Human Behavior and Racism Backgrounds

Human Behavior and Racism Backgrounds It is absolutely clear that any manifestation of racism bears most negative implications. However, with a closer look and no extra emotional compound, racism can merely be regarded as an idea of diversity, described in respective scientific works. Nevertheless, mentioning any of ethnic, social, political and ideological differences today potentially indicates morbid inequality, violent action, abuse speech, all sorts of prejudice, discrimination and oppression. The phenomenon of racism counts centuries of history, though it is declared to be actively fought against. We live in a quite a versatile world. The natural equilibrium of ecosystems lies on its participants’ diversity, where none is claimed to be second-rate or irrelevant. The same principles of nature are applicable to humans. There are billions of people on the Earth; therefore, it is natural that we are different. However, none of the animals shows any trait of discriminative behavior or groundless violence, while humans do. Holocausts, Ku Klux Clans and Pogroms have already become a steady component of the way we perceive the world and build our attitude. Therefore, it is not the idea of diversity that causes racism, but the way we consider it. Violence on ethnicity grounds is based on a simple life instinct, a reaction of â€Å"fight or flight† principle, initially working out in vicinity of danger. Any feeling of dislike or non-admission toward other species of our kind might be a strong derivative of this reaction. We only tend to adapt ideological components post factum in order to gain social approval and hide primitive thinking. Without this component any violence is nothing but primitive action. A racism phenomenon, therefore, is based more on primitive thinking and individual immaturity, rather than on ideology. This provides a new vantage point to racism backgrounds based on individual human behavior.

Consent Is Thought to Be Morally Transformative of...

2. Consent is thought to be morally transformative of peoples conduct toward each other. Where sex is concerned, it is all but universally regarded as necessary to make sexual conduct legitimate. But the question is then, is consent also sufficient? Discuss both yes and no answers to this question, using Soble, Wertheimer, West and/or Primoratz. Finally, which seems the best supported answer? TAKE OUT HEADINGS AND ADD A COVER PAGE I will begin this paper in support of the liberal theory recognized on sexual morality being upheld that whatever is consented to will be permissible, thus what is not consented will be impermissible. I also support that the consenting participants should be competent and well informed without coercion†¦show more content†¦Primoratz counter argues that consent is the touchstone of morally permissible sex nonetheless acknowledges that it is invaluable when discussing ideals of human sexuality. He also argues that in regards to consent that it can be ‘morally decisive over a wide range of action’ and that it is not justified to treat sex special. Consent is to Primoratz ‘indeed enough’ in sexual acts but is critical of the claim that consent to sex is at best necessary, but not sufficent. He generalizes sexual consent on the same level of all moral responsibilities with gives reason to the idea of consent ca n be implemented to cover all moral issues. This generalization of consent being a criterion of all moral responsibilties is unrealistic in a discussion of sexual morality. Morality criterion requires multiple factors beyond an individual consent on the account of such consentual activities as recreational drug use and voluntary euthanasia as it would eliminate opportunity for moral discourse. In spite of that the idea of consent has many levels of specification which could morally be concerning of well-being and autonomy under adequate strong understanding of consent under a collection of area-specified understanding of consent Primoratz insubstaintial anaylsis of consent being the ‘difference between murder and voluntary euthanasia† is considerably distant of the idea of consent. However consent does differentiate the two subjects it

Making Scotch Free Essays

Scotch whiskey is traditionally made with just barley and water.   Also referred to as malt whiskey, Scotch, in the beginning of the production process, requires barley grains to be steeped in water until they sprout.   The germinating barley is generally spread on the floor of a malting house where it continues to develop over the course of a week or two. We will write a custom essay sample on Making Scotch or any similar topic only for you Order Now The grains are turned over regularly during this malting period, using a â€Å"paddle† to allow air to get at them and to encourage even development.   The starch in the barley turns to sugar, and germination is stopped at the optimum time by placing the barley in an oven or kiln.   Traditionally, Scotch makers used peat fired ovens to give the Scotch its peaty, smoky taste.   Some distilleries continue to retain the peaty flavor of Scotch today by burning peat and blowing the smoke over the grain. Once the barley is dry, it is milled to produce a floury substance called â€Å"grist.†Ã‚   This substance is rich in sugar, and mixed with hot water to create a â€Å"mash.†Ã‚   The mash is placed in a large cylindrical metal vessel or container called a â€Å"mash tun.†Ã‚   In order to release the sugars, the contents of the mash tun are stirred regularly.   At the conclusion of this process, a liquid known as â€Å"wort† is produced.   This hot, sweet, non-alcoholic liquid is transferred to a large wooden â€Å"washback,† which is similar to a giant wooden pail that is commonly made from Oregon pine or Cypress, both of which are highly resistant to fungi. The yeast is added in the washback to begin the fermentation process.   During this process, the sugar in the wort is turned into alcohol as the solution bubbles and foams furiously before gradually slowing down.   The sugar is converted over a period of two to four days.   At the end of  this process, the alcohol content of the product is no more than approximately 8-9%.   The Scotch is not ready, and so the liquid wash must be distilled down to the required alcohol content. Distillation is the next major step in Scotch making.   This process takes place in copper pot stills that have a distinctive, swan-neck shape.   The shape of the stills and the length of the neck determine the character of the final product. Typically, there are two kinds of stills involved in the distillation process: the wash still and the spirit still.   The first is used to produce the first distillation, referred to as â€Å"low wines.†Ã‚   This product is distilled for the second time in the spirit still before it is collected as the strong distilled spirit.   This spirit is not useable, however.   Hence, it is diverted into a receiving tank.   The final product of the second distillation is not useable either.   But it is saved to be added to the next batch of low wines. The glass-fronted â€Å"spirit safe† is where the spirit is tested with a hydrometer as it leaves the pot stills.   In Scotland, this safe is heavily padlocked by the Customs Excise to prevent any possibility of the distillery siphoning off the spirit in order to avoid the payment of legal duty on it. Following this formality, the final spirit is collected in the receiving tank.   It is now prepared to go into barrels for the next stage of the Scotch making process – maturation.   Scotch whiskey is normally stored in barrels that have been previously used.   It takes around three years at least to call it Scotch, however.   Maturation may take anything from three years to twenty years.   Before it is matured, the Scotch is simply referred to as spirit. During the process of maturation, around 2% of the spirit is lost each year due to evaporation.   Once the malt whiskey has been matured for the required time, it can be bottled and labeled.   However, if it is to be used as part of a blended whiskey, the master blender would â€Å"nose† each  whiskey to determine its characteristics and to ensure that the consistency of the specific blend is maintained. Blenders may include in the final blend as many as thirty or forty different malt and grain whiskeys.   The blender is also responsible for ensuring that a particular blend retains its consistency over a number of years.   For this reason, the blender’s nose must be skilled. Coloring is added at this point to the Scotch, and the drink is chill-filtered so as to remove the oils that cause cloudiness when ice is added.   The prepared whiskey, whether blended or not, is then transferred to the bottling plant where it is bottled using automated methods.   It is also noteworthy that some of the processes mentioned in the making of Scotch are now automated.   As an example, barley may be turned or â€Å"ploughed† with automatic paddles as opposed to manually during the grain germination process.   The chief fermentation and distillation processes, however, have largely remained unchanged in the last couple of hundred years. Bibliography 1.   Distillery Journey: Making Scotch Whiskey. (1998). Cocktail Times. Retrieved from http://www.cocktailtimes.com/distillery/making_scotch.shtml. (15 March 2007). 2. Making Scotch Whiskey: A Brief Explanation of the Traditional Method. (2005). Loch Lomond Distillers. Retrieved from http://www.lochlomonddistillery.com/making-scotch.htm. (15 March 2007).    How to cite Making Scotch, Essay examples

Nicaragua Case free essay sample

The Court, whose function is to decide in accordance with international law such disputes as are submitted to it, shall apply: a. international conventions, whether general or particular, establishing rules expressly recognized by the contesting states; b. nternational custom, as evidence of a general practice accepted as law; c. the general principles of law recognized by civilized nations; d. subject to the provisions of Article 59, judicial decisions and the teachings of the most highly qualified publicists of the various nations, as subsidiary means for the determination of rules of law. ’ A rule must derive from one of these sources in order to be considered international law. ’ Custom in international law is a practice followed by those concerned because they feel legally obliged to behave in such a way. Custom must be distinguished from mere usage, such as behavior which may be done out of courtesy, friendship or convenience rather than out of legal obligation or a feeling that non-compliance would produce legal consequences, for example sanctions imposed by other members of the international community. We will write a custom essay sample on Nicaragua Case or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This is also a requirement for opinion juris. The source judicial  decisions  and scholarly writings are subsidiary means for the determination of the law. Both municipal and international judicial  decisions  can serve to establish new principles and rules. As said before the judges also relied on international customary as a source. A rule of customary international law identified in the case would be the principle of non-intervention. The Principle of nonintervention as used in International law refers to a rule that a country should not interfere in the internal affairs of another country. The rule is based upon the principles of state sovereignty and self-determination. This principle is also embodied in Article 2(7) of the U. N. Charter which binds it from intervening â€Å"in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state. †   The judgest in the case state that ‘It therefore finds that the support given by the United States to the military and paramilitary activities of the  contras  in Nicaragua, by financial support, training, supply of weapons, intelligence and logistic support, constitutes a clear breach of the principle of non-intervention. ’ The judicial decisions which find their legal grounds in article 38 of the UNC are part of case law. Case law is the decisions, interpretations made by judges while deciding on the legal issues before them which are considered as the common law or as an aid for interpretation of a law in subsequent cases with similar conditions. Case laws are used by advocates to support their views to favor their clients and also it influence the decision of the judges. The ICJ refers to the following judicial decisions in the Nicaragua case; * Corfu Channel * Contadora Process * Fisheries Jurisdiction * cf. Monetary Gold Removed from Rome in 1943 * Northern Cameroons * Continental Shelf (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya/Malta) Nuclear Tests General principles are essentially provide a mechanism to address international issues not already subject either to treaty provisions or to binding customary rules. Such general principles may arise either through municipal law or through international law, and many are in fact procedural or evidential principles or those that deal with the machinery of the judicial pro cess. One of the most important principle of international law is that of  good faith. It governs the creation and performance of legal obligations and is the foundation of treaty law. Another important general principle is that of equity, which permits international law to have a degree of  flexibility in its application and enforcement. In the Nicaragua case the judges refer to the principle of the equality of the parties, it states that it has to remain a basic principle. The case speaks of the latin maxium jura novit curia which is a general principle of law. The latin maxim jura novit curia is used to express the fact that the court knows the law, or in other words that there is no need for the parties to plead the law or to prove the law that applies to the case. It has traditionally been claimed that jura novit curia applies in civil law systems but not in common law systems. However, this claim has been made with varying finality. The case states that ’ For the purpose of deciding whether the claim is well founded in law, the principle jura novit curia signifies that the Court is not solely dependent on the argument of the parties before it with respect to the applicable law (cf. Lotus, P. C. I. J. , Series A, No. 10, p. 31), so that the absence of one party has less impact. This would mean for the opinion of the court that although one party is absent there is no question of a judgment automatically in favour of the party appearing, since the Court is required to satisfy itself that that partys claim is well founded in fact and law. This essay shows that the Nicaragua cases relies on all kinds of sources of international law. It shows us that law can be found in more than one place and that there can be more rules who are on the sam e issue but differs from source e. g. rules of customary law and treaty law as stated in the case.

