Acg 4401

Review Questions ACG 4401 U01B Summer 2010NameMULTIPLE CHOICEChoose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.1) Which of the factors listed below is not a common factor for fraud? 1) _______A) rationalization for the crimeB) desire to get even with the employerC) opportunity to commit fraudD) pressure to commit fraud2) Misappropriation of assets can also be called 2) _______A) Fraudulent financial reportingB) Management fraudC) Employee fraudD) Computer fraud3)Which type of antivirus program is most effective in spotting an infection soon after it starts? 3) _______A) a virus detection programB) a virus protection programC) a virus identification programD) none of the above4) How can an organization reduce fraud losses? 4) _______A) require vacations and rotate dutiesB) maintain adequate insuranceC) encrypt data and programsD) use forensic accountants5) A ________ is similar to a ________, except that it is a program rather than a code segment hid den in a host program. 5) _______A) worm; virusB) worm; Trojan horseC) Trojan horse; wormD) virus; worm6) Which method of fraud is physical in its nature rather than electronic? 6) _______A) eavesdroppingB) crackingC) scavengingD) hacking7) The deceptive method by which a perpetrator gains access to the system by pretending to be an authorized user is called 7) _______A) masquerading.B) superzapping.C) hacking.D) cracking.8) Intentional or reckless conduct that results in materially misleading financial statements is called 8) _______A) financial fraud.B) misstatement fraud.C) audit failure fraud.D) fraudulent financial reporting.9) The potential dollar loss that could result if an unwanted event occurs is called a(n) 9) _______A) exposure.B) extraordinary loss.C) threat.D) risk.10) The likelihood that an adverse or unwanted event could occur is referred to as a(n) 10) ______A) threat.B) loss.C) risk.D) exposure.11) Which of the following federal laws incorporated the language of th e AICPA about controls into a law applying to all registered companies? 11) ______A) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977B) The Securities Act of 1933C) Federal Corruption Prevention Act of 1987D) The Securities Exchange Act of 193412) Personnel policies such as background checks, mandatory vacations, and rotation of duties tend to deter 12) ______A) fraud by outsidersB) unintentional errorsC) employee fraud or embezzlementD) payroll irregularities13) Chuck Hewitt was relaxing after work with a colleague at a local watering hole. Well into his second martini, he began expressing his opinion about government regulation. It seems that, as a result of â€Å"government interference† the company's longstanding policy of making low-interest loans to top management was being terminated. The regulation that Chuck is referring to is the 13) ______A) Truth in Lending ActB) McCain-Feingold ActC) Sarbanes-Oxley ActD) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act14) River Rafting Adventures of Iowa prov ides rafts and tour guides to tourists eager to ride the wild rivers of Iowa. Management has determined that there is one chance in a thousand of a client being injured or killed. Settlement of resulting lawsuits has an average cost of $650,000. Insurance with a $50,000 deductible is available. It covers the costs of lawsuits unless there is evidence of criminal negligence. What is the expected loss without insurance? 14) ______A) $650B) $650,000C) $50,000D) $5015) The risk that remains after management implements internal controls is 15) ______A) Risk appetiteB) Residual riskC) Risk assessmentD) Inherent risk16) River Rafting Adventures of Iowa provides rafts and tour guides to tourists eager to ride the wild rivers of Iowa. Management has determined that there is one chance in a thousand of a client being injured or killed. Settlement of resulting lawsuits has an average cost of $650,000. Insurance with a $50,000 deductible is available. It covers the costs of lawsuits unless ther e is evidence of criminal negligence. What is the expected loss with insurance? 16) ______A) $650B) $50,000C) $650,000D) $5017) There are different types of internal controls available to an organization. The type of controls that deters problems before they arise are called 17) ______A) preventive controls.B) corrective controls.C) exposure controls.D) detective controls.18) According to SysTrust, the reliability principle of integrity is achieved when 18) ______A) the system is available for operation and use at times set forth by agreement.B) system processing is complete, accurate, timely, and authorized.C) the system can be maintained as required without affecting system availability, security, and integrity.D) the system is protected against unauthorized physical and logical access.19) An electronic document that certifies the identity of the owner of a particular public key. 19) ______A) Public keyB) Asymmetric encryptionC) Digital signatureD) Digital certificate20) In develo ping policies related to personal information about customers, Folding Squid Technologies adhered to the Trust Services framework. The standard applicable to these policies is 20) ______A) privacy.B) security.C) confidentiality.D) availability.21) In a private key system the sender and the receiver have ________, and in the public key system they have ________. 21) ______A) the same key; two separate keysB) an encrypting algorithm; a decrypting algorithmC) different keys; the same keyD) a decrypting algorithm; an encrypting algorithm22) Which of the following is an example of a corrective control? 22) ______A) Physical access controlsB) Intrusion detectionC) Emergency response teamsD) Encryption23) A more rigorous test of the effectiveness of an organization's computer security. 23) ______A) Vulnerability scanB) Penetration testC) Log analysisD) Intrusion detection system24) Which of the following is not a requirement of effective passwords? 24) ______A) Passwords should be no more than 8 characters in length.B) Passwords should contain a mixture of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and characters.C) Passwords should be changed at regular intervals.D) Passwords should not be words found in dictionaries.25) An auditor examining a firm's accounting information system creates a fictitious customer in the system and then creates several fictitious sales to the customer. The records are then tracked as they are processed by the system. This is an example collecting audit evidence using 25) ______A) a system control audit review file.B) an integrated test facility.C) audit hooks.D) the snapshot technique.E) continuous and intermittent simulation.26) The ________ part of the auditing process involves (among other things) the auditors observing the operating activities and having discussion with employees. 6) ______A) communication of audit resultsB) evaluation of audit evidenceC) audit planningD) collection of audit evidence27) The evidence collection method that considers the relationship and trends among information to detect items that should be investigated further is called 27) ______A) physical examination.B) vouching.C) analytical review.D) review of the documentation.28) One way an auditor gauges how much audit work and testing needs to be performed is through evaluating materiality and seeking reasonable assurance about the nature of the information or process. What is key to determining materiality during an audit? 28) ______A) the testing of records, account balances, and procedures on a sample basisB) determining if material errors exist in the information or processes undergoing auditC) determining what is and is not important given a set of circumstances is primarily a matter of judgmentD) none of the above29) The ________ to auditing provides auditors with a clear understanding of possible errors and irregularities and the related risks and exposures. 29) ______A) financial audit approachB) risk-adjusted approachC) risk-based approachD) information systems approach30) The ________ audit is concerned with the economical and efficient use of resources and the accomplishment of established goals and objectives. 30) ______A) financialB) informationalC) operationalD) information systemsAnswersBCDBACADACACCABDABDAACBABDCCCC

Agriculture in Brazil: Perils, Trials, and Economic Crisis

This paper examined the historical and political rule of agricultural policy formulation in Brazil from 1964 to 1992. The article also centered on how trade, credit, and support-price policy evolved in response to economic crisis and democratization in the 1980s.The economic crisis caused the agricultural policy of Brazil to be redesigned with the change in political regime and with the institutions of interest-group representation that significantly influenced the direction of policy reform programs and assessments.The return to a democratic regime of this nation permitted the local legislatures and the judiciary to take part in more significant agricultural policy rules. Simultaneously, the republic led to the questioning of other institutions and there was an emergence of more participatory organizations in the agricultural sector.These changes have caused policy making to become increasingly subject to explicit rules, which should lead to more predictable policies and a long-term reduction in discrimination against Brazilian agriculture (Helfand 1999).Brazil promoted agriculture and greatly achieved a rapid expansion in this sector, but its record on poverty was disappointing (Helfand 2001). One reason was that biases within the agricultural sector, notably in taxation and subsidized credit, favor large farmers and work to the disadvantage of labor.These biases interact with the highly inequitable initial land distribution to reduce the gains to the poor from growth. Brazil vividly demonstrates that promoting agriculture is not enough. Policies within the sector also matter.Brazil's income tax greatly favors agriculture in relation to other sectors, but only the rich can reap the benefits. Through special provisions in the income tax code, corporations can exclude up to 80 percent of agricultural profits from their taxable income, and individuals can include 90 percent. Fixed investments can be fully depreciated in the first year and can even be depreciated two to six times over.This, together with high inflation, encourages corporations and the rich to over invest in land. The result has been the accumulation of largeAgriculture in Brazil: Perils, Trials, and Economic CrisisPage 2landholdings and increases in land prices that exceed growth in land productivity. The poor do not benefit from the tax breaks, since they pay no income tax, and they cannot afford to buy land. Many move to frontier areas in search of unclaimed land.A progressive land tax could offset the bias in the income tax. Brazil tried this but failed because of widespread evasion and many exceptions. One such exception, intended to encourage land use, reduces the tax by up to 90 percent if owners use the land to graze cattle. This promotes the conversion of forestland to uneconomic livestock ranching, reduces the demand for labor, and has harmful environment consequences (Grahan 1987).Agricultural credit has been exceptionally distorted in Brazil. Until recently, real interest rates on official credit were negative, and real interest rates on loans for agriculture were lower than in the nonagricultural sector (Grahan 1987).The difference in credit terms between sectors has been capitalized in the price of land. Although subsidies raise profits in agriculture, they have mainly benefited large farmers and have encouraged excessive mechanization, again reducing the demand for unskilled labor. Poor people who lack land titles have not benefited from credit subsidies.Agricultural policies in Brazil have reduced labor demand and have made it almost impossible for a poor person to buy land and become a farmer. Opportunities for unskilled workers to acquire skills by becoming long-term workers have been substantially reduced by subsidized mechanization (Helfand 1999).The years from 1947 to 1963 were generally called the import substitution period. The primary agricultural goal in the first period was to produce an adequate supply of reasonably priced fo od for urban wage earners. A secondary goal was to generate foreign exchange to finance the importation of industrial raw materials and capital goods. Agriculture was not considered a vital growth sector, but rather a reservoir for surplus labor not absorbed by rapidAgriculture in Brazil: Perils, Trials, and Economic CrisisPage 3industrialization. From 1961 to 1963, food shortages, high food prices, and near hyper-inflation forced the government to give more attention to the agricultural sector. The inability to cope with these problems and concern over leftist politics resulted in the military-led revolution of 1964.The second period (1964 to present) is a phase of economic growth characterized by export expansion and diversification. The military governments after 164 advocated a completely different role for the agricultural sector.The relative backwardness of the sector was acknowledged, but the causes and cures were perceived quite differently. Farmers were believed to be respo nsive to prices and the distortions and disincentives created in the earlier period were gradually removed. New government investments and incentives emphasized modernization of agriculture (Truran 1977).Large quantities of subsidized credit were tied to the purchase of â€Å"modern† inputs such as improved seed, fertilizers, chemicals, and machinery (Grahan 1987). These inputs were made more easily available by exchange rate controls, overvalued exchange rates, tax exemptions, and direct government distribution.Low interest loans for operating costs and investment expenditure encouraged farmers to produce certain crops and livestock. Investments to improve marketing and transportation facilities were made, in part, to benefit the agricultural sector.Agricultural research and extension received more attention as the development and adaptation of technology became important in the face of stagnant yields (Truran 1977).Agricultural development in Brazil throughout its history h as also been associated with the extension of its land frontier. After 1950, this process has been supplemented by some infrastructure development, undertaken by large farmers and private companies, whoAgriculture in Brazil: Perils, Trials, and Economic CrisisPage 4were heavily subsidized through negative interest rates, especially in the 1970s (Grahan 1987).

