Term project part III Statistics Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Term part III - Statistics Project Example Similarly, businesses will come to a standstill if the crime rate is high in the city. This study will therefore inform the police department and other relevant bodies involved in combating crime on the measures that are needed to be undertaken in order to mitigate crime rate in the cities. Since the study seeks to relationship between city crime rate and the number of uniformed forces in those cities or any other variable, the city dwellers will form a desired representative sample population for the study. This means that the city dwellers will form the target population for this particular study. So as to obtain a representative sample, the population will comprise all the adults over 18 years old regardless of gender, race or place origin of the respondents. Since it is not possible to interview all the city dwellers, a random sample of 400 participants will be selected. A systematic random sampling will be used to select the participants into the study. That is, the study will identify 8 cities of interest from which 50 respondents will be drawn. The data set will be obtained from the FBI and local city websites. Questionnaire will be the main tool to be used in collecting the views of the people. The variables of interest in this case will be crime rate (dependent variable) and explanatory variables (number of uniformed forces, mean income per year, education level and population size). Each data set for every variable was sourced from websites of local city and FBI. The data set for education level variable was obtained from this website: www.census.gov/ Descriptive statistics, particularly histogram, was used to analyse each variable. The histograms presented below, by visualization, show that all the data set followed a normal distribution (the data set is normal). From the all the histograms below, most of the observations were around the mean at least for each variable. This concentration of

Tutoring Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Tutoring - Essay Example A tutor is an individual qualified to impart students in different specialties. A tutor normally teaches scholars outside of the normal hours prescribed in schools. A tutor is frequently paid to offer tutoring training. He or she may be officially trained, and several qualified teachers. A tutor can also be somebody with proficiency in a subject field who is not a qualified teacher, like an academically gifted student. He or she may be working in a profitable tutoring industry. Tutors in the lifelong learning area appreciate all students independently and uniformly. They are dedicated to lifelong education and professional growth and struggle for continuous development through philosophical exercise. The main purpose of the tutor is to generate effective and motivating occasions for studying through prominent quality coaching that allows the growth and development of all students (Hitching, 2008). The lifelong learning area is modern and developed out of an administrative commitment to inspire the contribution of grown-ups into knowledge whether as fraction of an additional learning or a job based education plan. Lifelong learning is to encourage inclusion while raising the benchmarks of adult learning after the modern school age of sixteen ((Hitching, 2008). This type of learning refers to students in sixth grade learning through to old age learning within the community background. The kind of learners and the abilities and capabilities of those students’ presents a variety of disputes for a tutor go into the occupation and so it is significant to appreciate what lifelong learning entails. It is also significant to appreciate what is anticipated of a tutor in this setting and what their responsibility is, as well as what their tasks are to their learners. The responsibility of a tutor in the lifelong learning zone should be to observe the appropriate regulations of preparation and supervisory requirements that enclose the occupation. Naturally, the tuto r must be properly qualified and have an authorization to practice. They must also offer the resources and apparatus that are desirable to help their instruction. There is also a collection of statutory Acts that enclose the occupation, which embrace the Act 1974 of safety and health at work, Act 2010 (the Data Protection), the Equality Act 2010 (the Equality), and that each leaner matters (Wallace, 2007). In terms of the tutors’ tasks to their learners, there are several of needs that should be achieved. The tutor should bear in mind the aptitudes of the students in their grouping and provide suitable session plans that will assist their education (Wallace, 2007). They ought to understand their students and form suitable associations while managing social challenges. They must be able to recognize any supplementary learning requirements faced by the learners they are coaching and deliver sufficient encouragement that will aid the student overcome any obstacles to their knowl edge (Tummons, 2007). The tutor must be in a position to inspire their learners to inspire their education and they must be able to measure their personal achievements as well as acquire more skills from their limitations (Tummons, 2007). A tutor should also endorse equality. This refers to refers to encouraging a superior social fairness by offering individuals with the abilities to get and maintain work,

