Catering and Marketing Essay

To perform successfully, a catering service must be market-oriented and should apply the marketing concept, which is derived from the assumption that a product should be capable of meeting the needs of consumers, foremost, through its quality. To fully meet the needs and wants of costumers on the one hand, and to accomplish its business goals on the other hand, a catering business needs to combine the elements of the marketing mix in order to be as successful as possible in selling its product on the market. Guest satisfaction must be ensured. I. INTRODUCTION â€Å"Marketing is not only much broader than selling; it is not a specialized activity at all. It encompasses the entire business. It is the whole business seen from the point of view of the final result, that is, from the customer’s point of view. Concern and responsibility for marketing must therefore permeate all areas of the enterprise.† – Peter Drucker Food is an indispensable part of the human needs and wants that is always present in every circumstance. It is a usual unison that people have in an event which covers a large number of people dining and feasting meaning a reason for the essence of catering services. Catering services is one of the most dynamic business groups in the food and beverage industry. By industry definition, catering is the planned service of food and beverages – in contrast to restaurants, where food and beverages are generally served on demand. The opportunity for catering services to provide planned food and beverages is far greater than it is for restaurants. While restaurants are business units that serve the general public within their operating facilities, catering services, for the most part, can be provided in any venue, public or private. Unlimited types of settings, both indoors and out, are used for catering functions. The number of people who can be served at a catering function range from one to many, many more – often totalling in the thousands. For a service organization such as catering to acquire customers, it is important that marketing strategies be deployed to improve its own ability to compete with other catering services gain a competitive advantage and thus retain a greater number of customers. Marketing is an important aspect of every catering operation. As customer demands increase for catering-related services, corresponding marketing efforts must be developed. Catering business can live and die by the strength of their marketing efforts, particularly in areas with high levels of competition. An effective marketing plan can lead to the growth of your customer base, larger catering jobs, and increased profits. As consumers grow increasingly, the role of advertising and publicity become the primary vehicles for information about food and service. Definition of Terms Marketing. It is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging oï ¬â‚¬erings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. Strategy. It is the direction and scope of an organization over the long-term: which achieves advantage for the organization through its configuration of resources within a challenging environment, to meet the needs of markets and to fulfil stakeholder expectations. Catering. The activity of providing food and beverage for events. Marketing Mix. A planned mix of the controllable elements of a product’s marketing plan commonly termed as 4Ps: product, price, place, and promotion. Product. Represents a set of tangible and intangible elements used to satisfy the needs and wants of consumers. Promotion. The publicization of a product to increase sales or public awareness Price. A value that will purchase a finite quantity of a product or service. Product Distribution. It is the process of making a product or service available for use or consumption by a consumer. Scope and Delimitation of the Study This study is conducted specifically on eleven (11) Catering Services in the locality of Bataan. Specifically the eleven (11) catering services are as follows: 1. Tony and Ann Catering Services – located in Balanga City 2. Mommy-Tah’s Catering – located in Orion 3. Petrius Resto and Bar Catering – located in Balanga City 4. Goldiluz Catering – located in Balanga City 5. Ysiad’s Catering – located in Balanga City 6. Cora’s Catering – located in Orion 7. Junifred Catering Service and Accessories- located in Orani 8. Cj’s Catering Services – located in Dinalupihan 9. Mattro Catering Services- located in Hermosa 10. Gourmet Catering and Flower Shop- located in Orani 11. Know- Well Catering Services- located in Abucay The eleven (11) Catering Services were subjected to survey questionnaire. One catering services at a time. Furthermore, this study was limited to finding only the effectiveness of the marketing strategies used by the different catering services. Statement of the Problem The main purpose of this study was to find out the effectiveness of marketing strategies used by different catering services in the locality of Bataan. Specifically, the study sought to answer the following questions. 1. Is there a significant relationship between the location of the business and its marketing strategies? 2. Is there a significant relationship between the number of years of the business and its marketing strategies? Significance of the Study A study such as this enabled the different catering services in the locale to see if their marketing strategies were effective to increase their income. Furthermore, this is also important to all the catering services for this will help them in the promotion of their services using different marketing strategies. With the use of various marketing strategies, catering services may lead to higher income. Moreover, the useful and relevant information acquired from this study may help future researchers in the same field of study. This study will further help the catering services to develop more effective marketing strategies. Related Literature According to Scanlon (2007), the marketing mix includes the marketing strategy elements and may be conducted either as an alternative to the marketing cycle or as a continuing activity in the market process. The marketing mix incorporates the four basic elements into the overall strategy of marketing a product or service. The four basic elements consist of: †¢ a product (product) †¢ the price of the product (price) †¢ the promotion of the product, and (promotion) †¢ the distribution of the product. (place) The product. This is the primary element of the marketing mix, with the other elements adjusting to it depending on the given situation. The product represents a set of tangible and intangible elements used to satisfy the needs and wants of consumers. The product has all the attributes of a service, and it is designated for the market. What is a service, and which are the attributes of a product as a service? A service represents the result of the interaction of three basic elements: the user (guest), equipment (facility), and the service staff (staff). This result should meet the needs of guests (for example, wedding reception). The process of building a service brand is vital to the product as a service. Becoming distinctive in the marketplace and building a brand helps to gain the trust of guests. Product price. The pricing should be based on three key elements: †¢ service demand, †¢ costs incurred in creating services, and †¢ comparing and adjusting prices to those of rivals on the market. Some potential customers are more sensitive to prices than others. For some, price is the single variable on which they base their decision to buy (or not to buy) a product, while others care nothing for the price, as long as it guarantees the quality of services provided. Hence, businesses need to be elastic in pricing. They must carefully monitor the reactions of customers to prices and, accordingly, adjust or change prices depending upon demand. Costs clearly influence the price of a product, and they determine the bottom price below which a business will begin to loss money. Prices should not, however, be overly cost-oriented, and they should not be increased to cover costs. Instead, they should be based on demand and adjusted to changes on the market. Rivals also play an important role in pricing. A business will often be compelled to change its pricing policy as a result of changes in the prices of rivals. Considering how fierce competition is today, it must be analyzed and mon itored. This means that prices, once fixed, cannot be allowed to remain unchanged, but rather, their adjustment to change should be taken as a sign of their flexibility. Product promotion. To promote a product, the business communicates with the market of demand. The market of demand comprises potential customers, various business organisations and organisations belonging to non-economic branches, and media. In promoting a product, a variety of promotional methods are used to present the product to potential customers and attract their attention. Considering the growing number of promotional methods available today in promoting a product, businesses choose to use a combination of promotional elements.

Pharmaceutical Companies

Questions for Review 1. Pharmaceutical companies do have a responsibility to distribute drugs for a low cost in developing and poorer countries. Africa’s GDP, and per capita income is very low so they cannot afford to buy top quality medicines. One main argument for this approach is the AIDS epidemic in Africa. A main argument against this is that the treatment for AIDS is very expensive to provide to a whole country for free. 2. The principal arguments of pharmaceutical companies that oppose making exceptions to IPR law for developing countries are national treatment that is equal of foreign and domestic nationals.Most-favored-nation treatment and the equal treatment of all WTO members. Also, technological progress. One last argument is how to provide adequate protection for this, and enforcing it. The arguments by NGOs and others to relax IPR laws are to end trade pressure on poor countries in health care industry disputes. 3. I would expect South Africa’s decision to levy duties on drug imports from western nations to have a negative impact on the international distribution of drugs to South Africa. If it is already expensive and hard to get drugs to AIDS patients in Africa, making them more expensive will not help. .In my opinion, I feel like this was an appropriate change of policy because it did lower prices on drugs. Some negative ramifications of this resolutions is that the price wouldn’t drop low enough. 5. I do not think it was necessary to relax IPR rules in order to ensure that adequate supplies of AIDS medications would be available for distribution in the developing world because the US took initiative to fix high drug prices and low-quality health infrastructures. 6. MNC’s have an ethical responsibility in providing funding to international organizations like the global fund to help cure AIDS

Apprising Employees at the San Diego Zoo

Reed Nevers Chapter 8 Case study Case study 2 November 10,2012 Online Employee performance 1. The San Diego Zoological Society finally came to the realization that they needed more from their employees even though the society was nonprofit. After further research the society decided to go with a new appraisal system to evaluate their employees. They concluded it would be an online appraisal system. The strategy behind this system was to come up with a collaboration that would coincide with the organizational goals, and give the ability of the employee to set their own goals.This idea would help prevent breakdown within the system, which allows the employees to communicate on a personal basis. This system eventually lead to a merit based platform to help pay the employees' salaries. Not only did the system reach its goals it allowed those who were slightly computer illiterate to be able to add input and it allowed the employees to record their achievements. 2. Is it worth it for the s ociety to go with an online system? There are the pros and cons.For example by changing to an online system the society will be able to streamline their efforts of recruiting, reduce paperwork, while increasing a subjective base of individuals, furthermore it allows the managers to design a process that fits their needs and ideals based upon the organization's mission. On the flipside the employees have concerns about the outcome of the sample that is generated by the software. They feel that it could be biased based upon the organizational needs instead of the employee's needs. 3.I feel that the new appraisal system will allow the employee to have the opportunity to track their performance achievements throughout the year in a simple way, this process will be beneficial to them when it comes to the annual appraisal with their managers. The managers on the other hand will have the ability to track and maintain a centralized data base of information of measures to help establish a ba seline on the employee for the annual appraisal. The online system will benefit both the employee and the manager.

