Nursing and midwifery council Essay

Malnutrition can be defined as a serious condition that occurs when a person does not include the right amount of nutrients in their diet such as water, protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in their diet (NICE, 2012). This can lead to serious adverse circumstances where one can become malnourished. Kirch (2008) also stresses that malnutrition can also arise as a result of disease. The rational for the chosen topic ‘malnutrition in elderly patients, was based on being one of the largest contributors to elderly mortality in health care. In support Sinclain (2011) states that up to 15% of elderly in the community, 62% of hospitalised patients and 85% of nursing home residents suffer from malnutrition which is a strong independent predictor of mortality in elderly. Evidence based practice in nursing is finding solid research and applying them in nursing practices, in order to promote quality of care given to patient’s. Furthermore Baker (2013) states that it i s a process which involves the use of evaluation, research process, problem solving, assessment of care, decision making and requires the patients involvement. Evidence based practice is important in clinical settings having the potential to improve the of care patient, implemented to improve recovery. The nursing and midwifery council (NMC 2008) recommended that all nurses must have the ability to critique and use evidence based practice. Developing a framework for critiquing health research (Caldwell et al, 2005) will be used as an appraisal method to critique the 3 empirical research articles. This was chosen by the writer because the authors made it clear, straightforward, easy and precise to use in critiquing academic research papers, both qualitative and quantitative using tables, numbers, keywords subheadings, guidelines and relevant websites. It was also discussed that this assists the ‘novice’ nursing student and health-related research with learning about the two approaches to research by giving consideration to aspects of the research process that are common to both methodologies approach and different stages of crit iquing them. Boud et al (1985) articulate reflection as a act in which an individual examines their experiences, beliefs, values behaviour and knowledge that leads to a new understanding and appreciation of a situation which prompted the reflective process. Yun, (2008) emphasise reflection is an active and intentional process that uses thinking in order to learn from experience. We reflect in order to learn from current or future experiences  aiding us in improving academic skills in theory and in practical, the ethics of reflection contain information such as asking questions or reflecting on what actually happened, looking at the skills that were used to deal with the situation, examine the negative and positives looking into what feelings arose from the experiences, what could have be done and what can be done better in the future. As nurses we need to reflect on our own practice to enhance the care given to patients. Rolfe et al model (2001) Cycle has been chosen to support writer reflection and this was chosen because it is a simple model which raises the following questions what, so what and now what in order to reflect effectively and improve the quality of care given to patients stimulating both personal and professional growth. In nursing practice we need to plan and leave time in order to reflect on the care delivered to patients. Following this we need to reveal the service given has confidentiality, privacy and dignity and this is being maintained, check if the patient treated is being fairly and with respect, if the nurses communicate with the patients in ways they understand. All these collective questions need to be in place when caring for patients in order to support reflection and deliver a good standard of care. Elder, Evans and Nizette (2012) states reflection allows nurses to examine both thei r practice and the accompanying cognitions and effective meanings in relation to values, biases and knowledge and in relation to the context in which the situation occurred.

Policing Paper Essay

There are many different forms of technology used in policing in today society. This technology is very important when it comes to policing and being able to do their jobs proficiently. Some of the technology they use is database and information technology, computer-aid dispatch, records management systems, and mobile computing. All of these forms of technology play a vital role in policing. Without these forms of technology being available to police there could be a higher crime rate, a higher wait time between calls, more deaths or injuries, and so much more. The technology that is available is set in place to keep things running smoothly and ensure that calls get answered in a timely manner. With the technology that we are gaining in the policing field I believe that we have advanced so much and will continue to do so. Database technology is a database that has a large amount of information in it. This information includes names, dates, crimes that people have committed, violations, high crime rate areas, and so much more. This information is gathered from many different areas and stored in a database. They have all of this information in one place to make it easier to research people or areas of interest. This information is gathered from the department’s criminal history records system, the gang unit’s intelligence system, and the state’s department of motor vehicles. The computer-aid dispatch is a method that manages calls for service from the public. The computer-aid dispatch uses the computer to communicate with officers. They are able to receive information on a call and have it on the computer in front of them so they do not get confused or forget any information. The computer-aid dispatch sends the officer the information and location that is in need of services. It also prioritizes the needs of services so that the officer gets to the most important cases first. Another great thing about the computer-aid dispatch is that the officer needs to update their status on the computer after they are done at a call. If their status is not updated after a certain amount of time then the computer-aid dispatch automatically sends another officer out to check on the safety of the initial officer. This computer-aid dispatch is a great tool for policing agents to use. The records management system is used to input and organize information from different types of reports into one easy-to-use format. This program helps officers with the process of paperwork, but all the information is on the computer. It ensures that the officer does not forget to gather information because it has prompts for the officer to ensure they get all of the necessary information for the reports. The records management system allows officers to access all information such as crime r eports, field interview contacts, traffic citations, booking reports, criminal history reports, and investigation reports. All of this information is in one place so that the officer can find the information easier to make their job easier and more efficient. Mobile computing is the main source that officers input and receive their information for calls and to look up information. This is probably the most vital piece of technology. The officer uses their mobile computer to look up information and input information. It makes their jobs easier and the amount of information that is available to them is very helpful when out on calls. The mobile computers that the officers use have access to the computer-aid dispatch and the records management systems at any time or any place. This is a vital tool when policing and doing their job efficiently. There are many types of weapons used in policing. They are not all lethal weapons; some of them are less-than lethal. These weapons are used in today’s society to prevent the use of lethal weapons. The police will try to resolve the crime with these less-than lethal weapons before having to use lethal force, unless the situation calls for lethal force. These weapons include low-velocity rounds which are rubber bullets, wax bullets, or beanbags. These forms of low-velocity rounds are made to stun the criminal. It is not made to hurt them although sometimes this form of weapon does cause bruising or possibly a broken bone depending on the severity of impact. Another form of less-than lethal weapons is sedative darts. Sedative darts are weapons that use a winged hypodermic needle to deliver a potent dose of fast-acting sedatives into a suspect’s bloodstream. The effectiveness depends on the height and weight of the suspect. There is also a chemical weapon. These are things such as pepper spray, tear gas, and other exotic compounds. This form is less often used unless necessary because of the outcomes. This form can’t be contained once used. It also can leak to innocent bystanders. The last weapon is electroshock weapons. This is basically a Taser. A Taser is a weapon that sends 50,000 volts that run through small wires that are attached to needles that can penetrate a suspect up to 25 feet away. The voltage causes involuntary muscle spasms. The Taser has an overall good safety record but has also caused some serious injuries including death. These less-than lethal weapons are used more and more in today’s society. The police are trying to not have to be so lethal in their actions. There are other ways to contain a suspect rather than use lethal force. Officers are now trying these weapons first and if they do not work or the situation calls for more of a lethal weapon choice then they will resort to that. It is good that they have different options depending on the situation. There are many dangers that come with policing. It is not the safest job out there by far. Some of these dangers include but are not limited to accidents while patrolling, murders, homicides, domestic situations, or robberies. Police deal with criminals on a daily basis. It is hard to tell what these criminals and suspects are going to do. This makes the job very dangerous. The only way that police organizations can address the dangers is to ensure that they are properly trained and follow protocol when doing their jobs. There is extensive training associated with policing. Their safety from the dangers is one reason that the training is so extensive. References: Grant, H. B., & Terry, K. J. (2008). Law enforcement in the 21st century (2nd ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Ury, A. (2009, July 08). Everest. Retrieved from http://news.everest.edu/post/2009/07/police-have-non-lethal-weapons Walker, S., & Katz, C. M. (2011). The police in America: An introduction (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Small Business Program and Source Selection Plans Research Paper

Small Business Program and Source Selection Plans - Research Paper Example As a government Contracting Officer, the programs are qualified for small business through a particular criteria and size standard. This program is not dominant on its operational fields although there are various influences on the national business activities also some business interest primarily engaged in small business (Byrd and Megginson, 2013). This perspective determines the dominance of the projects in consideration to the market volumes and the number of employees and achieved since the business contractors have the ownership of control material and the nature of the business activities. The Small Business Program today has grown significantly, due to the history since the foundation of the program. For example, in the year 1958, The Investment Company Act developed Small Business Investment Company program that regulated and assisted in providing funds for privately own businesses and for the operated venture capital investment firms. Additionally, the program also speciali zed in providing long-term debts and equity investment to small businesses. Thereafter, the Small business Act was used to develop the Equal Opportunity Loan Program that lessened credit and collateral requirement for applicants for the poor people in order to encourage new innovative small businesses that had been unable to attract financial support. Presently, the programs have extended its support to small businesses in management assistance, government contract procurement backing, and a specialized reach to the women and other minority groups (Hillstrom, & Hillstrom, 2002). Evaluate the small business set-aside program concerning the eligibility to participate Primarily, the program provides support to small businesses so the requirements for eligibility are mostly based on the aspects of the business, most importantly; they are based on what the business does to acquire their income, where the business operates, and lastly the character of its ownership. However, there are som e universal requirements that the program needs to be eligible for assistance. First, the business should be a small in America as prescribed by the SBA and should be operating for profits, as a result, it should have reasonable invested equity. Secondly, the business should have the capability of demonstrating that they need the support, and present a reasonable business purpose. Thirdly, the business should not have any existing debt to the American government; also use other alternatives such as personal assets before seeking assistance from the program (Byrd and Megginson, 2013). The small businesses programs focus on eligibility of businesses to participate, and the encouragement of small domestic business to join in national research that has commercialization potential. Since the program is competitive, the program ensures that individuals in small businesses have the ability to participate in different possible activities, and this provides enticement of profits from commerc ialization. These Small business programs are diverse and target different succeeding innovative businesses, for example in technology sector. However, the risk and expense of conducting the product results are usually beyond the means of various small businesses (Swift & Booker, 2003). Through reservation of several factors of federal funds and government contrac

