Minority Report (Important Idea)

In the film â€Å"Minority report† important ideas are demonstrated to the audience. The director of this film â€Å"Steven Spielberg† uses the technique of symbolism to support the interesting idea of freewill vs. destiny. In minority report, the idea freewill vs. destiny is portrayed through the protagonist ‘Chief John Anderton’, a confident leader of the â€Å"Pre-Crime† organisation. One of the main issues the film raises is whether the future is set or whether free will can alter the future. We don’t choose the things we believe in, they choose us. † Steven reflects the major idea of freewill vs. destiny by Anderton’s approach towards his prey Leo Crow. However there is also the added question of whether the pre-cogs are correct. Perhaps from Anderton’s point of view, he wasn’t going to kill Leo Crow, but being set by a clever and knowledgeable criminal (Lamar Burgess) who wants Anderton out of his way. The film indicates that Anderton’s knowledge of the future may actually be the factor that causes Leo crow’s death. The pre-cog Agatha also states that since Anderton knows his future, he can change it. This is describes as the main paradox regarding free will vs. destiny in the film. Is it possible that the act of accusing someone of a murder could begin a chain of events that leads to the ‘muuuuurrr-ddeerrr’? In Anderton's situation, he runs because he is accused. The only reason he ends up in circumstances where he might be forced to kill is because he is a hunted man. If Anderton wasn’t accused there would be no question of him committing a criminal act. The prediction drives the act – a self-fulfilling prophecy. He was displace in a circle, unsure of which way to turn. â€Å"Sometimes in order to seek the light, you have to risk the dark. † This idea of free will vs. destiny is worth learning about because it does not only apply to John Anderton in the film, an idea similar to this applies to lots of citizens around the world who believe in such a thing like destiny†¦

Ethical Standards in Health Care Accounting Essay

As a health care manager, there is a need to understand the basic accounting principles and the need to be able to look at a financial report and understand what it says. Without these keys and a good ethical compass, there could be serious consequences and could result in loss of revenue, funds, termination, or even prison time. Now this may seem like an extreme statement, but without using the four elements of financial management and some good common sense, it might not be a far stretch of the truth. This paper will address the four elements of financial management and how good ethical standards and common sense ensure the best results. The Four Elements of Financial Management Financial management is simply put managing the financial aspect of a business. That involves cash coming in and cash going out. There are four elements of financial management which include planning, controlling, organizing and directing, and decision making. These four elements are important and need to be discussed separately. Planning â€Å"The purpose (of planning) is to identify objectives and then to identify the steps required for accomplishing these objectives† (Baker & Baker, 2011, p. 5). Planning allows a manager to understand what his or her organization is about, or what it wants to achieve. This stage allows a manager to lay out the basic roadmap for what needs to happen. This does not meant that this is exactly what will happen, but still it provides a starting point. Creating a plan also requires thought into developing checks and balances. Who will be in charge of what, and who will be watching over whom. Plan to make it difficult for someone to make unethical decisions. According to Chuck Gallagher, a business ethics and fraud prevention expert; â€Å"Unethical behavior(s) that morphs into fraud will always have (need, opportunity, and rationalization) at their core† (Gallagher, 2009, p.41). Planning helps eliminate the opportunity for fraud. Controlling â€Å"The purpose of controlling is to ensure that plans are being followed† (Baker & Baker, 2011, p. 5). At this stage managers use reports to see what areas are and what areas are not following their plans. The manager uses reports to ensure that financial targets are being met and that fraud is not occurring. Depending on the size of the organization, there may be many layers of controls put into place. It might be best to have someone that keeps everyone honest, at multiple levels. According to a quote in an article in Healthcare Financial Management, â€Å"’every organization ought to have a set of fairly detailed internal controls that protect its key assets. These controls should be reviewed by external and internal auditors or staff to make sure they are being adhered to’† (Sandrik, 1993, p. 4). Organizing and Directing Organizing is determining how best to use existing resources to achieve the goals of the company or organization. A few examples of this could be whether to have multiple nurses in the pediatric department today when they are needed in the ER, or whether to keep an ultrasound machine that is rarely used in a clinic, when it could best be served somewhere else. Directing is the day to day job of ensuring that resources are organized or designated in the most efficient manner. Decision Making Decision making is done continually throughout the other three elements or stages. Every time something is planned, controlled, or organized, it was because someone made a decision. Remember when making decisions to base them on the four principles of business ethics, â€Å"autonomy, which assumes every human being is capable of making his or her own choices; justice, which requires actions and practices to be fair and nondiscriminatory; beneficence, which promotes human welfare; and non-maleficence, which ensures protection of individuals from harm† (Sandrik, 1993, p. 5). Keeping transparency in a business is a great way to keep people honest as well. In July, 2010, The Healthcare Group Purchasing Industry Initiative (HGPII) received rave reviews for it â€Å"activating a formal process to ensure prompt and fair resolution of supplier complaints† and for â€Å"implementing an Independent Advisory Council to have outside observers make sure they are doing everything possible in terms of ethical standards† (Freeman, 2010, pp. 3). Conclusion Financial accounting might look like pages of numbers or gibberish; however they are the key to unlocking income potential, and success. Whether a manager is directly in charge of the reporting or in charge of something completely different, understanding these reports can help make an organization more efficient, able to offer more services, or even more profitable.

