Efficient Building Services

EFFICIENT Building Services Introduction The freshly constructed T2 Inspection Facility is located within Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port‘s Container Terminal 2. The edifice has five chief installations including particular review installation, detained stuff warehouse, Canis familiaris pace, usage review installation, and municipality review installation. The edifice was completed in the twelvemonth April 2013. The review installation is used for general review of lading come ining or go forthing the state. It has a 1.35-meter steel platform from the finish floor degree associated with dock leveler with a hinged lab isolation platform ( LIP ) concrete incline. The installation has hot rolled subdivisions with aluminum roof cladding scaling a tallness of 8.15 metre. Besides, the review installation has an opaque aluminum fencing around it with a tallness of 2 metres from the top of the platform. The detained stuff installation is to keep stuffs illicitly transported through the airdrome. The detained stuff warehouse occupied the land and first floors. It has a medium coating with ceramic flooring tiles for office country. The floor and wall tiles in wet countries have sixty square inch ceiling. Internal wall are painted with washable emulsion pigment for easiness in cleansing. Like the review installation, it has a platform with a tallness of 1.35 metre from finish floor degree associated with dock leveler with hinged LIP platform size concrete incline and concrete stairss. It besides has steel construction with a built up country of 732.0 m2and entire tallness of 9.20 metre, hot rolled subdivisions with aluminum roof facing and vision panels at roof. Besides, the installation has a hydraulic lift and steel stairway to ease entree to the edifice. The installation has a block walls for office, larder and lavatories. The Canis familiaris pace has a built up country of 65.70 m2and entire tallness of 5.35 metre. It has a medium coating with ceramic flooring tiles for dry countries with 60 square inches ceiling tiles. The floor and wall tiles for wet countries have sixty square inches H2O opposition ceiling tiles. The internal walls are coated with washable emulsion pigment while the exterior lifts and sunning zones are coated with epoxy pigment. The imposts review installation has a 1.35-meter platform from finish floor degree associated with dock leveler with hinged LIP platform size and concrete inclines. The installation has an office edifice with a built up country of 515 m2and entire tallness of 5.4 metre with hot rolled subdivisions with strengthened concrete slab. The floors have a medium coating with ceramic flooring tiles for dry countries the same size as the other installations ( 60 square inches ) . Wet countries have H2O immune tiles. The installation has block walls with washable emulsion pigment for internal walls. To heighten the lighting of the edifice, the roof has aluminium cladding with vision panels. The municipality review facility’s office edifice has a built up country of 800 m2and entire tallness of 5.0 metre. It has hot rolled subdivisions with strengthened concrete slab. Medium finish with ceramic flooring tiles for dry countries with 60X60 false ceiling tiles, floor & A ; wall tiles for wet countries with 60X60 H2O opposition false ceiling tiles. It besides has block walls with washable emulsion pigment for internal walls. Main installations offered in the edifice Electrical system The edifice has a substation providing low electromotive force electricity into the edifice. It has one low electromotive force panel with seven Sub Main Distribution Boards. The system has on capacitance bank and eight poles light. It besides has backup generator for supplying electricity in times of breaks in brinies electricity. The electrical plants comply with the ordinances of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority ( DEWA ) ordinances. The edifice has particular LED lighting through all its installations that complies with CIBSE criterions. The country around the edifice has 30-Meter high masts that light the full location. The masts are equipped with adjustable metal halide visible radiations. Besides, the masts have supports on the lantern ring for IT entree point and security cameras. The edifice besides has power, telephone and information web canals that serve the building’s needs. The electrical canals step 150mm, telephone steps 100 millimeter, informations canals measure 100mm while security camera ducts step 100mm. Notably, power, and telephone and information web connexions to all installations in conformity with criterions laid down by the governments. Air conditioning and airing The edifice has a functional air airing system that complies with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers ( ASHRAE ) . All stuffs used in the edifice were sourced from certified makers. The stuffs comply with international specifications. The edifice is fitted with air conditioning equipment complete with window and wall fumes canals. The system has an automatic shutter to maximise the indoor air quality. The bringing pipes are made of insulated Cu. The refrigerating pipes run on the roof and have a metal covered tray to cut down heat addition from the environment. The air conditioning in the edifice comprises of 2 fresh air-handling units and 13 fumes fans. The system besides has a cosmetic split unit. A thermoregulator separates the split unit and the fresh air-handling unit. The FAHU runs continuously but is times to close down after having a fire dismay signal. The FAHU has an outside air and fumes dampers that remains unfastened when the system is running. These dampers stop four seconds after the supply fan Michigans. The AC system in the edifice can present a broad temperature scope with comparative easiness of accommodation. The system besides occupies small infinite largely in the ceiling. The system’s heat recovery option besides conserves energy good as it recovers most of the heat from exhaust pipes. However, dehumidification in these systems is non as efficient given that the edifice is near a big H2O organic structure. The system is besides comparatively expensive compared to other systems and necessitate expensive care over clip. It is besides comparatively noisy ( Huchtemann & A ; Muller, 2014, p.23 ) . Mechanical specification of the air conditioning The air status is designed to let for DE system. This is to let the grading of the air conditioning system to cover more room in instance of enlargement or alteration of internal design. In add-on, the air conditioning system supplies treated fresh air to all suites. The exhaust pipes will hold a heat recovery mechanism to retrieve heat from the exhaust air in cold times. The Inspection bays besides have hall have air conditioning and air drapes to maximise user experience. The detained stuff warehouse has forced airing to coerce air deep into the installation ( Joo & A ; Liu, 2001 ) . Water supply and drainage The edifice has equal fresh H2O supply to all its floors. In add-on, the edifice has three Grass Reinforced Panel keeping armored combat vehicles with a set of electrical pumps. The armored combat vehicles store as much H2O as possible for usage in times of deficit. Water is heated utilizing 14 H2O warmers situated at assorted locations in the supply system. Storm H2O is drained through 22 soak ways designed to suit as much H2O as possible. The soak ways are designed in a aslant place to let for easy flow of H2O into the chief drain. Fire system The edifice has an belowground fire pipe system that is lined by cement. The pips are coated with bitumen and are made of malleable Fe in line with American Water Works Association criterions ( AWWA ) . The edifice has an A/G RCC H2O armored combat vehicle to hive away H2O as required by the relevant ordinances. In add-on, the TSE irrigation pipe extends from bing pipes from the next secret plan. Ramps, stairwaies and Elevators The edifice has luxuriant entree installations including inclines, stairwaies and lifts. These are stationed at strategic topographic points in the edifice to ease entree to the other degrees ( Allen & A ; Iano, 2008 ) . Most of the entree paths in the edifice are through inclines and stairwaies. However, lifts are available for usage unit of ammunition the clock and are powered by electrical motors. They contribute well to electrical ingestion in the edifice. Other Systems The edifice has a assortment of systems that increase the edifices atmosphere including exigency lighting, telephone systems, informations lines, photocopiers and other office machinery. These systems enhance the usage of the edifice including disposal and review services. These public-service corporations consume an estimated 5 % of the edifices electricity. Administration Command Center The edifice has a cardinal bid centre. This electronic platform integrates communicating and control system in the full edifice to a cardinal location for easiness in commanding and communicating ( Indraganti, et al. , 2014 ; Shah, Prajapti & A ; Patel, 2012, p.10 ) . The Centre ensures that activities in the assorted operational units are coordinated and incase of an exigency, the proper safety steps are implemented. The halfway Acts of the Apostless as a cardinal mention point for the direction of people, induction off procedures and direction of the systems. The system reduces running costs as a little staff staffs the cardinal bid. In peculiar, the bid centre manages the low electromotive force power systems, metering systems and security systems in the company. The centre besides oversees the smooth flow of operations among the assorted runing units of the terminus. Most significantly, the centre undertakes everyday preventative and disciplinary care processs to cut down possibi lity of accidents and malfunctions. Technical restrictions of the edifice The terminal 2 edifice was commissioned in 2013. The edifice boasts extremist modern installations and a beautiful coating. Compared to other edifices, the terminal 2 edifice has a better design and is more suitable for comfy usage and life. Most of the air and H2O supply canals are insulated to cut down energy loss o the environment. However, there are a figure of restrictions in its design and systems. To get down with, the edifice is non energy efficient. Energy costs of running the edifice are high. These include lighting and air conditioning. The design did non take into history factors such as possibility of natural illuming during daylight to salvage on energy costs. In add-on, the detained warehouse installation has a limited infinite and needs a batch of air circulation ensuing in monolithic usage of electricity ( Bonda & A ; Sosnowchik, 2007, p.31 ) . In add-on, the edifice did non use equal green engineerings in the building and care of edifice installations. For case, the edifice uses electrical H2O warmers alternatively of tapping solar energy that is abundant in Dubai ( Nunnelly, 2008 ; Thomas, Zimmerman & A ; Ott, 2011, p.14 ; Kats, et al. , 2008 ; Huchtemann & A ; Muller, 2014 ) . Decision The T2 edifice was completed in the 2013 and has five chief installations including particular review installation, detained stuff warehouse, Canis familiaris pace, usage review installation, and municipality review installation. The review installation is used for general review of lading come ining or go forthing the state and has a tallness of 8.15 metre. The detained stuff installation holds stuffs illicitly transported through the airdrome and occupies the land and first floors. The Canis familiaris pace has a built up country of 65.70 m2and entire tallness of 5.35 metre and is used a meat for sniffer Canis familiariss. The imposts review has an office edifice with a built up country of 515 m2and entire tallness of 5.4 metre with hot rolled subdivisions with strengthened concrete slab. The municipality review facility’s office edifice has a built up country of 800 m2and entire tallness of 5.0 metre. It has hot rolled subdivisions with strengthened concrete ( Lee & A ; Gue rin, 2010 ) . The edifice has equal supply of fresh H2O to all its floors complete with storage armored combat vehicles. However, while the edifice boasts extremist modern installations and a beautiful coating, it lags behind modern design in energy preservation. The energy costs of running the edifice are high including lighting, warming and air conditioning. The design failed to see usage of natural illuming during daylight to salvage on energy costs. In add-on, the edifice uses electrical H2O warmers alternatively of tapping solar energy that is abundant in Dubai. Mentions Joo, I. , Liu, M. ( 2001 ) . Performance Analysis of Dual-Fan, Dual-Duct Constant Volume Air Handling Units. Cover Art:1stInternational Conference for EnhancedConstructing Operations- ICEBOTexas A & A ; M University. 16-19 July. Accessed 9 February 2012 from the nexus hypertext transfer protocol: //repository.tamu.edu Nunnelly, R. ( 2008 ) . Design or operations issue? .Engineered System.Vol. 1. ( 1 ) :13. Shah, P. , Prajapti, D. Patel, M. ( 2012 ) . Overview of industrial filtration engineering and its applications.Indian Journal of Science and Technology[ online ] . Vol. 3. ( 10 ) . Thomas, Z. , Zimmerman, M. , Ott, A. ( 2011 ) . Next-Generation Building Energy Management Systems and Implications for Electricity Markets.U.S. Departmentof EnergyVol. 1. ( 14 ) . Accessed 9 February 2012 from the nexus hypertext transfer protocol: //www.osti.gov/bridge Bonda, P. , Sosnowchik, K. ( 2007 ) .Sustainable commercial indoor. New Jersey: John Wiley & A ; Sons Kats, G. , Alevantis, L. , Berman, A. , Mills, E. , Perlman, J. ( 2008 ) The Cost and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & A ; Sons Inc. Allen, E. , Iano, J. ( 2008 ) . Fundamentalss of constructing building: stuffs and methods. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & A ; Sons Inc. Lee, Y. , Guerin, D. ( 2010 ) . Indoor environmental quality differences between office types in LEED-certified edifices in the US.Building and Environment. Vol.45 ( 5 ) : 1104–1112 Indraganti, M. , Ooka, R. , Rijal, H. , Brager, G. ( 2014 ) . Adaptive theoretical account of thermic comfort for offices in hot and humid climes of India.Building and Environment.Vol. 74: 39–53 Huchtemann, K. , Muller, D. ( 2014 ) . Combined simulation of a deep land beginning heat money changer and an office edifice.Building and Environment.Vol. 73: 97–105

