Saturday, August 31, 2019

Integrated Case Study: Bandon Group, Inc. Essay

1 – Purpose and Scope of the Study The Bandon Group intends to have an information system study conducted to determine how they can best use Information Technology (IT) to meet the overall mission, goals and objectives of the organization over the next 3-5 years. The purpose of a Management Information System is to collect, store and process business information and to deliver it to decision makers in a format they can use. Information systems have gone through many changes. Experts currently refer to the current era as the â€Å"Customer-Focused Era† of modern computing (Petter & Mclean, 2012). Users expect to receive customized experiences based on their unique requirements. Currently Bandon has decentralized divisions around the country supported by a centralized IT infrastructure. The purpose of the study is to identify how Bandon Group can build a more integrated information system structure that ensures the following business goals: * Standardize business processes and reduce redundancy * Reduce IT expenses and maximize outcomes associated with IT dollars * Improve data migration and data sharing techniques   * Implement e-business solutions to remain competitive with other copier dealers upgrading to ERP solutions The study will identify the business direction of the organization over the next 3-5 years. It will also identify the collective information needs and business requirements of its regional divisions. Finally the study will identify the current IT situation to help determine the way forward. 2 – Document High Level Business Direction The goal of management in this study is to clarify the direction and current vision of the organization and identify what IT investments are needed to improve the performance of the entire Bandon Group. It is very difficult to calculate the business value of an IT investment (Masli & Sanchez, 2011). Bandon’s leaders have identified specific data needs that their IT systems should deliver. The organization has commissioned a consulting group to sit down with key manager and identify the vision for the future. In order to continue to be successful and competitive the Bandon Group must unify its regional divisions with a clear business direction and a foundational set of business principles and practices. There is broad agreement on the basic business direction. The Bandon Group wants to target the office equipment market by catering to the needs of businesses with fewer than 25 employees. They want to grow their market share and revenue by $7 million over the next 3-5 years. To accomplish these goals managers have identified several key business initiatives that they believe will lead to expanded business success. First, the group wants to increase it information technology consulting capabilities. The market is moving towards selling information and network based services. A big part of the future lies in being able to help customers come up with solutions that allow them to run their organizations more efficiently and at a lower cost. Second, the group wants to establish better Customer Relationship Management (CRM) capabilities. Loyal customers equal future dollars. The organizations information systems need to give a holistic view of each customer. This will allow sales, support and marketing to take advantage of opportunities in real time. This has always been a philosophy of the Bandon Group. They have focused on building loyalty through superior service to the customer. CRM will build this idea into every piece of data the organizations collets and will allow them to meet the customer’s needs at every turn. Third, the group needs to improve the accuracy and efficiency of billing and collections. An automated, integrated solution that feeds information about system usage directly to a financial system will ensure the organization maximizes its profits while providing sales and support staff with critical information on the use patterns and needs of their customers. Finally, the group invested heavily in 1994 in Office Machines Dealership (OMD) a commercial systems designed to support the administrative information system at Bandon Group. This system is dated and a solution is required to overcome the current limitations of the system and allow for the seamless flow of information in and out of the system. The leaders and managers at Bandon Group have articulated a clear business direction for the organization. The consulting group must put into place clear solutions to address the growing problems. 3 – Identify Key Information Needs and Measures Information needs should be the driving force behind information systems. An information need is a business’s requirement to capture a specific piece of information or set of information points to meet a business necessity. The ability to manage information plays a critical role in developing a firm’s capabilities in customer relationship management, process management and performance management (Mithas, 2011). The Bandon Group has identified several specific sets of information needs. First they must have the ability to analyze existing customer accounts for profitability. The have a need to understand which account they are making money off of and which account represent high volume profits. Second, they must have an effective sales prospecting system. The ability to measure the effectiveness of sales and marketing efforts is critical. Third, they need an integrated accounting system. To be successful and competitive they must have an accurate web-based billing, use tracking and reporting capability. This will produce a better billing, invoice and collection system. Finally, they need an integrated service management system. The small market companies the group targets expect prompt, specialized service. The organization must be able to track and correct or improve any issues related to servicing customers and keeping their systems up and active. 4 – Document Details Business Requirements Business requirements should describe exactly what the Bandon Group’s divisions expect from the information system. The requirements should be expressed in terms that can be easily discussed and understood by the stakeholders. Requirement (1): An effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. CRM must be an organization wide effort to build customer satisfaction and loyalty. An effective CRM program brings together information from every area of the organization. It provides actionable data to sales representatives, customer support, and marketing personnel who directly or indirectly interface with the customer every day. Requirement (2): Effective e-Business Solutions. Bandon needs to utilize existing internet technologies to improve its productivity and profitability. E-Business will extend Bandon’s capabilities beyond the reach of their offices and even beyond the reach of their technicians. By integrating their model with online services the company will be able to monitor and interact with customers in real time. Requirement (3): Effective Sales Prospecting solutions. The first rule of sales prospecting is to identify as many legitimate potential customers as possible for sales representatives to contact. Experienced sales personnel will explain that quality supersedes quantity. Bandon want to be able to exploit its access to current customers to identify future needs and make the sales pitch just as the company begins to understand that they need more support. Requirement (4): Overcoming the shortfalls of OMD. There comes a time in the life of every legacy system where it fails to meet the growing needs of the organization. Bandon’s objective has to be to build on the core functions of the OMD system and augment it with enterprise wide supplemental technology that bridges the gap between the current capabilities and the company’s future needs. 5 – Document Current IT Situation – Internal Bandon’s current infrastructure is outdated and doesn’t meet the needs of the organization. Support systems have been developed separately at the various divisions and interoperability is a significant issue. The information needs of the organization are not being met. The company’s leadership need to build an integrated system that delivers the data needed to make strategic decision. To accomplish this they have to design an end-to-end system that integrates their vision of future business requirements with the existing technology. References Masli, A., Richardson, V. J., Sanchez, J., & Smith, R. E. (2011). The Business Value of IT: A Synthesis and Framework of Archival Research. Journal Of Information Systems, 25(2), 81-116. doi:10.2308/isys-10117 Mithas, S., Ramasubbu, N., & Sambamurthy, V. V. (2011). HOW INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CAPABILITY INFLUENCES FIRM PERFORMANCE. MIS Quarterly, 35(1), 137-A15. Petter, S., DeLone, W., & McLean, E. R. (2012). The Past, Present, and Future of â€Å"IS Success†. Journal Of The Association For Information Systems, 13(5), 341-362.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Of Mice and Men Loneliness Essay

The characters Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s Wife all exemplify loneliness and isolation. By creating and describing these characters, Steinbeck is showing the reader symbolism in the characteristics of these three characters and how it can alter the story and the characters in it. Candy demonstrates the theme of loneliness throughout the whole novella. By the way he acts towards other characters in the novella. For example, he was only close to his dog before he met George and Lennie and he was so eager to meet them and make friends. Additionally, Candy looks desperate when the outlook of being part of Lennie and George’s dream of the small farm comes up, he says, â€Å"And they give me two hundred and fifty dollars ’cause I lost my hand. An’ I got fifty more saved up right in the bank right now. That’s three hundred†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This shows he’s willing to give every cent to join up with them and their dream and loneliness has made him desperate. Candy also had a close relationship with his dog. After his dog was shot, it was almost described as if it was Candy that got shot. As the dog was being executed, Candy laid in bed and stayed silent. The dog and its weakness is a symbolism Steinbeck used to compare to Candy and his missing hand. Candy’s loneliness affects George and Lennie and alters the dream to a three man thing instead of just George and Lennie. Crooks the stable buck is a primary example of loneliness in this novella. Discrimination towards Crooks turns him into an aloof, distant, and lonely man. The men on the ranch isolate and taunt Crooks. For example, when Lennie walks in Crooks room Crooks says, â€Å"You got no right to come in my room. This here’s my room. Nobody got any right in here but me.† Crooks is isolating himself from everyone including Lennie and wants to be aloof. He also states, â€Å"S’pose you didn’t have nobody. S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunk house and play rummy ’cause you was black. How’d you like that? S’pose you had to sit out here an’ read books. Sure you could play horseshoes till it got dark, but then you got to read books. Books ain’t no good. A guy needs somebody-to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick.† Here Crooks expresses his loneliness and how he is an outcast to the rest of the workers on the ranch. His  loneliness is formed from discrimination of his African American skin color. Portrayed by Curley, Curley’s Wife is the loneliest character on the ranch that even Steinbeck doesn’t give her a name. She is that unimportant and uninteresting compared to the rest of the characters in the novella. Sneaking around and bothering everyone and seeking attention, causing trouble around the ranch, and overall she is unwanted by the workers on the ranch. In the novella, she states that she is lonely right before her death. She states these quotes to Lennie, â€Å"I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely.†, â€Å"What’s the matter with me? Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody?†, and â€Å"Seems like they ain’t none of them cares how I gotta live.† Steinbeck describes isolation and loneliness in Of Mice and Men in the three characters Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s Wife. Steinbeck shows the reader how this can affect and alter the story and the characters in it using the literary elements. Quotes and facts from the novella support Steinbeck’s theme of loneliness. These three characters from the novella fit the theme perfect.

