VoIP software Technology For Bank Essay Example for Free

VoIP software Technology For Bank Essay Fifth Main bank could use a VoIP software suite such as Avaya to meet its phone and call center needs. The Avaya VoIP software would allow the bank to use their existing IP network to implement it and would help them get away from the old switch based network. The software would also allow them to see the status of the person they are trying to reach, as well as assist with call logging and warm transfers. A concern with implementing this would be bandwidth. Adding that many IP based devices could bog down the system if it has low bandwidth. Another would be making sure each location is connected to the same network to easily transfer the calls. Another concern would be making sure all employees are trained on how to use the new system to its full potential. These concerns can be overcome by upgrading their current network capacity to increase bandwidth and get everyone on the same network. The new devices can be made effective by supplying training and manuals to employees to ensure it is being used correctly. Adding this technology will mean the bank will need to increase their network security. They should already have pretty good security since they are a bank, but adding VoIP services will open new vulnerabilities that will need to be locked down.

Whistleblowing Ethics and Policies

Whistleblowing Ethics and Policies Whistleblowing occurs when an employee discloses information. However, according to Armstrong, 90 of whistleblowers suffer from dismissal or demotions, 27 faced legal actions, 26 were referred to medical treatment, 17 went homeless, and 8% bankrupted. Whistleblowers may suffer some kind of harassment, lower performance evaluations, punitive transfer or violence by their fellow colleagues and/or superiors if they remain working in the organisation (Dellaportas al., 2005). Therefore, whistleblower protection is important to encourage employees in uncovering any fraud, and ensure that channels are open for whistleblowing. Supporting effective protection for whistleblowers can have advantages such as promoting an open organisational culture where employees have confidence in the reporting procedures, preventing and disclosing bribery in commercial transactions, safeguarding integrity, enhancing accountability, and supporting a clean business environment (Organization for Economic Cooper ation and Development, 2012). One can adopt a normative strategy when facing tough ethical choices as it can help people to evaluate and think carefully so as to prevent them from making irrational decisions. Normative ethics provides several philosophical approaches for making sound ethical decisions and it can be categorized into three parts: (a) consequentialist, (b) deontological and (c) virtue theory (Trevino Nelson, 2004). The consequentialist theory focuses attention on the results or consequences of the decision or action (Trevino Nelson, 2004). It includes philosophical approaches like egoism and utilitarianism. Egoism promotes an individuals long-term interests while utilitarianism holds ethical actions as those done for the greatest good or to maximize total utility (Ferrell, Fraedrich, Ferrell, 2000). On the contrary, the deontological theory focuses on the rights of individuals and on the intentions associated with a particular behavior rather than on its consequences (Ferrell, Fraedrich, Ferrell, 2000) and it embraces philosophical approaches like Kantianism and justice. Kantianism revolve around duty, not end goals or emotions, and their actions are performed according to some underlying principle or maxim that are entirely different from one another (e.g. honesty, fairness and justice), while the philosophical view of justice is rooted in ones belief in moral equity and equitable treatment for everyone concerned with a questionable action. Lastly, the virtue ethics approach focuses more on the integrity of the moral actor than on the moral act itself (Trevino Nelson, 2004). The above-mentioned normative ethical theories can be applied to decide if employees should have a duty to blow the whistle on unethical/illegal acts or not. From the egoists point of view, it is rare that employees will face the dilemma of deciding whether to blow the whistle. Be it due to fear of being investigated by the authorities or fear of being reported to the authorities as a scapegoat for following the policies, employees will seldom face these problems if they adhere to the egoism approach (Clairmont, 2011). According to Clairmont (2011), well-known whistleblowers (e.g. Ellsberg, Manning and Deep Throat) will never even consider whistleblowing if they follow the egoism method of making ethical decisions. This is because the upcoming hassle/trouble that they will face after they blow the whistle will deter them from doing so. As such, egoist employees will feel that it is not a duty but rather a choice to blow the whistle on unethical or illegal acts. They will only blow the whistle if it is within their self-interest and if they are