Pride and Prejudice Movie Review Essay

1) In 1859, Charles Darwin described a model of how living things change over time. He described this model and the evidence that supported it in a book called On The Origin of Species. Which scientific term is used to describe a testable model that seeks to explain natural phenomena? A) data B) hypothesis C) observation D) theory 2) When an experiment is repeated and the new results are different from the original results, what could you assume to be true? A) The results from both experiments are worthless. B) The first experiment’s results are worthless and should be discarded. C) The experimental design is flawed and the experiment should be discarded. D) Neither test results are 100% reliable and additional experimentation is needed. 3) All of the following EXCEPT the resistance of _________ demonstrate artificially selected resistance. A) beef cattle, to â€Å"shipping fever†, B) many agricultural wheat varieties, to drought and fungus, C) Anatarctic fish to freezi ng, due to antifreeze proteins in their blood, D) many common grasshopper species to pesticides, such as diazinon, sevin, and others, 4) Which fact about fossils is MOST important to scientists who study evolution? A) Fossils are often found in sedimentary rock. B) Footprints, body structures, and even animal droppings can become fossilized. C) The age of a fossil can be determined by examining the rock strata in which the fossil is found. D) The formation of a fossil depends on the geologic and chemical conditions present when an organism dies. 5) According to the fossil record, five ________________took place, which lowered the variety of species found on Earth today. A) mass clonings B) microevolutions C) mass extinctions D) mass revolutions 6) When an experiment is repeated and the new results are different from the original results, what could you assume to be true? A) The first set of results MUST be incorrect and thrown out. B) The second set of results MUST be inaccurate and thrown out. C) The experimental design must be flawed and should be scrapped. D) The original experiment MAY be inaccurate and further experimentation is needed. 7) If an experiment’s results are accurate, when the experiment is repeated by another scientist, the results A) should be similar to those obtained originally. B) will be identical every time the experiment is repeated. C) should be completely different for a different scientist.

Briefly Describe The Long March and explain why it is an important event in Chinese History

In the summer of 1934, after suffering a string of defeats, the communist party and the Read Army decided to flee their southern bases and retreat. This retreat became known as the Long march. On the march the group endured 368 days of extreme hardship before they finally reached the caves of Yenan in Northern China. The Long March is recalled fondly with great idealism as a time when thousands of Chinese peasants selflessly volunteered to join the fight. The Long March is considered an important event in Chinese history for many reasons. It was very important for the CCP and Red army because communism survived and they found a new base.This new base was remote enough for the GMD to be unable to attack it, and was also safe from attack by the Japanese. This helped to increase the CCP’s standing in China even further. Another key impact of the Long March was that Moa Zedong was re-established as the unchallenged leader of the CCP. The cowardliness of his guerrilla tactics durin g the extermination campaigns had meant that he was replaced for a short time by Otto Braun. However Braun allowed the communists to carry too much equipment, and led the retreat in a straight line, making them slower and easier to attack.He was blamed for their huge losses, and leadership was soon handed back to Mao. After the success of the march, his tactics were forgotten and he was hailed as a great hero. The march also allowed many Chinese people to see the CCP as great heroes, and therefore increased support for them. The long march became part of Chinese Communist mythology. Many paintings were produced showing Mao marching at the head of the column over the mountains of Western China. This opinion really boosted support for communism and many people began to agree with their policies over those of Chaing’s and the GMD’s.During the Long March, Support for Communism was also increased by the good behaviour of the Red Army in the provinces they crossed. Their pos itive attitudes and fair morals impressed many local people, especially peasants, who were more inclined to support the CCP. Their rules to speak politely, pay fairly, not to hit or swear, not to take liberties with woman and not to ill-treat prisoners greatly contrasted with the brutal and cruel treatment of the locals by the GMD armies, who captured, starved and murdered anyone who had any connection to communism.The Long march was not at all as idealistic as it seemed in reality, thousands of communists were wounded, killed, starved or froze to death. However, today it is not seen as a failure for the CCP, but is instead hailed as an important event in the survival and establishment of the communist government, leadership and support in China and a key event in Chinese History.

Mental Health Assessment and Management Case Study

Mental Health Assessment and Management - Case Study Example Depression will also always affect one’s thoughts. The person will tend to think negatively about the world, family, self and their future. They will think of life being hopeless, they will think of themselves being useless and even think of taking their life (Roy, 2005; Lam, 2012). A depressed person will also either eat too much or not enough. Might have trouble sleeping or oversleep due to extreme tiredness. In the end, depression can affect one’s life, to a point that it results in serious problems with one’s family, at school, job and with friends (Roy, 2005; Lam, 2012). Mrs. Johnson is suffering from depression. She recently lost her job, which may be a sign of depression being the cause of losing the job. She feels worthless â€Å"She feels her children may be â€Å"better off† without her†. She also has a record of three-month worsening anxiety, which explains the depression. Anxiety is a cause, and also a symptom of depression. Other symptoms of depression identified from Mrs. Johnson’s report are; decreased appetite decreased energy, and suicidal ideation (Roy, 2005; Lam, 2012). Another mental problem observed is suicide. Warning signs of suicidal person are; if the person is talking about suicide, if the person is depressed and feeling hopeless, if the person has low self-esteem, if there is change in the person’s sleeping patterns, eating habits (eating less or more than usual), personality (withdrawn, less sociable or sad), and behavior (poor/ reduced concentration). Mrs. Johnson’s depression could be a cause of her lack of concentration that resulted in a loss of her job. She is to be divorced, and worries about her children. She thinks she is a failure. She may also have to sell her house. All these negative thoughts are a source of the thoughts about suicide. It could also be that Mrs. Johnson’s accident could have been self-inflicted. She tells all her experiences in tears after the accident. It could mean that she was trying to end it all. This could have been her first attempt to suicide, and so she was explaining the reason as to why she needed it. From NHS information, it is also clear that Mrs. Johnson was, and is still vulnerable to suicide. Mental health, life history, lifestyle, relationships, employment, and genetics, are some of the factors that make one vulnerable to suicide (NHS, 2012). Mrs. Johnson has a family history of depression in his father and grandfather (paternal) and also has an uncle that committed suicide due to depression. She recently lost her job; her relationship with her husband is coming to an end, while that with her sons is filled with hopelessness as she perceives it. She is also depressed and has suffered anxiety for three months.

How does thalassemia affect the skeletal system Essay

How does thalassemia affect the skeletal system - Essay Example Thalassemia is a hereditary disorder characterized by a diminished or a malfunction of the production of hemoglobin; a blood protein that transports oxygen to the tissues, which results from the mutation of the manufacture of hemoglobin primarily because of the abnormality of the bones and the enlargement of the spleen. Anemia is a good example that portrays severe cases of Thalassemia; bone and growth deformities, defects and hemosiderosis (Barber & Stringer, 2011). The most common Thalassemias are alpha-Thalassemia and beta-Thalassemia whose frequency of occurrence is around 1.7% worldwide. Alpha-Thalassemia comes from the abnormal production of the ÃŽ ±-globin chain while ÃŽ ²-Thalassemia is from the ÃŽ ²-globin chain (Barber & Stringer, 2011). Alpha-Thalassemia affects mainly people from Africa and South-East Asia while beta-Thalassemia is prevalent among people from the Mediterranean, Africa, and South-East Asia. The predominance of ÃŽ ²-Thalassemia is higher in areas where malaria is or was once an endemic. Severe changes occur on the calvarium due to porotic hyperostosis as shown in figure 1 below. This manifests extensively on the frontal portion including the inferior portion, the parietals and the squamous of the occipital through porosis (Lagia et al., 2007). Due to Thalassemia, patients often experience extensive pitting in the posterior portion of the skull, which includes the parietal and occipital bones as shown in figure 3. There is also mild pitting of the frontal bone and the orbital roof as demonstrated in figure 2. For this reason, the cranial bones become thicker than usual, wavering from typical 4.5mm to a maximum of 10mm in thickness (Filon et al., 1995). The expanded diploe can be seen on the external surface, which becomes eroded over time. The trabeculae of the diploe become increasingly reduced in number, accompanied by the thickening and radial arrangement of the trabeculae that are left;

