Investments Essay Example for Free

Investments Essay Checking account is a type of investment to manage personal finances that has both advantages and disadvantages. The primary advantages of checking are to save fees charged by storefronts that offer check cashing services and easy accessibility to funds by writing on checks compared to carrying cash. The disadvantages of checking accounts are overdraft fees when the balance is less than the maintaining balance and less security than ATM cards since it only requires a signature. Money market account offers advantages to account holders to hold emergency funds and money for periodic payments. A higher rate of interest is also offered compared to other types of accounts. Its disadvantages are limited transactions to only 3 deposits and 3 withdrawals every month; potential investment loss since only $250,000 is insured by FDIC; unguaranteed interest rate due to fluctuation; risk of spontaneous spending due to easy accessibility; and risk of withdrawing funds leading to a minimum balance especially when the account is tied to a checking account. Passbook savings account offers the advantages of safety as covered by U. S. federal government insurance companies (FDIC and NCUSIF); immediate access to funds based on the needs of the account holder; and it offers a fairly small interest. Its disadvantages are the limitation on federal insurance of a maximum of $250,000 coverage and the lowest interest rate of passbook accounts compared to all types of savings account. The interest also is subjected to tax returns for the depositor. Certificate of deposits additionally has advantages and disadvantages. It offers flexibility of the terms starting at three months up to five years or more. It means the longer the term, the higher interest rate the depositor will receive at the end of the term. Another advantage is the grace period it offers. Depositors are given commonly a seven-day period to come to a decision whether to extend the term or not. Its disadvantages are the interest rate is fixed, penalty fees when the deposit is withdrawn before maturity date, and automatic rollover when the depositor missed to make a decision on or before the grace period.

The Progressive Movement Essay example -- American History Essays

The Progressive Movement The progressive movement of the early 20th century has proved to be an intricately confounded conundrum for American historians. Who participated in this movement? What did it accomplish, or fail to accomplish? Was it a movement at all? These are all significant questions that historians have been grappling with for the last 60 years, thus creating a historical dialogue where in their different interpretations interact with each other. The most commonly known, and consequently most watered down, version of the progressive movement argues that this era was simply an effort by the middle class to cure many of the social and political ills of American society that had developed during the rapid industrial growth in the last quarter of the 19th century. This explanation has proven to be a woefully inadequate in the face of the complexities that characterize these times. In Richard Hofstadter’s The Age of Reform, Peter Filene’s â€Å"An Obituary for the Progressive Movement,† Richard McCormick’s â€Å"The Discovery that Business Corrupts Politics,† and Paula Baker’s â€Å"The Domestication of Politics† each author asserts their own unique interpretations of the progressive movement. These distinct examinations each chart and thus manifest the fluidity of knowledge about this particular time period and how it has been shaped reshaped by new analysis. Richard Hofstadter, the leftward leaning author of Age of Reform, in his appraisal of the progressive movement makes the central argument that the progressive movement was not catalyzed by economics or moral principal but instead by psychology. Hofstadter describes the progressives as primarily â€Å"urban, middle class, and nation wide.† He makes the case that t... ... an impact on the system as a whole. An interesting comparison can be made between Hofstadter’s â€Å"status revolution† and Baker’s suffrage movement. Both can be seen as psychologically driven movements that interacted during the progressive era. Baker and Hofstadter also both cite a vast and complex struggle to improve the status of a particular social group. Baker on one hand describes women’s fight for the right to be seen as equal to men, most definitely in a political sense if not in a social sense as well, while Hofstadter makes the case that the progressives were driven to action by the need to reclaim their former status of superiority over the emerging newly rich industrialists. Although Baker does not seem to give the amount of attention to psychology that Hofstadter does an undeniable correlation can still be made between the arguments of both authors.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) Case Study Essay

