Friday, January 31, 2020

Modernization of NTUC Income Essay Example for Free

Modernization of NTUC Income Essay 1.)  WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS FACED BY INCOME IN THIS CASE? HOW WERE THE PROBLEMS SOLVED BY THENEW DIGITAL SYSTEM? Income ·s insurance processes were very tedious and paper-based. This resulted to humongousIncome also experienced frequent breakdown of the HP 3000 mainframe which hosted the coreinsurance applications and the accounting and management information systems. In addition tothis, HP 3000 back-up system only allowed restoration to the previous day ·s back-up data.Hardware failures caused six days of complete downtime. COBOL programs also encounteredfrequent breakdowns that halted the systems and caused temporary interruptions. At the sametime, development of new products using the COBOL is quite cumbersome and took weeks, evenmonths, to accomplish. They also lost opportunities to cross-sell because transaction processingfor policy underwriting was still a batch process and information is not available to agents andadvisors in real-time. Through the new digital systems, these problems were addressed. The paper-based insurance processes were replaced by a paperless platform. Under the new system, alldocuments are scanned and stored on  ´trusted µ storage devices. Frequent breakdowns wereaddressed by the high-availability platform. Multiple servers are hosted and connected to morecommunication lines that are  ´load balanced µ. The new system also addressed downtimes dueto breakdowns by its hot back-up disaster-recovery centers. The new digital system alsoaddressed the slow development of new products by COBOL through the straight throughprocessing workflow capabilities of the new system. 2.) WHAT TYPES OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND BUSINESS PROCESSES WERE USED BY INCOME BEFORE MIGRATINGTO THE FULLY DIGITAL SYSTEM? The insurance process of Income was very manual and paper/file intensive. Filled-up applicationforms of clients were sent by agents through courier. Their collection schedule causes delays oftwo to three days. The Office Services log, sort, and send documents to underwriting. Proposalswere allocated to staff randomly. No system was in place for proper assignment of tasks per staff.Voluminous documents are manually sorted and stored by a number of staff at their warehouse.Since there was no clear document management system, retrieval of documents take days toaccomplish. Income also made use of HP 3000 mainframes which were very unreliable due tofrequent breakdowns that resulted to downtime, decreased productivity and wasted manpower hours. COBOL programs were also used which also encountered technical failures. At the sametime, COBOL programs were very slow in developing new products for the company resulting tolost sale opportunities. 3.) DESCRIBE THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND IT INFRASTRUCTURE AT INCOME AFTER MIGRATING TO THE FULLY DIGITALSYSTEM. According to James Kang, CIO of Income, the Java based eBao LifeSystem from eBaoTechnology is very customer-centric. It provided seamless integration with imaging and bar codetechnology. It also contains a product definition module that supports new products, newchannels and changes in business process. Data migration of Income ·s individual and groupbusinesses was successfully implemented and customized. The new system was operational onhigh-quality platform with multiple servers and communication lines. The new system alsorevamped business continuity and the company ·s disaster recovery plan. A real-time hot back-updisaster recovery center was implemented. Business processes went from paper intensive to  paperless through digital storage and records. Many users can access the system at one time,any time, and anywhere. 4.) WHAT BENEFITS DID INCOME REAP FROM THE NEW SYSTEM? The robust architecture of the servers minimized downtime occurrence. This is made possible withthe use of two or more servers connected by two or more communication lines. Income alsoreduced and eventually eliminated the use of paper. Under the new system, all documents werescanned and stored on  ´trusted µ storage devices  ² secured, reliable digital vaults that enabledstrict compliance with stringent statutory requirements. Staff members also enjoyed faster accessto information. With the use of the straight through processing workflow capabilities of the newsystem, Income saved as much as 50 percent on time and costs in processing policies. Time indesigning and launching new products were also reduced from weeks to days using the table-driven-rule-based product-definition module. 5.) HOW WELL IS INCOME PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE? ARE THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE CASE LIKELY TO BEREPEATED? In the insurance industry, information systems are very important in ensuring product and services ·competitiveness. Customer queries should be addressed accurately and promptly. Productsshould be constantly improved and new designs should always be made available. With the newinformation system, Income is now equipped to face the challenges of the industry. To ensure thesuccess of the new system, proper implementation and control should be done. Continuoustraining should be given to the staff to ensure proper use of the system and to maximize thepotential of the system. The system should also be continuously improved through the proper management of feedback from  users. Upgrades should also be done periodically to cope withthe changes in the demand of the industry and the market.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Tecumseh Essays -- essays research papers

