MGMT499 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

MGMT499 - Essay Example In terms of legal environment, strict environmental legislation results into higher costs for both discount retailers. This factor even encompasses rising awareness amongst customers which increases costs for retailers such as Walmart and Target who follows green movement (Zentes, Morschett & Klein, 2012, pp.102-103). On the other hand social environment comprise of varying income levels of customers which give an opportunity to both the retailers in relation to lowering prices and acquiring large market share. The culture prevailing in Walmart is to work in collaboration and increase efficiency of the overall team. They even focus on reducing overhead expense so that better prices can be offered to customers. The performance rate of Walmart is higher in comparison to other retailers and hence it ranks as topmost retailer across the globe. On the contrary Target has a performance ratio lower than Walmart and occupies second position amongst all discount retailers based in America. Its low performance is due to limited product range being offered in all its retail stores. However the company culture is similar to that of Walmart where team members are considered to be an integral part of the system. The promotion policies of Walmart are such that it gives more emphasis on increasing responsibilities and retaining experienced workers in the system. There were 170,000 promoted by the company in previous year with more benefits and higher pay scale. These policies are based on average performance of employees and impact of their respective performance in growth and success of the company. On the other hand Target has a different set of promotion policies as it focuses on time period which has been spent by an employee with the organization. Promotion in this company is given to those employees who possess more experience in comparison to other individuals. However the promotional benefits are similar to that of Walmart. Walmart is a big retail

A Problem Case with Confidentiality Essay Example for Free

A Problem Case with Confidentiality Essay Confidentiality has always been a pledge that is likely to be asked by anyone when disclosing sensitive information to an authority, specialist, or even a friend. More often than not, the party to whom any information is to be disclosed would promise that none of it would ever be relayed to anyone else. Yet, this pledge of confidentiality is not, and cannot be made absolute especially if the client and other parties are in jeopardy and disclosing the case of the client in court is necessary to ensure the safety of the client or a third party (Herlihy and Corey, 2007). Aside from the court scenario, another case when confidentiality is often breached is when the client needs protection from a third party (Herlihy and Corey, 2007). Therefore, should something revealed by a client to a counselor be a reason of concern for the safety of others, the counselor may breach the confidentiality of the statements of the client. This leads to the common notion of doing what is for the greater good. Keeping the confidentiality only satisfy the will of the client, but it may pose greater danger to the community. Logically, if anything can pose danger to the client and to anyone else, it can also be a cause of being troublesome. Even if the secret is kept, the client will have no peace of mind. Hence, greater harm can be done if something that has to be disclosed to other authorities will be kept a secret just for the sake of confidentiality. The case of Norma has brought nothing out of the conditions in the code of ethics of the American Counseling Association (ACA). Norma has gone out with Javier for some time and other men, too. Read more:  Essay on Confidentiality and Disclosing Concerns Javier refused safe sex. The problem has been that Norma was diagnosed with HIV virus, but she could not determine whether she got it from Javier, because she also engaged in unsafe sex with other men aside from Javier. The danger that has been posed here is that Javier may be infected with HIV but does not know it. Worse, he prefers unsafe sex over safe sex, so if he comes in contact with other women and have sex with them without protection, more lives would be in danger of acquiring the deadly virus. The dilemma of the counselor is that Norma to reveal her health condition to Javier in fear of being harmed physically, which is very possible based on the character of the man as she has narrated. Hence, it appears that if Norma’s condition remains a secret to Javier, he may infect other women with the virus in case she had infected him or he had infected her. On the other hand, if Javier finds out Norma’s condition, she would be he one in danger of physical harm Javier might inflict. Abiding by the ethics, the counselor should explain to Norma that Javier has to know whether he ha HIV or not, because he is a possible transmitter of the disease. She has to understand that revealing her health condition to Javier would help prevent further infections. As for the possible dangers that Javier might pose on the life of Norma, Section B. 3. b of the ACA code of ethics states provisions of disclosing the case to other professionals, who will be part of the team that would take care of the client (Herlihy and Corey, 2007). The counselor must first secure a copy of the diagnosis that states that Norma has HIV. This is important in order to have authenticated proof about he condition of Norma when counselor asks for assistance from other authorities. Norma will have to be informed about the actions of the counselor and why it has to be done. She should know who else will know about her condition and be given assurance of confidentiality. To further convince her, she should be informed about the limitations of confidentiality Naggy, 2005 in Corey, Corey Callanan, 2002). In this case, should she need police protection, only the commanding officer should know about her condition and the officers, who would be tasked to ensure her security, may not know about her case. The State of Florida adheres to the America Counseling Association Code of Ethics, so all the guidelines stated in the ACA Code of Ethics can be taken into effect. There is, however, another provision from the National Board of Certified Counselors (2005) which states that a client should also be responsible in case when he/she is involved in a life-threatening situation, which, in this case is Norma’s HIV infection. A counselor is not a god to dictate what is right and wrong and what is good or bad and who is good or bad. However the code of ethics clearly states the proper action to be done in the case of Norma. Javier may pose danger to her and that is why she would need other help. Norma can even have a better chance of making the most out of her life if she â€Å"gets out of her box†. Revealing Norma’s condition to Javier can even help Javier change his attitude towards sex. In case he has not been infected, he can change his ways towards a safer way of living. In case he was the source of infection, authorities could further track down the other possible victims of the HIV transmission. Should Javier pose a threat to Norma, authorities would be able to apprehend him and send him to where he cannot infect anyone, in case he is infected. As a citizen of this country, Norma should realize where she went wrong and be able to amend that mistake. In the same way, the counselor should also give greater weight to the benefit of the majority, for her oath is not just to one person but to whole nation and to humanity. Thus, in a broader perspective, disclosing Norma’s condition to qualified authorities can bring the client to a win-win situation. References Corey, G. , Scheider-Corey, M. Callanan, P. 7th Ed. (2002). Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions. Wadsworth Publishing Co. Inc. Herlihy, Barbara and Gerald Corey. (2005) ACA Ethical Standards Casebook. Alexandria: American Counseling Association. National Board for Certified Counselors.

Human Values and Social Structures :: Free Essay Writer

Human Values and Social Structures It can be said that Golding describes the moral of the book in relation to the scientific mechanics of society. This is found as a major theme in the book, which is actually fear. The boys on the island view this ideal in the form of the "beastie". The "beastie" is an unseen figure on the island, which is symbolized of the dead parachutist. This fear, however, represents the potential evil found in humans. Yet, this evil is only brought about amongst specific environmental conditions, which Golding synthesized in the book. The most interesting aspect and probably the most influential characteristic of the story is found to be the age of the characters. The author successfully attempts to show how capable the aspect of evil is among human beings. However, Golding perfects this idea as he used children, who represent purity and innocence in a normal society. Through the use of children, the reader finds that barbarity and savagery can exist amongst even the smallest and most innocuous form of human beings. In Lord of the Flies, many key characters and symbols represent the almost civilized impulse. Some examples are Ralph, Piggy, and the ‘conch shell’ the boys use to call meetings. These are signs of order and control in a place full of fear and mental pressure. Simon is an example of how humans slowly evolve and adjust in their surroundings because he takes control of the situation. Simon acts morally on the island, he behaves kindly to the younger children, and he is the first to realize the problem posed by the beast and the Lord of the Flies. The problem that there is no external monster, but rather that a monster lurks within each human being. Two important symbols of civilization, the conch and the glasses, are closely followed throughout the action. As the civilized life breaks up on the island, the glasses are broken and stolen, and the conch is crushed. Piggy, who wears the glasses and carries the conch, is killed. Golding’s characters have a depth and are believable for the somewhat unbelievable situation they are put in. Each character has his own fully developed personality. He does this while maintaining a certain symbolism in the characters. Each characters, while being their own person, symbolizes some idea, but not to the point where the characters are flat. Ralph is twelve and one of the older boys on the island.

Importance of Integrity

Integrity is the number one quality of leadership. Integrity in leadership is expressed in terms of constancy and consistency. It is manifested in an absolute devotion to keeping one’s word. The glue that holds all relationships together-including the relationship between the leader and the led—is trust, and trust is based on integrity. Integrity is so important that functioning in our society would be impossible without it. We could not make even a simple purchase without a high level of confidence that the price was honest and that the change was correct. The most successful individuals and companies in America are those with reputations of high integrity among everyone they deal with. This level of integrity builds the confidence that others have in them and enables them to do more business than their competitors whose ethics may be a little shaky. Earl Nightingale once wrote, â€Å"If honesty did not exist, it would have to be invented, as it is the surest way of getting rich. † A study at Harvard University concluded that the most valuable asset that a company has is how it is known to its customers, its reputation. By the same token, your greatest personal asset is the way that you are known to your customers. It is your personal reputation for keeping your word and fulfilling your commitments. Your integrity precedes you and affects all of your interactions with other people. There are several things you can do to move you more rapidly toward becoming the kind of person that you know you are capable of becoming. The first is to decide upon my five most important values in life. Organize them in order of priority. Then I write a brief paragraph defining what each of those values means to me. A value combined with a definition becomes an organizing principle, a statement that I can use to help me make better decisions. It is a measure and standard which enables me to know how closely I am adhering to my innermost beliefs and convictions. Five of my most important values are: helping those who are less fortunate, working hard to reach my goals, being honest and truthful, working with others to get things done, and being the nicest person anyone could meet. I have always been regarded as a leader and that does not come with ease: backlash of the bullies and those who want to bring me down to get where I am will always encounter me, but because of my high integrity and honesty to do what is â€Å"right† I will not retaliate against them. I must go into others shoes, which enables me to help others in more ways than one, because their situations make me emotionally motivated to get them in a better place to be successful. Integrity is hard work, but that work is nothing but rewarding. I’m a leader and I will continue to develop to be the best leader I am to become, by living with integrity every day.