1. INTRODUCTION Remember! smile ,when you are walking along a major street because you are recorded by a Closed-circuit camera. While walking along the street ,glanced up and you will probably see cameras glaring back at you. Perhaps that you cannot see them, but they are there. Have you ever bump your head and immediately after looked around to see if anyone was watching at you? That has happened to almost everybody, but as majority does not see such action or we might say as incident. However, CCTV or Closed-circuit television have got them clearly recorded. According to Wikipedia , Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place ,on a limited set of monitor . Marie Van Brittan Brown was the inventor of the CCTV camera. Nowadays, we are not only depending only on security personnel but also electronic devices. State-of-the-art and effective CCTV cameras are one of the benefits of the advances of technology in the enhancement of security . Closed-circuit televisions are often seen in universities, businesses, stations , shops and even government institution in order to provide video surveillance and deter crime. A British Home Office promotional booklet , CCTV: Looking Out For You (Home Office, 1994), actually states that the technology can be a solution to many problems, such as vandalism, drug use, drunkenness, racial harassment, sexual harassment, loitering and disorderly behaviour (Davis 1999).However , the usage of CCTV monitoring is not without a debate . Even so, I strongly believe that Closed-circuit television (CCTV) should be installed in every single place to combat the increasing theft rate and to protect the masses. 2.THE ADVANTAGES OF CLOSED-CIRCUIT CAMERA 2.1. PREVENT CRIME First of all, CCTV system helps in preventing all kinds of crime. If a crime is committed, the culprit will be eventually caught . By having a closed circuit television at workplace, crimes of stealing and theft robbed from a jewelry store can be trimmed down. This is because if the criminals know that there are cameras then they would be more likely to just move on to an easy target. The clips taken by these cameras serve as a source of evidence to help trace the thieves. For further illustration, the cops in Malaysia and many other developed countries used the videos captured by the Closed-circuit television (CCTV) to trace and successfully catch a group of robbers who broke into a Seven Eleven shop during the midnight. The mere presence of CCTV is enough to reduce the rate of crime in most cases. That is why some businesses will put up a dummy CCTV camera to fool criminally minded individuals into thinking their actions are being monitored, and perhaps, persuade them not to commit the crime. In this manner, the business owner is not only protecting the customers and employees, but is also safeguarding the business. In the event of a crime, a recording of the events can be turned over to the authorities to aid their investigations. 2.2 KEEP RECORD Furthermore, the clips captured by a CCTV camera system are often recorded and stored into a database. These are helpful in maintaining records so that they can be easily retrieved later when needed. As an example, sometimes the employees are required to handle some annoyed customers. When having a face-to-face interaction with frustrated customer, the situation can put the employee in physical danger. Hence, the installation of CCTV cameras may help the employees escape from this situation as the customers know very well that their conversations are recorded by the CCTV . In the event of an argument, the video which had been recorded can be used to determine what actually took place so that further actions can then be taken. In short, these cameras can help to provide some form of protection to the workers  against the customers. 2.3 MONITORING TRAFFIC Looking from another perspective, CCTV is also used for monitoring traffic by local or state roadways authorities to manage the traffic flows and providing an advice concerning traffic congestion .Road traffic control involves directing vehicle and pedestrian traffic around a construction zone or other road disruption , thus the government installed a Closed-circuit television by the roadside to ensure the safety of emergency response teams, construction workers and also the general public. Speeding is a big problem that can cause some serious injuries. The government is now putting up cameras at stoplights to protect people from traffic violators. More than sixty cities in the U.S are using traffic cameras at busy intersections. Now, when a person runs a red light, or drives unreasonably fast through an intersection, they can expect a traffic citation. By installing these cameras, people are more likely to drive safe; this will inevitably lead to fewer accidents at some of the busiest intersections-it could even save lives. When one knows there are cameras around they are less likely to do something that might get them into trouble. 2.4 AVOID VIOLENCE IN SCHOOL On the other hand , CCTV might also avoid violence and bullying in schools. The headmister or the headmistress would be able to see what actually happens in the classroom and he or she would be able to interfere in critical situations. In the past we had some very sad stories of students who used guns against their teachers and classmates. We all will never forget the tragedies of Columbus and Erfurt, where many people died. Only last year a 17-year-old German killed 16 students, teachers and inhabitants of a small town near Stuttgard. If cameras had been installed in the classrooms of the school , I very sure that this sad cases would not happen and many people would have survived . 2.5 LAW ENFORCEMENT CCTV is used by law enforcement in public places, such as at traffic lights, to serve as a deterrent to those who might be tempted to break traffic laws. Those who violate traffic laws are identified and soon receive a ticket in the mail due to the presence of the CCTV cameras which record their car registration numbers. CCTV records car accidents and monitors traffic jams. CCTV is also beneficial to law enforcement in increasing personnel efficiency by decreasing the number of officers on the beat due to the fact that CCTV cameras are â€Å"patrolling† some areas, especially in places like the subway, airport and train station. CCTV can help in the prevention of lawsuits by recording the actual sequence of events involving a customer and an establishment. Some customers might claim that an employee attacked them physically while they might have initiated the attack and the employee was only being defensive. In another scenario, a customer might deliberately spill some liquid on the ground, pretend to fall, and claim that it was there due to the company’s negligence. A CCTV recording will sort things out. 3. THE DISADVANTAGES OF CLOSED-CIRCUIT CAMERA 3.1. NO GUARANTEE WILL CATCH ANY CRIME UNWANTED As the after way of discuss the advantages , there are also the disadvantages of the Closed-circuit television.CCTV is usually not able to display every square inch of a business or facility. Even if the cameras are positioned correctly, there is no guarantee that the cameras will catch any crime or unwanted behavior done on the property. These cameras can sometimes be thwarted by covering them up or by sticking a piece of chewing gum on the lenses. Someone who is familiar with the property may still be able to get around the surveillance and avoid getting caught. If the cameras are positioned incorrectly, the high traffic areas of the facility will not be shown on camera. In this case, much of the behavior that the CCTV cameras are designed to detect will not be captured on tape. 3.2. NO MANAGE TO RECORD THE TIME Along with the increased amount of cameras in public areas,CCTV security cameras are now being used in the office to monitor the staff. This is enable management to record how long the staff are taking their breaks and if they are going anything that could be considered inappropriate. This offen seen as an infringement of civil liberties, especially as there is possibility that, depending where management place the cameras, they could abuse their power. 4.CONCLUSION As a conclusion , CCTV cameras are essential and therefore should be installed in every premise . This is chiefly to shield oneself from being harmed by any intruders or robbers . Admittedly , privacies are lost with the use of these cameras . In the Slate magazine of America state that:†We Need More Cameras , And We Need Them Now!’ After the Boston Marathon Bombing Cases that happen on 15 april 2013 . However , one must realize that safety is of paramount importance compared to privacy and prevention is always better than suffering from the consequences . Nonetheless , safety should be put first in order to be safe . Surveillance cameras can be very useful. They aren’t here to spy on our private lives; they are here to protect our private lives. They catch the bad guys; they catch the drunk drivers and get them off the streets; they save businesses from bad employees and shoplifters, and most of all, they protect the right to a safe, better environment for all of us. RESOURCE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/closed-circuit_television . ,retrieved 13july2013 www.essayforum.com/writing-feedback-3/use-cctv-cameras-essay-29373 . ,retrieved 12july2013 www.wikipedia.org/wiki/road_traffic_control . , retrieved 15july2013 www.slate.com/articles/technology/2013/04/boston_bomber_photos_themarthon_bombing_shows_that_we_need_more_security.html . , retrieved 20july2013

