Introduction to Financial Services Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Introduction to Financial Services - Case Study Example Fifty years ago, financial services has accounted for less than 3 percent of GDP in the US and developed Europe, which at present, is mounted to almost 10 percent (Stephenson 2005). Thus, the financial services industry is one of the many industries that produce rapid growth in the world economy (Stephenson 2005). The modern financial industry witnessed 1986 as the 'big bang' era that opened London up more widely to international competition through electronic trading (Harris 1998). The onset of computer technology and global telecommunications systems has undoubtedly brought rapid changes that likewise brought changes to financial services. A widening of shared ownership and investment opportunities from few to many has been heralded by this development (Harris 1998). This development has bid adieu to the usage of a stockbroker, as it has now been possible for one to buy and sell certain financial investments through a visit to the local bank or using the computer. Before the onset of advanced technology and computerization, there used to be a clear difference between a retail bank and a building society, or an insurance company, which all had a separate business from the retail bank. Today, financial institutions cannot be easily differentiated as the differences between them are disappearing while they continuously compete against each other to sell services that used to be sold by just one portion of the sector (Harris 1998). The past witnessed each firm with a narrow band of services, which it offered to a wide range of consumers and business clients. Even the payment system was controlled by commercial banks that have the authority to clear checks and drafts. Today, payments and money are facilitated electronically in volumes that are not easily handled in the physical form (Johnson 2000). Mortgage finance, which is now traded as securities, is likewise available from a wide range of sources while securities firm offer corporate and gover nment securities as investment avenues (Johnson 2000). Even insurance companies provide products that compete with investments, which can be obtained through securities firms. It may be inferred that the dynamics of the banking industry have been permanently changed by mutual funds, which is an outcome of recent technology advancement (Johnson 2000). The same advancement has blurred traditional roles, causing difficulty to distinguish the product of a commercial bank from that of another financial institution. Banks are now selling insurance, with some having taken over some insurance firms. Virgin Boots offers a range of insurance companies in much the same way as Marks &Spencer sells investment products and pensions (Harris 1998). Likewise, if one needs a mortgage, he can go to a building society, a bank, an insurance company, and even a local supermarket. Financial services also witnessed the rapid growth of telephone call centres and helplines with their increased staffing jobs. A process of significant change in a period of new alignments in domestic markets and increased global competition is currently faced by the financial services industry (Johnson 2000). For several years, bank deposits have served as the basis for the country's payment mechanism, until such time electronic banking occurred, replacing physical

Dialectial Journal Essay Example for Free

Dialectial Journal Essay Dialectical Journals But today he saw one of the rivers secrets, one that gripped his soul. He saw that the water continually flowed and flowed and yet it was always there; It was always the same and yet every moment it was new. pg. 102 C)Slddhartha ponders about a secret of the river. It Is one that he never realized before. The water flows continuously and remains constant. It Is the same, and yet It Is new. Life seems to be like this. Everyone of us has life, and we live It. The world eems to continuously move and go on, despite the changes that happen. People die and people are born: people succeed and people fall. Every moment Is new, yet the world keeps going, time Is constant and does not stand still for anyone. The river teaches Siddhartha a lesson that he does not fully comprehend at that moment, yet remains an Important lesson to learn. But today he saw one of the rivers secrets, one that gripped his soul. He saw that the water continually flowed and flowed and yet it was always there; it was always the C)Siddhartha ponders about a secret of the river. It is one that he never realized before. The water flows continuously and remains constant. It is the same, and yet it is new. Life seems to be like this. Everyone of us has life, and we live it. The world and people are born: people succeed and people fail

Comparing Rich Citizens of New York in the 1920s: Attitudes on Philanthropy :: American America History