Math126 Week 3 Quiz

Date Taken: 3/7/2013 Time Spent: 2 h , 11 min , 30 secs Points Received: 20 / 20 (100%) Question Type: # Of Questions: # Correct: Multiple Choice 20 20 Grade Details – All Questions 1. Question : The difference between the ages of two friends is 37 years. The sum of their ages is 55 years. Find the age of the older friend. Student Answer: 46 9 47 45 Instructor Explanation: See section 8. 2 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 2. Question : Which of the following is not a way to name the angle shown? Student Answer: Instructor Explanation: See section 10. 1 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1Comments: 3. Question : The triangles in the figure below are similar. Use the proportional property of similar triangles to find the measure of x. Student Answer: 34. 2 km 29. 2 km 25. 2 km 19. 2 km Instructor Explanation: See section 10. 2 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 4. Question : Determine whether or not the network is traversable. Student Answer : No, it is not traversable. Yes, it is traversable. Instructor Explanation: See section 10. 7 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 5. Question : Find the slope of the line passing through the points (0, -4) and (-6, 7).Student Answer: 11/6 -11/6 -6/11 6/11 Instructor Explanation: See section 8. 1 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 6. Question : Identify angles 2 and 7 as alternate interior, alternate exterior, corresponding, or vertical. Student Answer: Alternate exterior Vertical Alternate interior Corresponding Instructor Explanation: See section 10. 1 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 7. Question : Classify the triangle according to sides. Student Answer: Scalene Isosceles Equilateral Instructor Explanation: See section 10. 2 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 8.Question : Find the vertex of the parabola. y = -2Ãâ€"2 + 12x – 13 Student Answer: (5, -3) (-3, 5) (3, 5) (5, 3) Instructor Explanation: See section 8. 5 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 9. Question : What is the definition of sin A for the following triangle? Student Answer: Instructor Explanation: See section 10. 6 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 10. Question : A tent is shaped like a pyramid. It has a square base measuring 8 feet on a side and a height of 6 feet. What is the volume of the tent? Student Answer: 512 ft3 128 ft3 16 ft3 32 ft3 Instructor Explanation: See section 10. of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 11. Question : Find the measure of the supplement of 58 °. Student Answer: 32 ° 148 ° 302 ° 122 ° Instructor Explanation: See section 10. 1 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 12. Question : Evaluate the function f(x) = -x2 + 5 for x = 4. Student Answer: -9 -10 -12 -11 Instructor Explanation: See section 8. 5 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 13. Question : The difference between the ages of two friends is 2 years. The sum of their ages is 74 years. Find the age of the older friend. Student Answer: 38 36 39 37Instructor Explanation: See section 8. 2 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 14. Question : Find the slope of the line passing through the points (-3, -10) and (4, 5). Student Answer: -15/7 -7/15 15/7 7/15 Instructor Explanation: See section 8. 1 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 15. Question : Classify the angle as acute, right, obtuse, or straight. Student Answer: Obtuse Right Straight Acute Instructor Explanation: See section 10. 1 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 16. Question : Identify angles 4 and 5 as alternate interior, alternate exterior, corresponding, or vertical.Student Answer: Corresponding Alternate interior Vertical Alternate exterior Instructor Explanation: See section 10. 1 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 17. Question : Determine whether or not the network is traversable. Student Answer: No, it is not traversabl e. Yes, it is traversable. Instructor Explanation: See section 10. 7 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 18. Question : Determine whether the system is consistent, inconsistent, or dependent. 3x + 2y = 15 6x + 4y = 30 Student Answer: Consistent Dependent Inconsistent Instructor Explanation: See section 8. of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 19. Question : Determine whether or not the relation is a function. {(1, 9), (2, 10), (3, 11), (4, 12)} Student Answer: No Yes Instructor Explanation: See section 8. 5 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: 20. Question : Determine whether the system is consistent, inconsistent, or dependent. 3x – 3y = -9 9x – 9y = -27 Student Answer: Consistent Dependent Inconsistant Instructor Explanation: See section 8. 2 of the textbook. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: * Times are displayed in (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada)

Discrimination and David Batty People Essay

Discrimination and David Batty People Essay Discrimination and David Batty People Essay In today’s society equality and the art of â€Å"being fair† is ever so popular, as it should be. The amount of opportunities in front of any American is mind blowing, and everything seems to be a competition with someone else. Discrimination is a harsh to the point word with a much more extraordinary definition than the one given by the dictionary. â€Å" The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things.† The art of judging someone by how the look or how you perceive him or her to be has been around since the beginning of man. There are ways to eliminate discrimination and do without it. Over the years the way people are judged or looked at has changed and will always continue to over time. Discrimination is todays society is far different than discrimination in the 1930’s or 1950’s. Women’s rights are something that is still present in today’s society as well as back in the early 1900’s. Men have always seen themselves smarter or above women just in general. This is not the case at all, all men and women are equal and no man should be looked at as â€Å"better† or â€Å"more suited† than any woman. Women were discriminated against because they were not said to have been as smart as the man so they were given lesser duties. Ever since man and woman were made equal women have risen to the occasion and not let any personal judgments by people hold them back. Even though two things are said to be equal under law, that can never change anyone’s beliefs or what they believe should be happening. â€Å"We run from things that we don’t understand and when we can’t run, we demonize the people who are differen t from ourselves.† (Scott Benner) This leads me to the discrimination of African Americans and how to this day people are still racist toward someone of another skin color. This is probably the most used example of â€Å"discrimination† and it is very serious. Since the civil war and the so-called â€Å"end to slavery† there have been people who do not agree. It is human nature almost to stand for what you believe in. Racism and discrimination towards people of the opposite race can be a very touchy subject and can be sensitive to a lot of people. Although it is a sensitive topic it really is a huge problem in the world we live in. And not just Whites and Blacks but other races that have prejudices assumed about them as well. â€Å"The moment a little boy is concerned with which is a jay and which is a sparrow, he can no longer see the birds or hear them sing.† (-Eric Berne) When man is not seen as one whole, there is no more harmony for one is seen as dif ferent. Our society right now is so contradictive with any news that is put out. All black colleges are allowed but if there was an all white college? Wouldn’t that be labeled racist? When in the end it is just fair? This is just one example of how discrimination and racism have affected everyone growing up in this world and how it will continue to with the help from our parents. There really is no way to completely put an end to racism and discrimination because it is a part of our American history and no one will ever forget what happened and erase their own beliefs. Parents are a large contributing factor because they are the ones that ultimately instill beliefs upon their kids, which every parent does. Discrimination of the mentally handicapped is something else that is not only a big problem but something that is just so rude and mean. All because someone is different than you, you exploit him or her. Some challenged people I have met

Magnetism Science Fair Project Ideas and Demonstrations

Magnetism Science Fair Project Ideas and Demonstrations Do you like magnets? Science fair projects can examine magnetism or electromagnets. Here are some magnetism science fair project ideas. Magnetism Science Fair Project Ideas Make your own ferrofluid or liquid magnets.Is plant growth affected by the presence of an electromagnetic field?Is seed germination affected by a magnetic field?Do magnetic fields have an effect on eremosphaera algae cells?What is the strength of a manmade magnetic field given off by a computer? overhead power lines? wall current? etc.Build a sensor to detect the presence of a magnetic field.Can you detect any effect from a prolonged magnetic field on an organism? Examples might include fruit flies, mice, plants, daphnia, etc.Can you demonstrate the steelhead trout can detect magnetic fields? How would you test other organisms for the ability to sense a magnetic field?Is the orientation of bird embryos (e.g., chicks in eggs) affected by the orientation of a magnetic field?If you change magnetic field orientation, does it produce an effect on an organism? Examples might include mealworms, fruit flies, planaria, etc. More Science Fair Project Ideas

