Friday, May 31, 2019

Anarchy vs. Liberalism Essay -- Politics Political Ideologies

Contemporary liberal and anarchist philosophy are both two very different ways of trying to see what would be the silk hat way to run order of magnitude. While discussing these two ideologies I will try to show how both, in their purist sense, are not able work in todays society effectively. Contemporary liberals are involved in every day politics exactly through over regulation and dependence on regimen they broad their chances of running a reliable democracy. Anarchist have very good ideas of how a natural society could function without government or modern institutions but the biggest problem they have is how to get to that point.Both theories understand good on paper but in one case they hit the real world they change due(p) to alternating conceptions and individual influences. The root of the word anarchism comes from the Greek word anarchos, which means without ruler. The main philosophy behind anarchism is that people passel reside in an unregulated community with no r eal assurance and maintain a sustainable life. Anarchists see government and capitalism as an institution that creates liberty for the rich and enslavement of the masses. Emma Goldman best describes anarchism as The philosophy of a new social order based on liberty unrestricted by man-made law the possible action that all forms of government rest on violence and are therefore wrong and harmful, as well as unnecessary.With anarchism there is a belief that once all government is abolished by the people that everyone will come together in a community of mutual aid and understanding without laws or authority to direct. Their philosophy can be considered other of most other ideologies, especially that of contemporary liberalism. Contemporary liberalism strives to hold on to the classic liberals ideals pertaining to political, economic, and social liberties but it tends to look at democratic government as a tool rather than a hindrance. John Stuart Mill, John Dewey, and Franklin D. Ro osevelt are established ideologues of contemporary liberalism. Just opposite of anarchism, modern liberalism puts its faith in government to change and adapt to the failures of capitalism.The emergence of this political philosophy started around the end of the nineteenth century with John Stuart Mills ideas in his book Principles of Political Economy. The philosophy became an ideology in the twentieth century with the main points of enh... ...Anarchy in theory seems like a very good idea. I would love to live in a society where you just did what was good for you and helped others while they helped you. I dont know why anyone wouldnt want to live in a society like that. The only problem is that to get to this utopian society the whole world would have to spontaneously decide they wanted it and I can guarantee there are many politicians and CEOs that would not like that. Contemporary liberals are right in wanting to reform institutions of today but I cant see how over regulation of g overnment in all areas is going to help fix things. I do see the need for some government action towards the eradication of poverty, equal rights, and unemployment.Bibliography Citations What is anarchism, An Anarchist FAQWebpage,www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1931/, Internet Explorer, 5/4/98. Schumaker Paul, Dwight C. Kiel, Thomas Heilke, Great Ideas/Grand Schemes Political Ideologies in the 19th and 20th Centuries, sore York, The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., 1996. Schumaker Paul, Dwight C. Kiel, Thomas W. Heilke, Ideological Voices An Anthology in Modern Political Ideas, New York, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1997.

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Impact of Warfare, Religion, and Social Stratification on City-Building

Impact of Warfare, Religion, and Social Stratification on City-BuildingIn both past and coetaneous human societies, one can witness the cultural creations of warfare, religion, and social stratification interacting to help form and perpetuate the existence of each other. In addition, these cultural factors sport lent themselves to help produce, regulate, and justify specific technologies. These technologies may be each destructive or beneficial to human societies economically and/or environmentally, and can feature a very wide range of function. Technologies can in turn influence warfare, religion, and social stratification so as to increase the importance of these aspects of refining in society. In this paper, I seek to explore the relationships between warfare, religion, and social stratification, and their master(prenominal) influences on city- configurationing in ancient times and today.As early societies began to base together and form conglomerations of people that eventually became towns and cities, they discovered a need for warfare in order to protect and expand their territories, resources, and populations. In the words of Ehrlich, it is important to remember that (c)onnecting genes for aggressionto the actions of warring governments is a bit of a stretch, just as would be connecting genes for conciliations to the deployment of United Nations peacemakers (Ehrlich 260). Basically, Ehrlich wants us to realize that there are no war or peace genes, but that cultural micro- and macro-evolutionary conditions (that is, societal or environmental conditions) may drive a group of people to be either warring or peaceful.With the development of warfare came the development of religion. A causative relationship is... ...a, especially slaves, would have been the people who would have physically labored to build the cities. In this way, social stratification played a major role in the rise of ancient Greek cities. In conclusion, the cultural c omponents of warfare, religion, and social stratification have not only interacted to help create and perpetuate each other, but they have also heavily influenced technologies such as city-building in ancient Greece. Though the emphasis on the different factors changes with evolving cultural and environmental climates, they are still present to some degree in Western culture today.whole kit and boodle CitedChant, Colin. Pre-Industrial Cities and Technology. London Routledge, 1999.Ehrlich, Paul. Human Natures. Washington, D.C. Island Press, 2000Southwick, Charles. Human Impacts on Planet Earth. Oxford Oxford University Press, 1996.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Statues of David Essay -- essays research papers

There have been many staues of David sculpted by famous artists homogeneous Donatello, Verrocchio, and Michelangelo. Berninis version of David and is about to begin his attack on Goliath, as he appears posing. The statue seems to be moving through space and the action suggests that the action of flinging the cavity requires a lot of room around David. The statue forces the observer to look past the actual subject and focus more on the surroundings. He seems to have genuinely muscular legs, and appears to be ready to turn and throw a stone from his sling. This is the most dramatic pose that Bernini could have picked and was chosen because it shows a sudden kick downstairs of energy and a moment of suspense as well. Berninis David is different from that of other artists because there is an expression of concentration that makes the statue a more imposing human of artwork.Donatellos David was created for the courtyard of the Palazzo Medici. The statue takes on a different pose, an d was one of the first free-standing nude statues of the ancient world. l when compared to Berninis, it is more classical. Berninis rendition is posing and relaxed equivalent a Greek god would be. Donatello made the ancient Greek style popular during this time. Donatellos David has long flowing hair and has one of his legs placed unwaveringly on top of the head of Goliath, representing his victory over the behemoth. He portrayed David as the slayer of Goliath and as a symbol of the independent republ...

Cover Girl Cosmetics Essay examples -- marketing business

Cover Girl CosmeticsWhy Cover Girl is atomic number 53 of the virtually successful cosmetic organizations since the 1960s? Cover Girl cosmetics have been the top-seller since 1961 and are save going strong. It is hard, with all the advanced lines of make-up for one product to go as far as Cover girl has, so how does Cover Girl cosmetics do it? A lot of Cover Girls strong, on going successes are due to changing the look of the product, exceptional promotions which the public cant look over, giving a cosmetic appeal to almost(prenominal) older and younger aged women and most importantly by using near perfect women and teens to model their products. Although its wonderful that Cover Girl has been and still is so successful, it has put a dentation in todays society in what womens demeanor should and shouldnt be. Women and young adolescence are confused of what their appearance should be. Cover Girl has many famous models one inparticular is the famous country singer Faith Hill. Fa ith is tall, skinny, and flawless. When women see models like her doing the advertising for Cover Girl, they automatically feel that they should look the same. Later in this paper I will go into semiotics which derives from the Greek word semeion meaning sign, it basically describes how people ascertain different signs, such as models, and how these signs might effect ones life and self-esteem. Proctor & Gamble are the owners and starters of Cover Girl cosmetics. To keep up the success of Cover Girl they must keep on top of the advertising game to stay above the competitors. To do this they do many promotions, some include using famous singers, changing displays, giving a appearance samples and one of the most important advertisement of all is the models Cover Girls incorporates in their ads. Cover Girls did one promotion with Target stores to promote their product. They used the famous group 98 Degrees to make a sweepstakes called, Fall in Love with 98 Degrees Sweepstakes. The gr and prizewinner of this sweepstakes is an appearance in the new 98 Degrees music video. This advertising doesnt just take place in the Target stores it also takes place in juvenile magazine, stickers on the new 98 Degrees CDs, a national radio campaign, and the national Teen People magazine. Because its teens that mainly listen to the music that 98 Degrees produces, its the teens that this particular promotion is focused on. I s... ...so very successful because of their unique forms of advertising and promotions. Contacting certain audiences which is their main target during different promotions is a wonderful way to go. Understanding advertising will better help you understand yourself and make you realize whom you really are and whom you will always be no function how many cosmetics you buy. Works CitedAdweek, L.P. Cover Girl to sponsor a special June issue of YM on topic relationships. Mediaweek 26 April 1993 v3 n17 p4 (1) Adweek, L.P. Cover Girl Sweepstakes Ties to Target Sto res. Brandweek 26 July 1999 v40 i30 p1. Adweek, L.P. Makeover for Makeup. Brandweek 6 Sept. 1999 v40 i33 p1.Cosmetics International Cosmetic Products Report, Cover Girl Bolsters its Foundation. July 1999 v15 i174 p11.http//www.covergirl.com/models/sara/sara1.html, Sarah Thomas. http//members.xoom.com/ XMCM/faith/news.htm, Faith Hill. http//www.aber.ac.uk/ednwww/Undgrad/ed30610/nnr501.htmlSemiotic Analysis. Progressive Grocer, Wicked for Halloween. Oct. 1999 v78 i10 p122 Sloan, Pat. Cover Girl Pays Attention to both(prenominal) Brand and Product. Advertising Age 3 March 1997. v68 n9 P12 (1).

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Bankruptcy: Frightening Reality Essay -- essays research papers

Since the 1960s, personal bankruptcy has often served as a guard for the young and struggling. Bankruptcy lawyers say younger and less-educated people tended to rack up too much debt while starting families and jobs, without a savings cushion to stick out them through lean times. Thats changing, as personal bankruptcy filings hit all-time highs. Last year, there were more than 1.6 million such filings, nearly twice as many as a decade earlier. Some experts say much of the increase is being driven by older people, many with decades of work come in white-collar jobs. In 2001, per capita filings by people ages 45 to 54 increased 58% from a decade earlier, according to one study. Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding that allows a person who is everywherewhelmed with debts to eventually become debt-free. In a typical personal-bankruptcy case, credit-card balances and other "unsecured" debts-which are not backed by any collateral-are wiped out entirely. Under court supervision, th e debitor then negotiates a plan with creditors to pay off as much of the remaining debt as possible, over three to five years. During that time, debtors cannot take on any new debts, but they are protected by the courts from being sued by creditors or having their assets repossessed. Credit reports proclivity bankruptcy filings for seven to 10 years, making it almost impossible for a filer to get new loans or credit. But once that period is over, the debtor can move on with a clean credit record, free of de...

Bankruptcy: Frightening Reality Essay -- essays research papers

Since the 1960s, personal bankruptcy has often served as a refuge for the young and struggling. loser lawyers say younger and less-educated people tended to rack up too much debt while starting families and jobs, with emerge a savings cushion to carry them through tilt times. Thats changing, as personal bankruptcy filings hit all-time highs. Last year, there were more than 1.6 million such filings, nearly twice as many as a decade earlier. Some experts say much of the increase is being driven by older people, many with decades of work experience in pink-collar jobs. In 2001, per capita filings by people ages 45 to 54 increased 58% from a decade earlier, according to one study. Bankruptcy is a legal accomplishment that allows a person who is overwhelmed with debts to eventually become debt-free. In a typical personal-bankruptcy case, credit-card balances and other "unsecured" debts-which are not backed by any collateral-are wiped out entirely. Under court supervision, the debtor then negotiates a plan with creditors to pay off as much of the remaining debt as possible, over three to fiver years. During that time, debtors cannot take on any new debts, but they are protected by the courts from being sued by creditors or having their assets repossessed. Credit reports list bankruptcy filings for septette to 10 years, making it almost impossible for a filer to get new loans or credit. But once that period is over, the debtor can instill on with a clean credit record, free of de...

