Information Technology Ethics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Information Technology Ethics - Term Paper Example Cyber crimes are here to stay. As Price stated, â€Å"As the number of computer owners connected to the internet increases, so too does the opportunity for cyber crime† (Price, 2010). Chantler in his review of the book, â€Å"The Reality of the Threat† by Nigel Phair (2007) cited Phair’s description of the different cyber crimes (Chantler, 2007). Phair noted (as cited by Chantler 2007) that cyber crimes can be broadly divided into seven groups namely: 1) unwanted software; 2) identity crime; 3) phishing; 4) critical infrastructure protection; 5) intellectual property; 6) communications; and 7) terrorism (Chantler, 2007). Hacking activities, spyware, adware, cookies, Trojans, spams and viruses fall under unwanted software. Unwanted software may be found either outside or within the organization. The second and third types of cyber crime, identity crime and phishing, deal with proof of identity, authentication of internet users and the tools used to get information . Chantler goes on further to cite Phair’s description of the other divisions of cyber crimes (2007). Critical infrastructure protection crimes are the crimes which involve the destruction of the information structures such as telecommunications and computer networks. On the other hand, crimes on intellectual property are concerned with software piracy. Cyber crime on communications is another form of cyber crime which gets much attention from organizations. These type of crimes include risks and threats on â€Å"wireless devices, VoIP (voice-over-internet protocol) - such as Skype and Google-talk, third generation phone systems, issues with caller ID, clipping, v-bombing, sim boxing, internet dumping, PABX hacking, phoneline scanning, voicemail, cloning, Bluetooth, RFID† and issues on privacy (Chantler, 2007). Like any other group of society, terrorists have also resorted to digital technology in carrying out their activities. They use cyber space to commit crimes suc h as information warfare and distributed denial of service attacks (ddos) (Chantler, 2007). One of the most common crimes which Chantler failed to mention is cyber bullying. Over the years, there has been a proliferation of cyber bullying crimes worldwide. Cyber bullying is â€Å"bullying through email, instant messaging (IMing), chat room exchanges, Web site posts, or digital messages or images send to a cellular phone or personal digital assistant (PDA)† (Hazelden Foundation, n.d.). Cyber bullying involves online harassment which has become more severe through the years sometimes even the cause of some suicides among teenagers. Electronic Monitoring of Employees One of the offshoots of the advancement in information technology is the growth in the extent of workplace monitoring in several companies. Software such as Websense, SurfControl, SmartFilter and Xora have sprung up as corporations saw the need to monitor employees in the workplace. These software make it easy for m anagement to monitor the computer, internet or email use of the employees. A software like Xora can even go as far as monitoring an employee’s whereabouts through GPS technology on their company’s mobile phones (Dell & Cullen, 2006). According to sellers of Web and email monitoring software, employee productivity, corporate liability and bandwidth limitations are the major reasons why workplace monitoring is implemented by corporations (Lemos, 2001). In a study by the American Management Association and the ePolicy Institute, it was revealed that 76% of employers

BMKT611 Retailing Final Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

BMKT611 Retailing Final Assignment - Essay Example 3). Complicating matters, retailers are not only confronting the changing dynamics of the modern retail market, but are also confronting the economic challenges effecting consumer spending practices since the global financial crisis of 2009. Consumers have demonstrated a habit of unpredictable and frugal spending habits. Retailers are also affected in that they are increasingly confronting the challenges posed by increased fuel prices as well as inflation so that retailers are now concerned about reducing costs. In the meantime, retailers have to find innovative ways of remaining competitive (Mansoor & Jalal, 2011, p. 104). A review of the literature informs that in-store strategies continue to be a method by which retailers seek to differentiate their products and services from the competition. An emerging trend is a propensity to ensure that customers have an exciting and entertaining experience and consumers also expect convenience, options in merchandise at the right place, the r ight time and â€Å"at the right price† (Carpenter, Moore, & Fairhurst, 2005, p. 43). This report conducts a comparative analysis of the in-store strategies employed Primark and Forever 21in the UK. ... A SWOT analysis is conducted on each store with a view to identifying and analysing the weaknesses and strengths of the in-store strategies used. A Review of the Literature The forces of globalisation together with the ease with which new entrants can join the apparels’ industry have rendered apparels’ retailing a highly competitive market. Research studies indicate that the popular pricing strategy of the 1970s is no longer suitable for ensuring retailer’s competitive edge. More and more, consumers are committed to quality and competing in terms of sales lowers profit margins, compromises consumer loyalty, and increases â€Å"product imitation† (Bruer, Cassil, & Jones, 2005, p.1). The changing dynamics of the retail market is such that consumers are more informed and have far more choices than previously. As a result, retailers have experienced a shift in bargaining controls toward consumers. Facilitated by information technology, lowered barriers to trad e, consumers are increasingly aware of competitive products and will exhibit loyalty toward retailers that have the ability to excite and entertain them. In the meantime, consumers’ preferences and needs have â€Å"become more fragmented,† and more â€Å"difficult to understand and predict† (Kilduff, 2001, p. 2). A study conducted by Carre, Tilly and Holgate (2010) in two fiercely competitive retail markets in the US (food and electronics) demonstrate that a number of factors influence in-store strategies in the retail market. The study involved 16 case studies (8 in food and 8 in electronics) and involved 195 interviews with managers in human resources and operations. Research findings indicate that competitive strategies include increasing service, improving both

