Minimising Disruption Essay

Strategies for Minimising Disruption Through Inappropriate Behaviour Different behaviours require different levels of intervention, it is more effective to manage inappropriate behaviour when it is first noticed or at its lowest level and the type of intervention used should be determined by the intensity, frequency and duration of the behaviour displayed. It is important not to try to befriend students or gain their approval as this will make behaviour management very difficult as they will think you are trying to win them over. You should establish ground rules and boundaries as soon as possible, these should be stuck to, students need to know where they stand. Do not make empty threats as this threatens the security of students, therefore encouraging inappropriate behaviour. It is important to talk to students and distraction often works to bring them back on to the task in hand, a warning about what will happen if they continue with the behaviour, if appropriate a reminder of the rewards for positive behaviour will stop the inappropriate actions straight away. How do These Strategies Relate to the School’s Policy? In the school’s behaviour policy we use the rule of ‘3 strikes then out’, this rule is not exhaustive and it depends on the extremity of the behaviour displayed. A student may be moved seats and asked to step outside the classroom before they are removed from the room and sent to the sanctions room. Our policy is displayed in each classroom and inside each student’s planner so that they are all clear about what is expected from them with regards to inappropriate behaviour.

Strategic Development of Management Accountant’s Role

Strategic Development on Management Accountant’s Role: The Impact on Costing and Budgeting Introduction The company’s existent state of affairs has alerted the demand for alteration and invention in the direction technics employed. Therefore, to assist inform future strategic determinations, a procedure of research and development has been initiated in order to reexamine current patterns and assess new techniques. This study addresses how the direction accounting ( MA ) function has changed within strategic determination doing context every bit good as how the usage of modern-day attacks to bing and budgeting can practically impact companies public presentation taking into history strategic direction. The altering function of MA within the context of strategic determination devising The direction comptrollers ( MA’s ) function has been traveling through alterations, consisting a diminution in the ‘scorekeeping’ function and, a corresponding addition in ‘business-consultancy’ functions ( Hopper and Scapens et al. , 2007 ) . It shows a alteration from a function as inactive manufacturers of fiscal information, to a more proactive function including active engagement in determination devising and a focal point on a broader set of information than merely entirely fiscal. Therefore, the MA’s function is altering from an administrative degree to the strategic one, i.e. from â€Å"bean counters† to â€Å"business partners† ( Paulsson, 2012 ) . Other faculty members support the altering function of MA, such as Burns and Baldvinsdottir ( 2007 ) who mention globalisation, displacements in engineering, accounting dirts, and corporate tendencies ; while Pierce and O’Dea ( 2003 ) supply a list of factors that inclu de, the grade of decentalisation of the accounting map, development of describing systems, corporate civilization, and debut of new MA tools. However, it is argued that MA’s function had expanded instead than changed ( Burns and Baldvinsdottir, 2005 ) . In fact, it is of import to retrieve the nucleus values of traditional accounting have ne'er truly disappeared ( Baldvinsdottir et al. , 2009 ) . The addition in competition and the outgrowth of more client focused markets have besides driven a alteration in MA function ( Cooper and Dart, 2009 ) . As a consequence, a downswing in gross revenues and an addition in costs could be partly due to non accommodating to those alterations fast plenty. A determination based on traditional accomplishments would non help directors in doing better strategic determinations and accordingly non viing with rivals who seem to hold developed their function. The fact that traditional MA accomplishments have merged with new 1s will add the concerns strategic success in the fast moving concern epoch ( Jarvenpaa, 2007 ) . The handiness of user friendly and analytical package has freed up infinite for the MA’s to execute more sophisticated undertakings such as strategic determination devising and develop the necessary ‘hard skills’ needed, which means going an analyst and concern spouse compared to a simple figure cruncher ( Pauls son, 2012 ) . With MA heading towards a ‘business partner’ type function ( Vaivio, 2006 ) , it has become common for direction comptrollers to be involved in countries such as strategic determination devising ( Sunarni, 2013 ) . Similarly, it is thought that by germinating the traditional function of merely supplying internal information to unifying this with external information, direction comptrollers can help directors more efficaciously