Mathematics Methodology Classroom Effect on Efficacy of Elementary Teachers

Background of the Study The theoretical concept of this research is teacher efficacy and belief, which originated from Bandura’s self-efficacy in social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986). It has two elements, which include â€Å"efficacy expectations and outcome expectancies† (Bandura, 1986). The author is also quite categorical that efficacy among individuals has been demonstrated in various ways. For example, individuals can undertake self reflection in order to boost their levels of self efficacy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Mathematics Methodology Classroom Effect on Efficacy of Elementary Teachers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, they are excellent self-regulators especially if they are allowed to monitor themselves. Other similar characteristics of self efficacy include being proactive, and self-organizing. Bandura notes that human beings usually contribute to the circumstances facing their lives besides the fact that they are products of the same circumstances. Kazempour also shares a similar sentiment about the relationship between the ideas of self-efficacy and teacher efficacy by asserting that they relate to each other (Kazempour, 2008). He noted that teachers who demonstrated confidence in mathematics teaching strategies had the ability to influence their students. In this context, the teacher’s belief has a direct influence on potential student outcomes in mathematics. It is also imperative to mention that teachers can use various strategies to enhance student outcomes and provide appropriate feedback that encourages positive results. As a matter of fact, teachers with high levels of efficacy have the ability to put in place and utilize various types of strategies. It is not possible to deliver the best results and claim efficacies if myriad types of strategies are not sourced and utilized. The role of an elementary teacher should be to impr ove student outcomes through different teaching strategies. Based on this observation, Kazempour (2008) concluded that learners’ performances in mathematics depended on their teacher’s efficacy, because teacher efficacy as dictated by the use of various strategies had a significant influence on the outcome of students. When multiple and efficient strategies are used, learners are easily motivated and therefore are expected to perform exceptionally well. On the same note, Bursal (2007 also noted that the use of self-efficacy in improving mathematics literacy allowed teachers to enhance student outcomes regardless of their social backgrounds or other challenges (Bursal, 2007). Teachers who were aware of self-efficacy stressed the importance of learners in the teaching and learning process. Such teachers made students believe they were a part of the learning process. In this model, learners may feel that their contributions are also important to the class and develop inte rest in the subject (Bursal, 2007).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With reference to Bandura’s theoretical framework and other studies on personal efficacy and teacher self-efficacy, teacher efficacy may be defined as the teacher’s â€Å"judgment of his or her capabilities to bring about desired outcomes of student engagement and learning, even among those students who may be difficult or unmotivated† (Bandura, 1986; Ashton, Webb, Doda, 1982a; Ashton, Webb, 1986). It is important to understand the two aspects of teacher efficacy. Teachers also have personal beliefs through which they view the effectiveness of their teaching strategies. In addition, teaching outcome expectancy consists of teachers’ beliefs that effective teaching can effective teaching can create â€Å"positive student learning outcomes regardless of external factors† (Bandura, 198 6; Ashton, Webb Doda, 1982b). Teachers who hold this view believe that external factors such as family background, parental influence, IQ, school conditions, and home environment do not influence a student’s performance in mathematics once the teacher uses the appropriate strategy to enhance the student’s ability to learn and grasp new information. The above is among the strategies that have been employed to boost the efficacy of teachers when handling mathematics at the elementary level. This strategy is indeed an effective mathematics methodology for improving the efficacy of teachers (Cone, 2009). In yet another assertion, the author made it clear that community-based service learning â€Å"significantly influenced pre-service elementary teachers’ outcome expectancy toward equitable science teaching and learning† (Cone 2009, p.26). Cone’s study aimed to establish why pre-service teachers had low levels of teaching efficacy beliefs despite the i mprovement in science and other education courses. Problems may occur when the teacher is not certain about his or her skills or ability to ensure effective teaching. Teacher efficacy accounts for learners’ achievement, teacher behavior, and motivation, but it tends to be specific to certain contexts (Little, 2003). Within the context of mathematics, teaching efficacy focuses on two fundamental areas that relate to two aspects of teacher efficacy: mathematics teaching efficacy and teaching outcome expectancy. Few studies regarding mathematics teaching efficacy among elementary pre-service teachers exist.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Mathematics Methodology Classroom Effect on Efficacy of Elementary Teachers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, available studies have shown â€Å"a statistically significant increase in mathematics teaching efficacy after completion of one methods course or a sequen ce of methods courses† (Huinker Madison, 1997; Cakiroglu, 2000). Moreover, such improvements were also evident after completing content in mathematics courses. According to Lee (2010), studies have concentrated on teacher efficacy and correlated its significance to factors like classroom instructional strategies and eagerness to use new approaches in teaching. Both pre-service and in-service teachers who demonstrated high standards of teacher efficacy often used various approaches during their classroom lessons. Czernaik noted that teachers who possessed high standards of self-efficacy were most likely to use inquiry and student-centered teaching and learning methods (Czerniak, 1990). On the other hand, teachers who had low-levels of self-efficacy were likely to apply teacher-centered approaches in the classroom. In addition, teachers who had high standards of teaching efficacy were likely to apply new methods in their classrooms. This could be a difficult method to implement , â€Å"involved risks and would require sharing control with learners† (Czerniak, 1990, p.120). Such teachers attempt to match reforms proposed by the NCTM of 2000. Pre-service teachers often have preconceived beliefs concerning mathematics and their teaching and learning abilities in this subject (Cakiroglu, 2008). Most of these beliefs originate from their experiences as students. A number of these pre-service teachers have different views about mathematics. According to Cakiroglu, pre-service teachers also noted that exposure to â€Å"reform strategies in mathematics methods courses affected their level of mathematics teacher efficacy† (Cakiroglu, 2000). Hoffman studied the role of â€Å"self-efficacy beliefs, mathematics anxiety, and working memory capacity in problem-solving accuracy, response time, and efficiency; i.e., the ratio of problem-solving accuracy to response time (Hoffman, 2010). He noted that there were differences in â€Å"self-efficacy role on ef ficiency and response time, and a possible compensatory association between self-efficacy and mathematics anxiety in relation to efficiency outcomes† (Hoffman, 2010). Some past studies have noted that pre-service teachers with high standards of mathematics teacher efficacy often used manipulative instructional strategies. When manipulative strategies are used, misconceptions that may arise from poor instructional methods are avoided. For example, when mathematical teachers offer instructions to learners, it is vital for them to diagnose the common errors that individual learners often face when carrying out calculations.