A Case Study of Nabil Bank

CHAPTER- I INTRODUCTION 1. 1 Concept of Banking The term â€Å"Bank† is derived from the latin word â€Å"bancus†, Italian word â€Å"banca†, French word â€Å"banque† which means bench used by medieval money exchanges and German word â€Å"bank† which means joint stock company. According to oxford dictionary bank means â€Å"an establishment for keeping money and valuable safety of the money being paid out on the customer order by means of cheque.Historically, banks have been recognized for the great range of financial services they offer from checking accounts of saving plans to loan for businesses consumers and governments. Hence, bank can be identified by the function they perform in the economy. Bank is a financial institution which deals with money. Banks collect the money from the surplus unit (savers) and lend to deficit units (users). Bank raises the funds by accepting deposits, borrowing funds and issuing equity.These funds are used by th e banks to buy securities and to make loans. Since, it accepts deposits and grants loan, it is regarded as the trader of money. Banks can be divided int three types on the basis of their functions and services ie. Central bank, Commercial bank and Development bank. Commercial bank offer services to individuals, hey are primarily concerned with receiving deposits and lending to businesses. Commercial bank is also known as the financial service needs in the economy. 1. Introduction of Nabil Investment Banking Nabil Bank Limited, the first foreign joint venture bank of Nepal, started operations in July 1984. It has paid up capital of NRs200 million. Nabil was incorporated with the objective of extending international standard modern banking services to various sectors of the society. Pursuing its objective, Nabil provides a full range of commercial banking services through its 47 points of representation across the kingdom and over 170 reputed correspondent banks across the globe.Nabil Bank Limited with its mission to be the 1st Choice Provider of Complete Financial Solutions ventured into capital market related activities and incepted its fully owned subsidiary – â€Å"Nabil Investment Banking Ltd. (Nabil Invest)† which renders investment banking related services to the masses. Thus, Nabil Invest targets to establish itself as one of the leading Merchant Bankers in its short span of operation and as an Investment Banker with strong professional expertise in long run introducing innovative products and services in the Nepalese capital market with strict adherence to prevailing rules and regulations. . 2. 1 Services of Nabil Investment Banking Nabil Invest renders its institutional and retail clients wide range of services some of which are delivered currently while others will be delivered in due course with required exploration & innovation and due approval received from the Regulators as and when required, detailed as under; 1.Management of Public Offers/Further Public Offers Nabil Invest renders both its institutional and retail client services of managing public offer of shares/ debentures/right issuance of securities to existing shareholders/further public offer of securities etc to its clientele and has team of professional expertise to render quality services at competitive rates. . Underwriting Nabil invest on selective basis post independent appraisal of proposals reviewed through its professional team is rendering underwriting related services to its clientele as SEBON has made it mandatory for all institutions going public to underwrite at least fifty percent of the securities on offer prior public issue. 3. Portfolio ManagementThe Clients can delegate all their investment management related decisions to a pool of corporate finance experts of Nabil Invest who inturn will use the vast pool of industry specific data collected and analyzed by its research unit for making investments for clients portfolio which focuses primarily on safety of principal investment along with maximization of returns to Clients. 4. Registrar to Securities (RTS)Nabil Invest renders Registrar to Securities (RTS) related services to the valued shareholders of its institutional client and in the process keep on improving quality & timely delivery of services, the major hitch in this nature of services by competing institutions. 5. Loan Syndication Nabil Invest will use its existing relationship with other Banks/Financial Institutions to acquire required financial support for the financial closure of certain projects which it identifies as feasible and recommends for investment.The financial closure will be reached with either one institution or a syndicate of Banks/Financial Institutions depending on the size of projects and the requirement to diversify the risks to various portfolios from the part of member Banks/Financial Institutions. 6. Other Services Besides the services identified, Nabil Invest will always keep on e xploring innovative products and services that matches regional and global standards and target to launch the same in customization with the local market with due approval taken from the Regulators, if & when required.Thus, Nabil Invest intends to cater wide clientele rendering Investment Banking related services setting example and obtaining first mover advantage in the capital market of the country. 1. 3 Objectives of the fieldwork The objectives of the fieldwork are as follows:- ?To identify capital structure of Nabil Invest ?To analyze financial position and performance of Nabil Invest ? To evaluate portfolio of Nabil Invest 1. 4 Methods of Data collection Data collection is the process of collection of data and information through different sources or methods. To prepare this fieldwork report, the following method has been used:- Secondary Method:-The data , which is not orginally collected but obtained from published and unpublished sources, are called secondary data. These da ta are not original in character. The sources helping as secondary data for this field work reports are the annual reports of Nabil Bank, websites of nabil bank and nabil investment, books etc. CHAPTER-II DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION 2. 1 Capital Structure of Nabil Invest Table 2. 1: Capital Structure |Proposed|Effective| |NRs(000)|%|NRs(000)|%| Nabil Bank|78000|52|78000|74. 29| CG Finco P. Ltd|27000|18|27000|25. 71| General Public|45000|30|-|-| Total|150000|100|105000|100|Source:- Annual Report of Nabil Bank From the above table, it is shown the proposed and effective capital structure of Nabil invest. Nabil Invest proposed 52% capital of Nabil Bank, 18% capital of CG Finco P. Ltd and 30% capital of General Public. However, Nabil Invest's effective capital structure is 74. 29% by Nabil Bank and 25. 71% by CG Finco P. Ltd. It can be shown graphically as follows:- Fig 2. 1:- A Pie chart of Proposed Capital Structure of Nabil Invest Fig 2. 2:- A Pie chart of Effective Capital Struct ure of Nabil Invest 2. 2 Financial position and performance of Nabil Invest 2. 2. 1 Balance sheet of Nabil InvestTable 2. 2: NRs(000) Capital & Liabilities|2010/11|2009/10| Share Capital|105000|70000| Reserves and Surplus|7457|-529| Accounts Payable|7218|2628| Provision for Staff Bonus|1065|-| Deferred Tax Liability|60|-| Other Liabilities and Provisions|694|17| Total|121494|72117| Assets|2010/11|2009/10| Balance with banks|26337|70000| Investments|83400|-| Advance tax (net of income tax liabilities)|4453|-| Fixed assets (net of depreciation)|6169|1941| Deferred tax assets|-|176| Other assets|1135|-| Total|121494|72117| In the above, the balance sheet size grew by around 68% mainly due to rise in paid up capital.Paid-up capital which got increased by NRs. 35million was contributed by CG Finco P. Ltd. NRs. 27 million and Nabil Bank NRs. 8 million. In addition, net profit earned during the year also contributed to increment. Net worth of the Company surpassed paid-up capital after it registered profit. It can be graphically presented as below:- Fig:- A Bar Diagram of Assets And Share Capital of Nabil Invest 2. 2. 2 Income Statement of Nabil Invest Table 2. 3:NRs (000) Particulars|2010/11|2009/10| IPO Fees|305|-| Interest Income|12979|-| Management Services|6196|-| Gross Income|19480|-| Personnel Expenses|1574|222|General Operating Expenses|4927|482| Depreciation charge|1267|-| Gross expenses|7768|705| Operating Profit|11712|-705| Staff Bonus|1065|-| Profit before Tax|10647|-705| Tax Expense|2662|-176| Profit after Tax|7985|-529| Opening Retained Earning|-529|-| Closing Retained Earning|7457|-529| Source:- Annual Report of Nabil Bank A significant volume of the profit was contributed by interest income which not only incorporates return on equity placement but also the proceeds realized in the form of sharing of interest income with BFIs / Other Institutions whose public offers are being managed by NI in the capacity of Issue Manager.In addition, the Company also managed to earn returns by rendering specialized management services to the Bank. It is graphically Presented as :- Fig:- A bar diagram of profit of Nabil Invest 2. 3 Portfolios of Nabil Invest Table2. 4: (in million) Particulars|2010/11|2009/10| 1. Nepal Government Treasury Bills|6489|5896| 2. Nepal Government Saving Bonds|-|-| 3. Nepal Government other securities|2255|2077| 4. Nepal Rastra Bank Bonds|-|-| 5. Foreign Bonds|178|187| 6. Local Licensed Institutions|305|-| 7. Foreign Banks|3661|5391| 8. Organized Institutions' Shares|192|159| 9.Organized Institutions' Bonds andDebentures|-|-| 10. Other Investments||| 10. 1 NCM Mutual fund|1. 2|1. 2| 10. 2 Swift Investment|1. 6|1. 5| Total Investment|13082. 8|13712. 7| Source:- Annual Report of Nabil Bank The above table shows the portfolios of Nabil Invest in different securities and bonds. Here the two years fiscal years investment portfolios are provided. In the given table the highest amount of investment was done in Government Tre asury Bills. It can be identify that Nabil Invest is targeted towards the Government T- bills and securities. It can be due to no default risk and it is a risk free asset.I has also a high rate of investment in foreign banks. The lowest amount of investment of Nabil Invest is in mutual fund and Swift Investment. The above table is presented in a graph as below:- Fig:- A bar diagram of Portfolios of Nabil Invest 2. 4 Study Result After thoroughly analyzing, it is analyzed that Nabil bank has been operating as the subsidiary bank for Investments ie. Nabil Investment Banking. Nabil Investment Banking (Nabil Invest) is providing innovative, quality and timely services to the investors at large. From the analysis of data, it the capital structure of Nabil Invest has been identified.The proposed capital structure of Nabil Invest is 52% by Nabil bank, 18% by CG Finco P. Ltd and 30% by the General Public. But it is in effect that 74. 29% of capital is owned by Nabil bank and 25. 71% capital is owned by CG Finco P. Ltd. From this it can In F/Y 2009/10, the profit after tax is negative NRs 529,000 whereas in F/Y 2010/11, the profit after tax is NRs 7,985,000. This shows the increasing trend of profit of Nabil Invest. The high volume of the profit was contributed by the interest income. The portfolios of investment shows the different areas of investment by Nabil Invest.The highest amount of investment of Nabil Invest was Government Treasury bills for fiscal year 2009/10 and 2010/11 ie. NRs 5896 million NRs 6489 million respectively. It has also invested in Government Bonds, Securities and other Investments. CHAPTER-III SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 3. 1 Summary NABIL Bank stands as the Bank of 1st Choice in the industry considering its network, a number of branches, a large capital base, diverse customized services and products, a chain of ATMs service points covering a wide regional / local spectrum. NABIL stands ahead in everything it does.The strategic purpose of Nabil is t o create values and economic opportunities across all the economic zones of the country and architecting products and services to that end. Nabil Investment Banking (Nabil Invest), a subsidiary of Nabil bank Ltd is rendering the investment banking related services to the masses. Thus, Nabil Invest targets to establish itself as one of the leading Merchant Bankers in its short span of operation and as an Investment Banker with strong professional expertise in long run introducing innovative products and services in the Nepalese capital market with strict adherence to prevailing rules and regulations.From the analysis, Nabil Invest has 74. 29% capital of Nabil Bank and 25. 71% capital of CG Finco P. Ltd. However, the proposed capital structure of NI is 52% of Nabil Bank, 18% of CG Finco P. Ltd and 30% of General Public. The income statement of Nabil Invest shows increasing trend of profit in each fiscal year ie. NRs 7985000 in F/Y 2010/11 and negative NRs 529000 in F/Y 2009/10. In fis cal year 2010/11 the profit was contributed by the interest income which not only incorporates return on equity placement but also the proceeds realized in the form of sharing of interest income.The balance sheet of Nabil Invest shows the increase in amount of share capital of Nabil Invest as well as increased in fixed assets and other assets. From Investments Portfolios of Nabil Invest, it is recognized that highest amount of investment has been made for the Government Treasury Bills in each fiscal year. The lowest amount of investment has been made for other investments like NCM Mutual Fund and Swift Investment. 3. 2 Conclusion From the above study, it is clear that for the purpose -†To be the first Choice Provider of Complete Financial Solutions† Nabil bank has created a subsidiary ie.Nabil Investment Banking Ltd. (Nabil Invest). Nabil Investment over the period will be managing public issues, underwriting of securities, management of client's portfolio & rendering th e services of the registrar to securities to client institutions. In addition, the unit will also be delivering Bond/Debenture Trusteeship services, work as Assets Management Company of the mutual fund promoted by Nabil, provide investment advisory services etc.Further, the Unit will keep on exploring and introducing innovative instruments in the Nepalese capital market. It is providing innovative, quality and timely services to the investors at large. Thus, the ultimate goal of Nabil Invest would be to stabilize the unit as just not a Merchant Banker but as an Investment Banker providing innovative, quality and timely services to the investors at large. This would differentiate itself from its competitors and create a niche of itself in the market.