Why do students from ASEAN countries choose Turkish universities Thesis Proposal

Why do students from ASEAN countries choose Turkish universities - Thesis Proposal Example This essay discusses that most of the students in the ASEAN nations would prefer to study in countries that are hailed as being the most appropriate for the purpose of changing the way students approach learning (Deterding and Kirkpatrick, 399). However, there are barriers such as the cost of learning in Western institutions that discourage them from applying to foreign institutions in Europe and America (Ozbilgin and Healy, 370). In addition, the recession that was experienced in places like the United States and Europe means that there will be fewer job opportunities after completing degrees (Kelecioğlu, 66). This is the right mix for the guardians of students in many ASEAN nations who wish for their children to benefit from an excellent institution in a culturally appropriate setting (Brinkerhoff, 28). In addition, Turkey has amenities that support cultural separations of gender, which are supported by communities in many ASEAN nations (Vekiri and Chronaki, 1397). Turkish stude nts are usually also quite successful in the global job market (Şahin, 98). This serves as a testimony to the scholastic rigor that characterizes Turkish universities (Akpinar and Bayramoğlu, 54). It is also a well known fact that the aging of the American and European populations, along with the continued globalization of the world’s finance, as well as business sectors is likely to result in an increase in demand of students from recognized institutions such as exist in Turkey (Dagli, Silman, and Birol, 1289).

Trends in Health Information Systems and Applications Essay

Trends in Health Information Systems and Applications - Essay Example Overview – today's medical professionals work in an increasingly hurried environment; it is important to them they can access the right information at the right time when it is needed. The main problems identified in a medical practice which bother a lot are delays in obtaining patient information, misplaced laboratory test results, delays in updating of medical records and a host of other valid concerns such as incorrect vital physical details of a patient. Problem - the problem is really a question of properly managing the flow of information from those who obtained those records to giving the same information to those who need it the most – the medical practitioners. Present information systems used by hospitals, clinics and other medical institutions are often overwhelmed by a deluge of data. If not properly managed through the right information technologies, there is always the danger of mistakes being committed with a possibility of being sued for medical malpract ice. The identified need is to use technology that can provide the information in a proximate manner in terms of both time and space.

Inventory Management for EMC Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Inventory Management for EMC - Research Paper Example Figure 1 indicates that most of the goods are work-in-progress. At the beginning of the year work-in-progress (WIP) represented approximately 39% of the goods in stock, finished goods 25, raw materials 21% and purchased parts 15%. At the end of the period they represent 36%, 28%, 19% and 17% respectively. According to Wong (2006) the first step in determining an inventory situation can be facilitated through the use of ABC analysis. This analysis determines the importance of items and the level of controls placed on them. Using the relative proportions of cost of goods sold for the company’s product line the relative proportions of the different inventory types are shown in Table 1 below. The actual raw material and purchased parts that are used to make the different products in each product line has not been identified but it shows that 37.48% are decorative hardware, 27.25% construction hardware, 25.85% Cabinet Hardware and 9.42% Fasteners. In order to improve the inventory situation at EMC the company should first apply ABC analysis. ABC analysis places emphasis on the value of inventory (Wong n.d.). Focusing on inventory with the highest value can allow companies to assign the necessary resources to achieve the optimum inventory levels and in so doing reduce inventory cost while ensuring that customers needs are met (Wong n.d.). ABC analysis when applied to EMC’s inventory situation will help the company determine the importance of items and the level of controls that should be placed on them. The majority of EMC’s inventory relates to items used in the production of decorative and construction hardware. These could be described as the A items because they are of higher value while those used in the production of cabinet hardware would be the B items, and fasteners - C items. The A items (a combination of decorative and construction hardware

What is moral relativism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What is moral relativism - Essay Example As such, the former form denotes that morality differs from one individual to the other while the latter means that morality varies culturally. â€Å"Morality is relative, a matter of conventions relative to a particular society† as stated by Peter Cave (2009), a British professor in philosophy. This means that even though morality is conventional to a particular society, it is relative since not all societies have the same beliefs and practices towards a certain type of conventional truth. Hence, it can be inferred that morality is relative in a general sense. Some individuals perceive morality as relative at all times whether in the individual or cultural level. This entirely depends either on the individual self or on the norms of the society. Every individual has its own freewill that is why what is moral depends solely on his or her belief. However, morality in a society is conceptualized as a whole and so every part of that society considers one moral concept as good or bad but this belief may not hold true to other societies. A moral judgment is not absolute or universal â€Å"but is relative to the traditions or convictions of a group of persons† (Gowans, 2008). Hence, I do believe that all morals are

The Leader Affects the Outcome of an Ethical Situation Essay

The Leader Affects the Outcome of an Ethical Situation - Essay Example The health provider and any other concerned person must respect any decision by the patient. The case of Eduardo Rosas Cruz, a 25-year-old tuberculosis patient, is an example of a patient that refused treatment, according to the principle of autonomy. The man who is from the northern California disappeared immediately he was diagnosed with tuberculosis (Fauria, 2014). He was arrested and taken to a medical center and kept under guard. The leader who is the health care provider influences the outcome by ordering the patient to remain in a hotel room under isolation. The patient violated the orders and escaped leading the health providers worried about the security of the uninfected. As a nurse leader, I would create a quarantine room in the hospital for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and offer quality services for those quarantined. The action will help the patient to feel comfortable and recover fast. I would also ensure that any other patient diagnosed with a similar disea se undergoes thorough counseling in the psychiatry department. American Nurses Association,. (2015). Short Definition s of Ethical Principles and Theories Familiar Words. What do they man. Retrieved 25 May 2015, from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/Resources/Ethics-Definitions.pdf Fauria, K. (2014). Arrest Warrant Issued For Santa Barbara TB Patient. The Washington Times. 26 May 2015, from

Statement of objectives for Public Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Statement of objectives for Public Policy - Essay Example anagement at Polytechnic Institute of New York University, I share The University of Arkansas’ thrust in participating in community service through planning and outreach programs. I am determined to assist in improving the capacity of public service in a dynamic urban society through furthering education and community engagement. With my master degree, I was credited with 3 Advanced Certificates in Management from the same university, to wit: Advanced Certificate in Information Management, Advanced Certificate in Telecommunication Management, and Advanced Certificate in Human Resource. Equipped with these academic achievements, I am prepared to undertake greater challenges in higher education. My ultimate goal is to be an instrument of change to my country once I completed the Public Policy PhD Program at the University of Arkansas. I believe it is one of the most prestigious institutions which can accord an interdisciplinary approach to the program. I am optimistic in learning various public policies and programs specifically in the area of leadership policy. I would like to be given the opportunity to share the theoretical and practical applications of public policy in Saudi Arabia, which unselfishly provided me with 100% scholarship through the King Abdullah Graduate Studies Scholarship Program. If accepted, I plan to spend part of my time developing greater insight into one of my primary research interests – exploring leadership roles through various applications in contemporary public organizations. For individuals who exemplify characteristics and behavior that demonstrate the concept of leadership in serving society, the most important consideration is to take accountability through an examination of policy design, policy leadership and applications of managerial skills in interorganizational environments. The potentials for research in these areas are vast and diverse and may assist organizations in adapting to changes in the global environment. The

Regression Analysis Models for Marketing Decision Making Essay

Regression Analysis Models for Marketing Decision Making - Essay Example Regression analysis is a statistical technique that determines linear relationships between two or more variables. Businesses mainly use regression as a causal inference and for predictions. The major regression models available are linear regression model, non-linear regression model, logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression. Simple regression models use only two variables to achieve a particular statistical result. Multiple linear regression is a regression that applies more than two variables. Logistic regression procedures in quantitative statistics will produce all predictions, residuals and influence statistics. Logistic regression also produces goodness-of-fit tests using sales and marketing data in the case where it has to make predictions for the marketing department. The goodness-of-fit tests are created at the individual case level, and this is regardless of methods of data insertion and whether or not the number of covariate patterns is lesser than the total number of instances in question. On the other hand, multinomial logistic regression procedure aggregates all cases internally to form subpopulations with identical covariate patterns for the predictors, residuals, and goodness-of-tests. Non-linear regression is a quantitative statistical method of finding a nonlinear model of the relationship between the dependent variable and a set of several independent variables. Current non-linear models can be used to estimate models with arbitrary relationships between dependent and independent variables. Iterative estimation is mostly used to achieve non-linear regression. Predicting future marketing trends is business is an essential requirement for the management if they have to beat the competition. This is because a lot of the data is available for use by business nowadays due to advancements in technology like the web that collects a lot of statistical data for analysis. The primary problem facing businesses is identifying the  optimal data analysis model to use in the analysis the quantitative data and getting valid information for predicting the future marketing trends.