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It may be possible that a learner persistently fails a particular mathematical problem due to misconceived ideas. If such misconceptions are not dealt with out rightly, the affected learner may continue facing the same mathematical challenge. It is against this backdrop that the mathematical teacher is supposed to make use of instructional exercises that cannot just diagnose the problem, but also assist the learner to solve the mathematical challenge as quickly and effectively as possible. It is inevitable that learners may sometimes experience difficulties when handling mathematical problems. While some of these difficulties may be occasioned by ineffective instructional methods in a classroom environment, it is also possible that students may individually acquire erroneous procedures and misconceptions when they are practicing how to carry out mathematical computations. Perhaps, mathematical instructions should take the form of paper and pencil guideline especially when teachers a re introducing new concepts to young learners Therefore, pre-service teachers who demonstrated high standards of mathematics teacher efficacy were favorable toward reforms in teaching and learning mathematics. On the other hand, pre-service teachers who demonstrated low standards of mathematics teacher efficacy required improvement in their manipulative strategies in order to facilitate teaching mathematics in classrooms. Such outcomes are persistent with some past studies (Battista,1994;Czerniak, 1990). Cakiroglu (2000) is of the opinion that pre-service teachers must understand the importance of classroom instructional approaches and teacher efficacy besides showing their eagerness for adopting reforms in teaching and learning mathematics at the elementary level. The author has used a theoretical model to expound this phenomenon. Cakiroglu noted that it was important for elementary pre-service teachers to take part in â€Å"a mathematics methods course in order to increase mathem atics teacher efficacy† (Cakiroglu, 2000, p.92). In addition, elementary pre-service teachers also require encouragement and outstanding experiences when teaching mathematics method courses. This will allow such teachers to work toward achieving the efficaciousness required by mathematics reforms. It is also vital for pre-service teachers to gain and utilize the much needed teaching experience bearing in mind that long term exposure to different levels of complexities often enhances teacher efficacy and high level delivery of lesson content. To ensure that all these factors are considered, this study will seek to answer the following questions: What are the main impacts of the teachers’ training course on the self-efficacy levels of pre-service teachers? Do self-efficacy and beliefs towards mathematics affect the behavior of pre-service teachers in classrooms and their teaching practices? How do the participants view mathematics, and what is the relationship between th eir perception of mathematics and their classroom practices? What are pre-service teachers’ perceptions of their understanding of the subject of mathematics and their ability to teach the subject? Characteristics of the Subject Population Age range. The age range for research participants will be 20 years and above. This will account for diversity among pre-service teachers in the United States. Gender. Research participants will consist of both female and male pre-service teachers in the ratio of 1:1 respectively. Number of participants. Approximately 14 to 18 pre-service teachers in Indiana university of Pennsylvania Sample. The researcher will determine the appropriate sample based on the population of pre-service teachers in the region of the study. This sample will consist of pre-service teachers enrolled in a method class. Inclusion criteria. The study will include only Indiana University of Pennsylvania students who are majoring in education (pre-service) and are trai ning as mathematics teachers at the elementary level. Vulnerable subjects No vulnerable subjects will be included in the study. The participants are adult and volunteers. They can withdraw at any time in the study. Methods and Procedures Method of Subject Selection In order to conduct the study, a list of pre-service teachers in Indiana University of Pennsylvania will be obtained from the coordinators of the mathematics departments. Each of the mathematics department will be requested to avail 3 male and 3 female participants in order to balance the number of participants in the survey. Study Site The study site for each interview will be in University settings. However, she will also respect the wishes of respondents. Therefore, respondents are free to choose a location for the interview. Methods and Procedures Applied to Human Subjects Firstly, I will send the survey to everyone by the email n the beginning of the semester then at the end of the semester I will ask the class to pa rticipate in the interview. In the end of the semester the one who agree to participate will sign the consent and put it in the box. I will then interview them individually in a university sitting The study will engage respondents in a face-to-face interview. This will provide the opportunity to gather the in-depth information necessary for the study question. The preferred place for the interview is a school environment. This is necessary to ensure professional tone during the process. The study will use survey questionnaires to gather data. The study will involve the use of tape recorders. The researcher will transcribe all collected data and draw his conclusions. This is a preliminary stage of collecting data for the main study. Collected data will help the researcher to identify common themes and formulate appropriate study questions. Risks or Benefits Potential Risks This study does not pose any form of risk to research participants. There is no form of intervention in the stud y. Protection against Risks The study does not pose risks to participants. Therefore, no protection against potential risk is necessary. Potential Benefits This study will assess the pre-service teachers’ attitudes, beliefs, and efficacy toward mathematics. From the results of the study, the relationship between self-efficacy and teaching practices will be determined. Finally, the study will discuss measures that can be taken to ensure that teachers’ training processes are effective and lead to the development of professionals who are effective and efficient in performing their duties. Compensation for participation: Participants for the study will not be compensated, as their involvement will be voluntary. Alternatives to participation: There will be no alternatives to participation. Information withheld: All the information provided by the participants will be confidential. Debriefing – A summary of the procedures and results of the study will be made availab le to any participant at the end of the study. Privacy or Confidentiality Confidentiality Prior to the interview process, the confidentiality of the respondents will be guaranteed. The information gathered from the study will not be accessed by any unauthorized individuals except in the event of an investigation where a warrant has been issued. The researcher will store personal information as well as the data generated from the study in a secure location. Consequently, the confidentiality of the respondents will be maintained during the data analysis and interpretation phases. In the event a participant wishes not to be included or continue with the process, the questionnaires that have been administered to him/her will be destroyed immediately. References Ashton, P. T., Webb, R. B., Doda, N. (1982a). A study of teacher sense of efficacy, Final Report Volume 1. Florida: Foundation of Education University of Florida. Ashton, P. T., Webb, R. B., Doda, N. (1982b). A study of teache rs’ sense of efficacy, Final Report Volume 2. Florida: Foundation of Education University of Florida. Ashton, P.T., Webb, R.B. (1986). Making a difference: Teachers’ sense of efficacy and student achievement. New York: Longman. Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 34, 191-215. Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Battista, M. T. (1994). Teacher beliefs and the reform movement of mathematics education. Phi Delta Kappan, 75, 462-470. Bursal, M. (2007). Turkish preservice elementary teachers’ self- efficacy beliefs regarding mathematics and science teaching. International Journal of science and Mathematics Education, 8(4), 649-666. Cakiroglu, E. (2000). Preservice elementary teachers’ sense of efficacy in reform oriented mathematics. Indiana: Indiana University. Cakiroglu, E. (2008). The teaching efficacy beliefs of pre-service teachers in the USA and Turkey. Journal of Education for Teaching, 34(1), 33-44. Cone, N. (2009). Pre-service elementary teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs about equitable science teaching: Does service learning make a difference? Journal of Elementary Science Education, 21(2), 25-34. Czerniak, C. M. (1990). A study of self-efficacy, anxiety, and science knowledge in preservice elementary teachers. Atlanta, GA: the National Association for Research in Science Teaching. Hoffman, B. (2010). â€Å"I think I can, but I’m afraid to try†: The role of self-efficacy beliefs and mathematics anxiety in mathematics problem-solving efficiency. Learning and Individual Differences, 20(3), 276–283. Huinker, D., Madison, S. K. (1997). Preparing efficacious elementary teachers in science and mathematics: The influence of methods courses. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 8(2), 107-126. Kazempour, M. (2008). Exploring attitudes, beliefs, and self efficacy of pre-service elementary teachers enrolled in a science methods course and factors responsible for possible changes. Ann Arbor: UMI Dissertations Publishing. Lee, T. (2010). Teaching mathematics creatively, New York, NY: Taylor Francis. Little, M. E. (2003). Successfully teaching mathematics, Educational Forum, 67(3-6). This essay on Mathematics Methodology Classroom Effect on Efficacy of Elementary Teachers was written and submitted by user J0anna to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

