Ameritech Case Study Essays

Ameritech Case Study Essays Ameritech Case Study Essay Ameritech Case Study Essay Synthesis: America is an American company which decided to outsource their manufacturing division to the Philippines in order to reduce labor cost and restore of their competitive edge due to their rival companies outsourcing from other Asian countries as well. Bill Dawson was assigned as the plant manager and a Filipino DULLS MBA Graduate was hired to be his assistant. The purpose of his assistant was to bridge the gap of culture. However, the assistant is a Mainline while the workforce is Sebaceous; this resulted in another sub-culture gap. Productivity of the plant was decreasing over time and Bills decisions are antagonistic in the point of view of the workforce. The result of this is consistent employee turnovers and ever decreasing productivity. Point of View: Bill Dawson point of view shall be taken. He is the main person in charge of the plant and has all the authority to make actions for the good or the bad of the plant. Statement of the Problem: 1. What actions must Bill Dawson take in order to achieve satisfactory productivity 2. What motivational method should Bill implement to stimulate positive response from his Filipino employees? Statement of the Objectives: 1. To evaluate his current resources and decide what needs to be changed and reorganized. 2. Develop a motivational system plan that will value employee welfare and inspire them to be more productive. Areas of Consideration: 1. Filipino Cuban Culture As stated in the case, the local employees are not disciplined. It was observed that employees take extended breaks, chat endlessly and engage in non-work activities. These result in a lot of wasted time and low productivity. Most of the employees are females and had not previously worked in a manufacturing environment. America Way The America is obsessed with efficiency and quality-oriented production techniques. Needless to say, it can be assumed that they follow hardcore mainstream Miguel is a Mainline and Sebaceous see him as too urban, too serious, too self- centered and they do not trust him. Also, it is important to note the double standard treatment that Miguel displays towards the Sebaceous and Bill Dawson. Miguel is very respectful to Bill but the opposite towards the workers. 4. Bill Dawson Managerial Upbringing and his Perception of Filipino Culture Bill is the son of a tobacco farmer. He is highly intelligent but never attended college. He worked his way up to get a high management position using his experience and street smarts. He is known to be firm but fair and dresses casually. He is also somewhat large and looked intimidating. The problem of Bill is that he did not make a concrete effort in understanding Filipino culture in his preparation for his assignment. He merely relied on his uncles stories and the country shared love for basketball. 5. Millet being fired Millet frequently Jokes, teases and asks personal questions to Bill during training sessions. Bill was not happy about Millets behavior which is why he decided to fire her. It was evident that after she was fired, the mood of the employees especially belonging in the same department with her changed. Employees are less cheerful however, productivity slightly improved. Discussion of Framework: l. Organizational Culture Types One of the frameworks applied for the case is the model of Deckhands, Farley and Webster on Organizational Culture Types. The model shows four culture types which are: Clan, Hierarchy, Autocracy, and Market. Each culture label includes assumptions relating to: dominant, organizational attributes, leadership styles, organizational bonding mechanisms and overall strategic emphasis (Recalls, 2005, p. 73) II. Multilateral Expectancy Theory Multilateral Expectancy Theory is also applicable for this case. This theory focuses on achieving goals that are for the benefit of the community. This theory, commonly use the we approach. In addition, the application of th e theory to the case would motivate and encourage the workers to participate in the decision making and cooperate in solving the companys problem. It focuses on group efficacy which would generally apply to Americans female employees. It also highlights Organizational Citizenship Behavior (COB) wherein the person would be motivated to not only focus on his work but also to help his colleagues to the benefit of the company. Employees of America need to be encouraged to collaboratively aim for their purpose of reaching their productivity goal. However, the application of this theory also acknowledges that there are other goals that are needed to be set such as nonofficial elements of the company. With this, Balanced Scorecard can also be seed as a tool in measuring the financial goals as well as the nonofficial goals that are important to the company. Also the Value Chain framework for productivity can be applied by America in the sense that they have to effectively convert their inputs into viable outputs. Alternative Courses of Action: A. Create an action plan with the following steps: 1. Understand and embrace the local culture 2. Implement a motivational incentive scheme 3. With the newly motivated employees, improve the productivity of the plant PROS: 1. Workers will become adjusted to their boss 2. Motivated employees tend to be more productive 3. Workers will be back to their cheerful behaviors but at the same time have improved over their performance CONS: 1. It might be difficult for Bill Dawson to adjust since he is accustomed to the America Way 2. Employees may be skeptical on his new behavior and may perceive it as an act B. Retain the current set-up but find a way for the employees to respect top management. Bill can replace Miguel with a Cuban mediator so that he may effectively implement his new plans for the company. 1. Less adjustment for Bill Dawson and for the employees 2. Smooth flow of operations with an apparent concern for employees from the Management CONS: 1. Miguel will lose his Job 2. There is no assurance that the new Cuban mediator will gain the support of the existing employees 3. Improvement of productivity is not assured. C. Close operations in Cube and look for another Asian country like China for their labor force since it has not been working for America. 1. The company will cut its losses and move on 1. Loss in investment for the company due to another relocation of the plant 2. There is no guarantee that the same scenario will not reoccur in another Asian country

