Term insurance is that life insurance policy that provides coverage for a limited time, or a specified term of years. When the period or term is over, the premium increases significantly, and this makes the policy cost prohibitive. Term insurance is the least expensive type of life insurance and has no cash value. The insured gets a death benefit once he/she dies within the time period or the term. If the insured dies outside the term, for instance a day after the expiry of the term, the death benefit is not paid. There are three types of term life insurance policies namely; decreasing term insurance, guaranteed renewable term insurance and convertible term insurance. In guaranteed renewable, it covers a term from one to five years where the premiums are kept constant within the term, but increases upon each renewal. For the decreasing insurance, a low fixed premium is paid but the coverage decreases annually. According to Kaplan (2004), convertible term insurance allows one to convert the term insurance to another form of insurance except that which results into cash value. Whole life insurance is that insurance that provides entire life coverage with a level premium and cash value for the specified coverage. The advantages of this policy is that there is guaranteed life benefits, fixed and known annual premiums, and guaranteed cash value.

Whole life insurance policy requires a larger premium than term insurance due to costs incurred in it. These include the transaction cost to pay for the cost of the death, benefit and the charges converged to the insurance company, and the agent if the policy was withdrawn before a specific time expires. Still, the sales commission charges are higher than those of the term insurance policy. The savings account in the whole life policy may be invested in loans. This increases the premium due to the expected rate of return. Lack of taxation of gains result to a higher premium requirement (cash value) if the policy proceeds until death. In a family, various circumstances will lead to a whole life or term insurance policy to be purchased (Garrett & Swift, 2004). For instance, when one is getting married one will need a term insurance policy. Starting a family may create need for life insurance policy. When a family is purchasing a mortgage, it becomes necessary to purchase the term and whole life insurance policy. A disease or ailment by one of the members may be appropriate for the family to purchase these insurance policies. Moreover, old age and greater chances of retirement will need the insurance policy.

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Introduction

Upon the discovery of stem cell research, its application has raised controversial issues on its benefits. The research, intended to improve on therapeutic procedures has turned into moral and ethical issues rather than its curative advantages. Stem cells are cells capable of dividing, giving rise to two daughter cells, one that is identical to the mother cell and the other to a specialized cell (Panno, 2005). They function as an internal repair system for the worn out tissues in the body. Stem cells from animals and human beings have been used for research; these cells are embryonic stem cells and somatic/adult stem cell. Even though the benefits of stem cell research are realistic, critics tend to harp at the various uncertainties associated with the technology. The use of embryonic stem cell for research has been criticized by many especially those who believe that life begin at conception. This is because it involves the destruction of blastocysts formed from human fertilized eggs. This has raised issues to prohibit this technology. Stem cell research and therapy is beneficial to human life, its discovery was a good idea that should be viewed as cure to some diseases.

This technology has been opposed by many pledging for its prohibition. First, there have been claims that embryonic stem cell research involves the destruction of blastocysts, an early aged human life. This has raised moral and ethical issues among individuals. It is argued that in embryonic stem cell research, the used embryo is not of the patient’s cell thus creating high chances of rejection by the patient’s body (Almeder, 2004).  This would then result to immunogenic reactions by the patient’s body. Another criticism is that there has been no cell line for embryonic stem cells since they are difficult to control, attempts have led to mutations making the cells unusable to patients. The fear of tumor development from these cells leading to cancer has raised the controversy on the technology. There have been no clear debates on the long term effects of the technology thus there exist unknowns associated with the adult stem cell (Sell, 2004). There has been touting concerning the harvesting of stem cells citing that adult stem cell entails a difficult procedure in harvesting. Still, people claim that stem cell research has limited flexibility and seizes cells to be programmed to any type of cell in the body.

The fact about embryonic stem cell research is that blastocysts have no developed organ but only a single cell that cannot be equivalent to human life. Many countries have legalized abortion this might well allow the embryo be used for research rather than carrying out abortion. Immunogenic reactions can be nullified by use of somatic cell nuclear transfer, a technology that enables patients to use their own cells. The embryonic stem cell lines remain intact for long periods of time this paves way for the production of large numbers of cells. Embryonic stem cells can develop to any type of cell in the body thus they are versatile and flexible. In adult stem research, chances of tumor formation are rare since they have a low tumorigenic potential. This technology has enabled scientists to research on cell growth and development. This has aided in preventing birth defects.

The discovery of stem cell research poses a great benefit to the population at large. Its application in the medical field has done humanity great justice. The technology has been used in cell-based therapies where cells and tissues are formed for medical use. These cells have been used to treat diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson’s, and type I diabetes by replacing the worn out or damaged cells (Yanhong Shi, 2008).  Stem research has enabled scientists to understand procedures of some conditions making it possible for them to reverse them for instance birth defects.

In the pharmaceutical field, stem cells research has been of great advantage. They have been used to test for new drugs and effects of the drugs studied before testing them in laboratory animals and human subjects. Only those drugs that seem to have beneficial effect on the stem cell would be recommended. This has improved accuracy and viability of drugs being dispensed to patients and drugs to be procured. The technology has benefited the human health. This has been achieved by acquiring a source of replacement cells through the formation of specialized cell types. This will help cure diseases such as Leukemia by stem cell transplant of the bone marrow.

