A Case Study of the iTrust Security Issue

Introduction Information management is one of the most important parts of any organization. To ensure continuity of an organization, proper record keeping should be encouraged.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on A Case Study of the iTrust Security Issue specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, proper documentation and record keeping of events, personnel information among other things in an organization ensures that the entity is assured of accountability (Raggad, 2010). Effective record keeping, maintenance, and management eases up the audit process for any organization. It is important to note that management of data and proper maintenance of records is a very crucial process to the success of the organization. With this in mind, organizations have developed proper record keeping methods and processes (Tipton Nozaki, 2008). As an aspect of organizational structure, information management has seen the eme rgence of new methods meant to enhance the effectiveness and convenience of managing records and data. In this case study, various issues touching on security with regard to iTrust organization are addressed. The iTrust Security Issue In the past, organizations relied on manual systems of information management. The systems were prone to human error and involved a very rigorous storage and retrieval process. Modernization has seen the introduction of technology into the information management arena. Technology has helped revolutionize the whole information management arena in a major way. It has improved the effectiveness and efficacy of information systems. It has also improved the speed of retrieving data, as well as the security of the same. It has reduced risks of damage to data (Raggad, 2010). Information systems are developed to suit the growing need for technological information management and improve the rather historical process of keeping records.Advertising Looking f or case study on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although they are not one hundred percent efficient or secure, they do come quite close to the optimal standards. They ensure effective and hassle free management of information (Tipton Nozaki, 2008). In medical institutions, the need to manage information cannot be underestimated. Medical facilities contain a lot of confidential information on individuals. They also contain information on treatment plans and prescriptions. Such information should be safeguarded to ensure it does not fall into the wrong hands. iTrust is a hypothetical information systems software that allows medical facilities to maintain records on drug inventory and other bits of information. It is a role-based healthcare web application through which patients can manage their medical records (Tipton Nozaki, 2008). Similarly, medical personnel are provided with a platform through which they can monitor the progress of their patients by managing their medical records. Medical personnel can also receive alerts on missing immunization or signs of chronic illnesses. In this case study, the susceptibility of the iTrust information management software is brought to question. The case study embarks on identifying the threats faced by the iTrust system, as well as the areas that may render the system vulnerable to security lapses. If the system is vulnerable in any way, its effectiveness is compromised. The cases study will look into the areas of vulnerability and identify ways through which these threats and vulnerabilities can be addressed (Raggad, 2010).Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on A Case Study of the iTrust Security Issue specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Review of the Case Study In the process of identifying the threats faced by the system, one cannot ignore the new requirements of the iTrust software. The first, Add role emergency responder, allows for the fire, police, and emergency medical technicians to look at the records of a particular patient prior to taking any action. Addition of these new requirements will allow for easy access to the emergency report that contains crucial information. Such information includes patient’s blood type, prescription history, allergies, diagnosis of chronic illness, immunization history, as well as long and short term diagnoses. The second requirement is finding a qualified and licensed healthcare professional. Such a provision will make it possible for patients to find qualified and licensed healthcare professionals to help them in the treatment of specific health conditions. The patient simply selects the diagnosis and chooses a professional who has experience in handling such cases. The third requirement is the update of the code table. As far as this is concerned, ICD-10 code is used in place of ICD-9CM. The new code is then saved for use with the iTrust application. The fourth requirement is the ability to view the access logs. The patient is able to look at a list of all the medical professionals who have updated their medical records.Advertising Looking for case study on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Review of the New Requirements Although these new requirements are supposed to increase the efficiency of the system, they also create security loopholes that third parties can exploit (Raggad, 2010). The vulnerability of the system is increased with an increase in the number of visitors. Similarly, the threat and vulnerability levels are increased with a rise in the amount of information made available in the database. If the information is quite sensitive and potentially beneficial to some people, then they can try to obtain it, causing a security breach (Tipton Nozaki, 2008). Each new requirement could lead to the occurrence of such a situation. Therefore, there is need to reevaluate these new requirements in a way that guarantees the safety of the system Suggestions to Mitigate the Vulnerability of the System to Security Threats There are numerous ways through which security threats and vulnerability issues can be solved. However, not all of these methods are applicable to the iTrust case. The management can make a decision on the best method by determining the sensitivity of the data handled by the iTrust database. Medical information is quite sensitive. Therefore, the safety of the iTrust system is paramount. With this in mind, it is noted that there are specific measures that the management can take to mitigate potential threats to the system. First is the use of an elaborately generated password protection system. Such a system ensures that there is controlled access to the database and only authorized personnel can access information stored therein. Password security system is also essential in tracking down suspects in the case of a security breach. Encryption system to protect the uploaded files is also a useful tool in safeguarding the stored information (Raggad, 2010). Encryption makes it hard for hackers to target and obtain specific information from the system. In addition, encryption makes it hard for ordinary systems to read data from the sys tem. As such, the use of encrypted data is limited to specialized machinery. Another viable method of protecting information in a database like iTrust’s is mounting it on a website that is secured. Such a move will make it difficult, or even impossible, for data thieves to copy passwords from the site. In turn, the information is protected from theft, damage, or any other risk (Tipton Nozaki, 2008). Conclusion Such technological innovations as iTrust database are quite phenomenal in the management and protection of stored data. However, they are also prone to threats and vulnerable to circumstances. Organizations should take measures to enhance the security of their information. The organization should ensure there are no loopholes that hackers can exploit to destroy or steal the information stored in the database. System upgrades, though useful, can also create loopholes that third parties with malicious intentions can exploit. As such, the organization should take a lot of care when carrying out system upgrades. If this is not possible, all system upgrades should be followed up with a security review in a bid to ensure that they do not create potential security breach points. If the above areas are addressed, the security, threat, and vulnerability situation of the iTrust database can be reviewed and fixed. Information management systems are very effective in the handling of stored data. It is important to note that such effectiveness can only be achieved if these systems are secure. Organizations should place emphasis on the security aspect of their information management processes. In fact, security should be a major consideration during the development of such programs. iTrust is one of the information management systems that organizations can use to enhance the security of their records. However, there are several security concerns that need to be promptly addressed for the system to prove as effective and as efficient as the developers would wan t it to be. The points highlighted in this case study should serve as a major asset in guiding developers and helping them to achieve this. References Raggad, B. (2010). Information security management. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press/Taylor Francis. Tipton, H., Nozaki, M. (2008). Information security management handbook. Boca Raton, Fla.: Auerbach. This case study on A Case Study of the iTrust Security Issue was written and submitted by user Hazel Galloway to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Chile Under Pinochet