The Mysterious Moons of Pluto

The Mysterious Moons of Pluto Planet Pluto continues to tell a fascinating story as scientists pore over the data taken by the New Horizons mission in 2015. Long before the tiny spacecraft passed through the system, the science team knew there were five moons out there, worlds that were distant and mysterious. They were hoping to get a closer look at as many of these places as possible in an effort to understand more about them and how they came to exist. As the spacecraft whizzed past, it captured close-up images of Charon - Plutos largest moon, and glimpses of the smaller ones. These were named Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra. The four smaller moons orbit in circular paths, with Pluto and Charon orbiting together like the bulls-eye of a target. Planetary scientists suspect that Plutos moons formed in the aftermath of a titanic collision between at least two objects that occurred in the distant past. Pluto and Charon settled into a locked orbit with each other, while the other moons scattered out to more distant orbits. Charon Plutos largest moon, Charon, was first discovered in 1978, when an observer at the Naval Observatory captured an image of what looked almost like a bump growing out the side of Pluto. Its about half the size of Pluto, and its surface is mostly grayish with mottled areas of reddish material near one pole. That polar material is made up of a substance called tholin, which is made up of methane or ethane molecules, sometimes combined with nitrogen ices, and reddened by constant exposure to solar ultraviolet light. The ices form as gases from Pluto transfer from and get deposited onto Charon (which lies only about 12,000 miles away). Pluto and Charon are locked in an orbit that takes 6.3 days and they keep the same face toward each other all the time. At one time, scientists considered calling these a binary planet, and there is some consensus that Charon itself could be a dwarf planet. Even though Charons surface is frigid and icy, it turns out to more than 50 percent rock in its interior. Pluto itself is more rocky, and covered with an icy shell. Charons icy covering is mostly water ice, with patches of other material from Pluto, or coming from under the surface by cryovolcanoes. New Horizons  got close enough, no one was sure what to expect about Charons surface. So, it was fascinating to see the greyish ice, colored in spots with the tholins. At least one large canyon splits the landscape, and there are more craters in the north than the south. This suggests that something happened to resurface Charon and cover many old craters. The name Charon comes from the Greek legends of the underworld (Hades). He was the boatman sent to ferry the souls of the deceased over the river Styx. In deference to the discoverer of Charon, who referenced his wifes name for the world, its spelled Charon, but pronounced SHARE-on.   The Smaller Moons of Pluto Styx, Nyx, Hydra and Kerberos are tiny worlds that orbit between two and four times the distance that Charon does from Pluto. Theyre oddly shaped, which lends credence to the idea that they formed as part of a collision in Plutos past. Styx was discovered in 2012 as astronomers were using Hubble Space Telescope to search the system for moons and rings around Pluto. It appears to have an elongated shape, and is about 3 by 4.3 miles. Nyx orbits out beyond Styx, and was found in 2006 along with distant Hydra. Its about 33 by 25 by 22 miles across, making it somewhat oddly shaped, and it takes nearly 25 days to make one orbit of Pluto. It may have some of the same tholins as Charon spread across its surface, but New Horizons didnt get close enough to get many details. Hydra is the most distant of Plutos five moons, and New Horizons  was able to get a fairly good image of it as the spacecraft went by. There appear to be a few craters on its lumpy surface. Hydra measures about 34 by 25 miles and takes about 39 days to make one orbit around Pluto. The most mysterious-looking moon is Kerberos, which looks lumpy and misshapen in the New Horizons mission image. It appears to be a double-lobed world about 11 12 x 3 miles across. It takes just over 5 days to make one trip around Pluto. Not much else is known about Kerberos, which was discovered in 2011 by astronomers using Hubble Space Telescope. How Did Plutos Moons Get Their Names? Pluto is named for the god of the underworld in Greek mythology. So, when astronomers wanted to name the moons in orbit with it, they looked to the same classical mythology. Styx is the river that dead souls were supposed to cross to get to Hades, while Nix is the Greek goddess of darkness. Hydra is a many-headed serpent thought to have battled with the Greek hero Heracles. Kerberos is an alternate spelling for Cereberus, the so-called hound of Hades who guarded the gates to the underworld in mythology. Now that New Horizons is well beyond Pluto, its next target is a small dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt. It will pass by that one on January 1, 2019. Its first reconnaissance of this distant region taught much about the Pluto system and the next one promises to be equally interesting as it reveals more about the solar system and its distant worlds.

Style or Setting on A Cask of Amontillado Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Style or Setting on A Cask of Amontillado - Essay Example As Susan Amper maintains, â€Å"a chilling plot weaves themes tied to character, setting, and a haunting narrative voice†¦ The themes are bound up in the setting.† (Amper, 185) Significantly, the interplay of various themes and the setting of the story makes the major contribution to the success of the story as the finest tale by Edgar Allan Poe. In a reflective exploration of the setting of â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado†, it becomes lucid that the storywriter has been effective in creating a setting which best suits to the overall themes and mood of the story. It is important to recognize that a great deal of critical attention has been fallen on the setting of the story, mainly because the author merely gives a vague hint about the exact location and the time of the story. In fact, the setting of the story creates a fitting environment of horror in which the narrator presents his story. Whereas the plot of the story creates an experience of horror in the readers, its setting provides an appropriate atmosphere of horror. In other words, Edgar Allan Poe unfolds the major action of the story in a setting which makes the readers feel the real horror of the plot. â€Å"It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much.† (Poe, 78) Therefore, it becomes evident that author narrates the first part of the story in the background of the carnival season in Italy and this festive setting is contrasted to the setting of the second part of the story which is damp and gloomy catacombs. A comprehensive analysis of the contribution of the setting of â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† to the tale as a whole confirms that the particular setting creates the emotional and mental position of the readers and the author narrates the story in this background. Significantly, this setting contributes significantly to the mounting atmosphere of horror as the story unfolds to the readers. Due to this particular setting of the story, the readers are always made to predict and be horrified about the unfolding action in the story, which effectively creates the emotional setting of the plot in the readers’ mind. It is important to note that the second part of the story is set in the dark and gloomy catacombs and this creates an emotional background in the readers. â€Å"On an emotional level, the catacombs contribute to the horror that the tale elicits. In addition, the catacombs by their nature and history contribute to the themes of death, resurrection, religious ritual, and religious persecution.† (Amper, 196) The setting of the catacombs has a central role in the entire action that follows, because it is in this background that the narrator builds up all the tension and horror in the story. Thus, the two main characters of the story reach this place in their way in search of the Amontillado. Sig nificantly, the setting is prepared at the most remote end of the deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air creates horror in the minds of the readers. â€Å"At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. Its walls had been lined with

Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Leadership - Assignment Example Under the umbrella of brand development, my company will provide solutions like designing the brand portfolio, naming the brand, creating the package design of the product and reconfiguring existing brands. Blue Angel Pvt. will provide solutions like designing all the customer touch points such as creating corporate and customer identity of the brand under the name of brand designing solution (Blue Marlin, 2013). Five force analysis of the graphic designing industry can be explained in the following manner. Type of Force Intensity of the force Characteristics of the Force Buyer Power Moderate Although the switching cost for customers is low but buyer power in the industry has reduced due to involvement of value billing system. Supplier Power Low Graphic designing companies have the option to choose supplier from plenty of available suppliers such as freelancers, trained graduates and experienced professionals. Substitutes Moderate Collected design from Asian countries and eco-design or individual designs. New Entrant Low Graphic designing is not a resource hungry industry, hence talents move from one company and start a venture without investing huge amount of capital. Competition High The industry is hypercompetitive due to presence of many players; competitors compete with each other on the basis of price and process of service delivery. (Source: Cooper, Evans and Williams, 2009) It is evident from the industry analysis, that a leader must have expert knowledge and skill regarding graphic designing in order to help the organization innovate and attract talents from the industry. By lending the conceptual framework of â€Å"expert power† used in the research work of Yukl (2010), it can be said that leaders must have the creative knowledge to attract subordinates and coordination capability to infuse teamwork among subordinates in order to help the company to move ahead in the jungle of graphic designing industry. Creation of Environment According to Han nigan (2008) and Mullins (2007), it is important for any organization to develop a culture of reward, learning, knowledge sharing and creativity in order to address challenges created by macro environment. I believe that a leader of a graphic designing firm has to be a curious person; by stating the term â€Å"curious† I want to mean that the leader must have the willingness to gather information and knowledge from both internal and external sources and use the gathered ideas in order to bring innovation in the graphic designing process. In such context, I need to make sure that all of my team members in Blue Angel Private Limited have the same enthusiasm and culture value to gather and share knowledge. When I am talking about knowledge sharing culture in the organization, then it is evident that the readers of this report are expecting that I will take help of learning organization concepts in order to validate my points. The fact is that, research scholars such as Solesvik and Encheva (2010) have pointed out that innovation culture in the organizational can be created by integrating the concepts of organizational learning. Although organizations can use either formal or informal culture but I believe that, Blue Angel Private Limited should use organic organizational structure and informal culture in order to create room for successful and innovative environment. Krackhardt and Hanson (1993, p. 104) have defined informal organizational