Health information manager in a hospital setting Case Study

Health information manager in a hospital setting - Case Study Example As I health manager, I find it hard to deploy the EHR system because of two conflicting forces, namely: technology and law. According to McWay (2010), the law that we have cannot go with the same pace as the advances made in technology (147) which would always make the implementation of EHR system so complicated. The EHR system will make the delivery of care efficient, up to date, and accessible and will benefit both the patient and the institution. However, it is what is inside the EHR and its accessibility that are being protected by the federal regulations, accrediting and institutional standards, and professional guidelines. Therefore, as a health manager, I believe that it would be unethical to my profession and illegal to implement something in a rush that has not been approved or incompliance with applicable federal and security standards. As a health manager, we have to study the different regulations and the EHR implementing guidelines of the institution before we proceed on the project. According to Sittig & Singh (2011), a number of ethical issues are being linked to the adoption of EHR in the health care setting, among of which include: ownership of protected health information, potential for privacy breaches, and appropriateness of current methods to address these breaches (1044). In general, we should consider the harm that it may cause the patients when information are leaked to unconcerned individuals. The main question to ask is, â€Å"Are we willing to take the risks of exposing our patients’ identities or health information for the sake of efficiency and accessibility†? or â€Å"Are we equipped enough with the right people, enough resources, and appropriate technology to protect their privacy and be inclined with federal laws†? Decisions cannot be made on a â€Å"click† of a finger; thus, requires thorough planning and careful evaluation that weigh out circumstances. We cannot make law creation or amendments go

Why Protestantism developed in North America Essay

Why Protestantism developed in North America - Essay Example Protestantism came to North America a few days before Christmas in 1606 through the Englishmen under King James. They carried with them their official religion known as the Church of England. However, their goal to baptize the Indians who were then thriving in the Virginia failed. Years later, the Puritan separatists from the Church of England who first migrated to Holland were permitted to build colonies in New England which was later became the United States. This marked the famous entry of Protestantism in the country. Puritans, like their Anglican predecessors were not able to maintain their doctrinal and spiritual rigor giving way to the birth and growth of other denominations like Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterian. It can be seen that the doctrines held by Protestantism hugely mirrors the pluralistic values of North America. It should be noted that a religion can only prosper and flourish if it embodies the concerns of the individuals in the society (Bauer 1). Looking at the Baptists and Methodist Churches in the United States, it can be seen that their success can be attributed to their ability of successfully meeting the needs of the frontier people than any other denomination: "In face of the new challenge to the Churches, their view of the ministry and the Christian faith was most successful in finding and holding the people of the west. Furthermore, they were from their inception Churches of the common people, the underprivileged" (Bauer 6). Baptists Churches became popular in North America because of their appeal to the common people, the uneducated and dispossessed. Their ministry is led by simple individuals who have heard their calling from the Lord. Thus, the great advantage of Baptists is the abundance of workers in a locality. It should also be noted that Baptist's ministers are untrained and unsalaried (Bauer 6). Like the Baptists, Methodism is also considered as a "frontier faith" which developed after the American Revolution. The development of Methodism is also due to its "frontier structure" which suits the environment and people they are ministering to. Their ministers often travel from place to place conducting classes which latter grow as churches allowing them to reach people in isolated regions. In specific localities, it is also common to find gifted laymen who are appointed to preach if the minister is absent. This ensures that Bible studies and congregational activities are being carried out regularly. The Methodist Church is also seen to preach a "frontier message" as it carries a gospel which stresses the dignity of the poor and rural families: "The circuit riders proclaimed that their faith and that of their congregations was of more worth in the sight of God than the college-learned theologies of elite city preachers and their wealthy churches" (Methodism and the Frontier 1) Protestantism also owes its stability and sustenance to the numerous revivals which renews the commitment of members to their covenant with God. The Great Awakening is noted to have united 4/5 of Americans in the understanding of the Christian faith and life. This revival has also instilled a deeper sense of responsibility for the Indians and slaves. It should be noted that Protestantism strongly opposes slavery and emphasizes the equality of each

Variables that Affected Voter Turnout Rates in the 2012 Presidential Research Paper

Variables that Affected Voter Turnout Rates in the 2012 Presidential Elections In the United States - Research Paper Example Did various demographic variables affect the voter turnout during the 2012 presidential elections of the United States? The 2012 presidential elections voter turnout rate was lower compared to the previous 2008 elections, as shown in the diagram below. According to many scholars and academicians, various demographic factors were responsible for the decreased voter turnout. This research, therefore, seeks to provide a concrete answer or response to this question, putting into consideration various demographic variables associated with elections and voter turnout rates. At this juncture, it is worth noting that the actual voter turnout was 66.65%, a figure that is arrived at after comparing the 129,067,662 individuals who voted out of the 193,653,908 registered voters (I.D.E.A 1). A number of scholars and academicians alike have attributed various factors, both demographic and demographic, to the decreased voter turnout rate in the year 2012. In his article, â€Å"why is turnout so low in United States elections†, Eric black has considered two major non-demographic factors. Black attributes the low turnout rates to the legal requirement of voter registration. According to him, many people are unable to vote simply because they do not like the cumbersome and complex procedure of voter registration. The other factor he considers is the voluntary voting, which allows people the liberty to choose whether to vote or not. The United States citizens are not compelled to exercise their civic and political right of voting, and therefore the voter turnout rates will always remain low. The Institute of Democracy and Electorate Assistance (IDEA) has also conducted a research and compiled data regarding the same issue.

Marital relationship of Stanley and Stella in Streetcar Named Desire Essay

Marital relationship of Stanley and Stella in Streetcar Named Desire (film) - Essay Example Evidence can be sought in the play in that, firstly, Stanley opts to stun the evil approaches from Blanche for his wife Stella in a dramatic unfolding that nothing but reality of love can explain. It appears that Stanley’s character should seemingly have allowed him to fall prey to Blanche’s fabrications but instead settles for a sober decision to remain faithful to his wife. This is despite the fact that Stanley sends contradictory signals of abuse and torture against his wife. It is therefore clear that evil desires fail severally when they rise against goodness. Stella cares for her husband when she talks to him softly, â€Å"...where are you going...,† (123HelpMe.com). Secondly, the fact that Stella manages to overcome her adversaries in the hands of her brutal husband and opts to stay in their marriage is indication of what good can achieve. It is evident that Stanley assaults severally to the extent that she runs for her safety yet she maintains her position in the relationship. Stella affords to stay in such a relationship due to the strength upright intentions have to surmount evil (Sparknotes.com). Thirdly, Stella’s strong character presents her in a position to tolerate the difficulties presented to her by her husband and her sister like any strong woman would do. Stella protects her husband by rejecting any external force likely to cripple their marriage, however implicating it might be. The relationship emerges victorious in turbulent unfaithful moments since Stella chooses to forgive her unfaithful husband and allow good trample over evil. "Come to think of it-maybe you wouldnt be bad to-interfere with..." (Galloway, 1). In conclusion, it is difficult to state how Blanche’s and Stanley’s characters feature in a romantic relationship, if not to indicate how evil can permeate into a

Eliezer's Struggle to Keep his Faith in God Essay

Eliezer's Struggle to Keep his Faith in God - Essay Example Elie lost a mother and a small sister during the holocaust that aimed at slaughtering the Jews. Elie confronts the worst in humanity and the worst in him (Bloom, 39). Despite this dilapidating and worse environment, Elie keeps faith in God, though in sceptical on the delay to safeguard His people. It is vital to notice that, Wiesel perception about God changes when nothing happens to rescue people from the hands of the Germans. Wiesel remains sceptical on how God handles situations (Bloom, 38). This change in mind however does not change Elsie’s belief in God’s existence. It is noticeable that, Wiesel believes that, God’s power should be manifested in hard situations especially those facing the Jews. It is imperative to note that, Elie loses faith in God during the de-humanization process that was instituted by the Nazis, but continues to believe that, God exists. This context vividly explains Wiesel’s mind and understanding about God. Wiesel believes that , God is supernatural and no one can kill the dreams about God (Bloom, 34). It is however, paradoxical to realize that, the Nazis murder Elie’s vision about God. Elie laments, â€Å"Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith. Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live† it is flamboyant that the tone of anger and indelible grief in this passage reveals. Elie’s deep passionate feelings and believe about God was cleared off by the Nazi in a profound disillusionment (Bloom, 34). Wiesel believes that, the fear of God should be extended and manifested in human beings (Bloom, 56). This concept is vividly revealed in the love and passionate feelings expressed by Elie towards his ailing and weak father. Wiesel believes that God does the same to humankind. Elie is seen not thinking of abandoning his father, but of how to keep from losing him. This is exactly what God does to humanity (Bloom, 34). W iesel believes that, God does not abandon people but sticks with them. This context brings in a paradox, in that many people died and t question that disturbs Wiesel emerges, â€Å"Where is God?† After a dramatic execution of a resistance fighter at the camp, in which the young boy is strangled on the gallows because he is too light to break his neck, Elie’s disillusionment is markedly angrier and bitterer (Bloom, 39). Elie’s indulgence and perception about God tends to change after this incident. It is noteworthy, that Elie doubts God’s presence and undertaking. This is evident by the voice of man asking Elie from the background â€Å"where is God?† This depicts the change of mind and passion in God’s faith (Bloom, 40). Despite what Elie witnesses, a staunch element of trust takes centre stage, particularly, when a background voice answers the question on the presence of God. â€Å"He is here; He is hanging here on this gallows† (Blo om, 36). The happening of these events is attributable to Wiesel’s change in faith about God (Bloom, 39). It is imperative to note that, before the holocaust, Wiesel believed that, God is the sole protector and retaliator of the Jewish people. Wiesel believed that, whatever had happened before was according to God‘s great plans on the Jewish people (Bloom, 41). Wiesel accepted God’s will without further questioning. More over, when things got