In summary, the benefits of stem cell research outweigh the disadvantages. The discovery of these cells has led to the understanding of these cells and their role in our organs functioning. They have enabled scientists to identify diseases related to cell division and their possible causes, this has seen to their treatment and control. Stem cells have proved to be of good use to humankind since they act as ‘spare parts’. The hope and promise of these new procedures is astonishing in its scope and range pertaining to the advancement of the human species. I strongly hope for intense cures from this technology.

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Introduction

System failures are becoming a dominant scenario in the digital computing age. Such failures can result in hardware can cause access to the data difficult, or may result to data loss. Apart from data loss due to system failures, there are cases associated with accidental deletion of data. Data recovery strategies aim at salvaging data from digital storage media, which may be because of a damaged or corrupted disk that renders the data inaccessible using normal access methods (Nelson, 2011). Numerous software utilities can aid the process of data recovery, with each having different functionalities and limitations to suit a particular context of data loss. This paper provides a review of Recuva and Eraser software utilities.

Recuva

Recuva is a data recovery application developed by Piriform. It is available for free and works under Microsoft XP, 2003, 2000 and Windows 7. The file systems capability that Recuva can support are NTFS, FAT and exFAT file systems. The current version of Recuva is not supported in Linux and MAC OS X environments. Recuva is used to recover data that has been subject to permanent deletion by the operating system. In addition, the software can also be used to recover data from external digital storage media such as flash drives and memory cards (Piriform, 2011).

Product features

Recuva has a graphical user interface that is easy to use. Most of the program functionalities are accessible by clicking the functionality buttons such as scan to display the list of files that one wants to recover. Results’ filtering is also another product feature, where results are displayed according to file names and types. In addition, Recuva has the capability of storing all types of files that are recognized by the Windows operating systems. An important feature of Recuva is that it is fast and does not take much of the processor time during run time. Apart from file recovery, Recuva has a secure deletion feature, whereby deleted files cannot be recovered using any other data recovery software (Piriform, 2011).

How Recuva retrieves lost data

Data storage on a windows operating system deploys the use of a Master File Table to index files stored on hard disks. When a file is deleted, it is marked on the MFT as deleted, implying that the file is still available on the hard drive, unless Windows overwrites the file location. Recuva functions by scanning the MFT entries for files that have been marked as deleted. File attributes such as name, size and date of modification are usually stored in the MFT, and Recuva therefore displays this attributes and comprehensive lists of files that the user may want to recover. In case Windows overwrites the MFT entries, Recuva cannot recover files, whose MFT entries have been overwritten, therefore it vital to rub Recuva immediately after the accidental deletion (Surhone & Timpledon, 2011).

Recuva also uses the deep scan process to analyze the MFT files and the hard drive contents. In the deep scan strategy, Recuva scans each cluster on the hard drive or the external storage media to determine the header that denotes the start of a file. These headers contain information regarding the file attributes. The limitation of the deep scan method is that Recuva has no capabilities of recollecting fragmented files back to one piece.

In addition, the user can deploy the use of the two-scan method, whereby Recuva searches the drive for deleted data, while the second scan is used to report the chances of successful recovery for the identified files (Surhone & Timpledon, 2011).

The major improvement required in Recuva is to enhance its ability recover files that have been deleted securely. In addition, Recuva software should be designed in such a manner that corrupted files can be restored to their normal functionalities.

Eraser

Eraser is security utility for Windows Operating systems that allows the user to permanently delete files from hard drives by overwriting the data location several times, making it difficult to recover such data. The current version of Eraser works under Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Vista, Server 2008 Release 2, and Windows 7. Eraser comes with a simple graphical user interface to facilitate secure deletion of files, which involves the use of drag and drop to delete files securely. The functionality of Eraser is limited to drives that are formatted using Windows. An important aspect of Eraser is that its scheduler can be customized according to the user deletion requirements. Eraser integrates itself into the windows context menu, and provides the user with a choice of the secure deletion algorithms that are government sanctioned (Heidi Computers, 2011).

How eraser works

Normal deletion of files does not eliminate the files from the hard drives, rather it only deletes the reference or access to the file, since the file attributes are indexed on the MFT table, thereby providing a chance of recovering data that has not been deleted securely. For secure deletion to occur, the file index in the MFT must be reset to zeros and blanks in order guarantee that the file cannot be recovered.  Eraser ensures secure file deletion by use of multiple overwrites on the MFT index entries. Multiple overwrites serve to eliminate the possibility of file recovery by studying the magnetic fields of the hard drive (Heidi Computers, 2011). Eraser makes use of overwriting patterns that are based on secure Deletion of data from magnetic memory and other solid-state memory. In addition, Eraser ensures that there are no magnetic remnants, which can be used to trace the deleted data. The design of Eraser puts into consideration the various issues associated with permanent deletion such as data encoding and write cache. A functionality review revealed that Eraser securely deleted IGB data in 10 minutes, which is not bad for a secure deletion process (Inman, 2011).