Sample Research Paper Essay Example for Free

Sample Research Paper Essay The world is moving on. Everything has changed and will still continue to change. One of the major contributors of these changes is the unending discovery of new advances such as tools and information technologies worldwide, from conventional Information System (IS) to computer-based IS, even become web-based IS. These advancements have been widely absorbed to improve efficiency of the organization’s operation and effectiveness in providing service to its employees and customers for them to survive in the realm of business world. Organizations such as universities have increasingly adopted advanced technologies to automate their information systems. It includes tools that are used to create, retrieve, store, change and transmit information. Online services have been offered by universities to provide information and applications for various stakeholders such as students, parents, benefactors and school personnel in timely manner and with greater ease (Lee Kim, 2010). The Southern Leyte State University- San Juan spent considerable resources and efforts in applying computer-based information system in some transactions in school. The university has a computer-based system for accounting, enrolment and grading. Students, parents and benefactors ask for grades, schedule, statement of 2 account and other relevant information. Though the computerization automates the abovementioned processes but some of the students claimed that sometimes the releasing of requested information took hours or even days for some operations like retrieval of data since it is still done semi-automatically or manually. Aside from that, the university also collects a processing fee for grade inquiry. Truly, indeed, there is a call for improving student’s information system such as in students academic performance monitoring and billing system to satisfy the information needs of the clients. One of the responsibilities of the university is to inform the parents and/or sponsors about the academic performance of the students and it is usually done by sending grades through the post office. The problem is some of the parents and/or sponsors will not be able to receive the grades in timely manner or will never reach their hands. For any reason and maybe to facilitate decision making purposes, some of the parents and/or sponsors will personally visit the University Registrar to follow up the student’s performance. Undeniably, it is a burden to the parents to do such. That is why it is necessary for the university to find ways to aid the personnel in the Registrar’s Office in handling the student’s permanent record and to deliver accurate data pertinent to some clients. The academic performance of the university scholars has been also monitored by the school. The scholar’s grade is evaluated manually by the Guidance Counselor every semester if it still meets the qualification standards. Also, reports are to be generated for recognized private sponsors and for institutional purposes. During evaluation, the Guidance Counselor will require the scholars to submit their grades and so the students will also collect their grades from their instructors or at the registrar’s office. The thought of accessing data directly from the centralized database will speed up the evaluation process. The plus factor for university’s financial growth is how committed the sponsor an d the parents pay the fees of the students. But in the present situation, paying bills on time can never be realized for the university fails to issue statement of account to the students every after payment is made. As a result, parents or sponsors are not updated of their dues and no assurance that the students pay the fees religiously. Though the students are required to pay before midterm and final, the parents or sponsors have no idea how much are they going to pay for each term. As part of the university, it is the earnest desire of the researcher to contribute something to address the problems encountered by the clients of the university with regard to academic performance monitoring and generating of an updated statement of account. Since the problem concerns the delivery of information such as updated report of grades and billing statements to the parents and/or sponsor of the students in the university, the researcher found it helpful to have a Web-based Student Information System. The availability of Internet Service Providers such as Smart and Globe Broadband in Southern Leyte will make the designed system more accessible to the clients especially those students who are from other towns which constitute 66 percent of the total population at SLSU-San Juan. Aside from that, it will give the university personnel-in-charge in Grading, Scholarship, and Billing the capability to organize and present student information that suit the specific needs of the clients. Theoretical Background This study is based on the theory of Shelly et al (2005) which states that webbased systems are popular because they offer ease of access, cost effectiveness and worldwide connectivity, all of which are vital to companies that must compete in a global economy. Both personal and organizational processes influence a culture of innovation. In a culture of innovation, people will have a habit of constantly looking for ways to improve things (Denning, 2004). Continuous search for innovative ways has been made to cater the need of the people to access and share information resources worldwide. As what Newell and Turner (2006) said, Innovation means change: sometimes radical change and sometimes incremental change. This incremental change refers to the movement of change from traditional IS to computer-based IS and even now to the recent trend which is the web-based IS that runs through an internet technology. The explosive growth of the Internet is making available radical new means of communication that affect such diverse areas as business, entertainment and education. Network technology supports distributed systems and until today, the most popular system that is currently being used to make such systems possible is the World Wide Web and they even claim that this web technology is â€Å"fundamentally a new medium of human communications† (cited in Carstensen Vogelsang, 2001). True enough that in areas of education, Internet offers a medium that has the potential to be more responsive to students, to encourage greater participation in their own learning, and to give greater access to different sources of information than what traditional methods can offer (Brooks, 1997). The anchor theory is also supported by Young (1999) who argue that the Internet is the most cost-efficient medium for business-to-consumer dealings (cited in Voiculescu, 2005). Beller and Or (2003) also added that the decreasing costs of internet services, coupled with availability and convenience are likely to accelerate adoption of internet-based technologies. According to Shelly et al. (2005), Internet is a worldwide network that integrates many thousands of other networks, which in turn link millions of government, business, educational and personal users around the globe. Levine (2003) also added that internet technologies can reduce the time burden and provide easy-to-use and helpful information to the end user. These features of internet technology are vital to any organization for them to be globally competitive. Chae and Poole (cited in Brown Cooke, 2005) discussed that requirements and accountability have become more stringent and require better reporting for higher education. Additionally, mechanisms for evaluation and reporting have a growing role in university management. Traditionally, information sharing among university members has relied on a range of printed materials. Computer technology created opportunities on university campuses for sharing data and information among the staff and the students, and has been deployed since the late fifties (cited in Semiawan and Middleton, 1999). These information systems range from library systems, registration systems and financial systems, to campus-housing systems and other university service systems. Student Information System incurs such application software designed for educational establishments to manage student data. It is an application that keeps track of student records such as name, address, teacher, classes, grades and other pertinent information. Once the information is inputted into the database, it will provide the ability to quickly get information related to a particular student and print out their vital records (Freewareseek, 2009). As cited in Ngoma (2009), Barrett also encapsulates the essence of a student management information system (SMIS). He defines SMIS as â€Å"an integrated software package that maintains, supports, and provides inquiry, analysis, and communication tools that organize student accountability data into information to support the educational process†. From this so called student information system (SIS), the idea of developing a student information system specifically in academic performance monitoring and generating of statement of account for SLSU- San Juan was conceived. Student Information System development moved from mainframes to a network or workstation environment and the tools has also been changed from the traditional IS platforms to tools with support such as Gopher, World Wide Web and multimedia systems. Because of these developments, methods and procedures by which users obtain information are changing rapidly. Daily, hundreds of thousands of individuals use the Internet and Web browsers to obtain a much broader range of information than has previously been possible. According to Kitchens (cited in Brown Cooke, 2005), web-based student information systems have been widely adopted by institution to facilitate a range of operations such as grading, attendance, demographic data and reporting. Advantages of such a system is that information is accessible anywhere by using a standard internet browser; instructional management such as tracking student performance and monitoring progress can be handled through the online tool; teachers can define each assessment used in their courses and; the system makes individual student data available. A centralized web based system also enables educators to collect, analyze and communicate student information through desktop computers, however good databases also require data integrity so the information is consistent and valid. Many schools have online systems for managing classes, requesting financial aid, and performing other routine tasks. In these institutions, people can access school grades online once they enter the dashboard area where they manage other schoolrelated tasks, and the dashboard is accessed with a username and password. These types of systems can be very useful for parents who may want to keep a close watch on the progress of their children, and for students who want to keep an eye on their grades. The advantage of viewing school grades online is that it is usually possible to do so as soon as grades are received and posted. By viewing grades immediately, people dont have to wait for weeks while report cards are generated and mailed, which can relieve stress and tension. There may also be other reasons for wanting to see grades online, like wanting to check midterm grades to monitor progress in a class, or needing to know grades for the purpose of reporting them to colleges as quickly as possible. (Smith, 2008). Academic performance refers to how students deal with their studies and how they cope with or accomplish different tasks given to them by their teachers. The indicator of how well the students perform in the class is the student grades. Grade availability and immediate distribution through the use of SIS, which is called by Knievel (2001) as â€Å"full disclosure†, is of importance to concerned party mostly to the students and parents. Liao et al. (2007) asserts that SIS process within such technological sophistication does create precise knowledge edge, that such SIS application can be appealing to students and to the academic faculty as well as the parents. Student data acquired is usually used for effective decision making purposes. It is also an enduring belief in the academy that knowing one’s grade will change student’s negative behaviors or sustain positive ones (Knievel, 2001). Specifically, web-based student information systems have helped improve student records management, and school improvement plans. According to The Journal (2000), â€Å"Administrators no longer need to run from classroom to classroom or search from file to file to get the