Succubus on Top CHAPTER 3

â€Å"You're such a dork, Doug!† â€Å"Fuck, that hurt!† Doug Sato, the other dysfunctional assistant manager here and one of the most entertaining mortals I knew, pulled off the rubber mask he'd been wearing, revealing the beautiful features he'd inherited from his Japanese ancestors. He rubbed his forehead, giving me a wounded scowl. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the mask was not that of a demon but rather Darth Maul from The Phantom Menace. I should have known. No self-respecting demon would have had that many horns. â€Å"What are you doing?† I leaned down to pick up my scattered belongings. â€Å"Halloween was, like, a week ago.† â€Å"Yeah, I know. Everything's on sale. I got this for three dollars.† â€Å"You got ripped off.† â€Å"Boy, you're one to nag, Miss I-Show-Up-When-I-Feel-Like-It. You're lucky it's just me here.† â€Å"Why are you here?† Doug and I held the same position. On days when we overlapped, we usually worked different shifts, not identical ones. It was for the best. We usually distracted each other enough to accomplish the work of one person. Sometimes less. He grabbed the back of the rolling desk chair and impressively flipped his body into it, the impact of which caused the chair to roll half-way across the office. â€Å"Paige called me in. She's sick.† Paige, our manager, was about six months pregnant. â€Å"Is she okay?† â€Å"Dunno. If she gets better, she'll come in later.† He spun around the room a few times, then rolled up to the desk and beat out a fast rhythm on it with his hands. I presumed the cadence was from one of his band's songs. â€Å"Jesus, you're wound up today. You get lucky last night?† â€Å"I get lucky every night, Kincaid.† â€Å"Whatever. Your demon mask was more believable than that.† â€Å"Okay, maybe I'm not getting lucky every night right now, but that's going to change. The group's getting fucking amazing.† â€Å"I've always thought you guys were fucking amazing,† I stated loyally. Doug shook his head, dark eyes almost feverishly bright. â€Å"Oh no. You can't even believe it now. We got this new drummer, and suddenly†¦it's just like, I don't know†¦we're doing things we've never done before.† I frowned. â€Å"Because of one drummer?† â€Å"No, I mean, it's all of us. He's just one of the good things that's happened. It's like†¦everything's just clicking into place. You ever have days like that? When everything is perfect? Well, we're having weeks like that. Songs. Gigs. Style.† His enthusiasm was palpable, and it made me smile. â€Å"We're even playing the Verona.† â€Å"Seriously?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"That's a major venue. I mean, it's not like the Tacoma Dome or anything, but then, they wouldn't let you play there anyway if you didn't have a monster truck worked into the act.† He spun the chair around again. â€Å"You should come see it. A bunch of the other staff is. It'll be the greatest night of your life.† â€Å"I don't know. I've had a lot of great nights.† â€Å"Second best then. Unless you're thinking of joining my groupies. I'd let you be their leader, you know. You could always have first dibs on me.† I rolled my eyes, then turned pensive as the sex jokes reminded me of my recent Seth issues. â€Å"Hey Doug, do you think men and women can date without having sex?† He had been tipping way back in the chair and suddenly snapped forward. â€Å"Oh my God. You are thinking of joining the groupies.† â€Å"I'm serious. Two people dating without sex. Fact or fantasy?† â€Å"Okay, okay. For how long? A week?† â€Å"No. Like, months.† â€Å"Are they Amish?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Are they ugly?† â€Å"Er, no.† â€Å"No.† â€Å"No what?† â€Å"No, they can't do it. Not in this day and age. Why do you want to know?† â€Å"No reason.† He cut me an arch look. â€Å"Of course not.† He didn't know about Seth and me, but he did know me. Our phone's intercom came to life just then, asking for backup on the registers. â€Å"Paper rock scissors?† Doug asked, spinning the chair around again. â€Å"Nah, I'll go. I should make up for my tardiness. Besides, I think you need to come down from your caffeine high. Or your megalomania high. Not sure which.† He flashed me a grin and turned to the paused game of Tetris on our shared computer. Truthfully, I didn't mind going out anyway. I worked for the fun of it, not the money. Immortality was long, and vocation and daily work sort of regulated human existence, even if I wasn't technically human anymore. It just felt right to be doing something, and unlike so many other unfortunate souls in this world, I actually liked what I did for a living. I checked in on Seth a few times as I worked throughout the day, drank a lot of white-chocolate mochas, and dealt with what was becoming a heavy flow of business as the holiday season grew ever closer. At one point, I finally did have to pull Doug out with me. I found him in our office, still playingTetris. I opened my mouth to make a joke about his work ethic and then caught sight of the computer screen. He played Tetris on a regular basis, so I was familiar with the game and his prowess, but what I saw now blew my mind. His score was the highest I'd ever seen, and he was at such an advanced level now that the pieces zoomed down the screen. I couldn't follow them. Yet, he caught and placed them all, never missing a beat. â€Å"My God,† I muttered. There was no way his hands and reflexes could be responding like that. The computer would probably implode at any moment. â€Å"I guess everything really is clicking into place for you lately. â€Å" He laughed, either at my pun or my astonishment. â€Å"Need me out there?† â€Å"Yeah†¦though it seems so wasteful now compared to this†¦mastery. Like interrupting Michelangelo.† Doug shrugged obligingly, shut down the game, and followed me out. I think the computer was relieved. He and I worked together cheerfully for the rest of my shift. His good mood over the band's success kept him chipper and lively, making the day fly by. When it was time for me to go, I offered to close for him since he'd had to come in unexpectedly early. He waved me off. â€Å"Forget about it. Go do something fun tonight.† As I was leaving the store, I passed a rack of magazines and saw a copy of the latest issue of American Mystery. In big letters, one of the headlines read: Cady and O'Neill Return! Seth Mortensen gives us an exclusive novella. Eek. What a bad girlfriend I was. Seth had told me about this story's upcoming appearance, and I'd completely forgotten about it. It had just come out yesterday. Apparently being with him regularly was distracting me from his art. Before the publication of his last novel, I'd literally marked off days on my calendar until its release. Longing washed over me, but I knew I couldn't read this story tonight. Bastien had left me a cell phone message saying he'd stop by my place later, and I had a feeling he'd distract me for most of the evening. Tomorrow, I promised myself. I'd read the story tomorrow. I'd just settled in back home when Bastien showed up bearing Thai food. â€Å"How was the literary world today?† he asked as we had a picnic on my living room floor. Aubrey watched sharply from a discreet distance, her eyes fixed covetously on a container of green curry. Pad Thai did nothing for her. â€Å"Weird,† I reflected, recalling sleeping in late, Doug's behavior, and the frenetic pace of early holiday shopping. â€Å"Yours?† It was clear from his expression he'd been dying to tell me this from the moment he'd cleared my door. â€Å"Fantastic. I moved into the house today. You should see the neighborhood. It's the American Dream and then some. Big appliances. Manicured lawns. Three-car garages.† â€Å"Three cars? Do you even have a car?† â€Å"Sure do. Company car.† â€Å"Hmphf. No one ever gave me a company car.† â€Å"That's because you aren't on the verge of the Seduction of the Century. I even met her already.† â€Å"Dana?† â€Å"First day, and she comes to me! Can you believe it? It's like I don't even have to do anything. This operation just runs itself. I am its tool. Its plaything even – or rather, Dana's plaything.† â€Å"I don't know about that,† I noted dryly, â€Å"unless you're going to add that she jumped on you and ripped your clothes off today too.† â€Å"Well, no. She actually just came by to welcome me to the neighborhood. But, she did also invite me to a party she's hosting. ‘A Barbecue in November.' Charming, huh?† â€Å"Adorable. Nothing I love better than eating hot dogs in the cold.† He elbowed me. â€Å"It's a theme, Fleur . It's fun. And it's all indoors. You know, you're turning into a regular cynic lately.† â€Å"Not cynical. Just still skeptical of this whole thing. It seems overly elaborate for what it is. A lot of work for one lay.† â€Å"One lay?† He tsked me and shook his head. â€Å"Let me see your laptop.