Strategic Information System Accounting Software or Packages

Question: Examine about theStrategic Information Systemfor Accounting Software or Packages. Answer: Bookkeeping Software or Packages utilized in Australia Destruction of manual or the paper base bookkeeping framework in Australia in mid 200 is seen and seen to have extraordinary effect on the exercises of numerous SMEs associations. The presentation of GST framework constrained more strain to the Small Business Enterprises to utilize the cutting edge bookkeeping frameworks. The appropriations just as the utilization of new bookkeeping frameworks suggests the usage of the vital data framework in an association, the SMEs which received new bookkeeping frameworks while executing the Enterprise Resource Planning are disclosed to have gain the upper hand over the current rivals in their individual industry. The primary conceptualizes of Enterprise Resource Planning is the utilization of modernized framework to work the money related exercises of the association. Clearly, the bookkeeping data frameworks in Australia is seen to help amazing execution of the Small Business Enterprises. As indicated by Finkelstein Farbey, 2004, the reception of new innovation through the usage of ERP goes about as the mainstay of progress to numerous business ventures. Xero Accounting Software History As indicated by Mayasari, 2015, Xero bookkeeping framework was created in 2006 by Xero Company in Australia. The exploration shows that, the bookkeeping programming was created to urge the SMEs to embrace the utilization of innovation through the execution of Enterprise Resource Planning (Mayasari, 2015). Advancement The advancement of Xero bookkeeping programming is figured to display the amazing advancement of numerous business associations. The movement and advancement is shown by the usefulness of the bookkeeping framework towards improving the organization execution. Lord 2015, expressed that the bookkeeping programming functions admirably with the inspecting framework, utilized by the reviewers while they play out their review strategies. Appropriation As per Drury, Vickers, and Xero Limited, 2015, numerous organizations in Australia have embraced the utilization of bookkeeping framework while they play out their business tasks, particularly the money related exercises of the organization. The part of multi-cash is among the essential factor that has constrained the organizations to receive the utilization of the Xero bookkeeping framework, it permits the SMES to play out their business exercises utilizing various monetary forms. Drury and Vickers, 2015 expressed that the data framework can refreshed the monetary information of the organization up to the current date. Current Market Share The piece of the pie of Xero bookkeeping framework is characterized by the market approach utilized by the organizations in Australia. As indicated by Xero Company money related detailing of 2015, Xero bookkeeping programming has increase a great deal of colleague in Australian business Environment. The report from the organization shows that more than 260,000 customer and more that 10,000 colleagues are utilizing the Xero bookkeeping framework, this speaks to 16% ascent in 2015 contrasted with 6-year prior. Pioneers of Xero Software As per Chris Ridd, the previous Chief Executive Officer of Xero Company, SMEs in Australia are the main partners who have reliably embrace the utilization of the bookkeeping framework ( King, 2015). Upper hand As per King, 2015 a few variables have been assessed to be the essential perspective which pushes the reception of the Xero bookkeeping framework. Xero bookkeeping programming gives intergraded money related administrations that lead to exactness in numerous business exchanges, the precise bookkeeping data is utilized by the organization the board to settle on exhaustive choice which are line up with the organization objectives and goals. As per Rosen, 2016, Xero bookkeeping framework gives the cloud sparing administrations, where the bookkeeping information can refreshed up date. Difficulties of utilizing Xero Accounting Package Rose, 2016 expressed that, the Xero bookkeeping programming gives the cloud sparing monetary administrations, driving the SMEs to bring about significant expense of introducing the product and other related innovative elements. Absence of prepared representative who have pertinent ability of utilizing the bookkeeping framework influences the activity of the SMEs associations. The organizations are prescribed to guarantee that they set enough capital for the establishment of the product just as utilizing the certified staff. MYOB Accounting Software History MYOB bookkeeping bundle was created by Christopher Lee in 1980. The organization which built up the product is an Australian worldwide organization which give advertising administrations to SMEs, the organization gave finance framework just as the business programming to the little organizations. Advancement The report gave by MYOB Company, the bookkeeping bundle is grown expecially for SMEs for the motivation behind accounting. It is created such that it is anything but difficult to utilize, and keeps the money related budgetary records according to the business activity. Reception As indicated by Mayasari, 2015, the selection of MYOB bookkeeping framework is invigorated by the limit of the parent organization converging with the neighborhood organizations. The area of the MYOB organization in Australia urge numerous organizations to embrace the elements of MYOB in their business activities ( Mayasari, 2015). Current Market Size The exploration directed by Curtis, 2015 got some answers concerning the piece of the pie of the MYOB bookkeeping bundle. One of the essential factor that prompted an expansion in piece of the overall industry of the MYOB bundle is the highlights identifying with cloud sparing. As indicated by this examination, more than 26,000 SMEs have received the utilization of MYOB bookkeeping programming, this speak to 60% of the Australian market (Curtis, 2015). Pioneers of MYOB Accounting programming Little Medium Enterprise are the essential chiefs who have embraced the utilization of MYOB bookkeeping programming, they use it since it make a superior business condition that improves wellbeing business rivalry. Upper hand of MYOB The essential part of MYOB picking up the upper hand over different organizations is a result of its capacity to work on the web and disconnected and in this way permitting the Small Business Enterprise to gain admittance to numerous customers. Difficulties of utilizing MYOB Independent company Enterprises neglects to receive completely on the new bookkeeping framework in view of the security factors. The MYOB bookkeeping programming is to a great extent exposed to security achievements, for example, hacking. As indicated by Arcega, Datinguinoo, and Manongsong, 2015, an estimation of 46% of MYOB bookkeeping bundles are influenced by hacking. Absence of prepared work force likewise is as yet a major test to