The song of Umass Boston-arifact that exemplifies the culture of UMass Assignment

The song of Umass Boston-arifact that exemplifies the culture of UMass Boston - Assignment Example This idea is strengthened in the third line wherein the speakers say they follow the torch wherever it leads them to. The phrase â€Å"saw a crown on your brow† perhaps talks about the vision of the school. Crowns are often placed on the head but the song says that there is a crown on UMass brow. This could mean nothing else but the vision of the school to produce graduates who will be able to reign in their own chosen careers. This vision can be attained by following the teachings of the school as she trains imparts knowledge and wisdom to the students and train them to become more passionate to fight for what is just and right. As the years went by, the passion of UMass never dimmed. Rather, her light remained its brightness, guiding many people in their lives. As people witnessed more and more graduates of UMass being led into the world where they succeeded, many have dreamed to become one of them and this made them more confident that the school can indeed guide them as she envisioned it. Moreover, the people’s hope that they can be a part of UMass and become successful lessened their fears of what life may have for them. People witnessed how the university remained steadfast in her dreams for her children despite the adversaries and doubts of the people watching her. Her passion never diminished but rather maintained the desire of those who trusted her and walked with her. As a result, many have placed their trust in her as well, considering the university as good and just. On the last stanza, the speakers wish the school the best, mentioning that they desire for her torch to remain steadfastly burning as ever. They hope that even if they are not here on earth anymore to witness how the school will continue with her vision and mission, may she never grow tired nor put her torch down nor let her passions die. Instead, they desire

Islam and Europe Essay Example for Free

Islam and Europe Essay In modern day Europe, people fail to see the many impacts Islam has had on one of the most powerful continents in the western world. To see these impacts, we have to go back in history, from about 1000 C.E. to 1750 C.E. The impacts made by the Islamic world during this time have shaped Europe to the power house it is now. Most of the political impact Islam made on Europe happened during the Crusades. The Crusades began in 1095 when Pope Urban II called for the nations in Europe in unite for one cause. Before Pope Urban’s calling, Europe was divided into civil wars, but he had called for a union. The Crusades were directed towards Muslims, concentrating on the city of Jerusalem. The Crusades brought power and recognition to the pope but as the Crusades became less successful, the pope lost this power and popularity. The Crusades also brought more power to the kings. Prior to the Crusades, the kings had little power because most of the land was owned by rich aristocrats who owned small armies. During battle, these aristocrats were killed without picking an heir. Because of the lack of an heir these aristocrats had, the land was given to the king, thus giving the kings more power. Trade brought to the Christian world by the Islamic world boosted Europe’s economy greatly. Before the Crusades, trade in Europe was almost nonexistent, causing a negative impact on its economy. The Crusades, however, created a large influx of Muslim goods and luxuries. Want for these goods became very apparent with the rich giving the merchants the idea to create trade with the Islamic world. Preceding the 12th century, much of the Islamic and European trade was one sided, Islam exporting to Europe. However, during the 12th century, the major Islamic trading hub, Andalusia, helped Europe expand its exportation. Also, Muslims introduced and banking and credit system into Europe. The cultural effect Islam had on Europe was very substantial considering the technological advancements made by the Islamic world at the time. Before 1400, the only schooling facilities in Europe were monasteries. The development of universities came to Europe when European scholars discovered  Muslim translation of long-lost Greek and Roman scholarship. Not only did Islam help establish schooling in Europe but it also gave new technology to the Europeans. For example in mathematics. Prior to the Islamic influence, Europeans used cumbersome roman numerals. After 1150, the Hindu-Arabic numeral system was introduced to Europe. Arabic nummerals, with an additional character for zero, gradually became standard, aiding in the development of math. They also made advancements in medicine. The European way to treat infectious disease was based on superstition. After the 1300’s, medicinal knowledge developed on medical schools based on the Arabic medical encyclopedia. These advances paved the way for modern practices. These impacts made in Europe by Islam also had an effect globally. Without the development of kings gaining more power, our government today would be completely different, as well as our social classes. This medieval trade to Europe from the Islamic world comes to today with the oil trade. The mathematical advancements made by Arabic Empires gave us our modern understanding of all types of math; same with medicine. These effects did not only impact Europe but the entire world, modern and historical.

