Religious and Traditional Symbols in the Lottery - 1491 Words

Religious groups encourage and enforce conformity of their social norms and beliefs upon their members. Religious traditions are usually passed on from parent to child at an early age. In The Lottery, Shirley Jackson reveals the tradition of the lottery and how all of the villagers conform to the ritual of a human sacrifice. Growing up with an exceptionally religious father I can relate to way of thinking of the villagers that traditions are accepted without questioning. In The lottery, the children were stuffing their pockets with stones before all of the parents had arrived, Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and†¦show more content†¦The idea of being forced to conform to traditional and social norms of my fathers religion at a very young age without understanding why is portrayed in The lottery. Religious groups encourage and enforce conformity of their social norms and beliefs upon their members. Religious traditions are usually passed on from parent to child at an early age. In The Lottery, Shirley Jackson reveals the tradition of the lottery and how all of the villagers conform to the ritual of a human sacrifice. Growing up with an exceptionally religious father I can relate to way of thinking of the villagers that traditions are accepted without questioning. In The lottery, the children were stuffing their pockets with stones before all of the parents had arrived, Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones ( 529). This illustrates that the children were taught what to do in the event of the lottery and by being prepared it shows that they were keen to please their parents. My father had always pressured me to follow his religious beliefs and traditions. At first I was eager to attend his church sermons and Sunday school because it made me fell like I was pleasing my father and he would reward me with praise and ice creams on the drive home. But as I got older I started to realizeShow MoreRelated Religious and Traditional Symbols in the Lottery by Shirley Jackson753 Words   |  4 PagesReligious and Traditional Symbols in the Lottery Religious groups encourage and enforce conformity of their social norms and beliefs upon their members. Religious traditions are usually passed on from parent to child at an early age. In â€Å"The Lottery,† Shirley Jackson reveals the tradition of the lottery and how all of the villagers conform to the ritual of a human sacrifice. Growing up with an exceptionally religious father I can relate to way of thinking of the villagers that traditions areRead MoreThe Shock Value Of Jackson974 Words   |  4 PagesJackson in The Lottery is not only widely known, but it is widely felt. Her writing style effectively allows the reader to pass a judgment on themselves and the society in which they live. Also In The Lottery Jackson is making a comparison to human nature. It is prominent in all human civilizations to take a chance as a source of entertainment and in this chance taken in the lottery, something is both won and lost. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, is a short story about an a nnual lottery draw in a smallRead MoreThe Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas Analysis876 Words   |  4 PagesOmelas† by Ursula K. Le Guin and â€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson address the theme of religious and traditional symbolism.† The Lottery† demonstrates how something that seems so perfect on the outside isn’t all that great on the inside. Symbolism shows the reader that there is a deeper message within the diction. â€Å"The Lottery† addresses the theme more successfully than â€Å"The Ones Who Walked Away from the Omelas† with the greater use of religious and traditional symbolism. The symbolisms in â€Å"The OnesRead MoreHidden Symbols in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson1170 Words   |  5 Pagesshort story, â€Å"The Lottery†, Mrs. Hutchinson got picked for the lottery. The word â€Å"hutch† is another word for box, and she happened to have her life taken from her by a paper in a box. The odd, short story of â€Å"the Lottery† is a story that should be read by many people for any urge to find symbolic references or to just kick back and read an interesting story with a twist. The lottery seems like something you would love to win, but not in this twisted story! Winning this lottery is going to take yourRead MoreThe Lottery By Shirley Jackson868 Words   |  4 PagesThe Lottery by Shirley Jackson uses extensive symbols and metaphors. It is a short story which has been equally appreciated as well as rejected by audience. The main themes of this story are those of tradition and scapegoat. The story begins with the author informing the reader about the time the lottery is going to begin by using certain phrases like â€Å"tractors and taxes† (Jackson, 76). Furthermore, the writer narrates the dress of Mr. Summers to be a â€Å"clean white shirt and blue jeans† (Jackson 78)Read MoreIrony In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson1436 Words   |  6 Page sThe lottery was authored by a renowned and most celebrated literature icon among his peers during his time and beyond; one Shirley Jackson, and the text would be first published in 1948 the 26 of June (Jackson 110). The storyline is told following a literal trajectory of a cultural performance in a remote setting, known as the lottery. The author of this text describes a chain of themes in his work, and they include; tradition and customs, society and class, as well as family setups and hypocrisyRead MoreThe Lottery And The Rocking Horse Winner852 Words   |  4 Pagesfiguring out what is part of the missing puzzle. In The Lottery and The Rocking-Horse Winner, authors Shirley Jackson and D.H. Lawrence employ symbolism and allegory to demonstrate the underlining deeds of secrecy as well as allude to the fateful unknown in the characters’ lives. Authors Jackson and Lawrence use symbolism as a device to bring to light the cherished items that have a symbolic message for each individual. In The Lottery, the black box represented tradition for the townspeopleRead MoreOne of Americas Best and Most Controversial Short Stories, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson966 Words   |  4 Pagesover 2 hours the villagers gathered around the town’s square awaiting the results to the annual lottery. â€Å"The Lottery† was written by Shirley Jackson in 1948 and became one of America’s best and most controversial short stories. In â€Å"The Lottery† Shirley Jackson expressed her opinion on society’s resistance to change and how people uphold traditions passed down through generations. At first in â€Å"The Lottery† the author makes it seem like this annual event is a very positive event in the village. TheRead MoreBiblical Allusions in Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery1444 Words   |  6 Pagesstrongly expressed through Jackson’s literature within â€Å"The Lottery†, one must grasp that Jackson writes of the citizens within the town lacking unconditionally rich information that supports the reasoning behind the event of the lottery. Although most of the citizens within the town strongly believe that the lottery is just another assembly that they do every year, nowhere near close to the real answer, there were mixed thoughts as what the lottery was remembered for, all not fully capturing the plentifulRead MoreThe Unexpected Surprise of Violence1009 Words   |  5 Pagescommunities at ease. Shirley Jackson develops her theme of unexpected violence in her short story â€Å"The Lottery† through the use of irony, symbolism, and denoue ment. On a summer day in a small town in the short story, â€Å"The Lottery†, Jackson takes advantage of the peaceful environment and adds a convoluted twist through a misleading title and Old Man Warner and his traditions. The title, â€Å"The Lottery†, is viewed as a fortunate phenomenon at first, but once the reader apprehends the story line their

Personal Statement On Bad Behavior - 1677 Words

Within our American society, many people believe that visiting the doctor is important to confirm that your body is healthy and functioning the way it should be. Many people have doctor’s visits for regular check ups even without any sign of a health issue. For counseling on the other hand, it is seen as a support system for people who are having â€Å"unhealthy† mental issues. Since a doctor is seen just to be sure that your body is working well, shouldn’t it be the same for your brain too? In many cases, bad behavior in children and adults has to do with how your life is affecting your emotions. Although it may seem like you should only consider counseling when you feel like you need emotional support, sometimes you need the emotional support without any awareness. Just like when people go to the doctor not knowing that they have a serious problem that they are soon to discover, one can visit a counselor and have the same result. Not only do people need to find mental support as vital as visiting the doctor, but they also need to know that you should never be embarrassed to receive psychological help; it has been proven to change the strength of mental health and has also shown positive changes in behavioral aspects. Being someone who once believed that counseling was a pointless resource that should never be used, it is understandable to consider where disbelievers are coming from. After experiencing a situation in which you see a positive change in another or yourself due toShow MoreRelatedThe Energy Cooperative Case1483 Words   |  6 Pagessomething, rather an individual pursues that action does not depend on the consequences but rather if it fulfills our mission or personal fulfilment. In Energy Cooperative case one of the directors is asking for approval to use the non-profit organization name and there title when making calls to personal potential clients. Kant theory’s states â€Å"that a person is good or bad depending on the motivation of their action and not on the goodness of the consequences of those actions† ( ). The director thatRead MoreHuman Nature, Unethical Behavior, Ethical Behavior And Work934 Words   |  4 Pagesor bad† (Collins, 2012). While some would argue the greatest achievement in longevity is a strong bottom line, others state by forging a strong correlation between ethical behavior and work habits, employees are less likely to participate in workplace misconduct. This essay identifies the direct correlation with longevity and an ethical work force. So does ethical behavior matter in the work place? There are six items in chapter one and four of Business Ethics that identify ethical behavior andRead MoreMy Assessment On Business Ethics Online Discussion On Board1504 Words   |  7 Pagesloop hole between employs and originations and how personality affect in work place. I have some personal experience on work place and right down it .For my thinking is every Company or origination have monitoring system to keep looking what s going on inside the work place and how to manage it. my assessment based on three topics ,behavioral ethics, bounded ethicality, conflict of interest Ethics behavior means a person have honesty fairness and equity. Diversity and rights of individuals and groupsRead MoreAn Introduction Of Ethical Theories859 Words   |  4 Pagesare driven by both reaction and instinct. Not taking responsibility for your own behavior or actions is an example of impulsive behavior. In some instances an individual will deny any involvement in the situation, activity, or ev ent; in others, the individual suggests that someone else is responsible. This type if behavior can be categorized as both impulsive and deliberate. From the impulsive act this type of behavior occurs on the spur of the moment. When an individual performs some action thatRead MoreThe Need For Total Elimination Is Unjustified1122 Words   |  5 Pagesfolk psychology with materialistic sciences to replace it in â€Å"Eliminative Materialism and The Propositional Attitudes,† on grounds that folk psychology is a theory that is primarily flawed due to a severe lack of explanatory power. Additionally has a bad historical trend of retreat and lack of progress, and does not fit well with prominent physical sciences. I will explain his argument in this paper, evaluate it for its importance and show that his conclusion of the need for total elimination is unjustifiableRead MoreDescriptive vs Normative Statements1298 Words   |  6 PagesTo explain the distinction between Descriptive and Normative Statements one first has to understand the difference between Descriptive and Normative Ethics. Descriptive ethics primarily describes people’s moral beliefs, claims and behaviors. This form of ethics is studied primarily by psychologist, sociologist and anthropologist. With Normative ethics we deal with the attempt to discover what actions are in fact right or wrong, good or bad and what it takes to be a moral or immoral person. This areaRead MoreEthics and Decision Making1334 Words   |  6 Pagesthe boundaries of general accepted behavior. These rules are often expressed in statements about how people should behave, and they fit together to form the MORAL CODE by which a society lives. - The term MORALITY refers to a social conventions about right and wrong that are so widely shared that they become the basis for an established consensus. DEFINITION OF ETHICS: ETHICS – is a set of beliefs about right and wrong behavior within a society. Ethical behavior conforms to generally accepted norms-manyRead MoreWhole Foods Essay990 Words   |  4 Pagesonline comments about Wild Oats reveal about his attitudes. The Affect of Mackey’s attitude can be seen in his statement to Perry Odak, the owner of Wild Oats, stating that â€Å"I’m going to destroy you†. The Affects can also be seen in Rahodeb’s online posted when he stated that â€Å"[Wild Oats management] clearly doesn’t know what it is doing. It has to future and no value. The verbal statement about Mackey’s feelings can also be a physiological indicator because his blood pressure and heart rate wouldRead MoreList The Three Prescriptions That Serve As The Foundation For Development Of Relationship Strategy1183 Words   |  5 Pagesserve as the foundation for development of relationship strategy. Values Clarity Support 2. How important are establishing, building, and maintaining relationships in the selling process? List the four groups of people with whom sales personal must be able to work effectively. In a consultative sale, building a relationship is important to create identification with one on one communication with the customer to keep the customer feeling confident and safe with the salesperson. A satisfiedRead MoreThe Main Components Of Financial Statements And The Processes Used By A Large Company1488 Words   |  6 Pagesmain components of financial Statements and the processes used by a large company to complete its financial statements. Financial statements play a vital role in revealing the financial position of an organization so it is made sure that they are presented in an appropriate and understandable manner. They provide business stakeholders both inside and outside a clear picture of the current financial standing of the business enterprise. Preparing these financial statements in not an easy task and requires