Economics Bachelor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Economics Bachelor - Essay Example Before this incident, Japan has been trying to position itself as a global leader of environmental peace-maker rhetorically. But if Japan's own contribution to its domestic environmental impacts, we find out that there are at least five categories or key areas where Japan excels with a lot of scopes to be desired for in the context of environmental green peace. These five major areas are the promotion of high technology, deforestation, foreign direct investment, official development assistance and over-fishing. In the context of over-fishing the prime concern of the world right now is the problem of whaling. In Eco Pre Meeting, Issue 1, it has been reported that the Japanese government has thrown down the gauntlet to the IWC by proposing to expand its so-called "scientific" whaling. Next in line for slaughter are sperm whales, the huge and endangered species immortalized by Melville in Moby Dick, and Bryde's whales. This is on top of the more 500 mink whales they kill annually. Although commercial whaling was banned by the Commission in 1986, Japan has killed mink whales in the Antarctic since 1987 and in the North Pacific since 1994. Under a loophole in the IWC Convention, countries need only inform the Commission of their plans to kill whales for scientific purposes. The IWC Scientific Committee has regularly declared that Japan's proposed research provides little or no information that would contribute to the proper management of whale populations. And the full Commission has repeatedly urged Japan to refrain from granting themselves research permits for such whaling. Nevertheless, Japan has continued to kill whales and sell the meat commercially. Yet the killing goes on. More recently, (May 11, 2006) Japan announced that "Japan has announced a new marketing push for its most unwanted export: whale meat. A new company, with a sales target of 1000 tonnes per year, started works a few days ago. But finding someone, anyone, to buy it will be a challenge. Domestic demand is at a historic low. Japan's stockpile of frozen whale meat was a record 4800 tones last August, unofficial reports say. And that was before the most recent season when more than 850 mink whales, each weighing about 10 tones, were caught in the Southern Ocean. The decision by Japan's whale research body, the Institute of Cetacean Research, to set up a company to find new markets comes a month after the country's second-largest seafood company, Nissui, said that it would abandon its whale meat canning business." (Cameron, 3) But despite all these Japan keeps on the trade of whale killing under disguise of scientific operations. Japan says that it does not have a commercial whaling program and that what is sold at Tokyo's famous fish market is a sensible use of the byproduct of scientific research into whale biology and migration. Opponents say that killing whales for research is unnecessary and that Japan is using a loophole to circumvent a 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling. (Cameron, 3) A lot of organizations from all over the world from countries like Canada and Australia are working vigorously to put an end to this trade by boycotting Japanese product and Japanese companies like Mitsubishi. Japan continues to kill whales under the name of "research". However, it is not really research. Half the whale meat sold

Academic Goals and Interest in Public Administration Personal Statement

Academic Goals and Interest in Public Administration - Personal Statement Example I have observed older family members who have chosen this path, and I can see that those who study hard are able to make a much bigger contribution to their organization. I would like to be an employee who makes a difference, and not just one who puts in regular hours and takes a salary without adding much to the lives of others. I also like teamwork, and this is another reason why Public Administration is a good choice for me. I am looking forward to learning more about the theories that have been devised to explain the way that organizations should be run and I have a particular interest in human resource management (HRM). As a person, I am very concerned about the need for people to be treated fairly, whether they are employees or clients. I know that it is difficult to balance operational and human needs and this something that I think our country needs to improve. Everyone should have the same right to assistance with official processes when they need it, and our public organizations are there to make this happen. If I were to be accepted to study Public Administration then I hope that in about ten years’ time I will be an office manager with a happy team of workers who deliver excellent services to the public. I realize that I have a long way to go before I reach this goal, but I am hard working and committed to achieving this long term personal goal.

Retail Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Retail Marketing - Essay Example In retail enterprises, importance of marketing has been rapidly increasing. There are efforts made by organizations to combine digital and traditional marketing channels. Promotional activities are highly encouraged by retailers. It helps them to drive attention of customers that is essential for developing brand promise. In this particular study, an article has been chosen in order to highlight different approaches of retail marketing. This article is based on Sunday deliveries of Amazon. It was an initiative undertaken to build a broader base of loyal customers. Retail logistics shall be the prime focus of the entire study. The article chosen is based on innovative schemes implemented by Amazon. Amazon is an electronic commerce company of America which was founded in 1994. This company has its headquarters located in Washington. It was originally an online book store which has expanded its business operations into different product segments like selling software, DVDs, video, CDs, electronics, furniture, food, jewellery, apparel, toys, etc. Retail logistics concept is often difficult to understand or analyze. Amazon is regarded as the largest online retailer located in United States. There have been effective measures implemented by this organization in order to enhance level of customer expectations through on-time delivery. Procurement and delivery issues are closely knitted with the concept of retail logistics. The entire logistic mechanism needs to be highly efficient in case of retail companies. This is simply because they often do not have a brand or value proposition but it is structured only th rough satisfying customer’s interests. The article chosen for this study reflects upon widespread operations of Amazon. It has been observed that Amazon is actively involved in handling wide array of products. In this article it is highlighted that this company witnesses problems related to timely delivery. Many customers are not able to collect their

Direct Marketing in International Markets Assignment

Direct Marketing in International Markets - Assignment Example Direct marketing has various advantages over other marketing methods, but it also suffers from criticisms at times due to its unwanted and fake activities with the customers. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 1.0 Introduction 4 2.0 Discussion 5 2.1 Use of Direct Marketing in International Markets 5 2.2 Characteristic of Direct Marketing 6 2.3 Difference from Mass-Marketing Approach 7 2.4 Assessment of the Primary Concern That Consumers May Have About the Use of Direct Marketing 9 2.5 The Methods Which Can Be Employed By the Direct Marketing Industry to Counter These Criticisms 10 3.0 Conclusion 11 4.0 Recommendation 12 References 13 1.0 Introduction Direct marketing has emerged as one of the most significant marketing tools in the hands of the marketers over the last few decades. Direct marketing is the selling of goods or services directly to the prospective customers without using any intermediaries, but by using databases of customers and through one or mor e media. With the increasing globalization of world trade ‘international direct marketing’ has enhanced its performance and relevance. Several companies in the direct marketing ground are gradually looking to enter the foreign market for expansion of the business. Efficient international transportation system and improvement in international payment system have eventually encouraged the direct marketers to expand their businesses beyond their national boundaries (Kraft & Et. Al., 2007). According to ‘Advertising Age 2006’, marketers have used over $52.2 million in 2005 on direct marketing. Direct marketing such as traditional direct mail as well as telemarketing has been considered as an efficient method for advertisers and marketers. After the introduction of the Internet, the whole marketing communication strategies of direct marketing have changed drastically (Morimoto & Chang, 2006). In this paper, the use of direct marketing in an international market and its value and importance have been described. Its distinction from the mass marketing has been mentioned in the paper. In addition, the direct marketing acts as a valuable tool for marketing communication. This has been discussed in the paper. Though direct marketing is beneficial for consumers and marketers, it faces criticism from the consumers’ perspective, which has been discussed clearly as well. 2.0 Discussion 2.1 Use of Direct Marketing in International Markets Direct Marketing is considered as one of the fastest growing areas in present-day marketing practice. Direct marketing utilizes various multiple channels such as the Internet, leaflet drop, telephone, direct mail, E-mail and mass media so as to reach particularly to the target foreign customers in an international market in order to obtain an effective response immediately for ultimate sale (George State University, n.d.). Direct marketing in the USA developed into boom industry during the 1980s. Due to dire ct mail, sales growth had risen from $15 billion to $46 billion. The direct marketer had also risen to 13,000. Direct marketing broadened the demand of various companies such as blue-chip industrial in addition to consumer companies which include American Express, IBM, Westinghouse, Sony, 3M, GEICO, Time Inc., along with retail sectors such as Neiman-Marcus, J.C. Penney, and Marshall Field.  

Business Management Techniques for Engineers Essay

Business Management Techniques for Engineers - Essay Example This essay discusses that the Chief Technology Officer is the ultimate person to whom the progress of the whole project will be reported. It would be the responsibility of the CTO to conduct the whole project and report the final outcomes of the project to the Board of Directors of the company. CTO of the company will assign five sub-committees, in order to bring in the different ideas from various personnel involved at the planning stage. This stage of the project is named as activity A. All of five committees would be assigned to prepare a feasibility report as per their own understanding and knowledge of the project. These four stages would be entitled as activity B, C, D, E and F. After the submission of detailed five feasibility reports, CTO would evaluate every report and discuss it with the CEO of the company. CTO in collaboration with CEO will then approve particular sub committees’ feasibility report and will show his consent in commencing the project. These activitie s are referred as activities G and H. CTO along with his/her team will then decide whether the internal human resource of the company will be necessary enough to complete the project or external hiring should be conducted if the project completion requires special types of skilled workers. Internal human resource utilization activity is referred as activity I and activity pertaining to external hiring of highly specialized workers is referred as activity J.... g other heavy manufacturing projects, therefore, as such there seems no requirement of hiring specialized outside workforce as the company already has various project specialists and technicians who can perform their tasks during this project as well. The decision in favor of capitalizing the internal human resource of the company is referred as activity K. Financial Resources After this decision, the financial resources of the company will be sought in order to make funding arrangements of this project. The finance department of the company will analyze as how to finance this project whether by raising equity or debt or utilizing company’s own internally generated funds. After the establishment of funding resources, the resources will be allocated to different areas of this project. The primary allocation of financial resources involves the payment of salaries and wages to the project workers, procurement of the necessary equipment and tools, purchasing of specialized softwar e packages relating to that particular technology etc. This financial resource activity is referred to as activity L. Procurement Procurement of necessary equipment and tools to be used in the project would be made in the next stage of the project after allotment of allocated funds. These funds will be utilized till the end of the project if any further tools are required at the later stage of the project. Purchase of highly sophisticated project is also one of the areas in which funds would be used. The company would purchase a customized software package with different suits. Appropriate training of that software would also be provided to the specific personnel with those dedicated funds. This procurement activity is referred to as activity M of the project. Technology Implementation After the