Big Fat Globalization Essay

ABSTRACT: It has often been observed that obesity follows a socioeconomic gradient which adversely affects the poor. This paper proposes the outline of a sociological theory of obesity as a consequence of ‘globalisation factors, such as labour market deregulation. Forced to work longer hours – and with lower levels of job-security – workers in low paid jobs have fewer opportunities to burn calories, and are more likely to consume fast-food. This combination has led to higher levels of obesity among the poor in countries that have adopted neo-liberal labour market reforms. There are some human phenomena, which seem to be the result of individual actions and personal decisions. Yet, these phenomena are often – on closer inspection – as much a result of social factors as of psychological ones. In 1897, Emile Durkheim (1997) showed that the suicide – perhaps the most personal of all decisions – could be analysed through the conceptual lenses of sociology. Obesity, much like suicide, is often regarded as a personal problem; result of an inability to control ones desires in front of the fridge. Obesity does have a psychological, and, indeed, a medical, dimension, yet like the suicide, this growing phenomenon also has a social dimension. This paper is an attempt to do the same for obesity as Emile Durkheim did to the study of suicide; to analyse it in the light of the theories of sociology. Obesity and Social Science Interest in the social aspects of obesity is nothing new. Jeffrey Sobal has written extensively about the social and psychological consequences of obesity , including the stigmatisation and discrimination of obese and even overweight individuals (Sobal 2004). Scholars with a more anthropological twist have written about the different social perceptions of obesity, e.g. the positive view of fatness among some indigenous peoples (Swinburne et al. 1996). In an article entitled, â€Å"An anthropological Perspective on Obesity â€Å" (Brown and Konner 1987), the authors found that â€Å"cross cultural data about body preferences for women reveal that over 80% of cultures for which shape preference data are available, people prefer a plump shape† (cited in Sobal 2004, 383). That these ideals are embedded in their respective cultures is perhaps best evidenced by the small statuette Venus of Willendorf, by common archaeological consent the oldest known work of art. Stone age man evidently preferred a big girl complete with multiple love-handles, someone who could both carry and nurture his offspring under the harsh conditions of the Palaeolithic world. Other examples of the cultural acceptance of large people obese Buddha statues in the Far East and rituals of prenuptial fattening in many cultures, where fatness is seen as sexually attractive (Brink 1989). That fat has often been a symbol of status is not merely an anthropological observation. In the 19th Century, in Britain, according to Williams and Germov, â€Å"a large, curved, body†¦connoted fertility, wealth and high status. While poor women were occupied with physical work, the voluptuous women of the middle classes were often viewed as objects of art, luxury, status, virtue and beauty† (Williams and Germov 2004, 342). â€Å"Fatness†, they go on, â€Å"was linked to emotional stability, strength (stored energy), good health, and refinement to leisure† (Ibid). These observations are worth bearing in mind when we discuss obesity. Obesity is – to a certain extend – a social construct. But obesity is also more than this. As an increasing medical problem, obesity is not merely a condition that can be – or should be – analysed in the light of perception and aesthetics. Obesity is also a product of biological, psychological, and social conditions. While not ignoring the importance of the former two factors, this paper presents an account of the latter. While correlations between obesity and  social and economic background variables have been reported (Flegal et al. 2000), sociological analyses have thus far not addressed the question of the social aetiology of obesity. This paper seeks to present a first step towards remedying this. The Obesity Debate ‘Why are we so fat?’ asked American magazine The National Geographic in a feature article in the summer of 2004 (National Geographic 2004). The use of the collective noun ‘we’ seemed particularly warranted as recent statistics show that more than 65 percent of us (the British) are overweight. (defined as having a Body-Mass Index of 25 or above). Still more alarming; 20 percent of us are clinically obese (defined as having a Body-Mass Index of 30 or above).(House of Commons Select Committee on Health 2004). Britain is not alone in this. In America the figure is even higher; 30 per cent of the Americans are obese (US Department of Health and Social Services 2000). According to a recent study of obesity in the USA, diet related illnesses are responsible for four out of the ten leading causes of death. (Bush and Williams 1999, 135). These figures matter for more than psychological and aesthetic reasons. It is estimated that more than 30.000 deaths per year in the UK are attributed to obesity or obesity related illnesses (House of Commons Select Committee on Health 2004, 6). In the colourful words of one medical expert: â€Å"this is an epidemic†¦the likes of which we have not had before in chronic disease†¦[obesity is] making HIV look, economically, like a bad case of the flu† (William Dietz quoted in Greitser 2000, 42). Add to this that close to ten percent of the total NHS budget is allocated to obesity and related illnesses, and it is difficult to dispute that obesity is a major health concern as well as a major socio-political problem. Facts1 such as these more than justify the Chief Medical Officer’s conclusion that obesity is â€Å"a health time bomb† that needs diffusion (Chief Medical Officer quoted in HC Select Committee on Health 2004, 8). But public health is not just about diagnosing and treating conditions, it is also about understanding causes, the identification of which will enable us to take the appropriate prophylactic measures to combat the epidemic. Yet, there is far from agreement on what these causes are. The explanations for the obesity epidemic cited in the popular press, e.g. in The National Geographic and in Newsweek (2004) were all biological in origin and medical in consequence. Quoting the work of medical geneticist Rudolph Leibel, The National Geographic concluded that obesity was down to genetics. â€Å"Our overeating†, the magazine quoted Leibel as saying, â€Å"is not the wilful result of deranged upbringing. It is genes talking† (National Geographic 2004, 62). This biochemical reductionism is not new – though the underlying science has changed. As far back as 1924, the editors of the Journal of the American Medical Association editorialised that ‘obesity’ was purely the result of ‘malfunctions in normal metabolic processes’ (Editorial: The Journal of the American Medical Association 1924, 1003). Contrary to the impression left by features such as those in Newsweek, the National Geographic and the octogenarian editorial, the picture is a good deal more complex than that. This is increasingly recognised within medicine. A report from the American Institute of Medicine is an example of a critique of the geneticist view: â€Å"there has been no real change in the gene pool during this period of increasing obesity. The root problem, therefore must lie in the powerful social and cultural forces that promote an energy-rich diet and a sedentary lifestyle† (Institute of Medicine 1995, 152). There is evidence to support the veracity of the hypothesis that social and cultural forces play a role (Flegal et al. 2000, 6). What is striking about the obesity epidemic is the extent to which it reflects social class conditions. To cite but one example; the Health Survey  for England has shown that in 2001, 14 percent of women in professional groups were obese, while 28 percent of women from unskilled manual occupations were categorised as such (House of Commons Select Committee on Health 2004, 16). Similar examples are legion. As a study concluded; â€Å"the largest rates of obesity occur among population groups with the highest poverty rates and the least education† (Drewnowski and Specter 2004, 6). This correlation between poverty and obesity is likely to be the result of underlying social factors. It is not that there is an automatic relationship between poverty and obesity. This relationship is a new phenomenon, which, consequently, needs to be analysed in the light of recent social, political and economic developments. As Ulrich Beck has observed; ‘the struggle for one’s ‘daily bread’ has lost its urgency as the cardinal problem overshadowing everything else†¦for many people the problems of ‘overweight’ take the place of hunger’ (Bech 1997, 21). The interesting question from a sociological point of view – as well as from a medical one – is why. Globalisation and Obesity: Towards a Pattern It is difficult to dispute that obesity is a social condition, which adversely affects those in low paid/short term jobs. Needless to say, obesity does have a significant biomedical component; what happens inside the body after you have munched your Big Mac obviously requires a physiological/biochemical explanation. However, it is (from a sociological and public health point of view) equally important to determine the factors which lead you to eat the Big Mac in the first place. What we endeavour to answer is the social aetiology of obesity; the social causes, which lead to weight gain. The aforementioned research findings strongly indicate that weight problems and poverty are highly statistically correlated. As a oft-cited study said:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"diet affects the health of socially disadvantaged people from cradle to grave† (James, Nelson, Ralph, and Leather 1999, 1545). Of course a quote does not establish a fact, nor does a statistical association. The question is what lies behind these correlations? Some could – with some justification – argue that these class differences merely reflect and reconfirm the existence of serious inequalities in health – as reported in the Black Report in the early 1980s (Working Group on Inequalities in Health 1982). What has hitherto been missing from the literature on obesity – as well as that on health in general – has been more ambitious theoretical explanations linking medical conditions – in this case obesity – to more general sociological discourses and theoretical trends (such as modernisation and globalisation). One obvious – yet overlooked – hypothesis is that societal changes from a traditional industrial society to a globalised (deregulated) economy has created new patterns of life and work, which have had adverse effects on food consumption, exercise, and hence has contributed to the increase in the growth of the obesity epidemic. According to this hypothesis, the advent of a neo-liberal economic regime has had – and continues to have – profound consequences for working patterns – especially for those in low paid/insecure jobs. This hypothesis is, in fact, consistent with observations made by sociologists such as Anthony Giddens who have observed that â€Å"one of the ways globalisation has affected family life in Britain is by increasing the amount of time that people spend each week at work† (Giddens 2004, 62). In addition to working longer hours, individuals are increasingly working in service sector jobs (such as call centres) with provide little opportunity for physical