Professional Goals (Short Term and Long Term) Essay

Professional Goals (Short Term and Long Term) - Essay Example 127). The contemporary trends do amply testify to the fact that in the years to come, the United States of America is projected to come across a severe shortage of qualified nursing professionals, especially when a significant proportion of baby boomers are bound to age, leading to a commensurate rise in the demand for health care services (American Association of Colleges of Nursing 2012). Besides, a fast shifting population and rapidly changing industry trends have given rise to a soaring demand for qualified nursing professionals and administrators. In the light of these developments and correlating them to my own aptitude and passion for nursing, I believe that if I affiliate to a Master’s Degree Program as a Clinical Nurse Specialist/Educator, it will give a positive and propitious turn to my overall professional life. I believe that short term and long term professional goals could pragmatically be configured and enunciated only in the light of an individual’s exi sting academic and professional credentials and achievements. Hence, to facilitate an insight into my ambition to pursue a Master’s Degree Program as a Clinical Nurse Specialist/Educator, it is imperative to elaborate on my current academic and professional qualifications. I am a Registered Nurse with a Board Examination License from the State of Ohio. I have secured an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Cincinnati Technical College’s, Bethesda School of Nursing. I was also affiliated to RN-BSN Program at Jacksonville University. I also secured a B.S. Health Care Administration from Suffield College. In the light of my aforementioned academic achievements and qualifications, I believe that aspiring for a Master’s Degree Program as a Clinical Nurse Specialist/Educator tends to be a very predictable, logical and deserving progression of my career aspirations and goals. It is a fact that simply cannot be ignored that nursing like any other applied profession is not merely about degree and on paper qualifications. It is the actual work experience that hones a nursing professional’s skills and abilities and prepares one to graduate to higher academic achievements and aspirations (Donahue, 1996, p. 288). In that sense, I believe that my practical nursing career and experience amply bolster my future goals. I am a highly skilled nursing professional with 20 years practical experience in hospital, rehab and long term care. I have a one year experience as a staff nurse on medical surgical unit from Bethesda Hospital, where I was responsible for supervision of nursing assistants and administering care to the patients as per the Nurse Practice Act and State/Federal regulations and also the hospital policy and procedures. I also served for a year as Staff Nurse to the Director of Nursing at Burlington House Alzheimer’s Center. I further added to my professional experience by being a Staff Nurse to the Director of Nursing for a per iod of 4 years at JUDSON Village Retirement Community. I have also worked as a Nurse Manager at Maple Knoll Village rehab facility. For one full year I worked as a Director of Nurses for Liberty Matrix of Westwood. I have also accumulated ample experience as a Clinical Nurse1/Charge nurse dealing with the day to day functioning of unit activities, involving all disciplinaries including daily unit meetings and staff responsibilities. From January 2011 to November 2011, I served as a Nurse

Change and power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Change and power - Essay Example Stress and mood swings are greatly reduced. They are also able to concentrate better. Yoga is also viewed as a good exercise for those with heart problems, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Chronic medical conditions such as asthma, back pain, insomnia and arthritis have been said to improve with the practice of yoga. In short, yoga benefits both physical and psychological health (Hoffman, 2008). Having known all these wonderful benefits of yoga, I was encouraged to make a yoga club with my friends in the last summer. Since most of my friends go to the gym after work or school, it was difficult at first to convince them to try yoga. Most of them are enrolled at aerobic classes or weight loss programs conducted in the gym. I had to devise a plan to at least sit down with them and discuss the benefits of yoga. I believe that only when they hear of the benefits will they consider taking up yoga classes. So I invited my friends, around 5 of them, at my house one Friday night and told them I will treat them to Korean food. I told them I have a friend who will make a presentation on one of the â€Å"hottest† topic nowadays. Curiosity got them and they all agreed to come.