Barclay bank Indian Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Barclay bank Indian - Essay Example There are approximately 33 foreign banks in India. Barclays has been one among them. The report presented below tries to analyse the environment in which Barclays Bank India has been operating. Further, it tries to analyse the reason for Barclays’s success. It has been analysed that the main reason for Barclays Bank’s success in India has been its innovative strategies. The report tries to analyse the organisation by conducting the value chain analysis. In addition to this, the report further tries to explore the competitive stances of the organisation and evaluates its sustainability Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Overview 4 Section A 5 Analysis of Organisation Business Environment 5 Porter’s Five Forces Model 5 Industry Life Cycle 7 Key Reasons for Barclays’s Success 7 PEST Analysis 9 Section B 10 Value Chain Analysis 10 Competitive Stance 11 Scope and Scale 11 Evaluation of Sustainability 12 Critical Appraisal of Strategy 13 References 14 Bibliog raphy 16 Overview Barclays PLC can be considered as one of the leading financial firms of Britain catering to the needs of the customers by providing financial services. In India, the Barclays Bank is considered to be one of the most esteemed foreign banks that provide services to more than 9 lakh customers. The bank started serving the needs of the commercial customers from the year 2006 November onwards and aims at offering the premier banking services. In addition to the commercial customers, Barclays Bank in India also serves the needs of public sector companies, small and medium enterprises and multinationals (Maps of India, 2011). The management report of Barclays Bank India has been aimed at understanding and analysing the strategic situation of the firm. The report will begin with the analysis of organisation’s business environment and of industry survival and the success factors. The second section of the report will contain in-depth strategic analyses of the Barclay s Bank in India. Finally, the report will conclude with the decisive appraisal of the strategy. Section A Analysis of Organisation Business Environment Porter’s Five Forces Model According to Michael Porter, the five forces models tend to understand the level of competitiveness in the market and also affect the profitability of the firms that already exist in the industry. Threat of Substitute Products It has been analysed that although there are various foreign banks in India such as ABN AMRO Bank, American Express Bank, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, HSBC bank and Standard Chartered Bank, there are few features as well as products of which they can only be obtained from the Barclays Bank such as Hello Money, the country’s only 7-year personal loan scheme, premier banking services and NRI banking services. Thus, it can be revealed that this force is favourable to Barclays Bank in India. It, therefore, bears a positive sign. Bargaining Power of Suppliers It can be demonstrat ed that the core business of the banking industry can be considered as ‘service’ that mainly focuses upon the safety of the wealth. It has been evident from the case study that the bank has invested heavily to acquire the talented pool of workforce. In addition to this, the suppliers at the banking sectors are the providers of tangible goods such as cheque books, furniture and others. However, the impact of such tangible goods is not that significant. The provision of talent pool has an impact upon the operation. In context of

French Existentialism Philosophers Essay Example for Free

French Existentialism Philosophers Essay Part A: Gabriel Marcel’s Philosophy on Problem and Mystery Part B: Simone De Beauvoirs Philosophy on why there is a moral obligation to overcome oppression (our own and that of others) and why is an existentialist ethics an ethics of freedom Part A: Gabriel Marcel is known to be one of the more religious philosophers who was a French Existentialist. He was a committed Catholic Philosopher and he believed that by being connected to others he will be connected to god. He believed that philosophy should be about hope and wanted to portray the more positive aspects of human characteristics through his writings and thoughts. Marcel has a belief that problems and mysteries were two separate ideas where problems exist outside and apart from ourselves and mysteries were unsolved queries that were more internal to one’s self. For example determining what a body is, is a problem and determining what my body is, is a mystery. He believes that we can use primary and secondary reflections in order to seek a solution to the problem or mystery being faced with. Primary reflections use analytical skills to separate the thinker from the problematic object in order to find a resolution. Separating the thinker from the problem is important in order to effectively reflect and create intellectual and moral means to a solution. Primary reflections use means of abstracting data and using it in order to manipulate the world and deal with the problem that is not always black and white or a right or wrong answer. Primary reflection approaches problems from an objective standpoint where the thinker is separate from the problem while the secondary reflection begins with the experience of existence within the problem and is used with reflection of a mystery. The secondary reflection is open to contemplation by looking at it as a unique presence. The existence within the world is not a problem that needs to be solved because humans and their bodies are intrinsically related to the world and they are in relation to each other, not objects or problems that can be manipulated. Marcel believed that Philosophy is a part of reflecting on a mystery and the mystery requires participation of the person reflecting because it is an experience of presence itself. A mystery involves you as an intrinsical part of the question wh ich is a question of yourself and requires a solution by secondary reflection. A question becomes a mystery when it takes itself into the subject. Marcel believes that humans are increasingly becoming defined by their problems which cause alienation of themselves from themselves and also causing separation from others. The questions of â€Å"being† and humans are mysteries within the Marcel philosophies. When something is recognized as â€Å"not being† it cannot be a mystery. As humans we have a need for â€Å"being† with â€Å"ontological exigence† which consumes â€Å"being† upsurges of joy, happiness, hopefulness, expectations and desires. â€Å"Being† as a human means existing and experiencing the world and the subjects within it. Having something means exercising power over that thing by possession and rights to those possessions. By having rights over a possession can also enables that person to have the ability of disposal of that subject as well. Having something is different from experiencing that thing, for example having a body is different form experiencing your body because you cannot rid yourself of your body without ceasing to be. Life is not identical to a person’s â€Å"being† because â€Å"being† is the whole self which is more than life and it is what a person aspires to be. Humans can only evoke the fullness of â€Å"being† by engaging with others and coming together as a community. Marcel promotes the idea of living I-Thou which opens up and enhances a person’s â€Å"being† which God being the ultimate Thou. The I-Thou idea requires a person to be open to the â€Å"being† of others within their lives and not living only for themselves. Marcel has an interesting stance on the subject of love and how it should be defined. He believes that love has to do with inner subjectivity and it is about seeking and experiencing the â€Å"being† of the other. Love is not about possession or having another person which is commonly thought to be the main definition of what love means. Marcel believes that a self does not love, but it is the self that is constituted by love. When we attach predicates to a thou we limit our love for another and it’s trust and faith which constitutes love in the â€Å"being† of the other. I always thought that love had to do with possessing and labeling a person or subject as yours. However, Marcel’s philosophy on love has changed my point of view into believing that love is about fully accepting a person as who they are instead of trying to possess them and changing them into being an object of your desire and control. Part B: In Simone Beauvoir’s writing of The Ethics of Ambiguity she begins to elaborate on ethics and the importance of a moral obligation to overcome oppression. Moral acts and willing one’s self free is an obligation of a person in order to become a moral person. With moral freedom a person is not free unless they can deal with free individuals. We all should strive for our freedom as well as the freedom of others and the freedom of all. The freedom to choose is shaped by social and political freedom of people. Beauvoir believes that in order to free all we must take a stand for justice especially in the political sense. We ought to respect freedom when it serves freedom, but not when freedom distances itself from itself. For example when freedom is used in the oppression and the abuse of others, we ought not to respect it in cases such as a dictatorship oppressing the freedom of its people. Oppressing an oppressor is justified even when it requires violence and in cases of people rising up and rebelling the person or the system that has been oppressing them it is justifiable. In such cases casualties of war with sacrifices is justified when fighting for freedom because it makes it a just war. Simone Beauvoir states â€Å"the truth is that if division and violence define war, the world has always been at war and will always be; if man is waiting for universal peace in order to establish his existence validly, he will wait indefinitely: there will never be any other future.† (Beauvoir ) With this she means that if the only reasons for war are for violence to annihilate the other opponent because of division then war will never end and people will never reach complete liberation. However, oppressing and oppressor should never be driven by blind faith. The actions must be considered fully well and deliberate over choice. Each circumstance should be considered on a case by case basis and analyzed by practical problems. Ethics emphasize physical and social interaction in relation to other human beings because of freedom. Authentic morality involves engagement with the world that is not abstract intellectualism. People who sit by and talk about the problems and the circumstances that accustom the world are not engaging with the world directly. Beauvoir stresses that in order to achieve authentic morality people must do something to engage with the world not intellectualize the problems within it. Humans have a moral commitment to liberate the oppressed individuals because it causes limited liberation of their own freedom. Oppressed individuals may not even know that they are being oppressed and this why it is important for others to enlighten them and help them become liberated from their situation. With an oppressed individual, their own judgment that they are oppressed is what counts and this is why it’s an obligation of others who recognize the oppression to give them knowledge of their situation. Oppressed people are cut off from the future without the power of liberation to decide what is next for them in their lives. With liberation a person must be able to question values and oppressed individuals are not able to do this. Being oppressed does not gain moral character because character is not built by suffering. A person cannot say that they are a strong person because they have been accepting oppression and the suffering that comes with it. A person is strong when they take a stand for their liberation and fight for their own values as well as the liberation of others. However, power is limited within liberation, Beauvoir enforces this by stating that â€Å"to be free is not to have the power to do anything you like; it is to be able to surpass the given toward an open future; the existence of others as a freedom defines my situation and is even the condition of my own freedom.† (Beauvoir ) Power is a foundation of moral freedom and in order to engage the world a person must have power, but it is a limited power. Not only individuals of the world, but state also has an obligation to ensure that it’s people have a minimum level of well-being because this is necessary to freely act within the world. External help is needed in order to alleviate oppression and once an oppressed individual is placed within the presence of freedom they must pursue freedom for themselves and one cannot force freedom upon them or it would not be recognized as freedom at all. Works cited Beauvoir, S. D. The Works of Simone de Beauvoir. Zuubooks.com, 2010. Print. Marcel, Gabriel. A Gabriel Marcel Reader. 1st edition. St. Augustines Press, 2011. Print.