the SMEs in Australia. The private venture association are prescribed to guarantee that they introduced the pertinent security framework, for example, firewall and utilize experience faculty. Intuit Quickbooks Sccounting Software History QuickBooks bookkeeping programming is a typical bookkeeping framework that is utilized by both SMEs and huge business endeavors. It was created by Intuit Company in 1983 by Scott Cook, the development of this bookkeeping framework was bolstered by Daniel Drew (Rosen, 2016). Advancement As per Dunbar, Laing, and Wynder, 2016, QuickBooks Intuit Software was not supporting the twofold section budgetary passages; it was created and improved by the organization. The improvement of QuickBooks Intuit Software was bolstered by the arrival of new items and administrations gave by the Intuit Software organization (Dunbar, Laing, and Wynder, 2016). The work process in numerous association in Australia was diminished by over 40% as a result of the productivity and adequacy of QuickBooks Intuit Software. The new form discharged in 2003 was to work as per the authoritative business activity, with its main role of decreasing the work process just as limiting the conceivable bookkeeping mistakes. Appropriation QuickBooks Intuit bookkeeping bundle was the main component of the vital data framework utilized by the organizations, it was acknowledged by numerous SMEs since it was started and proposed by the government of Australia after the presentation of GST approach. As indicated by Rajasa, and Faturachman, 2015, SMEs in Australia have improve consistently as a result of the reception of the QuickBooks Intuit programming ( Rajasa, and Faturachman, 2015) Current market Size Lambert, and Bee, 2015 in their Journal demonstrated that huge number of SMEs in Australia are utilizing the QuickBooks in their business exercises. It is evaluated that, 33,000 organizaiton in Australia are utilizing the QuickBooks bookkeeping framework, this demonstrates the piece of the pie of QuickBooks Intuit is as yet developing (Lambert, and Bee, 2015). As indicated by Supratim Adhikari 2015, one of the innovation editors, showed that Australia is the Intuit quickest developing zone. Her report demonstrates that Australia has over 300% piece of the overall industry of QuickBooks. Pioneers of QuickBooks The QuickBooks bookkeeping programming in Australia is generally utilized by the Small Medium Enterprises, the private venture association foresees to improve their business relationship with their customers. Sholto Macpherson indicated that the SMEs use QuickBooks bookkeeping programming to set up a string client relationship. Upper hand of QuickBooks As indicated by Jones, and Jones, 2016, they clarifies the upper hand of QuickBooks bookkeeping framework and its significance to the organization money related activities. Their discoveries demonstrate that Small Medium business picks up the upper hand of the QuickBooks on the grounds that they mean to track and screen their business benefits, and other related activity, the organizations can identify any deviation or the difficulty that may the influences the business activity, where the elective arrangements are given (Arcega, Datinguinoo, and Manongsong, 2015). Difficulties of QuickBooks Accounting Package Among the difficulties of is absence of prepared subordinate to utilize the Intuit bookkeeping frameworks. Association manageme

Blood Transfusion

BIOPURE INDUSTRIESA Marketing Analysis Based on the information from the contextual analysis by Jonn Gourville, Biopure Corporation , HBS, 1998April 20, 2005By Veronica Stepanova Executive Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 2 Situation AnalysisI. Human Market†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3II. Animal Market†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 5 Marketing Planâ for oxyglobin†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 Finalâ decision†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 7 Appendix 1 An (Excel records, separate connection) Appendix 1 B Executive Summary Many open doors are accessible in the human blood advertise because of a few disservices of thecurrently accessible other options. Much more open doors exist in theâ animal blood advertise. †¢Oxyglobin ought to be situated as a top notch item intended for center to upper-classbudgets. †¢The cost for Oxyglobin ought to be about $200 for the shopper and around $100 for the supplier(animal emergency clinic) to represent dispersion markups and otherâ carrying costs. †¢Distribution ought to be arranged in the regionalâ vicinity of the activity and actualize largerclinics.In e xpansion, just crisis facilities are to be focused on. Current open doors are ideal for Oxyglobin’s dispatch. Circumstance Analysis I. Human blood showcase. †¢Patients with intense blood misfortune fromâ traumaâ and medical procedure †40% people matured 65+. †¢Chronic anemiaâ patients (any age) †1. 5 million for the year 1995. †¢Blood misfortune, coming about because of injury (e. g. auto crash) and surpassing 2-3 units (1 unit = 10% ofâ total blood substance of human body) needs immediateâ blood transfusion. †¢Price is to a great extent cost-based (capacity, execution) †blood gift is free.Existing choices. †¢Red blood cellsâ and their parts (hemoglobin, platelets, and plasma) areâ collected viadonations, composed by blood assortment focuses andâ then transfused into patients. †¢Current choices take into consideration stockpiling for 6â weeks in refrigerated conditions, thus arranged ofâ if unused. Hemoglobin utilizes o xygen-conveying effectiveness by half if not usedâ within the initial scarcely any weeks. †¢Blood transfusion is liable to blood composing (A, B, AB, O, positive, negative) andreception/dismissal by the body. Mistaken coordinating might be fatalâ for the patient. Contamination hazards hinder the procedure ofâ testing blood before its utilization and areâ greater if blood isnot isolated into parts. Diseases incorporate the dangers of AIDS, hepatitis B,â and tainting. †¢Blood transfusion is accessible on location just (medical clinic or crisis room); as aâ result, 30% traumapatients bite the dust preceding activity. †¢Blood flexibly is lower than request, particularly during top periods (summerâ months and winterholidays, during which vehicle and other travel increments ? less contributors and more patients). Blood substitutes. †¢3 organizations in conclusive stages anticipating FDA approval (clinical testing). Passage into advertise is troublesome (ever y present procedure protected) andâ time-expending †may takeup to 17 years (See case Exhibit 3). Potential to supplant current blood drawing process byâ component partition and refinement, aswell as substance change and adjustment of hemoglobin. Decreased danger of sullying and expanded stockpiling ability of 2 years. Included advantages for patients with choked or confined veins (littler size improvedaccessibility to organs). Probability of adjusting creature platelets for use inâ humans. Danger of poisonousness and body dismissal (sped upâ excretion). Contenders/industry players .A. Baxter & Northfield Laboratories. †¢Both depend on human blood gracefully toâ derive hemoglobin. †¢Red platelets got from lapsed banks. †¢Require refrigeration. Baxter: †¢Leader being developed and assembling of blood-arranged clinical hardware. †¢Large office †creation limit of 1 million units/year, burned through $250â million on R&D. †¢Product †HemAssist †to beâ priced between $600-$800. Northfield: †¢Small office â€â 10,000-unit creation ability yet conceivable development intoâ 300,000 units/year. Concentrate on single item (PolyHeme), $70 million spent on advancement. B. Biopure Corporation. †¢Specializes in protein cleaning for pharmaceutical use. †¢Hemopure 2 years from definite endorsement. †¢Derived from the blood of dairy cattle. †¢Production limit of 150,000 butâ possible creation constraints because of expected concurrentusage of creation gear for creature variant. †¢Need for expulsion ofâ hemoglobin groups from item? abundance process inâ production capacity. †¢Cost for Biopure at $1. 