Dendrophthoe Petandra L. Miq.s Progesterone-Like Effect

Dendrophthoe Petandra L. Miq.s Progesterone-Like Effect ABSTRACT The in-vivo study on healthy adult female rat were known that extract methanol of Dendrophthoe Petandra L. Miq by intramuscular injection (w/v) at dose 100 mg/kg body weight for four days (s.d.d.) can be produce progesterone hormone two times more than usual levels. That phenomenon apparently indicates that plant as an Indonesia namely Benalu duku were probably consist of steroid with carbon bonding substances at number 1st to 21st namely pregnane derivate. These research aims to determined specificity active substances of methanol crude extract Benalu duku leaves with pharmacodynamics effect like progesterone hormone. Pulverized Benalu duku leaves at 400g was extracted with 2 L methanol pro analysis grade by shaker maceration method at 200C during the 72 hours. Semi solid crude extract were drying by vacuum dried apparatus and UV exposure at 15 minutes and analysis by FT-IR and LC ESI MS. Research result obtained that active substances with main chemical structure of pregnane deriva te were progesterone at about 30%, medroxy progesterone acetate at about 66%, megestrol acetate at about 3% and 1% dydrogesterone. Key words: Benalu duku, pregnane derivate, anabolic steroid, leaves extract FT-IR, Methanolic leaves extract LC-ESI MS. Introduction Dendrophtoe Petandra L Miq (Benalu duku) as a parasites plant growing on Lancium demesticum were known have a several essential active substances and useful for treated proliferation cell (NURAINI et al., 2000, ROOSTANTIA et al., 2000 and RATNA et al., 2007). Some researcher reported that plants have a beneficially active substance like alkaloid, flavonoid, polyphenol, terpenoid and free steroid (ARIFA et al., 2009). New research report explained that crude methanolic extract of Benalu duku leaves can be increasing progesterone hormone two times more than usual levels, but giving FSH levels on female adult rat (BAMBANG, LAZUARDI, 2014). The last research report indicate that plants have a several substances with characterize as a progesterone like effect. Characterization progesterone like effect was known have a specific chemical main structure namely pregnane derivate with consist of carbon at 1st to 21st at their double bonded chain structure or (8S,9S,10S,13R,14S,17S)-17-ethyl- 10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12, 14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H- cyclopenta [a] phenanthrene. Identically of their main structure of pregnane derivate were known as an anabolic hormone and usefully for treatment prostate cancer in adult man (RANDOX LABORATORY LTD, 2013). Pregnane derivate were known have some specific anabolic steroid structure i.e cortisone, hydrocortisone, progesterone, medroxy progesterone acetate, megestrol acetate, 17- ÃŽ ±- hydroxyl progesterone acetate, dydrogesterone. Other herbal medicine with anabolic steroid action was found at Mexico namely Codices plant. That plant was similar with Benalu duku as a parasites plant growing at subtropics seasons (LERNER, ARNWINE, 2002). With analog to Codices plant in Mexico, might be benalu duku leaves after extracted by methanol were containing specific anabolic steroid. By background research at above, will be determined progesterone like effect substance like progesterone, medroxy progesterone acetate, megestrol acetate, dydrogesterone from base on overview of identic molecule ion of LC-ESI MS and function compound of FT-IR. Materials and methods Benalu duku leaves were obtained from Muara Enim region of west Sumatera-Indonesia and identification as a Dendrophthoe Petandra L. Miq at Botany Research Institute at Tangerang – Jakarta Indonesia as described by BAMBANG, LAZUARDI (2014). Reference substance of progesterone was obtained from Sigma-aldrich product 46665 batch SEBA XV. Reference substance of medroxy progesterone acetate was obtained from Harsen pharmaceutical Industry Jakarta – Indonesia at pharmaceutics grade. Megestrol acetate reference material was obtained from Sigma Aldrich at product 46420 batch SZB9173XV. Dydrogesterone reference material was used from European Directorate for quality medicines and health care, France by catalog code Y0001004. A 400 gram of pulverize benalu duku leaves were extracted on 2 L of methanol pro analysis on to the 1 L separated flask during