Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Role of Flexibility in the Australian Context

Introduction The following essay is on the need for flexibility of labour in the Australian context. This essay will discuss the role of flexibility in the Australian context. There will be evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of flexible work arrangements from the perspective of the employer as well as employee. The essay will look into the Equal employment Act in Australia, and its role in the flexible work conditions. The essay will also include the perspective of the work conditions in the country.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of Flexibility in the Australian Context specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Background Flexibility of work is a major labour relation issue that has effect on both the labour and the management. Flexibility comes from the need for the management to adjust with the dynamism of the labour market that results from the development of the company and the way in which empl oyees want to work. The survey results released by the Australian Bureau of statistics show that fifty percent of the workers do not have choice over their work start time and finish time (Fagan, 2009). Twenty eight per cent of the employees had incomes that varied from one pay period to the next. Thirty-seven percent had hours that varied per week and they had to stay alert to work on call. This form of uncertainty and unpredictability of work makes it necessary for both the employer and the employees to have flexible working mentality to allow them work harmoniously. Currently, 1.4 million workers in Australia work in shifts, which are organized by the management. This especially applies to the mining industry and service industries such as hotels (Fagan, 2009). Flexible work conditions take the pluralist approach of industrial relations where the view recognizes that entities in an industry both the employee and the employer are powerful with different goals and objectives. The m anagement role is to coordinate and persuade employees to work whereas the labour unions are the legitimate representatives of employees and they represent them through collective bargaining. With this perspective employees are able to negotiate the number of hours collectively as well as the working conditions (Hyman, 1975). However, with most of the companies employing non-unionized workers to meet their labour needs and the employees opting for flexible rather than fixed working conditions it is becoming necessary to institute mechanisms to tackle flexibility of work to suit both the employer and the employee. The government of Australia instituted Equal Employment Act that spell out flexible work arrangements that are legally recognized. They help the employees to choose arrangement such as the number of hours to work, modes of work and when to enjoy benefits such as holidays (Atkinson Meager, 1986).Advertising Looking for essay on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The most popular kind of work arrangements is the part time work or the job sharing where workers work part time or they share the work with another person such that each work two days a week. The other common arrangement is the shifts, where employees work in shifts especially in the mining industry where the work may go on for twenty-four hours every day. The other popular arrangement is the telecommuting where workers may perform some of their duties away from office or at home such as making calls. The other work arrangements is the compressed work hours where an employee may work continuously for forty hours in five days a week rather than in two weeks (Bhave Budd, 2008). Numerical flexibility The notion of numerical flexibility is becoming common than it was before as the modern worker is no longer encouraged to work through adjustments in labour prices. They are encouraged by the working conditions and terms of work. With the functioning markets of goods and services, company must also adapt to the high season and low demands on labour. When the company is in low season, it may lay off some workers due to reduced tasks and responsibilities. During the high season, the company may have to bring in external workers or hire additional labour to meet the demand of the products or services (Befort Budd, 2009). Numerical flexibility has two aspects with the first one being external flexibility. This is where the company outsource workers when it is in need of extra labour. This is through short-term contractual workers who work for a given season. The second aspect of numerical flexibility involves adjustment in the number of hours or days worked by the employees such that they may work for extra hours or overtime in high seasons and few hours during low seasons (Morrell, 2011). The company applying the internal numerical flexibility usually adjusts the labour within the company such that it does not lay off workers or hire extra workers from outside. The fewer hours done in low season compensate the additional hours done during the high season. This type of numerical flexibility applies in many companies, as they avoid repeated layoffs and recruiting procedures that are tedious and expensive. The internal numerical flexibility is also considered advantageous to the employees due to the job security and the employee does not have to keep on changing jobs (Budd, 2004).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of Flexibility in the Australian Context specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Functional flexibility This refers to the extent in which the employee can transfer to another work. It is how the employees can perform different tasks within the company. Functional flexibility refers to the number of tasks an employee can engage in the organisation. In functional flexibility when there is high season, the employee may do additional tasks. For instance, an employee may work as a technician and a receptionist in the company, which allows flexibility within the organisation. It involves having the labour force appropriately positioned to use different technologies. However, for this to be done the company must focus its resources on training the employees to perform different tasks (Fagan, 2009). Role of flexibility in Australian context With the Australian Equal Employment opportunity Act of 1984, the companies had to adjust their regulations and layoff activities as the law discriminated against layoffs based on conditions such as pregnancy or sickness. The companies had to adjust their schedules to fit the need of workers such as maternity leaves, parental leave and other needs of the workers. The first role played by the work arrangement flexibility is reducing employee absenteeism. The absenteeism was usually because of stresses and sickness that made workers redundant. However, with flexib ility the employees can adjust their work to fit them such that they can balance their work and other activities (Reilly, 2001). Flexibility in work arrangements has enhanced morale and job satisfaction resulting to increased and improved efficiency in the work. When working hours fit the employees, it results in increased motivation to work. With increased morale, the productivity goes high and the company benefits from increased revenue (Wallace, 2003). With the increased morale resulting from the increased productivity, the employees are more energetic and creative. This is because they have the choice to work during the time when they are most productive and effective in the job. The flexibility allows the employees to concentrate on the work they are doing unlike in scenarios where time of working is inflexible and they are unable to attend other issues thereby affecting productivity as well as morale. With the increased productivity, the organisation and the employee benefit ( Hyman, 1975).Advertising Looking for essay on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The flexibility in work arrangements reduces work stress and burn out because the