50 for every unit of creature blood, yet plan to coordinate Baxter’s cost for finalconsumer product.II. Creature blood advertise. †¢Mainly felines (35%) and hounds (half). †¢800 hounds were brought to emergencyâ treatment because of intense blood misfortune in 1995,â 2. 5% extreme. Existing alternatives. †¢15,000 veterinary facilities. †¢5% of vet centers perform crisis care, with a 75% referral rate from essential careâ clinics. †¢Current blood donation centers deficient, request enormously surpasses flexibly: 2. 5 out of 30â cases treated. †¢93% blood drawn from giver creatures (78%â in crises) †a morally sketchy practice. †¢150 units of blood transfused per crisis care, 17 perâ primary care focus (Appendix A). No powerful blood composing or cross-coordinating frameworks. †¢Blood assortment, stockpiling, and transfusion unreasonably expensive for legitimate activity. †¢Current cost of clinical careâ to creature proprietors moderately high, bothersome. ? 84% specialist disappointment with current other options. Blood substitutes. †¢Biopure’s Oxyglobin as of now the main existing FDA-affirmed substitute prepared for dispatch. †¢No apparent synthetic contrast in theâ produc tion process among creature and human enhancement. †¢Animal supplement endorsed sooner than human proportionate because of less-severe guidelines in theanimal purchaser showcase. Creation limit of 300,000 units, $200 million spent on advancement (joined withHemopure) Marketing Plan for OxyglobinPositioning system. Most creature proprietors (fans) can beâ assumed to be inside the center toâ upperincome class, in view of the superfluous expenses of possessing a creature (allude to case Exhibit 8 for a rundown ofâ average expenses of keeping aâ pet). Notwithstanding, numerous buyers demonstrated to beâ price-cognizant about spendingadditional assets on discretionary administrations (this will be examined further in theâ pricing methodology); along these lines, nopremium procedure ought to be used.The item ought to be situated asâ a excellent enhancement forblood transfusion, accessible to (moderate by) most creature proprietors. Valuing procedure. As refered to, animalâ ow ners hope to go through restricted measures of cash onâ animal care; thisis marginally unique for crisis circumstances, where clients are eager to spend more,â as demonstratedby the review results (Exhibit 8; Table B). The run of the mill cost of aâ blood transfusion to the client iscurrently $100 for the conventional strategy; notwithstanding, this value wasâ said to have been cost-unjustified.Still,veterinarians were refered to as theâ trusted hotspot for deciding a patient’s treatment choice, which putspressure on the new substitute portion to setâ a serious value standard. While overall revenues mayprove higher on a more extravagant thing, theâ product’s affectability to notoriety for being a supposedlyâ€Å"better, less expensive alternative† to right now accessible choices, which would fulfill the at present generally unfulfilled interest for blood transfusion, would pressure Biopure to value its Oxyglobin agreeing tocustomer desires (See â€Å"Exi sting options†, page 5 of this report).Those desires, asâ we can seefrom the joined index (Appendix 1 An and B), are that the cost to the shopper be about $200 ($100to the veterinarian †keeping theâ 50% markup), which would give the organization the largestâ marginal gainin incomes (more significant expenses are really marginalâ losses! ), while as yet holding the significant interest (weconsider crisis care focuses increasingly significant here,â since they have, relatively, a much largerdemand than essential consideration centers).In terms of theâ price distinction among Oxyglobin and its competitorin the human section, Baxter, the last burned through $50 million more on R&D than Biopure, so the pricepremium on Baxter can beâ justified by greater expenses; furthermore, Biopure’s per-unit costs are significantlysmaller in light of the fact that it utilizes steers blood. Moreover, Biopure may value Hemopure marginally higher in light of the fact that ofà ¢ the additional handling that goes into making it,â as well as the variety inâ the portion and target audience(people are happy to spend more onâ themselves than on creatures). Distribution.Biopure should just objective crisis careâ practices. In spite of the fact that those solitary make up 5% ofâ the in general industry, 75% p

Tips On How To Write An Essay High

Tips On How To Write An Essay HighWriting an essay is something that many people dread doing. In fact, the main reason most students dread writing an essay is because they lack the knowledge of how to write a paper. In this article, we will take a look at some tips on how to write an essay high.The first thing you need to understand when writing an essay is that an essay is actually not difficult to write. In fact, it is really simple. There are two parts to a great essay: the introduction and the body. In order to make the introduction more interesting, you will want to be careful not to go into too much detail about the topic. Just enough information to allow for a lively argument will do.The body of the essay should also be interesting. Here, you will be able to present and support your thesis. This can be done by using examples and pictures. This will give the reader a sense of empathy for your thesis.A good introduction and body should have strong language and avoid awkward or p rofane language. As stated before, an argument should be persuasive and not offensive. Always try to express yourself in a way that is not offensive.Now that you know how to write an essay high, you need to learn how to structure your essay. When you are writing an essay, you need to come up with a topic first. Once you have a topic, you can begin to lay out your argument. This will involve laying out the topic, outlining the idea you are trying to get across, and then finally focusing on the argument.Writing a thesis statement or introduction is usually the toughest part of the paper. You will want to think about what kind of title or heading you want to give the paper. You can also use this time to write a summary of the points you want to make.Once you have written the introduction and arguments, you can start on the outline. You want to make sure that all of the major points are in place before you start to go over the outline. The outline will also help you organize your though ts.Keep in mind that it is okay to have several points that you want to get across throughout your essay. However, you will want to make sure that your arguments and statements are strong. If your argument has weak points, the reader will lose interest quickly.