Financial Risk Management in Mauritius Banking Sector

Financial Risk Management in Mauritius Banking Sector During the past 10 years, there have been great changes in the Mauritian banking sector and this is a continuing process that will not stop here. This is mostly because of fast innovations in the financial markets and the internationalization of the financial flows. Other factors like technological development and deregulation have both triggered competitive pressures and also provided new opportunities among banks. But these opportunities are also subject to complex risks that challenge traditional approaches to banking risk management. These factors have influenced the financial world on the international level and the Mauritian banking sector has not been left unaffected. The growth of international financial markets banks have been exposed to a wider access to funds. As a result of which banks have been developing new products, services and techniques. The receipt of deposits and granting of loans, being the traditional banking practice, is today only one part of a banks activities. These new instruments have also drawn interest to areas where financial risks were earlier thought to be relatively unimportant. Hence banks are now exposed to a greater variety of risks and their ability to measure, monitor and steer risks accordingly is becoming a decisive parameter for their survival. The aim of this project is to provide an overview of the management process of financial risks in our Mauritian banking sector as risk is the fundamental element that influences the financial behavior. Banking Risks Banks are faced with a wide array of risks in their course of their operations, as illustrated in the figure below. In general, risks are categorised into three different parts: Financial Risks, Operational Risks and Business Risks. Figure 1: Categories of Banking Risks Banking Risks Financial RisksOperational Risks Business Risks Interest Rate Risk 1) Business Strategy Risk1) Legal Risk. Foreign Exchange Risk 2) Internal System and Operational Risk 2) Policy Risk. Credit Risk 3) Technology Risk 3) Systemic Liquidity Risk 4) Management and Fraud (Country) Risk. Source: Annual Report on Banking Supervision 2000 BOM Financial risk concern the effective management and control of the finances of an organisation and the effects of external factors such as availability of credit, foreign exchange rates, interest rate movement and liquidity risk. For this project only the financial side of Risk Management is going to be considered. Focus will be on the four main types of risks which are: Interest rate Risk is the risk borne by an interest-bearing asset, for example in this case a loan, due to variation in interest rates. Foreign Exchange Risk is a form of risk that crop up due to the change in price of one currency against another. Credit Risk is the risk of loss due to a debtors non-payment of a loan. Liquidity risk is the risk to earnings arising from a banks inability to meet its obligations when they come due. Operational risks are related to a banks overall organisation and functioning of internal systems, including computer-related and other technologies, conformity with bank policies and procedures and measures against mismanagement and fraud. Although these types of risks are important, emphasis will not be put on them in this project. Business risks are associated with a banks business environment, including the macroeconomic and policy concerns, legal and regulatory factors and the overall financial sector infrastructure and payment system. Outline of Chapters Chapter 2:Literature Review This chapter will focus on previous studies and surveys carried out with respect to financial risks encountered by banking institutions around the world. It will also focus on the different techniques used to manage these types of risks. Chapter 3:Overview of the Mauritian Banking Sector This chapter aims at giving an overview of the current Mauritian banking sector and also information pertaining to risk management. Chapter 4:Research Methodology In this chapter an outline of the methods used to collect data and carry out the research is given. The way in which the interview questions have been set and how the data has been analysed using different techniques. Chapter 5: Presentation of findings and Analysis This chapter which is the main one aims at presenting and explaining the answers received from the different interviews and data from the annual reports of banks, in a structured way. Chapter 6: Recommendations and Conclusion This last chapter consists of the suggestions regarding financial risk management for the Mauritian banking sector and also the answer to the main question. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Defining Financial Risks Financial risks in the banking field are the probability that the result of an action or event could bring up unfavorable impacts. Such outcomes could either cause direct loss of earnings or capital or may result in limitations on banks capacity to meet its business objectives. Such constraints pose a risk as these could influence a banks capacity to perform its ongoing business or to take advantage of opportunities to advance its business Risks are frequently defined by the negative impacts on profitability of numerous separate sources of uncertainty. While the types and degree of risks of an organization may be exposed to depend upon a number of factors such as its size, complexity business activities, volume etc, it is believed that generally the banks face Credit, Market, Liquidity, Operational, Legal and Systemic risks etc. 2.2 Definition of Financial Risks as Per Basel II The role of risk management in banking has changed from the simple insurance of identified risks, to a discipline that concentrates on complex econometric and financial model of uncertainty. Financial risk management has been defined by the Basel Committee (2001) as a sequence of four processes: the identification of events into more or broad categories of market, credit, operational and ‘other risks and specific sub-categories; the assessment of risks using data and a risk model; the monitoring and reporting of the risk assessments on a timely basis; and the control of these risks by senior management. The first Basel Accord (1988) analysed only credit risks in the banking book; the Basel Amendment (1996) extended this to market risks in the trading book; and now the new Basel 2 Accord that will be adopted by all G10 and many other countries in 2007 refines credit risk assessments to become more sensitive and extends the calculation of risk capital to include operational risks. 2.3 Distinction between Risk Management and Risk Measurement? Risk measurement is a key part of the general risk management process, but its certainly just one of the parts. Other, similarly key parts include defining risks, setting policy risk limits and guidelines, and taking action when those limits are threatened of being breached. Risk management is as much about people, procedures, and communication, as it is about quantitative methods involved in risk measurement (Suren Markosov, 2001). Risk measurement, however, is important to the success of the risk management process. Part of the risk measurement task is to guarantee that the risk measures being used are suitable to the nature of the risks, and since these risks can be quite various in nature, so can the necessary choices of risk measures. 