Introduction

            Personality tests are widely used in organizations to predict the current and the future behaviors or job performances of an individual. Personality is one of the world complex concepts for employers to evaluate employees. Personalities are believed to provide some useful information about an individual but sometimes provide fake personality answers. In this respect as quoted in Gladwell (2004), employers need to supplement personality tests with other individual evaluation and assessment in job performance. In fact, the question of proving personality test as a valid measure to predict individuals’ job performance and behavior can only be answered with benefit of doubt in mind (Management Issues, 2007). Thus the statement that, “Personality tests are not helpful in understanding how people behave or predicting how they will behave in future. Instead we should look at objects they chose to incorporate in their environment, such as passwords for their computers and “stuff” in their homes”, is chock-full of truth. The paper will focus to highlight on the key elements to agree with the statement. Most importantly, the paper will argue why employers or human resource departments need to add other test to personality test with employees’ evaluations and assessment.

Personality tests versus behaviors and performance

            As Heffner (2004) noted, individual’s perception plays an important role to how they perceive the world and the environment they live in, and contribute largely on how they perceive themselves.  Personalities of an individual thus is attributed by the social set ups and the attractions towards such social environments. Since environments are dynamics, individual’s perception is also dynamic and thus changes in personality. According to Heffner (2004), personalities of an individual are therefore measured by the attribution theory. Attribute is the direct response of a person’s behavior. The theory suggests that personalities (behaviors) are usually attributed by behaviors of others and the environment or the world surrounding an individual.  Behaviors can be from either internal or external attributed. Internal factors are within an individual while external factors are outside individuals’ proximities. Individuals’ personalities are influenced by perception towards environment, previous experiences in life and the level of knowledge towards particular aspects (Heffner, 2004). Thus, there is positive relationship between an individual performance, personality and the environment. This supports that personality tests are not helpful in understanding how people behave or predicting how they will behave in future. To understand a person’s personality, we need to include various environments attractiveness.

Most small enterprises, multinational growing or established organizations are using personality tests to gauge the productivity or the performances of the employees. American group of psychologists as quoted in Amble (2007), suggest that the personality test in most cases provide invalid indications of individuals performance levels. Personality tests responses are believed to be faked. Organizations have tried to alleviate the problem or mitigate the problems from the manipulated responses but the research indicates there are no short cuts. Personality tests can be divided into many categories depending on the type of personality tested on and the focus of the test. Personalities can be behavioral, biological, psychodynamic, trait or social-cognitive.  Personality test focuses on the internal and the external attractiveness of an individual.  Most personalities are either inborn or unconsciously reinforced by habits or environments. Biological personality tests measure the intelligence capacity of individual while social cognitive and psychodynamic measures the uncontrollable/unpredictable elements of an individual. Therefore, whereas some personalities test provides adequate predictability of individual’s performances like biological others do not match performance with the test like those controlled by external factors.

Like wise, individuals’ personalities can be divided into addictive personalities and un-addictive personalities. Psychological personality test focus or are structured to reveal the individuals inners life and the external behaviors. Depending on the nature of the personality test, it target to provide information regarding, ability and skills, interests, hobbies, achievements, intelligence and the personality. Addictiveness of an environment and the behavior evaluate accurately about future behaviors or work performances. The addictive habits of an individual cannot be revealed in a personality test. Actually, it is difficult to an employee to reveal some weakness that probably acts as pillars of their personalities. These manipulated responses to individual’s personality tests, thus can provide invalid prediction to work performance and future behaviors. This is supported by Robert Dipboye, where he suggest that employees should “engage employee to more open process to disclose what they are looking for a gain the trust of test takers rather than playing paper and pencil games with them” (Amble, 2007). In addition, the way people work, the kind of job they work, the environment their work in or the people they work with and the actions they exhibit in work is not captured in personality tests. These factors are vital attracting factors to individual’s personality, behaviors, and the future job performances (Paul, 2005). Performance in the work environment is usually dependent on the skills, experience or the people in the working environment. Thus, personality test should incorporate the objects they chose to incorporate in their environment, such as passwords for their computers and “stuff” in their homes.

In the past, employers are faced with difficulties in evaluating and measuring individual personalities that influence job performances. Measuring productivity using individuals’ personality inventories and responses on test have brought forth mixed results. Personality tests do not bring to test the link between all the individuals’ characteristics and the specific behaviors to produce reliable and accurate results. The major factors tested in work place are broken down to minor and hidden individuals’ attributes that still play a crucial role in performance and behaviors. Some of these hidden factors are categorized as attitudes, socialization, relationships, excitement seeking, and motivation in work, social influences and the unmet needs (Gladwell, 2004). For example, a person’s albums usually can say more of the hidden personalities. The albums can be clear indicators of individual personality as indicated by research paper published by journal of personality and social psychology (Allen, 2003). Music preferences are some of personalities need to be understood. Based on the kind of music an individual prefer can exhibit the kind of personalities she/he possesses. For example, hard rocks, hip-hop, and heavy metal music are attributed to physical active and adventurous, physical attractive personalities (Allen, 2003). Other interesting personalities in individuals are revealed in pin numbers, password or secret words. These secretes are hidden personalities in an individual and reveal what ones like most. Most of passwords depend on the most frequent usage terms, what click to a person mind unconsciously, or individual unconscious focus. According to Andrews (2004), people choose passwords unconsciously to stick in their minds that turn to be of an emotional significance.  Gardner & Dixit (2008), further supported that individuals stuffs such as books , novels, music, places their go, arts they like reveal individuals personality. Thus, employees should rethink the approach of gauging, evaluating or assessing individual personalities when hiring (Harris, 2004).