Prison Reform During The United States - 1456 Words

Ashlyn Frazier Taylor English IV October 20, 2015 Prison Reform in America For many years now, the criminal justice system has become stricter, causing more and more people to be arrested and sentenced to prison. As prisons become more occupied, the living conditions, health, and treatment of prisoners starts to deteriorate, which has become a trend over the last few decades. However, President Obama has noticed this prison environment and has taken a stand in saying that something needs to be done about it. Though many people would argue that prison reform is unnecessary because prisoners deserve to be treated poorly, there is sufficient evidence that shows that the current conditions end up doing more harm mentally and physically to the†¦show more content†¦It is unnecessary for many of these criminals to be held in prison since there isn’t any room for them in the first place. One way that the federal prison system can ease the overcrowding problem would be to simply release the non-violent criminals back into society with a fine or on pr obation. The overcrowding that is contained within many prisons causes the facilities to become more and more inhumane with the number of prisoners added each year. Many prisons suffer from lack of resources for their inmates such as proper medical facilities, extra prison cells, and resources to reduce idleness, which causes the conditions of the prisons and the treatment of the prisoners to worsen. With overcrowding, prisoners become victims of unconstitutional treatment, and many will suffer and die if this chronic overcrowding continues (Mayeux 9). Though many people would argue that prisoners deserve the harsh conditions that come with overcrowded prisons, they need to remember that prisoners are people too and are subject to the same natural rights as every American citizen, including the eighth amendment which declares â€Å"no cruel or unusual punishment†(Brown v. Plata 1). The supreme court case Brown v. Plata actually states that the overcrowded population of prison s is a violation of one’s constitutional rights (Brown v. Plata 1). But overcrowding doesn’t just effect prisoners, it also

Risk Management Task 1a - 4779 Words

JIT Task 1 Risk Management Risk Management From the last decade risk management is the most researched and exciting area in the financial industry as it elaborates how to minimize and avert the hazard of risk from the portfolios of different assets and from the operations of financial institutions. Regulators and depositors mainly emphasize the risk management and according to them risk management is an essential ingredient to enhance the value of shareholders and increase their level of confidence. Risk management is the assessment of risks to mitigate, monitor and control the probability or impact on uncertain events. Risk management methods vary from industry to industry for instance it cannot be same for project management,†¦show more content†¦Companies and governments operating in the complex economic environment of the 21st century must contend with a broad range of risks. Some do so in an adhoc or reactive fashion, responding to risks as they appear, whilst others are proactive, planning in advance the risks that they wish to assume and how they can best manage them. Since it has become clear over the past few years that risk can be financially damaging when neglected, anecdotal and empirical evidence suggests that institutions increasingly opt for formalized processes to manage uncertainties that can lead to losses. Risk can be classified in a number of ways and though we do not intend to present a detailed taxonomy of risk, a brief overview is useful in order to frame my discussion. To begin, risk can be divided broadly into financial risk and operating risk. 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Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv ) - 1325 Words

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the agent causing AIDS, is arguably the deadliest infectious disease to affect humans. Not only because of the affects it has on the body by the eventual collapse of the immune system, but because it is a master at evading and escaping the immune responses and antiretroviral drugs by constantly mutating and maintaining genetic variation. Vaccines are designed to recognize specific viral antigens which makes it almost impossible to develop one against HIV. Recent studies have claimed that it is the immune response that puts the selective pressure on the virus to mutate that allows it to escape and persist. Others claim that it is the large turn over rate, rapid mutation rate, or ability to hide latently integrated into the host cell’s DNA. Here I will present specific studies to try to determine what is the dominating factor that allows HIV to escape and persist. Introduction In 2014, there was an estimate of 36.9 million people and climbing living with HIV, and with a fatality rate of 100%, AIDS is disputably the deadliest infectious disease to strike mankind (UNAIDS). This number continually increases, not necessarily because more are becoming infected; however, because more people are receiving antiretroviral therapy globally and living longer. Nonetheless, even though HIV infections are declining, there is still an astronomical number of new infections and deaths occurring yearly. The development of HIV antivirals and vaccines has beenShow MoreRelatedHuman Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv )1359 Words   |  6 PagesThis paper explores the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as well as the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). The virus has infected two million adults and children by the year 2005 already. 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HIV attacks the immune system by destroying CD4+ T cells, which leaves the person infected with HIV vulnerable to other infections, diseases, and other complications.1 Once this virus is acquired, the human can never fully rid itself of thisRead MoreHuman Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv )884 Words   |  4 Pages(2010), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that affects the human immune system, leading to a chronic, progressive sickness that leaves people susceptible to opportunistic infectio ns. When the body no longer can fight or resist infections, the condition is at this point referred to as AIDS, which means Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Averagely, it has been found to take more than ten years to develop from initial infection of HIV to AIDS. Though simple in description, HIV and AIDSRead MoreThe Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv )862 Words   |  4 Pagesshown that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the cause of AIDS. 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West African Muslims in the Bronx free essay sample

