Monday, December 23, 2019

A Critique Of The Asset Pricing Theory Essay - 1825 Words

Despite this, however, some have since suggested that their model is pure economics, and is only valid in a theoretical world that doesn’t reflect some of the frictions that actual financial markets do. Richard Roll, and University and Auburn, University of Washington, and University of Chicago educated economist, began his career researching the effect of major events of stock prices. This experience likely helped him reach the two conclusions he makes in his 1977 â€Å"A Critique Of The Asset Pricing Theory’s Tests†, one of the earliest and most influential arguments against CAPM. In the paper, Roll makes two major claims: that CAPM is actually a redundant equation that just further proves the concept of mean-variance efficiency, and that it is impossible to conclusively prove CAPM. His first claim relates to mean-variance efficiency: the idea that mathematically one must be able to create a portfolio that offers the most return for a given amount of risk. Roll claims that all CAPM is doing is testing a portfolio’s mean variance efficiency, and not actually modeling out projected future returns. The second claim in the paper is that there is not enough data ab out market returns for CAPM to ever prove conclusive. Even if modern technologies could help alleviate some of the burden of testing market returns for publicly traded equities, there is still no way to account for the returns of less liquid markets, where there is less public information. This means it is impossible forShow MoreRelatedCapital Asset Pricing Model ( Capm )1552 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction This essay is mainly focused on Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and how beta (measure of volatility) influences investment decisions. Nevertheless, how much we diversify our investments, it s impossible to get rid of all the risk. As investors, we deserve a rate of return that compensates us for taking on risk. The capital asset pricing model (CAPM) helps to compute the investment risk and expected returns. Throughout in depth analysis of CAPM model discussed in this essay, we willRead MoreCapm the Effects of Beta2754 Words   |  12 PagesBackground and Introduction This summary provides a brief overview of Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) as an alternative method for estimating expected returns. This paper also discusses the positive and negative effects of CAPM along with the risks of Beta and why this model has its share of drawbacks and critics in the marketplace. The first section will cover the basics of CAPM including its flaws and rewards. Next, the risks of beta and the strengths and weaknesses are discussed in conjunctionRead MoreDo Marx s Views On Capitalism Provide Any Insights Into Economic Globalisation Today? Essay1187 Words   |  5 Pagesboundaries. Economic globalisation today, is a complex beast. 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However, this theory has been criticised by some empirical models resulted from the unrealistic assumptions. This paper will critically analyse the limitation of the CAPM and will discuss Arbitrage Pricing Theory (â€Å"APT†) and Fama-French (â€Å"FF†) Three-Factor Model (â€Å"TFM†)Read MoreProduct Life Cycle of Parle G767 Words   |  4 Pagesstudents with important Macro-Economic theories with a view to examine their relevant and efficacy with macro-economic policies. The working of the economy as a whole and a systematic understanding of the main macro-economic indicators, the factors involved in it and their interaction will also be analyzed in their course. Contents: Session No. | Content | 1. | Nature, Content amp; Special Problem of Macro-Economics | 2. | Macro-Economic Concepts amp; Theories. 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Thus, the value proposition of RA is to create value by providing customers with superior economy-centric passive investmentRead MoreThe Concept Of The Modern Portfolio Theory1887 Words   |  8 PagesIn 1952 the basic concept of the modern portfolio theory was written by Harry Markowitz, in which he explained that assets in an investment portfolio are not only to be selected on the basis of its merit but also by how it’s price changes relative to every other asset in the portfolio. Investment can be stated as a trade-off between expected return and risk, the riskier the investment the higher the return and vice versa. It allows us to make a decision to choose between the portfolio with eitherRead MoreThe Capital Asset Pricing Model1717 Words   |  7 Pages From the very time of its development, there have been many attempts to prove the validity of the Capital Asset Pricing Model. For instance, Black, Jensen and Scholes (1972) performed a test to check if securities are priced accordingly to their systematic risk. In order to test the theory that there was a positive linear relation between the expected return and beta, instead of the individual stock, they used monthly return data and portfolios. They obtained ten portfolios of monthly returns for

Sunday, December 15, 2019

E Commerce Free Essays

Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce or ecommerce, is a type of industry where the buying and selling of products or services is conducted over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. Electronic commerce draws on technologies such as mobile commerce, electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDILinventory management systems, and automated data collection systems. Modern electronic commerce typically uses he World Wide Web at least at one point in the transaction’s life-cycle, although it may encompass a wider range of technologies such as e-mail, mobile devices, social media, and telephones as well. We will write a custom essay sample on E Commerce or any similar topic only for you Order Now Electronic commerce is generally considered to be the sales aspect of e-business. It also consists of the exchange of data to facilitate the financing and payment aspects of business transactions. This is an effective and efficient way of communicating within an organization and one of the most effective and useful ways of conducting business. E-commerce can be divided into: E-tailing or â€Å"virtual storefronts† on websites with online catalogs, sometimes gathered into a â€Å"virtual mall† Buying or Selling on various websites and/or online marketplaces The gathering and use of demographic data through Web contacts and social media Electronic Data Interchange (ED’), the business-to-business exchange of data E-mail and fax and their use as media for reaching prospective and established customers (for example, with newsletters) Business-to-business buying and selling The security of business transactions Types of e-commerce[edit] The major different types of e-commerce are: Business-to-Business (82B): 82B e-commerce is simply defined as e-commerce between companies. This is the type of e-commerce that deals with relationships between and among businesses. About 80% of e-commerce is of this type, and most experts predict that 82B e- commerce will continue to grow faster than the B2C segment. The 82B market has two primary components: e-frastructure and e-markets. Business-to-consumer (B2C): Business-to-consumer e-commerce, or commerce between companies and consumers, involves customers gathering information; purchasing physical goods i. . , tangibles such as books or consumer products) or information goods (or goods of electronic material or digitized content, such as software, or e-books); and, for information goods, receiving products over an electronic network. It is the second largest and the earliest form of e-commerce. Business-to-Government (826): Business-to-government e-commerce or B2G is generally defined as commerce between companies and the p ublic sector. It refers to the use of the Internet for public procurement, licensing procedures, and other government-related operations. This kind of e-commerce has two features: first, the public sector assumes a pilot/ leading role in establishing e-commerce; and second, it is assumed that the public sector nas the greatest need tor making its procurement system more ettective. Web- based purchasing policies increase the transparency of the procurement process (and reduces the risk of irregularities). To date, however, the size of the B2G e- commerce market as a component of total e-commerce is insignificant, as government e-procurement systems remain undeveloped. Consumer-to-consumer (C2C): Consumer-to-consumer e-commerce or C2C is simply commerce between private individuals or consumers. This type of e-commerce is characterized by the growth of electronic marketplaces and online auctions, particularly in vertical industries where firms/businesses can bid for what they want from among multiple suppliers. It perhaps has the greatest potential for developing new markets. Mobile Commerce (m-commerce): M-commerce (mobile commerce) is the buying and