks, holding a 25% market share versus 5% in 1986 (WebTech, Inc., May 17, 1995). Internet banking offers an attractive solution to this redesigned products and services. Customers have 24-hour graphical-interface access to their accounts and appreciate that their bank is doing something to make banking easier for them. A country, like a business or a person, is constantly doing anything in its power to better itself. A business, like a society, is either growing or declining; the competitive world allows no other options. Human nature will allow no state of rest. Economics is the study of production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of goods and services (Ammer, pg. 186), all of which, if stopped, would cause a business or a country to grind to a halt. From these statements we realize that change is an integral part of the world of economics. Not necessarily a change in what we create, rather the way we do it. Technology, that is, the development of new materials, products, machinery, and processes can create new products and concepts as well as improve production and efficiency for existing products a few key factors that determine economic growth. As a result, new jobs are created, existing ones are made easier and more efficient, and the in the end there is a greater profit margin (Thurow, pg. 69, 304). To understand this topic I will look at the effects of technology on economic growth compared to those of the other four factors, There are five factors, which affect a country's economic growth, Each factor has its own effect on economic growth, however together they produce a greater overall effect. Picture a bank without any branches. No tellers. No rows of desks. No racks of brochures, no automated teller machines outside. Picture, in fact, a virtual bank, one that for the customer exists only in his or her office or home, as images on a computer screen. US financial institutions are moving towards â€Å"virtual banking.† This strategy is about making bank products and services available to customers any time and any place they want them. As virtual banking becomes more popular, it is very likely that more customer service will be seen while the number of traditional teller-staffed branches will decline. Bank customers will move away from traditional banking and will become more dependent on electronic transactions using ATMs or PCs (Britt, Savings&Community Banker, February 1995, p.9). Thanks to this â€Å"technical revolution†, financial institutions are using software programs, online services, and even the Internet to allow customers to check balances, pay bills, and transfer funds among accounts. Bankers promise that, in the near future, we will also be able to more easily buy certificates of deposit, mutual funds, and other investments, and even apply for loans electronically. For most people, today's best option may be plug into their bank through one of three leading home-budgeting software programs, these programs are: By charging $5 to $20 a month for such services, banks are sure to cash in on the high-tech superhighway. This would make everything much easier for customers. All that is required is a personal computer, software and a modem, all of which the majority of people in today†s society have. On-screen instructions, filled with colorful graphics and pictures, explain how to select and work on various tasks. The system automatically calculates and updates account balances and keeps records of bills. A handful of banks have already set up home pages on the Internet to provide information to their existing and potential customers about upcoming services. They started their transactions. Internet banking differs from the traditional PC banking model in several ways. In most home banking ventures, the bank sends an application software program to the customer which runs on the customer's PC. The customer then dials into the bank with their modem, downloads data, and runs the programs that are resident on their computer, perhaps sending back a batch of requests such as transfers between accounts. It demands more and more space and speed from the customer's computer. With Internet banking, on the other hand, there are potential customers who already have all the software they need to do their banking, since all they need is a browser. The actual banking software resides on the bank's server in the form of their home page. This software can be updated at any moment with new information, such as new prices or products, without having to send anything to the customer; it can also continue to expand and become more sophisticated without becoming cumbersome for the customer to operate. Banking with a browser, on the other hand, involves a continuous, interactive session, initiated by a local telephone call to a local access provider or online service. By developing internal expertise today, banks can prepare themselves to react quickly and efficiently to competitive moves and consumer trends as the financial services industry changes. Employees at Bank of America, Chemical, Wells Fargo, and other large U.S. banks use them to buy lunch and snacks. Smart cards-plastic cards with computer chips-are starting to be used for prepayment, debit, and credit purchases all over the world. In the U.S., smart cards can be only used at a contained group of machines, or for one purpose. â€Å"They are part of the broader shift to electronic delivery, to making ATMs more functional, to using PCs and the Internet to do home banking.† says Edgar Brown, senior vice-president of alternative delivery products at First Union, Charlotte, N.C. One of the advantages of using chips on cards with or instead of magnetic stripes is better security. Microprocessor chips are very difficult to alter or forge. Chips can carry more information than magnetic stripes can. A microprocessor chip can store up to eight kilobytes of data. Smart cards make cheaper and faster payments possible. Money can be deducted from a chip without on-line authorization. This makes for a two-second transaction versus an up-to-two-minutes one, and telecommunications costs are saved (Lunt, P., ABA Banking Journal, September 1995, p.46). We can plainly see that there are many factors having great importance, when dealing with the economy. There are many things we must take into consideration in order to make any kind of an informed economic decision.