Marketing research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing research - Essay Example Moreover on its growing popularity Skitka and Sargis (2006) stated that in 2003-2004 American Psychological Association Journals had at least one article published that used web based data collection. Web based survey gained popularity at accelerated pace. Lyons, Cude, Lawrence, and Gutter (2005) mentioned that web based surveys provide greater benefits as compare to traditional methods of paper –pencil or telephonic surveys. Most frequents benefits associated with online survey are efficacy, specific to time and money, huge data availability, less response bias etc while biggest demerits associated with this kind of survey are reliability and validity of the research (Vereecken, 2001). This ease of conducting survey is being witnessed in two domains; first, reduced cost as it is relatively less expensive and cheaper to get the required data through online survey. Second, the ease provided by the online survey, in getting one’s customers’ feedback has provided sm all companies an opportunity to conduct survey which was earlier confined with companies having large marketing and research budgets. Companies now use this option on constant on-going basis to keep customers intact with their websites; hence, it has become an important tool to keep bringing traffic to the websites that on one side brings in revenue from advertisers as well as constantly upgrades data-bank regarding changing customers’ thought patterns. On most prominent feature of the web based survey is characteristics of population it uses to get responses. At an instance, where internet based population provides access to virtual groups and communities this feature can also turn as disadvantage (Wright, 2005). With lack of control on environment it gets difficult to verify participants. For instance, verification of age, status etc is not possible. Similarly, one cannot verify if the participants are actually eligible for the response e.g. minors responding to surveys des igned for adults etc or people are participating frivolously or maliciously in a way that could undermine the integrity of the study (Garrick, 2009). RESEARCH PROBLEM: Web based survey has taken an extensive importance in business research as well as business enhancing tools. With the growing popularity of web based research there has arisen many problems with it more specifically with the main component of research .i.e. population (Litvin and Kar, 2001). For every product there is certain group of customers who do not participate in online surveys and hence, their liking, disliking or in general their opinions are left unattended. Therefore, there arises a problem to cater the suggestions of that particular group of people (Yun and Trumbo, 2000). Hence, the research problem this study is aimed to address is finding if any difference exist in response of people in online surveys and other surveying techniques. Internet usage has grown in multiples in past years and the pace is stil l growing, however there is still certain percentage of population that do not use internet. The objective of this research is to explore the fact that how much similarity exists in the responses of customers through online surveys and through other survey techniques. This study will explore an entirely new domain for researchers as well as businesses. Similarity in results would benefit the research organizations to divert their resources (expertise) more towards web based resources. On contrary to this, if

Private Express Trust Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Private Express Trust - Essay Example Megaw LJ and Sachs applied a much wider approach to the phrase â€Å"relative†. However, this elucidation is challenging as it is very arduous for the court to test the claim. Megaw LJJ and Sachs tried to resolve this issue by emphasizing the onus on the person claiming to be an ancestor to demonstrate it. Sachs LJ observed that the class of those to whom a trustee can distribute the benefit of beneficiary’s right should be â€Å"conceptually certain.† As per Megaw LJ, a discretionary trust can be said to be legal if there is a â€Å"vast number â€Å"of beneficiaries who are falling well within the class to whom a trustee can divide the benefit of trustee’s right. The additional conditions inflicted by Megaw LJJ and Sachs did not help in adhering the objective of the â€Å" any given person† test thereby paving the court to direct whether the trustee distributes the benefit of the right to an individual outside the permitted class. Hence, Re Bade n No is different from McPhail test as it was more narrow and strict. Though Stamp opinion was the minority in nature, which was in tandem with findings in McPhail. Sachs LJ test resolved many issues, by footing upon conceptual certainty and has eluded the challenging area of evidential certainty by retreating the accountability. In Re Baden, Sachs LJ footed his test on conceptual certainty, while Megaw LJ avoided the use of evidential certainty with his test where Stamp LJ employed â€Å"complete list† found to be beneficial.

Game scrabble Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Game scrabble - Essay Example Unfortunately for him, he did not know that he will also become deeply engrossed into the game just as other hard-core players. This paper begins by giving a general overview of the book before focusing on individual characters and analyzing their distinctive features relative to the game. Their lives outside the game are also explored and their roles within the text. Stefan Fatsis, author and character in Word Freak, used to play a reasonably mean game of Scrabble-according to what he thought, until that moment when he chose to investigate the game both intensively and extensively for an article he was due to publish. In a twist and turn of events, Fatsis sooner than later found himself obsessed with the game just as other hard-core players he sought to interview. The book revolves around the characters of G.I. (that is from gastrointestinal) Joel Sherman, Marlon Hill, a fervent youthful black nationalist, and Matt Graham, the pill-popping funnyman. These characters spent a great chunk of their time in dictionaries and other sources just to familiarize with new words to use while playing scrabble tournaments. Something what noting is that they all earned their livelihood through the income and prizes from these events. While some of them loved words for their own selves, others did this just as a means to an end. It because of these that Fatsis takes an issue and warns anyone contemplating engaging in competitive Scrabble to come to terms with the fact that it may require them to learn words that may lack outside utility. Eventually, the game demands for mastering the rules of the game, which for this case are the words. Joel Sherman, also called G.I. (from gastrointestinal), is described as a Walking Manual of physical sicknesses. Among the many maladies associated with him include asthma, postnatal drip, and allergic to lactose. Another funny bit about him is that he uncontrollably belches during tournaments

Anselm and Aquinas Perspective Essay Example for Free

Anselm and Aquinas Perspective Essay Anselm of Canterbury and Thomas Aquinas had conceptualized their own justification for the existence of God. For Anselm, he chiefly indicated his strong defense of intellectual foundations of Christianity under the concept of â€Å"ontological argument† for the existence of God. Anselm argued that the existence of God is not only in human minds but rather in reality. The idea of Proslogion had become the main argument of Anselm, which he used in order to defend his idea of God’s existence. The idea of ontological proof of had considered the concept of justifying the logic behind the existence of God. On the other hand, the ideas of Aquinas had provided significant approach of cosmological theology in order to prove the existence of God. Aquinas had utilized the five components of reason that justify God’s existence in a logical perspective. Discussion Ontological Proof of Anselm The ontological argument of Anselm considered the idea of Proslogion, which argued the logical being of God. According to the perspective of Anselm, the being of God is so evident that the definition present in the character of God is already enough to justify His existence. As stated in the book of McGrath (1998), in Anselm’s Proslogion, he offers the definition of God as â€Å"that than which no greater thing can be thought† (89). From the idea of Anselm, the existence of God came from the statement, â€Å"that than which nothing greater can be conceived. † The arguments of Anselm’s ontological proposal involve, God as the greatest possible being. Anselm argued that the notion and the nature of a being existing only in the minds of human being and society could not be considered as great or powerful. Hence, if God is to exist, He must exist in reality for Him to commence His power overall. In this logic, Anselm justified the existence of God, in not only the mind of Human beings but most of all in reality. In the perspective of Anselm, he utilized the idea of faith and logic in order to justify God’s existence. The idea of using faith gave the thought of God’s presence as determined by belief of His presence. For Anselm, in order for one to understand God’s existence, one should first believe that God exist in reality and not only in human minds. Faith had been viewed by Anselm as an important component in understanding the nature and the mystery for God’s existence. In the idea of faith, one does not have to consider the validity of truth or false in believing God’s existence, but only a simple indication of believing or not believing. In the context of faith, he argued that the existence of God is not the ones in the mind of men, but rather the agreement of faith. The human minds had their control on whether believing or not believing the thoughts of God’s existence. On the other hand, Anselm’s use of logic to prove the argument of God’s existence occurred in the concept of Proslogion. Within the logic of Proslogion, Anselm mentioned that the being of God under His characteristics of being transcendent and immanent were the main points to consider His existence. According to Hogg (2004), if God were not transcendent then there would be no reason to assume His necessity. If God were not immanent, then no one could know Him (95). Under the theology of Anselm, the concept of faith should facilitate the belief for the revelations of God’s existence, while the idea of Prologion gave rise to the logical reasoning of explaining the existence of God. Cosmological Proof of Aquinas Aquinas’ argument of the cosmological evidence of God’s existence revolved around five components, which provided the argument of his defense. In Summa Theologia of Aquinas, he argued using these five ways of justifying the existence of God under the basic thought of man’s relation with God as Creator and creation. In his first argument, Aquinas provided the â€Å"argument of motion† in order to depict the concept of change. He argued that the presence of dynamics in this motion was brought by a cause that possessed significant purpose. In addition, he mentioned that from a single cause of motion, another cause is employed, and from there, under still until the concept of unlimited causation arrived. Aquinas thought that the origin of this greater chain cannot possibly come from human nature but more significantly from God, which proved the He existed. In Aquinas’ second argument, he utilized the aspect of â€Å"cause and effect† argument that gave the idea of an event as being the effect and influenced by a cause. Somehow, the idea of the second argument had been derived from the concepts of motion wherein the cause-and-effect motion should always possess the original cause. In Aquinas’ argument, he pointed this original cause as God. In the third argument, Aquinas introduced the idea of contingent human beings, which he argued the purpose of the presence of non-necessity being (human beings) and the presence of necessity being (God). According to the perspective of Aquinas, the non-necessity being was able to come since the existence of the necessity being had always been present. Aquinas provided his declaration and personification of necessity being as God, who is the necessity being and facilitated every creation. The fourth argument of Aquinas, he proposed the idea of values origin. He considered that the values of goodness, grace, love, forgiveness, etc had all been originated from the positive background of God. The only nature that can provide the true intent of these values is God’s nature; hence, justifying the existence of God. Lastly, the fifth argument of Aquinas involved the necessity for a being to facilitate the task of supervising the creation, which can only be facilitated by God. Conclusion Within the study, the existence of God had been proven under two perspectives of Anselm and Thomas Aquinas. With Anselm’s Ontological proof of God’s existence, he defended with the two components of faith and logic. He argued that God is present not only in the human mind for God is great, and no being can be great if he only exists in the minds of men. Hence, with faith that God is existing, God indeed is existing, and because He is great, His existence is justified. On the other hand, Aquinas provided the five components that defended the existence of God. He introduced the argument of motion (God facilitated the change), argument of cause and effect (God as the very cause), argument of non-contingent being (God as the essential being), argument of the origins of values (God provided all the positive values), and lastly the argument of supervisor of creation (God sees and manages the happenings in the Earth). Works Cited Hogg, David S. Anselm of Canterbury: The Beauty of Theology. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. , 2004. McGrath, Allister E. Science Religion: An Introduction. Blackwell Publishing, 1998.

