Terms of Reference Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Terms of Reference - Essay Example In this regard, the notion of â€Å"zero hours contract† will be elaborated as an effective measure or solution. A qualitative approach of research methodology will be taken into concern for completing the study with focusing on varied secondary sources. These secondary sources may comprise reviewing varied scholarly based journal articles and books relating to the notion of zero works contract and also the online websites of the selected company i.e. Control Risks, wherein the company published about the problem. It is projected that by reviewing such secondary sources, a detailed understanding can be made regarding appropriate utilization of zero hours contract within the aforesaid security company, which will aid in mitigating and improving the above identified problem facing by the company. According to Brinkley (2014), the idea of Zero Hours Contract is regarded as a type of work contract, which is especially followed with varied companies. This type of working agreement especially refers to an on-call agreement between the employers and the employees of a specific organization. It is worth mentioning that the prime facet of zero hours contract is ascertained to be forming as well as developing an informal relationship between employers and employees facilitating employees to solve varied problems like ineffective communication between these organizational members due to increased level of involvement in corruption. There are several legal risk factors that can be related with this type of work contract. The temporary vacancy in a company has been fulfilled by the process of zero hours working contract (Brinkley, 2014). In relation to the above context, the importance of zero hours contract is found to be quite useful in several working sectors. Thus, it can be affirmed that the zero hours contact can found its applicability in the security company i.e. Control Risks, which will aid in improving the above stated problem facing by the company in the

Relationship between the brand personality and purchase intention Essay

Relationship between the brand personality and purchase intention through the use of Country of Origin (COO) image and by illustrating how this impacts the intention of purchase - Essay Example The hypotheses was acknowledged through an analysis of the auto industry of China and the validation was carried out by taking into account the auto brand of Honda of Japan. The questionnaire was divided into two parts, the first part weighed the COO image, purchase intention, brand personality and subjective knowledge that the consumer possessed about the product; the second part was the registering of information the persons. The result that came out was that it was clearly established that the purchase intention is positively affected by the brand personality and the COO image. It was found that the positive COO image acted as an encouraging sign between the brand personality and purchase intention and so it would tend to increase positive brand personality and its impact on purchase intention. However if there was a negative COO image then this tend to lower the positive impact of brand personality on the purchase intention. Further it was found that if a company had a negative COO and had a weak brand personality it would still have a higher purchase intention than that of a company with a positive COO image and a weak brand personality. The report clearly suggests that there are issues like COO image which adversely affect the relationship between brand personality and purchase intention. ... Limitations and future research direction. However the research has been kept limited to an analysis of two countries. This might be a consideration which would be detrimental. Further it is quite easy to get away with the COO image when there is a lower price. Thus it can be said that the price also comes into play which makes the point of the country of origin a bit weak. Thus it can be said with ease that the research will tend to be ineffective once the generality of causes affecting the intention of the consumers are taken into account. The limitations that can be ascertained are the exclusion of the control variable in the product. The prices of the product have not been included. The research just plainly says that many points have not been considered. This is a great detriment. Corporate brand image, Satisfaction and store loyalty Background of the paper The article has clearly been written to establish the possible impact of a corporate store image on the satisfaction of the customer and the devotion that has been placed on grocery retailers. Conceptual framework and theory The corporate (store) image show the impact of a retailer as a brand, production brands and brands of store is alleged. The brand store and manufacturer store is included because of the fact that the quality of the product brand is dependent on these brands. Research design and implementation The tests were carried out through a survey via mail to consumers of answers which were usable. The test was apparently based on a model that related the hidden variables to the obvious variable and showed how store loyalty was dependent on these. Main conclusions and contribution to marketing literature and practice It was found that retailers

