Effectiveness of Software Quality Assurance in Offshore Development Enterprises in Sri Lanka

EFFECTIVENESS OF SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE IN OFFSHORE DEVELOPMENT ENTERPRISES IN SRI LANKA Malinda Sirisena, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Moratuwa. ABSTRACT The aim of the research described in this thesis is to evaluate the effectiveness of software quality assurance approaches of Sri Lankan offshore software development organizations, and to propose a framework which could be used across all offshore software development organizations. An empirical study was conducted using derived framework from popular software quality evaluation models.The research instrument employed was a questionnaire survey among thirty seven Sri Lankan registered offshore software development organizations. The findings demonstrate a positive view of Effectiveness of Software Quality Assurance – the stronger predictors of Stability, Installability, Correctness, Testability and Changeability. The present study’s recommendations indicate a need for much emphasis on software quality assurance for the Sri Lankan offshore software development organizations. Keywords: Software Quality Assurance (SQA), Offshore Software Development, Quality Assurance Evaluation Models, Effectiveness of Quality Assurance. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Software Quality Assurance (QA) plays a major role in successful implementation and maintenance of a software project. In many organizations, QA has been simply traded-off to project cost [1]. The motivation of this research is to highlight the value of Software Quality Assurance against the economic cost. The IEEE standard ANSI/IEEE 730-2002 defines software quality assurance as â€Å"a planned and systematic pattern of all actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that the software conforms to established technical requirements†[2].QA is not only holding a direct relationship of meeting customer satisfaction, but it has a very high impact on project schedules and cost. Failing to pay attention is often resu lted in budget overruns and schedule delays [3]. Software Quality Assurance has paid back in many industries such as telecommunication, health, travel, law, hospital, government and schools in many American organizations. †¢ A system of teaching hospitals conservatively estimates $17. 8 million saved on an investment of $2. 5 million in quality management over a five-year time period. The University of Pennsylvania saved more than $60,000 a year from one project focused on reducing mailing cost. †¢ The U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reduced the time needed to produce the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI), compiled by 650 people in five departments, by 33 percent with no loss in accuracy. [4] Even in Sri Lankan software engineering companies, have been recognized QA as an important element. In 2005, Affno (www. affno. lk) has won the National Best Quality Software Gold Award for their product – eTender, which developed for Sri Lanka Telecom to automate their tende ring process [5]. 2 THEORETICAL BASE OF THE STUDY 2. WHAT IS SOFTWARE QUALITY The IEEE standard ANSI/IEEE 730-2002 defines software quality assurance as â€Å"a planned and systematic pattern of all actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that the software conforms to established technical requirements†[2]. By going down the path of IEEE definition, there are two major camps when defining software quality[6]: 1. Conformance to specification: quality defines in terms of the level which the product or service meets its’ written specifications. 2. Meeting customer needs: meeting customer’s explicit or implicit needs, irrespective of any measurable product or service characteristics.Currently software quality assurance is measured in two ways: from technical perspective and from user perspective[7]. In the technical perspective of measuring software quality is based on specifications. Developers measure quality and ensure specifications in terms of errors i n code through testing process and through other mechanisms such as formal specifications, structured programming[8]. End-user perspective of software quality is measured through user experience to denote how well software meets user expectations. User dissatisfactions do not necessarily be resulting from failure to meet specifications or coding errors. . 2 SOFTWARE QUALITY MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHIES This section of the literature presents different philosophies of quality from view points of quality management gurus. These quality management philosophies could be a good alternative to formalized quality models which the research is going to based on. Quality management requires customer satisfaction, prefers prevention to inspection, and recognizes management responsibility for quality[9]. 2. 2. 1 DEMING AND FOURTEEN POINTS FOR MANAGEMENT Walter Edward Deming defines quality in terms of customer satisfaction[10].Customer satisfaction is beyond conformance to specifications. According to Deming, the judge of quality should be the end user or the customer. Deming argues that management system should implement in a way that everyone in the organization to be responsible for quality of their output to the internal stakeholders. He introduced fourteen points for management for people to understand and implement necessary quality transformation[10]: 1. Create constancy of purpose for improvement of product and service: Stay in business and provide jobs through innovation, research, constant improvement and maintenance. 2.Adopt the new philosophy: For the new economic age, management needs to take leadership for change into a learning organization. 3. Cease dependence on mass inspection: Eliminate the need for mass inspection by building quality into the product. 4. End awarding business on price: Aim at minimum total cost and move towards single suppliers. 5. Improve constantly and forever the system of production and service: Improvement is not a one-time effort. Man agement is obligated to continually look for ways to reduce waste and improve quality. 6. Institute training: Workers should be trained properly on their jobs. . Institute leadership: Leading shall consist of helping people to do a better job and to learn by objective methods. 8. Drive out fear: To assure better quality and productivity, people feel secure. 9. Break down barriers between departments: Team work culture across departments. 10. Eliminate slogans, exhortations and numerical targets: Let workers formulate their own slogans. Then they will be committed to the contents. 11. Eliminate numerical quotas or work standards: Quotas take into account only numbers, not quality or methods. They are usually a guarantee of inefficiency and high cost.A person, in order to hold a job, will try to meet a quota at any cost, including doing damage to the company. 12. Remove barriers to taking pride in workmanship: People are eager to do a good job and distressed when they cannot. 13. Inst itute a vigorous programme of education: Both management and the work force will have to be educated in the new knowledge and understanding, including teamwork and statistical techniques. 14. Take action to accomplish the transformation: It will require a special top management team with a plan of action to carry out the quality mission.A critical mass of people in the company must understand the 14 points. 2. 2. 2 JURAN AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TOP MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT TO QUALITY Joseph M Juran proposes two meanings to quality[11]: 1. Quality consists of those product features which meet the need of customers and thereby provide product satisfaction. 2. Quality consists of freedom from deficiencies. In the handbook Juran propose quality as â€Å"fitness for use† rather than â€Å"meeting customer needs† he argues that it is not a feasible task to meet customer need. His view is much closer to the thought – â€Å"conformance to specifications†.Juran propose s three fundamental managerial processes for the task of managing quality. The three elements of the Juran Trilogy are[11]: 1. Quality planning: A process that identifies the customers, their requirements, the product and service features that customers expect, and the processes that will deliver those products and services with the correct attributes and then facilitates the transfer of this knowledge to the producing arm of the organization. 2. Quality control: A process in which the product is examined and evaluated against the original requirements expressed by the customer. Problems detected are then corrected. . Quality improvement: A process in which the sustaining mechanisms are put in place so that quality can be achieved on a continuous basis. This includes allocating resources, assigning people to pursue quality projects, training those involved in pursuing projects, and in general establishing a permanent structure to pursue quality and maintain the gains secured. 2. 2. 3 CROSBY AND STRIVING FOR ZERO DEFECTS Philip B Crosby is a â€Å"conformance to specification† adherer. Crosby summarizes his perspective on quality in fourteen steps that is built around four fundamental â€Å"absolutes† of quality management[12]: 1.Quality is defined as conformance to requirements, not as â€Å"goodness† or â€Å"elegance† 2. The system for causing quality is prevention, not appraisal. That is, the quality system for suppliers attempting to meet customers' requirements is to do it right the first time. Crosby is a strong advocate of prevention, not inspection. In a Crosby oriented quality organization everyone has the responsibility for his or her own work. There is no one else to catch errors. 3. The performance standard must be Zero Defects, not â€Å"that's close enough†. Crosby has advocated the notion that zero errors can and should be a target. . The measurement of quality is the cost of quality. Costs of imperfection, if corrected, have an immediate beneficial effect on bottom-line performance as well as on customer relations. 2. 2. 4 ISHIKAWA AND FISHBONE DIAGRAM Kaoru Ishikawa defines quality as â€Å"meeting customer needs†[13]. He further argues that no specific quality standard could ever define and following them does not meet the expected quality levels. According to Ishikawa, quality is a very broad concept which goes beyond product, service, process, information quality, etc.He introduced quality circles through Fishbone diagrams. 2. 2. 5 FEIGENBAUM AND TOTAL QUALITY CONTROL Armand Vallin Feigenbaum built his thought around â€Å"total quality control†[14]. Feigenbaum states that quality is a dynamic factor which must be defined in terms of customer experiences. He further states that quality should satisfy customers’ explicit and implicit needs[14]. 2. 3 SOFTWARE QUALITY MODELS Previous section focus on different view points of quality management gurus. These points wi ll be helpful in solving common quality management problems in Sri Lankan, offshore enterprises.Quality management philosophies presented in the previous section represent flexible and qualitative view of quality; this section will present a rigid and quantitative[15] quality structure, which will be a roadmap of identifying independent variables for current study. 2. 3. 1 MCCALL’S QUALITY MODEL Jim McCall’s quality model is primarily aimed towards the system developers and development process, however he has tried to bridge the gap between users and developers by focusing on number of quality factors, considering both user’s and developer’s priorities[16, 17].The quality model is organized around three quality characteristics[16]: Figure 1: McCall’s quality model organized around three types of quality characteristics McCall’s model furthermore elaborated with a hierarchy of factors, criteria and metrics around the three types of major pers pectives. Figure 2: McCall’s quality model Eleven factors on the left-hand side of the model represent the external view of quality as viewed by end users. These eleven factors attribute to twenty three quality criteria, which describe the internal view of software. The evaluation is done by answering each quality criteria with â€Å"yes† and â€Å"no†.Finally the quality level is derived as a percentage based on the responses received as â€Å"yes†. 2. 3. 2 BOEHM’S QUALITY MODEL Barry W Boehm’s model has similarities to McCall’s model. His qualitative approach of defining quality stems from three levels in the hierarchy, which ends with primitive characteristics[18]. These primitive characteristics individually contribute to the overall quality level. Figure 3: Boehm's software quality characteristics tree[19]. Quality measurement is carried out through extent or degree to which the product or service achieves each characteristic[19] . 2. 3. 3 ISO 9126Among the ISO 9000 series of quality standards, ISO has released the ISO 9126: Software Product Evaluation[20]. Figure 4: The ISO 9126 quality model [20]. ISO further proposes quality characteristics/guidelines to evaluate the above six areas of importance. Figure 5: ISO 9126 quality attributes Each quality factor/ six areas of importance is represented by sub-factors as depicted in the above diagram. Details of each selected attribute will be discussed in the next chapter. 3 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK This chapter elaborates how the conceptual framework for the study has been derived through the existing work identified in the literature review. . 1 EXISTING WORK Since the study is on evaluating software quality from software developing organization’s view, it is necessary to filter down the quality attributes discovered in the literature, only to represent developer view of software quality. Therefore it has been decided to take the union of developer related qu ality attributes from all three popular models referred in the previous chapter. It is not an easy task to differentiate developer oriented quality attributes from user oriented attributes as quality classifications are different from each model and some attributes are subjective to their multiple definitions.For a consistent interpretation of the quality attributes, the definitions of attributes have been used according to Software Engineering Institute’s (SEI) Software Technology Roadmap glossary[23] and ISO 9126[24] definitions. 3. 1. 1 DEVELOPER ORIENTED ATTRIBUTES FROM MCCALL’S MODEL McCall’s model mainly goes hand in hand with external quality factors. Following are the quality attributes extracted from McCall model, which are related to developer related quality based on SEI definitions. Selected Attribute Maintainability SEI Definition[23] â€Å"The ease with which a software system or component can be odified to correct faults, improve performance, or other attributes, or adapt to a changed environment. † â€Å"The degree to which a system or component facilitates the establishment of test criteria and the performance of tests to determine whether those criteria have been met. † â€Å"The ease with which a system or component can be modified for use in applications or environments other than those for which it was specifically designed. † â€Å"The ease with which a system or component can be transferred from one hardware or software environment to another. â€Å"The degree to which a software module or other work product can be used in more than one computing program or software system. † â€Å"The ability of two or more systems or components to exchange information and to use the information that has been exchanged. † Testability Flexibility Portability Reusability Interoperability Table 1: Developer related quality attributes from McCall’s model 3. 1. 2 ADDITIONAL ATTRIBUTES FROM BOEHM ’S MODEL Boehm’s model, which has put the utility perspective in terms of quality, is much similar to McCall’s model.After evaluating definitions, following two attributes were added to the list. Selected Attribute Understandability Modifiability SEI Definition[23] â€Å"The degree to which the purpose of the system or component is clear to the evaluator. † â€Å"The degree to which a system or component facilitates the incorporation of changes, once the nature of the desired change has been determined. † Table 2: Additional developer related quality attributes from Boehm’s model 3. 1. 3 ADDITIONAL ATTRIBUTES FROM ISO 9126 Following are sub-attributes taken from the ISO 9126 definitions.Selected Attribute Analyzability ISO Definition[24] â€Å"The capability of the software product to be diagnosed for deficiencies or causes of failures in the software, or for the parts to be modified to be identified. † â€Å"The capability of the so ftware product to enable a specified modification to be implemented. † â€Å"The capability of the software product to avoid unexpected effects from modifications of the software. † â€Å"The capability of the software product to be adapted for different specified environments without applying actions or means other than those provided for this purpose for the software considered. â€Å"The capability of the software product to be installed in a specified environment. † â€Å"The capability of the software product to co-exist with other independent software in a common environment sharing common resources. † Changeability Stability Adaptability Installability Co-existence Replaceability â€Å"The capability of the software product to be used in place of another specified software product for the same purpose in the same environment. † Table 3: Additional developer related quality attributes from ISO 9126 model 3. 1. 4 FINAL ATTRIBUTE LISTAfter anal yzing the above mentioned attribute lists and completing the preliminary studies, the list could filter down to the following for the current study. 1. Correctness 2. Testability 3. Changeability 4. Stability 5. Installability In the following sections, each of above attribute will be discussed in terms of their quality characteristics. 3. 1. 4. 1 CORRECTNESS SEI defines correctness as â€Å"The degree to which a system or component is free from faults in its specification, design, and implementation†[23]. McCall attributes correctness through[16]: †¢ †¢ †¢ Traceability Completeness ConsistencyThrough traceability, it makes possible to know the relationships of each module or component and thereby higher confidence states correctness. Completeness assures that there are no parts left in terms in executing a function of a system or a procedure; thereby 100% completeness ratio guarantees correctness. Inconsistent systems or functions will lead to higher error pro bability; therefore it is a part of correctness. Through the initial discussions with some key personnel, it was revealed that these characteristics are equally hard to reach to achieve Correctness. . 1. 4. 