Introduction The film isn’t just about a Latin American family but about a man, Esteban Trueba. The film revolves around his loves, beliefs, politics and how all these themes come into doubt or have to be reanalyzed. The film follows Trueba, through his trials in life, his accomplishments and at the end how he comes to terms with all that has happened. The film also does a good job at reflecting the issue of the class structure and the huge gap between the landowners and the poor which we read in the book. It also does a good job at visually illustrating the mind set and rigid mentality of the powerful. Chile The film taught me how Chile was no different or for that matter is no different then other societies in several aspects. In the film we see a young Trueba courting Rosa and promising to become rich in order to gain the parents approval. This seems to be a request that all parents, in all societies, of a higher social standing make to potential husbands of there daughter’s. Another theme which is still around today is your daughter marrying someone of a lower social level or who doesn’t seem fit to court her. This would bring shame to a family and perhaps lower there standing in people’s eyes, as in the film when Blanca wanted to marry Pedro, the poor laborer. A theme which is very visible today everywhere and was visible throughout the film is how the rich believed they were better then the workers. The film demonstrates how in Chile just like everywhere else, your social standing in society is extremely important. The character of a man is unimportant, what is important is his social standing and the name he carries. In the film Trueba tries to arrange a marriage between his daughter and a wealthy man who she didn’t love. He did this so that she wouldn’t marry a rebel, not only a rebel but a poor rebel. This is ... Free Essays on Chile Under Pinochet Free Essays on Chile Under Pinochet Introduction The film isn’t just about a Latin American family but about a man, Esteban Trueba. The film revolves around his loves, beliefs, politics and how all these themes come into doubt or have to be reanalyzed. The film follows Trueba, through his trials in life, his accomplishments and at the end how he comes to terms with all that has happened. The film also does a good job at reflecting the issue of the class structure and the huge gap between the landowners and the poor which we read in the book. It also does a good job at visually illustrating the mind set and rigid mentality of the powerful. Chile The film taught me how Chile was no different or for that matter is no different then other societies in several aspects. In the film we see a young Trueba courting Rosa and promising to become rich in order to gain the parents approval. This seems to be a request that all parents, in all societies, of a higher social standing make to potential husbands of there daughter’s. Another theme which is still around today is your daughter marrying someone of a lower social level or who doesn’t seem fit to court her. This would bring shame to a family and perhaps lower there standing in people’s eyes, as in the film when Blanca wanted to marry Pedro, the poor laborer. A theme which is very visible today everywhere and was visible throughout the film is how the rich believed they were better then the workers. The film demonstrates how in Chile just like everywhere else, your social standing in society is extremely important. The character of a man is unimportant, what is important is his social standing and the name he carries. In the film Trueba tries to arrange a marriage between his daughter and a wealthy man who she didn’t love. He did this so that she wouldn’t marry a rebel, not only a rebel but a poor rebel. This is ...

