Philippine Gaming Industry

Despite the surge of Pagcor income that has succeeded immensely in supporting the cash-strapped government, several lawmakers, nongovernment organizations and especially the religious sector are still firmly against government engaging in the business of operating casinos. Edward King, spokesman for Pagcor chairman Efraim Genuino, told The Manila Times that first and foremost, one thing that people should remember is that Pagcor is a creation of law. Pagcor, a government-owned and controlled corporation was established to regulate all games of chance in the Philippines. It was born in 1976, created by then-President Marcos to oversee the operation of gaming casinos, to generate funds for the government’s developmental projects and to help curb illegal gambling. An unaudited Pagcor report shows that Pagcor, â€Å"a vital arm of the government in nation building, â€Å" netted P25. 4 billion in income making it one of the biggest earners for 2006. † So is Pagcor a proof that casinos and legalized gaming can be a valuable source of government funding and an effective engine for national development? â€Å"We are created by law, we are just following what the law orders us to do. It is not a question that is up to us to decide. We must obey the law,† King said. Under the law, he explained, Pagcor is required to run casinos. He said that the most important thing about the government running casinos is that all funds that generated from Pagcor goes back to the government â€Å"100 percent. † â€Å"We are operating the casinos but here is where everything lies: 100 percent of the income that we generate goes back to the government,† King said. The state-run gaming firm surpassed its earlier record-breaking P21. 9-billion total annual income in 2004 and breached its target income of P23. 1 billion for 2005. It surpassed the P24. 5 billion target for 2006 as well. Pagcor’s 2005 total income of P23. 4 billion was 6. 8 percent higher than the P21. 9 billion it posted a year before. The issue of privatizing Pagcor is also very controversial, with several lawmakers pushing for it and even more congressmen against it. King said that while the act can be considered purely from the noble and idealistic viewpoint that government should not be in the business of gambling, one has to think from the point of view of generating funds for the government. He said that if the government would privatize Pagcor, then all income goes to the private sector leaving only a small amount in taxes being paid to the government coffers. â€Å"If you give Pagcor to the private, they will just be paying taxes. There is a huge difference between a fraction of income from taxes to 100 percent,† King said. An official from Pagcor who requested anonymity even claimed that perhaps the lawmakers have their own personal agenda. Maybe they want to be the ones who will buy and operate Pagcor, they said. Its simple, privatize Pagcor they get the income, the lawmakers may perhaps be getting their own kickbacks from certain lobby groups who want Pagcor for their personal purpose,† the official said. King merely laughed at the statement of the official adding that he did not want to comment, not wanting to get into trouble with the congressmen. King, however, added that if Pagcor is run privately, all measures such as that of the antimoney launderi ng might be removed and the private personalities owning it may use the gaming for the bad purposes that the antimoney-laundering council wants to prevent. Pagcor is created by law with the purpose of bringing much needed funds to the government. Certainly if you are run privately mahirap bantayan. How can you impose legislation on it which means how can we protect ourselves now from money laundering, how do we prevent this money going out of the country,† he said. â€Å"We are able to ensure that these things do not happen since the protective mechanism are all in place here. ’Yung mga private casinos for instance maaaring lumalabas iyang pera at magamit for money laundering once they are privately owned,† he said. We do what we can,† King said. King also thanked Congress for granting them a fresh 25-year franchise. King explained that government departments are dependent on Pagcor. The Department of Education is seeking more money from us. Even many church organizations get donations from Pagcor despite the opposition to Pagcor of some bishops. Pagcor, in President Arroyo’s own words, is an important part of Philippine nation building. In its endeavor to generate more funds for the governmen t’s pressing concerns, Pagcor has ventured beyond casino management. To meet the challenges of the new millennium, the gaming corporation is constantly looking for ways to improve its gaming products and maximizing the efficiency of its gaming operations. Philippine Gaming Market Sports betting is, to a vast population of Filipinos, a way of life from cockfighting to horseracing and basketball. Betting on number combination games such as lotteries and basketball â€Å"ending† offered by illegal bookies, has become part of millions of Filipinos’ daily routine. The gaming market in the Philippines is estimated to be over P100 billion a year. Illegal gaming accounts for half of the country’s gaming industry revenues. Internet Gaming Market The Internet gaming global market is estimated to be US$10 billion in 2002 and is predicted to reach US$14. 5 billion in year 2006. Internet Sports Betting and Internet Casino dominates most of the revenues. Although US now accounts for half of industry revenues, the gaming market is changing and the biggest area of growth is in places like Europe and Asia. Pagcor aims to go global and is keen on gaining a share of the Internet gaming revenue. Internet gaming will allow Pagcor to reach out to local and foreign gaming enthusiasts with less investment cost. About Philweb Capitalizing on its Internet technology experience, Philweb in early 2003 made a deliberate decision to focus on Internet Gaming. It established partner relationship with leading software providers in addition to establishing its own gaming software capability. On the basis of this expertise, Philweb was successful in concluding a contract with Pagcor, whereby Philweb became Pagcor’s overall service provider for Internet Gaming technology. To date, Philweb has concluded 2 Internet Gaming agreements with Pagcor, as follows: Acknowledging the Filipino’s yearning for sports and gaming as well as the continuing popularity of local sports betting, Pagcor, in partnership with Philweb Corp. , designed and deployed a new and innovative way to utilize Internet technology in fueling the Filipino’s passion for sports—Internet Sports Betting. Pagcor aims to compete head on with illegal bookies and migrate most, if not all, of the illegal gaming revenues into additional source of income for the government. Recognizing Philweb’s extensive knowledge in Internet technology, software development expertise and its nationwide marketing distribution network, Pagcor signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Philweb on November 28, 2002, engaging the latter as its technology service provider and marketing consultant for Internet Sports Betting. Subsequently, Philweb and Pagcor likewise entered into several supplemental agreements to cover the expansion programs of Pagcor on Internet Sports Betting. Philweb is a PLDT subsidiary. Pagcor license for Internet casino Pagcor has decided to offer casino games outside the land-based casinos via Internet Casino Stations. Compared with the land-based counterpart, Internet Casino Stations require less investment because of their low overhead as well as operating and marketing costs. Also, Internet Casino offers gaming enthusiasts the opportunity to play casino games in the privacy and comfort of their homes at any time of the day and at their own pace. As an additional feature, a prepaid card system will be incorporated in Pagcor’s Internet Casino betting platform to avoid credit card fraud and fast-track its nationwide distribution. Philweb is partnering once more with Pagcor to accelerate the market entry of the latter’s Internet Casino products in the Philippines. With a management team rich with Internet Casino business expertise, Philweb expects to realize with Pagcor the revenue potential of Internet Casino. Currently, Pagcor and Philweb are pursuing for the expansion of their Internet Gaming relationship to now include Internet Casino. Philweb will provide its technology and marketing services to Pagcor. These services shall include the following: Recently, Philweb, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) affiliate that oversees the operation of an Internet casino business on behalf of the government, expects to report a full-year profit for 2006, the first since it was set up in 2000. Philweb reported net profit of P42 million ($861,848) in the first nine months of 2006. The company, which oversees 45 Internet casino stations, most of them in Manila, said gross betting volume in online casinos had surged from P562 million in 2004 to P10. 8 billion in 2005. It is likely to rise by another 30 percent in 2006, according to Dennis Valdes, the company’s president. That forecast looked optimistic on a recent Saturday night in Manila on the basis of competition between a bookmaker’s office, crowded with laborers betting on horses, and an Internet casino station a few feet away where no-one was queuing to play. But the relative quiet outside the online casino belies the vast and rapid flow of money into the newest game of chance to hit Manila. On entry into what looks like an Internet cafe, where about 25 desktop computers are linked to a powerful server running gambling software, customers are asked to buy at least P500 worth of credits, and it is not uncommon for players to spend P1,000 in just 15 minutes. â€Å"We started out as an ISP [Internet service provider] and it was only recently that the company refocused on Internet gambling,† said Valdes. In November 2002, Philweb won a contract to provide consultancy services to the state gambling monopoly, which is trying to curb an illegal market that it estimates to be worth about P50 billion a year. Stock market investors are making a big bet on Philweb, whose share price more than doubled in 2006 and has risen by about a 10th so far this year. Its market capitalization of P3. 9 billion is now almost a quarter more than the combined market value of the two bigger and older companies that run horse races.