Patient Safety Free Essays

string(79) " a corporatized government hospital, still waiting for complete privatization\." â€Å"There is a huge missed opportunity for health care professionals to contribute to hand hygiene as they miss 1 in 2 of all hand cleaning opportunities. † –WHO, 2006 â€Å"What kills women with childbed fever is you doctors who carry deadly microbes from sick women to healthy ones! †Ã¢â‚¬â€Louis Pasteur, 1870 1 . 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Patient Safety or any similar topic only for you Order Now Background of the Study 1. 1. 1. Nosocomial infection burden Nosocomial infections or healthcare acquired infections can truly be a grave toll for hospital management as much as it is for end-beneficiaries, customers, and stakeholders. Mortality reaches 80,000 annually ; 3 patients die per minute ; 10-20% % incidence globally, and figures are expectedly higher in Third World settings. This is not to mention the corollary problem of emerging microorganisms resistant to overuse of prophylactic and anticipatory shotgun antibiotic therapy as empirical solution. The damage wrought is paramount, reaching a cost of one billion pounds per year in Europe alone, resulting from these. 1 excluding priceless, needless mortalities and morbidities 1 1. 1. 2. Role of Hand Hygiene Institute of Medicine has identified nosocomial Infection to be the most common complication for hospital patients and hands are the most common mode of transmission. In 1991, Harvard Practice Study on adverse events in health care indicated that surgical site infections were the second most frequent type of adverse event for inpatients, constituting 13%. One study established an excess mortality caused by NI to as high as 44% in ICU patients. 2 In a local study at Makati Medical Center by Tupasi Littaua, mortality rate was reported to be all NI cases documented 4. 6 % of n the intensive care unit , and authors conclude that risk factors included invasive and manipulative procedures. â€Å"Majority of deaths from NI were associated with the use of respiratory equipment and Foley catheters which were potentially preventable by strict adherence to aseptic techniques†. 3 1. 1. 3 Reality of Poor Compliance Despite it being a seemingly simple practice, and des pite the acknowledged fact that proper hand hygiene is considered the most critical, the most cost-effective measure of adequate infection program, compliance behavior management has been a protracted managerial headache globally. Indeed in our age of ever increasing sophistication, those seemingly simple practices but with grave implications ironically are difficult to address. While the techniques involved in hand hygiene are simple, the complex interdependence of factors that determine hand hygiene behavior makes the study and management of hand hygiene complex. 2 1. 1. 4. Hand Hygiene Compliance : A Managerial Challenge It is now recognized that improving compliance with hand hygiene recommendations depends on altering human behavior and managing the environment. Input from behavioral and social sciences is essential when designing studies to investigate compliance. Interventions to increase compliance with hand hygiene practices must be appropriate for different cultural and social need4 Speaking for all levels of health care workers , probably the major reason this seemingly simple problem is always taken for granted is the reality that the impact of something not so visible daily to the naked eye will always be swept under the rug amidst more outright demands concerns in patient care. The rest of the justifications like forgetfulness, lack of time, inconvenience, complications, etc. are simply alibis. Given this, the greater burden falls on health care managers to do something so that compliance can be improved, and for health sector in general to come up with more evidence-based materials to convince HCW as well as policy-makers and managers about its importance. 1. 1. 5 Nosocomial Infection Patient Safety Nosocomial infection control is a large part of patient safety, whose importance is currently being highlighted in the light of increasing adverse events which are at most preventable. Prior to this study, the researcher delved into assessing the patient safety culture profile of QMMC, as a general backgrounder, and as part of re-packaging a new approach to an old problem. 3 1. 2. Statement of the Problem Understanding the patient safety culture profile of Quirino Memorial Medical Center gives us the over-all conceptual perspective to the problem at hand. The researcher finds it convenient to discuss it in terms of the Donabedian theme. 1. 2. 1. The Macroenvironment’s Patient Safety Profile 1. 2. 1. 1. The QMMC Patient Safety Structure In alignment with the recent health care thrust, QMMC has revised in 2008 its mission to being â€Å" a tertiary hospital providing a safe, accessible, affordable quality specialized healthcare that is dynamically responsive to the needs of its patients. † Its unwavering commitment is towards delivering health care to all its clients regardless of socio-economic status and to continuously upgrade the services offered in terms of technical expertise, support service, equipment and infrastructure. Patient safety is first and foremost in its goals. Its core values include cleanliness in all aspects including the physical environ, and Its fourth priority is â€Å" to develop and sustain a hospital environment that embraces and practices a culture of safety†. The 7 core values it internalizes include the 7Cs: clean physically, mentally, spiritually, Christ-centered, compassionate, competent, culture-friendly, community-oriented, communicative. At this time, the plus factor is having a medical director who is passionate about the cause, much involved in regular meetings with Department of Health advocates on the matter. â€Å"In QMMC, Dr. Rosalinda Arandia is seen as a charismatic figure in the improvement of health and medical 4 services offered by the hospital and in making recommendations on and implementing the hospital’s quality improvement program. † 5 QMMC is a 350-bed national government hospital that stands in a 42,000-sqm lot between Katipunan Avenue and JP Rizal St, Project 4 Quezon City, Metro Manila. It has in recent years undergone a major upgrading and expansion of its buildings and facilities. Compared to the old infrastructure, the new building and facilities, provide a more sophisticated ambience. Better equipment and architectural upgrading seem to inspire and motivate employees, and the architectural design seems to promote greater staff interaction and communication. Its occupancy rate is 120%. . QMMC is a corporatized government hospital, still waiting for complete privatization. You read "Patient Safety" in category "Papers" When faced with budgetary constraints and too bureaucratic processes they generate their own resources through private solicitations, the biggest of which are donations and affiliation fees from training institutions. As to equipment supplies due to its being a government hospital, only about 60% of its equipment and supplies are provided for and is functioning at any given time. Maintenance and regular checks are being done and complied with as required. It has a total of 564 employees, 35% of whom are contractual. Among the permanent about half have worked for more than 10 years. Among the 549 employees, 159 are doctors (consultants, residents, interns) , 180 are nurses and 225 are administrative personnel. This number does not include those who are fielded from affiliate institutions for training, such as clinical clerks and allied 5 rofessions (nursing, pulmonary therapy, radiologic therapy, medical technology, dental, dietary, midwifery and caregiving). For the consultants and doctors, ratio to patient load is quite acceptable. There are 69 resident physicians and 55 interns. In the wards, roughly the ratio is 1:5 per day; however in the out-patient department, the staff ratio is much higher 1:25 . In the intensive care unit, ratio can be improved to as good as 1:2 depending on the number of rotators from affiliate hospitals , for all professional groups. Attitudes of staff are an important aspects of culture. In QMMC, initial preliminary interviews ith staff revealed that there is some awareness of the concept of patient safety, in all levels of care and even administrative strata. Incident reporting is very minimal such as it is generally perceived that underreporting is rampant. 1. 2. 1. 2 The QMMC Patient Safety Process Profile Teamwork in respective clinical areas is perceived to be good by key administrators, although with the high rate of staff turnover due to training hospital affiliations, this is affected more often than not in a negative fashion. In terms of feedback and communication, there is n o systematic evaluation of staff performance . QMMC has been active in the Patient Safety Task Force of the Department of Health. Underway are devising standardized hospital forms, such as interdepartmental referral forms to enhance communication and lower risks of errors being committed in patient care. 6 In lieu of risk reduction, hand hygiene educational program has been recently revived by the Infectious Disease Team headed by Dr. James Tiu. Educational trainings as well as policy reinforcement are being conducted as the need arises among nursing staff. 1. 2. 1. 3. The QMMC Patient Safety Outcome Profile At the time of study, there were no baseline data available as indicators such as compliance rates, nosocomial infection rates, or patient satisfaction surveys. There are no performance indicators that can be used as feedbacks to improve standards of care. This is a work in progress and hopefull this study becomes a tiny contribution. 1. 2. 2. QMMC’s UncontrolledNosocomial Infection Problem Analyzing the above profile of QMMC, and amidst the track record of physical and service upgrading efforts, the main problem of the hospital regarding patient safety is still nosocomial infection control. Evidences of uncontrolled nosocomial infection are certain occurrences pointing to infection control problems in QMMC in the past 12 months have caused alarm, as follows: (a) Post-surgical wound dehiscence Anecdotal incidents of nosocomial infection getting out of control have been almost part of everyday work in a public hospital like QMMC. However, a situation that occurred last AugustOctober 2008 was particularly notable, wherein dehiscence occurred in a succession of ten postsurgical patients in two wards including the surgical ICU, during Day 5 to Day 11 of their hospital stay. Culture studies revealed the usual notorious nosocomial Proteus microorganisms, E. coli, and 7 Staphylococcus areus , responsive to very expensive intravenous third generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides, with or without re-suturing of the wounds (Appendix 1) . 6 Aside from the cost of these medications, the prolonged hospital stay with all its accompanying indirect costs to both patient and hospital were staggering. (b) Perennially high incidence of ICU pneumonias and urinary tract infections Based on the latest QMMC Morbidity and Mortality Audit 2008, 7 among ICU patients hooked to ventilators for protracted duration, nosocomial pneumonias are still the leading cause of death. 1. 2. 3. Need for upgrading quality of hand hygiene practice During one root cause analysis done by the management, the Infectious Disease Committee, and the department concerned with the last year’s outbreak of dehiscence, the senior management surmised that the root problem or one of the root problems could be failure for proper andwashing among health staff. The intervention consisted of culture and sensitivity tests followed by proper antibiotic coverage. Policy on handwashing was also tightened up in terms of posting reminders on doors and walls and subsequent refresher educational modules by the Infectious Disease Head were conducted among nursing staff. However, no actual monitoring or evaluation of hand hygiene practices were done . Despite educational training interventions, and despite the presence institutional policies posted on walls and doors, compliance to the practice among QMMC hospital staff has persisted to be unsatisfactory. 