The Global Concerns For Environmental Conservation Environmental Sciences Essay

Environment means everything that surrounds us. It includes topographic points where we live in & A ; things we depend upon. Our natural environment comprises of life every bit good as inanimate things, Sun, Moon, Sky, Air, Water, Rivers, Soil, Mountains, Land, Forests besides workss & A ; animate beings, all these things affect us & A ; we depend on them straight or indirectly like other life signifiers. The basic beginning of life is The Environment therefore we must conserve it for the safety of the world.GLOBAL CONCERNS for ENVIORNMENTAL CONSERVATIONThe Global Concerns for Environmental Conservation that make our economic system resourceful are as follows: – Land ( dirt ) , Water, Air, Sound ( noise ) , Pollutions & A ; its direction. Environmental Awareness Programs. Conservation Motions. Informal Environmental Education. Diverseness of Flowers, harvests, Animals. Sustainable Development- How? & A ; Why?ENVIORMENT POLLUTION & A ; HUMAN LIFEPollution may be defined as that undeserving alteration of air, H2O, dirt ( Land ) & A ; sound ( noise ) in their Physical, Chemical every bit good as Bio- Characteristics such that they become harmfull, to human existences along with other utile Bio-creatures, animate beings, insects, trees in add-on to workss. Healthy Enviornment is the disciplined & A ; balanced signifier of nature. Further more the perturbation of this subject & A ; balance gives rise to pollution. The growing & A ; development of all Living things depend upon balanced Environment where the Environment ‘s different components are in equilibrium. In particular fortunes effects of undeserving & A ; deleterious components addition. As a consequence the Environment gets polluted & A ; the effects have to be faced by all living existences. Kinds OF POLUTION: – AIR POLUTION WATER POLUTION SOIL ( LAND ) POLUTION SOUND ( NOISE ) POLUTIONSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTSustainable Development is a form of usage of resources that aim to run into human demands while continuing the environment so that these demands can be met non merely in the present but besides for future coevalss. The term was used in 1987 by` The World Commission on Environment and development ‘ WECD popularly known as the UNITED NATIONS BRUNDTLAND COMMISSION which laid down the foundation for a argument on the significance of `Sustainable development and the function of environment on development.The Commission coined its definition as Development that â€Å" meets the demands of the present without compromising the ability of farther concern for the transporting capacity of natural systems with the societal challenges confronting the humanity. † This is a holistic construct of sustainability. It goes beyond the construct of environmental protection for the interest of future coevals.Nobel Laureate Robert Solow defined it as doing certain the following coevals is every bit good off as the current coevals and guaranting that this continues for all clip. He says that adult male made capital such as machine, edifice etc and cognition are replacements for natural capital, peculiarly natural resources. In 1970 ‘s Sustainability was described as Economy in equilibrium with basic ecological support system. Ecologists brought frontward the Concept of â€Å" The Limits to Growth. † The UN ‘s 2005 World SUMMIT outcome papers refers to the â€Å" mutualist & A ; reciprocally reenforcing pillars † of Sustainable Development as Economic Development, Social Development & A ; Environmental Protection. Sustainable Development mantra enjoins current coevalss to take a system attack to growing & A ; development and to pull off natural. Produced & A ; societal capital for the public assistance of their ain & A ; future coevalss. It sets bounds on the Developing World during their development the First World Countries produced important Pollution, the same states encourage the 3rd World Countries to cut down pollution which sometimes impedes growing. Sustainability is a procedure of doing certain that current procedures of interaction with the Environment are pursued with the thought of maintaining the Environment every bit pristine as of course possible. An UNSUSTAINABLE SITUATION occurs when the natural resources are used up faster than can be replenished. Sustainability requires that the natural capital be used at a rate that which can be replenished of course. The thought of Sustainable Development grew from legion Environmental motions in earlier decennaries Acmes such as the EARTH SUMMIT in RIO Brazil, 1992 were major international meetings to convey Sustainable Development to the mainstream. The UN ‘s has called for the ‘greening ‘ of the planetary economic system including in poorer states, with G-20 leaders perpetrating to reason dialogues and make understanding on a replacement treaty to the Kyoto protocol in Copenhagen. In a joint study from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research advises the G-20 to concentrate their recovery plans on energy efficiency, substructure and clean engineering markets. The UN International Fund for Agricultural Development is naming on authorities to speed up Agriculture development, with the fiscal downswing forcing 1000000s of people particularly hapless rural people, into low poorness. Global Coalition Civil Society Initiative: – the alliance, which includes the international brotherhood for the preservation of nature, the planetary preservation group WWF, the International Institute for Environment & A ; Development along with trade brotherhood and concern groups, urges the G-20 to put in a Green Economy. It is a procedure which tells of a development of all facets of human life impacting nutriment it means deciding the struggle between viing ends of development and at the same time involves chase of economic prosperity environmental quality & A ; societal equity famously known as THREE DIMENSIONS. The United State ‘s Division Sustainable Development lists assorted countries as coming within the range of Sustainable Development.DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTThe field of Sustainable Development can be conceptually broken into three constitutional parts: – Enviornmental Sustainability Economic Sustainability Socio-Political Sustainability The Concept has included impressions of weak sustainability, strong sustainability and deep ecology. It does non concentrate entirely on Environmental issues.The impression of Capital in SUSTAINABLE Development-Societies need to pull off three types of Capital i.e. : –ECONOMICSOCIALNaturalAll the above-named Capitals are complementary to each other. These may be non-substitutable & A ; their ingestion may be irreversible such as Ecosystem services like Ozone bed Protection or the clime stabilising map of the Amazonian Forest can non be replaced. Many Natural Resources are muti-functional for e.g. Forests provide Raw stuff for paper ( which can be substituted quiet easy ) , but they besides maintain bio diverseness, regular H2O flow & A ; absorb Carbon Dioxide. Natural & A ; Social Capital are besides partly irreversible. The depletion of Natural & A ; Social Capital have non-linear effects. Consumption of Natural & A ; Social Capital have non discernible impact until a certain threshold is reached for e.g. A Lake can, absorb foods for a long clip while increasing its productiveness. However one time a certain degree of algae is reached, deficiency of O causes the lakes ecosystem to interrupt down all of a sudden. Unsustainable Exploitation of natural resources is a major factor for increasing ecological perturbation taking to the undermentioned issues like Global Warming Ozone Layer Depletion, Droughts, Floods, and Scarcity of fuel, Fodder, Pollution of air & A ; H2O, dirt eroding & A ; impairment of dirt wellness, take downing of land H2O. Sustainable Development is a procedure in which development can be sustained for coevalss. It affords to the hereafter generations the same, if non more, capacity to thrive as the present coevals has therefore Sustainable Development focuses on â€Å" INTERGENERATION EQUITY † in the development of Development Resources chances. The ultimate end of all development is to convey about betterment in the quality of life in the society. Every coevals of world creates every bit good as destroys certain sum of resources for its development but, if rate of devastation of resources is greater than that of creative activity for a period of a century or so there would be non merely no farther development but besides there might be Economic stagnancy or even disaster this is referred to as â€Å" LIMITS OF GROWTH † . Thus the present coevals should either drastically curtail the development of non-renewable resources or recycle at least every bit much sum of resources as it uses up so that the hereafter coevals besides has equal opportunity to develop.CRITIQUE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTThe Concept of Sustainable Development has besides raised several reviews at different degrees. The Population control docket that seems to underlie the construct of Sustainable Development has many times commented upon. In economic system like ecology, the mutuality regulation applies. Isolated actions are impossible a policy if non carefully thought, will transport perverse and inauspicious effects for the ecology every bit good as for the economic system. It is a gateway to interventionist proceedings which can be against to the rule of freedom and without proved efficaciousness. The betterment of environment quality depends on the market economic system and the being of legitimate and Protected belongings rights they enable the effectual pattern of personal duty and the development of mechanisms to protect the environment. The State can in this context create conditions which encourage people to salvage the environment. Many suggestions to salvage our environment and to advance a theoretical account of ‘sustainable development ‘ hazard so taking to inauspicious effects. Furthermore the bounds of the public action which are underlined by the public pick theory: pursuit by the political relations of their ain involvements, anteroom force per unit area, partial revelation. It is a gateway to interventionist proceedings which can be against the rule of freedom and without proved efficaciousness. The betterment of environment quality depends on the market economic system and the being of legitimate and protected belongings rights. They enable the effectual pattern of personal duty and the development of mechanisms to protect the environment. The State can in this context create conditions which encourage the people to salvage the environment.De-GrowthThe advocates of De-Growth suggest that the term of ‘Sustainable Development ‘ is an oxymoron. Harmonizing to them on a planet where 20 % of population consumes 80 % of natural resources, a Sustainable Development can non be possible for this 20 % : â€Å" Harmonizing to the beginning of the construct of sustainable development, a development which meets the demands of the present without compromising the ability of future coevalss to run into their ain demands, the right term for the developed states should be a Sustainable De-growth. Economists have considered economic system and the environment as a individual interlinked system with a incorporate rating methodological analysis. Intergenerational Equity can be incorporated into this attack. Economi sts are leting the possibility of renewable options to petro-chemicals & A ; other non-renewable resources. Efficient policies compatible with increasing human public assistance are being worked upon. Thus the THREE PILLARS of Sustainable Development are: – Interlinkages Intergenerational Equity Dynamic Efficiency Energy Security is a turning concern for rich & A ; emerging Nations. Leading States have been addicted to oil & A ; non invested much into the options.THE MIDDLE WAYSustainable Development implies using renewable natural resources in a mode which eliminate or limit their use or public-service corporation for the future coevalss. It besides implies use of renewable ( exhaustible ) mineral resources in such a manner that they are easy uaccessible to the future coevalss. It besides includes within its scope that the consuming non-renewable resources should be utilized at a slow adequate rate so as to guarantee high chance of an orderly society passage to renewable energy resources. It ensures maximal rate of resource ingestion for a selected development undertaking would be attained indefinitely without increasingly impairing its bio-productivity and ecology unity. Thus Enviornmental preservation accelerates Economic Development than impeding it. This is a recreation from the general b elief. Therefore Environmental Plans have to guarantee: Sustainable and Equitable usage of resources without doing harm to the resources and enabling their sufficient use by both present & A ; future coevalss. It is necessary to halt and forestall farther harm to our life-support system. Conserving biological diverseness and fostering the Gene-pool and other resources for long term nutrient security. The Primary aim of Sustainable Development is to cut down absolute poorness by supplying secure supports that minimize resource depletion, environmental debasement, cultural break and societal instability. Carbon Dioxide in the air causes climate alteration. Restricting its emanation would be dearly-won but if implemented bit by bit the cost of emanations restriction programme would b modest. A cap and trade system would raise the monetary value of anything that straight or indirectly leads to the combustion of fossil fuels. A cap and trade system would raise the monetary value of anything that leads to combustion of Fossil Fuels. Electricity in peculiar would go more expensive since its production takes topographic point in coal fired workss. Electric public-service corporations could cut down their demand to buy licenses by restricting their emanations of C dioxide which is the purpose of cap & A ; trade, to give them an inducement to make that nevertheless steps taken to cut down emanations such as switching to energy beginnings capturing and sequestering much of the C dioxide they emit would raise their cost. If emanation licenses were auction off, the gross therefore raised would give consumer discounts or cut down other revenue enhancements, partly of puting the higher monetary values. There are critical thresholds in the planets climate system, and if we pass these thresholds, the effects are irreversible. Poor states did non do the crisis yet have been severely hurt by it they need money to develop low C growing schemes. There will be no clime alteration trade if the West does non finance greenish economic schemes in the underdeveloped universe. The developed universe is responsible for the green house gasses but the flow of new emanations will come from the fast growth, emerging, developing states as energy demands are increasing exponentially in these states fore-fifths of the growing in emanations between now & amp ; 2030 will come from these states. The Carbon Market can assist developing states in cut downing deforestation and ecosystem debasement. Carbon Market instead than Carbon revenue enhancement is more appropriate for turn toing Climate Change. Several states have program for emanation cuts ( Brazil, EU, Indonesia, Russia, US, South Korea ) or C strength decrease ( China, India ) . China offers 40 % to 45 % decrease in C strength by 2020 it is a continuance of its already bing policy which began in 2006. By 2020 U.S. purposes to cut down emanations by 17 % relation to 2005. However this is below the coveted degree as the IPCC recommends decrease of 25 % to 45 % by the twelvemonth 2020, for rich countries.. Decision ; Battling poorness, betterment in demographic construction, alteration in ingestion forms, wellness, human colony, pollution control, energy direction, intervention of industrial wastes, control of risky stuffs, and after all the critical demands for overall sustainable development of states Beginning: Pratiyogita Darpan-August 2010 and December 2010 hubpages.com/hub/ways-to-prevent-global-warmingA www.content4reprint.com/ †¦ /global-warming-causes-consequences-and-remedies.htmA www.globalwarming.org.in/A -en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_global_warming_on_IndiaA www.globalwarming.org.in