2 TESTABILITY SEI defines testability as â€Å"The degree to which a system or component facilitates the establishment of test criteria and the performance of tests to determine whether those criteria have been met†[23]. Both McCall and Boehm have attributed testability to quality assurance on following characteristics[16, 18]: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Simplicity Instrumentation Self-descriptiveness Modularity and structuredness Accountability Accessibility Communicativeness. Simplicity of applications will make easier in testing comparatively to complex applications.Instrumentation makes possible to put probes in the system in order to deduce test data. Self-descriptive systems have inbuilt help or system documentation which will be sufficie nt to understand the system by going through. Modularity helps in isolating system tests which structuredness denotes consistent organization of the system. Accountability on system for which it is possible to measure the usage of the code[19]. Such measurements are typically covered by debugging tools, which exist specifically for programming languages. Accessibility of a system allows usage of its parts in a selective manner[19].This allows in creating flexible test scenarios. Through communicativeness, systems make easier to understand inputs and output, which makes easier to compose test cases. 3. 1. 4. 3 CHANGEABILITY ISO defines changeability as â€Å"The capability of the software product to enable a specified modification to be implemented†[24]. Changeability is an attribute defined in ISO 9126 and lacks supporting characteristic definitions. However changeability could be achieved through: †¢ Aiming simple solution rather than complicated systems as by nature si mple applications are easier to change. Low coupling of individual modules of a system as lower interactions make easier to change individual components. †¢ Designing the systems change in mind from the beginning while keeping application evolution. 3. 1. 4. 4 STABILITY ISO defines stability as â€Å"The capability of the software product to avoid unexpected effects from modifications of the software†[24]. Therefore stability in this context does not denote the ability of the system to show stable behavior when used. However, if modification often results in unexpected behavior, there will be a high impact on stability.Stability is directly influenced by Changeability. Low changeability is likely to show low stability. This will depict the fact that, trying to change a low changeable system will lead to a greater risk of instability. 3. 1. 4. 5 INSTALLABILITY ISO defines Installability as â€Å"The capability of the software product to be installed in a specified enviro nment†[24]. Installability requirements are generally specified in the form of an installation process. The target environment in this case will have to be known at the development time.Installability is measured as a percentage exercised of the total specified Installability requirements. In the Sri Lankan context, Installability is commonly referred as Deployability. 3. 1. 5 RELATIONSHIPS OF VARIABLES Having identified the variables and attributes, it had been decided to limit the study to following variables, after interviewing key quality assurance personnel in target organizations. Based on their arguments, on applicability to offshore organizations, the best suited variables have been selected for the study. Dependent Variable: Effectiveness of Software Quality Assurance Independent Variables: . Correctness a. Completeness b. Consistency 2. Testability a. Simplicity b. Modularity c. Structuredness 3. Changeability a. Simplicity b. Coupling 4. Stability a. Changeability 5 . Installability Having identified the variables, following relationships have been derived based on the reviewed literature in the previous section. Correctness Testability Effectiveness of Software Quality Assurance Changeability Stability Installability Independent Variables Figure 6: Schematic diagram for conceptual framework Dependent Variable 3. 2 HYPOTHESES FORMULATEDIn order to statistically test the derived conceptual framework, following hypotheses have been formulated. Since the study is targeted to test each independent variable separately, hypotheses also have been formulated independently to each independent variable. H01: there is no relationship between the Correctness of software developed and released to QA team), on the effectiveness of software quality assurance approach. HA1: the greater the Correctness of software developed and delivered to QA team, the higher the effectiveness of software quality assurance approach.H02: there is no relationship between the Tes tability of software developed and released to QA team, on the effectiveness of software quality assurance approach. HA2: the greater the Testability of software developed and delivered to QA team, the higher the effectiveness of software quality assurance approach. H03: there is no relationship between the Changeability of software developed and released to QA team, on the effectiveness of software quality assurance approach. HA3: the greater the Changeability of software developed and delivered to QA team, the higher the effectiveness of software quality assurance approach.H04: there is no relationship between the Stability of software developed and released to QA team, on the effectiveness of software quality assurance approach. HA4: the greater the Stability of software developed and delivered to QA team, the higher the effectiveness of software quality assurance approach. H05: there is no relationship between the Installability of software developed and released to QA team, on the effectiveness of software quality assurance approach. HA5: the greater the Installability of software developed and delivered to QA team, the higher the effectiveness of software quality assurance approach. RESEARCH DESIGN Research design will outline the roadmap of achieving the research objectives thorough the identified variables and theoretical framework. Details of study Purpose of the study Type of investigation Extent of researcher interface Minimal: studying events as they normally occur and defining a framework Study setting Measurement Measurement and measures Effectiveness of Software Quality Assurance in Emerging Offshore Development Enterprises in Sri Lanka Descriptive: quality evaluation framework Hypothesis testing: to validate the evaluation frameworkCorrelation: study of correlations to effectiveness against evaluation factors Noncontrived: study in real business environment Quality factors and their applicability through quality matrices and Likert scales Data analysis 1. Classification of data 2. Goodness of data Unit of analysis Sampling design Time horizon Data collection method 3. Hypotheses testing Individuals based on job categories in Offshoring organizations Judgmental sampling of individual in the entire population of offshore enterprises Crosssectional Interviews, Questionnaires, Observations Figure 7: The research design 4. 1 TYPE AND NATURE OF THE STUDYThe study was an empirical study through analysis of responses to the questionnaires which was formulated through the conceptual framework. 4. 2 DATA COLLECTION METHODS Since the study is on offshore software development organizations, it has been decided to collect data from all registered companies in Software Exporters Association Sri Lanka and seven other offshore software development organizations in Sri Lanka. There were forty seven registered members as of first August, 2007. Questionnaires were distributed to the key quality assurance person or to the most senior quality assurance person in each organization. . 2. 1 QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN A structured questionnaire was used to gather responses apart from the preliminary interviews. The questionnaire is divided in to four main sections. Section one has eleven questions, capturing organizational demographics of the responder. Section two has six questions, to capture responder’s personal demographics. Section three is the main section of the questionnaire which captures organizations’ software quality assurance, project specific demographics and responses to test the conceptual framework. Section four is targeted to capture additional information for the conceptual framework. RESULTS OF DATA ANALYSIS Responses received had been categorized to qualitative data and quantitative data. Qualitative data had been used to understand the responder’s and company background. Quantitative responses, where the scale data is measured have been assigned scores as per following table for statisti cal analysis. Response Selected Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree Score Assigned 1 2 3 4 5 Table 5: Rates given for questionnaire responses Each response was individually assessed to ensure data validity and integrity.Incomplete responses have been followed up with the responder with available contact information and have been able to complete in many instances. For the blank responses, score three was assigned in case the question is not applicable to the responder’s organization. Following summary shows the statistics of the questionnaire distribution and responses received. Number of Organizations that Questionnaire had been sent 47 SEA registered companies + 7 other offshore companies Total Responses Received 39 Invalid / Unusable 2 Number of Valid Responses 37Table 6: Statistics of questionnaire distribution responses received 5. 1 PILOT STUDY To test the primary data a pilot study was run among fourteen Quality Assurance Engineers at an offshore so ftware development organization, using a draft questionnaire. On the scale of reliability in order to treat results with credibility[25] and the internal consistency of the draft questionnaire, was checked by using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The alpha coefficient should be above . 7 for the scale to be reliable[26]. The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was . 81, thus the questionnaire was considered to have a good internal consistency and suitable for collecting the data for the main study. Details of Cronbach’s alpha are discussed under Analysis of Reliability Section, below. 5. 2 PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS All thirty seven organizations selected as valid responses are exporting software. 89. 19% of the selected organizations are locally owned while 10. 81% of organizations which are in Sri Lankan operation are owned by foreign parties. 64. 86% of the target organizations are project based companies while 21. 2% of the organizations focus only on their own pro ducts. However 13. 51% of the organizations undertake client projects while they market their own products. 10 8 No. of Organizations 6 4 2 0 1. 00 2. 00 3. 00 4. 00 5. 00 6. 00 7. 00 8. 00 12. 00 14. 00 No. of years in Sri Lankan Operation Figure 8: Analysis of organizations against number of years in operation According to the above graph, most of the Sri Lankan offshore organizations under the current study have started their operation two years before. 75. 68% of the responders were males and the balance 24. 32% were females.The average age of responders was 30. 11 years. On an average, they posses one year of experience in their current position in the respective organizations. The following chart represents the education level of responders. 30 25 20 Count 15 10 5 0 Non IT Graduate IT/Comp. Science Post Graduate Graduate Deploma MSc/MBA/Post Graduate Degree Other Education Level Figure 9: Education level of responders Majority of quality assurance heads in the target organizat ions posses Information Technology or a Computer Science degree. 3. 03% Little Early 9. 09% On Time 24. 24% Too Delayed 3. 64% Little Delayed Figure 10: Project completion against estimates Responders were asked to select a completed project/product when they responded to part 3 of the questionnaire. The above pie chart highlights the project/product completion time against the estimates of the selected projects by the responders. From the selected projects/products, majority have been completed with a little delay from the estimates. Mean and the variance are calculated for each question under each independent variable and the dependent variable through the assigned scores as per Table 5.Question No. Question Mean Variance Effectiveness of Software Quality Assurance 18 19 20 21 22 23 Software QA is a very important discipline in our organization Without QA our products/services will not meet current level of customer satisfaction Our Software QA approach/practice helps us in winnin g new businesses Our organization has adequate number of QA Human Resources Our organization has invested enough in Software QA tools Our Software Development or any other Process has considered QA as a major practice 3. 622 4. 081 3. 811 3. 919 3. 514 3. 865 0. 686 0. 99 0. 658 0. 465 0. 812 0. 842 Correctness 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 â€Å"If the systems or components we deliver meet specifications to 100%†, we can say that it’s a high quality factor Systems or components we deliver, always met specifications Uniformity of functionality/operations/navigation of the designed system always contributed to high quality System maintained Uniformity of functionality/operations/navigation across individual functions If a function of a system, completes its execution without in between failures, we can say it is a high quality factor.Our systems do not fail in executing a function or procedure to its completion Our QA team measures our systems, whether they meet specifications o r not 3. 703 3. 568 3. 703 3. 324 3. 243 3. 243 4. 108 0. 604 1. 141 0. 715 1. 003 0. 745 0. 634 0. 544Testability 37 If all functionality/operations/navigation of systems could be tested enough, then we can say it denotes high quality All the functionality/operations/navigation of our systems are properly being tested by our QA team Even the complex operations of our systems are represented by simple user interactions in order to make applications simple and user friendly Our applications are decomposed in to manageable modules in implementation in a practical manner Consistent organization of modules/code are evident in our applications Our QA team measures or put emphasis on testability (Simplicity, Modularity, structuredness) of applications during the QA cycle 4. 595 0. 303 38 4. 514 0. 312 39 4. 297 0. 270 40 3. 946 0. 330 41 3. 838 0. 417 42 4. 432 0. 308 Changeability 43 If a product allows a specified modification to be implemented without much difficulty, then we can say i t denotes a high quality factor Our systems do not need much effort to accommodate minor specification changes (i. e.Adding a new field to a form) at implementation or quality assurance stage Our systems maintain low interactions between individual modules, therefore it is easier to change individual components without affecting others Our QA team measures put much emphasis to test changeability and stability of systems during the QA cycle 4. 000 0. 111 45 3. 946 0. 164 46 3. 838 0. 251 48 3. 919 0. 299 Stability 44 If the systems avoid unexpected effects after modifications, it denotes a high quality or it’s a high quality factor After the design changes done to one module, our systems have very few side effects to other modules Our QA team measures put much emphasis to test changeability and stability of systems during the QA cycle 3. 595 . 359 47 3. 703 0. 437 48 3. 919 0. 299 Installability 49 If the system could be installed in a specified environment without challenges, it denotes high quality or it can be considered as a high quality factor Our systems do not get challenged during the installation in the agreed/specified environment Our QA team measures Installability of systems they test 3. 568 0. 863 50 3. 162 3. 541 0. 862 1. 311 51 Table 7: Means and variances of questions Frequency distributions of responses to each of above questions have been presented in Appendix 2. 5. 3 SECONDARY RESULTS ANALYSIS Primary data is further analyzed to derive more meaningful results.For statistical analysis, the ratings gathered through individual questions were summed up to derive scores for individual independent variables. Variable = sum of marks for relevant questions I. e. Correctness = Q30 + Q31 + Q32 + Q33 + Q34 + Q35 + Q36 Sample Mean, where, n = sample size, and = scores Sample Variance, Standard Deviation, Following table illustrates the statistics of independent variables, which denotes the effectiveness of quality assurance. Standard Deviation 0. 569 0. 552 0. 422 0. 327 0. 445 0. 752 Variable Effectiveness of QA Correctness Testability Changeability Stability Installability Mean 3. 802 3. 556 4. 270 3. 926 3. 739 3. 423 Variance 0. 324 0. 305 0. 178 0. 107 0. 198 0. 566Table 8: Basic statistics of independent variables and the dependent variable Following is the graphical illustration of above statistics. 4. 500 4. 000 3. 500 3. 000 2. 500 2. 000 1. 500 1. 000 0. 500 0. 000 Mean Variance Std. Div. Figure 11: Basic statistics of independent variables According to the above illustration, Testability contributes to QA effectiveness most while Changeability remains at the second position. Installability was rated as of least significant to the QA Effectiveness in the subject domain. 5. 3. 1 ANALYSIS OF RELIABILITY OF DATA Cronbach’s alpha measure is used to determine how well the target independent variables measure single, unidimensional QA Effectiveness latent construct.Cronbach's alpha can be written as a function of the number of test items AND the average inter-correlation among the items. N where, N = number of items and = inter-item correlation among items. Cronbach's Alpha Based on Cronbach's Standardized Alpha ( Items . 912 . 918 Table 9: Reliability statistics N of Items 28 Cronbach’s alpha for all twenty eight questions is 0. 912, which denotes that the collected data is acceptable for the research. 5. 4 HYPOTHESES TESTING Analysis had been done to test each set of hypothesis to find out whether there are relationships defined through the hypotheses exist among independent variables and the dependent variable.The correlations between the factors hypothesized to effectiveness of quality assurance shown in the following table: Set of Hypothesis/Independent Variable H1:Correctness H2:Testability H3:Changeability H4:Stability H5:Installability ** Correlation is significant at the 0. 01 level (2-tailed). Pearson Correlation/ Effectiveness of QA . 678** . 589** . 559** . 728** . 613** Sig. (2-tailed) . 000 . 000 . 000 . 000 . 000 Table 11: Correlations between hypotheses for quality assurance Hypothesis H1: According to Hypothesis H01, Correctness which is influenced by Consistency and Completeness has a positive relationship to effectiveness of software quality assurance approach. Since this hypothesis is supported by the data analysis (Sig. value was . 000, p

