Capacity Strategy Game Exercise Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Capacity Strategy Game Exercise - Outline Example Building too much capacity and selling my product at a very low price would mean being in the red and paying out interest on accumulated debts during every period (Henderson 2008, p.16). I think that the capacity cost (at GBP 10 per period) is relatively low, and therefore once I have put up entry costs I will stick around for a long time. In this scenario, even if you end up with profits that are relatively low (on top of your starting cash) you will probably earn more than most of your competitors (An & Fromm 2005, p.11). After taking into consideration all the factors mentioned above, I think that a capacity of 200 units would be the best option for me; let me explain why. First of all, minimum demand was 140 BTS while maximum demand was 260 BTS; this gives us a mean of 200. Apart from this, most of the time demand fluctuated between 160 and 240 BTS; this also gives us a mean of 200. In light of the fact that the two most important factors here (the average demand and the average fluctuating figure) both equal 200, it would only be wise to hold 200 units because it appears like that is what the market dictates (Klammer 2006,

Leadership characteristics of a successful entrepreneur Essay Example for Free

Leadership characteristics of a successful entrepreneur Essay Successful entrepreneurs are specialized types of leaders that have a definite set of leadership characteristics that make them good at what they domotivate people. Successful entrepreneurs are usually very focused in their vision and are immersed in making their venture successful. A good entrepreneur uses a dynamic and charismatic approach to motivate their employees to feel the same sort of feelings of success that he or she feels towards the ultimate success of the business. Howard Shultz, the founder of Starbucks Corporation, uses a dynamic leadership style, charismatic personality and vision to propel Starbucks as the premiere specialty coffee house in America, and is well on the way to becoming the global name for specialty coffee houses. Entrepreneurs, by the very nature of the definition, are self-starters that are highly motivated to make their business successful. Most people that start their own business do so because they have the personal drive to put their own ideas into a business venture. It takes a very motivated individual with personal convictions to make a business become a profitable and successful business. Obviously, if a person has enough gumption to take the steps to start their own business, then they are, by nature, very motivated individuals that want to make their project succeed. People who are not highly motivated will not become entrepreneurs or will more than likely fail if they try to make a half-hearted attempt to start their own business. To make a business succeed requires a vision of where the company should be after a specific time period. All entrepreneurs know in their mind what they would like their business to be in one year or five years or ten years. Successful entrepreneurs have a focused vision of what steps need to be taken to make their business succeed. The very best entrepreneurs are not only motivated themselves, but are able to spread their motivation to others through a charismatic leadership approach. People that become successful entrepreneurs have the ability to make those around them get excited about the business, just like they are. If the people that work in a company are motivated to work towards making the company a success, then the company has a much better chance of becoming successful. All entrepreneurs are excited about their own business, but not  all of them can get the people that work for them just as excited. A dynamic entrepreneur is able to motivate others to want to produce a better product or service because they provide the employees with motivation and direction. Motivation is probably the single most important factor that an entrepreneur can provide to their employees, but creating a shared vision for all to work for is almost equally important. People will work harder for a company that has ideals and principles that they also believe in and share. Successful entrepreneurs are able to create a vision for the company; they provide a goal or ideal that employees and the public in general can relate to. By having a vision or ideal that the company is striving for, each employee feels that they are performing a vital function that eventually leads to the final goal. Employees will work hard to achieve a goal if they feel that a goal is worthwhile or somehow makes the world a better place. Companies usually state these in mission statements, with variations for whatever the company holds as an ideal, such as environmentalism or community service. Howard Shultz, founder of Starbucks, is a very motivated individual that has a vision of what he would like Starbucks to become. The fact that Shultz coordinated 150 new Starbucks openings between 1987 and 1992 shows that he was very motivated to make Starbucks a national and eventually international success. Shultzs vision for Starbucks has facilitated the opening of over 3,300 stores worldwide and Starbucks continues to grow at an extremely rapid pace. Along with charisma and motivation, Howard Shultz possesses many leadership attributes, which make him a very successful leader and motivator. Shultz knows how to make people feel like they are doing something important. Selling coffee is not a vital function that is needed for life, but Shultz has made selling coffee seem important to those that work for Starbucks. Shultz created a policy that Starbucks will only purchase organically grown coffee beans. This one policy makes Starbucks seem like they are performing a service to the world by creating a market for coffee beans that arent responsible for damaging the environment. Environmentalists and even non-environmentalists agree that this is a good thingeven noble. The  people that sell the Starbucks product feel a sense of pride for doing something for the environment. Starbucks also does other things that have the same effect, but on different populations. Starbucks has a program that builds schools, community centers, etc, in the communities that Starbucks buys its coffee beans from. This type of activity appeals especially to socially conscious people that get reward from knowing that Starbucks is giving something back to the community from which the coffee beans are taken. Another program, called the Urban Coffee Opportunities, offers inner city entrepreneurs an opportunity to bring a Starbucks to an inner city neighborhood in the hopes that a Starbucks business can spark financial growth and future business opportunities for inner city areas. This program also appeals to the socially conscious and creates a sense that Starbucks really cares about people and their communities. These programs are definitely good ideas and greatly enrich the lives of the people that they touch, but also serve as a basis to motivate employees as well as customers of Starbucks, which creates a better product and more sales for Starbucks. References http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/customer_stories/starbucks.html; Accessed 10 Feb. 2004 http://www.starbucks.com/; Accessed 10 Feb. 2004

