Issues - politics Essay Example for Free

Issues politics Essay Boeing is one of the worlds best known manufactures of aircrafts and so is Northrop Grumman who are the manufacturers of the airbus (Online News Hour, 2008). These are two top brands who are obviously competing in other areas of business and therefore any decision that involve them is bound to raise considerable heat. It should b noted that both are American companies though Northrop Grumman is partly owned by a French company. The nature of the contract which involves the security of America as a nation is a matter of national concern as it involves the development of structures that could ensure the growth of security systems. Boeing and Grumman being business structures, such a big contract will obviously attract the interest of stakeholders from both sides. There are a number of key issues that have been brought out by the airforce contracts which include: Military contracts are a matter of public concern since it is in place to protect the public, the resources used in the military contracts are derived from taxpayers and therefore the failure of such projects will be a waste of taxpayers money (Meyer, 2007). When McCain questioned the cost effectiveness in leasing planes that would otherwise have no values when their lease period was over his motive as the senator of Alabama was to ensure that the taxpayers money is channeled to useful projects. Furthermore, it is quite clear that the politicians have the ability to shoot down potentially useful deals due to what Northrop Grumman executives refer to as expensive lobbying. Politics is not always objective for there are situations where the stakes involved are shielded from the public and though the politics and viewpoints will be developed to suit the public, the real reasons are often personal (Meyer, 2007). The inclusion of politics in such cases therefore has both advantages and disadvantages and should be weighed carefully. Military procurement just like any other public procurement scheme is prone to corruption, this was the case in the original contract that was brought to an end by Rumsfeld in 2006. Moreover, the big money involved in military procurement processes act as a natural catalysts for corruption, therefore there is need to come up with a robust self regulated systems that will ensure that such unethical practices are not in anyway included in the procurement process, the congress thus comes into the picture (Meyer, 2007). However, the political system is not known for its objectivity. In the cases, some of the reasons brought out against Northrop Grumman are flimsy and lack in objectivity. The fact that there will be lobbying is a clear sign that there will be loss in objectivity thus the decision will tend to favor groups that are be able to garner enough political support in the congress. Furthermore, the political system is one of the most corrupt system there is and the rationale in placing such a system to guard against corruption is questionable. i.Security Military procurement is a security critical matter (Meyer, 2007). The military is in place to ensure that the US is protected against its external enemies (Meyer, 2007). The seriousness with which the equipment tendering process is treated and the keen eye that the media watches the unfolding of such events relay the importance placed on the military by the American people. The US is traditionally a fighting nation and the effectiveness of its military and equipments is one of the factors that has cemented its place as a world power. Military activities require high levels of secrecy (Meyer, 2007). There is need to come up with effective equipments that can be used in varied situations. It should be noted that the arguments brought forward by the executives from both sides are centered around the superiority of their products or the weaknesses of their opposite. The need for accuracy and well developed products that have the required reputation are some of the considerations that led to the two big companies making it to the final stage. The two companies are multinationals that have developed their brands all over the globe. It is noteworthy that when the US defense secretary cancels Boeings leases other nations still seek their products and are continues seeking the products that have been labeled cost ineffective due to the reputation associated with their brand name. The importance of the security system is seen in the number of avenues and legislative systems that have been put in place to ensure that the process is done in a just manner (Krishnan, 2008). When the airforce declares that Northrop Grumman had won the bid for the airforce tankers, Boeing seeks redress through a different avenue: Public accountability office. The office looks at their complaints and decides to freeze the process. It should be noted that it was the same office that had early in the decades frozen a billion dollar Boeing contract due to corruption charges. Even though there are systems put in place to ensure proper procedures in procurement of services and services, they can be outdone easily (Krishnan, 2008). The corruption allegations made in the initial Boeing contracts are a clear case where the protocols were overridden and it only came to realization a couple of months after the contracts had been signed. Furthermore, the fact that is was later found out that a different design could meet the specifications made by the airforce with reduced costs clearly show that even though the guidelines are put in place they are rarely followed thus the need for a system or authority that will follow up on the recommendations and processes to ensure that they conform to the laid out guidelines. Some politicians have argued that the French affiliation of the airbus manufacturer is in itself a security risk and therefore a purely American company should be contracted. However, such a contracting systems will obviously lock out other capable companies and therefore bring about questions on the integrity of the bidding process. America has prided itself as being a liberalized nation, putting up measures that will lock out other qualified members on the basis of the compositions of its investors is contrary to the spirit of liberalization. Furthermore, being involved with a company that has partnered with a success story in Europe shields the tanker project from American economic downtimes though it effectively ensures that the project is affected by the happening in Europe. It is unrealistic to lobby for Boeing on the basis of confidentiality; a company that has already shown traces of corruption cannot be trusted and neither can a company that is yet to prove its worth in the military sector. Therefore, system should be put in place to ensure that the projects are monitored and compared to some given standards if either is to be awarded the contract. ii. Stability The US is the father of capitalism and is therefore a country that is characterized by intense competition between industry players who will always be on the look for additional finances that will ensure their development into the future (Verkuil, 2007). On the day it was reported that Northrop Grumman had won the military contracts its share prices rose by over 20 cents and Boeings shares fell by a couple of cents (CBS News, 2008). Note, the development in the contract procurement were being watched by investors who will then make their decisions on which company to invest in. Even though the large money involved in the transactions may be enough to lure investors into channeling their resources to a particular company, the reputation involved in being a company contracted with one of the worlds best airforce to develop its aircraft tankers is enough to cause significant changes in the companys share index. Being a capitalistic economy where entities gain at the expense of others, Boeing