Conclusion

            In this regard, personality test as measures lack validity, are easily faked or manipulated, are therefore generally unsuitable as personality predictors in work performance or future individuals behaviors. In fact, personality tests are useful in clinical disciplines and not in the work environments. Some personality tests are used by psychologists and medical experts to predict the behaviors of individuals and not performances. Therefore, work environment need to embrace the contribution of other factors to evaluate work performances or prediction of an employee in future. I agree with the statement that, “Personality tests are not helpful in understanding how people behave or predicting how they will behave in future. Instead we should look at objects they chose to incorporate in their environment, such as passwords for their computers and “stuff” in their homes”

Introduction

Market leaders’ managers and leaders lead their organisations by devoting company’s resources, procedures, convections, and business ethics towards accomplishment of business goals. For organisations to achieve the stated objectives and goals, managers need to implement and follow four functions of management. Essentially, management is solving problems applying creativity in organisations. According to Mitchell & Casey (2007), management and leadership are essential for all organisations including police force. The four functions of management are planning, organisations, staffing and directing, and controlling. In business operations, these functions are used as creative tools and applications to solve problems. This paper examines their applicability in police department. Importantly, the paper relates the creative applications of the four functions in the police department management and leadership.

Planning

               Planning is the basic function of management. In police department, planning is assumed as an ongoing process of management. This function is applied in developing department’s mission and objectives. It includes all the perspectives of the department ranging from the broadest view to the narrowest view of managing department operations.   According to Mitchell, & Casey, (2007) planning facilitates deciding the journey towards success in the policing department. Planning determine the courses of actions to achieve department mission, objectives, and goals. Planning is thus a systematic creative thinking ways and means to achieve organisation set targets.

Police department ensure proper, effective, and efficiency utilization of both financial and non-financial resources through planning. Police leaders and senior officer apply the creative function to manage resources effectively thus shunning uncertainties, risks and wastages of department resources. It requires the police administration to assess, evaluate, and determine where the organisation is presently and setting goals and objectives to be attained in the future.  The opposite of the function is regarded as informal planning that means unsystematic and lack of proper coordination in operations. Lack of planning function in organisations especially in police department causes improper accountability of resources; department become short sighted, and increases probability of crisis management (Mitchell & Casey, 2007).

Organising function

               Resources need to be organised in an orderly manner to facilitate accomplishment of department goals. Planned alternative courses of actions need to be put in practise through resources organisation. Through organising, department is able to assign different duties and obligations to the employees/junior officers and create a hierarchy of command system within the department.  This is usually done by organising the planned targets, and providing priorities in a systematic orderly manner that ensures no deviations from the predetermined targets. Besides all the plans being organised, the department assign job to be done, and appraise the progress of the job. This enables a smooth progress towards attaining goals in the department. Some of the advantage that accrues due to organising function within the department include coordination and promote creativity. In addition, good organisations of resources and organisation structure facilitate organisation growth and provide a hierarchy of power and authority (Mitchell, & Casey, 2007).

Staffing and leading

               Staffing refers to filing organisations internal positions. It involves recruiting, hiring, training and development, continuous appraisal, promotions and transfers, and compensations programs in organisation. Leadership is another vital function in organisation and especially in police department (Mitchell & Casey, 2007). In a nut shell, managers refer the function as process of manning organisation structure and putting the right personnel at the right position. The objective of the function is to provide conducive working environment, creating friendly employees relationship and solving organisations problems and conflict accordingly. This enables managers to confine within department dynamics and leadership styles in their management job. Communication is another pillar for staffing and leading. Successful managers implement and develop effective communication systems within the organisation. Successful communication further improves coordination, organisation of resources, and helps police seniors within the department to direct plans effectively.

Controlling

               This is the fourth and the last function of management. The function involves setting of performance standards based on predetermines objectives. The process establish performance standard, measure performances, compare actual and predetermined performances and take corrective actions to control deviations. Police department controlling function involves measuring and controlling subordinates, with a view to accomplish goals and objectives desired. According to Koontz & Weihrich, (2006) controlling refer to the process of checking the progress towards goals and objectives and if need arise, taking corrective courses of actions to correct or prevent deviations. The department’s controlling functions focus on ensuring that, everything occurs conventionally with the standards established or predict any deviations putting preventive strategies in place. Seniors overcome consequences of deviations through proper communication and implementing excellent control systems. In addition, the department controls are developed to affect the personnel. Behaviours control is the primary target by the control systems implemented in police departments (Mitchell & Casey, 2007). Behaviours conforming to the organisation’s goals increases effectiveness in communication, reduce interpersonal conflicts, and enhance employees’ satisfaction. The outcome of proper control system is successful goals and objectives achievement.

Conclusion

 Organisation’s efficiency and effective management apply all the functions of management accordingly, leading to successful objective attainment. The four functions provide a platform in which managers and leaders work with creativity to solve organisations problems. Police department has to look and implement a feasible process of achieving desired goals and objectives.  Adoption to the four managerial functions leads to successful achievement of organisations goals.