On the Accuracy of the Almagest Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

On the Accuracy of the Almagest - Research Paper Example According to the model of the solar system that he came up with, the sun moved in a spherical trajectory that was centered near the earth. Ptolemy also went ahead to claim that, in his model of the solar system, the Almagest, the sun maintained, what he termed to be, a set inclination of the earth’s center this being the equator. Through his research, Ptolemy concluded that the five visible plants from the earth moved in obits known as epicycles held together by small rings. These epicycles, he explained moved around the earth on larger unconventional sphere known as deferents. Like the sun, both the epicycles and the defrents also mentioned set inclinations close to the earth’s center. However, as much as his model, the Almagest, was considered remarkable, it has raised too many questions within the scientific realm. The Almagest has not seemed to fare well among many scientific scholars. Many scholars believe that due to his devotion to philosophical theories and doctrine Ptolemy came up with an overcomplicated, ridiculers and awkward model of the solar system that was in accurate in nature. Some of his doctrines that are heavily questioned and disagreed upon include the theory that the earth is stationary ad does not move in uniformity which other planets move around the earth center. In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus came up with his own theory that stated that the earth and other planets moved around the suns orbit. This suppressed his theory and was largely backed by other scholars during this period. Although the study was deemed inaccurate in the sixteenth century, by Johannes Kepler’s model, it was enough to show how inaccurate and wrong Ptolemy’s model was. The main aim behind this study is to examine how inaccurate and wrong Ptolemy model of the solar system was. In addition, the study will be re-evaluating Ptolemy’s merits as an astronomer by examining some of the facts that he provided in his model of the solar system. The main objective behind the Almagest was to create a model that showed the solar system from earth. In his model, Ptolemy tries to explain the motion of the planets visible from earth the sun and the moon. However, in his model of the solar system Ptolemy lives out critical details of how these motions in his model occur or what courses this motion. This is why scholars and astronomers view the model as incorrect and fluid since it lucks basic evidence to support his facts. However, in his model, Ptolemy was able to provide some calculations such as how far the other planets are from earth by using the radius to measure. This helped, in that Copernicus was able to use this calculation in his own ad vanced and correct model of the solar system. Through Kepler’s model, which is considered, correct and more accurate than the two that came before it, one of the main things that one will learn is that plants obit the sun and is actually confocal to it. Such trajectories that the planets use called ellipses have two main factors that make them unique. These two facts can be used to see how inaccurate Ptolemy model from the sun is. Primarily, the obits are considered eccentric. This means that the sun, which is in the center, is rather in this model displaced due to geometric displacement of the sun. Second, each planet in the solar system has a particular axis from which it is elongated. This means that they are elliptical. Unluckier Kepler who came up with a theory that proved that the earth and other planets revolved the sun in their own obits, Ptolemy tries to study the

DB 3 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

DB 3 - Research Paper Example On the other hand, the power of virtual integration is the use of the internet or general technology to replace physical elements of a company with specific information. Ford Motor Company recorded 5.7 million motor sales worldwide last year, using a huge network of suppliers. As part of its objectives to create a competitive supply chain, the firm makes use of Six Sigma procedures through collaborating with Penske Logistics to improve and streamline supply chain activities. Before Ford sided with Penske Corp, its assembly plants in South America each took care of its logistics, an initiative that led to unexpected costs in transport and supplying materials as suppliers used to pick up light loads, carrying them from plant to plant. In an effort to solve this, the company established various Order Dispatch Centers (ODC) to merge shipments to plants (Chopra & Sodhi, 2012). Within a short time, it was noted that the majority of trucks have increased the capacity to 95% when distributing shipments to and from the ODC as well as a reduced plant inventory by 15%. New technology has been put in place to help in streamlining performance. Ford Motors has used Logistics Management System, order tracing software, and metric reporting system based on the internet to achieve this goal. This shows how technology can be used to enhance competitiveness as drivers in the company now carry an electronic log and PDA scanners to offer real-time updates and ensure that all carriers have satellite communications. Meanwhile, the supply chain is stabilized through scanners that are utilized in monitoring plants delivery (Austin, 1999). A vital facet of the strategies used in the supply chain is Ford’s emphasis on accountability at every level of supply. In order to reduce expenses and boost services, the company strengthened the car manufacturer’s bidding procedure for carriers, initiating higher specifications on technology, driver certification, safety, time