Monday, May 27, 2019

Nord’s ‘Function plus Loyalty’ Concept

Ever since Post-structuralism and Reception-Aesthetics (also hit the hayn as Reader Response Theory) happened questioning the precise validity of fixing a textbook with one unitary and holistic reading, postalist burn downes to shift has been gaining ground among the reading theorists all over the world. With its roots in the Skopos guess as proposed by Hans Vermeer, these businessalist approaches has radically shaken up the till recently unquestioned fortress of the linguistic-models of edition and has revolutionized the way translation is practiced, assessed and consumed for all times.Christine Nord with her imagination of make for plus Loyalty has contributed much to this movement modifying it at the same time in an attempt to answer the rather common lit crits of arbitrariness and mercenary approach against the functionalist model. However, a discussion of the nitty-gritty of the functionalist approach is demand before we can proceed to discuss the effects of the int roduction of the concept of function plus committedness into the system.The Functionalist Approach to Translation Functionalist approaches to translation as theorized by Vermeer, Schaffner and Nord, in its most outspoken form claims to dethrone the ST. In the new model of translation, the representative does non focus on words, phrases or grammatical structures etc. in an attempt to find semantically equivalent words and phrases in the TL. Instead, the text is considered as a whole.It is a communicative occurrence that has occurred in the SL. The translators job is to carry out the same or similar communicative occurrence in the TL. A specific text in a specific situation and within specific cultural parameters performs a specific function. A good TT would be one which performs the same function in the target culture. (Schaffner, 19983) Thus, from re-production of a text, in the functionalist model, translation has come to be considered as the production of a text following certa in guidelines.A good translator, therefore, should take into account lexical, semantic, cultural, text-typological and other aspects with varying degrees of stress in each portioning to the theory of translation by which it is informed or according to the skopos or function of the translation.Function-plus-Loyalty Theory A basic description of the translation procedure as envisioned by Nord (1997 a 126-127) would run thus Translation is a service rendered to a knob by some expert in the process, in this case the translator. The client who tycoon be the rootage of the ST or a publisher or any group or agent interested in the translation approaches a specialist translator.Grasping the intentions of the client in commissioning the translation is of utmost importance for the translator, for on that truncated depends the setting up of the function of the translation. The client provides the translator with as many specific details as possible about the translations purpose. He brie fs the translator about the addressees, time, place, preferred medium, and the general function of the translation. This translation brief provided by the client thus specifies the kind of translation expected by the client. However, the translator, who is the expert in the translation process, has a far more(prenominal) important role to play.Nord explains that the translator studies the brief and advices on the viability of the translation project in accordance with the brief provided by the client. The translator also has to negotiate this brief with the client. However when the final brief, the result of negotiations has been arrived at the translator must ensure that the TT is loyal to the function set by this brief. Thus, while the translator is not bound to abide by the function provided by the original brief by the client, s/he must never deceive his or her client as to the function in accordance to which the translation is being done.Therefore the translator is required t o be loyal to the specifications of the client without violating the original functions of the ST to any complete(a) extent. This is what constitute Nords function-plus-loyalty model. Evidently, it serves a two-fold purpose. On the one hand it retains the freedom enjoyed by the translator in the functionalist model while on the other hand it makes the translator accountable to the client as well as the user/s of the translation.Criticism of Functionalist Approach The criticisms aimed against such a pragmatic approach to translation are rather obvious. The commonest among these are that translators translating to satisfy the needs of the clients can choke mercenaries (Schaffner, 1998 3). It provides the translators with the authority to misinterpret or misrepresent the ST to satisfy the cultural demands from translation in that society at that particular point of time, or to abide by the guidelines set by the agency commissioning the translation etc.As Schaffner points out, critic s of functionalist approaches to translation are of the opinion that the purpose (or function in Nords terminology) or what the users of the translation are expecting of it or what they will do with it cannot justify the means. That in the functionalist approaches, the ST is dethroned is other major criticism. As the role of the client is exaggerated, translators tend to become mercenaries who translate to please the readers and turn the book into a bestseller at the cost of the ST.It cannot be denied that the functionalist approaches accord a much higher position to the translator and the readers of the TT. As one of the foremost translation theorists, Schaffner words itNow that the functional appropriateness of the TT has become the yardstick for assessing the quality of translation, both the translators and the TT user(s) are assigned a higher status and a more influential role than is the case in more traditional approaches to translation. (19953)The question, as Honig puts it, is how one can make sure that translators are not arbitrary or self-willed in deciding the function of the translation how one can make sure that translators base their decisions for a certain translation-skopos on intersubjectively valid criteria. However, Nords function-plus-loyalty concept does deal with all these criticism to some extent and provides a fit reply to some of the criticism.Nords Reply to Criticism It is true that according to the basic framework of the functionalist theory, as proposed by Vermeer for instance, any skopos that will be convenient to the translator and serve his interests the best big businessman be chosen by him or her to justify the decisions taken in the process of translation. However, the freedom enjoyed by the translator is never absolute.There are various conventions, cultural, social and political those predetermine the translations function on behalf of the translator. For instance, in any society at any given point of time, there are disco urses present that shape what is expected of a translation and what might be accepted as a proper translation. These cultural traditions determine what degree of resemblance that must exist between the ST and the TT for it to qualify for a proper translation. Thus we see that a functionalist in approach or not, a translator is inevitably bound to his client or the users of the translation by means of these conventions.This is where Nords concept of loyalty comes in. With the concept of loyalty Nord binds the translator not only with his or her clients but also with the author of the ST. The author of the ST course expects the translator to function in certain ways. These are generally the conventions of translation prevalent in the Source Culture. Since, acting loyally according to Nord implies taking naughtily the responsibilities that a translator has not only to his client but also to the Source Author, the translator must negotiate the function of the translation with the sourc e author or the representatives of the same. In most cases the Source Author do not have any means of checking on the loyalty of the translator. This is why the translator should let the Source Author as well as his clients or readers know the norms according to which the translation is being carried out. S/he will not consciously violate the norms or the function of the ST in the original situation without informing the Source Author. In other words the skopos of the TT must be harmonious with the intentions of the ST author. If it is not so, the translator must be responsible enough to inform his clients accordingly.Assessing the Criticism in the New Light As Schaffner points out, the blame of being mercenaries on the functionalist translators, often result from a misinterpretation of the word function which is usually taken to be referring to the communicative functions of a TT in the target culture. However, as Christine Nords function-plus-loyalty concept ensures that the func tion in functionalist approaches to translation also involves issues like ST functions such as the informative of persuasive functions of a text. Loyalty to these is also necessary to make a translation functionally appropriate.Criticism of Nords Views However, certain functionalist critics like Venuti and Honig are not highly supportive of Nords function-plus-loyalty concept as it is. For instance, Honig says,Nord (199320) illustrates this with an example which seems to make loyalty a rather vague principle no author of a best-selling novel will intention to the translation becoming a bestseller, too. S/he will therefore not object to the translators-when translating the title of the book- using means which will make it likable for the target culture readership. Loyalty, it seems, means acting in the best interest of ones client which is more a matter of expediency than of honorable standards.Venuti, (1995 34) though he does not criticize Nord directly, provides yet another radica l view of the process of translation. He severely criticizes the recent Anglo-American trend of praising suaveness and naturalness in a translation. He points out that this expectation of the clients for fluency in translation actually acts towards subverting the ST.While acknowledging that there is a fundamental ethnocentric impulse in all translation (ibid. 47), Venuti calls for the translator to make an ethical choice for foreignizing rather than domesticating translation, downgrading the importance of readability and preserving or restoring the foreignness of a ST. However, this is in effect to suggest that disregarding loyalty to the client, the translator must stress on a specific ideology to determine the function of the translation.Assessment of Nords PositionThus, one might conclude that though Nords Function-plus-loyalty theory has not yet been able to completely resolve the problematic regarding translation fruitfully, it has certainly shown a new direction of developmen t for translation studies. As Umberto Eco points out in A Rose by Any Other Name, a translation can be basically of two types target-oriented and source-oriented. What Nords theory of loyalty does is to make every party (client, users, source-author etc) involved in the process of translation know what kind of a translation is being done. Surely, Ecos distinction of all translation into two types is rather simplistic, and as is evident from the earlier discussion, many more factors (ideological, cultural, financial etc.) are involved in the process of deciding the exact function of the translation.Surely, there can be a great number of in-between courses possible for the translator to choose from in addition to the two extreme categories. just now whatever the course chosen by the translator, Nords theory ensures that it is understandably delineated to both the reader of the translation as well as the author of the ST. The parameters, depending on which the translator makes his or her decisions in the process of the translation no longer, remain hidden from the public or from the scholars assessing the translation. And thus, though the functionalist translator is not completely exempted from the charge of being a mercenary (in the sense that s/he can still choose the skopos with financial gain in mind), s/he is at least partly exempted from the charge of being arbitrary.Whether, the translator chooses to adopt a domesticating or foreignizing approach is a question of ideology, aesthetics, socio-cultural expectations etc. and is negotiated openly and clearly on the table between the client, the translator and the author of the ST. But function-plus-loyalty theory ensures that whatever is the approach, it is not an arbitrary one adopted according to the whims of the translator. In the present day situation, where inter-cultural translation is becoming the lifeline for many a culture under immense pressure from forces of Anglo-American globalization, this accou ntability of the translator to his client, the source culture and the target audience is essential beyond any doubt.Works CitedHonig, H.J (1998). Position, cater and practice functionalist approaches to translation quality Christina Shaffner (Ed) (1998), Translation and quality. Clevedon Multilingualmatters.Nord, C. (2003). Function and loyalty in Bible translation. In M. Calzada-Prez (Ed.) Apropos of ideology (pp. 89-112). Manchester St. Jerome.Nord, C. (1991) Text Analysis in Translation. capital of The Netherlands Rodopi.Nord, C. (1997a). Translation as a Purposeful Activity. Manchester St. Jerome.Nord, C. (1997b). A functional typology of translations. Anna Trosborg (Ed) (1997). Text typology and translation. Amsterdam John Benjamins, 43-66.Schaffner, Christina (1998). From good to functionally appropriate Assessing translation quality. Christina Shaffner (Ed) (1998), Translation and quality. Clevedon Multilingualmatters.Vermeer, H. J. (2000). Skopos and commission in translati onal action (A. Chesterman, Trans.). In L. Venuti (Ed.) The translation studies reader (pp. 221-32). London Routledge.Venuti, Lawrence. (1995). The Translators Invisibility, A History of Translation. London Routledge.

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Parents Need Help Essay

In todays society p bents argon faced with a critical parenting question that was not necessity 20 years ago which television receiver games should I let my children variation? Parenting is tough enough without having to deal with a child that gets upset because he cannot play a certain video game that all of his friends are playing. The values that children are raised to believe in are those of their parents, not those of the city, state or country they live in, and those family values are the most important values a child will learn.Some very influential people in our society believe that the government should be able to dictate what a child is or is not allowed to play or watch. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich believes that Parenting is ponderous work and the state has a compelling interest in divine serviceing parents raise their children to be upstanding men and women. (Whitehead, 2005). Some studies show that these unwarranted and sexually explicit video games provide harmful effects ranging from health problems to violent behavior. (Rutgers University Law Newark, 2012).The completed studies and comments from government officials have very informative information and tricky evidence to support their statement of Parents Need Help. As detailed in many articles and polls, one of the major problems with parents allowing their child to play violent or sexually explicit video games is covered in a 2013 Harris Poll. The findings underscore the lack of awareness Americans have about the video game rating system, as well as confusion in the market, said Mike de Vere, President of Harris Poll. PRNewswire, 2013). If parents took the time to understand the video game rating system the likes of they understand a movie rating, they would be better informed as to what each game consist of. Parents have no problem letting a young child watch an R rated movie that shows violence and sexual activity, but if that same child is showing violent tendencies or sex ual behaviors they are quick to blame video games for the behavior.Many American children spend a large amount of time playing video games. As a parent, you may be confused as to whether these games are beneficial or not (http//www. thefreelibrary. com, 2008). If a parent takes the time to review what each of the video game ratings are and what material will be in the video games along with reemphasizing family values there would be less political emphasis on parenting. There has been violent and sexual behavior from children in a ysfunctional and functional home, but if a parent takes the time to ensure their child understands the difference between fiction (video games), ingenuousness (everyday life) and monitors their childs behavior less of these violent outburst would occur. Movies provide the same access to violence and sexual behavior as video games do but there is no political agenda to ban movies that have a less restrictive rating system than video games.Parents need hel p restoring parental rights and help in stopping the government from taking over their parenting rights. When the government moves in and takes charge of everything that we as citizens can and cannot do, it provides todays children with the billet to disobey their parents because the government said something different. If the government wants to help, then they should start applying stricter fines on the video game manufacturers and the stores which sell the video games.Threatening them with a fine and not imposing that fine when a manufacturer or retail store provides content to a minor, is allowing them to continue to profit off of children. Impose the fines and make it a stringent fine, at which point manufacturers and retailers would start adhering to the video game restrictions and responsibility would fall back to the parents of which games their children play. In closing, government officials should concentrate on raising their children and guide our country instead of wor rying about how each individual raises their children.Acts of violence and sexual behavior will still occur whether children are playing video games or not they see it every day on television shows, cartoons, movies and in the news. Parents need to be more vigilant in monitoring what their children are doing, watching, and playing as well as ensuring that your family morals and values are upheld by each member of the family. If we do not accept the role of a parent then we cannot complain when the government decides what we as a society can and cannot do.