information they need, as the system (PowerSchool) provides instant access to all student records with a simple point and click†. SchoolWorks (2009) student information systems enable complete tracking and management of student data. The complete student information system includes student activities, daily attendance, period or classroom attendance, discipline, health and immunizations, grades, schedules, and more! SchoolWorks student information system manages your student data with a browser-based user interface. This allows platform independent student data entry. SchoolWorks student information system includes standard reports and allows custom report creation. The data structure is easily customized to match your state board of educations requirements for electronic submission of student data. At Westside Community Schools in Nebraska, Bird (2006) argues that there were significant improvements as a direct result of the adoption of the new SIS. â€Å"Since the implementation of the SIS, attendance at Westside is better than ever, discipline reports are down, and, instead of declining test scores that are common in schools with similar demographics, test scores are consistently above the national average and among the highest in the state of Nebraska. School administrators attribute this in good part to the SIS†. Bernhardt (2005) analyzed student demographic and perceptual data of elementary, middle, and high schools of Canyon View School District (an 8,000 student district) and concluded that fact-driven decision making can provide each district, each school, each class and each student with a reliable way to facilitate breakthrough performance and continuous education improvement. Her findings revealed that effective use of school data leads to more objective education-enhancement decisions. In North Carolina, a vast number of school teachers, administrators, leaders, parents, and students are using NCWISE to access and manage student data. NCWISE is described as a web-based, integrated, and secure tool for effectively managing student information and improving instruction in North Carolina schools. It was designed to provide teachers, principals, counselors, nurses, central office staff, and others with direct and immediate access to a full spectrum of data on a students entire career in the North Carolina school system. (Ngoma, 2009) As cited in Ngoma (2009), North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCPDI) report lists some of the features of NCWISE which include â€Å"the ability to move student transcripts immediately when a student transfers from one school to another; produce progress reports and report cards; share student grades and emergency information with appropriate school employees; and more quickly and accurately report student grades, attendance, and information used to support public school business processes†. The reason given for the adoption of NCWISE is that SIMS, which was the official public schools data collection source for more than 20 years and relied on antiquated technology. Let it be noted that NCWISE replaced SIMS. De La Salle University (DLSU), Manila created a My.LaSalle (MLS) university portal to extend efficient services to its clientele. Students can enroll online, thus, no more lining up at the Registrars Office. They can enroll anywhere within their scheduled period, in their preferred course and section, provided it is still open. Students can always view the actual enrollment count per course and section. Students can also inquire through the portal, information about course schedule, account balance, grades for the term, schedules of final exams and course card distribution. However, transactions could be denied due to unsettled accountabilities such as payables in the accounting or registrar’s offices, or library dues. These records will be reflected in a student’s personal account and they are updated as frequently as needed. On the other hand, faculty members can submit final grades and request for change of grade online even in the comforts of their own homes. (DLSU, 2010) University of the East, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc., Manila developed a UERM portal for their students and employees. The portal contains Faculty Portal and Student Portal. Faculty Portal is an exclusive gateway for UERM faculty members for online information, faculty evaluation, faculty load, uploading lectures, quizzes and other materials for dissemination to their classes. It also provides access to profound discussions among faculty about lesson and other topics for the creation of knowledge. The Student Portal is for online student information, lectures, discussions, resources and other services exclusive to UERM students. It aims to enhance and extend the students learning experience through information technology beyond the bound of the classroom. (UERMMMC, 2010) The University of Baguio (UB) E-Reservation System is an extended feature of the UB enrollment System wherein transactions are done via the internet. The student is allowed to reserve schedules and be evaluated by the college dean. Grades are available for viewing online using UB-Online Information Service. Final grades for a given term may be viewed in a Final Grade Report or in an Unofficial Academic Transcript (UB, 2010). All business transactions revolve around one thing- payments. Many ecommerce websites integrate all the possible payment gateway modes for customers choice so that payments never get delayed. Through technologies the organization business operations have become easier and fast. Billing is the process of sending bills for payment (Macmillan English Dictionary, 2010). The term E-billing is the electronic delivery of financial documents to the customer, that represents and replaces the conventional paper based document (Email connection, 2001). Universities adopt this so called on-line billing for its perceived advantages than traditional billing system. Southerns eBill offers both students and parents a number of advantages over traditional paper bills, including: students can authorize others (parents, spouse, etc.) to view and pay bills; easy to read online history of past statements and payments; ability to schedule future payments; ease of use and convenience (Southern Connecticut State University, 2009). The Students Accounts Office at Macalester College implemented a new billing process. This change in process has taken place for several reasons. One reason and advantage of the change in process is that students and authorized users may view information relating to billing accounts, statements, and account activity at their convenience. The change in process correlates directly with the leadership role Macalester College has taken in sustainability for higher education. This change also will not only save paper by not having to print statements but will also reduce the need for other paper products such as two forms of envelopes. For students monthly billing, the student and authorized users will receive email notification announcing that the newest electronic eBill statement is ready to view. All students and authorized users must go online to view the statements. If a paper statement is required, the student or authorized user must print it at their convenience (Macalester College, 2009) In San Diego State University, they used a billing system wherein student billing statements are sent out on a monthly basis when money is due to the University. Student statements will be delivered in electronic format. Students are sent an email directing them to a secure website to review their bill, so it is important that their email address be kept up to date in their Portal account. Another feature is that the student may set up a parent PIN so that in addition to the student receiving the email, the parent may also receive an email (San Diego State University, 2009). Another motivation for online technologies as emphasized by Kemelgor, Johnson and Srinivasan (2000) is that â€Å"to attract good students, educational institutions must continue to innovate.† Technology is a tool recognized by many institutions that can be utilized to improve levels of service while aiming to personalize and extend the relationship with students (as cited in Savarese, 2004). Therefore effective student systems need to be student oriented and designed so administrative requirements don’t negatively impact on the student. It is in the light of these theories and related literature that inspired the researcher to develop web-based student information system specifically on student performance monitoring and generating statement of account in Southern Leyte State University-San Juan to keep pace with the above-mentioned innovations and of course to be able to cater the information needs of the stakeholders. 14 THE PROBLEM Statement of the Problem This study aimed to analyze, design and develop a prototype Web-Based Student Information System for Southern Leyte State University- San Juan, Southern Leyte. Specifically, it sought to: 1. analyze the services provided by the university as they relate to 1.1 1.2 student academic performance monitoring and; generating statement of account; 2. determine the status of the present student information system in terms of 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 relevance; accessibility; reliability and; timeliness; 3. identify the problems encountered by the students, parents, benefactors and personnel-in-charge in the present student information system; 4. determine the features of a good Student Information System; and 5. design and develop a prototype of a Web-Based Student Information System. Significance of the Study The results of the study would benefit the following entities: Commission on Higher Education (CHED). This study will help CHED, as a governing body to all education institutions, to encourage colleges and universities to implement research and development for the purpose of delivering quality service to each of its clients. SLSU. This study would enable the university to improve their student information system. It will give them the opportunity to give quality service to their clients. Students. The developed system would benefit the students for they can inquire their information needs with regard to their academic performance and billing statements at their convenient time and place. Parents. The output of this study would allow the parents to monitor the academic status and billing account of their child by accessing the records through the internet. Benefactors. The student information such as grades and statement of account that is extracted from the system would facilitate the sponsors for their decision making purposes. Also, they would be guided constantly with their bills. Student Affairs Office. The output of this study would significantly give ease to the Guidance Counselor in performing his tasks especially in monitoring, record keeping and generating reports. Registrar’s Office. Through the system, the work of the personnel in the Registrar’s office in disseminating grades to the students will be lessened for the records are now available online. Accounting Office. The staff in Accounting Office will not be disrupted with students who constantly inquire their statement of account. This study would give an opportunity for the researcher to gain more knowledge in programming and enhance his/her skill in designing and solving analytical problems. Aside from that he/she will gain confidence from her experiences in the making of this research. Future Researchers. The future researchers would greatly benefit from this study for the findings of this study would encourage them to design an improved system. Other HEI’s. The output of this provides insights to other higher education on how to disseminate information to their clients in a better way. This study may also assist them in achieving successful outcomes in similar projects. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The study will utilize the descriptive research method using a researcherconstructed questionnaire to gather data from various stakeholders such as students, parents, benefactors and some personnel in charge in Scholarship, Registrar, and Accounting at SLSU- San Juan. The questionnaire simply asked the respondents to examine the current information system in the university and suggest some good features of a good student information system. The data that will be collected from identified respondents will be presented, analyzed and interpreted. The results and findings of the research study will serve as the basis for the design and development of the Web-based Information System for SLSU- San Juan.

