Intermediate Accounting

We Need Automatic Voter Registration Now :: Politics Political Essays

We Need Automatic Voter Registration Now  Political interest ought not fall in the new thousand years. Youngsters ought to consequently get enrolled on their eighteenth birthday celebration. With the entirety of the new innovation our now it ought to have the option to be finished. All children are given government disability numbers soon after birth. From this methodology each individual ought to be enlisted to decide on their eighteenth birthday celebration.  Each youngster took on secondary school ought to be required to take and pass a present government class that shows the understudy the present government laws and political workplaces and who holds the present positions. On the off chance that this is done nobody ought to have the reason not to cast a ballot since they don't have the foggiest idea who to decide in favor of or who the applicants are. Keeping the youthful educated and associated with legislative issues and the government officials and their perspectives can just assistance in getting them to cast a ballot and remain included.  The democratic age ought not be lower than 18 years old. Casting a ballot is an earned benefit and is given to develop people who need to have any kind of effect in their lives. To decide in favor of the competitor that will best serve the workplace wherein they are chosen is the thing that youngsters should anticipate. Each qualified individual should need to take an interest in having any kind of effect in the nation in which they live. Everybody youthful or not ought to be given: the entirety of the data on every political office that are to be decided on; what the individual chosen to the workplace is liable for and the capabilities it takes to acquire the position; and, what the position should achieve for the prosperity of the residents.  Keeping lines of correspondence open for everybody is another method of helping voters to urge voters to practice their privileges to cast a ballot. Keeping the polling forms straightforward and simple likewise is extraordinary assistance to the youthful and older. Ensuring the democratic day and the democratic hours are reasonable to every working individuals with odd moves simple to get the opportunity to cast a ballot.  The non-attendant voting forms that are accessible are additionally a good thought for individuals who can not get to the surveys on Election Day. Keeping things basic and straightforward are approaches to assist youthful with peopling to utilize their privileges to cast a ballot and have any kind of effect in this political world.

Ap Language and Composition Argument Essay Samples

Ap Language and Composition Argument Essay SamplesIn the age of writing software and computer programs, a student who is going to be tasked with writing an essay on language and composition would certainly want to be able to make the most out of his/her college assignments. How to write a convincing argument for the English composition is one of the most important things a student has to keep in mind.English composition essay samples can be very helpful in this regard, as they have been helping students for ages. If you want to avoid making the same mistakes that many others have made in the past, it's good to look at the methods of students who have graduated from college with honors in the area of language and composition. At least this will help you avoid those common mistakes that will soon haunt you in your future.The way you are going to tackle a variety of different essay samples has to be reviewed, particularly if you intend to graduate with honors in the area of English comp osition. For example, there are those that require you to demonstrate some sort of theme in order to do well on them. There are others, however, which are designed more to showcase some specific aspect of language and composition. Another option, while not so popular with students, is to tackle an essay sample with some sort of argument, so that it doesn't simply consist of a list of factual information that's being explained.This method is actually more widely known as 'linking the topic'unlinking the topic.' There are two types of links and one type of on-link. Linking involves pulling together all of the facts and ideas you are presenting and giving an overall impression of the entire topic, while un-linking is a method where you present the idea but do not give a definite answer to the question being asked.The best way to take on this type of essay is to read as much of what's out there as you can before you write anything down, and then select a topic that relates to the subjec t area you want to tackle. Since there are so many options, however, you'll need to look through a variety of different essay samples before you find one that fits your taste and your needs.You can also use the writing center that you are assigned at the beginning of your English program to help you sort through the various options. As you move along, however, you will realize that different writing centers offer different strategies for tackling different essay samples. With a lot of work, you should find a writing center that offers you a variety of different writing tools and strategies so that you can spend less time worrying about finding a strategy and more time enjoying the task at hand.You should also be on the lookout for essay samples that outline a theme or a subject in some way, so that you can spend less time thinking about how to write an essay on the subject and more time thinking about the theme or the topic that you're writing about. It's also useful to look at a va riety of different writing centers that offer different themes to choose from, since the variety of subjects is one of the most important factors in composing an effective essay.Composition essays are among the most difficult parts of an English composition exam, so it's easy to see why a lot of students get frustrated when trying to complete a sample that will be graded by an instructor. For example, the most common error in that they try to just cram as much information into a single paragraph as possible. You'll need to take the time to prepare and understand your instructor's expectations in order to ensure that you don't forget something that will impact your grade.

The Chemistry Behind Movie Special Effects

Accessibility and-or Usability in the Context of Web...

According to Pratt Nunes (2012), accessibility and/or usability in the context of web design and computing are two closely related features. Their approaches, goals and guidelines closely overlap each other, hence it is convenient to collectively consider them in web designing and content development. However, it may be necessary to be specific sometimes especially when addressing the issue of discrimination against those with disabilities or in defining the specific accessibility and usability standards. This paper addresses the synchronization of accessibility and usability particularly in the development of accessible computer systems, which promotes usability of appropriate web content. Accessibility in this case is concerned with ensuring a comparable user experience for all user regardless of their ability and /or disability including age related impairments. This implies that an accessible system should be easily understood, perceived, navigated and should interact with the user without barriers. The access to information as well as access to efficient technology is a fundamental human right as stipulated in the UN convention on the rights of people with disabilities. On the other hand, Seffah, Gulliksen Desmarais (2005) argue that usability revolves around the design of products which are effective, efficient and user-satisfying. This is an integral part of the process of human-computer interaction that is primarily user centered so as to yield positive userShow MoreRelatedHci Assistive Technology Devices for Specially-Abled3213 Words   |  13 PagesHCI Assistive Technology devices for Specially-abled Abstract—The Human-computer interaction (HCI) is the study of how people design, implement, and use interactive computer systems and how computers affect individuals, organizations, and society. This encompasses not only ease of use but also new interaction techniques for supporting user tasks, providing better access to information, and creating more powerful forms of communication. It involves input and output devices and the assistiveRead MoreLifelong Personal Health Data And Application Software Via Virtual Machines2807 Words   |  12 Pageswould provide opportunities for patients to access their Personal Health Records (PHR) regardless of location and time and, also very importantly to share this information with relevant health practitioners and institution. They identify that â€Å"Cloud computing offers unique opportunities for supporting long-term record preservation† . The authors further argued that the latest cloud technology would be the best solution arc hitecturally to access PHR data from virtually any device. They state that â€Å"PHRRead MoreThe Design Method For Older People3151 Words   |  13 Pages2.4 Design Method for Older People 2.4.1 Background As mentioned in Chapter 2.1, older people are different from younger people in both physiological and psychosocial aspects. Due to the decrease in somatic capabilities, or common chronic diseases, older people may not use technologies in ease. In addition, older people’s knowledge about technologies updates not as fast as younger people, which make the problem even worse [5, 9]. For example, older people’s lack of understanding of computer conceptsRead MoreCloud Computing : A Tool That Provides An Opportunity For Large Or Small Business Owners2507 Words   |  11 PagesCloud computing is a novel tool that provides an opportunity for large or small business owners based on an entirely new business model. The term cloud computing itself is a familiar term, however, the specific meaning can be difficult to define. This paper discusses several facets of cloud computing topics to include cloud benefits, characteristics, as well as service models. Benefits As cloud-computing starts to take hold, a number of significant advantages have turned out to be evident. The firstRead MoreDoing Ethics Technique4045 Words   |  17 PagesAJIS vol. 10 no. 2 May 2003 DOING ETHICS: A UNIVERSAL TECHNIQUE IN AN ACCESSIBILITY CONTEXT Christopher R. Simpson1, Liddy Nevile2, Oliver K. Burmeister3 1 Adjunct Teaching Fellow, School of Information Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, E-mail: csimpson@swin.edu.au; 2 E-mail: Liddy.Nevile@motile.net; 3 Swinburne Computer-Human Interaction Laboratory, School of Information Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, E-mail: oburmeister@it.swin.edu.au;Read MoreDesigning and Developing a Banking Demo System Using Service Oriented Architecture5744 Words   |  23 PagesFACULTY OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING School of Computing Information Systems MSc DEGREE IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING WITH MANAGEMENT STUDIES Coursework Title: Analysing and Building a Banking System Software Using Component and Service Oriented Cloud Architecture Date: 28/11/13 Lecturer: Dr Khaddaj S. WARRANTY STATEMENT This is a student project. Therefore, neither the student nor Kingston University makes any warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the dataRead MoreSms Based Information Student Information System3380 Words   |  14 PagesTeaching Information Systems Development with SMS Chris Wallace Information Systems School Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences University of the West of England Frenchay, Bristol BS16 1QY chris.wallace@uwe.ac.uk Abstract ‘Texting’ or SMS mobile phone messaging is rapidly increasing in business and community use. This paper discusses the inclusion of SMS technology in the teaching of Information Systems Development. It is argued that SMS has advantages in terms ofRead MoreMobile Commerce: Beyond E-Commerce7658 Words   |  31 Pagesthe world. According to Davis (2009), PriceGrabber.coms March 2009 survey, nearly 58 percent of US online consumers currently owns a mobile phone capable of connecting to the Web. Of the online consumers with Web-enabled phones, 21 percent own a smartphone, 8 percent own an iPhone, and 29 percent own another type of Web-enabled phone. These percentages are expected to continue to grow as new models of phones, such as Google’s Android, proliferate into the market. US Revenues from m-commerce inRead MoreTravel and Tourism Administration Program Structure20692 Words   |  83 PagesTechnology program lasts for two years and it includes one summer perio d of industrial placement. Upon successful completion of this program, students are awarded the Diploma in Information Technology. The principal aim of this program is to produce computing and information systems professionals, who will have the understanding of the technology and the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to work at a high level in the related industry. The main concern is with the utilization of technology andRead MoreUnit 30 Internet Marketing Assignment 1 Essay6905 Words   |  28 PagesSome services or products are sold purely online while other companies may have physical stores or headquarters in addition to their online presence. E-Business describes any business to business transactions that take place online. For example a Web Design company often doesn’t sell products directly to consumers, but instead creates websites as a service for other companies, which will in turn be used to sell products or services to consumers. The internet has revolutionised the way companies do

