Expectations about own work role Essay

(2 Explain expectations about own work role as expressed in relevant standards? The expectation of my work role is to understand my job description 100% in order to carry out the best care for service users this will show my competence to the job role not only that i understand how to do the job but understanding why i do it and the theory side of the job . To be able to know how to do my job correctly it is important that i read the standards of my work place which are the National Minimum Standards,the National Occupational Standards, policies and procedures and the staff hand book. These will explain the standard of work i need to do in order to work effectively and provide the best care for the individual needs of the service users. This will also show competence to my job role showing that i am taking time to read and understand how to do the job be for i put it to practice. OUTCOME 2 (1 Explain the importance of reflective practice in continuously improving the quality of service provided? Reflective practice is important when improving the quality of the service provided because nothing ever stays the same things change all the time. Change is a very big thing and new standards reflect the changes in our profession. It is important to continuously review and reflect on practises used in order to improve or change approaches to strategies and actions that can benefit the service user and the service provider to improve the service to the best standard possible. This can be done in a positive organised approach which is why there are regular supervision with the line manager, staff meetings or house meetings where if it is a private small care home service users are involved to discuss things that may have gone well or not so well, things that could have be done differently so we can work as a team to improve the situation or what could be done in the future to ma ke things better and maybe see things from a different perspective so as to understand how the service user may perceive situations. Keeping up to date with records and reviews because it will help to reflect back on what needed to be done to what has been done since the last record , review to what needs to be done next. Also completing personal development plans and risk assessments which i can  reflect back on to improve the quality or service for the needs of the service user. Keeping up to date with new developments and information is important when using reflective practice it is my job to regularly check the work setting standards just in case of new standers and to keep attending training courses and information centres to keep up to date. I can also find new information through the media like radio, television, newspapers and magazines, also the Internet can provide new information and any changes to the care sector. Any new information obtained is best discussed with manger as it may not apply to the work place. It is important to reflect on work activities and development of knowledge, skills and practise because it allows you to assess what you are doing well, identify areas where you might like or maybe need more training or guidance in to make sure you are doing your job correctly, and are meeting all standards and expectations within the care setting and following policies and procedures. It helps you think about what you are doing in the setting and to always be aware of how I work with the service users and colleagues. Reflecting on my own practice can enhance and improve my confidence and self-esteem because I can look at what I am doing well, and what I have learnt and achieved. It can also make me feel good about myself especially if I have done something with ease that I used to find difficult, if I have done something I never did well in or something that I have never tried before, this then gives me confidence to continue working. (3 Describe how own values, belief systems and e xperiences may affect working practises? We all have our own values, beliefs and experiences which makes us who we are. As a result having our own values, beliefs and experiences can affect our working practises in many ways because you may not agree with another persons values and beliefs or the other way round which can cause negative feelings with each other which will affect the way you work with each other. this can also affect the working practises because you may work more closely with the people who share similar values and beliefs as you that the people who dint, this shouldn’t be the case you should provide the same quality of care/ support for all people in the care setting, this can be more difficult that you think because most people naturally will work with people who share the same beliefs and values and not think twice about it which can result in bad practice. In a care setting it is my job to make sure that service users  understand that I accept them for who they are and what they believe in. This means that I should show an interest in their the service users lifestyle and accept them as an individual even if I don’t share their beliefs and lifestyles. For example service users with different religions and beliefs should have the right to practise their faith and celebrate their religious festivals because it may be very important to the service users. OUTCOME 3 (1 Evaluate own knowledge, performance and understanding against relevant standards? In order to evaluate my own knowledge, performance and understanding i need to be aware of my strengths and weaknesses in my work, identifying major factors that influence the way i develop and the way they affect the way i work and relate to others in the work place, this can come under reflective practice where i evaluate the way in which i work and do things. when i have pin pointed my strengths and weaknesses i don’t take the weaknesses as a negative i take them on board and find ways i can improve them to improve my performance at work. As i want to grow in my career it means i need to be up to date with all care standards of the work place and knowledge which means i will put myself forward for any training courses and do on line training courses to keep my knowledge up to date as i develop and also my understanding of where i am at, what i need to do and time scale of which to achieve t his. There are three main factors to consider when taking an approach to professional development and they are what are my goals, what do i want to achieve, how am i going to achieve it and how will i know when i have achieved it. in order to know these things i need to right a record of what i have done, what i would like to do and how long to do it in, this is setting myself goals which will help me progress in my career. it will also help me to evaluate each stage of my development. OUTCOME 4 (1 Identify sources of support for planning and reviewing own development? Sources of support for planning and reviewing my own development is having supervisions with my manger to reflect on what has happened since the last supervision, for example things that i have struggled with or things that i need to improve on. Its a time to acknowledge the strengths and weakness that me or my manager has identified and discuss how i can improve them. It  also can be a time where my manager will discuss up coming courses i may like to attend. Also my manager does a yearly appraisal which will show my achievements throughout the year my strengths, weaknesses and what i intend on achieving in the following year, also it gives my manager to write comments on how i have progressed and things i need to improve on. Also my manager and work colleagues are have expressed they they are open to offer advice if i need it and support me through any situations i find difficult to deal with. OUTCOME 5 (1 Evaluate how learning activities have affected practice? Learning is a part of everyday life we learn something new everyday or learn how to do things better. learning can affect the way we practice because if things don’t go the way we planed then we reflect on things that went wrong and do an over all evaluation of the positives and negatives of the activity and find ways we can improve it. People have different way they like to learn and being able to point out and understand the way we learn is helpful for the learning process. There is a theory called the Kolb cycle which consists of the: â ¦  Concrete experience – which can be something you do everyday or something unusual that happens because of what has happened to you or what you have done. â ¦  Reflective observation- where you reflect back and think about the situation that has happened. â ¦  Abstract conceptualisation- where you realise that there is a consistent pattern or theory that fits which you already know about and being able to work out rules about the situation. â ¦  Active experimentation- where you put in place the rules you work out if next time the same situation happens or a similar situation. This means you can evaluate both situations the one from be for and the new one with the new rules which means you will have different factors to think about and think about different thing to learn. also both situation will provide different experiences which should affect your practice in a positive way. this will also mean that the cycle should continue. In my experience i have came across a few situations that i have dealt with differently as i think about the situation and things that i could of done better. For example a service user has an eating disorder so the service user can only cope with eating certain things and certain amount of food consumption in a day. I reflected on this situation by thinking  about things i didn’t try or could try in the future. I read through the service users care plane which shows me what the serv ice user like to eat or doesn’t like to eat. I then put some meal ideas together and talked about it to the service user and have also got the service user to try new things by offering them to taste or share which has help because the service user eats allot better now than when i first started at Ty Connie.

Physical Fitness Essay

Physical fitness requires a multitude of bodily operations. The first is a combination of the muscular system and the skeletal system. These two can be combined and are known as the musculoskeletal system. The circulatory system is that which governs the heart, blood, and blood vessels. The respiratory system is that which governs the lungs and their functions. The circulatory and respiratory systems work together to supply the body with necessary oxygen, because the cells in one’s body need oxygen to function properly. The combination of the circulatory system, the respiratory system, and the musculoskeletal system come together to make up the necessary physical fitness functions. When all these systems are operating at optimal capacity, physical fitness is most successful. Physical fitness at its most basic level is known as physical activity, which is simply the contraction of muscles. At the next level, increased physical activity that is targeted at the improvement of one’s physical condition is known as exercise. Exercise is the specific type of physical activity that increases athletic performance. Identifying Your Culture: The United States is a bouillabaisse of humanity and culture. Being a product of the United States, I would say that I culturally identify with a melting pot of different cultures. For instance, my mother’s parents are both German-American, so I know for sure that I am half German-American. I also know that my grandmother on my father’s side is Irish-American, so I know for sure that I am one quarter Irish-American. But my grandfather on my father’s side was adopted, so I will never know for sure that quarter of my ethnicity. Due to modern technology, though, we believe he may be of Irish descent, which would make me one quarter Irish American. All that being said, though, I do not identify with any of these cultures. It may seem plain and simple, but I recognize most with the â€Å"main-stream American† culture. I grew up attending church every Sunday. I grew up eating hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, pancakes, and waffles. Time was spent on the weekends attending barbeque parties with friends and families while watching sports on the television like football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. The culture I grew up in was one of American sports. Describing How the Culture in which You Identify Influences Your Feelings, Attitudes and Behaviors Related to the Health: First, it must be understood that, growing up in American society, it was always important to be physically fit and have a nice â€Å"beach body.† But, as was said before, I grew up eating food that was not always the healthiest for me. A way to keep myself in good shape even though I wasn’t eating good foods was to continually exercise. Knowing that it is easy for any American to go down a road of unhealthiness, I work my hardest to stay as athletically fit as I possibly can. Also, my culture affected my physical fitness life in that, growing up, I was always playing sports. When I was eight years old I started playing football, and I continued to play football for the next ten years. Throughout high school, football allowed me to stay extremely physically active and forced me to always be athletically fit. I played football so much, I even learned to enjoy physical activity, especially those physical activities that were directly integrated with sports. Do You Think Your Children Will View Same Way You Do?: I certainly hope that my children will have the same views about physical fitness as I do. In a nation that is ever growing more unhealthy, it will be crucial for me to teach my future children about the importance of exercise. It is very apparent that the United States does not show signs getting healthier soon. I know that ten years from now Americans will be getting more and more out of shape. My children will not be a part of the ever growing obesity phenomenon. Also, sports are a very major influence in my life, so I would imagine that my kids will be involved in sports as well. Hopefully they will be able to learn about the necessity of physical fitness through sports. In today’s society, sports also open many other doors and avenues for people later in life. I only want my future kids to have the most opportunity possible. How Have You Been Influenced by These Cultural Messages?: In the long run, physical fitness and sports have played major roles in my life. It gave me a purpose for a time and allowed me to mature as a young man. Also, being athletic at such a young age allowed me set a pattern of physical fitness that has lasted now for years. Working out allows me to clear my mind of stress, increase my bodily health, and helps me get much rest at night when I sleep. I can focus more at school in class, I work harder at work, and I am socially more competent when I am working out. Yet it is tough for a student to find time to go to the gym, especially a student with two jobs. I guess it is lucky that one of those two jobs happens to be coaching high school football. As a football coach, I have unlimited access to the high school’s athletic facilities, of which I have been taking advantage of recently. Cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and muscular endurance are all important to me. On top of having access to great equipment, though, and probably more importantly, I have the ability to teach young people about exercise through sport and the importance of it. I am often teaching about the sports related aspects of fitness, which are speed, power, coordination, agility, balance, and reaction time. Probably the most rewarding influence physical fitness has had on my life has been the ability to affect the lives of the young men that I coach. This is how physical fitness has affected my life.