Comparing Rich Citizens of New York in the 1920's: Attitudes on Philanthropy How did the rich of Hudson Valley and Harlem New York differ in behavior patterns and personal attitudes towards home ownership during 1920 to 1925? Even with the distinction of race between Hudson valley rich and Harlem rich are the two groups in anyway similar? The rich of Hudson Valley did not feel the need nor the obligation to be philanthropical towards their under class counterparts. They were desensitized towards the needs of the poor and unfortunates of society. The Harlem rich however, felt a moral and spiritual obligation to help those less fortunate then themselves to become more prosperous so that they could aspire to the joys of home ownership. Only if they felt the individuals were worthy of their help. What were the Hudson Valley rich like? They were made up of two classes of people the Robber Barons and the Mayflower rich. In "The Rich and The Super - Rich" Ferdinand Lundberg writes that the Robber Barons gained their wealth thought crime. He writes "Crime: The Highroad to Wealth. Either sound instinct or certain knowledge led Kefauver, Kennedy, Vanderbilt and J.P. Morgan to link notorious under world figures with the business world. For crime is a historically established highroad to American fortune building. If earlier men came into the upper propertied class by means of violent crime, it would seem that later criminal practitioners might be heading toward the same dubious salvation. So assiduously and unscrupulously did the earlier fortune-builders work that one might suppose they believed that in attaining wealth they were attaining eternal life." The Mayflower rich considered themselves the true Americans since their families history could be traced all the way back the firs t Dutch settlers who settled in the Hudson Valley area. They did not accept the Robber Barons with open arms until their fortunes over powered the Mayflower rich in comparison. F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote "Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful, in a way that, unless you were born rich, it is difficult to understand. They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are because we had to discover the compensations and refuges of life for ourselves.

male female relationships :: essays research papers

My impressions of the opposite sex are diverse and have changed throughout my life. As a child born into a family of three girls, my exposure to the opposite sex was limited. The only real male in my life was my father. I never viewed him as the opposite sex because he was my dad. He was a strict, authoritative figure and a great protector. My early impressions of the opposite sex were that of great strength and security, both physically and emotionally.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As I entered adulthood and encountered the opposite sex on a new level it was quite a learning experience. I realized although the male is physically stronger than the female, the female is emotionally stronger. The male tends not to be too much of a thinker where a woman definitely is a thinker and dwells on many aspects of life. The male is more visually stimulated where the female is more emotionally stimulated. Women need to be heard and reassured and men don’t give that as much as women would like. It seems to me that men don’t need the same emotional support women need, and so the conflict begins! What both sexes need to do is listen and pay attention to one another. Also to realize that what you need is not always what others need.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As a mother my view of the opposite sex is different. As a mother of two sons, I see how different boys are as opposed to girls, even early in life. I have learned that boys/men are physical beings from birth. Is it genetic or is it society’s conditioning? I am not sure but it makes me believe that it is not something that is chosen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   -2-   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Do women have more power than men? In some ways I would say yes they do? Women seem to be more in tune to their emotions and can deal with many situations at one time. male female relationships :: essays research papers My impressions of the opposite sex are diverse and have changed throughout my life. As a child born into a family of three girls, my exposure to the opposite sex was limited. The only real male in my life was my father. I never viewed him as the opposite sex because he was my dad. He was a strict, authoritative figure and a great protector. My early impressions of the opposite sex were that of great strength and security, both physically and emotionally.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As I entered adulthood and encountered the opposite sex on a new level it was quite a learning experience. I realized although the male is physically stronger than the female, the female is emotionally stronger. The male tends not to be too much of a thinker where a woman definitely is a thinker and dwells on many aspects of life. The male is more visually stimulated where the female is more emotionally stimulated. Women need to be heard and reassured and men don’t give that as much as women would like. It seems to me that men don’t need the same emotional support women need, and so the conflict begins! What both sexes need to do is listen and pay attention to one another. Also to realize that what you need is not always what others need.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As a mother my view of the opposite sex is different. As a mother of two sons, I see how different boys are as opposed to girls, even early in life. I have learned that boys/men are physical beings from birth. Is it genetic or is it society’s conditioning? I am not sure but it makes me believe that it is not something that is chosen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   -2-   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Do women have more power than men? In some ways I would say yes they do? Women seem to be more in tune to their emotions and can deal with many situations at one time.