Herpes Essay Research Paper HERPESSIMPLEX free essay sample

Herpes Essay, Research Paper HERPES-SIMPLEX # 8211 ; TYPE 2 Herpes is a name that is used to depict several types of tegument eruptions that are characterized by formation of blisters. The term embraces chiefly two distinguishable upsets, herpes simplex and herpes shingles, both caused by viruses. Together, these # 8220 ; herpes # 8221 ; viruses are estimated to do more human unwellnesss than any other group of viruses. Two types of herpes simplex are known. The first causes cold sores or febrility blisters, which is an eruption of blisters that frequently occurs during the class of or after one of a assortment of diseases that finally cause febrility ( most normally mean colds, the grippe, and pneumonia ) . The blisters normally appear around the oral cavity and on the lips ( herpes labialis ) , about the olfactory organ, face, and ears, and in the oral cavity and throat. The causative virus has been shown to be present in the cell organic structures of the facial nervus in individuals who do non hold blisters. It is this reservoir of latent virus that is the beginning of perennial onslaughts. Except for lotions to alleviate hurting, itchiness, or redness, no established treatmemt has really been developed. The 2nd type of the herpes simplex virus, nevertheless, is the usual cause of genital herpes. Herpes infections of the venereal country have become progressively # 8220 ; Herpes, # 8221 ; page 2 common, traveling along with a rise in general of many sexually familial diseases. Somet imes accompanied by concern and febrility, the status normally begins with a mild itchiness, followed by the development of bunchs of blisters that break and crust to organize strikebreakers that finally dry up. The procedure may last one to three hebdomads. In many instances new bunchs of blisters appear as others heal. When a babe is born to a adult female who has active venereal herpes lesions, the baby is at high hazard of undertaking an infection that is frequently fatal, so these adult females normally have their babes delivered by a cesarean subdivision. Primary instances of venereal herpes can be treated by a drug called Zovirax, which was approved in 1982 and in another signifier, that is to be taken orally instead than used in an ointment signifier, in 1984. It besides has been turn outing utile against recurrent onslaughts. The virus can besides occupy the cardinal nervous system, or CNS, particularly in people who are weakened by other diseases, such as malignant neoplastic disease, doing a terrible instance of phrenitis. Early intervention of herpetic phrenitis with the drug Zovirax can forestall decease and encephalon harm in many instances. How can herpes be prevented? Because the disease is transmitted most frequently through bodily fluids, the simpliest protection is to merely protect yourself. During # 8220 ; Herpes, # 8221 ; page 3 sex, one of the spouses should decidedly be have oning a rubber, and that entirely will greatly cut down an single # 8217 ; s opportunities of geting the virus of herpes-simplex type-2.

Roman Jakobson essays

Roman Jakobson essays Today I am going to talk about Roman Jakobson. First of all I would like to tell you the most important facts of his life. Roman Jakobson was born in Moscow in 1896. He grew up in pre-Revolutionary Russia and began his high school studies at the Lazarev Institute of Languages at the age of ten. He taught at the university of Moscow and it was there that he and six other students founded the Moscow Linguistics Circle. In 1920 he left the Soviet Union for Prague where he worked as a translator and helped to form the Prague Linguistics Circle in 1926. Jakobson was known for his anti-fascist feelings and with the fascist invasion he fled to Denmark and finally in 1941 to America where he lived until his death in 1982. He was professor at the Columbia University in Harvard and at the MIT. His teaching deeply influenced several trends in the evolution of 20th century structuralism and linguistics. Four epochs in the development of Jakobsons research can be distinguished. 1) In his formalist period from 1914 to 1920 he was both the founder of the Moscow Linguistics Circle and a member of the influential Opoyaz poetics group. 2) In his structuralist period from 1920 to 1939 he was a dominating figure of the Prague School of linguistics and Aesthetics. 3) In his semiotic period from 1939 to 1949 he was associated with the Copenhagen Linguistic Circle and was active in founding the Linguistic Circle of New York. 4) Jakobsons interdisciplinary period began in 1949 with his teaching at Harvard. Information and communication theory, mathematics, neurolinguistics, biology and even physics were among the fields to which Jakobson extended his interests. The central fields of his research were poetics and linguistics, especially phonology, morphology, dialectology and aphasiology. From his early years his interest went beyond language and the verbal arts to cover the larger semiotic fields of culture and aesthetics. Jakobson ...

Tales from Thousand and One Nights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tales from Thousand and One Nights - Essay Example e King Shahryar an important lesson meant to change his life – that all women are not the same, and the actions of one evil woman cannot be used to judge the virtue and morality of all women. The â€Å"Prologue† to the tales begins with King Shahryar firmly believing that all women are inherently deceptive, evil and immoral. The King’s solution to the misery his once beloved wife had caused him is to marry virgin girls and killing them after the first night. Scheherzade, the heroine of the Arabian Nights, vows to change his mind, and save her life as well as the life other girls of her land. Thus, this â€Å"Prologue† helps to establish the pivotal position of women in the entire series of events. A woman changed the King Shahryar’s life forever, and a woman will set it back to normal. The representation of women in the stories of Scheherzade is well planned and meant to achieve a certain purpose. The portrayal of women in Tales from the Thousand an d One Nights is not restricted to one definite category – they are depicted in characters that range from wise to foolish, from greedy to sacrificing and from highly virtuous to deeply immoral. This arrayed depiction serves to highlight the fact that all women are not alike, and it is fallacious for anyone to form rigid judgments about the character of all women. The order of the stories is significant in the representation of women. In the first few stories, women are depicted as evil and cunning. For instance, in â€Å"The Fisherman and the Jinee†, the destruction of the King of Black Isles is brought about by his wife. She is portrayed as an enchantress who not only has an adulterous affair with an Indian, but also uses her magic powers to perish her husband’s city, converting him into half stone. This character is also shown as the unnatural woman – a magician who defames the true essence of womanhood. A woman that does not love her husband, and fails to perform her duties as wife, thus, is represented as

Main activities of commercial and investment banks in the capital Essay

Main activities of commercial and investment banks in the capital markets - Essay Example Commercial banks provide capital market related services, depository services, advises on portfolio management or investment counseling, etc. Many banks have now started offering investment services to the retail customer, which is essentially advice and execution of mutual fund investments and redemptions.The Commercial Banks can be referred to as institutions that are involved in credit activities. Credit activities can be classified into deposit acceptance and borrowing funds from other banking institutions. Other activities are credit extension, risk management and risk advice.The classification of the types of services that are offered by a commercial bank is as follows:†¢ Discretionary Services – Decisions are taken on behalf of the clients/customers by a portfolio manager keeping in view the different parameters of asset allocation. †¢ Non-discretionary Services – In this kind of services, portfolio managers do not have the right to take decisions on behalf of clients/customers. The client or the customer is needed to authorize all the transactions happening with respect to their account.Advisory services – Flexible, unbiased investment advice customized to meet the client’s needs.Transaction support – All transactions, both in the primary and secondary markets facilitated through a panel of brokers.Custodial services – Important from the point of view of removal of settlement hassles and efficient follow-up of all corporate actions.Commercial banks approach the brokers for information about the quotes of other commercial banks. The broker serves three important purposes in the foreign exchange markets. First, instead of hunting around in the market for quotes, one can approach a broker and find out these prices. Second, brokers help the prospective buyer or seller keep his identity secret till the deal is struck. This prevents the quote being affected by the inquirer's position, i.e. whether he needs to buy or to sell. Lastly, even when there is no buying or selling requirement, commercial banks can keep their quotes from going too far away from the quotes being given by other banks, by inquiring about the market quotes from the brokers. Investment banks help both the government and corporate in raising money by trading in the securities markets. Large investment banks deal in the market both to execute their clients', (both corporate and individuals) orders and on their own account. They act as market makers in the foreign exchange markets, i.e. they stand ready to buy or sell various currencies at specific prices at all points of time. The commercial banks give, on demand, a quote for a particular currency against another currency, i.e., the rate at which they are ready to buy or sell the former against the latter. At these rates they stand ready to take any side of the transaction (buy or sell) that the customer chooses. The maximum and the minimum amount of the currencies acceptable to the bank at these rates, though not specified at the time of making the quote, are generally understood according to the conventions of the market. These rates may not necessarily be applicable to amounts smaller or larger than th ose acceptable according to the going conventions. In the foreign exchange markets there are numerous market makers, and all of them would be giving different quotes for the same pair of currencies simultaneously, at any point of time. It would be very difficult for a player to keep track of all the quotes available in the market, and hence choose one which is considered the most favorable. As a result, a number of trades may be taking place simultaneously at different exchange rates. The market making activity of the commercial banks, along with speculation, makes markets extremely liquid, especially for the major currencies of the world

