Impact of Information Technology in an Organization free essay sample

Q: How will you create an impact of information technology in your organization and do international business? A: In 1998 the United States exported $105 billion less in goods and services than our international trading partners were selling to us. With the latest summarized trade data in for 1999, those numbers will most likely crest the deficit past the $200 billion mark. Since the total United States economy is closing in on $8 trillion annually, there are some economists who contend that we can easily absorb these unending mega-outflows of U. S. dollars without any adverse impact on our nation as a whole. Whether or not this view is really credible is too complex a subject to address here. Instead, let us look at the bountiful foreign trade Opportunities available to U. S. manufacturers who stay awake to the potential of Information Technology (IT) and the manufacturers representatives who use IT to find and sell to international customers. In order to do this, we have to start with the very perception that manufacturers have regarding manufacturers representative attributes. A recent survey of United States manufacturers asked what they thought were the most important attributes an agent must possess to succeed. Technical product knowledge was most valuable while Internet marketing capabilities, even in mid1999, came in with only I percent of the vote. With the advantages of IT for the manufacturer, the agent and the foreign buyer, advocacy and praise of comprehensive technical product knowledge is misplaced and takes us in the wrong direction. Surveys such as the one cited here not only reflect the current sentiments of the people, but also perpetuate similarities and traits that make it easier for us to identify those people and companies that we want to be commercially associated with. It is no wonder that most manufacturers are unaware of this fact what little literature there is on the subject is not readily available. Thus, with a principals preconceptions fixed in a pre-IT world, they do not grasp the convergence of IT with rep agencies that combine this technology and international experience. As a result, they will have a difficult time working from the same set of assumptions about how to conduct business internationally. IT is a miraculous tool. As Copernicus, the 16th century astronomer, posthumously demonstrated, evolving knowledge inevitably trumps conventional thought. And keep in mind that this is the same type of conventional thinking that is producing our gargantuan trade deficits. The current conceit might be that the world economy will always revolve around the United States and we can remain satiated indefinitely with just our home marketplace. Knowing that this thinking is not sustainable should help in forcing us to reappraise those things that can facilitate more exports of domestic products to our international partners. In the continental United States, the logistics of a manufacturers representative calling on customers to explain their line (s) of products in their limited geographic area mostly precludes the need for Internet marketing. But internationally, when one factors in eight to 16 time zone differences on multiple continents, IT inverts the above scoring of attributes. Mindful of the obvious impracticality of traveling in person to see multiple customers in far-flung locales, I have formed some guidelines concerning what lines to take on and how to interact with manufacturers: Category Creators Take on lines from companies that are making unique products. These lines, if they are highly differentiated and easy to understand through your clients Web site, give your foreign customer an immediate marketing advantage in his country and make unnecessary the need for a high degree of technical product knowledge. Joint Selling If you must take on a unique but highly technical product, make sure you work out an ongoing technical assistance arrangement with your manufacturer. Gradualism: Domesticating the Process of International Trade For those principals that are still uncomfortable working with overseas customers, start by selling to the United States buying offices of your foreign buyers. It is always interesting how many client manufacturers are s urprised that many international buyers are located in North America. Wave the Flag Make sure your contract with manufacturers spells out that you do not want information relating to detailed product cost, production process methods or confidential business strategies. With the end of the Cold War, there has been a shift from the threat of ICBMs to economic warfare. Given the reality of industrial espionage, even amongst our own allies, by purposely keeping your company separate from the highly sensitive information of your principal, you demonstrate foresight that you have your clients best interests in mind. Wave Them In The them is the FBI and the National Counterintelligence Center (NACIC). The FBI can consult with your clients about protection of sensitive data, and the NACIC posts advisories that can heighten their overall awareness of possible risks. Combined, this step and the previous one will help them feet more confident that they can proceed in the export process. Wav e Goodbye If it becomes obvious during your meeting(s) with the manufacturer that they do not have the drive or the intent to create the infrastructure necessary for export, then Opt Out. You will be doing everyone a favor, especially your valued overseas buyers who have surmised that part of the agents job is the vetting of unreliable suppliers. Now that the attributes and traits of international manufacturers representatives, vis-a-vis domestic representatives, have been somewhat scrambled, I want to point out how international agencies might fall under a new classification. If under the current taxonomy, domestic manufacturers representatives are a species, then international manufacturers representative agencies, as a subspecies, might best be named International Information Brokers (IIB). Besides selling the manufacturers products or services to foreign buyers, what greatly distinguishes the IIB is: They have developed the skills for the remote retrieval of information and the organization of that information for manufacturers that desire to sell internationally. Though hazy and vague to those not familiar with the process, in the hands of an IIB, resources are accessible from an ever-widening variety of sources. Although in the dynamic of the Internet there is great flux, currently there are about 12,500 databases (most of them user unfriendly) and close to 2,400 online systems that can be plowed through. And that is only a part of what the 1113 might have to traverse. When one factors in data from the consulates, trade associations, chambers of commerce, government officials, college professors, writers, international trade lawyers, statistics, lists, reports, CD,ROMs, press releases, trade journals, specialty magazines, Encyclopedias of Associations, USA government publications on trade, United Nations agreements, Trade Block agreements, a smattering of non-governmental organizations, it becomes clear how an IIB can as an outsourced specialist add value to the whole process of international sales. With intimate access to this type of information, here are the attributes that