The use of DDT has been banned in the United States because of Essay

The use of DDT has been banned in the United States because of environmental damage and human health concerns. However, in malar - Essay Example (Hayes & Laws, 1991). â€Å"Estimated lethal dose for man is 500 mg/kg and in kerosene solution it’s 150 mg/kg. Woodward et al. (1944) have stated the accepted acute mean lethal dose in rats as 250 mg/kg and Gosselin et al. (1984) has mentioned that the same amount would also be fatal for human beings. Baselt (1982) has stated that DDT is comparatively alright with a lethal dose of 30 g in an adult. â€Å"Exposure to an aerosol mist containing 80 mg DDT in a room of 113 m3 on five consecutive days for two hours two times a day showed no evidence of toxic effects†. (DDT, 1990) Studies have also revealed that the young are at no greater risk than adults. The four phases of the disposition of a toxic compound to estimate its toxicity are absorption through membranes in a system, the distribution throughout the system, the excretion and elimination from the system and finally, the metabolic fate of the chemical. Absorption happens from the gastrointestinal tract and throug h inhalation. DDT can also be taken in by intact skin in oily solution. DDT gets distributed in the body and primarily affects the central nervous system causing irritability. Violent agitations might also take place but is less common than with other organ chlorine pesticides. DDT tends to get accumulated in fatty tissues along with metabolites DDD and DDE. It also gets converted to DDA and dispatched through urine. Breathing in fine DDT aerosol or dust can cause problems for the nose, throat and eyes (Hayes & Laws, 1991). Formulations of DDT dissolved in a solvent is also known to cause temporary dermatitis. In most cases, the effect is attributable to the solvent and not DDT itself. Increased urinary excretion of the more polar metabolites is generally compensated for by increased steroid biosynthesis (Gosselin et al. , 1984). ). The effects of DDT on the respiratory system are only minor compared to the effects that it has on the nervous system. Heightened salivation has been ob served in persons who consumed DDT-infested food (Hayes & Laws, 1991). Apart from vomiting, the gastrointestinal system is hardly affected in cases of extreme poisoning and Renal damage has also been observed in people to some extent. Types of Exposure and Responses associated with DDT: Food is the primary way in which the population gets exposed to DDT. And â€Å"due to its low biodegradability and high lyophilise properties, small amounts of DDT are found to have accumulated in adipose tissue. DDT tends to get stored to a lesser extent in other tissue and this amount is proportional to their neutral fat content.†(Data Sheet on Pesticides, 1976, 2.2) Almost 5000 tonnes of DDT is used every year for the control of vector-borne diseases, primarily for malaria and visceral leishmaniasis control. DDT is acknowledged as a persistent organic pollutant(POP). It gets stored in the fatty tissue of animals and humans, makes its way up the food chain and is found in high concentrations in human breast milk(biomagnification). Populations in areas close to countries which make use of DDT and in temperate regions can be indirectly affected by long-range atmospheric transport so that DDT may contaminate environments far from where it is used. Large exposures can result in vomiting. â€Å"The earliest symptoms include par aesthesia of the tongue, dizziness, tremors and vomiting. It is generally believed that long exposure to DDT and its main metabolic product DDE

Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Identity - Essay Example Therefore, our identity is then defined by how we think we fit in to the world around us, and how we feel we stand out (positively/ negatively). Our culture, beliefs and they way our parents have provided us upbringing shapes our thoughts and perception of the situation and hence the world around us. We are a part of the culture that is followed in a country to which we belong, the language we speak the religion we follow the beliefs we acquire through ancestry. This together culminates to a civilization, our ethnicity and no culture can influence it. The way we are presented in the society ascertain and formulate our identity. Our behavior, our communication skills become our tools that enable us to survive and prosper. Our customs and traditions which we follow define our integrity and values we have in our lives. They are the aids of social interaction and do provide an individual a distinctive identity. Therefore identity is personal, social and ethnic and the personality that is shaped out of this is an amalgamation of all these convictions. Thus, establishing one's identity can be both a liberating and an oppressive occurrence as separation from any one of these parameters directly influences the identity and personality of the individual. For e.g. 1. Children who have been separated from their family or country of origin due to migration may become perplexed about their personal and social identities. They experience a number of moves, been cared for by different people in different places, lost important contacts and relationships from their past, been separated from family, friends and their ethnic and cultural networks. 2. Adopted child has some different personality especially those who are from diverse cultural backgrounds or have some kind of disability. Feeling or being made to feel different is a major issue for children who have been adopted. For the adopted child, the stigma of not living with their birth family, living as a cultural or ethnic minority and becoming accustomed to what it means to be adopted are lifelong adjustments. 3. Similar kind of stigma is felt by the children of the prisoners and those who commit punishable offence. Parent's deed affects the individuality of the child and provides a social aloofness, this make the child unique and shapes the personality of a child in a different perspective. The child may start hating the family/ society or parents or cultivate some kind of criminal psyche within the premature mind. 4. Children of the broken marriage also face identity crisis and are confused. They feel ashamed to talk about the disputes their parents have undergone resulting in unsuccessful marriage. It inculcates the seeds of insecurity in the child's mind and changes the psychology of the child. The child does not gain trust on any one and any kind of relationship throughout the life. This is the way personality is changed and shaped. 5. Parents undergoing the phase of mourning after divorce establishes a new sense of self and hence a new sense of identity. It is established that in a long-term marriage, each individual's sense of self-identity becomes tied to the other person and indeed to the marriage itself. Following a broken marriage, each person must reach back into his or her early experience and find other images and