Thursday, August 29, 2019

U.S. Census Data and Mental Maps Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

U.S. Census Data and Mental Maps - Assignment Example In regard to the 2000 U.S. Census, the smallest spatial scale for comprehensive population data such as home, ownership, etc. is Block. In fact, Block data provides the smallest scale since it can be generalized to tabulate other levels of data i.e., other data stream from Block data aggregation. Paths: channels or familiar routes on which observers occasionally, potentially, or customarily move, e.g. the Goshen Trail at IL route 157 2. Districts: Regions with noticeable internal homogeneity, which mentally, the observer gets in â€Å"inside of† and the region has some familiar, recognizable character, e.g. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District. Edges: are lines separating districts, e.g. Izmir Bay. Landmarks: are points of reference, usually distinct physical objects, e.g. the campus Clock Tower. Nodes: is an attraction centre that an observer enters e.g. primary junctions on campus Origins of Cities Both the Ancient Athens and Ancient Rome had civilization and achievements, plus Golden Ages. While the Ancient Athens developed direct democracy, Ancient Rome gave the landowners directives to elect their representation. As Athenians achieved in sculpture, literature and art, drama and comedy, Ancient Rome achieved in engineering, aqueducts and roads and copied the Athenians’ learning. ... The apartment in the medieval cities could be occupied by people, whose vicious cycle obligated them to stay there ((Knox and McCarthy 145). The street design of cities and architecture during the renaissance through the baroque era had the quality of perfect suitability with an expression of a culture’s mechanical knowledge. Architecture became demystified in preparation to the way for contemporary design. Cities such as the Rome got influenced by this period. Mercantile Era (1790-1840). During the Mercantile Era, new gateway cities emerged along waterways which connected the western territories and Atlantic Seaboard. The rise of interstate freeways, sub regional passenger airports, waterway transportation and railroads, increased the mobility of commodities and people. Utilitarianism refers to the ethical policy that the correctness of an action should be based on whether it boosts the total of human delight, or value. During the Mercantile Era in the U.S., businesses used t he utilitarianism philosophy to operate on free competition with maintained reforms to develop the lower classes’ conditions. Figure 1: The Sjoberg’s Model of the Preindustrial City. From figure 1, the preindustrial cities occupied by undersized exclusive elite, catered for through their domestics, have powers over the city’s social functions. The lower classes in the preindustrial city are relatively more than the elites, while the majority consigned to the external city edges are the outcastes. Early Industrial Era (1840-1875) Agglomerate economies refer to the net benefits of putting up one or more businesses within a large population center or city. These economies occur due to market benefits that outweigh the additional expenses of residing in a city.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Criminal Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Criminal Law - Essay Example The main purposes of having criminal laws are just twofold: to state public morality and to set the boundaries within the society. In a society, there are various non-verbal practices that have been put to law, because the members of the society deem it as offending or inappropriate. So when an individual violates a rule which is establish by the society, or perhaps a public moral, then that individual would be punished for intentionally breaking the rule, because his action implies that he is intentionally causing disharmony to the society. Law, or criminal law in this case, seeks to have these individuals accountable for the criminal actions they have committed. This is done through having legal actions against them, like imprisonment or fines. Criminal law is based on many written sources, all of them from laws. These are constitutional, administrative, statutory, common and case laws. Constitutional law deals with the U.S. Constitution: how it has to be interpreted and implemente d. All the laws are subordinate of the constitution. If, say, a law is in conflict with the Constitution, the Supreme Court acts on it and deem it unconstitutional. Administrative laws are made by the government offices, agencies and commissions. They are semi-judicial or semi-legislative in character but they often have criminal penalties. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are examples of administrative agencies that make this kind of laws. They can also formulate rules and investigations and also impose sanctions. Statutory laws are those which are passed as statutes by the Congress and other state legislative bodies. The federal government has its own set of statutory laws as well as the state government. Federal law sometimes overlaps with the federal law. Common law is based on the universal practices and notions of the society. It is also known as judge-made law, where the judges created the common law by r uling that certain actions are deemed as crimes and they are punishable. The judges also defined that certain offenses like rape and murder are crimes against the state. This originated in England in the twelfth century. Case laws are laws that laws that have resulted from court decisions and interpretations of statutory law. This is often the result when certain court decisions have not yet been codified. One of the most common justification and excuse defense used is self-defense and insanity. A justification or excuse in jurisprudence is a defense against criminal charges and it’s commonly used as a means to grant exception for a person which may have criminal liabilities (excuse) or as a means to vindicate an act (justice). These defenses have similar but different functions. Justification was already seen in Early English law but they were for remission of the criminal’s punishments, which is basically just a dismissal of criminal charges. Justification also means that criminal charges be dismissed because an individual enforcement of the law or for the benefit of the public. Excuse began as a plea for mercy and often used psychology to support the acts of crime. Therefore, justification implies that it is for the common good, and for the uniformity of the people in the society while excuse is a highly individualized defense, depending on the accused psychological assessment. For example, self-defense is commonly used as

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 30

Case Study Example , Macomb believed that a change in the organizational structure will increase the performance of the business, the overall revenues while increasing the overall profitability (Burnard & Bhamra, 2011). Before Macomb’s entry into the firm, it had 36 apparel brands with five different apparel divisions. This, according to Macomb created a culture of complexity and increased the operational cost of the firm. To reduce the high expenditures associated with the operation costs, Macomb streamlined the company and reduced the number of departments from five to two. The apparel brands were also reduced from 36 to 20, with the remaining 16 brands sold, licensed or closed down. Due to these actions, the operation costs and the duplications of roles by the different departments were reduced (Burnard & Bhamra, 2011). By introducing the new changes, Macomb intended to increase the focus to the few remaining departments and create clarity in their operations and purpose. By having two well-structured departments, he hoped to eliminate duplication among the departments that previously existed. Before these changes were, the five departments operated autonomously, with each responsible for independent marketing, research and product designs (Stare, 2011). However, the reduction of the divisions to direct and partnered brand divisions eliminated this duplication and reduced the overall operating costs. These new changes invigorated the company and provided it with the previously unavailable impetus and focus. By having strong and independent divisions to manage the 20 apparel designs, the challenge of role duplication and high operation cost was eliminated. These changes have been attributed to the massive growth in capital and profit that the company has witnessed in the recent past (Andrea, 2012). To illuminate the changes that have been witnessed in the company since these changes were introduced, Liz Claiborne introduced a plan to change its name. This demonstrated its

Monday, August 26, 2019

Discussion Board 5-1 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Board 5-1 - Research Paper Example onships leads to loss of objectivity of the counseling problems and clients may encounter problems when counselors evade their professional responsibility. Clients having their employers as counselors experience problems outside the counseling relationship. Employees may expect empathy in the work ratings since they perceive their supervisors as sympathetic listeners and counselors. Counselors can also have problems in keeping client information confidential and respecting the privacy of clients, which may lead to exposure of personal problems in the workplace. Counselors are supposed to evaluate the consequences of dual relationships before crossing the client-counselor boundary (Remley and Herlihy, 2010). The counselor has to assess the expected benefits to the client before entering into a dual relationship. Some clients have borderline personality disorders and manipulate their counselors into relationships that may harm the therapeutic intervention. Patients with mental problems may misinterpret the intentions behind the relationship caused by impairments in understanding the boundaries. This can lead to ineffective therapy or legal issues that can affect the career of the counselor. The counselor can minimize harm and risks by evaluating the long term outcomes of the relationships. Emerging risks can be avoided by redefining the boundaries since the client-counselor boundaries are not static. This can help prevent jeopardy to the therapeutic gain caused by the

Sunday, August 25, 2019

How to use a Rubber in Mobile Phones Case Study

How to use a Rubber in Mobile Phones - Case Study Example These devices represent one of the most advanced (sophisticated) technologies ever developed by human beings (Karim 2010). Through them people can communicate with each other, surf on the internet, listen to music, watch videos, and play games among other functionalities. The various functionalities of mobile phones are normally enhanced by design and use of a variety of components in their manufacture. In this regard, mobile phones normally consist of several components, and these components are made from a wide variety of materials (Chan 2007). The materials from which mobile phones components are made include plastics, rubber, magnets, paper and metals among others. This paper, therefore, aims at investigating how rubber is currently used in the design and manufacture of mobile phones. The paper also aims at investigating the alternative areas in mobile phone design and construction that rubber can be used. Main parts of mobile phone and their use The main components of mobile pho nes are: battery, SIM card, circuit board, keyboard, speaker and microphone, antenna, software, and Liquid Crystal Display screen (commonly abbreviated as LCD screen) among others (Mueller 2013). Circuit board Circuit board is amongst the most important components of a mobile phone. ... The chips on the circuit board can perform numerous calculations (always millions of calculations) in a single second. The circuit board chips’ calculations are normally performed to decompress or compress voice stream (Harris 2006). Other than chips, another component that is available in the mobile phone circuit board is digital signal processor (commonly abbreviated as DSP) (Mueller 2013). This component is designed to perform operations related to manipulation of digital signals at greater speeds in a single second. Another component that is available in mobile phone circuit board is micro-processor. The microprocessor is responsible for three main functions; these functions are stated below: i. Coordination of all the functions of the mobile phone circuit board. ii. Processes commands as well as control signals related to connecting mobile phone to base station (also known as the cell phone tower). iii. Handles as well as coordinates the functions of display and keyboard. (Mueller 2013) Other components that are associated with mobile phone circuit board are ROM (the read only memory) and chips associated with flash memory. These components are responsible for the running and storage of the mobile phone’s operating system and software applications (Mueller 2013). Mobile phone’s speaker and Microphone Other than the circuit board, speakers and microphones are other important components of mobile phones. It is through the speakers as well as the microphones that communications between individuals are made possible (Harris 2006). Mobile phone microphone is responsible for converting the sound signals to electrical signals. The

