Voluntary Administration for a Case Study Analysis- myassignmenthelp

Question: Write about theVoluntary Administration for a Case Study Analysis. Answer: Constructing a DOCA Proposal One of the options available under voluntary administration is entering into a deed of company arrangement (DOCA). Either of the interested parties in the administration process, that is directors or creditors, may propose a deed highlighting the rights of creditors against the organisation and its assets and the obligations of the company in paying out its debt (Cseti, 2011). The deed, therefore, is an instrument that presents a compromise arrangement between the organisation and its creditors where the company has been facing financial challenges. It serves as a way to terminate the voluntary administration process. Once the deed is approved by the creditors the administration process is complete and the organisation proceeds to enforce the requirements of the deed accordingly. However various factors must be considered in constructing a DOCA proposal. As a voluntary administrator, once should ensure the deed adheres to the provisions of s 444A of the Corporations Act 2001. In preparing the proposal, an administrator should ensure they have set out the available property; the extent the company is relieved of its debt, pre-execution conditions and post-execution conditions, grounds for termination and order of distribution of proceeds among others. The deed may propose a continuation of the companys operation, injection of funds or sale of company properties or outline a fixed sum payable to creditors over a set period of time. Identifying the most suitable cause of action is guided by the deliberations at the creditors meetings as well as liaising with the company directors. These are the considerations to be made and criteria to be met in preparing a DOCA proposal for the directors and creditors of 4th Estate Media Limited. Insolvent Trading The Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) under s 95A defines solvency as the capacity to cover all debts and financial obligations when they are due, failure to this constitutes insolvency under s 95A (2). With regard to companies, Sutherland v Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd (2009) NSWSC held that an organization's solvency is determined by its cash flows which are evidenced by the balance sheet among other financial statements. As such, where an organisations cash flows fail to cover its debt then the organisation would be considered insolvent (ASIC, 2016). Under s 588G of the Act 2001 (Cth), where a company is insolvent and the directors cause it to incur further debt they would be engaging in insolvent trading which is a breach of their duties. The Act under s 588G bestows a duty on directors to prevent insolvent trading where they are directors at the time the debt is incurred, where incurring the debt leads to insolvency or where there are reasonable grounds for belief that the company is or would be insolvent (Quinlan, 2017). A director would be held liable if they were evidently aware of the companys insolvency but allowed the debt to be incurred or where a reasonable person in their position would be so aware of the possibility of insolvency. The Act 2001 (Cth) further considers dishonesty on the part of the director as a determinant for liability; the burden of proof lies with the claimant alleging the directors liability for insolvent trading (ASIC, 2016). Insolvency trading elicits various consequences; perpetrators face civil penalties as well as criminal charges in the event they are convicted of guilt. Contravention of the insolvency provisions outlined above may attract pecuniary penalties totalling up to $200,000. Other civil penalties include disqualification as a manager and compensation to creditors for the loss suffered (ASIC, 2016). Where dishonesty is involved, directors found liable may attract criminal liability. As such, where the director is found criminally liable they are likely to face imprisonment of up to five years (ASIC, 2014). The Impact of an Administrators Appointment on Large Bank Ltd Large Bank Ltd in this case study qualifies as a secured creditor, that is 4th Estate Media owes the bank money to the tune of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Dollars ($250M). In turn, the bank holds a security interest over some of the companys assets. Upon assumption of their role as voluntary administrators, Mark Menthol and James Corporal are expected to investigate the companys affairs and present the bank, along with other creditors and stakeholders with a report and possible options to end the voluntary administration process. Guided by this report the bank and other creditors will hold meetings to determine the best possible cause of action. However, with the appointment of the voluntary administrators, the bank as a secured creditor cannot enforce any security interests they may hold over the companys assets (ASIC, 2017). Further, as a creditor, the bank cannot institute legal proceedings to wind up or recover any debt owed once a voluntary administrator is appointed (Quinlan, 2005). If the bank held a charge over any company property, it must enforce it within ten days of the administrator's appointment; later enforcement would require the administrators consent or leave of court. However, if the bank had commenced enforcement proceedings prior to the appointment of the administrator, the enforcement of the security would proceed. As such, the appointment of the voluntary administrators would limit the rights of the bank to lay claim over the outstanding loan or enforce any existing securities as described above. Board Composition and ASX Corporate Governance Guidelines Generally, board size and composition varies depending on the type and size of the company as well as the complex nature of its business (Governance Institute of Australia, 2014). The ASX Corporate Governance Guidelines (2014) outline the composition guidelines for listed companies and provide that the size of a companys board of directors should be ample enough to cater for the businesss requirements. Additionally, any changes to the boards composition