2.4 Why do Banks manage Risks? The analysis of risk management reported in Santomero (1995) gives us a lists of dozens contributions and at least four separate rationales considered for active risk management. These include managerial self-interest, the non-linearity of the tax structure, the costs of financial distress and the existence of capital market imperfections. Risk is a fundamental part of the banking business, it is not amazing that banks have been using risk management ever since there have been banks the industry could never have survived without it. The only modification is the degree of sophistication now necessary to reflect the new complex and fast moving environment (Laurence H Meyer, 2000). The Asian financial crisis of 1997 has shown us that ignoring necessary risk management can also add to economy-wide difficulties. The long period of extraordinary economic growth and prosperity in Asia had hidden weaknesses in risk management. Many Asian banks did not think about risk or conduct a cash flow analysis before giving way loans, but rather lent on the basis of their relationship with the borrower and the availability of guarantee despite the fact that the security was often hard to seize in the event of default. The result was that loans including loans by foreign banks grew faster than the capacity of the borrowers to repay. Risk management is clearly not free. In fact its expensive in both resources and in institutional disturbance. The cost of delaying or avoiding proper risk management can be extreme: failure of a bank and possibly failure of a banking system (Laurence H Meyer, 2000). 3.4 Determinants of Risks When banks are exposed to risk, this implies that they are vulnerable to financial distress and failure. Determinants of risk are thus causes of problem bank failure. The common causes of bank failure are: Management. Argenti (1984) attributed 17% of his A-scores to management style and composition. He attributed another 71% to accounting deficiencies, poor response to change, over-gearing, over trading and large projects; all of which hinge upon capabilities of management. Arguments that he put forward was that management is the primary and single most important cause of financial distress. Asset quality Loan and advances comprise a substantial portion (50%-80%) of commercial banks total assets and they account for more than 70% of their income. This highlights the banks role as financial intermediary. â€Å"Asset quality is the most important determinant of bank risk exposure†. This was pointed out by Hefferman (2000), Gonzalex-Hermossilo (1999), and Hardy (1998). The asset quality of a bank is affected by various factors such as, over concentration, insider lending and political loans. Over-Expansion Banks that grow quickly tend to have unjustified risks and often find that their administrative and management information system cannot keep up with the rate of expansion. Too much liquidity by way of rapid deposit growth could also be a problem in that management may undertake riskier credit proposals and this will adversely affect the asset quality. Capitalization Capital adequacy ratio is a function of adjusted risk assets. A bank can either maintain this ratio by increasing its capital or reducing of adjusted risk assets. The prime objective of this control is to protect depositors. However Blum (1998) found that with the incentives for asset substitution, capital adequacy requirements may actually increase risk. This was found in the case of J.P Morgan and Deutsche Bank. In Mauritius the BOM has adopted a capital adequacy ratio of 10% to match international standards. Fraud Fraud is one of the key determinants of risk. However it is closely related with the management competence that some fraudulent activities have passed off as incompetence. The BCI and Barings Bank are good examples. 2.5 HOW ARE RISKS MANAGED? As pointed out by Anthony M. Santomero (1997) there need to be essential procedures that must be put in place to carry out satisfactory risk management? In essence, what techniques are employed to both limit and manage the different types of risk, and how are they implemented in each area of risk control? The management of the bank relies on a series of steps to put into operation a risk management system. These can be seen as containing the following four parts: 2.5.1 Standards and reports, 2.5.2 Position limits or rules, 2.5.3 Investment guidelines or strategies, 2.5.4 Incentive contracts and compensation. In general, these tools are used to measure exposure, define procedures to manage these exposures, limit individual positions to acceptable levels, and encourage decision makers to manage risk in a manner that is consistent with the firms goals and objectives (Oldfield and Santomero, 1995). To see how each of these four parts of basic risk management techniques achieves these ends, we elaborate on each part of the process below. 2.5.1 Standards and Reports The first of these risk management techniques involves two unlike conceptual activities, i.e., standard setting and financial reporting (Santomero and Babbel, 1996). They are listed jointly because they are the sine qua non of any risk system. Underwriting standards, risk categorizations, and standards of review are all traditional tools of risk management and control. Consistent evaluation and rating of exposures of various types are essential to understand the risks in the portfolio, and the degree to which these risks must be mitigated or absorbed (Hodgson, 1999). The consistency of financial reporting is the next ingredient. Obviously outside audits, regulatory reports, and rating agency evaluations are necessary for investors to measure asset quality and firm level risk. These reports have long been standardized, for better or worse. However, the need here goes beyond public reports and audited statements to the need for management information on asset quality and risk posture. Such internal reports need similar standardization and much more frequent reporting intervals, with daily or weekly reports substituting for the quarterly GAAP periodicity. 2.5.2 Position Limits and Rules The use of position limits, and minimum standards for participation can be categorized as a second method for internal control of active management. According to Santomero (1995) risk taking is restricted to only those assets or counterparties that pass some prespecified quality standard. Then, even for those investments that are eligible, limits are compulsory to cover exposures to counterparties, credits, and overall position concentrations relative to various types of risks. While such limits are costly to set up and control, their imposition restricts the risk that can be assumed by any one individual, and therefore by the organization as a whole. In general, each person who can commit capital will have a well-defined limit. This applies to traders, lenders, and portfolio managers. Summary reports show limits as well as current exposure by business unit on a periodic basis. In big organizations with thousands of positions maintained, precise and well-timed reporting is difficult, but even more necessary (Lopez, 2003). 