is bound to feel the pinch. The situation is made worse by the consideration that Boeing has a well developed reputation and therefore failure to win a contract from a partner that it has associated with for a long time may be taken by the investors and its consumers in the wrong light. It may imply that the partner does not trust its capacity to develop superiors products or has doubts on its potential to remain productive. To bring the idea of reputation into perspective, many are of the notion that the corruptions charges brought against Boeing may have affected its chances of successfully bidding for the contract (Verkuil, 2007). This holds considerable weight in that the military is not all about facilities but also reputation. The American people and its enemies will always keep a keen eye on the military and any transactions conducted with a partner who is proved to be corrupt will dent on its integrity thus its reputation. Conclusion Awarding a contract to a company to deliver services that are of public interest is a complex process and will always involve the media and many other systems that have been put in place to ensure the safety of the public. Individual good and interest will always be central in the arguments brought forward by most people, this is more pronounced if the contract will significantly affect many people. It is therefore upon the government and the social systems to ensure that the systems put in place to ensure effectiveness of the bidding process are functioning properly and are robust enough to deal with the dynamism associated with such processes. If need be, changes must be instituted to ensure that the system are functioning. The products delivered must measure up to some predetermined standards to ensure quality and accountability. These measures and other quality management measures if well integrated into the bidding and implementation of contracts that are of public interest will ensure that the public benefits in the best possible way. Word Count: 3271 ,Reference List CBS News (2008). Boeing Spurned On Huge Air Force Contract. Retrieved 13 October 2008 from http://www. cbsnews. com/stories/2008/02/29/business/main3894669. shtml? source=RSSattr=Business_3894669 Krishnan, A. (2008). War as Business: Technological Change and Military Service Contracting. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Meyer, J. (2007). Working in a War Zone: Military Contractors. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group. Online News Hour (2008). Boeing, Northrop Grumman Clash Over Tanker Contract. Retrieved 13 October 2008 from http://www. pbs.org/newshour/bb/military/jan-june08/tanker_05-06. html. United States Government Accountability Office (2008). Statement Regarding the Bid Protest Decision Resolving the Aerial Refueling Tanker Protest by The Boeing Company. Retrieved 13 October 2008 from http://www. governmentexecutive. com/pdfs/061808cd1. pdf Verkuil, R. (2007). Outsourcing Sovereignty: Why Privatization of Government Functions Threatens Democracy and what We Can Do about it. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Cultural Barriers in International Marketing

Cultural Barriers in International Marketing The research area of this proposal is focused on the broad area of international marketing. More specifically, the focal point of the research will be the sociocultural environment and how this has an impact on a multinational company whose ambition is to enter a new market (Hollensen, 2007). As indicated by Doole and Lowe (2008), the sociocultural factor affects the consumer and buyer behaviour, making the development of international marketing strategies inevitable. In addition, this researchs centre of attention will be the elements of culture which is a popular method of discovering cultures (Albaum Duerr, 2008). Furthermore, the layers of culture will be presented from two different perspectives as well as the relation of culture with consumer behaviour. Finally, an attempt to examine the Japanese culture will be made by reviewing the high- and low-context concept (Hall, 1960 cited in Nguyen et al., 2007: 207), and some additional models introduced by key authors. 3.3 Background Primarily, understanding ones culture before entering his market has a dual aspect. On one hand, the effectiveness of the established marketing strategies and its implementation by locals could be verified (Czinkota Ronkainen, 2007), and on the other hand you familiarise with your own culture (Yamada, 1997: xvi). Furthermore, Japan is one of the most culturally homogenous countries in the world (Engel Murakami, 2001: 21), citizens of which consider their heritage valuable and indispensable (Keillor Hult, 1999). Consequently, this creates trade barriers for the multinational companies (Albaum Duerr, 2008) whose intention is to enter the Japanese market. These barriers can be eliminated by understanding the Japanese values and expectations (Engel Murakami, 2001: 20). Moreover, the ability of overcoming these barriers and cultivate relations with the target market is the fundamental stepping stone for an effective marketing strategy (Ford, 1984 cited in Lohtia et al., 2009). In order to achieve that, companies should be culturally sensitive, in other words they should acknowledge the dissimilarities between domestic and international markets and handle them effectively (Holzmuller Stottinger, 2001; LaBahn Harich, 1997; Rice ODonohue, 2002 cited in Lohtia et al., 2009: 241). However, it is difficult to achieve cultural sensitivity to Japan (Hall, 1987 cited in Lohtia et al., 2009:242), and companies that will achieve it will gain the appreciation of the Japanese consumers (Lohtia et al., 2009). 3.4 Conclusion Initially, Craig and Douglas (2006: 338) confirm that due to globalisation and the rapid change of cultures, a deeper understanding of culture is necessary. Moreover, Steenkamp (2001: 41) verifies that culture is a complex phenomenon and that many dimensions are required to be developed, so that marketers can distinguish effectively one culture from another, and thus establish the appropriate marketing strategy. In the dissertation, the researcher will try to uncover as many dimensions that capture culture as possible, focusing on the Japanese culture, hence identifying the cultural barriers. Japan was chosen as it is a high context country (Hall, 1987 cited in Lohtia et al., 2009), and subsequently the higher the context of a culture, the more effort will be needed from a company to adjust its strategy to that culture (Hollensen, 2007: 221). Literature Review 4.1 Introduction The aim of this literature review is to present definitions of international marketing that are related with Japans sociocultural environment. Additionally, a synthesis of the existing literature was conducted in order to provide a thorough description of the elements and the layers of culture, the available models that examine cultures and their implications for consumer behaviour. Moreover, the data collection was achieved by using the universitys library and ebrary database. The keywords international marketing resulted in 543 and 18.719 hits of secondary data respectively, and lastly 9 books were used. Finally, the e-library was used to obtain academic journals in order to inject scientific ideas in the research. The search engine showed 66798 results of which only 240 were available. Eventually, 10 articles were selected to be used, mainly coming from Emeralds and ScienceDirects databases. 