should be carried out smoothly without disrupting company operations. Further, good governance principles dictate that the chairman of the board should remain a non-executive director; the board should comprise of independent directors to ensure an unbiased opinion is reflected in decision making. In addition to this, any director who is described as an independent director should hold no interest whatsoever within the company that would compromise their independence. The conditions listed above outline the criteria for public companies to observe with regard to board composition. In the case study discussed herein, 4th Estate Media Limited has a board of five directors. The number falls within the criteria provided by the ASX guidelines. Additionally, the board chairman Flem Worsley is described as independent which also conforms to the ASX guidelines. Further, Caddy Isely fills in the role of the non-executive director as required by the ASX guidelines. Given the size of the board, it is evident that there is a balance of executive, non-executive and independent directors on the board. With this analysis in mind, it is evident that the company, 4th Estate Media Ltd, has conformed with ASX guidelines with regard to board composition. The Role of Minority Shareholders in the Voluntary Administration Process As aforementioned, the purpose of the voluntary administration process is to restructure the organisation so as to allow it to survive where it has been faced with financial difficulties (Hughes, 2017). It allows the organisation an opportunity its financial status by suspending or negotiating obligations with creditors. During the administration process, the administrator assumes management control from company directors and assesses the companys affairs so as to determine the best possible option for creditors that would ensure the companys survival. The primary duty of the voluntary administrator is to the creditors and the company directors; shareholders play a minimal role in this process (ASIC, 2017). In order to commence the process a voluntary administrator is appointed through a board resolution; shareholders and particularly minority shareholders do not play any role at this stage. Additionally, as previously mentioned the voluntary administrator is under no duty to report to the shareholders; however, shareholders may inspect administration books kept to maintain a record of the process. Shareholders are not accorded the right to vote on the companys future once the administrator is appointed they would also be bound by a DOCA once or if it is approved. It is evident therefore that shareholders rights are limited under the voluntary administration regime (Williamson-Noble, et al., 2015). Minority shareholders are likely to be severely disadvantaged where a company opts for voluntary administration. This is because they lack sufficient voting rights to influence the companys future prior and post voluntary administration and as such are bound by any decisions made by directors and the majority. Additionally, as was the case in Australian Blue Mountain International Cultural Tourist Group Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 937, the minority may receive notice of the ultimate decision either in delay or not at all and as such cannot adequately participate in the post administration process. Further, priority payment policies under Australian Corporation Legislation place minority shareholders at a lower priority level over creditors and majority shareholders as such they may receive little to no funds should the company decide to ultimately wind up after the voluntary administration process is complete (Resolute Lawyers Associates, 2014). Reference List ASIC, 2014. Insolvency for directors. [Online] Available at: https://asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/insolvency/insolvency-for-directors/directors-consequences-of-insolvent-trading/ [Accessed 13 September 2017]. ASIC, 2016. Insolvent Trading: Duties of Directors. [Online] Available at: https://aicd.companydirectors.com.au/~/media/cd2/resources/director-resources/director-tools/pdf/05446-6-3-duties-directors_insolvent-trading_a4-web.ashx [Accessed 13 September 2017]. ASIC, 2017. Information Sheet (INFO 43): Insolvency, A Guide for Shareholders, s.l.: ASIC. ASIC, 2017. Information Sheet 74 (INFO 74): Voluntary Administration, A Guide for Creditors.[Online] Available at: https://asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/insolvency/insolvency-for-creditors/voluntary-administration-a-guide-for-creditors/ [Accessed 13 September 2017]. ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2014. ASX Corporate Governance Principles 3rd Edition. s.l.:ASX Corporate Governance Council. Australian Blue Mountain International Cultural Tourist Group Pty Ltd (2015) NSWSC 937. Cseti, D., 2011. Understanding Personal Property Securities Law. Sydney: CCH Australia Ltd. Governance Institute of Australia, 2014. Good Governance Guide: Board Composition. s.l.:Governance Institute of Australia. Hughes, R., 2017. Explaining the Voluntary Administration Process. [Online] Available at: https://www.franchise.edu.au/home/topics/franchise-management-topics/explaining-the-voluntary-administration-process [Accessed 13 September 2017]. Quinlan, M., 2005. Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring. s.l.:Allens Arthur Robinson. Quinlan, M., 2017. What is insolvent trading?. [Online] Available at: https://www.findlaw.com.au/articles/782/what-is-insolvent-trading.aspx [Accessed 13 September 2017]. Resolute Lawyers Associates, 2014. Insolvency Laws Used to Eliminate Minority Shareholders. [Online] Available at: https://resolutelawyers.blogspot.co.ke/2014/06/insolvency-laws-used-to-eliminate.html [Accessed 13 September 2017]. Sutherland v Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd (2009) NSWSC. Williamson-Noble, J., Gordon, T. Tobin, G., 2015. Shareholder's rights in private and public companies in Australia. [Online] Available at: https://ca.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/2-611-6545?transitionType=DefaultcontextData=(sc.Default)__lrTS=20170613194830306firstPage=truebhcp=1 [Accessed 13 September 2017].

