Fast Food in Malaysia Essay

Restaurants have been around in some form for most of human civilization. But they usually catered to travelers. As far back as ancient Greece and Rome, inns and taverns generally served food to people who had a reason to be away from home. This trend continued until relatively recently. Although taverns and coffee houses were popular places to gather and share beverages in the 17th century, the idea of eating out for fun didn’t take off in Western society until the late 18th century. Although McDonald’s was the first restaurant to use the assembly-line system, some people think of White Castle as the first fast-food chain. White Castle was founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. At the time, most people considered the burgers sold at fairs, circuses, lunch counters and carts to be low-quality. Many people thought hamburger came from slaughterhouse scraps and spoiled meat. White Castle’s founders decided to change the public’s perception of hamburgers. They built their restaurants so that customers could see the food being prepared. They painted the buildings white and even chose a name that suggested cleanliness. White Castle was most popular in the American East and Midwest, but its success helped give hamburger meat a better reputation nationwide. So, like cars, White Castle played an important part in the development of fast food. Image courtesy Brands of the World The McDonald brothers opened their redesigned restaurant in 1948, and several fast-food chains that exist today opened soon after. Burger King and Taco Bell got their start in the 1950s, and Wendy’s opened in 1969. Some chains, like Carl’s Jr. , KFC and Jack in the Box, existed before the Speedee Service System, but modified their cooking techniques after its debut. McDonald’s, which started it all, is now the world’s largest fast-food chain. According to the National Restaurant Association, American sales of fast food totaled $163. 5 billion in 2005 [ref]. The industry is growing globally as well. Total sales for McDonald’s grew 5. 6 percent in 2005, and the company now has 30,000 franchised stores in more than 120 countries [ref and ref]. However, McDonald’s – and fast food in general – does not always get a welcoming reception around the world. McDonald’s restaurants have been attacked in several countries, including the United States, China, Belgium, Holland, India, Russia, Sweden and the U. K. Protestors have accused McDonald’s and other chains of selling unhealthy food, marketing aggressively to children and undermining local values and culture.

Case Study Healthcare Provider Essay

Scenario A large, regional healthcare provider is developing a new, integrated wellness and prevention program (IWPP) for their patients. This involves developing an overarching strategy and aligning existing prevention capabilities. The client has employed Point B to facilitate the development of the plan’s strategy, conceptual design, and roadmap for initial implementation. Describe how you would approach this effort. Approach: Broadly, the approach has three steps starting with the leadership team and then engaging the entire organization: I. Leadership Strategy Development and Plan II. Organization Engagement and Strategy Refinement III. Initial Implementation I. Leadership Strategy Development and Plan Once the leadership participants are confirmed with the sponsor, facilitated workshops will be structured to shape the key deliverables: business strategy, conceptual design and roadmap. Workshops will focus on: Finding a common understanding of what is a successful IWPP. This includes: †¢ Identifying current challenges for the healthcare provider as a whole and specific to an IWPP †¢ Agreeing to the existing strengths overall but with a focus on existing prevention capabilities †¢ Understanding what has and has not worked in the past †¢ Defining a common IWPP vision and values Defining what capabilities are needed and how to measure a successful IWPP. Capabilities will shape the conceptual design and span such things as: †¢ Technology †¢ Business processes †¢ Applications †¢ People/organization structure †¢ Information †¢ Geographic location Identifying the activities (immediate and future) to create a new IWPP. For example: 1 Case Study – Healthcare Provider May 20, 2014 †¢ People – assessing the organization’s culture and behaviours for integrative wellness, prevention and medical care †¢ Process – redesign business processes to emphasis case management and cross organization collaboration per patient(s) or member(s) †¢ Technology – data conversion to a common rollout schedule for compliance standards across the network e.g. ICD 10 Activity timing will determine when capabilities are in place to chart a roadmap of changes to the organization. II. Organization Engagement and Strategy Refinement The second step is the most intensive and often the most overlooked when developing strategy. The leadership team will be required to engage the broader organization to test the strategy, conceptual design and roadmap. This requires cascading participation from management, team leaders and front-line staff. For a healthcare provider this is critical given the complexity and diversity of the network (complementary service providers, insurers, medical providers, members and patients). Input is also required regarding how best to monitor progress, to measure outcomes and to continuously collect feedback once implementation is  underway. Step II has the following benefits: †¢ Improve the leadership team’s work by adding operational detail †¢ Create strategy awareness so the organization’s day-to-day decision making better aligns with the strategic vision and intent. †¢ Start to foster ownership and champions for IWPP changes III. Initial Implementation The third step focuses on identifying the activities that can be implemented first. Activities will be assessed by not only business value to achieve a new IWPP but also by other planning constraints such as the availability of people with the right skills, funding and interdependencies with existing project work. Step III also requires the establishment of implementation processes to monitor progress, to measure outcomes and to continually improve implementation methods based on feedback.