Enhanced Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Enhanced Learning - Essay Example that is required from the students, the mentors motivates students to practice the enhanced learning activities likely to obtain those understandings, also the examination tasks express students what actions are needed of them. It also tells the teachers how well the goals are being met (Carneiro). Additionally, the use of strategies throughout daily routine to remember numerous facts and concepts needed is important for all. Strategy builds an important area of enhanced learning experience. They help in organizing information into designs and motivate objective based learning. The intellect of a human brain is selective. It tends to recall information that creates an unforgettable design. The development of enhanced learning requires some critical aspects like: The application of enhanced learning can be widely used in various fields, especially subjects which require substantial amount of research work and understanding of facts. For instance, the field of geology. Field trips are an important part in the study of geology as it helps the students to gain a complete understanding of the complexities involved in the study. For example, they offer the student with a practical perceptive of spatial geometrics of structural and sedimentary features. Some findings may require additional research work and may require visiting different areas as well. The structure of the earth, its origin and different types of buried fossils are found with research and exploration. Through enhanced learning practices which have been described above, field trips can be made more useful and supportive in the learning outcomes of the participants. Such as enhanced learning by the utilization of field simulators and documenting learning in the field trip. As we all know geology is a field of exploration and experimentation. The more one investigates on the findings, the more interesting and adventurous the study becomes. Hence, enhanced learning procedures allow the students and all

The importance of financial intermediaries

The importance of financial intermediaries Introduction Nowadays financial intermediations play the important role in the economy. Firms and individuals can find sources to finance its new project. Also lender can invest their money in secure positions. Financial intermediations raise funds from the depositors for short term and lend them to the borrower for long term. The main job of those institutions is to provide finance through taking extra risk. So there are three parties engaged in those investments process. The lender or the depositor could lend his money on secure way and low cost. The borrower can find the finance of his project. The financial intermediation manages the process of those transactions. The question now is that why do lender and borrower need financial intermediation to manage this relationship. Why do not they do it directly without a third party? The answer of this question needs to know the main reasons why financial intermediations exist. There are three reasons explain this issue. First reason is that, the dif ferent requirement of those two parties. Second reason is the transaction cost. Finally is the asymmetric information. In this assay we will focus on the asymmetric information as a reason of the existence of the financial intermediation. Also, in this essay I will first explain the Asymmetric information, adverse selection and moral hazard. Then I will brief some empirical study about the issue of the effect of Asymmetric information to represent the importance of this issue. Also, I will explain the effect of the transaction cost because it has relation with the information cost to avoid unobserved information. Finally, I will explain the financial intermediary natural and their role in guiding the financial process. My conclusion refers to the importance of financial institutions to avoid asymmetric information. I am also touched upon the difference between the risk transferring and risk sharing and the fails of those conventional institutions in the last financial crisis. I reco mmended Islamic industry is an alternative to those convectional ones which can be able to withstand during the crisis because they works as a partner with their consumer and they share the risks with them. The impact of Asymmetric information, adverse selection, and moral hazard on the lender. It is important to the lender to have the good quality and quantity information about the borrower to be in the save side. When the information is poor that means there will be risk exist. Asymmetric information is an important concept in finance and needs to be understood. It means said Bucle (1998); the information refers to the situation where one party has more information than the other party. This is a problem with most types of transactions, financial or non financial transactions. In the Case of a financial transaction, the borrower will have more information about the Risks and return of the investment project for which funds are being borrowed and the lender do not have the same information the borrower does. So it may leads to actual conflict. Asymmetric information more affect lender, before he gives loan to the borrower and after. Adverse selection is the result of asymmetric information which means a bad selection with high risk of default. The adverse selection refers to the borrower with adverse return. Also, the second result of asymmetric information is moral hazard continued Bucle (1998). The lender will face this particular problems, in which always happened after lending. This problem is described as bad behaviour that accurse when the lender take the money from the lender and because the money is not belonged to him he will use it badly. He will use it for risky activities. As a result the lender will be at risk of losing his money. Karlan and at al (2005): investigate the moral hazard and adverse selection in credit market in South Africa. The random sample of 58000, of male and female, direct offers mail used by a larger lender in South Africa by three classes. First, offer interest rate. Second, contract interest rate which is equal or less the offer interest rate and revealed to more than 4000 borrowers that agreed to the first offer rate. Finally, a dynamic repayment with a good price on future loans for borrowers still in a good positions. These three stages supported by full information given to the lenders. The study setup distinguishes adverse selection from moral hazard impact on repayment. The result found that approximately 20% of default is because asymmetric information problems. Another empirical study of the impact of asymmetric information conducted by Gaul and at al (2008) investigate the effect of unobservable information on corporate loan market, and if the borrower gives the lender the incentive to reduce the asymmetric information effects. The study used a regression to give evidence of a positive relationship between some measure of loan borrower by lender, contract terms, negotiating loans, and the amount of non- publicly information. The study found that, moral hazard and adverse selection problems do exist in the corporate loan market. As a result of asymmetric information, adverse select, and moral hazard is the transaction cost. So what do we mean by transaction cost? Bucle (1998) counts four types of transaction costs which are as follows. Firstly, search cost, the borrower and the lender will be affected by high cost of searching for accurate information about each other to avoid risks associated to default and loss money. Also, verification costs, which mean the cost that accrues when lender tries, ensure that information he has is true. Furthermore, monitoring costs, the lender after given loan to the borrower should follow the borrower activities to make sure he will be able to make payment as agreed. Finally, enforcement costs, in case of default the lender wants to ensure that the lender can be enforced to get the money back. The importance of the financial intermediaries The financial intermediation is the entity which in a med position between two parties and manage the financial transaction between them. Commercial banks, investment banks, stock investing services, insurance providers, etc are examples of the financial intermediation. So we can imagine the importance of those entities. For example banks, it does the important role. Banks obtain funds from depositors and then lend those funds to borrowers. Also provide financial services said Fraser and et al (2001). Also individual as lender can get fixed income at cheaper cost. Also, when the lender uses the financial intermediary he wont need to bear those costs. He does not have to spend money and time for collecting information to find good borrower. Moreover, he can get his money back at any time he want it. Also he does not have to bear risks of default the borrower and other risks because the risks are borne by the bank. Always banks have information and policy system about their clients and diversify their investment in case mismatching the maturities of their assets and liabilities said Saunders (2008). Saunders and et al (2008) said because of costs of monitoring, liquidity, and price risk, as well as for some other reasons, savers often prefer to hold the financial claims issued by FIs rather than those issued by corporations. Diamond (1984) developed a model of delegate monitoring. Financial intermediary acts as monitor by promising the lender a fixed income and monitor the borrower activity to fulfil the lender the promise said Allen at al (2008). Another model developed by Boot and Thakor (1997) about delegated monitoring. They assume that, there are three kind of information. First, incomplete and unclear information about the future activity that the borrower is going to do and they suggest the solution is using financial market to obtain this information. Second the lender does not have information about the lender activity in term of invest the money in safe or risky project, and they suggest the solution by intermediary. Finally, borrower might have the chance to invest in a risky project and also they suggest the solution by intermediary said Allen at al (2008). Conclusion and recommendations: In conclusion, financial intermediaries do not exist by chance the economy has found them. As it shows above it exist because the need of the two separate parties and these parties represent the structure of the economy in any country. Borrower wants to have finance in his new project. Also lender need to be safe from asymmetric information, adverse selection of borrower and moral hazard and it is the financial intermediarys main job. To collect information about the borrower is not an easy task. It contains high cost for the small lenders which prevents him to invest his money. Also, he cannot give his money to the wrong person or firm. Financial intermediary could do this job on behalf of the investor. This job can be done by financial intermediaries in a low cost because of the large number of the customer they deal with. Also they act as specialist to this kind of financial transactions. However, financial intermediary is not always the haven. It has also risks of default, credit risk, liquidity risk, and etc. As we experience in the last financial crisis and the collapse of the biggest financial institutions around the world as a result of transferring risk. I think Islamic banks are the solution. They share risks instead of transfer them. Every party have to bear part of the risk to be able to continue. Transferring risks are not the solution, which means party will have nothing and other will have everything as a result part of the economy, will continue and the other part will collapse. Lets imagine the collapse party is the banks. So, the crisis will extend to the economy as a whole.

