Culture Clash Essay

The article â€Å"Why Don’t They Like Us Overseas? Organizing U. S. Business Practices to Manage Culture Clash† by Thomas Begley and David Boyd discusses reasons and ways to strengthen corporate culture as it is the chance to expand overseas and to avoid so-called culture clash. Different countries ahs their own cultural beliefs, ethical norms and ways of doing business and what is considered normal in one country may be considered unethical and abusive in another one. Shared culture is the best for unity of purpose. For example, Americans are often wondering why others don’t like them. The reasons are refusal to sign agreement on global warming, national fixation on celebrity icons, etc. Actually, it is called international perception and every nation has national traits, beliefs and customs which are not understood and shared. When companies try to apply their corporate values overseas, they face a number of challenges and tensions as those people are provided with another mentality. Worldwide systems would be of great help as they offer customer responsiveness, global performance management, infrastructure capabilities, etc. The authors argue that global consistency is needed for overall mutual understanding. Global consistency is defined as â€Å"a means of increasing corporate efficiency†. (p360) To impose own values is not effective way out as overseas employees often resist as values are not universal and motivators are not similar as many Americans believe. I think that the article is very informative as it shows ways to cope with culture clash and to increase efficiency. The concept of cultural difference can’t be ignored when expanding overseas as employees have another values and beliefs. Cultural difference can be applied to every organization and company, not only those which are willing to expand overseas. Corporate culture is not national culture and, therefore, leaders should promote effectiveness through mutuality. References Begley, Th. , & Boyd, D. P. (2003). Why Don’t They Like Us Overseas? Organizing U. S. Business Practices to Manage Culture Clash. Organizational Dynamics, 32, 4, pp. 357-371.

A Cost Utility Study Health And Social Care Essay

In critically measuring this cost-utility survey the Drummond ‘s checklist was used as a guideline ( Drummond et al. 2005 ) . This checklist was chiefly created as a tool for critically measuring published documents but could be used by writers as a usher for bettering their studies. There are several grounds for utilizing such a published methodological guideline for economic ratings, this includes: It may increase the transparence of the survey – makes it easier to measure what the writers have done. Using such a checklist may let comparings between surveies – the reader is confident any differences in reported results between surveies are non due to methodology differences, if writers apply a similar format. The usage of a standard format may turn to the considerations of methods and lead to the betterment in quality of ratings. An analysis of the usage of different wellness economic guidelines to compare surveies found 75 % understanding between methodological analysis ( Hjelmgren et al. 2001 ) . The dissensions that did originate were in the pick of position, which cost included in analysis, rating methods and resources. As reported, such differences are expected given issues like differences in state wellness attention systems, and intent of the guidelines ( Drummond, Sculpher, Torrance, O'Brien, & A ; Stoddart 2005 ; Hjelmgren, Berggren, & A ; Andersson 2001 ) . Therefore, utilizing such a checklist, as a method of careful and systematic scrutiny of the published paper, allows opinions on its relevancy, value, and trustiness in that context.Health EconomicssHealth economic sciences and its application is a technique and theoretical account by which decision-makers can measure the costs of two or more disease intervention or wellness services, which can help in determination devising between the possible picks ( Robinson 1993c ; Shiell et Al. 2002 ) . The overall purpose of any survey that includes an economic rating is to supply information, which shows the advantages and disadvantages of a wellness intervention or service based on its cost-effectiveness and non merely on the clinical effectivity. It is now recommended by wellness guidelines, such as the one quoted in the appraised paper National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence ( NICE ) , that economic ratings are carried out at the same clip as clinical tests ( Birch and Gafni 2004 ; Weatherly et Al. 2009 ) . Therefore, it is really of import that the appropriate method of economic rating be used. There are many different ways of mensurating the results of economic ratings. Two similar types of economic rating of programmes or intercessions are Cost-utility analysis ( CUA ) , in which the result is a individual â€Å" public-service corporation † based measuring, and cost-effectiveness analysis ( CEA ) , in which the result is a natural unit based measuring ( Robinson 1993b ) . CUA and CEA estimate the comparative costs of different intercessions or interventions when they successfully achieve ends ( Levine and McEwan 2001 ) . Table 1 shows the difference between cost-utility analysis ( CUA ) and cost-effectiveness analysis ( CEA ) . Both techniques are used in health care to compare alternate methods or interventions etc, in footings of results and costs ( money ) . Table 1: Differences between two types of analysis ( Torgerson and Raftery 1999 )Type of analysisCostssConsequencesConsequenceCost-effectiveness ( CEA )Money Different magnitude of common step Cost per natural unit of outcome e.g. cost per unit of blood force per unit area reducedCost-utility ( CUA )Money Single or multiple effects – valued as â€Å" public-service corporation † Cost per unit of effect e.g. cost per QALYCost-effectiveness analysis ( CEA ) The primary result of a CEA is the ratio of cost per natural unit of result. As a consequence, CEA can merely be used to compare costs within the same disease ( Robinson 1993a ; Robinson 1993c ) . The strength of CEA is that it merely combines cost and effectivity informations to make a comparing. However, its failing is that it can merely compare within the same disease type and this attack does non give any indicant of whether the entire benefit of a intervention exceeds its entire costs.Cost-utility analysis ( CUA )The primary result of a CUA is the ratio of cost per QALY. As a consequence, CUA can be used to find the comparative strength of a penchant for each result ( Levine & A ; McEwan 2001 ) . Health attention ratings use the â€Å" public-service corporation † step of quality adjusted life old ages ( QALY ) in this type analysis ( Drummond, Sculpher, Torrance, O'Brien, & A ; Stoddart 2005 ; Petrou and Renton 1993 ; Robinson 1993b ; Torgerson & A ; Raftery 1999 ) . For the last three decennaries, research workers have used QALYs in the appraisal of wellness intercessions ( Sassi 2006 ) . For the QALY, the benefits are measured in footings of the overall index of wellness addition based on the impact on measure and quality of life ( Kernick 2003 ; Sassi 2006 ) . However, one challenge to this is that public-service corporations are a step of wellness that relies on pick to pull out a penchant. An advantage of utilizing CUA is that it can be used to compare costs across different diseases or wellness programmes as a standard step cost per QALY is used. The disadvantages of utilizing CUA are in the adequateness of the QALYs in capturing all the wellness attention costs of an intercession.Study DesignIn the debut to the paper, the research inquiry is clear in that this is a survey to show the cost public-service corporation of a supervised walk, plus beef uping and stretching exercising programme versus â€Å" best attention † . The pick of the aged ( aged 60 plus old ages old ) and reasonably down adult females as the survey group is based on old research demoing rate of significant physical inaction in this group. The paper does province the economic importance of the research inquiry in footings of the secondary results of physical inaction in aged, such as increased hazard of cardiovascular disease or musculoskeletal upsets. In add-on, the importance is besides stated in term of a quality of life addition in older grownups set abouting moderate physical activity. It is really of import to within an economic paper to stipulate the point of view taken, since an point may be from one point of view may non be from another. As a consequence, the point of view of the CUA can impact act upon the cost/ benefit ratio ( Robinson 1993c ) , and the point of view is clearly stated in the paper. This CUA is being looked at from the wellness system perspective, peculiarly decision-makers in Primary Care, instead than hospital position. Examples of this are: The statement, â€Å" †¦ , the present survey could assist determination shapers to heighten the preventive function of primary attention†¦ . † , found in the decision of the abstract. The statement, â€Å" †¦ , as a wellness system resources are limited, the decision-maker often selects the schemes†¦ † , found in the debut. In this paper, the intercession ( exercise programme ) is clearly stated but inside informations of the control â€Å" best attention † is brief, an premise is made by the writers that the reader is cognizant of what this entails. This is of import because â€Å" best attention † may change from state to state will do it hard to reiterate the test or even use the consequences straight ( Greenhalgh 1997a ) . One inquiry asked by the Drummond Checklist in the subdivision of â€Å" Study Design † ( Drummond, Sculpher, Torrance, O'Brien, & A ; Stoddart 2005 ) looks at whether the paper reviewed has described viing options. Within this paper, the viing options are good described, within its debut and treatment. In footings of a survey designed as a randomized controlled test, the survey described in the paper seems reasonable, with clear inclusion and exclusion standards stated and a clear flow chart of the participants throughout the trail. However, a point about to do about the paper is the intercession was over a six-month period and follow-up appraisal was at six months, hence hard to see any impact of sustainability of the intercession.Data CollectionThe paper used the EQ-5D questionnaire as one of the measuring tools in the trail for primary results and it clearly states this is used for the economic rating. The common construction of economic ratings is that it involves the measuring of inputs ( costs ) and the results ( benefits ) ( Weatherly, Drummond, Claxton, Cookson, Ferguson, Godfrey, Rice, Sculpher, & A ; Sowden 2009 ) .EQ-5DThe benefits of the intercession demand to be identified, so it is important when looking at results of wellness attention to be able to mensurate provinc es of wellness in a simple standardized manner ( Anon 1998 ; Kind et Al. 1998 ) . As a consequence, the EQ-5D questionnaire was developed and validated as such a generic province of wellness measuring tool by the EuroQuol Group, an international research web established in 1987A ( Brooks 1996 ; Kind, Dolan, Gudex, & A ; Williams 1998 ) . Subsequently, the EQ-5D being able to mensurate these alterations in wellness province is used in economic ratings. However, there are restrictions to the EQ-5D. It is deserving observing that a study of a representative population utilizing the EQ-5D did happen of import differences in bomber groups, such as higher rates of anxiousness or depression systematically reported by adult females than work forces ( Kind, Dolan, Gudex, & A ; Williams 1998 ) .CostssThe paper describes the method used for the measures of resource and the currency used for the unit costs, Euros. However, the survey examined merely direct costs incurred after each participant had seen the physician and does non include indirect costs. There are grounds for this given in the paper: The statement, â€Å" †¦ did non include other possible costs because the clinical analysis did non happen statistically different alterations in the usage of the National Health System†¦ † in the Methods. The statement, â€Å" †¦ the enlisting did non necessitate any extra clip by the practician. † in the Methods. There is no ground to believe that the costs used do non reflect the true costs for the resources used. However, the paper does non province implicitly the costs for the control group, those acquiring â€Å" best attention † . The chief cost incurred in this survey is for the intercession, which was the fixed cost of wage for a alumnus in athleticss scientific discipline in wellness publicity and this is referenced from authorities guidelines. This cost is shown in â€Å" Table 2 † , which reports the incremental cost per individual, i.e. the extra cost to bring forth one extra unit of result. This survey did non set or dismiss the costs. This would be necessary if more resources were outlaid at the beginning ( Robinson 1993a ) , for illustration in purchasing capital outgos like exercising equipment. This was clearly non the instance with respect to the intercession studied.Analysis and reading of consequencesWithin the tabular arraies of the paper, the consequences for the primary result are clearly reported and the types of statistical and economic analysis carried out.Statistical analysisIn theory, systematic prejudice is avoided in a randomized controlled test by choosing participants from a population and randomizing them to the different groups ( Greenhalgh 1997a ) . In a survey, the baseline informations collected on each group is compared with each other to look for choice prejudice ( Bruce et al. 2008 ) . But, there may hold been possible for choice prejudice in this test, as there were some systematic differences between groups, with the intercession group being somewhat less down and less over weight and younger than control group. However, the paper does describe that these differences seen were non statistically important. As there were differences well in the agencies of the datasets, the paper used the nonparametric Kolgomorov-Smirnov trial utilizing the rectification of Lillifors, a trial to see whether two samples are from the same distribution. As consequence the paper presents information to take the uncertainty of choice prejudice, nevertheless, in the paper it was non clearly stated if the randomization was blinded.Economic AnalysisIn the appraised paper, CUA is clearly stated as the signifier of economic rating used, because the two intercessions â€Å" best attention † and supervised exercising programme are non straight comparable in footings of a natural unit of result. In this paper, CUA is the most appropriate as the results of the intercession studied are multi-dimensional ( Greenhalgh 1997b ) . In the â€Å" Analysis and Interpretation of consequences † ( Drummond, Sculpher, Torrance, O'Brien, & A ; Stoddart 2005 ) in the Drummond Checklist in the subdivision of expressions at whether the paper reviewed has described attack taken to sensitivity analysis and this paper, within its methods and consequences, covers this subject. The ground for including a sensitiveness analysis within a paper is of import as economic theoretical accounts may be utile as a tool by decision-makers there are countries of uncertainness within economic analysis ( Robinson 1993a ) . Therefore, it is of import to when analyzing the information to see what impact alterations in the certain parametric quantities affect the consequences. Thus the hardiness of the informations can be tested ( Robinson 1993a ) . In the analysed paper, a simple attack was taken with a few cardinal parametric quantities changed. The consequences of the survey are shown in â€Å" Table 3 † and the referee can b e confident of the theoretical account used, as the sensitiveness analysis of the information is robust over a scope of premises e.g. assessment clip, figure of participants excess. For the economic analysis, the paper states that a non intent-to-treat analysis was carried out. By utilizing this attack there is a possible for prejudice within the informations ( Bruce, Pope, & A ; Stanistreet 2008 ; Hollis and Campbell 1999 ) . Those who dropped out were excluded from the analysis as they did non hold follow-up informations, nevertheless these drop-outs may be unrepresentative of all participants in each group so bias may be introduced. If an Intention-to-treat analysis was carried out in this survey the intervention affect seen may be diluted, but this is seen as a better manner in that it is more realistic in pattern, as it allows for divergences from standard pattern, in that it includes people who are non willing or unable to follow with the intervention ( Bruce, Pope, & A ; Stanistreet 2008 ; Hollis & A ; Campbell 1999 ) . As this survey presents its ego in its decisions as a â€Å" †¦ matter-of-fact and cost-efficient scheme†¦ † an intentio n-to dainty analysis would hold been more suited.Reported Results of the surveyWithin its treatment subdivision of the paper, the findings of the survey are outlined. Using the Drummond Checklist in the subdivision in the â€Å" Analysis and Interpretation of consequences † ( Drummond, Sculpher, Torrance, O'Brien, & A ; Stoddart 2005 ) the fulfils the inquiries in the checklist in the treatment subdivision. Clearly this survey answers the survey inquiry. Reports on the decisions are drawn from the informations presented. In add-on, the strengths and failing of the survey are looked at in footings of similar surveies.DecisionsIt is of import in research into wellness services that economic rating rules are applied, so that the wellness services produced from the research outcomes provides the best wellness attention, based on the allotment of scarce resources, for the population studied. As with any other research, economic ratings require critical assessment and cardinal inquiries need to be asked. The guidelines in the Drummond Checklist are really utile as a tool to measure critically any economic rating research, assisting readers to separate the good from bad surveies. Even though there are some restrictions in the paper of the cost-utility survey, overall the good points outlined supra would hit this paper overall as a good economic rating utilizing the Drummond Checklist.