Annual day function

Prayer is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with a deity, an object of worship, or a spiritual entity through deliberate communication. Prayer can be a form of religious practice, may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of a hymn, incantation, formal creed, or a spontaneous utterance in the praying person. There are different forms of prayer such as petitionary prayer, prayers of supplication, thanksgiving, and worship/praise.Prayer may be directed towards a deity, spirit, deceased person, or lofty idea, for the purpose of worshipping, requesting guidance, requesting assistance, confessing sins or to express one's thoughts and emotions. Thus, people pray for many reasons such as personal benefit or for the sake of others. Yoga is also a common form of prayer. Most major religions involve prayer in one way or another. Some ritualize the act of prayer, requiring a strict sequence of actions or placing a restriction on who is permitted to pray, while others teach that prayer may be practiced spontaneously by anyone at any time.Scientific studies regarding the use of prayer have mostly concentrated on its effect on the healing of sick or injured Prayer has many different forms. Prayer may be done privately and individually, or it may be done corporately in the presence of fellow believers. Prayer can be incorporated into a daily â€Å"thought life†, in which one is in constant communication with a god. Some people pray throughout all that is happening during the day and seek guidance as the day progresses. This is actually regarded as a requirement in several Christian denominations, although enforcement is not possible nor desirable.There can be many different answers to prayer, just as there are many ways to interpret an answer to a question, if there in fact comes an answer. Some may experience audible, physical , or mental epiphanies. If indeed an answer comes, the time and place it comes is considered random. Some outward acts that sometimes accompany prayer are: anointing with oil; ringing a bell; burning incense or paper; lighting a candle or candles; facing a specific direction (i. e. towards Mecca   or the East); making the sign of the cross. One less noticeable act related to prayer is fasting.