flexibility allows the employee to relax and recuperate energies unlike in scenarios where the work timelines are fixed and do not have time for employee to relax (Kaufman, 2004). The other contribution of the work flexibility is that it has reduced the role and the influence of labour organisations. This is because with the numerical flexibility where workers work on contract, it is very hard for the workers join unions. Most of the contracts state that they do not want anyone who is unionised. This challenge makes most of the workers who work on contact basis not to be members of labour unions. Functional flexibility allows the employees to start the work in many aspects of the job and cannot complain of overworking, as it is part of the in-house arrangements to shift the working of the employees (Salamon, 2000). The companies in Australia on the other hand have benefited from the development of the work and they can now develop their work as well as increase their responsibilities on the development of the company. The companies have experienced low levels of industrial actions such as low employee turnover and strikes. This is because of the flexible work arrangement measures that suit both the employer and the employee (Webb Webb, 1897). Employer’s perspective on the flexibility â€Å" The work arrangements are advantageous to the employees as they result in increased productivity. The productivity comes from the need to reduce stress in the workplace and motivation that comes from working when it is appropriate (Nichols, 1997). The other advantage of the work arrangements procedures is that it reduces costs such as hiring and recruiting when the company is in need of extra labour as well as freeing the company from compensation obligations when an employee is fired. This is because the employees’ can work under flexible work arrangements offering the employe e a chance to determine the appropriate time of work such that the employer can hire workers to work during the time when the labour is needed most. This prevents the employer from paying redundant workers (Kaufman, 2004). The work arrangement flexibility has reduced the influence and the bargaining power of the trade unions significantly such that they cannot be influential as they were previously. With reduced bargaining power, the employers can negotiate better terms with the employees. Most of the companies that adopt numerical flexibility employ workers on short-term contracts, which make it hard for the employees to unionise. The flexible work conditions can be attributed to the reduced levels of strikes and industrial actions in the companies (Kelly, 1998). The work arrangements are costly to the company especially in instances where the company has to outsource to meet the demand for labour. It is also disadvantageous to the company as it has to retrain the staff on the vari ous aspects of the work to make them flexible such that they are deployable to do different tasks and duties (Mullins, 2005). The flexibility especially the numerical flexibility where the company employs on short term contracts result in reduced employee loyalty as many employees are influenced by job security and they may not be loyal to the companies that do not offer job security to them (Salamon, 2000). The other aspect of management is that the work arrangement involves the management relinquishing its supervisory powers. This is because some of the arrangements such as telecommuting where the employees work from home or away from the office make it hard for the employer to supervise them. The employer’s must consider whether an employee is appropriate to the work arrangement as individuals who need close supervision in their work cannot be fit for telecommuting arrangements (Nichols, 1997). Employee’s perspective The work arrangement flexibility is disadvantageo us to the employees because it enables them to live a balanced life where they manage family and work. This is an important achievement for many people to balance their attention to both the work and the family (Reilly, 2001). The other advantage is that it enables the employees to work at the optimum time, and relax when tired. It allows the employees to choose when to go for holidays and when not to. With this kind of flexibility, the employees manage to be productive in their work and achieve results (Budd, 2004). The arrangements are however disadvantageous to most of the employees because they involve short term jobs that end after the season is over, which makes the employees insecure (Wallace, 2003). The other disadvantage is that the work arrangements makes collective bargaining less effective as the employee can only negotiate conditions that suit him or her personally not collectively. This means that bargains with the employer are usually personal and not collective, whic h is a disadvantage to the employee. The company may flout the previous working arrangement agreed upon and the individual employee may not manage to initiate a legal proceeding against the company. The other disadvantage is that in some instances employees are forced to work for many hours to compensate for the hours they were not working (Morrell, 2011). The last disadvantage of the work arrangements is that most of the times employers do not consult the employees when designing the flexible work arrangements to determine the best kind of flexible work arrangements to suit the employees (Salamon, 2000). Conclusion Discourse on work arrangements is significant to the development of the work conditions. The development of appropriate work conditions allows the employees to work towards the development of their own company as well as their life. For the work arrangement flexibility have effect both the employer and the employee must be in the planning stage such that the arrangement will meet the personal need of the employee as well as benefit the company. Assessing the work flexibility arrangements helps to determine whether the arrangements are effective or not. Evaluating the arrangements is important in ensuring that the arrangement achieves the set objectives. References Atkinson, J. Meager, N. (1986). Changing working patterns: How companies achieve flexibility to meet new needs. London: Institute of Manpower Studies. Befort, F. Budd, W. (2009). Invisible hands, invisible objectives: Bringing workplace law and public policy into focus. New York: Stanford University Press. Bhave, D. Budd, W. (2008). Values, Ideologies, and frames of reference in industrial relations. New York: Sage. Budd, W. (2004). Employment with a human face: Balancing efficiency, equity, and voice. California: Cornell University Press. Fagan, C. (2009). Out of time: Why Australia needs a new approach to working-time flexibility. Sidney: Trade Union Congress. Hyman, R. (1975). Indus trial relations: A Marxist introduction. New York: Macmillan. Kaufman, E. (2004). Theoretical perspectives on work and the employment relationship. Ohio: Industrial Relations Research Association. Kelly, J. (1998). Rethinking industrial relations: Mobilization, collectivism and long waves. New York: Rutledge. Morrell, F. (2011). 90 steps to employee engagement staff motivation. Cincinnati: Forest Gate Publishing. Mullins, L. (2005). Management and organisational behaviour. London: Prentice Hall. Nichols, T. (1997). The sociology of industrial injury. London: Mansell Publishing Limited. Reilly, P. (2001) Flexibility at work: Balancing the interests of employers and employee. Hampshire: Gower Publishing Limited Salamon, M. (2000). Industrial relations: Theory and practice. London: Prentice Hall. Wallace, C. (2003). Work flexibility in eight European countries: A cross-national comparison: Sociological series. Vienna: Institute for Advanced Studies. Webb, B. Webb, s. (1897). Industri al democracy. Chicago: Longmans. This essay on The Role of Flexibility in the Australian Context was written and submitted by user Denise Mckee 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. 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Monday, November 25, 2019

