The Role of External Auditing in Public Sector free essay sample

First and foremost I want to extend my primary obligation to the Lord Almighty for the strength He gave me to persevere with this project as indeed â€Å"the going did get tough† but within Him nothing is impossible. I would also like to acknowledge all those who helped me make this project a success, many thanks to my supervisor Mr. A. Mpofu . thank you very much for your invaluable guidance and your hard work you were very patient with me from the inception of this project to its current state I wouldn’t have produced this master piece without your support, Thank You!!!!!Special Appreciation goes to all those professionals who helped me with my primary research special mention to the Deloitte Bulawayo Audit team your assistance was of great importance to the success of this project. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to my family ,without the your financial support and encouraging support I wouldn’t have gotten this far. We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of External Auditing in Public Sector or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A special note of appreciation also goes out to the following individuals for their unwavering support through out the preparation of this project Mr. P. T . Nyamuvhurudza Mr. T Mukono Takudzwa Nyuke Tapiwa Magunda Mildred PepukaiYou gave me priceless assistance guys May the Lord continue to bless you and your families. We are living in a dynamic world characterized by spontaneous changes happening in the twinkle of the eye brought about mainly by changes in Information Technology. Information Technology is slowly changing the manner of our daily living and our jobs. This research was set out to identify the changes that Information Technology has brought about specifically on the auditing profession. The research was prompted mainly by the observations that the researcher witnessed during their industrial attachment experience within an audit firm.The choice to focus on the implications on the auditing profession was due to the fact that the researcher has interest in the changes that are occurring in the audit profession in the past decade due to Information Technology. A review of literature with information pertaining to changes that have occurred to the accounting process which affect auditing was carried out extensively this assisted to identify the general trend in the changes happening in the profession. The findings highlighted that they was a drastic change in the manner in which auditors execute their duties due to Information technology.Information was gathered from both primary and secondary sources and it was analyzed in order to give the researcher an understanding of what exactly is happening on the ground i. e. within the industry. The research indicated that the Information Technology brought so many advantages to the profession compared to the traditional manner of carrying out audits. Chapter one of this research project is a brief summary highlighting the purpose of the study as well as the approach taken by the researcher to address the research questions, it also includes the detailed definition of terms that were used in the r esearch project. Chapter two is the literature review which highlights what various authors have written pertaining to Information Technology and auditing. The information gathered was collected from a wide range of authors, the observations that these authors made are highlighted in the second chapter. Chapter three shows the research methodology and how the information used was collected; it also highlights the drawbacks faced by the various methods of collecting information that were used. An analysis of the information that was collected was then done in Chapter 4.

The Difference Between Phonics and Phonetics

The Difference Between Phonics and Phonetics The Difference Between Phonics and Phonetics The Difference Between Phonics and Phonetics By Maeve Maddox Reader Ali Abuzar wonders about the difference between phonics and phonetics. In popular usage the words are often used interchangeably, although phonics [fÃ… nÄ ­ks] is the term usually employed when speaking of a method of beginning reading instruction. In this use, phonics is regarded as a simplified form of phonetics [fÉ™-nÄ•tÄ ­ks], which is the scientific study of speech sounds. NOTE: Although phonics and phonetics end with s, they take singular verbs: Phonics is the most effective way to teach reading. Here are definitions from the OED: phonics The branch of linguistics concerned with spoken sounds; phonetics The correlations between sound and symbol in an alphabetic writing system; the phonic method of teaching reading. phonetics The study and classification of speech sounds, esp. with regard to the physical aspects of their production; the branch of linguistics that deals with this. Using phonics to teach reading involves teaching the beginner the sounds associated with the letters of the alphabet before introducing written words. The beginner learns to analyze words by comparing the letters in them to the sounds they represent. NOTE: Early practice is confined to words in which the letter/sound correspondence is regular. Once the beginner has established the habit of expecting letters to represent spoken sounds, words containing one or more non-phonetic elements are introduced. Another term, phonology [fÉ™-nÃ… lÉ™-jÄ“, fÃ… -], refers to the study of speech sounds. Phonology encompasses rules governing pronunciation in a given language. phonology n. Originally: the science of speech sounds and pronunciation, esp. as they occur in a particular language. Now: the branch of linguistics concerned with the study of phonological relationships within a language or between different languages; the system of contrastive and phonotactic* relations among the speech sounds of a particular language. OED *phonotactics The branch of linguistics concerned with the rules governing the possible phoneme** sequences in a language or languages; these rules as they occur in a particular language. **phoneme A unit of sound in a language that cannot be analysed into smaller linear units and that can distinguish one word from another (e.g. /p/ and /b/ in English pat, bat). English Spelling Not Total Chaos Learn To Spell By Phonograms, not Letters Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Types and Forms of HumorConfused Words #3: Lose, Loose, LossAffect vs. Effect