In the past 150 years, resources from the environment were in plenty to sustain the population present then. This led to minor or no intentions to preserve the environment. Demand for production was not high by this time since the environment seemed insusceptible to degradation. Environmentalist Barry Commoner argued that most of the available resources can not be irretrievably lost and so increased input will earn some increased outputs.

For the last 100 years, human population has drastically changed to an increased population. Within this period of time, development has been so fast in ecosystems dynamics, science and other phenomenon. Due to the increased population, consumption of natural resources has been made to increase. Production has then been required to provide for human needs thus living and non-living natural resources have been converted to these products (Ghosh, 2008).

The growing population has owed to the disruption of the wildlife to date. It is by mismanagement that resources have been scarce for human use thus turning to the environment for resources. Though scarce resources can be replaced by substitutes, efforts on environmental conservations should be conducted to maintain the preferred ecosystem. The economic development of the human population such as cultivation has led to loss of soil fertility as soil has been made prone to erosion. Hunting and gathering which has been practiced as leisure and as an economic activity has enacted great impact to wild animals. They have led to a decrease in population of wildlife.

Human population in the present has disrupted vegetation thus affecting plant life. This has been done through improper land use such as use of fires to clear vegetation thus disrupting the ecosystem (Goudie, 2006). In the present situation individuals have denied environmental conservation by pollution on the environment and depletion of resources for industrialization. Conservation to the environment has been denied and poor management has led to a disrupted ecosystem.

Maintaining biological diversity

There are many reasons for maintaining biological diversity, thus there is a need to conservatism, since each specie has an important role no matter how small it is. The earth’s biodiversity is important in life in that it provides the basic necessities to man such as food, medicine, wood for making shelter, fiber for making clothing and other industrial products (Miller & Spoolman, 2008).

Biodiversity is simply the variety of life and its processes. Logging itself will cause loss of habitats to species for example logging in the Northwest which has led to endangering of the owl. Loss of specie’s habitat will lead to its extinction. Loss of the specie will therefore result to loss of population of other species since there is interdependency of species in an eco system.  It is important to maintain biodiversity and save endangered specie so as to maintain their presence in the future. Timber companies claim that efficient wood collectors fund new investments and have created stable labor demands to the population. Forest managers have argued that logging is a solution to crowded and fire prone forests thus incur the importance of logging. Though the timber industry restriction will led to laying off of workers, it is important to maintain a balanced eco system and conservation of the forests should begin by curbing logging.

An initiative of replacing the cut down trees should be started and the cut one plant two trees policy enacted to timber companies. Other alternatives to replace timber products should be started for example use of other sources of fuel rather than wood. Non native trees should be cultivated for supplying the timber companies rather than logging the native species which habitats most species such as birds. Paper recycling factories should be initiated to process and recycle used paper. This will create employment opportunities for workers since labor work force will be required. The recycling will reduce demand for paper pulp thus reduced logging. As opposed to timber companies, the well being of one bird is crucial for its depletion will lead to an imbalanced ecosystem. Its extinction will also disrupt other species since species are interdependent in an ecosystem. It is therefore an important measure in maintaining biological diversity.

Environmental threats affecting the national parks

National parks are practically reserves set aside for animal and environmental protection and are prohibited from most development so as to nurture their habitats. Though the environment is protected it poses threat to the national parks. The protection of animals (wildlife) in the parks experience great threats which depress the sustainability of the wildlife in these parks. The major threats facing the national parks are environmental. These threats include climate change which causes great loss to wildlife species. This is as a result of changes in the climate such as change in average rainfall thus disrupting wild life. Natural disasters such as volcanoes, earthquakes, forest fires, floods and lightning cause a great threat to wildlife. These disasters have played a role in habitat loss of wildlife thus fewer natural wildlife habitats are reserved on occurrence of these calamities (Hunter, 1999).

Pesticides and chemicals which have been used on the environment to kill unwanted species incur environmental pollution to the parks. These chemicals do not only confer toxic effects to the favorable species but also harm the plants and wildlife. Introduction of non native species in the parks also pose a great threat to wildlife since they degrade the native species. Weeds also affect wildlife by replacing native vegetation therefore eliminating native plant species from the environment. This creates feeding options to animals since some of the weed species are toxic to animals. Intruders in the parks such as poachers, loggers, and miners enter parks illegally threatening wildlife in the parks (Miller & Spoolman, 2008) Machinery in the parks such as off road vehicles have led to the destruction of vegetation and disturbed wildlife in the parks. These machinery, have been used by tourist who explore or visit the parks. Human activities such as logging, mining, oil drilling, livestock grazing have disturbed wild life in many parks.

National parks in the USA can be used more sustainably by prevention of certain threats which endanger parks. The park services should employ enough personnel to fight invasions by intruders such as poachers and loggers. The personnel should also aid in controlling and guiding tourists who visit parks in the USA. Machinery usage such as use of snow mobiles in the parks should be avoided or else minimized so as to sustain vegetation. Urban development around parks should be avoided as this will lead to degradation of the park. Human activities around or in the park should not be allowed since it causes pollution to the wildlife in the park. With consideration of these factors parks in USA can sustainably be used.