Understanding Nutrition

Al-Quds University Body Fluid Lab. Report Chemical Examination of Urine Prepared By : Lucia Principles Benedict's Test for Reducing Sugars Urinary sugars when boiled in Benedict's reagent reduce copper  sulphate  to a reddish cuprous oxide precipitate in hot alkaline medium, the intensity of which is proportional to the amount of sugar present in the urine. The results are reported as 1+,2+, etc. depending upon the  colour  and intensity of the cuprous oxide precipitate. turbidimetric method protein in urine Quantitative Tests for 24-Hour Specimens. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) test.The addition of TCA to a urine specimen precipitates the protein in a fine suspension that is quantified spectrophotometrically at 420 nm (nanometers) by comparison with a similarly treated standard. Heat and acetic acid method Heat test: Based on the principle of heat coagulation and precipitation of proteins. If any turbidity appears, add 2 drops of 33% acetic acid. (Acidification is necessary because in alkaline medium heating may precipitate phosphates). If the precipitate is due to proteins, it will increase on acidification and if it is due to phosphates, it will dissolve again.Sulphosalicylic  acid method Urine Protein Sulfosalicylic Acid Precipitation Test (SSA) Principle: Three percent (3%) Sulfosalicylic Acid (SSA reagent) is added to a small and equal volume of clear urine. The acidification causes precipitation of protein in the sample (seen as increasing turbidity), which is subjectively graded as trace,1+, 2+, 3+ or 4+. Bence Jones protein Bence Jones reaction involves heating urine to 140 °F (60 °C). At this temperature, the Bence Jones proteins will clump. The clumping disappears if the urine is further heated to boiling and reappears when the urine is cooled.Other clumping procedures using salts, acids, and other chemicals are also used to detect these proteins. These types of test will reveal whether or not Bence Jones proteins are present, but not how much is present. Hemosiderin Hemosiderin stain is used to indicate the presence of iron storage granules called hemosiderin  by microscopic examination of urine sediment. Granules of hemosiderin stain blue when potassium ferrocyanide is added to the sample. The Prussian blue stain may also be used to identify siderocytes (iron-containing red blood cells [RBCs]) in peripheral blood.The presence of siderocytes in circulating RBCs is abnormal. Urobilinogen This test is based on a modified Ehrlich reaction in which p-diethylaminobenzaldehyde reacts with urobilinogen in a strongly acid medium. Colors range from light pink to bright magenta. Results * Benedict's Test result for cup # G3 : 4+ Brown color appear. * Turbidimetric method result for cup of 24-hrs urine: Tube| Absorbance| Test+test-blank| 0. 058| Standard+water blank| 0. 010| Calculation : Total protein (mg/dl)=At/Ast ? conc. St 0. 058/0. 010 ? 100=580 mg/dl Total protien(mg/24 hrs) =urine protein (mg/dl)? urine volume(ml )/100 = 580? 2000/100)=11600 mg /dl Normal values :0-150 mg/24 hrs * Heat and acetic acid method and Sulphosalicylic  acid method for cup # P4: 4+ precipitation appeared. * Bence Jones protein for cup # P4 : Clear after 15 min of boiling so negative for Bence Jones protein. * Hemosiderin results :Few Hemosiderin granules was seen under Microscope * Urobilinogen result for cup # G3:Negative result (no appearance of red color). Interpretation Benedict's Test for Reducing Sugars Normal urine does not contain any reducing sugar. If protein is present in large amounts, it may interfere with the precipitation of the cuprous oxide.To overcome this problem, precipitate the proteins using 3% SSA filter using a  Whatman  filter paper and use the filtrate to test the amount of sugar present. As a quality control measure, standards containing known amounts of glucose are prepared in saturated benzoic acid and one of the standards is used every day to check the reliability of the patientâ €™s results. The standard results may be transformed in the following semi-quantitative way. turbidimetric method protein in urine For turbidimetric methods, there were no apparent problems of comparative bias between human albumin and serum-based materials and urines used in this study.Perhaps this was because all materials were diluted in 9 g/L saline: turbidimetric methods generally suffer from failure of standards and samples to form precipitates identically,and precipitation may not occur at low protein concentrations in urines of high ionic strength. Heat and acetic acid method This test is sensitive enough to detect protein down to a concentration of 2-3 mg%. If  an alkaline  urine is boiled, the protein may be converted into the so- called â€Å"alkaline  metaprotein†, which is not coagulated by heat. Therefore it is always better to acidify the urine before doing this test.If too much acetic acid is added, the protein may be converted to the so-called †Å"acid  metaprotein†, which is also not coagulated by heat. Therefore the urine should be only mildly acidic. Sulphosalicylic  acid method The  sulphosalicylic  acid method will not detect protein in  a normal  urine, but will be sensitive enough to detect protein present down to 20mg%. As a quality control measure, a 22g/dl albumin solution can be diluted appropriately with 0. 9 g/dl sodium chloride to get standards containing 20, 50, 200, 500 and 2500 mg/dl proteins.These standards are stable for one month when stored at 2-80C. Bence Jones protein Monoclonal light chain proteinuria (Bence Jones proteinuria) is seen in patients with light chain myeloma, in approximately 50% of those with IgG and IgA myeloma, and in some patients with other lymphoproliferative disorders (eg, macroglobulinaemia) and plasma cell dyscrasias (amyloid). Entire paraprotein molecules may also be detected in serum. Urine protein dipsticks do not detect Bence-Jones protein. Hemosiderin Hemo siderin is present in diseases involving a true siderosis of kidney parenchyma (hemochromatosis).It is also present 2-3 days after an acute hemolytic episode that produces hemoglobinemia and hemoglobinuria. Hemosiderin granules are found in intact renal tubular epithelial cells or occasionally in casts and may also be seen extracellularly. Urobilinogen Interpretation of results will depend upon several factors: the variability of color perception; the presence or absence of inhibitory factors; the presence or absence of inhibitory factors typically found in urine, the specific gravity or the pH; and the lighting conditions under which the product is used.

