Health care in the United States Essay

Obamacare is a federal statute that represents the most significant government expansion and regulatory overhaul of the United States healthcare system. Obamacare will increase healthcare costs tremendously. A positive to it is that it will provide over thirty million uninsured Americans with healthcare. Obamacare will affect businesses, especially small businesses by cutting their hours and jobs. It may also prevent them from providing their employees with health benefits. Obamabcare will also affect Medicare and Medicaid with budget cuts of around $ 716,000,000, a tax increase, and also increase the cost of medications. Health insurance exchange will be set up to try to organize the programs and offer different choices for health care plans. Overall, Obamacare will affect people that already have insurance by making their costs continue to rise. Obamacare is estimated to make the cost of insurance skyrocket, but no one truly knows. Obamacare is mostly modeled after Romneycare. Obamacare is going to cost the federal government $1.1 trillion net cost. Obamacare will be paid for mostly by the 9% tax increase and the $716 billion dollars cut from Medicare. Doctors will also be affected by pay cuts, business mergers, and them having to close their practice to new patients. Obamacare will affect young adults with premium increases, loss of coverage, government takeover of student loans, less money for education, and crushing fiscal burdens. It will affect senior citizens by increasing the age at which they can retire, and by cutting the amount of access they have to medical care by a doctor. Obamacare will affect hospitals by merger increases and many of them will lose doctors. They will be under a tremendous financial squeeze while having to manage the overall health care of their patients. To fight back against such things, many states are changing laws and not accepting it at all. Some negatives of Obamacare are newer higher taxes and the government’s control over doctors’ decisions. Drug companies and medical device companies will benefit from this law because more people will have access to medicines and equipment. Drug companies will benefit more because these patients will have medicines paid for that before they may not have been able to afford. Obamacare’s employer mandate is among the newest laws with the most anti-growth provisions. When implemented, it will force most American businesses to offer government approved health insurance to their employees or else pay new federal taxes for not doing so. This costly new  requirement will make it more expensive for companies to hire new employees in the future. Consequently, it will destroy jobs and many companies are likely to slow down hiring in anticipation of it being implemented. Major players that were instrumental in getting this bill past were Gary Cohen, President Obama, Max Baucus, Ron Wyden, Bill Nelson, and Maria Cantwell.

Educational Preparation Essay

There are many differences in the competencies of Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates. To start, I think it is best to look at the through the perspective student’s eyes when they are deciding which type of program to attend. The first question one may ask is â€Å"How long is this going to take?† On average, an ADN program takes 3 years to complete, the BSN requires a minimum of 4 yeas. The difference in the length of programs is first based on the amount of prerequisites required. â€Å"While Associate Degree in Nursing students do need to take science prerequisites and some liberal arts classes, they don’t have to earn nearly as many credits in this area as BSN students do.† (ADN vs BSN Debate I Difference in Competencies, Salary & Education.2013) â€Å"Instead of the sixty-six nursing credits that a BSN student must complete, the student in the associate degree program needs forty-nine nursing credits† (ADN vs BSN Debate I Difference in Competencies, Salary & Education.2013) Therefore, the ADN program takes less time to complete, is more condensed, and is more focuses on clinical skills. BSN programs have a direct goal of not only graduating clinically competent nurses, but nurses that understand that this profession is deeply rooted in science and theory. The differences in competencies between the ADN and BSN nurse is based on this understanding of science. If you had to explain what science is in one word that word would be â€Å"why†. BSN programs are typically centered around critical thinking and evidence based practice – they â€Å"why† of nursing. â€Å"Numerous research studies have demonstrated that the ADN and BSN nurses are not different in skill competency when they graduate, but within a year, the BSN nurses show greater critical thinking skills, better problem solving, and the development of clinical judgment; three skills of increasing importance for the increase in acuity of patients in hospitals and other health care settings.† (West Coast University: Dean’s Corner – The Differences Between Associate Degree Nurses and the Baccalaureate Degree Nurses.2009) The ability to use critical thinking when caring for a patient is what defines all other competencies. Competencies aren’t based on just the task the nurse is about to complete, but knowing why she is working towards completing this task. Without that training in understanding the â€Å"why†, her competencies are limited to just tasks. A fast growing trend in nursing today is complex technology used in patient care. Often times the nurse finds herself faced with not only caring for the patient, but managing high-tech equipment involved in that patient care. Being a resourceful nurse is not just beneficial, but crucial to patient care. BSN prepared graduates are experts in research due to the expectations in the BSN curriculum. â€Å"A major concern in an era of evidence-based practice is that the majority of practicing nurses have not experienced a formal research course. These classes are generally lacking outside of the baccalaureate curriculum. It would seem that an understanding of the research process would be necessary to deliver optimal patient care† (Ayers & Coeling, 2006; Thorpe & Smutko, 1998). The ability to conduct research appropriately is a skill that is taught. We live in an age where information is just a click away. If a nurse isn’t using the correct resources, the patient is the one that suffers. The push for continuing education in nursing is one of the many forces that shaped what nursing is today. The BSN prepared nurse encompasses the ability to be resourceful, a bold and capable critical thinker, and one that will lead the profession into a strong future. As a nurse, we should never settle for just the standards put in front of us. We should always be looking for a way to improve patient care for the individual patient, as well as the practice of nursing as a whole. To settle for just the minimal requirements and standards of nursing is to just complete the tasks assigned to us. Developing critical thinking is what brings us to better patient outcomes. Learning to think ahead – planning for the worst, expecting the best is what restores patient health. The human body is a dynamic, complex integration of systems working in unison to maintain life. If one of those systems is not working correctly the nurse is cued in because of our critical thinking skills. It is what keeps the nurse’s brain â€Å"on†, assessing at a constant. It’s not always the system we’re â€Å"caring for† that tells us what is wrong. This is where the critical thinking comes in. We should always be asking â€Å"why† as a nurse. References ADN vs BSN Debate I Difference in Competencies, Salary & Education. (2013). Best Nursing Schools, Degrees & Online Nursing Programs. Retrieved January 13, 2013, from http://www.bestonlinenursingprograms.com/3356/adn-vs-bsn-debate Ayers, D., & Coeling, H. (2006). Incorporating research into associate degree nursing curricula. Journal of Nursing Education, 44(11), 515-518. West Coast University: Dean’s Corner – The Differences Between Associate Degree Nurses and the Baccalaureate Degree Nurses. (2009, February). West Coast University – Nursing Programs – Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire. Retrieved January 13, 2013, from http://www.westcoastuniversity.net/deanscorner/print.php?article=22