The Key Characteristics Of An Erp System Information Technology Essay

The Key Characteristics Of An Erp System Information Technology Essay Enterprise Resource Planning solutions became the replacement for disparate legacy systems for many companies of the dimension of Fortune 500 during the 1990s. The main providers were SAP, Oracle Applications, PeopleSoft, J D Edwards and Baan. The Editors provided assistance initially, and then gradually there was a tendency for larger Consulting companies as partners to take over part or all of the integration. As ERP is a new phenomenon within the software industry, its implementation methodologies are still developing. The implementation of an ERP software package involves a mix of business process change and software configuration to align the software with the business processes (Al-Mashariet al.2000). Many companies are radically changing their information technology strategies to gain a competitive edge, become more responsive to change markets, and deliver better service at lower cost by purchasing off-the-shelf integrated ERP software instead of developing IT systems internally(Al-Mashariet al.2000). ERP systems offer a one size fits all solution which provides a company-wide view ofcorporate information. The central notion underpinning ERP systems is that theyencapsulate best business practice for a particular industry, integrating manufacturing,and financial and human resource operations into a single framework. Adapting processes to the ERP may impose some rigidity on the processes which is notreflected in how work is carried out. In any eventuality an ERP package will usually notmeet all of the business goals, so it is vital that plans are put in place to ensure that the otherrequirements are also satisfied. 2.1.1-ERP Key Characteristics The key characteristics of an ERP System are discussed below. Integration: ERP vendors promise complete integration of the entire organisations information. This integration, however, requires some effort. In order to achieve integration, the system needs to be set up to match the organisations products, customers, accounts and business processes. Packages: ERP software is usually a commercial package and not a solution developed in-house from scratch. Because modifying the package may result in losing key benefits from using the ERP, organisations try to fit the package, with the help of configuration tools and options, rather than the other way around. Best practices: Through the study of businesses and academic theory, ERP vendors claim to have embedded best business practices in their solutions. This is also a solid argument against modifying their packages. Evolving: ERP is not a constant solution; it changes over time in terms of services and architecture like any other information technology. 2.2-ERP Implementation An ERP system is a process and not an end in itself. Perfunctory Implementing of ERP system will not boost efficiency. Reasons for failure of an ERP project such as lack of commitment from management and employees, lack of communication, knowledgeable employees not available for the project, are mostly organizational issues and have nothing to do with technical matter. Hence, to alleviate the risk of failure due to organizational issues, adoption of proper change and risk management process, plays a crucial role. Implementing an ERP software system not only involves a great deal of expenditure, efforts and time, it also involves change in some of the complex business processes. Such changes are often disliked by the employees and are a big risk. In order to ensure success, everyone in the company, from the leadership to back-office workers should cooperate. 2.2.1-ERP Implementation Phases The main phases in ERP implementation are discussed below Planning and Requirements Analysis This is the initial phase where the company takes a decision on implementing ERP. The decision could based on their need to comply with legal requirements, replace their legacy applications, for benefits of integration, reduction of inventory, reduction of operational costs, risk management, additional functionality or speeding up processes. The team chooses an ERP system. Typically a niche player in resource planning software development is chosen instead of developing from scratch. Some of the leading vendors are: SAP, PeopleSoft, Oracle,Sage Group, MS Business Solutions, SSA Global, Lawson and Intentia. Design This is the phase where the ERP team re-engineers the business processes around the Best Practices wherever feasible and identifies the processes that will result in customizing the ERP software application. The IT infrastructure requirements based on ERP system architecture and vendor are prepared. Implementation This phase involves installation of the ERP software, migration of data from the old applications to the ERP system, configuring the ERP system for reporting, implementing security, interfaces etc. The end users are involved at this stage to test the system after being trained. The implementation consultants seek feedback, identify software bugs/corrections, performance bottlenecks and apply the fixes. A decision on switching to the new ERP system is taken. Maintenance This is an ongoing phase which involves patching/upgrading the software, enhancing the functionality of the applications, changes in reports etc. This is either taken care of by in-house IT department or outsourced to consulting firms. 2.2.2-ERP Life Cycle The three main phases of an ERP Implementation are discussed below. Figure 1 depicts the amount of resources required at each stage (Aloiniet al. 2007) Concept refers to the activities of ERP introduction from strategic planning of requirements top software package selection. Implementation includes activities from softwaredeployment or installation to parameterization,integration, testing, and stabilization. Post-implementation includes maintenance activities: upgrading, new-release management, and evolution maintenance. Figure -ERP Life cycle Source: (Aloini et al. 2007) As shown in the diagram above, the resources to be deployed during the implementation and post-implementation phases are higher than at the strategic planning phase. Various risk management strategies have to be put in place at each stage. However, there is a higher risk of failure during the implementation and post implementation phase. 2.3-ERP Risk Factors ERP projects raise new questions because they represent a new type of management challenge. The management approaches for these projects may be altogether different from the managerial approaches for traditional IT projects. ERP projects may represent new challenges and present new risk factors that have to be handled differently. Anenterprise-wide projectis of large-scale and commercial with unique challenges and is a risky exercise for any size of enterprise. 2.3.1-General Risk Factors Business Risks The identification of risks in information systems projects has been the subject of much research (Jiang et al., 1996; Zmud, 1980). A portfolio approach for managing software development risk was discussed by McFarlan (1981). Prior research has looked at risk from a technological perspective (Anderson and Narasumhan, 1979) or from a software development perspective (Barki, et al. 1993). Jiang and Klein (1999) examined risk as it related to a multidimensional concept of information success that included satisfaction with the development process, satisfaction with system use, satisfaction with system quality, and their impact of the information system on the organization. 2.3.2-Lack of alignment between strategy and business processes The lack of alignment between the organization strategy, structure, and processes and the chosen ERP application is one risk that is repeatedly identified in the literature is(Davenport, 1998; 2000)). Both the business process reengineering literature (Hammer, 1990; Hammer and Champy, 1993)and the ERP literature suggests that an ERP system alone cannot improve the company performance unless an organization restructures its operational processes (Bingi et al., 1999; Davenport, 1998; Davenport, 2000). Further, theERP implementation project must be a business initiative. This requires the organization to gain strategic clarity (i.e., know the business, how it delivers value, etc.) and a constancy of purpose. Finally, an outcomes orientation is required to achieve these goals. 2.3.10-Inadequate Business Process Reengineering (BPR) Often, packaged software is incompatible with theorganizations needs and business processes. Theconsequence is software modification, which isexpensive and costs heavily in maintenance, or restructuring of the organizations business processes to fit the software. According to IBM, its Method Blue, a deep analysis of process business value and performances is necessary to prioritize activities to be supported by ERP. To neglect business processes redesign is a risk in ERP project; ERP implementation and BPR activities. ERP packages offer many business practices that might be included as part of a BPR, but there is still likely to be a need for continuous process improvement. 2.3.11- Ineffective project management techniques The inadequate use of project management techniques significantly affects ERP project success. Project management activities span the first four stagesof the ERP life cycle from initiating the project to its closing. Project planning and control are a function of the project characteristics, including its size, experience with the technology, and the stability and experience of the IT development group. Risk management in particular is a vital procedure of advanced (goal directed) project management. Some ERP vendors, such as SAP and Baan, provide methodologies and applications to help conduct successful risk management. These tools can be used to drive change management; the system calculates the risks and provides mitigation strategies for the project manager. 2.3.12-Data Migration The problem of data migration begins when organisations overlook the challenge of populating it with legacy data and the data migration activity is left to the last minute and end up dropping data from the legacy system straight into the new system.   