What Makes You What You Are

Personality: What makes you the way you are? – Science News – The Independent At some point in your life, you've probably filled in a personality questionnaire (â€Å"Do you see yourself as†¦.? â€Å"), and wondered as you ticked the boxes if there can really be any validity to such a simplistic way of assessing people. Surely the scores just reflect your mood on the day, or what you want the investigator to think. Surely everyone gives the same answer, which is â€Å"it depends†.Or even if the scores measure something, surely it is how the person sees themselves, rather than how they actually are. In a new book, I examine what the extent of the science underlying personality psychology really is. The answer is: more than you would think. While it has always been popular in business and pop psychology, and within academic psychology, personality research has been a poor relation to the parts of the discipline with experiments and hard objective measures. H owever, this is changing fast.The field of personality is undergoing a renaissance. The reasons for the renaissance are several. Academics now have some really good long-term studies of the same individuals, and it turns out that those brief, simplistic, pencil-and-paper questionnaires have surprisingly useful properties. They produce a wide range of selfdescriptions. The responses are fairly repeatable over intervals of many years. They also correlate quite well with ratings of the person given by their spouse, friends or colleagues.Much more importantly, though, the responses turn out to predict objective events. For example, in a famous cohort of gifted Californian children recruited in the 1920s, and who are elderly or deceased now, personality â€Å"scores† – numerical representations of answers to questions – are significant predictors of life expectancy. In another long-term study, this time of American married couples, the quality and duration of the mar riage is predicted by the personality scores of both parties prior to marriage.There are many other examples, with personality scores predicting substance addiction, problem gambling, and the onset of psychological illnesses. Of course the prediction is a statistical one – you can assign odds, not make oracular pronouncements – but this is how it always is in psychology. Humans are such complex systems that you are happy to explain a portion of the variation in outcomes, and never expect to explain it all. In recent years there has been renewed interest in personality assessment. This has been greatly aided by the fact that there is now a consensus on what the key variables are.Its early development, the field was greatly hampered by every investigator having his or her own scales, often using different names and measures for what turned out to be the same thing, or indeed the same names for what turned out to be different things. But over the last 20 years, many studi es in several different cultures have shown that much of the systematic variation in personality can be reduced to scores along five dimensions (the â€Å"Big Five†): Extraversion, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Openness. It's important to stress that these are all continuous dimensions.That is, there are no discrete important to stress that these are all continuous dimensions. That is, there are no discrete â€Å"types† of person. Personality dimensions are like height or weight, which vary continuously, not like being a left- or a right-hand writer. Your score on one dimension is independent of your scores on all the others, so there is an almost infinite diversity of different overall profiles possible. If developments within psychology have facilitated the renaissance of personality studies, it is at the interface with biology where the exciting developments are beginning to come.Neuroscientists have shown, mainly using the increasingly sophisti cated brain imaging techniques that are now available, that those simple pencil-and-paper personality scores correlate significantly with the size or neurophysiological reactivity of specific regions of the brain. Moreover, these turn out to be the very regions that other types of evidence (evidence from brain damage, for example) would lead us to expect would be involved in that particular area of psychological function. Geneticists, too, are getting involved in personality research.It has recently become apparent that more of the human genome differs from individual to individual, even within our rather genetically homogenous species, than was previously thought. We know this inter alia from the complete sequence of Dr Craig Venter's genome, which was published earlier this month. About 0. 5 per cent of the genetic information in his maternallyinherited genome is different from his paternally-inherited one. Variant sequences affect nearly half his genes, and it is likely that in m any cases those variants will have some functional effect on body, brain or behaviour.In a few cases, we even know which genetic variants have effects on personality. There is a gene that encodes a receptor molecule for the neurotransmitter dopamine, and which contains a repeating sequence whose length varies from person to person. A number of studies have found that the length of this sequence correlates with self-reported extraversion and reward-seeking behaviour. In another gene, the serotonin transporter, individuals with one variant are more likely to develop depressive symptoms in response to stressful life events than bearers of the other version.In a few years, we may be in the position of actually understanding the molecular bases of the differences in nature that we observe between healthy humans. (But note that genetic effects will not turn out to be the whole story; only around half of the variation in personality looks like being heritable, with the rest probably shaped by early environmental exposures and other developmental processes. ) The other group of researchers getting interested in personality is evolutionists. Personalitylike variation has been found in organisms as diverse as fish, mammals and birds.Indeed, Darwin's whole theory of evolution rests on the observation that individuals vary from one another. Without such variation there can be no natural selection and no evolutionary change. The question for evolutionists is why you would find variation persisting in populations, when selection always reduces diversity in favour of the optimal type. In fact, it turns out that there are often multiple optima, even within a single habitat, with individuals of one type doing well under certain conditions, while faring less well than their competitors under others. Thus, nder certain conditions, while faring less well than their competitors under others. Thus, selection rarely narrows the population to uniformity because individuals with diffe rent qualities flourish in different contexts. I rather like this as a guiding framework for thinking about personality in modern humans. Rather than imagining that there is some personality profile that is uniformly good to have, let's assume that all have their strengths and all have their pitfalls. Indeed, the failure of any one profile to dominate the human population attests to their roughly equal fitness in the long run.So, whatever your score on the Big Five, the point is not to try to change it, or fight it. The point is to establish which niche within the complex ecology that is modern society will be a good one for you to ply your trade in, and which of the diverse dangers (social isolation, addiction, depression†¦ ) that lurk in our both beneficent and hazardous habitat are the ones against which you should be most vigilant. This is where self-knowledge comes in, and taking the personality test overleaf can be part of that. Scoring your personality won't tell you any thing you don't know.It's based on how you see yourself, so logically it couldn't. But it can reveal to you how you compare to other people, and can also tap you into a wealth of accumulated psychological knowledge about the strengths and liabilities that other people similar to you have experienced. This is what the questionnaire and the interpretation overleaf are designed to do. Daniel Nettle is the author of Personality: What Makes You the Way You Are (? 12. 99), published by Oxford University Press. To order a copy for the special price of ? 11. 69 (with free P) call Independent Books Direct on 0870 079 8897, or visit www. ndependentbooksdirect. co. uk What kind of personality are you? Take this test to discover the truth Introducing the big five Once you have completed the questionnaire and added up your scores, you should have an indication of whether you score low, medium-low, medium-high, or high on each of the Big Five dimensions of human personality. But what do these sco res mean? Here, I explore the Big Five to examine their effects on our lives. Extraversion This is a familiar concept. High-scorers are fun-seeking and cheerful, but they are not necessarily immediate hedonists; they are often ambitious and hard-working.They are also sexually adventurous and love to be the centre of attention. Low-scorers are not necessarily shy so much as aloof; they can take or leave success, praise and pleasure. The best way to think about this dimension is in terms of response to reward. Society offers certain incentives; money, power, fame, attention, sex, thrills, and so on, and some people certain incentives; money, power, fame, attention, sex, thrills, and so on, and some people pursue them full-out, while others have a more muted response and thus won't work so hard to capture them.The strengths of high-scorers: energy, charisma, drive, the ability to make things happen. The weaknesses: a tendency to get bored, restlessness, infidelity, risky decisions. Str engths of lowscorers: detachment, pursuit of intrinsic goals, prudence, fidelity. The weaknesses: not thrusting themselves forward, not having fun, a flat emotional tone. There is no value-judgement about which of these is better from the point of view of a potential employer or spouse, but is certainly worth being aware of the likely pitfalls and most suitable habitats for your particular level of Extraversion.Conscientiousness Conscientiousness measures how good people are at setting themselves goals and sticking to them. High-scorers are disciplined, efficient and systematic. They can resist temptation and stick to priorities they have set themselves. In most modern occupations, and particularly those where you have to manage your own time and priorities, fairly high Conscientiousness is advantageous. Low-scorers are more likely to get distracted from tasks, renege on plans, and succumb to weaknesses of the will. Indeed, low Conscientiousness is a risk factor for developing addic tions of all kinds.Being high in Conscientiousness is not always an unalloyed benefit, though. Sometimes it is indeed important to stick to plans. But at other times it is important to be able to change them on a sixpence. Very high scorers are perceived as grim, pedantic, unspontaneous, even miserly. There is even a name for excessive Conscientiousness – obsessive-compulsive personality disorder – and this is a very socially disabling condition. There are many human activities, including, crucially, social relationships, where it is essential to be able to respond in the moment to your environment as it changes.Highly conscientious people are rigid, often sticking to tasks and plans even when the point of them has been overtaken by events, or when the needs of others around them require spontaneous reorganising of priorities. Thus, if you are very low in Conscientiousness, for the sake of your career, your health, and your wellbeing, you may need to work effortfully a t seeing your plans through, and being selfdisciplined. If you are a very high scorer, you may need to learn to be more spontaneous and intuitive, again for the benefits that this will bring in terms of flexibility and improved social relationships.Neuroticism I would like to dispel the notion that Neuroticism is always a bad thing, a kind of pathology, and that the best level of Neuroticism to have is a very low one. The evidence for the prosecution: yes, high-scorers live their lives under the Damoclean swords of depression, anxiety, stress, and disappointment. Whatever the world says about them, they are often uncomfortable in their inner lives, and go through life either with bouts of difficult times, or with a constant vague feeling that something is not quite right.However, if we think logically, negative emotions, such as worry, are always going to be there for a reason. One would not want to be entirely without worry. It would be as damaging to life decisions as the inabilit y to feel physical pain is to peripheral physiology. High Neuroticism scorers can bring to bear enormous powers of deep thought, detailed analysis, novel insight. They care about the details that others can't be bothered to follow up. Under some circumstances they do well academically. If you are a high-scorer, you may well be a member of a thinking profession such as an academic or a writer.High Neuroticism scorers, then, have hidden advantages. The challenge for them is to find ways to deal with the negative sequels of their personality. Some people respond well to cognitivebehavioural therapy, some to meditation, many to exercise. Low-scorers, too, have disadvantages. You probably don't suffer much in life, which is good, but maybe you are not thoughtful enough. Maybe you let details go, and don't think deeply enough about future drawbacks or problems. Maybe you are too carefree or rose-spectacled to see every potentiality. Agreeableness Agreeableness is a dimension of empathy to wards others.High-scorers are often found in caring professions such as nursing and counselling.. They have larger-than-average social networks, and their relationships with others are harmonious. They don't get into fights and are generally slow to anger. By contrast, the very lowest-scorers are sociopaths; they callously use others for their own ends. So far so good. It is better to be well-liked than to be a sociopath. However, in many fields, high Agreeableness reduces occupational attainment. Nice guys really do finish last, and moreover, plenty of our leaders have something of the sociopath about them.Successful artists and executives, though, tend to be rather low in Agreeableness. This means that the high Agreeableness scorer may not be prepared to be hard-headed. You may stay in relationships that do you no good out of empathy for the others involved. Agreeableness is the most sexually-patterned of the Big Five, with – no prizes for guessing – women scoring mo re highly on average than men. This adds an interesting new perspective on the paucity of women in positions of power. Many of them find it difficult to be callous enough.Should we be encouraging them to be more callous, or trying to change what we reward? Openness Openness is a dimension of imagination. High-scorers make mental associations that go beyond what is given to the senses, or what is logically deducible. They are keen on poetry and the arts, and often have metaphysical or esoteric ideas. Nobody wants to be called unimaginative, but when you stop and think about it, it is not evident Nobody wants to be called unimaginative, but when you stop and think about it, it is not evident that being imaginative in this sense is necessarily useful in life.Low-scorers can be very intelligent and capable, though they will be oriented towards the practical and the soluble. High-scorers will be more able and willing to venture into the domains of the aesthetic. However, they can also de velop eccentric, paranormal or even delusional beliefs, and fail to solve simply resolvable practical problems. Neither a high nor a low score is inherently desirable; it is simple a matter of harnessing the strengths that you have. www. independent. co. uk ht:/w. needn. ou/essinepro tp/wwidpnetc. knw/cec/es nlt-htmksyutewyyuae426. tl aiywa-ae-o-h-a-o-r-069hm ht:/o. lfg tp/gog/fS

