Monday, January 27, 2020

Marxist Framework of Poverty in the UK

Marxist Framework of Poverty in the UK Poverty is generally understood to mean a condition in which people are deprived in some way, such that they lack the basic requirements for sustaining well-being, and ultimately, life. These basic requirements are understood as such things as food, water, shelter (as may be understood, for example, in a developing country context) or access to education or political power (as might be understood, for example, in the context of a developed nation). Poverty is an absolute within itself, as people are termed to be in poverty, but poverty can also be understood in relative terms, when, for example, poverty of different resources is considered: poverty of education is obviously not as fundamental a level of poverty as poverty of food, for example, as, obviously, without food, a person would die, but a person can manage to live without education, even if this would mean a life of continuing poverty, through lack of opportunity. Poverty can be measured in many different ways, and indeed, there are many indicators of poverty, which are used to assess year-on-year changes in poverty. Obviously, as with definitions of poverty, measurements of poverty are relative, with different measures being used in developed vs. developing nations, for example, or between nations of the developed, or developing, world. In general, one overall measure of poverty which has gained ground in recent years is the income inequality scale, which shows that income inequality has, recently, worldwide, become less of a problem, with the world becoming more equitable in terms of income levels across the world’s nations. This does not belittle the problems of poverty, however, as poverty is still a major issue that the world has yet to deal with in a satisfactory manner. As with the definitions and measurement of poverty, the causes of poverty are many and varied, with environmental and geographical factors creating poverty in many developing countries, and with disease and lack of natural resources also causing poverty in these regions. Indeed, it is difficult to attribute one cause to poverty in any situation, especially poverty in developing countries. In developed nations, however, poverty is perhaps best understood as a product of society’s failure to act to avoid the situation, and, as such, policies are in place to prevent poverty in these situations[1]. It is a moot point, however, amongst politicians, social workers and philanthropists as to how far policies can actually prevent poverty, and, indeed, some people suggest that current policies do not go far enough to act to prevent poverty. The effects of poverty are, again, many and varied, with poverty leading, ultimately, to death, in many developing nations, and with poverty leading to lack of opportunity and social exclusion in developed nations. In developed nations, policies are in place to avoid such poverty, such as subsidised housing, education and health care[2], although these are not always effective, as we have seen, leading to undesirable effects, such as crime (Jones, 2001; Muncie, 2004). It is hypothesised, for example, that in extreme poverty situations, people turn to crime in order to provide basic necessities, and this has been supported by much original research on the subject (see Muncie, 2004). The next section of the paper will look at levels of poverty in the UK, and following this, the paper will then proceed to assess poverty in the UK from a Marxist viewpoint. Poverty in the UK is still at shockingly high levels, with the problem seeming, on the face of it, to be mainly caused by low pay levels; indeed, it is suggested by recent research that in low-income households, both members of the family need to work in order for the family to earn enough to cover basic expenses[3], and that, of these low income families, many are at a disadvantage in terms of receiving health care and the achievement of minimum educational standards. It seems, also, that this trend, rather than decreasing, is actually increasing, with the number of families claiming children’s tax credits increasing year-on-year and the proportion of workers classed as ‘low paid’ increasing year-on-year[4]. It is shocking, therefore, to see that much of the UK, and a large proportion of the children living in the UK, live in poverty. This is despite the fact that policies have been in place for many decades to try to curtail, and avoid altogether, the issue of poverty. As we have seen, however, these policies are often not effective, and can take years to come to fruition, by which time a new generation of infants have grown up in poverty, leading to what is known as ‘the poverty trap’. We have seen, therefore, how successive UK governments have attempted to deal with the issue of poverty: by creating policies to deal with each ‘strand’ of poverty individually, and not attacking the whole problem of poverty as a whole. This leads on to thinking about how Marxists understand poverty, which is essentially in a more holistic, if idealistic, manner. Marxists do not make any distinction between class, poverty and disadvantage; for Marxists, members of any class, they argue, can fall into poverty through unemployment, for example, and that, as such, ‘the poor’ can be best be viewed as part of a continuum from those in society who have a lot of material wealth to those who do not. This definition using the idea of a continuum, however, stands in direct contrast to the situation of class inequality which, obviously, Marxists attempt to fight against by their calls for equality in society, for all. Perhaps the issue of poverty can be best understood in terms of the dependency theory of Marxists: this theory suggest, essentially, that lifting the poor out of poverty is not enough, they need to be given tools to be able to sustain themselves out of poverty. True Marxists would add that this can never be achieved under a capitalist system, as this system is built to achieve successes at the expense of the failure of others; as such, poverty is a consequence of the capitalist system, and something which Marxists fight against, in their search for equality, or, rather, in terms of poverty, in their quest for a situation in which underdevelopment is not an option. Assessing poverty in terms of a purely socio-political approach as we have done, and then within the framework of Marxism as we have also attempted, provides two different frameworks with which to understand the issue of poverty. One framework aims to treat poverty as something that can be solved by implementing policies and by watching those policies take effect, the other attempts to understand poverty as a societal achievement, which can only be solved by changing the very foundations of society. Social workers are some of societies most valuable professionals, who, in concert with families, teachers, and the police can put children, and families, back on track before they reach an irreversible moment in which damage has been done which cannot be corrected. Children are valuable members of society, and it is the responsibility of all society to look after them: perhaps this is what Marx was implying when he talked of societal equality. Children deserve equality of opportunity, in terms of access to basic requirements, and, above these, to health care and education and information provision. Without these basic requirements, without basic care, children live in poverty. It is a travesty that in this day and age there are many children who live in poverty in the UK, but with the approach outlined here applied on a daily basis by social workers, it is hoped that poverty will soon be a thing of the past, at least in the UK. References Best, S. (2005) Understanding Social Divisions, London, Sage Cree, V. E. (2000) Sociology for Social Workers and Probation Officers, London, Routledge. Dominelli, L. (1997) Sociology for Social Work, London, MacMillan Glennerster, H. et al. (2004). One hundred years of poverty and policy. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Iceland, J. (2003). Poverty in America. A Handbook of the University of California Press. Jones, S. (2001) Criminology, Trowbridge, Cromwell Press Layder, D. (2005) Understanding Social Theory, London, Sage Muncie, J. (2004) Youth and Crime, 2nd edition, London, Sage, Ritzer, G. (2000) Sociological Theory, London, McGraw-Hill 1 Footnotes [1] A recent book by Glennerster et al. (2004) entitled One hundred years of poverty and policy, provides a review of the effects and ramifications of policy on poverty in the UK. [2] Although the nation that sees itself as ‘the most developed’ on Earth, the United States, offers none of these poverty-reducing schemes, and indeed, poverty in the United States is on the increase, and reaches disturbingly high levels. See Iceland (2003) for further details. [3] See the report Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK, 2006 by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. [4] Again, according to the report Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK, 2006 by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Coca-Cola Essay