Explain what is meant by the ideal pupil Essay

In classrooms, many teachers labelled and classified certain students to their ethical and academic backgrounds. Becker concluded the common image of the ‘ideal pupil’ as being intelligent, well behaved, motivated and usually from a middle class background. Suggest three reasons why students from the upper social classes and those who have attended independent schools are more likely to gain places at elite universities such as LSE and Oxbridge even when they have the same A levels as students from state schools One of the main reasons is cultural capital which is used by Marxists to explain cultural influences on educational influences. Bourdieu and Passeron (1977) suggested that middle class culture is as valuable in educational terms as material wealth. Schools are run by middle class and therefore they will support middle class students whose form of knowledge, values and ways of interacting and communicating are practiced and taught by their parents. Working class students and ethnic minorities however are likely to lack qualities such as playing an instrument and being in a band or an orchestra or be able to express themselves through the language that middle class students use. This therefore decreases their chances of success. Middle class students also don’t suffer from material deprivation which means they are able to learn to play many instruments and join many extra-curricular activities which will look better on their applications whereas working class students may not be able to afford all these extra advantages. Further supporting the idea of working class and middle class differences in educational attainment, Ball et al (1994) showed another reason for why upper class students performed better than working class through his studies which showed how middle class parents were able to play the system by using their cultural capital and thus ensure their children are accepted into the best schools and throughout their studying their parents will continue to use their advantages such as interview and speaking and language skills to ensure their children are in the best classes with the best tutors and therefore will perform better overall than a working class student whose parents don’t have these advantages therefore the students must stay in wherever they are placed and work harder to achieve. West and Hind (2003) found that interviews were also often used to exclude working class and ethnic minority families or make the process more difficult for them whereas middle class families had the cultural capital to negotiate and make their interview successful. Another reason which supports this theory of difference in educational attainment between middle and working class is Social Capital which

Moral Development Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Moral Development Theory - Essay Example hn’s attack attracted a lot of media attention and Ronald, who was in charge of the warders welfare, ordered a raid in the prison cells in search of weapons and in the process some of the inmates were badly injured and some succumbed to their injuries. This move was applauded by most people as they believed this would make criminals learn to behave well and respect the prison warders. Kohlberg’s first stage of moral thought is obedience and punishment orientation, where a set of rules handed over by the authority should be obeyed unquestionably and failure to obey leads to punishment. This reasoning is evident in how Mary kept quiet for a prolonged period, while John took advantage of her for fear of the consequences. As an inmate, Mary was expected to obey the prison warder. In the second stage of thought, that is individualism and exchange, Mary may have put up with John’s abuse hoping that he will either put in a good word for her, which may facilitate state pardon or favor her in some way hoping her life would be bearable in prison. Stage three of moral thought is good interpersonal relationship; this is where one lives to the expectations of the family and community. Ronald who was in charge of the warders, on hearing the news that an inmate, had assaulted one of the warders even without trying to find out why, he opted to raid the prison cells in search of weapons in order to fulfill the expectations of the community. His action showed true concern for the prison warders who were at risk of being attacked by the inmates. Stage four of moral development, deals more with the social order (Crain, 1985). This has to do with the societal perspective or societal expectations. This is revealed when Ronald became brutal with the inmates in order to protect his image and that of the other prison warders; as he was expected to do by the society. The fifth stage of moral reasoning is about social contracts and individual rights. This reasoning is where

E-business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

E-business - Essay Example The development of the websites is conducted to suit separate business needs pertaining to online applications. The website developers plan out the structural patterns of the website through maintaining a collaborative interaction with other potential departments of the company pertaining to the marketing, sales and operational sectors. Designing of the websites is done to help the business achieve both short and long term business goals through the optimum utilisation of the existing organisational resources. Again in terms of development of the website content the developers are required to have an open eye to the change dynamics in both the external and internal business sphere. This focusing on the change aspects helps the developers in continuously updating the contents posted to help in generating potential information to the large range of customers. Designing of website structures and contents also requires the web developers to conduct a total survey of external market condi tions so as to render attractive features in the page developed. Innovation and sophistication enabled in the webpage developed helps the products and services of the business concern to stand apart from its potential competitors in drawing more number of consumers. The codes developed for designing the websites thus must be continuously reviewed against the changes made in business policies and objectives to render enhanced productivity in such. Through working in a collaborative business sphere with large number of market research and business expert large amounts of potential data can also be collected to evaluate the potential of rendering such changes in the web portal (Taylor, Parish & Fiden, 2007,p.63-64). Development of the contents of the website to satisfy the needs of

Lost Treasures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Lost Treasures - Essay Example The Mayan civilization is another group who would have been a great influence to more modern societies had their literature been available to us today. Mayans are believed to have been an outstanding group of people in Central America during the Spanish era of conquests. Despite having no skill or knowledge of the wheel or metal tools, they were able to build temples and pyramids. Artifacts also reveal a system of writing, mathematics and astrology which can be considered advanced for the Mayans during that time. The PopulVuh is a sample of Mayan literature. It is a book believed to have been used by the Mayans to answer questions regarding creation and the earth. Unfortunately, it is only one of three Mayan books that is believed to exist and survive the test of time. Because of this, insight on the Mayan’s systems are hard to understand. Before the invention of the dawn of printing, literary pieces were handwritten. Ancient studies reveal that the early men used to depict th eir lives on cave walls, rocks or leaves. As such, these works of our ancestors risk being damaged or lost due to natural or man-made disasters. Other reasons for the loss may also be theft and the author’s own doing. One example of this is the destruction of the library in Alexandria where it is believed, thousands upon thousands of ancient writings were destroyed. The city in Egypt was founded by Alexander the Great while the Museum or Royal Library of Alexandria was founded by Alexander’s successor, Ptolomy II Soter in 283 BC. (Chesser)... Because of this, insight on the Mayan’s systems are hard to understand. Before the invention of the dawn of printing, literary pieces were handwritten. Ancient studies reveal that the early men used to depict their lives on cave walls, rocks or leaves. As such, these works of our ancestors risk being damaged or lost due to natural or man-made disasters. Other reasons for the loss may also be theft and the author’s own doing. One example of this is the destruction of the library in Alexandria where it is believed, thousands upon thousands of ancient writings were destroyed. The city in Egypt was founded by Alexander the Great while the Museum or Royal Library of Alexandria was founded by Alexander’s successor, Ptolomy II Soter in 283 BC. (Chesser) It is believed that the Royal Library of Alexandria contained literature from Assyria, Greece, Persia, Egypt, India and other places (Chesser) and so there is great disappointment and regret as to its destruction. Until today, unfortunately, there are just speculations based on existing literary works that refer to the library and the reason why it was destroyed. Historians refer to a few incidents in ancient times that may have caused the loss of literary work in Alexandria. One of these was a fire during the reign of Julius Ceasar. It is said that Ceasar had ordered a fire on the enemy Egyptian fleet at Alexandria’s harbor. Sadly, the part of the city where the Library was located accidentally got caught in the flames and burned down. Another reason was supposedly the conversion of the Library into a Christian Church during Theophilus’ reign of Alexandria. Moslem Caliph Omar was also blamed for the destruction of the Library when the Moslems conquered Alexandria in 640