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Humanities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Humanities - Essay Example The main aim of building this amphitheater was for conducting gladiator fights where slaves fought against each other and against cruel animals like the tigers. The romans came to view and cheer these fights which ended with the death of a slave (gladiator) or the animal (in the fights with the animals). This was a cruelty that was unheard of and especially the fact that people came to watch the arena and even made bets. The floor of the arena in the Colosseum was constantly covered with blood and in order to ask this, red soil was poured on regular basis (Connolly 106). This mammoth building was constructed by the emperor Vespasian and finished by his two sons: Titus and Domitian during their separate reign. It was built in the city center indicating how much power it held. Even after the main purpose of the building was done, years later, the Christians specifically the Roman Catholic Church took up the building and constantly uses it and especially during good Fridays where the Pope starts the way of the cross procession there (Hopkins 164). The Pope is powerful and hence his use of this building continues to indicate its powerful importance both historically and

Friday, August 23, 2019

Manging Capability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Manging Capability - Essay Example China’s involvement with Bahrain is intriguing, especially because China sees companies such as MENA Telecom as key to a burgeoning market in the Middle East. This Chinese influence regarding telecommunications will be discussed here. Introduction Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press has caused vast changes in information sharing especially during the age of industrialization. Just as the printing press changed the way books, and thus knowledge, were disseminated, the Internet has also had a large impact on the way people communicate in this age. The youngest among the different forms of media present in this time, the Internet has rapidly evolved into one of the most popular media that has changed the way people all over the world share information. In a research by Anmuth et. al for the Lehman Brothers Internet Data Book (2008)1, the Internet ranked second with radio among the most utilized media, both garnering 19% behind television’s 33% consumption sh are. ... Wave 3 (2008)2, a global study by Universal McCann on the Internet as a social medium, identified the most popular activities that Internet users do when they log online. These activities range from watching and uploading videos online, reading and updating blogs and maintaining accounts on social networking sites. These activities changed media users from mere passive audiences, to producers of information. Thus, it is safe to assume that the Internet and other forms of electronically-mediated communications are a staple of everyday life.3 However, one of the biggest untapped markets for the development of the Internet is China. Studies reveal that there have been a rapid growth in Internet user in the People's Republic. From 670,000 Internet users in 19974, Chinese citizens who logged onto the Internet increased to 2.1 Million in just two years.5 A decade ago, a report by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) revealed the Internet statistics of the country: 8.92 mil lion computers that can access the Internet used by 22 million users.6 The report also identified 265, 405 sites and domains with Internet suffixes such as .org, .cn or .com.7 Internet-based businesses have turned their efforts towards penetrating the vast Chinese market. In 2000, China generated U.S. $9.32 billion in E-commerce revenue with U.S. $9.27 billion of this coming from business to business transaction and the remaining U.S. $47.1million from everyday Internet consumers.8 And with China's Internet population reaching 384 million by the end of 2009 and increasing to 420 million9 by the middle of 2010, these numbers reinforce analysts' claim that China is the next lucrative Internet and mobile market in the world, surpassing even both Europe and the United

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Public personnel management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Public personnel management - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that payment in lieu of taxes or otherwise referred to as PILOTs are most commonly paid by large landholding non-profit organizations, especially universities and hospitals and are usually paid on a voluntary basis. It is only logical to argue that because these non-profit organizations receive basic services from cities in which they are situated at, and are funded by real estate taxes, every property owner should pay something in return. These payments are usually made to the local governments by the non-profit organizations because the receive local services like roads, fire protection, and the likes, but are ultimately exempted from paying property taxes because they primarily provide charitable work. In cases of cities that are struggling with budgets, non-profit organizations that are financially healthy and that own a substantial amount of tax-exempt property can be a useful avenue for raising revenue for the city. These cities often want the non-profit organization to chip in some cash in bailing them out of the financial quagmires and to make up for the forgone taxes. So should the non-profits pay PILOTs? The researcher would like to say that they should pay taxes because all owners of any property in the community, whether for-profit or otherwise receive services from the local governments or the cities such as roads, sewers, police services and the rest and these services have been funded by taxes from real estate.

The obstacles and opportunities faced by either South Africa Essay Example for Free

