Litmus Paper and the Litmus Test

Litmus Paper and the Litmus Test You can make paper test strips to determine the pH of an aqueous solution by treating filter paper with any of the common pH indicators. One of the first indicators used for this purpose was litmus. Litmus paper is paper that has been treated with a specific indicator- a mixture of 10-15 natural dyes obtained from lichens (mainly Roccella tinctoria) that turns red in response to acidic conditions (pH 7). When the pH is neutral (pH 7) then the dye is purple. History The first known use of litmus was around 1300 CE by Spanish alchemist Arnaldus de Villa Nova. The blue dye has been extracted from lichens since the 16th century. The word litmus comes from the old Norse word for to dye or color. While all litmus paper acts as pH paper, the opposite is not true. Its incorrect to refer to all pH paper as litmus paper. Fast Facts: Litmus Paper Litmus paper is a type of pH paper made by treating paper with natural dyes from lichens.The litmus test is performed by placing a small drop of sample onto the colored paper.Usually, litmus paper is either red or blue. Red paper turns blue when the pH is alkaline, while blue paper turns red when the pH turns acidic.While litmus paper is most often used to test the pH of liquids, it can be used to test gases if the paper is dampened with distilled water before exposure to the gas. Litmus Test To perform the test, place a drop of liquid sample on a small strip of paper or dip a piece of litmus paper in a small specimen of the sample. Ideally, you dont dip litmus paper in an entire container of a chemical; the dye could contaminate a potentially valuable sample. The litmus test is a quick method of determining whether a liquid or gaseous solution is acidic or basic (alkaline.) The test can be performed using litmus paper or an aqueous solution containing litmus dye. Initially, litmus paper is either red or blue. The blue paper changes to red, indicating acidity somewhere between the pH range of 4.5 to 8.3. (Note, however, that 8.3 is alkaline.)  Red litmus paper can indicate alkalinity with a change to blue. In general, litmus paper is red below a pH of 4.5 and blue above a pH of 8.3. If the paper turns purple, this indicates the pH is near neutral. Red paper that does not change color indicates the sample is an acid. Blue paper that does not change color indicates the sample is a base. Remember, acids and bases refer only to aqueous (water-based) solutions, so pH paper wont change color in non-aqueous liquids, such as vegetable oil. Litmus paper may be dampened with distilled water to give a color change for a gaseous sample. Gases change the color of the entire litmus strip since the whole surface is exposed. Neutral gases, such as oxygen and nitrogen, do not change the color of the pH paper. Litmus paper that has changed from red to blue can be reused as blue litmus paper. Paper that has changed from blue to red can be reused as red litmus paper. Limitations The litmus test is quick and simple, but it suffers a few limitations. First, its not an accurate indicator of pH. It does not yield a numerical pH value. Instead, it roughly indicates whether a sample is an acid or a base. Second, the paper can change colors for other reasons besides an acid-base reaction. For example, blue litmus paper turns white in chlorine gas. This color change is due to bleaching of the dye from hypochlorite ions, not acidity/basicity. Alternatives to Litmus Paper Litmus paper is handy as a general acid-base indicator, but you can get much more specific results if you use an indicator that has a more narrow test range or that offers a wider color range. Red cabbage juice, for example, changes color in response to pH all the way from red (pH 2) through blue at neutral pH to greenish-yellow at pH 12, plus you are more likely to find cabbage at the local grocery store than lichen. The dyes orcein  and azolitmin yield results comparable to those of litmus paper.

Canadian T3 Tax Slips for Trust and Mutual Funds Income

Canadian T3 Tax Slips for Trust and Mutual Funds Income A Canadian T3 tax slip, or Statement of Trust Income Allocations and Designations, is prepared and issued by financial administrators and trustees to tell you and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) how much income you received from investment in mutual funds in non-registered accounts, from business income trusts or income from an estate for a given tax year. Quebec residents receive the equivalent Relevà © 16 or R16 tax slip. Deadline for T3 Tax Slips Unlike most other tax slips, T3 tax slips do not have to be mailed until the last day of March the year after the calendar year to which the T3 tax slips apply. Sample T3 Tax Slip Canadian Tax Form T3 2018.   Canadian Revenue Agency The Canadian government creates a new T3 each year, so be sure your advisor downloads the most recent form. That site includes a standard pdf version of the form that the financial administrator of your trustee can print and fill out; and an electronic version that allows him or her to fill it out online. The sample T3 tax slip  from the CRA above is from the 2018 tax year and shows you what to expect. The information required for this form includes your recipient identification number (social insurance number or business number), the cash amount of income from dividends you will need to report, capital gains, capital gains which are eligible for a deduction, and any other income. Most of that will come from your relevant financial administrator per trust or mutual fund. See the second page of the downloaded PDF form for more information on what is included in each box. Filing T3 Tax Slips With Your Income Tax Return When you file a paper income tax return, include copies of each of the T3 tax slips you receive. If you file your income tax return using NETFILE or EFILE, keep copies of your T3 tax slips with your records for six years in case the CRA asks to see them. If you decide to file your T3 slips online, you can use either Internet file transfer (XML) or web forms. Details on that process are available on the Canadian Revenue Agency website, Filing Information Returns Electronically. Missing T3 Tax Slips If you have trust or mutual funds income and havent received a T3 tax slip as you reach the CRA filing date, get in touch with the relevant financial administrator or trustee. If necessary, file your income tax return by the deadline anyway to avoid penalties for filing your income taxes late. Calculate the income and any related deductions and credits as closely as you can using any information you have. Include a note with the name and address of the financial administrator or trustee, the type and amount of trust or mutual funds income and related deductions, and what you have done to get a copy of the missing T3 tax slip. Include copies of any statements you used in calculating the income and deductions for the missing T3 tax slip. Other Tax Information Slips Other tax information slips include: T4 - Statement of Remuneration PaidT4A - Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other IncomeT4A(OAS) - Statement of Old Age SecurityT4A(P) - Statement of Canada Pension Plan BenefitsT4E - Statement of Employment Insurance and Other BenefitsT4RSP - Statement of RRSP IncomeT5 - Statement of Investment Income

Addiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Addiction - Essay Example It is not easy to understand what causes addictions or how an addiction develops in a person. Although one can be addicted to almost anything (including pleasant and harmless things), being addicted to harmful substances, particularly alcohol and illegal drugs, is more than a social problem. As the National Institute on Drug Abuse explains, â€Å"One very common belief is that drug abusers should be able to just stop taking drugs if they are only willing to change their behavior. What people often underestimate is the complexity of drug addiction—that it is a disease that impacts the brain and because of that, stopping drug abuse is not simply a matter of willpower†. The causes and components of addiction are very complex and although many studies have been done throughout the years, there is still not a clear answer to the causes of addiction. It has always been thought that any of the following could contribute to addiction– lack of will power, poverty, moral weakness, mental illness, genetics, family socialization, anti-social personalities and societal problems. It was also believed that addiction is a disease; but again there has not been enough evidence to confirm that. Causes of addiction can be classified as either mental or physical. The physical causes may be genetic and the mental causes include such things as personality and thinking characteristics, emotional defenses and social influences. According to Wojtowicz et al (2007), some of the causes of addiction to be studied have included social and environmental factors; interactions between biological, psychological and social factors, misuse of prescription medication; and it may be a brain disease. Some of the social factors that may be responsible for addictions are antisocial behavior, crime patterns and criminal choices, intolerance of boredom, family history of drug use, social interactions and peer influence and

Aviation History in Qatar Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Aviation History in Qatar - Research Paper Example Currently, Qatar Airways has shown flying colors in the aviation industry and it is competing equally with the other well established airline companies. Skytrax has given Qatar Airways a five–star rating, which is also possessed by airline companies like Kingfisher Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines. The headquarters of Qatar Airways is in Doha. Qatar Airways link almost hundred international destinations from its base place at Doha, using a fleet of ninety six aircrafts. During 2010, Qatar Airways has launched nine new destinations like Tokyo, Sau Paulo, Phuket, Nice, Hanoi, Copenhagen, Ankara, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Bangalore. In the pipeline, were other destinations like Aleppo, Bucharest, Budapest, Brussels, Oslo, Montreal and Stuttgart. (Projects Middle East. (Oct. 2008). 2. Qatar Airways Qatar Airways has provided a very suitable environment for the Middle East business aviation market to flourish. Ali A l Naqbi, who is the founding chairman of the Middle East Business Aviation Association, has given extra importance to Qatar’s strategic importance to the charter jet market. Ali Al Naqbi majorly focused on the growth potential of Qatar so as to capitalize on it in order to bring about a huge development in the international aviation market. He predicted that by the year 2012, there will be a massive growth in the Middle East aviation sector where its worth will be near to one dollar billion and the yearly growth rate will be by fifteen to twenty percent. Ali Al Naqbi was very optimistic about his view and prediction as the growth in the aviation market was new in the region. He believed that a new era will begin with the growth and progress of the aviation business entity. The aviation business has covered almost forty percent of the Middle East aerospace market within about four years. Ali Al Naqbi believed that the significant gains from the aviation market will attract Qat ar to join his founding organization, that is, Middle East Business Aviation Association, and serve them for further betterment in the future. But being excited on one side, he was also quite aware of the global financial crisis. He knew it very well that one day or the other, in some way, the growth in the aviation sector will be hampered due to a fall in the global financial sector. (Qatar Airways, 2010) Qatar has its own well flourished natural gas industry which acts as a catalyst to spur interest in the aviation market in order to bring in more demand. Moreover, Ali Al Naqbi reiterated that Qatar has a lot to contribute in the expansion of the aviation sector and this has encouraged the local companies to a huge extent to join the Middle East Business Aviation Association. (Qatar Airways, 2010) The services of Qatar Airways have expanded its service to Africa, Europe, Central Asia, Middle East, North America and South America. It is one of the fastest growing industries of airl ines in the world. The industry consisted of fifteen thousand employees among which ten thousand employees work for the industry directly and the other five thousand employees work in the industry subsidiaries. (Qatar Airways, 2010) Qatar Airways have tried to serve all sort of satisfaction to its passengers, thereby making every ride for the passengers very comfortable. Those who want to travel in the A330 and

