Organizational Development in HRD Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Organizational Development in HRD - Assignment Example   However, the growth and expansion of the company to attract larger customers did not come without several challenges. First, the signing of A&P as a customer introduced increased operational costs, quality control problems customer management related issues and shrinking profit margins (McKenney, 1998). Secondly, the company was faced with the challenge of remaining competitive in the grocery wholesale market, while still serving the large customers, since it also needed to satisfy the small customers. Such challenges resulted in the hiring of new employees as well as coordination challenges for the company, which it is dealing with now. The current situation of C&S company is complex, since the holiday is almost approaching and there are bound to be many and large orders from the customers which are to be fulfilled, raising the question as to whether the company’s operations were sufficient to meet the rising demand that was certain to occur during the holiday season (McKenney, 1998). Nevertheless, from the time the concept of self-managed teams was introduced, the company has tried to address the biggest concerns of costs and quality, since the experimentation of the performance of employees as a team has proved to be capable of lowering costs, while also increasing accuracy in shipments and the quality of the shipments. The current situation of the company also has the volume of work at an all-time high (McKenney, 1998). The signing of a large customer, A&P, and the continued rising demands from the previous small customers, has increased the volume of work for the company greatly.

The Psychological Reactions Caused by Relaxation and Arousal Essay Example for Free

The Psychological Reactions Caused by Relaxation and Arousal Essay This study’s main reason is to explore the psychological reactions by the idea of relaxation and arousal. A total of thirty eight students t part in this experiment. This study followed a within subject design in witch the independent variables were the music, witch was playing in the start, the touch stimuli and the music, witch was playing in the end of the experiment. However the dependent variables were the galvanic skin response (GSR), the heart rate and the respiratory rate. The psychological reactions were measured by the biopac student lab package. Â  Participants A total of thirty eight students participated in this experiment. The experimenter used opportunity sampling and the subject were first year psychology undergraduate students from the University of Bradford. The participants were asked if they want to participate and their selection was based on their health. Design This experiment followed a within subject design. This study was having two types of variables. The heart rate, the galvanic skin response (GSR) and the respiratory rate were the dependent variables. However the independent variables were the touch stimuli and the music that was played when the experiment was start and the music was played after the touch stimuli. Materials The biopac student lab package was used to measure the heart rate, the galvanic skin response (GSR) and the respiratory rate. Both participants heard the same music played from a cassette player. In both groups the experimenter measured the baseline after putting the cables of biopac on participants fingers to measure all the above. In this study has already been used two questioners. The first one was verbal and was asking general questions about the participants health and their consent to continue this experiment. The second one was a multiple choice questionnaire with also some short answer questions. It was asking the participants to describe their emotions during the experiment. The purpose of the firs questioner was to check if the participants were able to take part in this experiment. The second was testing if the participants feelings was linked with the results that were collected ,from the biopac student lab, after the experiment. Procedure In this study eight groups took part. The participant were having a seat in a computer desk in front of the screen witch was showing the measurements in the biopac system. They also were attached to the machines. The experimenter was put some Vaseline in the parts of the GSR and heart rate electrodes that was connected to the finger tips. The GSR electrodes was connected to a finger tip and the heart rate electrodes to the opposite one and the respiratory rate band was placed around the upper chest area. The participants were asked to complete a verbal questionnaire about their health and also asked if they want to participate in this experiment. This questionnaire was given before the experiment started. When the experiment started and the participants were connected to the machines they were asked from the experimenter if they feel comfortable. Also the experimenter gave some basic instructions and a brief description of the experiment. In the lab were two participants witch was seating in front of two screens. Were also two experimenters, one for each participant and some observers two of which were giving the touch stimuli. A peace of classical music was the start of this experiment. This music was playing for two minutes. When the song stop playing the experimenter asked from two people of whom were observing to touch the subjects by going behind the participants and placing their hands in participants shoulders and moving them to their hands. Through this way they were giving the touch stimuli. After that the second peace of music start playing for two more minute

Babe Ruth :: essays research papers

On February 6, 1895, George Herman Ruth, Jr., was born in his grandparents house in Baltimore, Maryland. Ruth as a young child. Ruth’s dad worked as a bartender and owned his own bar. They spent very little time with George because they worked long hours. Eventually, his parents felt that they couldn’t take care of George, and on June 13, 1902, he was taken to St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys. His custody was also signed over to the Xaverian Brothers, a Catholic Order of Jesuit Missionaries who ran St. Mary’s. St. Mary’s was both a reformatory and orphanage, which was surrounded by a wall like a prison with guards on duty. George, who was always involved in pranks and fights, was classified as "incorrigible" when he was admitted. The only positive thing that happened from going to St. Mary’s was meeting Brother Mathias. Brother Mathias was the disciplinary guy at St. Mary’s. He spent a lot of time with George. He even helped Ruth learn to be a baseball player. Baseball was a popular game for the boys at St. Mary’s and George played well at a young age. He played all positions on the field, was an excellent pitcher and had the ability to hit the ball very well. By his late teens Ruth had developed into a major league baseball prospect. On February 27, 1914, at the age of nineteen, the Baltimore Orioles signed Babe to his first professional baseball contract. Because Ruth’s parents had signed over custody of him to St. Mary’s, he was supposed to remain at the school until he was twenty-one. To go around this, Dunn, the man who signed him, became Ruth’s legal guardian. Just five months after being signed by the Baltimore Orioles, Babe Ruth was sold to the Boston Red Sox. He made his debut as a major leaguer in Fenway Park on July 11, 1914, pitching against the Cleveland Indians. In the mornings, Ruth would frequent Landers’ Coffee Shop in Boston, and it is here that he met Helen Woodford, a seventeen-year-old waitress. They married on October 17, 1914 at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Ellicott City, Maryland. As Babe’s career began to blossom and his salary increased, by 1919 he was making $10,000 per year, he and Helen were able to buy a home outside of Boston in Sudbury, Massachusetts. In December of 1919 Babe was sold to the New York Yankees, owned by Colonel Jacob Ruppert and managed by Miller Huggins.

BURNING QUESTION THE GLOBAL WARMING

Make you hold that planetary warming emanation in USA and China can be reduced?â€Å"Global heating is excessively serious for the universe any longer to disregard its danger or split into opposing cabals on it.†TONY BLAIR, address, Sept. 27, 2005. Decidedly in the past decennaries planetary warming emanation has been increasing bit by bit in all over the universe. Worlds are playing an of import function in accepting the effects and duties of their action behind the issue of planetary warming emanation ; in fact we do n't hold any other beginning to set the incrimination on. We are seting our kids are in menace by coercing them to inhale toxic gases into their lungs in the hereafter, people should work to turn up a solution for this job. In order to decrease the planetary heating emanation many organisations are taking action to promote citizens, authoritiess, corporations, and politicians take the stairss necessary to haltplanetarywarming. A protocol was made in Japan on 11 December 1997 called by Kyoto Protocol which is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major property of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets adhering marks for 37 industrialised states and the European community for cut downing nursery gas emanations.These sum to an norm of five per cent against 1990 degrees over the five-year period 2008-2012.The protocol is non merely promoting these states to stabilise the emanation but commits them to make so. ( www.ec.europa.eu ) We are cognizant of these series accomplishment that had been made but humanity still persevere to happen a convincing reply for the inquiry, which is, can planetary warming emanation in USA and China be reduced? If we come across the concern as human beings we can be able to happen a solution for the emanation worldwide merely if we worked together as one state and convey to an terminal the actions the human doing it, all for the interest of us and to see a cleansing agent and brighter hereafter for our kids. This research will exemplify convincing indicant of ways to cut down the emanation of planetary heating. The study findings are restricted to both United State of America and The Republic of China. Entirely because both states are rated on the highest beginnings of planetary warming emanation. There many factors and beginnings behind the increasing of emanation in both USA and China, chiefly the factors are semisynthetic, ensuing from human activities and impacting negatively in our planet. A few beginnings are of course caused, but merely the incrimination can belong to us as homo. Carbon dioxide and other air pollution that is gathered in the ambiance, pin downing the Sun ‘s heat and doing the planet to warm up. Coal firing power workss are the major U.S. beginning of C dioxide pollution ; they produce 2.5 billion dozenss every twelvemonth. Cars are following major beginning, bring forthing about 1.5 billion dozenss of CO2 annually. Local temperatures rise and autumn of course, over the past 50 old ages the typical planetary temperature has increased at the fastest rate. And specializers think the motion is speed uping. The 10 hottest old ages on record have all taken topographic point since 1990. Scientists say that unless we cut down planetary heating emanations, mean U.S. temperatures could be 3 to 9 grades higher by the terminal of the century. Global heating is already doing injury in several parts of the United States. In 2002, Colorado, Arizona and Oregon suffered their most atrocious wildfire seasons of all time. In the same twelvemonth, drouth created dust storms in Montana, Colorado and Kansas, and inundations caused 100s of 1000000s of dollars in harm in Texas, Montana and North Dakota. Since the early 1950s, snow assemblage has decreased by 60 per centum and winter seasons have shortened in several countries of the Cascade Range in Oregon and Washington. ( www.earthjustice.org, www.climatehotmap.org ) China is counted as the one of the top states in emanation of toxic gases. In 2008, China became the universe ‘s largest emitter of nursery gases, in front of long clip leader the United States. China is confronting a series threaten and catastrophe caused by the big sum of C dioxide been emitted to the ambiance, the menaces may impact the imbibing H2O system, more hurricanes and twister, a side to longer dry seasons which may straight impact the agriculture industry. ( www.news.mongabay.com ) There have been many ideas declaring that the emanation is acquiring out of control and no 1 is able to take back control of it. As the figure of autos, planes, trains, ships, and mills increases bit by bit will take to an addition in the emanation of toxicant gases to the ambiance. Many will state it is non possible to command our planet no more. We can answer by stating there are many stairss should be taken in order to keep a lower emanation rate. Car shapers are bring forthing new type of autos called â€Å"Hybrid cars† these auto will utilize a clean beginning of energy such as solar energy or electrical energy which will non breathe toxic exhausts to the ambiance. All these clean beginnings can be used into other transit vehicles other than autos merely. hypertext transfer protocol: //ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/kyoto.htm The Greening of Global Warming Book by Robert Mendelsohn ; American Enterprise Institute, 1999 hypertext transfer protocol: //news.mongabay.com/2009/0817-hance_china_climate.html hypertext transfer protocol: //www.carnegieendowment.org/topic/index.cfm? fa=viewTopic & A ; topic=3000145 & A ; gclid=CO6iqsPYxJwCFSn6agodUEelmA hypertext transfer protocol: //www.earthjustice.org/library/background/climate_change_additional_links.html hypertext transfer protocol: //www.climatehotmap.org/namerica.html