The obstacles and opportunities faced by either South Africa Essay What are the obstacles and opportunities faced by either South Africa or Mozambique in their attempts to improve economic and political development? Introduction In this essay I will attempt to look at the obstacles and opportunities faced by Mozambique in their attempts to improve economic and political development. I will look at the reasons why Portugal found it hard to decolonise her possessions because she could not neocolonise them. I will look at how Mozambiques problems were exacerbated by civil aid programmes and the conflicts between itself and other African countries. Mozambique: advantages and disadvantages Mozambique is situated at the South Eastern side of Africa. It is the nearest port for Malawi, Zimbabwe and the northern part of South Africa. It has some crucial resources geographically which give it an advantage over other African states. It is also strategically important as it provides easy access to other countries. It is roughly three times the size of England. One of the biggest disadvantages that Mozambique has is that there is no navy or air force to protect its coastal waters that are open to exploitation and capitalisation as there is no marketing control. The only way that this exploitation and capitalisation can be controlled is by the development of a better infrastructure of rail and roads. This is highly unlikely to be achieved due to the lack of cooperation between the regions. There are no coastal protection vessels and also no ways of collecting excise duties. These would be necessary to allow the maximisation of export quantity and therefore allow the country to capitalise, which would give it macro economic stability. Economics and conflict Historically Mozambiques trade was heavily influenced by Islamic and Arab traders. The main exports were gold and slaves. Until the 1930s most of its business was controlled by large Portuguese organisations, this only changed after the coup in 1926, which brought an end to these companies. Before this coup the pan Lusitanian community were based on Lisbon and its governmental control and policies. The regime led to fascist policies and principles. Plantations were developed but were only maintainable through forced labour. This forced labour meant that demand increased and there need to be an increase in the forced labour, creating a perpetual circle and demand for more workers. In the Post War boom commodity prices increased dramatically and led to a further demand from the whites for better services etc. There was an increase in tensions from neo traditionalists, which was exacerbated in the cold war of the 1960s, with military intervention. There were no compromises from Portuguese as Portugal could not decolonise as it could not neocolonise. Alongside the military intervention was an increasing demand for independence. In June 1962 3 exiled groups, Manu, Idenamo and Unami under the allegiance of Julius Nyerere form a front for the liberation of Mozambique called the Frelimo. This was a unified coalition of indigenous opposition to Portuguese rule. In 1964 they crossed the river and started an armed conflict against Portugal and its rule. South African support is given through Rhenamo, and the Rhodesians also react against the conflict. The result of the conflict meant that Portugal was overthrown when they retreat in 1974. Frelimo holds traditional government until 25/6/1975 when independence is declared. It is around this time that the Mozambique support for Rhodesia escalates and the civil war starts. What they want to achieve are military buffer zones were they can use for training grounds in order to train their soldiers. Frelimos Marxist Leninist beliefs that everything should be controlled through a central government is one of the main issues. By the 1990s Mozambique is almost bankrupt and there follows in 1992 democratic elections. Tensions still exist between people on the inner circles of individual parties; the old guard are refuting the intervention of the International Monetary Fund as it would give them no option but to embrace European international practices. Poor education and a lack of a civil service only compound the problem. There is a wholesale exodus of the Portuguese nationals. There is surprisingly a relatively civil relationship between Frelimo and Renamo which leads to an acknowledgement of fairness in the voting process, not skewing the vote in favour of one or another. This was the political starting point to the acquisition, marketisation and capitalisation of untold riches for the Mozambique people. MOZAMBIQUE TODAY Following the conflicts that I have discussed above, the state of Mozambiques economy is still very poor. Its position in the global economy is 168th out of 174. Its annual growth rate is averaging out at about 14% but the benefits are very slow in trickling down to the people. There is a need for public sector reform and good governance to improve this. Variations in national markets cannot be controlled by the producers, and revenue collection remains a problem. Much of the revenue collected is in the urban areas but only benefits the elite in the city. Military spending has reduced dramatically, and the first role of governance has to be defence in order to protect a country. The International Monetary Fund instructed Mozambique to sell off its Para -state industries, and it now relies heavily on foreign aid to survive. The debt level is high although most countries have cut it to 25%, with Britain completely wiping out their portion. Underdevelopment has favoured the middle class bourgeoisie, opening up the markets to allow for borrowing and thus creating some financial stability. There has been a reduction in tariffs and inflation has dropped from 71% 9% allowing for the redistribution of wealth. The downside to this is that it creates unemployment, putting more people back into the trap of poverty, and smuggling is rife as people see it as the only way to survive. One may ask does the medicine cure the patient or help to kill it? People have very little escape from poverty in these areas as there is no infrastructure and any journeys must be made on foot. Even a trip to the doctor, something that is taken for granted in western civilised societies could mean a walk of about 45 kilometres, if you didnt die on the way. The very aid that was supposed to help the people to improve their lives often made them worse. As Tordoff tells us these were grandiose, overcapitalised agricultural schemes that carried very few benefits for the peasant farmer, thus still being resultant in the food shortage and hunger. The projects often also caused environmental damage. The debt was only increased by this because of the money being misspent on unsuccessful programs, and the loss of export income. The inability to earn wages led to further poverty and strife in the urban communities. The main priorities in Mozambique are ones of sanitation, clean water, and vaccination. This has been shown to work in other countries like Kenya. There is lots of power over business from multinational organisations such as Mitsubishi and Enron. The question one needs to ask is who is it that benefits? Is it the people of the country or the business men in the city? What is the motivation behind people and countries who offer aid? Is it just another opportunity to exploit and profit from the rich natural resources that the country has to offer? Conclusion Mozambique is still relatively poor as a country in economic terms, although it is rich in others such as copious fishing waters that are underused in the global markets due to poor infrastructure. Mozambique was lead by the Portuguese government who were ill equipped to compete adequately on an international and global level. When globalisation took off in other African states, Mozambique was left behind, and never had an industrial revolution. This meant that although there was plenty of opportunity to further develop the country and equip it with the ability to trade on global levels, other capitalist states and markets were far more advanced, with a good infrastructure that opened them up to the markets. The people of Mozambique were poorly educated, many of them illiterate, and because of this they were exploited by other nations. Many of the countries inhabitants are rough peasants and this exploitation led to a fascist dictatorship. They did not have the opportunities like other countries such as Ghana under the leadership of Nkrumah. Places like this could colonise as the leaders had skewed their colonies and economies and bequeathed more education to its inhabitants. Mozambique was never going to be able to match the massive trading powers of France and Britain, as Portugal had never prepared it to do so. Portugal had exploited it but not developed it. The idea behind neocolonisation was to allow maintenance of economic control but allowing it no input. There were no representatives around the table to help with the management of decolonisation. The only way that Portugal could decolonise Mozambique was through a bloody battle, often in a very vicious manner. The advancing system of France meant also meant that their military were stretched to the limits in trying to protect its country, but stood no chance and were often abandoned, as happened in the civil war. Prior to all this all decisions about the country had gone through the president in Paris, who operated in a Masonic way. Post-modern ideas of independence for Mozambique were hindered by the failure of the Westminster model of government, due to incompatibilities and ill equipped governments. There were often visible aspects of leaders becoming economy holders of the empire of entrepreneurship. Mozambiques problems were confounded and exacerbated by the civil aid programmes that supposedly came to help them. The growth centred approach to poverty only compounded this further. Targeted intervention was of no use as the poverty was so widespread. The average wage was well below the poverty line and there was an even harder exertion for the women to secure rewards that were commensurate with their contributions to the independence struggle. They were often given the opportunity to go to the markets with their produce but were then taxed heavily, and losing out on any sort of profit they may have made, basically a form of legalised extortion. Problems with landmines meant that the land was very dangerous to work on, with a high risk of injury or death. These also helped to slow down economic redevelopment. Many of us will remember the campaigns that were led by Princess Diana showing the terrible injuries that people had suffered through landmines detonating as they worked. There was a plea for international aid to be brought in to clear away the landmines and to give the people a fair chance to improve themselves and their towns. By implementing harsh and complicated economic pressures on its people, this is difficult enough in a wealthy modern state, the picture is even worse when we talk about African countries. The problems with a rapidly collapsing infrastructure, or as in the case of Mozambique, a non existent infrastructure, alongside its entrenched parastatal sector hostile to any change, which may threaten its interests, the problems not only escalate but become utterly formidable. In addition to this, the private sector becomes a strange amalgamation of disparate unrelated components. It consists of large multinationals, medium local sized organisations usually run by Asians, and a huge informal sector that largely comprises of peasant farmers. This means that the private sector is unbalanced and isolated to some extent. Considering all these points it is clear that there should be no rush for the imposition of multi party democracies and an unfettered market economy, even if it was possible to do so for Mozambique. Surely any change should be done gradually, with long term strategies that work alongside and slowly change the present systems. To sum up, arguments for structural adjustment policies of the International Monetary Fund, and lately on an increasing level in the World Bank, only focus on the microeconomic structures, and not the macroeconomic structures of all African countries including Mozambique. One must recognise the role played by recession in the West, due to declining terms of trade for primary products and the oil crisises. Those who believe in structural adjustment believe that the majority of african states share a common state corporatism that is economically corrosive and unproductive. Originally the motivation behind these programmes was to liberalise trade, reduce the role of government and parastate industries in the economy, and to end various subsidies to various sections of the population. It was believed that this would end the balance of payment crises and therefore promote economic growth. By the early 1990s it had been shown that this was not actually the case and that policy based lending had not acheived the intended goals. A new policy was now required to correct this, and the International Monetary Fund now decided that they needed to create a series of rational law based societies throughout sub-Saharan africa. This policy would need to make it clear that investment decisions were to be made on economic grounds, rather than on politically motivated grounds. This plainly put any emphasis of blame, due to previous policy failure, about the economic crisis in Mozambique and esoecially in Mozambique, was laregely a creation of the individual african states themselves. This removed any liability and responsibility on the west, protecting its own interests again. If there is no benefit to themselves there is a reluctance to become involved in the countries problems. The retention of these types of attitudes mean that Mozambiques problems are unlikely to see any significant change in the near future. There will be change but only very slowly as discussed earlier. In my beleif I think the Mozambique people have always been given a rough deal, and cannot see that it will change quickly, as the people who hold the power and capability to enforce change are fearful that they may lose some independance, i.e. the middle class bourguoise. The fear of a lack of control for those in the city, means that the poorer members of society are repressed continually, and because they do not have the capability or knowledge to do something about it, it is unlikely that it will change. I agree that the support given through international aid is necessary, but it should be helping the peasant farmers and the poorer members of society, not just the big boys in the city. This only extenuates the gap between the haves and have nots. Bibliography Tordoff W. Government and politics in Africa.(3rd ed) 1997. Macmillan press. London Clapham.C.Third World politics: an introduction. 1985. Croom Helm. London Chabal. P.Political Domination in Africa.Reflections on the limits of power. 1986. Canbridge University Press. London Cammack P. Capitalism and democracy in the Third .World. 1997. Leicester University Press. Leicester.. McLean. I. Concise dictionary of politics. 1996. Oxford University Press. Oxford. Webliography www.homeoffice.gov.uk www.wto.org www.wtowatch.org www.worldbank.org/research/bulletin www.dfid.gov.uk

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The factors that influence dividend policy