the 72 hours (movement shaker maceration method at 200C). The semi-solid of crude extract were dried on vacum drying and exposure to uv light (15 minutes) for kept contaminate from the mold and some bacteria. Some amount of semi-solid crude extract benalu duku leaves was determined specific molecule structure compound by FT –IR PerkinElmer Frontier 89485 and LC-ESI MS Accela TSQ Quantum Acess Thermo. The semi-solid crude extract methanol of benalu duku leaves was determined to molecule function of progesterone like effect substances at 400 cm-1 to 4000 cm-1 . Performance control of LC-ESI MS were adjusted as follows; column hypersil Gold 0.2  µm length 10 cm gradient method with mobile phase at bottle A 0.1% in Aqua bidest and bottle B 0,1% formic acid in acetonitrile pro HPLC. The gradient was perform at 35% to70% of B in 20 minute at 254 nm UV detector. Automatic sucking and injection capacity was adjusted at 10  µl, flushing capacity 400  µl with velocity at 100 µl.second-1, velocity injector 8  µl.second-1, height of suction apparatus at about 2 ml capacity autosample vial at 1.2 ml. Temperature column was adjusted at 220C at maximum pressure pump 1250 PSI and stabile in 10 BAR (THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION, 2007). Results Analysis Spectrum infra-red of crude extract methanol Benalu duku leaves obtained that stretching aromatic compound specific overtone was presented at 1650 to 2000 cm-1. Especial in 1550 cm-1 to 1600 cm-1 was appeared stretching aromatic compound (1,s). In 1450 cm-1 to 1500 cm-1 was appeared s orbital of stretching aromatic compounds. At finger print area wavelength number of 600 cm-1 to 900 cm-1 and 1000 cm-1 to 1300 cm-1 were indicate of flexible carbon atom and hydrogen outside of area (k orbital) and inside of area (l orbital). To compare similarities of infra-red spectrum between reference material vs., crude extract methanol of Benalu duku leaves at high intensity (%T) indicated that wavelength number of 1400 cm-1 to 1050 cm-1 and 1600 cm-1 to 1660 cm-1 were identic both of them. Even at low intensity (%T) on the finger print area 750 cm-1 to 1000 cm-1 were identic infra-red spectrum between reference materials vs., crude extract methanol benalu duku leaves. Table 1 at bellow w as presented specific function molecules of crude extract methanol benalu duku leaves after assessment by FT-IR by references of NOERDIN (1985). Analysis LC ESI-MS by Triple Stage Quadruple Mass Spectrometers were obtained that compound of progesterone like effect in extract methanol Benalu duku leaves were identic to reference materials of medroxy progesterone acetate, progesterone, megestrol acetate and dydrogesterone. Table 2 at bellow explained that retention time and ion molecule of ESI (m/z) as dependent variable of extract methanol Benalu duku leaves was similar to retention time and ion molecules of ESI references material. Table 1. Infra-red spectrum (cm-1) and intensity (%T) crude extract benalu duku and reference materials of progesterone like effect substances Extract benalu duku Progesterone Med. Prog. acet Megestrol acetate Dydrogesterone Identified function group, cm-1  ± %T cm-1 %T cm-1 %T cm-1 %T cm-1 %T 3500-3400 15-11 3436.69 72 3434,34 0,11 3436,39 10,16 3435,72-3374,34 14,17-14,58 0-H 2927,33 12,87 2969,05-2925 10,25-8,22 Absent 2946,49-2927,66 12,04-12,17 2989,16-2930,19 5,05-13,35 Unsymmetrical vibration, stretching C-H 1632,88 17,15 1699,13-1616,17 49-8,83 1638,95 1,05 1664,2-1629,09 6,49-10,9 1659,51-1620,82 1,24-2,94 Stretching aromatic ring (1,s) 1458,07 18,49 1438,76 15,45 1401,19 3,29 1458,7 14,88 1452,06 14,48 Stretching aromatic ring (s) 1272,22 19,21 1279,25-1268,89 17,85-18,67 Absent 1269,83 10,1 1277,7 12,4 Flexible C-H on orbital (l) 1203,09 19,36 1204,91 14,97 Absent 1206,31 14,18 1193,1 7,97 Alkene, R-OH, stretching vibration C-H, aromatic 1169,44 19,73 1179,06-1162,48 17,64-16,36 Absent 1166,41 16,27 1174,79-1162,58 17,08-14,51 -CH—CH-(trans),R-CH2 1062,81 19,17 1116,32 19,96 1112,60 3,28 1083,18-1058,62 16,29-15,81 1064,16 21,79 Cà ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Ã‚ CH2, mono substitute alkenes 826,55 23,84 871,18 17,15 Absent 877,33-796,78 14,9-21,26 831,21-793,86 24,45-23,51 Tri substitute alkenes, meta-di subtitute Benzene (aromatic) 721,48 23,67 778,14-687,31 21,77-21,17 Absent 755,83-713,19 20,62 727,77 23,21 cis-di substitute alkenes, mono substitute benzene, meta-disub. benzene (Aromatic) 639,21 23,8 687,31 21,17 644,79 2,57 634,94 20,65 630,99 18,55 cis-di substituted alkenes (vinyl, C-H) Table. 