Problems Faceing Susu Collectors in the Bantama Sub-Metro

CHAPTER ONE Introduction Background to the study Personal saving may be voluntary; it can also be contractual through insurance policies by insurance companies and also contributory if through the traditional social security system or â€Å"susuâ€Å". â€Å"Susu† is a traditional form of saving where an individual saves a fixed amount per day with a â€Å"susu† collector for a specified period, say one month. At the end of the month, the Individual collects his or her total savings less one day’s installment, which the â€Å"susu† collector deducts as commission. The higher the umber of clients of a â€Å"susu† collector, the higher the level of that collectors commission at the end of each calendar month. â€Å"Susu† is the popular name given to the rotating savings club in Ghana. It is said to be of Yoruba origin, which is an adulteration of â€Å"esusu†. The term is believed to have been introduced into Ghana by migrant Ibo trade rs before independence in 1957, when formal banking had not caught up well with people especially the indigenous illiterates folks who were mainly traders. With the Alien’s Compliance Order in 1969 coming into force, these aliens left this legacy. Then came quite a number of Ghanaians entering into the business as a result. A few unscrupulous persons also crept in and some actually bolted away with their clients saving. (Aryeetey and Gockel, 1991) In response to the increased cases of fraudulent practices of some â€Å"susu† collectors in the late 1980’s, Ghana Co-operative â€Å"Susu† Collectors Association was formed in 1990 in an attempt to regulate and supervise the activities of the â€Å"susu† collectors. This association serves as the mouthpiece for all â€Å"susu† co-operatives in Ghana. It is the agent that collects taxes on behalf of the commissioner of internal evenue services and external credit facilities for its regional or district societies. (Aryeetey, 2000) and Ardner (1964) echo an informal confirmation that â€Å"susu† was an ancient institution prior to the introduction of the British currency. â€Å"Susu† was practiced by Nigerian traders in Makola number (t wo) market in Accra. Apart from the term â€Å"susu†, the rotating saving club is known by other names in different parts of Ghana. The Ewe’s generally refer to the clubs as â€Å"edzodzo† or â€Å"eso dzodzo†. Whist among the Kotokole’s in the northern part of the Volta region, it is known as â€Å"edeso† (I. P. C, 1988). In some quarters in Laura town the club is known as â€Å"lekseque†. Statement of the problem People have realized the importance of â€Å"susu† scheme yet â€Å"susu† collectors faces a lot of problems mobilizing contributors to participate in the scheme. A lot of contributors have lost interest or back out of the scheme because of the bad perception about â€Å"susu† collectors. Collectors find themselves wanting as sometimes the group in which they join collapse as a result of embezzlement by the group leaders. Some contributors also end up collecting their share of the money contributed and refuse to contribute again. Banks that are involved in the saving scheme also faces documentation problems with their clients. Unfortunately the large amount of research on informal savings has not investigated the problems facing the â€Å"susu† collectors. In pursuit of this research, however, an attempt has been made to find the antecedent facts that leave the â€Å"indigenous savings scheme† incapable of living up to expectation as far as mobilisation, administration and management of funds are concerned. Purpose of the study General Objective: The general purpose of this study was to discover the problems facing â€Å"susu† collectors. The specific objectives of the study are; Specific Objectives: 1. To examine some silent points in the administration and management of â€Å"susu† schemes. 2. To identify how â€Å"susu† saving scheme is organized and operated by individuals and other financial institutions. 3. To find out why people engage in â€Å"susu† schemes. Research questions The researcher posed the following questions to the respondent. 1. What problems exist in the administration of â€Å"susu† scheme? 2. What measures do collectors adopt to ensure the safety of the contributions? 3. Who are those involved in the â€Å"susu† collection? . What problems do collectors face with their clients? 5. How does the scheme operate? 6. Why do people engage in â€Å"susu†? Significance of the study. This study may be useful to â€Å"susu† collectors, financial institutions that take part in the scheme, Ghana Co-operative â€Å"Susu† Collectors Association (G. C. S. C. A), â€Å"susu† contributors and the general public. The management of â€Å"susu† schemes will be able to solve the problems facing their collectors as well as management and administration problems. This may be possible after knowing the problems that exist in the operation of the scheme. The study provides feedback to the Ghana Co-operative â€Å"Susu† Collectors Association (G. C. S. C. A) as to what actually goes on with the operation of the scheme. The study will contribute to the general understanding of â€Å"susu† operations to the advantage of the â€Å"susu† contributor and the general public. Limitaions to the study The study was not obviously without shortcomings. The researcher was faced with some problems. Books written on the susu scheme were a little source of information. The method of sampling used by the researcher was not the appropriate technique but was the cheapest. Other problems were the refusal of some people to grant interview on the topic and the questionnaires. However, with all the problems, it is the hope and wish of the researcher that all information gathered are valid and beneficial to the interested parties especially people of Bantama sub metro. Delimitation of the study In other to get reliable records and information, the research was centered on â€Å"susu† collectors. The researcher contacted garden city savings and loans Bantama branch and â€Å"Gye nyame susu† center at Suntreso south and their members, collectors in their offices and homes. The conclusions and generation therefore were not applicable to all â€Å"susu† schemes. Organization The study consists of five chapters. Chapter one of this study deals with the introduction. It covers the background to the study and sets out the statement of the problem, purpose of the study, the research questions, the significance of the study, the limitations of the study, delimitation of the study, the organization, and definition of terms. Chapter two covers the review of significant or related literature to the study review. Chapter three also talk about the methodology and the procedure for the research. It looks at the various instruments used in collecting the data of the study. Chapter four deals with the presentation of data analysis of information gathered from the survey and interpretation of results. Chapter five also deals with the summary of findings, conclusion and recommendations. Definition of Term SUSU: An alteration of ‘,esusu,’ a yuroba word given to the rotating savings club in Ghana. CHAPTER TWO Literature review Introduction Informal financial savings have been an important part of local financial resource mobilisation in Ghana and other countries since the introduction of money as medium of xchange. Through these savings most trader and dwellers are able to raise capital for their business and other commercial activities. This involves element of credit union and the insurance scheme. In Ghana, the traditional societies are called by the name â€Å"susu† societies and â€Å"susu† clubs. A lot of authors, researchers and scholars have addr essed the issue of â€Å"susu†. Problems Howard et, al (2000) contended that â€Å"susu† collectors are unused in having an apex organization to represent them. In the North, eight hundred and fifty (850) are registered ith this; though it is estimated that a further one hundred and fifty (150) unregistered members operate in the North. They run the business from kiosk located in the market place and act as mobile bankers deposits, often of low but regular value, are usually taken on daily basis over the course of the month. Ghana-vision 2020 Program Of Action for the first medium-term development plan (June 1998-2000) stated that though voluntary informal savings groups (â€Å"susu†) provide most of the working capital of small and medium scale enterprises, these â€Å"susu† groups nd other non-banking financial institutions are at present not geared towards long-term investment financing. This has been a major problem with â€Å"susu’ groups in Ghana. However there is strong possibility for â€Å"susu† to form the basis for the establishment of mutual funds and co-operative savings scheme. According to the report of Financial Accountability and management (August 2004), it is inevitable that the development of credit unions does not conform to a single universal blueprint. In the context of worldwide movement, three major differences in the development of particular credit union industries. Credit union movements in specific locations will potentially move from birth, through adolescence to full development as a consequence of the growth in assets and a direct bearing on accountability. Again to the extent that homogeneity does not pertain, significant variability in accountability between credit unions may exist. Safety of contributions According to Aryeetey (2000) most ‘informal savings mobilizers’ (including â€Å"susu† collectors) use bank facilities for deposits. This implies that a substantial part of rural financial savings end up in banks. At Bonwire and Efiduase in rural Asante, â€Å"susu† ollectors were able to collect ? 8. 8 million and ? 8. 6 million per month, respectively, which they saved in commercial banks in Kumasi, the regional capital (ROSCA survey, 1999). But while informally mobilized savings are to enhance the lending operations of formal banks both this study and the study by Aryeetey (2000) indicates that such lending is skewed towards urban areas. These â€Å"susu† collectors use the banking facilities extensively to safeguard their funds. People involved in the scheme Ndeh (1998) in presenting a paper on the informal savings added that women specially those in the rural population faces considerable obstacles in their access to institutional source of funding. For instance some bank managers would like to â€Å"sleep† with them before they are given loans. Because they do not want to fall victims of circumstances they decide to form groups to save funds in order to aid them in their finances. To add to his comment Ndeh talked about the situation in the Philippines where traders especially women who are married cannot contract loan from the bank without the consent of their husbands. They therefore involve themselves in informal financing here they can get easy access to credit. Ndeh also said that less than 28% of Cameroon women traders get access to formal credit. He also commen ted that this kind of situation in Cameroon might also affect traders in other developing countries. According to Ardener and Burnan (1995) the rotating â€Å"susu† club continue to play a dynamic role in helping to meet the cash needs of women traders and farmers. It is found on principles of mutual trust, obligatory relations and homogeneity. Most â€Å"susu† collectors were Women. This shows that women are mostly involved in the â€Å"susu† scheme. According to Caselli. F (1998), the â€Å"susu† collectors provide savings facilities to individuals involved in a wide variety of informal income generating activities, traders, cart pushers, apprentices, mechanism drivers, and sometimes farmers and fishermen. Operation of the scheme According to Adjetey (1998), a variant of the â€Å"susu† scheme in popularly known as â€Å"olu† savings scheme, sometimes described in the literature as mobile banking. In the scheme, the â€Å"olus† or â€Å"susu† collectors go to markets and hawkers to collect daily savings. The saver chooses the amount he or she can deposit each day, and the collector ecords this amount on a card, indicating some personal information about the depositor. No formal agreement exists between the saver and the collector. The scheme is