The factors that influence dividend policy According to Maury and Pajuste (2002) this kind of factor is important that may affect companys dividend policy. Each company big or small has different structure of owners who have different preference of dividends. The relationship between managers and stockholders in family companies is monitored by agency theory. As there is no separation between ownership and control, the agency problems will be reduced in family companies according the paper of Yoshikawa and Rasheed (2010). But, in big companies which have a huge government ownership will affect by agency problem. This may happen in corporations because of a double principal-agent problem as Gugler (2003) pointed out. For these companies there a solution to mitigate the agency problems which is by paying dividends. There is a huge separation between ownership and management in new companies. This may make inconsistent relation between managers and the owners of the company. Jensen and Meckling (1976) pointed out this problem in their research paper. If the managers have the decision in their hand, they will make it for their interest rather than of the company. This issue was discussed by La Porta et al. (2000). They argue that managers who have the authority on the company may advantage themselves in the form of stealing, increasing the salaries for themselves or selling the assets of the firm. In Oman, there is no big difference in the ownership structure of listed firms. Although the government in Oman is not an active investor in the Muscat Securities Market, it holds a large amount of shares in Oman Telecommunication Company which is about 70% of the shares. In the other hand, Omani government holds a little amount of shares in some large listed companies. There are a number of papers examined the relationship between ownership structure and dividend policy such as Desmetz, (1983); Desmetz and Lehn, (1985); Shleifer and Vishny, (1986); Morck et al., (1988); Schooley and Barney,(1994). They found that the ownership structure in large firms could affect dividend policy. In a recent study in emerging markets, Jayesh Kumar (2003) found that ownership structure does not influence dividend pay out policy uniformally. Ramli in his study of Malaysia suggests that controlling shareholders does influence the dividend policy of Malaysian listed companies. He also found that large shareholders have effects on Malaysian dividend policy. Mondher Kouki (2009) examined the Tunisian firms and found that the ownership structure is affected by institutional investors. They suggest that ownership structure approach is highly relevant to an understanding of corporate dividends policy in Tunisia. Al-Yahyaee (2008) in his study of dividend policy of Omani firms found that government which controls the company tends to have large payout ratios. In addition, Al-Kuwari (2009) pointed out that companies which the government owed a proportion of shares pay dividend more than companies owned by private sector. . Al-Yahyaee results also shows that there is a positive association between dividend yield and government ownership. This finding is in consistent with the results suggested by Gugler (2003). According to Al-Yahyaee (2008), Government ownership has a strong influence on the dividend policy of the non financial firms. Company Size: Firm Size is considered as one of the variables that have the ability to affect the dividend policy of the company. Lloyd et al. (1985) in their study to examine the influence of the firm size on the dividend policy add firm size as an important variable of dividend behaviour. Aivazian, and Booth (2003) found in their study about dividend policy in both US companies and emerging markets companies that there is evidence that firm size influence dividends. There are two types of companies, large and small. Many researchers such as Jensen et al. (1992), Fama and French (2000) on their study about dividend policy found that big firms pay high dividend to their shareholder than small firms. This occurs because of the fact that small firms have high chance of bankruptcy than large firms. Moreover, the research paper of Lloyd, Jahera, and Page (1985) argued that the variable firm size can be used to illustrate the dividend pay ratio of the company. Their findings discussed that big companie s are more mature than small firms. This feature makes them enter the capital market easily and let to pay higher dividends. According to Marsh, (1982); Baskin, (1989), Chang and Rhee, (1990); Bennets and Donnelly, (1993); Charitou and Vafeas, (1998), big companies have better evaluation debt. The size of the company has a positive correlation with dividend payment. This positive relationship is studied by a lot of financial economists for example, Lloyd and Jahera (1985), Rhee (1990), Smith and Watts (1992), Gaver and Gaver (1993), Vogt (1994), Redding (1997), Adedeji (1998), Bradley, Capozza, and Seguin (1998), Holder et al. (1998), Fama and French (2001). Ho, H. (2003) study the dividend policy of Japan firms and Australia firms. Their result show that the firms size have a positive sign with dividend policy in Australia and liquidity has a positive sign with dividend policy in Japan. Recently, there are some papers in emerging markets investigate the factors affecting dividend policy. For instance, Al-Kuwari study the determinant of dividend policy in GCC, and his result reveal that companies pay more dividends when firma size is high. On the other hand, Naceur, Goaied, and Belanes (2006) in their study of study the dividend policy of 48 firms listed on the Tunisian Stock Exchange found that the firm size has a negative sign with dividend policy, Business risk: Business risk is a risk that affects the company when it has no enough cash flow to cover its obligations such as operating expenses. It is considered as one of the determinant of companies dividend policy and can play an important role to influence dividend payment. According to the results of Pruitt and Gitman (1991) risk is one of the factors that determine the dividend policy of the company. Furthermore, there is evidence of that risk can impact the dividend policy of the firms. This is provided by the study of Lintner (1956), Brav et al. (2005). When the business risk is high, the relationship between current and expected future profit will be uncertain. As a result, firms will avoid the obligation to pay high dividend. There are many studies reveal that companies which have high risk will pay low dividends to their shareholders because of the volatility of earnings. Some of these studies are conducted by Rozeff (1982), Lloyd et. al. (1985), 1993; Mohd et al., 1995, and Colins et. al. (1996). They apply in their study beta value of the firm as a proxy of the company business risk. This beta is expected to be negative with dividend payment. DSouza (1999) argues that there is a negative relationship between beta and dividend policy. In recent studies, Ling, Mutalip, Shahrin, and Othman (2007) test the dividend policy of Malaysian companies and they found that business risk has negative relationship with dividend yield and dividend payout ratio. Their result also show that firm risk influence the dividend policy of the firms. Al-Kuwari in his study of non financial firms of GCC argues that business risk is insignificant variable. In the case of Oman, Al-Yahyaee (2008) gave the same results as the above discussions and his result reveal that there is negative relationship between dividend payout and business risk. Profitability: This kind of variables that can affect dividend policy of the firm is considered as a primary factor of dividend payment because when firms have high profits, they tend to pay high dividend to their shareholder. Many financial economists such as Lintner (1956),Jensen et al (1992); Han et al (1999), Fama and French (2000), Adaoglu (2000), Pandey (2003) suggest that the companys profitability is an important indicator that affect dividend policy of the firm. Some of these papers argue that there is a positive relationship between profitability of the company and the dividend policy. This positive relationship is considered as an important prediction of the signaling theory of dividend policy. The positive sign means firms which have profits will pay dividend. In addition, Fama and French (2001) in his research pointed out that the positive relationship between the firms profitability and dividend payment is consistent with the pecking order theory. There are many studies reveal that in emerging market, the dividend payment is higher than that in developed markets. For example, the results of Glen et al. (1995) reveal that dividend payment is higher in developing countries. Furthermore, Aivazian, booth, and cleary (2003) found that in their study about emerging market and US firms, profitability in emerging markets has higher influence on dividend payout than in US companies. As discussed above similar findings were reported by Al-Kuwari (2007) for GCC firms, Al-Yahyaee (2008) for Omani firms, and Al- Najjar (2009) for Jordanian firms. To test the profitability of the dividend policy of the firm, the (ROE) measure was used. According to the above results, I expect to find a positive sign for the relationship between dividend payment and profitability. Leverage: Financial leverage is one of the main explanatory variables of firms dividend policy. The definition of this variable is that the long term debt to total asset. Firms that are highly leveraged and cannot make a payment on their debt will be faced risk of bankrupt. This fact may explain that firms with high debt may pay low dividend to their shareholders because they need to utilize their cash flow to pay their obligations. . On the other hand, Aivazian et al (2003) said that companies with low debt can pay and maintain their dividends. Financial leverage has a negative relationship with dividend payment. There are many studies appear to support this negative relationship. Rozeff (1982) results revealed that companies with high leverage prefer to pay low amount of dividends. Moreover, Crutchley and Hansen (1989) Jensen et al. (1992), Bradley et al. (1998), Faccio, Lang, and Young (2001) pointed out that financial leverage influence dividend payment in negative way. The recent studies also are in line with these findings. For instance, Kouki, Guizani (2009) in their study of the dividend policy of the Tunisian firms found that firms with high debt prefer to pay a little amount of dividend. the results of Al-Najjar (2009) shows that there is a negative relationship between leverage and dividend policy. Growth opportunities: The growth opportunity of the company is an important indicator that influences the operation of the distribution of dividends. When firms expect to have huge growth opportunities in their business, they will utilize the firms funds to finance the expansion. This may make the firms to pay lower amount of dividend to the shareholders. On the other hand, if companies know that the growth opportunities are low and the projects investment is small, they will distribute high cash dividend. These analyses propose that growth opportunities have a negative relationship with dividend payout. a lot of studies appeared to support this negative relationship such as, Higgins (1972), Rozeff(1982), Lloyd et al.(1985) and Collins et al (1996), Fama and French (2001), Ho, Lam, and Sami (2004), and Aivazian et al. (2006). They argue that firms with high growth opportunities are more likely to pay low dividends. However, LaPorta et al. (2000) show different results. He found that there is a positive relationship between growth opportunities and dividend payment in countries that have high shareholder protection, but negative relationship in countries that have low shareholder protection. Based on the above assumptions I expect to find a negative association between dividends growth opportunities. Sample Description and Data: The sample data of this dissertation includes 5 large non financial companies listed in the Muscat Securities Market. The annual reports of the firms were taken also from the website of the Muscat Securities Market to get information about shareholders. There are 125 listed companies in Muscat Securities Market as at 31 September 2010. The main listed companies in MSM are banking and investment, services and insurance, and industry. The sample in this research come from industry and service sectors such as telecommunications, oil, and manufacturing companies. The data is obtained by Share-Holding Guide of Muscat Securities Market companies. The data are cross sectional and time series which are collected from 2005 to 2009. As discussed in the previous section, the dividend payout ratio is the model of the dependent variable of the dividend policy. the explanatory variables of the suggested dividend policy are ownership structure, firm size, profitability, business risk, leverage, and growth opportunities. The primary idea was to test the dividend policy and the six hypotheses related to dividend policy of the 6 companies listed on Muscat Securities Market. I chose to use non financial firms rather than financial because the information is limited and the data is missed on financial firms. The dividend paying firms are those companies that paid dividend at least one time over the five years period of the study 2005 to 2009. This means that all the five companies I selected are dividend payment firms. Measurement of Variables: This section is based on the previous discussions to test the six hypotheses on dividend payout ratios of Omani firms. The study of the variables is based on average for the 2005 to 2009 periods to examine the influence on companys dividend policy. Moreover, the predicted sign for the variables are positive with dividend policy for ownership structure, profitability, and firms size, but negative for business risk, leverage, and growth opportunities. The estimations of the models are as follows: DIV = f (GOV, SIZE, GROW, LEV, BETA, PROF) Where DIV is the dividend payout ratio which is measured by: Dividends per Share / EPS. The dividend payout ratio show the percentage amount of dividend the company will tend to distribute to their shareholders. This ratio indicates that the earnings of the company support the dividend payout. If the dividend payout is high, the share will be attractive to the shareholders. It differs among firms and the fact that the majority of mature firms have higher dividend payout ratio. The model utilizes the percentage number of shares that owned by corporations investors especially the proportion of the government shares (GOV) in the firm to test the ownership structure to know if it can affect the dividend policy. This is used by many studies for example, Gugler (2003), and some recent studies like Al-Kuwari (2007) in her study about GCC countries. Profitability (PROF) ratio can be measured as return on asset and return on shareholder equity. Return on asset is calculated by net profit over total asset. PROF = net profit/total asset Return on equity (ROE) which I have used in this study is measured by net profit divided by shareholder equity. PROF = net profit/shareholder equity Many existing studies have used return on equity (ROE) as a proxy of profitability more than using return on asset. For example, Aivazian, booth, and cleary (2003), Al-Yahyaee (2008), and Al- Najjar (2009) utilize return on equity in their study about dividend policy. Firm size (SIZE) is measured by the natural log of the total assets. Total revenue is also used as a proxy of firm size for example, Holder et al. (1998) has been used the same proxy for this variable. The proxy of the business risk (BETA) is beta. This has been used by Rozeff (1982), Lloyd et. al. (1985), 1993; Mohd et al., 1995, Colins et. al. (1996), and DSouza (1999). Growth opportunities (GROW) is measured by market to book ratio. Market to book ratio is calculated by dividing book value over market value of the firm. This ratio is used to find identify the value of the firm. Market to book ratio = book value/ market value Leverage (LEV) ratio is defined as total debt over total equity. This ratio is used to test how can debt affect the dividend payment of the firm. LEV = total debt/ total equity The Tobit and random effects models: The liner regression model includes, fixed and random effect tobit model. It has been used by several studies to test dividend policy. It is a statistical technique that tries to determine the link between two or more variables: dependent and explanatory variables. The dependent variable selected is dividend payout ratio. The explanatory or independent variables that used in this research are ownership structure, profitability, firm size, leverage, business risk, and growth opportunities. In this study of Omani firms I have used tobit models to investigate the factors of the dividend paid. In addition, to get the results I utilize the random effect tobit model which is suitable for nonfinancial firms.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Jewish worship, prayer, and instruction