7 Keys to Magical Business Relationships ( Personal Ones Too!)

7 Keys to Magical Business Relationships ( Personal Ones Too!) The Beginning of a Great Relationship? One of the ways I find great writers for my Executive Resume Writing team at The Essay Expert is to pay attention to the winners of resume writing contests. You might be surprised to learn that resume writing contests even exist – but yes, they most definitely do. And they are a big deal. In fact, three organizations hold these competitions annually: Career Directors International (the TORI Awards), The National Resume Writers’ Association (ROAR Competition), and Career Thought Leaders (Modernize Your Resume Contest). In January, I reached out to one of the award winners – I’ll call her Rebecca – and asked her if she would be interested in joining my team. She is an experienced, highly certified writer and I was impressed by her work. I was thrilled when she replied that she was interested- and even more thrilled with the phone conversation we had about our resume writing strategies and core values. Rebecca was exactly the writer I was looking for. I drew up an agreement which Rebecca promptly signed. I set her up with access to my Dropbox folders where I keep documents with guidelines and processes for writers. And then I got the email. Subject line â€Å"Apologies.† First line of message: â€Å"After reviewing most of the information you shared via Dropbox, I have decided, and must advise you that this is not a good fit for me.† Handling Disappointment My heart sank. I had been so excited to have Rebecca on my team. Were my documents really so complicated that a great writer would decide not to work with me? Had I done something wrong? It took all my learning from my personal growth classes to breathe deeply and stay in conversation. I asked for more information, and heard that she was feeling overwhelmed by the files and processes, but that there was an underlying health issue that was the true reason she needed to take a step back from writing. As I continued asking questions and expressing my concern and care, something remarkable happened. I discovered she suffered from severe headaches, and I suggested an essential oil remedy that I have discovered makes even migraines abate. She purchased a bottle and our conversation became more about natural remedies and other personal topics. I became more interested in her as a human being than I was as a resume writer. We developed a real relationship. Relationship Building Lessons The old me would have given up at â€Å"Apologies.† The more evolved me used some important strategies: Breathe. When I got the upsetting news from Rebecca, I noticed my negative thoughts, told myself things were probably not as bad as I thought, and chose to breathe and trust that things would be okay. I was able to act outside of my â€Å"stinking thinking.† Express truth. I immediately communicated to Rebecca that I was sad to hear she would not be working with me and that I really enjoyed our initial conversation and thought we were aligned on so many things. I let her know I would love to have her on my team! Be curious. I asked Rebecca questions. I wanted to understand her concerns, and she was generous in sharing with me. Offer to talk. One thing I’ve learned is that people can make things up over email and text that seem much less charged when talking by phone. So I offered to have a conversation, and suggested that things might look more complex on paper than they really are. She agreed. Care. This is something that can’t be manufactured. I quickly and genuinely started to care about Rebecca and her health issues, and I was especially excited that I had something to offer that would help her headaches. Follow up. I kept in touch with Rebecca to see how the migraine remedy was helping, and she reported that she went from up to 2 Tylenols/day to zero! We celebrated that together. I also learned about her family and other pursuits in her life. Risk. I took several risks along with way with Rebecca, starting with asking her to continue our relationship after she said â€Å"no.† And then, most recently, I risked asking her if she might be interested in a resume project. Guess what? She said yes. Better than Business I got much more out of my interactions with Rebecca than a new, talented resume writer. I got a new friend. I’m thankful that the migraine remedy worked, which not only created joy in our relationship but also gave her more ability to work! I spoke with her this week to walk her through my processes in a less intimidating manner than they might have appeared in my documentation. And I am looking forward to sending her a project in a week or two. This story is a slice of life from a business person (me) who used to be much less relationship-oriented than I am now. I treasure the relationships I’m building and am inspired to continue creating connections with the people I work with. I’d love to hear your lessons in relationship from your business life. What successes (or failures) have you had and what did you learn? Please leave a comment or use our contact form. Also, if you get headaches or migraines and want a bottle of this magic potion, let me know!

Judiciary in England and Wales is not Reflective of Society Research Paper

Judiciary in England and Wales is not Reflective of Society - Research Paper Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that diverse compunctions of the judiciary have higher capacitates of responsiveness to experiences and needs of different legal system subjects. On the other hand, such a judiciary appears reflective of various cultures and backgrounds of the nation served. Another feature of diverse judiciaries is that they are more accountable and responsible for articulating issues of complex legal democracies. Proper co-existence with other forms of government necessitates the inclusion of gender as a judicial diversity dimension. However, gender is a major issue in analyzing the composition of the judiciary of England and Wales. This paper aims at assessing existing literature on the ethnic and gender composition in the English and Wales’ judiciary. The essay will also illustrate the previous efforts of the government in achieving diversity in the judiciary.  Gender is a critical dimension of judicial diversity illustrated by the proportions of positions awarded to the males and females on the judiciary. There are different ways of rationalizing judicial diversity where judicial appointments follow policy and law that promotes equal opportunities. The judiciary needs to show sensitivity to the experiences and needs of the different elements of legal systems where the judiciary requires an illustration of diversity for service as well as diverse judiciary with increased accountability of legal democracies. The current preclusion the gender incorporation dictates the alternative dimension regarding judicial diversity. Features of judicial initiatives towards achieving ethnic and gender diversity are assessed through qualitative and quantitative perceptions and experiences of judicial bias.

Logistics and Transportation as A Service Category within a Category Research Paper

Logistics and Transportation as A Service Category within a Category Management Program - Research Paper Example The intention of this study is Nexen. It is Canada based energy generation company having a dedicated workforce of about 3800 employees. In addition to this the company also has a strong and visionary management that helps in catapulting the organization to levels of excellence. The company was incepted in the year 1971 in which the Occidental crude oil company merged its subsidiary of energy and gas to create a conglomerate. The company is also engaged in the exploration of oil and gas and also owns gas fields across Canada. The future strategies of the company include investing in exploration in Mexican gulf, West Africa and North Sea. It also includes exploration of oil sands and unconventional gas fields across the nation.The company has a considerable and commendable supply chain management strategy under which the company focuses on using technology to reduce the cost of inventory. The logistics and supply chain aspects of the organization include management of the movement of goods from the source to the final destination. Transportation and its efficient management can help generate a lot of competitive advantage for the organization. The aspect of supply chain management is very closely linked to the aspect of warehouse maintenance, transportation as well as management of materials over distances. Use of global category management would help in generating not only cost advantage but would also help generate sustainable and long term competitive advantage for the organization. ... The logistics and supply chain aspects of the organization include management of the movement of goods from the source to the final destination. Transportation and its efficient management can help generate a lot of competitive advantage for the organization. The aspect of supply chain management is very closely linked to the aspect of warehouse maintenance, transportation as well as management of materials over distances. The present study would try to analyse the aspect of global category management in the supply chain strategies of the company that would help generate greater efficiency for the organization. Use of global category management would help in generating not only cost advantage but would also help generate sustainable and long term competitive advantage for the organization. Concept of Category Management Category Management program objectives are found to bear strong linkages with the product portfolio of a manufacturing or marketing sector company. In this regard, Ch iplunkar (2011) observes that the product portfolio of a company operating in manufacturing or retail segment is mostly decided by product managers. Product managers managing that category are responsible for getting the right amount and quality of raw materials for the production of such items. The responsibility for arranging the production of the product is shared eventually by the product managers with other departments like administrative and manufacturing units. Further the product manager also coordinates with the sales and marketing team for getting the product rightly sold in the market to help achieve business profits. The category management concept earns further depth in regards to

University Personal Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

University Personal Statement - Essay Example One of my uncles studied from USA and, according to him, studying in USA was the right choice for me as students get highly professional teachers and scholars who help them excel in their fields. People have always been globe-trotting for good education and the hot education destination is always USA. I also wanted to avail excellent quality of education and training which is recognized worldwide. Also because there are a wide variety of courses offered in USA, I preferred to apply in some university which offered me my desired courses. Why I chose the University of New Haven, Boston Post Road West Haven, is because it offered me the major in fire science which I wanted to avail and start my career in. The university is a private, top-tier institution and offers globally recognized experiential education. It offers highly qualified teachers. It helps the students in various means like in getting a tutor, scholarships, free-ships, stipends, internships, and etcetera. Special training courses are also held which enable the students to apply the knowledge practically. This university has also been nominated as North America’s Best Colleges in the US News and World Report Magazine. These factors made me choose this university for my higher studies.

Drama Play- A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen Essay

Drama Play- A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen - Essay Example According to Nora, even though men refuse to sacrifice their integrity, â€Å"hundreds of thousands of women have.† (Ibsen, 1879) Nora had to leave the penniless Krogstad and marry Torvald in order to support her mother and two brothers. Torvald is condescending towards Nora and the dominant partner in their marriage. Nora hides a loan from him because she is aware that Torvald could never accept the fact that his wife had helped save his life. She also has to work secretly to pay off the loan. Nora’s deception and the attitudes of Torvald and society make Nora fall a victim to Krogstad’s blackmail. Nora finally decides to walk out of the marriage leaving her children. Nora fears that she may be corrupting the children and feels that leaving the children with the nanny is in their best interest. The main theme of the play is that when a society fails to function in a right way and when men dominate and oppress women, women are reduced to mere objects. The title of the play itself suggests this. Nora is nothing but a doll in her house. Another theme is that there can be no pretences in a marriage. Ibsen in order to make the play realistic wrote the dialogue in a simple, middle-class, everyday language instead of the elegant, haughty language of romantic plays. The dialogue is simple yet powerful and succeeds in revealing the human psyche. And the most important element of the play is that practically every object in the play be it the Christmas tree or Noras clothing are symbols that emphasize Ibsens theme. One symbol that keeps recurring throughout the play is the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree, which is used for decorative purpose during Christmas, symbolizes here the position of Nora in her house. The Christmas tree is present in the background of every scene and Ibsen succeeds in creating an undeniable association between the tree and Nora. Nora like the tree is only decorative, as was the case with

Art in south afric Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Art in south afric - Research Paper Example These include well-decorated traditional cloths, beautiful beads, tablemats, and simple things such as candleholder. Their art is characterized by innovation, which has enabled South Africans to adapt to local, regional, and international markets. Through art, South Africans have managed to enhance their nation’s identity and uniqueness, while creating jobs, producing social cohesion and social capital. In this case, the manner in which figures are curved establishes a cast of eccentric feature. Artists from South Africa in the fork art have created new ideas such as mock road signs, which are used to depict eccentric information (Stone 79). Art in South Africa is moving from traditional to commercial in the sense that artists have developed high level of skills and knowledge to come up with unique artwork and sell their products to the ready markets from the tourists. South African beads and weaved hats, once used as a symbol of royalty in traditional society has found its use in many things such as development of coverings for products and re-application of red aids ribbon present in the form of Zulu beadworks which earns them some money because of the use of their product. 2. Ceramics and basketry that were perfected in traditional South African society are present in contemporary galleries and shelves. Vocal music is well recognized in South Africa because it reminds them of the old traditional South Africa. This kind of music was communal, associated with dances and other social gatherings to demonstrate unity. Further, the vocal music in South Africa included a well-defined call and response patterns (Stephan 81-4). Instruments such as mouth bow were common in traditional South Africa. Traditional people in South Africa did not have the idea of drums. Influence from the West later introduced new instruments such as concentrina, which were