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Five

The full moon was directly overhead when Stefan came back to the boarding house. He was giddy, almost reeling, both from fatigue and from the glut of blood he'd taken. It had been a long time since he'd let himself feed so heavily. But the burst of wild Power by the graveyard had caught him up in its frenzy, shattering his already weakened control. He still wasn't sure where the Power had come from. He had been watching the human girls from his place in the shadows when it had exploded from behind him, sending the girls fleeing. He had been caught between the fear that they would run into the river and the desire to probe this Power and find its source. In the end, he had followedher , unable to chance her getting hurt. Something black had winged toward the woods as the humans reached the sanctuary of the bridge, but even Stefan's night senses could not make out what it was. He had watched while she and the other two started in the direction of town. Then he had turned back to the graveyard. It was empty now, purged of whatever had been there. On the ground lay a thin strip of silk that to ordinary eyes would have been gray in the dark. But he saw its true color, and as he crushed it between his fingers, bringing it slowly up to touch his lips, he could smell the scent of her hair. Memory engulfed him. It was bad enough when she was out of sight, when the cool glow of her mind only teased at the edges of his consciousness. But to be in the same room with her at the school, to feel her presence behind him, to smell the heady fragrance of her skin all around him, was almost more than he could bear. He had heard every soft breath she took, felt her warmth radiating against his back, sensed each throb of her sweet pulse. And eventually, to his horror, he had found himself giving in to it. His tongue had brushed back and forth over his canine teeth, enjoying the pleasure-pain that was building there, encouraging it. He'd breathed her smell into his nostrils deliberately, and let the visions come to him, imagining it all. How soft her neck would be, and how his lips would meet it with equal softness at first, planting tiny kisses here, and here, until he reached the yielding hollow of her throat. How he would nuzzle there, in the place where her heart beat so strongly against the delicate skin. And how at last his lips would part, would draw back from aching teeth now sharp as little daggers, and- No . He'd brought himself out of the trance with a jerk, his own pulse beating raggedly, his body shaking. The class had been dismissed, movement was all around him, and he could only hope no one had been observing him too closely. When she had spoken to him, he had been unable to believe that he had to face her while his veins burned and his whole upper jaw ached. He'd been afraid for a moment that his control would break, that he would seize her shoulders and take her in front of all of them. He had no idea how he'd gotten away, only that some time later he was channeling his energy into hard exercise, dimly aware that he must not use the Powers. It didn't matter; even without them he was in every way superior to the mortal boys who competed with him on the football field. His sight was sharper, his reflexes faster, his muscles stronger. Presently a hand had clapped him on the back and Matt's voice had rung in his ears: â€Å"Congratulations! Welcome to the team!† Looking into that honest, smiling face, Stefan had been overcome with shame. If you knew what I was, you wouldn't smile at me, he'd thought grimly. I've won this competition of yours by deception. And the girl you love-you do love her, don't you?