2.5.3 Investment Guidelines and Strategies Investment guidelines and recommended positions for the instant future are the third technique commonly in use. Cummins et al (1998) provide that under this means of management control, strategies are shaped in terms of concentrations and commitments to particular areas of the market, the extent of desired asset-liability mismatching or exposure, and the need to hedge against systematic risk of a particular type. The limits described above show the way to passive risk avoidance and diversification, because managers generally work within position limits and prescribed rules. Beyond this, guidelines offer firm level advice as to the appropriate level of active management, given the state of the market and the willingness of senior management to absorb the risks implied by the combined portfolio. Such guidelines lead to firm level hedging and asset-liability matching. In addition, securitization and even derivative activity are rapidly growing techniques of position management open to participants looking to reduce their exposure to be in line with managements guidelines. 2.5.4 Incentive Schemes Banks can enter incentive compatible contracts with line managers and make compensation linked to the risks assumed by these individuals, and then the need for complex and costly controls is decreased. However, such incentive contracts require precise position valuation and proper internal control systems. Such tools which include position posting, risk analysis, the allocation of costs, and setting of required returns to various parts of the organization are not irrelevant. Despite the complexity, well designed systems align the goals of managers with other stakeholders in a most desirable way. In fact, most financial debacles can be traced to the absence of incentive compatibility, as the cases of the deposit insurance and so clearly illustrate. The association of managerial compensation to book earnings can bring about acquisition of investments with negative convexity, duration mismatch risk, liquidity risk and credit risk, whose book profits are higher than their expected return (Cummins et al., 1998). STRATEGIES USED BY BANKS TO MANAGE RISKS INTEREST RATE RISK All banks face interest rate risk. This type of risks occurs when long term mortgages are funded by short term deposits. Interest rate risk is like the â€Å"blood pressure for banks and is vital for their survival.†(Ron Feldman and Jason Schmidt) Furthermore, according to the Basel Committee (2001) â€Å"interest rate risk is the exposure of a banks financial condition to adverse movements in interest rates. Accepting this risk is a normal part of banking and can be an important source of profitability and shareholder value.† According to the Bank of Jamaica each banking institution needs to establish explicit and prudent interest rate risk limits, and ensure that the level of interest rate risk exposure does not exceed these limits. Interest rate risk limits need to be set within an institutions overall risk profile, which reflects factors such as its capital adequacy, liquidity, credit quality, investment risk and foreign exchange risk. Interest rate positions should be managed within an institutions ability to offset such positions if necessary. Gap analysis, duration analysis and stimulation models are interest rate risk measurement techniques used by the Bank of Jamaica (2005). Each technique provides a different perspective on interest rate risk, has distinct strengths and weaknesses, and is more effective when used in combination with another. Gap Analysis A simple gap analysis measures the difference between the amount of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities (both on- and off-balance sheet) that reprice in a particular time period. Duration Analysis Duration is the time-weighted average maturity of the present value of the cash flows from assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet items. It measures the relative sensitivity of the value of these instruments to changing interest rates (the average term to repricing), and therefore reflects how changes in interest rates will affect the institutions economic value, that is, the present value of equity. In this context, the maturity of an investment is used to provide an indication of interest rate risk. The longer the term to maturity of an investment, the greater the chance of interest rates movements and, hence, unfavourable price changes. Simulation Models Simulation models are an important complement to gap and duration analysis. Simulation models analyse interest rate risk in a dynamic context. They evaluate interest rate risk arising from both current and future business and provide a way to evaluate the effects of strategies to increase earnings or reduce interest rate risk. Simulation models are also useful tools for strategic planning; they allow a banking institution to effectively integrate risk management and control into the planning process. FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK It is the current risk to earnings and capital arising from negative movements in currency exchange rates. It refers to the impact of adverse movement in currency exchange rates on the value of open foreign currency position. The use of hedging techniques by the Bank of Jamaica is one means of managing and controlling foreign exchange risk. Many different financial instruments can be used for hedging purposes, the most commonly used, being derivative instruments. Examples include forward foreign exchange contracts, foreign currency futures contracts, foreign currency options, and foreign currency swaps. Generally, few banks will need to use the full range of hedging techniques or instruments. Each bank should consider which ones are necessary for the nature and extent of its foreign exchange activities, the skills and experience of trading staff and management, and the capacity of foreign exchange rate risk reporting and control systems. CREDIT RISK Credit risk is the oldest and important risk which banks exposure and important of credit risk and credit risk management are increasing with time because of some reasons like economic crises and stagnation, company bankruptcies, infraction of rules in company accounting and audits (Dr.Adem Anbar, 2006). For the Norinchukin Bank in Japan (2006), transactions involving credit risk are one of the most important and strategic sources of earnings. In addition to assessments of the risks present in individual loans and other assets, the bank conducts comprehensive risk management from the perspective of its overall credit risk portfolio. In this way, the bank works to generate earnings proportionate with the level of credit risk it takes. While frequently strengthening its credit analysis capabilities, the bank conducts expert checks on the standing of borrowers, taking due account of their characteristics as cooperatives, private corporations, public entities, or non-residents. To conduct credit analysis on private corporations and public corporations, the bank has established the Credit Risk Management Division, which is separate from the Corporate Business Management Strategy Division, to prepare credit analyses by industry, drawing fully on the expertise the bank has historically acquired. To achieve greater accuracy in assessments, each senior credit analyst in charge of a certain industry assesses each client and business through comparisons with competitors in the same business, making use of industry research capabilities. Credit risk is measured for loans, guarantees, foreign exchange and securities, such as corporate bonds, as well as for swaps and other off-balance transactions. Measurement of risk volumes are conducted according to types of transactions partners, including domestic and overseas corporations and financial institutions. Based on estimates of the total credit extended, the bank uses information related to credit risk— such as rating transition ratios that measure the probability of rating changes and are computed based on background history and future business