Sound and music industry free essay sample

The sound and music Industry tasks Introduction: Music industry has four areas. The different roles and jobs are link to the different areas of music industry. People need to sign the contracts and every areas of music industry have different content of contracts. People or companies have copyright. Licensing and copyright are very important in music industry. Pl Describe four areas of the music Industry. 1. Music publishing In the music industry a music publisher or company is an entity that develops, protects and values music.Retailer, freelancer are needed in music publishing. 2. Record labels Recording companies are huge corporations own a variety of record labels. Recorder and business affairs are needed In record labels. 3. Live performance Live performance is an important aspect of the music industry because it is the best publicity and means of income and artist can have. Bands and sales are needed in live performance. 4. Artist management There are different types of managers. Professional managers make a living solely from artist management and often have many clients working professionally or affiliated with a major record label.Artist development and art department are needed in artist management. MI Explain four areas of the music Industry. The artist and the publisher share a symbiosis relationship. Music publishers are responsible for the development of new music as well as taking care of the business side allowing songwriters and composers to concentrate on their creative work. They publish music products. Most large record companies are huge conglomerates own a variety of subsidiary record labels. The subsidiary labels are each mint-companies operating under the intro of a larger corporation. They record music.Live performance Is comprised from the work of different people. Include booking perform many are dedicated music clubs, taverns, bars, coffee houses, festivals, fairs, concert halls, schools, churches, and even record stores. Live performance is a way to know what to do in the next step and how to make a change to expand artists popularity. Managers are important for the business because they take care of paperwork, keeping with commitments and other menial tasks thus allowing the artist to focus completely on music. Del Comment critically on four areas of the music industry. He publishing side of the music business is concerned with the songs themselves. Publishers employ A people in much the same way as record companies do, but because the song itself is all important. And although the parent companies of the major record labels also have their own publishing companies an artist would sign a separate deal with each or could sign with a totally different publishing company. Ere function of the publisher is to collect royalty payments on behalf of the songwriter and pass these on after taking a percentage for themselves.A good publisher will also be pro-active in seeking to place songs on film and TV soundtracks, adverts and compilations and will use their contacts to promote suitable songs for use by established artists. Music publishing Just publish the music, its not the same Ninth record labels or the other companies. Its perfectly possible for a songwriter to be signed by a publisher before a CD has been released or even before that songwriter has a record deal. Quite often a good publishing company will spot a promising writer at an early stage, offer advice, nurture their song-writing skills and help to secure a recording contract.Record labels Just record the music. When they finish recording they will give the right to the music publishing companies to publish the works. 4. Live performance Live performance is a huge work. Through the live performance we can know how to Improve and how to make some changes of the artists. Live performance is an important aspect of the music industry because it is the best publicity and means of income and artist can have. Live performance can be a lot of form and it needs different roles to do different things. Its comprised from the work of different people. Include booking agents, promoters, venue operators.There are many different ensues that artists can perform many are dedicated music clubs, taverns, bars, coffee houses, festivals, fairs, concert halls, schools, churches, and even record stores. 5. Artists management nothing is left to interfere with the delicate creative process is the managers Job. They will be involved in any decision that directly concerns the artists earning potential. A manager must be prepared to negotiate with record labels, publishers, tour managers, booking agents, promoters, producers, lawyers, accountants, urinalysis, photographers, merchandisers, fan clubs and often the artists friends and family.Whilst it is important for both parties that the manager is a fan of the music, they must remain objective about the look, sound and next career moves of their artist. In an ideal scenario, everyone will have the same objectives and will trust and respect each others decisions and motives. Any interested record company will suggest, if not insist, that an artist be signed with an experienced, professional manager; recognizing the importance of the role. A manager can expect to receive twine 15% and 25% of an artists gross earnings. PI Describe the roles associated with an area of music industry. . Music publishing Composer, royalties, retailer, freelancer, art department, publisher, sales, recorder, lawyers are needed for music publishing. Artist development, recorder, art department, business affairs, publisher are needed for record labels. 3. Artist management Artist development, art department, lawyers are needed for artist management. 5. Live performance ands, retailer, booking agents, sales, promoters, publicity, producer, lawyers, and publishers are needed for live performance. Some roles are connected. There are some same roles needed in different areas of music industry.MM Explain the roles associated with an area of music industry. 