The Origin Of Mexico Financial Crisis - 1700 Words

The origin of Mexico financial crisis In the 1980s, Mexico was undergoing a number of reforms and deregulations that would protect its economy. In 1982, the Mexican government liberalized trade and allowed the international flow of capital into the country so that Mexico can integrate with the developed countries. President Miguel de la Madrid (1982-1988) lifted import tariffs under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). He also facilitated reforms that welcomed direct foreign investment in the country and the increased growth of country’s financial systems. In addition to that, the economy of Mexico was growing so fast during the early 1990s. Inflation has substantially reduced and Mexico saw many foreign investors flowing and†¦show more content†¦The inadequacy of foreign exchange damaged the Mexican government foreign debt service and thus causing an exchange rate crisis. This exchange rate crisis also caused the country to devalue peg in the 1954,1976 and 1982 as it was unable to pay its d ebts. In 1979, the United States started to record and monitor the levels of inflation and as such, the interest rates were increased by the Federal Reserve Board to contain it. The central banks in Europe also raised their interest rates. The increase in interest rates caused a rapid fall in commodity prices which perversely affected Mexico’s economy and other developing countries. Due to the combination of the above factors, there was a fall in the income from Mexican exports, a rise in the cost of financing debts that are in foreign currency and exchange rate market pressures. In august 1982 the government of Mexico under the leadership of Jose Lopez Portillo (1976 -1982) put a ban on foreign debt services and started a renegotiation process. The renegotiation was finalized by President Carlos Salinas de Gortari in 1989. The suspension of payments to foreign debts services led to a further increase in interests causing foreign investors to panic and forcing other developing count ries in Latin America to also stop making payments on their debts. This led to a financial crisis in many countries and thus asked for financial aid from the world bank and International Monetary Fund. To receive financialShow MoreRelatedMexican Devaluation Of The Mexican Peso Crisis Essay1412 Words   |  6 Pagesled to the Mexican Peso Crisis. The argument has been whether sound monetary, fiscal and exchange rate policies could have prevented the crisis or foreign intervention was inviable to control the crisis because of the effect to the global community. The purpose of this paper is to show that it was the policies of the Mexican government that caused the devaluation of the peso and thus the ensuing Mexican Peso Crisis. The 1994 Mexican Peso Crisis was a relatively short crisis. The economic policiesRead MoreMexico Business Cycle1260 Words   |  6 Pagesmonetary phenomenon. However, the term is still widely used. Mexico s economy has achieved broad stability and enhanced resilience in recent years, and the country has enjoyed steady growth. Although linked strongly to the currently weak US economy, several factors including the modest external current account deficit, helped by the high oil export prices, FDIs, low external debt ratios, comfortably positioned FE reserves, well supervised financial regulations and well capitalized, liquid and profitableRead MoreMexican And Salvadoran Populations During The United States1649 Words   |  7 Pages2015, not far from the country s all time high of 14.8% in 1890 (Gomez, 2015). Out of this population, Mexico and El Salvador are placed in the top ten countries of immigrants origin (Figure 1.)(Zong and Batalova, 2015). Undoubtedly, the Latino migrant p opulation has significant power in the United States, but this clout extends far beyond the United States and into their countries of origin, particularly through the impact of remittances (Delgado and Marquez, 2009). California is home to the largestRead MoreGlobal Strategy Of Hong Kong And Shanghai Bank Essay1734 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"In-Depth Integrative Case 4.1: HSBC in China† 1. â€Å"How has HSBC adapted its global strategy to operate in China, both before and after China’s WTO accession?† China’s financial industry was just another piece of the centrally planned or command economy of China before any World Trade Organization (WTO) accession agreements were put in place. Regulated lending practices where govern for the banks to hewed to and indeed produced a few of China’s notable thriving businesses, at the same time sustainedRead MoreEssay about NAFTA1048 Words   |  5 Pagesbenefited and lost. Today, NAFTA is responsible for $1.6 Trillion in goods and services annually between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico (USTR). The successes and failures are subjective to where one’s ideals lie. This paper will explore the pros and cons of areas the agreement impacted. What is NAFTA NAFTA eliminated the trade tariffs (last of them were eliminated in 2008) between Mexico, Canada, and the United States (New York Times). As a result, trade between the nations has tripled to in the years sinceRead MoreThe Mexican Revolution Research Assignment1592 Words   |  7 Pagesnumbers of people who had hitherto remained on the margin of politics.’ Civil war: a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country. There was struggle among many factions, alliances were constantly shifting and there was political crisis among competing elites. This would ultimately lead to a civil war as revolutionaries who once fought for the same ideals turned on each other in order to increase their political rank and vice versa. The rich fought against the poor, whites foughtRead MoreTrump Arguments1369 Words   |  6 Pageswhen we are doing better than we were a couple years ago. His take on terrorism seems biased. There has not been a successful attack on the United States since 9/11. And last of all, his statements on the refugee crisis and illegal immigration was wrong. He claims immigrants from Mexico are taking up resources, but he’s not right. Now, take a look at what he claimed and the facts behind them. First of all, let’s take a look at what Trump says about our crumbling infrastructure. Trump states thatRead MoreHas the North American Free Trade Agreement Supported Cohesion?815 Words   |  3 Pagesmarketplace. The North American countries (Canada, America, and Mexico) all share the same hope that NAFTA will be a strong outlet in supporting economic activity and promoting social cohesion between one another. Has NAFTA done this thus far? Most Americans would probably say that it has not because in their eyes free trade is the reason for more than 2.4 million American jobs being displaced since March 2001 and why America is in a financial downturn (Scott). However, have these Americans lost themselvesRead More The History of Capitalism Essay1371 Words   |  6 PagesAsia and Africa quickly became the main target for the Portugal pillagers while later North America was the main target for the Spanish colonists. During the end and the beginning of the fifteenth and the sixt eenth century, Spain invaded Haiti, Cuba, Mexico, Chile and Paraguay. The plunder gained by Spain and Portugal from their colonies made their two counties the most prosperous economies during their reign of the world. Both of these counties had good use of ocean trade, and commerce. Their feudalRead MoreThe Powers Of The State1477 Words   |  6 Pagescriminalization has led to scenarios of Human Rights Violation and curbing the basic right of liberty. Let us look into the probable picture for the same. US’s intervention in Colombia US came up with its ‘Plan Colombia’ in 2000 wherein US provides financial aid and military support to Colombia to cater to its drug related eruptions and problem- to ‘tackle’ the situation. However, the assistance has proven no benefit for Colombia or American drug situation in any way. â€Å"Despite overwhelming evidence