selling of goods and services through wireless technology-i. e. , handheld devices such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Japan is seen as a global leader in m-commerce. As content delivery over wireless devices becomes faster, more secure, and scalable, some believe that m-commerce will surpass wireline e-commerce as the method of choice for digital commerce transactions. This may well be true for the Asia-Pacific where there are more mobile phone users than there are Internet users. Governmental regulation[edit] In the United States, some electronic commerce activities are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These activities include the use of commercial e- mails, online advertising and consumer privacy. The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 establishes national standards for direct marketing over e-mail. The Federal Trade Commission Act regulates all forms of advertising, including online advertising, and states that advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive. [24] Using its authority under Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive practices, the FTC has brought a number of cases to enforce the promises in corporate privacy statements, including promises about the security of consumers’ personal information. [25] As result, any corporate privacy policy related to e- ommerce activity may be subject to enforcement by the FTC. The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008, which came into law in 2008, amends the Controlled Substances Act to address online pharmacies. [26] Internationally there is the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), which was formed in 1991 from an informal network of government customer fair trade organisations. The purpose was stated as being to find ways of co-operating on tackling consumer problems connected with cross-border transactions in both goods and services, and to help ensure exchanges of nformation among the participants for mutual benefit and understanding. From this came Econsumer. gov, an ICPEN initiative since April 2001. It is a portal to report complaints about online and related transactions with foreign companies. There is also Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was established in 1989 with the vision of achieving stability, security and prosperity for the region through free and open trade and investment. APEC has an Electronic Commerce Stearing Group as well as working on common privacy regulations throughout the APEC region. In Australia, Trade is covered under Australian Treasury Guidelines tor electronic commerce, [27] and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission[28] regulates and offers advice on how to deal with businesses online,[29] and offers specific advice on what happens if things go wrong. [30] Also Australian government e-commerce website[31] provides information on e-commerce in Australia. In the United Kingdom, The FSA (Financial Services Authority)[32] is the competent authority for most aspects of the Payment Services Directive (PSD). The UK implemented the PSD through the Payment Services Regulations 2009 (PSRs), which came into effect on 1 November 2009. The PSR affects firms providing payment services and their customers. These firms include banks, non-bank credit card issuers and non-bank merchant acquirers, e-money issuers, etc. The PSRs created a new class of regulated firms known as payment institutions (Pls), who are subject to prudential requirements. Article 87 of the PSD requires the European Commission to report on the implementation and impact of the PSD by 1 November 2012. 33] Forms[edit] Contemporary electronic commerce involves everything from ordering â€Å"digital† ontent for immediate online consumption, to ordering conventional goods and services, to â€Å"meta† services to facilitate other types of electronic commerce. On the institutional level, big corporations and financial institutions use the internet to exchange financial data to facilitate domestic and international busine ss. Data integrity and security are very hot and pressing issues for electronic commerce. Aside from traditional e-commerce, m-Commerce as well as the nascent t- Commerce[34] channels are often seen as the current 2013 poster children of electronic I-Commerce. Global trends[edit] In 2010, the United Kingdom had the biggest e-commerce market in the world when measured by the amount spent per capita. [35] The Czech Republic is the European country where ecommerce delivers the biggest contribution to the enterprises’ total revenue. Almost a quarter (24%) of the countrys total turnover is generated via the online channel. 36] Among emerging economies, China’s e-commerce presence continues[when? ] to expand. With 384 million internet users, China’s online shopping sales rose to $36. 6 billion in 2009 and one of the reasons behind the huge growth has been the improved trust level for shoppers. The Chinese retailers have been able to help consumers feel more comfortable shopping online. [37] China’s cross-border e-commerce is also growing rapidly. E-c ommerce transactions between China and other countries increased 32% to 2. 3 trillion yuan ($375. 8 billion) in 2012 and accounted for 9. % of China’s total international trade [38] Other BRIC countries are witnessing the accelerated growth of ecommerce as well. In Russia, the total ecommerce market is projected to total somewhere between 690 billion rubles ($23 billion) and 900 billion rubles ($30 billion) in 201 5, at 2010 values. This will equal 5% of total retail volume in Russia. Longer-term, the market size of Russian e-commerce could reach $50 billion by 2020. Brazil’s ecommerce is growing quickly with retail ecommerce sales expected to grow at a healthy double-digit pace through 2014. By 2016, eMarketer expects retail ecommerce sales in Brazil to reach $17. 3 billion. [39] India’s ecommerce growth, on the other hand, has been slower although the country’s potential remains solid considering its surging economy, the rapid growth of internet penetration, English language proficiency and a vast market of 1. billion consumers (although perhaps only 50 million access the internet throug n PCs and some estimate the most active group of e-commerce customers numbers only 2-3 million). E-commerce traffic grew about 50% from 2011 to 2012, from 26. 1 million to 37. million, according to a report released by Com Score. Still much of the estimated 14 billion dollars in 2012 ecommerce was generated from travel sites. ecommerce is also expanding across the Middle East. Having recorded the world’s fastest growth in internet usage between 2000 and 2009, the region is now[when? ] home to more than 0 million internet users. Retail, travel and gaming are the regi on’s top ecommerce segments, in spite of difficulties such as the lack of region-wide legal frameworks and logistical problems in cross-border transportation[citation needed]. E-commerce has become an important tool for small and large businesses worldwide, not only to sell to customers, but also to engage them. [40][41] In 2012, ecommerce sales topped $1 trillion for the first time in history. [42] Impact on markets and retailers[edit] Economists have theorized that e-commerce ought to lead to intensified rice competition, as it increases consumers’ ability to gather information about products and prices. Research by four economists at the University of Chicago has found that the growth of online shopping has also affected industry structure in two areas that have seen significant growth in e-commerce, bookshopsand travel agencies. Generally, larger firms are able to use economies of scale and offer lower prices. The lone exception to this pattern has been the very smallest category of bookseller, shops with between one and four employees, which appear to have withstood the trend. [43] How to cite E Commerce, Papers E Commerce Free Essays Although e-commerce application is not very popular in Sri Lanka, there are several organizations which successfully apply e-commerce in their business. One of the such organization is Kapruka (www. lanka. We will write a custom essay sample on E Commerce or any similar topic only for you Order Now info). The main objective of Kapruka is to provide online shopping facilities. In addition they have wide range of services for customers. They are gift delivery in Sri Lanka, photo print and delivery to customers, download Sinhala Mp3, rent a car in Sri Lanka, astrology services, and obtain Sinhala books / DVD / Videos. The business model operates by Kapruka is mainly B2C (Business to Customers) and B2B (Business to Business) transactions also happens. The B2C model involves transaction between business organization and consumers. The business organization sells its products or services to consumers over the internet. The following illustration briefly describes the process. (1)(2) Consumer Kapruka Internet Hosts product details Access product information Receive order process Place an order for the and dispatches product product 4) (3) We can see B2B model involves in Kapruka services when reloading mobile phones Through the internet. * ADVANTAGES OF E-COMMERCE 1) Faster buying/selling procedure, as well as easy to find products. 