Underwriting Process in Insurance

Underwriting Process in Insurance Underwriting Process In order for the insurance companies to make profit and charge the appropriate rate for an insured, they undergo the underwriting process. Underwriting is the process in which an insurance company determines if an applicant is eligible for insurance and the rate they should charge if the applicant is eligible. In simpler words, it is a process of risk classification. The purpose of insurance underwriting is to spread risk among a pool of insured in a way that is both profitable for the insurer and fair to the customer. Insurance companies need to make a profit like many other businesses. Therefore, it doesnt make sense if they sell insurance for everyone who applies for it. They may not want to charge an excessive high rate to the customer and also it is not good for them to charge the same premium to every policyholder. Underwriting enables the company to weed out certain applicants and to charge the remaining applicants premiums that are commensurate with their level of risk (Conra d, Clark, Goodwin, Morse Kane, 2011). The underwriting process consist of evaluating several sources of an applicant and the use of complex pricing models developed by actuaries that help the insurance companies set prices. I will focus on the risk classification along with some of the factors that help the underwriters classify each applicant and the use of insurance credit scoring that allow the insurance companies to price the premiums. Factors An insurance company usually looks at various factors during the underwriting process in order to evaluate a potential customer in terms of risk. These factors enable the insurer to determine whether or not the potential customer is insurable. If the potential customer is determined to be insurable, then these factors will help to place them in the appropriate risk group. Some of the factors considered are age, sex, health history, current health/physical condition, personal family health history, occupation, personal habits/character, financial condition, and hobbies (Clark, et al, 2011). Some people believe that any characteristic over which we have no control, such as gender, race, and age, should be excluded from insurance underwriting and rating practices (Baranoff, Brockett, Kahane, 2009, p.157). This argument reflect the idea that the factors used by insurance companies should be based on the behavior of the people instead of the quality on which they are born. Risk Classification Risk classification plays an important role in the pricing of the policy. The premium that the customer pays will depend on the category he/she belongs to. Underwriters classify the applicants into four types of risk groups: standard risk, substandard risk, preferred risk and uninsurable/declined risk. Standard risk. Individuals who have a likelihood of loss or the probability of filing a claim that is not significantly greater than the average are classified as standard risks. Based on the underwriting standards of the insurance company, the people in this group are given a term of insurance without being charged for any extra fees or be subjected to any policy restrictions and they are charged with the standard premium rate (Clark, et al, 2011). Most individual life and health insurance policies are issued at standard premium rates. Substandard risk. Insured that are classified as substandard risk or rated risk, are those that have a greater chance of filing a claim. Applicants are classified in this group because of their health and/or other factors that makes them more likely to die earlier than those who dont possess these kinds of risk factors (Clark, et al, 2011). They are usually charged a higher than standard rate because of the added risks that they possess. Examples of people that may be in this category are those who possess a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, drugs and alcohol. Or maybe they engage in some dangerous activities like skydiving or rock climbing. Preferred risk. Applicants classified as preferred risks are those who are expected to have an above average life expectancy (Clark, et al, 2011). People in this group are preferred by the insurance companies because of their health history and good habits. They are usually offered a lower rate or preferred rate. Applicants that may belong to this group are nonsmokers or people that have a good health history. Uninsurable risk. Individuals categorized as uninsurable or declined risk are those that pose a risk that is too great for the insurance company to cover. The applicants conditions are so rare or unique that the company may not be able to arrive at a suitable premium (Clark, et al, 2011), so their policies are generally declined. Examples of this category include people who have a serious illness and people who conduct illegal activities. Insurance Credit Scoring in Pricing After classifying the applicants into one of the risk groups, the insurance company needs to set price for the policies. One of the tools used by the insurance companies for pricing is the credit scores that help them determine the adequate premium for each consumer. Insurance scores are confidential rankings based on credit history information. Insurance scores are used to provide insurers with a snapshot to provide service to consumers. The score is derived from the consumers previous credit history. This data allows the insurers to price insurance premiums/rates more accurately. (Almarshary, Erbek Reddic) Insurance scores estimate the probability of having insured file a claim. The variables commonly used to estimate insurance scores include measures of performance on credit obligations, credit-seeking behavior, use of credit, length of credit history, and types of credit used (Powell, 2009). They do not include race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, address, salary, disability, occupation, title, employer, date employed or employment history for scoring purposes (Anonymous, 2009). Insurers have found a strong correlation between insurance claims and credit scores. People with low scores are more likely to file claims than people with high scores (Lankford, 2007). They also discovered that people who made late payments tended to have more claims (Almarshary, et al). Improving credit score can certainly make a big difference in the premiums. More insurers now are considering credit scores when setting premium rates. Credit scoring enables insurers to better assess the risk of future claims. In fact, insurance credit scoring helps insurers to differentiate between higher and lower insurance risk (Almarshary, et al). Therefore, insurers will charge a premium based on the information provided by the credit score. When insurers use insurance scores to improve the accuracy of predicted losses, it benefits individuals and society (Powell, 2009). Premiums are closely related to consumers risk of loss on average, so insurance scores increase the fairness in insurance pricing outcomes. Insurance scoring also adds value to insurance transactions. Because insurance scores are accurate and inexpensive rating variables; it reduces the overall cost of providing insurance and this reduction in cost is applied to the premiums of the customer (Powell, 2009). Many people may not be familiar with the underwriting process, but knowing the factors that affect the decision of the insurers of placing you into one of the risk groups, is very useful. In this way, you can easily know if you can be chosen as a potential customer based on your personal information and even if you are not chosen as a potential customer, you might at least know what to avoid in order to decrease the chance of your policy being rejected. Finally, we have to notice the importance of the credit scores, because many insurance companies used it nowadays to price the premiums. Having a good credit history is a key factor to get a lower premium rate in the policy.