Child Abuse And Molestation Of A Victim Statistic

0 1 Child Abuse and Molestation By Elaine Outar English IV Honors Mr. Wilson Period 6 March 14, 2017 â€Å"I carried this with me for decades. And then I decided to become a Warrior instead of a victim statistic. I broke the cycle† (Unknown). Child abuse is the harming of a child that causes extreme injury, emotional instability, or even death. Neglect is a form of child abuse where a parent does not provide the proper care that a child needs to successfully grow and develop. Child molestation is another form of child abuse, and involves an adult or older adolescent using a child for their own sexual pleasure. There are thousands of cases being reported every year. However, we may never know the exact number of cases.†¦show more content†¦It is indeed heinous to hear an innocent child cry out and that person continues to harm. All child molesters, and abusers need to have severe punishments, and to be off of the street. Children who get molested and/or abused, suffer from long term problems that include depression, and trouble forming relationships. This tragic incid ent can also take years to get over, if not, haunt them for the rest of their lives. Today, convictions of child molestation can already be severe. This depends on the state. According to â€Å"Criminal Defense Lawyer† (NOLO), in Georgia, a person accused of molesting a child can have a sentence of 5 to 25 years for their first offense. Any other similar crimes committed by the same criminal, can cause them to have a sentence of 10 years to life. The penal code for any libidinous acts with a child 14 years of age and younger, in California, includes a sentence of up to 8 years, for each felony count against that person. Every separate act is its own felony charge. Also, any sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 10, will be punished with a sentence of up to 25 years to years. In Ohio, any who rapes a child under the age of 13 is to have time in prison, or a life sentence, even if the person did not know the child’s correct age. Child sexual abusers will also have to register themselves as a sex offender. This includes, the person’s name , and location. Anyone will be able to look this information up.Show MoreRelatedChild Molestation And Its Effect On Children1638 Words   |  7 Pagesaware of the nature of the crime or offense. One of the most traumatizing experiences that a child can ever encounter in their adolescent life is sexual abuse. Child molestation has been inflicted on many children throughout history and most will agree that it is a harmful and despicable act, however do we know why it occurs? Do we know what causes child sexual abuse and does it have the same effect on every child? Are some children even aware of the fact that they are being victimized? There are manyRead MoreChild Molestation Informative Speech845 Words   |  4 Pages Child Molestation Outline General Function: To Inform Specific Purpose: After my speech my audience will know what child molestation is, the road to recovery, and the obstacles along the way. Central Idea (Thesis Statement): Most people fear the fact’s of child molestation, but the truth is there is a very distinct definition to child molestation, severe effects to the child in the aftermath, and a long road to a successful recovery. Pattern of organization: Topical Outline: I. IntroductionRead MoreShould Convicted Male Child Molesters Be Physically Castrated1140 Words   |  5 PagesThere are many people who know of someone who has been the victim of sexual assault. Likewise, millions of people are sexual assault victims themselves. With there being so many cases of assault, the criminal justice system is faced with the hard task of deciding on the correct punishment for the convicted offenders. One option of punishment for a male child molester is to have them physically castrated. Convicted male child molesters should most certainly receive strong punishment, but physicalRead MoreThe Causation Of Child Molestation1322 Words   |  6 Pages Causation of Child Molestation There are several different types of abuse, from sexual abuse to verbal abuse etc. Many happen within our own homes and the act is very unnoticeable. People being sexually attracted to children used to account for a very small percentage of people. However, as time continues more child sexual offenders are being reported. As time continues more children are facing the experience of being molested. Child sexual abuse faced not only in the United StatesRead MoreEssay on Child Abuse: A Hidden Epidemic1218 Words   |  5 Pages How do we define â€Å"abuse† when we discuss child abuse? â€Å"Abuse† is defined as Treating a person or animal with cruelty or violence, especially when it occurs regularly and repeatedly.† When you add â€Å"child† it becomes â€Å"child abuse.† â€Å"Child Abuse† is defined as â€Å"physical maltreatment or sexual molestation of a child.†(Oxford Dictionary online) â€Å"Child abuse† may also be defined as â€Å"a crime of inflicted physical or emotionalRead MoreThe Impact Of Sexual Child Abuse On America1517 Words   |  7 Pages The Impact of Sexual Child Abuse in America Child abuse has been going on for many years. There are many forms of child abuse, however, there is one that is far worse than the rest; sexual abuse. Children has a natural instinct to trust too easily and believe what people tell them, especially if they know those people. Statistics show very high figures of sexual child abuse in America. When children undergo sexual abuse, it impacts their whole being. There are physicalRead MorePrevention Techniques For Rape And Child Abuse2187 Words   |  9 Pages21 | Page Preventative techniques/penalties for rape By Tyrese Hamilton March 14, 2017 Mr. Wilson I. Prevention techniques for rape and/or child abuse Being that child molestation, and child abuse are two horrible, and disgusting things; should prevention techniques and/ or penalties be applied to these horrendous crimes? There are many reasons why it’s agreed that some type of prevention techniques and/ or penalties are very appropriate. One of the most important reasons forRead MoreChild Abuse And The United States906 Words   |  4 PagesAn Introduction to Child Abuse in the United States Child abuse is a global problem Child abuse in the U.S. is a shame to our American society and an unnecessary act that achieves nothing but bad actions towards another person. In the U.S. child abuse has increased along the years and just seem to be getting more horrendous. It is a recurring issue that has been happening all around the world to innocent young children and most of these cases are being kept quiet about because they are too scaredRead MoreSexual Assault And Sex Assault Essay2463 Words   |  10 Pagessexual assault, focusing mainly on College Institutions and how sexual assault cases have been handled within those institutions. Sexual assault is a very important topic to discuss, since this can happen to anyone you know, man or woman, adult or child, or yourself. This paper will touch on the different types of sexual assault, stigma of sexual assault, treatment of sexual assault, and understanding the perpetrator. There will be a brief discussion of the current socia l issue of college campus sexualRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd ) Essay1206 Words   |  5 PagesThis paper focuses on women who are survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) and today struggle with a complex set of symptoms known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For pastors who intend to provide help, an integrated multidimensional treatment plan flows from a thorough assessment and accurate diagnosis. Discussed herein are three treatment options including individual, group and cognitive processing therapy and the integration of a Christian perspective regarding symptom mitigation to

Microeconomics Mathematics and Science

Question: Discuss about the Microeconomics for Mathematics and Science. Answer: Introduction: Predominantly, Mathematics and Science subjects are poorly performed by high school learners in Australia. Also, inadequate funding, inequity is another vice experienced in Australian education institutions as encompassed in the Programme for International student Assessment Report. These issues are being highlighted by an educational reporter from the Sydney Morning Herald. Noteworthy, despite heavy government expenditure on education the result havent helped boost Maths and science performance of learners in Australia (Cook 2016).Australia was ranked 19th in Maths and 16th in science respectively by OECD (OECD Australia,n.d.) Education Expenditure 8 289 USD/student Tertiary 2012-2013 Australia Tertiary 2013 Australia Mathematics performance (PISA) 497 Mean score Mean score 2003-2015 Australia Mean score 2015 Australia Reading performance (PISA) 487Mean score mean score 2000-2015 Australia Mean score 2015 Australia Science performance (PISA) 511 Mean score 2006-2015 Australia However, the world economic forum, competitiveness report recognizes the improvements made in accessibility to advanced education and basic education pillar index by Australia. This was evidenced by positions 8th and 9th respectively (World economic forum, 2016) Shortage of qualified teachers for maths and science has largely contributed to poor scores in the subjects respectively. Also, teaching out of scope by the teachers in Australia is likely to have contributed to the poor Mathematics and science performance (Munro, 2016) Inadequate funding for schools for disabled students contributes to poor performance (Australian Human rights commission, n.d.) Issues are being highlighted to help improve the capacity and quality of experts in mathematics and science subjects for the Australian economy, boost funding, improve education quality and facility, equity and to raise awareness on the inequity levels in Australian schools (Cook, 2016).Primarily, an uneducated taskforce due to poor practice and policy contributes to high unemployment rates and recession. Australia was ranked 6th and 8th for Math and science respectively in 2000 but has dropped to 19th and 16th for science and maths respectively in 2012 Notably, top 15 Australian students had the same score as top 40-50 students in Singapore and Taiwan. Economic Concepts and Analysis. Equity in education implies equal opportunities and resources for all students. However, in some parts of Australia inequity in education institutions has paralyzed the system. Inequity is evidenced by less qualified teaching staff ,high student teacher ratio and few resources thus a competitive disadvantage between them and those learners being taught by qualified resources with adequate education infrastructure.Notably,Australia ranks among the top countries with education inequality. Disadvantaged schools are less than likely to offer proper learning curriculum and opportunities for learners in Australia due to its qualified teacher's shortage (Save our schools, 2017) Notably, allocation inequality is highest in Australia and among the top seven countries worldwide with high teacher student ratio. Also, Australia is ranked 4th with the largest inadequate educational infrastructure. Primarily, Shortage of qualified teachers results in poor education quality in disadvantaged schools. Few teachers imply high student teacher ratio which isnt an ideal situation for better learning experiences hence a competitive disadvantage for students in disadvantaged schoold.Furthermore, inadequate funding leads to few employment opportunities of qualified teachers thus contributing to the overall unemployment levels in the Australian economy. Inadequate funding in education infrastructure has led to fewer learner enrollment figures in Australian schools, higher teacher student ratios, shortage of resources, unemployment and poor learner performance. In addition, shortage of teachers denies learners basic universal access to knowledge and skills. Inevitably, future uneducated labor force resulting from poor education policies and practices cripples chances of employment; increases work redundancy levels and encourages high levels of layoffs. Technological advancements in the workplace today make science and mathematics crucial subjects for future labor market of Australia. Inequalities can be solved by availing equal education opportunities for both advantaged and disadvantaged learners. This can be done through affordable education financial expenses for parents and guardians.Also,widened and easy access to educational and training facilities and making education outcomes dependable on motivation and intelligence will help eliminate inequality(Argy, 2007)Additional funding for the education sector is recommended to further boost its performance. Proper funding will ensure purchase of adequate education facilities and hiring and training of qualified teachers for quality education performance (Harrington, 2007) Furthermore, qualified teachers can be obtained through raising entry standards and teaching curriculum in teacher training institutions.Also,Affordable fees be charged for training teachers.Additionally,professional development courses and achievement awards are likely to motivate teachers to do their jobs efficiently(Harrington, 2007)Morever,implementation of active labor market training programmes are likely to prepare the learners for the future labor market they will be absorbed into in the future thereby reducing long term unemployment ,work redundancies rates ,overall unemployment rates and layoffs in the future labor market of the Australian economy. Conclusion Undeniably, Australia s education sector requires improvements this can be evidenced by the low score for the Programme for international student Assessment s results for Mathematics and Science at 25 and 14 respectively according to OECD Report. However, Australia s score was way above OECD s average. Learner inequality evidenced by the shortage of qualified teachers and the high teacher-student ratio has resulted in general poor learner performance in Australia. Inadequate funding of education facilities has caused competitive inequality between advantaged and disadvantaged learners in Australia. Lastly, inadequate funding cripples purchase of essential teaching equipment and aids thus a disadvantage for learners.Also,inadequate funding can result in employment of unqualified teaching staff hence unqualified teaching hence which inevitably translates to poor learner performance and poor education quality. Less funding also leads to few employment opportunities due to low salary budget for employers. Additionally, insufficient funding denies disabled students access to quality basic universal education hence general poor performance in mathematics and science in Australia. Primarily, Funding, cost, academic and training qualifications of teachers largely affect learner performance in Australia. Reference List Argy, F. (2007).Education Inequalities in Australia. University of Western Australia. [Online] Available at https://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/new-critic/five/educationinequalities[Accessed on 10 Apr.2017] Australian High Commission for Human Rights .Access to education for student with Disabilities; Barriers and Difficulties. Australian High Commission for Human Rights. [Online] Available at https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/access-education-students-disability-barriers-and-difficulties[Accessed 10 Apr.2017] Cook, H. (2016).What is the problem with Australian Schools?. The Sydney Morning Herald. [Online] Available at https://www.smh.com.au/national/what-is-the-problem-with-australian-schools-20160511-gosmbw.html [Accessed 10 Apr.2017] Harrington, M. Improving School Performance. The Achievement of Australia School Students. Parliament of Australia. [Online] Available at https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BriefingBook44p/SchoolPerformance[Accessed 10 Apr.2017] Munhro.K. (2016).Why is Australia s Education System Going Backwards? The Sydney Morning Herald. [Online] Available at https://www.smh.com.au/national/education/why-is-australias-education-system-going-backwards-20161208-gt6van.html.[Accessed 10 Apr.2017] OECD. Data: Australia. Selected indicators for Australia.OECD. [Online]Available at https://data.oecd.org/australia.htm[Accessed on 10 Apr.2017] Save our Schools. (2017). Fighting for equity in schools; the struggle is long but hope is longer. Save our schools. [Online] Available at https://www.saveourschools.com.au/equity-in-education/resource-gaps-between-advantaged-disadvantaged-schools-among-the-largest-in-the-world[Accessed 10 Apr.2017] World Economic Forum. Country Highlights. [Online] Available at https://reports.weforum.org/global-competitiveness-report-2015-2016/country-highlights/[Accessed 10.Apr.2017]