FINAL QUESTIONS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

FINAL QUESTIONS - Assignment Example Then the users of the systeme are determined and the manner in which they are going to use it in order to know what to put in place. Moreover, input system data and output data system is also established. The requirement validity is also assessed at this stage. At this stage the guidelines are followed from the requirement specification manuscript. The system requirements are divided in software and hardware as stipulated by the requirement specification manuscript. Furthermore, the overall system building is defined thus marking a design specifications manuscript. The code is developed at this stage and is very crucial as it is the main focus of the system developer. The system design manuscript dictates the division of modules which leads to the start of coding. The process takes a lot of time. The code is the main thing tested after implementation. The code is tested against the requirements mentioned in the requirements analysis. The requirements must be fully functioning and solve the requirements needs as system and integration testing are conducted. The CEO’s role at the IT steering committee is to take responsibility of every operation that takes place in the company. The CEO makes and implements decisions and initiatives on behalf of the board of directors and the company. The CEO also ensures a smooth operation of daily operations in the company. In many instances the CEO is also the president of the company and a member and director of the board of directors. The CFO is under the CEO. The CFO’s role at the IT steering committee is to appraise financial data incurred by the IT department and even the company itself. He/she is also responsible for the reporting of IT department’s financial performance in that he/she supervises expenditures, costs and organizes the budget to be used by the IT department. The CFO also provides IT department’s financial wellbeing and veracity to bodies like the Securities and

