Role of Banks in the Economic Development Essay Example for Free

Role of Banks in the Economic Development Essay Bank: An organization, usually a corporation, chartered by a state or federal government, which does most or all of the following: receives demand deposits and time deposits, honors instruments drawn on them, and pays interest on them; discounts notes, makes loans, and invests in securities; collects checks,drafts, and notes; certifies depositors checks; and issues drafts and cashiers checks. Features of Bank: †¢ Money Dealing †¢ Acceptance of Deposit †¢ Grant of loan and advances †¢ Payment and withdrawal of deposits †¢ Transfer of funds †¢ Portfolio management †¢ Foreign Exchange dealing Banking; In general terms, the business activity of accepting and safeguarding money owned by other individuals and entity and then lending out this money in order to earn a profit. Banking is a business of accepting deposits and lending money. It is carried out by financial intermediaries, which performs the functions of safeguarding deposits and providing loans to the public. In other words, Banking means accepting for the purpose of lending or investment of deposits of money from public repayable on demand and can be withdrawn by checks, draft order and so on. Banking Company: Any company, which transacts the business of banking Banking System: Banking System is a principal mechanism through which the money supply of the country is created and controlled. The banking system enables us to understand Commercial Banks, Secondary Banks, Central Banks, Merchant Bank or Accepting Houses and Discount Houses but to exclude the Saving Banks and Investment and other intermediaries. Number and types of Banks: The number of banks in all now stands at 49 in Bangladesh. Out of the 49 banks, four are Nationalized Commercial Banks (NCBs), 28 local private commercial banks, 12 foreign banks and the rest five are Development Financial Institutions (DFIs). Sonali Bank is the largest among the NCBs while Pubali is leading in the private ones. Among the 12 foreign banks, Standard Chartered has become the largest in the country. Besides the scheduled banks, Samabai (Cooperative) Bank, Ansar-VDP Bank, Karmasansthan (Employment) Bank and Grameen bank are functioning in the financial sector. The number of total branches of all scheduled banks is 6,038 as of June 2000. Of the branches, 39.95 per cent (2,412) are located in the urban areas and 60.05 per cent (3,626) in the rural areas. Of the branches NCBs hold 3,616, private commercial banks 1,214, foreign banks 31 and specialized banks 1,177. Bangladesh Bank (BB) regulates and supervises the activities of all banks. The BB is now carrying out a reform program to ensure quality services by the banks. Commercial Bank: A bank offering checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, personal and business loans, and other, similar services. Commercial banks charge fees and/or interest for many of their services, though they may pay interest on other services. A retail bank is often an individual branch of a commercial bank where one may procure these services. The main functions of commercial banks: The main functions of commercial banks are accepting deposits from the public and advancing them loans. However, besides these functions there are many other functions which these banks perform. All these functions can be divided under the following heads: 1. Accepting Deposits: The most important function of commercial banks is to accept deposits from the public. Various sections of society, according to their needs and economic condition, deposit their savings with the banks. For example, fixed and low income group people deposit their savings in small amounts from the points of view of security, income and saving promotion. On the other hand, traders and businessmen deposit their savings in the banks for the convenience of payment. 3. Over-Draft: Banks advance loans to its customer’s up-to a certain amount through over-drafts, if there are no deposits in the current account. For this banks demand a security from the customers and charge very high rate of interest. 4. Discounting of Bills of Exchange: This is the most prevalent and important method of advancing loans to the traders for short-term purposes. Under this system, banks advance loans to the traders and business firms by discounting their bills. In this way, businessmen get loans on the basis of their bills of exchange before the time of their maturity. 5. Investment of Funds: The banks invest their surplus funds in three types of securities—Government securities, other approved securities and other securities. Government securities include both, central and state governments, such as treasury bills, national savings certificate etc. Other securities include securities of state associated bodies like electricity boards, housing boards, debentures of Land Development Banks units of UTI, shares of Regional Rural banks etc. 6. Agency Functions: Banks function in the form of agents and representatives of their customers. Customers give their consent for performing such functions. The important functions of these types are as follows: 1. Banks collect checks, drafts, bills of exchange and dividends of the shares for their customers. 2. Banks make payment for their clients and at times accept the bills of exchange: of their customers for which payment is made at the fixed time. 3. Banks pay insurance premium of their customers. Besides this, they also deposit loan installments, income-tax, interest etc. as per directions. 4. Banks purchase and sell securities, shares and debentures on behalf of their customers. 5. Banks arrange to send money from one place to another for the convenience of their customers. 7. Miscellaneous Functions: Besides the functions mentioned above, banks perform many other functions of general utility which are as follows: 1. Banks make arrangement of lockers for the safe custody of valuable assets of their customers such as gold, silver, legal documents etc. 2. Banks give reference for their customers. 3. Banks collect necessary and useful statistics relating to trade and industry. 4. For facilitating foreign trade, banks undertake to sell and purchase foreign exchange. 5. Banks advise their clients relating to investment decisions as specialist 6. Bank does the under-writing of shares and debentures also. 7. Banks issue letters of credit. 8. During natural calamities, banks are highly useful in mobilizing funds and donations. 9. Banks provide loans for consumer durables like Car, Air-conditioner, and Fridge etc. Central Bank: The entity responsible for overseeing the monetary system for a nation (or group of nations). Central banks have a wide range of responsibilities, from overseeing monetary policy to implementing specific goals such as currency stability, low inflation and full employment. Central banks also generally issue currency, function as the bank of the government, regulate the credit system, oversee commercial banks, manage exchange reserves and act as a lender of last resort. Function of Central Bank: In the monetary and banking setup of a country, central bank occupies central position and perhaps, it is because of this fact that this called as the central bank. In this way, this bank works as an institution whose main objective is to control and regulate money supply keeping in view the welfare of the people. Central bank is an institution that fulfills the credit needs of banks and other credit institution, which woks as banker to the banks and the government and which work for the economic interest of the country. 1. Monopoly of note issue: Note issue primarily is the main function of a central bank in every country. These days, in all the countries where there is a central bank generally it has got the monopoly of the sole right of note issue. In the beginning this was not the function of central bank, but gradually all the central bank gas acquires this function. There are many advantages of the note issue by central banks some important ones are as follow: 1. Central bank controls the credit creating power of commercial bank. By controlling the amount of currency in circulation, the volume of credit can be controlled to quite a large extent. 2. People have more confidence in the currency issued by the control bank because it has the protection and recognition of the government. 3. In the event of monopoly of note issue of central bank, there will be uniformity in the currency system in the country. 4. The currency of the country will be flexible if the central bank of the country has the monopoly of note issue because central bank can bring about changes very early in the volume of paper money according to the needs of business, industry and messes. 5. The system of note issue has some advantages. If the central bank of the country has the monopoly of note issue, all such advantages will accrue to the government. 2. Bankers, Agent and Adviser to the Government: As banker to the government, central bank provides all those service and facilities to the government which public gets from the ordinary banks. It operates the account of the public enterprise. It mangers government departmental undertaking and government funds and where there is a need gives loan to the government. From time to time, central bank advice the government on monetary, banking and financial matters. 3. Custodian of Cash Reserve of Commercial Bank: Central bank is the bank of banks. This signifies that it has the same relationship with the commercial banks in the country that they gave with their customers. It provides security to their cash reserves, give them loan at the time of need, gives them advice on financial and economic matter and work as clearing house among various members bank. 4. Custodian of Nation’s Reserve of International: Central bank is the custodian of the foreign currency obtained from various countries. This has become an important function of central bank. These days, because with its help it can stabilize the external value of the currency. 5. Lender of The Last Resort: Central bank works as lender of the last resort for commercial banks because in the time of need it provides them financial assistance and accommodation. Whenever a commercial bank faces financial crisis, central bank as lender of the last resort comes to its rescue by advancing loans and the bank is saved from being failed. 6. Clearing House Function: All commercial bank have their accounts with the central bank. Therefore, central bank settles the mutual transactions of banks and thus saves all banks controlling each other individually for setting their individual transaction. 7. Credit Control: These days, the most important function of a central bank is to control the volume of credit for bringing about stability in the general price level and accomplishing various other socio economic objectives. The significance of this function has increased so much that for property understanding it. The central bank has acquired the rights and powers of controlling the entire banking. A central bank can adopt various quantitative and qualitative methods for credit control such as bank rate, open market operation, changes in reserve ratio selective controls, moral situation etc. Other functions Besides the 7 functions explained above, central banks perform many other functions that are as follows: 8. Collection of Data: Central banks in almost all the countries collects statistical data regularly relating to economic aspects of money, credit, foreign exchange, banking etc. from time to time, committees and commission are appointed for studying various aspects relating to the aforesaid problem. 9. Central Banking in Developing Countries: The basic problem of underdeveloped countries is the problem of lack of capital formation whose main causes are lack of saving and investment. Therefore, central bank can play an important role by promoting capital formation through mobilizing saving s and encouraging investment. Role of banks in the Economic development: There should be no anonymity as about the importance of Banking in the Economic development of a developing country like Bangladesh. Banks performs some vital role that are conducive to economic development are as follows:- 1. To create generate capital market. 2. To play effective role in the Economy by supplying capital. 3. To persuade quench, bill of exchange etc. for easy mode of exchange 4. Financing of industries. 5. Financing of Trade and Commerce and rendering services to its chants. 6. Financing of Agriculture. 7. To maintain balance of foreign trade and to check price hike in the market by controlling credit.