Conclusion and Further Work

            Recuva and Eraser are one of the freeware available currently to foster effective data recovery, secure file deletion as evident in the file recovery, and secure data deletion algorithms. Significant improvements are needed on the Recuva in order to facilitate the recovery and restoration of corrupted and fragmented files in the hard drive. Eraser should enhance the usability of their software by use of direct button for secure deletion instead of the drag and drop strategy.

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In GE, unlike traits of a species are combined genetically in biotechnology to form a transgenic. Planting these crops contaminates wild plants to cause a biodiversity loss since some have chimeric gene blend that might result to biological contamination and accelerate extinction of important organisms in nature. It is also a supposed seed terminator since GE plants cannot produce seeds, which are saved by farmers for food sustenance. Soil sterility is affected for instance by a GM bacterium called Klebsiella planticola, which cause a sterility of soil by killing essential nutrients. Bio-invasions results from GM crops, which kill beneficial insects like the monarchy butterfly and bees. As a result, it has become a controversial debate in the recent past due to its supposed violation of environmental health (UCS, 2010).

Biotechnology is the root source of GE where desired genes are combined to form a different species through artificial selection.  There have been tight regulations and total bans imposed on the genetically modified foods especially within the Europe Union. GE is not only associated with direct effects to human health but most importantly, its adverse contribution to the environment that has raised concern of environmentalists all over the world. As a result, GE products have been restricted in the market. This has called for more efforts through testing for such products, labeling GE foods, and in maintenance of natural crops to avoid effects of transgenic products and their release to the natural environment, which is restricted to avoid ramifications.

The potential effects of GE on the environment include creation of super-weeds, thus causing unwanted impacts in inhibiting crop yield or even displacing natural flora to cause a disruption of the entire ecosystems. Besides, genetic pollution may occur in that novel genes modified through GE are not restricted agriculturally and if there are nearby related species in the fields, there is a high likelihood of transfer of pollen grain. Genetic pollution has no clean up since it might be hard to identify GE crops in the wild, causing irreversible effects.  As a result the new plats gain more vigor, resistance and therefore, difficult to deal with (LeVine, 2006).

Alterations in patterns of herbicide application occur since GE plants are modified to be herbicide resistant. This might result to more use of herbicides where farmers might use them in a liberal way (UCS, 2010). Since herbicides vary in environmental toxicity, more devastating environmental effects are incurred. Moreover, such resistant crops would trigger an evolution where weeds would become more resistant due to more exposure or transfer of the resistant genes to related species. Additionally, GE causes a lavishing of important pest vulnerable genes in insects, which are prevalent in natural insect’s populations. The genes are crucial since they let the pesticide to effectively manage pests.

Particular GE crops are modified to have a Bt endotoxin, which persist inside the soil for not less that eighteen months. They secrete the toxin in several tissues hence exposing pests to it. Such timely exposure cause a resistant gene in the pest, as the Bt pesticide ends up being useless since it is transferred to wild plants to form super-weeds, that cause a disruption in balance of nature. There is also an emergence of harmful viruses since GE is geared at producing plants that tolerate viruses through incorporation of viral component in their genome to resist infections. However, they might establish new harmful virus with higher virulence in the process of recombination or transcapsidation. In addition, poisoned wildlife may result from being endangered by consumption of plant debris since it contains certain viral promoters e.g. CaMV attached to it. This is detrimental to mammalian organs and immune system. CaMV, being a Para retrovirus may cause reactivation of dormant viruses and establish new ones (Benny, 2009).

To sum it all, transgenic organisms when released in the environment may cause an injury to genetic diversity, as it might contaminate natural gene pools. Probable mutations might result, which could eliminate the natural genes. These mutant genes are detrimental to the environment and this might spoil the local ecology and the food chain where GE crops compete with related wild species (UCS, 2010). It is therefore the role of man to safeguard the ecosystem in order to promote sanctity, serenity, as well as development by avoiding technologies that would be detrimental. This will safeguard earth as our home and the resources therein, through united efforts for people from all walks of life, aspects that are in line with St. Leo‘s value of respect and responsible stewardship.

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1. What are typical corporate governance challenges faced doing cross-border business? What could be done to improve C&L’s system of checks and balances?

Doing cross-border business has various corporate governance challenges. The typical challenges in doing cross border business are differences in terms of culture, legal policies and business differences, which makes the upholding ethical organizational behavior across the different settings a difficult task to the corporation. In order to improve C&L’s system of checks and balances, the company should aim at developing a strong organizational culture that puts into consideration the diverse needs of its members in the different countries. In addition, the company should establish a well outlined internal control procedures in order to facilitate the smooth running of the business at the local level. Another way of enhancing corporate governance at the C & L Company is to foster the top-level management’s commitment in ensuring the success of the business (Enderle, 2006).

2. There is a culture of offering entertainment and kickbacks at C&L. What risks does this pose to the company? Should a company ever provide entertainment or kickbacks when doing cross-border business?

