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Autism Assignment Essay Instructions

4th Assignment The severe end of the autistic spectrum is described as predominantly linked to severe learning difficulties. How might a teacher and therapist team work together to assess, differentiate and realize the intellectual and communicative potential of an autistic child. Choose an age group relevant to your interest or experience.     Introduction Communication and linguistic development of autistic children   The lack of social communication and self-activity are the basic symptoms of autism. The autistic child’s ability to communicate is limited and some times does not even exist. The autistic child seems to be indifferent to the natural human environment and retires in an emotional isolation.   (1) He usually turns to himself; he is indifferent to activation, creation, success and his future at all. He lives in his own lonely world and his main interest is the personal activity. He is uninterested in the reactions that are provoked by his behavior to the family or to the general environment ( 1995). In general, the autistic child avoids communication with his peers and adults too, but some times he may have a peculiar communication with other people only through playing. Many times he becomes aggressive, hits people around him and creates destruction. His desire for anything permanent and unchangeable derives by the fear of change and prevents his communication and his ability’s expansion to adapt to new situations. The child lives usually under intense and overwhelming stress any time he is called upon to face changes in his environment i.e. to change his seat in the classroom, his schedule, the position of his toys etc (, 1992).    (2) When we talk about linguistic development we mean the child’s progress who has the aim to gain the language ability during the first years of his life. As  (1996) referred the child’s linguistic development includes two allocated processes.  (3) (4) The first process is the child’s innate effort to gain the system of the language: phonology, grammar-syntax, morphology, vocabulary, meaning. This process is normally completed during the end of the preschool age. The second process is the child’s fight to be efficient in linguistic expression and communication as well. Autistic children present a disorder in their linguistic expression as well as in their speech. The lingual weaknesses are usually expressed in phonetics and syntax. Their speech is many times characterized by voices without any meaning and by syllables which are often repeated. The speech is also monotonous, usually without rhythm lacking normal phonetic melody and many times characterized by telegraph type. Apart from these, we may also distinguish weakness in the content and use of language or phenomena of echolalia. That is to say, we may observe a repetition of words or phrases without meaning that children hear from people of their environment ( 1991).  (5–6)   Appropriate educational environment adapted to children’s needs. (7)   Let us take as example a group of preschool autistic children being at the severe end of the autistic spectrum, aged between three and five years old. First of all the tidying up of the classroom and the rest of the educational areas is a very important factor which contributes to these children’s needs. An emphasis must be given to auditory or visional external stimuli that distract their attention. Speech exercises (8), for example, demand the children’s and therapists’ absolute concentration in order for articulation or syntax mistakes to be avoided, otherwise the children’s progress will be delayed. The usage of educational material which includes familiar objects from the child’s environment, especially in the beginning of the therapy, it is also important. In the age between three and five years old children cannot easily be adapted to something unknown. Thus, a familiar object of their personal environment would help them to assimilate information easily and incorporate themselves in their new educational environment ( 1995). Perhaps it would be helpful if the objects that are not involved in the educational process and distract children’s attention to be taken away from the educational area.   In this preschool class, teachers and specialized therapists may gradually introduce every autistic child to an everyday routine school and help him to associate with other children in order to be prepared for school education.   (9)   One of the autistic child’s characteristics is that he does not use the commonly used ways of communication, meaning glances, smiles and simulated movements. He is careless and indifferent about his speech and the sound world, having peculiar reactions too, such as being indifferent to the conversations or frightened and surprised when he hears a whistle or an unusual noise. He seems to be alienated; he does not hear, gives echolaliatic answers and some times covers his ears as if he wants to protect himself from a danger (1984). Teachers must be ready to face such problems and problems of aggressive or self-destructive behavior, in the same way they are ready to teach children studying and writing. One of the teaching methods is the cycle of the systematic teaching (discrete-trial teaching) which according to  (1996) is the predominant educational method when we start to teach autistic children. This method includes five steps: -         the child’s concentration -         the distinctive stimulant presentation by the teacher-therapist -         the child’s reaction towards the distinctive stimulant -         the positive or negative offers from the educators (reward or correction) in relation to the child’s reaction and -         the span of time which is among the efforts of the systematic teaching. (10-11)     Ways of teaching Speech disorders (12) in autism mainly depend on the lack of the natural innate need for communication of these children with other people. Communication problems may not be faced just by teaching children how to talk even if it is possible. The problem for the group of children we refer to is that this speech is based on a parrot-learning vocabulary. Perhaps, the most appropriate way for the teachers to encourage the communicative usage of speech is to offer children as many social and other experiences as they can. If for example there are videotapes from festivities they ca be used in order to attract the children’s attention. Children’s photos are very useful too because they show a unique moment in time. Usual life events such as trips or celebrations may also help education very much. Apart from these, it is very important to encourage these children to communicate in any way they can and it is useful to pronounce again what a child expresses when he corresponds to the stimuli that are given by people around him. ( 1991) (13)   In the group we refer to, there are also some children that do not have speech at all or their speech is extremely limited. We must encourage these children to use signs, to try to use sign language using their hands or by touch in order to communicate. The point is that we have to take advantage of any chance of communication.  (14)                                                                                                We must always keep in mind that these children’s attention span is very easily disrupted. While they concentrate on something, they may listen to a noise and then their attention will automatically be disrupted. (15) They also think in a very specific way and they understand the literal sense of speech. But on the other hand these children may have many hidden abilities, or understand and observe details that we may never pay attention to. Thus, may be we should try to use other methods of education such as visual ones. (16) Many of the autistic children are excellent in activities i.e. the connection of pieces in a puzzle and the construction with the usage of cubes. They may also be easily occupied in tests that are involved in space, perception, but are usually weaker in oral tests where understanding and language expression is demanded ( 1979).                         (17)    (1971) referred to a vision-hearing method where every word includes letters especially drawn to seem as the meaning that we understand when we hear the specific word. For example the word “fall” presents letters that fall and the word “run” presents letters that are like runners. A similar way may also help some children to learn sounds of talking. For example, the learning of sounds would be easier if there was a picture of a train for the sound -try- and a picture of a cat for the sound -c-. Some autistic children may easily memorize words that are involved with pictures.  (1992) mentions that if a child looks at pictures in a book, this will help him to learn the meanings of the words, especially if these pictures show the accurate meaning of words in a realistic way. Words may easily be learned too if there are written signs on some objects in the classroom. In order for a child to remember a word, he plays again in his fantasy the “video” of the object or the sign. Activities such as playing with water, coins or keys may be very useful.