The Role Of Security Management Essay Example for Free

The Role Of Security Management Essay ABSTRACT Personal information security is usually considered a technical discipline with much attention being focused on topics such as encryption, hacking, break-ins, and credit card theft. Security products such as anti-virus programs and personal firewall software, are now available for end-users to install on their computers to protect against threats endemic to networked computers. The behavioral aspects related to maintaining enterprise security have received little attention from researchers and practitioners. Using Q-sort analysis, this thesis used students as end-users in a graduate business management security course to investigate issues affecting selection of personal firewall software in organizations. Based on the Q-sort analysis of end-users in relation to seven variables identified from review of the information security literature, three distinct group characteristics emerged. Similarities and differences between groups are investigated and implications of these results to IT managers, vendors of security software and researchers in information security area are discussed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my supervisor Professor ____________ for his great supervision and guidance throughout the duration of my thesis project. I would also like to thank all colleagues for their help and support. Finally, I wish to thank my family for their continued support throughout the thesis. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.3 TABLE OF CONTENTS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4 LIST OF ACRONYMS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.5 CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 †¢ Statement of the Problem†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 †¢ Research Question†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8 †¢ Significance of the Research†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦9 †¢ Design and Methodology†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.10 Q-Sort Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.12 †¢ Organization of the Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦14 CHAPTER 2- LITERATURE REVIEW†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦14 CHAPTER 3 – RESEARCH QUESTION FINDINGS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.18 Data Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..18 -Analysis of Results†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦26 -Limitations of the Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..29 Chapter 4- SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦30 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.31 Recommendation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..33 REFERENCES†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..34 LIST OF ACRONYMS Operational definition of these variables as it relates to the study are provided: Performance [PERF] : Refers to how well the software operates under various conditions (such as high traffic, types of data, port scans, etc.) Ease-of-use [EOU]: Refers to usability of the product (such as screen design and layout, access to features using tabs, buttons, etc.) Updates [UPDTS]: Refers to product updates at regular intervals after product has been installed and used Features [FEATR] : Refers to the number of program options and features available in software Reports [RPORT]: Refers to Intrusion Reports and log files generated by the firewall software Cost [COST]: Refers to price paid for the product (either as shrink wrapped package or as a download) Configuration [CONFIG]: Refers to setup and configuration after product has been installed Support [SUPPRT]: Refers to availability of online help and technical support either by phone or e-mail Installation [INSTLL]: Refers to initial installation of the product. Chapter 1 – INTRODUCTION Security describes a process of protection from any harm. It also describes the countermeasures put in place by that process. Harm may indicate a loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Security management focuses on preventing harm resulting from both random acts of nature and intentional strategic actions (Schechter, 2004). Security is considered to be a very important issue while developing complex personal information systems (Mouratidis et al., 2002). Security is a major concern in todays digital era. The Internet offers a low cost, but insecure means of reaching people. Owing to the ubiquity of the Internet, it is difficult to control and trace intrusions or attacks by unauthorized people, hackers, etc. Electronic commerce applications need secure mechanisms for accurate user identification, accessing sensitive database, storing and transmitting sensitive information, etc. Personal identification numbers (PINs), passwords, smart cards and digital certificates are some of the means normally used for this purpose. However, these means do not really identify a person, but only knowledge of some data or belonging of some determined object (Sanchez-Reillo et al., 1999), e.g. public key infrastructure (PKI) cannot assure identity of the maker of a transaction, it can only identify the makers computer. An imposter can easily masquerade as a legitimate user and defraud the system. Information must be readily available in organizations for making decisions to support the organizational mission. Murphy, Boren, and Schlarman (2000) state that due to increased connectivity and the urgency to exchange information and data among partners, suppliers, and customers on a real time basis, the need to protect and secure computer resources is greater than ever. As a result, this has created the possibility of exposing sensitive corporate information to competitors as well as hackers who can now access organizational computer resources from remote sites. Statement of the Problem The potential loss of such information to an organization goes beyond financial losses and includes the possibility of corrupted data, denial of services to suppliers, business partners and customers, loss of customer confidence, and lost sales. Security in business processes (i.e., maintaining proper authentication, authorization, non-repudiation, and privacy) is critical to successful e-business operations. Enabling business functions over the Internet has been recognized as a major component for the success of businesses and, by mitigating risks in a cost-effective manner, security is now being viewed as a component of business operations (Deise, Nowikow, King, Wright, 2000). Decisions about information systems made by managers are vital to the success, and even survival, of a firm (Enns, Huff, Golden, 2003). Despite increased security threats, organizations have traditionally allocated very little of the total IT budget to information security. Forrester Research estimates that in Fortune 500 companies, the average amount of money as a percent of revenue that is spent on IT security is 0.0025 percent or slightly less than what they spend on coffee (Clarke, 2002). Organizations must evaluate and prioritize the optimum mix of products and services to be deployed for protecting confidentiality (maintaining privacy of information), integrity (maintaining information is not altered in transit), and availability (maintaining access to information and resources) of corporate assets. The decision to deploy certain technology is based on variables such as the organizational business model, level of risk, vulnerability, cost, and return on investment (Highland, 1993). There are several ways in which information can be protected. One method to safeguard information is by using controls. The concept of controls can be applied to financial auditing as well as technical computer security. General controls include personnel, physical and organizational controls as well as technical security services and mechanisms (Summers, 1997). Computer security controls can be hardware or software-based and may include biometric devices, anti-virus software, smart cards, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems that can be used to build the enterprise security infrastructure. Additionally, these controls may be preventive, detective, or corrective. Research Question This paper will focus on one such computer security control Personal Firewalls. Firewalls intercept traffic and make routing and redirection decisions based on policies. Some firewalls can also inspect packets and make transformation and security decisions; therefore, they are critical components in maintaining security in organizations. There are different types of firewalls, such as hardware, software, enterprise, and personal firewalls. Personal firewalls are client-based solutions that are installed on desktop/laptop computers and may be administered individually from a central location. Successful selection and adoption of firewalls (enterprise as well as personal) is based on various factors, some of which are technical while others may be behavioral. This exploratory study looks at the new genre of personal firewalls and, based on the review of the literature, attempts to answer the following research questions: 1) What are the factors that could result in successful selection of personal firewalls in organizations? 2) What are the empirical evidence to support deployment of firewall software? Significance of the Research The study hopes to shed light on behavioral aspects of information security, which may be tied to perceptions of end-users who may influence technology selection in their organization. This will provide empirical evidence to an area that has been identified as lacking in research (Dhillon Blackhouse, 2001 Troutt, 2002) and provide directions and guidance for future studies. Another significance of this study is to look at end-user perception is that it may affect how well the user does his or her part in staying vigilant to combat threats posted by hackers to organizational assets. The end-user may be a conduit to organizational data being compromised. Proper software selection as well as positive user attitude and motivation for using the software are therefore important to ensure ongoing use of personal firewall software. Kettinger and Lee (2002) address the fact that the proliferation of personal computing and individualized software, and popularity of the Internet in organizations have resulted in users playing an important role in driving IT implementation. Their study found that for users selecting their own IT applications (such as desktop software programs), there is greater user satisfaction after implementation. Grantham and Vaske (1985) also state that positive user attitudes are important predictors in continued system use. This is especially important for personal firewall use because computers are at risk at all times when connected to the Internet. In reference to software selection, Chiasson and Lovato (2001) emphasize: Understanding of how users form perceptions of software innovation would help software designers, implementers and users in their evaluation, selection, implementation and ongoing use of software. However, with the exception of some recent work, there is little research examining how a user forms his or her perceptions of innovation overtime (p. 16). The area of information security as it relates to maintaining confidentiality and integrity of data stored on personal computers can benefit from identification of factors that would make it possible to safeguard corporate assets that are at risk as a result of remote data access by employees. Software selection for deployment on company computers cuts across different user levels in terms of knowledge and level of expertise of the user. Selection of software therefore must be done to accommodate all types of users ranging from novices to experts. The latter category of users may have higher tacit knowledge of tasks to be able to compensate for the interface without realizing it (Gery, 1997). Organization of Study The purpose of this paper is to investigate self-referent perceptions of end-users, and use Q-Sort analysis to investigate factors affecting deployment of security firewall software in organizations. The paper is organized as follows: review of research on information security is presented to the reader along with extraction of variables from the literature that may determine firewall deployment in organizations; The Q-Sort Factor Analysis method used for the study is explained and the research design is provided; Along with data analysis, results of the study are then explained, which is followed by discussion and applications to practice. Due to the nature of research design used in this study, limitations are also explained. Research Design and Methodology Subjects in this exploratory research study were 31MBA students enrolled in a security and Control of Information Systems course. The students came from different backgrounds, such as finance, liberal arts, nursing, and computer science. From a business perspective, the course examined implications of information security risks faced by organizations. Although technical issues of security, such as authentication, authorization, and encryption that make electronic commerce sites successful in processing business transactions securely were also explored in the course, the primary focus in the course was from a business perspective. There was no structured lab work during class, but to gain a better understanding of security issues, students were expected to complete hands-on exercises outside class. During initial weeks, topics covered included the PWC model, TCP/IP vs. OSI models, network, e-mail, database security, digital certificates and signatures, risk assessment, and privacy issues. Also, during Week 5, students had been previously tested on the topics using short-answer type questions to