Vision and Goals as a leader

The difference between a vision and a goal, one is abstract and one is concrete. Visions are essentially abstract, while setting a goal is more tangible. For an example of a vision, one would say they would like to plant a large garden that will produce a vast harvest In the spring; It will contain green beans, tomatoes and corn. This expresses an abstract desire for an outcome.Alternatively, a goal would sound like this, this springtime a large garden will be planted and time will be set aside to spend 5 hours a week hoeing the garden so the weeds will not interrupt the growth f the vegetables. This Is a substantial goal, meaning It Is a tangible and reachable, something you physically work towards. The subject of motivation can vary. In reality you will need to set the tone for the audience, in other words, different people will perceive different issues, and will be motivated by different things.Make sure you talk with your people regularly on a one-to-one basis to find out what m atters to them. Herbage's theory Is largely responsible for the practice of allowing people greater responsibility for planning and controlling their work. As a means of increasing motivation and satisfaction. The importance of visions is beyond dreams, It Is a statement of what or how you like things to be. Visions have a larger purpose and they share the core values that we hold at the center of our character. These core values are expressed to pave the road in the direction you want to see transpire.If a vision has been effectively communicated with precise and detailed direction and reason, others can see your mental picture to help you attain it and gain their commitment to it. ‘The only way to lead people Into the future is to connect with them deeply in the present. The only visions that take hold are shared visions-and you will create them only when you listen very, very closely to others, appreciate their hopes, and attend to their needs. † Souses, J. M. And Pos ter, 8. Z. To lead, create a shared vision. Harvard Business Publishing January 2009.This Is another important aspect of people seeing your vision is gaining their trust first. The significance of your vision and the excitement you display will help your team know where they are headed. This leads them see and become enthusiastic about the large depiction of your Image and gives them drive for a positive outcome. Nothing was ever created without vision. The importance of goals gives something to work towards to measure both personal and professional success.Without goals it is hard to believe in ourselves. Goals drive you forward, tells you what you truly want. Helps you achieve your desires by putting a large destination In smaller stepping stones to make it wealth a graspable reach. â€Å"Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success. â€Å"- Pablo Picasso. Obtaining goals within a group who trust their leadership, are far more willing to share in and work towards reaching goals.Contribute all energies in same direction with the same outcome to have substantial results. When goals are agreed upon within a group the success will be immeasurable. The article setting. The first step talks about developing a vision. It is important to know where you are going as an organization. A leader must develop a vision with a positive attitude and be ready to present it with energy. They must also be effective in communicating that vision to their employees, who in turn will work together to achieve that vision. The second step talks about the importance of goal setting.