Western European History

Western European history dates back to the time of the very first evidence of Homo sapiens in the regions during Paleolithic times, to the Neolithic, and then the Bronze Age, during which man was better developed and civilizations shaped, to the Christian Era when Christianity was formed and gained popularity, and Churches gained in power, to the time of the colonization, to the time of the famed Industrial Revolution when the modern day economy based on manufacture and trade came into being, to the present day western Europe. Historical evidence points to the fact that in ancient times, that is, the Paleolithic times of man, there exited several developed civilizations in different parts of the world. The Cro-Magnons were people, who lived during these times, and according to archaeologist Carleton Coon, the Cro-Magnon man was large, heavy boned and muscular in appearance, and he also had a powerful jaw and an inordinately large head. (Leonard R Cedric) One must remember the fact that Cro-Magnon is the term used by historians to describe the people who lived during the Ice Ages, and according to archaeologists, the physical dimensions of these ancient people were not sufficiently different from modern man to warranty a separate term, and therefore, they could be referred to as ‘AMH’s’, or ‘Anatomically Modern Humans’. Life for the common Cro-Magnon would not have been too simple; he had to hunt for his food with crudely made implements like the Aurignacian blades, as archaeologists refer to them. These were long slivers of stones sharpened to a knife like point, which would then be converted into all types of hunting tools. The Atlatl, a sophisticated hunting tool with a short dart and a pocket into which the dart would be fitted, was also used by these people, The Cro-Magnons lived civilized lives, and this is a fact that can be exemplified by the discovery of a child’s body before it was interred in a sophisticated burial ritual, about 24,000 years before today. (Hirst, Kris, K n. ) They used sophisticated shelters as well, and wore refined tailored clothing made out of animal skins, and jewelry carved out of stone and animal bone and teeth. Historians often state that this was a period of cultural florescence in the history of man. (Stone, Linda 2007) However, historians also state that one of the most far reaching and transformational influences of human culture that have ever taken place in the history of man is the Industrial Revolution that took place in eightee nth century Europe. The direct consequences of this revolution would have such an impact on human labor, consumption, social structure and even on the thoughts of man that it could be stated that the world would have been a different place today if the Industrial Revolution had never taken place when it did. It is important to remember that this revolution did not just happen overnight; it took place gradually over a period of time, with changes taking place all over the world in small doses, these changes influencing the basic social structure of man at the time. With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, however, Europe, as well as other parts of the world, was able to move from being a primarily agricultural economy to an industry based urban economy. The structure of the family, the social obligations that had to be fulfilled and so on brought about such great change to man that even today, one has not been able to come to terms with them fully. The European economy at the time of the Industrial Revolution had become a sort of global economy, with European trade and manufacture extending to several continents close to home, except Antarctica. The demand for European goods grew as Europeans started selling in foreign markets, and this made the conversion of Europe from an agricultural economy to an industrial manufacturing economy complete. Europe became one of the top world players in international markets. Life for the common man was however an entirely different issue. The social system was not adequate enough to provide for the rapid changes taking place, and as a result, the fast increasing population was growing increasingly confused. Business was based on exclusive monopoly, and as a consequence, many people were out of jobs. â€Å"The Industrial Revolution† n. d) Furthermore, the new factory system reduced free man to virtual slavery, and he became poorer than ever before; he could barely subsist on his wages. It even destroyed family life, and health and well being of the people. (Mises von Ludwig 1993) To conclude, it could be said that the life of common man is always at risk of being exposed to and influ enced by the changes taking place in society; neither do they possess the wealth nor do they have the expertise with which to deal with the situation in an effective manner. It is the life of common man that is subjected to the greatest changes in a country, and as exemplified by the life of the Cro-Magnon as well as the common man during the Industrial Revolution, he was forced to undergo several changes, and bear the consequences on himself, his wealth, his welfare, and his relationships. This is the way of the world, and one cannot avoid these changes as they occur; one must learn to accept them and deal with them as one sees fit, or else, suffer the dire consequences. Works CitedLeonard R Cedric â€Å"An Atlantean Outpost† (2006) Retrieved on December 15 2008 from: Hirst, Kris, K â€Å"Why don’t we call them Cro-Magnons any more?† (n.d) Retrieved on December 15 2008 from: Stone, Linda â€Å"Genes, Culture and Human Evolution† (2007) Google Book Search Retrieved on December 15 2008 from: < http://books.google.co.in/books?id=zdeWdF_NQhEC&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=Cro-Magnons+in+Paleolithic+Europe&source=bl&ots=wbEgEGkAGQ&sig=2HL9EByPHFl_J804fGJ5SnGxk78&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result >Mises von Ludwig â€Å"Facts about the Industrial Revolution† (1993) Retrieved on December 15 2008 from: â€Å"The Industrial Revolution† The European Enlightenment (n.d) Retrieved on December 15 2008 from:

Racial Profiling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Racial Profiling - Essay Example Arguing that racial profiling does exist within Canadian law enforcement and that colorblind justice in this country is an idea which is not yet been attained, the following will address the racial profiling issue in holistic perspective. This research paper will begin with an introduction to racial profiling, both in Canada and throughout the world and will discuss what has been done to address this issue from a social policy perspective. While both descriptive and prescriptive, a significant portion of this research paper will explain what should be done in order to address this problem within Canadian law enforcement. Accordingly, this research paper will advocate a public policy which will address issues of criminal justice and social inequality with the aim of tackling racial profiling in this country. As with United States, racial profiling is an important issue which has garnered much media attention but which remains problematic for visible minorities as well as for the polic e services in this country. The following now turns to introduction to racial profiling. According to the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, racial profiling is defined as â€Å"as "the practice of police and other law enforcement officers relying, to any degree, on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin as the basis for subjecting persons to investigatory activities or for determining whether an individual is engaged in criminal activity" (United Nations Commission for Human Rights, 2009). Although many would like to think that racial profiling is a thing of the past, the issue of racial profiling by police services was brought to the fore of international media attention with the arrest of African-American Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Junior. His arrest was quite controversial and was predicated on the fact that Prof. Henry

What can the study of the history of learning tell us about learning Essay

What can the study of the history of learning tell us about learning today - Essay Example While in the beginning, learning was considered to be an end to itself, in the course of the progression of technology learning became the means to an end, which made the purpose of learning deviate from its origins (Carmack, n.d.). It is important to find out how such changes happened, as well as why these occurred since in order to find out how to adjust learning methods effectively, it is vital that learning methods of the past must also be studied because these information will give valuable insights on how to make learning purposeful and effective for students, based on the current perspectives of contemporary society. In order to present the importance of understanding the relevance of how learning operated in the past, examples of contrasting elements between ancient learning such as in the times of the Greco-Roman cultures and the modern progressive learning methods that most contemporary society now experiences today will be used. Three possible differences that can be obser ved are: 1) the reasons for learning; 2) the lessons to be learned by the students; and 3) how these methods are implemented in schools. These three differences are relevant to the explanations since the evolution of learning was affected by mostly societal and cultural changes, especially during the Industrial Revolution, and beyond (Power, 1991). Thus it would be easier to correlate the importance of learning in any kind of society as well as the changes that occur in the process of passing on knowledge on each succession of generations. It can be said that the shifting priorities of the society, from having strong relations with the past and traditions, to looking forward to new possibilities in the future were able to usher such changes, which not only made learning a widely-accepted idea, but also essential to everyday living (Lawrence, 1970). In the past, greater focus is given to the artistic side of living, which can explain why in ancient learning there has been a bigger em phasis on the rhetoric, grammar, styles, as well as oratorical prowess of students, with particular mention of the upper and middle classes, while skills related to craftsmanship are passed down to the working classes. Based on the premises, education can either be an end, or a means to an end, depending on the societal ranking of the learners. Also, there is a prominent idea that students must adjust to the lessons, as well as having to learn general subjects without having to put too much focus on narrowed-down careers, thus leaving no room for the development of individuality. On the other hand, due to the development of various fields, not only do students have greater choices in careers, they are also given other options in what to learn, which is very different from the concept of learning during ancient times. In modern learning there has been greater focus both on the individual aspect as well as the specificities of lessons, depending on what end is needed to be achieved (C armack, n.d.). At present, students are not forced to learn pure rhetoric, and are actually encouraged to choose lessons that interest them or would make good careers in the future. Thus, with regards to the difference between ancient and modern learning, the former gives greater importance on passing classical knowledge of arts to the next generation, while in the latter there is greater importance on learning various aspects of how society operates in preparation for jobs or careers in the future. In relation to the reasons for learning, the kinds of lessons that students must learn also differ between modern and ancient times due to the influence of changes in societal needs and trends. For example, ancient learning focuses more