Product extension of procter and gamble

Product extension of procter and gamble The Procter Gamble Company (PG) is one of the worlds largest consumer goods companies. It markets more than 300 brands in the beauty, health, fabric, home, baby, family, and personal care product categories. The company operates in the Americas, Europe and Asia. It is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and employs about 135,000 people. CORPORATE OBJECTIVES The objective of Procter Gamble is that They will provide branded products and services of superior quality and value that improve the lives of the worlds consumers, now and for generations to come. As a result, consumers will reward us with leadership sales, profit and value creation, allowing our people, our shareholders and the communities in which we live and work to prosper. (http://www.uk.pg.com/company/aboutPG/purposeValuesPrinciples.html) CORPORATE STRATEGY Procter Gamble (PG), one of the worlds largest consumer goods companies is also a pioneer in the use of mass media. The company has used newspaper advertisements, radio and soap operas to advertise its popular brands like Crest, Pampers, Pantene and Folgers. During 1990-2000, however,  its rate of growth took a plunge. When AG Lafley took over as CEO in 2000, he gave PG a complete makeover with the focus on innovation and advertising. Since 2000, PG has been increasingly embracing targeted, viral and on-line marketing. (http://www.uk.pg.com/company/aboutPG/purposeValuesPrinciples.html) PROPOSED PRODUCT olayLogo87_Jul06.jpg Evolution Olay is a worldwide leader in skin care and have been trusted by women for fifty years. Graham Wulff, an innovative and entrepreneurial South African chemist developed the original formula at the beginning of the 1950s. Olay has eight global product lines offering a multiple of product. Product such as; Olay professional pro-X, Olay Definity, Olay Regenerist, Olay Total effect, Olay complete, Olay hydrate cleanse, Olay clarity, Olay body lotion, Olay touch of sun and Olay body cleansing (http://www.docstoc.com/docs/14719894/Oil-Of-Olay-Products). Skin care is evolving faster than ever with independent clinical trial and new standards in natural and organic cosmetics. Olay evolution will be a combination of Olay total effects (7 seven powerful anti-ageing in one) and Olay Definity (fight wrinkles, brown spot and discolouration). Many consumers want products that offer more than one benefit. So this product is expected to moisturize, fight free radicals and give the skin a more youthful appearance. This product would offer the costumer an ideal combination of the world most powerful skin care solution. Anti-aging is the fastest-growing skin segment, standing at $567.6 million, now representing the biggest category in skin care, surpassing facial cleansers which stand at $559.2 million. (http://www.allbusiness.com/population-demographics/demographic-groups/5517853-1.html) product-landing-definity_v6.jpg product-landing-total-effects.jpg Women are very particular when dealing with their face. They need to be convinced the product will deliver all the promised benefits. Women are willing to try new things and spend more money to look better and younger. Skin care attracts customers from all income level as most women like to take care of their appearance. The increase number of women working equates women with more money to spend and skin care is one of the favourite avenues for their spending. Based on Procter Gamble F4Q10 (Qtr End 06/30/2010) Earnings Call Transcript, Female Skin Care grew volume double digits with positive share trends. In the U.S., Olay all-outlet value share of the Facial Moisturizer segment was up almost two points behind the continued strength of the Olay Pro-X line and the Olay Regenerist Roller ball Eye Treatment innovation. Olay also had strong results in developing markets, more than doubling shipments in India, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. Organic sales increased 5%, driven by 8% organic volume growth. (http://seekingalpha.com/article/218380-procter-gamble-f4q10-qtr-end-06-30-2010-earnings-call-transcript) Rate of Global skin care market 2002 and 2007 Country 2002 ( £M) 2009 ( £M) US 6,752.2 8,059.2 FRANCE 2,391.1 4,368.0 GERMANY 1,975.1 3,239.3 ITALY 1,440.0 2,340.4 SPAIN 956.4 1,897.9 UK 1,612.7 2,937.6 Source: Euro monitor international Below are the analyses of the business environment to back up the proposal. ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Every Business operates within an environment, these environments directly and indirectly affects the way those businesses function. Competition in the skin care industry tends to be more intense and there are many changes that can be regarded as threat and opportunity that it is important for managers to cope with. MACRO Political The political environment Relates to the pressures and opportunities brought by changes of the government and their views toward the skin care industry. Each government always have a mandate to regulate the use on non organic ingredients in most skin care product. Economic This Refers to economic factors and structures and such variables like the stock exchange, interest and inflation rates, the nations economic policies and performance, exchange rates, etc. Although PG is based in the US, it earns revenues, pay expenses, own assets and incur liabilities in countries using currencies other than the US dollar. As a result, increases or decreases in the value of the US dollar against other major currencies will affect the companys net operating revenues, operating income and the value of balance sheet items denominated in foreign currencies. Social Middle-aged women are very interested in skin care items that help them retain a more youthful appearance and complexion. Observing social factors helps organisations maintain their reputation among stakeholders. Technological Changes in technology can affect a company competitive position. Industries merge; new strategic groups emerge; currents products improve and the cost of production gets reduced by process innovation. Because the skin care industry is very competitive, the company necessitate taking advantage of the latest technology and revolutionary substances to create new product in order to maintain customers interest and loyalty. Environmental With global warming and carbon foot prints being big concerns, governments and scientists are encouraging companies and individuals to be more environmentally aware. PGs policy is to: Ensure its products, packaging and operations are safe for their employees, consumers and the environment. Reduce or prevent the environmental impact of products and packaging in their design, manufacture, distribution, use and disposal whenever possible. They support the sustainable use of resources and actively encourage reuse, recycling and composting. MICRO Buyer Power;  Consumer products companies face weak buyer power because customers are disjointed and have little influence on price or product. But considering the buyers of consumer products to be retailers rather than individuals, then these firms face very strong buyer power. One good example is the business relationship between wall-mart and PG (see swot analysis). Supplier Power; the company could face some amount of supplier power simply because of the costs incurred when switching suppliers. Notwithstanding, suppliers that do large amount of business with the company also are somewhat obliged to their customers; nonetheless, bargaining power for both the firms and their suppliers is probably limited. Threat of New Entrants;  Given the amount of capital investment needed to enter the skin care industry, the assumption is that threat of new entrants will be fairly low. Threat of Substitutes;  Within the skin care industry, brands thrive in helping to build a competitive advantage, but even the pricing power of brands can be scoured with substitutes. Threats to this product may arise from other anti-aging products such as; Avotone, Revitol, Ceramide C etc. Degree of Rivalry; Skin care industry is a very competitive market, taking advantage of the latest technology and revolutionary substances to create new product in order to maintain customers interest and loyalty will be very important. In doing so it will increase the companys competitive advantage over other top brands like Avon and Nivea Visage. INTERNAL The internal environment constitutes variables and forces within the control of the organisation. These variables are; conditions, entities,  events, and  factors  within an organization which  influence  its  activities  and  choices, its philosophy, particularly the  behaviour of the  employees. Other variables include; the  organisation mission statement,  leadership style, and its  culture. SWOT Analysis; this is a planning method use to evaluate the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and treat to a business. It involves specifying objectives of a business at the same time identifying the internal and external elements that will affect the business both positive and negative in the race to attain its stated objectives. Strengths Weaknesses Leading market position geared on a strong brand portfolio. Significant RD and market investment. Robust cash productivity Increase instances of product recall. Excessive dependant on Wal-mart. High product prices translated into sales volume decline and market share loss. Opportunities Threats Future growth plans- Increase concentration on its core attractive businesses and enhancing its customer base. Increase investment in manufacturing capacity in developing countries. Acquisitions to expand portfolio Counterfeit goods. Changing global retail scenario and rise of private labels. Commodity cost and currency exchange rate. Rising cost of energy prices Economic slowdown in US and Euro zone. (www.datamonitor.com) STRENGTHS Leading market position garnered on a strong brand portfolio With revenues of $79,029 million, PG is the worlds largest consumer products manufacturer, with its products reaching 4 billion people worldwide. PG is the 20th largest company in sales and the 9th largest company in profit among the Fortune 500 companies. The companys market capitalization in 2009 was roughly $150 billion, making it one of the 10 most valuable companies in the US. PG holds leading global market shares in a variety of categories, including baby care (33%), blades and razors (70%), feminine protection (37%), and fabric care (33%). The companys leadership position is built on its strong brand portfolio. Strong brand portfolio enables the company to achieve economies of scale in distribution and retain a strong bargaining position with retailers. Leading market position provides PG with significant competitive advantage as well as stabilizes the companys financial growth Significant RD and market investment. Being a consumer products company, PG relies heavily on innovation and continued marketing investments in order to establish a significant competitive advantage. As a result, the company has made significant investments in RD and marketing. Over the last decade, PG has invested more than $2 billion in consumer and market research (nearly twice that of its closest competitor, Unilever; and equal to the combined total of its other major competitors; Avon, Clorox Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Energizer Holdings, Henkel, Kimberly-Clark, LOreal, and Reckitt Benckiser). Virtually, all the organic sales growth delivered by PG in the past nine years has come from new brands and new or improved product innovation. PG also involves external innovation partners to boost its internal innovative capability, an approach it calls Connect and Develop. Currently, more than half of all product innovation coming from PG includes at least one major component from an external partner. PGs strong RD capabilities and