† I retrieved it from my bedroom and returned to find Aubrey licking the edges of my plate. I shooed her away and handed Bastien the computer. A few quick clicks, and he soon had the Committee for the Preservation of Family Values' website open. Dana's organization. Most of her radio broadcasts were archived and available for download. He picked one, and we finished the rest of our meal to the sound of her rich, melodic voice. The first broadcast concerned homosexuality. The CPFV maintained an appearance of sugarcoated goodness, a desire to help people and improve American life. Consequently, because being openly racist or sexist was not good for one's image anymore, the organization only espoused views slanted in those directions in subtle ways. Blatantly condemning homosexuality, however, was not entirely taboo yet – unfortunately – and the bulk of this broadcast involved Dana oozing on about the importance of â€Å"helping† those people to understand the true way both nature and God intended love to be. Toleration of such misguided lifestyles, she claimed, would lead to a breakdown in our families. The children. For God's sake, think of the children. Her next broadcast damned the abominable state of today's clothing. School uniforms and fashion censoring were the only ways to go. How could we expect young girls to grow up with any self-respect when they walked around dressed like sluts? It led to sexual acts they weren't ready for, not to mention instilling in them the idea that their value came from appearance, not character. I thought of the lacy purple thong I wore under my jeans just then. What was wrong with character and sex appeal? The third one we listened to concerned the futility of teaching teenagers about safe sex and contraception. Abstinence training was the way to go. Keep them in pure ignorance. End of story. â€Å"Enough,† I said at that point. Her shallow, prejudiced values cloaked in so-called love and kindness unsettled the food in my stomach. Bastien grinned. â€Å"Still think it's just one lay?† I stretched back on my carpet, resting my feet on his lap. He massaged them for me. â€Å"I hate hypocrites, good or evil. Doesn't matter what they're touting.† â€Å"You should hear some of her background, some of the past issues she's advocated for with her group. Lovely stuff there – I researched her all day. I can pull it up for you. â€Å" I held up a hand. â€Å"No, please. I believe you. The bitch must fall, okay? If I had a sword, I'd tap your shoulders and send you off with my blessings.† He lay down beside me. â€Å"Well, why don't you take a front-row seat then? Come to the party with me. I'm sure no one would mind if Mitch brought his sister.† â€Å"Party on the Eastside? My blessing only goes so far.† â€Å"Oh, come on. Admit it. You have a perverse desire to meet her in the flesh. Besides, it's been a while since you've seen me in action. You might pick up on a few things. Get some pointers.† Laughing, I rolled over on my side to better study him. â€Å"Like I need pointers from you.† He rolled to his side as well, smirking. â€Å"Yeah? Then prove it. Let's go out tonight. Let's go hunting.† My smile diminished. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Just like the old days. We'll find some club, work up a sweat, then tag respective fixes for the night.† Bittersweet memories flashed into my brain, recalling the French cabarets of the nineteenth century. Bastien and I would go out in fine form, separate, and meet back in the morning to laugh and brag about our conquests. The game no longer held much appeal. â€Å"I don't do that anymore. I told you that.† â€Å"Yeah, but you've still got to survive.† â€Å"I am surviving. I got a fix just a couple days ago. I'm set for a while. â€Å" Bastien scowled. â€Å"A few days ago? Bleh. This writer guy's making you boring. â€Å" â€Å"Hey, it has nothing to do with him. It's my choice.† â€Å"Sure.† â€Å"What's with the tone?† â€Å"Not sure. I mean, I thought the whole writer-dating thing was amusing at first – even if he seems kind of dull and will probably only end up causing you pain. But now I'm starting to think it's indicative of a larger issue with you. I mean, there's the whole nice guy hang-up to begin with. Then you're, what? An assistant manager at a bookstore? Not to mention the fact that you have a cat.† Aubrey glared, and so did I. â€Å"There's nothing wrong with having a cat. And Seth isn't dull.† â€Å"I suppose you'd know better. He just didn't really strike me as much, that's all. If you wanted to obsess about a mortal, I could find you a better one.† â€Å"I don't want a better one. I mean, there is no better one. I want him.† â€Å"Suit yourself. You're just becoming ordinary, that's all. You used to be extraordinary.† â€Å"Ouch. All this because I won't go out with you tonight?† Bastien shrugged. â€Å"Okay then. We'll go. But no victim for me.† â€Å"Fair enough.† We went down to a club in Pioneer Square, both of us groomed to the kind of sexy, beautiful perfection that only an incubus and a succubus could achieve. I had pulled my hair up in messy, sex-kitten glory and wore a baby blue tank top with a V-neck that almost went to my belly button. The opening was covered in very sheer lace and made wearing a bra utterly pointless. So I didn't. The tension between us evaporated as we hit the dance floor. The rhythm pulsed through me, the movement and sweat intoxicating. Bastien and I danced together for a while, both of us aware of the admirers we drew, even in a packed room like this. Physical attraction was about so much more than just superficial appearance. It was about eye contact, outgoingness, and movement too. Incubi and succubi learn this early on, and the good ones move with a grace few mortals can match. I, who had danced well before becoming a succubus, knew I was among the best when it came to body language. Watching us was irresistible. A turn-on in itself. After a while, we split up. The results of the succubus game distressed me sometimes, but the game itself was fun. Very fun. I moved from partner to partner, thriving on the effect I created, on the desire I could see mounting in those whose bodies mine toyed with. It was why, despite my frequent bitching, I had given up my mortal soul for this vocation. I confess, that the thought of going home with someone grew tantalizing, my body warming to the idea of someone's hands upon me, but then I thought about Seth and his determined adherence to the arrangement we'd entered into. No. No superfluous victims for me tonight. I could be good. I wanted to be good. I'd wait until I actually needed a recharge. From across the room, Bastien inclined his head to me when he left the club, his arm around a small, entranced blonde. When he turned, I noticed a brunette in his other arm. Overachiever. It was two in the morning when I finally made it home. I woke aching and tired the next day, the weather making me feel worse. Rain formed a steady gray curtain as I walked to work. Everything seemed colder. I had been raised in a warm Mediterranean climate; I could never quite accept these kinds of temperatures. When I showed up at the bookstore, it had once again opened without me. Oddly, though, despite exactly the same staff working today, I didn't get the same boisterous greetings as yesterday. Casey and Janice, on the registers, paused in their work to watch me walk in, their expressions enigmatic. Janice leaned over, murmuring something in the other woman's ear. When they noticed my curious look, they both forced smiles. â€Å"Hey, Georgina.† â€Å"Hey,† I responded, puzzled and slightly uncomfortable. Passing by the information desk a moment later, I found Beth regarding me with an equally peculiar look. â€Å"How's it going?† I asked when she didn't say anything. â€Å"Fine.† She hastily turned to the computer screen in front of her. Now, I'd been subjected to my share of strange looks upon coming into work before, but this was weird even for me. Sometimes, after being with a lover, their absorbed life energy gave me a glamour that unconsciously attracted mortals. It was the same glow that Hugh had teased me about during poker. That was not to blame now, however. My last fix, as I'd told Bastien, had occurred a few days ago. The glow would have weakened by now. Besides, I know entranced looks when I saw them. These were not it. These were curious, what-is-she-doing looks. The kind of looks you get when you have food on your face or a missing button. The likelihood of either of those seemed low, but I ducked into the restroom anyway, just to check. Nope. Flawless. A long denim skirt and a navy, off-the-shoulder sweater. Both smooth and perfect. Makeup in place. Unbound hair hanging to the bottom of my shoulder blades. A typical look for me. Nothing to warrant this attention. Assuming I was reading too much into things, I continued on to thecafe,getting a friendly nod from Seth as he worked in his corner. At least he was behaving normally. A new barista bustled at the espresso bar, and she nearly dropped the cups she held upon seeing me. â€Å"H-hi,† she stammered out, wide-eyed, looking me over from head-to-toe. â€Å"Hi,† I returned. This woman didn't even know me. Why was she acting weirdly too? â€Å"Medium white-chocolate mocha.† It took her a moment to churn into action, writing my order on a cup. As she rang it up at the register, she asked curiously, â€Å"You're Georgina, right?† â€Å"Um, yeah. Why?† â€Å"Just heard of you, that's all.† She looked back down. She said no more to me after that, simply making and handing me the mocha. Taking it, I walked over to Seth and sat across from him. The barista continued watching us with interest, though she immediately turned away upon catching my eye. â€Å"Hey,† Seth greeted me, eyes and fingers busy. â€Å"Hey,† I returned. â€Å"Everyone's acting really weird today.† He glanced up. â€Å"Are they?† I immediately recognized the thrall he fell into when his writing seized him. He became even more distracted and scattered than usual under such conditions. A succubus should be so lucky to have that kind of effect on a man. â€Å"Yeah. Have you noticed anything? I feel like people are staring at me.