1. Music publishing lawyers Artist development, recorder, art department, business affairs, publisher Artist development, art department, ands, retailer, booking agents, sales, promoters, publicity, producer, lawyers, publisher DO Comment critically on the roles associated with an area of music 23 Describe the contracts associated with an area of music industry. The contracts re link to the music companies. The contract is valid the legal approval procedures are complete. The contracts are needed in music publishing and it is very important. If the artists want to publish an album or other music product, they need to build and sign a contract. They need an agreement with the company each other then they can start to record and publish. MM Explain the contracts associated with an area of music industry. Generally for entering into a Music Business Contract, an individual or a huge company should create a Music Business Contract which has the complete plan of the individual and he services offering, Scope of the contract, Duration of contract, Team investment, Return on Investment, Team Definition and contributions from this contract.DO Comment critically on the contracts associated with an area of music industry. 25 Describe the importance of licensing and royalties in the music industry. When an artists song or composition is played on the radio or used in any other means of broadcasting communication the artist is entitled to royalties. The exclusive rights, granted by law for a stated period, usually until 70 years after the death of the arriving author of the work, to make, disposes of, and otherwise control copies of literary, musical, dramatic, pictorial and other copyrightable works.MM Explain the importance of licensing and royalties in the music industry. A license is merely a legal permission from the copyright holder or from a third-party that represents a copyright holder to use a musical work. A royalty is the money paid by a user to obtain the license. Sometimes, licenses are granted directly by the copyright holder to the end user, especially for expensive, complex, or high profile uses, like sing a piece of music in a movie or in a national advertising campaign.DO Comment critically on the importance of licensing and royalties in the music Industry. If a composer had written a lot of songs, getting into music licensing is a example, if a feature film, advertisement or TV show likes a song, they will r equest a music license for the composition. Many talented individuals are deprived in pursuing their musical career due to lack of knowledge and exposure to licensing. In fact, in many cases the only thing that one can do as talented composer is to pursue music licensing. A publisher represents your songs in the business of music.Tasks such as music licensing, negotiating licensing, collecting royalties and making sure that you get paid at the proper amount at the proper time are all part of the publishing process and what a publisher does. It is very astonishing at the amount of composers that are oblivious to the most important aspect of the music business and daily lose out on substantial earnings generated through licensing. A well-connected publishing will allow you to flourish as a composer and allow your compositions to earn you credits, money and the recognition that you deserve.

Criminology What is the Solution to the Prison Problem

Introduction The work of Angela Davis in her book, â€Å"Are Prisons Obsolete?†, introduces readers to the current state of the U.S. system of imprisonment and rehabilitation. She reveals the correlation between corporate interests, racial profiling, current laws and how such factors have contributed to the growing population of inmates within U.S. penitentiaries.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Criminology: What is the Solution to the Prison Problem? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Her book reveals how rehabilitation practices within prisons at the present are far from promoting a system that helps to transition inmates into normal civilian life. Instead, what occurs is a removal of civil liberties, the promotion of negative forms of behavior and finally the implementation of prolonged periods of incarceration so that private corporations can make more money and profit off of the inmates at th e expense of U.S. taxpayers. This was noted in the following statement made by Davis (2003): â€Å"In arrangements reminiscent of the convict lease system, federal, state, and county governments pay private companies a fee for each inmate, which means that private companies have a stake in retaining prisoners as long as possible, and in keeping their facilities filled† (Davis, 95). As such, this paper presents the notion that the current system of rehabilitation within prisons is inherently flawed and needs to be changed in order to resolve the relatively high rates of re-incarceration within the U.S. Based on this, the assumption of this paper is that by implementing a system that focuses on encouraging better social integration rather than punishment this should help resolve the prison problems within the U.S.Advertising Looking for critical writing on criminology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Current Problems with in U.S. Prisons Based on the work of Vasiliades (2005), it can be seen that the current state of the U.S. prison system in no way rehabilitates prisoners (Vasiliades, 71-99). In fact Vasiliades (2005) states that prisons actually promote violent behavior resulting in a greater likelihood for those who enter it to get even worse over time. Vasiliades (2005) explains this by stating the following â€Å"†¦what do you expect would happen if you throw inmates into what is essentially a melting pot of violence and crime with no opportunity for improving their lives once they get out of prison, the obvious outcome would be a smarter and more violent criminal rather than a reformed prisoner that can be integrated into society† (Vasiliades, 71-99). Davis attempts to explain the inherent failure of society to realize the current problems faced by the prison system by saying that: â€Å"this is the ideological work that the prison performs – it relieves us of the responsibi lity of seriously engaging with the problems of our society, especially those produced by racism and, increasingly, global capitalism† (Davis, 16). It is based on the views of Vasiliades (2005) and Davis (2003) that it becomes painfully obvious that some means of change must be implemented in order to resolve the current problem surrounding the current prison system. Gopnik (2012) in his examination of the present day rates of incarceration within the U.S. shows that with the current system of rehabilitation in place, the possibility of re-incarceration is high with the likelihood of a former inmate making his/her way back into the prison system currently being set at 40 to 50 percent (Gopnik, 72-77). Gopnik (2012) even goes on to state that such a rate has increased considerably from 60 to 70 percent; the race, level of education and the absence of any professional skills could be indeed utilized (Gopnik, 72-77). Rehabilitation instead of Incarceration One way in which the pr oblems presented by Davis (2003) and Vasiliades (2005) can be resolved is to implement methods or rehabilitation instead of incarceration. This comes in the form of processes and various stages of personality development wherein inmates are modified in such a way that they can easily integrate and adapt themselves back into the society.