Mechanism Of Action Of Warfarin Biology Essay

Mechanism Of Action Of Warfarin Biology Essay Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication that is used to prevent thrombosis (clots) and embolism in many disorders. Warfarin activity has to be monitored by frequent blood testing for the International Normalized Ratio (INR). Warfarin is a synthetic derivative of coumarin, a chemical found naturally in many plants it decreases blood coagulation by interfering with vitamin K metabolism. Mechanism of Action of Warfarin Warfarin is vitamin K antagonist that produce its anticoagulant effect by interfering with the cyclic interconversion of vitamin K and its 2,3 epoxide (vitamin K epoxide). Vitamin K is a cofactor for the posttranslational carboxylation of glutamate residues to ÃŽÂ ³-carboxyglutamates on the N-terminal regions of vitamin K-dependent proteins (Whitlon, et al., 1978; Fasco, et al., 1982) .123456 These coagulation factors (factors II, VII, IX, and X) require ÃŽÂ ³-carboxylation for their biological activity. Coumarins produce their anticoagulant effect by inhibiting the vitamin K conversion cycle, thereby causing hepatic production of partially carboxylated and decarboxylated proteins with reduced procoagulant activity.78 In addition to their anticoagulant effect, the vitamin K antagonists inhibit carboxylation of the regulatory anticoagulant proteins C and S and therefore have the potential to exert a procoagulant effect. In the presence of calcium ions, carboxylation causes a conformational change in coagulation proteins91011 that promotes binding to cofactors on phospholipid surfaces. The carboxylation reaction requires the reduced form of vitamin K (vitamin KH2), molecular oxygen, and carbon dioxide, and is linked to the oxidation of vitamin KH2 to vitamin K epoxide. Vitamin K epoxide is then recycled to vitamin KH2 through two reductase steps. The first, which is sensitive to vitamin K antagonists,123 reduces vitamin K epoxide to vitamin K1 (the natural food form of vitamin K1), while the second, which is relatively insensitive to vitamin K antagonists, reduces vitamin K1 to vitamin KH2. Treatment with vitamin K antagonists leads to the depletion of vitamin KH2, thereby limiting the ÃŽÂ ³-carboxylation of the vitamin K-dependent coagulant proteins. The effect of coumarins can be counteracted by vitamin K1 (either ingested in food or administered therapeutically) because the second reductase ste p is relatively insensitive to vitamin K antagonists (Fig 1). Patients treated with a large dose of vitamin K1 can also become warfarin resistant for up to a week because vitamin K1 accumulates in the liver and is available to the coumarin-insensitive reductase. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Warfarin Warfarin is a racemic mixture of two optically active isomers, the R and S forms in roughly equal proportion. It has high bioavailability,1920 is rapidly absorbed from the GI tract, and reaches maximal blood concentrations in healthy volunteers in 90 min after oral administration.1921 Racemic warfarin has a half-life of 36 to 42 h, circulates bound to plasma proteins (mainly albumin), and accumulates in the liver where the two isomers are metabolically transformed by different pathways.22 The dose-response relationship of warfarin is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, including a recently identified common mutation in the gene coding for one of the common cytochrome P450 enzymes (2C9), the hepatic enzyme responsible for oxidative metabolism of the warfarin S-isomer.2324 This mutation likely contributes to the variability in dose response to warfarin among healthy subjects.25 In addition to known and unknown genetic factors, various disease states, drugs, and dietary fac tors can interfere with the response to warfarin. The anticoagulant response to warfarin is influenced by pharmacokinetic factors, including drug interactions that affect the absorption or metabolic clearance of warfarin, and pharmacodynamic factors that alter the hemostatic response to given concentrations of the drug. Variability in anticoagulant response also occurs as a result of inaccuracies in laboratory testing, patient noncompliance, and miscommunication between patient and physician. Other drugs may influence the pharmacokinetics of warfarin by reducing GI absorption or by disrupting its metabolic clearance. For example, the anticoagulant effect of warfarin is reduced by cholestyramine, which impairs its absorption, and is potentiated by drugs that inhibit warfarin clearance through stereoselective or nonselective pathways.252627 Stereoselective interactions affect oxidative metabolism of either the S-isoner or R-isomer of warfarin.2627 Inhibition of S-warfarin metabolism is more important clinically because this isomer is five times more potent as a vitamin K antagonist than the R-isomer.2627 Clearance of S-isomer warfarin is inhibited by phenylbutazone,2829 sulfinpyrazone,30 metronidazole,31 and trimethoprim- sulfamethoxazole,32 each of which potentiates the effect of warfarin on the prothrombin time (PT). In contrast, drugs such as cimetidine and omeprazole that inhibit clearance of the R-isomer have only moderate potentiating effects on the PT in patients treated with warfarin.272833 Amiodarone inhibits the metabolic clearance of both the S-isomer and R-isomer and potentiates the anticoagulant effect of warfarin.34 The anticoagulant effect is inhibited by barbiturates,32 rifampicin,34 and carbamazepine,32 which increase its metabolic clearance by inducing hepatic mixed oxidase activity. Although long-term alcohol use has a potential to increase the clearance of warfarin through a similar mechanism, consumption of even relatively large amounts of wine was shown in one study29 to have little influen ce on PT in subjects treated with warfarin. For a more thorough discussion of the effect of enzyme induction on warfarin therapy, the reader is referred to a critical review (Table 2 ).35 The pharmacodynamics of warfarin are subject to genetic and environmental variability. Hereditary resistance to warfarin occurs in rats36 as well as in human beings.3738 Patients with genetic warfarin resistance require doses fivefold to 20-fold higher than average to achieve an anticoagulant effect. This disorder is attributed to altered affinity of the receptor for warfarin since the plasma warfarin levels required to achieve an anticoagulant effect are increased. Two mis-sense mutations in the factor IX propeptide have been described394041 that cause bleeding without excessive prolongation of PT. When affected individuals are treated with coumarin drugs, factor IX activity decreases to about 1 to 3%, while levels of other vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors decrease to 30 to 40% of normal. These mutations are uncommon and have been estimated to occur in Subjects receiving long-term warfarin therapy are sensitive to fluctuating levels of dietary vitamin K,4243 which is provided predominantly by phylloquinone in plant material.43 The phylloquinone content of a wide range of foodstuffs has been listed by Sadowski and associates.44 Phylloquinone acts through the warfarin-insensitive reductase reaction.45 Important fluctuations in vitamin K intake occur in both apparently healthy and sick subjects.46 Increased intake of dietary vitamin K sufficient to reduce the anticoagulant response to warfarin42 occurs in patients on weight-reduction diets consuming green vegetables or receiving vitamin K-containing supplements, and in patients treated with IV supplements containing vitamin K. Reduced dietary vitamin K1 intake potentiates the effect of warfarin in sick patients treated with antibiotics and IV fluids without vitamin K supplementation and in states of fat malabsorption. Hepatic dysfunction potentiates the response to warfarin through im paired synthesis of coagulation factors. Hypermetabolic states produced by fever or hyperthyroidism increase warfarin responsiveness, probably by increasing the catabolism of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors.4748 Drugs may influence the pharmacodynamics of warfarin by inhibiting synthesis or increasing clearance of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors or by interfering with other pathways of hemostasis (Table 3 ). The anticoagulant effect of warfarin is augmented by the second-generation and third-generation cephalosporins, which inhibit the cyclic interconversion of vitamin K,4950 by thyroxine, which increases the metabolism of coagulation factors,48 and by clofibrate, through an unknown mechanism.51 Doses5253 of salicylates > 1.5 g/d also augment the anticoagulant effect of warfarin,54 possibly because these drugs have warfarin-like activity. Acetaminophen has also been reported to augment the anticoagulant effect of warfarin,52 although this contention has been challeng ed (see below). Although heparin potentiates the anticoagulant effect of warfarin, in therapeutic doses, it produces only slight prolongation of the PT. Drugs such as aspirin,55 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,56 high doses of penicillins,5758 and moxolactam50 increase the risk of warfarin-associated bleeding by inhibiting platelet function. Of these, aspirin is the most important because of its widespread use and prolonged effect.59 Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also produce gastric erosions that increase the risk of upper-GI bleeding.58 The risk of clinically important bleeding is heightened when high doses of aspirin are taken in combination with high-intensity warfarin therapy (INR, 3.0 to 4.5).5560 In two studies, one study61 in patients with prosthetic heart valves and the other study62 in asymptomatic individuals at high risk of coronary artery disease, low doses of aspirin (100 mg/d and 75 mg/d, respectively) were also associated with increased rates of minor bleeding when combined with moderate-intensity and low-intensity warfarin anticoagulation. The mechanisms by which erythromycin63 and some anabolic steroids64 potentiate the anticoagulant effect of warfarin are unknown. Sulfonamides and several broad-spectrum antibiotic compounds may augment the anticoagulant effect of warfarin by eliminating bacterial flora and aggravating vitamin K deficiency in patients whose diet is deficient of vitamin K.65 Wells and associates66 performed a critical analysis of articles reporting possible interaction between drugs or foods and warfarin. Studies were assigned to one category if the interaction was considered highly probable, to a second category if interaction was probable, to a third level if judged possible, and to a fourth level if doubtful. Of 751 citations retrieved, pertinent results from 172 original articles are summarized in Table 3. Strong evidence of interaction was found for 39 of the 81 different drugs and foods appraised; 17 potentiate warfarin effect, 10 inhibit, and 12 produce no effect. Many other drugs have been reported to either interact with oral anticoagulants or alter the PT response to warfarin,6768 but convincing evidence of a causal association is lacking. In a case-control study,52 low to moderate doses of acetaminophen (nine or more tablets per week) were reported to be associated with excessively prolonged INR values. The presence of a causal association bet ween acetaminophen use and potentiation of a warfarin effect is uncertain. The article52 was supported by an editorial,53 but has been challenged by personal experiences (case series) cited in two letters6970 and by the results of a prospective study71 in normal volunteers. However, until more information is presented, it would be prudent to monitor the INR more frequently when acetaminophen is used in this quantity by patients during warfarin therapy. Indeed, it would be reasonable to monitor the PT more frequently when any drug therapy is added or withdrawn from the regimen of a patient treated with an oral anticoagulant. DRUG INTERACTIONS: Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any drug, vitamin, or herbal product without checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.Warfarin interacts with many prescription, nonprescription, vitamin, and herbal products. This includes medications that are applied to the skin or inside the vagina or rectum. The following interactions listed do not contain all possible drug interactions. The interactions with warfarin usually result in an increase or decrease in the blood-thinning (anticoagulant) effect. Your doctor or other health care professional should closely monitor you to prevent serious bleeding or clotting problems. While taking warfarin, it is very important to tell your doctor or pharmacist of any changes in medications, vitamins, or herbal products that you are taking.This drug should not be used with the following medications because v ery serious interactions may occur: imatinib, mifepristone.If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting warfarin.Aspirin and aspirin-like drugs (salicylates) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib) may have effects similar to warfarin. These drugs may increase the risk of bleeding problems if taken during treatment with warfarin. Carefully check all prescription/nonprescription product labels (including drugs applied to the skin such as pain-relieving creams) since the products may contain NSAIDs or salicylates. Talk to your doctor about using a different medication (such as acetaminophen) to treat pain/fever. Low-dose aspirin and related drugs (such as clopidogrel, ticlopidine) should be continued if prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.Many herbal medicati ons have blood-thinning or blood-clotting effects, and some may directly affect warfarin. Tell your doctor before taking any herbal products, especially bromelains, coenzyme Q10, cranberry, danshen, dong quai, fenugreek, garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, goldenseal, and St. Johns wort, among others.This medication may interfere with a certain laboratory test to measure theophylline levels, possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist

A Comparison of George Orwells Totalitarian World of 1984 and America

Orwell's Totalitarian World of 1984 is America in 2004 Orwell's allegorical critique of Stalinism in 1984 is often used in capitalist nations as a poignant literary attack on Communism and other collectivist economic and political systems. The argument often follows the lines of "This is socialism, and as you can see, it doesn't work and just leads to oppression. We're in a nice capitalist democracy, therefore we are better off." But is that conclusion the truth? Orwell didn't just intend 1984 as an attack on communism or socialism; instead it is both an attack and a rather prophetic warning against any authoritarian structure, including the authoritarian structure of capitalist democracies. Often we do not equate "democracy" with totalitarianism, but thanks to the manipulation of language, we can have both "democracy" and a corrupt and oppressive regime simultaneously. How? Through the wonders of Orwell's newspeak and doublethink. This is not newspeak exactly as Orwell portrayed it (a open attempt at centralized modification of language), but more in the form of what Orwell warned about in his essay Language and Politics. The subtle debasing of words has allowed the powerful in democratic nations to successfully install a system which is blatantly counter-democratic in its behavior and yet is masked by twisted language. "Democracy" means, to many Americans, a system in which they choose their own leaders, voice their opinions to representatives in government, and human rights and freedoms are respected by the state. But in practice, "democracy," when applied abroad by the United States, means subjugating native peoples to the will of American corporations, and in the process, the destruction... ...s ideas of Newspeak and doublethink. Those who think America is far from the totalitarian world of 1984 are actually dead wrong. It is 1984 today in many respects; the only difference is that the leaders have done a much better job of covering up their wrongdoing. It could be said that Orwell was the prophet and Chomsky is the messiah of our current "democratic" state. Works Cited Chomsky, Noam. Profit Over People: Neoliberalism and Global Order. New York: Seven Stories Press, 1999. Chomsky, Noam. The Chomsky Trilogy (The Prosperous Few And the Restless Many (1994), Secrets, Lies and Democracy (1994), and What Uncle Sam Really Wants (1992) ). Tucson, AZ: Odonian Press/Seven Stories Press, 1999. (available in e-text from the Noam Chomsky Archive: http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/index.cfm) Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1949.