when doing a strategic determination for the company ( Kidane, 2012 ) . Once a strategic determination has been made, a specific direction tool can be used to help in doing the tactical determination. In order to heighten the future economic value of the company ( Kaplan and Norton, 1996 ) the balanced scorecard ( BSC ) attack should be used, as it measures public presentation through strategic aims, which so drives betterment in merchandises and market development ( Kaplan and Norton, 1993 ) . It besides will let the company to utilize peculiar scheme to steer determinations at all degrees through communicating, and it can be used to accomplish single and company marks ( Kaplan and Norton, 1996 ) . The practical impact of modern-day attacks to bing and budgeting As a response to the challenges over environmental and internal procedure alterations within MA function, new techniques and constructs have been adopted. Those have helped MA’s to bring forth more elaborate and accurate methods, so that misdirecting signals associated with traditional methods were avoided ( Cooper and Dart, 2009 ) . However, a job associated with the debut of new attacks is that they are significantly more dearly-won to implement and run compared to traditional attacks as staff utilizing them will necessitate advanced preparation and new package will be required ; therefore, being avoided by little administrations ( Hansen et al. , 2009 ) . Although there are high costs associated with these attacks many houses have adopted these new attacks, proposing that the benefits overweigh the operating costs ( Hansen et al. , 2009 ) . An illustration of a modern-day budgeting attack would be Zero-based budgeting ( ZBB ) , which was introduced to get the better of restrictions of incremental budgeting ( Drury, 2012 ) . ZBB allows companies to prioritise and choose plans and degrees of attempt which best meet its aims ; ensuing in an intensive direction engagement in the budgeting procedure, coercing them to research options in budgetary determinations doing ( Dean and Cowen, 1979 ) . In fact, ZBB can advance efficiency as directors need to warrant their undertakings, promoting them to seek for the most efficient every bit good as cost-efficient solutions ( Rasmussen, 2003 ) . It is besides found to restrict the growing of disbursals in the company, unlike those who use traditional attacks, and to arouse the engagement of more line directors in the budget procedure ( Dean and Cowen, 1979 ) . Similarly, the company would profit by following throughput accounting as it is a step of public presentation ( Gregory et al. , 1995 ) and is a time-based costing technique which applies the theory of restraints ( Drury, 2012 ) . It would maximize the company’s ends as the technique focuses on the companies restraints ( Dean and Sharfman, 1996 ) by hiking net incomes sustainably and run intoing the company’s strategic aims ( Gregory et al. , 1995 ) . It encourages determination devising to be communicated on an organizational footing advancing a positive alteration within the administrations civilization. Although the company, by utilizing this technique, can accomplish short term net income maximization ( Dean and Sharfman, 1996 ) with a ‘short term determination horizon’ , it would non profit in the long term because long term net incomes are non sustained ( Robinson, 1990 ) . Activity based costing ( ABC ) was developed in order to battle the restrictions that the traditional technique of soaking up bing carried. This new technique will help the company in bettering strategic determination procedure by bring forthing elaborate and accurate information as it uses a greater figure of cost Centres and different types of cost drivers ; guaranting that misdirecting signals associated with traditional costing methods are avoided ( Drury, 2012 ) .Impacting the firm’s profitableness as it eliminates costs and losingss linked to unprofitable merchandises, services and clients that fail to heighten the worthiness of the house ( Drury, 2012 ) .According to Kennedy and Afflek-Graves ( 2001 ) , it provides a good footing for future hard currency flow projections, which in bend aid houses to take investings in value-added activities and increase stockholders value. Harmonizing to Chea ( 2011 ) , ABC recognises the relationships each driver has with a merchandise or activity ; therefore, bettering merchandise cost truth. This gives the direction of an administration a clear image on chances to cut down costs ( Kaplan and Norton, 2001 ) . ABC has been shown to better firms’ public presentation in market and accounting related steps as it gives directors a better apprehension of cost/resource direction ( Lambert and Sponen, 2011 ) . A survey conducted on UK houses found that the houses utilizing ABC had shown to surpass matched non-ABC houses by 27 % and that ABC adds value to houses through better cost controls and plus use ( Kennedy and Afflek-Graves, 2001 ) . It provides the company with critical information about which services make demands on which duty Centres and functional sections, assisting to place which services add value to the company ( Jabbour, 2009 ) . However, it has been reported