T. S. Eliot essays

T. S. Eliot essays T.S. Eliot was an extremely private individual, leaving little behind for biographers. During his lifetime, Eliot earned a respected place in the literary world and his poetry is considered to be some of the most influential of the twentieth century. Born Thomas Stearns Eliot on September 26, 1988 to one of the most distinguished families of St. Louis, Missouri, Eliot was related to both Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Adams (Pettingell pg). He spent the first eighteen years of his life in St. Louis and then attended Harvard University, earning both undergraduate and masters degrees, then in 1910 left the United States to study at the Sorbonne in Paris (T.S. pg). He then returned to Harvard and earned a doctorate in philosophy, then in 1914, Eliot returned to Europe and settled in England, becoming a British citizen in 1927 (T.S. pg). He married Vivien Haigh-Wood the following year and began working as a teacher, the later for Lloyd's Bank in London (T.S. pg). While in London, Ezra Pound took notice of Eliot, recognizing at once his poetic genius and became a great influence in Eliot's life (T.S. pg). Pound assisted Eliot in the publication of his work in a several magazines and most notably, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' in 1915 (T.S. pg). In 1917, Eliot's first book of poems, Prufrock and Other Observations,' was published and instantly established him as a leading poet of the avant-garde (T.S. pg). In 1922 when The Waste Land' was published, his reputation grew to mythic proportions and by 1930 and for the next three decades, Eliot was the "most dominant figure in poetry and literary criticism in the English speaking world" (T.S. pg). His poetry transmuted his affinity for the English metaphysical poets of the 17th century, such as John Donne, and the 19th century French symbolist poets, Baudelaire and Laforgue, "into radical innovations in poe...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

They became very intimate and Arnold opened her mind and even told her how bad his life was. Likewise, Arnold became friends with a geek named Goudy, he told him he was a cartoonist. Arnold made his first bout against the university's basketball team and his former school, Wellpinit. Rowdy belonged to the Wellpinit team but eventually he defeated Arnold with his elbow to lose consciousness. In the next game with Wellpinit, the Reardan team triumph, but Arnold made me feel embarrassed. Sherman's part-time absolute real diary The absolute real diary of India by Alexei Sherman Aleksey explains the suffering of American high school students to Spokane in order to adapt to American cultural conditions. Arnold Spirit Jr. is a 14 year old high school freshman who experienced these experiences for himself. His poor career and a different culture made him the main target for the elimination and elimination of peers, and he also had difficulty in booking. I am 14 years old, I have been to 42 f unerals. This is truly the biggest difference between Indians and Caucasians. This novel is a good reading for those who are interested in the reality of cruel reality being reserved by many Indians but it can be very intense and emotional. - Gabe Moltz, grade 2021 Introduction Sherman Aleksey's part-time Indian absolute diary is a novel about Arnold's spirit (underage). The boy who came from SpookaneIndian Reservation decided to go to high school outside the reservation. bright future. - Absolute Real Diary of Perma Red and Part-time Indian In the past semester I read several books on Native American and its culture. The two most interesting books I found were the absolute real diary of the part-time Indian of Perma Red and Sherman Alex by Debra Magpie Earling. In each story, we will meet young people from reservations dealing with their local identity, love, loss and all that is between them.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Leading Employees and Best Practices Manual for New Supervisors Essay

Leading Employees and Best Practices Manual for New Supervisors - Essay Example Moreover, I do my best to influence the outcomes of the events in my workplace through my almost perfect work. My almost perfect work makes me to have the magnetism to attract people in the workplace. I also enjoy consulting on the workplace concerning complex issues and problems, which faces the managers. However, I also enjoy planning, directing, and controlling the staff of a department to ensure the company obtains the highest profit margins. I also consult with business groups and companies to improve effectiveness. To achieve this, I deal with level upon level of bureaucratic red tapes and pressure to improve the performance. I wake up early in the morning before sunrise and continue into late night during my job. I also get concerned on how well others do their work. I am a self-starter and full of enthusiasms about everything I do. I strive to do the best, and get involved in all competitive activities including sports. I have won several awards for outstanding performances. I also ensure that before doing a certain task, I have completed the previous one. I have an inner drive, which motivates me to accomplish something that had never been done before. In doing this, I maintain a sense of purpose and direction which is larger than I am. I would enjoy being in a job that requires hard and fast decisions. I also prefer being free and independent at work and a high salary and job security. I firmly believe that those who take the most risks with their own savings should receive the greatest financial rewards. This characteristic enables me to believe that I am courageous, energetic, and optimistic. I am also good at appraising others in the work place and I give credit readily where it is due. Instead of arguing with people, I give a benefit of doubt although very rarely. To achieve this, I am mostly honest and ruthless if others play the devious rules (Rue & Byars, 2006, p.256). A Comprehensive Best Practices Manual for New Supervisors This manual will h elp guide the supervisors to attain the best practices in this company. It contains important parts that makeup good supervisory skills that will guide supervisors throughout their supervisory level. Several elements are contained in this manual as follows. Demonstrating Communication Skills This is very important to supervisors. The employees will respond well to supervisors that communicate well and are comfortable taking instructions from them. The two best approaches in communication will involve listening and speaking. During communication, the supervisor ought to listen more while the rest of the time will be used in speaking and directing. Listening helps the supervisors gain knowledge of the people that the supervisor is responsible. It also helps the supervisor gain an insight on the weakness of the employees, their skills, complaints, and the ideas. It also involves active listening, which allows the supervisor to comprehend what the speaker is saying, and helps solve the problems. The second element involved in communication is speaking. This constitutes of a small percentage. It involves giving instructions and solutions to employees’ problems. Determining effective orientation and training methods for employee training A vital key to training employees is to ensure that they have the required information to do the job before they start the job. It is important to ensure that the employees feel as if they are embarking on an