Insects - Insecta - The Animal Encyclopedia

Insects - Insecta - The Animal Encyclopedia Insects (Insecta) are the most diverse of all animal groups. There are more species of insects than there are species of all other animals combined. Their numbers are nothing short of remarkable - both in terms of how many individual insects there are, as well as how many species of insects there are. In fact, there are so many insects that no one knows quite how to count them all - the best we can do is make estimates. Scientists approximate that there may be as many as 30 million species of insects alive today. To date, over one million have been identified. At any one time, the number of individual insects alive on our planet is staggering - some scientists estimate that for every human alive today there are 200 million insects. The success of insects as a group is also reflected by the diversity of habitats in which they  live. Insects are most numerous in terrestrial environments such as deserts, forests, and grasslands. They are likewise numerous in freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, streams, and wetlands. Insects are relatively scarce in marine habitats but are more common in brackish waters such as salt marshes and mangroves. Key Characteristics The  key characteristics of insects include: Three main body partsThree pairs of legsTwo pairs of wingsCompounds eyesMetamorphosisComplex mouth partsOne pair of antennaeSmall body size Classification Insects are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Invertebrates Arthropods Hexapods Insects Insects are divided into the following taxonomic groups: Angel insects (Zoraptera) - There are about 30 species of angel insects alive today. Members of this group are small, hemimetabolous insects, which means they undergo a form of development that includes three stages (egg, nymph, and adult) but lacks a pupal stage. Angel insects are small and are most often found living under the bark of trees or in rotting wood.Barklice and booklice (Psocoptera) - There are about 3,200 species of barklice and booklice alive today. Members of this group include granary booklice, booklice, and common barklice. Barklice and booklice live in moist terrestrial habitats such as in leaf litter, under stones, or in the bark of trees.Bees, ants, and their relatives (Hymenoptera) - There are about 103,000 species of bees, ants, and their relatives alive today. Members of this group include bees, wasps, horntails, sawflies, and ants. Sawflies and horntails have a body that is joined by a broad section between their thorax and abdomen. Ants, bees, and wasps have a body that is joined by a narrow section between their thorax and abdomen. Beetles (Coleoptera) - There are more than 300,000 species of beetles alive today. Members of this group have a hard exoskeleton and a pair of rigid wings (called elytra) that serve as protective covers for their larger and more delicate  hind wings. Beetles live in a wide variety of terrestrial and freshwater habitats. They are the most diverse group of insects alive today.Bristletails (Archaeognatha) - There are about 350 species of bristletails alive today. Members of this group do not undergo metamorphosis (immature bristletails resemble smaller versions of adults). Bristletails have a cylindrical body that tapers to a narrow bristle-like tail.Caddisflies (Trichoptera) - There are more than 7,000 species of caddisflies alive today. Members of this group have aquatic larvae that build a protective case in which they live. The case is constructed of silk produced by the larva and also incorporates other materials such as organic debris, leaves, and twigs. Adults are nocturnal and short-lived. Cockroaches (Blattodea) - There are about 4,000 species of cockroaches alive today. Members of this group include cockroaches and waterbugs. Cockroaches are scavengers. They are most abundant in tropical and subtropical habitats although their distribution is worldwide.Crickets and grasshoppers (Orthoptera) - There are more than 20,000 species of crickets and grasshoppers alive today. Members of this group include crickets, grasshoppers, locusts, and katydids. Most are terrestrial herbivores and many species have powerful hind legs that are well-adapted  for jumping.Damselflies and dragonflies (Odonata) - There are more than 5,000 species of damselflies and dragonflies alive today. Members of this group are predators in both the nymph and adult stages of their life cycles (damselflies and dragonflies are hemimetabolous insects and, as such, they lack the pupal stage in their development). Damselflies and dragonflies are skilled fliers that feed on smaller (and less skilled) flying insects such as mosquitos and gnats. Earwigs (Dermaptera) - There are about 1,800 species of earwigs alive today. Members of this group are nocturnal scavengers and herbivores. The adult form of many species of earwigs  has cerci (the rear-most segment of their abdomen) that are modified into elongated pincers.Fleas (Siphonaptera) - There are about 2,400 species of fleas alive today. Members of this group include cat fleas, dog fleas, human fleas, rabbit fleas, oriental rat fleas, and many others. Fleas are blood-sucking parasites that prey primarily on mammals. A small percentage of flea species prey on birds.Flies (Diptera) - There are about 98,500 species of flies alive today. Members of this group include mosquitos, horse flies, deer flies, house flies, fruit flies, crane flies, midges, robber flies, bot flies, and many others. Although flies have one pair of wings (most flying insects have two pairs of wings), they  are nevertheless highly-skilled  fliers. Flies have the highest wing-beat frequency of any liv ing animal. Mantids (Mantodea) - There are about 1,800 species of mantids alive today. Members of this group have a triangular head, elongated bodies, and raptorial forelegs. Mantids are well-known for the prayer-like posture in which they hold their front legs. Mantids are predatory insects.Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) - There are more than 2,000 species of mayflies alive today. Members of this group are aquatic in the egg, nymph, and naiad (immature) stages of their life. Mayflies lack a pupal stage in their development. Adults have wings that do not fold flat over their back.Moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) - There are more than 112,000 species of moths and butterflies alive today. Moths and butterflies are the second most diverse group of insects alive today. Members of this group include swallowtails, milkweed butterflies, skippers, clothes moths, clearwing moths, lappet moths, giant silk moths, hawk moths, and many others. Adult moths and butterflies have large wings that are covered with t iny scales. Many species have scales that are colorful and patterned with complex markings. Nerve-Winged Insects (Neuroptera) - There are about 5,500 species of nerve-winged insects alive today. Members of this group include dobsonflies, alderflies, snakeflies, green lacewings, brown lacewings, and antlions. Adult forms of nerve-winged insects have highly-branched venation in their wings. Many species of nerve-winged insects act as predators to agricultural pests, such as aphids and scale insects.Parasitic lice (Phthiraptera) - There are about 5,500 species of parasitic lice alive today. Members of this group include bird lice, body lice, pubic lice, poultry lice, ungulate lice, and mammal chewing lice. Parasitic lice lack wings and live as external parasites on mammals and birds.Rock crawlers (Grylloblattodea) - There are about 25 species of rock crawlers alive today. Members of this group lack wings as adults and have long antennae, a cylindrical body, and long tail bristles. Rock crawlers are among the least diverse of all insect groups. They live in high-elevation habit ats. Scorpionflies (Mecoptera) - There are about 500 species of scorpionflies alive today. Members of this group include common scorpionflies and hanging scorpionflies. Most adult scorpionflies have a long slender head and narrow wings with highly-branched venation.Silverfish (Thysanura) - There are about 370 species of silverfish alive today. Members of this group have a flattened body that is covered with scales, Silverfish are so named for their fish-like appearance. They are wingless insects and have long antennae and cerci.Stoneflies (Plecoptera) - There are about 2,000 species of stoneflies alive today. Members of this group include common stoneflies, winter stoneflies, and spring stoneflies. Stoneflies are so named for the fact that as nymphs, they live beneath stones. Stonefly nymphs require well-oxygenated water to survive and for this reason, are found in  swift-moving streams and rivers. Adults are terrestrial and live at the edges of streams and rivers where they feed on alg ae and lichens. Stick and leaf insects (Phasmatodea) - There are about 2,500 species of stick and leaf insects alive today. Members of this group are best known for the fact that they mimic the appearance of sticks, leaves, or twigs. Some species of stick and leaf insects are capable of changing color in response to alterations in light, humidity, or temperature.Termites (Isoptera) - There are about 2,300 species of termites alive today. Members of this group include termites, subterranean termites, rotten wood termites, dry wood termites, and damp wood termites. Termites are social insects that live in large communal nests.Thrips (Thysanoptera) - There are more than 4,500 species of thrips alive today. Members of this group include predatory thrips, common thrips, and tube-tailed thrips. Thrips are much maligned as pests and are known to destroy a variety of  grain, vegetable, and fruit crops.True Bugs (Hemiptera) - There are about 50,000 species of bugs alive today. Members of this group include plant bugs, seed bugs, and stink bugs. True bugs  have distinct front wings that, when not in use, lie flat on the insects back. Twisted-wing parasites (Strepsiptera) - There are about 532 species of twisted-wing parasites alive today. Members of this group are internal parasites during the larval and pupal stages of their development. They parasitize a variety of insects including grasshoppers, leafhoppers, bees, wasps, and many others. After pupating, adult male twisted-wing parasites leave their host. Adult females remain within the host and only partially emerge to mate and then return to the host while young develop inside the females abdomen, emerging within the host later.Web-spinners (Embioptera) - There are about 200 species of web-spinners alive today. Members of this group are unique among insects in that they have silk glands in their front legs. Web-spinners also have enlarged hind legs that enable them to scurry backward through the tunnels of their underground nests. References Hickman C, Robers L, Keen S, Larson A, IAnson H, Eisenhour D. Integrated Principles of Zoology 14th ed. Boston MA: McGraw-Hill; 2006. 910 p.Meyer, J. General Entomology Resource Library. 2009. Published online at https://projects.ncsu.edu/cals/course/ent425/index.html.Ruppert E, Fox R, Barnes R. Invertebrate  Zoology: A Functional Evolutionary Approach. 7th ed. Belmont CA: Brooks/Cole; 2004. 963 p.

