Discuss and assess the parallels between cold war anti-communism and Essay

Discuss and assess the parallels between cold war anti-communism and contemporary debates about terrorism and border protection - Essay Example apparently aimed at protecting human rights by inculcating political sovereignty in the so-called ‘failed states.’ Apart from a few isolated murmurings in the West, these experiments in state-building, humanitarian intervention and policing of wayward nations were neither openly associated to an American empire nor were they labelled as imperialist. The arrival of George Bush at the White House and the terrorist atrocities of September 11, 2001 reveal the role of the U.S. in the global economy. Furthermore, the war on terror that ensued shortly after September 11 seem to have reversed the world order and ignited a debate on the role of the U.S in fostering international peace. The debate presented in this paper argues that the U.S. role seems to have accorded itself the role of maintaining a check on communism (Bamford, 2004: pp 18-47). The paper aims at exploring the analytical and historical value of the connection between terrorism, war, efforts at border protection a nd the efforts at taming communism and fostering the extension of the American empire. Some of the historical questions that the paper aims to solve include the role that the Cold War played in shaping a domineering American empire. There is also an attempt to analyze how the nature of this empire was affected by the end of the Cold War. Therefore, the paper aims at presenting a comparison between the prevailing conjecture of border protection measures and the war on terror with the origins of the rivalry between capitalism and communism. Researchers have done a critical analysis of several theoretical perspectives that shed more light on the underlying dynamics in the aggravated efforts to fight terrorism in the world.. These perspectives also highlight how these dynamics serve to entrench border protection measures, especially after the end of the Cold War. The first perspective regards to the theory of realism which emphasizes several motives that are connected to the power, national

Shock Probation in the US Correctional System

Shock Probation in the US Correctional System Abstract In an effort to reduce prison overcrowding and recidivism rates state legislators devised a new and innovative plan called shock probation. Fearing that a lengthy sentence given to a first time, non-violent offender may drive him/her to a life of crime; the program would give an inmate the ability appeal their case to a judge. Once the inmates case is heard and if the appeal is accepted, the sentence could be reduced from years to months. In late 1965 Ohio became the first state to enact this new program, other states such as Alabama, Texas, and Kentucky would soon follow. Believing that the first few months of ones prison sentence is the worst, law makers wanted to use this mentality in order to rehabilitate an individual to societal norms and lower the rates associated with re-offending. Recently shock probation has been used in conjunction with prison boot camp programs, where an inmate has a reduced sentence upon completion of a military-style boot camp. The controversy surroundi ng shock probation lies in the manner in which it is handed down. During the programs infancy it was common for judges to refuse 10 cases for every 1 case they accepted; now even the most violent offenders are being released under this statue. The Role of Shock Probation in the United States Correctional System A Review The overcrowding of the United States Department of Corrections prison system, in both adult and juvenile facilities is one of the biggest problems facing corrections today. The problem exists on multiple levels including the courts, prisons, and community corrections alike. When questioned judges agree that the numbers are high but are forced to use programs as a means to alleviate overcrowding in jails and prisons; in many cases the state mandates these conditions leaving judges little ability to enforce harsher punishments. Often prosecutors have used shock probation as a bargaining chip in order to get defendants to plead guilty. Shock probation enjoyed early success; Ohio saw a 9% recidivism rate compared to the national average of 65 to 80 % (Time , 1973). However, more recently in a 2007 study done by the Courier Journal of Jefferson County, Kentucky found that of 260 shock probationers 120 have arrested or charged again. Of those charged more than 60% were for felonies such a s rape, armed robbery, drug possession, and murder. This review examines the effectiveness of shock probation and examines the following issues. 1. Recidivism rates. 2. Economic impact, prison versus probation. 3. The impact of shock probation when paired with prison boot camps. Recidivism Rates One of the problems facing shock probation today is the way it is handed down. In fact nearly two thirds of felony offenders who received shock probation last year have been rearrested or returned to prison for violating the conditions of their release (Mark Motivans, 2010). These statistics would indicate the program doesnt work or it is being handed down to the wrong people. In most cases a subjects criminal history is reviewed by a judge before determining whether they would be deemed a good candidate under the shock probation program, preferring they dont have a long prison term to serve. John Faine, a Western Kentucky University professor who studied shock probation in the 1970s said the statistics concerning recidivism are horrifying and out of control, especially given the amount of offenders committing felonies (Riley, 2007). In a similar study done by the U.S Department of Corrections found that when shock probation is handed down to non-violent offenders under the correct conditions there is just a 9% re-offender rate; this is in support of the 1973 Time Magazine study. However, in a case involving a probationer of the Kentucky penal system was