Agency Problem Essay

Financial Management (Agency problem) Prepared by: Sami Hassan Saeed Singabi August 2008 Introduction Economic science teaches us that due to their subjective needs, individuals have subjective preferences, and hence different interest. Occasionally different subjective interests give rise to conflicts of interest between contracting partners. These conflicts of interest may result in turn, in one or both parties undertaking actions that may be against the interest of the other contracting partner. The primary reason for the divergence of objectives between managers and shareholders has been attributed to separation of ownership (shareholders) and control (management) in corporations. As a consequence, agency problems or principal-agent conflicts exist in the firm. Agency theory deals with such problem. Agency theory is concerned with how these agency problems affect the form of the contract and how they can be minimized, in particular, when contracting parties are variously informed (or uncertain). Agency problem A problem arising from a conflict of interest between principals such as investors and agents acting for them, such as brokers or managers. Agency problem refers to a conflict of interest arising between creditors, shareholders and management because of differing goals. It exists due to problems in corporate governance. A typical problem is that of senior management of a company, who are charged with running the business in the interests of shareholders; choose instead to operate to maximize their own interests. A simple example is the hired anager who fills his pockets at shareholders’ expenses. For example, an agency problem exists when management and shareholders have conflicting ideas on how the company should be run. Agency problems that arise in a corporation have troubled economists for some time. There are a number of mechanisms that have been used to try and reduce these agency problems. Many of these mechanisms try to link the manager’s compensation to the per formance of the firm. Typical examples include performance shares, restricted stock grants, and executive stock options. This dissertation is an empirical study of whether the use of executive stock options has in fact reduced the agency problems between managers and stockholders. In this dissertation, two different testing methodologies are used to address the agency problem reduction issue. One methodology looks at some significant event such as a merger or divestiture to see if an executive’s holding of stock options affect what decisions are made. For example, do larger holdings of stock options motivate managers to take on riskier investments? By increasing the risk of the firm, managers can increase the value of the stock options. Another question of interest is whether in taking on risky investments; do executives increase the leverage of the firm? By increasing the leverage of the firm, the executive might increase the risk of the firm and thus the value of the option holdings. An agency relationship An agency relationship arises whenever one or more individuals, called principals, hire one or more other individuals, called agents, to perform some service and then delegate decision-making authority to the agents. The primary agency relationships in business are those :- (1) Between stockholders and managers and 2) Between debt holders and stockholders. These relationships are not necessarily harmonious; indeed, agency theory is concerned with so-called agency conflicts, or conflicts of interest between agents and principals. These relationships are not necessarily harmonious; indeed, agency theory is concerned with so-called agency conflicts, or conflicts of interest between agents and principals. Expansion increase potential agency problems, if you expanded to additional locations you could not physically be at all locations at the same time. Consequently, you would have to delegate decision-making authority to others. Creditors can protect themselves by: (1) Having the loan secured. (2) Placing restrictive covenants in debt agreements. (3) They charge a higher than normal interest rate to compensate for risk. Agency cost A type of internal cost that arises from, or must be paid to a manger acting on behalf of shareholders. Agency cost arises because of core problems such as conflicts of interest between share holders and management. Shareholders wish for management to run the company in away that increases shareholders value, but management may wish to grow the company in away that maximize their personal power and wealth that may not be in the best interest of shareholders. Agency costs are inevitable within an organization whenever shareholders are not completely in charge; the cost can usually be best spent on providing proper material incentives and moral incentives for agents to properly execute their duties, thereby aligning the interests of shareholders (owners) and agents. The principals (the shareholders) have to find ways of ensuring that their agents (the managers) act in their interests. This means incurring costs, ‘agency costs’, to (a) monitor managers’ behavior, and (b) create incentive schemes and control for managers to pursue shareholders’ wealth maximization. Various methods have been used to try to align the actions of senior management with the interests of shareholders, that is, to achieve ‘goal congruence’. Linking rewards to shareholder wealth improvements: Owners can grant directors and other senior managers share options. These ermit the managers to purchase shares at some date in the future at a price, which is fixed in the present. If the share price rises significantly between the dates when the option was granted and the date when the shares can be bought the manager can make a fortune by buying at the pre-arranged price and then selling in the market place. The managers under such a scheme have a clear interest in achieving a rise in share price and thus congruence comes about to some extent. An alternative method is to allot shares to managers if they achieve certain performance targets, for example, growth in earnings per share or return on shares. Sackings: The threat of being sacked with the accompanying humiliation and financial loss may encourage managers not to diverge too far from the shareholders’ wealth path. However this method is seldom used because it is often difficult to implement due to difficulties of making a coordinated shareholder effort. Selling shares threat and the take- over: Most of the large shareholders (especially institutional investors) of quoted companies are not prepared to put large resources into monitoring and controlling all the firms of which they own a part. Quite often their first response, if they observe that management is not acting in what they regard as their best interest, is to sell the share rather than intervene. This will result in a lower share price, making the raising of funds more difficult. If this process continues the firm may become vulnerable to a merger bid by another group of managers, resulting in a loss of top management posts. Fear of being taken over can establish some sort of backstop position to prevent shareholder wealth considerations being totally ignored. Corporate governance regulations: There is a considerable range of legislation and other regulatory pressures (e. g. the Companies Act) designed to encourage directors to act in shareholders’ interests. Within these regulations for example, the board of directors is not to be dominated by a single individual acting as both the chairman and chief executive. Also independently minded non-executive directors should have more power to represent shareholder interests; in particular, they should predominate in decisions connected with directors’ remuneration and auditing of firm’s accounts. Information flow: The accounting profession, the stock exchange, the regulating agencies and the investing public are continuously conducting a battle to encourage or force firms to release more accurate, timely and detailed information concerning their operations. An improved quality of corporate accounts, annual reports and the availability of other forms of information flowing to investors and analysts such as company briefings and press announcements help to monitor firms, and identify any wealth-destroying actions by wayward managers early. Conclusion Diffuse ownership of publicly held companies reduces the owners’ ability to monitor managers because they would have to bear the full monitoring costs while gaining only a small marginal benefit. Managers may therefore act to maximize their wealth through personal use of corporate assets, stock manipulation and sub optimal decisions at the owners’ expense. Thus agency theory practical mechanism is weak, because it is unable to provide practical conclusions with regard to agency problems. References: 1. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. htm 2. www. referenceforbusiness. com 3. Financial-dictionary. The free dictionary. com

RADIATION AND IT'S BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS Research Paper

RADIATION AND IT'S BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS - Research Paper Example This paper discusses radiation and it narrows down to the biological effects of radiation. Introduction When a nucleus of an atom emits high-energy photons and particles such as gamma rays, this kind of radiation is referred to as nuclear radiation. X-rays behave in a similar way as they do gamma rays, although unlike gamma rays, they do not involve the nucleus. For this reason, in describing nuclear radiation and x-rays, the term ionizing radiation is used. While non-ionizing radiation is vital to life, excessive exposures cause tissue damage. All ionizing radiation forms have adequate energy to ionize atoms that may in return destabilize molecules within cells ensuing into tissue damage (Francis & Kirkpatrick, 538). Although radiation is useful biologically as aforementioned, for instance in the treatment of cancer due to its ability to destroy cancerous tissues, exposure of human tissue to higher energies associated with nuclear radiation has adverse biological effects – it causes severe damage to the tissues (McCall, 213). Whenever any radiation passes through a matter, it deposits energy along its path, which leads to ionization, increased temperatures, and atomic excitations. The ionization that radiation passing through living tissue causes can lead to the damage of organic molecules if the electrons are involved in molecular binding. In the event that there is the destruction of too many molecules in this manner or in the event that there is the damaging of DNA molecules, cells may either become cancerous or die (Francis & Kirkpatrick, 538). In addition to cancer induction, other biological effects include changes in the central nervous system, heritable effects, formation of cataract and early effects on body organs as well as their function (National Research Council Staff, 2). Deliberate exposure of living tissues to radiation therefore is something to be avoided unless it is utterly necessary. In fact, the World Congress on Medical Physics an d Biomedical Engineering 2009 documents that extreme care is not an option whenever radiation is used and the advantages of using radiation must always be greater than harm and risk from it (111). Radiations that are associated with nuclear explosions include gamma rays, neutrons, and to a much lesser extent, beta particles. During an explosion, most of the gammas and all the neutrons are essentially generated in fusion and fission reactions. The capture of neutrons in the surrounding air, water or earth as well as in the explosion-weapon debris generates additional gamma rays in addition to a large array of radioisotopes, which comprise the radioactive fallout. Normally, both gamma rays and neutrons are strongly absorbed all over the body thereby affecting all organs (Hafemeister, 5). Francis & Kirkpatrick point out that radiation’s outcome on people’s health is dependent on the amount of radiation that living tissue absorbs as well as the biological impacts linked wi th this absorption (538). To explain further, radiation’s harmful biological effects are attributable to destructive ionization generated within an exposed organism’s cell bodies. In animal tissues, both neutrons and gamma rays’ mean free paths are in the order of twenty centimeters, which is the range that inflicts maximum damage to the organism. In the event tha