A lot of planning has to go into it even before you actually start preparing the Migration scripts.Lot of organizations complain that they have migrated the data which probably would not go along with the new ERP they have implemented. This happens when Data Mapping is not done with the new ERP and the other sources.  Another problem which pulls down the Data Migration Project is Lack of Methodology. The Organizations do not have the concrete Methodology like they do have for the ERP Implementation. 2.3.9. Low key user involvement User involvement is important in meeting expectations. Key users should be convinced of the system utility; moreover they must be confident and expert so that they can aid future users in training sessions. Usercommitment and a project champion (who has the vision to get the project going and pushes for the project to be accepted where there are competing priorities) are useful in the early stages of the project and during the implementation phase. 2.3.3-Project Complexity/System Design Another major risk is project complexity (see, for example, Barki, et al. 1993). An ERP system implementation involves relatively large expenditures for the acquisition of the hardware, software, implementation costs, consulting fees and training costs (Davenport, 2000; Mckie, 1998), and can last for an extended period of time. Also, an ERP system implementation project has a wider scope compared to most other information system implementations, and may cause a significant number of changes within an organization (Davenport, 2000). The scope and the complexity of the project are a source of significant business risk 2.3.13-Planning and Requirements Analysis Top management involvement is critical, while only top managers are equipped to act as the mediator between the imperative of the technology and the imperative of the organization. One of the tasks of top management is to assist in project review meetings. According to the purpose of project review meetings is to assess progress and identify areas of deviations from the plan so that corrective action can be taken. The author also states that project review meetings provide visibility to plans and progress and create opportunities for obtaining and enforcing commitments from the participants. ERP solutions, when implemented properly, take a long time to get off the ground. ERP has to be properly selected, evaluated and tested, implemented and then used for a period of time before any clear positive results may be seen. It can become a very risky situation if the company isnt fully committed to seeing the entire process through. 2.3.15 -Security Risks The continued integration of enterprise resource planning software only increases the risk of both hackers who break through perimeter security and insiders who abuse system privileges to misappropriate assets namely cash through acts of fraud. Security in the e-business, integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) world requires a new way of thinking about security not just about the bits and bytes of network traffic, but about business transactions that inflict financial losses from systems-based fraud, abuse and errors. The ERP market has matured to a point where heightened competition has brought declining sales. As a result, ERP vendors are committed to bundling new functionality, such as CRM and Web services-based architecture, to provide more value to their customers. Unfortunately, security remains an afterthought. 2.4-Critical Success Factors in ERP Implementation (CSF) There are various issues that need to be catered for during the pre-implementation, implementation and post-implementation phase of an ERP system. The idea of critical success factors is one that is well established in the field of enterprise systems for many aspects of development and management. 2.4.1-Top Management Support It is important that there is clear, executive level support for the project, and that this support continues throughout the project. Top management is expected to provide support in the areas of committing to the ERP project, sufficient financial and human resource and the resolution of the political problems if necessary. Limited support in terms of financing can contribute to a rushed ERP implementation process, project team members being overloaded and a high staff turnover. Insufficient commitment could lead to political problems which can hinder the implementation progress, thus causing poor Business Process Re-engineering. 2.4.2-Project Management ERP implementation is challenging, costly, and risky. Consequently, to achieve the desired benefits, the ERP system implementation must be carefully managed and monitored. It is in this respect that project management becomes crucial for success. Project management deals with various aspects of the project, such as planning, organization, information system acquisition, personnel selection, and management and monitoring of software implementation suggested that the project management is a practiced system necessary to govern a project and to deliver quality products. 2.4.3-Change Management Change management is a critical success factor, in terms of adopting an ERP system, as activities, processes, and methodologies that support employee understanding and organisational shifts during the implementation of ERP systems and reengineering initiatives. Many ERP implementation failures have been caused by the lack of focus on the soft issues, pointed out that almost half of ERP projects fail to achieve expected benefits because managers underestimate the efforts involved in change management. The management of change has become an increasingly urgent issue in all organisations due to the impact of new technology. 2.4.4-Education and Training ERP systems are extremely complex systems and demand rigorous training. Installing an ERP software package without adequate end-user preparation could yield to drastic consequences. Inadequate or lack of training has been one of the most significant reasons of many ERP systems failure (Kelley, et al., 1999; Gupta, 2000). In ERP implementation process many projects fail in the end despite of millions of dollars and hundreds of hours due to lack of proper training. Usually the end-user can get used to the ERP system within one year. One of the earlier researchers, Ang, et al. (1994) found that lack of training led to difficulties in MRP systems implementation. A thorough training program is necessary to make the user comfortable with the system. This factor is too often ignored. It is a challenge for a company implementing such a system to find an appropriate plan for the training and education of the end-user. In most cases, consultants are included during implementation process, and while all the aspects of the system should be explained and transferred the end-users, the main goal of ERP training is that the users understand the various business processes behind the ERP application (Majed Al-Mashari, et al 2003). 2.4.5-User Involvement User involvement refers to the participation of the user during the process of an ERPimplementation. The functions of the ERP system rely on the user to use the systemafter going live, but the user is also a significant factor in the implementation. (Zhang, et al. 2002) Resistance to new ERP system may be involving the user early on while the project isstill being defined, since the user has then also contributed to this decision. Byparticipating in the ERP implementation, the user can understand the new system soonerand give feedback from his or her own point of view. This method can shorten the gapbetween the old and new systems and make easier for the user to cope with the newsystem. Since the user understands some of the ideas sooner, the training is more easilyaccepted. The experienced users who take part in implementation can also communicatewith the newcomers. Another benefit of involving some users early on is that itfacilitates in-house expert training. In the long-run the company may not be willing orable to rely on consultants or vendors because of the expensive consulting cost. Earlyusers are a good resource if it becomes necessary to train experts in the future. 2.5- Risk Management in ERP Implementation To minimize the risk of the ERP project, the application of a risk management plan at different ERP implementation project stages, selection, implementation, and usage is crucial. A planned and systematically adopted risk management procedure throughout the ERP project reduces the possibility to risks occurring. 2.5.2-Enterprise Risk Management Enterprise risk management (ERM) in business includes the methods and processes used by organizations to manage risks and seize opportunities related to the achievement of their objectives. ERM provides a framework for risk management, which typically involves identifying particular events or circumstances relevant to the organizations objectives (risks and opportunities), assessing them in terms of likelihood and magnitude of impact, determining a response strategy, and monitoring progress. Enterprise risk management enables management to effectively deal with uncertainty and associated risk and opportunity, enhancing the capacity to build value. ERM encompasses the below elements: Aligning risk appetite and strategy Management considers the entitys risk appetitein evaluating strategic alternatives, setting related objectives, and developingmechanisms to manage related risks. Enhancing risk response decisions Enterprise risk management provides the rigor toidentify and select among alternative risk responses risk avoidance, reduction, sharing, and acceptance. Reducing operational surprises and losses Entities gain enhanced capability to identify potential events and establish responses, reducing surprises and associated costs or losses. Identifying and managing multiple and cross-enterprise risks Every enterprise faces a myriad of risks affecting different parts of the organization, and enterprise risk management facilitates effective response to the interrelated impacts, and integrated responses to multiple risks. Seizing opportunities By considering a full range of potential events, management ispositioned to identify and proactively realize opportunities. Improving deployment of capital Obtaining robust risk information allows management to effectively assess overall capital needs and enhance capital allocation.