Coke has been the leader in the soft drink industry for decades. Coke has a strong customer loyalty base, while appealing to new customers through effective marketing. In recent years, the soft drink industry has changed with consumers becoming more health conscious. With the consumer market changing, soft drink sales have dropped and the demand for healthy drinks are in demand. To be able to make up the difference of the drop in sales, Coca-Cola needed to come up with some innovative new products and marketing strategies that would appeal to a new market of the beverage industry. In the last decade, PepsiCo. has gained leverage on Coca-Cola, because Pepsi made beverages that appealed to the changing consumer market. In two thousand-four, Pepsi owned fifty-two point three percent of the market in China after Coke produced a plant there (SinoCast, 2004). Coca-Cola has faced struggles in the past decade due to the lack of effective marketing and new product development. The individuals that were making the decisions for Coca-Cola were focusing on their best seller Coke and Diet Coke, and discovered that two products were not enough to keep the corporation running. When using the PESTEL analysis, the first key component is to do an environmental scan (Finch, 2012). PESTEL is an acronym known as the six environmental factors which are the framework (Finch, 2012). The six environmental factors are political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal (Finch, 2012). The PESTEL analysis is based upon understanding forces and trends and can pertain to any given industry (Finch, 2012). Coca-Cola did not do any environmental scan, and solely relied upon the traditional beverages and marketing that Coca-Cola had always used. oke 2. PepsiCo not only began to distribute health conscious beverages, such as juices, teas, coffees, and water they also began distributing snack foods. PepsiCo has even implemented a relationship with schools which incorporates responsible advertising practices, like offering healthy foods and beverages. PepsiCo also became a member of the International Food & Beverage Alliance, which has to be met by certain stan dards in food and beverage distribution. The proper execution of the PESTEL analysis is a tool that would give PepsiCo an advantage as it delves in market penetration, market development, and product development. The PESTEL analysis would confirm market trends, and internal and external factors, which would allow the organization to do more specific research and create the ability to make adjustments in order to reflect a gain in the industry. The PESTEL analysis is the answer as to how PepsiCo had the ability to act on a changing market and fully benefit from the changing market. A decade ago Coca-Cola began its struggle in the beverage industry, when reality hit Coca-Cola made adjustments, offered new products and adapted to the market. Five years from now, Coca-Cola has to remain competitive by changing with the market, and producing products that appeal to the current consumer interest. Not only will Coca-Cola have to be creative with products, marketing is also another challenge. Marketing has changed with technological advances, today marketing is more than a television commercial, or a billboard there are now various channels and strategies in hich to reach and appeal to consumers. Coca-Cola is known for sticking to traditional marketing and product, which has eventually put them behind their competitor. Technology is utilized in many different forms and will continue to increase as technology is an ever changing industry. Technology is a tool that should be utilized it can be cost effective and reach a new market segment. The weakness of the beverage industry is that consumers continue to become more health conscious, even down to the ingredients that make the food or beverage they are consuming. There have been studies done that lead researchers to believe that aspartame causes cancer. There are studies that lead researchers to believe that Splenda in large and prolonged quantities can also lead to cancer. These ingredients are commonly used in different types of beverages that are distributed by various companies. With the recent studies of various ingredients, the government controls food and beverage production which also means that everything has to be made public knowledge (on a label). The strengths are that of which Coca-Cola has the ability to produce beverages that appeal to the health conscious consumer. The investment into new products will allow Coca-Cola to remain competitive and appeal to new consumers as well. Along with new beverages, Coca-Cola should also explore new avenues in to growing markets and invest in them. With the financial power that Coca-Cola the investment to tap into new frontiers. There are many opportunities for growth given that marketing and product development are the focus of the future of the company. oke 4. The future of Coca-Cola relies upon the decision to continually evaluate the six major factors into success and future success of any business. Frequent environmental scanning is necessary to execute the analysis of how and what changes need to be made. With the constant adjustments to product development and marketing strategies in place to accompany the changing times, it enables the best utilizations of products and marketing.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

History of enlightenment Essay

(1) Newtonian theory vs. Einstein and Heisenberg The Newtonian theory refers to the work of one of the earliest scientists known as Isaac Newton who stated that, the laws of nature (gravity) controlled the stable movements of objects and also maintained the delicate balance that holds things firmly to the ground. However, since then this theory has been subjected to many conflicting philosophical views and opinions that have either challenged or supported it. The emergence of Albert Einstein and his genius in physics, for instance, gave way for heated debates about the credibility of the Newtonian theory of natural law and gravity. Albert Einstein in his proposed theory of relativism helped to extend Newtonian dynamics to include motion at speeds of approaching than that of light. This new additional clause on the initial theories of gravity saw the revolutionary perception of the effect of motion on gravity. The new findings led to the disputation of the absoluteness of Newtonian theory in that, Einstein discovered some faults that made the Newtonian theory incomplete and questionable. Einstein was able to learn that some elements such as time, mass, energy, space, and even matter are not necessarily absolute in themselves, they can therefore be measured or altered by a person depending on the nature of his/her study variables. [Nick Strobel, 2001] Warner Heisenberg later emerged to add his findings on what he called â€Å"quantum† mechanics that described motion on a subatomic scale. In his findings Heisenberg, asserted that the universe was full of uncertainties that made it not an obvious phenomenon to ever understand. â€Å"The more precisely the position is determined the, the less precisely the momentum is known at this instant, and vice versa† The work of these two scientists heralded the genesis of new studies that sought to provide insights on initially abstract theories, the Newtonian one included. [Mr. Edmondson, 2000] (2) Social Darwinism and Hitler The theories of social Darwinism, provided for a healthy competition among individuals, groups, nations, and the global world as a whole for purposes of achieving social evolution amongst human societies. Social Darwinism is a derivative from the Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Natural selection according to Darwin is the process of speciation in populace that is brought about by competition between individual mortals for limited resources a phenomenon called, â€Å"survival for the fittest†.   [Johnson, D. Paul, 2008] In his book, â€Å"Main Krampf† Hitler expresses acknowledgement of both the principals of social Darwinism and natural selection, this he exhibits by asserting that the world should be classified to people’s ancestry, a classification that will involve with some people being placed on higher classes than others, he quoted the example of Germany Aryans as more superior than the blacks, Jews, and gypsies as belonging to a lesser class. Again, Hitler is seen as acting beyond the dictates of social Darwinism or even the principal of natural selection with his racial attitude towards the Jews whom he accuse of abetting racial dilution tactics in order to bring about equality. His perception of social Darwinism and natural law was about the political, social, and economic struggle between the mainstream Aryans and the minority Jews. His racialism attitudes led him to the gassing and brutal murdering of millions of Jews as a way of satisfying his own â€Å"social Darwinistâ €  theory. [Mein Kampf, 1939] (3) Sigmund Freud vs. John Locke According to john Locke, â€Å"self† is the conscious thinking thing which is in itself reasonable or conscious of pleasure and pain and proficient of cheerfulness or melancholy, and so is concerned for itself, as far as that awareness extends. In other words to him self is a character awareness and self thoughtful awareness that is fixed in the body.   [Locke, Essay, 1997] In his work â€Å"some thoughts concerning Education† he indicates it is education that fills the rather â€Å"empty human mind†, by asserting that out of the ten men he meets with nine of them are what they are, morally upright or morally rotten, useful or not, good or evil, chiefly due to their education. [Locke, Some Thoughts, 1996] Further he argued that little and almost insensible impressions we make when we are young having lasting impacts to ourselves simply due to the fact that they were the foundations of the self. [Locke, Some Thoughts, 1996] On the other hand Sigmund Freud differed vehemently with Lockean theory in that he argued that human beings behavior is controlled largely by their unconscious minds. He argued that the understanding of conscious thoughts and behavior is determined by revisiting the unconscious mind. He developed â€Å"repression† as key factor that determined unconscious, out of belief that far many people repress painful memories into their unconscious minds. He further clarified that the very process of repression took place within an individual’s conscious mind but rather in the unconscious one, and therefore many people are unaware that is happening on them. [Barlow DW, Durand VM, 2005] Finally Freud stubborn stance on the unimportance of both education and treatment to the alleviation of violence or suffering can be attributed to his changing of the system of unconsciousness and modeling it into the concept of Ego, super-ego, and id.   Super ego is ability to psyche ones morals and not taking in to account circumstantial morals situations, while Id was derived from William James early works. It is in light of this that Freud vehemently disputed the notion that the success of the population relied on education.   [Barlow DW, Durand VM, 2005] Freud model of mind has been a great challenge to the enlightenment model of rational agency which then was a core element in modern philosophy.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Biography of Molly Pitcher, Heroine of the Battle of Monmouth

Molly Pitcher was a fictitious name given to a heroine, revered for taking her husbands place loading a cannon in the Battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, during the American Revolution. The identification of Molly Pitcher, earlier known in popular images as Captain Molly, with Mary McCauly, didnt come until the centennial of the American Revolution.  Molly was, at the time of the Revolution, a common nickname for women named Mary. Much of Mary McCaulys story is told from oral histories or court and other legal documents correlating with some parts of the oral tradition. Scholars disagree on many of the details, including what her first husbands name was (the famous husband who collapsed and whom she replaced at the cannon) or even whether she is the Molly Pitcher of history. The Molly Pitcher of legend may be completely folklore or may be a composite. Molly Pitchers Early Life Mary Ludwigs birthdate is given on her cemetery marker as October 13, 1744.  Other sources suggest her birth year was as late as 1754. She grew up on her familys farm. Her father was a butcher. She is unlikely to have had any education and was likely illiterate.  Marys father died in January of 1769, and she went to Carlisle, Pennsylvania to be a  servant to the family of Anna and Dr. William Irvine.   Molly Pitchers Husband A Mary Ludwig married a John Hays on July 24, 1769. This may have been a first husband for the future Molly Pitcher, or it may have been a marriage of her mother, also named Mary Ludwig as a widow. In 1777, the younger Mary married William Hays, a barber, and an artilleryman. Dr. Irvine, for whom Mary was working, had organized a boycott of British goods in response to the British Tea Act in 1774. William Hayes was listed as one helping with the boycott. On December 1, 1775, William Hays enlisted in the First Pennsylvania Regiment of Artillery, in a unit commanded by Dr. Irvine (also called General Irwin in some sources). A year later, January 1777, he joined the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment and was part of the winter camp at Valley Forge. Molly Pitcher at War After her husbands enlistment, Mary Hays first stayed in Carlisle, then joined her parents where she was closer to her husbands regiment. Mary became a camp follower, one of the many women attached to a military camp to take care of support tasks such as laundry, cooking, sewing, and other tasks. Martha Washington was another of the women at Valley Forge. Later in the war, another woman was present as a soldier in the army. Deborah Sampson Gannett enlisted and served as a man under the name Robert Shurtliff. In 1778, William Hays trained as an artilleryman under Baron von Steuben. The camp followers were taught to serve as water girls. William Hays was with the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment when, as part of George Washingtons army, the Battle of Monmouth was fought with British troops on June 28, 1778. William (John) Hays job was to load the cannon, wielding a ramrod. According to the stories told later, Mary Hays was among the women bringing pitchers of water to the soldiers, to cool the soldiers as well as to cool the cannon and soak the rammer rag. On that hot day, carrying water, the story told is that Mary saw her husband collapse — whether from the heat or from being wounded is not clear, though he certainly was not killed — and stepped in to clean the ramrod and load the cannon herself, continuing until the end of the battle that day. In one variation of the story, she helped her husband fire the cannon. According to the oral tradition, Mary was nearly hit by a musket or cannonball that sped between her legs and ripped her dress. She is said to have responded, Well, that could have been worse. Supposedly George Washington had seen her action on the field, and after the British retreated unexpectedly rather than continuing the fight the next day, Washington made Mary Hays a non-commissioned officer in the army for her deed. Mary apparently began calling herself Sergeant Molly from that day forward. After the War Mary and her husband returned to Carlisle, Pennsylvania. They had a son, John L. Hayes, in 1780. Mary Hays continued to work as a domestic servant. In 1786, Mary Hays was widowed; later that year, she married John McCauley or John McCauly (various spellings of names was common in a society where many were not literate). This marriage was not successful; John, a stonecutter and a friend of William Hays, was apparently mean and did not adequately support his wife and stepson. Either she left him or he died, or he otherwise disappeared, about 1805. Mary Hays McCauly continued to work around town as a domestic servant, with a reputation for being hard-working, eccentric and coarse. She petitioned for a pension based on her Revolutionary War service, and on February 18, 1822, the Pennsylvania legislature authorized a payment of $40 and subsequent annual payments, also of $40 each, in An act for the relief of Molly MKolly. The first draft of the bill had the phrase widow of a soldier and this was revised to for services rendered. Specifics of those services are not noted in the bill. Mary Ludwig Hays McCauly — who called herself Sergeant Molly — died in 1832. Her grave was unmarked. Her obituaries do not mention military honors or her specific war contributions. The Evolution of Captain Molly and Molly Pitcher Popular images of Captain Molly at a cannon circulated in the popular press, but these were not tied to any specific individual for many years. The name evolved into Molly Pitcher. In 1856, when Marys son John L. Hays died, his obituary included the note that he was a son of the ever-to-be-remembered heroine, the celebrated Molly Pitcher whose deeds of daring are recorded in the annals of the Revolution and over whose remains a monument ought to be erected. Connecting Mary Hays McCauly With Molly Pitcher In 1876, the American Revolution centennial sparked interest in her story and local critics in Carlisle had a statue of Mary McCauley created, with Mary described as the Heroine of Monmouth. In 1916 Carlisle established a three-dimensional representation of Molly Pitcher loading a cannon. In 1928, on the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Monmouth, pressure on the Postal Service to create a stamp showing Molly Pitcher was only partially successful. Instead, a stamp was issued that was a regular red two cent stamp depicting George Washington, but with a black overprint of the text Molly Pitcher in capital letters. In 1943, a Liberty ship was named SS Molly Pitcher and launched. It was torpedoed that same year. A 1944 wartime poster by C. W. Miller depicted Molly Pitcher with a ramrod at the battle of Monmouth, with the text Americas women have always fought for freedom. Sources John Todd White. The Truth About Molly Pitcher. in The American Revolution: Whose Revolution? edited by James Kirby Martin and Karen R. Stubaus. 