† He shook his head, stifling a yawn before returning to typing. â€Å"Things seem the same to me. I like your sweater. Maybe it's that.† â€Å"Maybe,† I conceded, slightly mollified by the compliment, even if I didn't believe it. Not wanting to distract him further, I stood up and stretched. â€Å"I should get back to work.† Glancing over at the espresso bar, I noticed Andy, one of the cashiers, buying coffee. â€Å"There!† I hissed to Seth. â€Å"Did you see that?† â€Å"See what?† â€Å"Andy just smirked.† â€Å"No he didn't.† â€Å"He did. I swear it.† When I went downstairs, back to the main part of the store, I passed Warren. Mid-fifties and strikingly handsome, the store's morally questionable owner had once been a regular for me before I'd promised Jerome I'd go back to seducing good men. Warren and I had not had sex in some time. Considering my current regiment of decent souls, I kind of missed having an occasional guilt-free one. â€Å"Hello, Georgina.† I was relieved to see he at least didn't give me any of those gaping looks. â€Å"Been up talking to Mortensen, I presume?† â€Å"Yes,† I agreed, wondering if I was going to be chastised for not getting to work right away. â€Å"Pity you had to take the stairs. We do have an elevator, you know. â€Å" Now I stared open-mouthed. Of course we had an elevator. It was key operated, there for handicapped customers and shipment transport, and was almost never used otherwise. â€Å"Yes. I know that.† Warren winked at me and continued on his way upstairs. â€Å"Just making sure.† Shaking my head, I went back to the main floor and took over a register, giving Andy his lunch break. Janice and Casey remained stiff with me at first, eventually warming somewhat as time progressed. Other staff, moving in and out around me, continued to give me wondering looks, occasionally whispering to each other when they thought I wouldn't notice. When Seth passed by at one point to tell me he had to run errands but would see me later, I thought Beth – dropping off a book – might pass out. â€Å"All right,† I exclaimed once Seth was gone, â€Å"what's going on here?† Casey, Beth, and Janice all turned sheepish. â€Å"Nothing, Georgina, honest.† Beth gave me what was apparently supposed to be a winning smile. The others remained silent, faces perfectly innocent, nigh angelic. I didn't believe any of it, of course. Something weird was going on. Weirder than usual. I needed answers, and there was only one person in the store candid enough to give them to me. Shutting down my register, I stormed back to my office where Doug sat occupied by the computer. Bursting in, I opened my mouth, ready to rant and rave. He jumped about two feet in the air at my sudden arrival, reflexes kicking in with astonishing speed so as not to slosh coffee from the cup he had just raised to his lips. There was a funny look on his face, almost like guilt. No doubt another Tetris game was in progress. But it wasn't that that delayed my tirade. A strange feeling was creeping along my flesh – a feeling that brushed my immortal senses, rather than the usual five that accompanied a human body. It felt weird, almost uncomfortable. Like nails raking down a chalkboard. Nothing I could identify or had even ever felt before. I looked around the room, half-expecting to find another immortal lurking, even though that strange sensation didn't quite touch me like the signature I'd usually feel off of an individual. Doug drank from the cup and then set it down, watching me with bemused calmness. â€Å"Something I can help you with, Kincaid?† Blinking, I gave the office another once-over and then shook my head. The feeling disappeared. What the hell? I could have blamed it on stress-induced imagination, but after over a millennium of succubus life, I doubted my immortal senses would start falling prey to hallucinations now. And yet the only thing in here that could possibly be construed as supernatural or divine was Doug's Tetris mastery. That, I thought wryly, had more to do with hours of skirting work than any sort of magic. Remembering my righteous fury, I pushed aside that momentary weirdness and ratcheted my anger back up to the other weirdness in my life. â€Å"What the fuck is going on?† I exclaimed, slamming the door. â€Å"My sweet Tetriss kills?† â€Å"No! With everyone! Why is everyone treating me so strangely today? They keep staring at me like I'm a freak or something.† Doug's expression stayed baffled, and then I saw understanding flood his face. â€Å"Ah. That. You really don't know?† I could have grabbed his neck and shook him. â€Å"Of course I don't know! What's going on?† Casually, he moved some papers around on the desk and lifted up a copy of American Mystery. â€Å"You read Seth's story yet?† â€Å"I haven't had time.† He tossed me the magazine. â€Å"Do it. Go take your dinner break somewhere – not here – and read. I won't leave until you get back.† Looking at the time, I realized his shift was nearly over. â€Å"But what's that got to do with – â€Å" He held up a hand to silence me. â€Å"Just read it. Now.† Scowling, I took the magazine and left the store, settling myself at one of my favoritecafesdown the street. With clam chowder secured, I turned to the first page, wondering what in the world Doug expected me to find. As Seth had explained a few weeks ago, the story was more of a self-contained mystery, dealing little with the overarching psychology and development of his characters. Cady and O'Neill worked for a fictitious institute based out of Washington, D.C., one that researched and secured archaeological and artistic relics. Thus, the two often found themselves liberating art from international thieves or uncovering mysterious code on a piece of pottery. In traditionally gendered styles, Bryant O'Neill worked as a sort of field agent, doing most of the physical work, getting into a lot of fist-fights and whatnot. Demure Nina Cady focused on the research, often staying up late to unravel some key piece of evidence in an ancient text. This particular story contained a lot of those same elements, but like always, Seth's beautiful writing and quick, witty dialogue kept the material captivating. In another trend consistent with his characters' behavior, O'Neill almost always got involved with some beautiful woman, though Seth's last book had turned this pattern on its head, letting Cady finally see some action. The story I read today fell into old ways, and O'Neill, in his ever suave manner, made the moves on a stunning museum curator: Genevieve sauntered through the halls, a queen among subjects, surveying people and displays with both calculation and command. With those green-flecked hazel eyes, she put him in mind of a cat sizing up its next meal. He felt exactly like prey as she paused in front of him, favoring him with a languid look that oozed over his body, her tongue lightly moistening bee-stung lips. Oh God, to be a mouse, he thought. â€Å"Mr. O'Neill,† she purred, brushing a lock of that shining hair away from her face. Faint streaks of honey laced those pale brown strands, like gold veins in ore. He wanted to bury his face in it. He wanted to taste it. â€Å"You're late.† Despite nearly a foot separating their heights, he felt like the underling here, like he should do penance for his tardiness and kneel in her presence. Not that he would mind that so much, he decided, trying not to stare at the way her dress's thin material molded itself to her hips and full breasts. Those breasts, he decided, were perfect. Definitely impressive in size, but not grotesquely out of control. And their shape†¦ah, even a master sculptor could never have duplicated those exquisite curves†¦ Realizing she expected a response, he filed his base thoughts away under L for Later and gave her an unruffled smile. â€Å"My apologies.† Now probably wasn't the time to mention the attack back at his hotel. â€Å"But I never rush anything. At least not when a woman's involved. â€Å" With that being only the mildest of the suggestive dialogue, I wasn't surprised when things escalated between them near the end of the story. After all, I thought dryly, it wouldn't be a true Cady and O'Neill experience if someone didn't score. And man, did he score. The feline comparisons were right on because Genevieve was a cat in heat. She ended up tying O'Neill up in an elevator, performing an array of kinky acts on him that made even me raise an eyebrow. I was surprised American Mystery hadn't edited them out, though I'd be lying if I said it wasn't sort of a turn-on to realize such sordidness had come from mild, complacent – Elevator? We do have an elevator, you know, Warren had told me. Light brown hair. Hazel-green eyes. Petite. Nice breasts. â€Å"Ahh!† I cried, dropping the magazine as if it might bite me. It landed next to my now-empty bowl, and a passing waitress gave me a startled look. Hastily leaving a wad of cash on the table, I grabbed my coat and purse and sprinted back to the bookstore. Doug was still playing Tetris in our office, but I was too upset to speculate much on what was again an amazing performance. All those looks. The whispers and smirks. It all made sense now. â€Å"They think it's me!† I told him, making him jump for the second time that day.† Genevieve. They all think I'm some sort of horny, rope-wielding, elevator-fetish dominatrix!† Doug raised an eyebrow. â€Å"You mean you aren't?†