 

Yes. Humans can be said to be inherently selfish, which is further upset through social and environmental interactions. The genetic pool affects human’s physical behavior either positively or negatively. Human behavior results from genetic factors. This for instance is proved by studying identical twins that have been exposed to different environment in their upbringing. They have portrayed various resemblances in relation to lifestyles as well as personal preferences. For instance, there are cases when twins, having been separated on birth, have reflected having similar preferences in relation to use of given brands or having preferred similar career paths. These are some of the instances that clearly show that behavior is genetically predetermined and therefore the notion of being selfish is genetically true.

Additionally, human are a collection of genes that are selfish, which have interacted to ensure persistence and therefore heredity. Besides, the biologist Michael Ghiselin once stated that “Scratch an ‘altruist,’ and watch a ‘hypocrite’ bleed.” The quote is taken to mean that human compassion and generosity are a part of personality. However, these are just illusions, which are utilized in manipulation of others to satisfy personal genetic means.  As a result, human thinks that they perform tasks on behalf of other persons but, instead it is a way to satisfy their inherent selfishness. In relation to this aspect, consider this illustration, how does a man saves a child from drowning? These two individuals are not genetically related. Thus, from evolutionary logic, the savior’s choice to save the drowning child is not sensible since he even exposes himself to a danger of drowning himself. As a result, he would not even have an opportunity to bear his own offspring for a child who could not even help him in relation to genetics. This shows a spirit of self sacrifice, being powerful, swift and trustworthy. If there is a woman nearby, who witnesses such an incidence, she is able to notice such traits and as a result of the action, the woman is attracted to such a man and even willing to mate with him. Exhibiting altruism has proven beneficial for individuals since they have earned trust, acquired many friends and preferred by the opposite mate in comparison with those who exhibited selfishness. As a result, genetically speaking, humans physically exhibit selflessness to advertise themselves with another selfish genetic motive. It is therefore true to say that human behaved in the manner they do in order to achieve a genetic conquest.

Human beings have shown a willingness to help others within their environments even without any returns to the extent of sacrificing themselves or having to undergo certain expenses, which reflects altruistic behavior. Why is there such a deep need to help other people irrespective of one’s socio-economic, ethnic, sexual or cultural backgrounds? Children go to the extent of mimicking mature persons around them. These are genetically driven motives, which may appear selfless but are genetically predisposed. These are selfish genes, makes up human thoughts designed as social, dependable and supportive through environmental stimulation in order to trigger their operation. For instance, a child cannot learn how to speak if no one trains him or her and through imitating others, due to altruistic drive to fit within the population. If one does not recognize and reinforce such values, the genetic component may fail to express cooperation empathy and altruistic acts. Man is born selfish and becomes social as a result of upbringing and moral training, but the behavior is best expressed due to its reinforcement, need to be competitive and thus craft a positive difference.

Term insurance is that life insurance policy that provides coverage for a limited time, or a specified term of years. When the period or term is over, the premium increases significantly, and this makes the policy cost prohibitive. Term insurance is the least expensive type of life insurance and has no cash value. The insured gets a death benefit once he/she dies within the time period or the term. If the insured dies outside the term, for instance a day after the expiry of the term, the death benefit is not paid. There are three types of term life insurance policies namely; decreasing term insurance, guaranteed renewable term insurance and convertible term insurance. In guaranteed renewable, it covers a term from one to five years where the premiums are kept constant within the term, but increases upon each renewal. For the decreasing insurance, a low fixed premium is paid but the coverage decreases annually. According to Kaplan (2004), convertible term insurance allows one to convert the term insurance to another form of insurance except that which results into cash value. Whole life insurance is that insurance that provides entire life coverage with a level premium and cash value for the specified coverage. The advantages of this policy is that there is guaranteed life benefits, fixed and known annual premiums, and guaranteed cash value.

Whole life insurance policy requires a larger premium than term insurance due to costs incurred in it. These include the transaction cost to pay for the cost of the death, benefit and the charges converged to the insurance company, and the agent if the policy was withdrawn before a specific time expires. Still, the sales commission charges are higher than those of the term insurance policy. The savings account in the whole life policy may be invested in loans. This increases the premium due to the expected rate of return. Lack of taxation of gains result to a higher premium requirement (cash value) if the policy proceeds until death. In a family, various circumstances will lead to a whole life or term insurance policy to be purchased (Garrett & Swift, 2004). For instance, when one is getting married one will need a term insurance policy. Starting a family may create need for life insurance policy. When a family is purchasing a mortgage, it becomes necessary to purchase the term and whole life insurance policy. A disease or ailment by one of the members may be appropriate for the family to purchase these insurance policies. Moreover, old age and greater chances of retirement will need the insurance policy.

Introduction

Upon the discovery of stem cell research, its application has raised controversial issues on its benefits. The research, intended to improve on therapeutic procedures has turned into moral and ethical issues rather than its curative advantages. Stem cells are cells capable of dividing, giving rise to two daughter cells, one that is identical to the mother cell and the other to a specialized cell (Panno, 2005). They function as an internal repair system for the worn out tissues in the body. Stem cells from animals and human beings have been used for research; these cells are embryonic stem cells and somatic/adult stem cell. Even though the benefits of stem cell research are realistic, critics tend to harp at the various uncertainties associated with the technology. The use of embryonic stem cell for research has been criticized by many especially those who believe that life begin at conception. This is because it involves the destruction of blastocysts formed from human fertilized eggs. This has raised issues to prohibit this technology. Stem cell research and therapy is beneficial to human life, its discovery was a good idea that should be viewed as cure to some diseases.

