Theme of Tradition in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Essay

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Americans day after day live much of their lives following time-honored traditions that are passed down from one generation to another. From simple everyday cooking and raising children, to holidays and other family rituals, tradition plays a significant role on how they go by there everyday lives. In Shirley Jacksons short story, The Lottery, the citizens of a small farming town follow one such tradition. A point is made regarding human nature in relation to tradition. The story begins on a beautiful summer afternoon. The towns citizens are eager, gathering in the town square in order to take part in the yearly lottery. With the story focused around one particular family, the Hutchinsons, who†¦show more content†¦A symbol of the lotterys ongoing legacy, the same box has been used for years. It was believed to be made from scraps of the original black box which fell apart through the course of its use. When the citizens are brought the idea that the box should be ch anged, the whole thing was let to pass. Mr. Summers, the towns lottery official, spoke frequently about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much as tradition as was represented by the black box. (Jackson 422) This illustrates the people are blind to the idea of even tampering with their sacred box. They have grown with the tradition and find discomfort in the idea of change. Every year, after the lottery, Mr. Summers began talking about a new box, but every year the subject was allowed to fade off without anythings being done. (Jackson 422) With the keyword allowed, it illustrates the peoples reaction by ignorance. Every year the suggestion is made, and every year the suggestion is purposely disregarded for the sake that their tradition be unchanged. There is a sense that should the box be changed, so should the lottery and its purpose. Some places already quit lotteries, Mrs. Adams said. Nothing but trouble in that, Old Man Warner said stoutly, Pack of youn g fools. (Jackson 425) This illustrates the beliefs of a majority. Old Man Warner being the oldest man in the town was looked uponShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson993 Words   |  4 PagesSpanish author, When we blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons. We cease to grow. Shirley Jackson was born in 1919 in San Francisco, California to Leslie and Geraldine Jackson. She is most well known for her short story titled â€Å"The Lottery† which was first published in The New Yorker to overwhelming and mixed reviews. The lottery, as portrayed in the short story, is a religious, annual ceremony in the afternoon of June 27. This event is said to be olderRead MoreLiterary Elements in The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson1334 Words   |  6 Pagesthink it was innocent because of how they blindly followed a tradition? The short story, â€Å"The Lottery,† by Shirley Jackson communicates this theme by showing how the villagers participate in a lottery every year. In life, there are people who follow tradition because the have to, or they are used to following without question. The author, Shirley Jackson was born on December 14, 1916 in San Francisco, California. In 1937, Shirley Jackson attended Syracuse University where she began to write shortRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of The Lottery By Shirley Jackson910 Words   |  4 PagesLiterary Analysis of the Short Story â€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson Shirley Jackson explores the subject of tradition in her short story â€Å"The Lottery†. A short story is normally evaluated based on its ability to provide a satisfying and complete presentation of its characters and themes. Shirley describes a small village that engages in an annual tradition known as â€Å"the lottery†. Narrating the story from a third person point of view, Shirley uses symbolism, foreshadowing and suspense to illustrateRead MoreIgnornance of Tradition in The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson1014 Words   |  5 Pages Tradition, defined as the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction. (Tradition) Tradition is a core trait of humanity, from the time before recorded history to present, humanity has followed traditions or customs that have been passed down from generation to generation. More often than not communities all over the world blindly f ollow these practices with little regard to who startedRead MoreThe Lottery Literary Analysis1538 Words   |  7 Pageswarmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green† (Jackson). In this first sentence of the The Lottery Shirley Jackson establishes a pleasant illusion, creating a sense of serenity. Jackson proceeds to mention that children begin to gather in the village, frolicing and conversing about school. The initial scene and satirically labeled title, The Lottery, provide a somewhat satisfying first impression to the reader. The introductory scene is eminent toRead MoreThe Unexpected Surprise of Violence1009 Words   |  5 Pagesvalued once risks are taken, but the outcome is never expected. Shirley Jackson, reader of witchcraft books, horrifies people with her perspective on the understanding of merciless rituals that kept communities at ease. Shirley Jackson develops her theme of unexpected violence in her short sto ry â€Å"The Lottery† through the use of irony, symbolism, and denouement. On a summer day in a small town in the short story, â€Å"The Lottery†, Jackson takes advantage of the peaceful environment and adds a convolutedRead MoreThe Lottery by Shirley Jackson Essay1410 