Man Utd – Swot and Pest

Manchester united Manchester United (ManU) is one of the leading football clubs in the world. ManU has won many titles in the football competition making the club to be the most successful football club in the world. The success of this club is contributed by the good management of Sir Alex Ferguson who has been the manager since 1986 when Ron Atkinson left (Official website, ManU). Introduction The football industry in UK has become popular because of the first successes in the industry, an attribute that made it a viable business. The main aim of this report is to analyze the SWOT and PEST analysis of Manchester United.From this analysis, it will be possible to identify both the internal and external strengths of the company. SWOT analysis SWOT analysis can be used to know the success factors of ManU as well as to identify the strategies to be overcome the club's weaknesses. Moreover, SWOT analyses will enable the company to identify the opportunities to improve performance. SWOT a nalysis of Manchester United is presented below: Strengths The key strength of Manchester United is its well recognized brand all over the world. ManU has achieved such good brand name by heavy advertisement through the internet, TV and magazines (Andrews, 2004).This massive advertisement has made the club to get various sponsors. This means that whenever the company raises any merchandise in the market, indicating their name and symbol, it will be identified by its funs all over the world. Strength of the club is the presence of a big fan base which has improved the financial stability of the club. This big fan base has made a very high purchase figure whenever the tickets are being sold. Furthermore, Manchester United has various distribution channels which enable it to deliver new products introduced into the market.Furthermore, these channels can be used by the Manchester United to obtained feedback from the market concerning their products and performances. Weaknesses From the website of the company, it shows that the major weakness is the products and product variety. It is evident that the company has been introducing many diverse products at different occasions. All these diverse products have been introduced from the jersey to credit cards indicating that the company has exploited the available sources of income within the company.This action needs to be researched as soon as possible so as to help the company to situate and analyze it products, adopt the use of effective instruments such as the Boston Matrix which will help the company to identify that the products are doing well in the market. Lastly, the club has been so affluent, and it is still operating on such a high level, there is a worrying within the management of the company that it will loose its origin, which has a diverse concentration of the club from football to the proceeds.Such moves might have a great effect to its fans because the fans come from all over the world. Opportunities P enetration of the Manchester United to the American market has been one of the major opportunities to the company. The company will in future structure its club by entering into coalition with the New York Yankees. The New York Yankees is one of the well-off teams in the world. This will assist the company by ensuring that exclusive distribution channels are established in the United States of America. Through this the company will be in a position to enter and present their products in a new market.Furthermore, the Manchester United will be in a position to lead all the football clubs in the America, though there will be superior height of risks concerned. The managers believe that by entering a coalition with the Yankees, this threat will be reduced (CNN, 2010). Threats Manchester United operates under a great threat in this field because other big teams like Manchester City and Arsenal which are currently improving in their performances. These and other teams have become very big competitors to the club. Furthermore, the Manchester United FC has been facing internal threats to the team.There is a frequent change of leadership in the company making the club to be disunited. Nonetheless, this will affect the sale of merchandise. Lastly, the club is lacking enough finances for financing academies and junior football, so that they can train the best footballers to ensure smooth succession in the future. PEST Analysis of the Manchester United The club's decision has been affected by macro-environmental factors such as the changes in taxes, new laws, demographic changes and the changes in government policy. The managers of Manchester United can classify these as the political, economical, social and technological factors.Political factors This comprises of the laws which govern the issues affecting the activities of the club. Currently the team is undergoing a problem of paying out its debts which amount to $1. 5 billion, a figure which was misappropriated by the greedy owners. The fans of Manchester United from England are preparing to join their efforts to force legislators to consider pro-football legislation in parliament which will aim at fighting the total arrears which has not being paid because of corrupt owners who misuse the funds of the club. Such an action has exploited the loyalties of fans of Manchester United.Economical factors The club has boosted the economy through employment opportunities which have been created to the players and the officials. The positive effect of Manchester United FC is felt globally because they employ the best players globally. Secondly, this soccer club has been a catalyst in the regional development because of the positive financial flows which are generated by the supporters of the team across the world. Lastly, the club has a positive influence on the economy because its officials are thrown from all over the world.These officials spend an average of 15 ? on basic needs such as food, drinks etc . in a single match. If the supporters are from foreign countries they bring in foreign currencies which will eventually boosts the Balance of Payments in the country Technology Technology has contributed positively to the foot ball games since the players are capable of playing at night due to the availability of electricity. Furthermore, technology has facilitated various people from different parts of the world to watch football irregardless of there locations.Technology has facilitated fans of the club to obtain information from the internet concerning the performances of the company. This has benefited those Manchester United fans to get updates incase they had missed to watch the game. Social Manchester United just like any other football team has united many people especially the funs of football. People have interacted all over the world because of football. People from different age groups normally watch football because it is either their favorite game or because they want to watch just for leisure.Football has become part of the society in the current world, everybody in the world talks of football, either English Premier League or the world cup championships. This is very important since it has affected the society in a positive way i. e. it can create employment in the region. For example, the world cup will be in South Africa this year. The South African government will collect a lot of revue in terms of taxation, sales of tickets and any other taxable stuff. This will have close relationship with the social cultural factors though indirectly (Masterman, 2009).Manchester United has contributed a lot in the context of the social cultural factors as it employs players from different parts of the world. They normal select stars from different leagues and employ them. From a research done by Masterman, Manchester is the leading club in the payment package they offer to its employees. Business strategy The team has carried research concerning their pr oduct development in the market. This is very important as it will help the team to improve their performance in their product in the present market before strategizing on how to enter the new market.Conclusion Manchester United is the leading team in the football industry and to maintain this position, they have to focus on the market and the needs of its clients and followers. The company has further improved on their product through carrying research; these improvements have brought success in the club and improve the support of the team. The board of directors has also done their best by employing the best players to represent the club. This will make the team to perform well in the field whenever they have a game. Furthermore, these directors ensure that the discipline is well maintained n the company because the fans and its competitors are closely watching what is going on in the company. Bibliography ? Andrews, D. L. (2004) Manchester United: a thematic study. Routledge: UK. Barthold, D. 2009. The Business of European Football. GRIN Verlag, (3). Pp 36-38 Masterman, G. 2009. Strategic Sports Event Management: Olympic Edition Hospitality, Leisureand Tourism Series. Butterworth-Heinemann, (2). Pp 65-67 Manchester United. 2008. The Official Manchester United Annual 2009 Official Manchester Read more: http://www. ukessays. com/essays/business/manchester-united. php#ixzz2O7qrNL7L

LIVE CELL IMAGING OF BACTERIAL PATHOGENS BREACHING THE BARRIER OF Dissertation

LIVE CELL IMAGING OF BACTERIAL PATHOGENS BREACHING THE BARRIER OF POLARIZED EPITHELIAL CELLS - Dissertation Example 2.3 Staining with anti-cortactin and phalloidin 15 2.4 Staining with anti-ZO-1 and HOECHST 16 2.5 Extracting GFP and YFP plasmids from C.jejuni for transformations 16 2.6 Transformation of Cj 11168 wt with GFP and YFP plasmids 17 2.7 Scanning Electron Microscopy 18 2.7.1 Specimen preparation for SEM (cultured monolayers) 18 3.0 Results 19 3.1 Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy 19 Staining with anti-ZO-1 and HOESCHT 23 Figure 11 (A-D) HOESCHT stains blue to visualise the nuclei and ZO-1 stains green to visualize the tight junctions 23 3.2 Scanning Electron Microscopy 24 3.3 Campylobacter jejuni invasion induces cytoskeletal rearrangement 28 3.4 Campylobacter jejuni invasion causes membrane ruffling 28 3.5 Analysis of wild type and DHtrA mutant C. jejuni by electron microscopy 29 3.2 Campylobacter jejuni invasion is time dependent 29 3.3 Campylobacter jejuni invasion induces cytoskeletal rearrangement 29 3.4 Campylobacter jejuni invasion causes membrane ruffling 30 3.5 Analysis of wild type and DHtrA mutant C. jejuni by electron microscopy 30 3.6 Transformation of Cj 11168 wt with GFP and YFP plasmids 30 4.0 Discussion 31 5.0 Conclusion 34 6.0 References 35 Abstract Campylobacter jejuni is a well known pathogenic bacteria commonly transmitted through contaminated food (Oyarzabal, et al., 2012). Its presence in the human intestinal gut causes disease and is one of the leading causes of gastroenteritis in human beings. By crossing the polarized epithelial barrier in the gut, it leads to increased damage to intestinal tissue although the exact mechanism by which it accomplishes this is not yet defined (Boehm, 2011). As such, the research aimed to determine this through a series of infection studies. Results of the manner in which C. jejuni breeches the barrier of polarized epithelial cells was captured through the use of high resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and confocal microscopy, and the results through various strains of the pathogenic bacteria evaluated. The results of the experiments carried out in this study indicated that invasion of an epithelial cell by C. jejuni causes membrane ruffling and cytoskeletal rear rangement. It also shows that invasion by C. jejuni is time dependent and the number of pathogenic bacteria increases with time. It also shows that C. jejuni strains can also undergo transformation with the GFP and YFP in order to ensure genetic diversity and replication. 1.0 Introduction The human gastrointestinal tract has a mucosal cell layer that forms a strong barrier which protects the body from invasion by pathogenic microbes commonly residing in the intestinal lumen (Boehm et al., 2012). This class of bacteria, commonly referred to as enteric pathogenic bacteria, include Salmonella, Shigella, Heliobacter, and Campylobacter among others possess specific properties that enable them to