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This Embedded Assessment is very mentally challenging. The assignment keeps you thinking. After I heard our assignment for today, I just sat there wondering, which aspect of my life do I choose? Out of all my symbols which one is going to be the easiest to write about? I realized, it isn’t about getting it done quickly. It was about getting the most out of it. So without further ado I present to you†¦ two symbols of my home culture! I grew up very quickly and didn’t have much of a childhood. My culture is completely revolving around my family life. In a short period of time I changed a lot and matured more. My family and friends are extremely important to me. When I was younger my family broke apart for various reasons and since then I have not seen my father. It was hard trying to act like nothing had changed for us. I had to be a big sister and forget about my issues. Isabell is the largest aspect of my life and that can be an issue sometimes. Relationships between friends and boyfriends have been forgotten about because of our strong bond. That is why I chose a photo of my younger sister and I. It is a photo taken of Izzy and I, the day that she was born. Another artifact of my life I chose is one of my Cappie medals. The Cappies of Greater Cincinnati program is a way for teens in drama club can feel more rewarded in all aspects of the theater. Scott Drama is a program that is very welcome and inviting. Being in Drama is like having a second family that you can go to for all of your problems. We fight and bicker, but together we make some awesome shows. Last year we were nominated for several categories, which is a huge deal for a public school in Northern Kentucky. We are going up against schools like St. Xavier, Cincinnati Christian Schools, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy,Colerain High School, Sycamore High School,Taylor High School,Turpin High School and even School of Creative and Performing Arts. It’s very prestigious to even get nominated and even more so if you do win. It’s very close to my heart (literally).