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"The lottery† ENGL 202: Literature and Composition Spring 2013 Turbian Style Thesis: Death is the main theme of both short stories and both authors portrayed this dark and dreary idea as a game the characters are playing. Outline: â€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson vs. â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† by Richard Connell I. Introduction: a. Traditional acts and survival instincts is the key to win or lose the game of death b. Will one allow society or your own reasoning decided if oneRead MoreThe Lottery By Shirley Jackson873 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Lottery† â€Å"The Lottery† was written in 1948 by Shirley Jackson. Mrs. Jackson, born in 1916, was known for her tales of horror and supernatural novels. She and her literary critic husband, Stanley Edgar Hyman lived in a little town called Bennington, Vermont. Mrs. Jackson was not accepted by the town. Her novels, especially â€Å"The Lottery†, revealed the dark side of human nature. Stephen King honored Shirley Jackson by dedicating his book Firestarter to her. â€Å"The Lottery† takes place on JuneRead MoreCompare And Contrast The Lottery By Shirley Jackson1012 Words   |  5 Pages Fiction Essay Young Goodman Brown vs. The Lottery Authors: Nathaniel Hawthrone and Shirley Jackson ENGL 102 Spring Zuidema October 16, 2017 Page Break Nyasia Midgette ENGL 102 October 9, 2017 Thesis Statement: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthrone stories, Shirley Jackson encourages her readers to question their beliefs, actions, and the world by creating struggle. PageRead MoreSummary On The Allegory Of Shirley Jacksons The Lottery871 Words   |  4 Pages Shirley Jackson’s story â€Å"The Lottery† serves as an allegory regarding humankinds inherent to be cruel and society’s ability to inure to violence. The author’s use of a third-person dramatic narrative combined with strong themes, symbols and irony clearly supports the lesson Jackson was trying to portray. Jackson’s short story shows how easy it is to be hostile when a group of villagers with a herd mentality blindly follow an outdated tradition and that evil knows no boundaries. Jackson

The Consequences Of Global Warming - 1579 Words

The Consequences of Global Warming What does someone think of when the topic of global warming is presented? They might think of the earth warming, or the sun burning up, but do they think of the affects this issue has caused our Mother Earth or think about what they do on a day-to-day basis as being the prime contributor to this environmental problem? Do they realize or even worry about the next generation dying because of the various factors of global warming? Some may think of global warming as a tale or publicly over-rated, but what they do not realize is that global warming has become one of the top three environmental problems of the century. Some do not agree that humans are to blame, only nature going through its natural cycle. Although, scientists around the world are now beginning to have proof of this cause-and-effect we have placed on our planet which is beginning to answer the question of global warming being real. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, â€Å"The earth’s a verage temperature has risen by 1.4* over the past century, and it is projected to rise by another 2 to 11.5*F over the next hundred years. Small changes in temps of the planet can translate to large and potentially dangerous shifts in climate and weather† (â€Å"Climate Change: Basic Information†). Because of human activities, global warming has been created, which is the key component to habitat loss, extinction of species, unpredictable weather patterns, and the chance of moreShow MoreRelatedImminent Consequences Of Global Warming1700 Words   |  7 PagesImminent Consequences of Global Warming There is a dire divide between scientists and politicians in the world that has potential to seriously harm the entirety of the Earth. Nothing represents that divide as closely as the debate over climate change. In a NASA article describing global warming and authored by Holli Riebeek, it was found that an almost unanimous amount, 97%, of climate scientists believe that there is strong evidence to confirm global warming (Riebeek) Many world governments reflectRead MoreCauses And Consequences Of Global Warming2177 Words   |  9 PagesJainam Shah Professor Larry Menna SOIM-UB 125.007 04/03/2016 Causes and Consequences of Global Warming in California Fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, have facilitated global economic development by stimulating the industrial sector. Formed when organic matter gradually concentrates over the span of millions of years, fossil fuels constitute the world s primary source of energy. Upon extraction, they are processed in refineries to create invaluable rawRead MoreCauses And Consequences Of Global Warming1662 Words   |  7 PagesHow would you feel if you were the cause of Global warming? Unfortunately, science shows that is exactly the case. In a report in 2001, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated, There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities†. Global warming comes as a direct result of the greenhouse effect- the trapping of the sun s warmth in a planet s lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphereRead MoreClimate Change Is The Consequence Of Global Warming1096 Words   |  5 Pagesrotted vegetation. Climate change has often been confused with global warming, which in fact has an opposite meaning. Climate change in truth is the consequence of global warming. This is because when the temperature increases, the