(1987) support the theory that it is wrong to try to remove a child’s obsessions. It is better to replace them with others. As an example, they use a child who was obsessed by taking the keys from people around him. So, his teacher decided to allow the child to play with keys only two hours a day. The rest of the time the child was not allowed to touch them. Meantime, the teacher tried to use his obsession in a positive way. Using keys she started to teach him maths. As a result, the child considering it as a game he gradually started to count and understand the basic arithmetic.   Children with autism usually have greater progress to visual-kinetic activities development than speech skillfulness and mainly to the understanding and usage of complex and abstract speech. In general the pragmatic intelligence quotient of children with autism is higher than the linguistic one ( 1974). The teacher-therapist has to correct the child’s mistakes without scolding him or getting angry with him. He must also be careful about the sound of his voice which must be firm and not enthusiastic when he talks to the child. (18)     Ways to develop motivations for learning                                                                                                   (19) a) when a child has lack of interest for learning, then the reinforcement of his every effort and not only of his successful reactions is necessary( 1987). b) teachers or therapists may offer more chances to autistic children to choose the material and the activities that are going to get involved in.  (1987) refer that the social reaction of the autistic children is impressively improved when they are given chances to choose their activities. c) the effects of newly presented stimuli contribute to the increase of interest and the faster learning progress. The frequent changes of material are necessary because these children usually are indifferent to learning and lose their interest for the teaching targets (1980). d) short term targets are necessary because the child is able to achieve them. In this way the child’s and teacher’s efforts are reinforced. On the contrary both of them are tired of very ambitious targets. For example the naming of objects through pictures may not be efficient for a child which has not learned yet how to name three dimensional objects. So, gradual teaching helps very much (1980).   Reinforcement programmes   If continual reinforcement programmes are very important for children, they are even more important for autistic children. Reinforcement programmes that happen in certain time intervals are these where the time which is between the number of reactions and reinforcement is firm. Reinforcement programmes with changeable periods of time are these where the time which is between the child’s reactions and reinforcement is not firm. For example, if a child finishes a written page in ten minutes then he may be allowed to play for some seconds with his favorite toy and then continue on again what he was doing before. Apart from these het is necessary for teachers-therapists to take into consideration the child’s personality, his favorite preferences and the meaning of his targets and his initiatives. The teacher-therapist should never forget to encourage the autistic child for his efforts. (1971).   Criteria for the appropriate psychological-educational function                                                                                                           (20) -teaching should be based on a certain and specific programme which must be strictly followed. Repetition and firmness on what is taught determinatively contribute to the progress of autistic children  (21) -every educational programme should be organized in details before its application so as to be coherent and consistent to the steps and the method that is followed -teaching and therapy should be accompanied by teacher’s positive mood -the child’s frequent communication with their school-mates and adults is a priority -the child’s limited progress must be taken into consideration immediately in order for the programme to be changed (,1993).   Personalized programmes with systematic application   Every child develops according to his abilities. Psychological-educational programmes that do not correspond to the child’s abilities they either restrict his progress or disappoint him emotionally if they overwhelm his strengths (1996). The grouping of autistic children during therapy on one side makes the therapy more difficult and on the other it cannot be done easily because children do not face homogeneous difficulties. Let us take as an example two cases of children of the same age:   a)John’s case John is a six-year-old autistic child. He has very good mimic abilities in kinetics but his speech is limited because he mimics phonemes and monosyllabic words. He is able to coincide and categorize objects and pictures that belong to the same category and he can understand the oral speech only if he is given simple orders. He has developed preschool activities such as recognition of colors and shapes, but he has ellipsis in learning. Finally, he has some difficulties in kinetics. In specific, he runs and jumps in an odd way and he cannot manage to mimic exercises that demand co-ordination of hands and legs. As far as his behavior is concerned he cannot concentrate for a long time. But in general, he is cooperative and does not show serious problems such as outbursts of anger and aggressiveness.   b)Sofia’s case Sofia is a five-year-old autistic child too. She has a delay in conception and speaking. Her attention is very easily disrupted; she often makes vicious movements and expresses outbreaks of anger when stronger efforts are demanded of her. She has not yet developed basic abilities such as mimicking movements or speech, congruence of objects, understanding of simple orders, recognition of the members of the body, abilities in writing and some other delicate hand movements such as the usage of scissors.   Even though both of the children are autistic, they show a different clinical picture. John has developed many more abilities from Sofia and needs more exercise that will help his progress. But Sofia’s needs firstly demand an organized programme for the development of basic abilities and then for more complicated ones. (22)   Conclusion   All people that often associate with autistic children ought to play the teacher’s –therapist’s role. If all of them do not behave towards the child in the same way, then the child is led to confusion or gets nervous and at the same time his progress is prevented. If the therapist, for instance, demands from the child to talk in clear articulation and his parents let the child talk without correcting him, then he will never learn the appropriate articulation. The main aim has to be how to help the autistic child giving an emphasis on his abilities and anything he may offer (1999).  (23) In order to achieve the best therapeutic results, the role of the family is a necessary presupposition, but it is a need for the family to have professional support and constant education ( 1995). Teachers, therapists and parents must constantly be aware of new methods and to evaluate the methods’ results with no prejudice. Parent’s education helps them to be able to participate positively in their child’s therapeutic programme, something which is very important for the child because it boosts his educational and behavioral progress ( 1991). The family’s participation to the therapy is not only useful for the child but also strengthens the family, because they usually feel sad feelings due to their autistic child ( 1985). It would also be useful for all the people such as the grandmother or the grandfather who spend time with the autistic child, to learn how to communicate with him in a very efficient way. Parents also may attend seminars and constantly be aware of the activities, the behaviour and their child’s every day reactions ( 1992).   It is a fact that the autistic child’s education may be overwhelming for parents and teachers-therapists and that is why they should anticipate in the child’s emotional and physical tiredness, because if they do not, then they can not be useful to the child’s needs.   Conclusively, we may say that in order for the teachers and therapists to conceive the autistic child’s communicative and cognitional abilities, there must first be firmness in the way the educational programme works. Firmness should also be used in the educational and pedagogic method and if there are needs for changing the educational programme, these must be done in a systematic way. Finally, the family should always be aware of their child’s education programme in order to be homogeneity to the way parents and therapists behave to the child ( 1996).  (24-25)          COMMENTS ON 4TH ASSIGNMENT   You include some interesting and practical suggestions within this assignment, which have been thought through. However, it has been difficult to get a sense of coherence and meaning from the text, mainly due to its organization and lack of reference to the title.   You need to think clearly about what the title of this assignment is asking for.   Introduction: give an overview of what your assignment will include- see point 6.   Theoretical background: discuss the first part of the title –autistic spectrum, the severe end- the characteristics of these children – reference to a theoretical model e.g. triad of impairments- particular reference to cognition/ learning/ style and communication skills.   Middle section: ·        Assessing intellectual and communication skills –how may this be done? Tasks? Observation? Any tests? Formally/informally? Emphasize the teacher and therapist working together. ·        Differentiate and realize –how do teaching methods need to vary for this group of children who (as you say) are very individual in their presenting characteristics. What approaches are relevant? Here put all your ideas, but under headings so they are organized (see point 29, but also include some of your own from pages 6,7 and 8). Include a section on the importance of everyone being consistent –and the involvement of parents (from your conclusion). Refer back to your theoretical underpinning in the background section. Make continual reference to teacher and therapists working together.   Conclusion: pull out the main points that you have made in a summary –emphasizing consistency as you do in the initial and final parts of your existing conclusion.   I think you nearly have enough information –you have clearly read widely and should be able to add to the theoretical section (which is currently your ‘introduction’). Better organization and clearer explanation of some of your ideas and approaches would greatly improve this work.   Where you have included examples from your experience, this enhances the work and shows your understanding. Relate them specifically to a theoretical back ground and understanding of austism.   <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> I think right at the outset you need to be very clear about which group of children you are talking about. The title suggests children at the severe end of the Autistic spectrum 0 and you have to make this explicit too. Otherwise your first statement is confusing. ‘The autistic child’ could be a child with high functioning autism. </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Although you reference this first paragraph at the end, you need to show where these thoughts come from earlier. Is the author talking about all autistic children? Again, making it clear that you are talking about children at the severe end of the autistic spectrum would be helpful. This comment is relevant throughout this introduction where you refer to the ‘autistic child’. A brief explanation showing your understanding of autistic spectrum would also be useful. </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> What about the triad of impairments?(cognition-learning style-communication skills) </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Useful to relate your characteristics to the triad </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Is this true? Only these elements? –It’s also the content and use of language which is disrupted- your reference to meaning demonstrates this </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> I do not consider this to be an introduction to your assignment. You have launched straight into a discussion about the communication skills of autistic children. Your introduction should give the reader an outline of the assignment you are going to write e.g. ‘I will fist briefly overview… and then go to describe…’ etc. Have you left a section out? This would give your assignment an organization, which at this point it lacks. The reader does not see where the assignment is going. </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> I am still unclear by this point how you are going to address the title of this assignment –which asks you to consider how a teacher and SLT can work together to assess, differentiate and realize the educational potential. You seem to be launching straight into the realizing section…. You need some sort of introduction to this next section – ‘I shall now consider how teachers and therapists can work together to meet the needs of children in the severe end of the autistic spectrum’. Be clear to the reader where you are going with your writing. </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Not sure what you mean by this – speech exercises? You need  to reference this to show where it has come from </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Please reference your comments –who says this? Where have you read it? </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> So how can teachers and SLTs work together to create an environment where autistic children and develop more appropriate and useful communication skills? –you address this a little more appropriately in point 13 </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> You have not described this in enough detail to give the reader a sense of your understanding of this approach </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Should you call these ‘speech disorders’- when you are talking about communication </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Good and you have given some useful examples of how this may be done </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Yes, but please reference this –otherwise it looks like an idea that you have just thought up. Where have you read about this –make sure you demonstrate your reading and do not make too many unsubstantiated comments </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Linking this to your understanding of the nature of Autism would be useful here. Explain why they attend to peripheral noises- central coherence etc. </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Explain how visual methods can be helpful –will they do not also attend to peripheral detail within visual material? Tell us how would use visual material </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> They can be, but not always –especially this group of children at the severe end of the autistic spectrum. I think you need to be careful in making statements about all autistic children, use words like ‘can’, ‘may’ </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> This section on ‘ways of teaching’ contains many useful, practical ideas. However, it is poorly organized and so we start reading about one aspects, flit to another and then give some more information later about the earlier point. It would be very helpful for you, and the reader, to use headings under which you could group your ideas. For example: ‘Communicative opportunities’, ‘The use of written language’, ‘visual support’- just a few ideas. As mentioned in the notes above, try also to support what you are saying with what you have read- having a more comprehensive initial theoretical section would have been useful to refer back to. </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Why have you used these note-forms? Could this not be a paragraph –or at least introduce your lists to begin with. Your assignment needs to be a narrative and not a list of points </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Again, this is very list-like and does not have to be –you have enough content here to write text instead of a list of points. Please at least give an introduction before starting these points, so that the reader knows why you are reporting them. </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Reference- who says this? Where have you read it? Show your reading to support your comments </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> In order to address the third party of the title question ‘differentiation’ it would have been useful to discuss how it may be possible to meet the needs of both of these children within a classroom- but the use of individualized programmes. Good to have emphasized the very different nature of the two children with autism, this would also have been useful earlier </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> They will find it difficult to learn and then generalize </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> This needed to be stressed more clearly within the body of your assignment. Yew, this is important- to work with the child’s interests and follow their lead </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> The involvement of the child’s family is an important factor and should have been included in an earlier section. Your conclusion should be about drawing together the main points that you have made during the assignment, not about introducing more points </li>   Grade 45% Fail                                                                                                        Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Autism Assignment Essay Instructions