History - Malthusian Demographics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History - Malthusian Demographics - Essay Example This he said will be due to the fact that resources will no longer be able to sustain the expanded population (Elwell 133). For the balance of the population and the resources to be reached, Malthus proposed certain natural calamities to be vital in this; he said that countries going to war and mass killing being realized were one way of reducing the enormous number of the population that was creating tension on the limited available resources. He also proposed other natural catastrophes like volcanic eruption to be helpful in the checking the population growth rate. The Malthus prediction can be said to have failed since its inception, but that is not all, the problem facing the developing countries currently will certainly lead to the population explosion (Ehrlich, Paul, and Anne 156). In the developing countries, there are massive and unchecked population growth while in the same time the recourses created can not support the population. The rate of population growth in the develo ping countries has immensely contributed to the widespread abject poverty in the region. Even without directly experiencing Malthus projection we can say that the effect of unchecked population is impacting negatively in some parts of the world. One of the salient features of the high population growth rate is the cause of political instability in the countries that are victims of these. In the third world countries, resource distribution is acutely skewed towards the a few individuals that wield political power and have great influence in the country and can marshal resources in their favor to lead opulence life while their subjects are surviving from hand to mouth (Smith 199). This has led to public outcry and has in some unfortunate circumstances led to mass actions in a bid to topple and impeach the existing government for not caring about the common man. It has also led to the formation of the insurgents who antagonizes the government creating political instability. Malthus pro posal may not be realized today but in other ways it can be seen as having come to reality. Haphazard population increase has led reduce wages in the work environment and this has perpetuated poverty in such areas. The relationship between population increase and poverty is very imminent in light of scramble for the few opportunities available. Increase in population numbers provides alternatives manpower since there is more supply than demand and this can only work on reducing the wages of the workers (Malthus 112). The state of population explosion can also lead to high level of unemployment and this impact negatively on the younger generation in which the youths are involved in the law breaking due to frustration a situation refereed to as juvenile delinquency. In his publication ‘Additions to an essay on the principle of population’, Malthus intrinsically evaluated the connection between the global population increase and employment opportunities vis a vis wages com pensation (Malthus 213). In regard to this he did made a hypothesis that the increase in the world population will catalyze poverty introduction as well as low income through wages to the workers. This is because of the readily available workforce. This came to be widely known as ‘The Iron Law of Wages’ (Malthus 246). The exponential population incr

Pharmaceutical Industry Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pharmaceutical Industry - Research Paper Example Insurance companies work by charging a premium for people to use their service, this premium is often paid in part by employers. To reduce their personal risk, insurance companies spread their services over a large group of people. As a consequence, the insurer receives premiums for taking on the risk for the people that it insures, and calculates the number of people in the group such that any losses are covered by the premiums paid by the rest of the group (Casto & Layman, 2006). Medicare works in a similar way, and is so effective as a business model, that private insurance firms base their models off that of Medicare (Bodenheimer et al., 2002). Medicare is a reimbursement system used in hospitals in the United States. It is large, with spending totaling over $11.7 billion in 1999 (Cotterill & Gage, 2002). Medicare is a form of insurance, using contributions from both employers and employees to make part of the premium for individual coverage. In addition, some individuals who do not have health insurance benefits through their jobs pay a direct Medicare premium which is then matched by the government (Casto & Layman, 2006).Payments from Medicare to hospitals are dependent on the number of patients that are being admitted to the hospital (Bodenheimer et al., 2002). Medicare works to provide reimbursement for costs such as per diem fees, but doesn’t take care of start up costs, some physician costs, and there are no bonuses in Medicare subsidies for superior care. From a health care perspective this means that any increase in care comes at the hospitals own cost, and is not reimbursed, and that the best financia l results come from decisions that result in lower health care (Bodenheimer et al., 2002). An important part of determining how to best treat patients is to look at the costs versus level of care. One example of this kind of decision is the instigation of a program that reduces hospital admissions in

Ownership and digital downloads Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ownership and digital downloads - Essay Example They cannot hold any ownership rights other than those of using it. Technology has evolved with high speed and it attracts many people especially the youths who prefer to use online downloads as opposed to tangible sources. As result, people who have produced their content such as books, music and film are attracted to upload their content online for people to buy it and then download it. Sales are better online than on the stores as it is convenient, faster and accessible. The internet provides an easy method of sale but the prices are much lower than those of purchasing a tangible content such as a book, a CD or a tape. Books, CDs and tapes carry ownership rights and can be considered the buyers property as opposed to the online copy which ownership does not leave the copyright. In this case, you cannot be said to own something you cannot show or hold. Thus, the intellectual property belongs to the owner who produced it regardless of the rights granted to the person who downloads the content. Legally, the digital content cannot be bequeathed to other persons as gifts, selling or inheritance unlike tangible content like books which can be given out to siblings, friends or left as inheritance. For instance, if you love reading books and you have a collection of both tangible books and eBooks, you can give out your books or bequeath them in the event of your death but this will not be the case for eBooks. As such any digital content such as eBook, movies, music among other online content does not belong to you even if you have bought it and you reserve no rights over it. This includes even the paid-for digital content. Payment for the downloaded content is meant for enjoyment of privileges associated with reading, watching r listening to it and not for ownership. The copyright is protected by The Copyright Law to prevent users of their content from selling it as their own. Terms and conditions are given to the subscribers of the digital content that apart