International Business E-Commerce free essay sample

Before that, for your information, Im Information System Manager of SecretNetwork, pleased to be here to represent the SecretNetwork that trans- ational computer suppliers company that supplies products to an international market. Today, I will focus on the issues of international business environment and the implication of e-commerce for international business. In this issue, I will share with you about globalization, trans-national Corporation and the national economic environment. Then, I will discuss about how e-commerce has affected trade in the trading nation and developing nation. I also will touch about how e-commerce can influence local, national and global economies. Before I go through, let me asked you; ladies and gentlemen, one simple question; hat is a business for you? Alright, I know, all of you have own definition of business because youre businessman or businesswoman but for me, honestly, I describe business into two simple word that is customer and profit. We will write a custom essay sample on International Business E-Commerce or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Why I believed like that? Because I seeking a business is an activity of providing goods or services to fulfil customer need and want to generate profit and sustainable revenue. This can refer to SecretNetwork; because we fulfil customer need and want in IT or ICT by provide a variety of computer supplies such as hardware and software program to gain more profitability. Ladies and Gentlemen, The history of my company; SecretNetwork is one of dramatic invention, adaptation and expansion. But this is not sadness story, so you can throw away your tissue Oust kidding). Alright, audience, I will bring you back in 1987, a year that our company founder, Ahmed Rosly Ali found the SecretNetwork. Maybe some of you might be surprise because in 1987, how come Ahmed Rosly Ali can create business based on computer and network while in Malaysia phenomenon of information technology and network starting famous after 1990s, right ?. So, the answers is; Ahmed Rosly Ali who is graduated in Business in 1986 from Iowa State University, that the first University built electronic computer in 1930s and by the late 1980s, computer network were expanding to embrace the general public and the internet was born (Swee Heng, Ain Nadziman, Helen Tan, 2 When Ahmed Rosly Ali back to Malaysia in 1987, with knowledge and experience in university and predict that have big opportunity with computer business, he determined to run business that supplies personal computer, printer and some hardware. With own savings, he start small business and become as sole proprietorship, that control the business by wn because sole proprietorship is one owner has complete control their business and profits or losses flow directly to him and paid taxed at individual rates (Bovee, Thill, Schatzman, 2004). Until early 1990s, IT in Malaysia is still new, so it complicated to Ahmed Rosly Ali run his business because demand of his product is low and any legal damages or debts incurred by the business are his responsibility. As sole proprietorship, Ahmed Rosly Ali managed and make the decision for his business by own. So, he decided to ending private ownership or sole proprietorship to become partnership by hired his ousin, Ahmed Azman, a computer analysis to become his partners. As we know, to starting partnership business it needs two or more owners, right? So, by the partners saving and bank loan, around RM 40 000, they expand their business by provide some software program others personal computers, printer and hardware to influence customer to purchase their product. By partnerships agreement, they entitled to equal control their business and share income and loses equally (Bovee, Thill, Schatzman, 2004). With efficiency management and planning of partnership, their business become growth wealth and they open 10 branches around Malaysia nd involve in exporting their product. Ladies and gentlemen, As we know, life sometime bad of rose, in 1998, Malaysia face critical economic recession and this recession give big impact to the SecretNetwork because they face finance crisis. To make sure that their company still running, Ahmed Rosly Ali and his partner, decided to become corporation by sell 40% from their share in SecretNetwork to the public include their employees.

Macbeths Ambition free essay sample

The ambition that Macbeth is portraying is careless. Macbeth’s ambition led him to only focusing on one thing and it was the throne. He became manipulative and greedy. Macbeth no longer cared about his morals or values of life. Macbeth’s ambition was the cause of all the murders he committed. His greed for power. He also allowed his ambition to get in the way and cause him to kill more. His goal no longer was to care for the people, but it was to be crowned king. In the beginning Macbeth did not want to kill Duncan, but with the words from his wife and his own ambition the killing occurred. Second, Macbeth tells his men to kill Banquo, his closet friend. Macbeth will not let anyone stand in his way of his own ambition. â€Å"Macbeth’s ambition causes him to kill many people, which in turn leads to his ruin. We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeths Ambition or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Firstly, Macbeth kills Duncan. Macbeth wants to fulfill his ambition to be king. Killing Duncan is vital in this case. Initially, he is hesitant, but by the help of his wife and his vaulting ambition, he kills Duncan. It is noted that having succumbed to his ambition to gain the crown by whatever means†(Lamar 8). Macbeth knows that he can be crowned king by killing important people. He allows his ambition to help him kill. Macbeth had gotten so intact with being king that he didn’t realize that the witches weren’t helping him, but they were actually hurting him. † your castle is surprised, your wife and babes/savagely slaughtered. To relate the manner/where on the quarry of these murders. † (4. 3. 240-244) This quotes shows he had really become power hungry. His actions caused Macduff to turn against him. Having people who could in the long run have a higher ranking than one is never good. In the end one may need them. Macbeth’s ambition got the best of him and Macduff’s family. He only sets the trap of his own death. He was unprepared for what was to come. Which was Macduff killing him. Ambition can take over your image of someone who you once were. Ambition can change ones whole mind frame. Too much ambition cam also lead you to become blind of obvious signs. Macbeth was a very high ranked leader, but when he let his ambition over take him he became weak. Is this a dagger which I see before me. The handle toward my hand? /Come let me clutch thee. † (2. 1. 44-47) Macbeth begins to feel guilty for killing Duncan. He then becomes weak. Macbeth’s ambition has gotten him worried that the sons of Banquo will come along and take the throne. Macbeth becomes worried and gets together a plan to kill Banquo’s sons. Banquo’s ghost lets Macbeth know that his ambition has led him to corruption and changed who he really is. By then it is too late. Macbeth is now feeling really guilty. It is evident because he starts talking to the ghost. He goes insane in front of many of people. Many of them loose faith in Macbeth and sees him les of a man. â€Å"Macbeth’s guilt (and worry) manifests in the form of Banquo. † (Alpeche 2) Macbeth’s guilt leads to paranoia which leads him to kill more people. When Macbeth felt like there was someone who would steal his glory of being king he killed them. His ambition had gotten out of hand and everyone saw it. Macbeth should have chosen his battles wisely instead of going on killing everyone. Ambition can change the mind set of one. Having ambition really does have a downfall. Being a leader with much ambition can cause you to loose focus on what is important. Having much ambition can lead to madness and destruction. Macbeth went from a highly looked up to leader to someone who is as low as a servant. Works Cited Macbeth. Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Michelle Lee. Vol. 100. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Literature Resource Center. Web. 30 Mar. 2010. Maginn, William