buy custom United States Department of Health essay

buy custom United States Department of Health essay The content from this paper is based on a case study from the United States Department of Health on the emphasis of the organizational structure where some of the topics such as policy, bureaucracy, accountability and effectiveness will be tackled. In the case study, one will realize the reason for choosing decentralization as an organizational structure, which is effective for the Department of Health and Human Services (Radin, 1992). The paper will also outline the political factors found in the DHHS that are found to affect its organizational structure. Finally, the paper will establish the important findings of the case study and the implications, which might be applicable in the future. Assertion 1 The first assertion is based on the reason for decentralization. This can be explained by looking at the fact that the DHHS decided to embark on this management approach to enable it become competitive in the market. Decentralization is applicable for the institution since it is applicable in the public agencies without having defaults in the future. This choice was based on skills, personality and experiences, which were exhibited by the staff members (Shalala, 1998). The implementation of the program issues that the department was going to deal with as the DHHS is seen to be a large institution. Therefore, this approach was very much applicable to them as they noticed that the program provided a centralized strategy of control. The Clinton administration established a strategy controlled by a secretary who had staff members who were ready to work with agendas laid on the table. Assertion 2 The case study contains some political aspects associated with the whole DHHS. Its establishment encouraged these political aspects after the Clinton administration took over. The individuals were loyal to the secretary and were termed to be experts in their fields. They were also able to operate in way seen to be collegial. They were later replaced with the people with the same capability and they never completed the two terms. The people who replaced them had political characteristics, which made them competitive (Radin, 1992). The first political characteristic is being knowledgeable. These individuals were professionals at their areas of expertise and responsible in their areas. In their contribution to the program, they managed to induce research, administrative and knowledge, which is programmatic. The individuals later managed to build the political stabilities, as they were able to command respect from their constituencies. This also built their reputation among their staff m embers which intern gave them a long-term support as they supported commitment to the action agenda. This was later recognized in the 18-month tenure that was associated with their political appointments. The second political aspect is based on their loyalty to the secretary. The staff in this department had no choice rather than being loyal to the secretaries due to the orders from the president. The loyalty of the staff remained vibrant to the secretary where they never had any occasion of conflicting agendas with the secretary (Miles, 1974). Some of the staff members were forced to resign after they disagreed with the white house. This was seen to be the main reason for personal commitment created by the staff members to have a common agenda with the secretary. The implementation is also seen to influence collegiality and openness among in reference to the political aspect. This enabled most of the top staff members to develop personal relationship, which enabled them to work properly without differences (Radin, 1992). This was an important tool for them to reinforce social events, which were places to discuss important issues. The individuals that do not have close ties to one ano ther have to be become hypocrites to fit into the congregation and show team work. Assertion 3 The case study has been able to establish some of the important aspects of organizational structures, which include policy, bureaucracy, accountability, and effectiveness, which the establishment of DHHS was able to attain. However, one of the important aspects of establishing this program is based on effectiveness. The setup of the program ensured the focusing on the substantive issues, which would later lead to the effectiveness of the program (Shalala, 1998). This was made possible with the assistance of the secretary who initiated specific policies to the staff. The policies change every year to enable the program experts prioritize on having a long-term establishment of continuity. Conclusion and implication for the future The HHS has had the privilege of being lead by Donna Shalala after its establishment. This has been seen to be one of the people who should imitated in order to be crowned as future leaders of the world in HHS. On the other hand, there are some important implications, which the case study has provided and should be implemented in the future. The first important implication is the tailoring of the management style in order to be increase the strength of individual in relation to the predilection of the leader (Radin, 1992). This implies that it has always been impossible to have a management strategy, which has a single measure related to effectiveness. Rather, the strategy being implemented should be capable to be idiosyncratic and favorable to the managers involved. The second implication is based on acknowledging the responsibility given to the individuals responsible for the implementation of program, as they are the core of the entire organization (Shalala, 1998). This can also be explained by the fact that the staff unit, which is given control, is always the core of the program. In this case, it is the office of the secretary, which has been given the mandate to oversee the success of the program. Buy custom United States Department of Health essay

