Nurse Initiated Thrombolysis

Coronary disease contributes to a high mortality and morbidity each year (Cowie, 2002). Thrombolytic therapy during elevated S-T segment elevation in acute myocardial infarction and new left bundle branch block (STEMI) has been found to have advantages in coronary disease management (Fibrinolytic Therapy Trialists Collaborative Group, 1994; Clare and Bullock, 2003) which include symptomatic delay and 30/1000 mortality reduction. Evidentiary studies suggest that six-hour delay in thrombolytic treatment implicates significant reduction in the mortality rate of thrombolytic therapy recipients (i.e. 30/100 before 6 hour treatment to 10/1000 upon 13-18 hour treatment) thus invoking systematic methods on the management of cardiology department to reduce time delays (Fibrinolytic Therapy Trialists Collaborative Group, 1994). The National Service Framework for coronary heart disease devised the 20 minute intervention (Department of Health, 2000) from the clinical onset of the disease, the so called ‘door-to-needle-time’, in response to heart malady. The door to needle time has been changed to 30 minutes as of April 2002 indicated for patients with myocardial infarction (Smallwood, 2004). To reduce the possible time delay and to reach the 75 % goal reception of thrombolytic myocardial infarction (MI) patients at 30 minutes, an alternative model, Phase III, were set by Coronary Heart Disease Framework (Department of Health, 2000) with an overall inclusion or additive roles of nurses that would cover initial assessment and administering thrombolytic therapy to uncomplicated myocardial infarction cases. Nurse-initiated thrombolytic (NIT) practice is relatively new, and the studies, qualitative or quantitative in approach, are few. Most of the topics for NIT study would include NIT feasibility, reliability, and perceptive dimensions. In the following paper, there is an attempt to create a review of the different studies concerning nurse-initiated thrombolysis. Elucidation of roles and nurse’s pivotal roles are deducted from the studies. II. Assessment Quin et al. (1998) conducted a study on the assessment of coronary nurses’ ability to determine patient suitability for the thrombolytic therapy using clinical and electrocardiographic standards and they found that majority of the nurses, 85 % of sample population, showed safe and appropriate management decisions.   The study population was limited to only ten Coronary Care Units (CCUs) in Yorkshire and Northern England and the methodology and data collection consists of vignettes and questionnaire forms for finding out suitability of nurses decisions. Andrews et al (2003) attempted to test track records of two acute chest pain nurse specialists (ACPNS) for 9 months within Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital and they found that the NIT diagnosis and administration by ACPNS achieved a median door-to-needle time of 23 minutes compared to 56 minute fast track system thus indicating time reduction and over-all efficacy in thrombolytic therapy in the Coronary Care Unit. Data obtained for tracking period from 91 patient records and 72 % (acute chest pain nurse specialists) ACPNS reception. A remarkable 51 % significant difference in patient proportion within 30 minute thrombolytic therapy was found between ACPNS and fast track system initiated by the on-call-medical-team. Qasim et al (2002) conducted comprehensive analyses and compared statistical variances of door to needle times for patients with acute myocardial infarction amongst three phases (I:1989-95; II: 2:1995-7; 1997-2001) at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, England. Their study indicated 9 %significant difference by patients treated within 30 minutes from Phase 1 (range 5-300 minutes) and Phase 2 (range 5-180 minutes) treatment audits. Systematic clinical review showed 0% improper NIT administered by coronary care thrombolysis nurses from a population of 24 patients which indicate 100% NIT efficacy. CCU (Coronary Care Unit) thrombolysis nurses accomplished set requirements prior to NIT practice— F and G grades and electrocardiogram interpretation. Qasim reported that fast-track and NIT may provide for myocardial infarction and bundle branch block management. Other studies similarly agreed on the adoptive role of nurses in thrombolytic treatment and suggested improvement in the coronary department by focusing at A&E department to improved thrombolysis (Heatherington et al., 2002). Loveridge (2004) on her study on the diagnostic interpretation of district general hospital (DGH)-, teaching house-, Coronary Care Unit (CCU)- and Minor Injury Nurses (MIU) nurses, indicated otherwise when she concluded that NIT is not feasible because of their lack of diagnostic skill and ECG (electrocardiogram) interpretation. Loveridge reiterated Savage and Channer’s (2002) concerns regarding risk of rapid assessment which includes intracerebral hemorrhaging from inappropriate drug administration and misdiagnosis. She finally concluded that NIT is un-feasible and requires education and training, a developmental program to secure NIT practice. III. NIT experiential dimension and ethics Humphreys and Smallwood (2004) counseled on the ethical aspects of nurse-initiated thrombolysis which focuses on the awareness and responsibility of NIT practice addressing related issues on the morality of professional practice and medical malpractice. Patient autonomy should always be considered and consent from the patients must always be obtained. Nurse’s perception or amicability towards NIT are positive in terms of attitude-orientation as indicated by the qualitative study conducted by Smallwood and Humphrey (2007) on thrombolytic agent administrators. Twelve nurses from a MidWestland Hospital in England that were authorized to administer thrombolytic agent were asked to complete an open-ended questionnaire on the expansive role of nurses on NIT. The study suggested overall acceptability of NIT work and other major themes that emerged were perception of ‘pressure’ to deliver best practice and patient management under NIT conditions. Thrombolytic activity and the additive roles, as suggested by the results of the study were ‘desirous’ based on a personal motivation to do good for the patients and to reach professional growth. IV. Criticisms Nurse feasibility based from the limited collation of studies was generally ‘agreed upon’ strategy to reduce time delays in coronary management. The authors (Quin et al., Andrews et al., and Qasim et al.) concluded that nurse-initiated thrombolysis is a safe and effectual practice for MI infarction and STEMI but, it is noted that there were the statistical ‘weakness’ on the methods that they adapted. Most notable is that they all have an extremely limited sample population for the NIT nurses and the administered population (i.e. MI patients). Additionally, the studies were all focused on the speed of thrombolytic delivery and not on patient safety. There are no studies yet constructed on massive or consolidated studies for the NIT nurses in the A&E and CCU departments. Although Loveridge attempted to compare feasibility of different departmental nurses for NIT, she adopted Quin’s ‘vignette’ method and concluded that NIT is not feasible for the current clinical environment. In reality, although nurses may have positive outlooks for the NIT management and their expansive roles, more consideration should be made on actual NIT efficacy. Aside from Andrews et al., there were no clinical studies yet on NIT which may determine actual field efficacy. On the level of practical practice, nurse initiated thrombolysis requires improvement in the nursing professional community. Methodologically poor studies on nurse-initiated thrombolysis indicate the need for further study of its’ clinical outcomes and efficacy. Works Cited A. Andrews, S. Chida, S.I. Kitchen, M.I. Walters, RJI Bain, and S.M. Heath. â€Å"Nurse initiated thrombolysis in the accident and emergency department: safe, accurate, and faster than fast track.† Emergency Medicine Journal, 20 (2003):418-420. Cowie M. â€Å"Introduction Cardiovascular risk: a UK priority–it's time to act.† Heart; 89(2002): 1. Claire C.and Bullock I. â€Å"Door-to-needle times: bull's eye or just bull? The effect of reducing   door-to-needle times on the appropriate administration of thrombolysis: implications and recommendations. EurJ Cardiovasc Nurs, 2(2003): 39-45. Department of Health. National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease. Modern Standards and Service Models. London: HMSO,2000. Fibrinolytic Therapy Trialists Collaborative Group. â€Å"Indications for fibrinolytic therapy in suspected acute myocardial infarction: collaborative overview of early mortality and major morbidity results from all randomised trials of more than 1000 patients.† Lancet; 343(1994): 311–322. Heatherington, CJL,  P Doyle,  JA Kayani,  and  DF Gorman.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Focus on emergency departments to reduce delays in thrombolysis. (Letters).  Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  British Medical Journal, (901)  2002: 1. Loveridge, N. Nursing Diagnostics and Electrocardiogram Interpretation in Relation to Thrombolysis. Emergency Nurse, 12 (2004):28-34. Qasim A, Malpass K, O'Gorman DJ, Heber ME. Safety and efficacy of nurse initiated thrombolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction. BMJ, 324 (2002);1328-31. Quinn T, McDermott A, Caunt J.. â€Å"Determining patients’ suitability for thrombolysis: coronary care nurses' agreement with an expert cardiological gold standard as assessed by clinical and electrocardiographic vignettes†. Intensive Critical Care Nursing, 14(1998): 219–224. Smallwood, A. and M. Humphreys. â€Å"Nurses’ perceptions and experiences of initiating thrombolysis: a qualitative study.† Nursing in Critical Care, 12(2007):132-140.      

