Wednesday, July 31, 2019

What Activities and Hobbies Do You Pursue Outside of Work?

Outside of work, I participate in a variety of activities and hobbies. These activities provide me with the opportunity to learn, take on challenges, and have fun. In addition, I believe my hobbies allow for relaxation and inner growth.I enjoy learning new information through reading, surfing the Internet, watching television, and shopping. From the breaking news in Iraq to the latest gift catalog from World Vision, the Internet has become one of my major resources to get updates on the world. My most recent interest is in learning HTML code to enhance my newly created web page on Aloha Tower Marketplace with flash and graphics.Shopping is another activity that I frequently do outside of work. To most people, shopping is a routine and necessary activity that involves going to the supermarket for dinner, buying a new sweater at Macy’s for the upcoming winter, or picking up the latest Harry Potter book in Barnes & Noble for a nephew’s birthday.To me, however, shopping is a pleasurable activity, as well as a chance to observe market trends. To a marketer for a shopping mall, understanding the competition is very important.I also like to watch stage shows or go to the movies on the weekends. My favorite stage show is â€Å"Once Upon One Time,† a musical written in Pidgin by a local playwright, Lisa Matsumoto. It is a fusion of many famous tales of Hawaiian culture and life.From various shows, I have learned to appreciate the incredible art of theater and recognize the efforts in place to protect Hawaiian culture. I prefer stage shows to movie productions because the stage leaves more to the imagination and the audience can interpret the themes.Along with indoor activities, I like to spend time outdoors when my schedule allows. I regularly challenge my fear of heights by hiking to the peaks of mountains to enjoy the fresh air and terrific scenery. Whether choosing a hobby or a job, my goal is always self-improvement, the same as my goals in life .

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

How Music Affects the Brain Essay

Music: It’s been ingrained in our culture since the first instruments were made. It is such a large part of our society; we incorporate it into our daily lives through our phones, television, and media. Music stimulates the brain through the pleasure center and sends us waves of emotions and reactions. As a DJ, music is essential to my lifestyle. I’m constantly listening to different beats, tempos, and rhythms. Music rises and falls with the generation at that time. The brain is the commander of our actions; it tells us what to do, say, act, and react. Music is in our anatomy. It fills our blood stream with the treble of the bass, drop of the beats, and fast tempos. The brain interprets music by releasing certain chemicals, affecting our personality, and improving our motor skills. There are ten main parts of the brain that picks up music and interprets it for us. They are the corups callosum, motor cortex, prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, sensory cortex, auditory cortex, hippocampus, visual cortex, and the cerebellum. â€Å"The four major parts in our brain that help us register music are, motor cortex, auditory cortex, nucleus accumbens, and the amygdala† (Cooper). The motor cortex is in charge of movement; foot tapping, dancing, and playing an instrument. The auditory cortex evaluates our first perception of the sounds and analysis of tones we are listening to. The nucleus accumbens and amygdala are our emotional reactions to the music. All of these concepts in our brain send neurons to the body and we display either distaste or enjoyment when listening to music. According to â€Å"Music Listening Releases Dopamine† which is a study conducted by researchers at McGill University in Canada. An initial 217 participants were narrowed down to 8 who consistently responded the same way when listening to music regardless of the listening environment (Moore). This proved that when listening to music our body releases a chemical called dopamine, which is a feel good pheromone. â€Å"Humans have the ability to obtain pleasure from more abstract stimuli, such as music and art, which are not directly essential for survival and cannot be considered to be secondary or conditioned reinforces. These stimuli have persisted through cultures and generations and are pre-eminent in most people’s lives† (Salimpoor). Music not only affects us biologically but also on the outside. Our personality is a big faà §ade of who we are. We put that act out there for the world to see, to be accepted and follow status quo. â€Å"Our emotions are affected by music, there are two kind of emotions: perceived emotions and felt emotions. This means that sometimes we can understand the emotions of a piece of music without actually feeling them, which explains why some of us find listening to sad music enjoyable, rather than depressing† (Cooper). â€Å"When you are listening to your favorite melodies and harmonies it can trigger the brain to release large amounts of dopamine, a chemical that sends â€Å"feel good† signals to the rest of the body and plays a role in both motivation and addiction† (Listening to Music Can Prompt the Brain to Send Positive Signals throughout the Body). Professor Adrian North of Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK, has undertaken the largest study so far of musical tastes and personality type. â€Å"He is an expert on music psychology and has carried out extensive research on the social and applied psychology of music, in particular the relationship between pop music culture and deviant behavior in adolescence, music and consumer behavior, and the role of musical preference in everyday life†(Collingwood). Over the course of three years, Professor North asked more than 36,000 people in more than 60 countries to rate a wide range of musical styles in order of preference. Certain aspects of personality were also measured by questionnaire. â€Å"People do actually define themselves through music and relate to other people through it but we haven’t known in detail how music is connected to identity† (North). He believes that his results show why people can get defensive about what they like to listen to, as it is l ikely to be profoundly linked to their outlook on life. Since music is greatly incorporated into our society, it is easy to identify yourself with I’m this kind of genre, and we’re that way mentality. By listening to only one kind of genre you are not exposing yourself to other types and not allowing yourself to have a new perspective on things. Also with music being in our everyday lives are it is especially important to be aware of what kind of music we are listening too. The choice of song you choose to relish in could make or break your day. Another important aspect of how music interacts with the brain, is how it improves our motor skills. By listening to music our  neurons are registering the beats, tempos and rhythms; which gets us tapping our feet and swinging our hips to the rhythm of the beat. In 1911, an American researcher, Leonard Ayres, found that cyclists pedaled faster while listening to music than they did in silence. This study was done again in 2012 showed that cyclists who listened to music required 7% less oxygen to do the same work as those who cycled in silence. â€Å"This happens because listening to music can drown out our brain’s cries of fatigu e. As our body realizes we’re tired and wants to stop exercising, it sends signals to the brain to stop for a break† (Cooper). Listening to music competes for our brain’s attention, and can help us to override those signals of fatigue. Music is a motivator, not only can we push through the pain but work out longer. When working out we tend to play upbeat, fast paced, heavy temp music to get our heart beating. Certain types of music have a higher bpm (beats per minute) than others. For example, disco only has 120bpm meanwhile Dubstep a form of electronic dance music infused with base drops and screeches has 150bpm. Our bodies benefit by the type of music we listen to when we work out because it gets our blood pumping and our hearts beating faster, which keeps our body in shape. In conclusion, music has impacted many lives. It has influenced cultures, generations, movements, and our anatomy. Music is essential to our biology because it releases hormones that make us feel good, and emotions that are viable to our existence. It’s an interesting concept though that a bunch of sounds, rhythms, and be ats can be pieced together to create a beautiful piece of musical art to be heard and enjoyed by billions. For me as a DJ music really stimulates my brain. Whenever I’m listening to Dubstep which is at 150 bmp, it gets me pumped up and ready to go! If it was not for music then we would not have a sense of identity, or belonging. Music is a channeling force, it is available to everyone and you can get lost in it and forget your problems. Also when we are working out music is keeping us motivated to push through our weakness and is our aid in getting into shape. Without the piecing together of bass drops, sirens, scratches, or any other effects on music our mind would be a silent place. Works Cited Collingwood, Jane. â€Å"Preferred Music Style Is Tied to Personality† Psych Central. Psych Central, 30 Jan. 2013. Web. 02 Dec. 2013. Cooper, Belle B. â€Å"How Music Affects and Benefits Your Brain.† Lifehacker. Kinja, 22 Nov. 2013. Web. 02 Dec. 2013. â€Å"Listening to Music Can Prompt the Brain to Send Positive Signals throughout the Body.† Washington Post. The Washington Post, 01 Mar. 2011. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. Moore, Kimberly S. â€Å"Your Musical Self.† Psychology today. Psychology today, 28 Feb. 2011. Web. 02 Dec.2013. North, A. C. and Hargreaves, D. J. (2008). The social and applied psychology of music. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. Salimpoor, V.N., Benovoy, M., Larcher, K., Dagher, A. & Zatorre, R.J. (2011). â€Å"Anatomically distinct dopamine release during anticipating and experience of peak emotion to music.† Nature Neuroscience, 09 January 2011. Web. 02 Dec. 2013.