Principle of Capital the Maintenance †Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: How Do To Principle of Capital the Maintenance? Answer: Introducation The principle of Capital maintenance postulates that a firm must receive proper compensation for its shares and must not repay it to the shareholder except under exceptional situations. Profoundly, this doctrine was first developed in the mid-19th Century in the United Kingdom (Kaplan, n.d.). Today, this doctrine has become less relevant in the contemporary business world. Most companies have a relatively small share capital and consider the capital maintenance regulations as unduly complicated. Others argue the rules of the principle have been overtaken by their exceptions. As a result, various countries such as Singapore, Australia, and the UK, and have restructured their capital maintenance guidelines over the past years to suit their specific needs. In Trevor v Whitworth, a firm purchased most of its own shares. During its termination, one member applied for the balance of funds that the company owed him after the purchase. The court ruled that he should be compensated (Islam, 2013). Contrariwise, The House of Lords argued that the purchase was void, declaring that the business cannot buy its own shares despite the fact that there was a provision for that in the companys memorandum. It also held that there could be no refund of funds to the shareholders other than on an appropriate reduction of capital authorized by the court. Thus, this case law applied the rule that stipulates that on the liquidation of a firm, members can retrieve their money only after all creditors have been reimbursed. Benefits of the doctrine Fundamentally, the benefits of the doctrine lie in the fact that it sought to safeguard the interests of creditors. In addition, it aimed at ensuring the lawful utilization of the assets of a business. Markedly, this principle has developed through a sequence of judicial interpretations in company case law. For instance, in the Flitcrofts Case, Jessel M. R. incidentally stated some aspects of this rule (Islam, 2013). First, the creditors have a right to ensure that the funds of a business are not used improperly. It also highlighted the fact shareholders should not be refunded their capital secretly. Here, the case was argued on the basis of the rules of capital reduction and company distributions. Exceptions to the doctrine It is imperative to note that there are certain exceptions to the doctrine of maintenance of capital. In Bangladesh, the rule on the reduction of capital proposes that a firm that is limited by shares does not possess the right to purchase its own shares or those of a public firm unless the consequent reduction is effected and sanctioned as per the requirements set out in sections 59 to 70. With regards to the purchase of shares, a company limited by shares cannot purchase its own shares except if it follows appropriate measures as outlined under Companies Act of 1994 (Hannigan, 2012). Likewise, in England, exceptions have been made pertaining to the reduction of share capital. The CA 2008 allows private companies to condense their capital through a special resolution reinforced by a statement of creditworthiness issued by all the managers. Reference List Capital maintenance. Kaplan Financial Knowledge Bank, [online]. Available at https://kfknowledgebank.kaplan.co.uk/KFKB/Wiki%20Pages/Capital%20maintenance.aspx [Accessed 21 May 2017]. Chapter 3: Capital maintenance. Cr.gov, [online]. Available at https://www.cr.gov.hk/en/publications/docs/062008_ch3-e.pdf [Accessed 21 May 2017]. Hannigan, B., 2012. The doctrine of capital maintenance. Oxford Index, [online] (Last updated June 2014). Available at https://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/he/9780199608027.003.0020 [Accessed 21 May 2017]. Islam, S., 2013. The Doctrine of Capital Maintenance and its Statutory Developments: An Analysis. The Northern University Journal of Law, 4, pp. 47-55.