prospects, default ratios by rating, recovery ratios in the event of default and correlations among the creditworthiness of corporations and other entities to conduct tens of thousands of simulated scenarios, under various assumptions regarding defaults and rating changes for its customers and their products—to determine the distribution of potential losses. For the estimated potential losses, the bank calculates two risk volumes: the â€Å"expected loss† that corresponds to the loss that can be expected on average over the next year and the â€Å"probable maximum loss,† which is defined as losses that can be expected under the worst case scenario. This enables the bank to check expected profitability against risk and determine the risk capital to be allocated for each business category. LIQUIDITY RISK Liquidity risk is the risk that could occur if an institution does not have enough funds accessible to meet all its cash outflow obligations as they become due. Liquidity risk management ensures that funds will be available at all times to honour the institutions obligations (Bank of Mauritius). A liquidity risk management involves not only analyzing banks on and off-balance sheet positions to forecast future cash flows but also how the funding condition would be met (Bank of Pakistan). The latter involves identifying the funding market the bank has access, understanding the nature of those markets, evaluating banks current and future use of the market and monitor signs of confidence erosion. Banks use a variety of ratios to quantify liquidity. These ratios can also be used to create limits for liquidity management. However, such ratios would be meaningless unless used regularly and interpreted taking into account qualitative factors. Ratios should always be used in conjunction with more qualitative information about borrowing capacity, such as the likelihood of increased requests for early withdrawals, decreases in credit lines, decreases in transaction size, or shortening of term funds available to the bank. To the extent that any asset-liability management decisions are based on financial ratios, a banks asset-liability managers understand how a ratio is constructed, the range of alternative information that can be placed in the numerator or denominator, and the scope of conclusions that can be drawn from ratios. Because ratio components as calculated by banks are sometimes inconsistent, ratio-based comparisons of institutions or even comparisons of periods at a single institution can be misleading. Cash Flow Ratios and Limits. One of the most serious sources of liquidity risk comes from a banks failure to roll over a maturing liability. Cash flow ratios and limits attempt to measure and control the volume of liabilities maturing during a specified period of time. Liability Concentration Ratios and Limits. Liability concentration ratios and limits help to prevent a bank from relying on too few providers or funding sources. Limits are usually expressed as either a percentage of liquid assets or an absolute amount. Sometimes they are more indirectly expressed as a percentage of deposits, purchased funds, or total liabilities. Other Balance Sheet Ratios. Total loans/total deposits, total loans/total equity capital, borrowed funds/total assets etc are examples of common ratios used by financial institutions to monitor current and potential funding levels. EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE ON FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES USED BY BANKS CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT Credit operations are traditionally the main source of income as well as risks for banks. I am going to elaborate on the result and analysis of market central bank meeting participants carried out by Ramon Moreno in 2005. It was found that 40% of the respondents to his survey cited credit to household as an important source of credit risk. According to Moreno, a distinct increase in credit to the household sector has altered risk exposures and he also found that in some countries there is significant credit risks on the banking book associated with asset price fluctuation for example lending for residential real estate accounts for around 25% of total loans in Hong Kong and Korea, around 19% in Hungary, Poland and Israel, but lower in Colombia and Mexico. Another study carried out by Santomero in 1997 found that banks usually use a credit rating procedure to evaluate investment opportunities in order for credit decisions to be made in a consistent manner and to limit credit risk exposure. By using such a procedure banks were able to monitor the quality of its loan portfolio at any time. It was found that the credit quality report signals changes in expected loan losses, if the system is meaningful. Also many banks are starting to develop concentration reports, indicating industry composition of the loan portfolio. Moody had developed a system of 34 industry groups that may be used to report concentrations. Reports such an industry grouping to illustrate the kind of concentration reports that are emerging as stand in the banking industry. Moreover a credit risk survey study was done in the Turkish Banking by Dr Adem ANBAR, where he found that there is main quantitative credit risk measurer. There are expected loss (EL), unexpected loss (UL) and credit value at risk (CVAR). Although these credit risk measures are used for measuring credit risk of one asset, particularly they are used for measuring portfolio credit risk. Only 35% of the bank used these measures. According to Dr Anbar, 30% of the banks said they measured credit risk using a portfolio credit risk model and software developed mostly by them. Furthermore 95% of the bank used internal credit rating system and a credit scoring model in credit risk analysis. This technique was used to determine credit limits, to determine problematic credit and credit risk measurement. According to the study there are 3 approaches in Basel II for credit measurement. These are Standardised Approach (SA), Foundation Internal Ratings Based Approach (FIRBA), and Advanced Internal Rating Based Approach (AIRBA). It was found that 60% of the banks used the first method and 20% the FIRBA and 20% the AIRBA. Dr Anbar found that in general the tools which are used by Turkish banks are collateral, credit limits and diversification but they dont use methods like loan selling, securitization, credit insurance for transferring credit risk. One reason for that was that these types of methods havent been developed in Turkish sector yet. INTEREST RATE RISK MANAGEMENT The tradition has been for the banking industry to diverge somewhat from other parts of the financial sectors in the treatment of interest rate risk. According to Santomero (1997) institutions that do not have active trading businesses, value-at-risk has become the standard approach. Many firms use this model but in some cases it is still in an implementation process. According to his analysis, commercial banks tend not to use market value reports and guidelines but rather, their approach relies on cash flow and bank values. This system has been traditionally been known as the GAP reporting system. This system has been supplemented with a duration analysis. (Hempel, Simonson and Coleman, 1994) Most banks, however have attempted to move beyond this gap methodology, they have concluded that the gap and duration reports are static and do not fit well with the dynamic nature of the banking market. Furthermore, according to the survey, many banks are using balance sheet simulation models to find the effect of interest rate variation on reported earnings overtime. This system requires relatively informed repricing schedules as well as estimates of prepayments and cash flows. The simulation system being completed, reports the resultant derivations in earnings associated with the rate scenarios considered. Officials then make use of cash, futures and swaps to reduce this risk. 2.7.3 LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT The liquidity risk that does present a real challenge is the need for funding when and if a sudden crisis arises. Standard reports on liquid assets and open lines of credit, which are germane to the first type of li