Reasons Behind the Gender Pay Gap (Australia) Essay

Despite long established legislation and community standards, women are still far from equal to men in the workforce. Women working full-time earn 18% less than men. On average they also earn $1million less over the course of their lives compared to male counterparts. Labour laws have had a large influence in the size of the gender pay gap (GPG). The wage-fixing principles in the 1970s, has granted immediate collective remedies from industry-wide, award application. However awards are losing prominence with the rise of neoliberalism; and women with lower bargaining power become disadvantaged. This area of law has also had successful attempts of combating the undervaluation of female-dominated industries, although these standards have not been fully developed. On the other hand, anti-discrimination law has had a more limited impact on gender pay equity (GPE). It has mainly expelled the formal barriers that restricted women’s access to the public arena; however they are expected to conform to existing practices. Due to weak substantive provisions, and the judiciary’s unwillingness to alter existing systems, there has been less than desirable change to systemic discrimination. Today, the pay gap is largely attributed to the undervaluation of ‘feminised’ work, the influence of women’s primary caring role on career progression, and the managerial glass-ceiling effect. I THE SDA’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENDER PAY EQUITY Anti-discrimination laws have had a limited impact on GPE, since the liberal legal system have not been designed to change social structures, but merely to/ allows women to participate in existing arenas. The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) and its equivalent state laws have managed to dispel formal barriers to equality, but largely fails to accommodate women’s differences from men. The Acts attempts to achieve equality through the prohibition of two defined forms of discrimination – direct discrimination (DD) is confined to facilitating equality of opportunity, whilst indirect discrimination (IDD) allows some movement towards equality in substance by targeting a restricted range of systemic unfair treatment. However due to the conceptual complexity and evidentiary difficulties of an IDD claim, most cases have been framed as DD. This primary commitment to formal equality is inadequate. Women cannot always conform to male standards and they are punished once they deviate  from established norms. In Purvis, it was held that there is no DD treatment if an act is based on a characteristic or manifestation of a ground, provided that these are borne by the person. Women can thus be treated like other deviants, and treatment is only unlawful if it is applied inconsistently. This system affords women protection so long as they can conform to existing practices. DD arguably only covers blanket exclusions and prejudicial assumptions; although this is not a small area, it does not ensure equality of outcome or resource. In addition, the legislations have poor capacity to tackle systemic discrimination as a result of weak substantive provisions and conservative judicial interpretation. The ability of IDD to challenge disadvantaging practices is seriously blunted by the fact that the court can find these procedures lawful if held reasonable. Countries such as the United States and United Kingdom, upon which Australian anti-discrimination laws are based, have stronger laws. In the US there is a requirement of ‘business necessity’ whilst the UK necessitates ‘a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim’. The less onerous Australian standard assigns very wide responsibility to the judiciary to determine whether a disadvantageous practice is lawful. This open texture has allowed the courts in many instances to transmit conservative interpretations which preserve the status quo. The judiciary’s tendency to adopt narrow analyses may reflect an ignorance of the impacts of exclusion and disadvantage, given their relatively privileged social positions. The Act’s treatment of systemic disadvantage has been limited and inconsistent. II Labour Law’s Contributions to Gender Pay Equity The right to equal pay was first entrenched in federal labour law through the adoption of the 1969 and 1972 equal pay principles by Australia’s/n federal industrial tribunal. Due to Australia’s unique system of wage determination, the application of these principles had substantially narrowed the gap between men and women’s pay. Prior to these developments women’s wages were usually set as a proportion of men’s, under the compulsory conciliation and arbitration system of wage-fixing; on the assumption that women were not ‘breadwinners’. In 1969, this institutionalized sex discrimination in wage determination officially came to an end when the federal industrial tribunal implemented the principle of  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœequal pay for equal work’ in wage-setting. This measure had a limited impact, given that it only applied to instances where ‘work performed by men and women was of the same or a like nature’. This narrow interpre tation of equal pay only benefited women with identical jobs as men, leaving female-dominated industries unaffected. Nevertheless, 18 percent of women in the workforce enjoyed equal pay through the industry-wide application of the measures. These limitations were partially addressed in the 1972 National Wage Case, resulting in the new principle of ‘equal pay for work of equal value’. Under this standard, the tribunal can contrast different classifications of work within and across awards to determine work value; taking into consideration the skills, qualifications and conditions associated with the work. However, determinations of work value gave higher favour to masculinised areas of work, and functions linked with predominantly female industries were underappreciated. This concept of work value withstood challenge in the 1986 comparable worth proceedings. The collective, industry-wide remedies that trickled through awards led to an increase in the GPE ratio from 64 per cent in 1967 to 80.1 per cent in 1980. However equality is limited and rests on an implicit male standard. In addition, the scheme did not allow claims by individuals for a single workplace. The GPG has also been influenced by the neolibera l direction of industrial relations policy. Since 1993, the Federal Government has focused on the deregulation of the labour market, favouring enterprise over industry award settlements. The equal pay wage fixing principles were no longer connected with the primary method of wage determination; as pay increases were primarily gained from enterprise bargaining, whilst industry awards largely acted as safety nets adjustments. This process disadvantaged workers with lower skills and bargaining power. Difficulties with measuring productivity in service industries meant that women concentrated in these areas faced problems in productivity-based bargaining. In addition, the uneven and weak state regulation of non-standard casual work, left women, who predominantly do such work, particularly vulnerable after successive phases of neoliberal reform. Due to these developments, the GPG ratio had only increased 4.9 percent from 1980 to 2008. The decline of the institutional and legal structure that had provided women some protection has locked pay inequities. However, in recent years labour law has placed an emphasis on the undervaluation of ‘feminised’ work in labour law. The Industrial Relations Commissions in New South Wales and Queensland have established undervaluation as the threshold for making an equal remuneration claim. Undervaluation can be proven by showing that current rates of pay are inconsistent with the tribunal’s assessments of work value. The test did not regularly turn to a male standard. The Queensland tribunal particularly note factors which may have influenced the valuation of women’s work, such as occupational segregation and the over-representation of women in casual or part-time work. These advances had instituted significant gain wage gains for dental assistants, childcare workers and librarians. However these positive developments were contained when the Federal Government ‘covered the field’ in 2005, replacing them with ineffective principles that hinged on proof of discrimination. However the advent of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) may reaffirm commitments to a test of undervaluation. The successful application of unions in the social, community and disability sector has led to substantial wage gains, upon recognition by the tribunal of an undervaluation of feminised work. Although proof of discrimination is no longer required, the tribunal has refused to adopt a clear remuneration principle, and has insisted that its powers to issue orders are discretionary. The recent measures to tackle female undervaluation may be transient and its current foundations are unsecured. III FACTORS INFLUENCING GENDER PAY INEQUITY The GPG is partly the result of women taking work that accommodates their familial obligations, instead of career-enhancing work that match their skills and experience. The dramatic increase in women’s workforce participation in the last fifty years has not been offset by an increased contribution by men in the household, and women continue to be disproportionately burdened with family caring responsibilities. In 2002, an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey revealed that of employees who took a break after the birth of their youngest child, six per cent of men took longer than six weeks, compared to around 93 per cent of women. National time use studies show that the number of unpaid hours that men and women devote has not changed notably; with women being found to have  contributed 65 percent and 64 percent of household activities in 1992 and 1997 respectively. As a result of women’s primary caregiver role, they are pushed into compromising between paid and unpaid duties. In 1999, it was found that for families with both parents employed, 70 per cent of mothers exercised flexible working arrangements such as flexible working hours, permanent part time work and working at home, to give adequate time for child-rearing. Women have continuously been over-represented in part-time employment, with three-quarters of all part-timers being women in August 2011. However, these arrangements limit women’s ability to excel in the labour market given that most quality positions are structured for ‘ideal workers’ that can operate under full-time hours and without familial pressures. Flexible part-time work often cripples career advancement and most are precarious casual jobs that severely lack the benefits associated with standard employment (such as leave benefits, training, and higher remuneration). Women are generally penalised in the workforce for acting as non-standard workers. The persistence of the GPG can also be attributed to the existing undervaluation of work provided in female-dominated occupations. ‘Feminised’ work is associated with lower remuneration relative to male-dominated occupations. Wooden (1999) indicated that upon controlling for individual and job characteristics, the higher concentration of females in an occupation had a significant negative influence on general earnings. It found that the unequal remuneration of male and female-dominated occupations had created a gender earnings differential of around 4 percent, or one-third of the gender wage differential. This low appreciation of feminine tasks is a serious issue given that women’s employment remain highly concentrated in clerical, sales and service jobs. The comparative worth policy being implemented in recent years may effectively tackle this issue; although at present there are still a significant number of occupations that have yet to benefit from its application. The undervaluation of work undertaken in female-concentrated occupations contributes to the gender pay gap; and the comparable worth principle must be implemented more widely to overcome this problem. Another factor which contributes to the gender earnings gap is the particularly sharp pay inequity between men and women in management. Women are underrepresented in top management and a glass-ceiling phenomenon  operates which block the climb from middle to senior management. A recent study found that 65 and 90 percent of the gender pay gap (of 27 percent) in the sample cannot be associated with managerial characteristics and is potentially caused by discrimination. It was also found that unlike men, the financial returns to experience fall in the latter years for female managers.Women’s inability to break through upper management worsens the pay inequality between the sexes. CONCLUSION Since the 1970s, considerable progress has been achieved for women’s rights. Australia’s distinct system of wage-setting has garnered substantial collective benefits for women. However this system is now in decline and women are insufficiently protected in today’s deregulating markets. Anti-discrimination laws have proved disappointing given its limited coverage to equality based on same treatment as men. There have only been modest changes to systemic discrimination due to weak substantive provisions and a lack of judicial will. In order to further combat GPE, there remains a need to deal with the undervaluation of ‘feminised’ work, the lack of flexibility in good quality positions, and the bar that inhibits women from progressing to higher positions of management. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Articles Adams, K. Lee, ‘Defining Away Discrimination’ (2006) 19 Australian Journal of Labour Law 263. Baxter, Janeen, and Chesters, Jenny, ‘Perceptions of Work-Family Balance: How Effective are Family-Friendly Policies?’ (2011) 14 Australian Journal of Labour Economics 139. Broohim, Ray and Sharp, Rhonda, ‘The Changing Male Breadwinner Model in Australia: a New Gender Order?’ (2004) 15 Labour and Industry 1. Broomhill, Ray and Sharp, Rhonda, ‘The Changing Male Breadwinner Model in Australia: A New Gender Order?’ (2004) 15 Labour and Industry 1. Burrow, Sharan, ‘ An Unequal World’ (2004) 10 UNSW Law Journal Forum 38. Campbell, Iain, ‘Casual Employment, Labour Regulation and Australian Trade Unions’ (1996) 38 Journal of Industrial Relations 571. Campbell, Iain, ‘Casual Work and Casualisation: How Does Australia Compare?’ (2004) 15 Labour and Industry 85. Chapman, Ana, ‘Corporate Restructuring and D iscrimination’ (1998) 11 Australian Journal of Labour Law 1. Charlesworth, Sara, ‘Striking the Balance or Tipping the Scales?: The HREOC Women, Men, Work and Family Discussion Paper’(2005) 18 Australian Journal of Labour Law 313. Charlesworth, Sara, Strazdins, Lyndall, O’Brien, Lean and Sims, Sharryn, ‘Parents’ Jobs in Australia: Work Hours Polarisation and the Consequences for Job Quality and Gender Equality’ (2011) 14 Australian Journal of Labour Economics 35. Chesters, Jenny, Baxter, Janeen and Western, Mark, ‘Paid and Unpaid Work in Australian Households: Trends in the Gender Division of Labour, 1986-2005’ (2009) 12 Australian Journal of Labour Economics 89. Doussa, The Hon Jon von QC and Lenehan, Craig, ‘Barbequed or Burned? Flexibility in Work Arrangements and the Sex Discrimination Act’(2010) 10 UNSW Law Journal Forum 43. Frazer, Andrew, ‘Anti-Discrimination Law at Mid-life Crisis’ (2011) 24 Australian Journal of Labour Law 75. Gaze, Beth,‘Context and Interpretation in Anti-Discrimination’(2002) 26 Melbourne University Law Review 325. Gaz e, Beth, ‘The Sex Discrimination Act After Twenty Years: Achievements, Disappointments, Disillusionment and Alternatives’ (2004) 27 UNSW Law Journal 914. Gaze, Beth, ‘Twenty Years of the Sex Discrimination Act: Assessing its Achievements’ (2005) 30 Alternative Law Journal 3. Graycar, Reg, and Morgan, Jenny, ‘Thinking About Equality’ (2004) 27 UNSW Law Journal 833. Harbridge, Raymond and Walsh, Pat, ‘Globalisation and Labour Market Deregulation in Australia and New Zealand: Different Approaches, Similar Outcomes’ (2002) 24 Employee Relations 423. Harrison, Jane, ‘How Segregated are Australian Workplaces? Evidence from the Australian Industrial Relations Survey’ (2004) 7 Australian Journal of Labour Economics 329. Hunter, Rosemary, ‘Mirage of the Shrinking State’(2002) 16 The Australian Feminist Law Journal 53. Judge, Timothy and Livingston, Beth, ‘Is the Gap More than Gender? A Longitudinal Analysis o f Gender, Gender Role Orientation and Earnings’ (2008) 93 Journal of Applied Psychology 994. Knowles, Fiona, ‘Misdirection of Indirect Discrimination’ (2004) 17 Australian Journal of Labour Law 1. Lyons, Michael and Smith, Meg, ‘Gender Pay Equity, Wage Fixation and Industrial Relations Reform in Australia: One Step forward, Two Steps Backwards?’ (2007) 30 Employee Relations 4, 7. Major, Brenda, McFarlin, Dean and Gagnon, Diana, ‘Overworked and Underpaid: On the Nature of Gender Differences in Personal Entitlement’ (1984) 47 Journal of Social and Personality Psychology 1399. Preston, Alison and Whitehouse, Gillian, ‘Gender Differences in Occupation of Employment within Australia’ (2004) 7 Australian Journal of Labour Economics 309. Redman, Ronnit, ‘Litigating for gender equality: The amicus curiae role of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’ (2004) 10 UNSW Law Journal Forum 15. Rees, Neil, Lindsay, Katherine and Rice, Simon, Australian Anti-Discrimination Law: Text, Cases and Materials (The Federation Press, 2008). Rubery, Jill, ‘Performance- Related Pay and the Prospects for Gender Pay Equity’ (1995) 32 Journal of Management Studies 637 Smith, Belinda, ‘Not The Baby And The Bathwater: Regulatory Reform For Equality Laws To Address Work-Family Conflict’(2006) 28 Sydney Law Review 689. Smith, Belinda, ‘From Wardley to Purvis – How Far has Australian Anti-Discrimination Law Come in 30 years?’(2008) 28 Australian Journal of Labour Law 3. Smith, Belinda, ‘It’s About Time – For A New Regulatory Approach to Equality’(2008) 36 Federal Law Review 117. Smith, Belinda, ‘Fair and Equal in the World of Work: Two Significant Federal Developments in Australian Discrimination Law’ (2010) 23 Australian Journal of Labour Law 199. Smith, Meg, ‘Limits and Possibilities: Rights-based Discourses in Australian Gender Pay Equity Reform 1969-2007’ (2009) 18 Gender, Work and Organization 180. Smith, Meg and Stewart, Andrew, ‘A New Dawn for Pay Equity? Developing an Equal Remuneration Principle under the Fair Work Act’ (2010) 23 Australian Journal of Labour Law 152. Smith, Meg, ‘Gender Equity: The Commission’s Legacy and the Challenge for Fair Work Australia’ (2011) 53 Journal of Industrial Relations 647. 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Ethical situation in business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethical situation in business - Essay Example The laws of the government should be such that it will provide desirable outcome and easier enforcement. And the agents of the society engaged in the civil functioning leads to promote security to the individuals in the society (Avina, 2009, p.1). The social responsibility of company in closing down the firms and later on reopening (requested over years) the firms dumping of food instead of donating it to the food banks was a good decision towards social responsibility of the company. The company can lead to the improvement of the situation within the community with the help of coordination with the community leaders and the members of the society in order to reduce the intensity of crime rates in the concerned area and lead to the establishment of optimal policies which will be implemented. The firm may also focus on the dimensions of objective performance assessments and that of policy prescriptions paradigm which will be based upon the crucial assessments of the societal trends an d best care practices predominant in the local as well as global chain of network (Avina, 2009, pp.1-2). One of the most important ways in enhancing the social responsibility of the company is to properly scrutinize the utilization and visibility of the investments made by the company. The firms would be highly vigilant so that their investments are not under-utilized and that impact should be lowered intensively (Young, 2012). The company should also focus more stringently on the internal practices and control of the staffing management for enhancing the social responsibility of itself. The company must be highly strong in the explicit and the visible support with respect to the commitment from the senior management for the purpose of maintaining the internal controls, ethics and compliances programs or devising strategies which would directed towards the prevention and curbing of bribery and mal practices within the organizations which further accentuates the crime rates of the ar ea. The system of the financial and accounting procedures along with that of systematic internal controls will be highly essential for ensuring the maintenance of fair as well as accurate book records which would be guaranteeing that no amount of money is spent in bribery as well as expropriation by force and coercion. The ethics and compliance program should be also strong enough in the prevention and detection of the foreign bribery (Good Practice Guidance on Internal Controls, Ethics, and Compliance, 2012). The company may work with the other businesses and small scale companies hand in hand which will provide benefits to the company as well as the businesses and companies in collaboration. Working with the other organizations will create a social unity which can be manifested in fighting against the crime rates. For a strong internal control, the company may engage loss prevention personnel patrol within the shop itself who will act as real shoppers. They will act as persons who will be trying on different merchandise and stuffs in the shop and simultaneously be vigilant on the shoplifters and thieves and shall stop them while leaving the store. The patrol must be totally sure that the crime has been committed by the convict. In this world of cut throat global competitiveness a large number of retail companies are applying this technique and the personnel must be following strict rules although there is a very high liability risks attached