2. Result analysis retention time and molecules ion of ESI between crude extract methanol benalu duku leaves and reference material as medroxy progesterone acetate, progesterone, megestrol acetate and dydrogesterone Analytes Weight ( µg/ml) Area Retention time (minutes) Electron Spray Ionization (ESI) (m/z) Crude extract benalu duku leaves 0,0646 227044 4.40 387.000 Medroxy progesterone acetate 0,15 99585 4.40 387.000 Crude extract benalu duku leavesFigure 1 to Figure 4 at below obtained that LC ESI-MS of extract methanol benalu duku leaves were containing identic active substances of medroxy progesterone acetate, progesterone, megestrol acetate and dydrogesterone. Discussion Analysis by retention time and ESI (m/z) of LC ESI-MS were apparently just two of progesterone like effect substances on crude extract methanol benalu duku leaves that very identic substances to reference material namely medroxy progesterone acetate and progesterone. Other progesterone like effect substances as a megestrol acetate and dydrogesterone on crude extract methanol benalu duku leaves were mostly identic to reference material of megestrol acetate and dydrogesterone by different shift at 0.01 and 0.6 retention time of reference materials. Difference in retention time shift is closely linked nature of polarity samples bound to the column Hypersil Gold of LC. Thus the most likely molecular structure of megestrol acetate and dydrogesterone on methanol extract of benalu duku no resemblance to 100% identically as reference materials of megestrol acetate and dydrogesterone. Analysis to compare between the values of molecule ion fragments (m/z) and ESI (m/z) reference materials of f ourth progesterone like effect substances versus identically substances of progesterone like effect on crude extract methanol benalu duku leaves were apparently have a differences values (p

Postcolonial Indian Literature in English: Narayan, Jhabvala, Rushdie :: Essays Papers

Postcolonial Indian Literature in English: Narayan, Jhabvala, Rushdie Indian literature in English which is accessible to us in the West, still has its roots in colonial literature and the tensions between East and West. A European naturalism is often present; a concern to posit India as an arena within which Western readers can identify realities is inherent within much of this writing. The following are three examples of the progression of post-Independence literature. Twenty years after Independence, R.K.Narayan was still tackling issues of colonialism. The Vendor of Sweets (1967) takes us through the tensions integral to a family in which two generations belong to two different cultures. Ascetic Jagan belongs to an old India of family and history ;his son to an India increasingly subject to the foregrounding of the commodity and a dramatic industrialisation. Narayan explores the inevitable clash of what is, in many ways, both a colonial and a post-colonial encounter: Jagan, a follower of Gandhi and a veteran of the wars against British Imperialism, must attempt a negotiation of an ethos invasive to his own definitions of nationality; Mali, without this structure, must reconcile an American capitalism with India's own sense of what constitutes a modern nation. This theme is continued in Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's Heat and Dust (1975). Again two generations, this time British, must come to terms with an alien culture. Whilst Olivia's adventures are romanticised, Jhabvala attempts to explore in a more sophisticated manner the social outlay of Anglo-Indian relations with the higher Muslim classes and Olivia's step-grand-daughter is confronted with an India that remains hidden in the works of Kipling, Forster or Narayan. Leelavati the beggar-woman's life, if not her behaviour, demonstrates an unusual social awareness of the lowest castes. It is to be noted that the East-West dichotomy within the later generation has become less strained: modern Britain is expected now to accept India on its own terms. Salman Rushdie, whose work has been produced in the eighties and nineties, has removed himself from the sites of both nationality and naturalism but remains in an engagement with economic colonialism and its consequences.