African Studies ( Role-Playing Assignment ) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

African Studies ( Role-Playing ) - Assignment Example We used to sell our produce in the market and it was a good life. Eventually we ran out of food in our village and I decided that the chance to provide adequate nourishment for the little ones was to leave Somalia. I trekked all the way across the border with my wife, my elderly father and my children. We live in a white tent which is situated in long neat row of similar tents. In the cold season we cover it with colored cloth to add insulation. The Kenyan government has provided fresh water for us, and I go to the food distribution center every morning where we receive rations for the day. The camp is well organized, and operates like a small town, with its own leaders as well as our traditional elders. (Horst, 2006, p. 79) It is hard sometimes to keep the children amused, because there is very little to do. At least my I have some work to do, because I am part of a project to gather firewood for the refugees in the camp. (Loescher and Milner, 2005, p. 164) The pay is very low, but it helps. I am trying to save some money but it is very difficult because we need it when one of the children gets sick. Last month we heard that there was some trouble back in Somalia when violence broke out over food rations, and some soldiers killed and injured refugees when things got out of hand. (The Guardian Newspaper, August 5, 2011). This makes us too scared to go home, but we still have hope and pray to Allah that one day we will return to our homeland. Raghavan, Sudarsan. (September 7, 2011) Somalia’s biggest famine in decades claiming the smallest victims first. Washington Post, Available online at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/inside-a-mogadishu-hospital-a-struggle-to-treat-the-smallest-victims-of-famine/2011/09/06/gIQAgwnn8J_story.html The Guardian Newspaper (August 10, 2011) Somalia famine refugees killed in looting at Mogadishu aid camp. Available online at:

Paper 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 11

Paper 2 - Essay Example On the other hand, compatibilism or soft determinism does not treat freedom and responsibility in isolation. Our actions are determined by the causes we take, and we could be held morally responsible for them. External events such as culture or genetics come into play, but the choice a person makes determine the actions. Therefore, a person should make choices that are consistent with his or her choices in order to become free. According to Frankfurt we have the inherent ability to use our will that enables us to have certain desires and motives. Having the ultimate will helps us to make choices, and that is where our freedom starts. Our choices are based on preconceived thoughts that differ from one person to another. He proposes the idea of second order of desires in human beings. We do not have the same abilities to pursue freedom with animals because they utilize first order desires where they may choose to engage in an activity or leave it altogether. Our freedom emanates from the reflective self-evaluation sessions inspired by second-order desires. The structure of a person is made by the capability to use of will to do the things he or she wants (Frankfurt 415). We are complete as human beings because if the innate capability to act out of our volitions due to second order desires. Frankfurt explains that there some of us who share the characteristics of first order desires and desires of the second orders. The characteristics render us free though our influence may be restricted to a particular extent. People who assumes or utilizes first and second order desires are called wanton. Wanton entails adults, nonhumans, and young children who do have the volition to do what they want. We get ample chances to act the way we feel without resulting into any form of conflict. We have the ultimate choice of acting rationally and deliberately irrespective of whether we have first or second order desires. However, we tend to ignore our strongest inclinations

Employee Assistance Porgram (EAP) Avaiable for the Modern Workplace Research Paper

Employee Assistance Porgram (EAP) Avaiable for the Modern Workplace - Research Paper Example A large number of the employee assistance programs offer training facilities to people owning businesses and the supervisors of these businesses in order to deal and recognize the behavioral crisis inside a workforce. The programs of assisting the employees are not created to grant long term management. According to the Business Week Magazine, the programs give an employee a secure environment for discussing their problems with a particular counselor who in return makes an evaluation that is confidential (S. Philip, 2000). Employee Assistance Program In addition, this evaluation if needed gives a recommendation to a professional of mental wellbeing. The magazine goes on to assert that the owner of a business is supposed to have worries concerning the workers given more value and have good work productivity. Ordinary psychiatric problems take a significant part from abuse of drugs to alcohol infatuation. Yearly, the business cost comes near to three hundred and twelve billion in absen teeism and productivity lost (W. G. Brian, 1997). These employee assistance programs have come out to be important and popular constituents of total advantages packages used for large and small employers who are alike. The employee assistance progressional association affirms that during the late nineteen nineties, there were a close number of twenty thousand employee assistance programs providers that were operating in the United States. They were first designed to respond to the business concerns on the impact to be gotten from an employee drug and alcohol abuse in productivity. Currently, they are planned to deal with various issues that are affecting the modern day workers. The modernized employee assistance programs are created to assist the workers with different problems like stress from depression, marriage and family counseling, financial problems, illness amongst the co workers and crisis organization (W. G. Brian, 1997). A large number of these employee assistance program s have made increased their counseling scope in order to help the workers struggle with the issues concerning eldercare, natural catastrophes, and violence in areas of work. In addition, these programs have increased elements that are proactive to the offering they make. An example is that the employee assistance programs have supported the workplace guidelines and educational efforts of AIDS/HIV. The expansion in the range of employee assistance program is commonly pointed to the United States changes in bigger collective fabric. S. Philip (2000) asserts that changes in technology and demographic changes have assisted in creation of different and new varieties of mental and stress health issues that affect the productivity and health of a large population of the employees in the world. Human beings who have family or personal problems may lack a place to go for an advice than to the advantages the employee assistance program put forward through their places of work. Various compani es have realized that detection of a direct link can be identified amid the productivity and well being of a certain employee. According to W. G. Brian (1997), these companies are also relying on their employees in improving their productivity and their increasing their bottom line despite the advancement of technology in the world. This means that the association existing between the productivity

Does learning and employee development contribute to organisational Essay

Does learning and employee development contribute to organisational success and performance - a study within social care services - Essay Example 6). Because of the complexity of social care services, each of the social care workers should continuously improve their knowledge, skills and positive attitude when managing the cases of each client. The purpose of gathering a literature review is to determine the importance and impact of learning and employee development in organizational and individual performance and success. Aside from discussing the most appropriate learning approaches that are applicable to voluntary sector social care environment, the driving forces, barriers to learning, and challenges associated with establishing a successful learning culture will be tackled in details. To determine the impact of regulation and registration of voluntary social care workforce by the Scottish Social Services Council on learning and employee development in social care environment, a literature review will be conducted to examine how the regulation and registration of voluntary social care workforce by the Scottish Social Services Council could benefit the learning and employee development. Based on the gathered literature review, recommended solutions on how to encourage social care workers to take advantage of promoting organizational culture that is open to continuous learning and employee development programmes including ways on how the organization can effectively remove barriers to learning will be provided in details. The main purpose of this research study is to determine whether or not learning and employee development has a significant contribution to the success and performance of voluntary sector social care organization. As a student enrolled in the course of MSc Human Resource Management and Development, the rationale for selecting this research topic is to enhance my understanding about the impact learning and employee development has on organizational success and performance. In this study, possible link between learning and effective development of staff of voluntary social

BIOL 260-Microbiology (Bacterial Unknown Lab report) Report

BIOL 260-Microbiology (Bacterial Unknown ) - Lab Report Example On the basis of morphology after performing Gram staining one was identified as Gram positive Cocci while other was identified as Gram negative Bacilli. Further, colony characteristics, biochemical tests as well as specific tests the micro-organisms were carried out to reach to the correct identification of the micro-organism. The Catalase test was performed which was positive, eliminating the chances of unknown sample to be Streptococcus (which is catalase negative). Further, Mannitol fermentation was positive for this unknown sample which eliminates the chances of S. aureus (Mannitol negative) from the sample. Further, presence of pigment was observed to eliminate the chances of S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus (both these organisms do not have pigment). Since the colony color was found to be yellow the identification tapers to the presence of Micrococcus sp. In order to further segregate the Micrococcus sp. presence or absence of glucose fermentation was observed. The result was negative confirming the absence of Micrococcus varians (which displays glucose fermentation) and presence of Micrococcus luteus (does not display gluc ose fermentation). The second unknown bacteria was aerobic as it was catalase as well as oxidase positive. Since it is Gram negative aerobic bacilli the identification tapers to the possibility of either Helicobacter salinarum, Alcaligenes faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Since citrate utilization was positive in the biochemical test it could be Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Alcaligenes faecalis. To eliminate one of the species to taper the identification further, growth was observed which was moderate and hence probability of Pseudomonas was eliminated (as Pseudomonas display abundant growth). Manipulative skills and cognitive microbiological knowledge are essential for the identification of microorganism beyond

The Term Mass Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Term Mass Culture - Essay Example Spread of Mass Culture Culture, particularly the mass culture, has spread rapidly with the passage of time. There was a time when there was little or no globalization in the world. Even the concept of national culture was non-existent in a vast majority of countries because of the fact that regional differences dominated. Within the same country, people belonging to different regions had possession of different kinds of regional resources. This gave rise to the development of subcultures in the same nation wherein people were classified into different communities with distinct values, norms, and principles. Regional culture was stronger than the national culture and the mass culture was non-existent. This was predominantly the time till the mid 19th century. The onset of industrial revolution brought a change in the trend and national culture started to gain dominance over the regional cultures. With the development of technology and the identification of new opportunities of employm ent and business, people developed acceptability towards external cultures. As technological trade amongst countries improved, consumers in different countries started using same products. This trend continued over the centuries. People from the underdeveloped countries started migrating towards the developed countries in large numbers in search of better opportunities of employment. The technological exchange was followed by the cultural integration and unification across nations. This happened since the start of the industrial revolution till the late 1900s. Then came the era of massive exchange of cultures; particularly the 21st century. While all kinds of technologies contributed towards the development of mass culture, one technology that played the most important role in the spread of mass culture was the Internet. Internet provided people with the opportunities to communicate with one another almost free of cost from different parts of the world. Many of the brick and mortar businesses also got transformed into virtual businesses because of the reduced costs and increased profitability of businesses. The development and introduction of the social media websites aided in the creation of a virtual self of their users. Today, a vast majority of the people all over the world have similar lifestyles in that they use same products, are the employees of same organizations irrespective of geographic variations, speak same languages, and understand and respect one another’s values. This is what has fundamentally promoted the mass culture. There is a very small percentage of people who have not merged into the mass culture. Mass Culture and Popular Culture People sometimes use mass culture and popular culture interchangeably. â€Å"The development of the idea of popular culture is linked to arguments about meaning and interpretation which predate but become strikingly evident in the debates over mass culture† (Strinati, 1995, p. 3). There is a very thin line of distinction between the mass culture and the popular culture. The popular culture is the totality of the norms, values, and perspectives of a given culture. â€Å"Popular culture is made from within and below, not imposed from without or above as mass cultural theorists would have it† (Fiske, 1991, p. 2). Mass culture can be considered popular culture in a vast majority of cases, though mass culture is not necessarily always popular,