Question-Specific Strategies - Get a Lot from a Little

The purpose of this section is to familiarize you with the most common questions on business school applications and to explain some possible strategies for handling them. However, there is no single way to approach any of these questions, as they are often open-ended and leave a great deal of room for creativity. On the other hand, browsing a section for a question you dont have can still be useful, because you might discover a strategy that you can apply to an entirely different question.Our goal in this section is to focus on actual essays rather than make abstract suggestions, because you can learn more from illustrative examples than from principles that may not apply to your case. The insights we gain from analyzing these sample essays should inform rather than dictate the approach you choose to take. Extra: Getting a Lot from a LittleIn past sections we have emphasized the importance of reflection and analysis. Although all the schools are looking for this component, the major ity of applicants do not go beyond a very superficial level of insight. Thus the analytical process—rather than the experiences being analyzed—could be the factor that distinguishes you in the applicant pool.I think sometimes theres an apprehension on the part of our applicants [because] theyve never overcome some life-threatening disease or some other huge obstacle in their life, personal or otherwise. These people shouldnt be apprehensive; an applicants response to ordinary life events, like adjusting to college or a new work environment, dealing with being terminated at work, or shifting to a new department as a result of downsizing, can be very compelling to the admissions committee. An applicant doesnt need to have overcome monumental obstacles in order for me to be very excited about a persons candidacy and what hes communicating to me. I want perspective on successes and failures and how you have handled both throughout your life.  Ã¢â‚¬â€ The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania)Perhaps if everyone could do the self-assessment job well, admissions officers wouldnt be so excited about a good analytical essay every time. But the reality is that many successful business professionals are not naturally suited to this task and dont take enough time to learn it. With this knowledge in mind, applicants have no excuse not to take full advantage of the essay-writing process to distinguish themselves in the only area they can still control.

Assessment of impact of risk analysis on delivery of e

Assessment of impact of risk analysis on delivery of e Methodology has been described by Collis and Hussey (2007, p.78) as an approach used in research to organize and plan the general approach in which the research goals and questions are addressed. In addition, different tasks are carried to ensure that the research is successful since the findings and analysis depend heavily on the methodology applied. In other words, methodology is the core of a research.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on Assessment of impact of risk analysis on delivery of e-learning programs in universities of Saudi Arabia: Methodology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Goddard and Melville (2001, p.1), research methodology as a process helps in answering researcher’s unanswered questions and creating which that did not exist in the first place. In respect to the research study, different research variables which include risk analysis theory shall be applied. To achieve the r esearch aim and objectives, qualitative research method and exploratory research design will be used. The collected data is relevant and related to risk assessment in e-learning in Saudi Arabia universities. The research approach A well defined research approach plays an integral role in making a research richer in content by following a logical and stepwise framework for the collection of data. According to Gliner and Morgan (2000), there are two research approaches which are commonly, namely inductive and deductive approaches. The research will use deductive research approach because of its applicability in collecting a large volume of data which was required for the research. In addition, compared to the inductive approach, deductive research approach is more supportive to the collection of more authentic data. In course of the research, the researcher shall move from general points to more specific points. For instance, the concept of e-learning will be discussed followed by its impacts on students learning, followed by discussion on the impact of risk analysis on e-learning programs by universities in Saudi Arabia. This will ensure that the goals of the research were achieved throughout the research process. The deductive research approach is appropriate and authentic as it reduces vagueness and bias in the research findings and conclusions. The research method Because of the nature of the research, the researcher will adopt qualitative research method. This is because a qualitative research method allows a researcher to understand a particular social phenomenon and discover the most innermost meaning (Pratt 2006; Newman Benz 2006). In reference to the research study, qualitative research method will be used to understand perspectives, views, and meaning of major interest of members of the Ministry of Higher Education in the National Center for E-Learning and Distance Learning Saudi Arabia. This will allow the researcher to get in-depth information and d ata relative to the subject under study. In addition, it will be possible to get at personal level with the participants since interview which is a qualitative data collection method will be used.Advertising Looking for dissertation on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More From the perspective of the participants, it will be possible for the researcher to understand the situation of e-learning in Saudi Arabia. Since no quantification of the collected data is required, qualitative research method will ensure that extrapolation, understanding and illumination of the situation understand study is realized (Golafshani 2003, p.600). The research design Marczyk, DeMatteo Festinger (2005) note that a research design is pivotal facet of a research study as it assists in the identification of the appropriate research methods so as to meet the requirements of the research approach. Iacobucci and Churchill (2010, p.58) ha ve defined research design as a plan in study, which is used as a guide while collecting and analyzing data. In this line of context, exploratory research design shall be adopted because it allows a researcher to gather preliminary information required in defining the research problem. Furthermore, it is important as is assists in exploring key facts and information about the research problem. For example, exploratory research design will be adopted to get the facts of e-learning from the members of the National Center for E-Learning and Distance Learning Saudi Arabia. The reason why exploratory research design shall be used is because it specifies a reliable, valid and generalized approach to the collection of data. Consequently, errors can be examined in an appropriate way and in a timely manner (Greig, Taylor Mackay 2007; Iacobucci Churchill 2010, p.60). Furthermore, exploratory research design signifies the relevance of data that is collected during the defined process. The us e of the exploratory research design will make possible by combining it with qualitative research method. In addition, information gathered shall be integrated together through risk analysis theory adopted in the study. Lastly, exploratory research has been chosen because of its ability to offer the researchers pertinent information as well as help in answering the research question. This was achieved through information and data gathering and creating theories related to the research study. The data collection Before data collection is carried, consent shall be sought from 70 participants from the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the participants shall be informed of the nature of the study, its goals, objectives, and why the research is being carried. In addition, a letter from the university and a cover letter outlining the purposes of the research study will also made available to the participants and the relevant a uthority. It is imperative to note that in this study both secondary and primary data collection methods shall be used.