Overview of The Seven Years War (1756 - 63)

Overview of The Seven Years War (1756 - 63) In Europe, the Seven Years War was fought between an alliance of France, Russia, Sweden, Austria and Saxony against Prussia, Hanover and Great Britain from 1756 - 63. However, the war had an international element, particularly as Britain and France fought for domination of North America and India. As such, it has been called the first ‘world war’. The theatre in North America is called the ‘French Indian’ war, and in German,y the Seven Years War has been known as the ‘Third Silesian War’. It is notable for the adventures of Frederick the Great, a man whose major early successes and later tenacity were matched by one of the most incredible pieces of luck ever to end a major conflict in history (that bit is on page two). Origins: The Diplomatic Revolution The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ended the War of the Austrian Succession in 1748, but to many, it was only an armistice, a temporary halt to the war. Austria had lost Silesia to Prussia, and was angry at both Prussia – for taking the wealthy land – and her own allies for not making sure it was returned. She started weighing up her alliances and seeking out alternatives. Russia grew worried about the growing power of Prussia, and wondered about waging a ‘preventative’ war to stop them. Prussia, pleased at having gained Silesia, believed it would take another war to keep it, and hoped to gain more territory during it. In the 1750s, as tensions rose in North America between British and French colonists competing for the same land, Britain acted to try and prevent the ensuing war destabilising Europe by altering its alliances. These actions, and a change of heart by Frederick II of Prussia – known by his many later admirers as ‘the Great’ – triggered what has been called the ‘Diplomatic Revolution’, as the previous system of alliances broke down and a new one replaced it, with Austria, France and Russia allied against Britain, Prussia and Hanover. Europe: Frederick Gets His Retaliation in First In May 1756, Britain and France officially went to war, triggered by French attacks on Minorca; the recent treaties stopped other nations being sucked in to help. But with the new alliances in place, Austria was poised to strike and take Silesia back, and Russia was planning a similar initiative, so Frederick II of Prussia – aware of the plotting – initiated conflict in an attempt to gain an advantage. He wanted to defeat Austria before France and Russia could mobilise; he also wanted to seize more land. Frederick thus attacked Saxony in August 1756 to try and break its alliance with Austria, seize its resources and set up his planned 1757 campaign. He took the capital, accepting their surrender, incorporating their troops and sucking huge funds out of the state. Prussian forces then advanced into Bohemia, but were unable to win the victory that would keep them there and they retreated to Saxony. They advanced back again in early 1757, winning the battle of Prague on May 6, 1757, thanks in no small part to Frederick’s subordinates. However, the Austrian army had retreated into Prague, which Prussia besieged. Luckily for the Austrians, Frederick was defeated on June 18th by a relief force at the Battle of Kolin and forced to retreat out of Bohemia. Europe: Prussia Under Attack Prussia now appeared to be attacked from all sides, as a French force defeated the Hanoverians under an English general – the King of England was also the King of Hanover – occupied Hanover and marched to Prussia, while Russia came in from the East and defeated other Prussians, although they followed this up by retreating and only occupied East Prussia the next January. Austria moved on Silesia and Sweden, new to the Franco-Russo-Austrian alliance, also attacked. For a while Frederick sank into self pity, but responded with a display of arguably brilliant generalship, defeating a Franco-German army at Rossbach on November 5th, and an Austrian one at Leuthenon December 5th; both of which had outnumbered him greatly. Neither victory was enough to force an Austrian (or French) surrender. From now on the French would target a resurgent Hanover, and never fought Frederick again, while he moved quickly, defeating one enemy army and then another before they could effectively team up, using his advantage of shorter, internal lines of movement. Austria soon learnt not to fight Prussia in the large, open areas which favoured Prussia’s superior movement, although this was constantly reduced by casualties. Britain began to harass the French coast to try and draw troops away, while Prussia pushed the Swedes out. Europe: Victories and Defeats The British ignored the surrender of their previous Hanoverian army and returned to the region, intent on keeping France at bay. This new army was commanded by a close ally of Frederick’s (his brother in law) and kept French forces busy in the west and away from both Prussia and the French colonies. They won the battle of Minden in 1759, and made a series of strategic manoeuvres to tie up the enemy armies, although were constrained by having to send reinforcements to Frederick. Frederick attacked Austria, but was outmanoeuvred during a siege and forced to retreat into Silesia. He then fought a draw with the Russians at Zorndorf, but took heavy casualties (a third of his army); he was then beaten by Austria at Hochkirch, losing a third again. By the end of the year he had cleared Prussia and Silesia of enemy armies, but was greatly weakened, unable to pursue anymore grand offensives; Austria was cautiously pleased. By now, all belligerents had spent huge sums. Frederick was bought to battle again at Battle of Kunersdorf in August 1759, but was heavily defeated by an Austro-Russian army. He lost 40% of the troops present, although he managed to keep the remainder of his army in operation. Thanks to Austrian and Russian caution, delays and disagreements, their advantage was not pressed and Frederick avoided being forced to surrender. In 1760 Frederick failed in another siege, but won minor victories against the Austrians, although at Torgau he won because of his subordinates rather than anything he did. France, with some Austrian support, tried to push for peace. By the end of 1761, with enemies wintering on Prussian land, things were going badly for Frederick, whose once highly trained army was now bulked out with hastily gathered recruits, and whose numbers where well below those of the enemy armies. Frederick was increasingly unable to perform the marches and outflankings which had bought him success, and was on the defensive. Had Frederick’s enemies overcome their seeming inability to co-ordinate – thanks to xenophobia, dislike, confusion, class differences and more - Frederick might already have been beaten. In control of only a part of Prussia, Frederick’s efforts looked doomed, despite Austria being in a desperate financial position. Europe: Death as Prussian Saviour Frederick hoped for a miracle, and he got one. The implacably anti-Prussian Tsarina of Russia died, to be succeeded by Tsar Peter III. He was favourable to Prussia and made immediate peace, sending troops to help Frederick. Although Peter was assassinated quickly afterwards – not before trying to invade Denmark – the new Tsar – Peter’s wife, Catherine the Great – kept the peace agreements, although she withdrew Russian troops which had been helping Frederick. This freed Frederick to win more engagements against Austria. Britain took the chance to end their alliance with Prussia – thanks partly to mutual antipathy between Frederick and Britain’s new Prime Minister- declaring war on Spain and attacking their Empire instead. Spain invaded Portugal, but were halted with British aid. The Global War Although British troops did fight on the continent, slowly increasing in numbers, the Britain had preferred to send financial support to Frederick and Hanover – subsidies larger than any before in British history – rather than fight in Europe. This was in order to send troops and ships elsewhere in the world. The British had been involved in fighting in North America since 1754, and the government under William Pitt decided to further prioritise the war in America, and hit the rest of France’s imperial possessions, using their powerful navy to harass France where she was weakest. In contrast, France focused on Europe first, planning an invasion of Britain, but this possibility was ended by the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759, shattering France’s remaining Atlantic naval power and their ability to reinforce America. England had effectively won the ‘French-Indian’ war in North America by 1760, but peace there had to wait until the other theatres were settled. In 1759 a small, opportunistic British force had seized Fort Louis on the Senegal River in Africa, acquiring plenty of valuables and suffering no casualties. Consequently, by the end of the year, all French trading posts in Africa were British. Britain then attacked France in the West Indies, taking the rich island of Guadeloupe and moving on to other wealth producing targets. The British East India Company retaliated against a local leader and attacked French interests in India and, aided greatly by the British Royal Navy dominating the Indian Ocean as it had the Atlantic, ejected France from the area. By war’s end, Britain had a vastly increased Empire, France a much reduced one. Britain and Spain also went to war, and Britain shocked their new enemy by seizing the hub of their Caribbean operations, Havana, and a quarter of the Spanish Navy. Peace None of Prussia, Austria, Russia or France had been able to win the decisive victories needed to force their enemies to surrender, but by 1763 the war in Europe had drained the belligerents and they sought peace, Austria, facing bankruptcy and feeling unable to proceed without Russia, France defeated abroad and unwilling to fight on to support Austria, and England keen to cement global success and end the drain on their resources. Prussia was intent on forcing a return to the state of affairs before the war, but as peace negotiations dragged on Frederick sucked as much as he could out of Saxony, including kidnapping girls and relocating them in depopulated areas of Prussia. The Treaty of Paris was signed on February 10th, 1763, settling issues between Britain, Spain and France, humiliating the latter, former greatest power in Europe. Britain gave Havana back to Spain, but received Florida in return. France compensated Spain by giving her Louisiana, while England got all French lands in North America east of the Mississippi except New Orleans. Britain also gained much of the West Indies, Senegal, Minorca and land in India. Other possessions changed hands, and Hanover was secured for the British. On February 10th, 1763 the Treaty of Hubertusburg between Prussia and Austria confirmed the status quo: Prussia kept Silesia, and secured its claim to ‘great power’ status, while Austria kept Saxony. As historian Fred Anderson pointed out, millions had been spent and tens of thousands had died, but nothing had changed. Consequences Britain was left as the dominant world power, albeit deeply in debt, and the cost had introduced new problems in the relationship with its colonists (this would go on to cause the American Revolutionary War, another global conflict that would end in a British defeat.) France was on the road to economic disaster and revolution. Prussia had lost 10% of its population but, crucially for Frederick’s reputation, had survived the alliance of Austria, Russia and France which had wanted to reduce or destroy it, although many historians claim Frederick is given too much credit for this as outside factors allowed it. Reforms followed in many of the belligerent’s government and military, with Austrian fears that Europe would be on the road to a disastrous militarism were well founded. The failure of Austria to reduce Prussia to second rate power doomed it to a competition between the two for the future of Germany, benefitting Russia and France, and leading to a Prussian centred Germany empire. The war also saw a shift in the balance of diplomacy, with Spain and Holland, reduced in importance, replaced by two new Great Powers: Prussia and Russia. Saxony was ruined.