4th Assignment The severe end of the autistic spectrum is described as predominantly linked to severe learning difficulties. How might a ...

Introduction to International Finance

INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCE             International finance is also known as international macroeconomics. It is because nations trade with each other, lend and borrow from each other,  and affects economic movement that international finance came into existence.             With international credit and debit, opportunities are growing and options are available to raise one’s income. On the downside, as international finance can cause income growth so can it cause potential  financial crisis.              The largest market in the world is foreign exchange.  It is then followed by exports and imports. With globalization, international trade has become very important and essential to all nations.             International finance is a result of various types of currencies. It is also a result of intertemporal trade. Intertemporal trade is shown and is present in securities.  Flows of securities are huge, more massive than trade in its entirety.  Those that contribute largely to fluctuating markets are the gross flows. The situation that sets the stage for financial and currency crisis are when country borrowers receive monetary currencies that are not from their country.  Example is peso to dollar.             The history of capital flows notes that there was a very large capital flow until the year 1913. A big trough caused the market not to recover until the middle of 1980s although post World War II economy is much favorable than the pre-World War II period. The fruitful and productive years of   financial mobility was curved by World War I. Furthermore, the Depression years up to World War II were really a downtrend.             It was only with the beginning of the oil shocks that recovery became possible. As of the present, the status of the economy is back to the economic standing of World War II.  This only proves that institutions, along with technology, promote capital flows and globalization.             The International financial system is vital to international economic organizations. Bimetallism should be identified. Gold standard, which is the top of the capital market globally, should also be identified. Depression shattered the system during World War I.  The system then worked again until it  collapsed at the onset of OPEC  and previous to that, the Vietnam War.             Globalization cannot be pinpointed as the culprit since there was a very high international capital mobility in the early twentieth century. Some major countries have adopted the euro as their currency and canceled out their own currency. Some countries attach their currencies to the dollar or another important currency.             Bilateral exchange rates are the cost of one currency as against another currency. The periods that were prominent for its tremendous instability were the 1970s and 1980s.  European countries  attempted to stabilize the variations of their currencies against each other. The forerunner of the euro was the EMS. It reserved individual currencies yet the European countries were compelled to narrow bands.  When Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom dropped out of the system in 1963, it underwent a  massive crisis.  This encouraged the direction towards the euro. The euro eliminated speculations against other individual currencies. All European Union members are required to accept and adopt the euro. However, United Kingdom and Sweden still have political issues to settle regarding this. Italy joined in but France and Germany are being difficult. Evaluating a single currency is ambiguous at best as it is the result of doing commerce with other countries. Trade weighted exchange rates are rates based on a country’s shares of trade transactions with the United States.  Example is the peso exchange rate to the US dollar.             After 1973, prices became more unstable causing inflation. Variations in a country’s inflation rates are a significant factor in the establishment of nominal exchange rates.             The current account balance is the total amount  of net exports of a country including net transfers. Net exports are the exports of goods and services without the imports. It is how a country’s trade relations with other countries are evaluated and analyzed. If a certain country has a surplus in its current account, it is said to be  obtaining assets from other countries.  If it does not have a surplus, the country is said to be in debt.             A reason why developing countries are becoming large lenders to rich countries as the United States is because of the financial crisis at the turn of the twenty-first century. Reserves were built up by these developing countries.             On the other hand, a country can have a huge current account shortage but can have a surplus  or excess in the capital account.     Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Introduction to International Finance

INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCE International finance is also known as international macroeconomics. It is because na...

Dissertation Proposal : An analysis of the effectiveness of corporate governance by public listed companies in Malaysia

DISSERTATION PROPOSAL   Student Name :                            Student Number :   Degree Programme : BA (HONS) Accounting and Finance   Dissertation to be submitted :     Area of Dissertation :   Title : An analysis of the effectiveness of corporate governance by public listed           companies in Malaysia.   Introduction :             Realizing the important role and responsibility to the public, companies have taken the initiative step to be self regulate; and one of the approaches is to practice good corporate governance. The lax standards of Corporate Governance subsequently known as (CG) were reviewed and tightened into best practices among Public Listed Companies (plc) as the East Asian economic crisis in 1997/98.  As a result, a series of initiatives focusing on the governance structures of companies and on the disclosures that need to be made protect shareholders and provide confidence that the stewardship of organizations are in good hands.            