Hanif Rajput Catering Services Management Essay

Hanif Rajput Catering Services Management Essay Hanif Rajput Catering Services, a renowned, immaculate, trust worthy and qualified service provider holds a well-known name amongst the elite group of people in Pakistan for its reputation and excellence in catering and cuisines for weddings, business events and other ceremonies. Hanif Rajput has an exceptional management team and a flawless service Its success depends on the fact that it aims to provide highest standards in terms of quality to their valued customers. The company takes help of different marketing techniques to stay on top of its business area. Despite what the company claims to offer, it is experiencing stagnant sales over the past few years. This research will provide answers to the problem identified. Now what are the reasons for this decline was the main purpose of this study. Interviews and questionnaire surveys were conducted to get the clear picture. Hanif Rajput, an event management company is one of the best and the largest companies in Pakistan. Hanif Rajput being one of the biggest and best companies in this industry does not escape from having internal flaws and inside management clashes. Companys management style has changed from what it was followed before and the employees are not adjusting to it. Vendors on the companys panel were directly dealing with the clients Direct contact of clients with vendors through companys booking managers has played a vital role in decreased sales. Money instead of coming into the company is going into their pockets. Managers are omitting minute details during planning and organizing of an event. Those minute details are frequently among the most imp factors that determine the success and failure of an event. Mr. Ali Ehsan(GM of the company) said that Hanif Rajput Company trys its best to eliminate such minute errors to make their events perfect. Introduction: Marketing Guru, Philip Kotler, defines  events as occurrences designed to communicate particular messages to target audiences.   Suresh Pillai, Managing Director, Eventus Management, considers events as an additional media whereby two-way or active communication is possible. Entertainment is the irrefutable need of us humans, but for Pakistanis and to be more precise Lahoris food and weddings takes away the biggest portion in the pie. Hanif Rajput being in the event management sector (mainly catering) for so long serves the same purpose. Hanif Rajput Catering Services, a renowned, immaculate, trust worthy and qualified service provider holds a well-known name amongst the elite group of people in Pakistan for its reputation and excellence in catering and cuisines for weddings, business events and other ceremonies. HRCS was formed 14 years ago through a partnership between late Mr. Hanif Rajput and Mr. Rana Ashraf Khan in 1991. Since 1994, Hanif Rajput Catering Services sole ownership was legally transferred to Mr. Rana Ashraf Khan and since then it has become even more successful with its high quality services to the residents of the twin cities and its surroundings. In addition to the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, HRCS has provided high quality services to a multicultural clientele varying from the lively Punjabis in Lahore to the exuberant Pathans in Peshawar, from Dera Ismail Khan to Muzaffarabad as well as Gilgit. (Hanif Rajput 1979, Tender Bid Offer) Hanif Rajput an Overview Hanif Rajput, caterers was launched in 1979 by (late) Muhammad Hanif Rajput at Karachi. Since its inception, the company has emerged as the leading and fastest growing catering organization in the country. The rapid expansion and continued diversification of the business are attributable to three essential factors: precise planning, adherence to quality standards enthusiastic teamwork. The remarkable record of business growth and companys recognition in the area of catering owes largely to the managements commitment to stay on top in catering organization. Today Hanif Rajput is the finest catering organization in terms of quality food and it enjoys a vast range of clientele. (Hanif Rajput, 1979, Tender Bid Offer) Today the company has diversified its business to further stream line its operations. Hanif Rajput caterers Hanif Rajput Industrial and Field Management Service HR Mobiles (Pvt.) Ltd Quality Policy The management and staff of Hanif Rajput industrial and Field Management Services strongly believe that there is no substitute of hard work and honesty for providing highest standard of services to their valued customers. Business Ethics Hanif Rajput industrial and felid management services is strongly committed to ethical business relationships based on mutual trust and providing qualitative services at competitive price . in the context of this commitment, the companys employees are not permitted to accept any type of gratification whatsoever from the suppliers and vendors. Similarly, Hanif Rajput does not expect from its clients Vision To stay on top in our business area Hanif Rajput is committed mentioned vision through these under mentioned pointers. Quality Management High Standard of Food Customer Satisfaction A positive impact on the people we serve Mission Right from the beginning we have had a mission to maintain quality. The kind of quality that one is recognized by. That is why to meet the ever increasing demands of our customers; we have laid down certain principles that ensure consistently better services and a satisfied customer base. Quality food at competitive cost Dependable operation by qualified professionals and wireless network systems Assured Prompt Service Companys Objectives To provide services to our valued customers to the best of our ability based on internationally recognized standards. To ensure reliable and sustainable operations To provide quality services at sustainable costs To pursue and maintain consistent improvement in quality systems Strategy HR corporate strategy is to build out existing competencies within the group and to establish a culture of exceptional performance with a view to set a platform from future market expansion. Hanif Rajput Services Wedding Lawns Outdoor Catering Avenues HR Mobiles (Pvt.) Ltd Garrison Banquet Halls (GBH) Industry Overview Marketing Guru, Philip Kotler, defines  events as occurrences designed to communicate particular messages to target audiences.   Suresh Pillai, Managing Director, Eventus Management, considers events as an additional media whereby two-way or active communication is possible. Miss.  P. PIRAKATHEESWARI, Lecturer in Commerce, Sri Sarada College for Women in her article says that  management of an event encompasses all activities involved in planning, organizing, staffing, leading and evaluation of an event.   In fact, all operational task for an event such as the ground work, viz., venue selection and stage design, arranging the infrastructural facilities required, liaison with artists/ performers and networking with other activities such as advertising, PR, ticket sales, etc., fall under the purview of event management. Events industry is extremely diverse and fragmented and might overlap with other industries such as hotels. This industry comprise of wedding events, business/ corporate events, outdoor events and tradeshows. Pakistani event Management Industry includes about 4000 companies with combined annual revenue of Rs 100 billion. Major companies include Hanif Rajput, Jalal and Sethi, Iris, Harman Events, Al Waseem events, Ali Hodges events, Spark and Sparkles, Impact productions etc. This industry is fragmented. The top companies make about 50% of the industry revenue. Demand is driven by overall economic activity and profits. Small companies manage their profits by retaining valuable staff and managing costs where as large companies have the advantage of negotiating labor, they have multiple locations, multiple suppliers and transportation. (Aug. 27, 2012, Trade shows and event planning services) This industrys primary function is producing and managing different events, trade shows, conferences etc. other than that this industry design, builds, ships booths for tradeshows for individual exhibitors. Event management industry overall is growing at a fast pace. Prior to rescission and even in the rescission season this industry was experiencing growth. This industry has shown considerable boom in the past 10 years and has outperformed many sectors in the economy. According to a research conducted by (Eventias Member Survey February 2009), we have seen that events are down by more than 10%. Public sector despite the recession is still sending money on the events. There is an increase in public events and spending on festivals is increasing drastically. Despite inflation, public spending is increasing. With this increase and with rising trend towards event management, a lot of event management companies are emerging. Due to this, competition between event organizers has also amplified because they are all invited to deal for the same purpose. Event industry is diversifying to increase their offer and improving their customer service skills to deal with this elevated competition. Industrys outstanding current performance is a hint for its future success. Being an international industry, some sort of international standards can be put into place for events in the future. Technology being developed we see that the technological trends will continue to grow along with face to face customer interactions. Furthermore in the next ten to fifteen years, Pakistan is seen hosting several high profile events which will provide organizers to gain ample experience and skills to organize events on enormous scale. Literature Review Moise Daniela *, Georgescu Bogdanb, Zgură Danielc in their article The use of event marketing management strategies tells that events evolve and changes with the development of mankind. Events are part of social, cultural and economic factors in accordance to various tertiary sectors. Events can be defined as nonstandard services in which knowledge, behavior commitment to service providers is very crucial. Contentment of customers comprises of well integrated communication with clients, event venue, design, the management system and the staff. Organizations should take into account the types of customers that they address with new events, so they have to develop new events or to diversify the actual ones. (Rutherford, 2008) considers that the event marketing management process is a cross complex of flows of management processes with management and marketing functions. As shown, the functional units grouped by subject area, form the fabric to manufacture an event. The process starts with a lot of research, continuing with event planning, the organization implementation and at the end of event the final evaluation. Departments from the administration, operations, marketing and risk management and not only, are involved in a greater or less matter of carrying out the tasks. As all of them have met different problems in setting up an event, and can come with various solutions or proposals. Constantly bringing together the various creative disciplines in new areas of experience transforms any event into a unique experience. When combining different sensory impressions, receptors are taken in other worlds, identifying factors and factors of the event experience can hardly be overcome. Their enormous power of attraction combined with deep emotions; determine harmonious events to become important aspects of marketing communication. They create customer loyalty and enhance the sense of group, or we, members of a team (Daab, 2007).The increase of invol vement of commercial customers and the increase of number of events, illustrate their significant importance in advertising (Filip, 2011). Managing and organizing an event properly requires well incorporation of disciplines, but in order to produce effective results and implementation two fields are very crucial: marketing and management. Without these the event can never exist. Event marketing addresses both to customers and business partners of an organization as well as employees working in a company. Marketing is followed by conduction of two kinds of researches. On one hand it address to stakeholders and the extent to which it outsources or moves to other companies for their effective implementation of these events, and on the other hand, the employees opinion about the effectiveness of events, and also proposals, to really become perfect Marketing Events, in terms of participants (Olteanu, 2005). In terms of organizing events that address to target customers and other business partners (Davidson Rogers, 2007): Accessible locations, with enough parking spaces, large spaces; Greater attention to detail, in providing maps of presentation to all participants; Innovative and exciting ideas, approaching broader and more complex themes, with a high degree of novelty; Compliance with the program and the exact start and end. Strict timing of presentation sessions, without any exception; The menu to take account also of the needs of all participants the vegetarians The best possible sound system, enjoyable music, more prepared speakers; The use of translators, because not every participant may know the international language spoken; The events to be the most concise possible and to be transmitted only the most important, late minute information concerning the specified domain; The guests to be successful people at least in the certain domain, either from abroad or national ones, and the contact information of the speakers for a subsequent collaboration or for an explanation of some problems; The events to be unique, in order to catch the attention of the participants, but also to have a direct approach and the message to be a simple one; A proper environment to be created for the networking development, by organizing some sessions between the participants in order to exchange experience. The success of an event depends of the efficiency of the event marketing and management. It is therefore crucial for marketing managers to give sufficient time and energy for future planning; as the realization of the marketing management is the manifestation of the event. Marketing management strategy of the planning process comprises of practical value and it defines and forms the future of the organization and responds to changes in technology, environmental conditions and meets the needs of customers, and also the employees. Strategies for interactive communication, with external and internal stakeholders, in events marketing by Moise Daniela *, Georgescu Bogdanb, Zgură Danielc confers that interactive communication is a key element in the development of events including the company that creates events, organizations that order invents and the participants/employees within the company. The success of any event highly depends upon the properly managed and good communication with the clients as well as the employees in a company. The effect of the communications can be positive or negative. Any