Staffing as the Phase of the Management Process Article

Staffing as the Phase of the Management Process - Article Example Nevertheless, upon their encounter, Fred Western got mesmerized with the noteworthy credentials of Mimi Brewster, not to mention her being knowledgeable and well-versed about the Chinas customs, traditions, and its business situation. However, Mr Westerns impression of Mimi is counteracted by Miss Virginia Flanders discovery of some background information from one search engine on the web. Indeed, the facts that have been discovered by Miss Flanders undeniably stirred the mind of Mr Western, thereby putting him in a considerable dilemma— whether to hire Mimi and approve her candidacy to suit the position, or otherwise. The aforesaid issues revolve around one important management elements or functions, that is staffing. â€Å"Staffing is the third phase of the management process, where the leader or manager recruits, selects, orients, and promotes personal development to accomplish the goals of the organization† (Marquis and Huston 229). As such, the success of this process depends upon how efficient and efficacious is the leader or manager in fulfilling his or her roles and functions all throughout this phase (Marquis and Huston 230). In response to the scenario in the case study, Mimi's academic and previous work backgrounds are undeniably sufficient to meet her desired position. In fact, her credentials are superb: (1) she graduated with honours (cum laude) and (2) excellent recommendations from previous employers. The literature says that it is really very important to check the academic and professional credentials, as well as reference checks, of the job applicants or candidates (Marquis and Huston 246). In this regard, there is really nothing wrong with Mimi's application except for some internet articles describing her as somewhat â€Å"activist†.Nevertheless, since those distracting articles were published more than eight years ago, they can be disregarded. This is supported by the literature as Marquis and Huston affirmed that  information obtained by any method may not be used to reject an applicant unless a justifiable reason for disqualification exists.  

Case studies 1 & 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Case studies 1 & 2 - Essay Example If the decision to promote one of the board members as the direct for the Energy cooperative is beneficial for the masses by providing them with a leading figure or a figurehead for the corporation. Then the company can proceed with the proposal. Ethical relativism in rights theory indicates that there are no universal rights or wrings, however what is accepted as the norm for right and wrong is established to be ethical. As a result as the clients and the external partners of the energy cooperative have the right to now the management at the committee, it is also their right to know that there is no single director at the company. Instead a group of directors precede over the committee for operations and decision-making. The theory of justice depicts that ethical decision are those which are fair to all parties and have integrity. In order to be fair to the clients as well being fair to the other directors on the board of the Energy Cooperative Company the proposal of the director to address to the clients while addressing himself as ‘the director of the company’ should be rejected as it is unfair and lacks integrity. Instead it should be depicted that he is one of the directors on board the Energy Cooperative’ Â   The three levels pertain to pre-conventional, conventional and post-conventional levels. At the pre-conventional level in the first stage pertaining to obedience and punishment orientation, the company could decide against the proposal as there is a threat of a lawsuit from the external partners, clients and the other board directors for misrepresentation. At the second stage which is interest driven, the company could decide in favor if the proposal as it would provide them with a spokesperson form the company that can be perceived as the figurehead and leader in the cooperative for others. At the conventional level in the third stage pertaining to interpersonal accord and conformity the cooperative can deicide in favor

Reasons Why Projects Fail Essay Example for Free

Reasons Why Projects Fail Essay In a perfect world, every project would be on time and within budget. But reality (especially the proven statistics) tells a very different story. Its not uncommon for projects to fail. Even if the budget and schedule are met, one must ask did the project deliver the results and quality we expected? True project success must be evaluated on all three components. Otherwise, a project could be considered a failure. Have you ever seen a situation where projects begin to show signs of disorganisation, appear out of control, and have a sense of doom and failure? Have you witnessed settings where everyone works in a silo and no one seems to know what the other team member is doing? What about team members who live by the creed Ill do my part (as I see fit) and after that, its their problem. Even worse is when team members resort to finger-pointing. Situations similar to these scenarios point to a sign that reads danger. And if you read the fine print under the word danger it reads, your project needs to be brought under control or else it could fail. When projects begin to show signs of stress and failure, everyone looks to the project manager for answers. It may seem unfair that the burden of doom falls u pon a single individual. But this is the reason why you chose to manage projects for a living! Youve been trained to recognise and deal with these types of situations. There are many reasons why projects (both simple and complex) fail; the number of reaso can ns be infinite. However, if we apply the 80/20 rule the most common reasons for failure can be found in the following list: Undefined objectives and goals Lack of management commitment Even with the best of intentions or solid plans, project can go awry if they are not managed properly. All too often, mishaps can occur (and usually do). This is when the project manager must recognise a warning sign and take action. If you understand the difference between symptoms and problems and can spot warning signs of project failure, your training will help you take steps to right the ship before it keels over. Yes, its the project managers responsibility to correct the listing no one else. In addition to applying the processes and principles tau ght in project management class, you can also use your personal work skills of communication, management, leadership, conflict resolution, and diplomacy to take corrective action. During the course of managing a project, the project manager must monitor ac tivities (and distractions) from many sources and directions. Complacency can easily set in. When this happens, the process of monitoring breaks down. This is why the project manager must remain in control of a project and be aware of any activity which presents a risk of project failure. Yes, this is why you are paid the big bucks. Tom Carlos has over 20 years of cumulative experience in business, technical, and training environments. Project Smart is the project management resource that helps managers at all levels to improve their performance. We provide an important knowledge base for those involved in managing projects of all kinds. With regular updates it keeps you in touch with the latest project management thinking. http://www.projectsmart.co.uk Reasons Why Projects Fail

Realism vs. Liberalism :: essays research papers fc

International Politics Gerard Chretien Professor: Jennifer Dwyer May 2, 2001 The realist perspective on international political economy can be seen in the United States international trade policy with China. The United States being an established world power seeks to further enhance its international role by engaging in trade with another nation, that being China, this reflects the realist main idea that the state occupies center stage in global political affairs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States willingness to engage in the world market signals the idea of self national interest that remind many of the policy followed by European states during the Monarch era. The idea is to maximize your own agenda, at the same token minimize your states possible loss through risky policy engagement. The realist view reflects many of today’s policy regarding international trade with China.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the other end of the spectrum, you have the liberals who soundly believe that the state should have a very limited impact in the international political economic arena. They feel that the states interest and their goals change along with the context of the I.P.E. situation. The liberal perspective also offers the idea of cooperation among negotiating states that oppose the realist view that cooperation has an underlining meaning behind it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The realists’ concepts and views ultimately render a more significant portrayal of U.S.-China international trade in comparison to the liberals’ perspective. It shows that the policy implemented reflects the United States sole interest in relative gains, in comparison with the liberals’ idea of absolute gain. In other words, the United States seeks to benefit from its interaction with China only for the sole purpose of increasing its wealth and power.