not negatively affected in any way. However, some argue that if one is to take the negative cons equences of whistleblowing into consideration, some degree of egoist traits appears to be acceptable (Clairmont, 2011). From a utilitarian perspective, the act of whistleblowing is seen as the calculation results of different foreseen consequences, and the impact of possible consequences on the conflicting loyalties (Padgett, 2009). The availability of alternatives and whether the benefits of whistleblowing outweigh the cost determine the choice of whether or not to blow the whistle. According to Bentham (1996), acts that create the most amount of happiness for the majority should be treated as morally obligatory acts. Moreover, unlike the egoism approach, the utilitarianism approach encourages one to treat others wellbeing as a heavily weighted factor when making an ethical decision. Hence, whistleblowing should be considered as a duty when it is known that the consequences of non-disclosure will result in extremely negative impacts on the public. John Stuart Mills utilitarian perspective can also be used to discuss whether whistleblowing should be a duty. His utilitarian principle of do no harm supports the idea that whistleblowing is a duty if a non-disclosure act should cause harm since this principle holds that ones actions should prevent harm to others. Harm in this case can take a variety of forms and it is not just limited to instances of physical injuries. The intensity and amount of harm that the problem can bring also determines whether whistleblowing should be an obligation. Mill also emphasizes that one should be accountable for others if his inaction happen to cause harm to them. If one sees a responsibility to prevent others from being harmed, then blowing the whistle on acts that may cause harm to others will appear to be at least partially justified based on Mills principle of do no harm (Padgett, 2009). From the Kantian perspective, employees should have a duty to blow the whistle on unethical or illegal acts because it is the right thing to do. They are morally responsible to inform the public and/or stakeholders about the wrongdoings because the motive of moral action is more important than the potential consequences of not whistleblowing. Such courage to go against all odds and the possibility of punishment from the employer is necessary if those who are privy to immoral business practices are to make a positive contribution to the respect of consumer rights the world over (Masaka, 2007). Kant did not clearly state that whistleblowing should be a duty in all circumstances. However, what is clear from him is that he expects truth telling and the good will of the moral agent. Hence, based on these principles, one can will that an employee should blow the whistle if he/she has information of others or the organizations intentional wrongdoings (Padgett, 2009). Ones response to implementing a justice perspective would be identical to using a deontological moral philosophy. From the viewpoint of justice, employees would feel obligated to blow the whistle internally about any unethical or illegal action within the organization as the employers have the rights to know the truth about the misconduct. Hence, it will be unfair to the employers if the involved employees do not disclose the wrongdoings to them. Based on justice approach, whistleblowing externally should also be a duty because it will be unfair to all the stakeholders if the involved employees choose not to blow the whistle. This is because these parties have the rights to know the truth about any misconduct that affects them. As mentioned above, consequentialism focuses on the consequences (outcomes) of the actions while deontology emphasizes on adhering to ethical duties. Virtue ethics differs in that the emphasis is based on being rather than doing. According to virtue theory, whistleblowing is the right thing to do because it requires one to tell the truth, to speak up/sound out and to emphasize with others, thus promoting positive virtues like honesty, courage and empathy. An employee who upholds any of these virtues will feel obliged to blow the whistle because it can improve ones integrity. However, some argue that whistleblowing disregards virtues in different ways. For instance, whistleblowing can be seen as putting peoples lives at risk, publishing stolen data and degrading loyalty, privacy and integrity of data (Backhaus Dodig Crnkovic, 2011). Hence, if we look from this point of view, whistleblowing should not be a duty. A common conflict with regards to whistleblowing is between the virtue of loyalty and honesty (Bowden, 2005). Many whistleblowers following this ethical approach will often face the dilemma of being truthful or remaining loyal to their organisation. Therefore, employees should weigh their priorities be tween these two virtues and choose a side; loyalty or honesty. All in all, most of the ethical theories provide substantial grounds for discussing whistleblowing as a moral duty. From the utilitarian perspective, the duty to blow