Saturday, May 25, 2019

The concept of Bhakti entails

The aim of this paper is to examine main inventions of Bhagavad Gita and either agree or disagree with them. Concepts examined in this paper are Karma, Bhakti, Samsara, Moksha, Dharma, and the triple Gunas. The concept of Karma means that a person should follow his or her duty wi yardt thinking of the rewards for his or her actions. Bhagavad Gita teaches the following Therefore, without beingness attached to the fruits of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme (Verse 19, Chapter 3).I agree to this concept, since spectral purity is only attainable through self-sacrifice in the name of the Divine. Earthy preoccupations, such as attaining benefits for yourself by acting in a certain way, contradict the nature of religion, which calls for obedience and commitment to ones duty. Every individual should encounter the right path and stay loyal to it. It will eliminate hesitation prior to action and render more authentici ty to ones deeds. The concept of Karma isnt unique to Hinduism, since it is present in every major religion, yet in a different form.Following ones religion implies that earthy consequences of actions matter less then those anticipated in the after spiritedness or subsequent incarnation. The concept of Karma is closed to the Western notion of deontological ethical motive. Deontological ethics puts morality over the consequences of an action. In feature, Kants Categorical Imperative is one of the most vivid examples of deontological thinking since it establishes a universal moral standard for all the benignant being in all situations.The concept of Bhakti entails that there is an ultimate religious expression, during which a person after part experience the highest degree of devotion to God and find unity with God. The blurring of the earthy and divine suggests that a piece of God is present in every human, and people should discover God inside them through seeking Bhakti. Bhagava d Gita says the following Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear (Verse 66, Chapter 18).This concept suggests that religious can provide ultimate guidance through life, and people should entrust themselves to God. Samsara is a cycle of rebirth that is perceived as a natural fact of life. It means that soul is immortal, while human body fades away. Bhagavad Gita ssays the following For certain is demise for the born, and certain is birth for the dead therefore over the inevitable thou shouldst not grieve (Verse 27, Chapter 2). This concept suggests that humans should pay more attention to spiritual matters rather then momentary desires.Furthermore, it teaches a philosophical approach to death as something inevitable and followed by rebirth thus it is helpful in eliminating fear of death, which results in a more liberated earthy life. Moksha means bagging from the cycle of rebirth through achieving a s tate of ultimate self-realization. There are four components of Moksha Shanti, Videh, Kaivalya and Swarga. Shanti is the greatest degree of peace and transcendence, which frees a human being from all the sufferings of earthy life. Videh is the knowledge that comes together with Moksha it is the realization of self and the essence of the universe.Kaivalya is enlightenment every human should strive for. Swarga is a notion that is close to the concept of paradise in other religions. I should agree with this concept, since ultimate understanding of ones true self is the only path to enlightenment. Self-realization can further lead to self-actualization, and self-actualization is on the top of the inevitably pyramid. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs suggests there are several levels of human needs physiological needs (need for air, warmth, food, catch some Zs etc.), security needs (need for an absence of threat of various nature), social needs (needs for love and a sense of belonging), ego n eeds (needs for self-respect and respect from others), and self-actualization needs (the needs for purpose, personal growth and realization of ones potentials). Therefore, the concept of Moksha in the sense of a state of ultimate liberty and self-realization is close to Western mental theories. Dharma is the concept of cosmic order existing in nature and human society.It can be interpreted as righteousness, which is a way to uphold agreement in the world. It is used to explain the complexity of the word and the connection between God and nature. By agreeing to this concept one acknowledges the importance of consonance as the key value, both in nature and in term of spiritual harmony. Following the universal laws of conduct results in the absence of conflict and more fulfilled life on Earth. As for the three Gunas, they are Saatva (centered), Rajas (dynamic) and Tamas (inertia). In fact, these three Gunas perfectly reflect the nature of all processes.Saatva, which can be interpre ted as harmony and purity, is a state that is different from both motion and inertia and signifies true piece of mind. Rajas, or energy and passion, reflects the ever-changing nature of the world. Tamas, or darkness and ignorance, refers to a state of inertia and motionlessness, both in physical and spiritual sense. This triad explains the path one should take to achieve Saatva through unleashing ones notional energy and avoiding spiritual inertia. References Easwaran, Eknath (trans. ) (2007). Bhagavad Gita, 2nd ed. Tomales, CA Nilgiri Press.

Friday, May 24, 2019

Environmental Analysis of Barclays Bank Essay

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYBanks are pennyral to every society they provide the living that facilitates military control and entrepreneurship, support a sound fiscal system, and help to create jobs and wealth. Banks in the UK operate in a super competitive, ball-shapedised further lightly-regulated environment. They face increasingly healthy and energetic customers, determined legislators, and electorates who are becoming environmentally aware. They have to adapt to changing economic and market conditions, fast changing consumer needs and expectations. Their short letter is influenced by spherical economic, political, regulatory, technological and opposite unpredictable factors. Consequently, they have to device their strategies, policies and operations to adapt to these changes in order to represent stakeholder expectations and satisfy consumer needs. In this assignment, I filter to describe and evaluate changing business environment of Barclays Bank Plc over the last five years. INTRODUCTIONAbout Barclays Bank PlcBarclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail banking, acknowledgment cards, incorporated banking, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services with an drawn-out foreign presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. BarclaysGroup headquarters is at 1 Churchill Place in London, UK, but it has operations all over the world, with products and services to meet the needs of customers and clients in local markets. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs much than 144,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects capital for to a greater extent than 48 one billion million customers and clients worldwide.Organizational structureBarclays is made up of two Clusters Global Retail Banking, and Corporate and enthronisation Banking and Wealth Management, each of which has a quash of Business Units. The 3rd major are a of the business is Group Centre, which comprises all our essential support functions.UK Banking IndustryUKs banking sector, following the US and Japan, is the worlds third largest and considered foremost in terms of efficiency, dynamism and return on capital. In addition to having one of the largest commercial banking industries, the UK is also a major foreign centre for investment and private banking. The UK banking sectors strong international orientation is reflected in the substantial foreign presence and sizeable as strike offs of foreign banks in London. It services 95% of the population with about 3.5% of UKs domesticateforce over a million workers.Banks and financial services contribute 70bn to the UKs national outturn (6.8% of GDP) and provide 25% of total corporation tax (8bn) to the UK Government. The main retail banks provide over 125m accounts, clear 7bn transactions a year and facilitate 2.3bn hard cash withdrawals per year from its network of over 30,000 free ATMs. Banks in the UK contribute healthy over 100m per year to charities and local community initiatives.UK banks are authorised and regulated by Financial Services Authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). Financial Services Authority is an independent non-governmental body which exercises statutory powers under the FSMA. The FSMA requires the FSA to practise four objectives to maintain confidence in the UK financial system to promote public understanding of the financial system to secure an appropriate degree of tax shelter for consumers whilst recognizing their own responsibilities and to reduce the scope for financial crime. Banks of England is liable for maintaining overall stableness of the financial system a whole. The Bank sets interest rates of UK and is also responsible for identifying and limiting systemic financial fortune.ANALYSISBarclays bank operates almost all over the world and hence its actions are influenced by the global economic con ditions. I have subprogramd PESTEL framework to describe and evaluate business environment of Barclays Bank plc. It categorises environmental factors into six main types political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal.Political* Government st ability* Taxation policy* Foreign trade regulations* friendly welfare policiesEconomic factors* Business cycles* GNP trends* Interest rates* Money supply* Income distribution* Social mobility* Lifestyle changes* Attitudes to work and leisure* Consumerism* Levels of educationTechnological* Government spending on research* Government and industry focus on technological parkway* New discoveries/development* Speed of technology transfer* Rates of obsolescenceenvironmental* Environmental protection laws* Waste disposal* Energy consumptionLegal* Monopolies edict* Employment law* Health and safety* Product safetyThe change in the business environment of Barclays bankEconomic factorsThe collapse of a global housing bubble, which peaked in the U.S. in 2006, caused the values of securities tied to real estate pricing to plummet thereafter, damaging financial institutions globally. Questions regarding bank solvency, declines in credit availability, and damaged investor confidence had an stir on global stock markets, where securities suffered large losses during late 2008 and early 2009. Economies worldwide slowed during this period as credit tightened and international trade declined. Governments and central banks responded with unprecedented fiscal stimulus, monetary policy expansion, and institutional bailouts.The subsequent emergence of a wider set of credit problems in mortgages and in corporate lending, and in particular in commercial real estate generated credit capacity constraints and economic slowdown. An initial focus on funding problems, with the failure of blue Rock caused not by immediately evident solvency/credit quality problems, but by the drying up of the market for both securitised credi t assets and whole trade funding availability. Such funding issues were also critical to the problems of Bradford & Bingley and HBOS in September/October 2008.The UK economy was officially declared to be in recession on 6th whitethorn 2009. The Office of National Statistics said that Gross domestic product (GDP) neglect by 1.5% in the last three months of 2008, after a 0.6% contraction inthe previous quarter. Recession is generally defined as two quarters of successive contractions in GDP, which means the UK had been in recession since July 2008. Industrial production fell by a massive 3.9 per cent over the quarter, while the dominant services sector fell by one per cent. Unemployment had also risen to 2.47 million in the three months to July 2009. It was at its highest level in 14 years since May 1995.The UK economy came out of recession in 2010, after figures showed it had grown by 0.1% in the last three months of 2009. In the second week of January 2010, UK unemployment fell for the first time in 18 month. The UKs production and service sectors each grew by 0.1% during the quarter. The UK recession began in the April-to-June quarter of 2008, and was the longest UK recession on record. During 18 months of recession, public borrowing change magnitude to an estimated 178bn, while output slumped by 6%.Impact on Barclays Banks performanceBarclays announced record profits of more than 11 million for 2009 a 92% rise on the previous year. Its performance driven largely by a strong revival in its investment banking arm Barclays Capital. Profits were also boosted by sale of fund management business Barclays Global Investors, and the addition of the New York operations of failed investment bank Lehman Br others at the end of 2008. The BGI sale added 6.3 billion to pre-tax profits. Barclays Capital contributed 2.5 billion of the banks underlying profit of 5.3 billion which was 13% down on 2008s 6 billion. However, the banks profit was highly touch by the global ec onomic slowdown and deteriorating economic conditions in the UK.Its UK Retail Banking profit before tax in 2009 decreased 55% (757m) to 612m (2008 1,369m), impacted by low interest rates resulting in margin compression on the deposit book and increased impairment charges which together more than offset rise up controlled costs and an improved assets margin. Impairment charges rose to 974m (2008 