Organizational Behavior Essay

Organizational Behavior Instructor: Rachana Misraraj December 10, 2012 Organizational Behavior Analysis Organizational Behavior is the study and application of knowledge about how people, individuals, and groups act in organizations. â€Å"Organizational behavior is a misnomer. It is not the study of how organizations behave, but rather the study of individual behavior in an organizational setting. This includes the study of how individuals behave alone, as well as how individuals behave in groups(Werthiem, 2004). † The purpose of organizational behavior is to gain a greater understanding of those factors that influence individual and group dynamics in an organizational setting so that individuals and the groups and organizations to which they belong may become more efficient and effective. The field also includes the analysis of organizational factors that may have an influence upon individual and group behavior. Much of organizational behavior research is ultimately aimed at providing human resource management professionals with the information and tools they need to select, train, and retain employees in a fashion that yields maximum benefit for the individual employee as well as for the organization. The purpose of the paper below is to analyze the organizational behavior of my current or former employer (current: Street, Water, and Sewer Department for my town), by describing how each of the components listed below influences the behavior of the organization in a negative or positive manner, and they include, the Type of culture (Pluralism, Dualism or Salad bowl? ); Modes of communication (Describe the dominant communication form used, e. g. written or verbal); Nature of authority (recognized social rank); Motivational techniques (Describe the motivational driving forces e. g. Intrinsic or extrinsic used to influence productivity and performance? ); Areas of EQ incorporated (Describe how the organization embraces the theory of emotional intelligence); and How are the components of a virtual organization embraced? (Explain how the organization embraces new paradigms such as teleworking and virtual offices? ). Grasping a complex and knowledgeable understanding on why, when, where and how, organizational behavior functions and operates, can provide great tools and skills to an individual or organization to better manage behavior and productivity within a company. I currently work for as a laborer for the Water/Sewer department for my county/town. As a member of the STREET department which is responsible for the maintenance and repair of City roads and right-of-ways; maintenance and repair of drainage located on City property; installation and maintenance of signs and roadway markings; and removal of snow and ice. The Employee’s operates, maintains and repairs various machinery, tools, and equipment. As for the water department, this position is responsible for maintenance and repair of City’s WATERLINE system. Installs any and all new additions to the existing distribution system as well as performs necessary maintenance and or repairs to any part of the water distribution system. Performs miscellaneous duties such as operating and repairing equipment, general clean up, concrete finishing, painting, etc. Uses various hand tools, power tools, heavy equipment and machinery. As a member of the WASTEWATER(Sewer)Department which is responsible for maintenance and repair of the City’s sewer line system. Employee performs necessary maintenance, repairs, and/or replacement of sewer system components. Employee uses various hand tools, power tools, heavy equipment, trucks, and machinery. Employee performs miscellaneous duties such as operating and repairing equipment, general clean up, concrete finishing, painting, etc. Good communications skills are required as this position frequently deals directly with the public. The primary hours of this position are Monday through Friday during the day; however, extended shifts and overtime on weekends, evenings, and holidays may be required. Therefore organizational behavior skills are a must. Type of culture (Pluralism, Dualism or Salad bowl? ) Culture can be defined as the cultivated behavior that is socially transmitted. It involves the accumulation of knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, experiences, religion, relations, concepts of the universe, values, meanings, roles, notions of time, relations, material possessions and objects acquired and a way of life of a group of people throughout the generations. When it comes to the type of culture on my job I would have to describe it as a pluralism type of culture. This refers to the type of culture whereby smaller groups of people within a large society tend to maintain their unique culture identities and their values, behaviors and identities are well accepted by the wider society or culture. The minor groups of people participate fully within the dominant society while still maintaining their cultural differences. It involves coexistent of different cultures in a location without the domineering of one particular culture. The human differences that exist are accepted by the majority and hence it eliminates discrimination in the form of racialism or sexism. It can also be refereed to as multiculturalism (Henry, 2011). † Within the three departments that I participate and work in, there are 5 different nationalities of workers who coincide within the organization, and they include African American, Mexican, Caucasian, Latino, and American Indian. Each and every one of these individuals, have their own way of living, eating, etc.. But when everyone clocks in in the morning, we are all one cohesive group, who knows that the main goal is to come to work, be safe, respect your fellow co-worker, get the job done in a professional manner, and most importantly be in the best interest of the tax payers and the town in general, while at the same time excepting who each individual is a person, where they come from, and their cultural differences. This influences the company in a positive manner because, it incorporates good behavior on the job, respect for the job, positive progress for the people participating at the job, and goal completion. Modes of communication (Describe the dominant communication form used, e. g. written or verbal) â€Å"Communication consists of transmitting, receiving, and processing information. In organizations, communications flow between individuals, between levels in the organizational hierarchy, between departments, and between the company and outside publics. Effective communication has often been linked to interpersonal and company success (Baak, 2012). † Communication is of high importance on any job, especially the one that I work for, due to the risks that are associated with the work and projects that we take on. Even though we may use written communication from time to time, describing what our daily goals and tasks are, verbal communication is the dominant mode of communication throughout the organization. Whether it be verbal or non verbal, both revolve around the importance of everyone, working in sync with one another and most importantly working safely around your fellow co-worker. One example is, when we are replacing larger water lines (12 inches in diameter) within a trench, which may be at a depth of 2ft to 14ft. Therefore, when a worker is in the trench digging around and locating the pipe, there must to be a competent person at the top of the trench looking for cracks or imperfections in the walls, where a potential cave in could happen, injuring or killing the person in the hole. So, verbal communication is regularly used when there is no machinery running, and you have to alarm the workers of a dangerous situation. And non-verbal communication is used, when a gas powered saw is in operation to cut a pipe, in which, the worker cannot hear you verbally, thus non verbal actions and communication are used to alarm the worker of potential danger and they are pulled out of the trench before anything catastrophic occurs. On that note, this influences the company on a postive level, because, both verbal and non-verbal communication is the dominant and vital mode of communication, that provides protection for a safe work environment. Nature of authority (recognized social rank) The nature of authority is also very important on my job because, each individual respects the fact that one should not go over the next persons head of authority, or having curiosity about a co-workers way of life without discussing it with them first. Because, there are individuals on the job who have been there 20 years, 10 years, 5 years, etc, therefore when you join a team or a group of people, you become part of that organizations social system, and you must adjust and relate to that world of work. â€Å"The variables in an organizational system operate in a working balance called social equilibrium. Individuals make a psychological contract that defines their personal relationship with the system. â€Å"When they contribute to the organization’s success, we call their behavior functional. The broad environment that people live in is their social culture, and a major change in it can lead to cultural shock. People need to accept and appreciate the value that cultural differences can contribute to the success of an organization (www. angel fire. com). † â€Å"Other important cultural factors include the work ethic and corporate attitudes toward social responsibility. Role is the pattern of action expected of a person in activities involving others. Related ideas are role perceptions mentors, role conflict, and role ambiguity. Status is the social rank of a person in a group, and it leads to status systems and possibly status anxiety. Organizational cultures reflect the assumptions and values that guide a firm. They are intangible but powerful influences on employee behavior. Participants learn about their organization’s culture through the process of socialization and influence it through individualization (www. angel fire. com). On that note, the nature of authority can be both positive and negative, because, from a negative standpoint it can be used for growth in power in domination. But from a positive standpoint, it can be sued for uplifting other coworkers, by improvising their skills, capabilities and more importantly, their motivational drive on the job. Motivational techniques (Describe the motivational driving forces e. g. Intrins ic or extrinsic used to influence productivity and performance? ) Due to the constant and unpredictable adjustments that my organization goes through, behavior can change in a instant, with each and every individual on the job. Therefore, motivational techniques are a concurrent thing, on a day to day basis. â€Å"There is no doubt that motivation is the driving force by which humans achieve their goals. Motivation can be intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is driven by an interest or enjoyment in the actions required to achieve a goal, without relying on external rewards or pressures (Amin, 2011). † In my organization the motivational driving force is intrinsic, because pride is everything to a man more than anything, therefore everyone on the job feels a sense of obligation to achieve the goals presented to them to their best ability. Productivity and performance stays at an all time high and positive level, thus, whatever daily goal is presented to us, is handled with confidence and integrity. Our motivation consist of reminding ourselves that what we do, is what we enjoy to do, what we do is appreciated by the tax payers & family and most importantly we enjoy knowing that our skills and capabilities are worth the time and effort that we put forth to learn and achieve the skills and tools to complete present and future organizational objectives. Areas of EQ incorporated (Describe how the organization embraces the theory of emotional intelligence) Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, control and evaluate emotions. Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened, while others claim it is an inborn characteristic. And it consists of four branches that include perceiving emotions, reasoning with emotions, understanding emotions and managing emotions (Cher ry, 2012). † Based on the high demands of my job, my co-workers and myself included, may at times have high emotions about whether something on the job is not going right, and show some form of frustration without even knowing it sometimes. Therefore my our organization constantly issues EQ (emotional intelligence ), reminder courses, that helps the crews keep a stable mind set when working in dangerous areas, and if something goes wrong, we use the EQ tools to control and manage our emotions for the sake/safety of our well being the others that are around. EQ classes have been very positive for the organization over the past 5 years, and every since the integration there have been no altercations, accidents, or incidents on the job at all. A 100% success rate. How are the components of a virtual organization embraced? (Explain how the organization embraces new paradigms such as teleworking and virtual offices? ) â€Å"Traditional brick and mortar businesses may become a thing of the past. Today’s modern workplace has embraced the virtual environment. The ultimate goal of the virtual organization is to provide innovative, high-quality products or services instantaneously in response to customer demands (Hamilton, 2012). On that note, my organization has embraced the components of a virtual organization on a very positive and useful level. For example, in the Water/sewer department, we are responsible for the distribution of bills/and cut-off notices for the water use throughout the city. For decades, this task was done by hand; by hand I mean driving to each and every house in the city, knocking on the door, and handing the customer their water/sewer bill for that month. Ever since the company embraced the compo nents of a virtual organization, these tasks are now obsolete. Now we contact the customers, through email, text messaging, and voicemails. When the customer has a question about their bill, they are able to contact the office and have a videoconference with the workers in the water/sewer department, to discuss whatever problem they are having with their water/sewer bill, or their water/sewer in general. My organization has also embrace the concept of a virtual organization in the street department. When there is a down power line, streetlight, street sign, blocked up drain pipes, etc. my organization has integrated a beacon system that alerts us when any of these incidents have occurred and in what area. All we have to do is acknowledge the beacon alert, log on to our computers, locate the problem, and proceed to fix the issue at hand. Integrating the components of a virtual organization has been immensely helpful and positive to our over all daily tasks and duties. In conclusion, Organizational Behavior is the study and application of knowledg e about how people, individuals, and groups act in organizations. The purpose of organizational behavior is to gain a greater understanding of those factors that influence individual and group dynamics in an organizational setting so that individuals and the groups and organizations to which they belong may become more efficient and effective. Culture can be defined as the cultivated behavior that is socially transmitted. It involves the accumulation of knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, experiences, religion, relations, concepts of the universe, values, meanings, roles, notions of time, relations, material possessions and objects acquired and a way of life of a group of people throughout the generations. When it comes to the type of culture on my job I would have to describe it as a pluralism type of culture. Communication consists of transmitting, receiving, and processing information. In organizations, communications flow between individuals, between levels in the organizational hierarchy, between departments, and between the company and outside publics. Effective communication has often been linked to interpersonal and company success. The nature of authority is also very important on my job because, each individual respects the fact hat one should not go over the next persons head of authority, or having curiosity about a co-workers way of life without discussing it with them first. Due to the constant and unpredictable adjustments that my organization goes through, behavior can change in a instant, with each and every individual on the job. Therefore, motivational techniques are a concurrent thing, on a day to day basis. Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perce ive, control and evaluate emotions. Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened, while others claim it is an inborn characteristic. And it consists of four branches that include perceiving emotions, reasoning with emotions, understanding emotions and managing emotions. Traditional brick and mortar businesses may become a thing of the past. Today’s modern workplace has embraced the virtual environment. The ultimate goal of the virtual organization is to provide innovative, high-quality products or services instantaneously in response to customer demands. All in all the purpose of the paper above, was to analyze the organizational behavior of my current or former employer (current: Street, Water, and Sewer Department for my town), by describing how each of the components listed below influences the behavior of the organization in a negative or positive manner, and they include, the Type of culture (Pluralism, Dualism or Salad bowl? ); Modes of communication (Describe the dominant communication form used, e. g. written or verbal); Nature of authority (recognized social rank); Motivational techniques (Describe the motivational driving forces e. . Intrinsic or extrinsic used to influence productivity and performance? ); Areas of EQ incorporated (Describe how the organization embraces the theory of emotional intelligence); and How are the components of a virtual organization embraced? (Explain how the organization embraces new paradigms such as teleworking and virtual offices? ). Grasping a complex and knowledgeable understanding on why, when, where and how, organizational behavior functions and operates, can provide great tools and skills to an individual or organization to better manage behavior and productivity within a company. References Amin,. (July 21, 2011). Motivate your team intrinsically or extrinsically? Retrieved on December 10, 2012 from http://blog. 7geese. com/2011/07/21/intrinsic-vs-extrinsic-motivation/ Baack, D. (2012). Organizational behavior. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc Cherry, K. (2012). What Is Emotional Intelligence? Definitions, History, and Measures of Emotional Intelligence. Retrieved on December 10, 2012 from http://psychology. about. com/od/personalitydevelopment/a/emotionalintell. htm Hamilton, D. Dr. (April 23, 2012). Today’s Organizations Embracing Virtual Business. Retrieved on December 10, 2012 from http://drdianehamilton. wordpress. com/2012/04/23/todays-organizations-embracing-virtual-business/ Henry,. (April 4, 2004). Culture Definitions and Types. Retrieved on December 10, 2012 from http://language. ezinemark. com/culture-definitions-and-types-17b25a011fd. html Wertheim, E. G. (February 22, 2004). Historical Background of Organizational Behavior. Retrieved on December 10, 2012 from http://ehcweb. ehc. edu/faculty/ljcumbo/downfiles/historyofOB. pdf http://www. angelfire. com/blues/cannonsessays/org_behavior/ORGANIZATIONAL_BEHAV