based entirely on personal trust and relationship. Some collectors do make credit facilities available to some of their traders. Such facilities sometimes attract interest pa yments that one made on daily basis. â€Å"Susu† collectors are entitled to the first daily contribution as commission. The money collected from various contributors are sent to the agent of the scheme which is later deposited at the bank for save keeping. Emerging system Bortei-doku and Ayeetey (1998) discuss the operation of rotating savings clubs in Ghana, shedding light on such issues as the significance of clubs within the national economy, their structural and functional characteristics, their gender composition, the attitudes and perceptions of club members about the system, and more recent changes and variations included by changes in the national macroeconomic setting. They note that while the mainstream principle of grouping together people whose common goal is to accumulate a lump sum over a specific period of time is still a respected method for obilizing savings and allocation credit, and thus a robust socioeconomic development instrument, the operationalisation of that principle had changed over time. They noted that ‘new’ institutions had emerged, but using the same principle, that is â€Å"susu† collectors and emerging savings and loan companies. Botei-doku and Aryeetey argue that despite changes in how the principl e group economic activity operationalised, the interests of men and women as differentiable savers in this informal sector activity appear to have been effected even if only moderately: thus, while women appear to be more active in accumulating the required ump-sums within the framework of the newer â€Å"susu† collector system, more men particularly at workplaces, continue to stock to rotating saving schemes. They maintain that the â€Å"susu† system remains a resilient institution, in view of the preparedness of participants to introduce operational innovations in response to changing socioeconomic conditions. Also in a report on new institutions, Aryeetey, (2000) observes â€Å"susu† companies that have emerged in Ghana only since 1985 operational principles are similar to those of individual â€Å"susu† collectors. The difference between the two is that the saver is ‘guaranteed’ credit. Rather han deposits being returned to the saver mont hly, as is the case with the â€Å"susu† collector, the company holds them for at least six months, after which depositor may withdraw the saving in addition to an equivalent amount of loan. As part of the innovation occurring among informal units, newer savings and loan companies have also emerged. These entities sometimes use commissioned agents (â€Å"susu† collectors) to mobilize deposits primarily from market women and make short-term loans available to them from time to time. Interest and collateral base Broham, John (2000) found that on the credit side, the advances made by the â€Å"susu† ollectors to their regular depositors are usually of low value, very short term ( less than one year) provided in an interest free basis without collateral and disbursed immediately if the money is at hand. The money lenders advance loans on interest higher than the banks but without collateral, and disbursed very quickly if the client is known. The world Bank (1995) in dicates that positive real interest rates are not crucial in mobilizing additional deposits and creating avenues for granting credit as evidence by the fact that the â€Å"susu’ system functions with negative nominal rates. It indicates that rural communities place a higher premium on convenience, accessibility and trust. Why people engage in â€Å"susu† Aryeetey and Gockel (1991) also stated that, the estimates of the size of informal savings suggest that about fifty percent (50%) of total financial savings in Ghana is attributable to the â€Å"susu† system. Most â€Å"susu† clubs are guided by unwritten codes of conduct. Writers like Aryeetey and Aryeetey (1996) wrote on the operations, utilizations, and changes in rotating â€Å"susu† savings in Ghana. They found out that in an economic climate where several social groups in the orkforce find that their access to informal institutions is limited due to their socio- economic handicap, informal institutions such as â€Å"susu† are bond to flourish. Aryeetey et al (1990) said besides the difficulty of operating a bank account, the distribution of bans and the low levels of literacy in Ghana especially among traders, ma kes the informal saving practical for certain categories of people. While in the large urban areas of Ghana, banking facilities may be away from them. Although â€Å"susu† collectors sometimes embezzle their money they still prefer it because the collectors ome to collect the daily contribution at their workplace. Ndeh (1998) presented a paper on the informal savings. He commented that, in developing countries, the financial institutions have utterly neglected the mobilisation of savings and deposit facilities in order to make them accessible to majority of the rural population therefore this people have resorted to informal savings to save their hard earned money. Aryeetey and aryeetey (1995) indicated that, though â€Å"susu† is popularly used to purchased small consumer goods, there a is strong evidence that, it is an important source of business capital. Opoku l. (1997) argues that ,†susu† is perhaps the best-known and oldest form of self- financing bus iness scheme in Ghana. The Sunday Hauld (1997) also argues that â€Å"susu† is perhaps the largest best known and oldest form of self financial business scheme in Ghana. Despite the growth of the banking sector, in the past few years â€Å"susu† and other non banking financial scheme have remained the back bone and lifeline for a substances proportion of workers in Ghana’s economic development especially those operating in the informal sector, which is in fact the dominant force in the country’s economy. This has shown the contribution of the cheme to national development. The World Bank (1995) also identifies several informal financial arrangements in Ghana. They include Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCA) and moneylenders. It attempts to find explanations for the existence of the informal sector and suggest that in rural areas are the banking system offer low quality services: the processing of deposit and withdrawal takes several hours, an d in some instances customers find no cash and must revisit the bank in order to make a withdrawal. This has shown that some people are interested in the scheme because of the convenience attached o the â€Å"susu† scheme. CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY Introduction To ensure the collection of reliable and accurate information or data for the research work, certain procedures and methods were adopted. This chapter deals with the methods used by the researcher in collecting data for the purpose of the research. It involves the research design, population and sampling, data collection techniques, data collection procedures and data analysis. Research Design The type of research design adopted for this study was a survey. A survey conducted on â€Å"susu† collectors to ascertain the problems they face. The survey helps find answers to research questions in order to get information needed for the research. Critically examining the research questions, it was realized that a survey was the most suitable research design for the study of information. The survey was aided by questionnaire and interview. This method gives a quantitative means of establishing relationship among variables. Population The population for the study was from â€Å"susu† collectors and â€Å"susu† co-operative members in Bantama sub-metro. This population was made up of rotating â€Å"susu† collectors, â€Å"susu† agents nd other â€Å"susu† co-operative members. Sampling The members of this study were selected through convenience and purposive sampling by relying on â€Å"susu† collectors and â€Å"susu† co-operative union members. The sample size included twenty (20) â€Å"susu† collectors and five (5) â€Å"susu co-operative members. For reasons includi ng lower cost, greater accuracy of results, greater speed of data collection and availability of population subjects, the researcher used convenience and purposive method of sampling. Though convenience sampling is the least reliable design, the researcher chose convenience ampling because it was the cheapest and easiest to conduct. The researcher had the freedom to choose whoever was found. This method of sampling was used to test ideas and even to gain ideas about the subject of interest. In this study, the researcher wanted to talk to only those directly engaged in the collection of contributions of the â€Å"susu† scheme hence purposive sampling was used. The researcher found it very useful and appropriate in the early stages of the research. In all, a total number of twenty-five (25) subjects were pulled from two (2) operating â€Å"susu† schemes in the sub-metro. This was made up of twenty (20) â€Å"susu† collectors and five (5) other â€Å"susu† co-operative union members. Data collection instruments The researcher used interview and questionnaire as instruments to gather information needed for the study. The interview approach was aimed at finding out the views of individual â€Å"susu† collectors from various â€Å"susu† groups, â€Å"susu† administrators and other members of the scheme. The issues upon which the interview schedule was based on was the administrative problems faced by â€Å"susu† collectors. In all, nine (9) items were in the interview. This interview was however unstructured. The â€Å"susu† collectors and other members of the â€Å"susu† scheme who could read answered the questionnaire. In designing the questionnaire schedule, the researcher considered the degree and form of structure imposed on the respondents. He used various response strategies; offer options that included unstructured open-ended response (the free choice of words) and structured or close response (specified alternatives provided). Free response nature of some of the questions offered the respondents the opportunity to express themselves extensively. The respondents were all literates so there were no difficulties in administering the questions. Different questions were designed for the different target groups (based on the objectives of the study in chapter one) to obtain the primary and secondary information as well as data from the field. The questionnaires designed for the respondent comprised open-ended questions and objective questions. In all Twenty- six (26) items were in the questionnaire. Data collection procedures Copies of the questionnaire were self-administered upon gaining access to participants. The questionnaire incorporated open-ended questions and was couched in simple language. With this process, a lot of data can be gotten with relative ease from different people within a shorter period. The collection of data covered a period of two weeks. The â€Å"susu† collectors were interviewed on-the-job with an interview lasting for an average of ten (10) minutes. Questionnaires were sent to â€Å"susu† collectors at their offices and on-the-job. R respondent were given two (2) weeks for the questionnaires. The questionnaires were collected personally and the rate of return of the questionnaires was 100%. Validity and Reliability of data collected. For the purpose of validity, the researcher made sure that all the information obtained from the respondents were the true answers to the interview and questionnaires designed for them. Again any form of misconstrues in the minds of the respondents concerning the understanding of the question and how to complete them were explained to clear their minds. Finally, for the benefit of validity and reliability of data, the researcher deemed it right to use convenience and purposive method of sampling to avoid high cost and errors. Data analysis The technique for analyzing data was by quantitative and qualitative techniques. The major findings were analysed in percentage points and resented in tables and charts. CHAPTER FOUR RESULTS OF THE STUDY Introduction This chapter gives the findings and analyzes the data collected for the study. This analysis involves the use of quantitative and qualitative techniques. The major findings were then presented in percentages and resented in tables and charts. Data gathered from the findings could be evaluated to come out with the shortcomings of the operations of â€Å"susu† collectors and spell ut the strategies necessary for improvement. Response from questionnaire to each area of interest. |†Susu† Group |People of interest |Questionnaire |Response | | | | |Number |Percentage | |Garden City savings and loans |†susu† collectors |10 |9 |95% | | |Members of co-operative union |3 |2 |66. % | |†Gye Nyame â€Å"susu† center |†susu† c ollectors |10 |10 |100% | | |Members of co-operative union |2 |2 |100% | Out of the sample size of twenty (20), nineteen (19) responded, representing about 95% of the â€Å"Susu† collectors from the two â€Å"susu† groups on the sub-metro. Out of the sample size of five 5), from other members of co-operative union, four (4) responded representing about 80%. In terms of â€Å"susu† groups assigned to respond, response ranges from 95% to 100% representing 95% of â€Å"susu† collectors assigned from Garden city savings and loans and 100% to â€Å"susu† collectors assigned from ‘Gye Nyame â€Å"susu† center’. With the response of members of â€Å"susu† co-operative union the percentage range was 66. 