Entertainments and Kickbacks at C&L pose significant risks regarding to the ethical organizational culture within the company. Entertainments and kickbacks serve to undermine the core ethical values of the organization. Entertainments and kickbacks also provide an opportunity for which the company accountants can exploit the double accounting method through overstating, therefore resulting to personal gain at the expense of the company. In addition, kickbacks do not provide a framework for the development of strong ethical standards for the company. This means that it is not recommended for a company to embark on the culture of giving entertainment when conducting cross border business (Enderle, 2006).

3. Many of the problems the company faces are related to Eddie Tse. How did he obtain a position where he could do so much damage to C&L? Where did the company go wrong?

It is evident that Eddie Tse was the root cause of all the problems to the company. Eddie got to this position because he was not bound by any employment terms, in the sense that his employment contact lacked a non-competitiveness clause. Since there were no limiting procedures bound by his employment contract, Eddie was at liberty to join a competing company, which was later realized that he was a major partner. In addition, as the purchases manager, Eddie had a great opportunity to negotiate with the C&L clientele and this resulted to Eddie misusing the position for his own good at the expense of the company’s integrity. The C&L could have avoided this setback if they had implemented strong internal control procedures and strong ethical standards that could have helped the occurrence of such an ordeal.

4. If you were Anthony Leng, what would you have done differently? How could you have prevented everything from spinning out of control?

Antony Leng being in the position of financial controller at the company had the responsibility of making sure that the financial accountability is ensured. This means that he should have been the first to notice any accountability flaws from the accountant, Xiang Quiling. This means that as the financial controller, he was in a position to detect the deviance behavior by the accountant and purchasing manager. In order to prevent things from getting out of hand, he had the responsibility of deploying internal control procedures that are based on ethical standards and accountability. This would have helped in avoiding the company’s shady deal with Green Beauty somewhat resulted to flaunting of environmental laws, which is the root cause of the problems that the company was facing (Enderle, 2006).

5. Ethical Decision Making Model and Standards of Behavior to assess the ethics involved with this case

The facts and ethical issues involved in the case is the possibility of the company flaunting environmental laws by coordinating with Green Beauty. The key parties involved during the ethical dilemma case were Eddie Tse, who was the purchasing manager; Xiang Quiling, the company’s accountant and Antony Leng, the company’s financial controller. The accountant reports to the financial controller and coordinates with the Purchasing Director, who in turn reports to the Chairman. At the organizational level, the case implicates both the Green Beauty and the C&L Company. The viable alternatives with the case at the internal organizational level are to access each party’s involvement in the case and the resulting effects on the integrity and operational activities of the organization. For instance, the company’s production license could be revoked in case they are found to have been flaunting environmental laws.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Enderle, E. (2006). In Search of a Common Ethical Ground: Corporate Environmental      Responsibility from the Perspective of Christian Environmental Stewardship. Journal of      Business Ethics , 173.

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For the past couple of years, the New York State was been categorized as one where individuals and businesses were highly taxed. This led to the state population declining to an unexpected level. This bring to attention and deep concern to economist, political activists, businessmen/women and other economic stakeholders on fear of dangers and benefits the Snyder proposed budget can contribute to Michigan state. Actually, developing budgets committed to raising taxes is not based on tax revenues collection perspective.  It is based on the approach of increasing jobs opportunities, promoting and establishing reforms, balancing taxes, cuts down budget expenses, and develops, grow and strengthen state’s economy. In the Governor Snyder’s proposed budget, it is aimed to bring into light power of jobs creation, eliminating the burden of taxes, bringing reforms to all sectors of the state, and induce cost cuts measures to the K-12 education through higher education. This easy tries to analyze and examine various budget economic and sector, benefits and dangers accrued to the proposed $45 billion budgets.

The Michigan year 2011/2012 budget brings to streamline the states budget with the United Nation’s yearly budget (Nixon, A 1). This means, according to Senator Snyder, it focuses to streamlining state spending and creating a fair, simple, and efficient tax collection system to individuals and businesses.  Senator Snyder said as quoted from Michigan Truth Squad, p. 1, that, “This is a comprehensive plan to lay a new, sound foundation in the Michigan state’s reinvention and puts forward an end to significant budgets deficits that the state has experienced for the past decade”. Some of important budgets targets and element for the fiscal year 2011/2012 include job creation, declaring Michigan as place for business, support of the early education K-12, and higher education, cutting down budgets costs, and facilitating structural reforms.

As found on the Bureau of labor statistics in United State, Michigan unemployment rate as per last year results were 12.4%. In history, for the past three years Michigan has never recorded an unemployment level of less than 10 percent. For this purpose, job creation thought brought up by the senator, will probably lead to lowering the unemployment rates. According to the governor’s budgets recommendations, Michigan economic and fiscal issues are dealt with by growing economy through restructuring of the individuals and business taxes (Nixon, A 3). Economic growth will reduce unemployment rate through job creation and still making the state more competitive for business opportunities (Nixon, A 5). Further, the restructuring of taxes across the state will improve the quality life to Michigan citizens. The states business tax as per the budget recommendation is to replace business tax with corporate income taxes. In the past establishing Businesses Tax system in the State made the business environment unfriendly and this lead to State recession. According to the proposal, Nixon, A 5, replacing Michigan business tax therefore will play a bigger boost to economic recovery and jobs creation in return. Entrenching into the State tax operations fair, simple, and efficient Corporate Tax System will perhaps bring in a competitive business field for all likes of business. Business ranging from small, big, industries, among other will play a significant role in jobs creation and thus reduce unemployment rates. Through this all and among other tax restructuring measures will enable citizens to engage into reviving and reinventing Michigan State.