exercise. With ‘flexible’ working hours, individuals are likely to eat later and more likely to consume fast-food (Dalton 2004, 95). The  medical consequence of this is that they are unlikely to burn the extra calories they consume. While no evidence of this has been published using UK figures, data from America confirm this trend; â€Å"Americans now spend almost half of their food dollars on food away from home – 47 percent, or $354.4 billion in 1998† (Dalton 2004, 94) .That the hurried life-style brought about by changes in labour market is – in part – responsible for this, is underlined by figures from the fast food chains reporting that ‘drive-thru’ sales now account for more than half of their total sales (Dalton 2004, 95)2. That this has contributed to the obesity epidemic is underlined by the fact that â€Å"away from home† foods contain more total fat and saturated fat on a per-calorie basis than â€Å"at home food† (Dalton 2004, 94). As a further consequence of the changes in working patterns – and the less free time available – individuals are less likely to engage in sport and social leisure activities – factors which have been shown to be negatively correlated with weight gain (Dalton 2004, 95). Again American figures illustrate the trend. In 1991, 46 percent of high school students and 57 percent of middle school students were enrolled in sport activities (Sallis 1993, 403). By 1999, those figures had dropped to 29 percent of high-school students and 35 percent of middle school students. On average there is a 3 percent decrease in the number of kids who take part in sporting activities on a daily basis (CDC 2000). Viewed in this light is perhaps not surprising that the countries in the forefront of ‘globalisation’ (especially labour market deregulation) are also the countries with the highest incidence of obesity (See table One). Conversely, countries with less globalised economies, have had lower – sometimes much lower – levels of obesity. A few examples will suffice. In Sweden – a country that has not followed the neo-liberal reform agenda – the number of overweight people is 39 per cent  (the same figure as France – another country that has resisted neo-liberal reforms). The figure for Norway another affluent society in the same category is even lower; 25 percent (www.iotf.org). That labour market dergeulation goes hand in hand with obesity, seems to be confirmed when we contrast the obesity figures from ‘globalised’ countries with similar figures from less globalised economies (as measured by the Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom). The Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient between this measure of globalisation (admittedly a gross proxy!) and obesity rate is a Pearson’s R of -.71. In other words, the less globalised the economy, the lower the number of obese people. While this correlation is not all conclusive – and only significant at 0.37 (two-tailed), it does suggest the existence of a causal link between obesity and globalisation. Table One: Index of Economic Freedom and Obesity Rates CountryIndex of Economic Freedom %Obese Australia1.8820 France2.63 8 Finland1.9513 Netherlands2.04 8 Norway2.25 7 United Kingdom1.7917 USA1.8525 Sources: The Heritage Foundation and www.iuns.com (accessed 14 August 2004) While governments of the most globalised economies – such as Australia, the UK and the USA – have gone to great lengths in their efforts to deregulate the economies and give ‘the market’ a stronger role, other countries – especially those with strong corporatist traditions (See Lijphart 1999) –have adopted a different approach to globalisation. In the Netherlands the government, trade unions, and employers associations have negotiated responses to globalisation, which have prevented the growing inequalities and levels of job-insecurity associated with globalisation in  Australia (Bessant and Watts 2002, 306)., Britain and the USA (Giddens 2001, 69). Consequently, the Dutch workers are not under the same pressures as their British and American counterparts in having to seek low paid/short term employment, with all the consequent negative implications on food consumption and lack of time for physical exercise (Freedman 2000). The difference between these two ‘pure types’ of welfare capitalism is not merely of importance for the reasons identified above (food intake with little opportunity to burn calories). There is also evidence to suggest that the ‘Dutch model’ is more conducive to the formation of ‘social capital’, which in turn is negatively correlated with levels of obesity (Putnam 2000, 264). Further globalisation is more than just labour market deregulation. Global liberalisation of trade under the WTO and liberalisation of the market for broadcasting are other factors to be taken into account. Globalisation is a mix of contingent factors which – when combined – create social developments. One of the consequences of globalisation is a society, in which consumers both ‘enjoy’ the benefits of cheap food from around the globe, while at the same time, are being subjected to advertisements from multinational food and beverage producers, such as McDonalds, Pepsi, Burger King, Coca Cola, and others. The level of this influence can hardly be exaggerated; in one year McDonald spent in excess of 1 billion US-dollars on advertising for kids (Brownell and Horgen 2003, 60). Globalisation has profoundly affected capitalist democracies, yet not all countries have responded by deregulating labour markets and unleashing market forces. In some cases, countries have (successfully) attempted to regulate the forces of globalisation, e.g. through restrictions on media advertising (especially on TV). In the Netherlands the public broadcasters  are not allowed to interrupt programmes aimed at the Under-12 year olds with advertisements. Similar restrictions have been introduced in Sweden and Norway (www.childrensprogrammes.org). That such restrictions have been introduced in small countries with relatively open economies is an indication – perhaps even a proof – that the effects of globalisation are not inevitable; that political intervention has not been rendered impossible by globalisation Conclusion â€Å"There is no question that the rates of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes †¦follow a socioeconomic gradient, such that the burden of disease falls disproportionally on people with limited resources, racial-ethnic minorities, and the poor†. Thus wrote two dieticians recently (Drewnowski and Specter 2004, 6). Previously, scholarly studies in the social aetiology of obesity have stopped short of developing these statistically based conclusions into a more general theoretical sociological framework. In this paper a case has been made for the view that obesity is – at least in part – a consequence of the recent political and economic developments commonly known as ‘globalisation’. Globalisation has led some governments (e.g. in the USA, Britain and Australia) to enact and implement labour market reforms (flexible job-markets with less job-security). One of the consequences of this development has been pressures on families and individuals in low paid/temporary jobs. Through this ‘globalisation’ has created conditions, which are conducive to over-consumption of high-energy foods. Forced to work longer hours, individuals have less time to prepare meals opting instead for pre-prepared fast food with a high fat content. In addition to this development, the availability of cheap food from around the globe coupled with advertising from multinationals – has resulted in new pressures which have led to a growth in the consumption of energy-rich food  among the poor. Thus a combination of social factors have contributed to the fast growing epidemic of obesity which is eroding our health budgets, lowering self-esteem and creating premature deaths. References: American Medical Association (1924), ‘What Causes Obesity’, Editorial, The Journal of the American Medical Association, 1924, 83, 1003. Ulrich Beck, Risk Society. Towards a New Modernity, London, Sage, 1997, p. 21. Bessant, Judith and Watts, Rob (2002) Sociology Australia. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen&Unwin P.J. Brink (1989) â€Å"The Fattening Room Among the Annang of Nigeria: Anthropological Approaches to Nursing Research†, in Medical Anthropology, Vol. 12, pp. 131-43). Brown, P.J. and Konner, M. (1987) â€Å"An anthropological Perspective on Obesity â€Å", in Annals of the New York Academy of the Sciences, Vol. 499, pp.29-49 Brownell K.D. and Horgen, K.B (2004) Food Fight : The Inside Story of the Food Industry, America’s Obesity Crisis, and What We Can Do About It., McGrew-Hill. Bush, L. and Williams, R. â€Å"Diet and Health: New Problems/New Solutions†, in Food Policy, Vol. 24, pp.135) Campos, Paul (2004)The Obesity Myth. Why our Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Our Health. London: Penguin. CDC. The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, â€Å"Healthy People 2010†, 2000, www.health.gov/healthypeople/document/HTML (Accessed 13 September 2004). Childrens Programmes (n.d) www.childrensprogrammes.org/regulate.html. Critser, G. (2000), â€Å"Let them Eat Fat†, in Harper’s March 2000. Drewnowski, A and Specter, S.E, ‘Poverty and Obesity: the role of energy density and energy costs’, in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2004, 79, 6-16. Durkheim, Emile (1997) Le Suicide. Étude de Sociologie. Paris: PUF Flegal, K.M, et al. ‘Prevalance and Trends in Obesity among US Adults 1999-2000, Journal of the American Medical Association, 2000, 288, 1723-27 Freedman, Richard (2000), ‘Single Peaked versus Diversified Capitalism: The Relationship Between Economic Institutions and Outcomes’ Bureau of Economic Research. Working Paper 7526, Washington, NBER. Giddens, Anthony (2004) Sociology, 4th Edition, Cambridge, Polity Press. Institute of Medicine (1995); Weighing the Options: Criteria for Evaluating Weight Management Problems, Washington DC, American Academic Press. International Obesity Task Force, www.iotf.org James, W.P.T, Nelson, M., Ralph, A. and Leather A. (1999), â€Å"Socioeconomic Determinants of Health: The Contribution of Nutrition to Inequalities in Health†, in British Medical Journal, Vol.314, No.7093, pp.1545-49. Lijphart, Arend (1999). Patterns of Democracies, New Haven, Yale University Press. National Geographic, ‘Why Are We So Fat?’, August 2004-09-16 Newsweek, (2004) â€Å"What do You Know About Fat†, in Newsweek Magazine September 20 Putnam, Robert (2000) Bowling Alone. The Collapse and Revival of American Social Capital, Simon and Schuster, New York. J.F. Sallis (1993) â€Å"Epidemiology of Physical Activity and Fitness in Adolescents†, in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Vol.33. no.4-5, 403-408. Sobal, Jeffery (2004), ‘Sociological Analysis of the Stigmatisation of Obesity†, in John Germov and Lauren Williams (Editors), A Sociology of Food and Nutrition. The Social Appetite, Oxford, Oxford University Press Swinburn, Boyd. et al. ‘Do Polynesians Still Believe that Big is Beautiful?, in New Zealand Medical Journal,1996, 109. 100-103 US Department of Health and Social Services, Healthy People 2010, 2nd Ed., US Gov. Printing Office, 2000. Lauren Williams and John Germov (2004)†The Thin Ideal: Women, Food, and Dieting†, in Lauren Williams and John Germov (Editors) A Sociology of Food and Nutrition. The Social Appetite, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 342 Working Group on Inequalities in Health (1982) Inequalities in Health (The Black Report), London, HMSO, 1982.

