Law for Accounting coursework question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Law for Accounting coursework question - Essay Example Moreover, Serena’s offer had indicated that only bids over ?20,000 would be accepted. The first issue is whether there was an offer and acceptance. Serena made the offer, however, Eric, by stating that he would buy the Galileo at ?19,500 instead of the ?20,000 that Serena was asking for, effectively made a counteroffer.1 The reason for this is the â€Å"mirror image rule.† This rule states that an unequivocal acceptance must mirror the offer exactly – any deviation made by the offeree to the offeror would therefore be considered to be a counteroffer. At this point, therefore, it was up to Serena to accept Eric’s offer, as Eric did not offer an unequivocal, mirror image acceptance of Serena’s terms. However, one can state that Serena was not really making a valid offer with her advertisement, as she indicated that she would consider all offers higher than ?20,000. She did not state that the highest bid would be the winner, so to speak, but, rather, o nly indicated that she would consider any and all bids above the threshold number. The courts would state that this was not really an offer at all, but an invitation to treat. An invitation to treat is an invitation for bids. This is similar to the case of Spencer v. Harding (1870) LR 5 CP 561. This case involved the following offer: â€Å"28, King Street, Cheapside, May 17th, 1869. ... Milk Street, up to Thursday, the 20th instant, on which day, at 12 o'clock at noon precisely, the tenders will be received and opened at our offices. Should you tender and not attend the sale, please address to us sealed and inclosed, 'Tender for Eilbeck's stock.' Stock-books may be had at our offices on Tuesday morning. Honey, Humphreys, & Co.†2 The court held that this was not a valid offer, but, rather, an invitation for bids. The wording in the offer in Spencer is similar to the wording in the case at bar, therefore, there probably was not a valid offer made by Serena for the Galileo. That said, when Eric made his statement on the answering machine, this would be an offer. As indicated above, when Eric made his statement on the answering machine, the ball was effectively in Serena’s court, and she could either accept Eric’s offer or not. The question is whether Serena did accept the offer. She finally called Eric in January, after having made the original offe r in December, and Eric had made the counteroffer in that same month. Both parties knew that Eric wanted the dress for his girlfriend’s birthday. Serena might have known when Eric’s girlfriend’s birthday was, as Eric is her brother. Regardless, when Eric’s girlfriend’s birthday came and went, the doctrine of frustration of purpose might apply here. Frustration of purpose is â€Å"Where, after a contract is made, a party's principal purpose is substantially frustrated without his fault by the occurrence of an event the non-occurrence of which was a basic assumption on which the contract was made, his remaining duties to render performance are discharged, unless the language or circumstances [of the contract] indicate the contrary.†3 The leading case in English law is that of Krell v Henry [1903]

Prostitutes: Victims Or Offenders?

Prostitutes: Victims Or Offenders? The profession of prostitution has existed since times immemorial, with some people even claiming that it is one of the oldest professions in the world. However, till today sex work remains a highly stigmatized and taboo topic in most states and regions of the world. Most people tend to look down upon those who pursue it and perceive prostitutes to be despicable, sex-loving and morally corrupt criminals. Others sympathize with their predicament and consider them oppressed victims of circumstances in which they had no agency. It appears that in most cases, acceptance to be subjected to degradation in the form of sex work is a direct result of poverty and lack of opportunities and hence, is a coerced choice rather than an independent one. In many countries, the profession has been given legal standing though it continues to be illegal in the United States (with the exception of ten counties in the state of Nevada), Argentina, India and a number of Muslim and Communist countries. In England and Wales, current legislations on sex-work are far from straight-forward and leave room for much ambiguity and controversy. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 defines a prostitute as a person who on at least one occasion and whether or not compelled to do so, offers or provides sexual services to another person in return for payment or a promise of payment. Strictly speaking, prostitution is and has always been legal in the United Kingdom though a number of laws criminalize certain activities directly connecting to it. The Sexual Offences Act, 1956 makes it an offence to keep a brothel for the use of prostitution and the 2003 Act bans causing/inciting prostitution or controlling it for personal gains. Moreover, loitering or soliciting sex on the streets, pimping, pandering and kerb-crawling (the act of driving slowly against a pavement to entice somebody for sexual purposes) are all against the law. Since 2001, adverts placed in phone booths have been banned. Human trafficking, which arguably fuels the market for prostitution, has also been addressed under the law. There are several general laws in place for indecency and public nuisance which can be said to target the sex trade industry. In 2009, Section 14 of the Policing and Crime Act rendered it a strict liability offence to pay for the sexual services of a prostitute who has been subjected to force, threat, coercion or exploited in some way by a third party and ignorance of the circumstances will be no defence. The UK government had high hopes the creation of this new offence would reduce demand for sexual services and thereby tackle the rampant issue of sex trafficking and exploitation. Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which has been ratified by the Council of Europe and incorporated into domestic legislation through the Human Rights Act 1998, states All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Moreover, the UDHR prohibits slavery and servitude and states no one shall be subjected to cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment. At the very essence of the Act, lies the notion that the right to equality and liberty is every living persons birthright and cannot be alienated. Radical feminist Catherine Mackinnon  [1]  argues that women in prostitution are denied all imaginable human rights as they are prostituted precisely in order to be degraded and subjected to cruel and brutal treatment without human limits; it is the opportunity to do this that is exchanged when women are bought and sold for sex. She reflects The gap between the promise of civil rights and the real lives of prostitutes is an abyss which swallows up prostituted women. To speak of prostitution and civil rights in one breath moves the two into one world, at once exposing and narrowing the distance between them. In a similar vein as Mackinnon, American radical feminist and one-time prostitute Andrea Dworkin likens a prostitute to a gang rape victim, asserting the two experience the same trauma and suffering. Oh, you say, gang rape is completely different. An innocent woman is walking down the street and she is taken by surprise. Every woman is that same innocent woman. Every woman is taken by surprise. In a prostitutes life, she is taken by surprise over and over and over again. The gang rape is punctuated by a money exchangeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Thats the only difference. In Dworkins opinion, women are generally considered to be dirty and a prostitute is not a metaphor of the dirt but in fact, a literal manifestation of scum and filth. Prostituted women are being killed every single day, and we dont think were facing anything resembling an emergency. Why should we? Theyre no one. When a man kills a prostitute, he feels righteous. It is a righteous kill. He has just gotten rid of a piece of dirt, and the society tells him he is right. Prostitution is hardly a victimless crime it dehumanizes and commodifies women, rendering them mere objects of fetish and lust. By its very nature, it tends to be degrading for women and involves risk of violence in the face of both physical and sexual attacks. Perpetrators of such offences vary from pimps, abusive clients and violent bystanders waiting to catch a free ride. Women who have been involved in the profession often describe it as paid rape and voluntary slavery. In a research conducted by PhD of Prostitution Research Education, Melissa Farley entitled Prostitution: Fact sheet on Human Rights Violations, Farley asserts that prostitution is sexual harassment, rape, battering, verbal abuse, domestic violence, a racist practice, a violation of human rights, childhood sexual abuse, a consequence of as well as a means of maintaining male domination over women. She writes: All prostitution causes harm to women, whether it is being sold by ones family to a brothel, or whether it is being sexually abused in ones family, running away from home, and then being pimped by ones boyfriend, or whether one is in college and needs to pay for next semesters tuition and one works at a strip club behind glass where men never actually touch you all these forms of prostitution hurt the women in it. Farley and a team of researchers drafted a report titled Prostitution and trafficking in nine countries: An update on violence and Posttraumatic stress disorder where they interviewed 854 current/recent prostitutes in 9 countries (Canada, Columbia, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United States and Zambia) inquiring about sexual and physical violence. The results were astounding. Farley discovered that prostitution is multi-traumatic: 71% of the respondents were physically assaulted, 63% were raped, 89% wanted to escape prostitution but had no other career options available and 68% met the criteria for PTSD. According to a study conducted in Exeter University in the UK, at any given time, one in four hundred women is a sex worker. The global economic crisis and recession has driven young girls into the profession of prostitution, against their will. They enter the profession, young, gullible and vulnerable, only to be exploited by pimps and those who pay for their services. Disillusioned and exhausted, they resort to drugs as a means of momentarily relieving themselves of their misery and pathetic state. Call girls or escorts as they are colloquially referred to, are an easy target for men who use them to get sexual favours and ruthlessly beat them up if they dare ask for money. Statistics show crimes committed against prostitutes usually go unreported and the few that are reported with the authorities, tend to go unpunished. There seems to be tacit acceptance of this