Changing of Fashion styles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Changing of Fashion styles - Essay Example The essay "Changing of Fashion styles" explores the fashion trends and styles and their changing. To see how these general considerations apply in reality, we may turn our attention to a phenomenon with which all the Western societies have been increasingly preoccupied during the last couple of centuries, and the significance of which grew in the twentieth century to the level when this phenomenon turned into the most powerful fetish of modernity. This profound phenomenon is fashion, and aside from its elevated status this field of human creativity by means of the continual changing of fashion styles perhaps in the most persuasive way serves as a manifesto of the constant change as a slogan of humanity. However, it is my firm belief that the transience of fashion has its deep roots that connect it with some fundamental qualities of the social structure we are living in. With these considerations in mind, let us on the example of the continual changing of fashion styles try to take a closer look at the interplay of the promise of identity reinforcement that fashion apparently offers and the notion of obsolescence as its inevitable hidden companion that may in the end turn out to be the real driving force behind fashion as such. That fashion has since its inception been involved into the process of creation and confirmation of personal and social identities of people can be understood from the very definitions of both these terms. Indeed, we can define identity as a set of individual.

Primary Source Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Primary Source Analysis - Assignment Example The author seems to be the type of a person who has the feeling that the society from which he comes as it is more superior to the other communities. The author expresses biasness in the story by telling us that when the middle kingdom loses its rites; we have to look at them within the four barbarians. The statement expresses his biasness (Kim 7). There are several lessons that the story PuyÃ…  tells, these include strict cultural practices, beliefs and customs that we learn from his story, the writer puts forward the main economic activity of the barbarians by telling us how they have a suitable land for cultivation. The writer also highlights on various punishments given by the society when they have marriage issues, the issue of wife inheritance is also prevalent in some communities, and the writer puts it very clear. The story also talks about religious practices done by some communities in various times like before going to war. The story also talks about the society that keeps animals and how good some of these communities are at the practice (Kim

Financial Information for Business Decisions Essay

Financial Information for Business Decisions - Essay Example The global economy has undergone a drastic change due to recession and economic slowdown in different parts of the world, so on the basis of volatile economic condition, the companies have also changed their strategies and business models to survive in the market, and retain their position among the other players. In order to identify the repercussions of turbulent economic environment, and effects industrial factors on Wal-Mart, an overall analysis of the operations of Wal-Mart over five years would be done. Further, the competitors of Wal-Mart would also be analysed to gauge the position of the company, globally, in terms of market share. The financial analysis of the company would also reveal the financial stability of the firm, which would assist in deriving a conclusion regarding the effect of financial information on the business decisions of Wal-Mart. Company Overview Wal-Mart Store, Inc. is a multinational company which was established in the year 1945 and is headquartered at Bentonville Arkansas, United States (Yahoo Finance, n.d.). It is a publicly listed company and its shares are traded in the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) with the ticker symbol â€Å"WMT†. The company’s stocks were first traded at NYSE on August 25, 1972 (Wal-Mart, 2012a). Wall-Mart is engaged in retail or supermarket business in various formats around the world. Wal-Mart operates restaurants, retail stores, supermarkets, discount stores, hypermarkets, supercenters, apparel stores, warehouse clubs, etc. The products offered in the stores of Wal-Mart include frozen foods, meat, dairy products, bakery products, baby products, beverages, grocery items, electronic goods, household items and so on. Presently the business operations of Wal-Mart are divided into three broad segments, namely: a) the Wal-Mart International segment, b) the Wal-Mart US segment, and c) the Sam's Club segment. Retail stores of various formats are run by Wal-Mart in all the 50 states of US. Along with this it also operates its retail operations online through walmart.com. The international segment of Wal-Mart has its presence in 26 countries of the world and is also in the business of operating its retail operations in all those countries outside US. The Sam's Club segment of Wal-Mart includes membership based warehouse clubs that are operated in 47 states of US along with Puerto Rico (Wal-Mart, 2012b). The US business segment of Wal-Mart operates its business activities which are divided into six strategic merchandise units. They are: a) Grocery, b) Entertainment, c) Hardlines, d) Health and wellness, e) Apparel, and f) Home. All these six merchandise units offer different categories of merchandise products through its various types of retail stores located in different parts of US. In the recently published Fortune-500 list Wal-Mart has been ranked second, just after Exxon Mobil. Business Model Analysis of Wal-Mart After getting an overview regarding the operations of Wal- Mart, its business model would be studied in a comprehensive manner in this section. The current business model would be scrutinized and the changes that have taken place in the last five

Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Entrepreneurship - Essay Example Nevertheless, over the past ten years, healthcare industry has experienced tremendous growth which has promoted and created an environment for entrepreneurship to occur in the industry (Christopher & Kaur, 2011). The entire healthcare field has therefore been affected by entrepreneurship both in positive and negative ways. The level of health care delivered in healthcare organizations have been affected by entrepreneurship in the field. New creative and innovative thoughts have been formulated in the health care industry as a result of entrepreneurial activities. On the other hand freedom of choice plus intellection freedom for both physicians and patients have been greatly hampered with due to entrepreneurship. The main focus of this paper is to describe the manner in which entrepreneurship has affected health care in the organization. It also address the positive and negative ways that entrepreneurship has affected the health care field including an example of a current entrepreneu rial business and how it has affected the way staff do their jobs or the way patients receive services. Ways in which entrepreneurship has affected health care The process of entrepreneurship has greatly affected and influenced the level of health care delivered in healthcare organizations. ... This therefore means that generally, entrepreneurship has positively affected health care field. Entrepreneurial activities have also created networks of access, social relationships and given both patients and physicians good experience in the field (Christopher & Kaur, 2011). A great transformational change in health care industry has been experienced as a result of entrepreneurship. Reduced costs of operation have been experienced in health care industry as a result of entrepreneurship. This is due to new arrivals of entrepreneurs in the field who takes over the market thus creates competition while eliminating inefficiencies such as high costs and poor services (Christopher & Kaur, 2011). Entrepreneurship has made it possible for people to shop for healthcare in the United States and other developed nations across the world. Entrepreneurs have offered consumers with information regarding medical conditions, insurance options and drug information. This information has made it easy for patients across the world to order and arrange for medication in advance. Positive and Negative Ways that Entrepreneurship has affected the health care field Positive Entrepreneurship has created more opportunities in health care rather than exploitation. This is as a result of innovation which has done away with inefficiencies in the field of healthcare. Entrepreneurship has also lead to creation of more opportunities and enabled mobilization of resources (Christopher & Kaur, 2011). Entrepreneurs are people who visualized patterns thus end up creating more opportunities beyond human thoughts. Cultural and behavioral patterns have been created by physicians while investing in them. This has created more opportunities in health care industry that no one