The personality of Adolf Hitler Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The personality of Adolf Hitler - Research Paper Example Adolf Hitler, one of the world’s most talented yet ferocious leaders was born in the town of Braunau-am-Inn in Austria on 20 April 1889. This town is located close to the border between Germany and Austria.Hitler’s father, Alois, used to check the goods crossing the border in the capacity of a customs officer. Ida and Gustav were two children born to Hitler’s mother, Klara and Alois before Hitler, but none of the two had managed to survive the infancy. Hitler was six years of age when he started to go to school. The family spent time in several villages in Linz towards the east of Braunau. Klara and Alois gave birth to Edmund. Edmund was Hitler’s younger brother who did not live after six years of age. Finally, Hitler’s younger sister Paula was born in 1896, who lived even longer than Hitler did. Adolf Hitler was very weak in studies. He had no interest whatsoever in studies and thus, maintained a very poor record in school. His tuition was not comp leted when he left the school to fulfill his desire of becoming an artist. When Hitler turned thirteen, Alois passed away. Klara was left with Hitler and Paula and had to take care of the two children on her own. As a teenager, Hitler neither studied nor worked. Instead, he cultivated interest in the fields of history and politics. Meanwhile, Hitler made an attempt to study in the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts and applied for it, but the application went atrophy. In 1908, Klara could not survive cancer and passed away. From the age of nineteen onwards, Hitler and Paula were left all alone. Although Hitler did have uncles and aunts from his mother’s and father’s families, yet they were not keen on supporting the children. Hitler resolved to travel to Vienna in 1909 with a view to earning money. For almost a year or perhaps more, Hitler had no food or shelter. He was homeless and had his meals in the charity soup-kitchens. He never continued a job for long. Instead, he wou ld do occasional menial jobs. He also persuaded people that would show the slightest interest in Hitler’s paintings into buying them. This was how Hitler spent his life from his mother’s death till 1913. The penniless vagabond, Adolf Hitler traveled to the southern part of Germany in 1913 and reached Munich. In 1914, when the World War I commenced, Hitler applied to join in the German Army. He was fortunate enough to be selected for the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment. This was the turning point in the life of Adolf Hitler. He became a soldier from a penniless drifter. Hitler participated in the World War I from the side of Germany and fought very bravely. Owing to the display of immense courage and bravery in the war, Hitler was promoted to Corporal. He was also granted the awards of First Class and the Iron Cross Second Class. Hitler kept wearing the former throughout his life until the day of his death. An attack of British gas had blinded Hitler temporarily and he was hospitalized on the day, on which the armistice was announced in 1918. By the end of 1918, Hitler rejoined his regiment in Munich. In the four months from December 1918 till March of the following year, Hitler served in Traunstein at a camp of prisoner-of-war. After that, he moved back to Munich and saw that the local Communists had initiated a takeover bid. The Communists had snatched the authority before the army could expel them. Hitler was offered an opportunity to join a local army organization that aimed at convincing the returning soldiers to stay away from pacifism or communism. The training Hitler received in it and the duties that followed helped him improve his oratory skills. One of his duties was to spy on some political groups. At one gathering of the German Worker’s Party, Hitler became extremely angry to hear a speech and berated the speaker. Anion Drexler, who was that party’s founder was extremely overwhelmed with the overt expression of c ourage made by Hitler and thus, invited Hitler to

Cultural Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cultural - Research Paper Example We will try to develop an understanding of the impact of modes of subsistence on cultural behavior. Since cultural behavior is a vast field which is depicted in all strata’s of life which is beyond the scope of this paper so we will restrict ourselves to just three aspects. Basseri Basseri are the nomadic Muslim tribe of Iran who inhabit the province of Fars and migrate along the mountain near the town of Shiraz. The Basseri is a group defined by political rather than geographical or ethnic criteria. Their population estimated in late 1950’s was 16,000. More recent estimates were not published. In this paper we will focus on the traditional Basseri culture which still exists. (Khanam, 2005) The language spoken by Basseri is a dialect of Farsi. Although majority can only speak Basseri dialect but a few can also speak Turkish or Arabic. Most of the population settled in southern Iran claim ancestral link with Basseri. The other nomadic groups are Yazd-e-Khast, the Bugard- Basseri, and Basseri who inhabit the east of Iran, Semnan. All of them are believed to be connected with the traditional Basseri of Fars. In the mid- nineteenth century Khamseh confederacy was formed and the Basseri were part of it. As with the passage of time Basseri grew in importance within the confederacy it resulted in the diminishing power and importance of the confederacy as a political and social unit. The habitat of the Basseri is hot and acrid climate of the Persian Gulf. They traditionally inhabit a large ecological range of 18,000 to 21,000 square kilometers. In the southern section there is a desert of about 600-900 kilometers whereas north has high mountains. Mountain precipitation supports reasonable vegetation and even foresting. Primary Mode of Subsistence Different modes of subsistence are developed in the same way in all human societies. According to Miller the similarities of wants and the faculties through which these wants are supplied has actually made this pr ogression quite uniform throughout the world. Based on this notion and supported by the fact Scot developed stadial theories of progress and social change. Modes of subsistence are the primary concern of any society. It shapes social institution and human activity. (Smith, 2006)According to Smith based on the reaction to subsistence societies can be divided into four categories. Smith’s four stages are age of Hunters, age of Sheppard, age of Agriculture, age of Commerce. These four stages are viewed as a general schema of social development of all societies. Thus each stage depicts its own set of moral and social behaviors which are in consistency with the physical conditions and security of subsistence. Basic human relations are dependent on modes of subsistence. The concept of subordination, kinship, social, economic and political environment, position of women, parent-child relationship everything changes in the light of modes of subsistence. Each stage has a different dom inant mode of subsistence but each stage also absorbs the stage before. He argues that specifically for this reason in this age of commerce hunting, husbandry and agriculture also exists. Hence the relationship between primary modes of subsistence and its impact on social, political, economic environment, kinship etc is established.

The Korean War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Korean War - Essay Example Needless to say, all these great cultural symbols are very much part of the common civilization of the Korean people. The Korean people are still haunted by the specter of the Korean War, which they found in the interests of their imperialist masters. There still exist chances for unification of the Korea as wished by many millions of Koreans through reconciliation and remorse. The Korean War and its After Waves The degradation of Korean monarchy and its subsequent destruction by Japanese imperialism lies at the root of the problems in the Korean peninsula. The Korean liberation from the clutches of Japanese imperialism was the first real opportunity to be one under the labels of singular national culture and unified national language. Importantly, both the Korean language and cultural national identity were being systematically destroyed under Japanese tutelage. According to Pihl, â€Å"many Koreans saw the 1945 Liberation as the first opportunity in their history to be truly Korea n in their own land† (79). One of the primary aims of the national liberation of Korea was to establish a single body of Korean literature based on newly found self awareness. But, the beginning of the civil war again blocked the free development of the Korean literature and there emerged not a single body of literature but a South Korean literature and North Korean literature. The emergence of South Korea and North Korea as a result of the division of nation was not characterized by the founding of two new distinct nations as such. On the other hand, the newly formed two countries were equally the distorted versions of a single nation. It is war that constituted the two countries, not any progressive or productive developments. It is interesting to note that [i]n Korean, the 1945 liberation is called Kwangbok, â€Å"Glorious Recovery†, but it was neither glorious nor a recovery and, worse, it was capped by an internecine war of horrifically compressed violence that spe ared no corner of the country† (Pihl, 82). The national awareness which was a product of the national liberation in 1945 unfortunately did not last long as aspired by millions of Koreans. As the divisions between the two parts of the country widened, it reflected as emptiness in the national cultural as well. â€Å"The most ironic formative experience of the 20th century for Korean literature began with Liberation on August 15, 1945. Koreans regained a country that had been lost to Japanese imperialism, only to lose it again to Russian and American imperialism† notes the well-known Korean literary commentator Pihl (82). The Korean civil war had multiple reasons for come to existence. It was the direst result of the division of the country in the August 1945. It was America that played the prominent role in dividing the Korea and there established a colonial authority which was composed of comprador Koreans. After that, the former Soviet Union too played a crucial role i n keeping the division between two Koreas intact as it was necessary for ‘building socialism’ regardless of the basic unity and integrity of the Korean civilization. Thirdly, the internal divisions among the Koreans also have its due share in the division of the country as perpetuated by the ruling elites. The dialectical irony is that, as elaborated by the well-known theorist Cumings, â€Å"

Hong Kong Wealth Gap Essay Example for Free

Hong Kong Wealth Gap Essay According to the Development of the Human Race Report, which published in 2005, the wealth gap of Hong Kong is the widest within the thirty high living standard countries/regions. Local View The rich is getting richer, and the poor is getting poorer. For instance, in 2001, 10% of the highest income family in Hong Kong, their natural income still had 5% growth after the 97 Financial Storms. On the other hand, the natural income of 60% Hong Kong family kept decreasing at the same time. Sometime, the wealth gap problem is a type of circulation. For example, some poor is living in poverty life because he/she had low educational level and he/she now cannot afford the education fee for their children, when the children grow up, they will remain poor or even poorer. Yet out of Hong Kongs seven million residents, an estimated 1. 25 million people are living below the poverty line. You may ask what does the life of poor people look like. Well, nothing, they have nothing at all. Imagine you are living in a cage home, a flat which can only let you sit and sleep, everyday you eat pot noodles for every meal, wear the same clothes and use the same towel without cleaning, how dirty is it! Besides, when you go to the street, people stand back from you because you are so dirty. The adults may point at you and tell the children to study hard so that they dont need to live like you in the future. What is your feeling of these? Yes, it is another problem, discrimination. Poverty is the excuse of discrimination. People are not actually care about the feelings of poor people. Definition of poverty Poverty means going short materially, socially and emotionally. It means spending less on food, on heating, and on clothing than someone on an average income. Above all, poverty takes away the tools to build the blocks for the future your life chance. It steals away the opportunity to have a life unmarked by sickness, a decent education, secure home and a long retirement.