Crazy Eddie, Inc. financial fraud case Essay

Crazy Eddie was an American retail store chain run by the Antar family, which was established as a private company in 1969 in Brooklyn, New York by businessmen Eddie and Sam M. Antar. The fraud at Crazy Eddie was one of the longest running in modern times, lasting from 1969 to 1987. Crazy Eddie became a known symbol for corporate fraud in its time, but has since been eclipsed by the Enron, Worldcom and Bernie Madoff accounting scandals. Commencement of fraud The fraud began almost immediately, with the management of Crazy Eddie underreporting taxable income through skimming cash sales, paying employees in cash to avoid payroll taxes and reporting fake insurance claims to the company’s carriers. Eddie Antar, the CEO of the company who was the mastermind in the fraud, was skimming money from sales taxes that he only partially remitted to the government, while using part of the money to give steep discounts to customers. Much of the rest of the money he used to fund a partying lifestyle, while secreting a fortune at home and abroad. He also repackaged used and damaged electronics and resold them to customers as new. When electronics companies refused to supply him because he was selling the products to his customers below list price, he instead sourced the products from suppliers in other countries on the gray market. He used massive sales promotion strategy to promote his company’s name and products. The television ad of the company was very much popular that time. The company began to grow rapidly and had several branches across the country. As the chain grew in size, the Antar family started planning for an initial public offering (IPO) of Crazy Eddie and scaled back the fraud so that the company would be more profitable and get a higher valuation from the public market. This strategy was a success and Crazy Eddie went public in 1984 at $8 per share. The final phase of the Crazy Eddie fraud began after the IPO and was motivated by a desire to increase profits so the stock price could move higher and the Antar family could sell its holdings over time. Management now reversed the flow of skimmed cash and moved funds from secret bank accounts and safety deposit boxes into company coffers, booking the cash as revenue. The scheme also involved inflating and creating phony inventory on the books and reducing accounts payable to boost profits at the company. Concealment of fraud The electronics chain used the young, inexperienced, undereducated and under skilled auditors for the audit purpose. The chain was able to fool young auditors by showing them inventory stock rooms filled with empty boxes of electronics gear, while distracting them with attractive female workers so they wouldn’t bother to look at what was inside or behind the stacks of boxes. They had a concept that if the auditor was wearing a suit, it was sure he wasn’t going to get it dirty by moving the boxes. Eddie Antar was the mastermind behind the various schemes and hired his relatives to work at the electronics chain to help aid and abet the fraud. Eddie Antar paid for his cousin Sam E. Antar to learn accounting so he could eventually work at the growing company’s small auditing firm, Penn and Horowitz. In 1981, Sam passed the CPA examination with a 90% and scored in the top 1% in the country. He later became the Penn and Horowitz Company’s CFO in 1986. All the family members were bound together by a culture of crime and were working as a team for commitment and concealment of crime. Exposure of fraud The company was making so much money that Eddie Antar was having trouble finding places to put it. He ran out of hiding places in his office and home, and eventually began traveling to Israel and Switzerland to stash the money in secret bank accounts. However, the scheme began to unravel when his wife found out he was cheating on her, and the family took sides in the dispute. The fraud was finally uncovered in 1987 after the Antar family was ousted from Crazy Eddie after a successful hostile takeover by an investment group. The acquirer found out how overvalued Crazy Eddie really was and hired another outside auditor to look closely at the books. Crazy Eddie limped along for another year before being liquidated to pay creditors. Eddie Antar, the CEO of Crazy Eddie, was charged with securities fraud and other crimes, but fled to Israel before his trial. He spent three years in hiding until he was eventually tracked down by authorities in 1992 and extradited back to the U.S. to face criminal charges. Antar and two other family members were also convicted for their role in the fraud. In 1997, Antar was sentenced to eight years in prison and paid large fines. He was later released in 1999. Crazy Eddie Red Flags The red flags in the Crazy Eddie, Inc. financial fraud case which could notify the potential fraud were as follows:- The tight knit Antar family ruling Crazy Eddie had virtual absolute control over all aspects of the business. Very poor audit trails and documentation. Major self-dealing transactions and related party transactions by family members. Substantial increases in wages from below market wages before the company went public. In 1985, an attempt was made to falsify certain store inventories which was uncovered by the auditors. The auditors accepted an excuse that it was not sanctioned by management. Substantial increases in gross margins, profits, inventories, debit memos etc. from prior periods for no logical reason. Significant volume of outstanding deposits in transit at fiscal year end. Individual deposits in transit extremely high in relation to normal amounts at fiscal year end. Unusually high inventory volumes in stores where physical counts were not observed by outside auditors. Inventories in many individual stores were in excess of space capacity. Major differences between amounts confirmed from vendors for accounts payable and amounts reported on Crazy Eddie’s books and records. Use of â€Å"gross margin method† to value inventories during interim periods instead of taking interim inventory counts. Change of accounting methods for purchase discounts and trade allowances in 1987 from cash basis to accrual basis noted in footnotes with no accounting adjustments. Small CPA firm that conducted Crazy Eddie audits before (then big eight firm took over audits) had a significant revenue base from Crazy Eddie. Controller and later CFO for Crazy Eddie (Sam E. Antar) worked for small CPA firm that audited Crazy Eddie books. Biggest Crazy Eddie Audit Errors The reason, Crazy Eddie was able to conceal and commit the fraud for such a long time could be the inefficiencies of the auditor and the government to uncover the fraud. The government, auditors and investors were fooled by the company’s flamboyant founder and CEO, Eddie Antar and his family. Some of the biggest Crazy Eddie Audit Errors were as follows:- Assuming a proper audit can be conducted in the absence of credible internal controls. Under  educated, under skilled, and under experienced audit staff. Over using audits as training grounds for inexperienced audit staff. Lack of investigative or forensic accounting skills by auditors. Failure to ask proper questions to the concerned persons. Assuming the answers to good questions as correct without verification. Failure to ask follow up questions. Lack of professional skepticism. Allowing company staff to distract auditors from doing filed work by engaging in social conversations, thereby wasting time during audits so they have to rush their work in the end to meet the audit deadline. Failure to simultaneously observe inventory counts in all locations. From 1984 to 1987, the auditors did not observe all store inventories or inventories at all locations. Failure to take copies of full inventories taken when leaving the premises. Failure to conduct proper test counts of inventories by relying on company staff to count boxes and allowing company staff to take possession of test counts to make copies on behalf of auditors. Failure to follow through on analytical test issues. Failure to conduct all required analytical testing. Failure to conduct sales cut off testing at year end. Failure to examine items listed as deposits in transit at year end. Failure to age accounts payable. Failure to conduct adequate verification of accounts payable balances. Failure to contact vendors when major discrepancies were identified as vendors sent back verification requests. Failure to secure audit work papers left on premises during the audit by leaving keys to trunks containing audit documents on company premises. Allowing company personnel to view audit work papers in process. Auditors signed off on financial reports to outside directors and allowed the issuance of financial statements before the fiscal year 1987 audit was completed and backed into the numbers. Auditors made misrepresentations to the outside directors about certain questionable practices and directions from the outside directors to investigate them. Auditors made misrepresentations to the SEC about directions from the audit committee to investigate questionable accounting practices. The auditors  failed to follow up on recommendations of Crazy Eddie’s outside counsel law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind to investigate irregularities concerning sales to a trans-shipper in 1987. The auditors disagreed with recommendations by Crazy Eddie’s outside counsel law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind to provide more detailed disclosure on Crazy Eddie sales to trans-shippers and other issues. The Fraud Triangle The Crazy Eddie, Inc. financial fraud case, if linked up with the fraud triangle, following result can be obtained:- a. Incentives/Pressures Greediness Desire of Luxurious Lifestyle Expensive extramarital relationships of Eddie Antar Pressure to maintain social status Pressure to sustain in competitive market b. Opportunities Lack of internal and external controls Lack of audit trail Inability of the auditors to judge performance quality Lack of outsiders’ access to information c. Rationalization Sam Antar, former CFO of Crazy Eddie gave a statement, – â€Å"we committed crime simply because we could. Criminologists like to analyze white collar crime in terms of the ‘fraud triangle’ — incentive, opportunity, and rationalization. We had no rationalization. Simply put, the incentive and opportunity was there, but the morality and excuses were lacking. We never had one conversation about morality during the 18 years that the fraud was going on.† This statement shows that there was no rationalization used while committing the fraud, we could assume that following rationalizations could have been used by them:- Whatever they were doing did not hurt anybody else. Whatever they were doing was not wrong. Moral justification like, â€Å"Everyone else is doing it, so it must not be so bad to do this† could have been used. References 4 Massive Frauds You’ve Probably Never Heard Of. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/12/four-unknown-massive-frauds.asp A Convicted Felon Speaks Out about White Collar Crime. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.whitecollarfraud.com/947660.html Crazy Eddie – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved May 6, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Eddie Crazy Eddie Masterminds [Video file]. (2012, January 7). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP8iO5lvCoU Weirich, T. R., Pearson, T. C., & Churyk, N. T. (2010). Accounting & auditing research: Tools & strategies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Compare and Contrast Harry Potter Movie and Book

