MGM330-0704A-04 Business Decision-Making - Phase 3 Discussion Board Essay

MGM330-0704A-04 Business Decision-Making - Phase 3 Discussion Board - Essay Example Hypothesis testing is a statistical method can be utilized in a variety of applications. The method basically allows a researcher to make a claim about a particular population (data) called the null hypothesis which is then tested by this method to determine if the claim was true or false (Levine & Stephan & Krehbel & Berenson, 2006, p.332). The test works by providing a null hypothesis and an alternative hypothesis. If the null hypothesis is either accepted or rejected. If the null hypothesis is rejected that means there is sufficient evidence to validate the alternative hypothesis is true. The normal curve and its corresponding normal distribution table which is associated with Z values is an important variable in the process of a hypothesis test. Hypothesis testing follow a particular algorithm or procedure that must be perform every time the test is perform. The key steps of a hypothesis test are: Another powerful and very useful statistical method is regression analysis. The regression analysis method is a predictive model that allows the statistician to determine the values of a variable within an equation based on the given data about the other variable. This method has very valuable application for forecasting. A common technique of this model is simple regression which can be applied utilizing the least square approach. This approach uses the formula Y = aX + b (McClave & Benson & Sinich, 2001, p.460). The two key variables are called the dependent and the independent variables. An example of an application of this model is a production problem. A company can used this equation to predict many sales it can generate in the future based on past sales totals of the past years. Software such as Microsoft Excel, Minitab or graphical calculators such as the Ti-89 Titanium created by Texas Instrument can be utilized to perform linear regression analysis. There is another type o f regression analysis called multiple

Religious Experience is Nothing but Fantasy Essay Example for Free

Religious Experience is Nothing but Fantasy Essay The above criticism to religious belief was proposed by Sigmund Freud; who thought that the origin of relig exp (religious experience) is rooted in the unconscious and that they are a product of eschewed psychosexual development. Freud rejected any appeal to the supernatural to explain these occurrences as our mind regularly deludes itself, pointing to dreams as an obvious example. The materialistic approach to explaining relig exp has led scientists to pinpoint specific physical causes of this phenomena; St Paul of Tarsus is thought to have possessed a form of epilepsy. In this case, Pauls relig exp would be a fantasy but perceived as real experience. A theistic challenge to materialism is that God and organic explanations of religious phenomena. In this way our brains may be wired up to experience God; materialism does not necessarily deem all relig exp fantasy. But how does one explain those who do not experience religious phenomena? Are some people born with Gods calling card? This in my mind is where atheists and theists will never agree; theists will say God only chooses some to be his messengers and atheists will say that our genetics and upbringing predispose some of us to superstition. In this way we cannot know whether each and every religious experience is fantasy; a conclusion reached by Bertrand Russell who reasoned that the fundamental truth that we cannot get inside someone elses head and verify the experience deems this argument irresolvable. William James set out specific criteria for a religious experience. For example, the experience must be transient i.e it is temporary and therefore cannot be sustained. This conveniently prevents science from examining the psychological causes of the experience; further evidence that this argument is irresolvable. James based in conclusions in part on Pragmatism; the doctrine that truth is the acceptable conclusion for whomever concerned; in this sense, religious experiences are very much true to the believer. This would be seconded by Ludwig Wittgenstein who indentified religion as a closed language game; proposing that the experiences are fantasy is not an accepted move and is only know to the outside observer. Ergo, to say religious experiences are fantasy excludes the one accepted explanation upon which religion is based; God did it. The term fantasy is vague; does this indicate a belief that we want to be true and know is false or rather a true deception ourselves. The former seems plausible in the case of Mass Hysteria e.g The Toronto Blessing, where our desire to fit in overtakes our desire to be right; what psychologists call Normative Social Influence. As James pointed out, these psychological explanations do not necessarily reject God. However, they do give us no reason to believe in him via Occams razor (believe in the most simple of the explanations) and thus reckon religious experiences as fantasy. This brings to mind Anthony Flews Death by 1000 qualifications; constantly changing the goalposts for the definition of God so that the eventual result is an idea that possesses no verifiable or falsifiable claim. Thus God cannot be counted in or out of existence, or even on the fence. Kant objected to the term religious experience; calling it a contradiction. How can we experience that which is fundamentally beyond our sensory capacity? We experience people and trees and the world around us because it is finite; as are we. We can level the challenge that we experience the universe, which is infinite, but that we experience finite sections of the infinite set. Similarly we can count numbers but not count to the be it and end all of real of the numbers. God we can experience in short, transient bursts but cannot experience the sum of him; this is not logically impossible. Kants reasoning is not the reason to reject religious experience as fantasy; as with religion there can only be one wholly true explanation of religious phenomena. Only one religion can be wholly true as they make incompatible claims; and so we must dismiss most religious experiences as fantasy. And if we reject most religious experiences, then those remaining must be of the same psychological nature so they too can be dismissed as fantasy. Jamess pluralism is merely another get out clause; another death by 1000 qual which offers no explanation to how faiths are linked, and is infinitely less simple than materialism. In conclusion, not every criticism levelled against religious experience is sound. However, only one is sufficient; that because we can track the experience of God to psycho/physiological phenomena, there is no reason left to believe in God even though the two are not mutually exclusive. Since the debate cannot be resolved ala Russell, we must assume the answer is not the theistic one.

Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird :: free essay writer

Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird  Ã‚   Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is an astounding portrayal of Southern tradition and human dignity, a novel whose themes and lessons transcend time and place. The book is narrated by a young girl named Scout who matures over the course of the story from an innocent child to a morally conscience young adult. The cover of the novel displays a knot-holed tree containing a pocket watch and a ball of yarn, accompanied by the silhouette of a mockingbird soaring over the trees through a twilight sky. The portrait on the cover is an emblem that signifies the nature of Scout's maturation and the underlying themes presented by Harper Lee. Lee's signified themes, ethically rich and profoundly humane, epitomize traditional Southern mentality. The story commences during the summer in Maycomb County, Alabama, in a children's world. Scout is a young girl around the age of ten and her older brother Jem is about thirteen. Their summer days consist of playing make believe, fictional games from dawn until dusk with their friend, Dill, from Montgomery, Alabama. In the child's world, the twilight sky represents the rising sun, the dawn of a new day, and the commencement of a full day of children's games and activities. The child's world that exists during the daytime is a world flourishing with innocence and simplicity. However, the daytime is the only time when the child's world exists, for when the sun falls, curfews draw Scout, Jem, and Dill back to their homes for the evening. When daylight fades and the moon begins to rise, the games subside and the make believe, fictional world ceases to exist until following morning. The twilight sky portrayed on the cover represents a rising sun, and thus, the inconsequential child's world . The knot-holed tree housing the pocket watch and the ball of yarn portrayed on the cover is another signifier for the child's world. The tree is on the edge of the Radley property and the pocket watch and ball of yarn within it were placed there by Boo Radley. Boo is an instrumental character to the make believe child's world because of the great ambiguity and elusiveness that he represents. Neither Scout, Jem nor Dill has ever seen Boo Radley; all they know about him are the stories they have heard from Miss Stephanie Crawford, their neighbor and potentially reliable source.