an IIB can offer manufacturers who want to sell into foreign markets: Internet marketing capabilities Consultative international selling capabilities Niche market specialization in overseas markets Intelligence gathering Helping manufacturers clearly define exporting goals Training of manufacturers international department Setting up industry specific email and fax subscriptions Selling to foreign governments Working in conjunction with the United States government Straight, fee-based international marketing research While international trade rules have been greatly liberalized in the last 14 years, this great transfer of wealth to other countries is only in small measure making its way back to the United States in exchange for our exports. It is an embarrassing cultural irony that the United States, the land of immigrants, is being labeled by some of our foreign competitors as not having any grea t enthusiasm to go after and interact with foreign customers. We can go to the moon, but start talking Istanbul and we cannot seem to find the budget. ) As cyclical booms flatten out and growth slows, domestic sales in and of themselves fail to be the plasma that circulates to all parts of our economic system. The United States government knows this and that is why they spend so much time getting the word out to manufacturers about not only the potential benefits for their own companys bottom line, but the very real overall economic benefits for our country as a whole. The mainstream popularity of the Internet, an American invention, formerly the province of only the military, academia and industry, gives both manufacturers and manufacturers representatives, through IT, an incredible tool to establish a presence in the worldwide marketplace. In the hands of specialized agents, working with forward thinking manufacturers, exporting, if not necessarily an act of citizenship, is a means of sustaining the viability of our nation as a whole. The primacy of all customers, regardless of location, can become actual with information technology. And it is none too soon. There is no denying the long-term impact on our country because of our collective squandering of trade opportunities. The terrain must be decoded just as our foreign partners are assiduously decoding the United States marketplace. Because of the enormous trade surplus that the Japanese economy was building LIP with its worldwide trading partners up until the mid- 1980s, and to better reflect the overall strength of the Japanese economy, the leading economic countries (then known as the G-5, now known as the G-8) signed the Plaza Accord in New York City in 1985 to raise the value of the yen against the U. S. dollar and other major currencies. The result: the United States dollar lost value that slowly but surely made us, as a country, a competitively priced exporter. But something has gone wrong. As the numbers below show, even though the U. S. Department of Commerce is assisting U. S. companies, the German and Japanese exporting communities are significantly more focused and efficient in exporting their countries finished products. How will you create an impact of information technology in your organization and do International business? INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Information technology (IT) is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications. The term in its modern sense first appeared in a 1958 article published in the Harvard Business Review, in which authors Leavitt and Whisler commented that the new technology does not yet have a single established name. We shall call it information technology. The Indian information technology (IT) industry has played a key role in putting India on the global map. Over the past decade, the Indian IT-BPO sector has become the country’s premier growth engine, crossing significant milestones in terms of revenue growth, employment generation and value creation, in addition to becoming the global brand ambassador for India IMPACTS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: In the past few decades there has been a revolution in computing and communications, and all indications are that technological progress and use of information technology will continue at a rapid pace. Accompanying and upporting the dramatic increases in the power and use of new information technologies has been the declining cost of communications as a result of both technological improvements and increased competition. According to Moores law the processing power of microchips is doubling every 18 months. Business Models, Commerce and Market Structure One important way in which information technology is affecting work is by reducing the importance of distance. In many industries, the ge ographic distribution of work is changing significantly. For instance, some software firms have found that they can overcome the tight local market for software engineers by sending projects to India or other nations where the wages are much lower. Furthermore, such arrangements can take advantage of the time differences so that critical projects can be worked on nearly around the clock. Firms can outsource their manufacturing to other nations and rely on telecommunications to keep marketing, RD, and distribution teams in close contact with the manufacturing groups. The technology enables various types of work and employment to be decoupled from one another. Workplace and Labor Market Computers and communication technologies allow individuals to communicate with one another in ways complementary to traditional face-to-face, telephonic, and written modes. They enable collaborative work involving distributed communities of actors who seldom, if ever, meet physically. These technologies utilize communication infrastructures that are both global and always up, thus enabling 24-hour activity and asynchronous as well as synchronous interactions among individuals, groups, and organizations. Social interaction in organizations will be affected by use of computers and communication technologies. Business can be defined as a legitimately approved institutional entity, which is present in a nation with economic freedom and is planned to offer commodities and services to the customers. A business is also termed as an enterprise or firm and it is a feature of capitalist countries. Business can be delineated as a legitimately accredited institutional entity, which is existent in a nation with economic independence and created for offering commodities and services to the customers. The capitalist countries frequently feature businesses of different types and majority of them are privately owned businesses, usually established for gaining profit or growing the wealth of their proprietors. Businesses are also sometimes called as enterprises or firms. One of the principal objectives of the proprietors and regulators of businesses is to receive or earn a financial return or profit in return of their services and their risk tolerance. Nevertheless, there are exceptions to this idea and these include government organizations and co-operative societies. Businesses are governed by commercial law. Business Studies is now being taught as a faculty in a large number of business schools. Fundamental Forms of Ownership The forms of ownerships of business can be categorized into the following types: Sole proprietorship: A sole proprietorship business