Graduation Speech Essay Example for Free

Graduation Speech Essay â€Å"The heights by great man reach and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept were toiling upwards through the night. †   (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow  ) Members of the school board, principal and staff, distinguished guests in the audience and on the platform, parents, guardians, graduate, good afternoon. Our guest speaker for this afternoon is Mrs. Merlette Barrett-Fender. She was born in the parish of St. James. There, she attended the Salt Spring All Age School- later the Mt. Alvernia High School then went on to further her education at Shortwood Teachers’ College. She has worked at the Jamaica Telephone Company as an international operator. She later acquired a Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Grades Administration offered by Western Carolina University, at the Montego Bay site. Her zeal for leadership led her to access the Master of Science in Educational Leadership just two years later with the Jamaican Programme of Central Connecticut State University. She has worked at the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary levels of the education system, having the experience as class teacher, subject teacher of English Language and Literature at Cornwall College and as Principal. She presently holds the position of Academic Vice-Principal of Knox Community College. Mrs. Barrett-Fender posses a great love for her country and as a result has made the decision to remain in Jamaica. She takes great pleasure in working amongst Jamaica’s poorest, to help train and educate them and being the voice for some who are voiceless. As a member of the Upper St. James Consultative Committee, she conducts motivational talks to students and teachers. She is the lay preacher of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. She is dedicated to spreading the work of God for the upliftment of people. She possesses a vibrant personality, loves the outdoors, loves good company and enjoys helping others. Mrs. Barrett-Fender believes in having a sound character thus her everyday life is grounded in integrity. Her community involvement includes being a member of the Friends of the Hospital, the founder of Salt Spring All Age Past Students’ Association, past president and fund raising committee member, speaking at graduation exercises, Patron of the Knox Early Childhood Institute, motivational speaker, mentor and counselor. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls; please put your hands together as I introduce to some and present to the others Mrs. Barrett-Fender.

Reproductive Health in Low Income Women Essay -- Health, Diseases, HIV

The District of Columbia (D.C) is made up of 52.8% females, 54% African Americans, and 40.6% Caucasians. Of the roughly 600,000 living in D.C., 101,400 (or 16.9%) are living below the poverty line (US Census, 2009). Over the years, the poverty rate in D.C. has continued to grow. With this number growing, there is a profound need to learn more about the women that are being affected. That being said, it is important to learn more about sexual and reproductive health in low-income women. In the District of Columbia, many women are living below the poverty life and are thus unable to get the help that they need in regards to their sexual and reproductive health. As researchers, there is a need to investigate why this is and what can be done to fix it. Through this research paper, there will be a large focus on low income women, their rates of and what barriers they may face with regards to Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency (HIV/AIDS), Sexually Transmitted Disease ’s (STD’s), Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer. As of December 31, 2008, there were 16,513 residents of DC living with HIV/AIDS. Of the residents, 75.6% were African American. This large number gets more devastating when it is seen that one in every 21 African Americans in D.C. has HIV/AIDS and African American women are 17 times more likely to have HIV/AIDS than a Caucasian women (DC Department of Health, 2009). When studying testing rates for HIV/AIDS, Medina (2009) found that most of the participants in the study were self-motivated to get tested. After the initial test, participants had a slightly higher chance of reducing risky sexual behavior. However, the study also found that testing was not a method that should be used to sustain consistent... ...) set up free, easy to access care for low-income women. Even when the testing was free and easy to access, many women still did not participate. In addition, they found that less mammogram usage is associated with low income women, as 36.4% to 54% of the low income women that were seen had never had a mammogram. The studies above have found three main points that will be used in the rest of this research article. First and foremost, DC has a high number of reproductive illnesses among women of low-income that need to be addressed. Secondly, there is a definite need to address the income barrier, as many studies show that income and insurance are high predictors of sexual health testing and treatment. Lastly, minority women are more likely to have reproductive diseases, and are also less likely to be diagnosed in a timely matter, and thus treated appropriately.

McDonald’s Chain Essay

One of the largest fast-food chains in the world, McDonald’s, is an Olympic sponsor. This has caused much controversy in the UK, where health problems caused by obesity are on the increase. Discuss. Nowadays, with rapidly global economic development, a wealth of food corporations are expanding their businesses. An increasing number of fast-food chains have had a marked effect on the way we live. Fast-food is very popular in modern life, because it caters for our fast-paced lives. However, many studies claim that fast-food is associated with obesity (The Health of The Nation,1992,P21 ). This essay will analyse the advantages and disadvantages of fast-food and in the following essay I will discuss the relationship between obesity and fast-food. In the first place, we should define the term obesity. Obesity is described by the World Health Organization(WHO) as â€Å"a disease in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be adversely affected.† (Ewles.L,2005, P80) Throughout the world, obesity has been increasing at an unprecedented rate. This is true not only for industrialized societies, but also for developing countries. (Barnett.A.H and Kumar.S ,2008,P3) â€Å"In 1995, there were an estimated 200 million obese adults worldwide and another 18 million under-five children classified as overweight . As of 2000, the number of obese adults has sharply increased to over 300 million. In developing countries, it is estimated over 115 million people suffer from obesity-related problems.† Indeed, the rate of obesity has been exploded in last 20 years. (Ewles.L,2005, P80) Today, it is accepted that obesity is one of the biggest threats to public health. Fast food such as hamburgers and hot dogs are often high in sugar, salt, cholesterol and trans fats. The intake of these elements can lead to marked obesity. The support from the national study, compared to the days before fast food, energy consumption was over 187 kcal per meal when an adult consumption of fast food . (Larsson.B, 1981 ,P97).Based on national study, more and more people are realizing there is a connection between fast food and obesity. There are studies which confirm this idea. Obesity is a major contributor to the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. In the Nurse’s Health Study, (Larsson.B,1981 P97-P116) the risk of developing diabetes increased five-fold in obese women with BMI 25kg/m2 compared with others women who have standard of body weight . In the same study, â€Å"the risk of developing CHD increased 3.3-fold with BMI>29kg /m and 1.8 fold between 25 and 29kg/m2 compared to those women with BMI>21kg/m2 .† The result shows that each kilogram of weight gained from 18 years old was associated with 3.1 times higher risk of heart disease risks. From those figures. It appears that obesity is one of the significant factors of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. There is also an important association between obesity and hypertension. In the Swedish Obesity Study, (Barnett.A.H and Kumar.S ,2008,P154) hypertension was present at base line in approximately one-half of subjects. â€Å"The study involving 1000 men and women showed that a 10kg increase in weight was related to 3mmHg rise in systolic and 2.3 mmHg rise in diastolic blood pressure.† However, this extent also can increase 12% risk of hypertension by high blood pressure. From this study, we can see clearly the relationship between the weight and data of blood pressure. When the weight is above normal, the weight gain and the risk of hypertension is in proportion. So, weight loss can help obese people reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Fast food is a main factor in childhood obesity. According to a national study, (Barnett.A.H and Kumar.S ,2008,P107) there is a positive correlation between childhood obesity and the consumption of fast food. For example in the late 1970s, fast food accounted for 2 per cent of total energy intake in children in the USA. Since the 1990s, the proportion of fast food consumption has increased five-fold. At the same time the percentage of overweight American children increased from 5% to 15%. In fact , fast food outlets have been growing sharply since the 1990s .The negative effects of fast food consumption on children is increasing. Fast food have a lot of unhealthy ingredients, including carbohydrates, fats and non-starchy vegetables, (Barnett.A.H and Kumar.S ,2008,P226) those elements has been linked to weight gain. In addition, approximately 20% – 30% of obese children appear to be at risk of the same complications of obesity as obese adults. (Barnett.A.H and Kumar.S ,2008,P227) Childhood obesity is becoming a public health crisis. However, there are some advantages in fast food. First of all , the most obvious advantage is quite convenient. in contemporary society as people have no time to prepare their food. Work occupies most of our time, we need to squeeze more time for work. So fast food becomes an ideal choice for modern people. The reasons are not only fast food can eliminate the time spent on cooking, but it also tastes delicious, some of young people particularly are addicted to the flavour of fast food. Moreover, the lower price of fast food attractes people. A further advantage is that fast food outlets usually have a clean and comfortable environments . In conclusion, although there are many reasons for the causes of obesity ,one of the main reasons for obesity is the consumption of fast food too much. As mentioned above, there is a positive correlation between obesity and many diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. It is cannot to be ignored that fast food is the biggest cause of obesity in children. Fast food will bring a large quantity of health problems. References: Barnett. A.H and Kumar S.(2008) 2nd Ed .Obesity and diabetes. pub. Wiley-Blackwell Oxford .UK. Ewles. L.(2005) Ed. Key topics in public health: essential briefings on prevention and health promotion. pub. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone. UK Larsson. B. (1981) The health consequences of obesity, International journal of Obesity.pub. Oxford University Press . UK. The Health of The Nation (1992) Key Area Handbook :Coronary heart disease and stroke .pub. Nation white paper. UK.