-is in my thoughts right now. And she had remained in his thoughts despite all his efforts to banish her that afternoon. He had wandered to the graveyard blindly, pulled from the woods by a force he did not understand. Once there he had watched her, fighting himself, fighting the need, until the surge of Power had sent her and her friends running. And then he'd come home-but only after feeding. After losing control of himself. He couldn't remember exactly how it had happened, how he'd let it happen. That flare of Power had started it, awakening things inside him best left sleeping. The hunting need. The craving for the chase, for the smell of fear and the savage triumph of the kill. It had been years-centuries-since he'd felt the need with such force. His veins had begun burning like fire. And all his thoughts had turned red: he could think of nothing else but the hot coppery taste, the primal vibrancy, of blood. With that excitement still raging through him, he'd taken a step or two after the girls. What might have happened if he hadn't scented the old man was better not thought about. But as he reached the end of the bridge, his nostrils had flared at the sharp, distinctive odor of human flesh. Humanblood . The ultimate elixir, the forbidden wine. More intoxicating than any liquor, the steaming essence of life itself. And he was so tired of fighting the need. There had been a movement on the bank under the bridge, as a pile of old rags stirred. And the next instant, Stefan had landed gracefully, catlike, beside it. His hand shot out and pulled the rags away, exposing a wizened, blinking face atop a scrawny neck. His lips drew back. And then there was no sound but the feeding. Now, as he stumbled up the main staircase of the boarding house, he tried not to think about it, and not to think about her-about the girl who tempted him with her warmth, her life. She had been the one he truly desired, but he must put a stop to that, he must kill any such thoughts before they were started from now on. For his sake, and for her own. He was her worst nightmare come true, and she didn't even know it. â€Å"Who's there? Is that you, boy?† a cracked voice called sharply. One of the second-story doors opened, and a gray head poked out. â€Å"Yes,signora -Mrs. Flowers. I'm sorry if I disturbed you.† â€Å"Ah, it takes more than a creaky floorboard to disturb me. You locked the door behind you?† â€Å"Yes,signora . You're†¦ safe.† â€Å"That's right. We need to be safe here. You never know what might be out there in those woods, do you?† He looked quickly at the smiling little face surrounded by wisps of gray hair, the bright darting eyes. Was there a secret hidden in them? â€Å"Good night,signora .† â€Å"Good night, boy.† She shut the door. In his own room he fell onto the bed and lay staring up at the low, slanting ceiling. Usually he rested uneasily at night; it was not his natural sleeping time. But tonight he was tired. It took so much energy to face the sunlight, and the heavy meal only contributed to his lethargy. Soon, although his eyes did not close, he no longer saw the whitewashed ceiling above him. Random scraps of memory floated through his mind. Katherine, so lovely that evening by the fountain, moonlight silvering her pale golden hair. How proud he had been to sit with her, to be the one to share her secret†¦ â€Å"But can you never go out in sunlight?† â€Å"Ican , yes, as long as I wear this.† She held up a small white hand, and the moonlight shone on the lapis ring there. â€Å"But the sun tires me so much. I have never been very strong.† Stefan looked at her, at the delicacy of her features and the slightness of her body. She was almost as insubstantial as spun glass. No, she would never have been strong. â€Å"I was often ill as a child,† she said softly, her eyes on the play of water in the fountain. â€Å"The last time, the surgeon finally said I would die. I remember Papa crying, and I remember lying in my big bed, too weak to move. Even breathing was too much effort. I was so sad to leave the world and so cold, so very cold.† She shivered, and then smiled. â€Å"But what happened?† â€Å"I woke in the middle of the night to see Gudren, my maid, standing over my bed. And then she stepped aside, and I saw the man she had brought. I was frightened. His name was Klaus, and I'd heard the people in the village say he was evil. I cried out to Gudren to save me, but she just stood there, watching. When he put his mouth to my neck, I thought he was going to kill me.