that ABC still does incorporate major subje ctive allotments which restricts the truth of it cost information ( Cooper and Kaplan, 1992 ) . Kennedy and Afflek-Graves stated that â€Å"the end of ABC is to increase net incomes, non to obtain more accurate costs† ( 2001 ) . The development of ABB has shown to be an betterment from traditional methods by puting more realistic budgets and besides, improved designation of resource demands. It has besides helped to increase the accent and truth of budget end products ( Huynh et al. , 2003 ) . ABB has shown to be more effectual in pull offing costs as it presents a model which allows a company to calculate out the sum of resources that are required to accomplish the budgeted degree of activity ( Huynh et al. , 2013 ) . This allows them to do appropriate accommodations during the budget scene stage ( Drury, 2012 ) .This will assist the company make up one's mind what activities should be undertaken in order to run into budgeted production and gross revenues volume. ABB provides critical information in greater item which will assist steer direction comptrollers make right determinations on how much resources should be allocated to each activity, i.e. a more precise manner to project future costs ( Atkinson et al. , 2008 ) . Once this method has been adopted the company will be able to interpret its vision into scheme with determinable marks in order to make value, which includes disbursals, net income borders and productiveness addition, every bit good as cost of capital decreases ( Huynh et al. , 2013 ) . Therefore, it can be used for companies’ efficiency and effectiveness rating. However, it merely accentuate cost management’ control and be aftering intent ( Blocher et al. , 2005 ) . When a company uses ABC and ABB at the same time it normally develops an activity based operational method i.e. activity based direction ( ABM ) , which consequences on an homogenous working environment ; therefore, easing communicating and helping as an effectual theoretical account for strategic decision-making ( Huynh et al. , 2013 ) . By implementing ABM the company is utilizing a strategic cost direction system looking at cost and procedure dimensions for cost decrease ( Blocher et al. , 2005 ) . The use of ABM additions company’s profitableness and fight every bit good as improves operational control because it distinguish value-added from non-value added costs by analyzing managers’ undertaken actions on an activity based base ( Huynh et al. , 2013 ) . Decision Having exposed MA’s to new countries, specifically in the country of concern direction, is doing their function more proactive when it comes to determination devising. Therefore, words like concern and spouse are cardinal as directors and MA’s are going bonded together to do a stronger squad and heighten strategic determination devising. Strategic direction is an of import country which should be developed within this fabrication company ; therefore, BSC should be implemented as it would give the company a strategic acquisition capacity, through roll uping feedback and proving the company’s scheme before doing determinations. It is clear that the debut of modern-day attacks to bing and budgeting have significantly impacted organisations operations, particularly on the function of MA’s within context of strategic determination devising. If the company stop up by utilizing ABC system for product’ costing, it should besides build an activity based budgeting and direction for efficiency intent, as a strategic determination. Therefore, the acceptance of an activity based direction line would give directors a clear position of the companies’ consequences taking directors to run control and do strategic determinations. Contemplation This whole group work was a challenge. Everything started when we are non in our original assigned groups and we end up together after a strategic move by coachs to apportion pupils by attending. We started working under force per unit area ; we were two hebdomads behind other groups and have non worked together antecedently made it even more hard as we did non cognize how to move with each other. When get downing we agreed to work in every point increasingly together, which was decidedly non a reasonable determination as we were already late. All that issues were originating because we wanted to b democratic and allow everyone hold equal authorization in the group, which was taking to inefficiency in organisational degree, task assignment degree and deadline conformity degree. We finally noticed that, ensuing on one of the member self-entitled herself as the leader and started delegating undertakings and making deadlines. We managed to complete the work but it would be better if we had worked determined place from the started. We have learned that leading is a cardinal point for teamwork. Mentions Atkinson, A. , Kaplan, R. , Matsumura, E. and Young ( 2008 )Management AccountingPeking: Tsinghua University Press. Baldvinsdottir, G. , Burns, J. , Norreklit, k. and Scapens, R. ( 2009 ) The direction accountant’s function,Fiscal Management( July/August ) . pp. 34–35. Blocher, E. , Chen, K. , Cokins, G. and Lin, T. ( 2005 )Cost Management: A Strategic Emphasis. 