The Accuracy of Weather Prediction Essay -- Meteorology

The purpose of this paper is to explain the advances being made in technology and algorithms in helping advance the accuracy of forecasting. It will contrast the forecasting methods of several decades ago with forecasting methods in use today. In discussing how errors can accumulate over time and providing simple mathematical formulas as examples, this paper intends to show how the repetition of minor errors can affect the accuracy of weather predictions. Introduction Back in the days of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, weather observations were recorded daily but not hourly or by the minute. Such repetition of data didn’t seem useful. After the telegraph was invented which enabled information about weather data to be transmitted across the country, they still reported only once a day. In contrast to today's virtual world of weather, making 24/7 use of climate data from satellites, buoys in the oceans, the ability to record worldwide temperatures, worldwide rainfall records, track wind speeds, pressure pulses of solar wind, carbon dioxide levels, tornadoes and hurricanes...etc (Harris, 2012). An early pioneer of meteorology was Vilhelm Bjerknes, and his son Jacob, who described the lifecycle of the extratropical cyclone and shared his ideas for scientific weather forecasting. Bjerknes was disappointed over the unscientific methods of meteorology at the time, which, in contrast was making precise predictions in astronomy and meteorology as he felt, was at a standstill. His goal was to introduce scientific concepts to meteorology. According to Bjerknes, the two main ingredients in weather forecasting was knowledge of the atmosphere and accurate knowledge of the physical laws that govern it. Bjerknes identified: pressu... ...Went Wrong?.ncep.noaa.gov/nwp50/Presentations. Retrieved February 19, 2012, from www.ncep.noaa.gov/nwp50/Presentation NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory. (n.d.). NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory. Retrieved February 18, 2012, from http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/ Vanorsow. (2010, July 17). The Teaching Company User Community: View topic - 23. Prediction and Predictability. The Teaching Company User Community: Index. Retrieved February 18, 2012, from http://teachingcompany.12.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=3034 Weather Modeling and Prediction. (2011, May 16). NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. Retrieved February 17, 2012, from http://www.oar.noaa.gov/weather/t_modeling.html The Weather Research&Forecasting Model Website. (n.d.). The Weather Research&Forecasting Model Website. Retrieved February 18, 2012, from http://wrf-model.org/index.php