determine learning competency of factual information and applications related to information security in organizations. The test score counted towards 15% of overall course grade. With coverage of the aforementioned topics, it was safe to assume that students had knowledge of current security issues facing organizations in todays economy. Because there is no consensus on the common body of knowledge acceptable for all security professionals, and since this was an exploratory study, the study was conducted in a controlled environment with ahomogenous population of students to minimize confounding by extraneous variables. Using MBA students as surrogates for professionals or executives in reference to use and evaluation of technology has also been found to be acceptable (Briggs, Balthazard, Dennis, 1996). The hands-on firewall assignment in this course covered installation, configuration, and use of one standard personal firewall software (ZoneAlarm). After students had a chance to use the software, they were asked to participate in the study. No class discussion was conducted on results of the firewall tests in case it affected students perceptions about the software, which could have influenced their response. Therefore, the data reflected individual student perception without class discussions. Students were given instructions to visit a Web site that explained the nature of the study and provided information on how the Q-sort statements should be sorted. This was important since students are more used to completing questionnaires in a survey format that use Likert scale, open-ended, or closeended questions (such as those used during end of term class evaluation of instruction), but may not be familiar with the peculiarities of the Q-sort procedure. To reduce data errors and extract usable data, instructions were presented in detail before the respondents were shown the statements for the study. Q-Sort Analysis Q-sort analysis uses a technique for studying human subjectivity (Stephenson, 1953; Brown, 1980; McKeown Thomas, 1988). It is useful in exploratory research and a well-developed theoretical literature guides and supports its users (Thomas Watson, 2002). Q-sort methodology is suited for small samples and relies on theories in the domain area being researched to develop items for analysis. A disadvantage of the Q-sort methodology is that it is not suitable for large samples, and it forces subjects to conform to certain expectations (such as fitting responses within a normal distribution). Brown (1986) suggests that 30 to 50 subjects are sufficient for studies investigating public opinion. Q-sort uses an ipsative (self-referenced) technique of sorting participants statements about subjective conditions. It is a variation of factor analysis technique that uses Q-methodology theory to analyze correlation measure (Brown, 1980). Respondents to Q-sort studies are required to sort statements into predefined normal distribution type scale in which a fixed number of items fall under each category. The rankings provide clusters of perceptions of individuals consensus and conflict, which can be used to place individuals with similar characteristics into groups for further study, hi the past, the Q-sort technique used index cards for sorting, but now Web-based data collection programs (such as WebQ) are common. Initially the statements are presented to respondents in random order, and each respondent organizes statements into predefined categories. To view entered data, the respondent also can update statement rankings to see where the statements fall under each category. One advantage of using the WebQ method is that data submission errors are reduced since the program verifies that the statements are sorted according to predefined requirements. Figure 1. WebQ questionnaire Adapted from: Brown, 1980. In this personal firewall study, the statements were to be classified by respondents as Most Important (+2), Important (+1), Neutral (O), Less Important (-1), and Least Important (-2). To provide a forced distribution that is expected in the Q-Sort methodology, respondents were given instructions to identify one statement as Most Important, two statements each as Important and Less Important, and three statements as Neutral. The instrument used is shown in Figure 1 Chapter 2-LITERATURE REVIEW In the area of information security, research has often lagged practice. Dhillon Blackhouse (2001) have stressed the need for more empirical research to develop key principles for the prevention of negative events and therefore to help in the management of security. Despite known vulnerabilities in applications and operating systems, companies continue to deploy software to stay competitive, and steps taken to secure products and services are knee-jerk reactions to media stories that are more reactive than proactive in nature. Most IT managers lack a coherent framework and concrete methodology for achieving enterprise security. A security plan that includes technology, personnel, and policies would be a much better approach to developing an enterprise security strategy. One such model is the Enterprise security Framework Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) model. The PWC model is comprehensive because it addresses the entire enterprise of security architecture. The model emphasizes information security strategies within the organization using a holistic rather than apiecemeal approach. The framework is based on four pillars: security vision and strategy, senior management commitment, information security management structure, and training and awareness. Within the pillars are decision drivers, development, and implementation phases. Firewalls are placed in the development phase since they are used to provide interpretation of corporate standards at the technical level. For a detailed discussion of the PWC model, the reader is referred to Murphy, Boren, and Schlarman (2000). Firewalls can be considered a last line of defense in protecting and securing information systems. Wood (1988) provided a context for information security systems planning and proposed that reactive and incremental improvement approaches to address security are harbingers of a more serious problem. Other factors identified in Woods model are the lack of top management support, information overload, insufficient staffing, and limited resources. Straub and Welke (1998) advocate using deterrence, prevention, detection, and recovery security action cycle to mitigate systems risk and use prioritized security controls. Data on computer crimes is often under-reported because companies are not willing to risk public embarrassment and bad publicity. Most companies choose to handle these incidents internally without keeping documentation or reporting to local, state or federal authorities (Saita, 2001). There is a need for unbiased empirical studies in the information security area that will provide insight into problems affecting todays technology dependent corporations and industries. With a strong need to collect and analyze computer security data, the CSI/FBI Computer Crime and security Survey is published yearly (see http:// www.gocsi.com). This study provides descriptive statistics but does not attempt to identify relationship between variables, as is expected in analytical surveys. Also, results reported in this annual survey have been identified by the publishers themselves to be potentially misleading due to the limited number of respondents and their accuracy as a result of anonymous nature of the surveys. These results have also been called into question because of lack of statistical or scholarly rigor and self-serving interest (Heiser, 2002). Despite these limitations, the CSI/FBI survey provides a useful role in comparison of yearly data for similar parameters. The area of human computer interface provides a link between the user and software applications. User satisfaction is a function of features, user interface, response time, reliability, installability, information, maintainability, and other factors.†If a products user interface catches a users attention and is simple to learn and use, and has the right price and features, then the product may gain competitive advantage (Torres, 2002, p. 15). The theory of user interface design and user involvement in completing task-based actions related to Internet and security software has been substantiated by two studies in which user interaction with peer-to-peer software (Good Kerkelberg, 2002), and PGP software (Whitten Tygar, 1999) were examined. Good and Krekelberg (peer-to-peer study) found that applications connecting to the Internet need better usability and software design to maintain integrity of information stored on a users computer. In this study, individuals assumed responsibility of keeping firewalls operational at all times. This contributed in large part to maintaining effective enterprise security. Whitten and Tygar (PGP study) found that user errors are a significant portion of computer security failures, and further concluded that user interfaces for security programs require a usability standard much different from other consumer software. (Although this study is not directly concerned with user satisfaction, but is more focused on factors that affect deployment rather than development of end-user software in a specific area, some factors may be directly tied to user satisfaction as will be shown by correlational analysis). Due to increasing mobile and off-site access by employees using cable modems, DSL connections, and wireless devices to access corporate resources, personal firewalls are a necessary component to maintain overall enterprise security in an organization. Because of the nature and availability of personal firewall software, most companies choose to acquire it rather than develop it in-house. Software acquisition that results in productivity gains and strategic advantage is of critical concern to organizations, and factors that relate to these benefits must be correctly identified and understood for software acquisition decisions (Nelson, Richmond, Seidmann, 1996). Purchase of commercial software includes identifying requirements, evaluating packages from different vendors, configuring, installing, and evaluating it either as server or client-based solution. This may further involve requirements acquisition that leads to product selection (Maiden, Ncube, Moore, 1997). As a method of selection, professionals in charge of evaluating personal firewall software could draft a feature requirements document, and evaluate vendor products by comparing available features as well as using demonstration versions of software. This would be followed by user experience with the software. As mentioned earlier, the need for user involvement in information systems has been considered an important mechanism for improving system quality and ensuring successful system implementation. It is further believed that the users satisfaction with a system leads to greater system usage (Baroudi, Olson, Ives, 1986). The requirements for software though must be as measurable as possible to enable product selection and may also use repertory grids in which stakeholders are asked for attributes applicable to a set of entities and values for cells in an entity-attribute matrix. This would produce representation of requirements in a standardized, quantifiable format amenable even to statistical analyses (Maiden, Ncube, Moore, 1997). In relation to the security area, Goodhue and Straub (1991) found company actions and individual awareness to be statistically significant in a study of perceptions of managers regarding controls installed in organizations. Chapter 3 – RESEARCH QUESTION FINDINGS Data Analysis Q-Sort analysis is a type of inverse factor analysis in which the cases (subjects) rather than statement variables (features) are clustered. As recommended by Brown (1980), a procedure that arranged statements based on responses of a single individual was used for data analysis. The responses involved statements of opinion (also called Q-sample) that individuals rank-ordered based on the feature requirements in personal firewall software. The arrayed items (Q-sort) from the respondents were correlated and factor-analyzed. The factors indicated clusters of subjects who had ranked the statement in the same fashion. Explanation of factors was then advanced in terms of commonly shared attitudes or perspectives. A review of security literature (Hazari, 2000; Northcutt, McLachlan, Novak, 2000; Scambray, McClure, Kurtz, 2001; Strassberg, Rollie, Gondek, 2002; Zwicky, Cooper, Chapman, Russell, 2000) was used to extract the following statement variables relating to requirements in persona l firewall software: performance, ease-of-use, updates, features, reports, cost, configuration, and support. Table 1. Participant ranked scores Variable Mean SD PERF 4.45 0.77 EOU 3.39 1.08 UPDTS 3.23 0.88 FEATR 3.03 0.93 RPORT 3.00 1.03 COST 2.97 1.20 CONFIG 2.55 0.85 SUPPRT 2.35 0.98 INSTLL 2.00 0.89 Prior to conducting the Q-sort analysis, ranked scores of all participants (before identifying factor groups) on each statement variable were calculated for preliminary descriptive statistics. These are shown in Table 1, where a mean score of 5 = Most Important and 0 = Least Important). Correlation between the nine feature variables shows a low level of correlation between statements. This indicates there is a high degree of independence between the statement categories as used in the analysis. This finding is important since it supports the assertion that the statements represent relatively independent factors obtained from the review of the literature. In the correlation matrix shown, Table 2 shows significant correlation (p 0.05) between cost and updates, cost and reports, ease-of-use and performance, ease-of-use and updates, and installation and support. Table 2. Correlation matrix between variables COST FEATR EOU PERF INSTLL UPDTS RPORT CONFIG SUPPRT COST 1.00 -0.21 0.27 0.18 -0.13 -0.43 -0.49 -0.08 -0.10 FEATR 1.00 -.29 0.35 -0.16 0.06 -0.17 -0.13 -0.25 EOU 1.00 0.44 0.00 -0.37 -0.27 -0.20 -0.04 PERF 1.00 -0.10 -0.11 -0.13 0.13 -0.14 INSTLL 1.00 -0.13 -0.04 0.18 -0.53 UPDTS 1.00 0.26 -0.15 0.17 RPORT 1.00 1.00 0.03 CONFIG -0.24 SUPPRT 1.00 As mentioned earlier, in Q-factor analysis, the correlation between subjects rather than variables are factored. The factors represent grouping of people with similar patterns of response during sorting (Brown, 1980; Thomas Watson, 2002). Following guidelines for Q-factor analysis, eight factors were initially identified with eigenvalues 1 (an eigenvalue is the amount of variance in the original variable associated with the factor). These factors and their percentage of variance are shown in Table 3. Table 3. Eigenvalues of unrelated factors Eigenvalues % Cumul.