Discuss s 51(xx) of the Australian Constitution - the Corporation Essay

Discuss s 51(xx) of the Australian Constitution - the Corporation Power - Essay Example tection of property from Federal acquisitions, freedom of interstate trade and the power of the Federal government to enter into external treaties etc. The Australian Constitution also provides for the existence of a Federal Parliament or the representative of the Queen, the Senate and a House of Representatives, whose members are chosen by the people of the Commonwealth in proportion to their numbers in various States. The Constitution provides that the Federal Parliament will have powers to make laws in relation to peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to matters related to trade, taxation, marriage, divorce, borrowing and much more. Section 51(xx) of Constitution, which is also known as the Corporations Power, grants the Federal Parliament the right to legislate in respect to foreign corporations and trading or financial corporations formed within the limits of the Commonwealth. The extent of the activities that can be regulated is unclear, but it has b een suggested that both acts of corporations related to trade and external activities are covered. This essay takes a look at this section of the Australian Constitution which has been used to bring into force The Trade Practices Act 1974, Corporations Act 2001, Foreign Acquisitions and Takeover Act 1975 as well as the Competition Policy Reform Act 1995 etc. The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia was framed in 1900 after the debates in the Australasian Federation Conference of 1890 and the Australasian Federal Conventions of 1891 and 1897-8. Those who attended these conferences were all sitting politicians who had been chosen by their respective colonial parliaments. The framers of the Australian Commonwealth Constitution had inherited principles of responsible government from the British Constitution and had adapted these principles to a Federation in the Australian context. The Constitution of Australia in an essence defines the structure of the Australian government,

Analysis of the Poem Kubla Khan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis of the Poem Kubla Khan - Essay Example The essay "Analysis of the Poem Kubla Khan" presents the analysis of the poem "Kubla Khan" by Samuel Coleridge, one of the widely analyzed poems in history due to its deep, captivating nature and a manner with which it helps in the portrayal of an unconscious mind. The poem describes a place called Xanadu where Kubla Khan resides. The excitement of the narrator about the river (Alph) is seen in the second stanza, where the narrator tells of the canyon through which the river flows. Nevertheless, the romance of the river is exhibited with the narrator making the river a haunted, spooky place where one could find â€Å"a woman wailing for her demon lover.† The poet goes ahead to describe how the river leaps and strikes the canyons, by exploding into noisy fountains initially and then sinks to the underground caves where it is marred with silence. The romance brought about by the imaginative language of the poet concerning the river is interrupted by the narrator focusing again o n Kubla Khan. He describes Kubla Khan, who is listening to the noise created by the river, and thinks about war, as a message the noise transcends. The smooth, beautiful and colorful rhythm of the landscape as painted by the narrator is interrupted in the fourth stanza by the narrator telling about another vision where a woman was playing an instrument and singing. The memory of the song sang by the woman fills the narrator with longing, and the narrator imagines himself singing his own song and using the song to create a vision of Xanadu.

Leadership diary 7 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Leadership diary 7 - Assignment Example The news revealed that the following leaders have agreed on the pay cut and remit these salaries to furloughed federal workers: President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Hagel, and Attorney General Eric Holder (Harding). This situation evidently describes leaders’ commitment to uplift the condition of workers, under their jurisdiction, by augmenting their income through personal resources, as a pledge of unselfish support and for the improvement of these workers’ conditions. Situation 2: Another remarkable leader is U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin of Rhode Island, who is reportedly afflicted with quadriplegia, but his disability did not detract him from being a public servant. He was recently awarded with the Henry Viscardi Achievement Award, â€Å"a new international Award designed to identify and honor people living with disabilities for their work and influence on the global disability community of more than one billion people† (NINE EXTRAORDINARY LEADERS IN THE GLOBAL DISABILITY COMMUNITY RECEIVE THE 2013 HENRY VISCARDI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD). His leadership in the local community was exemplified through his commitment as the chairperson of the â€Å"bipartisan Disabilities Caucus and is leading the fight for stem cell research funding and strengthening amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act† (NINE EXTRAORDINARY LEADERS: U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin par. 1). His exemplary endeavors and behaviors, despite physical challenges made him a perfect example of a contemporary leader in fulfilling leadership tasks and responsibilities. Harding, Alison. "Kerry pledges to donate portion of salary to charity." 5 April 2013. CNN Politics. 6 April 2013 . "NINE EXTRAORDINARY LEADERS IN THE GLOBAL DISABILITY COMMUNITY RECEIVE THE 2013 HENRY VISCARDI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD." 4

Stock Valuation Essay Example for Free

Stock Valuation Essay Invesco mortgage a Real-Estate investment trust company is a company that provides adjusted risk, to its customers primarily through dividend payout and secondly through capital appreciation. IVR isn’t the company seeking a favorable positive image in the community. Ivrs sole purpose is to generate profit and distribute it to the shareholder. As a mortgage specialist, Invesco has been well positioned to capitalize on the rebound in home values, rising mortgage volumes and lower delinquency rates. That has analysts looking for full-year earnings of $2 a share this year. With a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 8 times, below its peer average of 10, Invesco has value in addition to a serious yield of 13%. Upon further analysis of IVR and the company’s financial statements one can view a hybrid financial culture that some conventional ratio analysis doesn’t lend itself too. For instance generally one major ratio that can identify a company’s current capability to meet all of its financial obligations is the acid ratio test. IVR has an Acid ratio test of 1. 7. A company’s profit before depreciation and amortization to current liabilities indicates the companies’ ability to satisfy its short term obligations, the higher the PDACL ratio the better. PDACL ratio can be calculated by taking the company’s profit before depreciation and amortization divided by the company’s current liabilities. For Ivr this means $339,885 divided by 3,541 = . 95 or 95%. IVR net profit margin is 856% the net profit margin is calculated by taking net income divided by sales then multiplying the answer by 100. The net profit margin is best measured year over year and compared to industry competitors in order to identify a company’s efficiency as compared to other market participators. A recent article appeared in motley fool By (Adnan Khan – June 4, 2013). This article discussed Reit and what the forecast is for the industries market. According to Khan Hybrid business models stand the best chance of succeeding. A pick he viewed favorably is TWO. Yes TWO is truly the companies’ symbol on the exchange. Now let’s talk financials Two has a market capitalization of 1. 6 billion dollars. The current acid ratio for TWO is 1. 27 . Two has a PADCL ratio of 7. 56 percent which is a pretty high margin of safety meaning two could be a safe investment. One significant area of strength for IVR over TWO is the Operating cash flows to current liabilities ratio. Currently TWO has a ratio of . 9%. This ratio illustrates a company’s ability to create a profit off current cash flow and the ability to meet current debt obligations with current cash flows. A low value of OFCL identifies slightly higher risk.