2) Buying and selling at all times 24/7. 3) More reach to customers, there is no theoretical geographic limitations. 4) Low operational costs and better quality of services. 5) No need of physical company set-ups. 6) Easy to start and manage a business. 7) Customers can easily select products from different providers without moving around physically. ) Customization-sellers can provide according to specific individuals requirements. 9) Eliminate Travel Time and Cost. In modern days when we are doing electronic based transactions via web there are many problems that we are faced. The first reason is people are not interested in this kind of transitions because they do not fully trust online payment systems. The reason is consumers think their bank information is not secured with internet. However if a customer’s agreed with this system still majority of people are not familiar with computers. So that they do mistakes when doing a transaction and they are reluctant to use internet. When doing internet transactions we must get register on certain organizations. In that case we have to give all the details for them. Examples are user name, passwords, credit card numbers, bank account number. This step is the most dangerous thing in transaction because the cyber criminals access our details and they can hack our bank accounts. So they can buy anything they want using our accounts. And there are some many more concerns when dealing with electronic based transactions via web. How to cite E Commerce, Papers E Commerce Free Essays E-commerce advantages and disadvantages E-commerce provides many new ways for businesses and consumers to communicate and conduct business. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages of conducting business in this manner. E-commerce advantages Some advantages that can be achieved from e-commerce include: †¢Being able to conduct business 24 x 7 x 365 . We will write a custom essay sample on E Commerce or any similar topic only for you Order Now E-commerce systems can operate all day every day. Your physical storefront does not need to be open in order for customers and suppliers to be doing business with you electronically. Access the global marketplace . The Internet spans the world, and it is possible to do business with any business or person who is connected to the Internet. Simple local businesses such as specialist record stores are able to market and sell their offerings internationally using e-commerce. This global opportunity is assisted by the fact that, unlike traditional communications methods, users are not charged according to the distance over which they are communicating. Speed. Electronic communications allow messages to traverse the world almost instantaneously. There is no need to wait weeks for a catalogue to arrive by post: that communications delay is not a part of the Internet / e-commerce world. †¢Marketspace. The market in which web-based businesses operate is the global market. It may not be evident to them, but many businesses are already facing international competition from web-enabled businesses. †¢Opportunity to reduce costs. The Internet makes it very easy to ‘shop around’ for products and services that may be cheaper or more effective than we might otherwise settle for. It is sometimes possible to, through some online research, identify original manufacturers for some goods – thereby bypassing wholesalers and achieving a cheaper price. †¢Computer platform-independent . ‘Many, if not most, computers have the ability to communicate via the Internet independent of operating systems and hardware. Customers are not limited by existing hardware systems’ (Gascoyne Ozcubukcu, 1997:87). †¢Efficient applications development environment – ‘In many respects, applications can be more efficiently developed and distributed because the can be built without regard to the customer’s or the business partner’s technology platform. Application updates do not have to be manually installed on computers. Rather, Internet-related technologies provide this capability inherently through automatic deployment of software updates’ (Gascoyne Ozcubukcu, 1997:87). Allowing customer self service and ‘customer outsourcing’. People can interact with businesses at any hour of the day that it is convenient to them, and because these interactions are initiated by customers, the customers also provide a lot of the data for the transaction that may otherwise need to be entered by business staff. This means that some of the work and costs are effectivel y shifted to customers; this is referred to as ‘customer outsourcing’. †¢Stepping beyond borders to a global view. Using aspects of e-commerce technology can mean your business can source and use products and services provided by other businesses in other countries. This seems obvious enough to say, but people do not always consider the implications of e-commerce. For example, in many ways it can be easier and cheaper to host and operate some e-commerce activities outside Australia. Further, because many e-commerce transactions involve credit cards, many businesses in Australia need to make arrangements for accepting online payments. However a number of major Australian banks have tended to be unhelpful laggards on this front, charging a lot of money and making it difficult to establish these arrangements – particularly for smaller businesses and/or businesses that don’t fit into a traditional-economy understanding of business. In some cases, therefore, it can be easier and cheaper to set up arrangements which bypass this aspect of the Australian banking system. Admittedly, this can create some grey areas for legal and taxation purposes, but these can be dealt with. And yes these circumstances do have implications for Australia’s national competitiveness and the competitiveness of our industries and businesses. As a further thought, many businesses find it easier to buy and sell in U. S. dollars: it is effectively the major currency of the Internet. In this context, global online customers can find the concept of peculiar and unfamiliar currencies disconcerting. Some businesses find they can achieve higher prices online and in US dollars than they would achieve selling locally or nationally. Given that banks often charge fees for converting currencies, this is another reason to investigate all of your (national and international) options for accepting and making online payments. In brief, it is useful to take a global view with regard the potential and organisation of your e-commerce activities, especially if you are targeting global customers. †¢A new marketing channel. The Internet provides an important new channel to sell to consumers. Peterson et al. 1999) suggest that, as a marketing channel, the Internet has the following characteristics: †¢the ability to inexpensively store vast amounts of information at different virtual locations †¢the availability of powerful and inexpensive means of searching, organising, and disseminating such information †¢interactivity and the ability to provide information on demand †¢the ability to provide perceptual experiences that are far superior to a printed catalogue, although not as rich as personal inspect ion †¢the capability to serve as a transaction medium the ability to serve as a physical distribution medium for certain goods (e. g. , software) †¢relatively low entry and establishment costs for sellers †¢no other existing marketing channel possesses all of these characteristics. Some of these advantages and their surrounding issues are discussed below in further detail. E-commerce disadvantages and constraints Some disadvantages and constraints of e-commerce include the following. †¢Time for delivery of physical products . It is possible to visit a local music store and walk out with a compact disc, or a bookstore and leave with a book. E-commerce is often used to buy goods that are not available locally from businesses all over the world, meaning that physical goods need to be delivered, which takes time and costs money. In some cases there are ways around this, for example, with electronic files of the music or books being accessed across the Internet, but then these are not physical goods. †¢Physical product, supplier delivery uncertainty . When you walk out of a shop with an item, it’s yours. You have it; you know what it is, where it is and how it looks. In some respects e-commerce purchases are made on trust. This is because, firstly, not having had physical access to the product, a purchase is made on an expectation of what that product is and its condition. Secondly, because supplying businesses can be conducted across the world, it can be uncertain whether or not they are legitimate businesses and are not just going to take your money. It’s pretty hard to knock on their door to