The Aims and Objectives of an Islamic Bank

The Aims and Objectives of an Islamic Bank Islamic banking is becoming increasingly popular and plays a prominent role in the financial services sector in Malaysia. According to latest statistics shown, the Muslim population of Malaysia is approximately 25 million. There is definitely a strong demand and strong growth potential in this sector. In Malaysia, the banking sector is mainly dominated by the conventional banking system whereby interest is not being prohibited. It is because the Islamic banking system is relatively new and there are insufficient regulations at present to govern them. If these obstacles are being resolved, the Islamic Banking sector will blossom given the influence of Malaysia in the international Muslim community. The primary aim of this research is to examine and understand in depth the development of Islamic banking in the world of finance. This piece of research can be divided into three sections. The first section looks at significant differences between conventional banking and Islamic banking. Products and services offered by these financial institutions will be marked to comparison. The second section looks at how the practice of Islamic banking started and how it has emerged to become a vial force in the economy. The final part of the research will focus on how the Islamic banks penetrated the Malaysian market and the challenges faced. 1.1 Structure of Dissertation This dissertation is divided into a few topics and each topic covers different areas of research. This is to give readers a clearer view of the research and make it more user-friendly. It is well thought and designed to ensure the smooth flow of the reading. The structure of the dissertation can be summarized as follows: Chapter 1: This chapter describes the aims and objectives of this research. Chapter 2: This chapter discusses the principles and fundamentals of Islamic banking Chapter 3: This chapter explains in detailed the state and scope of Islamic banking industry in Malaysia. I have also mentioned to objectives and roles the Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre Initiatives plays in the industry. Chapter 4: Research methodologies and strategies that were being adopted for this paper was discussed. Chapter 5: I have marked two Islamic banks in Malaysia for side by side comparison. I have drawn up a table to compare their financial performance and position over the past two years. Chapter 6: I have interviewed two Islamic bankers from Malaysia. On top of that, I have also provided my personal analysis of their answers. Chapter 7: Competition and globalization of the Islamic banking industry. Moreover, I have also discussed opportunities and challenges faced in the world and in Malaysia. Chapter 8: A summary of the paper was included with recommendations and limitations to research. 2 INTRODUCTION So, what exactly is Islamic Banking? Islamic Banking is banking based on Islamic laws (Shariah). The Shariah principles are derived from the Quran and the Sunnah (sayings of Prophet Muhammad). Moreover, secondary sources of Islamic laws such as opinions collectively agreed among Shariah scholars, analogy and personal reasoning are also adopted in the rules and practices of Islamic banks (Al-Omar, 1996). The research then looks at the differences between conventional banking and Islamic banking. There governing principles of Islamic banks are: Riba Absence of interest-based transactions. Charging of interest is prohibited under Shariah principles. Money itself does not have inherent value and should not be used to create more money. Wealth can only be generated through legitimate trade and investment. Ghirar Acts of speculation are not accepted under Islamic principles. For instance, buying goods now at lower price in the hope of selling them at higher price in future. The reason being speculators make private gains at the expense of society at large. Zakat Introduction of Islamic tax for the purpose of wealth distribution so that every Muslim is guaranteed a fair standard of living. Haram It is forbidden for Islamic banks to finance activities forbidden in Islam such as prok meat and alcoholic beverage. In order to ensure that the trading activities do not contradict with Shariah principles, all Islamic banks are required to set up Shariah Committee, who acts as advisor to the banks. On the other hand, conventional banks charge interest on transactions. These interests are widely seen as price of credit. Furthermore, conventional banks focuses on elimination of risks and thus do not share any liabilities with the borrower. (Figure 1) Islamic Bank Vs Conventional Bank Based on Shariahprinciples. Based on best economic principles. Bank should not take advantage of borrower. No interest charged. Charges interest to reflect price of credit. Does not allow involvement in haramactivities such as pork meat and alcoholic beverage. Aims at maximizing profit without restrictions other than compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks. Intoduction of zakat. Non-existence of zakat. Promotes risk sharing between providers of credit and borrower. Interest is assured to providers of credit. No liabilities borne by the bank. Emphasis placed on viability and feasibility of projects. Emphasis placed on credit-worthiness of customers. Only provide guarantee for deposit account (al-wadiah). If funds placed under mudarabah accounts, customers shares profit or loss incurred by bank. Provides guarantee to all its depositors. www.learn islamicfinance.com 2.1 Fundamentals of Islamic Banking Finance Islamic commercial law is based on a few major principles. They will be discussed in detailed as follows: Musharakah (Partnership Finance) Musharakah is a contract in which the bank and the client contribute jointly to the capital of a specific project or deal to make a profit. Therefore, risks of profits and losses are being shared between these two parties according to terms and conditions stipulated in the contract. This principle exposes bank to the risks of the project, in other words protecting the interests of the community. This will prevent banks from yielding their unfair influence and sells disadvantage products to clients. Mudarabah (Trust Financing) Mudarabah is a contract in which the banks provides all the capital required whilst the partner contributes in terms of skills, experiences and efforts. The bank receives a pre-determined share of profits as agreed by both parties upon commencement of the project. The major difference between mudarabah and musharakah is that in this case, the bank bears all financial loss whilst the client goes unrewarded. Therefore, it is also the banks responsibilities to assess the feasibility and viability of the project. As such, it is vital for the bank to have a good and credible credit system to evaluate all its exposures on these projects. In short, this principle encourages individuals to participate in financial activities It also gives individuals without sufficient resources an opportunity and platform to prove themselves in the society. Murabaha (Cost-plus Financing) Murabaha is a contract in which the banks informs their client about the acquisition price of certain goods and products and sells them with a margin. It requires the bank to declare an honest price of acquisition. It is one of the most common principles adopted in Islamic banking system to promote interest-free transactions. It is widely practiced in asset financing and both commodity import and export. Bai-Muajjal (Deferred Payment Sale) It is a contract in which the seller sells a certain goods or products to the buyer at an agreed fixed price to be paid later at a specific date by the buyer. In short, it is a sale on credit. The bank merely acts as the financier by deferring the receipt of the sale price of goods it sells. Ijara (Leasing) In this case, the bank buys capital equipment or property and leases it out under instalment to clients. Similar to conventional leasing, the client has the option to purchase the goods at the end of the lease period. The fact that there is real good to be financed means that it is Shariah compliant. A very common product adopting this principle is Islamic mortgage whereby the buyer buys the property on an instalment basis. Qard Hassan Islamic teachings promote brotherhood amongst Muslims. Qard Hassan is seen as a gratuitous loan that helps fellow Muslims who need financial assistance. It can be defined as a loan to be repaid at a later date without incurring any interests. According to Rob (1992), Islamic banks may raise funds through sale of shares to public and main deposit accounts. Therefore, the bank has a responsibility to lend a helping hand to those in desperate situation without taking of their advantaged position. 2.2 Compatibility of Islamic Banking with Conventional Banking Islamic banking system has very similar features to conventional banking except that Islamic banks operate in compliant to Shariah laws and principles. Both banking systems have common features and common products. The main differences being prohibition of interests being incurred and sharing of profits and losses between banks and their clients (Abdur Rahim, 2009). They have the same objectives except interpretation of interest. Islamic banks fall into realms of the economic world as well. They try to ensure all their operations comply with Shariah laws yet at the same time conform to rules set by international bodies such as International Accounting Standards Board and Audit Practices Board. This is to ensure they remain relevant to the society and at the same time conform to their religious principles. Islamic banks sell products such as mortgages, savings accounts, insurance which is also sold by all conventional banks across the world. According to Nienhaus (1995), Islamic banks offer facilities more or less the same as conventional banks, in compliance with the welfare principles of Islam. 3 LITERATURE REVIEW A literature review is a process in which published articles or information are studied as part of the research for the preparation of a dissertation. For the purpose of this project, I have gathered information from books and articles from various sources. I have studied the concept of Islamic banking, having limited understanding about this topic previously. Further, I have also included discussion about the development of Islamic banking in the world, and in particular, Malaysia. This paper allows readers to have a good grasp of Islamic banking in general. It gives readers the opportunity to study about Islamic banking in greater detail when the interest of this industry gathering strong momentum. This is of particular importance because Islamic banking has a huge impact of the world economy because of the strong influence of the oil-rich Gulf States. 3.1 Introduction Since a few decades ago, Islamic banking has emerged as a new reality in the world economy. Its philosophies and principles are however, not new, having been outlined in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) more than 1,400 years ago. The emergence of Islamic banking is often related to the revival of Islam and the desire of Muslims to live all aspects of their live in accordance with the teachings of Islam (Siddiqi, 1983). This chapter provides a brief overview of how Islamic Banking was introduced in the World and how it penetrated the Malaysian market. Islamic banking today has proven to be a popular and reliable financial system in the world. It is widely seen as a viable alternative to the conventional banking system over last 3 decades. Islamic banking was described by scholars as wishful thinking when the idea was first mooted almost thirty years ago (Iqbal and Philip, 2006). Many conferences and discussions were carried out at that time to work on the finer details of this system. Several blueprints were drafted by Islamic scholars from all over the world to ensure a detailed system is created. The first international conference on Islamic Economics was organized by Kings Abdul Aziz University in Makkah marked an important milestone in the history of Islamic banking (Iqbal, 2005). Financial gurus, economic experts and Islamic leaders were invited to present their view and opinions. Following this, the first Islamic bank, Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) was established in the United Arab Emirates in 1975. Since its formation, it has established itself as the leader in the industry and has won several accolades internationally. In 2009, it recorded net profit of  £200 million with assets worth over  £14 billion. Islamic banking has gained tremendous momentum and has been growing rapidly over the years. Islamic banks now offer products in various areas such as banking, insurance, mortgage and asset management with annual growth of 10% for many years. 3.2 History of Islamic Banking in Malaysia Islamic banking industry in Malaysia is growing at a moderate pace. It is a unique market because Islamic banks in Malaysia are allowed to operate in parallel to conventional banks (interest-based). The multi-ethnic population of Malaysia makes the entire change of financial system to follow the Shariah system not viable. Government of Malaysia opted for gradual way of introducing Islamic banking by allowing conventional banks to sell Islamic banking products and services such as sukuk (Arif, 1989). The dual banking system has been recognised by both West and East leaders and it is seen to be the model of the future. In fact, many central bankers have visited Malaysia to see the effectiveness of this dual system first hand. Furthermore, this dual system also eliminates the wrong concept of general public that Islamic banking products are sold exclusively to Muslims. The history of Islamic banking industry goes back to as far as 1963, when the foresighted government set up the Lembaga Tabung Haji also known as the Pilgrims Management and Fund Board. It was set-up primarily to encourage Muslims in the country to save up on their income in order to perform pilgrimage in Mecca (Kamarulzaman Bhupalan, 1983). Besides, the fund was also created to provide a platform for participation in the economic and investment activities. Based on the success of the Lembaga Tabung Haji, coupled with the consultation of Shariah experts and economic gurus, government then proceeded to set up the first ever Islamic Bank in 1983. Setting up of Bank Islam Berhad Malaysia (BIMB) marked a milestone in the banking industry. It proved to be hugely popular because over half the Malaysian population are Islam followers. What followed through was the listing of the bank in the stock exchange of Malaysia in the early 1990s. As of today, the bank has 100 braches located all ove r Malaysia. With the fairytale of BIMB, central bank decided to allow commercial banks and merchant banks to offer Islamic banking products under the Islamic Banking Scheme. It was not long after that the central bank set up the National Shariah Advisory Council to oversee all issues pertaining to Islamic Banking. Due to the economic liberalisation, central bank finally grants licenses to foreign Islamic banks to operate in Malaysia in 2004. Al-Rahji Bank and Kuwait Finance House took full advantage of this ruling and step foot into the Malaysian banking industry. The last count of Islamic banks operating in Malaysia stood at 21. 3.3 Scope of Islamic Banking in Malaysia Islamic Banking started out as mere deposit taking and lending facility has since transformed into all aspects of banking, money and capital market operations. In Malaysia, the central bank is in favour of a dual banking system, whereby Islamic banks are allowed to co-exist with conventional banks. It is at the consumers choice to select which services they prefer that cater to their needs. This is in stark contrast with the scenario in Iran and Pakistan, where conventional banking system is abolished completely to make way for Islamic banking. They claim to be devoid of conventional interest based financial transactions. Today, the Malaysian Islamic banking sector is blossoming as reflected in the extensive distribution networks comprising 152 full-fledged Islamic banking branches. The ability of these Islamic banks to offer competitive products with attractive and innovative features has attracted both Muslim and non-Muslim population in the country. This has also spurred non banking institutions such as savings institutions to introduce Shariah compliance product to appeal to a wider consumer base. According to Association of Islamic Banking Institutions Malaysia, there are 21 Islamic banks who have subscribed to their membership. The list of Islamic banks is provided as follows: Affin Islamic Bank Berhad Alliance Islamic Bank Berhad Al-Rajhi Banking Investment Corporation Berhad AmIslamic Bank Berhad Asian Finance Bank Berhad Bank Islam Malaysia Bank Berhad Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Bank Berhad Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bank Berhad Bank Simpanan Malaysia Berhad CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad EONCAP Islamic Bank Berhad Hong Leong Islamic Bank Berhad HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad Maybank Islamic Bank Berhad OCBC Al-Amin Bank Berhad PT Bank Muamalat Indonesia Public Islamic Bank Berhad RHB Islamic Bank Berhad Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad Unicorn International Islamic Bank Berhad As evident from the list above, there are 21 banks offering Islamic products in the Malaysian market. Confidence is clearly shown on the Malaysian market with international banking powerhouse presence such as Standard Chartered group and Kuwait Finance House. The Governor of Central Bank Malaysia recently declared the central banks intention to lure larger overseas banks to provided services that comply with Muslim tenets. As a sweetener to any potential deal, the central bank has raised foreign ownership limits at local Islamic banks and insurance companies to 70%. Rising oil wealth has turned the Islamic banking into an industry with assets with $1 trillion in assets globally. The central bank is doing its utmost, implementing initiatives to explore this relatively untapped market. In addition to the changes in foreign ownership limits, the central bank is also offering tax breaks for Islamic products and has relaxed rules for Islamic banks to trade in foreign currencies (Aziz, 2006). This is seen as a major breakthrough because the foreign currencies dealing is tightly regulated due to the impact Malaysian market suffered in the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. In July 2010, Khazanah, Malaysia sovereign wealth fund made its debut in Singapore debt market issuing sukuk or Islamic bonds worth $1.5 billion, three times the size of Singapore sukuk market until now. This further strengthened the Malaysian government efforts to promote Islamic banking products both domestically and internationally.

brady bill :: essays research papers

Brady Law Falsehoods The Brady law has received much credit for the country's rapidly dropping crime rate. Yet with the Supreme Court striking down the laws background check requirements, it faces its ultimate test. If gun control advocates are correct, the court's decision will unleash a new crime wave. The Justice Department continually releases "new" studies crediting the law with reducing crime. Actually, the downward crime trend started in 1991, well before the Brady law became effective in March 1994. My research shows that this decline is in great measure because of higher arrest rates and more states allowing law-abiding citizens to carry concealed handguns. Others estimate that the Brady bill had a much smaller effect on gun sales than the 100,000 rejections its proponents claim. Last year the General Accounting Office reported that initial rejections numbered about 60,000, and more than half were for purely technical reasons, mostly paperwork errors that eventually were corrected. A much smaller number of rejections, 3,000, were due to violent crime convictions--and presumably many of these people just proceeded to buy a gun on the street. Brady law backers have focused almost exclusively on the value of background checks, the one part of the law that the Supreme Court specifically struck down. Yet there never was much controversy over this issue: When Congress debated the law, no one, not even the National Rifle Assn., opposed background checks. The dispute was over a five-day waiting period versus an "instant check." Ultimately, the success of background checks and waiting periods must be judged by their impact on crime. To seriously evaluate their impacts, however, one must recognize that other legal changes also occurred. For example, during 1995 and 1996, 10 more states adopted nondiscretionary concealed handgun laws. In the belief that concealed handguns deter crime, 31 states now grant permits automatically to citizens who have no significant criminal records or histories of major mental illness. In all 31 states, more people now carry legally concealed handguns. Considerable evidence supports the notion that permitted handguns deter criminals. Polls show that there are at least 760,000 and possibly as many as 3.6 million defensive uses of guns per year. In 98% of the cases, people simply brandish weapons to stop attacks. This is further reflected in the different rates of "hot burglaries," where a resident is at home when a criminal strikes. In Canada and Britain, both with tough gun control laws, almost half of all burglaries are "hot.