Since different cultures and approaches of Corporate Governance were adopted by different countries, Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance subsequently known as (MICG) was therefore established, serve as the medium of CG to react on issues relating to management of the business and affairs of corporations in Malaysia; and to promote public awareness of CG in encouraging interaction among the members and the investing public CG issues.  There are four main areas where the principles underlies in the report are board of directors, director’s remunerations, shareholders and accounting and audit ability.             The Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance subsequently known as (MCCG) is aimed at providing guidelines for companies to observe good CG in their business practices.  MCCG is especially relevant to public listed companies that have a responsibility towards their shareholders to observe the highest standard of transparency, accountability and, above all, integrity.  Bursa Malaysia Berhad has helped to play an important role in enhancing companies’ financial performance in accordance with MCCG such as the amendments made in revamp in listing requirements.  It is aimed at strengthening provisions in disclosure, financial reporting and other continuing listing obligations.   Research Problem :   1) What are the factors affecting the compliance with Corporate Governance among      public listed companies in Malaysia?   2) What are the problems faced by these companies in practicing good corporate      governance?   3) What are the possible ways that can be used by these companies to overcome the     problems of corporate governance compliance?   Objective :                     This research is attempted to study and identify the following :   1) the factors affecting the compliance of corporate governance and the importance of     corporate governance among public listed companies in Malaysia   2) the problems faced by these companies in practicing good corporate governance   3) the possible ways which can be adopted by these companies to solve the problems of corporate governance.   Scope of Study :             This study will concentrate on the practice of good corporate governance framework in the business world where companies have to cope with the fast beat of corporate development faced by those companies in Malaysia.  Although these framework are very important but it realized that companies have difficulties in adopting proper and good corporate governance. So the roles and functions of directors, the establishments of specialized bodies in governing the practice of good CG, and the impact derived from the principles are to be investigated.   Literature Review :            Based on Cafferty and Finn (2002) says that there are three criteria that need to be met in order to reduce the risk of fraud.  The three criteria are good ethics, good people and lastly a good system. However, many analysts see this as a setback of the government’s corporate restructuring effort. Malaysia’s corporate governance appears to have gone two steps forward and one step back. Whether all the investors’ confidence that the market has rekindled in the past months is for real, we’ll have to wait and see until the new year.            However, the argument on Shleifer and Vishny (1997) states that the central problem of corporate governance is to insure that investors receive an adequate return on their investment in the firm.  Whereas, as stated by Goktan (2005), the firm’s governance organization is to be mainly determined by its board size, its board composition, its management’s equity stake, its corporate charter/bylaws, and the state laws to which it is subject.             Besides, Chester (2006) stated that, poor governance can at times be associated with higher returns through excessive, nontransparent risk taking by fund managers; although, with a proper risk-adjustment, fund performance could be lower.  Based on Deakin (2002), the fall of Enron has again focused attention on the failure of mechanisms of corporate governance to protect investor interests. However, financial scandals of this kind are nothing new, particularly in periods of ‘correction’ following stock market bubbles.  Moreover, there is no consensus on the wider implications of the Enron affair. Three distinct positions might be taken.   Research method :             This research will engage mutually the qualitative and also quantitative evaluation. Thus, the secondary data will involved for additional understanding the nature of the research topic and also related topic. The research focal point generally is more on secondary data compared to primary data.  Secondary data is data where usually researchers will not need to collect their own data but can test the hypothesis by using the data that already exist.  The challenge with secondary data is to assure yourself that the data appropriately address your research question such that you are not caught in a dilemma of altering your hypothesis to fit the data.   All of these secondary date collected was used to justify and support any claim made on the research issue to make it more presentable and reliable on the claim topic.  There two methods used to obtain the secondary data which are online and manual methods. The manual methods will be such as magazines, newspaper, company’s Annual Reports, Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance, the reports on stock market, the reports on Corporate Governance, Securities Commission reporting, book and etc.             Since the factors affecting the compliance with corporate governance, the problems faced by companies and the possi       Timetable :  Oct – Chapter 1 Introduction                      Nov – Chapter 2 Literature Review                      Dec – Chapter 3 Research Methodology    Please tick the most appropriate subject area for your dissertation.   - Accounting and Finance   Signature of Student :                                                                  Dated :   Please hand this form into the Faculty Office and you will be allocated a supervisor.   Office Use Only Proposed Dissertation Supervisor :   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Dissertation Proposal : An analysis of the effectiveness of corporate governance by public listed companies in Malaysia