4.2 Definitions and concepts To start with, before attempting to define culture, international marketing should be introduced. There seems to be a consensus regarding the definition of international marketing. More specifically, Doole and Lowe (2008: 6) as well as Ghauri and Cateora (2005: 8) defined it as the procedure that a companys goods and services are targeted in customers of more than one country, which seeks the maximisation of its profit. Additionally, Ghauri and Cateora (2005: 8) raised the difference between international and domestic marketing, where the latter focuses only in one nation. Furthermore, Doole and Lowe (2008: 7), and Hooley et al. (2008: 61) used the SLEPT model to identify the environmental impacts on international marketing. These are: Social/Cultural, Legal, Economic, Political and finally Technological. This proposal will focus only on the Sociocultural influences. Moreover, 160 definitions for culture have been recorded (Czinkota Ronkainen, 2007), proving the significance of the role that culture plays in marketers strategy (Ghauri Cateora, 2005). Firstly, the etic approach of culture, which focuses on the contrast between two cultures (Luna Gupta, 2001: 46) was identified by Hofstede (1997) as the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one human group from another (Hollensen, 2007: 216; Luna Gupta, 2001: 46). In contrast, the emic approach of culture was proposed by McCracken (1988: 73) cited in Luna and Gupta (2001: 46). He defined culture as the lens through which all phenomena are seen. It determines how these phenomena are apprehended and assimilated. Second, culture is the blueprint of human activity. It determines the coordinates of social action and productive activity, specifying the behaviours and objects that issue from both. The objective of the emic approach is to achieve a thorough comprehension of the study of culture (Luna Gupta, 2001). 4.3 The elements of culture Primarily, culture was divided into different elements to direct marketers to a deeper examination of the cultural differences between international markets (Ghauri Cateora 2005: 82). More detailed, Ghauri and Cateora (2005: 83) identified six elements of culture: Material culture, Social institutions, Aesthetics, Belief system, Education and Language. Furthermore, Albaum and Duerr (2008: 122), and Doole and Lowe (2008: 74) added Technology with Material culture, as well as Law and Politics, with the former omitting Aesthetics. Hollensen (2007: 225) included Technology to Material culture, added Manners and customs, and omitted Law and Politics. Finally, Czinkota and Ronkainen (2007:57) added Manners and Customs, and omitted Law and Politics. It is worth mentioning that all the elements will be examined thoroughly in the dissertation from the perspective of Japan. 4.4 The layers of culture The layers of culture can be a great opportunity for multinational companies to familiarise themselves with the behaviour (Hollensen, 2007), attitudes and values (Doole and Lowe, 2008) of people with different cultural backgrounds they hire (Hollensen, 2007). On one hand, Hollensen (2007: 219) indicates four layers of culture: national culture, business/ industry culture, company culture and finally individual behaviour, with each layer affecting the next one. On the other hand, a different approach was presented by Doole and Lowe (2008: 73). They portrayed the layers of culture in a national, a regional/ ethnic/ religious/ linguistic, a gender, a generation and finally a social class level. In a nutshell, companies should familiarise themselves with the characteristics of the Japanese employees, as they hardly ever quit their jobs and they are astoundingly bonded with them so as to receive a flourishing career (Engel Murakami, 2001: 29). 4.5 Culture and consumer behaviour Consumer behaviour regarding a product or a message is affected by different components of culture (Doole Lowe, 2008). Jeannet and Hennessey (2004) cited in Doole and Lowe (2008: 80) presented the procedure that consumer behaviour is affected by culture. In contrast, Hofstede (1997) cited in Luna and Gupta (2001, 47) argues that consumer behaviour is influenced by four manifestations which are: values, heroes, symbols, and rituals. Moreover, Craig and Douglas (2006) stated that customs and rituals play a significant role for Japan, in maintaining well-balanced relations among its citizens. However, Usunier (1996) cited in Holden (2004: 567), partly agrees with Hofstedes view, since he believes that consumer behaviour, which consists of consumers values, attitudes and decision making, is affected by cultural dissimilarities. Lastly, Doole and Lowe (2008: 80) identified four ideas that marketers should reflect on when using Western ideas to comprehend the foreign consumer behaviour. 4.6 Cultural analysis 4.6.1 High- and low-context cultures The model of high- and low-context cultures was defined by Edward T. Hall (1960a) as a way of understanding different cultural orientation (Hollensen, 2007: 220). As indicated by Hall (1976) cited in Nguyen et al. (2007: 207), in low-context cultures the message itself is of great importance. On the other hand, in high-context cultures, people tend to elaborate on the message to gain a deeper understanding of it (Hollensen, 2007: 220; Doole Lowe, 2008: 86). As argued by Hollensen (2007), the Japanese have the highest context culture, while the Swiss have the lowest. 4.6.2 Hofstedes model To begin with, Hofstedes dimensions should be taken into consideration when marketers construct their marketing strategy (Hollensen, 2007: 228). Ghauri and Cateora (2005), as well as Hollensen (2007) mention four dimensions of culture; distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism and masculinity, while Hofstede adds long-term orientation (Hofstede, 2009). The importance of these results is due to cultural dimensions illustrating the traits of a country (Rivera-Vazquez et al., 2009). Consequently, the results for Japan are intended to be used for the dissertation. Lastly, strengths and weaknesses of this model were introduced by Hollensen (2007: 229). 4.6.3 Schwartzs model An alternative framework was created by Schwartz (1994) cited in Steenkamp (2001). He mentions three dimensions through which he will provide answers to his societal topics: conservatism versus autonomy, hierarchy versus egalitarianism and labelled mastery or labelled harmony (Steenkamp, 2001: 32). 4.6.4 Alternative models Primarily, Keegan (2004: 14) supports that the focus on marketing changes and that concepts need updating regularly. Based on this idea, Holden (2004: 570) disapproves the reliance on Hofstedes model, while suggesting an approach to culture from a different perspective. Finally, an alternative model for approaching Asian cultures was introduced by Fang (1999), cited in Fletcher and Flang (2006: 438). 4.7 Conclusion Primarily, although there is a large amount of literature concerning international marketing and culture, there seems to be some disagreements between authors, as well as some omissions by others. For instance, Hollensen (2007) supports that it is inevitable to examine cultures without referring to Hofstedes cultural dimensions. On the other hand, Holden (2004) criticises the validity of Hofstedes model. As a result, the researcher will try to compare and contrast the models that have been developed for gaining knowledge of the differences amongst cultures. Methodology 5.1 Introduction The approach that was developed in order to accomplish the objectives was based on desk research. More specifically, the researcher utilised existing written material such as books, e-books, and some scientific journals (Gummesson, 2000: 35). Finally, the World Wide Web (Internet) will be used to obtain the empirical results regarding the cultural dimensions of Japan suggested by the key author Hofstede. The qualitative research method is going to be used. Primarily, the researcher uses secondary analysis which is a qualitative method (Bryman Bell, 2007: 326). Secondly the thesis of other writers will be introduced, instead of the researchers own opinion (Bryman Bell, 2007: 425). Additionally, of great importance should be the fact that the use of mixed methods -both qualitative and quantitative- was avoided because these methods are two different paradigms (Bryman Bell, 2007: 642). Finally, concerning the relationship between theory and research (Bryman Bell, 2007: 11), the inductive theory (Bryman Bell, 2007) was used. Although Fisher (2007: 322) argues that a combination of inductive and deductive method can be employed, only the inductive method was used for this proposal. This can be justified by the fact that the researcher moves from observations, which is the aim of the proposal, to the general which is the theory (Bryman Bell, 2007: 14). 