Human Resources And Human Resource Decisions - 1446 Words

Human resource decisions, according to Becker and Gerhart (1996), contribute to organizational performance either by improving efficiency or contributing to revenue growth. Those that are in charge of human resources are responsible for assisting the organisation to motivate its employees to perform well (Henderson, 2008). Human resource management (HRM) has often been defined within two distinct forms; short-run responses and long-term strategies (Truss et al, 1997). Short-run responses and long-term strategies were finely defined by Storey (1992) and Guest (1987), making the key distinction where the emphasis is being placed on either ‘human’ or the ‘resource’. These widely adopted models of HRM are concerned with strategic issues†¦show more content†¦Long-term strategies on the other hand, are in place for a long period of time, that would ensure sustainability. They are also known as soft HRM. With long-term strategies, control is more achieved through commitment, communication with the same ultimate gain to secure competitive advantage (Truss et al, 1997). For this essay, I will be discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of both short-run responses and long-term strategies, with the support of academic references to support each case. This would therefore lead to an overall conclusion deciding between short-run responses and long-term strategies. Short-run Responses (Hard Human Resource Management) Advantages Short-run responses are expected to result in a more economical labour-force, in a situation where decision making is quicker and focused on senior managers (Wilkinson, et. al, 2014). By doing so, it reduces costs that can be incurred when running a process over a long period of time, therefore saving money and time (Cooke, 2000). It also reduces costs as it focuses to increase the numerical flexibility of the workforce (Ryan and Macky, 1998). Therefore, doing so by using employees with lower level of skills as there is not much emphasis on training and development (Gill, 1999). The adoption of this strategy shows that short-term cost effectiveness rather than skill retention of the workforce is a managerial priority (Cooke, 2000). A second benefit of short-run responses is that it