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Criminology: What is the Solution to the Prison Problem? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One country in which such a process has proven to be quite effective is the Netherlands wherein their prison system implements a series of steps for modifying behavior and ensuring that prisoners can have a stable and fulfilling life outside of prison. What you have to understand is that based on the studies of Vasiliades (2005), prison life within the U.S. does not prepare prisoners for life outside prison. It is often the case that prison reinforc es and even encourages adverse behavior resulting in an inability to live a normal life and a greater propensity to return to a life of crime. The Netherlands resolves this issue by providing prisoners with daily psychological sessions, open prison environments, a relaxing atmosphere; they even provide them with the opportunity to obtain a college degree while in prison at the expense of the state. Not only that, prisoners within such environments are treated as if they are normal individuals as compared to most U.S. prisons where they are treated with a certain degree of disdain. By reinforcing positive behaviors and providing a means by which they can integrate themselves into society, the Netherlands has in effect created a system which has considerably minimized the rate of repeat offenders. This has manifested itself in the fact that the Netherlands has one of lowest crime rates in the world with a near nonexistent murder rate. Other countries have similarly tried to adopt such a style of allowing inmates to develop positive behaviors and skills in order to help them transition into society once they get out of jail. The Philippines, for instance, is home to â€Å"New Belibid Prison† which is one of the largest jails in South East Asia. Its size is somewhat misleading though due to the fact that prison officials allow prisoners to construct mini-homes, businesses and even training facilities within the prison. This has enabled the prison population to not only develop itself as a community but it has also helped its inmates in internalizing important job and social skills which would greatly assist them once they are released. Combined with the prison’s training program which teaches prisoners an assortment of trades and skills this has resulted in a far lower rate of re-incarceration as compared to their U.S. counterparts.Advertising Looking for critical writing on criminology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion Based on the presented data it can be seen that by implementing a system that focuses on encouraging better social integration rather than punishment this should help resolve the prison problems within the U.S. as evidenced by the case of the Netherlands and the Philippines. What you have to understand is that the current prison system within the U.S. does not rehabilitate at all and in fact promotes greater instances of criminal behavior. By implementing a system of rehabilitation instead of punishment and incarceration this should greatly reduce repeat offenders within the U.S. prison system. Works Cited Davis, Angela. â€Å"Are Prisons Obsolete?.† Publishers Group Canada 1.1 (2003):1- 126. Print. Gopnik, Adam. â€Å"The Caging Of America.† New Yorker 87.46 (2012): 72-77. Literary  Reference Center. Web. Vasiliades, Elizabeth. â€Å"Solitary Confinement And International Human Rights: Why The U.S. Prison System Fails Global Standards.† American Un iversity International Law Review 21.1 (2005): 71-99. Business Source Premier. Web. This critical writing on Criminology: What is the Solution to the Prison Problem? was written and submitted by user Alyvia N. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

History of Slavery essays

History of Slavery essays This essay focuses on three historical points. First, slavery existed and sometimes flourished in Africa before the transatlantic slave trade, but neither the African continent nor persons of African origin were as prominent in the world of slaveholding as they would later become. Second, the capture and sale of slaves across the Atlantic between 1450 and 1850 encouraged expansion and repeated transformation of slavery within Africa, to the point that systems of slavery became central to societies all across the continent. Third, even after the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade (largely accomplished by 1850) and the European conquest of Africa (mostly by 1900), millions of persons remained in slavery in Africa as late as 1930. The three sections of the essay address each of these points, giving particular attention to the last two. While the argument reviews the rise and decline of export slave trades - across the Atlantic, the Sahara, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean - it focuses on the nature and extent of slavery within sub-Saharan Africa. Before the Transatlantic Slave Trade In ancient Egypt and Nubia slavery existed but not as a dominant institution. The enslavement of the Hebrews in Egypt and Babylonia was a significant exception. In classical times, the commercial North African state of Carthage as well as the Greek states and Rome all relied on slave labor in galleys and in agriculture, and acquired some of their slaves through trade with sub-Saharan Africa. The rise of Islam in the seventh century brought a set of rules that provided protection for those in slave status, but in so doing reinforced the institution of slavery. In Africa, Islam took root first in North Africa, then later in West Africa and along the eastern coast. A large proportion of slaves in Islamic society served as domestics, but slaves also worked as farm laborers and porters. Elite corps of slaves entered the military and government. ...