the whistle would follow from the principle of doing no harm and recognition of the extent to which our actions or inactions have significant consequences for the lives of others. From the deontological perspective (includes Kantianism and justice), it would consist of a duty to disclose the wrongdoing of another person (or organization) in recognition of the obligation to be truthful (Padgett, 2009). The virtue theory however provides two sides of the story; whistleblowing should be a duty based on certain virtues (e.g. honesty) whereas whistleblowing should not be a duty based on other virtues (e.g. loyalty). When comparing honesty and loyalty which are the most crucial virtues with regards to whistleblowing, one can note that honesty will supplant loyalty if there is a conflict between the two, as honesty is consider ed as the most important part of any honor code (Fraschini, 2007). Hence, based on this, one can deduce that whistleblowing should be a duty from the virtue perspective. Egoism is the only ethical theory that does not support whistleblowing as a moral duty. If we critically analyse the traits of this theory, one can observe that ethical egoism provides no moral basis for the resolution of conflicts of interest that form the only vindication for a moral code (Baier, 1990). Moreover, according to Rachels (2008), the ethical egoist may object that he cannot admit a construct of morality whose aim is merely to forestall conflicts of interest. As such, the egoism theory cannot be a good measure to determine whether whistleblowing should be a duty. Hence, based on all the above considerations, one can conclude that employees should have a duty to blow the whistle on misconduct. Since whistleblowing should be a duty, it is crucial that whistleblowers are under legal protection and have clear guidance on reporting procedures in Singapore. The provision of whistleblower protection encourages an open organisational culture where employees are not only aware of how to report but also have the confidence in the reporting procedures. The protection of whistleblowers from retaliation for reporting in good faith suspected acts of corruption and other wrongdoing is therefore integral to efforts to combat corruption, promote public sector integrity and accountability, and support a clean business environment. Whistleblowing protection systems are widely implemented in the western countries. For instance, in Italy, proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Bill state that whistleblowers cannot be à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢penalized, fired or submitted to any direct or indirect discrimination, which would have an impact on the working conditions directly or indirectly linked t o the report. Protection is also provided under the U.S. law, against less severe disciplinary actions, such as admonishments or reprimands (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2012). On the contrary, whistleblowing legislation in Asia is not as sophisticated or as robust as it is in the US (Lord Cole, 2012). The workplace cultures in Asian differ from those in the West. Family businesses promote a distinct sense of patronage within themselves that are incredibly collective. Foreign companies operating in Asia reveal that the staff is not only loyal to the company, but also to their bosses and line managers (Lord Cole, 2012). These cultural norms hinder whistleblowing to prosper. However in recent years, Asian countries take whistleblowing seriously and are aware of Dodd-Frank, for example. Singapore code of CG expanded the role of the Audit Committee (AC) in Guideline 12.4 of the 2012. There are some changes made to the whistle-blowing provisions in the 2012; companies should disclose in its annual report the existence of a whistle-blowing policy, and the procedures for raising whistle-blower should be publicly disclosed as appropriate (Ernst Young, 2012). These changes align Singapores corporate governance practice in this area closely with that of the UK and US. According to a Singapore Institute of Directors survey, 70% of the listed companies have a whistleblower policy compared to 20% five years ago. Another 8% said they did not have a policy but intended to introduce one, while 3% reported that they had no plans to introduce whistleblowing (Deloitte, 2011). Koreas ACRC Act also provides protection against financial or administrative disadvantages, such as the cancellation of a permit or license, or the revocation of a contract (Park , 2008). In conclusion, based on the philosophical approaches, employees should have a duty to blow the whistle. Therefore, whistleblowers need to under legal protection and have clear guidance on reporting procedures. Protecting whistleblowers from retaliation can (a) promote public sector accountability, (b) combat corruption, and (c) support a clean business environment. Whistleblowing protection policy has been widely implement in the Western countries. Recently, Asian countries also take whistleblowing seriously and reinforce their whistleblower policy.

