Applications used Essay Example

Applications used Essay Example Applications used Essay Applications used Essay Napier uses Microsoft Outlook 98 for their e-mail software package. When you try to access your e-mail account you will have to again enter your user name and password for security.4 Just a few of the things this package enables you to do is send and receive e-mails, maintain and coordinate an on-line calendar, save details on contacts and set reminders for important dates; these are all displayed e-mail account5. To send e-mails, left click on new then message and write your message; to read a received e-mail, simply double left click on the message.6 WebCT  WebCT is an example of groupware7, which provides shared working facilities, for example, Discussion groups (Newsgroups)8, feedback, Chat room, on-line timetable9, module guide and even a notice board.  WebCT is useful for your course as it holds lecture notes and allows you to chat to other people on your module and share information and tips. Browsers  A Web browser is a client based program that uses the HTTP to search for specific words and phrases using Web servers all over the Internet to search and find the information the client is wanting.  Two browsers (search engines) that the considerable bulk of Internet users use are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Whilst some online services, for example America Online, initially used their own specific browsers, almost all now use the Netscape or Microsoft browser. Although, Lynx is a text-only browser for UNIX shell and VMS users. Some other browsers that are popular are YAHOO and google10. These are good as they are not just search engines, they have games, gossip, weather reports and so forth; which appeal to the younger teenage population. Search engines like google and Microsoft Internet Explorer are paramount for your University course work, as many topics will be new to you and by using a search engine to look up topics you will save a lot of time and effort. Nimweb  Nimweb is an application which holds student records on-line; it contains programme details, module information, student contact and home addresses, and so forth.11 This is important to your course as your exam results are posted here and also all the information on your graduation is posted here aswell.  Tips  Avoiding the plagiarism trap  There are three main tips that will help you avoid falling into the plagiarism trap:  1. Practice writing your own notes; read the passage that is useful to you, cover it up and think about the points it raised and write them down in note form. Now when you go to write out your essay, use your notes and try to avoid looking back at the passage, you will find that you have grasped the points from the passage and conveyed them in your words. 2. If you want to use a quote or passage that emphasises your point well, highlight it in another colour to differentiate it from your own notes and make sure you note the number of the page you copied it from.  3. When you make notes after looking at a book or web page make sure you record the details of the book or web page and include these by use of footnotes and endnotes. Credability of material on the net  Anybody can publish material on the Internet, so when searching the web there are three main things you should consider:  Is the information or page accurate?  o Is the information or page complete?  o And is the information or page authoritative?  Weigh up the motive the person would have had for putting this information on the Internet. If you have discovered a reference via a search engine, you can get hints about what it might contain through its address (URL). For example, if you were searching for information on JANET and you found a URL that was sited on a personal website about a woman; you would recognise this probably would not be about a Joint Academic Network. Lastly to assist you in establishing some background on you web page, there could be a home button on the web page your search engine found which would give you a more information on which to base your judgement of the web sites authenticity. Chatrooms and Newsgroups  Personal safety in chatrooms and newsgroups is a serious matter. You should never give your personal details out as these chatrooms and newsgroups are not 100% secure as you do not really know who you are talking to. Never arrange to meet people in person that you only know through a chatroom or newsgroup as they could be lying about who they are and you never properly know their intentions. Chatrooms and newsgroups are meant to be beneficial and fun but only when used in the proper manner.