Compare between two institutions policies Research Paper

Compare between two institutions policies - Research Paper Example Human resource department in an organization carries out a number of functions for the management of the workforce including recruitment, selection, development, orientation, performance, and career path management (Zanko, 2002). This study aims at analyzing employee development as a human resource function as integrated in human resource functions of Shell and Qatar Petroleum. This will be done through numerating the various ways both organizations have similar employee development methods followed by the difference as represented by the policies implemented on employee decision making in Shell and Qatar Petroleum. Employee development augments the skills and understanding of the employees for the achievement of high productivity by the organization and ability of employees to achieve their own personal goals of career development and promotion in the organization (Schmidheiny, 1992). Since employee development ensures the organization has enough human capital with adequate skills a nd knowledge, therefore, it is very important to be implemented in any organization. At shell, a number of measures are taken to ensure the development of employees. In Qatar Petroleum, measures to improve employee development have also been implemented. ... en Shell and Qatar Petroleum in employee development is that the two companies have realized on the need to develop their employees through the provision of measures for employee development. The two companies understand the benefits of a motivated, skilled and well trained human resource as depicted in the different policies and practices harnessed in ensuring employee development is done in both companies (International Business Publications, 2012). Both Shell and Qatar Petroleum offer training of employees for the benefit of the employees in terms of career development and augments their skills in meeting the company’s needs. The measures taken to ensure employment training however differ in the two companies. Qatar provides employee development through the Qatar Petroleum Corporate Training Department (CT), to ensure all employees have enough skills as required by the company. The ways that are used by Qatar Petroleum Corporate Training Department (CT) include provision of professional and training programs. This is similar to Shell where professional training and development is done by the human resource development department in the organization. Shell and Qatar Petroleum have a similar decision making in human resource development that is the exposure of the employees. Employees in both companies area offered opportunities to work in an international environment since the two companies operate in different countries offering the means for the access of these global environment training opportunities. Shell and Qatar Petroleum provide its employees with different training destinations beyond their home country, mainly middle and high level management, in the subsidiaries. Being global companies, employees have opportunities to work with colleagues from around

The scientific method Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

The scientific method - Lab Report Example Then I would sow each type of grass seed in an equal number of sunny and shady grid cells. I would ensure the entire yard was watered and fertilized equally. The causal variable in the experiment would be the amount of sunlight the seed received. I would isolate this variable by controlling other potential causal variables such as fertilizer and water application. After four weeks, I would begin collecting data on the experiment. I would collect observable data on the percentage of each grid space that was sprouting grass. The response variable would be the germination of grass seed. The percentage of each grid would be combined to give me an overall germination percentage. This is how I would interpret my data and this is what I would use to make my decision on which seed I would buy. Developing this experiment has taught me several things about the scientific method. The first thing I realized is that in the implementation of the procedure, you need to account for variables if you are going to have valid results. In my experiment, I needed to make sure water and fertilizer was spread all over the year equally. If part of the yard was watered and the other was not, then the data could be misleading. Another thing I realized is that in science, you need to have a good way to collect the data. I thought of dividing the yard into a grid so I could get more specific information. Without the grid, I would have needed to look at just shady spots or sunny spots. The problem with that is as the sun travelled across the side, the shady and sunny areas would move. I could even go so far as to label or record the percentage of the day each grid was in full sun or

The economics of Crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The economics of Crime - Essay Example There are two aspects to consider when undertaking a study of the death penalty. The first aspect is whether or not the penalty is effective as a crime preventative measure. The second is whether or not the effectiveness of the prevention, no matter how effective it may or may not be, is worth the immorality of the taking of another’s life. The question relates to whether or not the right of the state to forfeit a life falls within the expectation of moral and ethical behavior that the worldwide community believes is fair and just. In considering the final nature of the death penalty and the lack of truly effective prevention from the threat of the death penalty, the forfeiture of life by the state does not seem to have merit. World wide opinion on the use of the death penalty as an effective tool for the prevention of crime has been diminished over the last two decades. According to Amnesty International (2010), two-thirds of the countries of the world do not have the death penalty and of the 58 remaining countries, most do not use the death penalty although they have it as an option. The United States, an economic and social leader in the world, still uses the death penalty as a punishment for crime. According to the American website Death Penalty Information Center (2010), 2009 saw 52 executions, all but one of which was done through lethal injection. Larry Bill Elliot was executed in the state of Virginia through the use of an electric chair. It has only been in recent history within the United States that the death penalty for juveniles was abolished. A sum total of 228 juvenile offenders were sentenced for life ending measures between the years of 1973 and 2004 with 22 of those ending in executions and 134 received commuted sentences (Lawrence & Hemmens, 2008, p. 34). A United States Supreme Court decision in the case of Roper v Simmons abolished the