Portfolio Analysis and Investment Management Essay

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CONSIDERING THE INTIAL ASSESSMENT , RELATIVE STABILITY IN THREE Essay

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Norwegian Health System Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Norwegian Health System - Term Paper Example In this context, the National Insurance Administration (NIS) commonly known as â€Å"Trygdeetaten† ensures that everybody has an access to a basic level of welfare. In doing this, the NIS provides various benefits for accidents, illness, birth, pregnancy, bodily defects, death, disability, old age, and unemployment. Non-citizens who work or live in Norway are obligated to contribute a certain amount that caters their health care while living and working in the country. Norway’s medical facilities are of high quality and widely available, though they are limited in the rural areas. The sparse and the remote population in Northern Norway and the reliance on ferries to transport medical facilities interrupt transportation thus hindering access to medical facilities in these rural areas. In trying to provide equitable services to its population, all Norwegians are insured by the NIS (National Insurance Scheme). Through NIS, all Norwegian residents and citizens are covered. With this regard, the aim of this paper is to discuss the Norwegian health care system, and illustrate the unique issues that the country faces in trying to provide equitable services to its population and the measures enacted to deal with this issue. The paper will further evaluate what the national government is doing to organize, coordinate and finance these services. NORWEGIAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS Background In brief, Norway is a country in Northern Europe that has a population of 4.6 Million and a landmass of 324,220Km2. Studies outline that, Norway ranks among the richest countries globally given that, it is the World’s third largest oil exporter (Johnsen, 2006). The country is also rich in various resources such as Fish, petroleum, timber, minerals, hydropower and natural gas. The Norwegian economy is stable since the government controls major areas such as international prices, petroleum sector, and gas prices. As mentioned earlier, Norwegian health care system is very expensive, and to ensure that all citizens have an access to medical services, all residents and citizens are insured through NIS. Medical facilities are of high quality, which augment better outcome in health care delivery. The country has an exceptional standard of obligatory state funded medical care that consists of well-trained medical staff. The ministry of healthy ensures that all health professionals are carrying out their duties professionally for better health outcome. As a result, the health system in Norway is exceptional and perceived to be among the best health care systems globally. The cost of health care differs depending on the illness and treatment prescribed. However, there are relatively few charges for those who qualify but, prescription medicine are incurred at a charge. There are a number of cases where there is a relatively small cost on pregnant women, chronic diseases, and those who have just given birth. Significantly, there are high charges for dental t reatment though some citizens acquire free dental treatment particularly, under the age of eighteen. In this context, the fee of the prescribed medicine falls into two groups that include blue and white class. In this case, white class medicines are entitled for free while blue classes are subsidized. The private sector does not play a significant role in Norway because of an excellent standard of the country’s healthcare. This is because private insurers issue complementary health insurance to citizens who receive treatment such as plastic surgery. In essence, private

Book review Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Book review - Research Paper Example Education for special needs clearly indicates the ways of diagnosis of various illnesses and the way teachers who offer education to this student should have a positive approach towards them. A curative teacher is a teacher who deals with the less fortunate and relates to them every now and then. The education given to the needy should be one that appreciates the needy and develops a good rapport with the needy. Looking at the symptoms, the curative teacher comes up with a method that leads to the treatment of an illness affecting the needy one. Impression created by the curative teacher should be one that contributes to the development of a needy person socially, mentally and physically (Steiner, 2009). The audience targeted for this book is people who really relate to the needy every time. This can either be people living with the aged, doctors living with the needy, teachers who attend to the education of the needy or parents having sons or daughters in needy cases. It enhances more on developing the needy and appreciating them as part of our society. Understanding the symptoms of the needy clearly cultivates an understanding that helps the needy cope with the others in the society. One importance is that communication is enhanced and the needy are rejuvenated because there is one who appreciates him and does not look down on him/her. In a case autism the curative teacher understand the needy and an approach of humor is highly recommended in the book. The interrelationship of the society and the needy is also a key point. The book goes further and categorically states that isolating the needy from the rest of the society contributes to the depression of the less fortunate .For a condition such as mental illness when the victim is subjected to stigmatization depressions can cause the victim to undergo mental failures if not mad. The needy ought to be