West African Slave Trade

The West African Slave Trade was a global event that focused on West Africa. It was the sale and ownership of another human being that was put into slavery. It was a â€Å"forced Migration† that lasted 300 years. It was an event that forced 15, 000, 000 people into slavery for a lifetime. From 1551 – 1850 about 15,000,000 people were brought into the slave trade it is said that roughly 5,000,000 did not survive, and may have immediately died before making through the shock of enslavement.About 10,000,000 people in the western hemisphere survived and were sold on the auction block. Generations continued into slavery, the offspring was also brought into slavery. The owners liked the idea of their slaves reproducing. This meant their work force would grow without having to spend much money on slaves. About 250,000,000 lived in slavery throughout the 300 years. West Africa was the source of the slave trade. Between 1450 and the end of the nineteenth century, slaves were obt ained from along the west coast of Africa with the full and active co-operation of African kings and merchants.Slavery was also a traditional part of African society — various states and kingdoms in Africa operated one or more of the following: chattel slavery, debt bondage, forced labor, and serfdom. Ghana, Mali, Songhai were kingdoms that had large economies and supported large populations, they had knowledge of agriculture, and grew many different crops that sustained many people. Because of the West African Slave Trade, These kingdoms were affected by greed and would often go to war and capture prisoners to sell into slavery. Why West Africa? It was all about Economics.Europeans looked toward West Africa because of their knowledge of cultivation and technologies. Expanding European empires in the New World lacked one major resource — a work force. In most cases the natives had proved unreliable (most of them were dying from diseases brought over from Europe), and E uropeans were no fit to the climate and suffered under tropical diseases. Africans, on the other hand, were excellent workers: they often had experience of agriculture and keeping cattle, they were used to a tropical climate, resistant to tropical diseases, and they could be â€Å"worked very hard† on plantations or in mines.There were two kinds of slaves that were sold; the chattle slave who are productive or field slaves, who usually held a lower status, worked to produce marketable goods. And companion slaves a domestic or house slaves that performed menial household duties for their masters and had a more intimate connection with owner. The companion was recognized as human, usually raised and educated their owners children. A companions slave’s standard of living was much better than the chattle slave who was a field worker looked at as an animal.The chattle slave was more of a commodity to the owner in the hardest form of labor. Humanity was stripped of him was t reated very badly and was worked to death. Slaves were forced to work in cotton and tobacco fields. 90% of slaves were chattle slaves. Europeans needed money to hire a work force. Instead they invested by purchasing slaves who were forced work for no money. Shock of enslavement The people of West Africa went through a 5 step process that forced them into enslavement. The first would be captivity. Slave traders would come into the villages and drag the people out of their homes.Or a captured soldier would be sold to slave trade. Slave traders were experienced; they immediately chained their victims by the neck onto a pole to keep the victims from running. Journey from the interior is the second step. The slave traders walked 20-50 mile with 10 captives at a time, keeping down the chance for a rebellion. By 1850 the slave traders were walking up to 100 miles having to go deeper into Africa. Some captives resisted by crippling themselves in hopes that the slave traders would just leave them behind, some may have succeeded, others may have been killed.Suicide would be their last option. Another form of resistance would be collaboration, where the victim would â€Å"offer† to guide the slave traders to other villages where they would capture other young men for the slave trade. The third step to this process would be the collection centers. Europeans rarely entered the interior of Africa, due to fear of disease and fierce African resistance. The enslaved people would be brought to coastal outposts where they would be traded for goods. Victims were taken to the coastal areas and put in dungeons that were castles built as collection centers.Meanwhile the slave traders gathered enough people to fill a ship to cross the Atlantic. The victims were placed in dark rooms with people of different ethnic groups and different languages making it very hard to communicate. Once the slave traders had enough passengers for the ship, they would move the people by night, tak ing them to the bottom of the ship and not letting them come up to see daylight until they were miles away. The next step is the middle passage. In the 1550’s there â€Å"human cargo† for the slave trade.Levels were built within the ship with narrow walkways, and boards measuring 2 1/2 by 6’ft. were placed next to each other. As many boards as would fit were laid on each level of the ship. They placed as many as 300 boards for 300 people. By the 1750’s – 1800’s Ships were