complain or seek legal recourse! Thirdly, even if the item is sent, it is easy to start wondering whether or not it will ever arrive. †¢Perishable goods . Forget about ordering a single gelato ice cream from a shop in Rome! Though specialised or refrigerated transport can be used, goods bought and sold via the Internet tend to be durable and non-perishable: they need to survive the trip from the supplier to the purchasing business or consumer. This shifts the bias for perishable and/or non-durable goods back towards traditional supply chain arrangements, or towards relatively more local e-commerce-based purchases, sales and distribution. In contrast, durable goods can be traded from almost anyone to almost anyone else, sparking competition for lower prices. In some cases this leads to disintermediation in which intermediary people and businesses are bypassed by consumers and by other businesses that are seeking to purchase more directly from manufacturers. †¢Limited and selected sensory information. The Internet is an effective conduit for visual and auditory information: seeing pictures, hearing sounds and reading text. However it does not allow full scope for our senses: we can see pictures of the flowers, but not smell their fragrance; we can see pictures of a hammer, but not feel its weight or balance. Further, when we pick up and inspect something, we choose what we look at and how we look at it. This is not the case on the Internet. If we were looking at buying a car on the Internet, we would see the pictures the seller had chosen for us to see but not the things we might look for if we were able to see it in person. And, taking into account our other senses, we can’t test the car to hear the sound of the engine as it changes gears or sense the smell and feel of the leather seats. There are many ways in which the Internet does not convey the richness of experiences of the world. This lack of sensory information means that people are often much more comfortable buying via the Internet generic goods – things that they have seen or experienced before and about which there is little ambiguity, rather than unique or complex things. †¢Returning goods. Returning goods online can be an area of difficulty. The uncertainties surrounding the initial payment and delivery of goods can be exacerbated in this process. Will the goods get back to their source? Who pays for the return postage? Will the refund be paid? Will I be left with nothing? How long will it take? Contrast this with the offline experience of returning goods to a shop. †¢Privacy, security, payment, identity, contract. Many issues arise – privacy of information, security of that information and payment details, whether or not payment details (eg credit card details) will be misused, identity theft, contract, and, whether we have one or not, what laws and legal jurisdiction apply. †¢Defined services the unexpected . E-commerce is an effective means for managing the transaction of known and established services, that is, things that are everyday. It is not suitable for dealing with the new or unexpected. For example, a transport company used to dealing with simple packages being asked if it can transport a hippopotamus, or a customer asking for a book order to be wrapped in blue and white polka dot paper with a bow. Such requests need human intervention to investigate and resolve. †¢Personal service . Although some human interaction can be facilitated via the web, e-commerce can not provide the richness of interaction provided by personal service. For most businesses, e-commerce methods provide the equivalent of an information-rich counter attendant rather than a salesperson. This also means that feedback about how people react to product and service offerings also tends to be more granular or perhaps lost using e-commerce approaches. If your only feedback is that people are (or are not) buying your products or services online, this is inadequate for evaluating how to change or improve your e-commerce strategies and/or product and service offerings. Successful business use of e-commerce typically involves strategies for gaining and applying customer feedback. This helps businesses to understand, anticipate and meet changing online customer needs and preferences, which is critical because of the comparatively rapid rate of ongoing Internet-based change. †¢Size and number of transactions. E-commerce is most often conducted using credit card facilities for payments, and as a result very small and very large transactions tend not to be conducted online. The size of transactions is also impacted by the economics of transporting physical goods. For example, any benefits or conveniences of buying a box of pens online from a US-based business tend to be eclipsed by the cost of having to pay for them to be delivered to you in Australia. The delivery costs also mean that buying individual items from a range of different overseas businesses is significantly more expensive than buying all of the goods from one overseas business because the goods can be packaged and shipped together. How to cite E Commerce, Essay examples E Commerce Free Essays Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce, is a type of industry where buying and selling of product or service is conducted over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. Electronic commerce draws on technologies such as mobile commerce, electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), inventory management systems, and automated data collection systems. Modern electronic commerce typically uses the World Wide Web at least at one point in the transaction’s life-cycle, although it may encompass a wider range of technologies such as e-mail, mobile devices social media, and telephones as well. We will write a custom essay sample on E Commerce or any similar topic only for you Order Now Electronic commerce is generally considered to be the sales aspect of e-business. It also consists of the exchange of data to facilitate the financing and payment aspects of business transactions. The term â€Å"electronic commerce† was invented in 1983 by then-California State Assembly telecom-policy analysts Robert Jacobson and John Statton. The pair in 1981 had authored â€Å"Access Rights to the Electronic Marketplace,† a report to the Speaker’s Office of Research, to make the case for formally legislating aspects of the nascent industry. It needed a name. So Jacobson and Statton cobbled together the terms â€Å"electronic† and â€Å"commerce† used to define the legislative domain of the Utilities Commerce Committee, for which the two consultants worked. In 1983, at an historic hearing of the Utilities Commerce Committee chaired by then-Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-L. A. and held in the rural town of Volcano, California (home to Volcano Telephone, then the most-advanced independent phone company in California), the term â€Å"electronic commerce† was introduced for the first time. Testifying at the hearing were the California Public Utilities Commission, MCI Mail, CompuServe, Prodigy, Volcano Telephone Co. , and Pacific Telesis. (A small startup, Quantum Technologies, also asked to t estify, but was refused. It later became AOL. ) In 1984, California’s Electronic Commerce Act, the first to deal with consumer rights online, was passed and signed into law. Read also Recording General Fund Operating Budget and Operating Transactions E-commerce can be divided into: E-tailing or â€Å"virtual storefronts† on websites with online catalogs, sometimes gathered into a â€Å"virtual mall† The gathering and use of demographic data through Web contacts and social media Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), the business-to-business exchange of data E-mail and fax and their use as media for reaching prospective and established customers (for example, with newsletters) Business-to-business buying and selling The security of business transactions Internationally there is the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), which was formed in 1991 from an informal network of government customer fair trade organisations. The purpose was stated as being to find ways of co-operating on tackling consumer problems connected with cross-border transactions in both goods and services, and to help ensure exchanges of information among the participants for mutual benefit and understanding. From this came econsumer, as an initiative of ICPEN since April 2001. www. econsumer. gov is a portal to report complaints about online and related transactions with foreign companies. There is also Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was established in 1989 with the vision of achieving stability, security and prosperity for the region through free and open trade and investment. APEC has an Electronic Commerce Stearing Group as well as working on common privacy regulations throughout the APEC region. In Australia, Trade is covered under Australian Treasury Guidelines for electronic commerce,[21] and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission[22] regulates and offers advice on how to deal with businesses online,[23] and offers specific advice on what happens if things go wrong. 