An Overview Of Research Methodology Education Essay

An Overview Of Research Methodology Education Essay As research methodology is the plan and structure of investigation of an aim or problem on which research is relaying so different techniques are applied to get the answers of desired question. Methodology is the theory of how research should be undertaken, including the theoretical and philosophical assumptions upon which research is based and the implications of these for the method or methods adopted (Saunders. M, et al, 2007). According to the Kaplans discussion of this concept in The Conduct of Inquiry, He distinguishes several senses of methodology: (1) techniques, the specific procedures used in a given science; (2) honorifics, a ritual invocation attesting to concern with meeting standards of scientific acceptability; (3) epistemology, involving the most basic philosophical questions about the pursuit of truth. Research methodology is the overall process guiding the entire research project. Another way to look at methodology is to call it the primary evidence generation mechanism (Prashant. P, et al, 2003). It is also an activity which is time consuming so I am using dissimilar proficiencies. My main purpose of the research is to focus on the information technology and its effects at the time of its introduction on the workplaces. I am also analysing the difference among the condition of the workplace before and after the introduction of IT. I am also researching on the technologies (such as computers, digital cameras, automated chines etc) which are used in the workplace. THE RESEARCH PROCESS: The research process that will be utilized in this research is the research onion in order to ensure that it will get all the needed data necessary to accomplish my objectives. This is because conducting a research is like peeling the back layers of an onion-in order to come to the central issue of how to collect the necessary data needed to answer the research questions and objectives, important layers should be first peeled away. With the said process, I will able to create an outline on what measures are most appropriate to be applied in the study. The diagram below is an adaptation from Saunders. M, et al (2007) of the research process onion which is comprehensively introduces the theories of every step of methodology. There are five stages in the research onion: Philosophies, approaches, strategies, choices, time horizon and techniques and procedure. And my research process will conduct according to these stages. The first layer raises the question of the research philosophy to adopt, the second considers the subject of research approach that flows from the research philosophy, the third examines the research strategy most applicable, the fourth layer refers to the time horizon a researcher applies to his research, and the fifth layer is the data collection methods to be used. Research philosophies All research is based on assumptions about how the world is perceived and how we can best come to understand it and these assumptions are established on research philosophies. These assumptions will underpin the research strategy and the methods choose as a part of that strategy. According to Saunders. M, et al(2007), research philosophy is overarching term relating to the development of knowledge and the nature of that knowledge in relation to research. Johnson and Clark (2006) argues that the vital issue is not so much whether the research should be philosophically informed, but it is how well we are able to reflect upon our philosophical choices. My research will reflect two research philosophies which are Ontology and Epistemology. These assumptions consist of a stance toward the nature of reality (ontology) and how the researcher knows what she or he knows (Epistemology) (Creswell, W. J, 2007). Ontology: This is the philosophy which is related to the nature of reality and its characteristics. This philosophy raises the assumptions researchers have about the way the world operates and the commitment held to particular views. Ontology has two aspects, Objectivism and Subjectivism, which will both have their devotees among business and management researcher (Saunders. M, et al, 2007). OBJECTIVISM: An ontological position that asserts that social entities exist in a reality external to, and independent of, social actors concerned with their existence (Saunders. M, et al, 2007). SUBJECTIVISIM: An ontological position that asserts that entities are created from the perceptions and consequent actions of those social actors responsible for their creation. An extreme form, it may hold that the nature and existence of every object depends solely on someones subjective awareness of it. Subjectivism is a philosophical tenet that accords primacy to subjective experience as fundamental of all measure and law. In an extreme form, it may hold that the nature and existence of every object depends solely on someones subjective awareness of it (wekipidia.org). Epistemology: Epistemology is concerned with the study of knowledge and what we accept as being valid knowledge. The relationship between the researcher and that which is being researched is involved in this philosophy (Collis, J. and Hussey, R., 2003). The longer researchers stay in the field or get to know the participants, the more they know what they know from firsthand information (Creswell, 2007). Epistemology is further categorised in to three sub categories, Positivism, Realism and Interpretivism. (Saunders, et.al, 2009, p, 112) POSITIVISM: As my research reflects the philosophy of positivism in which I will adopt the philosophical stance of the natural scientist. Positivism is epistemological position that advocates working with an observation social reality. The emphasis is on highly structured methodology to facilate replication, and the end product can be law like generalisations similar to those produced by the physical and natural scientist (Saunders. M. Et al, 2007). REALISM Realism is another philosophical position which relates to scientific enquiry. It is the epistemological position that objects exist independently of our knowledge of their existence. The philosophy of realism is that there is a reality quite independent of the human mind. Realism is somewhat similar to positivism in that it assumes a scientific approach development of knowledge (Saunders. M. Et al, 2007). There are two forms of realism: direct realism and critical realism. Direct realism is the epistemological position that what we see is what we get: what we experience through our senses portrays the world accurately (Saunders. M. Et al, 2007). Another form is Critical realism which is also the epistemological position that what we experience are sensations, the images of the real world not the things directly (Saunders. M. Et al, 2007). INTERPRETIVISM: It advocates the necessity to understand difference between humans in their role as social actors. The emphasis of this philosophical research is on the people rather than objects such as trucks and computers(Saunders. M. Et al, 2007). The heritage of this strand of interpretivisim comes from two intellectual traditions: phenomenology and symbolic interactionism. Phenomenology refers to the way in which human make sense of the world around. Whereas, in symbolic interactionism we are in a continual process of interpreting the social world around us (Saunders. M. Et al, 2007). Research Approach Research Approach refers to the approach or the methodology that has been adopted to conduct the research. It basically involves the selection of research questions, the conceptual framework that has to be adopted, the selection of appropriate research method such as primary research, secondary research etc (blurtit.com). Research can be distinguished as belonging to one of two models a deductive (or top down) approach or an inductive (or bottom up) approach. Deductive approach is one in which a theory and hypothesis (or hypotheses) are formulated, and then a research strategy is planned to test these hypothesis. Whereas, in Inductive approach, data is gathered and the theory is developed as a outcome of the data analysis. (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2007) My research will be carried out through the inductive approach in which I will collect data from different resources and develops theory as a result of data analysis. An inductive approach is radically different from the deductive type. I have chosen the inductive approach because it does not have the same strength of relationship between reasons and conclusion. To induce something is to draw a conclusion from one or more particular facts or pieces of evidence. The conclusion explains the facts support the conclusion (Blumberg. B, et al, 2008). Research strategy: My research is explanatory in which I am examining the relationship between variables which are information technology, workplace and the people. In order to get a clearer view of the relationship I will collect the qualitative data to explain the reason that how the information technology has impacted the workplace. My research strategy for this work is grounded theory. Research strategy: Grounded theory is often thought of as a best example of the inductive approach developing and building method. Grounded theory is, according to Goulding (2002), particularly helpful for research to predict and explain behaviour, the emphasis being upon developing and building theory. A grounded theory is the research strategy in which theory is developed from data generated by a series of observations or interviews principally involving an inductive approach, definition by Saunders. M, et al (2007). According to Steren (1994, pg 273), grounded theory is one of the interpretative methods that share the common philosophy of phenomenology that is, methods that are used to describe the world of the person or persons under study. A key idea is that this theory development does not come off the shelf, but rather is generated or grounded in data from participants who have experienced the process (Strauss and Corbin, 1998). The roots of grounded theory can be traced back to a movement known as symbolic interactionism whose origins lie in the work of Charies Cooley (1864 1929) and George Herbert Mead (1863 1931). The concern of these scholars was to avoid the polarities of psychologism and sociologism (Goulding, C., 2000). Grounded theory was originally developed in the 1960s by two American sociology scholars focusing largely on the health/nursing field, Barney G. Glaser and Anselm L. Strauss, and started to become well known with the publishing of their book, Discovery of Grounded Theory (1967)( Mello, J and Flint, D. J., 2009). In grounded theory, data collection starts without the formation of an initial theoretical framework. Theory is developed from data generated by a series of observations. These data lead to the generation of predictions which are then tested in further observations that may confirm, or otherwise, the predictions (Saunders. M. et al, 2007). Methodology uses a systematic set of procedures to develop an inductively derived grounded theory about a phenomenon. The findings of the research constitute a theoretical formation of the reality under investigation, rather than consisting of a set of numbers, or a group of loosely related themes (Strauss and Corbin, 1990, ed. 1). OBJECTIVES OF GROUNDED THEORY Essentially, the objective in grounded theory is to build mid range theory. The emphasis on building effective and complex theory, grounded in data, at various levels of generality, characterizes its most important purpose (Mello, J and Flint, D. J., 2009). Grounded theory is predicated on the idea that social science theory can be built from data systematically obtained in a social setting (Robrecht 1995, p.170). Theory emerges from very deep and contemplative analysis of data obtained in the field rather than from a prioi assumptions developed before the research begins (Mello, J and Flint, D. J., 2009). Grounded theory researchers aim to develop theories that enable explanation of behavior, are applicable in practice, and provide hypotheses that can be verified. Two features of grounded theory that help set it apart from other qualitative methods are (1) it is not limited to description of the phenomenon, but seeks to develop theoretical concepts, and (2) it is not bound to a particular unit of analysis, time, or place. This allows researchers to develop a grounded theory and apply and test it in areas outside the original study (Mello, J and Flint, D. J., 2009). The grounded theory perspective of what constitutes a theory is defined by Strauss and Corbin (1998, p.15) as a set of well developed concepts related through statements of relationship, which together constitute an integrated framework that can be used to explain or predict phenomena. Theory is constructed from conceptual categories and their properties. Research Choice (Method): The way in which a researcher chooses to combine the qualitative and quantitative techniques and procedures is said to be research choice. Research choice can also be said as research design. Research choice is categorise in two types: Mono and multiple method. Mono type method is that in which we use single data collection technique and corresponding analysis procedures. Whereas, multiple method is that in which more than one type of data collection technique and analysis procedures are used. In business research, mostly multiple methods is used for the combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques and procedures as well as for primary and secondary data. (Saunders, et.al, 2009, p, 151) Multiple methods are further categorized into Multi methods and Mixed methods. Multi method is a term refers to those mixtures where associated analysis techniques use more than one data collection technique, but this method is limited within either a qualitative or quantitative world view (Tashakkori and Teddlie, 2003). My business research will reflect multi method qualitative research studies in which I will collect my data while using qualitative technique which is interviews. As my data is qualitative so I will analysis it by using qualitative procedure. Time horizon There are generally two time horizons for the research strategy. The one is cross sectional, in which the study of particular phenomenon (or phenomena) is conducted at particular time period. And the other is longitudinal studies which is, as stated by Saunders, et al(2009), a series of snapshots and also said to be a diary that involves repeated observations of the same items over long periods of time often many decades.For my research project, the limited time period is provided and according to specific time period, I will consider cross sectional studies in which I will take a snapshot of Information technology in the work place. Data Collection Procedures I will use different categories of procedures for my research. To achieve the research aim, a mixed method qualitative approach will be adopted. Primary Data The primary research is that when source is an original document containing firsthand information about a topic. For e.g. Diaries, Interviews, Letters, Original works of art, Photographs, Works of literature. I will be collecting my primary data by interviewing with different people working in different places. According to Zikmud (2003)),Interview is the method of collecting information through face to face contact with the individuals. Interviewing: I will collect my primary data by interviewing personnels from different people working in different workplaces such as banks, hospitals, offices, educational sectors retail business, industries, etc. An interview is a powerful discussion between two or more people (Kahn and cannel, 1957). The use of interviews can help to gather valid and reliable data that are relevant to research questions and objectives (Saunders. M, et al, 2007). Interviews are associated with the positivist and phenomenological methods. They are the methods of collecting data in which selected participants are asked questions in order to find out what they do, think or feel(Collis, J. and Hussey, R., 2003). Interviews make it easy to compare answers and may be face to face, voice to voice or screen to screen; conducted with individuals or a group of individuals (Collis, J. and Hussey, R., 2003). Interviews may be highly formalized and structured or they may be informal and unstructured. In between there are int ermediate positions. One typology that is commonly used is thus related to the level of formality and structure, whereby interviews may be categorized as one of: structured interviews, semi structured interviews, unstructured or in depth interviews (Saunders. M, et al, 2007). I will conduct semi structured interview in which I will have a list of all the questions to be covered during interview. Semi structured interviews are non standardised and are often referred to as qualitative research interviews. Although the response may be vary from interview to interview. I may also omit or add some questions according to the flow of conversation. The major advantage of this strategy is that with the more natural discussion the greater detail and variety can be provided by respondents. I will consider the individuals from any firms, organisations (Governmental and Non for profit), Banks and other places which are located in Middlesbrough. I will conduct face to face interviews from individuals and take the notes of the responses which are given by respondent. In these interviews I will ask them that what latest technologies they are using in their workplace and what are the benefits or drawbacks of technological advancement. How these technologies are making the workplace better from the previous time. Secondary Data: Secondary research is that when someone else has collected the data and the researcher interprets and analyses primary sources. Secondary data included both raw and published summaries (Saunders. M, et al, 2007). Secondary data include both qualitative and quantitative data and they are used principally in both descriptive and explanatory research. When secondary data is used, it is easy to build the research on the past collected information of business knowledge which is gathered by others experiences. The advantage of using secondary data is that it can be obtained rapidly and is less expensive as compared to collect primary data (Zikmund, 2003). In contrast, some disadvantage of secondary data is that they were not designed specifically to meet the researchers need and user has no control over their accuracy, they may also be inaccurate. Different researchers have generated a variety of classifications for the secondary data. These classifications do not; however capture the full variety of data. The three main sub groups are created for secondary data, which are documentary data, survey based data and those compiled from multiples sources (Saunders. M, et al. 2007). The secondary data which I am collecting in my research is compiled from multiple sources. The most important characteristic of secondary sources is that they offer an interpretation of information gathered from primary sources. For e.g. Dissertations, Indexes, Abstracts, Bibliographies, Journal Articles, books, Newspaper, Internet. Research ethics: Ethics are moral principles, norms or standards of behaviour that guide moral choices about behaviours and relationships with others. In business research, ethical issues come to the fore whenever a conflict arises between the desire to conduct research that meets the highest quality standards or the request of the sponsor on the one hand, and societal values like, say, privacy, freedom and honesty on the other (Blumberg, B. et al, 2008). Ethics is the study of the right behaviour and address the questions of how to conduct research in a moral and responsible way (Blumberg, B., 2008). Ethics is also said to be, the appropriateness of the researchers behavior in relation to the rights of those who become the subject of a research project, or who are affected by it ( Saunders. M, et al, 2007). In most research situations, three parties are involved: the researcher, the sponsoring client (user), and the respondent (subject)(Zikmund. 2003). Within business and management research, there are two dominant philosophical standpoints: deontology and teleology (Saunders. M, et al, 2007). The deontological view argues that the ends served by the research can never justify the use of research which is unethical. In contrast, the teleological view argues that the ends served by your research justify the means. Consequently, the benefits of your research findings would be weighed against the costs of acting unethically. This approach has an added complication as you also need to consider whether the benefits of the research are morally just (Saunders. M, et al, 2007). When ethics are discussed in research design, the first priority is to protect the right of the participant, respondent or subject. Whether data are gathered in an experiment, interview, observation or survey, the respondent has many rights to be safeguarded (Blumberg, B. et al, 2008). In general, the research must be designed so a respondent does not suffer physical harm, discomfort, pain, embarrassment or loss of privacy (Blumberg, B. et al, 2008). To safeguard these things, I will follow three guidelines, first I will explain the benefits of the study then I will explain the participants rights and protection and in the last I will obtain secure informed consent.