Company Auditing

Group Assignment – HBC614B Company Auditing PART 1 THE INTERNATIONAL AUDITING STANDARDS BOARD AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUDITING STANDARDS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) is an independent standard setting body within the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). Established in 1978, originally known as International Auditing Practices Committee (IAPC), it changed its name to IAASB in early 2001 and was then reformed by IFAC in 2003.IAASB puts public interest first and aims to improve the quality and uniformity of practice throughout the world and to strengthen public confidence in the global auditing and assurance profession by facilitating the convergence of international and national standards. IAASB is committed to achieve its objectives through the following works: †¢ Developing Standards – establish high quality auditing, review, other assurance, quality control and related ser vices standards, such as International Standards on Auditing (ISAs). Global Acceptance & Convergence – promote the acceptance and adoption of IAASB pronouncements throughout the world and support a strong and solid international accountancy profession by coordinating with IFAC member bodies, regional organisations and national standard setters. †¢ Communication – encourage debate and present papers on a variety of audit and assurance issues and increase the public image and awareness of the activities of the IAASB. To date, the IAASB has earned increasing recognition for the quality of its standards and the credibility of its standard setting process.This has contributed to the increasing use of its standards worldwide. Over 100 countries are now using or are in the process of adopting ISAs into their national auditing standards. For investors in international capital markets, the quality of audit reports and audit opinions on financial reports are crucial when th ey make decisions about capital allocation. Audits, working within internationally accepted auditing standards, increase the credibility and reliability of the financial information provided in the financial reports.As Australian capital markets are increasingly linked with overseas markets, it is important to have a globally standardised financial reporting framework that is supported by globally accepted auditing standards. The Australian Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB) made the compliance with IAASB standards easier via a long-standing policy of convergence and harmonisation with ISAs. The AUASB uses ISAs as a base to develop Australian Standards on Auditing (ASA).For any revision and enhancement of ISAs initiated by the IAASB, the AUASB will make appropriate consequential amendments to ASA. The AUASB and IAASB generally issue an exposure draft of a proposed auditing and assurance standard concurrently for consideration by interested parties. In New Zealand, New Ze aland Auditing Standards (AS) and Audit Guidance Statements (AGS) are also based on ISAs and International Auditing Practice Statements (IAPS). The New Zealand auditing authority adopts the IFAC documents and amends them only as necessary to achieve its – 1 of 11 –Group Assignment – HBC614B Company Auditing objectives. Amendments to the IFAC documents may be made to reflect specific New Zealand legislative requirements or to reflect specific audit practising arrangements within New Zealand. As we can see, for years since IAPC or IAASB was established, it has played a very important role in enhancing and standardizing the quality of auditing and assurance services around the world. ============================= – 2 of 11 – Group Assignment – HBC614B Company Auditing PART 2 CO-REGULATION OF AUDITING PRACTICE IN AUSTRALIAIn most developed countries, including Australia, the auditing regulatory framework is provided, at least to some extent, by government through legislation and government agencies. In the past, however, the auditing profession in Australia was largely self-regulated through the rules and requirements self-imposed by the principal players in the field, i. e. auditing firms and auditing professional bodies. As a result of the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program (CLERP) 9, the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB) became a statutory (government) body.Since April 28th 2006, the Australian Auditing Standards (ASAs), which have been released by AUASB for purposes of section 336 of Corporation Act 2001, have Force of Law. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC), a statutory body under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (ASIC Act), is responsible for providing broad oversight of the process for setting accounting and auditing standards as well as monitoring the effectiveness of auditor independence requirements in Australia.Yet the control and enforcement mechanism of these sta ndards is also supported by the auditing profession represented by two primary professional accounting organisations: CPA Australia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA). Although the membership in these two organizations is voluntarily, it is still a necessary condition to get registration as a Company Auditor or a Liquidator. Some methods of control of quality of the auditing services imposed by these professional organisations include peer reviews, continued professional development and periodical rotation of the auditors.There are also disciplinary procedures in place to encourage improved ethical behaviour and quality of service provided. This particular model of co-existence of government regulation and industry self-regulation in Australia is called ‘co-regulation’ of auditing practice. Co-regulation provides ‘interactions that produce pressures for the refinement of regulatory structures in terms of openness, consultation, independ ence and speed of response to urgent accounting problems’ [Malcolm C. Miller]. ============================= – 3 of 11 – Group Assignment – HBC614B Company Auditing PART 3 QUESTION 6. 3 – ASA 315 UNDERSTANDING THE ENTITY AND ITS ENVIRONMENT AND ASSESSING THE RISKS OF MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT – HOMECHEF PTY LTD. A first and very important step of the audit process involves the auditor gaining an early understanding and knowledge of the client’s business. In fact, ASA 315 requires that this step is carried out during the audit planning stage. The auditor must obtain or update their understanding of the client’s operations and circumstances, including its organisational structure, management policies, the company’ position in its industry, the economy and its legal obligations.ASA 315 provides extensive guidance on matters related to obtaining an understanding of the entity and its environment, which may be classified into thr ee main categories: (1) Internal control / organisational structure (2) Operational and legal structure (3) Industry and economic conditions An understanding of these three elements helps the auditor assess the client’s business risk and identify the events, transactions and practices that may have a significant effect on its financial report. This report presents a recent review of the operations and circumstances of one of our clients, HomeChef Pty Ltd. in accordance with the requirements of ASA 315. The main objective was to identify the events and developments at HomeChef which may have a significant bearing on the company’s business risk and consequently affect our audit. This understanding will help us plan and perform the audit more efficiently and effectively and will ultimately improve the services we provide to our client. HomeChef Pty Ltd has been the market leader in the boutique food and beverage industry for the last two years.The company manufactures, su pplies and retails quality ingredients for use in the home kitchen and small restaurant market. During the review our audit team identified a number of major events/transactions that may have a significant impact on the business and affect our audit process. Below is a brief discussion on each of these events/transactions: 1) New products and services: Recently, HomeChef introduced ‘pre-packaged’ meals suitable to be served at a dinner party. Preparation of the ‘ready to serve meals’ would require extra steps to produce the final product.This would involve more processing facilities, more staff and more advertising. One potential related business risk might be the increased product liability. There may be extra compliance requirements from the Food Safety Regulators. There could also be risk that the demand has not been accurately estimated. The company’s capital and current expenditure may increase significantly because of the launch of the new prod uct. This situation tends to increase our audit risk. The auditor, therefore, should carefully consider how this changing operating characteristic may affect his/her auditing process.For example, he/she may need to review some Food Safety Regulation requirements to assess that correct amounts of expenditure is attributed to this particular type of compliance; or refer to some industry literature to get a better understanding of the niche market for this type of product. Reviewing – 4 of 11 – Group Assignment – HBC614B Company Auditing sales figures and sale forecasts may also help to assess to what degree the company’s business risk may be affected by this new development. 