Roman Constitution essays

Roman Constitution essays Plutarch writes about the future leader of Rome, Caesar. Plutarch tells us about how brave and great Caesar was. Plutarch also tells us the story of how Caesar got away from his kidnappers just to go back to them later to kill them. Caesar how ever was a great leader in war. He did not put himself higher than his men. Caesar would not have his men do something that he wouldnt do himself. Plutarch also tells us the amount of people he killed and took prisoner of. And to show that Caesar was also a prick at times. The way Plutarch wrote about Caesar you would never have guessed that is was years after Caesars death that this was written. Reading Polybiuss Roman Constitution it is very similar to our Constitution of The United States. We have the Legislative, Executive, and the judicial branches of Government. Polybiuss describes the Roman government was made up of the Consuls, Senate, and the People, different words same meaning. In order for our country to run as honest as it does we use a systems the Romans used called, Checks and Balances. In today government they look at the people in to classes, the upper class and the lower class, as did the Romans and a lot of other countries governments. Cicero was truly a man of the state. His writings also show us he was equally a man of philosophical temperament and affluence. Yet at times these two forces within Cicero clash and contradict with the early stoic teachings. Cicero gradually adopted the stoic lifestyle but not altogether entirely, and this is somewhat due to the fact of what it was like to be roman of the time. The morals of everyday Rome conflicted with some of the stoic ideals that were set by early stoicism. Thus, Cicero changed the face of stoicism by romanizing it, redefining stoicism into the middle phase. For Cicero, stoicism was something to be admired, read, and used. But stoicism was still a Greek philosophy, something t...