Vegetable Oils Determining Degree Of Unsaturation And Viscosity Biology Essay

Vegetable Oils Determining Degree Of Unsaturation And Viscosity Biology Essay Oil is an integral part of everyones life. Life without oil is not possible, especially in cooking. But there is a limit to which how much oil can be used for the purpose of cooking. The health factors have to be considered. There are different types of oil that are used for cooking and eating purposes. But how many of them are actually safe for health? How many of them do not cause any health problems like high cholesterol etc which in turn leads to diseases like heart attacks? This topic is definitely worthy for investigation because a lot can be found out by determining the iodine number of different oils. For example, the degree of unsaturation is the main thing that can be found out by performing the experiment of Iodine Value. From the degree of unsaturation, we can determine the boiling points of the oils and their effect on the human body. Though my experiment is only for four oils, namely, mustard oil, olive oil, coconut oil and canola oil, there is great scope for investigation even in these oils. The main purpose of this investigation is to establish the relationship between the degree of unsaturation in the oil and the viscosity of the oil Vegetable or Cooking oil is used on an everyday basis. Vegetable oil is purified fat of plant origin which is liquid at room temperature.There are many different kinds of vegetable oils, some of them are: Olive oil, Sunflower oil, Soybean oil, Sesame oil, Coconut oil, Peanut oil, Corn oil etc. Fats and oils are esters of triglycerols and fatty acids. When an oil is unsaturated, it means that the fatty acids consist of a long chain hydrocarbon that have carbon-carbon double bonds. The degree of unsaturation can be determined by finding out the amount of mass that is used to overcome the carbon-carbon double bonds.The amount of iodine that reacts is used to find the iodine number of the oil and this is used to indicate the degree of unsaturation in the oil. The higher the iodine number the greater the unsaturation. Unsaturated oils are less stable than saturated oils. They keep less well than the saturated oils. This is because the carbon carbon double bond in the unsaturated oils react with the oxygen in the air. This may lead to discolouration to the surface of the oil, decrease in the nutrient oil and they also lead to rancidity. They are more prone to hydrogenation and to hydrolysis. Oils are very important to our body, they provide energy because they contain proportionately less oxygen than carbohydrates and they release more energy when they are oxidised.They also provide the structural components of the cell membrane. They also help in the production of steroid hormones like progesterone and testosterone. Unsaturated oils are very harmful to health. They damage the immune system, cause hormonal imbalances and many other problems. They pose a major health risk. Unsaturated oils get rancid when exposed to air; that is called oxidation, Free radicals are produced in the process. This process is accelerated at higher temperatures. The free radicals produced in this method react with parts of cells, such as molecules of DNA and protein and may become attached to those molecules, causing abnormalities of structure and function. The greater the degree of unsaturation of the oil, the better it is for the body. This is because, as mentioned above, the greater the degree of unsaturation the lower the melting point. The average body temperature of the human body is around 98.8.F. Any oil below this temperature is extremely good for the body. This is because the oil wont linger in the stomach for a very long time, because if it stays in the stomach for a very long time, then it can make the body sick. Also, oils below this temperature helps in dissolving the fat that is already present in the body instead of further accumulating the amount of fat in the body. These oils do not clog up the arteries and they do not become hostile plaques. If the oil has less degree of unsaturation or is saturated, then it has a higher melting point, this is because the Vander Waal forces are stronger when compared to the oils that have a greater degree of unsaturation. This would require more energy to overcome the intermolecular forces causing a higher melting point. Now, since the oil will have to burn at a higher temperature, the body temperature has to rise to above the average body temperature to that specific temperature. If it does not reach to that particular temperature for the oil to burn, it can cause indigestion and clogged arteries. They help raise a persons high density lipoproteins (HDL). HDL carries cholesterol from the blood back to the liver. The liver then breaks down the cholesterol so that it can be eliminated from the body. This helps the excess cholesterol from being deposited in the arteries. Word Count: 572 EXPERIMENT A- DETERMINING THE IODINE VALUE OF THE OILS Design 2.1.1 Aim: Finding the iodine number to determine the degree of unsaturation of various different vegetable oils Iodine Number: it is the measure of the degree of the unsaturation in oils and fats. It is expressed in terms of centigrams of iodine absorbed per gram of sample( percentage by weight of iodine absorbed) 2.1.2 Apparatus: Iodine Flasks, 250 ml Micro Beaker, I ml Burette, 50 ml Beakers, 250 ml 2.1.3 Chemicals Required: De ionized Water Carbon Tetrachloride Iodine monochloride(Wijs solution) Potassium Iodide solution Starch Solution Aqueous Thiosulphate standard solution 2.1.4 Oils required: Olive Oil Mustard Oil Coconut Oil Canola Oil 2.1.5 Procedure: One 250 ml iodine flask was labeled BLANK and the other iodine flask was labeled SAMPLE A sample of oil was collected in a 50 ml beaker of known weight and was weighed in an analytical weighing balance in order to obtain the weight of the oil to 4 decimal places Subsequently, 20 ml of Carbon Tetrachloride was added to the beaker, stirred and this solution was transferred to an Iodine Flask. 5 ml of Wijs Solution was transferred to the iodine flask using a microbeaker The Iodine flask was covered with an airtight lid and was kept away in the dark for 45 minutes After 45 minutes, 10 ml of Potassium Iodide solution was poured into the lid of the Iodine Flask The lid was slowly raised allowing a minimum air gap to prevent any iodine vapours formed as a result of the previous reactions, thus allowing the Potassium Iodide to drip slowly into the iodine flask 100 ml of water was added to the flask in a similar way and stirred so that the excess iodine was dissolved The solution was then titrated with Na2 ­S2O3 solution and when it turned to a straw color, approximately 5ml of starch solution was added which made the solution turn into a blue-black solution The titration was resumed drop by drop until the solution turned colorless. The volume of Na2 ­S2O3 was noted( both in the beginning of the titration and at the end of the titration) The above procedure was carried out without the oil to obtain the BLANK value The experiment was repeated thrice with the same oil The same procedure was carried out with another sample of oil Calculations Formula for the calculation for the Iodine Value of any oil Where: B Volume of Na2 ­S2O3 required for the BLANK sample S Volume of Na2 ­S2O3 required by the SAMPLE sample S Normality of the Thiosulphate Solution (N) W Mass of the oil taken (g) 2.2 DATA COLLECTION DATA COLLECTION OLIVE OIL Initial Volume (ml) ±0.05 ml Final Volume (ml) ±0.05 ml Reading 1 0 13.9 Reading 2 0 14.3 Reading 3 0 14.1 Volume of the BLANK sample = 28.6 ml Mass of the oil = 0.2407 gm MUSTARD OIL Initial Volume (ml)  ±0.05 ml Final Volume (ml)  ±0.05 ml Reading 1 0 9.4 Reading 2 0 9.1 Reading 3 0 8.9 Volume of the BLANK sample = 28.6 ml Mass of the oil: 0.2527 gm COCONUT OIL Initial Volume (ml)  ±0.05 ml Final Volume (ml)  ±0.05 ml Reading 1 0 26.5 Reading 2 0 27.3 Reading 3 0 26.8 Volume of the BLANK sample = 28.6 ml Mass of the oil: 0.2808 gm CANOLA OIL Initial Volume (ml)  ±0.05 ml Final Volume (ml)  ±0.05 ml Reading 1 0 6.0 Reading 2 0 5.2 Reading 3 0 5.5 Volume of the BLANKsample = 28.6 ml Mass of the oil = 0.2771 gm 2.3 DATA PROCESSING OLIVE OIL Average Values Initial Volume= = 0 ml Final Volume = = 14.1 ml Calculation of the Iodine Value =78.98 MUSTARD OIL Average Values Initial Volume = = 0ml Final Volume = = 9.1 Calculation of the Iodine Value: = 101.2 COCONUT OIL Average Values Initial Volume = = 0ml Final Volume = = 26.9ml Calculation of the Iodine Value: = 9.937 CANOLA OIL Average Values Initial Volume = = 0ml Final Volume = = 5.6ml Calculation of the Iodine Value: = 108.8 Error Propagation Blank Value= 28.6 ml Error in the BLANK:  ±0.05 ml OLIVE OIL: Value of the SAMPLE: 14.1ml Error in SAMPLE :  ±0.05 ml (BLANIK-SAMPLE) = (28.6-14.1) = 14.5 ml Error in (BLANK- SAMPLE) =  ±(0.05+0.05)=  ±0.1 ml Percentage error in (BLANK SAMPLE) = 