The Nclex Rn Is The Final Test Nursing Essay

The Nclex Rn Is The Final Test Nursing Essay When a graduate nurse fails the NCLEX-RN exam, there may be significant adverse effects for stakeholders. Ethical responsibility of graduating student who meets the qualifications and academic rigor of the nursing program but cannot pass the NCLEX-RN exam needs to be addressed by educators. Approximately 15,000 students failed to pass the NCLEX-RN exam annually. Closure of nursing programs may result if students consistently fail to maintain the national benchmark standards set by the NCSBN. Graduates failing the NCLEX-RN affect three major stakeholders: graduate nurses, health care organizations, and the nursing program (Roa et al., 2010). Nursing programs have implemented specific strategies for student success on the NCLEX-RN exam. Strategies for success include strict admission requirements, identifying at-risk students, developing and enforcing specific progression policies, developing course-related interventions, endorsing review courses, providing individual and academic support, and requiring interventions for at-risk students (Herrman Johnson, 2009). Faculty at a nursing program in the Southeastern region of the United States wanted to determine if the Computer HESI exit exam was equivalent to paper-and-pencil exit exam, the Mosby Assess Paper and Pencil Test (MAT). They administered two exit exams to their students, the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) Exit Exam and the MAT. The HESI exit exam was given first and the MAT was given 4 months later. The MAT was completed for graduation and the HESI for evaluation. The HESI scores was r = 0.723, p Educators at the University of Delaware developed a residency curriculum including a senior- year involvement. The curricula consisted of two seminars during the final year of school. The first seminar was conducted on key information related to professional clinical development. Culturally component caregiving, complementary and alternative health care practices, legal and ethical issues in practice, and career planning and preparation were also included (Herrman Johnson 2009). The second seminar, scheduled the semester prior to graduation, consisted of reinforcement study skills and preparation for the NCLEX-RN. This course provides consecutive clinical building of NCLEX-RN specific content through the semester (Herrman Johnson, 2009). Faculties at Wichita State University (WSU) were unable to meet their set goal for passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Upon inquiry, they realized that the students did not appear overly anxious about taking the exam and usually waited until after graduation to start preparing for it. Due to their not meeting the national average, the faculty agreed that a program utilizing standardized practice test to increase preparation for NCLEX-RN and give feedback regarding their performance needed to be established. The faculty instituted a program of standardized computer testing. Test scores along with course grades were used to identify at-risk students to give them additional assistance (Jacobs Koehn, 2006). Educators reviewed various program and decided on the program established by ATI. Two tests were chosen by the school: the test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) and the Comprehensive Predictor test. Faculty tested the students near the end of the semester with students required to make the 60th percentile or remediation is necessary. Students not completing remediation by the end of the semester will receive an incomplete and cannot move forward to the next course until completed. The first class to graduate following the implementation of the ATI standardized computer testing, showed an improvement on NCLEX-RN pass rate. The ATI program validated a solid consumer-oriented program that was helpful to WSU nursing school (Jacobs Koehn, 2006). Bondmass, Moonie, and Kowalski (2008) conducted a study concerning a change in the NCLEX-RN success rates following the addition of standardized exams throughout the program curriculum. They also compared the exam scores between graduates who passed the NCLEX-RN, and those who did not. The 187 students consisting of four classes were enrolled in the study. Twenty-three students (12.3%) did not graduate from the program. One-hundred and sixty-one students completed the program and graduated. The retention rate for the students was 87.7%. Of the 161 students, data was available for 147 students. One hundred and twenty-nine (87.8%) students passed the NCLEX-RN exam on the first attempt and 18 (12.2%) graduates did not pass. Results showed a 8.5% change (p National Council of State Boards of Nursing Founded in 1978, the (NCSBN) is a not-for-profit organization created in order to guard the safety of the public. NCSBN protects the public by ensuring that licensed nurses provide safe and competent nursing care. NCSBN establishes regulatory excellence for public health to ensure that nurses entering the workforce have the necessary knowledge and skills to practice. To accomplish their goals, the NCSBN develops a licensure examination that is consistent with current nursing practice. NCLEX-RN test questions are based on Blooms taxonomy for the cognitive domain (NCSBN, 2012; Anderson Krathwohl, 2001). NCSBN is the collective voice of nursing regulation in the U.S. and its territories with work that involves: Developing the NCLEX-RN, NCLEX-PN, NNAAP and MACE examinations. Monitoring trends in public policy, nursing practice and education. Promoting uniformity in relationship to the regulation of nursing practice. Disseminating data related to the licensure of nurses. Conducting research on nursing practice issues. Serving as a forum for information exchange for members. Providing opportunities for collaboration among its members and other nursing and health care organizations. Maintaining the Nurses database, by coordinating national publicly available nurse licensure information (NCSBN, 2012). Computerized NCLEX-RN test includes multiple choices, exhibit items, fill-in-the- blank calculations, drag and drop, charts and graphs, and hot spot items. The NCSBN developed a position statement in July 2009 regarding the impending nursing shortage. NCSBN posits that standards should be based on the highest degree of available evidence for nursing practice, education, and regulation, and that these standards should be upheld in order to secure, safe care and quality education for students (NCSBNC, 2009). This statement was developed based on chronological events that occurred in reaction to previous shortage employing deregulation of educational standards including decreased qualified faculty. The NCSBN reviews the NCLEX-RN exam every 3 years for possible increase in intensity of questions to reflect the complications of patient care encountered by health care organizations. The NCLEX- RN exam was updated in April 2010 because of the national practice analysis survey on current practice of entry-level nurses and because of employers demanding higher levels of competence from new graduate nurses (Roa, et al., 2010). Assessment Technology Institute According to Davenport (2008), various strategies associated with passing the NCLEX-RN exam. One such strategy, the Assessment Technology Institute (ATI) offers programs that are influential in improving faculty, student and program outcomes such as the predictor test. The ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor test provides students and faculties with a numeric report of the probability of passing the NCLEX-RN at the student present level of preparedness. Secondly, the predictor is a guide for remediation based on the content missed. Students are given a list of topics missed in the individual and group score report. An all-encompassing validation process involving statistical comparison of student performance on the RN Comprehensive Predictor and the concrete NCLEX-RN first attempt pass/fail status. Students are required to purchase the ATI comprehensive package that gives them access to all required test throughout the program. Included in the program are computerized critical thinking entrances and exit exams, a learning style inventory, content-specific exams, and comprehensive predictor test, which are based on the NCLEX-RN test blueprint. Students complete nonproctored and proctored exams during each semester. The ATI comprehensive package assists educators in augmenting curriculum, upgrading courses, and faculty development (Davenport, 2008). Alameida, Find all citations by this author (default). Orfilter your current search Prive, Find all citations by this author (default). Orfilter your current search Davis, Find all citations by this author (default). Orfilter your current search Landry, Find all citations by this author (default). Orfilter your current search Renwanz-Boyle, Find all citations by this author (default). Orfilter your current search Dunham (2011) conducted a study on standardized testing to predict first-time success from two prelicensing programs. The sample size (N=589) students, completed the nursing program between 2003 and 2009. Demographic data, GPA, and ATI RN scores were analyzed. The results of the study showed that the ATI RN Comprehensive predictor was associated with first-time pass success. Students at-risk of failing the NCLEX-RN exam could be identified prior to testing and remediated to increase their probability of passing. Health Education Systems Incorporated HESI is a standardized exam used by schools of nursing in evaluating students competency achievement of curricular outcomes. HESI provides various exams including the HESI Admission Assessment (entrance exam), specialty exams that can assess detailed clinical content, custom exam which assess faculty-specific content; and the HESI Exit Exam, a comprehensive exit assessment evaluate students knowledge base and their ability to apply nursing concepts. For this research purpose, the HESI Exit Exam will be reviewed (Morrison, Adamson, Nibert, Hsia, 2008). The HESI Exist Exam is a comprehensive 150-item test administered prior to completion of the nursing for evaluation of students readiness for the NCLEX-RN. Identification of students weaknesses, strengths, and the need for remediation prior to taking the exam is determined. Test items are based on a critical-thinking model that necessitates applying clinical reasoning to select the correct answers (Nibert, Young, Adamson 2008). The HESI Predictability Model, a proprietary mathematical model, calculates scores of this exam. The reliability of the exam is determined by conducting an item analysis on each exam for a composite report of the combined data. Validity is determined by an evaluation of content validity, construct validity, and criterion-related validity (Morrison, et al., 2008). Critical Thinking Critical thinking is an integral part of accountability and quality care within the nursing profession. Critical thinking continues to be an essential part of nursing and must be a central factor of course content. Shirrell (2008) conducted a study to determine if critical thinking is a predictor of NCLEX success. Results showed that critical thinking alone is not a good predictor of NCLEX-RN success. Including critical thinking, in the curriculum is essential for enhancement of the students higher level of thinking. Critical thinking skills are an expectation of all nurses for accurate interpretation of patient issues and appropriate management of their care. Patients lives depend on nurses making quick decisions and taking appropriate action. Brookfield (2010) describes critical thinking as developing an awareness of the assumption that an individual and others think and act. Critical thinking is what students see and how they will take care of problems to make the patient healthier. It essential for students to know CT is the distinction between keeping patients safe and putting them in harms way. Alfaro-LeFevre (2009) created a 4 circle critical thinking (CT) model that Educators can use in helping students to understand critical thinking. CTA-JPEG Figure 1 Alfaro-LeFevre, R. (2009). Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment: A Practical Approach to Outcome-Focused Thinking (4th ed). St Louis, Missouri. Beginning at the top and continuing clockwise, this model helps students understand the need for a commitment to developing critical thinking characteristics such as persistence and fair-mindedness. Second, students should be responsible for their learning by seeking out learning experiences that will get them academic and pragmatic knowledge needed to critically think. Third, students need to develop interpersonal skills for example, conflict management, teamwork, and being an advocate for their patients. Fourth, students should practicing related technical skills for example using computers, starting intravenous therapy, completing sterile procedures (Alfaro-LeFevre, 2009). Educators using the nursing process can help their students improving their critical thinking skills, pass the NCLEX-RN exam and be safe, effective nurses. NCLEX-RN Test Plan The licensing authorities within the state, commonwealth and territorial boards of nursing regulate entry into the practice of nursing. Development of the NCLEX-RN Test Plan is accomplished by collecting data on the current practices of entry-level nurses for the purpose of by conducting a practice analysis. Licensed RNs were asked about the occurrence and significance of performing 155 activities concerning current nursing practice. An analysis of the activities is completed in relation to the frequency of performance, impact on maintaining client safety and client care settings where the activities are performed. Result of the analysis serves as a guide for improvement of standards for entry-level nursing practice. The succeeding stage involves development of the NCLEX-RN Test Plan, which guides the selection of content and performances to be tested (2010 NCLEX-RN Detailed Test Plan, NCSBN, 2010). The NCLEX-RN Test Plan serves as a template for development of the examination. The NCLEXÂ ® examination assesses the knowledge, skills and abilities that are essential for the nurse. The organization of the NCLEX-RN examination is based on nursing actions and competencies crucial for meeting the needs of patients. The test plan is reviewed and approved by the NCLEX Examination Committee. Resources used in this process include the recent practice analysis of RNs, expert opinions of the NCLEX-RN Examination Committee, and NCSBNs member boards to certify that the test plan is reliable with state nurse practice acts. Upon approval of the NCLEX-RN Examination Committee, the test plan is presented to the Delegate Assembly for review and approval (2010 NCLEX-RN Detailed Test Plan, NCSBN, 2010). In December 2009, the NCSBN Board of Directors made a decision to raise the NCLEX-RN from -0.21 to -0.16 logits. In combination with the 2010 NCLEX-RN Test Plan, the new standards was applied April 1, 2010. The Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) is used to administer the examination. CAT is a technique for administering exams that combines computer technology with contemporary measurement concept to increase the competence of the exam process (2010 NCLEX-RN Detailed Test Plan, NCSBN, 2010). Test Plan Structure The framework of the test plan is based on client needs, defining nursing actions and competencies which focus on clients in all situations. The structure of the NCLEX-RN Test Plan has four major client needs categories with two of the four categories divided into subcategories. The four categories of the 2010 NCLEX-RN Test Plan and subcategories are: Safe and Effective Care Environment Management of Care Safety and Infection Control Health Promotion and Maintenance Psychosocial Integrity Physiological Integrity Basic Care and Comfort Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies Reduction of Risk Potential Physiological Adaptation (2010 NCLEX-RN Detailed Test Plan, NCSBN, 2007). Integrated Processes The following processes are fundamental to the practice of nursing and are integrated throughout the Client Needs categories and subcategories: Nursing Process a scientific, clinical reasoning approach to client care that includes assessment, analysis, planning, implementation and evaluation. Caring interaction of the nurse and client in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust. In this collaborative environment, the nurse provides encouragement, hope, support and compassion to help achieve desired outcomes. Communication and Documentation verbal and nonverbal interactions between the nurse and the client, the clients significant others and the other members of the health care team. Events and activities associated with client care are validated in written and/or electronic records that reflect standards of practice and accountability in the provision of care. Teaching/Learning facilitation of the acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes promoting a change in behavior (2010 NCLEX-RN Detailed Test Plan, NCSBN, 2007). Distribution of Content Based on the results of the Report of Findings from the 2008 RN Practice Analysis: Linking the NCLEX-RNÂ ® Examination to Practice, Percentage of test questions allocated to each client needs category and subcategory of the NCLEX-RN Test Plan (NCSBN, 2009). Percentage of Items from Each Client Needs Category/Subcategory are: Safe and Effective Care Environment Management of Care 16-22% Safety and Infection Control 8-14% Heath Promotion and Maintenance 6-12% Psychosocial Integrity 6-12% Physiological Integrity Basic Care and Comfort 6-12% Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 13-19% Reduction of Risk Potential 10-16% Physiological Adaptation 11-17% (2010 NCLEX-RN Detailed Test Plan, NCSBN, 2010). The detailed test plan serves as a guide for students and faculty to assist in preparation for the examination. Additionally, the test plan directs item writers in the improvement of test questions and simplifies the classification of examination items. NCSBN creates two versions of the detailed test plan; 1) Item Writer/Item Reviewer/Nurse Educator version and 2) Applicant version. The Item Writer/Item Reviewer/Nurse Educator version has a more exhaustive and wide-ranging listing of content for each client needs category and subcategory. Following each category are sample questions, which are explicit to the client needs category reviewed in that section. The educator version of the test plan has an item writing guide with sample scenarios for hands-on experience in writing NCLEX style test questions. The student version of the detailed test plan does not have an item-writing guide (NCLEX-RN Detailed Test Plan, NCSBN, 2010). Implications Results of this study may have implications for nursing programs and show a need for further research. Academic variables might prove useful in the early identification of students at risk for failing the NCLEX exam. Results from this study may also influence nursing programs by assisting nursing faculty in identifying at-risk students who may need remediation to increase their chances of being successful in the nursing program. In addition, results from this study may be important because predictor variables may point to factors that may lead to a successful first attempt at the NCLEX-RN. The majority of the nursing graduates who take the NCLEX-RN examination are associates degree graduates, and success on the exam influences the number of nurses entering the field each year (NCSBN, 2009). Summary Nursing programs need to identify causes for attrition and implement strategies to retain students and improve recruitment of students with increased probability of successfully finishing nursing school (NLNAC, 2008). The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2005) is in agreement with the recommendations from the NLNAC. Causes of the nursing shortage are multi-faceted. Literature review shows there is a downward trend in the number of nursing graduates who are successful with the NCLEX-RN exam for first time test takers. There is a critical need for registered nurses who can function as competent professionals. Nursing programs need to develop strategies that will help decrease their attrition rate in order for nursing graduates to be successful with the NCLEX-RN exam on the first attempt. The scope of the national nursing shortage goes well beyond the healthcare agencies. Nursing programs are conscientiously working to increase the number of qualified graduate nurses to address the nursing shortage. Increase in graduates is only one consideration to increasing enrollment. Along with increasing enrollment, nursing programs must maintain quality programs. Nursing educators need to improve students likelihood of passing the NCLEX-RN through nursing programs structure curriculum, developing assessment testing, and utilizing program predictors to identify students at risk for failure on NCLEX-RN. The quality of a good nursing program is dependent on their graduates being successful with the NCLEX- RN exam on the first attempt. Section 2: The Methodology Introduction With the growing shortage of nurses and increased number of students failing the NCLEX-RN, critical evaluation of predictors of success for first time test takers is essential for improvement of NCLEX-RN scores. Determining predictors of success will assist nursing programs in determining at-risk students for remediation to give them the greatest probability for NCLEX-RN success. The purpose of this quantitative study is to determine if there is a positive correlation between predictor test and NCLEX-RN success for first-time test takers. This study will examine predictors of success of an Associate Degree of Nursing program from 2010 to 2011. The research will address the following questions: Is there a correlation between GPA pre-nursing GPA, final GPA, and NCLEX-RN success? Is there a correlation between age, gender, and NCLEX-RN success? Is there a correlation between ATI scores and NCLEX-RN success? To answer these questions, predictors of NCLEX-RN will identify four cohorts of students graduating in Spring 2010, Summer 2010, Spring 2011, and Summer 2011. NCLEX-RN results and ATI predictor results will be obtained from archival student data with permission of the college. The population will be students who completed a five-semester ADN nursing program. Data will be reviewed to determine: Students who passed the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt and made the required score on the ATI test. Students who passed the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt and did not make the required score on the ATI test. Students who failed the NCLEX-RN and did not make the required score on the ATI test. Students GPA before beginning the nursing program. Students GPA at completion of the nursing program. The dependent variable is the passing NCLEX-RN. The independent variables include students GPA pre-nursing and GPA at completion of the nursing program, age, gender, and the ATI predictor scores given at the end of the nursing program. These academic and nonacademic variables have been used in previous studies and are associated with a positive and significant predictor of NCLEX success (Gilmore, 2008; Frith et al, 2008; Truman, 2012; Wolkowitz, 2009). Quantitative research (Lodico, Spaulding, Voegtle, 2010) is conducted to determine the relationships between variables. There are two types of correlational designs, explanatory and prediction. An explanatory design, which will be used for this study, is a correlational design that examines whether changes in one variable will effect changes in one or more variables (Creswell, 2012). The following characteristics need to be present to use an explanatory design: correlation of two or more variables by the researcher, data are collected at one point in time, all participants are analyzed as a single group, obtains at least two scores for each individual in the group, employs correlational statistical testing in data analysis, and infers a conclusions from the statistical data. All characteristics apply to this study (Creswell, 2012). Sample and Data Collection The sample will consist of students who completed the program and sat for the NCLEX-RN exam spring 2010 (N = 54), summer 2010 (N = 44), spring 2011 (N = 49), summer 2011(N=41). Descriptive statistics will be used to describe and summarize the sample and examine relationships between each variable. Descriptive statistics will also be used to assess differences in the graduates who did not pass the NCLEX-RN exam and those who successfully passed the exam. This study will be conducted in a technical college, located in the southeastern area of South Carolina. Students NCLEX pass rates, ATI predictor scores, academic and nonacademic predictors will be collected from archival student data. Data will be entered via Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18.0. Academic and nonacademic predictors will be correlated with the numbers of students who were successful on their first attempt with NCLEX-RN exam. Additionally, a correlation of the ATI predictor exam scores used by the college as subsequent NCLEX-RN success will be completed. Data Analysis The use of descriptive statistics to summarize the findings is essential aspect of research for clarity (Lodico et al, 2010). Descriptive statistics (mean, mode and standard deviation) will also be used to identify the continuous sample. The level of significance will be set at p Pearsons r is very vulnerable to outliers in the data so you need to test for outliers. Outliers can be detected by plotting the two variables against each other on a graph and visually inspecting the graph for errors. The outlier can be removed or manipulated as long as it can justified why it was done. If there is no justification for removing the outlier, a Spearmans Rank Order Correlation can be done (Green Salkind, 2011). Ethical Considerations Informed consent is not needed from students. The research will be limited to existing academic records maintained by the college of nursing program. No names will be used in this study. Data will be coded into the SPSS to protect students records. Students grades and ATI results are stored the nursing department and permission to view these records will need to be granted by the dean of nursing and the vice president of academic affairs. The researcher will also need approval from Institutional Research Board (IRB) before assessing any student records for the purpose of the study Conclusion Data from this project study will provide information that will assist in improving student success with NCLEX-RN on their first attempt. This quantitative study will assist the college in developing plans for early intervention and counseling for students who are at risk of failing the NCLEX-RN. Students will also benefit from consistent counseling by faculty and remediation for low scores on standardized test. Schools of nursing will also benefit from students improving