Tianhao Mr. Findley Human Resources Management MGT-3375 Nov 28,2010 Employee Turnover Introduction â€Å"In a human resources context, turnover or labor turnover is the rate at which an employer gains and loses employees. Simple ways to describe it are â€Å"how long employees tend to stay† or â€Å"the rate of traffic through the revolving door. † Turnover is measured for individual companies and for their industry as a whole. If an employer is said to have a high turnover relative to its competitors, it means that employees of that company have a shorter average tenure than those of other companies in the same industry.High turnover can be harmful to a company's productivity if skilled workers are often leaving and the worker population contains a high percentage of novice workers. †(Wikipedia,Jan,2009) Turnover occurs when employees leave an organization and have to be replaced. With today's baby boomer generation beginning to retire from the labor market, man y companies are finding it increasingly difficult to retain employees. Turnover is becoming a serious problem in today's corporate environment. The employment culture is changing as well.It is now relatively common to change jobs every few years, rather than grow with one company throughout the employment life as was once commonplace. In addition, employees are increasingly demanding a balance between work and family life. Types of Employee Turnover Turnover is classified in a number of ways. Each of the following classifications can be used, and the various types are not mutually exclusive: * Involuntary Turnover Employees are terminated for poor performance or work rule violations * Voluntary TurnoverEmployees leave by choice Involuntary turnover is triggered by organizational policies, work rules, and performance standards that are not met by employees. Voluntary turnover can be caused by many factors, including career opportunities, pay, supervision, geography, and personal/fami ly reasons. Voluntary turnover also appears to increase with the size of the organization, most likely because larger firms are less personal, are permeated by an â€Å"organizational bureaucracy,† and have more employees who are inclined to move. Functional Turnover Lower-performing or disruptive employees leave * Dysfunctional Turnover Key individuals and high performers leave at critical times Not all turnover is negative fo organizations; on the contrary, some workforce losses are desirable, especially if those who leave are lower-performing, less reliable individuals, or disruptive co-workers. Unfortunately fo organizations, dyfunctional turnover does occur. That happens when key individuals leave, often at crucial work times.For example, a software project leader left in the middle of a system upgrade in order to take a promotion at another firm in the city. His departure caused the system ungrade timeline to slip by two months due to the difficulty of replacing that pr oject leader. * Uncontrollable Turnover Employees leave for reasons outsides the control of the employer * Controllable Turnover Employees leaves fo reasons that could be influenced by the employer Employees quit for many reasons that cannot be controlled by the organization.These reason include: (1) the employee moves out of the geographicarea, (2) the employee decides to stay home with young children or elder relatives, (3) the employee’s spouse is transferred, and (4) the employee is a student worker who graduates from college. Even though some turnover is inevitable, many employees today recognize that reducing turnover is crucial. Therefore, they must address turnover that is controllable. Organizations are better able to retain employees if they deal with the concerns of employees that are leading to this type of turnover. Causes of high or low turnoverHigh turnover often means that employees are unhappy with the work or compensation, but it can also indicate unsafe or unhealthy conditions, or that too few employees give satisfactory performance (due to unrealistic expectations or poor candidate screening). The lack of career opportunities and challenges, dissatisfaction with the job-scope or conflict with the management have been cited as predictors of high turnover. Low turnover indicates that none of the above is true: employees are satisfied, healthy and safe, and their performance is satisfactory to the employer.However, the predictors of low turnover may sometimes differ than those of high turnover. Aside from the fore-mentioned career opportunities, salary, corporate culture, management's recognition, and a comfortable workplace seem to impact employees' decision to stay with their employer. Many psychological and management theories exist regarding the types of job content which is intrinsically satisfying to employees and which, in turn, should minimise external voluntary turnover.Examples include Hertzberg's Two factor theory, McClelland 's Theory of Needs, and Hackman ;amp; Oldham's Job Characteristics Model Effects of Employee Turnover High turnover can be a serious obstacle to productivity, quality, and profitability at firms of all sizes. For the smallest of companies, a high turnover rate can mean that simply having enough staff to fulfill daily functions is a challenge, even beyond the issue of how well the work is done when staff is available.Turnover is no less a problem for major companies, which often spend millions of dollars a year on turnover-related costs. For service-oriented professions, such as management consulting or account management, high employee turnover can also lead to customer dissatisfaction and turnover, as clients feel little attachment to a revolving contact. Customers are also likely to experience dips in the quality of service each time their representative changes. The cost of turnover varies with the difficulty of the job to be performed.For example, in a food-processing company, s howing someone how to put jars of jam into a cardboard box may take five minutes, so the cost of training someone to handle this job would not be high. If, however, the tyrannical manager of the food processing line at the company kept driving away food cookers and quality-control workers, the cost of constantly training employees in this critical area could be high. Turnover costs Many organizations have found that turnover is a costly problem.In many service industries, the turnover rates and costs are are frequently very high. Employee turnover can cost companies millions per year. Good managers work to reduce turnover by taking a step beyond business level conversation. When accounting for the costs (both real costs, such as time taken to select and recruit a replacement, and also opportunity costs, such as lost productivity), the cost of employee turnover to for-profit organizations has been estimated to be up to 150% of the employees' remuneration package. There are both direc t and indirect costs.Direct costs relate to the leaving costs, replacement costs and transitions costs, and indirect costs relate to the loss of production, reduced performance levels, unnecessary