5.2 Desk Research To start with, the only method that was used in order to obtain data for this proposal was desk research. Although Gummesson (2000: 34) argues that knowledge coming from secondary sources is limited, Bryman and Bell (2007: 328) believe that secondary analysis provides the researcher with high quality data. Additionally, it is more cost-effective in a way that secondary data are easier to interpret than primary (Bryman Bell, 2007: 333). Moreover, part of the secondary data collected came from scientific journals. The researcher focused on journals that were related to culture and cultural barriers. The journals that were used came from: The International Marketing Review The Journal of Product Brand Management The European Journal of Marketing The International Business Review The Journal of Knowledge Management Finally, text books were used in an attempt to achieve a deeper understanding of the theory related to international marketing and culture. Some of those used are: International Marketing Strategy by Isobel Doole and Robin Lowe International Marketing by Ghauri and Cateora Global Marketing by Svend Hollensen Passport to Japan by Engel and Murakami 5.3 Alternative Methods Ideally, the researcher could have used alternative methods to complement the validity of material found (Gummesson, 2000: 35). These methods could be: case studies, questionnaires and qualitative interviews (Gummesson, 2000: 35). Primarily, the researcher could have used existing case studies in this proposal to support the data found from existing theory (Bryman Bell, 2007). Unfortunately, word limit prevented him from including material found, as more theoretical findings were included to help readers gain basic knowledge on international marketing and culture. However, it is unquestionably that in the dissertation the researcher will use existing case studies. Finally, the researcher could conduct a case study by approaching a multinational company which maintains its operations in Japan. More specifically, the use of questionnaires or qualitative interviews would have helped the researcher gain an insider perspective (Bryman Bell, 2007: 443) of the marketing strategy that a company deploys in Japan. Unfortunately, the difficulty of approaching a company and accessing its confidential data prevented the researcher from implementing it. However, it is worth mentioning that the researcher has not had the chance to meet his supervisor. Consequently, the research methods could possibly change with the intention of writing a high-quality masters dissertation. Ethical issues There are no ethical issues concerning this proposal since only desk research was conducted. To be more specific, there was no distortion of data and every secondary source has been acknowledged by in-text references and a reference list, adhering to the rules of Aston Business School on plagiarism. Last but not least, copyrights of published books, articles and journals were respected. Task List Tasks Problems Solutions Search and obtain existing literature on theory and concepts of culture in books and e-books Limited searching skills, due to restricted previous experience Received advice from professors as well as from library staff on effective research techniques Search and obtain existing literature from scientific journals Not all journal articles are available in full text in the Aston e-library and many of those available were not completely relevant to the topic of the proposal Methodical and detailed research for alternative articles Select the most relevant articles Time consuming Skim and scan the articles found Obtain text books from the Aston library that are related to differences across different cultures Not all books are available in the Aston library Obtained e-books from ebrary of Aston University Obtain results from empirical studies regarding the culture of Japan Not all data is available in text books Access World Wide Web (Internet) to obtain the information needed Write the assignment Limited previous experience Guidance on the structure of the assignment via lecture notes and slides Conduct an effective literature review Limited previous experience Guidance provided through lecture notes and slides Combine information provided from different books, producing a uniform text Large amount of information from secondary data sources available Skim and scan all secondary data sources to combine all information provided and highlight any omissions observed in the literature Use case studies of different multinational companies that examine similar problems Word limit Not covered by the proposal but will be covered in the dissertation Proof-read and edit the assignment before submission Possible mistakes or omissions Thorough reading and correction of mistakes

Development Of Art :: essays research papers

What Is Art? -An In-Depth Analysis-   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Human’s have always struggled to express themselves. Art, is considered by many to be the ultimate form of human expression. Many assume that art has a definition, but this is not the case. Art, it can be said, is â€Å"in the eye of the beholder.† This simply means that what you consider art, someone else would not. Art is part of a person’s internal emotions, which signifies why different people see art as different things. Every type of culture and era presents distinctive and unique characteristics. Different cultures all have different views of what art can, and would be, causing art itself to be universally renowned throughout the world. The first art to be recorded was done by the early Egyptians who used it as a form of communication and to signify their religious beliefs. Their beliefs were centered around their many Gods which helped in aiding their visual representations. What made Egyptian art unique, was that every picture told a story of an important event in the society, which helps us study who they were as a people, and what their life struggles were. This primitive form of art laid the ground- work for the many types of art which would follow it. The next important era was the time of Greek art. Their work was greatly influenced by the Egyptians. Their early art was very geometric in shape and glorified Gods and people in their works. Eventually as time progressed, they began to soften their edges and lines and concentrate on the human form, which they considered the most beautiful of all creation. Christian art was the next big leap for art. This art was more colorful and displayed vivid images and scenes. The introduction of the mosaic was probably the greatest contribution of the period. In the fifteenth century, the Renaissance period involved brighter colours and new mediums that the world had never seen before.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Through these early stages of art discussed above, it shows how the foundation for today’s modern works was laid out. They show how art has developed from simple cave paintings, to the tremendous force in society that it is today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Art is one of the most intriguing and exiting forms of human expression. A picture can tell a thousand words and often stir up feelings inside the viewer. Art is all around us.buildings,electronic equipment like a computer, and even automobiles are all a form of art.