The space heater’s overheated electric cord ignited a small fire. While the woman sleeping on the first floor hurriedly warned and sought help from others in the house, the fire intensified beyond their control and within minutes had engulfed the entire building. In the aftermath, a total of ten people died, with nine of these being children. Apart from 9/11, it was New York City’s deadliest fire in 17 years. The families involved in the tragic fire were Soninke, an ethnic group that numbers around two million total people. They, along with other ethnic groups from Francophone West Africa, are almost exclusively Muslim. When the news of the tragic event spread, thousands of dollars were donated from individuals and businesses to assist the families involved. However, the most newsworthy responses from New Yorkers came not from removed donators, but from the West African community itself. While West African mosques and associations gathered, organized, and represented West Africans and the families involved in the fire, America received a candid look into the culture and religion of Muslim West Africans in the city. West Africans’ Space in the Larger Muslim Community Hailing mainly from such countries as Mali, Guinea, Gambia, Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone, West African Muslims are just one fiber in a convoluted thread of Muslim ethnic groups in the New York City metro area. An estimated 600,000 Muslims live in New York City itself, while an estimated 800,000 live in the New York City metro area. Within these numbers, community estimates place around 100,000 West African Muslims in the metro area, making them one of the more populous Muslim communities in the city. These large numbers, however, are not commensurate with the measure of influence or voice West Africans have in the overall Muslim community. There are several reasons why West Africans Muslims do not have much influence or interest in the activities of the broader Muslim populace. First, there is a Sahara desert that literally and figuratively separates West Africans from the Arab world. Ironically, while much of West Africa has adopted the culture and practice of the Arab-centric religion of Islam, Arabic people are not looked upon with favor by the average West African. This might have something to do with the fact that millions of black Africans were enslaved or sold as slaves by Arabs from 650-1900 AD! In reality, despite the illegality of the act, some Arab-background people still enslave black Africans in places like Mauritania, Mali, and Niger. Needless to say, despite their adoption of Islam, West Africans are often not too fond of Arabs. Second, the ascension of fundamental Islam in the world casts a World Trade Center-sized shadow over New York City, thrusting all those with a Muslim identity or perceived similitude (just ask the turbaned Sikhs†¦who are not Muslim by the way) into a defensive posture. Many Muslim groups in the city used 9/11 as a platform to expound on the â€Å"truth of Islam† as a way and religion of peace. In this stance, the 9/11 terrorists were derided as â€Å"not Muslim,† and every effort was made to paint a completely different picture of Islam. Their efforts were largely successful, as the New York City public currently tends to have the perception that mainstream Islam is a peaceful religion. It is not coincidental that the public face of the Muslim New York community has made a switch over the last few years from Siraj Wahhaj, a boisterous African-American imam from Brooklyn who is an alleged co-conspirator in the 1993 bombing plot of the World Trade Center, to Shamsi Ali, who is a very mild and moderate Indonesian imam that encourages religious dialogue. Apart from the just stated offensive approach to defending Muslim identity in light of 9/11, some Muslim groups have tended towards reticence and/or disassociation from other Muslim groups. This stance, of course, draws little attention from the public, and frees up Muslim groups to tend to their own community. West African mosques are inclined towards this approach. They are almost exclusively interested in their own activities and community, and are consequently not as involved in the cooperative activities of the broader Muslim population. Third, the groups that are the most influential in the larger Muslim community are primarily the ones that are most established in America, as well as those who have money or have access to money. West Africans fall short in both of these categories. A majority of West Africans Muslims in the country came to America in the 1980s and 1990s. As most of these were undocumented immigrants, only those at the front end of migration benefited from the 1986 amnesty that granted proper documentation and the ability to legally bring family to the United States. With a majority of their population facing legal obstacles, and with limited experience in America, West Africans have yet to a garner a major role in the development of Islam in New York. Furthermore, West Africans do not have the same resources at their disposal as other groups. According to the 2006 United Nations Human Development Index, all of the West African countries with a majority Muslim population can be found in a list of the least 25 developed countries in the world, with the four least developed countries, in order, being Niger, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The establishment of extensive Islamic institutions in New York City that reach beyond their own community would seem excessive when the needs of their own community in New York and Africa seem so broad. Fourth, the focus of West African immigrants seems to be different than most other Muslim groups in regards to their affiliation and attachment to America. Almost all West Africans view America as a place to make money in order to return to West Africa to start new businesses and to provide a better standard of living for their families. Their diminutive attachment to America can be found in the fact that many men leave their wives and children in Africa while working in America. Though years may go by without seeing their family, the wives and children of many African men stay in waiting until their head of household permanently returns. On the contrary, other Muslim ethnic groups in New York City tend to bring entire families over, buy property, and set up highly structured institutions. As Mohammad-Arif rightly points out in her book, Salaam America, South Asian Muslims rarely