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on Assessment of impact of risk analysis on delivery of e-learning programs in universities of Saudi Arabia: Methodology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Because of the nature of the research study, face to face interviews coupled with personally administered questionnaires shall be used to collect data and information from the selected participants from the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning. The researcher will use semi-structured interview schedules to get the required information from the participants. This implies that the systematically structured questions shall be asked starting with general to the specific. To avoid bias during the data collection method, leading questions shall be avoided. The researcher is aware of th e consequences of asking any leading questions and to ensure originality and both internal and external validity and reliability, the researcher shall offer explanation where the participants may not understand in understandable knowledge possible. Sampling procedure Generally, it is usually impossible to carry a research study on an entire population such as in all universities in Saudi Arabia. As a result, sampling is necessary in ensuring that a section of the population is selected to represent the entire population. Although qualitative research does not require the use of the collected results for generalization purposes, the researcher found it important to carry out sampling to ensure that unbiased sample was selected. In this particular study, simple random sampling method shall be used for sample selection purposes. According to Greene and Hogan (2005), simple random sampling is used to give an equal chance to every member of the university to be selected to be part of the sample used. Simple random sampling has been described as a sampling technique which involves the selection of a group of participants for the purpose of studying a larger population. In addition, each participant is chosen on the basis of chance, meaning that each individual in the large population shares the same chance as the selected participant. In this line of thought, the researcher shall adopt random sampling to select 65 members of the Ministry Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia. To ensure that each of the individual from the Ministry of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia was well represented in the sample, the list of all members of the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia shall be formulated. Out of the population, 65 random numbers shall be selected which shall form the representation of the sample of the research study. Among the 65 subjects, 15 will undergo face to face i nterviews while the 50 be part of self administered questionnaire.Advertising Looking for dissertation on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The major advantage of using simple random sampling in the research is its ability to reduce any potential human bias during the selection of the subjects included in the study sample (Fink 2006, p.48). Consequently, simple sampling shall provide the researcher with a study sample which is a representative of the population under study. In addition, generalizations of the results can be easily done since the sample under study shall represent Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia which is the body which acts as custodian for e-learning in Saudi Arabia. This shall ensure that the researcher achieves external validity which is important in a study. However, the sampling technique does not lack anticipated challenges such difficulties in getting a list with the individual population representing the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia. However, although the process of compiling the list is time consuming and cumbersome, measures shall be undertaken to ensure that the population list is generated for sampling purposes. Research subjects/Participants The research is to be undertaken in the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia. Only 65 members of the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning shall be selected for 15 interview and 50 self administered questionnaires to collect pertinent information about the impact of risk analysis on the delivery of e-learning programs in universities of Saudi Arabia. The major characteristic of the participants is to be over 30 years and above as well as an active member of the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning for the at least two years. The age bracket and the experience are necessary as it shall assist the researcher get the required perception, experiences and opinions necessary in achieving the research study objects. A lthough the issue of having women work in male dominated fields is highly sensitive in Saudi Arabia because of cultural practices and beliefs as well as the low levels of women with university level education, the researcher shall include women as part of the research participants. This shall reduce bias resulting from gender and enabled the researcher to have different views from both males and female participants. Although the sample is small compared to the number of university representatives in Saudi Arabia, it is justifiable and easy to work with since the research is more of qualitative than quantitative. The major strengths associated with the selected sample size are its gender, age and experience considerations. In addition, the sample is easy to access and considerably appropriate for the research study. Since the participants shall be selected through simple random sampling, the data collected from the sample shall not biased and it generalization was possible. The only drawback is that some of the respondents may have busy schedules and the researcher may be forced to re-schedule the data collection timetable to make sure all the participants participate. Instrumentation and Administration For the purposes of carrying out the research study, the researcher shall use structured interviews schedules and personally administered questionnaires. Interviews have been described by Pratt (2006) as one of qualitative research methods applied in research study for its ability to gain rapport and confidence with the respondents. The interview schedule has been designed in such a way that it starts from general questions to more specific questions