How to Automate Marketing Apps With CoSchedule and Zapier

How to Automate Marketing Apps With and Zapier What would you do with more time each workweek? You could: Spend more time doing actual creative work †¦ generate more profit for your business, and †¦ †¦ feel less stressed, all at the same time. Most marketers would agree this sounds But, how can you get that kind of time back, though? I’d like to say it involves using the ability to freeze time. I can’t say that, though, because that’s scientifically impossible ( for now). But, I can tell you all about the next best thing: hooking up your calendar with Zapier, using our latest integration. By using both apps together, you can connect your favorite software services, allowing you to manage and automate tasks in one place. The result? More time to get your real job done, with less copy-paste repetition and general banging-your-head-against-a-wall frustration. Best of all, Zapier is a freemium app that connects seamlessly with . Let’s take a look at exactly how easy it is to get started. Follow along, and you’ll be making magic happen with Zapier in no time. How to Automate Marketing Apps With and Zapier to Save Tons of TimeRemind Me: What Is ? If youre new around here, let me fill you in quick. is a web-based marketing calendar app that makes it easy to plan, manage, and execute marketing projects. When your marketing team has one place where they can map out timelines, collaborate on projects, and visualize clear deadlines (and a lot more), getting things done effectively and efficiently becomes much easier. In short, is your teams hub connecting the spokes of your marketing tool stack. And when its connected with Zapier, that power becomes even greater. Try Free For 14 Days: Ready to take for a spin? Start your free trial or schedule a demo and get your entire team organized on one marketing calendar now. So, What Is Zapier, Exactly? Zapier is a web app that connects other web apps. It works by setting up triggers that automate tasks between apps. For example, each time you add an event to your Google Calendar, it could create a new Marketing Project in . Heres a quick look at what it is, and how it works: Best of all, it’s compatible with an incredible number of apps. While we’re going to focus on using it to connect to your favorite services, there’s a whole lot more it can do. Why Should I Sync My Marketing Tools With and Zapier? The short answer is because you’re A) busy and B) want to accomplish more in less time. The more in-depth answer is because it makes it super easy to manage multiple tools and applications in one place. By empowering marketers to automate routine processes, you can cut mundane tasks from your schedule, and better focus your energy on work that matters. Here are a few examples of things you can do: Sync your Google Calendar and . Add projects to each time a row is filled in Google Sheets. Connect project management tools (including Basecamp, Asana, and Wrike), to your calendar. And that’s barely scratching the surface of what’s possible. If you can think it, there’s a good chance you can make it happen. Heres how busy #marketing teams can use @zapier to connect their favorite apps to @Important Terms to Know Before we get too much farther, there are a couple features and terms that would be useful to understand: Marketing Projects: These are unified folders in connecting items on your calendar together. They’re used to keep all the moving pieces of individual projects and campaigns organized. Zaps: In Zapier, the connections you create between apps are called Zaps. Theyre created by selecting Triggers and Actions, causing App A to make App B to complete a given action. When creating a Zap, its possible to select as the trigger or action. Got it? Now, let’s move on. Recommended Reading: How to Connect Your Favorite Tools With Zapier (Live Demo Recap) Getting Started: Creating a Zapier Account The first step is to create and Zapier accounts. If you’re already a customer, you’re halfway there. If not, you can always start a trial or schedule a demo with an expert. Then, create a free Zapier account by hitting up their website and entering some basic info. With a free account, you can create five Zaps (or connections between apps). If you need more power, you can upgrade to a paid account. Once you log in, youll see a search bar and a directory full of software services and apps: Then, select : For a more detailed walkthrough on connecting to Zapier, check out our helpful support documentation. Youre on your way to more marketing productivity already. Connecting @and @zapier is easy. Heres how:How Are Zaps Created? Now that you’re in, it’d be helpful to know how Zaps are created. Fortunately, this video from Zapier themselves has that covered: Then, if you want to experiment building Zaps of your own, follow our handy support doc. Next, Start Connecting Apps With Our Favorite Zaps The first thing you’ll see once you connect to Zapier is our favorite Zaps. These are some simple templates that make it easy to connect several popular services quickly. Those include: Honeybook Trello Basecamp Asana Wrike MailChimp Google Sheets That’s a solid set of apps you can quickly connect to ! To see how they all work, watch this demo recap video (or follow our step-by-step guide below): But, your selection isn’t limited to this list (Zapier is super powerful and featured extensive functionality to create your own apps). For now, we’ll start with these. + Google Sheets Google Sheets is one of the most popular requests we receive for integrations. And now, with Zapier, it’s possible! Using the Gsheets Zap with , you can automatically add Marketing Projects to when you add a row to a particular spreadsheet. Start by selecting the Zap: Next, youll see a description of the Zap: Click Create this Zap. Next, youll see the following prompt, asking you to create a Trigger: Click Continue. On the next screen, youll see detailed instructions for how to set up your Google Sheet to correctly create Marketing Projects in : Weve got our directions. So, lets set up that Google Sheet: Click Continue, and connect your Google Sheets account: Then, select a spreadsheet and worksheet: Youll then be asked to test your new Zap: Now, youll be asked to create an Action in . The first step is to click Continue on the following screen: Then, connect your account (if you havent already): Youll be asked to paste in your API key (you can find this in Settings Integrations): Next, youll need to test your Zap. Start by filling in details for a test Marketing Project: Then, click Send Test to : Congratulations! Youve now created a working Zap. Now, team members can just fill in your Google Sheet to build out Marketing Projects, which other team members can complete. Thats how Zaps get created. Each Zap listed in this post can be set up similarly by following the step-by-step on-screen prompts. Honeybook + HoneyBook is a popular business management platform for creative professionals. Now, with , you can automatically create a Marketing Project on your calendar once a project is complete in Honeybook. This makes it easy to promote your work (and bring in more clients). Heres how you can use @zapier to connect @honeybook and @+ Trello When you connect Trello (a popular kanban-style project management platform) together with , you can automatically create content on your calendar when you create a new Trello card. So, once you create a card in