8 1. 3. Objectives of the Study GENERAL OBJECTIVE This study aimed to demonstrate the impact of a hand hygiene intervention package to QMMC MICU and SICU, using comparison of intervention. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES In more detail, this study aimed to : (a) Characterize the current hand hygiene practices in QMMC ICU according to its using structure-process-outcome dimensions; (b) Craft and implement an intervention package addressing manipulable areas of the structure issues identified in the structure-process-outcome dimensions of hand hygiene practices; (c) Measure hand hygiene structure-process-outcome variables as a function of healthcare worker factors and work area factors , pre- and post-intervention, as a way to evaluate impact of above intervention. d) Formulate recommendations to the QMMC management and its stakeholders based on the findings and lessons learned. structure-process-outcome variables pre- and post- 9 1. 4. Significance of the Study The study is valuable in the following general areas of health concern: (a) Infection Control. The study’s advocacy counts very significantly in terms of contributing towards decreasing the grave toll on preventable m orbidity and mortality burden on patients and their families. As we see more systematically the outcome of our efforts towards hand hygiene as it impacts infection control, we learn to rely less on antibiotic use which also lead to emergence of resistant microorganisms that are and will be potentially harder to control eventually. This study will then be part of fulfilling what WHO advocates to be done , i. e. â€Å"for better monitoring of outcomes for hand hygiene studies, reduction of infection rates must be demonstrated, high complexity to evaluate, but high priority requirement. 8 (b) Preventive thrust. Hospitals’ mission is supposedly preventive as much as curative. However, review of literature shows that hospitals, even in the First World settings, tend to so conveniently rely on antibiotic use both prophylactically and empirically in managing and controlling nosocomial infections. Hospital care need not be a double-edged sword nor do we need to stop mitigating phenomena which are in our hands to control, if only we heed the evi dence-based principles put forth. Prevention remains to be the better direction that health care must devote its resources on. (c) Cost savings. According to WHO, â€Å"direct costs of intervention and indirect costs associated with hand hygiene time its promotion corresponds to less than 1% of costs of managing nosocomial infection. Studies on the costs of nosocomial infection caused its toll in terms of protracted hospital stay, expensive drug and antibiotic acquisition in addition to intensive care 10 nit stay, hematological, biochemical, microbiological and radiological tests, extra surgical procedures and working hours. (d) Healthcare management learning. WHO asserts that â€Å"measurement of the compliance of health care workers to hand hygiene measures is a recommended performance indicator of the quality of care†. (e) Compliance behavior management has been a protracted universal problem, as lack of interventional studies to convince policy makers, esp. local, both government and private, predispose health care systems prevalent to sustain awareness and implementation. With the lack of attention given to the problem’s facets and determinants, this study can be a humble contribution. Relevance of this study to the institution and its various stakeholders include the following: (a) Study institution. Often, organizations take action based on some comparison of their measures to a set of benchmark measures. Armed with specific incidents about the organization’s culture, effective action plans flow logically and integrate into existing change processes. QMMC can better select programs and tailor-fit strategies that will be most beneficial to upgrade the attitudes and mindset of the employees, to design the working environment, and to align with its vision-mission pursuit of quality and safety , and better service to patients. It will be helped to see patient and hospital outcomes in a better light. It will eventually have a baseline which will be useful for tracking impact of certain interventions for a sense of comparison. As it uses internationally known research methods, it will provide 1 internal as well as external benchmarking, especially with national government hospitals, both international and local. (b) Leadership. Since QMMC under the present leadership is into the process of advocating patient safety as a goal, this study will help them examine alignments of their policies and systems with their vision-mission statements , goals and core values. Later on when like in international settings and patient safety will be a go vernment regulatory requirement, this hospital can provide benchmarking. (c) Hospital staff. This study provides the staff the much-needed feedback about themselves, the colleagues they work with, and the patients they serve. Feedback is the first step to change. Studies such as this are advantageous in themselves in that it just the simple process of assessment baseline will in itself raise awareness of not only patient safety, specifically, infection control, but of the need for structure (staff attitudes) as well as process variables (teamwork, communication) relevant to safety and other hospital performance. Moreover, they themselves can be target victims of nosocomial infection, so that studies like this could help boost their safety as well. (d) Affiliate training healthcare institutions. The importance of good hand hygiene practice and its observance will be highlighted among the trainees from more than 20 various health care schools, a value that they will most likely carry back to their respected institutions . This is rather crucial and innovative as patient safety, specifically preventive practices to 12 nosocomial control such as hand hygiene are not yet that well-emphasized in the traditional medical and para-medical curricula. (e) Hospital management trainees. The results of this study can be a benchmarking study to compare, study and upgrade other hospitals, both local and international. The study becomes a venue to validate some of the tools that will be used for the first time locally. Results of the study can be utilized by trainees for future research on patient safety and infection control and behavior modification techniques. (f) Healthcare community. This study will help control NI, emergence of resistant organisms for similar government hospitals. It provides significant research for Department of Health which is specific on approaching infection control through Total Quality Management assessment and strategies under their recent thrust on patient safety and quality assurance. Since QMMC could very well be a good prototype of the other government hospitals , the results of this study can largely be of help in implementing the various enabling mechanisms stated in the Philhealth Benchbook. 9 (g) Patients. Above all, since awareness, education , and practice towards patient safety, specifically infection control will be highlighted in this study, the end beneficiary would ultimately be the patients and their families and guests whom this institution is servicing, no matter how indirect and long-term this impact would be. 3 1. 5 . Scope and Limitations of the Study †¢ Being a primarily TQM research project, this study does not attempt to establish cause-and-effect relationship between hand hygiene and nosocomial infection . †¢ This study does not include cost estimates and budgetary implications of intervention if eventually adopted by study institution. †¢ Relative merits of the specific parts of the intervention is beyond the scope of the des ign. †¢ Time and budget constraints were real such that research design were limited in various ways and means. . 6. Definition of Terms and Acronyms TERMS: For purposes of clarity and reference in the discussions all throughout this study, the following definitions and acronyms would be used and referred to: Hand hygiene (HH)- refers to one of the areas in infection control that deals with systems of diminishing pathogenic microbe transmission through evidence-based philosophy and set of practices regarding the hands in relation to direct patient handling during the process of care. 0 14 Hand hygiene practice/practices (HHP) – refer/s to any form of action referable to disinfecting the hands prior to and after patient handling, in the most basic terms defined as â€Å"washing hands with soap/water or (rubbing with) disinfectant, for at least 15 seconds before and after patient contact, after any contact with a source of microorganism, and after removing gloves†. ( Heal thcare Infection Control Practice Advisory ). Hand hygiene event (HHE) – defined as the event involving any of the HH practices (washing, rubbing with disinfectant, donning with gloves) done before or after patient contact; (if both done before and after, they are considered independent events ; if both washing and donning with /removing gloves are done during one instance, it was counted as one event; this regardless of the correctness or adherence to other details as presently prescribed by currently available universal guidelines. 1 Hand hygiene opportunity (HH0) – defined as any event with a high-risk of microbial transmission, executed before and/or immediately after patient contact, regardless of whether gloves. They included all contact with body fluids, or involving manipulative contact with anything in the patient’s body or immediate environment . Over-all hand hygiene compliance – includes all hand hygiene-related behavior in accordance with current institutional , (in this study, QMMC’s ) policy â€Å" to wash hands before and after patient contact† regardless of its alignment with the most currently recommended international standards based on indication, technique, cleansing agent and duration ; this by strict classification based in literature definition, falls under â€Å"incomplete compliance†. 12 15 Complete compliance- refers to all hand hygiene-related practices aligned with the most-updated, most current evidence-based globally recommended guidelines, as required by WHO guidelines 2006 (with QMMC, being a government hospital). Hand hygiene structure-refers to staff factors and work area factors. Staff factors include inherent demographic characteristics, such as professional group, age, sex and duration of service. It also refers to more malleable factors such as staff attitude and training. Work area factors refer to existing policies or specific protocol, logistic infrastructure and supplies, staff volume, patient volume, hospital type, work settings, organizational structure, etc. Hand hygiene process- refers to practice as to how it is done in terms of indication for method, duration, temporal relation to patient contact, cleansing and technique, and how it abides to the currently recommended evidence-based a guideline or protocol . Hand hygiene outcome- refers to measurable events or indicators, for both patients, employees as well as organization; like overall healthcare worker compliance rates, as well as indirect outcomes of good hand hygiene proven in literature, such as nosocomial infection rates, transmission rates, colonization rates. ACRONYMS: For purposes of brevity of certain words and identities mentioned quite repeatedly all throughout the study, the following apply: 6 HCW- Healthcare worker; refers to any staff involved with direct handling of patients in a health facility NI- nosocomial infection; also HAI (healthcare acquired infection); refers to infection developing after 48 hours after admission or confinement in a health care facility. ABHR- alcohol-based hand rub-refers to a hand rub disinfectant with any alcohol of any concentration as the basic ingredient. How to cite Patient Safety, Papers