Communication Essay

A career defines who I am and what am I all about. It is true that a majority of people will choose to work for what pays and offers them the most, especially living in today’s economy. However, I believe that my chosen career path should base on the source of my passion and interest in order to ensure a long term success in life. Therefore, when it comes to my interest and passion, the first thing that came into my mind would be dancing. Being a dancer since I was three years old, I always dreamt of having a company of my own which manages dancers from all around the world. To be specific, my chosen career would be the director of a dance company. The main reason for choosing this career, of course, is because of my passion in dancing. Therefore it would be great if I could spread my passion in this healthy sport to the society as well. In order to understand further on the requirements I need for my chosen career path and also the challenges I might face in the future, the company I decided to interview is the owner of a dance company named Redmouse Dance Academy. Person Interviewed (Ms. Pearl Wong Huei Woon, Director of Redmouse Dance Academy) In her mid-30’s, Ms. Pearl Wong Huei Woon has been working as the director of Redmouse Dance Academy, which is based in Dataran Mentari Bandar Sunway for the past 3 years. As a dancer herself, she has been to different countries and explored different dance companies from all around the world after graduated from high school, but focus mainly in Asian countries such as Korea and Japan. She has a vast amount of knowledge in the dance industry. She even brings over dance instructors all the way from Korea for her company in Malaysia knowing that Koreans are well known as great dancers. Besides that, knowing that the Korean pop songs are the current trend in Malaysia, Ms. Pearl Wong encourages her Korean staffs to teach Korean Pop Dances in order to meet the needs of the society. Throughout the interview, Ms. Pearl Wong Huei Woon shared many experiences of working in her career and how rewarding this career can be. Brief Background Information of Ms. Pearl Wong Job Scope i) Maintaining Company’s Image According to Ms. Pearl Wong, as the director of the company, it is very important for her to maintain the company’s image. In order to do so, she has to ensure from time to time that the Korean Instructors she hired did their job well in providing high quality dance instructions to her customers. She also accepts feedbacks and suggestions from her customers so that more improvements could be done to maintain the company’s reputation in the dance industry. ii) Planning and Organizing Ms. Pearl Wong has always been active in planning and organizing dance-related events occasionally to promote and gain attraction from the public towards her dance company. She offers opportunities for her students to perform in the events she organized and also events in collaboration with other dance companies so that the public could witness the quality of her dance company. iii) Managing  As the director of the company, Ms. Pearl Wong is responsible in coordinating and oversees the work of her staffs in the company. According to Ms. Pearl, it is important to allocate the right person to the right job. She analyzes the specialty of her employees in dancing and divides their job accordingly. She believes by managing her employees effectively, it helps to lead them to a path of efficient work and increases productivity. iv) Plotting of Future Expansion Possibilities of the Company Every decision the director make will bring a huge impact towards the company and the employees. (Sullivan, 2012) Even though it is risky to expand the company, however, Ms. Pearl Wong believed that a successful business expansion may lead the company to an exposure towards a wider audience which helps in increasing potential customers. Benefits of the Position To Ms. Pearl Wong, bringing up the young generation to let them show off their talents is already one of the benefits and happiness she could obtain in her career. Furthermore, having Korean instructors as her employees, it brings an international presence to her company and that helps her to learn more about the Korean culture and languages. In addition of that, it also gives her a new perspective and new ways to do things. Challenges The main challenge that Ms. Pearl Wong faces in her career is the changing customer preferences which is unpredictable. Customers’ preferences and expectations such as trends, economic conditions and the pace of their busy lives changes from time to time. (Miles, 2012) Ms. Pearl Wong has to keep herself up to date about the latest trend in dancing so that she could meet up the expectations of her target customers, which are the generation Y’s. She also adjusts prices for the dance classes so that it is affordable for her customers but in the same time, she needs to take into consideration of her profits and earnings. Therefore, these are the challenges she often face in her career. Job Requirements According to Ms. Pearl Wong, â€Å"Having a business of your own does not require a high level of education; instead, it requires passion, commitment and experiences.† Being just a graduate in SPM level, Ms. Pearl Wong explored and gain experiences from dance academies in different countries to learn their ways in doing the business. Years after years, she finally has her own dance company in Malaysia, which is also the first ever Korean Pop Dance Academy in Kuala Lumpur. Therefore, to her, it is all about the effort in learning and showing your passion in your career that counts. Personal SWOT Analysis i) Strengths My biggest strength is having good public relation skills especially in communication. I am able to communicate clearly no matter in writing or verbally. (Joseph, 2012) Besides that, I am always willing to learn new things in order to gain more knowledge and experiences. I also show full passion and commitment in my own interest and would spend time trying to improve myself. Last of all, I am able to think creatively and generate new ideas no matter in what I am doing. ii) Weaknesses  One of my weaknesses that often become the obstacle of my life is being lack of confidence. I often feel nervous and assume that I could not do well even before I try, this indirectly lower down my efficiency in work. Besides that, I have poor time management skills especially when it comes to completion of assignments and preparation for final exams. I always have this habit of completing my assignments at the very last minute which is one of my weaknesses that should be corrected. iii) Opportunities Being the Public Relation Manager and Event Coordinator in my club in University, I have the opportunity to organize events and meet people from different industries. Throughout the process of planning and organizing, I am able to gain a lot of new knowledge and experiences which would help me in my future career. Besides that, I am a part time trainee in Redmouse Dance Academy; therefore I am able to learn the ways to run a dance company. Of course, I am able to obtain extra knowledge in business through the current course I am studying in campus. iv) Threats The only threats I am currently facing are no specific training qualifications and no working experience which will definitely bring disadvantages to me in the future. Proposed Plan Short term plan For my short term plans, I would try my best to score my degree with flying colors. In the meantime, I would like to enhance personal development by being more active in participating activities and competitions in order to improve my self-confidence. Last of all, I must complete my degree program and graduate as an International Business and Marketing student so that I could equip myself with more knowledge and that will help increase the opportunities and chances others would offer to me in the future. Long Term plan For my long term plan, I would like to gain more working experiences at overseas for five years after completing my Degree Program as an International Business and Marketing graduate so that I could learn and explore more in other countries to get a wider view in business operations. After five years of working experience, I will continue pursuing my studies in Taylor’s Master in Management Program for 18 months to improve and upgrade myself so that I have enough knowledge to achieve my dream. After my completion in Master Program, I will continue working hard for at least three years and start my own business as an Entrepreneur of a dance company. Conclusion This interview has provided me a clearer view on my future career path and also increased my knowledge in the requirements of being an entrepreneur. Doing what I love to do and doing the best is always what I am trying to achieve in the future. I believe that my passion in dancing and managing will always be my motivation to study hard so that my dreams can be reached. Last but not least, I appreciate Ms. Pearl Wong’s help in spending her time to share her experiences with me throughout this interview.

Why I am studying engineering

Why I am studying engineering Engineering is an area of study that has transformed the lives of humans in this world since nearly all things that make life worth living, from leisure activities to medical treatment, require aspects of this field of study. Because it adds value by means of realization of the technological progress, it has a major impact in the day-to-day lives of the majority of us. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Why I am studying engineering specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In a limited period, it has transformed the way we have been looking at things in the past and it is inevitably going to shape our future for years to come as the world continues to advance in knowledge and science. Engineers belong to one of the respected professions in the world today and I want to part of this awesome team. Engineering has been my passion since the days I was a child. When I was on holiday, I used to pay a visit to my uncle, who is an ele ctrical engineer. He could teach me advances in technology and I was usually enthusiastic to hear more from him. My parents introduced me to computers at the tender age of five. From then, my love for electronics has been blossoming year after year. My choice to enroll in this engineering class is not a shock to those who know me, as some of them have mockingly referred to me as â€Å"the engineer.† Studying engineering will also give me the flexibility and choice I need as I pursue my education. This field of study offers several choices that are all exciting and are in high demand in the job market; therefore, this is a great choice that I have made since it will open up many paths for the future. In addition, since engineering trends have greatly benefited the society, I want to part of these team who strive to make life comfortable for everybody. Enrolling in this class has several advantages to me. First, I will benefit from intellectual growth. Since studying this cou rse will compel me to work on several transferable skills, it will enable me to grow and improve my ways of thinking. Moreover, I will learn different topics apart from engineering per se; therefore, having more useful skills will further develop my problem-solving and critical reasoning as a person. Second, every person likes a good challenge, to some degree, as life would lack meaning if there were no challenges to be tackled. Engineering is a challenge since I will encounter fascinating problems that need my creativity and logical reasoning in solving. In the real world, challenges do not have the correct answer, thus the engineering challenge will adequately equip me for this.Advertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although I intend to learn more about engineering in this class, I know some things about the subject. Engineering, as the technical improvement of products by finding the solution to complicated technological problems, entails the knowledge of mathematical and natural sciences gained by study, experience and study, and this knowledge is what is being applied with judgment and creativity in the technical improvement of products. I also know that engineers work through the application of the concept of modularity, that is, splitting a big problem into a set of smaller problems, for developing engineering designs so as to minimize the chances of not achieving anything.