Ethical Issues in Information Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethical Issues in Information Systems - Essay Example The issue has also posed a problem of accountability for the consequences of information systems and set standards to safeguard system quality. The extensive use of internet technology has posed new challenges for the safeguarding of individual privacy. Information set over the vast network may have to go through many different computer systems prior to reaching the intended recipient. Each of the systems can monitor, capture, and store the information that go through it. The new technologies can allow a person to record all online activities and Internet usage of employees, customers (both potential and existing), and the general mass around the globe. In most cases, the people do not know that their activities are carefully monitored (Zhang, 2011). The organizations can use cookies, web bugs, spyware and other intrusive software to spy on people (Williams, 2002). The U.S. has allowed organizations to collect transaction information via systems for the sole purpose of marketing. However, user privacy during interaction with websites needs protection. Thus, technical solutions exist for this purpose. Many specialized tools offer encryption of email and surfing activities to make the online activities anonymous. Others allow the client computers to reject cookies. Still, other devices detect and eliminate spyware. Some tools also help users to determine the type of personal data that websites can extract. The technological tools are helpful since they ensure that personal data of the user does not leak all over the network. Modern information systems have challenged current laws and social properties that safeguard private intellectual property. According to Williams (20020, it is because ill-intentioned persons can easily copy and distribute computerized information. Unlike physical media (like books, CDs, and journals), digital media is easy to replicate, transmit,

Technical managers and the law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Technical managers and the law - Essay Example Employees get a formal workplace with increased freedom and better-working conditions. The customer has an advantage related to workplace laws in that products are made following the set standards with no unnecessary advertisements and misrepresentation of facts to misguide the customers (BizFilings, 2012). Some of the negatives related to workplace laws are the costs associated with legal action in response to these rules. The management, the government, the employees, and the courts suffer significant costs when workplace cases touch on them. The exemption from liability by the workplace laws is another negative that affects most parties. Employees sign laws that limit the extent of their working conditions and impose strict measures regarding the functioning of the business. The management is required by law to establish various provisions relating to the employees and their families at the expense of the company’s working hours. Employees can also sue the business for the mistakes of an individual member of the management team and receive financial compensation at the expense of the company (Root III, 2015). Yes, I have witnessed an ethical workplace law. The management was imposing strict clothing requirements for women while not touching on the requirements for men. The management was using the women in a discriminatory manner to increase their customer base. Women were required to wear short dresses and tightly fitting clothing in a move aimed at increasing male clients. BizFilings. (2012, May 24). Workplace rules protect your business and maintain a positive employee environment. Retrieved from http://www.bizfilings.com/toolkit/sbg/office-hr/managing-the-workplace/workplace-rules.aspx Root III, G. N. (2015). Advantages & disadvantages of ethical compliance in an organization | Chron.com. Retrieved from

The fire of Jubilee by Stephen Oates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The fire of Jubilee by Stephen Oates - Essay Example Unlike other slaves living in Virginia during 1820s, Turner was permitted to move among the county plantation and farms and to preach to his fellow slaves during Sundays. This kind of freedom and movement gave him a chance to study his fellow slaves and identify those who suited his plans. Further, it gave him an opportunity to learn the County’s geography and to note the brutal and cruel masters in the County farms. The author states that Turner’s reading of the bible made him realize that white people were wrong in justifying and quantifying slavery and that the bible contained amazing stories of the liberation of captives and exiles. The knowledge he gained from the Bible, his life experience and interpretation of mysterious signs forced Turner to believe that God had chosen him to stage a rebellion that would end up liberating the slaves in Virginia just as Moses liberated the Israelites from captivity in Egypt (Oates 31). An eclipse that occurred in Virginia in 183 1 encouraged Turner that God wanted him to start the uprising and his followers or fellow slaves began the revolt without hesitation since they knew it was for their liberation. When rebellion began, Turner followers traveled across Virginia executing white people in every farm. It is significant to note that the book provides chronological happening of the rebellion in Virginia and its inhuman suppression. as amazing as the story of the Virginia rebellion is, Oates narration of the aftermath of the 1831 events is saddening. For instance, the author states that at the beginning, it is not recognized that the number of black casualties murdered in white retaliation was more than Turner’s victims were. In addition, the author explains the fear and anxiety among white people in Virginia and other States that practiced slavery. White people feared that the uprising or rebellion was a small part of a bigger and much more organized uprising planned by William Lloyd from the North. William Lloyd Garrison advocated for abolitionism movement.

Marks & Spencer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marks & Spencer - Essay Example Long after its competitors had started sourcing cheaper goods, M&S adhered to its ‘buy British’ policy (Mellahi, Jackson and Sparks, 2002). They believed that this was what its customers preferred. They also did not believe in any form of marketing. They only engaged in announcing new stores opening and never promoted the brand or its products. When a product range was not successful they merely sold it a discount. They did not accept credit cards for long time and launched its own in-house store card. They even did not venture into out-of-town retailing. Even when stuck with crisis, the management did not scan the environment and respond effectively to the environment. All their actions and decisions demonstrate that they wanted to remain isolated from the rest of the world, from the retail trends and from consumer expectations. M&S has also been criticized and faces legal issues for its attitude and behaviour towards its workers. The stores have a drab ambience and the ir product range has not been able to keep up with the trends. The retailer has not been able to keep to with the trends and hence competitors have very easily taken over this retailer (Ruddick, 2012). They have been stocking items that have been popular in the past without evaluating the current customer preferences. They have not been able to find the right formula that would appeal to its core customers as well as to the wider demographic in the UK. In addition, the retailer is experiencing stock management mistakes as a result of which the best items remain out of stock. All these have resulted in loss of market share in women’s wear. Its expenditure on marketing has also reduced. Another issue at M&S appears to be unclear organizational capability. A lot of new recruits have been taken in who have yet to familiarize themselves with what the M&S customers want. In addition, M&S has poor online and multichannel capability and a complex and inflexible supply chain (Ruddick, 2012). These factors suggest that M&S had become complacent and believed that customer loyalty that it enjoyed in the past would be sufficient to see them through tough times. However, it has been a lesson for other retailers as well, that with times retail trend has to change. The external environment has to be considered in all decisions to not merely survive but also to gain competitive advantage. Besides, the management must have the capability to evaluate situations and take corrective actions. What use does this organisation make of technology? Where do you think there may be a chance to improve in this area? M&S is making investments in technology to enhance its customer service delivery. For instance, it is investing ?100 million in in-store technology such as iPads for customer assistants and ?150 million on a new website (Ruddick, 2012), and ?2.4 billion on online offering (Ruddick, 2012a). The intention behind equipping the customer assistance with tablets is to improve its customer service, better integrate its customer service and also enable the customers to have access to a wider range of products (Baker, 2012). This would enable them to help customers buy products online that may not be available in-store. In addition, their free apps for iPads allows customers to shop for everything for home (M&S, 2013). M&S is also upgrading its RFID platform to include home good such as bedding, accessories and kitchenware (Violino, 2013). They will

Critical Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Critical Response - Essay Example Therefore, a liberalist government ensures that all persons are subjected to the same laws (Hobhouse, 2009). A socialist government refers to a government, which is characterized by the basic components of a society that has no social classes. Thus, this form of government aims at controlling all the production and distribution means. According to socialist governments, this control is essential since it does away with competition and makes people equal. Another component of socialism includes the absence of private property. As such, every member of the society gets an equal share of medical care, earnings, and necessities. The main goal of a socialist government is to ensure that all member of society achieve equality, thus eliminating inequality and large gaps between the rich and the poor (Jennings, 2004). Liberalism is different from socialism since liberalism advocates for adherence to the rule of law (Hobhouse, 2009). On the other hand, socialism holds that the state should be the sole producer and distributor of goods and services (Jennings, 2004). One of the governments that have utilized liberalism is the Canadian government. Canadian politics started to be dominated by the idea of liberalism before the 1960s. Liberalism had immense success in Canada as it helped achieve individual rights, liberty, and free markets (Hobhouse, 2009). With regard to socialism, one government that has succeeded in using the ideology is the Chinese government. The People’s Republic of China can be termed as one of the most successful form of a socialist government. Socialism in China has been effective in meeting the goals of the liberal ideology (Jennings,

Diabetes Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Diabetes - Article Example When conducting this research, I noticed that the methodology employed was representative because it employed random sampling thus avoided any instance of bias, the sample size of 190 participants was essential in minimizing the margin of error, and the study was approved the board of the university of Hawaii hence making it a professional research endeavor. The qualitative nature of design was essential in understanding the real effects of diabetes and offered the participants with an opportunity to offer their views.The data collection and analysis techniques were above standard because I noticed that a third layer analysis managed to examine the main subjects of the responses and identified the barriers to service needs of diabetes. When conducting the research, I found out that the results of the research fulfilled the objectives of the study. I discovered that the disease had pervasive effects on the lives of participants who had diabetic, there were a number of barriers to management of the conditions,participants needed psychological and social support to deal with emotional impacts of the disease, and need for monetary support was addressed. From my analysis and study, the conclusion managed to cover all issue involved in the findings and how they can be applied to the society in general. The study offered an insight on challenges of diabetes, how the challenges can be handled and future initiatives to combat the disease.As such, the conclusion is relevant to the study. My7 study does not have a clear implication of study how I can recommend that diabetes being a metabolic disease needs to be given much attention by healthcare fraternity, policy makers and the society in general. Landry Fukunaga, Denise Uehara and Tammy Tom.(2011).Perceptions of Diabetes, Barriers to Disease Management, and Service Needs: A Focus Group Study of Working Adults with Diabetes in