MANAGING DECISIONS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

MANAGING DECISIONS - Essay Example It is with this, that they came up with goals in which they strive to achieve. Tap helps to introduce children to the rhythm and music; it was first introduced in African American dance and named, Juba or Irish Step-Dancing and thought to have taken roots since 1800 when minstrel shows were taking course. Later in 2008, it was started by Rachael when she relocated to Greenwich from Islington after taking a career as a professional dancer. Her aim was to establish the benefits to creative and independent children. The school attracts customers by offering the first free lesson for starters, this works as an encouragement where those who really have the urge to cut down calories voluntarily get encouraged and start the exercises as soon as they get time. Povaly (2007), stated that for old members, the organization charges four weekly, where each day, people pay different rates like, they begin their classes with Tots Tap among the three year olds, where children are first taught how to count music and hold a beat, after gaining this skills, they are then taken to the next step of pre-primary tap. By this time the organization targets the school going child. With goals at hand and support from her clients, Rachael has transformed and brought in new styles of teaching which have integrated dance, music and methods that build on her past experience when she was working with major bodies of dancing in the United States. She has also worked to incorporate her styles with that of the British Ballet Organization, so as to make sure as the groups develop; they are able to work in accredited recognition of their development. The mentioned factor of the growing market is due to the merits the organization is striving to give its clients. An example is where, for starters, they are allowed free services for that day, and then the subsequent days of the week, they are charged at

Zappos Case Study Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Zappos Case Study - Assignment Example This prompted him to create an online retail site specializing in footwear which grew to give rise to Zappos.com (Frances, Robin and Laura, 2011). From its inception Zappos value proposition has been to create and deliver to each customer a WOW experience. They are able to achieve this by simply empowering their workforce to deliver a shopping experience that is irresistible. They provide unrivalled customer service and free fast shipping , while at the same time offering almost one thousand two hundred and fifty brands and two million eighty hundred thousand products. As a result of this strategy they have a fanatical customer loyalty with up to 75% being repeat customers (Zappos, 2011). Zappos ability to create and capture value emanates from their nearly obsessive passion to create customer satisfaction and good customer relationships. In fact customer’s loyalty is of such great importance to Zappos that it is their primary goal to be the best customer experience and customer service company. They have a culture that runs deep down and that is customer-focused (Scribd, 2012). In order to create and capture value, Zappos directly invests huge amount of money into customer service. They will only hire employees who are customer-oriented who are able to fit into their culture of optimal employee satisfaction. Even after employing people who are customer-oriented, they further train these individuals thoroughly the art of creating customer loyalty. Zappos approach to creating and capturing value is customer centric. They make use of such strategies as offering free delivery for products purchased, they even allow for free returns when a customer is not happy wi th the product and they also have a 365 day return together with periodical service upgrades. As a result, 75% of their sales emanate from current customers and still have a tremendous rate of growth despite the poor economy (Sam Houston State University, 2011). Zappos have also developed a service culture which is built around ten core principles which stipulate that every new employee has to take four weeks of customer training on loyalty. Their employees are committed to their work and build life long relationships with customers. They make use of social sites for networking and making contact with customers and in the process obtaining invaluable customer feedback and criticism (Sam Houston State University, 2011). The growth and success at Zappos is also attributable to a good corporate culture. The culture at Zappos promotes and encourages employees to be themselves. The employee culture at Zappos is focused on good customer service and is of one mind. They care that the custo mer is happy with the product that he or she chooses to buy. This culture of customer satisfaction is entrenched deep into the beliefs of the employees, their interactions with customers and their hiring protocols. During the hiring process, there are two sets of interviews that are done. One set of interviews is done by the hiring manager together with her or his team. During this stage they check for the basics like relevant experience, and technical ability of the job applicants. The second set of the interview involves the HR department who perform the interview for the sole purpose assessing for culture fitness. They examine whether the individuals would easily fit into their culture (Fast Company, 2012). Zappos culture is built around ten core values. These values include: Deliver WOW through good service, drive and embrace change, creating a little weirdness and fun, humility by employees, be determined and passionate, do more with a little, being creative,

Cons of Underage Drinking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cons of Underage Drinking - Research Paper Example As such, the position of this researcher is not to advocate that drinking laws be abolished or that law enforcement entirely ignores such an issue, it is to say that the laws regarding its treatment should be seriously reworked and rethought as a function of the greater good for society at large (Reboussin et al 891). Due to the overall loss and manpower of the authorities that are wasted on what can otherwise be considered a nominal crime, it is the recommendation of this author that the United States pursue drinking laws that more effectively mirror the successful and widely implemented drinking laws that Europe enjoys. With respect to the actual age of being able to buy and imbibe alcoholic beverages, this too should be a function of similar laws which define when an individual can vote, can engage in sexual relations, and can join the military in service of their country. Having an outdated law which requires young people to be 3 years older than his necessary to volunteer to fig ht and die for one’s own country as well as to vote is the epitome of a short-sighted and irresponsible law that should be changed to reflect a more thoughtful and reasonable society. Furthermore, as a way to ensure that individuals will take the responsibility they have been granted with a degree of seriousness, some of the money that will doubtless be saved as a result of the fact that law enforcement entities no longer need to police such actions for individuals over the age of 18, programs should be instituted within health classes nationwide to educate students as to the power of responsibility with relation to the choices they will be... This essay approves that the drinking laws which are currently in place within the judicial system do little if anything to actually deter the practice. Instead, it could be argued that they merely provide a means by which individuals circumvent the law in a manner that drives the activity underground where the requisite authorities cannot hope to regulate it in any way shape or form. Although the purpose of this brief essay is not to claim that a number of laws should be disregarded merely due to the fact that by placing legal constraints on individuals they will find alternate means to the activity in question; rather, due to the fact that underage drinking is an infraction that takes place both inside and outside of the law, it is of little moral worth to criminalize it to such an extent and bog the legal system down with frivolous cases that are oftentimes victimless crimes. This report makes a conclusion that merely changing the law is not enough to effect real and lasting change with relation to the issue. However, changing the law while at the same time educating individuals as to their new rights and the corresponding responsibilities that come with them while at the same time having the prospect to save the criminal justice system tens of thousands of man hours ever year is highly desirable in terms of cost which will be saved while affecting little change in the drinking habits of those individuals affected. Additionally, it is noteworthy to point out that the prescriptions that have been denoted within this brief essay point strongly and convincingly towards the model of moral responsibility that should be adopted by the individual as opposed to being forced on society in the form of a plethora of laws governing such behavior.

The West Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

The West - Essay Example Most of the people who led this progress were religious Christians. This was the 15th century when huge developmental progress was driven by the Christian Europeans and this progress made the west dominate the world politically, economically, culturally and religiously. Conquering the Muslim regions in East and bringing Muslims’ technology to Europe was the biggest reason for development in west. These crusades brought especially the medical knowledge and technology into Europe which was initially the expertise of the Muslims. Aristotle and Plato were leading scientists of that era. The devastation of Baghdad in 1258 AD; the Naval Crusade and the atrocious slavery of West Africans; the attacks on Cape Bojador; the invasion of Christian armies in Spain; and, the collapse of Granada led to the downfall of the Islamic civilization which handed over its best discoveries and scientific knowledge to the west. Royal marriages linking Spain and Hapsburg in 1500; Spain becoming a globa l Christian empire; the demolition of Al-Andulus; a following Crusade against Ceduta, a Muslim trading center, in 1415; the motivation given to the Portuguese by the Church to fight against the Muslims; the Crusades of Vasco da gama in 1500s to conquer Africa and India; the creation of a New Order, Protestantism, by the Church, which made the Protestant countries displace Catholic Spain and Portugal; all of these were a chain of events leading to the dominance of the west. Europeans brought the gunpowder technology in from the Mongols and utilized it in the creation of weapons. What advantaged this were the modern trade routes of the west financed by capital owners- the Church and Jews. The development of weaponry in the west enabled it to conquer small countries and enlarge the kingdom. Western technologies and their incorporation in all countries quietly enabled the western culture and values to sneak into these