† She paused. Stefan was staring at her in horror and pity, and she smiled comfortingly at him. â€Å"It was not so terrible after all. There was a little pain at first, but that quickly went away. And then the feeling was actually pleasant. When he gave me of his own blood to drink, I felt stronger than I had for months. And then we waited out the hours together until dawn. When the surgeon came, he couldn't believe I was able to sit up and speak. Papa said it was a miracle, and he cried again from happiness.† Her face clouded. â€Å"I will have to leave my papa sometime soon. One day he will realize that since that illness I have not grown an hour older.† â€Å"And you never will?† â€Å"No. That is the wonder of it, Stefan!† She gazed up at him with childlike joy. â€Å"I will be young forever, and I will never die! Can you imagine?† He could not imagine her as anything other than what she was now: lovely, innocent, perfect. â€Å"But-you did not find it frightening at first?† â€Å"At first, a little. But Gudren showed me what to do. It was she who told me to have this ring made, with a gem that would protect me from sunlight. While I lay in bed, she brought me rich warm possets to drink. Later, she brought small animals her son trapped.† â€Å"Not†¦ people?† Her laughter rang out. â€Å"Of course not. I can get all I need in a night from a dove. Gudren says that if I wish to be powerful I should take human blood, for the life essence of humans is strongest. And Klaus used to urge me, too; he wanted to exchange blood again. But I tell Gudren I do not want power. And as for Klaus†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She stopped and dropped her eyes, so that heavy lashes lay on her cheek. Her voice was very soft as she continued. â€Å"I do not think it is a thing to be done lightly. I will take human blood only when I have found my companion, the one who will be by my side for all eternity.† She looked up at him gravely. Stefan smiled at her, feeling light-headed and bursting with pride. He could scarcely contain the happiness he felt at that moment. But that was before his brother Damon had returned from the University. Before Damon had come back and seen Katherine's jewel-blue eyes. On his bed in the low-roofed room, Stefan moaned. Then the darkness drew him in deeper and new images began to flicker through his mind. They were scattered glimpses of the past that did not form a connected sequence. He saw them like scenes briefly illuminated by flashes of lightning. His brother's face, twisted into a mask of inhuman anger. Katherine's blue eyes sparkling and dancing as she pirouetted in her new white gown. The glimmer of white behind a lemon tree. The feel of a sword in his hand; Giuseppe's voice shouting from far away. The lemon tree. He must not go behind the lemon tree. He saw Damon's face again, but this time his brother was laughing wildly. Laughing on and on, a sound like the grate of broken glass. And the lemon tree was closer now†¦ â€Å"Damon-Katherine-no!† He was sitting bolt upright on his bed. He ran shaking hands through his hair and steadied his breath. A terrible dream. It had been a long time since he had been tortured by dreams like that; long, indeed, since he'd dreamed at all. The last few seconds played over and over again in his mind, and he saw again the lemon tree and heard again his brother's laughter. It echoed in his mind almost too clearly. Suddenly, without being aware of a conscious decision to move, Stefan found himself at the open window. The night air Was cool on his cheeks as he looked into the silvery dark. â€Å"Damon?