Diction in Disillusionment of Ten O Clock :: Ten O Clock Essays

Diction in Disillusionment of Ten O' Clock  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     What do you dream about? Do you dream of exciting adventures and think of colorful worlds? Wallace Stevens claims that sailors are the ones scattered throughout society who dream of these things. The author implies that this is his message through denotation, connotation, and his use of negative versus positive diction.    The denotation in Stevens' poem displays his weariness of society's dull approach to life. When he begins talking about how, The houses are haunted by white night-gowns. None are green, or purple with green rings, he's complaining about how people in society dream of normal un-imaginative things. But, to dream of baboons and periwinkles, is what we should strive to dream of. These things are what the drifters, like a sailor, dream of. He uses the sailor image to convey the individual in society who doesn't live the normal life. He could have replaced this image with a number of other names referring to a non-traditional lifestyle, but only chose the sailor to represent all of those individual people scattered throughout the crowd who, under all the stereotypes, really are full of great ideas and hold what would contribute a great deal to the normal, white night-gowns, image of society.    Throughout Stevens' poem, he uses connotation to get his point across to the reader. When he speaks of people, With socks of lace and beaded ceintures, he is describing the physical appearance of normal, dull, people of society who are the ones who dream of boring, black and white images. He contrasts this with the sailor's shabby appearance, drunk and asleep in his boots, but also dreaming of catching, tigers in red weather. This contrast sends his message with a strong, clear impression to the reader. He covers his opinion on the outward and inward appearance of both roles in society, proving his point that the outcast members of a community are the ones who actually are living the colorful, enriched lifestyle.    By using both negative and positive words, Stevens is able to make the distinction between the two conflicting roles in society once again. When the author explains how, none of them [the ordinary people in society] are strange, with socks of lace and beaded ceintures, he is using the word strange as a negative way to describe the conforming people in the world.

Roddenberrys Vision of Epistemology :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The television series Star Trek: Deep Space 9 takes place on a space station where different planet's cultures, morals and religious values collide. These differences cause the conflicts that form the basis of the stories. Some people in these cultures lead very nominalistic lifestyles, while others are more realistic and extremely devout in their beliefs in their Gods. These differences can be seen in episodes such as â€Å"In The Hands of the Prophets,† â€Å"The Abandoned,† or â€Å"Life Support.† The struggle between nominalism and realism has been a familiar idea on earth ever since the theme of a God was introduced. This same struggle will always exist forever unless there is some definitive proof of God. The more realist ideas of Descartes and John Locke assist in one's understanding of Star Trek's themes. Descartes and Locke's epistemological philosophies are reflected in the philosophical aspect of Gene Roddenberry's ideal society.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As Star Trek's creator, Gene Roddenberry has had a huge effect on the philosophical beliefs reflected in the show. Most episodes are a direct mirror image of his thoughts. Since he was a teenager, Roddenberry strongly questioned the validity of religion and became an atheist in â€Å"The Humanist Interview,† he said â€Å"religion was largely nonsense — largely magical, superstitious things. In my own teen life, I just couldn’t see any point in adopting something based on magic, which was obviously phony and superstitious.†i When commenting on his first experiences doubting religion. His views on religion first appeared on Star Trek: The Original Series when he refused to have a chaplain aboard the starship Enterprise. Since that early point, Roddenberry rarely addressed the issue of religion. Deep Space 9, the first series that he did not produce, developed episodes using religious themes. Although Roddenberry did not directly influenc e this series, his beliefs about realism and nominalism still applied in the episodes. Even though Roddenberry was a humanist, he did not completely reject all religions or the people who followed them. Tolerance was one of his best traits, and it was projected in Deep Space 9, through the large diversity of species and religions and the deep personalities of their members. Even though most species did not believe in each others religions, they were still able to learn from each other.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While the religions found in Star Trek are fictional, they still contain value, both to the other characters on the show as well as to the viewers.

Cochlear Implants and the Internet :: Health Disability

On-line communities are something I have never participated in. I have always felt (due to personal observations of friends using chat rooms and listening to other’s renditions of their experiences) these communities can, and most often do, consume inordinate amounts of time and spare time is a rare commodity for me. Beyond the time consumption, from my observations of chat rooms, there are rarely any well-thought-out responses to the topic of discussion. In fact, often there are inane and childish retorts that just stir up the emotions of those involved and tend to sidetrack the majority as they rally against the perpetrator. On the other hand, I assume there are places where professionals can have relevant and introspective discussions, but I had never viewed, participated in or even read archived logs of such discourse. I imagine these â€Å"professional† discussions could be highly beneficial interactions for problem solving, as well as being supportive while offering constructive criticism. Since my specialty is education of the deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH), I have been exposed to the highly emotionally charged debates on the issue of cochlear implants (CI). I was interested in finding out how easy (or difficult) it would be for hearing parents with deaf children to receive balanced and unbiased information on cochlear implants. Could they acquire the knowledge they would need in order to make informed decisions on behalf of their children on the World Wide Web? For those unfamiliar with CIs, the simplest explanation is to think of it as a high powered hearing aid which is surgically implanted in the recipient’s head (actually the inner ear) and feeds electrical impulses directly to the brain. It does not take away or alter a person’s deafness. When the processor is on, the implant stimulates hearing. When it is turned off, the hearing is gone. Maybe a short description of the process would be appropriate to insert here before continuing. First a recess is drilled in the temporal bone of the skull (behind the ear) and a magnetic disk is placed in this well. Connected to this disk is a wire—actually a bundle of wires depending on the CI’s number of channels or frequencies.