2) New lines of business: HomeChef has recently opened a number of small cafe where customers can sample the s company’s product range.By doing so, the company is venturing into unfamiliar territory. In addition, the notes of HomeChef’s draft financial report reveal that t he company has entered into agreements for building and developing a new entertainment complex. These events indicate not only changes in the company’s operational structure, but also those relating to its environment. New opportunities bring new risks. As this is HomeChef’s first venture into a new business area, lack of expertise and experience could be a real concern. The hospitality industry operates quite differently from the food manufacturing.There could be many more competitive forces and regulations in place. This move could change the organisational/operational structure of the company drastically. For example, new divisions may need to be established and the company hierarchy changed. Apart from the potential risks of increased product liability and inaccurate demand estimates, similar to the case of all new products, this could introduce new risks associated with the company’s internal control. Also, the company’s potential business risk would increase its inherent risk. In general, this event is likely to increase our audit risk.It is very important that the auditor familiarises him/herself with the company’s new operational structure, the industry conditions and regulatory environment related to this new line of business. Reviewing the hospitality industry publications and significant industry legislation may assist with basic understanding of how the company business risk is affected by this move. Aggressive marketing and acquisition strategy – Rapid growth: Over the last two years HomeChef has acquired a number of smaller competitors and become the market leader in its industry.This is an indication of the company’s aggressive approach to expansion and growth. In such situations, it is often noticed that a company’s infrastructure is likely to lag behind in the process. In a hurry to expand, the organisational structure of the company may be changing too fast. There could be staff members with insufficient experience, the IT system may not cope well under the new conditions as new procedures and processes are added in. This significant and rapid expansion of operations could create strain and increase the risk of a breakdown in controls.The auditor needs to discuss with the senior management and gather evidence from the company’s documents to assess this risk. He/she may need further understanding of the current cycle in the industry, to assess how this ‘acquisition spree’ could affect HomeChef’s business risk, and consequently the audit risk. Reviewing government statistics, trend forecasts, trade journals and financial newspapers may help improve the auditor’s understanding of the industry in general and the business in particular.Changes in key personnel: The departure of a key executive (HomeChef’s finance director), probably with a significant loss of corporate history and experience, may also have an impact on the busine ss. The new finance manager has been with the company for less than a month and may take some time to gain the knowledge and understanding of the business. He may have a different focus or 3) 4) – 5 of 11 – Group Assignment – HBC614B Company Auditing understanding of the company’s internal control.The auditor should take this factor into account when assessing the risks of misstatements associated with the company’s financial report which, possibly, has been prepared under the instructions of the new finance director. 5) Newly-established internal audit group: HomeChef started using the service of an internal audit group for the first time this year. Generally, the existence and operation of an internal audit group indicate the commitment and serious consideration given to maintaining high standards of internal control by the management. This would normally reduce the control risk in a business and subsequently reduce the audit risk.In addition, th e external auditor could, to some extent, use the work of an internal auditor, after having gained knowledge of and satisfied with the scope of internal auditing and the audit team’s technical competence and professional care. However, in this case, as HomeChef’s audit team is new, careful considerations are required if the auditor is to rely on the internal team’s audit work. Installation of a significant new IT system related to financial reporting: HomeChef switched to a new computer system early this year. The system was installed by a professional computer company and the old and new systems were run parallel for 3 months.Some new functions/modules have been introduced in the new system, including the ability to process stocktake results, account payable invoices and payments at the store level. This event highlighted a major change in one of the company’s internal control components. It seems that the new system is rather reliable as a systematic te sting plan and an integrity checking process were carried out by the professional computer company and there have been no major problems with the system so far. The use of this new system could potentially decrease the company’s control risk. The audit strategy could focus on test of control.A proper and systematic testing plan on the new system is recommended, especially on the new modules for stocktake and accounts payable process. Significant amount of non-routine/non-systematic transactions: HomeChef’s draft Income Statement includes an ‘extraordinary item’ of $231 million without any notes or explanations attached to it. The existence of this ‘extraordinary’ loss would certainly have a significant impact on the business and would increase the audit risk considerably. This particular transaction requires a significant amount of attention by the auditor.Enquiries should be made to understand the nature and extent of all relevant details of this transaction. This would help the auditor assess if the transaction is legal, not dismissing the possibility of fraud, or errors, such as transactions recorded without substance, intentional misapplication of accounting policies, mathematical mistakes, oversight or misinterpretation of facts. The auditor should also examine if the valuation and allocation of the amounts have been done correctly. Company records and legal documents will need to be reviewed. An extensive substantive audit approach would be suitable for this particular area of the audit.Debt structure – Covenant agreement: Note (e) to the draft Financial Report reveals that a covenant agreement exists between HomeChef and its bank. The bank loans are secured against the company’s remaining property, plant and equipment. This agreement specifies that the company should maintain a 6) 7) 8) – 6 of 11 – Group Assignment – HBC614B Company Auditing positive net tangible asset ratio and a positive current ratio. Given the large amount at stake, there is a great incentive for the company to falsify, alter and manipulate figures to achieve these positive ratios at any cost.This situation would increase HomeChef’s business risk significantly and consequently increase our audit risk. The audit plan could focus on substantive testing of the accounts related to the current ratio and net asset ratio. The auditor must exercise reasonable care and skill and maintain an attitude of professional scepticism throughout the audit. Based on HomeChef’s financial ratios being adverse and the subsequent difficulty in complying with the terms of loan agreements, the auditor may need to raise a going concern issue.It would be necessary for the auditor to discuss this problem with HomeChef’s management so that appropriate measures could be taken by the company to overcome this situation. As a result of reviewing HomeChef’s operations and environment, includi ng its financial and marketing position, using the precepts of ASA 315, our audit team has been able to update our knowledge of the company’s situation and assess our audit risk accordingly. This understanding and assessment will direct the development of our strategy and plan for the audit of HomeChef. ============================ – 7 of 11 – Group Assignment – HBC614B Company Auditing PART 4 QUESTION 6. 