24] Also Australian government ecommerce website[25] provides information on ecommerce in Australia. In the United Kingdom, The FSA (Financial Services Authority)[26] is the competent authority for most aspects of the Payment Services Directive (PSD). The UK implemented the PSD through the Payment Services Regulations 2009 (PSRs), which came into effect on 1 November 2009. The PS R affects firms providing payment services and their customers. These firms include banks, non-bank credit card issuers and non-bank merchant acquirers, e-money issuers, etc. The PSRs created a new class of regulated firms known as payment institutions (PIs), who are subject to prudential requirements. Article 87 of the PSD requires the European Commission to report on the implementation and impact of the PSD by 1 November 2012. [27] [edit]Forms Contemporary electronic commerce involves everything from ordering â€Å"digital† content for immediate online consumption, to ordering conventional goods and services, to â€Å"meta† services to facilitate other types of electronic commerce. On the institutional level, big corporations and financial institutions use the internet to exchange financial data to facilitate domestic and international business. Data integrity and security are very hot and pressing issues for electronic commerce. Aside from traditional e-Commerce, m-Commerce as well as the nascent t-Commerce[28] channels are often seen as the current 2013 poster children of electronic I-Commerce. [edit]Global trends In 2010, the United Kingdom had the biggest e-commerce market in the world when measured by the amount spent per capita, even higher than the USA. 29] Amongst emerging economies, China’s e-commerce presence continues to expand. With 384 million internet users, China’s online shopping sales rose to $36. 6 billion in 2009 and one of the reasons behind the huge growth has been the improved trust level for shoppers. The Chinese retailers have been able to help consumers feel more comfortable shopping online. [30] eCommerce is also expandin g across the Middle East. Having recorded the world’s fastest growth in internet usage between 2000 and 2009, the region is now home to more than 60 million internet users. Retail, travel and gaming are the region’s top eCommerce segments, in spite of difficulties such as the lack of region-wide legal frameworks and logistical problems in cross-border transportation. [31] E-Commerce has become an important tool for businesses worldwide not only to sell to customers but also to engage them. [32] [edit]Impact on markets and retailers Economists have theorized that e-commerce ought to lead to intensified price competition, as it increases consumers’ ability to gather information about products and prices. Research by four economists at the University of Chicago has found that the growth of online shopping has also affected industry structure in two areas that have seen significant growth in e-commerce, bookshops and travel agencies. Generally, larger firms have grown at the expense of smaller ones, as they are able to use economies of scale and offer lower prices. The lone exception to this pattern has been the very smallest category of bookseller, shops with between one and four employees, which appear to have withstood the trend. 33] [edit]Distribution channels E-commerce has grown in importance as companies have adopted Pure-Click and Brick and Click channel systems. We can distinguish between pure-click and brick and click channel system adopted by companies. Pure-Click or Pureplay companies are those that have launched a website without any previous existence as a firm. Bricks-and-Clicks companies are those existing companies that have added an online site for e-commerce. [edit]S ee also How to cite E Commerce, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Cryptography Essay Research Paper The dictionary define free essay sample

Cryptography Essay, Research Paper The dictionary define cryprotograpgy as being? The change of the signifier of a message by codifications and cyphers to hide its significance. Code words, usually from the codification book, base for one or more words from the field text ( the original message ) . With cyphers the letters of the field texture in separately substituted or transposed ( reordered ) harmonizing to a secret key. ? To me that definition fundamentally means at cryptanalysis is when a message is taken from its original signifier and set into a codification and that codification has a certain key that must be obyained / known to read the coded message, On January 19,1917 cryptanalysis played a great function in the public assistance of our state. Though Germany had antecedently promised President Wilson that it would discontinue assailing impersonal bearers, on February 1, 1917 Germany strayed from its policy of # 8220 ; tolerance # 8221 ; and began unrestricted pigboat warfare against all ships destined for Britain. We will write a custom essay sample on Cryptography Essay Research Paper The dictionary define or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Several American ships were sunk in February and March of 1917. At about this clip, newspapers published an intercepted a coded wire from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman to the authorities of Mexico, suggesting a German-Mexican confederation. On April 2, President Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany ; Congress complied four yearss subsequently. You see if our states leaders and secruity forces wouldn # 8217 ; T of known about cryptanalysis, where would we be now? ? Where would we be if no 1 had known how to decrypt that message? February 1, 1917 was a really of import twenty-four hours in the history of the national public assistance of the U nited States of America and I am mightily glad that there were people ready and actively seeking to check coded messages being sent from one enemy to another. To my cognition that is cryptographys major part to history ( at least in this century ) . But delay! Don? T go believing that cryptanalysis is a thing of the yesteryear because it surely is non! Looking on the web for information about the history of cryptanalysis I was bombarded with single companies personal web sites offering what is called # 8220 ; cryptanalytic services? . What that means is that you, or your company can engage these people to set all the information you want into a specially coded message that merely you and the service know. The ground this had become so popular is because of hackers and other people seeking to steal information. So state you are a scientist working for a house: you discover that cistron # 23 holds the remedy for anti aging. That information is Very, VERY, VERY extremely sought after and profitable and you don # 8217 ; t want any other houses or companies to happen out about it. so you put it into? your codification? ( developed by the cryptanalytic service ) and so you can direct it, station in and do it known merely to desired persons. Neat, huh? ! Past, nowadays and hereafter cryptanalysis has, is and ever will be of import. From our states security to our fiscal involvement cryptanalysis is breaking the lives of people everyplace. We are a really close, # 8216 ; restricted # 8217 ; society where engineering plays a immense function in our economic system and every twenty-four hours life. I am interested to see where cryptanalysis takes us in the new millenary.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Security Policies in HATI