Study On The Paleolithic Age History Essay

Study On The Paleolithic Age History Essay The Paleolithic Age was a period of technology that was developed from stone. The advancements of the Neolithic Age lead to new technologies which introduced metal tools. Also the Neolithic houses were built of mud brick and were more secure compared to the Paleolithic shelters. Their dwellings were constructed sturdier because the people lived more stable lives and there was no need to be so mobile. The invention of pottery was another big advantage that the Neolithic people had over the Paleolithic people. The Neolithic Revolution led to settlements and the advancement of group living. Also, after the Neolithic revolution began more intricate community situations led to improved and more complex forms of communication. The Neolithic revolution also led to the growth of governments and higher forms of organization because now that people were living in settlements they started separating the labor. I also think trade stemmed from this revolution because now people would now trade the extra food that they grew for other things they did not have. Lastly in my opinion the Neolithic Revolution also lead to the change from a matriarchal classification to a more patriarchal classification. 2. The Caste System had many advantages and disadvantages. The first disadvantage in my opinion is that the weak were oppressed by the social and politically advantaged people in the name of faith and customs. I also think the Caste System brought about division and resentment that in turn evolved into disunity among the Indian Society. This made India weak against foreign invasion. The biggest disadvantage was that the caste system was based on birth rather than individual talent or skills. Lastly, I think the Caste System created an individual class called the untouchables which were treated less than human. An advantage to the Caste System is that it played an important part in shaping profitable activities in Indian Society. This was made feasible because a distinct system of shared interdependence through a division of labor forms protection for those within a group. Another advantage was that each caste became an expert in their own area of trade. I think the Caste System reflected Indian society in a very negative manner. The caste system at anytime is appalling, it is hypercritical, and without the feeling of affection. I think one major problem it caused was a power struggle between the Brahmins and Kshatriyas. I think the Caste System became an outcome of human greediness and arrogance and it developed into an awfully harsh system of prejudice and domination. 3. The first tenet of Zoroastrianism is the belief in a supreme and universal god. He is the designer, the maintainer, and he protects the good from the wicked. The second important tenet of Zoroastrianism is the belief in the duality of survival. Zoroastrians accept the fact that the earth is a combat zone between good and evil forces. The third tenet is the belief in the holiness of conception. The Zoroastrians believe his conception is holy and marvelous so they feel it is everyones job to keep it unpolluted and sustain order. The last tenet of Zoroastrianism is the belief in the divine character of the Earth and mankind. They believe the material world consisting of flames, water, atmosphere, dirt, vegetation, nature, and humans are much like the body of God. Zoroastrianism is very influential because it is one of the oldest existing religions on the planet. Zarathustra teachings were notice by the ancient Greek and Roman theorists who wrote about his life and teachings. Zoroastrianism brought about the perceptions of Heaven and Hell; the idea that humans have free will faced the judgment by God after death. It basically paved the way for the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Before Zoroastrians influence the Hebrew Bible made no reference of a physical or emotional revitalization. Christianity is believed to be taught through the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and Zoroastrianism is taught through the prophesy of Zarathustra. These two religions have many similarities. The one similarity that stood out to me was that in both religions there is a belief in afterlife. Also in both religions there is a constant struggle between good and evil. The last thing that stood out was the fact that each religion believed that mankind should have free will. 6. When comparing and contrasting the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism you will first notice that both of these religions originated in the South Asia region. The one thing that stood out to me was that even though they had similar customs and values, they had very different ideas on matters of social organization. The two religions also differ on the ideas of the importance of individual freedom to progress both socially and spiritually. Another big difference is that there was not a specific founder of Hinduism. Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in 563 B.C. and Hinduism is more of a collection of different religions and cultures. In Hinduism a person must live their life through Dharma which is a sense of obligation. Through this a person can fulfill his roles in society and the world. In Buddhism a person must live their life through Dharma, which has no social obligations but sets up a definition of right behavior and responsibility. This is done so a person can escape the cycle of suffering and rebirth or samaras and achieve nirvana. In both religions they believe in the process of reincarnation and the effects of Karma. In conclusion, Hinduism and Buddhism both influenced India even though both influenced it in dissimilar ways. The major way that Hinduism influenced India is by the Caste System. The Caste System is the order of social classes of India, and is still acknowledged by some in India, although it is now prohibited. Buddhism influenced India mostly in ways of art with many sculptures which were made in the likeness of Buddha. Buddhists cultured ways of getting in touch with their internal character through the technique of meditation. Buddhists believed in both karma and dharma. Hindus construe this as if reincarnated into an improved social class coming nearer to evading suffering would be possible. 7. The Pax Romana was a time of harmony in the Mediterranean that lasted from the control of Augustus to the reign of Marcus Aurelius. The most outstanding characteristic of this period was the fact that there were two hundred continuous years of peace within Rome. Under this peace time, Augustus was able to extend his reign to Asia Minor. The economy also prospered within this time period by improving many harbors, building roads, clearing forests, and by turning unused land into farms. In my opinion this is also a time where there was an architectural revolution. The Pax Romana was a period of time that proved to be an example of five good rulers. The beginning of the Pax Romana began with the reign of Augustus and lasted forty-five years until his death. As ruler he was able to create a Roman Empire that had a much more balanced foundation. After his death, Rome had a few years of bad rulers. In my opinion The Roman Empire wasnt totally unified during this period. I also think the Pax Romana should not be spoken as the point in time of Roman tranquility which the name itself suggests. The Romans did remunerate wars during this period and there were common strifes as leaders were assassinated and tyranny was fluent. However, it was a time of wealth and progress in every sense. There were many similarities between the Pax Romana and Han China empires, length, area, economic transformation, and territorial expansion stood out to me the most. However, in my judgment the differences are more interesting. Political assimilation in China was obtained by the increase of Confucian values, characters of the emperors, and a bureaucratic government. The powerful Roman law was emphasized over their fragile system of government. Mysticism of emperors was not as dangerous politically, even though many made claim for the position. I think one of the greatest similarities is the development of technology and architecture and also the change in government policies. The major difference in my opinion was the fact that the Roman Empire turned their government into a republic and Han China maintained the structure of the Qin Empire. 8. The main achievements of the Roman Empire was the size of the empire, the advancement of its bureaucratic system, and they had one of the most well-organized, efficient, and vicious armies that the world has ever seen. In my opinion one major limitation that helped effect Romes fall was that usually Roman armies had more allegiance to their general than the state. I feel this contributed to constant civil war which plagued Rome during a large amount of its record. I also think that a very advanced culture would be an achievement of Rome. I also want to add that another limitation is that Rome suffered from a long period of terrible rulers and even with the development of technology wasnt enough to hold this great empire together. One key turning point in Roman History was the overthrow of the Tarquin monarchy by Junius Brutus in 509 BC. After this Rome never converts back to a monarchy. The republic of Rome was then ruled by the Senate and its assembly. I also think the Punic Wars were another major turning point in Roman history. After the Second Punic War, Rome paved the road for its power over Italy and established itself as the main power in the western Mediterranean. This bought about power and wealth to almost the entire region. The last turning point I want to mention is the year of the five emperors. This was the turning point that in my opinion started the decline of the Roman Empire. I think Romes legacy would be that they paved the way for western civilization. I also think the architecture of the Roman Empire was very dominant for its era in history. The Romans also contributed too many changes in British landscape. I also believe that much of Romes literature and writing has influenced the world. Lastly, the Romans will always be remembered because they had the best, well-organized, efficient, and vicious armies that the world has ever seen.

Kings Park Psychiatric Center :: essays research papers fc

The Kings Park Psychiatric Center has had a large effect on the social changes of Long Island. A small town grew larger and prosperous from the direct effect of this State hospital from the time of 1885 to the present. The history of the town, the patients and court cases held, and the concluding plans for the land after its closing have all had a significant mark on the social changes of the town. The first hospital was built in a quiet farming town later named Kings Park. In 1885, officials of what was then the city of Brooklyn established the Kings County Farm on more than 800 acres to care for the mentally ill. Kings Park was only a small part of what would later become a giant chain of connected mental hospitals on Long Island, each with over 2,500 patients at one time.(Bleyer,2) As new buildings went up at Kings Park, so did the patient population. At the turn of the century, Kings Park in just 15 years had grown to, 697 patients and a staff of 454. This dramatic increase had given the hospital a larger population than the rest of the Town of Smithtown. (Sarhaddi) The hospital was very equipped; therefore, not very dependant on the rest of Long Island. All the hospitals built around this time prided themselves on being self-sufficient farm communities. At Kings Park, the three wooden houses grew into more than 150 permanent buildings, including a bakery, Laundromat, amusement hall, bandstand, library, furniture repair shops, and nursing school. Most of the people who lived in Kings Park worked at the Psychiatric Center. Many of them were Irish immigrants brought from their native land more than 50 years ago by relatives who worked at the mental hospital on the Long Island Sound and who had promises of jobs for them too. (Bleyer) During World War II, when many employees joined the armed forces, Central Islip recruited black workers from the Carolinas, which led to cultural changes in the mix of the community. This developed distinct differences between certain areas of race such as African American, Hispanic, and white neighborhoods. Minority groups not allowed to fight in the war or not taken to fight were offered jobs to work at the hospitals. The Kings Park Psychiatric Hospital hadn’t really become very over-populated until the 1960’s. (Sarhaddi) The Kings Park Psychiatric Center was in its Heyday in the 1960’s.