Middle Ages Literature Essay Example for Free

Middle Ages Literature Essay The Middle Ages had many interesting characteristics concerning the literature of that time period. The important literary works â€Å"incorporated elements and values drawn from different and conflicting traditions (Patterson 1143). For every opinion, there was another opinion to counter it. Many of the pieces of literature at this time had contradictory ideas in them or had competing interests (Patterson 1144). The literature of this time shows us that â€Å"many people took the central doctrine of Christianity so much for granted that their daily lives seem largely untroubled by the moral and spiritual demands of religion† (Patterson 1144). Another characteristic of the literature was that it alerts us to the â€Å"complexities and dilemmas that any faith poses† (Patterson 1144). The Middle Ages is also called the â€Å"age of chivalry† (Patterson 1144). The literature mainly â€Å"expresses the values of the most powerful members of society, the aristocracy† (Patterson 1144). The aristocracy achieved their power through â€Å"military might† (Patterson 1144). There was also an â€Å"explicit code of chivalry† (Patterson 1145). The values were â€Å"never entirely consistent with each other† (Patterson 1145). Characters of literature had to choose whether to be a lover or a warrior (Patterson 1145). The main concerns of the literature were â€Å"the demands of religious faith and appropriate use of physical force, and the individual human being working out his or her individual destiny† (Patterson 1145). The literature during this time contributed to a list of vivid characters to the world of literature (Patterson 1145). Writers created unforgettable, complex literary characters to deal with the themes (Patterson 1145). The Middle Ages contrasted to the Renaissance because the Renaissance’s characters had â€Å"greater autonomy and fully realized personalities† (James 1883). The Renaissance’s literature did not judge â€Å"human action by right and wrong but by beauty, memorability, and effectiveness† (James 1886). During the Renaissance, the presence of God was much less dominating (James 1887). Medieval men and women were more concerned with the afterlife, while in the Renaissance they had a preoccupation with this life (James 1886). The Canterbury Tales fits into the Middle Ages well with some characteristics and not quite as well concerning others. For example, the Pardoner in The Canterbury Tales preaches the word of God on a daily basis, yet he is morally corrupt in his everyday life (Chaucer 1759). He preaches of greed, yet is greedy himself (Chaucer 1759). The Pardoner steals from the church, as well as innocent people (Chaucer 1758). Chaucer showed us that people took the doctrine of the church for granted. Other characters in The Canterbury Tales spoke of God and were Christians, yet didn’t bother with feeling morally obligated to act right. The dilemmas of being a Christian in real-life are seen. Some of the characters are Christian but it is more complex and takes an effort to be a Christian. The Canterbury Tales didn’t seem to have contradictory themes necessarily. Chaucer makes his views of various social ranks known through a use of satire. The characters themselves are contradictory, as we see with the Pardoner once again (Chaucer 1758). Since Chaucer has every type of social rank represented, we see his view of these ranks, which does contradict some of the jobs or moral obligations of various people. The characters in the story itself did compete for various interests. They all held different values or beliefs about the world. Chaucer lived during this time period, so it is in a way a more realistic view rather than contradictory. The explicit code of chivalry isn’t necessarily a large component of The Canterbury Tales except for perhaps the Knight and his tale. Chaucer shows that some people were focused on the chivalry act during this time. The Canterbury Tales doesn’t focus on pleasing the aristocracy either. Chaucer wrote from the perspective of every social rank so his book was meant for the poor and rich. Its subject matter was meant to be appealing to all Medieval people. The final characteristic that The Canterbury Tales does follow is the well developed characters. Chaucer had a whole list of realistic, complex characters. These characters could rival the Renaissance’s characters to me. I enjoyed reading about the characters and reading even more of The Canterbury Tales online. The Canterbury Tales fits well with the characteristics of the Middle Ages for the most part. The individual characters do have an individual goal in mind. Chaucer seemed as if he cared about his characters and wanted readers to his get to know them on an individual level, which seems more ahead of his time.

Strengthening Community Resilience Through Disaster Risk Management Environmental Sciences Essay