Myne Owne Ground Essay

Slavery is an American embarrassment; in present day, African Americans and woman have gained the basic rights given to every American. (3) Slavery existed in every colony in the New World from Canada to the Rio de la Plata. (3) It emerged as a way of buying and selling humans to produce labor needed on the Plantations in the early seventeenth century. However, prior to the full system of slavery, blacks were relatively equal to whites. They were able to own land, make their own money, and live with the same rights as whites. Anthony Johnson is one slave from his era to live a successful life. He started as a slave in Virginia, but later fought to achieve the American Dream. (4) Bought into slavery Anthony seemed to have no control over his future. He was referred to as â€Å" Antonio a Negro† and was purchased to work on the Bennett plantation in the tobacco fields. (8) As every American slave, Anthony had to fight day by day to survive. The poor living conditions with no food or water took a toll on his new life in the Americas. Living each day he was exposed to death, cruelty, and starvation. He seemingly had no opportunity of starting a family because of scarcity of woman; which gave him no choice other than slavery (9). On March 22, 1622, the Indians of Tidewater Virginia attacked Edward Bennett’s tobacco plantation in Virginia (9). The attack on the plantations killed over three hundred and fifty colonists; fifty-two were killed at the plantation (9). Anthony Johnson was one of the twelve lucky survivors. He was fortunate enough to gain his freedom after the attack; all of the people fled their own way. He was able to start his quest to living the American dream, and later gained the name Anthony Johnson. Anthony Johnson got a fresh start in the new world. He was finally able to start a family, he married a woman named Mary. She was the only female to be living at the Bennett’s farm in Warresquioake. They would live together for over forty years and have four children. Bennett later became governor of Northampton. When the Johnsons moved there, Bennett looked after their legal and economic interests. (11) In 1640, Johnson and his family gained an estate (11). Their main source of income came from raising cattle and hogs, which helped with the local economy. Anthony later was able to obtain two hundred and fifty acres of land for his estates; he purchased five headright certificates to help with the land. (11) The land was located on Pungoteague Creek and later had a devastating fire. The fire burned the plantation to the ground and Anthony suffered hard times with the lack of money and resources to start the farm again. He petitioned and gained legal excuse from paying taxes for his wife and two daughters. The reduction of taxes helped Johnson rebuild his plantation. The legal aspects showed that Mary and her two daughters were equal of white women in Northampton County because of the tax system. All black women and men had to pay taxes, whereas only white men who made an income paid. White women were exempt (12). Johnson’s life was like that of the white men during this time. He was able to trade with his white neighbors and buy his own slaves to work for him. Casor, a slave under Johnson, pleaded to Robert Parker, a white man, that Johnson was holding him illegally. He took Casor to his tobacco plantation because he was supposedly a freeman. Johnson was enraged because Casor did not have the indenture he claimed to have. He and his family had a meeting and decided to set John Casor free from his plantation (14). On March 8, 1655, Johnson regained the right of slave Casor by suing Robert Parker. He not only took a white man to court, but he also defeated him, declaring Casor Johnson’s slave for life (15). Anthony was treated with respect; he had the legal documents and his actions were not questioned. Later Johnson would proceed to sell most of his farm and give the rest to his youngest son to help him start a life of his own. Anthony and his wife moved to Maryland as headrights, but they remained free for the rest of their lives. He leased three hundred acres of plantation; he later named the land â€Å"Tonies Vineyard†. (16) After Anthony’s death, Mary renegotiated the lease. She was successful and paid the colony taxes and the annual rent each time. The Johnson family was able to live the remainder of their lives as free equals to the white society. In seventeenth century Northampton, a man’s place in the chain was dependent partly on wealth and race (45). Because of this system, some blacks were able to gain freedom and prosper (68). Many Northampton documents feature names of black men and women who owned their own land. They were able to have families and provide for the welfare (68). Nineteen percent of black men even owned a home. Free blacks on the Eastern Shore significantly had both family and given names (69). These names allowed the family connections to be made. In New Netherland, many black men were free and faced very little discrimination. They were even able to indenture a white female servant for one year (71). The authors are very convincing; I do believe that it was possible for blacks and whites to live together in harmony. In the text it shows how blacks and whites shared legal rights in the seventeenth century, this helped African Americans gained rights in the mid 1900’s. It caused blacks to argue why they couldn’t have freedom when there is evidence of previous peaceful equality (20). Another reason that I believe harmony was possible between blacks and whites are that they could live together as neighbors. In the seventieth century blacks could own land and had the ability to free market. They could buy and sell goods for profit; they could even trade with the white Americans for certain resources needed to be successful. African Americans had the ability to own their own slaves just like white men. Land owning African Americans had to pay taxes just like everyone else owning land. The text shows how African Americans in the seventeenth century had the rights to living free among whites where segregation was not a factor in everyday life. The title of the book Myne Owne Ground means that if you are not allowed to go after liberty and freedom or own land, then freedom isn’t really free. It means in order to be truly equal, you must own your own land. Giving African Americans the freedom to be successful played a huge role in freedoms given today. Without the study of the equal rights given to blacks in the seventieth century, todays freedoms given to all would not have been as accepting in modern day culture.

Mat 540 Assignment 3

Julia’s Food Booth Based on the LP model to maximize profit with the established constraints Julia should sell pizza and hotdogs and not BBQ sandwiches. Based on this model Julia will earn $2250. 00 in profit. After buying food supplies for the next game she will have $750 remaining ($2250-1500). Julia’s goal was to clear $1000 in profit which she was not able to meet. It is not clear how Julia is paying for the booth rental each game, but assuming she is covering the costs with her profits from the prior game she will need $1000 for the booth + $1500 for food which equals $2500 she needs to make each game just to cover her expenses.The idea of Julia borrowing money would not be necessary because what is limiting her profit is the limited space she has in the oven. In the model all of the oven space is being utilized by Pizza and Hotdogs. If she borrowed money she wouldn’t have enough room to stock more food. She would have to borrow enough money to rent another oven, if there was enough space in the booth, and enough money to buy additional supplies.In addition, assuming that my calculations are correct paying a friend to help her does not seem like a good idea as it would further cut into any profit and increase costs. There are many uncertainties that can affect Julia’s profit. The case states that Julia anticipates selling all of her food; but not selling out will adversely affect her already strained profit margin. Fluctuations in the cost of the food could also change the profit. A game that doesn’t sell out could also reduce the number of customers Julia has on any given day.

Looking At The Social Problem Of Domestic Violence Social Work Essay Essays

Looking At The Social Problem Of Domestic Violence Social Work Essay Essays Looking At The Social Problem Of Domestic Violence Social Work Essay Essay Looking At The Social Problem Of Domestic Violence Social Work Essay Essay After seeking the Virginia.gov web site and the cyberspace for resources, the province of Virginia offers wide resources to those in domestic fortunes. They define domestic force as a behaviour of one member of the household ruling another member through the usage of force. Family Violence is another term used alternatively of domestic force because it involves the kids as good. In add-on, Virginia does non hold anything laid out specifically for merely male victims. However, they do hold resources and thoughts for those both adult females and work forces who are victims of domestic differences ( Virginia section of Social Services ) . Since, the major concern of domestic maltreatment is the kids or kid, the victim of the maltreatment should name 911. The constabulary in this province are required to respond to the call and do an apprehension if there is adequate likely cause that banging has taken topographic point. They are besides supposed to bespeak an Emergency Protective Order if they think the victim in is farther danger. The protective order will form the maltreater to remain off and halt mistreating the victim. This order may non be the best because people do non needfully travel with the regulations and can happen ways around them. Last, if a victim of maltreatment does non desire to name the bull for fright of acquiring caught there are a assortment of topographic points Virginia offers: churches in the community, homeless shelters, victim-witness plan, section of societal services, local domestic force or sexual assault plans and the Virginia household force Hotline ( Virginia section of Social Services ) . Furthermore, the plans in Virginia are both federal and province funded that provide services to those victims and kids who have survived domestic force. They besides provide protection for kids and battered grownups through many things. There is exigency lodging for those who have been badly hurt and are in danger of being hurt once more. This besides this protects possible kids from besides being abused. Second, they offer peer guidance for instances that are non so terrible and can be changed if they speak up approximately jobs that result to opprobrious behaviour. Third, there is crisis intercession that interferes in the twosome s lives in order to do the state of affairs better or for the crisis centres to see how bad the maltreatment is and find what to make with the victim. Last, plans provide support for subsisters and public consciousness to do others cognize about domestic force and how to place behaviours that lead to force. Finally, the support created by the plans are t he foundations of the Family Violence Hotline that anyone can make 24 hours a twenty-four hours. The first service Virginia offers is the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline ( 1-800-838-8238 ) . This is a free, confidential, statewide, 24 hr service to supply support, information and intercession to those victims of spouse force and sexual assault. The hotline is really utile because it provides information every bit good as support for those who have survived domestic force every bit good as the household and friends of those who have been abused. In add-on, the hotline offers links to local shelters and other human resource bureaus to assist with whatever they need. If the company wants written information, the hotline will give them resource packages every bit good as booklets with information on domestic force and maltreatment. Another plan sponsored by Virginia is Project RADAR. Basically, this undertaking helps to measure and avoid confidant spouse force in a wellness scene. When you come right down to it, the plan helps the victim or former victim in about the same manner as the hotline would. They give out information and consciousness every bit good as ways to acknowledge and react to the force. However, the one thing that differs from the hotline is that Radar: R-routinely ask about present and past force, A-ask specific inquiries, D-document findings, A-asses safety and R-review options and recommendations ( Virginia Department of Health ) . This is good quality stuff because it is acquiring into the head of the victim. Not to advert, it is acquiring to the nucleus, the centre of the job, when it began, how it happens by inquiring specific inquiries and so give options on how to maintain that victim safe and out of injury. Following, Virginia has a household abuse protective order that helps the members of the members of the household from opprobrious behaviour of another. It is a partnership of bureaus and people who devote themselves to stoping sexual and domestic force. The plan has been in Virginia for 25 old ages and still traveling. Harmonizing to the VSDVAA web site, Each twelvemonth in Virginia, more than 74,000 protective orders are issued by Judgess and magistrates ( VSDVAA ) . The people who take attention of the protective orders work with other webs in order to do Virginia safer. Learning new thoughts and conveying them into your province is ever a good thing. Therefore, non merely are they educating others but themselves every bit good. The more educated people are about the topic the more services can be done with domestic force. In add-on, they educate people of the community on how to halt those who were hurt by any sort of force every bit good as doing certain there are necessary resources available to them all. Last, since the services are so wide for adult females and work forces, Virginia made a list of all the shelters to travel to in the province at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sboard.org/SHELTERS/VA.HTM. this is a list of all the shelters in the province of Virginia whether it be south, north, west or east. It covers every portion of the province and includes phone Numberss, references and the name of the shelters and crisis centres. This is good for those who are being abused to happen out where to travel and who to name. However, the individual who is making the abusing can easy happen this web site and happen where their partner or important other could be. Furthermore, the site besides was non on the province web site and you had to seek on GOOGLE to happen out where to travel. However, work forces who are abused by adult females normally suffer in silence. Although they possess the same qualities as female victims, adult females are given more services and work forces get stereotyped. Men acquire overlooked in the domestic force field of survey and involvement. Females who abuse work forces kick, clout, bite or utilize arms against their work forces. In malice of this, the work forces are non weak or smaller in size but they do non utilize it to their advantage and ache back. In malice of this, Virginia does non hold anything specific for work forces who are abused by adult females. Everything is more grownups who are abused so it gives others the thought that it is for both adult females and work forces. However, after naming one of the hotlines, most services are for adult females and they do non have many calls from abused work forces and that it was really uncommon. If they did have a call like that, they would direct the work forces to a homeless shel ter or societal services for more information. It seems that since society says that existent work forces should be in control of his married woman that less and less work forces are describing maltreatment. They likely feel that no 1 would take them earnestly if they admit that a adult female is crushing on them or they would acquire titillated and laughed at for leting maltreatment to go on. Consequently, there was a site dedicated to the LGBT community in Virginia. It was non listed on the province web site and I besides had to seek the cyberspace awhile to happen this web site. The web site was speaking about often asked inquiries in the LGBT community sing domestic force. Same-sex spouses are eligible for household maltreatment protective orders but with limitations. In Virginia, a family member includes twosomes that live together within the past 12 months. However, the tribunals of Virginia do non specifically specify what it means to live together but it applies to single twosomes with an confidant relationship. Besides, since the jurisprudence does non province whether same-sex twosomes are included, it technically does non except them either. The web site besides spoke about how most victims of domestic force in same-sex relationships were non able to acquire a protective order because they were same-sex spouses. Since they are important for safety, one must seek advice from an lawyer. On the other manus, if they are non populating together, they could acquire a still hunt protective order. They are non every bit preferred as the household maltreatment 1s but they are helpful to the victim. Last, if a justice does non give a same-sex spouse a protective order so they must make one of three things you can make. You can reach the local domestic force plan for aid. However, since same-sex spouses are labeled harshly, they may non experience like reaching them. Therefore, the maltreater may desire to reach the Action Alliance hotline at 800-838-8238. If they do non desire to make that, they can reach the Anti-Violence Project at Equality Virginia at 804-643-4816. This is the best stake because they work to stop force in the LGBT communities. Last of all, the web site did non offer any topographic points to travel for shelter but they did offer hotlines for aid and knowledge on what to make ( LGBTQ Community ) . All in all, happening information was non truly that hard. Not everything was on the Virginia province web site and I had to seek the cyberspace for certain things. However, links were coming up but non that many. Virginia is more adult females focused and has more to offer those of the LGBT community than for consecutive work forces. Last, the maps of the Domestic Violence Prevention Programs are to acquire knowledge out about domestic force and bar, aid subsisters and their households, dispense support for the remainder of the services throughout Virginia and to supply aid to other local domestic force bureaus throughout Virginia for informations aggregation. Virginia is making all it can to assist the people who are describing their maltreatment nevertheless, they could make more for the minority groups every bit good. Domestic Violence is a turning country of involvement and it will maintain turning unless services are taken earnestly and are made for everyone.