overtime and low morale. In a healthcare context, staff turnover has been associated with worse patient outcomes. The costs of employee turnover can be staggering, ranging anywhere from 1/2 to 5 times an employee's annual wages dependant upon his or her position. It is neither possible, nor desirable to completely eliminate turnover from your organization.Some of the costs associated with employee turnover are unavoidable and must be expected to occur in the normal course of business. Turnover Calculation (1). Calculate the average number of employees (2). Calculate the number of departures during the period (3). Divide departures by number of employees Prevent Turnover Employee turnover is not just a Human Resources Issue. When an employee leaves a company, the employee takes with him kno wledge and experience, that which cannot be monetarily measured and that cannot be easily recreated.These are the little hints, tricks and history that relates to how to perform effectively and efficiently. Higher turnover can cost a company millions of dollars per year and can slow down productivity! It is important for managers to find ways to motivate and reward employees that don't break a budget line item, but still make the employee feel needed! Most employees spend between 40 and 60 hours per week on the job and away from a family. Because of this, the workplace sometimes becomes almost like a second home.This is a huge amount of time and the last thing a good employee wants is to feel that time is wasted or has become inefficient. â€Å"Managers can make the difference! Although professional achievement goals are mentioned quite often in managerial handbooks; these handbooks don’t always make note of the small things that make coming to work a desired event. Humans e njoy interaction. Although bonding is a term that has been misused lately, this is exactly what a manager should encourage. Some workplaces are conservative and some are liberal. No matter the culture, the small things matter!If most of the employees enjoy playing ping pong, watching Judge Judy or like pizza, what better way to reward employees who contribute the most? A used ping pong table can cost fifty dollars – a used TV set can cost about the same and pizza can certainly cost less. Lunchtimes can be used to engage in some fun activities that relieve stress and encourage sharing. † (Linda,2007) Here are some steps for reducing employee turnover. First, hire the right people and continue to develop their careers. Does your company have an ongoing career development program, tuition reimbursement, or skills training program?An investment in upgrading the workforce is one of the best investments a company can make when looking at long-term growth. Hiring the people th at are a good â€Å"fit† with the culture of the organization — meaning that their values, principles, and goals clearly match those of the company — and then training as necessary will go a long way toward ensuring employee loyalty and retention. Second, most companies with low turnover rates are very employee oriented. They solicit input and involvement from all employees and maintain a true â€Å"open-door† policy that avoids closed-door meetings.Employees are given an opportunity for advancement and are not micro-managed. Intrinsic rewards are critical. Employees must believe they have a voice and are recognized for their contribution. Remember that â€Å"trust† and â€Å"loyalty† are a two-way street. Third, develop an overall strategic compensation package that includes not only base and variable pay scales, but long-term incentive compensation, bonus and gain-sharing plans, benefit plans to address the health and welfare issues of the employees, and non-cash rewards and perks as well.To be competitive in today's labor market, most companies find it necessary to offer a standard benefit package, including health, dental, and life insurance, vacation and leave policies, and investment and retirement plans. In general, reducing employee turnover saves money. Money saved from not having to find and train replacement workers can be used elsewhere. Not All Empolyee Turnover is Bad â€Å"Not All Employee Turnover Is Bad — Celebrate ‘Losing the Losers’. (John,2009) It’s hard to find a more misunderstood and mismanaged human resource area than employee turnover. Executives are constantly sounding off about how â€Å"bad† employee turnover is, but in some cases, employee turnover is actually a positive thing. Imagine, for example, that you had a poor-performing worker like Homer Simpson. If Homer walked in late one day as usual and announced that he was leaving, would you consider that a bad thing, or would you secretly celebrate his departure? The idea of keeping everyone is just plain silly.The fact is that there are many factors that can transform â€Å"ordinary turnover† into either positive or negative turnover. As a result, few firms are beginning to classify their turnover as either â€Å"regrettable† or desirable turnover. Whether turnover is good or bad depends primarily on the business impact caused by the departure of the employee. â€Å"It’s easy during tough economic times to under focus on turnover and retention because the turnover rate of almost every firm decreases, as employees increase their emphasis on job security.However, this â€Å"lull† in turnover might be an ideal time to re-examine your processes, metrics, and goals related to turnover and retention. It’s especially important to act now because quite often the â€Å"seeds† or initial causes of turnover are more likely to be happening now because of the frustration related to budget cutting, hiring freezes, layoffs, and lack of development funds and opportunities. †(John,2009) Summary Employee turnover is a ratio comparison of the number of employees a company must replace in a given time period to the average number of total employees.A huge concern to most companies, employee turnover is a costly expense especially in lower paying job roles, for which the employee turnover rate is highest. Many factors play a role in the employee turnover rate of any company, and these can stem from both the employer and the employees. Wages, company benefits, employee attendance, and job performance are all factors that play a significant role in employee turnover. Now days most managers make their best to reduce the high employee turnover to make the organization better, but nothing is absolutely, â€Å"Not all turnover is bad†.References Dr. John Sullivan, Not All Employee Turnover Is Bad — Celebrate â€Å"Losing th e Losers† retried from http://www. ere. net/2009/04/06/not-all-employee-turnover-is-bad-celebrate-losing-the-losers/ Linda Banks, Reduce Employee Turnover: How to encourage your employees to stay retrieved from Nov 28,2010 http://www. suite101. com/content/reduce-employee-turnover-a20445 Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, Turnover(employment) retrieved from Nov 28,2010 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Turnover_(employment) http://www. missouribusiness. net http://www. referenceforbusiness. com