For leveraging the economic growth and the structures, the budgets proposed bring forth a loss of tax revenues from business taxes, which is to be streamlined by the year 2013 (Nixon, A 6). Further, tax collection should be based on more equitable, fair, simple, and efficient base to all the State’s citizens. To promote these taxation principles, the budget proposes to tax all citizens irrespective of the source of income at a flat rate of 4.25 percent (Nixon, A 5,). In addition to this consistence of taxpayers’ tax deductions, the senator argues that eliminations of major exemptions to persons with disabilities, veterans, and military personnel’s will enhance the equitability principle.

Education is another element that is hardly hit by the budget proposals. Many K-12 managers and principles have argued it as a step to make education cost increase and the burden is directly transferred to parents. Economic Experts argue that by making significant cuts to K-12 education will blow a devastating effect to the schools within Michigan State.  Cutting K-12 education funding to $12 billion will mean the schools cutting down its programs cost (Nixon, A 7). The devastating effect will be laying down staffs, which is argued to increase unemployment, and cutting costs relating to schools administration and non-academic activities (extra-curriculum activities) (Farris, p.1). As noted from Michigan Truth Squad, p. 1 the governor cuts of education fund and especially to the K-12 education level, is a major cut in the history of Michigan budgets. The idea of developing State and creating jobs worsen by the education proposal.  For education institutions to create jobs, retain and attract employees there is a need to debate on the cost-cutting measures other than funding options (Farris, p.1). Education budget occupies a significant percentage of the states total budget. For example, the proposed budget provides 53 percent of the budget to the education (Michigan Truth Squad, p. 1). In this regards, cutting down of funds to educational system will translate more shocks to other sectors that will erode the budgets spirit of job creation, free, fair and equitable, and efficiency.

Health care and medical services are other budgets sensitive and essential parts. Michigan State provides these services with collaboration with the federal government. Actually, the sector budget is far much influenced by the United State federal government budget (Michigan Truth Squad, p. 1). The senator’s proposal anticipates the actions of federal actions on health care. The support to continued investment in the human services and health care from the budget is a major boost to allocation practices and improving quality of life to citizens. Provision of better service to the people of Michigan is actually incorporated in a well-managed and improved service delivery system. In addition, for improved service delivery and well-managed health care, partnership with private sector plays a significant role (Nixon, A 10). The proposed budgets campaign for an enhanced relationship between other private stakeholder in key institutions and the State.

Governor’s Michigan proposed budgets reductions and policies are quite challenging. Especially in the area of education, technology and medical programs, the budget focuses on cutting cost at an acute approach. In most institutions affected by the budget cost cutting measures, heads and managers need to view another approach in effecting or successively responding to the budgets shocks.  Even as systems encounter decline to State’s fund supports, institutions should notably continue with their strategic priorities and policies. For example, technology improvement in learning institutions should not be deterred by the proposed budget cuts.

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Free and Open Source Software Social/Economic Implications

            The late 1970s and early 1980s saw the gradual but rapid invention of powerful and sophisticated computer hardwares that could support various applications, and in the late 90s, softwares that includes the ”free and ”open source” could now be tuned to perform specific tasks. In other quarters, particularly in Europe, free and open source software can also be referred as a ” Free/Libre or Open Source Software” (FLOSS). This kind of software can easily be downloaded from the internet and is usually distributed with the same source code that a programmer would normally use to maintain it, and later on redistribute the modified version to other users. The software’s license has no user restrictions and discriminations and its code can therefore be distributed, studied or modified across various fields of endeavor, with the sample licenses normally attached or included in an appendix.

Open source software is also termed free because no fee is charged upon subscribing or downloading it. The main philosophy of free software is the user freedom while its ‘open source’ centers on its peer-to-peer strengths and development model. Users and developers can both improve the quality and functionality of the software through cooperation that has created an online community. This kind of cooperation has essentially seen the utilization of the web and other internet sites as the repository for the source code, design documents, discussions, bugs and issue lists, documentation, and other artifacts that are usually associated with the open-source project. The copyright owners of the source code generally have full control of these projects and will occasionally procure the advice of the online community about its direction. Although the ad hoc nature and development of these projects may result in software failures and poor quality, the success of free and open source projects has interestingly continued to increase the usage of source codes for fully-fledged software development.  Through its interactive on-line projects, the open source projects have allowed individuals be active participants rather than a consumer.

In my opinion, I do back and encourage the use and production of free and open source software because it has changed the Information Technology world at large from the socio-economic perspective. The real opportunities brought by free and open source software have gradually continued to come from different directions.  Throughout this writing, the terms ”free” and ”open source” are going to be used interchangeably.