Blackstar by David Bowie free essay sample

A man who never seemed of this Earth. A gender bender. A game changer in the music industry. A mastermind of creativity. These all describe the incomparable David Bowie. For decades he bedazzled audiences with his unforgettable hits and numerous personas. Whether he was calling out to Major Tom or entering the room as his alter ego Ziggy Stardust, Bowie was born to entertain. In January, he sadly left our planet too soon, but he left us a parting gift: â€Å"Blackstar† is Bowie’s 25th and final album. It was released on his 69th birthday, just two days before his death. â€Å"Blackstar† contains a mere seven songs (two of which are remastered versions of previously released songs), but the passion that Bowie put into all of his musical endeavors is evident here. Our final journey inside the bizarre and imaginative mind of David Bowie begins with the titular â€Å"Blackstar.† This nearly 10-minute song tells the story of an untimely death (sound familiar?). We will write a custom essay sample on Blackstar by David Bowie or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In fact, it contains almost prophetic lyrics: â€Å"Something happened on the day he died/Spirit rose a metre and stepped aside/Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried ‘I’m a blackstar, I’m a blackstar.’† Bowie insists throughout the song that life is a cycle, even incorporating multiple transitions by starting in the genre of art rock and then transforming into bluesy jazztronica, and all coming together by the end. It is the perfect way to musically describe a life’s evolution. The next song, â€Å"’Tis Pity She Was a Whore,† is one of the two that have been remastered. The original was an explosion of loud cannons and an obnoxious ’80s-style score. Although war was the focus, it sounded like an old Super Mario video game. I could barely hear Bowie sing the chorus beneath the distractions. This new version still has some ’80s hidden in it, but it has more of an all-around rock sound. Banging drums and bla ring trumpets seem to cry as Bowie sings with a haunting yet angelic voice. This gives new purpose to the tale of betrayal by a woman in a time of tragedy. The next song, â€Å"Lazarus,† has a jazzy style but if carefully examined, it also gives listeners eerie hints that Bowie is dying. It’s as if he is writing his own obituary. He tells listeners about his career in a race against time. He is struggling to write his final work as disease overtakes him. The second remastered song is â€Å"Sue (Or in a Season of Crime).† The original was like an old mystery noir set in the middle of city life, which complimented the crime premise in the song. The newer version has more rock ’n’ roll but now sounds like a fast-paced action movie. Is that a problem? Not at all. It brings a stronger interpretation to the song’s meaning. It sharpens Bowie’s accusation that his lover betrayed him and intensifies his mission to get her back. A refreshing ta ste of Bowie returns with â€Å"Girl Loves Me.† The artist was well-known for his out-of-this-world artistic style, and this song is no exception. It’s a futuristic ecstasy filled with echoes and lyrics that can’t be put into a proper language. However, that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. In fact, it’s like the language in â€Å"A Clockwork Orange.† Like the iconic novel, â€Å"Girl Loves Me† is an entertaining, avant-garde masterpiece. It contains amorous feelings and enough energy for listeners to be moved. The crisp sound of crinkling dollars starts â€Å"Dollar Days.† The bluesy piano and saxophone make the listener imagine that Bowie is at an open mic in a coffee house. It’s a sad song in which Bowie contemplates his successes and regrets. The album’s journey concludes with â€Å"I Can’t Give Everything Away.† The song has an end-of-the-journey feel. The score is rock meets new age with a h int of harmonica. It’s like a trip down memory lane. Bowie is trying to say good-bye with lyrics such as â€Å"I know something is very wrong/The pulse returns for prodigal sons/The blackout’s hearts with flowered news/With skull designs upon my shoes.† He is very ill and death is calling, but he’s not willing to share it with the public yet. He is saying that whatever happens, happens. He needs privacy so he can have the peace that he deserves in his final days. â€Å"Blackstar† is the cherry on top of Bowie’s long and flavorful artistic journey. This album is a celebration of a beautiful life. Bowie considers what is to become of him while incorporating some old favorites along the way. I recommend â€Å"Blackstar† to longtime fans and music lovers in general. David Bowie is a legend who must never be forgotten. He inspired others not only to pursue music but to understand that it’s good to be different. He will surely be mis sed.

Environmental Biology Exam 2.1 Flashcard

Environmental Biology Exam 2.1

The land I love essays

The land I love essays Bruce Springsteen writes a majority of his songs about prolific times in the great American past, which most Americans have vowed to forget. He stresses the importance of the mindset we must have as Americans, throughout harsh and painful times we inevitably endure. Not many people find comfort in reminiscing about the many innocents killed in Vietnam or the souls destroyed by racial profiling in the race riots of the 1960s. In Born in the U.S.A, No Surrender, and My Hometown, Springsteen engages the listener in a patriotic mode, and makes us Americans, proud to be who we are. Vietnam was a War in America that many want to forget. It was a war plagued by unexplained deaths and fought by innocent and mentally unprepared civilians Got in a little hometown jam so they put a rifle in my hand, Sent me off to a foreign land to go kill the yellow man. Many suffered extreme losses Had a brother Khe Sahn fighting off the Viet Cong, Theyre still there hes all gone. Springsteen knew Americans needed a sense of patriotism when discussing times of negativity, such as Vietnam. Throughout Born in the U.S.A Springsteen reaches out to his listeners, because both he and us were Born in the U.S.A. Us Americans need to feel as if we are that ...cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A. in order to change our moods and focus on other aspects of life such as rock and roll, rather than War. In Springsteens No Surrender references are made to Vietnam War, yet Springsteen forces Americans once again, to feel patriotic. Tonight I can hear the neighborhood drummer sound, I can feel my heart begin to pound. Drum rolls are necessary in funerals of those who die serving our country. He recognizes Americans feel our situation in Vietnam is worthless, and recognizes many of the soldiers are indeed tired and scared, yet Springsteen lets them remember We made a promise we swore we...

Pharmacology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Pharmacology - Assignment Example Activated tyrosine kinase in turn activates the signalling pathways such as protein kinase C pathway, Scaffolding proteins, Ras/Raf mitogen – activated protein kinase pathway, and phosphoinositol 3’ – kinase/Akt pathway (Arora and Scholar, 2005). These activated pathways alter the DNA synthesis along with cell growth, differentiation, and others. Almost all the TKI have side effects. The common side effects of TKI are anaemia, neutropenia, oedema, thrombopenia, hypothyroidism, diarrhoea, and vomiting (Hartmann et al., 2009). At the same time, TKI molecules are now approved for clinical trials in human. TKI application for cancer treatment in dogs and cats was approved earlier, with TKI drugs such as Palladia (Toceranid), Gleevec (imatinid) and Kinavet (mastinib) (London, 2009). Before conducting the safety pharmacology tests, the regulatory guidelines for testing the undesirable pharmacodynamics effects on physiological functions should be focused. This is because, in the early phase pharmacology studies, all risk factors can be found out and eliminated. TKI are found to have adverse cardiovascular effects. So, when testing TKI in dogs and cats, telemetry has to be used for the continuous monitoring of systemic arterial pressure and chronotropic effects. The pharmacodynamic effects of TKI can be determined in the organs using tumor specimens. Surrogate marker can be used as an alternative approach. These tissues act as human models and TKI effect on these tissues reveals the potential effects of TKI molecules. (Kufe et al., 2003). These pharmacological screening methods enable the scientists to find out the adverse effects of TKI, and facilitate them to come up with ways on how the programme should be modified for human safety. The effect of the drug in or gan function, and importantly the relevance of its potential in humans

Leading Figures in American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Leading Figures in American History - Essay Example Benjamin Rush - Monticello, Sep. 23, 1800) perfectly reveal his visionary ideas. He believed in an ever changing society, in the power of every new generation to make better laws, better constitutions, he believed in a form of progress which can only become possible if the man has the freedom of thinking and expressing ideas. If he came to our century he would realize that he had given America an identity and drafted the individuality of this nation. The Declaration has been the foundation on which his descendents continue to build the dream. Benjamin Franklin was acknowledged by many writers as a "versatile genius "as he had notable achievements in many areas. He was prolific not only in writing, but also in science, as he invented The Franklin stove, bifocals, a flexible catheter and the lightning rod. As a statesman and politician he is known as the only person who signed three major documents in the American history: the Declaration of Independence, the peace treaty with Britain, and the Constitution. He would proudly read his ideas and principles in today's Constitution, the most important book in the American legislation, to the writing of which he actively participated almost 250 years ago. Frederick Douglass, another remarkable figure in the American history, once said: "What was possible for me is possible for you. Do not think because you are colored you cannot accomplish anythingSo long as you remain in ignorance, so long will you fail to command the respect of your fellow men." He was a freethinker who really believed in the power of knowledge and fought for equal rights among all people, becoming a leader in the abolitionist movement and the first black citizen who hold a high rank in the American government. The present would offer him his envisioned perspective of this nation, where the Afro-Americans have equal rights, and unlimited, in any form, possibilities in the actual emancipated society.Abraham Lincoln had a difficult task to accomplish in leading the country through the Civil War. "With malice toward none, with charity for all" (Second Inaugural Address, Mar.4, 1865), he led his fight for the abolition of slavery. He spoke the words later, but they had been living in his dream long before they were expressed. Were he able to join us today, he would see a united nation, the greatest power in the world, who adopted his beliefs and struggles to act accordingly, by giving fair opportunities to all his people. Elizabeth Cady Stanton dedicated her life to the constant fight for women's rights especially for the right to vote. Gifted with a brilliant mind she had to suffer because she was born in a time when women had no right to receive proper education and had no political power. She struggled to put an end to this unjust situation, but unfortunately she died before her dream came true. Nevertheless, it did come true, 20 years after her death, and nowadays, America has a new, moral and ethical face to show to this brave freethinker. Her fight was not in vain, the American women won their right to express themselves not only in politics but in all other existing areas. These were the promoters of the freedom of thinking, they put the basis of a country where racial, sexual and religious discriminations no longer exist. Devoted to their dream, they would see it come true if the time machine drove them to the present, because