additional energy modifies all the patterns of which humans are familiar with. It refers to â€Å"long-term change† in Earth’s climate which includes warming, cooling, and other changes besides temperature. Global warming is the temper ature increase assembled by adding the greenhouseRead MoreCurrent And Future Consequences Of Global Warming2373 Words   |  10 PagesBajunaid GLOBAL WARMING Current and Future Consequences of Global Warming 11/5/2014 Abdulrahman Al Shahri Deniz OÄŸuzer Isfan Satrya Global warming is defined as the continuing increase of global temperatures of the earth’s atmosphere and surface. This paper addresses the possible causes for this phenomenon, its effects on societal structure and policy, possible solutions, and the way going forward. GLOBAL WARMING Al Shahri, Oguzer, Satrya Current and Future Consequences of Global Warming NovemberRead MoreGlobal Warming: Contemporary Issues Companion1526 Words   |  7 Pages(IPCC), a group of scientific experts assembled by the United Nations, released a frightening report on the potential consequences of the climate phenomenon known as global warming. The panel found that the 1990s had been the warmest decade on record and predicted that temperatures will rise anywhere from 2.5 to 10.4 degrees around the world over the next century, causing changes to global weather patterns. Indeed, unusual and frequently destructive weather had been occurring around the globe: twenty-sevenRead MorePros and Cons: Global Warming Essay917 Words   |  4 PagesAlleged Global Warming has been a hot topic and been widely reported in the American media since the 1970s. In March 2014, TED, a nonprofit committed to expanding ideas with short talks, gave a powerful presentation of the alleged current consequences of Global Warming in Gavi n Schmidt’s (2014) talk: The emergent patterns of climate change. His claims are stark and he implores his audience to take the grave predictions of Global Warming seriously and not just write it off as insignificant. WhileRead MoreGlobal Warming And The Greenhouse Gases1720 Words   |  7 PagesMany people know that global warming is an issue in today’s world because news media and politicians always talk about global warming and the greenhouse gasses. It seems like an issue that is not going to go away, and it is going to stick around for some time. As early as in 2006, Al Gore, the former vice-president of the United States, said that the burning of the fossil fuels was one of the reasons that increased the amount of carbon dioxide, and he said that if carbon dioxide could melt the polarRead MoreGlobal Warming : Physics And Its Outcome On The World1528 Words   |  7 PagesGlobal Warming: Physics and Its Outcome on the World People complain about hot summers, and to cold of winters, why it would still be snowing during May in North East, Ohio. These temperature changes could all be a result of one thing, global warming. Global warming is a change in temperature due to gases and solutions humans put into the environment. The gases and solutions effect the natural gases in the environment that maintain the temperatures around the world. Although that is how global warmingRead MoreEnvironmental Risk Perception Paper1324 Words   |  6 Pages Environmental Risk Perception Paper Justin Yates Environmental Psychology June 17, 2014 Gerry Lloyd Environmental Risk Perception Paper As the earth continues to age, there are many harmful and lasting direct consequences that the earth and the human nature have endured. The earth as well as humans has to digest all the pollution, deforestation, changes in the environment, and the epic fails of humans trying to better the human life through technology and many projects

Problems, challenges, prospects and success (a case of malawian companies) free essay sample

Overall, probably the greatest benefit comes from the fact that a computerized accounting system can do the same thing as a manual system, but does them better1. Many software or accounting packages have been developed which can be used in various businesses, whether small or large. This project paper discusses the computerization of accounting functions and looks at the problems, challenges, prospects and success in selected two Malawian business organisations. 2. 0 INTRODUCTION Manufacturing and trading entities are important organs of the world’s economic dimension. Companies and other entities need to communicate to the employees and public and statutory administrative bodies about the transactions they perform which have financial implications. This need is precisely addressed by a language called accounting. Accounting is hence the language of business2. Until about one hundred years ago all accounting data was kept by being recorded manually in books. Nowadays although manual accounting system may be used (particularly by smaller organisations) most accounting data is recorded electronically and stored electronically using computers. We will write a custom essay sample on Problems, challenges, prospects and success (a case of malawian companies) or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Most businesses now use modern computerized accounting systems. It is worth noting that the benefits of using computerized accounting system vary from business to business with each one deriving different benefits. The decision by an organization to have computerized accounting system depends on the company’s need to have accurate , consistent and timely data in a variety of reporting formats3. This project paper will discuss the computerization of accounting functions in two selected organisations. The paper will discuss the theoretical aspects of computerization, the benefits