Economic Analysis of Oligopoly Essay

This has been extended and they are now looking to expand their hold on the Australian market by moving into the liquor industry. Julian Lee (2008) highlights Coles and Woolworths move into the industry, by trying to build on their previous acquisitions of liquor outlets to challenge the major brands for a share of the $6 billion per year Australian beer market. The article reveals that Coles and Woolworths plan to ‘give more space to their own beers and promote the beers in their hotels’. The beer market has so far been resistant and has retained a strong brand loyalty. Coles and Woolworths are competing against each other and relying heavily on price discounting and forming supplier contracts to attain exclusive supply. The article questions whether or not these oligopolies will be as successful as previously in attaining their complete dominance because ‘home or exclusive brands’ are currently only a small component of the market. b Justification of the topic ‘Supermarkets brew up a crate full of profits’ is an article that clearly describes the workings on an oligopolistic market. The fact that the market is governed by two powerful firms that have the ability to influence price shows that the market more closely resembles a duopolistic structure. The beer and liquor industry comprises a differentiated oligopoly of which Woolworths and Coles are the main controllers. Woolworths and Coles control between 78 and 80. per cent of the national grocery market according to two 2008 retail surveys (Lenaghan, 2008), indicating a very high seller concentration ratio, and this figure points out the two giants’ share of the supermarket industry, including their diversification into liquor. It is clear that the competitors hope to extend this duopoly in the beer market where they have been less successful. Coles and Woolworths can be justified as a competitive duopoly as they are interdependent. They rely on each other o judge pricing of products and it has been suggested (Moynihan, 2007) that the two powers collude to maximize their profits. Significant barriers to entry for independent competitors have been created including large start up costs. The sheer size of their companies allows them to influence legislation, the fact that they encompass large economies of scale, and their control of raw materials helps these two firms to retain the staggering market share ‘to an extent unparalleled in other countries. ’(Jones, 2005) 2. Economic Analysis It is quite evident that Coles and Woolworths began their crusade of the Australian liquor industry early. Estimates of the ‘take out sales figure would be somewhat over $9 billion of a total liquor market of about $17 billon’ (Jones, 2005). Over the years the rises in productivity and efficiency have enabled the companies to sell at a discounted price. ‘Woolworths has long been engaged in a project to reduce costs through improvements in supply chain logistics’ (Jones 2005). Coles and Woolworths are well aware that this efficiency leads to increasing returns to scale. They hold economies of scale and scope that their nearest rivals cannot compete with and therefore their long run average costs continue to decline whist their output quantities are more than doubling. The long run average cost curve (1) is produced when economies of scale are many and diseconomies of scale are few. 1. 2. It is very clear that Coles and Woolworths association of groceries and liquor retailing is a classic example of oligopolistic firms attempting to further enhance their market. ‘In the mid 80’s Coles bought the Liquorland group signalling its entry into liquor retailing. Coles bought Vintage Cellars in 1992, the Australian Liquor Group in 2001, and the sizeable Theo’s business in 2003. Woolworths bought Victoria’s Dan Murphy in 1999, Tooheys Bros in Sydney in 2000, the Liberty Liquor group (including Harry’s Liquor) in 2001, the Booze Brothers Chain in South Australia in 2000, the Super Cellar group in South Australia in 2003, Bailey & Bailey in South Australia in 2003, and ALH in late 2004. Woolworths also acquired 18 licenses from the purchase of Franklins’ grocery chain in 2001’. (Jones 2005) This shows the industry power that the duopoly own, although as Lee rites they have found that ‘beer has remained resistant’ to the takeover of private home brand labels. Home brand labels have relied on a discounted price to capture the market’s attention, a strategy that will have little success with beer. The beer industry is already dominated by premium, boutique, imported and Aussie favourite beers t hat the chance of finding a large market share is unlikely. At the moment the in-house brands make up ‘just 2%’ of the beer market, most of which is taken up by Sol, a Woolworths brand. The beer industry is unlike the grocery industry where a discounted price is favourable. The Australian brewing duopoly of Fosters and Lion Nathan both believe that ‘branded beer will win out’ and are not worried that the products being forced into the market by Coles and Woolworths ‘will eat into (their) market share’. Coles and Woolworths envisions that the low priced private label brands will increase their demanded quantity from Q1 to Q2 (2) and this in turn will increase their market share and their profits. In the long run they will also be able to force more small independent brewers and sellers out of business because these retailers do not encompass the specialisation skills or labour to be able to price lower than the oligopolists or even match their prices. Although matching any price reduction for the oligopolist who retains significant economies of scale can be treated with simplicity. This can be shown by a downward movement in the marginal cost curve. (3) The prices for the consumer would decrease and the average total cost for the producer also decreases. The local liquor retailer could more often than not, have no success in moving their marginal cost curve to match that of the oligopolists. These independents’ market share and profitability will in effect reduce dramatically. This can then cause possible reductions in the industry shifting the supply curve to the left. For the consumer this is ultimately a negative scenario as the oligopolists who charge a cheaper price at present, will be able to increase their prices once the other competition has been eliminated (4). (3)(4) The article gives light onto the fact that the two giants’ are ‘creating exclusive contracts for (their) retail outlets’ and this restricts competitors selling their brands. ‘Woolworths already distributes Bitburger, Lowenbrau and Amsterdam Mariner, while Coles sells Hollandia, Cantina Cerveza, Bavaria, Estrella Damm, Harviestoun, La Trappe and Konig Pilsner. It also contracts Boag’s – now owned by Lion Nathan – to make Tasman Bitter, Tasman Gold and Hammer ‘n’ Tongs for the chain’. It is clear that already Coles and Woolworths dominates much of the beer market by owning the outlets and the contracts to sell the beer itself. They anticipate that loyal customers will have to come to their outlet when shopping for their regular branded beer. It is also highlighted that ‘imported premium beer sales have grown by 20%’ from January 2007, a figure which is likely to increase. Coles and Woolworths are furthermore using their oligopolist power to create barriers and retaliate at competitors. In 2002 Fosters had no choice but to decide against branching into the retailer market as Coles had began to reduce the stocking of Fosters’ lines in its outlets (Jones, 2005). It had become clear that Coles and Woolworths were not going to let their market be penetrated by other competitors and that notion of collusion seems to be a regular and probable occurrence. Although oligopolists frequently collude, within the beer industry collusion is not yet possible as they are still trying to dominate the existing market. If the two firms were to succeed in their strategy to dominate the market and collude to set higher prices for the consumer their profit margins would be very high and the industry would resemble that of a pure monopoly (5). . Conclusion The $6 billion Australian beer market has proved to be resilient to attempts by the two giants to capture the industry. Ultimately the oligopolists plan to attempt to take hold of the beer market as they have done with groceries and petrol. In the short run, the economies of scale and the continuous logistics improvements provides the consumer with cheaper prices that the independents may not be able to provid e and consequently when the independents are run out of the market the competition and prices of the industry may increase dramatically. Coles and Woolworths are aiming to ‘target the value shopper, and that’s where private label and control labels are playing. ’ The potential success of this is questioned in the article, as within the beer industry the value shopper makes up a ‘small component of the market’. Only time will tell if Coles and Woolworths can continue to extend their previous successes.