What is reading :: Word Recognition, Reading Comprehension

What is reading? At a very tender age, when I first learned to read words, I was excited because I was now a reader but was I really reading or just lifting words off paper? Even though this is necessary for reading, reading is more complex than just recognizing words. The reader has to make sense of the words base and their context. While engaged in reading, the prior knowledge is activated along with personal connection, ideas, and opinions. Unfortunately, children will develop reading problems if they do get the necessary stills that will allow them to function on a higher level and succeed in life. Jennings, Caldwell and Lerner (2010) mentioned that it is said that â€Å"Children must learn to read so that later they can read to learn† (pg. 4). Therefore reading is the foundation that children need to be successful in life. Jennings, Caldwell and Lerner (2010) advised that to help children read better and develop a love for reading, fall on the laps of the teaching professionals since they are the planner and implementation of instructional services (pg. 3). It is understandable that even though there are different levels of readers, the ultimate goal is for teachers to create good readers in children. Jennings, Caldwell and Lerner (2010) iterate that reading is making sense of text. The reader generates his or her own mental version of what is been read (pg. 13). In my field experience, I have seen children who could read any word off paper but had no opinion of what is going on in the story. I have also experienced teachers getting frustrated when their students are not able to decipher or decode words in context or make connection to text. Jennings, Caldwell and Lerner (2010) talked about the three elements of reading. There is the reader, the reading material and the reading situation. The r eader brain is super active while making sense of the material and creating a version that will fit into the reader scheme (pg. 13). As I think back on Jennings, Caldwell and Lerner’s observation, I can remember reading about a Niagara Falls at a young age in Jamaica, West Indies and not knowing what Niagara Falls looks like, I construction in my mind that it looked like Dunn’s River fall in Jamaica. Years later I realized Dunn’s River Fall cannot be compare to Niagara Falls.

The 1947 Roswell Crash Essays -- Aviation

In 1947, an unidentified flying object crashed into the small town of Roswell, New Mexico. The United States Air Force published a report in 1994. So why do conspiracists still believe an alien crashed into Roswell? After a hot humid day in July 1947, severe and violent thunderstorms filled the night sky. Long time farmer, Mac Brazel was used to thunder, and storms out in the country. Although something about this night was different. He heard an extremely loud crash, though didn’t think much of it. The next morning however, Brazel stumbled upon the debris of a strange object on his farm. Brazel brought some of the material to a nearby neighbor who urged him to report his find in hopes of getting a reward. Brazel informed the sheriff of Chaves County about the strange material, and he was sure it was the remains of a â€Å"flying disc†. The Sheriff then informed the Roswell Air Force Base. Major Jesse Marcel immediately looked into the matter. Colonel William Blanchard ordered the debris field to be cordoned off, and began the investigation. On July 8th, Blanchard ordered a press release confirming that the Air Force had a â€Å"flying disc† in its possession. Shortly after, the statement was revoked and a new statement was made that it was not in fact a flying disc but a high altitude weather balloon. Major Edwin Easley was ordered to shut down all roads to the crash site and to black out information about the crash field. The debris was removed from the small Roswell farm and transferred to Eighth Air Force Headquarters in Ft. Worth Texas, under the command of General Roger Ramey. According to some witnesses, Colonel Dubose in Houston received a classified phone call from a â€Å"very high† authority ordering him to devise a cover-up stor... ...documents were destroyed. Congressman Steve Schiff also had problems with the report. Important documents that could have illuminated what really happened in Roswell, we reported destroyed. Despite what these critics say about the report, many other UFO researchers concluded that project Mogul was the best explanation for what crashed in Roswell, New Mexico in July, 1947. Works Cited Jeffrey, Kent. "Roswell: The Whole Story." CUFOs. (2004): n. page. Web. . Malone, Guy. "Roswell UFO Crash." Alien Resistance.org. (2002): n. page. Web. . Rudiak, David. "Roswell Proof." (2001): n. page. Web . Dean, Richard. "Roswell, The Facts, Truths and Eyewitness Accounts." UFO Evidence. (2011): n. page. Web. .

Anti-monopoly laws in Turkey, Greece, and Italy,and Their Enforcement E

Anti-monopoly laws in Turkey, Greece, and Italy,and Their Enforcement A free market economy allows a nation to have open and equal (to an extent) competition while utilizing the resources available in the most effective manner. However, it is not perfect and can lead to some problems such as someone controlling the whole market or, in other words, having a monopoly or monopoly power. Also, there could be cartels, which are when companies will make agreements that ?abandon competition between themselves in order to increase their profit? (?Message of the President? 1). Both of these are dangerous for the economy because they not only harm competition for smaller businesses but also the consumer, who is forced to pay whatever prices the companies agree upon. These dangers for the economy create a need for the national governments to have anti-monopoly laws that ban such practices. However, with the creation of these laws also comes the need for the enforcement of them, and so there are many new government agencies that work to make sure they are enf orced. Some countries and organizations that have these laws and enforcement agencies over competition are Turkey and the European Union, which includes Italy and Greece. Anti-monopoly or antitrust laws, mainly work against an imbalance of competition in a free market economy. In other words, they work against the ?abuse of dominant position? or ?a situation of economic power held by a firm, which allows it to hinder effective competition in the relevant market.? To fight this possibility antitrust laws work to prevent infringements of the laws by businesses. The laws work to rule out anything that restricts competition whether it is cartels, monopolies, or other agreeme... ...ar of being monopolized. Works Cited ?Abuse of Dominant Position.? Rekabet Kurumu.? http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/ehakimdurum.html 12 Dec, 2003. ?Antitrust Reform frequently asked questions.? http://www.europa.eu.int/news/index_en.htm 16 Dec. 2003. ?Law no. 287 of October 10th, 1990.? AGCM HomePage. 13 Oct. 1990. Italy. 8 Jan. 2004 . Path: Legislation; Law no. 287 of October 10th, 1990. ?Message of the President.? Rekabet Kurumu. http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/ebaskanmesaj.html 12 Dec, 2003. ?News Releases.? AGCM HomePage. http://www.agcm.it/eng/index.htm 12 Dec, 2003. ?The Act on the Protection of Competition: No. 4054.? Rekabet Kurumu. http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/word/ekanun.doc 12 Dec, 2003. http://www.europa.eu.int/index_en.htm 16 Dec. 2003 http://www.europa.eu.int/scadplus/leglen/lvb/126005.htm 16 Dec. 2003. Anti-monopoly laws in Turkey, Greece, and Italy,and Their Enforcement E Anti-monopoly laws in Turkey, Greece, and Italy,and Their Enforcement A free market economy allows a nation to have open and equal (to an extent) competition while utilizing the resources available in the most effective manner. However, it is not perfect and can lead to some problems such as someone controlling the whole market or, in other words, having a monopoly or monopoly power. Also, there could be cartels, which are when companies will make agreements that ?abandon competition between themselves in order to increase their profit? (?Message of the President? 1). Both of these are dangerous for the economy because they not only harm competition for smaller businesses but also the consumer, who is forced to pay whatever prices the companies agree upon. These dangers for the economy create a need for the national governments to have anti-monopoly laws that ban such practices. However, with the creation of these laws also comes the need for the enforcement of them, and so there are many new government agencies that work to make sure they are enf orced. Some countries and organizations that have these laws and enforcement agencies over competition are Turkey and the European Union, which includes Italy and Greece. Anti-monopoly or antitrust laws, mainly work against an imbalance of competition in a free market economy. In other words, they work against the ?abuse of dominant position? or ?a situation of economic power held by a firm, which allows it to hinder effective competition in the relevant market.? To fight this possibility antitrust laws work to prevent infringements of the laws by businesses. The laws work to rule out anything that restricts competition whether it is cartels, monopolies, or other agreeme... ...ar of being monopolized. Works Cited ?Abuse of Dominant Position.? Rekabet Kurumu.? http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/ehakimdurum.html 12 Dec, 2003. ?Antitrust Reform frequently asked questions.? http://www.europa.eu.int/news/index_en.htm 16 Dec. 2003. ?Law no. 287 of October 10th, 1990.? AGCM HomePage. 13 Oct. 1990. Italy. 8 Jan. 2004 . Path: Legislation; Law no. 287 of October 10th, 1990. ?Message of the President.? Rekabet Kurumu. http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/ebaskanmesaj.html 12 Dec, 2003. ?News Releases.? AGCM HomePage. http://www.agcm.it/eng/index.htm 12 Dec, 2003. ?The Act on the Protection of Competition: No. 4054.? Rekabet Kurumu. http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/word/ekanun.doc 12 Dec, 2003. http://www.europa.eu.int/index_en.htm 16 Dec. 2003 http://www.europa.eu.int/scadplus/leglen/lvb/126005.htm 16 Dec. 2003. Anti-monopoly laws in Turkey, Greece, and Italy,and Their Enforcement E Anti-monopoly laws in Turkey, Greece, and Italy,and Their Enforcement A free market economy allows a nation to have open and equal (to an extent) competition while utilizing the resources available in the most effective manner. However, it is not perfect and can lead to some problems such as someone controlling the whole market or, in other words, having a monopoly or monopoly power. Also, there could be cartels, which are when companies will make agreements that ?abandon competition between themselves in order to increase their profit? (?Message of the President? 1). Both of these are dangerous for the economy because they not only harm competition for smaller businesses but also the consumer, who is forced to pay whatever prices the companies agree upon. These dangers for the economy create a need for the national governments to have anti-monopoly laws that ban such practices. However, with the creation of these laws also comes the need for the enforcement of them, and so there are many new government agencies that work to make sure they are enf orced. Some countries and organizations that have these laws and enforcement agencies over competition are Turkey and the European Union, which includes Italy and Greece. Anti-monopoly or antitrust laws, mainly work against an imbalance of competition in a free market economy. In other words, they work against the ?abuse of dominant position? or ?a situation of economic power held by a firm, which allows it to hinder effective competition in the relevant market.? To fight this possibility antitrust laws work to prevent infringements of the laws by businesses. The laws work to rule out anything that restricts competition whether it is cartels, monopolies, or other agreeme... ...ar of being monopolized. Works Cited ?Abuse of Dominant Position.? Rekabet Kurumu.? http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/ehakimdurum.html 12 Dec, 2003. ?Antitrust Reform frequently asked questions.? http://www.europa.eu.int/news/index_en.htm 16 Dec. 2003. ?Law no. 287 of October 10th, 1990.? AGCM HomePage. 13 Oct. 1990. Italy. 8 Jan. 2004 . Path: Legislation; Law no. 287 of October 10th, 1990. ?Message of the President.? Rekabet Kurumu. http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/ebaskanmesaj.html 12 Dec, 2003. ?News Releases.? AGCM HomePage. http://www.agcm.it/eng/index.htm 12 Dec, 2003. ?The Act on the Protection of Competition: No. 4054.? Rekabet Kurumu. http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/word/ekanun.doc 12 Dec, 2003. http://www.europa.eu.int/index_en.htm 16 Dec. 2003 http://www.europa.eu.int/scadplus/leglen/lvb/126005.htm 16 Dec. 2003.