packed to the fullest. They had 2 people per plank, chained down to the plank for a period of 2 ? – 3 months. Most of the people died during the middle passage. Many had never been on a ship, sick and laying in their own waste. Thousands of slaves died during transportation.They were kept chained up in excessively cramped conditions without sufficient food, water, or exercise, throughout the long Atlantic voyage to the Americas and West Indies. They were not fed prop erly; dying from disease or depression, the slave traders had no interest in their well-being. The dead were thrown into the ocean; millions of people were thrown into the ocean throughout the 300 years of slave trading. The human cargo ships were also known as â€Å"death ships†, and could be identified by the smell death and waste when high wind blew and ships sailed into port.Because of their malnutrition and poor physical appearance, people were brought to the deck of the ship and forced to exercise, 10 at a time. This provoked attempts of either overpowering the men on the ship, to jump off the ships, or attack the slave traders which led to either suicide or getting killed. Some of the men were able to overpower the ships and unchain the slaves, some ships never made it to the ports, because of the overpowering of the ship, or because of the certain weather conditions. The 5th step of the process would be the final step.Once arrived at the port the victims would be take n to cells to wait for the auction. Looking very weak, doctors were hired specifically to help the victims look presentable. Once the slaves had been worked on, they were put on display for people to choose and bid on. The victims were stripped down to bareness, people would â€Å"check† the people, looking at their bodies, teeth, and even checking for lice. Once the people made these observations, the bidding would begin. Now the victims became slaves for the rest of their life. These were the 5 steps that forced a free person into enslavement.This brought the Transatlantic Slave Trade or triangular trade. Also known as the â€Å"Golden Triangle†. The profits made from the global trade of sugar, tea and coffee were the major driving force behind the triangular trade. For centuries it provided substantial quantities of venture capital for the industrial revolution and the development of the western European economy. The Transatlantic Slave Trade consisted of three jour neys: 1). The outward passage from Europe to Africa carrying manufactured goods. 2). The middle passage from Africa to the Americas or the Caribbean carrying African captives and other ‘commodities’. ). The homeward passage carrying sugar, tobacco, rum, rice, cotton and other goods back to Europe. African survival The first years for the colonists were very difficult; there was limited amount of food. The West African slaves had knowledge of certain technologies that resulted in the production of food. This was a process used in West Africa, the people made their own â€Å"fishing nets†. The people would find streams that would lead to fish population, closing in sections and trapping fish in large amounts. They also used concoction.Which is a method used by extracting the oxygen in the water, this made the fish rise to the surface. Other technologies like Cattle ranching, the cultivation of rice and sugar were also expanding in the western hemisphere. The concep t of rice cultivation was introduced to the colonial South Carolina 20 years into the colony. Economics, this was a way the colonists made money. The rice cultivation became one of the main crops in colonial South Carolina. The West African people also built shelters using materials available to them, and building shelters out of the West African design.Because colonial South Carolina had swamp areas in their environment, transportation was very difficult. The West African built the main type of transportation which was a small watercraft or canoe of the West African design. The colonists could have not survived if not for the West African slaves. All these methods used were a form of African survival in direct form. From 1739-1820 the population of people coming directly from West Africa was growing. These people had been free people, not born into slavery.The chances for rebellion grew, and slaves were outnumbering their owners. September 9, 1739 was the day of the Stono Rebellion ; it was the largest rebellion mounted by slaves against slave owners in colonial America. The Stono Rebellion's location was near the Stono River in South Carolina. Slaves in the Carolina wanted to reach St. Agustine FL, because the Spanish had spread the word that slaves were going to be free there and land will be given to them. 100 slaves rise up against the colonists, get to an armory, trying to escape to the swamps of Florida.The inexperienced slaves were, encountered by the experienced militia, resulting in the killing of 30 colonists and 60 slaves. Uncomfortable with the increasing numbers of blacks for some time, the white colonists had been working on a Negro Act that would limit the privileges of slaves. This act was quickly finalized and approved after the Stono Rebellion. No longer would slaves be allowed to grow their own food, assemble in groups, earn their own money, or learn to read. Some of these restrictions had been in effect before the Negro Act, but had not bee n strictly enforced.