Steps a Company Can Implement To Be Awarded Excellence in Service

Working Across Boundaries Analysis

Working Across Boundaries Analysis Introduction Companies often encounter boundaries when it comes to creating efficient business processes whether in the form of distance or differences in business culture, however, by overcoming such boundaries better business operations can be attained.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Working Across Boundaries Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As indicated by Piercy (2006) in order for any company to continue to be competitive within the present day global market place it is necessary for it to be highly responsive to changes, receptive to new developments within its market, highly creative as well as espouses actions of innovation and continued increases in efficiency (ex: Six Sigma) (Piercy, 2006: 3). Such aspects though are dependent on the employees of a company wherein through the use of proper management practices a company is able to create stable internal procedures to ensure proper operations and p roduct development which would inevitably result in a successful company. The purpose of this project is to explain the advantages and disadvantages to working across boundaries, in this case distance and a diversified workforce. Through such a method of examination, it is expected that a greater understanding of todays globalized business environment will be developed resulting in the promotion of the appropriate management practices to overcome such boundaries. This paper is divided into 2 primary sections; the first section discusses the boundary of distance as exemplified by the outsourcing industry. The second section deals primarily with the diversified workforces that have come about as a direct result of the present day orientation of multinational companies to expand into different markets. Through both sections, a clear idea can be developed regarding both the advantages and disadvantages of working across boundaries. It is the assumption of the researcher that, proper man agement practices can help to overcome boundaries such as distance and a diverse workforce thereby creating effective business operations. What is Outsourcing? As explained by Marchington et al. (2005), corporate executives are under pressure to improve the competitiveness of their companies through cost reduction, increased efficiency as well as the improvement of various services. It is due to this that they have been turning towards outsourcing as of late in order to resolve such issues (Marchington et al., 2005: 4).Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The term outsourcing actually refers to the practice wherein a company contracts another company to perform a particular business function for them at a reduced cost as compared to the main company doing it themselves (Young Bong Gurbaxani, 2012: 1043). Outsourcing can take the form of manufacturing, accounting, cu stomer services and a variety of other practices that can be done in another location. The main purpose of outsourcing is to reduce the inherent cost of operations by leveraging aspects related to cheaper workforce costs or reduced utilities expenses found in other location. (Young Bong Gurbaxani, 2012: 1043) Through globalization, the internet and the process of outsourcing and off shoring, technology/manufacturing teams are no longer isolated to merely being within the same building, state or country, rather, they are scattered across a wide breadth of countries, cultures and business environments which management practices of contemporary technology intensive enterprises need to take into consideration (Allen et al., 2005: 301). For example, as indicated by Dey, Houseman Polivka (2012) when it comes to doing business within the U.S., the costs encountered by mosts businesses are often taxes, employee salaries and benefits as well as utilities (Dey, Houseman Polivka, 2012: 533) . The problem with such factors is that they in effect increase the cost of doing business within a particular country. It is due to this that outsourcing various aspects of a companys operations becomes more attractive since locations such as China, India and the Philippines enable a company to gain significant cost savings (i.e. lower tax rates, salaries, benefits expenses etc. (Whitaker, Mithas and Krishnan, 2010: 11). For example, within China alone the sheer cost of doing business is so low that companies have been outsourcing their manufacturing departments to the country since the late 1990s (Whitaker, Mithas and Krishnan, 2010: 11). This can also be seen in the case of India and the Philippines wherein outsourcing has become a $100 billion a year industry (Magtibay-Ramos et al., 2008: 41). Cost Savings The main reason behind working across the boundary of distance are the cost savings involved in hiring a local within the Philippines, China or India for example as compared t o hiring someone from the U.S., U.K. or Canada to do the exact same type of job (Marion Friar, 2012: 44).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Working Across Boundaries Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Minimum wage requirements, taxation and other costs related to doing business are simply far lower in various places in Asia as compared to countries in the West and, with the integration of global financial markets and supply chains due to globalization, it has now become more practical to simply have certain aspects of a companys operations (usually manufacturing and customer service) to be located in other countries with lower business costs (Yang, Wacker Sheu, 2012: 4462). Companies do not even need to manufacture their own products. This can be seen in the case of Apple, Sony and Microsoft wherein the Apple iPad, the Sony Playstation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 have all been manufactured by the same o utsourcing company, namely Foxconn (Ngai Chan, 2012: 383). Problems with Distance It should be noted that Marchington et al. (2005) also explains that outsourcing should not be considered the go to solution when it comes to reducing corporate expenses. Utilizing the example of Railtrack and the faulty maintenance procedures that resulted from outsourcing aspects of the companys operations, it can be seen that by not keeping things in-house this actually exposes the company to a multitude of possible problems related to mismanagement and improper operational practices that would not have occurred if they had been done by the main company instead of an outsourced firm (Marchington et al., 2005: 6). This shows how problems can occur in numerous areas of a company’s operations as a direct result of outsourcing which can have dire consequences for consumers and businesses alike.  Working across boundaries such as distance and business culture is advantageous for any company due to access to a greater talent pool and product markets, however, the fact remains that along with such advantages comes distinct disadvantages in the form of ill-suited management practices in dealing with a diversified global workforce and the potential for problems in a company’s supply chain due to lax standards on the part of their international partners (Wee Wee, 2010: 2081). Management practices in some of todays technology oriented organizations need to facilitate better collaboration and communication between global teams despite the distances and diverse cultural differences involved.  There are distinct problems related to this particular model of doing business in the form of lax product quality standards, unethical worker treatment as well as issues related to proper communication in between various outsourced departments (Tambe Hitt, 2010:62). For example Microsoft, which is one of the worlds largest software manufacturers, has development teams scattered ar ound the world working on different aspects of the operating systems that it produces. The inherent problem with this situation is that different methods of coding procedure combined with a variety of problems related to time difference, business culture and the sheer distance involved invites problems in all stages of OS (Operating System) development (Ulanoff, 2007: 74). The software â€Å"Windows Vista† for instance (which was largely considered one of Microsofts worst operating systems) had problems not only during its development but also during its sale and promotion. Such problems were attributed to ineffective management practices in helping to consolidate efforts across different borders and cultures (i.e. between different technology teams within the company’s software development divisions in the U.S. and India) (Ulanoff, 2007: 74).Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This situation is not limited to the development of software but rather also includes the production processes of certain electronic goods. For example, lax management practices in the form of insufficient quality control procedures as well as improper sales and repair procedures were blamed for one of Dell corporations recent fiascos (occurred in 2006) wherein faulty components within several of its laptops that were sourced from foreign partners were seen actually leaking some sort of fluid during normal operational processes and had the potential to burst into flames (Mullins Weiss, 2006: 6). Another issue in this case was that Dell knowingly resold such units despite the identification of the inherent flaws which is indicative of a failure of management practices from not only a production point of view but from an ethical sales perspective. Other companies such as Apple and IBM have been highly criticized due to falling product standards as a result of lax quality control chec ks with their overseas factories. Apple, Microsoft and Sony have also been criticized for contributing towards the continued unethical treatment of workers within the factories of Foxconn which has severely damaged the image of these companies in the eyes of the general public (Ngai Chan, 2012: 383). Studies such as Holweg Pil (2012) that issues related to proper communication (i.e. English and non English speaking) between various overseas operational departments have resulted in problems related to shipping delays, erroneous inventory requests and an assortment of related problems that have resulted in increased costs for companies (Holweg Pil, 2012:98). Such a situation necessitates the implementation of new methods of cooperation through team exchanges (members of one team visiting the other), implementing methods of open communication and conceptualization between teams located within the U.S. and those within off-shored development/manufacturing facilities and facilitating better cooperative practices through the development of cultural understanding regarding how particular business cultures work over diverse locations (Young Bong Gurbaxani, 2012: 1043). Utilizing such a strategy, effective practices can be implemented which result in the characteristics mentioned earlier that are deemed necessary for a technology oriented company to survive and to thrive. A Diversified Workforce As explained by Marchington et al. (2005), organizations within the past few years have become increasing stratified an diversified as a direct result of not only the need to expand into new markets but the changing face of how people are employed within various companies today (i.e. in-house, contracted, part time etc.) ((Marchington et al., 2005: 11). This also due to the fact that companies have become more â€Å"networked† in that exchanges have become more horizontal rather than vertical due to the way in which the boundaries between companies/ organizations hav e become weakened as a direct result of new collaborative arrangements in the form of strategic partnerships, industrial networks etc. ((Marchington et al., 2005: 13). Since globalization and multiculturalism have become synonymous aspects of the global market place, companies tend to respond to the diverse consumer and cultural demographics to which they sell their products and services to stay relevant by also diversifying their methods of operation to match the needs of such markets (Jones, 2012:207). A company that limits itself in terms of diverse employee demographics runs the risk of being unable to understand the quirks and cultural norms in certain ethnic and racial markets resulting in the creation of an ill-equipped marketing and sales strategy which very likely will result in adverse consequences for the company in terms of the number of products sold and the degree of market penetration. Most modern day companies attempt a certain degree of racial, gender and cultural d iversity in the employees they hire, especially when it comes to attempts to access new markets in foreign locations. This enables the creation of unique product concepts, sales strategies and marketing mixes based on the views and backgrounds of this diversified workforce within that particular country resulting in a greater likelihood of a successful market penetration (Jones, 2012: 207). Other benefits derived from workforce diversity come in the form of greater employee retention due to a company culture that supports equality and racial acceptance rather than discrimination and divisiveness. Multiethnic and multi-gender companies tended to have higher rates of productivity due to greater employee satisfaction over the companys policies which results in better overall profits for the company due to increased productivity (Grey, 2009: 44). It cannot be stated though that the implementation of a racial, cultural and gender diverse workforce will automatically result in better comp any performance. Grey (2009) states â€Å"there must be a distinct benefit derived from the implementation of a diverse workforce otherwise it doesnt make sense for a company to implement a hiring strategy that focuses on it† (Grey, 2009: 44). Disadvantages of Workforce Diversity One of the inherent challenges involving workplace diversity is in creating sufficient channels of communication within an organization. Channels of communication are one of the cornerstones of any successful business when it comes to having a diverse workplace environment since it entails the use of added practices so as to sufficiently relay messages across different ethnicities and cultures (Pardo and Martinez, 2003:148). People from different cultures and ethnicities tend to perceive messages in many different ways due to the unique quirks of their method of understanding. Some messages are at times interpreted as insulting and vice-versa and, as such, it is important to implement methods of comm unication that take this into consideration so as to reduce possible misinterpretations (Joslin, Waters and Dudgeon, 2010: 22). Another challenge to take into consideration are factors related to cultural bias and prejudice that affect the ability of workers to work harmoniously at their respective jobs. Companies that have various branches and teams spread across several international markets have noted that there are instances that occur involving cultural bias or even prejudice resulting in work related conflict as well as instances of intentional discrimination resulting in not only substantial reductions in performance but the loss of certain operational capacities (Wu et al., 2012: 178). Companies that want to be able to take advantage of a diversified workforce need to implement measures to reduce cultural bias and prejudice. This comes in the form of team building exercises, company sponsored behavioral training or even joint vacations all of which should help necessitate pr oper communication and collaboration between members of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The final challenge that companies should take into consideration is the concept of corporate assimilation and how this affect an individuals productivity. As noted byDam (2008) assimilation is a way in which a worker is negatively affected by an organizations business and corporate culture wherein they are unable to sufficiently express themselves utilizing their ethnic and cultural backgrounds due to constraining rules and regulations at their work environment (Dam, 2008: 313). As a result, this impacts not only the effectiveness of management decisions (in the case of managers) but productivity and responsiveness (in the case of employees. An example of this is seen in the case of a manager from the U.S. being placed in charge of a new outsourced branch of the company (i.e. in China, India, or the Philippines) or in instances where a local company is taken over by a foreign multinat ional corporation. It is based on this that companies need to take into consideration implementing new business culture practices that enable people to express themselves based on their cultural and ethnic background so as to encourage positive employee productivity rather than negative employee performance due constraining factors on their ability to express themselves (Hilton and Whiteford, 2010: 435). Benefits of Workforce Diversity With the global financial downturn affecting not only the U.S. economy but the global economy, this necessitates the need for creativity and innovation in being able to access new markets in order to sell particular products and services. Workforce diversity through international expansion actually enables a company to utilize a pool of individuals that come from different backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities. This enables a company to relate with and understand the needs of consumers within markets the company is attempting to penetrate (Allen et al ., 2005: 301).  The original marketing and sale strategies that had been implemented by a company within its original market should not be considered as effective when applied to new markets and, as such, calls for views and opinions of people that either belong to that particular consumer segment or understand it to an extent in order to implement sufficient strategies for sales and market penetration (Allen et al., 2005: 301). For example, when Coca Cola tried to enter the Chinese market their marketing campaign consisted of merely translating their slogan of We bring you to life into Chinese and using that in their marketing and print ads (McDonald, 1996: 5). Unfortunately, its translation wound up as we bring your dead relatives to life and, as such, wound up costing the company millions in changes to its original slogan (McDonald, 1996: 5). Another example of failures in marketing and sales came when Gerber expanded into Africa and did not take into account the predilections of local companies to place a picture of what was inside a product on a product label due to many Africans not knowing how to read (McDonald, 1996: 6). This of course resulted in a rather embarrassing recall by Gerber due to Africans perceiving each product by Gerber as containing babies. These examples show how having a diversified workforce with multiple viewpoints and different levels of understanding is important for any company. A diverse workforce enables better methods of problem solving, allows the company to successfully market itself to different international consumer groups, helps to promote innovation and furthermore creates a good corporate image due to its practice of creating a multicultural and multiethnic workforce (Vithessonthi Schwaninger, 2008: 141). Conclusion As seen in the paper, there are numerous advantages and disadvantages when it comes to working across boundaries. In the case of distance and workforce diversity this can often entail problems related to communication, proper cooperation, the implementation of effective management practices and culture shock. Working across boundaries can result in cost reductions for a company, the ability to access new markets as well as the creation of a diversified workforce that would expand a companys knowledge base. Reference List Allen, R. K., Becerik, B., Pollalis, S. N., Schwegler, B. R. (2005). Promise and Barriers to  Technology Enabled and Open Project Team Collaboration. Journal Of Professional  Issues In Engineering Education Practice, 131(4), 301-311. Dam, K., Oreg, S., Schyns, B. (2008). Daily Work Contexts and Resistance to  Organizational Change: The Role of Leader–Member Exchange, Development  Climate, and Change Process Characteristics. Applied Psychology: An International  Review, 57(2), 313-334 Dey, M., Houseman, S., Polivka, A. (2012). Manufacturers outsourcing to staffing  services. Industrial Labor Relations Review, 65(3), 533-559. Grey, C. (2009). Human relations theory and people management. 2nded, Sage Publications  Ltd,London, pp. 44-64 Hilton, M. F., Whiteford, H. A. (2010). Interacting with the public as a risk factor for employee psychological distress. BMC Public Health, 10435-441. Holweg, M., Pil, F. K. (2012). Outsourcing Complex Business Processes: Lessons from an  enterprise partnership. California Management Review, 54(3), 98-115. Jones, R. (2012). Organizational design and strategy in a changing global environment.  6thed. Upper Saddle, New Jersey. pp.207-239 Joslin, F., Waters, L., and Dudgeon, P. (2010). Perceived acceptance and work standards as  predictors of work attitudes and behaviour and employee psychological distress  following an internal business merger. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 25 (1), 22-43 Magtibay-Ramos, N., Estrada, G., Felipe, J. (2008). An Input–Output Analysis of the  Philippine BPO Industry. Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, 22(1), 41-56. Marchington, M. (2005) . Fragmenting work: Blurring organizational boundaries and  disordering hierarchies. (1 ed., pp. 1-33). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Marion, T. H. (2012). Managing Global Outsourcing to Enhance Lean Innovation. Research Technology   anagement, 55(5), 44. McDonald, M. (1996). Strategic Marketing Planning: Theory, Practice and Research  Agendas. Journal Of Marketing Management, 12(1-3), 5-27. Mullins, R., Weiss, T. R. (2006). Dell, Users Scramble to Cope With Battery Recall.  Computerworld, 40(35), 6. Ngai, P., Chan, J. (2012). Global Capital, the State, and Chinese Workers: The Foxconn  Experience. Modern China, 38(4), 383-410. Pardo, D, and Martinez, C. (2003). Resistance to change: a literature review and empirical  study. Management Decision, 41(2), 148 Piercy, N. F. (2006). The Strategic Sales Organization. Marketing Review, 6(1), 3-28.  Tambe, P., Hitt, L. (2010). How Offshoring Affects IT Workers. Communications Of The  ACM, 53(10), 62-70. Ulanoff, L. (20 07). The Vista Conspiracy. PC Magazine, 26(13), 74. Vithessonthi, C., Schwaninger, M. (2008). Job motivation and self-confidence for learning  and development as predictors of support for change. Journal Of Organizational  Transformation Social Change, 5(2), 141-157. Wee, H., Peng, S., Wee, P. P. (2010). Modelling of outsourcing decisions in global supply  chains. An empirical study on supplier management performance with different  outsourcing strategies. International Journal Of Production Research, 48(7), 2081-2094. Whitaker, J., Mithas, S., Krishnan, M. S. (2010). Organizational Learning and Capabilities  for Onshore and Offshore Business Process Outsourcing. Journal Of Management  Information Systems, 27(3), 11-42. Wu, L., Yim, F., Kwan, H., Zhang, X. (2012). Coping with Workplace Ostracism: The Roles  of Ingratiation and Political Skill in Employee Psychological Distress. Journal Of  Management Studies, 49(1), 178-199. Yang, C., Wacker, J. G., Sheu, C. (2 012). What makes outsourcing effective? A  transaction-cost economics analysis. International Journal Of Production Research,  50(16), 4462-4476 Young Bong, C., Gurbaxani, V. (2012). Information technology outsourcing, knowledge  transfer, and firm productivity: an empirical analysis. MIS Quarterly, 36(4), 1043-1063.