is a business, which has only one person as its proprietor. Partnership: A partnership business is that type of a business, which is owned by two or more individuals as its partners. Partnership businesses can be further categorized into limited partnership business, general partnership business, and limited liability partnership business. Corporation: A business corporation is a profit seeking and limited liability institution. The proprietors of a corporation are its numerous shareholders and it is supervised by a board of directors. Co-operative: A co-operative business is frequently termed as a Co-Op Business or simply Co-Op. It is a profit seeking and limited liability institution, which is governed by its members, who are authorities in decision making. Co-operatives can be further categorized into worker co-operatives and consumer co-operatives. They follow the theories of economic democracy. Types of Businesses Businesses can be categorized into the following types: Manufacturers: Organizations that manufacture tangible products or commodities like pipes or cars from raw materials and sell them for profit are regarded as manufacturers. Distributors and Retailers: They function as middlemen between manufacturers and customers. Service Businesses: They provide intangible commodities or services for earning profit Utilities: They provide public utility services like electricity, heat and sewage treatment and are normally licensed by the government. Transportation Businesses: They are involved in transportation or delivery of commodities or passengers from one place to another. Information Businesses: They include publishers, film studios, and packaged software firms. Mining and Agricultural Businesses: They are involved in raw material production, for example minerals and plants. Real Estate Businesses: They earn profit from property or real estate development and selling and leasing of real estate. Financial Businesses: They are banks and other financial institutions, which receive profit from capital and investment management. Departments Under a Business Usually, the following departments are present within a business: †¢ Accounting Department †¢ Marketing and Sales Department †¢ Human Resources Department †¢ Procurement Department †¢ Operations Department †¢ Information Technology Department †¢ Research and Development Department †¢ Administrative Department †¢ Public Relations/Communications Department †¢ Internal Audit Department Management Management is the study of how a business can be operated efficiently and expeditiously. The principal divisions of management are the following: †¢ Marketing Management Financial Management †¢ Strategic Management †¢ Human Resource Management †¢ Service Management †¢ Production Management †¢ Business Intelligence †¢ Information Technology Management Business technology optimization Business technology optimization or BTO is a procedure of information technology management that help s in development of business and reduces expenditure. BTO ensures that the money invested in development and meeting production needs, resource allocation and IT results in fulfillment of the business goals. The resources and money spent on IT are allocated correctly by making use of business technology optimization. The efficiency and usefulness of IT can also be measured through BTO. Business technology optimization can be best classified as a software product. BTO enhances to the maximum the strategic functions that exist between business and technology. IT is very important in terms of bringing improvements to business and the functions and nuances of information technology can be best managed through BTO. To state a few of the functions of BTO helps in testing new distributions of SAP, portfolio management, project management, bringing down the time required in repairing custom J2EE applications. Some of the functions of BTO software are as follows: †¢ Data center management †¢ Systems management †¢ Application management †¢ Performance, availability and quality of application †¢ Change management †¢ Project portfolio management †¢ IT governance BTO helps in finding out the efficiency with which the IT systems used in business are working. Profit maximization is another of the important aims of business technology optimization. The business requirements should be brought in line with technology. Some of the companies selling BTO softwares are as follows: †¢ BMC Software †¢ IBM Software †¢ Compuware †¢ CA †¢ HP †¢ Whittman Hart †¢ Sun Microsystems †¢ Borland Business technology optimization creates value for IT investments. In the enterprise testing stage, BTO helps in quality improvement and cost reduction. In the product tuning stage, BTO optimizes performance of applications and reduces costs. In the performance management stage, it helps in improving levels of service, resolution of speed problems. The good companies use business technology optimization in order to bring about permanent improvements to business. Conclusion The ongoing computing and communications revolution has numerous economic and social impacts on modern society and requires serious social science investigation in order to manage its risks and dangers. Such work would be valuable for both social policy and technology design. Decisions have to be taken carefully. Many choices being made now will be costly or difficult to modify in the future.

Prevention of Stress Essay Example

Prevention of Stress Paper To help reduce stress and improve the quality of life, many organizations are becoming more involved in wellness programs. With increasing health care costs, many employers are concentrating on disease prevention and health promotion. By putting a wellness program in place, it leads to a healthier workforce which increases its productivity level, reduces employee absenteeism, creates less overtime, and it also cuts the cost of health benefits (Kizer, 1987). Another reason that many companies are developing a wellness program within the organization is the effect it has on the bottom line. By preventing stress, an organization has happy healthy employees which means t quality and quantity of work will be improved. For example A middle manager may be a companys shining star, but if he is living in constant disharmony at home, or if his teenage daughter, whom he suspects is using street drugs, did not come home until 3 a. m. last Saturday night this promising manager is not going to be particularly efficient at even routine daily tasks. A worksite wellness program could help (Kizer, 1987, p. 36). Another contributing factor to higher job related stress is less leisure and vacation time. We will write a custom essay sample on Prevention of Stress specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Prevention of Stress specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Prevention of Stress specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Throughout the 1980s, the amount of paid time off for employees is act shrinking. Many European workers are gaining vacation time, while Americans are losing it. In the last decade, U. S. workers have gotten less paid time off on the order of three and a half fewer days each year of vacation time, holidays, sick pay, and other paid absences. (Schor, 1991 p. 32). Many companies faced an economic squeeze in the 1980’s. Vacations and holidays were among the cost-cutting efforts. DuPont reduced its top vacation allotment time from seven four weeks. They also eliminated three of their paid holidays a year. With the new trend of downsizing, many employees are fearful of job loss and therefore, spend less time away from the workplace (Schor, 1991, p. 32). Individuals who experience high or frequent levels of stress need to learn to cope. High levels of stress can effect job performance and it can also be unhealthy. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, people need to attempt to take responsibility for stress. Those individuals need to learn more about stress in general and how it effects them. They also need to develop technique. , for monitoring personal levels of stress and develop techniques to deal with job related stress. Employees should look within the organization on ways to alleviate stress and how to cope more effectively. Organizations an often unnecessarily stressful and should be changed to reduce the negative impact on individuals physical and mental health (Paine, 1982, p. 21). Three major strategies for strengthening individuals are workshops, stress management skills, and focused short term counseling. Introductory workshops are essential to communicate and educate to be more mentally and physically healthy. Such workshops which specialize in topics as time management or relaxation techniques help to alleviate the stress in ones life (Paine, 1982, p. 22). Finding techniques that deal with personal stress can also be useful in dealing with job stress. Regular aerobic exercise to deep breathing techniques are potentially useful in stress management. Many specialist agree that there is not any one method to overcome the problem. One needs to realize their own self needs and strengths in dealing with stress management (Paine, 1982, p. 23). There are many different ways in which you can deal with job stress. Individuals can take on simple self-help countermeasures. There is also help from friends, colleagues, spouse, or other relatives. Professional help is available from clergymen, physicians, or counselors. The worksite offers several advantages for employees interested in making healthy lifestyle changes. The advantages include: Most employees go to a worksite on a regular schedule, thus providing opportunities for regular participation in wellness programs. Contact with co-workers can provide strong social support which is believed to be a primary force in sustaining lifestyle changes. Opportunities for strong, steady support of the program, as well as for promoting the concept that good health is good for everyone. Programs at the worksite may be less expensive to the employee than comparable programs in the community or may even be offered free as an employee benefit. Because of the varity of data systems available, it is possible to evaluate changes in an employees health status or other measures resulting from the program. The most attractive feature from an employee’s viewpoint is the fact that the program is convenient. From the employers viewpoint the benefits of worksite health promotion for stress include: Improved employee morale Improved employee relations Improved retention Improved community relations. Reduced absenteeism Reduced number of hours lost to late arrivals and sick davs. Since theres no getting around life’s problems, the best way to manage stress is to learn better coping skills. First pinpoint the reasons for stress in your life. Then try changing your attitude about them. Learn what you can control and accept the things you cannot. Practice self talk (this to shall pass, Some day we will laugh about this, or Its a learning experience). Keep your perspective. Ask yourself, Will I remember this in five years? Try to find the positive side to a stressful situation. Do not worry about things that may never happen. Practice positive self-talk, for example,I can do this,or Im in control. Negative self-talk such as, I have to be perfect,’ or I cant do this, produces more stress. Take action to manage stress. Changes and stress create energy. Are you using that energy to continue toward your goals? Or are you letting stress make you unhappy and unproductive? Take action to control your stress, both at work and at home. Manage your time better- make a to do list. Make it realistic so you can do the things listed and set priorities. Break task into bite size chunks. Delegate as much as possible. Keep in mind that tomorrow is another day and accept the fact that you may not get everything done today. Make sure you are communicating effectively- Go into stressful meetings as fully prepared as possible. Organize your thoughts, establish eye contact and listen for the whole message, including content feelings, and meanings. Remember that solving problems depends on give and take. Be prepared to negotiate and compromise. Break the tension cycle-At your desk, close your eyes, breathe deeply and relax. Laugh with co-workers, go out for lunch. At home, read a book, take a walk, chat with next door neighbors. Gets plenty of regular exercise and sleep-they will help you cope better. Get organized at home-Set daily and weekly routines for household chores. Delegate some chores to other family members. Cook meals in large quantities and freeze some for later. Plan for emergencies, keep first aid supplies and an extra set of car keys around. Stress can affect your self-esteem and your health, if you let it. Be kind to yourself. Relax, keep a positive attitude and get involved in activities you enjoy. Build on your strengths, take care of yourself Also team to reach out to others. Everyone needs a support system, a network of trustworthy people you care about and who care about you. Share your feelings so that they dont build up. Then focus on building positive energy. Stress is a normal, involuntary response to any demand made upon the body. Stress is very complex. Sources of stress may be made either more positive or more negative by a range of factors related to a given situation. Stress has become a widely used yet poorly understood term. As a result, a number of misconceptions about stress exist. Three of the most identified misconceptions are that: all stress is dab, stress is a part of life and there is nothing you can do about it, and stress is caused solely and completely by environmental factors. Stress is very much a personal condition, and individuals vary in their ability to cope with different forms and levels of stress. An example of this stress on a personal note would be co-worker conflict. When this stress occurs co-workers should discuss this matter privately. If possible, arrange your meeting on neutral grounds. Approach the person in a non-threatening manner. Respond to them with: I would like to talk something over with you. Try to make the other person feel less defensive or angry. Do not blame the other person. Listen closely to the other person. Understanding the other point of view may help you feet less stressful. Focus on ways to solve the problem. In this I mean do not revisit every past negative incident, this may distract from the resolution. Finally if none of the above work, seek help. If necessary talk with an employee assistance counselor who can help develop ground rules for such discussions and promote respectful communications. Stress is a complex process. It can arise in white collar as well as in