Disaster Recover Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Disaster Recover Plan - Assignment Example This is usually composed of representatives from all departments in the organization with specific expertise relating to the departments they represent. In case there is need to transport certain records or equipment to a different location, the transportation team will facilitate this process. For example, in case of a natural disaster such as a flood, key equipment and documents need to be moved to a secure location. This team may also help in the movement of staff and the team members when necessary, especially for large organizations. The logistical officer will be in charge of all the supplies used in the recovery process. In case of external support, the logistical officer should make arrangements to get the support and keep all records and agreements intact. This group of people will be responsible for ensuring that the safety of personnel and equipment is guaranteed. During a disaster, it is likely that the entire organization might be exposed to greater security and safety risks. The second step is to identify the key assets within the organization and the impact of each asset. This will help the disaster recovery team understand the value of each asset to the organization and the strategies to be used in protecting that asset. In addition, this step allows the organization understand the major threats against the business assets identified. Some of these threats include terrorism, hardware failure, cyber attacks and theft among others. The implementation of the recovery plan begins during the activation planning. This process is carried out by the recovery team or part of the team. This step helps in listing those systems that need to be restored, give the time estimates required for each system to be restored and give a clear communication plan between the recovery team members or groups. During this phase, all the staff members and recovery teams have been notified. The execution phase is

John F. Kennedy and Hillary Rodham Clinton Essay

John F. Kennedy and Hillary Rodham Clinton - Essay Example Perhaps the most popular statement echoing the core principle of American democracy was spoken by Kennedy himself during his inaugural address: "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." (Kennedy) First and foremost, what is democracy The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines it to be "direct participation of the members of a society in deciding on the laws and policies of the society or it may involve the participation of those members in selecting representatives to make the decisions" (Christiano). As such, Kennedy's statement was a call for the active participation of the citizenry. Similarly, one of Clinton's most notable and memorable quotes throughout her political career echoes this same sentiment: "Voting is the most precious right of every citizen, and we have a moral obligation to ensure the integrity of our voting process." (HillaryClintonQuotes) John F. Kennedy, more commonly known as Jack, was not immediately attracted to a life of politics albeit growing up with a highly political family. In a biography by Robert Dallek, Kennedy had been credited for saying, "I never thought at school or college that I would ever run for office myself. . . . I hadn't considered myself a political type, and [it was my brother that] filled all the requirements for political success." (Dallek 117) The Kennedys were rather well known in the arena of politics, and their heritage of Democrats dates back generations. On the other hand, Hillary Rodham Clinton had always been interested in a life of politics. She proclaims, "I was interested in politics from an early age, and I loved to hone my debating skills with my friends. . . I ran for student council and junior class Vice President. I was also an active Young Republican" (Clinton 21). She had indeed begun her political awareness with the influence of her father who was an extremist Republican, but Clinton had eventually developed her own opinions at Wellesley College as she had participated in many political-flavored events. By graduation, she had become a full-fledged Democrat. Though Kennedy had more opportunity to provide service and leadership to the United States because he was elected President, Clinton likewise had her fair share of responsibility as First Lady. It is apparent from their respective stays in the White House, however, that their styles of governance are of different quality. Kennedy was ultimately very anti-communist, while Clinton had subscribed to certain socialist strategies with regard to capitalism. One of the most apparent differences between Clinton and Kennedy is that the latter was loved by most, while Clinton had always been and remains to be controversial in the eyes of many. She is most remembered and criticized for the demeanor with which she had handled her husband's adulterous affair at the Oval Office and her confrontational, no-nonsense attitude. Her political career has been tainted with rumor and gossip. Conversely, it is only admiration and almost veneration that people feel for Kennedy. While Clinton lacks in charm and appeal, Kennedy is

The enzymic synthesis of starch Essay Example for Free

The enzymic synthesis of starch Essay When green plants photosynthesise, the leaf produces simple sugars such as glucose, and sugar phosphates such as ribulose 1,5 biphosphate. These are transported to all leaf cells and other organs, and may be deposited as starch anywhere in the plant. The plant makes these products during the light independent stage of photosynthesis, and converts them to starch, other carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids after the light independent stage and so light is not necessary. This explains the presence of a small amount starch in the leaf cells left in the dark with glucose solution. Only a small amount is present because, starch can only be synthesised by using sugar phosphates and enzymic processes using starch phosphorylase enzymes. This would have been possible by using the small amounts of sugar phosphates already present in the leaves. The presence of starch in the leaves left in glucose in the light is because the leaves have a plentiful supply of glucose, as well as being able to photosynthesise and produce their own simple sugars and phosphates. The reason for starch being present in the leaves left in water in the light, is that as there was plentiful light, the leaves had the capacity to photosynthesise, and produce their own glucose and other sugars and sugar phosphates, of which some was obviously converted to starch. No starch was present in the leaves in the water in the dark because no light was present so no sugars could be produced through photosynthesis, neither was there any glucose available for the leaves to convert into starch. The potato results prove the idea that starch can only be synthesised by using sugar phosphates, because tube C was the only one which showed any sign of there being starch present, and tube C was the only one that contained Glucose 1-phosphate as well as the starch phosphorylase. Starch is used by cells for storage (in a starch grain), as the molecules are big and cannot get out. It is also insoluble and this means that it stays where it is put and does not dissolve in water. The leaf experiment already showed that phosphates are more important for making starch than light, and this just reinforces the fact. Evaluation The experiment could have produced inaccurate results. The leaves were placed in a cupboard, for a dark place and it may have allowed a small amount of light to get through. The temperature in the cupboard and under the daylight lamp may have also fluctuated, altering the results. Also, when pouring the de-ionised water into the beaker for the leaves to rest on, some air may have been absorbed. The plant samples used were kept in a bin liner overnight before the experiment was done, to destarch the plant. This may not have been long enough for the plant to use all its starch reserves, which would mean that starch could have been detected when it was really there all the time.