Marketing Management UBER Analysis Essay

1. Introduction Application software has been very popular as distribution platforms since 2008 due to rapid spread of smartphones all around the worldwide. According to a marketing research done by Gartner (2013), there is an increasing trend in mobile apps usage worldwide, He indicates that 21.58 billion dollars of  revenue has been made by mobile apps in 2013. Uber was established in 2009 as a digital platform that connects cab drivers and customer, by downloading the online application. Uber determines the location of customers and shows the location of the cabs nearby. Once the customer accepts to get a ride with push of a botton, the application is then authorized to take the payment based on the credit card information that has been registered under the customer’s name, without any further exchanges. Uber was established in San Francisco and has become the world’s most valuable startup in the past five years. Uber’s latest market value has been determined as 18.2 billon dollars in June 2014. However, as a disadvantage of developing markets, the entrance of Gett and Hailo in the UK market, decreased Uber’s market value. The major advantage of Gett in this compà ©titive market against Uber is charging flat fees unlike Uber. Uber has a surge pricing strategy depending on the demand, weather and distance, which is not a cost efficient way for customer. Therefore Uber it is not the cost leader in the UK e-hail market. On the other hand surge pricing has persuaded more driver to work for Uber, as it is more in their favor so that, they will not have to go through bad weather conditions or give rides in the rush hour with the usual flat fares. 2. Audit 2.a Organizational environment The increasing trend of smartphone usage especially in younger generation, technological improvements and increasing value for time perception established Uber’s increasing value. 2.b Uber’s business model Uber employs driver after they and their cars have been screened by Uber to  ensure comfort and safety of customers, Drivers are also given an iPhone once they have become a member of Uber. Uber drivers have higher income compared to traditional taxi drivers also they do not have to pay for the taxi license and the taxes that black cab driver are obligated to pay. On the consumer side, after downloading Uber, they can track the car as it approaches them on their as well as having some information about their driver before arrival such as previous reviews and ratings and their photo. Uber ‘s pricing strategy is based on the demand, distance and the car type, incase of high demands or bad weather conditions customers may have to pay a higher fee for their journey or depending and the type of car they request prices are different. Payment is done by the credit card information that the customer is registered the app with. Transactions are totally safe and secure. Uber splits the ride receipts with the driver. Uber originally used to take 20% margin of the transaction between the customer and the driver, which is now reduced to 15% due to high compà ©titions with Gett and Hailo. Uber covers its Research and technology developments, marketing and employees expenses by the percentage they take on each transaction. Another advantage is that Uber does not own a fleet of cars so they are much less costly than their competitors, This low cost business model enables Uber to keep the large percentage of it’s revenue as profits. Uber grows by reinvesting in R&D and acquisitions rather than investing in cars or expensive infrastructures. In the spotlight of this information, it is possible to say that Uber’s business model is low inventory, high transaction and high margin. Moreover, its business model is receiving the majority of funding from Google Venture. 2.c External and internal analysis of Uber Analyzing Uber from the resource-based view is crucial to understand competitive advantages of it in London taxi hailing app market. Constraints imposed by environment can have a big impact on Uber’s strategic planning and marketing. Therefore, six external conditions (Political, Environmental, Social, Technological, Economical and Legal) will be examined in relation to Uber’s business situation by using PESTEL analysis. Political factors effects transport services external environment in terms of CO2 emissions and climate change. Even though Political factors are more in favor of public transport in order to decrease CO2 emissions and help with the climate. Uber however is providing a superior service comparing to their competitors for instance Uber is offers hybrid cars, which is low in emissions and makes it easier for Uber to have some advantage when it comes to the political factors. Environmental factors such as weather conditions can affect Uber for instance higher demand due to bad weather conditions is evident. The price of the  journeys also increases when the demand is higher. Social factors including the change in lifestyle and high percentage of younger population using smartphones, indicates the customer needs, which brings them to the market. Technology developments have a major impact on Uber’s business. Increasing role of Internet in people’s life is also crucial for Uber to make innovations. Economical factors such as recessions influence directly the customer’s budget, therefore their buying power. On the other hand volatile fuel prices can have a huge impact on pricing and they are also quite unpredictable. Legal constraints also have a direct impact on Uber. Governments have the possibility to ban Uber, which is already the case in Germany, or even set new regulations for Taxi hailing apps such as Uber which can affect their performance in the market. In the next section we under take a SWOT analysis in order to analyze Uber’s Capabilities, which enables us to determine the company’s Strengths and Weaknesses as well as pointing out Threats and Opportunities. It is essential in a competitive market to be aware of the weaknesses and threats in order to be able to find solutions for them and also use the opportunities to gain more of them market share and hence increase the revenues. Figure 2: Presents SWOT analysis Strengths; which consist of internal capabilities, Uber was first in the market which creates a competitive advantage by high consumer awareness. One of the strengths of Uber is that, it has different alternatives for different customers. For example, Uber POP and UberX car alternatives are available for a cheap and fast drive, whereas if the customer is searching for quality it offers them the Uber Black Car and Uber SUV. Another strength  of Uber is that it has spread worldwide starting from USA. It has expanded through 200 cities worldwide. Moreover, the transactions are easy, safe and trustworthy. It offers a convenient way of travelling for costumers. Weaknesses indicate the areas that could be improved internally. The major point that is considered as a weakness for Uber is that they do not charge flat fees whereas Gett, which is their main competitor, offers flat and predictable prices. Moreover, Uber drivers do not have a taxi license, which can cause legal problems by time. However it operates in many cities, Uber does not operate in rural areas, which can be considered as a weakness. One of the complaints that Uber is facing is the poor consumer service. Uber offers a surge pricing for its drivers and do not hire them, but find them through agents. Analyzing the opportunities in depth we can determine that the most influential aspect in Uber’s business model is the fact that it’s a service rather than a product hence they do not have the high sunk costs that their competitors have to deal with. Moreover, being a mobile platform and not having a fleet of taxis, which is highly costly, has enabled the firm to turn most of its revenues into profits. These revenues are made from transaction costs rather than production cost. Uber does not employ drivers, which in this case allows the drivers flexibility also permit Uber to employ more drivers. The most important external threat for Uber in UK e-hail app market is the decreasing market share due to competitors such as Gett. The flat prices of Gett and some other competitors are creating a disadvantage for Uber. Not having the proper taxi license is another disadvantage for Uber. aside from that, there have been many protests by taxi companies in Germany, France, England and other nations accusing Uber to be illegal due to the fact that their driver are not paying the same tax rates as other taxi drivers, and other taxi companies accuse Uber of compromising passenger safety, and undermining legislations which exists for them. Competitors: According to the statistics of market shares of taxi hailing apps in London, Gett with 20-30% of market share is the market leader, Uber with 20% shares is the market challenger and Hailo with 10% is the follower in the market. Uber as the challenger is in a position where they can undertake some of the facilities and services that Gett is already providing for their customers in order to be able to improve their service, gain more customer and consequently gain more market share over time. Outlining the competitive landscape is important to appraise competition and indicating the strengths of the competitors can give the company objectives on what can be improved and examine weather they can be implemented by Uber. According to national statistics from department for transport, it is estimated that there are 78 thousand taxis and 153 thousand licensed private hire vehicles in England. The fÄ ±gures present that the number of PHV are twice the number of taxÄ ±s operatÄ ±ng in England. 