Gender Equity in Math and Science Essay -- Essays Papers

Gender Equity in Math and Science From the research I have read while there is a disagreement on when and how much of a gender gap exists in math and science, there is definitely an equity issue that needs addressing. There seems to be an abundance of information about equity issues and as a future teacher I feel that it is important to examine these issues. If gender equity issues exist in today's’ classrooms why do they and what can be done to help correct it. Everything I've read so far states that a gender gap exists in science, while opinions about math vary. I found a paper on the Internet from the National Center for Education Statistics called â€Å"Trends In Educational Equity of Girls & Women.† Using information from NAEP this source states that between 1973 and 1994 academic achievement of females in math was about equal to males (NCES, 2000). The NCES report states that females and males take similarly challenging academic courses (2000). Baker (2001) however writes that research shows that there is a slight female superiority in elementary school and middle school and a moderate male superiority in high school in math and science. Baker (2001) researched gender equity in gifted elementary students in grades 4 and 6. After his study he concluded that â€Å"gender had a significant effect on the performance of high performing students in grades 4 and 6† (Baker, p.134). Baker reported a slight female super iority in relation to performance in the area of math computation which is consistent with other studies he has read, but Baker found that males were superior in the understanding of math concepts and applications which is inconsistent with previous findings (2001). From reading our textbook the... .... Science Education, 84, 180-192. Kahle, J., and Lakes, M. (1983). The Myth of Equality in Science Classrooms. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 20, 131-140. National Center for Education Statistics. (2000). Trends in Educational Equity of Girls & Women. Retrieved March 16, 2001 on the World Wide Web: http://nces.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pud=2000030. Sadker, M., Sadker, D., and Stulberg, M. (1993, March). Fair and Square? Creating a Nonsexist Classroom. Instructor, 44-46, 67-68. Sanders, J. (1997). Teacher Education and Gender Equity. (Eric Document No. ED408277). World Wide Web: http://ericir.syr.edu/plweb-cgi/obtain.pl. Retrieved March 16, 2001. Reys, R., Lindquist, M. Lambdin, D., Smith, N., and Suydam, M. (2001). Helping Children Learn Mathematics. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Key problems at Edit 4U and recommendations

Drury ( 2008 ) has defined direction accounting as â€Å"†¦ the proviso of information to people within the administration to assist them do better determinations and better the efficiency and effectivity of bing operations.† Making the most effectual and efficient determinations is one of the most critical things to make because this leads to a successful growing and profitableness of the company. Assorted places like the Board of Directors make these important determinations every twenty-four hours in order to function the shareholders’ involvements and to do certain that the concern will go on to run in the hereafter. The determinations are made utilizing competent direction accomplishments, different managerial experiences and whether the direction chose to be a hazard taker or a hazard averse. Edit 4U ( E4U ) is a household owned concern who provides redaction and layout service for magazines. The concern was set up with the purpose to be profitable and to vie with other concerns in the same field whilst the economic system of Ireland is dining. As a get downing business- jobs and troubles could non be avoided which is the ground why this study has been commissioned. The study will supply information and concern advice to decide jobs that Mr. and Mrs. O’Sullivan is presently sing. The cardinal issues of the concern will be analysed and examined to be able to give the right solutions and recommendations to Mr. Sean O’Sullivan. Different direction accounting techniques would be endorsed in order to better the public presentation of the concern. KEY ISSUES The cardinal issues that have been found whilst the analyzing the concern is as follows: I.Costing Method Pricing occupations or merchandise costing is one of the cardinal issues that Sean and Mary are presently confronting. Sean does non cognize how to be a service per column occupation which has led to inaccurate fiscal statements and false figure of gross ( Banker & A ; Hughes, 1994 ) . A direction accounting research by Brignall, et Al ( 1991 ) have mentioned that merchandise costing are used for ‘ †¦ stock list rating, merchandise pricing, mix determinations and for direction planning and control’ . It is indispensable that a concern cost their service right because it helps the direction make better determinations towards the profitableness of the concern. The cost-plus pricing could be an option that Edit 4U could utilize because this determines the merchandising monetary value and costs of the service they offer. This is calculated based on Sean’s chosen net income border for the company. Furthermore, Edit 4U could utilize a merchandise costing system which helps to be products/ services based on the demand for the occupation. Marginal costing, soaking up costing and activity based costing are some of the bing methods that Sean could utilize to accurately monetary value the column services that they offer to their clients. The Activity Based Costing ( Garg & A ; Rafiq, 2002 ) method `†¦aid strategic determination devising, it act as a lens into the concern procedure leting resources to be expeditiously allocated and to enable cost decrease and in conclusion, it is an allotment mechanism that transfer pricing internal and external to the organisation’ . This indicates that the footing of allotment which a theoretical account is shown in Appendix 1should be considered to be implemented throughout the company because this will divide up the costs that are allocated consequently to its cost Centres. The method ensures that costs are being driven by the right cost Centres and they are exactly measured. Enforcing a direction accounting technique will ensue to a better service pricing based on the customization of each client ( Caplan, 2014 ) . However, in order to make these more information is needed from the concern. For illustration, Sean should account for all the relevant costs because this will back up him to take the most efficient determination with respects to the hereafter of the concern. Options should besides be considered because this will move as insurance in instance the first determination fails. In add-on, more information like how much work is allocated to a customized redaction service ; the type of merchandise mix that they are