Benefits of Balanced Scorecard Implementation

Benefits of Balanced Scorecard Implementation Introduction Business organizations are facing increasingly complex markets, customers and suppliers, and fierce global competitive pressures. In such competitive environment, access to the right information is important to ensure high quality decision making and thus, the success of the organization. Resulting from the changing needs of information in a competitive environment, pressure was put on accounting information to increase its relevance. Extensive and exclusive use of financial measures has been criticised due to their historic nature. Financial measures reveal a great deal about an organisations past actions but nothing about its future alertness. Exclusive reliance on financial indicators could promote behaviour that sacrifices long term value creation for short term performance (Dearden, 1969). Indeed, an overemphasis on achieving and maintaining short term performance can cause a company to overinvest in short term fixes and underinvest in sustainable value creation, which would be detrimental to its future success. In an attempt to remedy the shortcomings of financial performance measures, Kaplan and Norton (1992) devised the Balanced Scorecard which integrates financial and non financial strategic measures. The Balanced Scorecard will be discussed in this paper focusing on what the Balanced Scorecard is, the theory underlying it and how it is being practiced. The manner in which the Balanced Scorecard is practiced in two companies, namely Metro Bank which is adapted from Kaplan and Norton (1996) and Asia Telecom, a telecommunication company whose name is disguised to preserve confidentiality is also discussed in this paper. What is the Balanced Scorecard? The Balanced Scorecard is a tool, which systematically expands the measurement areas traditionally involved in accounting. It provides a system for measuring and managing all aspects of a companys performance. The scorecard balances financial measures of success with non financial measures of drivers of future performance. These non financial measures include measures on customer satisfaction, internal processes, the organisations innovation and improvement activities. The Balanced Scorecard measures organizational performance across four different but inter-related perspectives: financial, customer, internal and learning and growth perspectives (Atkinson, Kaplan and Young, 2004). The Balanced Scorecard, as devised by Kaplan and Norton (1992), is thus a balanced performance measurement system that enables companies to track financial results while simultaneously monitoring how they are building their capabilities with customers, internal processes, employees and systems for future growth and profitability. It provides feedback around both the internal business processes and external outcomes in order to continuously improve strategic performance and results (Kaplan and Norton, 1996). The Balanced Scorecard is a comprehensive framework that translates a companys vision and strategy into a coherent set of performance measures. It is an integral part of an organizations strategy execution process that emphasizes communicating strategy to employees and providing feedback to help attain objectives. The scorecard can be used at different levels of an organization. For each level, the Balanced Scorecard approach identifies the key components of operations, sets goals for them, and finds ways to measure progress toward achieving these goals. Taken together, the measures provide a holistic view of performance both inside and outside the organization, and allow each constituent of the organization to see how his or her activities contribute to attaining the organizations overall mission (Von Bergen and Benco). Essentially, the Balanced Scorecard measures are used to translate vision and strategy into concrete directions for action by people throughout the organization. The measures prescribe a plan for strategic execution and create focus for the future. The measures communicate important messages to all organizational units and employees and thus, influence their actions. To take full advantage of this power, companies soon integrated their new measures into a management system (Kaplan and Norton, 2001). Thus, the Balanced Scorecard concept evolved from a performance measurement system to a strategic management system. The strategic management system focused the entire organization on implementing long term strategy by aligning and supporting key processes. The essence of the above discussion can be summarized using Atkinson, Kaplan and Youngs (2004) definition. The Balanced Scorecard is a strategic management system that translates an organizations strategy into clear objectives, measures, targets and initiatives organized by four perspectives. These four perspectives and other principles underlying the Balanced Scorecard will be discussed in the next section of this paper. The Balanced Scorecard: Theory The Balanced Scorecard is based on several underlying premises. The first is that financial measures alone inadequately measure the health of a company and that a single-minded pursuit of financial objectives could lead to long-term ruin. The second is that Balanced Scorecard focuses on process, not metrics. As such, it is forward-looking (e.g., How can our organization retain its best customers?) rather than backward-looking (e.g., What were our organizations earnings per share last quarter?). The third is that the scorecard is an analytic framework for translating a companys visions and business strategies into specific, quantifiable goals and for monitoring performance against those goals (Von Bergen and Benco). The Balanced Scorecard framework consists of four perspectives of which the organizations performance is measured. Across organizations, the relevant Balanced Scorecard components vary depending on the organizations specific goals and circumstances. There is no theory that four perspectives are necessary and sufficient for an effective balanced scorecard. However, there is some agreement that a typical BSC would include the following four components in some form (Horngren, Foster, Srikant, 2000): Learning and growth perspective: Can the firm continue to improve and create value for customers? Internal business process perspective: In which capabilities must the firm excel? Customer perspective: How do customers see the firm? Financial perspective: How does the firm look to providers of financial resources? The financial perspective Kaplan and Norton do not disregard the traditional need for financial data. Indeed, the ultimate objective for profit-seeking companies is a significant increase in shareholder value. Financial performance measures indicate whether the companys strategy, implementation and execution are contributing to its profitability. Financial objectives typically relate to profitability and measured, for example, by economic value added, return on investment or net profit. Companies increase economic wealth through two basic approaches revenue growth and productivity. Revenue growth comes from either growing wider (new products, markets and customers) and/or from growing deeper by achieving more price or volume from existing relationships. Productivity comes from reducing the cost structure, and/or the fixed and working capital required to support the business. The customer perspective The customer perspective is about the identification of the customer and market segments in which the company will compete and the measures of the companys performance in these targeted segments. Typical core measures of the successful outcomes from a well-formulated and implemented strategy include customer satisfaction, customer retention, new customer acquisition, customer profitability and market and account share. Beyond these measures, the companies must also identify the objectives and measures for customer value proposition, which describes the unique mix of product, price, service, relationship and image that a company offers its targeted group of customers. Customer value proposition that defines how company meets the needs of its customers vis-Ã  -vis its competitors is essentially a differentiation strategy. There are three generally acknowledged generic value proposition: Operational Excellence is characterized and differentiates itself by a combination of products/services that provide quality, selection, and competitive prices, and order fulfillment capability that is fast and timely. Customer Intimacy is characterized and differentiates itself by the quality and personalization of its relationship with its customers. Product Leadership is characterized and differentiates itself by the functions, features, and overall performance of its products and services. The value proposition is crucial because it helps an organization connects its internal processes to improved outcomes with its customers. The internal business process perspective Once the financial and customer perspectives are identified, the critical internal processes in which the organization must excel to achieve its objectives are defined. These processes enable the organization to deliver the value propositions that will attract and retain customers in targeted market segments and achieve productivity improvements for the financial objectives. Since organizations perform many different processes, it is useful to group the processes into four groups: Build the franchise by spurring innovation to develop new products and services and penetrate new markets and customer segments. Increase customer value by expanding and deepening relationships with existing customers. Achieve operational excellence by improving supply-chain management, internal process, asset utilization, resource-capacity management and other processes. Become a good corporate citizen by establishing effective relationships with external stakeholders. Measures of these processes allow managers to evaluate how well their business is running, and whether its products and services conform to customer requirements (the mission). The learning and growth perspective This perspective describes the infrastructure necessary for the achievement of the objectives identified in the other three perspectives. Under this perspective, objectives for the people, systems and organizational alignment that create long term growth and improvement are identified. The objectives for these three components normally lie in the following areas: Employees capabilities Does the employees possess the appropriate level of skill and knowledge to perform the work/function required to achieve strategy? Information system and database Is the information system and database available to provide excellent information to employees for process improvement required? Organization alignment Corporate culture and climate Do employees have the awareness and understanding of the vision, strategy and cultural values needed to execute strategy? Goal alignment Are goals and incentives aligned with the strategy at all level? Knowledge sharing Do employees and teams share best practices and other knowledge relevant to strategy execution? This perspective ultimately emphasizes the role of intangible assets people, system, climate and culture in driving organizational capabilities for learning and long term growth. Strategy Map A strategy map is a comprehensive visual representation of the linkages among objectives in the four perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard. Each objective in the four perspectives is portrayed in a cause and effect relationship where gains in the learning and growth perspective lead to improvements in internal business processes, which in turn lead to higher customer satisfaction and market share, and finally to superior financial performance. The strategy map tells the story of the companys strategy. It identifies for employees and management the importance of each perspective as a feeder of success into the next perspective. It also identifies and makes explicit the hypotheses about the cause and effect relationship between outcome measures (lag indicators) for example, customer satisfaction and return on investment, and performance drivers (lead indicators) for example, motivated and skilled employees, short cycle time processes and product development processes (Atkinson, Kaplan and Young, 2004). Lagging indicators indicate whether the strategic objectives in each perspective are achieved while leading indicators represent how the outcome should be achieved. The causal link between lagging and leading indicators not only occurs within the individual perspectives, but also across the four perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard (Figge, Hahn, Schaltegger Wagner, 2002) Organizations build strategy map from the top down, starting with the destination and then charting the routes that lead there. The vision and mission of the company provides a picture of the companys overall goal. The strategy of achieving the companys vision and mission, when translated into objectives and measures in each of the perspectives provide more meaning and clarity to employees. Measures describe how success in achieving an objective will be determined and thus give clarify to the objective. Typically, the objectives in the four perspectives of a strategy map lead to 20-30 measures. However, the number of measures is irrelevant when these measures are viewed as inter-dependent measures that are instrumental for achieving a single strategy. The multiple measures on the Balanced Scorecard are linked together in a cause and effect network that describes the business strategy. Targets are set for each measure. A target establishes the level of performance or rate of improvement required for a measure. Level of performance required should represent excellent performance. Companies identify initiatives, that is, short term programs and action plans that will help companies to achieve targets. Initiatives that will not have a major impact on one or more scorecard objectives should be de-emphasized (Kaplan and Norton, 2004). The Balanced Scorecard: In practice Having discussed the theory and principles underlying the Balanced Scorecard, we will look at the manner in which the measures of the Balanced Scorecard are developed and communicated in the corporate world by taking the case of Metro Bank and Asia Telecom. Metro Banks case adapted from Kaplan and Norton (1996) is used to illustrate revenue growth strategy whilst Asia Telecom is used to illustrate both revenue growth and productivity strategy. Metro Bank case Metro Bank, a retail banking division of a major bank was facing problem of excessive reliance on a single product. The revenue growth strategy is undertaken to resolve this problem, that is, to reduce earning volatility by broadening sources of revenue with additional products for current customers. In the process of developing the Balanced Scorecard, the strategy is translated into objectives and measures in the four perspectives. The financial objective to support revenue growth strategy was to broaden the mix of revenue. The financial measure is the percentage increase in year to year revenue (lag indicator) and revenue mix (lead indicator). The existing customers of the bank however do not view