Nazi Olympics Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Nazi Olympics The 1936 Olympics in Berlin, also known as the â€Å"Nazi Olympics†, was a milestone in the history of the world. All of the attention of the Olympics that year was focused on Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. In 1933, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler became leader of Germany and quickly turned the nation's democracy into a one-party dictatorship. He took thousands of political opponents, holding them without trial in concentration camps. The Nazis also set up a program to strengthen the Germanic Aryan population. They began to exclude all one-half million Jews from the population, and German life. As part of the drive to "purify" and strengthen the German population, a 1933 law permitted physicians to perform forced sterilizations of psychiatric patients and congenitally handicapped persons, Gypsies, and Blacks (Encarta Encyclopedia 1996 [CD-ROM]). The 1936 Olympics in Berlin caused many worries, problems, and questions for America and other countries throughout the world. On 13 May 1931, the International Olympic Committee awarded the 1936 Summer Olympics to Berlin. The choice seemed to signal Germany's return to the world community after defeat in World War I. Berlin had forty-three votes, and Barcelona, Spain, the other option, had sixteen. The choice showed that Germany was being included once more in the world community. It also showed the International Olympic committee’s respect for Dr. Theodor Lewald, and Carl Diem, German sports leaders. Both men had been the planners for the 1916 Olympics that was scheduled, but was cancelled. Since then, they have been urging the Olympics to attempt to go back to Germany. Both Lewald and Diem were very pleased with the results (Mandell The Nazi Olympics 39). On 30 January 1933, the German president, Paul von Hindenburg, selected Adolf Hitler to be the head of the government. This was very unexpected. Hitler was the leader of an extreme right-wing political party, the National Socialist German Workers (Nazi) Party. Hitler sought to expand Germany with new territories and boundaries. Hitler also focused on rebuilding Germany’s military strength. In many speeches Hitler made, he spoke often about the value of â€Å"racial purity† and the dominance of the Aryan master race. The Nazi’s spread their racist beliefs in schools through textbooks, radios, new... ...oft Encarta The 1936 Olympics [CD-ROM] Microsoft, 1996 Sirracose, Constantine. History of the Olympic Games Seaburn Books, 15 March 2000 Swaddling, Judith. The Ancient Olympic Games HRH The Princess Royal, January 2000 Bibliography Bachrach, Susan D. The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 Boston, MA : Little, Brown and Company, 2000 Green, Robert. â€Å"Berlin Olympics exhibition opens in Washington† Dateline: WASHINGTON 19 July 1996 Hoadley, Johanna. â€Å"’36 Olympic Hopefuls Remember Nazi Past† Scripps Howard News Service,as provided by SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE 19 July 1996 Kastor, Elisabeth. â€Å"Olympic History† The Washington Post 19 September 2000 : C15 Kindersly, Dorling. The Olympic Games: Athens 1896-Sydney 2000 Chronicle of the Games, 1 July 2000 Mandell, Richard. The Nazi Olympics Illinois : Sports and Society, 1987 Martin, David. The Olympic Marathon Human Kinetics, May 2000 Microsoft Encarta 1996 The 1936 Olympics [CD-ROM] Microsoft, 1996 Microsoft Encarta 2001 The 1936 Olympics (The Nazi Olympics) [CD-ROM] Microsoft, 2001 Sirracose, Constantine. History of the Olympic Games Seaburn Books, 15 March 2000 Swaddling, Judith. The Ancient Olympic Games HRH The Princess Royal, January 2000

An Effective, Professional Teacher Essay -- Professionalism and Ethics

Introduction The statement ‘Teaching – reflections, questions, decisions’ sums up what it means to be an effective teacher. Teachers are constantly making decisions about professionalism and ethics, teaching strategies, classroom management, and how to keep their students motivated. These decisions can have a major impact on student learning and how effective they are as teachers. Questioning is an essential—and one of the most important—instructional skills that a teacher can possess. Teachers need to be able to ask the appropriate types and levels of questions, such as the high and low order questions based on Bloom’s taxonomy, as well as being skilled in responding to students answers. Teachers also need to be constantly evaluating and reflecting on the curriculum, the teaching process, the learners and the diversity of their backgrounds and how it can affect their learning process. Discussion Decisions Professionalism and Ethics ‘Teacher professionalism’ has played a significant role in improving the quality of student learning in Australian schools (Preston, 1993, p. 5). Whitton, Barker, Nosworthy, Sinclair & Nanlohy (2010, pp. 49-60), divided the standards of teaching into six categories: academic – formal academic qualifications needed to become a teacher; ethics – behaving ethically with the right conduct and practice; legal – total compliance with child protection requirements, laws on working with children and duty of care; professional – lifelong learning and professional development by reading, research or study; personal – appropriate personal presentation and personal development; and cultural – accepting and respecting all cultures and everyone in the school community. Teachers need to make decisions on h... ...ards-based instruction (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc. Preston, B. (1993). Teacher professionalism: Implications for teachers, teacher educators and democratic schooling. Independent Education 23(4), 4-12. Retrieved from http://edocs.library.curtin.edu.au/eres_display.cgi?url=dc60261746.pdf ©right=1 University of Tasmania. (2010). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs pyramid. Retrieved April 19, 2011, from http://www.ruralhealth.utas.edu.au/comm-lead/leadership/maslow-diagram.htm Wesley, D. C., (1998). Eleven ways to be a great teacher. Educational Leadership 55(5), 80-81. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/pqdweb?did=26126116&sid=1&Fmt=6&clientId=22212&RQT=309&VName=PQD&cfc=1 Whitton, D., Barker, K., Nosworthy, Sinclair, C., & Nanlohy, P. (2010). Learning for teaching: Teaching for learning. South Melbourne: Cengage Learning.

Film and Tv Essay

Film and TV Essay (U31, U33) Unit 31 â€Å"Film editing is now something almost everyone can do at a simple level and enjoy it, but to take it to a higher level require teh dedication and persistence that any art form does. † Walter Murch[1] The History Of Editing (L. O. 1. 1. , L. O. 1. 2. ) Editing in early cinema was very basic and linear yet despite this it must have been one of the most exciting times in the film industry. Filmmakers had all the creative freedom at their finger tips as no one had created any rules or knew how to shoot a movie.The pioneers of film are the Lumiere brothers who were the first people to ever record moving images from a camera in 1895. The simplicity of their first movie was incredible with a camera set outside a factory and workers streaming out of the front door. It was in black and white, had no sound and had no cuts and yet thousands of people flooded to the cinema to see these images. However from this one simple film came every single mo tion picture and television show so their innovation should never be forgotten.In the years to follow came the birth of the first genres with â€Å"A Trip To The Moon†, the first Sc-Fi shot in 1902 and directed by Georges Melies. It was based on H. G. Wells â€Å"The First Men In The Moon† . It was followed in 1903 by Edwin S. Porter’s â€Å"The Great Train Robbery† , the first Western. Even in this short time period cinema had evolved significantly to include cuts, animation, visual effects and even colour in certain frames although this had to be achieved by manually painting on to the actual film strip.At this stage film was becoming rapidly more popular with the general public and by the 1930’s Hollywood started creating some of the first â€Å"Classic Hollywood† motion pictures we know today, such as Howard Hawks’ 1932 â€Å"Scarface†. The introduction of Hollywood cinema dramatically increased the size that a film product ion could be and with increased investment it meant more actors, bigger production teams and more distribution to the rest of the world. If you look back at the timeline of cinema from 1895-present (2013) and find the halfway point you could argue that cinema had reached its peak in the form of AlfredHitchcock. Alfred Hitchcock is arguably the most famous and influential directors of all time. His masterpiece, the 1960 â€Å"Psycho†, created the first movie that used editing to truly terrify people, using long tracking shots with ominous music to draw the audience into the scene before using quick cuts at the peak of suspense to send movie goers running out of the cinema in terror. After this came the post modernist era. This saw directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Ridley Scott and Martin Scorsese break onto to the scene. However another leviathan of cinema emerged in this period in the form of Steven Spielberg.The advances in technology meant that cinema was becoming more d igital so CGI started to play a big factor in all mainstream Hollywood editing and Spielberg utilized this in his films such as â€Å"Jurassic Park† (1993) â€Å"Saving Private Ryan† (1998) and â€Å"Indiana Jones Temple Of Doom† (1984) with millions of dollars spent in post production effects. Finally we have everything in the present day. Editing in modern cinema is playing a bigger and bigger factor in films with many of todays blockbusters seeing quick cuts with multiple cameras and a larger amount of footage being shot in-front of a green screen.The Development Of Genre Specific Editing (L. O. 1. 