Internal Business Process Perspective

Internal Business Process Prospective BUS 499 – Strategic Management Module 3 Case February 1, 2013 Duke Children’s Hospital fell into a crisis within the mid-1990s. Expenses were rising while dramatic reductions in net margin were occurring. Staff productivity fell and staff satisfaction was at an all-time low. They overcame the crisis by implementing the balanced scorecard. Their way of designing their scorecard catered to their business in healthcare. The higher officials of Duke Children’s Hospital made a three-step process in designing their balanced scorecard. The three steps of proven rapid-fire approach are to: get connected, get results, and get smarter† (Meliones, 2001). Step one consisted of establishing key linkages. By linking the mission, strategy, objectives, targets, key performance indicators, and initiatives across the organization, stakeholders within the hospital were able to stay on the same end goals. Each stakeholder was given informa tion to diagnose opportunities for improvement. There were three vital areas that helped the scorecard stay connected. Key performance indicators linked the business and clinical aspects of healthcare.Staff satisfaction was related to preserving or increasing quality of care. Regulatory area maintained the compliance of laws and procedures within the organization. Step two consisted of analyzing performance to get results. Data was collected to enhance the productivity and satisfaction of stakeholders within the hospital. The goal was to â€Å"improve performance in stakeholders while enhancing quality† (Meliones, 2001). This affects the customer perspective by increasing customer satisfaction. The key factor to help analyze data and improve efficiency was to implement new technology.By supplementing telephone calls with fax and email and setting up automated notifications, the â€Å"total denials decreased from fifteen percent to less than one percent† (Meliones, 2001 ). Step three consisted of gaining knowledge and strategic control of your organization by getting smarter. New ideas and approaches result in making new connections. The scorecard was updated accordingly to maintain the key goals. By implementing the balances scorecard, the hospital was able to track stakeholder’s performance data while keeping an eye on the effects of the business process.Each stakeholder was analyzed with their own data instead of looking at the department as a whole. This stopped stakeholders from pointing fingers at one another when a mistake within the department was made. Physicians, clinicians, and nurses were tracked in an integrated matrix to optimize performance. The balanced scorecard focused on the internal business process of â€Å"operations management, customer management, innovation, and regulatory and social clusters† (Niven, 2010). By making certain stakeholders adjust their performance according to data, an increase in productivity was accomplished in an intelligent matter.By increasing efficiency without compromising quality, cost per case was reduced and patient satisfaction increased. Duke Children’s Hospital became a well-known treatment center for children. Within the customer management, prospective patients were wooed by the increase in acknowledgements and success of the hospital. This may have helped gain and attract new customers. Innovation was a big factor within Duke Children’s hospital. Officials implemented â€Å"the use of technology to turn data into information† (Meliones).By updating their system of keeping track of financial and customer data, shareholders performance and satisfaction increased while gaining efficiency throughout the internal process. The regulatory and social perspective was readily focused in their step one of implementing their balanced scorecard. The hospital was ready to â€Å"facilitate regulatory compliance as a collateral benefit of routine cli nical practice† (Meliones, 2001). Employees of Duke Children’s hospital were the main characters affected within the change of the internal business perspective.Before the balanced scorecard was implemented, staff productivity was in decline and staff satisfaction was at an all-time low. The positive shift in staff satisfaction and productivity was seen after the step one and two of implementing the scorecard. Employees were connected with the same mission and strategy of the whole organization. After analyzing their performance results, stakeholders were able to improve the way they work and handle patients. Clinicians, physicians, and nurses were able to provide quality clinical care without dramatically affecting the financial performance.This aligned each stakeholder within the system into a single platform. The key was â€Å"to identify the key drivers of their performance and implement initiatives to optimize them† (Meliones, 2001). The customers of Duke Ch ildren’s hospital saw a major change in efficiency within the organization. Without cutting staff, the hospital was able to â€Å"improve their performance while enhancing quality† (Meliones, 2001). By implementing a new system of records, patients were able to pay bills on time without suffering through denial claims. Automatic reports gave patients the qualitative data they needed to for physicians and nurses to evaluate.The hospital was able to work in sync to provide excellent care for new patients. Duke Children’s hospital did a superb job in implementing, planning, and executing their transition to the balance scorecard. Officials of the hospital knew they had a crisis within their hands. If they did not change their ways, the future of the hospital would be at stake. By planning a three-step process of shifting their strategic management, officials were able to improve all perspectives within the hospital. â€Å"The cost per case was reduced from $14,889 to $10,500† (Meliones, 2001).This resulted in a $30 million reduction in cost within four years. The net margin shifted into the positive by $4 million from a previously negative $11 million, all within four years. Productivity and staff satisfaction grew to elevating levels. The significant transition of the hospital is clear evidence that the implemented scorecard positively changed the hospital. The three-step process was the framework that guided their goals. The strategy of Duke Children’s hospital should be guidance for all businesses in any industry to accept and try the balanced scorecard management system. ReferencesCQI (2012) Introduction to Quality. The Chartered Quality Institute. Retrieved August 24, 2012, from http://www. thecqi. org/Knowledge-Hub/Resources/Factsheets/Introduction-to-quality/ Meliones, Jon N. ; Ballard, Richard; Liekweg, Richard; & Burton, William (2001, April). No mission () no margin: It's that simple. Journal of Health Care. 27(3): 21- 30. Retrieved May 17, 2010, from the library: https://coursenet. trident. edu Niven, P. (N. D. ) Internal Process perspective. EPM Review. Retrieved May 17, 2010, from http://www. epmreview. com/Resources/Articles/InternalProcess-Perspective. html

A Comparison Between ‘Requiem For The croppies’ And ‘The Tollund Man’, both by Seamus Heaney

Seamus Heany is a poet, born in Northern Ireland in 1939. He currently divides his time between his home in Dublin and Harvard University, where he is ‘Emerson poet in residence'. Heaney's poems are rarely political but two poems which comment indirectly on sectarian violence are ‘Requiem For The Croppies'- written in 1966, and ‘The Tollund Man' which was published in 1972. Each poem is inspired by the past but is revolving to the recent troubles. Heaney was awarded the ‘Nobel Prize for Literature' in 1995. ‘Requiem For The Croppies' was written in 1966 to mark the anniversary of the Easter rising (the Easter rising refers to a rebellion against the British by the catholic Irish which brought about the civil war.). The poem tells of an earlier rebellion of the Irish against the protestant British in 1798 and how this rebellion can be linked to the Easter rising and current sectarian violence in Ireland. Heany writes the poem in the first person, as if he were one of the croppies; a peasant youth rebelling against the protestant British who are running catholic Ireland. ‘The Tollund Man' is another of Heaney's poems in which he comments indirectly on the sectarian violence in Ireland. This poem was written after Heaney was inspired by a book by P.V Glob which features recently discovered two-thousand year old bodies, which had been perfectly preserved in a peat bog in Denmark. This poem opens with the poet, Heany, saying how he would like to visit the body of ‘The Tollund Man' at a museum in Aarhus, Denmark; something he actually did in 1973. ‘Requiem For The Croppies' opens with the lines: ‘The pockets of our greatcoats full of barley – No kitchens on the run, no striking camp- We moved quick and sudden in our own country', This refers to how the croppies, a small unprepared army of catholic Irish citizens, marched across a land they believed to have been theirs. These lines describe how the croppies filled their pockets with barley for food as they had no travelling kitchen or organised meal arrangements. The poem tells how war is a great equaliser among men. In 1798, classes rarely mingled with each other, however, these men are all fighting for the same cause and so see each other as equals and sleep together, as told in line four: ‘The priest lay behind ditches with the tramp'. The fact that a priest is fighting the war also gave the Catholics moral legitimacy. The croppies appeared as hikers to passing folk, they did not march as it was an informal undisciplined army. The croppies had small victories fuelled by spontaneity The word ‘until' shows the sudden pivot of luck in the croppies tale; the rebels were slain on the Vinegar Hill in what Heaney described as ‘the fatal conclave'. ‘Terraced thousands died, shaking scythes at cannon. The hillside blushed, soaked in our broken wave.' These lines describe just how pathetic the weapons of the rebels were compared to those of the British. The Irish rebels had scythes to defend themselves in battle, which were generally no match for a prepared army with cannons. And so, the rebels, fighting in rows side-by-side (like terraces), were slaughtered. The idea of the ‘blushing' hillside, gives the idea of how blood was spilt on the land and giving it the red, ‘blushing' appearance. The croppies were buried without ‘shroud or coffin'; this explains how the croppies were given a mass burial with no ceremony or funeral rites which is very important to the catholic religion. ‘The barley grew up out of the grave. This line has a lot of meaning in the poem, the croppies were buried in the clothing they wore and the barley from their coats literally took root and grew, this implies that you can defeat an army but the spirit of resistance lives on. ‘The Tollund Man' is divided into three parts. The first part of the poem opens with: ‘Some day I will go to Aarhus To see his peat-brown head, The mild pods of his eyelids, His pointed skin cap. This first verse expresses Heaney's wish to visit the Tollund man in Aarhus, Denmark, he has only seen photographs of the body and wants to see it in person. Heany describes the ‘Tollund man' as having a ‘peat-brown head' this is because when the body was discovered the skin was stained brown from the peat. The ‘mild pods of his eyelids' refers to just how well the body had been preserved (the Tollund man still had his hair, teeth and eyes, as well as the contents of his stomach, perfectly preserved (‘the last gruel of winter seeds caked in his stomach)). Heaney then says how he would stand in awe of the body, full of reverence, if he were able to visit it (I will stand a long time, bridegroom to the goddess'). In the fourth verse of the first section Heaney describes the Tollund Man's death quite sexually; ‘She tightened her torc on him, And opened her fen, Those dark juices working him To a saints kept body' This is Heaney's way of describing the Tollund man's execution (a sacrificial ritual to the pagan god of fertility, Nerthus). The Tollund Man's neck was broken in a vice (tightening the torc) and he was buried in the peat bog (‘opened her fen') where he sank deeper into the peat to be preserved perfectly for two thousand years (‘those dark juices working him to a saint's kept body). The final verse closes with Heany commenting on how valuable the find was to the archaeologists and now the mud stained face ‘reposes' at Aarhus. Part two of this poem is about four catholic brothers who were ambushed by protestant men. The brothers were tied to the back of a train and dragged to their death over several miles of train line, parts of their bodies were found up and down the line including teeth and patches of skin. Heany says that if it were possible to bring the brothers back to life by risking blasphemy and praying to the Tollund man, then he would do so. The third section of this poem discusses Heaney's journey to Aarhus. He will feel estranged because of ‘language barriers' but at home because he can link the death of the Tollund Man to the deaths of people in his homeland, both die for their religion. ‘Requiem for the croppies' is in Miltonic sonnet format, it comprises of fourteen lines in an octave plus sestet format. The poem also features a complex rhyme scheme of ABABCDCD EFEFEF. The dashes on the third line regarding the croppies' feeding habits add parenthesis (conversation aside). Heany uses a few metaphors (e.g. ‘terraced thousands' ‘hillside blushed') to add imagery to this piece of writing and the antithesis of ‘shaking scythes at cannon' is a good contrast to use when comparing the weak to the strong. ‘The Tollund Man' is written in a conversational tone and comprises of several quatrains per section and it has no rhyme scheme. The poem uses metaphors to describe the shape of the eyes; ‘pods' allows the reader to visualise a thin layer containing some sort of round object e.g. a pea pod. The paradox ‘unhappy and at home' is an ironic paradox relating to his how he has become accustomed to killing around him yet it still makes him sad to know it is going on. The oxymoron ‘sad freedom' is ironic because you wouldn't tend to use two words which involve opposite emotions to be next to each other in descriptive writing. I prefer ‘Requiem for the Croppies' because I find it more dramatic and moving. The pivot in the story adds a thrill to the tale and it is not as long and cryptic as ‘The Tollund Man'.