% 1 11.56 37.28 37.28 2 6.03 19.45 56.73 3 3.91 12.61 69.34 4 2.98 9.61 78.95 5 2.14 6.92 85.87 6 1.93 6.23 92.10 7 1.43 4.61 96.71 8 1.02 3.29 100.00 Factors selected were rotated to maximize the loading of each variable on one of the extracted factors while minimizing loading on all other factors. Factors selected for rotation are usually identified by taking those with eigenvalue greater than one (Kline, 1994). However, in this study, the more rigorous Kaiser rule of selecting factors whose eigenvalue is at or above the mean eigenvalue (in this case 3.85) was used. Factors 1,2, and 3, which represented almost 70% of total variance in data, were then subjected to principal component analysis with varimax rotation. Following rotation, a Factor Matrix indicating defining sort (i.e., respondents in agreement) identified three factor groups with similar pattern of responses. The correlation of individual respondents with factors is shown in Table 4 below. Table 4. Factor matrix of respondents (* indicates defining sort) Q-Sort 1 2 3 1 02386 -0.0398 0.8988 2 0.0227 0.1971 0.8158* 3 0.4975 -0.3790 0.5458 4 0.8575* -0.2912 0.0811 5 -0.2639 0.0196 0.7993* 6 -0.0614 0.7524* -0.2289 7 0.4014 -0.1587 0.4678* 8 0.1367 0.0728 0.9054* 9 0.5351 0.1183 0.6886* 10 0.5065 0.3263 01754 11 0.5351 0.3357 0.6886 12 0.8192* 0.7321* 0.1035 13 -0.6495* 0.3450 -0.0844 14 -0.0464 0.8598* 0.5845 15 0.6535 0.0127 0.3053 16 0.2052 0.2324 0.2452 17 -0.1340 0.4049 0.9512 18 0.7553* 0.5865 0.2987 19 0.2431 0.4049 0.6946 20 0.5983* 0.5865 -0.0334 21 0.4660 0.6533* 0.4573 22 0.5672* 0.1057 -0.3342 23 0.3501 -0.1001 0.8195 24 0.1008 0.9240* 0.0038 25 0.3329 0.0999 0.7194 26 0.2254 0.6545* 0.1329 27 0.7660* 0.1246 0.5677 28 -0.1210 -0.3611* 0.2308 29 0.3850 0.7032* 0.0144 30 0.4656 0.5605 -0.3196 31 -0.1987 0.8988* 0.2470 % explained variance 21 22 26 From Table 4 it can be observed that for Factor 1, respondents 4, 12, 13, 15, 18,20,22, and 27 were in agreement and are highly loaded on this factor. Similarly, respondents 6, 10, 14, 16, 21, 24, 26, 29, and 30 were in agreement in Factor 2, and respondents 5,7,8,9,11,17,19, and 23 were in agreement in Factor 3. The statements in which these three factor groups were ranked are shown in Table 5. Table 5. Ranked statement totals with each factor No. Statement Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 1 COST 0.31 5 0.91 2 -1.45 9 2 FEATR -0.45 7 0.10 5 0.70 2 3 EOU 0.91 2 0.63 3 -0.55 6 4 PERF 1.26 1 1.72 1 1.80 1 5 INSTLL -1.92 9 -0.31 6 -0.63 7 6 UPDTS 0.52 3 -0.54 7 0.61 3 7 RPORTS 0.03 6 -1.28 8 0.55 4 8 CONFIG -1.07 8 0.12 4 -0.17 5 9 SUPPRT 0.41 4 -1.34 9 -0.87 8 Table 6 shows correlation between the factors. Similar to the findings earlier about variable independence, the factor groups also show a high degree of independence. Table 6. Correlation between factors Factor 1 2 3 1 1.0000 0.3218 0.2970 2 0.3218 1.0000 0.2298 3 0.2970 0.2298 1.0000 The normalized factor scores for each factor were examined next. This provided ameasure of relative strength of importance attached by a factor to each statement on the scale used during sorting. Tables 7(a), 7(b), and 7(c) show these scores. Table 7(a). Normalized Factor 1 score No. Statement z-score 4 PERF 1.258 3 EOU 0.910 6 UPDTS 0.542 9 SUPPRT 0.409 1 COST 0.314 7 RPORT 0.032 2 FEATR -0.454 8 CONFIG -1.071 5I INSTLL -1.922 Table 7(b). Normalized Factor 2 score No. Statement z-score 4 PERF 1.717 1 COST 0.905 3 EOU 0.626 8 CONFIG 0.116 2 FEATR 0.102 5 INSTLL -0.313 6 UPDTS -0.535 7 RPORT -1.276 9I SUPPRT -1.343 Table 7(c). Normalized Factor 3 score No. Statement z-score 4 PERF 1.805 2 FEATR 0.702 6 UPDTS 0.606 7 RPORT 0.553 8 CONFIG -0.170 3 EOU -0.547 5 INSTLL -0.632 9 SUPPRT -0.872 1I COST -1.446 From the Table 7(a) it can be seen that adherents of Factor 1 feel strongly in favor of statement 4 (Performance) and oppose statements 8 and 5. This indicates for Factor 1 group, performance is preferred over initial installation, setup and configuration of the product. The results of Factor 2 group are consistent with Factor 1; that is, performance of the product is the highest rated criterion. Ease-of-use also rated highly in Factors 1 and 2. Perceived ease-of-use in an information systems product has been shown to play a critical role in predicting and determining a users decision to use the product (Hackbarth, Grover, Yi, 2003). The largest dissension between Factor 1 and 2 groups involved statements 9 (Availability of Online Help), 7 (Intrusion Reports generated), and 6 (Regular Product Updates). The results of Factor 3 are consistent with Factors 1 and 2 with Performance criteria once again being highly rated. The most dissension between Factors 2 and 3 involved statements 1 (Cost) and 3 (Ease-of-use). The most dissension between Factors 1 and 3 involved statements 1 (Cost), 3 (Ease-of-use), and 9 (Availability of Online Help). Analysis of Results The Q-sort analysis classified subjects into three groups. Eight subjects were classified under Factor 1, and 10 subjects each were included in Factors 2 and 3. There were three subjects in the study that were not distinguished in any group. These subjects were excluded from further analysis. The classification into factors gave a better idea of group characteristics. Since Factors 1 and 2 were similar and shown to include subjects who considered Performance, ease-of-use, and Availability of Online Help as the most important characteristics, this group can be considered to be comprised of non-technical users who place more emphasis on the product performing as expected in achieving goals for security. Factor 3 subjects emphasized technical characteristics and were more interested in number of features in the product, updates to the product on a regular basis, intrusion reports generated by personal firewalls, and setup/configuration of the product after installation. This group had c haracteristics of technical users. The normalized factor scores provided a measure of relative strength of importance attached by factors to each statement on the scale used during sorting. As mentioned earlier, adherents in Factor 1 felt strongly in favor of statement 4 (Performance) and opposed statements 8 (Setup/configuration) and 5 (Installation). The results of Factor 2 are consistent with Factor 1, that is, Performance of the product is the highest rated criterion. ease-of-use also rated highly in Factors 1 and 2. The largest dissension between Factor 1 and 2 groups involved statements 9 (Availability of Online Help), 7 (Intrusion Reports generated), and 6 (Regular Product Updates). The most dissension between Factors 2 and 3 involved Statements 1 (Cost) and 3 (Ease-of-use). Results of Factor 3 were consistent with Factors 1 and 2, with Performance criteria once again being highly rated. The largest dissension between Factors 1 and 3 involved statements 1 (Cost), 3 (Ease-of-use), and 9 (Availability of Online Help). Extreme differences between all factors appeared in Cost, Intrusion Reports generated, and Availability of Online Help. There was only one statement, Performance of the product, that showed consensus among all factors; that is, it did not distinguish between any pair of factors, which indicates Performance of the desktop firewall software is an agreed upon criterion irrespective of group characteristics. The managerial implications of this study can be assessed at the level of selecting appropriate software for use on computers in organizations to maintain security. There is evidence of user satisfaction being a useful measure of system success (Mahmood et al., 2000). While the end-user may not purchase individually preferred software for installation on company owned computers, the user can influence decisions for selection by making known to IS managers the features that would contribute to regular use of security software such as personal firewalls. Given access of these machines to corporate resources, appropriate and regular use of software would contribute to maintaining enterprise security. For technical professionals (e.g., programmers) who install firewalls on their desktop, programs could emphasize the statements that are defining characteristics shown in Factor 3. For an industry that has non-technical professionals (such as Factor 1 and 2), other non-technical characteristics of the product could be emphasized thus achieving maximum effectiveness in program deployment. Increased awareness should minimize user related faults, nullify these in theory, and maximize the efficiency of security techniques and procedures from the users point of view (Siponen, 2000). The results of this study could also benefit vendors who develop software for end-users. In this study it was found that performance of the software is the most important factor that affects selection of software, irrespective of group characteristics. Due to project deadlines and market competition, software is often shipped without being fully tested as secure, and standard industry practice is to release incremental service packs that address security issues in the product. In a case of security software, this may adversely affect the reputation of a vendor once its products have been shown to have high vulnerability to being compromised. The findings of this study could provide a better understanding of importance of personal firewall security software on organizational client computers. The decision to install an information system necessitates a choice of mechanisms to determine whether it is needed, and once implemented, whether it is functioning properly (Ives, Olson, Baroud i, 1983). More research needs to be done in the area of selection of software for implementation on users computers that are owned by corporations and given to employees for off-site work. This can include regular employees vs. contractors who may connect to employer and client networks from the same computer. If the findings are to have wider applicability, qualified industry professionals and security officers responsible for maintaining secure infrastructure in corporations should be included in the analysis. The study provides management and security professionals a basis for making decisions related to enterprise security. It provides personal firewall vendors an insight into feature requirements of the personal firewall market, and provides academic researchers interested in security, a more focused approach on various dimensions of security software from the behavioral perspective. Future studies could be industry and product specific in order to assess differences in selecting general- purpose software versus security specific products. In many cases, management has looked at the need for implementing information security programs and products as a necessary encumbrance, something akin to paying taxes or insurance premiums (Highland, 1993). But organizations are increasingly becoming aware of the potential for legal exposure via lawsuits, and are deploying countermeasures (such as personal firewalls) to reduce vulnerability and mitigate risk. The chief information security officer in todays organizations should have the responsibility of managing organizational risks by using empirical models and analysis to determine strategies for protecting corporate assets. Firewalls are the last line of defense in the corporate network and therefore play a critical role in information security. With personal firewalls being a new product genre, this study was conducted since there is no research available that specifically looks at determinants for selection of security software in a corporate environment to protect organizational assets. As the information security field evolves further, decisions for security software acquisitions need to be researched further. Selection and deployment of appropriate firewalls can make a significant difference in an organizations enterprise security strategy. It is therefore also important to understand the variables (as shown in this study) that may affect decisions to select and deploy personal firewall software in a corporate environment. Limitations of the Study Due to the exploratory nature of this study, there are several limitations. The sample used in the study comprised of all students enrolled in a security course at the same university, and was further limited to the firewall topic among a wide range of technical and behavioral information security topics. Students worked with only one type of firewall software and characteristics of this particular program may have heightened their awareness of certain strengths and weaknesses in the software. Since the purpose of information security implementation in an organization is to support business objectives of the organization, information security departments are sometimes placed under the chief financial officer recognizing the direct relationship between information assets and monetary assets. Software acquisition decisions may therefore be made by the finance department with limited input from the IT department. The purpose of this study was to