Behavior Plan Template Essay Example for Free

Behavior Plan Template Essay Max does not talk about his past or his family. He focuses everything on sex, power, and himself. He has had six charges of assault and brags about how many woman he has slept with. Max has a personality that draws people in and can be very socialble, but once things do not go his way or are not about him he tends to lose it. He sees nothing wrong in what he does and it is normal to him. He has serious anger issues that he does not want to admit and I feel it has a lot to with his past. Max possibly suffered from some type of abuse when he was younger, either sexual, physical, emotional, or even all three. He seems to have very low self-esteem by the way he brags  and puts down other ideas. Max does not know how to have a normal relationship with people, without making things about himself or using anger while interacting. Max hold irrational beliefs about himself and the world, which is not good because it leads to the negative actions he has been exhibiting. This type of behavior Max is exhibiting relates to rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Course of Treatment List two target behaviors and two interventions. Target Behaviors Anger Issues Relationship/Emotional Issues Frequency and Duration of Target Behaviors Anger Issues are serious for Max because he seems to not be able to handle his anger. This behavior needs to be targeted for three months because he has been so use to this behavior for a long time and he needs to learn how to control anger and react to things in a positive way. Relationship/Emotional issues is an important area that Max need to work on. He needs to be able have a relationship with others that does not consist of him being selfish or dominiating. This behavior needs to be targeted for three months because he does not know how to interact with people without being dominating or using sex to his advantage to get what he wants. Severity and Number of Relapses If Max does not get this behavior under control he could have to do prison or jail time. He could also run into the wrong person and lose his life or be seriously injured. He has relapsed around 4 times, it has been difficult for him. Max needs to learn how to have a normal relationship with a person, that uses the correct emotions and is not all about himself. There will come a time when he is truly alone and has nobody because they do not like how dominating and arrogant he was. He could resort back into depression. He has relapsed around 5 times because he cannot stop being dominating and arrogant. Interventions Max needs to be in angermanagment classes, along with group and one-on-one therapy. He also needs do some sort of community service. Max needs to be in  one-on-one therapy and group therapy. He should volunteer at homeless shelters, so he can appreciate what he has and improve his own self-worth. He should be involved in any sexual activity for 4 months. Goals and Objectives List two long-term goals, two short-term goals, and one objective to work towards each goal. Long-Term Goal 1. The long-term goal for anger issues is for Max to control his anger and not have any other incidents of assaulting people. 2. The long-term goal for relationship/emotional issues is for Max to learn how to have a healthy relationship with others, which he is not controlling or uncaring to the person. His self-esteem should be confidence and not arrogance. Short-Term Goal 1. The short-term goal for anger issues is for Max to not have any anger outburst or physical altercations with anyone for three months. 2. The short-term goal for relationship/emotional issues is for Max to understand individuals and think about them for he thinks about himself. Objectives 1. If Max can control his anger he will be able to be a happy person and can have a normal reaction to things in life, without feeling out of control with anger (Macavei, 2005). 2. If Max can learn how to have a healthy relationship and use his emotions correctly, he will not be alone, but can have someone who he really cares about and who really cares him (Macavei, 2005). 3. If Max can learn to not lose control right away of anger he can learn that he does not need violence, but can think before he reacts (Macavei, 2005). 4. If Max can learn to understand others and think about someone else than himself he can become a better person and not who is not depressed or hides behind negativity. He can truly understand himself and work on his own personal issue (Macavei, 2005). Discharge and Termination Plans Describe the discharge and termination plan for the client. Discharge Plan Max has been discharged after four months of treatment. He has shown he can  control his anger and really overcome his relationship and emotional issues. He has completed his anger management and therapy. Max will still have to take angermanagement classes once a week and therapy, but he will be free to live on his own and conduct his life normally. He has also been prescribed medication that will help with his mood swings. Termination Plan Max will be released and living on his own. He will have to check in once a month for a year to make sure he has not relapsed. If everything comes out good he will not have to check in after the year. References Macavei, B. (2005). The Role of Irrational Beliefs in the Rational Emotive Behavior Theory of Depression. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=4sid=9ad88650-04e2-482a-a3a8-bf1f672d5913%40sessionmgr4005hid=4109bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9hAN=18046159

Human Rights Analysis of South Africa

Human Rights Analysis of South Africa Naquille Curtis South Africa, post apartheid era, has had to refocus their attempts at bettering their demographics compared to many industrialized countries, as well as address inequalities within their current health care system. In addition to addressing those social and economic issues, their outlook on human rights has also been subject to refocus in light of the new era of political change. South Africa has had five constitutional changes within its history of being an independent republic, and their most current constitution (1996) had included Black African representation, a bill of rights (modeled from both the United States Constitution (1789) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)), and adult suffrage, which was a significant change to what the country was addressing before. Although their bill of rights and recent laws state that there is equality and rights for all people, issues of Xenophobia, unsafe abortion practices, educational and health-related disparities, and gend er inequality are still barriers in a country where these issues are supposed to be eliminated and upheld by the law (Crush, 2001). The State of South African Human Rights Amnesty International (2017), a nongovernmental global leader in addressing and protecting human rights, has listed several domains in which South Africa is not living up to what their constitution has been created to address. Issues include: polices excessive use of force and inhumane murder (chapter 2, section 12 violation), corporate accountability in relation to housing for underserved populations (chapter 2, section 26 violation), xenophobia (chapter 2, sections 9, 20, 24, 30, 31), womens rights (chapter 2, sections 9 28), LGBTQIA discrimination and hate crimes (chapter 2, sections 9, 18, 24), and educational inequalities (specifically those with disabilities) (chapter 2, sections 9 29). Amnesty International also reports that those who try to address these issues of inequality and human rights are also subjected to violence and being arrested, which is also a violation of inhumane treatment and freedom of speech/expression laws. Human Rights Watch (2017), another nongovernm ental organization, further discusses how South Africa has been excluding those with disabilities from education, as well as how lack of protection of queer individuals is showing that hate crimes are normalized within the country, and hosts a plethora of material in relation to which individuals, racially, suffer the most with these human rights violations.   Many of the discriminatory actions that South Africa is continuing to perpetuate on its citizens are factors as to why the country suffers in multiple areas, and that education, in particular, can be one of the vital ways to fix many of the issues that the country faces. Analysis of South African Human Rights According to Mapp (2014), the continent of Africa makes up 13 seats of the United Nations (UN) and, although the United Nations and other countries and organizations have had some say in what has been happening in South Africa in terms of human rights violations, there is not much these countries can do to enforce them because the United Nations has very little power in the enforcement department; rather, it is up to South Africa to realize their flaws and return to what they vowed to protect when the constitution was redesigned with help from other nations. Activism and speaking out against injustices are normally a great way to voice opinions and create radical changes when they are heavily needed, however, with the stressful security climate of the country and the harm being done to civilians who do speak out mixed with the complete marginalization of the those most affected in the country, South Africa will need to rely on the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty Inter national to make significant strides in the right direction. As Mapp described in their textbook (2014), All people should be equal under the law and should have equal opportunities to develop their potential (p.23), and South Africa can make the shift from making empty governmental promises to working with others to cultivate the safe and nurturing environment for all of those they had promised to serve. References Amnesty International. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2017, from  https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/africa/south-africa/ Assembly, C. (1996). Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Cape Town. Assembly, U. G. (1948). Universal declaration of human rights. UN General Assembly. Constitution, U. S. (1789). Constitution of the United States.  Accessed 28 March 2017. Crush, J. (2001). The dark side of democracy: migration, xenophobia and human rights in South  Africa. International Migration, 38(6), 103-133. Human Rights Watch. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2017, from https://www.hrw.org/ Mapp, S. C. (2014). Human rights and social justice in a global perspective: An introduction to  international social work. Oxford University Press, USA.

Communications Theory Essays -- essays papers

Communications Theory Communications is that what binds the world. Even though it is easy to give a simple answer when asked what communications exactly is, it is difficult to explain it so that it is understood clearly. There is a lot you need to consider with it. There are different areas concerning communications and very diverse functions in this area. Through this research report we will have a glimpse in the world of communications and with it more knowledge and understanding about it. Corporate Communication Corporate communication exists of different fields, which together have the purpose to make an image and identity of a company and its product. Corporate communication is a management instrument that combines all forms of direct communication and gears them for one another. Reputation is very important. The first goal of corporate communication is to improve the reputation of a company. A corporate reputation is a cognitive representation of a company’s ability to meet the expectations of its stakeholders. A company benefits from a favourable reputation by becoming the first choice of customers, investors, suppliers and employees. A corporate reputation creates shareholder value, because it contributes in and of itself to the company’s competitive position. A company benefits from its reputation, because:  · It improves cash flows and profitability;  · It acts like a barrier that impedes rivalry;  · It provides a company an enhanced license to operate; and  · It raises a protective shield against downturns and crisis. A company which is specialised in corporate communication is for example: The Corporate Communication Centre. C.C.C. is a joint initiative of the Erasmus University (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) and the business community. The centre tries to co-ordinate all the communication activities within a company and gives advice on communication policies and the organisation of communication methods. C.C.C. also offers training in corporate communication, executive courses and in-company courses. Companies as Shell, Unilever, Compaq Computers and Ernst & Young have a good reputation. They are multinational enterprises. They need a good reputation to be the number one in their field. Especially Shell, because its product (fuel, gasoline) is bad for the environment. But by introducing Shell â€Å"Pura†... ...alled Visual Communications Quarterly.It is co-sponsored by the Viscom division (also a visual communication organisation) and the National Press Photographers. Bibliography: Resource list: The Media Institute www.media.org/ The Communication Research Center www.jou.ufl.edu/commres/crc.htm Association for education in journalism and Mass Communications www.facsnet.org.cgi-bin/New/facs/4149 Media History Monographs: quarterly online journal www.scripps.ohiou.edu/mediahistory CED: the Premier Magazine of Broadband Communication www.cedmagazine.com www.ivca.org www.viscom.apanet.org www.artic.edu www.herron.iupui.edu The Blake Agency http://www.blakeagency.com/ Anderson & associates http://www.prexperts.com/public_relations_dir45.htm The McRae Agency http://www.mcraeagency.com/ Who is in charge? Corporate communications or corporate marketing? A European survey amongst the top reputation leading companies Centre for corporate communications, mem institute at the university of St. Gallen, Switzerland working paper, 1999 Markus Will, Malte Probst and Thomas Schmidt The reputational Landscape 1997 vol 1 C. van Riel and C. Fombrun