The Spotted Bat Essay -- Animal Biology

Picture a small delicate creature with a contrasting patch on each shoulder, white at the base of the ears and two huge pink ears. This creature is the spotted bat, also known as the pinto bat. It usually weighs sixteen to twenty grams with a total length of one hundred seven to one hundred fifteen millimeters. Its classification is Animalia Craniata Mammalia Chiroptera Vespertilionidae Euderma maculatum. (www.americanzoo.com) The spotted bat can be found in western North America: southern California east to New Mexico and from Montana south to Mexico. It?s most commonly found in habitats dominated by Utah juniper and sagebrush, sometimes intermixed with limber pine or Douglas-fir, or in grassy meadows in ponderosa pine savannah. Cliffs, rocky outcrops, and water are other attributes of sites where spotted bats have been located. Spotted bats roost in caves, and in cracks in cliffs and canyons, with which this species is consistently associated. The spotted bat can crawl with ease on both horizontal and vertical surfaces. There is a possibility that these bats migrate south...

The Purchase of Alaska

There are many states in North America. Formally known as the United States of America. From New York to California, you could find millions of different types of people, and cultures from around the world. But how about a state that is so isolated from them all, that many people forget it was even added as the 49th state to the country? The lone state of Alaska is to the north west of the major states and if laid on top of the other states, would cover about two-thirds of the land. And for a state that is so large, it is surely simply thought of as the coldest state.Alaska is much more then that, and has a lot of history behind just a land of snow and mountains. Alaska was discovered in 1741 by Russian settlers and had been colonized by them in 1784. With over 660 thousand square miles, Alaska was surely a big find by the Russian settler Vitus Jonassen. Not much was done at the time with Alaska, for the living conditions were really rough and treacherous. It took about forty years f or the first settlements to come about in Alaska. Grigorii Shelikhov and his wife Natalia came to the Kodiak Islands along the coasts of Alaska and made a settlement along with hundreds of their kind.This was the first settlement of Alaska. From then on, settlers from Russia, Britain, the Spanish, and even American explorers and adventurers all settled in Alaska. Russia was going through financial issues and did not have sufficient funds for their country. â€Å"In 1867 United States Secretary of State William H. Seward offered Russia $7,200,000, or two cents per acre, for Alaska† (3). This was Seward’s most pronounced achievement as Secretary of State, and kept the British from taking over Alaska.This brought much more land into the United States at an extremely cheap price of 7. 2 million dollars. This purchase increased the value of America as a whole and offered many more revenues and resources. There were resources such as the huge line of seafood and fishing. Mos t of the seafood at the time and currently for America is brought out from the waters that surround Alaska. Most of Alaska was not explored during the time of purchase and the full benefit of Alaska was not known. After many years of exploring and the tate becoming close to what it is today, there was a discovery of oil in 1968 and this would, â€Å"have the most recoverable oil of any field in the United States† (5). After such a find, the purchase of Alaska seemed like an amazing idea, even though Seward had no idea at the time of purchase. In 1977, a pipeline for the oil recovery was laid down, and is now able to draw over eighty thousand barrels within only one hour, and the pipeline runs eight hundred-eighty miles from the top of Alaska to the bottom, going straight thru mainly the middle of the state.Even though America was bought off of Russia back in 1867, it was not a state instantly. In fact, it wasn’t even close. The population was far to low for it to becom e a state and also needed proper governing to be taken into consideration of being a state, â€Å"†¦worried that Alaska's population was too sparse, distant, and isolated†¦too unstable for it to be a worthwhile addition to the United States† (5). Under president Eisenhower, Alaska was signed on as a state by the Alaska Statehood Act on July 7th, 1958.Overall, Alaska has brought many new and useful resources into America since it was bought and turned out to be more then just a beautiful place, but a place with plenty to offer. From food, to oil, Alaska has proved to the United States that it has helped tons with the nations economy.Works Cited 1. ) Library of Congress. â€Å"Treaty with Russia for the Purchase of Alaska† LOC. 4 August 2010. Web 16 Sept. 2010.http://www. loc. gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Alaska. html2. ) America’s Library. Purchase of Alaska: March 30, 1867† America’s Stories. 9 July 2004. Web 16 Sept. 2010. http://www. ameri caslibrary. gov/jb/recon/jb_recon_alaska_1. html3. ) 50 States. com. â€Å"Alaska Facts and Trivia† 2010. Web 24 Sept. 2010. http://www. 50states. com/facts/alaska. htm4. ) Thinkquest. â€Å"The first Settlement in Alaska† Web 26 Sept. 2010 http://library. thinkquest. org/22550/1784. html#5. ) Wikipedia. â€Å"Oil discovery, ANSCA, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline† 25 September 2010. Web 25 Sept. 2010. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/History_of_Alaska