return to their home country permanently due to economic, familial, psychological, and sometimes even political reasons, even though returning may have been their original intent. West Africans, on the other hand, have somewhat of a user mentality towards America. As a result, they never become too concerned with investing themselves in American political, cultural, or even religious issues. As they do not have a long-term mentality towards the country, they have little concern with contributing to the spread of Islam in the area, or even more so, with fighting for Islamic rights or the strengthening of the Muslim voice in America. Bleeding More Muslim When pressed in asking about religious identity, it is not uncommon for a West African to proclaim, â€Å"If you prick my skin, I bleed Muslim. † However, in reality, if one were to dig deep into the skin of West African Muslims, one would not find Islam but an animistic core that entices Africans to fear, manipulate, and appease evil spirits. Islam is merely used as one component in dealing with the world of djinn (evil spirits). This religious adherence is sometimes called, â€Å"Folk Islam. † I ran across an incredible example of this in the fabled Grand Mosque of Timbuktu in Mali (yes, Timbuktu really exists). Off to the side of the large prayer room, two unmarked doors stood side-by-side. Color was the only trait that distinguished the doors from one another, as one was red and the other black. Our Tamajeq guide pointed to the doors and claimed, â€Å"The red door is for the good marabout (something like a Muslim sorcerer). You see him when you want to get help for doing good things, like getting pregnant. The other door†¦well, this one is for the bad marabout, who will help you inflict harm on other people. Say†¦if you are the first wife and the second wife is getting all the attention†¦you can go see the marabout behind the black door. † Even in New York City, where West Africans insist that the need of marabouts is much less because there are not as many spirits, the spirit world is still seen as a major factor in sickness, success, and wealth. Some of the West African street vendors in Harlem, many of whom live in the Highbridge rea of the Bronx, sell items of spiritual significance alongside their traditional fare of shea butter, perfume, and incense. One particular â€Å"incense† item, while sold as standard incense to African-Americans and other patrons, is sold to West African Muslims â€Å"to ward off evil spirits. † In talking with the very man who sold these items, I was intrigued by his statements made about a Malian sorcerer who had just stopped by to chat and advertise his services. The West African street vendor said, â€Å"That man is not good. He claims to be Muslim, but he is not a good Muslim. NO†¦. practicing medicine like that? That is very bad. That is not the way of Allah. † It is interesting that even though these comments were made, the street vendor himself sold an item to protect people from spirits. Perhaps the need of selling such items was felt due to the presence of West African sorcerers in New York. With the presence of sorcerers, West Africans sense that evil could be directed towards them at any time. They then feel the need to counter this act with their own protective medicine and charms/incense to ward off djinn. In talking with one Malian man about an upcoming West African parade, he balked, â€Å"You won’t find me there. That’s a good place to pick up a stinger. † When asked to describe a stinger, he said, â€Å"You know, when the sorcerer gets you†¦they’re going to be everywhere. NO†¦I don’t get around that many Africans at one time. † While â€Å"Folk Islam† is certainly the background of West Africans that come to New York, there is an overall consensus that djinn are less of a concern in the city compared to Africa. Resultantly, many find themselves becoming more orthodox in Islamic practice and, in effect, â€Å"bleeding more Muslim. The Rise of the Mosque. Anyone who has ever lived in another country knows the difficulty of getting oriented, assimilated, maintaining cultural values and identity, as well as dealing with homesickness. When an African arrives in New York City, their first point of contact is with relatives, frie nds, or acquaintances. However, these contacts are usually very limited, and with the lack of large African cultural spaces or associations, there is usually only one place to find the sense of community that is so innate in African society and culture. This place is found in one of the fifteen-or-so West African mosques in the city. The mosque and the imam (Muslim priest) have much different roles in West Africa than they do in the lives of West African New York. In West Africa, the mosque is simply a place of worship, and the imam spends almost all of his time studying, leading prayers, and expounding on the Qur’an (Muslim holy book) and Hadith (the traditions of Mohammed). Furthermore, marabouts tend to have more religious influence in West Africa than even the imams. As society is the strongest force on community, social, and religious life, the practice of Islam can often be treated as secondary to other social and cultural factors. However, the West Africans’ placement in America lands them on much different soil, in which familiar spaces of social, cultural, and political interaction have been taken away. The only institution that stands strategically placed to address the needs of the West African community is the mosque. It comes as no surprise, then, that West Africans quickly established ethnic mosques all over Harlem, Bronx, and parts of Brooklyn. On any given Friday, juma sermons can be heard in Soninke, Bambara, Jula, Maninka, Mandinka, Wolof, Hausa, and Pulaar. These mosques naturally emerged into not only religious centers, but also social, political, and commercial ones as well. Elements of West African society that had little to do with the mosque have become merged into the function of every West African mosque in the city, increasing the importance of Islam, religious practice and attendance, and the role of the imam as well. The imam, who has been thoroughly trained in the Qur’an and Hadith, must now become familiar with local politics, law enforcement, development/health/community organizations, immigration issues, business, real estate, and might even act as a potential matchmaker for marriages! The Bronx fire illuminated the influence of the West African mosques, as well as the fluidity between existent West African mosques. In the media circus that followed the Bronx fire, it was the West African imams and mosques that played the prominent role in organizing the West African community, communicating to reporters, and collecting the abundance of funds for the affected families. While there were certainly accompanying photographs of the affected families and friends of those who died, newspaper articles also predominantly featured the imams of different West African mosques, especially as they led funeral services and met with local overnment leaders. What was also