Project Management. Zeropain Project case Essay

Project Management. Zeropain Project case - Essay Example Acquisitions offer one of the quickest ways for a company to grow and improve performance; they also represent the largest area of risk taking. The acquisition of Teutonia Pharma AG by Alpex was a case of a ‘horizontal’ (DePamphilis, 2002, p7) acquisition where both companies were in the same line of business with the intent of finding operational synergy and an effort to diversify into higher growth products and markets. The fact that Teutonia owned a licence from CPW for the European market made it an attractive preposition for Alpex. However, Alpex paid a premium on the basis of sales projections of a product which was not even tested by the original manufacturer. Roll (1986) argues that takeover gains are overestimated, if they exist at all. Any bids made over the market price represent an error and are made on the basis of an overbearing presumption by the bidders that their valuation is correct. The entire handling of Zeropain represents an attempt to justify the acquisition. The basic rules for the testing, positioning, promotion, and launch of a product were ignored by Alpex management – to disastrous consequences. New products are the ‘lifeblood of the research-intensive pharmaceutical industry’ (Taylor et al, 2002, p106-7). Given the huge cost of development, in this case the premium paid, and limitations placed on patent protection at the time of approval for marketing, the need to bring products to market quickly is very real

Public Services Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Public Services Management - Essay Example Organisational culture shapes the different procedures within the organisation and serves to either obstruct effective goal attainment and problem-solving or facilitates achievement of objectives (Yilmaz and Ergun 2008). Differences in organisational culture in the public sector versus the private sector are substantial. The public sector is largely characterised by having bureaucratic management systems with a much higher emphasis on establishing control and compliance systems than building flexibility. In the private sector, there is much more emphasis on human relations and human resources, hence employees are engaged and consulted in much higher frequency than in public organisations. This essay describes the disparities between public sector culture and commercial businesses, with an emphasis on bureaucracy, internal talent collaboration, motivational strategy development, and the quality of leader/member exchanges. Research indicates that there are significant differences between private and public sector organisational cultures and, as a result, this disparity creates a variety of negative consequences related to contemporary public service management. Historically, the public sector in the United Kingdom has been dominated with bureaucratic management systems whereby decision-making is highly centralised and there is little to no consultation with employees in the process of solving organisational problems. However, in response to changing external conditions and new privatisation of public services, it was becoming recognised by public sector administrators that there was a need for decentralisation in order to build a more motivated, committed and collaborative team environment. Known as New Public Management, the goal was to improve managerial accountability, break down the hindrances of consensus management, and generally incorporate some of the more effective and foundational management ideologies used in