Tecumseh ,Shawnee war chief, was born at Old Piqua, on the Mad River in western Ohio. In 1774, his father, Puckeshinwa, was killed at the Battle of Point Pleasant, and in 1779 his mother, Methoataske, accompanied those Shawnees who migrated to Missouri, later died. Raised by an older sister, Tecumpease, Tecumseh would play war games with other fellow youths in his tribe. Tecumseh accompanied an older brother, Chiksika, on a series of raids against frontier settlements in Kentucky and Tennessee in the late 1780’s. Chiksika had a vision that he would not survive the battle at Buchanan’s station he went ahead as plan and attacked the stockade and was mortally wounded and was carried from the battle field and the dying warrior asked not to be buried but to be placed on a hill. Tecumseh and the other’s retreated back to a Cherokee village where most went back to Ohio while Tecumseh and some other warriors stayed behind. After that Tecumseh went on mostly hunting but occasionally attacking settler’s. After that moved back towards home and come to find out that the Shawnee’s had moved on to where it’s much safer. The battle of Fallen Timber’s broke confidence in British assistance as well as many casualties. Pissed off by the Indian defeat, he refused to sign the Treaty of Greenville (1795). In the 1800’s Tecumseh began to show signs of a prominent war chief. He led a group of yong Indian warriors to a village on the White River in east-central Indiana. There in 1805 Lalawethika ex...

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Creating My Own School Essay

The benefits of education on the individual person no doubt extend beyond economic effects. Jeremy Behrman and Nevzer Stacey cited that the effects of education â€Å"spread beyond direct economic effects (1). † As such is the case Behrman and Nevser adds, benefits â€Å"include a better way of taking care of ourselves and consequently creating a better society in which to live† (1). Based on this notion, it is important to make education available for everyone regardless of race, color, social status and gender or even physical condition. Education should be a right of everyone and no one should be denied of this right. However, the quality of education has been the focal point in the educational arguments. The report of the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) cited that although teachers play an essential role in improving the students’ performance, the quality of education especially in areas where poverty is high, remains bad due to teachers’ lack of competency in the subject they teach (1). Thus it remains a burden of the government and of the society to establish schools that will cater to the increasing demand of a quality education. The No Child Left Behind Act was a response to this demand, yet it is clear that there is still a great demand for schools that would cater to the growing need of the society of a quality education for children. It is for this reason that I should like to introduce the Early College Communications (ECC) school which is designed to serve especially working class student and those with special cases. With highly competent teachers duly licensed by the states licensing board, the ECC provides quality education for grades 9-12 that would prepare students to college with a high level of competitiveness and a strong sense of achieving success in life. The school is deeply anchored on the government’s policy under No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) which emphasized on the qualification requirements for teachers. Under this act, the GAO report stated that states, districts, and schools are â€Å"responsible for ensuring that teacher meets these requirements† (1). The GAO also stated that the NCLBA â€Å"requires teachers of core academic subjects such as math and science be highly qualified†¦. † (1) The ECC proudly announces that it meets these requirements. The ECC’s philosophy of education is based on the principle that education is for everyone and that everyone deserves quality education. The ECC adopts a method of teaching based on Ramden’s (1992) distinctive ways of understanding teaching that is applicable to high school education wherein the teacher is seen as the organizer of student activity. Kate Ashcroft and Lorraine Foreman-Peck explained that in this method of teaching, the focus of the teaching and learning situation is on â€Å"what the student does† (69) and the role of the teacher is supervisory. In this case, as Ashcroft and Foreman-Peck pointed out, â€Å"the interest of teaching methods is now focused on ensuring that students learn† (69) and the teacher’s main concern is to motivate students â€Å"to be actively engaged† (69). With this method of teaching, the ECC management ensures that all students get quality education as we are implementing strict compliance for teachers to facilitate the student’s learning through motivating them to active and lively participation in the learning activities. As the school is committed to providing quality education, we have also implemented strict guidelines on the selection of teachers. Teachers were thoroughly screened if they have genuine interests in helping students learn regardless of their color, race, social status or physical condition. Thus, we are assuring everyone that the ECC is student friendly and we are very much concern all our student get quality education as they finished their term with us. For students with disabilities, that is, those belong to section two of the definition given by the Individuals with Disabilities Education act of 2004 (IDEA) cited by Roger Pierangelo and George Giuliani which held, (ii) Disorders not included. The term does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage (1) Students with disabilities that do not include learning problems because of the reasons mentioned in the definition, we encourage them to enroll at ECC as we have highly competent teachers to handle this special class. However, we require students with disabilities to seek certification from the local educational agency whether they responds to scientific, research-based intervention as part of the evaluation procedures. With teachers’ genuine concerns on students with disabilities, their primary aim is to ensure that students with disabilities learn equally with other students. Furthermore, the school facilities are designed for the convenience of these special students. These teachers are licensed by the state to handle special classes and they are skilled in communicating with students with disabilities. Overall, the school is committed on preparing our students to become successful individual regardless of their color, race, social status, and physical condition. The student who could finish their term at ECC will have an early college credit because the school offers subjects that will provide them advantage when they go to college. Thus, with our commitment towards the future success in life of our students, and with efficient and highly qualified teachers we are confident we can lead our students to become competitive, success oriented and determined to achieve their dreams in life. For everyone out there, enroll now at Early Communication College and be assured of a quality education and of an exciting learning situation in the classroom. Work Cited Ashcroft, Kate & Foreman-Peck, Lorraine Managing Teaching and Learning in Further and Higher Education Great Britain: Routledge, 1994 Behrman, Jere R. & Stacey, Nevser The Social Benefits of Education USA: University of Michigan, 1997 â€Å"No Child Left Behind Act Improved Accessibility to Education’s Information† USA: The United States GAO, 2005 Pierangelo, Roger & Guiliani, George A. Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities USA: Corwin Press, 2008