blue-collar workers. Surveys have found little difference between white and blue-collar workers in terms of complaints, health, life satisfaction, depression, or other indicators of stress. Shift workers are thought to be more susceptible to stress-related illnesses. Because of personal involvement with the disruption in basic steep patterns and disruption in social life. Since every situation is unique, there are probably as many separate sources of stress as there are work situation. This may is important to recognize when seeking to evaluate working environments for sources of stress. Never the less sources of work related stress can be grouped into four general categories. Work load-which means stress resulting from to much work, to little work, work that is to hard or to easy. Work conditions-refers to a wide variety of factors including organization structure, such as job loss, change in work, and similar factors. Work patterns- pertains to shift work, repetitive work, and paced work Work roles-, which can be stressful because of role expectations with efficient use of resources and staff. Employers may also wish to introduce an EAP, which provides an effective strategy for assisting employees with personal and work related problems. Where organizations believe it would be necessary to make decisions about the quality of the proposed program. Such decisions should be made on the basis of a well-defined set of criteria. The following set of eight criteria for evaluating and selecting a stress intervention program is suggested. 1. A program should be conducted on both the organizational and individual level. 2. Content should be work related, but aim at reducing unwanted stress effects which may result from social, or personal factors. 3. Program should be based on valid research findings and conducted by qualified personnel. 4. Program should include regular and on going evaluation of its effectiveness in meeting program objectives. 5. Should include follow up evaluations, consultations, and refresher sessions for techniques learned. 6. Program should aim to affect both the attitudes and the behavior of participants. 7. Program for individual stress management should be flexible with goals which are reasonable, rather easily achieved, promoting high success rates, and participation should be voluntary. 8. Program should be chosen or constructed and implemented on the basis of close cooperation between management, employees, and professionals in the field. Employers and employees share responsibility for the maintenance of a healthy and safe working environment. Employers are by law obligated to provide a safe working intervention, formal and informal, is shared responsibility and calls for a cooperative effort. In general people react badly with either to little or to much stress. In basic terms, stress is one aspect of living that can be beneficial when it motivates, encourages changes or inspire. Behsahel, J. , Goodloe, A. , and Kely, J. (1984) Managing yourself-How to control Emotions, Stress, and Time. New Yourk: Franklin Watts. Kizer, William M. (1987). The Healthy Workplace- New York: John Wiley and Sons Paine, Whiton Stewart. (I 982). Job Stress and Burnout. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications. Schor,juliet B. (1991). The Overworked American. New York: Basic Books. Cooper and Marshall. (1985) Stress in the Workplace

Immigration and the Economy

Immigration and the Economy Free Online Research Papers As The United States continues to fight the â€Å"War on Terrorism†, Immigration continues to be a major concern facing Americans on a daily basis. Americans everywhere have their various opinions as to whether or not Immigration reform is necessary to tighten our borders and help our country’s financial security. Among these discussions, is the idea that Immigration Reform is considered necessary to help build our economy and focus our spending on our legal citizens rather than those who are here illegally. The strain the illegal population has put on the United States Economy is staggering and The United States Economy is constantly struggling to provide monies necessary to assist illegal immigrants on their basic human needs. Through taxes the American people are providing health care, education, food assistance and many other services to these illegal immigrants who are not returning money back into the system through income tax, sales tax and property tax. What can be done to strengthen our economy and control illegal immigration? According to the 2006 census there are nearly 10 million immigrants living in the United States; almost 47% of those are illegal. Unfortunately the only benefit of our â€Å"recession like† economy in 2007-2008 is that the illegal immigration of Hispanics into America has actually declined according to the Pew Hispanic Center (2008). It is essentially estimated that the number of undocumented immigrants has declined by roughly 500,000. Even the illegal immigrants can’t find jobs so they are returning home. In prior years there were an estimated one million new immigrants that came to this country, either as a permanent resident or illegal immigrant (Smith Edmonston, 1998). Every year each state spends anywhere between $11 billion and $22 billion to provide public assistance to immigrants and $250 million to incarcerate them; yet these immigrants only returned $80,000 back into the system. With a valid and fair Immigration Reform Program put into place, some of these figures could be offset by immigrants and permanent residents paying federal, state, and local taxes. Our country has had many forms of Immigration Reforms such as the Naturalization Act of 1790 which stated that â€Å"naturalization was limited to aliens who were ‘free white persons’.† The Naturalization Act of 1790 made no provisions for servants, slaves or women. The policy also encompassed citizenship for children of citizens, born abroad, without the need for naturalization. Another form of Immigration Reform was The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (Also known as the McCarran-Walter Act), (Woolley Peters, 2008) which, according to Wikipedia, restricted immigration. The Act defined immigrants into three categories: relatives of United States citizens, immigrants whose numbers are not to exceed 270,000 per year, and refugees. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 required deportation of immigrants and naturalized citizens who engaged in illegal activity and also barred suspected criminals from entry into the United States. President Truman vetoed the Act but it was overridden and parts of the policy still remain in place today. The policy that has most drastically changed how the United States looks and acts upon immigration is the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA). This policy outlined how the United States is to handle crimes committed by illegal immigrants, the act also allowed the Attorney General to hire new border agents and support staff. There are major drawbacks to the IIRIRA and those are that the act stipulates that minor offenses can be deportable and applies to residents that have married American citizens and have had American born children. When the policy was passed, it was made retroactive to apply to all who were convicted on deportable offenses (Chang, 2006). After some debates in the United States Supreme Court, it was ruled that it would not apply to non deportable offenses at the time they were convicted (Chang, 2006). Although, this country has adopted new reforms for immigration, none have effectively thwarted the mass exodus of immigration that have drained our economy and the pockets of the American people. Although the recent Bush administration has been dragging their feet regarding Immigration Reform and been unable to make bi-partisan decisions there have been a handful of advances. Border security has been increased from 9,000 agents in 2001 to over 15,000 agents in 2008 and an expected 18,000 agents by year’s end of 2008 according to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform (2008.) Also, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is working towards constructing a pedestrian fence along the southwest border nearly 370 miles long by the end of 2008. With the current amount of fence already constructed which is roughly 265 miles, the DHS is reporting a 20% decrease in apprehension of illegal aliens. One unfortunate side effect of the Bush administration’s work on the Immigration issue is discontinuing the ability for Canadians and Americans to cross in and out of each others county freely by a verbal declaration of citizenship. Being a Metro Detroiter I enjoy crossing the border into Windsor to go to the many night clubs as well as the casino on a whim and have done so for well over 11 years now. I am a bit uneasy carrying such a valuable piece of identification such as my birth certificate or passport but as my father says that is the price we pay for freedom. Thankfully the U.S. Department of State (2008) introduced the Passport card on July 14, 2008 for land or sea travel between The United States and either Canada or Mexico which puts at ease my concerns. The reforms policies that are up for debate now seem to group all immigrants into one category. Many of the current reforms policies that are in the news today do not have provisions for the many immigrants who have been in this country for decades, the immigrants who have done everything legal to be here, or those that are serving in the United States Military. How can our country overcome the huge burden that immigration is having on our economy and lifestyles? First, we need to realize that this country was founded by immigrants and that has been a way of life for over 200 years. Second, we need to understand that there are already so many illegal immigrants in this country to deport them all without costing billions of dollars. Lastly, we need to put into place a way for the immigrants who are already here to become legal quickly and easily within a set period of time without incident and urge the illegal immigrants to understand the necessity of becoming a legal immigrant or eve n a citizen. Since the cost of illegal immigration is staggering, urging the illegal immigrant to become legal require them to pay taxes, get healthcare, apply for better and legal jobs and help them get out of poverty. Helping the legal residents better themselves will also help strengthen our economy by moving money through the system, creating job and reducing crime. Citations Chang, H. J. (2006). Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. Retrieved October 1, 2008, from americanlaw.com/1996law.html Comprehensive Immigration Reform (2008, January). Retrieved October 7, 2008, from whitehouse.gov/infocus/immigration/ Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. (2008, September 16). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:56, October 1, 2008, from The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 tp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Immigration_and_Nationality_Act_of_1952oldid=238699476 Naturalization Act of 1790. (2008, May 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:53, October 1, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Naturalization_Act_of_1790oldid=215086304 Smith, J. P., Edmonston, B. (1998). The Immigration Debate: Studies on the Economic, Demographic and Fiscal Effects of Immigration. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2008 (127th ed.). (2008). Washington: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 2, 2008, from census.gov/statab/www The U.S. Passport Card (2008). Retrieved October 7, 2008, from travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html Undocumented Immigration Slows Along With the U.S. Economy (2008, October 1). Retrieved October 2, 2008, from immigrationpolicy.org/ Woolley, J., Peters, G. (2008). American Presidency Project. Retrieved October 1, 2008, from trumanlibrary.org Research Papers on Immigration and the EconomyThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This Nice19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraQuebec and CanadaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaTwilight of the UAWPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyCapital PunishmentWhere Wild and West MeetHip-Hop is Art

MANAGING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 1

MANAGING - Essay Example In his works, Foucalt has focused on five major topics, including the following: discourse, power/knowledge, de-centered human subject, body, and micro-politics (Izac, 2014). This paper focuses on the topic of power and knowledge, and analyses how Foucault s view on power and discipline explains the managerial work and management power/roles. Among a wide range of subjects and topics covered in the Foucault’s work, there are three central concerns expressed by the author: power, knowledge, and subjectivity (Townley, 1993). Power is viewed by Foucault as a commodity, which is embodied either in a person, structure, or institution and is held or possessed for achieving individual and/or organizational purposes (Townley, 1993). As Foucault (1981:94) explained, â€Å"power is not something that is acquired, seized, or shared, something one holds on to or allows to slip away†¦rather power is relational; it becomes apparent when it is exercised† (Townley, 1993: 520). This definition gives more insight on how Foucault views power. Moreover, Foucault views power and knowledge as two inseparable and interrelated elements (Izac, 2014). He has coined a term â€Å"power-knowledge† as power and knowledge directly imply one another, whereas power produces knowledge, and knowledge produces power. In Foucault’s point of view, â€Å"knowledge is power† as knowledge provides someone with the power and capability to control, manage and change the socio-political order (Izac, 2014; Foucault, 1980). Furthermore, Foucault explains how organisations and institutions, possessing power impose discipline by defining, creating, normalizing and enforcing knowledge and truth in human society (Izac, 2014). Thus, power attained and supported through knowledge produces our reality, dictates our behaviour, and creates our beliefs about the truth (Foucault 1991, cited in Izac, 2014). In this case, knowledge presupposes and constitute power relations at the