A Line in the Sand - Original Writing :: Papers

A Line in the Sand - Original Writing A line. A simple, one-dimensional mark. It may be the edge of a square, the shortest distance between two points, or markings on the road. Lines, gentlemen, are boring yet useful tools in life. Right? Wrong! There is one line I would like to tell you about. If you were seen stepping over this line, it would result in your death on the spot, no questions asked. This is a line drawn in the sand. This line has caused the largest population movement ever witnessed by humankind. Upon construction of this line, 3.5 million people had to move from one side and 5 million from the other. There are estimates that more that 20 million people were left homeless after the construction of this line. Who said lines were boring, not me! However, it runs deeper than that. Not only did people have to move, more than one million people were butchered on the construction of this line. The positioning of this line has been the cause of three wars: three bloody brutal wars. Now can I ask you, who in the right mind would make such a line as this? They would have to be mighty inhuman to draw a line that would kill a million people. But in the end, all they had done, was to draw a line in the sand, just a line in sand†¦nothing more, nothing less So where do you think this line is? Between Israel and Palestine†¦no Between North and South Korea†¦no. Between the former north and South Vietnam,†¦wrong again. The line, gentlemen was drawn in the state of Punjab, in 1947, in what was then undivided British India. The line created and separated Pakistan from India. Ancient India, which gave us modern numbering system, which gave us steel, which gave us surgery, was destroyed by a line in the sand. Culture and civilisations spanning thousands of years were split apart by a line in the sand. A country was shattered†¦.shattered by a line in the sand. Fifty-five years on and the trade of insults from leader to leader

Utilizing Leadership and Communication in Management

Communication and effective leadership are widely considered to be the major challenges facing managers in the 20th century in their respective workplace. It is crucial in any management scenario for an effective leader to be a fluent, competent and expert communicator. In essence, this can be applied to all leadership scenarios whether it is organisational, recreational or even military based. If not utilised properly, the situation of a manager who is lacking key communication qualities can easily lead to the downfall of the organisation.It therefore gives credence to the idea that a successful organisation is one who utilises the methods of upright leadership and effective communication in their internal and external management. The process of communication is defined as â€Å"an interpersonal process of sending and receiving symbols with messages attached to them† (Schermerhorn 2011, p. 457). This in a practical sense is the ability to convey a person’s verbal or no n-verbal messages to achieve an understanding of what they require (Brown & Cliquet 2008).This can be in the form of verbal conversation stating tasks that a person is required to do or in the non-verbal form which is usually in the system of body language to emphasise certain verbal directions. In terms of a business organisation, the manager must be effective in their communication otherwise their directions will be lost to either the employee, stakeholders or even the customers (Schermerhorn, 2011). This would lead to the fact that manager’s passing of information is only successful when they are actively telling the employee in regards to a task that they have to undertake.This can be in the form of active listening sessions or improving the means of communication. This can be through improving communication techniques in technology or closing barriers which are hindering effective communication (Schermerhorn 2011 p. 460 – 467). This theory must be applied to many businesses and organisations around the world because without the necessary effective communication, information cannot be passed on therefore leading to a stagnation of possibly crucial material (Bratton et. l, 2007). Senior Professor at the University of Auckland Peter Boxall suggests that in regards to communication with human resources across transnational corporations that: â€Å"[Communication] is the attempt to build ‘constructive’ relationships with trade unions†¦broad ranging discussion are held with extensive information provided to the unions on a whole range of discussions. Emphasis is also placed on techniques designed to enhance individual employee commitment to the firm† (Boxall, 1995 p. 6-57). This quote suggests that to maintain a successful relationship between transnational trade unions, you must have apt communication from the executives to the workers otherwise the flow of material will become stagnant and the information will not be pas sed (Boxall, 1995). An example poor communication can be attributed to Michelle Smeby’s case study of a fortune 100 company named Holistic Change Ltd.They had neglected to tell the stakeholders of potential changes in the information technology section of the workplace which would vastly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the workplace (Schermerhorn 2011), (Smeby 2011). Holistic Change Ltd. could have handled the situation better if they had planned the change; including informing the stakeholders so they could make a formative assessment on whether it would be beneficial to the company (Smeby 2011).It proved to be a hindrance to the company which led to a reduction to their share price. This was due to the shareholders not possessing a full access of all the information that the company was retaining leading to an uncertainty of future projections and profits (Smeby 2011). Many businesses fail to implement effective communication techniques due to the fact that the training initiatives and education could become very expensive and is usually regarded an unimportant part of the daily management of a company (Bratton, 2007).This does not just apply from the managers to the employees of an organisation, but it also applies with the organisations communication skills with the customer (Peterson, 2006 p. 36). It is stating that it is necessary in an organisation without proper communication with the customers, it will unable to either sell its goods or services. The ‘Business Source Complete’ journal article reflections are identical to the statements regarding the importance of effective communication with customer by suggesting that in the approach of seeking ew customers, the organisation has to undertake four key tactics. These include media relations, speaking opportunities, media partnerships and special events (Weber & Chadwick, 2004). Because the organisation is actively seeking out ways to express their company through methods of communication, it will most likely succeed in the objective of gaining new customers to improve revenue (Business Source Complete, 2004). This therefore gives credence to the fact that effective communication is necessary in the success of an organisation.In response to effective communication with to employees, it is crucial to apply with the effective and efficient communication skills which are stated by Schermerhorn as â€Å"the intended meaning of the source and the perceived meaning of the receiver are identical [which] occurs at minimum cost† (Schermerhorn 2011, p. 458). This therefore leads on to suggest that effective communication is derived from profound leadership due to the fact that if someone in a position of power can effectively delegate tasks they must be able to motivate, leading and be able to reduce the barriers of effective communication.Leadership is defined by Schermerhorn (2011) as the process of arousing enthusiasm and directing efforts towards o rganisational goals. Therefore, without proper communication skills, a manager will not be able to convey their instructions and therefore, makes the development of a leader stagnant. Claire Oldfield states her journal article that â€Å"[Leadership] unites people, develops opportunities and, crucially in these difficult times, ensures survival† (Oldfield C 2008, p. 69).This suggests that it is not only a way of future monetary successes, but a way to ensure that the organisation will survive during turbulent financial times (Oldfield 2008). Chadwick (2006) in ‘Leadership in Business Development’ states that â€Å"Successful business development leaders have a passion for their mission, and it generally shows in almost everything they do. By their positive attitude, intellectual quickness and exemplary work ethic, they inspire and lead the folks around them† (Chadwick 2006, p. 1) This shows that a leader must show some inspiration to the team in order for them to perform the tasks well.If the leader is able to communicate their vision in such a way that the employee’s will commit their resources into achieving an idealic solution for the manager, this will result in effective and efficient leadership (Schermerhorn 2011, p. 340). It also suggests that a leader must have the mental capacity to be able to inspire through motivation due to the fact that they are striving for the same result as the employee. Gage (2008) states in his journal article that the necessary leadership is one which strives on the use of reward and legitimate power (Gage 2008, p. ) (Schermerhorn 2011, p. 341). Schermerhorn (2011) defines reward power as â€Å"the capacity to offer something of value as a way of influencing them†. This is a practical sense is the ability to make an employee work to the managers standards by the use of offering an incentive (Schermerhorn 2011). This can be in the form of offering them an award or a salary bonus. Scher merhorn (2011) defines the use of legitimate power as the â€Å"capacity to influence other people by virtue of formal authority, or rights of office† (Schermerhorn 2011, p. 341).If the manager was able to exert his power by utilising these methods, there is no doubt that the workers of the organisation will work more effectively and efficiently because of the incentive which is offered for their services. There is evidence to suggest that leadership is helpful in any management scenario, but Peter Boxall states that â€Å"It takes strong executive leadership to bring about positive patterns of employment relations. In the end, it is the senior leadership of companies that should be responsible for the quality of employment relations† (Boxall 1995 p. 303).This quote by management professor Peter Boxall gives credence to the fact that it is necessary that without proper leadership, there will be no guidance for the rest of the team concluding to an inability to perform the tasks which are needed (Boxall 1995, p. 303). This will only hinder the process of management and can possibly lead to the termination of the organisation (Schermerhorn, 2011). In conclusion, communication and effective leadership considered to be the major challenges facing managers in the 20thcentury. It is crucial in any management scenario for an effective leader to be a fluent, competent and expert communicator.In essence, this can be applied to all leadership scenarios, but if not utilised properly can easily lead to the downfall of the organisation. A manager needs to also be a motivator through their leadership and communication skills because this is proven to the most effective way of getting the most efficient results from the employees. It therefore gives credence to the idea that a successful organisation is one who utilises the ideas of leadership and communication in their internal and external management effectively. Reference ListBoxall, P 1997, ‘The Chall enge of Human Resource Management’, Longman Paul Ltd. , Auckland, NZ Bratton, J & Gold, J 2007, ‘Human Resource Management Theory and Practice’, Palgrave Macmillanm New York, NY Brown, R & Cliquet F 2008, ‘Communication of Business Process Models’, BP Trends, Vol. 10, No. 9, accessed 3 October 2011, Business Source Complete Chadwick, S 2006, ‘Leadership in Business Development’, Printing Impressions, Vol. 49, No. 5, p. 114-115, accessed 3 October 2011, Business Source Complete Oldfield, C 2008, ‘Leadership’, Director. co. uk, Vol. 62, No. 4, p. 9, accessed 3 October 2011, Business Source Complete Peterson, K 2004, ‘Effective Communication promotes Business’, Kitchen and Bath Design News, Vol. 16, No. 12, accessed 3 October, Business Source Complete Ritchie, M 2008, ‘Leadership for Business’, Manitoba Business, Vol. 30, No. 1, p. 5, accessed 3 October 2011, Business Source Complete Schermerhorn et. a l 2011, ‘Management’, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, QLD Weber & Chadwick Hong Kong 2004, ‘Product & Promotion – Marketing Communications: Business’, Media, Vol. 62, No. 21, accessed 3 October, Business Source Complete