1977.John B. Landis. A Short History of Molly Pitcher, the Heroine of Monmouth. 1905. Published by the Patriotic Sons of America.John B. Landis. Investigation into American Tradition of Woman Known as Molly Pitcher. Journal of American History 5 (1911): 83-94.D. W. Thompson and Merri Lou Schaumann. Goodbye Molly Pitcher. Cumberland County History 6 (1989).Carol Klaver. An Introduction into the Legend of Molly Pitcher. Minerva: Quarterly Report on Women and the Military 12 (1994) 52.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Themes in The Sun Also Rises Essay - 835 Words

Themes in The Sun Also Rises One theme that I found recurring throughout the novel, The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, was love. Lady Brett Ashley was a beautiful woman who seemed to be irresistible to the men she became acquainted with. For example Robert Cohn, Bill Gorton, Pedro Romero, Mike Campbell, and last but not least Jake Barnes. Brett was ex ¬ tremely vulnerable to the charm that various men in her life seemed to smother her with. Brett was not happy with her life or her surroundings and sought escape and refuge in the arms of these men. All of these men had strong feelings for Brett. The only problem was that Brett had no feelings for any of those men, except for Jake. The only reason Jake and Brett†¦show more content†¦He loved Brett more than anything and he wanted her to be happy, so he set her up with Robert Cohn, which did not work out, and he also set her up with Pedro Romero. Although the feelings between Brett and Pedro may have been mutual, Brett did the right thing by giving him up; whatever Brett wanted, Jake was willing to give her because he wanted her to be happy. Love for Robert Cohn is a silly and naive love learned from storybook romances. For example the book that Robert Cohn read, The Purple Land, which was about an aging Englishman finding love in a romantic country seriously affected him. Robert had old-fashioned notions of love- he believed in commitment. Robert was too blind to realize that his kind of love was lost on Jakes crowd of friends, especially Brett. Robert was im ¬ mediately attracted to her. Since Brett may have been curious or just bored, she decided to go off with him to San Sebastian, Spain. What does their romance mean? For Brett, nothing; for Robert, everything. He believed that their affair was a perfect love. Robert could not stand to see Brett with another man; (Barrons Booknotes) even though they were not together he was jealous. Mike, Bretts fiancee, was too drunk and maybe too insecure to love. Bill Gorton picked up an American girl at the fiesta, but nothing serious came out of it. He was too cynical or too unfriendly to love. Pedro Romero was a manShow MoreRelatedThe Theme of Love in The Sun Also Rises648 Words   |  3 Pagesit can be shown through people’ s action. In most novels love is an unseen character yet it plays this strong force that moves the story along. Ernest Hemingway writes about a group of people who are trapped in a wearisome game of love. In The Sun Also Rises Jake Barnes, the protagonist, is a journalist whose war injury causes him to be handicapped. He is madly in love with Lady Brett who loves him in return. However, they cannot complete their relationship because of Jake’s injury. Therefore allRead MoreThe Sun Also Rises Many Themes Are Seen995 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout Hemingway’s â€Å"The Sun Also Rises many themes are seen. Among them being Drinking, nature, the lost generation, masculinity, and sexuality. Probably the most important out of these would be that of sexuality. Within the book it is simply seen as a means to an end, the relationships are not usually well thought out or meaningful. Rather they simply serve a purpose of showing that one can be in one without being committed to anything at the same time. One of the biggest parts that shows ofRead MoreThemes Of The Catcher Rye And On The Sun Also Rises 1780 Words   |  8 PagesThe motifs and themes presented in both The Catcher in the Rye, and in The Sun Also Rises, present fascinating resemblances and differences in the psychological condition of the characters, loneliness and the search for a meaningful companionship after experiencing a loss of a loved one are thoroughly addressed in both books. 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With this struggle one the major themes in the novel emits, masculine identity. Many of these â€Å"Lost Generation† men returned from that war in dissatisfaction with their life, the main characters of Hemingway’s novel are found among them. His main characters find themselves drifting, roaming around France and Spain, at a loss for something meaningful in their lives. The charactersRead MoreThe Great Gatsby Modernism1513 Words   |  7 PagesOne strong theme of modernism in literature is the attack and or decline of The American Dream. The American Dream is the idea that everyone, men, and women, have an equal opportunity to achieve wealth, success and or happiness through dete rmination, and hard work, in other words, the pursuit of happiness. Two writers that illustrate this theme of modernism are F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, and Ernest Hemingway, author of The Sun Also Rises. From the outside, one may think TheRead More Ernest Hemingway Essay868 Words   |  4 Pages Ernest Hemingway: A Literary Marvel â€Å"One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth forever . . . The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to the place where he arose . . . The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits . . . .All the rivers run into the sea; ye the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they returnRead MoreCycle Of Life Essay Examples832 Words   |  4 Pagesthen go through the same changes as the one before it. The cycle of life theme is incorporated into many stories throughout history although the exact role the theme plays in each story can vary. One of the ways it can be seen is through the use of concrete examples, meaning someone is born and dies. Abstract examples are another way the cycle of life can be shown in stories. Abstract examples would include such things as the sun rising and setting which gives the reader a visual of time lapse. â€Å"LightningRead MoreThe Sonnets Of Shakespeare s Sonnets1396 Words   |  6 Pageswith Sonnet 7. Shakespeare’s Sonnet 7 strays from the main theme of love and romance, as it is mainly about youth turning into old age. The first four are as follows: â€Å"Lo! in the orient when the gracious light / Lifts up his burning head, each under eye / Doth homage to his new-appearing sight / Serving with looks his sacred majesty.† Already the theme of youth fleeing into old age can be seen; the â€Å"gracious light† refers to the sun, which rises in the east and sets in the west. The â€Å"orient† refers toRead MoreErnest Hemingway s The Sun Also Rises1353 Words   |  6 Pagesemotion or to get an important lesson or theme across to the readers. Other authors write to create a picture for others to see as the author sees it. Ernest Hemingway creates The Sun Also Rises to do both jobs. It’s a lot harder to visualize something if there is not enough description, but Hemingway uses the right amount of detail to paint a picture of every lesson he wants to te ach. Colors are a very important part of describing how things look, and they can also be used relatively with a strong characteristic

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Essay On Teen Pregnancy - 1590 Words