released in 1998 under the conditions of shock probation only to have it revoked five days later. He would serve another two years (all on drug charges) before returning to prison again in 2001 and in 2003 and yet once more last year only to have shock probation handed down a second time in his release(www.e-archives.ky.gov). It is clearly evident that if programs like this are going to have any success treatment programs and drug counseling are needed in follow up to the release of these cases. Sentence types for offenders sentenced in criminal cases terminated, by offense, October 1, 2007-September 30, 2008 Total offenders Most serious offense of conviction sentenced Incarceration Probation All offenses 82,823 77.9 % 11.7 % 3.4 % Felonies 75,832 83.9 % 8.9 % 0.4 % Shock Probation 5 Violent offenses 2,442 93.4 % 4.5 % 0.1 % Drug offenses 26,323 91.7 % 3.9 % 0.3 % Trafficking 26,198 91.8 % 3.8 % 0.3% Other drug offenses 125,492 62.4 % 28.0 % 4.0 % Note. The statistics on criminal cases show the overwhelming number of incarcerated drug offences as opposed to other crimes. The statistics are from Mark Motivans, Ph.D. (2010). Federal Justice Statistics, 2008- Statistical Tables. Office of Justice Programs. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved from http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetailiid=1745 . Economic impact, Prison versus probation Only Medicaid has a greater budget spending plan then the United States Correctional System which outspends both transportation and education. Even with a decreasing crime rate the number of people incarcerated, on probation, or paroled has risen over the past decade commanding a budget of more than 47 billion to accommodate the numbers (Solomon Moore, 2009). Each State spends on average of $29,000 on prison inmates as opposed to $1,473 on probationers and $3150 on those on parole (Mark Motivans, 2010).The average daily cost to the tax payers is about $3.00 a day to monitor a parolee; however, state legislators still push for more prisons despite the significant difference in cost; in their view the only way to address the public demand in combating crime is to build more prisons. Recidivism rates remain high despite the budget of the correctional system. The decision to sentence an offender to long term incarceration has to be thought carefully, too often it is the drug crimes that clog jail and prison cells. The amount of case loads that are being handled by parole officers can sometimes exceed 70 (Cook, 2008 ) at one time, and despite recent cutbacks, state and localities are not allocating the proper funds or staffing needed to provide adequate supervision. Offenders who do not receive proper supervision are more likely to commit new crimes with new victims or will be found in violation of the conditions of supervision, in turn will fill court dockets and ultimately prisons (Cook, 2008 ). With community corrections lacking sufficient increases in funding, keeping pace with the demands for services such as drug treatment and employment will be extremely difficult. The impact of shock probation when paired with prison boot camps. The first boot camps got their start in the states of Georgia and Oklahoma in 1983 (Harold A. Valentine, 1993). A great deal of attention was paid to these states programs and many other states and prison systems followed suit. The federal Bureau of prisons also invested in a separate boot camp designed especially for women, and by the year 1999 fifty boot camps operated in thirty states with nearly 4500 juveniles; however, by the end of 2000 many states had ended or radically cut back the size of their programs (Parent, 1997). During the height of boot camps success strict requirements were placed on the selection process and the eligibility of those selected and was carefully evaluated prior to being sent there. Positions in the program were often offered to offenders convicted of non-violent crimes such as drug offences or burglary and to those with non extensive criminal past. Using the shock probation format a camp generally lasted between 90 and 180 days (Parent, 1997), those d ropped or expelled from the program were either sent back to court for resentencing or finished the prison sentence. Upon successful completion of the program inmates are treated to a graduation ceremony in which military drills and discipline are displayed, and in most cases the families are encouraged to attend. Shock probation in the form of boot camp may all share a common name, corps values, and the basics of military discipline; however, the programs can differ dramatically. Some camps focus on hard labor and discipline while others place values on rehabilitation and treatment; still others place the center of priority on education. Different still are the ways offenders receive probation after the completion of the program, some provide drug treatment, vocational counseling, others provide short term housing (Parent, 1997). Whether the offender experiences an extensive probation or a traditional case, critics of boot camps worry about the offenders ability to transition from a highly structured environment to normal life in the community. When beginning this project I was not a supporter of either shock probation or correctional boot camps; however, in reading the testimonies of people that study and work in them I couldnt help but feel some sense of what was trying to be accomplished. Reading the stories of those who dedicate their lives in an effort to give a youth a better chance or an adult to correct the wrong in their life put these programs in a different light. The aspect of these programs that is so disappointing revolve around the recidivism rates, and the disappointing figures by the U.S Department of Justice 60 to 80% when compared to regular prison terms that are almost the same at 63 to 71%. Shock probation and correctional boot camps will remain a controversial issue in the prison system; however, the fact remains, overcrowding and improper rehabilitation continue to plague the system.