Free Essays on Advertisement And How It Appeals To Men, Women, And Society

Advertisement and how it appeals to men, women, and society Companies use advertisements try to entice people buy their merchandise. When people see ads whether it’s in a magazine, on television or anywhere else, society gets the need to go out and buy it. Is it to hard for us to resist the temptation of having something new. There is no reason why we have to have it. A person sees it and wants to go buy it and as soon as someone does here comes something new that we want. Advertisers target consumers by creating illusions and desires in which people help them because they have brand loyalty. Also America as a society create false identities about ourselves which in the long run the need for all these things create credit debt and problems for us. Sports Illustrated it’s audiences identities by having ads in there that gives it’s readers a false impression that the things in there will increase there athletic performance. Advertisers can use whatever they can to sell the goods that they have and will try to sell it in any way they can and where ever they can. Sex is one example of how advertisers sell their goods. Sex can sell anything from clothes, underwear, cigarettes, and more in any way shape or form. For example, in Sports illustrated they have and ad that has a nice looking girl holding a twix candy bar. There is a reason that they put that girl in that ad because the advertisers know that the majority of people reading the magazine is male. Advertisers know that they can get a man to look at that picture or ad if they put a good looking girl in it. These ads only do one thing and that is create a desire and illusion that we can have or be like the person in the ad if we have what the ad is trying to sell. The desire that it creates is the one that is popular and we have to get it for us to be popular with our peers and that we have to have the best available that is out there. The illusi on that it creates ... Free Essays on Advertisement And How It Appeals To Men, Women, And Society Free Essays on Advertisement And How It Appeals To Men, Women, And Society Advertisement and how it appeals to men, women, and society Companies use advertisements try to entice people buy their merchandise. When people see ads whether it’s in a magazine, on television or anywhere else, society gets the need to go out and buy it. Is it to hard for us to resist the temptation of having something new. There is no reason why we have to have it. A person sees it and wants to go buy it and as soon as someone does here comes something new that we want. Advertisers target consumers by creating illusions and desires in which people help them because they have brand loyalty. Also America as a society create false identities about ourselves which in the long run the need for all these things create credit debt and problems for us. Sports Illustrated it’s audiences identities by having ads in there that gives it’s readers a false impression that the things in there will increase there athletic performance. Advertisers can use whatever they can to sell the goods that they have and will try to sell it in any way they can and where ever they can. Sex is one example of how advertisers sell their goods. Sex can sell anything from clothes, underwear, cigarettes, and more in any way shape or form. For example, in Sports illustrated they have and ad that has a nice looking girl holding a twix candy bar. There is a reason that they put that girl in that ad because the advertisers know that the majority of people reading the magazine is male. Advertisers know that they can get a man to look at that picture or ad if they put a good looking girl in it. These ads only do one thing and that is create a desire and illusion that we can have or be like the person in the ad if we have what the ad is trying to sell. The desire that it creates is the one that is popular and we have to get it for us to be popular with our peers and that we have to have the best available that is out there. The illusi on that it creates ...

6 Traits of Writing - Using the Model in the Classroom

6 Traits of Writing - Using the Model in the Classroom Help your students develop good writing skills by implementing the six traits of writing model into your classroom. What are the Six Traits of Writing? The six traits of writing have 6 key characteristics that define quality writing, they are: IdeasOrganizationVoiceWord ChoiceSentence FluencyConventions Ideas This component focuses on the main idea and content of the piece. The writer chooses details that are informative and not necessarily details that the reader already knows. (The grass is green, the sky is blue.) Objective Awareness of detailsKnowing what is importantA good sense of the main point Activities Use photographs during activities and ask students to describe what happened in each photo.Write (science, math) class predictions in a notebook and reflect upon them.Read a poem and have students write about a  real-life  connection that they have to the poem. Questions to Ask Yourself What is my message?Is my message clear?Did I include details? Organization This trait requires that the piece fits in with the central idea. The organizational structure needs to follow a pattern such as chronological order, comparison/contrast, or any other logical pattern. The writer needs to make strong connections to keep the readers interest. Objective A sense of sequence,  beginning and endingAbility to organize Activities Take a piece of the students writing and cut it into chunks and have the students piece it back together in order.Jumble a list of directions and have the students arrange them in order.Read a few books to the children and use a  graphic organizer  to compare and contrast them. Questions to Ask Yourself Was the piece I wrote in order?How does my paper start?How does my paper end? Voice This trait refers to the style of the writer. The voice is where the writer imparts his/her personal tone to the piece while still fitting in with the genre of the piece. Objective IndividualityPassionFeelings Activities Read a variety of childrens literature and have students try to identify the author.Compare the voice in fiction and nonfiction books.Have students write a piece about their favorite subject in school. When they are finished, have them read their piece to the class and see if the students can identify who wrote the piece. Questions to Ask Yourself Does it sound like me?Does the reader understand how I feel?Does my writing shine? Word Choice Word choice requires that the writer choose his/her words very carefully. The writer should enlighten the reader by choosing strong words that clarify or expand the idea. Objective Awareness of languageAwareness of different words Activities Keep a word wall.Brainstorm a list of words and list the better word to use.Make a word spinner and add new words to replace common words. Questions to Ask Yourself Do my words paint a picture?Do I use words that are appealing?Is every word that I use important? Sentence Fluency This trait requires that sentences flow naturally and smoothly. Fluent writing has rhythm and is free of awkward word patterns. Objective Awareness that the sentence makes senseRhythm Activities Write an  acrostic poem  using the  students  name.Write a half sentence and have the students complete it.Rewrite popular poems. Questions to Ask Yourself Did my sentences start differently?Is my paper easy to read aloud?Did I use complete sentences? Conventions This trait focuses on the correctness of the piece (spelling, grammar, punctuation). Objective Awareness of conventionsPatience to look backExperiment with writing Activities Answer questions in journals with conventional words in response to answering them phonetically.Use peer partners to correct spelling and punctuation.Use  mini-lessons  to teach conventions. Questions to Ask Yourself Did I use a title?Did I capitalize the correct letters?Did I check spelling? Source: Education North West

Strategic Choice and Evaluation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Strategic Choice and Evaluation - Research Paper Example According to the paper  the senior management of Merifashion must pay close attention not only to its strategic factors such as ‘where’, ‘how’, and ‘when’ but also to the role played by organizational factors that are responsible for transforming a strategy into reality. For instance, once they embark on promotional campaigns for its fashionable products, they should start this by setting up a strategic plan. Lack of these factors can dampen its growth plans, organizational structures and processes as well as be able to tackle the day-to-day challenges and problems it faces today. In addition, key personnel may lack the necessary skills and attributes for them to cope up with the complexities brought about by growth. There are certain strategies, which are recommended in this paper that could help Merifashion to deal with such stalemates.This essay discusses that  one major strategy than Merifashion could follow to ensure continued success i n the business of fashionable products is the engagement of all staff irrespective of their level throughout the organization. Strategic planning is not an event but a process. It has to take certain steps so as to ensure continued success and prosperity in the organization. Engagement of staff generates added input into the organization that helps t build and grow commitment among the staff members.  It is of very high importance for Merifashion to involve employees in the strategy planning.