† He sent the thought out on a surge of Power, questing. Then he fell into absolute stillness, listening with all his senses. He could feel nothing, no ripple of response. Nearby, a pair of night birds rose in flight. In the town, many minds were sleeping; in the woods, nocturnal animals went about their secret business. He sighed and turned back into the room. Perhaps he'd been wrong about the laughter; perhaps he'd even been wrong about the menace in the graveyard. Fell's Church was still, and peaceful, and he should try to emulate it. He needed sleep. September 5 (actually early September 6-about 1:00 a.m.) Dear Diary, I should go back to bed soon. Just a few minutes ago I woke up thinking someone was shouting, but now the house is quiet. So many strange things have happened tonight that my nerves are shot, I guess. At least I woke up knowing exactly what I'm going to do about Stefan. The whole thing just sort of sprang into my mind. Plan B, Phase One, begins tomorrow. Frances's eyes were blazing, and her cheeks were flushed with color as she approached the three girls at the table. â€Å"Oh, Elena, you've got to hear this!† Elena smiled at her, polite but not too intimate. Frances ducked her brown head. â€Å"I mean†¦ can I join you? I've just heard the wildest thing about Stefan Salvatore.† â€Å"Have a seat,† said Elena graciously. â€Å"But,† she added, buttering a roll, â€Å"we're not really interested in the news.† â€Å"You-?† Frances stared. She looked at Meredith, then at Bonnie. â€Å"You guys are joking, right?† â€Å"Not at all.† Meredith speared a green bean and eyed it thoughtfully. â€Å"We have other things on our minds today.† â€Å"Exactly,† said Bonnie after a sudden start. â€Å"Stefan's old news, you know. Passe.† She bent down and rubbed her ankle. Frances looked at Elena appealingly. â€Å"But I thought you wanted to know all about him.† â€Å"Curiosity,† Elena said. â€Å"After all, he is a visitor, and I wanted to welcome him to Fell's Church. But of course I have to be loyal to Jean-Claude.† â€Å"Jean-Claude?† â€Å"Jean-Claude,† said Meredith, raising her eyebrows and sighing. â€Å"Jean-Claude,† echoed Bonnie gamely. Delicately, with thumb and forefinger, Elena drew a photo out of her backpack. â€Å"Here he is standing in front of the cottage where we stayed. Right afterward he picked me a flower and said†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Well,†-she smiled mysteriously-â€Å"I shouldn't repeat it.† Frances was gazing at the photo. It showed a bronzed young man, shirtless, standing in front of a hibiscus bush and smiling shyly. â€Å"He's older, isn't he?† she said with respect. â€Å"Twenty-one. Of course,†-Elena glanced over Tier shoulder-â€Å"my aunt would never approve, so we're keeping it from her until I graduate. We have to write to each other secretly.† â€Å"How romantic,† Frances breathed. â€Å"I'll never tell a soul, I promise. But about Stefan†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena gave her a superior smile. â€Å"If,† she said, â€Å"I am going to eat Continental, I prefer French to Italian every time.† She turned to Meredith. â€Å"Right?† â€Å"Mm-hmm. Everytime.† Meredith and Elena smiled knowingly at each other, then turned to Frances. â€Å"Don't you agree?† â€Å"Oh, yes,† said Frances hastily. â€Å"Me, too. Every time.† She smiled knowingly herself and nodded several times as she got up and left. When she was gone, Bonnie said piteously, â€Å"This is going to kill me. Elena, I am going to die if I don't hear the gossip.† â€Å"Oh, that? I can tell you,† Elena replied calmly. â€Å"She was going to say there's a rumor going around that Stefan Salvatore is a narc.† â€Å"A what !† Bonnie stared, and then burst into laughter. â€Å"But that's ridiculous. What narc in the world would dress like that and wear dark glasses? I mean, he's done everything he can to draw attention to himself†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her voice trailed off, and her brown eyes widened. â€Å"But then, that may bewhy he does it. Who would ever suspect anybody so obvious? And he does live alone, and he's awfully secretive†¦ Elena! What if it's true?† â€Å"It isn't,† said Meredith. â€Å"How do you know?† â€Å"Because I'm the one who started it.† At Bonnie's expression, she grinned and added: â€Å"Elena told me to.† â€Å"Ohhhh.† Bonnie looked admiringly at Elena. â€Å"You're wicked. Can I tell people he's got a terminal disease?† â€Å"No, you cannot. I don't want any Florence Nightingale types lining up to hold his hand. But you can tell people whatever you want about Jean-Claude.