8 Tips for How (and When) to Ask for a Raise

8 Tips for How (and When) to Ask for a Raise SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you hoping to increase your salary but aren't sure how to ask for a raise? Are you also wondering how much to ask for a raise or when to ask for a raise?Asking for a raise can be nerve-wracking, especially if you aren’t sure how to go about it, but we have all the answers you're looking for. In this guide, we explain everything you need to know about asking for a raise, including the steps you need to have done beforehand, the best times to ask for a raise, how much you should ask for, and eight tips to keep in mind when you ask. Things to Keep in Mind Before Asking for a Raise Before you even suggest having a conversation with your boss about your salary, there’s work you need to do. Don’t ask for a raise until you do the following four things. Ask Yourself If You’ve Truly Earned a Raise Everyone wants to make more money, but have you really put in enough work for your boss to justify increasing your salary, especially if you’re asking for more than just a cost of living increase?If you haven’t been expanding your responsibilities and going above and beyond what you’re asked to do, convincing your boss to give you a raise will be a much harder sell. Do Your Research Before you ask for a raise, you need to know how your salary compares to the salaries of similar jobs in your area. This will help you come up with a proper amount to ask for as a raise, and if you can show your salary is below the market average. We discuss this more in the â€Å"How Much of a Raise Should You Ask For† section. Have a â€Å"Brag List† Ready In order to get a raise, you’ll need to show how valuable you are to the company so they agree that you’re worth paying more money. The best way to do this is to have a â€Å"brag sheet† that highlights your accomplishments. These should be as specific as possible and ideally include quantifiable numbers. Saying, â€Å"I brought on five new clients and increased monthly sales by 15%† is much more effective than saying, â€Å"I was a great employee,† or something similarly vague. Remember That Asking for a Raise Isn’t Rude or Unusual Many employees worry that asking for a raise will make them look greedy or rude, but this isn’t the case. Asking for a raise is a normal part of having a job, and most employers expect you to ask for a raise occasionally. When to Ask for a Raise Timing is everything, and it can be the deciding factor in whether you get a raise or not. There are certain times when you’re more likely to get a raise, three of which we discuss below. During an Annual Performance Review If your company does annual performance reviews, these are a great, and often expected, time to ask for a raise.Since you’ll be discussing your accomplishments and goals for the future, discussing a change in salary fits right into the conversation. After Doing Excellent Work If you’ve just done an outstanding job on a project or gone above-and-beyond your typical work duties, consider asking for a raise.Your accomplishments will be in the forefront of your supervisor’s mind, and you’ll have concrete evidence of how useful you are to the company. When Your Supervisor Is in a Positive Frame of Mind Even if you’re the #1 employee at your office, you’ll hurt your chances of actually getting a raise if you ask when your boss is overwhelmed with work, had a project of their own go poorly, or is dealing with other issues that are distracting. Wait until things are going well for both you and your supervisor before broaching the possibility of a raise. In all cases, you should wait until it has been at least six months to a year since you either got a new role or received a raise. You should also you only discuss a potential raise when you’re meeting one-on-one with your supervisor, during a time when you both have time for the conversation. This isn't a talk you want to start while passing each other in the hall! How Much of a Raise Should You Ask For? Before you ask for a raise, you should always know what amount you’re hoping to get, whether this is a 3% increase in salary, an extra $2000 a year, etc.You don’t need to state this amount right when you ask for the raise, but you should expect your supervisor to ask what you’re hoping to get. Having a concrete amount you’d like your raise to be will make you seem more prepared and serious, and it’ll make it easier to start negotiations with your supervisor. It also reduces the possibility of your supervisor giving you a very small raise since no amount was specified. There’s no set amount you should ask for when you request a raise. This is another area where you’ll need to do your research. Most annual raises are between 1% and 5% of your annual salary, with 3% being the average at many companies.Ask around to figure out what other people in similar positions are making. You can also look on sites like Glassdoor and the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics to find what others in your field are making. Set your expectations around those amounts. Also, don’t start off by requesting a ridiculously large raise thinking you and your supervisor will then negotiate it down to something more reasonable. Doing that makes you look entitled. When asked what your desired raise is, state the amount you’re happy with, and be prepared to back it up with research that shows you deserve this amount (this can include printing out stats of the salaries of similar workers). 8 Tips on How to Ask for a Raise Once you get to the point where you and your boss are ready to have the conversation about your salary, keep these eight tips in mind when discussing a raise. #1: Be Confident Asking for a raise can be intimidating, but try to minimize your nervousness during the conversation. By being confident, you’ll show your boss that you’re serious about this topic and really believe you deserve a raise. If you aren’t confident you deserve a raise, why should your boss be? Many people find that practicing their speech in front of a mirror or other people several times can make the actual conversation go much smoother. #2: Make It Clear You’re Asking for a Raise This isn’t a time to be coy about what you’re asking for; doing so will just make the conversation confusing and awkward.If you haven’t already told your supervisor why you’re requesting a meeting, you should begin the conversation with something like, â€Å"I’ve learned a lot from [company name], and I feel I’ve also been a strong asset. Because of this, I’d like to set up an appointment to discuss my salary.† This removes any ambiguity from the conversation and makes it easier for you and your supervisor to communicate honestly with each other. #3: Show That You’re Valuable This is the time to bring up the topics you came up with in your brag sheet. You don’t need to list everything you’ve done for the company, but by highlighting a few major accomplishments and making it clear they’re part of a pattern of excellent work, you’ll remind your boss how valuable you are. Remember to make these accomplishments detailed and to include numbers when you can to give concrete evidence of your worth. Good examples include, â€Å"Revenue increased $10,000 since I began working the project,† â€Å"Employee turnover has decreased by half and employee satisfaction has increased by 20% since I became manager of this team.† If you’ve found solid evidence that your salary is significantly below average for your field, you can also bring this up now, but be careful not to sound accusing or bitter.Something like, â€Å"Here’s data I collected showing salaries for people in similar positions as mine. Because of my accomplishments, I believe I deserve to be making at or above the average salary for this position† makes it clear what you want without being negative. #4: Talk About Your Long-Term Goals In order to show you’re serious about your commitment to your job and will continue to be an exceptional employee, make sure you discuss accomplishments you hope to achieve in the future in your position or a future position. #5: Don’t Bring Up Personal Problems Even if you really need the money, this is not the time to mention that getting a raise will really help you recover from a bad investment, pay for your kid’s college, etc.Bringing up your personal problems during this talk isn’t professional will only make your supervisor feel more uncomfortable if they need to decline your request. This is also not the time to bring up workplace grievances like the fact that you feel you’re working a ton of hours or do twice as much work as another employee.Keep your discussion about getting a raise strictly professional, and only bring up work accomplishments as reasons why you deserve a raise. #6: Give Your Boss Time to Consider the Request Many times, even if your boss wants to give you a raise, they need to clear it with other people first. If your boss seems at least somewhat willing to consider giving you a raise, end your request by letting them know you aren’t expecting an answer right this minute, and ask when you can schedule a follow-up conversation.This takes some of the pressure off them to make a decision in the moment. #7: Consider Other Rewards If your boss is unable or unwilling to give you a raise, there are other rewards you could ask for, including: A bonus Increased vacation days More flexible working schedule Think about what other incentives you’d also be interested in having, and be prepared to offer them instead if your boss can’t give you a raise but agrees you deserve some other type of reward for your work. #8: Don’t Be Discouraged If You Hear â€Å"No† Not everyone who asks for a raise gets one. Sometimes you haven’t been in the position long enough, haven’t distinguished yourself enough, or the company just doesn’t have the money to offer you a raise right now. If this conversation doesn’t lead to a raise, a good follow-up question is, â€Å"What would I need to do to earn a raise in the future?†This will give you and your supervisor chance to discuss concrete actions you can take to put you in a better position to get a raise in the future. If your supervisor can’t offer you any definite steps you can take to get a raise, or they state that you’re already at the high end of the salary range for your position, then you may need to start looking at a job in a new company in order to increase your salary. Summary: How to Ask for a Raise at Work Before you ask for a raise, it’s important to make sure you’ve really earned a raise, have done your research on the salaries of similar workers, and have a brag list of your accomplishments ready. Not sure when to ask for a raise? The best times are during an annual review, after you’ve done excellent work, and when your boss is in a good mood.If you’re not sure how much to ask for a raise, do lots of research on what other people in your field make so you can be sure your request is reasonable. If you're not sure how to ask your boss for a raise, keep the following tips in mind: Be confident Make it clear you’re asking for a raise Show that you’re valuable Talk about your long-term goals Avoid discussing personal problems Give your boss time to think about it Consider other rewards Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a raise What's Next? Interested in large numbers?Wondering what a Googol is? Learn every major number that comes after trillion in our guide to extremely large numbers. Thinking about learning Japanese?Learn how to say "good morning" in Japanese, plus nine other important greetings. Did you know that water has a very special density? Check out our guide to learn what the density of water is and how the density can change.