explore an important topic for research on information security and determine operant subjectivity in a field where empirical research is severely lacking. The Q-sort technique itself is suitable for small sample populations (Thomas Watson, 2002), but the correlations obtained in smaller samples tend to have considerable standard errors (Kline, 1994). The exploratory nature of this study was not intended to prove some general proposition but to seek a better understanding of group characteristics that directly relate to maintaining a secure network environment (in this case by deploying personal firewalls to plug possible vulnerabilities that might exist in a network through use of computers by employees either on-site or at remote locations). The perceptions of end-users will therefore guide the selection and deployment of security technologies in an organization to provide a secure corporate environment. Chapter 4- SUMMARY and CONCLUSIONS Summary In the area of information security, research has often lagged practice. Dhillon Blackhouse (2001) have stressed the need for more empirical research to develop key principles for the prevention of negative events and therefore to help in the management of security. Despite known vulnerabilities in applications and operating systems, companies continue to deploy software to stay competitive, and steps taken to secure products and services are knee-jerk reactions to media stories that are more reactive than proactive in nature. Most IT managers lack a coherent framework and concrete methodology for achieving enterprise security. A security plan that includes technology, personnel, and policies would be a much better approach to developing an enterprise security strategy. One such model is the Enterprise security Framework Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) model. The PWC model is comprehensive because it addresses the entire enterprise of security architecture. The model emphasizes information security strategies within the organization using a holistic rather than apiecemeal approach. The framework is based on four pillars: security vision and strategy, senior management commitment, information security management structure, and training and awareness. Within the pillars are decision drivers, development, and implementation phases. Firewalls are placed in the development phase since they are used to provide interpretation of corporate standards at the technical level. For a detailed discussion of the PWC model, the reader is referred to Murphy, Boren, and Schlarman (2000). So it is important reason to look at end-user perception as it may affect how well the user does his or her part in staying vigilant to combat threats posted by hackers to organizational assets. The end-user may be a conduit to organizational data being compromised. Proper software selection as well as positive user attitude and motivation for using the software are therefore important to ensure ongoing use of personal firewall software. Kettinger and Lee (2002) address the fact that the proliferation of personal computing and individualized software, and popularity of the Internet in organizations have resulted in users playing an important role in driving IT implementation. Their study found that for users selecting their own IT applications (such as desktop software programs), there is greater user satisfaction after implementation. Grantham and Vaske (1985) also state that positive user attitudes are important predictors in continued system use. This is especially important for personal firewall use because computers are at risk at all times when connected to the Internet. In reference to software selection, Chiasson and Lovato (2001) emphasize: Understanding of how users form perceptions of software innovation would help software designers, implementers and users in their evaluation, selection, implementation and ongoing use of software. However, with the exception of some recent work, there is little research examining how a user forms his or her perceptions of innovation overtime (p. 16). The area of information security as it relates to maintaining confidentiality and integrity of data stored on personal computers can benefit from identification of factors that would make it possible to safeguard corporate assets that are at risk as a result of remote data access by employees. Software selection for deployment on company computers cuts across different user levels in terms of knowledge and level of expertise of the user. Selection of software therefore must be done to accommodate all types of users ranging from novices to experts. The latter category of users may have higher tacit knowledge of tasks to be able to compensate for the interface without realizing it (Gery, 1997). Conclusions In this study, Q-methodology was used to define participant viewpoints and perceptions, empirically place participants in groups, provide sharper insight into participant preferred directions, identify criteria that are important to participants, explicitly outline areas of consensus and conflicts, and investigate a contemporary problem relating to desktop firewalls by quantifying subjectivity. Similar to other IT areas, security software selection and deployment in todays environment faces many challenges, such as staying current with new threats, project deadlines, implementation issues, and support costs. Quality drives customer satisfaction and adoption of software. Human factors are important in contributing to successful software deployment in organizations, especially when it relates to desktop software applications. Organizations are now viewing security and controls as business enablers and desktop firewall technology plays a critical role in safeguarding corporate assets. In a fast-paced area where the new generation of applications and services are growing more complex each day, it is critical to understand characteristics that affect selection of end-user security products in enterprises. This study addresses a small but important area of safeguarding enterprise information security by using personal firewalls. As has been previously noted, limited research exists beyond the current study that explores behavioral aspects of information security. This study holds importance for professionals tasked with evaluating and selecting security products for company wide deployment. As the area of information security gains increased importance due to the strategic role of technology in organizations, and current events impact areas such as disaster recovery and enterprise continuity planning, a study of end-users to determine their perceptions about selection of technology controls in organizations is critical for protecting organizational assets. More research needs to be done in the area of perception of users towards other security software (such as anti-virus, intrusion detection, virtual private network software, and encryption products), and, due to varying security needs in different industries, studies could also be industry and product specific. While the findings should be considered preliminary, the results raise interesting observations about issues uncovered regarding security perceptions of feature requirements in personal firewalls. Information security is a dynamic area and, in this environment, this exploratory study contributes to evolving research by identifying variables from theoretical literature and using an empirical technique to study issues that affect safeguarding vital assets of an organization from internal and external threats. Recommendation It is recommended that in order to provide better evidence of factors that affect deployment of technology tools that create awareness of security issues and produce better informed employees, research into behavioral factors also needs to be conducted to gain insight into programs and processes that will lead to the development of a robust enterprise security strategy. Information security awareness research has been mostly descriptive and has not explored the possibilities offered by motivation/behavioral theories, or the related theory of planned behavior and the technology acceptance model, specifically in the information security domain (Mathieson, 1991 ; Siponen, 2000; Legris, Ingham, Collerette, 2003). Since security has been deployed at the perimeter of electronic network and on servers by system administrators, the area of information security has ignored users of information systems since software developers are far removed from how the user will interact with security software. Human compliance with information security rules require an understanding of how people work and think (Highland, 1993). Lane (1985) considers the human factor to be the first and most important component of security and a critical part of the risk analysis process. This is especially true in personal firewall software since the burden of maintaining a secure environment is being shared by the user and the system administrator. REFERENCES Baroudi, J., Oison, M., Ives, B. (1986). An empirical study of the impact of user involvement on system usage and information satisfaction. Communications of the ACM, 29(3), 785-793. Briggs, R.O., Balthazard, P.A., Dennis, A.R. (1996). Graduate business students as surrogates for executives in the evaluation of technology. Journal of End-user Computing, 8(4), 11-17. Brown, S.R. (1980). Political subjectivity: Applications of Q methodology in political science. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press. Brown, S.R. (1986). Q-technique and method: Principles and procedures. In W.D. Berry M.S. Lewis-Beck (eds.), New Tools for Social Scientists: Advances and Applications in Research Methods. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications. Chiasson, M., Lovato, C. (2001). Factors influencing the formation of a users perceptions and use of a DSS software innovation. ACM SIGMS Database, 32(3), 16-35. Clarke, R. (2002, February). Forum on technology and innovation: Sponsored by Sen. BillFrist (R-TN), Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), and the Council on Competitiveness. Retrieved October 28,2003, from hap:/ /www. techlawjournal, com/security/ 20020214.asp Deise, M., Nowikow, C., King, P., Wright, A. (2000). Executive s guide to e-business: From tactics to strategy. New York: John Wiley Sons. Dhillon, G., Blackhouse, J. (2001). Current directions in IS security research: Toward socio-organizational perspectives. Information Systems Journal, 11(2), 127-153. Enns, H., Huff, S., Golden, B. (2003). CIO influence behaviors: The impact of technical background. Information and Management, 40(5), 467-485. Gery, G. (1997). Granting three wishes through performance-centered design. Communications of the ACM, 40(7), 54-59. Good, N., Krekelberg, A. (2002). Usability and privacy: A study of Kazaa P2P file-sharing. Retrieved November 12, 2003, from http:// www. hpl. hp. com/shl/papers/kazaa/ Goodhue, D.L., Straub, D.W. (1991). security concerns of system users: A study of perceptions of the adequacy of security measures. Information Management, 20(1), 13-27. Grantham, C., Vaske, J. (1985). Predicting the usage of an advanced communication technology. Behavior and Information Technology, 4(4), 327-335 Hackbarth, G., Grover, V, Yi, M. (2003). Computer playfulness and anxiety: Positive and negative mediators of the system experience effect on perceived ease-of-use. Information and Management, 40(3), 221-232. Hazari, S. (2000). Firewalls for beginners. Retrieved December 17,2003, from http://online.securityfocus.com/ infoc Heiser, J. (2002, April). Go figure: Can you trust infosecurity surveys? Information security, 27-28.us/1182. Highland, HJ. (1993). A view of information security tomorrow. In E.G. Dougall (ed.), Computer security. Holland: Elsevier. Ives, B., Olson, M., Baroudi, J. (1983). The measurement of user information satisfaction. Communications of the ACM, 25(10), 785-793. Kettinger, W., Lee, C. (2002). Understanding the IS-User divide in IT innovation. Communications of the ACM, 45(2), 79-84. Kline, P. (1994). An easy guide to factor analysis. London: Rutledge Lane, YP. (1985). security of computer based information systems. London: Macmillan. Legris, P., Ingham, J., Collerette, P. (2003). Why do people use information technology? A critical review of the technology acceptance model. Information and Management, 40(3), 191-204. Mahmood, M.A., Burn, J.M., Gemoets, L.A., Jacquez, C. (2000). Variables affecting information technology enduser satisfaction: Ameta-analysis of the empirical literature. IntemationalJournal of Human-Computer Studies, 52, 751-771. Maiden, N., Ncube, C., Moore, A. (1997). Lessons learned during requirements acquisition for COTS systerns. Communications of the ACM, 40(12), 21-25. Mathieson, K. (1991). Predicting user intentions: Comparing the technology acceptance model with the theory of planned behavior. Information Systems Research, 3(2), 173-191. Murphy, B., Boren, R., Schlarman, S. (2000). Enterprise security architecture. CRC Press. Retrieved November 2, 2003, from http://www.pwcglobal.com Nelson P., Richmond W. , Seidmann A., (1996). Two dimensions of software acquisition. Communications of the ACM, 39(1), 29-35. Northcutt, S., McLachlan, D., Novak, J. (2000). Network intrusion detection: An analysts handbook (2nd ed.). IN: New Riders Publishing. Saita, A. (2001, June). Understanding peopleware. Information security, 72-80. Siponen, M.T. (2000). A conceptual foundation for organizational information security awareness. Information Management security, 5(1), 31-41. Strassberg, K., Rollie, G., Gondek, R. (2002). Firewalls: The complete reference. NY: Osborne McGraw-Hill. Straub, D.W., Welke, RJ. (1988). Coping with systems risk: security planning models for management decision making. MS Quarterly, 22(4), 441-469. Zwicky, E., Cooper, S., Chapman, D., Russell, D. (2000). Building Internet firewalls (2nd ed.). CA: OReilly.