form of violence that is prevalent in society as very few people question the status quo and the deplorable state of affairs of sex workers. This moral disdain is mirrored on the judicial level where prostitutes bear the brunt of the criminal justice system and their male counterparts, namely the pimps and clients, get off relatively lightly. The violence and abuse, prostitutes face is illustrated by the Ipswich Serial Murders. In the winter of 2006, naked dead bodies of five prostitutes at different locations were discovered in and around Ipswich, Suffolk in England. In 2008, forty-nine year old Steve Wright, pleading guilty, was convicted for murdering all five of them. A forensic scientist informed the court that Wright had had prolonged physical contact with three of the women he later killed and had left behind extensive samples of his DNA. During the courts proceedings, Wright admitted that he had been paying for sex for the last 25 years since he had been working as a steward on cruise ships. In response to the murders, Suffolk Police launched a strategy to effectively eliminate all street prostitution in the town. But the Ipswich case is not a one off instance. Neither will ending prostitution be a long-term solution. In 2001, twenty-one year old Vicky Glass had been missing for two months before her naked and decomposed body was discovered dumped in a stream near Damby, North Yorkshire. Similarly, thirty-three year old Julia Dorsett went missing in 2002. Six years later, her upper torso skeleton, wrapped in a duvet was found dumped in Walthamstow. In recent times, forty year old Stephen Shaun Griffiths has been charged and convicted for murdering three prostitutes in Bradford. Soon after the Ipswich Serial Murders, an extremely pertinent and contentious issue was widely debated as to what kind of legislative measures could change the prevailing conditions of prostitutes. One of the measures proposed by the current Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill was the mandatory rehabilitation of women involved in the profession of sex-work. As per the Bill, street prostitutes would be obliged to attend three counseling sessions with support workers. In the case of absence, they can be held up in custody for up to three days. It is argued that rather than solving the problem, such measures will exacerbate it. Probation officers enforcing mandatory rehabilitation orders are as it is over-stretched and lack the relevant resources required to deal with the issues prostitutes and sex-workers face. Support services for prostitutes lack the capacity to address specific troubles of the latter such as client violence. For example, 15 London boroughs have no sexual health ou treach provision for women in the sex industry. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the United Nations in 1979 and provides for an international standard for the protection and promotion of womens human rights. The CEDAW committee, which monitors compliance with the commission, incessantly opposes forced prostitution, trafficking of women and young girls and exploitation of prostitution. Though it does not legalize prostitution, CEDAW has in the past, urged certain countries such as China to decriminalize the trade so that women can come out in the open without fear of being labeled consensual criminals and insofar as reducing instances of HIV/AIDS, trafficking and violence against women. India, a country where an alarming number or rape incidents take place every year, suggested the legalization of the trade in 2002. Khushwant Singh, columnist and novelist wrote in an article titled How a rapist should be punished: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦[A] necessary step [to prevent rape] is to legalise prostitution carried out in brothels or by call-girls provided the sex workers are adults and have not been forced into the trade. The more you try to put down prostitution, the higher will be the incidence of crime against innocent women. You may find the idea repulsive but ponder over it and you will realise there is substance in the argument. The United Kingdom has a number of sex workers rights groups who argue that the only way to prevent gross human rights violations being committed against prostitutes is by completely legalizing the sex trade. They claim legislation will resolve many issues and have a positive impact on society. Not only will it allow law enforcement agencies to respond to more important crimes but it will also relieve the justice system from nuisance cases and allegedly trivial litigation as well as freeing women who are caught by the shackles of prostitution and preventing teenagers from being ensnared into the profession. Over the years, the authorities have adopted an ostrich-like approach towards the predicament of prostitutes; legalizing the worlds oldest profession will allow the trade to be regulated and managed. Health care safety measures can be planned which will significantly reduce instances of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and herpes simplex virus. Pimps and traffickers will be prevented from treating prostitutes on sub-human levels. Moreover, studies have found that when brothels are closed, incidents of rape tend to increase significantly. Countries where prostitution is legal, report less cases of murder, rape, and HIV/AIDS. Suicide rates have also been found to be lower along with divorce rates. On the other hand, a research conducted by the London School of Economics, German