0.69% Percentage error in mass = 0.02% Therefore % error in Iodine Value: 0.02+0.69 = 0.71 % Value of Iodine Number = 78.98 Error in Iodine Number =  ±0.56 Iodine Number of Olive Oil = 78.98 ±0.56 MUSTARD OIL Value of the SAMPLE: 9.1ml Error in SAMPLE :  ±0.05 ml (BLANK-SAMPLE) = (28.6-9.1) = 19.5 ml Error in (BLANK- SAMPLE) =  ±(0.05+0.05)=  ±0.1 ml Percentage error in (BLANK SAMPLE) = 0.51% Percentage error in mass = 0.02% Therefore % error in Iodine Value: 0.02+0.51 = 0.53 % Value of Iodine Number = 101.2 Error in Iodine Number =  ±0.54 Iodine Number of Mustard Oil = 101.2 ±0.54 COCONUT OIL Value of the SAMPLE: 26.9 Error in SAMPLE :  ±0.05 ml (Blank-Sample) = (28.6-26.9) = 1.7 ml Error in (Blank- Sample) =  ±(0.05+0.05)=  ±0.1 ml Percentage error in (Blank Sample) = 5.8% Percentage error in mass = 0.02% Therefore % error in Iodine Value: 0.02+5.8 = 5.82 % Value of Iodine Number = 9.937 Error in Iodine Number =  ±0.59 Iodine Number of Olive Oil = 9.937 ±0.59 CANOLA OIL Value of the SAMPLE: 5.6ml Error in SAMPLE :  ±0.05 ml (Blank-Sample) = (28.6-5.6) = 23 ml Error in (Blank- Sample) =  ±(0.05+0.05)=  ±0.1 ml Percentage error in (Blank Sample) = 0.43% Percentage error in mass = 0.02% Therefore % error in Iodine Value: 0.02+0.43 = 0.45 % Value of Iodine Number = 108.8 Error in Iodine Number =  ±0.49 Iodine Number of Olive Oil = 108.8 ±0.49 EXPERIMENT B- DETERMINING -THE VISCOSITY OF THE VEGETABLE OILS 3.1 Design 3.1.1 Hypothesis: To determine the viscosity of the following oils: Olive Oil Canola Oil Mustard Oil Coconut oil 3.1.2 Apparatus required: Viscometer 25ml density bottle Weighing balance Pipette 3.1.3 Chemicals Required: Olive Oil- 25 ml Mustard Oil- 25 ml Canola Oil- 25 ml Coconut oil- 25ml Distilled water- 25 ml 3.2 Procedure: Part A: Determination of the Density The oils were added up to the brim of a 25 ml density bottle of a known weight. The bottle was covered using a lid. And the excess oil was dipped off from the side of the lids. The density bottle was then cleaned. The bottle and the oil together were weighed in order to get the mass of the oil that is going to be used in the process of the experiment With the help of this calculated weight and a predetermined volume of 25 ml , the density of the oil could be calculated. The above process was carried out for all the oils and the water as well Part B: Determination of time taken in order to flow down a viscometer A Viscometer consists of a U-Tube with 2 reservoirs. 100 ml of the oil was added to the opening as indicated The oil was then pipetted up on the other side until the lower meniscus reached the level marked as A. It was held at this point by using a finger which covered the opening. As soon as the finger was released the oil flowed down and the at the same time a timer was started. The oil flowed through the reservoir and as soon as the lower meniscus reached the level marked at B, the timer was stopped and the time was noted. The above procedure was carried out for all the other oils and was carried out for water as well With the help of the above data, the viscosity of the oil , relative to the viscosity of the water could be calculated. 3.3 Data Collection and Processing Density of the Samples: Name of Sample Mass of 25ml gravity bottle( ± 0.00005 g) Mass of 25 ml density bottle + sample ( ± 0.00005g) Mass of the Sample ( ±0.0005 g) Density of the sample( Mass of the sample/25) Olive Oil 17.2358 g 40.2675 23.0317 0.9213 Canola Oil 17.2358 g 40.2872 23.0514 0.9221 Mustard Oil 17.2358 g 40.0860 22.8502 0.9140 Coconut Oil 17.2358 g 40.2733 23.0375 0.9215 Water 17.2358 g 42.3569 25.1211 1.0048 Time Taken Name of the Sample Time Taken( ± 0.5 sec) Olive Oil 8659 Canola Oil 6144 Mustard Oil 7628 Coconut Oil 9952 Water 151 Calculations Formula for the calculation of the relative velocity Ã…Å  1 = D1 ÃÆ'- t1 Ã…Å  2 D2 ÃÆ'- t2 Where, Where: Ã…Å  1 = Viscosity of Oil Ã…Å  2 = Viscosity of water Clearly, Ã…Å  1 = Relative Viscosity of Oil with respect to water Ã…Å  2 D1 = Density of oil D2 = Density of water t1 = Time required for the oil to flow between 2 marked points on the viscometer t2 = Time required for water to flow between 2 marked points on the viscometer 3.4 CALCULATIONS From the above observations we can find the viscosity of the oils. Olive Oil = [0.9213  ± (2 ÃÆ'- 10-6)] ÃÆ'- (8659  ± 0.5) = 52.27  ± 0.2 - [1.0048  ± (2 ÃÆ'- 10-6)] ÃÆ'- (151  ± 0.5) Canola Oil = [0.9221  ± (2 ÃÆ'- 10-6)] ÃÆ'- (6144  ± 0.5) = 37.33  ± 0.2 [1.0048  ± (2 ÃÆ'- 10-6)] ÃÆ'- (151  ± 0.5) Mustard Oil = [0.9140  ± (2 ÃÆ'- 10-6)] ÃÆ'- (7628  ± 0.5) = 45.95  ± 0.2 [1.0048  ± (2 ÃÆ'- 10-6)] ÃÆ'- (151  ± 0.5) Coconut Oil = [0.9215  ± (2 ÃÆ'- 10-6)] ÃÆ'- (9952  ± 0.5) = 60.44  ± 0.2 - [1.0048  ± (2 ÃÆ'- 10-6)] ÃÆ'- (151  ± 0.5) ANALYSIS From the above graphs, we see that there is an inverse relationship shared between the degree of unsaturation and the value of the viscosity Unsaturated oils are those that have carbon carbon double bonds because it lacks hydrogen atoms. Poly unsaturated oils are those that contain more than one carbon double bond. They are also called the polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFAs and sometimes, they are also known as Essential fatty acids The degree of unsaturation can be found out by finding out the amount of mass that is used to overcome the carbon-carbon double bonds.The amount of iodine that reacts is used to find the iodine number of the oil and this is used to indicate the degree of unsaturation in the oil. A carbon double bond consists of one à Ã†â€™ bond and one à Ã¢â€š ¬ bond. à Ã†â€™ bonds are formed by the end on interaction of the electrons in a s-orbital. When they react they produce a bond in which the electron density is at its greatest on the internuclear axis ( imaginary line joining the nuclei) and is symmetric about it. à Ã¢â€š ¬ bond is formed by the side on interaction of the electrons of the p-orbitals at right angles to the internuclear axis. This bond has low electron density on the inter nuclear axis . The electron density for this type of bond is at the highest on the sides opposite to the internuclear axis. The presence of the double bond in the hydrocarbon chain makes the short. And hence there is greater number of electrons causing greater amount of repulsive forces. This is called the Bayers strain. The more the number of double bonds the greater the strain and shorter the length of the hydrocarbon. These types of hydrocarbon chain undergo addition reactions faster when compared to those that are longer with less number of double bonds. When they undergo addition reaction they get relived of the stress and the strain causing the length of the hydrocarbon to expand. Hence, the greater mass of Iodine use, the greater the number of carbon double bonds and greater the Iodine number and greater the degree of unsaturation. Therefore, greater the iodine number greater the degree of unsaturation The carbon in the double bond is sp2 hybridized. Hence the shape is trigonal planar and the molecule comes into one plane. Therefore, the molecules in a double bonded carbon are spaced out. When the carbon bond is saturated, that is, having only single bonds, the bonds are sp3 hybridized. The shape therefore is tetrahedral and hence molecules become spread in two planes. As a result, the molecules become more tightly packed, thus becoming denser. Therefore, lesser the amount of double bonds, the more tightly it will be packed when it becomes saturated and hence it will become more denser. This brings out a relationship between the iodine value, the degree of unsaturation and the viscosity. Greater the iodine value, greater the degree of unsaturation and lower the value of the viscosity. Greater the degree of unsaturation, lower the melting point. This is because in unsaturated oils there are carbon-carbon double bonds. The presence of these double bonds makes the hydrocarbon chain less straight. This weakens the strength of the Van Der Waals forces because there is less contact between the chains. Therefore, greater the degree of unsaturation, lower the melting point. Also, unsaturated oils are less stable than those that are saturated. Therefore, greater the degree of unsaturation, the less stable it is. CONCLUSION From the above experiment and analysis, we observe various number of things. Greater the Iodine value of the oil, greater the degree of unsaturation and lower the viscosity. Using this analysis, we can say that Canola Oil has the highest iodine value, that is, and the least Viscosity value, that is . This means that Canola Oil is the safest to cook and use because it provides a lot of health benefits when compared to the sample of the other oils. Mustard oil, which has an iodine value of and Viscosity value of is the comes second in the four oils that have been used for the experiment. Olive oil, that has an iodine value of and a viscosity value of is not recommended to use because out of the four oils that are were used for the experiment this falls