Pain :: essays research papers

Pain, an acute mental or emotional discomfort, is experienced by everyone many times during the course of his or her lives. This discomfort to a person may be the result of slipping on a patch of ice on the sidewalk, or may be the result of working hard on ones homework. Whatever the cause, precautions can be taken to avoid pain, like wearing a helmet while bicycling, but painful situations pop up all the time. Pain during the coarse of ones life is inevitable. Misery, mental suffering or extreme bodily suffering or discomfort: extreme unhappiness, may not be present for everyone, and is more easily avoided than pain. Misery usually occurs when many things go wrong, or if one major thing in someone’s life goes wrong. These things are meaningful and the misery involved is optional. An example of this could be someone who goes to school, but doesn’t work, fails, and consequently ends up without a job, and feels miserable. This situation could have been avoided, if the person had worked hard at school. This demonstrates the fact that misery can be due to major losses or failures. Therefore even though insignificant causes of pain are inevitable, the things that mean the most can be maintained, and misery is optional. Pain can in some ways be prevented, with the help of preventative measures like wearing a seat belt in a car, a wearing a helmet and pads before going out biking. Even though these measures are applied, there are some things that cannot be controlled, and luck also plays a factor in a person encountering pain. First of all, every time a person goes outside there is a chance that an accident will occur. If someone looses control of their car on black ice, hits a tree and gets injured it really is not their fault. One could say that this could be avoided by not driving in winter, but this isn’t possible. People are active, and as long as they are active there is always an element of risk involved. If one makes dinner they may get burned, but food is needed for the person’s survival. People take risks all the time and pain is somewhat inevitable at different degrees. Some people have a high tolerance for pain and seem to take more risks. Others are more cautious, but the element of pain is always a factor. Generally people are more susceptible to smaller sources of pain, because they take small risks, however people are more careful when confronted with serious pain, like the fact that someone may wear a

