Advanced Organizational Behavior

Change can not be avoided because of the competition that is there today in the world of business. Businesses cannot survive without changing their strategies, products, policies, etc. according to the time and situation. However, changing anything about an organization requires a lot of planning.This is why it is necessary that a systemized method is followed when a change is being implemented as this decreases the chances of making faulty decisions. This paper aims to present a change model that I believe is ideal for every type of organization and will surely produce the positive outcomes of change.DiscussionA change model is a systemized process of implementing change in a business. Change is very crucial for every type of organization because this facilitates the organization into making better decisions.Therefore, we need a step-by-step process which leaves no room for errors or misjudgments in the entire sensitive process of implementing change. There is not a fixed ‘cha nge model’ since the nature of changes that take place also differ. This is the reason why different change models are use by organizations and they handle it differently.The change model developed in this paper consists of nine steps. This model has been selected as my change agent because this model takes into consideration each and every step of the change process from accepting the need for change to document the process and conclusions. It is very detailed and discusses every aspect of the change process which leaves a very low chance of making faulty judgments at any stage.The management and leadership can support the change model discussed by trusting the team selected for the change process with all necessary decision making. It could delegate the team members with maximum work. The input on the part of management could include ensuring that the team does not ignore any values of the organization in the entire change process by monitoring every step.The input on part of the employees and the staff which would support the change model involves them to be ready to accept the changes in operations that would be the result of the change process. It can be supportive during the entire change process by being less resistant to change and innovation. They must be motivated and must trust the process carried out by the change process team. The eight steps change model is as following.Accepting that there is a Need for ChangeThe first step to effectively implement a change is to always accept the fact that there is a need for change. This step involves creating awareness of the need for change among anyone and everyone related to the change that is occurring (Change Management Learning Center, 2008). This step helps build the energy needed to do something. It makes an organization realize the need to take action and motivates it to be strong.This strength and motivation is very necessary as change is a big step and every member of the organization must b e able to handle it. Usually various groups within an organization are not willing to accept change because this means switching from the everyday routine. This step also makes all those who are not willing to accept change ready for implementation of change.This step is the fuel needed to ignite the process of implementing change (Koberg and Bagnall, 2003). There is not much action involved in the step of accepting that there is a need for change. The organization must inform everyone related to this about the need to change and that something needs to be done about it. The organization at this point must ask itself what change is needed and why?Creating a Guiding CoalitionOnce the need for change has been accepted, the organization must move to the next step of creating a team that will guide the entire organization towards achieving this goal (Kotter, 1996).There must a team that is responsible for this as such a team would plan the process of change and ensure that the organizat ion is moving towards its goals and everything is going as it was planned initially. The organization must ensure that the people selected for the team are ideal for the situation.These people must be committed to the change process and must have the right skills necessary for the process. This team will develop the entire change process from planning to evaluation therefore whatever the team members decide will determine the fate of the company. The team members must have the skills to carry out this process in the most efficient and careful manner.Defining the NeedOnce the need for change has been realized within the organization and a team has been selected which be responsible for implementing the change within the organization, the need for change must be defined. This process is absolutely necessary because in order to effectively deal with a situation, one needs to have full knowledge about what exactly one is dealing with.Without knowing this, the team responsible for implem enting the change will never be able to approach the change with the most effective strategy. Consequently, the third step is defining the problem. This step involves identifying what needs to be change and why? It must also recognize what will be accomplished once the change is executed and everyone’s role in the entire process.Generating a Range of ApproachesThe next step involves coming up with a range of strategies that can be used to work out change. It is not sensible to concentrate on only one approach as this could lead to flawed judgments. The change process team must consider all the possible approaches before it decides on which one is the most effective as this will increase the probability of the team selecting the most effective strategy. In this step, a range of possible solutions must be generated and all of them will be considered.Selecting the Appropriate ApproachAfter all the approaches have been generated, each approach’s pros and cons will be evalu ated separately. This evaluation will help the organization prioritize the solutions according to their effectiveness. The organization will consider each one approach and will look into the cost benefit analysis of each one. It will consider how each approach will help them and what will be its drawbacks.Once this is done, whichever approach seems the most effective will be selected by the team. The criteria necessary for an approach to be appropriate largely depends on the situation, but generally, the approach must be practical, manageable, long term and of course relevant to the situation. The selected approach will then be applied to implement the change process.Implementing the ApproachThis step is the most important step in the entire problem solving process because this is actually where the change is implemented. The fact that implementing change is very sensitive has already been established and this is why this step of implementing the approach is very crucial.As a result , the change process team needs to be patient during this step which is applying the solution. A sensible approach to implementation could be to plan the approach in extensive detail before hand in order to avoid any kind of mess ups.Collecting Data Regarding the Implementation ResultThe next step is to collect data related to the implementation of the change approach. This data depends on the situation but in a case where the change was made in the marketing strategy, the data would be change in sales as a result of that change.Another example of data collected at this stage would be if the production process was changed, the data would be regarding the change in productivity as a result of the approach of the result used. This data will be used by the organization in the following steps.

Looking for Alibrandi Short Story

A Letter of Hope. As John sat in the bustling coffee shop and gazed at the blank paper in front of him, beads of sweat broke across his forehead and trickled slowly down his face. How was he meant to write down what he was feeling when he couldn’t explain it? He knew his emotions were in there somewhere but he just couldn’t reach them. They were locked tight, stuffed somewhere deep down. He was comfortably numb and that was something that terrified him. It was as if the numbness was pulling him into a black hole. He was trapped, unable to get out. His thoughts were jumbled and out of sync. He couldn’t tell if what he was feeling was real.Was he capable of feeling emotions anymore? It was as if John was a ghost. Doing what he had to do to get through the day. Doing what he could to make his father proud. That wasn’t living in his opinion. It was merely existing. His hands started to tremble. Looking up at Josie he studied her. She had a look of pure concent ration on her face as she wrote everything down. He couldn’t help but envy her. Sure her life wasn’t perfect but it was a hell of a lot better than his. She could choose her own career without being screamed at for hours on end. She could get one bad grade without being told she was a failure.She didn’t have to be perfect, and she was beginning to slowly understand that. That was something John would kill for. Even his best wasn’t enough. John had tried his best to please his father; he studied harder than anyone else he knew. He’d sacrificed so much to try and make his father proud, but nothing was ever good enough. John closed his eyes and leaned his head back thinking of all the times he was put down by his father. Pain welled up from deep inside him. He thought of the times he was told he was hated or not good enough just because he’d been beaten in a math competition.He thought of the times he had come home to his father opening his mai l then calling him worthless when the results weren’t up to his standard. The times his father wouldn’t speak to him because he hadn’t got the perfect mark. Maybe his father not talking to him would have been a relief if it lasted more than an hour. John was starting to get more and more tired every day. Tired of the constant pressure, tired of not meeting expectations and of not being able to live his life the way he wanted. But most of all he was tired of the constant nagging voice in his head. The voice that wouldn’t leave him alone.The voice that was the cause of so many nightmares. If John could be who his father wanted him to be then he would. But he just wasn’t capable of that anymore. He was sure of it; there was no way that he could reach his father’s larger than life expectations. It just wasn’t possible. His father always wanted that little bit more. He finally decided that it was time to share how he was feeling with someo ne else and that person would be Josie. He bounced his legs absentmindedly, took a deep breath and with his heart pounding in his chest he started to write down the words that had plagued his mind for the last few months.He wrote the words he hadn’t had the courage to say to himself. Can you see what I see? No I don’t think you can I see images of nothing and I attempt to make that nothingness mean something as hard as I try there is still nothing and that nothing is meaningless I am somewhere else now, outside I am surrounded by people and the blueness of the sky but still nothing has changed everything remains the same I am still alone. As John finished writing he let out a breath. He raked his hands through his hair nervously. He thought it over one last time. Was he really ready to bare his soul to Josie?Taking another deep breath to help calm his nerves, John folded the letter and sealed it with some sticky tape. With his hands trembling he handed over his most pr ivate thoughts to Josie. After they had exchanged letters they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Once John got outside he looked up to the hazy sky and let out a shaky laugh full of relief. Maybe just maybe Josie would be the one to save him before it was too late. He hoped that she would open the letter before graduation and help him put back together the shattered pieces of his life. Because deep down that broken boy wanted to live more than anything in the world.