and a part of closing remarks on implementation of e-learning in Saudi Arabia. The structured research schedule has 10 questions which shall act as guidance during the data collection process. The 15 participants shall undergo face to face interviews for approximately 40 minutes. The formulated questions shall be di rected to the interviewee and their responses recorded. Before the recording is done, consent shall be sought from each of the participants to ensure that they are comfortable with the recording. Audio recording will be carried during the 40 minute interview session. Once the process of interviewing is completed, the responses will be transcribed and the transcripts validated by each of the participants. The data shall then be imported to enhance representation which will later be used for analysis and discussion. The transcripts shall be read and listened over and over so that the researcher could get the key data categories. The collected data and information will now ready for analysis and discussions. Face to face interviews are justifiable because they are cheap, time saving and allow the researcher to collect first hand information (Opdenakker 2006; Valenzuela Shrivastava n.d, p.2; Leon 2003, p.93). Based on this observation, the researcher will be able to use less financial costs and collect information which will directly come from the participants’ point of view. In addition, the researcher will be able to have a rapport and infiltrate the social space of each participant during the interviewing process. As noted by Denscombe (2007, p.175), this allows a researcher to make the participant more comfortable during the interviewing process. Lastly, interviews have a high return rate compared to other data collection methods such as the use of questionnaires (Leon 2003, p.93; Knox Burkard 2009). The major limitation of interviews is that participants can manipulate the responses being given thus comprising the validity of the study results (Crowther Lancaster 2008). In addition, time wastage may be experienced while rescheduling interview. There is high probability of getting biased data if the researcher asks biased questions or concludes the answers on behalf of the participants to meet the researcher’s expectation. Personally administe red questionnaires The researcher will also use questionnaires to collect data from 50 participants from Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning. The questionnaires will be personally administered by the researcher to each of the 50 participants. Personally administered questionnaires are administered personally to the participants where the participants fill them in the presence of the researcher. The major reason why this form of data collection has been selected id because of its capability to sufficiently collect data from an area where the participants are jointly assembled or found. Therefore, since that data will be collected from Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning which offers a convenient setting for the use of personally administered questionnaires. In addition, the use of the personally administered questionnaires will enable the researcher to gather the participants and collect the data. Therefore, compared to interviewing, personally administered questionnaires is less expensive and takes less time thus saving finances, energy and time. In addition, administering questionnaires does not require many skills as in the case of face to face interviews. The major benefit associated with administered questionnaires is that the researcher is afforded the chance to briefly introduce the topic understand as well as motivate the participants to give honest and frank responses. This aspect increases the research finding reliability and viability at the same time. The most probable limitation of using personally administered questionnaires disinclination of Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning of Saudi Arabia to allow the questionnaires to be self administered during working hours. However, this limitation may be countered by leaving blank questionnaires for the participants to complete them in a few days and have them mailed back, or collected by the researcher from a central point. Ethical issues The research endeavor was carry risk assessment on delivery of e-learning programs in universities of Saudi Arabia. To ensure the restoration of professionalism in research study, the researcher shall ensure ethical code of conduct is followed. Ethical considerations shall be taken into account to provide validity to the research study, which is entirely based on an ethical code of conduct. In addition, through ethical considerations, research will be made reliable and credible in the sense that the research study can undergo debriefing process. Prior undertaking the research, the researcher will seek consent from the participants and the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning. The participants shall be given surety that the information recorded during the data collection process is to be kept confidential and that it would not be made available to third party (Jackson 2008). In addition, the researcher will give su rety that privacy and anonymity are to be observed and maintained throughout the research study. Given that the information being collected from participants was original and the content not copied from any source, consent shall be sought from the participants. An explanatory letter shall be sent to each of the 65 participants prior the interviews and the use of questionnaires. The letters sent to each of the participants will be signed by the university faculty. In addition to the explanatory letter, a cover letter outlining the purpose of the research, its aim and surety that the research is for academic purposes will be sent. It should be noted that no participant will be coerced, forced or acted under duress during the sample selection and interviewing process as well as during the completion of the questionnaires. The participants voluntarily agreed to be part of the research and were part of the debriefing process. Before the interviews are audio taped, the researcher will see k consent to record all their responses. Furthermore, the participants will be assured of the possibility of having the results back to authenticate whether they conformed to what they had said during the interviewing process. On the secondary data used in the study, the researcher will ensure that literary works from the secondary materials were acknowledged. Academic requirements in relation to copyrighted materials will also be put into consideration to avoid plagiarism. All these ethical considerations will be carried to ensure that originality, validity, and reliability of the research are achieved. The information used in the research study will be verified from different sources before being presented in a methodical way. Lastly, the information used in the literature review and adopted during the discussion process was used to provide literal support and provide references to the information included in the dissertation paper. Reliability and validity of the study The concep ts of validity and reliability are very important in a study. Threats of these two elements as noted by Cohen, Manion, Morrison and Morrison (2009, p.133) â€Å"can never be erased completely; rather the effects of these threats can be attenuated by attention to validity and reliability throughout a piece of research.