Employees of HATI may abuse their privileges. This leads to the emergence of the first vulnerability for this organization that occur in cases where these employees perform other functions, which are beyond their job responsibilities. On the same note, HATI employees may share classified information for the organization with third parties.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Security Policies in HATI specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Moreover, HATI organization may face platform vulnerabilities for its laptops. Such situation leads to denial of services, corruption of data, or even unauthorized access to data (Cybercrime, 2012). An example of this is the â€Å"Blaster Worm†, which may deny the organization services in case the laptops have Windows 2000 as their operating system. Database communication protocols are also vulnerabilities for HATI Company. Figure 1: Vulnerabilities to an Organization SQL injectio n attack is one threat, which HATI organization may experience while performing its functions. SQL injection creates an opportunity for the attackers to access the whole database for an organization. HATI may also have a weak audit trail, which indicates that the organization may have higher risks in several levels, which include detection and recovery, deterrence, and regulatory risk. Furthermore, HATI may have a Denial of Service (DOS) attack, which may be created by several vulnerabilities. DOS techniques include network flooding and corruption of data among others (NIST, 2007). Finally, weak authentication for the database, as well as exposure of the back-up data for the database is a threat, which HATI organization may face while conducting its financial transactions. Personal opinion on the risks, which HATI faces, is that denial of service; weak authentication of database, privilege abuse, and weak audit trail of all data processes are the significant risks to the organizatio n. If the organization cannot control these risks it will eventually collapse due to the fact that the organization will incur losses, be attacked, and lose confidential data. Figure 1 shows how the organization may be at a risk because of a threat.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More HATI has an opportunity of using query-level access control (QLAC) as a measure of eliminating the vulnerabilities of employees’ privileges abuse. QLAC illustrates a mechanism, which has the power to restrict privileges of the database to the minimum operations of the SQL, as well as data. This mechanism has the ability of issuing an alert in case an employee is engaged in malicious activities. However, this mechanism needs to use SecureSphere’s Dynamic Profiling Technology, which enables the creation of various algorithms that contribute to the generation of query-level usage profile s for the organization employees (Perrin, 2009). In addition, HATI should develop a database access control which limits unspecified access to the database. HATI may also adopt intrusion prevention systems (IPS), which aid in the inspection of database traffic of any potential vulnerability. IPS does this by either blocking access to a procedure that is vulnerable, or procedures, which may result in an attack to the organization (Pfleeger, 2003). The functionality of IPS should be improved by the incorporation of query access control indicators, which determine whether requests correspond to normal behavior of users or not. An IPS has the ability of minimizing attacks as the one indicated in figure 2. Platform attacks for HATI can only be prevented by the adoption of intrusion prevention systems and having regular software updates. This will ensure that vulnerabilities, which the organization may experience over time, are minimized effectively. SQL injection, which may have tremendo us negative impacts on the processes and functions of HATI Company should be combated by combining three techniques, which are event correlation, query-level access control, and intrusion prevention (IPS). Weak authentication and audit of the database activities should be addressed by having a strong authentication and high performance of the auditing platform (Learning Space, 2012). On the same note, Denial of Service (DOS) should be combated by protection of database, applications, and networks. Finally, attack of database communication protocol should be prevented by adaptation of protocol validation measures. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Security Policies in HATI specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Figure 2: Impact of an attack in an organization Characteristics of a policy statement A policy statement should be clear and easy to understand and should ensure that it delivers its message effectively. Further , the quality for such a statement should be measurable for employees to implement its concept effectively (Shulman, 2006). Moreover, a policy statement should be realistic and useful to an organization. Finally, the objectives of the policy statement should be aligned with the goals of the organization. Policy Statement Purpose: To provide adequate information on the necessity of protecting client and corporate data. Scope: This policy is applicable to all employees of HATI Company involved in the process of handling both client and corporate data. Henry Advanced Technology, Inc. (HATI) recognizes that client and corporate data are vulnerable to various threats. Handling data is a responsibility of each employee in the company since such data may lose its value or worth in case it is tampered with. Therefore, all members must depict higher levels of professionalism and responsibility while handling data for the organization. It is the policy for this company to: Ensure that the sa fety level of both client and corporate data is high. Data is not rendered unusable because of compromising the same. All employees stick to job responsibilities, which they are allocated and handle data at higher confidential levels. Employees do not engage in malicious acts of altering data, which is stored in their laptops. Employees will be held liable for any malicious acts detected while handling either client, or corporate data. Reference List Cybercrime. (2012). Financial Organizations Must Improve Data Security Practices. Web.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Learning Space. (2012). Threats and Vulnerabilities.  Web. NIST. (2007). National Vulnerability Database (NVD).  Web. Perrin, C. (2009). Understanding Risk, Threat, and Vulnerability.  Web. Pfleeger, C. (2003). Security in Computing (3rd Ed). United States of America: Pearson Education, Inc. Shulman, A. (2006). Top Ten Database Security Threats.  Web. This essay on Security Policies in HATI was written and submitted by user Annabella K. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Shakespeares Theme of Power in Act 1 Essays

Shakespeares Theme of Power in Act 1 Essays Shakespeares Theme of Power in Act 1 Essay Shakespeares Theme of Power in Act 1 Essay There have been suspicions of Shakespeares last play written in 1612, named: Cardenio- a lost play. However the play we know today as the last written in 1611 is The Tempest.Shakespeares main focus was the Theme of Power in The Tempest. Throughout the play the audience encounters power possessed by different characters enabling them to force another character in particular, against their own will. An example of this was the usurpation of Prosperos Dukedom, forced by the King Alonso and his accomplice Antonio. Although Prospero demonstrated his wizardry as an element of power to cause the shipwreck in the opening scene, it had evoked the audiences anticipated responses especially the colonisation of the island.Power is a symbol of competence substantially used to combat against usurpation. It is also expressed through language to convey the feelings of a character. Boatswain defied his noble; challenging his authority and against the inevitable power of nature: Blow till thou burst th y wind. His use of power was selfish as well to disrespect the King; a lack of patriotism. Atmospheric power manifests the scenery of the shipwreck as a dramatic technique to reinforce the audience responses of a vicious storm; hence the link to the title The Tempest.The writer immediately establishes a connection between the Tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning and the tone of language proposed by the characters. Pathetic fallacy arouses our interest of the anger conveyed during the storm to emphasise emotions: A pox o your throat- Sebastian challenges Boatswains power. The effect could be further emphasised if the stage is directed to have a sound of roaring thunder at the instant because it mimics anger.Perhaps the most interesting theme of Power in the first Act is Prosperos discussion about the betrayal of his brother Antonio who usurped his Dukedom. Prospero has used detailed descriptions of Antonio the produce a powerful impression of evil conveyed as Miranda listens. A ntonio is portrayed as a false uncle, this trickery reinforces the betrayal that usurped Prospero. In contrast to his hate for his brother, there is evidence of power of love to his brother: Of all the world I loved- this highlights the betrayal because it deals with the relationship of trust with Antonio and how contradicting it was to be usurped. A use of a metaphor compares Antonio to the image of an ivy- and the actions expressed: sucked my verdure out ont- this portrays Antonio as a living parasite on Prospero. These images help us understand how full of hatred Prospero is towards Antonios treachery. In certain verses Prospero ensures that Miranda is listening: Dost thou attend me?- the audience understands that Prospero could be losing his temper when his daughter is not paying attention; it also denotes that Prospero is consumed by the hate he feels for Antonios betrayal, this is an obsession from him to discuss the betrayal in great detail to Miranda.Prospero describes how t hirsty Antonio was for power: So dry he was for sway.