Motivation and Conflict Management Essay -- Workplace

Motivation and Conflict Management Organizations strive for creative ways to enhance employee motivation and resolve conflicts with the desire to have employees perform better within the workplace. To motivate one has to be motivated. Motivation within the workplace has to be constant and requiring a goal. Motivation, if not repeated will not last. Therefore, learning to determine how different organizations apply motivation theories to motivate employees, analyzing conflict management strategies and what approaches work best in different organizations will influence the success of an organization. Motivation Theories and Organizational Behavior Motivation is the concept of stimulating or arousing a person to achieve a goal. Motivation has much to do with desire and ambition, and if they are absent, motivation is absent too (What is Motivation and How to Strengthen It, para. 1). Motivation theories are unique to each organization. Some organizations have come up with motivation theories such as setting work goals, job performance evaluations, and fair treatment policies within the work environment to keep employees motivated. The impact that individuals, groups and structures have on behavior within organizations is Organizational Behavior. Motivation is affected by organizational behaviors, which is why different organizations apply motivation theories to motivate employees. Applying Motivation Theories to Motivate Employees Keeping workers motivated in today workplace can be not just a job, but also an adventure. In many organizations this is a challenge because the workplace is made up of a diverse cultural environment. Managers are still the driving force for any business and the responsibility and demand to ac... ...ional behavior. Team B was able to discuss and analyze different conflict strategies used in the workplace. The research educates Team B to how organizations implement various theories and strategies in accordance with their work environments. Works Cited Lewis, Clive (2007) Human resource management international digest. Bradford: 2007. Vol 15, Iss.4: pg. 3. Sasson, R. (2001-2010). SuccessConsciousness.com. Retrieved from http://www.successconsciousness.com/strengthen_motivation.htm Swinton, Lyndsay (2006). Workplace Conflict Management: Strategy for Successful Resolution. Retrieved November 14, 2010 from http://www.mftrou.com/workplace-conflict-management-strategy.html John R. Schermerhorn, James G. Hunt, Richard N. Osborn (2008). Organizational Behavior 10th ED. Retrieved November 12, 2010 from Academic Search Motivation and Conflict Management Essay -- Workplace Motivation and Conflict Management Organizations strive for creative ways to enhance employee motivation and resolve conflicts with the desire to have employees perform better within the workplace. To motivate one has to be motivated. Motivation within the workplace has to be constant and requiring a goal. Motivation, if not repeated will not last. Therefore, learning to determine how different organizations apply motivation theories to motivate employees, analyzing conflict management strategies and what approaches work best in different organizations will influence the success of an organization. Motivation Theories and Organizational Behavior Motivation is the concept of stimulating or arousing a person to achieve a goal. Motivation has much to do with desire and ambition, and if they are absent, motivation is absent too (What is Motivation and How to Strengthen It, para. 1). Motivation theories are unique to each organization. Some organizations have come up with motivation theories such as setting work goals, job performance evaluations, and fair treatment policies within the work environment to keep employees motivated. The impact that individuals, groups and structures have on behavior within organizations is Organizational Behavior. Motivation is affected by organizational behaviors, which is why different organizations apply motivation theories to motivate employees. Applying Motivation Theories to Motivate Employees Keeping workers motivated in today workplace can be not just a job, but also an adventure. In many organizations this is a challenge because the workplace is made up of a diverse cultural environment. Managers are still the driving force for any business and the responsibility and demand to ac... ...ional behavior. Team B was able to discuss and analyze different conflict strategies used in the workplace. The research educates Team B to how organizations implement various theories and strategies in accordance with their work environments. Works Cited Lewis, Clive (2007) Human resource management international digest. Bradford: 2007. Vol 15, Iss.4: pg. 3. Sasson, R. (2001-2010). SuccessConsciousness.com. Retrieved from http://www.successconsciousness.com/strengthen_motivation.htm Swinton, Lyndsay (2006). Workplace Conflict Management: Strategy for Successful Resolution. Retrieved November 14, 2010 from http://www.mftrou.com/workplace-conflict-management-strategy.html John R. Schermerhorn, James G. Hunt, Richard N. Osborn (2008). Organizational Behavior 10th ED. Retrieved November 12, 2010 from Academic Search