Institute for Economic Research and Heidelberg University revealed that out of the 116 countries sampled, those where prostitution was legal displayed a higher inflow of trafficking as compared to those countries where the trade was illegal. Furthermore, legislation will not remove the stigma attached to sex work and neither will it improve the economic conditions of those who resort to this profession. In 2000 the Home Office published Setting the Boundaries which was a thorough and detailed analysis of the law governing sexual offences. The report led to the milestone metamorphosis of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. In 2004, yet another strategy report was introduced, titled Paying the Price: a consultation paper on prostitution. This report sought to set a realistic and coherent framework to tackle the issue of sex work. It asserted that to address the issue of social exclusion and to achieve a reduction in anti-social behaviour and violence against women, an in-depth debate on prostitution is imperative. Organised criminality, including trafficking and substantial drug misuse, and sexually and drug transmitted infection, are all part of the problem. Systematic abuse, violence and exploitation are endemic. The strategy included prevention, tackling demand, developing routes out, ensuring justice and dealing with street prostitution. As per the Home Office, in the UK as many as 60 women involved in prostitution have been murdered in the last 10 years; 80,000 women work in on-street prostitution and the average age women become involved is a meager 12 years. Though the arguments against legalizing prostitution are plentiful and relevant, in my opinion the trade should be decriminalized insofar as it reduces exploitation of women and children. Women involved in sex-work are treated as consensual criminals and offenders of the law but are, in fact the victims of a lawless and brutal profession that strips them of their self esteem and individuality. Putting our ethical and moral views aside, if legislation can in any way improve the existing deplorable conditions of sex workers, it should be seriously considered and accordingly reforms should be recommended by the Law Commission. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/jun/27/ukcrime.prisonsandprobation http://revdlesley.blogspot.com/2010/10/impact-of-prostitution.html# http://prostitution.procon.org/sourcefiles/paying_the_price.pdf http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/childrens-social-care/protecting-children-from-harm/protecting-and-safeguarding-children/protecting-and-safeguarding-children-publications/home-office-prostitution-strategy-report http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/168614/SSCB-Prostitution-Strategy.pdf http://www.idppcenter.com/CEDAW_Comm_Pressures_Nations_on_Prostitution.pdf http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/cedaw_fact_sheet.pdf http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/feb/22/stopcriminalisingthevictims

Poetry Throughout the Ages :: essays research papers

This anthology is a published collection of poetry throughout the five major periods including- the Pre Elizabethan period, Elizabethan Period, Metaphysical Period, Romantic Period and the Victorian Period. The Pre Elizabethan Period was first in Old English and then in Middle English. Old English was used after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th and 6th centuries. The invaders from Germany who settled in England were called the Angles, the Saxon, and the Jutes. The names of these tribes come from the term Anglo Saxon. The most famous poetry from this period is Beowulf. Beowulf was written around 1000AD and be called a saga. At the time poems were performed and sung to audiences than were written or read out. This poem is about strange people and creatures with special powers. It tells a story of a hero and his adventures, noblemen and kings. The Elizabethan Period began when Queen Elizabeth I became Queen of England. She had the throne for 45-years, which ended with her death in 1603. The Queen's tastes in fashion were high classed. Her love of music, drama, and poetry gave motivation and financial support to the England's greatest writers. When his father died when he was 18, and being the youngest son this left him penniless. He turned to the law and at 23 he was already in the House of Commons. Bacon saw himself as the inventor of a method which would encourage a light in nature. The Metaphysical period began after James I took the throne. This period found many new developments in science including- optics, astronomy, sailing and navigation. Notable scientists like Newton and Galileo finding most of these scientific discoveries. Poets from this time used their knowledge of science to explain things they experience. One of the major poets is John Donne. He was born in London to a wealthy family. He was against the Catholic Church but allied with James I and his son Charles I with the Anglicans. He entered the priesthood life later and from then his poetry became more religious in nature. The Metaphysical period refers to things that are abstract like God, hatred, love, death. Poets from this time tried to explain the unexplainable by using scientific metaphors known as conceits. Donne is interesting because his poetry was first to do with love and then became about God as he got older. Romantic poetry used simple language which described their everyday aspects of life and nature.