Organizational Change Essay -- Business Management

Organizational Change Organizations today are going through constant change brought about by competition, economics, business innovation and a realization that remaining stagnant may mean organizational death. As the business environment increases in complexity and changes rapidly, organization and management consequently experiences significant transformation to cope with these changes. On a micro level (company level), these changes would include the transformation of the internal corporate culture as well as enhancements in the management of human resources in response to increasing workplace diversity and the evolving needs of the workforce. Therefore, the ability to change is an important part of the organization's business environment while the ability to help it adapt to change is equally a critical business challenge for the leadership. Change is imperative Organizations can't escape change. So what is change? - It is adjustments, transformations, transitions, and revolutions which is a never-ending cycle of birth, growth and death (Topping, 2002). Change disrupts everyone's life; the only question is for how long. Leader - the change agent When an organisation is at the crossroad of change, it is in the crisis stage. DuBrin (1989) defined crisis as a turning point for better or worse, or a situation that has reached a critical phase. When a company is in a crisis, it requires decisive and bold leadership to identify, isolate and manage the crisis (Topping, 2002). Leadership now requires very different behaviour from the leadership tradition that we were used to. It requires leaders who are able to speak to... ...kills: A leadership wake-up call, Available: http://www.selfgrowth.com.html, (Accessed: 2004, April 8). Robbins, S.P. (2002), Essential of organizational behavior, 6th ed, Prentice Hall. New Jersey. Sarantos, S.T. (1994), Managing change by creating a synergistic environment, World Wide Web ed, Vol. 7, no. 11, Available: http://www.league.org/publication.htm, (Accessed: 2004, April 8). Schein, E.H. (1995), The leader of future, Working Paper 3832, MIT Sloan School of Management, Available: http://dspace.mit.edu, (Accessed: 2004, April 13). Stoner, J.A.F. and Freeman, R.E. (1989), Management, 4th ed, Prentice Hall, New Delhi. Tichy, N.M. and Cohen, E. (2002), The leadership engine, 2nd ed, HarperCollins Publishers Inc., New York. Topping, P.A. (2002), Managerial leadership, McGraw Hill, New York.