Formatting Book Titles in the Digital Age

Formatting Book Titles in the Digital Age Formatting Book Titles in the Digital Age Formatting Book Titles in the Digital Age By Maeve Maddox A reader wonders why he is seeing book titles presented in all capitals: Ive even seen publishers and editors do it, so I started thinking maybe I was misinformed. Typing book titles in all caps is a peculiarity of the publishing industry. According to The Chicago Manual of Style, the practice originated in the days of the typewriter when titles that are now easily italicized on a computer had to be underscored; typing the title in all caps for industry correspondence and interdepartmental memos saved time. The all-caps practice has continued into the digital age, perhaps because early email programs transformed italics into gibberish; typing titles in all capitals insured that they would be readable. Most of today’s email programs handle italics perfectly well, but the practice persists. Many sites offering advice to writers recommend the all-caps approach when corresponding with publishers and agents. Here’s an example from a model query letter on the Writer’s Digest site: I’m currently seeking representation for my YA [Young Adult] novel, FALLS THE SHADOW. Given your interest in science fiction, I thought it might be a good fit for your list. CMOS does not approve, not even for email. Their recommendation â€Å"when italic type is unavailable† is to type an underscore at the beginning of the title and another at the end of the title, as in this example: When I first read _The History of the Siege of Lisbon_, I was so grateful to discover a book about a proofreader that Saramago’s hypnotic stringing together of sentences nearly sent me into an ecstatic trance. Here is the CMOS stance on the formatting of titles of creative works: 1. The titles of novels, long poems, movies, and television series are italicized. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (a novel) Flowers for Algernon (a novella, but still long enough to warrant an italicized title) Paradise Lost (a poem of about 10,000 lines) Enoch Arden (a poem of about 900 lines) To Have and Have Not (a movie) Downton Abbey (a television series) 2. The titles of short stories, short poems, songs, chapter titles, and television episodes are enclosed in double quotation marks. â€Å"Lucy Looks into a Wardrobe† (chapter title from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) â€Å"Ulysses† (short poem of 73 lines) â€Å"Deus ex Machina† (episode title of television series Person of Interest) â€Å"When You Wish upon a Star† (song) Note: British usage prefers single quotation marks (e.g., ‘Ulysses’). As with certain other matters concerning mechanics, The Associated Press Stylebook does not concur with CMOS. AP style recommends enclosing the titles of all of the following in quotation marks: books computer games movies operas plays poems albums songs radio and television programs lectures speeches works of art AP does not enclose the following works in quotation marks: the Bible catalogs almanacs directories dictionaries encyclopedias gazetteers handbooks software programs As with apostrophe use, it’s up to the writer to choose a style guide to follow. Writers in search of publication are probably wise to do as the Romans do. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely?Confused Words #3: Lose, Loose, Loss"Wracking" or "Racking" Your Brain?

The Overall Effects of Cultural Diversity in the Hospitality Industry

The Overall Effects of Cultural Diversity in the Hospitality Industry Introduction Diversity basically refers to the various differences existing amongst people of diverse origin. Cultural diversity on the other hand refers to the various cultural differences existing between people. The differences range from language, dressing, traditional values, religion, and societal interactions with the environment (Jan 5-21).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Overall Effects of Cultural Diversity in the Hospitality Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Much attention need to be given the various dimensions of diversity which include secondary issues such as effects on communication style, religious practices, relationships, traditional customs and appearance (Gong 5-59). The report focuses on analyzing the overall effects of cultural diversity in the hospitality industry. The nature of the industry’s workplaces and the way they deal with the issues concerning management of cultura l diversity. The report further reveals benefits as well as challenges facing culturally diverse workforce within the rich hospitality industry. There are also recommendations which could be of help to management team. The hospitality industry is known to fall under the category of service industries. This shows that the industry attracts people from diverse origins including those working as cleaners as well as waiters amongst others. Their services are key to business delivery within the industry (Gong 5-59). Hospitality industry depend more so on culturally diverse workforce. This could be attributed to globalization which has been a driving force behind corporate strategic planning within the industry. The essence on globalization has brought lots of multicultural challenges in management and employment sector within the industry. This has brought about the challenge on how to maximize the contributions of each employee within the working team irrespective of the existing cultur al differences. With the rapid improvement in economic development, the hospitality industry has experienced international expansion making dynamic progress within various regions. Owing to the increased market share, the industry requires best talents within the hospitality industry capable of cooperating with people of different cultures and at the same time helps workers from different countries overcome cultural barriers (Seyed-Mahmoud 521-531).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Appropriate actions should be taken by the hospitality industry for the purposes of coping with the challenge. There should be provision of right measures such as incorporating language training facilities for the purposes of overcoming communication barriers. Recruitment and training program within the industry ensures creation of talented internationally mobile people capable of occupy ing management positions within the international market. Employee sensitivity through cultural diversity management of training needs requires appropriate design and attention (Seyed-Mahmoud 521-531). Benefits There are numerous benefits resulting from management of cultural diversity which include; innovative abilities, competitiveness and transfer of knowledge to the various minority groups. The process also enables development of better talents which reduces labour costs and at the same time widens business relations through broad supply base. Managing cultural diversity is also beneficial in enhancing corporate image of various companies and at the same time, Companies are enabled to provide effective marketing and product strategies owing to new business innovations. On the other hand multicultural backgrounds ensure provision of more people with improved innovation enabling provision of new ideas and skills. This requires employers to understand and appreciate the different w ays of viewing the world through readiness to present more resolutions capable of accommodating every aspect of business problems. There is always possibility on the fact that diversified employee groups reveal more efficiency in performance in the long run. The results being attributed to the increased level of creativity and novelty owing to shared diverse perspectives, views and experiences (Gong 5-59). Managing cultural diversity is also helpful in the process of knowledge transfer. The differences portrayed owing to various cultural backgrounds do not make people differ with others in the workplaces.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Overall Effects of Cultural Diversity in the Hospitality Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Using the same language makes it easier for communication to take place amongst employees; this enables easier transfer of information as well as knowledge. Such scenario reduces t he level of misunderstanding and misinterpretation owing to cultural differences hence leading to increased efficiency and productivity within the hospitality industry (Puick and Saba). The level of competitiveness is improved through effective management of cultural diversity. This is important aspect since hospitality industry presents one of the most competitive industries. Meaning that effective control on labour cost should move alongside increased demand for services. The industry requires highly motivated staff capable of attracting more customers which can only be achieved through successful diversity management. Hospitality industry normally serve different customers having different background characteristics making cultural diversity an important aspect in satisfying customer needs as well as building on relationships. This further provides the industry with the opportunity of offering increased customer service quality especially in foodstuff provision capable of attract ing majority of the customers. Such strategies reinforce the level of customer loyalty. Fair hiring standards makes gives companies’ fair deal in the nature of employees since it makes it easier to incorporate every culture required. This makes it easier for hospitality companies in recognizing potential human resource, easier recognition of different market needs and at the same time reduce customer turnover rate (Puick and Saba). Management of cultural diversity within the industry assist in building corporate brand images. The industry should be ready to recruit valuable minority employees from different cultures all over the world. Such moves help in the attraction of more people into the industry since diverse cultural workforce makes it easier for the company to cope with the native communities where they serve. Making it possible and easier for the hospitality companies to be recognized and accepted within different communities all over the world (Puick and Saba).Adver tising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Disadvantage Some challenges are experienced in the process of managing cultural diversity. One if them is harmonizing the different languages from various traditional backgrounds. This at times makes it difficult for communication within the workplaces since language is crucial part of communication and at the same time is used by many as their main point of cultural identity. There are times when employees find difficulty in interpreting other’s behaviours owing to intercultural communication. Inefficient communication amongst individuals within the industry usually leads to lots of misunderstanding hence affecting employee working relationships (The Power of Culture). The other challenge with managing cultural diversity is that there still exists within some quotas discrimination and certain degree of stereotypes emanating from less information regarding presence of some cultures within the workplace. This makes migrant workers to be under-utilized within the market. How c ultural diversity can be managed to give competitive advantage There is a possibility that cultural diversity can be managed for the purposes of enhancing employee’s personal identity within the industry. Such a process involves development of effective communication channels between managers and employees. Creation of free communication atmosphere enhances self esteem and socio-behavioural component and ultimately encourages articulation of views matching all employees. This enables good understanding during meetings guaranteeing improved productivity (Christensen 15-34). Management of such diversity also helps in possible review of employees extrinsic rewards depending on their level of expertise. Such intrinsic rewards are given in terms of salary increment as well as granting employee’s chances to expand in their careers. Review on cultural diversity would enable employees to be granted equal chances without discriminating the culturally minority communities (Stefa n 224-240). Performance should be given first considerations hence assisting in the provision of hardworking environment. The promotion chances and opportunities for career development should be non-discriminative and handled within every line of business in the hospitality industry. Such moves ensure great satisfaction on the side of employees hence acts as a source of inspiration (Christensen 15-34). Various companies within the industry should adopt the use of training and development for the purposes of equipping different employees from diverse backgrounds (Mwaura 212-220). The processes help employees cope with necessary changes which include the existing stiff competition within the market and other business challenges which might be environmental. This enables parallel performance of individuals irrespective of various environments where they are posted (Jeremy 158-161). The analysis identifies crucial positions/points where training is mostly required and at the same time p ositions appropriately the employees who require training. The employees are then ultimately enhanced with necessary induction enabling them to handle their various works professionally. Implementation of induction method provides skilful staff endowed with big responsibilities of managing the organization through basic knowledge (Gill 34-37). The processes allows management to asses and monitor the various abilities of employees irrespective of their cultural backgrounds hence making it possible to match and individual with duties which best fit their expertise areas (Osman-Gani 452-460). The process of managing cultural diversity also helps in reinforcing the kind of leadership within the industry. This grants the organization the abilities of motivating and uniting various employees for the purposes of working as a team. The unity provided through solid leadership is always necessary and beneficial to the organization’s profitability. The leadership finds it easy guiding e mployees in the process of adopting the organization’s values and at the same time finds it easier to cope with the changing trends (Hoecklin). Cultural diversity can also be managed through transformational leadership whereby management team are endowed with the responsibility of training employees in the language they understand best concerning the organization’s as well as the industry’s risk items. In this way opportunity is granted to employees concerning possible solutions in case of disasters. Management ensures that all employees have the ability to rightfully interpret the organization’s scopes as well as various ways of integrating organization’s development programs. The management of cultural diversity can also be developed to ensure cohesiveness within the various teams. The degree of cohesiveness greatly depends upon employees ability to work based on the integral principles of hospitality industry. The issue also reinforces the level of skilled manpower useful for the purposes of marketing since their abilities to convince customers can be trusted and relied upon (DAnnunzio 199-208). Democratic leadership can also be relied upon in managing cultural diversity. Working closely with administrative but non-discriminative rules is made easier since there is that ability to speak the language which employees understand best (Linda 46-64). It makes supervisory roles easier since employees are able to follow instructions ensuring efficiency in work done. The goals of the company are easily achieved through this since employees feel secure and at the same time organization’s culture easily adhered to owing to the fact that employees feel a deep sense of belonging within the organization’s environment (Declaration on Cultural Rights Project). Conclusion The issue on cultural diversity is revealed as one of the important aspects within the hospitality industry. Therefore, employers require a lot of skills w hich can enable them manage diversity issues in areas such as religion, gender amongst others. Cultural diversity in the workplace has encountered challenges especially for expatriates. However this should be an issue of concern as more and more minority groups join the workforce within the hospitality industry. Recommendations Management of cultural diversity within the hospitality industry need to consider employing people with common values and at the same time share the same vision of the organization within hospitality industry. This would help in eliminating the focus towards one’s cultural background and instead help employees to quickly adopt organization’s culture. Such moves prove beneficial in the line of productivity hence reducing training costs. This means that the industry should actually consider developing cultures capable of motivating employees focus on achievement rather than discrimination. This is possible implementation provided that there is spi rit of belief which considers everyone as worthwhile commodities capable of pushing an organization upwards through their various contributions. It is also appropriate that organizations communicate all information pertaining to improvement of working environment. This would initiate reception of diversified ideas necessary for making profitable decisions since members are held accountable for their decisions and actions. Such decisions would require managers to be very vigilant on every section and at the same time conduct regular meetings for the purposes of updating the staff and at the same time assess the general progress of the organization. Christensen, Hughes. Recruitment and Selection Issues and Strategies within  International Resort Communities. London, Continuum, 2002, pp15-34. DAnnunzio, Green. Developing international managers in the hospitality industry.  International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 9(1997): 199-208. Declaration on Cultural Right s Project. Interdisciplinary Institute on Ethics and Human Rights, in co-ordination with UNESCO and the Council of Europe. Barcelona, UNESCO Centre in Catalonia, 1998 Gill, Philip. Managing workforce diversity a response to skill shortages?  Health Manpower Management Journal, 22 (1996):34 -37 Gong, Yi. Managing cultural diversity in hospitality industry. UNLV Capstones,  (2008):5-59 Hoecklin, Usa. Managing Cultural Differences. London: Addison-Wesley, 1995 Jan, Selmer. Adjustment of Western European v/s North American expatriate Managers in China. Personal Review, 30 (2001): 5-21 Jeremy, Tipper. How to increase diversity through your recruitment practices.  Industrial and Commercial Training Journal, 36 (2004):158 161 Linda, Human. Managing workforce diversity: a critique and example from South Africa. International Journal of Manpower, 17 (1996):46 – 64 Mwaura, Grace. Corporate and national culture an irreconcilable dilemma for the Hospitality manager? Internationa l Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 10 (1998): 212-220 Osman-Gani, Ahad. Cross-Cultural Implications of Planned on-the-Job Training.  Advances in Developing Human Resources, 3(2001):452-460. Puick, Vladimir Saba, Tania. Human Resource Planning. NY: Sage, 1998 Seyed-Mahmoud, Aghazadeh. Managing workforce diversity as an essential Resource for improving organizational performance. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 53 (2004):521 – 531 Stefan, Grà ¶schl. Diversity management strategies of global hotel groups.  International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 23 (2011): 224-240 The Power of Culture. Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies  Favourable to Development. Barcelona: UNESCO Centre in Catalonia, 1998, p 3