Richard Kuklinski (Iceman) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Richard Kuklinski (Iceman) - Essay Example The murders he committed and the sufferings he caused in his victims create an image of unbelievable cruelty, which is hardly a sign of normality. However, Kuklinski is not a psychopath in a traditional sense of word. For many years, he was able to conceal his criminal activity behind the veils of almost perfect marriage and family life. What psychopathy is and how it differs from antisocial behaviors is a continued debate. In 1996, Doctor Robert D. Hare wrote an article, which had to expose and explain the criteria for antisocial personality and how they differed for psychopaths. It appears that all psychopaths are necessarily antisocial but not all antisocial individuals are psychotic (Hare). In this sense, Richard Kuklinski (Iceman) is believed to be one of the brightest examples of psychopathy in forensic psychiatry. Several actions Kuklinski did in his crimes lead professionals to believe he is a psychopath. First, the number of his victims is simply enormous: Kuklinski reports having killed at least one hundred of people. Second, Kuklinski recognizes that most, if not all, people he attacked were murdered before he would know them – simply stated, he would kill anyone he did not like at the first glance. Third, Kuklinski turned his asocial quest for murders into the source of considerable profits. Throughout his life, he would trust only his wife and family and profess his love for Barbara and his children (Holmes & Holmes 142). Surprisingly or not, Kuklinski confesses he did not experience any pleasure while committing his murders –throughout his life, sex was his greatest source of satisfaction and pleasure. It is difficult to imagine that a person would commit so many people without any sign of satisfaction with his action. Yet, if Kuklinski is truthful, it only reinforces the picture of his psychopathy. It should be noted that, according to the Five-Factor model of personality, Kuklinski manifests most, if not all, features characteristi c of a psychopath. His neuroticism is extremely low. He creates an impression of being free from any psychological impediments and social disorders. As a psychopathic person, Kuklinski has an ability to put people at ease (Cooke, Forth & Hare 54). Throughout his interview with the psychologist, Kuklinski does not show a single sign of nervousness. Low neuroticism is also the sign of low self-consciousness which is further supplemented with the feeling of low vulnerability to stress and risk (Cooke, Forth & Hare 54). His excessively low anxiousness is one of the best proofs to his psychopathy (Cooke, Forth & Hare 55). Kuklinski does not show any sign of deceptiveness and, unlike many psychopaths, is remarkably stable in his marital relationships (Cooke, Forth & Hare 56). Nevertheless, he demonstrates the signs of antagonistic aggression, low conscientiousness, the need for external stimulation (Cooke, Forth & Hare 56). He is not a psychopath in a traditional sense of word, since he i s able to balance his commitment to deep, prolonged family relationships with coldness and non-emotionality in human relations. It should be noted, that the roots of Kuklinski’s psychopathy date back to his childhood and the episodes of abuse which he experienced from his parents. His father was a railroad brakeman and his mother was a meat packing plant worker (Anonymous). Both parents beat Kuklinski and his brothers. In 1940, Kuklinski’s older brother died as a result of parental violence, but his parents were able to conceal the case from

Business strategy in global environment Assignment

Business strategy in global environment - Assignment Example The competitors in this market are holding their ground; they are trying very hard to slice of some customers from Fastway’s customer base, but so far, no competitor has been successful in accomplishing this objective. Even though the current operations of the company are redundant, but still the company has been very successful in meeting its customers’ expectations with significant ease. Nevertheless, the company cannot keep operating like this for too long and it will have to take initiatives to improve its current processes. Moreover, the company needs to decide whether it would use its strong capital base to expand into new market or if it will continue to serve in its current market. In this regards a decisive action is needs from the company’s management. Introduction: Tough economic climate has made it imperative upon companies to improve their operation methods, restructure their cost structure and identify new market segments, which the company can serv e profitably. In this regards, if a company wants to ensure its survival, it should start its operations in the global arena. A company by initiating its operations in the international arena can expand its customer base and take advantage of the opportunities presented by globalization. To reap the benefits of globalization, the company needs to adopt a global strategy. ... Part 1: Strategic Choices and Options for the Company Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Matrix: Strength: The company was formed in 1983 in New Zealand, and is now the world’s largest franchise courier service company. The company’s management is renowned for coming up with exceptional company policies. Company’s internal structure, comprising of policies, procedures and staff is perfectly tailored to fit the requirements and expectations of local market. The company has a very strong organisational culture in place, which is perfect for handling any unprecedented circumstances in the company’s external and internal environment. The