Personal essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Personal - Essay Example Back to those days when I was in elementary school, my parents were busy with work, so needed to get used to staying at home all by myself. This was so, because it was legal in my home country to leave children alone at home. I still remember the first time my mom needed to leave home for some emergency, and I had to stay at home alone for the first time. After my mom locked the door, I ran to the window and watched my mom leave, with my tears flowing. I felt so afraid and helpless at that time. Even now, I still remember the feeling. I did not understand why my parents were so busy everyday that they had no time to accompany me. This bewilderment on my part no doubt created some emotional distance between us. Just like most teenagers, I experienced my rebellious period. I was extremely tired of my parents at that time, and I thought they did not understand me. No matter what they said, it seemed I was always wrong. I liked to shut myself in my room after I got home from school, then I would not show up until next morning when I needed to go back to school for classes. I did not truly understand my parents until I went to college. Although my resistance towards my parents weakened after the rebellious period, for most of the time, I ignored what my parents told me. I did things following of my own thoughts and will. In retrospect, I realize what my parents told me was quite useful for my future life. Because I had been an independent child from an early age, my parents thought I could take care of myself, and were confident to let me go on my own and study abroad to secure a better future for myself. I was accustomed to traveling around on my own, and I was very excited about studying abroad. When my father asked me whether I was fully prepared to study in the United States in all seriousness, I answered â€Å"yes† without hesitation. In my mind there was no difference between studying abroad and studying out of state within my home country. I naively th ought I was mature enough to take full charge of my own business without help from anyone. When I really set foot on a foreign land and started a totally different life though, I came face to face with my self-righteousness and naivete. It was then that I began to understand why my parents were very worried about how my life would turn out in a foreign country, without them by my side. Perhaps it was from the moment that I started to live in the United States that I really grew up to be a person who can be responsible for myself, as well as for my parents. When I was living by my parents’ side, there was nothing that I needed to worry about. My parents assumed all of the pressures of my life, and my only task was to live well, and study well. When I came to the United States though, I needed to take over every single task of life, from renting an apartment to buying groceries. All of a sudden I realized how difficult it was to live a comfortable life. It is a great thing that my mom managed the life of the whole family. When I was living with my parents, I would stay far away from my parents for a long time. I never thought how my parents would miss me back at home, and of course I never missed my parents then. When I came to the United States though, I kept thinking of my parents and how they were. I would come back home on summer vacations and knew they were happy to be with me, even though they

Giovanni Boldini, Duchess of Marlborough and Her Son 1906 and Gustave Essay

Giovanni Boldini, Duchess of Marlborough and Her Son 1906 and Gustave Courbet, The Young Bather 1866 - Essay Example Giovanni Boldini gained prominence in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as an established portrait painter. Boldini was not able to claim much fame and recognition throughout his life because the subject of most of his works was to document the families of the rich and the famous. His prominence in elite social circles was overwhelming and by the early twentieth century nearly everyone who was someone was looking for Boldini to get a portrait done. Perhaps Boldini’s only remarkable addition to contemporary art was the utilization of his swish style that received wide acclaim. After his death Boldini was also claimed as the â€Å"Master of Swish†1. The distinctive swish present in Boldini’s works was able to attract a number of wealthy patrons including nobility, industrialists and other such patrons. Hence, most of Boldini’s pieces are essentially portraits including the piece currently under scrutiny titled Consuelo Duchess of Marlborough with her son Ivor Spencer Churchill. In contrast to Boldini, Gustave Courbet was more of a maverick both in terms of style as well as the subject of his works. Courbet can be seen as the leader of the Realist movement that was seen in the nineteenth century that took prominence before the Impressionism of Boldini and his contemporaries. While the content of Boldini’s work was documenting the rich and the famous, Courbet instead concentrated on bringing social commentary through his work. Often Courbet’s social commentary was bold and innovative. The current piece under discussion by Courbet also represents somewhat of a social taboo for the time – the nude female figure. Courbet was an early libertarian and his work certainly represented this influence in great detail. While placing the more conventional symbols and techniques in his paintings, Courbet was concentrating instead on the content in order to stir the audiences. This he accomplished through the use o f libertarian ideas that became the subject of his paintings2 which applies equally well to his work under scrutiny. It is equally important to contrast the subjects of the works in order to decipher the intent of the artists. The subject chosen by Bouldini was more commercial in nature than anything else. The commercial success of Bouldini made him a favorite for the creation of portraits in Paris. The current work being studied depicts the Duchess of Marlborough, Consuelo Vanderbilt and her young son Lord Ivor Spencer Churchill lounging around in their daily lives. One look at the painting reveals the pleasant atmosphere being carried in the household of the Churchill family. The painting is more or less an attempt by the artist to depict an affluent patroness and her son as being happy and enjoying their time together. The Duchess is shown in a suggestive manner as she glances across the floor depicted towards the artist. Her son is crouched next to her in a kneeling posture. The Duchess is seated on a sofa and is attempting to get up while her son is trying to hold her down as many children would hold down their mothers when they are being adamant. The smile on the Duchess’ face is only interrupted by her apparent beauty depicted in the painting. Much like modern celebrities the Duchess is represented as a