Kotak Mahindra

Established in 1984, The Kotak Mahindra Group has long been one of India’s most reputed financial organizations. In Feb 2003, Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd. , the group’s flagship company was given the license to carry on banking business by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This approval creates banking history since Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd is the first company in India to convert to a bank. The license authorizing the bank to carry on banking business has been obtained from the RBI in tune with Section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act 1949. KMBL was promoted by Mr.Uday. S. Kotak, Kotak and Company Ltd and Mr. Sidney & A. A. Pinto under the name of Kotak Capital Management Finance Ltd on 21st Nov 1985 and obtained a Certificate of Commencement of Business on 11th Feb 1986.Key group companies and their businesses Kotak Mahindra Bank Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Kotak Securities Kotak Mahindra Prime Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Kotak Mahindra Old Mutual Life Insurance Limited BOARD OF DIRECTORS * Mr. K. M. Gherda – Executive Chairman * Mr. Uday Kotak –Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director * Mr.Anand Mahindra –Co Promoter of Kotak Mahindra Bank and Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra and Mahindra * Mr. Cyril Shroff –Co Promoter * Mr. Pradeep N Kotak –Agri Division of Kotak and Company Limited * Dr. Shanker Acharya * Mr. Shivaji Dam –Managing Director Kotak Mahindra Old Mutual Life Insurance Limited * Mr. C. Jayaram –Executive Director * Mr. Dipak Gupta –Executive Director Product Detail Kotak Mahindra Bank is one of the prominent subsidiaries of Kotak Mahindra group. The activities of the company being parallel to its objective are very wide and cover all the components of a Bank.The Basic area of Operations is the Banking business, other products are meant for the regular revenue generation. Being a Banking house, the company is in regular touch with Banking Acc ounts, Investment Services, Convenience Banking and Other Services. Kotak Mahindra Bank, it's not about selling you many different products — it's about working out a holistic, pragmatic solution that addresses your financial needs. Through their varied products,they commit themselves to becoming â€Å"banker† to the customer rather than being â€Å"asset financier† to our customers.Banking Services by Kotak Mahindra There are three types of banking accounts: * Savings Account * Edge Savings Account: * Pro Savings Account: * Ace Savings Account * Current Account * Edge Current Account * Pro Current account * ACE Current Account * Term Deposit Investment Services * Demat & On Line Trading Account * Initial Public Offers(Ipo’s) Mutual Funds Convenience Banking * Multiple Banking Channels * ATM (Automatic Teller Machine): * Phone Banking * Mobile Banking * SMS Banking OTHER SERVICES * Banking Hours * Best Compliments Card – the perfect giftCOMPETIVE P ROFILE * HDFC Bank * ICICI Bank HDFC BANK Market Strategy Emphasizes The Following: * Increase market share in India’s expanding banking and financial services industry by following a disciplined growth strategy focusing on quality and not on quantity and delivering high quality customer service. * Leverage our technology platform and open scalable systems to deliver more products to more customers and to control operating costs. * Maintain current high standards for asset quality through disciplined credit risk management. Develop innovative products and services that attract the targeted customers and address inefficiencies in the Indian financial sector. * Continue to develop products and services that reduce bank’s cost of funds. * Focus on high earnings growth with low volatility. ICICI BANK MARKETING STRATEGY OF ICICI BANK: * India’s second largest bank * 614 branches and extension counters * 2200 ATM’S * Biggest private sector bank in India * Most valuable bank in India in terms of market capitalization * Described by the competitors and industry expert in one word – â€Å"Aggressive† Strategy of Kotak Mahindra 1.Kotak Mahindra Bank is Leading Bank in the country, it provides a variety of products and services to different segments of customers. 2. The Bank aims to serve customers from teenagers to senior citizens, hence different products designed to suit specific requirements of the above. 3. Aims to serve all classes of the society from the salaried middle class to the high income business class. Customers are categorized and segmented according to their requirements and needs. For Example, the EDGE Saving Account aims to serve middle class customers so minimum balance required to be maintained is Rs. 0000. While the PRO and ACE Saving Accounts are targeted at high income customers, the minimum balance requirement is Rs. 20000 and Rs. 75000.4. Customers who are more profitable to the Bank (High Value Customer s) are provided special facilities. Priority Banking is meant to serve these high value customers. 5. The Bank prides itself with the ability to provide differentiate products in the crowded market of saving accounts. Bank offers the free home baking, special co-branded debit cards (Smart fill Debit Card) which makes its product unique. . The Bank is also involved in marketing activities which serves as a medium of advertisement for the Bank. These are as follows: * Extended happy hours at certain pubs in Delhi for the Bank’s account holders. * Gift Vouchers on making utility payments, such as cell phones, electricity and MTNL bills. * Free Gifts like caps, pens/wallets to its customers. * Free add-on cards for relatives. 7. The Bank wants its customers to transact more through Internet Banking and ATM, Rather than the customers using the branch. 8.The Debit Cards provided by the Bank are Internationally Accepted around the world, hence giving the customers the convenience to transact anytime, anywhere. 9. The Bank has tied up with other Banks so that its customers can use other Bank’s ATM facility for free transactions 10. The Bank also provides DEMAT account and also sells Mutual Funds, this provides the Bank and Government additional revenue. 11. The Bank has been very successful in enlarging its customer base during the last couple of years. 12. The Number One Reason of people choosing Kotak Mahindra Bank is the Brand Name/Reputation of the Bank.Hence it should be careful that the Brand name and Goodwill the Bank has earned is not diluted. 13. The Biggest competitors of the Bank are ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank and STANDRAD CHARTERED. 14. ATM Facility is most popular way to transact with the Bank. 15. Overall the customers appreciate the service and products offered by the Bank and are willing to recommend the Bank to their acquaintances , But more attention has to paid towards: * Increasing the number of ATM machines. * Improving Internet Bankin g Facility.