Explain how Mary Shelley makes us feel contrasting emotions towards the creature in “Frankenstein”

In this essay I will be talking about the historical background of writer Mary Shelley and about her novel â€Å"Frankenstein†. Mary Shelley was born on the 30th of August 1797. Mary Shelley's father was called William Godwin who was a Godwin and a philosopher. After Mary Shelley was born, Mary Shelley's mother Mary Wollstonecraft who was a feminist writer at the time died 4 weeks after Mary Shelley's birth. When Mary Shelley grew up she ran off with a poet called â€Å"Percy Bysshe Shelley† who was already married. Mary Shelley was very well educated. Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Shelley had a baby girl in February in 1815 who unfortunately died almost a month later. The Shelley's went on holiday in about 1816. Mary Shelley had a dream that was used as the basis of â€Å"Frankenstein†. It was very wet so a ghost writing competition was organised to pass time, it was then that Mary Shelley had written her novel â€Å"Frankenstein† Mary Shelley's ideas were inspired by developments in science and medicine which made people wonder if life could be created. People were religious and thought God was in charge of life and death, so any person tempering with his powers was likely to be horribly punished. Mary Shelley had a further series of tragedies in life. These tragedies include the death of Mary Shelley's in 1816 due to committing suicide; including the death of Mary Shelley's own two children; one who died in 1818 and one in 1819. When Mary Shelley was 22 years of age which was in the year 1822 the death of her husband had also occurred. In 1818 Mary Shelley's book was published namelessly, and later on in about 1830 it was published with her name on it. The reason for this is because when it was published previously in the years secretly, it was always believed that women should not work and are not as useful as men are and should remain as housewives looking after their children. Another reason for this was that it was believed that women are not capable of writing novels. Later on when years had passed Mary Shelley had died in 1851. In the novel Frankenstein the creature is first mentioned in the letter IV to Robert Walton. The letter had written in it: â€Å"a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature†. The novel is set in the mist and ice, this is a gothic novel and causes a sense of mystery about the creature, and creates an atmosphere. This is so we create an image inside our minds of the creature and the mysterious atmosphere which leads an expectation. Mary Shelley uses words like â€Å"dreary, dismallye. eg â€Å"the rain pattered dismally against the panes†, dull and dim†. Mary Shelley used a lot of pathetic fallacy in this novel. In chapter 5 Shelley tells us that there is little light at a certain pint in the novel. This is because she wrote â€Å"my candle was nearly burnt out†¦ Here Shelley builds up the atmosphere by writing â€Å"so dark that anything could happen†. The size of Frankenstein's creature reminds us of Walton's letter â€Å"to make the being of gigantic stature, that is to say, about eight feet in height and proportionally large†. The creature is linked with corpses, graveyards, maggots and dead bodies. This description makes the reader feel disgusted and sick and would not want the creature anywhere near them and would most likely feel revolted and sickened which would make them feel furious and think the creature is just morally wrong. Mary Shelley and her audience knew about body snatchers. In chapter 5 Mary Shelley sets a gothic scene by creating an atmosphere (at the beginning of chapter 5). Mary Shelley makes it all spooky and then starts to describe the character and then goes back to the weather. Shelley uses the word â€Å"detain† to show that Victor is scared that the creature will stop him from leaving. This makes us feel that it is threatening and is dangerous when she calls it a â€Å"demonical corpse†. She implies that it's from the devil and makes the reader scared of the creature. Victor's reaction is violent and gothic. To add to the tension and fear the beast is by his bedside so he runs outside to escape it. Shelley uses words like â€Å"miserable monster† and â€Å"demoniacal corpse†. I think that Shelley uses such word because I think that it is true the creature is very much like a miserable monster as the creature is very lonely and does not know who he is and has no one who likes him and all the creature wants is sympathy. I think that this is why Shelley uses words like â€Å"miserable† and also uses words like monster because the creature is just like a beast and acts like a monster does and is like a monster is usually described. Shelly also uses word like â€Å"demoniacal† possibly because the creature is shown to be evil and up for revenge for why he was created. â€Å"demoniacal† means that someone is evil or is possessed by an evil spirit. The