a marketing-driven understanding of consumer needs are backed by significant marketing investments. The company invests more than $7 billion in advertising annually, consistently making PG one of the worlds largest advertisers. Strong focus on research and development allows PG to renew its product line at regular intervals, which boosts customer loyalty and revenue growth. Significant marketing investments to support its brands and a broad product portfolio help PG to remain at forefront in a competitive market. Robust cash productivity PGs cash productivity: the percentage of earnings converted into cash has averaged over 100% since 2001, consistently among the very best in the industry. This is primarily due to PGs strong focus on productivity, working-capital management and cost reduction. Furthermore, PG is equally rigorous about managing costs. The company has reduced overhead costs as a percentage of sales by more than 300 basis points since 2001. The cash productivity allows PG to maintain the companys excellent credit rating, to pay strong dividends, and to have the flexibility to invest in the business organically or through mergers and acquisitions. Therefore, robust cash productivity ensures that PG has the flexibility and the resources to invest in growth even in the most challenging environments. WEAKNESSES PG has been registering increasing instance of product recalls. One case in point is in November 2009, the company voluntarily recalled three lots of its Vicks Sinex nasal spray in the US, Germany and the UK. The recall was a precautionary step after finding the bacteria B. cepacia in a small amount of product made at its plant in Gross Gerau, Germany. In March 2010, PG voluntarily recalled its Pringles Restaurant Cravers Cheeseburger potato crisps and Pringles Family Faves Taco Night potato crisps in response to a recommendation from the Food Drug Administration (FDA) to the food industry to protect consumers from potential Salmonella exposure. Most recently in June 2010, PG voluntarily recalled a small percentage of 1-liter bottles of Scope Original Mint and Scope Peppermint mouthwash with malfunctioning child-resistant caps in the US and Canada. Recurrent product recalls could affect the brand image of the company, which would lead to low customer loyalty and brand equity. Excessive dependent on Wal-Mart PG is heavily dependent on Wal-Mart Stores (Wal-Mart) and its affiliates for generating major part of its revenue. Sales to Wal-Mart and its affiliates represented approximately 15% of its total revenue since 2006. High dependence upon a Wal-Mart reduces the bargaining power of the company. Also, Wal-Mart could use its bargaining power to impose unfavourable terms on the company. Any decrease in revenue from Wal-Mart could have a negative impact on the companys businesses. Hence, the loss of this customer will lead to a sharp decline in PGs revenues and also a loss of its market share. OPPRTUNITIES Future growth plans In order to grow in a highly competitive environment, PG is pursuing a clearly drafted strategy with focus on two areas: increasing concentration on its core attractive businesses and enhancing its customer base. The company is sharply focusing on its core attractive businesses (the beauty and health market segments and several household care categories) as these are fast-growing businesses. For instance, the global market for personal care products has annual sales of over $39.5 billion and is growing at a rate of around 5% annually. PG intends to increase its customer base by acquiring under served and unserved consumers. In line with this, the company is targeting developing markets; extending its distribution systems; and expanding its brand and product portfolio. Developing and emerging economies are expected to account for 90% of the worlds population by 2010, and this is expected to drive demand for fast moving consumer goods. Increased investment in manufacturing capacity in developing countries PG is planning the biggest increase in its manufacturing capacity in order to expand into categories and countries where it doesnt have a brand presence. The company is investing 4% of sales in capital spending, including funding for new manufacturing capacity to support future growth. Over the next five years, PG plans to add 20 new manufacturing facilities. Almost all of these facilities are in developing markets, and almost all will be multi-product category facilities. By focusing on developing markets, the company would reduce the cost of serving these markets while also being closer to regions with the greatest long term growth potential. Acquisitions to expand portfolio PG has made significant acquisitions in the recent past. For instance, in June 2009, the company acquired the Zirh skincare brand. Zirh is a leading super premium, male grooming brand available in high-end department stores, specialty outlets and online. Later in May 2010, PG entered into an agreement to acquire Natura Pet Products, a privately-held pet food business. Most recently, in July 2010, the company concluded its purchase of the Ambi Pur Brand from Sara Lee Corporation. Ambi Pur is a leading global air care brand with presence in 80 countries, and also has several toilet care products, with strong presence in Western Europe and Asia. These kinds of acquisitions will strengthen PGs presence across a range of categories and in turn augment its top line and bottom-line. THREATS Changing global retail scenario and rise of private labels PGs products are sold in a highly competitive global marketplace which is experiencing an increased trade concentration and the growing presence of large format retailers and discounters. With the growing trend toward retail trade consolidation, it is increasingly dependent on key retailers. Some of these retailers have a greater bargaining strength than PG. They may use this leverage to demand higher trade discounts, allowances or slotting fees, which could lead to reduced sales or profitability. Commodity cost and currency exchange rate instability places tremendous pressure on PGs business. Not to mention the unexpected and dramatic devaluations of currencies in developing or emerging markets reduce profits. Counterfeit goods Trade of counterfeits and pass-offs products is negatively affecting the growth of FMCG companies like PG. The top two brands within any category be it cosmetics, detergents, or soaps are effected the most by counterfeit. It is estimated that the loss due to counterfeit products convert into around  £6 billion ($8.5 billion). Furthermore, with the advent of digital channels there has been a surge in the sale of counterfeit products and online sales of these products increased by 9% in 2009. Besides revenue losses, counterfeits and pass-offs also affect the companys brand as they are unsafe. (Swot analysis Source: www.datamonitor.com ) The best strategies accomplish an organisation mission by exploiting an organisation opportunity and strength, while neutralizing its treat and avoiding its weakness. Ansoff matrix Ansoff matrix highlight four possible market strategy for the propose product. ansoff_matrix-124013-1.jpeg (http://www.brothersoft.com/ansoff-matrix-124013.html). Product development: as this is a new product in the range, much emphasis will be to offer the product to the existing customer base. Using the competitive advantages and brand image of previous products to lunch the propose product. With the companys focus on advertising, (worlds largest advertisers) it can use the advertising power to push the product to recognition. Sixty percent (60%) of the strategy will be on product development. Diversification: One of the opportunities available to the company is launching into new markets and developing economies. Forty percent (40%) of the strategy will be to launch the propose product in an entirely new market. Market Penetration: this occurs when the company sells its existing product in its existing market, perhaps through greater promotional efforts. As this is a new product this strategy might be considered in the future. Market Development: this occurs when the company tries to sell it existing products in new and emerging markets. This strategy as well might be for future considerations.

eating disorder Essay -- essays research papers

Is there a strong connection between the fast food industry and the growing rate of obesity among young children? The answer is yes- fast food consumption is a large contributor to increasing child obesity risks and the effects of long-term health problems in the future. Children are bombarded by fast food advertising on a daily basis which lure them into wanting fast foods in addition to the great taste. The rapid growth of child obesity is in step with the growing fast food chains and market. The realization of this important link is the first step in finding a solution to the growing epidemic of child obesity. A person is considered obese or suffering from obesity when their weight is 20 percent (25 % in women) or more over the maximum desirable weight for their height. When a person is more than 100 pounds overweight, it is considered to be a potentially fatal condition, also known as morbid obesity. Rates of obesity are climbing, the percentage of children and young adolescents who are obese have doubled in the last twenty years. Obesity increases a person’s risk of numerous illnesses and death due to diabetes, stroke, coronary artery disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, and kidney and gallbladder disorders. Obesity also increases the risk of various types of cancer. Once a person reaches the level of being obese, it is far more difficult to reverse the condition as compared to someone who is simply overweight and needs to shed a few pounds. Many obesity patients suffer psychologically from stress, depression, and frustration. These mental side-effects contribute to the extrem e difficulty of losing weight and especially if the person has been obese or extremely overweight from an early age. The majority of young children who develop bad eating habits- consuming fast food- stay with them as they become young adults. â€Å"A person’s food preferences, like his or her personality, are formed during the first few years of life, through the process of socialization.†(Schlosser) Toddlers can learn to enjoy healthy food or fast food, depending on what they are introduced to at this developmental stage. These foods evolve into â€Å"comfort foods† as they grow older and become a source of pleasure and satisfaction. Although, genetic factors and inactive lifestyle are factors, obesity is mainly caused by the body consuming more food than it can use. â€Å"Every day almos... ...ast food industry plays a big part in contributing to child obesity, because of the lack of effort to decrease the fat, salt, sugar content, and portions of their meals. They are also to blame for the excessive marketing directed toward young children through media and advertising. They have infiltrated the minds of children to trust fast food icons such as Ronald McDonald and to start bad eating habits at an early age that will carry over into their adulthood. Although the fast food industry is a largely linked to the growth of child obesity, they can not solely take the blame. A child is ten times more likely to become obese if his or her parent is obese. This is due to a combination of genetic factors and social environment the child has been accustomed to. Parents have the responsibility to teach their children that it’s not ok to eat fast food regularly. After all, the parents are the ones who buy the fast food for their children and drive the family to the restaurant s. They should regulate the consumption. A more morally responsible fast food industry, with the combined efforts of responsible parents - is the only solution to reverse the increasing epidemic of child obesity.