Monday, January 6, 2020

Short Story Compare/Contrast - 1439 Words

Fiction Essay ENGL 102: Composition and Literature MLA Outline THESIS: In â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† by Richard Connell and â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† by Nathaniel Hawthorne, imagery and characterization are employed to illustrate the ever present inner darkness of humanity. However, the authors set very different themes in how their protagonists reflect upon and respond to being faced with it. Both men must choose whether they will reject and confront evil or simply abide it with apathy. I. The dark imagery used in both stories convert evil into a nearly tangible entity. a. The lack of visibility in these stories corresponds to the fear felt by both men. b. The dense jungle/forest instills a sense of chaos that†¦show more content†¦He offers the younger his staff to help speed his pace (Hawthorne, 264). He even shares a jolly banter with Goody Cloyse, an elderly woman whom young Goodman Brown recognizes, and likewise, offers his staff to aid her (Hawthorne, 266). Old Goodman Brown also gives an articulate counter for every argument young Goodman Brown has to cut their walk short and return home. For example, when young Goodman Brown boasts the honesty and goodness of his father and grandfather, the traveler responds that â€Å"I have been well acquainted with your family†¦ They were my good friends† (Hawthorne, 264). The fact that young Goodman Brown had never heard of such a communion spoken of in his family is almost convincing to him of its plausibility. Connell also masks General Zaroff’s evil nature with an air of friendliness and respectability. From the moment that Rainsford appears at the front door, the general is welcoming and kind. He gives Rainsford food, shelter, and offers his own clothes for Rainsford to wear (Connell, 4). During the course of their conversation, General Zaroff explains to Rainsford that they are kindred spirits as fellow hunters. Having dominated every prey he has ever stalked, Zaroff has become bored with traditional hunting and extols the merit of a new game that he has devised, â€Å"it supplies me with the most exciting hunting in the world. No other hunting compares with it for an instant† (Connell, 6). The general is sure that, as aShow MoreRelatedCompare and Contrast Two Short Stories975 Words   |  4 PagesCompare and Contrast Two Short Stories-- Landlady by Roald Dahl and Chemistry by Graham Swift There are lots of great short stories out there, but in my opinion, both ‘Chemistry’ by Graham Swift and ‘The Landlady’ by Roald Dahl are two of the most unique and effective stories. They share both similarities and differences throughout. Comparing and contrasting the way the authorsRead MoreCompare and Contrast Two Short Stories975 Words   |  4 PagesCompare and Contrast Two Short Stories-- Landlady by Roald Dahl and Chemistry by Graham Swift There are lots of great short stories out there, but in my opinion, both ‘Chemistry’ by Graham Swift and ‘The Landlady’ by Roald Dahl are two of the most unique and effective stories. They share both similarities and differences throughout. Comparing and contrasting the way theRead MoreCompare and Contrast Poem and Short Story1718 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction to Literature A Similar Journey February 2011 There are many people who travel a distance in life to find the path they should take or to remember the path they once took. In the poem â€Å"The Path Not Taken,† by Robert Frost and the short story I Used to Live Here Once by Jean Rhys there are many similarities and differences. The authors’ use of describing a path helps them personify life’s journeys and self-reflection. Robert Frost uses imagery to describe two different journeys inRead MoreCompare And Contrast Araby And A P Short Story999 Words   |  4 PagesA coming of age story is when the protagonist experiences climatic event that leads them