Major General Edward O. Ord - American Civil War

Major General Edward O. Ord - American Civil War Edward O. Ord - Early Life Career: Born October 18, 1818 at Cumberland, MD, Edward Otho Cresap Ord was the son of James and Rebecca Ord.  His father briefly served in the US Navy as a midshipman but transferred to the US Army and saw action during the War of 1812.  A year after Edwards birth, the family moved to Washington, DC.  Educated in the nations capital, Ord quickly showed an aptitude for mathematics.  To further these skills, he obtained an appointment to the US Military Academy in 1835.  Arriving at West Point, Ords classmates included Henry Halleck, Henry J. Hunt, and Edward Canby.  Graduating in 1839, he ranked seventeenth in a class of thirty-one and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the 3rd US Artillery. Edward O. Ord - To California: Ordered south, Ord immediate saw combat in the Second Seminole War.  Promoted to first lieutenant in 1841, he next moved to garrison duty at several forts along the Atlantic coast.  With the beginning of the Mexican-American War and swift capture of California in 1846, Ord was dispatched to the West Coast to aid in occupying the newly-captured territory.  Sailing in January 1847, he was accompanied by Halleck and Lieutenant William T. Sherman.  Arriving in Monterey, Ord took command of  Battery F, 3rd US Artillery with orders to complete the construction of Fort Mervine.  With Shermans assistance, this task was soon completed.  With the beginning of the Gold Rush in 1848, prices for goods and living expenses began to outpace the officers salaries.  As a result, Ord and Sherman were permitted to take side jobs to make extra money.   This saw them conduct a survey of Sacramento for John Augustus Sutter, Jr. which established much of the layout for the citys central areas.  In 1849, Ord accepted a commission to survey Los Angeles.  Aided by William Rich Hutton, he completed this task and their work continues to provide insight in the citys earliest days.  A year later, Ord was ordered north to the Pacific Northwest where he commenced surveying the coast.  Promoted to captain that September, he returned to California in 1852.  While on garrison duty at Benicia, Ord married  Mary Mercer Thompson on October 14, 1854.  Over the next five years, he remained on the West Coast and took part in various expeditions against the Native American in the region. Edward O. Ord - The Civil War Begins: Returning east in 1859, Ord arrived at Fortress Monroe for service with the artillery school.  That fall, his men were directed to move north to aid in suppressing John Browns attack on Harpers Ferry but were not needed as Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Lee was able to deal with the situation.  Sent back to the West Coast the following year, Ord was there when the Confederates attacked Fort Sumter and opened the Civil War in April 1861.  Returning east, he received a commission as a brigadier general of volunteers on September 14 and assumed command of a brigade in the Pennsylvania Reserves.  On December 20, Ord led this force as it won a skirmish with Brigadier General J.E.B. Stuarts Confederate cavalry near Dranesville, VA.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On May 2, 1862, Ord received a promotion to major general.  Following brief service in the Department of the Rappahannock, he was transferred west to lead a division in Major General Ulysses S. Grants Army of the Tennessee.  That fall, Grant ordered Ord to direct part of the army against Confederate forces led by Major General Sterling Price.  This action was to be coordinated with Major General William S. Rosecrans Army of the Mississippi.  On September 19, Rosecrans engaged Price at the Battle of Iuka.  In the fighting, Rosecrans won a victory, but Ord, with Grant at his headquarters, failed to attack due to an apparent acoustic shadow.  A month later, Ord won a victory over Price and Major General Earl Van Dorn at Hatchies Bridge as the Confederates retreated after being repulsed at Corinth. Edward O. Ord - Vicksburg the Gulf: Wounded at Hatchies Bridge, Ord returned to active duty in November and held a series of administrative posts.  While Ord recovered, Grant embarked on a series of campaigns to capture Vicksburg, MS.  Laying siege to the city in May, the Union leader relieved the troublesome Major General John McClernand from command of XIII Corps the following month.  To replace him, Grant selected Ord.  Taking over on June 19, Ord led the corps for the remainder of the siege which ended on July 4.  In the weeks after the fall of Vicksburg, XIII Corps took part in Shermans march against Jackson.  Serving in Louisiana as part of the Department of Gulf for much of the latter part of 1863, Ord left XIII Corps in January 1864.  Returning east, he briefly held posts in the Shenandoah Valley. Edward O. Ord - Virginia:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On July 21, Grant, now leading all Union armies, directed Ord to assume command of XVIII Corps from the ill Major General William Baldy Smith.  Though part of Major General Benjamin Butlers Army of the James, XVIII Corps operated with Grant and the Army of the Potomac as they besieged Petersburg.  In later September, Ords men crossed the James River and took part in the Battle of Chaffins Farm.  After his men succeeded in capturing Fort Harrison, Ord fell badly wounded as he attempted to organize them to exploit the victory.  Out of action for the remainder of the fall, he saw his corps and the Army of the James completely reorganized in his absence.  Resuming active duty in January 1865, Ord found himself in temporary command of the Army of the James. In this post for the remainder of the conflict, Ord directed the armys operations during the latter stages of the Petersburg Campaign including the final assault on the city on April 2.  With Petersburgs fall, his troops were among the first to advance into the Confederate capital of Richmond.  As Lees Army of Northern Virginia retreated west, Ords troops joined in the pursuit and ultimately played a key role in blocking the Confederate escape from Appomattox Court House.  He was present at Lees surrender on April 9 and later purchased the table at which Lee had sat. Edward O. Ord - Later Career: Following President Abraham Lincolns assassination on April 14, Grant ordered Ord north to investigate and ascertain if the Confederate government had played a role.  His determination that John Wilkes Booth and his conspirators had acted alone helped calm demands that the newly-defeated South be punished.  That June, Ord assumed command of the Department of the Ohio.  Promoted to brigadier general in the regular army on July 26, 1866, he later oversaw the Department of Arkansas (1866-1867), Fourth Military District (Arkansas Mississippi, 1867-68), and Department of California (1868-1871).   Ord spent the first half of the 1870s commanding the Department of the Platte before moving south to lead the Department of Texas from 1875 to 1880.  Retiring from the US Army on December 6, 1880, he received a final promotion to major general a month later.  Accepting a civil engineering position with the Mexican Southern Railroad, Ord worked to build a line from Texas to Mexico City.  While in Mexico in 1883, he contracted yellow fever prior to departing on business for New York.  Falling severely ill while at sea, Ord was landed at Havana, Cuba where he died on July 22.  He remains were brought north and interred at Arlington National Cemetery.   Selected Sources Civil War Trust: Edward O. OrdTSHA: Edward O. OrdOhio Civil War Central: Edward O. Ord