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Teachnology and Business Management - Research Paper Example In the first part is presented the definition of BPM and its road-map. After is presented the definition of information technology . By introducing the main characteristics of the IT is shown how IT can enable the BPM. Finally will be presented a real case-study of a BPM solution implementation. Technology and Business Management Today’s organizations are confronted with the need of improving the business management. Under these conditions, the traditional management approaches that focus on financial figures are being substituted for new and more developed practices. The performance is related to the efficiency of an organization to meet their goals. With the evolution it?s expected to develop practices that reduce the errors by improving standardization and automation of the activities. The Business Performance Management appears as a very developed approach. It’s important to understand how the technology can enable this practice. The choice of the proper tool and te chnology in a BPM solution is critical to the success of the operation. The improvements related to the information technologies seems to serve and meet the BPM goals. The main purpose of this article is to prove how IT enables the BPM. How the report will achieve the purpose? The report will provide a summary of BPM definition and goals; After will be presented the BPM road-map in order to prove how closely the BPM process is within the automation process; After proving this, is presented the IT definition; After is shown how the IT and BPM converges into similar lines; Finally is presented a case-study. Business Performance Management ( BPM) A business process is a set of activities which are defined in order to reach a specific organizational goal. The Business performance management (BPM) is a systematic approach of the Business management. The main goals of BPM are: reduce human error and miscommunication, focus stakeholders on the requirements of their roles and on making an o rganization's workflow more effective, more efficient and more capable of adapting to an ever-changing environment. In general BPM is developed within three types of frameworks: Vertical, Horizontal and Full-service BPM. Horizontal BPM is related to the the development of business process and the technology application. On the other hand the Vertical BPM is focused on coordinating of a specific set of activities. The Full-service BPM deals with five basic tasks: process discovering, process modeling, business procedures, workflow and finally testing. BPM is several times linked within the information technology(IT) and it has increased the demand for IT services. The concern with the business process optimization is not recent. It has been developed since the industrial revolution. In the last decade the notion of business process optimization is intrinsically related to the BPM. The BPM provides flexible business process therefore the business process became dynamic and adaptable w hen confronted with changes. The BPM is a powerful tool for an organization. It promotes the continuous operational improvement and the cost reduction cost through continued process improvement and automation. The main difference between BPM and traditional process management approaches is the focus on customer value. The main goals of a BPM solution are related to the optimization and automation of the process outcomes, the rapid response to a business event, delivery ( in real-time) new

US Economic Policy Essay Example for Free

US Economic Policy Essay The United States of America is one of the richest nations of the world, with nearly a fifth of the world’s Gross Domestic Product emerging in the country. The US has the highest level of output in the world. The total GDP in the country in 2006 was 13. 2 trillion dollars. With a population now reaching 300 million people, the per capita income in the US now is nearly 45000 dollars per annum. In the last three years however, there have been concerns voiced about the health of the economy. The chief concerns have been in the housing market, which many feel has been overvalued. The savings rate has been coming down and therefore impacting the growth rate negatively. Also the US budget has now seen a deficit on the current account as revenue expenditure has been growing faster than revenue growth. The deficit might get worse later in 2007 as the economy weakens further. Wage costs have traditionally been high, and in a tight situation have increased even more causing some amounts of inflation. The Economic Intelligence Unit of the Economist has highlighted these problems faced by the US economy in recent times and also pointed to the falling exchange rate of the dollar with respect to the Euro as an indicator of the weakening American economy. The special report of the EIU released in August 2007 points out to the fact that the emergence of the European and Asian economies in the past have led to a fall in the pivotal importance the US economy had in the world economy. The report points to the recession in the US economy leading to a likely fall in growth rates in the country in 2008 and onwards. It is in this context that it becomes important to look at the state of the economy in the US in the past three years. In the past, the US economy had been doing well, despite the slowdowns seen in the rest of the developed world. With low interest rates, high employment levels and a strong construction sector, the economy had seen balanced economic growth with a robust export performance in the decade of the nineties. Right at the outset it will be important to underline the role played by the free market operating in a democratic context. The US has remained wedded to the concept of a free market economy governed under unwavering democratic principles. This has allowed a strong civil rights movement to flourish, consumer lobbies to argue strongly for anti monopolistic practices and a competition regulatory mechanism in place. It is indeed this fundamental strength that allows the US to remain the world’s most powerful economy in the democratic framework it works on and the political freedom the constitution guarantees. It is political freedom that enables the optimal use of resources in any country. Interest groups exert pressure on governments and ensure widespread and sustainable growth. Free market based economies like the US work on the principles of rule of law, property rights and enforcement of contracts. This way growth is robust and is not vulnerable to shocks that are inherent in a globalized world. Lipset (1959) and Sen (1999) have argued that it is democracy that fosters economic growth across the world. Foreign trade and exchange rates After joining NAFTA, in its 1994 version and now with the revised agreement, the US economy is now increasingly integrated with the North American economy. As a result any slowdown in the US economy have been balanced out by the growth seen in Canada and in Mexico. The economic policy in recent times is characterized by a relatively stable prime interest rate, the exchange rate falling gradually and a healthy foreign exchange reserve. With healthy increase in exports of more than 11% last year, US external trade is critical to the economy and that is the most important reason for the monetary policy aimed at keeping the dollar a floating currency. A free float enables a currency to absorb shock. And countries that are so clearly exposed to external shocks need to be able to cushion external changes. Historically, the US’ monetary policy as regards the currency rate has been one where the state intervened in currency transactions and the central bank monitored the exchange rate. However this has now changed and the exchange rate regime follows a true floating mechanism that would change with the market situation as regards imports and exports. In the year 2006 past, the trade deficit in trade in goods and merchandise has reached US$838bn in 2006. This is primarily on account of the huge trade deficit with China, and this could give rise to some protectionism in the US economy. The cheaper local currency that is being seen now will encourage exports and discourage imports taking the trade deficit towards a positive value. Monetary policy Monetary policy is often a toll that is defined and determined by the inflation rate. In democratic countries, price rise is often politically unacceptable especially with frequent elections. Hence the central bank and the treasury tend to keep a close watch on the inflation and on the customer price index. On this front, the US economy has performed well with modest inflation helped by an interest rate that is stable. The low inflation rate might have an impact on domestic demand, as the aggregate supply curve would tend to flatten given stable prices. Also with a low unemployment rate and stable salary levels the demand curve too would be flat. Therefore growth would be restricted to growth in external trade helped by a favorable exchange rate that is what the US economy is witnessing. As a result, the major factor that would impact the economy now is the business cycle. In economic theory, business cycles show growth in initial phases, then a stability followed by a decline. These are periodic swings that most economies pass through. During these cycles production and supplies go up due to price and demand increases and then as demand stabilizes, so do prices. Producer surplus comes down, and investment levels stabilize. Then when the curve starts sliding down, prices reduce, demand levels fall and till the supply reaches a new equilibrium the economy goes downhill resulting in unemployment and retarded growth. Each country goes through such alternating phases of growth and stagnation, though the length of the cycle is very often uncertain and unpredictable. Economic expansion is the phase where the real GDP rises steadily and recession is the stage where the real GDP falls. This is followed by a phase of economic recovery. The US business cycles have not been any different from the rest of the world. A globalized economy is prone to expansion and recession in the rest of the world. The first big recession was seen in 1929. However the economy stabilized soon after thanks to some tight monetary policies and a harsh fiscal policy, where the government taxed its citizens at high rates to keep the public sector functional and to provide social security to those hurt by slowdowns. Each slowdown affects jobs, growth and economic prosperity adversely. In the post war period, the economy has been relatively stable and has only passed through two serious recessions. Since then, the US has seen a period of healthy economic expansion and prosperity, despite a slowdown in services trade and the internet bust that pushed the US into a recession at the turn of the century. Fiscal policy Fiscal policy is a tool the state uses to ensure that public expenditure is met through revenue mobilization using various taxes, levies and fees. Historically, it the monetary and the fiscal policy have been used by governments to run their economies and handle various pressures on expenditure, investment, unemployment rates and inflation. Fiscal Policy is the tool that governments use to ensure an addition or reduction in expenditure and revenue levels so the economy can be steered in a particular direction. While fiscal policy focuses on changes in the governmnet level of expenditure and revenue mobilisation, monetary policy concentrates on the money supply in the economy and by giving incentives to the citizen, governemnts encourage or discourage the velocity of money flow in an economic system. The US tax structure has been criticized for charging high taxes on business. However, over the years tax rates have been cut and now the federal corporate income tax rate is down. However, while US personal income tax rates are lower compared to most developed economies, corporate taxes, because of the various tiers of taxation are still comparatively higher. With the increase in government spending on welfare and old age pension plans, these tax rates are unlikely to reduce. The fiscal policy reflects the concerns of the political leadership in seeking to increase government revenue and expenditure. The health system is huge and needs constant doses of capital to sustain itself. In addition to the health sector, the social security system and the education system too is largely subsidized and calls for higher tax rates. Increasing tax rates tend to dampen demand and slow down the growth rate as higher taxes lead to a slowdown in supply, which also gets affected by higher unemployment. However government revenue goes up and government expenditure can increase as a result of higher tax collections. The business cycle then goes into a recessionary phase. But with increased government expenditure, public utilities get benefited. Therefore fiscal policies need to be well balanced and not cause an irreversible slowdown of the economy leading to spiraling inflation rates. In globalizing economies, the threat of borrowing slowdowns is as serious a concern as the opportunities that come through foreign expansionary phases in global business cycles. Fiscal measures tend to shore up the domestic economy in the face of external pressures. The US fiscal policy in that sense has prudently tried to balance growth with inflation, and increase government expenditure whenever unemployment threatens to increase. Also, tax revenue has enabled the setting up of a health and education system that supplies most of the skilled labour force that works in the large service sector. When there is fall in money supply, this causes a decline in demand and hence a fall in prices. However, what could very well result is a slowdown or a stagnation of the economy that could give rise to job losses and high unemployment. However, with inflation in check, the fiscal policy too has not been as drastic as it could have possible been. Conclusion The US requires a stable financial system that is able to meet the expectations of depositors, investors and the government. The democratic system and economic structure, which is heavily dependent on the world economy and the success of the WTO, presents many challenges to the formulation of its monetary and fiscal policy. It is important that the fiscal policy takes into consideration the key issues of public and government expenditures. The monetary policy should be formulated accordingly so as to bring down the threat of fiscal deficits. Taking the need for institutional changes into consideration, there should be potential improvements in the economy in order to provide the right directions to the policymakers. It is felt that the quality of expenditures at federal and provincial levels has been deteriorating over the period of time; therefore it is very important for the government to have a rational approach towards these expenditures. Expenditure restructuring must accompany expenditure control. Privatization combined with increased competition, plays a major role in reducing the fiscal deficits. Tax rates have to be brought down as the economy looks for increased investment. It is not feasible to have high tax rates in a world competing for global investments. Interest rates cannot be kept high for a long time and must compete with the interest rate mechanism in the rest of the world. Aggregate supply and aggregate demand in the US is intrinsically tied up with supply and demand in the household sector, and apart from the construction sector, all other sectors of the economy now closely follow the business cycle that is predictable. The integration of the world economy impacts North America considerably, especially by way of rising oil prices, which have a way of impacting almost all sectors of the economy. A monetary policy that ensures a stable exchange rate, low levels of inflation and higher levels of employment along with a fiscal policy that tends not to dampen GDP growth, is what the future would demand. References 1. Lipset S. M. (1959) Some Social Requisites of Democracy: Economic Development and Political Legitimacy. American Political Science Review. 2. Mansfield, E. (1982). MicroEconomics – Theory and Applications. 4th Ed. W. W. Norton and Company. 3. Ohmae, K. (1999) The Borderless World: Power and Strategy in the Interlinked Economy. New York: Harper Business. 4. Sen, A, (1999) Democracy as Freedom. Oxford University Press. 5. EIU, (2007). Heading for the rocks: Will financial turmoil sink the world economy? EIU Special Report, London.