Riordan Manufacturing Strategic Plan Essay

Strategic managers have responsibility to both the employees and stakeholders of the organization. Engaging in strategic management decisions should include ethics and social responsibilities. The expectation of such responsibilities from stakeholders is to fulfill legal and ethical economic decisions. Satisfying the purpose of the strategic planning process for Riordan Manufacturing, the management team has taken into consideration the economic, legal, ethical and discretionary responsibilities. According to Wheelen and Hunger (2010), the ethical and discretionary responsibilities are also known as social responsibilities. Ethical responsibilities require decision-makers to follow expected behaviors of society and the community. Riordan may take substantial risk by upsetting customers by failing to meet existing ethical values. Understanding the existing ethical values and standards of Riordan, the management team will assist senior leaders in planning and committing to social respo nsibilities. Why a Strategic Plan? A strategic management plan will focus Riordan’s objectives, goals, and efforts on long-term performance and sustainability. Managing short-term goals and successes is relatively uncomplicated and easily attainable, yet longevity is much more difficult to accomplish. Strategic management lays the framework for lasting success. Corporations can no longer sustain profitable business activities by simply maintaining a business as usual or status quo strategy. As the world and economic markets continue to evolve, companies must also transform to accommodate an ever-changing environment. During such transformations, managers should be careful to implement change that is consistent with the company’s core mission and objectives. Strategic planning assists in effectively accomplishing these changes and provides business owners and managers the opportunity to induce innovative thinking to preserve competitive advantages. Riordan, like other companies, needs a strategic plan. The plastic injection molding company uses modern design capabilities to provide innovative plastic products to national and international customers. Riordan advertises that â€Å"attention to detail, extreme precision and enthusiastic quality controls are the hallmarks of  Riordan Manufacturing† (Apollo Group, Inc., 2004, Internet). By setting such high standards in a lucrative and competitive industry, it is imperative to Riordan’s success that they implement a strategic plan to manage long-term profitability and sustained growth. Ethical and Social Responsibility To understand the role that ethical and social responsibility considerations occupy in the development of Riordan’s strategic organizational planning, one must first recognize what these concepts mean. According to Merriam-Webster (2011), ethics is â€Å"the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation† (para. 1). Outside of this general definition that ethics are standards for morality, researchers and philosophers have actively sought for many years for a comprehensive and all-encompassing explanation of what is and is not ethical. Many factors contribute to the meaning of ethics and corresponding behaviors, including but not limited to culture, religion, societal influences and pressures, and various stages of moral development. Though social responsibility works hand in hand with ethics, it does possess unique implications. Wheelen and Hunger (2010) describe that â€Å"the concept of social responsibility proposes that a private c orporation has responsibilities to society that extend beyond making a profit† (p. 72). This notion exists because the decisions and actions of a business or organization often are far reaching and affect many others beyond the boarders of the company’s facilities and operations. Management has a responsibility to balance that which is good for the business and for the surrounding communities and affected parties while formulating strategic plans. Experts in the fields of corporate ethics and social responsibility argue that profitability is not the only duty to be satisfied by a business. For example, William J. Byron believes that â€Å"profits are merely a means to an end, not an end in itself,† and Archie Carroll suggests that corporations â€Å"have four responsibilities: economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary† (Wheelen & Hunger, 2010, p. 72-73). Riordan is much more likely to experience success and provide greater returns to stakeholders if a well-rounded business approach is adopted, as opposed to a strictly profit-oriented method. An ex tensive internal and external environmental scan will help Riordan determine what ethical and social concerns to incorporate in the company’s strategic plan. For  instance, considering present concerns with environmental pollution, including the over-use of plastics and the toxic air pollution created by manufacturing facilities, Riordan should take a proactive stance in environmental sustainability efforts. Riordan operates in a changing world, and if the company chooses not to pay attention to and participate in the vigorous worldwide environmental conservation activities, they may find themselves out of business and in financial ruin. The ethical and socially responsible role of Riordan affects customers, employees, stakeholders, local and international communities, and future generations. If these parties are not satisfied with the company’s efforts and actions, Riordan may be at risk for potential failure. Competitive Advantages and Strategies Riordan presently utilizes an industry standard Six Sigma competitive strategy, along with their customization of innovative products and sale of quality items to a select market of specialized buyers. The manufacturer also takes advantage of high-volume production methods to generate elevated profits. They provide plastic products, including bottles, fans, heart valves, medical stents, and custom parts, to customers in bulk amounts at affordable prices to sustain the company’s revenue stream. Riordan also has a revolving product line, which creates value and sustainability because the products are recycled. These competitive advantages helped Riordan become an industry leader, yet the integration of a differentiation strategy and a lower cost strategy will work to enhance organizational growth. Riordan can improve innovation and sustainability of business operations in the United States and in the global market by implementing a blend of differentiation and lower cost busines s strategies. This arrangement is ideal for Riordan because it caters to the purpose of the manufacturing business, which is to provide valuable products at reasonable costs. Wheelen and Hunger (2010) explain that â€Å"differentiation strategy is the ability of a company to provide unique and superior value to the buyer in terms of product quality, special features, or after-sale service† and â€Å"lower cost strategy is the ability of a company or a business unit to design, produce, and market a comparable product more efficiently than its competitors† (p. 185). The combination of these two exceedingly effective competitive strategies allows Riordan to introduce innovative and distinct plastic products to the  marketplace, creating greater value to customers, in a more efficient and cost-effective manner than competitors. To further guarantee organizational longevity, Riordan should continue to use existing quality improvement processes such as Six Sigma and Total Quality Management, which focus on cost reduction, quality improvement, customer satisfaction, performance improvement, and continual renewal. Measurement Guidelines Using a combination of differentiation and lower cost strategies in the Riordan strategic planning process will help the organization maximize profits through two avenues. The first way the company will adjust the organizational strategy is by using differentiation to sell specialty products to organizations that are willing to pay higher prices for specialty orders. New innovation will increase the sales of the organization. Riordan will use a return on investment (ROI) measurement as a guideline to verify the effectiveness of the innovation strategy. The ROI measurement will look at the profitability of each specialty order and determine if the products are creating enough revenue for the organization. If the products are not meeting a set revenue target goal, then the organization will increase the customers’ cost. The second way Riordan will stabilize the organization’s growth and maximize profits is by using a lower cost strategy. The organization will maintain the existing customer base by selling common plastic products at lower rates. The primary plastic products in this category are beverage bottles, food containers, and common automobile parts. The organization will use a balanced scorecard approach to verify strategic effectiveness of the lower cost strategy. The balanced scorecard will focus on four main strategic goals to determine effectiveness. The first goal is customer satisfaction. Satisfying the customer’s needs will keep profits growing. The second goal is financial stability and profitability. Financial stability will show stakeholders the company is strong and dependable. This encourages more business from other organizations in the future. The third goal in the balanced scorecard approach is internal perspective. Management will look at successes and failures within the organization and determine corrective actions to improve the organization. The fourth step is innovation and learning within the organization. Managers will look at areas that are not meeting the strategic  goals and determine improvements to the strategic plan. The management team will also evaluate ways to improve value of products and ways to cut cost of production. By using the ROI and balanced scorecard guidelines, Riordan’s managers can effectively evaluate the effectiveness of the organizational strategy. This will allow managers to determine if the strategies are successful in their current form or if adjustments are needed to improve production or profitability standards. Internal Dynamics For Riordan to implement the new business strategies, the internal dynamics of the organization must change. These changes will affect the culture and structural leadership of the company. Riordan’s current management structure is a matrix structure using the old method management. This means that longevity in the organization is a stipulation for management placement. Each level of manager is put in a position and the job is made to fit the candidate. The company will keep the current matrix structure in place with one major difference. In the new internal dynamics of the company, the requirements of the job determine the eligibility of candidates. New job placement processes will cause the cultural environment to change within the organization. Employees, whom may be waiting for older workers to leave the company, will find it easier to move into new positions without the wait. The most qualified candidate will be eligible for the positions, instead of employees relying on l ongevity. This type of organizational movement will promote innovation through education by placing fresh candidates in leadership positions. This will also help the company avoid downturns in innovation and growth. Organizational managers must determine if the new business strategy will fit the current culture. If the strategy does not fit, managers must decide how to implement the strategy by making changes in the structure. According to Wheelen and Hunger (2010), the management team can try one of four methods to adjust the culture. â€Å"The strategy makers can take a chance and ignore the culture, manage around the culture by changing the plan, change the culture to fit the plan, or change the strategy to fit the culture† (Wheelen and Hunger, 2010, p. 256). The new organizational business strategy must have the support of the stakeholders to which the changes will affect because a failure to plan and adjust the business strategy effectively could result in failure of the implementa tion process. Business Continuity Business continuity are the activities performed by an organization to ensure that the business functions will be available when needed by customers, suppliers, regulators, and others of Riordan that must have access to those particular functions. Business continuity is performed by members of the company such as management, employees, and its stakeholders. The business functions and continuity at Riordan consist of project management, system backups, change controls, and the help desk. These functions help Riordan maintain service, consistency, and recoverability within the organization. Riordan influences business continuity by supporting items in their mission statement. The influences are geared by Six Sigma and R&D, which is the industry leader in identification of industry trends. Riordan’s business is also influenced by ISO 9000 standards that define the company’s attitude and abilities. Long-term customer relationships and team oriented working environments are significant businesses influences of this company. With a continual focus on achievement and maintaining profitability to ensure sustained growth, financial and human capital availability are identified as ongoing strategic goals and objectives. Assessment and Feedback Controls Riordan provides its employees with well informed and properly supported information that focuses on the long-term viability of the company. The assessment and feedback controls that should be acknowledged in determining the direction for Riordan in the proposed strategic plan are as follows. The assessments will ensure that Riordan examines employee motivation and empowerment, manufacturing and marketing areas, and the structure of performance reviews. Once these areas are assessed, then the feedback process will begin. The management feedback process consists of making sure employees are still being recognized as team players as Riordan is changing the strategy of the company. Providing employees coaching sessions to identify problem areas, implementation of career development opportunities, and instituting a pay rewards system for good performance that supports the company’s vision will provide direct feedback to the company. At Riordan, product quality and quantity is a major focus. Establishing an evaluation, control, and assessment process will provide timely feedback to leadership  in anticipation of results or areas of concern. Areas of assessment include employee and customer satisfaction, environmental presence, and environmental scanning for external locations of the manufacturing facilities. Instituting assessment and feedback to determine the profitability and feasibility of the company is established through the strategic process. Management will determine and specify what measurements are necessary, establish standards of performance through specific implementations, measure performance by predetermined controls, and compare desired performance within a tolerance range. Should the performance fall outside of the predetermined tolerance range, leadership will have the ability to take immediate corrective action. Companies may experience fluctuation or desired standards not being achieved. Thi s provides the company with an opportunity to take corrective action and re-evaluate the strategic plan. Should Riordan’s strategic plan fluctuate or not achieve predetermined goals as according to plan, management would consider altering the specific strategy. Some of the changes to be considered are based on the feedback, but may include the competitive strategies, measurement guidelines, and internal dynamics. These areas provide opportunities for improvement but could also reflect similarities to the original plan with minor adjustments and still provide successful outcomes. Alterations of the strategic plan would be evaluation of: Competitive Strategies – In the area of competitive strategies, we will limit the high-volume production methods and not add any new innovation. Measurement Guidelines – In the area of measurement guidelines, we will eliminate the differentiation to sell specialty products to organizations for a higher price which leads to return on investment. Riordan will focus on maintaining the product line that already exists. Internal Dynamics – In the area of internal dynamics, Riordan could not go forward with the new changes to the company culture and job placement process. Only a few minor adjustments are needed for this particular area. Job placement should be considered upon experience and the company culture should remain the same. If Riordan fails to make these corrections prior to implementation of the new strategic plan, the company could be at risk of losing market share, not having the ability of expanding globally, jeopardizing the relationship with stakeholders, and lose of profitability. Conclusion Companies are respected and rated by their ethical and social responsibilities to the stakeholders and employees. These responsibilities are as important as the ROI. The purpose of business is to make a return on investment, and this factor is used to evaluate the performance of management and offers a market comparison to similar firms and industries. Key performance measures are essential for achieving the desired strategic outcome. A comprehensive plan that includes environmental scanning, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and evaluation and control processes will provide assurance of a well-developed strategic approach to business strategies and growth initiatives. References Apollo Group, Inc. (2004). Virtual Organization: Riordan Manufacturing. Retrieved from Apollo Group, Inc., Simulation, MGT498 – Strategic Management website. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (2011). Ethic. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethics. Wheelen, T. L., & Hunger, J. D. (2010). Concepts in strategic management and business policy: Achieving sustainability (12th ed.). Prentice Hall.