Society vs. Heart in Mark Twains Huckleberry Finn Essay -- Mark Twain

Society vs. Heart in Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ernest Hemmingway once described a novel by Mark Twain as, â€Å"†¦it is the ‘one book’ from which ‘all modern American literature’ came from† (Railton). This story of fiction, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is a remarkable story about a young boy growing up in a society that influences and pressures people into doing the so-called â€Å"right thing.† It is not very difficult to witness the parallels between the society Huck has grown up in and the society that influences the choices of people living today. However, what is it that gives society the power to draw guidelines to define the norms, trends, and what is morally right and wrong in life? Is it always the best choice to listen to your consciences, which is under the influence of society, or is it sometimes just as important to listen to your heart and what you think is right?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Society has always denounced the acts of death and children running away from their homes. Huck can be seen as a morbid child as he is always talking about death and murder. Society would rather not have anything to do with people who have such a melancholic outlook on life. Living with years of torment by his drunkard father, Pap, Huck feared the day he would return to daunt his life. When Pap does return, he seizes Huck and drags him to a secluded cabin where Huck is boarded inside and unable to leave: This is where the dilemma occurs. In this position, Huck has a decision to make, either take note to the morals of society and listen to his conscience, which will result in more added years of pain and anguish from Pap, or Huck can listen to his heart and do what he thinks is best.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Huck’s situation is so extreme (the mental and physical abuse from Pap) that he cannot take it anymore. He does what he thinks is best; Huck listens to heart rather than his conscience. In order to get away from Pap, Huck organizes an elaborate plan to arrange his own death and run away – both denounced by society - from the prison cell (cabin) and Pap. Huck, for the first time in his life, had felt what it is like to be free: â€Å"The sky looks ever so deep when you lay down on your back in the moonshine; I never knowed it before† (Twain 46).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Every incident where Huck is faced with a dilemma, the situation seems to intensify. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was first pub... ... losing the acceptance of a social group, listening to the heart will leave individuals with a feeling of fulfillment and happiness. The socially unacceptable is only unacceptable because there are new ideas society is not use to: â€Å"Society opposes the good idea when it is not an accepted routine† (Growth Online). Individuals who listen to their heart have something extra than people who listen to their conscience, which is true self-respect: â€Å"The individual’s trust in himself [or herself] is superior in his [or her] trust in the society† (Growth Online). Works Cited "Growth Online." Social Influence on the Individual. 06 Apr. 2005   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hona, Leah. "Julie and the "Real World"." About. 08 2000. 06 Apr. 2005   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   King, Larry."Larry King Live." What's Driving the Popularity of `Reality TV'?. 27 2000. Transcript. 06 Apr 2005 Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. 07 Apr. 2005 . The Mormon Church has a poor record on free speech. 07 Dec 2002. 06   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Apr. 2005 . Railton, Stephen. Mark Twain in His Times. 05 Apr. 2005   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "Remembering Brian Deneke." Brian Deneke Memorial Committee. 05 Apr.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2005 Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Assess some of the ways in which Third World Debt might be reduced. Ess