The Public Safety Leaders and the Study of the Future Research Paper

The Public Safety Leaders and the Study of the Future - Research Paper Example Sadly there are some real-life scenarios in the contemporary times, which may extend some relevant insights to the public safety leaders as to how to achieve a balance between the current and future needs. The 9/11 disaster is in itself a glaring example as to how the public safety leaders in the United States failed to interpret the developments taking place in the present, which lead to a leadership crisis in the future (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, 2004). 9/11 was not only a grave intelligence failure but also a failure on the part of the public safety leaders to arrive at a prognosis of the future threats from the available facts, developments and intelligence inputs (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, 2004). Going by the topic under consideration, the positive and heartening thing is that in the public safety scenarios, both the success and failure of the leadership models resorted to extend important and vital inputs regarding the needs and requirements of the present are in a way also indicative of the future needs, provided the involved leadership does not fall a victim to a chronic tunnel vision (Storey, 2004, p. 9). In that context, the public safety leaders always need to have their feet firmly fixed in the present, while having a vision that takes the future within its ambit. The current failures and mishaps not only furnish the requisite feedback for immediate improvements but also yield an inventory as to the possible future challenges and requirements (Avolio, 2005, p. 79). So the public safety leaders should be really good at extrapolating the feedbacks of the present to predict the requirements of the future (Avolio, 2005, p. 79). There is a dire tendency amongst the public safety leaders to allocate a greater proportion of the resources and manpower to the immediate scenarios.  

Case studye Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Studye - Case Study Example Despite all this, there are a few among the numerous African countries that have managed to achieve a rather stable economic and social standing that is quite exemplary in the eyes of the other nations. South Africa, Morocco and Angola are some of the states looked up to within Africa for their economic prowess. Growth and development which is much sought after by each and every state cannot only be achieved through economic growth and power. A combination of factors is necessary towards achieving development. For this paper focus will be placed upon Botswana as a case study, a Southern African independent state that has experienced stable and constant growth over the years. Lewin (2011) describes Botswana’s economy as one of the most successful in the world, he terms is as remarkable considering that just after staining independence Botswana was not seen as a powerful state. Despite its limitations as a sparsely populated, landlocked country with little arid land, Botswana has overcome numerous setbacks and issues to improve its economic state and to stand out as an African country with great potential. Without focusing only on its economic strength, Botswana is a country that has enjoyed a stable democracy for a long period of time, political stability is crucial in the development of a state. Numerous states that are considered to be economically wealthy always seem to become victims of ‘the resource curse’ States with resources are prone to abuse of power from leaders and generally bad governance, somehow Botswana has managed to avoid such obstacles probably because of the small population and the homogeneity of the cultures and tribes within the country. Aside from good policy and good governance Botswana has also made a major effort to invest in education and to implement ways to curb money laundering which can

Capital Asset Pricing Modfel slp Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Capital Asset Pricing Modfel slp - Assignment Example However, in the CAPM (capital asset pricing model), beta risk denotes the only type of risk for which an investor should receive an expected return that is greater than the risk-free rate of interest (Ehrhardt & Brigham, (2009). The estimated beta coefficient of Apple Inc. is 1.25. A beta of higher than one generally implies that the price of stock of such a company is both more volatile and tends to move up and down with the market. For instance, like in the case of Apple Inc. A stock’s beta of 1.25, theoretically implies that the security is 25 percent more volatile than the market. Such stock is riskier than the market. Even though it poses more risk, the stock should be included in the overall portfolio because it offers the possibility of a greater rate of return. This is so because a beta value of 1.25 indicates that the security is anticipated to do 25% better than the S&P 500 within an up market. This stock should be included in the portfolio to help diversify it due to its high risk-reward ratios (Bradfield, 2007). Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) refers to an economic model that is used to value securities, stocks, assets or derivatives by relating risk and expected return. It is based on the principle that investors demand a risk premium, additional expected return, in case they are required to accept additional risk. CAPM is, therefore, used in pricing stocks or securities (Ehrhardt & Brigham, (2009). Cost of equity or expected rate of return refers to the rate of return that an investor requires before being interested in any given investment at a particular price. It is the rate of return that compensates them for a higher expected risk (Reilly & Brown, 2012). The portfolio is sufficiently diversified; because it has a beat of less than one meaning the assets move in the same direction however the movement is less than that of the benchmark hence less susceptible to everyday fluctuation (Bradfield,

HISTORY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

HISTORY - Essay Example The revolutionaries, who were driven by the urge to attain sovereignty, had several advantages over their enemies. This was due to the fact that they had a wide knowledge on the geography of their surroundings as they were fighting on their home grounds and as such they were able to plan on their attacks and also to escape from their attackers (Harvey 2005 p 65). Due to their large numbers and the will to survive, the revolutionaries were able to offer high resistance to the army which had fewer personnel though well equipped. This was enhanced by the uprisings that came from different sides diverting the attention of the military which resulted to the army distributing the few soldiers they had across a wide area weakening their defense. Reinforcement for the soldiers took long since they had to be ferried from their home countries while that of the patriots was readily available and this strengthened their defense and attack mechanisms (Harvey 2005 p 78). The revolutionaries also had a well organized army which was unified and with a lot of support. They also had generals who were capable of making good decisions that minimized chances of landing into unnecessary trouble out of poor risk evaluation. However, there were some short comings that arose from their ill equipped forces who could not match the equipment of their enemies. Their supply of ammunition was limited unlike the military which had constant supply of food and ammunition from their government (Harvey 2005 p 102). This resulted to high numbers of casualties and deaths on the side of the revolutionaries. They also lacked the skills to match those of the military due to their poor training, which resulted to caress mistakes that gave the military an opportunity to seize and manage to kill them. They were also disadvantaged by the lack of food to sustain them while in the

The Benefits of Hands-on Training Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Benefits of Hands-on Training - Essay Example For the purposes of this paper, an OH&S inspection tour of a meat-processing plant has been established (more details of this tour can be found in Appendix A). The discussion of this tour answers four main questions: I outlined the problem at hand: how to design a training tool that would meet the needs of trainees. I made an outline that represented the challenges and requirements, and focused on the key tenets that I wanted trainees to bring away from their time at the meat-processing plant. These key tenets are contained in Appendix A. My prior experience in taking and conducting inspection tours helped me in compiling a list of requirements for participants to follow, educational activities, pre-trip instruction for my trainees, and a list of procedures for the training day itself. This movement from prior memory to existing project was the result of schema activation. The actual task of conducting the inspection, as outlined in Appendix A, shows how I took the problem and broke it down into such parts as the site and time of the inspection, the particular trainees, my goals and objectives, the specific training activities, and ways to evaluate the quality of the training. As fa As far as personal involvement goes, the development of the training procedure originated in my own personal experiences and memories, and the schema formation showed considerable time and reflection. Additionally, the process of choosing specific training activities and eliminating other potential activities demonstrates a level of critical thinking (Bruning, Schraw, Ronning 1999). Another way to describe this process of critical examination, combined with preparation of a specific task, is metacognition, which connects knowledge and regulation of cognition (Schraw, 1998). Task Analysis: Question Two Before entering the training environment, the participants will receive a set of problems to solve while they are engaged in the exercise. Another of Gick's diagrams (1986) can be used to show the mental processes involved: Here, the dotted line represents the mental process used by the participants to move from problem to solution. Because the process of inspecting a meat-processing plant will be new to most, if not all, of the trainees, there will be no schema based on prior experience (Tovey, 1999). Several

Michigan History2 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Michigan History2 - Research Paper Example The area was also important to the French because it acted as a link between the Great lakes in the West and the Illinois County in the South. The area grew to become a military town, housing the French military. The inhabitants of this town would have looked forward to having one of the greatest commercial centers and a Military Fort. In the late 17th Century, the French were abandoning their forts in America. Viewing this as an invitation to the British to occupy the evacuated Forts, Cadillac requested the French government to allow him to build a new settlement in the Northern part of America. He chose to settle in the area near Lake Huron, then known as Le Detroit. He chose this area because of its fertile land, its hospitable climate, and its strategic location near the river. He brought Farmers, traders, soldiers, artisans and Native Americans from Montreal to settle in the place which later became known as Detroit. The final resting place of this famous Jesuit priest who helped convert Indians to Catholicism has been a subject of controversy over the years. He died on 18th may, 1675, aged 38 after enduring a fight with Tuberculosis. In 1972, bones believed by many scholars to be his were excavated at St. Ignace. These bones might have been brought by Indians. Other places associated with his final resting place include Ludington and

Lending & Securities Course Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Lending & Securities Course - Research Paper Example This study has been conducted based on secondary research mainly information from the official website of the company. It will deal with in depth research on wide areas of banking activities and its target customers. NBAD practices both commercial and investment banking activities and it offers flawless banking services to individual as well as institutional customers. As this study mainly focuses on commercial lending, therefore, need of long term and short term financing of the potential consumers needed to be analyzed. NBD has disclosed detailed information related to its short and long term lending like starting from the details of different lending schemes for individual as we institutions, investment banking services to business for raising finance and other strategic financial activity, eligibility criteria and requirements of security for lending, banks analysis of future value of securities deposited by the banks etc.According to the report findings  National Bank of Abu D habi is market leader in core business lines in this industry. The company follows franchisee based business activity. It is the largest banking franchise in UAE with more than 140 branches and 740 ATMs and cash deposit machines across the UAE. This banking group is also major player in the corporate banking or business arena. It provides portfolio management and wealth management services to HNI individuals.   The company is a leading player in emerging Islamic banking, investment banking and private banking services in UAE and other Middle East countries. The bank is recognized as a leader in its high competence areas like asset management and financial brokerage services. This company has been well positioned among its target customers for its high value added services and delivering corporate value to shareholders and employees. Apart from its active business operation in UAE, the company is also successfully penetrated in emerging foreign markets like Qatar, United Kingdom, S ingapore and Jersey. The overall business activity is maintained by more than 8000 employees from more than 50 nationalities which have made the most diversified cultured organization in UAE region. Corporate social responsibility is key part of its business activity. National Bank of Abu Dhabi is involved in many corporate social activities like charity, education, culture, art and sports. It always focuses on the national culture into its business culture and dedicated to preservation of it. Discussion There are two different types of customers of the bank. One is individual people and another is small and medium businesses that require loans from the bank. Individual customers requires loan for personal requirements like marriage, child’s education etc. they also need loan for buying persona car, buying a property and many other reasons. The bank also offer a complete package of short term and long term lending facility to its priority individual customers under personal b anking. It provides short term and lo