Kite Runner Essay Example for Free

Kite Runner Essay Hassan Amirs best childhood friend. He was often bullied by Assef and his followers Kamal and Wali. He was Alis son even though later in the novel, it is revealed that he is truly the son of Baba and Amirs brother. Late in the book, they allow us to know by saying that there is a special closeness that people who fed from the same breasts share. He was poorly educated and stood up for what he believed in, even if it meant dying for it. He always stood up for Amir no matter what the consequence, even if its him being raped. In the end of the novel, he does get shot for not giving up Amirs property after he had moved to America. Amir The main character who is the son of Baba. His mother died during childbirth. He always holds himself responsible and wonders what things would be like if his mother had not died. He has always looked up to Baba and wondered why Baba is so distant with his emotions. He befriended Hassan as a child and they became inseparable. He was educated and read to Hassan often but every so often he did become a victim of peer pressure and bullied Hassan even though Hassan would always stand up for him. Assef The bully in Amir and Hassans childhood story. He thought he was better than them both and always referred to Hassan as a Hazara, and wonders why Amir hangs out with him. Amir is a Pashtun which are referred to as the Real Afghans He later grew up to be a part of the extremist group called the Taliban and tried to control the people of Afghanistan. He ruled a trafficking system that Amir later saved a child from. Baba Amirs father who only wanted a better life for his son. Baba always tried to make Amir stand up for himself and tried to make his son be more like him. Baba is a very noble and well respected man, is not able to connect, nor understand his twelve year old son, Amir. This lack of understanding, leads to Baba not being able to satisfy the needs of Amir, as a father should. Baba is very renowned for being a rich but generous man in Kabul. With his wealth he does great things, he built an orphanage and often gives money to the poor, for this most people respect him. Baba is definitely an admirable man in most of his actions but he has some flaws just like everyone else does. One of Babas faults is his fathering skills, which he has little of, if any. As a single parent Baba tries to connect with Amir, but struggles deeply to find any common interests as they are very different people. He treated Ali as a brother and Hassan as a son (even though Hassan was his other son). He was intelligent and supported Amir. Amir and Baba were very close as father and son and had a strong bond that even in later life did not break. Rahim Khan He is Babas close friend and partner in business. He is also a mentor to Amir as he is growing up. Rahim Khan is constantly being a good listener for Amir and always asks to read Amirs stories. Rahim is a good man, and is always the voice of reason. After Amir leaves for America, he still wants Amir to be the man that Baba dreamed of him being. Soraya- is Amirs wife and because she is a woman in an Afghan society, her social status is significantly lower than a mans. She has a rather scandalous past that is talked about as gossip, but she points out that it would be different if she were a man in the same society. She stays the obedient daughter to her father for most of the novel even though their opinions clash sometimes. For example, she reads Amirs story even though her father forbids it. She wants to stand up to her father at the end of the novel when he worrys about what people will think when they find out she is living with a Hazara child. Instead of letting her stand up to her father, Amir stands up for his nephew and does it himself. Soraya is a character to represent the status of woman in a normal Afghan society which is a very low social status. Summary Amir is a young traditional Afghanistan boy that lives in Kabul. As child he is a kite runner with his friend Hassan who is also his servant. His father Baba dreams of a bigger and better life outside of Kabul. They soon leave for America and after leaving, Amit meets his bride to be Soraya (who was also from Afghanistan). They marry and live happily but Baba passes away. Amir gets an unexpected call from Rahim Khan telling him to come back and he is told that Hassan was shot by the Taliban and that he was Amirs brother and he had a son named Sohrab. Amir then goes to find his nephew but realized the Taliban has taken him into a trafficking system. Amir goes to save him and discovers that Assef is the one who had taken him. He then rescues Sohrab and takes him back to America to live without fear.

The Move :: Personal Narrative Moving Essays

The Move Summer of 2000, my parents decided we should move to California. From Georgia to California, East Coast to West Coast. I do not think my mom really wanted to move. It was my Daji’s (Dad’s eldest brother) fault. He and his son bought a motel in Morro Bay, California. Daji wanted my dad to help him run it(the motel). So in order for that to happen, we would all have to move. My mom was not coming with my dad, sister and me, just yet. We still had our house and my mom still had her job. We needed the income. We were going to drive to California in our white Nissan Previa. As we traveled through the southern states, my mom got news from Zambia, where her family lives, saying that my grandfather had a heart attack. So now my mom was not going to be coming to California when she was suppose to. I was going to be mom-less for longer than I was willing to be. I cried and cried (in despair). I know my dad felt bad(horrible about what he was doing) but he could not tell his older brother no. All those dumb respect rules. In our culture, that is the Indian culture, we must respect our elders, even if that means doing things we do not want to do, but(I believe) sometimes you can say no. We drove the rest of the way to California. We stayed at the motel, the one my Daji bought. It had an apartment attached to it. The apartment had two bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, dining room, and a full bath. My sister and I shared one of the rooms, my cousin and his wife had the other room, my dad slept in the living room and my aunt and uncle slept in one of the motel rooms. We hated it. Back home we had our own rooms, our own space. My sister and I were not very close at this time, so it was difficult to share and talk about what was happening. We did not like it(the idea of moving) mostly because we were away from our friends, our world and most importantly our mom. (when we got to California we had to be enrolled in school. So we went to the closest school My dad took us to the school, which was thirty minutes away from where we lived, in a completely different town.