2. , L. O. 1. 3. ) Why is it every genre has a different feel to it? How can you tell that you are watching a western and not a comedy? The main answer is editing. Editing is the most crucial factor in deciding the pace of the film. Different techniques and styles are used in the editing of each individual genre. This is because each genre brings with it different audiences who want different forms of entertainment.For example people who enjoy Romantic Comedies tend to be teenagers want to be filled with a sense of happiness and probably just want a film that is not too intense and is easy to follow yet thoroughly enjoyable. So with this knowledge it is not surprising that Romantic Comedies are famous for young glamorous actors, having a soundtrack with current music fresh from the charts, shooting in non treating locations and having basic cuts that are neither too long or too short. It is interesting to compare this to a Thriller. Thrillers tend to attract males from 15 years and over.People who watch Thrillers want to be entertained by a hero protagonist fighting against some sort of evil enemy in exotic countries with lots of violence and action. So editors of thrillers will know to include quick cuts using multiple cameras, using an exciting, usually orchestral, soundtrack and putting in multiple sound and visual effects of explosions an d car chases. Having an editor with a very clear grasp of how to change their style of editing depending upon the genre of the film is vital in any production crew. Unit 33 â€Å"The essence of cinema is editing.It’s the combination of what can be extraordinary images of people during emotional moments’ or images in a general sense, put together in a kind of alchemy† Francis Ford Coppola[2] TV Production Editing (L. O. 1. 1. , L. O. 1. 2. ) Breaking Bad †This is the first day of the rest of your life, but what kind of life will it be, huh? Will it be a life of fear, of â€Å"Oh, no no no I can't do this†? Of never once believing in yourself? † Walter White[3] Walter White is a ordinary High School Chemistry teacher that has been diagnosed with lung cancer and wants something to leave for his family.This and the want to live on the wild side makes him a meth drug lord. †Breaking bad has been hailed by critics as one of the best TV series' ever created. â€Å"Breaking Bad† increases that cognitive dissonance, turning some viewers into not merely fans but enablers. † Emily Nussbaum[4]. Breaking Bad blurs the lines between what you feel is just and good and breaks the conventions of a TV show based round a family where it it is clear to see that no one is perfect and everyone has individual flaws that create their character. This is a very deliberate decision that Executive Producer and creator Vince Gilligan made.Watching Breaking Bad you rarely feel that you are looking at famous Hollywood actors but instead real people that have found themselves in terrible situations. This is something that also comes off often in the editing as during scenes of character development or scenes with deep emotions there is no score playing in the background no real sound coming from anywhere apart from the space that the character is occupying with very few cuts with little camera movement so the audience can capture the real emotion of the situation. This ‘lack’ of editing can be more effective than having many different camera angles.This editing technique fits well into the Crime Drama genre well as it does not distract from the plot which is often complicated which means the audience has a much better chance of following the and therefore enjoying the storyline more. However throughout the episodes we also see evidence of very creative and artist editing and camera work. this is most effective in the montage sequences were meth is being cooked. This way the audience gets a brief glimpse into how complex the method is and get a good feel of the time it takes to make the meth without having to sit through each individual stage and watch the whole process.There is no doubt in my mind that Breaking Bad will go down in history as one of the greatest TV Programs of all time. The absence of obvious editing makes it feel like you are actually in the scenes with the characters living their emotions. Vince Gilligan's style of storytelling fits perfectly with the way he has chosen to edit this production. He has brought a new feel to the Crime Drama. One that makes you feel that even the most ordinary person can become extraordinary if they believe in what they have and they have a plan to back it up. The Wire â€Å"A life, Jimmy, you know what that is?It's the s**t that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come. † Freamon[5] The plot and storyline of The Wire is so clever and captivating that you can actually do a degree in it. Many who claim to be The Wire fans will argue that there has never been nor ever will be a better TV program made. And with the captivating storyline, emotionally complex yet lovable characters it is hard to argue otherwise. Like Breaking Bad, The Wire is a Crime Drama so similarly there is a lot of intricate dialogue which focuses heavily on character development and plot development.However unlike Vince Gilligan David Sim on has decided to edit his clips more heavily. There are scenes that defiantly have few cut so the audience can understand the emotions that are occurring in the scene. How it differs from Breaking Bad by also looking closely at the complex relationships that many of the characters have whether they be in the work place, in the pub or at home. To edit these scenes David Simon decided to cut between over the shoulder MCU’s. I feel this was a better way to edit these clips then just long uncut shots as it gives the feel that the people in the scene are interacting with each other more.Also it fits well with some of the witty comebacks that have been written into the script as people retort to any allegations being made against them. As the series progresses we see how relationships are made and broken down by the pressure that the characters find themselves in. it is interesting to see how the strength of the relationship that the characters have with each other on screen effec ts the editing. For example if a characters relationship is good we see less cuts between cameras. This helps the audience feel the comfort the two have with each other and how it is a very unthreatening scene.If the two characters on screen have a poor or hostile relationship you will notice that more cuts are brought in to show the anger or disgust on each characters face. However having quick cuts between cameras does not always mean that the relationship that the two characters have is poor, it can be quite the opposite as quick cuts accompanied with quirky or cheery music in the background can show that the characters are having a good time. As far as the sound in The Wire goes its again pretty minimal with not too many special sound effects and no unnecessary score.What it does do how ever is use a very clever diversity of Jazz and Rock songs throughout the entirety of each episode. David Simon chose very specific songs to try and create the feel that you were in the Baltimore area. Giving a very realistic and authentic feel to the footage you were seeing. This technique really puts the audience in the scene as they can relate the music playing to what is happening in the scene. The Wires success lies in showing how the relationships between people and institutions develop and David Simon has done a fantastic job of showing that through his editing. Film Production Editing (L. O. . 1. , L. O. 1. 