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

W2 Assign Human Capital Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

W2 Assign Human Capital - Essay Example ess, then changing the procedure or process to enhance the output, boost efficiency and also the efficiency of the procedure or process (Cokins, 2009). The link between PM and improvement of performance is that their main goals of are to boost organisational efficiency and effectiveness to enhance the ability of the company to deliver services and/or goods. Another area, at times, targeted for both PM and improvement of performance is organisational efficacy, which concerns the process of setting organisational objectives and goals (Cokins, 2009). Performance management and improvement normally concern processes like statistical quality management and other softer forms of assessment like customer satisfaction surveys that are applied in obtaining qualitative information on performance from the stance of customers (Cokins, 2009). Traditional HR measurement systems mainly center on efficiency, but in order to transform this into strategic human capital management, they should attention paid to efficiency and effectiveness by measuring turnover, bench strength and attitudes (Merkle, 2011). Rarely do human resource leaders think about the impact and relative effect of diverse talent pools on organisational performance (Merkle, 2011). More significant, traditional HR measurements are hardly ever directed particularly to where they are most prone to have the utmost impact–on key/vital talent. Traditional HR management systems need to pay more concern to nonfinancial impacts, as well as sustainability needs to be improved, and strategic human resource management can persuade these, as well (Merkle, 2011). The key activities that HR managers need to participate in to be successful have to do with how corporate strategies associate with human capital management. Studying the organisations keenness to implemen t diverse strategies and supporting the execution of the corporate strategy should be activities that are conducted much more often by efficient HR functions

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Education and the Brain Essay Example for Free

Education and the Brain Essay Given the emerging challenges surrounding the practice of education, many scholars and researchers are trying to establish a particular framework that is dedicated towards the enhancement of information and intensifying facilitation. With these processes, there is one important and vital determinant of this situation – the man’s brain. In the advent of new capabilities, focus is now related on discovering and creating opportunities that seeks to enhance the relationship between the brain and education. The article of Bruer offers a comprehensive insight about the strength and weaknesses of such field. Tracing from the past, he emphasized how the discipline has evolved from a mere scientific study to reaching out in the realm of child development and education. As individuals and groups try to unearth the processes involved, it branched out to several unique disciplines that correlate with the concept of education; namely cognitive psychology and neuroscience (Bruer, p. 3). Operating on this scheme, there are two ways in which this can be recognized namely (1) the period of synaptic elimination and (2) critical periods (Bruer, p. 3). In the first part, Bruer points out the relevance and relative link between neuroscience and education. In this process, he mentions that there are various brain activities that are stimulated by synapses that affect the way a child can cope with numerous functions that are expected for him/her to perform in a classroom setup (Bruer, p. 4). At the same time, the document made mention the importance of the experiment concerning critical periods. With numerous ways for this case to be applied, researchers have focused on the idea that these actions are vital in the early advancement of an individual. Bruer argues that â€Å"cultural variations in child rearing suggest that there are many equally successful way to provide the normal environment needed for brain development† (p. 5). The next section caters in looking into environments that are vital for a child’s advancement during the early stages of his/her life. It fosters the claim that stimulating and active surrounding does contribute to the overall capability of an individual to function accordingly with the desired objectives and goals of an institution. However, there is a lapse in neuroscience as it fails to include and elaborate on how such process can be vital in the overall goal of education and growth (Bruer, p. 7). This remains to be the missing link in trying to determine that guidance of the brain functions in classroom instruction and learning. On the other hand, Bruer cites the capability of creating a bridge that will enable the brain to relate its functions towards cognitive functions. In this process, there are two ways that such idea can be recognized. Bruer mentions that â€Å"the first connects educational practice with cognitive psychology, and the second connects cognitive psychology with brain science† (p. 7). In here he cites numerous advancements in technology and equipments available nowadays to help study and examine the progression of mental activity happening in an individual. Similarly, using the mind-brain interface, many researchers and scientists are able to conduct tests that can determine which part/areas are vital in particular function that are used and applied in the educational sector (Bruer, p. 8). In the last part, it seeks to elaborate these bridges by pointing out two viable approaches in dealing with it; namely (1) instruction to cognition and (2) cognition to neural activity. The first part looks into the way cognition has been used by educators and scientists to determine appropriate ways to enhance neural activities. At the same time, it focused on several studies and findings that try to relate these instances. In the second part, Bruer points out the use of â€Å"cognitive models and brain recording techniques to trace the neural circuitry involved in a skill like numerical comparison† (Bruer, p. 10). It is in here that they were able to find the connection between the two. In the end, the article argues that the brain can greatly affect the way individuals respond to the education. Therefore, future studies must guide researchers in addressing the loopholes in the current literatures. As the demands for educational policy continues to increase significantly in the practice, a good basis for such study can be made by relating to one important factor that shapes learning and development – the brain. It is in here that we can find appropriate strategies to increase competency and skill acquisition needed to make students dynamic and vibrant in practice. Work Cited Bruer, John T. Education and the Brain: A Bridge too Far in ‘Educational Researcher’ 26 no. 8 1997. accessed 12 November 2008. 4-16.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Physical and Behavioral Responses to Starvation and Famine in Warsaw Gh

Physical and Behavioral Responses to Starvation and Famine in Two Populations Introduction Famine is an event in which food and resources are inaccessible and the majority of a population is endangered (Shipton, 1990). When applied to starvation this definition is accurate with one additional idea: starvation is the result of inaccessibility to resources. Many factors contribute to the progression of famine and the resulting starvation. One of the key factors to consider is the delineation between naturally occurring and man-made starvation and famine. Naturally occurring famine is the result of agricultural or environmental causes such as lack of rainfall or poor soil conditions. Man-made famine is the deliberate denial of food to people â€Å"with the aim of starving them into submission† (De Waal 1991:77). Man-made famine and the resulting starvation will be the basis for this paper. The purpose of this paper is to examine and compare the physical and behavioral responses to starvation and famine in residents of the Warsaw Ghetto during Nazi occupation and the citizens of famine-prone areas of the West African Sahel region. The location of the two regions discussed can be found on the maps (Figure 1 and Figure 2) at the end of this paper. The connections and contrasts of the two populations will be demonstrated through review and presentation of models from literature, a brief background on the populations to be discussed, examples of the populations as they fit the models and a brief discussion of limitations and opportunity for further study. Literature Review: Physical and Behavioral Response Models Physical Response The comparison between the Warsaw Ghetto and the West African Sahel region can best be exa... ...ntainer Institute, United States Army. Tushnet L. 1966. The uses of adversity. South Brunswick, New Jersey: Thomas Yoseloff. Page 18 17 Watts M. 1991. Entitlements or empowerment? famine and starvation in Africa. Review of African Political Economy, 51:9-26. Whitney, E. and Rady Rolfes S. 2005. Understanding nutrition, 10 th ed. Belmont, California: Thomson Wadsworth. WHO. Health conditions aggravate southern Africa famine. (August 4, 2002); http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/who63/en/. Page 19 18 Figure 1. Map of Warsaw, Poland and location of the Warsaw Ghetto. Britannica Student Encyclopedia: Warsaw." 2008. (March 2, 2008); http://www.student.britannica.com/eb/art-55185/Warsaw-Poland. Page 20 19 Figure 2. Map of Sudan, Ethiopia and the West African Sahel Region. Adapted from: http://z.about.com/d/worldnews/1/7/U/1/-/-/sudan_map.jpg.