What factors should be considered by researchers when defining the Essay

What factors should be considered by researchers when defining the data required for their research;using two empirical studies - Essay Example duct the research in the best way to ensure that the investigated research question leads to data findings that contribute to the knowledge in the investigated field. Basing on two empirical studies, this paper therefore, investigates various factors, which must be considered by researchers in their definition of data that is required for their research. The reference point in explaining the facts of this essay bases on two empirical studies conducted in different areas. One study was conducted in Vietnam among injection drug users in two districts, to compare the prevalence of HIV and other associated risks among the drug users in the two different districts (Bergenstrom et al, 2008). Another study was conducted in the USA, involving different HVC treatment programs for HVC positive clients. This study however, studied two categories of these treatment programs, including the HVC drug free programs and the HVC MMTPs programs (Astone-Twerell et al, 2006). The two studies were conducted for different reasons, thus, the difference in their objectives. The study among the injection drug users in Vietnam was conducted with the purpose of establishing the prevalence of drug overdose in the region, including the main reasons behind this phenomenon. The additional voluntary HIV testing was aimed at helping to get more information about the relationship between drug use, age, and HIV prevalence. Therefore, the study samples were studied differently to establish and assess the prevalence rate, as well as the characteristics that are associated with non-fatal drug overdose among the injection drug users in the two districts of North Vietnam (Bergenstrom et al, 2008). On the other hand, the second study aimed at establishing the range of Hepatitis C Virus services, which are provided to HVC positive clients by treatment programs. In both studies, the research was based on drug use and the relationship with a specific disease. While the Vietnam study compares the injection

Examine protocols for the interview process Essay

Examine protocols for the interview process - Essay Example Each applicant is given a time slice to respond to the questions asked. Behavioral interview- It is based on discovering how the applicant behaved in the past employment. This interview method depends on the assumption that the past experience and performance will most probably predict the future performance of the prospective employee. In this type of interview, the employer already has in mind the kind of skills needed for the job and will therefore ask questions to determine whether the candidate has those skills. The success of any applicant will depend on the precedent behaviour. Working interview- This is where the interview involves the applicant being given a task to perform and watched with a view of determining ability to perform such a task. Information is then gathered, analyzed and a final decision arrived at based on the findings. Stress interview- This is a case where some interviewers intentionally try to induce stress with a view of establishing interviewee’s ability to withstand stressing situations. This can be done by using several approaches for instance, by not accepting something said by the applicant as true or by firing questions to the applicant. Open-ended interview -This type of interview uses an open ended question that requires a more comprehensive response along with an explanation and justification from the interviewee. It eliminates direct responses such as yes or no, right or wrong. Before appearing for any interview it is worthwhile to research some facts about the company on areas such as company operations, markets and challenges facing the company. Some of the vital information needed may include among others; the goods or services sold or offered the number of branches and offices, existing markets and its potential room for expansion. This gives the interviewee confidence to face the interviewers and answer questions as

COMPARISON BETWEEN WORLD WAR 1(WW I) AND WORLD WAR 2(WW II) reasons Research Paper

COMPARISON BETWEEN WORLD WAR 1(WW I) AND WORLD WAR 2(WW II) reasons - Research Paper Example The death of Ferdinand led Austria-Hungary to wage a war against Serbia (Hamilton, 2004). The mutual defense agreement, among countries in Europe, compelled allied nations to fight side-by-side despite not being part of the conflict. Austria-Hungary was supported by their allied nations--Italy and Germany (The triple Entente); while Russia was supported by France and Great Britain (The Triple Alliance) (Hamilton, 2004). Although the immediate cause of war was the assassination of the archduke, spiraling of the war out of control was contributed by other factors that were political in origin; and rooted in greed for power. Before the explosion of World War I, tension among Europe’s superpowers were increasing as they competed amongst themselves â€Å"...for trade and military power overseas†, which is true for Britain, France, and Germany; and for acquisition of the Balkan countries of southeastern Europe, as was true for Russia and Austria-Hungary (Hamilton, 2004, p. 8) . The increasing popularity of imperialism; the rise of nationalism; as well as the extensive armed forces and advanced military technology, urged the war to last for four years, until its culmination in 1918, when the Germans failed to conquer the Allied forces. World War II began in Europe when Germany invaded Poland in 1939.

Tow Qustions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tow Qustions - Essay Example Furthermore, program evaluation seeks to evaluate if the program is worthwhile, needs improvement or re-focusing. The program evaluation that sparked my interest is the assessment of the juvenile justice programs. The juvenile justice programs are tasked with transforming delinquents into socially functioning individuals. Rarely do citizens question the effectiveness and success of such a respected public institution. This evaluation utilizes SPEP (Standardized Program Evaluation Protocol) to determine the efficiency of the juvenile institution (Rossi et al., 2004, p23). The SPEP compares several juvenile justice programs to determine their effectiveness. Prior to evaluating this effectiveness, the researchers developed a meta-analysis of the programs. Meta-analyses are a definitive way used in assessing the best practices from the analysis of several studies on programs. The meta-analyses aim at improving the program, in our case the juvenile justice, to achieve efficiency and effectiveness (Bardach, 2012, p68). Other techniques used in the evaluation program for the juvenile justice program are the OJJDP’s strategy that assesses the current juvenile systems. This program evaluation aims at improving on the juvenile justice record of positively changing the lives of delinquents. The evaluation aims at instigating change and reform in this system responsible for the lives of misguided youths. It further aims at disapproving certain methods used in, such as the use of confinement to discipline delinquents. The results of the program evaluation are not definitive. However, the researchers leave several guidelines and recommendations that suggest the best way forward for the juvenile justice program. This way is based on the results gathered from the research. All stakeholders of the program are addressed individually as the evaluation seeks to improve on the program’s effectiveness

Issue about global business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Issue about global business - Essay Example Under such circumstances, outsourcing the manufacturing operations to the emerging economies is bound to take a toll of the American moral. The business class in America can readily create a large number of jobs in the country by basing their manufacturing operations in America only. This will not only provide the much needed jobs to the people who actually need them, but will further strengthen the American economy by increasing the purchasing power of the American consumers. This will also curtail a large number of social and psychological issues like addiction, substance abuse and depression, going by the fact that people will be able to channelize their energy in the jobs that are readily available. Hence the American corporations cannot be allowed to ship away jobs in the name of enhancing profitability and assuring commercial viability. Corporations do have a responsibility towards the society in which they operate and do

ICT impact on social networks size and strengths Essay Example for Free

ICT impact on social networks size and strengths Essay Information technology has formed the backbone of socio-economic progression. It has opened the social condensation and propelled communication and business progress to higher performance and productivity levels. However there are various implications on the society that are being looked at as checks and balances in this advancement. The hypothetical position on social networks as within the dimensional and convectional implications is that, ICT has reduced the strength of social networks as well as the strengths of the social networks. The overall and the subsequent repercussion is condensation of the social integration and incubating social diversity into a less dynamic society due to lack of social networks. Overview on ICT impact on social networks A debate has come up on this hypothetical implication on the social networks and how social integration can be reconstructed and strengthened again. According to various research attributes and findings on implications of ICT diversity in the society is mainly based on disintegration of social networks. Andreina M (2002) points out that information technology has become an important tool in the society. She argues that the impacts of the internet on sociability are more diverse. People with lower social skills are negatively affected by ICT developments. These assertion project ICT as a key element social network disintegration. Social networks, according to Andreina, M. , bring together people of different sorts and helps bond society constituents. What is the impact of ICT on social networks size and strength? The hypothetical argument of ICT disintegrating size and strength of social networks is based on the diversity of ICT. Alan N, John P, R (2002) point out that ICT is revolutionary. This makes its implications on social networks vilified. Current social-economic views on social networks and ICT Alan N, John P, R (2002) further argue that ICT is a major historical event. At individual level, the revolution might be related to the social impact of IT, in terms of new ways of relating to other people and maintaining social contacts. The behavioural impacts of two-way communications formats, like the internet and the telephone, i-phone and phone messaging. They are used subtly to establish and maintain social relationships forming new infrastructures that facilitate different patterns of interaction. These implications reduce the size and strength of the social networks. There is less communication between certain social partners and groups reducing social interaction. ii- Social networks A synopsis that draws out the contentious breakage of social networks is that they are units of the people who meet and mingle freely to discuss and share their aspects of live. Social networks have incubated new types of networks which fit in to the ICT revolution. Seen in the context of Andreina M (2002), cyberspace networks and cell phone communication-video conferencing social networks have emerged as the breakaway social networks as a result of weakening of human-social networks. The emergence of ICT weakened social networks, and Andreina informs of cognitive and social digital networks are part of the more general cognitive and social networks that individuals are in and can access. Traditional and electronic social networks In her argument on diversity of social network transformation, Andriena examines the rise of technology as also a filler of the gap left by the weakened and less sizeable social network. Social networks consist of mainly friends, family and business circles that regularly meet to share ideas and merge to reach various principal objectives. According to Andreina, this is the offline outlook of social networks. She argues that, the internet cognitive and cultural space cannot be considered separated from the offline experience. If conceptual, it is particularly true when considering the diffusion of ubiquitous technology and cross-channel integrated communications on the net. Andreina M (2002) This point out the dynamism in social networks is now being transformed into a less strong position which is the cyberspace and video conferencing in phones and group messaging through mobile telephony. Earlier outlook of the social networks drew out a picture of a cohesive society where in meeting and sharing through live conversations. The picture today is different, more mobile phone calls and emailing is seen to replace meetings hence, subsequent weakening and reduction of size of the social network. How social networks have changed with emergence of technology Emergence of ICT based networking has transformed the facade of social networking, especially on issue based perspective as well as cognitive socio-economic approach. Earliest communication technologies, like simple conversations that evolved into more long distance forms illustrate the basic nature of one-to-one targeted communications. Meyer. K. , John P, R, Alan N, Anthony, A. (2002); besides, major concerns on the social transformation focus mainly on social life and personal communication and mass communication. Erstwhile, Meyer K. , John P, R, Alan N, Anthony, A. (2002) argue that the change focus is on the social networks secondary activities, social network company and the social network location. Secondary activities feature group television watching and so forth while social company looks at type of individual representation in terms of rankings in social stature. Time spent by the group’s members, by family members or by friends has become lessened. There is also a decline in level of discussion and verbal communication in live meetings due to the ICT based communication through which the persons in the groups exhaust most of their talks successively and comprehensively.