† Bonnie picked up the photograph. â€Å"Who was he really?† â€Å"The gardener. He was crazy about those hibiscus bushes. He was also married, with two kids.† â€Å"Pity,† said Bonnie seriously. â€Å"And you told Frances not to tell anyone about him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Right.† Elena checked her watch. â€Å"Which means that by, oh, say two o'clock, it ought to be all over the school.† After school, the girls went to Bonnie's house. They were greeted at the front door by a shrill yapping, and when Bonnie opened the door, a very old, very fat Pekingese tried to escape. His name was Yangtze, and he was so spoiled that no one except Bonnie's mother could stand him. He nipped at Elena's ankle as she went by. The living room was dim and crowded, with lots of rather fussy furniture and heavy curtains at the windows. Bonnie's sister Mary was there, unpinning a cap from her wavy red hair. She was just two years older than Bonnie, and she worked at the Fell's Church clinic. â€Å"Oh, Bonnie,† she said, â€Å"I'm glad you're back. Hello, Elena, Meredith.† Elena and Meredith said â€Å"hello.† â€Å"What's the matter? You look tired,† said Bonnie. Mary dropped her cap on the coffee table. Instead of answering, she asked a question in return. â€Å"Last night when you came home so upset, where did you say you girls had been?† â€Å"Down in the-Just down by Wickery Bridge.† â€Å"That's what I thought.† Mary took a deep breath. â€Å"Now, you listen to me, Bonnie McCullough. Don't youever go out there again, and especially not alone and at night. Do you understand?† â€Å"But why not?† Bonnie asked, bewildered. â€Å"Because last night somebody was attacked out there, that's why not. And do you know where they found him? Righton the bank under Wickery Bridge .† Elena and Meredith stared at her in disbelief, and Bonnie clutched at Elena's arm. â€Å"Somebody was attacked under the bridge? But who was it? What happened?† â€Å"I don't know. This morning one of the cemetery workers spotted him lying there. He was some homeless person, I guess, and he'd probably been sleeping under the bridge when he was attacked. But he was half dead when they brought him in, and he hasn't regained consciousness yet. He may die.† Elena swallowed. â€Å"What do you mean, attacked?† â€Å"I mean,† said Mary distinctly, â€Å"that his throat was nearly ripped out. He lost an incredible amount of blood. They thought it might have been an animal at first, but now Dr. Lowen says it was a person. And the police think whoever did it may be hiding in the cemetery.† Mary looked at each of them in turn, her mouth a straight line. â€Å"So if youwere there by the bridge-or in the cemetery, Elena Gilbert-then this person may have been there with you.Get it ?† â€Å"You don't have to scare us anymore,† said Bonnie faintly. â€Å"We get the point, Mary.† â€Å"All right. Good.† Mary's shoulders slumped, and she rubbed at the back of her neck wearily. â€Å"I've got to lie down for a while. I didn't mean to be crabby.† She walked out of the living room. Alone, the three girls looked at one another. â€Å"It could have been one of us,† said Meredith quietly. â€Å"Especially you, Elena; you went there alone.† Elena's skin was prickling, that same painfully alert feeling she'd had in the old graveyard. She could feel the chill of the wind and see the rows of tall tombstones all around her. Sunshine and Robert E. Lee had never seemed so far away. â€Å"Bonnie,† she said slowly, â€Å"did you see somebody out there? Is that what you meant when you said someone was waiting for me?† In the dim room, Bonnie looked at her blankly. â€Å"What are you talking about? I didn't say that.† â€Å"Yes, you did.† â€Å"No, I didn't. I never said that.† â€Å"Bonnie,† said Meredith, â€Å"we both heard you. You stared out at the old gravestones, and then you told Elena-† â€Å"I don't know what you're talking about, and I didn't sayanything .† Bonnie's face was pinched with anger, but there were tears in her eyes. â€Å"I don't want to talk about it anymore.† Elena and Meredith looked at one another helplessly. Outside, the sun went behind a cloud.