† Different instruments of data collection are used to address both validity and reliability. Although reliability is important in a research study, it acts as a precondition for ensuring validity of the methodology. To begin with, validity is used to mean the extent to which an instrument used in a study measures what it was intended to measure (Miller n.d, p.3; Stemler 2001, p.7; Kirk Miller1986). Furthermore, it is applied in qualitative research to determine the authenticity of the collected data. Cohen et al. (2009, p.134) note that validity of qualitative research is not concentrated on collected data but on the meaning in which the collected data is attac hed. In this line thought, the researcher shall be honest enough while self-reporting of the collected data and information. There are some principles which need to be observed for validity to exist. For example, the source of the collected data should be from the natural setting. In addition, the collected data should be descriptive and be represented in terms of the participants rather than that of the researcher (Cohen et al. 2009, 134; Connaway Powell 2010, p.61). To ensure that face validity was achieved, the researcher will ensure that the instrument used in the research which is structured interview and questionnaire schedules, measures what they are designed to measure which is e-learning in Saudi Arabia’s universities. Another kind of validity that will be tested in the research is content validity which according to Miller (n.d p.3), measures the degree to which the designed instrument fully measures the domain of interest. For example, in the study, the researcher will carry the research to explore risk assessment analysis of the implementation of e-learning in Saudi Arabia. In this line of context and drawing from the interview research schedule, the researcher shall ensure that all the questions are fully a representative of the domain under which the study was being carried. On the other hand, reliability has been defined as the degree to which a measurement procedure is able to produce similar results if the research was repeated (Miller n.d, p.1; Thanasegaran 2009, p.35). To ensure that the collected data is reliable, the researcher shall develop openness and trustworthiness. This shall ensure that the researcher gets the intended results from the participants. As a result, duplicability could easily be achieved. Furthermore, the sampling technique adopted will ensure reliability since random sampling gives equal chances to each individual in a population. The data to be collected is believed to be sufficient to facilitate adequate data analysis thus enhancing reliability of the research findings. Limitations The major limitation is the use of qualitative research method only which may be influenced by the researcher or the subjects used in the study. Quantitative research method could have been applied to measure the degree of the risks involved in e-learning implementation. According to Anderson (2010, p.141), subjects used in a qualitative study may influence the responses given leading to bias in the collected data. To avoid this limitation, the researcher shall avoid leading or directive questions as well as developing a rapport with the participants. Another limitation in the research is difficulty in interpreting some of the responses since different people have different ways of expressing their opinions, perceptions and views. To minimize this problem, the researcher shall adopt respondent validation to ensure that any complications and inconsistencies are dealt with. The research methodology is highly de pended on qualitative research method which is less likely to ensure reliability given that the participants could change their responses if the research was repeated. Time barrier because of geographical representations of the two countries may delay the research. Lastly, there is high probability that the participants may not exhaust their responses fully thus exhibiting some level of bias. Appropriateness of the research design The study is based on exploratory research design which explores facts and information about the research problem. In respect to the study, the design is adopted with the attempt to explore the facts of e-learning implementation in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, exploratory research design shall allow the researcher to use the most effective research method to reach reliable and validated outcomes. Additionally, both primary and secondary data shall be used in the study where the secondary data will be used to compliment the data collected through interviews a nd questionnaires. This shall enable the researcher to get the facts with no bias and errors whatsoever. Furthermore, the research design signifies the relevance of data that is collected during the defined process. Summary Qualitative research design will be adopted in the research study and used together with exploratory research design. The researcher will use qualitative research design since only views and opinions of the participants in regard to the research objectives and aim will be required. Exploratory resign design will be used to get the facts and employ the most appropriate data collection methods. By adopting deductive research approach, the researcher will be able to move from general to more specific elements and aspects of the study. Both secondary and primary data collection methods shall be used in the research study. During the data collection process, 25 participants will be interviewed through structured interviews to provide primary data. Secondary data has b een collected from literary sources such as journals, magazines, books, reports, Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia website, and news articles among other relevant materials. The mixed method will ensure that data compliment is realized. The advantages of interviews are that it is cheap, time saving, and information collected is based on the participants’ point of view. On the other hand, data collection methods are also cheap, time saving and have information which is already interpreted and analyzed. Simple random sampling method will be used to select the required sample of 70 participants. The participants will be selected from the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia thus representing all universities in Saudi Arabia. Simple random sampling will be chosen because of its ability to minimize human bias and at the same time providing a sample which forms the representation of the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia. As a result, external validity will be realized. The selected participants are supposed to be 30 years and above and to have worked in Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning of at least two years. The data will be collected through the use of face to face interviews and personally administered questionnaires. Each participant shall be interviewed for 40 minutes and the responses audio taped. In addition, notes were also collected during the interview process. Different ethical considerations such as participants consent, confidentiality, and anonymity shall be maintained throughout the study. Explanatory letters and cover letters will be sent to each of the participants indicating the research purpose and the intention to carry the study. The participants have voluntarily accepted to be part of the sample and given consent to the audio taped. Secondary materials have been acknowledged and so was plagiarism. To ensure validity and reliability in the research instrument, different methods will be adopted which minimizes validity and reliability threats. The major limitations of the methodology include the use of qualitative research design only, bias from the collected data, and the influence of researcher or the participants on the collected data. Reference List Anderson, C 2010, Presenting and evaluating qualitative research, Am J Pharm Edc, vol. 74, no. 8, p.141. Cohen, L, Manion, L, Morrison, K Morrison, K R B 2009, Research Methods in Education, New York, Routledge Collis, J. Hussey, R 2003, Business Research: A practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students, Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan. Connaway, L S Powell, R R 2010, Basic research methods for librarians, Santa Barbara, Libraries Unlimited. Creswell, J W 2003, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method Approaches. 