3rdEd. McGraw-Hill. New York. Nathan birnbaums, J. and Baldvinsdottir, G. ( 2005 ) An institutional position of accountant’s new functions: the interplay, of contradictions and practice.The European Accounting Review. 14, ( 4 ) . pp. 725–58. Nathan birnbaums, J. and Baldvinsdottir, G. ( 2007 ) The altering function of direction comptrollers, in T. Hopper, D. Northcott and R.W. Scapens,Issues in Management Accounting3rd ed. , Pearson Education, Harlow. Chea, A. ( 2011 ) Activity-based bing system in the service sector: A strategic attack for heightening managerial determination devising and fight.International Journal of Business and Management[ online ] . 6 ( 11 ) , pp. 3-10. [ Accessed 12 March 2014 ] . Cooper, P. and Dart, E. ( 2009 ) Change in the direction accountant’s function: drivers and diverseness. School of Management. University of Bath. Working Paper Series. Dean, B. and Cowen, S. ( 1979 ) The usage of zero-base budgeting in industry: some observations ‘ .Interfaces. 9, ( 4 ) , pp. 55-60. [ Accessed 1 Mar 2014 ] . Dean, J. and Sharfman, M. ( 1996 ) Does determination procedure affair? A survey of strategic decision- doing effectivity.Academy of Management Journal[ online ] . 39, ( 2 ) , pp.368-396. [ Accessed 2 March 2014 ] . Drury, C. ( 2012 ) Management and cost accounting.8Thursdayerectile dysfunction. Andover: Cengage Learning. Gregory, M. and Neely, A. and Platts, K. ( 1995 ) Performance measuring system design.International Journal of Operations and Production Management[ online ] . 15 ( 4 ) , pp. 80-116. [ Accessed 3 March 2014 ] . Hansen, D. and Mowen, M. ( 2003 ) Cost direction: accounting and control. Peking University Press. Hansen, D. , Mowen, M. and Guan, L. ( 2009 ) Cost direction: accounting and control. 6th erectile dysfunction. United States of America: Cengage Learning. Hopper, T. , Scapens, R. and Northcott, D. ( 2007 )Issues in Management Accounting. Harlean carpenter: Financial Times Prentice Hall. Huynh, T. , Gong, G. and Huynh, H. ( 2013 ) Integration of activity-based budgeting and activity-based direction.International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences.1, ( 4 ) , pp. 181-187. Jabbour, M. ( 2009 ) The Impact Activity-based Costing as a Management Accounting Technique on Insurance Companies ‘ Performance. [ on-line ] . [ Accessed 10 March 2014 ] . Jarvenpaa, M. ( 2007 ) Making concern spouses: A instance survey on how direction accounting civilization has changed,European Accounting Review. 16, ( 1 ) , pp 99–142. Kaplan, R. and Norton, D. ( 1993 )Puting the Balanced Scorecard to Work[ online ] . Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing. [ Accessed 13 February 2014 ] . Kaplan, R. and Norton, D. ( 1996 )Using the Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management System[ online ] . Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing. [ Accessed 21 February 2014 ] . Kaplan, R. and Norton, D. ( 1996 ) The Balanced Scorecard: Translating Strategy Into Action [ online ] . Boston, Mass: Harvard Business School Press. [ Accessed 5 March 2014 ] . Kaplan, R.K. and Norton, D.N. ( 2001 )The Strategy-Focused Organization: How Balanced Scorecard Companies Thrive in the New Business Environment[ online ] . United States of America: Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. [ Accessed 12 March 2014 ] . Kennedy, T.K. and Afflek-Graves, J.A. ( 2001 ) The impact of activity-based bing techniques on house public presentation.Journal of Management Accounting Research[ online ] . 13, pp. 19-45. [ Accessed 10 March 2014 ] . Kidane, F. ( 2012 ) Decision Making and the Role of Management Accounting Function – A Review of Empirical Literature. Radix International Journal of Banking, Finance and Accounting. 1, ( 4 ) . Lambert, C. and Sponen, S. ( 2011 ) Roles, authorization and engagement of the direction accounting map: A Multiple Case-Study Perspective. The European Accounting Review. Neely, A.N. , Bourne, M.B. and Adams, C.A. ( 2003 ) Better budgeting or beyond budegting? .Measuring Business Excellence[ online ] . 7 ( 3 ) , pp. 22-28. [ Accessed 10 March 2014 ] . Paulsson, G. ( 2012 ) The function of direction comptrollers in new public direction.Financial Accountability & A ; Management.28, ( 4 ) , pp. 378 — 394. Pierce, B. and O’Dea, T. ( 2003 ) Management accounting information and the demands of managers-Perceptions of directors and comptrollers compared.The British Accounting Review.35, ( 4 ) , pp. 257-290. Rasmussen, N. ( 2003 )Procedure betterment for effectual budgeting and fiscal coverage. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley. Robinson, M. ( 1990 ) Contribution border analysis: No longer relevant/ strategic cost direction: The new paradigm.Journal of Management Accounting Research 2[ online ] . 9 ( 4 ) , pp. 1-32. [ Accessed 4 March 2014 ] . Sunarni, C. ( 2013 ) Management Accounting Practices and the Role of Management Accountant: Evidence from fabricating Companies throughout Yogyakarta, Indonesia.Review of Integrative Business and Economics Research.2, ( 2 ) , pp. 616-626. Vaivio, J. ( 2006 ) â€Å"The Business Controller, Non-Financial Measurement and Tacit Knowledge† .The Finnish Journal of Business Economics. 2, pp.194-212.