Employment law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Employment law - Essay Example The employer is required to prove just because as a reason for dismissal, which requires him to show proof that the employee has been habitually found to engage in misconduct that eventually resulted in the current dismissal and this may require the tabling of warning letters or specific directives in a court of law. When an employee is dismissed based on ‘Just Cause’ principle, the employer is not obliged to provide notice to the dismissed employee nor is the employee entitled to any pay in lieu of notice. However, certain occasions, the employer may be required to furnish the dismissed employee with reasons for the dismissal. An employee whose service has been terminated through wrongful dismissal may seek remedies through the help of courts of law. Under the common law, such employees can be reinstated to their previous jobs or places of work. As most employment relationships are contractual in nature, the courts of law would most instances determine cases of unfair d ismissal based on the principles grounded in contract law. This requires the employers to compensate the wrongly dismissed employee for the earnings and benefits lost during the reasonable period of time they would have been in employment if the notice was given in good time. Under the ‘Wallace Cause’ established in the case of Wallace v United Grain Growers Ltd, the courts established that the employer is under an obligation to give ample notice period of the intention to dismiss an employee and any contravention of this, the courts can extend the dismissal period. This effectively makes employers who act in bad faith by being untruthful and end up dismissing their employees liable for such dismissals. The damage awarded is commensurate with the bad faith demonstrated by the employer and are determined as the determination of other damages in cases involving morals. The damages are calculated from the date the employee was dismissed according to the terms expressed in the contract itself. The computation of damages will include expected earnings, benefits and any other compensation the dismissed employee would have earned if a reasonable period was given. The common law allows for a negotiation of a reasonable period while statutory provisions provide fixed notice periods for notice to dismiss. In summary, a wrongfully dismissed employee is entitled to salary that could have been earned had a reasonable notice period be issued inclusive of any awards in salary increment that may be effected in the period after dismissal and other benefits such as commissions and overtimes. Other benefits that accrue to employees in the course of employment such as houses of residences, insurance and mortgages must be duly paid or given to him. Case Study 2 There are many tests for distinguishing an employee from an independent contractor. It is important to note that all these tests look at the substance or what occurred in such employment relationship rather tha n what is written in a particular contract. The first and most important test is the level of control that the hiring person has over the performance of the work in terms of place, time and the manner in which it is done. An individual who does not have the control over such aspects is an employee while the vice versa in terms of control refer to an independent contractor. The risk test provides that the independent contractor bears risks that come with the performance o

Physiology outside report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Physiology outside report - Essay Example (Underwood, 2003, quotes Matallana, n.d.) Claps (2002) reports in his article, "Fibromyalgia: exercise can offer relief for people who live with this painful malady" that experts now know that fibromyalgia, which affects more women than men, does exist. The term fibromyalgia describes the symptoms. Fibro refers to the fibrous tissues of the body and myalgia indicates muscular pain that is widespread. It's a form of muscular rheumatism where normal pain is amplified by the brain and spinal cord which controls the central nervous system. Even a simple touch, or something that is not really considered to be pain, will reduce pain and increase mobility; hence, improving quality of life. Although it may seem painful to exercise, if performed correctly, physical fitness will break the cycle of pain and improve sleep which will decrease depression. Sleep problems and depression are two of the major fibromyalgia symptoms. The pain can cause an individual to forego exercise yet as Claps (2002) quotes Goldenburg (2002) on how physical fitness can break the pain cycle, "Pain causes muscle spasm. Spasm interferes with oxygen (flow) to the muscle.

Trifles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Trifles - Essay Example In this regard, Susan Glaspell’s play â€Å"Trifles† appears to be a perfect example of representation of all essential literary elements of the play’s world for their research and analysis. For the beginning it must be said that the play â€Å"Trifles† is based on real-life story from the experience of Susan Glaspell as a reporter. The thing is that â€Å"†¦she was assigned to report on a murder case: the homicide of John Hossack, a prosperous Warren County farmer who had been killed in his sleep† in approximately 1900 year (MidnightAssassin.com). Being one of the first reporters who arrived at the accident site, Glaspell has been aware that Hossack’s wife is suspected in her husband’s murder, while she swore it was an intruder blood-guilty for John’s death. In a few days, Susan Glaspell has visited Hossacks’ farmhouse. The scenery of its kitchen has made a striking impression on the reporter. As we can see, the story of her further play’s character John Wright’s murder almost doubles the true story from Glaspell’s experience of the reporter. But there is one interesting point, that is, the time of the writing and performance of â€Å"Trifles†: â€Å"First performed by the Provincetown Players at the Wharf Theatre, Provincetown, Mass., August 8, 1916† (Glaspell). The time gap accounts for almost sixteen years. Then the obvious question arises: what circumstances prompted Glaspell to write the play? Having her previous practice of writing plays during 1909-1915 years, the playwrighter has decided not only to convey her ideas on paper, but also to animate them onstage before audiences. In this intention her husband has served as an active supporter and immediate participant of Glaspell’s ideas. â€Å"In 1915, at their summer home in Provincetown on Cape Cod, the couple organized a group of local artists as an amateur theatre group and staged a number of one-act plays in a converted fish warehouse† (Britannica.com). The