2nd ed. London: SAGE. Crowther, D Lancaster, G 2008, Research Methods: A Concise Introduction to Research in Management and Business Consultancy. 2nd ed. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Denscombe, M 2007, The good research guide: For small-scale social research projects, McGraw-Hill Education. Fink, A 1998, Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From Paper to the Internet, Thousand Oaks, Sage. Fink, A. 2006, How to conduct surveys: a step-by-step guide, Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications. Fowler, F J 2002, Survey Research Methods, (3rd ed), London, SAGE. Gliner, J A Morgan, G A 2000, Research Methods in Applied Settings: An Integrated Approach to Design and Analysis, New Jersey, Routledge Goddard, W Melville, S 2001, Research methodology: an introduction, Lansdowne, Juta. Golafshani, N 2003, Understanding reliability and validity in qualitative research, The Qualitative Report, vol.8, no.4, pp.597-607. Greene, S Hogan, D 2005, Researching Children’s Experiences: Methods and Approaches, London, Sage. Greig, A , Taylor, J Mackay, T 2007, Doing Research with Children, (2nd ed), London, Sage. Iacobucci, D Churchill, G A 2010, Marketing research: methodological foundations, Mason, South-Western. Jackson, S.L 2008, Research Methods: A Modular Approach, Cengage Learning. Johnson, P Duberley, J 2000, Understanding Management Research: An Introduction to Epistemology. London: SAGE. Kirk, J Miller, M L 1986, Reliability and validity in qualitative research, Beverly Hills, Sage Publications. Knox, S Burkard, A 2009, Qualitative research interviews, Psychotherapy Research, vol.19, no. 4-5, pp.1-18. Leon, J J 2003, Survey research: in-person, mail, telephone and web methods, Honolulu, Streamline Surveys, Inc. Marczyk, G R, DeMatteo, D Festinger, D 2005, Essentials of Research Design and Methodology, USA, John Wiley and Sons. Miller, M J n.d, Reliability and validity: Graduate Research Methods, Western International University Newman, I Benz, C R 2006, Qualitative-quantitative research methodo logy: exploring the interactive continuum. Carbondale, Southern Illinois Univ. Press. Opdenakker, R 2006, Advantages and disadvantages of four interview techniques in qualitative research, Forum: Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research,.vol.7, no.4. Pather, E 2005, Methodology, http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10539/1811/04Chapter4.pdf?sequence=7. Pratt, N 2006, Qualitative research, edu.plymouth.ac.uk/resined/qualitative%20methods%202/qualrshm.htm#2.%20METHODS%20OF%20QUALITATIVE%20RESEARCH. Stemler, S 2001, An overview of content analysis, Practical Assessment, Research Evaluation, vol.7, no.17, p.7. Thanasegaran, G 2009, Reliability and validity issues in research, http://econ.upm.edu.my/researchbulletin/artikel/Vol%204%20March%202009/35-40%20Ganesh.pdf. Valenzuela, P Shrivastava, P n.d, Interview as a method of qualitative research, public.asu.edu/~kroel/www500/Interview%20Fri.pdf.

Position Paper on Drinking Alcohol in the Dormitories essays

Position Paper on Drinking Alcohol in the Dormitories essays Throughout history, humans have recognized alcohol as a good and positive force in their lives; only within the last two centuries have certain prohibitionist elements in America and Northern Europe sought to vilify this ancient drink and encourage the public to consider it as a poisonous and socially treacherous substance with which one must either abstain totally or become uncontrollably addicted. It is the position of this paper that this all or nothing approach does far more harm than good, and that the best approach to alcohol is not to prohibit it but to encourage its integration into a responsible and healthy lifestyle. For this reason, I believe that the US Air Force should not require total abstinence (from alcohol) in the dormitories but should rather work to educate young airmen on the appropriate and social responsive use of Alcohol can indeed be a negative and socially disruptive force if people engage in problem drinking activities. Alcoholism is disruptive, there is no doubt of that. The idea behind prohibition of alcohol in the dorm is that limiting alcohol intake will limit the number of problems arising from alcohol abuse. However, sociologically speaking this is not an expectation based in fact. According to the International Handbook on Alcohol and Culture, "efforts at increasing controls [on alcohol] are explicitly rationalized and recommended on the premise that alcohol-related problems occur in proportion to per capita consumption, a theory that we have disproved at least in France, Italy, Spain, Iceland, and Sweden, as well as in several ethnographic studies elsewhere." (Heath, 341-342) Of course, that cultural study is to some degree comparing apples and oranges, because the less-controlled areas in this study coincide with areas with a higher social appreciation of responsible drinking. According to a cultural case study in Drugs I: Society ...

UK on-line advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

UK on-line advertising - Essay Example Being at the so called â€Å"digital age†,people tend to go online whenever possible whether to chat,buy products or services,or even finding a job.When you go over the internet, you will see a lot of advertisement regarding various products being posted. Even job orders are being posted online by various companies. While other advertisers tend to spend millions of dollars on television networks, newspapers or magazines, and radio advertisement, there are some advertisers that would rather invest their money with online advertising. It is the current trend in the world of advertising to go over the internet and post ads. But is it really worth spending posting in an online advertisement? What is the level of reliability that consumers who are taking risk that they would not be scammed in availing products or services in an online advertisement? In countries like the United Kingdom, online advertising has a potential market. According to the statistics done by the UK government , between 2001/02 and 2006 the proportion of adults in Great Britain who had used the Internet in the last three months increased by one-quarter, from 48 per cent to 60 per cent wherein, 59 per cent of the 16 years old and over go online almost every day and 4 per cent go online less than once a month. Internet usage is more common among the young people, wherein 84 per cent of people age 16 – 24 go online