to adulthood. The event is usually tough but leads to a realization or epiphany. The short stories â€Å"AP† by John Updike and â€Å"Araby† by James Joyce both reflect coming of age stories. In the story AP, the narrator, Sammy quits his job to stand up for the three girls wearing â€Å"nothing but their bathing suits†() In the story Araby, the narrator shows himself growing up through discovering his sexuality. InRead MoreCompare and Contrast Science Fiction Short Story Unit1525 Words   |  7 PagesMany science fiction stories contain similar themes and ideas, but only two really caught my attention. As I read these stories I couldn’t help but notice the different themes that make them appealing. Although they both h ave different themes, characters and scenarios, they both seem to stay true to the make believe factor. Themes like vengeance, justice, love, pride, and honor seem to appear in these short stories. For me, justification seems to also be present, one justifies on the good for mankindRead MoreCompare/Contrast of Two Short Stories - River Nemunas Things WeLl Need for the Coming Difficulties1304 Words   |  6 Pageslink between the stories but there are other parallels that can be drawn as well. On the other hand, there are things that the two authors did differently while still staying with this common idea. Along with analyzing the theme of isolation, this paper will also serve to compare and contrast the writing style of the stories as well as the way the two authors used images, character development, and conflicting/post-modern ideas within the stories. The overbearing theme of both stories is isolation,Read MoreEssay about Comp and Lit Comparison of Blue+Yellow/Story of an Hour1296 Words   |  6 Pagesthe short story â€Å"the Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin and the short story â€Å"blue + yellow† by Chris Killen compare in many ways. These two stories use the same literary device strongly such as imagery. Imagery is a literary device in which the author uses words and phrases to paint a picture in the readers head throughout the story. These two short stories are written with very descriptive language to help paint a picture of the occurrences in the story and describe a scene. These two stories alsoRead MoreComparing The Lesson and The Road Not Taken1190 Words   |  5 Pageson the surroundings of the individuals. One of the main aims of the paper is to compare and contrast two characters from selected short stories. The first character is Sylvia from The Lesson written by Toni Cade Bambara and the Narrator fro m the poem written by Robert Frost The Road Not Taken. The reason to compare Sylvia and The Narrator is to compare the choices made by an individual. The Lesson is a short story about a family of African American children. The children are cousins to each otherRead MoreFiction Essay1407 Words   |  6 PagesID#25840627 APA Format Compare and Contrast Short Story Fiction Essay Jessica Jack Liberty University English 102-B43 Outline for Compare and Contrast Essay Thesis: â€Å"The Rocking-Horse Winner† by D.H. Lawrence and â€Å"The Lottery†, by Shirley Jackson provide two contrasting uses of Setting in a short story which accentuate the importance of the element in a story. One author has the ability to distract the reader, while the other author creates the structure of the story. 1. Introduction Read MoreComparing Fall of the House of Usher and The Cask of Amontillado1299 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Compare Contrast Edgar Allan Poe Short Stories Introduction The Fall of the House of Usher and The Cask of Amontillado are two of Edgar Allan Poes most well-known and noteworthy stories. This paper compares and contrasts the two stories and provides and outline as well. The Fall of the House of Usher is based on terror just as The Cask of Amontillado (hereafter called Cask) is based on terror but there are many different components that Poe uses that contrast with the Cask, and