Using Semi Structured Interviews Health And Social Care Essay

Using Semi Structured Interviews Health And Social Care Essay Before initiating the interviews, approximately eighteen semi-structured questions were formulated, some of which were changed or re-worded during the course of the interview. Interview subjects were selected based on their position. The name of the delegation leader for each African member state was obtained from the UNFCCC secretariat. For certain member states, where the leading delegate was unable to be interviewed due to security reasons or timing, an alternative senior member of the delegation was sought. A total of 23 African leaders were interviewed. Appendix E lists the African Group leaders who were interviewed as part of the study. The African leaders who were interviewed consisted of Presidents, Ministers, Ambassadors, Director Generals, Directors and other senior personnel of the countries delegation such as the UNFCCC Focal Point Representative. The choice of a semi-structured rather than a structured interview was employed as it offered sufficient flexibility to approach the individual respondents in different ways, while collecting the same data. All interviews were held in the various meeting rooms of Bella Centre and half of the interviews took place during the high level segment of COP15, i.e. between the 16th 18th December 2009. The interviews were pre-scheduled; however, due to the overrunning of a number of the COP15 Plenary sessions, a certain degree of flexibility was required by the researcher. In some of the interviews, an interpreter had to be used. In all cases, this interpreter would be a member of the same African delegation as the interviewee. The duration of each interview varied from 45 minutes to 1 hours and 15 minutes. Before each interview commenced, the researcher gave an introduction highlighting the purpose and background to the research, the interview questions, the length of the interview in terms of time and the confidentiality of the results. Most senior interviewees were accompanied by security officers, directors or special assistants. A number of interviewees had invited one or two members of their delegation to give comments or information in addition to their own response and these were also recorded. The interviews were recorded using a combination or methods. Some were recorded using a tape recorder, whilst others were transcribed or a combination of both methods was used during the interview. The intention was to use a tape recorder for all interviews conducted, as this would ensure the most accurate account of the conversations held. However, due to certain reasons, some security aides and ministerial assistants did not allow the use of a tape recorder. In these instances, the interview was transcribed and a synopsis of the interview was read back to ensure the accuracy of the data captured. However, this slowed down the progress of the interview. 4.7.5 Participant Observer According to Jorgensen (1989), participant observation is most appropriate when certain minimal conditions are present: The research problem is concerned with human meanings and interpretations gained from the insiders perspective. The phenomenon is sufficiently limited in size and location to be studied as a case Study questions are appropriate for a case. The research question can be addressed by qualitative data gathered by direct observation and other means pertinent to the field setting. Jorgensen (1989) further states that participant observation is especially appropriate for exploratory studies [as it is a] a special form of observation and a unique way of collecting data [] Direct involvement in the here and now of peoples daily lives provides both a point of reference for the logic and process of participation observational inquiry and a strategy for gaining access to phenomena that commonly are obscured from the standpoint of a non-participant. Furthermore, according to Iacono et al (2009), participant observation can arise from an on-going work situation where the researcher is an industry practitioner. Given this researchers professional status as a practitioner in the field of management consultancy and her current assignment as the Special Technical Assistant to the Minister of Environment, participant observation was used as a method to further understand the group decision-making process of African leaders within the context of the African Group. Observed were the daily activities in relation to how decisions were made, the interaction between delegates and the group dynamics. The formal African Group meetings scheduled from 8am 9am daily were attended, as well as the African Group meetings relating to the Kyoto Protocol between 7pm 8pm, each day. These African Group meetings were at the technical level. A total of 18 African Group meetings at the technical level were attended during COP15. The researcher also attended all four meetings of the African Ministers Committee on Environment (AMCEN) and the two meetings of the Conference of African Heads of State on Climate Change (CAHOSCC). The plenary sessions of the COP15 / MOP5 were closed to party delegates. However, as the researcher was registered as a participant to the Conference, further need to negotiate access to the plenary sessions was not required. During the meetings of the African Group, AMCEN, CAHOSCC and the plenary sessions, detailed observations and field notes were made, including observations on the culture of the UNFCCC decision-making environment. As a researcher, being in the midst of the decision-making process allowed my own understanding and notions to be continually challenged by the action and words of the African leaders within COP15. Conversations were had and questions were asked during the African Group meetings only. 4.7.6 Focus Groups According to Morgan (1997), Focus Groups are a way of collecting data through group interaction on a topic determined by the researcher. Morgan (1997) also states that focus groups are especially useful when seeking to gather a large amount of interaction on a topic in a limited period of time. According to Greenbaum (2000), the goal of a focus group is to delve into attitudes and feelings about a particular topic, to understand the why behind certain behaviours. Other researchers, such as Gibbs (2007) states focus group research involves organised discussions with a selected group of individuals to gain information about their views and experiences of a topic that is particularly suited for obtaining several perspectives about the same topic. Gibbs further states the benefits of focus group research includes gaining insights into peoples shared understandings of everyday life and the ways in which individuals are influenced by others in the same situation. According to Fern (2001) focus groups can be distinguished in terms of the research purpose they serve, the types of information and knowledge they produce, their scientific status and methodological factors. Fern (2001) also states that there are three types of focus groups i.e. exploratory, experimental and clinical. This research uses the exploratory type, as this type is used to explore a new issue, generate a hypothesis and for theory applications including generating theoretical constructs, causal relationships, models and theories. The researchers choice of using an Exploratory Focus Group can be summarised as follows: The nature of the topic under investigation; The exploratory nature of the research; The fact the researcher had ready access to members of the African Group; The data collected would strengthen the findings of the research in conjunction with other research methods adopted for the research. The focus group process consists of seven components. These include: group cohesion, the discussion process, the outcome, group composition, research setting, the moderator and the group process factors (Fern, 2001). Some of these can be controlled by the researcher, while others cannot. The central component is the discussion process and the exchange of information. The discussion process, in turn, affects the nature of the focus group outcome. Fern (2001) also states that group cohesion is important to the success of a focus group as it provides the reason for participants to contribute to the discussion. Group composition and the focus group setting affect cohesion, both directly and in combination. Morgan (1997) states focus groups generally comprised of 6 10 individuals, whereas according to Fern (2001), smaller mini-group focus groups are also common with 4 6 participants. Morgan (1997) also states that the amount that each participant has to contribute to the discussion is a major consideration in determining group size. Small groups work best when the participants are likely to be both interested in the topic and respectful of each other when the researcher desires to gain a clear sense of each participants reaction to the topic. The researcher conducted 6 focus groups comprising of 4 9 members. Compatibility is a major concern when determining the composition of focus groups. According to Morgan (1988), when participants perceive each other as fundamentally similar they can spend less time explaining themselves to each other and more time discussing the issues at hand. Morgan (1988) also states that the classic way to achieve compatibility is by bringing together homogeneous participants. A shared background or demographic characteristics, i.e. gender, race or ethnicity, age, location or residence, educational level, occupation, income, marital status or family composition are a common basis for selection. Too much homogeneity, however, can restrict the range of issues and positions discussed; therefore a degree of heterogeneity was sought in the selection of the African Group members. In this research, the participants were selected on the basis of gender, occupation and location (in terms of the African county they represented). Gender was chosen to ensure female representations amongst members. In terms of occupation, all the respondents were leaders within the environmental sector and had a relatively good understanding of the purpose of COP15. Locality was an important factor, as the researchers aim was to have a member from each of the African states represented in the various focus groups. This was not achieved, due to the difficulty of getting participants together at the same time due to the volume of meetings and side events being held during COP15. The size of each focus group varied from 6 9 participants as stated above. The setting refers to the space in which the focus group takes place. Considerations for setting include the ambient (i.e. tangible or physical) characteristics of a room, the tables, chairs and recording equipment (Fern, 2001). The setting of the focus group meetings was fixed for the duration of the conference. The set-up of the meeting room for the focus groups is illustrated in Figure 5 below. This is based on a group comprising of six participants. The date of each focus group meeting was fixed; however there was need to be flexible on the timing due to meetings and plenary sessions over running. Most of the focus group meetings were held during the first week of the conference, to avoid impacting on the meetings scheduled to interview Ministers and Heads of Governments during the second week of the conference. The majority of the respondents used for the focus group interviews, were technical members of their delegation, but all were in a position of leadership. Suggestions about the optimal number of focus group sessions range from 2 to 8 (Fern, 2001). Though most focus group research shows that fewer than five sessions are adequate, if the purpose of the research, as is the case with this study, is to collect a total population of thoughts rather than common or unique ones (Fern, 2001). Appendix F gives a breakdown of the focus groups held, the participants and the country of origin of the participants. The aim of the researcher was to achieve a good representation of leaders across the continent. Morgan (1997) identifies some more considerations in determining the number of focus groups. Probably the most important of these is the variability of the participants both within and across the groups. Within groups, when there are more heterogeneous participants, this will typically require a larger number of groups to sort out the different sets of opinions and experiences. Degree of structure of the interview also has an impact on the number of groups required. Less structured interviews, with lower levels of moderator involvement, require more groups. Another significant consideration concerns the availability of participants. If there are fewer potential participants available or if they are highly dispersed, several smaller groups of a smaller size are required to address the criterion of saturation. All these factors were considered in determining the exact number of focus groups used in this research. Discussion process (Foulkes, 1964, as cited in Fern, 2001) provides a series of factors which guide the focus group discussion process. These factors represent sequential stages in the group discussion. The first factor, social integration, is the opportunity for equal participation of all group members in the discussion. The second, the mirror reaction, is the individual participants realization that others share similar ideas, anxieties, or impulses and this then relieves the anxieties they feel in relation to participation in the focus group. Condenser phenomenon, as the third factor, is an activation of the collective conscious and unconscious that makes it easier to talk about the issues raised in the discussion. Finally, exchange, is the process of sharing information and explanations that makes up the bulk of the discussion. In the 90 minutes scheduled for each focus group, the first 10 minutes were devoted to the first two factors, social integration and mirror reaction. This included time for participants to check in and become acclimatised to the room and engage in light conversation with the researcher and other participants. Introductions were made and participants got to know a little about each other. Participants were then asked to take a seat around the table. The researcher set the stage in terms of the role of the researcher, the purpose, and the ground rules (i.e. use of audio recorder) and the role of the researcher as the moderator for the session (Greenbaum, 2000). Interview questions were tailored for about 80 minutes of discussion. Each focus group was conducted in a moderately structured manner. As such, the researcher was guided by a set of questions, but neither the exact wording nor the order of questions was predetermined. Likewise, the questions themselves were adjusted from focus group to focus group as information gleaned and data analysed from previous groups was used to guide each subsequent group. As previously explained in earlier chapters, fully structured style was not used as this research is exploratory and the intent was to determine the participants perspective. On the other hand, a fully unstructured approach was not considered suitable as the researcher possessed insights into the relevant discussion topics from an extensive review of the literature and her personal experience as a consultant/practitioner. Generally, the focus group began with each participant providing a brief personal introduction. Questions were then asked about Africas preparedness for the COP15. This was followed by questions relating to how the African Group worked. These questions were used to ascertain, whether there was an understanding and awareness amongst members on the decision-making process of the African Group, and whether the Group leaders fully understood the process. Furthermore, it was important to ascertain whether members of the group were aware of the background and commencement of Africas common position. Other questions that were discussed included those relating to the participants views on the impacts of Climate Change on Africa and the main concerns of the African Group. In addition there were questions relating to their views on whether they felt the decisions made by African leaders were rational and what the likely outcome from COP15 in terms of the expectations of the African Group would be. A final important component to the discussion process is the moderator. In a focus group, the moderator is a facilitation or discussion leader, not a participant to the discussion (Fern, 2001). Two important considerations must be taken into account when deciding on a moderator. These are prior experience and relationship to the participants (Morgan, 1998). As the researcher had both, she made the decision to use an independent moderator for the focus groups. Focus Group Outcomes The focus group outcome refers to the success of achieving the researchers goal. Fern, (2001), defined outcome as: Task performance effectiveness (i.e. quality, quantity, and the cost of information); The users reaction (i.e. satisfaction with the process and output), and; Group member relations (i.e. cohesive, compatible, and lively groups) (Fern 2001).