A Chip of Glass Ruby Responses

Showing his true feelings only this one time, Bamjee reveals his opinions when the police come to arrest his wife for participating in and promoting a cause that he is opposed to. Before and after that outburst of his though he really is rather distant and detached from his family and what’s going on. As aloof as Bamjee is, he is also quite proud. He is proud that wealthy and influential people are coming and going through his house, but he is even more proud of his ethnicity. He is proud because he is Indian which means he is of a higher social status than the Bantu. 12. When Mrs. Bamjee was taken away by the police she reminded Bamjee about Ismail’s, Mrs. Bamjee’s daughter Girlie’s fiance’s, engagement party. This shows that even in the midst of the arrest she keeps her cool and remains the good and normal wife that Bamjee fell in love with by reminding him of something as insignificant as an engagement party. Protesting and promoting equality, she is still a simple Indian woman who wants the best for her family and to respect the values of others (in this case, making sure not to offend Ismail by not showing up to his party). 13. In South Africa the social classes are prominent barricades from equality in the country. Having the highest social status, the whites remain the most powerful while the Indians, like Bamjee, are below them and even lower are the Bantu, the native people of South Africa. Bamjee considers himself better than the Bantu and this is showed in the story when he snaps at her â€Å"There you are! That’s what you’ve got for it. † ‘It’ referring to her helping organize the protests and getting involved in the issues of the Bantu. Another part of the story that demonstrates Bamjee’s belief of his superiority over the Bantu is after Mrs. Bamjee has been arrested and gone for two weeks. Bamjee is talking to himself out of rage saying â€Å"For a crowd of natives who’ll smash our shops and kill us in our houses when their time comes. †, â€Å"She will starve herself to death. †, â€Å"She will die there. †, â€Å"Devils who will burn and kill us. † Clearly he believes that his wife must not be acting so ridiculous for people she is better than and clearly he believes the Bantu to be devilish creatures. A Chip of Glass Ruby Responses Showing his true feelings only this one time, Bamjee reveals his opinions when the police come to arrest his wife for participating in and promoting a cause that he is opposed to. Before and after that outburst of his though he really is rather distant and detached from his family and what’s going on. As aloof as Bamjee is, he is also quite proud. He is proud that wealthy and influential people are coming and going through his house, but he is even more proud of his ethnicity. He is proud because he is Indian which means he is of a higher social status than the Bantu. 12. When Mrs. Bamjee was taken away by the police she reminded Bamjee about Ismail’s, Mrs. Bamjee’s daughter Girlie’s fiance’s, engagement party. This shows that even in the midst of the arrest she keeps her cool and remains the good and normal wife that Bamjee fell in love with by reminding him of something as insignificant as an engagement party. Protesting and promoting equality, she is still a simple Indian woman who wants the best for her family and to respect the values of others (in this case, making sure not to offend Ismail by not showing up to his party). 13. In South Africa the social classes are prominent barricades from equality in the country. Having the highest social status, the whites remain the most powerful while the Indians, like Bamjee, are below them and even lower are the Bantu, the native people of South Africa. Bamjee considers himself better than the Bantu and this is showed in the story when he snaps at her â€Å"There you are! That’s what you’ve got for it. † ‘It’ referring to her helping organize the protests and getting involved in the issues of the Bantu. Another part of the story that demonstrates Bamjee’s belief of his superiority over the Bantu is after Mrs. Bamjee has been arrested and gone for two weeks. Bamjee is talking to himself out of rage saying â€Å"For a crowd of natives who’ll smash our shops and kill us in our houses when their time comes. †, â€Å"She will starve herself to death. †, â€Å"She will die there. †, â€Å"Devils who will burn and kill us. † Clearly he believes that his wife must not be acting so ridiculous for people she is better than and clearly he believes the Bantu to be devilish creatures.

Reading and writing experiences throughout life Essay

Reading and writing experiences throughout life - Essay Example In my learning of English, I encountered various issues that challenged me in my schooling especially the circumstances in which I had to take exams in English, which was not my native language. In the process of learning, I understood the importance of literacy in any language and its relationship with academic performance. Learning English to me started in my childhood in my elementary school where I was supposed to take some class subjects in English language although I had insignificant knowledge about construction of sentences in English. In order to start my learning in the language, I invested time to understand the most appropriate ways of getting to understand the language so that I could follow the example to gain competence in its usage. I first understood that it is important to have an experience with the environment in which the language is spoken so that I can learn the way the competent were using the language. This was important because as many people interacted in t heir communication, there were aspects of the language that I acquire through staying with them which could be not necessarily found in the teaching syllabus, which I had to go through. Some of the things that I learnt through experience with those who knew to speak in English could have taken long to learn if I had to follow the process of the syllabus. In essence, the experience with English speakers speeded up the process of learning the language in the aspect of speaking but also I realized that I needed some skills in reading and writing the language. This is because even after I learnt to speak some English, I had difficulties in reading and writing in the language because I had numerous errors writing the language. My reading in English language started with understanding of the alphabetical codes that are used in constructing simple and complex word. This was important to me because the words that appeared in the English language were made of alphabets, which produced varyin g pronunciation, which could confuse me if I was to write a dictated passage. The understanding of the alphabets enabled me to have a good understanding of sound in English language that were important in differentiating words that could appear to have slight differences in the alphabets that sound almost the same. Through the interaction with the alphabets also, I was able to understand the various the different issues that can make some letters of the alphabets to be silent in a word which would influence how to written them from a spoken statement. I received valuable learning support from teachers that could elaborate the different ways of constructing words and sentences in English so that I could be able to enhance the study of language. The teacher helped me to construct grammatically correct sentences and later taught to combine the different sentences so that I could form meaningful paragraphs that could communicate some necessary information in the course of learning. Thro ughout the time the teacher taught me to combine different sentences that could be used meaningfully, I used to interact with other people who had experience in English and engage them in simple discourses that were able to advance my skill in the spoken language. Through the teacher, I learnt different signs that are used in the English