John Updike’s a ; P Man vs. Society Conflict

A ;amp; P Conflict Sammy vs. the Sheep There are many different opinions and views as to what is right or wrong. Society has developed a standard as to how an individual should act or portray themselves. In reality the majority of public comply with this policy. They prefer to be average and mundane. A literary analysis of John Updike’s A ;amp; P will show how the main character chooses to rebel against this social order An ordinary day at work can change the rest of your life. The story is told in the third person point of view. The setting is a petite and old-fashioned town that sits just North of Boston.In this touristy town is a typical grocery store labeled A ;amp; P. The store sits in the middle of town on Central Street, looking out of the doors two banks, three real-estate offices, a newspaper store and the Congregational church are all in view. Bright fluorescent lighting, organized aisles, and conventional setting depict the atmosphere. The main character is Sammy wh o is an employee at A ;amp; P and dislikes his job. He is an adolescent, who resides with his parents and enjoys making them proud. Sammy does not enjoy the customers and their boring personas.He states, â€Å"I bet you could set off dynamite in an A ;amp; P and the people would by and large keep reaching and checking oatmeal off their lists and muttering, let me see, there was a third thing, began with an A asparagus, no applesauce† (Updike para. 5). The customers Sammy deals with are ignorant and arrogant. Except three good looking girls who come into the store less dressed then others, Sammy relates to them and chooses to defend them. Sammy is faced with the conflict of man vs. society. Throughout the story Sammy struggles with the customers at his job.This battle first presents itself, while he is ringing up a patronizing, snobbish lady who is always pointing out his mistakes. He then notices a lady sneering at the girls because of them being dressed in beach attire. McMa hon, a meat counter employee, began patting his mouth and sizing up the girls’ joints after they asked for his assistance with something. Sammy begins to sympathize with the girls. â€Å"Poor kids, I began to feel sorry for them, they couldn’t help it,† he says (Updike para. 10). Ultimately, Lengal, his manager, approaches the girls and informs them of how inappropriate their garments are.Sammy is furious with the way Lengal humiliates the girls. Sammy defends the girls, and stands up to Lengal. As an end result he quits his job as a direct effect of the way Lengal treated the girls. Sammy is hopeful that the girls will recognize his chivalry and wait for him after he resigns, but they do not. Nevertheless, as he steps outside a feeling of accomplishment is present, although he knows how much more difficult his life is going to be. The definition of â€Å"sheep† in this sense is a conventional person, a traditionalist. During the story, Sammy refers to th e customers as sheep several times.Referencing society to sheep symbolizes the fashion in which they flock together. Instead of having their own beliefs and judgment of the girls, they follow the policy that society has already created for them. Like sheep who do not journey out on their own. They abide by the structure already formed, never breaking the cycle. While Lengal scolds the girls, Sammy describes â€Å"All this while, the customers had been showing up with their carts but, you know, sheep, seeing a scene, they had all bunch up on Stokesie, who shook open a paper bag as gently as peeling a peach, not wanting to miss a word† (Updike para. 1). In closing, Sammy stood up for what he believed was the right. He disagreed with the preconceived attitude others in the story had toward the girls. He knew that quitting his job would upset his parents terribly, but to him it was worth it. He took a stand that day that changed his life forever. Even though the girls were gone a fter he quit, he still has the satisfaction that he did what was honorable. Sammy can truly say that he is not a follower, he is not a sheep. Works Cited Updike, John. â€Å"A ;amp; P. † Blair Reader. September 14, 2011.

Commercial Fixture Essay

Suggested questions for the Commercial Fixtures Inc. case are given below. 1. What would you as an outside third party bid under the same conditions (with the same information) for the entire company (both halves)? Why? 2. What do you expect Albert Evans to bid for Gordon’s half interest? Why? 3. What should Gordon Whitlock bid for Albert’s half interest? Why? 4. How would you structure the purchase of the business? Question #1 is a business valuation question. There are a number of ways to estimate the value of a business. You have probably covered one or more of these ways in a previous class. The next two pages review a few of the various ways to go about it. For a discounted CF approach of valuing Commercial Fixtures Inc., I will use the following template: VALUATION APPROACHES – OVERVIEW/REVIEW 1. Comparable Trades Analysis — Using valuation ratios, or â€Å"multiples† of comparable firms Use one or more valuation ratios, which include (a) Price-Earnings (b) Market-Book (c) Price-CF (d) Price-Revenues (e) Enterprise Value to EBITDA, and (f) Other ratios. The prospective value (price) of the subject firm is quantified into—and compared with—one or more of the valuation ratios of its peers. The better the performance of the subject firm relative to comparable firms in the relevant performance measures (as measured by operating ratios), the higher the appropriate valuation ratio for the firm (and vice-versa). 2. Liquidation Value, aka Book Value approach Place liquidation values on the net working capital and fixed assets of the firm. Include tax write-off benefits, if any. This approach is rarely useful, and will typically serve as a minimum value (unless the firm is in severe distress). 3. (i.) Discounted Present Value of the Firm’s Free Cash Flows   Ã¢â‚¬â€ commonly referred to as DCF Valuation, or WACC valuation Value of the Firm = PV of future free cash flows + PV of terminal value a.Estimate the first 3 to 10 years’ free cash flows and calculate the PVs. (A five year horizon is common, but this can vary.) Typically you will use the WACC as your discount rate. Depending on the circumstances, the estimated cash flows may be available for fewer than five years, or more than five years. b.Estimate the PV of the terminal value. One estimate for the terminal value involves assuming perpetual cash flows after the initial time horizon, e.g.: i.If the cash flow after 5 years is expected to grow at a rate g for the foreseeable future: Terminal Value5 (TV5) = FCF6 /(k – g) = FCF5 (1+ g) / (k – g)., where k is the required rate of return. You must discount the TV to time 0, and then add this to the PV of the FCFs during the projection horizon. ii.If the cash flow at the end of 5 years is not expected to grow, i.e., g=0, then the general formula collapses to the PV of a no-growth perpetuity: Terminal Value5 = FCF6 / (k-g) = FCF5 (1+ g)/(k – g) = FCF5 / k c.Use the Value of the Firm equation above, i.e. sum PV of free cash flows + PV of terminal value . The Value of the firm’s Equity = Value of the Firm – Debt Currently Outstanding. 3. (ii.) Adjusted Present Value approach — we will only briefly discuss this approach; a topic for a future finance course. 4. Comments on Valuing the Firm using DCF (or WACC) and APV valuation approaches a.Watch the free cash flows (not reported earnings)! In particular, as in the capital budgeting decision process: –Depreciation charges are not cash outflows. –Investment in new property or equipment is a cash outflow. –Increases in net working capital are cash outflows. –Taxes are cash outflows b.Do not subtract interest expense from FCFs. We want to estimate a value for the whole business. The return to creditors is reflected in the discount rate used. c.Consider other factors, such as a control premium or a lack of marketability discount. These are mentioned in your textbook, and we will discuss these in class. d.Notice the sensitivity of your estimated firm value to changes in assumptions, particularly the perpetual terminal growth rate, and the discount rate. Typically a range of firm values is calculated from various ranges of these two rates (as suggested in the template on p. 1), particularly when uncertainty is high.