Food industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Food industry - Essay Example The company has made great advances in the production of fast foods through their kitchen prototyping, standardizing, self-serving along with fundamental changes in their marketing demographics (Schlosser, 212). The company has been offering fast foods to various classes of customers who include teenagers and the elderly. The beef department of the company is currently being dominated by immigrants who offer cheap labor in the various branches that the company has opened up across the globe. Through the process of recruiting more cheap workers, the organization has been able to expand their activities while at the same time maximizing their profits (Mankiw, 141). In consolidating their activities, Fast food Nation has been able to acquire many other smaller companies in different countries for the purpose of expanding the scope of their activities (Schlosser, 79). For instance, the company has acquired companies that indulge in packing meat such as Kenny Dobbins along with IBP Inc. T hey have been additionally able to ensure that all the outlets deal with uniform franchises (Kroeger, Vizjak, Moriarity, 89). The Omnivore’s dilemma offers a wide variety of foodstuffs for humans that range from industrial and organic foods and the foods we scavenge for ourselves such as meat products (Pollan, 62). The company manufactures the above meals in an effort to diversify their activities while expanding their activities across national along with international boundaries. They have enjoyed economies of scale with their production costs decreasing over the years as a result of using cheaper forms of labor, the use of technology in their activities and advanced production methods (Mankiw, 132). The company acquires its raw materials from many areas, which implies that they rarely have shortages in their production. The company’s production has however faced problems as a result of animal diseases which affect their production along with the

Online hotel reservation system Essay Example for Free

Online hotel reservation system Essay 1.0 INTRODUCTION The main purpose that banks have been serving since their inception iskeeping our money safe for us. While keeping our money safe, they also letus earn a certain amount of interest on the money deposited with them. Traditional banks have been doing this, and internet banks continue thesame function. The only difference is in the way the transactions are made.We all know about internet banking and most of us use it quite often as well,but few of us actually understand about the history of internet banking andhow it all came out. Knowing the history of internet banking can be incrediblyuseful, especially since it will allow us to have more respect for the littlethings that we take for granted.Computers themselves have really come an enormous way since their initialestablishment, as the earliest electronic computers were so large that theywould take up the entire area of a room, while today some are so small thatthey can hardly be seen at all.In todays world, computers play an incredibly large role in the way the worldexists in general, and the majority of tasks could actually not be completed if not for the use of computers. Although there are certainly some areas and jobs that cannot yet be completed solely by computers and which thus stillrequire actual manpower, for the most part, computers have helped to makelife significantly easier, productive, and more convenient for us all.Internet banking has been around for quite a few years now, but has reallyonly become prominent over the past year or so in particular. Internetbanking offers an array of different advantages to the user, including: account balances and history including year-to-date information, the abilityto transfer money from one account to another and to payees for billpayments, check history, reorders, and stop payments, check credit cardbalances and statements, complete online loan applications, secureinteractive messaging with staff, and much more.Internet banking basically allows you to be able to do everything that youcan in your regular banking institution, only with the benefit that you can doit all right from the convenience of you r own home. Not only is this greatbecause you can be comfortable and have peace of mind knowing that youcan keep track yourself of all your banking  issues, but as well it allows formore ease because you never have to worry about rushing out and making itto the bank. 1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM With the problems and limitations associated with manual bankingprocedures as witnessed in most parastatals today, complied with theproblems associated with the existing application programs even much morein the presence of serious technological advances aimed at improvinginformation system. This is activities aimed at shedding light upon the needfor improvement in accounting activities and the means of achieving itsefficiency, effectiveness, reliability and success promising future throughcomputer intervention.Internet banking identifies a particular set of technological solutions for thedevelopment and the distribution of financial services, which rely upon theopen architecture of the Internet. With the implementation of an Internetbanking system, the banks maintain a direct relationship with the end usersvia the web and are able to provide a personal characterization to theinterface, by offering additional customised services. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The aim of this project is to develop a secured online banking system withthe following objectives: Create a banking system that is easily accessible by customers fromthe comfort of their homes, offices etc. Reduce the flow of human traffic and long queues at banks Reduce the time wasted in going to banks to stay on queues. Promote efficient and effective banking for the banks by focusing onthose services that still require physical presence at the banking hall. 1.3 IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY This will cover the benefits derived in using internet banking and it’sfundamental. 1.3.1 ONLINE BANKING – HOW IS IT DIFFERENT? Many consumers today are turning to the ease and convenience of Internetbanking to take care of their financial needs. With the new levels of accessmade possible by the Internet, people can now check the status of theirfinances with the click of a button. The history of Internet banking has evolved from simply allowing  customersto check balances online, to now being able to trade stocks and bonds fromthe comfort of their own home 1.3.2 WHY USE ONLINE BANKING? Online banking services have grown from simply allowing customers to checkbalances, to trading assets. Today, banks like ING Direct are functioningentirely online, with no brick and mortar building. With the costs saved byrequiring fewer employees and the lack of facility expenses, these virtualbanks can often offer higher interest rates than their traditional counterparts.Internet banking gives you the power to control your finances completely. You are no longer tied down to managing your money during the hours thebank is open. If you want to transfer a balance after business hours, you can!If you have access to the Internet and have a number of recurring monthlybills, then you should use Internet banking to make your life easier. 