Monday, November 11, 2019

CEO & CFO Perceptions About AIS Impact on Firm Essay

In the multifaceted, dynamic, corporate global milieu, imminent rifts continue to rattle the arenas of accounting/finance. The personal ambitions of CEO’s and CFO’s outweighed their responsibilities toward shareholders, employees, operations, civic/ethical duties, and the general financial system. CEO’s primarily focused on their own profitability, by increasing margins, meeting shareholder/market expectations, and expanding by any means necessary. Therefore, this lead to CFO’s and other members of top management on the front lines in manipulating margins to promote growth; thereby committing various levels of fraudulent activities, mainly to manipulate poor financial performance. The intertwining of ethical dilemmas and constant conflicts of interest endangered employees, shareholders, customers, and the general public. With the passing of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) in 2012, the act demanded, â€Å"that corporate management design and implement internal contro ls over the entire financial reporting process.† (Hall, 2013) In reference to CEO turnover and the appropriateness and effectiveness of a board, board of directors that are, â€Å"dominated by independent directors are more likely to remove a CEO based on poor performance than boards dominated by insiders.† (Dah, Frye, & Hurst 2013) â€Å"During the post-SOX, significant decline in the incidence of CEO turnovers for compliant firms.† (Dah, Frye, & Hurst 2013) Top management have adopted Accounting Information Systems, utilizing information technology and new understandings of physical controls in the workplace, in their effort to comply with SOX, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO), and to maintain ethically conscious decisions. A company’s internal controls have been under scrupulous review and are continuously examined to a point where they are in full compliance with SOX. Most of the attention is attributed to two main provisions, organized by the Public Companies Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) that dire ctly relate to internal controls. Under section 404, the CEO and CFO of publicly traded companies must personally disclose and certify, quarterly and annually, an adoption of a detailed code of ethics, which includes an effective maintenance of an internal control system. This section also protects whistle-blowers. In addition, section 303 requires that the CEO and  CFO must sign off on the financial statements to assure that the reports do not include any material misstatements or omissions. To further protect capital markets, corporate governance, employees, shareholders, the general public, and the auditing profession, the organization’s auditor’s assurance on management’s internal control and ethics policies is required. Top management teams understood the importance of adding IT prowess. Information Technology departments garnered more responsibility after the passing of SOX. Being held as critical importance to internal control functions in an organization, IT departments became responsible for creating, improving, executing, and modifying a series of controls, essential to reduce fraud. Additionally, IT is accountable for accumulating, processing, and storing financial data, which is utilized in financial statements, and creates audit trails for external auditors. A portion of the internal controls implemented in a business exist as IT controls, many of which are based in the computerized environment and usually pertain to financial data. Programs and processes are written and maintained by IT professionals. Fairly new and intuitive processes include automated systems. These programs have reshaped the environment of accounts reporting. They, â€Å"initiate, authorize, record, and report the effects of financial transactions.† (Hall, 2013) Automated accounting is associated with most Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP). ERP systems, â€Å"facilitate the flow of information among all departments in an organization, and manage data sharing with outside systems, such as suppliers, business partners, clients and regulatory agencies.† (Chinn, 2011) Top management are attracted to apply automated systems in order to create an efficient and secure operating and accounting environment. Rudimentary features include the generation and distribution of invoices to customers, which usually follows with high possibility, that payment will be received at a timely manner. This electronic process of invoicing goes hand in hand with receiving wire transfers and, on the opposing cycle, purchases of materials; therefore, in either process, this allows the company to efficiently benefit from increasing cash/credit receipts and the ability to quickly obtain corporate and operating capital. These advanced computerized processes are able to initiate the transfer of a corporation’s assets and are able to automatically incur liabilities, in relation to their corresponding  transactions without human interaction. However the many enticing advantages an automated system offers, there is no doubt the, â€Å"inextricable elements of the financial reporting process that SOX considers, and they must be controlled.† (Hall, 2013) Section 302 is in place to circumvent any inconsistencies of internal control in the workplace. Automation of the revenue cycle is typically used to reduce overhead costs, make better credit granting decisions, and better collect outstanding accounts receivable. Along with SOX provisions, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations framework group IT system controls into two broad categories: Application Controls and General Controls. Subcategories of application controls include input controls, processing controls, and output controls. The General controls include controls over IT governance, infrastructure, network & operating system security, database access, application acquisitions & development, and program changes. â€Å"General controls are needed to support the environment in which application controls function, and both are needed to ensure accurate financial reporting, as well as reduce instances of fraudulent activity.† (Hall 2013) While utilizing the aforementioned controls will greatly reduce risk of financial fraud, there are inherent risks concerning information technology systems. Organizations integrated in a global frame, face an overarching environmental risk involving stability, which primarily concerns IT. The rapid production and ingenuity of increasing computing power, coupled with consistent gains in the growth of technology, have a direct result in an exponentially vibrant information technology atmosphere. This dynamic environment causes constant changes within internal controls in companies. Currently, â€Å"IT is considered one of the main risk factors in organizations, and both lack and excess of such investments can compromise the structure and the operations of the firm.† (Lunardi, Becker, Macada, & Dolci 2010) To keep up with the forward thinking global environment, as well as complying with constant legal and technical changes, IT innately becomes a focus with organizations. Management continues to adapt to new challenges that emerge, in relation to IT. Recently, â€Å"companies have been spending about 50% of all capital investment on IT.† (Lunardi, Becker, Macada, & Dolci 2010) Executives understand that it is impossible to significantly curb IT spending in such a technologically driven world; â€Å"however, they do not want to spend any more than the minimum  necessary to deploy and run IT efficiently.† (Lunardi, Becker, Macada, & Dolci 2010) Outsourcing specific IT projects, as well as full ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems, has become more normal throughout the past few years. Over 90% of firms that were sampled in various research projects engage in IT outsourcing. â€Å"Given the pervasiveness of IT outsourcing and the magnitude of IT spending in the economy† (Kobelsky & Robinson, 2010) top management can write-off costs, as well as secure system failures. In case of an unforeseen disturbance, firms can still operate ERP systems in their headquartered location, by creating an off-site ERP system. However, most IT outsourcing does not connect with cost reduction. Most managers, â€Å"indicate that though practitioner research emphasizes ITOS’s (IT outsourcing) cost-reduction benefits gained at the individual project level, outsourcing is associated with higher IT spending, presumably reflecting enhancement of capabilities.† (Kobelsky & Robinson, 2010) Organizations utilize ITOS, in addition to improving in-house IT fraud reduction projects. The continuation of outsourcing affects an increase in IT spending, than for localization. Consistent computing advancements and technological prowess have had positive outcomes in business processes, as well as added new computer support systems. There have been recent instances that cite, â€Å"fraud costs U.S. business more than $400 billion annually.† (Ravisankar, Ravi, Rao, & Bose, 2011) Data mining techniques have been implemented to remedy fraud and increase fraud detection by utilizing approaches that are more data-driven. These methods specifically depend on historical monetary data of both troubled and strong companies, coupled with their respective financial ratios. With the use of objective data mining, companies can solve financial statement inaccuracies and financial problems affecting the business, â€Å"by sifting through the records of fraudulent and healthy companies. Then, they discover knowledge which can be used to predict whether a company at hand will p erpetrate financial accounting fraud in future.† (Ravisankar, Ravi, Rao, & Bose, 2011) Artificial Intelligence systems bring forth a theoretical advantage. They understand when and when not to extract specific statistical facts on the input variables. Nevertheless, new computing power and automated systems could contain unexpected risks that could alter and affect reliability on financial statements. Because of newfound internal control spending, coupled with an  increase of information technology in the workplace, companies have been progressively shifting their reporting systems from legacy platforms to a widespread client-server network. The integrated network utilizes new servers and product software, such as industry leaders, Oracle and SAP. Since the passing of SOX and introduction of COSO, Oracle and SAP have been duking it out for majority share of the market. The Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing (SAP) is a software ERP, which incorporates a streamline of business function applications. The system offers a, â€Å"real time management an d tracking of sales, productions, finance, accounting and human resources in an enterprise.