Kill the Media

The formation of personal identity in present-day society can be seen as awkward and challenging. Many teenagers gravitate towards the media for direction on how to stay up-to-date and fresh on trends while going through a tumultuous puberty stage. The dominant influence of accepted media affects every individual’s sense of self. Lauren Moak, author of â€Å"Is This What You Really Want? † attempts to explain the effect media portrayal has on a younger audience’s stance on beauty and self-esteem. She states, â€Å"The media sends the same message on every commercial, billboard, and television show out there. If you do not have the perfect shape, clear complexion†¦well, you’re not â€Å"beautiful†. † (Moak). Moak verifies that the mainstream media crafts images that youthful individuals struggle to become. Every day many girls strive to fit the mold the media has created. Girls fixate over thin frames, tan skin, and unattainable facial features. What many fail to realize is that most, if not all, images are airbrushed or photo-shopped to transform the average face of a model to an unrealistic being. Moak further elucidates her point by saying, â€Å"The media says that if we all fail at achieving this â€Å"ideal† body image, we must try harder no matter what the costs. †(Moak). Attempting to assemble an identity in a media-saturated world is nearly impossible. Everything one does is inspiration from the media and what society deems as â€Å"right†. Self-individuality cannot coexist with popular media. Personal identity, as well as gender identity suffers from the media. Many images from popular media exhibit cliched, constricting, and naive perceptions on various issues, most commonly being gender. David Sedaris, author of â€Å"I Like Guys†, explains his self-awareness of his own sexuality and the portrayal of homosexuals by the media and close people around him. Early into his essay, he describes, â€Å"It was my hope to win a contest, cash in the prizes, and use the money to visit a psychiatrist who might cure me of having homosexual thoughts. † (Sedaris). By Sedaris wanting to instantly be cured from homosexual thoughts, it shows that homosexuality is not acceptable in his society. He also explains viewing homosexual men on television and looking down upon them. This is parallel to the gender identity issues in present-day society because the media is yet again forcing their viewpoints onto others and limiting individual’s perception of people. This, in turn, leads to new stereotypes and discrimination against sexes. One should not feel ashamed, but instead entitled to one’s own views and standpoints on issues. Sedaris expresses the immediate shame he felt after an encounter with another boy. He states, â€Å"My jealousy stemmed from the belief that he had been cured. One fistful of my flesh and he had lost all symptoms of the disease†¦why couldn’t I do the same? † (Sedaris). The media’s continuous backlash to painful topics causes gender identity issues to prevail. Judith Ortiz Cofer, author of â€Å"The Myth Of The Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria† attempts to explain the effect media portrayal has on a younger audience’s stance on beauty and self-esteem. She states, â€Å"The media sends the same message on every commercial, billboard, and television show out there. If you do not have the perfect shape, clear complexion†¦well, you’re not â€Å"beautiful†. (Cofer). Moak verifies that the mainstream media crafts images that youthful individuals struggle to become. Every day many girls strive to fit the mold the media has created. Girls fixate over thin frames, tan skin, and unattainable facial features. What many fail to realize is that most, if not all, images are airbrushed or photo- shopped to transform the average face of a model to an unrealistic being. Moak further elucidates her point by saying, â€Å"The media says that if we all fail at achieving this â€Å"ideal† body image, we must try harder no matter what the costs. (Cofer). Attempting to assemble an identity in a media-saturated world is nearly impossible. Everything one does is inspiration from the media and what society deems as â€Å"right†. Self-individuality cannot coexist with popular media. The formation of personal identity in present-day society can be seen as awkward and challenging. Many teenagers gravitate towards the media for direction on how to stay up-to-date and fresh on trends while going through a tumultuous puberty stage. The dominant influence of accepted media affects every individual’s sense of self.

Qcf Support with Nutrition Essay

1.3Describe ways to resolve any difficulties or dilemmas about the choice of food and drink. * Giving them two or more choices and let them decide what they like, giving more details about the food will help them to choose. * Explain individuals about the importance of a healthy diet and encourage and support the m to choose healthy options and alternatives. * Explain individuals about the consequences of a poor diet choice. For example, obesity can lead to heart disease, varicose veins, diabetes and arthritis. High cholesterol and diets high in salt can lead to heart attacks and strokes. 1.4Describe how and when to seek additional guidance about and individual’s choice of food and drink. * When people reluctant, or refuse to eat certain types of food which have been noted in their support plan as a requirement for their condition. For example when an individual need to have a diabetic diet, a weight-reduction diet or gluten-free diet, if someone having swallowing difficulties , in such situations if someone is determined to ignore medical advice and to follow a different diet, this should be reported and discussed among the care team and the medical staff. * If the person have full mental capacity to understand the consequence and still ignore medical advice, it’s their choice and they have right to follow what they prefers * For children, people who are very confused and severely demented, they don’t have the full mental capacity to choose right diet for them and it should be discussed with care team and medical staff to decide what best for the individual’s best interest. 3.1Describe factors that help promote an individual’s dignity, comfort and enjoyment while eating and drinking. * It should be a safe, hygienic and pleasant place for people to eat food. Make sure the place is warm and have enough light, no noise distractions. * Let them decide where they like to sit when they having their meals. Some people like to site in the dining room with others, they will like the company and like to have a little chat each other while they eat. Some people like to have it in a privet place like their own room, for example if a person has difficulties which will require assistance they might not want others to see them while having meals. * Some people will need special aids to eating and drinking, for example, for example in the case of an individual with an arthritic condition provide cutlery with large handles which will help to hold them properly. * If a person needs feeding, make sure to give enough time for them to chew and swallow the food. * Presentation of the food will improve appetizing and more attractive and more likely to be eaten and enjoyed. 4.1Explain why it is important to be sure that an individual has chosen to finish eating and drinking before clearing away. Clearing away when a person has not finished their meal does not demonstrate respect and it reflects negatively on the overall service. Sometimes people will put their cutlery down and have a rest during a meal, and it may look like they have finished, but they may wish to continue eating after having a rest. 5.1Explain the importance of monitoring the food and drink an individual consumes and any difficulties they encounter. * It is important to pass on information and record if necessary about how much people are eating and drinking and any problem they might had while they were eating. * If a person is at risk of malnutrition, recording their dietary intake will show problems early on and action can be taken to prevent the situation getting worse. * Recording fluid intake and output can give a good indication about how well the heart and kidneys are working. * Recording difficulties of eating and drinking will help to identify chewing and swallowing difficulties and it will help to decide how to prepare food in a way that they can consume, for example choosing soft or pureed diet, cut vegetables and meat in to small, thickened fluids.