Article to be read BUDGET REORGANIZATION IN THE URBANOPOLIS HUMAN

To be read BUDGET REORGANIZATION IN THE URBANOPOLIS HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT - Article Example Issues There are many existing problems within the organizational structure of the City of Urbanopolis which is made even more challenging by the proliferation of items that cannot be supported by the allotted budget of the city. Furthermore, the city is experiencing a rough patch in its financial capability to support all the employees that make up the structure of the local government. There are superfluous positions that can no longer be continued as they take up funds that could otherwise go to more significant use. The challenges posed by problematic employees, if not addressed, could only cause a rift to the functions that they serve and the people that seek their services. Those who are incompetent and are unwilling to perform their jobs according to their purpose must not be tolerated and their review according to the policies and as agreed upon by the labor unions and the company should keep them in check. There are also other technological necessities that come with the imp rovement of the office and though this may be foregone, as suggested by Francesca Molleda the Budget Analyst, taking a second look at the possibility of acquiring funds to purchase the requested computer units would not hurt in the slightest. I have been promoted as the new Human Resources Director of the City of Urbanopolis and as the first order of business the need to address the budget problems which can be correlated to personnel issues was assigned to me by instruction of the city officials. I am writing this memo as a means of communicating the most appropriate actions that I perceive will best suit the needs of the organization in tackling the city’s financial problems and simultaneously eliminating redundant positions that only take up a slice of the financial allotment without delivering much result. This recommendation is founded upon the basis of employing the most appropriate standards according to existing collective bargaining agreements and in accordance with the law. My most sensible recommendation is to delete excessive positions which may be handled by one person instead of two or more. This is basically streamlining the organizational chart and encouraging a multi-tasked type of positions which will equate to fewer people on the payroll thus directly addressing the appointed task of resolving budget problems as instructed by the City Manager, Chris Sedgefield. The overage positions seem to be a major source of headache as suggested by Molleda and they may be let go in accordance with their performance reviews by their superiors. People such as Jay Devonridge, Vera Mobley, Hugh Parks and Terry Preston are among those occupying overage positions and are not performing well on their jobs. They should be given notice as part of the RIF. However, certain overage employees such as Barney Fromm and Echo Jameson are performing exceptionally well and are showing great potential in their work. It would be a great waste to let them go so their respective heads should further evaluate whether they should keep their current positions if possible or transfer them to another position that will also let them grow as employees. Janice Brock, another overage employee and a Secretary III, would be another case of difficult decision to let go as she seems to be performing quite well in her

Irony Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Irony - Essay Example The underlying irony is the attempt to highlight the harassment meted out to women of the Victorian era. Women couldn't live life on their own terms, due to social norms and mores. The situation itself is ironic, considering that the male in the poem liberates the women from leading a life of misery by sticking to these social limitations and boundaries. The irony adopts the form of a Dramatic Irony. Evidently, the ironic idea further the hidden theme of the exploitation of women in the Victorian era. Similarly, 'Ozymandias', by P.B.Shelley is another work that contains an underlying message. The poem talks about Ozymandias, who rises to power and falls in Egypt. The underlying irony is the very fact that in spite of all the power one attains, it becomes history at some point or the other and goes into oblivion. This applies to governments and all those who lust for power; for eventually, it's all gone! The irony here is more of a situational irony, considering the spiritual and more mature outlook that the poet tries to portrays as a part of the irony. The next poem we could consider is Ariel Dorfman's 'Hope', which is an irony on the pain and suffering that engulfs the world of mankind. His poem is a philosophical irony, and is a reflection and revelation into the miseries that this world. W.H.Auden's '

Compare and contrast the views of Smith and Ricardo on the Essay

Compare and contrast the views of Smith and Ricardo on the determination and possible evolution over time of the natural rates of wages, profit and rent - Essay Example It is worth mentioning that the â€Å"natural prices† of the aforementioned criteria, i.e. profits, wages and rents are further examined to fluctuate in accordance with the varied circumstances in the job market scenario. According to the viewpoints of various economists, it has been noted that the â€Å"natural rates† of rent, profit and wages are likely to be continuously changing due to the presence of a huge number of buyers as well as sellers and also because of the increasing market competition. Subsequently, various theories have been developed in order to examine the determinants of production function in an economy which is further believed to steer the overall growth rate in that particular nation1. Among the commonly applied theories, the most influential and certainly the most debated theories have been the growth theory of Adam Smith and David Ricardo. In this paper, the views of two economists i.e. Adam Smith and David Ricardo upon the subject matter of the determination as well as the possible evolution over time of the â€Å"natural rates† of rents, wages and profits will be analysed and compared. Adam Smith, the world renowned economist and philosophist of the 1770s, stated that the conception of â€Å"natural rate† is principally described as the price which is offered to any particular commodity in order to yield a significant portion of revenue. As per the growth theory of Adam Smith, governments play an imperative role in the determination as well the possible evolution of the â€Å"natural rates† of wages, profit and rent over time. In this similar context, Smith strongly believed that the government of any particular nation must enforce effective contracts and simultaneously grant copyrights as well as patents for the purpose of promoting new inventions and innovative ideas which can assist in greater capital accumulation within the nation, resulting in the increased wealth of the economy and therefore influencing the

The Problems North Korea Poses For Contemporary East Asia Research Paper

The Problems North Korea Poses For Contemporary East Asia - Research Paper Example Justifiably, the country has been dealing with severe political problems that are affecting other nations of the Asian continent (Mervio 19-30). There are various issues that North Korea is facing in the present day scenario which is affecting the entire nation along with the countries of the East Asian region in a comprehensive manner. In this regard, a few of the basic and the most crucial significant issues poses by North Korea for contemporary East Asia are the inability to suffice the daily requirements of the people, inhumane treatment and imbalance in the context of criminal justice system among others. It is worth mentioning in this similar context that the unstable political and social economic conditions of North Korea have certainly posed severe threats for the nations of East Asia by a certain extent. More importantly, it is the problem of the challenge of security tensions, which North Korea is dealing with (Borthwick 15-20). The country i.e. North Korea has initiated two of the most drastic nuclear programs in terms of magnitude. Likewise, it is ranked as the third largest in terms of its chemical weapon arsenal. Notably, the country has fired missiles such as Nodong and Taepodong to Asian countries like Japan and South Korea that certainly resulted in mass destruction. This can be duly considered as one of the negative impacts of the country imposed on the nations of East Asia. Lack of proper leadership in the country has also resulted in erupting major issues that affected the rapid pace of development of the East Asian nations and the global countries altogether. It will be vital to mention that the aspects including poverty, unstable economy and prevalence of improper legislative structures are deemed to be certain crucial issues that North Korea is dealing in this contemporary scenario. The problems of security in North Korea have been widely regarded as a threat to the  countries of the East Asia n regions along with the other international nations in the global paradigm.