A Clockwork Orange: Summary

Synopsis: Young Alex and his gang members (Dim, Pete and Georgie) go on a rampage around the futuristic city in London. In the book what we call evil is actually a form of art to Alex. Alex loves art itself, particularly classical music. To Alex, the delight he finds in classical music is closely related to the joy he feels during acts of violence. The State’s destruction of Alex’s ability to make his own moral choices represents a greater evil than any of Alex’s crimes, since turning Alex into an automaton ultimately sanctions the notion that human nature is dispensable. Alex truly grows as a human being only in the last chapter, after the government removes his conditioning and he can see the error of his ways for himself, without the prompting of an external, controlling force. The slang used by the â€Å"Droogs† represents the social gap between youth and the elders of society. Aspects: Music: Music in this book is one of the main aspects. Music affects everyone in a different way. Alex when he listens to symphonies especially Ludwig Van Beethoven, he gets stimulated to do more violence. Good is bad and bad is good: A regular teens would go to school and have a part time job to make money. As we would think school, having a job, working for yourself is good for you. In a Clockwork Orange everything is switched around. Basically what the young adults find good is like robbing stores, raping women on the street, having gang fights, the good old ultra violence. Satire: The dystopia of  A Clockwork Orange  has a very satirical tone. The aspect of satire in the novel is in the form of political commentary. Alex and his gang deprive the community of moral choice and free will, limiting their personal freedoms. In this way, Anthony Burgess conveys an anti-totalitarian message in the novel. The futuristic dystopian society of the novel is a completely exaggerated claim of what a totalitarian government would lead to. In an attempt to prove the point that a deprivation of personal freedoms would be catastrophic to the world, Burgess paints a picture with absolutely no happiness, a picture painted satirically. Theme: If personal freedom is a justifiable sacrifice for comfort and social stability. His treatment shows that government would rather have a faceless society that shuns emotion and motive. Maturity: When Alex in the end shows that he wants too mature into an adult when he confronts or meets Pete.

Resurgence of Conservatism - 1211 Words

DBQ 15: The Resurgence of Conservatism, 1964-2005 Liberals had dominated American society for most of the 1900s. The 1960s was widely known for being the age of counterculture, social reforms, and liberals. The era witnessed many advancements like racial equality such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a strong advancement in political liberalism, and a significant increase in the power and influence of government-funded social programs as a result of Lyndon B. Johnsons Great Society reforms. Beginning with the election of Nixon, however, followed a gradual return to conservatism whether religiously, politically, or economically. The resurgence of conservatism in American politics and government in the years 1964-2005, was caused in†¦show more content†¦Consequently, the failures of the policies of liberal presidents like Carter and the success of conservatives like Reagan lead to the resurgence of conservatism. 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Technological Innovations In The Banking Industry And Their Effects On Performance Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2433 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Information Systems Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION In recent times, the emergence of Information Technology has been incorporated into the Banking Industry. This advent of Information Technology (IT) has propelled a noticeable change in the Banking Sector. Information Technology (IT) to all computer based information systems used by an organisation and their underlying technologies (Langdon and Langdon, 2006) Information Technology systems are revolutionising the operations of firms, industries and markets. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Technological Innovations In The Banking Industry And Their Effects On Performance Finance Essay" essay for you Create order Langdon and Langdon also defined an IT system as a set of interrelated components that collect (or remove), process, store and distribute information to support decision making, coordination and control. It also helps managers and workers to analyse problems, visualise complex subjects and create new products. IT is one of the most important tools along with the innovations in organisations and management. Research has shown the investment in IT plays a critical role in increasing the productivity of firms (Zhu et a l, 2004 The business world is in the midst of a networking and communication revolutions driven by the