Leadership and Culture

Leadership and Culture Virginia Armstrong University of Hawaii: West Oahu Abstract Effective leadership requires a delicate utilization of power and authority. Although they possess unique attitudes, traits and styles, successful leaders strive to promote their organization’s vision and culture and motivate others to embrace it as well. Studies have attempted to define one superior leadership model but have failed due to individual and circumstantial elements.Keywords: leadership, corporate culture, power, authority Chapter Overview Leadership is the ability to influence others to follow direction and support decisions. Though leadership and management often coincide, leadership is more focused on the long-term visions of the organization and how to motivate and encourage the implementation of these visions. The success of leaders depends largely on their own attitudes, expectations, traits and leadership style they embrace.Whether a manager’s leadership style is autocr atic, laissez-faire or democratic, the emphasis they place on production and people bears the most importance. Studies conducted by Ohio State and University of Michigan have proven that successful leaders show concern, initiate structure, participate and maintain a general (rather than close) level of supervision. In a situational setting, the contingency approach is the most effective. The Managerial Grid is a graphical tool for managers to identify their management style and set goals towards improvement. Corporate Culture: Harmonize, Don’t Homogenize† In this article, Kuenne (2011) emphasizes the importance of attaining a strong corporate culture by unifying individuals and their talents as well as instilling a cooperative initiative on all levels to achieve one goal or vision. Kuenne (2011) calls his approach the infinity loop designed â€Å"to create a harmonized culture with the emphasis on being complementary, rather than striving for conformity† (Kuenne, 2011, para. 6).The most important elements of Kuenne’s approach are individual skills, shared values, departmental cohesiveness, a unified understanding of the corporate identity, cultivating personal development and the drive to inspire others. Essentially, thriving corporations instill a strong mission, vision and the inspiration to cooperatively make the visions a reality. Relation to chapter The article relates to the chapter by discussing the importance of creating a strong and diverse corporate culture.As mentioned in the chapter, â€Å"A strong corporate culture is clearly defined, reinforces a common understanding about what is important, and has the support of management and employees† (Ghyllier, 2012. p. 213). An important component of a corporation’s culture is the individuals it is comprised of in the business. A good manager will recognize their talents, how to best utilize them and foster an environment in which they feel motivated and satisfied t o work towards the common goal of the organization. In the chapter, these characteristics embody a strong corporate culture. Five Leadership Lessons to Unlearn† In this article, â€Å"Five Leadership Lessons to Unlearn† written by Stephen Wiehe, Wiehe (2010) describes how he changed the destructive leadership methods of a failing dot-com business in order to create a thriving business model. First, he emphasized that leadership is a behavior. Others judge your actions, not words or promises. He also pointed out that leaders don’t necessarily need all the answers but rather questions. He continues to explain that the most productive ideas are generated by numerous people during open and constructive discussions.Another important point Wiehe (2010) makes is that leaders need to share power and authority. Lastly, he believes that rather than forcing or demanding change, it is better to ask for change and using methods such as positive reinforcement. Relation to chap ter I thought Weihe’s theory on sharing power and authority were very closely related to the chapter discussion of power, leadership and authority. Weihe (2010) suggests that leaders â€Å"give power and authority away everyday†. This closely relates to the chapter reading in that it emphasizes the separation of leadership from power and authority.Instead, leadership requires a skillful utilization of the two in order to lead effectively. According to the text; â€Å"Leadership is the ability to influence people to willingly follow one’s guidance or adhere to one’s decisions† (Ghyllyer, 2012. p. 200). If power and authority are employed correctly, they will aid in a leader’s following. However, when abused, employees may resist cooperation with not only the leader but the goals of the organization as well. I agree that when power and authority are shared, people gain a sense of belonging and self worth. Chapter and Article LearningThis resea rch assignment helped me to really take the time to understand just how diverse and important conscious leadership is. I also learned how complicated it is to truly study leadership as every individual and situation is unique. I found the articles very interesting, as they clearly illustrated what types of leadership techniques were not effective and how to improve and change them. Chapter Learning I found it very interesting to learn about how much a leader’s personality and style can affect their ability to effectively gain following. Throughout my years of work, I have encountered many different eaders whom I can now better understand after reading this chapter. As I continue to work and be involved in social groups, I will now have the ability to identify different types of leaders and perhaps how I can be a better leader myself. Article Learning I think the most important key point from the first article is that people are unique individuals with unique talents, methods of learning and communication. Though employees may have little in common, finding productive ways for them to work together and communicate is critical in order to achieve goals.Corporate managers must recognize that people need to feel not only accepted and valued as employees but also be incorporated as important components of the organization’s plan or vision. When everyone is working toward a clear goal together, the odds of success are far greater. Another key point Kuenne (2011) makes is the importance of recognizing people’s talents and utilizing them to their fullest extent. Creating a culture that fosters free thought and the expansion of knowledge fosters higher quality work and a better potential for innovative thoughts and ideas. The right culture change can—without question—improve results,† says John