Experience of being an overseas trained health professional working in Dissertation

Experience of being an overseas trained health professional working in mental health, Australia - Dissertation Example p.27 Chapter 7: Conclusion and Recommendation †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. p.28 References: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. p.31 List of Figures: Figure 1: comparison of foreign-trained and foreign born doctors in OECD countries. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.page 13. Abstract Throughout much of the world, there is a shortage of nurses in both medical and psychiatric fields. These shortages will influence the prospects and experiences of medical and mental health professionals seeking to live and work abroad. A literature analysis of current projections on the subject is performed to determine the probable outcomes for nurses migrating to a new country, specifically Australia. A case study analysis using secondary data is obtained and analyzed to develop insights on the cultural differences nurses are likely to experience when attempting to establish themselves in Australia. Declaration: This work contains no material that has been accepted for the award of any o ther degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by any other person, except where due reference has been made in the text. Abbreviations: ACMHN: Australian College for mental health nurses. OECD: Organization for economic cooperation and development. Chapter 1: Introduction Throughout much of the industrialized world, there have been repeated instances of concern over fluctuating shortages in qualified nurses. (Smith, 2008) The worst shortages tend to occur in low income countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa – the continent which, according to the World Health Organization has 36 out of 57 countries with chronic nursing shortages. There are fundamental issues of migration – people voting with their feet. This problem for Africa and certain third world countries represents an opportunity for industrialized countries to address their own nursing iss ues (Martin, 2007). Vigorous debate exists concerning the rights and responsibilities of healthcare personnel regarding migration, and what measures could be employed to address these shortages. (Aiken et al. 2004) There is an ebb and flow to the quantity of qualified nursing personnel based on patterns of career choice, and educational opportunity. One strategy by which hospitals and medical organizations can address this shortfall is through a fundamental mechanism of economic exchange: taking an attractive commodity in question from where it is abundant and relocating it to where it is needed. This is often the source of shortfalls in underdeveloped countries, but a shortage of qualified medical professionals is not limited to one society or continent. Certainly, it is to the advantage of British Commonwealth countries to attract talented nurses from abroad, and measures must be taken to encourage and support them to meet the country's own medical needs. There is no doubt that th e expertise of nursing personnel is an attractive commodity and extraordinary measures are worthwhile if the nursing shortages can be alleviated where they are most serious. There are numerous pitfalls and challenges for foreign nurses, language being among the foremost, (Konno, 2008) but not always for the most obvious reasons. While knowledge of the English language itself is relatively widespread around the globe, there can still be cultural idiosyncrasies that may lead to errors and confusion as a result of the precise language required for the medical profession. For example,

Financial report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Financial report - Essay Example The process of determining the viable option entailed the application of mathematical techniques and models such as the regression analysis, the LM test and the decision rule to arrive at the most promising and viable investment option. Therefore, 50 countries were used to apply these tests, while using variables such as the GDP per capita, the inflation rates, the consumer price index and the secondary schools to modify the mathematical models and reach at a conclusive decision on the most promising investment opportunity that could be adopted. After the application of the mathematical models and the modification of these models with the above mentioned variable, a decision was reached that investing the 2 billion in secondary school education was more promising than investing the same in the banking sector, where the money could have been used to bail out the banks. Financial decisions are among the most difficult decisions to reach. This because, while making a financial decision, varied considerations should d be made, which call for a greater level of accuracy and precise estimations (Ingersoll, 1987 p47). Additionally, financial decisions are not hundred percent dependable, owing to the large number of factors that affect financial investments and savings. Most significant is the fact that the complexity of making financial decisions is added to, by the nature of the risks involved in the financial sector, where a slight mistake either in prediction or estimation could mean the success or failure of the investments made (Batyrshin, 2007 p23). Therefore, it is extremely important to ensure that financial decisions are reached with the highest degree of precision possible, while at the same time putting into consideration all the factors that determine the viability of the decisions. This financial report presents the considerations that were

The Problems North Korea Poses For Contemporary East Asia Research Paper

The Problems North Korea Poses For Contemporary East Asia - Research Paper Example Justifiably, the country has been dealing with severe political problems that are affecting other nations of the Asian continent (Mervio 19-30). There are various issues that North Korea is facing in the present day scenario which is affecting the entire nation along with the countries of the East Asian region in a comprehensive manner. In this regard, a few of the basic and the most crucial significant issues poses by North Korea for contemporary East Asia are the inability to suffice the daily requirements of the people, inhumane treatment and imbalance in the context of criminal justice system among others. It is worth mentioning in this similar context that the unstable political and social economic conditions of North Korea have certainly posed severe threats for the nations of East Asia by a certain extent. More importantly, it is the problem of the challenge of security tensions, which North Korea is dealing with (Borthwick 15-20). The country i.e. North Korea has initiated two of the most drastic nuclear programs in terms of magnitude. Likewise, it is ranked as the third largest in terms of its chemical weapon arsenal. Notably, the country has fired missiles such as Nodong and Taepodong to Asian countries like Japan and South Korea that certainly resulted in mass destruction. This can be duly considered as one of the negative impacts of the country imposed on the nations of East Asia. Lack of proper leadership in the country has also resulted in erupting major issues that affected the rapid pace of development of the East Asian nations and the global countries altogether. It will be vital to mention that the aspects including poverty, unstable economy and prevalence of improper legislative structures are deemed to be certain crucial issues that North Korea is dealing in this contemporary scenario. The problems of security in North Korea have been widely regarded as a threat to the  countries of the East Asia n regions along with the other international nations in the global paradigm.

Financial report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Financial report - Essay Example The process of determining the viable option entailed the application of mathematical techniques and models such as the regression analysis, the LM test and the decision rule to arrive at the most promising and viable investment option. Therefore, 50 countries were used to apply these tests, while using variables such as the GDP per capita, the inflation rates, the consumer price index and the secondary schools to modify the mathematical models and reach at a conclusive decision on the most promising investment opportunity that could be adopted. After the application of the mathematical models and the modification of these models with the above mentioned variable, a decision was reached that investing the 2 billion in secondary school education was more promising than investing the same in the banking sector, where the money could have been used to bail out the banks. Financial decisions are among the most difficult decisions to reach. This because, while making a financial decision, varied considerations should d be made, which call for a greater level of accuracy and precise estimations (Ingersoll, 1987 p47). Additionally, financial decisions are not hundred percent dependable, owing to the large number of factors that affect financial investments and savings. Most significant is the fact that the complexity of making financial decisions is added to, by the nature of the risks involved in the financial sector, where a slight mistake either in prediction or estimation could mean the success or failure of the investments made (Batyrshin, 2007 p23). Therefore, it is extremely important to ensure that financial decisions are reached with the highest degree of precision possible, while at the same time putting into consideration all the factors that determine the viability of the decisions. This financial report presents the considerations that were