Assess some of the ways in which Third World Debt might be reduced. Despite the overwhelming number of statistics and indicators, global poverty is as hard to measure as it is to conceptualize. One fact is undeniable: someone is going to have to pay for past debts. It could be the people in debtor countries, or the banks, or the people in advanced industrial countries. Most likely it will be some combination of these three groups. In the last ten years, there have been a variety of proposals which, unfortunately, usually reflect only the special interests of the groups proposing them. Generally speaking, these solutions fall into three categories: repudiation, minor adjustments in repayments, or reduction. A report â€Å"Relief Works: African proposals for debt cancellation - and why debt relief works† examines public spending in 10 African countries which have benefited from debt cancellation. It reveals that total spending on education in these countries has increased, and is now twice the amount that is being paid to foreign creditors. The story is similar with spending on health, which has risen by 70 per cent since before debt relief, and is now one third higher than spending on debt repayments. And contrary to the views of sceptics, debt relief is not being used to fuel military expenditure. The report presents these clear indications of the positive difference that debt cancellation can make as the strongest argument there is in favour of further debt relief for the world's poorest countries. However, various G8 Summits have seen promises of billions in debt-write off, but almost hardly are carried out, or contain a lot of spin. For example, a lot of debt relief promised may include moneys previously annouced for such purposes, thus creating an impression of enormous write-offs. Bilateral debt relief also does not typically release actual money to be used for other purposes. Multilateral debt relief, however, could. Debt repudiation, in the sense of a unilateral cessation of repayment, occurred in a number of countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru. With the exception of the Peruvian cessation, however, most of these actions have been taken with assurances that the stoppages were only temporary. Peru announced that it was unilaterally limiting its ... ... and abysmal poverty as a normal condition. This need not, and should not, be the case. The developed countries have a responsibility to create conditions whereby the poorer countries can interact more productively in international economic activities: their single most important contribution to this end might be in the area of reducing trade restrictions on the products of poorer countries. Similarly, the developing countries have a responsibility to see that money is more effectively utilized within their own borders. The obscene personal profits accumulated by such leaders as Marcos of the Philippines and Mobutu of Zaire should not be fostered by the strategic interests of other countries. The banks should also face up to the fact that their single-minded pursuit of profits almost led them to the brink of bankruptcy. The lesson to be learned from this experience is that for economic growth to be sustained, close attention must be paid to the mutual interests of all parties involved. Only after sustained economic growth returns to the heavily indebted countries can the international community even begin to determine manageable rates and methods of debt repayment.

Body Communication :: essays research papers

The methodology of the social sciences has evolved slowly. In this evolution, criticism has always performed an important function. Through the continuous interchange of ideas, information, and criticism, it became possible to institutionalize commonly accepted rules and procedures and to develop corresponding methods and techniques. This system of rules and procedures is the normative component of the scientific methodology. It defines the â€Å"rules of the game,† and these in turn enable communication, constructive criticism, and scientific progress. Knowledge comes from experience. By observing what is happening around us in our every day lives, we gain knowledge through visual digestion of our environment. Body communication of other people helps you to know and understand how you will interact with that person or audience. Communicating successfully in front of an audience requires actions and qualities not found in writing. Facial expressions, gestures, and appearance are important qualities for communicating in front of an audience. Posture, I feel is most important. You should stand erect, but relaxed with your weight apportioned on both feet, avoid leaning and slouching. Feeling comfortable while you stand will give you a natural feeling about yourself. Movement while you are speaking can help you, but if done incorrectly it may harm you. You should move from side to side, rather than back and forth. This should not be a continuous motion, you do not want to look petrified. Moving physically may decrease nervousness, especially as you approach the lectern. Emphasis in stressing a point while speaking using facial gestures. The audience will follow you more easily when your movement suggests an idea of importance and holds the groups attention. Your appearance and facial expressions allow the audience to determine how you feel about your topic. On the other hand if you are frowning or glaring you may convey non-verbal impressions that you are worried, angry, or not interested. Your enthusiasm will reflect upon your listeners. Gestures such as hand, arm, shoulder, and head movement are used to emphasize, such as a rejection by raising your hand or making a fist. You can also use your hands to point at an object or describe the size of something. Communication can be done without speaking. It is amazing how we can express ourselves in this carefree way. It is important to feel good when you speak, This will make you more relaxed and your words will flow with ease.