Strengthening Community Resilience Through Disaster Risk Management Environmental Sciences Essay Disasters pose serious threats to development as it holds back countrys progress and its achievement towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) while highlighting, particularly among poor countries, the prevailing poverty situation. Despite billions of budget spent by the government and assistance from the international development organizations for development programs and projects, interference of disasters could put these efforts into nothing; as disasters could result to enormous physical, economic and psycho-social damages and decades of development could be wiped out in a minute. Disasters destroy infrastructures, such as roads, bridges, communication satellites, buildings, schools and houses. It can also damage livelihood and agriculture; from pest infestations to droughts, extreme rains and floods, which could wreak havoc on the entire community livelihood. Moreover, as disaster happens, it displaces people and exposes them to diseases and injuries which could further lead them to hardship, starvation and deprivation. In general disaster can lead to loss of public and private resources and investments, disruption on the production of goods and provision of services, loss of employment for formal and non- formal economy, interruption of development programs and switching of crucial resources to other short-term needs such as recovery and emergency response programs, and health concerns (UNDP-DMTP, 1994). These problems on natural disasters are further compounded by the issues of climate change. Disaster risks and climate change are threats to human well-being and adversely reinforce each other. Disaster risk is an intrinsic characteristic of human society, arising from the combination of natural and human factors and subject to exacerbation or reduction by human agency (OBrien, 2008:7). The effects of climate change can increase disaster risks, by changing the magnitude and frequency of extreme events. The changes in the average climatic conditions and climate variability, affect the underlying risk factors, and generate new threats, which could create more serious consequences to human and the environment (Tearfund, 2008). The increasing global average temperature, occurrence of extreme weather events, changes in precipitation and sea level rises would, likewise, adversely affect human health, agriculture, forests, water resources, and coastal areas. Direct impacts are: less food pr oduction, increase range of infectious diseases including vector-borne and water-related diseases, decline in fresh water resources; and indirect impacts such as increase in prices of goods and services. These ultimately increase poverty. The poor, vulnerable and at risk communities are mostly affected for they have few options (DAP, 2010). Disaster is indeed a development concern; however despite this recognition, we argue that many disasters are rooted mainly from many development failures (UN-ISDR, 2010). The lack of appropriate development planning where disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation are loosely or weakly integrated into the local and national agenda is seen as a weakness to development. And the inadequateness of top-down and one-way approach in dealing with disaster management, is considered ineffective stance in providing rightful and productive solutions among problems encountered at the community level, frequently, resulting to failure in addressing local needs, untapped potential local resources and capacities, consequently, increasing peoples vulnerabilities (Victoria, 2003). Nevertheless, with the shifting paradigm from emergency management to disaster risk management, and the growing recognition on community participation, this shed another area where parallel effort from the national, local and community levels can be harmonized and replicated. And in line with community participation, the Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) emerged to address the needs of vulnerable communities and to improve their disaster resiliency. It is an approach that emphasizes active involvement of communities; while strongly locates people at the heart of the decision making and implementation of disaster risk management activities (ADPC-CBDRM-11, 2003). Purpose and Objectives The paper aims to determine how Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) increases community resiliencies and contributes towards climate change adaptation. The objectives of this study are to explain the features, processes and actors of the CBDRM and how it contributes to community resiliency; identify the strengths and weaknesses of the approach within the frame of community participation and participatory development; to cite best practices of CBDRM applications, and to provide recommendations for future policy and research studies. Methodology and Limitations The paper explores the effectiveness and potential of CBDRM to address impact of climate change variability. The arguments rendered are mainly based on deskwork and cursory research that is limited to literature review from available case studies, articles and publications from various local, national and international sources. The paper is divided into four parts. First, we link disaster risk management with climate change adaptation by identifying their commonalities and differences. Second, we closely examine what CBDRM is, its feature, processes and actors involved. Third, we determine what would be the possible limitations or challenges in applying community participation in disaster management. Fourth, we give practical examples by listing down several good practices of CBDRM being implemented in different countries. And fifth, we provide conclusions and recommendations. Linking Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation As noted, disasters have enormous impact on human development while changes in climate will further extend the challenges brought by disasters. With the increasing concerns on its impact, this has emphasized the urgent move from disaster response to preventive measures mainly aimed at reducing the likelihood that a natural hazard translates into a disaster. The shift to disaster risk management (DRM) from emergency management, implies addressing underlying social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities to reduce the probability of a disaster occurring. Moreover, DRM tries to address hazard risks as an integral part of development. DRM is based on a continuous assessment of vulnerabilities and risks and involves many actors and stakeholders, such as governments, technical experts and local communities. (Sperling, F., et.al., 2005: 11). According to ISDR, policy responses concerned with disaster risk management and adaptation to climate change have developed along different tracks (Sperling, F., et.al., 2005: 12). The DRM, on one hand, is based on humanitarian assistance efforts; the specific response measures are based from accumulated experiences of exposure to disasters. The responses are localized with broader preventive measures with the aim of addressing vulnerabilities. On the other hand, response to climate change, being a global issue, has been mostly top-down process through advances in scientific research leading to international policy responses through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Responses to climate change are categorized under mitigation and adaptation which are both interdependent; mitigation tackling the cause of climate change, while adaptation tackling the effects. (Sperling, F., et.al., 2005). DRM and adaptation to climate change have commonalities and differences. On their commonalities, the policies and measures for both areas are concerned with risk management approach with the aim of addressing the underlying vulnerabilities. While both acknowledge that the degree of vulnerability is a function of the magnitude of physical exposure and prevalent environmental and socioeconomic conditions; thus both depend on evaluating risks, vulnerabilities and possible remedial measures characterized as being continuous process and forward looking perspective. Additionally on dealing climate change risks, the adaptation measures is based on the existing vulnerability to climate variability and extremes; hence improving the capacity of communities, governments or regions to deal with current climate vulnerabilities is likely to improve their capacity to deal with future climatic changes (Sperling, 2005:16). On their differences, the time horizons for DRM is concerned more of the present or near term trends, that is 5-10 years, while climate change projections are usually 20 or even hundred more years. Another is on physical exposure; mitigating disaster is different from climate change mitigation. The former is focused on limiting the adverse impact of a particular hazard; while the latter is a function within the capacity of humans to influence their exposure to change, concluding that climate change is largely driven by anthropogenic activities. Lastly, on the scope of disaster, DRM includes not only climate related disasters such as hydro-meteorological (torrential rain, floods, droughts, storms) but also geo-morphological (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions) hazards (Sperling, 2005). Supporting the claim of Sperling (2005:17), DRM and adaptation to climate change have converging agendas; this therefore offers an opportunity to build a comprehensive risk management framework which recognizes current and future vulnerabilities as well as the compound effects of multiple disasters within a given region. This brings us next to a specific DRM approach where its aim is to increase community resiliency through the active participation of community members. The Community-Based Disaster Risk Management Approach Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction (DRR), as part of the DRM framework, into national and local development agenda is among the crucial concerns for many international organizations, national governments, civil society organizations, research groups, and local development actors. The recognition on its importance stemmed out from understanding the link between development and disaster, and disaster intensity and climate change. Under DRR lens, disasters are seen as complex problems that demand collective actions from different sectors; hence, this locates community at the forefront of disaster management. As defined by Abarquez (2004), communities are group of people that may share one or more things in common such as living in the same environment and similar disaster risk exposure. Their differentiation in terms of socio-economic aspects, linkages and dynamics are several factors that contribute to their vulnerabilities. By and large, it is the communities who are directly affected by both development and disasters, for being either beneficiaries or victims of the two circumstances. They are the front liners. They understand their local opportunities and constraints and they are the most interested in understanding local affairs where survival and well-being is at stake. Hence, integrating them within disaster risk management framework entails a promising outcome. Whereas, a growing consensus asserts that most top-down disaster risk management and response programs fail to address specific local needs of vulnerable communities, ignore the potential of local resources and capacities, and may in some cases even increase peoples vulnerability (Abarquez, 2004:12). Community participation provides opportunities for the poor to air their concerns, and allowing the poor to have more control over development assistance. This ensures that allocation of development funds is responsive to the needs of the poor, better targeting of poverty programs, more responsive government and better delivery of public goods and services, better maintained community assets, and a more informed and involved citizenry that is capable of undertaking self-initiated development activity (Mansuri, 2003: 2). According to World Bank, in general, community driven development aims to (i) enhance sustainability; (ii) improve efficiency and effectiveness; (iii) allow poverty reduction efforts to be taken to scale; (iv) make development more inclusive; (v) empower poor people, build social capital, and strengthen governance; and (vi) complement market and public sector activities. (Mansuri, 2003: 2) The CBDRM provides opportunities for the local community to evaluate their situations based on their own experiences and promotes participation and partnership. They take responsibility for all stages of the program including both planning and implementation, and in partnership with local, provincial, and national entities. As defined, CBDRM is a process of disaster risk management in which at risk communities are actively engaged in the identification, analysis, treatment, monitoring and evaluation of disaster risks in order to reduce their vulnerabilities and enhance their capacities. This means that the people are at the heart of decision making and implementation of disaster risk management activities. (Abarquez, 2004:9). Given the existing natural hazards and vulnerabilities of a community, the CBDRM process should lead to progressive improvements in public safety and community disaster resilience. And it should contribute to equitable and sustainable community development in the long term (Abarquez, 2004:20) As shown in the conceptual framework below, natural hazards such as hydro-meteorological, geo-morphological and climate change induced hazards can interplay with existing community vulnerabilities which in turn could pose high risks to the affected community. As a consequence of a disastrous event, people are helpless victims who rely heavily on external assistance for aid. The cost and damage assessment is done by external experts, and recommendations are usually mainly focus on material or physical aid and technical solutions. Due to lack of community plan, outside donors decide on what the needs are. The aim of existing disaster management is to reduce the immediate suffering and meet emergency needs and bring back the situation into normal. With the application of CBDRM approach, people participate in disaster management, where people are involved in planning, decision-making, damage, needs and capacity assessment. The people perceived as active actors in rebuilding their lives and livelihood. The focus is community preparedness and strengthening the organization with the aim of reducing vulnerabilities and increase peoples capacity to better cope with disasters. With the result of safe, disaster-resilient and developed community, this ultimately contributes towards poverty reduction. Figure : Conceptual Framework The CBDRM Features In summary the CBDRM features as according to Abarquez (2004) are: Role of community is central in disaster risk management. That is, local people are capable of initiating and sustaining their own development and they are the prime movers in reducing disaster risks in their community. Community is the key resource in disaster risk management. The communities are the main beneficiaries, the same way that they are the key resource and frontline actor in the CBDRM implementation. The aim is disaster risk reduction. The main strategy is to enhance capacities and resources of most vulnerable groups and to reduce their vulnerability in order to avoid the occurrence of disasters in future. Recognition of the link between disaster risk management and the development process. CBDRM should lead to general improvement in peoples quality of life and the natural environment. The approach assumes that addressing the root causes of disasters, e.g. poverty, discrimination and marginalization, poor governance and bad political and economic management, would contribute towards the overall improvement in the quality of life and environment. Application of multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approaches. CBDRM brings together local community and even national stakeholders for disaster risk management to expand its resource base. CBDRM recognizes that different people have different perceptions of risk, different vulnerabilities and capacities. The CBDRM Process The CBDRM process entails a thorough assessment of the communitys hazard exposure and analysis of their vulnerabilities as well as capacities. The gathered information serves as the basis for activities, projects and programs to reduce disaster risks. Community involvement is required in the process of assessment, planning, and implementation to ensure that all needs and concerns felt at the local level are considered and appropriately tackled. Using the NGO CBDRM implementation perspective, according to Luna (2007) and Abarquez (2004), generally the processes include: Community/site selection and partnership building. Communities that are very vulnerable are selected, based on previous experiences in disaster and current threats. Other criteria include the poverty situation, interest and cooperation of the LGU officials, accessibility of the area, the peace and order situation, and the presence of local workers in the community. Formation and training of Community Disaster Action Teams and Volunteers. Training of the local government officials and community leaders are done to enhance their capacity for disaster prevention, mitigation and response. The training is done in participatory manner in such a way that after the series of training, the participants would be able to come out with community assessment, hazards maps, and plan for disaster mitigation projects. The participatory rural appraisal techniques are used for community assessment. Hazard mapping. Actual on-site mapping of the community is done by the volunteers using ocular survey and global positioning system. This is a diagnostic process to identify the risks that the community faces and how people overcome those risks. The process involves hazard assessment, vulnerability assessment and capacity assessment. In doing the assessments, peoples perception of risk is considered. People themselves identify risk reduction measures that will reduce vulnerabilities and enhance capacities. These risk reduction measures are then translated into a community disaster risk management plan. Formulation of the Local Disaster Action Plans. The community assessments and the hazard map became the basis for formulating a local disaster action plan. Plan Integration and Implementation. The plan formulated by the Disaster Action Team is forwarded to the local council for integration in comprehensive development plan. The Community Disaster Action Teams and Volunteers should lead to the implementation of the community plan and motivate the other members of the community to support the activities in the plan. Project monitoring and evaluation by the community, local government and outside evaluators. The CBDRM Actors Under CBDRM local community serves as the main actor together with the participation and support from other stakeholders. The actors in the CBDRM are composed of two layers, the insiders and the outsiders. Actors in the inner layer are the individuals, family, organizations and other stakeholders who are located within the community. The multiple stakeholders such as farmers, fishers, women, laborers, youth and other members of the community that has special concerns and needs, with their differing perceptions, and interests are important to be considered in arriving in a broad consensus on targets, strategies and methodologies in the community. The outsiders refer to those sectors and agencies which are located outside of the community. These are external NGOs, national government agencies and other international organizations (Abarquez, 2004). This brings us to a consideration of the shortcomings and limitations of participatory development. Limitations and Challenges of Community Participation in Disaster Management Though we have argued that community participation in the context of disaster management is imperative, there are still several debates under the context of participatory development that could somehow influence its successful implementation, hence, should be taken into account especially during the planning phase of the CBDRM First, the complexity of individual motivations. It is difficult to move a community towards certain direction, particularly if its members have different interests and motivations. As noted earlier, community is a complex social structure comprised of different perspectives, opinions and motivations. Conversely, motivation and willingness to participate is dictated by individual thinking and determined by own underlying interests. Their experiences on disasters could influence their behavior; however for community members who have not experienced extreme natural disaster, raising their interest in prevention and capacity building becomes more difficult as it seems abstract for them, unlike physical measures or infrastructure such as installing early warning devices and others. Similarly, exposure to external aids could influence communitys interest to participate; this is in particular to urban areas, who have become accustomed to receiving external assistance thus their reluctance to undertake risk management on their own (Solo, n.d.). Another area under this is the personal-driven motivations with vested interests that could influence, hamper or even deviate the result of the participatory development process. And politicians or soon to be politicians find this kind of activity personally beneficial for them. Second, participation requires effort and time. The CBDRM implementation is comprised of various activities, such as planning and capacity buildings, that require active and continuous participation from various stakeholders. While these activities involved a considerable time and effort, some community members perceive these series of participation as waste of time and/or economically unproductive activity, thus opt to focus more on their work and earn money, instead. While for the part of the organizer, participatory process such as public consultation is also time consuming. Organizing requires proper and detailed planning for scheduling of activities, identifying stakeholders, sending out invitation and confirming attendance. The quality and productivity of the activity is affected by the possible low turn-out of attendance among target participants. Second, restricted women participation and cultural boundaries. The CBDRM puts emphasis on the different risks and vulnerabilities faced by members of the communities, such that, male perceived risks differently as compared to female, and similar with adult to children. However, some culture restricts participation and voluntarism; concrete example is on women participation. There are some cultures that confine womens role within the boundaries of domestic activities. Despite the current effort to gender mainstream disaster reduction, with the consequent enormous household tasks directly or indirectly imposed to them, these offer women less time to interact in social activities and participate in community development actions. Third, local power relation within the community. The dynamics that exists within the community is clearly manifested on the relationship between the rich and poor, elite and commoners, and literate and illiterate. These relationships bring us to the questions on who can really participate, who can talk and verbalize their opinions during public consultations or workshops. Often times, those who are well-informed and have time to participate dominate the discussion, while leaving behind the poor and the illiterate who has the greater degree of vulnerability. To put stress further, the UNDP states that the communities who are most vulnerable to natural events are frequently those who have a disproportionately high number of illiterate members (Solo, n.d.). Fourth, local knowledge influenced by local power relations. CBDRM builds on the existing local knowledge to assess community risks, and serve as basis in developing plans. However, local knowledge can be influenced by local power relations, authority and gender (Mosse, 2002). Other personalities or stakeholders may impute their own interests to or influence the local knowledge which would not necessarily resolve the issues of disaster risks or lead for the greater and common interests of improving community resiliency. Fifth, creating development fatigue among stakeholders. Since participatory development is among the most popular approaches in development, many development initiatives have embraced and integrated it within their programs and projects. Consultations and/or collaboration among stakeholders has been repeatedly being undertaken along different stages of one or more different programs and projects, this repeated process could eventually create fatigue among stakeholders, especially when despite of continuing consultations no advancement or progress is achieved. These are some of the limitations and challenges that may be faced by project implementers of CBDRM. And to understand more what CBDRM is as applied to real world, the next part gives us practical examples illustrating how CBDRM could potentially increase community resiliency. CBDRM Good Practices Globally, CBDRM has been promoted as an approach to improve community resiliency. International development organizations and non-government organizations strongly lobby CBDRM for policy adoption and mainstreaming in the disaster management framework of national and local governments. Currently, most CBDRM projects are led by local and international NGOs, either in partnership with other civil society organizations, NGOs, international development organizations or local government. The United Nation International Strategy for Disaster Reduction compiled the good practices in CBDRM that illustrates how communities have worked together towards a common goal and benefitted from their undertaking. Below are some of the examples that are considered CBDRM good practices and linked with climate change adaptation being implemented in different countries. Involving community members in increasing public awareness and capacity building through creating information campaigns to enhance the safety of the population at risk. The project stimulates creativeness and innovativeness from the local actors and similarly optimizes local knowledge and local resources in a way easily understandable to the local community members. This is a project implemented in Haiti in 22 settlements in coordination with their Local Civil Protection Committees (LCPCs) through the assistance from Oxfam GB. Another is creating access among low income groups to disaster micro-insurance scheme. Taking into account that risk transfer supports sustainable economic recovery, micro-insurance could serve as a cushion to lessen impact of disaster, particularly among the poor victims whom majority have little or no access to risk transfer schemes. Micro-insurance represents an innovative approach to risk identification, pooling and transfer; wherein risk is transferred from the individual level to the community or inter-community levels. With the implementation of micro-insurance, this elicit positive feedbacks from the communities claiming that insurance in times of crisis is essential, the affordability of the scheme makes it accessible for the poor households, and which consequently result to reduced dependence from outside relief. This is the approach of the Afat Vimo scheme, a project implemented in India, which is part of the Regional Risk Transfer Initiative (RRTI), an action learning pro ject (ALP) of the Gujaratbased All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI). With the long drought being experienced, crop failures and the consequent food shortage, this has led a community in Indonesia to identify a mechanism to prevent food shortage. The community established a monitoring system for food security and livelihood and community early warning system largely based from their indigenous knowledge in combination with modern science. The project has three components: community awareness and indicator development to monitor food security and livelihood; community early warning system; and advocacy on appropriate agricultural system such as promotion of crops suitable for drought-prone land. The project is in partnership with local NGO aiming to increase community resilience from drought in Southeastern Indonesia. Another project where it illustrates that local context of communities can be a dynamic force in reducing risks, is on creating flood and typhoon-resilient homes through employing a cost-effective retrofitting. The program central theme is to make families and the community active players in the process of reducing the vulnerability through the integration of storm resistant techniques in existing and future houses and buildings. It involves local and grassroots consultation and preventive action planning. The project is Development Workshop France (DWF), a program initiated in Vietnam through Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and European Commission Humanitarian aid Office (ECHO) In order to understand local environmental situation, develop awareness and capacity to deal with, and to contribute to relevant policy formulation, one of the communities in Namibia established an inter-community platform and local-level monitoring as support for local decision making. The plat-form serves as medium for community organization and communication. Moreover, the approach strengthens capacity among the community to coordinate their own activities and preparing their development plans. The local-level monitoring, on the other hand, is used to support information exchange and decision making designed by the communities. The communities identify relevant indicators to monitor their livelihoods including key environmental elements. They discuss the results, analyze them and use them where appropriate for decision making. This provides a tool for identification of environmental changes affecting livelihoods that may be based on management actions, climate variability, policy changes or other factors. The project contributes to capacity building and institutional development among communities so they can enhance their own resource management and livelihoods and thereby enhance their capacity to manage and reduce risks related to drought and desertification and other potential disasters. This is a project implemented in Namibia, where several policy instruments have been influenced by the project and a number of derivative projects are ongoing. The convergence of a community-level approach and city governments participation strengthens sustainability and ownership; this is the underlying assumption in one of the CBDRM projects in the Philippines. Wherein, it mainstream community-based mitigation in the city governance through partnering with the local government in the implementation of the project. The project has five (5) components, these are: (i) CBDRM participatory risk assessment training of trainers (ToT) for the city officials, who in turn provide training to communities; reactivation of the City Disaster Coordinating Council and Barangay Disaster Coordinating Council; institutionalization of a school Disaster Safety Day; celebration of the Disaster Safety Day in all schools; developing and implementing a City Disaster Risk Reduction Plan. This is a CBDRM project implemented in the P