The Social Implications

            The free and open source phenomenon has widely affected social ties to the formation and evolution of an on-line open source community. Other developers may also join a project due to prior social ties to project initiators. FLOSS projects have virtually enabled a community of diverse members to coordinate and co-exist harmoniously with the aid of the internet technology, which has solved and handled communication difficulties and the massive decentralized projects.   This practice eventually improves socio-technical awareness for those who would like to improve their project’s effectiveness by learning from the FLOSS development teams (Li 175). These communities are generally connected by a derived goal and belief that bridges the traditional boundary of ownership. The wide social pool and individual background has also helped in the coordination and selection of project problems that best suits a person’s interests and capabilities. These conditions give a developer the chance to explore his/her talent with also the opportunity to achieve the best of his/her performance in general (Li 176).

The free and open source developers and the community at large are socially bound by rules and ethics that forms and promotes the sharing of different cultural beliefs, interests, value systems, and other work oriented ideologies that usually captivates their software development practices  and mechanisms. All these goals, beliefs, and the construed organizational rules have tied this virtual community together that any conflict that may arise is easily mitigated with a final resolution.  This kind of social interaction may prove to be an educational tour and advancement of ideologies that might help in class teaching and discussions by providing open courseware for distance learning. The open source concept can also be used to provide the necessary tools required to support academic administration, student registration and the management of library systems (Deek & McHugh 317).

The Economic Implications

            The economic effects of open source software are gradually being felt not only in the software industry, but also in the greater society. Various economies have continued to be impacted by the changing structures in the software market. Therefore, commercial companies such as the computing industry, entertainment industry, and the business community have exploited different strategies for competition purposes. The viability of open source software has also motivated and established different business models around the globe. Economic factors such as ”network effects”, ”total cost of use”, and ”vendor lock-in” have being relevant elements, which surrounds the open source market. In respect to its Windows platform, market giants such as Microsoft have hugely gained advantage and benefited from the Vendor lock-in element. While the ‘‘network effects’’ increases market, penetration through its feedback effects that levels the market share which also includes web servers, browsers, and the operating system fields. Therefore according to the large number of users using a product or service, the network effect element will also increase the value of the product or service (Deek & McHugh 15). This kind of pattern and formula has increasingly influenced the marketing choices and strategies for software products. The ”total cost of ownership” is a business metric that evaluates products and compares its proprietary to open source products that may be claimed by the proprietary provider to be initially cheaper due to it being free of charge.

Governments around the world will also save millions of dollars per annum in license costs derived from the importation and replacement of expensive software systems, and will make a progress in stamping out major trade deficits associated with the IT industry. Open source softwares will also protect nations from the occasional coercion by giant corporate entities that control the ”closed-source” softwares that major governments rely on, and through this, there will be a greater control of the software from a national security perspective. Various companies within different nations will also benefit from the open source concept by developing, improving, and supporting the software without the help of external corporations.

Implications to Companies

            Many companies and information technology enterprises such as Microsoft have endlessly continued to benefit from open source software by utilizing the labor offered by unpaid volunteers. Although in some extent, such companies have ”accommodated” the labor offered in the development of the open source projects. Also during the process of the online projects, these companies have benefited from indirect sales revenues that are gained by the stimulating demand for other services and products offered by the firms (Li177). Therefore, investing in open source benefits the companies because the unpaid service offered by the programmers gives an additional value to a product they sell. This kind of open source projects therefore reduces collaboration costs, and increases the speed of development. The open source applications also turn the conventional business model by allowing by companies to customize them to suit their needs. However, the General Public License (GPL) associated with the open source has been criticized by Microsoft as viral because of its low-cost characteristic, which makes it a competitive threat in implementation as opposed to its closed-source applications (Miller 141). Despite this threat, major companies have continued to enjoy the talent pool witnessed in the online community when it comes solving problems associated with their applications. The open source community therefore serves a good forum to add in the best talent into their bandwagon. Many companies also support the open source concept because they will have an extensive knowledge and solution to a complimentary product from which they can in turn profit from it by subsidizing the open source contributions. In addition, these companies may release a proprietary code with an aim of further developing the open source project, and if it succeeds, the program will be widely used with the firms gaining market leadership an increasing their profitability through its complimentary segments(Miller148) . In some cases, most companies do engage in open source projects with an aim of learning its strengths and weaknesses as a strategy to improve their closed-source products and to better position themselves in the competitive software market. These major companies can also work with individuals towards software development without incurring licensing cost. This is due to the lack of intellectual property rights that would hinder them working together.

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CBT is a form of psychotherapeutic treatment to manage psychological and emotional disorders including sleeping disorders, anxiety, drug abuse, addiction, eating disorders, depression, phobias, posttraumatic stress disorder and other maladaptive behaviors, through altering one’s thoughts and actions (Beck 2). It is meant to modify an individual’s thoughts and behavior. The therapy centers on cognitive processes in relation to behaviors and emotional troubles. CBT is advantageous since it takes place within a limited time to manage emotional problems. It could be applied fortnightly or weekly sessions depending on the problem and the aims mostly extending from six weeks to half a year (Beck 7 & 8). It involves a patient functioning collectively with the therapist to point out the problem and their strategic management. CBT incorporates cognitive as well as behavioral therapy. Cognitive therapy expounds on how individual’s thinking is able to initiate mannerisms and moods. Behavioral therapy on the other hand expounds on an individual’s interactions with problems, behavior and their thinking. CBT lays crucial emphasis on the present progress and not on the past encounters although it also evaluates on the history of the thoughts in infancy and their impact through maturity.