Stakeholder benefits from sustainable tourism

Stakeholder benefits from sustainable tourism Sustainable Tourism Development Objective The aim of this assignment is to; To discuss how stakeholders can benefit from planning of tourism developments as well as to converse the benefits and weaknesses of public/private sector tourismplanning partnerships by referencing to a current example. To evaluate the different approaches to tourism planning and development by considering its features, the significanceofinteractive planning systemsand processes in tourism developments and the types of approaches available to measure tourist impacts To assess the need for planningfor sustainable tourism by considering the factors that may hinder it and to inspect the different stages in planning for sustainability. To analyse the different issues related to tourism development planning by looking at the implications of balancing supply and demand, the moral and ethical issues of enclave tourism as well as the methods of resolving a conflict of interest. To investigate the socio- cultural, environmentaland economic impacts of tourismin developing countries and emerging destinations Methodology The information in this project was obtained by the lectures, textbooks and the World Wide Web. For the completion of this project the consultant has decided to use both methods of primary and secondary information. Primary information is one of the best ways to collect first hand information this information will be collected by asking question via questionnaires, interviews and surveys. To arrive at a completion the consultant had to make a decision that secondary information will be necessary in the Researching of the information. So in order to collect the secondary information the consultant has decided to use magazines, book, blog and the internet. This will help in planning and the development of tourism. Rationale This project was formed from a case about two companies A Consultation company and a small business. The tourism development in Jamaica and the Ministry of tourism that is using a consultant company in the development and planning of tourism. The project will focus on the influx in the Spanish hotels that have been invested in Jamaica that are serious concern that Jamaica is heading in an unsustainable direction as it relates to the tourism industry and its development. In this project you will notice how the stakeholders can benefit from planning of tourism, the discussion of the advantages of public and private sectors tourism planning partnerships drawing on a current example. The analyzing the tourism development and planning at different levels of the evaluation of the significance of the interactive planning system and processes in the tourism developments. The factors that may prevent and obstruct sustainable tourism will also be analyzed, also the different stages in planning for sustainability. The moral and ethical issues of enclave tourism will be evaluated. Literature Review What is Sustainable tourism? â€Å"Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.† According to The Institute of International Auditors/Global (2011) â€Å"Public sectors consist of government and all publicly controlled or publicly funded agencies, enterprises and other entities that deliver public programs, goods or services. It is not, however always clear whether any particular organization should be included under the umbrella.â€Å"Stakeholder is a process is actors (persons or organization) with a vested interest in the policy begin promoted. These stakeholders, or â€Å"interested parties,† can usually be grouped into the following categories: international/donors, national political (legislators, governors), public (ministry of health, social security agency, ministry of finance), labour (unions medical associations), commercial/private for profit, non profit (nongovernmental organizations foundations), civil society and users/ consumers.† Was define by Kammi Schmeer (1999). World tourism organization stated that the tourism is a social cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of the people to countries or places that are outside their usual environment for personal or business purposes. These people are called visitors and tourism has to do with their activities, some of which imply tourism expenditure. This maybe tourist or excursionists, residents or non residents. Task 1.1 Discuss how stakeholders can benefit from planning of tourism developments with reference to a current case study. Tourism can deliver short andlong term economic, environmental and socio-cultural effects on a destination. Careful consideration needs to be given to the decisions made throughout the planning process, and thereare many advantages, and disadvantages, of involving a broad range ofstakeholders during the decision-making process, if medium and long-term oriented, understand that their capital is not only their investment andinfrastructures, but also the natural and cultural environment. Therefore, theystart considering tourism development in a more sustainable way. 1.2 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of public/private sector tourism planning partnerships drawing on a current example In the tourism industry, there are examples where partnership arrangements are highly effective for the success of tourism planning and development. Since the public sector is concerned with the provision of services, the resolving of land-use conflicts and the formulation and implementation of development policies, and the private sector is mainly concerned with profit, partnerships between the private and public sector on various issues can benefit destinations. Task 2.1 Analyze features of tourism development planning at different levels. There are three types of different levels in tourism development: International level Tourism planning at the international level involves more than one country and includes areas such as international transportation services, joint tourism marketing, regional tourism polices and standards, cooperation between sectors of member countries, and other cooperative concerns. ƒ National level Tourism planning at the national level is concerned with national tourism policy, structure planning, transportation networks within the country, major tourism attractions, national level facility and service standards, investment policy, tourism education and training, and marketing of tourism. ƒ Regional level – Tourism planning at the regional level generally is done by provinces, states, or prefectures involving regional policy and infrastructure planning, regional access and transportation network, and other related functions at the regional level. 2.2 Evaluate the significance of interactive planning systems and processes in tourism developments. This is because interactive planning is focused in systems thinking and is based on the belief that an organization’s future depends at least as much on what it does between now and then, as on what is done to it. The organization will then create its future by continuously closing the gap between its current state and its desirable current state. Interactive planning has three unique characteristics: Interactive planning works backwards from where an organizationwantsto be now to where itisnow. Interactive planning is continuous; it does not start and stop. Interactive planning lets the organization’s stakeholders to be involved in the planning process. 2.3 Evaluate the different methods available to measure tourist impacts. The analysis of socio-ecological tourism-based systems requires new, qualitatively different evaluation schemes that enable an integrated assessment of ecological, social, and economic factors through the use of appropriate indicators related to the ecosystem service concept. People, indeed, begin to understand more clearly that human societies are dependent on the ‘services’’ and ‘‘functions’’ provided by the earth’s physical, chemical and biological systems. Ecosystem services include the production of goods (seafood, timber, and precursor to many industrial and pharmaceutical products), basic life-support processes (pollination, water purification, and climate regulation), life-fulfilling conditions (serenity, beauty, and cultural inspiration), preservation of options (conserving genetic and species diversity for future use), and the assimilation of waste products (Daily, 1997). Nature-based tourism is strongly dependent on the quality of the environment more than any other form of tourism. Even eco-tourism, however benign it may be, will have some impacts on the environment (see e.g. Modelling socio-ecological tourism-based systems for sustainability), and therefore it requires management and control like any other resource exploitation activity. The amount by which resources are exploited is a critical tourism parameter because tourism must satisfy two constraints at the same time. First, ecological quality and integrity ofresources must be maintained, to make sure they remain attractive to tourists as well as to residents (see e.g. Indicating fragility of socio-ecological tourism-based systems). Second, the quality of recreational experience by tourists also must be maintained, and this is based not only on the quality of natural environment, but also on the levels and the nature of interactions between groups of users and residents and their perception of environmental quality Task 3.1 Justify the introduction of the concept of sustainability in tourism development. The tourism planners have started to rethink the objectives for the development of the industry as a result of three factors: The tourist is changing, wishing for greater involvement with local people and many are conscious of the economic, social and environmental impact of their visit. They seek an integrated experience involving multiple activities so that the interaction with community increases Local communities are becoming sensitive to the effect tourism is having on their lifestyles, culture, and the environment and can resent its intrusion. A tourism enterprise that meets these three principles will â€Å"do well by doing well†. This means running a tourism business in such a way that it doesn’t destroy natural, cultural, or economic resources, but rather encourages an appreciation of the very resources that tourism is dependent on. A business that is run on these three principles can enhance conservation of natural resources, bring appreciation to cultural values, and bring revenue into the community and be profitable. 3.2 Analyze factors that may prevent/hinder sustainable tourism. The factor that prevents/ hinders sustainable tourism in a country is politics that have to with the acquisition of power, allocation or resources and administration of public affairs. Political Ideologies, Distribution of Wealth, Changing Class Boundaries, Natural and Manmade disaster. Tourism challenges such as religions, Social structures, Employment and Seasonal Fickle and Fragmentation also Regional Economic Problems. 3.3 Analyze different stages in planning for sustainability Task 4 Evaluate methods of resolving a conflict of interest to ensure the future well-being of a developing tourism destination 4.2 Analyze the implications of balancing supply and demand 4.3 Evaluate the moral and ethical issues of enclave tourism Task 5 Compare current issues associated with tourism development in a developing country and an emerging destination where the impacts of tourism are different. Recommendation Conclusion Tourism development has both positive and negative effects on a tourism destination. Communities are very often threatened with unwanted developments and face problems from unplanned or carelessly planned tourism expansion. In order to overcome these multi-faceted problems, comprehensive tourism planning is needed to maximise the benefits and minimise the costs or disadvantages of tourism development through the involvement of the local community who have to live with the tourists and the costs and benefits they bring. The above literature review indicates that although there is a strong argument for the need for planning in tourism development. However, it is not important only to design a development plan but also to implement it. Therefore, it is necessary to develop policies that will be widely accepted by the local community. Planners and governments should consider the fact that there are limits to how much tourism a particular destination could absorb. Destinations need to consider these limits and plan their tourist industry accordingly. Planners and governments must continuously measure environmental and socio-economic impacts of tourism, in Order to ensure long-term benefits for residents and tourists alike without damaging the man-made and natural environment. Tourism has been seen by many governments as an economic development Strategy and if a destination area wishes to maintain tourism as a long-term Activity, it should be concerned through planning to differentiate its product from Competing destinations through better preservation of its environment and culture, understanding the needs and desires of the local community and increased Awareness in the community as to what the industry means in terms of costs and benefits. Jadi Ellis