Self-concept: Meaning of Life and Ideal Self

â€Å"Self-Concept† written by Barry Joel Desaine (March 2010) Email: [email  protected] com SELF-CONCEPT Sensing that he is a distinct and separate existence from others through time and space, a man becomes aware of his existential self from infancy. As he matures he also becomes aware of his categorical self through the realization that he has characteristics or attributes that distinguishes him from other objects in his environment. These two aspects – the existential self and the categorical self – constitute the initial ways in which an individual begins the self-perception process that leads to his self-concept (Lewis and Brooks-Gunn, 1979). However, because the idea of self-concept is utilized in many disciplines including psychology, philosophy, sociology, nursing, biology and anthropology, there is no consensus as to how to define â€Å"self-concept† using terms of specificity. As illustrative of this, the concept of self-identity is referred by theorists using a diversity of terms such as: the authentic self; the cohesive self; the core self; the saturated self; and the possible selves. Additionally, in describing the components of self-concept, the influential humanistic psychologist, Carl Rogers, used global terms such as: self-image; self-esteem; and the ideal self, while educational psychologist Gary D. Phye and other theorists used more specific terms such as: the physical component; the social component; the academic or intellectual component; etc. Suffice it to say, most of the research literature suggests that self-concept may be generally defined as the sum total of what an individual thinks or perceives about himself. Using this general definition as a foundation this essay proposes to examine the components of a man’s self-concept in terms of his: personhood; place in society; perfection; and purpose. Personhood – Who am I? Who am I? This is the most fundamental question which an individual can ask about himself and in endeavoring to determine an answer, whether conscientiously or unconscientiously, his self-image is created. A man’s conscientiousness bears witness that he is more than just a chemical composition of matter – more than mere physical existence. He is aware that he is made up of both material and immaterial constituencies and, as a result, his self-image is also comprised of factors of both. These factors include physical, moral, social, emotional and intellectual traits. Firstly, a person’s self-image includes a mental picture of his physical appearance or what is termed body image. It is made up of his perception of his body, both internally and externally. He may think of himself as being too skinny, having beautiful eyes, a nice face, a nose that is too big or any combination of approval or disapproval of a vast variety of physical attributes and abilities. Inherent in this is also the feelings and attitudes he has about his body. Body image is affected by a number of factors including: normal developmental growth; one’s perception of what others think of his body; and cultural and social attitudes and values. For example: A child’s body image is very different from that of an adolescent teen. Similarly, the wife of an abusive husband who speaks ill of her body can develop a poor body image. Additionally, in some cultures a fat person is considered to be a healthy person so that a skinny person in that culture may tend to have a poorer body image based on societal values. Secondly, a person’s self-image also includes his moral traits such as his core values and beliefs. He may view himself as being honest and upright or he may be confident of his voracity and godliness. On the other hand, he may even think that he is wicked and vile or generally of an evil disposition. As with his physical traits his perception of his morality is a part of his self-image and is not an inevitably accurate reflection of his personhood. In a similar manner, a person’s self-image includes perceptions of his social, emotional and intellectual traits. From a social perspective he may see himself as being a good father, loving husband and competent worker. Emotionally, he may think he has a sanguine personality with a measured temperament. Finally, from an intellectual perspective he may think he is very smart, or of average intellect, or may lack confidence in his academic abilities. In summary, a person’s self-image helps him understand his personhood and helps him to define who he is in his own eyes. It is a major component of his self-concept. Place in Society – How do I fit in? How do I fit into society? This is another question that is internalized by an individual, whether conscientiously or not. It leads to the development of his self-esteem. Self-esteem is very important as it affects how we think, act and relate to other people. It may be defined as having a favourable perception of oneself and may be qualitatively described according to the degree of favorability. High self-esteem is a good opinion of oneself whereas low self-esteem is its antithesis. In finding his place in society an individual would generally focus on: his relationship with others; his value to them; the role models who influence him; and his ability to influence others. These domains all constitute the conditions for his self-esteem development which is a major component of self-image (Rogers, 1979). Although a person’s self-concept starts with understanding his personhood, this existential-anthropological view of the individualistic self may give way to his acceptance that he is an integral part of a larger society. He learns how to define the self by comparing himself with others around him (Festinger, 1954). Within this framework, he recognizes the importance of various associations or relationships including family relations, career relations, community relations, and other relations. This â€Å"connectiveness† to the society may lead to a more systemic view of the self as the individual considers his role in its holistic development. Inherent in this is his understanding of his value to the society and his ability to influence others towards its development. The degree to which he is able to succeed in these ventures highly impacts his level of self-esteem. Consistent put-downs, discounting, threat, loneliness, powerlessness, frustration, and intolerance are the seeds of low self-esteem that leads to a harvest of these negative characteristics. On the other hand, developing high self-esteem requires: encouragement; acceptance of oneself and others; perceptiveness; an appreciation of life; reassurance; and faith in oneself and others; and ultimately trust in God. All of these factors are based on interpersonal relationships. Perfection – Who do I want to be? Am I the person I want to be? This is another question that is internalized by an individual in the development of his self-concept. A person’s self-image does not always match the image of what he would like to be or what is termed his â€Å"ideal self† (Rogers, 1979) nor what he thinks he should be or what is termed his â€Å"ought-to-be self†. This sometimes affects the degree to which he values himself as there is a very close relationship between self-image and self-esteem. The ideal self and the ought-to-be self are sometimes collectively referred to as the â€Å"possible selves† (Markus & Nurius, 1986). These are generally not consistent with the actual life experiences of a person. Psychologists refer to a large difference between self-image and the idea self as â€Å"incongruence† while a relatively small difference is called â€Å"congruence. † All individuals experience a certain degree of incongruence. Carl Rogers believed that the greater the degree of incongruence the more difficult it is for a person to arrive at self-actualization. As a result, the individual always strives to make changes in order to come as close as possible to his ideal self or ought-to-be self. Social comparison theorists have a different view in regards to man’s perfection. They contend that many individuals do not have an image of perfection or an ideal self but instead they compare themselves to â€Å"similar others† to validate their own attitudes and values (Jetten, Spears, and Manstead, 1996). However, the general idea is the same i. e. comparison of oneself to a perfect other, whether the ideal self, ought self or similar others, is another component of self-concept. Purpose – Why am I here? Why am I here? Since the meaning of life is an issue that is debated philosophically, scientifically and theologically there are various answers to this question. However, despite the diversity of answers the question is of vital importance since the answer determines how one sees the world and how one sees the world also determines how he sees himself. One’s religious belief about the meaning of life is a powerful influence on his self-concept (Blaine, Trivedi & Eshleman, 1998). Additionally, religion may be an underlying method for organizing self-concept principles since it encompasses all facets of life. A major contribution of religion to self-concept development is its role in affecting one’s self-esteem. Research has shown that students who abandon traditional religious practice in order to become involved in the occult were much more likely to have: low self-esteem; negative feelings about school; poor self-concept; a higher tolerance for deviance; negative feelings about the future; and little desire to be a good person (Tenant-Clark, C. M. , Fritz, J. J. , & Beauvais, F. , 1989). In contrast, students who are affiliated with a traditional religious persuasion are less likely to be involved in delinquent behaviour (Rhodes & Reiss, 1970). Additionally, the question of the purpose of life is significant in determining an individual’s self-value. For example, atheism postulates that since there is no god there is no intrinsic value to life: Life is as meaningful as you want to make it (Dawkins, 2006). The question of purpose is pointless and one is worth as much as he thinks he is. In contrast, theism postulates that life comes from God and therefore has an intrinsic value that is determined by Him: Life is meaningful because God created you for His purpose. Self-value is not determined by what people think but on knowing that God has a purpose for everyone. Ultimately, one’s self-concept is influenced by his understanding of the purpose for his life. In summary, self-concept is the view one has of himself and is determined by his experiences and the value placed on them. The components of one’s self-concept include his: personhood; place in society; view of perfection and his view of his life’s purpose.

American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 7

American History - Essay Example berty came from a world of slavery has been named the central paradox of American history.†(xii) The theme I am going to deal with is: How the White Race of that era practiced duplicity and hypocrisy of the highest order in their disposition towards the Black Race and utilized every avenue for exploiting them for territorial gains and aggrandizement of wealth? In America slavery was business as usual for centuries under various guises. In Manhattan one out of five at that time was a slave. Exploitation of the Blacks was the order of the day. In New York particularly, a section of the White society believed that slavery was wrong, and at the same time they were worried about the retaliatory action by the slaves that they would rebel, and when there was a rash of fires in the city in 1741, the Blacks became the suspects. There is lots of controversy about the reasons for the rebellion, whether it was a social reaction or a criminal conspiracy with motivated agenda, whether factors other than racism were involved. Assuming for a while that the Blacks were the culprits for the major incidents of fire, the important issue for me is what led them to such desperate measures. They were persecuted in the name of religion, political ideologies that supported slavery, scheming of the vested interests and big farmers etc. 152 blacks were arrested, some were burned at the stake, some were hanged and the most intriguing aspect was four of the alleged white ring leaders were hanged. The judicial process was also interrupted at the final stages, after thirty executions, that the slaves did not have the mental capacity to plan such a conspiracy. But the type of punishment given to the convicted slaves was again mockery of justice and an act of racism, as Whites were not burned as it was done in the case of many Blacks. The reliance on shoddy evidence provides the picture of legal proceedings during that time, which placed no value to the lives of the Blacks. There can be

Vocational Learner's Mathematical Knowledge Essay

Vocational Learner's Mathematical Knowledge - Essay Example Nevertheless, disciplines requiring advance quantitative analysis have often been much more of a challenge for Joe than most other courses. Areas of significant difficulty have traditionally been algebra, chemistry, and statistics. So far, Joe has passed a number of quantitative courses but has expressed that in many of them he did so experiencing significant academic difficulty. During his college career, he has successfully completed a number of such courses including vocational math, college algebra, introductory chemistry, trigonometry, two courses in physics with laboratories, calculus for business and social science, C programming, and finite math. Joe admitted to having taken the prerequisites to some of these courses numerous times. Nevertheless, he maintains certain career goals. Thus, these career goals constitute his need for gaining greater mastery over quantitative challenges. Joe's goals included completion of a master's degree in management information systems by fall of next year. The remainder of this curriculum includes at least four math related courses. Joe also plans to enter medical school by August of 2011. To qualify, he must include four chemistry courses with labs by that time. In all, Joe needs 8 more classes in math and science. Because of the level difficulty in these courses, the plan of action is two-pronged. One prong is to divide up the course evenly throughout the remaining semesters. In this way, a sum of difficulties may be broken down into more manageable chunks. This is one way in which the tasks may become easier for this learner. The other prong in our plan is to have Joe take as many of these classes at night at his local community college as he can. Night classes tend to be less intense and meet less often than day courses, and community colleges usually have fewer students per class than a four year institution. This affords students the opportunity to access the instructor more readily than in the event of serious comprehension trouble. These two ways combined should lend a certain amount of mitigation of the challenges that are inherit in these courses, especially for someone like our subject who needs to develop habits to meet these requirements squarely. Our recommendations mirror his career goal requirements. It is recommended that he takes a course in Financial or Managerial Accounting, Microeconomics, Introductory Finance, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry as well as Business and Advanced Statistics to meet these needs. As stated in our plan of action, these classes should be divvied up between summer of 2009, fall of 2009, spring of 2010, summer of 2010, fall of 2010, spring of 2011, and summer of 2011. That would boil down to about one class per semester. One quantitative class per semester should be sufficiently uncomplicated to achieve the ends satisfactorily. There are a number of cognitive skills at play in the practice of quantitative analysis. One is simply counting. All mathematical functions are derived from the rules of the number line. Next is logic, logic constitutes the use of concrete rules to manipulate facts and figures. Another is measure. By measure we mean to apply the counting and its derivatives as well as logic to observe our natural world. Perhaps a more abstract concept is that of extrapolation - where we take our measures and through statistical analysis or algebraic