Human Resource Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Resource Development - Essay Example Make sure all the employees know the aims and objectives of the training. They should be given proper feedback and supervisors should take an active interest in the employees, this promotes a sense of ownership. Keep training an ongoing process to facilitate ongoing improvement of employees of the company. Out of these, the most importantly will be, making the training relevant to each employee and promoting a sense of ownership of the company. This is because, when the employees have the feeling that the organization is caring for the needs they strive to perform better and give back to the organization. Making sure that the employees’ needs for development are taken care off is an important variable that most companies over-look and in that case training may not transfer back to the company. Secondly, if they have a high sense of ownership of the organization they are more likely to learn from the training and apply themselves for the betterment of the company. Question 6 Al though this still remains a very complex topic we have concluded that brain function seems to change as a result of the interaction of two opposing processes, one is the way the brain deteriorates with age, and the other is the way in which it continues to remodel itself in order to compensate for that change. Empirical and rigorous scientific evidence demonstrates that functional deterioration of many tissues begins in early adulthood and progresses throughout life. Other biological changes include changes in micro-vascular density, plasticity and the dynamic blood flow through the vasculature. What managers must understand that this reduced learning capability must be catered to if the training is to be affective. One of the biggest factors that supervisors must consider is the duration of the training. Older people have been known to have shorter concentration spans, hence the training sessions should incorporate regular breaks. This may increase the length of the training sessio n (and in most cases the cost too), however the learning is much better and will transfer back to the organization. Secondly, another important variable that they should understand is with regards to trainings on technological topics. Older people may tend to be slower in learning the different aspects hence their trainings should be at a slower pace. They should be encouraged to practice after the training sessions and understand the topics the way they feel comfortable. It is essential that the individuals not be over-burdened with too much information at once, as this reduces the affectivity of the training program. Question 7 The convergent manager looks to all the available sources of information and tries to find the best solution. However, there is a constant need for correct, consistent and reliable information. However, in the case of a divergent manager, there is a need to elaborate on ideas based on a creative stimulus. He looks to build on ideas that are generated intern ally. Divergent managers are more suited to creative thinking and problem solving. Similarly, convergent managers tend to favor informed decisions that are based on the best possible information available. A training session that should incorporate both styles would ask the managers to review a certain situation, look at all the information available on similar problems and then come up with the best solution which is unique and

ADVANCED TAX Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

ADVANCED TAX - Essay Example One of the strategies the couple can use to reduce the tax amount of the capital gain expected is to time carefully the disposal of the shares to fall into diverse tax years and take advantage of annual exemptions in each year (King & Carey, 2014). This strategy has the potential of reducing significantly the amount of tax that the couple will pay for the capital gain accumulated from the sale of the shares. This is because capital gains less than  £10,600 per annum are not taxed on individuals (Mclaughlin, 2013). Thus, the couple can spread the sale of the shares in seven different periods to ensure the capital gains fall in different years. This will ensure the capital gains accumulated are exempted from taxation. The capital gain that will be realized if the disposal is timed in seven different periods will be ( £68,000/ 7 =  £9,714.286). This capital gain is below  £10,600 per annum that will allow the gain to be exempted from taxation completely. Similarly, the shares can held under individual savings account (ISA) that will ensure the CGT liability is exempted from capital gains accumulated after disposal of the shares (King & Carey, 2014). Currently, the maximum value of shares that can be held under the ISA is  £11,520 for tax year 2013/14 (HMRC, 2013). Thus, the couple can hold  £11,520 of the  £12,000 share value to exempt the capital gain from these shares from capital gain tax liability. This implies that only ( £11,520/  £1.50 = 7,680) share of the 8,000 will be held under the ISA. Thus, the capital gain that will be accumulated from the extra shares held outside ISA will be as computed below. Another strategy Bob can use to reduce the tax amount liability from the disposal of the shares is transferring the shares prior to ensuing disposal to his wife Isobel. This is because share transfers between civil partners do not carry gain or loss

Population growth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Population growth - Essay Example Geometric growth can be contrasted to arithmetic growth rate, which grows in a sequence, for instance 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, .... One of the principles behind geometric growth is that the bigger a number gets, the faster it grows, this is the case with population since the larger the population becomes, more people will be available for reproduction hence the greater growth (Berlatsky, 133). For instance, a population having 500,000 people will grow five times faster than a population which has just 100, 000. From this equation, if r is greater than zero and b is greater than one, then the population will grow at exponentially, however, if r is less than zero and b is greater than one or if r is greater than one and b is between one and zero, then the population will reduce exponentially. A geometric decay curve for population would look something like this Geometric continuous time model of population growth is more realistic when it comes to determining population growth since they involve all parameters of population such as birth rates and death rate (Turchin, p96) In order to calculate the population growth rate using the continuous growth model, the following formula can be derived. If a population has Nt individuals where t is time in years, the number of children being born in a year is a fraction represented by the symbol ï  ¢ and the number of people that die in a year is a fraction that is represented by the symbol ï  §. These geometric progression equations have been used for a long time to calculate population growth rates of countries or of the world at large, for instance, the following figure show a curve of world growth rate that was calculated from the available data and backward projections of population. Geometric progression has been use in population growth and without it, calculating

