Credit scoring model Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Credit scoring model - Coursework Example As a way of solving classification issues and also decreases Type I errors, typical of many credit scoring models, this piece attempts to describe or rather come up with an appropriate credit scoring model via two stages. Classification stage involves development and construction of an ANN-based credit scoring model, which basically classifies applicants into two categories, which are, those who have acceptable credit (good) and those who have unacceptable credit (bad). In the second stage, which will also be referred to as the re-assigning stage, attempt is made to lower Type I error through reassignment of the unaccepted applicants with good credit to a conditionally accepted category making use of a CBR-based classification approach. In a bid to demonstrate the effectiveness of the model proposed in this paper, an analysis is run on a German dataset with assistance of SAS Enterprise Miner. The results will be expected to not only prove that the model is a more effective credit sco ring model but that it will also enhance the business revenues through its ability to lower both Type I and Type II error system scoring errors. Introduction Data mining is a process that involves search and analysis of data so as to find implicit, although substantially vital information. It covers selection, exploration and modeling of large data volumes with the aim of uncovering previously unrecognized patterns, and in the end generate understandable information, from huge databases. It generally employs an extensive range of computational techniques which include approaches such as statistical analysis, decision trees analysis, neural networks review, rule induction and refinement approach, as well as graphic visualization. Of the various mentioned methods, the classification aspect has an important role in decision making within businesses mainly as a result of the extensive applications when it comes to financial forecasting, detection of fraud, development of a marketing str ategy, credit scoring, to mention just but a few. The aim of developing credit scoring models is to assist financial institutions to detect good credit applicants who are more likely to honor their debt obligation. Often such systems are based on multiple variables including the applicant’s age, their credit limit, income levels, as well as marital status, among others. Conventionally, there are many distinct credit scoring models which have been developed by financial as well as researchers in a bid to unravel the mysteries behind classification problem. Such include linear discriminant analysis, logistic regression, multivariate adaptive regression splines, classification, as well as regression tree, case based reasoning, and of course the artificial neural networks. Normally, linear discriminant analysis, logistic regression, and artificial neural networks are utilized in construction of credit scoring models. LDA is amongst the earliest forms of credit scoring model and e njoy widespread usage across the globe. Nonetheless, its use has often been subjected to criticism based on its assumption of existence of a linear relationship between the input variables and the output variables. Sadly, this is an assumption that seldom holds, and is rather sensitive to deviations arising from assumption of multivariate normality (West, 2000). Like LDA, LR is also a rather common alternative employed in performance of credit scoring assessments. In essence, the LR model has stood out as the best

Media and Entertainment Essay Example for Free

Media and Entertainment Essay The importance and popularity of media is ever growing. Media has become indispensible in everyday life, be it personal life or business, trade or work. Conventional media like cinema, television, radio and print are modifying themselves to play their roles effectively in the current market. Technological innovations and discovery of new media like cable television, Direct To Home (DTH), Mobile Technology, Internet Podcasting and FM Radio Channels have created immense competition in the entertainment and media field. Video games and portable audio – video devices have intensified the competition. Entry of foreign TV broadcasts, 24*7 broadcasting and the exponential growth of new media call for impressive content creation for catering to every segment of the population. The escalating economic growth in India with a remarkable percentage of youth in the population who have high earning capacity and more disposable incomes and the upwardly mobile middleclass make the entertainment and media sector more promising and demanding. Profile of the current youth with lesser attention span and the easy availability of affordable entertainment have created the challenges of attracting and retaining audience and clients. Multiplex cultures, variety of entertainment choices available, profitability and potential of space-selling in media houses, embedded advertising, marriage of animation and visual technologies are all signs of the advanced state of development in media and entertainment. New Technologies and the high costs involved in production and distribution of media content have justified corporate entry into cinema production and ntertainment production. This has given â€Å"Industry Status† to this field. This paper recognises the status of entertainment and media as a powerful service sector and highlights the need for adopting unique content creation and marketing strategies for enriching and enhancing the experience of the audience and clients. Moreover, the paper identifies the potential of these services that could be exploited for the benefit of the customers as well as to promise high returns for the Investors and Media and Entertainment houses. Content Creation and Entertainment Quotient in the current Media Scenario Introduction: â€Å"And in my opinion, entertainment in its broadest sense has become a necessity rather than a luxury in the life†¦ † -Walt Disney The very purpose of human life boils down to fulfilling the humane needs which include both physical and psychological needs. Media and Entertainment is the field that caters to the psychological or cognitive needs of the media customers. The importance and popularity of media is ever growing. Media has become indispensible in everyday life, be it personal life or business, trade or work. The Media and Entertainment industry consists of the creation, aggregation and distribution of content, products and services, news and information, advertising and entertainment through various channels and platforms. Conventional media like cinema, television, radio and print are modifying themselves to play their roles effectively in the current market. Technological innovations and discovery of new media like cable television, Direct To Home (DTH), Mobile Technology, Internet Podcasting and FM Radio Channels have created immense competition in the entertainment and media field. Video games and portable audio – video devices have intensified the competition. Entry of foreign TV broadcasts, 24*7 broadcasting and the exponential growth of new media calls for impressive content creation for catering to every segment of the population. The Indian Entertainment and Media (EM) industry has outperformed the Indian economy and is one of the fastest growing