Management Planning Paper Essay Example for Free

Management Planning Paper Essay The Boeing Corporation is the world’s leading aerospace company and is the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners as well as military aircrafts. Boeing has teams that manufacture missiles, satellites, defense systems, and communication systems. NASA turns to Boeing when they need something and Boeing operates the International Space Station. Boeing has a broad range of capabilities and skills, which is probably the reason they are the world’s leading aerospace company. With the Boeing headquarters in Chicago, more than 170,000 people in 70 different countries find themselves employed with the corporation and most of them hold a college degree (Boeing Corporation,  2012). It takes many hard working employees and managers to make Boeing a successful corporation. This paper will discuss the planning function of management, analyze the influence of legal issues, ethics, and corporate social responsibility and their effects on management planning. I will also analyze factors that influence the company’s strategic, tactical, operational, and contingency planning as they relate to the Boeing Corporation. The planning function of management is the process of setting goals within the corporation that are expected to be achieved over a set period. Therefore, Boeing got to be the world’s leading aerospace company by setting such goals. The Boeing Corporation has engineer departments, sales departments, mechanical departments, and product testing departments among a few others. Each individual department will have set goals put in place by corporate and guidelines regarding how they should achieve the desired goal for each project. Each goal is designed for each department to become the most efficient in their levels. There are six steps in management planning. The steps listed in provided course materials are situational analysis, alternative goals and plans, goal and plan evaluation, goal and plan selection, implementation, and monitor and control (Thomas S. Bateman, Scott A. Snell,  2009). Step one gathers and summarizes information that is in question. It examines current conditions with an attempt at forecasting future conditions. Step two generates alternative goals that may be used as an alternate if the first desired plan does not ork. Step three evaluates the potential of the alternative goals and prioritizes/eliminates ones that might or might not work. Step four in management planning is the selecting of goals believed to be most appropriate and feasible by the managers. Step five implements the goals and plans into action by managers. Goal achievement is likely to be linked to the organizationâ₠¬â„¢s reward system to encourage employees to achieve the goals and implement plans properly (Thomas S. Bateman, Scott A. Snell,  2009). Step six is essential in making sure goals and plans are met. If the goals and plans are not monitored and controlled managers would not know if they were ever met successfully. Boeing the huge corporation that it is has had its fair share of legal issues. The corporation has to pay special attention to detail when it concerns obeying the laws and regulations in regard the manufacturing of aircraft. The planes must be tested for safety and flying ability before they ever hit the mainstream public. Notices on the aircraft tell passengers when they should be buckled and when it is considered safe to unbuckle. Engineers have to provide manuals for the aircrafts in case any issues may arise when in use. Ethical issues come into play when Boeing makes bids to other corporations like the military or NASA. They are not allowed to charge prices that people believe to be unfair or make any changes after things have already been agreed upon. This means that the sales department has to plan how much they want to sell their product for. The main corporate social responsibility that Boeing has is safety. They have to engineer items safe for the public to be on/use. With Boeing being the world’s leading Aerospace Corporation, millions of people rely on the use of their products. That means that engineers have to know the latest safety information and managers have to make sure that they put the safety information to use. Strategic planning is used by the Boeing Corporation when making new aircraft and other items. They have to figure out how to market their item just right so that buyers will be interested in it. This planning has led Boeing to make planes more efficient and comfortable for passengers to ride on. Tactical planning is organized for competition, such as Airbus and demand for product. Boeing is a competitor of Airbus, which is another aerospace engineering corporation. Boeing has to be aware of competitor’s new products and when they will be released. This means that they have to formulate and release products either better or more efficient than the competition’s. Operational planning identifies the specific procedures and processes required at the lower-levels within an organization (Thomas S. Bateman, Scott A. Snell,  2009). So within the Boeing Corporation this would be those who deal with the delivery schedules and human resources departments. Every plane that takes off or leaves an airport has to be scheduled and the arrival/departure times displayed so that the public is aware. Human resources is responsible for the hiring/firing of Boeing’s many employees and any issues consumers may have with a product or service. If someone believes that they did not have a good experience in the flight he or she would call the resource department, and the department would most likely do everything in his or her power to make the person feel better. Contingency plans are put in place in case of any challenges that may arise when making their products. A good example of Boeing’s contingency plan is in 2008 they were trying to produce 40 aircraft a year but the United States hit an economic crisis. This meant that Boeing had to cut back their number of aircraft being created so they did not feel the effects of the economic crisis. So Boeing did not become the world’s leading aerospace corporation by doing nothing. It took hard work, planning, and management. There are six steps in management planning that corporations follow to try to ensure their survival in a competitive world. Boeing has had its fair share of legal and ethical issues and tries to abide by the rules and regulations for safety set forth by the goverment. Boeing tries to keep a strategic plan when creating new products and a tactical plan on how to market their items.

Designing A Creep Testing Machine Engineering Essay

Designing A Creep Testing Machine Engineering Essay A Creep Testing Machine is one that accurately measures the creep of a material under constant load and at elevated temperatures until final rupture. Basically, it demonstrates the effect of Temperature on Creep. Creep is defined as the time dependant deformation of a material under constant load at constant elevated temperature. The resulting strain is a function of applied stress, temperature and time. Creep is increasingly important in industry in many different applications ranging from turbine rotors, high pressure steam tubes, suspended cables, tightened bolts where materials are subjected to extremely high temperatures and stresses which may cause them to change size, shape and lead to rupture. So the main objective of a creep test is to measure how a given material will perform under constant loads and elevated temperatures to make sure they are ready for use in industry under such conditions. In a creep test, a tensile specimen is subjected to a constant load inside a furnace set to a specified temperature maintained at a constant high temperature. The material will go through 3 phases of creep; primary, secondary (steady state, lengthiest stage) and tertiary until it ruptures. The test may run on for days until eventually the specimen fails and the creep properties are recorded. http://spaceflight.esa.int/impress/text/education/Images/MechanicalProperties/image075.png Applications in industry Creep testing is increasingly important in large areas of industry. There are three types of high temperature industry applications. Displacement limited applications: where precise dimensions must be maintained, examples of which are in turbine rotors/aircraft turbine blades. Rupture limited applications: where fracture must be avoided, such as in steam tubes. Stress-relaxation limited applications: where initial tension relaxes with time such as in suspended cables and tightened bolts. Aims and Objectives: To fully design a Creep Testing Machine within a hard budget in the given time frame by the end of the semester in week 13. The reason behind the project is to provide AUT Engineering School with its first working Creep Machine. It will provide an opportunity for materials to be tested for Creep under extremely high temperatures for research or educational purposes after the project is completed. The very high temperatures will allow for testing stronger more complex materials such as alloys with higher melting points. A fully detailed, clear and FEA tested 3D CAD drawing will be produced, effectively demonstrating the complete final design of the Creep Testing Machine in all of its dimensions and absolute properties. Deliverables: The machine will be designed to be cheap, practical, robust, reliable, easy to use, relatively lightweight, safe (to the touch), long lasting and professional looking. The project meets the academic requirements of my qualification as it will require a great deal of knowledge I have obtained from papers such as: material science, manufacturing technology, CAD/solidworks engineering design, quantitative techniques, thermodynamics, solid mechanics and heat transfer papers. Potential Industry organisations involved: Steel suppliers high temperature material suppliers high temperature measuring/control device distributers electronic and electrical control distributers insulation material suppliers Resources (likely required): Solidworks/CAD design programs, matlab/computer programming programs, Microsoft excel, electrical/electronic equipment. Workshop machines: milling, lathe, drilling, soldering, welding machines and more. Project Plan Plan/chart will be subject to refinement throughout the duration of the project. Project Information This project is supposed to be carried on through until the end of the 4th year industrial project. From now until the end of the semester we will be designing the Creep Testing Machine completely, putting the designs through numerous tests and immense scrutiny until it is certain that the design will be achievable and the project a total success. Our supervisor, Tim, informed us with the estimated budget for this project of around $5,000NZ. This is a hard budget and we are not to exceed it under any circumstances. Therefore an important goal of this project is to stay under budget (by a decent sized margin if possible) and design a relatively cheap Creep Testing Machine that can be delivered realistically for the 4th year industrial project (where the machine should be produced). The Creep machine consists of several main components that fit into three categories; Heat, mechanics and control. The components are as follows: Frame, Furnace, Control, Electronics + Data acquisition, Strain measurement device (extra), Emergency shut off, Temperature measurement device, Grip system, Timer, On/Off switch and Loading mechanism. The furnace should be designed to reach exceedingly high temperatures of up to 800C so that it may be suitable for creep testing on a wide range of specimen materials (high T alloys etc) for research and educational purposes at the AUT Engineering department. During our first group meeting after the first formal meeting with our supervisor, we (the project team) assigned several components to each of us to carry out detailed research and gather our findings before the next meeting with Tim. The larger, more complex components namely the furnace and loading mechanism were both shared between me and Ramez, Steven and John-Paul respectively. The full details are illustrated in my logbook. Literature review So the components assigned to me for research were the Furnace, strain measuring device and the frame. I began dissecting the furnace into its individual components and features. A standard muffle furnace consists of insulation, the body, heating element, temperature measurement/controller and door with locking mechanism, compartments for other components (load train, measuring apparatus), mounting kit and air vents. After I completed some general research I developed a good and original idea of what our Creep testing machine will consist of: Furnace insulation will either consist of two different materials namely refractory firebrick and refractory ceramic fibre blanket or solely just ceramic fibre blanket/wool. These are highly heat resistance materials (one that has especially low thermal conductivity value k). Fire brick; would be the first line of insulation and the main barrier to heat loss from the furnace chamber with a k value of ~ 0.21 (@800C). Ceramic fibre; would be the surrounding/main layer of insulation and will be put around the fire brick and on the inner door surface. It has a k value of ~ 0.22 (@800C). There are several types of suitable fibre and one will be chosen based on its cost and thermal properties. The reason that firebrick is being considered as a layer of insulation is because of the ease of fitting it with heating elements. However they are more bulky and considerably heavier than ceramic blankets. The insulation choices will be theoretically tested for suitability using standard thermal resistance equations: Qtransfer = à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  T/Rth Rth = (1/hiA)+(L/kA)+ (1/hoA) Where; L is the minimum thickness of insulation, k is its thermal conductivity, h is the convection heat transfer coefficient and Rth is the total heat resistance. Choice and list of possible heating elements + why chosen. Take into accnt start up hting time The minimum insulation thickness required is found as follows; Properties: Power in: 1.6kW heating element à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  T = TMAX TAMB Insulation, Ceramic fibre: k = 0.22W/m2K hi = 10W/mK, ho = 40W/mK Rth = (1/hiA)+(L/kA)+ (1/hoA) Rth = (1/10*0.35*0.15)+(L/0.22*0.35*0.15)+ (1/40*0.35*0.15) L = 21.87mm L Specimen HC H WC WW Body Chamber Initial Dimensions: Specimen ASTM: Round dog bone: Length, L = 127mm Flat dog bone: Length, L = 101mm Gripping mechanism: Length, L ~ 40mm Only round dog bone specimens will tested ASTM creep/fatigue specimens. Full dimensions below: ((+ gripping mechanism size)) The bottom pull rod will be fixed in place but the top pull rod will be adjustable such that the specimen can be placed into the gripping mechanisms. Therefore this will be considered when estimating the height of the furnace and its chamber. Preferably, the chamber should be small in size such that it can be heated up quicker and use up less energy thereby increasing the efficiency of the furnace. Therefore, Chamber width, WC = 150mm Chamber Length, LC = 150mm Chamber Height, HC = 350mm As the minimum insulation thickness ranges from 21 to27mm (depending on the heating elements power rating) therefore, it will be necessary to have two layers of 25mm thick insulation around the chamber. So the outer body dimensions will be about: Width, W = 250mm Length, L = 200mm Height, H = 450mm The main body will almost certainly be made from mild steel due to its relatively low cost and robust, tough nature. The heating element will have to be either kanthal A1 or Nichrome most probably in wire form so that it may be easily routed into specially made grooves in the firebrick. With temperature ranges up to 1800C and relatively low cost kanthal A1 may be more suitable in this case. The time for the furnace to reach its required temperature will also be taken into account and the choice of heating element (power rating, shape and material) will be based on the time it takes to heat the chamber to a stable working temperature and the thickness of insulation required to work at such energy inputs. Also whether or not the heating element can be fitted into the insulation material will be a factor. Temperature measurement and control device will most probably be a standard high temperature thermocouple. There are many different types, shapes and sizes but most are relatively cheap and affordable regarding the project budget. The thermocouple will give the give the reading and control the temperature in the chamber (keeping it at a constant working temperature) by clicking the relay on and off when necessary. The furnace body will have to be made from a hard, tough and relatively thick material. This is why I think that mild steel sheets should be purchased and formed to the desired shape. Processes such as bending and cutting can be undertaken at the mechanical engineering workshop at AUT. Mild steel plates/sheets prices per quantity + list of possible materials, choose most suitable. An idea that I have deemed suitable for the furnace is that a simple solid, robust steel filing cabinet could be converted into a furnace body. Simple tools and workshop resources available at AUT can be used to machine the necessary features to make it work as a muffle furnace. This could potentially save a great deal of investment that could be used in other areas where it is needed more (concerning the project). The strain measuring device will have to be one that works efficiently under the high temperatures experienced with muffle furnaces. I have narrowed it down to either a high temperature extensometer or an LVDT. The most suitable device is the high temperature extensometer as they are specifically suited to such elevated temperatures and give an extremely accurate strain/displacement measurement beyond ASTM standards. They can also be attached easily to standard creep testing furnaces. However, a strain measuring device is an optional extra as the specimen displacement can be accurately measured after the specimen ruptures and simple calculations can be used to determine the strain experienced. A strain measuring device would be for convenience purposes only. List of strain measuring devices, filter to high temp use devices, then the only suitable model + prices and deem if actually suitable. Speak with Wassim. Extensometer or LVDT. Resources Introduction to Engineering Design, Andrew Samuel and John Weir Manufacturing Engineering and Technology, Serope Kalpakjian Heat and Mass Transfer a practical approach, Yunus A Cengel Thermodynamics an Engineering approach, Cengel and Boles Materials Science and Engineering an Introduction, William D Callister Jr http://www.atspa.com/3110_r2.pdf http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttextpid=S1516-14392005000400008 http://www.mts.com/ucm/groups/public/documents/library/dev_003704.pdf http://www.zwick.de/en/products/static-materials-testing-machines/creep-test-machines.html http://www.epsilontech.com/3448.htm http://www.ariindustries.com/thermocouples/high_temperature_thermocouples.php3