under the third category. Coconut oil is very hazardous for the health because its iodine value is and the viscosity value is. It is recommended not to use coconut oil for cooking purposes. Sources of Error Error might have occurred when transferring the oil from one beaker to another. This might have lead to minor errors occurring in the process of the experiment The analytical balance did measure the mass of the oil to an accuracy of four significant figures, but there were few disturbance like noise and the shaking of the table around the analytical balance that made the digit in the balance to waver between one number to another. There might be some ICl (Iodine Monochloride) left behind when it was transferred from the beaker to the Iodine Flask. After the one hour in the dark, KI was to be added to the iodine flask by opening the lid slowly and making the KI to drip slowly into the flask. During this short period where the lid of the flask was opened, there might have been chances where the iodine vapors could have escaped from the reaction in the Iodine Flask causing errors in the experiment. During the process of titration, there are chances that there was excess amount of Sodium Thiosulphate was added for the color to turn colorless. This might have caused the wrong reading being taken which in turn can lead to the wrong calculation that can increase the difference between the original Iodine value and experimentally calculated Iodine Value While measuring the amount of starch solutions, Wijs solution etc, to be added in the process of the experiment, there are chances of parallax errors that could have caused errors in the process of the experiment There are chances that the apparatus had some tiny unwanted particles that might have been mixed with the other chemicals causing errors in the experiment While measuring the volume of the sodium thiosulphate used for the experiment from the burette, there are chances that there was a tiny difference between the reading that was recorded and the actual reading. The solution f Potassium Iodide was prepared in the lab by diluting the KI powder into water. Therefore, there might have been an error in the diluting the Potassium Iodide like for example, adding extra Potassium Iodide powder or adding extra amount of water. In some of the apparatus, there were readings that were not very clear. This might have caused errors in the experiment. For the experiment to determine the Viscosity of the oils, the experiment had to be carried out in similar atmospheric conditions. There could have been variations in the chemistry lab hence leading to errors in the experiment. Evaluation: To reduce the weighing error, the sample should be weighed repeatedly. This will reduce the random errors caused because of the weighing. This will also give an accurate mass that will reduce the errors in the experiment. While transferring chemicals, care should be taken so as to avoid the chemicals from spilling Repeated measurements could have been conducted while measuring the BLANK value and the SAMPLE value. This would have reduced the random as well as systematic errors that are caused by incorrect readings and unclear readings in the apparatus. The apparatus used in the lab for the process of experimentation should be of good quality so as to minimize the errors and increase the accuracy in the experiment.

The Prevention Of Computer Viruses Computer Science Essay

The Prevention Of Computer Viruses Computer Science Essay What is a computer virus? A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself[1] and infect a computer. The term virus is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability. A true virus can spread from one computer to another (in some form of executable code) when its host is taken to the target computer; for instance because a user sent it over a network or the Internet, or carried it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB drive. How are viruses transmitted can be transmitted person to individual by bodily fluids like HIV. Viruses approaching the common cold can be transported through the upper air we breathe. Viruses can also be transferred from your pets to you. Fortunately our body has an immunodefense workings that is intricately designed to row these pathogens. How do you prevent viruses? List the softwareà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s name. The internet is an amazing place that allows each and every one of us easy access to a wide variety of resources. Unfortunately, there is an increasing amount of viruses, worms, spyware and spam that can easily infect your computer. Your computer in fact may already be infected and you may not even know it. If your computer is unusually slow or crashes periodically, it may be infected. In fact, if you do not address the problem with this computer it may in fact infect other computers on your network. The result of a virus or worm attack can include an inability to access the internet, missing icons on your desktop, missing files and many other potential problems. There are ways, however, that you can fight back. Of course before making any changes to your computer, it is always a good idea to make a backup. FIGHT BACK 1. Run Microsoft Windows Update often. With new viruses and worms constantly being created, it is important to keep the Microsoft Windows operating system up to date. Go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and follow the instructions on screen. By installing the critical updates found on the Windows Update website, you are greatly reducing the chances of your computer from becoming infected. 2. Update the virus pattern of your Anti-Virus software frequently. Almost all Anti-Virus software programs update automatically, but you will want to check to make sure that this process is taking place. If a new virus is introduced and your pattern file is out of date, you will not be adequately protected against this new threat. I highly recommend the use of Trend Micro PC-Cillin. Unlike other antivirus software programs, it does not tap your system resources by taking up a lot of memory. It also works in a very transparent fashion with continuous pattern updates. 3. Remove Spyware and Adware. When you visit websites or install new software, you may be inadvertently installing Spyware and Adware onto your computer. Spyware and Adware allows third parties to: (a) monitor the use of your computer over the internet and (b) market specific products to you on the internet based upon the use of your computer. Go to http://www.download.com in order to download and install: (1) Ad-aware and (2) Spybot Search Destroy. Properly updated, both of these programs will remove all known Spyware and Adware. 4. Prevent Spam. A large number of worms and viruses are distributed through spam email. The first step in preventing spam is to not post your email address on a website. If you need to provide a means for contacting you via email, you will want to create a submission form that does not display your MAILTO in the code/page source of your webpage. You may need to contact a web designer in order to properly implement this process into your website. Another method is to use the Master Spambot Buster which works just like a MAILTO link but without displaying your email address in the code for bots to pick up. In addition, you should always use Private Registration when registering a domain name for a website. If you go to http://www.netsol.com and do a WHOIS on your website, you do not want to see your email address publicly displayed in your domain record. Automated programs called robots regularly crawl websites such as this looking to pick up email addresses for use by companies that spam. If robots on the internet have already picked up your email address, you will of course want to use some form of spam prevention. Many web based mail programs already allow you the ability to prevent spam. However, many mail clients on business networks do not have this functionality. There are a variety of products in the marketplace to address this problem, but one of the most popular is http://www.spamarrest.com. By using Spamarrest.com, you manage who you allow or do not allow to receive email from. When someone sends you an email for the first time, they must verify that they sent you an email. If they do not, the email is placed in your unverified folder on Spamarrest.coms web servers. All blocked mail is then placed in Spamarrest.coms spam folder. Meanwhile all approved mail is sent as it normally would directly to your computers Inbox. CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL Although the software described here is easily used, different hardware and software configurations can lead to unexpected results that may damage your computer. If you are experiencing difficulties with viruses, worms, spyware or spam, you may want to consult a professional. How do you know that your computer is infected by a virus? If you