Pilot Unions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pilot Unions - Essay Example These elites do not care about the upper mobility of the middle and lower classes thus they have made college to be expensive and in turn most people from such economic classes are shunning away from college. This will empower the upper classes and their well-educated children to place a stranglehold on labor laws and civil liberties in America.2 Further, there have been transformations in workplaces such as downsizing, rise of contingency work, tightening of coordination, human relations management and squeezing wages.3 Downsizing has resulted to a lesser number of Americans being employed on full time basis due to automation and a rise in contingency work in corporations. Consequently, workload is increased on those employees who remain. Due to engagement of robots services, there have been fewer industrial jobs and less leverage in bargaining with management for the employee who remain. In addition, computerization has increased the ability to service more people thus limiting the number of professionals needed in advanced industrial societies. There has been a rise of the contingency worker through the replacement of permanent workers with temporary or part-time ones. The latter are usually paid less and draw no fringe benefits which works well for the corporations. Such corporations thus remain globally competitive, expand and contract with product lines and market cycles, avoid healthcare and pension costs, vacation pay, training programs and government anti-discriminatory rules. Corporations have tightened coordination through the use of computer systems that coordinate the flow of raw materials, machine time, labor and other resources and the front office is thus able to monitor and coordinate retail and clerical work. For instance, with the employment of the Bell telephone operators, every fifteen minutes, computer terminals near supervisor’s desks print out the office’s complete

HNC Summer School Project Briefing (Mechanical Engineering) Essay

HNC Summer School Project Briefing (Mechanical Engineering) - Essay Example expected limit, the automatic system through its sensors will be able detect the change in temperature and automatically activates the coolants to propel in order to decrease the temperature. The project outline and describes the design and the working principles of an automatic cooling system. The design of a cooling system will encompass the use of sensors to control the temperature change as well as the use of a thermistor. Primarily, a thermistor is a kind of resistor whose resistance varies or fluctuates due to temperature change. The thermistor consists of a sensitive material which is able to detect even small changes of temperature variation. The change in temperature will be converted to electrical signal and carried to the amplifier. The amplifier then augments the electric signal and send it to the comparator. At this juncture, analysis is done by the comparator by comparing both the input signal and the reference signal. Principally, the relay device is activated when the input signal is larger than the reference signal which control temperature at different capacity levels. Likewise, the propeller is deactivated by the relay device when the temperature drops gradually below the limit. This process will be repeated continuously as long as there is a temperature change. Fundamentally, Manufacturing, industrial and mechanical machines or other appliances are ineffective in one way or another but majorly due to heating effect due to lack or inadequate coolants. These machines are subjected to heating effect while under operation. Sometimes the heating effect might be too high and unmanageable interfering with the operation of the machine thus can lead to inefficiencies. The heating effect lowers the effectiveness of the machines at the same time increasing the operational and maintenance costs (Allen and Lasecki, 2001). Most of the coolers which have been used since time in memorial requires more manpower to operate and are time consuming. Introduction

Surrealism as a way of looking at life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Surrealism as a way of looking at life - Essay Example The essay "Surrealism as a way of looking at life" states the surrealism. Artists were able to create strange creatures, from common objects. From this objects, Toman and JindrÃŒÅ'ich explains that artists were able to develop painting techniques that had the capability of allowing the unconscious self to express an idea, a concept, or even itself. Castant further explains that works of surrealism constantly feature elements of surprise, non sequitur, as well as unexpected juxtaposition. However, Greet denotes that majority of surrealist writers and artists normally regard their works of art as an expression of a philosophical movement, and this is before regarding these works as an artifact. On this basis, writers and artists of surrealism view this concept as a revolutionary movement. Brodskaiï ¸  aï ¸ ¡ traces the emergence of this movement to the Dada activities that were conducted during the 1st World War. Furthermore, Toman and JindrÃŒÅ'ich denotes that Paris played a great r ole in the emergence of this movement, because it was the center where artists were able to converge, and express their feelings and artistic works. From the year 1920, Surrealism was able to spread all over the world, affecting works in music, literature, film, as well as visual arts. Brodskaiï ¸  aï ¸ ¡ further denotes that surrealism has affected areas such as politics, philosophy, aesthetics, as well as other social elements of an individual’s life. Castant denotes that surrealism is an idea and movement that came to prominence.

Gender Roles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

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John Locke Biography Essay Example for Free

John Locke Biography Essay John Locke was born on August 29, 1632, in Wrington, Somerset, England. He went to the University of Oxford, where he studied medicine. After college he became a philosopher; writing and speaking on topics, such as political philosophy. His father was a country lawyer and was in the military, he served as a captain during the English civil war. John Locke was one of the Whig party founders, this party pushed for constitutional monarchism. He also wrote two books that were published in England; Two Treaties of Government and his Letter Concerning. Toleration while he was in exile in Holland, due to a failed assassination attempt on King Charles II and his brother. Two Treatises of Government showed his revolutionary ideas concerning the natural rights of man and the social contract. Both of these concepts stirred waves in England, and impacted the intellectual underpinnings that formed the later American and French revolutions. John Locke’s liberal politicalviews were verydifferent and were unheardof at the timein Great Britain. He believed that it was wrong for agovernment to force its subjects to conform to a particular religion. Locke said that religious beliefs are a private concern and that they are not a proper subject for government interference. Locke also believed in natural rights which he usually referred to as, â€Å"life, liberty, andproperty†. Hestated that these rights a person may surrender or forfeitby attacking others, but no one can simply take them away. If the government begins to violate these rights by depriving its subjects of life, liberty, and property, then the people have a right to overthrow the governmentand establish a new one. Lockealso believedthat people can consent to create and obey only a limited or constitutional government. Locke’s views on practicing religion freely later influenced the creation of the American Declaration of Independence. John Locke 3 Early in his medical studies, Locke met the Earl of Shaftsbury. The two became friends and Shaftsbury soon persuaded Locke to move to London and become his personal physician. As Shaftsburys power grew, so did Lockes responsibilities. He assisted in his business and political matters and eventually Locke became his secretary of presentations. Shaftsbury had a very heavy influence on Locke’s political career and many of his radical thoughts. Shaftsbury left an outlook on rule and government that stayed with Locke for the rest of his life. After reading about much of Locke’s life it is easy to see that he was very liberal and believed in the people having powers and freedoms that, at the time, were unheard of. John Locke’s philosophical political ideas and writings have greatly contributed to the freedoms we enjoy today in the Western part of the world. BIBLIOGRAPHY John Locke. (2014). The Biography. com website. Retrieved 01:12, Sep 21, 2014, fromhttp://www. biography. com/people/john-locke-9384544. Ball, Terence, and Richard Dagger. Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal. 8th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. Print. John Locke 4 Table Of Contents Page 1: Title Page 2: Table of Contents Page 3: Biographical Background and Political Views Page 4: Connections and Conclusion John Locke 5 Page 5: Bibliography.