2. ) Reservoir Dogs †I don't wanna kill anybody. But if I gotta get out that door, and you're standing in my way, one way or the other, you're gettin' outta my way. † Mr. White[6] In my mind Reservoir Dogs is Tarantino’s masterpiece. It is one of my all time favorite films and a large part of its popularity is the control of its pace. Reservoir Dogs was edited by Sally Menke who was famous for working along side Quentin Tarantino to create some of his great motion pictures including Inglorious Bastards and Pulp Fiction. When you compare these t hree films together it is obvious they have the same editor.We see the same long uncut tracking and panning shots in all three of these films. As far as genre specific-editing, Sally Menke has tried to use editing techniques to utilize the great and enjoyable aspects of a gangster film. For example to draw the audiences attention to the intricate dialogue and complex plot we see long uncut shots so we don’t get distracted by too many different camera angles. This is a technique used across may genres but perhaps used most effectively in the gangster genre as the long uncut shots gives the audience time to read the expressions seen across the faces of all the characters as their story unfolds.Reservoir Dogs like many other gangsters have very long and wordy scripts. This means that the main audio focus will be on the dialogue between characters as the audience explores the mind set of these gangsters. However an editing technique that we find in all of Tarintino’s movie s is associating characters to songs and how it makes the audience think more deeply about what they think these criminals often showing a more human side to them that people can relate to. This is most evident in the torture scene between Mr.Blonde and the police officer when just before we see Mr. Blonde about to mutilate and then set fire to the police officer he puts on the radio and starts to dance. I think Reservoir Dogs is such a great film as unlike many films today Tarintino understands that over editing takes away from the enjoyment of the cinema experience. I feel that directors over edit because they don’t trust the look and substance of the material they already have so they feel the need to add cheap effects and try to came up with as many cuts between artistic shots as possible.However it may be this reason that so many gangsters have been edited successfully as the characters, emotion and narrative is usually so interesting that it could captivate an audience even if there was no visuals whatsoever. Alien â€Å"Final report of the commercial starship Nostromo, third officer reporting. The other members of the crew, Kane, Lambert, Parker, Brett, Ash and Captain Dallas, are dead. Cargo and ship destroyed. I should reach the frontier in about six weeks. With a little luck, the network will pick me up.This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off. † Ripley[7] Like Quentin Tarantino, Ridley Scott used the same editor (Terry Rawlings) in his early career and it was with the assistance of Terry Rawlings that he was able to create some of his great masterpieces such as Bladerunner, Legend and arguably most famously Alien. Looking at Terry’s career we can see that he a real specialist in editing tense movies full of suspense. It is probably because of this that Ridley Scott chose him to be editor of Alien.Alien’s success must be put down partly to how masterfully it was edited, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats and making sure their hearts never left their mouths. It was a challenge to edit Alien as due to the lack of Effective CGI at the time it had to be shot using real props and costumes. However this meant that showing too much of the Alien for an extended length of time would reveal to the audience how fake the costume looked. For suspense and tension to reach their peak only brief glimpses of the Alien could be seen at any one time.This is a very deliberate editing technique as if the audience can not see the creature they have no idea how gruesome or horrifying it really could be mean their imaginations will run wild and they will create their own monster in their mind which is a much more terrifying thought than simply it being shown within the first 20 minutes of the film. Another Element which is interesting to note in Alien is the use of sound and music to create the suspense that you feel the whole way through the movie.One of the most important things you can reme mber when editing a movie is that its not always how much sound you use but when you chose to use it. Alien is a prime example of this as Ridley deliberately just had the diagetic sound that you saw through the camera in the background instead of adding a score and multiple sound effects. This isa very clever editing technique as he recognized that humans are most uncomorftanble when they are bathed in silence. This lack of sound means that the audience tension reaches a peak just before the Alien appears when the human fear of loud noises kicks in.Upon the reveal of the Alien there would be a sudden burst of sound and music. We hear the screech from the Alien the screams for the crew and a large orchestra starting to play in the background. The combination of these two things is one of the most used editing techniques in the horror genre. It is used to disorientate the audience to make the feel as vulnerable as possible to create maximum terror. Alien is the perfect template of how to edit a Sc-Fi Horror. The combination of the visual and audio techniques combine to make one of the most watched horrors of all time.Conclusion In investigating I have discovered how editing has played such a vital role in the creation of some of the greatest TV and Film Productions ever made. Being an editor may not be the most glamorous job in Hollywood but after writing this essay I now understand that it is one of the most important. ———————– [1] Walter Murch – 1983 [2] Francis Ford Coppola – 1983 [3] A No-Rough-Stuff Type Deal Season 1 Episode 7 [4] Emily Nussbaum – The New Yorker August 27th 2012 [5] The Wire Season 1 Episode 8 [6] Reservoir Dogs 1992 [7] Alien 1979

Network security threats Essay

The purpose of this memo is to let you know the importance of network security. Here I will discuss the network security threats, law that affects network security and processes and procedures for disaster recovery, data backup, and data restoration along with future action plans. Network security threats can be defined as any method used to try to breach the security of a network or system (Tulloch 2003). The goal of network security is to sustain and defend three critical properties of information, which are confidentiality, integrity and availability. This threats originate from variety of sources such as External and internal. External threats are structured threats from malicious individuals or organizations and unstructured threats from inexperienced attackers such as script kiddies. Internal threats are threats from disgruntled employees or contractors. Various network security threats exist. Some of the threats are Firewall and System Probing, Network File Systems (NFS) Application Attacks, Vendor Default Password Attacks, Denial of service (DoS) attacks, Social Engineering Attacks, Electronic Mail Attacks, Spoofing, Sniffing, Fragmentation and Splicing Attacks, Easy-To-Guess Password Compromise, Destructive Computer Viruses, Prefix Scanning, Trojan Horses and Reconnaissance attacks. The top three security threats to a network are discussed in below paragraphs. Disgruntled Employees This is the most common network security threat. Disgruntled employees, who are the group most familiar with their employer’s computers and applications, including knowing what actions might cause the most damage can create both mischief and sabotage on a computer System. The disgruntled current employees actually cause more damage than former employees do. According to Parmar, the common examples of computer-related employee sabotage are entering data incorrectly, changing and deleting data, destroying data or programs with logic bombs, crashing systems, holding data hostage and destroying hardware or facilities. Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks According to Tulloch (2003), DoS is a type of attack that tries to prevent legitimate users from accessing network services. In this type of threats, the attacker tries to prevent access to a system or network by several possible means. Some of these are: Flooding the network with so much traffic that traffic from legitimate clients is overwhelmed; Flooding the network with so many requests for a network service that the host providing the service cannot receive similar requests from legitimate clients; and Disrupting communications between hosts and legitimate clients by various means, including alteration of system configuration information or even physical destruction of network servers and components. (Tulloch 2003) Malicious Code and Electronic Mail Attacks. According to Parmar, malicious code refers to viruses , worms , Trojan horses , logic bombs, and software (uninvited). Electronic e-mail attacks are emails that hackers send to compromise network systems and whenever companies accept this e-mail from the Internet that have exposed versions of the sendmail program are potential targets from this attack. NETWORK SECURITY LAWS As such, no network security laws exist for network security. However, some of the acts that are applicable for network security threats are discussed in below paragraphs. Privacy Act of 1974 The concept of information privacy has been one of the most critical issues. It takes into serious consideration. Imagine a world without information privacy. The lack of information privacy creates a breeding ground for technological sharing and distribution. In 1974, the Privacy Act of 1974, passed by the Unites States Congress, states that: No agency shall disclose any record, which is contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of, the individual to whom the record pertains (â€Å"Privacy Act of 1974† 88 Stat. 1897). CFAA – Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. According to Robinson (2003), the current United States law of information security is the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U. S. C). It was originally enacted solely as a computer crime statute, but in its present form, it imposes both civil and criminal liability for a wide variety of acts that compromise the security of public and private sector computer systems. DMCA – The Digital Millennium Copyright Act The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U. S. C), provides that â€Å"no person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title [the Copyright Law]†. (Robinson, 2003) There are other laws (acts), such as the Wiretap Act, the Stored Communications Act, and the Computer Security Act are also applicable on network security threats. PROCESS AND PROCEDURES FOR NETWORK SECURITY The three important techniques used by companies to protect their network are firewalls, encryption and VPN, which are discussed below: Firewalls Firewalls are used to control access between networks. It separate intranets and xtranets from the Internet so that only employees and authorized business partners can access. Firewalls are implemented by Packet filtering to block â€Å"illegal† traffic, which is defined by the security policy or by using a proxy server, which acts as an intermediary. Encryption To protect against sniffing, messages can be encrypted before being sent (over the Internet). In general, two classes of encryption methods Secret Key encryption (DES) and Public Key encryption (RSA, public and private key are needed) are used today. Public Key encryption is incorporated into all major Web browsers and is the basis for secure socket layer (SSL). Virtual Private Networks (VPN) VPN maintains data security as it is transmitted by using tunneling and encryption. Tunneling creates a temporary connection between a remote computer and the local network. Tunneling blocks access to anyone trying to intercept messages sent over that link. Encryption scrambles the message before it is sent and decodes it at the receiving end. Another important area for companies are (implementing) Security policy, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity (plans), which are discussed in below paragraphs: Security policy Security policy is defined as rules, directives and practices that govern how asset, including sensitive information are managed protected and distributed within an organization. Every organization should define and document a security policy that defines the limits of acceptable behavior and how the organization will respond to violation of such behavior. Security policy defined should be concise, to the point, easy to understand and widely publicized in the organization. The security policy implemented should ensure compliance with all laws. The security policy should be reviewed periodically to respond to changes in technology or circumstances. There should be restrictions on playing of computer games on corporate computers and visiting of non-productive web sites using corporate network. In addition, employees should be monitored for prohibition against taking copies of certain corporate electronic document out of office, use of pirated software and use of corporate e-mail account for sending the personal e-mail. Proper Documentation for Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity There are various types of vulnerabilities associated with computer-based information systems. Now these days’ organizations are being more dependent upon their computer systems, therefore the survival of business depend very much on the security of these systems. Initially (few years back), physical disasters such as floods a hurricane, and fires were the most probable security risks. Nowadays, computer operations are also liable to loss or damage from hackers, computer viruses, industrial spies and similar causes which until recently were in the realms of science fiction. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, showed that there is a big difference between disaster recovery and business continuity. In the past, disaster recovery meant getting computers and networks up and running after a hurricane, flood, fire, or other disaster. However, September 11 taught a broader issue getting the business up-and-running. According to McNurlin & Sprague (2006), Business continuity broadens the discussion to include: Safeguarding people during a disaster; Documenting business procedures so that not dependent upon a single employee; Giving employees the tools and space to handle personal issues first so that they can then concentrate on work; Alternate workspace for people and Backup IT sites not too close but not too far away; Up to date evacuation plans that everyone knows and has practiced; Backed up laptops and departmental servers; and Helping people cope with a disaster by having easily accessible phone lists, e-mail lists, instant-messenger lists so people can communicate with loved ones and colleagues. CONCLUSIONS The goal of network security is to sustain and defend three critical properties of information, which are confidentiality, integrity and availability. The most common threats to network security comes from disgruntled employees, DoS attacks and malicious code attacks. All these threats try to breach the security of a network or system. Various information security and privacy laws exist, which must be followed by companies while installing and managing their computer network. Various techniques such as firewalls, encryption and VPN are used for securing network. In addition, security polices and disaster recovery and business continuity plan are implemented for securing network. FUTURE ACTION Below are some methods for securing network from the top three security threats to a network. Disgruntled employees type of threats can be limited by invalidating passwords and deleting system accounts in a timely manner by network (system) administrator. According to Tulloch (2003), defenses against DoS attacks can be done by disabling unneeded network services to limit the attack surface of companies network ; enabling disk quotas for all accounts including those used by network services; implementing filtering on routers and patch operating systems to reduce exposure to SYN flooding ; base-lining normal network usage to help identify such attacks in order to quickly defeat them ; and regularly backing up system configuration information and ensuring strong password policies. To prevent malicious code attacks from occurring, regular check with vendors to ensure systems are running a correct version of sendmail or some more secure mail product are necessary. Network Security through Software and Hardware can be implemented by: †¢ Modular and cheaper workgroup firewalls. †¢ By having host based and network based Intrusion detection systems †¢ Active security by providing auto mated responses to agents. †¢ Centralized management †¢ Content filtering †¢ Acceptance of PKI †¢ By having token, smartcard or biometric based access solutions. Some basic protecting tips for computer (in network) that should be provided to all the staffs in the organization are: †¢ Always use Anti-virus Software †¢ Download security updates and patches regularly and update computer systems. †¢ Do not check or download emails and attachments from unknown sources: †¢ Back Up your data regularly. †¢ Use Firewall †¢ Do not share access to your computer hard drives in network Attachments. REFERENCES Tulloch, M.2003, ‘Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security’, Microsoft Press, Washington, United States of America. Parmar, S. K. & CST, N. Cowichan Duncan RCMP Det (cmpl), ‘An Introduction to Security Manual’ McNurlin, B. C & Sprague, R. H 2006, ‘Information Systems Management in Practice’, 7th ed. , Pearson Education, New Jersey United States Congress, Privacy Act of 1974. Public Law No. 93-579, 88 Stat. 1897 (Dec. 31, 1974) CERT Training and Education software Engineering Institute (2006). Information Security for Technical Staff, Student handbook, Camegie Mellon University, USA Robinson, S, 2003, ‘U. S. Information Security Law’, accessed on October 20, 2007 from .