Trello †¦ †¦ you can create a new piece content that you’ll create on your calendar. You can also create tasks in Trello and have them appear right on your calendar. This zap works similarly, but will instead create a task on your calendar (rather than a piece of content). Now, if I were to add a card to Trello as a reminder to get something done, itll appear on the calendar, too: Heres how you can use @zapier to connect @trello and @+ Basecamp 2 and Bascamp 3 Basecamp is an all-powerful project management platform. It’s been around since 2004, and it’s trusted by tons of customers around the world. And now, it syncs with ! Whether you’re using Basecamp 2 or 3, you can turn your to-do’s in Basecamp into Tasks on your calendar. Remember the task we synced between Trello and ? With Basecamp, the process works in a similar fashion. That gives you full visibility on everything you need to get done, right in (without needing to bounce between two apps). You can also sync entire marketing projects between Basecamp and . Say you have a project manager working behind-the-scenes magic in Basecamp, but your marketers are in . Your PM could create a project in Basecamp. Then, your marketing team will have all the moving pieces in place, so they start getting the work done. Heres how you can use @zapier to connect @basecamp and @+ Asana Similarly, if you’re using Asana for project management, you can sync it with your calendar. Using this Zap, any time you create a project in Asana (click the + sign and select Project): Fill in your project details: And itll create a matching Marketing Project in : Marketers and project managers, living in perfect harmony? Stranger things have happened. Heres how you can use @zapier to connect @asana and @+ Google Calendar If you’re using to keep your entire marketing team organized, it’d probably be useful to see all your meetings alongside your other work and projects. And where do those meetings typically live? On a Google Calendar. So, why not bring the two together? By using this zap, you can create a meeting on Google Calendar: And see it appear on your calendar: This is super helpful if meetings are sometimes initiated by teams outside marketing that aren’t in your calendar, but run everything through the Gsuite. Heres how you can use @zapier to connect @googlecalendar and @+ Wrike Wrike is a widely-used freemium project management platform used by all kinds of teams. Now, you can connect it to and stay on top of tasks better than ever. Using this zap, creating a task in Wrike automatically creates a task in . For example, if your project management team is in Wrike, and your marketing team is in , you can keep everyone on the same page with a single version of truth. Heres how you can use @zapier to connect @wrike and @+ MailChimp MailChimp is one of the worlds most popular email marketing service providers. With their well-structured freemium model and smart balance between power and usability, there are lots of good reasons for that, too. We’ll have some cool email functionality coming to (that we can’t quite talk about yet in detail). But, if you want your calendar to get to know MailChimp, you can do that with this zap. Now, when you schedule an email in MailChimp, itll appear as a piece of content on our calendar. This makes it easy to see when emails are being sent, alongside all your other content and projects.

Self assessment of Tiger Nursing informatics competencies Coursework

Self assessment of Tiger Nursing informatics competencies - Coursework Example These are consistent with recommendations of the Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform (Finkelman & Kenner, 2014). My clinical information management, based on the self-assessment, identifies a weakness. As a registered nurse, I should be skilled in computer technology applications and data analysis for informed care decision and this requires ability collect, record, manage, analyze, and interpret data. My self-analysis results, however, identify competence in a majority of clinical information management measures, an indicator of average potential. My best scores were proficiency in ensuring data confidentiality and data security, with no expertise score in a single measure. Retrieval of information from stores was the most challenging of clinical information management aspects. There was however better results on information literacy as about 50 percent of my scores were proficient. No expertise score was reported and novice scores were limited. Analysis of information and information sources were the most challenging aspects. My basic computer competencies were however outstanding with exper tise score in most of the measures. Comparative analysis of my current competencies identifies weaknesses in application of data for nursing purposes. Competencies in computer applications for data entry, management, analysis, and interpretation are recommended for my professional qualification and experience but I am below average in related measures that correspond to clinical information management and information literacy. Age barrier, having trained and entered the nursing profession before integration of high-level of information technology into the nursing profession explains my weakness. My areas of specialty, that have required minimal application of computer competencies and information literacy explain my weakness. I have worked in long-term care, psychiatric, and correctional nursing, areas that may

Strategy & Sensemaking HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Strategy & Sensemaking HR - Essay Example Therefore, a strategy is the business game plan for each firm, or organization. Business strategies are thus a selection of ideas and assets in meeting a business long term goals in the market. A business strategy exists in three phases; the first phase is creating the strategy, the second is implementing the strategy, and the last phase is evaluating the strategy to indentify how well a business has done in meeting its goals and objectives. According to Hambrick & Fredrickson (4), a strategy involves pieces of small elements that coherently integrate to form the whole. Hambrick & Fredrickson further explain that a strategy is a central, externally oriented and integrated goal plan of how the business plans to achieve its overall objectives. This report aims at applying the meaning of strategy, in understanding how General Electric (GE) Company has been able to attain its competiveness and leadership in the market today. General electric mainly specializes in diversified financial and technological services. The company’s main products range from power generational services, aircraft engines, household appliances, water processing, medical imaging among other industrial products (Bloomberg, 2012). Through strategic management and elaborate strategies in the HR, marketing, and production departments, the company has achieved setting benchmarks and leadership in the market, and is a major global competitor in sever al sectors as indicated above. GE has portrayed impressive strategies in its marketing department in the recent past. According to Comstock, Gualti & Liguori (2010), 10 years ago, GE had no remarkable marketing organization in its strategies. The company had developed a culture that its modern technologies were too good; the products could even market themselves with no elaborate strategy. The company’s staffs in the marketing specification were