Interesting World Of Social Media Media Essay

Interesting World Of Social Media Media Essay Having that said I dare bet that every Internet-user is or has been part of the Social Media community. Yes, even you. Because, admit it, have you ever watched a video on YouTube? à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ So I thought. Social Media is however more than just YouTube. The experience goes much further than simply watching movies on the internet and that is exactly what captivates me. How can one kind of Media become so huge in such a short time? How is it possible that both companies and private-individuals use the same medium on different ways? And, more importantly, why is it that Social Media is still expanding instead of fading away like most of the hypes we know? Let it be clear; Social Media is one big, important and yet complicated format which we know little about. Time to dig a little deeper! First Ill start with discussing the definition of Social Media thoroughly. Only when knowing EXACTLY what it is, well be able to understand what makes it so interesting and vital. Secondly, Ill be digging a bit in the history of Social Media. How did this new medium come to be? Did it just appear out of nowhere or did it take a while before it caught the eyes of the public? Third, Im going to investigate who use Social Media and why? Ill split this question in two sub-questions for you; Social Media used by private-individuals and Social Media used by businesses. Knowing what Social Media is, how it came to be and who use it and why, Ill be able to think of the influence Social Media has on our society. Is social media really that important, or do technophobias have nothing to fear? After concluding whether Social Media has a big or small influence on our society, Ill look whether I can confirm this conclusion by looking how much is invested in the world of Social Media. Finally, Ill be speculating about the future of Social Media. Will Social Media become vital for every company, or will it just fade away as hype? Welcome to the complicated yet most interesting world of Social Media. Index 1 What is social media? 1.1 Social media as definition 1.2 Social media characteristics 2 How did social media come to exist? 2.2 social mediums that came out 2.3 how social media became popular 3 Who use social media and why? 3.1 private-individuals 3.2 businesses 4 How much is invested in social media? 5 What influence do social media have on our society? 5.1 influence on the human behaviour 5.2 influence on politics 5.3 influence on marketing 6 How will social media develop? 6.1 social media statistics of 2010 6.2 social media in the near future 6.3 social media in the far future 7 Sources What is Social Media? 1.1 Social media as definition Social media is a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, which allows the creation and exchange of user-generated content. Kaplan and Michael Heanlin in Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media, business horizons (2010). In other words, social media is a new medium (it was, arguably, introduced in the second half of the 20th century), that allows people to globally interact through the media. It is a collective term for all the internet-applications that enable us to share and discuss information, not only in the form of text, but also through sound and video. But since social media is a collective term, you probably wont take my brief description for granted. You want to know the different forms that social media has and where they are to be found on the web. Take a seat. This may take a while. So, social media knows six different forms; communication, collaboration, multimedia, review and opinions, entertainment and brand monitoring. I will discuss each and every one of them. Communication is currently the biggest form of social media. Three very important aspects of communication are; blogs, micro blogs and social networks. Youve probably heard of them. Blogs are websites, or parts of websites, where people can write articles, columns, reviews, etc. Blogs are usually aimed at a specific subject. Basically, there are two types of blogs; commercial blogs and non-commercial blogs. Commercial blogs are mainly used by companies (doh) for a variety of reasons (for instance; promoting their product or getting to know the customer), but also by people who like to write, professionally, about certain subjects. Non-commercial blogs are mainly used by private-individuals, like you and me. These blogs usually define themselves as blogs written due to boredom. Usually, I said. A couple of known blogs are; WordPress, Bloggers.com and Open-Diary. Micro blogs are basically the same as normal blogs only they are much smaller. Micro blogs contain fewer characters and arent always aimed at a specific subject. Micro blogs are an excellent way for companies to make small announcements. Just like normal blogs, there are two different kinds of users (businesses and private-individuals, remember?) using the micro blogs. Known micro blogs are Twitter, Tumblr and FML (Fuck My Life). Social networks is arguably the most important component of social media (thank you, Facebook!). A social network is a big networking site where people can communicate with each other and share information. In a social network you represent yourself using a profile picture and by writing down a biography. That way, it is easy to locate people with the same interests which can result in an online friendship. The problem that this feature however brings is that the accessibility of social networks can also be seen as an invitation for perverts. Social networks are an easy way for perverts to hide their true identity and gain the trust of good-willed girls. And for that very reason, I dont blame parents for worrying sick when their children are uploading new photos on Facebook or other social networks. Undoubtedly, social networks are something to be careful with. Luckily, social networks, just like any other form of media, mostly support the option to set your private status to friends only, or to restrict certain areas of your Facebook for unwanted visitors. Its a great way to make your photos pervert-free. Communication however doesnt only consist of these three aspects, but also contains location-based social networks, events, information aggregators and online advocacy and fundraising. Location-based social networks are social networks that aim at geography. People can indicate where they are, when they are there and why they are there, which will all be shown on a big map. That way you will be able to see where your friends are and you to notify them about your current location. The events section looks, in one way, very much like the location-based networks. It also relies on a map, only in this case the map indicates where and when events are held, together with more additional information such as who are performing, what kind of an event it is and the ticket fee. Its a great way to stay up-to-date about your favorite artists and to not miss any appealing shows. Social media is used by more than 50% of the American population, and for that very reason it should come to no surprise that there are lots of different sites with reference to social media and they are all very crowded. Amongst the common social media users there are celebrities, publishers and developers writing their thoughts down and making announcements. Social media is a huge center of information and it didnt take long till information aggregators were introduced to the market. Information aggregators are sites with big, huge dashboards that gather information from all social networks. The last part that communication knows is advocacy and fundraising. I believe AF is a rather peculiar element of communication, because its usually integrated in other social media (mostly social networks). The main goal of AF companies is to raise as much money as they can for charity. They do this by advertising on other sites and by striking up partnerships. Especially live broadcasting sites such as BlogTV and Stickam attract AF companies. Where communication specializes in a belonging community, collaboration is recognized for its involvement with other sites; sites that fall under the collaboration category usually gather information from other sources. The six aspects of collaboration are; wikis, social bookmarking, social news, social navigation, content management systems and document managing and editing tools. Wikis are a perfect example of sites gathering information from other sources. Take a look at the end of a Wikipedia page and you are high likely to see a list full or sources. For instance, when looking up social media the most famous wiki; Wikipedia, gives me this; Wikis are generally known for their reliability because they make use of the knowledge management system, meaning that every user can contribute to the site by creating and editing articles. That results in a huge database. Another social database that collaboration knows is social bookmarking. Social bookmarking collects links of all kinds of sites and then categorizes them. Users are able to rate (or as I like to call it; digg) and share the links. That way people can easily find good, reliable sites that fit their interests. Known social bookmark sites are; Stumbleupon, Delicious and Google Reader. Social News looks a bit like social bookmarking; it also works with a rating system. Unlike professional news sites however, people write their own news on social news sites. Readers have the ability to vote on articles; deciding what is important and what isnt. Social news sites are obviously a magnet for information aggregators. For them its like killing two birds with one stone; social news sites contain a lot of information and the community already picks their favorite articles. Known social news sites are Digg, Newvine and Reddit. Social navigation, content management systems and document managing and editing tools are the lesser known social media components of collaboration, which comes quite a bit to my surprise because social navigation and content management systems can actually come in quite handy. Social navigation, for instance, provides information about the public transport, and content management systems is a software-application that simplifies the complicated code-language of the internet for common users like you and me. In the case of social navigation, Im guessing that mobile phones and global positioning systems are preferred by todays customers because these are more frequently used in vehicles. I dont blame Document managing and editing tools for being little popular though. They are online (free) writing tools and also allow users to share their documents with the Interwebs, but why would anyone want to share their articles randomly with these tools on the internet? Most of the articles that are published on the internet are published not through document managing and editing tools but through own websites. The documents are usually written in Word. Multimedia is a term you have probably already heard of. It is generally favored by the youth. Multimedia can be divided in five aspects; photography and art sharing, video sharing, live casting, music and audio sharing and presentation sharing. Its very common for multimedia sites to be used for other kinds of social media. Think of it; multimedia sites are perfect databases to store your pictures and videos because they can easily be linked in your articles thanks to embedded codes. Though the names already give away where the aspects actually function for, I have decided to explain them anyhow. As you probably have already noticed, I like being as thorough as possible. Photography and art sharing are, as the name already says, sites where people can share pictures. They serve as a great way for people to save (and optionally; share) their photos and find other photos. Since (mainly) blogs dont have a lot of space, photography and art sharing sites are very popular places for bloggers to upload their pictures on. They wont be bothered with the limited space problem and wont risk the chance of having the original photo removed so that only a dead link will remain. Video sharing basically have the same principal as PAs only do they specialize in videos except for pictures. Especially Youtube is a very important component of the video sharing aspect. Video sharing is used by both private-individuals and businesses. Private-individuals use video sharing mainly as entertainment, but also as outlet or gateway to show their own talents. Businesses use video sharing for promotion by uploading videos about their brand (mostly funny commercials or trailers). Remarkable is that most live casting users are also pretty popular on video sharing sites such as Youtube. Many famous Youtubers (like Davedays, Shanedawson, Zushoo, Creepjeepers) are featured on Stickam and BlogTV (two of the biggest live casting sites). Apart from their scripted shows they sometimes like to just randomly entertain fans on liveshows. Live casting is also often used as live streaming device for important shows. If people cant attend certain events for any reason, they will be able to follow it live at home. Music and audio sharing is an aspect of collaboration that specializes in sounds. On these sites, users are able to customize their own playlists and check out other playlists. It is a popular concept for radio broadcasts because their audience are most likely music fans and appeal to this market. Presentation sharing is mainly used by companies. Sharing presentations is a great way to take information up in an interactive way. Especially for teachers, presentation sharing can come in handy. Its a great way to reach the modern generation of students and still educational. Despite the fact that most people write reviews and opinions on blogs, there are still a couple of sites fully dedicated to the reviews and opinions category. The RO category has but three aspects; product reviews, business reviews and community question answer. Lets start with the beginning; product reviews are sites where the community can give their opinion on certain products. Its a really nice way for people to know what product to buy and what not. Business reviews are practically the same as product reviews, only they dont contain the opinion about products, but about companies. Is the service any good? Are they reliable? Etc. The problem with business and product reviews however, is that questions HAVE to be business/product related meaning that if you have any other questions, you have nowhere to turn. Thats where the community question and answer comes in. Community QA sites are sites where people can ask whatever they want and the community will answer. Yahoo!Answers is a well-known QA site. As Ive already said, entertainment is very popular with todays generation. The entertainment category consists of; media and entertainment platforms, virtual worlds and game sharing. Media and entertainment platforms is probably the least popular form of social media from all kinds of social media we have, because they play mostly behind the scenes. They are used by older companies who arent yet integrated in the modern society and allow them to digitalize their products/marketing strategies. Virtual Worlds on the other hand are pretty popular and used by a large amount of youngster. Virtual Worlds are basically online games like World of Warcraft, the Sims Online and Second Life. Players are able to create an imaginative character and play in a fictional world, where they can meet other people. But hold on a minute, you might think. If online games are part of the virtual worlds, then why is there another subcategory named shared games? That is, because shared games support browser-based games instead of downloadable programs. Shared games are usually simple flash-games, made by the community, and all playable on one big site. Virtual games, on the other hand, are usually huge, downloadable, professional games and its creators will dedicate themselves towards one game. At last, we have arrived at the last category; brand monitoring. Brand monitoring knows only one form, which is social media measurement. Social media measurement is an indicator that provides information about the internet traffic. Companies use it in order to get a good insight in their costumers; where are they from, how old are they and what are their interests? Its a great way to get to know the customer I think. So, that was chapter 1.1; the definition of social media and honestly, I wonder whether you still know what content managing systems are without looking it back up. Its a whole lot of information, I admit, but necessary information all the same. All I have done now is given you a good idea of what social media is and what we count under social media. I have written a quick conveniently arranged table about paragraph 1.1 for you below. You are welcome. Social Media Communication Blogs, Microblogs, Social Networking, Location-based social networks, events, information aggregators, online advocacy and fundraising Collaboration Wikis, social bookmarking, social news, Social navigation, Content Management Systems, Document Managing and Editing Tools Multimedia Photography and art sharing, video sharing, Livecasting, music and audio sharing, presentation sharing Reviews and Opinions Community Question and Answers, product reviews, business reviews Entertainment Virtual worlds, Media and entertainment platforms, Game sharing Brand Monitoring Social Media Measurement Permission granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only. Commercial copying, hiring, lending is prohibited.