Monday, July 29, 2019

Case Study The Salad Bar Marketing Essay

Case Study The Salad Bar Marketing Essay The salad bar financial model will be based on the business concept of â€Å"managing for the best, and planning for the worst†. The projections of the first year will anticipate for a sales volume below average, salad cost above average, and seat turn below average. This will help us ensure adequate financial planning to cater for a ramp-up period that is reasonable, success of the business, and ensure that the business is not under-capitalized (McKeever 2008). Our financial plan is based on the assumptions that there will be a slow-growth economy that will be recovering from an economic decline. It also assumes that the business will experience a modest growth in the future. The Salad Bar business intends to increase profit margins per day. The businesses aims at reducing the variable operation cost as well as achieve a double growth rate annually. The Salad Bar marketing strategy will be aimed at developing visibility among the members of the community. This strategy will be achieved through a targeted advertising campaign. There will be advertisements placed in various newsletters. It’s hoped that the advertisements will yield a reasonable amount of product enquiries since they are beleaguered toward the target population that uses Salad Bar products/services (Young 2007). The Salad Bar Marketing Objectives Salad Bar aims at reducing market costs as a sales percentage. The business intends to maintain steady and positive growth every month. In addition, Salad Bar plans to experience new customers increase and consequently have them as long-term customers. Marketing Strategy The Salad Bar marketing strategy will be aimed at developing visibility among the members of the community. This strategy will be achieved through a targeted advertising campaign. There will be advertisements placed in various newsletters. It’s hoped that the advertisements will yield a reasonable amount of product enquiries since they are beleaguered toward the tar get population that uses Salad Bar products/services (Abrams & Kleiner 2003). Target marketing The Salad Bar’s target population includes the middle class clients and the upper-class clients. The middle-class population has minimal disposable income. It recognizes that its expensive to get salad from a salad bar but its prepared to incur expenses though they will attempt to minimize them. On the other hand, the upper-class clients are characterized by high income level and it’s willing to have salad from a bar. This strategy will require a different menu for the two groups since the upper-class salad menu will be cost prohibitive for the middle class population (McKeever 2008). Positioning The Salad Bar will position itself as a high quality, innovative salad business. The members of the society will recognize the high quality and unique service/product offerings of The Salad Bar. The Salad Bar competitive edge will be founded in  its customer inventive and customer approach to members of the society. The Salad Bar customer attention will make it different from other salad bars that have a lot of demand. The disadvantage of having a high demand is that the business experiences a decreased pressure to accommodate extra clients. When The Salad Bar will start having plenty of customers, we will modify our business plan in order to handle them effectively McKeever (2008). The Salad Bar will approach the market as if there is considerable competition between the different product providers. We aim at making customer satisfaction our priority, and through this, local clients will come to be pleased about the attention given to their need and establish long-term relationships with The Salad Bar. The main objective is to position The Salad Bar as the premier Salad business within the area, authorizing a market share majority in four years. The marketing strategy will aim first at creating customer awareness concerning its products, build up a customer base, and focus on building customer referrals and loyalty (Young 2007)

Comparative Analysis of Nurse-patient Ratio Mandates for the Hospital Research Paper

Comparative Analysis of Nurse-patient Ratio Mandates for the Hospital Setting - Research Paper Example Legislation has passed in California, and will be presented in other states to mandate a specific ratio of nurses per patient that must be maintained at all times. The goal of this study is to identify a balance between adequate levels of nurse-personnel while maintaining hospital efficiency both in terms of cost, and the time-resources of medical professionals. A Comparative Analysis of Nurse-Patient Ratio Mandates For the Hospital Setting INTRODUCTION The possibility of nursing shortages is a relevant concern for hospitalists, patients, and the general public alike. Years past have produced numerous concerns of under-staffed, overburdened hospitals as a barrier to adequate care. This paper will endeavor to examine the conventional wisdom that more patient responsibility will yield lower quality care from nurses and other healthcare professionals; and the extent to which such a decline in patient outcome can be quantified. But is is true that patients will receive better care, with fewer medical errors under a system of precise nurse-patient ratios? Are nurses doing a better job under such a system? How would such a change extend to doctors and other medical practitioners? Over a dozen states are now considering some form of mandate that will enforce specific ratios of nurses for every patient under the hospital's care, it is worthwhile to examine critically the available research on the balance between caregiver and patient. It is in the interest of everyone to seek the ideal balance between nurse staffing levels and the cost-effective management of the time-resources of medical professionals. CASE STUDY â€Å" Celeste examined the patient's chart; she had to remind herself that Mr. McGillicuddy wasn't just a disease; he was a case of full-blown nephrotic syndrome; based on the protein-cysts found in his urinalysis, plus a chronic case of trigeminal neuralgia on top of that. Oh, and a living. breathing person. But with his age and prognosis, personhood would n't cut much slack with the transplant committees. The experienced Nurse was not optimistic that he would retain his living status much longer; in part because the very lab results that Celeste found so damning took as long as they did to arrive; compounding the bad news they were reporting. On the one hand, in preparation for the new regulations mandating more nurses for every medical center in the county, patients would get more attention from nurses like her; the problem being – a hospital as small as hers had to cut corners somewhere; so they'd hadn't been able to hire that new med-tech they'd been needing for months now. So the doctors were probably lucky to get their results as soon as they did – as late as it seemed to her. But adding more nurses was about to be required by law; not something she could whine about to the head-nurse. She patted Mr. McGillicuddy's hand in reassurance. Well, it would fall to her – and the new blood they were hiring to pick u p the slack; make up for the corners cut...† PROS More nurses equals better care; in order to ensure the best possible patient outcomes during hospitalization, nurse-to-patient ratios must be mandated by law. The correct ratio will lead to happier nurses, and healthier patients. It seems an obvious solution; more nurses certainly can't hurt, More eyes to watch over

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Sports psychology The influence of reduced visual information on Lab Report

Sports psychology The influence of reduced visual information on static and dynamic balance - Lab Report Example The interconnectivity between the sways and balance was found out to exhibit an inverse relationship. Despite the existence of other factors that affect stability, visual impediments are also highly likely to influence the stability of an individual. The more clear visibility to which one is exposed, the higher the chances of minimizing sways. If the sways are minimized lead to proper and reliable dynamic balance. Biomechanics define balance as the state of being able to maintain the line of gravity from the centre of mass with minimal postural sway. It is this postural stability that operates to allow the performance of other activities (MAGEE et al., 2007).The postural sways have been presumed as the major indicator of balance. It is believed that the number of sways in a movement exhibit an inverse relationship with stability (Bandy & Sanders, 2008, Kisner & Colby, 2012). We conducted a study to gauge the ability of persons with visual impediments in maintaining the necessary balance. Those with low visual information are anticipated to mimic movements exhibited by their counterparts who are exposed to full vision (Lord, 2011). This study established the correlation that exists between vision and the various postures both static like the sitting position and dynamic postures like stepping, turning, bending, standing up from a chair and walking. We employed posturography tests to assess the balance control. We endeavored to establish the dependence of a group of adult male and female on vision for their postural stability (Finlayson, 2013). The hypothesis we examined was the fact that balance control is dependent on the visual information. Swaying of hands was our dependant variable while visual conditions were the independent variable (Clasen & Siegel, 2007). We collected data for the same sample of the population while subjecting them to the different visual

Saturday, July 27, 2019

DO SOCIOLOGICAL METHODS PROVIDE AN ACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF THE Essay

DO SOCIOLOGICAL METHODS PROVIDE AN ACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD WHAT IS LEFT OUT BY THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE - Essay Example Many fundamental discoveries in sociology have been made, reviewed, established, evaluated and adjusted according to new data in the past decades. However, the current position in sociological research is looking at tools and techniques which could not have been imagined a few decades ago (Platt, 1996). The application of the scientific method of study to sociology created the first revolution and the information age can be said to bring about the second revolution for all fields of study. This is especially true in sociology since the ability to crunch numbers at light speed is only possible with the use of new and powerful computers. While the modern methods of research and analysis have had an important effect on the field, scientists are also concerned about their overuse and a lack of focus on actually performing the study and too much attention on the analysis and twisting of the results. Indiscriminate application of technology and statistical tools can only result in situations where the application of sociology is more or less meaningless (Chatterjee, 2004). Some human conditions can not be described in percentages or in terms of numbers and require more than simply pushing buttons. Sociologists apply methods and techniques which result in statistical figures used by governments and the media and we are often told that one can prove anything with statistics. While tricks may be played with statistics, there is no doubt that the scientific methods needs to be applied for it to give results that are useful. We can debate all we want about qualitative/quantitative evaluations, micro/macro assessments and inductive/deductive reasoning but unless the scientific method is applied any research can be doubted. With the correct application, statistical sources and various methods for research and analysis are invaluable tools but misuse and unethical

Friday, July 26, 2019

Develop Creative Listening and Linguistic Communication Skills of the Dissertation

Develop Creative Listening and Linguistic Communication Skills of the Second Language Learners - Dissertation Example This dissertation attempts to take the concept of creative listening to task as a development method to assist Second Language Learners in developing creative listening and linguistic communication skills. Second Language Learners are a language minority in such English speaking countries as the United States and the United Kingdom. Inculcating literacy among these learners is a present-day critical challenge since English literacy is essential to their academic achievement, and to educational and economic opportunities beyond schooling. Given the phenomenon that minority learners are increasing owing to immigration and birth rate conditions, there is the added fact that without English literacy, this language minority group will not fare well in school achievement.. Already, statistics show that 51 percent of minority learners do not finish high school compared with only 10 percent of English speaking learners who do not complete secondary education. (National Center for Educational Statistics). Meanwhile, listening skills belong to the unattended self-improvement skills being developed in schools. While much training is given to reading, writing, arithmetic and science, the listening part of the communication process is bypassed or presumed to be virtually learned. Research studies, however, makes a revelation, namely that untrained listeners are very low— lower than 50 percent—on proficiency in learning. ... While much training is given to reading, writing, arithmetic and science, the listening part of the communication process is bypassed or presumed to be virtually learned. Research studies, however, makes a revelation, namely that untrained listeners are very low— lower than 50 percent—on proficiency in learning. This should not be surprising since various studies also state that people, including school learners, may spend 45 to over 50 percent of their communication time in the listening act. It appears most timely and important therefore that the educational system should give adequate attention to the improvement of listening skills among learners. This dissertation makes two assumptions: 1. Creative listening and linguistic communication skills can be developed along the new paradigm of multiple intelligence learning, and 2. A program patterned along multi-intelligence activities can be devised to respond to the need to develop creative listening and linguistic comm unication skills. Creative Listening Skills To focus on the listening act itself, it is necessary to remove the misconception that hearing and listening are the same. At times, we may have heard someone complaining, â€Å"I hear you, please don’t shout at me.† This is to recognize the physiological process that occurs when sound is received by man’s hearing apparatus. People may hear, however, but they may not be listening in the sense of recognizing the meaning of those sounds, such as the internal anger or anguish expressed by the speaker. Developing listening for meaning is therefore a must. Developing listening to create constructive ideas and action, such as behavioral change, can therefore be very beneficial to society, inclusive of social relationships