Food Accessibility in Urban Communities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Food Accessibility in Urban Communities - Essay Example They assert that these systems have caused environmental, social, and economic implications. Overview of the policy paper This is a synopsis of discussion paper number 3 on â€Å"Access to Food in Urban Communities†. The paper highlights the main obstacles to food accessibility by the urban residents; therefore, implementing the possible solutions to those obstacles. It discusses how economic factors may present obstacles to the accessibility of healthy foods. It also confers the main issues that face urban food production. Furthermore, it addresses the explanations on why it is tricky for urban communities to access local foods and information concerning healthy foods (Access to Food in Urban Communities, 2011 p. 3). According to this discussion paper, food is a commodity; therefore, there should be a non-market manner of distributing it, as many cities in Canada depend on market activity for them to access healthy foods. The discussion paper asserts that everyone has a right to access healthy foods but most people in urban communities fail because of diminishing funds. In urban communities, accessing healthy food is a chief problem because of economic barriers; furthermore, urban residents having fewer opportunities of practicing urban farming and due to lack of educational programs to teach urban residents on approaches to improve food accessibility (White 2007 p.100). This discussion paper also deliberates ways, which can help residents with low income to access healthy foods and how introduction of urban agriculture can enhance accessibility to inexpensive and healthy food. The challenges that this discussion paper highlights include the issue of gender inequality in the market place. Furthermore, many people believe that city land is not for farming. Therefore, the paper recommends that there should be improvement of food programs for the urban communities in US and other relevant areas. These programs should encourage farming in urban centers. Fro m this discussion of paper number 3, my research will focus on the method of improving healthy food accessibility by the low-income urban communities (Access to Food in Urban Communities, 2011 p. 5). Literature Review In 1960s, most of the white people who inhabited urban localities vacated to their homes in suburbs, which negatively affected the production of healthy foods in cities (Bolen & Hecht, 2003 p. 4). Food outlets, which were offering healthy and affordable foods, also vacated hence, leading to distribution of unhealthy and expensive foods in cities. Numerous urban families have a meager income, which makes them incapable of accessing local healthy foods, hence, disabling them from balancing their diets (White 2007 p.101). Furthermore, these individuals have less transportation opportunities, which force them to purchase their foods from local cafes and corner shops that sales unhealthy foods. In addition, these food joints are in poor conditions and, they sell their edibl es expensively (Rose, 2010, p. 1168). Urban residents should also raise funds to support urban farming, and encourage their fellow dwellers to participate in it. White (2007, p. 104) states there are barriers that prevent pitiable individuals worldwide from accessing organic and local foods. These impediments encompass the financial problems, as the main obstacle blocking the low-income individuals from purchasing healthy foods are their cost (Burns, Bentley, Thornton &

Why does Warren Buffett rely heavily on Net Working Capital analysis Essay

Why does Warren Buffett rely heavily on Net Working Capital analysis as his principal method of valuing businesses Do you agree - Essay Example What is meant by Net Working Capital? Net Working Capital (NWC) is Current Assets minus Current Liabilities. Current Assets include Cash and Cash Equivalents, Receivables, Inventory and other current Assets. Current Liabilities include all Short Term Borrowings. Net working Capital is also defined as that part of Current Assets that is financed by Long term Funds. This definition of the NWC is useful for the analysis of the trade-off between Profitability and risk. The Greater the amount of NWC, the greater is the liquidity of the business, lesser the risk. Thus, if the company’s goal is increasing profitability, it can be achieved by increasing risk, which again is measured by the lower level of Net Working Capital. The important elements of decision making during the process of purchase of a business are Profitability and Risk. Both these elements can be analyzed using Net Working Capital. Net Working Capital can be improved by infusing new funds in to the business in terms of Capital or long term finance. Similarly, NWC can be deteriorated by purchase of Long Term Assets. Any increase in Current Assets of the company which has a corresponding increase in current liabilities would not effect the NWC of the company. The value of the business is determined by its intrinsic value. Intrinsic value of a business can be determined by Long term Assets minus Long term Liabilities. The other way of measuring the intrinsic value of the business is Current Assets minus Current Liabilities, which is measured by Net Working Capital. 2In a net-net situation, an investor estimates a liquidation value for a company, then tries to pay a fraction of that value in the market. Ben Graham loved these types of situations, defining the net-net value as: Graham would invest in companies which are available at a price which is two-thirds of the NWC of the company, the one-third portion is the margin of safety which would protect the investor against

Human Genetic Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Genetic Diversity - Essay Example There are several stages of Meiosis. First one is prophase where homologous chromosomes start pairing and form synapses. Second stage is Metaphase where these pairs are situated on Metaphase plate. There are equal chances of receiving mother's or father's homologue for each chromosome. Independent assortment is a process where 2n daughter cells (combinations) is generated having maternal and paternal homologous pairs of chromosomes, where n being haploid number of the organism. In the case of humans, the haploid number (n) in the formula is 23. Thus, there is 223 (about 8 million) number of combination of maternal and paternal chromosomes possible. Crossing over is the process which happens in previous stage of prophase. In this process homologous chromosomes are paired together loosely along their length, resulting in generation of point of contact which is used for exchange of genetic information. This produces various combinations of maternal and paternal genes. Number of cross over events depends on size of chromosomes and position of their centromeres. In case of humans it is one to three on an average Fertilization is the process in which different gametes fuse together and form new organism of same spices.

Pain Management in a Polytrauma Patient Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Pain Management in a Polytrauma Patient - Essay Example Nociceptive pain comprises of two other classes: radicular and somatic pain. Radicular pain primarily stems from nerve roots irritation such as a disc herniation (PubMed). It follows the leg down to the nerve distribution from the root nerve at the spinal cord. In most scenarios, this class of pain associates with radiculopathy (numbness, weakness, loss of reflexes in nerve distribution). Somatic pain essentially affects the thigh and back. The problem with back pain is that polytrauma patients may not be in a position to provide appropriate history. However, doctors usually provide exact diagnosis in few cases even with appropriate information. Patients suffering from neuropathic pain display characteristics of complete or partial changes in the innervations territories that correspond to the central nervous or peripheral system pathology. Additionally, there is paradoxical occurrence of hypersensitivity and pain in denervated zones and their surroundings (Thomas 125). These nerve p roblems occur in different conditions and different locations of the nerve lesion. Consequently, there is no single mechanism entirely responsible for maintaining and generating all the signs and symptoms in neuropathic pain. Overall treatment of neuropathic pain remains a problem, though the increasing evidence of effective neuropathic pain treatment makes it important for clinicians to know the effective drugs in relieving pain as well as their side effects. Additionally, there is need for a treatment algorithm based on evidence for treating neuropathic conditions. A direct comparison of different drugs in both their side effects and efficacy will ideally lead to the best drug for the... Patients suffering from neuropathic pain display characteristics of complete or partial changes in the innervations territories that correspond to the central nervous or peripheral system pathology. Additionally, there is paradoxical occurrence of hypersensitivity and pain in denervated zones and their surroundings (Thomas 125). These nerve problems occur in different conditions and different locations of the nerve lesion. Consequently, there is no single mechanism entirely responsible for maintaining and generating all the signs and symptoms in neuropathic pain. Overall treatment of neuropathic pain remains a problem, though the increasing evidence of effective neuropathic pain treatment makes it important for clinicians to know the effective drugs in relieving pain as well as their side effects. Additionally, there is need for a treatment algorithm based on evidence for treating neuropathic conditions. A direct comparison of different drugs in both their side effects and efficacy w ill ideally lead to the best drug for the algorithm. However, the availability of such comparisons is limited. The other viable option is to estimate relative safety and efficacy using the number needed to harm (NNH) and the number needed to treat (NNT) approach. Past research and studies using this approach appraise four pharmacological drug classifications that prove important in the management of neuropathic pain: antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioids, and NMDA antagonists (Medscape).

Health sysytems and government response to AIDS in America Essay

Health sysytems and government response to AIDS in America - Essay Example There is a common saying regarding AIDS that â€Å"you are either infected or affected†. This is because when one is infected with AIDS, faces the pain associated with the illness and emotional torture as one feels that unmet goals and objectives in life are no longer attainable; one also feels socially unfit to carry the normal life used to live before the infection. Someone who is free of the virus is affected since has to commit his time and resources in supporting the infected one. More precisely, the individual suffering, household, families, and the economy experience the effects of HIV/AIDS. Ones contributes to the growth of the economy is likely to decline and eventually stop as the stages of the illness progress. This is because the individual is dependent on others and the government on daily bases for food and treatment. The government and health systems have put a lot of emphasis on controlling the disease by establishing Voluntary Centers for testing. Currently there is a huge network of testing centers all over America to provide citizens with free services where they can get to know their status, get guidelines on how to stay free from the virus and if affected, the control and management practices. Although this is a positive initiative, the government does not provide enough well trained nurses to deliver the services; this is a drawback. More so, people have fear for stigma from those who offer the services, therefore the government is working to provide testing kits whereby one can perform the test within his privacy and convenient time. (Augustus 43). The government has identified that most youths are at high risk to contract (Chris 490) AIDS due to idleness and lack of employment. With the high rates of inflation and unemployment, many people lack employment hence in order to sustain their daily lives, they indulge in irresponsible sexual activities. This increases the rate of AIDS infections. The government has stepped in to offer technical trainings and job opportunities to encourage the youths not involve themselves in such risky behaviors. The government has also established rehabilitation centers for sex addicts where they get support and guidance on reformation. Commercial sex workers have higher chances of contracting AIDS due to the sexual association with many people. Such centers offer them information on how to change their behaviors and how get finances from moral activities. The government and other health systems have responded to the AIDS epidemic by establishing children homes for both HIV positive children and orphaned children due to AIDS. These children are offered free education and home care. Although this is a very essential