Biomedical Approach

Introduction Since the time of Enlightenment, Western ideas of health have been dominated by the biomedical approach. The basis on which these opinions are founded is that an individual is not responsible for their illness and that the mind and body work separately from each other. Health, in the eyes of this approach can be deemed as simply the absence of disease. Part of the reason this vision of health has dominated so much, is that it’s practiced by the majority of the health professionals and is the staple of the care received in hospitals. The aim of this assignment is to demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of this system, and to suggest the advantages that using a social model to view health could bring. Discussion Health, is a word that carries a broad spectrum of meanings, it is defined differently in all walks of life. Biomedical health although being the most recognised is not the only approach and has been called by Naidoo and Wills (200, p. 9) â€Å"a narrow view of health†. The social Model contrasts this approach. It focuses on the social and economic factors regarding health and looks at ways to prevent illness before it occurs. Even in the most affluent countries, people who are less well off have substantially shorter life expectancies (Marmot and Wilkinson, 2003), a social view on health would take this information into account, placing emphasis on improving the quality of life to increase life expectancy. Contrastingly the Biomedical method would look at a patient and prescribe necessary medication, although usually being effective in the short term, this would do nothing to stop the person getting ill again as they would return to the same unhealthy lifestyle or environment. This could be seen as impersonal, but this scientific approach can be useful in many scenarios as it has been said by Pearson, Vaughan and FitzGerald(2005, p54) that â€Å"the overriding concern for the patient is for cure and control of his or her disease, and this model gives clear direction in this respect†. The Biomedical Model has strengths in the sense that illnesses are not always caused by environmental or lifestyle related factors. Rather than trying to explain the illness, it searches for a cure. Biomedical science can give instant relief to people who are suffering or in pain, for people involved in accidents and emergency situations this approach is second to none. It accepts accidents are sometimes unavoidable and concentrates on restoring the individual to health in a direct manner. Discarding freak accidents the social model could prove useful. Wilkinson and Marmot(2005, p24) state â€Å"individuals turn to alcohol drugs and tobacco, suffer from their use, but it is influenced by the wider social setting† . Upon taking this statement into account, it could be argued that the social model would have a greater effect in reducing the number of people turning to drugs or alcohol. The biomedical approach would examine the physiology of the situation in an attempt to understand why an individual might become dependent on a drug. The treatment might consist of giving the patient another drug to help them come off the substance they are using, but the social method would encourage support groups or the 12 step method that was first practiced by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). This method was originally brought about in the 70’s and involves patients admitting they are powerless to alcohol and coming to believe that a greater power can restore them to health. Although it had much success, it didn’t take account for those who did not believe in religion. Since then non twelve step programs have been brought about that focus on counselling patients on how to take control of their lives. Many centres that practice this method such as the Narconon Freedom Centre(NFC) claim to have a 70% success rate. It is apparent that both biomedical and social models have their place in treating addicts and biomedical science could definitely benefit from the use of techniques from the social model in this case. Because the term health is subjective it can be defined differently. The Biomedical approach may deem someone who is disabled as unhealthy. The way they would aim to treat, for instance someone who has lost the use of their legs is to give them a wheelchair, if the person then became depressed they might give them medication to alleviate the symptoms of depression. This scientific model is supported by evidence and does work in the sense that disabled people can get medication to decrease pain or equipment to make day to day life easier. The social model however approaches disability in an entirely different manner and Smart (2006-2007)states that â€Å"much of the prejudice and discrimination experienced by people with disabilities occurs not in spite of the Biomedical Model, but because of the Biomedical Model†. It known that disabled people can often be the target of discrimination and stereotyping, perhaps this has something to do with the picture of disability that has een painted by biomedical science. Because the biomedical approach has been at the forefront of health it is understandable that people are disposed to think in accordance of its views, but this doesn’t mean that they are always right. â€Å"The profession of medicine has, for centuries, been based on the two outcome paradigm of cure or death and vestiges of t his paradigm are reflected in payment systems. Therefore, after medical stabilization, much of the funding is withdrawn, not taking into consideration the individual’s greatest needs (Yelin, 1992). This quote reiterates the point that the biomedical view may not always be right. The social model in this case would take into account the full recovery of a person so they could return to a desirable quality of life. This is because the social model recognises the fact that if a person is affected by something it can impact on their life socially and economically, which in turn can cause numerous problems such as depression, effect on relationships, stress, and anxiety etc. To see a person as healthy as soon as there condition is stable is a very biomedical approach to the issue, it is possibly unwise to think that as soon as the patient is deemed stable they can return to a normal lifestyle. The possible repercussions of this approach are that many patients will likely return and need more treatment soon after they have left. A potential benefit of using the health model when viewing a situation like the one previously mentioned, is that the patient might be able to receive services like marriage counselling. This is because the social model takes more account of the effects ill health can have on the patients’ social life. If a patient is depressed this might also have an effect on the health of their friends and family meaning that they too may need healthcare for example a depressed patient may take their anger out by being abusive or violent to those around them. This is obviously not good for the family’s health so In the grand scheme of things a social approach may also help in keeping the patients family in good health. â€Å"The cultural identification of the individual is often ignored because the Biomedical Model is based only on biological, organic needs. Psychiatric disabilities, which are highly dependent upon the environment of the individual, are not well-funded. Such environmental accommodations could render the individual highly functional (Wright, 1991). For people with psychiatric disabilities the biomedical approach may help to calm them down or nullify the effects of their illness. However little is done to improve their quality of life and this, it could be argued, seems almost de-humanizing. The model of health would prove useful in this situation by simply creating a nicer environment that will greatly assist the person to return to health. If a return to health is not possible, this improvement in environment would still give the person a much more fulfilling life and help to put the families of patients’ minds at ease. Conclusion On reviewing and comparing the biomedical and social models of health, it can be seen that both models have strengths and weaknesses. Because the biomedical approach has been at the forefront of health people trust it because it’s what they are used too.. This approach is supported by a wealth of scientific evidence and knowledge and it can efficiently cure a wide range of illnesses or diseases. However the biomedical model takes little into account for the environment of patients and how this can affect their health. The social model realises that health can be defined in ways other than simply â€Å"the absence of disease†. It also takes into account that all patients’ ideas of health are different and require different treatments. On conclusion it is clear that both models are invaluable and the best means for keeping people healthy and administering care would be through using a combination of both methods. Exact word count:1490 References Alcoholics Anonymous, n. d. The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. [online] Available at:< http://www. aa. org/en_pdfs/smf-121_en. pdf > [Accessed 18 December 2010] Barker, R. Kirk, J. and Munday, R. J. , 1988. Narrative analysis. 3rd ed. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. Marmot, M. G. And Wilkinson, R. G. , 2006 Social Detirminants of Health: the Solid Facts 2nd ed, Oxford, Oxford University Press. Naidoo, J. And Wills, J. ,2009 Health Promotion: Foundations for practice 2nd ed. London, Balliere Tindall Narconon Freedom Centre, n. d. [online] Available at:< http://www. freedomdrugrehab. om>[Accessed 17 december 2010]. Pearson, A. Vaughan, B. and FitzGerald, M. , 2005. Nursing Models for Practice. 3rd ed. Oxford : Butterworth-Heinemann. Smart, J. , 2006-2007. Challenges to the Biomedical Model of Disability. Advances in Medical Psychotherapy & Psychodiagnosis, Volume 12,. p1 Wright, B. A. (1991). Labeling: The need for greater person-environment individuation. In C. R. Snyder & D. R. Forsythe (Eds. ), H andbook of social and clinical pyschology (pp. 469-487). Elmsford, NY: Pergamon Yelin, E. H. (1992). Disability and the displaced worker. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University

Industry project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Industry project - Assignment Example Women are expected by culture to remain home and respect their husbands (Shallal, 2011.They also expressed that they felt nervous to work in places that were highly male dominated. In addition, with oil discovery, women have highly expressed reluctance in jobs since their husbands provide everything. It is out of these demands following the career woman in UAE that made them highly dissatisfied with their work. In fact, women exhibited conflicting preferences when it came to working and home chores and usually resulted to absenteeism, poor turn over as well as deteriorated health. According to Les & Baruch, various aspects hindered employees in dispensing their duties. These challenges added to employee dissatisfaction or demoralization in the Middle East. One of the challenges included corruption as well as political interference in the public domain. Moreover, the Organizations in the Middle East were to blame for employee dissatisfaction owing to meager salaries offered as well as unsuitable working conditions in the public sector. Other reason for the employee dissatisfaction was owing to the fact that there were no reward mechanisms to recognize the employee’s efforts. Many employees also did not comprehend their jobs and were very confused with what to do. In addition, the employees did not comprehend what their supervisor’s role was in the work place and their leaders would. The other challenge projected was that the public sector did not offer frequent training to its workers and this made them perform badly. Moreover, Alabdelkarim, Muftah & Hodgson study was an interesting study concerning employee dissatisfaction. The study explained the concept of emiratisation whereby the government offered jobs to the locals who had the required skills. On the other hand, the private sector did not employ locals out of the belief that they were under skilled

Strategic HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Strategic HRM - Essay Example esearch for best practice and RBV perspectives especially when there are examples of firms such as Google that have successful employed these perspectives. However, it is concluded that the greater success of best-fit perspective does not mean best practices and RBV perspectives should be discarded as the two have important contribution to management efforts to improve organisational performance. According to Barney (1991), firms establish competitive advantage over the rest within a particular industry when they control heterogeneous resources including human resources. Further, such resources of the firm must not be perfectly mobile or transferable across the rest of competing firms in order to establish a long-lasting heterogeneity. Therefore, the RBV of a firm model argues that a firm that successfully creates sustainable competitive advantage over the rest in an industry is one that has unique resources and capabilities within the environment. To establish how a firm controls its resources, Barney (1991) established the VRIN model to account for valuable, rare, imperfectly imitable, non-Substitutable features of resources that a firm must control to establish its competitive advantage in an industry. Therefore, establishing competitive advantage based on these features of resources is perceived as the best approach for firms to enhance their performance and be ahead of others in the industry. While applying RBV of a firm to HRM Boxall and Purcell (2003) argues that firms adopting this framework will establish human resource advantage over the rest in the industry. For firms adopting this framework in their practices, the goal according to the authors is develop strategic capability in terms of strategic fit between resources and opportunities. Additionally, such firms must endeavour to ensure deployed resources generate benefit while recruitment and employment policies result in developing people with knowledge and skills essential in strategic thinking and

How might a rights-informed approach to social care provision and Essay

How might a rights-informed approach to social care provision and delivery result in better outcomes for users of social care se - Essay Example For instance, the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities encompasses rights to: participation in decision making; physical integrity and personal mobility; participation, dignity, and non-discrimination; and to live independently and actively within the community. A rights-based approach facilitates the realization of human rights by: fostering the inclusion of marginalized, socially excluded, vulnerable, or at-risk groups of people; addressing and challenging the barriers, inequalities, and injustices that are prevalent within the society; pursuing policies and programs that facilitate the well being of the service users. In most case, a rights-based approach gives services providers a stronger role to play in the manner in which services are designed and delivered. As a result, social care service users are rendered recipients of services that transform their lives and safeguard them against discriminatory treatment (Great Britain 2007, p.177). A right-based approach highlights the significance of empowerment and participation of parties impacted on by decisions to claim the rights, and accountability and capability to deliver from those responsible for social care service provision and delivery. ... need to reform institutions and transform power relations via enhanced participation, accountability, and participation and via compelling organizations to meet their rights obligations. A rights-informed approach to social care delivery and provision rests on guaranteeing that health and social care is provided and made accessible to all persons on a fair basis (Chapman 1994, p.4). Human rights represent the fundamental and irreducible rights for all individuals, which represent the moral and ethical principles that are critical to a democratic society. Human rights are grounded in a framework of fundamental values such as dignitary, equality, autonomy, respect, and fairness. The relevant human right instruments referred to in the paper entail: Human Rights Act, European Convention on Human Rights, especially Articles 2, 3, and 8; UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and, UN Conventional n Rights f Personas with Disabilities, especially Article 19. The European C onvention on Human Rights articles entail: the right to life (Article 2); the right to respect for private and family life (article 8); and, the right of not to be subjected to discrimination with relation to any of the rights within the Act (article 14). With regard to values, a rights-based approach highlights PANEL principles, namely: participation, accountability, non-discrimination, empowerment of individuals, and legality (appreciation of legal principles) (Steiner, Alston and Goodman 2008, p.300). Human rights apply to all, but are especially significant for persons who are at enhanced risk of poor treatment. Human rights can avail practical guidance to the formulation, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring of social care provision and delivery. The rights-informed approach