Telecity Group Plc Financal Statement Analysis

Submitted in fulfillment of assignment 1 of Financial and Management Accounting course Telecity Group plc Background Founded in 1998 with the establishing of the first data centre in Manchester, Telecity Group plc is operating a carrier-neutral data centre in Europe to support digital economy. It is a combination of TeleCity Limited, Redbus Interhouse Limited and Globix Holdings (UK) Limited. As a leading provider of data centre services, Telecity Group plc is listed in London Stock Exchange.In the meanwhile, it is is a constituent of the FTSE 250, FTSE techMARK 100 and FTSE4 Good indices. Driven by the rapidly increasing of digital economy, Telecity Group has been targeting to build secure, resilient and highly-connected colocation environments for the IT and telecoms equipment, to which customers can outsource their telecoms, web and IT infrastructures. For this purpose, Telecity Goup has launched the demand-driven data expansion programme, which is expanding its data center capaci ty through Europe.This European-based programme is expected to increase customer power capacity, which will in turn bust company economic of scale. Furthermore, as an Information Technology Company, Telecity Group has been highly relying on high and new technology to attract new customers and increase profits. Thus, much effort has been put into company’s ability to innovate new products and services in terms of data accessibility, security and specialty. Focusing on evaluating the implementation of its growth strategy, this paper will analyse it is financial statement base on the basic financial ratios.Ratios Analysis Introduction This section will evaluate Telecity Group plc’s financial ratios in detail. Other than looking at the past and present performance trends of the Group, this essay will also discover the company’s financial performance in comparison to Datacenter industry overall. Consequently, company management team will be able to determine the shor t term forecast of future performance. Furthermore, the analysis in this section can give guidance to investors by providing data and giving realistic view of Telecity Group’s inancial position and comparison to the industry. Profitability Ratios Given the important role profit plays as financing both dividends to shareholders and retained earnings, it is the main measure of financial performance. Figure 1 Profitability Ratios (GPM- Gross profit margin, OPM- Operational profit margin) As can be seen from figure 2, the gross profit was dramatically increased from 52% to 56 % through year 2010, and there was impressively improvement for year 2011.This can be explained by company’s successfully implementation of its growth strategy. On one side, driven by the high demanding of digital economy, the company has been focusing on increasing earnings by expanding data centre capacity and adopting new technology. On the other hand, along with the growth there is high cost. Howe ver, the even higher revenue growth still made the growth of gross profit margin. Operation profit was slightly decrease in year 2011, which implies high administrative costs in 2011. This is mainly because of a total amount of ? ,510,000 provisions respect of certain leases and the acquisition with Data Electronics and UK Grid, the costs of which were accounted in operational exceptional items in consolidated income statement. Figure 2 Profitability Ratios (PreTPM- Pre-tax profit margin, PostTPM- Post-tax profit margin) The pre-tax profit margin has also significantly improved from near 23. 5 % to about 25 % in 2011. One of reasons of this improvement is the gains on foreign exchange. The most important reason should be the write off of costs incurred on refinancing, which was an ? 00m five-year financing agreement with Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and RBS from last year. Unlike PreTMP, post-tax profit margin has dropped impressively to about 17. 6 %. This may be mainly bec ause of the dramatically increment in both current tax and deferred tax. Figure 3 Profitability Ratios (ROCE- Returns on capital employed, ROE- Returns on equity) Figure 3 shows that The Telecity Group’s average ROE is comparable to industry ratio which is 7. 1% up to year 2010. However, in terms of growth, the trend is dramatically going down from 2009, which is despite the fact that both total equity and profit after tax have been improved.However, the growth of profit was not in pace with the equity. In fact, this makes sense when take into account the company’s expansion strategy, which has been being successfully implemented by setting up new data centres across Europe. A big money has been invested in this expansion program, which in turn provided the company high potential turn-over. In general, financial analysts consider return on equity ratios in the 15-20% range as representing attractive levels of investment quality. In this sense, the company’s perf ormance is healthy with regards to efficiency of profitability.ROCE is one of Telecity Group key performance indicator, which is added to evaluate company’s strategy of focusing earnings return from investment. ROCE was decreased during year 2011, which was due to the company’s capacity expansion programme and acquisitions’ effect. Even though, the company’s performance in terms of generating returns is healthy in comparison with industry average rate at about 8%. Liquidity Rations Liquidity ratios are to measure a company's ability to pay off its short-term financial obligations (Atrill and McLaney, 2011).Figure 4 Liquidity Ratios In theory, the higher current ratio is better as it clearly identifies the company’s ability to pay off short debts fund its on-going operations. (Investpedia, 2009) In the case of Telecity Group, its average current ratio shows that the current assets are not able to cover its current liabilities. This is mainly because the company has invested a big money into company’s capacity expansion program and acquisition, which are holding most of company’s capital. However, the average rate is comparable to the industry as a whole at 0. 8. Trade receivable days are healthy between 25 and 40 days over the year from 2009 to 2011, there is even a decrease from 40 days to 35 days in year 2011. This is due to the demanding digital economy market. Financial Gearing Financial gearing happens when business is financed in a way of borrowing (Atrill and McLaney, 2011). The analysis of gearing ratios is to evaluate the business’s level of gearing, which is the key factor of assessing risk. Figure 5 Gearing Rations (D/E- Debts to equity, ND/E- Net debt to equity)Figure 5 shows that gross debt to equity has increased from about 30% to over 60% in year 2011 after a slightly decreasing in year 2010, which indicates Telecity Group is highly geared in 2011. This is because the significantly increase of non-current borrowing for company’s capacity expansion program and the two acquisitions. Net debt to equity is concerned with company cash to repay the borrowings. It has impressively increased to more than 60% as well demonstrating that risk exists at Telecity Group’s failure. Figure 6 Gearing Ratios (IC- Interest covre, NIC- Net interest cover) Interest cover ratio measures the amount of operating profit available to cover interest payable(Atrill and McLaney, 2011)†. As can be seen from figure 6, gross interest cover has fallen from 11 % to 10. 