Harshness of Life Essay

Thomas and Frost have both written poems about the harshness of life. Compare and contrast two poems, one by each poet, taking account of the situation and tones of the speakers, and the form, structure and language including imagery, which each poet uses to present the theme of the harshness of life in two poems you have studied. Frost and Thomas both write about the harshness of life in their poetry. I believe the poems â€Å"Out, Out† by Frost and â€Å"The Owl† by Thomas best illustrate this. Frost choosing to show this through the impact of a hard days work on a little boy whereas Thomas uses an owl’s cry to connect the lifes of a solider and the poor/homeless to show the similarity in their lives. Both poets emphasise the same theme but their techniques differ to present this. The title â€Å"Out,Out† has an ominous tone to it, the title is a quote that Frost has used from Macbeth, â€Å"Out, damned spot, out†, this is in reference to the scene where Lady Macbeth dies. From the very beginning of the poem, Frost has set a menacing, almost tormenting tone eminently refering to the harsness of life. In comparision, we look at Thomas’s title â€Å"The Owl†. Owls are known to be solitary animals, many cultures, for example the Africans and the Middle East, believe that owls are harbingers of death or bad omens. Both poets have used their titles to immediatley engage the reader into the theme of the poem. Frost use of blank verse gives the poem more freedom within his lexical field, blank verse also gives Frost’s poem a matter of fact tone to it, â€Å"Call it a day, I wish they might have said† within the language used by Frost a sense is evoked that the day is an ordinary experience. Within the same lines we are given the inevitability of the boys death, this line is almost a plea for mercy automatically concentrating on the foreboding tragedy. Similarily Thomas uses simplistic language in a narrative tone to show the reflections of the speaker. Thomas’s â€Å"The Owl† has casual ryhtm to it, the use of abcb lines keeps the flow of the poem conversational and effectively keeps the reader interested through the ease of reading. While both poets differ in methods, Thomas using four lined stanza’s in contrast to the blank verse of Frost, each depicts the theme strongly. Frosts use of imagery in the rural setting, â€Å"five mountain ranges† creates a sense of insignifance to the boys misfortune of losing his hand. With gentle imagery at the beginning of his poem, â€Å"Under the sunset far into Vermont†, the unpredictability of the accident only further highlights the harshness of life. The personification used with the saw, â€Å"leaped out of the boys hand†, emphasises the horror of the tradgey. Within the phrase â€Å"big boy Doing a man’s work, though a child at heart†, Frost chooses to show us how the gruesomeness and strain of the boys accident could easily have been avoided if he carried out an average little boys life. Thomas’s description of the setting differs from Frost’s approach. Thomas, from the beginning sets a tone of desperation with the speakers state, â€Å"hungry†, â€Å"cold†, â€Å"tired†. The bleak tone of the poem gives a sense of reflection within the speaker. Thomas uses the owl’s cry to maintain the theme, with his repitition of sound and syllables â€Å"no merry note, nor cause of merriment†, he highlights once more the harshness of life.