Discussion Questions Essay

2. How do data from qualitative research differ from data in quantitative research? A quantitative research question is an interrogative sentence that asks a question about the relation that exists between two or more variables. Its purpose is to identify the variables being investigated and to specify the type of relationship, descriptive, predictive, or causal, being investigated. A qualitative research question asks a question about some process, issue, or phenomenon that is to be explored. 5. Assume you are a manufacturer of small kitchen electrics, like Hamilton Beach/Proctor Silex, and you want to determine if some innovative designs with unusual shapes and colors developed for the European market could be successfully marketed in the U.S. market. What qualitative research would you recommend, and why? The US market is very complex and extremely different than the European markets. I would employ a combination of interviews and focus groups. The interviews would allow the researches the opportunity to go deeper in the causes and effects of the choices that the consumers choose. This will enhance the data and information to allow the engineers to review the surveys in order to see if the concepts are true. 7. What dilemma does HealthPlus face, and why has the company turned to focus groups for insights? From the readings, I read that Healthplus had a dilemma that was like well  positioned given the growing concern over rampant obesity, especially among youth. .HealthPlus was right when it surmised that consumers are skeptical that something healthy can taste good. They also learned that there are some triggers they can use for their advertising to get people to eat healthy. The company turned to focus groups to get information on preliminary analysis on the focus group transcript content so that they can get their survey’s back quicker to see what they can fix before sending out to consumers. Chapter 8 1. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the survey to those of observation. Under which circumstances could you make a case for using observation? The primary advantage to a survey over that of an observation study deals with the actual collection of data. With a survey the data collected is normally known and often is directed to specific answers due to the survey format where observational studies collect data in a haphazard way. However, observation can be a useful tool in certain situations. Observation is a very useful tool when the study must be concealed from the participants. In this manner someone can observe and the participants do not know they are involved in a study. This does present an ethical dilemma but often is required for successful data collection and study. 2. What ethical risks are involved in observation? In the use of unobtrusive measures? Any observations that involve individuals who are unaware present ethical concerns. Individuals in observation studies that use unobtrusive measures can be sneaky. Meaning the study can be concealed from those involved without their approval. For example, studies that make use of one way mirrors, hidden cameras, hidden microphones, etc. 5. The observer–participant relationship is an important consideration in the  design of observation studies. What kind of relationship would you recommend in each of the following cases? a. Observations of professional conduct in the classroom by the student author of a course evaluation guide. Direct b. Observation of retail shoppers by a researcher who is interested in determining customer purchase time by type of goods purchased. Concealment c. Observation of a focus group interview by a client. Indirect d. Effectiveness of individual farm worker organizers in their efforts to organize employees of grape growers. Participation

Csr Issue of Burger King Essay

Burger King Worldwide is a Delaware corporation that franchises and operates fast food hamburger restaurants, principally under the Burger King ® brand (also referred to as the â€Å"Brand†). Since the company’s founding as a single restaurant in Miami, Florida in 1954, we have grown to become the world ´s second largest fast food hamburger restaurant, or FFHR, chain as measured by the total number of restaurants. The board of BK sets the â€Å"tone at the top† by promoting an ethical culture that respects and values all employees and stakeholders and encourages compliance with all laws and company policies. Their vision is to be the most profitable QSR business, through a strong franchise system and great people, serving the best burgers in the world. Along with the vision, BK have a strong set of values that are the foundation of how they work day-to-day and help shape the company’s future. Burger King operated in business that is by the natural socially and environmentally sensitive. For instance, Food safety at BURGER KING ® restaurants is non-negotiable; The BURGER KING McLAMORESM Foundation has granted more than $17.6 million to students in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico since founding the BURGER KING Scholarsâ„ ¢ program in 2000; BURGER KING ® restaurants received PETA’S â€Å"Most Improved National Food Chain† award in their fifth annual Proggy Awards, which recognize companies for their progress; The A+ rating by The Better Business Bureau is Based on our performance related to ethical business practices. But inevitably, Burger King has gone through various legal issues, especially with certain pressure groups. Some of the disputes that occurred to Burger King, e.g. A trademark dispute involving the owners of the identically named Burger King in Mattoon, Illinois, led to a federal lawsuit; Controversies and disputes have arisen with groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), governmental and social agencies, and unions and trade groups over various topics; Further controversies have occurred during the company’s expansion in the Middle East. Disputes involving these many legal topics have affected almost every aspect of the company’s operations. The ethical policies and corporate  responsibilities practiced by Burger King that appeal to various stakeholders. Depending on the ownership and executive staff at the time of these incidents, the company’s responses to these challenges have ranged from a conciliatory dialog with its critics and litigants, to a more aggressive opposition with questionable tactics and negative consequences. The company’s response to these various issues has drawn praise as well as accusations of political appeasement from different parties over the years. It can be clearly seen the efforts the Burger King has put into fulfilling their responsibilities towards their respective stakeholders. In regard to initiatives, we found that the Burger king’s CSR is focused on 4 key areas: 1. Commitment to Food * BK provides detailed nutrition information to the guests so they can make informed choices. * BK’s HAVE IT YOUR WAY ® brand promise lets the consumers customize their menu choices to meet their individual diets and lifestyles. * Nutrition, quality, value and taste are all important attributes that can help the guests and their children make choices that promote healthy living. 2. Commitment to People BK continues to distinguish themselves from their competitors by being an exceptional employer. One of the ways that they accomplish this goal is by creating a culture that is Bold, Accountable, Empowered and Fun. 3. Commitment to the Environment * BK is continually researching and developing ways to make changes that will be positive on the environment without compromising operational standards. * BURGER KING ® Green Sessions * Reduce, reuse and recycle. * Purchase beef that has been raised in environmentally responsible ways. 4. Commitment to Corporate Governance * The core ethical and governance principles of BKC begin at the top. * As a condition of doing business within the BURGER KING ® system, every approved vendor must comply with the Code of Business Ethics and Conduct for Vendors. * They partnered with, and received recognition from, a variety of organizations that share our dedication to being a good corporate citizen  and improving our communities around the world. In conclusion, Burger King should focus on these initiatives that can create a long-term sustainable competitive advantage. For the problems and issues, no matter that organisation arises, but it is how an organisation deal with it makes it a successful one. References Retrieved from investor.bk.com/conteudo_en.asp?idioma=1&conta=44&tipo=43565 Retrieved from investor.bk.com/conteudo_en.asp?idioma=1&conta=44&tipo=43566 â€Å"Burger King Brands, Inc.†. Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved January 18, 2011. Burger King – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burger_King Jermaine, John (November 20, 2003). â€Å"The burger king and queen of Mattoon†. The Illinois Times. Retrieved September 26, 2007. â€Å"Burger King responds to trans-fat cooking oil suit†. CTV. Associated Press. May 17, 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2007. Martin, Andrew (May 24, 2008). â€Å"Burger King Grants Raise to Pickers†. The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2008. Scheck v. Burger King, 756 F. Supp 543 (11th Cir. 1991) Corporate Responsibility | Company Information | BURGER KING ®. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bk.com/en/us/company-info/corporate-responsibility/index.html [ 1 ]. Retrieved from investor.bk.com/conteudo_en.asp?idioma=1&conta=44&tipo=43565 [ 2 ]. Burger King – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burger_King [ 3 ]. Corporate Responsibility | Company Information | BURGER KING ®. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bk.com/en/us/company-info/corporate-responsibility/index.html

Buddhism- a Religion or a Philosophy?