Intelligence failure is political and psychological organisation

Intelligence failure is political and psychological organisation Intelligence failure is political and psychological more often than organisational. Discuss in relation to at least two examples of intelligence failure. In this essay I will illustrate, through specific examples, the human condition and the psychological roots of surprise, the actions of policy-makers and an examination of organisational defects of agencies, and how they contribute to intelligence failures. However in order to understand what constitutes ‘intelligence failure, some contextual definition must be provided. The phrase intelligence failure often has highly negative connotations in terms of national security. Although it is also been used to describe situations such as the 1998 Indian nuclear weapons tests whereby U.S and Western policy-makers were surprised by the international incident that took place, even when that surprise caused minimal impact to their national security. Using the word failure to describe situations where negative consequences for national security are minimal may seem unusual however it highlights the imprecise meaning of the word. The amassing of, interpretation and eventual distribution of information to those in power is an ongoing process that can occasionally fail to depict events on the international scene accurately or adequately in-depth to provide them with either infallible information or total certainty.As a result, when surprises like Pearl Harbour and the 9/11 attacks occur, intelligence agencies bear the brunt of the scrutiny. It is interesting to no te that in a study conducted by Dr. Robert Johnston within the U.S. Intelligence Community in 2005 he interviewed several CIA officials and requested a definition of the term ‘intelligence failure from several of the interviewees. Some of the responses disavowed the existence of ‘intelligence failure while others placed the terms in the broader context of policy and decision making. It is apparent that one of the most difficult elements in intelligence analysis rests in measuring up enemy intention and removing the element of surprise. Surprise is essentially a psychological phenomenon that has its roots in human nature.This process is not made any easier if the intelligence gathered is unreliable, incomplete or just plain absent. Furthermore, knowledge about capability does not supply a perfect clue to intentionas will be demonstrated below. A common failing is to create an interpretation of the enemys intentions yet base it on the ideology or belief of the analyst and his home nation. Hindsight reveals that the element of surprise in the majority of large-scale wars fought since 1939 was unwarranted and a considerable amount of evidence of an imminent assault was available to the victims before the fact. In 1941 a number of high ranking administration officials expressed the belief that as long as the U.S maintained overall military advantage over Japan, war was unlikely to break out. All the evidence indicates that they are more afraid of war with the U.S. than anything else. U.S policy-makers remained firm in their belief that Japan would base its decision to wage war on military considerations. It has been argued that, as Japanese/U.S. relations were on a steady decline and with a large number of reports being received regarding possible Japanese aggression and aggressive intentions, U.S. officials had almost certain knowledge that war was at hand. Roberta Wohlstetter attributes the failure to anticipate the attack on Pearl Harbour on the massive number of irrelevant material being accumulated regarding Japanese intentions, euphemistically termed ‘noise. In addition, not all intercepts were decoded and the intercepts that were, did not all travel along the same communication routes and so ended up not rising the chain of command; no single person or agency ever had at any given moment all the signals existing in this vast information network. Wohlstetter also believes that intelligence officers could perhaps have foreseen the attack years before, if the U.S. had concealed spies within Japanese military circles and expanded its code-breaking capabilities. Of course, it can be further argued that success in warning can be indistinguishable from failure. If, for example, the defender acknowledges a warning and responds in time with defensive preparations then the attacker may cancel the operation. Thus the original prediction would be rendered invalid. The Japanese task force en route to Pearl Harbour had orders to abort if the element of surprise was lost. During the week preceding the Yom Kippur war, Israeli intelligence officers accumulated a substantial amount of credible information indicating unusual Egyptian activities along the Suez Canal. A memorandum was circulated to Intelligence Command which concluded that there was a high probability that Egyptian manoeuvres were only cover for an impending attack. The intelligence indicated a readiness for an offensive however on the eve of war; the intelligence material did not affect the strategic thinking of Israelis decision makers. They attributed their own line of reasoning to the adversary. Overlooking the possibility that the enemy might not follow the same line of thought the Israeli leaders displayed a fatal lack of imagination that separated them from their opponent and in this case, aided by hindsight, it is clear that when tactical facts differ from that of strategic possibilities, the former should be given increased weight in the decision making process. As established above, the cause of intelligence failure can be a result of an analysts own psychological condition influencing data, reports or opinions of others, likewise policymakers can be guilty of the same. In this next example I will demonstrate how not only the psychological condition can result in an intelligence failure. Since the 9/11 disaster public discussion has been focused strongly on the human causes of the tragedy and asking the question ‘What went wrong? And one of the failures of the intelligence community that had been overlooked in the beginning was the organisational structure of both the FBI and CIA. On closer examination, it is evident that the Bureau and CIA suffered from a litany of organisational weaknesses that can be attributed to being a major component of the 9/11 disaster. The structural problems the FBI faced were exacerbated by the fact the bureau was part of an Intelligence Community that had been be in opposition to information sharing, the CIA and FBI having a long history of poor communication added to divided responsibility geographically which invariably led to vast gaps in coverage of territory. Whilst the CIA was among the agencies charged with tracking terrorists abroad, the FBI had responsibility for monitoring terrorist suspects within U.S borders. There was however no clear distinction of responsibility for monitoring movement of terrorist suspects between the U.S and foreign countries. The bureau was considered so peripheral that previous to 9/11 the CIA neglected to put the Attorney General on its distribution list for the Presidents Daily Brief, the most important Community-wide current intelligence report. Consequently, terrorists could operate freely across borders but the U.S Intelligence Community could not. Whats more, J. Edgar Hoover had created a specific picture of FBI agents in a large publicity campaign that soon agents themselves began believing; they were glorified agents, in everything from movies to play cards with the ultimate goal for a striving ambitious agent was to work criminal cases and not sit behind a desk, and so this had an unfortunate side effect an aversion to technology and analysis. As one agents describes the ‘old-school mentality after the 9/11 attacks, ‘real men dont type. The only thing a real agent needs is a notebook, a pen and a gun, and with those three things you can conquer the world. With that perspective in mind, greater emphasis was placed on the more tangible criminal conviction, as opposed to a very absent terrorist attack. To further the argument, organisational incentives supplemented this way of thinking with opportunities for analysts promotion to senior positions highly restricted if permitted at all. Moreover, in terms of techno logy, the FBI computer system was so outmoded that it took up to 12 commands to store a single document, this coupled with an almost pathological distain for counterintelligence operations meant that billions of records were simply kept in paper files in shoe boxes and if reports did come in, they were not assigned a high priority level. The CIA also suffered from similar failings in its internal structure. When the organisation was created, it was charged with conducting missions to collect covert intelligence, engage in covert action and it also publishes National Intelligence Estimates (NIE). Thus in similar fashion to the FBI ‘bi-polarity of having duel missions law enforcement and intelligence- these tasks cannot be suitably carried out and the intelligence analysis can end up politicised. The CIA had not been particularly strong on terrorism since the late 1980s. William Casey and Robert Gates Director and deputy director respectively falsely believed that the Soviet Union was responsible for every act of international terrorism and formed the Counter-terrorism Centre (CTC). Even after the failed plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport in December 1999, the agencies did not heighten concerns over the ability of Al-Qaeda to strike inside the U.S. Everyone has someone they want to hold responsible for 9/11 and although different people have found different culprits, their point is the same: that individual leaders are to blame for the World Trade Centre and Pentagon attacks. It is however, dangerous to place the entire burden of responsibility on single individuals, though it may be understandable, as it is a natural human response after a great tragedy. It does however suggest the wrong causes of failure and thus the wrong remedies in tackling them. For instance, well-meaning ‘intelligence reform advocates including members of Congress and families, of 9/11 victims mistakenly fixed their sights on measure recommended by the 9/11 Commission, most notably the creation of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). It would be ridiculous to say that individual leadership is irrelevant; it would merely be more prudent to examine the less noticeable aspects of organisational life. If it was the case that leadership determin ed counterterrorism success and failure, then resolution to the problems encountered by the intelligence agencies would be easy. To conclude, it seems that the enduring defects in the FBI and CIA organisational structure, culture, and incentive systems proved to be a major debilitating factor once the Cold War was over and the terrorist threat emerged. These weaknesses ultimately prevented the agencies from exploiting 12 separate opportunities that might have disrupted the 9/11 plot. These agencies may be charged with preventing surprise but not all surprises can be prevented, such as the abrupt end of the Cold War and collapse of the Soviet Union. Furthermore it seems the danger of defining ‘intelligence failure by example resembling those above is that each case is contextually unique and can be argued with no end in sight. The important recurring element through the examples illustrated is the significance of surprise, regardless of if it is intelligence surprise, military surprise in the case of Pearl Harbour and the Yom Kippur war, or political surprise. Even if the intelligence community itself was not surprised by them, it was unable to convince the military and political consumers of intelligence, these events might occur; in which case it suggests the failure is one of organisational and specifically of communication and persuasion. Marrin, S., ‘Preventing Intelligence Failure by Learning from the Past International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence 17/4 (2004) p. 657 Marrin, S., ‘Preventing p.656 Johnson, R. Analytic Culture in the US Intelligence Community: An Ethnographic Study (Centre for the Study of Intelligence 2005) ch. 1- https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/analytic-culture-in-the-u-s-intelligence-community/full_title_page.htm (accessed 18th March 2010). Harkabi, Y., Nuclear War and Nuclear Peace (Jerusalem: Israel Program for Scientific Translations, 1966) p. 51 Kennan, G. F., Russia, The Atom and the West (New York 1957) p. 21 Betts, R. K., ‘Surprise Despite Warning: Why Sudden Attacks Succeed Political Science Quarterly 95/4 (1980) p. 551 Letter sent by Stimson to the New York Times February 11th 1940 Ben-Zvi, A, ‘Hindsight and Foresight: A Conceptual Framework for the Analysis of Surprise Attacks World Politics 28/3 (April 1976) p. 389 Wohlstetter, R., Pearl Harbour: Warning and Decision (Stanford University Press 1962) p. 385 Wohlstetter, R., Pearl Harbour p. 193 Shlaim, A., ‘Failures in National Intelligence Estimates: The Case of the Yom Kippur War World Politics 28/3 (April 1976) p. 378 Betts, R.K., ‘Surprise Despite Warning p. 557 Ben-Zvi, A, ‘Hindsight and Foresight p. 393 Schiff, Z., October Earthquake Yom Kippur 1973 (Tel-Aviv: University Publishing Projects 1974) p. 27 Shlaim, A., ‘Failures in National Intelligence Estimates p. 363 Shlaim, A., ‘Failures in National Intelligence Estimates p. 395 Goodman, M.A., ‘9/11: The Failure of Strategic Intelligence Intelligence and National Security 18/4 (2003) p. 64 ‘Threats and Responses in 2001 9/11 Commission Staff Statement Number 10 (13th April 2004) p. 5 Zegart, A. ‘9/11 and the FBI: The Organisational Roots of Failure Intelligence and National Security 22/2 (April 2007) p. 167 Lichtblau, E. Piller, C. ‘Without a Clue: How the FBI Lost Its Way, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, (11th August 2002) p. 1 Cumming, A. Masse, T. ‘FBI Intelligence Reform Since September 11 2001: Issues and Options for Congress Congressional Research Service Report No. RL32336 (6th April 2004) http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RL32336.html (accessed 17th March 2010) p. 13 Federal Bureau of Investigation, ‘The FBIs Counterterrorism Program Since September 2001 Report to the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the US (14 April 2004) p.51 Goodman, M.A., ‘9/11: The Failure of Strategic Intelligence p. 62 TRACES OF TERROR: THE INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES; C.I.A.s Inquiry On Qaeda Aide Seen as Flawed New York Times 23rd September 1998 p. 11 Russell, R.L., ‘A Weak Pillar for American National Security: The CIAs Dismal Performance against WMD Threats, Intelligence and National Security 23/3 (September 2005) p. 478 Zegart, A. ‘9/11 and the FBI p. 179 Zegart, A. ‘9/11 and the FBI p. 165 Treverton, G. J., Reshaping National Intelligence for an Age of Information (New York Cambridge University Press 2003) p. 32