Thursday, July 25, 2019

The Concept and Process of Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Concept and Process of Leadership - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that leadership entails a process whereby an individual can influence other workers to achieve a particular objective, and able to direct an organization in the way that enhances the cohesiveness and coherence. However, while leadership involves a learning process, it is also important to note that, a person’s attributes, values or beliefs have an influence on the leadership process. This is because these characters make a leader be unique in the workplace. In order to become an efficient and effective leader, a person needs to develop an honest understanding of himself or herself, what he or she knows and their capabilities as a prospective leader of an organization or a team within the work environment. In the end, the followers of a leader can determine whether an individual is a good leader within an organizational setting. As such, it is important for leaders to exhibit trust and confidence when leading others people or workers within the organization setting. Being a leader entails convincing followers and not superiors of your worthiness to be followed by other workers. Conversely, while convincing followers of their worthiness to be followed, leaders need to note that different people within the workplace require different leadership styles. For instance, new employees in an organization need to be supervised more compared to experienced workers in the same organization. As such, leadership process requires leaders to understand the needs of those they lead. Further, communication is also important in terms of establishing a working alliance between the leader and other workers. This helps to avoid misunderstanding between the leader and other workers in an organization. Leadership process also entails developing an understanding of various situations that may arise within the work environment, this is because the different situation requires a different measure to be taken. As such, a leader needs to d evelop a sound judgment regarding the best option or leadership style to use for each emerging situation.

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK - Essay Example The organizational structure of the agencies which function during disasters is one main issue; those with much disciplined personnel and structure are likely to function properly than those which are not as disciplined. Exchange of information between agencies is another issue. It is essential that information is relayed in a proper manner, since overloading a particular agency with information is likely to cripple the agency in functional terms. Additionally, inter and intra-agency flow of information should be tightly controlled, as false information may misdirect the relief efforts and in some cases may become a cause of panic during working for relief during disasters. Coordination between agencies is not only important in post-disaster scenarios, but also in situations where a disaster is expected to hit a community. In scenarios where a disaster e.g. a hurricane is expected to strike a city, coordination between different agencies is extremely important. In situations like this, it is extremely important that the agency which determines the magnitude of an expected disaster provides the correct information to allow the other agencies react accordingly. Misinformation in this context is likely to result in over or under-preparation by the other involved agencies, which may ultimate result in loss of lives or a wastage of resources. Perry, M. (2007). Natural disaster management planning: a study of logistics managers responding to the tsunami.  International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management,  37(5),

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

English essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

English - Essay Example hat women have less physical ability and strength then men, of course those arguing with this pre-conceived notion are discounting the physical strength necessary to hold a child through gestation and give birth to that child after this. While many studies have indeed shown that generally women have less muscular development than men this does not by default cause them to be â€Å"weaker.† In fact according to one report; â€Å"statistics reveal that women live longer and are more resistant to many diseases† (Womens Rights 1). Socially it has often been the case in many societies both throughout the West and in the East that women are relegated to caring for the home. While this was acceptable when hunting and gathering as well as tribal approaches to life were necessary we live in a drastically changed world. Men no longer need to hunt or gather and while they still occasionally war so do women. Technological advances have become part of the great equalizer between men and women. In the military women are preforming far greater roles with regards to active duties. One example is Specialist Jamiell Goforth, who won the 2007 Forces Command Soldier of the Year competition at Fort Bragg, N.C (Administrator 1). There are more examples of other active duty women however, the point is made that in many formerly off limits areas for women they are in fact succeeding. In conclusion it seems clear that women are in fact not only able to succeed where men do, but are. By winning the ability to choose what they want with their lives they are in fact taking their role as equal humans with males and improving our society as a result. By increasing their roles, and winning previously male dominated sports and more they are gaining the additional freedom and truly becoming equal. Women are equal, now it is up to our society to understand that. The home is a springboard not a nursery, women are equal. FORSCOM Soldier of the Year Is Combat Medic." Militarywomen.org. N.p., 2010.

Cost-Benefit and Cost-Effective Evaluation Methods Useful for Evaluating Effective Training Essay Example for Free

Cost-Benefit and Cost-Effective Evaluation Methods Useful for Evaluating Effective Training Essay For over a hundred years the concept of both cost-benefit evaluation and cost-effective evaluation methods has been used for numerous fields and industries to see the positive and negative sides of undertaking a project. These methods has been used to analyze public health; transportation; and etc. Each and every company would rather see more of profits than losses. Employers see that their employees and the trainings are investments to their business. Hence, employers need to have assurances that the trainings that they give out to their employees would be both beneficial to the employers in terms of profit and as well as return of investment (ROI). In order to gain much profit, the employers need to have their employees be up to par with industry standards with avant-garde skills through effective training. Employers do take note that in order to have highly qualified employees they need to give effective and quality training. Using the above mentioned evaluation methods would let the employers know: how much it would cost them to train their employees; the duration of the training – would determine the effectiveness and implementation of the skills. Then again these methodologies are not full-proof as there are numerous factors to be taken note of, to guarantee one hundred percent success rate of these trainings such as: the capabilities of their employees, the willingness of their employees to learn these trainings; and finally applying them during operation. The use of these evaluation methods can be a rough guide to corporations and institutions, to name a few, to see the quality and assess projected costs of trainings and steps to be taken. With such projections yielded by these methods one may be on track with their project management and asset management.

Monday, July 22, 2019

Should Tennagers Be Allowed to Get Birth Control Essay Example for Free

Should Tennagers Be Allowed to Get Birth Control Essay This raises the question, should teenagers be allowed to receive birth control methods without their parents’ permission. The answer is teenage girls should not be allowed to receive birth control without parent consent. There are many reasons why birth control methods should not be available to teenagers without their parent’s knowledge. Among the reasons are because this encourages premarital sex, it hinders communication between parent and child, and it forces the child to make adult decisions about medication, and that can be harmful to the teen. Foremost, I believe it is appropriate to keep in mind that one is not granted the ability to vote until they reach the age of 18. Laws and procedures vary from state to state, even though most states do not have a law about receiving birth control methods. But the idea of teens making a decision to add medication into their daily lives is ridiculous, even more since the government has already determined that they are not ready to make an extremely important decision as far as voting. Therefore allowing teens to obtain prescription birth control without parents’ knowledge interferes with the parent/child relationship. There are rules and regulations that require government funded hospitals to contact parents if their teenager would like to receive prescription birth control and sometimes this encourage sexual activity among teenagers. I feel that if teenagers under 16, need have to have their parents’ consent to have surgery and to receive medical treatment, birth control should not excluded. Birth control should also be of importance. I believe that parents should know what activities their teenagers are participating in; and since the government holds the parents responsible for our children. Being a parent I feel the parent should have in the situation. I feel that any great parent should care about the interest of their child wants to know whether their teenage daughter is going to the public clinic to get receive birth control; and any good parent would want to help their teenager make the right choices and good decisions on the matter, and to help the teenager from making bad choices without the parents’ consent. Certain states have laws against people who are under the age of sixteen, when it comes to them having sex. Health risks that are associated with prescribed birth control make it unethical to allow children to obtain these medicines without parent consent. Common side effects of early usage of birth control include nutrient deficiency, weight gain, mood changes, and depression (www. kidshealth. org). A prescribed birth control method also puts users at a higher risk of PMS, depression, migraines, and all kind of maladies (www. womenhealth. org) due to the risk of developing yeast problems. But without having the proper research, a teenager really has no way of knowing or understanding the health risks that comes with taking birth control methods. Therefore, it is important that parents’ know and be involved in their children’s life decisions. Even though their argument is that birth control reduces the number of teen pregnancies, prescribed birth control does not protect an individual from STD’s. If teenagers were able to obtain prescription birth control without prenatal consent, we may actually see a jump in STD’s among teens. Teenagers that are sexually active are a problem that has to be addressed. Curiosity arises in the minds of teenager every, they want to know what sex is all about. My religion which is Christianity, instructs us to wait until they are married to have begun to have sex. But not only in churches is abstinence being preached, but public schools is adding this to their curriculum, and teaching the teenagers about the greatness of keeping their virginity. Teenagers having sex before marriage is a growing issue among teenagers. Sex before marriage is the cause of teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and emotional distress. Sexually transmitted diseases show in a society of teenagers that are having premarital sex, because teenagers have so many different sex partners. Therefore, a result to teenagers having sex is the different disease which is becoming more common in the teenage population. Because, for this is that the teenagers don not know how to use the different birth control methods. Many teenagers believe that the pill or condoms stop the spread of AIDs, other diseases, and herpes so, the contraceptives do not prevent these diseases from spreading. Three million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers are reported each year. (www. helpme. com) There are so many teens that feel that there is nothing wrong in having sex before marriage, but having sexual relations with numerous people from age 15 and 19 doubles the diseases that have been spreading to different people every time. Because teenagers are having more sexual relationships, it seems that it is being more accepted among the public, and this is causing even more teenagers to start in having sexual relationships. Many teens believed that they were pressured into having sex. But if the community has the strength to pressure teenagers into having sex, then society should be using education to help teach teenagers about how bad sex is before marriage. Teenagers that is engaging into sexual activities before marriage is a major cause of teenage pregnancy. Teenagers often believe that they cannot get pregnant, or being a parent cannot happen to them, but the teenage pregnancy rate is on the rise every year. Being careless is a great factoring in teenage pregnancy, whether it is the use of contraceptives, or choosing their sexual partner. Teenagers use the different methods of birth control wrong. Teenagers do not have the adult mentality to choose a partner they want to be with at their age, which causes them to make the wrong decisions about their partners, which cause them to make wrong decisions and here is an unwanted pregnancy. The majority of unwanted pregnancies occur because teenagers do not really do not see how easy it is to become pregnant, or how they should know how to use birth control methods correctly. A lot of teenagers feel that they love their significant other, and so they began plan for a baby but their focus is not to look at the financial obligations that follow. Sex before marriage can play a great role in a teenager’s emotional factor. Teenagers feel all kinds of, emotional loss after they engage into having sex before marriage. Some teenagers may not feel the emotions of having sex now, but as they get older, life begins to sink in. Rather the teenager experienced having an STD’s or an unplanned pregnancy, they began to regret and this causes the teen to feel bad about them and it causes depression. â€Å"In fact, a great number of teens, active in sexual relationships, and ninety percent actually regret their choices to have sex (www. helpme. com)†. Teenagers feel the shame when their relationship ends because, having sex before marriage is a great causes of depression among teenagers and the parents that feel they are responsible for their childish choices. Many teenagers claim, that abstinence is not cool and that being abstinent is impossible but I am here to tell you it only takes one word â€Å"NO†! They are economically dependent, and the teen moms are not able to spend time with their children. Whether the parents know that their child is pregnant this really affects the women emotionally and psychologically, her ability to continue going to school, and her finances are affected. Parents should be able to make sure they get all the love that their teenagers need. If the teenagers parents do not know are not aware, there is a problem that the parents and their teenage daughters bond will be messed up at a time when parental support is most important. Now in some cases, I feel that the teenager might not want to tell her parents that she needs birth control or that she is engaging into sexual activities, for example, if a teen has been abused by their parents maybe if they were to tell their parents they would feel threatened for their safety. This may be a circumstance which could get the law involved, it should not be taken advantage of to make it seem like the parents should be consulted over whether underage children should be able to receive birth control or not. For teenagers nearly around the ages of 16 to 18 the case for parental consent is clearly less convincing. There has to be a line drawn somewhere because society has these teenagers feeling they can do whatever they feel and it’s not right. I grew up in a very religious family, and of course my mother did not believe in having sex before marriage. That is why I feel that teenagers both boys and girls should not be able to receive any kind of birth control without their parents knowing. I feel that when a teenage should decide to worry about contraceptives parents should be notified. Too many things are going on in today’s society. And this just helps with the parent and child relationship because a parent and a child should have a bond that is unbreakable