traveling to offer that could give high soaking up rate and how much is the demand for their service. These are some of information that would be required from Sean and Mary to to the full set a monetary value on services that they offer. Equally good as supplying extra information it is recommended that Sean and Mary use the client profit ableness analysis ( Epstein, 2000 ) which is shown in Appendix 2. II.Planning and Control The following cardinal issue to be raised is the deficiency of separation between the family and the business’ disbursals since Sean utilizations portion of their place as an office. The Activity Based Costing will assist Sean and Mary to allocate the cost more accurately with respects to the disbursals used in the concern. The deficiency of planning and control in the concern could take to hapless determinations being made, hapless hard currency flow, and they could be taking the business’ objectives to a incorrect way ( Lucey, 2009 ) . The Cost Volume Profit ( Drury, 2013 ) analysis â€Å"examines the relationship between alterations in activity and alterations in entire gross revenues gross, costs and net profit.† The analysis is a direction accounting technique that determines how many products/ services can a concern green goods in order to breakeven. This means that the analysis could let the direction to happen out how much services they can offer in order for the concern to gain net income. The analysis is besides used to pull the border of safety that will demo the scope of units before the concern will happen some loss. Using this sort of direction accounting technique could forestall Sean from doing the incorrect determination for the company. However, the analysis will non work if there is non adequate information available which makes it impossible for the concern to build the cost volume net income analysis right ( ACCA, 2014 ) . Some of the information that will be needed to bring forth the analysis is the expected gross revenues of the concern, the variable cost, the fixed costs and the part per unit of the merchandise. Therefore, it is recommended that the concern should go on on utilizing the accounting system that they already have because this will guarantee that the grosss and disbursals are accurately accounted for. Furthermore, this will do certain that the books remain balance and their VAT returns will be addressed right. III.Business Venture The last issue that will be analysed and discussed is the prospective concern venture that Sean will come in with Fergus. There are Numberss of concerns that would necessitate to be resolved in order to do the right determination for Edit 4U’s concern venture ( Datar, et al. , 2012 ) . The first concern is the loan that Fergus will borrow from Sean to pay for the printing and distribution costs. I would propose to Sean to make a full background and recognition cheque on Fergus before he agrees to make a concern venture with him. The ground for this is that Sean demands to do certain that Fergus is a believable individual and has a clean repute amongst Bankss and edifice societies. If Fergus has a bad repute as a man of affairs, so this could post great menaces and hazards to the concern venture and could stain Sean’s concern repute. However, if Sean wants to prosecute the concern venture so he would necessitate to come in into a contract with Fergus that contains all the conditions that Sean has with respects to any jobs in the hereafter sing Fergus’ credibleness. Sean will necessitate to retrieve that even though they have a contract, he could non alter the public’s sentiments towards him if there was a dirt about the concern venture. The 2nd concern would be the failure to budget the hard currency flows of the concern. Budgeting is a direction accounting technique which ensures that the hard currency out flow and inflow will be accounted ( Russell, et Al, 2001 ) C. Using this technique Sean and Fergus would be able to be after and do determinations about the hereafter of the concern and they can accurately cognize the costs and predicted grosss. If the concern does non utilize any accounting technique so it will be hard for the direction to find the public presentation of the concern and they will non be able to run into their aims. Last, Sean should be cognizant on how many yearss their creditors are giving them because if the company fails to pay these creditors in clip they will be given non to swear the company and discontinue making concern with Edit 4U. The worst instance scenario is the company traveling to travel on bankruptcy ( Agarwala & A ; Taffler, 2008 ) . Using personal recognition cards and overdraft installation as a capital is non the most efficient manner to finance a concern because this could take to paying higher involvement rates that will incur each month. In order to avoid losing the creditor’s yearss a direction accounting technique called ‘accounting ratio’ should be practiced. Patton has mentioned on his Accounting reappraisal in 1982 that ratio analysis could be really utile in countries like ‘analysis of concern minutess in markets that may non be efficient ; contractual bounds based on accounting rations and public presentation anticipation and hazard rating in an efficient market’ . Some people might believe that accounting ratios are non utile but in fact these ratios could steer the direction of the company to whether the concern is executing good and it could besides uncover how many yearss their creditors would necessitate to be paid and when they are traveling to have hard currency influxs from their debitors. However, if more information like the fiscal studies is available, it is possible for the company to to the full analyze and see the public presentation of the company. The accounting ratio could assist the company pull off its hard currency flows efficaciously. Therefore, I would propose for Sean and Fergus to utilize the ratio analysis technique whether they go in front or non with the concern venture. CONCLUSIONS & A ; RECOMMENDATIONS After analyzing and measuring the cardinal issues of Edit 4U, I conclude that Sean who started the concern along with his married woman Mary should utilize and implement a figure of direction accounting techniques in order for their concern to be enhanced, to turn and to place the costs expeditiously. As a direction adviser, I would urge for Mr. and Mrs. O’Sullivan to utilize the undermentioned: Activity Based Costing to be the service that Edit 4U offers and to apportion the costs efficaciously to each cost drivers. The Profitability Analysis should be used to calculate the profitableness of a undertaking and the concern. Cost Volume Profit ( CVP ) Analysis ( CSUS, 2014 ) should be used to be able to cognize when the units of end product and the sum of grosss breakeven. Budgeting and accounting ratios are used to analyze the concern venture between Fergus and Sean. These direction accounting techniques could give the two parties a better image of the public presentation of the concern. In add-on, these techniques could give them the most of import information needed to do determinations and send on their program. Therefore, after accounting the most of import key issues, it has been identified that more information is needed from Sean with respects to the past records and past public presentation of the company in order to utilize the direction accounting techniques and to acquire the most accurate consequences. The more accurate the consequences are from utilizing these techniques, the more accurate the determinations are made for the company.