suspect or confirm that your computer is infected with a computer virus, obtain the current antivirus software. The following are some primary indicators that a computer may be infected: The computer runs slower than usual. The computer stops responding, or it locks up frequently. The computer crashes, and then it restarts every few minutes. The computer restarts on its own. Additionally, the computer does not run as usual. Applications on the computer do not work correctly. Disks or disk drives are inaccessible. You cannot print items correctly. You see unusual error messages. You see distorted menus and dialog boxes. There is a double extension on an attachment that you recently opened, such as a .jpg, .vbs, .gif, or .exe. extension. An antivirus program is disabled for no reason. Additionally, the antivirus program cannot be restarted. An antivirus program cannot be installed on the computer, or the antivirus program will not run. New icons appear on the desktop that you did not put there, or the icons are not associated with any recently installed programs. Strange sounds or music plays from the speakers unexpectedly. A program disappears from the computer even though you did not intentionally remove the program Why virus-scanning software needs to be updated regularly ? computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself[1] and infect a computer. The term virus is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability. A true virus can spread from one computer to another (in some form of executable code) when its host is taken to the target computer; for instance because a user sent it over a network or the Internet, or carried it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB drive.[2] Viruses can increase their chances of spreading to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer.[3][4] As stated above, the term computer virus is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of malware, even those that do not have the reproductive ability. Malware includes computer viruses, computer worms, Trojan horses, most rootkits, spyware, dishonest adware and other malicious and unwanted software, including true viruses. Viruses are sometimes confused with worms and Trojan horses, which are technically different. A worm can exploit security vulnerabilities to spread itself automatically to other computers through networks, while a Trojan horse is a program that appears harmless but hides malicious functions. Worms and Trojan horses, like viruses, may harm a computer systems data or performance. Some viruses and other malware have symptoms noticeable to the computer user, but many are surreptitious or simply do nothing to call attention to themselves. Some viruses do nothing beyond reproducing themselves. The Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy: You should be ready to prove the authenticity of your work. If any form of plagiarism/reproduction of answers/work discovered, you will be awarded zero mark. Late submission of the assignment: If any late submission of your work, mark will be reduced. Your are expected to cover the following outcomes Outcome 4. You are expected to practice the skills that are related to the following graduate attribute: Recognize the importance of lifelong learning and are committed to self development Declaration by student (Hand written) TO MY LECTURER Mr. Sheik Mohammed I CERTIFY THAT ALL OF THIS WORK IS: (a) DONE BY MYSELF (b) PRINTED BY MYSELF Students signatureMahmood Khalfan Ali.. Submit ion Date: ..22j1047

Neurodegenerative Diseases Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Neurodegenerative Diseases A piece of well-oiled machinery consists of an intricate and complex system: there are well-organized processes, mechanisms within the device work efficiently, and multiple processes function simultaneously to subsequently perform various functions. What happens when there is a glitch in the machine? When there is something wrong, such as connections between intricate processes, which do not follow through, the machine fails to function properly. In some cases, there are not any adjustment or fallback mechanisms. At that point, the damage can be irreversible and the machinery is no longer salvageable. [However, this can illustrate the interactions and processes within the complex machinery.] The human brain can react in much the same way. Neurodegenerative diseases are telltale signs of a "glitch" in the neural mechanical processes within the brain. Thus, pathological problems of the brain demonstrate how the brain controls movement and behavior. It is evident in the physical as well as emotional behavior. (5) It also illustrates the interaction between the central nervous system to the peripheral nervous system. There must be connections between neural activity within the brain and the rest of the central and peripheral nervous systems. One can also understand an illustration of the brain as being a "box" composed of interconnected smaller boxes. These integrated boxes in turn demonstrate the concept that, "Brain=Behavior=Being." The purpose of this essay is to provide a general overview, as well as neurological overview, of the neurodegenerative disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. In doing so, it will show how the brain proves to be the center of behavior and creates the individual's sense... ...The fact that one's neural communication is severed and eventually shuts down all body function control, is evident. The knowledge that one's brain is "riddled with holes" due to a proteinaceous infectious particle is speculative. Although many think that an individual is much more than mere neural connections, firing motor symphonies, neurotransmitters, and selective permeability, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease puts a new spin on individual identity. Ultimately, the patients or their loved ones do not focus on the CJD facts and figures. Their reality is that an individual slowly disintegrates before their eyes, the sense of "the Self" is lost. Works Cited: http://www.cjd.ed.ac.uk/path.htm http://www.cjd.ed.ac.uk/intro.htm http://www.cjd.ed.ac.uk./lancet.htm Delcomyn, Fred. Foundations of Neurobiology , W.H.Freeman and Company Copyright 1997, pg.437. Neurodegenerative Diseases Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers Neurodegenerative Diseases A piece of well-oiled machinery consists of an intricate and complex system: there are well-organized processes, mechanisms within the device work efficiently, and multiple processes function simultaneously to subsequently perform various functions. What happens when there is a glitch in the machine? When there is something wrong, such as connections between intricate processes, which do not follow through, the machine fails to function properly. In some cases, there are not any adjustment or fallback mechanisms. At that point, the damage can be irreversible and the machinery is no longer salvageable. [However, this can illustrate the interactions and processes within the complex machinery.] The human brain can react in much the same way. Neurodegenerative diseases are telltale signs of a "glitch" in the neural mechanical processes within the brain. Thus, pathological problems of the brain demonstrate how the brain controls movement and behavior. It is evident in the physical as well as emotional behavior. (5) It also illustrates the interaction between the central nervous system to the peripheral nervous system. There must be connections between neural activity within the brain and the rest of the central and peripheral nervous systems. One can also understand an illustration of the brain as being a "box" composed of interconnected smaller boxes. These integrated boxes in turn demonstrate the concept that, "Brain=Behavior=Being." The purpose of this essay is to provide a general overview, as well as neurological overview, of the neurodegenerative disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. In doing so, it will show how the brain proves to be the center of behavior and creates the individual's sense... ...The fact that one's neural communication is severed and eventually shuts down all body function control, is evident. The knowledge that one's brain is "riddled with holes" due to a proteinaceous infectious particle is speculative. Although many think that an individual is much more than mere neural connections, firing motor symphonies, neurotransmitters, and selective permeability, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease puts a new spin on individual identity. Ultimately, the patients or their loved ones do not focus on the CJD facts and figures. Their reality is that an individual slowly disintegrates before their eyes, the sense of "the Self" is lost. Works Cited: http://www.cjd.ed.ac.uk/path.htm http://www.cjd.ed.ac.uk/intro.htm http://www.cjd.ed.ac.uk./lancet.htm Delcomyn, Fred. Foundations of Neurobiology , W.H.Freeman and Company Copyright 1997, pg.437.