reason why Mary Shelley could have used corpse after â€Å"demoniacal† is because the creature is made of different corpses and dead bodies. Victor is ill for weeks, and then when things look happy, Victor receives a letter from his partner. The letter contains: â€Å"About 5 in the morning I discovered my lonely boy whom the night before I had seen blooming and active in health, stretched on the grass livid and motionless the print of the murderous finger was on the neck†-letter from Geneva. Mary Shelley uses pathetic fallacy again in the novel when victor goes to the place where William was murdered†¦ e. g. â€Å"the darkness and storm increased every minute and thunder burst with a terrific crash over my head†; he sees the creature â€Å"a flash of lightening†¦ † . Victor reacted with shock thinking he had made the killer kill William. E. g. He was the murderer! I could not doubt it†. In the chapter of sympathy (chapter 11), we hear the creatures side of the story, â€Å"am I not alone, miserably alone? † this makes us feel extremely sorry for the creature and makes us think that it was not the creatures fault and was not the creatures decision to come into the world and have life so we cannot really blame the creature fully for what is going on. The creature was taken from villages to villages just because people were horrified of him as children shrieked and women had also fainted over seeing him. â€Å"Some attacked me until, grievously bruised by shoes†¦ I escaped†¦ â€Å". The creature was homeless and had nowhere to live; he had no roof under his head and desperately needed a roof over his head. The creature was so desperate for a roof above his head that yet a hut was joy to him no less than paradise. â€Å"Exquisite and divine a retreat†¦ † The beast really wanted somewhere to belong. The creature takes shelter in an animal shed at a farm and is very kind to them. When the creature sees them he feels very happy to see what a family is like and also feels upset and unwanted knowing he is not wanted by anyone and is hated by the people. They were a mixture of pain and pleasure, such as I had never before experienced†¦ â€Å". In chapter 15 there is a blind man and the creature helps him and is extremely kind to the blind man, the creature takes advantage of this that he cannot see the ugliness of him and likes the love he gets from the old man and feels like he is cared by someone for the first time. Just like i mentioned previously I really feel sorry for his creation, this is because the creature is not at fault for his creation. The creature must feel very miserably like he says because he also has a heart like humans and feels unwanted, rejected lonely. I do not blame the creature for wanting a female just like him, so he could have someone to love and someone to love and care for him even after seeing how he appears. When the creature is rejected from the old man's family the creature sets off to find his creator who he believes to be his father. â€Å"My father, my creator†¦ â€Å". At the time the creature was rejected by the family the creature feels sour inside himself we know this because â€Å"the spirit of revenge enkindled in my heart†. There is a point in the novel when Frankenstein's creature saves a girl from drowning. When the creature tries to breathe life into the girl, the creature is shot by a man. â€Å"I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind†. The creature meets William, when William see's the creature William is scared of him and tells him that his name is Frankenstein. At this point William is killed by the creature. â€Å"I gazed on my victim and my heart swelled with exultation and tallish triumph†¦ † When Shelley used the word(s) â€Å"gazed on my victim† she makes it sound like William has done a huge crime and he is at fault for what Frankenstein has done by creating the creature. The creature asks Frankenstein for a female creature, like himself, someone to love him and someone that he can love and spent the the rest of his life with. â€Å"If I cannot inspire love I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my arch enemy†¦ â€Å". Here the creature say's to Frankenstein that if he cannot find his love then he will become his enemy and take away his love. â€Å"I demand a creature of another sex but is hideous as myself†¦ we shall be monsters, cut off from the world†¦ let me see that excite thing†¦ At this point I believe that the creature is asking for something that he thinks is reasonable. I think that the creature has a right to ask this because the creature did not choose to come on to this world and it is not fair for him to be lonely with no one to be with. The creature makes a deal with Frankenstein saying that he will leave him and everyone alone and go far away from them only if Frankenstein creates a female creature. The probl em with this is that if a female creature is to be created it could also become like Frankenstein and they both may want to take revenge from Frankenstein. Another problem would be that the creatures would have children and this would lead to something very serious. After