Integrated Marketing Communications Plan

INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS PLAN A. ADVERTISING Advertising refers to the paid promotion of goods and services through a sponsoring organization or company. While marketing has the objective to choose markets that have the capacity to purchase a product, Â  advertising, on the other hand, is the paid communication through which relevant information about the product is conveyed to potential consumers (2001). In a general sense, the author plans to use advertising in order to be able to impart to interested Christian women aged 13-45 the availability of slots in the Virtuous Woman Pageant.In a way, advertising will also be able to provide critical information regarding the Virtuous Woman Pageant. The author believes that when the advertising campaign for the Virtuous Woman Pageant is achieved effectively, this can lead to an increased interest for Christian women to join the pageant. There are commonly three main objectives of advertisements: (1) conveying relevant informatio n regarding a particular product or service; (2) persuading consumers to purchase the advertised product; and, (3) keep the company under the watchful eyes of the public (2002).But in this particular case, the author plans to mix the elements of all three objectives. Since the Virtuous Woman Pageant is a relatively new event, then it must be supported with informative and persuasive ads. Evaluation of Advertising 1) Advantages The existence of Internet and the continued revolution in the world of Information Technology are certainly positive signs for the successful advertising campaign for the Virtuous Woman Pageant. For instance, the author plans to use Popup ads and email ads as a form of online advertisement. ) Disadvantages In recent years, the public opinion regarding advertising has become very negative. They view it as a medium that only promotes lies. This is of course contrary to the purpose of advertisements to encourage the target market to patronize a particular product or service. Nowadays, most advertisements are either perceived as merely stating opinions or portraying a product or service in a totally distorted idea away from reality. It is his alarming situation regarding the true objectives of advertising that could lead to an increase in the responsibilities that the author and the organizers of the Virtuous Woman Pageant would face. B. PUBLICITY Publicity is a term that is closely related to public relations. While public relations refers to the proper management of all means of communication among the companies and the people involved, publicity, on the other hand, is the careful management of a product or service’s means of communication between the company and the general public. Therefore, it is basically an informative process.However, its main objective is the promotion of products and services being offered by a company. Thus, a publicity plan is being made along the process in order to obtain excellent press coverage for the company’s products (2003). The author and the organizers plan to issue a press release regarding the launching of the Virtuous Woman Pageant, but other methods including Internet releases are in the author’s options. However, in order for these tools and techniques to be effectively utilized by the media, they must be able to generate a great interest from the public.For this to happen, the author and the organizers of the Virtuous Woman Pageant plans to manipulate the press release in order to be a perfect match to the Christian women. The author believes that the most successful publicity releases are often related to topics that the general public can easily relate to. Evaluation of Publicity 1) Advantages The advantages of publicity include having low costs, and its credibility. New technologies such as web cameras and convergence are gradually changing the cost-structure. ) Disadvantages The disadvantages include the lack of control over how the releases will be used, and the accumulation of frustration regarding the low percentage of releases that are being accepted by the media. C. PERSONAL SELLING Sales are an important part of any commercial transaction. The most common approach to personal selling pertains to a systematic process of continuous yet measurable methods in which the person selling describes his offered products or services in such a way that the buyer will be able to visualize ow to benefit from the offered products or services in an economic way. Selling is basically a part of the implementation procedures of marketing. It often forms a particular grouping within a corporate structure, employing independent specialist operatives known as salesmen (2003). The continued interrogation in order to understand a consumer’s goal as well as the establishment of a set of feasible solutions by conveying the necessary information that convinces a buyer to achieve his goal at a reasonable cost is the main responsibility of the sales person.On the other hand, the main objective of professional sales is to be able to know the needs and satisfy the wants of consumers effectively, and therefore convert possible customers into actual and reliable ones (2002). Evaluation of Personal Selling 1) Advantages Some of the distinct advantages that the author sees in the use of personal selling as an IMC tool for the Virtuous Woman Pageant include the immediate access to feedback, the persuasive nature of the endeavor, the option of choosing a target audience for the sales person, and its capability to give detailed information. ) Disadvantages Personal selling may have the tendency to become extremely expensive per exposure, and the gathered information may be different among the sales persons involved. It is a