compare to older people, wherein 54 per cent are 55 – 64 and 15 per cent are 65 and over. ... bility to businesses to customers is easier compare on television and radio wherein, customers can easily interact via internet to the ads posted by advertisers. On the other hand, advertisers can easily access positive or negative customer feedbacks, monitor the customer needs, and communicate faster but cheaper to customers via internet through the websites. Websites have become an essential means to communicate with customers. In 2005, 70 per cent of the businesses online have a website while the proportion of businesses that sold via internet was doubled between 2002 and 2005, from 7 to 15 per cent. In 2005, the sales value over the Internet was ?103 Tan 3 Billion. This accounted for 34 per cent of sales across all kinds of ICT by non-financial sector businesses. The usual Internet activity by nine out of ten or 91 per cent of young internet users was sending or receiving emails. Other activities included were: finding information about goods or services which is 77 per cent, dow nloading software which is 55 per cent, and reading or downloading online news or magazines which is 54 per cent. Meanwhile, seven out of ten or 70 per cent young internet users stated that they had purchased goods or services online.   The increasing demands and internet usage had made advertisers in UK believed that online advertising is important and that has great opportunity. They have seen some potential in doing so because the online become a direct response medium wherein the marketing budgets being stretched to their very limits, and the online has proved its worth. Another is the growth of new display format wherein the internet has become an entertainment medium because of its interactive multimedia content. There is also the booming of e-commerce wherein people shopping choice

IBM and the Holocaust Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

IBM and the Holocaust - Essay Example IBM’s German subsidiary, called Dehomag, once put up a poster in German whose translation to English meant â€Å"see everything with Hollerith punch cards.† This poster, while at the time simply advertising the importance of punch cards in capturing individuals’ information, have been found to have been the reason why the Nazis found it easy to carry out mass murders of the minority groups in Germany. Dehomag is the acronym for the company Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft (German Hollerith Machine Corporation); a company established in 1910 by Willy Heidinger. Heidinger later sold the company to American industrialist Charles Flint. Through various stages of acquisitions, Dehomag eventually became a direct subsidiary of CTR which was later renamed to International Business Machines in 1924 (Jeffery, 2001). The idea of punch cards had been conceived by Herman Hollerith about the year 1880. Hollerith was working for the US Census Bureau. The punch cards were basically readable cards with perforations in a standardized pattern. Every perforation represented a given piece of information about the individual such as their nationality, occupation, gender, and so on. The traits could be easily sorted out to give the desired picture of a given population. For example, gender could be used to divide the country into males and females (Hayes, 2000). Adolf Hitler and the chief executive officer of IBM Thomas J. Watson are two of the people most famously accused of the genocide in Nazi Germany. While Hitler broadcasted his hate messages against the Jews (and other races), he found fanatics among great men such as Henry Ford and Thomas Watson. With IBM’s presence in Germany and with Hitler at the helm, it was not by chance that Watson fueled Hitler’s aims. While, in my opinion, Watson and IBM are victims of circumstances, their role in the holocaust shall remain significant. If they had turned down Germany’s use of punch cards, they would not have prevented the holocaust since Germany would have obtained the technology anyway.

How can Starbucks react to the threat of McDonalds selling low cost Essay

How can Starbucks react to the threat of McDonalds selling low cost coffee - Essay Example I would be failing in my duty if I don’t thank all those employees of Starbucks and McDonalds who responded to the phone calls and e-mails sent to these organizations. Last but not the least, I would like to thank all my friends who have been supporting and helping me with this assignment. Table of Contents Contents Pages Executive Summary 4-5 Introduction 5 McDonald’s Vs Starbucks 5-6 Problem for Starbucks 6 Sources of Information 6-7 SWOT Analysis 7-8 Financial Analysis 8-9 Findings 10 Recommendations 10-11 Appendices 12-25 Works Cited 26 How Can Starbucks React to the Threat of McDonalds Selling Low Cost Coffee? Executive Summary Starbucks and McDonald's are big multinational companies that have made their presence felt in the businesses they operate in. Seattle based Starbucks was founded with the objective of providing Italian espresso bar experience in the United States. As a business strategy Starbucks operates by forming a personal relationship with its consumer s. On the other hand McDonalds is a family restaurant and attracts people from all age groups. Strictly speaking, both these behemoths have distinct target markets. Starbucks attracts the affluent while customers who are price sensitive are McDonald’s target market. McDonald’s has rolled out its low-priced coffee brand and in the process has started eating into the share of Starbucks. McDonald's appears well placed to become Starbucks’ biggest competitor in the specialty coffee segment in the coming years. Starbucks now has to devise strategies to counter McDonald’s move and not let its market share dip. The present paper is a commentary on ‘How can Starbucks react to the threat of McDonalds selling low cost coffee? To answer this question relevant information on both these companies has been collected from various primary and secondary sources. A comparison has been made on the business operations of both Starbucks and McDonald’s, SWOT analy sis has been carried out and finally a financial comparison has been made. Some alternatives that can be adopted by Starbucks to react to McDonald’s move have been suggested based on aforesaid analysis. I personally feel that Starbucks should not respond to McDonald’s move with a price cut, rather it should elevate the quality perception in the minds of the customer and build a set of loyal customers who are willing to pay a premium price in exchange of getting the ‘coffee experience’ that Starbucks has to offer. Introduction I have decided to write a commentary on ‘How can Starbucks react to the threat of McDonalds selling low cost coffee? I have chosen this topic since it involves two big U.S. based companies who have worldwide operations, have a huge set of loyal customer base and are well known for their quality products. Starbucks Vs McDonald’s Starbucks is Italian-style coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. The company was foun ded in 1971 and has more than 17, 000 retail stores in 60 countries. Since inception Starbucks has believed in serving the best coffee to its customers. In fact, the company delivers much more than a simple cup of high quality coffee; it ensures a wonderful experience for the customer. A look at the product portfolio of Starbucks clearly indicates that the company has a huge variety of coffee