† (Indika, 2011) Usually, IT systems operate separate processes. Traditionally, each process cycle operates in its own system. SAP differentiates itself by integrating into all business practices and operations. Updates are presented in real time, and pass along through different cycles and departments. The complexity of SAP, â€Å"runs on a fourth generation programming language called Advanced Business Application Programming (ABAP).† (Indika, 2011) Oracle maintains a similar application to the environment. ORDBMS (Oracle DMBS) has been primarily incorporated to be as versatile as SAP, specifically to assist large enterprise settings and manage data in the enterprise. Additionally, it can be useful on a personal level. Oracle DBMS is comprised of data and retrieved by applying SQL (Structured Query Language). The commands set entrance boundaries and protect the users’ data files. It, â€Å"can be embedded in other languages or could be executed directly as scripts.† (Indika, 2011) â€Å"During the initial SAP installation, Oracle can be defined as the database that is going to be used and then the SAP system will issue SQL commands that are compatible with the Oracle DBMS.† (Indika, 2011) There is not a drastic difference in installation time for Oracle or SAP. It also depends on whether the system is slowly introduced to the organization, or if it is launched all at one time. Top management will review an in depth cost and risk analysis, in determining which method of installation is most appropriate. (http://whatiserp.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/duration.png) The centralized legacy mainframe environment is tightly controlled and has made management complacent because of the simple fact that it works. The security structures and internal controls found on legacy systems have developed over the past four decades. Program and file access is easily traced and  organized. The operating system of mainframe programs deliberately create audit trails and logs, which offer conveniences to external auditors, as well as making it more difficult to commit fraud. Legacy systems incorporate intricate scheduling software, which operate as safeguards. For example, plans are input into the system when appropriate authorization is in effect and in the precise sequence. Additionally, these systems adopt specific controls, which protect the integrity of financial report s and stages in the multiple cycles utilized by a business. Specifically, change controls pre-determinately restricts alterations to production applications. Automated responses appear and instruct employees to provide high level approvals and testing. The mainframe control environment has had time to evolve in decently stable times. However, upon the introduction of SOX and the realization that there were material internal control weaknesses in the workplace, standardization and integrated programming systems were presented to the business world. Over time, more and more companies are making the jump to cross-referencing and streamlined technologies. Because of a limited time lapse regarding the application of new ERP systems, there has not been reliable risk analyses on internal control processing, as there are with legacy systems. Unfortunately, there is an insurmountable need for risk awareness, when incorporating new systems in this day & age. Over-crowded client-server networks can become a problem to configure and monitor appropriately . To cushion the negative associations of risk, physical and internal controls are put into place to monitor systems. Companies may want to place security cameras and physical guards of the servers and related systems during off-hours. When deciding to implement new technology in a firm, or replacing an entire system with more up-to-date specifications, control risks need to be assessed. New risks and internal control weaknesses are often created faster than they can be discovered and regulated. Integrity and security of a firm’s data should be at a top priority. Threats, like viruses and worms are to be kept at bay, with various walls and algorithms. Emerging technologies like Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, the continuation of reporting, subject to repeated external audits & compliance with SOX and COSO, and object-oriented databases remedy discrepancies should protect systems. A firm’s internal audit department are also available in coordinating and evaluating the IT control environment, and should be able to verbally instruct and announce employee centric workshops to increase employee control awareness. Because of issues concerning independence and segregation of duties, the internal audit department will not be able to design code and functionality specifications in the internal control mainframe. However, they are the cheapest and central consultants on how the controls affect operations, and if the specific controls work in detecting fraud. Top management considers the internal audit department an under-utilized resource in perfecting internal controls and information technology controls. Constant balance between CEO’s and CFO’s must be maintained in order to synergize business operations, in accordance with GAAP, SOX, and COSO. Information technology, â€Å"serves as a facilitator, catalyst, motivator, or even an enabler for the convergence of management accounting and financial accounting.† (Taipaleenmaki & Ikaheimo 2012) In order for the SOX initiative to be effective, the information technology function must be in conjuncture with aiding the control environment of a business. Financial reporting has changed over the years, to favor IT processes, which are almost entirely fundamental to the financial reporting practice. Additionally, with the passing of SOX, new responsibilities are imposed upon IT functions, which would usually be ignored, because IT is not necessarily responsible for monitoring internal controls. IT & finance professionals, as well as top management, have had to adopt and learn a whole new set of functions, reporting, and mon itoring. The information technology culture is of dire importance to adhering to new standards and progresses the business environment to innovative and more secure highs. A functioning IT department is crucial for the CEO & CFO to document financial and internal controls. Value is a very subjective term, especially in reference to capital expenditures. Different opinions and different needs will influence how much a firm spends on new technology to facilitate and cooperate with changing standards. Usually, implementing a new system in a business have positive and financial benefits, in the long run. However, â€Å"a new system will often find resistance at the individual level because the users do not  perceive any value to them from it.† (Barua, Brooks, Gillon, Hodgkinson, & Kohli, 2010) Positives could include additional time to perform other tasks, and create more efficiency around the organization. However, an overuse of technology could threaten employee’s jobs, as systems become more automated. Individual perception on new installations of systems might be shaky at first, but in the end, whatever is needed to comply with changing standards, is exactly what leaders of organizations will flock toward. CEOs and CFOs understand that integrating proper Accounting Information Systems is integral to society and the business world. Additionally, as per Thomas Piketty, who maintains in his freshly published voluminous, â€Å"Capital in the Twenty-First Century†, CEOs, CFOs, and Super Managers are running massive conglomerates effectively because of IT and AIS. Therefore, IT has given them powers to set exorbitant compensation packages for themselves, by super-humanly maximizing their own productivity and performance. In conjunction, if fraud can be avoided in the bargain, they are awarded super hero status and remuneration, which may summarize their perceptions about AIS , IT, and the dual benefits of SOX and COSO. Bibliography Barua, A., Brooks, L., Gillon, K., Hodgkinson, R., & Kohli, R. (2010). Creating, Capturing andMeasuring Value From IT Investments: Could We Do Better? . Communications of theAssociation for Information Systems, 27, 13-26. Chinn, D. (2011, March 11). What Is Enterprise Resource Planning Systems?. eHow. RetrievedApril 15, 2014, from: http://www.ehow.com/info_8050594_enterpriseresourceplanningsystems.html#ixzz2zS3rm7n5 Dah, M. A., Frye, M. B., & Hurst, M. (2014). Board Changes and CEO Turnover: TheUnanticipated Effects of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Journal of Banking & Finance, 41, 97108. Difference Between. (Indika). Difference Between RSS. Retrieved May 5, 2014, fromhttp://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-sap-and-vs-oracle/ Hall, J. A. (2013). Accounting Information Systems (8th ed.). Cincinnati, Ohio: South-WesternCollege Pub.. Print. Kobelsky, K. W., & Robinson, M. A. (2010). The impact of outsourcing on informationtechnology spending. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 11(2),105-119. Lunardi, G. L., Becker, J. L., Macada, A. C., & Dolci, P. C. (2010). The impact of adopting ITgovernance on financial performance: An empirical analysis among Brazilian firms .Journal of Banking & Finance, 15, 66-81. Ravisankar, P., Ravi, V., Rao, G. R., & Bose, I. (2011). Detection of financial statement fraudand feature selection using data mining techniques. Decision Support Systems, 50(2),491-500. Taipaleenmà ¤ki, J., & Ikà ¤heimo, S. (2013). On the convergence of management accounting andfinancial accounting – the role of information technology in accounting change.International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 14(4), 321-348. Chart Picture: http://whatiserp.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/duration.png