Drama Play- A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen Essay

Drama Play- A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen - Essay Example According to Nora, even though men refuse to sacrifice their integrity, â€Å"hundreds of thousands of women have.† (Ibsen, 1879) Nora had to leave the penniless Krogstad and marry Torvald in order to support her mother and two brothers. Torvald is condescending towards Nora and the dominant partner in their marriage. Nora hides a loan from him because she is aware that Torvald could never accept the fact that his wife had helped save his life. She also has to work secretly to pay off the loan. Nora’s deception and the attitudes of Torvald and society make Nora fall a victim to Krogstad’s blackmail. Nora finally decides to walk out of the marriage leaving her children. Nora fears that she may be corrupting the children and feels that leaving the children with the nanny is in their best interest. The main theme of the play is that when a society fails to function in a right way and when men dominate and oppress women, women are reduced to mere objects. The title of the play itself suggests this. Nora is nothing but a doll in her house. Another theme is that there can be no pretences in a marriage. Ibsen in order to make the play realistic wrote the dialogue in a simple, middle-class, everyday language instead of the elegant, haughty language of romantic plays. The dialogue is simple yet powerful and succeeds in revealing the human psyche. And the most important element of the play is that practically every object in the play be it the Christmas tree or Noras clothing are symbols that emphasize Ibsens theme. One symbol that keeps recurring throughout the play is the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree, which is used for decorative purpose during Christmas, symbolizes here the position of Nora in her house. The Christmas tree is present in the background of every scene and Ibsen succeeds in creating an undeniable association between the tree and Nora. Nora like the tree is only decorative, as was the case with

INFO101 assigment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

INFO101 assigment - Assignment Example The content of these reports may vary depending on the situations and the needs of the manager requesting the report. Third and last, is exception report. Exception reports are those that deal with data outside ranges considered normal. They exhibit statistics of data beyond the normal range. The report consolidates the unusual conditions such as cost overruns or production down time and reports them differently. Timely reporting of unusual cases enables appropriate action to be taken by the management. Different types of reports cover different issues. Moreover, various circumstances in the business demand appropriate actions, which vary from one scenario to another. As such, it is important to distinguish between the three basic MIS reports so that each can be tailored to the informational need of its users. Clear distinction between the reports also enables the management to take timely actions on issues that require urgent attention. Summary reports are used when managers require quick overview of information on particular area. On the other hand, detailed reports are used for specific activities so as to gage their performances while exception reports are sued to report unusual occurrences in an organization, which need urgent solutions. Decision Support System (DSS) has three fundamental components. These include: data, models as well as user interface. Data is basically the information that is required for decision making. Data is usually kept in a database. Models refer to the models that are utilized in data analysis and the forecasting of outcomes of any particular decision. It also includes software that helps in managing models in DSS. User interface refers to the manner in which the users can use the DSS to facilitate their decision making processes, even if they are not technology experts. In most scenarios, a

Ford and the World Automobile Industry Essay Example for Free

Ford and the World Automobile Industry Essay Changes in the structure of the auto industry The 1965-1972 automobile industry was a low competitive environment, and as a consequence was a profitable industry. Indeed, during this period: ?Industry rivalry was rather low: ?The automotive market was fragmented into separate national markets and the primary concern of manufacturers was their domestic sales. As a consequence only a few competitor were disputing each market. ?The supply was meeting the demand in a correct manner: the production could provide the number of vehicles bought each year, without a major over-capacity. As a consequence, fixed costs were â€Å"under control†; no manufacturer was trying to gain market share in order to spread fixed costs over sales volume. ?Car models were much more differentiated that during the 2000’s. Several technologies were used in the various models available. As a consequence, models were considered as more unique by customer, hence a weaker tendency to switch between manufacturers. ?Suppliers power was almost inexistent, as manufacturer were much â€Å"vertical integrated†, to reduce costs and increase flexibility. Oil price was not a concern, with barrel under $15 during the whole period (expressed in 2006 US $). With no environmental concern, the substitution threat was very low. ?Low competition in national market and high capital costs were mainly responsible for the low threat of new entrant in each local market. Moreover markets were far from being global, notably due to the transportation problems, which were on the verge to be so lved : becoming global would have required at that time to completely reinvent the production process, as shipping components would have been excessively complex. Between 1972 and the beginning of the 2000’s, the world automobile market has faced a major upheaval, which primarily is due to one major phenomenon: â€Å"globalization†. The GATT and other international agreement have provided a framework for global trades, including the automobile industry. Moreover the slow growth rates of the industry provided incentives for manufacturer to look for new markets. This resulted in a major shift in the industry structure: ?The competition intensified during the period, The introduction of completely new manufacturers of market that used to be stable: the new production, management and transportation methods gave a boost to the competition atmosphere. ?Excess capacities were added during the 80’s and 90’s, when Japanese companies tried to enter foreign markets (and most notably the US), resulting in high fixed costs that had to be covered. This high fixed costs problem was reinforced by the rising new models development c osts. ?Car model standardization induces less differentiation, hence an easier customer switch between manufacturers. Moreover the fact markets have globally the same structure among different countries (luxury car/SUV/salient/low-cost cars) make it easy to compete around the world. ?Consumers have been requiring more â€Å"esthetic† personalization, requiring more flexibility in the manufacturing technology. That has reduced the benefits of economies of scale. ?New entrants have appeared and are still threatening to enter. Despite the major capital requirements to enter the automobile industry, several new competitors have emerged on each market segment during the last 40 years. On the one hand, developing countries have created national manufacturers, often protected by their own legislation before deciding to go global. On the other hand, existing multinational do have the cash required to enter new segment market, as the SUV example shows. ?The suppliers bargaining power has had a tendency to rise, and more and more manufactured decided to outsource the component manufacturing. This is reinforced by the fact that several component supplies have become as big as automotive manufacturers. Buyers have never been so well informed about models, performance, security concerns and innovation. As a consequence, major manufacturer have to constantly integrate new technologies into their cars, resulting in major costs. The automobile industry has undergone major changes in 40 years. The major increase in competition due to globalization, the industry structural changes and consumer evolution has made it much more difficult to generate profit. 2. Next 5 years struct ure changes? Observing the current automobile industry, one can try to predict some major trends that will characterize the future market. Competition will probably intensify above the current level, with several emerging countries on the verge of entering the world market (e. g. Tata Motors from India and Chery Automotive Company from China – see [3]). As a consequence, new major plants will probably being built by those new competitors, to provide the market with their own model, while existing leader will go on building their own on growing markets. So excess capacity will last. The price on war resulting will probably induce industry concentration, which will be divided into two different categories: on the one hand, one can predict mergers and acquisition, as it has existed until now, resulting in fewer competitors. On the other hand, closing of brands owned by international companies are likely to happen, because their profitability plummeted due in particular to lack of investment . From the customer point of view, several trends are to be noticed. First customer all over the world will become more and more concerned about environment. This problem along with the high oil price will force manufacturer to develop models consuming less gasoil, or using alternative energy sources. As a consequence, new model development prices are likely to get higher that now, requiring major investment. Second selling model to developing countries and lowering purchasing power in the western countries will provide incentive the develop new small and cheap models. 3. Future profits? As a consequence, it is likely that the industry will be less profitable during the next 5 years: intense price competition, heavy investment, major flexibility required by customers’ changing demand and personalization requirement will force manufacturer to lower their costs and profit as much as possible. 4. Successful companies As seen above, future leaders on the automobile industry will have to be: ?Able to face major investment costs, with available cash flow and not suffering from major high production costs, including for example the healthcare and retirement problem the 3 major US manufacturers are facing. Able to reduce prices as much as possible, by offshoring, reducing wages, automation and innovation in production management. ?Able to flexibly adapt their models to the demand. That requires production adaptation as well as deep understanding of the local markets, notably through a strong retail network. However, the evolution of transportation conditions and wages in developing countries (see [5]) will provide incentives for â€Å"near shoring†. Companies from BRIC countries will not as a consequence benefit from better costs conditions on their own countries, despite the developing costs will be under control. Moreover, developing an efficient retail network within 5 year is very strong challenge. To conclude, the companies that are likely to succeed on the world automobile industry during the next 5 years are production efficient and huge companies, which have already entered the major world markets and solved their major cost issues. 5. Ford solutions Where considering the three majors key points exposed above answering question 4, it can be deduced that Ford will have to face important issues to keep its position on the international automobile industry, especially with the new entrant threats. As a consequence, one major issue that Ford will have to address is the healthcare and retirements plans that lie in its balance sheet, and degrade its capacity to invest. Some great negotiation will unions will consequently have to occur. General Motors show a path during the year 2008 that could be used by Ford as well. As pressure on costs will still be prevalent, Ford will have to adapt its production tool. Some great effort on flexibility will have to be made, to be able to quickly react to the customer changing needs. May new factories need to be built, they should be placed near shore their target market. This strategy will allow cost reduction as well as adaptations to the local markets, which always show some important differences even if the market structure is often the same. To reduce costs, Ford will probably have to reduce its brands portfolio (for example to 3 or 4 brands in the US), to cover the whole industry market while lowering developing model costs and keeping fixed costs under control. Finally, one important point would be to get more important control over distribution channel, as it is a greater profitable industry that the manufacturer industry. Moreover, it appears from some analysis (see [8]) that the added value is mostly located into that area: customer can feel the differentiation there rather than on the pure manufactory area.