Kotter, co-author of the book â€Å"Corporate Culture and Performance† (Lublin, 2013, para. 7). I think the most important key po int from the second article is to avoid leading behind closed doors. It makes a big impact when leaders demonstrate their willingness to put forth effort in order to reach the goals of the organization. Often CEO’s lead by giving orders; which often makes people feel inferior and unmotivated.Wiehe (2010) suggests finding opportunities to open the lines of communication by requesting feedback. He notes, â€Å"Great ideas form from open, constructive, and positive discussion driven by questions. Everyone contributes and therefore buys into the idea† (Wiehe, 2010, para. 5). Not only do employees feel important by contributing their ideas, but also must take partial responsibility for the outcome. Another key point Weihe (2010) makes is to avoid counterproductive elements such as conflict and negativity. He suggests holding casual ompany gatherings in which dialogue can occur in a relaxed environment where people have a sense of belonging and higher comfort level. I know w hen my company hosts work team building parties we gain a much better sense of camaraderie and generate good ideas for the business. Other tools managers can use to improve morale and production are sales rewards and bonuses. References Ghillyer, D. A. (2012). Management Now. New York: McGraw-Hill. Kuenne, C. (2011). Corporate Culture: Harmonize, Don’t Homogenize. Retrieved from http://www. businessweek. om/managing/content/may2011/ca20110516_966904. htm Lublin, J. (2013). Can a New Culture Fix Troubled Companies. Retrieved from http://online. wsj. com/article/SB10001424127887324096404578356351608725098. html? KEYWORDS=corporate+culture Wiehe, S. (2010). Five Leadership Lessons to Unlearn. Retrieved from http://www. businessweek. com/smallbiz/tips/archives/2010/07/five_leadership_lessons_to_unlearn. html http://www. businessweek. com/managing/content/may2011/ca20110516_966904. htm http://www. businessweek. com/smallbiz/tips/archives/2010/07/five_leadership_lessons_to_unlearn. html

Equirements for the Corporate Computing Function Essay

From Table 3. 1, speculate why the fifth point, â€Å"Meet information requirements of management†, is in the CIO’s list of nine (9) points: Meeting information requirements of management is a key focus for many organizations. Companies are constantly looking for ways to improve how they manage information. Information is essential for any decision making process and day-to-day operation. Therefore, it is important that information is managed and disseminated properly throughout the organization. Management use information to establish policy and strategic planning. It is extremely important that organizations meet their information requirements of management. Ian Linton (2013) suggests that managers need rapid access to information to solve strategic, financial, marketing, and operational issues. Therefore, it is paramount that organizations evaluate their informational needs of management. The operating environment of today’s organizations demands timely, efficient and effective management of information to make informed and up to date decisions. Consequently, requires readily accessible information at their disposal in order to be effective managers. If an organization is to be successful, it must be an excellent steward of data. On the other hand, technology is constantly on the rise. As it produces higher efficiency, access, and integrity with improved ways to organize and manage information. At the same time, the IT staff maintains the responsibility of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the organization’s intellectual property. To meet these needs, organizations must increase their awareness of the available criteria for evaluation of management informational needs. Information is power and must be managed properly. Organizations need to consider the latest relevant technological advancements for their business to stay competitive and gain competitive advantage (Nichelson, 2013). Managers are critical elements of an organization; thereby, demanding quality, accuracy, and efficiency to move their business forward. The decision making process is greatly influenced by the relevance and quality of the information available to its management. Imagine only three (3) points are to be rolled out in the first phase. Evaluate each point to determine the most important three (3) for the initial rollout phase: Although, all are key points. After ample consideration, the initial rollout phase should consist of the following: 1) Provide computing capability to all organizational units that legitimately require it. 2) Meet information requirements of management. 3) Provide computing services in a reliable, professional, and technically competent manner. I believe the three (3) points chosen are high valued and critical to the organization. All departments must have readily accessible information to perform their jobs to be productive. By means of distributed computing of low cost servers, workstations, and personal computers will provide the widespread use of small computers to provide highly individualistic service to all departments. At the same time, allow users to establish and maintain autonomy in their day-to-day operations while improving departmental productivity (Stallings, 2009). In this instance, deploying inexpensive systems make it possible for organizations to disperse their computing capabilities. Thus, no longer relying on centralized infrastructure to provide services. Obviously, it make sense as a first measure to acquire information from all departments, thus meeting the requirements for the corporate computing function and the information needs of management. Recommend one (1) additional point the CIO should include in order to ensure the topic of security is addressed in the mission statement. Explain your rationale for the inclusion: Information security enabled by technology must include the means of lowering the impact of intentional and unintentional errors entering the system and to prevent unauthorized internally or externally accessing the system ? actions to reduce risk data validation, pre-numbered forms, and reviews for duplications. It is crucial that the mission plan include the provision of a disaster recovery and business continuity plan. On the other hand, there is much more intrusion activity today than ever before. Obviously, there is an increased concern for attacks through companies’ network in an effort to either commit malice or affect the integrity of an organization’s most valuable resource. Therefore, it is important that