The Atomic Age Essay -- Atomic Bomb Atom History Essays

The Atomic Age The Atomic Age, composed of complex and controversial issues, has forever changed our world and the way in which we live. * What were the factors leading to the dropping of the atomic bomb? The answer to this question considers events dealing with atomic energy, the Manhatten Project, and controversial issues about when, where, how, and if the bomb should have been used. There are several events prior to the 1940s that led to the making of the bomb, but the majority of events and controversy snowballed during the 1940s. It is always important to examine the causes of world changing events so that the human race will learn from and be more aware of such issues in the future. Important factors prior to the 1940s: In 1895, Wilhelm Roentgen discovers x-rays. Soon afterward, Marie Curie discovers radium and polonium, both radioactive elements, in 1898. Several years later, in 1905, Albert Einstein creates the famous theory about the relationship between mass and energy. When two German scientists, Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman, demonstrated nuclear fission in December of 1938, American scientists feared that Germany would begin to build an atomic bomb (Wainstock, 35). Because of this, Albert Einstein sends a letter to President Roosevelt in August of 1939. It is this letter that encourages the President to form a committee to investigate atomic research. American scientists, including Einstein, also persuaded the President to undertake the bomb's development. This secret government effort became known as the Manhatten Project. Factors during the 1940s: Abrupt, unexpected changes: On December 7th, 1941, the United States was suddenly brought into World War II when unexpectedly attacked by the Jap... ...orces alone, therefore making us appear more powerful. All of these events, both prior and post 1940, contributed to the dropping of the first atomic bomb. It was not one single event or person, but many that allowed this bombing to occur. These events should be looked at and studied so that they will not reoccur in the future. Works Cited: Dannen, Gene. "Atomic Bomb: Decision". April 25, 1997. <http://www.peak.org/~danneng/ decision/decision.html> (March 24,1998). Fogelman, Edwin. Hiroshima: The Decision to Use the A-Bomb. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1964. Wainstock, Dennis D. The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb. Westport: Praeger, 1996. Walker, Gregory. "Trinity Atomic Web Page". March 22,1998. <http://www.envirolink.org/ issues/nuketesting/index.html> (March 24,1998). Yass, Marion. Hiroshima. New York: G.P. Putman's Sons, 1972.

Speech for Chinese Medicine

General Purpose: To inform. Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of an aspect of Chinese culture, which is is traditional Chinese medicine. Thesis: Traditional Chinese medicine is found in nearly all countries today, which I believe would be the result of intercultural communication. INTRODUCTION I. Hello! For my presentation, I am going to talk about a certain aspect of Chinese culture, which is traditional Chinese medicine. A. TCM, for short, is a practice still used in modern China and most of the United States. B. There are two types of TCM treatments commonly used today. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2009) 1. Herbs 2. Acupuncture C. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2009), herbs and acupuncture are the most common; however, other practices include 1. moxibustion 2. cupping 3. Chinese massage 4. mind-body therapy 5. and dietary therapy D. For this presentation, I will mainly talk about herbs and acupunctu re, since it is the most commonly used forms of TCM. II. Herbs and Accupuncture. A. Both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been used and studied for a wide range of conditions. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2009) 1. Acupuncture has been used for conditions such as a. back pain b. chemotherapy-included nausea c. depression d. osteoarthritis 2. Chinese herbal medicine has been used for conditions such as a. Cancer b. Heart disease c. Diabetes d. HIV/AIDS III. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2009), TCM is considered a form of alternative medicine. A. Alternative medicine is any healing practice that isn't conventional medicine.B. Alternative medicine may be based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence. (Hesketh & Zhu, 1997) C. Alternative medicine varies from country to country. (Hesketh & Zhu, 1997) [I know that culture, especially Chinese culture may differ from tow n to town in a region as large as China. The main aspects of Chinese culture include its literature, music, cuisine, martial arts, etc. , today I am only going to speak to you about one aspect which is our alternative medicine, but their very own medicine. ) BODY I. China is the only country in the world where Western medicine and traditional medicine are . . . [practiced] . . . alongside each other at every level of the healthcare system. † (Hesketh & Zhu, 1997) A. 40% of all health care delivered in China is Traditional Chinese Medicine. (Hesketh & Zhu, 1997) II. TCM practitioners use a variety of therapies in an effort to promote health and treat disease. The most commonly used are Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2009) A. Chinese herbal medicine 1.The Chinese materia medica (a pharmacological reference books used by TCM practitioners) contains hundreds of medicinal substances- primarily plants, but also s ome minerals and animal products- classified by their perceived action in the body. 2. Different parts of plants such as the leaves, roots, stems, flowers, and seeds are used. 3. Usually, herbs are combined in formulas and given as teas, capsules, tinctures, or powders. B. Acupuncture 1. By stimulating specific points on the body, most often by inserting thin metal needles through the skin, practitioners seek to remove blockages in the flow of qi. . moxibustion (burning moxa- a cone or stick of dried herb, usually mugwort- on or near the skin, sometimes in conjunction with acupuncture) 3. cupping (appyling a heated cup to the skin to create a slight suction) 4. mind-body therapy (qi gong and tai chi) III. â€Å"In spite of the advent of Western practices, the Chinese have never completely ceased to employ their own art of healing, mainly because it continued to fit into their specific philosophy of life, but also because it appears that in frequent cases it was good medicine† (Risse, 1997, p. 7). A. Chinese traditional medicine, the Ayurvedic medicine of India, Tibetan medicine, and other Eastern medical systems evolved, for the most part, independently of Western scientific medicine. B. â€Å"Until the twentieth century the Eastern and Western medical systems were each considered particularly efficacious [,which means, successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective. ] by their own practitioners [ who are people actively engaged in a discipline, or profession, esp. medicine]† (Eisenberg, 1985, p. 2) IV. In an article from the Skeptical Inquirer, Joe Nickell (2012) explains his experience, where he learned about â€Å"Chinese healing techniques. † A. Nickell (2012) explains the origins of traditional Chinese medicine. B. Nickell (2012) learned that TCM is based on the five elements. V. Khalsa (2011) wrote an article titled Ancient Chinese Secrets, which explains the five herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. A. Ginsen g B. Dong quai C. Schisandra D. Ho shou wu E. Astragalus VI.According to a newspaper article titled Chinese herbs that hurt, not heal, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is suffering from modern China's safety troubles and quality control. A. For centuries, traders bringing their Chinese herbs into this town made sure their first stop was the Medicine King Temple. They prayed to the Han Dynasty medical expert Pei Tong, whom the temple was built to honour, asking for their roots, fungus and berries to have the potency to cure the world's ills. The practice has long ceased, especially after the Chinese Communist Party came to power in 1949.VII. Chinese clamor for herbs to fight respiratory virus- U. N. Doctors inspect Beijing hospital A. Beijing – – The World Health Organization has no evidence to suggest that traditional Chinese medicine can prevent the spread of SARS, but the people in line at Tong Ren Tang Pharmacy don't care. There's a two-hour wait to buy herbs. Eve r since the popular Beijing Evening News newspaper ran a recipe Tuesday concocted by two experts in traditional Chinese medicine, thousands of people have rushed to pharmacies to buy the supposedly immunity-boosting elixir to†¦Conclusion I. TCM follows the belief that ancient Chinese followed many years ago, which is the same as the reasoning behind Chinese Universalism. Their reasoning include: 1. the Tao 2. the Yin and the Yang 3. and finally, the 5 elements, which are water, fire, wood, metal and earth. A. Chinese traditional thinking conceives of man as composed of the same elements as the universe. II. The origins of China's medical history are usually found in legends that come from the tradition of health care over several thousand years. A. nd where contemporary communities promises further insights into the nature of the human response to illness. B. Furthermore, medical historians and medical anthropologists have begun to focus their research on China, where a wealth of written sources permits III. References Eisenberg, D. (1985). Encouners with qi. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. Hesketh, T. , & Zhu, W. X. (1997). Health in China. traditional Chinese medicine: One country, two systems. British Medical Journal 315(7100), 115-117. Abstract retrieved April 5, 2012 from http://www. cbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles National Center for Complementary and Alternatice Medicine. (2009). Traditional Chinese Medicine. Retrieved April 5, 2012 from http://nccam. nih. gov Nickell, J. (2012). Traditional Chinese medicine: Views east and west. Skeptical Inquirer, 36(2), 18-20. Retrieved April 5, 2012, from Readers' Guide Full Text Mega on-line database (H. W. Wilson) Khalsa, K. P. S. (2011). Ancient Chinese secrets. Amazing Wellness, 3(3), 36-38. Retrieved April 7, 2012, from Readers' Guide Full Text Mega on-line database (H. W. Wilson)Risse, G. B. (1973). Modern China and traditional Chinese medicine. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas. MacQueen, K. (2001) . The best of both worlds. Maclean's, 114(11), 44-47. Retrieved April 7, 2012, from Readers' Guide Full Text Mega on-line database (H. W. Wilson) Academic honesty. (n. d. ). Retrieved December 2, 2005, from University of Saskatchewan website: http://www. usask. ca/honesty Ancient chinese medicine and mechanistic evidence of acupuncture physiology. Medline Database TCM: Made in China. Medline Database Ginseng, Panax. MedlinePlus