First, CBT persuades an individual to identify and discuss their thoughts towards self, the society and other persons through a stage referred to as functional analysis, essential in indicating the effects of thoughts & feeling on maladaptive actions.  This stage may prove hard particularly for patients with introspection difficulty though it could effectively result to self-discovery and knowledge that helps in the progress of CBT. Secondly, it persuades an individual to discuss actual personal behavior and its effect on thinking and feelings (Beck 10). Here the patient is able to learn and put to practice new procedures applicable in the actual society. For instance, addicted individuals may learn coping skills, applying them and also new manners to handle scenarios leading to relapse. Thus, the key concept in understanding the mechanism of CBT is appreciating the fact that individual’s thinking as well as feelings shapes personal behavior. For instance, negative thoughts on basic incidences such as drowning may make an individual to avoid swimming. Thus CBT allows patient to understand that they have no absolute control of the society but they have a role of in positively interpreting and perceiving such occurrences. As a result, CBT achieves a change of thoughts through cognitive therapy and the course of one’s actions thorough behavioral therapy thus, enhancing self esteem and perceptions toward the society (Beck 11).

As opposed to psychotherapy, CBT centers on dealing with current problems and not on the past ones by practically drafting procedures of having a healthy state of mind every day and does not incorporate pharmacological medications (Beck 6). It is essential not in eradicating a specific problem but on managing it through positive thinking thus, effectively managing problems such as anxiety as well as depressions. CBT has recently proved acceptable among therapists, clinicians and sociologists since it is short time therapeutic treatment and inexpensive, relative to other therapeutic procedures. Its wide use is also attributed to its effectiveness in managing diversified maladaptive behaviors. CBT is gradual toward attaining great goals, which makes the process less demoralizing and easier to effectively attain the specific set goal. Its outcomes can also be determined easily. It is recommended for individuals who practice introspection at ease. However, its effectiveness depends on the patient’s cooperation and his willingness to invest time on introspection (Beck 5). Self-analysis exposes inherent aspects and their enormous effects on physical behavior and is essential in learning coping skills applicable in day to day life.

Work Cited

Beck, Judith. Cognitive Therapy: Basics and Beyond. New York: The Guilford Press, 1995

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Introduction

A key objective of public leadership is to have an influence over people so that ones’ subordinates or followers perform what is required of them. The effectiveness of this leadership influence normally depend on the leader’s personality and that of people around them, the form of leadership power and how one’s subordinates perceives the involvement of the leaders towards achieving the stipulated vision (Hart & Uhr, 2008, p. 56). The nature of influence determines the form of power in public leadership; which refers to the ability of a leader to influence others. In the context of public leadership, there are three main sources of power at the expense of the leader in order to enhance organizational productivity and efficiency; they are legitimate, referent and expert forms of power (Kibe, 2010, p. 34).

Analysis of the sources of power

The three fundamental sources of power in public leadership are legitimate, referent power and expert power. Legitimate power refers to the power that a leader creates by virtue that one’s subordinates believe that the leader has a right of instructing them, and they have the obligation of following the instructions issued to them. Legitimate power is analogous to an authoritative style of leadership, whereby the leader significantly relies on the authority vested on him to get things done within the organization (Kibe, 2010, p. 45). In most public arenas that make use of legitimate power, the organizational structure is arranged in hierarchical manner, whereby each sub level has some authority to which they are answerable. In such a context, the leader’s title depicts the position of power and there is a possibility that subordinates in that particular organizational structure is influenced greatly by the opinions of the leader. It is uncommon to find a public organization structured in legitimate leadership whereby the subordinates do not take the opinions of the leader into consideration (Ramirez, 2011, p. 123). A significant characteristic of legitimate power is that it helps in the restoration and maintenance of order in a public organization. It is inferable that the lack of legitimate power causes chaos and lack of organizational efficiency, owing to the fact that chain of command will be lacking. This means that an organization cannot achieve its direction and mission if legitimate power lacks. However, legitimate power does not guarantee that employees will maximize their potentials or feel empowered by the leader. The effectiveness of legitimate power is only limited to individuals who have identified those in power and are subservient to authority. The basic argument is that legitimate power requires the support of other forms of power in public leadership in order to be fully effective.