414m), reflecting the impact of the economic recession across the business with continued pressure on corporate liquidity, move disregard rates and lower asset values.Barclays enforced strict criteria on new credit card applications, using ascoring system that takes over cd variables into account when assessing an appli washbasints likely ability to manage their credit. Around 50% of applications for credit cards are declined as a result. Strong income egression (2009) across the portfolio driven by increased lending, improved margins and foreign exchange gains, was offset by higher impa irment charges, driven by the deterioration in the global economy. Impairment charges in the international businesses increased 444m, driven by higher delinquencies due to deteriorating economic conditions. UK portfolio charges were higher as a result of rising delinquencies due to the economic deterioration, especially in the loan portfolios, and the inclusion of Goldfish in UK Cards.The impairment charge in Global Retail and Commercial Banking increased by 85% (2,473m) to 5,395m (2008 2,922m) as charges rose in all portfolios, reflecting deteriorating credit conditions across all regions.Impairment charges on loans and advances increased 50% (2,445m) to 7,358m (2008 4,913m). The increase was mainly due to economic deterioration and portfolio maturation, currency movements and methodology enhancements, partially offset by a contraction in loan balances.In Investment Banking and Investment Management, impairment was broadly unchanged at 1,949m (2008 1,980m). The impairment charge a gainst available for sale assets and reversed repurchase agreements increased by 41% (207m) to 713m (2008 506m), driven by impairment against credit market exposures.PoliticalDuring 2008, the UK government acted in the banking sector to recapitalise banks and guarantee toxic assets and deposits and new lending for essential infrastructure classs. This was essential to prop up up lending for consumers and businesses and restore confidence in banks. Also it was vital to avoid the unprecedented banking crisis having even more wide reaching and catastrophic do in the wider economy. This decision was not taken lightly and wasnt considered an easy ride for the banks. Banks wishing toparticipate in the Asset Protection Scheme for mannikin had to make additional lending to households and businesses. But the overarching priority in the banking sector was first to ensure the continuing supply of credit to the wider economy. This means returning the banks to solvency and profitability, and maintaining financial stability.On 13th October 2008, the government nationalised the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), taking up a 63 % stake in exchange for 20 billion of taxpayers specie (now 84% owned by the government) on condition that no executive rewardes stipendiary during 2008 no dividend until the governments 5bn of preference shares are repaid and the government constitute three directors RBS had to maintain mortgage lending at 2007 levels.On 31st October 2008, Business secretary Lord Mandelson waived competition law for coup detat of Lloyds TSBs takeover of Halifax Bank of Scotland creating the fourth biggest bank of Britain to calm uncertainty about the strength of HBOS after a run on its shares. The unite bank accounts for a third of the mortgage market. Although the merged bank is smaller than Barclays, HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland, because it has less of an international profile than the other banks, it is the market leader in terms of savings by a huge margi n.In order to shore up confidence in the banking system during 2008, the government injected currency into Lloyds TSB Bank (5.5bn) and HBOS (11bn) and became owner of 43.5% of the combined group, directors were asked to receive 2008s bonus in shares no dividend until preference shares are repaid government appointed two directors Lloyds asked to maintain mortgage lending at 2007 levels for future(a) three years. As the Financial Services Authority increased the capital ratio requirements for all UK banks, Barclays had been forced to raise 7.2 billion from Middle Eastern Investors on generous terms. A further 1.5bn was being raised from institutional investors to strengthen its balance sheet.Chancellor Alistair Darling introduced a temporary one-off super-tax of 50% on bankers bonuses paid above 25000 between December 2009 and April 2010. Bankers still had to pay income tax on any bonus they receive as usual. Thenew tax was designed to discourage banks from awarding large bonuses to employees in the wake of the major taxpayer support they have received in the financial crisis. Consequently, Barclays paid 225 million in windfall bonus tax for 2009.SociocultualAccording to British Retail Consortium (BRC), more people are using cash to pay for their purchases amid growing consumer concerns about how much money they are spending. The global credit crunch is causing consumers to be more cautious with their money. Figures from the organisation showed that cash was used for 60 per cent of all transactions during 2008, an increase of 54 per cent from 2007. Cash represented 34 per cent of all money spent in the retail sector during 2008, compared with 32 per cent in 2007. According to BRC, peoples enthusiasm for using cards is slipping as they are not only reluctant to borrow but also reluctant to use cards.A survey released on 22nd January 2009 by communications consultants Cohn & Wolfe revealed the full scale of UK consumers anger with financial institutions. UK co nsumers perceive their banks to be greedy and impersonal, according to the survey, which polled 852 consumers in January 2009. The study also revealed that 60% of consumers dont believe that their bank is looking after their best interests. When asked which spoken communication best describe the perception of their financial institution, consumers identified greedy (49%), impersonal (36%) and distant (34%). Positive and desired descriptions including ethical (2%), trustworthy (4%) and transparent (5%) were among the least universal terms used by consumers to describe their financial institutions.Almost two thirds (64%) of respondents trust in financial institutions had weakened over the last 18 months. A lack of confidence in banks was further emphasized with 74% of consumers saying that they do not believe that their bank would help them recover any money they had lost in 2008. Respondents also identified the financial services they trusted most. Retail banks were comfortably (59 %) the most trusted type of financial service. At the other end of the scale, investment broker (2%), insurance providers (5%), online financial service providers and supermarketretailers (both 6%) come off worst.Due to such negative attitude towards banking industry and vehement public interest and concern for banks and bankers pay, Barclays chief executive John Varley and president Bob Diamond both agreed to sacrifice bonuses for two years, 2008 and 2009.TechnologicalIn late 2004, Chip & PIN technology was introduced as a strategic response to tackle counterfeit and lost & stolen card fraud in the face to face environment. Up until this point, UK consumers signed for their goods and services and only used their PIN for ATM withdrawals. During 2007, Barclays sent out PIN sentry machines to over half a million customers in an attempt to prevent online banking fraud. The PIN sentry reader is meant to be used once an online account holder has logged in to the banking site.After logg ing in, customers expansion slot their bank debit card into the card reader, which generates a unique code which they must input before making a transaction. Also, retailers and banks are using more fraud screening detection tools and online fraud prevention tools, such as MasterCard SecureCode and Verified by Visa, which make cards more secure when people are shopping online. This led to phone, internet and mail order fraud losses falling 19 percent from 328.4 million in 2008 to 266.4 million in 2009.EnvironmentalClimate change has become the single biggest challenge the world faces at the beginning of the 21st century, and in response Barclays is focusing increasingly on its work on the environment, which includes both its direct and indirect impacts.Barclays remains committed to increasing its energy efficiency, and reducing its carbon footprint on an ongoing basis, as well as helping its supply chain reduces its emissions. In 2007, it invested in emissions trading capability, a nd moved into the consumer market with new lower-carbon products and services.An example is Barclaycard Breathe, a new card that gives consumers incentives when they sully green products, and donates half its profits to environmental projects. In the wholesale market Barclays Capital has committed to the EU emissions trading market to brings its full range of trade good trading and risk management expertise to bear to help clients manage their carbon risk. Since 2005 it has traded over 600 million tonnes of carbon credits, with a notional value of over $14 billion.Legal factorsThe global financial crisis resulted in a significant tightening of regulation and changes to regulatory structures globally. The changes in the legal framework, policies and banking regulatory action, have an impact on Barclays businesses and earnings.The market for payment protection insurance (PPI) has been under scrutiny by the UK competition authorities and financial services regulators. In 2006, the FS A published the expiration of its broad industry thematic review of PPI sales practices in which it concluded that some firms fail to treat customers fairly and that the FSA would strengthen its actions against such firms. Barclays voluntarily complied with the FSAs request to cease selling single premium PPI by the end of January 2009. On 21st February, the UK government introduced Banking Act 2009 which provides the Authorities with tools to deal with failing banks and expression societies. The Banking Act provides a permanent and appropriate regime for the resolution of failing banks.It is a major step forward in the Governments programme to strengthen stability and confidence in the UK banking system, in the wake of the global instability experienced by financial markets. In order to discourage profligate risk taking by large banks, FSA published its new Remuneration Code of Practice in August 2009. The code states that firms should not encourage risk taking to generate short -term profit the focus should be on long term success. It infallible firms to give pay details to FSA so that it can monitor compliance. Barclays discretionary pay awards for 2009 were fully compliant with the FSA Remuneration Code which resulted in an increase in the deferred awards by approximately 70% and greater use ofequity in deferral structures, particularly to senior staff. 100% of the discretionary pay awards for 2009 to its Executive Committee were deferred.RECOMMENDATIONFrom previous chapters it becomes clear that Barclays bank operates in unpredictable and volatile business environment. In such circumstances, it is highly recommended that it should be clear about its strategic framework for the coming years and should maintain a sound financial and organisational footing that anticipates and adapts to the regulatory changes. It can achieve superior growth by diversifying its profit base by geography and by business line. It should focus intensely on cost reduction and risk management. It is required to create the internal framework, processes and culture to respond rapidly to new opportunities, threats and regulations. It is also required to re-establish trust and relationship with customers by fulfilling their needs with product innovation and customer centric approach.CONCLUSIONThe global economic slowdown and subsequent recession in UK and in many other countries of the world have changed the business environment in substantial way. Barclays Bank operates in a business environment which is highly influenced by political, economical, sociocultural, technological, environmental and legal factors. In order to compete successfully, it has to adapt to changing business environment. Its performance in last five years shows that it has the ability to run the business profitably even in such deteriorating economic conditions where other players in the market struggled to survive. However, it needs to undertake a balanced set of strategic initiatives i n such unpredictable and extreme volatile business environment which is beyond the organisational control.REFERENCES* Exploring Corporate Strategy, text and cases, sixth edition (2002) by Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes * http//en.wikepedia.org* http//www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/other/turner_review.pdf* http//www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?inarticle_id=469739&in_page_id=2ixzz0lIhv4NoL * http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8479639.stm* http//www.myoffshoreaccounts.com/english/offshore_uk-banking-uk-bank-account * http//group.barclays.com/About-us/Barclays-at-a-glance/Key-facts * http//group.barclays.com/Investor-Relations/Shareholder-information/Annual-Reports * http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_crisis_of_2007%E2%80%932010) * www.moneyshop.co.uk//brc-credit-crunch-leading-to-cash-comeback.html * http//www.gciuk.com/en/news/banking-blues-uk-survey-says-consumers-lose-trust * http//www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_16_09.htm* http//www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertip s/banking/6267384/Online-banking * http//econsultancy.com/blog/1065-barclays-uses-chip-and-pin-to-combat-online-fraud