Teen Pregnancy Task 1 Teenage pregnancy has been around for thousands of years, and in the past was in fact an ideal among societies of past times, such as the Ancient Greeks, the Medieval Era, and even as late as the 20th century. Teenage women were thought to be at the prime age for baring children, and often as soon as they were married, fell pregnant. However, in this era, women have more opportunities to go further and reach higher in life, they have the chance to be successful, and to rival or even rise above men in the work world. When young woman (teenagers) become sexually active, it is important that they know the concequences of their choice to become sexually active; should she become pregnant, is she ready to become a mother†¦show more content†¦My goal is to get an understanding of the knowledge of the year twelve students of Sacred Heart on the issue of teen pregnancy, and to inform others of the effects that lack of knowledge on teen pregnancy can have. With the actions thst I have chosen to take, I hope to show students of my year the effects of having a lack of knowledge of their sexual health that correlate with teenage pregnancy, and how they can be safe with how they go about their sexual interactions, or otherwise give them information on where they could go to seek professional advice if they want it. Task 2 Five actions that are important for grasping an understanding on the knowledge of year 12 students on the topic of teen pregnancy are: Survey- This is a direct and useful way to get the opinions and information that students have. Questions relating to knowledge of contraceptives, organizations, and understanding of concequences of teen pregnancy and abortion are key for picking up information. Interviewing a school councellor- Having a professional s opinions on the issue is helpful and this person has likely had experiences with people who have been in a situation relating to the issue in some way, and will have information on what people can do to seek help. Interviewing aShow MoreRelatedTeen Pregnancy Essay2181 Words   |  9 PagesPregnancies are a wonderful thing. Just imagine being able to create another human being and bringing it into the world. Although this may be what the majority of mothers think, teen moms may have a different perspective. They might have been forced into pregnancy and the child may be a reoccurring thought of what happened to her. Chances are the teen will love her baby in the long run, but in the beginning the teen most likely had different views. Teen pregnancy is a worldwide problem that needsRead MoreTeen Pregnancy Essay1019 Words   |  5 PagesTeen Pregnancy Nearly thirteen percent of all births in the United States were teenage girls from the ages fifteen to nineteen. Almost one million teenagers become pregnant each year and about 485,00 give birth. In many situations the answer to keeping a relationship going is to have a good sex life. Most teen relationships are based on sex. This is one of the main reasons why teenage birth rates are so high. I am a good person to make a case for this topic because I have witnessed from a familyRead MoreEssay on Teen Pregnancy1041 Words   |  5 PagesIt has been said that teens across the world have not been receiving enough sex education. This has led to many issues with teens becoming pregnant, which most of the time is unanticipated. Teenage pregnancy has been a social problem throughout the world for a number of decades now. Many studies have been completed in several countries that pertain to the amount of teens and the types of teens who are becoming pregnant. Rates among teens had bee n declining for some time, but are starting to takeRead MoreTeen Pregnancy Essay1364 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is teen pregnancy? Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in females under the age of 20. A female can become pregnant from sexual intercourse after she has begun to ovulate, which can be before her first menstrual period but usually occurs after the onset of her periods. There are many reasons why teens end up pregnant at such a young age. These reasons consist of family related problems, the lack of being taught about safe sex in school and by parents at homeRead MoreTeen Pregnancy Essay915 Words   |  4 PagesTeen Pregnancy Over the past two decades, the rates of teen pregnancy have grown dramatically. According to the Prevention of Teen Pregnancy, approximately every thirty-one seconds ateenager becomes pregnant in the United States. This is unbelievable, however that is the truth that no one can deny. Many people think that teen pregnancy dont effect them unless they get pregnant or one of the family members in teenage get pregnant. However teen pregnancy really affects our communities and countryRead More Teen Pregnancy Essay643 Words   |  3 Pagesdifficulties that come with an unplanned pregnancy in teens can have a profound effect on their life. Their physical, social, mental, and emotional health will all be affected by a sudden change in the course of their life. Teens impacted with an unplanned pregnancy will have to give up many things in order to be a parent. In addition, they will have to take on many more responsibilities that accompany pregnancy and parenthood. All in all, having an unplanned pregnancy and becoming a parent introduceRead MoreTeen Pregnancy Essay1314 Words   |  6 Pages(Hamilton, B.E.). That’s nearly 750,000 teen pregnancies every year. According to, â€Å"11 facts about teen pregnancy† less than 2% of teen moms earn a college degree by age 30 (Par. 2 5). There are many reasons for this and the best way to help limit teen pregnancy would be to require parents to attend teen pregnancy prevention meetings held by schools. One of the many problems is that most teens are not well informed about the troubles of being a teen parent. They don’t understand how it willRead More Teen Pregnancy Essay710 Words   |  3 PagesPrevent Teen Pregnancy nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; After reading Martha Balash’s article, Schools Can Help to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Balash has put time and effort into this proposal on stopping Teen Pregnancy. I think Balash’s introduction is very effective because she goes straight to the facts. She doesn’t try to mislead you with any false facts. She goes straight to the point and the point is to prevent teen pregnancy. Balash tells that schools has more influence over teen pregnancy than whatRead MoreEssay Teen Pregnancy1403 Words   |  6 PagesThere is a lot of teen mothers growing up in this world wondering, what if I would have stayed in school? W hat could I have become? Would it have made my life easier if I had thought first? There is many causes for teen pregnancy. They lead to the need for the desire of love by another person. One might have a poor home life and would want something like their peers have. A teen may have a low self-esteem and simply be looking for acceptance. However, many teens that have a wonderfulRead MoreTeen Pregnancy Essay1667 Words   |  7 PagesTeenage pregnancy has long been acknowledged as an important health, social and economic problem in the United States, one that creates hardships for women and families and threatens the health and well-being of women and their infants. Unintended pregnancies span across age, race and religion, with a specific negative impact among the teenage population. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC, 2016) In 2015, a total of 229,715 babies were born to women aged 15–19 years, for a birth rate

Monday, December 9, 2019

Computerized Asset Management System free essay sample

TITLE PAGE COMPUTERIZED ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (A Generic Case Study) BY DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AUGUST 2008 CERTIFICATION This is to certify that this project being an original work was undertaken by - Project SupervisorDate Director of StudiesDate DEDICATION This project work is dedicated to the God Almighty; the giver of life, strength, wisdom and every good gifts who has seen us through the challenges of making this work a reality. . AKNOWLEDGEMENT There are many individuals who contributed to the production of this project work through their moral and technical support, advice or participation. Finally, we would like to thank our families and friends for their understanding, encouragement, and support over the completion and fulfillment of our project work. ABSTRACT The record keeping routines, information tracking, complicated logistics and many other administrative procedures are all regular activities that constantly make up the core processes in the management of real and financial assets. However these processes could be quite cumbersome and inefficient when manual systems being used continue to play prominent roles in organizations that offer such services. Basically, with the advent of Information Technology (IT), some organizations, government agencies, individuals etc. ave employed various database management software including relational database and spreadsheet software for the management of assets. However, these application software are generic; hence there is need to design a system that is tailored to specific need of asset management. Consequently, this project work finds it necessary to study and analyze the difficulties inherent in the administration and management of asset manually in organizations with a view to