Are We Born Good or Evil Essay Example for Free

Are We Born Good or Evil Essay The age old question when discussing man has always been: Is man naturally good or evil? There are many arguments that say that man is naturally evil. There are many counter arguments that say that man is naturally good. Which one is it? Is man naturally good or evil? Thats why Im here. I will present arguments from both sides, and maybe some that share an entirely different argument, and then share my opinion about which I think. This papers purpose is not to tell you which is right, which is wrong, but to get you to think about man and his nature. I must first define the terms good and evil before I am able to discuss which medium man is. I went to dictionary.com to find what the definitions of both terms. Evil produced five definitions, while good produced 41 definitions. I will discuss why this is weird later, but for now, just the definitions. Evil is basically something that is morally wrong. Its something thats intent is to hurt others. Good is basically something that is right, and its intent is to help others or do something for someone else. Now that Ive basically defined the terms, we can now discuss what man is. I conducted a survey on an internet forum asking people what they thought man naturally was. 33% think man is naturally both good and evil, 28% think man is naturally neither good nor evil, 28% think man is naturally evil, and 11% think man is naturally good. When I proposed the question, I was thinking that people would just say good or evil. It was not my intention for them to also say neither or both. What surprised me the most was that good was so low, while evil was so high. Is man naturally evil? Possibly. Many believe that humankind is entirely selfish, only looking out for oneself. Its our animal instinct they say. We do what we must to survive. If that means hurting someone else to get ahead, then thats the way it is. Me, me, me; its always about what I want, and not what anyone else wants. There are wars in our world simply because one side thinks the other is evil and must be destroyed and vice versa. This usually involves religion. Man is evil because Satan persuaded Adam and Eve to eat from the forbidden tree. They wanted to be like God, so they ate the fruit. Thats where sin came into play. So because of their act, all mankind is born into sin, which makes man naturally evil. Is man naturally good? Possibly. Even though many people do not think man is good, there are some people that do. They think that love is a natural instinct, and love is good. Man does not have the instinct to hurt or kill simply because they choose to. Man is compassionate. Man wants to be happy. Man wants to love and to be loved. Man cares about whom they love. Humankind tries to help one another in times of need. Man believes in the humanistic perspective, in that mans mind is inherently good, constantly striving to learn more and reach its full potential. Anything that happens along the way is subject interpretation. Once again, religion can come into play. God created man in His image. God is good, which makes man good. Even though sin came upon humankind, man is still created in Gods image, so man must naturally be good. Perhaps man is neither good nor bad. Perhaps when we are born we simply are there, we are neutral. 28% of people say this. They say that man is neutral, and is influenced by their culture on what is good and what is evil. Good and evil are just terms created by man; opinions. Wars are never a battle between good and evil, but rather a battle between differing opinions of what goodness and evil constitute. Good and evil change based on the morals that you learn. There is only the perception of humanity which attempts to give itself some fundamental depth where there is inherently none. Evolution didnt design us to be civilized and polite. We are hunters and gatherers. In the end we are carbon based life forms evolved from single celled organisms. Good and evil are objective constructs. They dont exist without people to perceive them; they are not a priority. For example a soldier can be seen as a hero from one side and a terrorist from another. Its all about perspective. Religion can come into play here as well. Is atheism considered a religion? Is believing in nothing but what you see considered a religion? A belief in God creates a religion, so a belief in something else (in this case, nothing) should create a religion, right? Ill just say belief and leave it like that. The atheistic belief is that the terms good and evil are nothing more than terms, created from religion. They believe that what we see is what we get. Man is born and is influenced into doing things (good or à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"evil things). Evil is perspective, as is good. One side of the world may see themselves as good, while another side of the world might see those same people as evil. The terms are simply opinions, nothing more. Maybe man is naturally both good and evil. 33% of people seem to think so. Man always has a choice. Man can either do good, or do evil; their choice. They can choose to hurt or to help. Its easier to go down the dark side and act on greed and other negative impulses, but we have the ability to choose the person we want to be and choose the light side instead. That is what makes man special, instead of a common animal that runs purely on instinct. Man can love and man can hate. Man can kill and man can create life. Man is compassionate. Man is vengeful. Humanity can choose to do good, and choose to do evil. It 50/50; heads or tails. Where do I fall into this? Is man evil, good, both, or neither? I dont believe man is neither good nor bad. I dont believe man is here simply because of chance. I dont believe good and evil are just terms created by man to help ourselves feel better about our choices. Humanity isnt here because of an accident, or because of an explosion. Were too perfect to be. Im not saying man is the perfect being, because we all make mistakes, but were just made up so well I just dont see how we are just an accident. Do I think man is influenced in his decisions from family, culture, or even the media? Yes. But I believe man has this natural instinct to be good or evil. I do believe that man is both good and evil. Man can do great, wonderful, terrible, and horrifying things. Tony Soprano from the television series The Sopranos is a good example. He is a loving husband and father, but hes also a mobster who kills people and puts hits on people. Benjamin Franklin had many ideas for America and even invented electricity, but he was also an adulterous and a very sleazy man. If the perception of man being both good and evil is true, then each decision that humanity makes must be struggle, since good tells you to do one thing, while evil tells you to do something else. Its like youre mind is split in two. I realize thats a stretch, but Im trying to deduce all ideas around this belief. And if man can be both, can they be one or the other? I guess well find out. I do not believe man is naturally evil. Do we have evil tendencies? Sure, but that doesnt mean that the first thing I think of when I see someone is that I want to kill them. I dont wake up every day thinking Oh goody, I get to hurt someone today! because thats just stupid. Do I think that people think this? Unfortunately, yes. I dont think there are many people that do think this, but I believe there are some. People can be selfish, sure, but peoples intentions usually arent to hurt others. There is the exception though, like the popular kids in high school who make fun of the geeks just because they think its funny. Luckily, life isnt like high school at all. Evil is very real in my opinion, but we always have a choice to do evil, and I do my best to avoid it. I do believe that man is naturally good. We as humans strive to be happy. Thats what were all searching for in my opinion. We want to love and to be loved. Plus, man has this wonderful thing called a conscience. Its this little voice inside ones head that tells you when youre doing something wrong. We try to have a good day each day, even if we know that day is going to suck. Humanity tries to help each other out in times of need. Some people give to charities; others become counselors or doctors. Many people when they are children want to become policemen or firemen because, not only do they have cool uniforms, but because they help people. Its very hard to talk about good when all people usually think about is the bad. Even I think more about the bad rather than the good. Is that because I feel bad for thinking about the evil? I think so. The evil might be affecting us in one way or another. We try to do good, but sometimes the evil simply takes over and theres not much to stop it. We simply give in because its easier. Theres a quote in the bible that says The road to hell is straight and wide, and its filled with people, but the road to heaven is shallow and is filled with many turns. There arent many people on this road. I know the quote isnt exactly that, but thats not the point. The point is, doing evil is easy, while doing good is hard. But how can one truly live their lives if all they ever did was the easy thing? Itd be very hard to do. Whats really sad is that at dictionary.com, there are 41 definitions for evil and only five definitions for good. Why is this sad? Because it seems like we as humans always are trying to do good, but for one reason or another, it turns into evil, and so people get hurt. So there are 41 definitions because people get hurt. People usually think about the bad times rather than the good times. We dont really think about good things because we dont think they come in our lives very often, so there are five definitions of good because they seem so far away to attain, even if theyre not. My choice is that naturally, man is good. Sure, we all make mistakes, but when we do we try to learn from those mistakes. I believe that we are not born and are here just because. How can one truly live their life knowing that they are an accident? I dont see how thats possible. Humanity can do terrible, horrible things, but humanity can also do very good, even great things. Finding a cure for cancer, donating to a charity, helping someone paint their house just because they asked with nothing in return, the March of Dimes, Walk for Life, donating to Hurricane Katrina victims, or whatever else. We do a lot of good things yet we never really think about it. Maybe we give someone a quarter to help pay for something just because we have the change, or buying a friend dinner because they dont have any mother. Moving a shopping cart out of the road at Wal-Mart because someone might hit it or letting someone in front of you because they have one item while you have 25. Humanity does more g ood than what they think. We arent evil. We arent here just because. Were just naturally good, and it cant get better than that.