Outsourcing :: Globalization essays, research papers

Introduction Outsourcing can be defined as a contract service agreement in which an organization hires out all or part of its company responsibilities to an external company. More and more companies are leaning towards outsourcing it could be said that this may be caused by the growing complexity of Companies and the changing business needs of an organization. As a result, an organization may find that it is not possible to have all its company services supplied from within its own company. Given this, a Company may decide to choose to seek assistance from an external contractor/company to supply their services the organization lacks. In addition, the business competition has set the pace for an organization to continue to strive for internal efficiency. It also needs to look for a way to transfer non-core activities or "in house" services and support activities to external specialist organizations who can deliver quality services at a lower cost. Fundamentals In deciding whether to use outsourcing or not, the main objective of outsourcing is based on the price of delivery of services by an external contractor/company. Although price of delivery is a primary factor for outsourcing, other issues should be considered e.g. price should be measured against the overall package offered by the external contractor/company. Briefly if it's a good competitive price in relation to the services rendered by the company and in respect to their skills/competency and experience, and timely delivery. The organization also needs to consider outsourcing in light of its long term strategic directions and its information needs. Competition is another area to be carefully considered. Competition opens up opportunity for all potential suppliers to conduct business with the organization. Through the competitive process, it allows organizations/Companies to derive the best outcome. From the open and effective competition, the organization is then able to judge soundly in determining the best strategy after it has taken into account of the competition and value for money principle.

Iklan Petronas

BACKGROUND Petronas as a biggest company in Malaysia are well known to Malaysian people and when we mention about Petronas, normally people will think about petroleum, refineries, KLCC and many more products of Petronas. There are many advertisements involving Petronas in the market, such are LPG gas advertisement, Petronas petroleum fuel, Petronas Grand Prix and Formula 1. There are many advertisements to promoting the products of Petronas instead of branding. On the other hand, Petronas also did the contribution due their social corporate work whereby they have done a good social work with giving interesting short video clip on the commercial advertisement on the television. There are many commercial advertisements that have done by Petronas on the television and they make the advertisement as a compulsory to them and will come out during the certain period of celebrations in Malaysia for example on Hari Raya day, National day and other national celebration. There are also many social advertisements released by the other big company like Petronas such as Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), PROTON, and Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM). However, Petronas’ advertisements are more attractive and succeed to give an impact to the audiences. Its shows that advertisements are really creative and succeed to touch the people heart who are watching on it. One of the advertisement from Petronas that caught my interest was the advertisement about â€Å" Burung Murai†. This advertisement was released during Hari Raya celebration period on 2007. THE STRENGTHS General Petronas advertisements always been watching by the audience and there already have a trust on the Petronas’ advertisement. Petronas has succeed to put on the audience minds that their advertisements are unique from the other with clear story line, attractive ways of presenting the idea, and touched the heart with the feelings of emotion. Petronas always come out with new idea and do not lack of interesting ideas. The idea was fresh and suit on environment makes them acceptable to any background of audience. Consistent with their advertisements and never missed to come out with new advertisement in every single celebration in Malaysia makes their advertisements are wanted for their audience to see the new one. Focused on moral values instead of promoting the products makes the messages on the moral values are delivered to audience. The messages is clear and easy to understand References http://www. petronas. com. my/internet/corp/centralrep2. nsf/frameset_corp? OpenFrameset http://www. kujie2. com/perayaan/iklan-raya-petronas-yang-mana-paling-best. html