22 – IMPACT OF BUSINESS RISK ASSESSMENT ON AUDIT STRATEGY This report presents a short case study of Weave Limited. The main purpose of the case study is to look at how Business Risk impacts on Audit Risk, and consequently, on Audit Strategy and Plan. Weave Limited is a closely held private company, manufacturing high-quality woollen cloth. It has been in operation for almost 60 years and the CEO of the company is also its major shareholder.Currently, the company is under a great financial stress due to increased competition and falling sales volu me. Three years ago the company was sued for dumping chemical pollutants into the local river. As a result, a settlement was signed with the Environmental Protection Agency providing that Weave construct a water treatment facility within five years. Our Audit Firm has been auditing Weave for the last ten years, and the current year interim audit revealed that there has been virtually no activity in the Water Treatment Facility Construction account in the current financial year.To prepare for this year audit we need to take the following steps: (1) review the company’s business risk i. e. the risk that Weave’s business objectives will not be attained due to the above-mentioned pressures and, ultimately, the risk associated with its profitability and survival. (2) assess the implications of the company’s business risk on our audit risk (3) develop our audit strategy and audit program in response to the assessed risks. In order to assess Weave’s business ris k, we felt that a PEST analysis would be the most appropriate approach.It involves identifying the political/legal, economic, social and technological influences on an entity. †¢ Environmental Protection Laws may have a heavy toll on the business. Compliance with these Laws (such as building a water treatment facility) may be very expensive, but non-compliance may actually have a suicidal effect on the company. †¢ Economic risk should also be taken into account. Increased competition and limited market for Weave’s high quality and possibly expensive products could pose a serious threat to the company’s profitability and ultimately its very survival. Social risk component is also present in this case. The surrounding area is poor and unemployment rate is high. The company’s management may feel a social pressure to provide employment at any cost. The obligation to build a water treatment facility could be very expensive and resource-consuming. It is not an easy task to estimate or to make provisions for the resources required to meet this obligation. It is even harder to estimate the costs of not meeting this obligation. This adds unusual pressure on the management.Potential incentives could arise for management to understate the company’s profit/cash flow to use as an excuse in an attempt to avoid fulfilling this particular liability. This situation is likely to increase Weave’s inherent risks. – 8 of 11 – Group Assignment – HBC614B Company Auditing In assessing the company’s control risks, certain observations and issues have come to our attention which suggest an unsatisfactory internal control system: †¢ The company’s CEO is also its major shareholder who seems to be a strong character that has the overriding authority and decision making power. The CEO does not seem to take the compliance with the conditions imposed by the Government’s Environmental Protection Agency seriously. He decided to stop work on the water treatment facility as he thought that the State would not fine or close the company down for non-compliance. †¢ The company does not seem to have any risk assessment policies or procedures for dealing with business risk. Based on the above findings, the audit team agreed that Weave’s business/inherent risks and control risks could be assessed as high.This conclusion has had an impact on our audit strategy and audit plan. As we believe that the control risks are high, an audit strategy of a predominantly substantive approach has been adopted. We do not plan to obtain a thorough understanding of the company’s internal control or to carry out tests of control. Instead, we plan extensive substantive audit procedures based on a low to medium acceptable level of detection risk (depending whether the assertions under examination are at risk).In response to the high level of inherent risks, we decided to assign more experie nced audit personnel and to conduct the audit with a heightened degree of professional scepticism. As mentioned earlier, an accurate assessment of the extent of liability related to the breach of the environmental laws is not easy to achieve. As the company’s management does not seem to recognise the seriousness of this risk or to respond to it properly, we decided to engage environmental and technical experts to assist by providing us with legal/environmental opinion and estimates.The engagement of an environmental consultant will be scheduled to happen before the year end audit. Weave’s increased inherent risk and control risk increase our audit risk. Some assertions in the company’s financial reports have been identified as the key audit assertions as they tend to be more at risk. These assertions will be examined closely (please refer to the matrix below) and more efforts will be focused on obtaining sufficient and appropriate evidence to test these assertio ns.Financial Acct Liability Acct (provision for water treatment facility) Contingent Liabilties Valuation of the provision Sales Acct (Income Statement Assertions) Completeness all sales recorded Accuracy of recorded sales amounts Correct accounting period cut-off Inherent Risk Control Risk Debtor's confirmation Assertions at risk (Balance Sheet Assertions) Completeness of all liabilities Inherent Risk Engagement of environmental expert/consultant Quotation / project estimations are recorded properly with appropriate amounts Audit Risk Procedures/Evidence 9 of 11 – Group Assignment – HBC614B Company Auditing To test if the liability account for the water treatment facility contains any material misstatement we will focus on whether the account has included all liabilities as per the environmental specialist’s advice and the amounts are properly estimated and recorded (completeness and valuation). We could do this by seeking confirmation from the environmental sp ecialist and checking estimates/quotations for the project.To support the company’s claim of ‘low sales volume’ and ‘low level of cash flow’, we will test if all sales transactions pertaining to the company have been included in the income statement (completeness) and all sales occurred during the current accounting period have been properly recorded with the correct amounts (accuracy and cut-off). Collecting debtors’ confirmations could be the approach to carry out this test. As our team has audited the company for the last ten years, it is assumed that there must be a certain degree of familiarity and complacency.However, due to the new developments in the company’ situation, more specifically, higher level of business risk, this year’s audit strategy and plan have been revised accordingly. Apart from additional audit procedures and probably a larger sample size, our team will need to maintain a higher level of professional sce pticism to make sure that the company’s accounts contain no material misstatements. It should be noted that had this audit been undertaken in the seventh year after the signing of the settlement with the Government’s Environmental Protection Agency, the situation would be different.As the condition of the settlement to build a water treatment facility would have been breached by now, there is an imminent threat of the company being closed down by the government. A ‘going concern’ assessment at the planning stage (as required by ASA 570) would provide the following going concern problem indications: (1) increased competition and falling sales, (2) noncompliance with statutory requirements, and (3) legal proceedings against the entity. In cases where going concern is related to cash flow or solvency problems, some mitigating factors could be considered (such as sale of assets or additional contributions by owners).However, in this case, it could be judged th at a going concern basis is not appropriate as the business is now subject to closure by government regulation enforcement. We, as the auditors, would need to discuss ways to deal with the problem with the company’s management. The possible outcomes could range from renegotiating the settlement agreement to making the decision to liquidate. In the latter case, the auditors would have to assess the impact that a forced sale of assets would have on the book values and the classifications of assets.The auditors would also need to assess the amount and classification of liabilities, including any provision for staff termination payments and other closing-down expenses. In any way, if going concern is an issue it should be adequately reflected (disclosed) in the Financial Reports. The Auditor’s Report should also include an ‘emphasis of matter’ [ASA701. 09 & ASA570], clearly stating that there is a significant uncertainty regarding a going concern problem. ==== ========================= – 10 of 11 – Group Assignment – HBC614B Company Auditing REFERENCES: 1. 2.Australian Auditing and Assurance Handbook, 2007 Edition, CPA Australia Australian Government’s Financial Reporting Council 2005, Australian Government’s Financial Reporting Council, viewed 20 May 2008, http://www. frc. gov. au/about 3. Brief History 2008, International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, IAS Plus, Deloitte, viewed 18 May 2008, http://www. iasplus. com/ifac/iaasb. htm 4. Chris Pearce, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, 22 November 2004, â€Å"The future of governance regulation in Australia, Address to the 21st National Conference of Chartered Secretaries Australia†, viewed 19 May 2008, http://www. reasurer. gov. au/DisplayDocs. aspx? doc=speeches/2004/001. htm=005=cjp=20 04=1 5. Gay & Simnett, 2007, ‘Chapter 6 Planning, Knowledge of the Business and Evaluating Business Risk’, Auditing and Assurance Serv ices in Australia, revised edn 3, McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd. 6. International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board 2008, IFAC, viewed 18 May 2008, http://www. ifac. org/IAASB/ 7. James M. Sylph, January 14, 2005, â€Å"Global Convergence – Near or Far? †, American Accounting Association Auditing Section 2005 Mid Year Conference