Consumer’s Perception of Risk of Online Transactions

Consumer’s Perception of Risk of Online Transactions Abstract The purpose of this research is to investigate whether a consumers perception of risk in transacting on the internet (Perceived Risk) would have an influence on their trust of a banks e-banking website (Specific Trust) and their willingness to use e-banking. Data were collected from a survey and a usable sample of 202 was obtained. Hierarchical moderated regression analysis was used to test the model. The results showed that Perceived Risk has a direct influence on a consumers willingness to use e-banking and Specific Trust has a positive moderating influence on the relationship between Perceived Risk and a consumers willingness to use e-banking. Consumers who have low perceived risk of transacting on the internet are generally more willing to use e-banking. Their willingness to use e-banking was also shown to be more pronounced in cases where the consumer also trust their banks e-banking website. These findings are of particular relevance to banks. It highlights that a consumers wil lingness to use e-banking primarily depends on their perception of risk in transacting on the internet; trust of the specific e-banking website was secondary. This suggests the need for banks to not only employ mechanisms to build trust for their specific e-banking website, but that banks should first take measures to educate their customers and manage general consumer perceptions of the risks of transacting on the internet. Keywords: Trust, Perceived Risk, Internet, E-banking Adoption. Introduction In recent years, the advancement in technological developments in information technology has lead to the evolution of e-banking in the banking industry. The evolution of e-banking has fundamentally transformed the way banks traditionally conduct their businesses and the ways consumers perform their banking activities (Eriksson et al., 2008; Sayar and Wolfe, 2007). Today e-banking has experienced phenomenal growth and has become one of the main avenues for banks to deliver their products and services (Amato-McCoy, 2005). E-banking reaps benefits for both banks and its customers. From the banks perspective, e-banking has enabled banks to lower operational costs through the reduction of physical facilities and staffing resources required, reduced waiting times in branches resulting in potential increase in sales performance and a larger global reach (Sarel and Mamorstein, 2003). From the customers perspective, e-banking allows customers to perform a wide range of banking transactions electronically via the banks website anytime and anywhere (Grabner-Kraeuter and Faullant, 2008). In addition, customers no longer are confined to the opening hours of banks, travel and waiting times are no longer necessary, and access of information regarding banking services are now easily available (Hamlet, 2000). However the success of e-banking isnt without its problems. Firstly the adoption of e-banking has not kept pace with that of internet usage (White and Nteli, 2004). This gap is attributed to the lack of trust among bank customers, particularly among internet users age 65 and older (Ilett, 2005; Perumal and Shanmugam, 2005). Secondly, customers still prefer face to face interaction (Asher, 1999) due to reasons such as fear of the online environment and lack of trust in the internet. Recent literature on e-banking showed that the formation of trust can help reduce the impact of key inhibiting factors such as fears about using the online service among non-eÂÂ ­banking customers (Vatanasombut et al., 2008). Moreover, even with the increased usage of e-banking in recent years, banks are faced with a conundrum whilst e-banking does have its benefits of convenience and cost savings; the ease at which e-banking allows for switching back to traditional ways of banking consequently reduces long term customer commitment (Sarel and Mamorstein, 2003). The commitment-trust theory of Morgan and Hunt (1994) proposes that trust leads to commitment in relationships, and so, if trust is built amongst existing customers, over time they will become committed to the e-banking service, reducing the chances of customers jumping ship (Mukherjee and Nath, 2003; Vatanasombut et al., 2008). Evident in past literature is the fact that risk plays a role in the formation of trust (Chen and Dhillon, 2003; Pavlou, 2003), but what is not evident is the relationship risk has with trust especially in regards to the perceived risk consumers have in transacting on the internet. Past research studies into the area of risk found that it is not objective risk, but perceived risk which matter in the formation of trust (Bauer, 1960 as citied in BÃ ¼ttner and GÃ ¶ritz, 2008; Garbarino and Strahilevitz, 2004). A recent research study found that, perceived risk is directly related to an individuals adoption of e-banking with many past research studies showing that intention to use e-banking is often times affected by fears of theft or fraud (Gerrard et al., 2006). The relationship between perceived risk and trust is an underdeveloped area in the literature. Past work in the area of trust and perceived risk has not yet managed to fully determine the exact relationship which risk has on trust, as whilst risk is necessary for the formation of trust, it is not an antecedent of trust (Chen and Dhillon, 2003). Moreover, trust has been shown in the past to effect perceptions of risk, as well as having mediating effects through risk (Pavlou, 2003). Hence the purpose of this research is to investigate whether a customers perception of risk in the internet would have moderating effects on trust and a customers willingness to use e-banking. As noted by BÃ ¼ttner and GÃ ¶ritz, (2008), there is a lack of empirical studies in this area. Moreover by understanding the nature of risk and trust, banks can ascertain the steps necessary on their part to ensure that the trust which they have built in their services will indeed influence customers adoption and commitment to e-banking. Literature Review Trust in E-banking Trust is essential in situations where risk, uncertainty and interdependence exist (Mayer et al., 1995), and the online environment certainly encapsulates these factors. In an online environment, there is no direct physical contact between buyer and seller. This spatial distance means that consumers cannot use the physical cues, such as observing the sales staff or the physical office/store space, in order to judge trustworthiness (Reichheld and Schefter, 2000). Due to the global nature of the internet, consumers and e-retailers often face spatial and temporal separation as a result transactions carried out online often do not involve a simultaneous transaction of goods (or services) and money (Grabner-Kraeuter, 2002). This delay in time means that consumers can become increasingly uncertain whether the other party will actually perform their side of the transaction. Another reason for the increased need for trust in the online contexts is consumers fear for the sa fety of their personal information due to hackers or other harmful possibilities (Hoffman et al., 1999; Yoon, 2002). Apart from the necessities of trust in order to get consumers to purchase online as per the theory of reasoned action (Azjen and Fishbein, 1980), trust is also important for businesses to grow and maintain profitability, as per the commitment-trust theory of relationship marketing by Morgan and Hunt (1994). Past research studies have identified that one of the benefits of trust are committed customers (Casalo et al., 2007; Morgan and Hunt 1994). Loyal repeat customers are highly beneficial to organizations, as it is much cheaper to retain customers than it is to find and attract new customers (Reichheld and Schefter, 2000). In the online arena where substitutes are readily available, the benefits to businesses of having committed customers are plenty, hence the amount of research into the area (e.g. Casalo et al., 2007; Jarvenpaa et al., 2000; Vatanasombut et al., 2008). Numerous research studies have been conducted to identify what factors drive or inhibit the adoption of e-banking by consumers (Gerrard et al., 2006; Hernandez and Mazzon, 2007; Lichtenstein and Williamson, 2006; Sayar and Wolfe, 2007). It has been identified that the lack of trust was one of the main reasons why consumers are still reluctant to conduct their financial transactions online (Flavian et al., 2006; Luarn and Lin, 2005; Mukherjee and Nath, 2003; Rotchanakitumnuai and Speece, 2003). In order for e-banking to be a viable medium of service delivery, banks today must try to narrow the trust gap due to the higher degree of uncertainty and risk in an online environment compared to traditional settings. Research studies conducted examining the role of trust in e-banking (e.g. Vatanasombut et al., 2008; Casalo et al., 2007; Lichtenstein and Williamson, 2006; Rexha et al., 2003; Suh and Han, 2002), found that trust plays a key role in the adoption and continued use of e-banking. Furthermore, it was found that trust not only affects the intent to use e-banking (Liu and Wu, 2007; Suh and Han 2002), but trust in e-banking has also been found to be an antecedent to commitment in e-banking (Vatanasombut et al., 2008; Kassim and Abdulla, 2006), and is therefore useful to reduce the perceived risk that consumers feel is present in an online environment (Pavlou 2002). Perceived Risk and Trust Perceived risk is depicted as a concept that is complex, multifaceted and dynamic (Zhao et al., 2008, p.506). Perceived risk is defined as a consumers perceptions of the uncertainty and the possible undesirable consequences of buying a product or service (Littler and Melanthiou, 2006). In the online context, past research studies suggest the inclusion of perceived risk due to its importance in influencing online consumer behavior (Cunningham et al., 2005; Pavlou, 2003; Salam et al., 2003; Schlosser et al., 2006) and more so in the area of e-banking (Cunningham et al., 2005). As mentioned earlier, perceived risk is important in the formation of trust (Bauer, 1960 as cited in BÃ ¼ttner and GÃ ¶ritz, 2008; Garbarino and Strahilevitz, 2004). The body of the knowledge on trust has identified that risk is the element which gives rise to the need for trust when engaging in an activity which means that if there were no perceptions of risk, trust would not be necessary to engage in an activity, as actions could be taken with complete certainty (Yousafzai, 2003; Chen and Dhillon; 2003). There are two different types of risk that have been identified in relation to trust risks associated with a partner and risks associated with a type of transaction (BÃ ¼ttner and GÃ ¶ritz, 2008). Risks associated with a partner in general are perceptions that a particular interaction partner in a transaction will not perform their end of the bargain, and are formed from perceptions of the attributes of that interaction partner this type of risk should be inversely related to trust of that partner (Jarvenpaa et al., 2000). Essentially, the higher the trust one has in a partner, the less perceived risk in dealing with that partner. However, risk associated with a type of transaction has a different association with trust. The more risky a type of transaction is perceived to be, the more trust is required in order to engage in an interaction with that partner (Mayer et al., 1995). The relationship between risk and trust is a complex one, whilst risk is necessary to the creation of trust, it is not an antecedent to trust which means the presence of risk does not automatically equate to the formation of trust (Pavlou, 2002). According to Mayer et al. (1995, p.711) It is unclear whether risk is an antecedent to trust, or is an outcome of trust. Clearly, a gap of knowledge exists in this area, and further research is required so as to determine the relationship which risk has with trust, especially in the context of e-banking. However the area that interests the authors of this research is the work by Pavlou (2002) which found that the effect of trust on transaction intention could be moderated through perceived risk. This is a relationship which was originally proposed by Mayer et al. (1995), who postulated that the level of trust needed to engage in a risk taking behavior is influenced by the perception of risk inherent in that behavior. Pavlous (2002) work also called for future research so as to examine the complex interrelationships among trust, perceived risk and behavioral intention to reach definite conclusions. (Pavlou, 2002, p.125). This research aims to answer that call by testing perceived risk in the internet as a moderator in the relationship between a consumers trust in a banks e-banking website and the consumers willingness to use e-banking. Theoretical Framework The investigation of the role of trust in the use of e-banking necessitates the examination of two key theories the theory of reasoned action by Azjen and Fishbein (1980) and the commitment-trust theory of relationship marketing by Morgan and Hunt (1994). The theory of reasoned action states that a persons behavior is determined by their behavioral intent, which is in turn shaped by attitude and subjective norms (Azjen and Fishbein, 1980). Increased trust means that when a persons attitudes towards a particular behavior (in this case, using e-banking) are positive, it will likely increase a persons intent to perform that behavior. This has been supported by research in both the e-retailing context (Jarvenpaa et al., 2000), and also in the e-banking context (Liu et al., 2005), where trust has been shown to lead to a purchase intention. Further, Morgan and Hunt (1994) purports that by building trust over time, customers become committed to the relationship built, and will subsequently reciprocate with continued business. Past research in this area have extended the applicability of this commitment-trust relationship to the e-banking context (Casalo et al., 2007; Mukherjee and Nath, 2007; Vatanasombut et al., 2008). This gives rise to the first hypothesis for this research which forms the basic relationship between a consumers trust in a banks e-banking website (Specific Trust) and the consumers willingness to use e-banking. H1: Specific trust in e-banking has a direct effect on willingness to use e-banking Perceived risk is defined in this research as a consumers perceptions of risk in transactions using the internet, and is hypothesized to have a moderating role in the relationship between specific trust and the willingness to use e-banking. As mentioned previously in the literature review, there is little empirical research on the moderating effect of risk in the e-banking context. Work by Pavlou (2002) found that the effect of trust on transaction intention could be moderated by perceived risk, but called for further research in this area to confirm the complex interrelationships between these three constructs. Therefore, the authors of this research proposed the second hypothesis as: H2: Perceived risk has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between specific trust and willingness to use e-banking. Methodology To test the model, a cross-sectional survey was undertaken using an instrument containing 15 items. The 15 items used were established scales adapted from Doney and Canon (1995), Chow and Holden (1997), Jarvenpaa et al. (2000), Suh and Han (2002), Kim and Ahn (2006) and Verhagen et al. (2006) measuring specific trust, willingness to use and perceived risk. Great care was taken when adapting the scales to ensure that the original concepts being measured by the scale had theoretical congruence and relevance to this study. Each item is measured on a 7-point Likert scale with 0 denoting the low end and 6 the high end. The questionnaire was then preÂÂ ­tested on