and disadvantages of computerization, the determinant factors for computerization in the two organisations. The paper will also discuss critical issues on computerization of accounting functions relating to policy, legal framework, financing, hardware and staffing. Challenges and prospects of computerization will be discussed and recommendations will be made on computerization in general and the two companies in particular. The methodology used in the study is that questionnaires were administered to key staff in accounts and information technology departments in the two organisations. The responses to the questionnaires have formed the basis of this project paper. The organization also employs temporary staff and labourers especially during the period it is conducting the Government subsidy programme. The organization has a head office in Blantyre and it has three main depots which have warehouses in Blantyre Lilongwe and Mzuzu. SFFRFM has satellite depots through which it sells fertilizer through the country. The organization has computerized almost 70% of its accounting functions and uses Proteus SCO-Unix software. Some of its accounting functions like stocks, debtors and fixed assets are not yet computerized. Alliance One Tobacco (Malawi) Limited (Alliance One) was formed on 13th May 2005. Alliance One is one of the only two global independent publicly held leaf tobacco merchants. Alliance One primary business revolves around the selection, purchase, processing, storage, packing, shipping and sale of leaf tobacco. The tobaccos are used internationally in branded cigerettes. Alliance One is a multinational company. Alliance One consolidated entities employ approximately 4,400 persons excluding seasonal employees. Alliance One use SAP accounting software which is supported by ToPS and IFAS as subsidiary packages. All accounting functions of Alliance One are computerized. 3. Computerized accounting system uses computer software to process accounting data and information. The computerized accounting system follows the same process as the manual accounting system. This means that in the computerized accounting system there are same stages of input, processing and output as in the manual accounting system4. Manual accounting implies that employees perform the whole accounting cycle manually on a periodic basis: they calculate trial balances, journalize transactions, prepare financial statement reports and other routines. Of course it takes much time, resources and effort in large organisations. Computerized accounting implies that the only thing that employees do is recording transactions into the computer which processes other steps of accounting cycle automatically or by request5. Accounting is purely human invention, having no independent existence in nature. Hence, it cannot in any true sense have been discovered, but it must have been constructed by human minds to serve human needs. Meigs et al 19996 specified the basic functions of accounting systems, in developing information about the financial position of a business and the results of its operations; every accounting system performs the following basic transactions: 1. Interpret and record the effects of business transactions, 2. Classify the effects of similar transactions in a manner that permits determination of the various totals and subtotals useful to management and used in accounting reports, and 3. Summarize and communicate the information in the system to decision makers. Computers can be used in all aspects of the accounting system. When computers are used for some or all of accounting activities they can do everything that can be done with a manual system, but computers often do them faster, more accurately and more efficiently. The benefits which accrue to SFFRFM and Alliance One when using computerized accounting system are numerous. Some of the benefits are as follows: saving costs and money, the software in SFFRFM and Alliance One costed the organizations a lot of money and the organizations pay a licence annually. However despite these costs the overall effect of using Proteus and SAP accounting software has resulted in the saving of costs and money. As indicated the functions of SFFRFM are spread across the country, information is hence supposed to be sent daily by pony to head office for collating. These functions are however done online greatly reducing costs. This also leads to the benefit of saving time. This is unlike in manual system where the information is supposed to be sent to head to be recorded manually. This could take a lot of time, however this is done right at the depots saving time. Another aspect of time management is that the information in the two organisations is processed on time and targets are met. The two organisations are huge in size and transactions so processing the information using computerized accounting system saves time and man power unlike if it could have been done manually. In Alliance One the linkages SAP accounting system has with the other subsidiary packages means there is less manual intervention saving the users a lot of time. The other benefit is minimization of mathematical errors, the functions which are done manually in SFFRFM have a lot of mathematical errors which is unlike the case for functions done in Proteus. The other notable thing is that mistakes can easily be corrected in Proteus unlike in manual accounting system which is a tedious task. Generation of reports is automatic and instant, this becomes handy when preparing Board meetings which needs various reports at a short notice. Speed of data entry is another advantage, this can be carried out more quickly than in manual processing. The data to be entered