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Is the Financial Crisis caused by inefficient financial data management or financial models or both? Essay

This question is posed at the conclusion of â€Å"As Securities Become More Complex Is Financial Data Management Becoming More Complex?† by Jeffrey Rooney.   This paper discusses OTC derivatives as an example of how the financial crisis escalated and Enterprise Data Management (EDM) as a financial data model that offers a solution to data problems faced by the industry. Based on Rooney’s presentation the financial crisis is a symptom of inefficient financial data management which is the result of intentional   use of poor financial models coupled with the intentional misuse of financial models. Poor financial data management has a cultural and technological basis.   The cultural component is the Chinese wall or siloed business unit structure which facilitates and operates on the intentional misuse of financial models for the purpose of preserving the identity and autonomy of independent business units.   The technological component includes other issues such as merger activities and â€Å"disparate legacy systems† (Rooney 2009, p.2)   which results in either use of poor financial models or provides no framework for effective financial models at all. The IBM-World Bank currency swap was structured with the goal of avoiding highly regulated capital markets and regulation by affected countries.   This was a $290 million transaction which paved the way for the creation of the now $700 trillion OTC derivative market.   (Rooney 2009, p.3) As a result of these inefficiencies a financial crisis has occurred in multiple sectors of the financial markets. The financial crisis is the result of the systematic use of poof financial models and inefficient data management strategies built around the primary goal of expanding the derivative market.  Ã‚   Avoiding regulation and   hiding the complexity of derivative transactions is a primary goal of, resulting in, the inefficient financial data management and financial models. Bibliography Rooney, J.   (Spring 2009) As Securities Become More Complex Is Financial Data Management Becoming More Complex?   FinTech Project. Polytechnic Institute of NYU Finance and Risk Engineering.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Credence