Lost Horizon :: essays research papers

Hilton, James. Lost Horizon. New York:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  William Morrow and Company,1939.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I read Lost Horizon for my book report. The main characters in this story are Conway, Mallinson, Barnard, and Miss Brinklow. Conway was a man of thirty-seven years old who didn’t have a wife or any other family. Mallinson was a young man of about twenty or so who was not married yet either. Barnard was a middle-aged man that was without a wife or family also. Miss Brinklow was a woman of around the age of fifty.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This story was about four passengers on an aeroplane that was supposed to be going to Peshawar from Baskul. While they were on the trip, they noticed that the pilot wasn’t keeping a straight course to Peshawar, so they went to the front to ask the pilot what was happening and they noticed that it wasn’t the pilot who was supposed to be flying the aeroplane. When they tried to ask the pilot what was going on, he pointed a gun on them, so all they could do was ride the plane until he stopped.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They finally came to a land after they had flown many hours. The pilot was dying and in his last words he told them that there was a place not far from where they were and that they could go there. Not long on their journey they met some people who were from this place, which is called Shangri-La, and these people led them there. When they got there, they were told that it would be about two months before there was a way for them to make the journey back to civilization.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In these two months Conway and Chang, who was a guy that made their stay comfortable, talked a lot. In these talks Conway would ask many questions that Chang could not answer and this got Conway puzzled and made him think that there was something that was being hidden.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Almost after these two months were up Chang told Conway that the High Lama wanted to see him and that this was an honor because he had never seen anyone that quickly after arriving there. When Conway was talking with the High Lama, he told him the story of the place and about the person who founded it. He also told him about the legend that this guy had never died and that when someone came to this place that there was a drug that they took that made them live longer than a normal person would.