The effect of training and development on employee Performance

The effect of training and development on employee Performance Human Resource Management employs training and development as its feature that enables an organization to train its employees according to the requirement of the organization and polish the skills. Training activities are designed to improve human performance on the job the employee is presently doing or is being hired to do (Nadler, 1970). Development is concerned with the overall growth of the employee. The employees in an organization need to understand the job and its importance. Many a times learning occurs simultaneously with the job, but it is the obligation of the employer to provide on the job training to improve the skills of the employee as well as improve overall performance. Training and developmental activities in an organization affect the work performance of the employee and ultimately the firm. Infosys is a company that efficiently manages its employees and provides training for its employees different areas like the technical training, induction training, leadership training, cross cultural training etc. Leonard Nadler, (1970), Developing human resources, Gulf Pub. Co, pp.76-79 Research background The study proposes to understand the impact of training and development on employee performance with special reference to Infosys Technologies Limited. Training helps an employee acquire more skills and capabilities that help improves their performance in the job; training also makes them proficient in the job (Dahama, 1979). While developmental activities focus on learning new things which provide them new options to grow in the organization. Training and development models are explained with the help of learning theories viz. behaviorist theory, cognitive theory and humanist theory (Mowrer Klein, (2001). All these theories are concerned with the teaching and learning process of the employees. There are three main approaches to training which are adopted by organizations while deciding on the type of training delivered to the employees namely, traditional, experiential and performance based approach  (Rama et.al, 1993). The continuous learning activities, professional and personal development in Infosys makes the company become successful in the IT industry and marks its presence in the world. The company gives due consideration to its employees and provides training in areas that make the employees well versed in their field. Infosys makes a framework for the continuous improvement of the employee and provides opportunities for their growth. They have incorporated many programs that mostly focus on the learning and development of the employees. Dahama, O. P, (1979),  Extension and rural welfare, New Delhi: Ram Parsad and Sons, pp.45-48 Rama, B. R, Etling, A. W, Bowen, B. E, (1993), Training of farmers and extension personnel, New Delhi: Mittal Publications, pp. 47-48 Mowrer R Robert, Klein B Stephen., (2001), Handbook of contemporary learning theories, Routledge, pp.16-19 Infosys Technologies Company description Infosys Technologies is a company that was established in the year 1981 by seven people. Infosys is one of the largest IT companies in India with more than US $5.4 billion revenue. Kris Gopalakrishnan is currently the CEO and MD of Infosys that delivers technology enables solutions to clients in different parts of the world. The company has 114,822 employees who work in the different parts of world and the company has its office in 33 countries. Even though the employee turnover in the IT industry is high the company is able to sustain its employees because of the efforts taken to provide growth and motivation through training and developmental activities. The company is considered to be one that provides the best kinds of training to its employees. They are well known for the training and developmental initiatives taken up to improve the performance of its employees. Infosys conducts training and development programs for the new recruits and also for the existing employees. Infosys has the following departments that provide different trainings to the employees: Education and research department this department provide technical training for the new recruits and the training lasts for about 14 weeks. This department also provides training for the middle level employees. Quality process training- the company is keen on making its employees understand their role in the organization; this department provides training clarifying the roles. Managerial programs and personal effectiveness- This department provides training to the managers in improving their skills and capabilities as managers, improves their leadership skills and induce team spirit in the organization. Infosys leadership system (ILI) The company has an institute called the Infosys leadership institute which is catered to bring growth to the employees and enhance their leadership abilities thus giving them the opportunity to improve themselves. http://www.infosys.com/about/what-we-do/pages/index.aspx (accessed on 3/12/2010) http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/HROB%20Mini/CLHR016.htm(accessed on 3/12/2010) https://careers.infosys.com/infyrms/infycareers/careers/training.asp(accessed on 3/12/2010) Rationale for the research topic The research work will throw light on the importance of training and development activities on improving employee performance. The study aims to evaluate the various training methods and models adopted by Infosys that motivate its employee to work towards the goals of the organization. Research will highlight the contributions of the developmental initiatives of Infosys on the growth and development of the employee. The study will focus on the effect of training and development on employee performance in Infosys. Literature review Training and development Training and development is essential part of the Human Resource Department in any organization. According to Van (1962) training is the process of teaching, informing, or educating people so that they may become as well qualified as possible to do their job, and become qualified to perform in positions of greater difficulty and responsibility. The staff in an organization is trained in different areas so that they become efficient in performing their activities. Inservice training is provided to employees so that their performance in the job increases as well as equips them to hold the responsibilities well. This training provides a development and growth for the individual. On the job training helps develop new core competencies and capabilities of the worker (Malone, 1984). There are various types of training that an employer needs to provide to the employee so that they are capable and competent enough at different stages of their work in the company. Following are the types of training: Orientation training or induction training: this is a training that most companies provide to a new employee. A new recruit will be unaware of the rules and work culture of the company, thus familiarizing them with the company is the responsibility of the HR department so that the employee is at ease and able to work effectively in the new environment (Rogers Olmsted, 1957). Foundation Training- This training is given to the employees to improve their overall skills like communication skills, coordination skills, leadership skills and also to understand their profession well and to gain knowledge regarding the administration. Technical training in companies in Infosys they provide their employees with the technical training that suits their work. This is provided to enhance their technical knowledge and make them professional in their area work. This is provided both to the new recruits as well as to the existing employees. Refresher training this is another type of training were the skills and abilities are updated. The employees need to be up-to-date with the changing scenario especially in the technology sector. The employees cannot work with obsolete skills, thus they are giver refresher training to improve their productivity (Van Dersal, 1962). On the job training- This kind of training is mostly provided to the employees by their superiors. The superiors do give formal instructions, presentations and involve the subordinated in discussions. By this way the employee gets an opportunity to gain more knowledge regarding their work and develop new skills. Developmental training- Training that helps an employee develop and grow in the organization. This type of training will help him take up more responsibilities and hold higher positions Malone (1984). This training will give the employee the professional skills, technical skills and more knowledge that will cater to their development and support them in climbing up the ladder of hierarchy in the organization and promote career development. Benefits of training and development There exist a relationship between training and development and employee performance. Training is the method of learning new things through education, practice and experience (Armstrong, 2000). An effective training can make the employees more competent and efficient and contribute to the growth of the organization (Ginsberg, 1997). A well trained employee will always be aware of his abilities, duties and responsibilities. The skills acquired can be efficiently utilized which will enable him to work towards the goals of the organization. Training is beneficiary to both the employees and the company in a lot of ways. Training makes an efficient and thus increases productivity More production leads to increased sales Wastage is reduced Employees will be more satisfied thus turnover and absenteeism will be reduced Efficient employees will produce more quality products Training is also a means of motivating the employees, the performance level of the employees also increases which acts as a pillar for the growth of the organization. Training and development in Infosys Infosys ensures that the employees are given the right kind of training thus contributing to the growth of the employees. Infosys has a well structured training process which is divided into many steps. Step1. Analyzing the training needs of the organization Step2. Objective of the training are formulated Step3. The already existing training methods are reviewed Step4. Develop a new method or select the already present method Step5. Training evaluation method has to be understood Step6. Implement the training program developed Step7. Measure the results obtained after training implementation This shows that the company has plan regarding the different training provided to the employees and they ensure that the results are obtained (Kumar, 2009). Infosys has a Training and development department that has many teams which take up the responsibility of managing the training activities in the organization. The teams include corporate training teams, teams for organizational development etc. Infosys follows certain methods like presentation, conferences, seminars, role playing, on the job training, case study, simulation, mentoring, in order to impart training to its employees. Some of the important types of developmental and training initiatives of Infosys include: Induction for new recruits, buddy programs to make the new employees familiarize with the organization, leadership, appraisal and quality training. They have adopted certain employee development methods that include, career pathing, options for higher education, plans for performance improvement, giving more projects to work on (Koontz, 1990). Infosys is keen on providing leadership training to its employees and they have set up the leadership institute that provides leadership development program (Durai, 2004). Armstrong Michael, (2000), Understanding training, Human Resource Management Practice, 8th Edition, Kogan page limited, London pp:543 Durai, (2004), Human Resource Management, Pearson Education India, pp.200-203 Koontz, (1990), Essentials of management, Tata McGraw-Hill, pp.218-220 Malone, V. M, (1984), Inservice training and staff development, Agricultural extension: A reference manual,  Rome: FAO, pp.12 Kumar Nirmalya, Mohapatra K Pradipta, Chandrasekhar Suj, (2009), Indias global powerhouses: how they are taking on the world, Harvard Business Press pp.70-72 Rogers, F. E., Olmsted, A. G, (1957),  Supervision in the  cooperative extension service, WI: National Agricultural Extension Center for Advanced Study, pp.23 Van Dorsal, W. R, (1962),  The successful supervisor,  New York: Harper and Row, pp. 23-26 Ginsberg, L, (1997), Training for the long haul, Computer Shopper, Vol: 17, pp: 4 Research Questions What are the effects of training and development on employee performance in Infosys Technologies Limited would be the foremost and the most relevant question related to the topic. Some other questions that can be put forward in relation to the topic are: How will training bring about a change in the productivity of the employees? What are the important developmental initiatives taken up by Infosys to provide its employees the opportunity to grow? In what way is effectiveness and performance of the employees linked to the training and developmental activities in the company? Research objectives Primary objective To study the effect of training and development on employee performance in Infosys Specific objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of training and development on employee productivity To understand the training and development models of the company that contributes to the growth of the employees To study of there is a relationship between employee performance and training and development in Infosys Methodology Research design and design adopted A research is the process of findings answers to certain problems that are carried out within a framework of philosophies, procedures, approaches, and techniques which are tested for reliability (Kothari, 1985). A research methodology is the process of systematic way of collecting and analyzing information related to a topic. This study follows a method of problem identification in the company related to the topic and then finding solutions to the problems and issues (Kumar, 2005). For the purpose of problem diagnosis and testing relevant data are collected and analyzed. Kothari, C.R., (1985), Research Methodology- Methods and Techniques, New Delhi, Wiley Eastern Limited, pp.2-5 Kumar, Ranjit, (2005), Research Methodology-A Beginners, (2nd.ed.), Singapore, Pearson Education, pp. 38-40 8.2 data collection methods 1. Sampling Methods The sampling method chosen in this study is convenient sampling were the author distributes questionnaires to the employees. The population chosen for the study is the employees of the company, under the category of trainers and trainees Infosys. Samples are chosen according to the convenience of the author from both populations. 2. Sample size Sample size is the number of employees chosen for the study from the total population of employees in the company. The number of employees chosen among whom questionnaire will be distributed in Infosys is 100 which include 25% trainers and 75% the trainees. 3. Sampling technique Sampling techniques is the method by which the researcher chooses samples from the total population. The categorization of the sampling is also important. In this particular study the researcher will choose samples from both the trainer population and employee population who undergo training in Infosys. This is done in order to analyze the effectiveness of training and development from two angles namely from the point of view of the trainers and the trainees. The questionnaires are distributed among these groups thus retaining valuable information regarding the training and development activities of the organization. Questionnaires Questionnaires are a means to collect relevant data from the group under study. This study carried out with the help of structured questionnaires that contain questions related to the topic. It will include questions regarding training and development and employee performance in the company. Questionnaire help the researcher get direct responses of the employees who are associated with the training and development activities of the company. While using questionnaires there are chances that the responses obtained may be biased and not the real response of the respondent. In this research the researcher needs to prepare 2 types of questionnaires one for the trainers and another one for the trainees. Thus he can obtain the response from both these groups regarding the topic. Interview The various drawbacks of questionnaires can be overcome using the interview method as it provides an opportunity for researcher to have a face to face interaction with the employees. Interview method is relevant as the interviewer can include more interactive and open ended questions. This will help obtain more specific information related to the topic. Interview method can be used in cases where the sample size is low. In this study the researcher can interview the trainers and other employees and get their personal opinions and suggestions on training and development followed in the company and how it has brought about a change in them. Data Analysis Data analysis is the process of converting the collected raw data into a polished form which can be easily interpreted and understood to give relevant conclusions. There are various data analysis techniques that can be used in different types of researches according to the requirements (Nolan Bryan, 1994). Empirical data are analyzed using statistical tools which provide reliable and accurate results. In this particular study the data analysis method that can be used are the percentage analysis and Chi-square test. These tests will help obtain accurate results for the study and prove or disprove the objectives formulated.   Nolan Bryan, (1994), Data analysis: an introduction, Wiley-Blackwell, pp.134-136 Resource Requirements The author needs different types of data and resources to carry out the study effectively. The data are collected by primary and secondary means. In this study the author obtained primary data by way of questionnaires which when distributed among the respondents give relevant responses which can be used in the study. Secondary data are collected from books and journals, articles, magazines, websites and other media. The author can make use of libraries to collect information from books; World Wide Web is also means for obtaining information related to the topic. Time scale EXERCISE WEEKS One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight   Selection of research proposal Decision on topic title Working on research background Rationale Execution on research objectives Formulation of research questions Working  Ã‚  on literature review Knowing research methodology Elucidating data collection method Working on data analysis Clarification with the lecturer Time spectrum Bibliography