Neighbourhoods and Community Comparative Studies Essay

Neighbourhoods and Community Comparative Studies - Essay Example This article authored by DeFillipis and his colleagues handles a critical aspect of reconsidering the significance of the community in the contemporary setting. Evidently, this article serves to place emphasis on the attention the community has received from different scholars. This article undertakes an in-depth analysis of the relevance of the community in the contemporary setting where many nations in the globe have adopted the neoliberalism ideology. Neoliberalism has contributed immensely new roles of the state, and altered the hierarchy of public service provision (DeFillipis, Fischer, and Schrage 2006, p. 686). This has served to introduce a critical significance of the concerted efforts of communities and collaborations with the private sector. Evidently, the globe is moving towards a restructured market and economic policies as the authors explain, factors that have altered the functions of community efforts. The authors place focus on the romanticized view of communitariani sm, as well as two types of sceptical and critical views highlighted by different theorists and scholars. After such analysis of the views exhibited by different scholars, the article reveals certain progressive promoters. This article authored by DeFillipis and his colleagues handles a critical aspect of reconsidering the significance of the community in the contemporary setting. Evidently, this article serves to place emphasis on the attention the community has received from different scholars. This article undertakes an in-depth analysis of the relevance of the community in the contemporary setting where many nations in the globe have adopted the neoliberalism ideology. Neoliberalism has contributed immensely new roles of the state, and altered the hierarchy of public service provision. This has served to introduce a critical significance of the concerted efforts of communities

Anthropogenic Factors Leading To Climate Change Environmental Sciences Essay

Anthropogenic Factors Leading To Climate Change Environmental Sciences Essay There is great uncertainty surrounding the science of global warming and climate change. The Earths history is full of abrupt climate changes [1]. The Intergovernmental panel on climate change at the Kyoto protocol determined in 2007 that most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations [2]. Furthermore, based on the assumption that significant anthropogenic warming has taken place over the past 50 years over each continent except Antartica, it has been concluded that anthropogenic climate change is having a significant impact on physical and bilogical systems globally [3]. Climate change is occuring on all continents and in most oceans. Changes in the natural system since 1970 have been occuring where temperature increase has taken place. These changes cannot be explained by natural climate variations alone. This implies that climate change is primarily attributable to anthropogenic factors. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) conclude that the earth is warming and that humans are probably the cause. Technologies to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and strategies for carbon sequestraion have been found to be essential as species extinction has been found to be related to climate warming [4]. German Biologist Josef Reichholf contradicts the conclusions of the IPCC stating that there have been much faster climate changes in the past and that these did not automatically lead to a global extinction of species [5]. However the IPCC found that climate change is primarily based on anthropogenic factors but with the help of technologies, the effects could be minimized. This essay will focus on four aspects of anthropogenic factors believed to be contributing to climate change. These will explore factors such as burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. Some of the natural factors which may cause climate change will be described, such as the effects of volcanoes. Introduction: Climate change has become one of the major global issues of our times. The Earths climate is changing rapidly, due to a rise in the average temperature of the global which has a subsequent impact on a variety of geographical factors. These include rising sea levels, melting of polar ice caps, flooding of land, hotter days and colder nights, and heat waves. All these phenomena bear a threat to the Earth, its ecosystems and its inhabitants, most importantly the human race. Problems such as global food shortages, natural disasters and health risks are on the rise posing severe threat to millions of lives. The risk of floods, hurricanes and heavy rains leaves major chunks of population living in potential danger of becoming homeless at any time. Changing weathers render portions of land arid and foodless, creating food security threats. A growing population only aggravates the problem. The impact of climate change is thus extremely hazardous, and it becomes important to ide ntify the root of this problem. Climate change is a direct product of global warming. As heat from the sun reaches the Earth, some of it is absorbed by the surface and the atmosphere, and the rest is reflected back into space. However, due to global warming, more and more of this heat is being trapped into the Earths atmosphere, resulting in high temperatures. The Earths surface has warmed by more than 0.8 degree Celsius in the past century and almost by 0.6 degree Celsius in the 1970s-2000s [5]. Causes: The rise in temperature is attributable mainly to human activities which are termed anthropogenic factors. Global warming has increased over the years due to human activities of burning of fossil fuels which release harmful gases, deforestation and emission of chemicals. Other concerns are the use of gases such as Chlorofluorocarbons in refrigerators and aerosol sprays and the means of transport. Most of this damage has occurred after to the heavy industrialization over the past three centuries, from 1750 the time of industrial revolution. The impact was scientifically proven and presented by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) in a series of reports. In 2007, the IPCC published its last assessment on the subject in which it asserted that human factors have in fact contributed widely to the resultant climate change. It is very likely that human factors are responsible for sea level rise, changing wind patterns, risk of heat waves and droughts. In fact, had it not been for the anthropogenic factors, the solar waves and volcanoes would more likely have cooled the Earth rather than warming.[6] The IPCC incorporates into its findings the concept of radiative forcing, a term which empirically measures the impact of each factor on the climate change. Radiative forcing is defined as How the energy balance of the Earth-atmosphere system is influenced when factors that affect climate are altered. The word radiative arises because these factors change the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing infrared radiation within the Earths atmosphere. This radiative balance controls the Earths surface temperature. The term forcing is used to indicate that Earths radiative balance is being pushed away from its normal state.[7] Thus, if a factor has a positive forcing, it means that it is contributing to an increase in overall temperature. Typically, carbon dioxide has a forcing measure of more than 1.5 watts per square meter, which is the largest forcing caused over this period. GHGs:Greenhouses gases have increased by about 70% ever since 1750, bearing direct relation with the problem of global warming.[8] These include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide. The emission of carbon dioxide gas has contributed 80% to the heating up of the Earths atmosphere.[9] Carbon dioxide is produced due to the burning of fossil fuels, such as natural gas and coal. Humans burn fuel for cooking, for deforestation, for protection from the cold. The industrialization has led to the use of fossil fuel in industries, for running of machines, and in cars. In fact, the burning of fossil fuel contributes towards 80-85% of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Methane is another gas being emitted in the process which all have served to increase the greenhouse effect. Methane is produced from the cultivation of rice, from the burning of coal and from cattle, It has increased by 145% due to human activity. These gases increase the concentration of particles in the atmosphere, which prevents heat from the sun to reflect back into the space. As a result, most of the incoming radiation becomes trapped in the atmosphere, heating up the Earths surface. Deforestation: Deforestation is another issue created by the needs of fossil fuel, agricultural land, food and space. In most developing countries, the basic need for fuel is satisfied by forest wood. Hence, forests are being burnt down by rural families on a daily basis. In addition, as agricultural land becomes less and less for the needs of growing population, people extend their space by clearing up the forests. However, the land beneath forests tends to be unproductive and devoid of natural chemicals of fertile lands. It serves as source of food for a few years, after which it becomes unfertile and useless, its nutrients get depleted, and exposure to heavy winds leave it deserted. Forest removal results in various problems such as destruction of natural ecosystems, wildlife extinction and aggravation of floods and natural hazards [10]. Forest removal not only contributes to warming due to increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, but also, it decreases the evapotranspiration efficiency, and decrease roughness of earth surface. Both of these factors contribute to warming of the Earth. Climate change as a natural phenomenon: There is another school of thought which repudiates the claims made by IPCC regarding the climate change. According to this school, anthropogenic factors cannot be held responsible for the overall climate change, which is infect a natural phenomenon. Kininmonth in his book Climate Change: A Natural Hazard provides an alternative explanation for climate change by saying that the IPCC in its global warming model ignores the regional variation in Earths climate. Earth is a sphere, and radiation from sun is absorbed differently by different portions. The tropics absorb more incoming heat, whereas outgoing radiation is far greater than incoming radiation at the poles. Hence, the Earth is not heating up as a whole due to the effect of radiation. Moreover, circulations of the ocean current and atmosphere help distribute this energy through Earth, leaving tropics cooler as well. The excess heat in the tropics is also absorbed by the enormous ocean laye r of the tropical oceans which serve as an energy reservoir. Therefore, the resulting climate change is not caused by the anthropogenic factors, rather it is a natural variation which Earths atmosphere is prone to. Kininmonth has argued that it is a flaw in the computer models of research that has led us to blame human activities as the causal factor.[11] Similarly, it is also asserted that deforestation actually leads to both negative and postive radiative forcing. If forests are replaced by grassland, it has a cooling effect which counters the heating effect discussed earlier. Thus, deforestation may or may not be a negative concern.[12] It has also been a finding that volcanic eruptions may be a natural factor contributing to climate change. Research models developed at the Max Planck Institute of Technology showed that while volcanoes have a cooling effect on global troposphere, they may lead to a clear winter warming pattern of surface air temperature over Northern Hemisphere continents.[13] Implications and Solutions: Yet, despite the debate on the real cause of climate change, it is evident that the change is in fact occurring and the threats it poses are very real. They have strong implications, and the future may be very tumultuous for many regions of the Earth.These particularly leave developing countries vulnerable to the problems of agriculture and population growth [14]. In order to cope, it is necessary to adapt ourselves to the situation. This does not only require measures to prevent global warming, such as banning CFCs but also to become less vulnerable to its impacts by eliminating factors that aggravate the situations. Some of such measures proposed include improving agricultural management, development of efficient irrigation systems, access to sanitation and health facilities for everyone, and development of buffer systems against floods and rising sea levels. Preventive measures include development of greener technology, environment-friendly means of tra nsportation and technology for efficient utilization and redistribution of energy [15]. Conclusion: In order to mitigate and solve the problems of global warming, it is essential to identify the realistic measures that can be taken. Given the current state and rate of industrialization in our globe, it ibis very difficult to curb the production of greenhouse gases and the process of deforestation. Population growth is another factor which needs to be plugged into the overall equation of sustainable growth. In addition, and more importantly, we should identify exactly where the problem lies, and if in fact some other factor aside of anthropogenic factors is responsible for climate change. Further research needs to be carried out to understand the natural causes of climate change, as promoted by the second school of thought. References: [1] Carey, J. Shapiro, S. (2004) Global Warming Business Week http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_33/b3896001_mz001.htm. [2] Aldy, J.E. and Stabins, R.N. (2008) Climate Policy Architectures for the Post Kyoto World, 50, 7-17. [3] Rosenzweig et al (2008) Attributing physical and biological impacts to anthropogenic climate change, Nature 453, 353-357 http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v453/n7193/full/nature06937.html. [4] Thomas C. D. et al (2004) Extinction risk from climate change, Nature 427, 145-148 http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v427/n6970/abs/nature02121.html. [5] Stampf, O. and Traufetter, G. (2007) German Biologist: Global Warming Is Good ForUS. http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/may2007/090507germanbiologist.htm. [5] Campbell-Lendrum D. et al. (2007) Global Climate Change: Implication For International Public Health Policy. Bulletin of the World Health Organization (BLT) [6] Pachauri, R.K. and Reisinger, A. (2007) Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report: Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Geneva, Switzerland: IPCC, 104. [7] How do Human Activities Contribute to Climate Change and H ow do They Compare with Natural Influences? (2007) http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/climate/factsheets/howhuman.pdf [8] Meyer, M. D. (2010) Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change Assessment. Journal of the American Planning Association 76, 402-412. [9] Hamburg S. P. et al. (1997) Common Questions about Climate Change. United Nations Environment Program- World Metereological Organization. [10] Boyd D. The race to save   the worlds forests.http://www.fanweb.org/patrick-moore/dboyd.html [11] Kininmonth, William. (2004) Climate Change: A Natural Hazard. Multi-Science Publishing Co. Ltd. [12] Edouard, D. L.(2010) Climatic Impact of Global-Scale Deforestation: Radiative versus Nonradiative Processes. Journal of Climate 23, 97-112. [13] Wolfe J. Volcanoes and Climate Change. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Volcano/ [14] Mintzer, Irving M. (1993) Confronting climate change: risks, implications, and responses. Victoria, Australia: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge. [15] Hardy, J. T. (2003) Climate Change: Effects, Causes and Solutions. John Wiley Sons Ltd.