This technology has been opposed by many pledging for its prohibition. First, there have been claims that embryonic stem cell research involves the destruction of blastocysts, an early aged human life. This has raised moral and ethical issues among individuals. It is argued that in embryonic stem cell research, the used embryo is not of the patient’s cell thus creating high chances of rejection by the patient’s body (Almeder, 2004).  This would then result to immunogenic reactions by the patient’s body. Another criticism is that there has been no cell line for embryonic stem cells since they are difficult to control, attempts have led to mutations making the cells unusable to patients. The fear of tumor development from these cells leading to cancer has raised the controversy on the technology. There have been no clear debates on the long term effects of the technology thus there exist unknowns associated with the adult stem cell (Sell, 2004). There has been touting concerning the harvesting of stem cells citing that adult stem cell entails a difficult procedure in harvesting. Still, people claim that stem cell research has limited flexibility and seizes cells to be programmed to any type of cell in the body.

The fact about embryonic stem cell research is that blastocysts have no developed organ but only a single cell that cannot be equivalent to human life. Many countries have legalized abortion this might well allow the embryo be used for research rather than carrying out abortion. Immunogenic reactions can be nullified by use of somatic cell nuclear transfer, a technology that enables patients to use their own cells. The embryonic stem cell lines remain intact for long periods of time this paves way for the production of large numbers of cells. Embryonic stem cells can develop to any type of cell in the body thus they are versatile and flexible. In adult stem research, chances of tumor formation are rare since they have a low tumorigenic potential. This technology has enabled scientists to research on cell growth and development. This has aided in preventing birth defects.

The discovery of stem cell research poses a great benefit to the population at large. Its application in the medical field has done humanity great justice. The technology has been used in cell-based therapies where cells and tissues are formed for medical use. These cells have been used to treat diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson’s, and type I diabetes by replacing the worn out or damaged cells (Yanhong Shi, 2008).  Stem research has enabled scientists to understand procedures of some conditions making it possible for them to reverse them for instance birth defects.

In the pharmaceutical field, stem cells research has been of great advantage. They have been used to test for new drugs and effects of the drugs studied before testing them in laboratory animals and human subjects. Only those drugs that seem to have beneficial effect on the stem cell would be recommended. This has improved accuracy and viability of drugs being dispensed to patients and drugs to be procured. The technology has benefited the human health. This has been achieved by acquiring a source of replacement cells through the formation of specialized cell types. This will help cure diseases such as Leukemia by stem cell transplant of the bone marrow.

In summary, the benefits of stem cell research outweigh the disadvantages. The discovery of these cells has led to the understanding of these cells and their role in our organs functioning. They have enabled scientists to identify diseases related to cell division and their possible causes, this has seen to their treatment and control. Stem cells have proved to be of good use to humankind since they act as ‘spare parts’. The hope and promise of these new procedures is astonishing in its scope and range pertaining to the advancement of the human species. I strongly hope for intense cures from this technology.

Introduction

System failures are becoming a dominant scenario in the digital computing age. Such failures can result in hardware can cause access to the data difficult, or may result to data loss. Apart from data loss due to system failures, there are cases associated with accidental deletion of data. Data recovery strategies aim at salvaging data from digital storage media, which may be because of a damaged or corrupted disk that renders the data inaccessible using normal access methods (Nelson, 2011). Numerous software utilities can aid the process of data recovery, with each having different functionalities and limitations to suit a particular context of data loss. This paper provides a review of Recuva and Eraser software utilities.

Recuva

Recuva is a data recovery application developed by Piriform. It is available for free and works under Microsoft XP, 2003, 2000 and Windows 7. The file systems capability that Recuva can support are NTFS, FAT and exFAT file systems. The current version of Recuva is not supported in Linux and MAC OS X environments. Recuva is used to recover data that has been subject to permanent deletion by the operating system. In addition, the software can also be used to recover data from external digital storage media such as flash drives and memory cards (Piriform, 2011).

Product features

Recuva has a graphical user interface that is easy to use. Most of the program functionalities are accessible by clicking the functionality buttons such as scan to display the list of files that one wants to recover. Results’ filtering is also another product feature, where results are displayed according to file names and types. In addition, Recuva has the capability of storing all types of files that are recognized by the Windows operating systems. An important feature of Recuva is that it is fast and does not take much of the processor time during run time. Apart from file recovery, Recuva has a secure deletion feature, whereby deleted files cannot be recovered using any other data recovery software (Piriform, 2011).

How Recuva retrieves lost data

Data storage on a windows operating system deploys the use of a Master File Table to index files stored on hard disks. When a file is deleted, it is marked on the MFT as deleted, implying that the file is still available on the hard drive, unless Windows overwrites the file location. Recuva functions by scanning the MFT entries for files that have been marked as deleted. File attributes such as name, size and date of modification are usually stored in the MFT, and Recuva therefore displays this attributes and comprehensive lists of files that the user may want to recover. In case Windows overwrites the MFT entries, Recuva cannot recover files, whose MFT entries have been overwritten, therefore it vital to rub Recuva immediately after the accidental deletion (Surhone & Timpledon, 2011).