4 % in 2011. In terms of net interest cover which takes into account finance income, the cover ratios were slightly increased. Overall, the figures are showing that Telecity Group has the strong ability to service its debt. Cash flow analysis CFPS is concerned with the company ability of generating cash. Therefore, it is commonly referred by analysts for more accurate measure of a company's financial situation.Figure 7 Cash flow ratios (EPS- Earnings per share) The CFPS has increased from 37 pence in 2009 to 60 pence in 2011. The EPS is averagely higher then CFPS as we would commonly expected. Both EPS and CFPS have increased over the two years. The main reasons for the increase and the difference between CFPS and EP as follows: 1. Movement in foreigner exchange 2. Movement in trade receivables and trade payables 3. Depreciation charge 4. Cost of exceptional items To sum up, the net cash flow from operating activities has significantly improved by 25 % to over ? 120million. Over ? 00 million was spent on investment activities, which include capacity expansion program and acquisition activities. Investment analysis â€Å"Investment ratios are designed to help shareholder to assess the returns on their investment† (Atrill and McLaney, 2011). Earnings per share have risen from 19p to 21p in 2011, which is basically because of the increasing profit margin over the year. Conclusion As can be s een from above, the Telecity Group plc has gone through a stable healthy financial year with regards the implementation of its growth strategy. Telecity Group’s profitability stayed stable and healthy in the near two years.The low profit increment was due to the company’s expansion and acquisition strategy. Given the fact that data centre services is demanding in digital economy, Teleicty Group’s successfully expansion and acquisition will in turn make big returns. Liquidity is poor in terms of ability to cover its current liabilities. However, given the industry ratio being 0. 58, it is comparable healthy in the market. Furthermore, the short trade receivable days imply the high market demands in the data centre industry. Company’s gearing has risen to extremely high level due to its growth strategy.From investor’s perspective, there would be risk of investing in the case of company’s failure. However, take into the consideration of the cha racters of data centre industry, which are demanding the high capacity, connectivity and flexible services, Telecity group are in no way to failure as it has achieved successful implementation of its business across Europe and gained the potential of attracting new contract with exiting as well as new customers. Overall, the Telecity has been seeking the best practise within the data centre industry as a leading provider of premium carrier-neutral data centres.As the result of its successful capacity expansion and acquisitions, the further high turnover is inevitably. Appendix 1 Profitability| Gross Profit Margin| =| Gross Profit/Revenue%| ? | ? | 2009| =| 88,727| /| 169,383| %| =| 52. 4%| 2010| =| 109,773| /| 196,397| %| =| 55. 9%| 2011| =| 134,701| /| 239,818| %| =| 56. 2%| ?| Operating Profit Margin| =| Operating profit/Revenue%| | ? | 2009| ? | 39,102| /| 169,383| %| =| 23. 1%| 2010| =| 55,173| /| 196,397| %| =| 28. 1%| 2011| =| 65,359| /| 239,818| %| =| 27. 3%| ?| Pre-tax profi t Margin| =| Profit before tax/Revenue%| ? | ? | 2009| =| 38120| /| 169,383| %| =| 22. %| 2010| =| 45,941| /| 196,397| %| =| 23. 4%| 2011| =| 59,438| /| 239,818| %| =| 24. 8%| ?| ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Post-tax profit Margin| =| Profit after tax/Revenue%? | ? | 2009| =| 34722| /| 169,383| %| =| 20. 5%| 2010| =| 38,031| /| 196,397| %| =| 19. 4%| 2011| =| 42,641| /| 239,818| %| =| 17. 8%| | Return on Capital Employed| =| Operating Profit/Total Capital employed| ? | ? | 2009| =| 39,102| /| (80,467+218,931)| %| =| 13. 1%| 2010| =| 55,173| /| (80654+257,545)| %| =| 16. 3%| 2011| =| 65,359| /| (183,451+298,027)| %| =| 13. 6%| | Return on Equity| =| Profit after Tax| /| Equity| %| ? ? | 2009| =| 34722| /| 218,931| %| =| 15. 9%| 2010| =| 38,031| /| 257,545| %| =| 14. 8%| 2011| =| 42,641| /| 298,027| %| =| 14. 3%| Liquidity| Current Ratio| =| current Assets/Current Liabilities | 2009| =| 51,623| /| 82,961| =| 0. 6 | ? | ? | 2010| =| 46,501| /| 82,474| =| 0. 6 | ? | ? | 2011| =| 48,398| /| 103,283| =| 0. 5 | ? | ? | ?| Trade payable days| =| Trade payables/Cost of Revenue*365| 2009| =| 47,089| /| 80,656| *| 365| =| 213days| 2010| =| 47,085| /| 86,624| *| 365| =| 198days | 2011| =| 57,935| /| 105,117| *| 365| =| 201days | ?| Trade receivable days| =| Trade receivable /Revenue? | 009| =| (19,483-6,975)| /| 169,383| *| 365| =| 27days| 2010| =| (22,139-746)| /| 196,397| *| 365| =| 40days| 2011| =| (26,365-3,560)| /| 239,818| *| 365| =| 35days| Gearing| Debt to equity| =| Non-current borrowings/Equity%| 2009| =| 80,467| /| 218,931| %| =| 36. 8%| 2010| =| 80,654| /| 257,545| %| =| 31. 3%| 2011| =| 183,451| /| 298,027| %| =| 61. 6%| ?| Net debt to equity| =| Borrowings less cash/Total Equity%? | 2009| =| (80,467-32,140)| /| 218,931| %| =| 22. 1%| 2010| =| (80,654-24,362)| /| 257,545| %| =| 21. 9%| 2011| =| (183,451-22,033)| /| 298,027| %| =| 54. 2%| | Interest Cover| =| Operating profit/Interest expense ? 2009| =| 39,102| /| 3788| =| 10. 3| ? | 2010| =| 55,173| /| 5,017| =| 11| ? | 2011| =| 65,359| /| 6,300| =| 10. 4| ? | ?| ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Net Interest cover| =| Operating profit/Net Interest expense| *Net interest expense=Finance expense-interest? | 2009| =| 39,102| /| (3788-117)| =| 10. 7| ? | 2010| =| 55,173| /| (5017-11)| =| 11. 0 | ? | 2011| ? | 65,359| /| (6300-103)| =| 10. 5 | ? | Cash Flow| Cash flow per share| =| Net cash flow from operating activities/Number of equity share issued| 2009| =| 74,017| /| 198,092| =| 0. 37365| =| 37. 4p| 2010| =| 96,380| /| 198,092| =| 0. 86542| =| 48. 7p| 2011| =| 120,554| /| 198,892| =| 0. 606128| =| 60. 6p| Investment| Earnings Per Share| ? | ? | 2010| =| 19. 0p| 2011| =| 21. 1p| References Atrill, P. and McLaney,P. (2011) Accounting and Finance for Non-Specialists. 7th. ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited. Telecity Group plc Annual report and accounts 2011 Data centres at the heart of the digital economy, 2011 TelecityGroup. Telecity Group plc Annual report and accounts 2010 Data centres at t he heart of the digital economy, 2010 TelecityGroup. http://www. investopedia. com/terms/c/currentratio. asp, Investopedia.