Tiered pricing airlines and pharmaceuticals

Tiered pricing airlines and pharmaceuticals Introduction Most industries and companies change pricing strategies in a volatile manner depending on various marketing environmental factors. Ideally, companies’ pricing strategies are much influenced by the desire to increase corporate profits and cover operating and other costs (Thomas Maurice, 2010). One of the commonest pricing strategies is the differential pricing strategy or the tiered pricing approach.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Tiered pricing airlines and pharmaceuticals specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Pharmaceutical and airline firms are examples of industries that adopt tiered pricing techniques to share costs among their customers. These firms can drastically change prices in a span of days, moments through differential price sharing methods. According to Thomas Maurice (2010) the strategy is based on the notion that customers must not be treated equally, and that firms need to put some e fforts on products. Rather than selling products to all customers in similar approaches, a firm tries to classify and categorize its customer in groups and charge different prices to different groups. Tiered pricing behavior of pharmaceutical and airline firms Today’s marketing research has primarily focused on the pricing policies and strategies by the organizations. Most researches indicate that organization pricing policies are set based on; existence of price tiers, face value pricing, and discount/ premium variation pricing policy. Pharmaceutical and airline firms’ products are good examples where this strategy is prevalent and as a profit maximizing technique (Moe fader, 2008). According to Moe and fader, 2008, tiered pricing is mostly influenced by the ideology of advance purchasing of products by the customers. They added that, firms in pharmaceutical and airline industries customers provide advance information pertaining to the overall demand, diffusion acros s consumers and the demand elasticity of their products forcing a more elaborated marketing efforts to differentiate prices accordingly. For example, airline firms adopt a multi pricing discrimination practice which essentially involves variation of prices dramatically based on timing or hours of purchases. Airlines purchasing in advance by customers also perfect airline price tiers. Pharmaceutical firms’ price tiers are based on medicine quality and better services depending on the income levels or the individual status in an economy.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Yadav, 2010 argue that, price tiers in the medicine and health fraternity is faced with challenging factors on offering quality health provision in most developing countries. In fact, the industry is much cautions in differentiating its prices. In addition, price differentiation in pharmaceutica l firms adds another advantage in maximizing profits. For example, variation on pharmaceutical products depends on incomes of the customer group. Yadav, 2010, further states that, pricing strategies in pharmaceutical companies its challenging firm’s growth and the success in improving access in low and middle earners. Essentially, recent trends shows that firms in pharmaceutical and airline industries pay much attention to price tiers since its differential is based on economic and demographic characteristics of the target consumers. Strategically, these industries utilize differential pricing to create more opportunities to serve the minor or the low income categories and still maximizing profits and developing economies of scale to maximize profits. Again, since the industries are socially responsible demanding, tiered pricing enable airlines and pharmaceutical firms to portray and advocate for social responsibility and not enhancing profit maximization. To reinforce the di fferential pricing techniques, industries like airline or hotels engages in yield management. The concept refers to situations where firms or industries group customers to facilitate differentiating prices of its products (Shumsky Netessine, 2002). Industries practicing this concept are characterized by; expensive storing of products, future demands are uncertain, markets can be segmented, the same products can be perceived differently by customers, and suppliers in the industry are profit oriented. For example, airline industry can group customers into leisure travellers and business travellers. Similarly, a firm can offer discounted prices and full price to the groups to further segment markets. All these pricing techniques and market segmentation support price differentiation to the same product offering same satisfaction capacity (Shumsky Netessine, 2002).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Tiered pricing airlines and pharmaceuticals specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion Differential pricing strategies depend on three tiers in the pharmaceutical and airline industry. These ties include class pricing, bulk selling and selling products based on the willingness to pay. According to the strategy, companies believe that they can increase profits by acknowledging that consumers vary in terms of preferences and lifestyle, tastes, behaviors, income level, and response to marketing mix or geographical categories. In addition, differential pricing benefit firms to target certain groups of customers such as frequent customers and loyal customers. In such a case, no fixed price is set for the industrial products and the major goal is to maximize profits via sharing expenses in selling products to all customers. References Moe, W. W. Fader, P. S. (2008). The Role of Price Tiers in Advance Purchasing of Event Tickets. Web. Shumsky, F Netessine, S. (2002). Yield Management. Web. Thomas C. Maurice , S. C. (2010). Managerial Economics. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Yadav, P. (2010). Differential Pricing for Pharmaceuticals. Review of current knowledge, new findings and ideas for action. Zaragoza Logistics Center: SPAIN MIT-Zaragoza International Logistics Program.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Violence in American culture and how it effects adolescents Essays

Violence in American culture and how it effects adolescents Essays Violence in American culture and how it effects adolescents Violence in American Culture and How it Effects Adolescents Brandy Smith University of Phoenix Violence in American Culture and How it Effects Adolescents Parents are starting to believe that violence in video games, television, and music are having effects on their children. With all the violence that is out there in the media today, should parents be worried that it may be having a harmful effect on their children? This is the question that parents are asking themselves today. Some people today are noticing that their children are acting more aggressively today. Teachers are also reporting that children at school are also acting out with a bit more aggression than normal. Could this be one of the effects that violence could be having on children today? Today parents will finally learn about some of the harmful effects that may or may not be affecting their children. There are two sides almost every story, and we will explore both sides to the question, ?is the violence in the media having a harmful effect on my child It has been said that violent video games have a harmful effect on children, according to David Bickham (2009) of the Center on Media and Child Health, ?there is a strong and consistent relationship between viewing violent media and increased levels of anxiety, desensitization, and aggressive thoughts and behaviors among young people.? Bickham (2009) also found that children exposed to violent video games in laboratories behave more aggressively than children who played non ?violent video games. There have also been studies done that show the long term effects of playing violent video games. The scientific findings have shown that violent video games that are viewed as a child can lead to aggressive behavior all the way into adulthood. (Bickham 2009) However, there is also another side to this issue that is to be discussed. According to Benjamin Radford (2009) , the editor of the Skeptical Inquirer and author of books of skepticism and urban legends? violent video games have been ar ound since 1991, yet clear evidence of any harm is yet to emerge.? There have been 200 studies done on media violence, but many of the studies that have been released have admitted to their being other collations when they have actually written down their process. Richard Rhodes, a writer from Rolling Stone magazine states that ?fighting media depictions of violence cite the studies and ignore their lack of scientific validly.? There are people, who believe that violence in video games is having bad effects on their children, and on the other hand there are those who believe this to be inconclusive; and there are similar arguments occurring with an entirely different form of media. The other form of media that parents are concerned with is violence on television. According to the Senate Committee of The Judiciary, in 1997 there was an estimated 2.8 million juveniles arrested by law enforcement agencies. In a report that was written by Brandon Centerwall (2009) states that ?if television had never been created there would be 10,000 fewer homicides, 70,000 fewer rapes, and 700,000 fewer assaults each year.? There has been an analysis of television done for the 20 years (1973-1993). The results of this analysis show that violent acts have increased from five violent acts per hour in 1992 to almost 15 violent acts per hour in 1994. There are some experts who believe that children can become addicted to violence, and build a tolerance to it. The president for the Center for Media and Public Affairs, Robert Lichter (2009) states ?if you?re worried about what your kid eats, then you should be worried about whet your kid?s watching.? On the other hand there are some pe ople that believe that television violence has no effect on children. There are people who believe that all of the tests and research that has been done by placing two children in front of a violent program and the other in front of a nonviolent program is problematic. It is believed that the results are not real world results. Kevin Durkin (2009), an associate professor of psychology at the University of Western Australia states that ?aggressive behavior that is shown in