growth of internet, internet based technologies, new business models and processes that leverage the new products. Banking Trends Worldwide Over the past decade, service organisations including commercial banks have been driven by such trends such as advancements in technology and deregulation to enhance their distribution channels. Technology in Banking can mainly be found in the form of computer based applications and information technology. Currently, delivery trends in banking include, PC Banking, Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, Managed networks, TV-Based, Automated Teller Machines(ATM), Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale(EFTPOS) etc. Importance of Technology in Banking A number of studies have concluded that IT has significant positive effects on bank productivity, cashiers work, banking transactions, bank patronage as well as its service delivery thus a positive effect on growth of banking. (Balachandher et al, 2001: Hunter, 1991) It has also been said that, technology enables banks to reduce costs, i.e., reduction of operating labour cost, cost of collecting, storing and processing information fall and interest expense is more competitive because technology enables banks to access liabilities more cheaply. Also, technology enable banks to serve their customers better and faster (convenience of having 24 hour access to ATMs, internet banking and telephone banking) and also it enables banks have diverse banking products. Finally, technology enables banks increase revenue and capture new markets by offering broader array of services and doing banking business worldwide. Technology is the is the key to quality service in banking. Statement of the problem Top management in the Banking Industry invest in Information Technology with the expectation will result in higher productivity and/or provide the bank with a stronger market presence and related competitive advantage. With the deregulation of the Banking industry, completion has increased considerably thus in managing operational costs, IT has become critical to achieve a competitive advantage (Mistry, 2006) Although most researchers conducted on this topic have yielded mixed results, most of them have shown that IT and bank performance are independent of one another. However, this research is aimed at finding out if, indeed, the same holds for the Ghanaian Banking Industry or if the Ghanaian Banking Industry is benefiting from the incorporation of IT into daily banking operations. Hypothesis A scientific assumption that will consist of measurable variables linked by a relationship that explains how IT impacts bank performance in that IT has enhanced banks service deli very, product line customer data base management and credit allocation. This assumption is that the higher the IT expenditure used by a bank, the higher its revenue. Aims and Objective of study To describe the Technological Environment of Ghanas Banking Industry. To find if there is a relationship between IT and Bank Performance. Scope of the Study The study focuses on banks currently using IT based service delivery in Greater Accra Region. Furthermore, the sample size was limited to Ten (10) universal banks out Twenty-five (25) CHAPTER 2 Literature Review Firms invest substantial amounts of resources to sustain or enhance their competitive advantage, that is , their abilities to compete globally. These expenditures are usually made to sustain shareholder value through either a revenue growth strategy or a productivity strategy. According to kim et al (2004), a revenue growth strategy involves expanding new markets, new customers and service while a Productivity Strategy involves making improvements in cost structure and asset utilization. Investing in IT is highly important for improving core competencies for firms in the Banking Industry. Information Technologies are essential tools for developing new financial services, financial products and providing effective and convenient services to customers. The environment in the Banking Industry has become IT intensive (Kim et al , 2004). Banks have moved into online banking systems using IT systems such as Cash Dispensers or Automated teller Machines, Telephone Banking and Internet B anking. Several studies have been conducted to investigate the economic consequences of IT an the Banking Industry. Most of these researches focused on whether IT provides positive economic benefits or not. Although the evidence appears mixed, some studies found that the IT Productivity Paradox disappeared when the use of IT was well matched with its business strategy such as revenue growth or productivity strategy (Porter, 2001; Simmons, 1998; and Brynjolfsson and Yang, 1996). Thus managers first concern in investing in IT must be how to combine IT and business strategy in order to obtain a higher business performance. Modern Banking Practice Since the 1980s, the Banking Sector has been in a process of significant transformation that started in the United States