Banking Industry Analysis

Banking Industry Analysis Essay Graham MavarMgmt. 415 Sec 6Industry Analysis: BankingThe banking industry has come under increasing pessimism of late because of rising short and long-term interest rates. The banking industrys market capitalization made a substantial decline. Most investors are concerned with whether the industry can sustain continued profitability as a result of these factors. Banks have responded in recent years to these problems by diversifying away from interest sensitive products and services. But interest rates are the fundamental aspect of any financial services. Therefore, I believe the financial services industry will be deeply affected by rising interest rates. Banks have experienced good business factors over the past two years. Interest rates were low, credit quality was good, and inflation was low. These factors are usually predictive of the types of earnings banks should report. But good times cant continue because interest rate hikes cause reduced lending activity, damaged credit quality, and reduced values of bond portfolios. Porters Five Forces Analysis:1. Rivalry among competing sellers:The banking industry is continuing to restructure and position itself for our changing economy as a result, many mega-mergers have occurred in recent years. Citicorp and Travelers Insurance agreed to merge in April 1998 at a value of $70 billion. Bank of A merica and Nations Bank also agreed to merge shortly afterwards which became the largest bank in the United States. Bank mergers are usually consummated as a cost-cutting measure but also to compete with non-bank providers of financial services. Bank rivalries are very strong, and as weve seen many of the largest banks are merging to increase their power. In fact, Charlotte, NC is practically owned by Bank of America and First Union. 2. Potential entry of new competitors:There is virtually no chance of a new entrant significantly affecting the major banks market share. The only place that new entrants may have a chance in the industry is through Internet banking, because of its low cost. 3. Firms offering substitute products:This is not really an issue within the banking industry, because there arent really any legal alternatives, except buying a safe and borrowing from a loan shark4. Competitive pressures stemming from supplier and buyer bargaining power:I grouped these two categories together because in the banking industry the buyers are the suppliers and vice versa, so I might as well just discuss the situation as a whole. Interest rates are the single most important aspect of bank profitability they are the bargaining power. Most bank profits are derived from net interest income. This is interest income received on loans minus interest expense for borrowed funds. Interest rates determine the amount of money a bank can earn. Another measure is a banks net interest margin which is a banks net interest income divided by its average earning assets. This is a common measure of a banks ability to squeeze profits from its loans. When interest rates fall, they have a positive effect on a bank. First, net interest margin can expand. Second, the value of a banks fixed rate of investment portfolio is enhanced by declining rates, since a bond with a higher stated interest rate becomes more valuable as prevailing rates drop. Third, falling rates lower the cost of credit, which stimulates loan demand and reduces delinquency rates. Opportunities: 1. Because of the increasing amount of technology Internet banking will begin to replace traditional banking, thus cutting personnel costs. 2. Incorporating investment banking into the banking industry, as some major companies are doing, lets the bank increase profits and promote economic growth while improving company image. Threats:1. An increase in interest rates causing a decline in bank activity. READ: In Cold Blood: Death Penalty Essay2. A collapse of the Fed leading to bank failures, a repeat of the crash of 1929. 3. A decline in the US economy leading to a fall in the value of the dollar, thus causing an instable economy. From there the US banking system would be less secure in terms of dollar values that many people would move their money overseas into a more stable economic situation. Similar to the situation in many South American countries. (a little far-fetched, but possible)Key Success Factors:? Capability to use the internet for banking, investing, and general e-commerce? Size of company, name recognition, innovative local marketing? Best rates (loans, checking, savings, etc.)? The capability to have the fastest and simplest banking through design, innovation, and locationBusiness Reports

Personal Statement,The purpose of the study Statement

,The purpose of the study - Personal Statement Example My doctoral degree in educational technology would equip with huge knowledge and skills and help me contribute to expanding educational programs through new medium of digital technology. Communication technology promotes highly innovative approach to education and my interest in online educational programs would get a great boost through my doctoral program. In recent times, online education has increasingly become popular across the globe. It offers new hope to people who were hitherto not able to pursue education or higher education due to personal constraints. Online education or distance education provides people with vast options to acquire new skills and knowledge to meet the challenges of time and compete successfully. I would like to contribute to the online education through highly creative methodology of web design and introduce design educational animations. I strongly believe that multimedia in education hugely facilitates learning abilities of students and helps meet their individual needs for optimal achievement. My PhD would help gain expertise in the chosen field so that it could be used to achieve my long term and short term goals in life. I am also highly driven individual with ambitious goals in the area of online educational programs. I would like to attain the highest level of professional excellence, in terms of gaining knowledge and experience so as to reach the position of Professor in a renowned university. The evolving instructional technology is hugely challenging and offers huge scope for personal and professional development. Most importantly, in the area of distance education, online courses utilize technology judiciously to deliver the wider goals of education and make it accessible to people from different demographic segment across the globe. Moreover, the online courses also help evolve new curricula and approach that not only