Bank Notes Essay

Linear Probability Models (LPMs) * Econometric model to explain repayment experience on past/old loans. * Regression model with a â€Å"dummy† dependent variable Z; Z = 1 default and Z=0 no default. * Weakness: no guarantee that the estimated default probabilities will always lie between 0 and 1 (theoretical flaw) Logit and Probit Models * Developed to overcome weakness of LPM. * Explicitly restrict the estimated range of default probabilities to lie between 0 and 1. * Logit: assumes probability of default to be logistically distributed. Probit: assumes probability of default has a cumulative normal distribution function. Linear Discriminant Analysis * Derived from statistical technique called multivariate analysis. * Divides borrowers into high or low default risk classes. * Altman’s LDM = most famous model developed in the late 1960s. Z < 1. 8 (critical value), there is a high chance of default. * Weaknesses * Only considers two extreme cases (default/no default). * Weights need not be stationary over time. 3. New Credit Risk Evaluation Models Newer models have been developed – use financial theory and financial market data to make inferences about default probabilities. * Most relevant for evaluating loans to larger corporate borrowers. * Area of very active continuing research by FIs. Credit Ratings * Ratings change relatively infrequently – objective of ratings stability. * Only chance when there is reason to believe that a long-term change in the company’s creditworthiness has taken place. * S&P: AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B and CCC * Moody’s: Aaa, Aa, A, Baa, Ba, B and Caa Bonds with ratings of BBB and above are considered to be â€Å"investment grade† Estimating Default Probabilities 1. Historical Data * Provided by rating agencies e. g. cumulative average default rates * If a company starts with a: * Good credit rating, default probabilities tend to increase with time. * Poor credit rating, default prob abilities tend to decrease with time. * Default Intensity vs Unconditional Default Probability * Default intensity or hazard rate is the probability of default conditional on no earlier default. * Unconditional default probability is the probability of default as seen at time zero. Default intensities and unconditional default probabilities for a Caa rated company in the third year Supplement point 14 by monitoring a combination of internal reports, prudential reports and market information. 16. Should intervene to require effective and timely remedial action to address liquidity deficiencies. 17. Should communicate with other regulators e. g. central banks – cooperation TOPIC 7: CORE PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE BANKING SUPERVISION Overview * Most important global standard for prudential regulation and supervision. * Endorsed by vast majority of countries. * Provides benchmark against which supervisory regimes can be assessed. * 1995: Mexican and Barings Crises Lyon Summit in 1996 for G7 Leaders. 1997: Document drafted and endorsed at G7 meeting. Final version presented at annual meetings of World Bank and IMF in Hong Kong. * 1998: G-22 endorsed * 2006: Revision of the Core Principles * 2011: Basel Committee mandates a major review, issues revised consultative paper. The Core Principles (2006) * 25 minimum requirements that need to be met for an effective re gulatory system. * May need to be supplemented by other measures. * Seven major groups * Framework for supervisory authority – Principle 1 * Licensing and structure – Principles 2-5 * Prudential regulations and requirements – Principles 6-18 * Methods of ongoing banking supervision – Principles 19-21 * Accounting and disclosure – Principle 22 * Corrective and remedial powers of supervisors – Principle 23 * Consolidated and cross-border banking – Principles 24-25. * Explicitly recognise: * Effective banking supervision is essential for a strong economic environment. * Supervision seeks to ensure banks operate in a safe and sound manner and hold sufficient capital and reserves. * Strong and effective supervision is a public good and critical to financial stability. * While cost of supervision is high, the cost of poor supervision is even higher. Key objective of banking supervision: * Maintain stability and confidence in the financial system * Encourage good corporate governance and enhance market transparency Revised Core Principles (2011) * Core Principles and assessment methodology merged into a single document. * Number of core principles increased to 29. * Takes account of several key trends and developments: * Need to deal with systemically important banks * Macroprudential focus (system-wide) and systemic risk * Effective crisis management, recovery and resolution measures. Sound corporate governance * Greater public disclosure and transparency enhance market discipline. * Two broad groups: 1. Supervisory powers, responsibilities and functions. Focus on effective risk-based supervision, and the need for early intervention and timely supervisory actions. Principles 1-13. 2. Prudential regulations and requirements. Cover supervisory expectations of banks, emphasising the importance of good corporate governance and risk management, as well as compliance with supervisory standards. Supervisory powers, responsibilities and functions 1. Clear responsibilities and objectives for each authority involved. Suitable legal framework. 2. Supervisor has operational independence, transparent processes, sound governance and adequate resources, and is accountable. 3. Cooperation and collaboration with domestic authorities and foreign supervisors. 4. Permissible activities of banks is controlled. 5. Assessment of bank ownership structure and governance. 6. Power to review, reject and impose prudential conditions on any changes in ownership or controlling interests. 7. Power to approve or reject major acquisitions. 8. Forward-looking assessment of the risk profile of banks and banking groups. 9. Uses appropriate range of techniques and tools to implement supervisory approach. 10. Collects, reviews and analyses prudential reports and statistical returns. 11. Early address of unsafe and unsound practices. 12. Supervises banking group on consolidated basis (including globally) 13. Cross-border sharing of information and cooperation. Prudential regulations and requirements 14. Robust corporate governance policies and processes. 15. Banks have a comprehensive risk management process, including recovery plans. 6. Set prudent and appropriate capital adequacy requirements. 17. Banks have an adequate credit risk management process. 18. Banks have adequate policies and processes for the early identification and management of problems assets, and maintain adequate provisions and reserves. 19. Banks have adequate policies re concentration risk. 20. Banks required to enter into any transactions with related pa rties on an arm’s length basis. 21. Banks have adequate policies re country and transfer risk. 22. Banks have an adequate market risk management process. 23. Banks have adequate systems re interest rate risk in the banking book. 24. Set prudent and appropriate liquidity requirements. 25. Banks have an adequate operational risk management framework. 26. Banks have adequate internal controls to establish and maintain a properly controlled operating environment for the conduct of their business. E. g. delegating authority and responsibility, separation of the functions that involve committing the bank. 27. Banks maintain adequate and reliable records, prepare financial statements in accordance with accounting policies etc. 8. Banks regularly publish information on a consolidated and solo basis. 29. Banks have adequate policies and processes e. g. strict customer due diligence. Preconditions for Effective Banking Supervision 1. Provision of sound and sustainable macroeconomic policies. 2. A well established framework for financial stability policy formulation. 3. A well developed public infrastructure 4. A clear framework for crisis managemen t, recovery and resolution 5. An appropriate level of systemic protection (or public safety net) 6. Effective market discipline 001: IMF and World Bank Study on Countries’ Compliance with Core Principles * 32 countries are compliant with 10 or few BCPs * Only 5 countries were assessed as fully compliant with 25 or more of the BCPs. * Developing countries less compliant than advanced economies. * Advanced economies generally possess more robust internal frameworks as defined by the ‘preconditions’ 2008: IMF Study on BCP Compliance * Based on 136 compliance assessments. * Continued work needed on strengthening banking supervision in many jurisdictions, particularly in the area of risk management. More than 40% of countries did not comply with the essential criteria of principles dealing with risk management, consolidated supervision and the abuse of financial services. * More than 30% did not possess the necessary operational independence to perform effective super vision nor have adequate ability to use their formal powers to take corrective action. * On average, countries in Western Europe demonstrated a much higher degree of compliance (above 90%) with BCP than their counterparts in other regions. * Africa and Western Hemisphere weak. Generally, high-income countries reflected a higher degree of compliance. TOPIC 8: CAPITAL ADEQUACY Overview * Adequate capital better able to withstand losses, provide credit through the business cycle and help promote public confidence in banking system. Importance of Capital Adequacy * Absorb unanticipated losses and preserve confidence in the FI * Protect uninsured depositors and other stakeholders * Protect FI insurance funds and taxpayers * Protect deposit insurance owners against increases in insurance premiums * To acquire real investments in order to provide financial services e. . equity financing is very important. Capital Adequacy * Capital too low banks may be unable to absorb high level of losses . * Capital too high banks may not be able to make the most efficient use of their resources. Constraint on credit availability. Pre-1988 * Banks regulated using balance sheet measures e. g. ratio of capital to assets. * Variations between countries re definitions, required ratios and enforcement of regulations. * 1980s: bank leverage increased, OBS derivatives trading increased. * LDC debt = major problem 1988 Basel Capital Accord (Basel I) * G10 agreed to Basel I Only covered credit risk * Capital / risk-adjusted assets > 8% * Tier 1 capital = shareholders equity and retained earnings * Tier 2 capital = additional internal and external resources e. g. loan loss reserves * Tier 1 capital / risk-adjusted assets > 4% * On-balance-sheet assets assigned to one of four categories * 0% – cash and government bonds * 20% – claims on OECD banks * 50% – residential mortgages * 100% – corporate loans, corporate bonds * Off-balance-sheet assets divided into co ntingent or guarantee contracts and FX/IR forward, futures, option and swap contracts. Two step process (i) derive credit equivalent amounts as product of FV and conversion factor then (ii) multiply amount by risk weight. * OBS market contracts or derivative instruments = potential exposure + current exposure. * Potential exposure: credit risk if counterparty defaults in the future. * Current exposure: cost of replacing a derivative securities contract at today’s prices. 1996 Amendment * Implemented in 1998 * Requires banks to measure and hold capital for market risk. * k is a multiplicative factor chosen by regulators (at least 3) VaR is the 99% 10-day value at risk SRC is the specific risk charge Total Capital = 0. 08 x [Credit risk RWA + Market risk RWA] where market risk RWA = 12. 5 x [k x VaR + SRC] Basel II (2004) * Implemented in 2007 * Three pillars 1. New minimum capital requirements for credit and operational risk 2. Supervisory review: more thorough and uniform 3. Market discipline: more disclosure * Only applied to large international banks in US * Implemented by securities companies as well as banks in EU Pillar 1: Minimum Capital Requirements * Credit risk measurement: * Standardised approach (external credit rating based risk weights) * Internal rating based (IRB) Market risk = unchanged * Operational risk: * Basic indicator: 15% of gross income * Standardised: multiplicative factor for income arising from each business line. * Advanced measurement approaches: assess 99. 9% worst case loss over one year. * Total capital = 0. 08 x [Credit risk RWA + market risk RWA + Operational risk RWA] Pillar 2: Supervisory Review * Importance of effective supervisory review of banks’ internal assessments of their overall risks. Pillar 3: Market discipline * Increasing transparency – public disclosure Basel 2. 5 (Implemented 2011) * Stressed VaR for market risk * Incremental risk charge Ensures products such as bonds and derivatives in the trading book have the same capital requirement that they would if they were in the banking book. * Comprehensive risk measure (re credit default correlations) Basel III (2010) * Considerably increase quality and quantity of banks capital * Macroprudential overlay – systemic risk * Allows time for smooth transition to new regime * Core capital only retained earnings and common shares * Reserves increased from 2% to 4. 5% * Capital conservation buffer – 2. 5% of RWA * Countercyclical capital buffer * Tracing/monitoring of liquidity funding Introduction of a maximum leverage ratio Capital Definitions and Requirements * Common equity > 4. 5% of RWA * Tier 1 > 6% of RWA * Phased implementation of capital levels stretching to Jan 1, 2015 * Phased implementation of capital definition stretching to Jan 1, 2018 Microprudential Features * Greater focus on common equity * Loss-absorbing during stress/crisis period capital conservation buffer * Promoting integrated manageme nt of market and counterparty credit risk. * Liquidity standard introduced introduced Jan 1, 2015 Introduced Jan 1, 2018 Available Stable Funding Factors Required Stable Funding Factors Macroprudential Factors * Countercyclical buffer * Acts as a brake in good times of high credit growth and a decompressor to restrict credit during downturns. * Within a range of 0-2. 5% * Left to the discretion of national regulators * Dividends restricted when capital is below required level * Phased in between Jan 1, 2016 – Jan 1, 2019 * Leverage Ratio * Target 3% * Ratio of Tier 1 capital to total exposure > 3% * Introduced on Jan 1, 2018 after a transition period * SIFIs * Required to hold additional loss absorbency capital, ranging from 1-2. 5% in common equity