company is offering a product mix that is highly suitable to meet the needs of the local market. The company has strong brand equity in its local market. The company has strong infrastructure and is highly technology oriented; the company firmly supports innovation in its existing company processes. The comp any has a strong positioning statement to differentiate it from competitors operating in the market. The company has operational processes which enables it to deliver a package in a very quick time. This further leads to its name being synonymous to quick and timely delivery. The company has a strong capital base which allows it to maintain a large fleet in the marketplace. The company has a strong network of hubs, airplanes and trucks which allow it to offer fast track services. The company holds 50% of the market share of the parcels in the shipping industry. The company is firmly customer oriented and this fact is professed by means of its customer service.

The Implications Of The Erp Implementation Information Technology Essay

The Implications Of The Erp Implementation Information Technology Essay Enterprise resource planning systems are now a common feature of any large business; indeed, they are widely considered to be one of the most influential technological developments within the corporate workplace (Davenport, 1999). The popularity of such technology can be ascribed to the organisational benefits of implementing such systems; according to Lengnick-Hall et al (2004), for example, the introduction of such systems can improve the process flow of an organisation and provide the management of the organisation with better quality data on which to base their strategic decisions. This aids companies in their need to react in a timely and flexible manner to changes in the business environment (Zheng et al, 2006). The popularity of the implementation of ERP systems can be seen in the fact that the ERP software market is currently one of the fastest growing e-business software markets in the world, having increased from a value of $23.6 billion in 2004 to roughly $28.8 billion in 2006 (Woodie, 2005). However, there are limitations to the benefits which can result from the implementation of ERP systems, as reflected in the failed ERP implementations at Allied Waste Industries Inc and Hershey Foods Corporation (Scott and Vesey, 2002). The rapid economic growth of the United Arab Emirates has resulted in its transformation into a sought after destination for large enterprises (ERP in UAE, 2011). This is particularly the case in Abu Dhabi and Dubai which is currently the largest trading centre in the Middle East, and whose liberal government regulations, high quality infrastructure and thriving service sector have contributed to its success (ERP in UAE, 2011). As a result of such vibrant business growth, the ERP software market in the UAE was estimated at $300 million (Dh 1.1 billion) at the end of 2009 and is projected to grow further (Askari, 2008). This essay focuses on the implications of ERP implementation in Etihad Airways, the United Arab Emirates national airline, which was completed in 2006. The aim of the essay is to assess the implications of the new ERP system on the organisation as a whole and on its users. The essay begins with an overview of the key factors which are deemed to be important in determin ing the organisational and individual implications of the implementation of an ERP system before subsequently discussing the details of the ERP implementation in the case of Etihad Airways. The advantages and limitations associated with the new ERP system from the perspective of both the organisation and the users is then explored. A review of the studies which have been recently published in the field of ERP suggest a number of critical success factors which need to be present in an organisation to ensure that the implementation of the system yields the desired benefits to both the organisation and the users of the new system. If any of these critical success factors are absent, neither the individuals nor the organisation will reap the full benefits from the implementation of the new system. The first of these is strong leadership, or the capability of senior managers to convince the members of their organisation of the advantages of the change which will result from the ERP system implementation (Davenport, 1999). It is also important for managers to demonstrate that the implementation of the new system is motivated by market needs and that it will enable the organisation to thrive in their environment. This is corroborated by the results of a survey conducted by Zairi and Sinclair (1995) which indicated tha t effective leadership was thought to be the most important factor in large transformation efforts. The second critical success factor which has been identified is barriers to change within the organisation. If employees are resistant to the introduction of a new system, the likelihood is that the ERP system will fail to be successful. Such resistance may stem from a fear of losing power within the organisation or a resentment of authority, an issue highlighted by a study conducted by Bancroft (1996) which found that resolving political issues within an organisation was the most difficult challenge to overcome. According to Aladwani (2001), the first step to ensure a successful ERP implementation is the approval and support of key individuals and opinion leaders in the organisation. The third critical success factor is a strong ongoing communication with employees in order to engender a greater understanding of the new system (Kraemmerand et al, 2003) it is important for employees to be kept up to date with the progress of the new system in order to