Statistics Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Statistics Project - Assignment Example 1. If a person bought 1 share of Google stock within the last year, what is the probability that the stock on that day closed at less than the mean for that year? Hint: You do not want to calculate the mean to answer this one. The probability would be the same for any normal distribution. (5 points) If a person bought 1 share of Google stock within the last year, the probability that the stock on that day closed at less than the mean for that year is 0.50 (or 50%). This is because the normal distribution is symmetric about the mean and the area below (or above) the mean is equal to 0.50 that is the mean divide the area exactly half on both ends (left or right). 4. Suppose a person within the last year claimed to have bought Google stock at closing at $589.50 per share. Would such a price be considered unusual? Be sure to use the definition of unusual from our textbook. (5 points) No, such a price would not be considered unusual. This is because the probability of buying a Google stock at closing at $589.50 (or higher) is about 0.0507 (or 5.07%) and typically, we say that an event with a probability less than 5% is unusual. However, we can say that it is very close to be considered an unusual price. 5. At what prices would Google have to close at in order for it to be considered statistically unusual? You should have a low and high value. ? Be sure to use the definition of unusual from our textbook. (5 points) 6. What are Quartile 1, Quartile 2, and Quartile 3 in this data set? Use Excel to find these values. This is the only question that you should answer without using anything about the Normal distribution. (5 points) 7. Is the normality assumption that was made at the beginning valid? Why or why not? Hint: Does this distribution have the properties of a normal distribution as described in our textbook? It does

Literary analysis on Seize The Day by Saul Bellow to describe, Essay

Literary analysis on Seize The Day by Saul Bellow to describe, analyze, and interpret - Essay Example Without evaluating the self, one’s own abilities, individual races after secular achievements, thinking that there is no world beyond the external world, the world as interpreted by the power of one’s intellect. Many are not willing to accept that the inner world exists within every human being. God, call Him the Omniscient Power, All-pervading Reality, Light-Consciousness or any other name that various religions hail him, can not be comprehended by one’s intellect. Howsoever great may be one’s intelligence, one can not understand him through the mind-apparatus. The mystery of Nature is beyond description and intellectual arguments. The final frontier of logic and reasoning is mind. The primary duty of the mind is to confuse the human being. The scale of materialistic civilization has two measuring points-success or failure. It eulogizes the successful and condemns the failure! But it ignores the process of living by an individual. How one has faced life i n is trails, tribulations duty and beauty. The protagonist of the novel, introduced to the readers at the age of mid-forties, has the wrong start and finds it difficult to cope up with the challenges of life. He is unable to join the mainstream of society and finds himself a loner. †¦then some thing happens on a particular day, about which his mind has forewarned him! How Tommy Wilhelm encountered the predicament and made efforts to meet the cumulative pressure that has been building up within his inner self? â€Å"As a young man he has rejected his father’s profession, medicine, tried for a career in Hollywood, been tricked by a phony talent scout, ended up in sales and lost his sales district due to nepotism.† (Cronin, 2003†¦.)A college dropout, married and divorced, with two children, his finances are in a mess. He somehow wishes to recover the lost ground and

CSR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

CSR - Essay Example This report explores corporate social responsibility in different organizational and national contexts focusing on its six core characteristics, theoretical avenues and the diversity of theoretical concepts in CSR. With a firm foundation and understanding of CSR, the final section focuses on Nike’s current strategic approaches to fulfilling their responsibility to the public. Upon evaluating this, there are recommendations on how Nike could develop their overall CSR strategy for better results. Corporate Social Responsibility, Core Characteristics and Theoretical Avenues Today Due to multiple advancements in technology and the corporate world, CSR is an important facilitator of attaining organizational objectives, and vision for the stakeholders. Nonetheless, there are factors that companies still neglect such as improvement of workers, the public and the external settings of the organization. Definitely, these factors require extended attention since they are among the core determinants of the CSR policies and programs’ success according to the multiple stakeholder orientation and internalizing or managing externalities characteristics. The CSR concept helps an organization have an impact on the external environments and the community overcoming segregation and focusing on the economic bodies; however, the concept works when the societal and virtuous aspects of the corporation are not among the core determinants of CSR development (Agarwal, 2013). Initially, corporations used CSR as a tool for competition with the core objectives revolving around market dominance, extended financial gains and survival over the rest of the competition as opposed to the alignment of social and economic responsibilities concept that integrates profitability and corporate social responsibility. However, through vast studies and debate on the CSR topic, the corporate world has developed with most of the companies focusing on how their business can have significance in the

Scanning the Environment IP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Scanning the Environment IP - Essay Example It is head quartered in Cupertino, California and employs 21,600 employees. The company recorded revenues of $24,006 million during the fiscal year ended September 2007, an increase of 24.3% over 2006. The company’s revenue grew on account of increased sale of Mac systems and downloads of digital content. The operating profit of the company was $4,409 million during fiscal year 2007, an increase of 79.7% over 2006. The net profit was $3,496 million in fiscal year 2007, an increase of 75.8% over 2006.† 1. Brand Value and Recognition – This is the biggest strength of Apple. Right from Apple PCs (MACs) which was their first product introduced to the very recent iPHONE, all their products are positioned as luxury products and are designed with features to delight the customers and give them a â€Å"WOW† feeling on using the products. This has created strong brand recognition among the consumers. 2. Product Design – All their products are developed after thorough research and design and invariably are of premium look, feel and quality. The MAC operating system, the iPHONE, the iPOD, etc. are all examples of excellence in product design. 3. Product Functions and Features – The features and functionalities of their products are state of the art and highly innovative. All their products are feature rich and absolute delight to the users. 4. Innovation – Apple has always come out with innovative products and product lines. It started with the Apple PC and Mac Operating System followed by various Apple software applications and computer peripherals. Later they introduced totally different and innovative product line through the launch of iPODs as mobile music players. They were accompanied by innovative accessories such as speakers, podcasts, etc. This innovation in seen continued with launch of iPHONES which have touch screen technology combined with music rich features. 5. Accessories – Accessories to accompany differentiated

Manager Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Manager - Essay Example This is so because according to many experts, in clinical settings, autocratic leadership styles lead to heightened stress, strain, and less job satisfaction. On the other hand, transformational leadership will help develop an increased level of commitment in the staff. Also, it is found that this will heighten morale among the employees and will empower nurses in management positions. The mere fact is that managers should have enough knowledge and consistency, and at the same time, should be able to empower the subordinates through delegation. According to Campbell and Sinclair (2004), it is highly necessary for the supervisor in an emergency department to develop close working relationship with the ED staff. This is so because this will give the supervisor a chance to know each of the staffs closely. That means the staff will be happily cooperate and even help the manager correct their errors. Another important point for a manager in an emergency department is to guide the staff through examples. It is so because this will help the staffs understand the fact that a member need not always limit their actions to the ones which are included in their job descriptions. Instead, they can be taught through examples how it is possible to help others when they are overloaded. It is highly necessary to ensure close communication with the staffs. This is so because this will give the supervisor a chance to know the responsibility and accountability of each staff. Also, the supervisor comes to know who can be trusted and who cannot be. That means the ones who can be trusted can be delegated later on when there is an emergency (Ducharme, Buckley, Alder & Pelletier, 2009). Another vital point is that the leader should listen to the staff. This gives the staff the feeling that they are valued and respected. Moreover, such a communication will develop the feeling among the staff that the

Scanning the Environment IP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Scanning the Environment IP - Essay Example It is head quartered in Cupertino, California and employs 21,600 employees. The company recorded revenues of $24,006 million during the fiscal year ended September 2007, an increase of 24.3% over 2006. The company’s revenue grew on account of increased sale of Mac systems and downloads of digital content. The operating profit of the company was $4,409 million during fiscal year 2007, an increase of 79.7% over 2006. The net profit was $3,496 million in fiscal year 2007, an increase of 75.8% over 2006.† 1. Brand Value and Recognition – This is the biggest strength of Apple. Right from Apple PCs (MACs) which was their first product introduced to the very recent iPHONE, all their products are positioned as luxury products and are designed with features to delight the customers and give them a â€Å"WOW† feeling on using the products. This has created strong brand recognition among the consumers. 2. Product Design – All their products are developed after thorough research and design and invariably are of premium look, feel and quality. The MAC operating system, the iPHONE, the iPOD, etc. are all examples of excellence in product design. 3. Product Functions and Features – The features and functionalities of their products are state of the art and highly innovative. All their products are feature rich and absolute delight to the users. 4. Innovation – Apple has always come out with innovative products and product lines. It started with the Apple PC and Mac Operating System followed by various Apple software applications and computer peripherals. Later they introduced totally different and innovative product line through the launch of iPODs as mobile music players. They were accompanied by innovative accessories such as speakers, podcasts, etc. This innovation in seen continued with launch of iPHONES which have touch screen technology combined with music rich features. 5. Accessories – Accessories to accompany differentiated