their banker as the logical source for a broader array of products such as mutual funds, credit cards and financial advice. The banks executive concluded that if the banks new strategy were to be successful, they must shift customers perception of the bank from that of a transactions processor of checks and deposits to a financial adviser. With this, the customer objective was to increase customer confidence in the banks financial advice and increase customer satisfaction. This is done by building long term relationship with targeted customers so that the bank can sell them multiple financial products and services. The measures are share of customer segment i.e. number of Metros customers in targeted segment (lag indicator) and depth of relationship (lead indicator). Internal activities that need to be mastered if the strategy were to succeed were identified as 1) understand customers, 2) develop new products and services and 3) cross-sell multiple products and services. Each business process would have to be redesigned to reflect the demands of the new strategy. For example, the selling process had traditionally been dependent on institutional advertising of the banks services. The bank did not have a selling culture. The bank personnel were reactive. A major reengineering program was launched to redefine the sales process into one which is relationship based. Measures introduced were cross-sell ratio (lag indicators) which measured selling effectiveness and hours spent with customers (lead indicators) to send signal to salespersons of the new culture required by the strategy In order to improve employee effectiveness in implementing the revenue growth strategy, the learning and growth component of the scorecard identified the need for 1) salespersons to acquire a broader set of skills (to become a financial counselor with broad knowledge of the product line), 2) improved access to information (integrated customer file), and 3) realignment of the incentive systems to encourage the new behavior. The lag indicators included a productivity measure, average sales per salesperson, as well as the attitudes of the work force as measured by an employee satisfaction survey. The lead indicators focused on the major changes that had to be orchestrated in the work force. These indicators are 1) the upgrading of the skill base and qualified people i.e. strategic job coverage ratio, 2) access to information technology tools and data i.e. strategic availability ratio, and 3) the realignment of individual goals and incentives to reflect the new priorities i.e. personal g oal alignment. Asia Telecom Asia Telecom, a telecommunication provider strives to grow business profitability and improve operating efficiency in a highly competitive environment. The company embarked on the following strategy: Growth strategy: expand new business while defending the traditional fixed line business Productivity strategy: improve efficiency by managing new capital investment and increase asset utilization In the Balanced Scorecard development process, the strategy is translated into objectives and measures in the four perspectives. Prepared and motivated work force Productivity strategy Growth strategy Defend traditional business Expand Regionally Grow New Business Manage Capital Expenditure Increase Asset Utilization Improve cost efficiency Improve returns Delight the customer Exceptional value services One stop solution Enduring relationship Synergy with Partners Ensure win-win partnership Innovation Process Develop alternative channels Develop product services offerings/bundles Operations Process Focus on operational efficiency Optimize deployment of shared services Improve Strategic Skills Competencies Create conducive organization climate Access to strategic information Customer Perspective Internal Perspective Financial Perspective Learning Perspective Figure 1 The Asia Telecom Strategy Map Growth strategy is pursued by: 1) defend traditional business, 2) expand regionally and 3) grow new business. Productivity is increased by: 1) manage capital expenditure, 2) optimize asset utilization and 3) improve cost efficiency. The company intends to grow new business and expand regionally (acquisition of other business) while defending its traditional fixed line business. Asset utilization and capital expenditure management is important as telecommunication assets are costly, require high investment and can quickly become obsolete with the advent of new technologies. Operating costs efficiency is targeted to reduce costs in running the business. Financial measures are earning per share, return on investment, revenue growth, operating costs per staff and EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) (lag indicators) and strategic business support (lead indicator). Asia Telecom offers a variety of products and services to customers and builds enduring relationship with its customers. The customers are valued as always right. The company aspires to improve service quality in its outlets to retain and satisfy its customers. A Mesra Pelanggan Project was launched to strengthen necessary capabilities and capacities, strengthen and build on customer relation basics and ultimately, delight the customers. The customer measures identified are 1) one stop solution, 2) enduring relationship, 3) exceptional value services, and 4) ensure win-win partnerships. The measures are service level agreement compliance, customer and partner satisfaction index and customer retention and acquisition (lag indicators) and service level agreement and satisfaction survey (lead indicator). In order to achieve the above objectives, internal business processes identified are 1) create product and services offerings/bundles, 2) develop alternative channels, 3) focus on operational efficiency and 4) optimize deployment of shared services. Business processes needs to be redefined and changed to reflect the needs of the new strategy. For example, product development process has been designated to a small group of product development personnel. The rest of the marketers are not involved in product development even though they have direct contact and interaction with customers. A change in mindset was instigated to encourage every personnel to spend more time talking with customers to learn about their emerging needs and to think of innovative solutions to these needs. The measures include new product revenue, new channel ratio, expense ratio and cost savings (lag indicators) and product and channel development cycle and cost control (lead indicators). These measures clarify w hat needs to be done in order to achieve the objectives identified. The work force must be motivated and prepared to produce the level of effectiveness required to support the objectives in the three other perspectives. In order to foster long term growth and improvement, there is need to 1) improve strategic skills and competencies, 2) create conducive organization climate and 3) provide access to strategic information. Positive work culture including integrity, sense of urgency, teamwork and group interest was instilled to improve quality of the work force. Employee innovativeness is encouraged to create employees that are capable of applying knowledge to produce new products and services. The outcome measures are competency index, employee satisfaction index and climate survey index. The lead indicators which are organized to create change in the work place are staff development vs. plan, employee survey, organization climate survey and strategic systems availability vs. plan. Figure 2 Asia Telecoms Balanced Scorecard Strategic Objectives Measures Outcome Measures (Lag) Performance Drivers (Lead) Financial Defend traditional business Expand regionally Grow new business Manage capital expenditure Optimize asset utilization Improve cost efficiency Earning per share, EBITDA Return on investment Revenue growth Operating costs per staff Strategic business support Customer One stop solution Enduring relationship Exceptional value services Ensure win-win partnerships Customer satisfaction index Customer retention acquisition Partner satisfaction index Service level agreement compliance Customer satisfaction survey Customer satisfaction survey Partner satisfaction survey Service level agreement Internal Create product and services offerings/bundles Develop alternative channels Focus on operational efficiency Optimize deployment of shared services New product revenue, % of contribution to profit New channel ratio Expense ratio Cost savings Product development cycle Channel development cycle Cost control Learning Improve strategic skills and competencies Create conducive organization climate Access to strategic information Competency index Employee satisfaction index Climate survey index Staff development vs. plan Employee survey Organization climate survey Strategic systems availability vs. plan Figure 2 summarizes the objectives and measures for Asia Telecoms Balanced Scorecard. The scorecard and strategy map (Figure 1) describes a system of cause and effect relationships, incorporating a mix of leading and lagging indicators, all of which eventually point to improving future financial performance. Based on the above cases, it can be seen that the Balanced Scorecard framework translates and communicate strategy to the whole organization. In the case of Asia Telecom, employees understand what needs to be done in order to achieve the companys strategy to increase productivity. The measures in place such as competency index send signals to employees of what is required and focuses change efforts. There is shared understanding of the companys vision. From the cause and effect relationship inherent in the scorecard model, employees are able to see how they contribute to the companys success. Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Framework for Action Companies also use the Balanced Scorecard as the framework around which the management processes and programs are built. By identifying the most important objectives on which an organization should focus its attention and resources, the scorecard provides a framework for a strategic management system that organizes issues, information, and a variety of vital management processes. These processes are: Clarify and translate vision and strategy Communicate and link strategic objectives and measures Plan, set targets and align strategic initiatives Enhance strategic feedback and learning (Kaplan and Norton, 1996) By using the case of Asia Telecom, the manner in which the strategic framework is put into action is discussed next. Clarify and translate vision and strategy The Balanced Scorecard process starts with the senior management team working together to translate the business units strategy into specific strategic objectives. When translating the strategic into objectives in the four perspectives discussed above, the management must ensure that there is consensus on what objectives should be prioritized and what measures, targets and initiatives should be used. Consensus is important to ensure that everyone in the company is pursuing the same agenda. In Asia Telecom, sales and marketing has traditionally been regarded as important as they bring in revenue. However, as business becomes more competitive, the traditional fixed line business comes under attack, eating up the companys bottom line. There is increasing need for innovation to create new products and services to retain and win customers. New business needs to be developed and nurtured. In developing the scorecard, this strategy is agreed upon and translated into objectives in the four p erspectives. The development of the scorecard enables the management to agree, prioritize and be accountable for the objectives of the business. Communicate and link strategic objectives and measures The Balanced Scorecards strategic objectives and measures are communicated via company newsletters, bulletin boards, video conferencing and groupware to all levels of organizational constituents. The communication serves to signal to all employees the critical objectives that must be accomplished if the companys strategy is to succeed. The communication process enables the alignment of goals throughout the organization. Once employees understand the high level objectives and measures, they can establish local objectives that support the companys objectives. In Asia Telecom, the Balanced Scorecard is cascaded down to all levels and more than 180 Balanced Scorecards were developed at various levels of the company. The Balanced Scorecards reflect each organizational units objectives in achieving the overall objectives. These scorecards can be accessed online using a Balanced Scorecard system developed in house by the company. Plan, set targets and align strategic initiatives Managers should establish the following to use the scorecard in an integrated long range strategic planning and operational budgeting process: Set long term, quantifiable and stretch targets for the scorecard measures. Identify initiatives (investments and action programs) and resources for these initiatives which will enable the achievement of targets. These initiatives are intended to close the gap between targets set for strategic measures and current performance on those measures. Link to annual resource allocation and budgets i.e. formulate specific short term targets for the scorecard measures. This will allow managers to determine whether their strategy is valid and enable progress monitored. In Asia Telecom, the customer satisfaction index is targeted at more than 90% in 2006. The initiative to achieve the target is via the Mesra Pelanggan Project and customer relationship management. Resource allocation required to achieve the target is included as part of the business plan. Any deviation from the initial target can be picked up during the business plan review. This is also available in the Balanced Scorecard system which links strategy, business plan and performance. It also makes all strategic initiatives and resources congruence to Asia Telecoms Strategy. Enhance strategic feedback and learning The Balance Scorecard enables managers to monitor and adjust the implementation of their strategy, and if necessary, make fundamental changes in the strategy itself. The learning process is of two types: Single loop learning process: feedback about whether the planned strategy is being executed according to plan Double loop learning process: feedback about whether the planned strategy remains a viable and successful strategy. This learning process will prompt managers to question their underlying assumptions and reflect on whether the strategy under which they are operating remains valid in consideration of the current evidence, observations, and experience. The strategic feedback and learning process feeds into the next vision and strategy process where objectives in the various perspectives are reviewed, updated, and replaced in accordance with the most current view of the strategic outcomes and required performance drivers for the upcoming periods. Suppose that the data reveal that the organizations employees and managers have delivered on the performance drivers employees skills and competencies has been improved, tools and technology are available, new products and services have been developed and introduced on schedule. Now, th