Issues in managment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Issues in managment - Essay Example In 1961 Kroc purchased the McDonald brothers’ equity share of $2.7 million and changed the name to McDonald’s Corporation. In 1965 McDonald’s went public and is currently headquartered in Illinois. McDonald’s follows a different business model from other fast food chains. In addition to the franchisee fees, supplies and a percentage of sales, they also collect rents partially linked to sales. Approximately 70% of McDonalds restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local men and women. McDonald’s offers flexible menus with different tastes and different sizes to fit every active lifestyle. It has a global presence with successful expansion into 120 countries and they serve nearly 54 million customers each day. By 2001, they had 30,093 restaurants all over the world with sales of $24 billion. They offer both counter service and drive through service. The company operates other brands such as Piles Cafà © and Boston Market and has a minority stake in Pret a Manger. They had a majority stake in Chiptole Mexican Grill – an 18-restaurant chain in the US until they completely divested it in October 2006. It also owned Donatos Pizza until December 2003. It has a subsidiary called Redbox, an automated convenience store started in 2003 and since 2005 they focus on DVD rental machine. Their global presence has caused McDonaldization of the society. As it is closely identified with the lifestyle and culture of America, the business expansion has also been termed as Americanization. McDonalds has often been the target of anti-globalization protesters. At the end of 2003 it employed more than 1.6 million people and is considered to be America’s largest job training program. They claim to make the world a better place and claim to respect and value their employees, but reports suggest that pay and working conditions are far from being ‘overwhelmingly

Organisation and behaviour Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Organisation and behaviour - Assignment Example Coca Cola has a dynamic organizational structure. This enables the entity to address the countless managerial challenges it encounters. The entity organizational structure combines various managerial structures. The managerial models include functional, central, production and regional management. The fusion of these models generates a dynamic structure, which suits Coca Cola. The regional management enables the entity to address regional challenges, which the entity is encountering. The entity adopted a regional structure, which ensures the distribution of its products in the various sections of the globe where it has clientele. This kind of structure also ensures that the location of its production facilities enables reduction of cost and unproblematic accessibility of its products to its clientele. Regional management also enables the entity address variation in culture globally. The variation in regions means that organizational culture will vary depending on the geographic locat ions. However, the organizational culture is largely similar despite the variation in geographic location. Coca Cola organization culture entails various aspects such as team building, performance management, training and motivating employees. The organization has also established certain values which the entity seeks to inculcate in its employees. The virtues ensure that there are good inter-employee relationships. Furthermore, these values ensure proper service to the clientele. Coca Cola’s organizational culture is a vital constituent of the entity’s corporate governance policy. Coca Cola’s corporate culture is friendly and innovative. It seeks to improve the employee’s career by ensuring that employee progress professionally. Professional advancement is an imperative way of motivating employees. Motivating employees is a vital since it will boost productivity in the entity. The organization has laid emphasis on teamwork. Organizational teams are critical since

Mini-Analysis Paper III Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mini-Analysis III - Research Paper Example The researchers used a collective case study as part of the qualitative methodology. As noted by Seidman (2013), case studies help researchers to have a detailed understanding about an issue or problem prevailing within a research setting. In this study, the rationale for selecting collective case study was given as the need to focusing on several subjects or participants at the same time. This rationale can be considered justifiable as it allowed the collection of both qualitative data and collective investigation of the sample size. Having said that the methodology selected was justifiable, using a focus group design would have allowed better access to participants (Diriwà ¤chter & Valsiner, 2006). This is because if focus group was used, the researcher would have had the chance of combining several data collection strategies including observation and interview (Bogdan & Biklen, 2007). There were two major qualities about the article that helps to demonstrate precision and clarity of writing. The first of this had to do with the use of headings and sections to clearly spell out the themes that were being carried out by the researchers. Also, the researchers were very straight forward with their findings whiles ensuring that no important details were missed out from the analysis. Even though this study is complete and have been concluded as achieving its aim, there remain very important questions other researchers may ask. First, there is the question of the role parents can play as stakeholders of the educational system in ensuring that trust built at school is continued in the home. Second is the question of how other factors might have influenced the outcome of trust mothers have in principals. The third is the question of how students themselves could help improve their relationship with principals. The findings

Write informations about Water Cycle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Write informations about Water Cycle - Essay Example The conversion of water from one form into the other occurs because of temperature variation. There are four fundamental stages of the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, collection and precipitation (Oki & Kanae, 2006). Evaporation occurs when the sun heats the earth’s surface changing the surface water into gas, which consequently carried by wind to other places as it rises. The suspended water vapor changes into clouds through condensation. This happens because of a drop in temperature, which facilitates the clinging together of the air-suspended particles. The condensed clouds then fall back on the surface of the earth in the form of precipitation, which is absorbed by plants and also collected in various water bodies such as oceans, lakes and rivers (Jacobsen & Lee, 2006). In summary, water from rivers, lakes, oceans and other sources turns into vapor as it is heated by the sun. The water changes into vapor, which then rises and condenses to form clouds. Clouds then fall back to the earth surface as rain or precipitation, which is carried to water bodies through run-offs or absorbed into the ground and again taken by plants, which lose it to the atmosphere through evaporation. Similarly, water that goes to water bodies is also lost to the atmosphere through evaporation. This unending cyclic movement of water is what constitutes the hydrological

Illegal Immigrants - A Strain on the US Economy Essay

Illegal Immigrants - A Strain on the US Economy - Essay Example Following discussion aims to illuminate the reality of the claim that â€Å"although illegal immigrants contribute to the US economy to a certain extent, it is important for the government to strictly control or regulate social services granted to them as demerits spawned by illegal immigration outweigh a few merits.† Social services received by illegal immigrants should be strictly controlled by the US government. This is because they have always proved a significant strain on the budget which is a fact of monumental importance particularly in current times marked by economic contraction. Illegal immigrants constitute a large part of the working class. Employers like to hire illegal immigrants because of the tendency to benefit from the option of cheap labor. Research conducted by the Department of Labor also proves that more than half of the workers who are assigned the task to pick crops to happen to be illegal immigrants (Finnegan). An increased labor class based on illegal immigrants poses damage to local workers. Research claims that â€Å"migrants perform tasks, at rates of pay, which most domestic workers would be unwilling to work at† (The Economic Affairs Committee 100).This suggests that many such jobs which should be given to locals are offered to illegal immigrants as they agr ee to do the same tasks for far lower prices. This benefits the employers but generates problematic issues for both locals and the federal government. As mentioned already, many rules and regulations were formulated in response to a rising rate of illegal immigration. â€Å"The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986† or IRCA is one such act worth mentioning here which clearly warns against hiring people residing illegally in the US (Fuqua 214). All employers are required to check the legal documents of their employees before selecting them. However, illegal immigrants still continue to be hired because they provision of myriad social services serves to encourage them.