companies do not get complacent in their IT infrastructure security. The fact of the matter, there is no perfect system; however, it behooves organizations to protect their information by way of reducing threats and vulnerabilities. Moreover, Whitman and Mattord (2010) said it best, â€Å"because of businesses and technology have become more fluid, the concept of computer security has been replaced by the concept of information security. Companies must realize the importance of information security and are allocating separate budget and human resources for it. It has matured into a separate business enabler function in many organizations. Organizations now face myriad regulatory requirements and the need to manage risk and information theft. Therefore, it is important for organizations to staff people with specific skills so that information assets are safe and the continued integrity of information is assured (Whitman & Mattord, 2010). Finally, many businesses today are not adequately prepared for an interruption of services. Therefore, it becomes necessary to establish both business disaster recovery and continuity plans to protect the organizations from complete devastation. According to Whitman & Mattord (2010), â€Å"the mission statement is the follow- up to the vision statement. If the vision statement states where we want to go, the mission statement describes how we want to get there. References Linton, I. (2013). The Role of Management Information Systems in Decision Making. Retrieved from http://yourbusiness. azcentral. com/role-management-information-systems-decision-making-1826. html Nichelson, B. J. , Ph. D. (2013). Keeping Up With Technology. Retrieved from http://entrepreneurs. about. com/cs/beyondstartup/a/keepinguptech. htm Stallings, W. (2009). Business Data Communications, Sixth Edition (Custom Edition). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Whitman, M. E. , & Mattord, H. J. (2010). Management of Information Security (3rd ed. ). Boston: Course Technology-Cengage.

Immigrants Will Separate from Families For Less Time

Immigrants Will Separate from Families For Less Time One of the first actions of the Obama administration in 2012 was an important rule change to immigration policy that reduced the time that spouses and children of undocumented immigrants were separated from their citizen relatives while applying for legal status. Latino and Hispanic groups, immigration lawyers and immigrant advocates praised the move. Conservatives on Capitol Hill criticized the rule change. Because the administration changed an administrative rule and not U.S. law, the move did not require the approval of Congress. Based on census data and anecdotal evidence, hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens are married to undocumented immigrants, many of them Mexican and Latin American. What is the Rule Change? The hardship waiver eliminated the requirement that illegal immigrants leave the United States for long periods before they could ask the government to waive its ban on legally re-entering the U.S. The ban typically lasted three to 10 years depending on how long the undocumented immigrant had been in the United States without the government’s permission. The rule allowed family members of U.S. citizens to petition the government for the so-called hardship waiver before the undocumented immigrant returns home to formally apply for a U.S. visa. Once waivers were approved, immigrants could apply for green cards. The net effect of the change was that families would not endure long separations while immigration officials were reviewing their cases. Separations that had lasted years were reduced to weeks or less. Only immigrants without criminal records were eligible to apply for the waiver. Before the change, applications for hardship waivers would take as long as six months to process. Under former rules, the government had received about 23,000 hardship applications in 2011 from families that faced separations; about 70 percent were granted. Praise for the Rule Change At the time, Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Citizenship, and Immigration Services director, said the move underscores â€Å"the Obama Administration’s commitment to family unity and administrative efficiency† and will save taxpayers money. He said the change would increase the â€Å"predictability and consistency of the application process.† The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) applauded the change and said it â€Å"will give countless American families a chance to stay together safely and legally.† â€Å"Although this is just a small part of dealing with the dysfunction of our immigration system, it represents a significant change in the process for many individuals,† said Eleanor Pelta, the AILA president. â€Å"It’s a move that will be less destructive to families and bring about a fairer and more streamlined waiver process.† Before the rule change, Pelta said she knew of applicants who have been killed while waiting for approval in dangerous Mexican border cities that are riddled with violence. â€Å"The adjustment to the rule is important because it literally saves lives,† she said. The National Council of La Raza, one of the nation’s most prominent Latino civil rights groups, praised the change, calling it â€Å"sensible and compassionate.† Criticism of the Hardship Waiver At the same time, Republicans criticized the rule change as politically motivated and a further weakening of U.S. law. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said the president had â€Å"granted back-door amnesty† to potentially millions of illegal immigrants. Political Motivation for Immigration Reform In 2008, Obama had won two-thirds of the Latino/Hispanic vote, one the country’s fastest-growing voting blocs. Obama had campaigned on implementing a comprehensive immigration reform plan during his first term. But he said problems with the worsening U.S. economy and stormy relations with Congress forced him to postpone plans for immigration reform. Latino and Hispanic groups had criticized the Obama administration for aggressively pursuing deportations during his first presidential term. In the 2011 general presidential election, a solid majority of Hispanic and Latino voters still favored Obama while expressing in independent polls a disapproval of his deportation policies. At the time, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano had said the administration would use more discretion before deporting undocumented immigrants. The aim of their deportation plans was to concentrate on immigrants will criminal records rather than those who have violated only immigration laws.