striking in the activities that followed the fire is the role that non-Soninke mosques and imams played in the handling of the tragedy. The mosque that was used for the funeral service was Mandinka, consisting mainly of people from the Gambia, and was not the mosque that the affected families regularly attended. Even the imams that acted as a voice for the West African community had little to do with the Soninke mosque the families normally att ended. In visiting a mosque in Highbridge one Friday that is mainly Maninka from Guinea, I was surprised to see two imams there who were Jula from Cote d’Ivoire and are mainly associated with a mosque in Harlem. From that moment on, I have noticed that West African imams regularly visit and lead activities in different West African mosques. Even though there is one mosque they are mainly associated with, there is such a sense of solidarity between different West African ethnicities and mosques, that the imams have a very fluid sense of responsibility in regards to the community they serve. It is this pervading sense of community that gives such pride to West Africans in being Muslim. Whereas their homeland consisted mainly of Muslims and solidarity with one another was an innate aspect of West African society, Islamic identity in America, as influenced by the ethnic mosque, spurs the West African into a deepening sense of community in a land otherwise characterized by individualism and fractured relationships. Furthermore, whereas biological family serves as the greatest axis of solidarity in West Africa, the tension-filled family relations experienced by West African New Yorkers with their families back home, which is caused by separation and increased monetary expectations, cause many to shift their axis of solidarity to the local Muslim community who are going through the same things. The social dynamics between New York and West Africa, in effect, almost force the West African New Yorkers into a stronger sense of Muslim identity with one another in order to retain the innate West African value of solidarity that is slipping away from them with every passing year they spend away from their families. Through it all, the ethnic mosques solidify their importance in the life of the West African community. The Rise of Islamic Education. Islam established a foothold in some West African societies up to 1,000 years ago. For most of the millennium, Islam was the religion of the ruling class and merchants. A famous story has been relayed throughout the years about Mansa Musa, who has the ruler of the Malian empire between 1312 and 1337. While taking the hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca, Mansa Musa reportedly gave out so much gold along the way, that the North African economy suffered for decades and gold prices depleted all over the world. However, the influence of Islam did not widely infiltrate the sustenance farmers of West Africa, which is the majority population, until the beginning of the 20th century. Remarkably, since that time, Islam has spread throughout the masses, and over 90% of people in most of the West African countries in discussion consider themselves to be Muslim. Despite this fact, it is rare to find a West African who regularly reads the Qur’an, or is even capable of reading their central text. As West African countries consistently have the lowest literacy rates in the world, the people are often taught what they should believe, and do not have the ability themselves to investigate and study what is said. Although many West Africans in New York are educated and literate in French, mainstream Islamic thought claims that the true Qur’an only exists in Arabic, which only deepens the existent literacy problem in reading their holy book. On the one hand, this actually increases solidarity within the different West African Muslim communities, as truth and compulsory behavior is disseminated from one source through the mosque. This creates a society in which all members learn rote doctrine and apologetics that keep everyone â€Å"on the same page. For instance, when a West African Muslim encounters a Christian in dialogue about religion, he inevitably asks the question, â€Å"Who was the president before the current one? † When the answer of Bill Clinton is stated, he asks, â€Å"Then who came after him? † When the answer of George Bush is stated, he then proclaims, â€Å"See! George Bush came after Bill Clinton. Bush is the president and Clinton is not. It is the same way with the prophet Mohammed coming after Jesus. Why can’t you accept this?!? On the other hand, and this is especially the case in New York, exposure to non-Muslims convicts many West African Muslims that they need to personally study and know more about their religion. When pressed, many will say that they are Muslim simply because their parents and grandparents were Muslim. However, the need to answer questions from non-Muslims and the search for personal social and religious identity in New York draws many West African Muslims into further study of Arabic and Islam. It is not uncommon for a West African man to work 60-70 hours of week, but still find time to go to the mosque one night a week for further study of Arabic, the Qur’an, or the Hadith. Even if they personally feel too old to begin down this educational track, they view Arabic and Islamic education as a necessary means to retain religious values and cultural identity in their children. As a result, almost every West African mosque in New York has weekend and summer Arabic and Islamic classes for children. Ironically, many West African children raised in the United States do not know their parents’ main African language, yet they are encouraged by them to vigorously learn Arabic and recite the Qur’an. To the best of my knowledge, there is no West African association or mosque that teaches 2nd generation children the language of their parents. One Malian man lamented to me, â€Å"We care more about our kids learning a foreign language (Arabic) than our own! What sense does that make? † He then let out a disgusted gasp, â€Å"†¦these people†¦! The majority of West Africans in New York City have adapted to their new society by â€Å"bleeding more Muslim,† but it has raised the question with many on whether or not they are â€Å"bleeding less African. † Bleeding Less Muslim A West African associational leader in the Highbridge area of the Bronx talked to me one day about their association. Although his ethnic group is almost 100% Muslim, he boa sted that Muslims, Christians, and all sorts of people in the Bronx use their building for events. â€Å"I don’t discriminate by religion,† he said, â€Å"Anyone can use our building. In fact, I have been in America a long time. I say that I am Muslim, and I am a Muslim†¦but only on the outside. † This man reflects the other side of West African life in New York. While most West Africans find a strengthening Islamic identity in America, there is also a significant portion of the West African population that â€Å"bleeds less Muslim† in the city. The West Africans that