well-known fact that the main objective of selling is to help a consumer achieve his / her goals in a reasonable way. However, this is not always the case. For instance, Christian women can easily be persuaded by outside factors to join the Virtuous Woman Pageant that normally does not have any interest to them.Some sales people are being commanded by their mother companies to sell to consumers odd products that they don't necessarily need. This anomalous behavior is being supported by incentives of sales personnel to increase their total number of sales, incentives from the companies of service providers to sales personnel to sell their products where other similar products offered by competitors are offered, and the incentive to sell a consumer a product that is in need of being wiped out.CONCLUSION The results of the analysis carried out on the proposed IMC tools that would be used for the Virtuous Woman Pageant indicated very significant effects, even amidst the threats of unrest. Therefore, we could conclude that the IMC tools could still be expected to contribute to the successful launching of the Virtuous Woman Pageant. The review of the capabilities and resources of the IMC tools revealed very little inconsistencies regarding the overall strategies.This is coherent with the traditional inside-out approach. However, the need to reconcile both the inside-out and outside-in approaches becomes imperative now for the author and the organizers of the Virtuous Woman Pageant. The analysis among the environment as well as the capabilities of the IMC tools revealed certain gaps, most of which are biased towards the environment.However, these gaps paved the way towards determining a number of recommended strategic options to secure the competitiveness of the IMC tools. Also, the author and the organizers of the Virtuous Woman Pageant has to find a balance between adherence to internal forces within the management and to the changing forces of the environment in order to implement such strategic options Read more: http://ivythesis. typepad. com/term_paper_topics/2009/11/integrated-marketing-communications-plan. html#ixzz29wJi0bUf

Professional Values for the BSN Student Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Professional Values for the BSN Student - Essay Example The empathetic attitude and understanding of cross cultural values greatly facilitate in overcoming the language barriers. I therefore, strive to understand my patient’s cultural paradigms and learn to communicate in a manner that would promote mutual trust. According to Raz (1986), personal autonomy means that the person ‘holds the free choice of goals and relations as an essential ingredient of individual well-being’. Autonomy empowers a person with informed choices instilling self confidence in one’s ability to make independent decisions about themselves and their welfare. Hence, an empowered nurse has more options and freedom to transform those choices into concrete action plans for the betterment of self and the patients at large. I am person who is highly motivated towards social issues which need to be reformed to suit the demands of the changing times. I firmly believe that each person, must be empowered so that they are better equipped to make independent choices. Carter says that one should be ‘acting on what you have discerned, even at personal cost’ (1996). I therefore, like to work with the proactive participation of the patients and if required, involve patient’s family in the rehabilitation process. Human dignity broadly recognizes that ‘inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world’ (EU charter). Nurses make sure that caring for human beings, cuts across class divide, status, race and culture. The core of nursing involves dedicated and ethically delivered care to the medically sick persons. I personally believe that the nursing professional helps to understand human relations at the critical juncture of human vulnerability. For me my patients are just human beings who need to be cared for. Through personal care, compassion and positive attitude, I try to facilitate their recovery by instilling optimism and

Final Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Final Leadership - Essay Example Charisma and value orientation are other necessary skills for the situation and can help to capture employees’ loyalty to the organization and its values. The ability to empower people, against odds, is another necessary leadership skill that the situation requires and would help the organization to retain its employees who would be willing to face the situation and emerge successful. Cobb characteristics of an enterprising person and a team builder correspond to the required skills (Daft, 2008). I would not promote such a person. My decision is based on the meaning and scope of leadership that defines a leader’s influence on people and not a leader who follows what people want. A person who pleases people will similarly not be able to influence changes that the people do not want and would therefore risk an organization’s interest that may conflict with people’s interest in times of crisis (Daft, 2008). A manager who is kind and concerned about employees has high probability of achieving top line and bottom line results simultaneously. This is because the two traits, as are identifiable with charismatic leadership that facilitates loyalty from people, and obedience to set instructions. The manager will therefore achieve such set objectives through the people’s loyalty and obedience to his directives (Daft, 2008). The research program was a team project and not a group project. This is because contrary to a group that works independently to achieve different objectives, a team works dependently to in pursuit of a common objective, and members of the project had a common objective and the departments relied on output from one another. The subgroups were also teams. The entire project was a cross functional team while the subgroups were functional teams (Daft, 2008). The group norms before the retreat identified individualism and superiority complex within each group. Independence that even culminated to communication barrier and inability to