Jewish worship, prayer, and instruction Class Lectures Name and discuss three elements of Jewish worship practice that have influenced Christian worship. First of all, Jewish worship, prayer, and instruction was opened the service with praise. They praised God to honor Him. The first record of praise was the Moses and Miriams Praise when they crossed the Red Sea. Miriams praise was dancing and playing the tambourine. Second element is speaking of prayer. Jewish people expressed Gods love, and prayed for Gods blessing for their needs. Final element is instruction. The instruction emphasized the Scripture Reading. The congregation read the Laws and the Prophets and the scripture lessons were stated in the vernacular language. List four of the festivals celebrated by Israel in the Old Testament along with their corresponding observance in the Church Year. Sukkoth- The Feast of Tabernacles. This was celebrated within the months of September / October and is comparable with Thanksgiving. Hanukkah-The Festival of Lights. It is celebrated in December and often falls close to Christmas. Hanukkah and Christmas share other similarities such as gift giving. Passover-Remembrance of the Israelites deliverance out of Egypt. It usually happens in March/ April and is closely tied to Easter. The Lords Supper was a Passover meal. Pentecost-The Jewish celebration 50 days after Passover. It occurs in May or June. The first Christian Pentecost took place on this Jewish holiday. What is the Church Year? Discuss in detail the major celebrations of the Church Year. The Church Year is an official set of worship services and observances outlining the earthly life and ministry of Jesus. It is used to teach church history and doctrine and serves as a reminder of these elements. Concerning the tradition of the Western church, Hustad remarks that the year can be broken into two parts: the Life of Christ and The Christian Life, which the church would refer to as the Proper of the Mass and the Ordinary of the Mass, respectively. The life of Christ is remembered from Advent through Easter. Pentecost would then be the beginning of The Christian Life, with the emphasis on the ministries and missions of the church. Advent. Hustad lists this as the start of the Western Liturgical Year. The Advent Season begins four Sundays prior to Christmas. On the surface, it looks to commemorate the events leading to the birth of Christ, but it also focuses on all of Christs reign, both past, present and future. Christmas. Christmas was introduced into the liturgy of the Roman church sometime during the Fourth Century. The date of December 25th was the last day of a pagan Roman celebration known as Saturnalia. As many pagans had been converted and brought into the church, the church claimed the date as being Jesus birth to Christianize the feast. In reality, Jesus birth is more likely to have occurred in early spring. The choice of December 25th also puts the celebration of Christmas in relation to the Jewish celebration of the Feast of Light, Hanukkah. Epiphany. This begins January 6th and continues until Ash Wednesday. The term comes from Greek, meaning appearance and commemorates the beginning of Jesus earthly ministry, as well as the arrival of the wise men to Bethlehem. Ash Wednesday. This is the beginning of the season of Lent, forty days prior to Easter. It is a call to repentance, remembering the sackcloth and ashes response of the Old Testament. Lent. The season covers forty days prior to prior Easter. It is a time of repentance and remembrance of Jesus forty days of temptation in the wilderness and prepares the hearts of believers for the events of Holy Week. Holy Week. These are the most detailed days of the life of Jesus in all of the Gospels. Including the events of Palm Sunday, the week is a reminder of the final days of Jesus earthly ministry. During this week, among many other things, Jesus institutes the Lords Supper, prays and is betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, is brought before Pilate and led to Golgotha for His crucifixion and then burial. Easter. This is the keystone day of all history. Hustad remarks that Easter is often referred to as the Christian Passover. It parallels the Jewish Passover celebration and is the focal point of Christianity. Paul reminds believers of the importance of the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:14, And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Pentecost. This is so-named from the Jewish festival of First Fruits, which occurs fifty days after Passover. It is the birthday of the church, the day of the coming of the Holy Spirit. List the three major reformers of the 16th Century and summarize the philosophy of church music of each one. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each reformers philosophy of church music. Luther, Cranmer, and Calvin were the three major reformers of the 16th century. Luther who loves the use of music in worship is one of important figure in the Reformation. He accepted the doctrine of believer-priesthood. He also translated Bible language into German, so congregation could understand more about Bible. He used music to represent Gods Word. There are three aspects which are liturgical, biblical, and educational approach in his philosophy of church music. He used various music styles in the church and from Gregorian chants to secular tune were used for music. Strengths of music can be found in Lutheran worship. The music led congregation to participate in worship. The congregation could experience various style of music from the old one such as Gregorian chant to the new songs composed by their 5 own languages. People could know through music about the Gods word and His instruction. The weakness of music in Lutheran worship is limitation of the use of organ, so people used their voice to sing hymns without accompaniment. One the other hand, Calvins philosophy of church music is to focus only on Gods Word. Therefore, the glory of God can be expressed by Gods Word. He who emphasized on only Bible thought music is harmful in worship. In other words, his opinion was that people in worship can be distracted by music. As a result, he limited the use of music in worship completely. He focused on the Word of God, so only psalms can be sung in worship in his time, not hymns. The people only could praise God with Gods Word in worship. As they could not use the musical instruments, so worship was very dry in the church. Cranmer who was an important figure in English liturgy accepted a Protestant style than Roman style into English liturgy. He wanted to have congregational singing in worship. Calvin influenced on the music in Cranmers time about speaking of music. Therefore, people could sing Calvinistic metrical and add to sing psalms, anthems, and canticles with Book of Common Prayer in worship. Therefore, the Calvinistic influence on the music in Cranmers time made similarity to strengths and weakness of Calvins philosophy of church music. Discuss the role of music in worship, nurture, and outreach. What types or styles of music are most suitable for each? Why? God is the center of the triangle, he is the focus of the worship, edification and outreach Worship Ministry always begins with God His glory and satisfaction primary. Music of worship should emphasize the Trinity, salvation. Worship is needed for the sake of feeding of His Word, encouraging brothers and sisters in Christ, and forgiveness of our sins. Nurture Ministry is demonstrated within the community of faith with the love and edification of Gods people-brotherly love and mutual benefit. Music of edification is an incredible tool in teaching and in bringing people together. This brings fellowship. Rocks polish each other. Church is like a tumbler and rocks bump into each other and get refined: bad rocks becomes powder, good rocks become more glistening. If you deny church, you forfeit the chance of refining. Abrasive Word of God refines. That is the reason that the law of church is love and forgiveness. Paul mentions togetherness and community (Rom. 12:1-2) and this is the essence of church. It includes ass aspects of education, discipleship, teaching doctrine, even the counterpart of the doctrine. Outreach Ministry continues by impacting the unbelieving world with the witness of the Gospel and everyones need to know Christ in a personal way. Music of evangelism is not the same as music of worship or edification. The center here is the Gospel: you need to be born-again to meet Jesus. It should be the music of culture that you are going to reach. The saved people will bring music of worship to God. Discuss ways that music can prepare a church for evangelism. Give examples of some specific activities that can help the church to evangelize the lost. To witness is to reach the whole world to the vicinity. Non-verbal communication express more than verbal. Walking should proceed the talking. If life does not show one cannot be a witness or witness. People would not be converted by that witness; moreover, it will disprove what were saying. Evangelical worship music should be both objective and subjective, expressing our awesome wonder and praise of God who is above and beyond our imagination and also our love of, and communion with, God in Jesus Christ who lives in us through the Holy Spirit. Jubilate II: Church Music in Worship and Renewal by Donald Hustad How does Hustad define: 1) high art church music, 2) traditional church music, 3) folk music, and 4) popular church music? Compare and contrast these styles and discuss the potential usefulness of each in the life of the church. (59-61) High art church music, which is also called as classical or serious music, represents the well (or best) identified liturgical music through history by recognized art critics who have the high knowledge about standard aesthetics in their academic/aesthetic community. High art church music is not for everybody but for very limited people who has abundant knowledge in aesthetics. Traditional church music is the liturgical music which is simple and easy in style and form but originated from high art music. The term can be also used for the music just for liturgy in church. Folk music means the music including a common understanding in a community and orally carried over in the community from generation to generation as its own way. The characteristics of folk music are simple and reflect the nature or a common and that there is a large population understanding the music. Popular church music is any music that most of community members can accept and has more affinity to secular entertainment. This form of music usually disseminated through commercial media. The most distinguishing difference among the four types of music is who can understand the music. Obviously, the audiences levels are very different according to Hustads definitions, so that the way how people use their musical talent given to each individual and how they approach to the music would be very different. There are two things in common between high art church music and the traditional church music which are they pass the acid test and last long in history, and both were composed for worship. Traditional church music is, however, more accessible to people than high art church music since high art church music is more sophisticated. Presenting this kind of sublime church music once in a while, church lets the congregation experience solemnness and transcendent God through music. Music leaders can choose this kind of high art church music carefully for special occasions or thematic services such as Christmas. On the other hand, traditional church music can be sung more often. And this music connects the geriatric with the young and enables people to look back the history. Moving on to folk music, folk expressions are closely related to the culture, so folk music can be more meaningful and attractive to each ethnic or culture group. There are two different things observed between traditional church music and folk music. First, traditional church music was composed for strictly liturgical purpose while folk music as a secular music but adopted by church and the new sacred text added to its tune. Secondly, traditional church music does not show specific national characteristics much while each folk music has its own color and often the composers are anonymous. However, both music genres can be used commonly in church since both were sung from generation to generation. Borrowed folk tunes can serve church as traditional church music. When it comes to contemporary popular church music, it is generally attractive to younger group people compared to traditional church music or folk music which are more appreciated by older generations. The contemporary church music is sung in many charismatic churches. Of course, traditional churches can use this type of church music. I believe it is the best way to serve church that church musicians select music carefully and place various types of music properly when worshiping to magnifying the glory of God. List and discuss the sins which best non-liturgical evangelicals in their use of music in worship. (65-66) The sin of pride. When we truly concentrate on music itself to give the best thing to God, we may make a serious mistake because our effort for music can turn into an activity to show our musical technique and talent rather than praise Him if we cannot keep our heart focusing on God. We should focus on the glory of God with our best effort and try to avoid the temptation that my music is better than others and worthy to be applauded. The quality of music plausible to our ears is not a matter to God. He is looking at our heart first so we should throw away the thought that my music is much better than others (my music will be accepted by God) and be humble. God says that He brings down the proud who have arrogance. If we fall into arrogance in our music ministry, God would never be pleased with our music and worship and even will not accept them. The sin of hedonism. Here, the hearing of the music becomes the issue rather than the glory of God. Instead of a heart being changed by hearing what God has prepared the pastor to speak, more attention is given to the enjoyment of the music. The sin of spectatorism. The writer of Hebrews exhorts believers in Hebrews 10:25 to not forsake the assembly of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. It is apparent to this writer that being a Christian requires participation. Hustad points out that many in todays churches would rather be sung to than to sing for themselves. Very simply put, Christianity is not a spectator sport. The sin of sentimentalism. An old pair of shoes is much more comfortable than a new pair that has yet to be worn-in. It follows then, that people would desire to remain in their comfort zones, not willing to be open to changes in music and worship. Enjoying what is familiar is not bad in itself, but as with all things, it must not become the focus or the issue. God must remain the