in the software in SFFRFM relates to data from the whole country which is entered directly at depots. If the whole data would be gathered and entered manually at head office it would lead to a lot of time wastage. The other thing is that information is up to date as the accounting records are automatically updated. When Management request for information the information is instantly available, the information can be made available to other users like the Board, internal auditors, external auditors or Malawi Revenue Authority instantly. The other benefit which stood out from the two organisations for using computerized accounting software rather than manual accounting system is increased job satisfaction. Computerized accounting system is efficient as better use is made of resources and time, further the onscreen and printed data is legible and hence avoidance of errors which are caused by poor figures. Staff motivation is another benefit. Staffs in SFFRFM and Alliance One have been trained in Proteus and SAP accounting software on several occasions. The staffs are also constantly trained when the packages are being upgraded. The training makes the staff feel more motivated. Integrity of data is another advantage in Proteus and SAP accounting software, the data produced is accurate this is because there is less room for errors as only one accounting entry is needed for each transaction rather than two or three for a manual system. The use of Proteus and SAP accounting software has also lead to reduced staff frustration, especially Management who usually are now on top of the accounting systems leading to reduced stress levels. There are also several disadvantages as well of using computerized accounting software. When the Proteus package was first introduced in SFFRFM it came with several technical problems. The technical problems had to be rectified using the local technical support, Burco Electronics. Some of these problems which arose due to bad programming and inappropriate software subsist to date. SAP accounting software is also poorly programmed in that it does not have all the features needed. The other disadvantage is power blackouts, when there is a power blackout some entries could hang. Fortunately the computers are connected to Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) which allow any entries which have hang to be saved for later correction. The computerized accounting system for the two organization are also prone to hackers and viruses, this can arise in case of poor controls. The hackers can access the accounting system without permission and enter data or delete accounting files. This is however safeguarded by having an anti-virus installed which is upgraded by the technical support team of Burco Electronics in case of SFFRFM from time to time. Proteus and SAP accounting package are dynamic, they keep on changing, the systems are hence costly as they require constant upgrading. Staff need to be constantly trained as well so as to effectively manage and use the systems. Some of the benefits of computerization bring problems of their own. The extraction of too many various reports that could not be achieved under a manual system can also lead to information overload as decision makers suddenly find they have too much information for them to fully understand and apply. The reports and information extracted from a computer can only be as good as the data placed into it – the well-known â€Å"garbage in, garbage out† situation. If the full benefits of computerization are to be enjoyed, regular checks need to be made to ensure that the data input is accurate and timely7. The other disadvantage is that of computer fraud if proper levels of control are not properly instituted. The good thing about Proteus and SAP is that both packages have different levels of control depending on seniority in the organization hierarchy. The need to computerize accounting functions in SFFRFM and Alliance One was due to several factors. In order to stay on top the two organisations have to analyse the performance of all organizational cells and discover all the deviations from the plan, their causes and finally the organisations’ management has to take corresponding measures to avoid such deviations in the future. To that end management needs financial and accurate information for making decisions. The information need to be availed to management with speed. Using that information management is able to identify and solve problems in the two organisations. The information to be availed to management need to be easily available and the reports need to take various forms which will enable management to make good, right and timely decisions for the organisations. The two organisations are required to reveal certain financial and management reports to the government and public users, in that regard management need to fulfill such difficult reporting requirements and provide financial information in formats required by their governing bodies such as Malawi Revenue Authority and the Board. As already alluded to, the use of computerized accounting system in the two organisations save money and costs. Management of the two organisations need to be more cost effective and this requires them to do more with less in terms of time and resources. 6. 