Recuva also uses the deep scan process to analyze the MFT files and the hard drive contents. In the deep scan strategy, Recuva scans each cluster on the hard drive or the external storage media to determine the header that denotes the start of a file. These headers contain information regarding the file attributes. The limitation of the deep scan method is that Recuva has no capabilities of recollecting fragmented files back to one piece.

In addition, the user can deploy the use of the two-scan method, whereby Recuva searches the drive for deleted data, while the second scan is used to report the chances of successful recovery for the identified files (Surhone & Timpledon, 2011).

The major improvement required in Recuva is to enhance its ability recover files that have been deleted securely. In addition, Recuva software should be designed in such a manner that corrupted files can be restored to their normal functionalities.

Eraser

Eraser is security utility for Windows Operating systems that allows the user to permanently delete files from hard drives by overwriting the data location several times, making it difficult to recover such data. The current version of Eraser works under Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Vista, Server 2008 Release 2, and Windows 7. Eraser comes with a simple graphical user interface to facilitate secure deletion of files, which involves the use of drag and drop to delete files securely. The functionality of Eraser is limited to drives that are formatted using Windows. An important aspect of Eraser is that its scheduler can be customized according to the user deletion requirements. Eraser integrates itself into the windows context menu, and provides the user with a choice of the secure deletion algorithms that are government sanctioned (Heidi Computers, 2011).

How eraser works

Normal deletion of files does not eliminate the files from the hard drives, rather it only deletes the reference or access to the file, since the file attributes are indexed on the MFT table, thereby providing a chance of recovering data that has not been deleted securely. For secure deletion to occur, the file index in the MFT must be reset to zeros and blanks in order guarantee that the file cannot be recovered.  Eraser ensures secure file deletion by use of multiple overwrites on the MFT index entries. Multiple overwrites serve to eliminate the possibility of file recovery by studying the magnetic fields of the hard drive (Heidi Computers, 2011). Eraser makes use of overwriting patterns that are based on secure Deletion of data from magnetic memory and other solid-state memory. In addition, Eraser ensures that there are no magnetic remnants, which can be used to trace the deleted data. The design of Eraser puts into consideration the various issues associated with permanent deletion such as data encoding and write cache. A functionality review revealed that Eraser securely deleted IGB data in 10 minutes, which is not bad for a secure deletion process (Inman, 2011).

Conclusion and Further Work

            Recuva and Eraser are one of the freeware available currently to foster effective data recovery, secure file deletion as evident in the file recovery, and secure data deletion algorithms. Significant improvements are needed on the Recuva in order to facilitate the recovery and restoration of corrupted and fragmented files in the hard drive. Eraser should enhance the usability of their software by use of direct button for secure deletion instead of the drag and drop strategy.

In GE, unlike traits of a species are combined genetically in biotechnology to form a transgenic. Planting these crops contaminates wild plants to cause a biodiversity loss since some have chimeric gene blend that might result to biological contamination and accelerate extinction of important organisms in nature. It is also a supposed seed terminator since GE plants cannot produce seeds, which are saved by farmers for food sustenance. Soil sterility is affected for instance by a GM bacterium called Klebsiella planticola, which cause a sterility of soil by killing essential nutrients. Bio-invasions results from GM crops, which kill beneficial insects like the monarchy butterfly and bees. As a result, it has become a controversial debate in the recent past due to its supposed violation of environmental health (UCS, 2010).

Biotechnology is the root source of GE where desired genes are combined to form a different species through artificial selection.  There have been tight regulations and total bans imposed on the genetically modified foods especially within the Europe Union. GE is not only associated with direct effects to human health but most importantly, its adverse contribution to the environment that has raised concern of environmentalists all over the world. As a result, GE products have been restricted in the market. This has called for more efforts through testing for such products, labeling GE foods, and in maintenance of natural crops to avoid effects of transgenic products and their release to the natural environment, which is restricted to avoid ramifications.

The potential effects of GE on the environment include creation of super-weeds, thus causing unwanted impacts in inhibiting crop yield or even displacing natural flora to cause a disruption of the entire ecosystems. Besides, genetic pollution may occur in that novel genes modified through GE are not restricted agriculturally and if there are nearby related species in the fields, there is a high likelihood of transfer of pollen grain. Genetic pollution has no clean up since it might be hard to identify GE crops in the wild, causing irreversible effects.  As a result the new plats gain more vigor, resistance and therefore, difficult to deal with (LeVine, 2006).

Alterations in patterns of herbicide application occur since GE plants are modified to be herbicide resistant. This might result to more use of herbicides where farmers might use them in a liberal way (UCS, 2010). Since herbicides vary in environmental toxicity, more devastating environmental effects are incurred. Moreover, such resistant crops would trigger an evolution where weeds would become more resistant due to more exposure or transfer of the resistant genes to related species. Additionally, GE causes a lavishing of important pest vulnerable genes in insects, which are prevalent in natural insect’s populations. The genes are crucial since they let the pesticide to effectively manage pests.