31% of total licensed taxis and private hire vehicles in England are in London from which we can assume that private hirÄ ±ng is a popular choice for Londoners. Analyzing Gett-Taxi as the market leader we can imply that some of their most influential advantages are: Competing with flat and predictable prices: People who take taxis are not usually loyal to a specific brand and most people would choose the cheaper option and Gett has the advantage by having predictable prices without surge pricing. Enables Advance booking: Unlike Uber, Gett offers advance booking 2 weeks prior to journey whereas Uber has failed to implement this feature in their app. Offers 24 hours customer service for driver and customers: Uber has proven to be quite poor at following through with customer enquiries. On the other hand the only major advantage of Hailo that we came across is the fact that they are the only company, which has a real taxi license for all their cars. 3. Strategic Options: According to Porter, competitive advantage is derived from the value a firm  is able to create for its buyers that exceeds the firm’s cost of creating it. Utility of Uber can be increased by the following three categories: †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Service: Reducing the time to reach customers when they need the service can enhance Uber’s service. The cab and the driver have to be reliable and can provide modern and comfortable cabs for service. †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Personnel: service can be provided with professional drivers, drivers must be trained to provide personalised customer service. †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Image: Advertising, promotions on special days and to first users. Porter’s Generic Strategies: Porter called the generic strategies has three direction where the market can be segment or focused on particular path. They are 1. Cost Leadership, 2. Differentiation 3. Focus The Focus strategy has been subdivided into two parts: â€Å"Cost Focus† and â€Å"Differentiation Focus†. (Refer below figure) The Cost Leadership Strategy This strategy will help to gain competitive advantage through two main methods such as maximising profits by declining costs while selling for average price in the particular industry or growing market share through selling for lower prices, although still producing a even-handed profit on each sale as you’ve focused on lowering the cost. The Differentiation Strategy This strategy involves in creating your goods or services different from others and more eye-catching for your customers as well as to your competitors. Differentiation strategy can be achieved in a success way through good exploration about the goods or services, expansion and innovation of the goods or services, and the ability to provide superior quality products or services. This will create an inimitable image in the particular industry and alongside some scopes will lead to be valued by consumers. The Focus Strategy The Focus strategy is concentrating on specific niche markets through considerate the associations of that specific niche market and the  exceptional needs of consumers in it. This can be exclusively low-cost or well-specified goods or services on that particular industry. This will construct strong brand loyalty among consumers. This will lead the market segment to be less attractive to the competitors. Uber’s marketing strategy is to provide a premium service at premium price and have loyal customers. It aims at hip, tech-savvy customers whose time is valuable and who are willing to spend money for convenience. The campaign of Uber focuses on the service. The ice cream campaign in NYC is an example of the difference in convenience and experience. Where else could you have an on demand ice cream truck pull up in front of your house delivering ice cream for few people? The focus is on providing an extraordinary experience for the customer and let them do the talking about the brand and the unique service. Uber is having partnerships with Virgin America, which offers Uber’s points to its flyer members which increases awareness and credibility to their service. And Trulia is a real-estate company provide prospective renters a discount for up to three apartment visits as long as they registered for this promotion. Potter’s Five Forces Analysis states that business can be affected by some facts which are determine the competitive power of the business to drive in reality. The fact can be classified into five important forces. They are Supplier power, Buyer power, Threat of substitute, Threat of New Entry and Competitive Rivalry. 1. Supplier Power: the number of suppliers involved determines the supplier power in the particular business and the exclusivity of their goods or service, their business strength and power over your business, and the cost of swapping from one supplier to another. UBER’s suppliers power is high because UBER don’t employ drivers, free-lanced drivers get register with UBER and get the training and the guidelines before start their self-employment. 2. Buyer Power: the number of buyers involved determines the buyer’s power in the particular business, the cost to the buyer to swapping from your goods and services to someone else. UBER’s buyer power is high because it’s a  mobile platform and customers have different alternative services like Gett and Hailo. 3. Competitive Rivalry: the number of capability of your competitors determines the competitive rivalry. When the business has more competitors, and if the competitor can offer equally attractive products and services, then the competitive rivalry is high. UBER’s competitors are Gett and Hailo, they provide service in lower cost and they have their own drivers. 4. Threat of Substitution: the number of alternative options of your customers determines the threat of substitute. When the service or the goods has more substitute, then the threat of substitute is high. UBER’s threat of substitute is high because in London there is many substitute such as tubes, trains, buses, and black cabs. 5. Threat of New Entry: the capability of other business can enter into your market space by starting up a similar business like you is the threat of new entry. If the startup cost is low in terms of capital, time, and technology the new competitor can enter in to your market easily. Uber’s threat of new entry is very high because entering to taxi service business is very easy because the new business needs a simple mobile application and some free-lanced drivers. Alternative Market Directions for Uber Diversification strategies/path: Uber can focus on Event specific marketing like special events such as Valentine’s Day, Harvesting day, Children’s Day, Christmas and New Year days. Uber can provide special offers or promotions for its loyal customers. Personalised Car/Cab with the special trained driver for business people, celebrities and high-class tourists. Market development Strategies/Path: †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Expand the market with average pricing in nearby small cities and rural areas to attract more new customers. †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Initiating and developing new long term partnership with local hotel chains and airport local travel unit to provide transport service such as site seeing, and airport pic & drop to  their customers. †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Initiating and developing new long-term partnership with local schools to proved service for their students. †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Initiating and developing new business wing/unit for disable people to accommodate their transport need with the special features they need. †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Initiating and developing new long term partnership with courier service organisations like Royal Mail, DHL, and FedEx to provide their delivery service to their customers. †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Initiating and developing new long term partnership with local manufacturing companies to support their logistic service such as transporting to shipping, delivering goods to their customers, and transporting their raw materials for their production. 4. Marketing Strategies Uber focuses on hiring local drivers in each city. They are trying to localize the company in each city in every aspect they see. The effect of that is building a trust between the company, the drivers, and the customers all together. After hiring local drivers, Uber give these drivers trainings and guidelines to teach them the â€Å"Uber Way†. They also provide their employees with a global chat room that they interact in, talk, give ideas and suggestions, and best practices are shared across the company. So by cultivating collaboration and building trust internally and externally, Uber is trying to gain a competitive advantage in order to increase their market share, therefor increasing revenue. Uber likes to surprise and delight their customers. For example they delivered kittens and ice cream in New York. This is on of Uber’s ways to allow customer actions to go viral on social media and offline to try to send their message to new markets in order to gain new opportunities. Uber uses a unique way in serving their customers. They have a special team whose mission is to make sure customers get their taxi when and where they need them in no more than 9 minutes. They created a referral program integrated in the Uber app. It gives customers the ability to share a special code between their friends, and in that way Uber can track how many shares made, which indicates the percentage  of Uber’s customer’s acquisition. Uber’s Marketing Objectives: 1. Offer Better Service. 2. More Reliability. 3. Improve Customer Support. 4. Unique Style. 5. Provide Comfort. 6. Reduce Frustration. 6. Critical Analysis: The SMART analysis indicates that Uber can have many ways to improve every aspect in the company. Their objectives are not time-oriented. On the other had, their objectives are all achievable and relevant to the company’s mission. The analyses also show that most of the strategies and suggestions given are specific, achievable, and relevant. That indicates that Uber has many opportunities that they can benefit from in order to gain more competitive advantage and to operate better in the market. 7. Conclusion: Overall market share of Uber in e-hailing market can be increased by implementing some strategies.The report shows that Uber has many opportunities to increase their market value, market share and gain a competitive advantage over their competitors. Looking at the analysis we realise that Uber has a very high potential in achieving their objective about gaining customers and eventually increase their revenue. Along the side of improving some of their services, following some of the strategies mentioned above and solutions suggested by us, proves that Uber has a high potential and can use the first mover advantage. Distribution channel of Uber can be improved by targeting other parallel industries and move customers into greater contribution. Branding image of Uber can increase its value by providing good service and the operating areas can be increased to reach a higher volume of customers. Moreover, the opportunities discovered by using the analysis might be considered as a useful w ay of taking Uber to a higher position in the e-hail market in London. 10. References: Anon, How is Uber different from a standard taxi? Available at: https://support.Uber.com/hc/en-us/articles/201968463-How-is-Uber-different-from-a-standard-taxi- [Accessed November 13, 2014a]. Anon, The Business Co-Founder. Available at: http://businesscofounder.tumblr.com/post/34572063959/lessons-from-Ubers-marketing-strategy [Accessed November 13, 2014b]. Damodaran, A., 2014. A Disruptive Cab Ride to Riches: The Uber Payoff.Forbes. 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