Causes and Impact of Health Inequalities

Causes and Impact of Health Inequalities Background In todays world, the advancements in medical technology and its expansion have improved the overall health of the population. However, inequalities persist within health care and not all people have equal access to it. Why do these disparities still exist in the present day? Understanding why these inequalities exist despite modern advancements has a significant importance in reducing health care inequalities. Aim Understanding health care inequalities and its challenges are the aim of this assignment. It seeks to explain and understand the mechanisms underlying the associations that can be found between the socio-economic statuses of population groups and their quality of health. It also explores life course pathways which mould and influence a persons chances of having a healthy life along with advantages and disadvantages that can affect health from an early age into adulthood. In addition, other factors such as gender, mental illness and disability and ethnicity will also be discussed since they also have a major contribution to inequalities in health. The assignment will focus on research led in the United Kingdom (UK). The United Kingdoms long tradition of research on health inequalities The UK is a high-income society, where greater prosperity and better overall health have been successfully attained without narrowing health inequalities, it can therefore be taken as an example for other societies that manifest similar trends in inequalities (Graham, 2009). Health Inequalities Health inequalities are differences between people or groups due to social, geographical, biological or other factors. These differences have a huge impact, because they result in people who are worst off experiencing poorer health and shorter lives (NICE, 2012). Affordable health care During the 19th century, inequality in health was mostly due to factors such as overcrowding, insufficient availability to local treatment facilities and poor sanitation (Morning 2015). Nowadays, in our industrialized society, these disadvantages have essentially disappeared. Modern hospitals and treatment centres are now commonly accessible across the UK. But not everyone can afford treatment. A study led in 2004 has shown that wealth is correlated with longevity, which demonstrates a strong link between the socio-economic status and mortality. For example, Figure 1 exhibits a pattern of health across income groups in England in 2004. As seen below, the proportion of men and women who deem their health as not good increases from around 15 percent in the richest fifth of English households to around 40 percent in the poorest fifth of households. This significant rise is not only manifested in the majority white population but also in other ethnicities in the UK (Graham, 2009). Figure 1: Proportion of women and men aged 16 and over assessing their health as not good by income quintile based on equivalized household income, England 2003. (Graham, 2009) This can be explained by considering the advantages that people in the higher socio-economic groups have. These advantages can lead to more knowledge about their health and the care available through improved education, or better continuity of care without issues of complying with treatment regiments such as expensive medication. For example, a man with higher income and education levels will have improved health insurance, increased information about the availability of treatments and will more frequently visit the doctor. This can translate into receiving more screenings such as screenings for colorectal cancer and diabetes. Differences between social classes and how they affect health       Landmark studies such as the Black report have shown that not only do social class inequalities still exist, they are also widening over time (DHHS,1980). Social class inequalities have been observed in all ages for all the major diseases. To try and describe social class inequalities in health, various models have been introduced into the UK such as the behavioural/cultural model, the materialist model, the psycho-social model and the life-course model (Steinbach,2009; Bartley and Blane, 2008; Bartley, 2004; DHHS, 1980). These models differentiate the characteristics affecting health that can be observed in different social classes over the whole period of their lives. For example, by describing the differences in behaviour that distinct social classes have, i.e. the behavioural model. Such as their dietary choices between healthy and unhealthy food, their prevalence to being in contact with drugs, alcohol and tobacco or the inclination to pursuing active leisure time such as hobbies in addition to their approach to healthy life choices such as immunisation, contraception and antenatal services (Steinbach 2009; Bartley, 2004; DHHS, 1980). Another model is the materialist model which describes the differences between social classes to the exposure to health hazards. This encompasses hazards such as air pollution, mold, cold, infestations and respiratory hazards that can arise from bad housing for example. The Black report (DHHS,1980) claims that this model is the most decisive factor leading to health inequalities. But many experts outline that since, in the UK, somewhat disadvantaged people receive various kinds of state aids, therefore it can be argued that housing and other materialistic issues are insufficient to account for major inequalities in health outcomes (Steinbach, 2009; Barley, 2004, DHHS, 1980). The psycho-social model on the other hand describes the principle that what people feel can determine changes in the physiology of the body. For example, a stressful social environment produces an emotional response which alters the state of the body through biological changes and can lead to serious conditions such as heart diseases (ODonnell, 2008). Areas affected can be the social interaction that an individual has every day, the work environment and the balance between home and work paired with their efforts and rewards. It has been shown that people with better relationships with their family and friends and who engage in social activities have better prospects to a healthier lifestyle than those who are rather isolated (Campbell, 2010). The last model focuses on patterns of social, psychological and biological advantages and disadvantages that can occur during the lifetime of a person. Factors that can influence a persons life can arise as early as in-utero and in early childhood. These disadvantages can ultimately accumulate and worsen through childhood and adulthood (Steinbach, 2009; Bartley, 2004). For example, individuals who have experienced differences in autonomy or, on the other hand, shame and doubt in childhood will react differently throughout their adult life (Graham, 2009). These models are represented by landmark studies in social class inequalities in health in the UK such as the Black Report (DHHS, 1980), the Whitehall study of British civil servants (spans over 10 years starting in 1967) and the Acheson report (Acheson, 1988). How gender affects health inequalities Many studies and researches have proven that, in industrialized countries such as the UK, women live longer than men but present more prevalence to ill health (Scambler, 2008). Although men have a greater chance of mortality due to injury and suicide in earlier stages of adulthood coupled with common single causes of death in adulthood such as cardiovascular diseases and cancers, more women than men go through stages of disabilities, notably in older ages. Mental disabilities have mostly been commonly correlated to anxiety and depressive disorders (Steinbach, 2009; Bartley, 2004; Acheson, 1998). The World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2008 suggested that gender differences in health are a result of both biological factors and social factors such as employment, risk taking behaviour, smoking and alcohol (Campbell, 2010). How ethnicity affects health inequalities Unfortunately, the information on death certificates in the UK do not display ethnicity, and mortality data uses country of birth as a defining factor, therefore ethnical minorities born in the UK cannot be determined. But regular documented studies on ethnical inequalities in mortality (Kelly, 2008) have explained that factors such as, migration processes, defined socio-economic disadvantages and genetic and biological differences between ethnic populations account for differences in mortality. Inequalities in the accessibility to health care The access to health care is a supply concern which describes the quality and quantity of services provided to a person and are defined by the health care system itself. In the UK, the health care system is the National Health Service (NHS), a system that was founded on the principle of fairness, meaning people should get the care they need, not the care they can afford (Steinbach, 2009; Cookson, 2016). The inverse care law, first described by Julian Tudor Hart in 1971, states: The availability of good medical care tends to vary inversely with the need for it in the population served (Hart, 1971). Equality of access to health care can be achieved by communities by meeting certain requirements. Factors such as the distance travelled, the transport facilities and communication used, the hospital waiting times, the patient information and knowledge about available treatment and its effectiveness and the costs of all these are considered to contribute to a health care system which is equal to all (Steinbach, 2009; Cookson, 2016). Availability is a determining factor of inequalities in accessibility in health care. Some health care services have been shown to treat population groups differently, denying services to some people and preferring others for a certain treatment. For example, clinicians might have a bias in treating different patients based on individual characteristics even though they have identical needs. The equality in the costs of health care can also be disrupted by imposing costs which differ between people. Or even the information given to different populations can impact the patients outcome. For example, health care organisations who neglect or fail to ensure that everyone is equally conscious to the services available (Goddard and Smith, 2001). The NHS and current health inequality challenges The NHS regularly comes top of international league tables of fairness in health care but it is not perfectly fair. There are inequalities in the volume, quality and outcomes of NHS care received by rich and poor people. These inequalities could get worse as financial austerities start to bite more severely into NHS budgets and may contribute to wider health inequalities in society. These inequalities raise serious concerns about social justice and unfulfilled potential for disadvantaged people to live longer and healthier lives. A research project lead by Richard Cookson in 2012 focused on monitoring fairness of the NHS to make sure inequalities dont get worse and if possible get better. In 2012, the NHS still didnt monitor how inequalities were changing. And NHS decision makers knew that inequalities existed, but they had no way of telling if inequalities were getting better or worse or what influence their decisions were having on inequalities. By monitoring the fairness of the NH S, the results will make sure that everyone, rich or poor, can receive the care they need to live a long and healthy life (Cookson, 2016). Recently, research projects have provided methods of comparing the performance of local NHS areas in tackling inequalities in health care. Alongside similar indicators for wider determinants of health, such as the regularly updated marmot indicators (UCL, 2015). Which review the key areas that need to be improved to make a significant impact on health care inequalities such as strengthening the role and impact of ill health prevention. The methods will assess how well the NHS is tackling inequalities across a broad range of issues (Buck, 2016). An outcome from the Health Equity Indicators for the English NHS: Longitudinal whole-population study at small area level research project showed a great improvement in patient health care by monitoring key stages of the patient pathway (See Figure 2) (Cookson, 2016). Figure 2: Monitoring health care access, quality and outcomes at key stages of the pathway (Cookson, 2016). For example, Figure 3 shows that GP supply increased in all social groups, and the largest increases were in the most deprived areas. As seen below, the pro-rich inequality gradient was eliminated by 2011/2012 (Asaira, 2016). Figure 3: Equity of primary care supply, Patients per full time equivalent GP, excluding registrars and retainers, adjusted for age, sex and health deprivation (Asaira, 2016). Conclusion Health care inequalities most commonly arise from socio-economic conditions and are shaped by political, social and economic forces that can create or destroy a persons health and wellbeing. These problems are now seen as health problems that must be addressed to ensure everyone has an equal chance of a healthy life. Factors such as the costs of healthcare, social class, gender, ethnicity and accessibility to health care all contribute to the quality of life. Recently, projects have been undergone to help improve healthcare in the UK, for example, by monitoring the fairness of its services. In my opinion, the UK is one of the leading health care services in the world despite existing inequalities, but can be improved by further understanding and improving these inequalities, who have been only recently assessed. Total word count: 1966 References: -Acheson D (1998). Independent inquiry into inequalities in health report. London: The Stationary Office. -Asaria M, Ali S, Doran T, ferguson B, Fleetcroft R, Goddard M, goldblatt P, Laudicella M, Raine R, Cookson R. (2016). How a universal health system reduces inequalities: lessons from England. Epidemiology community health. 0 (1), 1-7. -Baker M, Mawby R, Ware J (2015). Health Inequalities. Engalnd: Royal college of general practitioners. 2-16. -Bartley M, Blane D (2008). Inequality and social class in Scambler G, Sociology as applied to medicine. Elsevier Limited. -Bartley M (2004). Health inequality: an introduction to theories, concepts, and methods. Cambridge: Polity Press. -Buck D (2016). The role of the NHS in reducing health inequalities: moving beyond fair access to care. Available: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/blog/2016/03/reducing-health-inequalities. Last accessed 1st Feb 2017. -Campbell F (2010). The social determinants of health and the role of local government. England: Investor in People. 5-68. -Cookson R (2016), Health Equity Indicators for the NHS, presented at Maximising the impact of the NHS in tackling health inequalities, London, 2016. -Cookson R (2016) Health equity indicators for the English final report to the NIHR HSDR Programme. HSDR -Cookson R, Propper C, Asaria M, raine R. (2016). Socio-Economic Inequalities in Health Care in England. The journal of applied public Economics. 37 (3-4), p371-403. -Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (1980). Inequalities in health: report of a research working group. (The Black Report). HMSO, London. -Graham H (2009). Understanding Health Inequalities. 2nd ed. England: Open University Press. 1-20. -Goddard M, Smith P (2001). Equity of access to health care services: theory and evidence from the UK. Social Science and Medicine 53:1149-62. -Hart T J. (1971). The inverse care law. The Lancet. 297 (7696), p405-412. -Kelly M, Nazroo J (2008). Ethnicity and Health in Scambler G Sociology as applied to medicine. Elsevier Limited. -Morning, Roberts, Phelan (2015), Social inequalities in health, presented at Social Inequalities in Health, Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Lecture Series, Bethesda, 2015. -ODonnell, K.; Brydon, L.; Wright, C.; Steptoe, A. (2008). Self-esteem levels and cardiovascular and inflammatory responses to acute stress. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 22 (8): 1241-1247 -Scambler A (2008). Women and Health in Scambler G Sociology as applied to medicine. Elsevier Limited. Steinbach R. (2009). Inequalities in the distribution of health and health care and its access, including inequalities relating to social class, gender, culture and ethnicity, and their causes. Available: http://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/medical-sociology-policy-economics/4c-equality-equity-policy/inequalities-distribution. Last accessed 1st Feb 2017. -The National Institute for Health and Care Exellence. (Oct 2012). Health inequalities and population health. Available: https://www.nice.org.uk/advice/lgb4/chapter/introduction. Last accessed 1st Feb 2017. -UCL Institute of Health Equity. (2015). Marmot Indicators 2015. Available: http://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/projects/marmot-indicators-2015. Last accessed 1st Feb 2017.