Underneath Pristine Clothes: Abraham Lincoln

A little farm is a place of impoverished state. It is a place where there is no much life; having none of the intricacies and grandeur of the city. But for a man with strong hopes and gallant dreams as Abraham Lincoln, it is a place where ambitions are born and where dreams start to be reality.Lincoln grew up from an undistinguished family, or so he illustrates, but he rose into the highest of seats and was elected as the president of the United States of America for two terms. He was a most esteemed president of all times—a man of honour, justice, and equality who pledged to use impartial agreements rather than force. But underneath those pristine clothes and perfectly amiable character, who really is Abraham Lincoln?Born to a simple family in a farm at the Hardin County, Kentucky, in February 12, 1809, young Lincoln grew up to days of hard work. There is no school at their area and there’s nowhere to learn about life, religion, and the world. What there are are only c hores to finish and jobs to seek and get over with.Yet, with his determined aspiration and passion for learning, he got through studying and acquired a license to practice law by the year 1836. He was a persistent and hardworking man, so to say; spending years of practice at the Illinois legislature that even his law partner said of him, â€Å"His ambition was a little engine that knew no rest.†In the year1842, his days of solitude were broken for he met Mary Todd, a woman whom he had decided to tie the knot with. They lived a happy life from then on and were gifted with four boys. It is sad to note though that only one of them lived to grow into maturity.After years as a lawyer he tried to compete in politics and run against Stephen Douglas for Senate in 1858. After their heated and diplomatic debate about the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Douglas won the election. But people who saw, heard, and witnessed their argument grew to love and favor Lincoln. Their debate had given him a nat ional reputation which in turn won him a Republican nomination for president after two succeeding years.When he won the presidency, Lincoln focused to bring about equality and goodwill among his people. He was a gentle voice that hushes the mass during the cold turmoil of the Civil War.The Emancipation Proclamation which he issued in 1863 greatly affected the war, ending at last the state’s fights, scores of deaths, and concluding a blood lusting combat. The results of the war he took carefully into consideration, making certain that the vast damage a war could bring would not be forgotten by the people and that the deaths of those who were involved in the confrontations would not be put to waste.Throughout his term, he stood as an example to every one; a man of simplicity and generosity who is willing to lay back his defenses if it would mean peace and unity for the nation. His regal personality was more than valued by the public, proven by his re-election in 1864.However, h e was cut short of his service a year after, when he was crudely assassinated—shot in the head by an actor named John Wilkes Booth— ending abruptly his patriotic goals and ambitions.It had been a sorrowful moment for all of America; having lost a man as placid and liberal as Abraham Lincoln. But his efforts were not wasted for he left his people the idea that would unite them: â€Å"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds†¦.†