Effect of Economic Factors on Stock Price

Effect of Economic Factors on Stock Price Effect Of Economic Factors On Stock Price With A Particular Reference To London Stock Exchange Introduction Its believed that an economic atmosphere is a major factor in determining the primary trend of a stock market. L H Beng (1998)The stock market, on the other hand, is often regarded as an effective and a reliable barometer of a countrys economy, and the stock prices are deemed as a reflection of future expectations concerning the economic well being of a country. Invariably, Stock, by its very nature, cannot be seen off as an independent entity from economic realities and performance. Consequently, it is of great interest to find out or examine the relationship between some economic variables and the pricing of stocks in the London stock exchange. This empirical study is carried out to examine the effect of economic factors on stock price with reference to FTSE100 price index of London stock Exchange. The main objective of the study is to examine some peculiarities or differences in terms of economic variables that influence stock prices in the London stock market. The effects of retail sales index, consumer price index and industrial production index (IPI) on stock prices shall be duly examined. The study makes use of regression model to analyze nine year (Jan. 2000 Nov. 2009) monthly data obtained on ftse100 price index and some identified explanatory variables among other numerous variables that could be identified to determine stock prices in any economy. Literature Review Series of empirical studies have been carried out on the effect or influence of economic variables on the stock price. P I Ojeaga V O Folajin (2009) showed in their study that stock price correlated with the price of industrial product and composite price index, also strongly related to the average naira dollar exchange, market capitalization, broad money supply and maximum lending rate in Nigeria economy. N F Chen, R Roll S A Ross (1986) argued that stock returns are exposed to systematic economic news, that they are priced in accordance with their exposures and that the news can be measured as innovations in state variables whose identification can be accomplished through simple and intuitive financial theory. The study was carried out with the use of efficient market theory and rational expectations inter temporal asset-pricing theory (Cox et al 1985). According to the study, industrial production and changes in risk premium have a great influence on the stock returns while index of oil price changes showed no effect on the asset pricing. Abeyratna G, Anirut P and David M P (2004) displayed empirically in their study that there is a long run equilibrium relationship between the stock prices and the rate of inflation, the money supply and the Treasury bill rate in an emerging market of South Asia. Mukherjee and Naka (1995) applied Johansens (1998) VECM to analyze the relationship between the Japanese Stock Market and exchange rate, inflation, money supply, real economic activity, long-term government bond rate, and call money rate. They concluded that a co integrating relation indeed existed and that stock prices contributed to this relation. R C Maysami, L C Howe and M A Hamzah (2004) concluded in their research study that Singapore stock market and the SES All-S Equities Property Index formed significant relationships with all macroeconomic variables identified, while the SES All-S Equities Finance Index and SES All-S Equities Hotel Index form significant relationships only with selected variables. Specifically, for the SES All-S Equities Finance Index, real economic activity and money supply were not significant, and in the case of SES All-S Equities Hotel Index, money supply, and short- and long-term interest rates were insignificant. Omran (2003) examined the impact of real interest rates as a key factor in the performance of the Egyptian stock market, both in terms of market activity and liquidity. The co integration analysis through error correction mechanisms (ECM) indicated significant long-run and short-run relationships between the variables, implying that real interest rates had an impact upon stock market performance. Maysami and Koh(2000) studied and found out that inflation, money supply growth, changes in short- and long-term interest rate and variations in exchange rate formed a co-integrating relation with changes in Singapores stock market levels. As revealed above, two variables (index of industrial production and consumer price index) out three highlighted variables have been tested by earlier researchers and the results showed a clear relationship with stock prices. In this study, the variables will be retested along side with retail sales index vis-a-viz London stock exchange. About The London Stock Exchange The London Stock exchange is the most important exchange in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It lists over 3000 Companies and with 350 of the companies coming from 50 different countries, the LSE is the most international of all exchanges. The London stock exchange is comprised of two different stock markets: the main market and the alternative investment market (AIM). The main market is solely for established companies with high performance, and the listing requirements are strict. Approximately 1,800 of the LSEs company listings trade on the main market, and the total market capitalization of 37 Billion. The LSE is completely electronic, but different shares are traded on different systems. Highly liquid shares are traded using SETS automated system on an order driven basis. This means that when a buy and sell price match, an order is automatically executed. For securities that trade less regularly, the London stock exchange implements the SEAQ system, where market makers keep the shares liquid. These market makers keep are required to hold shares of a specific company and set the bid and ask prices, ensuring that there is market for the stock. The LSE also has a new and growing exchange for equity derivatives called EDX London, created in 2003. In 2004, EDX traded an average of 382,599 contracts per day. It aim is to become the leading derivative market in the world (see http://www.advfn/stockexchanges/about/LSE/LondonStockExchange.html) Stock Market A stock market is a public market for the trading of company stock and derivatives at an agreed price; these are securities listed on a stock exchange as well as those on traded privately. The size of the world market was estimated at about $36.6 trillion US at the beginning of October 2008. The stocks are listed and traded on stock exchanges which are entities of a corporation or mutual organisation specialized in the business of bringing buyers and sellers of the organisation securities together. The stock market in the United States is NYSE while in Canada; it is the Toronto stock exchange. Major European examples of stock exchanges include London Stock Exchange, Paris Bourse, and the Deutche Borse. Asian examples include the Tokyo stock exchange, the Hong kong stock exchange, and Bombay stock exchange. In Latin America, there are such exchanges as the BMF Bovespa and BMV (see http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/stock_market). Securities A security is a fungible, negotiable instrument representing financial value. Securities are broadly categorized into debt security (such as banknotes, bonds and debentures) and equity securities, e.g., common stocks; and derivative contracts, such as forwards, futures, options and swaps. The company or other entity issuing the security is called the issuer (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/security_(finance)). Stock Market Index The movement of the prices in a market or sections of a market are captured in price indices called stock market indices of which there many, e.g. S P, the FTSE and the Euronext indices. Such indices are usually market capitalization weighted, with the weights reflecting the contribution of the stock to the index. The constituents of the index are reviewed frequently to include / exclude stocks in order to reflect the changing business environment (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/stock_market). Ftse 100 Index It is a share index of the 100 most highly capitalized UK Companies listed on the London Stock exchange. FTSE 100 companies represent about 81% of the market capitalization of the whole London Stock Exchange. Even though FTSE All share index is more comprehensive, the FTSE 100 is by far the widely used UK stock market indicator (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTSE_100Index). Industrial Production Index (Ipi) The industrial production index is an economic indicator which measures real production output. It is expressed as a percentage of real output with base year. Production indexes are computed mainly as fisher indexes with the weights based on annual estimates of value added. This index, along with other industrial indexes and construction, accounts for the variation in national output over the duration of the business cycle (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/industrial_production_index). Consumer Price Index (Cpi) CPI is a measure estimating the average price of consumer goods and services purchased by households. A consumer price index measures a piece change for a constant market of goods and services from one period to the next within the same area (city, region, or nation). It is a price index determined by measuring the price of a standard group of goods meant to represent the typical market basket of a typical urban consumer. The percent change in the CPI is a measure estimating inflation (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/consumer_price_index). According to B Hobijn D Lagakos (2003) CPI is the benchmark measure of