Catcher In The Rye Essay -- essays research papers

Innocence, Compassion, and some ‘Crazy’ Cliff A novel, which has gained literary recognition worldwide, scrutiny to the point of censorship and has established a following among adolescents, The Catcher in the Rye is in its entirety a unique connotation of the preservation of innocence and the pursuit of compassion. With certain elegance the writer J.D. Salinger, substantiates the growth and perils, which lie between childhood and adulthood. Embellishing the differentiation between innocence and squalor in the grasps of society. The bridge that lies between these contrasting themes are personified through the novel’s protagonist, Holden Caul-field and his visualization of a cliff, which depicts a dividing point between the evident beginning and end. The connection, which binds this gap in reality, was made clear through a new found compassion, consummating Holden’s place in society through the realization of his surroundings from which he successfully cross es over. Focusing on the rebellious and confused actuality of adolescents stuck between the innocence of childhood and the corruptness of the adult world, this novel strikes a cord, which most adolescents can relate. The essence of the story The Catcher in the Rye follows the forty-eight hour escapade of sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield, told through first person narration. After his expulsion from Pency, a fashionable prep school, the lat-est in a long line of expulsions, Holden has a few confrontations with his fellow students and leaves shortly after to return to his hometown, New York City. In the heart of New York City, Holden spends the following two days hiding out to rest before confronting his parents with the news. During his adventures in the city he tries to renew some old acquaintances, find his significance in the adult world, and come to grips with the head-aches he has been having lately. Eventually, Holden sneaks home to visit his sister Phoebe, because alone on th e streets he feels as if he has no where else to turn. Children are the only people with whom Holden can communicate with throughout the novel, not because they can help him with his growing pains but because they remind him of a simpler time (his inno-cence), which he wishes he could return. The trials of the adult world wear down Holden’s vision of a place in society, portraying innocence as a form of retreat from a confusin... ..., Salin-ger began publishing again and featured his stories in the Saturday Evening Post and Collier’s. By 1951, Salinger has established his reputation exclusively in The New Yorker and the popularity of his work was emerging among college students. And so, he re-leased The Catcher in the Rye, after working on and off on it for ten years. Although it was not an immediate hit it did give Salinger an increasing critical praise and respect. Eventually, as critical acclaim grew, the letters, autograph seekers, and interview-ers began hunting him down and so he became annoyed and moved to Cornish, New Hampshire, where he has lived ever since. While secluding himself from the rest of the world Salinger began work on Nine Stories, which includes a number of published short stories and introduces the Glass family, the central figures of his later works. Nine Sto-ries was published in 1953, after which Salinger published four lengthy short stories about the problems of the extreme ly bright and overly sensitive children of the Glass family. The books in this short story collection include Franny and Zooey (1961), and Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction (1963).

Deception Point Page 65

Ekstrom felt his muscles stiffen. What the hell is a submarine doing directly off the coast of Ellesmere Island without my knowledge? â€Å"Did you see what direction the aircraft flew after rendezvous?† â€Å"Back toward Thule air base. For connecting transport to the mainland, I assume.† Ekstrom said nothing the rest of the way to the PSC. When he entered the cramped darkness, the hoarse voice on the line had a familiar rasp. â€Å"We've got a problem,† Tench said, coughing as she spoke. â€Å"It's about Rachel Sexton.† 76 Senator Sexton was not sure how long he had been staring into space when he heard the pounding. When he realized the throbbing in his ears was not from the alcohol but rather from someone at his apartment door, he got up from the couch, stowed the bottle of Courvoisier, and made his way to the foyer. â€Å"Who is it?† Sexton yelled, in no mood for visitors. His bodyguard's voice called in with the identity of Sexton's unexpected guest. Sexton sobered instantly. That was fast. Sexton had hoped not to have to have this conversation until morning. Taking a deep breath and straightening his hair, Sexton opened the door. The face before him was all too familiar-tough and leathery despite the man's seventy-something years. Sexton had met with him only this morning in the white Ford Windstar minivan in a hotel parking garage. Was it only this morning? Sexton wondered. God, how things had changed since then. â€Å"May I come in?† the dark-haired man asked. Sexton stepped aside, allowing the head of the Space Frontier Foundation to pass. â€Å"Did the meeting go well?† the man asked, as Sexton closed the door. Did it go well? Sexton wondered if the man lived in a cocoon. â€Å"Things were terrific until the President came on television.† The old man nodded, looking displeased. â€Å"Yes. An incredible victory. It will hurt our cause greatly.† Hurt our cause? Here was an optimist. With NASA's triumph tonight, this guy would be dead and buried before the Space Frontier Foundation attained their goals of privatization. â€Å"For years I have suspected proof was forthcoming,† the old man said. â€Å"I did not know how or when, but sooner or later we had to know for sure.† Sexton was stunned. â€Å"You're not surprised?† â€Å"The mathematics of the cosmos virtually requires other life-forms,† the man said, moving toward Sexton's den. â€Å"I am not surprised that this discovery has been made. Intellectually, I am thrilled. Spiritually, I am in awe. Politically, I am deeply disturbed. The timing could not be worse.† Sexton wondered why the man had come. It sure as hell wasn't to cheer him up. â€Å"As you know,† the man said, â€Å"SFF member companies have spent millions trying to open the frontier of space to private citizens. Recently, much of that money has gone to your campaign.† Sexton felt suddenly defensive. â€Å"I had no control over tonight's fiasco. The White House baited me to attack NASA!† â€Å"Yes. The President played the game well. And yet, all may not be lost.† There was an odd glint of hope in the old man's eyes. He's senile, Sexton decided. All was definitely lost. Every station on television right now was talking about the destruction of the Sexton campaign. The old man showed himself into the den, sat on the couch, and fixed his tired eyes on the senator. â€Å"Do you recall,† the man said, â€Å"the problems NASA initially had with the anomaly software onboard the PODS satellite?† Sexton could not imagine where this was headed. What the hell difference does that make now? PODS found a goddamned meteorite with fossils! â€Å"If you remember,† the man said. â€Å"The onboard software did not function properly at first. You made a big deal of it in the press.† â€Å"As I should have!† Sexton said, sitting down opposite the man. â€Å"It was another NASA failure!† The man nodded. â€Å"I agree. But shortly after that, NASA held a press conference announcing they had come up with a work-around-some sort of patch for the software.† Sexton hadn't actually seen the press conference, but he'd heard it was short, flat, and hardly newsworthy-the PODS project leader giving a dull technical description of how NASA had overcome a minor glitch in PODS's anomaly-detection software and gotten everything up and running. â€Å"I have been watching PODS with interest ever since it failed,† the man said. He produced a videocassette and walked to Sexton's television, putting the video in the VCR. â€Å"This should interest you.† The video began to play. It showed the NASA press room at headquarters in Washington. A well-dressed man was taking the podium and greeting the audience. The subtitle beneath the podium read: CHRIS HARPER, Section Manager Polar Orbiting Density Scanner Satellite (PODS) Chris Harper was tall, refined, and spoke with the quiet dignity of a European American who still clung proudly to his roots. His accent was erudite and polished. He was addressing the press with confidence, giving them some bad news about PODS. â€Å"Although the PODS satellite is in orbit and functioning well, we have a minor setback with the onboard computers. A minor programming error for which I take full responsibility. Specifically, the FIR filter has a faulty voxel index, which means the PODS's anomaly-detection software is not functioning properly. We're working on a fix.† The crowd sighed, apparently accustomed to NASA letdowns. â€Å"What does that mean for the current effectiveness of the satellite?† someone asked. Harper took it like a pro. Confident and matter-of-fact. â€Å"Imagine a perfect set of eyes without a functioning brain. Essentially the PODS satellite is seeing twenty-twenty, but it has no idea what it's looking at. The purpose of the PODS mission is to look for melt pockets in the polar ice cap, but without the computer to analyze the density data PODS receives from its scanners, PODS cannot discern where the points of interest are. We should have the situation remedied after the next shuttle mission can make an adjustment to the onboard computer.† A groan of disappointment rose in the room. The old man glanced over at Sexton. â€Å"He presents bad news pretty well, doesn't he?† â€Å"He's from NASA,† Sexton grumbled. â€Å"That's what they do.† The VCR tape went blank for an instant and then switched to another NASA press conference. â€Å"This second press conference,† the old man said to Sexton, â€Å"was given only a few weeks ago. Quite late at night. Few people saw it. This time Dr. Harper is announcing good news.† The footage launched. This time Chris Harper looked disheveled and uneasy. â€Å"I am pleased to announce,† Harper said, sounding anything but pleased, â€Å"that NASA has found a work-around for the PODS satellite's software problem.† He fumbled through an explanation of the work-around-something about redirecting the raw data from PODS and sending it through computers here on earth rather than relying on the onboard PODS computer. Everyone seemed impressed. It all sounded quite feasible and exciting. When Harper was done, the room gave him an enthusiastic round of applause. â€Å"So we can expect data soon?† someone in the audience asked. Harper nodded, sweating. â€Å"A couple of weeks.† More applause. Hands shot up around the room. â€Å"That's all I have for you now,† Harper said, looking ill as he packed up his papers. â€Å"PODS is up and running. We'll have data soon.† He practically ran off the stage. Sexton scowled. He had to admit, this was odd. Why did Chris Harper look so comfortable giving bad news and so uncomfortable giving good news? It should have been in reverse. Sexton hadn't actually seen this press conference when it aired, although he'd read about the software fix. The fix, at the time, seemed an inconsequential NASA salvage; the public perception remained unimpressed-PODS was just another NASA project that had malfunctioned and was being awkwardly patched together with a less than ideal solution.