Letter to the President of a Fast Food Chain Essay

In a recent article from CBS News, it was found out that the percentage of obesity in United States has risen to alarming levels. What is frightening about this statistics is that nearly one third of children in the US aged 4-19 consume six extra pounds every year which jeopardizes their health by making them vulnerable to obesity (Holguin 2003). This is no wonder considering the fact that billions of dollars are allocated to the ludicrous amount of fast food advertising and ubiquitous franchises that virtually leaves the public saturated with high-calorie and low-fiber diet. I am writing to you to explain how detrimental it is for children to consume abnormal amounts of fast food, so that in your capacity as president of a leading fast food chain, you can consider this information and alter the way your products are produced and marketed. It is true that food intake is a matter of individual responsibility. However, in case of children, marketing plays a powerful part in controlling their choices. One of the biggest culprits that make fast food so appealing to children is the marketing of meals with toys. The idea behind associating fast food with toys is to attract a bigger slice of the market since kids would usually be accompanied by their families when they go out to get burger, fries and the latest toy craze. The motto of fast food marketing is to attract kids with â€Å"toys, toys, toys† (Schlosser 2001, 46). Even the facilities and playground section in most fast food chains seem to be a part of marketing this unhealthy food. Advertising, of course, would not reveal how unhealthy the meals that come with the toys are. The high calorie content of these meals comes from heavy frying and large amounts of sugar that appeal to the taste buds of children. Studies show that babies prefer the sweet taste and reject the bitter ones (Schlosser 2001). As such, fast food meals become â€Å"comfort foods† for children because of the addicting experience they have when they consume it (Schlosser 2001, 123). Another problem in preparation of meals in fast food restaurants is the use of hydrogenated oil for frying (Gosline 2006). Hydrogenated oil or trans-fats are hazardous because they increase the risk of heart attack (Gosline 2006). Obesity is another outcome of a steady consumption of high-calorie diet. Although companies promote exercise and having an active lifestyle, these are no compensation for consuming more than the required calories for a day. Obesity is not the final result of a high-calorie diet because it branches out and causes myriad of other health problems including diabetes which attack body systems making it susceptible to host of other diseases and organ failures. Presently, the media, specifically producers of eye-opening documentaries and books, and policy-makers are making efforts to inform the public of the hazards of fast food. These efforts are meant to protect our children from developing unhealthy habits and eventually developing body malfunctions. It is my advocacy that people, including those who are involved the industry of fast food, are informed of the repercussions of unchecked, unbalanced and irresponsible production and consumption of this modern day health hazard. Only through information can we be aware of the dangers that we have been so accustomed to patronize. Sincerely yours, [author] References Gosline, A. (2006). â€Å"Why fast foods are bad, even in moderation. † News Scientist Health. Retrieved 25 January 2009 from http://www. newscientist. com/article/dn9318. Holguin, J. (2003). â€Å"Fast Food linked to Child Obesity. † CBS News. Retrieved 25 January 2009 from http://www. cbsnews. com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325. shtml. Schlosser, E. (2001). Fast Food Nation The dark side of the all-american meal. NY: Hughton Mifflin

Luck Co. Case Study

Luck Companies Case Study Mngt 393 1. Physical Environment Segment. I would have to say neutral effect on industry because even though the resources this industry excavates is positive for the industry, scouting locations, availability of resources and diminished resources offset those positives. Also important but NOT the most important would be Economic (Neutral) and Demographic (positive). 2. Most influential of 5 forces would be Rivalry among competing firms (High) and Threat of Substitute Products (moderate). The industry Luck Company operates is composed of a few big players who compete against each other.Substitutes of stone/rock would be a threat to the industry, depending on what building materials are needed there are some alternatives such as wood, metal, steel, aluminum and other new artificial building materials. This is not an attractive industry for new entrants. Barriers to Entry are very high. These companies in the industry are operating on economies of scale that c annot be replicated. Incumbents who are operating with positive returns should continue their strategy and look for opportunities for growth. 3. Major competition in the mid-eastern region consists of Vulcan Materials and Martin Marietta Materials.Both of these companies operate on cost-leadership strategies and will continue because Luck Companies uses a differentiation strategy. 4. The most critical value chain activities for Luck Companies would be Operations (superior- industry leader of industry technology) and Distribution (neutral- I didn’t see anything to suggest they are superior/inferior to their competition) and the major support functions are their human resources departments (superior – Luck Companies operates under a â€Å"values driven culture† that is intended to achieve greater financial outcomes and better performance 5.Significant Financial Factors – 25% Market share in Virginia as of 2010. Net Sales of 2. 5 billion in 2009, down from 3 . 0 billion in 2006 but economic factors weight in on those numbers. Non-financial Factors – Excellent Reputation – Over 3 generations of Luck Family running the company and giving back to the community. As of recent, a renewed campaign called â€Å"The Values Journey† has been implemented with many different core values of leadership to advance the values-based culture of Luck Companies and to build exceptional experiences with their customers and drive differentiated growth. . SWOT analysis – STRENGTHS – Operations, distribution, Human Resources a. Opportunities – Keep Status as Industry Leader in operations of mid-Atlantic region. Expand on industry market share. Continue good relationships with customers – Industry (rock crushing, excavation) is primarily focused on serving general geographical area where the site is located, distribution channel relationships will be maintained as long as they are respected and nurtured. Keep Hum an Resource focus on core values to enable Luck’s reputation to stay intact. b.Threats – Threats to market share are limited because Luck is industry leader in customer service and logistical excellence which is valued by their customers. Human Resource focus with core values training ensures that the company’s core values are evident throughout all departments of Luck Companies. WEAKNESSES- Industry depends heavily on economic conditions. Luck Companies is diversified which is a potential weakness. Availability of Natural Resources. a. Opportunities limited – Economic downturn can devastate the industry which is mostly comprised of home building & furnishing.As shown in Lucks case during 2008 when they had to lay off 1200 associates. Diversification can a weakness if oversight gets lost and core values fade. Industry is dependent on natural resource harvesting (rocks/minerals/etc. ). Depletion is a major concern. b. Threats enhanced – Reduction in market share of economic downturn. Inability to locate more resources due to depletion of resources. 7. Major competitive advantage would be their efficient operations and excellent customer service. c. OPERATIONS V- High value for company and customers (sustainable)R- Rare but not obsolete (parody producing) I – Costly to imitate. Hard to copy economies of scale (sustainable) N – NOT – non-substitutable, there are industry substitutes d. Human Resources V – High Value for customers (sustainable) R – Rare – Luck’s Human Resources are leader in industry (sustainable) I – able to imitate but at high price. Years of core value training has developed excellent HR skills throughout company (sustainable) N – Non-substitutable. Customer care and follow up care are not substitutable. (Sustainable) 8.Current Strategies- Business Level strategy is differentiation – Luck Companies is the industry leader in logistics and exc ellent customer service. Competitors focus on cost leadership strategy. Corporate level – Luck focuses on value training and up keeping their core values that give them a competitive advantage. Cooperative strategy- Luck has acquired formerly known Lee Tennis Court and changed the name to Har-Tru. They are the global leader in tennis court surfacing and their current focus is brand image building in china, then taking their reputation to other markets.International strategy is similar to their cooperative strategy because their only international strategy in based on their Har-Tru acquisition. 9. Firm seems to be excelling in many areas. I don’t see many problem areas other than sustaining market share of Stone division and building brand recognition of Har-Tru in china to promote in other geographic locations around the world. 10. Q1: Do you see Luck Companies entering any other excavation markets such as oil, natural gas, coal (energy)? Q2: How and what benchmark goa ls does Luck Companies have for Har-Tru?