Professional Knowledge and Abilities

Professional Knowledge and Abilities Free Online Research Papers Maintaining professional knowledge and abilities is essential to one’s career success. The continued striving for additional knowledge related to one’s professional field, or the attainment of knowledge from reliable and credible sources and organizations, allow an individual to possess the knowledge and abilities needed to succeed within a particular field. Various organizations and associations allow an individual from any professional field to further develop or enhance professional abilities and knowledge of a chosen profession. American Psychological Association Overview The American Psychological Association is the largest association of psychologists with over 150,000 members. This global organization functions with the mission to aid society as a whole by improving lives of those dealing with psychological illness. Working continually to advance knowledge of mental illness, awareness, and treatment methods the American Psychological Association is the optimal source for professional knowledge and abilities for any individual entering or currently working within the field of psychology (American Psychological Association, 2010). Increasing Professional Knowledge and Abilities The individual seeking to enter or currently working within the psychology field will find a plethora of opportunity for increasing his or her professional knowledge and abilities through membership with the American Psychological Association. The organization’s purpose is to advance psychology both as a science and profession, and to also act as the leading means to the promotion of health, education, and human welfare (American Psychological Association, 2010). The American Psychological Association offers its members in all branches of psychology encouragement and continually seeks to improve the understanding and methods of psychology through research. The association also implores its members to hold to very high standards of ethics, conduct, education and achievement. The member of the American Psychological Association is able to enhance or further develop his or her knowledge and abilities through various meetings, reports, discussions and publications and acts as a valuable resource for professional contacts (American Psychological Association, 2010). Impact on Career Success The individual seeking a career in psychology will undoubtedly find the American Psychological Association to have vast impact on his or her career success. By becoming a member of the association one is able to achieve increased success with the utmost respect from colleagues and clientele when one follows the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. These principles and code of conduct supply the professional with a guide to behavior which will enable the professional to function within the professional field and address many issues of ethical dilemmas the professional may face throughout his or her career (American Psychological Association, 2010). For the new professional just entering the field these guidelines are essential for success and advancement potential. The American Psychological Association also makes available to the professional countless resources for credible and current information regarding any matter related to psychology which will enable the professional to always have access to valuable information required for treating those who suffer from mental illness. In addition, the association acts as the source for scholars seeking a degree in psychology to learn the standards associated with scholarly writings one will be required to complete throughout one’s educational experience (American Psychological Association, 2010). Conclusion In any profession one must continue to attain higher levels of professional knowledge and abilities in effort to achieve professional success. Regardless of the chosen career path an individual follows failure to seek additional knowledge and enhanced professional abilities will limit the chances of success in modern society which is ever-changing. Through research one is able to assimilate oneself with various professional organizations and associations such as the American Psychological Association, which offer valuable resources to the professional which can increase success for the professional in his or her chosen field. References American Psychological Association. (2010). About the American Psychological Association. Retrieved Feburary 5, 2010, from apa.org/about/ American Psychological Association. (2010). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct 2002. Retrieved Feburary 5, 2010, from apa.org/ethics/code2002.pdf Research Papers on Professional Knowledge and AbilitiesThree Concepts of PsychodynamicInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementThe Project Managment Office SystemThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationStandardized TestingEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenOpen Architechture a white paperAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia

Sales and Monitoring Essays

Sales and Monitoring Essays Sales and Monitoring Essay Sales and Monitoring Essay Sales and Monitoring BY strawHat27 Chapter I The Project and its Background Inventory and Monitoring System is an effective way for monitoring and tracking different products and materials that are transferred in and out of a companys warehouse or establishment, store or market place usually for accounting purposes. It is also important for a company to monitor all the transactions, events or movements of goods in order to keep an account of all their stocks. However in some establishments or company, the inventory of the product is done manually in such a ay that an employee writes down the information of different products every time it is transferred in and out of the room. The same case applies in CLB Property Office; and as a result, the inventory and monitoring system becomes prone to human error and would be more time consuming which will most likely be a loss for the institute. In CLB Property Office, there is a corresponding form for every incoming or outgoing item (from the stock room). These forms serve as the basis of comparison when inspecting; that is, the amount of item that goes in or out must tally with those ritten in the forms. Afterwards, all the forms and records used in the transactions will then be kept for future reference. Besides, inventories are being computed every day without any tally or documentation for everyday inventory. Their inventory is being done once a week, but most of the time, monthly. In addition to the complexity of the process, the employee responsible on this task also needs to check the stocks once in a while so as to monitor which items are already getting below the allowable minimum quantity. Because of the draining work, there were circumstances when he inventory record in the admin does not tally with the actual amount of the available items. Another thing to consider in manual inventory is prone to errors since it is unavoidable that the employee assigned to do the sales and inventory would commit mistakes. Introduction Technologies have been a very important role in our daily lives. It helps us to make our works easier and faster. This modern technology has helped us develop more advance system to the community. System that have features and capabilities to provide the needs of the people. Many systems and technologies have been developed especially nowadays.