All About Chocolates Child Labor and Slavery Problem

All About Chocolate's Child Labor and Slavery Problem Do you know where your chocolate comes from, or what happens in order to get it to you? Green America, a non-profit  ethical consumption  advocacy organization,  points out in this infographic  that although major chocolate corporations rake in tens of billions of dollars annually, cocoa farmers earn just pennies per pound. In many cases, our chocolate is produced using child and slave labor. We in the U.S. chomp down twenty-one percent of the global chocolate supply every year, so it makes sense that we should be informed about the industry that brings it to us. Lets take a look at where all that chocolate comes from, the problems in the industry, and what we as consumers can do to keep child labor and slavery out of our sweets. Where Chocolate Comes From Most of the worlds chocolate begins as cocoa pods grown in  Ghana,  Ivory Coast, and Indonesia, but much is also grown in Nigeria, Cameroon, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Peru. Around the world,  there are  14 million rural farmers and  laborers who rely on cocoa farming for their income. Many of them are migrant workers, and nearly half are small farmers. An estimated 14 percent of them- nearly 2 million- are West African  children. Earnings and Labor Conditions The farmers who cultivate cocoa pods  earn less than 76 cents per pound, and because of the inadequate compensation, they must rely on low-wage and unpaid labor to produce, harvest, process, and sell their crops. Most cocoa farming families live in poverty because of this. They have inadequate access to schooling, healthcare, clean and safe drinking water, and many suffer from hunger. In West Africa, where much of the worlds cocoa is produced, some farmers rely on child labor and even enslaved children, many of whom are sold into bondage by traffickers who take them from their home countries. (For more details on this tragic situation, see these stories on BBC and CNN, and this list of academic sources). Massive Corporate Profits On the flip side, the worlds largest global chocolate companies are raking in tens of billion dollars annually, and total pay for the CEOs of these companies ranges from 9.7 to 14 million dollars. Fairtrade International puts the farmers and corporations earnings in perspective, pointing out that producers in West Africa are likely to receive between 3.5 to 6.4 percent of the final value of a chocolate bar containing their cocoa. This figure is down from 16 percent in the late 1980s. Over the same time period, manufacturers have increased their take from 56 to 70 percent of the value of a chocolate bar. Retailers currently see about 17 percent (up from 12 percent over the same time period). So over time, though demand for cocoa has risen annually, and has been rising at a greater rate in recent years, producers take home a decreasing percentage of the value of the final product. This happens because chocolate companies and traders have consolidated in recent years, which means that there are just a handful of very large, monetarily and politically powerful buyers in the global cocoa market. This puts pressure on producers to accept unsustainably low prices in order to sell their product, and thus, to rely on low-wage, child, and slave labor. Why Fair Trade Matters For these reasons, Green America urges consumers to purchase fair or direct trade chocolate this Halloween. Fair trade certification stabilizes the price paid to producers, which fluctuates as it is traded on commodities markets in New York and London, and guarantees a minimum price per pound that is always higher than the unsustainable market price. In addition, corporate buyers of fair trade cocoa pay a premium, on top of that price, that producers can use for development of their farms and  communities. Between 2013 and 2014, this premium poured more than $11 million  into producing communities, according to Fair Trade International.  Importantly, the fair trade certification system guards against child labor and slavery by  regularly auditing  participating farms. Direct Trade Can Help Too Even better than fair trade, in a financial sense, is the direct trade model, which took off in the specialty coffee sector several years ago, and has made its way to the cocoa sector. Direct trade puts more money into producers pockets and communities by cutting the middlemen  out of the supply chain, and by often paying far more than the fair trade price. (A quick web search will reveal direct trade chocolate companies in your area, and those from which you can order online.) The most radical step way from the ills of global capitalism and toward justice for farmers and workers was taken when the late Mott Green founded the Grenada Chocolate Company Cooperative  on the Caribbean island  in 1999. Sociologist Kum-Kum Bhavnani profiled the company in her award-winning documentary about labor issues in the global cocoa trade  and demonstrated  how companies like Grenada offer  a solution to them. The worker-owned cooperative, which produces chocolate in its solar-powered factory,  sources all of its cocoa from the inhabitants of the island for a fair and sustainable price, and returns profits equally to all worker-owners. It is also a forerunner of environmental sustainability in the chocolate industry. Chocolate is a source of joy for those who consume it. Theres no reason that it cant also be a source of joy, stability, and economic security for those who produce it.