Role of Silicosis in Silica-associated Lung Cancer

Role of Silicosis in Silica-associated Lung Cancer Background Crystalline silica is a mineral compound composed of silicon and oxygen atoms that are arranged in a repeating pattern. Common polymorphs of crystalline silica include quartz, cristobalite and tridymite, with quartz as the most common form. Human exposure to crystalline silica is most often from occupational tasks that involve disturbance, use or manufacture of quartz-containing materials, including stonecutting, mining, quarrying and ceramics.[i],[ii] In 1997, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded there was sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity in humans with occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica in the quartz or cristobalite form.[iii] The 1997 IARC Monograph noted the greater part of epidemiologic studies reported the presence of silicosis (referring to the chronic or also known as classic type), a fibrotic disease of the lung that is associated with high exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust, increases excess lung cancer risk among workers exposed to silica. However, it remains unclear whether lung cancer development among these workers is due to the presence of silicosis or due to exposure to significant silica levels with silicosis being a confounder rather than a prerequisite. A recent literature review of relevant epidemiological studies confirmed that there remains uncertainty about excess lung cancer risk exclusively among silicotic workers due to the shortcomings of the design of existing epidemiological studies, including the inaccurate measurement of silica exposure, inadequate characterization of the exposure-response relationship between crystalline silica and lung cancer, inadequate control for potential confounders such as known lung cancer risk factors and the presence of other carcinogenic agents in the workplace, and the absence of comparing the lung cancer risk between silicotics and non-silicotic (do not have silicosis) workers as controls. The proposed research study attempts to clari fy the role of silicosis in silica-associated lung cancer development by addressing some of the identified study design challenges. Significance Determining if silicosis is a prerequisite for lung cancer development has important public health implications for setting occupational standard for silica exposure, implementing workplace medical surveillance programs and determining causation in medico-legal cases. For example, if it is determined that lung cancer risk increases among workers exposed to silica only in the presence of silicosis, then efforts should be focused on reducing high silica exposure to a level that reduces the risk of developing silicosis. However, if it is determined that silicosis is not a prerequisite, then lung cancer development can occur at silica exposures lower than those likely to cause silicosis, which makes prevention of exposure to high silica levels not adequate for worker protection. Specific Aims To better understand the role of silicosis in the pathway leading to lung cancer from occupational exposure to silica, the specific aims of the study are: To examine the association between occupational exposure to crystalline silica and lung cancer risk in the presence and absence of silicosis and To measure the exposure-response relationship between crystalline silica and lung cancer risk with risk estimates adjusted by silicosis Procedures/Methods Study Design and Population A nested case-control study design will be utilized to analyze the association between occupational exposure to crystalline silica and lung cancer risk among silicotic and non-silicotic workers from an original cohort mortality study. The original study was conducted among workers from the Vermont granite industry.[iv] They were identified from a group insurance program enrollment between January 1st, 1947 and December 31st, 1998, Vermont Department of Health Division of Industrial Hygiene (DIH) records, pension records, data from a study of workers employed from 1979 to 1987 and data from a study of retired workers.iv The data from the multiple sources were linked to avoid duplications. As a result, the cohort consisted of 7052 Vermont granite industry workers. The mortality follow-up of the cohort identified 359 observed lung cancer deaths. iv Age at death, smoking history and silica dust exposure, medical history of obstructive lung disease and demographics will be compared betwee n the cases and controls. Workers that did not have sufficient smoking information, work histories and available chest radiographs were excluded. The exposure of interest will be the cumulative exposure to silica dust. The study population is unique in that the Vermont granite industry has a long history of silica exposure, medical surveillance and a general exclusion of occupational exposures associated with lung cancer. Case Ascertainment Lung cancer cases will be ascertained from the original Vermont granite industry cohort study. The vital status and cause of data was ascertained from the US National Death Index (NDI), US Social Security Administration vital status records and the Vermont State Records Office. The cause of death was coded to the 9th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9). Control Ascertainment Controls will also be ascertained from the original cohort study. The controls are defined as workers who did not die from lung cancer. Lung cancer cases will be matched to 2 controls by age. Silicosis Ascertainment The presence of silicosis among the cases and controls would be obtained from compensation and medical surveillance records. Silica Exposure Measurement Cumulative exposure to respirable crystalline silica was measured using a job exposure matrix that utilized industrial hygiene measurements. The cumulative exposures are categorized in quartiles. Sample Size Justification According to the sample size calculator (http://www.surveysystem.com/sscalc.htm), it is estimated that this study would need approximately 360 subjects are required in the study to obtain the confidence level of 95% with an interval of 5%, if we are selecting subjects from the 7052 Vermont granite industry workers cohort. We will strive to obtain 90 cases and 180 controls, based on the availability of sufficient smoking information, work histories and chest radiographs. Statistical Analysis Statistical analysis will be performed to calculate odds ratios to examine the association between lung cancer and total and each quartile of cumulative silica exposure in the presence and absence of silicosis. Odds ratios will be adjusted for smoking, obstructive lung disease and age as they are potential confounders. Odds ratios will be calculated with 95% confidence intervals. Study Strengths Strengths of the proposed study include: comparing the association of silica exposure and lung cancer in both silicotic and non-silicotic workers measuring the exposure-response relationship between silica and lung cancer risk, taking into account the presence and absence silicosis controlling for potential confounders of smoking and obstructive lung disease excluding potential confounders of other occupational exposures associated with lung cancer by studying the granite industry cohort conducting a nested case-control study is less expensive than a full cohort study since a comparably significant number of lung cancer cases have emerged Study Limitations Potential biases and study limitations are: Selection bias is a concern as silicotic workers are identified from compensation and medical surveillance records Silicotic workers may be diagnosed by different criteria, but resulting in non-differential misclassification Differential misclassification may result from categorizing the silica exposure in quartiles Silica exposure assessment may not be accurate if the job exposure matrix is methodologically sound Only studied one type of industry associated with silica exposure Non-diseased persons from whom the controls are selected may not be fully representative of the original cohort due to loss to follow-up or death References [i] International Labour Organization (ILO)/SafeWork Bookshelf (2006). ILO Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety: Volume 1, Part I. Body: Chapter 10 Silicosis. Available at http://www.ilo.org/safework_bookshelf/english?dnd=170000102nh=0. [ii] Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (2002). OSHA Fact Sheet: Crystalline Silica Exposure Health Hazard Information [Electronic Version]. Available at http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/crystalline-factsheet.pdf [iii] WHO/IARC (1997). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans: Silica, Some Silicates, Coal Dust and para-Aramid Fibrils [Electronic Version]. Volume 68; available at http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol68/mono68.pdf. [iv] Vacek PM, Verma DK, Graham WG, Callas PW, Gibbs GW (2010). Mortality in Vermont granite workers and its association with silica exposure. Occup Environ Med, 68(5), 312-318.

Xenophanes Concept of God :: Philosophical Philosophy Religion essays

Xenophanes' Concept of God Xenophanes of the late 6th and early 5th centuries BC should be credited, in opposition to his critics and misinterpreters, with an advanced contribution to the Western philosophy of religion, namely that there is one God. First, he exposes the weaknesses of the Greek pantheon. Then he satirically demonstrates the narcissistic limitations of human conceptions of the nature of the divine. Third, he logically structures a coherent concept of the nature of the only God. Then finally he reveals how his concept explains certain observable natural phenomena in an account of physical reality. 1. Xenophanes said "there is one god, among gods and men the greatest... "[1] but why would that idea be unusual for his culture, in its history? He explains that everyone in his culture had been taught by the famous poets and writers, including Homer, that a pantheon of multiple deities existed and affected the lives of humans in various ways. The nature of these gods, however, defies the whole notion of deity. Anaximander had earlier conceived of the underlying "stuff" of the universe as apeiron, an unexplainable something. But Xenophanes carries the notion much farther by attacking the mythology of his time and giving definition to the ineffable source of life. The famous writers "attributed to the gods all things that are shameful and a reproach among mankind: theft, adultery, and mutual deception" [2]. Illogically also, humans thought that gods were born and had clothing, voices, and bodies as well [3]. Surely, gods had to be more than glorified albeit often more immoral than hu mans, by the definition of "god." Probably Xenophanes viewed God from two perspectives. First, the Homeric gods demonstrated behavior that simply resembled the behavior of humans. God, by definition, had to be someone greater, better than humans in some way(s). He said that the One God is "greatest among the gods, not like mortals in form or thought." Thus worship of this God implies that an all-encompassing greatness is a factor of worship, which means primarily submission to and reverence for a being greater than oneself. As well, morality seems to be recognized by all cultures in some form or another, but reveals a certain weakness or propensity in humans to behave badly at times, as opposed to behaving well at times. There is an inherent recognition that there are good and bad actions and God is "not like mortals in form or thought.