Learning Activities Essay Example for Free

Learning Activities Essay Think about your own organization and the people related records that it stores Identify five records that would fit within any of the identified reasons for keeping records outlined above (you will find more information on these on p278 –p280 of the course textbook). Explain why your organization needs to maintain and use these records (provide examples of how they are actually used where you can). Training Records – At Enterprise we have a spreadsheet called â€Å"The Matrix†, this stores each employed persons training records. It is a basic excel spreadsheet with a column for names and a list of each of the available courses within Enterprise along the top. As soon as an employee has been on a course this will be inputted on to the spreadsheet along with the expiry date (if there is one) so we can ensure all personnel have valid records. Having this information available is very important, due to the nature of our work we need to show that we are keeping our employees safe by having valid training records. For example if there is an accident on site and an employee has hit an underground cable, we would need to be able to show that the person has valid training records for â€Å"safe digging† to our Health and Safety officer otherwise we as a company could be seeing as being negligent when we have a duty of care towards our employees, this could result in claims against the organization. Invoice Tracker – Every week invoices are sent in from our DSP’s to each of our contracts within the Trowbridge office. I am the project manager of shrouding and have 2 invoices sent in from each of the companies working for me. Leven’s MOYAD construction. Once these invoices are emailed to me I will copy and record the information on to my â€Å"surveying† spreadsheet. This spreadsheet contains all site numbers ever worked on by each of my sub contractors and to what percentage that they were done on which day. Having  this information is vital to my contract I need to be able to check that each site is not being invoiced on more than one occasion as well as to the percentage that is required. Also on this spreadsheet it shows how much money will be due to be paid to both the contractor and Enterprise. Showing weekly turn over information and that we are hitting profit margins are essential on monthly meetings. Also if there was ever a dispute of pay, being able to refer to this information is important. Employee personnel Files – Each employee of Enterprise has their own personnel file. This file contains full name, address, date of birth, bank details, sickness and holiday absence details as well as written warnings (if they have any) and their signed Enterprise contract stating what their job role is and salary. These files are used when appropriate, usually when employees details need updating or they have booked holiday. Online Time Sheets – Every week every employee within Enterprise must fill out an online time sheet in order to be paid. The guys on site bring in a written version of this for the person who deals with time sheets to update their online version. This is so that any absence is recorded whether it be for half an hour or for an hour, this provides accurate attendance percentages and highlights regular patterns of absence. Curriculum Vitae – For every Job advertisement that is put on the job websites a large number of CV’s from potential applicants. These are all then filtered down to persons with most experience and knowledge of the role that we are looking to fill. These persons will then be asked to interview, if they are not successful we will still store there CV on file for six months. This is a helpful system and saves re advertising for the same job if a vacancy arose for that position. Learning activity two Again think about your own organization. For the five records you have identified above, identify and describe how the records are stored. Explain the rationale for this. Training Records – These records are stored on Microsoft Excel, this system allows us to filter out what’s relevant and what isn’t depending on the persons records we are searching. As soon as a course is booked for an employee the date of the course is put on the system till the certificate is received, at which point the expiry date ( if there is one) will then be entered in it’s place. Invoice Tracker – The invoice surveying data sheet is in Microsoft Excel, this allows easy copy and pasting of data from spreadsheet to spreadsheet. Once an invoice has been received all data from the invoice will be extracted by copying and recorded on to the surveying form by pasting in to the relevant columns. Employee Personnel Files – These are all held in a locked filing cabinet in alphabetical order. Any new employee will have an personnel file created on their day of induction. All of their personal information will be stored in here and updated when necessary. Online Time Sheet – The online time sheet is kept on our internal server database, It is a case of simply going in to â€Å"online time sheet† on the server, clicking on last weeks week, and inputting the hours worked during that day. CV’s – All CV’s received from suitable job applicants will be stored in a file on the computer. They will be copied from the Enterprise email inbox and pasted in to the file, or scanned if received through the post. Learning activity three Take one of the examples of areas of organizational activity that require accurate information to facilitate decision making. For this example: Identify and describe how the data is gathered Provide at least three examples of the sort of information that is derived and why it is useful Describe how the information is used to inform the decision making process Describe how and to whom the information is presented Draw up a list of these. Curriculum Vitea when advertising a vacancy: Once Enterprise have advertised a vacancy on the system, this will be logged on to the job centre website and other job search sites. With an Enterprise email to send all Cv’s too, there is also an address for those who are unable to send via email. All CV’s are automatically filtered in to a separate email inbox, and posted CV’S are scanned in to the system as well and will wait for review by the relevant persons. Once a significant amount of CV’s have been sent in the filtering process will begin, for example if we were advertising a Data input/Administration role we would look for experience in those titles from previous roles. Or a qualification in business administration. Filtering through this information is important so as to find the right person for employment. Once the CV’s have been filtered through they will be passed on to the office manager for review. They will then pick names from the persons filtered and make an appointment for interview. The interview is carried out by our office manager and a member of staff who will be training the potential candidate. The candidate will be asked a series of questions relating to their working background and what their skills are as well as a question on Enterprise this usually tells us straight away whether they had made the effort to do some research. This goes down very well with the office manager. Once all interviews have been carried out they will be filtered down to three potential employees who will go to the final stage of the Interview process which is a trial half day. The people who were not successful will be sent a standard letter telling them that their CV will be kept on file for 6 months. Trial half day consists of a member of staff who has a good knowledge of the role being taken on, And the potential employee. They will be shown what to  do and given tasks to get on with. Once all three candidates have been in for this, the office manager, the trainee and and a member of office staff will sit down and make a decision based on how well they got on, how quickly they learned the tasks and general attitude within the workplace. This person would then be informed of their success and will be given a start date. The two other candidates will be sent a standard letter informing them that they were unsuccessful on this occasion and that their CV will be kept on file. The short listed CV’s will be kept in a separate folder to the other batch of CV’s. Learning activity four Consider what data gathering methods you might use for a particular information gathering requirement. Cover: The specifics of the requirement The method(s) used Reason for using that particular method Any considerations in using the particular method Interviews – Potential employees, this method is perfect for getting to know the candidate, asking any questions not answered in their CV. Consider writing down all questions you are thinking of asking to avoid forgetting to ask. Surveys Surveys are a good way to gather data from a large number of people when it’s impractical to meet them face to face, it is a good method of getting an opinion on a product, service or company. Surverys can be both formal where the results are due to statistical, reliability and validity. And informal where the results are anecdotal – Anecdotal The definition of anecdotal is something that is story-like or something that is based on stories and retellings, not based on provable facts. Observations – Direct observations are a good way of recording data, especially in a working environment, they are often done in conjunction with  another data gathering method that is used to fill in the gaps and answer questions. Observations must be arranged with plenty notice to the person you are observing and the permission from management. Consider getting someone who can tell you what to look for with regards to what you are observing, for example the use of a new mechanical device in a warehouse. Learning activity five Explore the information under the link above, then tackle the following: List the eight principles of the DPA with a brief explanation of each What does the DPA say about the rights of individuals to access to data kept on them? List at least five measures you might take to protect personnel information The eight principles of the DPA Data Protection act are the following: 1: Processing personal data fairly and lawfully, It means that you must have legitimate reason for collecting and using personal data, you must not use the data in way that have unjustified adverse effects on the individual concerned, be clear on how you intend to use the data, handle the personal data in ways they would expect and make sure you do not do anything unlawful with the data. 2: Processing personal data for specified purposes, meaning you must be clear from the offset as to why you require the information and what you are going to do with it, comply with the acts fair processing requirements – including the duty to give privacy notices to individuals when collecting their personal data. You must also comply with what the act says about notifying the information commissioner and ensure that if you wish to use or disclose the personal data for any purpose that is additional to or different from the originally specified purpose, the new use or disclosure is fair. 3: The Amount of personal data you hold; Personal data should be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose or purposes for which they are processed. Meaning that you hold personal data about an individual that is sufficient for the purpose you are holding it for in relation to  that individual and you do not hold more information that you need for that purpose. 4: Keeping personal data accurate and up to date; personal data shall be accurate and when necessary up to date, to comply with this you should take reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of any personal data you obtain, ensure that the source of any personal data is clear, carefully consider any challenges to the accuracy of the information, and consider whether it is necessary to update the information. 5: Retaining personal data; personal data processed or any purpose shall not be kept for loner than is necessary for that purpose or those purposes. Meaning review the length of time you keep personal data, consider the purpose or purposes you hold the information for in deciding whether and how long for to retain it, securely delete information that is no longer needed for this purpose or these purposes; and update, archive or securely delete information that goes out of date. 6: The rights of individuals; Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects under this act; the rights of access to copy the information compromised in their personal data; a right to object to processing that is likely to cause or is cause damage or distress, a right to prevent processing for direct marketing, a right to object to decisions being taken by automated means, a right in certain circumstances to have accurate personal data rectified, blocked, erased or destroyed, and a right to claim compensation for damages caused by a breach of the act. 7: information security; appropriate technical and organizational measures shall be taken against unauthorized or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data. It means you will need to design and organize your security to fit the nature of the personal data you hold and the harm that may result from a security breach; be clear about who in your organization is responsible for ensuring information security; make sure that you have the right physical and technical security, back up by robust policies and procedures and  reliable, well trained staff as well as being ready to respond to any breach of security swiftly and effectively. 