Biography of Enrico Dandolo, Doge of Venice

Biography of Enrico Dandolo, Doge of Venice Enrico Dandolo was known for funding, organizing, and leading the forces of the Fourth Crusade, who never reached the Holy Land but instead captured Constantinople. He is also famous for taking the title of Doge at a very advanced age. Occupations DogeMilitary Leader Places of Residence and Influence Venice, ItalyByzantium (Eastern Roman Empire) Important Dates Born: c. 1107Elected Doge: June 1, 1192Died: 1205 About Enrico Dandolo The Dandolo family was wealthy and powerful, and Enricos father, Vitale, had held several high administrative positions in Venice. Because he was a member of this influential clan, Enrico was able to secure a position in the government himself with little difficulty, and eventually, he was entrusted with many important missions for Venice. This included a trip to Constantinople in 1171 with the doge at that time, Vitale II Michiel, and another a year later with the Byzantine ambassador. On the latter expedition, so diligently did Enrico protect the interests of the Venetians that it was rumored the Byzantine emperor, Manuel I Comnenus, had him blinded. However, although Enrico suffered from poor vision, the chronicler Geoffroi de Villehardouin, who knew Dandolo personally, attributes this condition to a blow to the head. Enrico Dandolo also served as Venices ambassador to the King of Sicily in 1174 and to Ferrara in 1191. With such prestigious accomplishments in his career, Dandolo was considered an excellent candidate as the next doge even though he was quite elderly. When Orio Mastropiero stepped down in order to retire to a monastery, Enrico Dandolo was elected Doge of Venice on June 1, 1192. He was believed to be at least 84 years of age at the time. Enrico Dandolo Rules Venice As doge, Dandolo worked tirelessly to increase the prestige and influence of Venice. He negotiated treaties with Verona, Treviso, the Byzantine Empire, the Patriarch of Aquileia, the King of Armenia and the Holy Roman Emperor, Philip of Swabia. He fought a war against the Pisans and won. He also reorganized Venices currency, issuing a new, large silver coin known as the grosso or matapan that bore his own image. His changes to the monetary system were the beginning of an extensive economic policy designed to increase trade, most especially with lands to the east. Dandolo also took a keen interest in the Venetian legal system. In one of his earliest official acts as ruler of Venice, he swore the â€Å"ducal promise,† an oath that specifically laid out all of the duties of the doge, as well as his rights. The grosso coin depicts him holding this promise. Dandolo also published Venices first collection of civil statutes and revised the penal code. These achievements alone would have earned Enrico Dandolo an honorable place in the history of Venice, but he would earn fame or infamy from one of the strangest episodes in Venetian history. Enrico Dandolo and the Fourth Crusade The idea of sending troops to the Eastern Roman Empire instead of to the Holy Land did not originate in Venice, but it is fair to say that the Fourth Crusade would not have turned out as it did were it not for the efforts of Enrico Dandolo. The organization of transportation for the French troops, the funding of the expedition in exchange for their help in taking Zara, and the persuading of the crusaders in helping the Venetians take Constantinople all of this was Dandolos work. He was also physically in the forefront of events, standing armed and armored in the bow of his galley, encouraging the attackers as they made their landing at Constantinople. He was well past 90 years old. After Dandolo and his forces succeeded in capturing Constantinople, he took the title lord of the fourth part and a half of the whole empire of Romania for himself and for all the doges of Venice thereafter. The title corresponded to how the spoils of the Eastern Roman Empire (Romania) were then divided as a consequence of the conquest. The doge remained in the capital city of the empire to oversee the new Latin government and to look out for Venetian interests. In 1205, Enrico Dandolo died in Constantinople at the age of 98. He was entombed in the Hagia Sophia. Resources and Further Reading Madden, Thomas F.  Enrico Dandolo the Rise of Venice. Baltimore, Md: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2011.Brà ©hier, Louis.  Enrico Dandolo.  The Catholic Encyclopedia.  Vol. 4.  New York: Robert Appleton Company,  1908.