Why has the concept of work life balance become such a focus concern Essay

Why has the concept of work life balance become such a focus concern in the past decade - Essay Example working from home, compressed work weeks and flexible working hours), leave arrangements (e.g. maternity leave, paternity leave, and leave to care for a sick dependent), dependent care assistance (e.g. on-site daycare, subsidised daycare, eldercare, and referral to child care), and general services (e.g. employee assistant programs, seminars and programs related to family needs)’. These initiatives give employees work flexibility and ensure that those depended on them, children and the elderly parents, are cared about, thus reducing the family-work conflict, as well as providing time to be spent for personal interests and hobbies, which reduces stress and increases employees’ satisfaction with life and work. The issue of work-life balance was aroused in the USA in the mid of 1980s, yet since then it has become only more vital. This was caused by a number of reasons. In this paper we are going to discuss the sources of the problem and highlight the aspects making it a pr oblem, as well as benefits of work-life balance. Work-life balance initiatives are essential for creating normal conditions of work for people. Reports and surveys indicating the problem have been released and conducted for several decades already. However, the issue continues acquiring its vitality. In May 2005 Europe was worried by the report released by the European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) showing that the workers in 10 new state entrants to the European Union worked three weeks more than employees in 15 core EU countries. Voters blamed politicians for shrinking vacation period. The 22 days of paid vacations in Estonia, Lithuania, Poland ad Slovenia were perceived as the violation of human rights. Meanwhile, according to the Families and Work Institute report 79 percent of US employees got no more than 16,6 days of paid vacation in 2001, the figure having dropped to 14,6 days by 2004. About 37 percent of US workers took less

HIRING pROCESS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

HIRING pROCESS - Assignment Example Being a registered member of the nursing board is one of the major qualifications that are needed for one to become a nurse at the healthcare facility. In case the candidate is not yet registered, she/he should be willing to be registered with the body. One of the federal obligations is that an employee has to be able to legally work in the US. This means that children and people of unsound mind are not qualified for this employment (Yoder, 2011). The state also requires that every nurse has to be licensed and so this becomes one of the federal obligations. In order for the hospital to provide the best healthcare facility to the public, they have to ensure that only the best nurses are selected for the job (Yoder, 2011). After the short listing, an interview has to be done during which each candidate is awarded marks that will be used to grade them. The national labor regulation board (NRLB) has no role at all in the interview process and so the interview process is completely thee job of the interviewing panel that is selected by the HR based on