and later moved to Europe. The main forces behind this transformation of the Banking Industry according to Reixach (2001), are deregulation and innovation in information technologies. Both forces have brought about an increased competition not only among banks but also from other financial and even non-financial institutions. Banks now depend on income from fees rather that interest rate spreads and also competition has in some cases, encouraged banks taking higher risks for which there might only be a little gain. On the other hand, the transformation of the Banking Industry has contributed to the blurring differences between retail, wholesale and investment banking. Banks in America have steered towards specialisation while in Europe the trend is tailored towards Universal Banking. Specialization has been the trend in the early Ghanaian banking industry. In the last ten years, the trend has changed with few banking converting to Universal Banks and the issuance of Universal Licences to new banks. 2.1.1 Type of IT Innovations Information technologies are having a big impact on the reshaping of the Banking Idustry leading to the development of new financial products and new means of developing them. With regards to the delivery of bank products, the last decade has seen the appearance of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Telephone Banking, and now seeing the spread of Internet Banking. Banking business is now a 24 hour and a 365 day activity with customers having to spend less hours of waiting for service. The main types of IT innovations currently present in the Ghanaian Banking Industry are ATMs, Internet Banking, PC banking, Telephone Banking, Branch Networking, and Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale (EFTPoS) Bank Performance According to Madura (2001), the main measures of Bank Performance are return on the asseta and return on equity. Return on Assets (ROA) is mainly influenced by financial characteristics such as net interest margin, non -interest revenue, non-interest expenses and loan losses. Bank decisions that affect the financial characteristics of banks are deposit rate decisions, loan rate decisions, loan losses, bank services offered, overhead requirements, efficiency, advertising and the risk level of loans provided. Return on equity on the other hand is influenced by the return on assets (ROA) and the banks leverage measure. Several studies have been conducted on the IT and firm performance. Advances in IT permit management to change and improve significant aspects of a firms structure and operations (Porter, 2001; Stanmbaugh and Carpenter, 1992; and Elliot, 1992). Studies investigating effect on firms profitability, according to Kim et al (2004) focused on whether It expenditur3e is converted into business value; eg. reduced expenses, increased revenue or i mproved operating performance. The evidence appear mixed on the effect of IT on financial performance (Brynjolfsson and Yang, 1996). Brynjolfsson and Hitt (1994) found out that IT improved the firms productivity and created substantial value for customers but did not improve profitability In sum, many studies have shown that IT Reduces operating costs (Barua et al, 1995) Increases market share and productivity (Brynjolfsson and Hitt, 1994) Increases future economic benefits and profitability ( Brown, Gatain, and Hicks, JR., 1995) The context of the Study History of It in Ghanas Banking Industry Abor (2002) in his paper Technological Innovations and Banking in Ghana gives a history of It in Ghana in stated that before the 1980s it was only the use of office automation devices such as Telephones, telefax and facsimile were employed to speed and make more efficient the process of serving banks customers. Later in the 1985 and beyond, as competition intensifie d and the personal computer (PC) got proletarian, banks begun using the in the back-office operations and later tellers used the for customer services. Advancements got banks networking their branches and operations and the first ATM was installed by the Trust Bank Ghana in 1995. Other technologies such as Electronic Cards became popular as foreign banks came on the scene with increased competition and service delivery that need IT. Clydestone Ghana Limited Clydestone Ghana Limited is a leading provider of information, communication and technology in Ghana. Listed as the first ICT company on the Ghana Stock Exchange is specialized in payment systems, networking and outsourcing and is the sole supplier of UNISYS in Ghana. Their outsourcing installs and manages most of Ghanas ATMs and Point of Sale Terminal (POS). CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This chapter describes the research process. A mixture of qualitative and quantitative research techniques will be used. However, primarily a desk research will be conducted to cover the Ghanaian Banking Industry and interview with Banks IT service providers of which the greater percentage comes from Clydestone Ghana Limited. 