what Does it Mean to be a Good Person?

what Does it Mean to be a Good Person? Everyday across the world we are being told to be a good person, but what does that really mean? Is a good person in America the same as a good person in communist North Korea? I say yes; a good person is unlike the good citizen whose virtue is relevant to the regime in which they live; the good person is a good person no matter the regime while the good citizen is only representative of that which the state deems best. The good man can be good anywhere because he follows virtue, and finds happiness in that virtue. To illustrate this point I will first define the good man then the bad regime, and finally how a good man fits into the bad regime. The Good Man Socrates, while under trial, explained his definition of a good person in refutation of the charge that he was ashamed of pursuing a dangerous occupation that had the possibility of death. He responded You are wrong, sir, if you think that a man who is any good at all should take into account the risk of life or death; he should look to this only in his actions, whether what he does is right or wrong, whether he is acting like a good or a bad man  [1]  Here we have a very cut and dry explanation of the good man, he who does not concern himself with petty personal wants but only whether his actions are good and just. Aristotle sets out a clear boundary between what he considers a good man and a good citizen. For Aristotle the good man is the man that acts and lives virtuously and derives happiness from that virtue. And the good citizen acts to the best virtue of the state and each of these things are quite separate, The good citizen need not of necessity possess the virtue which makes a good man  [2]  The separation is clearly evident, the fact that what makes a good citizen does not qualify someone to be a good person. So being a good person does not mean you have to by association be a good citizen they are two distinctly different states, it is only in the best of regimes that the good person is also the good citizen. The nature of political rule is that rule of those similar in stock and free  [3]  As Aristotle argues if the virtue of a citizen is the capacity to rule and be ruled in turn, then the virtue of the good man is also to have this capacity in the best of regimes. The good in any animal or plant is the same as it is for humans: that to be and act in harmony with the virtue of that species. In a way this is a human participating in that which is most human, to act in harmony with rationality and virtue. The good in acting with the virtue of a human is the perfection of that which can only be described rationally such things as love and justice. To act unto these things is to act with virtue but there also stands limits to everything. To act with too great or too little emphasis in any act is to disrupt balance and pulls the good man from his path of virtue, too much love is obsession, too little disdain either extreme is undesirable to the good man. The good man lives by the Golden Mean that which is not too in excess in either direction. To bring together the definition of a good man, Socrates says he is a man who always considers his actions and acts in a good and just manner. Aristotle says a good man acts unto virtue and derives his happiness and pleasure from that virtue. So we have a man who is prudent, virtuous, and just. This man must now fit into a corrupt regime, a regime that does not follow all those things which make him a good man. The Bad Regime There were six different categories in which all regimes were placed as defined by both Socrates and Aristotle, those of tyranny, monarchy, oligarchy, aristocracy, democracy and polity. Of these regimes tyranny, oligarchy and democracy were all negative and corrupt regimes because the governing body whether it be a single person, small group or the many respectively only were ruling in their own interests and not to the benefit of all. In the good regimes it is those same forms of governing bodies yet they govern in the interest of the state as a whole. Of the bad regimes Aristotle had declared that tyranny was the most undesirable state as the citizens were reduced to nothing more than slaves. In a tyrannical government the governed are not looked after but only used to further the goals of the leader. The next two are defined in a similar manner men ruling by reason of their wealth, whether they be few or many,  [4]  for an oligarchy and defining a democracy as where the poor rule.  [5]  To Aristotle an oligarchy was a twisted degradation of the good regime aristocracy, in the oligarchy it is not that few men govern it is that it is the wealthy class that rules creating a state in which all power resides in the upper class. .

Makeup for Performers :: Drama

Makeup for Performers --------------------- Aging with Grease Makeup. There are a lot of makeup's you can use to produce an aging affect, but I decided to use grease. The grease makeup I used was a skin tone palate by Kryolan. Before doing any makeup techniques I studied the shape and size of my bone structure and my facial features, this is so I knew where to shade and highlight. To create the aging affect I practiced shading and highlighting both on my hand and my face, to do this I used a small-medium sized brush. After a number of sessions practicing the highlighting and shading, on the 18th of February I applied the makeup to be photographed and assessed. Before applying the makeup I cleansed my face with a light cleanser by No7 for normal skin. I then applied a toner, also by No7 for normal skin, and then finally applied a moisturizer from The Body Shop for normal to greasy skin. I left the moisturizer on my skin for 10 minutes to make sure there won't be any staining on the skin from the makeup. I applied the base makeup to the face and the neck; I applied it to the neck as it is an important part of the aging process. The colour I used for my base makeup was 5w in the Kryolan skin tone palate, and I used a laytex sponge to apply. I then started by put my shading lines on to my face, using a mix of shades, 7w and 9w. I started by making some bags and darkened areas around the eyes; I did this by drawing a thin line under the eye then, with a clean brush, dragging the excess makeup up towards the eye darkening the area. To make areas look puffy, I highlighted around the shading areas to make the shaded area look more indented. To do this I used the shade 2w from my palate. The neck is an important part in the aging process especially when the character is warring a low neck top. To draw in the ham-strings I put my head down and turned it to the side so the ham-strings stuck out. I then drew in my lines, shading the lines and then highlighting the part in between the lines so the shaded area looked indented. If the character is warring a low cut top, then you will have to carry the lines down to the top of the shoulder bone, also shading the salt cellars at the base of the throat. To make the eye brows look messy and unplucked, I used an eye pencil Makeup for Performers :: Drama Makeup for Performers --------------------- Aging with Grease Makeup. There are a lot of makeup's you can use to produce an aging affect, but I decided to use grease. The grease makeup I used was a skin tone palate by Kryolan. Before doing any makeup techniques I studied the shape and size of my bone structure and my facial features, this is so I knew where to shade and highlight. To create the aging affect I practiced shading and highlighting both on my hand and my face, to do this I used a small-medium sized brush. After a number of sessions practicing the highlighting and shading, on the 18th of February I applied the makeup to be photographed and assessed. Before applying the makeup I cleansed my face with a light cleanser by No7 for normal skin. I then applied a toner, also by No7 for normal skin, and then finally applied a moisturizer from The Body Shop for normal to greasy skin. I left the moisturizer on my skin for 10 minutes to make sure there won't be any staining on the skin from the makeup. I applied the base makeup to the face and the neck; I applied it to the neck as it is an important part of the aging process. The colour I used for my base makeup was 5w in the Kryolan skin tone palate, and I used a laytex sponge to apply. I then started by put my shading lines on to my face, using a mix of shades, 7w and 9w. I started by making some bags and darkened areas around the eyes; I did this by drawing a thin line under the eye then, with a clean brush, dragging the excess makeup up towards the eye darkening the area. To make areas look puffy, I highlighted around the shading areas to make the shaded area look more indented. To do this I used the shade 2w from my palate. The neck is an important part in the aging process especially when the character is warring a low neck top. To draw in the ham-strings I put my head down and turned it to the side so the ham-strings stuck out. I then drew in my lines, shading the lines and then highlighting the part in between the lines so the shaded area looked indented. If the character is warring a low cut top, then you will have to carry the lines down to the top of the shoulder bone, also shading the salt cellars at the base of the throat. To make the eye brows look messy and unplucked, I used an eye pencil