Liable or Not Liable Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Liable or Not Liable - Essay Example , EcoCath made according to me, a full disclosure of their business position with regard to products of interests, marketing strategies projected income and other linkages with potential investor companies. All this were at the disposal of Medsystems to factor in, investigate the extent of their efficacy before getting into a contract with EcoCath (courtcases.net, 2000). In their representations preceding the contract, EcoCath table all the material facts to Medsystems. These included the fact that the financial projections were not real and were a mere assumptions made as the bench marks for the business (courtcases.net, 2000). In the EcoCath prospects delivered to Medsystems the position of the company in relation to capitalization, future plans, financial data and collaborative agreements were vivid (courtcases.net, 2000). The collaborative agreement can plays a pivotal role in EcoCath’s defense, this is because in it was the cautioned by EcoCath that the partnership enter ed into with other investors will be risky and that assurance could not be given to these strategic partners regarding the agreements reached. It is the fair to believe that Medsystems were operating at the apex of information when they decided to sign the agreement (courtcases.net, 2000). The innocence of EcoCath is also corroborated by the fact that in their response later of agreement, they unequivocally stated that their persuasion to enter into the partnership was occasioned not by the EcoCaths prospects but by their physical assessment of the company any consent from their technocrats. They also acknowledged the enormous risks involved in share investments and that in the event of loss they will bear the circumstances (courtcases.net, 2000). Medsystems’ suit

Business History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business History - Essay Example Smith's strong will coupled with his hard working attitude made him a successful man. His Canadian Office was in fact nicknamed as "The Light House" because the windows are frequently illuminated long after the remainder of the street was in darkness. On the other hand, Cooke's efficiency, friendliness and competence have impressed many businessmen which enabled him to climb in the corporate ladder of success. "He developed his skills rapidly, writing to his older brother at one point, 'I am getting to be a good judge of bank notes, can tell counterfeits at sight, and know all nearly the broken banks in the United States of America...' By the age of twenty-one Cooke was a full partner in the banking house..." (Frey 58). Smith had made his way to his fortune with the use of his persuasive skills and political connections. "He used his influence as an HBC officer and bribes to attempt a peaceful settlement..." (Redford 940). It was also said that, "Smith profited from his position in the HBC to survey business opportunities both for the company and for himself" (Redford 941). Smiths numerous personal business endeavours put a stress in his career at HBC (Hudson's Bay Company). "Undoubtedly, Smith's business ventures distracted him from his management of the HBC's affairs. He received periodic rebukes From Governor Sir Stafford Henry Northcote who complained that he had to report on land sales based on information gleaned from newspapers" (Redford 942). Smith was also said to have neglected the fur trade. William Joseph Christie, inspecting chief factor of the HBC reported to the London committee on the slack management of the company's affairs. Christie resigned his job when no action was taken on hi s information. Conversely, Jay Cooke first gained the attention of the banking industry when he marketed $3 million of Pennsylvania's bond issue. The state was in dire straits, it is indebted by $40 million. Cooke created a marketing strategy that made the bonds oversubscribe in less than a month. He sent agents all over the state and drafted circulars, pamphlets and posters emphasizing the patriotic need for the subscription of the issue. The proceeds of the bond issue were to be used as a necessary capital to win the war. Mr Cooke capitalized patriotism in selling the bonds. It can also be observed that Smith was politically active. It is but understandable why it seems this way, after all any political/high organizational position entails power that may be used to prosper or obliterate a business. Through these connections he was able to meet new business partners, engage in another business venture and gain more money. "Smith began a political career representing Winnepig-St John in the Manitoba legislature 1870-1874 and Selkirk in the House of Commons 1871-78" (Farr). Whereas, Cooke served the government as Ohio's financial adviser and he also helped develop sound fiscal policies during the American Civil War. In spite of Smith's hard work and achievements, a shadowy figure of him lurks

Why IFRS Should be Adopted in the Place of GAAP Personal Statement

Why IFRS Should be Adopted in the Place of GAAP - Personal Statement Example Secondly, companies that adopt IFRS are able to compare and contrast their financial report to those of their leading international competitors. Use of IFRS creates significant access to foreign investments and capital markets. IFRS facilitates cross-border ventures, acquisitions and spin-offs. The early adoption of IFRS, before it made mandatory, enables companies to have a leading edge. Such companies would experience benefits related to conversion, as their competitors miss out. It is worth noting that the mandatory adoption of IFRS has certain inherent challenges, but not without solutions. Companies must ensure that IFRS adoption is not only treated as an accounting exercise, but also as an enterprise-wide and strategic program that requires support and sponsorship of proficient leadership. This is especially because planning up-front and efforts in obtaining buy-in in the organization are uncertain, a condition that may constrain normal business operations. In this regard, ther e must be the application of a company’s financial knowledge within new policies during adoption to IFRS. Additionally, there is the need for financial measures that will improve the assessment of IFRS reports ( National Professional Service Group). When such control measures are put in place, there is a high probability that the organization will add more finance personnel that would be well informed about IFRS reporting. Is if not enough, it is expectable that companies are likely to add information to proficient information technology systems. Under IFRS, business contracts that were currently issued and the debts agreement will have to be renegotiated under IFRS rather than the U.S. GAAP. On the other hand, organizations are only supposed to budget for the transition to IFRS, as well as for costs associated with external advisory  services. Management of the stakeholder expectations, which entails planning, budgeting and investor relations, would also be necessary.  

Insulin Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Insulin - Term Paper Example The termination of gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis results to restoration of normal glucose levels in the blood. The action of insulin in the body is usually brief and the level blood sugar changes after the action of insulin subsides. Besides the control of blood sugar, production of insulin initiates a series of metabolic reactions that are mainly mediated by the changes in expression of over 100 genes in the body (O’Brien and Granner, 1117). One of the major effects of insulin in such physiological processes includes the regulation in the expression of genes that stimulate absorption of amino acids, metabolisms of lipids mainly in the muscles and adipose tissue. In addition, insulin affects the expression of genes used for growth, development and survival of somatic cells (Rhodes and White8) Alfred Sanger did the first sequencing of amino acids that make up insulin hormone in 1955 (BCBC 1). According to BCBC (1) insulin is the first protein to have its amino acid chain determined and sequenced. Moreover, the hormone is the first â€Å"peptide protein measured by radioimmunoassay technique†. In addition, insulin is the first hormone to be produced in microorganisms using recombinant DNA technology, a process that was successfully conducted in the 1970s. Since then, insulin produced by recombinant DNA technology has been used for treating diabetes, replacing earlier hormones that were produced from purification of insulin from animal species (BCBC1) Disruption of insulin synthesis in the body causes several physiological changes in the body. One of the major impacts of low glucose production is hyperglycemia, a medical condition characterized by an abnormal increase of glucose in the blood plasma (Steiner and James 42). Other effects include poor growth and development of the body. Diabetic patients

Nursing Informatis Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nursing Informatis - Coursework Example This back up plan is enabled by the use information technology and other information structures, which systematize statistics, information. It further identifies processing adapted by computers; alter  the nature in technology, work systems and unit arrangements, format, and may give room for considerable changes in the application of nurses’ time and the secure release of care. Examine expectations in the scholarly literature for informatics competencies at different levels, including for new graduates and those at the master’s level and doctoral level. How did your self-assessment fit these expectations? What strategies are you planning to improve your competencies? Informatics nurses though new prove quite challenging due to the course demands. The new graduates need awareness concerning the requirements of the course and the challenges that come with it. New graduates need to have information relating to computer use so that the lecturer has an easy time incorpora ting it with the nursing needs. The masters and the doctorate level require being more sophisticated to be able to handle even more complex matters.  Nurses are expected to give the patient harmless, fit and compassionate care in an environment that proves digitalized and technical with the changing times. Nurses directly works with information systems and technologies as the basis for evidence-based practice, clinical-decision support tools, and the electronic health record (EHR) to perk up the care of patients while, expressing the need of Health Information Systems to the clinical setting. The Masters level needs to acquire the know-how concerning the different kinds of health Information Systems and their use in clinical and official settings. The need for confidentiality proves paramount when working with health information systems as this might scare way since inadequate security will scare away potential clients. The need for passwords to regulate the number of people who c an access the given information also proves paramount to the healthcare centers using Health information system. The users require skills as noted in the HL7EHRS model, which comprises the ECDL-Health Users Skills of Navigation, Decision Support, the reports on the achievements and end products. The need for doctorate to poses the skills that enable them to comprehend the principles that founded both the organization and the professional Health Information Systems, which proves consumer friendly. How does the formal NI scope of practice compare to your perceptions or beliefs about the practice of nursing informatics? If you are currently in an informatics position, draw on your current experiences. If you have worked with an informatics nurse, include those experiences. The NI scope of practice compares to the perception I have about nursing informatics in that, the nurses ensure expertise and professionalism in the process of nursing patients. The nurses make use of investigative a nd innovative thinking skills to improve of service delivery to customers. I remember a time when a patient came to me with information that was only available in the archives; I had to go back to the records thus there is a need to know

Discuss and describe a moral panic from a social science perspective Essay Example for Free