Average SAT Scores What They Are and What They Mean

Average SAT Scores What They Are and What They Mean SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips When they first start tutoring, almost all students ask the same question: what is the average SAT score? The answer varies a bit every year, but for students in the class of 2013, the average SAT score was a 1497. I’ve created a chart by section below. Critical Reading Math Writing 497 513 487 However, the nationwide average doesn’t actuallymatter! What’s actually important is how your score compares to those of the other students applying to the same colleges and scholarships as you. You’ll need a much higher score to apply to very selective schools like Stanford or Princeton,buta 1500 is a totally acceptable score if you want to apply to smaller campuses of big state school systems. Let’s look at what an average SAT score really means and how it affects you. The National Average Doesn’t Matter - Really! Almosttwo million students take the SAT every year, and they go onto all kinds of different schools,fromIvy League universitiesto local community colleges. The national average includes all of these students'scores. But you're not competing against every single high schooler in the same year as you; you’re only competing against the students who are interested in the same schools and programs as you are. Theimportant thing is to have a score the same as or higher than the average among that group, and whether that average is above or below the national onewill depend entirely on the type of schools you’re interested in. How You Stack Up AgainstYour Peers We've established that the national average doesn't really mean much, but maybe you still want to know how you compare to other students in a general sense. In that case, you might want to look athow your SAT scores compare to those of other students like you, i.e. those with similar grades and backgrounds. To get a sense of how you fit in the range, you can look up at the average SAT score for students at your high school or for those with similar GPAs. Keep in mind, though, that when it comes to college applications, these numbers arealmost as irrelevant as the national one. Adorable dogs duking it out over SAT scores. Average SAT Score for Your High School To find the average SAT score for your school, you can try checking with counseling office ofsearching for â€Å"[your school] SAT scores† on the web. The second approach is more likely to work if you live in an area with high SAT adoption. If you live in an ACT mandatory state, it’s probably easier to find your school's ACT scores and convert them to SAT scores. However, remember that most colleges don’t compare you against your classmates. Though this information can be interesting it shouldn’t be a source of stress. Average SAT Score for High Achievers The average SAT scores for honors students are generally muchhigher than those for all US high schoolers. If you’re a top â…“ honor student, the average SAT score is 1810. If you’re a top 1/10 honor student, the average is 2000. If you’re not scoring that highly, don’t panic. Your personal score goal will still depend on the schools you want to apply to, and plentyof great schools admit mostly students withscores below 2000. The Key Number: The Average SAT Score for Your First-Choice College Ultimately, your SAT score is a tool to help you get into college, so what you really need to know is the average ACT score for students admitted to the school you want to attend. Generally speaking, very selective schools generally have average SAT around 2200, moderately selective schools have an average SAT score around 1800, and less selective schools have an average SAT score around 1550. However, you should look up the specific SAT score range for each school you're planning to apply to. To find this information, check the college’s admissions page or search forâ€Å"[college name] SAT score.† The schools usually list a range from the 25th to 75th percentile - you’ll want to shoot for the higher end of the range. Use the worksheet on this page to calculate your exact target score based on all the schools you’re interested in. What's Next? If you haven't reached your score goal just yet, consider checking out some of our SAT prep resources. You can start with the 5 general strategies you must know and then break yourprep down by section with our ultimate guides to reading, writing, and math (coming soon). Or perhaps you'd fare better with the ACT? Usethese guides to decide whether you might prefer to focus on the ACT: the ACT vs. the current SAT and the ACT vs. the new SAT. But what ifyou're already scoring well on the SAT, but are struggling with a low GPA? This guide can help. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Alex Heimbach About the Author Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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UK IT Related Laws Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

UK IT Related Laws - Essay Example Illegally obtained data, records or information about an individual are often used in crimes that involve identity theft. Other usage of data about a person includes blackmail, kidnapping and other crimes. Data Protection Act of 1998 The Data Protection Act of 1998 was in response to the European Directive of 1995 that required member states to protect the right to privacy of every citizen in the European Union. Recognizing the borderless nature of internet transactions, the need for this law to be passed in every state is of outmost importance to ensure that no European will be victimized within the European Union by fellow Europeans engaged in criminal activities. The Data Protection Act was very explicit in limiting the information to be gathered by organizations from an individual to ensure that only what is needed by the organization can be gathered. The Data Protection Act also mandates that the information gathered from an individual or generated for an individual by an establ ishment should not be kept longer than necessary. The provision cited herein has the intention of ensuring that no data or information can be obtained that can be used in stealing and replicating an identity. However, there are instances where problems still occur. In September 2010, Brighton General Hospital was robbed of Hard Drives that contained confidential information of patients of the said hospital. Although, the Chief Executive of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trusts stated that the Hard Drives have been released to a contractor who was paid to destroy the Hard Drives, unfortunately the contractor sold them on E-Bay. As soon as they have been informed of the theft, they were able to catch and recover the hard drives with the help of the local police. The Information Commissioner’s Office stated that the watchdog suggested that the fine of the hospital be 375,000 pounds. The 375,000 pound fine is the biggest fine that the Information Commissionerâ€℠¢s Office has issued. (OUT-LAW.com, 2012) Kent County Council has been named as the number one organization that loses private data of their clients in the United Kingdom. There had been 72 reports of theft between the years 2008 and 2011. One incident was mentioned in the article where a worker lost a USB drive that contained information regarding students somewhere. Most of the Kent County Council’s loss of data incidents includes the loss of laptops, documents that were misplaced or accidentally left outside a car. Another incident mentioned were parents receiving a report of a different child. Although the Kent County Council was not held liable for some incidents which is illustrated in an incident where one family posted case notes pictures on Facebook, making it accessible to anyone. However, it is no big surprise that they came out as Number One with respect to data loss since they are a big authority in the United Kingdom. (BBC, 2011) Zurich Insurance was issued a fi ne of 2,300,000 million pounds by the Financial Service Authority for the data loss incident in August 2008 involving 46,000 of its customers. The data loss occurred when they were transferring data to storage

Management accountant Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management accountant - Assignment Example They are only recognized as expenses when they are sold and at that time they are recognized as cost of goods sold (Drury, 2008). According to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) it is essential that a firm uses absorption costing to record the value of inventory in the books of accounts (Accounting Tools, 2014). The main components of this type of costing methods are: It is however possible to allocate expenses with the help of activity based costing method. But it is considered to be a more elaborate method and therefore more time consuming and costly. The costs allocated under the method of overhead absorption costing method may be over absorbed or under absorbed. The costs are allocated on the basis of rates of overhead. It may be seen that the actual expenses incurred and that which is recorded might not be the same. Also there might be costs that cannot be directly be traced to the products as they might not fall under the overheads. Under such circumstances direct costing is more helpful as it does not require any allocation. Absorption costing is also referred to as full costing or full absorption (Izhar and Hontoir, 2001). Overhead Costs- The next step is to calculate the over head costs of each department. This is done by multiplying overhead rate with the hours per unit. The obtained figure is again multiplied with the units produced of each product (Lucey, 2007). Rates per unit calculation- Under ABC costing, the first step is to calculate the rate per activity. As per the given problem, it is known that there are five activities. The total units in terms of each activity are known. The total cost is also known. Therefore it is possible to calculate the rate per unit. They are calculated by dividing cost pools by cost drivers given in the problem (Jain and Khan, 2006) Total Cost for each activity- Now that the rates are known