The Role of Leadership and Innovation in Sustaining Competitiveness Essay

The Role of Leadership and Innovation in Sustaining Competitiveness - Essay Example Therefore, organizations with creative and effective leadership will be able to sustain competitiveness in their business environment due to their superior strategic measures compared to their competitors. Organizational leadership involves the ability of management to achieve and protect a company’s benefits through the ability to balance employees’ needs and company targets by ensuring that there are no frictions between the two demands. This entails bringing employee demands and organizational needs together to work in an environment that will enable effective and efficient achievement a common goal. Consequently, organizational leadership has a central role of cultivating synergies between the organization and its employees. Leadership helps the member of an organization and working teams overcome workplace environmental challenges therefore working to achieve organizational goals in a worthy way (Kalamas & Kalamas and p.2004).   Innovative ideas can also motivate employees to give their best to the organization. Organizations that allow employees to undertake new and non-traditional ways of working will gain more from employees’ talents. ... Leadership is important for an organization since it enables the organization and organizational teams achieve their set goals. When leaders and the people led do not know where they are heading in terms of organizational goals and objectives, then leadership means nothing. Therefore, it is important for leaders in organizations to have a clear vision of how and where they see the organization in the future. According to Maxey (2000, p.48), vision of an organization represents a mental image of its possible and desirable future. The future of an organization depends on its leadership ability to recognize organizational changes accurately and use them intelligently for the improvement and sustainability of the organization. Sage and Rouse (2011, p.800) note leaders focus on the on the future and therefore the what separates a cultural change that fails from that which succeeds is the competent leadership at the top of organizational command. The importance of having a leader who is ab le to set visions for how the organization will operate in future can be demonstrated by the approach taken by Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs, as a strategic leader for Apple is an appropriate example in the area of creativity and innovation (Ireland, Hoskisson and Hitt 2008, p.36). He was able to position Apple to seize future markets through the firm’s strategy, which was based on insights into external opportunities. Steve Jobs recognized that Apple had a limited client base in the personal computing market. Nevertheless, Jobs maintained that the company was undertaking a long-term strategy that would see it operate beyond personal computer industry. Further, Steve Jobs claimed that he was waiting for the next big thing that was

Corporate Responsibility and Marketing Strategies Assignment - 2

Corporate Responsibility and Marketing Strategies - Assignment Example The combination of these qualities has been the pivotal reason behind the success story of Apple Inc. which revolutionized the retail industries and the technology. Apple Inc. is dedicated towards the main standards of ethical conduct, environment and social responsibilities. The prime purpose of the paper is to provide vivid information about the ethical and social responsibility, current position and strategies of the Apple Corporation. According to David Kurtz, â€Å"social responsibility is defined as the management values that comprises of contributing resources to the developing in nonprofit programs, community and maintaining the natural environment for the benefit of the general community†. Apple Inc. is a multinational corporation of America founded in 1976. Apple develops, designs, sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers and online services. Apple strives to be committed towards making an extraordinary technology and be socially and ethically responsible (Lencioni, 2012). According to the management of Apple Corporation, â€Å"social responsibility is defined as the essential in the manner of doing business in the organization†. In case of suppliers, it has been stated on the Progress Report of Global Suppliers Responsibility by Apple as providing safe working surroundings. Some of the social responsibility program initiated by Apple Inc. in the year 2010 includes increase in the number of facilities that are audited, use of probable conflict minerals are mapped, prevention of hiring underage workers, introduction of educated facilities that can help to manage third-party recruiters, protection of worker from other countries by dedicated additional resources and expansion in the training initiative. In case of training expansion, 300,000 workers are trained on their protections and