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Computers and Digital Basics

1 Computers and Digital Basics TRUE/FALSE 3. Facebook and Twitter are shells of social net pastureing options. F 6. An operating formation is an theoretical account of application package. F 7. Beca intent of increased versatility, a videogame console is now considered a individual(prenominal) computing device. f 8. The purpose of a server is to serve reckoners on a intercommunicate. T 9. In the binary number system, 2 is used to represent the value 2. F 10. The number 9 substructure be considered a character. T 11. Because most digital devices are electronic, bytes take the piddle of electrical pulses. F 13.A compiler like the atomic number 53 shown in the go with figure converts all statements in a program to gondola phrase in a single batch. T 14. An instance converts and executes one statement at a time. T 15. The op enter specifies the entropy. F 16. The operand is a command word for an operation. F 17. All computers are case sensitive. F 18. Trojans are comput er programs that seem to perform one business while actually doing something else. T 19. To assure you can remember your password it is a good idea to base it on teaching you can slowly remember such as your birthday. F 20.You should always use a different password for every account. F MODIFIED TRUE/FALSEIf False, change the underlined work to make it True1. Digital technology has made it easy to produce copies of music with no loss of quality from the original. _________________________2. Free source projects promote copying, part with distribution, peer review, and user modifications. Open3. An area where entropy can be left on a permanent basis is memory. transshipment center4. The set of nurtures that itemises a computer how to carry out treating tasks is a computer program. _________________________ 5. Minicomputers were used for small businesses. ________________________6. A(n) supercomputer is a large and expensive computer capable of simultaneously processing infor mation for hundreds or thousands of users. mainframe computer7. The term server can refer to a combination of hardware and package. _________________________8. A(n) mainframe specializes in compute-intensive problems. supercomputer9. A light switch is like a(n) parallel device. digital10. drop-offs and PGAs are both shapes of integrated circuits. _________________________11. The results of statements that have been compiled are called object code. _________________________12. A set of gondola language readings for a program is called source code. machine 13. The ALU uses registers to hold data that is being process. _________________________14. A(n) keylogger is a form of malicious code. _________________________15. A(n) account manager stores user IDs with their corresponding passwords and automatically fills in login forms. passwordMULTIPLE CHOICE1. Digital electronics use electronic ____ to represent data. a. circuits c. transistors b. switches d. components2. Key factors in making electronic devices increasingly smaller and less expensive overwhelm ____. . transistors c. both a and b b. integrated circuits d. neither a nor b3. The first digital computers were built during World War II for ____. a. census taking c. communication b. code breaking d. troop placement4. Initially gross revenue were slow for the someoneal computer because of ____. a. price c. lack of software b. size d. lack of availability5. In 1982, the percentage of households that had a computer was fewer than ____ percent. a. 10 c. 50 b. 30 d. 706. A global computer network originally developed as a military project is the ____. a. World Wide meshwork c. Wide-area network b. Internet d. Local-area network7. ____ allow members to post comments and questions that can be read and responded to by others. a. E-mail lists c. Chat themes b. Bulletin boards d. Social networks8. ____ are where people exchange typed messages in real time. a. E-mail lists c. Chat groups b. Bulletin boards d . Online social networks9. ____ provide a space for interacting with friends or friends of those friends. a. E-mail lists c. Chat groups b. Bulletin boards d. Online social networks10. A group of computers linked by wired or wireless technology is a(n) ____. a. network c. cyberspace . Web d. Internet11. The ____ is a collection of linked documents, graphics, and sounds. a. network c. cyberspace b. Web d. Internet12. ____ is a term that refers to entities that exist largely within computer networks. a. Web c. WWW b. Internet d. Cyberspace13. ____ is the process of converting text, add up, sound, photos, and video into data that can be processed by digital devices. a. Digitization c. Scanning b. Digital conversion d. Rasterization14. Technology ____ is a process by which several different technologies with distinct functionality evolve to form a single product. a. volution c. convergence b. rotation d. diversification15. More than ____ percent of cameras sold today are digital. a. 80 c. 90 b. 85 d. 9916. Digital imaging has had an motion in the following areas ____. a. medicine c. photo processing b. video d. all of the above17. ____ tools cloak a somebodys identity online. a. Anonymizer c. ID free b. Free ID d. Cloaking18. A computer is a multiple purpose device that can do all of the following EXCEPT ____. a. store data c. accept input b. process data d. think independently19. In a computer, most processing takes place in ____. a. memory c. he CPU b. RAM d. the motherboard20. An electronic component that can be programmed to perform tasks is a ____. a. CPU c. transistor b. microprocessor d. none of the above21. A named collection of data that exists on a storage medium is known as (a) ____. a. memory c. file name b. file d. none of the above22. An area of a computer that temporarily holds data waiting to be processed is ____. a. CPU c. storage b. memory d. a file23. A set of computer programs that helps a person carry out a task is ____. a. an operating syst em c. application software b. system software d. Windows24.A set of computer programs that helps a computer monitor itself and function more efficiently is ____. a. a software suite c. application software b. system software d. processing software25. The master goler for all activities that take place within a computer is ____. a. application software c. the operating system b. system software d. the CPU 26. A(n) ____ is a microprocessor-based computing device designed to meet the computing needs of an individual. a. personal computer c. ALU b. mainframe d. server27. An ordinary personal computer that is connected to a network is a ____. a. mainframe c. server . workstation d. console28. A powerful desktop computer used for high-performance tasks is a ____. a. mainframe c. server b. workstation d. console29. A compute-intensive problem runs on a ____. a. server c. supercomputer b. mainframe d. super PC30. Data becomes ____ when it is presented in a format that people can apprehen d and use. a. information c. graphs b. processed d. presentation31. The type of data where text, numbers, graphics, sound, and video have been converted into discrete digits as represented in the attach to figure is ____. a. information c. digital b. analog d. none of the above32. The type of data that is represented using an infinite scale of values as represented in the accompanying figure is ____. a. information c. digital b. analog d. none of the above33. The binary number 10 represents ____ in the decimal number system. a. 1 c. 10 b. 2 d. 10034. The type of code that uses but seven bits for each character is ____. a. ASCII c. EBCDIC b. Extended ASCII d. all of the above35. The type of code that uses eight bits for each character is ____. a. ASCII c. EBCDIC b. Extended ASCII d. all of the above36. Digital devices can use ____ as a code to represent character data. . ASCII c. EBCDIC b. Extended ASCII d. all of the above37. You might represent ____ using character codes. a. colo r dots c. Social Security numbers b. bank balances d. none of the above38. Data transmission speeds are typically expressed as ____. a. bits c. cycles/second b. bytes d. none of the above39. Storage is typically expressed as ____. a. bits c. hertz b. bytes d. none of the above40. 1,024 bytes is a ____. a. kilobyte c. gigabyte b. megabyte d. terabyte41. 1,048,576 bytes is a ____. a. kilobyte c. gigabyte b. megabyte d. terabyte42. 1,073,741,824 bytes is a ____. a. kilobyte c. igabyte b. megabyte d. terabyte43. A super-thin slice of semiconducting material packed with microscopic circuit elements is a(n) ____. a. integrated circuit c. microchip b. computer chip d. all of the above44. The accompanying figure represents two types of chip carriers. The one on the left is a ____. a. PGA c. PID b. DIP d. GAP45. The accompanying figure represents two types of chip carriers. The one on the right is a ____. a. PGA c. PID b. DIP d. GAP46. The ____ houses all essential chips and provides connect ing circuitry between them. a. system board c. circuit board b. ousing board d. chip board47. C, BASIC, COBOL, and Java are examples of ____ programming languages. a. low-level c. system b. computer d. high-level48. The human-readable version of a program is called ____. a. source code c. human code b. program code d. system code49. A(n) ____ converts all the statements in a program in a single batch and the resulting collection of counsellings is placed in a smart file. a. compiler c. converter b. interpreter d. instruction50. A(n) ____ converts and executes one statement at a time. a. compiler c. converter b. interpreter d. instruction51. A collection of preprogrammed activities such as addition, subtraction, counting and comparison is called a(n) ____. a. compiler code c. machine code b. interpreter code d. instruction set52. ____, as shown in the accompanying figure can be directly executed by the processorss circuitry. a. Machine sets c. Programming language b. Machine langua ge d. none of the above53. The ____ is a command word for an operation such as add, compare, or jump. a. op code c. ALU b. operand d. instruction code54. The ____ from an instruction specifies the data. a. op code c. ALU b. operand d. instruction code55. The ____ is the part of the microprocessor that performs arithmetic operations, as shown in the accompanying figure. a. instruction pointer c. ALU b. RAM d. control unit56. As shown in the accompanying figure, the ____ fetches each instruction. a. RAM c. ALU b. instruction pointer d. control unit57. The accompanying figure represents the instruction cycle. The first step is Box A and represents the ____. a. fetch instruction c. execute instruction b. interpret instruction d. growing pointer58. The accompanying figure represents the instruction cycle. The second step is Box B and represents the ____. a. etch instruction c. execute instruction b. interpret instruction d. increment pointer59. The accompanying figure represents the ins truction cycle. The third step is Box C and represents the ____. a. fetch instruction c. execute instruction b. interpret instruction d. increment pointer60. The accompanying figure represents the instruction cycle. The fourth step is Box D and represents the ____. a. fetch instruction c. execute instruction b. interpret instruction d. increment pointer61. In harm of an authentication protocol, the phrase something a person knows refers to ____. a. a password c. biometrics b. n ID card d. none of the above62. A ____ is a series of characters that becomes a persons unique identifier. a. PIN code c. user ID b. password d. all of the above63. In terms of an authentication protocol, the phrase something a person possesses could refer to ____. a. a password c. biometrics b. an ID card d. none of the above64. In terms of an authentication protocol, the phrase something a person is refers to a(n) ____. a. password c. biometric device b. ID card d. none of the above65. A problem a cyberpu nk can cause after breaking into your computer include(s) ____. a. applying for credit in your name c. pply for a mortgage using your data b. sending embarrassing e-mails d. all of the above66. A term which can refer to a person who manipulates computers with malicious intent is a ____. a. black hat c. hacker b. cracker d. all of the above67. A ____ attack uses password-cracking software. a. brute force c. phishing b. sniffing d. cracker68. ____ intercepts information sent over computer networks. a. Brute force c. Phishing b. Sniffing d. Cracking69. A hacker constitute as a legitimate representative of an official organization such as your bank is an example of ____. a. brute force c. phishing b. sniffing d. cracking70. Password management functions include all of the following EXCEPT ____. a. generating passwords c. providing password strength b. tracking passwords d. recording keystrokes Case-Based Critical Thinking Questions Case 1-1 Karen is trying to get organized and one of h er issues is that she doesnt know what kind of devices correspond to her needs.71. Karen needs an appointment book and is considering one that is digital. For this one piece of equipment, she does not want the device to do anything except defy her calendar. You suggest she consider a ____. a. PDA c. hand-held computer b. smart phone d. BlackBerry72. After you and Karen talk a little longer, she recognizes that she might need a device that in addition to her appointment book will have features such as e-mail, Web access, a built-in camera, and GPS. You suggest she consider a(n) ____. a. iPod c. handheld computer b. regular PDA d. CPU73. If Karen were looking for a device that in addition to voice communications, offers full qwerty keypad, text messaging, e-mail, Web access, removable storage, camera, FM radio, digital music player, and software options for games, financial management, personal organizer, GPS and maps, she might consider a(n) ____. a. regular PDA c. andheld computer b. smart phone d. iPod Case-Based Critical Thinking Questions Case 1-2 mike and Andre are discussing how quickly technology changes. They are discussing how it seems devices are merging to create new products especially in the technology field. They understand this is a process called convergence.74. An example of an old form of convergence is a ____. a. clock radio c. television b. cell phone d. microwave oven75. A great example of convergence in modern technology is ____. a. clock radio c. television b. cell phones d. HD-TV76. A barrier to the rapid deployment of many products resulting from convergence is ____. . rare technology breakthroughs c. people arent ready b. legal issues d. both b and c Case-Based Critical Thinking Questions Case 1-3 Jim has just purchased a new computer and it has made him think astir(predicate) how it works. He is particularly interested in how information is processed and stored in his computer. He has come to you for help.77. Jim wants to know why a compiler converts all statements in a program at one time and places them into an object code. You tell him it is so that ____. a. the code is ready to execute b. you can prevent the introduction of new errors c. you can put it on a chip d. one of the above78. Jim knows that a collection of preprogrammed activities is an instruction set. He wants to know what an instruction set is designed to do. You tell him it is designed to ____. a. carry out a particular task b. allow programmers to use them in creative ways for multiple tasks c. limit the number of tasks the computer can perform d. allow the program to run on multiple machines79. Jim wants to know what machine language instructions look like to the machine. You tell him they emerge as ____. a. an op code and operand c. basic instructions, such as add b. a series of 0s and 1s d. ll of the above80. When adding two numbers, Jim knows that each number is going into its own register and the control unit provides the instructions such as add. He wants to know where the result of the add goes. You tell him it goes to ____. a. the ALU c. the accumulator b. another register d. the printerCOMPLETION1. An ongoing process of social, political, and frugal change brought about by digital technology is the digital revolution.2. At the consumer level, probably the most significant force driving research into fast computers and more sophisticated graphics processing is computer gaming.3.The potential downside of convergence is quality.4. The expectation that a persons information will not be pile up or divulged without permission is confidentiality.5. The ownership of certain types of information, ideas, or representations is intellectual property.6. Worldwide economic interdependence of countries that occurs as cross-border commerce increases and as money flows more freely among countries is globalization.7. A term that refers to the gap between people who have access to technology and those who do not is the digit al divide.8. Symbols that represent facts, objects, and ideas are data.9. The manipulation of data is called processing.10. The concept that a series of instructions for a computing task can be loaded into memory is called a stored program.11. Any software or digital device that requests data from a server is referred to as a(n) client.12. The type of computer that is considered one of the fastest in the world is a(n) supercomputer.13. A special-purpose microprocessor that is built into the machine it controls is a(n) microcontroller.14. The term that refers to the form in which data is stored, processed, and transmitted is data representation.15. In the accompanying figure, the type of sound wave indicated by A is analog.16. In the accompanying figure, as indicated by B, the sound wave has been sliced into samples and so has been digitized.17. Eight bits is a(n) byte.18. A machine language instruction has two parts, the op code and the operand.19. Identifying a person by personal a ttributes such as fingerprints or retinal patterns is called biometrics.20. Hackers can guess your password by stepping through a mental lexicon. This process is called a dictionary attack.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Private Sector Participation in Maritime Industry