- his downfall of Dukedom aroused his brothers interest: Hence his ambition growing. We understand that hunger for power has tempted the conspiracy of usurpation along with Antonios accomplice Alonso to overthrow Prospero. We learn that Antonio has no sense of guilt for overthrowing Prospero. This underlines the power of manipulation, as he would kill Alonso so that Sebastien will become king. Antonio continually uses metaphors to express his lack of conscience: If twere a kybe Twould put me to my slipper; if he had felt pain, he would not have felt God in his heart. The uses of metaphors inspire his malicious plans for power which is thoroughly conveyed through his determination.Shakespeare also intended to portray power in Prospero through the use of the character Ariel who is his slave. The words Ariel chooses to present himself to Prospero underlines the hierarchy of importance: All hail, great master. Ariel also treats Prospe ro with respect and does not curse him in contrast to Caliban. To thy strong bidding task Ariel- he respects his authority and accepts Prosperos commands. But Ariel intends to be released from Prospero and reminds him of his good deeds: Remember I have done thee worthy service- Ariels ambition is his freedom and not ruled by a master of power. This impression draws our intention to usurpation with a direct comparison with Caliban.There is also power of manipulation when Ariel had sent the King and his nobles to sleep. Since Antonio and Sebastian were convinced to kill the King for Sebastian to claim the throne, Ariel had woken the sleepers in time before the danger of the assassination. In this scene we also see the enduring power of Antonios malicious plans despite Alonso was his accomplice to overthrow Prospero.Caliban claims Prospero had usurped him. Despite his powerlessness he chants a false cursing on him: A south-west blow on ye. His false power engages the readers interest o f Calibans anger over Prospero. Miranda also mimics Prosperos power: Abhorred slave, perhaps she is following her fathers footsteps of sorcery. She uses words to give images of violence: savage and vile race- it helps us understand the hideous and violent nature Caliban has. Caliban has such physical strength of power but is incompetent against Prosperos wizardry: I must obey; his art is of such power.Caliban again had made a cursing of Prospero re-iterating his demonstration of his false power. He accuses that even minor offences are tormented against him, which perhaps is an infringement of his dignity: For every trifle are they set upon me. We are reminded of Calibans powerlessness when he fears that Trinculo may be a spirit from Prospero. On the other contrast, Trinculo hides under the cloak of Caliban who fears the power of the weather: neither bush nor shrub to bear off any weather. It was a deep belief that Gods mood was portrayed by the weather that threatens Trinculo.We gai n insight to the power of love between Ferdinand and Miranda, when they first meet each other. Miranda believes Ferdinand is a spirit- she is admiring Ferdinands beauty and is enthralled. She falls in love for the first time with a stranger; perhaps Shakespeare intended to use a power of love not as a weakness but strength to bind two characters together which is an everlasting relationship that influences the play.Shakespeare explores power when Prospero accuses Ferdinand of usurping him: Thou dost here usurp. Prospero describes Ferdinand as a spy which explains the significance of power used for evil purposes to overthrow him. He also persuades Miranda hes a traitor- creates the impression of betrayal imitating Antonio and Alonso as his accomplice. As Prospero knows Ferdinand is the son of the King, he would believe he is following his fathers steps and so have an identical mind to usurp. Ferdinand believes the King is dead and so he is now King, Prospero cannot allow his power to take control of him. On the other hand Miranda sees Ferdinand in a different perspective- his handsomeness reflects his innocent character. She is therefore bewildered: Why speaks my father so ungently? Shakespeare has indicated that Ferdinand has the desire to love Miranda by his warm compliments to her: Ill make you The Queen of Naples.Prosperos wizardry to stop Ferdinand from moving is a demonstration of his power. Mirandas fear of Ferdinand is portrayed through her words: Make not too rash a trial of him- it illustrates how Prosperos power can be terrifying and tragic for Miranda with a direct link to the beginning scene of her sorrow for the sailors in the shipwreck. Prospero indeed has power over his daughter Miranda: Silence!- there is no questioning that Miranda must obey her father. Furthermore, Prospero could possibly be taking far too much power to control his daughter. He had used his wizardry to make her sleep before the appearance of Ariel- possibly Shakespeare wanted to convey Prosperos impatience.There is Power of Love when Miranda reassures Ferdinand to console him of the incident. Be of comfort- we understand that Miranda cares for Ferdinand. However the Love between the two characters deepens and they both declare love for each other. Perhaps this Power of Love is a microcosm between foreign settlers and Europeans that have a bonding relationship in the 17th Century. Shakespeare particularly intended to portray this power of love that establishes a connection in the culture of our society today. On the other hand Prospero doubts this love between the two: Poor worm, thou art infected. This depiction of love is seen as a disease in Prosperos eyes as if Miranda had caught it. Possibly Prospero had called Miranda a worm to express her vulnerability and the powerless nature of her that Prospero so much controlled her.Shakespeares intention of alcohol used to pollute the minds of consumers is conveyed through Stephano who first introduces it in the play. Perhaps this scene is intended to portray a microcosm of the wide spreading of alcohol in Europe. Alcohol is an addiction to Stephano: but heres my comfort. Stephano tempts Caliban to drink the alcohol as well which poisons his mind into drunkenness. There is a handling of power from Stephano as Caliban intends to become his slave, since he believes that he is a God. Perhaps this is an interpretation of slaves being exchanged for worthy masters that Shakespeare wanted to send a message to. This mimics Calibans loyalty and trust to Prospero when they first met, that Caliban was honest and loyal to him as a servant. However Trinculo denies this power from Stephano : A most ridiculous monster, to make wonder of a poor drunkard.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Character Development

Describe in detail the THREE most important things which happen to Amir which cause him to change his attitude to life. Find quotation and detail from the text to support your argument. I think that the three most important events in the book that effect Amir’s character is.. 1) When he watches Assef rape Hassan. This while it does not effect Amirs’s character in a positive way, still has a profound effect on him. He is wracked with guilt that haunts him though his life. It is a ‘metaphorical demon’ that he must face. After allowing Hassan to be raped, Amir is not any happier. On the contrary, his guilt is relentless, and he recognizes his selfishness cost him his happiness rather than increasing it. â€Å"That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years. † To the reader, the quotation functions as a teaser. It piques the reader’s interest without revealing exactly what Amir is talking about, and from the time period Amir mentions, twenty-six years, the reader gets an idea of just how important this moment was. As the story unfolds, we realize that the deserted alley Amir refers to is where Hassan was raped, and that this event has largely defined the course of Amir’s life since. This is what Amir means when he says that the past continues to claw its way out. Try as he might to bury it, he was unable to because his feelings of guilt kept arising. As a result, he figuratively continues peeking into the alley where Assef raped Hassan, literally meaning that he keeps going over the event in his mind. â€Å"I actually aspired to cowardice, because the alternative, the real reason I was running, was that Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. † When Amir says this, toward the end of Chapter 7, he has just watched Assef rape Hassan,and rather than intervene, he ran away. Amir says he aspired to cowardice because, in his estimation, what he did was worse than cowardice. If fear of being hurt by Assef were the main reason he ran, Amir suggests that at least would have been more justified. Instead, he allowed the rape to happen because he wanted the blue kite, which he thought would prove to Baba that he was a winner like him, earning him Baba’s love and approval. The price of the kite, as Amir says, was Hassan, and this is why Amir calls Hassan the lamb he had to slay. He draws a comparison between Hassan and the lamb sacrificed during the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha to commemorate Abraham’s near sacrifice of his son to God. In this context, Hassan was the sacrifice Amir had to make to get the kite and ultimately to gain Baba’s affection. 