proposing an extensive solution to these problems. TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTSPages TITLE PAGE-i CERTIFICATIONii DEDICATIONiii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTiv ABSTRACT-v TABLE OF CONTENTSVI CHAPTER ONE NTRODUCTION1 DEFINITION OF TERMS2 PROBLEM STATEMENT3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY-4 SCOPE OF PROJECT4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY-5 LIMITATIONS CONSTRAINTS OF THE ROJECT-6 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW ASSETS-7 ASSET MANAGEMENT9 COMPUTERIZATION10 PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE EXISTING SYSTEM-12 CHAPTER THREE SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN SYSTEM ANALYSIS-13 SYSTEM DESIGN14 SPECIFICATION REQUIREMENT14 SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE-19 CHAPTER FOUR – IMPLEMENTATION LANGUAGE OF IMPLEMENTATION21 CODING-22 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS-22 THE INTERFACE OF THE NEW SYSTEM24 UPDATE AND MAINTENANCE OF SYSTEM25 CHAPTER FIVE – SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMENDATION SUMMARY-26 CONCLUSION26 RECOMMENDATION27 APPENDIX 1 – PROGRAM CODE28 APPENDIX 2 – PROGRAM FLOWCHART32 APPENDIX 3 – GUIDELINES FOR DBASE DESIGN-33 APPENDIX 4 – DIAGRAM OF ASSET MAGT SYSTEM-34 APPENDIX 5SCREENSHOT OF INTERFACE35 REFERENCES38 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Asset intensive industries face the harsh realities of operating in highly competitive markets and dealing with high value facilities and equipment where each failure is disruptive and costly. At the same time, they must also adhere to stringent occupational safety, health and environmental regulations. Maintaining optimal availability reliability and operational safety of plant, equipment, facilities and other assets is therefore essential for an organizational competitiveness. The function of asset management are taking a fundamental turn where organizations are moving from historical reactive (run-to-failure) models and beginning to embrace whole life planning, life cycle costing, planned and proactive maintenance and other industry best practices. Asset Management is not operational excellence but instead focused on effectiveness; bring out the most of every capital investment or expense from a planning perspective. It has a long-term view, strives for balanced investment-risk-performance levels and supports data driven decision-making required for all ‘discretionary spending’. However, some companies still regard manual asset management procedure, despite the evolution of information technology, which cannot meet up the above challenges; hence the objective of this project work is to present a conceptual and practical approach for the management of asset using a computer program. This is necessary due to the accuracy, efficiency and reliability of computer in performing rigorous tasks such as manipulation and querying of large volume of data which is relevant in managing asset. 1. Definition of Terms The major variables in this work are Asset, Management, Computerization and System. The definitions of these variables are given below: 1. 1. 1Asset – this could be defined as a person or thing that is valuable or useful to something. Banking and Finance defines asset as a thing which belongs to a company or person which has value. 1. 1. Management – this could be defined as the act of running and controlling a business or similar organization. 1. 1. 3Computerization – this word is derived from the word computerized, which means to provide a computer or computers to do the work of something. 1. 1. 4System – this is defined as a collection or assemblage of different part or component that is connected together in an organized way in ord er to achieve a particular goal to satisfy a particular interest. System could also defined in computer term as a collection of procedures and devices working together as a unit. . 2Problem Statement The application of computer in virtually all fields of human endeavor has tremendously improved the mode of operations in organizations. However, some organizations and companies still rely on manual asset management as well as record keeping, which is tedious and the procedure is cumbersome. These problems are listed below: †¢ Inaccurate data entry and mix-up of records †¢ Unavailability of accurate data-bank of records since paper is a bio-degradable material they tend to spoil with time †¢ Ineffective security of documents Long process on retrieval of record due to large volume of paper stored †¢ Delay in accounting and auditing proceedings due to tedious process involved in record retrieval †¢ Documents occupy a lot of space that could be put into other prof itable use. 1. 3Objectives of the Study The objectives of the study are: †¢ To eliminate the error associated with the existing system. †¢ To provide more reliable storage and retrieval of asset record through the use of computer. †¢ To increase information availability and accessibility. To enable asset managers easily estimate asset net-worth through the use of inbuilt computerized logic on asset models. 4. Scope of the Project The scope of this study covers the following: †¢ Basic procedures and process associated with record keeping †¢ Availability of interactive and easy to use Graphical User Interface (GUI) with vital components in form format, which enable users to enter information about financial assets and fixed assets. †¢ The application includes tools that allow users to estimate the net-worth of a particular asset. 5. Significance of the Study The significance of computerization of asset management system includes the following: †¢ Speed – computers operate at a very high speed that enables users to enter, store data and retrieve information within a very short time. †¢ Storage – Computer has a very high storage capacity; be it internal or external storage media, which is a vital aspect of asset management. †¢ Accuracy – the high degree of accuracy exhibited by computer is of essence in record keeping and accounting procedures in asset management. †¢ Efficiency – the efficiency of computers can improve the overall efficiency of organization. Reduction of Complexity – the complexities in record keeping and computation of asset values can be drastically reduced by the application of some statistical tools embedded in computer systems. †¢ Security – computerized system offers better security facilities, which is needed in asset management to safeguard the inte grity and confidentiality of vital data and information organizations. †¢ Error Detection and Correction – computerized systems can easily detect errors like wrong spelling or formula in processing data and suggest appropriate correction needed. 6. Limitations and Constraints of the Project The following limitations and constraints were experienced: †¢ The project is generic in its approach to Asset Management as it is not targeted towards any specific Organization. †¢ Effective utilization of advanced accounting and administrative tools were intentionally omitted from our research and study specifications due to restrictions we were subject to under specified curriculum. †¢ Finance – this research work has been constrained by lack of funds. Hence, it was difficult to acquire some materials that would have enhanced the work. Time – considering the originality of this project, more time would have been required for an extensive work. †¢ Insufficient information – Some organizations relevant to this research work could not release some vital information for fear of compromising the integrity of their management procedures. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW This chapter reviews some literatures related to this project with the aim of designing a computerized system that would be replaced with the popular manual asset management system, which is tedious, cumbersome and time consuming to manage. Consequently, there is need to understand what assets are, the different types of assets and the kind of information about assets that are needed in order to ensure effective management of assets records. 2. 