the creature say's all these things Victor feels sickened with what the creature is saying. â€Å"The filthy mass that moved and talked†¦ â€Å". Victor agrees to create a female creature for the male creature. When victor is in the process of creating the female creature he changes his mind, when he changes his mind he rips the body into pieces. When Victor does this act the creature see's everything and is furious and vows to take revenge. â€Å"I shall be with you on your wedding night†. The creature mean that if he cannot get someone to love and spend the rest of his life with neither will Victor. When the creature gets to Elizabeth (Victors wife) and kills her, Shelley uses a storm again to create a scary atmosphere and a horrific atmosphere. â€Å"She was there lifeless and inanimate, throw a cross the bed†. Victor dies and Walton finds the monster by his body. The creature say's he regrets the killings but was provoked to do such doings. â€Å"I pitied Frankenstein†¦ the important envy and bitter indignation as filled me with an insatiable thirst for vengeance†. At this point i feel sorry for the creature only because he has no one left, otherwise I do not really feel sorry for the creature here because due to him Elizabeth had died and she had nothing to do with anything. Elizabeth was not at fault and was very unfair for the creature to kill her in such a brutal and insane way. So I think that the creature would just have to live with and put up with what he has done, and could have a tried a different way of trying to persuade Frankenstein of creating a female creature for him rather than threatening to kill his wife on his wedding night, which I think sounded very sick and extremely unfair.

Manage Operational Plan Essay

1.List some of the details outlined in an operational plan. An operational plan, also known as an action plan, is derived from an organisation’s strategic plan. It is a more concrete, detailed document that outlines how the strategic plans of an organisation will be achieved in practice. It includes projects to be undertaken, actions, resource policies, responsibilities and timeframes. It outlines the actions teams/individuals within an organisation will take to achieve its objectives and also outlines any major projects within the relative time period. An operational plan will contain details of: †¢Organisational structure †¢Short- or medium-term business strategies †¢Major projects †¢Available resources (including human and physical resources, also financial) †¢Performance targets †¢Responsibilities for actions †¢Timeframes for projects, goals and evaluations †¢Contingency measures 2.Broad consultation with other members of the organisation, from team members to senior management, is a good way to contribute to the success of operational planning. When, in the planning cycle, should it be carried out? What outcomes would you be looking to achieve from this process? Consultation is a key element in the development of an operational plan and it is imperative in ensuring the details of the plan, the resource allocations and the timelines set are realistic, relevant and achievable. Consultation should be an ongoing process, right from the beginning and throughout the entirety of the operational plan. Consultation can be achieved in many ways, both formally, using such tools as information sessions, meetings, workshops, focus groups, one-on-one interviews, feedback mechanisms or communication mechanisms; or informally, by relying on personal relationships and informal conversations with other stakeholders. Use of these techniques should be scheduled to occur before the operational plan is put to action, but they should not stop there. As planning progresses, it is important to consult with stakeholders to seek further  input and, for those that have major contributions, to gather feedback. As plans come to fruition and projects commence, it is important to constantly seek feedback and input, in order to monitor, evaluate and refine the planning processes and the actions undertaken. The next important step of the consultation process, once feedback has been gathered, is to use the information effectively and communicate this back to the relevant stakeholders. When stakeholders see the positive flow-on effects of feedback they have offered, it makes them more likely to offer quality contributions the next time they are asked. This creates an open and flowing cycle of communication and feedback throughout the entire planning process, which leads to a highly monitored plan, formed through consultation with relevant stakeholders. This regular feedback enables the organisation and those managing the operational planning, to evaluate and refine the planning procedure. 