a non-probability sample of university staff. Refinements were made to the questionnaire based on feedback from the pre-test. All items in the final instrument were then reviewed by marketing academics for content validity. Measures The scale used to measure perceived risk was adapted from a number of scales which have similar theoretical congruence with the definition of risk perception in the theoretical framework. A few of the items in the scale used was sourced from Verhagen et al. (2006), which measured intermediary risk and was defined as the belief of a probability of suffering a loss due to the inability of the intermediary to provide sufficient protection against fraudulent and/or opportunistic sellers (p.545) which is similar to the definition of the perception of risk on the internet. In that, the consumers belief in a possibility of loss or harm as a result of the medium internet is being measured. The nature of the internet is such that, there is insufficient protection to consumers from fraudulent and/or opportunistic people, and so the use of items from Verhagen et al.s (2006) scale on intermediary risk was appropriate. Other items in the scale were sourced from the work of Jarvenpaa et al. (2000 ), Kim and Ahn (2006), and Chow and Holden (1997), which measured concepts such as risk perception and web-shopping risk, all of which was similar to the concept of perceived risk being operationalised. Minimal alterations were made to the items due the similarity of the concepts being measured. Whilst it would have been ideal to operationalise the construct of perceived risk in the internet with a singular scale, but there is a lack of scales in this area (Verhagen et al., 2006), therefore the use of a composite scale was necessary. To measure specific trust in e-banking, items from work of Doney and Canon (1995), Suh and Han (2002) and Jarvenpaa et al. (2000) were adapted. These items were chosen due to their semantics and wording. Items directly relating to interpersonal trust including the service of e-banking, and a belief in the benefits and trustworthiness of e-banking were used as part of the scale. Lastly, in measuring the willingness to use e-banking, items that measure at titudes and intentions towards using e-banking were chosen. Items in the scale were sourced from scales published by Verhagen et al. (2006), Pavlou (2003), and Kim and Ahn (2006). Demographic data were also collected for the purpose of classification and determining the generalisability of the results. Sample and Data Collection Representativeness, reliability of results as well as time and resource restraints were considered in determining the sample. The final sample was a non-probability sample of administrative and academic staff in ten departments across the five faculties of a large Australian university. University staff was chosen, as they were deemed to be more educated and informed about a range of issues. Therefore it is concluded that university staff would likely have a higher chance of responding to the survey, with more accuracy and honesty in their replies. Surveys were distributed physically and via online. Data collection took place over two weeks. A total of 218 returned questionnaires were yielded of which 202 passed manipulation checks and were usable. The response rate was 34.8%. Results Adoption of Internet and E-banking Descriptive analysis was used and a bar chart (Figure 2) was constructed to compare the year of adoption of the internet and the year of adoption of e-banking. In relation to internet adoption, the results showed that there was a slow growth in the adoption of internet prior to 1995. The rate of adoption increased significantly in the years 1995 to 2000 and dropped significantly after. As for the adoption of e-banking, the results showed that there was no apparent usage of e-banking till the late 1990s and after which the adoption of e-banking rose reaching its peak in 2006. Figure 2 illustrates how the adoption of e-banking has not kept up with the pace of internet usage this is consistent with the previous finding of White and Nteli (2004). Furthermore results also showed that there were still a significant number of people who have not adopted e-banking. Demographic variables were examined across the three constructs of specific trust, perceived risk and the willingness to use. The results in Table 1 showed that there were significant differences between gender and specific trust (sig. value 0.010, t-value 2.588) and perceived risk (sig. value 0.029, t-value 2.206) constructs. The means scores showed that males have higher specific trust (5.2748) and higher perceived risk (4.2916) as compared to females towards e-banking and the internet. For age, the results showed a significant difference between age and willingness to use (sig. level 0.017, f-value 4.161). The difference was found between respondents of age groups 29 and under, and 50 and above. The means scores showed that respondents who were age 29 and below (mean 5.603) were more willing to use e-banking as opposed to respondents who were 50 and above (mean -4.8571). For qualification, significant differences were present in the perceived risk (sig. level 0.020, f-value 4.991) and willingness to use (sig. level 0.030, f-value 4.932) constructs. In regards to perceived risk, the difference was found between respondents who have completed secondary school and respondents who have a post-graduate qualification. The means scores showed that respondents who had a post-graduate qualification (4.4355) have a higher perceived risk compared to those who had completed secondary school (3.4006). In relation to willingness to use, significant differences were found between three groups of respondents those who had a trade qualification/diploma, a tertiary degree and a post-graduate qualification. The means scores showed that respondents who had a post-graduate qualification has a higher willingness to use e-banking (5.6871) compared to those who had a trade qualification/diploma (4.5259) and those who had a tertiary degree (5.5925). Finally for income, significant differences were found between the different income groups in the perceived risk (sig. level 0.049, f-value 2.249) and willingness to use (sig. level 0.003, f-value 3.788) constructs. The two groups of respondents with income levels of $15,001 -$ 30,000 and $70,001 -$90,000 were found to be significantly different in the perceived risk construct. The means scores of the two groups showed that respondents with an income level of $70,001 $90,000 had a higher perceived risk (4.6057) compared to respondents with an income level of $15,001 $ 30,000. In relation to willingness to use, significant difference was found between two groups $30,001 $50,000 and $50,001 $70,000. A comparison of the means scores showed that respondents who had an income level of $50,001 $70,000 (5.8625) were more willing to use e-banking compared to those who had an income level of $30,001 $50,000 (4.6513). Model Testing In order to validate the measures of each construct, exploratory factor analysis was conducted using principal components extraction with varimax rotation. The items in each factor were then tested for scale reliability using standard Cronbach alpha indices. As the items for both perceived risk and specific trust in e-banking were used together as a single scale in the survey instrument, factor analysis was ran on them both, to ensure that the two different factors were still valid. To check for the appropriateness of the data for factor analysis, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and Bartletts Test of Sphericity was examined. Results showed that the KMO statistic for the data set was 0.885 and the Bartlett test showed that non-zero correlations exist at the 0.000 significance level. This indicates that the data is appropriate for factor analysis. The results of the factor analysis showed that two factors were indeed present, however, one of the items from the scale measuring specific trust in e-banking Compared with other forms of banking, e-banking would be more risky had moved to the factor measuring perceived risk (see Table 2 , item marked with asterisk). A reliability analysis was conducted on this adjusted factor; a Cronbach alpha ind ex of .926 was obtained. The factor loading of the item, whilst not very high at .651 was much higher than the items alternate factor loading which was .253. The item content was examined, and was found to also be applicable to the context of perceived risk due to the items wording which could be interpreted as a higher perception of risk in the medium of the Internet in comparison to other mediums. Given all these results, it was decided that the adjusted factor would be used as is in the analysis. Items measuring the construct of willingness to use e-banking were also analysis to ensure that it was indeed a singular factor (Table 3). The results showed that the KMO statistic for the data set was 0.873 and the Bartlett test showed that non-zero correlations exist at the 0.000 significance level. This indicates that the data is appropriate for factor analysis. The results revealed a uniÂÂ ­dimensional structure, and corroborated that all five items in the scale loaded onto one factor. The factor loadings of each item were high, indicating strong relevance of each item within the scale. When in combination with the high Cronbach alpha of .957, the results of the analysis show that this factor is a highly useful measure. Regression Analysis To test the relationship between the constructs of specific trust, perceived risk and willingness to use e-banking, hierarchical moderated regression was conducted. This method was proposed by Baron and Kenny (1986) to examine moderating effects. In conducting hierarchical moderated regression analysis, a series of regressions were performed. The first regression (Model 1) involved regressing the dependent variable (DV) on the independent variable (IV); the second regression (Model 2) involved regressing the DV on the IV and the moderator; and the final regression (Model 3) regressing the DV on the IV, the moderator, and a cross-product of the DV and the moderator. The three regression models were tested for explanatory power, and yielded R-squared values of 0.396, 0.454, and 0.508 respectively (see Table 4). Results of the R-squared comparisons showed that Model 3, which included specific trust, perceived risk, and the cross product of specific trust and perceived risk, had significantly improved R-squared values from Model 1 and Model 2. The analysis yielded results quite different to what was hypothesized. Besides Model 1 where specific trust was the only IV in the regression, specific trust was shown not to have a direct influence on the DV of willingness to use e-banking. Rather, perceived risk was shown to have a direct influence on the DV of willingness to use e-banking in Models 2 and 3. Model 3, which had the greatest R-squared value, suggests that it is not specific trust that influences a consumers willingness to use e-banking, but rather perceived risk. The regression coefficients from Model 3 (see Table 5) showed that perceived ris k had a significant negative impact on willingness to use e-banking (p = 0.000, Beta = -1.179, t = -5.588). Specific trust in e-banking instead was found to have a positive moderating influence on the relationship between perceived risk and willingness to use e-banking (p = 0.000, Beta = 0.759, t = 4.386). The results derived from the regression analysis thus do not support the two hypotheses H1 and H2. It appears that the roles of the independent variable and the moderator have swapped. Figure 3 shows the amended model reflecting these new roles, where the independent variable of perceived risk is shown having a primary role with a direct influence on a consumers willingness to use e-banking and specific trust in the banks e-banking website having a secondary role as a moderator. Discussion and Implications Adoption of Internet and E-banking The results showed that there was no apparent usage of e-banking till the late 1990s. This was firstly attributed to the late adoption of e-banking facilities by the four major banks in Australia. It was only at the end of 1997 when e-banking facilities were provided by the banks in Australia (Sathye, 1999). Secondly, a report by the Australia Bureau of Statistics (1999) stated that the use of internet by adults to pay bills and transfer funds were only approximately 2 per cent during that time. These findings deserve attention, as Australians were considered to be technology savvy being at the forefront of United States as the worlds third highest users of electronic point of transfer (Eftpos) in the 1990s (Macfarlane, 1997). However there were other reasons for the late adoption of e-banking in Australia. These reasons include the lack of knowledge of service availability, the internet website being not user friendly, and security concerns (Sathye, 1999). In the last decade, banks have addressed these problems through the use of effective marketing strategies, education and adopting innovative technology in security measures and information technology. It has proven to be effective as the latest statistics showed that approximately 40% of the internet users in Australia have adopted e-banking (comScore, 2008). This proportion however is still relatively low, and concurs with the results of past research such as White and Nteli (2004), Lichtenstein and Williamson (2006), and the current research showing that the adoption of e-banking has not kept up with the pace of internet usage. This is despite figures for internet access quadrupling from 16% to 67% in the last decade from 1998 to 2007/08 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008). Demographics and Specific Trust, Perceived Risk and the Willingness to Use Constructs Results showed that respondents who are aged 29 and below, earning an income level of $50,001 $70,000 and with post graduate qualifications were more willing to use e-banking. This finding is congruent with the findings of past studies that claimed that consumers who are well educated and with higher incomes are more willing to engage e-banking services (Kolodinsky et al., 2000; Gartner, 2003). Furthermore results of this study concur with past research studies on the unwillingness to use e-banking by the older/elderly generation (Ilett, 2005; Perumal and Shanmugam, 2005). Further examination of the results showed that respondents who are unwilling to use e-banking have a trade qualification/diploma and are earning an income of $30,001 $50,000. In relation to the perceived risk constructs, males who have a post graduate qualification and earning $70,001 -$90,000 have higher perceived risk. This finding is rather surprising as it does not concur with previous studies which found females to have a higher perceived risk. Females were found to be more concerned on the level of risk in technology (Lichtenstein and Williamson, 2006), more anxious with privacy protection and ethical standards (Shergill and Li, 2005) and have greater fears in new technologies such as the internet (Morahan-Martin, 2000) compared to males. Further examination of the results showed that respondents who have a lower perceived risk are females, earning an income of $15,001-$30,000 and have completed secondary school. Results from this research showed that males have higher specific trust than females regardless of income, age and qualification. Drawing from the findings of the perceived risk construct, an interesting discovery was made males have higher perceived risk as well as higher specific trust compared to the females. The authors of this study propose that a possible reason for this may be explained by a higher level of involvement in banking services in males. This should be con