Microfinance in Philippines - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2509 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/09/19 Category Finance Essay Type Argumentative essay Tags: Development Essay Did you like this example? COUNTRY ANALYSIS UNIT FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF SAN FRANCISCO JANUARY 2010 Microfinance in the Philippines uring the last few years, the volume of microfinance activity has grown considerably in the Philippines and an increasing number of financial institutions have engaged in retail microfinance operations. While this sector has been traditionally dominated by rural banks, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and finance cooperatives, in 2009 a number of commercial banks sought entrance into the retail microfinance market. This Asia Focus report reviews the growth of the Philippines microfinance industry and discusses the implications of commercial banks entering this market. What is Microfinance? The Philippines central bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), defines microfinance as the provision of a broad range of financial services such as deposits, loans, payment services, money transfers and insurance products to the poor and low-income households and their microent erprises. The financial service most commonly provided is microcredit, which is typically issued in the form of a specific business loan for microenterprise purposes. A key defining characteristic of a microfinance loan is the ability to secure credit without collateral. In the Philippines, microfinance loans cannot exceed PhP 150,000 (US$3,218). ii Microfinance providers in the Philippines often employ a group lending approach, whereby each person within a small group is liable for any default by another group member. Other group lending-based methodologies being used in the Philippines include the ASA model, whereby each group member is responsible only for his or her own loan, and the Alliance of Philippine Partners in Enterprise Development (APPEND) Scale-Up Branch Model, which is based on the Trust Bank model. iii,iv Development of Microfinance in the Philippines The Philippines’ microfinance sector is credited as one of the oldest and most active in the world. v Whil e the roots of microfinance activity date back to the early 1900s through cooperatives, microfinance, as D described today, surfaced in the 1980s and was codified into national law in 1997 with the signing of the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act (RA 8425), and the establishment of both the National Anti-Poverty Commission and the National Strategy for Microfinance. With approximately 33% of the country’s 92 million population considered to be living below the poverty threshold, poverty alleviation is one of the government’s top priorities and microfinance is a primary tool to address this issue. i The ultimate goal of the government’s National Strategy for Microfinance is to create a sustainable private microfinance market, where the private sector drives market dynamics, such as products and pricing, and the government’s role is limited to providing an environment which enables the market to thrive. The General Banking Law of 2000, which mand ated the recognition of microfinance as a legitimate banking activity, is one of the primary catalysts for accelerated growth and commercialization of microfinance over the last several years. The law empowered the BSP to create measures recognizing microfinance providers as banking institutions and to provide regulatory guidelines specific to the microfinance portfolios for institutions falling under the BSP’s purview. Furthermore, banks engaging in microfinance activities were given certain allowances and relieved of certain restrictions; for example, they were granted exemption from a moratorium on branch licensing. Today, the BSP defines its commitment to the development of microfinance in the Philippines in three specific ways: i) providing an enabling policy and regulatory environment, ii) increasing the capacity of the BSP and banking sector with respect to microfinance operations, and iii) promoting and advocating the development of sound and sustainable microfi nance operations. vii Historically, the provision of retail microfinance services in the Philippines was achieved through rural and thrift banking organizations, as well as NGOs and finance cooperatives. Government financing programs also participated in the retail market. The BSP reports Asia Focus is a periodic newsletter issued by the Country Analysis Unit of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. The information contained in this newsletter is meant to provide useful context and insight into current economic and financial sector developments in the Asia Pacific region. The views expressed in this publication are solely that of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Federal Reserve System. that government financing programs are transitioning away from direct retail business activities and toward providing wholesale funding for private microfinance institutions. Transitioning away from direct retail microfinance activity brings the government clo ser to achieving the ultimate goal of having a limited role in the microfinance market, as outlined in the National Strategy for Microfinance. Meanwhile, the private banking sector is playing an increasing role in the provision of microloans. Microfinance activity across the Philippines banking sector, as measured by the size of microloan portfolios at thrift, rural and cooperative banks, nearly doubled between 2005 and 2008 alone (see Chart 1). During the same time period, the number of microfinance borrowers grew by 40%. PhP Millions 7,000   6,000   5,000   4,000   3,000   2,000   1,000   ? 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total  Rural  Banks  Microloan  Portfolio Total  Thrift  Banks  Microloan  Portfolio All  data  is  as  of  June  30 Total  Cooperative  Banks  Microloan  Portfolio Source:  BSP The Changing Role of Commercial Banks in Microfinance Traditionally, commercial banks’ role in the Philippines microfinance market has be en exclusively through wholesale lending, by providing funds to microfinance institutions which then re-lend the funds in the form of microcredit, and the provision of general financial services to microfinance institutions. However, in the face of heightened competition and a challenging operating environment due to the global financial and economic crisis, commercial banks are seeking new viable revenue options. As a result, some commercial banks recently have entered into the retail microfinance market. For example, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, the nation’s seventh largest lender, acquired JP Laurel Rural Bank in February 2009 and issued its first microfinance loan in July through JP Laurel Rural Bank’s branches. x This marked the first microfinance retail operation by a large commercial bank in the Philippines. Since then, Asia United Bank, ranked twentieth by asset size, acquired Rural Bank of Angeles to take advantage of its microfinance network. x i In addition, Bank of the Philippine Islands, the nation’s third largest lender and the first privately owned commercial bank to engage in wholesale microfinance lending, was granted permission to launch the country’s first mobile microfinance bank. xii Demand for microfinance loans is expected to increase considerably over the next year as a key part of the rebuilding of Metro Manila, which was severely damaged by typhoon Ketsana in September 2009. Further demand is anticipated from displaced overseas Filipino workers, as a result of the global crisis, as these workers and their families turn to microenterprise business activities as a means to supplement family income. These increases in demand for microfinance loans, coupled with the reduced supply of microfinance providers resulting from the high rural bank closures in the last 18 months,xiii provide additional incentive for commercial banks, as well as other players, to enter the retail microfinance sector. Risks and Benefits Associated with the Retail Microfinance Market As commercial banks begin to venture into retail microfinance, they face a range of challenges that are specific to the microfinance market. Microfinance is highly specialized. It requires the loan officers to have significantly more personal knowledge of the microclient than is usually required for a client of a traditional loan. It also calls for knowledge of the intrica- Chart  1:  Microfinance  Activity  in  Philippines   Banking  Sector In fact, a recent study by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) assessing the microfinance environment within countriesviii ranked the Philippines first in Asia and third overall on its microfinance index, after Peru and Bolivia. The EIU microfinance index categorized its indicators into three main groups: i) regulatory framework, ii) investment