Liam O’Flaherty and The Anglo-Irish War Essay Essays

Liam O’Flaherty and The Anglo-Irish War Essay Essays Liam O’Flaherty and The Anglo-Irish War Essay Essay Liam O’Flaherty and The Anglo-Irish War Essay Essay Liam O’Flaherty ( 1896-1984 ) Served in the Irish Guards of the British Army from 19151917 Suffered serious hurt from a bomb blast in Belgium ; was discharged due to depression. Following WWI. traveled widely and developed a universe position based on godlessness. communism. and the impression that Ireland should be an independent state Liam O’Flaherty ( 1896-1984 ) Joined the Irish Republican Army to force for Irish independency. Opposed the 1921 pact that made Ireland a portion of the British Commonwealth. Wrote 13 novels between 1923 and 1976. many of which focused on the effects of war. revolution. and societal turbulence in Ireland. Anglo-Irish War – Origins The Easter Rising took topographic point on 24 April. 1916 in Dublin. Ireland. The Irish Republican Brotherhood ( IRB ) successfully incited a rise of about 1. 600 Rebels. which was rapidly crushed by Crown ( British ) forces. The handling of the Rebels. nevertheless. created mass understanding and the effects of this rebellion are still felt in Irish and international political relations. The Anglo-Irish War 1919: The Irish Parliament. lead by Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins. declared Ireland a free province. The Irish Republic ground forces launched guerrilla warfare during the Irish War of Independence Anglo-Irish War – 1920 March - Thomas McCurtain. Lord Mayor of Cork was shot in forepart of his household by British forces. October - His replacement. Terence McSwiney. dies after a 74-day hungriness work stoppage. 1 November - Kevin Barry. an 18-year-old medical pupil. was hanged for his portion in an ambuscade he took portion in when he was 16. 21 November - Collins’s ‘Squad’ killed 14 members of an elect British undercover agent group known as the ‘Cairo Gang’ . Revenge was taken by Crown forces. who fired on the crowd in Croke Park. 12 people were killed and 60 wounded. Later that flushing. two IRA work forces and one inexperienced person adult male were shot ‘while escaping’ - in fact. they were marched into the prison courtyard and told to run. and when they refused they were shot in the dorsum. Afterwards. 21 November became known as ‘Bloody Sunday’5. Bloody Sunday The Anglo-Irish War – 1920 ( cont. ) 28 November - a winging column led by Tom Barry killed 18 auxilaries in an ambuscade at Kilmichael in west Cork. Shortly after. retaliation was taken by the combustion of the Centre of the metropolis of Cork. December - the Government of Ireland Act set up Home Rule parliaments in Dublin and Belfast. Each parliament was given control over domestic personal businesss. Sinn Fein rejected it. This Act implemented the Partition of Ireland. The Anglo-Irish War – 1921 25 May - the IRA burned Dublin’s usage house. where seven authorities sections were located. The onslaught led to the gaining control or decease of more than 80 IRA work forces. 22 June. at the gap of the northern parliament at Stormount. King George V appealed for a armistice: Pause. to stretch out the manus of patience and conciliation. to forgive and bury. King George V. 22 June. 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty An Irish Free State ( Saorstat Eireann ) of 26 counties was established The Irish province was a Dominion and was still portion of the Commonwealth The British Monarch would stay as caput of province and would be represented by the Governor-General The Royal Navy retained control of the ports of Cobh. Berehaven and Lough Swilly The boundary line between the Free State and Northern Ireland would be drawn up by a Boundary Commission Aftermath of the Anglo-Irish Treaty 1922: The Irish civil war interruptions out between pro- and anti-treaty parties. Armed groups crossed into Northern Ireland and attacked British installings. They hoped to coerce the British to give up control of Northern Ireland. Today’s IRA stems from anti-treaty forces. May 1923: The civil war terminals and Northern Ireland was still portion of the United Kingdom. 1937: A new fundamental law ratified by the Irish authorities changes the name of the Irish Free State to Ireland. 1949: Ireland officially declares its independency from Britain. Ireland had cut all ties with the United Kingdom and became an independent democracy.

Practice in Identifying Compound Subjects

Practice in Identifying Compound Subjects A compound subject contains two or more simple subjects that are joined by a conjunction and that share the same predicate. In this exercise, you will practice identifying compound subjects. Practice Sentences Only some of the sentences below contain compound subjects. If the sentence does contain a compound subject, identify each of the parts. If the sentence doesnt contain a compound subject, simply write none. White-tailed deer and raccoons are commonly seen near the lake.Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King are two of my heroes.Last Sunday we walked through the park.Last Sunday Ramona and I walked through the park and then down the road to my house.The chirping birds and the droning insects were the only sounds we heard in the woods.The tallest girl and the shortest boy ended up dancing together at the prom.Each morning after the bell rang at school, the children would stand up to say the Pledge of Allegiance and a short prayer.In the 1980s, Milka Planinc of Yugoslavia and Mary Eugenia Charles of Dominica became the first women prime ministers of their countries.Both the villagers and the rural teachers worked together to build the reservoir.The lifestyles of the Native Americans and the European settlers were diametrically opposed to each other from the very beginning.Throughout the 19th century, London and Paris were the worlds two leading financial centers.At night in the dense fo rest, the rustling of leaves and the soft whisper of the wind were the only sounds that could be heard. Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night sailed off in a wooden shoe.The major metropolitan areas of Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore are the favorite destinations of American tourists in India.Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing are just three Chinese cities with populations that are comparable to all of Australia. Answers White-tailed deer  and  raccoons  are commonly seen near the lake.Mahatma Gandhi  and  Dr. Martin Luther King  are two of my heroes.(none)Last Sunday  Ramona  and  I  walked through the park and then down the road to my house.The chirping birds  and  the droning insects  were the only sounds we heard in the woods.The tallest girl  and  the shortest boy  ended up dancing together at the prom.(none)In the 1980s,  Milka Planinc of Yugoslavia  and  Mary Eugenia Charles of Dominica  became the first women prime ministers of their countries.Both  the villagers  and  the rural teachers  worked together to build the reservoir.(none)Throughout the 19th century,  London  and  Paris  were the worlds two leading financial centers.At night in the dense forest,  the rustling of leaves  and  the soft whisper of the wind  were the only sounds that could be heard.Wynken,  Blynken, and  Nod  one night sailed off in a wooden shoe.(no ne)Guangzhou,  Shanghai, and  Beijing  are just three Chinese cities with populations that are comparable to all of Australia.

Nurses Using Critical Thinking to Implement Patient Care Essay

Nurses Using Critical Thinking to Implement Patient Care - Essay Example As the patient is acutely ill, assessment and interventions should proceed simultaneously. Assessment is done by history taking, physical examination and investigations. History taking should include the duration for which the symptoms have been present, the course of illness, associate symptoms such as cough, any obvious or clear triggering event, history of smoking and drug abuse in the recent past, history of significant weight loss and any significant past medical or surgical history. As the patient is having difficulty in speaking due to shortness of breath, history should be taken from the accompanying family member .The clinical record of the previous day should be reviewed which may contain the history given by the patient. Obtaining the history is important to arrive at the etiology. So far as physical examination is concerned, patient’s vital parameters are recorded and continuously monitored. As patient is hyperpyrexic, hourly temperature recording should be done. S igns of respiratory distress namely tachypnea, use of accessory muscles of respiration, wheezing and findings on chest auscultation are documented (Prigmore 50). General physical examination includes examination for skin rash and color, needle marks, lymphadenopathy, icterus and diaphoresis. Cardiovascular assessment evaluates blood pressure, heart rate, rhythm, pulse volume status and cardiac murmur, if any. The rationale behind all these assessments is to localize the site of infection, determine the cause of fever and to monitor the respiratory function and progress of the disease. Hydration status of patient should be assessed as fever can lead to significant evaporative losses and dehydration. Consciousness level and status of the pupils is assessed. Any tests and investigations that have been done till now are reviewed. Patient’s socioeconomic, professional and family background should be briefly appraised. Nursing diagnosis Fever is generally indicative of an infective pathology. Also, the patient has coexisting respiratory distress with diaphoresis. Thus, differentials of the nursing diagnosis in this patient are an acute respiratory infection like community acquired pneumonia of bacterial, viral or fungal etiology (Prigmore 50). Sudden deterioration with fever, tachycardia and tachypnea suggest acute lung injury. A young patient having a severe illness should prompt a diagnosis of immunosuppresion such as AIDS. Thus, the patient may have HIV related pneumonia and septicemia (Kalikiri, Kandala, and Sachan). Patient’s occupation where he may have been acutely exposed to large amount of dust or noxious fumes could have caused pulmonary inflammation. Construction workers may be predisposed to fungal infections. Fever with sudden onset respiratory distress and diaphoresis can also be a feature of acute infective endocarditis leading to heart failure as a result of intra venous drug abuse (Cabell, Abrutyn, and Karchmer 185-187). Some drug over dosages can also cause hyperpyrexia with shortness of breath. Non cardiogenic pulmonary edema and pulmonary hemorrhage are known complications of heroine abuse (Gotway et al 120-122; Dettmeyer et al 87). Patient’s lifestyle warrants an evaluation for substance abuse. An unhealthy lifestyle in a young patient can also cause accelerated atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction which is however, unlikely in the absence