mitigate any confusion or employee resistance. The fourth critical success factor is the management of change and control. In particular, careful project management is important with clearly defined objectives, work plans and an ongoing overview of the progress of the project (Umble et al, 2003). This needs to be reinforced by a clear decision making hierarchy, with frequent progress reviews. The final critical success factor is the importance of organisational culture. The culture of a company influences the way in which the employees, and hence the users of the ERP system, respond to its implementation hence, the culture of the organisation needs to be adapted to incorporate the features of the new system (Wong, 2006). A new organisational culture needs to be developed which is underpinned by the trust and support of the organisations employees towards the new ERP system (Aladwani, 2001). Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and launched its services in November 2003 (AMEinfo, 2006). Etihad currently lies to guests to more than fifty destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, Africa and Europe, with its fleet of aircraft totalling 57 (AMEinfo, 2006). Its revenue in 2009 totalled 2.3 billion USD, and the airline carried more than 7 million passengers (AMEinfo, 2006). Etihad implemented its ERP system in 2006 in partnership with Oracle E-Business Suite. The ERP system focused mainly on integrating the disparate functions of the airlines financial and accounting systems, specifically, its accounts payable, fixed assets, purchasing, inventory management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, self service expenses, inventory management and purchasing and its self service procurement (AMEinfo, 2006). The project took a total of eight months to complete and consulting services were provided to Etihad throughout the process by Satyam Comput er Services (AMEinfo, 2006). The new ERP system was implemented according to schedule and on budget. The key drivers behind the decision to implement a new ERP system in Etihad Airways stemmed largely from the fact that their existing accounting and finance system was outdated and technical upgrades were not available (Etihad Airways, 2009). Furthermore, the systems support which was provided by the current software provider was inadequate, with maintenance becoming expensive. As a result, the airline was spending a significant amount of money on a system which was not adequately meeting their needs (Etihad Airways, 2009). It was therefore decided that a new, integrated software system was needed to streamline and integrate the operational and financial process within the company. The processes which were successfully integrated in the introduction of Oracle E-Business Suite met 80 per cent of Etihad Airways requirements (Etihad Airways, 2009). It enabled Etihad Airways to achieve closer integration with the applications of other business units, enable complete process automation an d provided users with a more user friendly interface supported by strong online support (Etihad Airways, 2009). The same ERP system had also been implemented by a number of other regional airlines including Oman Air. The introduction of the new ERP system had a number of positive implications for both the users of the new system and the organisation itself. According to IBS (2011), the introduction of the new system played a key role in fuelling the growth of Etihad Airways. Firstly, the better organisation and integration of different functions within the operational and financial divisions enabled the company to conduct a profitability analysis on its routes, and to improve the yield from its existing routes based on the results of break even analysis (IBS, 2011). The provision of this useful information enabled the management of the organisation to decide on new flight routes as well as saving considerable time in the preparation of monthly and annual management reports, which was assisted by the simplification of the budget creation and invoice verification processes resulting from the integration of the systems. Secondly, all revenue budgeting and monthly accounting processes were fully auto mated and their systems were fully integrated with the other monthly revenue budgeting and accounting systems which were currently in operation at the organisation (IBS, 2011). This provided users with a central store of information from which they could access past reports and users were able to develop customised reports for their daily operations with the new system. This saved considerable time since it reduced the manual input needed from users and increased work efficiency by a total of 75 per cent (IBS, 2011). Thirdly, the implementation of the new system allowed employees to access the relevant financial and operational information at any station and department. It also enabled users to generate different versions of reports and to transfer data between different versions. The lack of manual input needed for the generation of reports meant that there was greater transparency in the calculations and computations which were used, thus reducing the risk of error and enabling th e company to easily retrace its steps in the event of an error. The new system also enabled the organisation to prepare comparison and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reports to compare metrics such as actual and projected expenditure from both the current and previous years (IBS, 2011). The benefits for the users of the new system in Etihad Airways was very positive. The key implications of the new system for the users consisted of the saving of time. Prior to the implementation of the new system, the finance department had to