An evaluation of contemporary leadership and governance challenges Research Paper

An evaluation of contemporary leadership and governance challenges among universities in Africa - Research Paper Example The study incorporates the university management, teaching staff and the workers together with students both of whom are actively involved in the whole process of research. The results of empirical investigation reveal numerous challenges in university leadership and governance most of which arise from improper financial management coupled with lack of vision. Other leadership and governance challenges arise from union and labour agitations, mismanagement of resources, human resource cum faculty motivation and productivity, leadership among the academic staff, corporate governance and the quality of their graduates. Analysis of the challenges strongly indicates that the environment in which these universities operate which tend to nurture and accommodate such vices possibly causes these challenges. This is manifested in various reasons manifested by university management for their lack of progress. It is therefore apparent that university leadership and management are not up to the c hallenges facing them and that they are not fully aware of their roles and responsibilities. This is because the possible cause of these challenges lies in the specialist nature of their leadership and governance, which is in them. ... ion The issue of leadership in the Centre of management of educational institutions is important in human resources and development since it covers all aspects of the organization. Leadership and governance is concerned with the execution of policies and decisions which determine whether an organization achieve its goals or not. The leadership and governance of the universities enjoys the status of dominance and prestige due to their ability to control and initiate development policies. African Universities’ governance is faced with challenges that have led to their slow growth and development over the decades compared to their counterparts in other continents. Several efforts have been put in place by respective governments and concerned bodies to improve on their status but it seems they have fallen short of intended outcomes. Several attempts have been made aimed at training and capacity building for the university leadership but challenges are still being witnessed on larg e scale. Basic among the governance challenges is the capacity to govern which is evident in most of the department within the university administration. This lack of capacity may result from lack of effective training of the workers and other university leaders before they commence their duties. Lack of effective training before and during the employment period is blamed to be the result of poor leadership and governance in the African universities. The politicized nature of most African states often results to university management being political appointees with less regards to qualifications in terms of education and integrity of the selected leaders. Financial challenge is real in most of the African universities due to little funding they receive form the government and other donor

Air Force Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Air Force - Essay Example He went on to explain that as the Army transforms, the Air Force will provide more a tactical air control, combat weather and air operations support to the Army (Vanessa Young). When analyzing the implications of what Chief Murray talked about it is clear that there will be a reduction in the Air Force's staff complement by as much as 40 000. It is assumed that the Air Force will implement re-deployment of some of the Airmen, but it must be recognized that there will be jobs lost, which will negatively effect a large amount of staff members and their families. When reading the article it became clear to me that each Airmen will have to look closely at their future prospects within the Air Force. For the next five years many Airmen can only be certain of one thing, they will be living with an exceptional level of uncertainty as the Air Force evolve and align itself to its new direction. Many positions and skills will become redundant as new technologies and equipment are phased in, and different knowledge, skills and experience are needed. Currently it is still unclear in which sections staff reduction will take place, or in which areas what type of changes will be implemented. What can be deducted from Chief Murray's revelation is that in the fields of tactical air control, combat weather and air operations are the areas that will see growth in the Air Force. Pre-emptive Action Even though the mentioned changes in the Air Force might seem to be rumors, we can accept it as a fact when coming from a prominent figure such as Chief Murray. Many Airmen may want to take a "wait and see" attitude, it is my believe that it is always better to take the initiative and prepare and equip yourself to meet challenges head on. This it is my suggestion to Air Force staff to begin with assessing themselves, establishing what their future goals are or should be. A self-assessment that include looking at the following (Dawn McKay, 2006): Values: the things that are important to you, like achievement, status, and autonomy Interests: what you enjoy doing, i.e. playing golf, taking long walks, hanging out with friends Personality: a person's individual traits, motivational drives, needs, and attitudes Skills: the activities you are good at, such as writing, computer programming, teaching Then sit down and decide if you want to stay in the Air Force, and if you do set yourself goals and objectives that will help you gain the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to fit into those fields that will be expanded in the Air Force. If you cannot see yourself working in one of those fields, you should start contemplating employment in the civilian sector. According to Richard Piske (2006) this can be one of the hardest choices you will ever make, and that you should take your time to research your options so that you're able to make an educated decision about your next step, which make all the difference in the world. Understanding this you should then do a self-assessment and take stock of your career goals and how you will be able to leverage your experience in the Air Force to secure your ideal job. In conclusion I just want to state that there will be change. That is the only thing we can