Credence Credence Credence By Maeve Maddox I started wondering about the use of the word credence when I noticed the following headline on an entertainment news site: Al Pacino gives credence to James Gunns ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ The noun credence (KREE-dns] usually functions as a synonym for credibility or believability. For example, â€Å"The premise of the argument lacks credence.† As much as I enjoyed the Gunn film, I find nothing believable about a tree creature that wins everyone’s affection by saying the same three words again and again, or a genetically engineered raccoon with anger issues. I decided to find out if credence has another meaning that fits the context of that headline. Credence belongs to a family of English words that derive from the Latin verb credere, â€Å"to believe.† For example: credo: a religious belief, a guide to behavior. credible: believable. credential: official documentation indicating that a person may be trusted. credit: favorable reputation; trustworthiness in financial matters. creditable: that which does a person credit, praiseworthy. credulity: a readiness to believe. credulous: inclined to believe on the basis of little evidence. The noun credence occurs most often in the idiom â€Å"to lend (or give) credence to†: It really gives credence to the live singing in the movie to see them actually do it live onstage, Meron said. We  seem to live in a celebrity world. A world where being famous has more credence than being brilliant or a good person. During the McCarthy Era, suspicions were often given credence despite inconclusive or questionable evidence. The study lends credence to what scientists have long suspected: â€Å"If you want to recover birds, you need to recover the food that they’re eating.† Less used is the phrase â€Å"to pay credence to.† It occurs where the verb â€Å"to respect† would usually be clearer and more succinct: Alas, I am a liberal. I am honour-bound to pay credence to the rantings and ravings of other people and not simply discard them for being ridiculous. People dont  pay credence  to cultural health, Simmons said.   Originally, the idea was to  pay credence  to those in our lives who help us succeed. University administrators have become more mediators than foes, as they negotiate how to balance the principles of free speech, to which they pay credence, with students safety and well-being.   I continue to puzzle over the headline. Here are some adjectives that can serve to convey one’s feeling that a thing is believable: creditable probable possible feasible reasonable rational sound admirable Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Mostly Small But Expressive InterjectionsWhenever vs. When EverList of Prefixes and Suffixes and their Meanings

Monday, November 4, 2019

Book ReviewPractices of Looking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Book ReviewPractices of Looking - Essay Example The work of Pierre Bourdieu is one such example, where in this procedure the images call upon the subjects that can be put in a frame work with exact principles and philosophy, it offers more profound introduction to the model of thoughts or principles, in the course of a short lived summary of the idea during the exertion of Marx, Althussor and Gramsci. The chapter argues about the approach that should be in balance with the supposition of principles, only those who can believe the clout of governing principles or thoughts as well as the role played by the viewers in constructing the implifications. The chapter 2 draws out quiet a few hypotheses that tackle the confrontations of texts and viewers, together with Stuart Hall's theory of encoding/decoding, the plans of fraud and contradictory reading (as Chicano Mural painting by an AIDS activist work, and the works of artists such as Barbara Kruger, and gender bending readings of Hollywood film). The chapter shells out special attention to the plans made by some viewers who challenge on the basis of such strategy to modify the actual meaning of the images and texts, so that they would shape it according to their ideology. The chapter converses the practical ideas of the gaze in Cinema and Art history, investigates and examines all possible ways in which such theories could be updated in compliance to the changing concepts of spectatorship, theories of identity of lesbian/gay and gender analysis, as well as to discover the novel ideas in making films, bringing out new styles in presenting images and the very need to marketing through advertisement that makes men to gaze while providing first of its kind like pieces of work to view for the spectators. The chapter gives the relative aspects of gaze with queries of power; putting forward some of the central preassumptions of Michael Foucault on panoptician, power/knowledge, discourse. The power of gaze is compared to the role of photography in working out the modern authorities through institutions to examine in hospitals and prisons, and in anthropology and advertising exotic new mages are discussed. The chapter ends with a small chat of how the critique of Orientalism and postcolonial theory could assist us to recognize gazes upon and "other" images. Source http://www.oup.co.uk/oxfordtextbooks/media/sturken/r_mla.html

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Practical 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Practical 1 - Assignment Example Annealing process effects on mechanical properties of the sample’s test strain properties. The material loses its ductility during the cold rolling process. Anneal strengthening effect or toughness of the material under investigation (copper) increases in degree of prior cold work and the corresponding annealing. The ability of crystalline material to plastically deform depends on the ability for dislocation movement within copper. When the movement of dislocations is impeded, the material is strengthened. This is achieved through a number of ways such as; Strain hardening or work-hardening or cold working is a process that makes copper harder and stronger through plastic deformation. As it is plastically deformed, dislocations move as additional dislocations are produced. As dislocation within the material increases, the grains interact and become pinned or tangled. As a result, there is decreased grain mobility of dislocations as the material is strengthened. Ductility increases with the grain size, as the strength decreases. Atomic diffusion occurs as temperature increases and it releases internal strain energy. Since atoms are not fixed in a position but move once they have enough energy to break their bonds, diffusion increases rapidly with the increase in temperature. This allows the atoms to move to unrestrained positions and recover a normal position in lattice structure. This is the recovery phase and leads to adjustment of strain. In the annealing process, the test sample was performed in 1000Â ºC capacity furnace. It was observed that the hardness of the copper sample increased with gradual increase in reduction in cross-sectional area. This is due to strain hardening. The maximum value of hardness was obtained at 117HB 40% reduction in area. Understanding of mechanical deformation properties ensures efficient stress relieving procedures. Thickness of material affects the hardness of the material. It is observed from the experiment that