Referent power in public leadership is normally established when followers are of the belief that the leader has the appropriate leadership qualities according to their admiration. In such a case, the followers often try to imitate their leader. Fundamentally, the effectiveness of referent power relies on the followers’ perception with respect to the personality of their leader. Referent power deploys the use of transactional leadership rather than authoritarian style of leadership. Referent power is required in order to offer the feeling of support and commitment that the leaders have towards their followers (Kibe, 2010, p. 56). Referent power is one of the most effective approaches of empowering and motivating followers towards an organizational direction, this is because it entails the leader’s involvement and commitment towards the realization of the stipulation organizational direction, mission and vision. As a result, followers are likely to be influenced by this form of leadership. A significant constraint of using referent power is that it does address diversity effectively; this is because different individuals in an organization have different personality admirations and expectations from their leaders. This implies that this form of power will only be effective on individuals who perceive the leader as their admiration, while it will be resisted by followers who have different expectations and admirations. Referent also requires supportive power frameworks to be effective

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I. Describe how the Great Depression was Similar to the Panic of 1893

The Great Depression and the Panic of 1893 were both characterized by the unusual high rate of unemployment with companies that were very busy holding back on production or standing idle. In both events, most banks and companies completely went out of business with Americans losing homes or savings, and the general economy was in a state of low activity (Sherman, 2006). Also in both events, the Wall Street in New York was pivotal to the fall of the whole economy and the governments both faced political turmoil and setbacks.

II. Describe how the Great Depression differed from the Panic of 1893

The Great Depression resulted from the stock market crash while the Panic of 1893 was from the decline of U.S. gold reserves and the uncertainties on the U.S. industrial surpluses that required foreign markets. The panic of 1893 was also less severe than the Great Depression because the later had an interconnected, larger, and more complex industrial economy which affected people more directly.

III. Analyze the reasons that led to the Great Depression

Profoundly, some pivotal historical events have had an enduring impact on ensuing events and the stock market crash of 1929, otherwise known as the Great Depression stands out as such an event. The stock market crash initiated this period of vast economic, social, and political changes that altered the whole remaining 20^th century in ways that couldn’t be anticipated by anyone as the 1920s came to a conclusion. This crisis mainly hit the Wall Street in New York where most Americans actually owned stocks. The stock investors who were loaned money by various companies sold their stocks to raise the money needed for the reimbursement of these loans requested by these companies (Sherman, 2006). This action led to the market losing its value as brokers could not find buyers to keep the stock value buoyant. In October 24, 1929, the day came to be known as ‘’Black Thursday’’ as stock prices plummeted. This extreme event deprived millions of Americans of their jobs, savings, homes, security, pride, and hope, while investors went bankrupt and hundreds of banks failed. The market crash served as a warning to the Great Depression, although the economic turndown did not precisely start during this period. Lasting for a decade, the Great Depression is America’s worst economic downturn in its history.

IV. Analyze the reasons that led to The Panic of 1893

This event resulted from the turndown of U.S. gold reserves and the immense uncertainties on U.S. industrial surpluses that need foreign markets. The loss of gold brought the suspension of gold recovery seem more susceptible, and hence a diminution in the gold value of the dollar. In April 21, 1893, there was a downturn in the general economy with the pronouncement of the U.S. gold reserves falling below the 100 million dollar mark. This also led to the plummeting of stocks on the New York exchange with many banks and commercial institutions going out of business. Depositors withdrew their finances and life savings from the failed banks. Investors also turned cautious with their money due to the disquiet about the dependability of the banking system and the stability of the dollar (Sherman, 2006). Most workers were laid off and various firms held back on production due to the downturn in export trade and the slow business activities.

V. Identify what factors helped end the Great Depression and the Panic of 1893

One factor that helped end the long wave of the two historical events was the penetration of U.S. exports into new and growing world markets by major U.S. industrial giants. Businesses that wished to compete internationally and establish foreign ventures were actively supported by the government. In addition, the extensive reforms in the economic, institutional, and political systems helped end the lingering economic crisis in both events. This was specifically achieved by eradicating legal, institutional and political blockades against industrial consolidations and business combinations (Sherman, 2006).

VII. Analyze how the Great Depression changed American politics and society

The Republican Party that ruled the country when the Great Depression began suffered a political fall and hostility and the Democrats were suddenly regarded as the ‘people’s’ party from both the middle-income and lower-middle groups who formed much of  the greater population. The Democrats extensive reforms were supplemented by this majority apparition although they did not cure Depression. The Democrats ‘New Deal’ that resonated well with the public brought in legislations that regulated the banks and the stock market. The materialization of these reforms could have only surfaced from the political cataclysm caused by the Great Depression (Sherman, 2006).

Abstract

The Great Depression and the Panic of 1893 are some of the two noticeable economic downturns which had effects on both Americans and the world at large. The implications of these two events were far-fetched to major systems of the country to the ordinary Americans. The events were two time-bombs waiting to exploded despite its early warnings which were tacit until it could not be contained any more. These events brought out a wider focus and scrutiny in any changes in the Wall Street with no repose on assumptions that led to the ignorance of both events. The scenes and sights projected from these events brings in a picture of long suffering and hopelessness that defines an era and government, while political and social gains can still be achieved from these inopportune events even though the parties involved are not credible enough. Although the two events resulted from two different circumstances, it taught us all severe lessons that bring in a cautionary tone in the meticulous legislation and regulation of political, social, and economic systems that can end up being catastrophic.

 

Keywords: economic downturn, meticulous, buoyant, market crash, market value.

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