Ethical dilemmas in social work: A case study

Ethical dilemmas in social work: A case study New Hanover County Senior Resource Center: Ethical Dilemma What are values, ethics, ethical dilemmas and a code of ethics? Values relate to principles and attitudes that provide direction to everyday living. Values also refer to beliefs or standards considered desirable by a culture, group or individual (Merriam, 2003). On the other hand, ethics means a system of beliefs that constitutes moral judgment. In essence, ethics are moral principles (Barsky, 2010, p. 12). An ethical dilemma is when a person is faced with a choice between two equally conflicting moral principles, and it is not clear cut which choice will be the right one. (Barsky, 2010, p. 6). In other words, adhering particularly to one principal might result in the violation of the other. Finally, ‘a code of ethics’ is an explicit statement of the values, principles and rules of a profession, which acts as a guide for its members and their practice (Code, 2008). In every occupation, professionals are faced with ethical dilemmas. Dilemmas at workplaces can sometimes be the hardest decision to make in life; however, as a professional we must take the proper steps to move further and not jeopardize our license or career. As a Bachelor of Social Work intern at the New Hanover County Senior Resource Center, ethical dilemmas are easy to come by. Description of Ethical Dilemma An ethical dilemma occurred on November, 20th of 2014. The client that this dilemma revolves around, is on the Senior Resource Centers Home Delivered Meals program. The program serves home-bound elderly citizens age 60 and over, and they receive a lunch Monday through Friday, prepared at the center nutrition site by a local catering company (Nutrition, 2015). This specific client has been receiving meals since 2006, and in November it was time for a reassessment to be done. Reassessments are done every six months to make sure the clients are still eligible to receive meals. I and my field instructor, Jean Wall, visited this client at their home. I knocked on the door, and after a few seconds I could smell marijuana wayfaring in the air coming out of an open window beside the door. The grandson of the client opened the door, and said the client was not there. He looked to be older than 18. My field instructor asked where the client was, and the grandson changed the story to the client was in the bedroom taking a nap. The grandson had red eyes, and was slurring his words, which are symptoms of marijuana use. Added with the smell of marijuana coming from inside, it was clear he had been smoking it. After leaving the clients home, I was unsure how to proceed with what just happened. The drug use in the home could negatively affect the clients overall health and well-being, but is it within our jurisdiction, as social workers at the senior resource center, to make a report? The Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers, also known as NASW, expresses the values and principles of the profession. By having values and principles that guides our practice, this assists our work, and helps us to act in ethical ways. In short, values and principles provide a guide and standard for ethical practice in social work (Barsky, 2010). The ethical standards that conflict, in this ethical dilemma, are standards 1.01 and 1.07. 1.01 states that a social workers primary responsibility is to promote the wellbeing of clients. Standard 1.07 part ‘a’ states that social workers should respect clients’ rights to privacy (Code, 2008). Standard 1.07 is also in conflict with North Carolina possession laws. In North Carolina, Marijuana is classified as a Schedule VI Controlled Substance, and possessing marijuana in North Carolina is considered a Class 1 misdemeanor under N.C. Gen. Stat. 90-95(d)(4). Stakeholders Every decision we make affects other people. Social workers have a moral obligation to consider the ethical implications of their decisions on others. Each person, group, or institution likely to be affected by a decision is a stakeholder with a moral claim on the decision maker (Barsky, 2010). There are individuals, groups, and organizations that can be affected by the ethical decision made concerning this client who lets their drug using grandson live with them. First of all, the client is most likely to be affected by the decision because this ethical dilemma revolves around the client and questions what is best for the client. The grandson is also a stakeholder. More individuals that are stakeholders are Jean Wall and myself, because we are the social workers involved with the case. The organizations that are also stakeholders are the New Hanover County Senior Resource Center, the Apartments where the client lives, The Department of Social Services, and The Wilmington Police Depa rtment. Possible Courses of Action Identifying all possible courses of action and the participants involved in each, along with possible benefits and risks for each, is important for making the best decision when it comes to ethical dilemmas. In this case, there are three possible courses of action; doing nothing, reporting the drug use, and discussing it with the client. The first course of action, doing nothing, entails not reporting the drug use or confronting the grandson or client with the matter. Essentially, the participants with this option are the social workers involved with the case, which are Jean Wall and myself. We would document the home visit like we are required to, but no further investigation would take place concerning the drug using grandson living with the client. The benefit to this option is that the client gets to have the grandson continue to live there, which may help if she has an accident or medical emergency, where she would need help calling 911 or getting to the hospital. The risks of this option are that the grandson may become abusive as an effect of the marijuana use, and that the client’s health could be negatively affected from inhaling the smoke. The second course of action, reporting it, entails making a report of the drug use to the police department, or to Adult Protective Services. The participants in this option are, myself, my field instructor, the client, the client’s grandson, the Wilmington Police Department, and the Department of Social Services. The benefits for this option are that the client is no longer living in an unhealthy environment, and that, if the police reprehend the grandson for possession, then drugs have been taken off the street. The possible risks are that the client is displeased and makes complaints to the agency, and another risk is that the police can do nothing about the drugs being in the home, and in retaliation, the client may want nothing to do with the senior resource center anymore. The third course of action is discussing the issue with the client, and letting the client decide what they want to happen. Participants is this option would be the client, the grandson, myself, and my field instructor. The benefits are that the client becomes aware that there is an issue, and starts to take steps to get the grandson out of the house, and that the grandson will be aware that this could lead to a bad environment for his grandmother. The possible risks are that the client may get angry with us trying to get involved, the grandson may get violent and defensive, and that the agency may lose the client. Analysis of Courses of Action The courses of action mentioned previously need to be thoroughly examined. Doing this entails going over the reasons in favor of and opposed to each possible course of action. Option number one of doing nothing, entails not reporting the drug use or confronting the grandson or client with the matter. Reasons in favor of this option include the Code of Ethics ethical standard 1.07. That standard prohibits social workers from sharing client’s personal information (Barsky, 2010, p. 98). Social workers should respect the client’s rights to privacy, and this applies to this option because we would be protecting the clients privacy by not reporting the drug use. Another reason in favor of this option is that it’s not in our jurisdiction to do, or say anything, about the apparent drug use because there was no evidence of elder abuse, and we could see no actual drugs. The reasons opposed to doing nothing revolves around the Code of Ethics standard 1.01. It is a social wo rkers responsibility to promote the wellbeing of clients. In this case, doing nothing would not adhere to following that standard. Option number two, of reporting it, entails making a report of the drug use to the police department, or Adult Protective Services. One reason in favor of this option is that it would adhere to the ethical standard 1.01 of promoting the clients wellbeing. Another reason in favor of this option is because it would follow with my own personal value about being against drug use. Additionally, possession of marijuana is against the law in North Carolina. Reasons opposed to reporting is that it would compete with ethical standard 1.07 where it states that social workers have to respect client’s rights to privacy. Also, reporting this issue to police would go against the ethical principle of dignity and worth of the person. The NASW Code of Ethics (2008) states that, â€Å"Social workers seek to enhance clients’ capacity and opportunity to change and to address their own needs†. Finally, option number three, of discussing the issue with the client, and letting the client decide what they want to happen, has reasons in favor of and against it. Reasons in favor of talking it over with the client includes the ethical theory that the client is the expert on their own life, and the ethical principal of dignity and worth of the person. Option three adheres to this theory and principal because we would be giving the client the opportunity to change and to address their own needs instead of making the decision for the client, without the clients consent. A reason opposed to this option is the legalities involved with North Carolina law. Drug possession is against the law, so just discussing the issue with the client may not be enough. Consultation Consulting with colleagues and appropriate experts about ethical dilemmas can aide in the decision making process. With this case, I consulted with Jean Wall, who is my field instructor, and then I consulted with another intern at the New Hanover County Senior Resource Center. The reason I consulted with the other intern was to try and get a sense of what her opinions on the case are, and to see what her decision would have been. The outcome of that consultation was that she was stumped on what to do also, but that she agreed with me on that it was an issue. She was not sure what should be done about it either. Next, I consulted with my field instructor about the home visit in general, then asked what should be done with the issue. Jean stated that, first, it was not part of our job to advise our clients on what should be done. We are to only give them the resources and tools they ask for. Second, that since there was no sign of abuse or neglect we could not make a report. Determining a Course of Action and Documentation The course of action that was chosen was to do nothing about the issue. This option was chosen because there was no sign of abuse or neglect, so we could not make a report to Adult Protective Services, and because we did not actually see any drugs while we made the home visit. The Senior Resource Center does not have a particular method of documenting ethical dilemmas. Documentation is done for all client interaction with the agency and staff. I documented the reassessment, like I would any other reassessment, once we could get in touch with the client and do the full reassessment. Ongoing Evaluation and Documentation After making the decision, monitoring, evaluating, and documenting the decision comes next. After documenting the first home visit we did to see the client, my field instructor set up another appointment with the client, and did the full reassessment for Home Delivered Meals. After the assessment, my field instructor and I debriefed on how the second home visit went. My field instructor stated that the house was very cluttered and smelled of smoke. The grandson was still living with the client, but he was out of the room for the visit. The client was found to still be eligible for Home Delivered Meals, and in six months, my field instructor will conduct another reassessment. Conclusion In conclusion, an ethical dilemma is a conflict of moral principles, occurring when a person is faced with a certain situation where adhering particularly to one principal might result in the violation of the other. Over the course of this internship, I have found that dilemmas at workplaces can sometimes be the hardest decisions to make in life; however, as an aspiring professional I must take the proper steps to move further. While interning at the New Hanover Senior Resource Center, this ethical dilemma occurred during a home visit. The client’s grandson had been smoking marijuana within the client’s home. The reason this was an ethical dilemma was because two standards in the NASW Code of Ethics were in conflict, specifically 1.01, and part ‘a’ of 1.07. In the end, my field instructor and I were not able to do anything about the smoking of marijuana in the client’s home. We could not report it to Adult Protective Services because there was no sig n of neglect or abuse to the client. However, there will be further monitoring of the situation due to the client still being on the Home Delivered Meals program, and having to do reassessments every six months. References Barsky, A. E. (2010). Ethics and values in social work: An integrated approach for a comprehensive curriculum. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Retrieved February 7, 2015, from https://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp G.S. 90-95. (2015). Retrieved February 7, 2015, from http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_90/GS_90-95.html Merriam-Webster, Inc. (2003). Merriam-Websters collegiate dictionary. Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Nutrition. (2015). Retrieved February 7, 2015, from http://src.nhcgov.com/services/nutrition/