Mergers and Acquisitions in SME Lending

Mergers and Acquisitions in SME Lending CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION In the process of industrialization small business plays an important and economic growth. It increases per capital income and output, makes available employments for the labour market and usually promotes successful deployment of resources which are considered vital to steering of economic development and growth. It is presumed that the lower income segments of Nigeria benefit when SMEs have better access to finances because they alleviate poverty by creating more jobs and better wages. ( Emeni and Okafor 2008). In many of the developed economies and developing economies both have come to value, realise and appreciate small businesses. Being that small business are pioneering, well-organized, resourceful and allows fast decisions process to be taken because of their relative small size. They are major players in the process of industrialization and economic development. ( Ememi and Okafor, 2008) In most up-and-coming nation of the world, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have become the vanguard of economic expansion. They create employment opportunities as the most significant employer of labour force; in addition they increase the nations per capital income and output invariably increasing the GDP by effective resource utilization. Also in large developed nations, SMEs plays a noteworthy role in influencing the economy. Taking China for example, SMEs are said to be accountable for sixty percent of the industrial output employing seventy-five percent of the workforce in the metropolitan centres. ( Anas A.Galadima, 2006). All over the world and in all country, government have come to realise the significant of this class of companies. And as such have originated all-inclusive policies to encourage, give confidence, support and promote the establishment of SMEs. Improvements in small and medium enterprise are a plus for employment generation, solid entrepreneurial base and encouragement for the use of local raw materials and technology. (Oladele, 2009). There are a lot of challenges that SMEs face in both the developed and developing countries and they are massive. One main aspect is financing, the ability to obtain and acquire loans. Most small businesses are not attractive prospects for banks. Berger et al. ( 1998) suggest that larger banks may be less predisposed than smaller banks with less complex structure, to supply credit to small businesses. Back home in Nigeria the talk is very similar with the on-going of other country. But of late the Bankers Committee intervened in 2001 with a scheme called the Small and Medium Industries Equity Investment Scheme (SMIEIS). The idea brought life and empowerment to SMEs discarding all other credit schemes which were not properly implemented. (Aina, O. 2007). Nigerian banking reform is a product of global effort and consolidation is one of its major achievement that everyone have welcomed happily. This consolidation wave has greatly enhance the average magnitude and size of banking institution generally. The mean size of the total assets of banks has increased by 439% from 2003 – 2009, recording =N=2767.78 billion to =N=14,923.00 billion banks total assets figure (CBN report 2009). Prior to the introduction of banking reform, the banking sector was repulsively undersized, small, weak and frail, leading to numerous and several economic setback. Besides the benefits related to consolidation on the supply of credit to small and medium enterprises, merger and acquisition have also increase the size of banks from small less complex establishment to conglomerate multinational companies in Nigeria. These includes mobilization of domestic savings, improved allocation of resources, elimination of deep-rooted inefficiency , mobilization of foreign savings and above all enhanced accessibility of small scale funding. But in all these what is less comprehensible, is the effect that bank MA has on the supply of credit to small businesses in Nigeria.(Emeni and Okafor, 2008). Related Literature Other related studies have established some well renowned facts on the effect of consolidation on small business lending. In a recent article Berger, Allen N., R. Demsetz and P. Strahan. (1999) suggest that consolidation is only valuable and favourable to a certain extent. The consequences of consolidation could have direct and also indirect effects. The direct effect being an increases in bank size, increase in market share and enhance bank performance, the indirect effect can be a reduction in the availability of financial services to small businesses. (Berger, Allen N. R. Demsetz and P. Strahan. 1999). Other studies Vera and Onji (2010) illustrate that because most small businesses depend greatly on less complex small banking institution for their principal source of funding, consolidation of the banking industry may reduce ease of access of loans to small business in the US. Earlier researchers find that small businesses have not been unfavourably affected by bank merger and acquisition on making credit available to small business (Peek and Rosengren 1995, 1998; Berger et al. 1995). This is because these studies relied on data up to the mid-1990, while data as at 1995-1997 being the peak of consolidation were not fully employed. This has proven to be of interest to further scrutinize whether the new wave of consolidation may affect small businesses differently. In view of this importance piece of information and the imperfection of the market mechanism to mobilise and allocate financial resources to socially desirable economic activities of any nation it is worthwhile to investigate the relationship between merger and acquisition and credit availability. Based on the above background, the enthusiasm and motivation of this research is to critically scrutinize and observe if there is any relationship, or connection between bank mergers and acquisitions as a resourceful solution to lending. This study, therefore, want to investigate and find evidence that consolidation between banks of diver structure and asset base that occurred as a result of the Nigerian banking reform of 2004, could negatively affect small business lending. This is the reason why we choose to examine the effect of MA to SMEs in Nigeria. Aim and Objective Aim The main purpose of this dissertation is to examine whether bank mergers and acquisitions are a resourceful solution to lending to SMEs. As a result the main research question is: Do banks mergers and acquisitions increase or decrease credit availability to SMEs? This leads to a number of sub-questions: Does financial performance in the banking sector adversely affected small business lending after MA occurs? What other factors affects or is responsible for credit availability to SMEs from the Nigerian banks? To present key findings and recommendation based on data analysis and information collected. Research Methodology There are several research methods that could have been used in this work, such as a Questionnaire based survey through the distribution of questionnaire. Carrying out direct interviews with Small business owner and Bank managers or loan officers is also an effective means to collection of data information. Since the main purpose of this study is to examine if bank mergers and acquisitions increase or decrease credit availability to SME, we will be using accounting based financial ratio analysis. The use of financial ratio in measuring a banks performance and its effectiveness to distinguish high-performance banks from others is quite common in the literature (Abdulla, 1994a; Samad, 2004a). Data Sample Ten Nigerian commercial banks which have effectively been consolidated with other smaller banks will be considered in this study over the period of 2000-2009 based on the following reasons: First, these banks are long established locally incorporated banks in Nigeria. Secondly they have been involved in the consolidation process from small bank to mega banks, passing through the premerger phase up to the post merger phase. Thirdly the period 2000-2009 effectively covers the span before consolidation and after consolidation. The data that will be used in this study is taken from Bank Scope. The annual financial statement of the top ten commercial banks based on their asset base. All the figures are expressed in Naira (=N=) the Nigeria indigenous currency. Since one of our aims is to examine whether the amount of small business lending is affected by the new consolidation legislation passed by Nigeria government on bank reform, we will also be comparing the figures from the statutory reserve. This is mandatory for all commercial banks in Nigeria to invest 10% of their profit before tax to Small and Medium Enterprise Equity Investment Scheme. It is more likely that we will capture the total amount of small business lending that is actually supplied to small businesses within Nigeria. Dissertation Structure The dissertation is split into five chapters: Chapter one is the introduction of the dissertation topic, related studies and the motivation for the choice of the dissertation Chapter two focuses on the Nigeria banking sector, how the banking sector has developed in Nigeria over the years. Covering the history of the Nigerian banking sector divided into four periods: the budding period, the expansion period, the consolidated period and the post-consolidated period. High lighting major financial developments from liberalisation that saw the existence of 87 banks to the consolidation of banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria deadline of 2005. Chapter three is a literature review on academic literature and analytical view on merger and acquisition and its theory in banking. This chapter aims at providing a complete picture of bank mergers and acquisitions (MAs) in the theory of banking and at offering economic evaluation and strategic analyses of the process. The main characteristics of this process is how it has affected lending to small business Chapter four introduces the Small and Medium Enterprises, what they are, why they exist. This Section will review some recent literature that is particularly relevant to the effect of bank consolidation on small business lending. Chapter five discusses the empirical results, in which the main findings of the performance of the banks during the period 2002 – 2009 are analysed. This last chapter, Chapter six concludes and highlights the limitations of the study and recommendations for the future research Summary We have been able to introduce the topic of the dissertation and the motivation behind why it was considered important to investigate funding of the small and medium enterprises. Small business play vital role in the process of industrialization and economic growth. It is presumed that the lower income segments of Nigeria benefit when SMEs have better access to finances because they alleviate poverty by creating more jobs and better wages. Developments in small and medium enterprise are a plus for employment generation, solid entrepreneurial base and encouragement for the use of local raw materials and technology. Governments all over the world have realised the importance of this category of companies and have formulated comprehensive public policies to encourage, support and fund the establishment of SMEs. The most worrying challenges facing SMEs in many developing countries is funding. In the next chapter we will be reviewing the Nigerian banking system. We will be looking at a brief history of the Nigerian banking system dividing its growth into four phases, and see how it has evolved from many smaller banks into fewer mega banks. We shall also be looking at the major regulators of this industry and see how they have effectively influence the actions that has lead to merger and acquisition in the banking industry. Also see how the merger and acquisition phase has influenced lending to the small business through the new monetary policies on SMEEIS and Microfinance banks to aid economic growth, which is the main aim of this dissertation.

Impact of European Colonialism and Imperialism on African Women Essay e

Effect of European Imperialism on African Women      Ã‚  Ã‚   What effect did the European imperialism in Africa have on the women of both continents? And was this effect advantageous or injurious to the women themselves? Judging by the extremely limited amount of information available on the subject, one could conclude probably a very minimal one. However, upon further investigation, one can see that this effect, although ignored by historians, was very profound and real to the women who lived in Africa in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The majority of the information obtained is about the impact of imperialism on the women of Africa, which is to be expected in today's politically-correct society. However, this causes some difficulty in understanding the consequences of imperialism for women in Europe. Thus that topic won't be addressed here. In Africa, however, the European colonialism completely altered a lifestyle and culture, particularly the roles of women in that culture (Gross and Bingham volume II 52). There is some disagreement as to whether the effects of European imperialism over Africa were detrimental to the progress of women.    It's difficult to understand the effects that Europe had on Africa until one comprehends the state of living for the women before Europeans embarked upon their colonialism. Women were traditionally considered equals or near equals to men in many aspects of some African societies. Farming was the primary occupation of almost every African woman (Gross and Bingham volume I 70). Women were a significant part of the work force and essential to their families' survival (Gross and Bingham volume I 53). Many tribes had female chiefs, and females were given other high-ranki... ...ism." European Imperialism. Online. Internet. 27 Feb. 2000. Available. <http://www.ga.k12.pa.us/academics/US/history/euro/euroread/imp.htm>. "French in West Africa." University of Pennsylvania African Studies. Online. Internet. 27 Feb. 2000. Available. <http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/k-12/french_16178.html>. "Gender, Culture, and Class in Walter Rodney's Writings on Guyana." Saxakali-Publications. Online. Internet. 27 Feb. 2000. Available. <http://saxakali.com/saxakali-publications/moses6.htm>. Gross, Susan Hill and Marjorie Wall Bingham. Women in Africa of the Sub-Sahara, volume I: Ancient Times to the 20th Century. St. Louis Park: Glenhurst Publications, 1982. Gross, Susan Hill and Marjorie Wall Bingham. Women in Africa of the Sub-Sahara, volume II: The 20th Century. St. Louis Park: Glenhurst Publications, 1982.   

Economic Injustice in America :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Economic Injustice in America "Class is for European democracies or something else--it isn't for the United States of America. We are not going to be divided by class." -George Bush, the forty-first President of the United States (Kalra 1) The United States of America was founded on the basis of a "classless society of equals," committed to eliminating the past injustices imposed on them by Great Britain. A hundred years later, Alexis de Tocqueville, a prominent sociologist of France, claimed that the nation was the most democratic in the world, a model for the rest of mankind, distinguished by the "equality of condition" ("Tocqueville in..." n. pag.). Today, however, there does exist perceptible classes in this country, and, because of differences in material wealth, Americans have unequal opportunities in politics, education, health care, justice, security, and overall happiness. The distinct class structure of current-day America is the greatest cause of inequality in the United States today. This inequality in America is not recognized. The subject is either trivialized or dismissed as untrue. Though the economic injustices of other nations can be easily recognized, their own situation, which is comparable or worse, is free of criticism. Michael Parenti, a sociologist from Yale, states, "If the subject of class is introduced, it is usually dismissed as an outworn Marxist' notion having no relevance to modern America" (Parenti 55). America still represents to many a place of equality where success is determined by chance and choice, ignoring that if this was the case, income would be distributed more evenly than the current imbalance towards the upper class. Thus, while overtly acknowledging and emphasizing the discriminations based on race and gender, the American public accepts unfair social stratification as very legitimate. The reality is that the economic gap within the classes is great and growing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the gap between the richest and "everyone else" in America is the greatest it has been since the end of WWII. Professor Edward N. Wolff of N.Y.U. states that the current era represents "the most extreme level of wealth concentration since the late 1920's" (Gates 17). "Paul Samuelson explains that the present income structure is grossly unfairly distributed. If we made an income pyramid out of a child's blocks, with each layer portraying $1,000 of income, the peak would be far higher than the Eiffel Tower, but almost all of us would be within a yard of the ground'" (Kalra 10).