Values and ethics associated with sport Essay Example for Free

Values and ethics associated with sport Essay An explanation as to the importance of ethics and values for sporting organisation and the individuals who participate  Individual and group development has a lot to do with the ethics and values that are learnt through life. Ethics and values are important for individuals who take part in sport because sport plays a major role in a lot of peoples lives from an early age. Players and fans that are into sport tend to devote a lot of time and effort to their favourite sport. If you look into the nature of fairplay in sport for some people it leads to their understanding of fairness in a wider social setting, this is because many of our basic values, such as playing fairly are often absorbed through athletic competition because when kids are taught about sports emphasis is often put on playing fair. The underlying importance of this is that if an individual or group do not develop a proper set of ethics and values it will make them and their club look bad. An example is a player like Roy Keane who admitted in his autobiography that he broke a fellow footballers leg simply because he wanted to. From this I can understand that Roy Keane did not grow up with the same sort of values that I did. He didnt get it hammered into him when he was young that breaking someones leg isnt part and parcel of the sport. This also reflects a bad image on the club and if my memory serves me right Manchester United round about that time were considered quite a dirty club. No proud owner of a club really wants their club to be known as an aggressive bunch of cheats. It is nobler to be like Chelsea who last year not only won the Premiership but the fairplay award as well which if you look at it really makes you think yeah they are true champions because they won it fairly. You could argue that they spent 100 million pounds to win the league but they still did it fairly more so than any other team in the land and I and hopefully many other football fans respect them for it. From a strong commitment to ethics and values players can achieve likeability and move onto more successful jobs. An example is Gary Linekar he never received a yellow card in his whole life ans he has since taken over from the legendary Des Lynam as the Match of the Day host. Players with bad reputations that are openly disliked by the majority of fans are unlikely to move onto other limelight jobs when their career over as well as simply being disliked by the general public. When these players careers are over they still have to do the shopping, go out to eat etc. When they go out into the public people are going to have an opinion of them based on the ethics and values that they have shown on the field of play. Who wants to be openly disliked?  Clubs have a good public image to gain from having a strong commitment to ethics and values and all good businesses know that a good public image means more money. A consequence of bad ethics and values could be related to athletics. Probably the most talked about ethic in sport is the prohibition of using performance enhancing drugs in athletics. A lot of people do wonder what justifies this prohibition because why shouldnt athletes, especially competent adult athletes be free to take risks with their bodies? The answer to this comes down to ethics and morals most of us have about sport. This is an important rule because performance enhancing drugs such as steroids have very harmful side effects as well as providing an unfair advantage. It is important that a value such is this is instilled into athletes of all ages because really we would hope that all athletes would want to compete clean not only because they should want to see how good they can become without performance enhancing drugs but hopefully the integrity of the sport should be important to them as well. I remember I myself used to be a big fan of athletics back in the day of Linford Christie and Colin Jackson but over time I began to get tired when my heroes, the people I looked up to got stripped of their gold medals because they had cheated. Incidents like these put me off the sport and I no longer watch it, this is why it is important for individuals and organisations to have a strong set of ethics and values. Children look up to and aspire to be like a lot of the athletes that are on the TV these days and a poor showing of ethics and values by a well known professional sportsperson will surely be taken in and acknowledged as ok by many young athletes. Basically fans want to trust that an athletes accomplishments are achieved fairly. Consequences of bad ethics and values are that sportspersons integrity is totally lost, the sports integrity itself will go down and younger athletes may lose faith in wanting to be a professional. Coaches at all levels experience the pleasures of watching young people develop sport skills and contribute to successful teams. However, coaches also have important legal and ethical obligations to their athletes. Coaches need to ensure that a strong set of values are instilled right from the start of those of whom they are coaching playing days. Earlier on I described the consequences of a bad set of ethics for an individual. In my opinion a coach with a bad set ethics is far worse because it is just not him or her who looks bad it is the people he/she is influencing as well. First of the importance of a proper coaching is the influential factor. This doesnt just apply to children but to adults as well. The problem these days is that winning is everything and some coaches do actually teach that. Various coaches at the top level send their players out to win a match through diving, time wasting and fouling opposition players. So adults can be influenced as well and so can kids who are learning in much the same way that winning is everything. It is imperative that a coach instils values and ethics into a child as early as possible so that they are not so easily swayed into cheating as they get older. This once again helps keeps intact the integrity of the player, the club the play for and the sport. The benefit these players will have are that they can become an upstanding member of the public a role model that players can look up to sort of like a David Beckham figure (bad example). Consequences are that from a young age players are conditioned into thinking that winning is everything and this can spill over into real life. A sports player may cheat on a maths test or lie to get a girlfriend because the values that they learnt through their coaching apply to their real life situations. Coaches need to be a positive role model and penalise unfair play! An example I can remember when this was not done was in the final of the 1999 womens world cup. The American womens football team completed regulation and extra time play against china with the score drawn. The championship, viewed through the world by millions of fans, many of them young American girls captivated by the success of the American women, was to be settled by a penalty shootout. The coach had decided one of the Chinese shooters, Liu Ying, lacked confidence so said something to the American goalkeeper, Briana Scurry. When Ying made her move, Scurry took two quick steps forward, in violation of a rule of football, to cut off Yings shooting angle. The tactic worked. Scurry deflected Yings shot and the Americans won. As for as Im concerned Scurry acted unfairly and cheated by violating a rule on her coaches advice. It set a bad example to all the aspiring young American women and for me and many other people that watched, the American victory was tainted by unethical behaviour in a deliberate violation of the rules. I see that as a major consequence of bad ethics taught and it is still happening all over the world in other sports such as boxing where fighters have cheated in a multitude of ways through their cornermen. To be honest a lot of the people that cheat in sport through advice of their coaches are remembered only for their win and not for the cheating but there are many people still out their who view these sportspeople and the people that coached them as cheats and they have to live that for the rest of their lives. The main value statements that need to be learnt in order to obtain an NVQ in sport and recreations are that people shouldnt be discriminated against based on their age, gender, ethnic origin or if they are disabled.The reason that these value statements are in place is because in this day and age there is still a lot of prejudice in the world. Prejudice cant be afforded in competitive sport or the sports industry. Sport in reality is supposed to be all about enjoyment and achievement and shouldnt in anyway be anything to do with a disability, age or colour of someones skin. The benefits of the individuals who learn these value statements and take them in are that they will influence people to shed their differences and help understand other peoples needs and this will help to draw different types of people together. Basically differences can be buried by sport if people learn these statements then apply them to the sporting organisations they work in. An example is that they could encourage different race teams or mixed age teams or include people with disabilities. Most of the football teams that we support today have a mix of nationalities. The small minority of supporters that are racist tend to support the ethnics in their own team with the same love shown to the people in their team that are the same races as them. This shows that sport can bring people together at the highest level which means that it can be filtered down to lower levels like people working in leisure centres or small clubs. With regards to age sport and sports facilities should cater for all ages. Just because someone becomes older does not mean that they lose there ability or desire to play sport. Old people should be valued equally when they go to a leisure centre its not that they want to do a swimming lap in twenty seconds they just want to enjoy themselves and be involved. Older people might look old but some dont feel old and contribute their knowledge and experience to those that are younger. The benefits of understanding the older people in the community are that it open doors and gives opportunities for special events such as swimming for the elderly or special classes. Old people dont want to feel inferior or isolated and if sporting organisations can help and understand them by arranging and encouraging activities for them to take part in it can only improve the organisations overall/community image.