DISSERTATION PROPOSAL Student Name : Student Number : Degree Programme : BA (HONS) Accounting...

Thesis Chapter 5 on An Evaluation of the Process and Effects of Knowledge Management in the Financial Sector

Chapter 5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS   This study tried to assess the effects of knowledge management on the financial sector. Specifically, the study tried to identify the knowledge management strategies of financial institutions particularly of banks in the United Kingdom; the manner on which banks cope up with the rapid change in the financial sector using knowledge management; the effects of these knowledge management strategies on the goals, objectives and long-term plans on the banks and the financial sector in general; and the potential of knowledge management in the attainment of goals/objectives, keeping up with competition on other financial institutions and the in accomplishing long-term management and financial goals.   The study utilized the descriptive kind of research with questionnaires and interviews used as instruments to measure the hypothesis of this study. The secondary sources of data came from published articles from social science journals, theses and related studies on Knowledge Management, Organizational Behaviour and the financial sector.   Summary On the basis of the data gathered in relation to the statement of the problem, the following are the significant findings: 1.            Greater than a half of the all the respondents claim that they have the grasp of the basic business objectives of their firm.   2.            The respondents are uncertain whether their company has a better comprehension of the basic principles of KM. Although the respondents claimed that their company has installed its own intranet and extranet, only 43% of them stated that the system actually helps the employees in understanding and acquiring information in the firm.   3.            The population stated that their respective companies have made their functions more efficient in the imposition of KM in their system. This is because the industry has the initiative to acquire specific techniques that suits their respective organizational cultures.   4.            The respondents stated that another potential of KM is the fact that it provides the top management the venue to sustain the company’s strategic goals without compromising any other aspect of the organization.   5.            The population asserted that the program also allows the company to cultivate the affairs of the organization, particularly those that are significantly relevant for the company.   6.            The respondents also perceive that the imposition of KM in their system has significantly provided the individual employees with the right to be heard in the conglomerate.   7.            The principles of KM have provided the much needed communication line between the CEOs and those in the rank-and-file employees.   Conclusion             On the basis of the above summary of findings in this study, this research came up with the following conclusions: The implementation of knowledge management in the financial sector is obviously in its infancy stage. The financial sector must contend with a proliferating number of products, services and data sources as investment markets go global and become active around the clock. Keeping abreast of this data and understanding how it relates to employee and organizational performance is crucial to financial service companies such as those stated in this study. As more products, trading services and companies contribute to an online investment environment, this requirement will only intensify.    The study presented an impression of the benefits of KM are glaringly obvious to KM practitioners: Implementing a knowledge management system is part of an organizational commitment to raise information literacy skills, enabling associates to find, appraise, and utilize resources as part of their everyday routine. Concurrently, the study also presented the possible factors that contribute to the failure of the KM principles. In this light, the study concludes that the level of management implementation is directly proportional to a bank’s profitability. Concurrently, the study also concludes that knowledge management is inversely proportional to the failure of the company. Nonetheless, the latter is acceptable only if the principles of KM are properly implemented. Another requisite is that the company is able to handle the dynamism of its environment in order to establish the realization of KM’s full potential.   Recommendation The findings of the study as well as the suggestions of the respondents helped the researcher prepare the following recommendations: The study provided a presentation on the perception of the personnel of five financial institutions regarding their grasp and faith as well as their evaluation on the Knowledge Management strategies employed in their respective companies. Moreover, the study also established that the environment of the financial sector is a different playing field for KM. This is reflected by the predominantly dearth materials on the implementation of the strategies specifically on the banking sector. In this light, the study recommends that the banking sector closely analyze the kind of KM strategy that will perfectly fit their organizational culture as well as their specific vision and mission. The study also established that the opening of communication lines among the hierarchy of the company has significantly increased the motivation level of the employees. Thus, the study suggests that a greater emphasis on the way this increase in the morale of the workforce become an instrument for further profit. Although there is a slight increase in the productivity of the employees resulting from this rise of morale, it is important to keep track on the administrative aspects of the company. Maintaining the high level of efficiency of employees shall inevitably ensue high profits. And lastly, the researcher proposes to employ additional studies that will cover a much larger population and a much wider coverage area. This would allow the learners in the similar discipline to gauge the effectiveness of Knowledge Management in the financial sector.   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Thesis Chapter 5 on An Evaluation of the Process and Effects of Knowledge Management in the Financial Sector