Discuss and describe a moral panic from a social science perspective Essay Society is frequently subjected to moral panics when any crime is committed. Humanity repeatedly blows crimes and incidents out of proportion until the entire society is somewhat controlled. Stuart Hall, in his book, ‘Policing the Crisis’ explained that â€Å"the media, in conjunction with the bourgeoisie, create moral panics in order to perpetrate fear and maintain control over society, as a whole.† (Hall, 2013, s. 1) Moral panics are created as a hazard and rising threat to shock both society and culture into changing the way it thinks and acts about problems in the real world. In this essay, moral panics will be looked at in detail with a specific interest in the case of James Bulger. There will too, be a focus on the influence the media, police and politicians have on moral panics and public opinions. Stanley Cohen derived a moral panic as â€Å"a sporadic episode which subjects society to worry about the values and principles which society upholds which may be in jeopardy. The moral panics are a means of characterising the reactions of the media, the public and agents of social control to youthful disturbances.† (Cohen, 1987: 9) The abduction and subsequent murder of the toddler James Bulger, from a shopping centre in Liverpool, was a crime which brought about a huge moral panic in Britain in the 1990’s. A murder of any sort brings about a moral panic, but when the victim, and in this case the defendants, are both children, it attracts overwhelming media attention and a vast moral panic is quickly spread. It has been previously said that it is the most monstrous of crime when a child elects to kill another child. Theories of moral panics are sparked when they are spread; the ‘Grassroots Model’ (Critcher, 2008) theory occurs when the public and media col laborate, consequently leading to fears becoming exaggerated; in the case of James Bulger; ephebiphobia, which is the fear of children and youth. The murder of Bulger made parents realise how defenceless their own children really are, and how they should fear others’ children. The theory suggests â€Å"panics are initiated and generated from the bottom up and are spread about particularly large numbers of people.† This is subsequently shown in the murder of Bulger; the moral panic was initiated from the crime but then soon spread to the media, thus advertising the story which then became public knowledge and the fear of children and youth becomes established and inflated. Marx established the ‘Elite Engineered Model’ which encompasses the ruling elite  manufacturing certain panics to instil fear in society and divert it away from the real problems they are having. In the scenario of the James Bulger murder, those with high ranking in society involved in the case, for example, police, detectives, press and politicians, created the moral panic of the murder in an attempt to divert the public’s opinion away from the shocking crime of two young boys, just 10 years old, not just abducting a toddler from a busy shopping centre in Liverpool, but also killing him in the most vicious way and dumping his body on train tracks in an attempt to cover up what had happened. This is not the behaviour of children; it is the behaviour of evil. Particularly due to the age of the killers, the ferociousness of the crime and the age of the victim, the mass media reports allowed the public to get personally and emotionally involved in the case and have severe anger and resentment towards the children who murdered James Bulger. The public outcry was huge and, the decision by the politicians and press combined to release the names of the killers publicly as Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, allowed the public to finally vent their abuse against the killers. Amid the hysteria in 1993, both Thompson and Venables lost the right to be seen as children, or even as human. The kids who had killed the kid had to be killed, or indeed locked up for life. The word used about them stopped all arguments; they were pure evil.’ (Morrison, 2003) These scandals make any type of child harm seem dramatic and heinous; these crimes force the attention onto those in society who are high ranked, in an attempt to aim for a change to prevent this crime being repeated. The path of any moral panic can sway in two opposing directions; either the panic dies down relatively quickly and is totally forgotten, or it has lasting repercussions for all those i nvolved, whether press, politicians, the police or the public. (Butler, n.d.) In the case of the murder of little James Bulger, there were lasting implications; which included the introduction of the National Sex Offenders Register (Paedophile Register) in the late 1990’s as a response to the growing concern and panic over the recent child sex offences (Cohen 1972:9). The Interest Group Theory involves panic about a given behaviour, in this instance, a child killing another child, and hence due the massive public outcry, the case is more likely to be distorted by the media and the outcome  changed. The Bulger story was iconic and a rare, uncommon case; but lessons should be learnt. A similar crime had previously been committed in the form of the 1861 murder of baby George burgess in Stockport by two eight year olds. Burgess was forced to suffer a horrific attack and the two young boys inflicted shocking injuries upon his body. This crime severely angered the local community and again created a moral panic. In today’s society, thankfully due to the role that the media now plays in the viewing and promoting of crimes, we, as a whole in society, are able to successfully campaign for justice and see those who participated in the crime jailed for as long as they deserve. The concept of moral panics does have some disadvantages; they do tend to be deterministic and can be twisted by the media to blow the event out of proportion. In the case of James Bulger, the amount of media attention thrown onto the case means that this moral panic is ever lasting, and will always be remembered, preventing events like this from being repeated. Bibliography: Butler, I (2013) Moral Panic and Child Protection Available form: http://www.moralpanicseminars.files.wordpress.com.2013/05/sem2-butler.pdf [Accessed 15th November 2013] Cohen, S (2011) Folk Devils and Moral Panics: Key Ideas. London: Routledge Critcher, C (2006) Moral Panics and the Media. OU Press Critcher, C (2008) Moral Panic Analysis: Past, Present and Future Swansea University: Blackwell Publishing. Available from: http://www.penelopeironstone.com/Critcher.pdf [Accessed 28th October 2013] Eldridge, J Kitzinger, J Williams, K (1997) The Mass Media and Power in Modern Britain (Chapter 5 – Moral Panics, Media Scares and Real Problems) Oxford University Press Goode, E Ben-Yehuda, N (1994) Moral Panics: The Social Construction of Deviance. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Blackwell Hall, S (2013) Policing the Crisis: Mugging, the State and Law and Order. 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan Jewkes, Y (2011) Media and Crime. Sage Kirsh, S (2010) Media and Youth. Wiley Blackwell Marsh, I Melville, G (2011) Moral Panics and the British Media: A look at some contemporary ‘Folk Devils’