79% to Garden city saving and loans and 100% to ‘Gye Nyame â€Å"susu† center’. The following are the findings: What problems exist in the Administration of â€Å"susu† scheme? The problem identified by Howard et, al (2000) was that â€Å"susu† collectors were unused in having an apex organization to represent them. Ghana-vision 2020 programme of action for the first medium-term development plan (June 1998-2000) stated that the working capital provided by â€Å"susu† groups in Ghana were not geared towards long-term investment financing. According to the report of Financial Accountability and Management (August 2004), the development of susu† credit unions does not conform to a single universal blueprint and homogeneity does not pertain. The researcher wanted to find out whether or not â€Å"susu† collectors had administrators. 100% of the response to this question was â€Å"yes†. It was further observed that most â€Å"susu† groups had the â€Å"susu† group administrator as the highest of authority on the organizational structure. Below s hows the organizational structure of most â€Å"susu† groups in Bantama sub-metro; | | |SCHEME ADMINISTRATOR | | | | | |   |   |   |   | | | | |   | | | |   | | |SCHEME MANAGER | | |SCHEME ACCOUNTANT | | | | |   |   | | | | | | |   | | | | | | | |†SUSU† AGENTS | | | | | | |   | | | | | | | |†SUSU† COLLECTORS | | | The above figure is the organizational chat which determine how people, task, technological and material resources were been grouped. This speed up working activities and enhance effective, efficient, harmonization and good co-ordination. About 53% of response to the questions 8 and 9 with which the researcher wanted to find out if â€Å"susu† collectors faced administrative problems was â€Å"yes†. Which represented ten (10) out of the nineteen (19) responses to the questions. Response to the administrative problems. |Response |Number interviewed |Percentage (%) | |Yes |10 |53 | |No |9 |47 | Some of the administrative problems stated included: Bureaucratic problems. Low salary to â€Å"susu† collectors frequent absenteeism of top management. The strict and rigidity of rules and regulation Rules and regulations. A questionnaire was designed to find out the rules and regulations used for the administration of the scheme. The response was that, the rules and regulations which serve as a form of controlling checks and balances of the scheme helps to keep the accounting books and records accordingly. The rules and regulations for keeping financial records at the various schemes were the strict use of (ATF) accounting system treasury and financial reporting guidelines. It also nvolves the reporting hierarchy of the scheme from the â€Å"lower susu collectors† up the organizational chart to the highest of the structure. About 62% of the â€Å"susu† collectors complained of the rules and regulations being so strict and made no room for changes. Salary The re searcher observed that the salary structure of â€Å"susu† collectors in Bantama sub-metro ranges from ? 400,000 to ? 700,000. â€Å"Susu† collectors in the sub-metro complained of their salary although most of them knew they had no ‘better’ qualification to earn much salary. They compare the cumulative amount deducted from their clients as commission for them with the amount given to them at the end of the month. About 70% of the â€Å"susu† collectors interview evealed this to the researcher during the interview. Budget Budget was drawn to help financial plan for a period of time. Monies allocated were used for specified purposes. The budget had been prepared annually for the scheme by the general accountant who is the head of the budget implementation team. The team according to Garden city savings and loans is made up of the scheme administrator, the general accountant, the scheme manager, and five (5) senior members of â€Å"susu† collec tors. The component of the revenue side of the budget is made up of income from â€Å"susu† contributions, interest on â€Å"susu† contributions invested into other businesses, and loans. The expenditure side of the budget onsist of spending on personnel emolument, administrative, services, and investment. The problem â€Å"susu’ collectors in Bantama sub-metro have with this budget is that, they are not usually considered in the plan. What measures do â€Å"susu† collectors adopt to ensure the safety of contributions? According to Aryeetey (2000) most informal savings schemes (including â€Å"susu† collectors) use banking facilities for deposits. The â€Å"susu† collectors use the banking facilities extensively to safeguard their funds. The researcher also found out that, to safeguard their funds, proper financial books were kept. Monies were also deposited at the banks for safekeeping. Financial books kept and their uses. Books |Uses | | | | |Cash book |For recording income and expenditure | | | | |Expenditure budget ledger |Recording expenditure against budget | | | | |Debtors ledger |Recording credit and payments made by â€Å"susu† | | | | | |contributors. | | | |Debtors control |Total of credits and payments made by all | | | | | |â€Å"susu† contributors and other creditors | To ensure the safety of contribution deposited by contributors, these books are kept in addition to depositing the amount at the bank. Almost all â€Å"susu† groups in the Bantama sub-metro keep these books; 100% of the 19 responses received revealed this to the researcher. Monitoring team The researcher found that, the schemes or â€Å"susu† groups had a strong monitoring team that is made up of personnel ranging from twelve (12) to sixteen (16). The monitoring team meets monthly. The team checks and controls financial activities. This results in effectiveness and efficiency of work in the operation of the scheme. Personal interviews were held to find out if there had been any research work on problems facing â€Å"susu† collectors in their operations and if external auditors audited their books. The responses were that, there were auditors and those were the independent auditors outside the scheme who inspects accounting books to find out if they were kept on justification and to give feedback to shareholders. They audit the books yearly to ensure the safety of the contributions. Who are those involved in the â€Å"susu† scheme? Ndeh (1998) indicated that people mostly involved in the â€Å"susu† scheme were women. Ardener and Burnan (1995) found that, women traders and farmers were mostly involved in the â€Å"susu† scheme. Most â€Å"susu† collectors in Ghana were women. Caselli . F (1998) also found that traders , cart pushers, apprentices, mechanism drivers and sometimes farmers and fishermen were mostly involved in the â€Å"susu† scheme. The researcher also found out that, about 90% of â€Å"susu† contributors were women. This was made known to the researcher when about 95% of â€Å"susu† collectors confirmed that their clients were women traders. â€Å"susu† collectors at the various â€Å"susu† group. â€Å"Susu† Group |Female |Male | | | | | |Garden City |28 |6 | | | | | |savings and loans | | | | | | | |â€Å"Gye nyame† |10 |4 | | | | | |â€Å"susu† center | | | From the table above, it could be observed that out of the to tal number of â€Å"susu† collectors from the two â€Å"susu† groups of forty-eight (48), thirty-eight (38) of these â€Å"susu† collectors are female representing 79% and ten (10) out of forty-eight (48) are male representing only 21%. This reveals that the majority of â€Å"susu† collectors in the Bantama sub-metro are females. Educational qualification of respondents. Level of Education |Number Interviewed |Percentage (%) | | | | | |Tertiary education |2 |8 | | | | | |Post secondary |8 |32 | | | | | |Technical school |5 |20 | | | | | |Vocational school |10 |40 | The observation made from the table and the pie chart indicated that as much as 40% of the â€Å"susu† collectors interviewed had vocational education, 20% had technical education, 32% had ost secondary education, and 8% had tertiary education. What problems do collectors face with their clients? Aryeetey et, al (1990) said besides the difficulty of operating a bank account, the dist ribution of banks and low levels of literacy in Ghana especially among traders, makes the informal saving practical for certain categories of people. â€Å"Susu† collectors face problems with the high illiteracy rate among the traders among the problem. This was made known to the researcher during the study. Out of the nineteen (19) responses received from â€Å"susu† collectors from the two (2) â€Å"susu† groups, eighteen (18) representing 94. 7% responded â€Å"Yes† to having problems with their clients. Some problems included documentation problems: That is the problems mostly faced with the illiterate clients. Majority of the trader-contributors do not understand the operations of the scheme and accuse â€Å"susu† collectors of being ‘fraud agents’ in times of any delays in payment of their contributed amount. How does the scheme operate? Referring to the literature review, Aryeetey (1998) found that, the â€Å"olus† or â€Å"susu† collectors go to markets and hawkers to collect daily savings. The â€Å"susu† contributor chooses the amount he or she can deposit each day, and the collector records this amount on a card, indicating some personal information about the depositor. No formal agreement exists between the saver and the collector. The scheme is based entirely on personal trust and relationship. Some collectors do make credit facilities available to some of their traders. Such facilities sometimes attract interest on the credits. â€Å"Susu† collectors were entitled to the first daily contribution as commission. The money collected from various contributors are sent to the agent of the scheme which is later deposited at the bank for save keeping. The researcher also found that, the monies collected by the rotating â€Å"susu† collectors daily are submitted to â€Å"susu† agents who are also called senior â€Å"susu† collectors to render accounts on the mount collected. â€Å"susu† agents renders accounts to the general accountant. The monies are then deposited at the bank or reinvested into businesses to earn interest. To ensure the safety of contributions , monies are invested into high interest earning business. Monies deposited to the banks are redrawn with the bureaucratic system were executives endorse the cheque. It includes the endorsement of the general accountant, scheme manager and scheme administrator. In cases where a contributor wanted to collect a contribution, the â€Å"susu† collector is informed a day before the collection. If the â€Å"susu† collector is not informed a day before the collection of the ontribution and he or she feels the amount collected from â€Å"susu† contributors are enough, the â€Å"susu† collectors pays the amount demanded. The â€Å"susu† collector collects the contribution card or book within which the â€Å"susu† collector ticks and sends it to the office of â€Å"susu† group for clearance. The researcher also observed that, depositors with â€Å"susu† collectors usually increases the amount of their deposits in November, often doubling them. They do so obviously to ensure that they are able t o save adequately towards anticipated expenditure for Christmas. Interest and collateral base Broham, John (2000) found that on the credit side, the advances made by the â€Å"susu† ollectors to their regular depositors are usually of low value, very short term ( less than one year) provided in an interest free basis without collateral and disbursed immediately if the money is at hand. The money lenders advance loans on interest higher than the banks but without collateral, and disbursed very quickly if the client is known. The researcher wanted to know how lending capital was raised and allocated. For â€Å"susu† collectors, mobilized deposits were their only lending bases. The capital base of most â€Å"susu† operations in Bantama sub-metro appeared to have grown considerably in nominal terms since their activities began. Various institutions were able to determine whether he base had grown in real terms, by how much their clientele had grown. They suggested t hat they had seen real growth over the years. †susu† collectors in Bantama sub-metro granted an average loan of ?450,000 in 2004, with a repayment schedule of one month. The longest maturity period offered by â€Å"susu† collectors was three month. Here, also the loan amounts were often about the same size as were requested by clients. Thus it would seem that â€Å"susu† collectors do not normally scale down the amount requested by clients; in fact, they indicate that their clients know what is reasonable to expect. In 2004, the largest loan amount granted by a†susu† collector was 2,500,000 and the smallest ? 