0 DETERMINANT FACTORS FOR COMPUTERIZATION The main aim of computerized accounting system is to perform the processing stage electronically, much more quickly, consistently and accurately than if it were done manually8. The factors which were considered by the two organisations when buying Proteus and SAP accounting software respectively were several. The needs of the two organization were the main consideration to buy the software. Proteus software is used mostly in warehousing and distribution and suitable for operations which are spread over a large area i. e. the whole country. SAP accounting software was chosen by Alliance One Head Office in the United States of America. SAP is a global package hence all users have access to global support. The other consideration was scalability especially for Proteus. Proteus has the ability to meet future financial accounting needs of the organization as the organization grows. Proteus package has been upgraded by the organization on several occasions to meet emerging business needs. The other factor which was considered was the technical support for the software. Proteus has the support from local software suppliers Burco Electronics. SAP accounting system is supported in many countries as well as it is a global package. The support has also taken the form of training in that each and every time Proteus package changes or is upgraded, the technical support team conducts training in the organization. Proteus and SAP accounting software are user friendly. Further Proteus is able to interact with other packages like Excel. SAP accounting software is able to interact with Excel and other subsidiary packages namely ToPS and IFAS. The software used by the two organisations has features which the organisations need. Some features will be needed to be added to Proteus software like stocks, fixed assets and debtors modules. These modules will have to be added because they are now needed by the organization. The SAP accounting package does not have all the required features, there will hence need to upgrade the package with the needed features in the future. The other factor which was considered in determining the software to use in the organizations was accountants interface. The accountants were consulted when buying the software like Proteus. Several dealers came to the premises at SFFRFM to do demonstrations of the accounting packages and the accountants were present during the demonstrations. The subsidiary packages for Alliance One, ToPS and IFAS were bought after consulting the accountants so as to supplement the main accounting package SAP. The availability of qualified staff to operate the accounting software in the two organisations was also considered before buying the software. A special Data Entry Clerk was recruited in SFFRFM to handle Proteus. The duties of the Data Entry Clerk also include training other staff in the use of the package and offering first hand technical support if there is a problem. A review of the hardware requirements for the software was conducted in the two organisations. Enough hardware with special features to handle the accounting software were bought. As already stated Proteus requires to be upgraded, this will need additional hardware to be used by staff who will be dealing with the added modules. Apart from the factors considered mentioned above, there were also several numerous factors which were considered before buying the software like the actual cost of the software, the size, language and consideration to buy major brands. The two organisations also shopped around to look for a supplier who can offer the best value of money for the chosen software. The two organisations have written ICT policy documents which regulate the usage of the accounting software. The policies restrict among other things downloading of software from the internet which can corrupt the accounting package. The policies also deal with levels of approval and access to the accounting package. The use of the accounting software to perpetrate fraud is prohibited. The policies also restrict unauthorized access to accounting information and modifying of its contents. Legal Framework Certain functions that are illegal are prohibited to be carried using the software or organisation’s computers. Deliberate and serious breach of the policy statement will lead to disciplinary measures which may include the offender being denied to computing facilities, termination of service or legal action. Financing Proteus and SAP accounting software requires that a licence fee be paid annually to enable users access the systems. If the licence has expired it may be difficult to run the software. Both accounting packages are dynamic and changes frequently requiring upgrades. The upgrading of the accounting software requires the payment of extra money. When the package needs extra features, such additional modules are bought using money and this can be quite costly. Hardware Hardware to be used for the software is bought from reliable sources to ensure compatibility and uniformity with the package. Installing of software on organisation’s hardware is also restricted as such software may corrupt the accounting software. Use of hardware for leisure or personal purposes like accessing internet, sending and receiving personal mail, playing games etc is monitored and controlled to avoid abuse. The staff are also required to care for hardware equipment assigned to them for their day to day work. The care include not to take food or drink whilst using hardware, not to re-arrange how equipment is plugged, switching off computers when not in use etc. Staffing Computerization of accounting functions results in efficiency and less manual intervention; it enables certain functions to be done by fewer people. When Proteus was introduced in SFFRFM it led to reduction of staff in accounts, the excess staff were assigned other duties leading to more efficiency. An extra person was recruited in accounts, a Data Entry Clerk, to operate the Proteus accounting package. 8. 