Bridge to Terabithia :: essays research papers

This takes place in a small town in the 1970's. It is based on a boy named Jesse Aarons but he is called Jess. He cannot wait until fifth grade starts because he will be the fastets runner, he even practiced all summer. He has two older sisters and two younger sisters. His older sisters never seem to do anything and are always ridiculing him. His younger sisters look up to him, mostly May Belle though. Jess's dad works in Washington ans so he is gone during the day a lot. It is up to Jess to milk their cow Miss Bessie everyday. His dad isn't affectionate to him and seems only to be nice to the girls, the same goes for his mom. They try to treat him too much like a man. One day, a new family moves into the old Perkin's farmhouse. There are usually families moving in and out of it all the time. There ends up being a girl named Leslie Burke who is the only child and Jess's age. She walks over to his house and says hi, but he ignores her. On the first day of school she is in his class. She hangs around him during recess and is the first girl to race and beat all the boys. This hurts Jess because he had practiced all summer. They end up becoming real good friends though and hang around each other everyday. They help May Belle get the school bully Janice Avery back after she stole May Belle's twinkie. They did it by writing Janice a fake love letter from Willard Hughes saying that he liked her and for her to walk home from school with him. So, Janice ended up walking all alone back home from school. Jess and Leslie create a secret place together in between their woods called Terabithia where Jess is the king and Leslie the queen. They built a small fort and try to talk like royalty does. In order to get to Terabithia they swing on a rope over a small creek. When Christmas comes around Leslie got Jess a new paint set since he loves to paint and his family is sort of poor. Leslie's family is rich but doesn't show it because she wears raggedy clothes and doesn't have a tv. Both her parents are authors trying to live the country lifestyle after moving from the scity.

Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale Essay examples -- Margaret Atwoo

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale Chapter nine opening section two of the novel is mainly recalling the last chapters and about the narrator rediscovering herself, surfacing the truth. In section one we see the narrator talking in the present tense in a very descriptive form, outlining the novel. However in section two we see her talking in the past tense demonstrating the stories she is telling. The separation between the human and the natural world and the narrator’s struggle with language most directly portrays the novel's dualities. In chapter nine there are many areas’s in which specific linguistics are used to tell the story. This is evident in the very opening paragraph of chapter nine, when the narrator says â€Å"The trouble is all in the knob at the top of our bodies†. The noun euphemism ‘knob’ for the head has connotations of a mechanical device which links in to the â€Å"illusion that they are separate†. This creates a binary opposition between emotion versus reason (heart versus brain), creating the idea that the narrator is dislocated form herself. The narrator is sceptical about language as she blames words and makes it the culprit just like when the ‘husband’ kept saying he loved her on page 28. Another area where we see the narrator’s distrust in words is when she clearly states â€Å"I’ll never trust these words again†. The use of this future tense declarative reveals the narrator’s fear and suspicion of words (especially about the word love). The narrator seems to think the entire body should be called the same as she says â€Å"the language is wrong, it shouldn’t have different words for them†. Later we see Atwood displaying the narrator’s pessimistic language when she uses the declarative â€Å"Bu... ...r’s memories more. This is evident in chapter ten whist the narrator is view the scrapbooks, she says â€Å"I couldn’t remember ever having drawn these pictures† and â€Å"I was disappointed in myself, I must of been a hedonistic child†. The verbs clustered together suggest the narrator really struggles to recall her memories. Another key suggestion to the narrator’s fault memory is the way she intertwines the past and present, making the reader at times unaware of which is which, also the way in which the narrator continually contradicts herself. This is evident on page twenty when she is placed in a paradoxical position when she thinks â€Å"if you live in a place you should speak the language. But this isn’t where I lived†. We see the clear contradiction as earlier she stated â€Å"I can’t believe I’m on this road again† notifying the reader that she does belong there.

Bullying in Nursing

Bullying In Nursing Cassandra Owens Recently, during one of our weekend shifts, the unit was almost to capacity with each nurse having the max number of patients we were allowed to have. Our sister unit is the unit that gets our over flow once we are no longer able to accept any more patients. The charge nurse was a young Army Lieutenant and new to being a charge nurse. When the nursing supervisor called to notify us of another admission, the charge nurse informed her that although we were able to accept two more patients, our sister unit only had five patients.She then asked if the other patients could be directed to the other unit. The supervisor proceeded to yell at her so loud over the phone that we could hear it, stating she would take any admission she directed towards her. Just because she was a new Lieutenant it would behoove her to mind her own floor. Our head nurse was notified and she spoke with the supervisor, but the damage had been done. The nurse is now very hesitant w hen she has to be charge and tries to change shifts so she will not have to do it.Bullying has been receiving a mass amount of attention due to recent horrible acts that have been committed against individuals who are considered helpless and/or weak. From psychological damage to physical harm or even death, bullying is a phenomenon that can be damaging to an individual, group or community. This fact holds true on the professional side as well. Bullying in the nursing profession has been increasingly reported over the past decade. Although bullying behaviors are unfortunately common acts committed by physicians, patients, and patient’s families, nurses also engage in bullying of their colleagues.With this recent increase, it is important to understand the ethical and legal issues associated with this behavior. Considering that the nursing profession has topped the list of the most honest and ethical professions for eleven years in a row, it is concerning that nurses would enga ge in behaviors that have been described as humiliating, intimidating, threatening, or demeaning aimed at their own colleagues (Matt, 2012). There are detailed codes of ethics in place that are supposed to provide guidelines for moral character. Yet, espite these guidelines, nurses engage in the aforementioned behaviors targeting their subordinates and peers. What Is Bullying/Workplace Bullying? Bullying is known by many names; aggression, incivility, mobbing, horizontal or lateral violence and intimidation are some of the synonyms that are associated with the term (Murray, 2009). Workplace bullying is a serious issue affecting the nursing profession. It is defined as any type of repetitive abuse in which the victim of bullying behavior suffers verbal abuse, threats or behaviors by the perpetrator that interfere with his or her job performance (Murray, 2009).Often, workplace bullying involves abuse and/or misuse or power and authority within an organization. Bullying behaviors creat e feelings of defenselessness in the victim and significantly demoralize his or her right to dignity in the workplace (Murray, 2009). Looking back at the example in the introduction, after the nurse spoke with others who have been charge and had to deal with the supervisor, it was found that many of the other nurses were treated the same way. The supervisor only spoke and behaved that way to nurses who were new to the charge nurse position.As it is a requirement for military nurses to act as charge nurse in order to get leadership experience, the supervisor liked to target the newer nurses because she could intimidate them. Nursing leaders must be able to work with others to achieve common goals and be able to assess and develop new opportunities for nurses (Finkelman, 2012). This supervisor creates such a hostile and uncomfortable environment the nurses were hesitant to approach her for any type of guidance for fear of being belittled. Ethical and Legal ConsiderationsThere are seve ral ethical principals, virtues of moral character and codes that are violated by nurses who engage in bullying behaviors. One principal is nonmaleficence, which is defined as requiring one to not engage in infliction of evil or harm on another (Matt, 2012). Since bullying behaviors have the specific intent of humiliating and demeaning another, nurses who bully others violate this principle. Justice is another principle that has many descriptions, but the most basic is fair treatment of all. All workers have a right to a safe and healthy work environment thus bullying behaviors violate the principle of justice.Bullying behavior also violate moral virtues that are associated with nursing. Discernment is the ability to make fitting judgments and reach decisions without being unduly influenced by fears (Matt, 2012). This virtue was definitely violated by my nursing supervisor. Nurses who bully also violate the virtues of compassion, integrity, and conscience; all characteristics that s how the nurse demonstrate weak moral character as well as weak Christian values and characteristics. There are two ethical codes that are violated by nurses who participate in bullying behaviors.The first is the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics for Nurses (Matt, 2012). There are many elements that the code addresses, but when pertain to bullying, the code that is violated pertains to nurses and coworkers. It states that, â€Å"the nurse sustains a cooperative relationship with coworkers in nursing and other fields† (Matt, 2012). Of course, the ANA Code of ethics is violated; specifically provision six which states that, â€Å"the nurse participates in establishing, maintaining and improving healthcare environments and conditions of employment†¦. through individual and collective action† (Finkelman, 2012).Bullying behaviors once again defeat these purposes. Although there are currently no laws in the US specifically targeting workplace bullying, as of May 2011, 16 bills addressing the issue were active in 11 states (The Healthy Workplace Campaign) (Matt, 2012). Violations are also addressed under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Violations of these regulations may result in citations and penalties ranging from temporary closure of a business to fines up to $70,000 per incident if an employer willfully or repeatedly violates the requirements (Matt, 2012).Not only is the employer subject to legal consequences, but the nurse who does the bullying can and will be held accountable as well. No one should be subjected to this type of difficulty while at work. Conclusion Healthcare leaders have a responsibility to employees and the public to provide work environments that are free from abuse and harassment When workplace bullying has been identified it is up to leaders to take appropriate action to ensure the abuse stops, the person is held accountable and steps are taken to ensure it does not happen again.Bullying n ot only affects the healthcare providers who are being targeted, but it affects the healthcare organizations as well. It is reported that bullying in the workplace can cost over $4 billion a year (Murray, 2009). It contributes to increased work dissatisfaction, absence from work and work-related injuries. Hospital administrators, human resource manages and nurse managers must educate themselves to ensure they have a clear understanding of their own responsibilities for providing a safe work environment. Individual nurses must educate themselves as well and not stand for bullying nor participate in bullying behavior.I believe nursing is a blessing and a gift from God; an artistic ability that not everyone is capable of doing. When a person decides to that advantage of this gift and blessing, it is disrespectful to the characteristics of God, which, if studied closely, are directly aligned with the virtues of nursing. I feel the following versus are direct words from God that hold us accountable for our behavior when it comes to nursing and taking care of others, be it our patients or our coworkers: 1 John 3:17 â€Å"But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? ; Philippians 2:4 â€Å"do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. †; and Galatians 6:10 â€Å"So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. † (Society, 1999). How can we say we love God, yet do our fellow man wrong? We have to take a close look in the mirror daily and seek God’s guidance to direct our paths, because if what we do is not pleasing to God, it’s all being done in vain. References Finkelman, A. 2012). Leadership and management for nurses: Core competencies for quality care (2nd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Matt, S. B. (2012). Ehtic al and legal issues associated with bullying in the nursing profession. Journal of Nursing Law, 9-13. Murray, J. S. (2009). Workplace bullying in nursing: A problem that can't be ignored. Medsurg Nursing, 273-6. Society, I. B. (1999). Comparative Study Bible: King James Version, Amplified Bible, New American Standard, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