cancrer and depression :: essays research papers

CANCER AND DEPRESSION Approximately five years ago I was diagnosed with pelvic cancer, Cancer is not just one disease it’s several diseases. A tumor may be malignant or benign meaning that one is cancerous and the other non- cancerous. I was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in my right pelvis and being newly diagnosed, I felt out of control and over whelmed. As of today, the reason I developed cancer is not well understood. Even thought I’m a smoker, I don’t believe that was the cause of it, my cancer was a type of bone cancer. There are many none carcinogens which are materials that cause cancer but many are still undiscovered. Malignant tumors ("cancers") are capable of spreading to other parts of the body, whereas benign tumors cannot spread. Some benign tumors are called "aggressive" because they can destroy nearby bones and soft-tissues yet do not spread to other body sites. Sarcomas are malignant tumors that arise from musculoskeletal system tissues such as bone, muscle or connective tissue and this was the type that became my enemy. My reaction to my diagnosis was in shock and disbelieve. Fighting cancer is not a challenge you face a lone it involves friends family doctors and a good health care team. I went through several fasces: depression, anxiety, self-pity and anger. My main concern was my family, specially my kids. What if I die on the operating table, what’s going to happen to them? Who is going to support them? I had all these things going thru my mind, and many more. What I was going to go thru seemed unreal to me .I could have never imagined after being healthy all of my life and being able to walk and run without a hitch, that I might lose the use of one of my legs. Thinking of cancer every waking moment, I needed to resolve some issues I had in my life. I knew that after the surgery I was going to be incapacitated and incapable of doing all the things I normally did. My position at Artistic Concrete of Florida was head foreman and I was responsible of supervising ten construction groups that had a work force of approximately eighty men. I would be up at 5:00AM ,get in my explorer, and make my rounds thru the construction sites .I had to walk thru ditches; climb latter’s inspect rooftops and run around like a chicken without a head.