Quality management systems

Quality management systems INTRODUCTION This chapter reviews and peruses various quality management systems (QMS) and other literature work in the area of research. It will try to inquire into the view points and thoughts of scholars and academicians in relation to the field of study. It will also give an overview of Information Systems (IS). Quality and QMS Defined Quality is defined by ISO 9000 series as the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfils requirements. In other words, quality can be regarded as fitness for purpose or conformance to users expectations since the user determines whether a product is of the desired quality. (Ghana Standards Board, International Trade Centre, P 109) The quality of goods and services results from many interrelated activities. These activities need to be coordinated through a Quality Management System. As indicated by John Ruskin, â€Å"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort. In order to survive in todays competitive marketplace, an organization has to consistently satisfy its customers needs and anticipate their future needs. This can be achieved by providing customers with the products they want, â€Å"getting it right first time†, without the need for rework. To satisfy customers, one must go higher along the production chain, right up to the suppliers not forgetting employee morale and commitment. Suppliers provide the raw materials or products for further processing by employees; if suppliers and employees do what is expected of them, â€Å"getting it right first time,† customers will be satisfied. As defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO): TQM is a management approach for an organization, centered on quality, based on the participation of all its members and aiming at long-term success through customer satisfaction, and benefits to all members of the organization and to society. (ISO 8402:1994) A quality management system in the enterprise, based on prevention rather than cure, minimizes waste and rework by ensuring that products are made right first time and every time. In adopting a preventive approach by investing in plants and equipment, training staff and purchasing the appropriate raw materials/inputs, an organization can reduce inspection cost and more specifically, the costs of failure and/or delays. These costs arise from rework or discarding non-conforming in-process material and finished products. Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Management (QM) Models The publication of the ISO 9000 series of standards in 1987 heightened awareness of the benefits of QA requirements among SMEs, many of which implemented ISO 9000 QA models to improve their competitive position as well as to join the ranks of suppliers to large companies. While both the 1987 and 1994 versions of ISO 9001, ISO 9002 and ISO 9003 were based on a QA model, the revised standard (ISO 9001) published in 2000 is based on QM principles (Ghana Standards Board, Export quality management, 2009) The broad relationships between inspection, quality control, quality assurance and quality management are summarized in the table below. System Objective Activities Applicability Nature Inspection Product conformance by screening out conforming products from nonconforming products Visual checks/ measuring; then testing and reporting the results. Generally, Production-related activities, such as checking incoming goods, in-process or final product, pre-dispatch, etc Detection after the event. Quality control Product Conformance by Eliminating causes of nonconforming products Inspection followed by appraisal of results and feedback to the process being controlled As above Detection and-or off-line correction. Quality assurance Generating confidence in product conformance Comprises all QC activities, plus documented quality systems and quality audits All functions of the company from design to after-sales service. Prevention. Quality Management Continual improvement of product conformance Continual improvement of processes in addition to all QA activities As above Prevention and improvement. What are the ISO 9000 series of Standards The ISO 9000 series consist of four primary standards supported by several other documents. The four primary standards are ISO 9000, Quality management systems Fundamentals and vocabulary; ISO 9001, Quality management systems Requirements; ISO 9004, Quality management systems Guidelines for performance improvements ISO 19011, Guidelines on quality and/or environmental management auditing. ISO 9000 is a starting point for understanding the standard, as it defines the fundamental terms used in the ISO 9000 family or set of standards for quality management. ISO 9001 specifies the requirements for quality management systems which enable you to demonstrate your ability to provide products that fulfil customer and applicable regulatory requirements; it also aims to enhance customer satisfaction. ISO 9004 provides you with guidance on the continual improvement of your quality management system so that the needs and expectations of all interested parties are met. These interested parties include customers and end-users, directors and staff in the organisation, owners and investors, suppliers and partners, and society at large. ISO 9001 and ISO 9004 are consistent pair of standards that relate modern quality management to processes and activities of an organization, and emphasize the promotion of continual improvement and the achievement of customer satisfaction. ISO 9001, which focuses on the effectiveness of the quality management system in meeting customer requirements, is used for certification or for contractual agreements between suppliers and buyers. By contrast, ISO 9004 cannot be used for certification as it does not prescribe requirements but provides guidance for the continual improvement of an organisations performance. ISO 9001 focuses on effectiveness, i.e. doing the right thing in the right way. The ISO 9000 quality management system is generic in nature: it is applicable to both the manufacturing and services sectors, and to enterprises of all sizes, including the single entrepreneur. ISO 9001 specifies what an enterprise is required to do, but it does not indicate how this is to be done thus giving the enterprise much flexibility in running its business. (Crosby, 1992) Worldwide use of ISO 9000 The ISO 9000 standards are widely used around the world. A survey conducted by ISO indicated that at least 4008,631 ISO certificates were awarded in 158 countries in 2000, up by 64, 988 certificates over the figure for end of December 1999, when the total stood at 343,643 for 150 countries. The figures were also significantly higher than the 27,816 certificates issued in 48 countries by 31st January 1993, when the survey was first conducted. The number of certificates issued in Europe in 2000 was 220,127 or 53% of the total. The Far East had 20.05%, North America 11.82%, New Zealand and Australia 6.68%, Africa and West Asia 4.94%, and Central and South America 2.64%. Information on the sector covered by the certificates at the end of 2000 was obtained for 317,126 certificates. The highest number recorded was for basic metal products (40,713 certificates or 12.84% of the total), and the smallest number for nuclear fuel (115, 0.03%) The figures for various other sectors are as follows: electrical and optical equipment, 38,148 (12.0%); food products, beverages and tobacco, 11,440 (3.6%); information technology, 11,067 (3.5%); textiles and textile products, 5, 178 (1.6%); and hotels and restaurants, 1,187 (0.4%) Is quality management an issue only for management? A glance at the definition of quality Management-â€Å"coordinated activities to direct and control an organisation with regard to quality† gives an impression that it is an issue for management only. This impression is reinforced by the fact that the eight quality management principles that form the basis of the ISO 9000 series are all used by senior management as a framework for guiding the organisation towards improved performance. The eight management principles are: Principle 1 Customer focus Principle 2 Leadership, Principle 3 Involvement of people Principle 4 Process approach Principle 5 System approach Principle 6 Continual improvement, Principle 7 Factual approach to decision-making, and Principle 8 Mutually beneficial supplier relationships Herbert Simon argued years ago that the core of managing lies in decision making, which is best thought of as process comprising three phases: Finding occasions for making decisions, Finding possible courses of action, and Choosing among courses of action Looking at the quality management principles again, but from Simons point of view, one finds that some of them provide workers with ample scope for making decisions that influence quality. It would appear that the principles related to customer focus, leadership, system approach to management, and development of mutually beneficial supplier relationships are issues for management only. The other principles apply to employees at all levels in the organisation. Employees accept ownership of problems and their responsibility for solving them. The process approach is applicable to everyone, each person having a triple role (i.e. everyone in an organisation is seen as a customer, processor and a supplier). Continual improvement is within the reach of employees at all levels as they can be trained in the methods of continual improvement and the tools involve. Everyone can base his or her decision on accurate and reliable data, this being made available wherever decisions have to be taken. If everyone looks at quality management as managing of quality, then quality management is within the decision-making scope of both managers and workers. There is a Japanese rule that attributes quality problems to poor product design (40%), errors made during the manufacturing process (30%), and nonconforming materials purchased from suppliers (30%). Generally design and purchasing problems can be solved only through managerial intervention. One can say that quality problems in manufacturing are caused in equal proportion by managers (e.g. inadequate training of workers) and workers (e.g. inadequate attention to machine setting). One can conclude that 85% of the problems come under management control and 15% are under worker control. This ratio of 85:15 has been substantially documented in the literature of quality management. Only 15% of defective products can be attributed to production operators while the other 85% are caused by management. System problems like inadequate maintenance of equipment and faulty raw materials/components can be resolved only by top management. Quality management is regarded in ISO 9000 as comprising four elements: Quality planning, Quality control, Quality assurance and Quality improvement While all four elements are within the purview of management, workers are directly responsible for quality control conducted at the operational level. It should be noted that workers could also contribute to quality improvement if they have been trained in simple problem-solving techniques. FOOD SAFETY QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Food safety is related to the presence of food-borne hazards in food at the point of consumption, (intake by the consumer). As the introduction of food safety hazards can occur at any stage of the food chain, adequate control throughout the food chain is essential. Thus food safety is ensured through the combined efforts of all the parties participating in the food chain. The following are generally recognised key elements to ensure food safety along the food chain, up to the point of final consumption: Interactive communication; System Management; Prerequisite programmes; HACCP principles Communication along the food chain is essential to ensure that all relevant food safety hazards are identified and adequately controlled at each step within the food chain. This implies communication between organizations both upstream and downstream in the food chain. Communication with customers and suppliers about identified hazards and control measures will assist in clarifying customer and supplier requirements (e.g. with regard to the feasibility and need for these requirements and their impact on the end product). Recognition of the organisations role and position within the food chain is essential to ensure effective interactive communication throughout the chain in order to deliver safe food products to the final consumer. The most effective food safety systems are established, operated and updated within the framework of a structured system and incorporated into the overall management activities of the organization. This provides maximum benefit for the organisation and interested parties. ISO 22000:2005 has been aligned ISO 9001 in order to enhance the compatibility of the two standards. ISO 22000 integrates the principles of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and application steps developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. By means of auditable requirements, it combines the HACCP plan with prerequisite programmes (PRPs). Hazard analysis is the key to an effective food safety management, since conducting a hazard analysis assists in organising the knowledge required to establish an effective combination of control assist in organising the knowledge required to establish an effective combination of control measures. ISO 22000 requires that all hazards that may be reasonably expected to occur in the food chain, including hazards that may be associated with the type of process and facilities used, are identified and assessed. Thus it provides the means to determine and document why certain identified hazards need to be controlled by a particular organisation and why others need not. BUSINESS PROCESSES AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS In order to operate, businesses must deal with many different pieces of information about suppliers, customers, employees, invoices and payments, and of course product and services. They must organise work activities that use this information systems to operate efficiently and enhance the overall performance of the firm. Information systems make it possible for firms to manage all their information, make better decisions and improve the execution of their business processes. (Laudon and laudon 2006). BUSINESS PROCESSES Information systems are all about improving business processes which lie at the very heart of a business. So it is important to understand what is meant by â€Å"business processes† Business processes, refer to the manner in which work is organised, coordinated, and focused to produce a valuable product or service. Business processes are workflows of