200,000 indicating the flexibility of the system. â€Å"susu† collectors cannot grant longer-term loans given the short-term nature of their deposit liabilities. Here, also, the difference in the average size of urban and rural loans was statically significant. The loan amount of a rotating â€Å"susu† group is equivalent to t he total amount contributed by its members at an agreed-upon time. The size of these cash contributions vary widely from one group to another. Members usually choose an amount that will yield a sizable enough fund for them to make ‘large’ purchases or to provide working capital for business. The appropriated size ay thus be derived from the cost of some of the goods that members wanted to buy, including household appliances and building materials. Some of the amounts being applied in the public departments of some urban areas are about 10% of the salaries of junior civil servants each month, yielding an intake (or loan amount) of ? 900,000. Most â€Å"susu’ collectors do not charge interest on their loans because all they do is advance amounts equivalent to what clients are obliged to save, less their own commission at about 3. 3% each month for the 30% of the sample who do charge interest on loans; particularly to non- depositor clients. It is obvious that when â€Å"susu† collectors decree to lend to non-clients they ehave like typical moneylenders, with the exception-that â€Å"susu† collectors intermediate funds that are mobilized through â€Å"susu† collection. However, in view of the high-risk and short-term nature of this activity, its scope is limited. In reference to collateral, â€Å"susu† collectors take security for granted in view of the nature of association. Thus, many â€Å"susu† collectors require security only when they lend to non-deposit clients (40% of the sample of collectors) and almost 70% of the cooperatives do not require security. Why do people engage in â€Å"susu†? Aryeetey (1996) found out in his research into the operations, utilizations, and changes in otating â€Å"susu† savings in Ghana that, in an economic climate where several social groups in the workforce find that their access to informal institutions is limited due to their socio-economic handicap, inf ormal institutions such as â€Å"susu† are bond to flourish. According to World Bank (1995), in areas where banking systems offer low quality services: The processing of deposit and redrawal takes several hours then â€Å"susu† is bond to flourish. Out of the four (4) â€Å"susu† contributors interviewed, three (3) representing 75% agreed to the fact that they engage in the â€Å"susu† because banks may be away from them but the â€Å"susu† collectors come to collect the daily contribution at their own convenience. All the four (4) agreed o the fact that many banking systems offer low quality services: the processing of deposits and withdrawal takes several hours and in some instances customer find no cash and must revisit the bank for withdrawal. CHAPTER FIVE Summary, conclusion and recommendations Introduction This chapter summarizes the findings in the study and draws conclusions on them. Finally it gives recommendations as to how to solve the p roblems entailed in the previous chapter and gives possible suggestions to improve on the operations of â€Å"susu† scheme by â€Å"susu† collectors. Summary The objective of this research carried on was to investigate on the problems facing â€Å"susu† collectors in the Bantama sub-metro. During the study, it was realized that â€Å"susu† groups and â€Å"susu† collectors kept good records on their activities. The majority of the â€Å"susu† collectors were females and majority of them had vocational school certificate. The â€Å"susu† groups prepared budget yearly with funds sourced from â€Å"susu† contributors re-invested into other businesses to raise enough interest to match against expenditure. Rules and regulations were set to be a guideline for book keeping at various â€Å"susu† groups. Appropriate budgetary system was conducted and financial books for various activities were kept properly and were used for different purposes except that â€Å"susu† collectors were not actively involved. A monitoring team hat checks the financial operations had been set up and external auditors audited the financial books kept strictly annually. â€Å"susu† collectors are attractive to low-income earners who need short-t erm working capital. The relatively low interest rate makes lending even more attractive, as does the possibility that repayment can be made daily in small amounts. Although the loans amounts are relatively small, their regularity enables many traders to smoothing their expenditure patterns by making immediate payments to suppliers and thus ensuring a regular flow of supplies. The small size of the loans and their very short maturity periods do not make them very useful for small and micro enterprises. Lastly a research work that was to be conducted on the improvement of operations of the â€Å"susu† scheme was yet to be done. Conclusion From the information obtained from the questionnaires and interviews, a conclusion needs to be drawn to assess the operations and problems faced by â€Å"susu† collectors in the country. The subheadings below present the conclusion: Administrative problems. Rules and regulations are set for â€Å"susu† groups with regards to the reporting guidelines and the proper action to be taken on the books kept at various â€Å"susu’ schemes. The â€Å"susu† groups were supposed to use the ATF reporting guidelines. The majority of â€Å"susu† collectors in Bantama sub-metro expressed their discomfort with this guideline stating it was so rigid and inflexible. The work of the external or independent auditors helps to prevent fraud and irregularities in the operations of the â€Å"susu† scheme. However, â€Å"susu† collectors expressed their discomfort when the external auditors are at the premises of the â€Å"susu† group stating that they distract and interrupt their daily operations and work. The daily budget drawn was to help a financial plan for a period of time. Many items of expenditure were mostly considered to match revenue for per year. â€Å"susu† collectors were not happy with the budget because they were not mostly considered in the budget as an expenditure item. Organization and operational problems As it was observed in the previous chapter, for a contribution to be redrawn by a contributor, he or she needs to inform the â€Å"susu† collector a day before the collection. â€Å"susu† contributors expressed their annoyance with the system and mistrust with this operation. This has been a problem â€Å"susu† collectors face with this operation. The â€Å"susu† groups offer jobs for the unemployed of this country and in so doing reduces the problem of high rate of unemployment. However â€Å"susu† collectors expressed their dissatisfaction with the amount they receive as salary especially during the month of November where most susu† collectors’ client and deposits per â€Å"susu† contributor increases in size. The monitoring team had not done enough study to ascertain the problems â€Å"susu† collectors face and even if they had done that. No effort was made to address these problem s. Also the various â€Å"susu† groups have personnel with varying educational background like those identified in the previous chapter. How ever the groups do not set a specific standard of qualification required. The analysis in the previous chapters reveals that â€Å"susu† collectors cannot grant longer-term loans given the short-term nature of their deposit liabilities. Also the loan amount of a rotating susu† group is equivalent to the total amount contributed by its members at an agreed-upon time. Most â€Å"susu† collectors do not charge interest on their loans because all they do is advance amounts equivalent to what clients are obliged to save, less their own commission. This reduces the profitability of â€Å"susu† groups as well as has effects on the salary of â€Å"susu† collectors. â€Å"susu† collectors require security only when they lend to non-deposit clients. â€Å"susu† collectors tend to face problems when s ome client fails to pay amount loaned to them. To conclude it all, â€Å"susu† collectors face administrative problems as well as problems in the organization and operation of the scheme. Recommendation. To improve upon the operation of the â€Å"susu† scheme in Bantama sub-metro after identifying the problems they face. The suggestions below should be taken into consideration. Rotating â€Å"susu† collectors association (ROSCA) should review the ATF guidelines regularly to ensure consistent application of the accounting standards to the accounting books kept. The budget implementation team should also ensure that, â€Å"susu† collectors problems are identified and included in the budget and ensure that funds are solely spent according to what has been budgeted. ROSCA should also set up an accounting advisory unit to update the accountant on proper books keeping and accounting which will facilitate proper planning and decision. In every institution, there must be a control mechanism in order to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. ROSCA should appoint internal auditors who will work permanently for â€Å"susu† groups alongside a set of rules and regulations to govern the conduct of these internal auditors. Regular research work must be encouraged by way of providing researchers with the needed information in order to determine the shortfalls of the operations of â€Å"susu† collectors. â€Å"susu† deposits should be educated on the operation of the scheme in order to avoid frequent blaming of â€Å"susu† collectors. To raise the amount of salary for â€Å"susu† collectors, a low interest should be charged to regular clients. This is to get enough funds to pay â€Å"susu† collectors. â€Å"susu† collectors should demand collateral security before loans can be advanced. This is to avoid the risk of loosing money in the operation of the scheme. The researcher supposes that, if the above suggestions recommended are carried out, it would improve upon the operations of the â€Å"susu† scheme by â€Å"susu† collectors in the Bantama sub- metro. Suggestions for further research. Research work conducted was limited to problems facing â€Å"susu† collectors in the Bantama sub-metro. The researcher therefore suggest further research work on the problems facing â€Å"susu† collectors in other sub-metros in Kumasi and Ghana at large. RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE

buy custom Technology Advancements essay

buy custom Technology Advancements essay In the present world, the rate at which technology is advancing and changing is somehow faster than initially expected. Once a technological application is realized, it starts to depreciate overtime in terms of its effectiveness and value (Ciambrone, 2004). The depreciation of an existing technological idea comes as a result of discovery of other alternatives and displacements in the same discipline. Therefore, the process to evaluate alternative or replacement technological applications for existing technologies is as follows: First, a cost benefit analysis is done for the existing technological application and its alternatives or replacements. In cost benefit analysis, both the costs and benefits of the existing and alternative/replacement technologies are evaluated by an appropriate form of analysis. At the end of the evaluation; if the costs of the existing technology outweigh the benefits, then the alternative or replacement applications are set to be adopted (Ciambrone, 2004). On the other hand, if the costs of the alternative or replacement technological applications outweigh the benefits, then other new alternatives are sought as the existing application remains in use. However, for a new alternative or replacement to be adopted, the following critical issues must be considered in the process of evaluation. The new application (replacement or alternative) must carry more benefits and less associated costs compared to the existing ones. The process of evaluation also looks at the ethical and legal co nsiderations of the alternative or replacement applications. This is necessary for acceptance of the new replacement or alternative application. Replacement of an existing technology or adoption of an alternative application to the existing technology should occur at a point where the existing technological application is no longer effective, beneficial, or efficient compared to its possible alternatives or replacements. At this point, the process to evaluate alternative or replacement applications for existing technologies is set to be initiated, in order to adopt more beneficial and cost effective applications. Buy custom Technology Advancements essay

Wharton School Application

Wharton School Application center where I will do my best to provide a great involvement and get a lot of new experience. I am very hard working student who never gives up in any situation. I am ready to meet tight deadlines and always do my work with the special attention. These features of character always help me to be responsible in studying. As far as I am an international student, I will reflect a different culture in the school by making different meetings and parties. Alumnus of Wharton school are very valued among employers of world famous companies as this school represented itself as a top ranked educational institution. Getting education in this school will give me the opportunity to become a professional in my field of science. Those are the reasons why I would appreciate to become a student of the Wharton school.

Revision Checklist for a Descriptive Paragraph

Revision Checklist for a Descriptive Paragraph Developing a paragraph through description is painting a verbal picture, says Esther Baraceros. This means creating impressions and images through words that appeal to the readers senses (Communication Skills I , 2005). After completing one or more drafts of a descriptive paragraph, use this eight-point checklist to guide your revision. Does your paragraph begin with a topic sentenceone that clearly identifies the person, place, or thing youre about to describe?(If youre not sure how to write a topic sentence, see Practice in Composing an Effective Topic Sentence.)In the rest of the paragraph, have you clearly and consistently supported the topic sentence with specific descriptive details?(For examples of how to do this, see Practice in Supporting a Topic Sentence With Descriptive Details.)Have you followed a logical pattern in organizing the supporting sentences in your paragraph?(For examples of organizational patterns commonly used in descriptive paragraphs, see Spatial Order, Model Place Descriptions, and Generals, and Exercises.)Is your paragraph cohesivethat is, have you clearly connected the supporting details in your paragraph and guided readers from one sentence to the next?(Cohesion strategies include the following: Using Pronouns Effectively, Using Transitional Words and Phrases, and Repeating Key Words a nd Structures.) Throughout the paragraph, have you chosen words that clearly, accurately, and specifically show readers what you mean?(For ideas about how to create  word pictures that can make your writing easier to understand and more interesting to read, see these two exercises: Writing With Specific Details and Arranging Specific Details in Sentences.)Have you read your paragraph aloud  (or asked someone to read it to you) to check for trouble spots, such as awkward phrasing or needless repetition?(For advice on polishing the language in your paragraph, see Practice in Cutting the Clutter and the Exercise in Eliminating Deadwood From Our Writing.)Finally, have you carefully  edited and  proofread your paragraph?(For advice on how to edit and proofread effectively, see our Checklist for Editing Paragraphs and Essays and Top 10 Proofreading Tips.) After completing these eight steps, your revised paragraph may look quite different from earlier drafts. Almost always that means you have improved your writing. Congratulations!ReviewHow to Write a Descriptive Paragraph

Why I agree with The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman Essay

Why I agree with The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman - Essay Example The Japanese, Chinese and Indians or Hindus are part and parcel of this World is Flat economy. According the Thomas Friedman, the recent series of technological and economic factors have been pooled together since the year 2000 with the improved organizational and personal capacities plus the additional of more new players (nations) in the worldwide economic playing field has created a huge impact on the American economic Community like a tsunami. This Tidal wave will continue to change the lives of many Americans for more than a decade. The Friedman book is a wake up call for Americans to adjust otherwise; they will be overcome, economically by Japan, China and India. playing field will be leveled FLAT so that there will be more players coming from far away places, including marginal or third world countries. The third world countries can now take advantage of the benefits of HIGH advances in technology and productivity. A very good example of the FLAT world concept of Friedman is the DOT-COM bubble. Dot-com is the onset of the internet age. A person can now talk, some call it chat, with other persons and receive and send information from one corner of the world to the farthest point thru the internet. Some quarters say that the internet age has resulted to the BUST of some American companies. This is true because now that the world is FLAT, economic players from China and India can compete for the manufacture of amenrican products. Due to the hDue to the high wages and other operating costs of maintaining factory producing American goods, the American businessmen can now put up its offices in China and India where wages are ten times or more lower than the average American worker's earnings.For the American employees, this is a bust because it will add their unemployment situation. For the American businessmen, they will generate huge profits from the low labor wage and low costs of operating a factory in China or India. For the Chinese and Hindu nation, they are the winners in this bust situation because they are now hired and paid wages that are very much higher than the average Chinese or Hindu wage. The pride of working in a Multinational company is such a ego boosting to the Chinese and Hindus. A good example of his THE WORLD IS FLAT philosophy is Mr Friedman's stories of many foreign companies that cropped up to provide the technological services to American enterprises is the case of An American Income tax company outsourcing its basic income tax return filings to companies based in India.The National language of India is English where communication is not a problem. The Indian employees are paid around ten times lesser than the average American worker. This cost savings for the American company will result to lower American selling prices and / or increased company profit.This only shows that workers in the third world countries, including china can be trained to produce goods and service that is at par or even better than the ones produced by the American workforce. This is made possible by the internet and other improvements in technology. This clearly shows that the American industrial footing as the "big dog on the block" has been successfully questioned by the

Environmental Health Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Environmental Health Assessment - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to outline the concept of risk, the processes of risk assessment and risk management, two issues that may affect the city’s policy in relation to risk management, and the differences between risk assessment and risk management. Nuclear technology provides a means to produce electricity in a safe, less expensive and environmentally sustainable way. It also helps in developing a number of essential industrial and medical products and uses (Knief, 1991). On the other hand, the highly advanced, complex technology involving thousands of crucial mechanisms, lack of adequately trained personnel to operate the facility, and potentially dangerous raw materials and by-products of the processes, are capable of inflicting high levels of fatalities and illnesses among the population. By means of epidemiology or the study of the causes, distribution and control of illnesses in populations, the â€Å"causal relations between environmental exposures and impaired states of health† are determined (Merson et al, 2004: 383). Accordingly governmental policies are regulated, for identifying levels of exposure to environmental health hazards, ensuring reduced risks to health and for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. Risk perception by the public is greatest in relation to nuclear power, as indicated by research studies (Sjoberg, 2003; O’Riordan, 1982; Thomas et al, 1980). Nuclear power was found to have nearly all the characteristics associated with high perceived risk: that hazards are involuntary, with delayed consequences, â€Å"unknown, uncontrollable, unfamiliar, potentially catastrophic, inequitable and certain to be fatal† (Ricci et al, 1981). Further, conflict situations regarding nuclear power are largely based on values and goals that may overwhelm issues of health and safety. In view of these risks, public opinion is

Concrete to Prove Abstract Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Concrete to Prove Abstract - Essay Example   One day he came to know about the situation through which John was going. John had no money with him and going to a restaurant was almost a fancy to him. Tom found him thoughtful on that day and after having a discussion with him came to know about his situation. His kind heart was deeply concerned. He had money to feed himself only yet he took John to the restaurant nullifying all the latter’s protests. Tom ordered for John’s favorite dishes and as they arrived, served them with his own hand to John. John’s eyes became wet with tears. Tom supervised but ate nothing while John had his meal. There were still a few dollars in Tom’s pocket and he gave them to John while returning. Tom did not even tell us anything about what he had done for his friend. My mother even scolded him for expending so much money but he remained silent. We came to know about all these from John’s mouth after three months when he visited our place with the good news that h e had got a good job. We were astonished to see the depth of kindness and love in Tom for his friend.  Tom’s kindness was not limited to human beings either. Here, I shall tell you another story of his life. This happened in his college days too. That day it was raining heavily and Tom had troubles while returning home from college. Reaching our door, he saw a dog sitting with one of its right legs bleeding from some injury. I was the person who opened the door and saw Tom picking up the dog and coming in. My mother was horrified and cried, â€Å"No Tom! This is too much. I ain’t gonna allow any dog here.† But Tom, who was occupied with his concern for the four-legged animal, hardly listened to what his mother said. He made the dog sleep under the couch in the drawing room. Then he ran towards his own room and before my mother could say or do anything more, he came back with a gauge of bandage and a small bottle of ointment which he uses for his football injur ies.  