1What are Assets? In this context the definition of asset is very broad. Anything that is used by an organization in order for it to achieve its function can be considered and asset of the organization. This will include a number of different types of assets and are classified based their characteristics. Some types of assets are listed below: †¢ Fixed Assets – these are assets that could last as long as the company or organization exists. They include office furniture, vehicles, etc. †¢ Liquid Assets – liquid assets include cash or bills that can easily be converted to cash. †¢ Financial Assets – these include investment and cash at hand. These kinds of assets could also be seen as claim against the income or wealth of business organization; usually represented by a certificate or legal documents, which include bonds, insurance policies, stocks, deposits etc. However, considering the importance of financial assets in this project, it is necessary to consider some of its characteristics and categories. Characteristics of Financial Assets †¢ Financial assets cannot be depreciated †¢ They do not provide continuous stream of service to their owners †¢ They can easily be converted to another form, which could be substituted for other assets. For example shares can be converted to another form of asset desired by its owner. Different types of Financial Assets Basically financial assets are divided into four groups; namely: †¢ Equities – this is also known as stock, which represents ownership shares in a business firm in which it could be used as claim against the firm’s success. Equities are also categorized into common stock and preferred stock. Common stock entitles its holder to vote for the members of the firm’s board of directors while preferred stock has no such privileges. Preferred Stock also known as capital stock provides a specific dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stock holders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of liquidation. †¢ Money – this is any financial asset that is generally accepted as payment of the purchase of goods and services. Derivatives – these are the newest type of financial assets being introduced, which has unique financial claims. Its market value is influenced by the return on a related financial instrument such as loans, bonds, stock etc. 2. What is Asset Management? Asset management is a general term with many different meanings, depending on which governmental agency or organization is using it. The clerk considers asset management the appropri ate recording and report of assets in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The finance director considers asset management as a strategic financial plan. The utility director thinks of his or her job and maintaining the utility’s infrastructure in good working order. The utility supervisor thinks of a work order system that helps plan and control resources and equipment. The Information Technology (IT) director sees asset management as another enterprise wide, integrated suite of computer software and hardware requirements. Since all of these agencies have policy criteria they are responsible to meet, designing asset management system must consider all criteria in order to be useful and successful. According to Austroads, asset management may be defined as a comprehensive and structured approach to the long term management of assets as tools for the efficient and effective delivery of community benefits. The emphasis is on the assets being a means to an end, not an end in themselves. Asset management refers to the professional management of investments such as stocks and bonds, along with real estate. Typically, asset management is only practiced by the very wealthy, as the services of a professional firm can demand considerable sums of money, and successful asset management usually requires a large and diverse portfolio. . What is Computerization? This is concern with provision of computer or computers to do the work of something. Computerization could be defined as the technological application of electrical and computer based systems to supplement the operations and control the activities of an organization. This technological application could include computer process contr ol, feedback control, planning, data collection and decision making support facilities. Computerization aids in automation of processes that usually required tedious manual inputs and outputs. In the light of these broad definitions Computerized Asset Management System could be seen as professional management of investments such as stocks and bonds, along with real estate by means of technological application of electrical and computer based systems to supplement the operations and control the activities of an organization. Asset management can be relatively tedious and is error prone when using the manual system that is associated with rendering such services. However, with the use of computers, this can be easily done in record time and faster than the manual process. In relation to the above mentioned facts, this work (Computerized Asset Management System) seeks to highlight the problems associated with the existing manual system with a view to making necessary recommendations that seek to eliminate the indices inherent problems thereby presenting the computerized system as a preferred solution. 2. 4Problems Inherent in the Existing Manual System The following are the lapses in the existing manual system: †¢ Inaccurate data entry and mix-up of records †¢ Unavailability of accurate data-bank of records since paper is a bio-degradable material they tend to spoil with time Ineffective security of documents †¢ Long process on retrieval of record due to large volume of paper stored †¢ Delay in accounting and auditing proceedings due to tedious process involved in record retrieval †¢ Documents occupy a lot of space that could be put into other profitable use. CHAPTER THREE SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN Systems are created to solve problems. In this dynamic world, the subject of System Analysis and Design mainly deals with software development activities. The process of building a software system, from analysis to implementation is generally referred to as Software Project Development Life Cycle. The various aspects of the Software Project Development Life Cycle concerned with this project are enumerated below: 3. 1System Analysis Analysis involved a detailed study of the current system, leading to specifications of a new system. It is also a detailed study of various operations performed by a system and their relationships within and outside the system. 3. 1. 1System Study. System study is the first stage of system development life cycle. This gives a clear picture of what actually the physical system is. This study is usually done in two phases. In the first phase, the preliminary survey of the system is done which helps in identifying the scope of the system. The second phase is more detailed and in-depth study in which the identification of user’s requirement and the limitations and problems of the present system are studied. It also involves checking existing system by carefully analyzing the process involved, in this case manual method of asset management. Hence, problems noticed in the existing system prompted us to consider a better solution to the current method of manual processing. . 1. 2Feasibility Study. On the basis of result of the initial study, feasibility study takes place. The feasibility study is basically the test of the proposed system in the light of its workability, meeting user’s requirements, effective use of resources and of course the cost effectiveness. 3. 2 System Design Based on the user requirements and the detailed analysis of a new system, the new system must be designed. In the design of the proposed system, the following specific requirements are considered. 3. 3Specification Requirement Input Specification Considering the proposed system various input are required by the user such as Username, password, new asset acquired including its type, value, location, date etc. However these input data has to be specified so that the computer can carry on necessary manipulation. Input Specification for Real Assets (SQL Server Settings) |Data Item |Data Type |Length |Description | |ID |Varchar |10 |Identification number of asset | |Item |Char 10 |Asset name | |Category |Char |10 |Asset type/category | |Description |Varchar |100 |Asset detailed description | |Manufacturer |Char |50 |Asset manufacturer (for real assets like cars, | | | | |machinery etc) | |Model |Varchar |50 |Asset Model (for real/fixed assets) | |Date Acquired |Datetime |9 |Date asset was acquired | |Purchase Price |Money |8 |Price of asset at time of purchase (for | | | | |real/fixed asset) | |Current Value |Money |8 |Value of asset based on depreciation parameter | |Condition |Char |10 |Physical condition of assets (for fixed/real | | | | |assets) | |Location |Varchar |200 |Place where asset is located/ can be found | |Owner |Varchar |100 |Owner of asset | |Retired Date |Datetime |9 |Date of discontinued use of asset | |Comments |Varchar |250 |Detailed comment/information about asset | |Attachments |Nvarchar/binary | |Attachment files such as images, electronic | | | | |receipt of purchase etc. | Input Specification(s) for Financial Assets |Data Item |Data Type |Length |Description | |Asset ID |Varchar |10 |Identification number of asset | |Asset Name |Varchar |20 |Name/Title of asset | |Description |Varchar |100 |Detailed description of asset | |Category/Type |Varchar |50 |Type of financial asset (i. e. onds, treasury bills, | | | | |stocks etc) | |Issuer |Varchar |50 |Issuer of asset/IOU | |Date of Acquisition |Datetime |9 |Date asset was acquired | |Value |Money |8 |Value of asset at acquisition | |Current Market Value |Money |8 |Value of asset at a point in time based on market | | | | |factors | |Maturity |Datetime |9 |Maturity date for IOUs, bonds, treasury bills etc | |Owner |Varchar |20 |Name of asset holder | Input Specification for Users (Holders of Assets) Data Item |Data Type |Length |Description | |ID |Varchar |10 |Unique Identification number for holder/bearer of asset. | |First Name |Varchar |20 |First Name of asset holder | |Last Name |Varchar |20 |Last Name of asset holder | |Company |Varchar |20 |Employer of bearer/holder of asset | |Job Title |Varchar |50 |Job Description/Occupation of holder | |Email |Varchar 100 |Email address of holder | |Phone Number |Varchar |20 |Contact number of holder/bearer | |Address |Varchar |100 |Contact address of holder of asset | Output Specification/Expectation Expected output includes windows-based forms for data entry and manipulation, validation, security, and hard copy reports printing features on assets. File and Storage Requirements Data is stored on a relational database; the data base software used is Microsoft SQL Server2002. The storage device used for the proposed system is hard drive. Control and backups – the security and control facilities of the proposed system ensure the accuracy, security and privacy of the software resources. Control and backups control for the proposed system include: †¢ Requirement of password for access †¢ Software checks †¢ Periodic backup copies of the system Personnel and Procedure – The proposed software is going to be used by client and company’s administrator; hence there would be need to hire the service of a database manager. 3. 4 System Architecture The proposed system combine page layout with application content to create sophisticated database-driven windows forms with controls, validation and security. [pic] Presentation Layer – The system comprises windows (forms)-based user interface, including data validation logic for built-in field types. An extensive set of intelligent field types is supported providing built-in validation for data types like email addresses, currency, and phone numbers †¢ Business Layer The Business layer is where the bulk of business logic resides. †¢ Data-Access Layer – the application’s data access code, table sorting logic, table filtering logic etc are all part of this layer. It includes SQL statements and queries needed for storing retrieving, and filtering data from the database. †¢ Database Layer – This is the actual RDBMS and objects of the database such as SQL Queries, Views, and Stored Procedures. CHAPTER FOUR IMPLEMENTATION Implementation is the stage of a project during which theory is turned into practice. This stage includes software acquisition and development, personnel hiring and training, site preparation and data preparation, installation, testing etc. The stages for implementing the proposed system are listed enumerated below: 4. 1Language of Implementation The programming language used is Microsoft’s Visual Basic. VB. NET is an offshoot of Visual Basic programming language developed by Microsoft. It is one of the fourth generation Object Oriented Programming Languages, as against Visual Basic that is largely a procedural language. VB. NET is the only . NET language that supports late binding. In the VS. NET IDE, VB. NET rovides a dropdown list at the top of the code window with all the objects and events; the IDE does not provide this functionality for any other language. VB. NET is also unique for providing default values for optional parameters, and for having a collection of the cont rols available to the developer. 4. 2Coding This refers to the process of writing the program instructions that will process the data and produce the output specified in the program design. Analysis of  some VB. Net code †¢ Imports System. Data †¢ Imports System. Data. SqlClient †¢ Imports System. Data. OleDb These objects enable you to interface with all sorts of data sources, from text files to Microsoft SQL Server, to Oracle, or even with custom data sources created by the programmer. 4. 3 System Requirement This consists of the hardware and software requirements needed for the proposed system to operate at a maximum efficiency. 4. 3. 1 The hardware requirements †¢ Pentium 4 2. 4 GHz †¢ 80GB Hard disk drive †¢ 512 MB RAM †¢ BIOS standard with embedded extensions (Basic input/Output system) 4. 3. 2 The Software Requirement †¢ Window XP embedded with service pack 2 †¢ Database Software (MsSQLserver2000) †¢ Visual Basic. Net The final stage of implementation is the conversion of the system. At this stage, manual working has to shift from manual to computerized working. Basically, two strategies are applied on conversion process, which are Pilot and Parallel. In Pilot run or conversion strategy, the new system is installed in parts. Some part of the new system is installed first and executed successfully for considerable time period. When the results are found satisfactory that other parts are implemented. While in Parallel conversion, both the computerized and manual systems are executed in parallel. This strategy is recommended for the implementation of this project because of the following benefits: †¢ Manual results can be compared with the results of the computerized system. †¢ Failure of the computerized system at the early stage, does not affect the working of the organization, because the manual system continues to work, as it used to do. 4. The Interface of the New System †¢ The application login Page (this requires a User name and Password) †¢ Application’s Main Page – this page is an MDI form from were other windows can be called and users can interact with the user. It contains a menu bar with menus, a toolbar, a tree view and a tab page control which enable users to interact with the system †¢ Contact Details page – used to enter information about Asset owners into the database †¢ Asset Details page – used to Enter assets into the database and to find asset information. †¢ Admin Password Setting page – this page is used to change and update username and password of users of the system A Report Page – uses crystal Reports to display information about assets. 4. 5Update and Maintenance of System Since humans and their demands are dynamic, the system needs to be maintained and updated frequently to adapt to the ever-changing technological world and the changing environment. Periodic updating of the computerized asset management system is necessary with the assistance of a system programmer, system designer and database administrator to ensure that no corrupt hardware or software has been installed in the system. Also needed is vir us protection software to safeguard the system from falling victim to many types of viruses e. g. a Trojan Horse and worms. A virus is simply malicious software that is intended to infiltrate a computer system and corrupt it). Username and password of administrator should be kept secret, as exposure of this detail would allow unauthorized users access to the database, thus exposing the financial details of clients. A periodic update of the database is needed to keep the system up to date, as the need arises. The maintenance process would also involve correcting errors as and when they occur, documentation of the system updates and corrections. CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 5. 1Summary The project work is a result of efforts to fully computerize and display the modern means of managing asset using a generic case study. The use of a computerized system in managing assets would definitely enhance the process of asset management. The implementation of this project will surely improve the efficiency and effectiveness of asset Management organizations in terms of storing, saving large volumes of data of assets, and easy access to asset information which will improve the decision making process of such organization. 5. 2 Conclusion Computerization has affected every facet of the society from politics, education, leisure, business and entertainment. Hence, asset management as one of the determinants of a successful economy should not be left out. 5. 3Recommendation It is recommended that the Use of Computerized Asset Management system will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Asset Management Companies such as Investment Banking Trust Company (IBTC), UBA Trustees and other Real Asset Management Companies as well as individuals who manage their own portfolio of assets. Database Layer Stored Procedures SQL Queries Database Data Access Layer Utility Classes Data Access Classes Table-Specific Data Access Classes Transaction Management Data Cache Management Connection Management Business Layer Table Classes Record Classes Presentation Layer Code-Behind Sub-classes Security Code Behind Validation Code User Interface