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Designing and Implementing E-procurement

Designing and Implementing E-procurement CHAPTER ONE: Background Study Overview The project is designing and implementing e-procurement on business-to-business transactions, it first identifies current procurement process and explores how to implement procurement that involves mainstay drivers and problems of e-procurement system usage and investigate the effect on the performance of the Ministry in terms of e-government and transparency in the Federal Ministry of Science and technology. The solution essentially involves in creating all the requirement details/ specs, of a tender to be floated electronically, in parameterized form; so that subsequent evaluation comparative chart preparation exercises could be automated to a large extent. The term procurement can be referred to as the buying of tangible and intangible merchandise for organizations which can be executed through agency or company. Procurement is not an event. It is a process and signifies a continuing relationship between the government and its suppliers. Procurements are always taken as an important task in the government environment and always handled in a strictly secured and controlled manner (Dunleavy, 1994). According to Nwokak, et al. (2007) procurement is also one of the sectors that remains insulated against any process improvements. At the moment, it is been recognized world over, that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can eliminate the existing bureaucratic problems and make the governments performance more resourceful, easily reached and clear as crystal, besides being cost-effective. The procurement process in the Ministry of science and technology (www.fmst.gov.ng)is a complex process that starts and ends in a cycle. Procurement cycle starts from Raising of the requirements for an item or a service and ends only after settlement of supplier payments as shown in the diagram below. The Concept of E-Procurement Electronic Procurement can describe as purchasing order that release a communication over the internet through authorized internet seller catalogue. E-procurement is the electronic purchase of goods and services for an organization; Turban et al. (2006) from an easy phrase, electronic purchase can be described as procedure to purchase tangible and intangible merchandise by the use of internet for a company or institution. For example, within Nigeria, the majority of companies in the petroleum Industries, United Parcel Service, Plc.(Ups) Federal Express Plc (Fedex), communication industries etc are some of the few organizations that practice e-procurement in material purchase (Nwokak et al, 2009). The reason is so, because the industries have advanced and developed their technology usage of e-procurement keeping up with the changes in the business environment as it pertains to information and technology. Furthermore, electronic procurement or merchant trade is the business-to-consumer (B2C) or company-to-company (C2C) acquisition as well as trade of tangible and intangible goods by electronic means and various information and network system, like the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) (Nwokak et al, 2009). Electronic procurement systems permit competent and valid user to search for buyer or seller of tangible as well as intangible merchandise. No matter which method, buyer or seller may as well state the outlay and request for bidding. Dealings can then be welcomed. Other Concepts in E-procurement Reverse Auction The traditional auction is a Forward Auction. It is a process through which a seller offers an item for auction, and prospective buyer competes with one another other for acquisition. By doing this, the price continue to move up upon the time nobody will be able to go up further. In the reverse auction, several dealers of a product vie for the trade of one single purchaser. In such a way the price moves downward. There are 3-4 flavours of reverse auction, called as: English Auction, Dutch auction, Sealed Bid Auction etc. How it works There is no contact or conciliation with the bidders during the auction. The Buyer also watches the progress of bidding from his office. Identities if bidders are available to him. In reverse auction competition is high; bidders get tempted to bid lower and lower to clinch the deal, until they are unwilling to go any further. At the conclusion the lowest bidder emerges as winner of the auction. Benefits To Buyers: Significant reduction in cost due to Dynamic Bidding process. Inefficiencies in the supply chain reduce. With real time competition, suppliers are on their toes It is an effective way of measuring and assessing price discovery and making the negotiation process an easy effort. Often used along with Tendering. To Vendors: Ensures Savings in marketing cost / distributor margins Facilitates flexibility in pricing decision. Transparency increases Allows vendors to assess their pricing power from close quarters of competition. E-payment Commonly available modes for effecting EMD/ Fee/ other payments electronically, from within a software Application, are: Online payment through Credit cards/ Debit cards or Direct Account Debit (using Gateway for Internet Banking) Depending on the actual need and usage constraints, the appropriate mode could be chosen and integrated into the s/w application. Credit cards could conveniently be integrated for use if the payment amounts involved are not substantial. For all other cases where payment amounts could be heavy, payments through Direct Debits from concerned accounts, using Internet Banking is the only alternative. Scope of E-procurement solution to the Ministry Purchasing of all kinds of goods and services, works etc. Types of Tenders Open, Limited, Expression of Interest Hybrid Mode of Operation Electronic and Paper Based Bid Submission (Initial Stages of Implementation) Mode of Payments (Tender Fee, EMD) e-Payment, as well as Conventional Payment Modes (DD etc.) The Importance of Procurement The purchasing of merchandise, works, and services has a main effect on the efficient execution of an assignment. To a great degree the quality, cost, and judicious achievement of a task determined on the supervision and managing of purchase of materials needed. Use of articulated policy and practice, considered by unbiased, just, and transparent measures, is vital, not only to create reliable and steady market that will be capable to catch the fancy of competent contractor and supplier, but also to uphold the paradigm of accountability and the cost-efficient use of civic treasury. The importance of procurement in delivering key aims and mission of the ministry, and as a result the procurement of merchandise, facility and services is of strategic significance to the Ministry: It has an undeviating force on the Ministrys general overheads, and price of service prerequisite to public. Can have direct effect with delivery of its services by Ministrys. Can have direct effect on the accomplishment of business, department and service mission. It provide the system to deliver key plan objective, together with sustainability, corporate work environment, egalitarianism and cost-effective improvement. It operate in multifaceted dog matic structure that should be followed. Benefits of E-Procurement to Ministry of Science and Technology. For years, improvement to purchase has been attempted, frequently by means of information technology. The concrete opportunity for development today lies in the use of e-procurement, the electronic process of obtaining goods and services for an organization Nwokak et al, (2009). They further to ascertain that by automation and reformation the thorough and arduous routine of obtain task, purchase professional will have the opportunity to pay more attention, on other tactical purchase, in order to achieve these set of objectives: Growing the efficiency of purchase agent (by giving enough period as well as decreasing the work stress) Reducing the procure price by merchandise homogeny reverse auctions, quantity price cut, and also through purchase consolidation. Getting better information stream and organization (for example supplier information and price). Reducing or elimination of the purchase through unqualified vendors, in that way eliminating nonconformist buying. Getting better the disbursement procedures and savings due to expedite disbursement (for seller) Ensure just in time delivery always Slash order-fulfilment and handling period through the use of computerization Reduce skill as well as instruction need of purchase agent. Reduce numeral figure of supplier Reformation of purchase procedure, creating it easy, better and speedy (may involve authorize) Requests to carry out purchase on their desktop, bypassing purchasing unit. Reformation of account statements and difference of opinion decision Reduce organizational handing out expenditure for each bid a s to a great extent of 90% Getting fresh supplier and vendor that will be able to provide goods and services quicker and more so, More cost effective due to better sourcing. Integrate budgetary measures in purchase procedure. Reduction or elimination of individual error in trade or transport procedure Monitor as well as regulate exchange activities. The various benefits are listed below Transactional Benefits Electronic purchase enable purchaser to process transaction through internet. For instance, an internet-base transacts means through which things can be chosen mostly from an identified catalogues and submit for authorization. The device can be connected in same direction of the backside part of ERP structure for access, imbursement of invoice, and arrangement of organization information. Electronic procedures (together with computerization of p-card purchase) lead to immense period saving as well as effectiveness owing to: universal, computerized process incorporate finest tradition as well as eliminate needless actions; electronic processing enable affiliation with supplier, which speed purchase phase period and facilitate contractor feat improvement; and better data correctness, which minimize order in accuracy as well as provide the necessary base for enhanced supervision from side to side control and scrutiny. Compliance Benefits A lot of instances in a company, conformity and unconventional expenditure is an important problem not for the reason that workers intentionally procure outside of favoured arrangements, but to a certain extent through be short of knowledge. Electronic purchases address this from side to side apparatus such as catalogues and benchmark order procedures and authorized process. Conformity will be achieved owing to: easy and speedy request-to-pay procedure together with a easy to use interface and pre-source catalogues modified to the needs of different client; easy and speedy tactical source procedure with benchmark purchase process and apparatus, without difficulty accessing information Electronic purchase structure, the only purchase method obtainable. Management Information Benefit This statement analyze the important of datas cost centre, commodity codes, etc. is hard coded in opposition to the user significantly reduce code error and provide extremely exhaustive as well as effortlessly available data. This is very important information to make the rule of the monetary revenue of tactical source. A successful e-procurement performance will give high value, complete management information and will reverse the need for data warehousing or resource heavy data mining, by David Eakin (2002). The capability to display to your supplier that you are using e-procurement as an apparatus to make sure final user do respect their union significance will augment ability to bargain along the prices through: Better improved capture and as a result, trustworthiness of