Extinction Of Dinosaurs Essay -- essays research papers

Extinction of Dinosaurs Two-hundred and thirty million years ago the first dinosaur-like creature roamed the earth. Within five million years it could be considered a dinosaur. They were soon at the top of the food chain. They populated every continent. Then 65 million years ago they vanished. The most powerful creatures ever to live on earth had become extinct. Dinosaurs were not the only victims of this "mass extinction." There were many other species that were killed off. During what is known as the K-T extinction (K stands for Cretaceous, T stands for Tertiary), many species and families became extinct. These include all marine reptiles such as plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, ichthyosaurs, and ammonites, swimming and flying reptiles, sea crocodiles, and foraminifera. In addition to that there were many bony fish, sponges, snails, clams, and sea urchins became extinct. Paleontologists have proposed scenarios that could have caused these extinctions. One such scenario involves the growing number of small mammals which ate dinosaur eggs, and therefore caused the dinosaurs' birth rate to drop. The birth rate became smaller than the death rate and the dinosaurs died out. This, however, is not a plausible scenario. This would only account for the dinosaurs, but not all the other creatures of that time. Paleontologists needed to come up with a more plausible and de...

Cloud Computing

CLOUD COMPUTING PRASHANT G. PANDEY SANDEEP D. SINGH 3rd Author TIMSCDR TIMSCDR 3rd author's affiliation C-502, Silver Oak Appt. , Beverly park B-201, New Garden view, Tulinj Road, 1st line of address Mira Road (E), Thane-401107. Nalasopara (E), Thane- 401209 2nd line of address Mob. No. +91- 09322119824 Mob. No. +91- 09850394576 Telephone number, incl. country code prashant. [email  protected] com Sandy. [email  protected] com 3rd E-mail ABSTRACT As with any new trend in the IT world, enterprises must figure out the benefits and risks of cloud computing and the best way to use this technology. The buzz around cloud computing has reached a fever pitch. Some believe it is a disruptive trend representing the next stage in the evolution of the internet. Others believe it is hype, as it uses long established computing technologies. One thing is clear: The industry needs an objective, straightforward conversation about how this new computing paradigm will impact organizations, how it can be used with existing technologies, and the potential pitfalls of proprietary technologies that can lead to lock-in and limited choice. This document is intended to initiate a conversation that will bring together the emerging cloud computing community (both cloud users and cloud vendors) around a core set of principles. We believe that these core principles are rooted in the belief that cloud computing should be as open as all other IT technologies. This document does not intend to define a final taxonomy of cloud computing or to charter a new standards effort. Nor does it try to be an exhaustive thesis on cloud architecture and design. Rather, this document speaks to CIOs and other business leaders who intend to use cloud computing and to establish a set of core principles for cloud vendors. Cloud computing is still in its early stages, with much to learn and more experimentation to come. However, the time is right for the members of the emerging cloud computing community to come together around the notion of an open cloud. Multitenant : For an organization having many tenants renting some services. Authors & scientists of various publications: Hartig, Hinchcliffe, Greenberg, Robbins, Gupta & Swaminathan 1. INTRODUCTION The word Computing means any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computers. Thus, computing includes designing and building hardware and software systems for a wide range of purposes; processing, structuring, and managing various kinds of information; doing scientific studies using computers; making computer systems behave intelligently; creating and using communications and entertainment media; finding and gathering information relevant to any particular purpose, and so on. Computing is categorized according to the requirement of the individual or an organization. The topic I am going to discuss in this paper presentation would be â€Å"Cloud computing† dealing as Group and organization . Fig. 1 demonstrates a simple architecture about cloud computing. GENERAL TERMS â€Å"Cloud computing† is termed as the next big thing in the modern corporate world, the growing impact is will be seen on enterprise IT and business activities in many large organizations. This paper provides an insight to cloud computing, its impact and discusses the issues that business organizations face while implementing cloud computing, It also discusses various strategies that organizations need to adopt while migrating to cloud computing. Fig. 1 KEYWORDS Cloud computing is very simple and broad concept in which we are using internet which allows people access technology enabled services. It is named so as its representation is always done as a cloud as in a network diagram. In broader context, cloud computing can be said as a large network of computers used by large organizations to provide services to smaller ones and individuals. It is sometimes termed as Grid computing or Network computing. Cloud computing can be said as a Network of providing resource via network â€Å"on demand† and â€Å"at scale† in an multitenant environment. The resource provider network is called as â€Å"Cloud†. ? ? ? The wide band’s network fast development. The virtualization tech and market’s fast development. The hardware’s fast development, like CPU and network drives. 2. ISSUES NEEDED TO BE SOLVED I have come across certain issues which arise during the normal stages of computing which are needed to overcome, Let me take each issue one by one: 2. 1 Technical Issues The biggest challenge in cloud computing may be the fact that there is no standard or single architectural method. Common hurdles to be overcomed: Fig. Hartig States â€Å"What goes on in the cloud manages multiple infrastructures across multiple organizations consisting of frameworks providing mechanisms for self-healing, selfMonitoring and automatic reconfiguration†. The cloud is virtualization of resources so it manages itself. Still there are people required to take care of operating systems, hardware and networking in a proper or der, but from the user’s or application developer’s perspective, only the cloud is referenced. We can say cloud computing is the Third revolution of IT industry, following the personal computer revolution. Cloud computing matters to us as cloud computing and web based are the future of computing in which all of us will interact. Let me give you an examples that in our day to day life, we come across a number of vendors providing cloud computing services such as Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. among web based office applications and online photo and document sharing include flickr and Zoho. By cloud computing, we have the ability to scale to meet changing user demands quickly, usually within minutes. Cloud computing is : ? Environment friendly ? Task oriented ? Requires no Maintenance It gives user the benefit of separating application code from physical resources and to use external assets to handle peak loads. 2. 1. 1 Security Security is the most important thing for an organization or and company. If a company has a very big portal then we cannot say that the company is really very big but if the security of the company should be well assured that it is safe . Hence, I can say that Security is the most important hurdle for an organization to keep its data & policies undercover so that only the recommended people can have an access to it. With their business information and critical IT resources outside the firewall, customers worry about their vulnerability to attack. 2. 1. 2 Technical Hardware & Software Expertise Users need equipment and resources to customize cloud computing services more relevant and more tailored to the needs of their businesses. Proper man-power is needed to develop the applications to suit a business’s needs. The availability of physical hardware and software components need to be ensured for realizing the benefits of cloud computing. According to the writings of Hinchcliffe(2009, p. 61), wider technical fluency and expertise in the selected cloud computing platforms, which tend to emphasize technologies such as Open Source or newer web-style programming languages and application models will have to be achieved. 2. 2 Non-Technical Issues needed to overcome Apart from the technical issues, there are several non-technical issues which require equal attention and need to be resolved. Some of the significant non-technical hurdles to the adoptions of cloud computing services by large enterprises are financial, operational and organizational issues. . 1 Reasons to accept Cloud Computing. ? ? ? The fast increase of corporate IT infrastructure requirement. Economy crisis forcing company to cut cost. The fast change and time-to-market requirement of Internet applications. 2. 2. 1 Financial Issues Different people have different opinions on cloud computing, One such report says , Cloud computing can cost twice as much as inhouse data centers. This poses a problem for large enterprises, but actually works to the advantage of small and midsize companies and businesses. Further reports say that Cloud offerings are most attractive for small and medium-sized enterprises†¦ and most customers of clouds are small businesses. The reason behind this is that smaller companies don’t have the option of developing themselves into giant data centers. Greenberg(2009) notes, â€Å"Few if any major corporations are looking to replace their data centers with cloud†¦ the ‘server-less company’ are one that’s only feasible for startups and SMBs. † Cost variability is the important aspect of cloud computing. If cost ,transparency, scalability and cost variability is to be considered then a new challenge and opportunity arises for organizations. security through the public cloud. The availability of a robust network and information security is also a challenge. 2. 2. 3. 3 Cost Cost of process change is another hurdle in the transformation. Conventional IT organizations will have to engage with internal customers as well as IT service providers at a different plane. Most importantly, the culture and mindset and mindset will have to change. 3. PLANNING TOWARDS TECHNOLOGY THE NEW 2. 2. 2 Operational & Organizational Issues Organizations need to define standards and workflow for authorizations. A strategy for the consumption and management of cloud services, including how the organization will deal with semantic management, security and transactions need to be created. One should evaluate cloud providers using similar validation patterns as one does with new and existing data center resources. According to Gupta (2008), before deciding to switch over to cloud computing, one should fully understand the concept and implications of cloud computing as to whether maintaining an IT investment in-house or buying it as a service. The organization has to look at the overall return on investment inhouse or buying it as a service. The organization has to look at the overall return on investments as they cannot simply rip off and replace an existing infrastructure. The managers have to look at the short-term costs as well as the long term gains. Finally, a proof of concept should be created which can do a few things including getting an organization through the initial learning process and providing proof points as to the feasibility of leveraging cloud computing resources. Cloud computing is inevitable and it is a force that organizations and businesses need to quickly come in terms with. As the economic and social motivation for cloud computing is high, businesses which are heavily computer resource dependent need to take cautionary measures and the right decisions at the right time to avoid ending up with unreproductive solutions while migrating to new technologies. According to Robbins(2009), an organization should always make sure that they know what they are paying for and should pay careful attention to the following issues: ? Service levels ? Privacy matters ? Compliances ? Data ownership ? Data mobility. A number of cloud computing vendors may be hesitant to commit to the consistency of performance regarding an application or transaction. One has to understand the service levels they expect regarding data protection and speed of data recovery. 4. SWITCHING TO NEW TECHNOLOGY 2. 2. 