focus, not our singing of favorite hymns. List and discuss the evangelical standards of church music suggested by Hustad. (68-69) It should express and communicate the gospel in text and music languages that are contextualized to the culture for which is intended. It should offer a worthy sacrifice of praise, for the individual and for the corporate body in worship experience. It should be their best performance. It should be offered with love, humility, gratitude, and grace. It should express and enhance the best Christian theology of each particular culture, supporting all doctrines of that faith in proper balance. It should express and support all the activities related to the groups beliefs-worship, proclamation, education, pastoral care, and fellowship-with due consideration of musical needs of each. It should speak from the whole person to the whole person, carefully balancing the physical, intellectual, and emotional while avoiding sentimental. It should be genuinely creative, avoiding the out-of-date as well as too much sophistication. Communication in text and music language is very important. Sometimes, we say that the gospel is our confession of our heart to God. This is true. In a culture, there are lots of things we feel in the same way and we share them in its own language. This often deeply touches others hearts so that church music becomes a very good method to share and proclaim the evangelism to believers and non-believers. Therefore, church music should be expressed in richly understandable way and communicable in a culture. Hustad also pointed out a worth sacrifice of praise. In the Old Testament, God wanted faultless lambs for sacrifice. He wanted everything to be faultless. Church music is also a kind of sacrifice we give to God. In other words, our music should be the praise itself and intended for our devotional sacrifice to God. Evangelically, church music should include love, humility, gratitude, and grace with no arrogance. This idea might include the creativity of church music. Using our creativity endowed from God would be one thing to make our music faultless as a sacrifice. Culture might be an important ingredient in evangelical church music. As mentioned, music is another type of communication method in a culture. However, common components in a culture should be used in church music for more effective communication, so that theological and evangelical components can have more power with the proper balance of common components to touch people hearts in a culture. In fact, the direct import of church music from the Western to Asian showed a large problem in understanding the evangelical message in music. This discussion includes the fundamental that church music always delivers the core of evangelism. Evangelical church music should express the Christian theology, as well as all activities found in the Bible such as worship, proclamation, education, pastoral care, and fellowship. Many churches tend to show they are leaning toward certain specific aspects. If only one or two things are standing out, the balance would be broken, which means the church is not healthy. Compare and contrast the contributions of revivalist and formal evangelical churches to worship and church music. By what names are these traditions identified among Southern Baptists? (219-223) Revivalist and formal evangelical churches are categorized by several distinct characteristic. Revivalist seemed to adopt more informal styles in worship so that it naturally pulled more concentration onto God. In the textbook, it says that it was directed toward heaven, not earth. The object was to praise God, not entertain people. Also, its style is ordered and stately. Revivalist had more dynamics in worship so Hustad described its characteristics as informality, noise, disorder, energetic, passionate, loud proclamation style, and charismatic variety of worship. Naturally, the worship was being highly emotional. This does not indicate that revivalist worship was human-oriented. Revivalist worship rather focused on horizontal praise of God, spreading the work of the Holy Spirit in us to the congregations/friends/neighbors through themselves. There are two types of Baptists derived from revivalists: Regular Baptist, the more-Calvinistic, i.e., Charleston church, and Separate Baptist , the more charismatic, i.e. Sandy Creek group. On the other hand, the formal evangelical churches are more rooted in history having more consistent themes in sermon, music, and prayer. They appreciate the liturgy, other formal elements found in historical churches besides the work of Holy Spirit while revivalists mainly focus on the work of Holy Spirit and redemption. Hustad pointed out the tendency of the theological integrity for the formal evangelical churches, so that the churches had highly developed ritual. One of the typical formal evangelical churches is the Broadway Tabernacle Church (Methodist). However, the liturgical contents for both of the churches have the most common elements discussed by Hustad; for example, sermon/preach, prayer, hymn, and benediction. Also, the influences from the both churches are currently being continued in our churches. Churches not only keep the formal evangelical style of worship but also expect the strong power of the Holy Spirit. Also, with the requiring elements by Hustad, current churches try to use a common language for the congregations to bring up the power of the Holy Spirit in church music. Briefly discuss the impact of the following on church music: (204, 223-276) Pietist Movement in Germany. This was a movement born out of the Lutheran church in the late 1600s. The viewpoint was that the goal of worship and music was the edification of humanity. Pietists taught that music was for every person and should be kept very simple. George Whitefield George Whitefield was the Calvinistic Methodist who was associated with the Wesleys in England, and brought 18th-century revivalism to the colonies. He was influenced by the Anglican tradition so that hymns began to be sung widely, especially those of Isaac Watts, and strict psalm singing was broken in England. Camp meetings Camp meeting were outdoor gatherings without regard to the gender, denominations and races. People mixed, socialized and worship together so simple so music showed a tendency to be simple. As black slaves brought their musical heritage, Spiritual became popular. Songs were not only simple, but also frequently improvised, and very repetitive. In the improvised manner, some words were changed with each repetition. Camp meetings music helped church music to get more freedom in terms of the form. Lowell Mason He was a prominent figure in public school music education in the mid 1800s and assisted in developing the first public school music programs in the United States, around the Boston and New York City areas. His teaching emphasized the use of standard notation (referred to by Mason as scientific music), rather than the shape notes used in the frontier areas of the 1800s. He also composed and arranged many hymns, of which 13 are included in the 1991 Edition of The Baptist Hymnal. Among those he composed are BETHANY (Nearer, My God to Thee), OLIVET (My Faith looks up to Thee) and HAMBURG (When I Survey the Wondrous Cross). Gospel Songs. This style of music was so-named by Philip Phillips and was patterned after the music heard in the camp meetings. They could also be known as experience hymns or hymns of witness and testimony. Names such as Fanny Crosby, William Bradbury, B.B. McKinney and Phoebe Palmer Knapp are now synonymous with Gospel Songs. Radio and television. According to Hustad, radio and television contributed to the passive culture of recreation in our culture. This change would also encourage the lack of participation in church life. Now distant from the church, the music broadcast over the air would need to encompass a broad spectrum of music styles and tastes. The celebration era. This time begins in the 1960s and is characterized by an emphasis on celebration in worship and places high value on ones experience. Hustad refers to this as The New Pietism and even The New Worship Hedonism, the latter with an emphasis on having an enjoyable experience. List and briefly discuss Hustads twelve suggestions for worship renewal today. (308-312) Study worship thoroughly: its scriptural basis, theology, history, psychology, in a full revelation of God and a full human response. Regular worship should contain all the elements in the New Testament churches: scripture reading, preaching, prayers, acts of dedication, and musical expressions. Worship should use as much language of scripture as possible: worship words should be chosen, so that it may speak to all age groups in the congregation, to the typical cultural levels represented, revision of old sermons, simplifying language for declining literacy. Completely secularized worship language is not healthy. Worship should conform to the basics of historic liturgy: basic historical worship outlines are the products of the accumulated wisdom of almost 2,000 years during which the Holy Spirit has been present and working in the church. One of the requirements of liturgical worship is congregational action. Worship is the work of the people, this is the most important. Worshipers should be involved in as much speaking, singing, and bodily action as possible. In making changes, dont follow the madding crowd unless you are convinced they are following the Holy Spirit: Follow your tradition based on your own theology. Be sure that the joy of the Lord shows in your worship, is modeled by the service leaders, and is evident in the congregation: the unbelievers come to church, not primarily to investigate the claims of Christ, but to investigate the Christ in us. Add ample right-brain language in emotive-intuitive symbolism, not for fun or for aesthetics, but for truths sake: Ever-present danger of idolatry-the worship of self or of cultural icons in the place of God. it is important to keep old ones, like hymnal-the repository of the churchs memory, preserving the heritage of its greatest singers and important hymn literature. In music, sing as wide a spectrum of song as did the first-century church with musical styles that will meet the expectations of todays congregation: New worship choruses (high emotional experience and release) Taize minimalist music (cognitive and emotional expression) Older gospel songs Contemporary ballads (experience of Christ) Psalms settings (full language of prayer) Classic hymns (identity with the historic church and doctrine, the perpetuity of Gods covenants, and the continuity of the Holy Spirits indwelling of Gods people) Worship changes should aim to unite a congregation, not divide it: worship must include a full range of emotions, including penitence and sober reflection, the spirit of celebration based on thanksgiving should be predominant. Teach the significance of each worship experience in the context of regular services: teach the meaning of worship words. Protect music education in the church, because Christians are stewards of God-given talents: God expects the talents to be returned to him by giving glory. Be sure that worship is finally incarnational, in that men and women become more perfectly human as Jesus Christ was perfectly human: as a result of their encounter with God, in the name of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Outline and discuss the elements of the Genevan Order of Worship (Isaiah 6). (330-338) Preparation for worship- instrumental prelude is a curtain which we draw to shut out lifes busting distractions so that we may sense the presence of the numinous, powerful, loving God. But this does not function since folks tend to talk over the music. Informal music may be directed by a songleader and may be interspersed with personal witnessing, and this may conclude with a time of greeting one another. The minister may say Now let us worship God as a call to worship. Confession, Forgiveness- The call to confession may be preceded by reading or paraphrasing 1 John 1:9. The call could be Let us admit our sin before God, first in a verse of a hymn and then in our united confession. An assurance of forgiveness is an announcement that, if we confess, God forgives our sins, as he has promised to do. God Speaks Scripture reading are given to keep both ancient and modern practice (Old and New Testaments), psalm is followed after to be response to the reading. In many congregations it is customary to close a scripture reading with the phrase This is the Word of the Lord and the peoples response Thanks be to God. a gospel reading would be followed with This is the gospel of the Lord and the response, Praise be to you, O Christ. the virtue of Geneva order is that scripture reading is followed closely by its interpretation in the sermon without a lot of intervening numbers. However, it is considered appropriate to follow any scripture with the Gloria Patri, with a canticle, or with a psalm, hymn, or anthem. It is appropriate for the minister to follow Calvins example by prefacing the homily with a Prayer of illumination. We Respond- the response hymn in this instance is a parallel to the opening hymn, in keeping with the sermon emphasis, the first speaks of transcendent God, second speaks of the immanent Jesus Christ as a friend. It is also appropriate as an invitation to Christian decision. Offering is placed after the sermon and response hymn, one way of saying Amen to Gods will expressed in his word, read and preached. This is based on a song of praise to Christ for his incarnation and self-emptying, or any other text of adoration. Another type is the reciting of a doctrinal confession, we stand to state our belief. The preferred form is the short Apostles Creed. We Pray- prayer is placed after the hearing of and responding to, the Word of God. It is because God called the meeting to order to reveal himself, his actions and his will. It is good etiquette to hear God out and to offer a full affirmative response. And it is a moving experience for believers to pray together as the closing act of a community at worship. These could be bidding prayers that leader calls for silent, personal petition for church, for ministers, and Christian workers around the world, for peace and justice among nations, and for the sick and bereaved persons. We Celebrate Communion- The prayer should contain both bread and drink part of Jesus command. In recent years, many churches added central memorial acclamation after the statement of remembrance: Christ had died; Christ had risen; Christ will come again. The Close of Worship- Hymn is sung proclaiming the Cross, because it is only through Christs death on the cross that we may know God, both transcendent and immanent. The instrumental postlude is generally exuberant in tone, reflecting thanksgiving for the opportunity of worship and the movement of the congregation into the week of continuing worship, witness, and service. List and discuss the emphases of evangelistic