Book “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”

John Boyne’s novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjama’s published in 2006 tells the story by using a nine year old boy as the narrator to show the world through his eyes. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a powerful story because it is told from Bruno’s perspective. The novel is set in the years of World War 2 and the colorcast where many Jewish families live their lives in fear of the Hitler and the Germans. Boyne has used many different languages in the novel such as Tone, Literacy Devices and Characterization to show the different features and perspectives from Bruno.The way Boyne describes Shmuel makes the reader really feel remorseful for this boy and the way he is being treated by the soldiers. Boyne Cleverly uses imagery and symbolism to describe Shmuel from Bruno’s perspective. â€Å"His skin was almost the colour of grey, but not quite like any grey Bruno has ever seen before. He had very large eyes and they were the colour of caramel sweets. † (p. 106-107. ) Boyne has impressively used imagery to show and represent people through Bruno’s innocent and naive eyes and really encourages the reader to read on.In the novel the way Boyne uses characterization, helps to show the different characteristics of Bruno and how he represents other characters from his perspective. â€Å"Who’s the fury? † asked Bruno. â€Å"Your pronouncing it wrong† said father pronouncing it correctly. â€Å"The Fury† Bruno said again but failing. (p. 117). Boyne uses this, to describe to the reader that Bruno is a naive and innocent young boy. Boyne uses implied meanings as you may have realised Boyne never mention Hitler but rather says fury and makes the novel really impacts the reader. Boyne uses a lot of one in his novel to express the feelings been told through the story.By the way Boyne has represented the way the soldiers laughed and mocked the children makes the reader leave with a distaste of the soldiers and are remorseful for the children. †But then one of the soldiers lunged towards them and they separated and seemed to do what he wanted them to do all along, which was to stand in a single line. When they did, the soldiers all started to laugh and applaud them. † (p. 37). It shows that the soldiers were horrible people, they pushed and laughed at all the children in the concentration camp and didn’t care one bit if it hurt them.The feeling that you get when you read this book, it is sad and depressing, which can explain why it is a very powerful story. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas heavily impacts the reader in every way, making the novel very powerful. Boyne uses a younger innocent and naive boy, like Bruno, to tell the story by the view of a young child. Boyne uses Bruno as a narrator to highlight the prejudice that causes adults to behave badly and unkindly towards others. Using a naive narrator it confronts the reader about their own beliefs and values. The wa y Boyne cleverly use tone, characterization and literacy devices impacts the story greatly.

Succession Planning Case Study

1. What key differences seem to distinguish successful from unsuccessful leadership- succession processes?One major difference in the successful leadership succession process is the how the flow of information works between the current leader, and the one that will soon take over. The new one is groomed along with way, making for an easy transition with few bumps in the road regarding trust with current employees. Grooming an internal source is even better because they already know the ins and the outs of the company. Recent data indicate that only about half of public and private corporate boards have CEO-succession plans in place.This is the case even at giant global companies that have thousands of employees and spend millions each year to recruit and train talent (Cascio, 2013, p. 157). The companies that take the time to do succession planning are the same companies that are growing and thriving despite having any issues with CEOs through the years.On the other hand a company wh o â€Å"flies by the seat of their pants† so to speak, and does not plan for any crisis in the CEO department is found scrambling.3. If leadership succession is so important, why don’t more companies do a better job of it?The prerequisite for organizational growth and success lies in identifying, developing and retaining leaders with the right talents and effectively managing a dynamic succession plan (Gallup, 2013). Leadership transition presents companies with a remarkable opportunity to move forward with a new  understanding of the complexities, challenges, and changes their organization must address (Mamprin, A. 2002).Despite the importance of leadership succession, most companies do not do a better job of leadership succession because at the heart of succession lie personality, ego, power, and most importantly, mortality (Cascio, 2013). Most people in leadership position believe that building a cadre of potential leaders is a sure route to oblivion, failure and organizational death (Cascio, 2013). However, a lack of succession planning can adversely affect an organization in a variety of ways, from the absence of strategic direction to decreased productivity to weakened financial performance (CareerBuilder, 2011).â€Å"According to a new CareerBuilder survey, nearly one-third (31 percent) of companies with more than 1,000 employees said they don’t currently have a succession planning program at their organization. In addition, 50 percent of senior management (CEO, CFO, Senior VP, etc.) and 52 percent of those in a vice president position said they do not have a successor for their current role. The survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder from February 21 through March 10, 2011 among more than 1000 employers with 1,001 or more employees.† (CareerBuilder, 2011)