8: Sending personal data outside the European Economic Area; personal data should not be transferred to a country or territory outside the #EEA unless that country or territory ensures an adequate level od protection for the rights and freedoms od data subjects in relation to the processing of personal data. Individuals who wish to access personal data on themselves commonly known as subject access; Can do so by writing a request to the company with possibly paying a fee, this entitles them to be told whether their personal data is being processed, they can request that they are given a description of the personal data, the reasons it is being processed and whether it will be given to any other organizations or people. The individual can also be given a copy of the information compromising the data and be given details of the source of the data. An individual can also request the reasons as to why any automated decisions are made for example a computer generated decision on credit. Whether to allow or deny. The individual is entitled only to their own personal data and not to information relating to other people. If I was running my own company the five measures I would put in place to protect the personal data are the following: Install a fire wall, anti spy ware and virus checking on all computers, this is a very common security implication, this would protect my computers from viruses which have the potential to download information from my computers to theirs. Anti spyware provides a monitoring service which stops programs being installed that can read passwords, bank details and other sensitive data. Protect computer files with passwords: Protecting files with passwords is a good way of keeping data restricted; I would ensure that only a few members of staff have the password and that it is changed on a regular basis. Disposing of computers; All old computers should be destroyed correctly, by using a recognized computer disposal service or by destroying the hard disk. Any old computers despite deleting the data, can still be accessed. Email information securely: Consider whether the email should be password protected. Learning activity six Look at the information provided under the link above, then tackle the following: What are the two ways that public authorities are obliged to provide information? What is the public interest test? What is a vexatious request? Try to interpret your answers using your own words Public authorities are obliged to publish information about their activities, as well as members of the public are entitled to request information from them. Public authorities must publish information proactively; The freedom of Information act requires every public authority to have a publication scheme. A publication scheme is a commitment by the council to make information available routinely, without waiting for someone specifically to request it. The publication scheme must state a promise to make certain levels of information routinely available such as who you are and what you do, the services you offer, organizational structure, policies and procedures, Contracts and reports, minutes of meetings, annual requests and financial information. Once the publication has been created it must first be approved by The Information Commissions Office ICO. Information in the publication scheme represents the minimum that must be shown, if a member of the public wants information that is not on this, they can still ask for it. Members of the publican request information from public authority and they have two separate ways in which they can respond: 1: Tell the applicant whether you hold any information that matches the criteria of what they have requested. 2: to provide them with the requested information Usually the request should be responded to within 20 working days. When receiving a request it must be in the form of a letter of email to be valid under The Freedom Of Information Act, the request must include their name, address and a description of the information requested, the act covered information not specific documents. The public interest test is a guidance document provided by The Information Commissioners Office,he has produced this series of good practice guidance designed to aid understanding and application of the FOIA The aim is to show some of the key areas of the freedom of information act and to help guide on how to respond to information requests. The guidance provided by the ICO is only a starting point going from research I found: section 1 of FOIA sets out the right to any person making a request for information to a public authority these are: The right to be informed Whether the information is held or not by the authority and if so then The right to have that information communicated to them. In principle it states that both these rights need to be treated separately. When applying the public interest test, consideration should be given first to whether it is right to confirm or deny whether the information is held and secondly whether the information should be supplied. To decide whether a request is vexatious you would need to look at the following: Can the request be seen as obsessive Is the request harassing the authority or causing distress to staff Would complying with the request impose significant burden in terms of expense and distraction ( with regards to employees) Is the request designed to cause disruption or annoyance Does the request lack any serious purpose or value You should be able to decipher whether the request is vexatious by looking at  these headings. Learning activity seven There are many methods of keeping records or information, some of which are computerized. Identify three types of records or information that relate to an area of business and inform decision making in that area. For each of the three types: Describe how the information/record is stored How reason for storing the information/record in this way How the storage method meets the requirements of the DPA Keeping records of employees sickness and absence, we keep his electronically on the system in a password secured file. Each person has there own line on a spread sheet and each day they are off that date will be marked in red, with a comment attached to it stating why the person was off sick. Any sick notes will be scanned in to the system and stored within that persons file. We ensure that this file is secure at all time and only management have access to it. Reasons for this is that we want to ensure other employees cant see other peoples absence and reasons for being off sick as that is private and confidential. The DPA states the following: obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes adequate, relevant and not excessive to the purpose for which the data are required accurate and, where necessary, kept up-to-date kept secure against unlawful or unauthorised processing, or accidental loss or erasure This is compliant with the Data protection act as we have only managers who have access to the file. We must keep this information as up to date as possible as absence and sickness in the work place can highlight problem areas that need to be looked at and resolved. Keeping CV’s These are all stored in a file on the main system, these can be accessed by the nominated filter processors who are usally a member of the team which the vacancy is for, and the manager of that dept. This is so  they can access them when needed. CV’s are usually kept for a year and then disposed of. This is compliant with the DPA’s standards as we don’t keep information longer than we need to as well as having only a select few people who are able to access the information. Training certificate records – All certificates are kept in our personnel files, however our training dept at head office also holds a copy as when the training is carried out a copy of the cert is sent to them also. This information is recorded on our training matrix and updated accordingly. We store the certificates in this way so that we can see who requires training and when. Also if anything happens on site and our health and safety officer needs to see what training they have in place we can have it available as soon as possible for him. Our storage methods meet the requirements of the DPA by keeping the information secure, all our employees have access to their records when required. We do advise that when we receive a certificate that they come in for a copy to put in their own records at home. Learning activity eight Take one example from the context of your organisation where information has been sourced, collected, analysed and then interpreted to inform decision making. For this example: State why the information was needed (how was it intended to support decision making?) How was it sourced? What method of data gathering was used and why? Show an output from the analysis of the data (example: pie chart, bar chart) Sickness and Absence – The information is gathered from employees time sheets which are handed in weekly to the office manager the time sheet consists of a basic table on an A4 piece of paper that requires the employees to input their hours. This will then be handed in and inputted manually. This can then be printed off and used. Sickness and absence information is required once a month at the operations meetings, the operations manager will go through with the contracts manager as to why someone was off for a period of time whether it was due to sickness, was a doctors note provided or whether it is a reoccurring unauthorized absence. If it is an re occurring unauthorized absence; this will be highlighted with our HR Department at head office. Once this happens our HR representative Jo Betts will arrange an interview with the person to get to the bottom of why they are having this time off and whether an improvement program can be put in place. Usually they will be issued with a warning and put on an attendance watch if they cannot give a valid reason as to why they aren’t coming in to work. This bar chart is in my Evidence folder 02.07 document Learning activity nine Look at the example above – and considering the broad principles of a dashboard – describe how you might create a dashboard (or describe an existing dashboard What areas of information would/does it contain? From where would you source the data to populate the dashboard? Who would use the dashboard and why? I would create a dashboard based on training record information; it would show what percentage of employees had valid training records and what percentage have them but they are out of date.. I would also have an accident chart, we have a few accidents a month relating from hitting underground BT cables and water pipes, as well as employees having accidents from climbing electric poles. Due to the fact most of our accidents are fairly similar, I would be able to group them easily by title. We provide training courses for all of these incidents such as â€Å"pole top rescue† and â€Å"Safe digging practices†, so where an employee may not have a valid training record for this, and that employee was involved in the accident this would be a good way of highlighting why the accident happened in the first place and that he should not be carrying out that particular job without undergoing training. I would source the training data from the Training Matrix file system. This  information is kept up to date at all times and is readily available to me when I need it. The accident data is kept with our Health and Safety manager, I would request the information from him. The dashboard would be a great tool to take to Operations meetings where our health and safety manager goes over the level of accidents and training carried out for that month. He can then compare using a bar chart whether there are a higher percentage of valid training records for that month in comparison to others. Learning activity ten Read the information contained under the link above, then tackle the following: A Balanced Scorecard approach generally has four perspectives – what are they? What are the potential benefits of using a balanced scorecard? Why is feedback essential? A balanced score card is defined as â€Å" a strategic planning and management system used to align business activities to the vision statement of an organization† in more simple and realistic terms a balance score card attempts to translate the sometimes vague, hopes of a companies mission statement in to the practicalities od managing the business better at every level. To produce your own balance score card you must know and understand: The companies mission statement The companies strategic plan/vision The financial status or the company How the organization is currently structured and operating The level of expertise of their employees Customer satisfaction level. The four perspectives that the Balanced score card generally has are that of: Finance – in which covers the following areas: Return on investment Cash flow Return on capital employed Financial results Quarterly/Yearly Internal Business processes – which covers the following areas: Number of activities per year Function Duplicate activities across functions Process alignment (is the process in the right dept.)(When the organizations business processes, quality definitions and measures are aligned to the strategy) Process bottlenecks Process automation (A general technology term that is used to describe any process being automated through the use of computers and computer software. Processes that have been automated require less human intervention and less human time to deliver) Learning and Growth – which covers the following areas: Is there the correct level of expertise for the job Employee turnover Job Satisfacti0on Training/Learning opportunities Customer – Which covers the following areas: Delivery performance to customer Quality performance for customer Customer satisfaction rate Customer percentage of market Customer retention rate. The benefits of using a balanced score card are that it enables you to see a mixture of financial and non financial measures each compared to a target value within a single concise ( expressing alot of detail in a few words†¦) report. Once the Balanced score card is implemented within the organization you should see improved processes. Motivated educated employees Enhances information systems Monitored progress Greater customer satisfaction Increased financial usage. However for any software to work effectively it should be: Compliant with your current technology platform Always accessible to everyone – Everywhere Easy to understand/update/communicate The balanced score card is only of good use when available to everyone, not by keeping it hidden. Feedback is essential and should be contributed to by everyone within the business Carol do I need to go on to discuss the 360 degree feedback here?