The Threatening of Australias Marsupials :: Endangered Species Animals Nature Essays

The Threatening of Australia's Marsupials About fifty percent of all mammal species worldwide to have become extinct in the last 200 years have been from Australia, giving Australia the worst record for mammal conservation of any country or continent. Of a total 245 mammalian species, 59 are listed as extinct, threatened, or vulnerable (Short 1994). Most of these extinctions and declines come from two taxonomic groups--the rodents and the marsupials. Because marsupials are so abundant and diverse in Australia, I decided to research the endangerment and conservation efforts regarding marsupial species. Sixty percent of the extinct, endangered, and vulnerable Australian fauna are indeed marsupials; table 1 on the next page lists Australia's threatened marsupial species. Endangered is defined as a species in danger of extinction whose survival is unlikely if certain threats continue operating, vulnerable species are believed likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if threats continue, and to be considered extinct the species has definitely not been located in the wild during the last 50 years (ANPWS 1991). Extinctions and declines have not uniformly affected marsupial species. Terrestrial, medium-sized marsupials in the weight range of 35.0 g to 5.5 kg have proven to be more vulnerable, and omnivores and herbivores have declined to a greater extent than carnivores. Arboreal species such as possums and gliders and species that use rock piles for shelter have been less affected. Most problems with extinction and endangerment occur in the southern arid zone and the wheat belt of Western Australia; while the tropical north of Australia, the mesic northeast and coast of New South Wales, Tasmania, and numerous offshore islands have remained relatively unaffected by local extinctions (Short 1994). The problems Seven main hypotheses have been put forward to explain why species have declined and/or disappeared from various parts of Australia, and they include: 1) clearing for agriculture, 2) draining and salination of wetlands, 3) grazing and browsing by introduce animals, 4) changed fire regimes, 5) introduced predators, 6) disease, and 7) overkill by hunters (Kennedy 1992). By studying the history of threatened fauna and patterns of decline, experts have come to the conclusion that some of these hypotheses can be dismissed as not being a primary cause of declining populations. For instance, there is no direct evidence that disease has led to any mammal extinctions, though epidemics have been blamed for the decline of carnivorous marsupials in southeastern Australia and Tasmania at the turn of the century.

Psychological Principles of Advertising: Perception in Advertising Ess

Psychological Principles of Advertising: Perception in Advertising Have you ever seen a commercial or an ad and been instantaneously motivated to go out and purchase that product or service that is being advertised? Ever wondered why? I’m sure it’s crossed over a few minds! There is in fact an explanation for the reasoning behind what it is in advertisements that consumers find appealing. Kenny & Associates highly trained analysts give one explanation. They have conducted research in consumer psychology and have come up with â€Å"the right brain analysis†. It explains the â€Å"why† aspect behind consumer decisions and behaviours. First and foremost, we must distinguish the right brain from the left- brain. The right side of the brain is responsible for emotions, creativity, motivation and long-term memory. The advertising stimulus acts on emotions and barriers that drive consumer decisions and behaviour. The left side of the brain is responsible for logic, language and reasoning for behaviour and decision- making and â€Å"[balances] to control and explain actions that begin in the right brain†. (Kenny & Associates, 2000, â€Å"para.† 2) This in fact led them to develop â€Å"The Right Brain Approach†People see a commercial for a product and ration the idea of buying that product through logic and reasoning done by the left brain. However, it is what goes beyond consumer rationalization that makes the basis for strategic direction and decision-making. It is the emotion that makes the decision not the rationalization. For example, someone going to buy a car would go to a Ford dealership first because one finds it to be attractive, reliable and honest. It’s all in the advertisement!! On the other hand, you co... ...4). How big is a chunk? Science, 183, 482-488.  · Webb, P.H., & Ray, M.L. (1979). Effects of TV clutter. Journal of Advertising Research, 19(3), 7-12.  · Kenny & Associates. (1998) The Right Brain Approach. Retrieved March 17, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.rightbrainpeople.com/links/the_right_brain_approach.html  · Kenny & Associates. (1998). The Right Brain. Retrieved March 17, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.rightbrainpeople.com/brains/right_brain.html  · Kenny & Associates. (1998). The Left Brain. Retrieved March 17, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.rightbrainpeople.com/brains/left_brain.html  · Retrieved March 26, 2001 from the World Wide Web: (http://www.crest.com/).  · Retrieved March 26, 2001 from the World Wide Web: (http://www.ford.com)  · Retrieved March 26, 2001 from the World Wide Web: (http://www.absolutad.com)

Sales and Iventory

Online Sales and Inventory System For Marikina Shoe Exchange An Undergraduate Research Proposal Presented to The Computer Studies Department College of Science De La Salle University – Dasmarinas In Partial Fulfillement of the Requirement for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Inah Denise A. Almera John Florence M. Delimos Patrick P. Lozano September 2010 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1. Background of the Study All things changes as the world progress on time. Man starts to fulfill their work from scratch and as generations have pass, man uses alternative to lessen the aggrevation of work One of these alternatives is technology which is evident in the enormous society. At present time, business establishments wants to seek the use of technology as a tool in incrementing sales and productivity. One of these companies is the Marikina Shoe Exchange. Marikina Shoe Exchange (MSE) is a group of companies selling footwear, apparel, body care, and household products. Most products sold by the company is Philippine made. This company is a family-owned Filipino corporation, owned by the Jardiolin family. MSE engages in direct selling. Natasha, Confetti, Xxtra, Vivacci, Gabrio Franco, and Shoe Studio are its sister companies. MSE’s history shows that it is deeply rooted on it’s sister companies timeline. 1984 marks the opening of the Confetti (named after the events of the EDSA revolution where confetti rains throughout the streets) Greenbelt branch and soon it blossoms around 1987 to 1990 where there is a notable rapid expansion of the said company. One of the company’s peak happens when they open another branch at the SM Megamall during 1989. In 1990, Natasha starts as a retail operation in Robinsons Galleria. Following that year till 1993 engraves the start of the Natasha Department Store outlets in Cinderella stores as well as in Landmark. In April 18, 1994, the group of companies launch its direct-selling marketing plan which is later revised from 1996 to 1997 to a new edge plan which is still used till present. The opening of the first MSE branch which is in Tutuban happens on September 1999. At present, MSE has thirteen branches which includes Tutuban, Dagupan, Alabang, Cubao, Davao, Cebu, Taft Avenue, Bacolod, Isabela, Cagayan de Oro, Starmall Mandaluyong, Pampangga and Imus, which is the location of our study. Although MSE has no mission and vision , it believes that they owe its success most of all to its adherence to its core values, namely customer service, discipline, constant improvement, respect for each other and honesty. MSE is still using its manual system on their transactions that cannot provide the securing and recording of daily transactions, the ability to provide an organized sales reports and the ability to keep track of the inventory, which would be somehow lessen the workload and the ability to keep track of the inventory, which would be somehow lessen the workload of the workers. And because of these problems manual system is very difficult to address. This study aims to dispell these problems by applying modern paradigm and methodologies to solve it and relate these systems synchronously. 2. Statement of the Research Problem MSE being a direct selling company encounters several problems. These problems are: Low Security of Files. There are chances of possibly loosing to data due to absence of citing the access levels in viewing and modifying data. Almost all elements are manually encoded including resultant values from computations. Unable to Monitor Products Thorougly. There are present ncertainties in the system such as assesing the supply if it exceed or is lower number of stocks. Without overseeing the quantity, updating the stocks from the supplier will have a delay which will eventually might run out and could lead to out of stock or phase out. Lackadaisical Report Generation. With the existing system, report generation is manual, resulting in unreliab ility or uncertainties in the reports. Reports needed to other succeeding documentations will have a pending state till the reports are finished eventhough there are chances that is overdue in the required time. 1. 3 Statement of Objectives . 3. 1 General Objectives To develop an Online Sales and Inventory System for Marikina Shoe Exchange. 1. 3. 2 Specific Objectives 1. To analyze and determine the problems and the factorsof the existing system through the use of data flow diagrams. 2. To gather every detail and information required to make the system. 3. To make a system that will catch the the attention and interest of the user. 4. To make meaningful functionalities and features which are user-friendly. 5. To train the users particularly the assigned personnel on how to use the system at ease. 6. To create a database that will store significant datas in online ordering and as well as the inventory. 4. Significance of the Study This study will provide some merits to certain group of individuals. Some who will benefit the study are: Company. By this study, the gap between the customers and the company be shorten, increasing the incoming orders as well as the company’s productivity over time. They can also promote their products everywhere and everytime. Employee. Employees will have lesser work in maintaining their inventory as all orders description and others details are stored in the database. They can easily monitor all incoming orders as well as their remaining stocks and can minimize the cost of receipt generation. Customer. Through this study, the customer will be ensured with convenience in ordering their desired products, as well as being updated to the latest releases of trends and the recent promos, can pay through the net and get their orders on their doorsteps. Proponents. The proponent can have a wider understanding about how does processes in a system cycle throughout the supplier-business-customer relationship. They can also gain knowledge on strategic decisions on how to handle problems encountered by the company and how to formulate the proper solutions. Future Researchers. The future researchers will have ample ideas on how to deal problems in their researches especially those who will have the same topic. Using this research as a guideline, it can aid them in documentations and how to interrelate each concepts to mend the milestones of each activity. 1. 5 Scope and Limitations of the Study Front End. The front-end part of the system is the website which will be seen or used by the customers. The proponents will create a user friendly Website for Marikina Shoe Exchange that will enable users to view and order products online. Through this site, customers will be able register, view products, and receive notifications regarding new promos, and order products online. The Website will be updated regularly to provide excellent customer service. Back End. To make the inventory process of the company easier, the proposed system will include a database system that will lessen the errors made by manual inventory checking. The employee will simply input the number of stocks at hand. If the quantity of a certain product is below the normal level of the number of stocks, the employee will be notified to ensure that they have a good amount of stocks for a certain product. The proposed system will also provide security; only authorized employees will be able to check the database to avoid the risk of other people accessing the inventory files. Maintenance. The proponents will provide a certain device that will serve as the back-up of the proposed system. The said system will also be easy to maintain; all required information is stored in one database. Delivery. Delivery rates will depend on how far the customer is located and will also depend on the total amount of the customers’ ordered products. Mode of Payment. Since the customers ordered online, payment will be made through credit card. Registered customers will be asked to provide a credit card line and number to be able to order products online. This mode of payment is guaranteed on its convenience. 6. Methodology of the Study [pic] One way to reduce cycle time is to use phased development. The system is designed so that it can be delivered in pieces, enabling the users to have some functionality while the rest is being developed. Thus, there are usually two systems functioning in parallel: the production system and the development system. The operational or production sytem is the one currently being used by the customer and user; the development system is the next version that is being prepared to replace the current production system. Often, we refer to the systems in terms of their release numbers: the developers build Release 1, test it, and turn it over the users as the first operational release. Then, as the users use Release 1, the developers are building Release 2. Thus, the developers are always working on Release n + 1 while Release n is operational. There are many ways for the developers to decide how to organize development into releases. The two most popular approaches are incremental development and iterative development. In incremental development, the system as specified in the requirements documents is partitioned into subsystems by functionality. The releases are defined by beginning with one small, functional subsystem and then adding functionality with each new release. However, iterative development delivers a full system at the very beginning and then changes the fuctionality of each subsystem with each new release.