materials, information, and knowledge-set of activities. Business processes also refers to the unique ways in which organisations coordinate work, information and knowledge, and the ways in which management chooses to coordinate work. Every business can be seen as a collection of business processes. Some of these processes are part of larger encompassing processes. For example, almost every business has a way to hire employees. The process of hiring employees is a business process in the sense that it is a set of activities that a firm uses to hire new employees. To a large extent the performance of a business firm depends on how well its business processes are designed and coordinated. A companys business processes can be a source of competitive strength if they enable the company to innovate or to execute better than its rivals. Business processes can also be liabilities if they are based on outdated ways of working that impede organisational responsiveness and efficiency. Information systems enhance business processes primarily in two ways: Increasing the efficiency of existing processes and Enabling entirely new processes that are capable of transforming the business TYPES OF BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS There are different systems depending on the different business processes but all the systems could be viewed from two different perspectives: a functional perspective identifying systems by their major business function, and a constituency perspective that identifies systems in terms of the major organisational groups that they serve. Systems from a functional perspective From a historical perspective, functional systems were the first kinds of systems developed by business firms. These systems were located in specific departments, such as accounting, marketing and sales, production, and human resources. There are four main types of information systems that serve different functional systems: Sales and marketing information systems help the firm with marketing business processes (identifying customers for the firms products or services, developing products and services to meet their needs, promoting products and services) and sales processes (selling the products and services, taking orders, contacting customers, and providing customer support). Manufacturing and production information systems deal with the planning, development, and production of products and services, and controlling the flow of production. Finance and accounting information systems keep track of the firms financial assets and fund flows. The typical finance and accounting information systems found in large organizations. Senior management uses finance and accounting systems to establish long-term investment goals for the firms and to provide long-range forecasts of the firms financial performance. Middle management uses systems to oversee and control the firms financial resources. Operational management uses finance and accounting systems to track the flow of funds in the firm through transactions, such as paychecks, payments to vendors, securities reports, and receipts. Human resources information systems maintain employee records, track employee skills, job performance and training, and support planning for employee compensation and career development. The system can produce a variety of reports, such as list of newly hired employees, employees who are terminated or on leaves of absence, employees classified by job type or educational level, or employee job performance evaluations. Systems from a Constituency Perspective This is a perspective that examines systems in terms of the various levels of management and types of decision that they support. Each of these levels has different information needs given their different responsibilities, and each can be seen as major information constituents. Senior managers need summary information that can quickly inform them about the overall performance of the firm. Middle managers need more specific information on the results of specific functional areas and departments of the firm. Operational managers need transactional-level information, such as number of parts in inventory each day. Knowledge workers may need access to external scientific databases or internal databases with organisational knowledge. Production or service workers may need access to information from production machines, and service workers may need access to customer records in order to take orders and answer questions from customers. There are four main categories of systems from a constituency perspective. Transaction processing systems (TPS) are basic business systems that serve the operational level of the organization by recording the daily routine transactions required to conduct business, such as payroll and sales receipts. Management information systems (MIS) serve middle managers interests by providing current and historical performance information to aid in planning, controlling, and decision making at the management level. MIS typically compress TPS data to present regular reports on the companys basic operations. Decision Support Systems (DSS), or business intelligence systems, help managers with non-routine decisions that are unique, rapidly changing, and not easily specified in advance. DSS are more analytical than MIS, using a variety of models to analyze internal and external data or condense large amounts of data for analysis. Executive support systems (ESS) provide a generalized computing and communications environment that help senior managers address strategic issues and identify long-term trends in the firm and its environment. ESS addresses non-routine decisions requiring judgment, evaluation, and insight because there is no agreed-on procedure for arriving at a solution. ESS present graphs and data from many internal and external sources through an interface that is easy for senior managers to use. Often the information is delivered to senior executives through a portal, which uses a Web interface to present integrated personalized business content. INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TQM The importance of information technologies and the information systems function is no longer of debate among business people. The question, rather, is how an organization can take best advantage of IT in order to support its operations, add value to its products and services, and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. To be able to perform up to such high expectations, the IS function must develop an intimate understanding of the expectations of its varied clientele. As organizations embark on their journey to be more responsive to their customers and to continuously improve the quality of their products and services, IS must do the same. Unfortunately, it seems that despite the importance of IT to the success of most organizations, the function is not proactive when it comes to actively pursuing and implementing quality principles. Surveys of IS managers found that a minority of IS managers (41%) understood the basic principles of Total Quality Management (TQM), and thought the y will beuseful to the IS function. Even in the cases where TQM principles were understood, they often were not implemented in the IS function. Total IS quality is a multidimensional concept. (Antonis C. Stylianou and Ram L. Kumar, September 2000) Dimensions Of Information Systems Quality Infrastructure Quality: The quality of the infrastructure (hardware and enabling software) that is fielded and maintained by IS—includes, for example, the quality of the networks, and systems software. Software Quality: The quality of the applications software built, or maintained, or supported by IS. Data Quality: The quality of the data entering the various information systems. Information Quality: The quality of the output resulting from the information systems. In many cases, the output of one system becomes the input of another. In that respect, information quality is related to data quality. Administrative Quality: The quality of the management of the IS function—Includes the quality of budgeting, planning, and scheduling. Service Quality: The quality of the service component ofthe IS function—includes the quality of customer support processes such as those related to a help desk. These dimensions overlap considerably, and what impacts one dimension will in many cases impact other dimensions as well. For example, a decline in infrastructure quality (for example, persistent network service interruptions) is likely to cause real or perceived problems with data and service quality. And even though in the eyes of some IS customers the distinction may be insignificant, it is nevertheless important in being able to respond appropriately. An appropriate response may include actions to address infrastructure quality (such as replacing a defective network component), data quality (such as more frequent backups), and service quality (such as improved communication on cause and resolution of the problem). So far, research on IS quality has addressed individual components of quality and not the big picture. Pearson et al.s framework for introducing TQM into the IS function, although broad, does not provide an integrated and detailed enough perspective for managing quality in key processes and products. Also, Pitt et al. present a model of IS success that is broad but incomplete. That model does not capture the variety of stakeholders affected, the interaction between IS and business processes, the administrative component of IS quality, and environmental influences on quality. An extensive literature exists on data and information quality, and software quality. Administrative IS quality, although it has not received as much attention on its own, is very similar to the quality of other management processes examined in the general concept. INFLUENCES ON INFORMATION SYSTEM QUALITY While IS quality is a general concept, there may be significant differences between organizations in terms of how quality is defined. Different organizations may emphasize different dimensions of IS quality. Environmental factors, such as industry type and the nature of competition, affect the importance of IS in the organization. Managing IS quality is more complicated in IT-intensive industries such as banking because of the large number of IS-supported processes and the high degree of integration between IS and business processes. The impact of organizational investments in IT on IS quality may vary depending on organizational factors such as culture, politics, and senior management support. Stakeholder perceptions of what constitutes acceptable quality may also vary depending on those factors. Departmental factors such as differences in leadership style, employee skills, and IT intensity also impact IS quality perceptions and management. These environmental, organizational, and d epartmental factors impact the relative importance of different stakeholder groups, the weights assigned by each stakeholder group to different quality attributes, and the metrics used to measure them. As a result, deciding how to configure and manage the IS quality program requires sensitivity to these factors. (Antonis C. Stylianou and Ram L. Kumar, September 2000) HOW INFORMATION SYSTEMS IMPROVE QUALITY Reduce Cycle Time and Simplify the production Process Studies have shown that probably the best single way to reduce quality problems is to reduce cycle time, which refers to the total elapsed time from the beginning of a process to its end. Shorter cycle times mean that problems are caught earlier in the process, often before the production of a defective product is completed, saving some of the hidden cost of producing it. Finding ways to reduce cycle time often means finding ways to simplify production steps. The fewer the steps in a process the less time and opportunity for an error to occur. Information systems help eliminate steps in a process and critical time delays. A company selling flowers by telephone or over the Web, used to be much smaller company that had difficulty retaining its customers. It had poor service, inconsistent quality, and a cumbersome manual order-taking process. Telephone representatives had to write each order, obtain credit card approval, determine which participating florist was closest to the delivery location, select a floral arrangement, and forward the order to the florist. Each step in the manual process increased the chance of human error, and the whole process took at least a half hour. A new information system that downloads orders taken in telecenters or over the Web to a central computer and electronically transmits them to local florists was installed. Orders are more accurate and arrive at the florist within two minutes Benchmark Companies achieve quality by using benchmarking to set strict standards for products, services, and other activities, and then measuring performance against those standards. Companies may use external industry standards, standards set by other companies; internally developed high standards; or some combination of the three. An outdoor clothing company used benchmarking to achieve an order-shipping accuracy of 99.9 percent. Its old batch order fulfillment system could not handle the surging volume and variety of items to be shipped. After studying Germans and Scandinavian companies with leading edge order fulfillment, the company redesigned its order fulfillment process and information systems so that orders could be processed as soon as they were received and shipped within 24 hours. Use Customer Demands to improve Products and Services Improving customer service, making customer service the number one priority, will improve the quality of the product itself. Improve Design Quality and Precision Computer aided design (CAD) software has made a major contribution to quality improvements in many companies, from producers of automobile to producers of razor blades. A computer-aided design (CAD) system automates the creation and revision of designs, using computers and sophisticated graphics software. Improve Production Precision and Tighten Production Tolerances For many products, quality can be enhanced by making the production process more precise, thereby decreasing the amount of variation from one part to another. CAD software often produces design specifications for tooling and manufacturing processes, saving additional time and money while producing a manufacturing process with far fewer problems. The user of this software is able to design a more precise production system, a system with tighter tolerances, than could ever be done manually. IMPLEMENTING AND MANAGING INFORMATION SYSTEM QUALITY In instituting an Information System quality program, lessons could and should be drawn from both successes and failures in quality programs implem