expenditure information; and Better assurance that costs volume can be assured from better conformity with the structure, hence allow degree price breaks and discount to achieve. These include the capacity to improve management of business cash flow as well as control the proficient imbursement of supplier because of the further rationalized procurement procedures giving additional suitable and precise information to the accounts payable department. Possible benefit includes limited staff a hard benefit only if improvement can bring about head count decrease) and brings down expenditure on postages as well as stationeries. Throughout negotiations the procurement manager can further credibly guarantee the supplier a level of prompt payment, which was not possible prior to e-procurement. David Eakin (2002). However, the electronic invoice benefit is frequently unexamined and uncared for. Reduction in Procurement Contracts cycle time Cost Reduction Efficient streamlined Procurement Processes New Supplier Discovery Close Monitoring of Activities/ Vendor Performance Rich MIS and Analytics New Improved Image Standardized formats and Uniform tendering practices Increased visibility/ Less artificial barriers Increased business opportunities, Greater degree of transparency Cycle time reduction in participation and award of Contract Supplier Enablement and Ease of Participation For high-value items, purchasing personal in the Ministry spends most of their work period on procurement activities. These functions involve developing relationship with considered supplier, negotiating prices as well as terms, qualifying supplier, and bringing out suppliers certification as well as evaluation. When buyer is occupied in the midst of information of lesser things (especially MROs), they have less period to adequately engage in the purchase of the high value item. Other problems can happen in traditional purchase. These include delay in paying a lot for hasten order. Purchase inadequacy is nonconformist exchange, (impromptu procurements of merchandise needed hurriedly, unintentionally at non-pre-negotiated soaring price. The conventional purchase procedure, as discuss over, is therefore ineffective. In other to avoid a repeat of this event, the ministry needs to re-engineer the process of purchasing, by carrying out of new purchasing models in general, through the int roduction of electronic purchase. From this stage, we shall gaze at what e-procurement means in B2B market. The issues are summarized below: Lack of a general Public Procurement Policy. Nigeria lack up to date regulation on Public Procurement and enduring supervision and supervise purchase entity. Transparency in Procurement Act, The finance Control and Management Act, 1958, jointly with Financial policy which sets basic regulations for managing public expenses have gap, deficiency as well as defective execution of existing set of laws on procurement (for example, inadequate in the arrangement for controlling and supervision) which make opportunity for unethical behaviour. Lack of model bidding documents and contract documents -because of inflations, inadequate and regularly adjustment to threshold of the favourable limit of the Tenders Board, their approval were regularly gnarled consequential in abuse, top amongst include is split of contract. Complicated procedures for approvals, bidding and payments. There is a large number of tenders board that are alleged by the private sector as a source of delay as well as non intelligibility. Furthermore, those tenders board appear to encompass inadequate mandate amid power to choose contracted faction active through the permanent Secretary as well as Minister/ Commissioner. Inadequate skilled resources. There is no centralized system of registration of suppliers. Delays in making payments to suppliers whos Procurement are sometimes executed through staffs that substantially lack the required experience. E-government procurement is the collaborative purchase of tangible and intangible merchandise by the civic division using electronic methods at every stage ensuring transparency and efficiency. Ideally, it covers the full life cycle of procurement. The intention is to automate, possibly, the whole purchasing processes, along with tender offer submission as well as payment from supplier; in an automated computerized concurrent situation .E-procurement could resolve many of the constraints/ delays of traditional procurement. In David Eakin (2002).Summary, e-Procurement is the business-to-business buying and selling of supplies and services online. The e-procurement helps both the buyers and the suppliers to decrease the cycle time, needless paper work, waiting in long queues and at the same time maintain the simplicity in the entire process. David Eakin, (February, 2003). Which are to:- Reduce cycle times of procurement Increase supplier access to ensure wider participation Reduce costs of procurement through competitive bidding and Reverse Auctioning Remove cartelisation by supplier groups (Reverse Auctioning) enhance transparency in the procurement procedure Almost complete elimination of paperwork, for speedy and efficient functioning Inefficient function In the Ministry is because of: Lack of a general civic procurement policy Lack of consistency in enforcing procurement practice procedures Low competence labour-intensive process call for of intelligibility in procurement leading to fraud pilferage of the treasury unethical practice by suppliers Cartel creation Influence selection by bribing unit personnel Advances in electronic procurement by the use of safe internet-enabled means have not being used in an extensive method Approach to a Procurement Solution Before looking for an e-Procurement solution, a relook on existing procurement procedures/ practices is essential: As Is Analysis, Re-engineering for optimized processes Optimization/ reduction in process-flow steps Uniformity/ standardization in formats/ practices/ procedures Organization wide use of unified item-codification structure Automation of Processes Critical Determinants of a procurement Solution Good authentication Role based access Security, Secrecy (of bids) Signing, Encryption Ease of Use, Tender Templates, e-Payment integration etc. Integrated Document Management features, Good Analytics Good Audit trail/ traceability features Access for Financial Audit, Legal and RTI needs Good Archival Retrieval features/ policy Safe and secure Probing for seller so as to get and contrast supplier and product occasionally can be in reality awfully time-consuming and expensive. Most Ministries as a way out invite sellers to fulfill orders and create market place. Procurement is used to refer to the purchase of goods and services for an organization, (Martin et. al., 2001). Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) are among of the important parastatals of the Federal Government. The major term of office is providing access to technology for the Majority of Nigerian Populace. The ministry is made up of 8 (eight) departments. The Department of Administration and Supply within the Ministry is responsible for: Planning, management and entirely documenting the procedure to purchase both tangible and intangible merchandise. use of active Continuing Service Agreement for products to attain program needs; management, soliciting and contract award procedures is done prudently and unprejudiced method that is fair and treat every potential vendor and bidder; ensures that contract for good, service as well as building is planned to offer the most excellent value to government; ensures that every ministry acquisition and disposal is unswerving with guidelines, appropriate legislature as well as trade agreement; Declare products excess as soon as their utilization to the ministry has finished. The department is therefore responsible for procurement of goods and services in the Ministry. The Nature and Scope of E-Procurement According to Nwokak et al, (2009) different methods are employed to procure goods and services by companies depending on what and where they buy, the quantities needed, how much money is involved, and more. They further mentioned some important procurements method to comprise the listed below: To buy from an internal buyers catalogue in which company-approved vendors catalogues, including agreed upon prices, are aggregated. This approach is used for the implementation of desktop purchasing, which allows the requisitions to order directly from vendors, bypassing the procurement department. Buy directly from manufacturers, wholesalers, or retailers from their catalogues and possibly by negotiation. Frequently, a contract implements such a purchase. Buy from the catalogue of an intermediary (e-distributor) that aggregates sellers catalogues. Conduct biding or tendering (a reverse auction) in a system in which suppliers compete against each other. This method is used for large-ticket items or large quantities. To buy at private or public auction sites in which the organization participates as one of the buyers. Collaborate with suppliers to share information about sales and inventory, as to reduce inventory and stock -outs and enhance just-in-time delivery (Turban et al 2006). Join a group-purchasing system that aggregates participants demand, creating a large volume. Then, the group may negotiate prices or initiate a tendering process. The Procurement Process Procurement cycle starts from Raising of the requirements for an item or a service and ends only after settlement of supplier payments. By Category of Goods Services Goods Services Civil Contracts By Nature of Procurement Tenders Rate Contract Catalogue Buying Auctions, Reverse Auctions By Size / Volume of procurement High Values, low volumes Low values, High Volumes By Portfolio of services needed Requisition, Bid Process Evaluation, Award, PO Supply, Quality check, Inventory Management Payment, Accounting, Audit MIS, EIS The traditional procurement process has been widely criticized as an ineffective procurement method because it often involves time and cost overrun (Dunleavy, 1994). Yet the method is still being widely used in Nigeria most especially for the procurement in Ministry of Science and technology. Inefficiencies in Traditional Procurement Management According to Nwokak et al (2009) precisely 80% of organizations purchase item, especially for Maintenances, Repairs as well as Operating items (MROs), constitutes 20- 25 percent of the total purchasing values. Furthermore, Nwokak; OzuruUgoji (2009) affirmed that a portion of corporate buyers time is spent on non-value-added activities such data entry, correcting errors in paper work, expediting delivery or solving quality problems. For high-value items, purchasing personal spend a great deal of time and effort on procurement activities. These activities include qualifying suppliers, negotiating prices and terms, building rapport with strategic suppliers, as well as carrying out supplier evaluation and certification (Nwokak et al, 2009). If buyers are busy with details of the smaller items (usually MROs), they do not have enough time to properly deal with the purchase of the high -value items. Other inefficiencies also may occur in conventional procurement. These range from delays to paying too much for rush orders. Procurement inefficiency is maverick buying, (unplanned purchase of items needed quickly, often at non-pre-negotiated high prices. The traditional procurement process, as discussed above, often is therefore inefficient (Mills, 1996). In order to correct this situation, the ministry needs to reengineer their procurement systems, implementation of new purchasing models and in particular, introduce e-procurement. At this juncture, we will look at what e-procurement is in a B2B marketplace. Issues in Ministry Procurement Lack of a common Public Procurement Policy: Nigeria lacks