Research Paper on Tax Incentives in Singapore

1. INTRODUCTION 1. Tax Incentives for Investments in Singapore Tax incentives have been an integral part of Singapore's economic development strategy since the 1960s. For more than 30 years, tax incentives have been used to attract investments and create jobs. Now we are the focal point for foreign investments, research and development and services in Asia. Over the years the government has introduced a wide range of tax incentives for a balanced economic growth of the various business sectors. This paper analyses how these incentives play a part in attracting foreign capital inflows to enhance the financial and industrial sectors in Singapore and their effectiveness in achieving our goals. 2. Purpose The purpose of this research is to gain an understanding of the tax incentives scene in Singapore, how it works and it effectiveness in achieving our aim of being a vibrant and robust global hub of knowledge-driven economy. 3. Our Research Questions for this Study As part of our research, the following questions were asked to direct us on our study: †¢ What are the tax incentives available under the ITA, EEIA and DTA to attract foreign capital inflows? †¢ How effective are these tax incentives? 4. Methodology We derived our information from books, online journals and other internet resources. 2. BACKGROUND 1. The Birth of the Income Tax Act, EEIA and DTA From a small fishing island to a cosmopolitan country within a span of 44 years is what Singapore has become today, with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe (Central Intelligence Agency, 2008)[1]. As a small island with limited, or rather, no resources to depend on, we have simply taken the world by surprise through the phenomenal economic growth that has taken place in a short period of time (Fordham, 1992)[2]. Our only resources are fish and deepwater sea and despite all the limitations that we were faced with, we have secured a place in the world map as the leading financial, educational, services, manufacturing and research and development hub. Then, â€Å"what is the clandestine of our achievements? † is the question that arises in all our minds. After being separated from Malaya, the government’s ambitious plans for the country to be industrially developed seemed too far-fetched especially with no natural resources to call its own (Fordham, 1992). It did not, however, relent to the fact that achieving its goals is uncertain now with its given economic state. Its leaders knew at that time Singapore needs to promote investment in new industries so that its goals can be achieved. Being under developed and with no achievements or resources to call its own, it was a palpable fact that Singapore had to make radical changes to attract foreign investors,. This is when tax incentives were spotted as a viable option to magnetize foreign capital inflows. The pre-existing Income Tax Act (1948) was evaluated to see how tax incentives could be integrated to accomplish these aspirations. Along with this, in 1967, the Economic Expansion Incentives Act (EEIA) was first introduced to solidify the expansion and development programs that were being carried out by the Economic Development Board (Fordham, 1992). In early 1960s, Singapore recognised the need for a dynamic manufacturing sector and export policies to draw MNCs so that we could be used as a production base to export goods worldwide. As a result of these aims, EEIA was introduced to grant tax benefits to manufacturing companies setting up production in pioneer areas in Singapore (Fordham, 1992). The development of international trade and multi national corporations has increased the issue of double taxation. As a company or individual looking beyond your own country for business opportunities and investments they would naturally be concerned with the problem of double taxation. Consequently they would seek to structure your operations at a minimum tax cost. This is where DTAs or tax treaties come into play 2. Incentives Available under ITA to Attract Foreign Capital Inflows Singapore has always been maintaining a competitive tax rate by being the lowest among the developed countries. Its purpose is to create an encouraging business environment for economic expansion (Tan, 1996). According to GuideMeSingapore, 2008, a web portal providing one-stop information on Singapore’s business environment to entrepreneurs, commented that â€Å"Singapore is often cited as the leading example of countries that continues to reduce corporate income tax rates and introduce various tax incentives to attract and keep global investments†. This is obvious in the frequent lowering of corporate tax rates since 1987. In 1989 the corporate income tax was reduced to 33 percent from 40 percent to follow the worldwide trend of lowering corporate taxes. The corporate tax rate was further lowered in 1990 to 31 percent to encourage multi-national companies (MNCs) to locate their treasury and financial operations here (Tan, 1996). From then on, corporate tax rate has been gradually decreasing. In 2004 corporate tax rate was reduced to 20 percent and with the release of the 2009 budget speech, corporate taxes will be cut to 17 percent in 2010. The aim of these reductions is to help businesses to curb operational costs so that Singapore can gain a competitive edge in continuing to attract high-tech and high value-added investments (Liu, 2007). From our research we found that there are several tax incentives in place to pull foreign investments to Singapore (IRAS, 2008) and we will be focusing on those that are relevant to our study. 1. DEDUCTION FOR EXPENSES ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (R) This incentive was introduced in 2003 to allow company to deduct a second round of qualifying expenses from its income in addition to the automatic first deduction allowed under section 14D. Further amendments[3] were made in 2008 to entitle companies for an automatic 50 percent tax allowance (PWC, 2008). This R allowance can be used to offset against the company’s chargeable income for the next 3 years (i. e. 2009 to 2013) to motivate companies to carry out more R projects. This is coupled with meeting our aim to be a research and development hub in the global arena (MOF, 2008). After the introduction of the tax incentive, total R expenditure increased from $3. 4 billion to $4. 6 billion in 2005 (Lai, 2007)[4]. Majority of the R spending was contributed by the private sector, whose gross expenditure on R (GERD) increased by 1. 2 percent. By the end of 2005, GERD was at 2. 4 percent of GDP. Singapore had surpassed the EU-15’s[5] and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) averages of 1. percent and 2. 3 percent respectively (Lai, 2007). The increase in figures shows the effectiveness of the tax incentive program. According to the report, this figure is still lower compared to U. S (2. 7 percent) and Japan (3. 0 percent). Considering the fact that these countries are bigger in land and population size, our achievement is still commendable. 2. CONCESSIONARY RATE OF TAX FOR APPROVED HEADQUARTERS PROGRAM The purpose Headquarters Program was to encourage multinationals to base their main back offices in Singapore. This was to be achieved through reduced tax rate which is applied primarily to large-scale multinational corporations that relocate the management and headquarters functions of their subsidiaries and affiliates from other countries to Singapore. Section 43E of Income Tax Act provides that companies with their substantial operations located here can qualify for a 10 percent concessionary rate of tax (IRAS, 2008). This tax incentive has pulled and is continuing to pull foreign venture capitalists who provide the foreign capital infows. One such company is Societe Generale who received the OHQ award in January 2000. Besides this, Legg Mason Asset Management, Deutsche Asset Management, Merrill Lynch Mercury Asset Management and Zurich Scudder Investments are a few that were named in the MAS publication on New Initiatives for Enhancing Financial Sector Expertise, 2001. The motive for large-scale multinationals to relocate in Singapore is not only because of our highly advanced infrastructure, telecommunication and information facilities. It is also due to the support and encouragement that our government has been continuously offering through such tax incentives. 3. CONCESSIONARY RATE OF TAX FOR FINANCE AND TREASURY CENTRE (FTC) Foreign and Treasury Centre was introduced with the aim to entice foreign corporations to use Singapore as a base for conducting treasury management activities for related companies in the region. Under this scheme, foreign companies can enjoy a 10 percent concessionary tax rate from fee income from FTC subsidiaries, related companies and associates for provision of FTC services. According to Mr. Lee Chuan Teck, Executive Director for Financial Markets Strategy in MAS, by 2006 a total of 600 companies had chosen Singapore as their focal point to operate their financial services (MAS, 2006). According to the Survey on Corporate Risk Management Practices, 75 percent of the foreign MNCs cited EDB’s incentives as a reason for relocating their treasury centres in Singapore (Craig, 1997). This tells us the success of this incentive. 4. CONCESSIONARY RATE OF TAX FOR FINANCIAL SECTOR INCENTIVES (FSI) The FSI scheme offers a concessionary tax rate of 5% for qualifying high growth and high value-added activities and 10% for mature but tax-sensitive activities. The FSI is a measure designed to invite the front and back offices of multinational financial groups to Singapore so as to meet our overall goal to be a leading centre for competence in knowledge-driven activities and a choice location for company headquarters with responsibilities for product and capability charters (Geeta, 2002). Singapore’s vision is to be a pre-eminent financial centre in Asia. Technopreneurship 21 is the initiative that the government launched to achieve this goal. FSI plays a key role in attracting foreign multinationals to start-up their financial services in Singapore so that its dream of becoming a financial hub in the international arena can materialize. How far have been successful in this attempt is the question that we should be asking. As at 2005, 24 foreign full service licensees, 35 wholesale licensees and 46 offshore licensees operated in Singapore. Statistics provided by EDB (Embassy, 2006) for 2005 shows that foreign financial institution J. P Morgan Securities Asia, U. S. based MNC, had assets totalling up to US$14. 5 billion in Singapore. Singapore Department of Statistics reported that the financial and insurance services sector had generated US$49,223 of Foreign Direct Investments in 2003. That is 34 percent of the total FDI for that year (Embassy, 2006). 