Field Trip Report to Jtmc Library

Field Trip Report to JTMC Library Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC), Pontian 14 March 2013 Introduction The purpose of this field trip is to look at existing conditions and facilities available at Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC) library. Apart from that the trip was also intended to discuss possible improvements that can be suggested to the management of the library. Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC) built on the site of the Rambah Village, Rimba Terjun Reuters in Pontian.It is one of the 13 Matriculation College under the auspices of the Matriculation Division, Ministry of Education to prepare students for further studies at any of the local universities and abroad. The college began operating on 11 May 2009, and can accommodate up to 700 students in certain time. The college is located near to the Pontian town and surrounded by large cities such as Batu Pahat and Johor Bahru. JTMC Library is a knowledge center which provides reference materials an d information for learning throughout the matriculation program.JTMC Library officially began operations on 1St January 2010 with a collection of 4,156 copies of the book. The mission is contributed to the excellence of knowledge in science and technology through improved access to sources of knowledge, access and distribution and spread accurate and effective info. Meanwhile, the vision is to be the superior knowledge center among technical matriculation by 2015. The motto of JMTC library is ‘Your Information Hub' and it has 4 main objectives which are provide information services to all library users.Secondly, effectively manage the library in line with the needs of teaching, learning, and development of JTMC. Then, promoting information services to citizens of JTMC and cultivate a culture of knowledge among JTMC citizens towards excellence in science and technology. Field observation Apart from collection storage center, resource center also plays a role in providing inform ation services package to support the process of learning and research at the Johor Technical Matriculation College. This is essential to achieve the mission of the college to provide the creative talent and innovative in the field of science and technology.Classification system that has been adopted is in accordance with the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Besides that, the library management use the system software Library Management System for borrowing process, returns, renewals and library databases. At this time JTMC Library led by the Director of Johor Technical Matriculation College which is Tuan Zaidi Bin Yazid and has the strength of 4 staff to lead the library operations. The JTMC Library consisting of Librarian, Administrative Assistant and have two Office Assistant.However, there is still a gap to fill the position of Assistant Library Officer and Assistant Librarian. Library operating hours on Monday to Friday is at 8 am to 5 pm on the day and 8. 30 pm to 11. 00 p m at the night. Meanwhile, during the weekends the library operating on the day only, which is from 10. 00 am to 5. 00 pm. Along with the development of technology resource center has also launched a digital collection consists of newspaper clippings, newsletters and abstract content review / article which can be accessed through the Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC) portal.Throughout this observation, I can see some weakness of this library and have been thinking about some solutions to the problem. First, the number of staff during operating hours should be added and all the empty position should be filled. In addition, with the availability of adequate staff then the opening hours can be extended. Thirdly, books should be up to date and increase the number of reference books for critical subject. Then, library environment should be more interesting and ideal for carry out various college activities.Conclusion It is obvious that library plays a major role in ensuring st udent academic success. Therefore it is important for the library to provide the best service to satisfy customer needs. From my experiences Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC) library can be one of the best library among other library when able to meet the demands of all users. APPENDICES [pic] Picture 1 : Main building of Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC) [pic] Picture 2 : Main entrance of Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC) Library