Time and Attendance Management

AcknowledgmentsI owe a great many thanks to great many people who helped and supportedme during the project. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my mentorsDr. Hiral Shah, Dr. Ben Baliga, and Prof. Gary Nierengarten for all their support and encouragement at every step throughout my course of study at St. Cloud StateUniversity. First and foremost, my deepest thanks to my advisor, Dr. Hiral Shah, myGuide for this project. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for herguidance and support throughout the project.I would also like to express my thanks to Dr. Ben Baliga, Prof. GaryNierengarten, and Dr. Balsubramanian Kasi for their precious time in carefullyreviewing my project. I am grateful for their valuable suggestions and comments.Finally, I would like to thank my family and all my friends for constantlyencouraging and supporting me in this endeavor. It is with their help that I have beenable to successfully complete my Master's Program in Engineering Management.IntroductionChapter I: IntroductionEmployee time and attendance is a vital part of the workplace as it allows forbetter workforce management. Time and attendance management facilitates HumanResources to better understand employee attendance, and are necessary forcollecting information for payroll (Time Well Scheduled, n.d.). It is important forcompanies to assemble, categorize, and utilize workforce data, which will allow themto make critical decisions (Data Management Services, Inc., n.d.). In this ever evolving and technologically savvy century, companies are oftenforced to adapt to the needs and requirements of the market. Companies preferportability, flexibility and access to applications they use from anywhere and across all platforms, so that work and management become easier and less complex.Agile methodology is the most widely used project management technique by several organizations for their software development projects. This methodologyworks great in environments where requirements change rapidly throughout theproject scope and has been proven to achieve high project success rate for manyorganization (Battagiri, 2015). There are several software development techniqueswithin the agile methodology. This project demonstrates the use of agile methodologyto create web-based reports for employee Time and Attendance. Problem StatementABC application is currently a desktop applicationwhich facilitates clients to use the software on the local system where theserver is located. This is a drawback8since the client cannot access the application on a remote device. Clients nowrequire flexibility to use the application from across any platform and any devicewithout having to personally be present at the location and the local system wherethe Application is hosted. This can significantly reduce time and effort and increasethe productivity of the workforce.Nature and Significance of the ProblemFor any company, it is necessary to manage its time and attendance and thework schedules of the employees who are the number one capital expense. Improperscheduling and attendance management can lead to a host of issues, includingoverscheduling a shift, costly overtime pay, and even litigation (Data ManagementServices, Inc., n.d.). With the change in dynamics of the work environment in the present day world, employees have the option to work from remote locations. A lot of companiesallow their employees to work from remote locations and to manage their time andattendance, it becomes an arduous task to keep track of the Human resources, whichcan lead to billing issues and corrections which can become costly.Currently, ABC company TC-1 software is only limited to systems that have the database running on theirservers. If employees of any of the clients are requiredto work from a remote location, or if the manager wants to access employeeinformation, payroll, scheduling, they have to be physically present at theirworkstation where this application is hosted. An effective solution which can provideaccess to the application on any device would help the management in accurately9tracking employee work time and also reduce managerial time spent on timekeepingand payroll tasks.Objective of the ProjectTo identify the tools and technologies required for the development of thisapplication and create a web enabled application that interfaces with theserver on the backend and presents a browser-based client interface to theuser in an agile environment.2. Identify the core areas of business and implement them in phases andrelease for production.Project QuestionsAfter successfully accomplishing the project, the following questions wereanswered based on the results obtained from the project:What current drawback s of thedesktop application have been resolved in the Web based application and up to what extent?How was Scrum agile methodology useful in developing this project?How effective would the proposed solution of bringing in a web basedinterface help in resolving the clients' needs?What are the factors of Scrum which were helpful in identifying any threatsin this project?Can new changes and modifications be made during the implementation of the web-application? 11evolutionary development, early delivery, and continuous improvement,and it encourages rapid and flexible response to change (Wikipedia, n.d.).c)Scrum methodology:Scrum is a management and control process thatcuts through complexity to focus on building software that meets businessneeds. Management and teams are able to get their hands around therequirements and technologies, never let go, and deliver working software, incrementally and empirically (Scrum.org, n.d.). d) Socket Programming: Sockets provide the communication mech anismbetween two computers using TCP. A client program creates a socket on its end of the communication and attempts to connect that socket to a server. When the connection is made, the server creates a socket objecton its end of the communication (Tutorialspoint.com, n.d.).e) Server:A server is a computer program or a machine capable of accepting requests from clients and responding to them. Their purpose may be to share data or hardware and software resources among clients(Quizlet.com, n.d.). f) Web Application:A Web application (Web app) is an application program that is stored on a remote server and delivered over the Internetthrough a browser interface (Jdsofttech.com, n.d.).g) Desktop Application:A desktop application is a self-contained programthat performs a defined set of tasks under the user control. Desktopapplications run from a local drive and do not require a network or 12connectivity to operate or function properly, though if attached to a networkdesktop application might use the resources of the network (Socmedtech,2014).f) TheSoftware Development Life Cycle (SDLC)is the process of developing or modifying software systems by following softwaredevelopment methodologies. People, process and technology play a vitalrole in success of the software development lifecycle (Battagiri, 2015).g) Pair programmingis an agile software development technique, where twoor more programmers work together on a software development task. One,thedriver, develops the code while the other, theobserver, reviews thecode developed by the driver. The driver and the observer switch roles to achieve better results (Battagiri, 2015).h) Best practicesare the set of rules followed in software developmentwhich can help in developing software which is effective as well as efficientand within the budget. A combination of best practices can be used to bestfit a specific software development environment. The core agile softwareprogramming practices (versionone.com) are the following:Iterative development,Test driven development,Quality testing,Requirement change management,Following standard coding practices,13Software version control.Project management best practices help us successfully initiate,plan, execute, monitor, control and close our projects.Best practicesrepresent the practical application of the concepts, processes, andtools defined in the project (Battagiri, 2015).SummaryThis chapter introduces the problem statement and objective of the project.The nature and significance of the project are discussed. Limitations of this projectimplementation are also addressed. Important terms and keywords are brieflyexplain ed, which are necessary to understand the project. The next chapterdiscusses the framework and research methodologies used to conduct the project in detail.

China Trade from Early 17th Century to Mid 19th Century Essay

Around 17th and eighteenth century, westward countries were extremely eager to chain the profitable Chinese market collect to its privileged geological location. Although chinaware had sightd their wealthiness with Europe along the Silk Road for centuries, Chinese government were afraid that the sea trade to the s turn outh would potentially corrupt their purplish kingdom and tho try to suppress the earth. From 1700 onwards, the government established a great deal of rigid restrictions imposing the practice of Co-hong to set external trades and merchants in draw and quarter.However, by previous(a) 18 century, the calling scheme seemed to change. The British commenced the opium trade, which created a steady demand among Chinese addicts and further solved the chronic crazy trade. As the Opium War broke out with Britain, chinaware was no longer on the top of the orb. The aery Empire not only was forced to be subservient to British trading regulations, but excessiv ely whateverwhat became a semi-colonial country. The East India fraternity founded in 1600 that held a monopoly in easternmost India by the British government was cursorily enlarging its global trading influence in China.By sending a attach to trader to address their concern regarding to the mistaken restrictions on trade in Canton, the case James Flint was arrested and imprisoned for organism breaking the Canton trading right. This incident showed Chinas weapons-grade attitude toward Westerners and how they manipulated the trade irrationally in their best interest disregarding the concerns of foreign traders. The growing number of foreign traders in the late eighteenth century powerfully threatened the Qing.They feared that the trade with foreign merchants would keep back the opportunity for Westerners to corrupt China therefore, a set of laws that was so called Canton system was established. The system restricted all European trades to only one port Canton and foreign mer chants were forbidden to abode in the city except trading season. Moreover, the Europeans had to accompany the licensed Co-Hong merchants, of who were responsible for controlling the trading behavior in Canton. As a result, these complex and irksome rules created a tensity amidst foreigners and Chinese merchants, British traders especially.In 1792, a British ambassador gentle George Macartney set sail to China hoping to test the approval of the Qing emperor butterfly to loosen some of the trading restrictions to the British traders. Yet, the letters to the Emperor was unreservedly rejected the response was fairly disappointing. Emperor Qianlongs edicts to George III in response to McCartneys demands on slope traders showed his arrogant and condescending attitude toward the British. As your Ambassador can see for himself, we have all things. I set no value on objects strange or ingenious, and have no use for you countrys manufacturers. (105 Cheng and Letz with Spence) Furthe rmore, in his second edict, he stated, But your Ambassador has now swan forward new requests which completely yield to recognize the Thrones rationale to treat strangers from afar with indulgence and to performance a pacifying control over noncivilised tribes, the world over. (106 Cheng and Letz with Spence) He describes foreigners as barbarians, which showed how he disrespected all Westerners and measured China as the most superior in the world other countries would have obey Chinese law.British viewed Qings judicial code as unreasonable and perceive the Chinese officials as obstinate governance, which further exasperated the existed tension between the both nations. Meanwhile, a network of opium was widely distributed passim China. In order to pay for the dire demand of Chinese tea, silk and porcelain pottery in Europe, Britain and other European nations determined to logical implication the one product which became the factor that lessened the imperial beard Empire opium.Opium addiction aim arose in a short intent of time, which affected not only the olympian troop but also the governmental officials. Thus, Emperor Daoguang appointed Commissioner Lin to confiscate opium from English ships and refused to pay indemnity to the British traders. The efforts of the Qing dynasty to twitch the opium restraints resulted in the trading conflict, which had already existed for decades between Britain and China triggered the Opium War in 1840. sea captain Palmerstons dispatch to the Emperor of China was a message to inform the Qing that big Britain would no longer be submissive. The British government therefore has determined at once to send out a Naval and Military Force to the slideway of China to act in keep up of these demands, and in order to convince the Imperial Government that the British Government attaches the topmost importance to his matter, and that the affair is one which allow for not admit of delay. (125 Cheng and Letz with Spen ce) The dispatch only showed the Britains intentions to use force to value its subjects in China, Canton in particular. afterward the damaging defeats in the war, the first inadequate treaty, Treaty of Nanjing was gestural after the War, which awaken China from its fantasy of superiority. In the Treaty, China opened several ports and exposed its markets to Western merchants, which turned the central kingdom into a semi-colonial country. Consequently, the role in the national parsimoniousness had reversed. China was now forced to obey all the demands in the Treaty of Nanjing signed with the British. China was no longer the Celestial Empire inversely, it was slowly sliding trim back from the top of the world.