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1. Background of the Study Todays highly fierce and dynamic globose miserliness requires res publicas of the military man to thoroughly harness their human and natural resources so as to remain competitive within the scheme of things. The proper identification of turnable resources ( both(prenominal) human and material), exploration, efficient utilization and proper maximization of much(prenominal) resources with with(predicate) competent modes be critical success factors in the quest for relevance in the new-fangled millennium.Beside human macrocosm which readily provides evidently cheap labour for effective productivity in a given space and time, separate factors of doing such as capital and agriculture (water system and coaster resources inclusive) re put veritable platforms for achieving case growth and socio- sparingal breeding. Nigeria, with an estimated population of over 140 angiotensin-converting enzyme thousand million (NPC, 2 000) and no doubt the al closely populous democracy in Africa, occupies a strategic location within the West and Central Afri smoke sub-region.The country has a coastline of over 850km and four major(ip) user interface zones of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri (NIMASA, 2008). This vantage invokeion enables her easy access to the neighboring countries hence goods meant for other(a) looks of the sub-region are being transshipped from Nigerian major sea looks. also, a big part of goods meant for Nigerias land locked neighbors are being incumbranceed done Nigerian sea styles. Even historically, Nigerian coastal and riverine communities were engaged in ecstasy and fishing using bunker canoes.They were quite versed in the art of transfer to the expiration that regattas and other traditional oceanic rituals were developed. The importance of the naval pains to Nigerians socio-economic swell upspringbeing cannot be overemphasized as cargo throughput to and from Ni geria accounts for more than 65% of the total loosenessscript of cargo generated by the entire West African Sub-Region. The sphere remains critical to the realization of the projections of the oil color and gas sphere, which accounted for 40 per penny of the GDP, 90 percent of export as well as 80 percent of total political relation gross in 2008 (Dosunmu, 2009).The effort is projected to provide well over 10,000 jobs for Nigerian on yearly instauration including seafarers, store managers etc. Though Nigeria is richly endowed with colossal petroleum and maritime resources, the country has over the years not been able to tap these great potentials to the benefit of the people of the country. According to Abulsallam (2004), with an average daily megascopic oil production estimated at dickens million barrels per day at an average freight rate of $2. per barrel per day, Nigeria generates in excess of $5 million per day, most of which go to foreign operators and in that respe ctfore spent outside the nations economy. Experience has further sh profess that over the years, in advance an investing decision is made, the prospective investor considers the authorities of laws and dexterity of the courts in considerations of resolving disputes, golosh of such investments, return on investment, which is quite high and the availability of infrastructure. The rating by the Inter depicted object maritime Bureau (IMB) of Nigeria as a high risk area in terms of pirate attacks does not engender investment inflow.At the dawn the new democratic dispensation in 1999, the Government hosted the Port Restructuring and Concessioning Team from the cosmos Bank and started championing port reforms. Before this time, the Nigerian Ports role regulates all major ports in Nigeria, including the Apapa Port. The privatization of the procedure and subsequent giving uping of the ports to hush-hush sector organizations willing to develop and manage their own ports and those w ishing to contribute to the up-grading and standardization of existing equipment and facilities at the ports and the countrys extensive onshore and off-shore magnetic poles and jetties.This ascend out became necessary in order to reposition the entire maritime industry to contribute to national economy and well-being through efficient charge of port outgrowths, optimal allocation and use of resources, diversification of r up to flatue sources, and maintaining adequate returns on investments. Thus, foreign and local private companies took advantage of the ample opportunities in the nations maritime industry and concessioning of the ports including the Port of Apapa that contains an important container terminal owned and operated by the Nigerian Government until sold to aDanish firm, AP Moller-Maersk Group in 2005. APM Terminals commenced operations in Nigeria in March, 2006 at Nigerias macrost port located in Apapa. APM Terminals has been a major part of the schooling of the c ontainer cargo ships industry. APM Terminals is one of the largest container terminal operators in the world. Its diverse portfolio accepts substantial interests in more than 40 ports nigh the globe. Originating as Maersk Lines terminal operational arm, APM Terminals was established as an in symbiotic division within the A. P. Moller-Maersk Group in 2001, moving its corporate offices from Copenhagen to The Hague in 2004.The Port of Apapa is the port for the City of Lagos in the Rivers Province of Nigeria and is located west of Lagos Island across the harbor from the city. The Port of Apapa Quay is the primary outlet for the countrys exports. The Port of Apapa is the countrys biggest port, intervention a wide range of commodities. Apapa port contains facilities specialized in digling wheat, oil, cement, fish, dry cargo, and containers. The Port of Apapa Container Terminal covers 44 hectares and can handle up to 22 thousand TEUs of containerized cargo.With six berths alongside depth of 10. 5 meters and total quay length of 950 meters, the Port of Apapa Container Terminal also contains 6. 4 thousand settle meters of covered storage. The container special K has capacity for 19. 5 thousand TEUs, and it contains 298 reefer plugs. And in line with the objectives of the privatization and port reforms, this instruction in that locationof aptly evaluates the operational impact of APM Terminal on activities at Apapa Port, Lagos and by extension, the nations maritime Industry. 1. 2Statement of ProblemsThat the country is a major player in the sub-Saharan African economy remains undisputed fact as the nation accounts for more than 60 percent of total seaborne traffic in volume and value for the entire West African sub-region. This exploitation makes the Nigerian maritime sector exact significant impact on the entire sub-region. Through the port operations a sub-sector of the industry the Nigerian economy is a prevalent adit to the world-wide markets. Howe ver, the Nigerian maritime industry for upward of three decades depicts a dichotomy of disastrous downturn and developing.The failure of the industry in attracting the take away local and foreign investment inflow that is proportionate to its contribution both to the Nigerian and West African economies despite its great potential and enormous investment opportunities remain a sorry case. To upturn this trend, government decided to proficiently hands off the direct management of the ports and resorted to port reforms which saw the coming on shoot of private terminal operators to facilitate efficient cargo handling and release, reduction in cost of operation as well as increment in cargo tonnage.Today, government concessioning programme of the ports that allowed for private sector participation in the management of the ports is at a lower place serious scrutiny in terms of the operational power, revenue generation, capacity development and participation in planetary maritime op erations. With this concern, will the countrys goal of becoming one of the twenty dollar bill virile economies in the world as articulated in Vision20 2020 a reality in view of the dwindling fortune of the maritime industry which is supposed to leapfrog the nation into the league of wealthiest nations passage by its vast potentials. 1. 3 Aim and Objectives of the StudyThe aim of this dissertation is to undertake a thorough assessment of the contributions of the private sector participation in the nations maritime industry adjudged the second largest revenue earner after the petroleum industry. With special focus on the operational activities of APM Terminal Limited on the efficiency and productivity of Apapa Port, Lagos, this consider intends to achieve the following objectives ? Provide an overview of the Nigerian maritime potentials and resources vis-a-vis the argufys that switch over the years militated against the industry from achieving its full potentials for economic grow th. desexualize various strategies and approaches taken by the government and other relevant stakeholders in fully harnessing the nations maritime potentials and industry with emphasis on the ports. ? Identify private sector companies involved in ports management and assess their operational performances on the nations maritime industry with emphasis on port efficiency, employment generation, contribution to national treasury, national security/safety and integration into the global market. 1. Scope of the Study (Delimitation) In view of the vastness of the maritime industry which manifestly has m any sub-sectors in any economy within a particular geographical space, this force field will be limited to port operations in Nigeria with special focus on the activities of APMT APAPA LTD at Apapa Port, Lagos. This will be considered in line with the federal government concessioning programmes embarked upon in 2004 when the government technically transferred the management of the natio ns ports to private companies.It is instructive to note that the guide to have holistic and thorough assessment of the query subject area for burst generalization of query findings and execution of recommendations informed this delimitation. The choice of APMT and Apapa Port are both strategic and well informed. The seeming and self-acclaimed production line profile of APMT in the management of ports across global boundaries as garnered over the years will be the relegate of evaluation with respect to its operations in Nigeria.Also, Apapa Port remains the biggest port in the country and unarguably wedging enormous maritime activities in the West Africa Coast. and then any critical evaluation at determining its operational efficiency will serve as baseline for other ports in the country. 1. 5Significance of the Study world shelves and school libraries are obviously lined up with books, journals and research thesis describing various issues in the Nigerian maritime industry and port management in broader and specific contexts.But very few access the operational performance and boilersuit contributions of private sector involvement in the local maritime industry with special focus on emerging business milieu such as Nigeria. Given the significance and contribution of the shipping sector to the viability and competitiveness of the nations economy within the global marketplace, it is surprising however, how little attention has been paid to the assessment of the operational performance of private companies saddled with the responsibility f managing the Nigeria ports. This study is thus highly relevant in that it will dissects the managerial dispositions of APM Terminal operator of the nations largest port in terms of port productivity, contribution to national treasury, employment groundwork and the overall efficiency of government concessioning programmes/port reforms.In comprehensible and unambiguous terms, necessary precautionary measures and/or app roaches to checkmate the ugly consequences of APMT managerial capability on the operational efficiency of the Apapa port and the entire maritime industry will be outlined. Thus, this study will benefit the management of APMT as they would be break off informed on the strategies needed to manage a viable organization in the fierce business environment and innovative global marketplace as this would go a long way in enhancing public confidence in the company, government indemnity and the industry.Government, policymakers and regulatory bodies will also benefit from this study as necessary frame kit and boodle on sustainable development of the maritime industry will be articulated for proper implementation and monitoring to checkmate industrial collapse. The field of academia can leverage on the information contained in this write up to avail itself of the useful information and spur further study and research endeavors in the topic area. 1. 6 Research QuestionsTo have holistic view of this study, the following research questions are put forward to guide study Ql What are the remote and immediate factors responsible for the advocacy and eventual involvement of private sector participation in the Nigeria Maritime Industry? Q2 How has the existing regulatory frameworks and existing infrastructure impacted on the operational efficiency and performances of the private sector organizations in the Nigerians business environment, in particular the maritime sector of the economy?Q3 Since its concrete engagement, has the private sector, especially, operators of Apapa Port Terminal justify its involvement in the nations maritime industry in terms of revenue generation, employment creation, capacity development and overall competitiveness of the local economy in the world global marketplace? Q4 Using the performance of APMT, can it be inferred that the involvement of the private sector in the running of the nations maritime sector and overall management of the countrys vast human and capital resources a veritable model and platform towards the quest of achieving Vision202020? . 7Research possibleness The following hypothetical constructs are tested and validated H1 Federal government initiative at engaging the private sector companies in the management of the countrys ports has arbitrary impact on revenue generation for socio-economic development. H2 Private sector participation in the maritime industry has positively enhanced human capacity and infrastructural development of the nations ports and the entire maritime industry.H3 The involvement of private sector in the management of the countys ports and associated sector has boost employment creation with attendant positive impact on the livelihood of an average Nigerian. 1. 8Research Methodology The method adopted is random ingest technique which is a probabilistic sampling method and is believed to be adequate in carrying out this study. During the course of the study, data were collected an d categorized as Primary data and Secondary data.Primary data comprised of freshly generated information through giving medication of structured questionnaires to the respondents who expressed their opinions in a unornamented manner within the framework of the research aim, objectives and questions. Where possible, interviews were conducted using midgets/camcorders to record sessions and personal observation. Secondary (historic) data were generated through published and unpublished works and these included relevant textbooks, donnish journals, thesis, relevant term papers, seminar presentation and web-based publications.Historic data covered from 1999-2010 and 5-year forecasts to end-2013 for key industry and macroeconomic indicators, supported by depth psychology including major port freight throughput (tonnes/teu) overall freight throughput (teu) Freight value (US$bn) Contribution to GDP (%) heavens employment (000) nominal phrase GDP (US$bn) Real GDP growth (%) Total import s (US$bn) and exports (US$bn) real import and export growth (%) Current account (US$bn). 1. 9Definitions of Terms Maritime Industry The aggregate of businesses, investments, goods and services, regulators, academia, professionals of varying degrees and social status involved in the formal and informal operations and programmes derivable from the sea and associated (physical) water bodies and resources including shipping, coastal trade, marine transport, fishery and other sundry activities. Port Reforms The changing institutional structure of the port business that allows for much greater involvement of the private sector in the exploitation and pay of port facilities, terminals and/or services (Sarumi, 2006). Concessioning A business practice that allows for the strategic transfer of operational and investment costs from the concessioner (government) to the concessionaire (private sector). Private Sector A segment of the (local) economy that is largely operated, manag ed and controlled by individuals (entrepreneurs) and/or group of individuals (corporate bodies) undertaking production and/or business transaction with the select purpose of make profits. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 1. Overview of the World Shipping Industry and Maritime Sector The shipping industry is a truly global community. It is intrinsically international indeed it was the very first global industry.The world shipping industry is transporting 90% of the worlds trade. Most ships move from country to country as part of their convention profession material body. The safety record of shipping is the envy of shore-based transport sectors, and shipping is the most environmentally friendly form of transport. The 50,000 ships that make up the international trading fleet are technically sophisticated, high value assets. The cost of a new ship can easily exceed US $100 million. merchandiser ships generate an estimated annual income of over US $200 one million million milli on in freight rates within the global economy.It goes in that respectfore to say that, the harnessing of available maritime resources and facilities such as the sea and ports remain the lifeblood of any country and indeed of any continent. The importance, for example, of maritime trade to the economies of African states and its potential contribution to economic development through the potential for employment opportunities, can be demonstrated by the simple statistic that almost 91 per cent of continental trade by volume went by sea in 2008 (TBF, 2010).Of the fifty-four countries of Africa, thirty-nine are either litt spoken states or islands therefore it is confidently expected that the continent is acutely awake(predicate) of the impact of the maritime domain. After Asia, Africa is the second largest landmass on earth it is also the largest island on the planet, with the Suez Canal separating Africa from the Middle East. In excess of 90 per cent of Africas imports go through ports before being forwarded to their final destinations via air, road and rail networks. Apart from being the provider of trade routes, the sea provides food, commodities, income from tourism and even moderates the climate.Africas fisheries play vital roles in trade, economic development and food security across the continent. Nor is Africas sustainable development and security purely dependent on the continents maritime waterways inland waterways lakes, dams and rivers are equally important in providing for the livelihood of the continents 700 million-plus people. Protecting Africas water resources, waterborne trade and citizenry is vital, but it is clear that limited resources and perhaps a lack of recognition of the importance of this sector, have constrained the continents ability to effectively protect its waterways from a variety of threats.The cost of meeting the required responsibilities is the reason most regularly use to argue against doing what needs to be done. Any in vestment, however small, can be justified if compared to the cost of resource losses that Africa is experiencing when the cost of reversing the continuous damage inflicted on the marine environment is determined, and the challenge of providing alternative food resources for those who depend on their food from the sea and inland waters is considered. Once these resources are protected and exploited in a sustainable manner, downstream savings will justify any upstream investment (TBF, 2010).By geographical location and size of the market, Nigeria formally established under British colonial rule which lasted from 1861 to 1960 is a natural hub of the West and Central African sub-region and the second largest economy in Africa. Twice the size of California with a population equal to that of Russia, where one in five Africans is a Nigeria (NPC, 2006), possessing the second largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over $0 billion in sub Saharan Africa and touted as one of the worlds fast est suppuration economies, Nigeria offers a stark dichotomy of wealth and poverty.Nigeria is the one of the largest oil producers in the world, with 32 billion barrels of oil reserves (sufficient for 37years) and gas reserves that is expected to last 110years at current rates of usage. Nigerias oil and gas combined, according to join Kingdom Government Development Magazine, is worth about 50cents (about N65) per person a day. Suffice to note that the maritime sector of any economy is the orbit around which the countrys wellbeing revolves. Even land locked countries cannot progress too far in their developmental programmes without collaborative understanding with countries having seaport access.Latest estimates posit that Nigeria accounts for about 65% of the sub-regions maritime trade (NSC, 2010). The country is blessed with vast coastline of about 850kilometers and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of well over 300,000 square kilometer with a navigable inland waterways of 3,000kil ometer eight (8) major seaports 11 oil terminal and over 170 private jetties as well as four (4) Inland Container Deports (ICDs) including two (2) Inland Freight Stations (IFS). A larger part of goods meant for the countrys land locked neighbours are being freighted through Nigerian seaports.The foregoing potentials have opened up various professional, commercial and investment opportunities for the citizenry and foreigners as well. Unfortunately, Nigerian maritime industry contributes a miserable 0. 