Aristotle & Boethius Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Aristotle & Boethius - Term Paper Example In this particular area, fear is one of the variables that are considered to result during the time or circumstance when an agent acts or fails to act because of strong feelings. Broadie put this more clearly when she explained the Aristotelian principle about how â€Å"fear might prevent the craftsman from functioning properly as a craftsman,† and that â€Å"it might hinder his dexterity or warp his judgment in some way; but if we know the situation we shall not assess his skill on the basis of that response† (81). Aristotle’s position is clear – an action driven by fear is excusable - but he put forward a fundamental condition: the perpetrator must not know the consequence of his action or that the outcome of his actions or inactions is unforeseen. This balance is what makes me agree with the philosopher’s point of view. There are instances when fear makes us irrational, clouding our judgments. Mistakes that are made in the process, hence, cannot be considered as guilt-ridden acts as long as it is not deliberate, voluntary and made by choice. Fear In Aristotle’s theory of moral responsibility, there are two specific exceptions that supposedly dilute or diminish a person’s guilt resulting from his actions: ignorance and compulsion. It is this last variable that covered fear. For example, when a person kills another, his action cannot immediately be considered wrongful when a strong emotion has driven him to commit such an act. Since we are talking about the morality of such action, it is, hence, imperative to examine the reasons behind the action. Otherwise, we brand all killings as murders. Aristotle, through his arguments regarding fear, allowed us not only to explain wrongful acts but determine their blameworthiness according to degrees. Morality is not a black and white affair; it is shaped by norms of the time and specific belief systems. During the philosopher’s time, for instance, war was permitted , whereas Christianity made us think it as morally unacceptable. The point is that there are many variables that must be included in the moral evaluation of an act. Factors like fear figure prominently in this discourse because they are valid and legitimate contributors to the way humans act. It compels us to act, making the process involuntary. If fear drove one to jump off a roof, for instance, killing another in the process, would we condemn him for taking another’s life? Emotional compulsions form part of the inherent characteristic of man as a rational and emotional being, and having them rejected defeats the very purpose of moral evaluation. According to Spain, â€Å"a person acting under compulsion is unable to exercise physical control over his or her bodily movement, in other words, is not free to act,† and that it â€Å"provides the basis for claims of exculpation contesting authorship-responsibility and, hence, indirectly, moral responsibility† (30). This explains how I can say that if I am overcome by an overwhelming fear; I will be incapacitated because it reduces my agential power to choose. Here, it is clear that my freedom is diminished and, hence, my moral responsibility as well. Indirect responsibility or partial excuse for actions is a very important factor why I agree with Aristotle. I think it agrees with the utilitarian approach to punishment as against those obsess on the action and not

How Cell Phones Can Cause Cancer for Users Research Paper

How Cell Phones Can Cause Cancer for Users - Research Paper Example Cell phones are examples of gadgets that emit radiofrequency energy. This paper, in effect, explains how cell phones cause cancer to their users. Radiofrequency Radiation and Cell Phone Use Radiofrequency (RF) is a type of electrical energy found between 300 kilohertz (KHz) and 1 megahertz (MHz) frequency ranges. Weinberg (p. 17) observes that â€Å"†¦RF penetrates human body and is absorbed by deep body organs without feeling of any heat sensation.† Weinberg (p. 17) deduces that it this property of radiofrequency energy that makes cell phones harmful to their users. The gadgets play a major role in development of brain cancers because the antenna which absorbs and emits signals transmits the same radiation to the brain of a user. Several studies confirm a strong correlation between use of cell phones and brain cancer. (Schuz et al.1707). Causes of neck cancer and cancers of various nerves in the head have also been attributed to cell phone use. Mechanism used by microwav e ovens to heat food is analogous to how RF energy emitted by cell phones behaves. However, heat produced by RF exposure from cell phones is not sufficient enough to significantly increase body temperature. Muscat et al. (p. 3001) explains that using a cell phone while holding it on one side of the head affects brain tissues close to antennae of the phone. Radiofrequency energy emitted from the cell phone increases glycolytic process (breakdown of glucose to pyruvate with release of energy) in these tissues. Slight increase in temperature in these tissues triggers faster metabolism of glucose than in tissues opposite to antennae of the cell phone. Uneven rate of glycolysis in the brain results to imbalance energy distribution in brain tissues. Unequal distribution of energy in the brain promotes unequal cell growth in brain tissues resulting to uncontrolled and imbalanced cell division and growth of brain tissues. Brain tumors are products of uncontrolled cell growth and division of cells in the brain tissues. The tumors grow rapidly and form enlarged cell masses than surrounding cells. Surplus energy on one side of the head can, thus, cause brain tumors on one side of the brain. RF radiations produce malignant tumors. The tumors are non-encapsulated cells that grow quickly and readily metastasize into surrounding cells. Metastasis is the ability of a tumor cell to break from the tumor and freely enter the bloodstream (Larjavaara et al. 4). Tumor cells can, therefore, travel to other parts of the body and begin to rapidly divide and grow. More often, malignant tumor cells are characterized by anaplasia, a condition in which a cell loses its distinctive features. Larjavaara et al. (p. 10) concludes that cancer is a result of cell reversion. Consequently, cell phone users not only expose themselves to brain cancer, but also increase their chances of developing cancer of other body organs. According to Larjavaara et al. (p. 2), common brain cancers caused by radi ations emitted from cell phones include glioma and neuroma brain cancers. Glioma is a spinal cord or a brain tumor made up of neuroglia, a connective tissue of the nervous system. Glioma tumors arise from abnormal glial cells in the brain. Immediate symptoms of gliomas, which are not as deadly as glioma cancer, include nausea, vomiting, headaches, and cranial nerve disorders among others. Neuroma brain cancer, on the other hand, is a cancerous tumor that

VIRTUAL WORLDS, VIDEO GAMES &GAMES Research Paper

VIRTUAL WORLDS, VIDEO GAMES &GAMES - Research Paper Example It does mean that a great number of relationships are built on false ideas about the other, the identity created in order to support an ideal that the user has defined. The following paper will take a look at the identity of the user in relationship to social identity theory and in the way in which gender is utilized as an aspect of play. The paper first explores the nature of the created identity through examining the development of the avatar. The gaming avatar is the virtualized visual element that represents the online created identity. This includes the aspect of gender which is explored through the choices that are made and the reasons behind those choices. Finally, sexuality and the representation of the created identity as a shield to the real identity are discussed. This creates a discussion about how the online created identity reflects and also does not reflect the real self through social identity theory and a variety of other theories that have an impact on the topic. The use of the examples of Second Life and World of Warcraft to provide for two different types of games will round out the exploration of this paper. The final discussio n will include ideas of gender, sexuality, and the created online identity in order to form an analysis of the phenomenon. The avatar gives the individual the opportunity to define themselves through choices that are consciously made rather than imposed. The individual can become whomever they choose in the context of the game while using the tools that are provided in order to create the sense of identity that is intended within the game environment. The online game identity is a pure creation in which only what a person chooses to show will be revealed. This is not to say that elements of the true self will not come through, but it does mean that there is a great deal of control through which the development of the identity can be

How Cell Phones Can Cause Cancer for Users Research Paper

How Cell Phones Can Cause Cancer for Users - Research Paper Example Cell phones are examples of gadgets that emit radiofrequency energy. This paper, in effect, explains how cell phones cause cancer to their users. Radiofrequency Radiation and Cell Phone Use Radiofrequency (RF) is a type of electrical energy found between 300 kilohertz (KHz) and 1 megahertz (MHz) frequency ranges. Weinberg (p. 17) observes that â€Å"†¦RF penetrates human body and is absorbed by deep body organs without feeling of any heat sensation.† Weinberg (p. 17) deduces that it this property of radiofrequency energy that makes cell phones harmful to their users. The gadgets play a major role in development of brain cancers because the antenna which absorbs and emits signals transmits the same radiation to the brain of a user. Several studies confirm a strong correlation between use of cell phones and brain cancer. (Schuz et al.1707). Causes of neck cancer and cancers of various nerves in the head have also been attributed to cell phone use. Mechanism used by microwav e ovens to heat food is analogous to how RF energy emitted by cell phones behaves. However, heat produced by RF exposure from cell phones is not sufficient enough to significantly increase body temperature. Muscat et al. (p. 3001) explains that using a cell phone while holding it on one side of the head affects brain tissues close to antennae of the phone. Radiofrequency energy emitted from the cell phone increases glycolytic process (breakdown of glucose to pyruvate with release of energy) in these tissues. Slight increase in temperature in these tissues triggers faster metabolism of glucose than in tissues opposite to antennae of the cell phone. Uneven rate of glycolysis in the brain results to imbalance energy distribution in brain tissues. Unequal distribution of energy in the brain promotes unequal cell growth in brain tissues resulting to uncontrolled and imbalanced cell division and growth of brain tissues. Brain tumors are products of uncontrolled cell growth and division of cells in the brain tissues. The tumors grow rapidly and form enlarged cell masses than surrounding cells. Surplus energy on one side of the head can, thus, cause brain tumors on one side of the brain. RF radiations produce malignant tumors. The tumors are non-encapsulated cells that grow quickly and readily metastasize into surrounding cells. Metastasis is the ability of a tumor cell to break from the tumor and freely enter the bloodstream (Larjavaara et al. 4). Tumor cells can, therefore, travel to other parts of the body and begin to rapidly divide and grow. More often, malignant tumor cells are characterized by anaplasia, a condition in which a cell loses its distinctive features. Larjavaara et al. (p. 10) concludes that cancer is a result of cell reversion. Consequently, cell phone users not only expose themselves to brain cancer, but also increase their chances of developing cancer of other body organs. According to Larjavaara et al. (p. 2), common brain cancers caused by radi ations emitted from cell phones include glioma and neuroma brain cancers. Glioma is a spinal cord or a brain tumor made up of neuroglia, a connective tissue of the nervous system. Glioma tumors arise from abnormal glial cells in the brain. Immediate symptoms of gliomas, which are not as deadly as glioma cancer, include nausea, vomiting, headaches, and cranial nerve disorders among others. Neuroma brain cancer, on the other hand, is a cancerous tumor that