Auditing and Assurance Services Identification

The obligation of duty of care varies with the each case scenario as the severity of duty enhances the extent of responsibility. A greater duty of care will arise when it relates to the matters which are presumed to be in the knowledge of professional accountant or where fees are charged (Gay and Simnett, 2010).   A Professional accountant may accept a commission from the third party in connection with the sale of goods and services to a client. In the present case, Peter Harmon, professional accountant advises its clients to purchase computer services from Bunker L Ltd. In consideration Bunker, L Ltd has promised to pay 10% commission. Peter Harmon hasn’t violated Accounting code of ethics. According to Section 120 of APES Code of ethics for professional accountant’s states that a Member in practice may accept referral fees related to the client but only in certain situations (Mironiuc, Robu and Robu, 2012). This acceptance of commission or referral fee creates a self-interest threat objectivity, professional competence and due care but accountant has to disclose the clients about the arrangement in connection with the sale by the third party to its client. Here the accountant has to disclose about the arrangements in relation to the commission to the clients to safeguard the threat relating to self-interest. In this situation, there can be a breach of the principle of objectivity and Professional Competence and Due Care. According to Section 140 of APES Code of ethics for professional accountant’s imposes an obligation on all members to refrain from: In the above case, David Smith has referred it clients to insurance companies without letting them know. It is the obligation of the auditor to maintain confidentiality about the information acquired due to business and professional relationship. However, in the given case the auditor has disclosed confidential information (Glover, Taylor and Wu, 2015). Here David smith has to let know the clients about this fact that he has referred their names and about the arrangements in connection with the commission which the auditor will receive in consideration. In this situation, there is a breach of confidentiality. In accordance with the auditing ethics of Australia, it is important to accomplish audit work by considering professional approach and being committed to the work of client. As per the provided information in the scenario, it can be noticed that there is not a proper aspect for securing information provided by the client as information can be assessed by anyone and it can lead to clients (Glover, Taylor and Wu, 2015). By considering this factor, in this case, there is the possibility of violation of the ethical principle of the objectivity and Professional Competence and Due Care. Arens, A.A, 2007. Auditing and assurance services in Australia: an integrated approach. Pearson Education Australia. Collings, S., 2014. Frequently Asked Questions in International Standards on Auditing. John Wiley & Sons. Gay, G.E. and Simnett, R. 2010. Auditing and assurance services in Australia. Mcgraw-hill. Glover, S.M., Taylor, M.H. and Wu, Y.J. 2015. Mind the gap: Factors contributing to purported deficiencies in auditing complex estimates beyond auditor performance. Available at SSRN 2504521. Mironiuc, M., Robu, B. I. and Robu, A. M., 2012. The Fraud Auditing: Empirical Study Concerning the Identification of the Financial Dimensions of Fraud. Journal of Accounting and Auditing Research and Practice, 2. End your doubt 'should I pay someone to do my dissertation by availing dissertation writing services from

Application of Nursing Theory to administrative practice arena Coursework

Application of Nursing Theory to administrative practice arena - Coursework Example According to Meleis (2007), self-care theory supports the establishment of contractual associations between nurses and patients. The establishment of effective communication between the nurse and the patient then promotes effective communication between the patient and the nurse. In this case, the nurse leaders can set effective communication with the nurses who then replicate the same to their patients. Notably, effective communication between the patient and the nurse is essential in the provision of high-quality patient care and patient satisfaction. McEwen and Weill (2014) views the interpersonal relations between patient and nurses as a primary element of nursing care in Orem’s theory of self-care. It is these nurse-patient interactions that are open, approving and stress on patient accountability that are associated with positive patient treatment outcomes. Additionally, Basavanthappa (2007) acknowledges that the self-care theory offers a patient-centered and individualized care that promotes confidence and encourages participation of the patients in the care design and buttresses the expectations of the patients and their discernments on quality of care, thus promoting patient satisfaction