Notes on Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Notes on Nursing - Essay Example Florence Nightingale addresses fundamental issues concerning personal cleanliness by looking at three major issues including poisoning by the skin, ventilation and skin cleanliness, steaming and rubbing the skin. Poisoning by the skin is a crucial ideology because sick people usually relieve themselves through the skin (Nightingale, 2010). A nurse should always understand that the excretion process leaves dirt and infectious particles on the body. As a result, it is necessary to practice high levels of hygiene. It is also important to note that the sick usually feel relieved after cleaning. Consequently, it appears that vital powers have been removed from the patient’s body that empowers them to go through life processes easily. One of the strategies that can be used during the cleaning process is removing dirt using hot water and soap (Nightingale, 2010). It is also important to wash the skin using a large amount of water. The water makes the skin softer. The first rule in the nursing field is keeping the air pure just like the external environment while reducing the chances of chills. It is important for a nurse to ensure that the source of the air is clean. For example, Nightingale indicates that people usually allow air into a patient’s room without thinking about its sources. For example, the air may be coming from other wards, environment next to a sewer or hallways (Nightingale, 2010). Nightingale indicates that with the availability of windows, patients in bed are likely to get fresh air. It is crucial to note that such fresh air do not cause colds. It is also important to limit dependence on fumigations and disinfectants in order to purify the air in a patient’s room. The disinfectants are already mixed with other chemicals that are unlikely to ventilate a patient’s room. It is also important to abolish slope pails in a patient’s room because they limit the chances of maintaining a

Is try and relate the problem of Internet privacy with the problem of Essay

Is try and relate the problem of Internet privacy with the problem of intellectual property - Essay Example Due to this violation of laws and rules governing intellectual property can easily be violated seeing that there are no measures to log information on the people flouting the laws. This is as seen in free file sharing websites where one may download and even upload copyrighted works from and to the internet respectively. Therefore, such websites do not appear to have any form of the privacy policy this are usually open to abuse by users and the general public, where intellectual property is plagiarized and used for personal and commercial gain at the expense of the original owner. This is due to lack of logging of user details or information in order to keep track of such users who violate intellectual property regulations blatantly, and with sheer disregard of ethical issues. Information from privacy policies is meant to ensure that the user of the internet has an idea of what he or she is doing and what information of a personal nature can or will be logged. For this reason piratin g or plagiarizing information from the internet is an easy as a website can easily be sued for violating a privacy policy that an internet user has agreed to; meaning that intellectual property is stolen under the guise of privacy policies over the internet. In addition, the privacy policies found on the internet only dictate the terms of usage of the website that one visits or the expected behaviour of the said websites. This means that the privacy policy has little to do with the intellectual property therein the said sites, or even its terms of usage. Instead, the terms of usage concerning intellectual properties are found in the copyright statement, which talks of how to legally intellectual property (Kinsella, 2011). Privacy policies are created to safeguard internet users from having their details collected and used for personal or commercial purposes by unscrupulous people. With this in mind, copyright laws are meant to take care of the needs of intellectual property where th ey define how certain aspects of intellectual property can or may be used. These two policies work together for the good of all parties involved in the usage of objects in question. However, with the rapid development in technology and new ways of violating policies governing intellectual property all thanks to discovery of new loopholes not covered in the conventional regulations (Castillo, 2011). This means that the two are facing similar challenges in application of updates to help prevent violations of privacy and copyright issues. This is as seen with the upcoming ways of stealing intellectual works over the internet, which was not originally covered in older books as compared to those that exist currently. On the internet privacy policy part there are similar changes in which new ways of collecting user information is discovered almost every day leading to new challenges in regulating the use of user information. The only positive side to the collection of information is on th en customization of content over the internet. All this is while intellectual property has no upside to infringement except possibly for its exposure to larger numbers of people if the content was used on a legal basis. This translates directly to that internet privacy policy and problems related to intellectual property face similar problems when it comes to the application of technology. There