0 CHALLENGES AND PROSPECT The introduction of Proteus and SAP accounting software in SFFRFM and Alliance One was a positive move with lots of benefits and advantages as already discussed. However the introduction of the accounting packages has its own challenges and limitations. Some of the challenges include that the flexibility of the staff in using accounting software poses a big problem. Most of the staff especially in SFFRFM are not well versed with computers, the staff were employed a long time ago when the organization was starting and do not have an indepth knowledge of information technology. There was also great resistance to change when the system was being introduced in SFFRFM due to the caliber of staff. The other challenge is the frequent power blackouts experienced especially in Malawi. The two organizations have Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) which enable staff to continue working for a limited time when there is a power blackout. Proteus and SAP accounting package are advanced and are not easily corrupted when there is a blackout. The packages are also able to save the entries before the computer switches off. The other challenge experienced especially with SAP accounting software is that it does not have all the required features. The system does not meet all the needs of the organization. All Alliance One entities use the same package which is interlinked, this means that there is strict control especially on access to certain information for fear of hackers or unauthorized usage. The packages are also very costly since they need constant upgrade which requires money. The users need to frequently go for training as well which is costly. The most notable prospect of Proteus computerized accounting software is the scalability. The software can be upgraded based on the requirements of the business, there is currently a need to upgrade the software to include stocks, fixed assets and debtors module. 9. 0 ACTUAL FINDINGS IN SFFRFM AND ALLIANCE ONE SFFRFM accounting system is partially computerized. The accounting package used in SFFRFM is Proteus SCO-Unix. The other accounting functions like stocks, debtors and fixed assets are not yet computerized. All in all about 70% of the accounting functions in SFFRFM are computerized. Proteus accounting software was chosen because of its flexibility in terms of warehousing and distribution. SFFRFM has got warehouses which are used to keep fertilizer. The operations of SFFRFM are spread across the whole country, the system can also be run on a wide area network online. The most direct benefit of Proteus to SFFRFM is that it is easy to follow transactions. Adjustments can also be done easily in Proteus, this is unlike in the manual system where to do adjustments is pretty tedious. The computerized accounting system also reduces costs of running business in the organization. In a manual system documents are supposed to be sent from the whole country to head office to be keyed in. This does not happen in Proteus as data entries are made right at the depots. The big disadvantage of Proteus is the cost of running the software, the software needs regular upgrading. The upgrading is costly and it also comes with staff training costs. SFFRFM intends to upgrade the software. This poses a challenge as at the moment the software is not being fully utilized, only 50% of the functions of the software are in use. The first step before upgrading is to make sure that the modules available are being fully utilized to avoid creating confusion. In conclusion there is big difference in terms of accuracy, speed and efficiency between the functions that are manual in SFFRFM and those that are computerized. Manual accounting system is tedious and time consuming due to the magnitude of the organization and the sheer volume of transactions. Alliance One accounting system is fully computerized. All accounting functions in Alliance one are computerized. The accounting package used is SAP accounting software, there are also subsidiary packages which are used locally namely ToPS and IFAS. SAP accounting software was chosen by Alliance One Head Office in the United States and is being used by all its entities throughout the world. The main benefits of using the package is that the users have access to global support. SAP accounting also easily interacts with other software like Excel and its two subsidiary packages and there is virtually minimal manual intervention. The main disadvantage of using SAP accounting software is that all Alliance One entities throughout the world are linked and because of this the system can be slow. As some functions are controlled from head office, other people do not have access to certain functionalities. The package does not have all the required features. Alliance One accounting functions have never been manual. It is not possible to have a manual accounting system in Alliance One due to the sheer volume of transactions and also the fact that it is a multinational company spread across the world. Just like Proteus, SAP accounting system is dynamic and changes with time and hence it requires constant upgrading. The system requires extensive staff training because it is complex and is frequently upgraded. All this can be costly. 10. 0 CONCLUSION Accounting is an important part of every business. Accounting is the language of business which is accepted in all developed and developing countries. All features in a manual accounting system such as profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, cash flow statements and management information can be replicated in a computerized accounting system which not only does them quicker, more accurately and 100 percent consistently, but can also do them more frequently and do other things as well. The main aim of computerized accounting system is to perform the processing stage electronically, much more quickly, consistently and accurately than if it were done manually. Both managers and accountants need to appreciate that the use of manual accounting systems is inadequate when it comes to production of timely reports, accurate and reliable accounting information. 