sectors in India. However, the future of this industry depends largely on the growth of Indian Economy. The Indian Economy is growing at a fast rate, with increased personal income of people who are spending more on their entertainment and leisure activities. Media and Entertainment Customers: Media and entertainment customers have no inhibitions to switch over their sources of entertainment and information, if they feel that their current entertainment provider does not stand up to the mark. Winning customer confidence and support becomes all the more crucial for this industry which could create deeper impressions and have greater impact on the inerasable minds of the customers. Radio, Television, Internet, Print, Movie, Music, Novels and News Media should live up to the fantasy, expectations and requirements of the viewing, listening and reading masses, who seek these media to fulfil their individualistic needs, based on their specific lifestyles, backgrounds and mood swings. The escalating economic growth in India along with a remarkable percentage of youth in the population who have high earning capacity and more disposable incomes and the upwardly mobile middleclass make the entertainment and media industry more promising and the demand for entertainment is going to steadily see an upward trend. Profile of the current youth with lesser attention span and the easy availability of affordable entertainment have created the challenges of attracting and retaining audiences and clients. Success totally depends on how original, quick and entertaining the content offered by these media is comparatively less. In media and entertainment, only the content that provides the highest degree of gratification can win over the media customers. Media Content and Entertainment Quotient: In media production and publishing, content refers to information and experiences that may provide value for an end-user or audience. Content may be delivered via any medium such as the internet, television, audio CDs, cinema, newspapers and magazines as well as live events such as conferences, stage performances and interactive audio video platforms. â€Å"Content† is the word used to identify and quantify various formats and genres of information as manageable value-adding components of media. Entertainment Quotient is the degree of gratification the customers receive or experience through the content provided by Media. Better the quality of content provided, higher will be the degree of gratification experienced. Hence, media content and entertainment quotient are directly related to each other. Media Production and delivery technology potentially enhances the value of content by formatting, filtering and combining original sources of content for new audience with new contexts. Media must understand its responsibility to spread optimism and hope in all aspects of life, especially during times of natural disasters like floods, tsunami, earth-quakes or man-made disasters like terrorist attacks, economic meltdowns, political crisis or any such critical situation apart from its vital role in offering information, education and entertainment. It is very essential for media to realize that its content on such events are just not a focus on the problems, but on the possible ways for prohibition, prevention and rescue. The fact that media can and should make such shift is reflective of its evolution globally. Content provided by media should be of value, relevance and provide entertainment to the ultimate customers. Contemporary Role of Media and Entertainment: Media is changing from being an informer to being a companion. Right from children to elders, people of all ages and classes have something to look for in all the media. All have started looking at media, be it the television, radio, newspaper or the internet as a source of not only entertainment, but also as a source of knowledge and exposure. Media have got themselves into the roles of friend, philosopher and guide and recently as an activist. This being the status, there is a vital need for the highest quality of the content that are provided by these media to be at par with the expectations of all segments of audience and provide high entertainment quotient to them. In many areas, media content is already playing a very active role in providing prescriptions to consumers. From being just a provider of news, the media today is a source of knowledge and offers forums of interaction where consumers can seek advice on health, beauty, home care, decor, travel etc. All these play a major role for their life style changes, and hence we have a majority of the people following a commonly seen style and changed culture. The viewer becomes the consumer who modifies his or her life to go with the characters portrayed by them. Audio-visual medium do have a salutary impact on the knowledge, attitude and acceptance of the viewers. Media do influence people as much as home, neighbourhood, peers in school / college / office etc. The Media and Entertainment industry is moving from the well known status of Mass Media to Mass-personal Media. Future of Indian Media and Entertainment Industry: The FM radio sector was opened up for foreign investment with 20 percent FDI being allowed. As a result the radio sector is expanding rapidly with forecasted growth rates of 32 percent per annum. In the print media segment, 100 percent FDI is now allowed for non-news publications and 26 percent FDI is allowed for news publications. Internet advertising is expected to go up from one percent to three percent of the total Media and Entertainment revenues by 2014. Music and Gaming are expected to grow at 32 percent in the next five years. With multiplex culture, watching film has become a status symbol. Television is witnessing a steady in growth and is likely to go further in future. Indian Television market is likely to grow at an average annual rate of 16% to reach 46,922 crore rupees by 2012. The historical data and the current trend in media industry imply a definite surge of demand and healthier competition in the days to come. Exciting new developments in the technologies used in this industry are taking place. Animation, Multiplexes, new distribution channels and the use of Internet are redefining the entertainment industry. All these factors will favour further growth of this industry in India. India is poised to enter the period of immense growth in this industry. Strategies for Success in Media and Entertainment Industry: The Mantra for attracting and retaining audience for all media is â€Å"provide quality content and increase the entertainment quotient†. Updated, contemporary, relevant, creative and informative content can take the media a long way. This is the basis for establishing, surviving, growing and conquering in the dynamic media industry. Competition is high and tough. The sources available for entertainment and information are many and easily accessible. This being the status, â€Å"survival of the fittest, fastest and the most creative† is the lifeline of media content at present. The challenge for communicators and marketers is to create and identify opportunities that can make the content all the more impressive. Today more and more battles are not as much for market share as for a share of the consumers’ wallet. Media consumers are very vulnerable and prone to be poached by more innovative and consistent