Albert Einstein believed that, â€Å"the religion of the future will be a cosmic religion that should transcend a personal god and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both natural and spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual and a meaningful unity† (Jammer, 1999). Buddhism qualifies as a religion depending on one’s point of view. If religion is defined as a system of worship or devotion to a higher deity then Buddhism does not fall under the religious category (Buddha Dharma Education Association, 2012).However, if religion is defined as a system of beliefs and rituals and morals then Buddhism classifies as a religious practice (Harshorne, 1996). The aspects of religion that include rituals and devotions are the very key aspects of the human experience. Although occupying the same socio-psychological space as other religions, they do not all necessarily share similar characteristics (Molloy, p5, 2010). Western scholars and religious thinkers often refer to Buddhism as an atheist or nontheistic religious practice (Florida, 1990).Despite apparent contradictions between Buddhism and theistic religions there are many elements of commonality. This paper supports Albert Einstein’s claim on religion through exploring Buddhism as a contemporary religion relevant to reality in relation to science, while considering the similarities shared by Buddhism and traditional religions such as Christianity. Why does it matter if we consider something a religion or not? There are Buddhists who speak confidently on â€Å"Panel discussions† stating that if using the word religion becomes a problem then they will not use it (Los Angeles Interreligious Group, 1991).Buddhism shows no concern over whether or not it qualifies as a religion, as it is a matter of belief from within and not what people think of it. Smith, a religion historian states in his works that â€Å"beliefs are not primary to religion; faith is† (Florida, 1990) which reflects Buddhism’s emphasis on the importance of karma and leading a morally-based life. Smith also strongly believes that theistic religions invented the idea of god based on humanities â€Å"ignorance, weakness, fear, and desire†(Florida, 1990).Michael Stone is a psychotherapist and a Buddhist teacher who shares Albert Einstein’s view on religion. Michael attempts to incorporate traditional Buddhist teachings with today’s psychological and philosophical understanding (Stone, 2012). Science has created an abundance of contradictory views in traditional religious teachings that Buddhism stands out as a religion which accommodates scientific evidence (The Dalai Lama centre, 2012). Religion’s importance today has come into question when analyzed through the eyes of society’s logical mind.The Dalai Lama claims that â€Å"if modern science presents good evidence that a Buddhist idea i s wrong, I will accept the modern science, (he gives the example of the Earth moving around the sun, which runs counter to Buddhist scripture)† (The Dalai Lama Centre, 2012). Science has therefore made many questionable beliefs come to reality through trial and error research that many base their beliefs on evidence (Molloy, p179, 2010). Buddhism: The Buddhist religion entails a sense of sacredness with one’s self in relation to the environment and the universe. All religions are concerned with the deepest level of reality and for most religions the core or origin of everything is sacred and mysterious† (Molloy, p7, 2010). The â€Å"Three Marks of Reality† encompasses the embedded truth in Buddhist theology which reinforces the belief in having no god but rather finding the god within (Molloy, p132, 2010). Sacredness in religion refers to a dedicated practice to a religious purpose not the belief in a mystical figure who controls life as we know it.Sacredne ss is an interesting place of experience, and since there is a common misconception about Buddhism, the Dharma equips one to make a conciliatory meeting with whomever. The Dharma is part of the Three Jewels of Buddhism since it covers Buddhist teachings in â€Å"how to view the world and how to live properly† (Molloy, p131, 2010). The Dharma accommodates a variety of other views and appreciates those views for what they are. The emergence of Buddhism was based on the spread of Siddhartha’s teachings who was the oblivious son of a powerful king.The main components of Buddhist belief are: â€Å"karma, compassion and reincarnation†, which were conceptualized as a result of Siddhartha’s sudden exposure to reality’s misfortunes (Molloy, p128, 2010). These features influenced followers to adopt a peaceful and moral journey through life if they seek a blissful reincarnated-self (Molloy, 2010). Having experienced the â€Å"four passing sights† which involves living with nothing but oneself, Siddhartha began his journey towards becoming a world teacher (Molloy, p128, 2010).He practiced â€Å"The Four Noble Truths† which are the â€Å"truths about life, that suffering exists, it has a cause, it has an end and there is a way to attain release from suffering† (Molloy, p143, 2010). In Buddhist literature it is believed that worshipping a higher deity disregards the notion of â€Å"karmic results of action† which they strongly believe in (Thera, 2012). Similarities of traditional religions (Christianity): Religion â€Å"suggests the joining of our natural, human world to the sacred world† (Molloy, p5, 2010).Buddhism revolves around the life and lessons of Buddha, and Christianity revolves around the life and lessons of Jesus Christ, who are the two prophets present in both fields of practice (Los Angeles Interreligious Group, 1991). Both prophets followed the same strategy to uncover the worldly truths as they â€Å"stayed in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights’ facing evil, â€Å"Jesus by Satan and Buddha by the demon Mara and his daughters† (Los Angeles Interreligious Group, 1991). As the holiness’ representatives, both religions have a centralized authority figure such as the Pope and the Dalai Lama to carry on the teachings of God and Buddha on a global scale (Molloy, p391, 2010). Similarities in both Christians and Buddhists theological practice reflect the fact that despite the difference in beliefs in a deity the foundations share some common ethics. Buddhism’s conception of reality refers to the basics of â€Å"The Four Noble Truths and The Noble Eightfold Path† that can be applied to the Ten Christian Commandments (Molloy, p136, 2010).The Ten Commandments represent God’s rules of behavior Christians are expected to follow (Betty, 2008). The early stage of Buddhism was initially rejected as a religion by westerners. However lat er on, western scholars considered â€Å"Buddhist concepts of nirvana and dharma as parallels to the Western notion of divinity or God† and they refuted it (Florida, 1990). The manifestation of Buddhist characteristics attributed to God’s existence in theistic religions is partly based on Buddhism’s perspective on reality and needing no god to control their way of life (Betty, 2008).Yet religious symbolism has been an important feature of all religions, including Buddhism and Christianity. The Christians pray to Jesus in churches while Buddhists pray to Buddha in monasteries. According to Molloy, â€Å"religious symbols, myths, and terminology at times suggest a universal language that all religions speak† (Molloy, p9, 2010). The differences: While both are classified as a religion, a prominent difference and focus of many arguments surrounds the notion of Buddhism’s lack of deity to worship.Any forms of God-like elements in Buddhism are seen as ma nifestations of a specific physical form (Betty, 2008). Gods in Buddhism are essentially considered manifestations of distinct physical elements and mediums from which Buddhists can contribute their physical energies toward enlightenment, which is a state of spiritual understanding (Hartshorne, 1996). Buddhism does not place great importance on having a higher divinity because they don’t think it will have an impact or even make a difference when practicing their values (Hartshorne, 1996).According to Stafford, â€Å"Buddhism and Christianity have much to teach each other about Ultimate Reality—God or Buddha Nature† (Stafford, 2008). Buddhism is considered a â€Å"psychological religion† as it provides the tools within a person to attain full-fledged happiness internally rather than externally (Thera, 2012). Whereas Christianity is a religion of doctrines where the institution of the church controls Christian practices on life (Molloy, p391, 2010). Theref ore the ideas of ultimate reality differ greatly as both religions expect different outcomes from their practices.One focuses on what God expects while the other does not place any expectations other than attempting to reach personal happiness. The difference in guidance received by both Buddhist and Christian followers provides an understanding as to why Buddhism may not be considered a religion by some theist believers. Christianity stresses on the importance of human action based on God’s cosmic plan to impose good morals into society to fight between the good and evils life bestows (Molloy, p15, 2010). Buddhism on the other hand focuses on personal karma to justify the good reasons behind following a morally-based lifestyle.Pope John Paul II upset Buddhists when he stated that â€Å"Buddhism is an ‘‘atheistic’’ system and that ‘‘the doctrines of salvation in Buddhism and Christianity are opposed’’ (Stafford, 2008). The Pope’s words made it clear that he believes the rejection of a dogma in Buddhism raises a lot of questions in the sphere of religion when it comes to the nature of Buddha. Agreeably, â€Å"Christians have faith in God while Buddhists have faith in something other than God- emptiness, perhaps† (Florida, 1990).Since Buddhism and Christianity address â€Å"the relationship of ultimate- God or emptiness† as major opposing elements (Florida, 1990), Florida poses an interesting question regarding Christianity that â€Å"if ultimate reality is Emptiness, is the Christian forced to choose between identifying God with Emptiness and denying God altogether? ’ (Florida, 1990). This statement supports Christianity’s set requirements for fulfilling one's â€Å"obligations† with no room for personal opinion to God whereas Buddhism allows a progressive growth from within, with the world around in tune with one’s personal opinion (Silva, 2011).The pr ogressiveness of Buddhism suggests that there are no implications on what one should and can believe in, in pursuit of sacredness. Sacredness can either be defined as the emptiness attained in Buddhism when enlightened or â€Å"speak of the sacred as what people hold to be sacred† in Christianity (Florida, 1990) (Molloy, p 14, 2010). The holy books are another way to identify the difference in what is considered as guidelines or expected practices for both religions as they are not used for the same reasons.In Buddhism, there are many kinds of holy books known as the Sutras. Buddhists Sanskrit, serve as a guideline to a deep reality beyond â€Å"the reach of ordinary cognition and senses† (Thera, 2012). Buddhism believes in personal reason while Christians follow religious authority (Molloy, p19, 2010). Therefore, the Bible reveals the words of God that â€Å"cannot be questioned and are a compilation of claims about the physical or spiritual worlds to be accepted on faith† (Birnbaum, 2009). Can a religion both be atheistic and a religion?While attempting to understand what the topic of religion consists of, one must consider the fact that the term ‘religion’ was developed in the western culture thus representing their traditional idea of what is meant by religion. The western perception of religion â€Å"may not be entirely appropriate when applied across cultures or spiritual paths† (Molloy, p5, 2010). In â€Å"Going Beyond God,† Armstrong argues that many Westerners define â€Å"religion† much too narrowly because they use the Abrahamic religions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — and belief in the God of monotheism as the â€Å"standard† of what defines religion (Vincent, 2012).In a book called â€Å"One of Faith and Belief† Smith notes that â€Å"the world's religious systems . . . are not all variations on a theme; they do not give differing answers to the same question s, they do not operate in a common mode† (Smith, 1979). Therefore it is needless to say that contemporary ideologies about religion are no longer strictly based on teachings that cannot be challenged. â€Å"Whether we should go on or not to call it faith in God, depends directly on what we think of the universe not on what be thought of it† (Florida, 1990).New scientific interrelations with religions such as Buddhism, will formulate a new branch that is â€Å"both spiritual and scientific† which would be suited for contemporary society logicality (O’Brien, 2009). Religion â€Å"suggests the joining of our natural, human world to the sacred world† whatever that may be for anyone (Molloy, p5, 2010). Therefore, why should believing in a divinity improve the humanity-focused problems experienced in religion? Conclusion: If Dharma was assimilated into our culture as a daily practice and was not represented by the word â€Å"Buddhism† the world wou ld be a happier place.If children had to focus on their attention in early childhood education to learn to look at their mind, to regulate their emotions, to be trained in that way then having the name â€Å"Buddhism† to represent the practice would not matter (Los Angeles Interreligious Group, 1991). If you try to categorize Dharma or Buddhist teachings it is really challenging, because it is a combination of a science, a religion, a philosophy or psychology. Buddhism can be seen as a religion which focuses on a way of life that allows the adoption of teachings in any other religion appropriate to one’s life journey (Molloy, 2010).Having drawn attention to the distinct similarities and differences both Christianity and Buddhism share this helps us develop an understanding of the dynamics present in both religions. Based on these comparisons it is clear to say that despite the differences, â€Å"Buddhist thinkers are less intent on systematizing† Buddhist though t into theories of ethical action, and â€Å"are more interested in examining particular Buddhist views on what it means to be a moral subject† (Heim, 2011). Based on my personal observations, if you go to any Asian country where Buddhism is practiced it is clear to say that the followers have very religious behaviors.All in all, Buddhists practice with one goal in mind, to end suffering. Therefore the idea of a higher deity seems senseless if it does not have a direct impact as to aid moralistically. â€Å"Answering a question such as, do you believe in a god, a Buddhist may answer â€Å"is answering that question either way, going to make me less or more sad†Ã¢â‚¬  (Los Angeles Interreligious Group, 1991). Bibliography: Betty, L. (2008). What Buddhists and Christians are teaching each other about God. Cross Currents. 58(1), 108-116. Buddha Dharma Education Association (2012). Morality. Fundamentals Of Buddhism. A BuddhaNet Production.Retrieved from http://www. budd hanet. net/fundbud6. htm Birnbaum, R. (2009). In search of an authentic engaged Buddhism: voices from ancient texts, calls from the modern world. Religion East & West, (9), 25-39. Florida, R. E. (1990). Theism and Atheism in the Work of W. C. Smith: A Buddhist Case Study. Buddhist-Christian Studies. University of Hawai’i. Vol. 10, pp. 255-262 retrieved from http://www. jstor. org/stable/1390212 . Hartshorne, C. (1996). Buddhism and the theistic question. In Buddhism and the emerging world civilization (pp. 62-72). Carbondale, Ill: Southern Illinois Univ Pr.Heim, M. (2011). Buddhist ethics: a review essay. Journal Of Religious Ethics. 39(3), 571-584. Jammer, M. (1999). Einstein and Religion. Publish by Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://press. princeton. edu/chapters/s6681. pdf Los Angeles Interreligious Group (1991). An Early Journey. Buddhist-Catholic Dialogue. Retrieved from http://monasticdialog. com/a. php? id=334 Molloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the Worldâ €™s Religions. Tradition, Challenge, and Change. McGraw Hill. Fifth ed. O’Brien, B. (2009). Why Buddhism Is a Religion, and Why It Matters. Religion and Spirituality.Retrieved from About. com Tablan, F. E. (2011). Towards a Buddhist-Catholic interreligious encounter: a Southeast Asian perspective. Studies In Interreligious Dialogue. 21(2), p188-210. The Dalai Lama Centre (2012). â€Å"Happy Night in Canada: The Dalai Lama and Leading Scientists Search for Happiness†. For Peace and Education. Retrieved from http://dalailamacenter. org/learn/â€Å"happy-night-canada-dalai-lama-and-leading-scientists-search-happiness† Thera, N. (2012). Buddhism and the God-idea. BuddhaNet edition. Retrieved from http://www. accesstoinsight. org/lib/authors/nyanaponika/godidea. htmlStone, S. M. (2012). About. Centre of Gravity. Retrieved from http://www. centreofgravity. org/m_stone/ Silva. D. L. (2011). Radical Therapy. Buddhist Precepts in the Modern World. Retrieved from http ://www. accesstoinsight. org/lib/authors/desilva/bl123. html Smith,W. C. (1979). Faith and Belief: The Difference Between Them. Princeton N, J. Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://www. amazon. ca/Faith-Belief-Difference-Between-Them/dp/1851681655 Vincent, H. (2012). Christian Buddhism?. Buddhist Geeks. Retrieved from http://www. buddhistgeeks. com/2010/08/christian-buddhism/