The B-24 Bomber Essay Example

The B The B-24 Bomber Essay The B-24 Bomber Essay The B-24 Bomber 2 Several aircraft from the World War Two era have achieved iconic status. The F4U Corsair, TBM Avenger and the B-17 and B-29 Super fortresses are all legendary in their service for the Allied cause. There is another such aircraft that never achieved the fame of those mentioned but was critical to the Allies war effort none the less. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was the work horse of the Allied fleet. Its entrance into the war came at a critical and vulnerable time for Allied survival in Europe. After proving its effectiveness in early missions the B-24 would go on to be used in all theatres of the conflict. It was the most numerous, most versatile and possibly the most effective Allied plane of World War Two. The Design Stage The B-24 bomber was designed as part of the strategic bombing plans drawn up by the Allies in the 1930s. Built by Consolidated Aircraft of Ypsilanti, Michigan, the bomber took its first flight in late December of 1939. Consolidated was a subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company, an icon of American business. The Ford factory was able to produce more than four hundred B-24s per month. By 1941 the plane would enter wartime service. High demand in 1942-43 prompted Consolidated to expand its production facilities. The San Diego plant was increased to three times its original size. A new plant was built in Fort Worth, Texas. The flagship plant was built in Willow Run, Michigan in 1942. At the time this plant was the largest industrial plant of any kind in the United States. In the process thousands of Americans were put to work. The vastness of the Willow Run Plant made for some interesting accommodations. At a certain point in the assembly line the planes would beThe B-24 Bomber 3 mechanically turned at a right angle. The purpose was to avoid having the planes crossing into a neighboring county where taxes were higher. Consolidated had received the contract to produce the B-17 bomber only one year earlier in 1938. After examining the capabilities of the B-17, the Army requested a faster and higher flying plane. The updated plans would result in the building of the B-24 Liberator. Unmodified, the stock version of the B-24 Liberator had these characteristics: Wingspan 110 ft. Length 67 ft. Height 18 ft. Weight (empty) 36,500 lbs. (full) 71,200 lbs. Speed 290 mph Ceiling 28,000 ft. Range 2,100 mi. Engines 4 Pratt and Whitney 1,200 hp 1 Designed as a strategic heavy bomber the airplane was affectionately referred to as the â€Å"Lumbering Lib† by the RAF pilots who used it to patrol the Atlantic. â€Å"Liberator† would then be incorporated officially as part of the aircraft’s name. The plane almost immediately went into heavy production. A mainstay of the Army and Navy air forces, it was also used by the RAF (Royal Air Force) and the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force). The plane cost about $300,000 to build. By wars end over 19,000 B-24s had been built 3. This exceeds the total of any other Allied aircraft. The B-24 Bomber 4 Bomber design was still in its infancy and the B-24 did have some problems. It was prone to fire due to the placement of its fuel tanks. The only way to enter or exit the plane was through the bomb bay, a difficult proposition in a crisis situation. It was also somewhat cumbersome to fly. The plane’s designers had to make these tradeoffs in order to maximize the performance and the long range capability of the aircraft. The plane was also somewhat vulnerable to enemy fire, given its relatively lightweight construction. The high altitude capability of the plane helped minimize this threat. There were a substantial number of orders for the plane even while it was still only a prototype. In addition to the three dozen ordered by the Army, the French and British had each ordered more than three times that number. The French order was cut short by the German invasion in 1940. The British received their order and immediately put the planes to use on critical missions. Introduction to the War Ultimately, the B-24 would serve a wide ranging role in all corners of the conflict. It would be used to â€Å"equip 45 groups all over the world† 4. The initial role for the B-24 was to conduct deep ocean patrols. The British were in dire need of a long range patrol aircraft, Prior to the arrival of B-24s in the Atlantic, German U-boats were wreaking havoc on Allied shipping. British reconnaissance activities had a limited range. The arrival of the B-24 allowed the Royal Air Force to patrol much farther out into the ocean. As a result the U-boats were driven back into areas where they could be more easily targeted. The ultimate result was impressive â€Å"The arrival of radar-equipped RAF B-24s in The B-24 Bomber.