content providers. Media products, being intangible can have only cognitive and psychological impact on their consumer. Hence, it becomes more important to provide high quality content which is much better than the competitors’ and thus ensure high entertainment quotient, which is the ultimate aim of any entertainment content. This in turn will aid in attracting, maintaining and enhancing the audience for the particular media. Further, this will ensure the growth potential of the media. Media are not averse to content tie-ups to create media multiplier effect by increasing the touch points. Media observers agree that cross-media tie-ups have become a compulsion, rather than a choice. Thus, convergence of media has become indispensible and is the most plausible route for reaching out to more audience or end-users. Mobile telephones, 3G wireless services, DTH (Direct To Home television), HDTV (High-Definition Television) and the Web, all require content to be converted to multiple formats in order to be offered to a multitude of consumers from various national, cultural, economic and social backgrounds. Media companies agree that tie-ups are not a cost-saving mechanism, rather, it is more about expanding the visibility and pooling the strengths of the two mediums. The content synergy assures prospective audience. There has also been a change in the mindset of publications, be it in print or internet or television. They have realized the importance of providing news and information to the audience, without worrying about the source. Earlier, media houses would stress exclusive reportage. Now, they are willing to give due credit to the source publication as well as the journalist. This is a welcome transition, since it is an optimistic way to reach out to the dedicated and loyal audience who seek out entertainment and information only from certain specific media which they prefer. Stereotyped, mundane and pessimistic content are likely to reduce the entertainment quotient apart from having negative impact on the audience. Ultimately, customers carry along only experiences and memories and satisfaction along with them when they make use of any media for entertainment or information. Only carefully crafted content can enhance these experiences, satisfaction levels and entertainment quotient of media consumers. Conventional cinema and television media had been providing slow paced, socially relevant content to target audience comprising of all economic strata. The amounts of money and marketing involved were small and the industry had been more of monopolistic. The scenario now is entirely different with resurgence of widescreen, stereo, surround sound and digital cinema becoming better and affordable by all. Currently, big production budgets and expensive equipments are being used as the recipe for creating quality entertainment, capable of reaching millions of audience. Especially in India, the entry of Hollywood films has created intense competitions and also has enhanced and diversified the expectations of the local viewers. Dubbing and releasing of Hollywood and other foreign movies in vernacular languages has intensified the entertainment quotient sought by the consumers. The degree of challenges in newer technology adoption, costs and risks involved are higher as far as cinema and television are concerned. Television content production venture is top venture in the media world.

Meditation In Zen Buddhism Philosophy Essay

Meditation In Zen Buddhism Philosophy Essay Meditation is the foundation of Zen Buddhism. Zen literally means to meditate. Meditation, in Zen, is the path and the goal. The goal is to meditate. Like all religions, Zen Buddhism has split into sections. Zen has two schools of thought, the gradual and the sudden approach to enlightenment. In the gradual school, there is only one way to practice Zen meditation, which is seated meditation, called zazen. Zazen can be performed in several different ways, but the positions have no spiritual significance. The positions are mainly to create comfort, stability, and ability to breathe through the diaphragm properly. The sudden school believes enlightenment could potentially occur instantly. They use koans, mondos, and turning phrases to help the practitioner gain more insight, and hopefully be enlightened. Koans, mondos, and turning phrases are irrational dialogues or statements that practitioners contemplate upon. The main topics to point out when discussing meditation in Zen Buddhism ar e the goals of their meditation, the gradual school of thought, and the sudden school of thought. In Zen, the path of meditation is the goal. It is similar to riding your bicycle just to ride your bicycle. Through mediation, Zen Buddhists do not attempt to do anything, but to be in the moment. The Vietnamese Zen teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, says, We practice so that each moment of our life becomes real life. There is no goal in Zen, but to focus on ones being, moment by moment. While practicing meditation, one may also find other benefits, like better health and a more relaxed state of my mind. Unlike many sects of Buddhism, as well as many other religions, Zen Buddhists do not have scriptures to which they should study, but they may do so if they choose. Zen Buddhists focus primarily on one simple act, which is meditation. They believe that achievement of the Buddhahood comes from silence. Zen has two popular sections, gradual and sudden. They both are means to enlightenment, but have two different points of view. In the gradual school of Zen, there is only one technique of meditation, which is called zazen. Zazen literally means sitting meditation. Zazens motto is: To be a Buddha is to sit like a Buddha. That is, while sitting, sit completely. Be aware of the stillness of everything while enjoying not having to do anything but be in the moment. Although there are no doctrines or disciplines in Zen, there are many instructions for meditation postures. In Zen culture, there was less of a difference between body, breath, and mind than in the west. Zen practitioners believe if one aligns their spine correctly, fold their legs properly, sit properly, and keep still; they can achieve stillness of the mind. Much of the stillness of the mind in Zen is believed to be achieved through the correct posture of the body. Many of the Zen postures come from ancient Indian yogic positions developed to increase alignment and awareness. Although they come from yogic postures, they have no divine meaning them; they are only intended to increase comfort, stability, and the ability to breathe well. In Zen, it is believed that awakening must penetrate every cell of the body, so they must engage the body as well as the mind when meditating. Zazen is typically done in one way with several variations. The most effective way of seated meditation is done is with ones legs crossed and spine aligned straight up and curved, giving a pyramid shape to ones posture. It is usually done on the floor, with a soft mat and pillow to sit on to raise the body a little so that ones knees can touch the ground. With ones knees touching the ground, it creates three points of contact with the ground to give the practitioner a sturdy base. The easiest form of zazen is the Burmese position. In the Burmese position, one has their legs crossed, and their feet flat on the floor. In this position it is very easy to keep ones back straight because putting ones feet on the floor forces the practitioner to keep his back curved, which is an essential part of zazen. Two other positions are the half lotus and the full lotus. Both positions are very similar, but the half lotus requires less flexibility, and is easier for most people. To perform the half lotus, one foot placed over the opposite thigh, and the other foot is placed under the opposite leg. The full lotus position is when both legs are put on both thighs. This position is more recommended because it gives the practitioner much more balance. There are also two other zazen positions which are commonly used. The first position is the sieza position. The sieza position is kneeling, with your buttocks on both feet. You can sit on either a pillow, or your bare legs. You can also use a sieza bench to kneel on. The second position is the chair position. The bench keeps ones back straight, and takes the weight off of ones feet. The other position is to simply sit on a chair with ones feet on the floor, arching the back. It is important to keep ones back straight while meditating so that one can breathe with the diaphragm properly. A good sitting posture as well as good hand position allows the body to give uninhibited deep breaths. While doing Zen meditation, one should use the Dhyani mudra hand position. The Dhyani mudra is a way to position ones hands so that they can take deep breaths from their diaphragm. To do so, the practitioner will place both hands on top of one another, with their palms facing up. Their knuckles should be on top of one another as well, with their thumbs touching gently together. Breathing through the diaphragm creates deep, slow breaths, which is quite useful when practicing zazen. Breathing is not only useful while meditating, but it is useful in all aspects of our health. Andrew Weil M.D., an author and physician said, Improper breathing is a common cause of ill health. If I had to limit my advice on healthier living to just one tip, it would be simply to learn how to breathe correctly. Theres no single more powerful or simpler daily practice to further your health and well-being than breath-work. ~ Andrew Weil, M.D. The sudden school of Zen, which believes in sudden enlightenment, has koans as a focal point of meditation. In The Complete Idiots Guide to Buddhism, Gary Gach says that koans are seemingly illogical riddles, like Two hands come together in a clap. What is the sound of one hand? A koan is not a riddle. It doesnt call for a solution (its not a math puzzle with an equation waiting in an answer book); rather, it is a personal breakthrough with a flash of enlightenment. In other words, it is a statement or conversation that cannot be understood by rational thinking; it can only be understood by intuition. Zen Buddhists believe that scriptures will lead scholars to misinterpretations of the original meanings, which is why Zen masters made Koans. Koans go beyond words. They attempt to go beyond the boundaries of intellect and language, and find awakening or enlightenment. Zen master Hakuin, author of the koan, What is the sound of one hand? has said, Whats true meditation? Its to make it all coughing, swallowing, gestures, motion, stillness, words, action, good and evil, success and shame, win and lose, right and wrong into one single koan. Although Zen Buddhists are not against words, they try to limit the amount of description to leave the interpreting to the practitioner who is attempting to gain insight. The primary beginning of using koans in Zen Buddhism originated from Hui Neng, a poor man who gathered and sold firewood for a living. He achieved enlightenment suddenly while he overheard a man reciting the Diamond Sutra, a scripture on emptiness and wisdom which requires great insight to understand. When he overheard the man say, Awaken your mind without fixing it anywhere, he was enlightened on the spot. Koans are meant to be contemplated until they are realized. While one meditates is the optimal time to think about them, but they can also be taken home to contemplate. According to The Complete Idiots Guide to Buddhism, there are about 400 indexed koans and about 1700 in all. There are so many koans because they deal with particular parts of the Way of enlightenment. Many of the koans, such as Hakuins koan, What is the sound of one hand? are designed to take the practitioner past the normal self into Buddha mind. There are also koan related Zen dialogues called mondos. Mondos are question-and-answer banter between people. They are similar to koans because they have the same non-sense questions and statements. An example of a mondo is in the Milindapanha, which reads, King Milinda said to learned monk Nagasena, Im going to ask you a question. Can you answer it? Nagasena replied, Please, ask your question. The King: Ive already asked. Nagasena: Ive already answered. The King: What did you answer? Nagasena: What did you ask? The King: I asked nothing. Nagasena: I answered nothing Also similar to koans and mondos, the sudden school of Zen also used turning phrases to help promote enlightenment and understanding. Examples of a turning phrases are, Not one, not two, Chop wood: carry water, and Form is emptiness; emptiness is form. These are all mottos that are used to help the practitioner gain more insight, and hopefully find sudden enlightenment. Being the foundation of Zen Buddhism, meditation is the main aspect of the religion. Zen essentially is meditation. In Zen, the path is the goal. It is like riding your bicycle simply to ride your bicycle. Zen Buddhism has split into two schools of thought, the gradual and the sudden approach to enlightenment. In the gradual school, there is only one way to practice Zen meditation, which is seated meditation, called zazen. Zazen can be performed in several different ways, but the positions have no significance other than comfort and stability. Breathing is an important part of meditation as well. The sudden school believes enlightenment could potentially occur instantly. They use koans, mondos, and turning phrases to help the practitioner gain more insight, and hopefully be enlightened. Koans, mondos, and turning phrases are irrational dialogues or statements that practitioners contemplate upon. The main topics to point out when discussing meditation in Zen Buddhism are the goals of their meditation, the gradual school of thought, and the sudden school of thought. Gach, Gary. The Complete Idiots Guide to Buddhism. 3rd. New York City, New York: Alpha Books, 2009. 183-200. Print. Saint-Hilaire, J.Barthelemy. The Buddha and His Religion. 1st edition. London: New York E.P. Dutton and Company, 1914. 267-87. Print. Zazen. DharmaRain.org. Dharma Rain Zen Center, 2003. Web. 20 Sep 2010. . Zazen Posture. DharmaRain.org. Dharma Rain Zen Center, 2003. Web. 20 Sep 2010. . Zazen breathing techniques. DharmaRain.org. Dharma Rain Zen Center, 2003. Web. 20 Sep 2010. . Zen Meditation Instructions. mro.org. Mountains and Rivers Order, 2010. Web. 20 Sep 2010. . Phelan, Josho Pat. Zazen Posture. intrex.net. Josho Pat Phelan, 1997. Web. 20 Sep 2010. . About Zen Meditation. Zazen.rutgers.edu. N.P., 04/21/2010. Web. 20 Sep 2010. . Phillips, Fred. A Primer on Zazen. omcl.ogi.edu. Fred Phillips, 1998. Web. 20 Sep 2010. . Breathing and Medicine. oxygengenesis.org. Oxygen Genesis Institute, 2003. Web. 20 Sep 2010. .

Low Participation Rates amongst Latino Parents in Education and Metho

One of the most crucial topics in education is the involvement of parents in their child’s school as well as their education. For the past few decades research has been conducted about the involvement of parents in their community schools as well as the influence that is has. However, it has been noted that it is within minority communities and families where there is the least amount of involvement in their child’s school and education, more so in Latino communities. Although the amount of involvement does not necessarily reflect the parents concern of the child’s academic performance, educators have proclaimed that parental involvement does in fact help the student perform academically better: â€Å"Various studies indicate that parental involvement is salient in determining how well children do in school at both the elementary and secondary school levels† (Christian et. al., 1998). Yet, it has come to many educational leaders attention that there has b een a steady decline in parental involvement across the country and Latino and other minority communities seem to have the lowest number of participation in their school. Many researchers have investigated and still do to find the cause of why there is a lack of parents involved in school within these minority communities. â€Å"Parental involvement has become of the centerpieces of educational dialogue among educators, parents, and political leaders. The presence of more parents in the workforce, the fast pace of modern society as a while and the declining role of the family have all been reasons that some social-scientist have pointed to explain an apparent decline in parental involvement in education†(Coleman & Hoffer, 1987). This is one of the growing believed reasons in why there ... ...viting parents no matter the gender, class, or race to become involved in their school. Martinez-Cosio’s case in her article is a perfect example of what occurs daily to parents whom try to get involved, more so Latinos. However, this is not always the case. Researchers are digging deeper into the more emotional aspect of why Latino parents tend to lack in parental involvement in the schools. â€Å"The women felt that the school was an extension of their home, and that the teachers served as surrogate mothers† (Ramirez, 2003). Latino women see school as another home for their child as well as see the teachers as another mother to their child; therefore, it is easy to conclude that mothers do not participate in their child’s school because they believe that the â€Å"surrogate mothers† take care of everything involved within the school while they take care of home issues.

11 Compare And Contrast Different Organisational Essay

Organizational structures Organizational structure is a system used to define a hierarchy within an organization. It identifies each job, its function and where it reports to within the organization. (Lucy Friend, 2009) There are several organizational structures; however, the type of structure in an organization depends on aim, size of the business, and industry. Carefully chosen structures will improve the communication throughout the organization. Types of Organizational Structures Functional Structure Employees within the functional divisions of an organization tend to perform a specialized set of tasks, for instance the engineering department would be staffed only with software engineers. (Sutton, 2012) Matrix Structures Matrix Structure is an organizational structure in which workers have to report to more than one party, as having two or three supervisors at the same time. For example, the workers working at factories have to report to different managers including production managers and marketing managers and sometimes to project managers if a separate project is going on. Divisional Structure The divisional structure groups each organizational function into divisions. Each division within a divisional structure contains all the necessary resources and functions within it. Organizational culture Organizational culture is an idea in the field of Organizational studies and management, which describes the psychology, attitudes, experiences, beliefs, and values of an organization. It can be defined as the specific collection  of values and norms that are shared by people and groups in an organization and that control the way they interact with each other and with stakeholders outside the organization. This definition continues to explain organizational values also known as â€Å"beliefs and ideas about what kinds of goals members of an organization should pursue and ideas about the appropriate kinds or standards of behaviour organizational members should use to achieve these goals. (Cheng, 1995). Types of organizational culture: Power Culture In the organizations, where power culture is used the authorization to make decisions are only given to few employees. Those employees are the ones who enjoy the benefits at the workplace also have to delegate their power to the other employees. In such organizations, employees have no other option but to follow the managers or supervisors instructions. Furthermore, employees cannot give their view and ideas and this leads to de-motivated labours and finally labours turn over in the organization increases. (Mullins, 2005) Role Culture This is a culture where every staff is assign with roles and responsibilities according to the specialized area, qualification, and interest of the employee in order to get the best out of the employee. This helps the organization to improve their productivity, as employees are good at their job. Today role culture is very common in organizations and it is very suitable for large organizations. (Mullins, 2005) Task Culture In Task Culture Organization forms a group in order to achieve the targets or to solve a specific problem. The organization that practices this culture put together four to five employees in a group who are specialized in similar areas also sharing similar interests. The common goal of each member is to contribute as many ideas as possible to complete the task in an effective way. For example, a company can use team culture in a period where the company is losing market share to identify the reasons behind and to improve whatever is wrong. 1.2 Explain how the relationship between organisation’s structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business The organizational structure and the organizational culture have the relationship to each other and they are the backbone of the organization. The both organization can affect progress of the organization. It can bring the stability and social system in the organization. . In organization having culture and structure strange there will be working environment also provides appropriate standards of working environment. The organization has different policies rules and regulations that how to communicate with the employee. The organization also shows about the responsibilities that who will report to whom mean who will be responsible to whom majority in this kind of organization tasks a good decision foe the company. Culture and structure has also some drawbacks on the business progress. If the organization culture is too much complex then in the organization decision will be very slow and also there will be centralized decision making in which the lower level employee’s will not be entertained. Organizational framework and way of lifestyle can impact progress of organization in the precious and in the adverse way. In the precious way it distinguish the organization to the one, which don’t have a way of lifestyle and framework. It explains the restriction of the firm (Bond et al. 1996). It provides a feeling of certificate among the employees to know each other for the success and success of goals. It can carry balance and team system in the organization. In any organization having way of lifestyle and framework unusual there will be workplace also provides appropriate requirements of workplace. 1.3 Discuss the factors which Influence individual behaviour at work Individual behaviour explain why a person behaves and reacts in response to  different situation therefore in order to get a better understanding about the behaviour, organizations have to be well aware of the main factors which affects individual behaviour at work. (Balmer, Baum, 1993) There are many terms and factors, which influence the behaviour. They are demographic factors, Perception, Abilities and skills, Attitude, and Personality. Demographic factors Demographic factors are a population of the quantifiable statistics. Demographics are also used to identify the study of quantifiable subsets within a given population, which characterize that population at a specific point in time. It is mostly used in public opinion polling and the marketing. It includes the gender, age, and ethnicity, knowledge of the languages, disabilities, mobility, home ownership employment status, and even the location. Perception The perception is the cognitive process that is meant for the interpreting the environmental stimuli in a different ways. A lot of the factors influence the perception of the individual behaviours. The manager plays the important roles in the study of the perception. It is very essential for the managers to make the favourable environment so that employees perceive them in the favourable ways. Abilities and skills Ability and the skills were highly influenced by the individual’s behaviours and the performance. The ability is the capacity of an individual to do something and the skills is defined as the ability to act in a way that allows a person to perform well. The individual can perform well in the organization if his abilities and the skills are bringing together in his job description. Attitude The attitudes can be defined as a tendency to respond the favourably or unfavourably to the certain objects, persons or situations. The formation of attitude is influenced by factors such as family, culture, society, peers  and organizational factors. The organization need to study the variables information that is related to their jobs so they can create the work environment in a favourable way so the employees give their best efforts to perform best in the organization. Attitudes are either positive or negative. The employees can perform best in the organization if they form a positive attitude. (Mullins, 2001) Personality The personality is the study of the characteristics and distinctive traits of an individuals and the inter-reaction between them and the way in which a person responds and adjusts to other people situations. The heredity, family, society, culture and the situation are influenced by the personality.

Cocagne’s Soupe a L’oignon

Cocagne’s Soupe a L’oignon Cocagne’s Soupe a L’oignon Cocagnes Soupe a Loignon is usually served with cheese sandwiches preferably grilled and a roasted cippolini at the center of the soup with a poached egg placed at the center. In Canada the soup is in served in the province of Newfoundland Labrador. Vegetable antipasto is in most cases composed of eggplant, olive tomatoes, marinated artichokes and buffalo mozzarella. This appetizer is from the province of Ontario in Canada. Soupe a Loignon Gratinee this is the slow cooked French soup composed of butter and oil preceded by slow simmering to create a rich taste. This appetizer is in the province of Quebec in Canada. Wild mushroom soup is mostly prominent in the province of Toronto in Canada. It is mainly composed of truffle and chives in the absence of butter or cream. Pizza fondue is the delicious variation from the theme of fondue and is in most cases served with cubes of bread, cooked tortellini and assorted vegetables. Pizza fondue is in some cases served with cured Italian meats. This dish is mostly popular in the Newfoundland Labrador in Canada. Josees Spaghetti with tuna and sun dried tomatoes is the dish which is a favorite of many and is made from sun dried tomato paste among other ingredients. It is common in Newfoundland Labrador although it is also present in Quebec province of Canada. Mariposa farm duck is prepared from a number of ingredients which are dates, the leg of a duck, wild rice pilaf squashed among others. It is mostly prominent in the province of Ontario in Canada. Eggs en cocotte attribute its name to the dish which is made up of eggs cooked normally referred to as ramekins and usually take the appearance of souffl dishes spacious enough for the baking of an egg. This dish is common in the province of Quebec in Canada. Canoe lobster clubhouse most recipes of this dish state that it is prepared from bacon preferably Canadian, smoked cheddar, mayonnaise and Bibb lettuce. This meal is more prominent in the province of Toronto in Canada. Roasted Alberta lamb prepared from a lamb it also has garlic which is roasted and risotto caraway yoghurt as the other ingredients. It is also common in the province of Toronto in Canada. Grilled Provini calfs liver the ingredients for this dish is bacon preferably smoked, Alliston spuds, and apple gastrique. This dish is mostly found in Toronto in Canada. Charlotte malakoff aux fraises this cake which can also be prepared from raspberries is completely engulfed in lady fingers and can be served with strawberry sauce. It is popular in the province of Newfoundland in Canada. Petit pots de crme chocolat this pudding which has a silky texture is served cold with sugar cookies so as to alter the fancy pudding into something like a dinner party fare. This dish is popular in the province of Newfoundland Labrador in Canada. Strawberry coulis some recipes prefer the addition of strawberry so as to establish an increased flavor boost. This dessert is most common in the province of Newfoundland in Canada. MAPLE syrup iced cream this syrup is considered to represent something between ice cream and sorbet. It is considered the desert with the least fat content and one of the easiest to prepare. This desert is more common in the province of Newfoundland in Canada. Recipe COCAGNES SOUPE A LOIGNON The ingredients required are: 8 onions, 8 big cippolini onions, 8 French shallots, 2 tablespoon of olive oil, 6 tablespoon of organic soy sauce,8 tablespoon of red wine, 2 branches of thyme, 2 liters of duck stock 2 bay leaves, white pepper, 1 lb of pikauba cheese and 8 poached eggs. The pikauba cheese can be substituted with aged cheddar. The poached eggs should be kept in cold water until the time to serve the hot soup has been reached. All the onions are peeled, the red onions are chopped and the shallots are finely sliced while the cippolinis are used as a whole. The oil is heated in a large pot over average heat and the sliced onions are added, these onions are cooked until they start to become brown. This usually takes approximately 30 minutes and stirring is usually done simultaneously. The oven is preheated at a temperature of about 190 degrees Celsius and the cippolinis are placed in small fry pan, oiled, with a few drops of water and they are roasted until they can be considered tender, approximately 30 minutes. The pan containing the caramelized onions is deglazed on the stove and the red wine and the soy sauce added on top. These contents are then stirred in the garlic flower, the thyme the bay leaves and lastly the stock. Salt and pepper can then be used for seasoning and further cooking is resumed for an estimated 15 minutes. 8 grilled sandwiches containing cheese are prepared for serving and the soup is placed in 8 bowls and the roasted cippolini is placed in the midst with the poached egg topping. The soup can be served immediately. PIZZA FONDUE The ingredients for preparing this dish are: 12 ounces of grated emmental cheese, 12 ounces of grated gruyere cheese, 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, 2 cloves of garlic,2 cups of Italian diced tomatoes, a cup of parmesan cheese, grated, 3 loaves of Italian bread, mushrooms, broccoli or any other assorted vegetables, pepper, oregano and salt. The gruyere, emmental and the cornstarch are tossed in a big bowl. The diced tomatoes and the minced garlic are heated in the fondue pot over average heat. At the time the tomatoe mixture starts to boil, the cheese mixture is added while stirring is continued preferably with a woden spoon in a movement which mimics the figure eight. When the combination of the mixture is complete and the cheese begins to bubble, pepper, salt and oregano are used for seasoning and these contents are stirred in the parmesan and later transferred to a table top. The pizza fondue is served with assorted vegetables, bread cubes and Italian meats. STRAWBERRY COULIS The ingredients for preparing 300ml of strawberry coulis are: 2 tablespoons of fruit sugar, 2 cups of strawberries, a tablespoon of lemon juice preferably fresh, and a tablespoon of kirsch. The fresh strawberries are cut into tiny pieces and then placed in a bowl. Sugar and lemon juice, is sprinkled over these pieces and they are refrigerated overnight. The fruit is pureed in the bowl using a blender until it is smooth. The coulis is strained and whisked in the kirsch.

What Is the National Letter of Intent for NCAA

What Is the National Letter of Intent for NCAA SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re a big fan of college sports, you may have seen a news conference on ESPN where a highly recruited high school athlete announces what college he is going to attend (usually in a dramatic way), and then he signs a piece of paper. That piece of paper is his National Letter of Intent; he is now legally bound to attend that college and the recruiting process is officially over. I remember the day I signed my National Letter of Intent to attend Stanford. I don’t think my mom has ever been as proud, and it’s very likely I won’t ever make her that proud again. Receiving and signing a National Letter of Intent is your reward for years of hard work and signifies the culmination of your college search. In this article, I will explain what the National Letter of Intent is, why it exists, and its terms. What Is the National Letter of Intent? The NLI is a binding agreement between a prospective student-athlete and an NLI member institution to enroll at a school in exchange for athletic aid. There are 650 NCAA Division I and II colleges that participate in the NLI program. Terms of the Agreement By signing the NLI, a prospective student-athlete agrees to attend the institution full-time for one academic year (two semesters or three quarters). The institution agrees to provide athletic aid for one full academic year. Athletic scholarships can be renewed every year, but you only have to sign the NLI once. The coach will tell you how much aid you’re being offered before you receive the NLI. The NLI will be accompanied by an athletic aid award letter that tells you the amount of aid you’re receiving. Award letters are the responsibility of the specific institution. Since 2012, schools have been able to provide multi-year scholarships (for 2, 3, or 4 years). However, most schools provide scholarships that are renewable annually. Generally, as long as you’re participating and stay in good academic standing, your scholarship will be renewed. Sometimes, if there’s additional athletic aid available, your scholarship will be increased. Penalty for Not Fulfilling the Agreement If you don't enroll in the school, you can't compete for one academic year at the next NLI institution you attend, and you lose a year of eligibility. Purpose of the NLI The purpose of the NLI is to have a written agreement that you will receive athletics aid in exchange for enrollment, provided you are admitted to the school and eligible to compete. Also, signing a National Letter of Intent signifies the end of the recruiting process. Once you sign the NLI, you can’t be recruited by other schools. If another school tries to recruit you, you have to notify them that you’ve signed your NLI. These Princeton athletes didn't have to sign an NLI Example of a National Letter of Intent It wasn't easy, but I did some digging on the internet, and I found an actual National Letter of Intent for you to check out. This NLI was from a few years ago and some of the signing deadlines have changed since then. Now, you must sign your NLI within 7 days of it being issued to you, and the NLI must be filed by the conference within 14 days. How Does a College Process the National Letter of Intent? First, the college issues an NLI and an offer of athletics aid to the prospective student-athlete. The student-athlete signs two copies. Also, a guardian must sign the NLI if the student-athlete is less than 21 years of age. Then, the student-athlete will return one copy and keep one for her records. The NLI must be signed within 7 days of the date it was issued, but the 7 day deadline will be less if there are fewer than 7 days left in the signing period. Or, the NLI must be signed by 7 days after the initial signing date if it's issued before the initial signing date. The college then verifies the required information and sends it to its conference office to be validated. The NLI must be filed by the conference within 14 days of the final signature. The NLI process is completely independent of the college admissions process. Typically, a school won't issue an NLI and offer of athletics aid until after a student-athlete has been admitted to the institution. There are some exceptions and cases where a school has to rescind an acceptance after an NLI has been signed due to a failing grade or disciplinary issue, but most often signing the NLI is the last step in a student-athlete's college selection process. NLI Signing Dates Here are the NLI signing dates for the upcoming year. Generally, these dates stay roughly the same from year to year. NLI Signing Dates for Prospective Student-Athletes Signing 2015-2016 and Enrolling 2016-2017 Sport(s) Initial Signing Date Final Signing Date Basketball (Early Period) November 11, 2015 November 18, 2015 Basketball (Regular Period) April 13, 2016 Division I: May 18, 2016 Division II: August 1, 2016 Football (Midyear JC Transfer) December 16, 2015 January 15, 2016 Football (Regular Period) February 3, 2016 April 1, 2016 Soccer and Men's Water Polo February 3, 2016 August 1, 2016 All Other Sports (Early Period November 11, 2015 November 18, 2015 All Other Sports (Regular Period) April 13, 2016 August 1, 2016 The initial signing dates are the first dates you're able to sign an NLI in a signing period and the final dates are the deadlines by when you must sign the NLI in that period. If you don't sign early, you can always sign in the regular period. Most coaches try to sign their top recruits in the early period because they don't want to lose them to other schools. In the regular period, they'll try to fill the rest of their recruiting classes with late finds, student-athletes they were previously unsure about, or top recruits who didn't want to commit in the early signing period. Football, soocer, and men's water polo don't have early signing periods because they're fall sports, and coaches are busy with their competitive seasons when the other sports have their early signing periods. Schools will often make admissions decisions sooner for athletic recruits so they can sign in the early period (or in the beginning of the regular period), but sometimes an athlete will have to apply to a college "early decision" or "early action" if he wants to sign early. Notable NLI Rules If you are under 21, a parent or guardian must sign the NLI. Athletic aid award letters have their own rules and the institution determines if you need a guardian signature. The NLI must be accompanied by an athletics aid award letter. If you are not receiving an athletics scholarship, you can't sign an NLI. The coach can't be off-campus to give you your NLI or be there when you sign. You are still bound to enroll in a school if there is a coaching change. Typical Reasons You'll Be Released From Your NLI While the NLI is legally-binding, there are situations in which you'll be granted a release from your NLI. Here are the most common situations in which you'll be released from your NLI and free to enroll in a different school. 1. You are not admitted into the university- If you don't get accepted by the university, you won't be receiving your scholarship. However, typically, the NLI will only be issued by the school after you gain admission. 2. You are determined to be ineligible by the NCAA Eligibility Center- All NCAA athletes must be certified by the eligibility center to participate in NCAA sports. A student-athlete can be deemed ineligible if he doesn't meet minimum GPA or SAT/ACT requirements. Or, he can be deemed ineligible if he has violated amateurism rules. 3. One-year absence- If you sign an NLI and do not attend any school for one year, you would then be allowed to attend another university if you file for a release with that school’s conference office. Your athletic department at the school you will be attending can help you with that process. 4. Joining the military or doing a church mission- If you join the military or go on a church mission for 12 months or more after signing an NLI, you'll be allowed to sign with another school without penalty. 5. Discontinued sport- If the school cuts the program for the sport you signed for after you have signed, you'll be allowed to sign with another school without penalty. 6. Recruiting rules violations- If it is determined there were recruiting rules violations after you have signed an NLI, you will have the choice to continue with your NLI or get a release once you have been reinstated. This process will be handled by the athletic department of your university. Finally, if there's an extenuating circumstance or compelling reason why you want a release from your NLI, you can fill out an NLI release request form on www.national-letter.org . If you join the military, you can be released from your NLI. Final Advice Don't procrastinate in signing your NLI. Generally, you'll only have 7 days from the date it's issued. All you have to do is sign it, get a guardian to sign it, and return it. However, don't stress the NLI. If you receive an NLI, you've done the hard part. You've been offered an athletics scholarship. The college will walk you through the process, if necessary. The school wants you. That's why you were offered a scholarship. Make sure you're registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Not only do you need to be certified as eligible before you can participate in NCAA sports, but also you need to register before you can take official campus visits during your recruiting process. Most importantly, focus on your academics. Regardless of how gifted you are athletically, you need to be admitted to college academically. Even after you sign your NLI and you've been accepted by the college, you want to make sure that you finish your senior year strong to ensure you'll be eligible to compete and so that there's no chance you'll have your acceptance rescinded. What's Next? Make sure you know the SAT and ACT scores you need to compete in NCAA sports. Also, learn what you have to do to build the most versatile college application. Finally, review this article on the college athletic recruiting process. 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