Presidential Election 2012 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Presidential Election 2012 - Essay Example 1). The 2012 party conventions show that Democrats maintain the advantage over the Republicans though their lead is smaller than in 2008. Results from the interviews conducted in 2012 indicate that Democratic Party has 35%, and the Republican had 28% while other independents have 33%. When we compare the leanings of the independent voters, a higher percentage of independents lean more on the Republican side than on the Democratic side. The recent Centre polls indicate that Americans prefer the Republican platform to the Partys nominee, Mitt Romney, during the convention. As for the Democratic convention, Americans applauded to Obama’s speech more than they were with the party’s platform. The Republican Platform approved during the convention represented a right shift for the party. It hewed the conservative and made no exceptions for the abortions regardless of whether it was intentional or not, and offered strict definitions on marriage (Lindemann par. 2). Contrary, Democratic platform expressed support homosexuality and gave its reaffirmation for the support of abortion rights. The democrats oppose privatization of the social security while the republicans advocate for personal investments for the young employees. The presidential nominee for the Republican Party faced criticism especially when he expressed his lack of support to Jerusalem. On the other hand, the Democratic Party nominee, President Obama, expressed the commitment towards Israel’s security. In October 15th, Romney criticized the decision by the Democrats and termed it as a shame (Lindemann par. 3). Ideally, the two parties have different ideologies on the fundamental requirements for both the country and the family. Democratic platform has termed the elections in 2012 as just not a battle between two nominees. They argued that it enhanced the determination of the fundamentals necessary to the welfare of the country while the Republicans consider the

Two versions of Macbeth act 5 scene 1 Essay Example for Free

Two versions of Macbeth act 5 scene 1 Essay I have studied two versions of Macbeth act 5 scene 1, otherwise known as the sleepwalking scene. They are the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the BBC productions. I have watched several productions but I am going to focus on these two versions in particular. I want to examine the significance of the scene and analyse how it has been produced and directed. This scene is extremely important because it occurs just after Macduff has swore to avenge the killing of his family and just before we see Malcolms army getting ready to fight against Macbeth. The scene is situated in an important part of the play also, because Shakespeare traditionally places the finale of the play in act 5. It is the first time we have seen Lady Macbeth since the banquet and the scene is used to tell us what has been happening to her in the meantime. It is there to allow the viewer to enter the mind of Lady Macbeth and to realise the nightmare she is living in. It is there to show how she is coping with recent events and it will be the last time we ever see her. She is not alone in this scene; a doctor and a gentlewoman are also there. Their roles are to observe Lady Macbeth discreetly and to comment on what she is saying and doing. We find out about her insecurity and that she is afraid of the dark. We also learn that guilt has taken over and that she is extremely unhappy. As one of the major characters in the play, Lady Macbeth has been involved in some of the main events. For example, she was in alliance with her husband in Duncans murder, and even persuaded Macbeth to go through with the murder after he had decided to leave things to chance (Act 1 Scene 7). She organised the whole murder by laying out the daggers and she drugged the possets of the grooms. She also helps Macbeth after the murder by distracting others when she fainted so her involvement was very significant. At that stage she is the dominant partner in the marriage. She has seen a chance to make her husband king and is determined not to let it slip away. She asked evil spirits to unsex me here and for any natural feelings to disappear so she would not hesitate in carrying out the murder. This seems to have worked because when she is persuading her husband her language is very forceful and she conjures up images of horror. Her wish for the evil spirits to fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty has been granted. Manhood is a frequent theme in this early scene. Lady Macbeth sees it simply as a man should have courage to act and to face danger but Macbeth says that he dares to do anything that is suitable to a man; to do more would be unmanly. She knows how to manipulate her husband and this is clearly shown when Macbeth gives in to his wifes demands and decides to go ahead with the murder after the questioning of his manhood. Her ruthless determination has made Macbeth overcome his doubts. These early characteristics have all but disappeared by the sleepwalking scene. She is no longer the ambitious, determined, moral blackmailer. Instead she is a broken woman, emotionally drained and a shadow of her former self. The banquet scene has fully taxed her resources and resulted in her total collapse. She is now guilt-ridden as her soliloquy discloses. She knows about the other murders and this has taken its toll on her mentally and physically too. The significance of sleepwalking is that her guilt is depriving her of any comfort, even sleeping. The gentlewoman and the doctor open the scene. The doctor is questioning the gentlewoman about lady Macbeths condition. She responds by telling the doctor about her sleepwalking but when he asks the gentlewoman what Lady Macbeth has said, she replies that sir, which I will not report after her, explaining that she has no witness to confirm her speech. This suggests that knowing what Lady Macbeth has said could be dangerous for her. While the doctor is trying to persuade her, Lady Macbeth appears whilst holding a candle, this is interesting because it symbolises the good that is still inside her. In both productions she is lit in a way to imply that she is possessed by the supernatural. The mist and darkness reminds us of Banquo and Macbeth before they met the witches on the moor. It also brings back memories of the witches (act 1 scene 1) when they talked about the fog and filthy air. Lady Macbeth is seen to be rubbing her hands frantically and talks about the blood on them. She mentions a spot that she cannot remove; this could be the mark of the devil or maybe it is symbolising the guilt within her. She cannot wash away her murderous deeds. She goes through a roller coaster of emotions as she receives flashbacks from when she and her husband were plotting to kill Duncan. She says one; two: why, then tis time to dot. This is her remembering the ringing of the bell when Duncan was about to be murdered. She continues, Hell is murky! She has said this because she knows what her fate will be and understands the consequences of her actions. She is in complete despair at this stage. She also reveals that she knows about Macduffs family when she says the thane of fife had a wife: where is she now? She is no longer innocent of this knowledge. She constantly rubs her hands and states will these hands neer be clean? and heres the smell of blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. This is quite ironic because it is her who says to Macbeth after the murder of King Duncan, that a little water will clear us of this deed (act 2 scene 2). The contrast is no more evident than here, this is where Lady Macbeth takes charge of the situation after Macbeth had forgot to plant the daggers on the grooms. She takes the daggers to do it herself and reassures Macbeth. If you compare this to the sleepwalking scene you can see the difference. Not only has she got the guilt of Duncan, Banquo and Macduffs family but also she has now realised that Macbeth does not need her and doesnt confide in her anymore. This once strong woman is now worthless. Near the end of the scene the doctor recognises that she needs a priest more than a physician. Compare the state of their relation at these two points as well. What once was a strong solid relationship is now left in tatters. The two productions differ in certain ways. In the BBC version, the stage is misty and it is set inside a castle. Archways and stonewalls are clearly visible. There are steps leading to Lady Macbeths bedroom and the scene starts with the doctor and gentlewoman talking to each other in the middle of a large room. Jean Lapotaire is playing Lady Macbeth and she tends to over act her part. She moves about a lot more than Judi Dench in the RSC production. She appears almost as a ghost figure. She is illuminated and I think the director does this to make us aware of a supernatural presence. The camera focuses in on her and she is lit from the back which I believe adds to the effect. Both actresses walk by the doctor and gentlewoman, which suggests that Lady Macbeth is completely oblivious to what is going on around her, this quote supports that theory, aye, but their sense is shut. Lady Macbeth is constantly changing the tone of her voice and facial expressions from being joyful to afraid. This helps illustrate the utter despair she is feeling and contributes to the dramatic effect. Her delivery is breathy and exaggerated, I believe that her performance is over dramatised but on the other hand she is trying to convey the state of mind that Lady Macbeth is in. The doctor is quite old and is convincing. He is startled and shocked at what he hears. The gentlewoman is emotional and her tone of voice varies to help express her emotion In the RSC production, the most obvious difference is the lack of props. It is a very dark stage and there is only a table and chair. The director has created the illusion that a candle is lighting up Lady Macbeths face but it is more likely due to the lighting department. This helps to create a sense of evilness. Judi Dench acts very differently to Jean Lapotaire. When she enters her eyes are swollen to give the effect of her crying. The Gentlewomans delivery is monotonous and the Doctor is quite young. The delivery of the words and facial expressions are very important in this production due to the lack of visual effects. Judi Dench does not move very much and opts to sit down at the table instead. The camera remains focused on Lady Macbeths face. The candle/lighting helps the audience to see her facial expressions more clearly. She is very convincing and her tears seem to be genuine. When the death of Banquo is mentioned the camera looks at the Doctor to show his shock. Neither the Doctor nor the Gentlewoman are dressed in clothing from that period. Judi Dench lets out a huge cry, this cry is heavily exaggerated but I think it helps to convey the pent up emotion that she has been feeling. The light of the candle can be seen fading away as Lady Macbeth leaves, this is the last time we will see her. All in all, I preferred the RSC production I thought Judi Denchs performance was excellent. Jean Lapotaire was sometimes slightly comical because of her over exaggeration but this may be more appealing to people who are not familiar with Macbeth. Jean Lapotaires delivery was interesting. She almost sang the line the thane of fife had a wife: where is she now? like a nursery rhyme, this is somewhat ironic considering that it was tragic. I think the RSC caught the real significance and emotion of the scene well. I think an older Doctor could improve it and I believe the Gentlewomans delivery could be more passionate.