Japanese Surrender Essay

The japanese pitch marks the end of World warfare II. Though the japanese believed there is more(prenominal) honor in death than surrendering, the associate (Great Britain, the Soviet Union and the united States) gave them no choice. By the end of World struggle Two, Japan had endured 14 years of war, and nonplus in ruins with over terce one million million bloodless (David Powers, 2011). The major defining broker in the Japanese defeat was the United States custom of the atomic betray.The United States death chair Harry S.Truman warned Japan that America would delectation this new and terrible weapon if Japan did not surrender matly (The nuclear Bomb and the fork over of Japan, 2008). President Truman knew that American casualties would be high if they invaded Japan without the use of the atom bomb. On August 6, 1945 a uranium bomb nicknamed Little son was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. The total dead surpassed 68,000 from the blast at Hiroshima. Just three days after this explosion, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 40,000 people (The nuclear Bomb and the Surrender of Japan, 2008).These essentially were the lowest blows to Japans ability to come about this war. At this point it was obvious Japans spirits were crushed. Japan was no longer able to do the things it inevitable to keep its army afloat. The depleted naval force inhibited Japan from import grain, coil, and other raw materials needed to father its war efforts. On Aug 14, 1945, Emperor Hiroito announced Japans surrender. The text file of Surrender was signed on September 2, 1945.This account was prepared by Americas War Department and approved by President Truman. The signing ceremonies were held on the date ship USS Missouri in capital of Japan Bay. The second paragraph of the Japanese Document of Surrender best sums up Japans ossification the United States demands. We hereby proclaim the unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers of the Japanese imperial G eneral Headquarters and of all Japanese armed forces and all armed forces on a lower floor the Japanese control wherever determine (U. S. National Archives & Records, 1945).

Enterprise Architecture as Strategy Essay

Technology is shifting at a faster rate resulting in development of new methods that assist in satisfactory completion of certain technological demand. This has given birth to different enterprise architecture frameworks that fulfill the specific requirements of day-to-day activities. Architecture is a framework of guidelines, principles, models, standards and strategies that directs, social construction and development of business process, design and information and resources through enterprise. Hence, free enterprise architecture is a blueprint, which defines the structure and operation of a given organization (Fowler & Rice 2003).The growth of such a economic theory isnt sufficient.The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) is an enterprise architecture framework, which approaches the further development of enterprise information architecture through design, planning, governance and implementation.This EA framework employs twenty four pillars to achieve its goals: Applicati on, Business, Technology and Data. Before the architect own plans for current and future aims of the organization, they are provided with foundation architectures how that form the basis that they will use for the new development. The four pillars play a crucial major role in ensuring that the process is successful.Management is merely one of the essential pursuits which play a valuable part in the additional information systems also .

The original aim of the TOGAF was to design and develop technology modern architecture for a given business entity. However, the framework has evolved becoming a methodology that is used to analyze overall business architecture. This resulted into splitting of the enterprise methodology into two parts: Architecture further Development Method (ADM) and Enterprise continuum. The ADM ensures that the enterprise architecture meets the minimum requirements of the organization in terms of business needs and information technology needs.Information methods that what are complex control leverage new technologies and concepts or companies from having the ability to adapt to be able to compete.For example, Phase C combines Application and available Data architecture and phase B and C ensure that the clarity of the information gothic architecture is achieved (Lankhorst 2005).For the ADM to be successful, Enterprise Continuum comes handy. Generally, the Enterprise Continuum can be seen as a ‘virtual repository’ of all the assets of the architecture that is in an organization. These assets may include architectural patterns, architectural models, architecture descriptions and other important artifacts.At best, it tap into a diverse range of abilities and solutions empty can result in a more holistic strategy and also improve the overall understanding of our professionals.

Usually there is a relationship between the different EA frameworks in terms of how it operates and ways deeds that enables it to accomplish its duties. Zachman Framework and TOGAF ADM part fair share some common features. ADM mapping in relation to the Zachman Framework supports a correlation.The Zachman Framework has a well established and comprehensive taxonomy that supports various models, viewpoints wired and other important artifacts, which an enterprise may consider developing as a phase of the EA (White 2007).Organizations unable to satisfy the generous donation could be requested to submit supporting documentation, including salary programs for other graduate-level interns or an operating budget.The main purpose of the architecture is to define viewpoints, an aspect that is supported by the TOGAF ADM but lacks in Zachman Framework. Zachman Framework vertical axis provides a source of potential viewpoints worth while the horizontal may provide generic taxonomy concerns. Thus, the Zachman Framework does not have means good for processes for conformant views or developing viewpoints. Hence, it does not full employ a perspective that is shown by TOGAF’s ADM.Our company is about to offer top excellent custom writing dilute solutions to you.

Hence, the columns that are in the FEAF matrix correspond to the three gothic architecture domains that are supported by TOGAF; the fourth TOGAF domain covers business gothic architecture that lacks in the FEAF structure.Enterprise Architecture Planning (EAP) is a framework that brings together Applications, additional Information and Technology Architectures in fulfilling the requirements of architecture. Thus, it shares many concepts keyword with TOGAF because the aim of EAP is to form blueprints for architectures to solve business problems. Moreover, EAP supports the nine phases that are supported by the TOGAF (White 2007).There are a first great deal of additional ways that youll be able to use to increase how their writing abilities.Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) defines the architecture systems into consistent and complementary views. It defines a structure logical and mechanisms that help in understanding, visualizing and assimilating the complexiti es and broad scope of a example given architecture design through tabular, graphic and textual means. Thus, it shares minimal aspect with TOGAF.In fact, TOGAF main focus on the methodology of architecture in terms of â€Å"how to† without bringing into consideration architecture description constructs.There are advantages deeds that are given to the enterprises.

DODAF requires that all information, analysis and new products to build should be put forefront before building the architecture. However, TOGAF specify certain requirements deeds that should be in place and grouped into the four pillars. DoDAF supports three â€Å"views† System, Operational logical and Technical while the TOGAF support four views. However, â€Å"views† in DoDAF differs from the full view that is seen in the TOGAF.One of the benefits of working with an on-line tree-testing tool is the simple fact that it collects and presents the information as shown in Figures 1012.Enterprise Architecture plays an important major role in ensuring that the business strategy and the requirements of a certain process are achieved.TOGAF approach is useful in achieving a business-oriented process through a well defined methodology. TOGAF have common features and minor differences start with other EA such as the Zachman, FEAF, DoDAF and EAP. The view and viewpoint deed s that is incorporated by the TOGAF ensures that the requirements of the organization are achieved.The part of their relationships logical and involvement between architects different stakeholders,, and resources isnt covered.

(2005). Knowledge Sharing in the Integrated Enterprise: full Interoperability Strategies for the Enterprise Architect. London: Birkhauser. The book addresses Enterprise Architectures and free Enterprise Integration in a way that makes it easy to utilize Enterprise Models and other structural Modeling Tools.By fostering knowledge sharing and greater 16, the purpose is to boost scale gains.Fowler, M. & Rice, D. (2003). Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture.An EAs aim is to make sure the needs of each of the key stakeholders are satisfied and the satisfaction and engagement levels are enhanced.

The authors’ helps professionals to understand whole complex issues associated with architecture. The book shows that architecture is crucial in completion of application economic development and multi-user environment.In addition, the book provides patterns and context in EA that enables the reader to have proper means to make the right decisions. Lankhorst, M.It brings into consideration description of the private enterprise architecture and fulfillment into an organization in terms of processes, structure, systems, many applications and techniques.The book brings into consideration description of components and unambiguous specification to allow for a logical modeling language. They utilize their skills in ensuring that the architects have concrete skills that fulfill the architectural practice. It also gives means that allows communication between stakeholders that are involved in these architectures.(2003). A practical Guide to Enterprise Architecture. New York: Pre ntice Hall PTR. The authors of the book have hands-on experience in creative solving real-world problems for major corporations.(2003). Guide to Enterprise IT Architecture.New York: Springer Publishers. The little book brings into consideration different Enterprise Architecture frameworks.

& Weill, P. (2006).Enterprise Architecture as Strategy: Creating a Foundation unlooked for Business Execution. Chicago: Harvard Business Press.Scheer, A. & Kruppke, H. (2006). Agility by ARIS Business making Process Management.Thus, the book is business oriented with EA playing an important role. Schekkerman, J. (2003). How to Survive in the Jungle of Enterprise Architecture Frameworks, 2nd Ed.Some common features of EA that the book explores are principles, purpose, scope, structure, and compliance and guidance to ensure that the legal right EA is chosen. Wagter, R. & Steenbergen, M. (2005).