3.Why do budgets need frequent reviews and adjustments? Who is responsible for ensuring that budgets and other financial documents are accurate? When creating financial reports, what sources of information need to be analysed? Budgets are the mechanisms through which organisations can monitor their financial health. Budgets are essentially plans for the organisation’s money and resources. They should be monitored regularly to assess the organisation’s progress against agreed targets and to flag any potential issues. Individual areas should update and report internally on a regular basis (i.e. monthly), which, in turn, would lead to reports being delivered to senior management every quarter. These reports can be used to update the budget forecast and contain information about the current state of accounts (i.e. spendings vs earnings). It is important to frequently review and adjust budgets to take into account changing circumstances, such as, project delays, project blowouts, changes to staffing levels and changes in the currency exchange rates. These adjustments are necessary to reflect actual circumstances that apply to specific projects, work units, the organisation as a whole and the broader economic and financial climate. Within an organisation, there is generally a senior management group or committee responsible for ensuring the financial statements present a full and accurate position of the organisation’s financial situation and that any  variants from budget are fully explained. When creating financial reports, depending on the level of detail the organisation requires, the following sources may need to be analysed: †¢Budgets †¢Budget forecast reports †¢Reports of actual financial performance †¢Budget principle reports †¢Revenue reports †¢Expense and output reports †¢Balance sheet reports †¢Asset and cash management reports †¢Investment/derivative reports †¢Liability reports 4.Resources can mean many things when you are preparing an operational plan. What kinds of ‘resources’ might you have to plan for? There are many resources that require planning for an operational plan. These can include: †¢Goods and services †¢Human resources (i.e. staff, consultants, contractors) †¢Physical resources (i.e. equipment, property, machinery, facilities) †¢Financial resources (i.e. budget allocations, money) †¢Stock requirements and requisitions A process of research and consultation needs to be carried out to adequately allocate resources. A detailed planning ‘diary’ can be a useful resource for helping individuals who are responsible for planning and to carry out their duties in a timely and comprehensive fashion. 5.Today, more and more businesses understand that being successful is about more than just economic performance, but that it is also about their environmental and social performance. They are aware that increasing use of the Earth’s natural resources places a strain on the planet. Responsible businesses are, therefore, making every effort to ensure that they use resources efficiently. What does the term resource efficiency refer to? Identify five things an organisation could do to reduce the amount of paper  and energy used and wasted. Resource efficiency refers to maximising the supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively, with minimum wasted effort or expense. Five ways an organisation could reduce the amount of paper and energy used and wasted could include: 1.Improving purchasing Cleaner production starts with cleaner procurement. Buying recycled materials can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. Give preference to products that are designed for long life, are reusable or recyclable, and are made and packaged with minimum material. 2.Improving storage Only store what you need. Good inventory management can save money. Keep all storage areas uncluttered, clean and clearly labeled. Avoid keeping empty containers, unless they have a specific use. Establish clearly signed, segregated areas for appropriate storage of all equipment, materials and wastes. 3.Conserving energy Using less costs less. If you reduce your energy consumption you can save money and reduce greenhouse gases caused by burning fossil fuels. Turn off all lights and equipment when they do not need to be operating. Use energy efficient office equipment and power saving functions where they will be most effective. Use the most efficient lights — triphosphor tubes are cheaper to run than fluorescent lights. 4.Conserving water Fix dripping taps and leaking pipes — a dripping tap wastes more than $100 a year. Install water saving accessories around your business, contact your local water authority for ideas. 5.Reducing waste Segregated waste can often be recycled and may be a valuable product for another business. The three R’s – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Quantify the waste you produce. Waste is the difference between the materials you pay for and the materials your customer pays for. Examine each process step to determine where wastes are produced and to devise measures for waste prevention or reduction. Many wastes occur because of process inefficiency. Devise ways of reducing your waste with your employees and suppliers so they  too can share in the savings, for example rewards for employees and suppliers who reduce waste. Reuse drums and containers where possible. Ask suppliers to exchange empties. Identify ways of reusing materials in the process at different stages.