Cross Cultural Perspective †Nike Corporation Essay

Pakistan and Cambodia have strict child labor and slavery laws, however, the government has done very little to regulate it. Contracts for production are still being granted in areas of Pakistan where there is not sufficient monitoring or regulation to make sure that child labor laws are being observed and enforced. The United States Constitution deems that child labor is not only illegal but also inhumane and that any organization caught practicing or even encouraging forced labor or violating child labor laws will be prosecuted. The general thought process of Nike and many other global organizations is that they can operate their production with the lowest cost of labor. This leads the organizations to enter into violations of child labor laws. An investigation was conducted where Nike was found to have a large number of cases that involved forced labor or child labor law violations in some of the large apparel factories of Nike. In a particular factory in Malaysia, it was found that Nike was operating production in terrible working conditions for the employees in addition to the forced labor. It was found that Nike had underage children working in sweatshops up to seventy hours a week in unhealthy conditions making their products. Pakistan has a population of approximately 1 million people and it is also an important location or â€Å"hub† per say for the production of goods that are to be exported to international markets, this is especially true of the production and export of sporting goods which brings in revenues in excess of 300 million dollars a year. When confronted with the findings, Nike issued a statement stating that they would take corrective action to make sure that the child labor laws were followed and that they would not continue to operate forced labor and bad working conditions within any of their factories. Nike started focusing on their social responsibility efforts in areas in which they can have the greatest impact and create the greatest value for the organization and for the communities that the various factories are in. Nike has initiated the social responsibility efforts in the materials they design for their products, as well as the process of making those materials and products. An analysis of the ethical and social responsibilities Nike faced with global expansion had many factors that needed consideration. The first consideration was the cost of making their products. To stay competitive in their prices while not reducing the amount of employees, Nike, decided to outsource some of their manufacturing and suppliers on a global scale. This provided Nike cost advantage over their competition and it also allowed Nike to expand into emerging markets. Some could view this as unethical practice because it could take jobs away from manufacturing plants in the United States; however, Nike was acting in the best interests of the organization including its employees overseas and the employees back in the United States. If an organization does not maintain a competitive edge in their respective markets when expanding the organization not only in the United States but also worldwide, there would be no room for growth and jobs would be lost. When a company is no longer competitive in their respective industry, it can eventually cause them to shut down factories in their communities, which in turn can cause people to lose their of jobs. Nike’s social responsibility to the community includes the Nike Foundation. The Nike Foundation focuses on adolescent girls in developing countries. Nike has established custom product lines, marketing, events that have raised donations from consumers. Nike strongly believes that every young person in should have access to sports and has developed various programs and activities. Aside from the Nike Foundation, Nike has also developed several other programs as part of their social responsibility such as the Homeless World Cup (HWC), ninemillion and Let us Play in China. The Homeless World Cup (HWC) has supported locally-run football programs for homeless community members in more than 60 countries globally. In addition, 34 of these nations either plan or already have active national street soccer leagues running throughout the year (Nikebiz. com). The HWC training programs include technical training as well as assist the players with drug or alcohol dependency programs, finding jobs, finding homes and receiving education to name a few (Nikebiz. com). In 2006, NIKE, Inc. , partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) and Microsoft to launch the ninemillion campaign through ninemillion. org to give more than 9 million children living in refugee camps access to better education, sports and technology (Nikebiz. com). The let us play in China program has partnered with China Children and Teenagers’ Fund, under the government-organized NGO Women’s Federation, on a program that empowers migrant youth and introduces more child-centered teaching methods through sports (Nikebiz. com). The Nike Foundation’s mission is to provide innovative programs that offer solutions for girls, by partnering with larger organizations to get girls’ issues on the international agenda and to mobilize resources to support them (Nikebiz. com). This promotes learning skills and the ability to work as a team. It creates the ability to adapt to situations that could arise in the work environment and in life; it also promotes confidence in playing sports. This is one of the most ethical things that a company can do to help develop the next generation. In conclusion, Nike has accepted that they have done some things in the past that have been rather unethical and have been damaging to their image, not to mention that it could have really altered their profitability.