How to Stop Running Out of Time on ACT Math

How to Stop Running Out of Time on ACT Math SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Because the ACT is designed to be taken by every high school student in the country, it can only test math concepts that every student has experience with. The way the creators of the test make it hard is by giving you questions on a wide range of subjects and sub-topics, presenting them in strange ways, and by putting you on a strict time crunch. Maybe you’ve taken the ACT beforewhether practice or realand found yourself only half way or three quarters of the way through the math section before your time was up. Maybe you just think it would be downright impossible to finish so many questions on time. Rest assuredyou are not alone. And it is not impossible. In this guide, I'll walk you through the timing of the test and teach you how to beat the clock and maximize your time on the ACT. Understanding the foundation of the test will help you keepyour strategies balanced. Math Section Time Overview Before you make a plan for how to best use your time on the ACT, it's important to know how the test is structured. As you likely know,the ACT covers four subjects: English, math, reading, and science, with an optional fifth subjectwritingfor those of you who signed up for â€Å"ACT + Writing." Each of these subjects is covered on exactly one section during the test and you’ll have and no ability to come back to it once you’ve gone on to the next section. This means you don’t have to bounce your brain so quickly from topic to topic (and back again) as you do on other standardized tests, but it also means that the math section is the only math section on the test, so focus will be crucial for maximizing your timing and score. Keep your eye on the prize and only focus on one section at a time. In terms of the questions,you will have60 math questions to do in 60 minutes. This gives youan average of one minute per question. Because the section is not broken up into smaller chunks, you and you alone have to be very careful and strict with yourself about your timing and strategies if you want to finish the test on time. A good thing to keepin mind as you go is that difficulty(how long a question takes to solve and how familiar you are likely to be with the math concepts)roughly goes up in order on the test. The second half of the test will generally have the questions that take the longest amount of timeto solve and will involvemore geometry and trigonometry than algebra. So keep that in mind as you go through. And always remember: there is no guessing penalty on the ACT, so never leave a question blank! You have to be your own ACT coach and keep track of your own timing. No one will be thereto do it for you on test-day. Figure Out Your Target Math Score, and Plan Time Strategies Accordingly To figure out your target raw and scaled scores, take a practice test to gauge your current level and scores. Next, determine what your score goals should be, both raw and scaled. (If you are unsure what your goals should be, that's okay! Check out our article on figuring out your target score.) Once you've found your target score goal, you can look to our time-saving advice to help you reach it. While most of the time-saving strategies on the ACT apply to all scoring levels, there are a few techniques and strategies that vary depending on your current score and your target score goals as well. We’ve split our advice into four main categories: time-saving strategies for all scoring levels tips for those currently scoring a scaled score of 16 or below tips if you’re scoring between 16 and 24 tips if you’re currently scoring 24 or above. Pretty soon you'll find yourselfin the ACT fast lane. Time-Saving Tips for All Scoring Levels These are the tips that will help you maximize your speed no matter what your current score. Afterwards, look belowto find the strategies that best suit your individual scoring level needs. And remember as you go- the ACT is all about balance between speed and accuracy. Once you’ve found the rhythm that works best for you, you’ll be able to up your score and finish on time. For the all-inclusive tips, we’ve further broken this section into three different parts: How toStudy Effectively Before Test Day to Improve Timing Planning Your Overall Math SectionStrategy What to Do on the Day of the Test How to Study Effectively Before Test Day to Improve Timing 1) Familiarize yourself with the test ahead of time. Standardized tests are called â€Å"standardized† for a reasonthe specific questions may vary, but each ACT is as similar to all other ACT tests as possible. The more familiar you are with the structure of and question types on the test, the better off you’ll be (and the quicker you’ll be able to answer questions!). If you can also memorize all the important formulasyou’ll need for the test, you won’t have to waste your time trying to figure them out from scratch. 2) Practice, practice, practice Sit down with a test at home and take it timed. Get used to both the types of questions on the test and the pacing you’ll need to finish on time. As you take your practice test, mark down the time after every fifteen questions. This will show you your current pace. Afterwards, you’ll have a good idea for how long it takes you to finish each set of questions. Now experiment and challenge yourself on your pacing. Were you able to finish the first 15 questions in 20 minutes? Next time you take a practice test, try to do it in 18 minutes. Once you’ve challenged yourself to complete sections faster, compare your accuracy on both testswere you able to gain those minutes back without sacrificing too much accuracy, or did you lose too many points by trying to speed up? Remember that the ACT is all about finding your right balance between speed and accuracy. 3) Practice smart and identify your areas of weakness It’s not enough to simply practice the test over and over again if you continue to make the same mistakes with regards to your timing. Identify which types of problems are the most difficult for you or take you the longest amount of time.Are they usually geometry problems? Word problems? Probabilities? As you get more used to the test and the types of math questions/concepts that appear, see if there are faster or easier ways to solve the questions that take you the most time. Sometimes this can be remembering the properties of special right triangles, like a 30, 60, 90 triangles, so that you don’t have to take the time to find the side lengths via the Pythagorean theorem. Sometimes it might mean using plugging in the answers or plugging in your own numbersinstead of trying to solve the problem algebraically. 4) Employ study strategies according to your current score level and target score. Because there is no guessing penalty, there is not as much variation in strategy by score level on the ACT as there is on other standardized tests. But there are still a few techniques that should be emphasized more or less depending on your current score. As your scores increase, yourstrategies will change. Once you’ve taken your practice test and determined both your current raw and current curved scores, read up on how, exactly, the test is scored.Then, look to the time-saving strategies that suit you for your current level. As you get more familiar with the labyrinth that is the ACT, you'll learn to navigate it with growing speed and accuracy. Planning Your Overall Math Section Strategy 1) Learn to let go of a question It can be very tempting to sit and try to puzzle a question out, but you have to learn how to be more ruthless, both with how you answer questions and in choosing which questions to answer. Each and every question is worth the same amount of points, so pick the questions you can solve easiest and fastest first and then try the more time-consuming ones. If the question takes you more than 30 seconds to figure out or solve, come back to it later. If you're movingon from a question, lightly fill in a random bubble (or your best guess answer) and go to the next question. Sometimes moving on and coming back to a question later can trigger your mind to think of a new approach. (Sidenote: I say fill it in â€Å"lightly† because your bubble should be dark enough that the scanner can read it, but light enough so that you can erase it completely if you have time to come back and find the right answer later.) By filling in an answer (any answer!) now, you’ll have saved yourself some time trying to puzzle out a long or difficult question, and will have at least a 20% chance of getting it right if you forget or don’t have time to come back to it later. 2) Eliminate answer choicesanddraw it out As you go through the test, write on your booklet. Write in the angles and lengths you’re given, draw diagrams, and, most importantly, eliminate wrong answers. Often, you’ll be given a range of choices, one or two of which will be wildly wrong. If you’re using the plugging in answers strategy especially, you can save yourself a lot of time by eliminating one or two of these wrong answers straight away. The fewer answers you have to try, the faster you’ll find the correct solution. And keep in mindany time they describe a figure and don’t provide you with a picture, it means that the question would be too fast and too easy to solve if they provided you with a diagram. Make the drawing yourself! It won’t take you long and it will often point you quickly in the right direction (or at least much more quickly than it would if you tried to work the question out in your head). 3) Identify problems that will take a long time Some questions are not that complicated to execute, but will take time to crunch through. Identify these and save them for last. It is also a particularly good time to use process of elimination on some of the answer choices here. That way, if you need to fill in a temporary answer, you’ve already narrowed down your potential answer options. And you’ve similarly reduced your time in hunting for the right answer if you have time to come back and solve the question later. Remember that your time is better spent on faster-to-solve questions.If the question will take you more than 30 seconds, move on. You can come back to itif you have time. As long as you’re sure to mark any question that you’ve skipped or guessed, you’ll be able to quickly find it when you come back to it later. The ACT is an uphill climb. Find your rhythm and practice smart, and you'll reach your timing goals. What to Do on Test Day 1) Take care of yourself Make sure to rest well the day before the test and eat a nutritious and filling breakfast that morning. It can be easy to let yourself get burned out and lose your pacing by doing so many questions in a short amount of time. But practice, preparation, and rest can do wonders for your focus and your stamina. 2) Don’t lose focus on the topic at hand There is only one math section on the ACT, so you must make it count. Don’t think about how the reading section went. Don’t start anticipating the science section or the essay. You will eat up your limited time if you start to get sidetracked; only think about the section you’re currently on at any given time. 3) Bank time to fill in the bubbles Always leave a minute or two before your time is up to fill in any bubbles for questions you didn’t even get a chance to look at. A 20% chance of getting the right answer is much better than 0% from a blank answer. To save yourself time in going back and forth from test to bubbles, fill in your answer bubbles in chunks as you take the test. Fill in either 10 questions at a time or two pages worth of questions at a time (whichever you like better) to keep yourself on track and prevent yourself from having to continuously flip between problem and answer. Make sure to also bring a good quality eraser. For questions that you’ve skipped and/or moved forward from, fill in your guess lightly in the bubble- dark enough to be read, but light enough to erase if you have time later to come back. The reason you should still fill in questions that you plan to come back to later is to prevent you from accidentally filling in the wrong bubbles on the test if you were to leave one blank (which would give you all incorrect answers down the line). It also prevents you from leaving a question blank if you completely run out of time and don’t have the chance to come back to the question. As always, a random answer is better than no answer on the ACT. 4) Don't worry about anyone else's pacing As much as possible, ignore everyone else in the room while you're taking your test. If you start to worry about how much faster or slower other people are taking the test, you will lose your focus. Concentrate on your test alone and disregard everyone else's pacing. Your test and your goals are all that matter. You are a test-taking island. Imagine there is no one else in the room but you. Current Score is 16 or Below: Time-Saving Strategies In addition to the general strategies for all scoring levels, there are a few other useful techniques you can use for your particular score range. If you’re at a 16 or below scaled score, your raw score is anywhere from a 1 to a 23. If you’re aiming for a scaled score of 20 (the national average), then your goal is to get 31-32 raw points. In order to save yourself time on the test, concentrate most of your attention on the first 40 questions. Doing so will give you 1.5 minutes per question instead of 1 minute. You’ve just increased your time per question by 33%! Consider these first 40 questions as your region of maximum score gain. Give these questions your greatest focus, applying your general strategies for saving time discussed earlier (moving on from problems that take more than 30 seconds, eliminating answer options when using PIA, etc.). By narrowing your concentration range, you will be able to slow down, as you won’t be as concerned with trying to finish every single question in the hour allotted. Anddon’t think just because the first 40 questions are in your point-gain range that you have to get them all right! If there are problems in those first 40 questions that you don’t know how to do, use your eliminating strategies if possible and then fill in your best guess and move on. You’re concentrating on the first 40 to save yourself time, not to necessarily get points on every single question. And lastly, remember to also leave yourself a minute or two to fill in random (or your best guess) answers for the last 20 questions. At 20% odds, you’ll get 4 of them right! Current Score is Between 16 and 24:Time-Saving Strategies If you’re currently scoring in the 16 to 24 scaled score range, your raw score is anywhere between a 23 and a 40. Take your target raw score and add 5-7. That should be your range of questions to pay attention to on the test, as it will allow you to get some wrong and still meet your score goal. For example, if you’re aiming for a score of 26, you’ll need a raw score of 43-44. This means you should focus your attention on the first 50 questions of the test. This will give you 1.2 minutes per question instead of 1 minute, which increases your time per question by 20%! As you solve these questions, apply your general time-saving strategies from above (mark questions that will take too long, use process of elimination, etc.). By putting your focus primarily- or completely- on these 50 questions, you will save yourself time from attempting the last 10 questions (which are often tricky and take the most time). Before you finish, give yourself a minute to bubble in random (or, if you have time to look at them, your best guess) answers for questions 51-60. If you guess randomly on the last 10, odds are that you’ll get 2 of them right anyway! Current Score is 24 or Above:Time-Saving Strategies If your scaled score is at 24 or above, then it means your raw score is currently a 40 or above. In your score range, you’re probably going to look over every single question to determine if it’s one you can do accurately and quickly (rather than focusing your attention on just the first 2/3rds of the test, for example). In your score range, it will be crucial to practice using your time-saving strategies that we covered for all levels above. Considering your goals, you’ll also want to experiment with shortening the time it takes you to complete each part of the math section, as if you’re running a series of sprints. To determine your current pace, split the math section into thirds and time how long it takes you to do each third. Work your way to minimizing each of these times. An example time plan might be for you to aim to finish the first 20 questions in 15 minutes, questions 21-40 in 25 minutes, and questions 41-60 in 20 minutes. By giving yourself 25 minutes for the middle section, you will be going slowly enough to (hopefully) avoid the most common careless math errors. The questions get trickier around questions 20-23, so it’s a good place to slow down a little. In this example time strategy, finish by giving yourself 20 minutes for the last 20 questions. You more than likely will not be able to finish them all in that amount of time, but you will be able to maximize your point gains in this section by finding the easiest and fastest questions to answer first. But bear in mind that this is only one possible time-planning strategy. If this one doesn’t work for you, play around with your timing until you find the right balance between speed and accuracy that best suits you personally. Treat yourself to a nice nap whenthe test isover. You earned it! The Take-Aways Without knowledge and understanding of how to approach the ACT, it is easy to find yourself panicking. The designers of the test know this, which is one of the reasons the test is so seemingly difficult. But if you familiarize yourself with the test ahead of time, focus your attention on your prime scoring range, and learn when and how to move on from difficult questions, you’ll be able to increase your time per question (as well as your overall score!). Deep breaths- you absolutely have the ability to succeed on the ACT. What’s Next? Now that you know the strategies for maximizingyour timeon the ACT, it's a good idea brush up on yourlist of must-know ACT math formulas. The better you know these, the faster you'll be at solving the math questions.And for many of you, you'll be able tosave yourself time (and increase your accuracy) by using plugging in answersor plugging in numbers strategies. If you feel you've got the timing and formulas down and want to see if you can get a perfect score, check out our article on How to an Perfect Score on the ACT Mathby a 36 ACT-Scorer. Feeling overwhelmed? Don't know where to begin?Look no further than our articles onwhat is considered a good, bad, or excellent ACT scoreand what exactly is tested on the ACT math. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial: