The Opportunities for Work-Based Experience in Sport Essay Example

The Opportunities for Work-Based Experience in Sport Essay The sectors The sport and recreation sector is one of the fastest growing sectors within the I-J economy. With high levels of investment planned over the next five years (in conjunction with the 2012 Olympic Games) there will be more and more employment opportunities for people looking for a career within the field of sport. Health and fitness The health and fitness sector is a huge growth area within the sector as a whole. With over 2,000 private health clubs within the I-J, and with provision within the public ND voluntary sectors, this is a key area of employment for people looking for employment within the sector. This area is likely to grow as health and fitness has come to the forefront of the Governments battle with the populations obesity levels. Employment within this area focuses on the supervision, leadership and management of exercise and physical activity. People working in this area need to be physically active and healthy, as a large portion of the Jobs available will require practical demonstrations. Key Jobs within this sector include: Sport and recreation The sport and recreation industry now makes up a large proportion of the UK economy. Around 5% of the Auks gross domestic product is contributed by this sector alone. We will write a custom essay sample on The Opportunities for Work-Based Experience in Sport specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Opportunities for Work-Based Experience in Sport specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Opportunities for Work-Based Experience in Sport specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer To get a clearer picture of the size and popularity of sport in the I-J, here are some facts and figures:- The sports sector accounts for around 2% of all people that are in employment within the I-J (around 550,00 people) Football is the most popular sport in the UK with 48,600 clubs, with over three million participants There are 2,000 tennis clubs with over two million players 43,000 working in the private sector 36,600 working in public sector leisure centers There are 3,738 public sports and leisure centers within the UK 20% of all health clubs are based in London, but key growth areas are in the North, East Anglia and Wales (Source: www. Prospectus. AC. UK) Key Jobs within the sector include: Sports development officer Sports attendant PEE teacher Sports centre management Sports ground facility worker Sports promotion Sports coach Professional sports performer Outdoor education With the Government proposing the opening of the country to all, this sector is again likely to see a growth in terms of employment. The outdoors offers a huge range of activities that cater for the novice hill walker to the expert rock climber. Not only has the opening up of the countryside given rise to a growth in the sector, but there have also been developments where people are now more willing to undertake outdoor explorations and even expeditions. These activities need trained professionals, and the employment vacancies are growing. Key Jobs within the sector include: Climbing instructor Sailing instructor Outdoor pursuits manager Water-sports instructor Canoe instructor Sport and exercise science Careers within sport and exercise science are all about the application of scientific reminisces to the promotion, maintenance and enhancement of sport. Sports Science has a become a popular course to undertake at under-graduate and post-graduate level, and with the increased need for sport and exercise scientists, the demand for trained professionals has increased. Key Jobs within the sector include: Sport bio-mechanist Sport dietician Exercise physiologist Sport psychologist General sport medicine Clinical cardiac physiologist GAP referral exercise consultant Who are the providers of sport and recreation? People who take part in sport and recreation do so because a wide range of sources, services and facilities are provided by a multitude of different providers. These different providers are needed because a range of facilities are needed. These could be indoor and outdoor facilities, or dry land or water. The providers offer services to try and meet a diverse range of needs and demands from individuals, families, clubs, groups and community users. The providers of sport and recreation services come from within the public, voluntary and commercial sectors. The reason why all these institutions have become involved in sport and recreation is the increased pressure placed on the sector. Indeed, in some areas of the sport and recreation sector organizations have been forced to pool their capital and resources and enter into partnerships in order to successfully provide a service. The sectors do try and offer different services and provisions, but is clear that there is over-lap between the public, voluntary and commercial sectors. They have had to increasingly become dependent on each other. Although they have different viewpoints, objectives and approaches, if the learner is to gain a work-based experience it is important that the distinction between the providers is understood. C Public sector The public sector is a major provider of sport and recreation facilities and services within the I-J. Public sector sport and recreation organizations are largely funded by local government, and will also have a huge influence as to the level of service and facilities they provide. Local government provides a huge range of facilities to which the public has access, at no direct cost. These facilities include urban parks, playgrounds, libraries, picnic areas, nature trails, beeches and country parks. Local government also provides facilities such as swimming pools, playing fields, golf rouses, sports centers, athletic tracks, art centers and museums where there is a direct charge to the user. However, it should be understood that these charges are usually highly subsidized. The public sector is really important to the sports sector as a whole as it is usually the enabler between all the sectors, especially when a partnership is developed. Below is a list of facilities and provision that would be lost if the public sector ceased funding sport and recreation within the UK: There would be no urban recreational land (playing fields, football pitches, cricket pitches etc. As they would be sold for more profitable ventures like supermarkets and housing Swimming pools would be closed as these are not commercially viable. Only fun pools would be left which would be expensive to use and offer little benefit in terms health and fitness Sport and recreation facilities would only offer profitable sessions. These facilities would fill up with 5-a-side football sessions as these make money. Sports like badminton would be marginals Access to the countryside would be restricted as there would be no one to maintain the paths Museums and art allergies would close, or offer art displays that only the very rich could afford to see Arts like opera, ballet and the symphony would disappear as these are not commercially viable. They may gain sponsorship from large firms, but access to these events would be greatly restricted There is no danger of the public pulling out of sport and recreation. However it should be noted that funding for local government has fallen and sport and recreation departments have suffered. This short fall in provision is being taken up by the voluntary and private sectors. The diagram on the low gives some examples of the types of facilities. The private sector The major difference between a private organization and a public or voluntary organization is that the primary objective of the private organization is financial profit, or to make a return on its investment. The voluntary and public sectors do not seek to make a profit; they are established, built and run for other reasons. The private sector does not have any real interest in providing sport and leisure provision; it is only really interested in making that all important profit. It is trying to exploit peoples Willingness to pay for sport and recreation provision, by providing facilities that the voluntary and public sectors cannot afford to deliver. This usually means that private sector provision is provided for people at the higher end of financial earnings. Listed below are some strengths and weaknesses of the private sector: Straightforwardnesss can quickly identify and respond to peoples demands It focuses on the consumer There is quite a wide range of provision It is marketed in a more professional manner It provides mass provision and does not cater for specialist provision The market determines the prices Not everyone can afford it Minority groups will always get neglected Listed below are some examples of the types of provision the private sector provides: Pubs, bars and restaurants Betting and gambling Multi-leisure parks Night clubs Ten-pin bowling Cinemas Childrens indoor play centers Hotels Holiday centers Health and fitness centers Theme parks Professional sport Tourism Transport airlines The voluntary sector The voluntary sector within sport is actually quite difficult to define. It is self organized, informal and usually run by people who give up their spare time for free. All the sports clubs that operate within this sector have to raise their own sources of finance, but they can also receive government grants or lottery funding. Listed below are some examples of sport and leisure organizations that operate within the voluntary sector: Badminton clubs Amateur football clubs Village cricket teams The Boy Scouts The Girl Guides This sector is primarily concerned with grass roots participation, and rarely gets involved with elite or professional athletes. The vast majority of provision is provided through local community groups, providing access to sport for people in villages, owns and communities. Probably the most important thing about the voluntary sector is that it operates outside of politics, and operates its own agenda. Listed below are some of the benefits of the voluntary sector: Provides facilities and coaching for everyone within local communities Usually cheaper for people to participate in sport and leisure Can apply for grants and lottery funding Fills the gaps left behind by the public and private sectors Involves local people meeting the needs of their own community Partnerships It clear that the different providers have different aims and objectives, but as overspent funding falls the sectors are becoming increasingly dependent on each other to survive. Partnerships are becoming more and more popular within the sectors, usually between two or more providers, which usually lead to a result that could not be achieved otherwise. Dual use and Joint provision are Just a few examples of how partnerships have been used to provide sport and recreation. Dual use is seen as long-term, regular use of a facility by the general public. This facility is funded by the public sector however, the general public who use the facility are not the people for whom the facility was intended. The most common example of this is where schools let the public use their facilities when they are not being used by the school itself. Sports halls and swimming pools are common examples of this dual use policy. This type of provision usually involves some kind of liaison between the local government, local voluntary organizations and the local education authority. Joint provision is where two bodies have equally access to the facility. So for example a school has a sports hall, where the general public can use at any time of the day or night, then this is called Joint provision. Opportunities in health and fitness, sport and recreation and the outdoors There is a wide variety of possibilities in terms of getting a work-based experience in sport. This section will only give a brief overview of four different Jobs within all of the sectors. What careers are there out there? Health and fitness Physical activity development manager This post can cover a wide variety of roles responsibilities, but generally speaking it will involve the individual working in partnership with a range of organizations to develop the physical activity agenda within communities. One of the fundamental oleos of this post is to try and encourage organizations to adopt physical activity policies. Because of the wide scope of this post it means working with organizations in the health, sport, environment, transport, education, regeneration and many other areas to get the Job done. The overarching aim of this post is to try and encourage all organizations to build physical activity into their planning by emphasizing the potential gains for each individual organization. Tasks that may be part of the Job description include:- Securing funding Developing new projects Project management Research and evaluation Liaison between partners Requirements Potential employers look for people from a wide range of work experience, which includes sport, physical activity and sport development. A higher level qualification is desirable, but not always essential. Skills that a potential employee should have include: Staff management Being very organized Excellent communication Presentations skills Employers and pay This type of post, even within the field of sport, is relatively new so it is difficult to give a direct answer. Principal employers include Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts. The post may also include involvement with other agencies, such as the Countryside Commission (Walking Coordinator) and the British Heart Foundation (Cycling Coordinator). Sport England also has area of employment within the physical activity development area, including regional development posts. There is no definitive starting salary, but salaries usually vary between EYE,OHO EYE,OHO. Sport and recreation PEE teacher Depending on the courses and qualifications sports science learners complete, they can teach on a range of qualifications in primary, secondary schools or in further and higher education. A teacher who specializes in physical education (PEE) will concentrate on the delivery of both practical and theoretically based physical education lessons. These need to be tailor made to the individual learner, irrespective of ability. A PEE teacher needs to be aware that he/she will probably have extra curricular activities, such as managing the schools sports teams. He/she may also have other school responsibilities which may include class and tutoring duties. Schools will require that you have studied a relevant undergraduate course which enables the individual to teach (B De in Physical Education), or completed a relevant undergraduate course and also completed a relevant teaching qualification (PACE). Schools may also ask for some teaching experience, which should be gained through a placement on the undergraduate courses completed. Further education colleges will ask also for a teaching qualification (7301 Stage 1 as a minimum) but also be looking for sports coaching experience. The gaining of relevant sports coaching qualifications would also be of benefit. Universities would expect potential employees to have at least completed a post graduate qualification in Sport. They may not however, ask for a teaching qualification. Employers and pay Typical employers are: Primary schools Secondary schools Further education colleges Sixth form colleges Universities The starting salary for a newly qualified teacher is about EYE,OHO. A college lecturer within their first teaching post would expect to get in the region of EYE,OHO. A university lecturer within their first lecturing would get in the region of EYE,OHO. These salaries are dependent on qualifications and experience, but most of these professions offer progression through the main pay scale. Outdoor education The outdoor pursuits manager runs facilities that are used for the delivery of outdoor eased activities. These activities may include climbing, mountaineering, water-sports and orienteering. He/she will not only be responsible for the facility but also the management and supervision of staff. The outdoor pursuits manager has become more educational, particularly as schools, college and universities make use of these facilities. The manager will also have to supervise and manage users with specialized needs including people with special needs and even young offenders. The manager may also have to cater for corporate groups who would expect a high level of customer service. Requirements Potential employees will be looking for skills experience and qualifications within at least one outdoor pursuits area. The more qualifications that you have the better, as this will give you the ability to teach different areas of outdoor pursuits. You will need practical experience, along with a qualification from a recognized governing body. Applicants must also demonstrate that they have a strong interest in not only outdoor pursuits, but the countryside in general. Employers and pay Local authorities Private organizations At a local authority centre, a managers starting salary would be between EYE,OHO EYE,OHO. An instructor can earn anything from under EIA,OHO to around EYE,OHO, depending on experience and skills. Hours can be very long because of the residential nature of the work. You often need to be available 24 hours a day, so getting away from your work is not always possible. Sport and exercise science Sports dietician Sports dieticians usually go through the process of becoming qualified dieticians, and then undergo further training to make their knowledge and understanding more sports specific. The qualification is governed by the British Dietetic Association (BAD) ND sports dieticians have to undergo re-accreditation every five years. The vast majority of sport dieticians are self employed, and work on a consultancy basis. Only a few organizations will require the services of a sports dietician on a full-time basis. This allows the work of the sport dietician to be varied ranging from working with individuals and groups, and liaising with caterers for recipe development. Sport dieticians are using their knowledge and understanding to help sports performers in achieving their potential through modifying their diet and eating habits. Potential sport dieticians have to be accredited as sports dieticians after successfully completing a BAD validated course. The profession is highly regulated, and individuals will have to undertake a process of individual professional development to ensure their skills and knowledge are of the highest order. Employers and pay Opportunities do exist with sport governing bodies, professional sport organizations and sport institutions. Opportunities may also exist with catering firms and food companies. It is difficult to say how much a sports dietician will earn as most are self employed, and salaries will vary greatly. A sport dietician working for English Institute for Sport would earn in the region of EYE,OHO EYE,OHO. Considerations of a work- based experience in sport How to find a work placement Most learners who undertake a work-based experience usually have three underlining reasons to continue to their education, to use their work-based experience as a trial period or to gain management experience. Generally the learner will be responsible for searching, screening and selecting his/her work-based experience. It is important that when the searching for work-based experiences nominees the lecturer supervising the module takes an active and supportive role during the search and selection stage. The benefits and disadvantages of the learner being in charge of the entire procedure is printed below: Benefits of learner leading prestidigitations of learner leading the preadolescence is usually highly motivated It actually helps the learner prepare for employment Learner can conduct in-depth research on a particular employer they are interested in Learners can discuss their work-based experience with their peers Learners can conduct a skills matching procedure with potential employer Learners may be able o negotiate a better placement than the lecturer in charge Learners search for a work-based experience may be based on convenience The learner may miss potential opportunities The search may be influenced by friends and family Decision for work-based experience may be solely based on getting paid Learner may have unrealistic expectations Learners may not be able to Judge expenses accurately Where to look for a placement Probably the most difficult steps are actually starting to look for a work placement and more importantly knowing where to look. Here are some ideas as to where to tart looking:- Go to the careers office in the College. It will have a variety of books and leaflets on how to find a work placement. If that fails speak to the careers officer Newspapers all have Jobs sections. Local newspapers will have a Jobs paper on a certain night, as will national newspapers. Newspapers are also good for getting contact information about companies There are also dedicated websites designed to help people find a work placement. Log onto www. Prospects. AC. UK and follow the links to the National Council for Work Experience page Professional bodies are also a good source of work placements. They are likely to produce a Journal that usually advertises Jobs from the sector. For example the Institute for Sport and Recreation Management publishes The Recreation Journal which has Jobs in the sports sector Careers and Connections centers Job Centers Magazines Recruitment agencies Newsgroups Listed below are some websites that will help you find a work-based experience in the area that you are interest. Sport and Reconciliation and Fitness. Illustriousnesss. Co. UK www. Supplementation. Org. UK www. Sportsperson. Org. UK www. These. Co. UK www. ]biathlons. Com www. Leisure]bobs. Co. UK www. Springboards. Co. UK www. Lam. Co. UK www. Illustriousnesss. Co. UK www. Lasciviousness. Co. UK www. Peremptoriness]bobs. Com www. Circumferentially. Co. UK www. Devilishnesss. Co. UK www. Overreacting. O. UK www. Fitnesss. Co. UK Countryside educationalist and exercise conscience. Countryside-]bobs. Com www. Countryside]obsession. Co. UK www. Nature. Net/people/careers. HTML www. Blossomed. Co. UK/Jobs/Jobs. HTML www. Nonhereditary. Com/]g_active. HTML www. Cobweb. Org w ww. Bases. Org. UK/newsiest/bohemianism. Asp www. Bad. UK. Com www. Eddies. Org wry. Sport. Com www. Sewing. O. UK www. Involvement. Com mm. . Sported. Net www. Affective. Org. UK Considerations to take into account Location When deciding on where to do their work-based experience, learners need to take into account the location of a potential work-based experience. When deciding how far to travel they will have to consider the following:- Do you want to stay at home? This may limit your opportunities, but will be cheaper Moving away from home may increase your opportunities, but will also cost more money If you have to move do you have any friends or relatives you could stay with to keep the costs down? Do you have a car? If not what is the public transport like to get to the placement? The final decision will probably be based on what you want to achieve from the placement and how long you are willing to spend within the placement. Cost will be a factor, but look at the whole picture (benefits/weaknesses of the placement) before deciding. Hours It is important that learners are aware that the vast majority of people who work in the sport and recreation industry, work unsocial hours. The main reason for this is that the learner will have to work when other people are free, which is usually first hint in the morning, last thing at night and at the weekends. Learners should also be aware they maybe asked to work a Rota-system which will have an impact on their social life. It will also mean that they will have to plan their studies around their work commitments. Regulations Even though learners are only on their work placement for a limited amount of time, they are still protected by employment law. Nearly every part of the Job they undertake during the work-based experience will have rules and regulations that the learner must follow. The learner should expect from their employer: Some kind of contract/Job description that explains what is expected of them, and what is entitled to them The learner should be given some idea of working hours If there is a problem during the placement, the learner should inform their tutor immediately The learners should be aware that because they are under 18, they have additional regulations that they have to follow due to their age. These include: If the learner is over 18 they only have to work a maximum of a 48-hour working week. If the learner is under 18, still at school and working there are some legal restrictions on their hours. They are not allowed to: -Work before am or after pm Work for more than two hours on a school day or for more than one hour before school Work for more than eight hours on Saturdays or holidays, or two hours on Sundays Work for more than 35 hours a week during the holidays Also the employer is bound by Equal Opportunity legislation. Again if the learner feels that the employer is acting in an inappropriate manner, he/she should inform his/her tutor immediately. It doesnt matter what your sex, race, religion, sexual orientation or disability is, the employer should always treat you equally and with aspect. Some of the facts of the legislation include: All employers have to operate an equal opportunities policy its the law. Equal opportunities start with recruitment and cover the treatment of all employees Everyone has the same rights, regardless of gender, ethnic and religious background, sexuality and disability Health and safety There are two parts to the health and safety process that learners need to be aware of. Firstly the College has a duty to the learner and should ensure that he/she is not in a work-based experience that may expose him/her to health and safety risks. The second part of the health and safety process lies with employers. They are bound under health and safety law to conduct a risk assessment of the learner within the new work place. They will have to look at the work the learner will be undertaking, and weigh up whether they have enough safety precautions in place, or they should do more to prevent harm. The employer will need to take into account the following: The placement provider must comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act The employer needs to take into account that the learner is likely to be inexperienced, unaware of health and safety risks and physically or mentally immature Put in place measures to control the risks which will reduce them entirely, or reduce them to the lowest possible level. The employer needs to keep a record of the risk assessment and record the control measures put in place The placement provider must comply with any restrictions or prohibitions on work for young people One of the learners key responsibilities during their placement is their duties under health and safety. The learners duties include: To take reasonable care of their own health and safety To take reasonable care not to put other people fellow employees and members of the public at risk by what they do or dont do in the course of their work To co- operate with their employer, making sure they get proper training Not to interfere with or misuse anything thats been provided for their health, safety or welfare To report any injuries, strains or illnesses they suffer as a result of doing their Job To tell their employer if something happens that might affect their ability to work Roles and responsibilities The roles and responsibilities of the learners work based experience, as outlined on heir Job description, will set out their key tasks and services they will have to perform whilst they are undertaking the work based experience.

Leslie Marmon Silko, “Lullaby” Essays

Leslie Marmon Silko, â€Å"Lullaby† Essays Leslie Marmon Silko, â€Å"Lullaby† Paper Leslie Marmon Silko, â€Å"Lullaby† Paper American Mosaic, July 2011 FOCUS: Leslie Marmon Silko, â€Å"Lullaby† â€Å"Lullaby† is a short story that first appeared in a book entitled Storyteller in 1981. This was a book written by Leslie M. Silko that uses short stories, memories, poetry, family pictures, and songs to present her message. The book is concerned, in general, with the tradition of story-telling as it pertains to the Native American culture. Lullaby seems to be a story of tradition, change, death, loss and the tensions fostered as a result of them between the old couple in the story and the Anglo-American authorities of the time. Throughout the story there are quite a few conflicts. Some are internal between Ayah and herself and others are external ones through Ayah, the white man, and Chato, her husband. The story is told by the main character, Ayah. She’s an old woman retracing tragic memories of life occurrences like the death of her son, Jimmie, in a helicopter crash during a war. She was not sure about what happened to him until a man in khakis drove up in a blue sedan and told her that he was dead and how he died. Jimmie was the one that taught Ayah to sign her name. She regrets this greatly as she relays the loss of her other two children who were taken by white doctors because they were thought to have a disease, allegedly given to them by their grandmother. They were taken because, in fear of the white men who were yelling and pointing for her signature, she â€Å"signed† the children away. Later on, when they were brought to visit, it was apparent the children were forgetting their customs and language; further evidence of the completeness of her loss. These events seem to have severely alienated Ayah towards Chato as well. Especially those specifically related to the children as indicated by, â€Å"She slept alone on the hill until the middle of November until the first snows came. Then she made a bed for herself where the children slept. She did not lie down next to Chato again until many years later when he was sick and shivering and only her body could keep him warm. † Ayah also speaks of her husband’s work (Chato) as a fence mender for a nearby rancher. She took offense at the exploitation Chato endured at the hands of the rancher that employed im, and let him go without hesitation when Chato gets too old to work. As a result they lost their home when the rancher told Chato he [and â€Å"his old woman†] had to be out of the shack [they lived in] by the next afternoon. Despite Ayah’s immense sense of devotion to Chato it seems apparent that she sees him as a weak husband and resents him deeply for it. Though much of the story is of Ayah’s reminiscences, its present tense has Ayah searching for Chato. She finds him walking along the road late on a very cold night [seemingly] in a daze brought on by illness [and wine]. While resting together beside the road she wraps Chato in the army blanket Jimmie sent her thereby eliciting comfort from a symbol of one of her greatest losses. The lullaby she sings to him at the end of the story, as they lie together in the snow, is one that her grand-mother and mother sang to her as a child and seems to provide a sense of closure for her as she sings it. It is one of the last pieces of tradition she can cling to from her own culture as she waits for death to take her and her husband from under the cold, clear winter sky.

Business Regulations and Practices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Business Regulations and Practices - Essay Example In this case, Oya is the President of Paka Corp. to enter into binding agreements on behalf of Paka. However, the agreements must be related to the daily business operations. They should fall within the object clause of Paka Corp. An officer of the corporation does not have the capacity to bind the corporation in anything outside the normal business operations. It is a fact that a corporate officer lacks the capacity to bind the corporation in matters irrelevant to the business. Oya involved the company in a personal loan, which is irrelevant to the business. Paka Corp. is in the business of selling computer services and not in the business of consigning personal loans regardless of the person involved. The fact that Oya is the company President does not change the operating powers of the corporation as outlined in the objects clause. The action of Oya to consign the Paka Corp. for a loan is ultra vires, which makes the whole transaction void. A shareholder owns share(s) in a corporation. Shareholders are entitled to a given number of benefits. Every state has business laws that govern the relationship between shareholders and the corporation (Bruno and Ruggiero 10). In general, shareholders enjoy several rights that are not influenced by the corporation bylaws or charter. Lucia is entitled to all the general rights of shareholders. In most corporations, a single vote is equivalent to one share unless specified otherwise in the corporation laws (Bruno and Ruggiero 13). Based on this fact, Lucia has a voting right in the company. The voting rights of a shareholder are not determined by the number of shares that he or she owns in the corporation. The number of shares also affects the voting power attached to each shareholder. Shareholders with many shares possess strong voting powers. Lucia has the right to attend shareholder meetings

The Effect of the Affirmative action Research Paper

The Effect of the Affirmative action - Research Paper Example I support affirmative action for it has proven most of the myths ton be wrong. That is, it is practically defending the powerless in the society and fight against corruption as well as injustices in the society. For instance, there is a myth that states that affirmative action has not managed to reduce gender discrimination that occurs at the workplace as well as color discrimination. Truly, affirmative action has led to reducing racial discrimination in various work places. Moreover, the racial discrimination has created numerous job opportunities for women as well as to the people with disabilities. That is, most organizations have laid down rules and regulations that defend persons with disabilities as well as women. Affirmative action has managed to educate women as well as persons with disabilities about their right as well as the position that they hold in the society. For instance, the research shows that with the implementation of affirmative action, there has been greater em powerment of women as well people with disabilities to participate economic development in various sectors of development. However, there are various responses from the respondents to affirmative action. For instance, the question was to find out the effectiveness of affirmative action programs about minority and women for job employment in the workplace. In this research, the respondents who were in favor of the favor of affirmative action were 58 and those who were opposing the impact of affirmative action were 36.

Athena in the Odyssey vs. Virgil in the Inferno Essay Example for Free

Athena in the Odyssey vs. Virgil in the Inferno Essay Two of the greatest works ever written, The Odyssey by Homer and The Inferno by Dante, are detailed, multi-sectioned poems about the journey’s of two men. In each story, the main character is given some sort of guidance by another character in order to aid them in their travels. In The Odyssey, Athena is portrayed as the protector to Odysseus on his journey back home from the Trojan War to his family in Ithaca. In The Inferno, Virgil is requested to lead Dante through the depths of Hell in order to save his soul. Many similarities can be seen between the two characters as they both served as advice givers, protectors, and guides for the main character. While the two guides seem very alike in the way’s they help, it turns out that many differences can be observed between their ways. Athena and Virgil can both be perceived as escorts in the main characters’ journey, but they both are leading their pupils towards different endings and these endings can be representative of a much larger purpose that describes the two authors’ views on life at the time each poem was written. In Greek mythology, Athena is regarded as the goddess of Wisdom. She uses her wisdom to aid Odysseus on his journey back home to his family, through various trials and tribulations. Athena’s guidance can be seen when Odysseus is finally being allowed to leave Calypso’s island, which outraged Poseidon. Poseidon sends a great wave to wreck Odysseus’s ship and possibly drown him in the vast ocean but instead Athena helps him survive. â€Å"But Zeus’s daughter Athena countered him at once./ The rest of the winds she stopped right in their tracks,/commanding them all to hush now, go to sleep./ All but the boisterous North-she whipped him up/ and the goddess beat the breakers flat before Odysseus,/ dear to Zeus, so he could reach the Phaeacians,/ mingle with men who love their long oars/ and escape his death at last.† (Ody. 5. 421-427). Another example of Athena protecting Odysseus is during the great battle in the hall when Odysseus finally confronts his wife’s suitors. Athena appears to Odysseus in the form of Mentor and tries to motivate Odysseus to kill all the suitors off with threats and accusations. She even commands the suitors to through their spears at Odysseus all at once. â€Å"At his command,/ concentrating their shots, all six hurled as one/ but Athena sent to whole salvo wide of the mark†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ody. 22. 267-269). Odysseus sees that all of his men are untouched by the suitor’s spears, and this action propels him to take charge and lead an attack on the suitors. Each time Athena guides or protects Odysseus, it’s in order to save his life. She desperately wants Odysseus to get home because Odysseus is a war hero and a King, very much deserving of a safe return home. Athena thinks very highly of Odysseus because he is such a great warrior and she feels he exemplifies the virtue of excellence. It’s easy to see how the ideals of society on life and death in Homer’s 7th Century BC times are portrayed through Athena’s help. The people of this time were most concerned on how you lived your life during the time you had. For them there was no glorious afterlife, so there was no need to try and save your soul to reap the prize of a great time after death. Homer uses Athena as Odysseus’s guide to get back home and live out the rest of his life the way he pleases. He’s spent his time as a warrior and won his most important battles before the beginning of the poem, so now he deserves to live out the rest of his l ife in peace with those he loves the most. Once he arrives home and fights off his wife’s suitors (with the help of Athena of course) he will finally be free in a sense to enjoy his life. In Dante’s The Inferno, Virgil serves as a guide for Dante through the depths of Hell. Virgil is widely considered an allegory for human reason. Reason is needed in a Christian worldview in order to control emotion and desire from taking control allowing for acts of sin. Reason is God’s gift to mankind, a way of staying on the right path and avoiding the dark side of life, if it is used properly. Virgil was requested to help a lost Dante save his soul by Dante’s departed love, Beatrice, who represents God’s grace. Virgil leads Dante through Hell in order for him to learn the descriptions of sins and their consequences. Virgil is with Dante through out his entire journey, unlike Athena who only appears to Odysseus in The Odyssey every once in a while. One example of how Virgil is always there to lead Dante is when Dante faints before entering the First Circle of Hell. Dante faints at the shine of a bright light and awakens already in the next circle. â€Å"With rested eyes, I stood/ and looked about me, then fixed my gaze/ to make out where I was./ I found myself upon the brink/ of an abyss of suffering/ filled with the roar of endless woe.† (Inf. 4. 4-9). This type of situation occurs many times throughout the poem, as Dante proves many times too weak to carry on, and Virgil takes care of him, protects him, and moves them along on their journey. Another situation is when Dante and Virgil arrive at the center of Circle 9 of Hell. They come to the great body of Lucifer, and Virgil throws Dante on his back to continue their upward climb out of Hell. â€Å"At his request I clasped him round the neck./ When the wings had opened wide enough/ he chose the proper time and place/ and took a handhold on those hairy flanks./ Then from hank to hank he clambered down between the thick pelt and the crusted ice.† (Inf. 34. 70-75). While Virgil leads Dante physically in many ways, he also serves as a voice of reason and leads through his words. An example of this is back as they are entering the First Circle. Dante says, â€Å"My master (Virgil) began: ‘You do not ask about/ the souls you see? I want you to know,/ before you venture farther,/ ‘they did not sin. Though they have merit,/ that is not enough, for they were unbaptized,/ denied the gateway to the faith that you profess./ ‘And if they lived before the Christians lived,/ they did not worship God aright./ And among these I am one.† (Inf. 4. 31-39). In this situation, Virgil not only instructs Dante on what he needs to do, but also reveals a little more information about himself as well. Although Virgil seems to guide Dante in almost the exact same way Athena guides Odysseus, Virgil is working towards an all-together different purpose. In Dante’s 14th century AD Christian society, it was imperative to ensure that you lived a good life on earth and repented for all your sins so that you would be in God’s presence in the after-life. Dante uses Virgil as a way for his audience to see that the most important thing is to save one’s soul, even if a little guidance is required to do so. Dante needed to travel through the depths of Hell to be able to wake up and realize how reason should control emotions and desires so that life can be lived in God’s name allowing for a magnificent afterlife. By showing Dante the different circles of Hell, Dante learns the nature of sin and it’s consequences. Virgil teaches Dante a most important lesson; when reason is not in control, it is more likely to commit harsh sins, sins worthy of an afterlife in Hell and not in God’s good grace. Virgil steers Dante toward the light of God once again, saving him from his impending doom, had he not been able to save his wandering soul. Athena and Virgil are considered to be a form of guidance to their poem’s main characters. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Athena helps to ensure Odysseus’s safe return home, but also allows him to live out the rest of his wonderful life on earth by saving him from various dangers including Poseidon and his wife’s suitors. In Dante’s The Inferno, Virgil serves as Dante’s escort through the circles of Hell, but also pilots Dante back into God’s grace by saving his soul. Each can be seen as not only a physical chaperon but also a spiritual one that illustrates society’s point of view on life or afterlife at the time each poem was written. Works Cited Alighieri, Dante. Inferno. Trans. Robert Hollander and Jean Hollander. New York: Anchor, 2002. Print. Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin, 1997. Print.

Image Processing :: essays research papers

Adaptive Shape Contour Tracing Algorithm ABSTRACT In this paper we are going to present a new shape contour tracing algorithm called  ¡Ã‚ §Adaptive Contour Tracing Algorithm ¡Ã‚ ¨. The algorithm can trace open and closed discontinuous digital shapes and return an ordered set of boundary points that represent the contour of the shape. Unlike other algorithms that return boundary points that are part of the traced shape, our algorithm returns background points that are adjacent to the shape ¡Ã‚ ¦s contour. Furthermore, the algorithm is not hindered by shapes that are noisy and ill-defined as it can adapt to interruptions in the shape ¡Ã‚ ¦s contour using a pre-set tolerance and is able to scan multiple neighbors of a given point. The algorithm has a low complexity and no restrictions on the type or size of the traced shape. The extracted ordered set of boundary points represents the contour of a given shape and is important for curvature-based shape descriptors. Categories and Subject Descriptors I.4.6 [Image Processing and Computer Vision]: Segmentation  ¡V Edge and feature detection, Pixel classification General Terms Algorithms. Keywords Image Processing; Contour Tracing; Shape Boundary Extraction. 1. INTRODUCTION Contour tracing is an important process in boundary-based shape matching. All shapes are represented by a pattern of pixels and the contour pixels are usually a small subset of that pattern. Curvature-based shape matching methods rely on the contour pixels to describe the irregularities in shapes and a reliable contour-tracing algorithm is needed to extract the boundary of shapes. If the shape has holes then another hole search algorithm need to be applied to extract the hole pattern and such an algorithm is not part of this article. We developed a sequential contour-tracing algorithm denoted the  ¡Ã‚ §Adaptive Contour Tracing Algorithm ¡Ã‚ ¨. The algorithm computes the surrounding contour of any shape and adapts to all types of closed curve representations whether they are filled or partially filled digital shapes. Any pixel, 1-pixel wide lines, and full shapes could be traced and represented by closed curves. The algorithm also accounts for discontinuities in the shape contour and can reach nearby pixels. The contour trace starts from the top left point or pixel closest to the shape and proceeds clockwise following the surrounding of the contour of the shape rather than the contour itself. The path around the contour is traced in a look-forward sweep pattern to find the next surrounding point that is closest to the contour. The path is then closed when the start point is found.

Company accounting ch1 tut working Essay

The board of directors has resolved to change the accounting policy for treatment of advertising expenditure. Previously, advertising expenditure has been expensed as incurred. Following extensive market research, the board has taken the view that benefits from advertising expenditure in the form of product awareness and increased sales will be received by the company over a 3-year period following the expenditure. Due to a recent fire and water damage to the company’s accounting records, details of advertising expenditure in prior years have been destroyed. Required: The board of directors has approached you for advice regarding the disclosures, if any, which are required for this change in accounting policy. As the change in accounting policy was voluntary, the provisions of paragraph 29 of AASB 108 are applicable as follows: the nature of the change  the reasons that applying the new accounting policy provides reliable and more relevant information to the extent practicable, the amount of the adjustment for the current and previous periods to each financial statement line item affected and, if applicable, the basic and diluted earnings per share the amount of the adjustment relating to periods prior to those presented to the extent practicable if retrospective application is impracticable, the circumstances that led to the existence of that condition and a description of how and from when the change in accounting policy was applied. To comply with paragraph 29, the change in accounting policy note may be worded as follows (other variations are possible): The board of directors has resolved to change the accounting policy for  treatment of advertising expenditure. Previously, advertising expenditure had been expensed as incurred. However, following extensive market research, the board has taken the view that benefits from advertising expenditure in the form of product awareness and increased sales and will be received by the company over a 3 year period following the expenditure. Accordingly, the board believes the new accounting policy will provide reliable and more relevant information. Retrospective application of this change in accounting policy is impractical following a recent fire and water damage which has destroyed the company’s accounting records. Note, insufficient information was provided in the case study to determine: the amount of the adjustments for the current period to each financial statement line item affected; calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share; and how and from when the change in accounting policy was applied. Case Study 3 – Materiality Antelope Ltd is a catering company specialising in providing catering services to remote area mine sites. The company has operations in Australia but during the current year it acquired significant long-term contracts in Pakistan and Nigeria. AASB 8 Operating Segments requires entities to disclose material segment information but Antelope Ltd has failed to comply with this requirement Required: Discuss whether the non-disclosure of information about operations in Pakistan and Nigeria would be material. Information is material if its omission or misstatement would influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial report (the Conceptual Framework, paragraph QC11). The non-disclosure of information relating the existence of long-term contracts in both Pakistan and Nigeria would be material to the users of Antelope’s financial statement. Both countries are politically and economically unstable so there is a significant risk that these operations could be disrupted exposing Antelope  Ltd to potential losses on the contracts and other losses if corporate employees are harmed or property is destroyed. Disclosing the information allows users to factor in such risks into their predictions about the company’s future performance and position and ensures an informed decision is made. Furthermore, paragraph 12 of AASB 1031 notes: In deciding whether an item or an aggregate of items is material, the size and nature of the omission or misstatement of the items usually need to be evaluated together. In particular circumstances, either the nature or the amount of an item or an aggregate of items could be the determining factor. For example: an entity expands its operations into a new segment which affects the assessment of the risks and opportunities facing the entity (paragraph 12(b)(iii)). Practice QuestionsQAEWRT QUESTION 12.1 NOTE: This solution is only one possibility. Students may use alternative or average base amounts. 1.Unrecorded creditor’s invoices These invoices understate Expenses (purchases and service related expenses) and Accounts Payable by $62 150. Base Amount Error as % of base Profit before tax $352 000 17.7% (62 150/352 000) Payables (current) 316 000 19.7% (62 150/316 000) As the error is greater than 10% of both base amounts it is material and must be adjusted. If the invoices all relate to purchases within a perpetual inventory system the accounts affected are Inventories (current asset) and Accounts Payable (current liability) and there will be nil profit effect. 2.Sales invoices not processed These invoices understate both Sales Revenue and Accounts Receivable by $50 000. Additionally, Cost of goods sold (expense) is understated and Inventory (current asset) is overstated by $36 000. The profit effect is $14 000 ($50 000 – $36 000). Base Amount Error as % of base Profit before tax $352 000 4.0% (14/352) Sales Revenue 3 600 000 1.4% (50/3 600) Receivables (current) 621 000 8.1% (50/621) Inventory (current) 345 000 10.4% (36/345) The omitted invoices are material in relation to inventories and should be adjusted. 3.Bankruptcy of Debtor after reporting date The adjustment will increase Bad Debts expense by $89 120 and decrease Accounts Receivable by $89 120. Base Amount Error as % of base Profit before tax $352 000 25.3% (89 120/352 000) Receivables (current) 621 000 14.4% (89 120/621 000) The overstatement is material in relation to both base amounts and must be adjusted as it relates to conditions existing at reporting date. QUESTION 12.3 The significant variances between the provision for warranty and the actual repairs in the two years indicate that either the policy of using a percentage of net credit sales as a means of estimating warranty costs is not appropriate, or the percentage used is not adequate. The company needs to look at changing either its policy or perhaps simply increasing the percentage used. Past claims as a percentage of past net credit sales should provide a reliable measure. If a new percentage is adopted it will be applied prospectively (from 2015-16 on) according to AASB 108 paragraph 36. If the variance for 2014-15 was due to an error in calculation then, providing it is material, the figures for 2014-15 should be retrospectively corrected (according to AASB 108 paragraph 42) by the following entry: Retained earnings (1 July 2015)Dr 8 000 Provision for WarrantyCr8 000 Additionally, this would indicate that the variance in 2013-14 may be a one-off aberration. QUESTION 12.5 Release of investigator’s report on 1 August 2015 The release of the report and the decision that damages were payable by Antelope Ltd provide new information about conditions existing at the end of the reporting period given that the release of the noxious gases occurred in June 2015. At $750 000 the amount is clearly material (in relation to profit before tax of $360 000) and the following adjustment should be made: June 30Damages expenseDr750 000 Damages payableCr750 000 (Recognition of damages liability) Credit notes raised on 9 July 2015 As these credit notes relate to sales which occurred prior to the end of the reporting period this provides more information about conditions existing at 30 June 2015 and will (or may, depending on materiality) require adjustment by journal entry. However, as the credit notes represent only approximately 4% of profit before tax ($15 000/$360 000), it could be argued that no adjustment is necessary on the grounds of immateriality. The journal entry (ignoring materiality considerations) is shown below: June 30Sales returns and allowancesDr15 000 Accounts receivableCr15 000 (Credit notes relating to June sales) Liquidation of debtor As the liquidation was caused by an event after the end of the reporting period no adjustment will be made as this information does not change the situation that existed at 30 June 2015. However, the $52 000 loss (80 cents in the dollar x $65 000) will be material to next year’s profits based on  the current year’s profit before tax ($52 000/$360 000 = 14%), and must be disclosed by note. Antelope Ltd Notes to the financial statements year ended 30 June 2015 Note X:Events occurring after the end of the reporting period In September 2015, a debtor owing $65 000 went into liquidation. The company expects to recover only 20% of the amount owing.QUESTION AASB 108, paragraph 36 requires that the effect of a change in an accounting estimate shall be recognised prospectively by including it in profit or loss in the period of the change. New information in the form of debts which actually went bad during the year ended 30 June 2015 proved that the estimate of doubtful debts as at 30 June 2014 (last year) was inadequate and should have been $17 600 rather than $12 000. The amount of $5 600 ($17 600 – $12 000) in bad debts written off that was more than allowed for last year has been added to bad debts expense for the current year (i.e. prospectively) in accordance with paragraph 36. The balance of the bad debts expense for the current year, $23 400, is comprised of $17 800 (allowance for doubtful debts as at 30 June 2015 based on an analysis of outstanding account receivable balances) plus $5 600 (adjustment for underestimation of allowance for doubtful debts as at 30 June 2014). The key issue here is whether or not the change in the way Mousedeer Ltd estimates its doubtful debts is a change in an accounting policy. AASB 108, paragraph 35 states ‘A change in the measurement basis applied is a change in an accounting policy, and is not a change in an accounting estimate. When it is difficult to distinguish a change in an accounting policy from a change in an accounting estimate, the change is treated as a change in an accounting estimate.’ The asset here is Accounts Receivable, a financial asset which is measured at the lower of nominal value and recoverable amount. Where a debt is not expected to be collected in full it is  disclosed in the financial statements at its expected amount via the allowance for doubtful debt adjustment. The change in the way this ‘recoverable amount’ is estimated does not change the measurement basis and is therefore not a change in accounting policy. Mousedeer Ltd should disclose the nature and amount of any change in an accounting estimate (according to AASB 108 paragraph 39), usually in its accounting policy note.