05per cent of the nations GDP, whereas countries like Greece enjoys a significant contribution of about 4. 5 per cent to their economy from their respective maritime sectors, employing 4 per cent of the workforce. Notable, the maritime industry contribute about ? 5 billion to the UKs GDP, providing 40,000 direct employments with a little less than one per cent contribution to that countrys GDP.It is now broadly recognised that the maritime sector could, if properly harnessed, play a c ritical role in the development of regional, national and global economies. This is in view of the growth-pole potentials of ports and ancillary industries (Hanappe and Savy, 1980). Thus, there is a desire for good order at sea this good order, which requires the creation of collaborative maritime architecture, would allow the conduct of free trade, i. e. in a safe and secure environment. It will require the enforcement of maritime legislation to remove those factors that would negatively affect the free flow of goods.Maritime legislation would, in turn, strengthen the maritime institutions which are crucial for a maritime strategy. The combination of strengthened and coherent legislation and institutions would better regulate the maritime industry it would enhance the policing of, and prosecution for, illegal acts, e. g. piracy, and the dumping of waste materials pollution will be policed smuggling and illicit trade could be countered transnational or cross-border crime would be be tter monitored and reduced and the safe navigation of shipping guaranteed.In the past, governments have intervened, often massively, in the maritime sector to fulfill different goals such as economic development, national defense, prestige, balance of payments, and the protection of the national industry. To reach those goals, governments relied on methods such as regulations, subsidies, national fleets, alternative of cargo and ports of gate. Cabotage regulations have been one of the privileged measures to protect the national maritime transportation industry. 2. 2Maritime Development and Port validation in NigeriaMaritime economies and societies are intimately associated with the sea. In this connection, the length and nature of a nations coastline, the magnitude of its mercantile marine and port-related industries, the level of development of internal communications and the political and economic framework in which these developments take place determine to a large extent the growth and development of its maritime sector. But truly speaking, the challenges facing shipping and the worlds ports today are not merely related to the quantity but also the quality of services.The continuous progress of globalization of shipping and trade business is resulting in increasing pressures on ports cost and improve operational efficiency. Seaports constitute the hub of the maritime sector of a nations economy. For one thing, they are generally regarded as gateways amid their hinterlands and forelandsthe overseas territories to which they are linked by commerce and other elements. They thus serve as conduits in the exchange of merchandise between opposite ends of the intervening oceans.Moreover, without them, shipping and shipbuilding cannot exist and it is the capacity of a port that determines the volume and regularity of its shipping. The development of the maritime sector and, indeed, of the wider economy, reflects the degree of the harnessing together of techn ological, political, economic, physical and other factors. However, what can hardly be controverted is that human agency can reverse or ameliorate the natural disadvantages of a port or initiate developments in its hinterland or foreland to the advantage or disadvantage of the port (Olukoju, 1996).This is most clearly manifest in the formulation and implementation of policies which achieve port (re)development and foster shipping and industrial growth. Government is more suited to this sort of intervention because it has the capital that such large-scale works necessitate and it also has the capacity to absorb the impact of the long gestation of such low-return investments. It is capable of formulating policies reversing the natural disadvantages suffered by accepted ports and regions.The beginning of modern port development in Nigeria may be traced to the British occupation of Lagos, a notorious centre of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, in 1861, and the subsequent colonisation of the Nigerian hinterland. Lagos and Port Harcourt in the end emerged as the leading ports following extensive and expensive harbour works. At Lagos, the most extensive works carried out during the colonial accomplishment (1861-1960) took place before the Second World War, bandage Port Harcourt was created from scratch in the immediate aftermath of the First World War (Olukoju, 1996).Port development policy oscillated during this period from concentration to diffusion (Ogundana 1970, 1972). The former refers to a policy of concentrating investment in, and underdeveloped, a few ports, at the expense of the rest while the latter involved developing a multiplicity of seaport outlets. Such tweetion and expansion reflected the prevailing global and local economic conditions which dictated the demand for shipping and port facilities. In terms of the brass operator of Nigerian ports, policy was characterised, up to the mid-1950s, by a combination of duality of control and multiplicit y of authorities.First, the duality of control meant that private interests such as the United African Company and the foreign shipping lines, specifically, Elder Dempster Shipping Line, controlled certain activities such as lighterage and controlled certain ports such as Burutu (Olukoju, 2002). Second, there was a multiplicity of authorities in the ports, especially the major ones like Lagos and Port Harcourt. Among these were the Railways, springer, Port Engineering and Marine, each handling specific aspects of port operations, such as tariff exhibition, transport, pilotage and harbour works.These government departments were embroiled in an acrimonious inter-departmental rivalry which impeded the effective coordination of services and port operations (Olukoju, 1992). The management of the crisis entailed a series of investigations and administrative reorganisation but it was not until the Nigerian Ports Authority was established in the mid-1950s that a semblance of order was est ablished. Paradoxically, maritime administration in Nigeria has since degenerated into a jungle of competing authorities hindering and meddling with the efficient operation and administration of the ports.By virtue of the Ports Act 1954 (Cap 55) of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, the Nigerian Ports Authority was established as the sole authority in control of Nigerias ports in place of eight government departments. The NPA came into being with jurisdiction over the operation of cargo-handling maintenance, improvement and regulation of harbours and approaches dredging, pilotage services, lighting and navigational aids, and related services. The NPA embarked on indigenisation (Nigerianisation) of its staff and the construction of a wharf extension at Apapa and harbour works at Port Harcourt.Yet, within a decade, its activities had come under the scrutiny of a commission of inquiry. The Justice Beckley Tribunal found out that the NPA had engaged in redundancy and jobbery in its appointments, and its operations had been bedevilled by ethnicity, corruption and inefficiency. The civil war caused the enforced contraction of Nigerian maritime operations following the closure of east Nigerian ports such as Port Harcourt and Lagos became the whole functional seaport. In 1969, the military government formally placed the ports of Warri, Burutu and Calabar, hitherto under private control, under the control of the NPA.The civil war was followed by the requirements of reconstruction and the oil boom in the aftermath of the Arab-Israeli war of 1973. Massive imports engendered by these developments resulted in unprecedented port congestion, characterised by the infamous cement armada whereby ships carrying cement stayed outside the ports in a long queue of vessels waiting to berth and offload their cargo. The country incurred huge losses in demurrage and damaged cargo, in addition to the unscrupulous dealings of some Nigerians and foreigners.The government then embark ed on massive port development not only to cope with that exigency but in anticipation of increasing demand. But the slump of the 1980s forestalled the latter and left the country with under-utilised facilities. Meanwhile, port administration was undergoing certain changes which worked against efficiency and motivation of staff. First, the appointment of a military Port Commandant in the face of the port congestion of the 1970s eroded the influence and efficiency of the NPA Board, and breached the norms of due process and accountability.Second, the public sector reforms of the 1970s dampened the morale of NPA staff, who were now made to work under civil service conditions of service, especially pay. Third, certain powers of the NPA were transferred to the take care of Transport, who became the supervisory authority for the Authority. The consequence of these developments was that the NPA moved from an autonomous status to that of a department of the Federal Ministry of Transport wi th its centralised control, no user representation informative board and all the trappings of civil service bureaucracy (Ovbude, 1991).A related policy thrust was the commercialisation of port administration in Nigeria in the late 1980s. By Decree 25 of 1988, the NPA was listed among thirty-five state-owned enterprises slated for commercialisation. Ninety-two others were to be privatised. The aim was to make the NPA make profits on its operations. Such a policy implied that the government would give the operators a free hand not only in day-to-day administration but in the setting of port charges and the collection of revenue.Unfortunately, the professed aim was never achieved, although the NPA (then renamed Ports PLC) was finally weaned off its dependence on state subventions as it succeeded in earning enough and making profits from its services to shipping and other port-users. However, the government never gave its officials a free hand at least to the extent of appointing the A uthoritys Board of Directors and interfering in other ways. In all, port development in Nigeria has had a measurable impact on city and regional development though the extent varies with each port.To be sure, the export processing zone developed around Calabar port in eastern Nigeria has yet to make the expected impact. A recurring factor in the decline of the port is that its natural hinterland is in the Republic of Cameroon. This has robbed it of a critical factor in its development, unlike the case at Lagos and Port Harcourt. That said, the most profound case of port-induced urban and regional development has been that of Lagos, which generated a huge population concentration in an bordering metropolitan area that extends inland up to Ota, some forty-five kilometres to the north.Major developments at Apapa have also fostered an industrial zone that has grown in depth since the 1960s. Industrial zones have also bourgeon at Ilupeju, Yaba and Ikeja as the port exerts its direct an d indirect impact on its immediate hinterland. By 1971, the Lagos metropolitan area was dotted with six industrial estates. By 2000, functional estates included those at Apapa, Agidingbi, Amuwo Odofin, Gbagada, Iganmu, Ijora, Ikeja CBD, Ilupeju, Kirikiri, Matori, Ogba, Oregun, Oshodi/Isolo/Ilasamaja and Surulere (Light Industrial) (Akintola-Arikawe, 1987). The industrial estates at Ikeja and Mushin had owed their existence to the ndustrial policies of the Western Region government since the late 1950s but others too had developed since the 1970s. The extent of the impact of port development at Lagos may be judged by the rise and development of the Agbara and Ota-Ifo industrial estates in the metropolitan shadow some twenty to forty kilometres away (Akintola-Arikawe, 1987). As well, the western railway linking Lagos with Ibadan and Kano, major urban, commercial and industrial centres, has also spread the impact of the port several hundred kilometres into the Nigerian hinterland.The s ame process has been replicated, though on a smaller scale, at Port Harcourt, the terminus of the eastern railway. The port literally created the city following its development in the inter-war years (Anyanwu 1971 Olukoju 1996). There, as in Lagos, the port serves as an industrial and commercial hub, and its hinterland extends to the administrative and commercial centres on the railway, like Aba and Umuahia. 2. 3Port Reforms, Concessioning and Privatization in NigeriaThe growing trends in trade liberalization and global economic restructuring have led to initiative for private sector participation in the ports operations. Ports as a gateway to economies have become more competitive as port charges can hamper international trade if significant in product cost line. The manufacturers now seek the least cost-input ratio worldwide where they can produce and assemble products at biggest advantages in terms of labour capacity and access to market. This explains why states world over are v ery particular in port productivity and efficiency as it directly affects import and export trade.Succinctly put, globalization phenomenon has come with some which include the emergence of very large vessels with greater cost effectiveness, speed, improved cargo-handling technology and reduced unit freight cost. Also, emergency of international terminal operators with specialized technical efficiency in cargo handling high mobility of factors of production fluid movement of goods across international boarders off-shore manufacturing, and electronic business proceedings are some of the value proposition for private-partnership model being championed and entrenched within the local maritime sector of emerging and even developed nations.To play meaningful role in the global economy, nations have to aggregate the impacts of all these developments as they affect their links with international supply chain. It is with this understanding that the federal government of Nigeria, at the ince ption of the new democratic dispensation of the Olusegun Obasanjo led- administration between 1999 and 2003, inaugurated the National Council on Privatization (NCP) in demonstration of the commitment to institutional reforms. Government believes that there is a linkage between efficient functioning of utilities and propensity to attract foreign investment to the country.In this respect, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was identified and selected, as a prime candidate for an in-depth reform as contained in governments privatization programme implemented by the Nigeria Council for Privatization (NCP) and its implementing agency, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and concessioning is one of the reform options that are needed to make ports internationally competitive and to integrate the economy to the mainstream of world economic order.Consequently, the concessioning of the port was an issue, which agitated the mind of workers and dominated several discussions. The Management, Offi cers and staff of NPA being conscious of their responsibilities and aware of the need for successful implementation of the ports reform initiatives of the Federal Government held a retreat at Calabar from 14th 16th August, 2003. After widespread consensus-building and consultations with various stakeholders, government came up with the option of Concessioning and Landlord Port model as a tool for process of institutional reform.Put succinctly, a Port Concession symmetricalness is a contract in which a government transfers operating rights to private enterprise, which then engages in an activity contingent on government approval and subject to the terms of the contract. The Landlord port model in port sector reform is identified by a clear separation of the roles of public and private sector in two parts namely Public sector is responsible for port planning and development, regulatory tasks related to safety, security and environment, owner of port land and nautical management.Also the granting and administration of concessions for the use of land and infrastructure to the private sector, and Private sector is responsible for terminal operations including investment in the provision and maintenance of superstructure and equipment. Essentially, the term port reform connotes the changing institutional structure of the port business and much greater involvement of the private sector in the exploitation and support of port facilities, terminals and/or services (Sarumi, 2006).Port reform therefore sets to re-define relationship between public and private sectors. More often than not, the concept of Privatization is often used interchangeably in error to port reform. It should be made clear at this juncture that privatization only refers to one aspect of port reform tools. separate spectrum of port reform tools include Management Contract, Outsourcing and Concessioning etc.The proponents of port reforms and concessioning programmes noted that the benefits accruab le to the country include better and more efficient port management especially operations as handled by Terminal Operators the application of private capital to socially and economically desirable projects, freeing up government funds for other priority projects creation of new revenue streams for government the attraction and use of foreign investment and technology, and increase in private sector participation in the regional or national economy.The review of the major milestones in NPA concession programme revealed the following procedures, guidelines and timelines which included the Appointment of Concession Advisers, CPCS Transcom of Canada (3rd December, 20030 Advertisement for Expression of spare-time activity EOIs (5th December, 2003) Evaluation of Expression of Interests carried out on 24th February to 3rd March, 2004 Request for Proposals (RFP) and other bidding documents sent to prequalified bidders Pre-bid conference and startle of Physical Due labor and Data Room v isit for Apapa Terminals (19th October, 2004) inauguration of Presidential Task Force on Port Reforms (1st December, 2004) Opening of Technical Bids for Apapa Terminals (26th January to 3rd February, 2005) Pre-bid conference for Port-Harcourt Terminal and commencement of Due Diligence and Data Room Visitation (7th February to 22nd February, 2005), and the Opening of Financial Bids for Apapa and selection of preferred bidders, 10th March, 2005. The primary objective of concession agreement is to transfer investment costs from the government to the private sector. It is further envisaged to inject private sector efficiency, independence and discipline into the loading and off loading of ships at our terminals, while ports perform marine and technical oversight functions. The ultimate goal is to make the port system extremely efficient and cost effective.These led to the invitation of bidders in December 2003 and 110 applications were received while 94 of the applicants were pre -qual ified and issued bid documents. Most of the terminals were handed over in 2006 with NPA expectedly playing the following roles port planning, licensing and control, port development, technical regulations, marine services and channel management. Within the context of concessioning is the role of Terminal Operator defined as port operations and services (carrying out terminal operations and marine services as agreed except pilotage), port labour (employing and paying port labour, providing training, clothing, Medicare and social security, safety and pension) and investment and maintenance in superstructure and equipment.The Terminal Operators are large independent companies with concessions from the Port Authority for a period sufficient to pay back the investments (at least 10 yrs). Terminal Operators are selected on the basis of transparent international bidders. The Terminal Operators pay a concession fee to the Port Authority based on the use of the land and infrastructure and th e volume of operations. The Concessionaires are responsible for all terminal operations such as stevedoring, shore handling etc. They maintain direct contacts with the shipping lines without interference from the Port Authority, but operate within the ambit of extant registration. They are equally responsible for the security, liability, insurance and safety in the concessioned area. TABLE 1LIST OF TERMINAL OPERATORS S/N Companys Name (Operator) Location 1 APM Terminal Limited, Apapa, Lagos 2 ENL Lagos 3 Five feature Lagos 4 TICT Lagos 5 J/DAM Lagos 6 PTML Lagos 7 ABTL Lagos 8 P.CARGO Lagos 9 GDNL Lagos 10 BOP Lagos 11 IBAFON Lagos 12 LISTER Lagos 13 F/W Lagos 14 CAPITAL Lagos 15 FATGBEM Lagos 16 RAJ Lagos 17 EKO SUP Lagos 18 NOJ Lagos 19 IJORA Lagos 20 EML Lagos 21** Including 15 other companies operating outside Lagos namely Calabar, Port-Harcourt, Warri, Onne etc. Source NPA 2009 2. 