Cocaine :: essays research papers

Cocaine Early on in his career, Eric Clapton seemed to have a difficult time sticking to one band. He played with the Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, and Cream. But throughout all the time he spent with each of those bands, no solo work was ever thought of until 1970. It was in 1970 that Clapton launched his solo career with his self-titled debut album. His first album had only one real hit, so to speak, with â€Å"After Midnight,† but is still regarded as one of his better works. Many felt that it was more of a D&B&F album,that merely featured Clapton on guitar. This was due to the amount of time he had been spending with the group, after he went â€Å"solo.† Before his debut album was ever released, Clapton had formed a band with some of the D&B&F members called Derek and the Dominos. He played with them for most of 1970. In 1971 and 1972, Clapton was not heard from, at least not musically, as he was battling a heroin addiction that cut two years out of his early work. But, on January 13, 1973, Clapton stormed back with a live performance at the Rainbow Theatre in London. That spawned his next record, â€Å"Eric Clapton’s Rainbow Concert,† which, obviously, featured live performances. It wasn’t until a few months later, in 1974, when Clapton had a substantial solo career, with the release of â€Å"461 Ocean Boulevard.† That record had the number one single, â€Å"I Shot the Sheriff,† which is still a popular song to this day. In 1975 and 1976, Clapton released three records, as follow-ups to â€Å"461 Ocean Boulevard.† â€Å"There’s One in Every Crowd,† â€Å" E.C. Was Here,† (live) and â€Å"No Reason to Cry,† respectively, had no where near the success of his previous album. But, thankfully, in 1977, Clapton released â€Å"Slowhand,† which had mega-hits with â€Å"Lay Down Sally,† â€Å"Wonderful Tonight,† (which was a million seller) and â€Å"Cocaine.† Originally written by country-rocker J.J. Cale (who also wrote â€Å"After Midnight†), â€Å"Cocaine† was a bluesy-soul-rock song that, essentially, was about what Cocaine can do for you, and gave tips about what to do while high on Cocaine. If you wanna hang out you’ve got to take her out; cocaine. If you wanna get down, down on the ground; cocaine. She don’t lie, she don’t lie, she don’t; cocaine. If you got bad news, you wanna kick them blues; cocaine.

Ideal Image of Nature in William Wordsworths The World is Too Much With Us :: World Is Too Much With Us

Ideal Image of Nature The World Is Too Much with Us by William Wordsworth represents modern humanity's lost spiritual connection with nature, in which he believed could only be preserved in memory. This poem is a sonnet that through images and metaphors offers an angry summation of the theme of communion with nature. Wordsworth repeats the fatalistic theme of humanities progress at the cost of preserving nature throughout the sonnet. The symbolism created by the images and metaphors represent Wordsworth's deep passion about the conflict between nature and modern progress. William Wordsworth was raised amid the mountains in a rustic society and spent a great deal of his childhood outdoors, in what he would later remember as a pure communion with nature. The life style that he led as a child brought him to the belief that, upon being born, human beings move from a perfect, idealized realm of nature into the destructive ambition of adult life (Phillips). Wordsworth's deep cynicism to the materialistic ambition of the Industrial Revolution during the early nineteenth century is evident in this sonnet. Images and metaphors alluding to mankind's greed, nature's innocence, and the speaker's rejection of accepted principles all serve to illustrate the speaker's passion to save the decadent era of the early 1800s. The first part, the octave, of "The World Is Too Much with Us" begins with Wordsworth accusing the modern age of having lost its connection to nature and everything meaningful: "Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; /Little we see in Nature that is ours; /We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon" (2-4)! The idea that Wordsworth is trying to make clear, is that human beings (adults) are too preoccupied in the material value of things ("The world┘getting and spending" (1-2)) and have lost their spiritual connection with Mother Nature (childhood). "Little we see in Nature that is ours;" (3) Wordsworth is expressing that nature is not a commodity to be exploited by humans, but should coexist with humanity, and "We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon" (4)! he pronounces that in our materialistic lifestyles, nothing is meaningful anymore. He says that even when the sea "bares her bosom to the moon" (5) and the winds howl, humanity is still out of tune. These lines (5-7) suggest that nature is helpless and unknown to the destruction man is doing. "For this, for everything, we are out of tune;" (8) proposes that even in the spectacle of a storm, human beings (adults) look on uncaringly implying that we, humans, don't realize the damage we are inflicting on helpless nature.