company that sends across the information or message about their products and services must be integrated well in order for the consumers to have a succinct image of the offer of the organization. According strictly from this point of view of the proper interactive communication, the organizers of events have available the following strategic options (Goldblatt, 2005): The use of some media communication means of the type: advertising at the place of sale (posters, billboards, flyers), information indicators, user guides, environment; The use of some interpersonal: communication means of the type: personnel in contact, commercial contact (in case of fairs,, exhibitions, etc.), clients (orally promotion). Companies appeal to a large number of target audience while creating events, the means of communication can be external or internal. The most important criteria that is taken into account while conducting events and outlining a budget depends upon the type of event, the way in which it is realized (in direct labor, outsourced or joint), the location where the event takes place ( must be taken into account if the organization has space assigned and sufficient for the development of the event because in case that the space is too small for the number of participants their experience can be unpleasant), the period in which the event takes place (it firstly must be considered also the availability of the participants to come to the event) and the participation tax ( if for some events the participation or the entrance is free, for other events there exists a participation tax of which quantum increases in direct proportion with the demand for such an event). The internal communication is an important component of marketing mix which represents the interior of a company which plays an essential role in ensuring the proper management of events to the audience from the internal environment and the ones created and delivered in the interactive marketing. Internal communication is indissolubly related to the communicates through the event. (Filip, 2011) Therefore, it aims at the attraction, support and agreement of the personnel, the increase of the degree of its involvement in the realization of the event. Communication is preferred with the employees, introducing the new employee once he/she enters in the organization, and even when they leave the organization. In this way, the internal communication of the marketing ranks with the managerial communication, at the superior management level, having a specific role, the one of contributing to the attaining of the objectives stipulated in the marketing plans of the organization. Its objectives are derived from the ones of the marketing, being included in some specific programs, using specific means of internal communication. (Olteanu, 2005). There are various means of internal communication that are or can be used by the companies for effective results. Newsletters in a written form, Web sites, Blogs, Other printed materials such as brochures, internal notes, announcements posted on the bulletin board etc. The organizations that communicate with their own employees can recourse to a wide range of events through which they can send a diversity of messages for attaining the marketing objectives. (Masterman Wood, 2006) Jonathan Reynold in his writing Common Problems Faced by Event Organizers: What Is the Solution? states that event Management is a business that is on its boom. But on the other hand event organizers are facing a lot of problems these days. The main problem faced by them is the competition. Before the emergence of the internet people had no concept social media platforms and online promotions of events, activities and other things. However with the internet and awareness of social media, enterprises are now facing a tough challenge merging their traditional marketing strategies with the more advanced online promotional tactics. Event organizers now days face a lot of problems managing events. The basic problem faced in arranging events is budget. People are not spending more money on their events and designers on the other hand have to keep the clients budget in mind and give them the best they could. Due to inflation and other recessionary economic problems planners are not being able to cater to the clients requirements with the given budgets. Event planners must keep in mind the amount of money required to book and decorate the venue. Moreover there is a dire need to recruit additional staff to manage the business. Event attendance is also going down due to the worldwide economic crises. People are showing reluctance in attending corporate meetings and trade shows and because of this many companies/ organizers are failing to sell their entire inventory. Conference or meeting management problems are also seen. Companies are also seen hiring outsiders for help because one person cannot manage logistical aspects of a conference for their attendees. This outsourcing takes a lot of time because suitable staff is not easy to find. And even if they find it it takes time to make them understand the work flow system. These problems and issues can be managed easily now. Social media integration has become a common need now. Individuals are no longer using social media sites for personal reasons. They are using these social networking sites such as facebook, twitter, MySpace etc to meet urgent business needs. To address these growing issues and effectively manage events, organizers are seen taking the help of various types of online event management solutions. This article, Business Development in the Event Management Industry written by Himanshu Sharma discusses the different techniques of developing business. For successful business development a keen eye on the market should be maintained, every move of your competitor must be monitored, every new product in the market must be considered while making marketing decisions and different marketing strategies should be adopted. In the event management industry most of the work is done via outsourcing. There could be different kind of outsourcing for example social event outsourcing, corporate event outsourcing, charitable event outsourcing and so on. Companies often outsource their marketing campaigns to different event management companies as these companies are well equipped for the job. They usually consist the right logistic, man power, equipments for the job. If for a company the event management activities are an integral part then those companies can open up their very own event management department decrease their production and marketing cost. Over the years there is a drastic increase in the growth of event management companies and now its a 500 billion dollar industry. Social networking sites can prove to be very helpful to get business for such companies. Facebook, MySpace, Orkut are few examples that are used for business development. Event-management is mostly about networking, the more contacts you have the more you can attract business for your event management company. I think this article correctly identifies the key factors which are needed to be their for the success of any event management company. An event manager must be very vigilant about the market scenarios and remain updated about the new companies that are entering the market. Financial Analysis Hanif Rajput Companys financial highlights for the years 2008-2010 are as follows. Revenues/Turnover CGS HR Caterers 2010 Rupees 171,324,351 (130,548,831) HR Decorators 2010 Rupees 72,047,886 (47,838,441) HR Caterers 2009 Rupees 173,095,820 (131,930,397) HR Decorators 2009 Rupees 94,267,977 (68,492,287) HR Caterers 2008 Rupees 181,541,591 (138,367,606) HR Decorators 2008 Rupees 84,561,589 (63,334,485) Gross Profit Admin Expenses 40,775,520 (32,138,680) 20,209,445 (16,054,646) 41,165,432 (35,360,319) 25,775,690 (19,184,929) 43,173,985 (39,005,804) 21,227,104 (18,288,862) Profit/loss from Operations Less: financial Charges 8,636,840 (6,041,058) 8,154,799 (5,852,669) 5,805,105 (3,223,674) 6,590,761 (4,116,154) 4,168,181 (1,370,165) 2,938,242 (695,405) NET PROFIT 2,595,782 2,302,130 2,581,431 2,474,607 2,798,016 2,242,837 Measuring companys profitability over a period of time is very important. From the above stated financial highlights of Hanif Rajput we can see that sales are decreasing slowly over the years. Expenses and cost of sales are not decreasing with the same ratio. If we take out the percentage difference of sales by Subtracting sales of 2008 from sales in 2010 we get the average percentage by which the sales have fallen from 2008 to 2010. Percentage Difference HR Caterers = (Sales 2010- sales 2008)/ Sales 2008 * 100 Percentage Difference HR Caterers= 5.63 % It means that sales have fallen 5.63% in the last three years for HR caterers. Similarly if we take out the percentage difference of HR decorators, we will see that Dà ©cor Departments sales have decreased 14% in the last three years. This is due to the fact that Hanif Rajput is lacking innovation and creativity in its events. This is discussed in detail later. Similarly we can see that HR caterers Gross Profit is also decreasing by 5.5%. Whereas Gross Profit of HR decorators is decreasing by 4.7%. Expenses are falling almost in the same ratio but we can see that the financial charge are increasing tremendously, which is the most important reason of profit fall. Research Question The following basic questions will be addressed in this study: Why Hanif Rajput is not meeting the sales target for the last three years? Methodology: Research Significance Methodology is an integral part of research and emphasis is given on research theories along with discussing the validity and reliability of data so as to provide a general view about how the research is conducted. The objective of the researchers is to use specific tools for collecting primary and secondary data in order to systematically generate knowledge of the world. According to Evered and Louis (1981) the methodology has been clarified by two distinguishing research stances: inquiry from the outside In general terms, Quantitative and qualitative methodologies are linked, respectively, with the two principal research paradigms which are generally labeled Positivism and Interpretivism (Mangan et al, 2004). Positivism and Interpretivism totally contradict each other. Positivism obeys the law of nature and is based on factual information like the sun rises and sets every day. Data Type: There are two types of data, quantitative and qualitative. My data type will be qualitative as questionnaires will be filled by the employees. And interviews will be conducted by the CEO and GM of the company and other employees. The information gathered will then be analyzed and In order to run the regression and analyze the statistical data I will convert the data into numbers through coding to make it more feasible. Research Design: Research design is a framework for conducting the research project. It tends to discover new insights as well as describe the functions of existing variables. These kinds of designs are flexible and versatile in data collection and analysis. The main methods under these designs are qualitative like interviews, case studies and participant observation. The aim of the study is to figure out why are Hanif Rajputs sales stagnant since the past few years. What are the reasons and factors causing this status quo?, although this industry is so attractive in Pakistan and is constantly growing. The design of this study is employee survey and two interviews. Sampling and sampling technique: Sample Size Due to limitation of resources and time constraints on part of both the researcher and the respondents, the whole population cannot be studied therefore; a sample would be selected from the total target population. A total of 30 surveys questionnaires will be conducted. Managers and employees of the company will be asked questions about the research and information will be collected. Sampling Procedure There are two types of sampling methods used in collecting the data; probability sampling and non-probability sampling. Sample size will also be based on the convenience sampling due to the ease of access that the researcher had in communicating with the respondents in the company. Research Tools The Primary research methodology for my paper will entail both written and oral surveys. i.e. Data collection though questionnaires and surveys. Data Collection Procedure Both primary as well as secondary data collection techniques would be used, for the research to present an authentic and a more comprehensive view. A primary data refers to information collected by oneself which is original and reliable through direct observation or questionnaires. Whereas a secondary data refers to information collected from sources which already exists, through facts, figures, journals, articles and books. This study was based on primary data collection approach. Data was collected from a sample population of employees by means of questionnaires which will form the annexure. They were distributed to a total of 30 respondents of different ages, gender and income. Once the questionnaires will be filled theyll be collected. Interviews of senior employees e.g. the CEO and GM operations will also be conducted to get the in depth information. Questionnaires employed close ended questions in order to induce quick decisions from the respondents. The questionnaire design was also key to producing efficient results. In Depth Interviews Interviews are the leading means for acquiring detailed information from test subjects. In depth interviews for the purpose of this study were either unstructured or semi-structured so as to avoid inducing generic responses that fall in the median. The underlying views, concerns and cognitive processes of the participants responses were the primary objective of my research. Unstructured and semi-structured interviews allow us to gain detailed information about a respondents opinion, views, feelings, beliefs and behaviors so as to derive a holistic picture for the research rather than rudimentary outcomes. According to some sociologists, interviews are prone to be biased and the results cannot be generalized due to the small size of the sample. However, these issues can be mitigated by carefully selecting a representative sample population and by being well versed in interviewing techniques so as to induce efficient responses. While conducting in depth interviews, it is important that the researcher should be patient and calm and also make the participant feel comfortable, secure, and at ease enough to speak openly. There should be a good communication between the researcher, and participant and it is better to avoid yes/no questions,. Which tend to, stifle detail. One of the main issue is to try not to guide try not to guide course of the interview to preconceived questions, but to follow what is on subjects minds. Keeping in mind all the guidelines two in depth interviews were conducted which gave new insights to the data collection procedure as well as the main rese