Role-playing

Mr. Justice Unreasonably, yesterday ordered that a 13 yearned Dutch girl who has lived for eight years with a Malay woman in Java and Malay should be given into the care of the Netherlands Congealers who, It Is understood, will return her to her parents In Holland. After the decision, the girl, Maria Hibernia Herzog, and Amino, the Malay woman, clung to each other for almost an hour outside the Supreme Court. They declined to enter a waiting car, sobbed and vowed they would not be parted.With tears streaming down her face, Maria shouted in Malay (the only language she can speak): â€Å"Amino is my mother. She has loved me, cared for me and brought me up. † Then looking at Mammal, the girl said, â€Å"Do you love me, mother? If you love me don't leave me. I don't want to go with this man (a Dutch consular official). † July 29 THE FULL COURT of Appeal In Singapore yesterday decided that Marl Herzog shall be given back to her fosterers, Chew Amino. The Appeal Court yesterd ay held that the proceedings before the ChiefJustice were, by reason of the in-service of the necessary parties, a nullity. When she heard that Marl would be returned to her, Mammal broke down and wept openly. But they were tears of Joy. Hugging and kissing Marl, she said brokenly: â€Å"l have never been so happy in my life. † Stumbling a little as she came out of the Court of Appeal, she shook hands almost convulsively, with friends and Wilshire who were waiting outside. Http://restore. Salsa . Com. So/luminescence/lifeline/amoral . HTML 1 OFF

Critique a Oral Presentation

Research the average salary range for the position, keeping in mind: * The company and Its culture (use annual reports, Web sites, reference materials available at libraries such as â€Å"Business Directory†) * The geographic location Your own market value (years of experience, education) * Assess your personal criteria * What are your â€Å"must haves†? * What are your â€Å"would like to haves†? * What are your â€Å"can live without†? Poise: This is the ability to remain calm and confident in uncomfortable situations.You will demonstrate poise if you: * Do not reveal your salary requirements too early * Convey confidence (remember, you would not have gotten the Interview If they didn't think you could do the Job! ) ; Show enthusiasm Stay positive * Take your time when an offer is made (ask for time to think about it) Professionalism: The way you negotiate is an example of the behavior the employer will expect to see on the Job. Things to keep in mind: * understand the dynamics of the situation (for instance, you may negotiate differently if you have been in Job search a long time vs..If you have several offers to consider) * Remain positive – you and the employer share a common goal getting you to feel good about joining the company * Be confident – companies expect negotiation * Ask questions – hearing how they arrived at their offer may give you clues about alternatives * Detach from the outcome – it will help you relax AND you won't alienate your future boss * Focus on the value of the total package * Look for different ways to achieve your objectives Know when to quit What to do if the company requests your salary requirements or salary history: * If job announcements request that you provide salary requirements in your cover letter, research what similar positions pay in that geographic location. Respond by giving a broad range, perhaps 10% above what you think it should be. (For a $39,000 position , you could say: â€Å"Your ad requested salary requirements. Given my education Ana experience, Dates on my research I expect to De considering something In ten $40,000 to $50,000 range.Research the company before you negotiate. 4. Be enthusiastic and professional during negotiations. . Never stop selling yourself. (Keep telling the company how you will benefit them throughout the negotiation process. ) 6. Ask for a few perks you can do without. (This gives you bargaining room. ) 7. Be willing to walk away. (You II be more confident, and you may receive higher compensation. ) 8. Don't say yes to an offer right away. (Be enthusiastic and appreciative when receiving the offer, but ask for at least 24 hours to respond. This gives you time to get over your initial elation at being selected and to determine if the Job is the best one for you. )

Does Modern Technology Make Life More Convenient, or Was Life Better When Technology Was Simpler?

Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler? As a matter of fact, nowadays, technology plays an important role in people's life, to extent they cannot imagine their lives without role of technology, simply, because they live in the speed time. I mention bellow how technology makes life more convenient. First and foremost, today's generation is not like old generation. For instance, in the past people did face many difficulties when they perform their duties, especially when they clean their clothes, whereas, today everybody cleans her or his clothes by washing-machine which makes their life more comfortable. moreover, it protects their hands from chemical elements which is in the soap of washing clothes, so, washing-machine is so important and required. Secondly, students are the most people who need technology in their life, especially the Internet, today’s students are more open for the world rather than before, for instance, in the past students just used the books to do their search because their subjects were easy, simple and short, whereas, nowadays students are more development, advance and independence. Therefore, they need something which helps them to perform their search such as Computer with Internet because their searches are wide and include many information which cannot find them easily from books, thus, they use internet to find these information. In this way, they overcome the difficulties which students were face them before. In conclusion, I believe that technology makes our modern life more convenient, although, there are advantages and disadvantages of the effect of the technology on ourselves but the advantages are more than disadvantages, especially, when we back to home in the summer, we need something cold to during from the refrigerator or cold weather from the AC. there is not argument the life before was simple and quite but there was difficulties in performing the duties.

Hormones and Behaviors

Duncan Hormones play an important role in bodily functions of the living human as well as mental functions that allow us to create, write, act, or in general be productive humans. When any of our hormones or the glands that produce them are not in sync or producing properly, we may not be able to think at all, or we may be so emotionally dysfunctional that we become nonproductive. Thus hormones may have a tremendous effect on our human behavior.Our endocrine system is made up of any glands that secrete chemicals directly into our bloodstream or lymph system. These chemical are called hormones, which are carried through the body, having an effect both on internal activities and visible behavior (Icon, Mutterer, 2012). Hormones are like transmitters, activating other cells in the body. Melatonin is one such hormone that is released by the pineal gland in response to daily variations in light. The Pineal gland is a well developed light sensitive organ once considered useless, an unneces sary leftover of evolution, that we now know regulates body withy's and sleep cycles.Melatonin levels may have a great deal to do with our sleeping patterns as levels in the bloodstream rise at dusk, peak around midnight, and fall again as morning approaches. Thus according to our brain, it is bedtime when melatonin levels rise and get up time when those levels decrease. This is a natural response accordingly to our environment, thus melatonin is the hormone that regulates our natural sleep patterns according to the sun coming up and the sun going down.This is one element in support of how related not only mind and body ay be, but also its relation to our planet or living environment. Other hormones affecting human behavior is a set called corrections, which have the Job of regulating salt balance in the body. When there is a deficiency of certain corrections, a powerful craving for salt can be evoked. Corrections play an important role in helping our body adjust to stress, they are also a secondary source of sex hormones. Corrections are produced by the adrenal glands, located under the back of the rib cage, on the kidneys.It is the outer â€Å"bark† of the adrenal glands that produce the set of corrections. An over secretion of corrections can cause woman to grow a beard, or premature puberty. One androgen, or male hormone, is testosterone, which is secreted in small supply by the adrenal gland however, for males, most testosterone comes from the testes. This particular sex hormone can regulate sexual potency, breast growth, voice changes, heart problems, liver damage, stunted growth, Just to name a few, when off balance one way or the other.

Methods in IR Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Methods in IR - Assignment Example minist methodology in international relations research have had low progress, in the past, its inclusion in international relations research was of plausible significance. Power relations are dependent on diverse perspectives including feminist research methods. Feminist methodologies are significant in determining the ontology and epistemology of critical social thinking. This research seeks to address the extent to which Selimovic et al (2012) applie the question of feminist methodology in their research. How does Selimovic et al (2012) use feminist methodology to depict the skills of critical social scientific reasoning in their research? Social research plays a vital and central role in improving the academic field of political science. Research is an academic investigation in a field of knowledge of a researcher’s interest. A research aims at creating a solution to the identified hypothesis. The validity of a hypothesis formulated in the field of international relations is verifiable using qualitative research. It involves a through, comprehensive and structured inquiry using qualitative research methods. The integration of the diverse research methods is of valuable importance in conducting social research. International relations topics are among the diverse social research topics in political research. A well-conducted research in international relations applies impartial reasoning skills, based on premises use research methods. Selimovic et al (2012) use valid qualitative research methods to address the role of women in instilling peace in countries and regions experiencing war and violence. The development of the academic discipline in international relations started notably after the Second World War. Most countries adopted initiatives to enhance the development of research  in international relations. America was among the countries that contributed highly in the development of research in international relations after the end of the war (Jackson

Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Education - Research Paper Example The educators in this sector have realized the weaknesses of the students in this sector of not having the techniques in the study of sciences, math and the social studies. Some of the study materials used at this level fail to provide the easy way of approaching the study areas by the students through understandable and friendly approaches and equally the teachers at this level do not have the necessary and comprehensive trained skills to handle the issue. Researchers have reported certain approaches for the comprehension of the textbooks by the students. One of the reported approaches to the comprehending of the textbooks is the summarising, questioning, use of prior knowledge, imagery and setting of study goals by the students. To understand the materials the students were working on they had to make models of the best methods they felt they would employ in understanding of the study materials they were working on. The students accepted the various feelings in relation to naivety, embarrassment, and being scared. The study approaches that employed practical based means of learning and illustration like the use of maps and models were quite comprehendible and the students had better understanding of the subject matter. ... The approach of pyramids is enabling complete comprehension of the study materials hence it is the best means of study for the students. The understanding of some materials is hard as the language used in math books hence the use of PLAN can enable the students to decipher the information with ease. Some students will fail to study the math books in elementary school due to the problems encountered in the learning and use of the books (Charllote & William, 2009). The study approach of factoring of issues to deal with the comprehension of the content area is important since the students will study in a manner that they are able to master the information herein that will remain imbedded in their memory as a lifelong education. This approach is viable in the areas of English, Math, Social Sciences and Science. The students under this approach will be able to employ their prior knowledge of the subject matter, reviewing of the knowledge in the area, organizing of information in the area, carrying out self-evaluation, reflecting on the knowledge under study and operating on the regular monitoring of the issues under study and the comprehension level of individuals. The students have to apply the following framework in enabling better reading and understanding of the materials under study. The first approach that is applied is the decoding of information through the word recognition strategies and fluency attempts .Secondly is the comprehension of the materials under study that include the comprehension strategies like the syntax organizing of information. This approach equally ensures that there is frequent monitoring of the learnt information by both the students and the teachers hence enabling comprehensive