1.3.3 FEATURES OF ONLINE BANKING Today, online banking services are quite varied. One of the best features of online banking is putting the user in control. The user controls all bill paying,transfers, and investments from home. There are other features, though of online banking. One of these is increasedaccessibility to your account information. Users of online banking servicescan access their account information from anywhere in the world! This isparticularly helpful for businesses. Internet business banking is becomingincreasingly popular, as businesses are becoming more global in their reach.Now business people can access their accounts, even when on overseasbusiness trips. Business Internet banking is extremely popular for thisreason.A particularly popular aspect of online banking services is the ability to makebill payments electronically. With a minimum degree of set-up, customerscan enter the amounts of their paper bills (or opt to receive electronic bills)and process all their payments at one time, from one screen 1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY The scope of this project is limited to the activities of the operations unit of the banking system which include opening of Account, Deposit of funds,Withdrawal of funds and transfer. 1.5 METHODOLOGY This project employs the object oriented approach of software engineeringusing appropriate (UML TOOLS) an object oriented approach. Some of thesteps to be taken are: Feasibility study – understanding and identifying of existing system andassociated study. Analysis – proper analysis and suggested solution to tackle suchproblems will be considered. Design – designing the new system will be achieved through an objectoriented software tools (UML). Coding – this is implemented as a 3tier architecture model using javalanguage. The 3 layers of the application are as follows.1, Java server pages / html pages – front end2, Java server pages / servlets – middle end3, SQL server as the back-end 1.6 MODE OF OPERATION WEBTRUST will contain self explanatory hyperlinks that customers can clickto make any request or perform a task. If a customer clicks on account opening links, he is taken to page where hefills a form and clicks the submit button if he is through. A successful filling of the form gives a response that confirms the customer account is open andactivated. Thus such a customer can receive money into such an accountthrough funds transfer. Account details are sent by the bank to thecustomer’s email box.Registered customers or Account holders of the bank can now login using theaccount details posted to their email box to login before they can performfinancial transactions. The system is secured such you cannot operateanother mans account even if you knew his account details because a newtransaction number is always sent to a customer for each login. Thistransaction number is what will be used to authenticate any transaction pertime CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW The emergence of electronic commerce over the past decade has radicallytransformed the economic landscape. For developing countries, the digitalrevolution offers unprecedented opportunities for economic growth anddevelopment, a case study of Pakistan. 2.1 DEFINING E-BANKING / ONLINE BANKING â€Å"In the 21st century there will be a lot of banking, but there will be no banks.â€Å"Says Bill Gates. The term online banking or internet banking  covers both computer andtelephone banking. Using computer banking, a customer either uses hiscomputer to dials directly into its banks computer or gains access to thebank’s computer over the internet. Using telephone banking, the customercan controls its bank accounts by giving the bank instructions over thetelephone. Both computer and telephone banking involve the use of passwords which give access to the customer’s accounts.Using these methods, banking transactions can be actioned 24 hours a day. Online banking allows the person, for instance, to view recent transactions,print out statements and transfer funds between accounts and makepayments.Many banks also have the facility for someone to set up, amend or cancelstanding orders. Internet banking also allows payments to be made to thecustomer, i.e. acceptance of credit card donations. Most people that usenternet banking will also continue to use some of the elements of moretraditional methods of banking, such as a cheque book.. 2.2 E-BANKING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Just like Internet infrastructure, E-Banking in developing countries is at earlystages; however there are some exceptions where countries like: Brazil have 75% of enterprises, excluding micro-enterprises using theInternet for banking in 2005. Morocco (34.9%). (United Nations Conference on Trade andDevelopment, 2006), There is an increasing growth of online banking, indicating a promisingfuture for online banking in these countries. In China, while banks issue credit cards and while many use debitcards to draw directly from their respective bank accounts, very fewpeople use their credit cards for online payment. Cash-on-delivery isstill the most popular mode of e-commerce payment. Nonetheless,online payment is gaining popularity because of the emergence of China pay and Cyber Beijing, which offer a city-wide online paymentsystem. (Zorayda Ruth B. Andam, 2003).

Antigone :: Free Essay Writer

Antigone The characters in the play Antigone all suffer a downfall of some sort. The major characters suffer the most, though. In this short essay, I will document on how the two main characters, Creon and Antigone, both inevitably become tragic heroes. The first example that I observed in Antigone was her self-righteous plight to bury her brother. She believes that what she is doing is right, and that she will do it no matter what the consequences, because he was her brother, her blood. This establishes the first part of a tragic hero, the part about doing something for the good of someone else, rather for than the greater glory of doing it. The first impression that Creon made upon me was his stern, ironclad manner and ethical code. When the reader is first introduced to Creon, his or her first impression is that Creon will eventually die, as the villain does in nearly any play, movie, novel, etc. But in actuality, Creon suffers the most of all, losing his one key to immortality, his son. I ruled out that Antigone probably was a tragic hero to a lesser extent, however, when she started to question her actions. A real hero of any sort always does what they think is right. Since Creon still hadn't changed his mind at that point, I was perplexed on who would become the one who regretted their actions later, and was eventually going to experience a catharsis. Haimon was the "silent" tragic hero of the play, suffering at the hands of his strict father. Haimon remained loyal up to a certain point, until the question of whether Creon's decision was possibly the right one. Haimon established himself as a tragic hero when he tried to kill Creon in revenge for Antigone's suicide. Haimon not only lost Antigone's love, he lost his life. Earlier, I mentioned Antigone's self-righteousness. Creon had an egotistical point of view as well. Antigone thought at first that her actions were justified and righteous when it came to the question of morals and ethics. Creon was not at all different, believing that his way was the "right" way, or the way the "Gods" would have chosen. Both realized the mistake they made, and regretted it later, when it was too late. Creon certainly suffered the most, losing three of his immediate family, the unmentioned being his wife. But to say that Creon is the only tragic hero in the play is extremely naive and shortsighted.