Betrayed By God :: essays research papers

Betrayed By God   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To tell you the truth I have never really felt betrayed by God. It's most likely due to the fact that I haven't had many significant life experiences come up. Also when something goes wrong I don't look at God as a scapegoat. I feel you should blame whoever or whatever caused the tragedy. Blaming God is just the easy way out or just a quick answer to your problems. All this aside and even though I've never felt betrayed, I know others who have.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I work at a deli in my town and it recently burnt down. If I were the owner, I would have felt betrayed or denied. I mean, it's his life. It's the way he supports his family. One day he woke up and it was gone. Even worse is the time of year it happened, Christmas. This is the time when you need every penny but the only thing he's getting now is lost-wages paid by his insurance company. It doesn't even close to what he would be making if the deli were still up and running. But it's better than nothing, I guess.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  His business has been through a lot of hardships over the last 16 years. Another difficulty was the building of the Blue Route near his business. The construction blocked almost everyone from entering the building. I don't know if you could blame God for that sort of problem or maybe it was just fate. But with these dilemmas and problems, he didn't question why God allowed these things to happen. He looked insstead to the way he benefited from the experiences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One benefit was it made him stronger mentally aand spiritually. To keep a business going for three years with minimal customers is hard. It takes dedication and will to show up every morning and basically prepare for nothing, but he did . He was much more grateful when people came in and developed a better business. Perhaps God knew what He was doing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even the fire was a blessing in disguise. Some of the equipment was getting old and things just weren't all in top condition. So now he will have new equipment, walls, ceiling and so on. He wouldn't have had the pocket money to do this alone. Now you might be thinking it was just an insurance scam, but he had many inspectors come in and checked the cause . It was faulty wiring.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  God might have seen that things weren't exactly great and things needed to be done to help out in the future. Betrayed By God :: essays research papers Betrayed By God   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To tell you the truth I have never really felt betrayed by God. It's most likely due to the fact that I haven't had many significant life experiences come up. Also when something goes wrong I don't look at God as a scapegoat. I feel you should blame whoever or whatever caused the tragedy. Blaming God is just the easy way out or just a quick answer to your problems. All this aside and even though I've never felt betrayed, I know others who have.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I work at a deli in my town and it recently burnt down. If I were the owner, I would have felt betrayed or denied. I mean, it's his life. It's the way he supports his family. One day he woke up and it was gone. Even worse is the time of year it happened, Christmas. This is the time when you need every penny but the only thing he's getting now is lost-wages paid by his insurance company. It doesn't even close to what he would be making if the deli were still up and running. But it's better than nothing, I guess.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  His business has been through a lot of hardships over the last 16 years. Another difficulty was the building of the Blue Route near his business. The construction blocked almost everyone from entering the building. I don't know if you could blame God for that sort of problem or maybe it was just fate. But with these dilemmas and problems, he didn't question why God allowed these things to happen. He looked insstead to the way he benefited from the experiences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One benefit was it made him stronger mentally aand spiritually. To keep a business going for three years with minimal customers is hard. It takes dedication and will to show up every morning and basically prepare for nothing, but he did . He was much more grateful when people came in and developed a better business. Perhaps God knew what He was doing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even the fire was a blessing in disguise. Some of the equipment was getting old and things just weren't all in top condition. So now he will have new equipment, walls, ceiling and so on. He wouldn't have had the pocket money to do this alone. Now you might be thinking it was just an insurance scam, but he had many inspectors come in and checked the cause . It was faulty wiring.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  God might have seen that things weren't exactly great and things needed to be done to help out in the future.

Euthanasia and the Right to Die Essay -- Doctor Assisted Suicide

The Oxford English Dictionary defines euthanasia as â€Å"the action of inducing a gentle and easy death† (Oxford English Dictionary). Many people around the world would like nothing more than to end their lives because they are suffering from painful and lethal diseases; suffering people desperately seek doctors to help them end their lives. Many people see euthanasia as murder, so euthanasia is illegal in many countries. Euthanasia is an extremely controversial issue that has many complex factors behind it including medical costs, murder and liberty rights. Should people have the rights to seek euthanasia from doctors who are well trained in dealing with euthanasia? The bases for western knowledge, the Greek and Roman empires, usually supported euthanasia. Although they did not like giving â€Å"’a deadly drug to anybody, not even if asked for,’† by the patient, they preferred a gentle death as opposed to their patients suffering a miserable life (ProCon). It was not until the middle ages that euthanasia was actively opposed. In the middle ages the predominate religions of Europe were Christian and Judaism; these two religions did not approve of euthanasia because not only was suicide itself a sin, but the doctor who helped the patients would have committed the sin of murder. The three major religions that influence the world, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, all see suicide as a sin. These three religions have a major impact on the world today, so the trend of criminalizing euthanasia continued up into the modern era with euthanasia still being illegal in many parts of the world. The first law explicitly prohibiting euthanasia in the United States was enacted in New York in 1828 (ProCon). Since then many more states have outlawed ... ...2011. . Opposing Viewpoints."Introduction to Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints." Euthanasia. Ed. Carrie Snyder. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2000. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. http://ic.galegroup.com.library.collin.edu/ic/ovic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Reference&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=OVIC&action=2&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010134107&userGroupName=txshracd2497&jsid=af2eacb374dfea6a89c0773d16c35a50 Oxford English Dictionary. "Euthanasia." Def. 3. Oxford English Dictionary. Sept. 2011. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. . ProCon. "Historical Timeline." Euthanasia - ProCon.org. ProCon.org, 28 Sept. 2010. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. .