Agriculture Industry Essay -- essays papers

Agriculture Industry There are various factors affecting the demand for John Deere's products. These factors can be categorized as Financial, Crops, Crop Prices, Line Stock Prices, Farm Equipment and the competition. Financial factors include interest rates, credit availability, currency exchange rates, monetary and fiscal policies set by the government, net farm income and government regulated price floors on the agriculture segment. Crops/Crop Prices include planed acreage, grain export and crop prices of wheat, corn, soybeans and cotton. Live Stock prices that affect the demand for the company's output are primarily the prices of Dairy, Beef and Hogs. Animal diseases like "mad cow", "foot and mouth" and crop pests and harvest yields play an important role in the live stock prices and in turn affect the demand. Farm equipment category consists of resale demand for used farm equipment, farmer's attitude towards farm equipment and new equipment prices which play an important role in the demand of the new equipment. John Deere faces a strong competition around the world, more in Europe than in US. The company realizes that demand for farm equipment is same in Europe as in the United States, but the current market share captured by John Deere in Europe is much less and hence there is a lot more room to grow there. Of these factors, the most important factor seems to be the ability of the farmer to buy the new equipment. This in turn... Agriculture Industry Essay -- essays papers Agriculture Industry There are various factors affecting the demand for John Deere's products. These factors can be categorized as Financial, Crops, Crop Prices, Line Stock Prices, Farm Equipment and the competition. Financial factors include interest rates, credit availability, currency exchange rates, monetary and fiscal policies set by the government, net farm income and government regulated price floors on the agriculture segment. Crops/Crop Prices include planed acreage, grain export and crop prices of wheat, corn, soybeans and cotton. Live Stock prices that affect the demand for the company's output are primarily the prices of Dairy, Beef and Hogs. Animal diseases like "mad cow", "foot and mouth" and crop pests and harvest yields play an important role in the live stock prices and in turn affect the demand. Farm equipment category consists of resale demand for used farm equipment, farmer's attitude towards farm equipment and new equipment prices which play an important role in the demand of the new equipment. John Deere faces a strong competition around the world, more in Europe than in US. The company realizes that demand for farm equipment is same in Europe as in the United States, but the current market share captured by John Deere in Europe is much less and hence there is a lot more room to grow there. Of these factors, the most important factor seems to be the ability of the farmer to buy the new equipment. This in turn...

Learning to Cope

Davon Daniels Professor Moss English 1500 11/20/12 Draft 2 Learning to Cope Just about everyone has lost that one person that they really care about and they know that everything can change at the drop of a hat. Death is an unexpected occurrence that could sometimes have long lasting mental and physical effects on people. In the play Down the Aisle by Patricia Leigh Gaborik a young girl Katie and her family are learning to cope with the death of their loved one.People handle the death of a loved one in different ways, and Katie tries to handle the death of her father by holding on to all the good memories she had of him. Not only is Katie deeply affected by their lost but the rest of her family is learning to cope with their lost by taking on different roles when he pasts. The father is a symbolic character in this play because he is the rock of their family, because he is strong and dependable. Each character in the play experiences different conflicts and changes in their relations hip after losing the person they all loved the most.One conflict experienced in the play is the relationship between Katie and her mother before and after the death of Katie’s father. Katie and her mother don’t have the best relationship and at times it seems that Katie wishes that she would’ve been in the car accident with her father. This is a conflict because it seems as if Katie may blame her mother for the death of her father for making him go out while she stayed at home and took care of Katie. This causes a lot of tension between Katie and her mother because she also feels as though the death of her father might also be her fault.At the end of the play Katie and her mother appear to be closer to each other and her mother even apologizes for the things she’s done in the past and talks about Katie’s father. This is important because after years of not really speaking about him it shows that their mother is just starting to cope with his death. Her mother states in the play â€Å"I know you always thought I did everything wrong† (pg. 251). This shows that even though she knows they didn’t have the best relationship in the past that she’s trying to be there for her and only wants the best for her.Katie and her brother Joe has a typical brother and sister relationship they argue a lot but at the same time they care for each other. At times Joe even calls his sister Katie a brat but still offers to do things for her. The death of their father changed their relationship because Joe seems to be the person that now holds the family together. This appears to be Joe’s way of coping with his father’s death because he feels as if he has to be strong for both Katie and his mother and take on the new role of the man of the house. Joe: â€Å"What d’ya think?!Mom! The music’s started! You have to get to your seat! Aw, mom. I told you not to say that stuff. You said it, didn’t you ? You’re crying! Come on! Happy. Happy! Are you happy? See, she’s happy. Everybody’s happy. It’s a happy day. Let’s go! Let’s go! This quote is a great example of how Joe keeps everything together as everyone starts to breakdown; he represents the new rock and strength of their family. Katie’s relationship with her father is the most important because out of everyone in their family she had the closest relationship with him.A major conflict in the story is that Katie after these past years still can come to terms with her father’s death. On her wedding day as she’s preparing to walk down the aisle she in visions herself having a conversation with her father and reminiscing about all the good memories they shared. Katie says â€Å"I don’t understand you’re supposed to be the one I can count on† (pg. 247). This quote shows that even though Katie may not entirely get over the death of her father but she is slowly getting to the point where she is learning to deal with it.At the end of the play the conversation between Katie and her mother helps her come to terms with the death of her father because that was first time that they have actually had a conversation about him. Someone who hasn’t lost someone they really care about may not know how it feels emotionally to overcome the death of someone they love but death is hard to get over and not everyone gets over it quickly. The overall theme of these conflicts is that everyone learns to cope with the death of someone in their own way and at their own time. For Katie the wedding shows her starting a new beginning not only for her but for her family as well.

Learning as a Process and as a Product Essay

When you ask people what do they think about learning? They only think in the final result. Isn’t to important to comprehend what that really means, and how big and important is the process. It is to simple to analyze what we have been learned before just making us the question If we really remember what we learned? But no everyone think in learning as a process. How do we learned that? If it was difficult? It’s the same learning as a process and as a product? Learning is the end product of some process. But when is learning a product? Learning as a product is when a person knows completely and totally that he/she dominates the knowledge, but also he/she have been qualify to do that â€Å"knowledge† what it means that he/she not just know the theory but also have the experience. The final product of the learning may show the capacity or level of each student and let the teacher know who needs more practice in a specific area. It depends on what they were working on, but it doesn’t mean that they are going to tell you or notice that the student really acquires the knowledge or the skill or if they need a more advanced or lower level to do the activities. Wich it means that learning as a product is the goal that the â€Å"learning process† must have. Learning as a process will be the behavior changes of certain experiences that people have had. Learning as a process goes further than learning as a product, because in one what it matters is the final result, and in another one what it matters is how was it? It’s not the same if I learned something just memorizing without practice. Besides If a learn something with theory and practice my final result it’s going to be better. It’s to important the process in which each person learned, because that will ensure you that you really understand and dominate what people taught you. That’s why everyone should recognize the difference between learning as a product and as a process.

Han and Roman Attitudes toward Technology

From the around second century B. C. E. to the third century C. E. the Han and Roman attitudes toward technology were different in how they took pride in some of their inventions with the Han accepting the role of the craftsmen and their technology they created showed in documents 1-4. However, the Romans did not do as much of this and did not care as much about the technology and how it could be utilized. This was shown in documents 5-8. Both Han China and the Romans did show a similarity in how their technology, even though it was viewed differently, helped to develop their Empires. Throughout these eight documents, everyone one of these had male from the upper class writing the document. I think an additional document that could be useful in answering the question of what the Han and Roman attitudes toward technology were would be a person from the lower class. This document would be useful because that the upper class did not show interest about the technology that a commoner might have used such as hand tools and other common working items. The Han utilized their technology more to the fullest and took pride in what they invented. In Document 1 it shows that technology was not just used as a luxury, but was used a necessary way to help prevent disaster. In this case the Han were trying to prevent flood and had walls canals and pools. There were also people assigned to inspect and repair these technologies to help their people by preventing floods. The Han took pride in ability to keep their people safe from floods and other disasters. Document 2 focuses more on how the government monopolized the making of tools and made them more cheaply and with less quality than the actual workers themselves did. Then the government raised prices on iron and some of the poor had to digress to older technology. Two examples of this is iron became too expensive and wooden plows were now being used instead of iron. Another example is that salt was too expensive and they couldn’t afford to season their food. Huan Guan takes pride in the technology and feels that the government is not utilizing it proper and feels that the technology is going to waste. Document 3 shows pride in their invention of the pestle and the mortar and how it helped to create very useful technology where, â€Å"The efficiency was ncreased ten times† then later on, â€Å"Benefit was increased a hundredfold. † Document four commends the technology and its usefulness directly contrasting with Document three’s point of view. A reason this may be is that it is government-sponsored and the government is trying to make itself look good. The Romans, however, were not as interested and shows little regard with how technology can affect them. Document five shows this where Cicero shows no admiration of craftsmen or any of their inventions. He says, â€Å"All craftsmen spend their time in vulgar occupations. Cicero and the upper class don’t really have interest in craftsmen technology. Document seven suggests craftsmen did something that anybody could have done and does not really respect them. He is implying that if the upper class doesn’t need the technology, it isn’t important. Now, Plutarch, on the other hand, was very satisfied with the technology of the roads and how nice they are in document six. He brags of Mile Markers and how this technology can be used by eve rybody. Frontinus was also very proud of the technology in Rome. He specifically boasted of the aqueducts and said that they were better than the pyramids of Egypt. This opinion may be a little bias though, because he is the water commissioner for the city of Rome. Even though the Hans and Romans had different views on the use of technology, both of these empires benefitted greatly from the technology that was invented in this time. Plutarch was very excited about the roads in document six, and he had very good reason to be. The roads were kept in very good condition that allowed them to travel throughout their entire empire. This was useful for delivering food across the empire in time of famine and also helped them to travel easier and quicker in time of battle. The Han’s technology also helped them to grow as an Empire and keep their people safe as shown in document one. They had walls, canals, and workers specifically designated to prevent floods. What is shown in these documents is that the Han and Romans have different values placed on technology, but also shows how they view the craftsmen and the people that may benefit from the technologies. The Han valued their technology more and therefore placed more respect on the people who invented, whereas the Romans didn’t not value the technology or the craftsmen nearly as much.