The Silver-tongued Rapist in Vladimir Nabokovs Lolita Essay -- Naboko

The Silver-tongued Rapist in Lolita    You can always count on a murderer for a fancy prose style. So says Humbert Humbert at the start of Lolita in his account to the "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury" (9). He refers to himself as a murderer (he is, after all, "guilty of killing Quilty"), not as a rapist, the far more serious offense Lolita levels at him. That I, and everyone else who reads the book, call Dolores Haze by the name "Lolita" demonstrates the efficacy of Humbert's fancy prose style - under the spell of his aesthetic mastery, we, the jury, must bend to his subjective vision through memory, and thus we see the twelve-year-old nymphet as Lolita, as she is in Humbert's arms. It is difficult to castigate Humbert when we see the world through his European eyes.    Humbert's main strength is his sense of humor. Nabokov is sure to throw Humbert's way all the American kitsch he can handle - mostly in the form of Charlotte Haze. His sly insults sail over her head, but Humbert wins our approval by making sure we understand them. Similarly, we admire him be...

Crimminal Detection Essay

â€Å"Criminal investigations, in the standard case, are oriented towards cracking unsolved crime, identifying perpetrators, launching prosecutions, proving guilt at trial and bringing offenders to justice† (Paul Roberts in Tim Newburn et al, 2007: 95). How are criminal detection and/or investigation moulded and shaped by political, social and/or cultural forces? Criminal detection and proceedings never exist or function independently, the system, as a whole is an inherently complex network of interacting parties, procedures and forces. The shaping of criminal detection by both social and political forces arguably has positive and negative implications for the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. The role and influence of information as knowledge or data shapes the investigation socially, there is a reliance on them to solve or reconstruct the crime in the most accurate way possible. The control of policy and legislation over the investigation both facilitates and constrains the pursuit of justice within the criminal justice system. The lack of research, transparency and understanding of investigative practices has resulted in a number of miscarriages of justice that evidently illustrate that politics has a substantial influence on the criminal detection and investigation process. Criminal detection and investigation is inevitably shaped by its social surroundings, as the nature of crime scene investigation has progressed and changed throughout history the external influences have also changed â€Å" criminal proceedings inevitably reflect their broader social environment â€Å" (Williams & Johnson, 2007). The reactive nature of criminal investigation calls for the collection of information in the form of data and knowledge. Knowledge is based around roles of individuals at the crime scene, potentially having beneficial and adverse effects on shaping the outcom e of the investigation. Police have the power to establish a crime scene under Parts 7 of Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities Act 2002 (NSW) however can failure to recognize and do just that. The recognition of a crime scene and the first respondents actions can shape the remainder of the investigation, failure to establish a crime scene can result in the loss of evidence and loss of potential witnesses â€Å"the sooner the recording of the scene begins, the more confident the crime scene examiner (and the investigator) can be in their perspectives and opinions regarding the event (Garrison 2003:73). Furthermore the effective control of a crime scene inregards to roles, coordination and order is shaped by the relationships and understandings between relevant parties. Not understanding the chain of command, policies and procedures can be problematic as each separate party acting as sole entities can result in a an inefficient crime scene and wasted resources. The reliance on expert opinion in today’s society is reflected in criminal detection, â€Å"evidence law requires opinions about forensic interpretation to be presented by a person with specialized knowledge based on training, study or experience that substantially or wholly supports the opinion.† (Gans and Urbas, 2002) However consequently there are issues of relevance, over extended expertise and disagreements or differing opinions on evidence presented. It is normal for reports to encourage the production of reconstruction account of the actions of suspects of crime without indicating how it was made possible, it is formulated general matter based on accumulation professional experts (Williams & Johnson, 2007). Problems with exerts is further extended by the relationship they may have with other parties such as police, pressure and anxiety on forensic scientist to make findings of certainty can result in the misinterpretation or intentional or unintentional obscuring of facts. â€Å"relevant body samples were obtained, their secure transportation to a laboratory, their analysis and the detection and recording of DNA profiles can all come under scrutiny in the court process.† (Gans and Urbas, 2002) The law under Police investigation and questioning powers – Part 9 of †¨Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 †¨(NSW) stipulates the way information can be gained from individuals however statutory safeguards such as the ‘right to remain silent’ and human nature (unclear memory or description) can result in false or fragmented information. The corroboration or falsification of knowledge obtained through interviews with suspects, witnesses, victims and experts is done through the collection of knowledge through data. Criminalistics and trace-centred forensics is motivated by â€Å" the desire to overcome the ambiguities and interpretative flexibility inherent in human perception† Burney and Pemberton (2013). Data is obtained through the collection of samples of blood, hair, finger prints etc. Data as a means of detection is grounded in Locard’s (1910) theory that if two or more items come into contact, there will be a transfer of material between the two. Development in technology has resulted in an  increased reliance on detection through forensic science measures such as DNA profiling and fingerprint analysis, with DNA featuring in Australian cases from 1989 to the present-day. (Freckelton & Selby 2002,) Forensic evidence and DNA matching from the scene can help to confirm suspicion if there is a posit ive match or insinuate innocence if the match is negative. As in a larger societal context there is an assumption that science deluges ‘ the truth’ in a criminal detection process this can have detrimental affects and has results in cases of miscarriages of justice â€Å"In Australia there have also been several prominent miscarriages of justice, including convictions based substantially on questionable scientific evidence (Carrington et al. 1991). DNA is not always relevant to cases and does not automatically correlate to guilt for example the presence of semen does not prelude rape, as the issue is based on consent. Criminal detection and investigation is shaped by the political landscape in which it exists. The polices, regulations and expectations set by the government and criminal justice system affect the manner is which the investigation is carried out there is a â€Å" background were biometric technologies have been eagerly embraced by the government, and where claims have been made about their efficiency and authorit y† (Williams & Johnson, 2007). The law both constrains and facilities the pursuit for justice in regards to investigation. There is a need for police to find those responsible for criminal actions and protection of the public but also maintain a balance with individual liberties and human rights legislation. The manner in which policing is shaped by policy is evident in the investigative process of obtaining DNA. Police are bound by the Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Act 2000 (NSW), under which they are able to obtain DNA from individuals in various forms through both ‘intimate’ and ‘non-intimate’ procedures. Magistrates can ultimately overall individuals who do not consent to testing, resulting in intrusive procedures and breach’s of privacy all in the pursuit if justice. The political landscape further affects the investigation process through the procedures surrounding the presentation of DNA in courts. DNA evidence can and has been misinterpreted by the Jury and the Magistrate, for example R v Doheny and Adams [1997] 1 Cr App R 369. Prosecutor’s fallacy evidently depicts the issue power and influence of DNA in regards to sentencing and the need to reach a conviction â€Å"an error in relation to  probabilities that usually favors the prosecution. The forensic scientist could make the error in presenting DNA evidence by misrepresenting its probative value.† (Australian Law Reform Commission, 44.28) Polices in regard to presenting DNA need to reflect the complexity and interpretive nature of criminal forensics. Politics significantly shapes the criminal investigative process, evidently not always in a positive way. There is an understandable need to protect the community, however the issues in retrieving and presenting samples of DNA raise serious concerns of human rights issues and politics shaping criminal investigation in an undesirable way. The criminal justice system does not operate in a vacuum; it is influenced by its surroundings in both a political and social way. Evidently individuals participating in the criminal detection and investigative process are influenced by their professional relationships, roles and duties they have. The collection of data to reconstruct crimes presents issues with establishment, control and coordination of crimes scenes and how the effectiveness and efficiency is shaped by the interaction of relevant individuals. Technology’s influence and prominent position within society and everyday life unmistakably influences the criminal detection process. With a shift towards relying on new technologies such as DNA analysis and finger printing to provide the ‘truth’. Furthermore the political context in which the investigation and detection process exist plays a major role. External political pressure to prosecute affects the investigative process. Politics shapes the way in which police can carry out their job, they are both constrained and facilitated by the law. in the same context individual liberties and rights are subject to manipulation during the investigative process in the search for justice. Social and political forces influence the criminal investigation and detection process in a multifaceted and complicated way, which changes as the external environment changes. Bibliography Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC), Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Essentially Yours: The Protection of Human Genetic Information in Australia (ALRC Report 96), Part 44.28 May 2003 Burney, I and Pemberton, N ‘Making space for criminalistics: Hans Gross and fin-de- siecle CSI’, Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 44: 16-25. 2013 Carrington, K., Dever, M., Hogg, R., Bargen, J. & Lohrey, A. (eds) , Travesty: Miscarriages of Justice, Academics For Justice, Kensington, New South Wales. 1991 Gans, J and Urbas, G ‘†DNA Identitifcation in the Crimminal Justice System No.226 Trends and Issues in the Criminal Justice System † Australian Institute of Criminology, May, 2002 http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/A/8/7/%7BA8774CDA-3A9A-4445-9D88-583757A48003%7Dti226.pdf Garrison D ‘Crime Scene Investigation as a Patrol Function’, Law & Order 51(11), 70–3, 2003 Freckleton, I. & Selby, H. (eds.) , Expert Evidence (looseleaf), Lawbook Co., Sydney. 2002 Locard’s (1910) University of Lyons, France, developed what is known as the Locard Exchange Principle in 1910 Williams, R and Johnson, P (2007) â€Å"Trace biometrics and criminal investigations† in Tim Newburn, Tom Williamson & Alan Wright (eds) (2007) H andbook of Criminal Investigation, Willan Publishing, UK, pp 357-380.