11. 0 RECOMMENDATIONS There are various recommendations which can be made following our discussion in the project paper relating to accounting software in general and the two organisations in particular. It is recommended that SFFRFM fully computerizes its accounting functions so that it is 100% computerized. The organization need to buy the modules for stocks, debtors and fixed assets. That way the organization can fully benefit from computerization of all of its accounting software. Most of the staff in SFFRFM are not well versed in computers. Staff should be sent on an extensive training so that it becomes easier for them to use computers and be conversant with accounting software. It is recommended that SFFRFM buys a power generator at its head office so that computing functions should not be disrupted when there is power failure. Several recommendations can also be made pertaining to Alliance One. It is being recommended that Alliance One upgrades its SAP accounting software so that it should have all the features needed. The upgrade should also look at the speed of the package as it is slow due to the fact that all Alliance One entities are interlinked. Control of the SAP accounting package from head office in United States should be minimized to enable other people have easy access to certain functionalities. Both organisations need also ensure that there are adequate controls on usage and access to computers to avoid hackers and computer fraud. The levels of control in access to the packages need to be strictly adhered to. REFERENCES 1. Wood, F and Sangster, A (2005) Business Accounting 1, Prentice Hall, 10th Edition 2. Horngren, C et al (2008), Introduction to Financial Accounting, 9th Edition 3. Breen, John, Sciulli, Nick Calvert (2003), â€Å"The Use of Computerized Accounting System in Small Business† A paper for the Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand 16th Annual Conference Ballarat, 28th September – 1st October 2003

The University of Virginia 2017-2018 Supplemental Essay Prompts Examples

University of Virginia is one of the most popular and respected public universities in the US, so much so it’s considered as one of the Public Ivy League Universities. Located in Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a highly competitive university in the US, especially for students interested in studying Engineering and Business. Home to almost 17,000 undergraduate students, UVA has a large suburban campus that offers students access to research and additional resources. If UVA is on your list of colleges, you’ll have 2 additional supplemental essays to write for your application. One of the supplemental essays is essentially the â€Å"Why UVA?† essay, and it is specific to the college in UVA you’ll be applying to. Supplemental Essay 1:All prospective students are asked to answer in approximately 250 words one of a series of questions corresponding to the school/program to which they are applying: College of Arts and Sciences: What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way?School of Engineering and Applied Sciences: If you were given funding for a small engineering project that would make everyday life better for one friend or family member, what would you design?Curry School of Education - Kinesiology Program: Discuss experiences that led you to choose the kinesiology major.School of Nursing: School of Nursing applicants may have experience shadowing, volunteering, or working in a healthcare environment. Tell us about a healthcare-related experience or another significant interaction that deepened your interest in studying Nursing.School of Architecture: Describe an instance or place where you have been inspired by architecture or design. Supplemental Essay 2: Additionally, all applications are required to pick one of the following essay prompts and write an additional supplemental essay. (Half a page, or roughly 250 words) What’s your favorite word and why?We are a community with quirks, both in language and in traditions. Describe one of your quirks and why it is part of who you are.Student self-governance, which encourages student investment and initiative, is a hallmark of the UVA culture. In her fourth year at UVA, Laura Nelson was inspired to create Flash Seminars, one-time classes which facilitate high-energy discussion about thought-provoking topics outside of traditional coursework. If you created a Flash Seminar, what idea would you explore and why?UVA students paint messages on Beta Bridge when they want to share information with our community. What would you paint on Beta Bridge and why is this your message?Successful Essay Examples: Need some essay inspiration? Weve curated a package of University of Virginia student profiles. The package includes students who applied to the College of Arts of Sciences, the Engineering School, and even for the Kinesiology Program. Additionally, each profile also selected to write on different essay prompts for the second supplemental essay. Want more access? Ourpremium plansoffer different level of profile access and data insights that can help you get into your dream school. Unlock any of ourpackagesor search ourundergraduate profile databaseto find specific profiles that can help you make an informed choice about where to apply!