IOI Corporation Berhad Essay Example

IOI Corporation Berhad Essay Example IOI Corporation Berhad Essay IOI Corporation Berhad Essay In 1990, the founding chairman Dates Tan Seen Man decided to retire and his on Tan Sir Tan Change Mum replaced his position as the new chairman of the company. Soon after he took over his father position as chairman, he always wishes TAB to be listed in Bursa Malaysia as one of the public listed companies in Malaysia. In year 1 992, the company changes its name from Tan Bertha to Tan Holdings Bertha. At the same year, TAB has been successfully listed in Bursa Malaysia and the company obtains the funding from its initial public offering. When the company has been listed in auras Malaysia, Tan Sir Tan Change Mum decided to maximize the company wealth by venturing into Food industry equines in 1992. TAB also manage to set up a subsidiary company named Tan Food Industry Bertha to manage the holdings companys food industry business. Since then, TAB has begun to flow into international market when the company successfully acquires multiple food production plants in Malaysia and started to export the food products to Singapore, China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, United States and United Kingdom. The company also obtains the ISO 9001 from the government of Malaysia. In 1 999, the company begins to venture itself in property investment and development industry. TAB successfully bough several piece of properties in Malaysia and also in other foreign countries such as China, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. In 2014, TAB was ranked 36th in the Forbes Malaysia among other 1 00 I. Product and Services: TAB has grown to become one of the leading conglomerate companies in Malaysia. In the food production industry Of the company, the company introduces variety of biscuits such as Choc Pie which is very famous in United States and South Korea to consumers in Malaysia. Furthermore, the company has manage to produce more than 50 types of biscuits and available for Malaysia consumer and exportation to other countries. Moreover, TAB also produce and extract high quality palm oil in the palm oil plantation at Kerning, Clangor. TAB also recognized as one of the contributor in the exportation of palm oil to other palm oil consumption countries especially to China In the property investment and development industry of the company, TAB successfully launch the Z-Residence (a 20 floors premium condominium) in Cybercafà ©. II. Future Prospect In the future, Tan Holdings Bertha will diversify the companys business portfolio by venturing into telecommunication industry. TAB will become one of the network and Internet service providers when the company successfully applied for a network service license which approved by Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MAC). The company will also plan to provide high-speed Internet service (using fiber optic cable) to residents in Malaysia. Moreover, TAB will also expand its property investment and development business in the future by property hotels, resorts and recreation development. Therefore, TAB is considered as one of the good companies with better prospect to sustain in the future. IV. Board of Directors and committees The Chairman of Tan Holdings Bertha (TAB) is Tan Sir Tan Change Mum since 1990. Prior to his position as chairman of TAB, he holds one of the top management positions in TAB. His father wants him to learn how he manages the company. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TAB is Eng Kina Hat. He has a great leadership and previously he is one of the CEO another public listed company in Malaysia as well. With his leadership skills, TAB believe that he will bring a better future prospect of the company. Moreover, the current Chief Financial Officer (CUFF) is Mrs.. Limit Yen Vein. She was an CA professional certification graduate and has more than 20 years experience in accounting profession. Further, the company also appointed Mr.. Peter Limit as independent non-executive directors of TAB. Since then, Mr.. Peter Limit has been actively involved in companys corporate affairs and general management. 01 Corporation Bertha (101 Group) 101 Corporation Bertha (commonly known as 101), was incorporated on 31 SST of October 1969 as Industrial Oxygen Incorporated Sad Bed. The company first core business is industrial gas manufacturing. Subsequently, 101 successfully listed in Koala Lumpy Stock Exchange (KEELS) on 29 July 1980. Moreover, the company also ventured into resource based manufacturing businesses (refineries, Electrochemical and specialty oils and fats) when the company successfully a cquired Perusal Mesas Sad Bed. Since then, the company is recognized as the most efficient oil palm plantation company in the world. Besides that, 101 also venture into Electrochemical business when the company has acquired 32. 96% stake in Palmtop Holdings Bertha (renamed as 101 Electrochemical Industry Sad Bed) on March 1997. Since then, 01 Corporation Bertha has become a vegetable-based Electrochemical producer in Malaysia. In addition, the company also manages to acquire a controlling interest in Lam Soon Hat Development Bed (renamed as 101 Properties Bed) in January 1994 and it becomes One of the subsidiaries Of 101 Corporation Bertha. With this acquisition, the company has taken its first step into property investment and development industry. Besides that, the company also takes an important role in promoting Malaysia Tourism when the company decides to build and develop resort in Pituitary known as 101 Resort City. Subsequently, 01 Properties Bed has successfully listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia as one of the largest property companies in January 2014. II. Product and services: Currently, 101 Corporation Bertha has successfully diversifies its business portfolio such as plantation and agriculture, property investment and development, chemical manufacturing and resorts. As a result, 101 is recognized as one of the biggest conglomerates in Malaysia. In the plantation and agriculture industry of 101 Corporation Bertha, the company operates 152,000 hectares of oil palm plantations in Malaysia and 83,000 hectares in Indonesia. The company also operates 12 palm oil mills with a total capacity of producing 4. 1 million tones per year. Malaysia and one located in Netherlands. These refineries convert crude palm oil into edible oils such as palm oil and palm kernel oil and market off to various food production companies. Thus, it contributes to Ohios biggest income generator among other business portfolio. Moreover, in the Electrochemical and specialty oils and fats industry (under resource-based manufacturing) of 101 Corporation Bertha, the company is known as one of the leading vegetable-based Electrochemical producers in the oral. In addition, the company also involves in manufacturing and selling of fatty acids, glycerin, soap noodles and fatty esters which is needed to produce detergents, shampoo, soap and cosmetics. As for the specialty oils and fats industry of the company, 101 Corporation Bertha manage to supply fractionated oils and fats required by food industry such as Milliner, Nestle, Catbird and Kraft. On the other hand, the property investment and development of 101 Corporation Bertha has also brought in a portion of income to the company. The company has managed to acquire several of lands. Besides that, the company has also launched 101 City Mall in 101 Resort City in Pituitary recently. Below is the list of properties that owned by 101 Corporation Bertha: Location: Property name: 1. Pouching sierra, Bandanna Putter Pouching and Bandanna Pouching Jay 2. Pituitary 101 Resort City 3. Slang Bandanna Putter Slang and Bandanna Putter Slang 4. Bang Bandanna putter Bang 5. Seepage Bandanna Putter Warns 6. Bah (Niger Assemblies) Bandanna 101 Bah 7. Kulak (Juror) Bandanna Patria Kulak and Bandanna Patria Casemate 8. Despair (Penman) Despair 9. Singapore South Beach development and Pinnacle at Santos Cove 01 Corporation Bertha has many future prospects that are planned in future especially in the companys property investment and development business portfolio. The company has plan many new property projects in Bandanna Putter Bang such as Cubical Square, Lamar Residence. Besides that, the company also plans to further develop Bandanna Putter Pouching with a few residential areas with projects named Putter Hills Luxury Town Villa and Putter Hills Condominiums where is located in Pouching. Moreover, 101 Corporation Bertha also has planned to buy a substantial stake of 37. 17% in Taipei Financial Center Corp. (TFTP). For your information, TFTP owns the most famous landmark of Taiwan, the Taipei 101 tower. Currently, the negotiation of acquisition of stake by 101 Corporation Bertha to T FCC is still on going. As for the plantation and agriculture of 101 Corporation Bertha, the company plans to replant at least aha to aha of estates in Malaysia and plant around aha of new palm oil Indonesia per annum for the next 3 years ahead. The company is also reportedly active in negotiation with international companies for potential joint ventures in the specialty oils and fats industry. The current executive chairman of 101 Corporation Bertha is Tan Sir Data Lee Shin Change. He is also the founder of 101 Group which listed on Bursa Malaysia on 29 July 1980. Furthermore, He was awarded the prestigious Malaysia palm Oil Association Recognition Award in 2011 for his great leadership which lead 101 Corporation Bertha became one of the leading plantation and property group in Malaysia. Moreover, the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of 101 Corporation Bertha is Data Lee Yew Chord. The Board of Directors of the company appointed him as CEO of the company on 8 January 2014. Furthermore, he holds a LB (Honors) from Kings College in London and Diploma in Finance and Accounting from London School of Economics. Prior to his position as CEO of 101 Corporation Bertha, he served in Malaysia Judiciary service as a Magistrate. In addition, Mr. Lee Yew Seen is a Non-lengthened Non-Executive Director of 101 Corporation Bertha. He is actively involved in corporate affairs and general management within 101 Corporation Bertha and its subsidiaries. Moreover, Tan Sir Peter Chin FAA GUI is a Chairman Of the Nominating and Remuneration Committee as well as member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Company. He is best known as former secretary for the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment and Ministry of Welfare Services respectively. Dates R. Ukrainian and Mr.. Each Take Kiang serve as an Independent Non-Executive Director of 101 Corporation Bertha. Both of them were also involved in the Audit and Risk Management Committee as well as member of the Nominating and Remuneration Committee of the Company. Barbara Corporation Bertha (Bicorn) Barbara Corporation Bertha (commonly known as Bicorn) was founded by Tan Sir Data Series Vincent Tan Cheese Yin in 1984. In the same year, he successfully acquired a major controlling interest in Barbara Industrial Bertha (formerly known as Barbara Swat Bertha and now known as Reek Pacific Bertha). Moreover, Barbara Group Bertha (formerly known as Inter-Pacific Industrial Group Bertha) became a holding company of Reek Pacific Bertha after the company had major restructuring. For information, Inter-Pacific Industrial Group Bertha was incorporated in 1967 as bicycle manufacturer ND the company has successfully listed on Bursa Malaysia in 1969. In addition, Barbara Corporation Bertha acquire listing status on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia when the company complete its group restructuring exercise in October 2005 and the issues Of new shares on 3rd January 2006. Besides that, the company has successfully diversified its business portfolio. Currently, the company has engaged in many industries such as direct selling and retail, property investment and development, gaming and lottery management, motor trading distribution and food beverage industry. Below is the list of Bicorn and its subsidiaries: industry: Us bestiaries: Year of incorporated: Controlling stake by Holdings Retail Barbara Retail Bertha 8th June 2010 100% Property investment and development (I) Barbara Land Bertha (ii) Barbara Asset Bertha (I) 1990 (ii) 1978 (I) 73. 33% (ii) 76. % Food and beverages Barbara Food Bertha 21 SST October 2009 58. 85% Gaming and lottery management Barbara Sports Toto Bertha 1969 51 . 76% Motor trading and distribution Barbara Auto Bertha 1st April 2008 36. 74% Media Barbara Media Bertha 4 March 2008 72. 09% Financial service Barbara Capital Bertha 1999 92. 4% . Product and services Barbara Corporation Bertha (Bicorn) is a successful conglomerate i n Malaysia. The company has many business portfolios such as direct selling and retail, property investment and development, gaming and lottery management, motor trading distribution and food beverage industry. In the direct selling and retail of Bicorn, the company has introduce a direct marketing or multi level marketing business named Cocoas in 1979. Cocoas is a retail chain which market more than 2000 consumer product specialized in health and nutritional supplements, personal care products, water filtration yeses, cosmetics and fragrances and etc. Besides that, Bicorn also bring in an organic specialty store known as Country Farm Organics (CUFF). The store provides many organic products with a reasonable price to its consumer in Malaysia. In addition, the property investment and development of Bicorn comprise of 2 subsidiaries known as Barbara Land Bertha and Barbara Asset Bertha. Bicorn own a lot of properties in Malaysia such as Barbara Times Square, Plaza Barbara, Barbara Magical, Wigwams Cocoas and etc. As property investment of the company. Furthermore, the company also owns some land for property velveteen purposes such as Meaner Bangkok Bank, Vagina 25, The Peak at Among, KIM Condominium and etc. Moreover, in the food and beverages business portfolio of the company, Bicorn has introduced Struck Coffee, Kenny Rogers Roaster Restaurant, Crispy Creme Donuts, Papa John Pizza restaurant and Wendy fast food restaurant and etc. Furthermore, Sports Toto is the product offered by Bicorn in its gaming and lottery management business. Today, Sports Toto is the largest number forecast operator in Malaysia in terms of number of outlets as well as product offerings. In the motor trading and distribution industry, Bicorn is the official distributor of Mazda vehicle (Bertram Motor Sad Bed), Soda automobiles (Danni Pretests Auto Sad Bed), Change automobiles (Change Barbara Auto Sad Bed), Mercedes Benz automobiles (NASA Automobile Corporation Sad Bed) and Gaston Martin automobiles (Gaston Martin Lagoons (SEA) Pet Ltd). In the Media business portfolio of Bicorn, the company has issue free newspaper known as The Sun to the public. The company plays an important role to promote and improve our countrys English standards and reading culture of Malaysia.

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buy custom Introduction to Humanities essay Modernity typically refers to a broad, frequently debated term that describes the past of western civilization during the classical modernity phase that dates back to the nineteenth century. This modernity phase features include urbanization, computerization, departure from traditional life and religious beliefs and embracing scientific rationalism and liberalism, formal procedures of work distribution, resulting in high quality production, low cost of living. Modernity was signified by embracing computerization, professionalism in work places, quality control, improved medical services, high quality education and improved infrastructure. Situation Analysis There are positive effecs of modernity, as reflected in the works of artists and thinkers of the industrial age. It has led to the emergence of what is commonly known as the first world countries. Modernity increased life expectancy, brought higher standards of living. This modernity phase marked increase in the quality of public education and affordable medical services. Work distribution and specialization have improved the quality of production and resulted in professionalism in the work area. During this modernity phase market economies have become much more impressive due to centrally planned economies, with technological advancement and agricultural peasantry. As much as modernity is considered to have positive effects, there are critiques that encourage loss of traditional values and relationships. In addition to this, there is a high cost associated with the whole thing about modernity to cater for urbanization, quality education costs and infrastructure costs. This, in retur n, causes high cost in accessing the modern objects, thus, resulting in formation of a gap between people who can afford modern conveniences and those, who can not. Production of modern things leads to health and environmental concerns about the problem of by-products disposing . This means modern objects are available to people but they may have an ill effect. Conclusion Modernity has improved peoples standard of living and life expectancy. Among the negative aspects of modernity are the tendency of loosing the traditional values and growing health and environmental concerns Buy custom Introduction to Humanities essay

Theories of Motivation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Theories of Motivation - Essay Example Locke goal setting theory involves dealing with specific, measurable, realistic and time bound objectives. The goal setting theory works on the principle that, for efficient performance, the individuals in the group must have a common goal to reach, and are explicitly stated. Goals are clear motivation that set standards for personal satisfaction. To achieve the goal, one must be able to set success and meet work challenges that are measurable. Equity theory explains the relation satisfaction in terms of perception of fairness distribution of resources. The concept of Locke can be incorporated into vroom’s theory this way; the Locke theory rotates on the principle of goal setting and working towards achieving the goal. It can be related to expectancy theory in that the employee must have some particular behaviour in the company to achieve the uttermost results that lead to a reward. It explains the motivation of the employee in achieving goals as a form of motivation. In relating Adams theory to expectancy theory; Adams theory explains the satisfaction of an employee, in which an employee will work or behave in certain ways to earn the equal treatment with other colleagues. The fairness leads to voluntary hard work that yield best