venture into America, by nature, are more entrepreneurial, risk-taking, and free-thinking than their average compatriots back home. In West Africa, there is nothing more valuable than one’s right standing before the group. As a result, the worst thing an African can do is shame that same group. Those people who tend to think or act differently are reinforced through shame and persecution to return to cultural norms. For this reason, West African culture as a whole, including such cultural blemishes as female circumcision, are inherently arduous to change. The establishment of West African life in New York City, however, creates new opportunities to expand the boundaries of the cultural norms of West African society as a whole. West African New Yorkers’ physical separation from the cultural pull of West African society creates a softening of solidarity that tolerates more freedom and progressive thinking. If West African society was a peach, the West African New Yorkers find themselves on the soft and fuzzy edge. Their propensity for entrepreneurial endeavors and occasional critical thinking lead quite a few West African New Yorkers’ to rethink their views on Islam and the role it plays in their lives. For instance, one Malian man who had lived several places in America and now lived in Highbridge confided in me that, â€Å"I am not sure what the true way is. I know that it is Islam or Christianity, but I am just not sure. †¦maybe you can’t know. Maybe you just have to follow the way you were born into. † Another Malian man who had been in America for over 15 years stated, â€Å"All this religious stuff†¦It is all a show. As for me, I am not very religious. † Yet another man from Niger, who comes from a strong Muslim background, stated, â€Å"These West African Muslims. They do not know they have not always been Muslim. They don’t know what happened to them to make them Muslims. They think they have always been that way. They do not even follow the right Qur’an†¦my ‘Master Teacher’ has taught me all these things. In the case of this last man, he had left Islam through the influence of the Nuwaubians, a predominantly African-American religious sect born out of Brooklyn by Dwight York. This West African man felt the freedom in America to leave the social security net he had in Islam in order to follow the teachings of the Nuwaubians, even though he admitted to only reading thei r materials and never going to any of their meetings. What is interesting is that basic beliefs that define one’s right standing before the group are more likely to be challenged in New York City than back home. The exposure to people of different faiths, knowledge, and experience create a dissonance in some West Africans between their identity and truth. On the one hand, they feel they must maintain a strong Islamic identity to be West African. On the other hand, some begin to question if Islam really is the right way, or if they are merely following their culture. The questions asked suggest a stirring of West African cultural norms and the experimental phase of how things could possibly change. West African women, for instance, find America a place to flex new freedom, and openly challenge the traditional man’s role in the family and society. As a result, I have often heard West African men talk about the problems this causes, and wish their wives to stay in West Africa lest their marriage and culture be destroyed. It is evident, then, that cultural norms are being pushed and extended in New York City and, although their numbers are in the minority, a ripple is starting that challenges current cultural and religious identity. Conclusion Imagine growing up in a place where jobs are so scarce and money so tight, that taking the time to obtain a good education is risky business. Imagine growing up in a country whose villages and towns rarely have running water or electricity. Imagine being one of the lucky few that succeeds in education and professional qualification to obtain a university professor position, only to wait years to save up enough money to buy the family’s first used car. Now imagine there is a place called New York City, where compatriots return to tell the stories of abundant job opportunities, running water, electricity, subways, buses, concrete streets, sky scrapers, and the ability to easily obtain a $5/hour job the moment one steps off the plane. It is no wonder that West Africans have flocked to the city. The moment a West African man sets foot in America, however, an interesting dynamic takes place. They often become the â€Å"big man. † The â€Å"big man† is a common African social construction in which one man usually funds 10-25 family members. This funding can be to the extent of paying for the family members’ housing, food, inventory for jobs, medical payments, etc. While some income is generated from the few family members that work in Africa, a bulk of the monetary resources comes from the â€Å"big man. Obviously, this puts incredible pressure on the West African New Yorker to â€Å"make it,† and to provide for the family. When the reality sets in concerning the types of jobs available for West African immigrants (usually service jobs that demand long hours and tiring work), the luster of New York tends to wear off rather quickly. However, in return for their sacrifice, the â€Å"big me n† in New York City obtain something they had never had before. They obtain an incredible amount of influence. As I talked with a Malian street vendor one day, I caught a glimpse of the extent of influence West African New Yorkers have over West African society. I had wondered in my mind how much influence could really take place in New York on West Africa when they were so distant from each other. However, on this particular day with the street vendor, he received a call from his family in Mali on his cell phone. It turns out that his wife and mother were having a minor squabble, and instead of working it out themselves, they called the street vendor in New York to figure out what to do. The influence of West African New Yorkers was clear. If minor squabbles are mediated and handled by those in New York, how much more would such vital West African societal issues be influenced by the â€Å"big men† in New York, Paris, and other cities around the world? As West African New Yorkers bleed more or less Muslim, one wonders how this will affect West African society in the years to come. To catch a glimpse of where West Africa is going in terms of religious affiliation, I think one should look no further than places like Paris and New York. The West Africans in these places hold sway over their family’s livelihood, and they are looked to for the direction and progress of their family. As West African New Yorkers certainly associate their move to America with progress, one must not ignore the fact that this progress is not merely happening with monetary and economic development. As West African New Yorkers’ adjust their thoughts on religion and religious practice, one catches a glimpse of the religious West Africa of tomorrow.