manually collect information from different work stations and these were combined in order to provide monthly reports for different revenue categories. The time consuming nature of the work involved meant that a total of two people were required to work on compiling reports during a period of five days (IBS, 2011). The introduction of the new system increased the work efficiency of users by 75 per cent (IBS, 2011), thus freeing up the time of users to concentrate on other tasks and also reducing the overall costs incurred by the organisation. Another key benefit for both users and the organisation of the introduction of the new system was the increased accuracy of the quality of work (IBS, 2011). Prior to the implementation of the new system, the majority of the work performed by employees was of a manual nature. There was therefore a significant risk of duplication and potential error related to human oversight Etihad Airways had lacked an integrated front end portal which could adequately support these processes with the result that much of the financial and operational data which was stored on the system was inaccurate and out of date. Therefore, the reports which were based on such data were not useful to management, and it was often necessary for employees to have to search through multiple databases in order to locate the required information. In many cases, the same information was stored in multiple databases which were not interlinked, with the result that data in one database was updated, but the data stored in other databases was not. Therefore, the introduction of the new system resulted in a much more user-friendly interface for the employees of the organisation and made it easier for them to access relevan t data to construct reports (IBS, 2011). However, despite the advantages which have been outlined above, there are a number of limitations associated with the introduction of the new system in relation to both the overall organisation and the systems users. The most obvious limitation to the new ERP system for Etihad Airways is its prohibitive cost. The results of a survey conducted by Panorama Consulting Group and based on 1600 ERP implementations worldwide (Sachdeva, 2010) found that the average cost of implementing a new ERP system is $6.2 million, which typically represents 6.9 per cent of the companys annual revenue. In addition to the one-off cost associated with the initial implementation of the ERP system, the ongoing costs of end-user training and data migration from the old system to the new system requires a considerable amount of time and money, and also results in lost business throughout that period. It is important to ensure that the benefits provided by the implementation of the new system outweigh the costs associated with the system the relatively recent introduction of the ERP system in Etihad Airways makes it difficult to determine whether this is the case. Another potential limitation associated with the implementation of the ERP system is the issue of training. The complexity of ERP systems means that adequate training is essential to ensure that users are fully prepared to start using the system and to earn their support for the project. Indeed, empirical studies have shown that investing a sufficient amount of money into user training is essential in determining the success or failure of a new ERP system. The study conducted by Gartner Consulting indicated that those companies whose training budgets for the new system constituted less than 13 per cent of the overall cost of introducing the new ERP system were significantly more likely to have an ERP system which was unsuccessful when compared to those companies whose training budget comprised a minimum of 17 per cent of the ER P implementation cost (Sachdeva, 2010). The limitations imposed on the effects of new ERP systems by inadequate training is also supported by findings in academic literature: a study conducted by Markus and Tanis (2000) explores the negative effects that inadequate user training and the consequent failure by employees to understand the functionality of the new system represented a key obstacle to the successful functioning of the new system. Furthermore, while the implications of the ERP system at Etihad Airways currently seems to be positive from both an organisational and a user perspective, the systems which are in place may be insufficiently flexible to adapt to any changes in the work flows and processes at the airline (Sachdeva, 2010). Etihad Airways is a very new airline, having only been launched seven years ago, and hence there is a likelihood that its business process will significantly change in the future whether it be through organic growth or through the acquisition of another company. There is therefore a risk that the ERP system which is currently in place may not have the flexibility to cope with changes in Etihad Airways organisational environment. The findings of this essay suggest that the implications of the implementation of the new ERP system in Etihad Airways have been overwhelmingly positive. The key benefits which have accrued to the management from the new system appear to have been a significant reduction in costs due to the reduced amount of time needed to perform activities. Furthermore, the integration of different systems has made it easier for the management to conduct different profitability analyses on airline routes, thus providing them with high quality information which they can use to inform their strategic decisions. The key benefits which have accrued to the users from the introduction of the new system also include a reduction in the amount of time needed to enter data through the elimination of the need for manual input. This