Law Of Evidence Analysis Of Similar Fact Evidence Law Essay

Law Of Evidence Analysis Of Similar Fact Evidence Law Essay The law of evidence is a system under which facts are used to determine the rights and liabilities of the parties. Evidence proves the existence of facts in issue or infers them from related facts. One of the fundamental considerations of criminal evidence law is the balance of justice to the accused against wrongful convictions, ensuring a fair trial and fairness to the victim. Since stakes in criminal trials are generally high, prosecution would have to prove the accuseds guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Since similar fact evidence as evinced in s  11(b), 14 and 15 of the Evidence Act(EA) can be highly prejudicial to the accused, and yet play an important role in proving culpability, it should be reformed to clarify its scope of application under the EA and reflect the common laws prejudicial propensity balancing test. 2. Similar Fact Evidence A. Background Similar fact evidence is not directly connected to the case but is admitted to prove the existence of facts in issue due to its general similitude.The worry that the trier of facts would convict the accused based solely on evidence of prior conduct has generally led to the inadmissibility of such evidence in the trial as this is severely prejudicial. This concern is amplified in bench trials. Studies have suggested that judges were as influenced as laypersons when exposed to inadmissible evidence, such as prior convictions, even when they held that these evidences were inadmissible.  [6]  This is despite strong confidence in the judges ability to remain neutral to the inadmissible facts.  [7]   Hence, the accuseds past similar offence or behaviour is inadmissible as similar fact evidence based on pure propensity reasoning would colour the courts ability to assess the evidence [objectively].  [8]   Nonetheless, the mere prejudicial effect of such evidence does not render it inadmissible. It may be highly relevant, especially when such evidence is used to determine whether the acts in question were deliberate or to rebut a defence that could have been available.  [9]   B. EA Under s  5 of the EA, a fact is only relevant if it falls within one of the relevancy provisions  [10]  stated in s  6 to s  10 of the EA. These provisions govern specifically the facts in issue, i.e. determinant facts that would decide whether the accused is guilty according to the substantive law governing that offence.In addition, s  11(b) was enacted to be the residuary category for the relevancy provisions. In contrast, similar fact evidence is primarily administrated by s  14 and s  15 as it is concerned with conduct that is merely similar in nature to those facts in issue  [13]  . s  14 is applicable only when the state of mind of the accused is in issue. Similar fact evidence is admissible to prove mens rea or to rebut the defence of good faith.  [14]   s  15 deals with similar fact evidence that forms a series of similar occurrences to prove the mens rea of the accused,  [15]  and enables the prosecution to produce evidence to rebut a potential defence otherwise open to the accused.  [16]   Admission of similar fact evidence under the EA is based on a categorization approach  [17]  , where such evidence is admissible pursuant to the exceptions stated in the EA  [18]  . Hence, similar fact evidence should only be admissible to prove the mens rea of the accused under s  14 and 15.  [19]   Significantly, Singapore, India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka have identical s  11, 14 and 15 provisions in their respective Evidence enactments. With the exception of the Indian Evidence Act  [20]  , the three sections have not been amended since the 19th century.  [21]   C. Case Law Interpretation of Similar Fact Evidence in EA Singapore courts have not strictly adhered to the draftmans intention in recent cases.  [22]  The court has incorporated common laws balancing test  [23]  where the judge would balance between the probative and prejudicial effect of the similar fact evidence.  [24]   In Lee Kwang Peng v PP  [25]  , scope of similar fact evidence was extended to prove actus reus. Pursuant to s  11(b), the court was of the view that the section embodied  [26]  the balancing test. Hence, similar fact evidence is admissible to prove both mens reas and actus reus.  [27]  Although readily admitting that this would be contrary to the draftsmans intention, then Chief Justice Yong held that the EA should be a facilitative statute rather than a mere codification of Stephens statement of the law of evidence  [28]  . The courts, until Law Society of Singapore v Tan Guat Neo Phyllis  [29]  (Phyllis Tan), were generally of the opinion that they had the discretion to exclude evidence substantially unfair to the accused.  [30]   D. Under the Criminal Procedure Code Act (2010)  [31]  (CPC) s  266 of CPC, dealing specifically with stolen goods, allows previous convictions of the accused to be admitted to rebut his defence of good faith and/or prove mens rea. However, notice would have to be given to the accused before adducing such evidence  [32]  . E. In Comparison to Common Law Unlike the EA, admissibility of criminal evidence at common law is exclusionary. As long as the evidence is logically probative, it is admissible unless it contravenes clear public policy or other laws.  [33]   In Makin v A-G for NSW  [34]  , Lord Herschell formulated the two-limbed rule governing the admissibility of similar fact evidence. Under the first limb, the prosecution is not allowed to adduce similar fact evidence for pure propensity reasoning. However, under the second limb, evidence of the accuseds past conduct is admissible if relevant to the facts in issue via the categorization approach.  [35]   Boardman v PP  [36]  reformulated these rules by incorporating the balancing test. Under this test, the probative force of the similar fact evidence must outweigh the prejudicial effect. Furthermore, such evidence should be strikingly similar, such that it would offend common sense if the evidence is excluded.  [37]   However, the requirement of striking similarity was deemed to be too narrow in DPP v PP  [38]  . Instead, sufficient probative force could be gleaned from other circumstances  [39]  . Nonetheless, similar fact evidence used to prove identity must be sufficiently special to portray a signature or other special feature that would reasonably point to the accused as the perpetuator of the crime.  [40]  Hence, similar fact evidence is admissible to establish actus reus  [41]  . F. Defects of EA Singapore courts have incorporated common law principles and extended the applicability of similar fact evidence to prove actus reus. This has resulted in inconsistencies between the draftsmans intention and the courts approach. Further, there are some ambiguities that require clarification. First, there are difficulties superimposing the Boardmans balancing test into s  11, 14 and 15  [42]  as the EA was drafted to suit the categorization approach. The court would have to admit evidence falling under either section even if it may not be very probative or is highly prejudicial. Hence, s  14 and s  15 address only the probative part of the balancing test and leave no room for prejudicial effect considerations.  [43]  As a result, judicial discretion to exclude very detrimental evidence was developed.  [44]   Second, although allowing similar fact evidence to prove actus reus would require the judge to evoke an additional step of inference  [45]  , limiting the use of this evidence to prove mens rea would allow extremely probative evidence to be excluded  [46]  . Third, admissibility rules under the EA do not distinguish situations where the accused adduced similar fact evidence unintentionally. An injurious consequence would result if the prosecution is entitled to use such evidence.  [47]   Fourth, under s 15, a single act, no matter how probative, is inadmissible.  [48]  However, this does not take into account the consideration that an act may be capable of supporting the argument based on the rarity of circumstances  [49]  . Fifth, the courts have admitted similar fact evidence pursuant to s  11  (b) although it may not be pertinent to the facts in issue. Hence, EA should be amended to provide safeguards against such usage of s  11(b). Lastly, in light of Phyllis Tan  [50]  , more protection against admissibility of similar fact evidence should be incorporated into the EA. 3. Possible Options A. Survey of the other Jurisdiction (1) Australia Uniform Evidence Acts  [51]  (UEA) Under UEA, propensity evidence and similar fact evidence are governed by the tendency rule in s 97 and the coincidence rule in s  98. (a) Tendency Rule Evidence pertaining to the character, reputation, conduct or a tendency that the accused possessed is inadmissible unless (a) notice is given to the accused and (b) the evidence has significant probative value. Although UEA does not state how probative the evidence has to be, probative value of the evidence is defined the extent to which the evidence could rationally affect the assessment of the probability of the existence of a fact in issue.  [52]  Operation of s  97 would be invoked when the evidence is adduced for the purpose of proving the accuseds inherent tendency to act in a particular way.  [53]   (b) Coincidence Rule As a general rule, evidence of related events which must be substantially and relevantly similar  [54]   would be inadmissible unless notice is given and the court is convinced that it possesses significant probative value  [55]  . (c) Criminal Proceedings A safeguard was inserted in relation to criminal proceedings under s  101 where the probative value of either the tendency or coincidence evidence would have to substantially outweigh any prejudicial effect. However, the degree of probativeness need not  [56]  be of such a degree that only one conclusion, i.e. culpability of the accused, could be drawn  [57]  . (No rationale explanation test) (d) Analysis UEA clearly adopts the balancing test approach, where the probative effect of the evidence must substantially outweigh the prejudicial effect on the accused. Furthermore, the introduction of the notice system would reduce the prejudicial effect as the accused not be unduly surprised. However, as pointed out by the Australian Law Reform Commission, there is much ambiguity in what constitutes significantly probative and when the probative effect will substantially outweigh the prejudicial effect. Significantly, in Australia, the trier of fact and law are different. Heavy reliance on the judges discretions, added with the ambiguity and wide application of the balancing test, would increase the risk of prejudice in bench trials. (2) India Statutory Amendments Some amendments to s  11, 14 and 15 of The Indian Evidence Act  [58]  , upon which the EA was modeled on  [59]  , had been made pursuant to a review in 2003.  [60]  However, the changes made were very minor.  [61]   (a) Section 11 An explanation, inserted after s  11(2)  [62]  , qualified the type of evidence rendered relevant under s  11 such that the degree of relevancy is dependent on the opinion of the Court  [63]  . (b) Section 14 Clarifications to illustration (h) of s  14 were made such that the similar fact evidence has to show that A either had constructive or actual knowledge of the public notice of the loss of the property.  [64]   (c) Section 15 The changes merely show that the acts made, pursuant to s 15, must be done by the same person.  [65]   (d) Analysis It would appear that the amendments to the Indian Evidence Act do not have any substantial impact on the law. However, the amendment of s  11 explicitly mentions that the degree of relevancy of facts is subjected to the opinions of the court, which suggests an approach more in line with the balancing test. (3) England and Wales Criminal Justice Act 2003  [66]  (CJA) The admissibility of criminal evidence is presently governed entirely  [67]  by the CJA. Part II of CJA addresses the admissibility of bad character  [68]  evidence, which is defined as a persons disposition for a particular misconduct. Evidence of the defendants bad character can be adduced if it falls under one of the seven gateways under s 101(1)  [69]  . Significantly, under s 101 (1) (d), bad character evidence is admissible if it is relevant to an important issue between the defendant and the prosecution  [70]  . This includes the propensity to commit a particular type of offence which the accused is charged with or the propensity to lie  [71]  . Moreover, past convictions may be admissible to prove the defendants propensity to commit the crime he was charged with.  [72]   Regardless, s  101 (3) allows the court to exclude evidence, falling under s 101  (1)(d), upon the application of the defendant if the court views that admission of such evidence would infringe on the fairness of the proceedings.  [73]   The scope for the admissibility of bad character evidence has widened under the CJA.  [74]  In fact, evidence of bad character has changed from one of prima facie inadmissibility to that of prima facie admissibility  [75]  . Although, under s  103, bad character evidence would be inadmissible if it does not heighten the culpability of the accused, suggesting that the evidence must have some probative force, it appears that the CJA has abandoned the balancing test. Hence, similar fact evidence in the form of bad character evidence would be inadmissible if it lacks probative value in the establishment of the defendants culpability. However, s  101 (1), with the exception of s  101(1)(e), merely requires the evidence to be probative, without the need to outweigh prejudicial effect. 4. Proposal The EA would require more than a mere amendment. Hence, the type of reform advocated under the Indian Evidence Act should not be adopted. However, a radical change from the categorization approach to the balancing approach, following UEA, would give the court too much discretion. This is worrying as judges may not be entirely indifferent to inadmissible facts when deciding the case. On the other hand, the approach under the CJA would be contrary to Phyllis Tan  [76]  and potentially allows highly prejudicial similar fact evidence to be admissible as long as the prosecution can show some probative value which points towards the guilt of the accused. Hence, a hybridised model should be adopted where the categorisation approach under s 14 and s 15 is kept, but admissibility of such evidence must be subjected to the balancing test. A. Amendments (1) Changes to the Headings s  5 to s 16, under the general heading of Relevancy of facts, could be further sub-divided. First, s  5 to s  11 should be placed under a sub-heading of Governing Facts in issues  [77]  . Second, s  12 to s  16 could be placed under Relevancy of other facts sub-heading. This sub-division of the relevancy provisions would clarify the functions of each section and discourage courts from admitting similar fact evidence which does not have a specific connection with the facts in issue via s 11(b). (2) Incorporating balancing test Most importantly, EA should be amended to include the balancing test with guidance drawn from the UEA, such that the probative value of the similar fact evidence should substantially outweigh the prejudicial effect. However, the definition of substantially outweigh should be left undefined and allowed to develop under the common law. The courts could draw assistance from the Australian case law. (3) Proving Identity A provision could be inserted to the EA allowing similar fact evidence to prove that the accused was responsible for the offence. In addition to the balancing test, the provision should also reflect the proposition that that such similar fact evidence must satisfy the threshold test of being strikingly similar to the offence, almost akin to a signature or special feature of the accused. However, it is submitted that the extension of similar fact evidence to prove actus reus should be limited to the situation where the identity of the perpetuator is in doubt. B. Clarifications (1) Similar fact evidence produced by the accused mistakenly It is proposed that such evidence should subjected to a higher standard of balancing test where the probative value substantially outweighs prejudicial effect. (2) Only prior convictions are allowed Prior acquittals should not be admissible as similar fact evidence as this would be unduly prejudicial to the accused. Furthermore, this could result in the undesirable situation whereby the accused is subjected to a second round of trials with regards to the prior charges. In relation to the type of prior convictions that should be allowed, the EA should incorporate the definitions found in s 103(2)  [78]  and s  103(4)  [79]  of the CJA. (3) Clarification of s. 15 s  15 should be extended to include single act or conduct of the accused to rebut the defendants defence of accident. However, in light of a potential danger of placing too much importance on a single episode, a qualification, such as the no rationale reason  [80]  test, should be implemented along with the extension of s  15. 5. Additional Safeguards A system of notice, as seen in UEA, should be included into the EA. This reduces the prejudicial effect as the evidence would not be a surprise. Furthermore, this approach would be in line with the CPC, which has already adopted such a procedural reform. 6. Conclusion Regarded as one of the most difficult area of the law of evidence, similar fact evidence can serve as a double-edged sword. It has the potential to convict the accused although the facts do not relate to the facts in issue and is highly prejudicial to the defendant. In light of the rapid development of the rules governing the admissibility of similar fact evidence under the common law and the recent trend of common law countries codifying the test of admissibility into statutes, the EA should be reformed to reflect these developments, instead of relying on case law which can lead to inconsistency and uncertainty. Further, as information of a persons past is easily obtained with present technological advancements, safeguards against similar fact evidence should be incorporated so as to ensure a fair trial.