Assessing Students’ Attitudes Towards Essay

The potential added value of Web-based learning (or similar designations, such as â€Å"virtual learning†, â€Å"technology-based learning†, or â€Å"online learning†) compared to teacher- and textbook-based instruction lies in helping learners to acquire the right knowledge and skills in order to function as active, self-reflected, and collaborative learners (Govindasamy, 2002; Hamid, 2002). However, this cannot be realized without a change from learning environments in which the teacher and the textbook structure the learning process, towards learning environments in which the students themselves control, under the guidance of the teacher, the order in which they learn and perform activities based on their needs (Erstad, 2006; Wilson, 1998). Web-based learning resources (WBLRs) have the potential to support a learning environment in which students explore knowledge and enhance their learning (Combes ;amp; Valli, 2007). II. The purpose of this study is to assess students’ attitudes towards web-based learning resources. Specifically, the study will assess the (a) differences in attitude change, towards the CCIT class, for students using web-based resources and those using traditional textbooks; (b) differences in attitude change, towards computer technology, for students using web-based resources and those using traditional textbooks and (c) if age, gender, level in college, owning a personal computer, Internet accessibility at home, hours spent on the Internet per day, Internet time used for class work and percentage of project time used on the Internet, were predictors of ttitude . There will be no difference found in change of attitude towards the CCIT students that uses web-based resources and students that used traditional textbooks. 2. The teaching and learning process will be dramatically altered by the convergence of a variety of technological, instructional, and pedagogical developments in recent times. 3. Web-based texts give readers a feeling of engaging in real time, face to face interac tion through use of interactive programs. 4. The web-based texts and other technologies represent an unstoppable technological revolution enabling students to access information rapidly and visually. IV Participants will be the students enrolled in CCIT at ISU Cauayan Campus to assess differences in attitude-change, a pretest- posttest, non-equivalent control group design will be used. ANOVA will be used to assess differences in attitude-change and regression analysis will be used to assess the relationship between demographic variables, computer literacy, and student attitudes.

A Guide to Composite Materials in Boats

A Guide to Composite Materials in Boats Composite materials are broadly defined as those in which a binder is reinforced with a strengthening material. In modern terms, the binder is usually a resin, and the reinforcing material consists of glass strands (fiberglass), carbon fibers or aramid fibers. However, there are other composites too, such as ferrocement and wood resins, which are still used in boatbuilding. Composites offer the advantages of a higher strength-to-weight ratio than traditional wood or steel methods, and they require lower skill levels to produce an acceptable hull finish on a semi-industrial scale. History of Composites in Boats Ferrocement Probably the earliest use of composites for boats was ferrocement. This material was extensively used in the first half of the twentieth century for building low-cost, low-tech barges. Later in the century, it became popular not only for one-off home projects but also for production boatbuilders. A steel frame made of reinforcing rod (known as an armature) forms the hull shape and is covered with chicken wire. It is then plastered with cement and cured. Although a cheap and simple composite, armature corrosion is a common problem in the chemically aggressive marine environment. There are still many thousands of ferro boats in use today, however – the material has enabled many people to realize their dreams. GRP During the Second World War, just after polyester resins were developed, glass fibers became available following the accidental discovery of a production process using blown air on a stream of molten glass. Soon, glass-reinforced plastic became mainstream and GRP boats started to become available in the early 1950s. Wood/Adhesive Composites Wartime pressures also led to the development of cold-molded and hot-molded boatbuilding techniques. These approaches entailed laying thin veneers of wood over a frame and saturating each layer with a glue. High-performance urea-based adhesives developed for aircraft manufacturers were widely used for the new technique of molding boat hulls – typically for PT boats. Some adhesives required baking in an oven to cure and hot-molded hulls were developed, though there were size limitations governed by access to industrial ovens. Modern Composites in Boats Since the 1950s, polyester and vinylester resins have improved steadily and GRP has become the most prevalent composite used in boatbuilding. It is used in shipbuilding too, typically for minesweepers that need non-magnetic hulls. Osmotic problems from which early-generation boats suffered are now a thing of the past with modern epoxy compounds. In the 21st century, volume GRP boat production follows a full industrial production process. Wood/epoxy molding techniques are still in use today, typically for rowing skiffs. Other wood/adhesive composites have evolved since the introduction of high-performance epoxy resins. Strip planking  is one such popular technique for home boat construction: Strips of wood (typically cedar) are laid longitudinally over frames and coated with epoxy. This simple construction offers a cheap and strong build with a fair finish easily achievable by an amateur. At the leading edge of boat building, aramid fiber reinforcing strengthens key areas of sailboats, such as the bows and keel sections. Aramid fiber also provides improved shock absorption. Carbon fiber masts are increasingly common, as they offer major performance and vessel-stability benefits. Sailboats also use composites in their sail construction, with carbon-fiber or glass-fiber tape offering a flexible but dimensionally stable matrix to which synthetic sailcloth is laminated. Carbon fiber has other marine uses too – for example for high-strength interior moldings and furniture on super-yachts. The Future of Composites in Boatbuilding The costs of carbon fiber fall as production volumes increase  so the availability of sheet carbon fiber (and other profiles) is likely to become more prevalent in boat  production. Materials science and composite technology are advancing rapidly, and new composites include carbon nanotube and epoxy mixtures. Recently, a small naval vessel with a hull built using carbon nanotubes was delivered as a concept project. Lightness, strength, durability, and ease of production mean that composites will play an increasing part in boat construction. Despite all the new composites, Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are here to stay for very many years, though it will surely be in partnership with other exotic composites.