Inflation Rate and Economic Stability of Brazil

Inflation Rate and Economic Stability of Brazil Introduction This paper is concerned with the economic consideration of one of the South American countries and analyzes the impact of an economic concern on that particular South American country that has been chosen and identifies the trend of the economic concern with in specified region on the basis of data sets accumulate from the source. The south American countries has major impact on American economy and the economic concern of one of an important country raise our body of knowledge regarding the economic trend in that particular country and its impact on overall economy as well. South American Country The economy of South America consists of twelve nations with three territories and comprise of 6% of population in the world. I have choose Brazil among other South American countries as Brazil is the largest South American country and Brazil is one of the fastest growing economies of the world. It is ranked at fifth spot in the world regarding population and geographical region and fifth largest economy regarding GDP in the world. The economic concern of Brazil is effectively contributes to world economy and interesting trend of economy can be seen. (Abreu, 2005). Economic Concern Among four economic concern including GDP, quantities of specific Goods and services gross Domestic Product (GDP), and unemployment inflation I have selected inflation. Inflation is an important economic concern that will effect the economy in great extend and inflation rate of a country economy is an important indicator for a country growth prospective. Inflation means rise in the general price level of the country and loss the real value of money as fewer commodities will bought with each additional unit of currency. Inflation directly relate to the economic productivity and has positive and negative both effect on economy as it create economic uncertainty which may discourage saving and investment. High prices of general commodities and hoarding will be its largest disadvantage. In positive sense it may encourage non monetary investment. But the inflation rate needs to be control in order to sustain country economy. Inflation trend in Brazil The inflation rate in Brazil is fluctuating over the years. No consistent trend can be seen in the inflation rate ac past year data support this assumption. According to the data displayed by ( IPCA) in 2002 the inflation rate was 12.53% that is quite high rate. Then the decreasing trend of inflation rate can be seen in Brazil economy as 9.3% in 2003, 7.6% in 2004, 5.69% in 2005, and 3.14% in 2006 that is least in this decade. Then the slight increasing trend can be seen in rate of inflation. 4.46% can be seen in 2007 and 5.91 in 2008. The fluctuating trend can be seen in this range in coming years as well. (Inflation Statistical table) Statistical Table Inflation (IPCA) 2002 12.53% 2003 9.30% 2004 7.60% 2005 5.69% 2006 3.14% 2007 4.46% 2008 5.91% Past two years Inflation Trend Past two years monthly inflation rate trend can be seen from this graph that shows the monthly frequency of the inflation rate. The graph bars shows the trend of inflation from year 2011 that is 6.01%. The increasing slope can be seen from March, 2011 up to October, 2011. Inflation rate at the month of October is the highest that is 7.31%. Then the control implementation on inflation increasing trend can be seen from 7.31% to the deep low rate at 4.92% in July, 2012 that is complemented to Brazil economy. The upward Trent at semi annual bases can be seen in Brazil economy. The last recorded inflation rate of 6.15% that is quite high. Brazil government target inflation rate is 4.5% with the plus and minus tolerance margin of 2% in it. The high inflation trend is important consideration for the government as increasing inflation rate affect the economy in deep roots and make the investment and saving difficult. People purchasing power will be effected that will effect their standard of living and indulge the poverty level in the country as commodities will be difficult to purchase with even more money in hand because due to inflation country will lose its real money value. (De Paiva Abreu, 2005). According to IBGE report it is recorded from 1980 the Brazil inflation trend has gone through various fluctuations. Historical data shows average of 411.8 % Brazil inflation rate that reached at highest rate of inflation of 6821.3 % in April 1990 that was the highest rate for all time. The low inflation rate of 1.7 percent was found in December 1998. The measure used to calculate inflation is consumer price index. Brazil important contribution in consumer price index are tobacco, food and alcohol that covers 31% of total, 15 percent by transport sector and communication carries 5 %. . (Brazil Inflation Rate) Statistical Evidence comparing various countries inflation rate Inflation Rate of various countries is showing the Brazil high rate of inflation as compare to other countries except India that has the inflation Rate o f 6.62. An increasing trend is quite threatening for Brazilian government for economic growth and required close consideration to control the rate in future in order to stabilize the economy. Conclusion The Inflation rate and economic stability are closely related to one another and required close concern in order to stabilize the economy. Brazil increasing trend provide the threatening for its future concerns and shows that the government need to closely consider this regime in order to stabilize the economy and to achieve the economical growth in the world.

Charlemagne :: essays research papers

Charlemagne Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, became the undisputed ruler of Western Europe, â€Å"By the sword and the cross.† (Compton’s 346) As Western Europe was deteriorating Charlemagne was crowned the privilege of being joint king of the Franks in 768 A.D. People of Western Europe, excluding the church followers, had all but forgotten the great gifts of education and arts that they had possessed at one time. Charlemagne solidly defeated barbarians and kings in identical fashion during his reign. Using the re-establishment of education and order, Charlemagne was able to save many political rights and restore culture in Western Europe. Early Life Charlemagne was born in 742 A.D., to a very famous and well-known family. Charlemagne’s grandfather was Charles Martel, the man who was responsible for the defeat of the Saracens. Charlemagne was also the eldest son of Bertrade (also known as Bertha Greatfoot) and Pepin the Short, the first to become king of the Franks. With the almost full extinction of schools in the 8th century, many historians say that Charlemagne received very little education, but did learn the art of reading from Bertrade. The one thing that kept Charlemagne motivated throughout his entire life was his deep devotion to the church. Charlemagne was a tall young man with light blond hair, and was described by his secretary as, â€Å"face laughing and merry. . . his appearance was always stately and dignified.† (World book 452) Charlemagne had great wit, but was stern at times. He had simple and moderate tastes; he enjoyed hunting, riding and swimming. Charlemagne had a large wardrobe with many Frankish dresses, linen shirts and breeches, silk-fringed tunics, hoses wrapped with bands, and for the winter he had coats made of otter or marten skins. Charlemagne asked his people to improve their lifestyles, but he divorced two of his four fives without any given cause. Charlemagne’s Reign In 768 A.D., Charlemagne at the age of 26, along with his brother Carloman inherited the kingdom of Franks. However, in 771 A.D. Carloman died, making Charlemagne the sole ruler of the kingdom. At this time the northern part of Europe was out of order and unruly. In the south, the Roman Catholic Church was asserting itself alongside the Lombard kingdom in Italy. While in Charlemagne’s own kingdom, the people were becoming and acting as barbarians and neglecting education and faith. But Charlemagne was determined to make his kingdom as strong as possible.

charhf The Complex Character of Huckleberry Finn :: Adventures Huckleberry Huck Finn Essays

Huckleberry Finn – Complex Character Huckleberry Finn is a complex character. As this book progresses, so does Huck. Huck is about thirteen years old, from the low end of the white middle class. His father is a ruffian who disappears for months on end. This book starts off with Huck being `reformed' by the widow Douglas and therefore remains a marginalized member of society. He has not been brought up with the same social values as an average middle-class boy might be, but this helps to create Huck's unique personality. The way he has been brought up affects his traits, values, and relationships throughout the book. Although Huck's character progresses in this story his traits that he portrays at the end are very similar to those at the beginning. His ingenuity, morality, and intelligence are consistent throughout the story. Huck's ingenuity is shown throughout his clever actions. His decision to make his escape on the canoe look like a murder to hide his tracks is just one example, "And they'll follow that meal track to the lake and go browsing down the creek that leads out of it to find the robbers that killed me and took the things. They won't ever hunt the river for anything but my dead carcass. They'll soon get tired of that, and won't bother no more about me." This idea continues as he decides to dress up as a girl to gain information. Although this idea doesn't fully succeed because he is found out, it is an excellent plan, which also reviles his ingenuity. Another time we see this unique cleverness is when he pretends to be `George Jackson' to live with the Wilkes family. Also throughout this story, Huck develops his own morality, however it has a different turn from the accepted norm for that society at that time. An example of his morality coming through is how he didn't tell on Jim when he ran away. Although the society would see this as wrong, Huck took Jim's point of view and concluded to help him. Huck also showed his morality when he tried to return the stolen money to the girls and escape from the Duke and King after the burial.

Essay on What Dreams May Come :: What Dreams May Come

What Dreams May Come    When mortality is contemplated, issues of life, death, and the hereafter are usually the first of a myriad of topics to spontaneously arise as if they are from the dark depths of a person's soul. I believe that this is most eloquently stated by Hamlet:    For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause. (III. i.)    This passage served as inspiration for Richard Matheson, the author of the novel, What Dreams May Come. This essay is in two parts: discrepancies between the book and the movie, and views of life/death in the movie and book.    Part I: Discrepancies The first noticeable discrepancy between the book and the movie is that the movie is a movie (meaning that the movie progresses with the characters for the most part except for the occasional flashback) while the book is a retrospective by Chris of his life and escapades written after he is dead. The first chapter of the book opens with a medium at Richard Nielsen's (Chris's brother) door. It appears that after rescuing Annie in her very own, limited edition, private hell, Chris finds a medium, and he pesters her until she agrees to transcribe his journal (it took her six months) and hand deliver it to Richard.    Another major discrepancy between the movie and the book is that in the book the children do not die. In fact, the children are they way that Chris can find his way back to Annie; through their thoughts and prayers. Before Anne dies, Chris gets Albert (not his son in the book) to look up how long Anne is to naturally live. Albert comes back and reports that it is twenty-four years. Chris becomes devistated and worries about it. Then, Anne kills herself. In the book, Anne would not be in her own patented hell forever but for the time she was to live (she still committed suicide). So she would be in her desolate hell for twenty-four years. That doesn't seem too bad but Chris would not hear of such, and then proceeded to persuade Albert to help him get in touch with Anne again.    Richard Matheson became a new-age metaphysical expert in order to write What Dreams May Come. He wanted the book to be as realistic as possible, so he acquired dozens of books (all listed in the Bibliography) and first hand Near Death Experience accounts from people from all walks of life.