Chapter 5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS This study tried to assess the effects of knowledge management on the financial ...

A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW TO APPROACH THE CONCLUSION

A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW TO APPROACH THE CONCLUSION   ü    Stress the importance of the thesis statement. ü    Give the essay a sense of completeness. ü    Leave a final impression on the reader.   1.     Looking to the future: Looking to the future can emphasize the importance of your paper or redirect the readers’ thought process. It may help them apply the new information to their lives or see things more globally. ü     Example: Without well-qualified teachers, schools are little more than buildings and equipment. If higher-paying careers continue to attract the best and the brightest students, there will not only be a shortage of teachers, but the teachers available may not have the best qualifications. Our youth will suffer. And when youth suffers, the future suffers.   2.     Posing questions: Posing questions, either to your readers or in general, may help your readers gain a new perspective on the topic, which they may not have held before reading your conclusion. It may also bring your main ideas together to create a new meaning. ü     Example: Campaign advertisements should help us understand the candidate’s qualifications and positions on the issues. Instead, most tell us what an idiot the opposing candidate is, or they present general images of the candidate as a family person or God-fearing American. Do such advertisements contribute to creating informed citizens or a people who choose political leaders the same way they choose soft drinks and soap?   3.     Challenging the reader: By issuing a challenge to your readers, you are helping them to redirect the information in the paper, and they may apply it to their own lives. ü     Example: Though serving on a jury is not only a civic responsibility but also an interesting experience, many people still view jury duty as a chore that interrupts their jobs and the routine of their daily lives. However, juries are part of America’s attempt to be a free and just society. Thus, jury duty challenges us to be interested and responsible citizens.   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW TO APPROACH THE CONCLUSION

A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW TO APPROACH THE CONCLUSION ü Stress the importance of the thesis statement. ü Give the essay a s...

Service Delivery for Rural Communities

Service Delivery for Rural Communities     The evolving government in South Africa engages in local development and  service delivery by way of a decentralized system with strong community support. It concentrates on speed and delivery in dealing with the remnants of apartheid, the struggle against which has also left a legacy of community-based organizing and a significant civil society sector, where blacks and women play a critical role.[1]   However, there is a disconnect  between community-based development and community-driven development (CDD), where communities control the identification of projects, due to the local government’s use of ward committees in community involvement. These are not independent bodies and have no budgets for their initiatives.[2]   Municipalities in South Africa are mandated to have policies and institutional frameworks that support and sustain local development that is in line toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and basic rights of the people. Local government officials must promote good governance by performing their duties with efficiency, transparency and accountability.[3]   Local governments must coordinate to realize several goals which include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, installing universal primary education, practicing gender equality, decreasing child mortality and fighting human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), malaria and other diseases.[4]   Since 2004, people have gone to the streets to protest the political leadership’s inadequate response to community issues on the incompetence and corruption of local governments, which reflects the crisis of local democracy. However, municipalities cannot deliver services due to fiscal distress, a weak revenue base and a shortage of the required skills for the job at hand.[5]   The following are recommendations to address the challenges of delivering service to rural communities in South Africa:[6] The public should be consulted and enjoined to participate on vital governance issues, policy formulation and implementation. Municipalities must review and upgrade their internal control systems to check maladministration, financial mismanagement, fraud and corruption. Transparency, accountability and openness to public scrutiny must be promoted in local governments. Municipalities must integrate the needs of the community in their budget allocations and development programs. Prevailing tensions between politics and administration must be resolved and made sure not to compromise the delivery of service. Fiscal allocations must be made according to the economic capabilities of different municipalities to ensure uniform development. The capacities of municipal officials must be built to make them render services more effectively.   Moral renewal is needed in the country where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and it is important for civil society to address the failure of  government service. These organizations are committed to the values of a moral society and receive the support of local and foreign donors and ordinary workers.[7]     		 		 		 		[1] David Everatt, Lulu Gwagwa, 		“Community Driven Development in South Africa, 1990-2004”, 		Africa Region, Working Paper Series No. 92, October 2005, 		 		<http://www.worldbank.org/afr/wps/wp92.pdf> [accessed 20 April 2011] 		 		 		 		[2] ibid 		 		 		 		[3] Idasa, “The State of Local 		Government and Service Delivery in South Africa: Issues, Challenges 		and Solutions”, 22 January 2010 <www.pmg.org.za/files/docs/100204idasa.doc 		> [accessed 21 April 2011] 		 		 		 		[4] ibid 		 		 		 		[5] ibid 		 		 		 		[6] ibid 		 		 		 		[7] Shelagh Gastrow,“’Tis the 		Season of Promises”, service delivery, sa ngo net pulse, 		<http://www.ngopulse.org/category/defined-tags/rural-development/service-delivery> 		[accessed 21 April 2011] Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Service Delivery for Rural Communities