4Performance Evaluation of Private Sector Participation in Maritime In dustry However, ports do not exist for their own sake or as mere conduits of trade, but are expected to exert a developmental impact especially on their hinterlands. To be sure, a port has several hinterlands stretching from the port itself to as far as transport links and competing outlets permit.While the proximate hinterlands are likely to be imprisoned to it, other areas may be contested by other ports depending on their differential access to transport facilities. Specifically, port and regional development has been pursued through developer ports, created in depressed regions as a catalyst of industrial and urban development (Olukoju, 2004). A critical issue that is germane to this study is the potential of ports as growth poles. Do ports really generate development in their immediate or remote hinterlands? If so, what accounts for this or under what conditions can this it achieved? If such condition(s) is/are known, how can the developmental impact be optimised? In any case, what criteria should be employed to measure the developmental impact of ports and how reliable are they?With regard to the measurement of the economic impact of ports, the Canada Ports Corporation once developed a computerised Economic Impact Model, which supposedly measures the economic benefits of the freight handling activities of Canadian ports on the local, provincial and national economies and provides a realistic and defensible assessment of the economic contributions of the ports (Tessier, 1991). This assertion was based on certain observable results. Canadian ports were reported to have generated jobs (direct and indirect), revenue, and personal income quantified in billions of dollars, which derived from port and related activities. Barely four years and some months, perhaps to all believers dismay of the port reforms and concessioning programmes, the ports are in chaos, throwing up a hair-raising pains, losses as well as rip-off that is crippling the national economy. T oday, the concessionaires are in quandary as the raised issues of hope and prospects are nowhere near.Congestion, high cost inefficiency and chaos are now the order of the day which constitutes a great setback. There is a heavy problem of discharge of container while cargo diversion to neighbouring ports in West Africa region has taken the shine off Nigerian ports, which its supposedly aim of being the hub for international trade and freight is yet to materialised. Investigation shows that many factors are responsible for the debacle which is most noticed in Lagos ports which account for over 65 per cent of total imports into Nigeria and others in the eastern part of the country especially the Onne base ports mostly under the management of Intels Nigeria Limited.Apart from poor and ill-equipped cargo handling plants, the much in demand(p) quick release of cargoes at the private terminals is yet to be actualised dream to operators and port users, the problems are too much that Niger ians on the street have started inquiring the rationale for concessioning or dashing of the ports to the private operators or monopolists. Since the year of independence in 1960, there has always been a tug-of-war between policy of pre-shipment inspection and that of destination. As at January 2006 and the time the concessionaires took over the management of port operations as private terminal operators destination inspection as a policy was re-introduced for the terzetto time.Following agitations and complaints by the freight forwarders about operational lapses, inefficiency and unfair business practices which grew to the point of an ultimatum of withdrawal of services at the ports, the Ministry of Transport was forced to set up a committee to address the grievances and operational challenges. The committee or task force was given six point terms of reference that include to catch out the inadequacies and availability of plant and equipment at the terminals, examine the clearing and port documentation process, identify and abrogate excessive/duplicated charges. Others are to ensure the suitability of the working environment ensure the implementation of world best practices in the Nigerian ports and tackle any other issues that may arise in the course of the sub-committee assignment.The committee in its interim report observed that there are many port operational constraints that exist in many facilities and at different levels. The issue of stacking pattern for containers was observed not to be done in accordance with internationally accepted standards for ease of operation. Putting APMT on the spotlight of performance evaluation, study shows that there are too many empty containers found to be stacked at the quay apron for more than eight (8) days and that the terminal operator have a weekly stacks of up to 4,800teus and weekly evacuation of about 1800teus. This is wholly responsible for the long queue of trailers that caused traffic jams in Apapa and to the port entry point.The on and off stories of congestion which have characterised the concessioned ports since inception are observed to be caused by the greed of the concessionaires as it alleged that they make more capital when cargoes are delayed in their terminals. According to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), many Nigerian importers and manufacturers are closing shop in protest against the countrys port system, as they cannot continue to import wares through the ports with debts overtaken their business, they therefore have sought relief, time and cost saving opportunities offered at the ports in the other west African countries of Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana and Cote dIvoire.Study reveals that rather than saving $2. 5 billion from mere coming on stream of the port concession arrangements as well as experiencing an operating cost cut down of between $65 million to $80 million and port users saving some $70 million to $100 million yearly, Nigeria as at today mi ssed quantifiable billions of dollar which translates to over N20 trillion (Chigbue Irene, 2010). Though the industry is projected to provide well over 10,000 jobs yearly with the capacity of employing 50,000 Nigerians (Omatseye, 2010), the promised job opportunities have turned to job doom as many importer and agents as well as dockworkers have lost their jobs and businesses as the case maybe.These loads of problems as being experienced within the concessioned port sector hinged on lack of legal frameworks backing the port concession exercise which regrettably made the concessionaires to take advantage of implementing the illegality of exploiting importers. The era of port concessioning has further thrown security issues capable of threatening national defense and safety of lives (Abati, 2010). In the Apapa port, it has been made clear that the arms cargo arrived at the port in July 2010. The frequency with which suspicious materials are now being reported along Nigerian routes and in many of the cities is frightening. Given Nigerias weak national security infrastructure the situation could be worse and the evidence is writ large in spread of criminality and violence in the country and the seeming ineffectiveness of the concerned state agencies.Granted that the administration has often tried to address the challenge but what is exposed in every instance is the absence of a well thought-out and managed national security framework, unfortunately, security is one of the original concerns of government, and where this fails, there are serious implications for national stability. CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3. 1Introduction This subdivision is directed at defining the research figure, characteristics of the population, sample size and sampling techniques, sources of data, design and administration of questionnaires, techniques for data psychoanalysis, and limitation of the research methodology. The research method used in this study is as relevant as the research work because it forms the basis upon which the research is written.This chapter goes together to describe the method used in the data collection and classification of questions for data analysis. 3. 2Re-Statement of Research Hypotheses For emphasis, and to have holistic view of the researchs objectives vis-a-vis the methods and techniques used in analyzing acquired data, the research hypotheses earlier set are herewith restated H1 Federal government initiative at engaging the private sector companies in the management of the countrys ports has positive impact on revenue generation for socio-economic development. H2 Private sector participation in the maritime industry has positively enhanced human capacity and infrastructural development of the nations ports and the entire maritime industry.H3 The involvement of private sector in the management of the countys ports and associated sector has boost employment creation with attendant positive impact on the livelihood of an av erage Nigerian. 3. 3Research send off The research design chosen for this study is the non-experimental (personal) survey and correlation design because the study focuses on the respondents attitudes to the research problem while attempting to establish the degree of relationships between independent variable in this case maritime industry performance and the dependent variables operational efficiency of the terminal operators. 3. 4Population of Study and Sample Size The population for this research study comprises of various but carefully selected practitioners/operators in the industry.The core practitioners include officials/staff (civil servants) working in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies/Parastatals (MDAs) of government overseeing and regulating the activities of the terminal operators and the ports in general. These include NIMASA, Nigeria Port Authority, Nigeria Shippers Council, Nigeria Custom Service and Nigeria Navy. Thereto, independent (private) sector oper ators such as freight forwarders, ship owning firms, legal practitioners (maritime lawyers), journalists, and importers/exported drawn from different associations and corporate organizations viz Nigerian Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), Maritime Lawyers and Arbitrators of Nigeria (MLAN).In view of the vastness of the population for this study, a sample size of 150 respondents consisting of people that were randomly selected from the above organizations/bodies was served questionnaires. Only 100 returned questionnaires were considered valid for use/analysis as fifty (50) were either badly filled or not returned. However, the size be and the returned questionnaires represent fair percentage of the total population of the study to whom questionnaires were distributed for the purpose of data collection which coul d allow for better generalization of results after necessary analysis. 3. 5Sampling Techniques The sampling technique used for this research work was random sampling for different respondents of the selected organizations/bodies in the study area.This technique prevented any form of biases, and provided for fair and equal probability to all respondents identified for this research study to freely express their views of the foregoing subject matter. The survey research design was used to investigate the respondents opinions on the research problem. 3. 6Sources of Data Collection The information required for the successful execution of this project was obtained from two sources viz primary and secondary sources. The primary sources included the use of structured questionnaires and oral interviews/personal observations as made by the researcher while secondary sources included data and information collected from textbooks, journals, magazines, newspapers, white papers, the Internet an d unpublished works. 3. 7Questionnaire DesignThis research employed the use of structured questionnaire to gather primary data from respondents. The questionnaires consist of two (2) sections. Section A contained six (6) items which emphasized on the characteristics of the respondents (bio-data or personal profile). Section B of the research instrument has twelve (12) items which were designed to provide answers to the questions raised in the study and to test the formulated hypotheses. And tenacious with Hamilton (1997) and Patry et al. (1999), a 5-point Likert scale, was used to measure the extent to which each respondent agrees and/or disagrees with any statement as contained in the questionnaire.The statements were concise and comprehensive enough to adopt home the points of the research aim and objectives in simple and understandable language and also allowed for good responses from the respondents with the view of capturing the essence of the topic. 3. 8Standardization of Re search Instrument The research instrument was tested for content validity to determine if it could measure what it was intended to test. In order to achieve this procedure, the questionnaire was reviewed by the an independent research outfit with bias in maritime policy development and operations, and other seasoned professionals in industry to assess technical terms, clarify ambiguous statement and comment on the obvious validity of each item.The internal consistency of the items as contained in Section B of the questionnaire was tested for reliability using Croncbach Alpha method with other available functionalities of the SSPS software package. The overall result of the 12 items on the research instrument clearly shows that the designed questionnaire was valid for the conduct of this study as the reliability coefficient of 0. 8636 was obtains which tends to 1. 3. 9Questionnaire Administration The questionnaires were distributed to all the respondents identified for this study in all the selected organizations who expectedly conveyed their opinions by providing fair and unbiased responses to the statement.A total of 150 questionnaires were administered through personal efforts by hand delivery of hard copies and through the internet as attached file sent to the recipients/respondents e-mail addresses followed by phone calls to confirm receipt of same. The cost of posting was financially irrational as retrieving answered questionnaires may be difficult to achieve while the needed thoroughness in the analysis and presentation of data may be compromised and jeopardized. Of the total 150 questionnaires distributed, 124 were returned filled while 26 were not returned by the respondents. Upon careful examination of the returned questionnaires, only 100 were considered useful and adequate for thorough analysis as 24 were either badly filled as represented in the following graphical (pie chart) illustration. pic 3. 10Techniques for Data AnalysisFor the purpose of th orough analysis of the data collected for this study a conventional reliability rate of 95. 0% with a sample error of 5. 0% was allowed using version 10. 0 of the Statistical Package for Social lights (SPSS) program and Microsoft Excel in processing the data. Inferential statistical method was used to present data in absolute frequency Table and Simple Percentage. The used of chi-square (x2) was adopted to test formulated hypotheses. 3. 11Limitations of Research Methodology The research of this scope cannot be carried out without facing one or two constraints. Time posed a serious challenge as research appointments in most case coincided with academic lectures and work demands at office.The seemingly reluctance of some respondents in filling the research instrument designed to collate data posed yet another challenge especially among top-ranking officers of NIMASA, NPA, Customs and APMT staff. Resource materials needed for necessary deskwork were not readily available. Handling th e SPSS package posed yet a great challenge in terms of analyzing and interpreting the data as there was no firsthand experience of its usage. Financing this project in term of logistics associated with this research work almost marred this academic pursuit. However, efforts were made to put these challenges under control through effective and prudent use of available, nay limited fund, thus the emergence of this work in its present form.As regards the intellectual and theoretical arguments, critics have expressed doubts about the reliability and propriety of this diversity of performance evaluation. Some contend that port impact studies of this kind were designed by port authorities to justify or attract port investment. Others argue that it is misleading to attribute regional development to the ports, which are only one element in a large number of producing and distributing systems which generate economic changes in a given region (Goss, 1990). It may also be noted that accurate quantification of the regional impact of ports is difficult to achieve in the face of the diffusion (that is, of origins and destinations) of port traffic beyond the narrow confines of a region or nation (ibid 216).Whatever reservations that one may have about the reliability of the quantification of the social and economic impact of ports and their allied industries on the adjoining cities and regions, it is hardly debatable that port activities and shipping generate employment, and induce industrialisation and overall economic growth. The striking example of Maritime Industrial Developments Areas (MIDAs) in post-Second World War Europe aptly illustrates the immense growth-pole potentials of ports. Even so, it must be conceded that there is a symbiotic relationship between the port itself, on the one hand, and the port-city and port-induced industries, on the other. Economic boom or depression in either a ports forelands or hinterlands immediately affects the port and the silting of the port or the loss of its comparative advantage to rival ports would be reflected in the fortunes of its hinterlands, particularly those that are dependent on it. CHAPTER FOURDATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 4. 1INTRODUCTION This section is designed to present and analyze data used for this research study. With the aid of computer based application software packages Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 10. 0 and Microsoft Excel (2007), data generated through the administered research instrument (questionnaire) were analyzed at the conventional 95% level of confidence. To further validat