Particular GE crops are modified to have a Bt endotoxin, which persist inside the soil for not less that eighteen months. They secrete the toxin in several tissues hence exposing pests to it. Such timely exposure cause a resistant gene in the pest, as the Bt pesticide ends up being useless since it is transferred to wild plants to form super-weeds, that cause a disruption in balance of nature. There is also an emergence of harmful viruses since GE is geared at producing plants that tolerate viruses through incorporation of viral component in their genome to resist infections. However, they might establish new harmful virus with higher virulence in the process of recombination or transcapsidation. In addition, poisoned wildlife may result from being endangered by consumption of plant debris since it contains certain viral promoters e.g. CaMV attached to it. This is detrimental to mammalian organs and immune system. CaMV, being a Para retrovirus may cause reactivation of dormant viruses and establish new ones (Benny, 2009).

To sum it all, transgenic organisms when released in the environment may cause an injury to genetic diversity, as it might contaminate natural gene pools. Probable mutations might result, which could eliminate the natural genes. These mutant genes are detrimental to the environment and this might spoil the local ecology and the food chain where GE crops compete with related wild species (UCS, 2010). It is therefore the role of man to safeguard the ecosystem in order to promote sanctity, serenity, as well as development by avoiding technologies that would be detrimental. This will safeguard earth as our home and the resources therein, through united efforts for people from all walks of life, aspects that are in line with St. Leo‘s value of respect and responsible stewardship.

1. What are typical corporate governance challenges faced doing cross-border business? What could be done to improve C&L’s system of checks and balances?

Doing cross-border business has various corporate governance challenges. The typical challenges in doing cross border business are differences in terms of culture, legal policies and business differences, which makes the upholding ethical organizational behavior across the different settings a difficult task to the corporation. In order to improve C&L’s system of checks and balances, the company should aim at developing a strong organizational culture that puts into consideration the diverse needs of its members in the different countries. In addition, the company should establish a well outlined internal control procedures in order to facilitate the smooth running of the business at the local level. Another way of enhancing corporate governance at the C & L Company is to foster the top-level management’s commitment in ensuring the success of the business (Enderle, 2006).

2. There is a culture of offering entertainment and kickbacks at C&L. What risks does this pose to the company? Should a company ever provide entertainment or kickbacks when doing cross-border business?

Entertainments and Kickbacks at C&L pose significant risks regarding to the ethical organizational culture within the company. Entertainments and kickbacks serve to undermine the core ethical values of the organization. Entertainments and kickbacks also provide an opportunity for which the company accountants can exploit the double accounting method through overstating, therefore resulting to personal gain at the expense of the company. In addition, kickbacks do not provide a framework for the development of strong ethical standards for the company. This means that it is not recommended for a company to embark on the culture of giving entertainment when conducting cross border business (Enderle, 2006).

3. Many of the problems the company faces are related to Eddie Tse. How did he obtain a position where he could do so much damage to C&L? Where did the company go wrong?

It is evident that Eddie Tse was the root cause of all the problems to the company. Eddie got to this position because he was not bound by any employment terms, in the sense that his employment contact lacked a non-competitiveness clause. Since there were no limiting procedures bound by his employment contract, Eddie was at liberty to join a competing company, which was later realized that he was a major partner. In addition, as the purchases manager, Eddie had a great opportunity to negotiate with the C&L clientele and this resulted to Eddie misusing the position for his own good at the expense of the company’s integrity. The C&L could have avoided this setback if they had implemented strong internal control procedures and strong ethical standards that could have helped the occurrence of such an ordeal.

4. If you were Anthony Leng, what would you have done differently? How could you have prevented everything from spinning out of control?

Antony Leng being in the position of financial controller at the company had the responsibility of making sure that the financial accountability is ensured. This means that he should have been the first to notice any accountability flaws from the accountant, Xiang Quiling. This means that as the financial controller, he was in a position to detect the deviance behavior by the accountant and purchasing manager. In order to prevent things from getting out of hand, he had the responsibility of deploying internal control procedures that are based on ethical standards and accountability. This would have helped in avoiding the company’s shady deal with Green Beauty somewhat resulted to flaunting of environmental laws, which is the root cause of the problems that the company was facing (Enderle, 2006).

5. Ethical Decision Making Model and Standards of Behavior to assess the ethics involved with this case

The facts and ethical issues involved in the case is the possibility of the company flaunting environmental laws by coordinating with Green Beauty. The key parties involved during the ethical dilemma case were Eddie Tse, who was the purchasing manager; Xiang Quiling, the company’s accountant and Antony Leng, the company’s financial controller. The accountant reports to the financial controller and coordinates with the Purchasing Director, who in turn reports to the Chairman. At the organizational level, the case implicates both the Green Beauty and the C&L Company. The viable alternatives with the case at the internal organizational level are to access each party’s involvement in the case and the resulting effects on the integrity and operational activities of the organization. For instance, the company’s production license could be revoked in case they are found to have been flaunting environmental laws.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Enderle, E. (2006). In Search of a Common Ethical Ground: Corporate Environmental      Responsibility from the Perspective of Christian Environmental Stewardship. Journal of      Business Ethics , 173.