Community Support Intervention for Alcohol Abuse

Community Support Intervention for Alcohol Abuse Community support intervention (s) for alcohol abuse in adults living in Glasgow, UK; A Proposal Introduction International perspective on alcohol abuse Alcoholism is a collective term for alcohol related disorders including, but not limited to, alcohol abuse, binge drinking and alcohol dependence (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2016). Global alcohol consumption levels in 2010 were estimated to be 6.2 litres of pure alcohol in persons aged 15 years and above (WHO, 2017). In the United Kingdom, the Health and Social Care Information Centre (2014) recommended that among the adult population group, women and men should not consume more than 3 and 4 units of alcohol a day, respectively. Furthermore, existing evidence trends on alcohol consumption levels indicate that the greater the economic prosperity/wealth of the country, the higher the alcohol consumption levels and thus the lower the number of abstainers among the populations (WHO, 2017). Additionally, statistics from the WHO (2017) indicate that in 2012, approximately 3.3 million recorded deaths globally were due to alcohol abuse, and at least 15.3 million people are thought to have a drug and/or alcohol disorder. Furthermore, 7.6% and 4% of the 3.3 million deaths globally were observed in males and females, respectively (WHO, 2017). Similarly, 139 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) recorded in 2012 were associated with alcohol consumption globally (WHO, 2017). Therefore, harmful alcohol consumption is associated with negative health consequences which impact on the quality of life of individuals and their families, as well as society as a whole due to reduced productivity levels and financial costs associated with treating and managing alcohol misuse related conditions (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2011). Alcohol abuse relative to Scotland In 2007, a joint research undertaken by the Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Police and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde indicated that increased rates of harmful alcohol consumption have been observed across Scotland, with an estimated increase expected in the next decade (Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Police and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 2007). The report indicated that at least 20.7% of all hospital admissions in the Glasgow area were associated with harmful alcohol consumption, which was associated with a cost of  £207 million to manage appropriately. In 2015, a survey by NHS Health Scotland, indicated that 1 in 4 Scottish people drink at hazardous levels and about 36% and 17% of men and women, respectively, consume more than 14 units of alcohol each week (NHS Health Scotland, 2015). Furthermore, at least 1,150 alcohol related deaths were recorded in Scotland and 386 of these were women while 764 were males, a figure expected to increase if alcohol misuse is not tackled in Scotland (National Records of Scotland, 2015). Additionally, in those aged between 45 and 59 years, largest proportion of alcohol related deaths are observed each year in Scotland (National Records of Scotland, 2015). Nevertheless, although the statistics indicate that the rates of harmful alcohol consumption have declined over the last few years in Scotland, the rates are on average still relatively higher than those recorded in Wales and England, and therefore more investment in managing alcohol misuse is still a public health priority (Monitoring and Evaluating Scotlands Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) work programme, 2014). Research undertaken by the Information Service Division, NHS Health Scotland (2015/2016) indicated that about 90% and 10% of alcohol related hospital admissions were to either to general acute hospitals or psychiatric hospitals, respectively. Similarly, 48,420 patients are thought to have accessed primary care equating to 94,630 alcohol related consultations in 2012/2013; higher rates observed in those aged 65 years and above (Scottish Public Health Observatory [ScotPHO], 2017). Furthermore, 25% of all trauma patients and 33% of all major traumas in 2015 were associated with alcohol misuse (The Scottish Trauma Audit Group, 2016). In terms of societal costs of alcohol misuse, a report by the Scottish Government (2010) indicated that alcohol related harms cost about  £3.6 million annually in social care, crime, productivity, health as well as wider/indirect costs in Scotland. In addition, at least  £267 million each year is spent by the NHS Health Scotland on alcohol related care, and  £727 million a year on managing alcohol related crimes across Scotland (Scottish Government, 2010). Alcohol policies and interventions are often developed with the main aim of reducing alcohol misuse as well as alcohol related social and health burden (NHS Health Scotland, 2015). Additionally, these policies or interventions may be formulated and implemented at a local, regional, national, sub-national and global level to ensure alignment and consistency of combating alcohol misuse across care settings (WHO, 2017). Nevertheless, the NHS Scotland in joint collaboration with other government bodies such as the Police have expressed a commitment to monitoring and evaluating alcohol misuse in Scotland with the aim of reducing the alcohol related health and social burden (Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Police and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 2007). The aim of this essay is to explore the extent of alcohol misuse in Scotland and provide community support to the affected populations through the implementation of a relevant strategy/intervention to reduce harmful alcohol consumption. The epidemiological consideration of alcohol misuse/abuse will be discussed first and thereafter followed with the identification of the relevant strategy or intervention in combi nation with the implementation procedures, monitoring and evaluating its progress, based on a pre-specified assessment criteria/framework, to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of the population affected by alcohol misuse. Epidemiological consideration to exploring the level of alcohol abuse among adults in Scotland. Research suggests that the most effective alcohol interventions and policies are those that have combined measures that address the issue at a population level (WHO, 2007). Nevertheless, national levels should be aligned to local strategies to ensure consistency in the delivery of care/support for alcohol misuse (Faculty of Public Health UK, 2016). Therefore, to initiate a strategy or intervention to combat alcohol misuse in Scotland it is fundamental that the epidemiology of alcohol misuse (such as risk factors, aetiology, incidence, prevalence, prognosis, current service evaluation and the unmet need) is established based on evidence based medical literature which can take the form of systematic reviews or population longitudinal studies or clinical trials (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2011). Furthermore, having a thorough understanding of the needs and priorities of those affected as well as the payors and clinicians need to be put in to consideration prior to initiating an intervention to combat alcohol misuse (Griffin and Botvin, 2011). This can be undertaken by conducting a needs assessment which aims to identify health issues of the patients as well as establishing resource allocation to help plan, and implement a strategy or intervention that meets the unmet need of alcohol abusers (Care Informatio n Scotland, 2015). The health needs assessment should primarily be undertaken by a team of stakeholders representing various relevant perspectives including, but not limited to, healthcare professionals, patients or patient groups and payors with the aim of ensuring that all perspectives to reduce health inequalities have been explored, thus providing confidence that the proposed intervention to combat alcohol misuse will be accessible to relevant persons across care settings (NICE, 2005). Both quantitative and qualitative data are fundamental in identifying and establishing the community profiles of those affected by alcohol misuse in Scotland (NICE, 2014). A qualitative framework enables the researchers to obtain an in-depth understanding of the views and perception of those consuming alcohol at harmful levels and therefore the themed information can be used to shape the focus and implementation of the proposed intervention (Brownson et al. 2009). Additionally, qualitative framework can be utilised in terms of focus groups, audio recordings and one to one interviews across different sample sizes and sample types to ensure generalisability of study findings across adults in Scotland who misuse alcohol (Wilson et al. 2013). On the other hand, quantitative framework helps researchers to decide on what to focus on within the research based on data collected from participants, and thus quantify the data by analysing it in an unbiased and objective manner (Cairns et al. 20 11). Therefore, this will help researchers profile the trends of alcohol misuse in Scotland and provide potential explanations of the observed relationships between analysed variables (Jones and Sumnall, 2016). Therefore, both quantitative and qualitative data should be put in to consideration by the various stakeholders to help make informed decisions on the most appropriate intervention to tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland (Monitoring and Evaluating Scotlands Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) work programme, 2014). The nature of the data to be collected (i.e. primary and/or secondary) is often determined by the research question at hand (NICE CG21, 2010). For example, with regards to alcohol misuse, both primary and secondary data are critical because in combination, the data provide a comprehensive representation of the extent of the alcohol misuse among adults in Scotland, which could be limited if one or the other were to be used to inform policy making (Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, 2008). Furthermore, the hierarchy of evidence is dictated by the nature of the study design informing the evidence, and thus various stakeholders will put different weight to the study evidence obtained from various study designs (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, 2015). For example, research recommendations consider randomised controlled trials (RCTS) as the superior study design due to the limited bias associated with the design and exploration of evidence, and therefore evidence from RCTs is considered to be of robust and of high quality (NICE, 2006; Higgins and Green, 2011). Subsequent from the RCTS, the other study designs of interest include cohort studies, case-control, case series and expert, in that order, are considered to be useful in answering certain types of research questions (Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, 2008). Nevertheless, meta-analyses and systematic reviews of RCTs are given more weight in the hierarchy to be able to provide robust data to inform deci sion making. However, it should be noted that conducting a RCT to establish alcohol misuse would be considered unethical by various stakeholders and therefore, qualitative studies or real world evidence studies would be more plausible to explore the concept in detail (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2017). Therefore, after consideration of the nature/type of evidence in combination with the epidemiology of alcohol misuse among adults in Scotland, a brief intervention that would be considered both clinically and cost effective would be a plausible approach (WHO, 2014). The brief intervention incorporates policy guidelines, training, as well as education on alcohol misuse to help patients and healthcare providers make informed decision on its applicability (Anderson et al. 2009). Brief interventions are preferred over other types, such as alcohol taxation because they aim to provide health and social support to alcohol abusers and thus they are more likely to be motivated to help change attitudes towards harmful drinking (Institute for Alcohol Studies, 2013). Therefore, a plausible intervention should include various phases such as planning, preparing other stakeholders for the intervention, establishing an intervention team, identifying consequences/benefits and harms as well as sharing information on the intervention with the relevant stakeholders and ensure that informed consent from users of the intervention is put in to consideration prior to implementation (Holland, 2016). Monitoring and evaluation of the intervention Monitoring and evaluation of an ABI is fundamental in ensuring that the intervention is fit for purpose and delivers expected outcomes to those in need of care (National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools, 2010). Monitoring and evaluation of an intervention follows a set of criteria which measures the effectiveness of the intervention such as the RE-AIM model which aims to evaluate the Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (Glasgow et al. 1999). For example, the Reach category puts in to consideration the proportion and characteristics of alcohol abusers that access the intervention and can be assessed on an individual level which aims to provide first-hand information on what patients thoughts are (NICE, 2014). However, given the difficulty in accessing information on the non-respondents it is challenging to establish why the intervention was not deemed essential to suit their needs and therefore, this creates challenges quantifying the cost effectiveness of an intervention that was designed to reach a large proportion of patients (Vogt et al. 1998). Efficacy of the ABI considers the measuring of both positive and negative outcomes to ensure that a balanced evaluation of evidence is assessed on the value of the intervention to individuals who want to reduce alcohol misuse (National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools, 2010). Additionally, the ABI should aim to collect behavioural, biologic, and quality of life outcomes which are fundamental in assessing whether patients are benefiting from the program or otherwise (NHS Scotland, 2017). Additionally, it is essential to establish if payors are investing in a valuable intervention, and if healthcare professionals are delivering the strategy correctly or it needs to be adapted for each individual to optimize outcomes (Kaplan et al. 1993). The adoption of the ABI takes in to perspective the proportion of care settings utilising the intervention across Scotland (NHS Scotland, 2017). This could be within the community, hospitals, and work and leisure settings to ensure that the hard to reach populations are given the opportunity to access the intervention without incurring significant costs (Alcohol Focus Scotland, 2017). Although direct observation may provide measurable outcomes, audits, surveys and interviews may provide further evidence to support the monitoring and evaluation of the ABI (Scottish Government, 2017). Similarly, the implementation and maintenance of the ABI is fundamental in assessing the extent to which the intervention has been executed in the real world setting as intended, as well as the extent to which the intervention is sustained over a pre-specified period of time (WHO, 2014). Implementation can be assessed at an individual level, and maintenance may be accessed both at an individual and organi sation level to ensure alignment and consistency in the delivery of the ABI. Nevertheless, the RE-AIM framework across the five categories is not often put in to consideration across settings to evaluate alcohol interventions, and therefore the time points for evaluation of optimal effectiveness of the ABI in Scotland are often dependent on amount of available resource within the care settings which make generalisability of findings across settings challenging to ascertain (Institute for Alcohol Studies, 2013; Scottish Government, 2017). Conclusions Alcohol misuse presents a significant burden on the health and social aspects of adults in Scotland both in the short and long term. Given the quantifiable burden in the alcohol misuse related illness, crime and costs of management, this has necessitated a change in the harmful consumption levels of alcohol in Scotland through the implementation of ABIs in conjunction with national and local policies. The epidemiology of alcohol abuse in Scotland through existing literature from both primary and secondary data sources is key in providing a comprehensive insight in to the alcohol misuse circumstances over time, and how the issue can be addressed.   Likewise, the implementation of ABI across care settings in Scotland ensures that the population at need is given access to care through education and training on the harms of excessive alcohol consumption in the short and long term. Additionally, this ensures that the patients are given the option to receive care, after informed consent, and are able to take control of their care. Therefore, healthcare providers have the duty of care to promoting confidence among alcohol abusers to help them come up with various coping strategies to change their attitudes and behaviours. For those that decline care, the opportunity to access care in the future should be provided, but most importantly their decisions should be respected. 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