Situation Assessment of Various Response Teams Essay Example for Free

Situation Assessment of Various Response Teams Essay Situation Assessment of Various Response Teams Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Effective response to incidences obliges an appropriate planning approach that is founded on the disaster evaluation of the situation (Schwartz, 2013). Such a situation obliges a reaction on the planned emergency management process that is applied to the organization. This is aimed at ensuring that perilous assets of an organization are safeguarded from probable hazards (Salmon, Stanton, Jenkins Walker, 2011). Before the planning and the execution of the response, the assessment of the situation provides the requisite data for examination. This data assists in the evaluation of the usefulness of the existing emergency response tactics used by the organization. This prior situational assessment entails defining the needs and urgencies of the emergency response tactics that are utilized by the organization.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For effective decision-making, planning and control of the whole process, situational management becomes a vital element for application (Comfort, 2004). This management helps in undertaking of all the phases of disaster response through facilitating ease of planning and orchestrating of effective recovery strategies. This memo sets to describe the steps that one would take to conduct the assessment as the starting point. It also discusses the key success factors in the management of large, multi-agency as well as multi-jurisdictional response programs. Further, it discusses numerous ways of determining success of the response. In addition, the memo entails an elucidation of how drills and tests that precisely evaluate the key factors for response can be designed. Steps That One Would Take To Conduct the Postmortem   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first step, in undertaking the assessment, is defining objectives followed by terms of reference. In this step, the assessor ruminates on the reasons of the assessment practice. The objectives of the assessment activity, the questions that require answers and the entailed activities are defined. The required outcomes from the assessment are specifically determined at this step. The assessor is advised to be realistic as possible when carrying out this activity. As Comfort (2004), gauging the minimum amount of information that is required to attain the necessary output is vital to this step. The assessor then thinks about the end user of the information obtained from the assessment and, in this case; the senior government officials concerned with the disaster event response.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The next step involves choosing the kind of assessment to be applied. There are usually three types of assessment that can be applied namely; rapid, detailed and continual assessments (Salmon, Stanton, Jenkins Walker, 2011). Rapid assessment is executed during major disruptions such as after the occurrence of an earthquake. Detailed assessment is carried out on various occasions such as after a rapid assessment, on the situation where detailed information is required and when the situation under scrutiny keeps on changing gradually. Continual assessment is done after a detailed assessment has been carried out. According to Schwartz (2013), this kind of assessment involves updating information on the current situation and demanding for the relevant feedback from the involved is vital.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The third step is deciding on whether or not to involve partners in the assessment. At point, an individual decides on whether to undertake the assessment on their own or with partners. Partners may either be internal or external depending on the sensitivity of the assessment being carried out and needs of the assessment (Comfort, 2004). When internal partners are involved, their capacities and roles should be considered. Also, their actual roles in the exercise should be defined precisely. Involving external partners call for a joint assessment that has some benefits. These benefits are; improved coordination and cooperation in the planning, efficient use of resources and reduced assessment fatigue (Jensen, 2011). A joint assessment calls for appropriate divisions of responsibilities as per the agreement of the partners.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the next step in undertaking a detailed review of the secondary information, every assessor is obliged to undertake a comprehensive review of the available secondary information on the subject of assessment (Comfort, 2004). The information entails the background information, and the information in direct relation to the issues identified in terms of reference (Salmon, Stanton, Jenkins Walker, 2011). It also involves the information pertaining to the sources and type of latest changes. This information helps in grasping the initial idea of the assessment and the related problems that the assessor might experience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The other step is the collection of information pertaining to the ongoing responses of the team. At this point, choosing the best method of collecting the actual information pertaining to the performance of the various response teams is vital (Schwartz, 2013). This is so because the correct methodology ensures that only the right information pertaining to the situation is obtained. This endeavor obliges for gathering all the appropriate means in terms of resources, logistics, human and time (Jensen, 2011). In the possession of these resources, all the needed information can be obtained with ease. After compiling, the information pertaining to the assessment activity is presented to the recipients, in this case, the senior government officials. The presentation must be simple and should present a detailed understanding of the activities of various response teams. The Key Success Factors   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are several basic success factors that are evident in response programs. These factors ensure that emergency operations fulfill the projected aims and objectives of alleviation, reaction and recovery (Comfort, 2004). The main aim of incident response is to ensure a rapid and effective recovery from a security event. In addition, the response gears towards decreasing the impacts inflicted by the threat or disruption to normal functioning of facilities where the incidence has occurred. A systematic approach plan executed in line with the standard measures of corporeal security is applied with an aim of mitigating the probability of reoccurrence of the event.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the crucial success factors, towards managing large, multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional response programs, is inter-agency communication (Salmon, Stanton, Jenkins Walker, 2011). This type of communication is done on the basis of a collective framework. As Jensen (2011) asserts, collaboration among agencies is crucial in guaranteeing effective disaster response. For this reason, the communication among these agencies should be flexible to guarantee a consistent communication framework. This framework ensures that the collaboration between the private sector and the government is at its best for effective management of national calamities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This happens regardless of the magnitude, geographical location and causation of the disaster. Also, the joint system of information management assists in enhancing public communication by relaying the information pertaining to a disaster accurately and in time to the public (Jensen, 2011). This cross-communication facilitates the meeting of various response team communicators whose aim is to develop, organize and deliver a common message relating to the event. Such meetings facilitate the elimination of delivery of dissimilar information relating to an event by the government and non-governmental agencies. The purpose of inter-agency communication is not only to facilitate effort coordination of various jurisdictions, but also guarantees joint decision-making framework. The framework is founded on the goals and aims, mete tactics and plans, public communications, and the primaries during the occurrence of the event (Schwartz, 2013). This aids in improving the efficiency of readiness for a disaster and the response of various agencies. This way, successful response to an event, the recovery from that event and prevention of its reoccurrence is guaranteed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The second key success factor is effective reporting procedures of the disaster event. The procedures, of reporting a disaster event, are vital in enhancing the efficacy of response actions to the event (Comfort, 2004). An efficacy reporting procedure is grounded on the fundamental facets of effective communications that guarantee to extend to the largest audience possible. The reporting of the disaster event must be fast enough so as to mitigate any probable losses that may emanate from the event (Kellams, 2007). For this reason, utilization of effective reporting networks and procedures which manifest minimum constraints. These procedures are obliged to conform to the evacuation policies usually applied when all physical security bounds have been entirely overwhelmed (Kellams, 2007). These policies advocates for adequate communication of the incident, suppression of the destruction imposed by the event and mitigation of eminent risks thr ough safeguard crucial assets.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The third key success factor is effective management of resources. Effective response programs oblige for effective management of resources. This exercise primarily starts with the identification of the resources that are available at all levels of jurisdiction (Schwartz, 2013). The identification is followed by classifying, transmitting, tracking and reception of resources. All these activities call for effective management so as to facilitate timely delivery of these resources and prevention of wastage. This way, the preparation, reaction and recovery process of the disaster event is effectively carried out devoid of impediments (Comfort, 2004). Resource management should also entail the various agreements among several agencies who form response teams for effective resource mobilization. This way, the effect brought about by the disaster event is minimized, and the recovery strategies become more effective.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The fourth basic success factor is enhanced public communication. At this point, crucial media relations should be cultivated in ensuring effective communication of the disaster event to the public (Kellams, 2007). During initial stages of reacting to disaster and recovery operations, the involved teams should are obliged to establish communication channels that are capable of reaching the victims with swiftness. In most cases, effective public communication is usually realized through the use of low-price and low-tech networks (Kellams, 2007). This is so because they are believed to be the most effective and are easily accessed by the victims of a disaster event. Some examples of such cheap communication channels that can be used are; megaphones, community radios and the Systems of Public Address. Measuring the Success of the Response   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A given response to a disaster event is said to be successful only if it achieves its primary aims and objectives (Kellams, 2007). In all instances, the primary aim and objective of all response programs are to mitigate the potential damage affiliated with the event on human life and belongings by emphasizing on safety. In determining the success of the response, several variables can be used as discussed below.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first way, of measuring the success of the response, is through the analysis of the depth of losses incurred after the event and comparison of it to the recovery depth (Kellam, 2006). The extent of loss is measured through the number of sustained fatal injuries, the minor injuries, and the reported total deaths. This is followed then by identification of the magnitude of loss affiliated with the event in terms of property (Comfort, 2004). This way, it is easier to assess the achievement of the response and recovery attempts put in place by the collaborating multi-agency teams. Effective responses to disastrous events are always geared towards minimizing the impacts of the event and to aid in the realization of the best possible recovery plan. Also, these responses aim at preventing such disasters in the future. Assessing the initial possibility of the occurrence of the losses incurred compared to the assessment of the future occurrence of such an event is crucial. This is so because, it becomes easier to determine the success of the response (RodriÃŒ guez, Quarantelli Dynes, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The second way through which the success of the response is determined is through the evaluation of the level of collaboration between all the stakeholders. In the case of a disaster event, the stakeholders are the public, the government, as well as the response agencies (Comfort, 2004). Successful responses to events depend on the level of collaboration of all the above-mentioned stakeholders. This is so because each of the collaborators must take their part seriously and execute it with utmost articulation for a successful response program. For this reason, there must exist an effective communication channel among the stakeholders (Sadovich, 2007). This ensures that each fulfills their part without intruding into other stakeholder’s jurisdiction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The stakeholders who have a common picture of the event and who worked tirelessly together throughout the whole response program is an indication of a successful response program (Gardner, 2013). This collaboration can only be guaranteed through effective communication among the stakeholders that in turn ensures effective resource management, sharing of responsibilities and planning of activities. When the above mentioned three activities become effective, the success of the response program is guaranteed. For this reason, establishment of the level of collaboration is an important measure of the success of response programs (Sadovich, 2007).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The third measure of the success of the response is an assessment of the time of distraction of the normalcy of the response. As Gardner (2013) asserts, a successful response to a disaster event usually occurs within the shortest time possible to guarantee minimum distraction of the operation of vital facilities during its execution. The minimum disruption is guaranteed through effective communication, better allocation of tasks among the multi-agency teams and effective allocation of resources. If a response program takes long to be accomplished, it means that there is a problem with one or even more of the three aforementioned perspectives. A prolonged response program may create a lot of disruptions of the critical facilities. To this end, the program may be termed as ineffective and thus unsuccessful. When all aspects of implementation of the program are well coordinated, there is minimum disruption of the crucial infrastructure (Gardn er, 2013). When this minimum disruption occurs, the response program is said to be successful. For this reason, the magnitude and duration of the disruption of crucial facilities is one of the metrics for assessing the success of a response program. Designing Drills and Tests for Evaluating Key Success Factors   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The primary use of drills and tests is to evaluate the perilous success factors in the implementation of disaster response program. For this reason, the drills and tests are developed in accordance with the objectives and aims of the response program. First, the evaluation of inter-agency communication during the implementation response program necessitates an examination of the roles and accountabilities of different agencies that are collaborating. For this reason, individual contribution of the agencies must be accounted for during the evaluation of the success of inter-agency collaboration (Gardner, 2013).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Secondly, it is a must that the communication platforms used by different agencies in the process are evaluated. This way, it becomes easier to know different communication platforms that were used by different agencies who were collaborating. The agencies may have used a single platform of communication, or each may have used their independent platform. In most cases for national incidences, the use of a universal platform is encouraged. This is so because it is associated with prominence in managing emergency incidences. To this end, communication platforms are vital ingredients in designing drills and tests. To add on this, the preparedness to disaster is improving because of the use of uniform procedures in response teams reinforced by the application of the universal language. The standardization aspect also emphasizes on the use a set of universal techniques and information systems (Gardner, 2013). The two are developed to boost the operation of entities during the implementation of the response program. In addition, the two aspects serve as a strategic methodology that is used to facilitate effective management of operations during the program. The process of evaluating the efficiency of inter-agency teamwork and communication considerably rest on flexibility of appropriate implementation (Gardner, 2013). This flexibility relies on the progress of a chain of command that the government and non-governmental agencies adopt during the management of the occurrence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Evaluation of efficient program response is carried out by assessing the base on which the channels of communication used are oriented (Jensen, 2011). These communication channels should be in line with the evacuation policies and techniques. For this reason, communication as a drill and test of evaluating the basic success factor of the response program is designed to conform to the laid down policies and techniques. The reporting of the disaster event should be done based on the real time of occurrence. The accuracy in reporting procedure and of the relayed information pertaining to the event is highly emphasized (Jensen, 2011). In evaluating the success of this factor, we base our information magnitude of the target population of the reporting. For this reason, a critical assessment of communication channels that were utilized during the response and their respective effectiveness in reaching the prospected audience is vital. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, this memo describes the steps that one would take to conduct assessing the performance of several response teams during a disaster event. These steps are; definition of objectives followed by terms of references, choosing the type of assessment to be used and deciding on involvement of partners. Other steps are; review of the secondary information, collection of information pertaining to the ongoing response and the presentation of the findings as well as recommendations to the officials. Also, the memo discusses some key success factors in managing large, multi-jurisdictional, as well as multi-agency response programs. These factors are universal framework inter-agency communication, efficient reporting and techniques, public communication and effective management of resources. Further, there is a discussion of various measures success of the response programs. These measures are the extent of loss caused by the disaster, t he level of collaboration during the program, and the duration of the disruption of normal operation of crucial infrastructures. Further, the last section discusses on how drills and tests, of evaluating key success factors, can be designed. This process, as discussed above, involves analyzing the roles and responsibilities bestowed on various agencies forming the team, and an evaluation response techniques and policies. References Comfort, L. (2004). Coordination in Rapidly Evolving Disaster Response Systems: The Role of Information. American Behavioral Scientist, 48(3), 295-313. doi:10.1177/0002764204268987 Gardner, S. (2013). Multi-Site Disaster Response and Coordination Best Practices. Rxresponse.org. Retrieved 21 January 2015, from http://www.rxresponse.org/news/blog/multi-site-disaster-response-and-coordination-best-practices Jensen, J. (2011). The Current NIMS Implementation Behavior of United States Counties. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 8(1). doi:10.2202/1547-7355.1815 Kellams, C. (2007). NIMS and Homeland Security Field Guides. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 4(1). doi:10.2202/1547-7355.1321 Rodriguez, H., Quarantelli, E., Dynes, R. (2006). Handbook of disaster research. New York: Springer. Sadovich, J. (2007). Review Disaster Resilience: An Integrated Approach. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 4(4). doi:10.2202/1547-7355.1397 Salmon, P., Stanton, N., Jenkins, D., Walker, G. (2011). Coordination during multi-agency emergency response: issues and solutions. Disaster Prevention and Management, 20(2), 140-158. doi:10.1108/09653561111126085 Schwartz, K. (2013). Testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security Governmental Affairs: The Boston Marathon Bombings. Source document