Sin Tax Bills Pros And Cons Economics Essay

Sin Tax Bills Pros And Cons Economics Essay With tobaccos and cigarettes being the major cause of lung cancer death s in the Philippines, advocates are pushing to pass the Sin Tax Bill. Sin tax bill is the tax levied on any products that are notorious to be harmful like cigarettes, alcohol and even activities like gambling. In connection to this, it is said to be effective in reducing behaviour of using such. This thesis paper aims to show the pros and cons of the Sin Tax Bill reforms to the Philippine economy, presented before the Senate and the House. There were three specific sin tax reforms discussed, the Abaya Bill, Recto Bill, and the Santiago Bill. This study accentuates that the approval of the said bill has its great advantages that will help the countrys economy, but its possible disadvantages must not be neglected. Moreover, the ideas written here are not against the bill, but therefore require further analysis and revisions that are deemed helpful to the Philippine Economy. Discussion Introduction According to the World Health Organization in 2009, tobacco is responsible for 12% of male and 6% of female deaths worldwide. The Acting Chief of NCI Tobacco Control Research Brach Chief, Michele Bloch, MD, PhD said that overall around the globe, there are 41% of men that smoke and only 9% for women; also it is estimated that the total number of tobacco-related deaths will rise from 6 million today to 8  million in 2030 (Fromer, 2011). Every day, a person dies from lung cancer in the Philippines. Tobacco or cigarette is the only legal consumer product that kills half of its users when used as directed by the manufacturer. And not only cigarettes, but as well as other socially proscribed goods such as alcoholic beverages, drugs and even soft drinks (in other areas), are considered to be undesirable or harmful, and thus were levied with higher taxes compared to the original by the government in laymans term: The Sin Tax. Sin tax in modern economic terms, are externality taxes, taxes designed to reduce behaviour which is known to be harmful to society' (Gifford, 1997. p.1). It is an excise tax on which its objectives is to make consumers lose interest in buying such by imposing taxes on goods that are known to be harmful and lethal such as cigarettes and liquor or activities like gambling (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2012). Before, a Tiered Specific Tax system based on suggested retail price (srp) was put in place. Until the late Pres. Corazon Aquinos administration in 1986, reforms the tax system by changing the specific or unit-based tax to an Ad valorem Scheme, from where the price is based on the manufacturers, for cigarettes. From then on, sin tax bill was revised many times until the year 2004, where the Congress passed Republic Act No. 9334: an act increasing the tax collection; but this is widely considered to be ineffective and a watered-down law. On its implementation in January 2005, under this law, all brands of cigarettes and alcohol products are mandated to an increase in the excise tax rate every two years, up until the year 2011, where there will be specified varying rates of increases (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2012). The matter on the issuance of the new sin tax bills proposed by different officials, mainly those of Abaya, Recto and Santiago, has caught many people in between two arguments. The Department of Finance wants the sin tax bill to raise P60 billion to fund the governments universal healthcare program, especially for the care of public hospital patients with lung diseases. The bills obvious benefit on its approval is more health-related, but there are still quite a number of critics against the approval of the said bill. Why? Because there are multiple reasons as to why the sin tax bill reform must not be approved and therefore must be a subject for further and more improved revisions. Different types of Sin Tax Bills proposed A data from the American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation says, Despite the existence of laws that limit smoking, male Filipino smokers are among the top smokers in the world occupying the ninth spot following India and China among others (Manongdo,  ¶1). In accordance to this, many government officials started passing reforms of different kinds that are to change the current sin tax bill implemented. Firstly, the approved Abaya Bill: House Bill 5727, or the Act Restructuring the Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco Products states that there will be equal taxes rates to be charged to any cigarette brands. With this, there will be competition between cigarette companies. Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya agreed to amend the sin tax on tobacco products from unitary tax system to two tiers. Under substitute bill, there will be two tiers or groups for cigarettes while distilled and fermented liquor will have 3. Tier 1: Cigarette packs priced lower than 11.50php below are meted with a P12 tax on the first year and P24 on the next year; while on Tier 2: Cigarette packs priced 11.50php above are meted with P28.30 on the first year, and P30 on the second year. Indexation or increase will be 8% for every two years, until the year 2025. It has been over 15 years since a sin tax bill made it out of committee meetings in Congress. A landslide vote happened in June, where 210 lawmakers voted to pa ss the amended House Bill 5727, by Cavite Rep. Abaya. But the bill was watered down, since the bill aims to reduce consumption of tobacco and alcohol, especially among the poor, while raising additional revenues, which will be channeled to the governments health care program (Balea, 2012). According to Finance Assistance Secretary Teresa Habitan, amended version will only translate to P33 billion from the original plan of P60billion revenue. Secondly is the Recto Bill by Sen. Ralph Recto. For cigars, the current 2-tiered NRP-based structure shall be retained, but starting March 1, 2013, there shall be an increase to the ad valorem rates by more than 100 percent. Pursuant to Cathy Yamsuans report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer 2012, there will be an increase of 121 percent to hand-packed cigarettes taxes from P2.72 to P6 per pack beginning March 1, 2013, particularly in low-priced cigarettes. While mid-priced cigarettes, a 32% rise from P7.56 to a P10 tax; and high-priced cigarettes, a 17% increase from P12 to P14 tax per pack. Recto, however, presented a committee report that would raise only between P15 billion and P20 billion in additional sin taxes. Lastly is Sen. Miriam Santiagos proposed reform. Santiago said that under her bill, 85 percent of the P60 billion would be used for the government health program while the remaining 15 percent for safety nets that would ensure that tobacco farmers can shift to more lucrative crops like vegetables that have a bigger market than tobacco (Yamsuan, 2012,  ¶12). No more further discussions needed to Santiagos Bill because Juan Ponce Enrile, the current Philippine Senate President, noted that the Santiago bill is almost similar to the governments original position.  Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiagos version of the Sin Tax Bill or the Senate Bill 3249 espouses a single tier excise tax scheme for cigarettes. The version reported out by Rectos Ways and Means Committee pushes a multi-tier scheme, while the House-approved bill is a two-tier system. Advantages There are a lot to mention when we look in-depth to the possible benefits, the country may be subjected to, that will be a great help to the society. Here, there are three main points that are most likely to be emphasized. First are the sin tax bills health-related purposes and benefits. Since the real reason behind the implementation of this law is to discourage the people, especially the youth to smoke cigarettes and indulge themselves to other vices, Department of Health (DOH) said that sin tax bill is a health bill. If this is approved, many Filipino lives will be saved if this law is effective enough after its implementation. As stated by The National Youth Commission (NYC), the number of young smokers in the country had increased. Two of five Filipinos aged 13 to 15 years old consumed tobacco last year. The increase in cigarette prices may thus limit the number of young smokers (Garcia, 2012,  ¶15). On the other hand when the Laylo Research Strategies made a poll survey on ho w will Filipino smokers react if there is an increase in sin taxes, the survey results confirms what the advocates have been saying higher tobacco taxes would accomplish: discourage consumption and therefore reduce the number of Filipinos who either develop diseases or die from smoking. The Southeast Asia Initiative on Tobacco Tax says higher sin taxes can help save 140,000 to 1.3 million Filipinos. With the pending Sin Tax bill likely to affect cigarette prices, 31% of the regular smokers said they will slowly stop smoking, while 17% will stop immediately (Rappler. 2012  ¶24). In a study on Tobacco and Poverty of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2008, the annual government revenues of P23 Billion from tobacco taxes is not enough compared to the conservatively estimated P149 Billion annual economic losses due to expenses for productivity and health care costs of the top four tobacco related diseases: Cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and stroke. (Manongdo, 2012). According to reports furnished, the money the government spends on tobacco-related healthcare issues is more than the revenue it gets from the taxes collected from tobacco and alcohol products. This means that the government is spending more to cure diseases chronic pulmonary diseases, heart disease, cancer, liver diseases etc. that are caused by the consumption of tobacco and alcohol (Garcia, 2012  ¶9). Secondly, with higher sin tax rates means higher government revenues. Lets say theres no existence of the sin tax bill, which means, 0% tax increase. With no tax, the government will only garner 25.4B php annually. But in consideration of the Rectos Bill, with 65% tax increase, there will 37.8B php revenue. While in Santiagos Bill, with 265% tax increase, there will be no less than 68.7B php revenue, which is by the way more than enough for the governments goal of 60B php. According to Dr. Antonio Dans, professor at the UP-College of Medicine, with the approval of 265% proposed tax increase by Santiago; chances are, smoking rates will go down to 26% from 31%.. That drop from 31% to 26% represents more than two million people stopping smoking. If you stop smoking, you will avoid death from 49 diseases that can kill you from smoking like lung cancer, coronary diseases, stroke, heart attack, chronic pulmonary diseases (Antonio, 2012,  ¶). Lastly, international smuggling of cigarettes will be lessened. According to Sen. Pia Cayetano, the Philippines has the second cheapest retail price in Asia (in terms of cigarettes). Even among the cheapest in the world, primarily because of relatively low tobacco taxes. Many other countries levied heavy amount of tax on cigarettes as part of their public health policy. Dr. Aida Yurekli, coordinator of the WHOs Tobacco-Free Initiative, says the nations low taxes on tobacco drive the foreign demand for illegal imports of cigarette from the Philippines.  