a modern law on Public Procurement and Permanent oversight and monitor purchasing entities. Lack of model bidding documents and contract documents -due to inflation and lack of regular adjustments on the thresholds of the approving limits of the Tender Boards, their authorization were constantly being eroded resulting in abuses, prominent among which is splitting of contracts. Complicated procedures for bidding, approvals and payments. That there was proliferation of tender boards which were perceived by the private sector as sources of delays and non transparency. In addition, these tender boards appeared to have limited mandates with powers to decide contracts de facto resting with the permanent Secretary and the Minister/ Commissioner. Lack of skilled resources. No centralized system of registration of suppliers. Delays in making payments to suppliers that Procurement is often carried out by staff who substantially lack relevant training. Conclusion Not until June 2008 was the procurement bill recently signed into law, previously there was no Federal or state law governing the practice of public procurement in Nigeria. With the advent of the new law, a number of challenges with regards to transparency, accountability and good governance in the area of contracts and procurement of supplies and services by government. In Nigeria it is pertinent to note that e-procurement is not prominently featured in law, this project sets out to make e-procurement prominently featured. With the advent of digital technology and globalisation, Nigeria as a third world country needs to be aware of the challenges and opportunities with regards to the e-procurement process. Furthermore, this project seeks to classify the meaning as well as the benefits of the E-procurement process in Nigeria. This project will also highlight the challenges in transforming Nigeria into a transparent and corrupt-free business environment and also ways of overcoming the challenges of adopting e-procurement in Nigeria. (E-Public Procurement in Nigeria: Some Lessons from EU, 2009) Investigation of Security Issues Security E-procurement platform transacts confidential procurement data and is exposed to several security threats. Agencies world over face threats to their online e-procurement and usually desist from sending sensitive information over the Internet for security reasons. The growing number of cyber crimes has added doubts regarding the reliability of the Internet. Security measures such as authentication and encryption are therefore employed while passing sensitive information between companies. Another major issue concerning e-procurement is the type of goods that are procured through the online medium. Companies usually prefer to source smaller, inexpensive goods such as office stationery (Miller, 2006). Larger complex orders that usually take weeks or months for negotiation are done in the traditional manner but this can be addressed by employing a combination of security features and security best practices which result in reduced threat of data loss, leakage or manipulation. Security and secrecy of tender data is of paramount importance as the portal handles sensitive procurement transactions of departments and has foreseen the security concerns. Security mechanisms provide a secure communication interface, mainly for the exchange of documents between procurement authorities and Economic Operators. Standards constituting adequate and acceptable security need to be provided for the implementation of services during each stage of the procurement process. Importance of Security in e-procurement Security is one of the major factors restricting the growth of e-procurement. Without proper security measures this could lead to the loss or corruption of sensitive information on e-procurement. Security breach could also lead to fraud and financial loss, also includes misappropriation of funds and revealing of sensitive information (The Economist, 1995). This project outlines various security issues faced by e-procurement in Nigeria and possible solutions that can be implemented to reduce such risk. (NATIONAL E-PROCUREMENT PROJECT SUPPLEMENTARY GUIDANCE NOTES, 2004) The major objectives measured for the creation of a safe environment include the following: Verification: guarantees that the service is only available to users with a confirmed identity. Agreement: guarantees that authenticated users can only contact services or data matching their task and access rights. Confidentiality: guarantees that the data exchanged between the person requesting it and the provider cannot be intercepted or accessed by a third non-authorised party. honesty: guarantees that data exchanged among the person requesting it and the contributor has not been tampered with by a third non-authorised party. Non repudiation: guarantees that the sender of the message cannot reject, at a shortly point in time, that he/she sent it. Accordingly, following stringent security measures are already implemented in the system to ensure that transactions on e-procurement portal happen in the most secured manner: Physical security of Data Centre. Entry to the Data centre is with Bio metric smart cards, round the clock CCTV monitoring and under strict personal supervision of Data Centre personnel. Web security through 128 bit Secured Socket Layer (SSL) Technology from client end to server for secured passage of data. Fire walls, intrusion detection system, online virus check, up to date antivirus system, online OS patches to prevent malicious attacks. Network monitoring system to monitor the service levels of the site. Sound back up methods for storing data. Comprehensive Audit Logs of all events that are taking place on the platform. Access controls, sharing of functions between system administrator and data base administrator Third party security audit of e-procurement system. M/s. PWC has conducted security audit in pilot phase (2003) and has expressed that security is unco Designing and Implementing E-procurement Designing and Implementing E-procurement CHAPTER ONE: Background Study Overview The project is designing and implementing e-procurement on business-to-business transactions, it first identifies current procurement process and explores how to implement procurement that involves mainstay drivers and problems of e-procurement system usage and investigate the effect on the performance of the Ministry in terms of e-government and transparency in the Federal Ministry of Science and technology. The solution essentially involves in creating all the requirement details/ specs, of a tender to be floated electronically, in parameterized form; so that subsequent evaluation comparative chart preparation exercises could be automated to a large extent. The term procurement can be referred to as the buying of tangible and intangible merchandise for organizations which can be executed through agency or company. Procurement is not an event. It is a process and signifies a continuing relationship between the government and its suppliers. Procurements are always taken as an important task in the government environment and always handled in a strictly secured and controlled manner (Dunleavy, 1994). According to Nwokak, et al. (2007) procurement is also one of the sectors that remains insulated against any process improvements. At the moment, it is been recognized world over, that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can eliminate the existing bureaucratic problems and make the governments performance more resourceful, easily reached and clear as crystal, besides being cost-effective. The procurement process in the Ministry of science and technology (www.fmst.gov.ng)is a complex process that starts and ends in a cycle. Procurement cycle starts from Raising of the requirements for an item or a service and ends only after settlement of supplier payments as shown in the diagram below. The Concept of E-Procurement Electronic Procurement can describe as purchasing order that release a communication over the internet through authorized internet seller catalogue. E-procurement is the electronic purchase of goods and services for an organization; Turban et al. (2006) from an easy phrase, electronic purchase can be described as procedure to purchase tangible and intangible merchandise by the use of internet for a company or institution. For example, within Nigeria, the majority of companies in the petroleum Industries, United Parcel Service, Plc.(Ups) Federal Express Plc (Fedex), communication industries etc are some of the few organizations that practice e-procurement in material purchase (Nwokak et al, 2009). The reason is so, because the industries have advanced and developed their technology usage of e-procurement keeping up with the changes in the business environment as it pertains to information and technology. Furthermore, electronic procurement or merchant trade is the business-to-consumer (B2C) or company-to-company (C2C) acquisition as well as trade of tangible and intangible goods by electronic means and various information and network system, like the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) (Nwokak et al, 2009). Electronic procurement systems permit competent and valid user to search for buyer or seller of tangible as well as intangible merchandise. No matter which method, buyer or seller may as well state the outlay and request for bidding. Dealings can then be welcomed. Other Concepts in E-procurement Reverse Auction The traditional auction is a Forward Auction. It is a process through which a seller offers an item for auction, and prospective buyer competes with one another other for acquisition. By doing this, the price continue to move up upon the time nobody will be able to go up further. In the reverse auction, several dealers of a product vie for the trade of one single purchaser. In such a way the price moves downward. There are 3-4 flavours of reverse auction, called as: English Auction, Dutch auction, Sealed Bid Auction etc. How it works There is no contact or conciliation with the bidders during the auction. The Buyer also watches the progress of bidding from his office. Identities if bidders are available to him. In reverse auction competition is high; bidders get tempted to bid lower and lower to clinch the deal, until they are unwilling to go any further. At the conclusion the lowest bidder emerges as winner of the auction. Benefits To Buyers: Significant reduction in cost due to Dynamic Bidding process. Inefficiencies in the supply chain reduce. With real time competition, suppliers are on their toes It is an effective way of measuring and assessing price discovery and making the negotiation process an easy effort. Often used along with Tendering. To Vendors: Ensures Savings in marketing cost / distributor margins Facilitates flexibility in pricing decision. Transparency increases Allows vendors to assess their pricing power from close quarters of competition. E-payment Commonly available modes for effecting EMD/ Fee/ other payments electronically, from within a software Application, are: Online payment through Credit cards/ Debit cards or Direct Account Debit (using Gateway for Internet Banking) Depending on the actual need and usage constraints, the appropriate mode could be chosen and integrated into the s/w application. Credit cards could conveniently be integrated for use if the payment amounts involved are not substantial. For all other cases where payment amounts could be heavy, payments through Direct Debits from concerned accounts, using Internet Banking is the only alternative. Scope of E-procurement solution to the Ministry Purchasing of all kinds of goods and services, works etc. Types of Tenders Open, Limited, Expression of Interest Hybrid Mode of Operation Electronic and Paper Based Bid Submission (Initial Stages of Implementation) Mode of Payments (Tender Fee, EMD) e-Payment, as