Review of Patient Safety Standards for Hospitals by Joint Commision on Healthcare Essay

The safety goals outlined for hospitals are intended to stimulate greater awareness of the elements of vulnerability or risk associated between patient and worker. Ultimately, patient safety, worker health and safe practice methods can have a positive influence on saving lives, reducing risk and controlling costs. The goals attempt to outline a uniform standard. When adopted by a health care organization, a successful culture of safety that benefits everyone has an opportunity to develop. The following are the Commission’s patient safety goals with respect to hospitals. The first goal is to improve the accuracy of patient identification. Patients are given the wrong medications, taken to the wrong surgical rooms, and specimens get contaminated or mixed up. To address this issue and achieve improved accuracy, implementation of two patient identifiers attempts to reduce these errors. First, the patient should be identified reliably by their name, telephone number or other number that is person specific. The second is to verify that the treatment matches the patient. The verification of the identifiers should be done with two individuals checking the same patient or having one person identify the patient, with a second verification assisted by the addition of a technology item, like a barcode. The second goal is to improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers. Each clinical aspect of healthcare utilizes a different vocabulary. A patient may be seeing a psychiatrist, a physical therapist and a cardiologist at the same time. While each profession has a foundation of science that is designed help them communicate in a uniform manner, each clinical area will have specific language and understanding that may not translate from one specialty or discipline to another. Critical results of tests and diagnostics that are outside the normal range and indicate a life threatening situation must be communicated. Reports must be delivered and critical results given on a timely basis so the patient can be treated as soon as possible. Third, is the goal to improve the safety of using medication. Medications that are not labeled properly or medications that are similar in name or packaging can obviously lead to a 1 deadly consequence. Suggested ways to achieve this goal is to make sure all medications, and containers are labeled correctly. Some of the specific suggestions to achieve this safety goal are to adopt the use of oral unit-dose products, prefilled syringes, or premixed infusion bags when these products are available. The fourth goal is to reduce the risk of health care-associated infections. Many people are in fear of going to a hospital. They may feel at risk of getting a communicable disease. And while that is a possibility, few are aware that they may experience infections directly associated with the delivery of the medical service or treatment. The simplest and most obvious way to protect the patient from infection is to feverishly adhere to the Centers for Disease Control or World Health Organizations guidelines for hand washing. The late physician and scientist Ignaz Semmelweis would be astonished to see this method universally adopted. Although, with as much science that has since validated his pioneering work, he could be annoyed to see a lack of compliance, considering the volumes of evidence published which supports his early theory. Patients are acquiring hospital based infections at an alarming rate, according to an NBC news story which was based on data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. And a brief review of the CDC report from 2011 on rates of infections clearly shows a link between number of days in the hospital and acquired infections. The longer a patient is in the setting, the more likely it is that the patient is at risk. The likelihood of risk depends on the kind of treatment the patient receives. Risk assessment tools are essential to understanding which staff, providers, or independent practitioners need to be educated to understand the types of infections and their origins as they relate to their practice area. The families and patients must likewise be educated to understand the risks, complications and microbial hazards that are inherent to the treatment or service they are receiving. Finally, goal fifteen is for the hospital to identify safety risks inherent in its patient population. This goal is a contributing factor to why Patient Safety Coordinators and certifications to become one are becoming more popular. Particularly, the goal speaks to the population that is at risk for suicide. While this goal is stated to apply only to psychiatric hospitals and patients being treated for emotional or behavioral issues, most all hospitals have at least a small population that could fit into this category. While not every hospital has a psychiatric floor, or even a psychiatrist on call, patients that appear or make a statement that they fear harming others or themselves may be detained temporarily at the discretion of the medical staff. The terms and length varies from state to state. Georgia’s law, O. C. G. A. Â § 37-3-41 allows basically for a forty-eight hour detainment period. But, that can be extended indefinitely if the treating physician deems it necessary and appropriate based on their examination.

An Overview of the Life of John Kennedy

tush F. Kennedy was maven of the most liked and dedicated presidents of the united States of America. His presidency ran The second of nine children, bum Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in a deuce-ace story wooden house on May 29, 1917 in Brooklyn, Massachusetts. His parents were Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Joseph Kennedy intend for his sons to receive the finest buck private school program line possible. Johns education started at a private Dexter school in Brookline. During fourth, fifth, and iodine-sixth grades John enrolled at Riverdale Country twenty-four hour period naturalise. At the age of thirteen, John entered the Canterbury indoctrinate in Milford, Connecticut. The spring of 1931, John suffered an ardor of appendicitis. He had to stay home and detain for the remainder of the school year. Kennedys parents intractable to hire a tutor to armed service him catch-up during the summer. John passed Math, English, and Latin. When he finally get completely, he entered Choa te, a fine cookery school in Wallingford, Connecticut. When John graduate from Choate, in 1935, he planned to survey for a year at Londons School of economic science. Then at eighteen long time old, John came down with an illness called Jaundice.In the fall, John joined his friends, Lem Billings and mangle Horton at Princeton University. He later had other attack of Jaundice that forced him to look across school for one semester. Johns father thus encouraged his son to enter Harvard University in the fall of 1936. John graduated from Harvard in 1940, with a degree in policy-making Science. He then entered Stanford University in California. firearm there he studied Economics and tried his hand at writing. During this time, the fight was raging in Europe. John resolute to enlist in the Navy on September 22, 1941. He served four age and was ischarged when the war ended in 1945.At 28 eld of age, he was purport for a successful career as a newspaperman. His father began pu shing him towards other career Politics He believed that since Johns one-time(a) brother was dead, that it was his responsibility to run On January 3, 1947, John took the oath of office as a US Congressman. Later, in 1952, Kennedy contumacious to run for United States Senate. In 1953. Kennedy dogged to marry and wed Jacqueline Lee Bouvier. He was 36 and she was honest 24 when they were unify in a Roman Catholic ceremony. Later that year, John began suffering flagitious back down pain.In 1955, he underwent mathematical process to repair a spinal injury. tour recuperating, he wrote a book called, profile in Courage The book was just about Ameri discharge Political leaders who defied the publics impression to vote according to their consciences. For this work, he legitimate the Pulitzer Prize. He then returned to his political career. Although John barely lost the Democratic vice-presidential nomination in 1956, his overwhelming re-election as Senator in 1958 helped him towards his goal of becoming a hot seatial Candidate. In 1960 John Fitzgerald Kennedy became President of the United States.At 43 historic period of age, he was the youngest man to ever appreciation this title. On November 22, 1963 John was 46 years old and just ending his leash year as President. He was just planning his campaign to run for a second term as President. On this date, John and his wife, Jackie, flew to Texas to take part in his political tour. After there arrival, they got into the back of an open limousine with Texas Governor, John B. Connally and his wife. near 1230 Mrs. Connally remarked, you certainly cant say that the people f Dallas havent given you a nice welcome, as people run along up everywhere.Before Kennedy could respond, a surmisal was fired. From a sixth-floor window. a sudden run shot rang out, fatally wounding the president, a second shot hit the Governor, and a third shot struck Kennedy in the back of the head, causing his death. At one p. m. , that same day, reporters rushed from the hospital to gap the horrible news. As a dupe of assassination the President of the United States was dead. The on the whole country mourned the death of J. F. K. Those who knew him or knew of him depart forever remember this wonderful man.

Causes of the American Revolution Essay

The American Revolution began in 1755 as an more open conflict between the thirteen colonies and Great Britain. The Treaty of Paris had ended that war in 1783, giving the colonies their own independence. There what are many factors contributing to the start of the Revolution, great but the war began as the way The Great Britain treated the other colonies versus the way the colonies felt they should be treated. good For example, the French and Indian War, Salutary Neglect, the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, smuggling, etc.For the african American Revolution came to pass, soon whats perhaps the very well-known of the reasons.They intentionally broke a common law to showcase the unjustness of said law. Also, the colonists used petitions and mass rallies to demonstrate their resolve for change within the law. The english colonists wanted westward expansion, which Parliament was limiting. The only only way to continue expanding at the current rate would mean leave taking the land.Many peop le dont know the root of the American Revolution.

During this war, England lost a lot of much money and felt that the Americans should pay good for the â€Å"protection† they gave us. This was also solidified America as America. Benjamin Franklin published a cartoon of a rattlesnake representing the colonies.The prepositional phrase â€Å"join or die† was added, sending a clear signal how that this was a new nation in the â€Å"New World.The second third motive that caused the French revolution was because of how this situation within the nation.According to the law of the days, trade between inter American colonists and other nations were very restricted. Colonists were only allowed to free trade with England, Scotland, and Ireland. Salutary benign Neglect allowed Great Britain to turn a blind right eye to illegal trade activities with other countries, which were difficult wired and expensive to enforce. As stated by Sir Robert Walpole, â€Å"If no restrictions were placed on the colonies, they would flourish. 02-03-2016, communism revolution searched unlooked for the sources for its knight article example.

These taxes only affected a certain part of the population, but the affected merchants were very vocal. This was one of the first instances in which colonists wanted to say how much they were taxed. how This act, and the Currency Act, set the early stage for the revolt of the Stamp Act. The Stamp last Act was passed by the British Parliament on 1765.They forget about an general approaching deadline and frequently lead active lives.The frustration what was now to take the form of rebellion. The previous foreign Molasses Act, Navigation Acts, and Sugar first Act suddenly were seen as a prelude to this first final blow. During the revolution, the Declaration of Independence served as a motivational original document for the revolutionaries. King George III dismissed it, and it carried no political patch.Even the pupils may great need some help and when theres something its absolutely normal to ask essay assistance you cant handle.

Citizens, including women and slaves, plunged into the last War under the command of General Washington. In the end, the inter American Revolution grew out of their restrictions placed upon their american colonies by the British. The treaty signed in Paris on late September 3rd, 1783 brings the American Revolution to its successful conclusion. The many causes of the American Revolution were both economical and political.The king wasnt able to make any monetary reforms.Colonies formed Committees of Correspondence to update the advancement of resistance.As an example, they werent supposed to make anything.

The American Colonies suffered economically as a direct result of disturbance of commerce on account of the Worldwide temperament of the Seven few Years War.The political discontent causing the French revolution how was among the critical aspects influencing the riot.You should have your reasons, and how our principal concern is that you find yourself food getting an excellent grade.The British government realized it would be hard to maintain a settlement in Virginia or to get any sort of investment interest.

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