For the past couple of years, the New York State was been categorized as one where individuals and businesses were highly taxed. This led to the state population declining to an unexpected level. This bring to attention and deep concern to economist, political activists, businessmen/women and other economic stakeholders on fear of dangers and benefits the Snyder proposed budget can contribute to Michigan state. Actually, developing budgets committed to raising taxes is not based on tax revenues collection perspective.  It is based on the approach of increasing jobs opportunities, promoting and establishing reforms, balancing taxes, cuts down budget expenses, and develops, grow and strengthen state’s economy. In the Governor Snyder’s proposed budget, it is aimed to bring into light power of jobs creation, eliminating the burden of taxes, bringing reforms to all sectors of the state, and induce cost cuts measures to the K-12 education through higher education. This easy tries to analyze and examine various budget economic and sector, benefits and dangers accrued to the proposed $45 billion budgets.

The Michigan year 2011/2012 budget brings to streamline the states budget with the United Nation’s yearly budget (Nixon, A 1). This means, according to Senator Snyder, it focuses to streamlining state spending and creating a fair, simple, and efficient tax collection system to individuals and businesses.  Senator Snyder said as quoted from Michigan Truth Squad, p. 1, that, “This is a comprehensive plan to lay a new, sound foundation in the Michigan state’s reinvention and puts forward an end to significant budgets deficits that the state has experienced for the past decade”. Some of important budgets targets and element for the fiscal year 2011/2012 include job creation, declaring Michigan as place for business, support of the early education K-12, and higher education, cutting down budgets costs, and facilitating structural reforms.

As found on the Bureau of labor statistics in United State, Michigan unemployment rate as per last year results were 12.4%. In history, for the past three years Michigan has never recorded an unemployment level of less than 10 percent. For this purpose, job creation thought brought up by the senator, will probably lead to lowering the unemployment rates. According to the governor’s budgets recommendations, Michigan economic and fiscal issues are dealt with by growing economy through restructuring of the individuals and business taxes (Nixon, A 3). Economic growth will reduce unemployment rate through job creation and still making the state more competitive for business opportunities (Nixon, A 5). Further, the restructuring of taxes across the state will improve the quality life to Michigan citizens. The states business tax as per the budget recommendation is to replace business tax with corporate income taxes. In the past establishing Businesses Tax system in the State made the business environment unfriendly and this lead to State recession. According to the proposal, Nixon, A 5, replacing Michigan business tax therefore will play a bigger boost to economic recovery and jobs creation in return. Entrenching into the State tax operations fair, simple, and efficient Corporate Tax System will perhaps bring in a competitive business field for all likes of business. Business ranging from small, big, industries, among other will play a significant role in jobs creation and thus reduce unemployment rates. Through this all and among other tax restructuring measures will enable citizens to engage into reviving and reinventing Michigan State.

For leveraging the economic growth and the structures, the budgets proposed bring forth a loss of tax revenues from business taxes, which is to be streamlined by the year 2013 (Nixon, A 6). Further, tax collection should be based on more equitable, fair, simple, and efficient base to all the State’s citizens. To promote these taxation principles, the budget proposes to tax all citizens irrespective of the source of income at a flat rate of 4.25 percent (Nixon, A 5,). In addition to this consistence of taxpayers’ tax deductions, the senator argues that eliminations of major exemptions to persons with disabilities, veterans, and military personnel’s will enhance the equitability principle.

Education is another element that is hardly hit by the budget proposals. Many K-12 managers and principles have argued it as a step to make education cost increase and the burden is directly transferred to parents. Economic Experts argue that by making significant cuts to K-12 education will blow a devastating effect to the schools within Michigan State.  Cutting K-12 education funding to $12 billion will mean the schools cutting down its programs cost (Nixon, A 7). The devastating effect will be laying down staffs, which is argued to increase unemployment, and cutting costs relating to schools administration and non-academic activities (extra-curriculum activities) (Farris, p.1). As noted from Michigan Truth Squad, p. 1 the governor cuts of education fund and especially to the K-12 education level, is a major cut in the history of Michigan budgets. The idea of developing State and creating jobs worsen by the education proposal.  For education institutions to create jobs, retain and attract employees there is a need to debate on the cost-cutting measures other than funding options (Farris, p.1). Education budget occupies a significant percentage of the states total budget. For example, the proposed budget provides 53 percent of the budget to the education (Michigan Truth Squad, p. 1). In this regards, cutting down of funds to educational system will translate more shocks to other sectors that will erode the budgets spirit of job creation, free, fair and equitable, and efficiency.

Health care and medical services are other budgets sensitive and essential parts. Michigan State provides these services with collaboration with the federal government. Actually, the sector budget is far much influenced by the United State federal government budget (Michigan Truth Squad, p. 1). The senator’s proposal anticipates the actions of federal actions on health care. The support to continued investment in the human services and health care from the budget is a major boost to allocation practices and improving quality of life to citizens. Provision of better service to the people of Michigan is actually incorporated in a well-managed and improved service delivery system. In addition, for improved service delivery and well-managed health care, partnership with private sector plays a significant role (Nixon, A 10). The proposed budgets campaign for an enhanced relationship between other private stakeholder in key institutions and the State.

Governor’s Michigan proposed budgets reductions and policies are quite challenging. Especially in the area of education, technology and medical programs, the budget focuses on cutting cost at an acute approach. In most institutions affected by the budget cost cutting measures, heads and managers need to view another approach in effecting or successively responding to the budgets shocks.  Even as systems encounter decline to State’s fund supports, institutions should notably continue with their strategic priorities and policies. For example, technology improvement in learning institutions should not be deterred by the proposed budget cuts.