5. APPROVED GLOBAL TRADING COMPANY Global Trading Company was launched to facilitate and develop international trading activities. The GTP is a merger of the Approved Oil Trader (AOT) and the Approved International Trader (AIT) programmes. The programme encourages global trading companies to use Singapore as their regional or global base to conduct activities along the total trade value-add chain from procurement to distribution, in order to expand into the region and beyond (IEsingapore, 2009). Over the years, the programme has attracted a vibrant cluster of global trading companies to hub their strategic business functions in Singapore. These companies are key players in their respective industries such as oil trading, petrochemicals, agri-commodities and metals (IEsingapore, 2009). Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Lim Hng Kiang announced in his speech during the Global Trader Networking Cocktail 2008 that in 2007, offshore trade by companies under IE Singapore’s Global Trader Programme, GTP, grew more than 30% to reach over US$465 billion. These companies employed over 7,000 staff and contributed S$7. 8 billion worth of total business spending. Much of the spending was in shipping, freight management and storage services, lending further testimony to Singapore’s strengths as a logistics and auxiliary services hub. From a modest start of 25 companies in 1989, there are currently more than 230 companies under the GTP (MTI, 2008) . 3. Incentives Available under EEIA Tax incentives available under EEIA are discussed below (IRAS, 2008). 1. PIONEER INDUSTRIES INCENTIVES The first aim of Pioneer Industries was to attract capital from both local and foreign companies who invest in new industries in Singapore. This incentive was introduced to draw investment in innovative areas to enhance Singapore’s industrial development (Fordham, 1992). Companies which qualified for PI were given a full tax exemption on qualifying profits for a period of time ranging from 5 years to 15 years. Implementation of this incentive saw a surge in the number of manufacturing industries that were set up here. By 1997, petroleum industries and electronics industries were dominating the Pioneer Manufacturing Establishments. MNCs like Exxon, Shell Sumitomo, Seagate, Hewlett-Packard and Compaq were already located here then contributing a total of S$117,104 million of foreign equity investment in Singapore (H H, 1997). As at 2004, the qualifying activities include services such as medical, publishing, education, automated warehousing facilities, exhibition and conference, financial, venture capital fund activity and so on (H H, 1997). 2. DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION INCENTIVE (DEI) This incentive is granted mainly to manufacturing and service industries that are engaged in capital investment to upgrade or modernize production capacity. The purpose of this incentive is to encourage greater growth and attract more companies to move into higher value-added activities. Under this scheme, eligible companies are entitled to preferential corporate tax rates for qualifying profits above a pre-determined base for a specific period (SPRING Singapore, 2008). According to the statistics collated by Ministry for Trade and Industry, the total investment by foreign companies in Singapore in development projects increased from$6,608 in 1997 to $17,187 in 2007. 3. OVERSEAS ENTERPRISE INCENTIVE (OEI) OEI was put in place to encourage local businesses to invest in a venture company, technology investment company or overseas investment company. OEI provides tax exemption on the qualifying income. Overseas investment should result in new business opportunities, activities as well as new technology to be introduced in Singapore. For instance DBS Bank, Bakerzin and Charles and Keith are a few prominent local bred companies which have ventured overseas. DBS Bank, Singapore’s local bank, has ventured into countries like Thailand, Hong Kong, India, Japan, U. S and many more (IESingapore, 2008). Bakerzin has franchises in KL, Jakarta, Shanghai and US while Charles and Keith had ventured into the Middle East and Asia Pacific markets (IESingapore, 2008). . Effect of DTA in attracting foreign capital inflows According to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, we have 59 Double Taxation Agreements with various countries. These treaties were signed to relieve taxpayers from the burden of double taxation when they repatriate their earnings to their home country. These treaties aim to offer relief from double taxation, either by way of tax credit, tax exemption or a reduced tax rate. These reduced rates and exemptions vary among countries and specific items of income. Treaty provisions generally are reciprocal (apply to both treaty countries). Only Singapore tax residents and tax residents of the treaty country can enjoy the benefits of a DTA. Signing of these treaties has resulted in increased foreign investments from countries such as Europe, U. S. and Japan. In 1996 the total foreign investments was $125,274. The major investors then were Japan, Europe and U. S. In 2006 the investments rose to $363,935 and the major players are Japan, Europe, U. S, European Union and South and Central America and the Caribbean. 3. CONCLUSION Policies have been the driving force for a small nation like Singapore to achieve so much within a short period of time. With no natural resources, foreign capital inflows in the form of foreign direct investments has played major part in shaping our nation to what it is today. With less to offer, tax incentives are one of the key reasons that had attracted many foreign companies creating a pool of foreign capital inflows. Our research on the various tax incentives has showed us that, indeed, they were effective enough to attract foreign companies to locate here with their technology and know-how. The early years efforts to industrialize our economy paid off and that had enabled us to improve our air and seaport facilities, telecommunication, information technology, warehousing and logistics facilities. Tax incentives have been working in the background and today these are some of our achievements (www. sedb. govs. sg): Now as we move towards being knowledge based economy with technopreneurial goals, our tax incentives have been further enhanced through the R deductions and allowing more activities to be qualified under the Pioneer Industries. Thus in our opinion, the tax incentives offered under ITA, EEIA and DTA have been effective in attracting foreign capital inflows which have shaped our country thus far. BIBILIOGRAPHY Agency, C. I. (2008). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved March 28, 2009, from CIA: www. cia. gov Craig, F. (1997). Survey of Coporate Risk Management Practices 1997. Retrieved April 3, 2009, from Singapore Foreign Exchange Market Committee: http://www. sfemc. org/annual_report/Tansformation_AR_1997_-b. pdf D. J. (1996, December). Learning from Singapore: Road to Non-agonised Budgeting. Asian Journal of Public Administration . E. o. (2006, January). Singapore Investment Climate Report. Retrieved April 3, 2009, from http://singapore. usembassy. gov: http://singapore. usembassy. gov/uploads/images/HiMDAFJ23iuXGl0Th5mNsA/InvestClimate2006. pdf Fordham, M. (1992). Tax Incentives for Investment & Expansion (2 ed. ). Longman Singapore Publishers (Pte) Ltd. G. H. (2002). Singapore as an Investing Ground: A Review. Retrieved April 2009, from www. excelsol. com. sg: http://www. xcelsol. com/env/envsg. pdf GuideMeSingapore. (2008, April 14). Singapore Corporate Income Tax Guide. (GuideMeSingapore, Editor, & Janus Corporate Solutions 2006) Retrieved March 28, 2009, from GuideMeSingapore: http://www. guidemesingapore. com/corporate-taxation/c321-corporate-taxation-system-overview. htm H H, A. T. (1997, August 27). Official Efforts to Attract FDI: Case of Singapore's EDB. Retrieved April 4, 2009, from National University o f Singapore: http://www. fas. nus. edu. sg/ecs/pub/wp/previous/AHTAN2. pdf IEsingapore. (2009). Global Trader Program. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from IE Singapore: http://www. iesingapore. gov. sg/wps/portal/AssistanceProgrammes/FinancialIncentives/GTP IRAS. (2008, February 14). Applying for Tax Incentives. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore: http://www. iras. gov. sg/irasHome/page04. aspx? id=1746 L. D. (2007, March). Growth of Research and Development in Singapore: 2000 – 2005. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from Singapore Statistics Department: http://www. singstat. gov. sg/pubn/papers/economy/ssnmar07-pg1-7. df L. Y. (2007). Nanyang Technological University. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from ScienceDirect. com: http://www3. ntu. edu. sg/home/ayuliu/2007%20JPM%20LYH%20-%20Facing%20the%20challenge. pdf MAS. (2006). SPEECH ON REGIONAL TREASURY CENTRES IN SINGAPORE BY. Retrieved April 3, 2009, from Monetary Authority of Singapore: http://www. mas. gov. sg/news_room/statements/2006/Speech_on_Regional_Treasury_Centres_in_Singapore. html MOF. (2008). L iberalization of R&D Tax Deduction. Retrieved March 28, 2009, from Ministry of Finance: http://www. gpolitics. net/budget2008/annexb-2. pdf MTI. (2008, May 25). Global Trader Networking Cocktail 2008 Speech By Minister Lim Hng Kiang. Retrieved April 3, 2009, from Ministry for Trade and Industry: http://app. mti. gov. sg/default. asp? id=148&articleID=13861 PWC. (2008, November). IRAS issues a circular on research and development (R&D) tax measures . Retrieved April 2, 2009, from PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited: http://www. pwc. com/extweb/manissue. nsf/docid/6D2E3517BF8BE91DCA25753C00373526 T. T. (1996). Corporate Income Tax in Singapore: Issues and Future Directions. In M. G. Asher, & a. Tyabji (Eds. ), Fiscal System of Singapore (p. 196). Pagesetters Services Pte Ltd. ———————– [1] CIA – The World factbook – https://www. cia. gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sn. html. [2] Fordham, Margaret BA Durham â€Å"Tax Incentives for Investment and Expansion 2/E 1992 [3] Based on the IRAS circular, definition of R&D was amended to incorporate the requirements that the R&D study must be systematic, investigative and experimental. R&D project must involve novelty or technical risk and be undertaken with the object of acquiring new knowledge or using the results of the study for the production or improvement of materials, devices, products, produce or processes. The list of specifically excluded activities in the definition of R&D has also been expanded so that routine modifications, cosmetic modifications or stylistic changes, as well as the development of software that is not intended for sale, lease or license to third parties are excluded. However, an exception is introduced for research in the social sciences and humanities and for software development that is undertaken wholly or mainly to support a qualifying R&D project. In these cases, the expenditure can be included as part of the qualifying R&D project expenditure. More information is available at http://www. pwc. com/extweb/manissue. nsf/docid/6D2E3517BF8BE91DCA25753C00373526 [4] The National R&D Survey is attached as Annex 2 [5] The European Union-15 comprises Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.