High School Life Essay

High School, well i can only say that it’s the best experience while i am living in this planet, without high school, well, life is a bit of boring. Some person i met tells me that high school is the best, yeah i agree with them high school is the best, you know why i agree with them because today my college life is sucks, i think it’s too much intro, i will tell how my high school life changed me and why it’s one of the best part i’ll never forget. Being High School is the best part in my school days, more friends is the more happiness you experience but there is always an antagonists that will ruined your day and sometimes they are your teachers but not all the teachers some are in other school, i mean when it comes to a contest proving that who’s the best school in your small baryo, and including some of your friends that will not complete their day without teasing you and bullying you. Life through high school is an extraordinary feeling of every teenager that’s goes through it. People say that high school s the most exciting and happiest moments on a student’s life. I actually didn’t believe that before because I was in high school and doing many assignments and projects. I hated doing those because it took away the time that I suppose to be having fun. When I became a senior in high school that’s when I started to think that I guess those people were right. My parents to started to asked me about college and my plans after high school. I used to tell them â€Å"later† because I didn’t want to face the fact that I’m growing up. High school is a world where you no longer be treated as a child. This is the time when girls start to wear make up and boys turns into men. My high school life wasn’t always fun. I remembered those days that stayed up late to study for exams, tests and quizzes and writing research pap ers. It was also the time to meet new friends and build a friendship and shared laughter, cried together and had our moments.

Types of Chinese Masks

The origins of Chinese masks are rooted in ancient religious shamanism. Over the centuries and many generations, artists refined the use of colors on Chinese masks. Today, color continues to be used to indicate emotions or give clues about the identity of a character. Types of Chinese Masks There are several types of Chinese masks: dancer's masks, masks for festive occasions, masks for newborns, masks designed to keep homes safe and theatrical masks. When used on the stage, masks help viewers determine, at a glance, the attributes of a theatrical character.Masks are usually made from wood. However, Chinese opera masks, possibly the style that is best known in the west, are actually painted on actors' faces. Color Meanings Many colors are used in any given Chinese mask, but the dominant colors impart specific characteristics. Red used on masks indicates a positive character. Red can also mean prosperity, loyalty, courage and heroism. Red shows intelligence and bravery. Purple is somet imes used as a substitute for red. In its own right, purple can represent justice and sophistication. Black means that the character is neutral.Black also indicates impartiality and integrity. Blue faces are also an indication of neutrality. In addition, blue can show stubbornness, astuteness and fierceness. Green shows that the character is violent, impulsive and lacks restraint. Yellow tells the audience that the character is cruel. Yellow can also mean evil, hypocritical, ambitious or sly. White faces indicate that the character is evil and hypocritical. Gold and silver show the audience that the character is a god or a demon. The character also may be a ghost or a spirit. Gold and silver symbolize mystery.

Highway Administrator Paper

The administrator of the highway department was given a task to find a way to fill more potholes. This program to fill more potholes would decrease the number of complaints in the city and the number of damages to the residents' cars. To do this, the Highway Administrator implemented a goal-setting program, in hopes this would encourage the workers to fill more potholes. This program sets a standard for each crew to fill a certain amount of potholes per day, no matter the location of where the crew was working.The results will then be posted for all of the crews to observe and compare. As an incentive to fill the most potholes possible, the crew who filled the greatest amount of potholes each week was given a reward. I personally believe excellent results will be achieved since the Highway Administrator's plan follows the design of the goal setting theory. â€Å"Goal setting theory was based on the premise that much human action is purposeful, in that it is directed by conscious goa ls. † (Neil, 1994) A more updated definition of the Goal Setting Theory states that goals are the remarry drivers of the intensity and persistence of effort.This program is going to be successful since the goals to be met are specific, accompanied by feedback, and difficult, but accepted by the workers. These aspects of the program will increase the overall performance of the workers, meaning more potholes will be filled in the approved manner, therefore, decreasing the number of complaints in the city and damages to the residents' cars. Since the duties assigned to the workers are meant to help the community, it is safe to say that their Job performance is meaningful.The errors have a clear, spelled out Job description and a list of tasks they need to complete, in the order they need to complete them. With their specific Job description and the workers helping out the community, overall Job satisfaction will rise, increasing Job productivity. â€Å"Meaningful work and Job sa tisfaction are linked,† (Weir, 2013) and typically lead to overall life satisfaction. Goals set by the highway administrator's program were specific. The standard set by the highway administrator were that each crew was to fill 20% more potholes than they usually fill on a daily basis.This aspect of the goal is extremely efficient and specific which gives the workers a clear idea of what they need to do at work. If the goal were to simply â€Å"fill more potholes than you normally fill† than each crew could fill one more pothole than they normally do and still meet the goal, but this would probably not complete as much work done as fast as it needs to completed. This goal is also a clear standard because of the different working conditions each crew operates in. Asking each crew to fill five more potholes than normal might prove to be easy for one crew and extremely difficult for another, depending on the conditions.Each crew was also given a step-by-step sheet on how t o properly fill each pothole. This will create a filled pothole that will last longer, therefore, making less work for the future. The feedback that accompanies each goal comes at the end of each week. Feedback is objective information about performance. Motivational feedback serves as a reward and the highway administrator clearly understands that since he is using rewards to drive his employees' productivity. (Hogue, 2004) Each week, the highway administrator will post performance data on a board for all of the other crews to view.Since there are only rewards and no harsh consequences, this creates friendly competition for each crew. The crew who has the most potholes filled at the end of each week wins tickets to a sports game in their locality. Since there is an incentive involved with the weekly performance, the crews will work much harder in order to come first and win the reward. This will drive up the work performance significantly since the reward is something people know t hey will enjoy. Finally, the goals are official, yet accepted by the workers. It may not be easy at first to fill 20% more potholes than average.Once the crews realize the goals are difficult, yet not impossible, the intensity and persistence of the workers will maximize in order to be the best and finish the work as quickly and efficiently as possible. Each crew will work their hardest to fill many potholes as possible. The incentives come into play once again when it comes to the goal being difficult since each crew knows if they work harder, they will achieve more potholes than the other crews. It is also beneficial to he program that performance statistics aren't posted until the end of the week.If they were to post performance statistics every day, crews with lower performance may feel discouraged if they are not filling the most potholes, leading them to not work as hard as they may feel they don't have a chance. The highway administrator's goal setting program is meant to rai se productivity and I predict that is exactly what will happen. Since the goal setting program is based off of the goal setting theory, it needs to follow three important aspects to be successful. When the goals are specific, accompanied by feedback, and difficult, but accepted by employees, they increase the performance of the workers.These aspects serve as the primary drivers of the intensity and persistence of effort. â€Å"In order for an organization to be successful they must continuously ensure the satisfaction of their employees. † (Yip, Goldman, Martin, 2009) Taking the goal setting theory into consideration, the ultimate goal is for the goal setting program to be successful. When workers are satisfied with their Job and the work they've done, along with possible rewards they may have earned, they will intuition to work harder. This is mainly since work itself has a strong correlation with job satisfaction.If someone is not satisfied with the work they do, they may n ot want to work as hard or be as productive. Employees that like their work find it easy to work harder and strive for their best. They do this by setting personal goals for themselves, relating to work, and achieving them. Each crew may come up with team and individual strategies in order to employ every effort to fill the most potholes. This program will raise the workers' productivity by raising the workers' satisfaction. If I were the highway administrator, I would implement the same program with minor tweaks.Ultimately, I feel that this program will drive workers to increase productivity and fill more potholes. With this result and more potholes filled, complaints from the citizens and damages to their cars' will decrease immensely. This would improve the overall moral of the city if more potholes were filled. The reward aspect of this program is one of the most important parts. â€Å"A good reward system should foster personal growth and development and keep talented people f rom leaving† (Grittier, 1998). This program does Just that, which is why I agree with it and how it will affect the workflow.When individuals set goals for themselves as well as try to receive rewards that may be awarded to them, they grow as a person and do not want to leave due to Job satisfaction and potential rewards. This leads to affective commitment by the workers. Workers will stay with the organization because they want to, not because they feel obligated or need to due to their financial situation. The only aspect I would change about this program is the percentage of potholes that need to be filled. I would survey each crews work area and give them team goals to meet.Anything above that would be compared to the other teams and the crew who was most effective would receive the reward. Overall, the highway administrator's goal setting program will work effectively and serve it's purpose of filling more potholes to construct a better community environment.