oppertunities and challenges of the internet essays

oppertunities and challenges of the internet essays Opportunities and Challenges of the Internet In a world of light-speed data transmission, any individual with little training and expertise can make a fortune from the Internet. Many companies, like E-bay or Amazon.com, thrive from business done only through Internet transactions. As computer technology progresses, data transmission becomes faster, and as high level encryption becomes available for public use, the amount of Internet consumers also grows. Technology advances also allow employees to work from home faster and safer. A manager's first challenge is to create a presence on the web. With a phone line, computer, and HyperText Markup Language (HTML) authoring tools, a business can advertise or do business over the Internet. HTML authoring tools can be freeware, like Sausage Software's Hot Dog, or advanced and expensive utilities like Microsoft Front Page. Any computer user familiar with a word processor can effectively use these applications with minimal training. Putting the HTML and graphic files on an Internet service provider's (ISP) servers is sufficient for relatively low traffic sites. Some online businesses, like Amazon.com, handle hundreds of thousands of people, or hits, everyday. They require specialized hardware and cabling to control the vast amount of traffic on there site per day. A manager's second challenge is to make the business's web site visible on the Internet. The first step in this process would be registering a domain name. Every computer connected to the Internet has a unique number attached to it called an IP address. To simplify finding specific computers on the 'Net, the numbers where substituted with alias called domain names. The names come in two levels, before and after the "dot". Fees are generally a $70 startup cost then $35 per year to hold the license of the name. Network Solutions Inc. is the official registrar of domain names. Individuals in the past have regist...

Tone (In Writing) Definition and Examples

Tone (In Writing) Definition and Examples In composition, tone is the expression of a writers attitude toward subject, audience, and self. Tone is primarily conveyed in writing through diction, point of view, syntax, and level of formality. In  Writing: A Manual for the Digital Age (2012),  Blakesley and Hoogeveen make a simple distinction between style and tone: Style refers to the overall flavor and texture created by the writers word choices and sentence structures. Tone is an attitude toward the events of the story- humorous, ironic, cynical, and so on. In practice, theres a close connection between style and tone. EtymologyFrom the Latin, string, a stretching Tone and Persona If persona is the complex personality implicit in the writing, tone is a web of feelings stretched throughout an essay, feelings from which our sense of the persona emerges. Tone has three main strands: the writers attitude toward subject, reader, and self. Each of these determinants of tone is important, and each has many variations. Writers may be angry about a subject or amused by it or discuss it dispassionately. They may treat readers as intellectual inferiors to be lectured (usually a poor tactic) or as friends with whom they are talking. Themselves they may regard very seriously or with an ironic or an amused detachment (to suggest only three of numerous possibilities). Given all these variables, the possibilities of tone are almost endless. Tone, like persona, is unavoidable. You imply it in the words you select and in how you arrange them. (Thomas S. Kane, The New Oxford Guide to Writing. Oxford University Press, 1988) Tone and Diction The main factor in tone is diction, the words that the writer chooses. For one kind of writing, an author may choose one type of vocabulary, perhaps slang, and for another, the same writer may choose an entirely different set of words. . . .Even such small matters as contractions make a difference in tone, the contracted verbs being less formal: It is strange that the professor had not assigned any papers for three weeks.Its strange that the professor hadnt assigned any papers for three weeks. (W. Ross Winterowd, The Contemporary Writer: A Practical Rhetoric, 2nd ed. Harcourt, 1981) Tone in Business Writing Tone in writing . . . can range from formal and impersonal (a scientific report) to informal and personal (an email to a friend or a how-to article for consumers). Your tone can be unprofessionally sarcastic or diplomatically agreeable. Tone, like style, is indicated in part by the words you choose. . . . The tone of your writing is especially important in occupational writing because it reflects the image you project to your readers and thus determines how they will respond to you, your work, and your company. Depending on your tone, you can appear sincere and intelligent or angry and uninformed. . . . The wrong tone in a letter or a proposal might cost you a customer. (Philip C. Kolin, Successful Writing at Work, Concise 4th ed. Cengage, 2015) Sentence Sounds Robert Frost believed sentence tones (which he called sound of sense) are already there- living in the cave of the mouth. He considered them real cave things: they were before words were (Thompson 191). To write a vital sentence, he believed, we must write with the ear on the speaking voice (Thompson 159). The ear is the only true writer and the only true reader. Eye readers miss the best part. The sentence sound often says more than the words (Thompson 113). According to Frost: Only when we are making sentences so shaped [by spoken sentence tones] are we truly writing. A sentence must convey a meaning by tone of voice and it must be the particular meaning the writer intended. The reader must have no choice in the matter. The tone of voice and its meaning must be in black and white on the page.(Thompson 204) In writing, we cant indicate body language, but we can control how sentences are heard. And it is through our arrangement of words into sentences, one after another, that we can approximate some of the intonation in speech that tells our readers not only information about the world but also how we feel about it, who we are in relationship to it, and who we think our readers are in relationship to us and the message we want to deliver. (Dona Hickey, Developing a Written Voice. Mayfield, 1993) We are not won by arguments that we can analyze but by the tone and temper, by the manner which is the man himself. (Attributed to novelist Samuel Butler)

The Changes in Healthcare Industry Research Paper

The Changes in Healthcare Industry - Research Paper Example This paper explores the changes that the healthcare industry has experienced in the last decade and also assesses possible challenges the industry is likely to face in the next ten years. It is no secret that the healthcare industry has undergone an extensive change in the previous decade. The healthcare industry has in the last ten years experienced numerous ups and downs. The life expectancy of individuals has increased amazing compared to that in 1980s. There have been numerous medical breakthroughs both in terms of health equipment and drugs. The advancement in technology has seen health care delivery services become better each year, increasing the overall efficiency of the healthcare industry. The healthcare industry has grown from less efficient to the efficient industry through technological innovations. Computers have resulted in a massive reduction in medical errors. Health records are now processed and stored in electronic form eliminating massive paperwork and minimizing possible errors altogether. Competition has also heightened in the last decade pushing health care providers to fine-tune the services they offer to clients (Ginsburg, 2005). However, the industry has not been without its downs. The cost of health care has escalated over the years. It is now more expensive to obtain quality health care than it was ten years ago. The increasing number of uninsured indicates how expensive health care has become. Healthcare has become evidently unaffordable to many people over the last decade. Nonetheless, the government has been doing its best to curb this undesirable scenario. For instance, Obama care, though faced with numerous challenges, is aimed at making health care affordable to all people. Healthcare industry is likely to experience numerous changes in the next decade. Of all the likely changes, improvement in technology stands to be the biggest change in the next ten years. The advancement in technology has been on the positive side and the healthcare industry is likely to benefit from this in the next decade.  Ã‚  

Ernest Rutherford Essay Cont Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ernest Rutherford Cont - Essay Example In 1971, Earnest continued to make contributions in the field of physics through a series of experiments and would later discover that it was possible to disintegrate nuclei of light elements like nitrogen using energy from alpha particles of radioactive materials. Therefore, Earnest was the first to induce an artificial nuclear reaction, and his idea is the basis for nuclear reactions in the modern world for producing energy and weaponry. He is famous for coining the names alpha, beta, and gamma rays in a bid to classify the various forms of rays since the concept was barely understandable in those days (Nobel Media 1). In this case, the scientist made a significant contribution to electromagnetic radiation. Furthermore, Ernest observed that radioactivity of objects reduced with time (Rutherford 17). Eventually, he came up with the term half-life as the time it takes for the radioactive materials to disintegrate thus the scientist was the one who set the laws governing radioactive decay. In addition, Rutherford is the scientist behind the nuclear model of atoms where he inferred that an atom comprise a nucleus that is surrounded by many orbiting electrons and his conclusion is how modern science view atoms (Weisstein 1). Earnest‘s contribution in nuclear physics has contributed to a great deal in the area of modern physics and chemistry (Weisstein 1). The concept of radioactivity, especially the alpha, beta, and gamma rays is the basis for understanding how solar radiation reaches the earth and the overall effect on atmospheric temperature. Earnest found that gamma rays were of high frequencies and if they reached the earths surface, the temperatures could be high and unbearable for the inhabitants (Rutherford 1). In this case, Earnest made an important contribution for the modern scientists to understand how issues like global warming and

Business Communication - Assignment 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business Communication - Assignment 2 - Essay Example The process also tends to be highly emphasised on the exchange of thoughts among parties by verbal as well as non-verbal means that could be beneficial for the organisation to a large extent (Means, 2009). However, in practicing effective business communication strategies, businesses in the global context have often been observed as facing problems due to extensive influences of globalisation in terms of cross-cultural language barriers and distinctiveness. It has been observed in this regard that inadequate understanding among employees regarding the cross-cultural influences during their operations can further lead to various issues in terms of ethical concerns and misinterpretation of the communicated message. Inappropriate cross cultural training of employees can also influence poor performances, poor productivity, greater employee turnover and conflicts within the internal business environment of an organisation. Additionally, misinterpretation in business communication can be observed when the employees are unable to identify the organisational process thoroughly through which the objectives can be achieved (Genc, 2010). The influence of culture on consumer behaviour is found to gain greater attentiveness within the context of contemporary marketing and within disciplines related to consumer behaviour theories as well as practices in the national and in the global arenas. It has often been observed in this regard that consumer behaviour is principally emphasised on the decision making of individuals in the cultural as well as social contexts. According to Farhangmehr & Shoham (2004), the impact of culture is dynamic and its divergences provide an adverse effect on the decision making process of a particular business organisation. From another perspective, it can be stated that influence of culture hypothesises