2) the discovery of Sohrab. Once Amir has married and established a career, only two things prevent his complete happiness: his guilt and his inability to have a child with Soraya. Sohrab, who acts as a substitute for Hassan to Amir, actually becomes a solution to both problems. Amir describes Sohrab as ‘looking like a sacrificial lamb’during his confrontation with Assef, but it is actually himself that Amir courageously sacrifices. In doing this, as Hassan once did for him, Amir redeems himself, which is why he feels relief even as Assef beats him. Amir also comes to see Sohrab as a substitute for the child he and Soraya cannot have, and as a self-sacrificing father figure to Sohrab, Amir assumes the roles of Baba and Hassan. 3)The confintation with Assef. My body was broken—just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later—but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed. † This quotation occurs during Amir’s meeting with Assef as he tries to find Sohrab in Chapter 22. Assef beats Amir with brass knuckles, snapping Amir’s ribs, splitting his lip and busting his jaw, and breaking the bone beneath his left eye, but because Amir feels he deserves this, he feels relief. He thinks he should have accepted the beating from Assef years ago, when he was given the choice of saving Hassan—and likely getting physically hurt—or letting Assef rape Hassan. Since that time, Amir has struggled with his guilt, which was only made worse by the fact that he was never punished for his actions. He had even gone looking for punishment in the past, as when he tried to get Hassan to hit him with the pomegranates, because he felt then there would at least be some justice for the way he treated Hassan. But Amir’s guilt lingered until his confrontation with Assef, which despite the physical pain, made him feel psychologically healed. Thus, while Assef beat him, he began to laugh. For each of these ‘life lessons’, describe how Amir changes /what he learns. (How is Amir different at the end of the novel)? 1)The rape, at first,does not have a positive outcome to Amir’s personality. But it was a cross road. The rape made Amir wake up to the true world. Because he chose not to help the guilt haunts him. This guilt is the metaphorical demon of Amir. If it wasn’t for this guilt Amir would have never found the motivation to help Sohrab. The book is about redemption, redemption of this guilt. But because he feels guilt about the rape, and how it has troubled him for the past 26 year shows how deeply he actually cared about Hassan. The raep motivates him though out the book to try and find a way to redeem himself to face down his demon. 2)The discovery of Sohrab gives Amir away to redeem himself for his past sins. He is to Amir â€Å"a sacrificial lamb† Because of this he becomes truly determined and dedicated to Sohrab. And the man he becomes through helping him is a man to be admired. 3)His confintation with Assef is to AMire a way to pay for his sins. Completely get ride of them. A way to ‘heal’ himself. This is where the man at the end of the book, a good man, comes into being. What do you think about Amir? Do you admire him or not? Explain why you feel like this? The central character of the story as well as its narrator, Amir has a privileged upbringing. His father, Baba, is rich by Afghan standards, and as a result, Amir grows up accustomed to having what he wants. The only thing he feels deprived of is a deep emotional connection with Baba, which he blames on himself. He thinks Baba wishes Amir were more like him, and that Baba holds him responsible for killing his mother, who died during his birth. Amir, consequently, behaves jealously toward anyone receiving Baba’s affection. His relationship with Hassan only exacerbates this. Though Hassan is Amir’s best friend, Amir feels that Hassan, a Hazara servant, is beneath him. When Hassan receives Baba’s attention, Amir tries to assert himself by passive-aggressively attacking Hassan. He mocks Hassan’s ignorance, for instance, or plays tricks on him. At the same time, Amir never learns to assert himself against anyone else because Hassan always defends him. All of these factors play into his cowardice in sacrificing Hassan, his only competition for Baba’s love, in order to get the blue kite, which he thinks will bring him Baba’s approval. The change in Amir’s character we see in the novel centers on his growth from a selfish child to a selfless adult. After allowing Hassan to be raped, Amir is not any happier. On the contrary, his guilt is relentless, and he recognizes his selfishness cost him his happiness rather than increasing it. Once Amir has married and established a career, only two things prevent his complete happiness: his guilt and his inability to have a child with Soraya. Sohrab, who acts as a substitute for Hassan to Amir, actually becomes a solution to both problems. Amir describes Sohrab as looking like a sacrificial lamb during his confrontation with Assef, but it is actually himself that Amir courageously sacrifices. In doing this, as Hassan once did for him, Amir redeems himself, which is why he feels relief even as Assef beats him. Amir also comes to see Sohrab as a substitute for the child he and Soraya cannot have, and as a self-sacrificing father figure to Sohrab, Amir assumes the roles of Baba and Hassan. So in conclusion I did not like Amir’s character at the bigining but I could understand it. On His path to redemption I admire him for just how much he did to achive his goal. His character at the end I truly admire,here is a man who made him self suffer for years and after reliving himself of that guilt is a truly better man. One that I am sure Baba would be proud of.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Communication and Culture Issues over disrupted Software management Assignment

Communication and Culture Issues over disrupted Software management - Assignment Example Considering that a single organization cannot afford to undertake the production and distribution of the software globally on its own, the collaboration with other partners to achieve this is inevitable (Andreessen, 2011). It is this collaboration with other business partners that makes the coordination of the business more complex, threatening to affect the software development project negatively. As observed by Lee, Delone and Espinosa, the factors that creates major barriers to the coordination between the software producers and their partners include geographic distance, time separation, cultural differences, language differences and organizational boundaries (Lee, Delone, & Espinosa, 2006). Complexity of Global coordination Businesses rarely understand what makes the global software business successful. Thus even when confronted by such challenges, businesses are not in a position to dissect and clearly identify the appropriate strategies that would see them overcome these chall enges (Gonsalves, 2011). Nevertheless, there are certain strategies that can be applied to overcome such challenges, which include building a common platform, where the business partners should share an initial understanding of the suitable framework that would drive the collaboration between these business partners successful (Rosenberg, 2012). Labor organization is yet another strategy applicable to overcome the challenges of global software business partners’ communication since it entails the allocation of specialized duties to each of the partners, which ensures that they do not duplicate or overstep their operations thus avoiding the confusion that would ensue (Hoffman, 2013). The creation of understanding is yet another vital strategy, which calls upon the software business partners to share the challenge they face in a single platform, which will create a reference point for future operation plans, and thus help in avoiding the same challenges. Educating the team memb ers on the unique challenges facing the global software business and informing them of the strategies applicable to effectively overcome such challenges goes a long way in preparing the teams on how to address future challenges based on the past experiences (Brett, Behfar & Kern, 2006). Technology readiness is yet another strategy applicable, which impresses upon the team members to always prepare to adapt to new technologies that would enhance their collaboration. Increasing the frequency of new software development, coupled with teamwork which enables the teams to work as a co-located entity serves to foster high coordination, and thus enhance speedy goal achievement for the global team (Lee, Delone, & Espinosa, 2006). The advantage created by these strategies is that they foster goal attainment for the global software development and distribution team as if the team was a single co-located entity, working in a seamless collaboration. Nevertheless, the application of such strategi es requires high levels of commitment and efforts by all the team members involved. Ramesh, Cao, Mohan and Xu observe that there is a tendency for software developm