Enterprise Rent-a-Car Essay

Question 1 With the support of relevant examples from the given case: a) Define personnel management and human resource management, and discuss TWO major differences between the two concepts. (6 marks) b) Analyze TWO potential external business environment challenges faced by Enterprise Rent-a-Car and their implications on the Company. (10 marks) c) Based on the challenges analyzed in Question 1b), above, suggest effective human resource planning process and methods, that can be used by Enterprise Rent-a-Car in determining the manpower needs for it’s international business expansion. Justify your answer with specific examples. (10 marks) Introduction This question will focus on defining and differentiating Personnel Management from HRM, it will also examine some technological and social challenges, as potential external business environment challenges faced by the company, and will discus an effective HR Planning process and method to address those challenges. a) Definitions and Differences Personnel Management: Is the administrative discipline which mainly works around Industrial/ Employee/ Labour Relations and activities connected with grievance handling,  negotiations, enforcement of labour statute, looking after welfare of employees and so on. Human Resource Management: The process of hiring and developing employees so that they become more valuable to the organization and more integrated towards the goals and strategy of the company. One difference between PM and HRM is that in PM, the power distribution is centralized where the top management has full authority in decision-making. Personnel managers are not allowed to take part in any decision which involves employees, or give ideas. HRM, looks for the decentralization of power, where the power between the top, middle and lower management groups is shared. This can be noticed in the Enterprise Career Path graphic in page 4, case study. Mayor responsibilities are shared between General Manager, Group Rental Manager, Area Manager and Branch Manager. Another difference between PM and HRM is that, pay policies in PM is merely based on skills and knowledge required for the perspective jobs only. The value is based on the ability to perform the task and duties required. In HRM, organizations look beyond pay for functional duties. The pay is designed to encourage continuous improvement and job performance. Enterprise applies this concept when they encourage their employees to â€Å"develop a career† instead of â€Å"just perform a task†, by providing training and mentoring to those employees, and, providing opportunities for professional growth by making promotions and transfers available, other than that just the payment. b) External Business Environment Challenges Technological challenge: the rented vehicles tracking system combines the use of automatic vehicle location in each individual vehicle, with software that collects these fleet data for a comprehensive picture of vehicle locations, very helpful for real time updates and for client monitoring in case of  accidents. Nowadays, GPS is commonly used as a vehicle tracking system. This system needs to be monitored and maintained by qualified persons to ensure they work at their best. If these systems do not work properly , services won’t be delivered as they should and customer dissatisfaction will occur. This will result in losses, bad publicity and even a fatality in the event of an accident. Social challenge: the diversity of the labour force might encounter some cultural differences that might need to be addressed to avoid confrontation and to provide a calm, respectful and tolerant work environment. People integration is very important because otherwise the work environment will be tense, co-worker relationships and productivity might be affected. c) HR Planning and Process For the Technological challenge described in item b), above, the Human Resource Planning and Methods suggested would be based in external human resource suppliers. Enterprise has an organizational need to add a department which primary task would be to manage all the communications between the vehicles‘ tracking systems and have all the data updated real time for customer enquiries and monitoring. Enterprise also needs someone to maintain all the systems and software. To be able to achieve all this a lot infrastructure and investment is required, so the solution is to externally recruit a company that provides this services, after evaluating few candidates. For the Social challenge described in item b), above, the Human Resource Planning and Methods suggested would be based in internal human resource supply. The personalities of the staff will be evaluated, the most charismatic one will be appointed as the leader of the Enterprise Social Club, NZ Branch. This Club will be self managed by the staff, promoting interaction, understanding and tolerance between the employees. A local venue will be selected for gatherings, parties and any social event that involves the company. Conclusion The purpose of the question was to determine why and how important HRM is, when dealing with the quantity and quality of the people of a company, and, when trying to fit the objectives, strategies and challenges to a number of employees. SECTION 2: Job analysis and Job design. (24 marks) Question 2 Select ONE of the positions stated in the Enterprise Career Path (on page 4) and suggest the job analysis process and methods you will use to design the position description, person specification and competency profile for this position. (12 marks) Justify your answer with: †¢ A brief explanation of job analysis and TWO of its purposes, †¢ relevant methods/techniques, †¢ specific types of data to be collected for this position, and †¢ relevant examples. Introduction. This question will focus on defining and explaining the purposes of Job Analysis, it will also examine the method, technique and data used to create the Position Description, Person Specification and Competency Profile for an Assistant Manager‘s job. Definition and Purposes of Job Analysis. In a job analysis we study the tasks and skills that make up an employee’s role, the conditions under which those tasks are performed, and the required contacts with others. It is used for writing position descriptions because it’ll summarize the role of a job in the organization, and, in recruitment and selection because it’ll highlight the characteristics a candidate needs to have to fulfill the post. Method and Technique. A relevant method that was used was competency based profiling,by integrating other methods such as observation, and company documentation, to collect the  data from the case study. This methods will determine the skills, knowledge and behaviors that will ensure a successful work performance from the employee. In this case , for an Assistant manager, some of  the competencies that Enterprise look for are: to be able to adapt to suit the audience, to work cooperatively, get things done creatively, amongst others. Types of Data collected for this position. For this position the following data was identified: Position: Assistant Manager Duties: provide great customer experience, market the business, sell the service, deal with business partners such as insurance companies, dealerships and auto body shops. Work environment: branch office. Relationships: – internal: supervises management assistant and reports to branch manager. – external: business partners and customers. Qualifications and experience: studying first or second year uni + initial classroom based session and on the job training as Management Assistant. Skills: customer service focus, persuasiveness, flexibility, results driven, leadership ability, communication. Example of Job Description, Person Specification and Competency Profile. These elements were integrated in a draft for advertising the position. Assistant Manager for new branch office in NZ. Full time position available for an experienced Assistant Manager at Enterprise-Rent-A-Car, with exceptional selling and communication abilities. The job will require the person to: provide great customer experience, market the business, sell the service, deal with business partners such as insurance companies, dealerships and auto body shops. Previous qualifications or equivalent experience requirements: studying first or second year uni + initial classroom based session and on the job training as Management Assistant. As an Assistant Manager,you will be reporting directly to the Branch Manager and you will be expected to see issues and needs from a customer perspective, to adapt to suit the audience, to be creative about getting things done, to start growing the leaders and managers of the future by supervising the Management Assistant, and to support the professional Enterprise reputation. If you posses skills such as being customer service focused, persuasive, results driven, leadership abilities and communication, we invite you to apply filling the Application Form. Conclusion. This question has explained the central importance of developing an accurate Job Analysis. Demonstrating how all the data gathered from this analysis is used to create a clear and effective Job Description which includes Position Description, Person Specification and Competency Profile. Question 3 Suggest, with justification, FOUR best job designs to be used for the position discussed in Question 2, above, so that it can contribute to the organization effectiveness and the needs of individual workers at Enterprise Rent-a-Car. (12 marks) Include in your answer: †¢ a brief explanation of job design and TWO of its purposes, †¢ FOUR best job designs for use in the given situation, and †¢ relevant examples. Introduction. This question will focus on defining and explaining the purposes of Job Design, it will also examine the best job designs for the proposed Assistant Manager‘s job. Definition and Purposes of Job Design. Job design are all the tasks and activities associated with a particular role. One purpose of job design is to increase employee motivation and productivity. It also helps in designing, redesigning, evaluating and also cutting back responsibilities from a job, adding extra responsibilities to another particular job, trying to match the person’s capabilities with the role. Best Job Designs for the position of Assistant Manager. Job enlargement: this could be used to increase the job scope of the Management assistant to cover the duties of the Assistant manager. Job enrichment: this could be used to increase the job depth of the Management assistant by upgrading the job task mix, increasing motivation and giving the the employee the potential of growth within the company. Workplace flexibility program: this will offer flexible hours of work where the employe could start early and finish early, or having to cover a minimum of weekly hours in the time that is more convenient to the employee, this is attractive for students and parents as they can manage their time more freely. Job sharing: this method could be used to integrate the New Assistant Manager with the organizational culture of the