Service Delivery for Rural Communities The evolving government in South Africa engages in local development and service delivery...

ENGAGING NEW BUSINESSES IN SINGAPORE

ENGAGING NEW BUSINESSES IN SINGAPORE         Entrepreneurs are the walls of economy; they are the driving force that motivates groups, organization or individuals to succeed. People who are engage in business are the leader and the key people who can make the country grow. They are the one who do not be contented in employment but they are the one who create opportunities for themselves and expand greatly to help people. In today’s modern economy Entrepreneurs do not rely mainly on their own country but they are also engage in International trade which is definitely a great way to expand their businesses. Viable businesses can be greatly encouraged to engage in exchanging foreign trades. In Asian countries like Singapore where business are allowed to enter if they can give a good opportunity between nations.       In fact Singapore government agencies that are assigned in International trade and other Singaporean private companies are visiting countries all over the world to look for specific business that they dwell on to partnership or direct selling. Sometimes they learn in other countries the trade secrets of such a business, KILUS foundation a multi-purpose cooperative in Pasig, City Philippines where there is a group of women who create different products made from tetra-pack of juice drinks. This tetra pack instead of throwing it out on the garbage are collected by members and clean it up and sewn by their members to become a raw material for making bags, slippers and other useful products that they can sell to the market from various countries especially Singapore who is one of their biggest customers. This tetra pack business has been doing well for the last few years in Singapore and expected to continue for the next few years. This means than engaging in entrepreneurship as long as it is legal is highly obtainable in this country.       Since Singapore is a newly industrialized country, businesses like foreign language and English language, Information Technology or tutorial may be a good one to offer they are highly allowing the use of advance technology in their country to be adopted. Also products that are associated in Agribusiness may be viable. Singapore although newly industrialized they have a large land that caters to agricultural production of rice and other crops. Business like fertilizer, machineries, and others may also be a good product to be presented here.  According to Global Agricultural Information Network the country is also in need of livestock like Pigs, Chicken, Meat, Fish fresh fruit and vegetables, snacks and beverages and more due to the high demand of food service business who are now booming in most Cities and Provincial villages in Singapore. Although food exports are highly critical to export since it requires intensive quality of livestock and inspection that would take days upon delivery but the opportunity to export this products is high.         Due to the ever increasing demand of food businesses in Singapore the service food chain business is highly a very profitable business in this country, food stalls continues to grow in streets and walkways. Giant Corporation like McDonald, KFC, Pizza hut etc. are highly enjoying the market demand and it is expected to grow as much as the public continues to patronize such food businesses.        A foreign nationality is open to explore to a new venture in this country, there are various process that an entrepreneurs might need to follow to be legally successful in their endeavor. There are no particular products that you can offer in this country, if you have a business that you think can be viable you should first register to the International Enterprise in Singapore to gather a market research or feasibility study guide. This is an advantage on Entrepreneur’s part to be successful. You may also seek the following agencies for consultation before engaging in your business trade. ·         The Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (ASME) they are the one who provide assistance to the new budding entrepreneurs who are willing to learn and succeed. ·         The Singapore Manufacturer’s Federation (SMa) they provide consultancy services for overall business improvement. ·         Or you may visit directly this website for the complete list. http://www.business.gov.sg/ http://www.business.gov.sg/EN/ContactBusinessConsultant       The openings of International Trade have given full access to individual and organization to take part of the opportunities of businesses all over the world. Entrepreneurs should take advantage of these opportunities if they have a viable business to introduce. The best thing to do is try to create a business today even in modesty then expand gradually and be successful. Who knows? A small business today can be an icon for tomorrow if given an attention and harness in full potential.           Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

ENGAGING NEW BUSINESSES IN SINGAPORE

ENGAGING NEW BUSINESSES IN SINGAPORE Entrepreneurs are the walls of economy; they are the driving force that motivates groups, or...