He once thought the China is the main source of smuggled cigarettes, but he found out that there was a big number coming from the Philippines. Since tobacco companies are paying (low) taxes, they tend to overproduce. And an excess of 2 billion packs from the 5.4 billion packs to be produced this year, from which only 3.5 billion packs will be consumed, makes it suspicious (Merueà ±as, 2012). With the effectiveness of tax increase, Philippine cigarettes would not be any cheaper than before, and thus will discourage international smuggling, since tobacco companies will pay more taxes, and no longer will have rooms for overproduction that may end up as smuggled goods to other countries. Disadvantages Though many people, if asked, are pro-sin tax bill, due to its undeniable benefits, lawmakers, still, remain divided over the sin tax bill. Debaters tend to overlook the possible drawback, the sin tax bill, may offer to the countrys economy. Tobacco farmers are the most affected in the approval of the any bills mentioned above. La Union Rep. Victor Francisco Ortega said that many tobacco farmers were able to send their children due to their jobs in the tobacco industry. It has done more good, than evil, he said in an interview hosted by respected broadcast journalist Rappler editor-at-large Cheche Lazaro (Bisyo: A special report on Sin Tax, 2012). In the interview, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said, The government has not provided a comprehensive program for the support services, subsidy and assistance to tobacco farmers. Tobacco farmers will not benefit from the increase of retail prices of cigarettes increase due to sin tax. Therefore, the higher sin taxes will definitely negatively affect the tobacco industry, which will result into unemployment to huge industries like Fortune Tobacco and the likes. (Bisyo: A special report on Sin Tax, 2012)   In one of the three stated bills proposed above, specifically the Abaya Bill, inequity in pricing the goods may occur. If all brands will be taxed similarly, small scale companies are at a big loss and at the worst scenario, may stop production. Abaya suggested that equality in taxes will create competition between large scale companies and local tobacco companies; but the latter will be burdened more since bigger companies are far more able in paying the demand tax levied to their products. With high taxes means less production, which will end up to less profit by the company, and later on bankruptcy. On a debate, Sen. Ralph Recto said that if they tax too much, it may kill industries, and even the cigarette industry may be burdened too much already. Revenues may be lessened due to insufficient companies producing cigarettes, from where taxes are supposedly to be collected from. Too high taxes may result in less revenue. How? One of the debaters in the senate, Mr. Manos Koukourakis said, When you apply so high tax increases, people will find alternative ways to smoke (Bisyo: A special report on Sin Tax, 2012). Consumption did not diminish; on the contrary, it has increased. At first, sin taxes will give increased revenues for the government, but in no time, it will fall drastically. Why? Because of smuggling. Taxing cigarettes and other sin products will not make people quit intousing it. Its already an addiction and this simple means of increasing retail price is not the answer. Recto said in one of his reports, the solution is not to severely tax the sin products but to ban them completely. When the price of any product rises excessively, smugglers bring in cheaper products. So instead of discouraging consumption, the very high prices actually encourage it because the smuggled products are very cheap (Cruz, 2012, 4 ¶). A House leader from the Philippine delegation warned that if ever the government would not take a second look to these proposed sin tax bills, the signing of the free trade agreement (FTA) with EU or the European Union, may be put in jeopardy. The EU expressed their continuous objection to the sin tax bill. EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht told the lawmakers that the approved House version and proposed Senate version will not pass the World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance because of unfair taxation (Luci, 2012). British American Tobacco (BAT) Philippines general manager James Michael Lafferty said, The current tax system has worked against the entry of new brands into the market  (Galang, 2012,  ¶46). Conclusion Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, one of the most vocal sin tax bill advocates said, When cigarettes and liquor are cheap, more people will use them- and so this has been the advocates standing point. The sin tax bill had been a controversial debate to the lawmakers. It made Sen. Ralph Recto, the chairman of the Senate committee, resign after numerous opposition from the Senate; he had Sen. Franklin Drilon take over his place after resignation. They even called his proposed bill a watered-down bill or ineffective. In the approval of the Sin tax bill, relations with the European Union may be affected. If ever the Philippines free trade with EU will be cut-off, our economy will lose a lot. And not only that, since Lucio Tan, a renowned business tycoon, is the owner of the biggest tobacco company in the country, the Fortune Cigarette, increasing of taxes to the sin products might be reflected to other major companies under him as well, like those of Philippine Airlines and the likes. All these factors will not increase the governments revenues, and on the other end might be the opposite. Therefore the sin tax bill has defeated its main purpose of raising revenues. Also, the argument of the pro-sin tax bill that higher taxes would discourage smokers is a mere assumption. They have not presented clear provisions and relied on surveys, which is not at all very reliable. Then again, according to Benjamin Diokno, professor of Economics at the School of Economics, UP Diliman and former secretary of budget and management undersecretary for budget operations in the Aquino 1 administration, talking about the threat of smuggling, it is real, and ignoring it would be a monumental mistake. The country has been facing a lot of smuggling cases in other products like rice, oil products, and other consumer goods continuously. And the possible addition of cigarettes to be smuggled would be a lot of work for the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which he considers weak (Diokno, 2012). But behind the drawbacks mentioned, there are a lot of other alternatives, other than taxing, that may discourage and lessen the use tobaccos and cigarettes. One suggestion is the proposal of former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral to put graphic photographs of smokers with lung or mouth cancer on the packs of cigarettes, and they believe it should scare some of them into stopping smoking. Though most of the tobacco industries are against it, the Philippine Senate and Congress are also in debate about it. Another suggestion is the prohibition of smoking in the public, from which the Senate lose the case against tobacco companies. In the question of what would be the most effective among the proposed bills. The countries Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos currently part of this worlds emerging economies use ad valorem rates in taxing their products like tobacco and alcohol. These countries must have adopted ad valorem taxation, after learning the best practice from their foreign tax consultants. The Philippines is the only country in the region that uses specific rates  (Diokno, 2012,  ¶7). On the contrary, eeconomist and former Economic Planning Secretary Solita Collas-Monsod at a forum on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 said that the tobacco industry players are disseminating about the possible aftermaths of the proposed sin tax measure on the Philippine economy, from which she considered as all lies. She opposed all the issues discussed and declared that these are just false claims (cited from Fonbuena, 2012). But experts urge the Senate to use the proposed bill of Sen. Miriam Santiago. This, Santiago said, would help avoid the 240 deaths daily among Filipino smokers with P200-billion health costs to government. It hews much more to the actual realities and the actual principles that we want. If everybody is in favor of a sin tax bill, lets start with that sin tax bill, economics professor Solita Monsod commented to Santiagos version of the bill, from where tobacco and alcohol products projected tax revenues will be around P60 billion (cited from Chua, 2012,  ¶3). The author is not against the approval of this bill, but thus, is in favor of the amendment and better revisions of the sin tax bill. People must look not only to the possible advantage it may bring, but one should always be aware of the possible drawback it will take along its process. The benefits, the sin tax bill, will bring the Philippines is undeniable. Health-related and even revenues is a given. But the fact it has taken a long course of almost 16 years of amendment, has a reason. There are multiple reasons as to why the sin tax bill reform must not be approved and therefore must be a subject for further and more improved revisions; and this reasons must not be neglected.