Destiny as a Fictive Device in Cats Cradle, Mother Night, and Jailbird

The literary genius of Kurt Vonnegut is evidenced by his ability to weave a story from the most mundane of characters and circumstances into an intricate web of possibilities for his stories by using literary tools such as cause and effect, congruence and destiny. Here we will examine Vonnegut's use of one of these literary tools, destiny as a fictive device, which serves to propel the three following books: Cat's Cradle, Mother Night, and Jailbird. Kurt Vonnegut is a master of fictive devices because he uses them to construct an intricate web of possibilities for his stories to proceed on. Destiny, as the dictionary tells us, is "a predetermined course of events often held to be a resistless power or agency," and in these three novels, Kurt Vonnegut implies that destiny is just the way things are bound to be. Some of the many forms of destiny used by Vonnegut to guide his characters and to shove his stories into the right direction include: destiny for people who don't believe in destiny; such as religious persons, anti-destiny; the idea of what might have been, and predestination; the idea that what happens to you is already decided. In Jailbird, Vonnegut uses a particularly obscure main character named Walter F. Starbuck. Walter F. Starbuck was a normal, law-abiding citizen in his fifties, with a wife and a son who didn't like him, but, by using destiny as a fictive device, Kurt Vonnegut creates an amazing story filled with adventure, love, and betrayal. In the novel Mother Night Vonnegut lays out the life of his main character, Howard W Campbell, Jr., from when he was ... ... "And, inwardly, I sarooned, which is to say that I aquiesed to the seeming demands of my vin-dit."(p137 Cat's Cradle). A vin-dit is "...a Bokononist word meaning a sudden, very personal shove in the direction of Bokononism,..."(p53 Cat's Cradle). By making the character of John believe in destiny, anything that happens, which sounds like destiny, the character will react to. This gives the author more to write about. Kurt Vonnegut is a great author of American literature because of how he uses literary tools to write his exciting stories. Destiny used as a fictive device is the easiest tool Kurt Vonnegut uses to fertilise the lives of his characters, but it is also the most effective. If more teachers taught about how destiny is used as a fictive device, then we would all benefit, as writers and readers.

Huella Proposal

Founded in 1999 in Kuala Lumpua, Malaysia, Huella Online Travel was an Internet travel portal targeting Greater China and Asian Pacific. Huella online travel agent is a retail business, that sells travel related products and services to customers, on behalf of suppliers, such as airlines, car rentals, cruise lines, hotels, railways, sightseeing tours and package holidays that combine several products. Huella ‘s Hong Kong was launch in 2000. Up to 2004, the revenue growth in Hong Kong had been less than expected. Huella market share in Hong Kong to be only 4% compared 9% in Singapore.This time, Huella wants set up a whole new marketing research to get a depth insight into Hong Kong online travel market. 2- OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: The previous research is very useful in exploring how people awareness of the Huella brand, however they are not conclusive of the public perception in Huella’s target market. In my opinion, we should conduct a research marketing strategy for Hu ella using a quantitative approach. From this research we should be able to identify: customers, competencies and competitors. Research Objectives: †¢ To identify demographic, economic, lifestyle, and traveling desire in Hong Kong market. To determine a match between consumers’ needs and how Huella online travel agents can be able to match these needs †¢ To identify main attributes of online travel agents that appeal to the target market†¢ To assess the target market’s purchase intent and purchase habits †¢ To determine promotional efforts that appeal to the target market †¢ To determine the price sensitivity of the target market for online travel agents †¢ To identify ideal channels to market the brand in Hong Kong †¢ To identify competition in Hong Kong travel agencies including brick-’n-mortar agents and online agents. – SAMPLING: Another part that is very important, how the sampling is done. Personally, I strongly re commend using online survey and face-to-face interviews because Huella is an online business. Yet online survey usually has low responds so I also want we have face-to-face surveys that will be more effective because Hong Kong is a small territory and high population. We can collect primary data by survey research and behavioral data. Sampling plan:Sampling size: 300 Sampling unit: white collar, young professional, foreigner travelers in Hong Kong. Sampling procedure: randomly Method: survey and behavioral data Demographics: age between 18 years old to 40 years old. Gender: male and female Professions: general Geography: Tsim Sha Tsui, Mongkok, Causeway Bay Contact methods – online survey, face-to-face. 3- ANALYSIS AND REPORT The result from this research will be put in power point and hard copy format.

Failure of Comet Essay

In the first part of this report, the writers focused on the process to undertake risk management, which including risk identification, analysis of probability and consequences, risk mitigation strategy and finally control and document. Subsequently, the writers did the analysis and hypothesis on how can risk management be helpful if De Havilland Company undertook risk management during the process of Comet project. While in the second part, the writers discussed different types of risk that related to the Comet project, such as, technical risk, financial risk, commercial risk and human resource risk. The most critical risk was technical risk because it may have lead to many problems, such as, damage of image, financial loss and unsalable product. Regarding the third part, the writers concluded the critical errors of the company made in the Comet project. In our opinion, one critical error was too big distinction of company pursue in a limited time. The research and development of high technology product itself implied huge risk and uncertainty that have to be handled within a certain period of time, let alone fulfill the extra new design elements in a short period. Another problem was their slow reaction of accident. They were over dependent on the opinion of designer, but in fact, the subjective judgment of designers didnt lead the company to get out of the trouble. In the final part, the writers reviewed the statement Fail is the price we pay for technological advancementand noticed that although risk management may help organizations face those risks and reduce their loss, risk cannot be total avoided in general. Without failures, our society may not be so developed. How risk management could have aided in Comet project As we know,

Like a Winding Sheet

Ann Petry’s â€Å"Like a Winding Sheet â€Å"defines a pivoting time line in history even though it is a fictional short story. This story took place in 1946 in the time when all the men would be at war and the women would be in factories making all the weapons and equipments that they would need. The women were the focal point in that era because they ensured that the men overseas were well equipped to be at war. The story was set in the summer of ’46 and had numerous place settings in which the conflict took place.The main characters of the story are Mr. Johnson and his wife Mae. Mr. Johnson’s love and fondness for his wife was a true testimony in this story. It also brought about the mere fact of racism and a man’s own conscience and mind playing tricks on him. LIKE A WINDING SHEET Like a Winding Sheet, written by Ann Petry in 1945, is a story that begins with a black man's tough day at work, but takes a twisted turn. Johnson comes home after a hard d ay planning to kick his feet up and enjoy a relaxing evening at home with his wife, Mae.The bad sense of humour Mae possesses begins to send Johnson over the edge and suddenly, something in him snaps. Johnson brutally beats his wife, quite possibly killing her. This story is very shocking, exposing to us a reality of our society, racism. In this essay I will try to show you that racism, specially in the United-States, can be a source for an imprisonment feeling for individuals, in this case, the bl In Ann Petry’s 1945 short story â€Å"Like a Winding Sheet,†. Johnson is a black male struggling with racism and societal pressures. Johnson faces many challenges.As one reads, one cannot help but feel his anger, frustration and tenseness. Petry tells it in the following way, â€Å"The knowledge that he had struck her seeped through him slowly and he was appalled but he couldn’t drag his hands away from her face. † Petry goes on further to tell us, â€Å"He ha d lost all control over his hands. † This rage Johnson is experiencing is described as a â€Å"winding sheet†. Johnson’s everyday routine causes anger and frustration to build up inside him. Get up, go to work and come home; get up, go to work and come home. †¦ are reserved to white people.She sends him an indirect message saying to him that because he is black he does not have the right to enjoy a coffee. This is a prejudice to his liberty and to human equality in general. Again, he cannot do anything about these problems. That day was like any other for John. He was oppressed and disrespected all day and had to take it all in without a word. This pressure might not have shown many effect in the story but the simple fact that John tightens up his knuckles at each of these stressing events shows us that all the anger he feels is kept inside him. Like a Winding Sheet Ann Petry’s â€Å"Like a Winding Sheet â€Å"defines a pivoting time line in history even though it is a fictional short story. This story took place in 1946 in the time when all the men would be at war and the women would be in factories making all the weapons and equipments that they would need. The women were the focal point in that era because they ensured that the men overseas were well equipped to be at war. The story was set in the summer of ’46 and had numerous place settings in which the conflict took place.The main characters of the story are Mr. Johnson and his wife Mae. Mr. Johnson’s love and fondness for his wife was a true testimony in this story. It also brought about the mere fact of racism and a man’s own conscience and mind playing tricks on him. LIKE A WINDING SHEET Like a Winding Sheet, written by Ann Petry in 1945, is a story that begins with a black man's tough day at work, but takes a twisted turn. Johnson comes home after a hard d ay planning to kick his feet up and enjoy a relaxing evening at home with his wife, Mae.The bad sense of humour Mae possesses begins to send Johnson over the edge and suddenly, something in him snaps. Johnson brutally beats his wife, quite possibly killing her. This story is very shocking, exposing to us a reality of our society, racism. In this essay I will try to show you that racism, specially in the United-States, can be a source for an imprisonment feeling for individuals, in this case, the bl In Ann Petry’s 1945 short story â€Å"Like a Winding Sheet,†. Johnson is a black male struggling with racism and societal pressures. Johnson faces many challenges.As one reads, one cannot help but feel his anger, frustration and tenseness. Petry tells it in the following way, â€Å"The knowledge that he had struck her seeped through him slowly and he was appalled but he couldn’t drag his hands away from her face. † Petry goes on further to tell us, â€Å"He ha d lost all control over his hands. † This rage Johnson is experiencing is described as a â€Å"winding sheet†. Johnson’s everyday routine causes anger and frustration to build up inside him. Get up, go to work and come home; get up, go to work and come home. †¦ are reserved to white people.She sends him an indirect message saying to him that because he is black he does not have the right to enjoy a coffee. This is a prejudice to his liberty and to human equality in general. Again, he cannot do anything about these problems. That day was like any other for John. He was oppressed and disrespected all day and had to take it all in without a word. This pressure might not have shown many effect in the story but the simple fact that John tightens up his knuckles at each of these stressing events shows us that all the anger he feels is kept inside him.