inflation. Retail Sales Index (Rsi) RSI is a monthly measurement of all goods sold by retailers based on a sampling of retail of retail stores of different types and sizes. The retail sales index is often taken as an indicator of consumer confidence. Many analysts choose to look at the figure ‘ex-auto (excluding the volatile car sales figure). It is thought that this number is a better measure of across-the-board purchasing trends. The report does not include money spent on services, so it represents less than half of total consumption during the month. However, even with these limitations the figures are closely watched as an indicator of the health of the economy (see http://www.investorword.com/5768/retail_sales_index.html). Data And Methodology Of The Research Data In this research work, the data used are monthly market index data from Jan. 2000 to Nov.2009. Secondary data were obtained from yahoo finance (FTSE 100 index) and Office for national statistics (consumer price index, industrial production index and retail sales index). November data were not captured in the regression result because, data available for industrial production index does not cover November (the last data released was in October 2009). Methodology The method adopted is multiple regression model to analyse the quantitative relationship between ftse100 index and three explanatory variables i.e. index of industrial production, consumer price index and retail sales index. According to Gray Koop (2006, 2008 2009) Regression quantifies the effect of an explanatory variable, X, on a dependent variable, Y. Hence, it measures the relationship between two variables. The relationship between Y and X is assumed to take the form, Y= ÃŽ ± + ÃŽ ²X, where ÃŽ ± is the intercept and ÃŽ ² is the slope of a straight line. This is called the regression line. The regression line is the best fitting line through an XY graph. No line will ever fit perfectly through all the points in an XY graph. The distance between each point and the line is called a residual. The ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator is the one which minimizes the sum of squared residuals and provides estimates of ÃŽ ± and ÃŽ ². Regression coefficient should be interpreted as marginal effects (i.e. as measures of the effect on Y of a small change in X. Thus, multiple regression model in this research work can be represented as Y=ÃŽ ±+ ÃŽ ²1X1 + ÃŽ ²2X2 + ÃŽ ²3X3 +ÃŽ µ Where Y = stock price (ftse100 index) ÃŽ ± = intercept ÃŽ ² = coefficient for the explanatory variables X1 = consumer price index X2 = index of industrial production X3 = retail sales index Ε = Error (residual) Therefore the estimated regression equation is thus: Y=ÃŽ ±+ÃŽ ²1X1+ÃŽ ²2X2+ ÃŽ ²3X3 The multiple regression correlation coefficient,R2, RY.X1X2X32=(Y-Y)2(Y-Y)2 This a measure of the proportion of variability explained by the regression relationship model or the regression equation. Roughly, this means R2 is the percentage at which the model explains the changes in the dependent variable based on the independent variables. The standard deviation is the range at which there is +/- error with a 95% confidence level. In order to gauge the accuracy of ÃŽ ± and ÃŽ ² estimates, the use of hypothesis testing on regression coefficients become very relevant at 95% confidence interval. This is given as Null hypothesis H0: ÃŽ ²1 = ÃŽ ²2 = ÃŽ ²3 = 0 Alternative hypothesis H1: ÃŽ ²1 ≠  ÃŽ ²2 = ÃŽ ²3 = 0 If the P-value is less than 5% (0.05) then t is ‘large and the conclusion is ÃŽ ² ≠  0. But, if the P-value is greater than 5% then t is ‘small which means ÃŽ ² = 0. Analysis Of Results Regression Statistics Multiple R 0.74673553 R Square 0.55761396 Adjusted R Square 0.54597222 Standard Error 588.751002 Observations 118 Source: Regression results The value of R (multiple Correlation coefficients) obtained for the data is 0.75 which lies between 0 and 1 indicating a positive relationship between stock price index and the selected economic variables (consumer price index, industrial production index and retail sales index). It is significant to note that out of all the possible economic indicators that affect stock prices, 56% of changes could be attributable to real production output, inflation and goods sold by retailers as shown by above regression results. Coefficients Standard Error t Stat P-value Intercept -37034.902 3685.920336 -10.0477 2.15E-17 CPI 318.608541 33.76303871 9.436607 5.716E-16 IPI 226.107972 20.48881882 11.03568 1.053E-19 RSI -131.07512 19.96271818 -6.566 1.598E-09 Source: Regression results Considering the model specification presented and utilizing the results obtained after running the data through Microsoft Excel 2007 the estimated regression model becomes; STOCK PRICES=-37034.90+318.61(CPI) +226.11(IPI)-131.08(RSI) The regression result above shows that there is a positive relationship between stock price and consumer price index (X1). This is in accordance with earlier expectation stated. Having P-value as 5.716E-16 i.e. its less than 5%. It means ÃŽ ²1 ≠  0; null hypothesis will be rejected while alternative hypothesis is accepted. This indicates that parameter estimate is statistically significant, meaning that consumer price index has relevant influence in explaining stock price. P-value for X2 is 1.053 Ãâ€" 10^-19 which is less than 0.05, this shows that the result is statically relevant, it means, index of industrial production has a positive relationship with stock price. Therefore, ÃŽ ² ≠  0; null hypothesis should be rejected and accept alternative hypothesis. The above regression result shows a positive relationship between stock prices and retails sales index considering the P-value of 1.598E-09 which is less than 0.05. Statically, it shows that parameter estimate is very relevant and that, retail sales index contribute meaningfully to stock price determination in London stock exchange. Consequently, ÃŽ ²3 ≠  0; null hypothesis must be rejected while accepting alternative hypothesis. Conclussion This study examined the effect of economic factors on stock price; the scope was limited to London stock exchange. As a result, FTSE 100 index was used as an independent variable while index of industrial production, consumer price index and retail sales index were examined as explanatory variables. It was deduced from the result of multiple regression model used that, there is a positive relationship between stock prices (as represented by FTSE 100 index) and the above listed economic variables most especially in the London stock Exchange. This by extension correlates with the results of some earlier researchers on the subject matter. In safe guarding stock prices in London stock exchange market, it becomes highly imperative and a major point of consideration for policy makers when trying to influence the economy through changes in economic variables such as the money supply, interest rates, or the exchange rate while aiming to correct economic ills such as inflation or unemployment to always access its multiplier effect which may inadvertently depress the stock market, and curtail capital formation which itself would lead to further slowdown of the economy. References Abeyratna G, Pisedtasalasai A Power D (2004), Macroeconomic influence on the stock market: evidence from an emerging market in South Asia. Journal of Emerging Market Finance 3(3), 85-304. ADVFN (2010), ‘London Stock Exchange, http://www.advfn/stockexchanges/about/LSE/LondonStockExchange.html (accessed 4 Jan 2010). Gray Koop (2006, 2008 2009), Analysis of financial data, West Sussex, Wiley. Investor word (2010), ‘Retail Sales Index, http://www.investorword.com/5768/retail_sales_index.html (accessed 5 Jan 2010). Loo Hooi Beng (1998), The effects of Economic factors on Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Composite Index, Malaysia (online at http://www.uum.edu.my/438/1/Loo_Beng.pdf accessed 27 Dec 2009). Maysami R C Koh T S (2000), A vector error correction model of the Singapore stock market, International Review of Economics and Finance 9, 79-96. Mukherjee T K Naka A (1995), Dynamic relations between macroeconomic variables and the Japanese stock market: an application of a vector error correction model. The Journal of Financial Research 18(2), 223-237. Mukherjee T K Naka A (1995), Dynamic relations between macroeconomic variables and the Japanese stock market: an application of a vector error correction model, The Journal of Financial Research 18(2), 223-237. N F Chen, R Roll, and S A Ross (1986), Economic forces and the stock market, Journal of business 59(3), 83-403. Omran M (200), Time series analysis of the impact of real interest rates on stock market activity and liquidity in Egypt: Co-integration and error correction model approach. International Journal of Business 8(3). P I Ojeaga and V O Folajin (2009),The effect of economic factors on stock price in a global economy A case study of Nigerian stock market (online at http://www.essay.se/about/economic+factors+on+stock+market/ accessed 15 Dec2009). R C Maysami, L C Howe and M A Hamzah (2004), Relationship between Macroeconomic Variables and Stock Market Indices: Cointegration Evidence from Stock Exchange of Singapores All-S Sector Indices, Jurnal Pengurusan 24, 47-77. Wikipedia (2010), ‘Consumer Price Index, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/consumer_price_index (accessed 4 Jan 2010). Wikipedia (2010), ‘FTSE 100 Index, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTSE_100Index (accessed 4 Jan 2010). Wikipedia (2010), ‘Industrial Production Index, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/industrial_production_index (accessed 4 Jan 2010). Wikipedia (2010), ‘Security (Finance), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/security_(finance)) (accessed 4 Jan 2010). Wikipedia (2010), Stock market, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/stock_market (accessed 4 Jan 2010).