well as Conventional Payment Modes (DD etc.) The Importance of Procurement The purchasing of merchandise, works, and services has a main effect on the efficient execution of an assignment. To a great degree the quality, cost, and judicious achievement of a task determined on the supervision and managing of purchase of materials needed. Use of articulated policy and practice, considered by unbiased, just, and transparent measures, is vital, not only to create reliable and steady market that will be capable to catch the fancy of competent contractor and supplier, but also to uphold the paradigm of accountability and the cost-efficient use of civic treasury. The importance of procurement in delivering key aims and mission of the ministry, and as a result the procurement of merchandise, facility and services is of strategic significance to the Ministry: It has an undeviating force on the Ministrys general overheads, and price of service prerequisite to public. Can have direct effect with delivery of its services by Ministrys. Can have direct effect on the accomplishment of business, department and service mission. It provide the system to deliver key plan objective, together with sustainability, corporate work environment, egalitarianism and cost-effective improvement. It operate in multifaceted dog matic structure that should be followed. Benefits of E-Procurement to Ministry of Science and Technology. For years, improvement to purchase has been attempted, frequently by means of information technology. The concrete opportunity for development today lies in the use of e-procurement, the electronic process of obtaining goods and services for an organization Nwokak et al, (2009). They further to ascertain that by automation and reformation the thorough and arduous routine of obtain task, purchase professional will have the opportunity to pay more attention, on other tactical purchase, in order to achieve these set of objectives: Growing the efficiency of purchase agent (by giving enough period as well as decreasing the work stress) Reducing the procure price by merchandise homogeny reverse auctions, quantity price cut, and also through purchase consolidation. Getting better information stream and organization (for example supplier information and price). Reducing or elimination of the purchase through unqualified vendors, in that way eliminating nonconformist buying. Getting better the disbursement procedures and savings due to expedite disbursement (for seller) Ensure just in time delivery always Slash order-fulfilment and handling period through the use of computerization Reduce skill as well as instruction need of purchase agent. Reduce numeral figure of supplier Reformation of purchase procedure, creating it easy, better and speedy (may involve authorize) Requests to carry out purchase on their desktop, bypassing purchasing unit. Reformation of account statements and difference of opinion decision Reduce organizational handing out expenditure for each bid a s to a great extent of 90% Getting fresh supplier and vendor that will be able to provide goods and services quicker and more so, More cost effective due to better sourcing. Integrate budgetary measures in purchase procedure. Reduction or elimination of individual error in trade or transport procedure Monitor as well as regulate exchange activities. The various benefits are listed below Transactional Benefits Electronic purchase enable purchaser to process transaction through internet. For instance, an internet-base transacts means through which things can be chosen mostly from an identified catalogues and submit for authorization. The device can be connected in same direction of the backside part of ERP structure for access, imbursement of invoice, and arrangement of organization information. Electronic procedures (together with computerization of p-card purchase) lead to immense period saving as well as effectiveness owing to: universal, computerized process incorporate finest tradition as well as eliminate needless actions; electronic processing enable affiliation with supplier, which speed purchase phase period and facilitate contractor feat improvement; and better data correctness, which minimize order in accuracy as well as provide the necessary base for enhanced supervision from side to side control and scrutiny. Compliance Benefits A lot of instances in a company, conformity and unconventional expenditure is an important problem not for the reason that workers intentionally procure outside of favoured arrangements, but to a certain extent through be short of knowledge. Electronic purchases address this from side to side apparatus such as catalogues and benchmark order procedures and authorized process. Conformity will be achieved owing to: easy and speedy request-to-pay procedure together with a easy to use interface and pre-source catalogues modified to the needs of different client; easy and speedy tactical source procedure with benchmark purchase process and apparatus, without difficulty accessing information Electronic purchase structure, the only purchase method obtainable. Management Information Benefit This statement analyze the important of datas cost centre, commodity codes, etc. is hard coded in opposition to the user significantly reduce code error and provide extremely exhaustive as well as effortlessly available data. This is very important information to make the rule of the monetary revenue of tactical source. A successful e-procurement performance will give high value, complete management information and will reverse the need for data warehousing or resource heavy data mining, by David Eakin (2002). The capability to display to your supplier that you are using e-procurement as an apparatus to make sure final user do respect their union significance will augment ability to bargain along the prices through: Better improved capture and as a result, trustworthiness of expenditure information; and Better assurance that costs volume can be assured from better conformity with the structure, hence allow degree price breaks and discount to achieve. These include the capacity to improve management of business cash flow as well as control the proficient imbursement of supplier because of the further rationalized procurement procedures giving additional suitable and precise information to the accounts payable department. Possible benefit includes limited staff a hard benefit only if improvement can bring about head count decrease) and brings down expenditure on postages as well as stationeries. Throughout negotiations the procurement manager can further credibly guarantee the supplier a level of prompt payment, which was not possible prior to e-procurement. David Eakin (2002). However, the electronic invoice benefit is frequently unexamined and uncared for. Reduction in Procurement Contracts cycle time Cost Reduction Efficient streamlined Procurement Processes New Supplier Discovery Close Monitoring of Activities/ Vendor Performance Rich MIS and Analytics New Improved Image Standardized formats and Uniform tendering practices Increased visibility/ Less artificial barriers Increased business opportunities, Greater degree of transparency Cycle time reduction in participation and award of Contract Supplier Enablement and Ease of Participation For high-value items, purchasing personal in the Ministry spends most of their work period on procurement activities. These functions involve developing relationship with considered supplier, negotiating prices as well as terms, qualifying supplier, and bringing out suppliers certification as well as evaluation. When buyer is occupied in the midst of information of lesser things (especially MROs), they have less period to adequately engage in the purchase of the high value item. Other problems can happen in traditional purchase. These include delay in paying a lot for hasten order. Purchase inadequacy is nonconformist exchange, (impromptu procurements of merchandise needed hurriedly, unintentionally at non-pre-negotiated soaring price. The conventional purchase procedure, as discuss over, is therefore ineffective. In other to avoid a repeat of this event, the ministry needs to re-engineer the process of purchasing, by carrying out of new purchasing models in general, through the int roduction of electronic purchase. From this stage, we shall gaze at what e-procurement means in B2B market. The issues are summarized below: Lack of a general Public Procurement Policy. Nigeria lack up to date regulation on Public Procurement and enduring supervision and supervise purchase entity. Transparency in Procurement Act, The finance Control and Management Act, 1958, jointly with Financial policy which sets basic regulations for managing public expenses have gap, deficiency as well as defective execution of existing set of laws on procurement (for example, inadequate in the arrangement for controlling and supervision) which make opportunity for unethical behaviour. Lack of model bidding documents and contract documents -because of inflations, inadequate and regularly adjustment to threshold of the favourable limit of the Tenders Board, their approval were regularly gnarled consequential in abuse, top amongst include is split of contract. Complicated procedures for approvals, bidding and payments. There is a large number of tenders board that are alleged by the private sector as a source of delay as well as non intelligibility. Furthermore, those tenders board appear to encompass inadequate mandate amid power to choose contracted faction active through the permanent Secretary as well as Minister/ Commissioner. Inadequate skilled resources. There is no centralized system of registration of suppliers. Delays in making payments to suppliers whos Procurement are sometimes executed through staffs that substantially lack the required experience. E-government procurement is the collaborative purchase of tangible and intangible merchandise by the civic division using electronic methods at every stage ensuring transparency and efficiency. Ideally, it covers the full life cycle of procurement. The intention is to automate, possibly, the whole purchasing processes, along with tender offer submission as well as payment from supplier; in an automated computerized concurrent situation .E-procurement could resolve many of the constraints/ delays of traditional procurement. In David Eakin (2002).Summary, e-Procurement is the business-to-business buying and selling of supplies and services online. The e-procurement helps both the buyers and the suppliers to decrease the cycle time, needless paper work, waiting in long queues and at the same time maintain the simplicity in the entire process. David Eakin, (February, 2003). Which are to:- Reduce cycle times of procurement Increase supplier access to ensure wider participation Reduce costs of procurement through competitive bidding and Reverse Auctioning Remove cartelisation by supplier groups (Reverse Auctioning) enhance transparency in the procurement procedure Almost complete elimination of paperwork, for speedy and efficient functioning Inefficient function In the Ministry is because of: Lack of a general civic procurement policy Lack of consistency in enforcing procurement practice procedures Low competence labour-intensive process call for of intelligibility in procurement leading to fraud pilferage of the treasury unethical practice by suppliers Cartel creation Influence selection by bribing unit personnel Advances in electronic procurement by the use of safe internet-enabled means have not being used in an extensive method Approach to a Procurement Solution Before looking for an e-Procurement solution, a relook on existing procurement procedures/ practices is essential: As Is Analysis, Re-engineering for optimized processes Optimization/ reduction in process-flow steps Uniformity/ standardization in formats/ practices/ procedures Organization wide use of unified item-codification structure Automation of Processes Critical Determinants of a procurement Solution Good authentication Role based access Security, Secrecy (of bids) Signing, Encryption Ease of Use, Tender Templates, e-Payment integration etc. Integrated Document Management features, Good Analytics Good Audit trail/ traceability features Access for Financial Audit, Legal and RTI needs Good Archival Retrieval features/ policy Safe and secure Probing for seller so as to get and contrast supplier and product occasionally can be in reality awfully time-consuming and expensive. Most Ministries as a way out invite sellers to fulfill orders and create market place. Procurement is used to refer to the purchase of goods and services for an organization, (Martin et. al., 2001). Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) are among of the important parastatals of the Federal Government. The major term of office is providing access to technology for the Majority of Nigerian Populace. The ministry is made up of 8 (eight) departments. The Department of Administration and Supply within the Ministry is responsible for: Planning, management and entirely documenting the procedure to purchase both tangible and intangible merchandise. use of active Continuing Service Agreement for products to attain program needs; management, soliciting and contract award procedures is done prudently and unprejudiced method that is fair and treat every potential vendor and bidder; ensures that contract for good, service as well as building is planned to offer the most excellent value to government; ensures that every ministry acquisition and disposal is unswerving with guidelines, appropriate legislature as well as trade agreement; Declare products excess as soon as their utilization to the ministry has finished. The department is therefore responsible for procurement of goods and services in the Ministry. The Nature and Scope of E-Procurement According to Nwokak et al, (2009) different methods are employed to procure goods and services by companies depending on what and where they buy, the quantities needed, how much money is involved, and more. They further mentioned some important procurements method to comprise the listed below: To buy from an internal buyers catalogue in which company-approved vendors catalogues, including agreed upon prices, are aggregated. This approach is used for the implementation of desktop purchasing, which allows the requisitions to order directly from vendors, bypassing the procurement department. Buy directly from manufacturers, wholesalers, or retailers from their catalogues and possibly by negotiation. Frequently, a contract implements such a purchase. Buy from the catalogue of an intermediary (e-distributor) that aggregates sellers catalogues. Conduct biding or tendering (a reverse auction) in a system in which suppliers compete against each other. This method is used for large-ticket items or large quantities. To buy at private or public auction sites in which the organization participates as one of the buyers. Collaborate with suppliers to share information about sales and inventory, as to reduce inventory and stock -outs and enhance just-in-time delivery (Turban et al 2006). Join a group-purchasing system that aggregates participants demand, creating a large volume. Then, the group may negotiate prices or initiate a tendering process. The Procurement Process Procurement cycle starts from Raising of the requirements for an item or a service and ends only after settlement of supplier payments. By Category of Goods Services Goods Services Civil Contracts By Nature of Procurement Tenders Rate Contract Catalogue Buying Auctions, Reverse Auctions By Size / Volume of procurement High Values, low volumes Low values, High Volumes By Portfolio of services needed Requisition, Bid Process Evaluation, Award, PO Supply, Quality check, Inventory Management Payment, Accounting, Audit MIS, EIS The traditional procurement process has been widely criticized as an ineffective procurement method because it often involves time and cost overrun (Dunleavy, 1994). Yet the method is still being widely used in Nigeria most especially for the procurement in Ministry of Science and technology. Inefficiencies in Traditional Procurement Management According to Nwokak et al (2009) precisely 80% of organizations purchase item, especially for Maintenances, Repairs as well as Operating items (MROs), constitutes 20- 25 percent of the total purchasing values. Furthermore, Nwokak; OzuruUgoji (2009) affirmed that a portion of corporate buyers time is spent on non-value-added activities such data entry, correcting errors in paper work, expediting delivery or solving quality problems. For high-value items, purchasing personal spend a great deal of time and effort on procurement activities. These activities include qualifying suppliers, negotiating prices and terms, building rapport with strategic suppliers, as well as carrying out supplier evaluation and certification (Nwokak et al, 2009). If buyers are busy with details of the smaller items (usually MROs), they do not have enough time to properly deal with the purchase of the high -value items. Other inefficiencies also may occur in conventional procurement. These range from delays to paying too much for rush orders. Procurement inefficiency is maverick buying, (unplanned purchase of items needed quickly, often at non-pre-negotiated high prices. The traditional procurement process, as discussed above, often is therefore inefficient (Mills, 1996). In order to correct this situation, the ministry needs to reengineer their procurement systems, implementation of new purchasing models and in particular, introduce e-procurement. At this juncture, we will look at what e-procurement is in a B2B marketplace. Issues in Ministry Procurement Lack of a common Public Procurement Policy: Nigeria lacks a modern law on Public Procurement and Permanent oversight and monitor purchasing entities. Lack of model bidding documents and contract documents -due to inflation and lack of regular adjustments on the thresholds of the approving limits of the Tender Boards, their authorization were constantly being eroded resulting in abuses, prominent among which is splitting of contracts. Complicated procedures for bidding, approvals and payments. That there was proliferation of tender boards which were perceived by the private sector as sources of delays and non transparency. In addition, these tender boards appeared to have limited mandates with powers to decide contracts de facto resting with the permanent Secretary and the Minister/ Commissioner. Lack of skilled resources. No centralized system of registration of suppliers. Delays in making payments to suppliers that Procurement is often carried out by staff who substantially lack relevant training. Conclusion Not until June 2008 was the procurement bill recently signed into law, previously there was no Federal or state law governing the practice of public procurement in Nigeria. With the advent of the new law, a number of challenges with regards to transparency, accountability and good governance in the area of contracts and procurement of supplies and services by government. In Nigeria it is pertinent to note that e-procurement is not prominently featured in law, this project sets out to make e-procurement prominently featured. With the advent of digital technology and globalisation, Nigeria as a third world country needs to be aware of the challenges and opportunities with regards to the e-procurement process. Furthermore, this project seeks to classify the meaning as well as the benefits of the E-procurement process in Nigeria. This project will also highlight the challenges in transforming Nigeria into a transparent and corrupt-free business environment and also ways of overcoming the challenges of adopting e-procurement in Nigeria. (E-Public Procurement in Nigeria: Some Lessons from EU, 2009) Investigation of Security Issues Security E-procurement platform transacts confidential procurement data and is exposed to several security threats. Agencies world over face threats to their online e-procurement and usually desist from sending sensitive information over the Internet for security reasons. The growing number of cyber crimes has added doubts regarding the reliability of the Internet. Security measures such as authentication and encryption are therefore employed while passing sensitive information between companies. Another major issue concerning e-procurement is the type of goods that are procured through the online medium. Companies usually prefer to source smaller, inexpensive goods such as office stationery (Miller, 2006). Larger complex orders that usually take weeks or months for negotiation are done in the traditional manner but this can be addressed by employing a combination of security features and security best practices which result in reduced threat of data loss, leakage or manipulation. Security and secrecy of tender data is of paramount importance as the portal handles sensitive procurement transactions of departments and has foreseen the security concerns. Security mechanisms provide a secure communication interface, mainly for the exchange of documents between procurement authorities and Economic Operators. Standards constituting adequate and acceptable security need to be provided for the implementation of services during each stage of the procurement process. Importance of Security in e-procurement Security is one of the major factors restricting the growth of e-procurement. Without proper security measures this could lead to the loss or corruption of sensitive information on e-procurement. Security breach could also lead to fraud and financial loss, also includes misappropriation of funds and revealing of sensitive information (The Economist, 1995). This project outlines various security issues faced by e-procurement in Nigeria and possible solutions that can be implemented to reduce such risk. (NATIONAL E-PROCUREMENT PROJECT SUPPLEMENTARY GUIDANCE NOTES, 2004) The major objectives measured for the creation of a safe environment include the following: Verification: guarantees that the service is only available to users with a confirmed identity. Agreement: guarantees that authenticated users can only contact services or data matching their task and access rights. Confidentiality: guarantees that the data exchanged between the person requesting it and the provider cannot be intercepted or accessed by a third non-authorised party. honesty: guarantees that data exchanged among the person requesting it and the contributor has not been tampered with by a third non-authorised party. Non repudiation: guarantees that the sender of the message cannot reject, at a shortly point in time, that he/she sent it. Accordingly, following stringent security measures are already implemented in the system to ensure that transactions on e-procurement portal happen in the most secured manner: Physical security of Data Centre. Entry to the Data centre is with Bio metric smart cards, round the clock CCTV monitoring and under strict personal supervision of Data Centre personnel. Web security through 128 bit Secured Socket Layer (SSL) Technology from client end to server for secured passage of data. Fire walls, intrusion detection system, online virus check, up to date antivirus system, online OS patches to prevent malicious attacks. Network monitoring system to monitor the service levels of the site. Sound back up methods for storing data. Comprehensive Audit Logs of all events that are taking place on the platform. Access controls, sharing of functions between system administrator and data base administrator Third party security audit of e-procurement system. M/s. PWC has conducted security audit in pilot phase (2003) and has expressed that security is unco