Unified Tobacco - Business and Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Unified Tobacco - Business and Ethics - Essay Example His decisions are based on his definition of right and good. And in Socialism, the ethics of virtue is expressed through the concept that the fulfilment of a human is in helping others (â€Å"Ethics† 2006). As such, both Ethicists’ most probable way to handle this conflict is to find ways to communicate to the protest groups the positive side of the tobacco business, despite its evident disadvantages to the community, but under different premises. Unified Tobacco sells a product that is known to be harmful to everyone’s health. The hazard of smoking is plain and simple: it causes ailments that potentially lead to death, not just to the users themselves but also to those who are considered passive smokers. The issues of the protesters are actually valid. However, to address these concerns, the government has already established various resolutions to regulate the use of cigarettes, particularly in public places. Furthermore, the government and other concerned groups are involved in various massive campaigns to promote information regarding the disadvantages of using this product. Man always has a choice of whether or not to patronize cigarette smoking. Even the manufacturers themselves warn the public of the dangers of smoking through their tagline â€Å"cigarette smoking is dangerous to one’s health†. However, on the other side, the tobacco industry helps bring jobs to the community. It employs hundreds of people and gives them a livelihood. Further, it greatly contributes to the community’s economy. The industry supports the development of the community through its tax returns and through company-initiated activities that aim at promoting social welfare and cater to community needs. In the end, the tobacco industry largely contributes to the community’s economy despite the nature of its product. As it makes one a good person to be of assistance to the community in general and to participate in the pursuit of common good, a Virtue Ethicist’s action plan is to facilitate the increase of the company’s drive to promote awareness on the use of cigarette smoking.

Stem cell success Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Stem cell success - Term Paper Example This enthusiasm still is not shared by those of the religious right. This faction is opposed to embryonic stem cell research which they claim as immoral and characterize as devaluing human life, much the same as does abortion, drawing a link between the two. This discussion will provide a brief overview of stem cell research and its benefits to society, the debate surrounding the issue and the arguments for continued research. Stem cells are basically the building block cells of a human being which are capable of becoming 210 different types of tissue. Adult stem cells are found in minute numbers within most tissues, but the majority of stem cells can be obtained from the umbilical cord. There are numerous potential sources for stem cells. Embryonic stem cells originate from the inner cell of an early stage embryo. Embryonic germ cells can be collected from fetal tissue at a later stage of development. Adult stem cells can be obtained from mature tissues. â€Å"Even after complete m aturation of an organism, cells need to be replaced. A good example (of adult stem cells) is blood, but this is true for muscle and other connective tissue as well, and may be true for at least some nervous system cells† (Chapman et al, 1999). ... It has been substantiated from animal research that stem cells can be differentiated into cells that will behave appropriately in their transplanted location. For example, the transplantation of stem cells following treatments for cancer has found much success for many years. â€Å"Experiments such as the transplantation of fetal tissue into the brains of Parkinson’s patients indicate that the expectation that stem cell therapies could provide robust treatments for many human diseases is a reasonable one. It is only through controlled scientific research that the true promise will be understood† (Frankel, 1999). The moral dilemma that surrounds the prohibition of aborted fetuses is the idea of abortion itself. The former Bush administration was very conservative leaning and made it very clear that it was opposed to legal abortions, in at least most circumstances, and transferred that ideology to its prohibition of embryonic stem cell research. The concept of scientific study of the next stage of development, the fetus, which resulted from an abortion, is unthinkable. This ideology of that administration reflected the minority opinion which opposes abortion and also reflects the majority opinion that is opposed to aborted fetuses of consenting parents being used for experimentation. This reality has no basis in reason. Why would those who claim to be ‘pro-choice’ want to waste the aborted tissue? For that matter, why would pro-lifers want to witness what they believe is a living being tossed away in vain? At least its ‘life’ could have meant something to humanity in a very real way. Though president Obama reversed the Bush-era restrictions on this scientific research, conservatives continue to fight this battle in court. Last

High School Drop out Rate Essay Example for Free

High School Drop out Rate Essay Analysts agree that the rate of high school dropout in the United States has reached catastrophic levels. Credible estimates claim that more than a third of all students that join high school are likely to abandon school before completion. A look at the past decades indicates that this has been a growing trend and is yet to be arrested appropriately. This is a problem that has not been captured in the public glare due to scarcity if data. This paper will provide the available statistics on the rate of high school dropouts; provide an analysis of the possible causes and remedies. Different publications contain valid rates of dropouts; this is because of the existing differences in the definition of a dropout. There are those that graduate after completing the high school syllabus, others that graduate after completing an equivalency test of the same and those that graduate after passing other states based tests. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) compiles its data using either the event rates, status rates or the cohert rates. Events rates refer to the number of students that drop out of school annually while the status rate takes into account the total number of students that have cumulatively dropped out of school as a proportion of the total population. (National Institute on the Education of At Risks Students, 2006) Indicative reports have it that the rate of school dropout from the 1970s to the 1990s recorded a steady decline; however the rates have stabilized from the 90s to date recording an insignificant improvement. A look at the 1999 and the 2000 reports indicate that 5% of all students that had joined high school in the respective years dropped out within a year. This is in according to the available education department’s event dropout rates. The status dropout rates for 2000 indicate that â€Å"some 3. 8 million young adults were not enrolled in a high school program and had not completed high school. † (National Center for Education Statistics). Other available statistics on the dropout rates focus on the differences between gender and the racial groups. They have indicated that 5. 8% of male students are more likely to dropout compared to whose dropout rate is 4. 3%. The gender disparities in the dropout rate are witnessed across all the ethnic and racial groups with male students being the most affected. The dropout rate for the minority groups has remained higher than that of white Americans. The Latinos lead the group of the minorities with a rate of 27. 5%; African Americans have 13. 6% while the whites have a dropout rate of 7. 9%. This is according to the 1993 survey although these rates have remained fairly constant since then. (National Institute on the Education of At Risk Students, 1996) Having looked at the existing statistics, it is important to look at the reasons behind these statistics. There exists immense research on the causes of high school dropouts but it is important to point out that they focus on a variety of issues depending on the discipline. The ethnographic studies for example may focus on the issues of minorities and the social causes of their dropout. Attempts therefore to establish the specific factors are impeded by the existence of â€Å"a large variety of factors that predict or influence dropout behaviors, ranging from family background to school characteristics. † (Richard, 2002, 120) Scholars however have observed that students drop out of schools either after being ‘pushed out’ by the school environment or after being ‘pulled away’ by factors beyond the school curriculum. (Jay W. , 1999). A survey conducted on the various reasons behind the high school drop out rates revolve around vague reasons such boring classes and hard exams. These though are the pointer towards the major factors that contribute towards high school dropout rates. The causes range from academic challenges, economic, social and personal reasons One of the major ‘push out’ cause of dropout of high school can be traced to the various schools’ requirements to undertake an exit exam as the precondition for graduation. A look at the United States reveals that most states have put forth a requirement for a standardized test to mark the graduation of students from high school. Exit exams were adopted to enable states to standardize their tests and upgrade their diplomas. Where the merits of these exams have been widely noted, criticism has been leveled against them alleging that they exert too much pressure on the high school students. The basic purpose of exit exams is to ensure that the quality of the diploma is maintained, today however it is being seen as pushing students out of school, â€Å"these critics rely upon the push-out-myth- the idea that requiring students to pass exit exams forces students to drop out of high school. † (Jay P. , 2006, 127). The conclusion that stringent exam requirement may push students out of school has been reached after examining performance records and transcripts belonging to those that have dropped out. Studies have pointed out a streak of dismal performance by most of them indicating a sense of hopelessness on the drop outs. Some students have blamed the dismal performance on the lack of motivation by their teachers. Another possible cause of school dropout is peer influence. Peers are an important component to the development of an individual and also as socialization agents. It has been established that the influence of the family to the life of adolescents is fast waning and its place taken over by peers. The issue of how peers influence school drop out rate is broad and has been found to be an important factor. School dropouts have claimed to have been influenced by their peers to quit schools especially for those that had non schooling friends. This is so as peer influence has been found to either be a source of motivation or discouragement. This has been problematic as most of these have plunged into the crime world led by their peers. Working students also find it hard to cope with both tasks and most have even been found to give up education in the belief that they will resume later. Unsupportive parents have also been known to lead their children out of schools due to lack of moral support. Just like there is no single cause behind the high rates of school dropouts, there is no single remedy for the problem. It requires a multifaceted approach that incorporates both students and the teachers. It has been found that most students drop out of schools to escape the taxing nature of academics and exams. While it is not prudent to change the existing exams, it would be appropriate to put measures to ensure that the tests would not be an excuse to drive students out of school. As Marvin (2003, 215) has pointed out, â€Å"states should look for more ways to identify students at risk and consider instituting or adapting existing programs to support students before they drop out. † The best approach hence would be to incorporate a support program to help students cope with the rising challenges. This should include providing extra school tutoring and retake programs for students that perform dismally in the first attempts. This should also include introducing changes to the academic programs to ensure that they are more responsive and relevant to the student lives. The government also should roll out programs that aim towards sensitizing students on the need to stay in school. A number of factors that contribute to high rates of school dropout are social-psychological meaning that they can be eradicated through creation of awareness and general counseling. It is also important to involve students in the process of policy making to ensure that their expectations and views are incorporated and hence make them feel that they have a bigger stake in the school programs. Indeed there much has to be done to reduce the number of students that fail to complete their high school. The dropout rates indicated above are worrisome. More also needs to be done to bridge the dropout disparities across the racial groups. Students should be sensitized on the dangers of dropping out of schools especially as they are exposing themselves to the risks of unemployment as well as crime.