3 Internal Issues While switching to newer technologies, an organization could face many internal issues. Some of them are explained as follows: Switching to newer technology such as cloud computing would be best when the processes, applications, and data are largely independent. When the points of integration in a business are well defined, embracing cloud services is effective. In an organization where a lower level of security will work just fine and the core internal enterprise architecture is healthy, conditions are favorable for the organization to switch to newer technologies. A business which requires Web as the desired platform to serve its customers 2. 2. 3. 1 Distributed business levels The distributed business and the level of consistently reliable computer networks in an organization can pose a challenge towards switching from traditional infrastructure to cloud computing. The case for an organization to go in for cloud computing is similar to a decision to own or rent a house. An organization which has spent a good amount of cash on its own storage and security systems will have time taking the decision to migrate to dedicated environment. 2. 2. 3. 2 Complexity of applications The complexity of the applications and the technology infrastructure is dependent on how the organization has adopted IT. If this has evolved from the deployment of technologies over a period of time, then the complexity level will certainly be high and in such a case, transformation to cloud computing would be difficult. Not everything comes under cloud computing as each organization has its own specific requirements suited to their needs whether on functionalities, performance, or maybe even computing in their organizations. Unless they seriously consider making cloud a part of their strategy. References: [1]. Buyya, Rajkumar; Chee Shin Yeo, Srikumar Venugopal, Sudershan Malpani (PDF). Market-Oriented Cloud Computing: Vision, Hype, and Reality for Delivering IT Services as Computing Utilities. Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Australia. p. 9. [2]. www. gridbus. org/~raj/papers/hpcc2008_keynote_cloudcom p2uting. pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-31. [3] . M. D. Dikaiakos, D. Katsaros, G. Pallis, A. Vakali, P. Mehra: Guest Editors Introduction: â€Å"Cloud Computing, IEEE Internet Computing†, 12(5), Sep. 2009. [4] San Murugesan (Editor), â€Å"Cloud Computing: IT's Day in the Sun? â€Å", Cutter Consortium, 2009. [5] Luis M. Vaquero et al. , A Break i n the Clouds: Toward a Cloud Definition, ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review, Volume 39, Issue 1 (January 2009), Pages 50–55, ISSN:0146-4833 [6] [7] www. ikipedia. org/cloudcomputing/ www. scribd. com/cloud/cloudppt. ppt/ Fig. 3 and wants to cut cost while benefiting from the new applications, the business can achieve the best competitive advantage in the market. According to Swaminathan (2009. p. 14), to compete effectively in today’s world, executives need every edge they can get, from low cost to speed and employee productivity. By tapping into the right cloud capabilities, companies can quickly enter new markets and launch new products or services in existing markets. When demand grows, they can quickly scale up, and when opportunities dry up, they can just as quickly scale down with minimum waste of time and capital. By using cloud-based solutions such as crowd-sourcing, companies can open up innovation to more employees, customers and their partners. 5. CONCLUSION Cloud computing is a fascinating realm, that makes it easier to deploy software and increase productiovity. However, there are some technical and non-technical realities that make security somewhat difficult to deliver in cloud. The cloud presents a number of new challenges in data security, privacy control, compliance, application integration and service quality. It can be expected that over the few years, these problems will be addressed. According to Swaminathan(2009, p. 12-15) and Daugherty(2009, p. 12-15), to be successful, companies should take small incremental steps towards this new environment so they can reap benefits for applicable business situations and learn to deal with the associated risks. In general, Cloud computing will act as an accelerator for enterprises, enabling them to innovate and compete more effectively. Under the current economic conditions, executives need to rethink their strategies dealing with cost-effective solutions. They need to use the cloud services for the right jobs they require. Today’s infrastructure clouds such as Amazon EC2 offer a relatively inexpensive and flexible alternative to buying in-house hardware. They are also beneficial for computation-intensive hobs, such as data cleansing, data mining, risk modeling, optimization and simulation. Businesses and enterprises should now take steps to experiment, learn and reap some immediate business benefits by implementing cloud Cloud Computing Each group Is expected to work on a project and by end-term, submit a hard copy of the project and also, In summary, present the findings. The project should reflect your learning's from the BIT course. Hence, the topic selection has to be such that your project should address one of the following two Study In depth any ONE area of IT Investments In an organization. The study has to highlight the business objectives addressed by the system approach to implementation analysis of success or failure of the implementation.What you would have done differently – give alternative solutions and recommendations Finally, what Business related benefits were derived from the IT investments It will be Important to analyze in light of Management, Organization and Technology aspects of Implementation. Study of ONE technology for Its applicability, usefulness and Its Implications for organizations across an Industry. Study the business objectives for which the Information system was Implement ed In different organizations.You study should cover the following analysis: Is purpose and need for hat particular technology Information system the same across all companies studied? Were the business goals the same for the technology implementation? Did all companies face the same risks, problems and challenges in implementing the technology within the company? Did you observe any common trend or practice emerging across companies of the same industry? Finally, what Business related benefits were derived from the IT investments Suggested list of technologies and industries that can be studied: Technologies IndustriesCloud computing, AAAS, alas, Fertilization Retail Enterprise applications Like Banking, Financial services e-Business & e-commerce Insurance Social media Manufacturing, Automobile Data-warehouse and Bal Telecoms You can select your own technology or combination of technology and industry. Submission of Synopsis Each group Is expected to write a synopsis ( not more tha n 2 pages) of the project the group intends to do. Synopsis will cover the Topic of the project Approach the group intends to follow Broad sections of the reportDivision of effort – list the responsibilities allocated to each member of the group Project Report Project report will be submitted in soft copy. The report should tallest be of 12 pages and not exceed more than 25-30 pages. Your report should reflect your group's analysis and effort. Any report which I find has been directly downloaded from one source and reproduced will be completely rejected and no marks will be given to that group. Important dates 1 . Submission of synopsis: Gag 31st 2. Project submission: End of 18th session. The date will be confirmed by Seep 4th Cloud Computing These combine together and deliver services such as the delivery of software, Infrastructure and storage. There are different types of cloud computing. There are public clouds, private clouds and hybrid clouds. Public clouds are virtual data center. A service provider such as Dropped makes resources available over the Internet. Private cloud are usually inside an organization's firewall but it also could a private space dedicated to the organization provided by a service provider. Hybrid cloud combines both aspects of public and private cloud.What are the advantages of cloud computing? Cloud computing is very cost efficient as it is very easy to maintain and use. Cloud computing Is a lot cheaper than traditional software. As cloud computing is very high productive, It saves a lot of money and time. Besides cost efficiency, one of the advantages of cloud computing is that most cloud service providers are usually competent to recover information. It is much easier to backup and recover information than on physical storage device. Another advantage of cloud computing would be Its automatic software Integration function.Automatic software Integration means a person does not take hard effort to customize and Integrate applications. Cloud computing allows the person to customize easily. Not only it's very easy to customize, cloud computing is also very easy to access information. A person can easily access the cloud from every single corner In the world with Internet access anytime. What are the disadvantages of cloud computing? Cloud computing offers a lot of positive aspects. But, It also has Its downside. From time to time, cloud computing system face some serious technical issues.Sometimes it is dysfunctional despite it is constantly maintained. Security issue is also one of the biggest concern in cloud computing. If an organization is using a cloud computing service provider, confidential personal information or other sensitive Information could be exposed to th e third party. Hence, it is important to make sure that a cloud service provider you're going to choose is secure. Cloud computing is very easily exposed by hackers or any kinds of threat because anything on the Internet is vulnerable to attacks.Cloud computing has made it very easy to access Information but one of the biggest flaws Is that It doesn't provide with a lot of space. Most of the cloud service providers only provide less than BIBB of space to its user. A business 1 OFF organization chose a service provider, the organization depends a lot on the service provider. It would be very troublesome to switch from a service provider to another. It would take a lot of time to transfer all the files. How could a Canola Computer Store customer use Dropped? Dropped can store photos, documents, videos and files for its users.Dropped has applications for several platforms such as computer, mobile phones and tablets. Dropped is also accessible on the Internet. Dropped also allows its us ers to share their folders with whomever they desire. Besides sharing a folder, Dropped users can also send links of specific files, photos and folders. Dropped is a free service and you can sign up at www. Dropped. Com. Part B: Disposal of Data and Computer Components What are the two methods of secure data disposal? Sims Recycling Solutions offers two kinds of secure data disposal.They offer data wiping and data shredding method. How does each method disposes the data? Sims Recycling Solutions uses the data wiping method by using the industry leading data cleaner software called Balance to wipe the data in the hard drive. Data herding method is also used by Sims Recycling Solutions. Data is disposed by physically shredded by large shredding machines. Why dispose data using data wiping method? Data wiping is an excellent method for reusing purpose. Some organization uses the data wiping method to wipe all the data then remarked it and sell.By using data wiping method, an organizati on can rescue components of an equipment for maintenance and sale purposes. Data wiping also allows an organization to refurbish an equipment and donate for charities as it wipes all the data inside. Why dispose data using data shredding method? Data shredding is perfect if reusing an equipment is not an option hence requires data shredding method to physically destroy the equipment. It is also a good choice for Solid State Memory and non-magnetic storage devices such as DVD's and compact disc (CD) because these kinds of storage devices need data shredding method to destroy them securely.How Sims Recycling Solutions deals responsibly, ethically and in an environmental friendly manner with electronic waste? Electronic waste such as computer monitor and television contain substances that are harmful to the environment if they are not disposed carefully. Sims Recycling Solutions offers to collect electronic waste such as computer monitor and television to local Sims Recycling Solution disposal centre. We use Sims Recycling Solutions because the company recycles hazardous electronic waste in an environmental friendly way.The company also recycle as much as they can. The company is able to recycle the glass in screens. Photocopiers, toner cartridges and printers can also be recycled. Sims Recycling Solutions has the technology to break toner cartridges for energy recovery and recycle them into raw material in an environmental friendly way. Recycling effective and environmental friendly. Sims Recycling Solutions ensures 100% data disposal in printers and photocopiers as they record everything printed or photocopied in their memory. Where can I dispose IT and computer?