company while temporary sharing the responsibilities with a more experienced Assistant Manager from another branch. Conclusion This question has explained how a Job Design for a particular role can accommodate different types of candidates, starting from people who would like their duties increased, passing through people who would like their job tasks mix upgraded and a more flexible time schedule, to people who could share responsibilities for mutual learning. SECTION 3: Recruitment & Selection. (30 marks) Question 4 If Enterprise Rent-a-Car plans to open a new branch in one of the cities in New Zealand, what would be the BEST recruitment strategy for this new branch to attract qualified candidates for the position you discussed in Question 2, above? (15 marks) Justify your answer with: †¢ the purpose of your proposed recruitment strategy for the selected position at this new branch, †¢ THREE best recruitment methods you would use, †¢ ONE benefit and ONE constraint for each of these recruitment methods, †¢ TWO New Zealand legislative requirements that would affect your recruitment strategy, and †¢ relevant examples. Introduction. This question will focus on describing the Recruitment strategy and method that’ll be used to attract candidates to the Assistant Manager position. Purpose of the Recruitment Strategy. The recruitment strategies that I proposed have the purpose to provide a pool of candidates from where the most suitable candidates will be picked. Recruitment Methods, their Benefits and Constraints. The first recruiting method would be an internal one: a transfer, I would  advertise an application form to transfer an experienced Assistant manager from one of the existing branches. This ensures that the person taking this position has the required experience and knowledge for the role, and that he/she is already familiar with the company’s methods. However this will leave a vacancy in the other branch. The second one is an internal one as well, promotion. I would advertise an application form to promote a Management Assistant from another branch to the position of Assistant Manager. This method can increase motivation within the staff because they see career growth opportunities. However, this can create a high competitive environment where friction between staff members can occur. The third recruiting method that I would use would be an external one, I would advertise the job position to local independent contractors. This might bring a candidate that brings new and fresh ideas to the company and it’s familiar with the new area of the branch in NZ. This method allows to hire people that are specialized in certain areas of expertise. However, this can be expensive. New Zealand legislative requirements that would affect Recruitment Strategies Privacy Act 1993, which establish the rules for dealing with the personal information collected from an employee. Human Right Act, which is designed to ensure that selection of future employees and the promotion of existing ones occur without any discrimination against any particular sector of society. Conclusion For me, the best recruiting strategy in this case is a mixed strategy. Integrating internal and external methods to get the best pool of candidates possible, divided in two groups, one with the ones with the possibility of being transferred or promoted, and another one with the local independent contractors. Question 5 What is the BEST selection strategy you would use to fill in the selected position discussed in Question 4, above? (15 marks) Justify your answer with: †¢ the purpose of your proposed selection strategy for the selected position at this new branch, †¢ THREE best selection methods you would use, †¢ ONE benefit and ONE constraint for each of these selection methods, †¢ TWO New Zealand legislative requirements that would affect your selection strategy, and †¢ relevant examples. Introduction. This question will focus on describing the Selection strategy and method that’ll be used to choose the most suitable candidate for the Assistant Manager position. Purpose of the Selection Strategy. The selection strategies that I proposed have the purpose to narrow the number of candidates for the position of Assistant manager . Selection Methods, Benefits and Constraints. The first selection method that I’d use would be Application Forms customized into two types of candidates, candidates that could apply for possible transfer or promotion on one side, and the ones that could apply as private contractors in the other. The second method that I’d use would be a Face-To-Face interview with the candidates selected for possible transfer or promotion, and the ones selected as private contractors. Then create a shortlist with the qualified candidates. The third selection method that I would use, and that also is a standard of the Enterprise recruitment process, would be an Assessment Day. The shortlisted candidates will take part in practical exercises, individual and group activities. New Zealand legislative requirements that would affect Selection Strategies Employment Relations Act 2000, which establish that either party must not mislead each other in their obligations to each other. (Obligations of good faith) Human Right Act, which is designed to ensure that selection of future employees and the promotion of existing ones occur without any discrimination against any particular sector of society. Conclusion The best Selection Strategy for this proposed position of Assistant Manager is one that integrates Application Forms,to gather the required data, Face-To-Face interviews, to asses first impressions, personality, basic social skills, and an Assessment Day, for group development and team work. SECTION 4: Training Process and Personal Learning and Development Plan. (30 marks) Question 6 One of the competencies outlined in the Skills and Competencies Framework on page 5, above, is customer service focus. Select one of the positions outlined in Enterprise Career Path ( on page 4, above) and discuss how you would use a training process model to prepare, organize, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of a Customer Service Training Program for the job holders of this position at the new branch in one of the cities of New Zealand. Support your answer with relevant concepts and examples. Invent details as appropriate. Introduction. This question will focus on describing The Training Process Model for a Customer Service Training Program for the position of Assistant Manager (AM). This Program will allow the AM to acquire new skills and knowledge via multimedia material, online assessment and on the job observations. The Training Process Model for a Customer Service Training Program for the position of Assistant Manager (AM). The Training Process Model that I would use involves the following given steps: Step 1: Customer Service Training Program Preparation. In this phase the Customer Service contents related to the duties of the AM position, such as: being able to provide great customer experience, market the business, sell the service, deal with business partners such as insurance companies, dealerships and auto body shops, are identified,the multimedia content is developed. Step 2: Customer Service Training Program Organization. In this phase the content is arranged in learning units and the decision to make the program a Online Web-based Multimedia Training Program is taken. Topics such as: â€Å"Understanding the customer†, â€Å"Customer satisfaction and customer delight†, â€Å"Benefits of Good Customer Service†, â€Å"Internal and External Customers†, etc, will be available 24/7 online. The AM will be able to log in and follow the training at his/hers own pace. Step 3: Customer Service Training Program Implementation. In this phase the Program material is unlocked so the AM can access it via his/hers log in details. The units and lessons are delivered in a variety of formats, video streaming, written essays and case studies. The material will be available 24/7 and this implementation method allows the management to track the participant’s progress. Step 4: Customer Service Training Program Evaluation. In this phase the Participant, in this case the AM, will have to answer scheduled online quizzes, summit written essays, and he/she will be monitored for positive changes in behavior when engaging customers which demonstrates the degree of the Online Web-based Multimedia Training Program effectivity. Question 7 Assume you are in the position discussed in Question 6 , above, develop a Personal Learning and Development Plan (PLDP) that would meet your individual organizational needs of the new branch. Include in your PLDP the following elements: a) The General Competency Questionnaire you have completed ( see page 69 in your Course book ) (3 marks) b) Based on your answer in Question 7a), above, complete the Personal Learning and Development Plan for the position you selected for the discussion. This PLDP will include the following elements: †¢ Learning needs analysis †¢ Learning methods †¢ Learning outcomes †¢ Evaluation of learning outcomes Introduction. This question will focus on illustrating the PLDP based on my General Competency Questionnaire results. This results showed some competencies which need improvement in order to better match the requirements for the role of AM. The following table summarizes the PLDP elements and their relationships, for example, the learning need of â€Å"speaking and presenting to groups† was identified. The learning outcome of this need is â€Å"to deliver important conversations in a confident and articulated way†, the learning methods chosen to improve this area are: â€Å"Videos and Verbal Communication Coaching, body  language.† The ways these learning methods will be analyzed are by Off the job short lectures and presentations. PLDP for an Assistant Manager Learning Method Learning Outcomes Evaluation of Learning Outcomes Communication outwardly. Demonstrations about corporate communication behaviors. Support the professional Enterprise reputation. Superiors’ and stakeholders feedback. Speaking and presenting to groups. Videos and Coaching about public speeches, verbal communication and body language. To deliver important conversations in a conï ¬ dent and articulated way. Off the job – Short Lectures and Presentations. Managing stress & conï ¬â€šict. Role play simulating stressful situations, and demonstrations. To be able to cope with changing circumstances. Co-worker feedback On the job reactions to stressful situations. Developing positive relationships. Demonstrations and case studies about positive relations, positive environments. to be able to maintain and induce positive relationships inside the company. Co-worker feedback. Managing upwards and sideways. Programed demonstrations and group exercises. To be able to work cooperatively. Peers’ and Superiors’ feedback. Learning Need Conclusion From the graphic above I conclude that in order for me to be compatible and capable of taking the Assistant Manager job, I have to improve some important skills like persuasiveness, communication, leadership abilities, patience and a open mind