How to Cheat the Reaper ::

How to Cheat the Reaper George Brams shivered, despite the warmth of his new car. But George never felt completely warm these days - eighty years had taken their toll on his body, and his tissue-thin flesh provided no barrier against the malevolence of a chilly December night. While locked into familiar routine of driving country lanes, George's mind drifted back to the events of the previous day, and even of the past year. Just when he thought he could safely assume that his old body held no more unpleasant surprises for him, such as his cancer scare a few years ago, strange things had begun to happen. First, there were the voices. They had started about two years ago. At first, he had assumed that an insect had become trapped in his ear, yet he quickly realized that there was not an insect in existence that made this kind of unearthly noise. They seemed to whisper to him from a great distance, yet they sounded remarkably close to his ear. He couldn't quite make out what the voices said, although he had strained his weak ears in the hope of recognizing a stray word. But the voices seemed to slither through the air, continually changing, yet always present. George even thought he recognized some of the voices - of late, they had seemed to increase in volume and urgency, which let the voices spark a fleeting recognition from him - but his memory was old and tired, and the recollection of a familiar voice was swamped in grey and disappeared from his mind. George's heart skipped a beat as he was pulled from his memories by a cat jumping into his car's path, its life saved only by George's still impressively quick reaction. After a few minutes the adrenaline began to leak from George's blood and his breathing slowed. Again the hypnotic nature of the cat's eyes studded along the black road drew George into his memories. He remembered what had happened after he had seen the doctor about the voices - the nightmares. Terrible things that waited until his mind was asleep and open to suggestion, and then dived in, filling the old man's head with such terror that he often awoke himself with his pitiful screams. Before, his wife would wake him before the nightmare reached its surreal and horrifying conclusion, but now Rose was†¦ gone.

Essay --

Virginia Satir was a key participant in the development of family systems theory. She was the developer of Conjoint family therapy, the Change Process model and the Communication model of family therapy. One of her core beliefs was that growth, change and understanding can be achieved to help people reach their full potential. She believed that she could help families to improve their relationships and communication exchanges (Caflisch, n.d.). All families have a certain way that they function with each other and have a set way of how they solve problems together. However, some families may find themselves unable to successfully overcome any problems that may occur as well as have difficulties in properly communicating with each other. This occurrence can cause dysfunction and unhappiness within the family unit. According to Hartline (2007), Satir found that each person can improve their lives and relationships with others by changing the way they see and express themselves. She believed that a family puts the blame on one family member for its pain and problems but blame can usually be put upon all members of the family (Hartline, 2007). According to Satir, families will come to see that change in how their household interacts can occur and with that change self-esteem will increase, all family members will become more responsible and all family members will be able to synchronize (Banmen, J. & Banmen K.M., n.d.). To help make this change happen, the family must be able to dwell in a loving atmosphere, they need to have a sense of trust with each other, they must believe that change can happen, and they must be able to meet each other halfway throughout the process of change (Hartline, 2007). To help families to m... ...e subject that's being discussed. Super reasonable communication is unemotional and there is a strong need for controlling of themselves and others. This is also known as the ‘know it all and make others feel incompetent’ style of communication. The fifth communication pattern is congruent communication. A person who communicates congruently shares their thoughts and emotions about themselves without projecting them onto others and avoids manipulation (Caflisch, n.d.). What is important here is that congruent communication allows for the development of self worth and this is the ultimate goal of the growth model. Virginia Satir’s theory and models have provided families and individuals with helpful and invaluable knowledge on how we can successfully make changes and taught us how we can benefit from change and gives us insight on how we can improve our lives. Essay -- Virginia Satir was a key participant in the development of family systems theory. She was the developer of Conjoint family therapy, the Change Process model and the Communication model of family therapy. One of her core beliefs was that growth, change and understanding can be achieved to help people reach their full potential. She believed that she could help families to improve their relationships and communication exchanges (Caflisch, n.d.). All families have a certain way that they function with each other and have a set way of how they solve problems together. However, some families may find themselves unable to successfully overcome any problems that may occur as well as have difficulties in properly communicating with each other. This occurrence can cause dysfunction and unhappiness within the family unit. According to Hartline (2007), Satir found that each person can improve their lives and relationships with others by changing the way they see and express themselves. She believed that a family puts the blame on one family member for its pain and problems but blame can usually be put upon all members of the family (Hartline, 2007). According to Satir, families will come to see that change in how their household interacts can occur and with that change self-esteem will increase, all family members will become more responsible and all family members will be able to synchronize (Banmen, J. & Banmen K.M., n.d.). To help make this change happen, the family must be able to dwell in a loving atmosphere, they need to have a sense of trust with each other, they must believe that change can happen, and they must be able to meet each other halfway throughout the process of change (Hartline, 2007). To help families to m... ...e subject that's being discussed. Super reasonable communication is unemotional and there is a strong need for controlling of themselves and others. This is also known as the ‘know it all and make others feel incompetent’ style of communication. The fifth communication pattern is congruent communication. A person who communicates congruently shares their thoughts and emotions about themselves without projecting them onto others and avoids manipulation (Caflisch, n.d.). What is important here is that congruent communication allows for the development of self worth and this is the ultimate goal of the growth model. Virginia Satir’s theory and models have provided families and individuals with helpful and invaluable knowledge on how we can successfully make changes and taught us how we can benefit from change and gives us insight on how we can improve our lives.

child development :: essays research papers

What major psychological challenges do children face during middle childhood? In middle childhood children face many new challenges: the challenge of knowing who you are, the challenge to achieve, the challenge of peers, the challenge of family relationships, and the challenge of school. All of these challenges are affected by influences of peers and family relationships. 2. What important changes occur in a child’s sense of self during middle childhood? A child’s sense of self begins to rapidly evolve in middle years and becomes more organized and complex. This sense of self is continuously revised with increasing age and experiences. This grows with social experiences and out of contacts with others. 3. What is achievement motivation, and what forms does it take? Achievement motivation is a tendency to show initative and attaining goals by increasing competence and meeting standards of excellence. There are two forms of achievement motivation: one focuses on competence as such and one that emphasizes the judgments people make about competence. 4. How have changes in the nature of the family, such as increases in the proportion of a single-parent and dual-wage-earner families, affected children’s psychological development? The changes in the nature of family can greatly affect a child’s psychological development. These changes such as divorce and blended families pose challenges to children. These situations usually cause stress on all members of the family even though boys and girls react differently. 5. How do peers contribute to development during middle childhood? Children are influenced by their school’s culture and peers. This influence is positive if a school’s culture and a child’s family culture are similar. This plays a role in how children experience and interact with others , how they percieve themselves, and how they develop psychosocially.