Free Narrative Essays - Voices :: Example Personal Narratives

   Voices    The Voice: Well, Mrs. Dryer, I go to a very competitive school. I have to take competitive classes. It's not as though the work load would go down if I dropped to a lower level. I had a very busy week, and the play just started. I'll have more time this week. I promise to practice more between now and next lesson.    The Scholar (that lives in my mind): What is that woman saying!? Drop my AP classes so that I'll have more time for piano? Does she realize that piano isn't life? Or at least not my life? I've taken ten years of music, I think that's enough. I'd rather be spending my time becoming a more prolific writer. That's were my passion lies, not in music. Music is just romanticized math. It doesn't say anything deeper than its title. Not anything specific, at least.    The Musician(that lives in my mind): Ummmm...excuse me?    The Scholar: You heard what I said. Everyone gets sick of a song after awhile. It's because there are no life issues in music. You hear it and it's over, and there's nothing to hold on to, nothing to cherish, not even an image, afterwards. It distracts me from reading. Yes, it's part of culture, but to really appreciate it you have to have an ear for it. It's not my thing. To really get it, it has to be your thing.    The Musician: Not your thing? Honey, listen to me, music is most definitely your thing. You can't escape it. As the volume goes up, your soul goes under, submerged in tone and rhythm and rubato (if you're lucky). It takes over your breath.    The Scholar: I think that's more a function of sound wave vibration than anything else.    The Musician: No, think of it this way. When we play gently we aren't gentle with the keys. We are gentle in the sound. But how do we get that sound? How do we know instinctively, or at least after practice, that a certain touch produces dolce? The key is breath, is mind. It's in us, not the music. No formula of physics could ever produce that type of sound.

The Handmaids Tale :: Handmaids Tale Essays

The Handmaids Tale In Margaret Atwoods novel, "The Handmaids Tale", the birth rate in the United States had dropped so low that extremists decided to take matters into their own hands by killing off the government, taking over themselves, and reducing the womens role in society to that of a silent birthing machine. One handmaid describes what happened and how it came about as she, too, is forced to comply with the new order. Before the new order, known as the Sons of Jacob, took over, women had a lot to be afraid of. They had freedom to do whatever they wanted, but this freedom was severely inhibited by maniacs who could strike at any time. Women followed rules to keep them out of danger, but they were not enforced. "I remember the rules, rules that were never spelled out but that every woman knew; dont open your door to a stranger, even if he is the police. Make him slide his ID under the door. Dont stop on the road to help a motorist pretending to be in trouble. Keep the locks on and keep going. If anyone whistles, dont turn to look. Dont go into a laundromat, by yourself, at night . .. Women were not protected then."(p. 24) Nobody believed it could happen to them. When the Sons of Jacob took over and began to take away their freedom, they accepted it. They were afraid and the Sons gave them some security. Because they accepted the first few laws, it was hard to refuse to not go along with the ones that followed. When the women were finally stripped of their identities, they felt as though they had deserved it because they had done nothing to try and save any of their other rights. "We looked at one anothers faces and saw dismay, and a certain shame, as if wed been caught doing something we shouldnt. Its outrageous one woman said, but without belief. What was it about this that made us feel we deserved it?"(p. 166) The Sons used this insecurity to round up the women and place them in institutions where they would be "safe". Once they had them within their

Health Campaign Essay

Part I of this paper examined childhood obesity as a public health issues that faces the state of Texas. Further, the paper dwelt on the importance of addressing this public health issues because it has an impact on the lives of the children at the community, state, and national levels. Moreover, the paper also identified the models and systems that have found use in the determination and of childhood obesity, along with the associated vital statistics involved, and management care. The research paper revealed how prevalence in childhood obesity in the state of Texas increased from 5. % to 10. 9% for children between the ages of 7 to 12 between 1970 and 1995. In an effort to address this public health issues, community organizations, the state of Texas as well as the federal government have also played a pivotal role in taking initiatives to help address this epidemic. At the community level, local agencies including health clinics and community centers have all been actively involved in the fight against childhood obesity. Parents, schools, and the community are all charged with the responsibility of creating awareness about the childhood obesity epidemic. State agencies that are dealing with obesity in Texas include the Texas Obesity Research Center and the Health and Human Commission. At the national level, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Childhood Obesity Foundation has been instrumental in the fight against childhood obesity. At the national level, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has provided two yardsticks with which to divide children above the age of 2 years who are also overweight. In the first category, those children who are above the 85th quartile of obesity are often identified as being within the at-risk level. In the second category, those who are above the 95th quartile are categorized as being in the severe level. Perhaps we need to ponder on the question of why there are more overweight children in the state of Texas in comparison with the national average. The main reason behind this could be the fact that compared with the larger United States, Texas is by and large more ethnically diverse. African Americans and Hispanic children have been seen to present a higher prevalence of obesity in comparison with the other children, such as the Whites or Caucasians. Although the number of African Americans in the population of Texas is a reflection of the national percentage (in this case, the African Americans in the Texas population are 11. 5% while at the national level, the figure is 12. 3%), however, there are more Hispanics in the state of Texas in comparison with the national average (that is, 32% vs. 12. 5%). Nearly 40% of the children in the various public schools in Texas are of Hispanic descent, with the White children and the African Americans accounting for a further 43% and 14% respectively. Target Population Accroding to the research findigns undertaken by the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) between 2007 and 2008, 17 percent of children along with adolescents who were of the ages between 2 and 19 years were categorized as being obese. Further, the study revealed that obesity prevalence among this target group was also seen to rise between 1976 and 1980. Again, a similar trend was observed between 1999 and 2000 (CDC 2010). On the other hand, a survey undertaken among high school students in Texas indicated that nearly a third of them (28. 7 %) were either bese, or overweight ((Burns, Nyberg & Parker, 2007). In addition, the January 2009 state demographer of Texas indicates that by 2040, there shall be 15 million obese individuals in the state if at all no preventive measures are undertaken. This represents a threefold increase of the current population of obese individuals. Barclay (2010) contends that in 2007, the national prevalence rate of obesity among children in the US stood at 16. 4 %. What this appears to suggest is that the prevalence of obesity among children in the state of Texas is nearly double the national figure. Accordingly, a child in Texas is more likely to be obese that the average child in the United States. This could be attributed to the issue of race. For example, Texas has a higher percentage of African Americans and Hispanics than the national average. The two races have been shown to be more pre-disposed to obesity than any other race, and so the apparent variation in obesity rates in the state of Texas. The national infant mortality rate in the United States as of 2007 stood at 6. 3 deaths for every 1000 live births, according to statistics released by CDC (2007). On the other hand, in the same year, the infant mortality rates in the state of Texas stood at 6. 2 deaths for every 1000 live births (Texas Department of Health Services, 2007). There is the need for adopting sustainable intervention measures in as far as the issue of child obesity in the state of Texas at the community level if at all the prevalence rates of this epidemic are to reduce. One such intervention is the FFV (Fresh Fruit and Vegetable) Program. The aim of the FFVP is to ensure that school-age children have access to free vegetables and fruits all day long, while at school. The target group is therefore children of school-going age. They are normally encouraged to adopt healthy eating habits. In addition, the schools that takes part in the project avails a controlled setting in which the manipulation of the environment is possible. At the national level, the FFVP program is usually administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA. On the other hand, the Department of Agriculture in Texas is charged with the responsibility of administering this program at the state level (Jeffers, 2003). In Texas, the program administrator of the FFVP is responsible for managing and overseeing this program. The determination of the success of the FFVP program would be a reduction in plate waste amounts and increase in the consumption of vegetables and fruits. Intervention As a community-based response to the issue, including community-based planning, needs assessments, and selection of locally identified objectives, the community considered created a Get Out and Race in Racing campaign in order to increase physical activity in the community and respond the issue of obesity. There are economic factors and funding intervention strategies to address these issues. Each year the state spends in excess of $337 million on obesity-directly related diseases and conditions (Nevada State Health Division Bureau for Community Health, 2006). Campaigns will help the community members become aware of these costs and how these funds could be better used to promote health. Statewide partnerships with community and business members will be formed to seek ways to increase funds needed for the program. Funding interventions will include community, business, and school-held events to raise capital to include moneys and volunteers to assist with the program development and implementation, and ongoing evaluation. Schools will send home flyers asking for parent participation and contributions. Students will become involved in all efforts to raise conscious awareness of the problem, proposed solution, and needs for funding. Social marketing will have an important role in promoting public health related to the chosen issue of obesity. Social marketing will be needed to ensure parent and community awareness of the problems and proposed solutions. To assist with marketing agendas, meetings with parents and teachers will be held at the schools to ensure that parents are provided with information about health, obesity prevention, and physical exercise. These meetings will take place regularly to market the program while providing information. Efforts are designed to facilitate economic support as well as a commitment to adhering to the program (Elsawy & Higgins, 2010). At the institutional levels also, the school heads are called upon to ensure that they incorporate physical exercise in the school’s curricula as another strategy to facilitate in the reduction of obesity among children. In addition, churches and community centers in Texas could also be involved in the fight against obesity by way of forming educational programs aimed at creating awareness on the incidence, prevalence, and dangers of this epidemic, with the children and their parents as the target group. Lepard (2010) has underscored the need to make use of video games in school and at community centers with a view to helping reduce childhood obesity in the state of Texas. In addition, such educational programs also require incorporating behavioral change, such as exercise and the adoption of healthy eating habits (Cole et al, 2000). For purposes of sustainability of such programs as the FFVP, there is the need to ensure that a reliable source of funding has been identified. In this case, the USDA and the CDC are good examples of government agencies that are in support of such programs. Conclusion Obesity in Texas and United States is an important aspect of today’s health and it continues to rise. Awareness is being pushed through the state, local and national level to help fight this disease. Having the community, schools and family involved with ways to prevent and cure obesity can help fight the disease. Following the proper nutritional guide and exercise can have the start of a health life style.