3.1 Target Group and Sampling Procedure This research will be focused on banks, irrespective of their categories, which are currently employing some form of IT in their daily operations. Three Banks will be chosen for the case study; namely, Cal Bank Ghana Limited, EcoBank Ghana Limited and Ghana Commercial Bank Limited. Cal Bank and ECOBank are the topmost Banks which employ the most forms of IT innovations. Secondly, these banks have been involved in several changes since its attainment of a universal licence. Ghana Commercial Bank which is the traditional commercial bank has a wide network of branches but has not adopted most of the recent IT innovative service delivery products thus a part of the sample for the studies. 3.2 Sources of Data The study will obtain information from primary and secondary data 3.2.1 Primary Data Top management personnel of Clydestone Ghana Limited will be interviewed to obtain the information on the various IT devices and technologies that banks use in their daily operations. 3.2.2 Secondary Data Secondary data that will be used and are accessible are; Bankscope The Ghana Banking Survey 2000-2009 Annual Reports of the 3 named Banks The Internet 3.2.3 Time Frame Data collection will be limited to a time frame of the last nine (9) years. This is because during the period under review, the Banking Industry experienced a lot of changes; events such as the introduction of Universal Banking, the influx of Nigerian Banks, and the introduction of the new Capital Accord occurred. The period under review will be from 2001 to 2009. 3.3 Methods/Procedures A preliminary survey will be conducted to determine the number of banks currently employing some for IT in their service deliver y. This will be conducted on all twenty-five (25) banks in the Ghana Banking Industry to collect information on various IT based products for bank customers. Clydestone Ghana Limited, an IT service provider for banks, in order to determine the extent to which banks depend on information technology. These Interviews will be conducted to find out the number, types and frequency of Information Technology devices available and employed by banks. 3.4 Treatment of Finds The findings from the research process will be analysed mainly by trend analysis, ratio analysis and regression analysis to allow inferences to be made. Three measure will be used to evaluate bank performance. These are return on assets, return on equity and operating profit in three regression models. 3.4.1 Trend and Ratio Analysis This is based on the assumption that economic performance follows an established pattern and, therefore, historical data can be used to predict future business activity. This will be used to show whether since the introduction of IT in the banking industry certain variables such as loans and advances have changed with a consistence ratio. This will also be used to forecast the future of IT in banking industry. 3.4.2 Graphical Presentations These include bar charts, pie charts, tables and graphs. They will be used to show the relationship between the two variables being tested; IT and bank performance. 3.4.3 Computer Applications Microsoft Excel 2003 will be instrumental to present the findings in graphical forms, then used too interpret the finding from primary survey in order to select a sample to analyse financial ratios of the samples to be able to perform the regression analysis. 3.4.4 Regression Analysis Conceptual Framework The conceptual framework of this study, as in Figure 1 below, shows that the investments in Information Technology can influence firm performance, i.e. IT has a positive effect on performance. In order to av oid any interference by the other variables, this study includes control variables which are the firms characteristics, namely; non-interest revenues, non-interest expenses, capital structure of the bank and the growth in net interest income of the firm. The study will employ multiple regression models to examine the relationship of It investment on bank performance. Regarding the measurement of firm performance, this study will use performances which are based on accounting measures. Although some researchers have expressed concern over the use of accounting rates of return (Fisher and McGowan, 1983), most studies regard the accountin g measures as acceptable. Cheng and Chun (2005) used return on assets (ROA) as a measure of firm performance. In order to increase the reliability of empirical results, two other models will be used. These models will be return on equity and bank profit as measures of bank financial performance. To avoid the impact caused by other variable s that are absent from my model, this study refers to prior research (Cheng and Chun, 2005) and chooses the firm characteristics as capital structure and growth in net interest income. The study also refers to Kim and Davidson (2004) and selects Net Spread, Return on Equity and Return on assets as control variables with bank operating profits as the dependent variable.