climate, and iii) institutional development. EIU awarded the Philippines a perfect score for its regulation of microfi nance activities at financial institutions, adding that â€Å"the government has promoted a regulatory environment conducive to microfinance operations. ix While the Philippines also received a perfect score for the legal environment surrounding the formation and operation of specialized microfinance institutions, the EIU study highlighted a need to increase the diversity of microfinance products and services available to customers. Until recently, the microfinance industry in the Philippines has been primarily focused on microcredit products. Lately, there has been a broadening of services to include savings and microinsurance, but the portion of microfinance providers in the Philippines that are offering such services remains small. ies related specifically to the needs of rural communities and the different risks inherent to microfinance. Traditional loan officers typically need extensive training before transferring into a microlending environment. xiv Furthermore, commercial b anks may not have the infrastructure in place to reach micro-clients who often live in rural areas. Toward this end, rural banks and NGOs have a competitive advantage in terms of specialized knowledge and necessary infrastructure; therefore, it is not surprising to see commercial banks entering the market through the acquisition of rural banks. Micro-clients are considered to be inherently risky, largely due to their extreme susceptibility to declining economic conditions and lack of information on their creditworthiness. This risk is somewhat mitigated by the use of the group lending methodology and more frequent repayment schedule options. During challenging economic times, institutions engaged in microfinance activity face not only the risk of rising delinquencies, but also the risk of default of other financial institutions with payment or funding obligations to these microfinance institutions. v This particular risk is less of an issue for commercial banks than for other mic rofinance providers, as commercial banks hold sufficient deposits and do not rely on donations or wholesale funding to finance their microfinance activity. In addition, â€Å"credit pollution†, a term used in microfinance to describe when customers borrow from multiple institutions and often use loans from one institution to fund payments on a loan from another institution, is a growing problem in the Philippines microfinance market. This type of â€Å"pollution† appears to worsen as competition increases. As more microfinance players enter the market, micro-clients have more institutions from which to borrow. Because the Philippines has no information sharing vehicle or credit bureau in place, there is nothing to help microfinance providers identify borrowers who might be over-extended across institutions. The Credit Information System Act, which was signed into law on September 1, 2008, should eventually help to address this issue as it calls for the development o f an appropriate credit information system. This should not only help the institutions address credit pollution, but also help micro-clients receive better and more efficient access to credit. Despite these challenges and risks, the entry of commercial banks into the retail microfinance market in the Philippines may hold benefits from both commercial banks’ and micro-clients’ perspectives. The largest attraction from the commercial bank’s perspective is the fact that microfinance loans tend to provide a high margin due to the considerably high interest rates charged. As a result, commercial banks are able to earn a significant return on a small percentage of their portfolio. Moreover, the repayment schedules for microfinance loans tend to be more frequent (the most common repayment option is weekly), and therefore commercial banks may be attracted by the prospect of a faster return on their investment than under a traditional loan contract. Furthermore, mi crofinance clients tend to have higher repayment rates than conventional borrowers. Prior to the global financial crisis, repayment rates of as high as 98% had been cited by the most successful microfinance institutions. vi According to a review conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the â€Å"coexistence of high repayment rates†¦ and higher interest rates (a 30 to 60 percent interest rate is common) in microfinance has â€Å"puzzled† economists†. xvii Various theories offered for this paradox include the inelasticity of the demand for microfinance loans,xviii the use of unconventional calculations for repayment rates and default rates by some microfinance institutions,xix and missing or imperfect labor markets for poor women in developing countries where microfinance activity takes place. x In addition to higher repayment rates, commercial banks may also benefit from diversification by entering a new and growing business line. Micro-clients benefit f rom the entry of commercial banks into the retail microfinance market as increased competition will likely lead to lower costs and more competitive pricing for microloans. Furthermore, some market participants argue that the increased efficiencies often seen in larger commercial banks make them better equipped than rural banks to tap the market’s growth potential by bringing a more diverse range of microfinance products to the market. Currently, microfinance providers are only reaching approximately one-third of total poor households, suggesting that there is room in the market for additional players, such as commercial banks, to reach even more customers. Conclusion The entry of commercial banks into the retail microfinance market is a natural progression in the commercialization of the Philippines’ microfinance industry. Over the last thirteen years, the Philippines has amended its policy and regulatory environment to increasingly support the microfinance industry . Further- ore, although still limited, financial institutions are beginning to offer a broader range of microfinance products and services. However, a substantial portion of the microfinance population remains underserved. The current interest of some commercial banks in embracing retail microfinance may provide this underserved population heightened access to credit. Various players may bring different advantages to that marketplace; for commercial banks it is size and economies of scale, and for rural banks and NGOs it is the specialized knowledge. Ultimately, the provision of retail microfinance by commercial banks could prove to be a milestone in the Philippines’ quest for a more expansive microfinance market. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Website (www. bsp. gov. ph). Exchange rate US$1 = PhP 46. 62 (as of January 29, 2010) iii Philippines Financial Sector Assessment, United Nations Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors, March 2008. iv   The Trust Bank methodo logy involves group structures of 10 – 30 entrepreneurs, mostly consisting of women, managed by elected leaders in the group. Group members must often undergo business training. v Microfinance in Action: The Philippine Experience, Stephen Daley and Federic Sautet, February 2005. vi National Statistics Office, Republic of the Philippines, 2009 (latest available poverty census data is for 2006). vii Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Website (www. bsp. gov. ph). viii The study covered countries throughout Latin America, Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. ix â€Å"Global Microscope on the Microfinance Business Environment†, Economist Intelligence Unit, 2009. x Microfinance Focus News, July 2009 (https:// www. icrofinancefocus. com/news). xi Microfinance Risks Abound, BusinessWorld, October 20, 2009 xii BSP approval paves way for BPI mobile microfinance, BusinessWorld, October 13, 2009. xiii Small Bank Closures Trimmed Sector in H1, Philippine Daily Inquirer, No vember 12, 2009. xiv Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Website, Facts About Microfinance (www. bsp. gov. ph). xv Managing Microfinance Risks: Some Observations and Suggestions, Nimal A. Fernando, Asia Development Bank, July 2008. xvi Microfinance: macro benefits, Lennart Bage, https://www. fad. org/events/microcredit/op. htm. xvii The Microfinance Revolution: An Overview, Rajdeep Sengupta and Craig P. Aubuchon, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review, January/February 2008. xviii Ibid. xix The Microfinance Promise, Jonathan Murdoch, Journal of Economic Literature, December 1999. xx Microfinance and Missing Markets, Shahe Emran, M. , Morshed, A. K. M. Mahbub and Stiglitz, Joseph E. , March 2007. ii i Contacts: Written by: Walter Yao (walter. [emailprotected] frb. org) and Nkechi Carroll (nkechi. [emailprotected] frb. org) Nkechi Carroll Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Microfinance in Philippines" essay for you Create order