Ancient Roman Sandals and Other Footwear

Ancient Roman Sandals and Other Footwear Considering how prized modern Italian leather goods are today, it is perhaps not too surprising that there was a good deal of variety of the types of ancient Roman sandals and shoes. The shoe-maker (sutor) was a valued craftsman in the days of the Roman Empire, and the Romans contributed the entire-foot-encasing shoe to the Mediterranean world. Roman Footwear Innovations Archaeological studies indicate that the Romans brought the shoe-making technology of vegetal tanning to Northwestern Europe. Tanning can be accomplished by the treatment of animal skins with oils or fats or by smoking, but none of those methods result in permanent and water-resistant leather. True tanning uses vegetable extracts to create a chemically stable product, which is resistant to bacterial decay, and has resulted in the preservation of many examples of ancient shoes from damp environments such as riverside encampments and backfilled wells. The spread of vegetable tanning technology was almost certainly an outgrowth of the imperial Roman army and its supply requirements. Most of the earliest preserved shoes have been found in early Roman military establishments in Europe and Egypt. The earliest preserved Roman footwear found so far was made in the 4th century BCE, although it is still unknown where the technology originated. In addition, the Romans innovated a variety of distinctive shoe styles, the most obvious of which are hobnailed shoes and sandals. Even the single-piece shoes developed by the Romans are significantly different from the pre-Roman native footwear. The Romans are also responsible for the innovation of owning multiple pairs of shoes for different occasions. The crew of a grain ship sunk in the Rhine River about 210 CE each owned one closed pair and one pair of sandals. Civilian Shoes and Boots The Latin word for generic sandals is sandalia or soleae; for shoes and shoe-boots the word was calcei, related to the word for heel (calx). Sebesta and Bonfante (2001) report that these types of shoes were specifically worn with the toga and so were forbidden to slaves. In addition, there were slippers (socci) and theatrical footwear, like the cothurnus. The generic calceus was made of soft leather, completely covered the foot and was fastened in front with thongs. Some early shoes had pointed upward curving toes (calcei repandi), and were both laced and strapped into place. Later shoes had rounded toes.The wet weather called for a boot called the pero, which was made of rawhide. Calcamen was the name of a shoe that reached mid-calf.The black leather senators shoe or calceus senatorius had four straps (corrigiae). A senators shoes were decorated with a crescent shape on the top. Except for color and price, the senators shoe was similar to the patricians costlier red high-soled calceus mulleus fastened with hooks and straps around the ankle.Caligae muliebres were unstudded boots for women. Another diminutive was the calceoli, which was a little shoe or half boot for women. Footwear for a Roman Soldier According to some artistic representations, Roman soldiers wore embromides, impressive dress boots with a feline head that came nearly to the knees. They have never been found archaeologically, so it is possible that these were an artistic convention and never made for production. Regular soldiers had shoes called campagi militares and the well-ventilated marching boot, caliga (with the diminutive caligula used as a nickname for the 3rd Roman emperor). Caliga had extra thick soles and were studded with hobnails. Roman Sandals There were also house sandals or soleae to wear when Roman citizens were dressed in tunica and stola- soleae were thought inappropriate for wear with togas or palla. Roman sandals consisted of a leather sole attached to the foot with interlacing thongs. The sandals were removed before reclining for a feast and at the conclusion of the feast, the diners requested their sandals. References Sebesta JL, and Bonfante L. 2001. The World of Roman Costume. Madison: University of Wisconsin.van Driel-Murray C. 2001. Vindolanda and the Dating of Roman Footwear. Britannia 32:185-197.

ARTICLE CRITIQUE - Applied Research Methods class for Public Admin

CRITIQUE - Applied Research Methods class for Public Admin - Article Example The results achieved gave evidence that a joint effort between experts and the community in the project brought forth 8efficiency in the technical arena. The article sheds light on the advantages gained when a community is involved in searching for solutions to particular problems rather than the technical aspect of using questionnaires (Hindy, & Rongfang, 2005). What is the argument of the article? In most cases, administration has frequently believed that decision making can only be achieved through expertise language. The involvement of the public is viewed to lack procedure and cannot deliver the expected results in the cause of problem definition. As a result, some of the community members believe that they should not take part in developing policies that can be implemented in resolving issues at stake. This assumption has limited the chances that a government can offer its citizens. The community is never given opportunity to participate in the crucial stages of defining problems but brought to center stage when policies derived are refined. The article highlights the importance of incorporating the locals at the early stages in problem definition to the final stage when policies are derived. The problem defined in the case study was transit problems. From the initial stage, the input of the citizens towards solutions that could be implemented to resolve transportation issues in the government. Regardless of language limitation faced, communal groups were reached not through questionnaires but by an interactive approach. They were allowed to communicate through their native language to give ideas that could be implemented to solve transportation problems. The technical team was also involved in the process of defining the problem as well as deriving policies. The findings of the author were very encouraging. The positive response of the community in defining the

The Responsibilities of Nursing Practitioner to Society Essay

The Responsibilities of Nursing Practitioner to Society - Essay Example While there is no uniformity as to the roles of students in particular institutions, there are roles that students in higher education would be under an obligation to play not only in their respective institutions but also in the society. These include but are not limited to the following. a. Dedicating all their efforts to furthering and attaining the highest levels of excellence for the better of the institution and society at large. As much as students in every other institution are expected to play this role, the responsibility is more pronounced for students in higher education. This is because they have more freedom which definitely comes with more responsibility as to their affairs. In this case, furthering their knowledge and academic excellence in particular fields is their ultimate responsibility all in an effort to make the institution and society better. b. Orienting other or new coming students to the system in the particular higher education institution they are in- more often than not, there will be new students or at least some individuals who are not conversant with the system of the institutions. While it would be possible for such individuals to be oriented to these systems with time, the students play a critical role in fastening the orientation process. This has the effect of stabilizing the institution and ensuring that all processes run smoothly. This also ensures quick implementation of the policies and other fundamental frameworks that exist to guide the smooth running of the institution. c. Contributing to improving the systems and structures of the institution in order to enhance efficiency- in many institutions, students play a very minute role in determining the systems within which they will be operating. However, this would be a bit farfetched as far as students in higher institutions are concerned.