Supporting High School Students with Dyslexia

Supporting High School Students with Dyslexia There is a great deal of information on recognizing the signs of dyslexia and ways to help students with dyslexia in the classroom that can be modified to help children in elementary grades as well as students in high school, such as using multisensory approaches to teaching. But students with dyslexia in high school may need some additional supports. The following are some tips and suggestions for working with and supporting high school students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities.Provide a syllabus for your class early in the year. This gives both your student and the parents an outline of your course as well as an advance notice on any large projects.Many times students with dyslexia find it extremely difficult to listen to a lecture and take notes at the same time. They may be focusing on writing the notes and miss important information. There are several ways teachers can help students who find this problematic. Allow students to tape record lessons. Students can listen to the recordings later, at home, where they can stop the recording to write down important points. Many times students with dyslexia find it extremely difficult to listen to a lecture and take notes at the same time. They may be focusing on writing the notes and miss important information.Provide written notes before or after the lecture. This allows students to focus on what you are saying, while still having written information to refer to later.Pair students with another student to share notes. Again, students can focus on what is being said without having to worry about trying to write down important points. Create checkpoints for large assignments. During the high school years, students are frequently responsible for completing term or research papers. Often, students are given an outline of the project and a due date. Students with dyslexia may have a hard time with time management and organize information. Work with your student in breaking down the project into several smaller steps and create benchmarks for you to review their progress.Choose books that are available on audio. When assigning a book-length reading assignment, check to be sure the book is available on audio and check with your school or local library to find out if they can have a few copies on hand for students with reading disabilities if your school is not able to purchase copies. Students with dyslexia can benefit from reading the text while listening to the audio.Have students use Spark Notes to check comprehension and to use as a review for book-length reading assignments. The notes provide a chapter by chapter outline of the book and can also be used to give students an overview before reading. Always start lessons by summarizing information that was covered in the previous lesson and providing a summary of what will be discussed today. Understanding the big picture helps students with dyslexia better understand and organize the details of the lesson.Be available before and after school for extra help. Students with dyslexia may feel uncomfortable asking questions aloud, fearing other students will think they are stupid. Let students know what days and times you are available for questions or extra help when they dont understand a lesson.Provide a list of vocabulary words when beginning a lesson. Whether science, social studies, math or language arts, many lessons have specific words specific to the current topic. Giving students a list before beginning the lesson has been shown to be helpful for students with dyslexia. These sheets can be compiled into a notebook to create a glossary to help students prepare for final exams.Allow students to take notes on a laptop. Student s with dyslexia often have poor handwriting. They may get home and not even be able to understand their own notes. Letting them type their notes may help.Provide study guides before final exams. Take several days before the exam to review the information included in the test. Give study guides that have all information or have blanks for students to fill in during the review. Because students with dyslexia have trouble organizing information and separating inconsequential information from important information, these study guides give them specific topics to review and study.Keep open lines of communication. Students with dyslexia may not have the confidence to talk with teachers about their weaknesses. Let students know you are there to be supportive and offer whatever help they may need. Take time to speak with students privately.Let the student with dyslexias case manager (special education teacher) know when a test is coming up so he or she can review content with the student. Give students with dyslexia a chance to shine. Although tests may be difficult, students with dyslexia may be great at creating powerpoint presentations, making 3-D representations or giving an oral report. Ask them what ways they would like to present information and let them show off. References: Dyslexia and the High-Schooler, Date Unknown, Betsy Van Dorn, Family EducationTips for Teaching Secondary School Dyslexic Children, Date Unknown, Author Unknown, Being Dyslexia

Two Writers Compare of Education Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Two Writers Compare of Education - Assignment Example On the side of Derrick Jensen, education, especially the modern educational systems, should enroll and mold the student into the realms of creativity and individuality. He also extends that education schools are to impart and unveil the realities of life, not illusions like that of happiness lying outside learners’ classroom. The two writers compare through their acknowledgment that education should not generate an illusion, rather it should reveal and aid in solving the realities of life. The two do not seem to conform to the traditional education system, rather advocate that education should help learners find their own voices, freedom, and creativity. To them, education has less to do with knowledge, but being in touch with actuality, as this helps on how to connect to the core of our creative selves. Wild by Cheryl Strayed is a spectacular tale, which sums up the profound meditation on the nature of the angst and endurance. It is a story of a woman, in her journey from lost to found. The self-discovery that Strayed describes as having a lot of shit to shovel emanates from the death of her mother, exit from the university, divorce from her husband and the shocking shockwaves of this drama. This compares to Andrew Forstaffle in the This American Life radio episode Hit the Road. Andrew episodes describe how the fascinating ordinary people are despite the dismissive snort of those around them. The two contrast in that one is a novel by Strayed while the other is Radio short stories and essays. Reading the two, one would encounter an inspiring tale from people, both physical and psychological journey through life’s wilderness of despair until they reach a renewed sense of oneself. According to these writers, Wild, in literal forms means the choice of a writer to unveil his or her unflinching and emotionally incisive language.  

Lying is Universal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Lying is Universal - Essay Example For our elders who have already passed most parts of their lives such as our grandparents lying is such a trivial phenomenon that they hardly realize when they are undergoing it. Virtually they make themselves believe that whatever they are thinking is right and is based on nothing but facts! It has often been noticed that their thoughts about any matter in particular are based over a series of continuous lies that they have made themselves believe as facts rather than otherwise! Even if it is pointed out to them that what they are sayin is incorrect they claim to have never lied about anything ever before. Below is a narration of such a happening in which an elderly person lies about certain things without realizing what she is doing. A few weeks ago on a sunny afternoon I was lazily reclining on my armchair engrossed in the servitude of my summer vacations. â€Å"I cannot find my Ring! I have looked every where!† exclaimed my grandmother. There was nothing else that could ha ve taken my attention off from the suspense novel that I was reading other than my grandmother’s remarks. What was so special about them was that she was talking about the so very famous ring that had a myth behind it. It was our family’s ancestral ring. ... But today, when she had come back into her room after her morning chores she had suddenly realized that she was not wearing her ancestral ring. She could not recall when she had taken it off and where she had put it. The only thing she knew was that she had looked up all the possible places where the ring could supposedly have been but in-vain. She could find it nowhere. I and my siblings offered our services to her and each one of us took up a separate room to conduct the â€Å"Ring-Hunt† in it. Under the sofa, over the cabinet, beside the refrigerator and below the room carpet, after about 3 hours of continuous search there was no place left on our ground floor that we hadn’t looked up. In the meantime when we were busy searching we could continuously hear grandmother complaining to each and everyone of her children and friends over the phone that she had lost the ring and that she suspected the cleaning lady of having stolen her centuries’ old ring. She was so very convincingly telling everyone that the maid had taken her ring that the listener would get the idea that grandmother was cent percent sure in her saying and that it was not just an imaginary assumption that she was making. Is she not lying? I thought to myself while looking up the ring in her closet. But she was talking as if she had seen the maid take the ring with her own eyes whereas only a few hours earlier had she mentioned that she did not recall where it that she had last seen the ring was. The next thing I heard was that she had extended her Pretend-Story of Stolen Ring Even more. She had linked it with every time the maid had ever mentioned to grandma that she really appreciated the antique jewels that she possessed. She quickly