The body shop relationship marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The body shop relationship marketing - Essay Example The network of relationships whether with the supplier, customer, distributor, employees, partners or with the regulators is the playground for practicing relationship marketing techniques. The traditional marketing that has helped businesses to grow for decades can now be rendered as outdated with its narrow scope and inflexible approach. However, despite of these huge changes in the market dynamics, the fundamentals of marketing still remain the same. In recent times a lot many companies and organizations have tried adhering to the best practices of relationship marketing, but at the same time there have been examples where they have lost their grounds in this blind run. To ensure the better understanding of the subject matter, it becomes essential to discuss the same in the context of a company that has been practicing relationship marketing aggressively. Body shop in its more than 30 years old history (The Body Shop n.d) has launched many initiatives that focus on building relationships with all the stakeholders throughout the business network. This essay will attempt to address all the benefits of relationship marketing and simultaneously the flaws related with it will be discussed The body shop that was launched in UK in the year 1976 deals in beauty products which are made of naturally occurring ingredients and focusing on the philosophy of ‘Green Business’. Its network comprises of more than 2500 stores around the world through which The Body Shop operates in a global environment. Apart from that these stores located in almost 61 countries, the Body Shop also has strong online presence as well. There are various initiatives launched by the organization which help the organization to develop as a socially aware and responsible brand. This initiatives communicate strongly about the ethics of the organization that it not only cares for the people who are directly associated with it, but is also

Tanker Shipping Market Outlook Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Tanker Shipping Market Outlook - Case Study Example Finally, there would be capacity issues imposed by seaway regulations associated with allowable freight sizes that could further limit profitability and competitive advantage. The business recognizes cost issues in proposing new strategies, evident in recognition of RFID investment and concerns over the pricing model after investing in RFID. Is diversification the most effective strategy to improve the competitive position and profitability of Great Lakes Carriers or should the business continue with its current operational model for iron ore freight? D. Conduct a research study on safety risks associated with railroad transport versus lake shipment to present to customers currently using railroad for grain deliveries and enhancing railroad market share in the process. Solution A would be the most viable to GLC. Purchasing the new fleet would not only serve new markets and improve profitability, but it would also give the business more assets. Leszczynski (2009) identifies that new ships maintain almost the same depreciated value after five years as at the time of purchase. Thus, the life cycle of these ships gives more asset protection and would also improve the capacity of Great Lakes Carriers to gain more market share. The low capacity ships required due to size restrictions by regulatory forces on the lakes cost approximately 43 million USD (UNCTAD, 2006). It is also common practice in the maritime shipping industry to hedge against potential risks, such as demand decreases, through Freight Forward Agreements (Kavussanos, 2003). This could help offset the one-time high investment as well as new market share improvements. GLC should consult with new and used ship sellers to identify the most practical solutions for procurement.  

Week 2 Emergency Management 670 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Week 2 Emergency Management 670 - Essay Example In most cases, the emergency manager has to be prepared for any possible circumstances without knowing much about the actual danger. The greatest risk mitigation scheme available to emergency managers is to procure resources before any disaster occurs. Historically, the funding available to local emergency managers was low which caused a multitude of problems when it came to handling active emergencies and disasters (Fagel, 2011). Emergency managers need to emphasise primarily on political strength in order to procure the required resources before a disaster strikes. The second area for focus is planning that result from vulnerability assessments. The emergency manager has to keep an eye out for what kind of situations his team might have to face. Some threats may be common such as the risk of terrorist attacks but other risks may be confined to a particular geographical region. For example, emergency managers in Alaska would have to be prepared against snow storms while emergency managers in Louisiana would have to look out for hurricanes. The emergency manager must possess the necessary vision to demarcate what risks his team might have to face and how these threats would be handled on a planning basis (Canton, 2006). The third area for focus is the response made available when a disaster situation arises. Given the fact that emergency managers are adequately equipped and supplied does not mean that they would be able to handle emergencies just as well too. A proper appraisal of the response system must exist such that the response system is dynamic so that it can adapt quickly to situations. Moreover, any disaster situation will entail by-products that are not wanted but are nonetheless outcomes of the situation. For example, emergency workers in the field would be subject to hazards as well as stress that they must know how to deal with. The emergency manager has to ensure that these

Management of Health Services Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Management of Health Services - Coursework Example Risk management is a venture by health organizations that ensures that possible recipes to failure are alleviated in the organization (Drucker & Ferdinand 45). For example, incase the management anticipates that health services are not going to be adequate enough for the soaring patient numbers, more facilities need to be purchased so that when this time reaches, patients will be served satisfactorily. However, control functions are sometimes difficult and challenging to implement and use in cases when employees are many. It becomes challenging to monitor each employee to see whether they are achieving organizational goals (Drucker & Ferdinand 56). Health service organization managers have various planning and organizational roles as pertains to the conduct of employees and the execution of tasks. Incase there is a project by the health organization; it is the role of health service organization managers to supervise the project team and ensure that the project is completed in time. The managers are also responsible for financial planning so that all service operations are done within the allocated budget. Managers also delegate duties to various employees so that there is efficient division of labor. In order to ensure that the responsibilities of managers are effective, project managers need to take action against any employees who break rules of the health organization. They are also expected to be diligent and thorough in their roles (Drucker & Ferdinand

First People of Canada Essay Example for Free

First People of Canada Essay The purpose of the writer is to present his analysis of the present condition of the educational system of Canada which he regards as colonial education for the aborigines of Canada. He examined the manner in which the Indigenous education and epistemologies have been ignored and undermined and made recommendations on the revitalization of an education reflective of the needs and sentiments and culture of the Aboriginal Canada. The article is based on facts and not opinion. The information given are well researched and are supported as the writer presented evidences that the present educational system has â€Å"physically, spiritually and mentally destructive and disruptive components of colonial education (p. 3)† The objective of the author is well achieved as his arguments are logical. His choice of language is effective for his intended audience is the general public especially the education sector who needs to do something about the colonial education. The author discussed that the residential schooling and the Eurocentric schooling and the curriculum are not reflective of the culture of the Aborigines and were far different from the traditional education. The education then is colonial and beyond the experiences and the daily life of the Aborigines. It needs to be reformed. The author is successful in letting his audience understand his point because his illustrations why he takes the education of Canada as colonial are very effective.

Benefits Of Virtue Ethics And Morals Philosophy Essay

Benefits Of Virtue Ethics And Morals Philosophy Essay When I think of virtue ethics, I think about myself and what or how I think of individual character. Many people say that I am kind, caring and very considerate person. That always think about other people and how I can help them. This would be because my moral belief is that I treat others as I like to be treated. So if you want respect then you have to give respect. But I also think about how I feel when I help someone. So you may ask yourself, what does that have to do with virtue ethics? Aristotle who is a virtue ethicist from Greece says that a virtuous person is not one that does the right act but one who consistently does the right act and for the right reason (Waller, 2005, p. 98). I myself know that I am consistently kind to people and care very much for people in my life but also for the elderly, kids and pets and I do this for the right reasons and that would be because it makes me feel good about myself. Aristotle also says that we are what we repeatedly do and that excellence is not an act but a habit (Waller, 2005, p. 98). I can say that I agree with that because when go see my mom who lives in a senior building and some who know what I do for work and need help or if they just want to sit and talk or need a ride to the store. I am always willing to help them and they want to pay me but I refuse because it is a habit for me to be nice and kind to them. When I am out and about and I see a dog it is a habit that I stop and pat the dog and talk to them because I am an animal lover. For me as I have stated I am a true animal lover so I do believe that not only humans but animals and insects should have some moral consideration. Tom Regan proposed that inherent worth need only be the subject of a life (Waller, 2005, p. 135) and I agree with him. What people forget about is that supposedly humans were apes way back when or should say humans evolved from gorillas. But animals of all species shapes and sizes have minds and feelings just like humans. They also have moral codes as well for example: a female gorilla has children and gives them love as well as teaches them how to survive and teaches her young right from wrong whether it is in eating a banana compared to pineapple or fighting with its siblings, just like a human mother does with her children. So it makes me wonder why anyone could be cruel to any animal. For many people they may question whether morality really does exist. For me I would have to say how you can think that it does not. Humans are a species that live life socially and if there were no morals in the world we would have to think of all the craziness that would be in the world and people would not live socially. Without having morals, humans could become extinct because no one would have a care in the world of who can do whatever to whomever like murder, rape, theft and there would be no reason to stop any of that. So by having morals in the world most people do not commit murder and rape or steal from another even though some people do those things that are not morally correct by many standards. Morals help bring peace to the world. The Rain Forest is an environmental dilemma for many years now. Some people do not care about the Rain Forest so they want to take the trees down to create products and not care about what how that affects life itself for humans or for the animals of all kind that live there and need to have it for survival. The Rain Forest not only affects the survival of animals but for humans as well. Then you have some people who believe that by taking down the trees in which will destroy the rain forest will affect humans as well as animals. These are the people that I agree with. It would be morally wrong to destroy that forest. Without the forest many of animals and insects that is needed for many different reasons that make the environment work in a positive way would disappear in return it would affect the environment itself. There are certain insects that eat other insects to make sure their populations do not get crazy and then you have the animals that use the water to survive and the mos t of all the trees that help keep the air clean and help with the process of oxygen. So morally it would be wrong to not only destroy the forest but to slowly be killing the animals. One way that they could prevent this would be to have a ban against anyone to cut trees for any reason in the rain forest. As humans we have already taken so much from the animals as well as from ourselves. Having virtue ethics and morals help this world for the many different reasons which keep order our society as well as the society of animals. Some people are taught from their parents to have some code of honors or morals and some are taught but just do not agree with them. We as humans only learn so much from our parents then learn the rest as we grow and develop our own virtue beliefs and morals. Cite Page Waller, B. N. (2005). Consider Ethics Theory, Readings, and Contemporary Issues. New York: Longman.

Money and Staff Retention :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework Essays

Doward (Guardian 2001) states â€Å"Sotheby’s having registered $178m of losses this year are spending $40m in a bid to retain key Heads of staff†. It might pay Sotheby’s to understand McGregor’s Theories X, Y and Schein`s Social theory as essential when looking for ways to motivate and retain staff. Theory X used financial rewards and punishments for untrustworthy employees involving company policy. Theory Y sees staff needing â€Å"care, independence, self-development and creative work, for company success.†(Cooper`1998). Schein`s social interaction helped staff â€Å"to obtain a sense of identity and belonging, wanting to be seen as meeting work expectations not merely receiving financial rewards†. Theory X relates more to Taylorism, whilst Theory Y/Social ideas follow Maslow`s idea of Self-Actualisation. Holden(1997)states â€Å" HR Manager’s must be able to forecast, plan, organise, monitor, motivate and control effectively †. Jane Wibberley (Senior Personnel Manager Marks & Spencer Southampton) believed in a mixture of Reward Management, Work Appraisal, Management Development and Security. Today’s Human Resource Manager will need to obtain commitment and recognition whilst offering reward and re-enforcement using recognised Employment regulations. Kizer`s (1987) Executive Stress Alleviators (e.g. Wellness Programmes)must be observed for commitment purposes. As to how managers retain key staff, local interviews from Marks&Spencer, Paris, Smith&Randall and Southampton Institute will reinforce that Hard HRM financial reward Practices are not the only way to keep key staff. Taylor`s rational-economic needs initiated the debate as to financial rewards being the sole motivator for staff along with Fordism. Contrary to this Maslow looked to Human requirement of interesting work being at the top of Hierarchical Needs Pyramid (i.e. Self Actualisation) with pay at the lowest. Bennett (1981) looked at motivation and commitment â€Å"as a mixture of Economic rewards, intrinsic satisfaction and social needs†, which Rollinson(1998) stressed â€Å"should be ongoing practices†. Makin(1996) looked beyond financial payments whilst Rose and Edmund Cadbury believed payment incentive schemes â€Å"eliminated judgement and initiative†(Statt`1994) now so vital to HRM. Mullins(1999) states, â€Å"Managers must provide challenging, creative work, unblocking workers growth needs, allowing sufficient opportunity for key workers to have more opportunities to satisfy existence and relatedness needs†, (e.g. promotion). Alderfer supported this, whilst Locke/Hertzberg looked at job enrichment. Adams(1995) believed Managers should ensure â€Å"equitable fairness amongst staff in payment and treatment as underpaid, undervalued staff have less commitment†. The majority of these studies (e.g. Hawthorne Plants 1920/30`s) involved manual staff so there relevance in retaining Executive staff is questionable.

The Turn of the Screw - A Look at a Criticism :: Henry James Turn Screw Essays

The Turn of the Screw - A Look at a Criticism There are many different ways to interpret The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James. Many critics over the past century have voiced their opinions about the story. Each critical analysis of the story disagrees with the beliefs expressed in another. Robert B. Heilman is a critic who wrote in the mid-twentieth century. He interprets The Turn of the Screw to be a representation of the conflict between good and evil. Heilman's points are clear and obviously well thought out, but there are flaws in his argument that make his interpretation questionable. In his 1948 essay, Robert Heilman explores the suggestion that The Turn of the Screw is a symbolic representation of the conflict between good and evil. Heilman interprets the apparitions of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel as evil forces. He explains that the ghosts only appear to the governess because evil lurks in subtlety before it strikes. It is the duty of the governess to "detect and ward off evil." She must protect the children from the awful ghosts. The governess describes Miles and Flora as beautiful little cherubs whose only fault is their gentleness (James, 18-19). Heilman views the children's beauty as a "symbol of the spiritual perfection of which man is capable." Heilman explains the ghosts' attempts to reach the children by explaining that evil forces will always try to conquer and possess the human soul. Heilman continues to draw from the descriptions of Miles and Flora to support his theories. He points out that the two children are described as having an "angelic beauty " and a "positive fragrance of purity" (James 9, 13). The governess describes them as if they are perfect and beautiful in every way. This repeated vision of beauty, radiance, and innocence parallels the image of Eden. The house at Bly also resembles this image, "I remember the lawn and the bright flowers..." (James 7). The governess makes mention of the "golden sky" and of Flora's "hair of gold," which Heilman believes connects Bly and Flora with these images of golden hues (James 7, 9). Robert Heilman perceives that the ghost of Peter Quint is a direct representation of the serpent that plagues the Garden of Eden. Heilman supports this with the description of Quint found in the text, "His eyes are sharp, strange- awfully; .

Vietnam Essay -- essays research papers

Prior to the start of our study of the Vietnam Era, I thought that I knew quite a bit about the Vietnam War and the overall time period. But after listening to some guest speakers and reading Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, I discovered that I knew hardly anything, and that most of what I did know was pretty much insignificant. These past weeks were not only extremely educating, but it was also very interesting. I learned more than I ever thought I would, mostly through the people that know it best, those who lived through it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The most important thing I learned about Vietnam and the time period in which it took place, is that it was so confusing. It seems as if nobody really knew what was going on or what they were supposed to be doing. It also seems that even the people who fought in the war didn't believe that our presence was right. They knew nothing about the terrain, the Vietnamese culture, or even how to fight the North Vietnamese. And when they thought that they had things somewhat under control and that they could kind of anticipate the North Vietnamese, the NVA changed everything with the TET offensive. So they ended up pretty much knowing nothing about anything.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The war not only hard on the soldiers, but it was also hard on their loved ones. The hardest thing for those who were left behind was the waiting and the not knowing. Wives and parents didn't know whether their loved one were alive or dead...

Distribution of Wealth

Since time immemorial, there is an alarming inequality existing among men. It is ironic how wealth is distributed with apparent discrepancies, resulting to an overwhelming amount of money acquired by some while others remain in the pits of poverty. Perhaps some would perceive the possession of billions of dollars as morally unacceptable, while others would view this as a natural consequence of human nature. It is quite alarming how extreme standards of living is plaguing our society and impairs our basic function as human beings. But this has been the problem since the first existence of man. And perhaps this nothing but a natural tendency, and that the actual nature governing mankind is that there is a law of equity.Individual needs is basically thought to determine his resource acquisition. Or at the very least, it would serve as a baseline or a standard as to how he would lead a decent kind of living. Therefore philosophers and people in general have defined that the needs of soci ety would be the primary established factor for justice and wealth distribution. Are men created equal therefore should not acquire more than his neighbor? Or are men inherently unequal, being that others are superior than the ones next to them?Some ask, â€Å"Is it right that some people have acquired billions of dollars through business dealings while other people live in great poverty?† Two renowned philosophers have shared their views on how the distribution of wealth should be. John Locked said, â€Å"God gave the world to men in common.† He believed that the available property in nature has become the restriction within which man sets his labor and standards of living. It is his belief that each man has his own right to work, to own, to consume, and not to be transgressed.   He further elaborated, â€Å"Which  measure did confine every man’s possession to a very moderate proportion, and such as he might appropriate to himself without injury to anybody , in the first age of the world† (Hutchins 1952, p. 1047).Locke discussed this rule of property, which is â€Å"that every man should have as much as he could make use of† without both inflicting injury towards others and passing judgment on them. It actually was quite ideal and it worked quite successfully in previous times, when there most societies promote freedom and free enterprise. Locke thought that this world could provide enough land for each and every human being who wishes to build a home and that everything that the world holds would have been enough for people to survive had it not been for the invention of money. Because of this, people have become occupied by their ambitions of acquiring more wealth, wealth in the form of imperishable commodities with great excess.There should have been enough resources for everyone to live on, yet these resources seem scarce for most. The world is given to men and therefore each has an equal right to everything the earth could offer. How much a man works would determine how much he earns. His labor would equate his wealth acquisition as his capacity to consume is regulated by his ability to produce. If one has excessive amounts of wealth, then this entails that there is waste. And this waste is a violation of nature’s laws. Because of money, man has become able to accumulate wealth through time, saving inheritance and working for more to bequeath. Because money is not perishable by time, man only keeps on having more of it without any possible limits. Money allows wealth accumulation without causing injury towards others (Hutchins 1952, p. 1047).Rousseau on the other hand, believes that there is an inequitable acquisition of wealth and that men are created unequal. He believes that it is not money itself that is  the cause of the existence of inequality of mankind, but the property itself. He even thought of the first man who has made an enclosure to a piece of land and claimed it his that made others believe him is actually the real founder of civil society. As it has become a right to establish ownership of a property, this wealth amassed makes one to want more and expand what he already owns.Others tend to ignore the poverty that surrounds them, and when asked if they take notice on these, as perceived by Rousseau, they try to not care as it would affect their interests of owning more. They want to protect their possessions from the threats of being attacked or taken. Mankind has established a civil law that they propose is for the purpose of security for everyone, yet the truth is that they only initiate this as to secure their ownership of property and power.This instead results to the violation of the rights of the poor, as it only curtails their chance to improve their standards of living. It actually chains the poor and only makes the rich even wealthier. This consequently lead to the destruction of natural liberty, it only fixed the law of property and inequ ality, and turned transgression into a right, only for the advantage of the few (Hutchins 1952, p. 1048). When others’ are harmed, man is therefore given the â€Å"right to punish the offender, and be executioner of the law of nature† as proposed by Locke.Rousseau believed that it is contrary to nature that only a few should be privileged to have an extensive amount of wealth while others, a multitude of others, are in dire need of the basic necessities of life. This is why he proposed that there should be a government that would repair this and allow each and everyone to be provided with the minimum needs that they have. A â€Å"government should prevent extreme inequalities of fortunes† not by forcibly taking a man’s possession from him,  but instead prevent him from accumulating it. It is more of preventing the people from becoming poor or too rich (Hutchins 1952, p. 1048).It is indeed a fact that each human being should have an equal access to whate ver resource they need. They should be given equal opportunities to survive and to lead a certain standard of living fitting them. Cause I believe that there is indeed inequality and inequity among mankind. Both Locke and Rousseau presented strong thesis on the question of wealth acquisition. Theirs are quite complementary to some degree as they share that each man has a right of property. Each affirmed that the problem of poverty is not a problem that could be easily resolved, nor would there really be a solution to it, once the right of property is admitted. The right of property is said to be sacred and is a basic right of citizenship to a country, yet there is quite a difficulty in securing the property of individuals without attacking it on another.I believe that it is true poverty is an inevitable consequence of property, as war is an inevitable consequence of sovereignty, and in neither case can the cause be abolished. Both proposed that men should be equal, and men should pr event, as asserted by Hegel himself. Men should think that they are equal, as to prevent transgression against each other. But the truth is that everyone is created different, and these differences entail that there are inequalities in abilities and skills among man. But it does not mean that one has a greater importance than the other, they are simply different.But their differences in particular areas mean that it can be in the form of wealth. Men as a whole are equal, but in particular aspects, they are not. And that is the truth that the universe holds. I believe that Rousseau’s proposal of a government safeguarding the interests of its citizens by preventing mass wealth acquisition or extensive resource scarcity is ideal. But this is as promising as it is almost impossible.Because just as communism failed, humans have this natural tendency to outdo the other, and that the selfishness inside would dominate the want to put things in their proper places. Those who would enf orce these proposals are themselves men and therefore fallible, making the entire thesis too unrealistic in for the human setting.If Locke was asked the given question, he would say that it having wealth despite the poverty of others is immoral but technically moral. Because money has legitimized wealth accumulation as it allows one to become richer without causing another human being to become poorer. However it is immoral, as men are created equal and must all have enough resources necessary for them to lead decent lives. Men are not accountable to his neighbor unless he transgresses the other’s rights. He only answers to himself therefore he has the right to become whatever he pleases within the bounds of not causing harm to others.If Rousseau answers the same question, he would say that it is definitely immoral, however a common occurrence, and must be prevented by all means. This is why he proposed that a government should prevent extreme ends in society. This is quite t he dream of many, as all have wanted a society that exists in respect. That there should be a society with its member without any source or reason of jealousy, or competition, because everyone should have enough. But the truth is, man knows no bounds and does not want enough. Man wants to have plentiful of everything, and this is the major source of all the conflicts in our world today and for all of history. In times when he himself is threatened of his possessions, his life or other material wealth, he would not instinctively act in accordance for the common good but for the good of himself alone. And if given the chance to have access to conveniences that the world has to offer, he would definitely take it.The central issue that plagues mankind is the existence of money or property or any form material possession. Perhaps it is immoral in the sense that it creates disparity and it questions what moral obligation does a human being have. For indeed, how can one sleep at night in t heir lofty beds while others sleep in the dumpsters with newspapers as their blankets? How can a person spend on useless jewelry when his money can actually save millions of lives from the face of death because of starvation? And how can life be so cruel to those who did not intend to become poor but because they are born that way, they have to suffer the same kind of life?Both philosophers attempted to condemn the existence of money. But money is one commodity that governs human existence and will dictate man’s society for eras to come. It is almost impossible to put equality among people. People determine what they would have, and they must work for what they need. This is the concept of equity for it is quite unfair that one would work harder than the other and acquire just as much just because they are told equal. It is more appropriate that man works for himself and has every right to become whatever he pleases as long as he does not violate the rights of others.Works Ci tedAdler, Mortimer J. â€Å"Wealth.† A Syntopicon of Great Books of the Western World.  Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 1952. 1038-1049.

Swatch Marketing Stratagy

Competitive analysis It is the vital part of marketing . its purpose is to determine the strengths and weakness of the competitors within the market. Porter’s five forces analysis for swatch can be interpreted as follows, New entrants-Strong brand reorganization and customer loyalty- swatch is a popular brand among customers substitution. But as swatch products are simple, accessible, playful and colorful and different parts coat very low , so swatch can be attacked by new entrants. Substitution – Many brands provide with range of similar styles. everal Chines and Japanese companies manufacture low price watches with similar style or design. -The thread form counterfeit product- some electronic devise can be used to get the time ,like cell phone, iphone or ipod. Buyer power – It is high in this industry simply due to the presence of so many competitors selling the same products. It is only different in price and consumers loyalty. buyer bargaining power depends o n some criterias such -as price – swatch has lower and reasonable price, quality is high , style— color full plastic watch, different design for different occasion .As swatch has lot of competitors so buyer has high bargaining power. Bargaining power of suppliers Swatch watch components are usually made in low labor cost countries with a low to medium quality and they are assembling in Switzerland. So suppler do not have strong influence . so lot of suppliers are involved and bargaining power is low. Overall intensity of rivalry— -intense competition within a very crowded market. Japanese company sicko has a big market in the world with low price and low production cost. Or Chinese watch like have also competitive benefit in the markets.Marketing Strategy Mission Swatch’s mission is to offer low cost, high quality, and accurate watch with synthetic material. Marketing Objectives – Become the creative and innovative leading brand in global market . – Establish strong brand image in the mind of consumers . Financial Objectives – Increasing sales by 2012 to 8 billion. – The Swatch Group’s gross sales grew 14. 4% June 2012 . Segmentation and Targeting Segmentation is to divide a market into distinct groups of buyers with different needs, characteristics of behavior, who might require separate products.They considered some factors such as Geographic: No particular segmentation as Swatch is sold all around the world Demographic: Gender: male and female In 2007, 11. 1% of women bought watches for self, while 9. 3% went to men. 5. 3% of women bought watches for someone else, while 3. 4% went to men. Age: 15-19, 20-24 and 25-34In terms of amount of people who purchased watches during 2007, The first age group accounted for 23. 4%; The second age group occupied 18. 1%; The third age group had 16. 9%. They also making watch for kid. Psychographic: Lifestyle:People that exhibit an urban lifestyle or they are p assionate about fashion and follow new trends, Personality Spontaneous, impulsive, extrovert people, people usually motivated by sentiment and the ones that do not think twice before they buy . Behavioral: Loyalty status: High loyal user pool that is maintained through frequent offering of new designs – Attitude: At least positive attitude to new products. Buyer readiness: Impulsive audience, receptive to buy after a new launch – Occasion/seasonality: There are 2 launches per year in order to follow the trends in the fashion world.Targeting -With low price and high quality, Swatch is targeting to this customer segment that seeks a good and reasonable compromise between price, quality and stylish design. -They focus on working women age rage 24 to 35. It is clear that female purchasing goods for themselves more than male and they take the lead in the whole market. as well as lifestyle, women willing to spend more on themselves. – They also target people base on m arriage status like single and married person who are more established in independent and lifestyle. PositioningTheir high quality but low price makes customers move to multi-ownership across a range of looks and price points. Strategic Options & Strategic Choice Swatch has a strong brand image and customer loyalty. In order to maintain and take advantages of such strengths, Swatch should adopt the market-penetration strategy which means to sell existing products into existing markets with the objectives of securing the dominance of current market and increasing market share from current products. If they cut their products price it may damage the reputation and reduce their profit or if hey develop a new product it might cost much money and time to do market research and product test . Marketing Mix Decision Swatch marketing mix is made of the following four aspects: Product – Customization — to personalize the watch to fit customers taste and make it more unique â₠¬â€œ Special features emphasize more special and limited edition for a youthful, innovative and exciting look. Price – Premium price — to reflect the exclusiveness, limited and high quality of the product; Place -To open duty-free shops in the airports such as Gatwick and Birmingham airport.Promotion They use effective promotion strategy to create new market. – Celebrity endorsement — to invite Leona Lewis and use her image -Advertising — Print and broadcast ads/Posters and leaflets/Billboards – Direct & Interactive marketing — E-mails/mobile messages/ Web sites and – iPhone or iPad apps to watch their new collection and new events. – Sponsorship big sporting events such as the Olympics. -They provided online sales in different countries- London, mala. – To put banner on the Internet such as Face Book To increase brand awareness and standard of retailing capability they set up Tech-Airport Company to display its v ariety brands in air port, know as tax free stores. Like international airport in France. – Omega was the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games in London and also feature in the new James Bond named-SKY FALL. Recent campaigns Following campaigns were recently pushed specifically for swatch watches Color Codes—This collection is a 80s throwback to the swatch watch history. This product is monochromatic but come in multiple colors.Fashion magazine designers are asked to participate in a contest, in and asked to design spreads to promote the product line with the theme â€Å"how do you wear it†. Consumer started voting for the best spread. Additionally facebook campaign in which consumers uploaded pictures of themselves wearing swatch watches, allow a winner to win all 20 color Code watches. There are other campaigns called â€Å"Swatch Snowpass/ access†, â€Å"CreArt† â€Å" Street Club†. Distribution channel—- Swatch group created i ndependent distribution channels , its distributors are spread widely in Europe, Americas , Oceania, ,Asia, Middle East and Africa ..Retailing strategy– Swatch group created several retailing strategies to keep close contact with customers. Monobrand stores connecting with all the fashion shopping centers in the world including Paris Milan and London, New York city and Beijing , Shanghai and Hong Kong in Asia. Tour million boutiques in the world to retail famous brand watches they have. They majority of boutiques are in the Europe, 2007 they opened large tour million boutique in Beijing in China. Some other boutiques are controlled by local country, swatch use those stores to sell their single products.As a result In the first half of 2012 swatch’s sales were up 14% aided by expansion of its distribution and retail network. That why the Group continues to invest heavily in production. Approximately 40% of the investments in this segment go toward the expansion of capac ities, approximately 50% toward new production technologies and new products, and approximately 10% toward the replacement of existing capacities. Global market To lead the golbl market company follow some stratagees– -Must have style -Must be priced competitive -Must be cheap to make -Be durable A technological lead. All those elements enable the swatch to expand business in overseas and attacked customers from countries with different preference and abilities. Manufacturing centers located all over the world mainly Switzerland, German, France , Italy , the U. A , virgin Islands, Thailand, Malaysia and china. Training center—They focus also remains on the further education and training of employees or watchmaker at the various training centers in Switzerland and abroad. There are now five schools located in  (China),   (Malaysia), (Germany), and in Miami  (United States).There is also a partnership arrangement with the British School of Matchmaking  in Manches ter. CUSTOMER Swatch group concentrated emotional value of the customers, 1. INDENTIFY CUSTOEMRS-To identify customer , swatch always carry out extensive research and analyses patterns of consumer, behaviors and life style, Swatch that completely changed the concept of the wrist watch that why watches becomes a fashion accessory first and a watch second. 2. SEGMENTATION- Swatch makes segmentation base on age , gender , personality , lifestyle. 3. CONVY THE NEED OF CUSTORS-emotional value lies into why a particular product is desired or not desired.They recognized that it is important to manufacture goods that will persuade the consumer to purchase particular brand. Consumer’s opinion and consumers find swatch has â€Å"great quality, cool, timeless and durable. For some people swatch watches â€Å"bring back memories† and they are also a great gift or versatile. fashion conscious consumers collects a dozen or more , as swatch are sold as fashion accessories, consumers are encouraged to buy more than one to match with different set of clothes or lifestyles . The average swatch customers in Britain today own three different models.

What should be done with our solid waste

The amount of solid waste in the world's economically developed countries has been increasing dramatically during the 20th century. This is due to increasing economic affluence like increased consumption of ebergy and raw materials, the increased manufacture and transport sale. Also free constant demand for the products that does not last for long like toys. There is an increase in the amount the world, which requires considerable packaging. Also use of a wide range of variety of products cause the production of more waste. Many things have been done to solve this problem. But we have not managed to solve the hole problem, but there are some particular methods how to reduce the waste. The three methods i am going to include in this essay are the landfill method, the incieration and recycling.Landfills are facilities that serve as long-term disposal sites for community solid wastes. They are designed and operated to protect both the community and the environment from contamination. When properly operated, landfill sites can ensure clean groundwater and clean air in the community and environment. Proper landfill design will enhance the environmental protection provided by locating the landfill correctly. When selecting a landfill location it is preferable to have a site located in an environment that provides natural protection. Similarly, a site where landfill generated contaminants are naturally reduced to acceptable concentrations or are naturally contained is preferable. This is known as a site with abilities of natural self attenuation. Where self attenuation is not possible, it is necessary to construct a landfill facility in a designated area. Advantages A properly sited and engineered landfill offers much better control of the environmental and health hazards associated with waste disposal than a garbage dump or burning pit. After a landfill has been closed, the site is landscaped and can be converted into a park, tobogganing hills, golf courses, etc. A new landfill can also serve as an incentive for increased environmental awareness in the community. In communities currently using a garbage dump or burning pit, the regular collection of community solid waste and its disposal in a landfill encourages the separation and safe disposal of hazardous waste and can even serve as a starting point for a recycling program. A well-run landfill can become a source of pride to a First Nations community, allowing the community to serve as a model of environmentally responsible community solid waste management. Disadvantages A key disadvantage of the community solid waste landfill relates more to public perception than with a flaw in the solid waste management method itself. Many people, usually confusing the landfill with the uncontrolled garbage dump, react negatively and strongly to the idea of building a new community solid waste landfill in their community. One operational disadvantage is the difficulty in applying cover materials in winter months. To ensure the coverage of wastes in winter conditions, heavy equipment may be needed which may not be available in small communities. Secondly, a landfill also produces what is commonly termed â€Å"landfill gas.† This gas, which consists primarily of methane, forms because of the decomposition of organic wastes in the landfill. If allowed to accumulate in a confined space, landfill gas can pose a danger as an explosive. Because of the small scale of a typical First Nations community landfill, the low level of landfill gas produced, does not usually pose serious hazards to the community and to the environment. Also, depending on community size, landfills require a large land base to meet the community's current and future needs. Hauling waste off-reserve to a nearby municipal or regional landfill would better preserve a community's land base. Finally, constructing and operating a community solid waste landfill may require more financial resources than hauling waste off-reserve.

Everything You Need to Know About Kenya Essay

Kenya is a country in the continent of Africa, on the Indian Ocean coast of East Africa. This country has land on both sides of the equator. This report is going to tell you all about this fascinating country. Jambo (Hello), and we can begin our safari (journey). â€Å"Jambo† and â€Å"safari† are Kiswahili words, one of the languages of Kenya. Kenya is about two times the size of Nevada. It’s slightly smaller than Texas and slightly larger than California, our 2nd and 3rd largest states respectively. The countries that border Kenya are Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Kenya is not landlocked because the Indian Ocean borders Kenya to its right. Kenya is in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. Some major landforms in Kenya include the Kenyan Highlands, Mt. Kenya, the Great Rift Valley, Mau Escarpment, and Mt. Marsabit. The highest elevation is Mount Kenya at 17,057 feet, which is also one of the tallest in Africa. The capital of Kenya is Nairobi. The distance from Nairobi (the capital of Kenya) to Washington D.C. is 7,548 miles. The geography of Kenya supplies some advantages. One area that displays this is the highlands. The highlands provide Kenya with one of the best agricultural regions in Africa. There is rich soil and fertile ground. There is plentiful rainfall and mild climate perfect for farming. High altitude is also great for growing coffee and tea. Kenya is the 4th largest tea producer in the world. Farming provides jobs to the people that live there. Exporting crops such as coffee and tea help provide money in the country. The one and only type of natural vegetation in Kenya is tropical grassland. They have no active volcanoes, but a few centuries ago Mt. Kenya was a volcano. The distance from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, to the equator is approximately 216 miles. The climate of Kenya is varied. However, overall, the one-month it rains the  most in Kenya is in April when they get 6.3 inches. The average temperature in January is about 68 degrees while in July it’s 63 degrees. The many climates in Kenya include tropical wet, tropical wet and dry, arid, and semiarid. Arid is a dry region and receives approximately 5 inches of rain per year. In the summer Kenya gets .6 inches of rain and in the winter receives .1 inches. The temperature in the summer is 81 degrees Fahrenheit and the winter about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Semiarid is considered a dry climate type. Summers average 79 degrees Fahrenheit and in the winter averages 51 degrees Fahrenheit. The yearly rainfall is 10 inches in the summer 3.4 and .2 in the winter. Tropical wet and dry is considered a tropical climate. It’s hot all year, averaging 79 degrees all year. It receives about 50 inches of rainfall per year with 10 inches in the summer and .2 inches in the winter. I will now tell you about the history of Kenya before European exploration. Early tribal groups have started to settle in Kenya as far back as 2000 BC. The main reason tribes came here was for the rich, fertile ground, which would be good for farming. Both the highlands and the Rift Valley provided this in southern Kenya. The first migrants to arrive were pastoral nomads from Ethiopia who were in search of fertile ground, which they could use to graze their flocks. They were soon forced to leave and go into central Tanzania because of the climate changes over the centuries and water had begun to be scarce. The Yaaku, or Eastern Cushites, came 1,000 years later and settled in central Kenya. It seems that the Yaaku had been the leader and many more tribes came as the followers and by 100 AD there has been nearly 1,400 pastoral communities in the Rift Valley region. Next, I will tell you about the people of Kenya. The population of Kenya is 31,138,735 people. There are 2,310,000 people living in Nairobi. The population  density is 139 people per square miles in Kenya. Kenya is rural in most  areas, but urban in the capital. The official language of Kenya is English and Kiswahili (Swahili). The major ethnic group of Kenya is Kikuyu, which makes up 22% of the population. The major religion of Kenya is Protestant. 45% of the people follow the Protestant religion. The literacy rate in Kenya is 78.1% overall. Males are 86.3% literate, and women are 70% literate. Many areas lack good education. The life expectancy for women is 48 while the men are expected to life to 46. The population trend is growing greatly at 1.15% per year. One major illness that Kenyans suffer greatly from is HIV/AIDS. I will now tell you about the economy. The major type of economic activity is agriculture including herding and farming. Approximately 75-80% of the working population are in agriculture. It is a primary activity. The main agricultural product is tea. Kenya relies on coffee, tea, and flowers as their limited amount of cash crops. Although they have areas for farming, due to the large population and climate and weather problems, Kenya suffers with both starvation and famine. Some of their leading exports include coffee, tea, and flowers. They have a trade deficit with 3.1 million dollars imported and 1.8 million dollars exported. The major trading partners with Kenya are UK, Tanzania, and Uganda. The major imports Kenya receives are machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins, and plastics. The per capita GDP is $1,000 per person. The major natural resource is hydroelectric power. Other natural resources include gold, limestone, s oda ash, salt barites, garnets, and rubies. The currency is called a Kenyan Schilling. A US dollar is worth 77 Kenyan Schillings. I will now tell you about the politics and government of Kenya. The type of government in Kenya is a republic. Recently, the government has not changed. The current leader of Kenya is President Mwal Kibaki. The date Kenya was granted its independence was on December 12th, 1963. The country got its name when Europeans mispronounced the name Kikuyu (what Kenya was then called) for Kenya. The same occurred with the name for Mt. Kenya. There have been no recent civil wars. The ambassador to the US is Yusuf Abdulraham. The name of the major political party is the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy also known as FORD. The international organizations Kenya is a  part of include the UN (The United Nations), IMF (International Monetary Fund), WB (World Bank), OAU (Organization of African Unity), and ISO (International Organization of Standardization). The flag of Kenya has many meanings. The shield represents the pride and tradition of Kenya. The black represents the people. The red represents the blood. Green represents the fertile ground. Finally, the white represents peace. I feel that Kenya is still in the developing stage. Much of the area is rural, with an increasing population, particularly in and around the capital. They have many citizens with HIV AIDS, and have many more suffering from starvation. One strength that Kenya has is that they get 40 inches of rainfall per year. That makes it good for farming, in the areas that they can farm. Another strength is the high altitude and Great Rift Valley that not only allows tea and coffee to grow, but it offers more jobs, which is important with a high population density country like Kenya to have. I think that Kenya will not improve in the future unless they reduce the incidence of Aids and eliminate starvation. Due to limited education, lack of a cure for Aids, and weather conditions that cannot be controlled, the future does not look very promising for Kenya.

California oil spill sparks state of emergency Assignment

California oil spill sparks state of emergency - Assignment Example n California sparked state of emergency, which led the State’s governor to declare an emergency due to the hazardous effects that were posed by the spillage. The State of California organized a cleanup activity to remove the oil from the surrounding and make the marine environment safer. The oil spillage in California occurred at a place near Santa Barbara. That spillage resulted from an onshore pipeline that ruptured. It was officially communicated that the pipe broke at the time when it was running at full capacity, and it was feared that about one hundred and five thousand gallons might have spilled. Out of the spilled oil, approximately twenty-one thousand gallons may have reached the ocean. An official from the Plains American Pipeline that owns the pipeline Darren Palmer said that the running rate of the pipe at the time of spillage was approximated to be eighty-four thousand gallons per hour. The pipeline was built over two decades ago and had been serviced and tested some weeks before the spillage. The environment specialists have raised concerns over the dangers posed by the accident to the whales, birds and fish. The company official said that they will handle the spill and will cater for the incurred costs at the time of removing oil from the surrounding. The spill occurred in the same area as the one that happened in 1991, which resulted in the beginning American Environmental Movement (New moves in U.S to limit oil spillage, 2011). That incident led to several hundred thousand liters of oil spewed out from an oil platform. The accident resulted in the death of many seabirds and other marine mammals. This recent spillage was first noted on Tuesday when the authorities received information about the foul smell close to Refugio Beach around the midday. The emergency team that responded found that the oil had spilled for over half mile in the ocean. After the confirmation that the menace was an oil spillage, they traced the oil to rapture on the

The Benefits of the Legalization of Marijuana in Colorodo and Research Paper

The Benefits of the Legalization of Marijuana in Colorodo and Washinton state - Research Paper Example The legalization of marijuana means that there will be no more arrests that will be made to people either found using or in possession of the drug. Under the new Colorados law, residents who are beyond 21 years of age can possess, produce, sell and use up to an ounce of the drug at any given time. The law has had an immense and measurable effect to the colored people in Colorado where racial disparities regarding marijuana use and possession arrests have been questionable. Police in Colorado have been arresting blacks three times more than the whites. The arrests have been questionable since the whites have higher rates of using the drug than the colored residents. According to the NAACP, the legalization will alleviate the biased arrests. The blacks make 11% of Colorado’s population, but for every three Marijuana related arrests made, one must be a black person. The arrests have long-lasting and devastating effects. The arrests records affect an individual’s chances of getting a job, loans, housing, and other public benefits. People with Marijuana arrest records are demoted to the second class status. With the legalization of Marijuana, such arrests are stopped making life easy for all residents (Franklin 4). Legalizing the use of marijuana solves the problems associated with the illicit market. Marijuana users will shift to purchasing the drug from regulated stores. Violence originating from street corner trades will cease as the markets will be replaced with well-guarded stores having security and surveillance systems. Consumers now get clear information of what they are buying instead of getting whatever that is wrapped up in a baggie. The consumers will now have the benefit of choosing of what they want from a wide variety of the product depending on the price and the quality they want. The prices of the drug will respond like those of other products depending on supply and demand. The

Public relation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Public relation - Essay Example ns having democratically oriented cultures and governments; rather, it could be argued that the historic affinity between democracy and capitalism fosters the greater use of public relations practice in capitalistic economic systems while one could submit the corollary proposition that symmetrical practice of public relations inevitably will encourage nondemocratic nations to become more democratic’. The power of public relations to influence the opinion of the public even in severe issues like the political system of a particular state can be sometimes a threat for the market especially in cases where the targeted opinion has been formulated and imposed after a severe pressure from the party that will gain significant profit both directly or indirectly. However, in many cases public relations can lead to positive outcomes. For this reason, Levy (2002, 34) stated that ‘PR power used early can not only reduce the consequences of human error and frailty but also help create positives -- more business, a better legislative climate and improved standing with the media -- via mass media coverage on social service activities; PR can make advertising claims more credible, and give the claims more impact, because when the mass media tell scores of millions that something is so, the ads that follow are not only more trusted but more interesting’. As an example to the above assumptions, the case of Wal – Mart is presented by the above researcher in an effort to support the credibility of his statements. More specifically, the research made in the area has revealed the existence of a case where public relations led to an increase of the performance of the company involved. As Levy found ‘Wal-Mart has increased its sal es of high school class rings -- at 2,800 stores and online -- by including "how to buy" information in news releases; the stories make potential customers feel more comfortable about buying (Levy, 2002, 34). From a similar point of view it has been

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Essay

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - Essay Example Decontamination ensures that there are no medical or health implications in the treatment process with regard to renal medicine. This is due to the possibility of infections that could hinder or act as counteractive measures towards the entire of treating renal diseases. Moreover, cleaning and decontamination alleviates all forms of erroneous diagnosis and reinfections with unknown pathogens, as well as conditions that are not part of the patients’ original condition. In addition, decontamination and cleaning keeps the conditions of renal medicine and the facilities hosting it hygienic and clean for the benefit of the staff assigned to work in the facilities. As a result, the conditions of work should be widely favourable and to accommodate the needs of the staff. This is in relation to productivity and lack of infections and unfavourable working conditions for the members of staff. This works through elimination of risk factors that may distract members of staff from the duti es and tasks or create an inconducive atmosphere. Health care facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and outpatient units, play host to a wide variety of microorganisms that prey on patients undergoing treatment. Healthcare-associated infections, also referred to as nosocomial infections, are defined as those that are associated with medical or surgical intervention within the healthcare facility. For an infection to be described as nosocomial, it has to occur following 48 hours of hospitalisation or surgery or 3 days after discharge (Inweregbu, et al 2005, p.1). Such infections are often caused by breaches in control practices and procedures, which have to be met to ensure patient safety. Such breaches include the use of non-sterile environment during medical intervention, resulting in an infection. Healthcare associated infections are caused by a variety of common bacteria, fungi and viruses, which are introduced in a patient during medical intervention in non-sterile conditi ons (Memarzadeh n.d, p.10). Despite marked medical advances in the recent years, most patients are always at risk of developing nosocomial infections. In industrialised countries, healthcare-associated infections have a significant impact on public health by contributing to an increase in morbidity and mortality. Similarly, as healthcare facilities stretch their budgets to facilitate the extended care to the affected patients. It is estimated that such infections occur in every 1of 10 patients who are admitted to the hospital, which accounts for about 5000 deaths. Consequently, financial repercussions felt are enormous and translate to billions of pounds for the National Health Service. The relatively high prevalence of nosocomial infections has seen patients extend their stay in hospitals; incurring additional costs compared to uninfected patients. A study conducted by the European Prevalence of Infection in Intensive Care indicated that the prevalence rate in ICU has steeply decli ned from 1.8% in 2006 to 0.1% in 2012 (NHS Choices 2012). Patients under intensive care units are particularly at risk of hospital-acquired infections owing to the invasive procedures accorded to them. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites are the main causative agents of hospital-acquired infections in most healthcare facilities, where the pathogens may be present in the patient’s body, the environment, contaminated hospital equipment or the medical professionals. The most common types of healthcare-associated infections are urinary tract infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and surgical wound infections (Pennsylvania Department of Health n.d, p.1). For instance, following surgery, the patient may develop an infection around the surgical wound