Technology in the Healthcare Industry and Its Impact

I. Technology in the healthcare industry today and its impact The state of technology in the healthcare industry is that it is developing very rapidly. 10 or 20 years ago, you wouldn’t be able to find very many computers or technology at a typical doctor’s office. Most of the stuff was done with analog equipment and manual paperwork. Now, if you go into a doctor’s office, you will find it laden with advanced technical equipment and computer technology. You may not even find a pen or pad on the doctor’s desk! Technology has the ability to change the face of the whole healthcare delivery system and improve the quality of health and healthcare. Although there are many challenges that it represents, overcoming these challenges will lead to a more effective and better quality healthcare system in general. First of all, the use of technology in managing the healthcare system is currently in the stages of being implemented to a great extent. There is a big push to standardize medical records, for example, in an electronic format. The government is currently offering incentives for those who convert over to and put in use some form of electronic medical records system (Versel, 2011). They are also putting into place penalties for those who do not by 2015 (U. S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2011). In terms of the actual impact on the healthcare system, this shift to electronic records will not only reduce our premiums for insurance, but also streamline and speed up healthcare delivery twofold. It also cuts administrative costs for healthcare organizations and increases space, as they will no longer have to store bulky files or paperwork. They can replace all of that with digital records. In the long term, this transition to digital records will benefit everyone involved in the healthcare industry; however, in the short term there will be increased costs for all of us. The reason why is because there will be associated costs in developing and buying the systems to house the medical records. Not only that, but the training associated with getting everyone up to speed on how to use the new medical records system is an effort that will take both time and money. There will likely be some resistance to the change, but overall, this is a development in technology in the healthcare industry that stands to benefit all parties involved once it gets up to speed. Another way that technology is making an impact on the healthcare industry is in the treatment of patients. Complex microsurgeries and drug administration are a thing of the past. Now, a lot of the new facilities have specialized information systems and technology that utilize robots to administer medication and perform surgeries with a much higher level of accuracy than humans could do (Feder, 2008). Not only that, but technology and information systems are improving the treatment and diagnosis of patients for various diseases. We use technology to analyze blood and tissue samples, and also to take a look at internal parts of the body that normally would have required invasive surgery to diagnose and treat. This is clearly a move in the right direction for the healthcare industry in that the quality of care will improve without teaching human resources how to improve. We simply have to teach the human resources how to use the equipment and analyze the results. Unfortunately, not every facility has the latest and greatest technology. The drawback to this improvement technology has brought is that not all facilities will be able to afford the new equipment straight away. There are even places in other countries that really need the equipment the most, but don’t have the ability or the resources to afford them. Often at times, patients will need to be transported to other facilities to get the treatment that they need, and end up worsening in condition or dying along the way. The technology that drives the healthcare industry does have the power to save lives, however, it will take some time before the rest of the world is up to speed. II. Challenges in implementing technology In addition to the improvements technology is making in the healthcare industry, technology in general also poses some major challenges. For one thing, it does have a major impact on the delivery of healthcare services and their experience. For example, one of the positive points for many people in going to the doctor is the non-clinical aspect of talking and having an open forum in getting diagnosis and treatment. With the implementation of technology, however, there is an increasing concern that visits will become â€Å"less personal† and more about the diagnosis and treatment than the actual experience. According to an article in the McKinsey Quarterly, commercially insured patients tend to focus on the non-clinical aspects of a visit rather than the clinical (Grote, Newman, & Sutaria, 2007). However, a lot of the patients on Medicare and those that are uninsured tend to care more about the cost of delivery rather than the actual experience. Based on this, there is a concern that the shift towards more technological means will alienate one group of patients whereas they will welcome another. The shift to technological means will certainly mean a decreased cost in delivery. That is for certain. However, the shift to technological solutions won’t necessarily mean a decrease in the quality of the visit. More doctors will continue to use technology to drive their treatment methods, but overall it is up to the doctor to make a connection with the patient as the customer relations part of the job. In fact, I feel it will be more about customer relations than the actual treatment once technology has been fully developed. Doctors will spend less time writing down and crunching numbers on the computer and focus more on interacting with the patient and utilizing technology to drive a diagnosis and treatment. Technology will also make diagnosis more transparent as medical imaging devices will make things more visible to both the patient and the doctor. Overall, the shift to technological means will certainly bring on challenges in implementation. Doctors will at first have a hard time in getting up to speed on the new technologies and balancing that with the way they are used to doing things, and integrating it into their daily visits. However, as time goes on this will be less and less of an issue once doctors and patients accept new ways of treatment and technology in general. III. Technology in the development of medicine Technology has always had a place in the development of medicinal treatments and medical devices. Clinical trials are conducted all around the world with he promise of new and better treatments that will cure illnesses and increase lifespan and quality of life. The use of technology in clinical trials is helping to not only get safer and better drugs to the market faster, but also to ensure that there are no problems long term. It used to be that clinical trials were conducted on paper, but now technology is used to ensure both quality of data entry and also the monitoring of subjects in a trial. Technolo gy is also used to develop tests and experiments more efficiently than they were ever done on paper. The shift to technological means is definitely one of the mainstays in the development of medicine, and is a welcome addition that presents few challenges aside from the training of resources. In terms of development, technology has also helped to make processes more efficiently and easily to allow newer drugs to be developed at a lower cost than older traditional methods of conducting trials (ICON, 2011). Budgeting and analysis can be used to efficiently allocate supplies and funds, and the actual trial data can be run through information systems in order to analyze the data from a bird’s eye view and make decisions on its development. The impact of this is likely to be decreased costs for the consumer for drugs and medical products. IV. Recommended plans for the adoption of technology in healthcare organizations As mentioned above, there are likely to be some growing pains in the adoption of technology in the healthcare industry. Doctors will likely have a hard time with the shift to more technological means, and their staff will also likely suffer the same hardships. Ensuring a proper plan to implement a technological solution in a healthcare organization is therefore essential, and ensuring a smooth transition so that the customer is not affected in the process. Therefore, the following are my recommendations for a smooth transition: 1. Identify the technological solution to implement, and assess what modules of the business this will impact. 2. Notify the staff of what will be implemented, and create a training plan to bring everyone up to speed in advance of the implementation so that no one is taken by surprise. 3. Develop a plan to ensure smooth integration into the organization, so that delivery is not compromised. This may include implementing it in part so that the new technology is used alongside the old process that was used to perform the same function. . Develop a timeline for the actual implementation to be complete. This is so that the employees do not continue to follow old methods as a crutch for not getting used to the new technology, and so they know when the new process will be followed. The above 4 items will be absolutely critical in ensuring a smooth transition for any healthcare organization to technological means. The reason why these steps will aid technology implementation is because it ensures that there is enough time to train resources and integrate the technology into the organization. The reason why many organizations have a problem integrating technology is an ineffective change management plan. By introducing it slowly and getting all the required resources up to speed, there should not be an issue in change management. V. Final Thoughts Overall, technology is continuing to make an impact on the healthcare industry in a big way. Right now, there is increasing shift towards using technology to speed up services delivery and management of services. As the world becomes more technologically advanced, there will be an ever-increasing shift towards technological means. The key to implementing technology in any healthcare organization is a change management plan that gets everyone up to speed before the actual technology is implemented, and the communication of this change to all stakeholders involved. Once the change is communicated, steps will need to be taken to ensure training of resources and integration of the technology in the business practices. In terms of using technology in the healthcare industry, technology will lways continue to impact healthcare in development of products and delivery of services. Technology is always going to be used to develop the Healthcare organizations need to focus on change management and integration of technology rather than just implementation. Works Cited U. S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2011, April 20). CMS EHR Meaningful Use Overview. Retrieved June 6, 2011, from U. S. Depart ment of Health & Human Services Web Page: https://www. cms. gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/30_Meaningful_Use. asp Versel, N. 2011, May 31). Physicians Get Meaningful Use Payment Checks. Retrieved June 6, 2011, from InformationWeek Healthcare: http://www. informationweek. com/news/healthcare/EMR/229700213 Feder, B. J. (2008, May 4). Prepping Robots to Perform Surgery. New York Times . Grote, K. D. , Newman, J. R. , & Sutaria, S. S. (2007, November). A Better Hospital Experience. The McKinsey Quarterly , 1-10. ICON. (2011, May 1). Technology in Clinical Trials. Retrieved June 20, 2011, from Kris Gustafson: http://krisagustafson. com/gpage1. html