Quality Metal Service Essay Example for Free

Quality Metal Service Essay An overview of cost, profit, revenue, and investment centers Cost classification in accounting also involves the allocation of costs, revenues and responsibilities to various centres or departments. These centres include: == Cost centres == Revenue centres == Profit centres == Investment centres Cost Centres A cost centre (CC) is a unit, location or department where cost data is collected. The purpose of the cost centre is to collect, analyze and ascertain costs in its immediate context. Cost centres usually have cost units—units or equipment for which costs are determinable or attributable. Overheads and direct costs constitute the cost structure of a CC. Since many activities in an organisation involve costs, a cost centre is a fundamental aspect, especially as profit and investment centres can be cost centres. According to the ACCA Study Text (Management accounting, c 1999), cost centres can manifest themselves as a project, a machine, department or overhead costs. One should note that a specific cost centre might not necessarily have other functions. CCs are not limited to production and manufacturing, since they can also be attributed to service centres, like commercial bank branches for example. Revenue Centres These centres deal exclusively with revenue. Even though costs may arise from these areas, the revenue centre is not accountable for costs. Its purpose is primarily to maximise sales and revenue. Profit centre The profit centre addresses both costs and revenue. Therefore, the manager responsible for a profit centre is accountable for the purchases and sales for that unit, department or branch. Since both revenue and costs fall under the purview of the profit centre, it is both a cost and revenue centre, although a revenue centre is not a profit centre and a cost centre might not necessarily be a profit centre. Investment centres Investment centres are profit centres that are accountable for cost, revenues and net assets for capital investment. This unit is assessed by return on investment and is a cost centre. Managers in an investment centre are responsible for purchasing capital or non-current assets and making investment decisions with capital. Investment centres Investment centres are profit centres that are accountable for cost, revenues and net assets for capital investment. This unit is assessed by return on investment and is a cost centre. Managers in an investment centre are responsible for purchasing capital or non-current assets and making investment decisions with capital. Responsibility centres are the umbrella term for cost, profit, revenue and investment centres, since their performance is under the direct control of a manager. The cost centre concept is present in profit and investment centres. The profit centre can be stand alone or, with additional responsibilities, an investment centre. Revenue centres operate in a similar manner to cost and profit centres, but their managers are primarily responsible for maximizing revenues and sales. An accountant needs to know the different types of centres to understand the information needs and requirements of the managers of the various units. Responsibility Centres A responsibility centre is an organizational subsystem charged with a well-defined mission and headed by a manager accountable for the performance of the centre. Responsibility centres constitute the primary building blocks for management control. It is also the fundamental unit of analysis of a budget control system. Aresponsibility centre is an organization unit headed by a responsible manager. There are four major types of responsibility centres: cost centres,revenues centres, profit centres and investment centres. Cost Centre A cost centre is a responsibility centre in which manager is held responsible for controlling cost inputs. There are two general types of cost centres: engineered expense centres and discretionary expense centres. Engineered costs are usually expressed as standard costs. A discretionary expense centre is a responsibility centre whose budgetary performance is based on achieving its goals by operating within predetermined expense constraints set through managerial judgement or discretion. Revenue Centre A revenue centre is a responsibility centre whose budgetary performance is measured primarily by its ability to generate a specified level of revenue. Profit Centre In a profit centre, the budget measures the difference between revenues and costs. Investment Centre An investment centre is a responsibility centre whose budgetary performance is based on return on investment. The uses of responsibility centres depend to a great extent on the type of organization structure involved. Engineered cost centres, discretionary expense centre, and revenue centres are more often used with functional organization designs and with the function units in a matrix design. In contrast, with a divisional organization designs, it is possible use profit centres because the large divisions in such a structure usually have control over both the expenses and the revenues associated with profits.

Establishing an ECL culture in China

Establishing an ECL culture in China Electronic Communications Ltd. (ECL) had decided to start business in China and to form a relationship of common prosperity with Chinese people. The company knew that there was major progress to be made, but there were also risks and challenges. One of these was the management of cultural differences. An issue the management was whether it should adapt ECLs management practice to the Chinese culture or to establish ECLs global management policies in China. Successful cultural alignment is an important element for multinational organizations. Electronic Communications Ltd (ECL), like many other companies entering foreign markets, is faced with how to adequately incorporate their corporate culture with the Chinese national culture. Situational analysis Cultural issues were a basic problem to overcome and the must important because it will create the daily operations environment and it is a critical success factor for multinational organizations. Electronic Communications Ltd (ECL), like many other companies entering foreign markets, is faced with this situation. ECL management must determine if it is more prudent to adapt to the Chinese culture or to apply their western-centric management practices to ECL China. ECLs management must explore if they should adapt or assimilate the culture, they needed to find that they need to develop a reliable management plan to attract, develop and retain leaders within the company. One of the key issues for ECL is learning how to effectively integrate managers from a different culture. According to Lewiki people from different cultures appear to negotiate differently. For this reason cultural relations are also important to be established. Lewiki mentions that in addition of people behaving differently, people form different cultures may also interpret the fundamental processes of negotiations differently. This particular issue came up when expatriate managers provided feedback to Chinese employees who saw the feedback as a critic to their culture. Perhaps ECL management should focus on creating tasks that will contribute to building relationships with ECL China associates. It is known that that managing personal relationships is essential for conflict resolution. Lewiki mentions that according to Phatak and Habib the relations developed among the principal negotiating parties before the actual negotiations will also have an important impact on the negotiation process and outcome. A personal relation was perceived by the Chinese as it could promote a more open flank and communication between managers and their subordinates and colleagues. The business style presented within ECL is demonstrated as expatriate managers expect associates to be more proactive. The high power orientation within ECL China seems to be contradicted by the Chinese staff style to find short-cuts to solve problems. ECL management has created systems to predict the proper steps to solving problems to a given situation. However, many Chinese staff thought the systems went wrong and delayed the decision making process. This contradiction shows that in some instances Chinese staff did in fact want an opportunity to be proactive. ECL should be create a more flexible solving structure that encourages Chinese staff to be more proactive without forgetting the issues which can rise during conflict resolution. Also ECL management claims that the Chinese staff lacked the expected teamwork capability. This problem was attributed by some expatriates to the education system in China, because e the system encourages a more individualist culture. The face issue in the Chinese society was a combination of dignity, self-respect, prestige and social standing, as perceived by others, an example of face is when a manager criticize his employee could cause the person to lose face especially in from of others. This so called losing, face is detrimental to a working relationship in certain cultures. However we can conclude that ECL has a very strong cultural adaptation with its employees. ECL had a successful combination of training and systems to form the technical skills in the Chinese workplace. There were doubt as to the replacement of the expatriates could be completed on time and the Chinese employees were given the opportunity to get promoted within the company the senior management positions were still dominated by the expatriates. This represented another challenge for ECL that the expatriates did not have the full respect from their staff. Chinese staff had difficulty accepting that many expatriate managers do not have the same level of technical expertise that is expected of the staff. Further, expatriates were often viewed as not fully committed to China and would relegate decision making responsibility to the home office. This would often cause a delay in productivity. However, China has a very productive and the coaching program that was developed to pair Chinese staff with experienced expatriates was implemented to create a formal mechanism to transfer knowledge and cultural information. This lowered the level of animosity growing towards ECL management; it was a better decision for ECL to promote expatriate managers to China with a high level of technical experience who are able of making decisions in a short amount of time. An additional challenge that ECL had was attracting and keeping local talent. ECL wanted to replace expatriates in a short period time but they are having a difficult time hiring competent Chinese managers. The demand for competent personnel was growing and more skilled personnel were needed. A critical issue encountered was the emigration impeding success is that many talented potential hires leave the country. Those that remain receive handsome compensation packages from Chinese owned firms. A lot of well prepared personnel were getting better offers; ECL also has to compete for the remaining individuals amongst other firms that are beginning to enter the Chinese market. ECL must remember when seeking out talent that respect for elders plays a significant role in high power orientation countries and young managers may not receive the respect or support that they need to be effective. An additional issue was the competition added by China entering the World Trade Organization. This caused a lot of investors to China and start investing creates an environment of intense competition. Perhaps, ECL could use current employees to recruit younger family members that can be groomed within the country. G ECL must assimilate their management practices into Chinese culture. Regardless of how hard ECL works to indoctrinate employees into the ECL culture, their future talent pool will be generated from the Chinese culture. For this reason is important for the management to determine how the cultural issues may be faced within ECL. The Chinese work force will be a key factor to ECL success. The company needs to get more involved in to how to handle a direct dialogue and completely adapt to the Chinese culture in order to earn their trust respect and be successful. Another solution for the companys recruiting effort is recruit family members and groom them into the ECL culture. And finally, the ECL can continue the training from ECL University which will demonstrate the ECL culture while familiarizing it to ECL China. Summary of Issues The Chinese culture shows a significant degree of collectivism- The Chinese cultures have group oriented vision. Expatriates failed to develop the relations that are prerequisites for creating a harmonious and respectful working environment that would allow the cultural integration. The action to be taken by ECL is that management should focus on creating tasks that will contribute to building relationships with ECL China. Expatriate managers expect associates to be more proactive- ECL should adopt a more flexible problem solving structure that encourages Chinese staff to be more proactive while considering the issues of the conflict resolution process. Expatriate managers want results and Chinese staff wants to build relationships to get to the results. Chinese staff wants to develop a trust based relationship prior to executing a contract while the US approach is to finalize details and clarify. ECL manager should acknowledge that the Chinese work ethics correlates directly to the Chinese national culture and thus must be embraced within ECL practices. Expatriate managers provided feedback to Chinese employees who perceived the feedback to be a direct criticism. Management need to negotiation and regular meetings and encourage the dialogue. Expatriates did not receive the full respect from their staff. For the Chinese staff was hard accepting that expatriates because they were viewed as not fully committed to China because they would relegate decision responsibility the company and that they did not have the same level of expertise. The coaching program was developed to pair Chinese staff with experienced expatriates was implemented to create a formal mechanism to transfer knowledge and culture. A solution could to promote expatriate managers to the China with a high level of technical experience who are comfortable making critical decisions in a short amount of time. ECL is having trouble attracting and securing local talent. The issues impeding success are that many talented potential acquisitions leave the country, the Chinese owned firms offer good compensation packages and more competing firms are beginning to enter the Chinese market. Continue the training from ECL University which will demonstrate the ECL culture while acculturating it to ECL China and is a system that if managed properly it will work and will provide the desired results. Conclusion To conclude, ECL must assimilate their management practices into Chinese culture. Regardless of how hard ECL works to involves employees into the ECL culture, their future leaders will be generated from the Chinese culture. Thus, it is important for management to determine how the cultural attributes may be faced, refined and indoctrinated into ECL to achieve success. References: Lewicki, R. J., Barry, B., Saunders, D. M. (2010). Essentials of negotiation. United States: McGraw-Hill Companies. Ho, M. (2001, November 9). Establishing an ECL culture in china: organisational difference or national difference? Centre for Asian Business Cases , 11.