Personal Nursing Philosophy Essay

We often hear that nursing is an art and a science, and I firmly believe that. The way a nurse blends those aspects of care defines the nurse. As nurses, our roles in our patients’ lives vary depending on their needs. We are teachers as well as technical experts, and our ultimate goal is to ensure our patients and families are ready to take over when the patient no longer requires our care. Why I Chose Nursing I have known that I wanted to work with children since I was a young child myself. Before the age of ten, I thought I might be a teacher. As I enjoyed math and science, several of my aunts, nurses themselves, encouraged me to consider nursing. As a sibling of a disabled child, I was probably exposed to more medical knowledge than average, and I took my first CPR class when I was eight years old. I liked the nurses and therapists that worked with my sister, but I also had respect for the teachers that worked so tirelessly with her. I can pinpoint the moment I decided that nursing was for me, though it was a long time before I could act on that decision. My sister had contracted hepatitis A at school. That lowered her seizure threshold enough that she ended up in the intensive care unit. As it was winter, I was not allowed to visit her. At ten, I didn’t understand the concept of RSV restrictions. I only knew that she’d been hospitalized many times and I’d always been allowed at her bedside. Somehow I interpreted that to mean she must be dying, and no one wanted to tell me. I was in the waiting room outside the ICU while my mother was in with my sister, crying my heart out. A nurse walking by stopped to ask me what was wrong, and I spilled out my fears to her. She escorted my into the unit, telling me that she was going to find a supervisor to see if she could get permission for me to visit my sister. In the meantime, there was a room where I could wait for her†¦. which turned out to be my sister’s room. After failing to get permission for me to visit, the nurse returned to escort me back to the waiting room. Before we left, she took the time to explain the monitors and what they meant, and went over my sister’s plan of care and discharge criteria with me. Hugely reassured, I was content to wait in the waiting room. More than thirty years later, that nurse’s compassion still sticks with me. The Core of Nursing If compassion is at the heart of nursing, knowledge and skill must be its head and hands. Since the earliest days of nursing, the patient’s environment has been a consideration in their care. Florence Nightingale’s theory that hydration, nutrition, rest, and a clean environment were necessary to healing (Black, 2007) is a basic principle of nursing today. The world has changed since then, and nursing has changed with it. With every technological advance or new treatment modality, nurses have been called upon to be more than caretakers. It requires skilled hands to provide the treatments our patients need. Throughout a patient’s stay, teaching is a primary responsibility of the nurse. Patients cannot make informed decisions on their care without adequate information. Whether teaching the relatively simple task of taking medications, or the more complex management of a chronic condition, it is a nurse’s duty to make sure the patient and family are trained and prepared to assume care once the patient goes home. The teaching required necessarily varies from patient to patient, and often from day to day in the same patient as he or she moves on the continuum between health and illness. Finally, patients need to be able to count on nurses to be authorities in their field. Nurses must be accountable for remaining competent in their practice, and for continuing their education throughout their career (Killeen & Saewert, 2007). Beliefs and Values Patients have needs unrelated to their illness or injury. Having spent my entire career in pediatrics, often my focus is on developmental needs and what activities can be provided that support normal development. Some needs, however, seem to be universal. The need for play, learning, and social contact are not restricted to children. Meeting the emotional and psychosocial needs of the patient without compromising the physical needs demanded by the illness or injury is occasionally a delicate balancing act, and is where the art of nursing meets the science of nursing. By collaborating with our patients and families and respecting their values, a plan can be reached that both supports their needs and involves them in their own care. From a pediatric perspective, the family is an integral part of the healthcare team. Parents are the primary ally and resource in providing individualized care for their child. Even in adult patients, who they are is impacted by the relationships that they have. Serious or chronic illnesses and injuries affect the entire family. The family, then, becomes the patient, particularly when it is necessary to make lifestyle changes. I have been fortunate enough to work in a teaching hospital for over a decade, on a unit that has a strong sense of teamwork. I have watched residents grow from unsure medical students to capable attending physicians, and have been gratified to precept and mentor new nurses into colleagues that can be relied on. Through we have a varied mix of skill levels, values, and talents, as a team we manage to form a cohesive whole. I count on my nurses to provide outstanding care to their patients, to hold themselves and each other accountable for maintaining high standards, and to support each other as needed. I also count on them for holding me accountable when the minutia of providing care for patients or my nurses gets in the way of my seeing the big picture. In my own life, it has taken me a long while to take charge of my health. I am currently working hard to quit smoking, and have recently lost fifty of the extra sixty or so pounds I’ve been carrying. Like a lot of nurses, I put off preventative care, and wait too long before seeing a physician when I need to. This disconnect between my professional values and my personal behavior baffles me. I cannot expect my patients and families to view me as an authority on health if I am unhealthy. This year has been one of trying to bring my own lifestyle into line with my beliefs. Vision for the Future In two years, I will have completed my BSN. At that point, I want to take a clinical instructor position while I pursue my MSN. I seem to have come full circle in what I want to be when I grow up, and combining my love of nursing with my love of teaching seems to be the best of both worlds. In five years, I hope to have completed my MSN. By that time I will have been a clinical instructor for long enough to know if I want to translate that to the classroom or perhaps become a nurse educator in an acute setting. I know I love teaching new nurses in my current setting, however I’m unsure of whether I would enjoy teaching in an academic setting. In ten years, my goals are much more nebulous and largely depend on whether I have chosen to move to an academic setting or remain in acute care. In either setting, there are always things to learn and opportunities to explore. Someday, I would like to open a medical foster care facility, though I have doubts about that happening in that time frame. Summary The pursuit of my professional goals is a long-term plan. I enjoy learning, have the support of my family, and the path to my goals are clearly defined. I am detail oriented, and hope that will help me to reach my goals. As I continue on this path, each success will pave the way to the next. Time management is an obstacle in my path, as I am currently working two jobs and trying to take care of my family while pursuing my degree. I am still learning how to manage all the demands on my time without stretching myself too thin. In addition, I sometimes get bogged down in the details and lose sight of the big picture, and then tend to procrastinate until I find my way again. Fortunately deadlines are effective in making me take a step back and rethink my approach.