Socioeconomic Structures and History in Spanish and Portuguese

Heather Coffey HIST 3401W December 18th, 2012 Socioeconomic Structures and History in Spanish and Portuguese America from the Conquest until Post Colonial Period Throughout the entire history of Portuguese and Spanish occupation of the Americas there were evolving hierarchies, labor regimes, gender relations, sources of wealth, regions of wealth, trade routes, uprisings, economic hard times and high times, etc. A very prominent source behind this constant ebb and flow of the history of Portuguese and Spanish Americas can easily be attributed to the economic forces always at play.It can be seen in the reasons for the conquest of Latin america and South America, the onset of the colonial period and the rebellions of eighteenth century. It is important to understand the economic drives that were in play in the beginning of the conquest because it would inevitably change the social landscape of Mexico, the outlying islands and South America forever. The Age of Exploration brought upon a wealth of knowledge for the world, and specifically for the Kingdoms of Spain and Portugal it also brought a lot of wealth.The rivalry between the two kingdoms and need for financial gains led the two to divide the areas of the world where exploration was viable with the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 which divided the lands East of the demarcation line (halfway between the Cape Verde Islands) to Portugal and the lands west of that to Spain. Keeping within these boundaries, explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro (among many others) scoured the newly discovered Americas in search of new land, but also new sources of wealth.Upon reaching the Americas, both in Mexico and the surrounding areas as well as South America, one of the main goals was the search for wealth in Gold and Silver. The hunt for both as well as other rich resources at first led the explorers on a wild goose chase around the alien lands and native people until areas were found and d eemed suitable for settlement and a worthy and financially sound decision as it would prove to be for Spain and Portugal. †¦where have men seen what they see today, fleets entering loaded with gold and silver as if it were iron? Or where was it known or read that so much wealth could come from one kingdom? So much and so great is it that Spain is full of these treasures, and her cities are populated by many rich perusers who have left there. â€Å"1 Once regions were settled and indigenous resistance to colonizing efforts were temporarily brought somewhat under control the exploitation of the rich resources of the land began.There were shiploads of Spanish and Portuguese men (and some women) brought into Latin America to aid in the settlement process, but it was the indigenous that were used in the farming and mining of these resources as well as the upkeep of the households of the white families by the indigenous women. This aided in the creation of the pyramid of the divisio ns of class and caste throughout all of Mexico and South America, at first drawing distinct lines between â€Å"White† and Indian. As time progresses the indigenous succumb to diseases brought by the white people and the population of Indians from all regions declines drastically.African slave trade was key here as they replaced the vast numbers of Indians lost, but also then entered them into the socio-economic orders. In the times of the conquest and the beginnings of the colonial period the lines of race were much clearer, White, Indian and Black, but this would change and the lines would blur through out the colonial period as races mix. The gender relations between the races began early with, more commonly, the slave women or african or Indian descent brought in to do slave work in white households or to do the â€Å"female† tasks of spinning wool, etc. , women were taken in as concubines and thus the blending of white and indian and black began. By the colonial p eriod and beyond there would be upwards of sixteen different names for the gradations in color and subsequently class. The very bottom of the â€Å"social† pyramid being slaves, mostly blacks who were immovable in the caste system due to their â€Å"involuntary citizenship and thus assumed treachery†3. It's interesting to see how the need for free and cheap labor brought what would shape the future identities that would become those of the Americas.Over time the economies of both Spain and portugal became dependent on the goods, tax revenues and tributes coming from Latin America and through times when the â€Å"goods† weren't doing so well they had to rely more heavily on other aspects. There were periods of time when the silver production at Potosi, for instance, wasn't doing well due to lack of supplies needed for mining. These regions then would be hit heavily with raised tributes from lower social orders as well as enforced and raised taxes on goods traded within the regions as would be the cause of the Repartimiento de Comercio in 1751.These financial strains as well as the enforced labor of men used as tribute as well (mita) left the majority of the population (lower classes) financially and even physically weak. This continued to grow and grow throughout the colonial period caused great discontent â€Å"Conflicts over land distribution, tribute rates, mitt allocations, the succession to ethnic leadership posts, and abuses by local priests and corregidores frequently disturbed local indigenous communities during the eighteenth century. The spread of the repartee often exacerbated such local tensions, leading to an escalation of violence. 4 These issues would like to the uprisings and rebellions that would create chaos for the Spanish and Portuguese throughout the late eighteenth century and on, the most notable being those lead by Tomas Katari, Tupac Amaru II and Tupac Katari in Peru and upper Peru from 1780-1783. The socioeconomic history of Spanish and Portuguese America is a broad topic, hard to even begin to explain in a short paper as this. That being said, I believe that it's important to understand the impact that it had on the entire region.The effects that it had on the populations from the declining population of indigenous from illness brought from Europe, to the subsequent new races of people caused by the blending of populations all forced to live together. Also the strain that this would inevitably put on those being taken advantage of by the colonial leaders and Castilian and Portuguese crowns. This entire history from the fifteenth century until the early nineteenth century was put into motion by cause and effect situations led by the greed of men, this need for wealth that would take over and hange the lives of millions. 1. Quote from Pedro Cieza de Leon in the Discovery and Conquest of Peru, Pp. 33. Lecture notes from Thursday, Sept. 27th. 2. Townsend, Camilla. Malintzins Choices: An Indian Woman in the Conquest of Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuqurque 2006. Pp. 35 3. Weaver-Oldon, Nathan. Lecture Oct. 2 . â€Å"Critical Ways that Indians and Africans Seen As Different. 4. Andrien, Kenneth. Andean Worlds: Indigenous History, Culture ,and Consciousness Under Spanish Rule, 1532-1825. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 2001. Pp. 202-203