has not only alleviated the tedious nature of tasks, it has also freed up users time to dedicate to other activities. The replacement of manual input with automated systems has als o reduced the risk of human error and potential duplication. The key limitations which are posed by the introduction of the new system stem from the ongoing costs associated with the maintenance and support for the new ERP system, the need for continuous training for end users, and the risk that the ERP systems which are in place are not sufficiently flexible to be able to cope with changes to the processes of the airline in the future. It is important for Etihad Airways to ensure that they take concrete steps to minimise the risk that each of these limitations will prove to be a significant obstacle to the success of the ERP system. In order to reduce this risk, it is suggested that the airline invests in continuous training for its users. While this will increase the cost burden of the ERP system, many of the findings and studies cited above have emphasised the importance of end user training and employee support in ensuring the success of a new ERP system (Markus and Tanis, 2000) and hence it is an important investment for the company to make. Furthermore, a high degree of ongoing communication needs to be put in place between management and end users of the ERP system in order to obtain users feedback on their experience of using the ERP system this will allow management to identify in a timely fashion whether the ERP system has any issues related to flexibility, thus ensuring that they are able to make any necessary changes before significant problems arise. It will also help to demonstrate the strong leadership skills of the management which, as highlighted earlier in the essay, is a critical factor in determining the successful implementation of a new ERP system.

A Critical Discussion of Blaise Pascals The Wager Essay -- Pascal Go

A Critical Discussion of Blaise Pascal's The Wager   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the gambling world bets are made based on odds, the probability or likelihood that something would happen. In the court of law, cases are decided upon by the weight of evidence presented by the respective parties. The common link between these general scenarios is that decisions are made based on some outside evidential factor. The more probable something is likely to happen, or the more evidence presented in favor or opposed to something, the greater the tendency that a decision will coincide with that probability or evidence. This kind of logic has also been used when arguing about the existence of God. It has been argued that God’s existence is necessary based on the logic that it is neither contingent not impossible and therefore must exist; it has also been argued that the presence of evil in the world is evidence enough that God, or at least God as we make Him out to be, does not exist. The decisions that people a make about their personal relationship with the being that has been dubbed â€Å"God† is usually based on this kind of criteria. But what if someone were to make a decision concerning God’s existence without having any evidence to sway us, how would that someone choose? This problem is addressed by Blaise Pascal in his essay entitled The Wager. Pascal argues that the only rational choice to make about the existence of God with no evidence would be to believe that He does. The following pages of this essay will be a critical analysis and also critique of Pascal’s argument, for it is the argument of the author of this paper that a sincere decision would be impossible under these circumstances and without evidence we would not be able to make a rational choice concerning the issue of God’s existence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before the discussion is started let me first clarify some terminology is order to make my argument more clear. In my thesis statement I offered the premise that when given to the criteria put forth by Pascal that a sincere decision about belief in God would be impossible. By sincere decision I mean a decision that you can evaluate and reevaluate against anything that claims the opposite and still be able to hold to it. If you have a belief based on a decision that stems from no evidence then you have nothing to evaluate it by, so that belief cannot be sincere, it is merely a blind ch... ... of someone else. If you choose to change your actions, you will only change in a way that still lets you hold to your belief, a belief that has shown to be beneficial based on evidence not on some yet to be seen reward.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To close this paper and stop the what could be a continuous rant against Pascal, it is pretty obvious that the issue of God, his existence, and whether or not we should believe will forever be a perennial issue. Pascal, Aquinas, James, or even myself can write essays until we run out of paper and printer ink, but the only thing that would accomplish is further add to the already ample confusion and conflict on this issue. Although Pascal offers a very simple reason of why we should believe in God, it is all to simple. And while I offer nothing but criticisms for his argument, I cannot myself offer a more sound argument that would less susceptible to the same kinds of criticisms I just wrote concerning The Wager. Works Cited 1. Pascal, Blaise. â€Å"The Wager: Philosophy of Religion Selected Readings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Oxford University Press, 1996: New York, New York. 2. Holy Bible. Book of James Chapter 1, Verse 12; First Corinthians Chapter 10   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Verse 13.