Military training and indoctrination of children in palestinian Research Proposal

Military training and indoctrination of children in palestinian refugees camp in Lebanon - Research Proposal Example This has resulted in many underage children being drafted in the war without their wish as they are school going children. It is purported that the children especially of the Palestinian Refugee camps around the Lebanon have undergone military training and also have been indoctrinated and as such are participating in wars when they are very young. This research proposal, aims at exploring how the war has affected the children especially in the Palestinian Refugee camp and how the fact that children are recruited to fight is against the international criminal law. Internally, in the recent past the political violence has been very rampant in Lebanon. In 2007 September a parliamentarian who was very prominent, Antoine Ghanem and six others were killed in a car bomb that was part of a series of political assassination in Beirut and nobody claimed responsibility for the attack1. In another incident in 2007 was the fight between the government troops and the Fatah-al-Islam that was an armed group and they fought in the Nahr-al-Bared refugee camp for more than three months that ended when the army took control of the camp in September, 20072. The war itself around the refugee camp had resulted with more than 300 people including civilians’ dead. This and many other internal wars indicate the volatility of Lebanon as a country and the vulnerability of the country to be on the brink of war. In addition to the political violence there is a great polarization of the Lebanese society that revolves around the political parties that exist in the c ountry. The polarization is mostly divided along the religious and the communal line and it keeps on mounting (Byers 68). The democracy of the country is solely based on the delicate distribution of powers and institutions among the communities in Lebanon. This democracy is mostly very fragile with the cause being the parties keep on shifting their

Slavery in Early American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Slavery in Early American History - Essay Example Slavery was practiced in the North America at its climax for up to two centuries before legal issues and human rights fighters started the foundation of dissolving this vice. The vice started fading in the late 18th century, but continued to thrive in the Southern States of North America. Most slaves were found in areas that were active in cash crop agriculture and other areas that required hard manual labor such as industrial areas (Kolchin, 9). Needless to say, many evils happened during the extended period that slavery existed. This essay will discuss the supposed differences that led to the degradation of the blacks as slaves in English America. Terrors that were experienced in slave ships during their transportation and some of the evolutions in the slave ships will also be discussed. These will base their reference on two books: The White Man’s Burden by Winthrop D. Jordan and The Slave Ship, by Marcus Rediker. The black people underwent a lot of maltreatment as slaves d uring slavery, and in slave ships in the early American history. The major difference that formed the basis of every other difference the whites had in degrading the Africans was the skin color. This is according to the book, The White Man’s Burden, by Winthrop D. Jordan. The skin color of the Africans made the Whites believe that they were a radically unusual race. This drove to the belief that this peculiar race was then inferior and thus had no right to some of the rights that the Whites had access. Africans were, therefore, considered lesser than the White Men, and were subjected to play servitude to the perceived superior mankind, the White People. â€Å"By 1700, when Africans began flooding into English America, they were treated as somehow deserving a life and status radically different from English and other European settlers† (Winthrop, 26). According to Jordan, an initial

The future of intrusion prevention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The future of intrusion prevention - Essay Example The reasons for conducting a risk assessment are (Neumann, 1995; Smith, 1993; Reid and Floyd, 2001; Katzke, 1988; Hancock, 1998; Brewer, 2000): new threats, new technology, new laws and new available safeguards. The issue taken for the risk analysis and threat assessment was the students' violent behaviour at school. The aim of the assessment was to identify the next rebel by developing the profile of a typical rebel. To achieve this, a four spiked model of assessment was designed. This model provides a framework for evaluating a student in order to determine if he or she has the motivation, means, and intent to carry out a proclaimed threat. The assessment is based on the sum of the circumstances known about the student in four major areas. Spike 1 (Personality of the student): Evidence to a student's personality can come from observing behavior when the student expresses characteristics like, managing with conflicts, disappointments, failures, insults, or other stresses encountered in everyday life, anger, frustration, disappointment, humiliation, sadness, or similar feelings. Spike 1 (Personality of student): There may be involuntary signs shown by the student about his inclination to violence in his behavior, thoughts or attitudes. The student might often show out frustration and tries to alienate. There is a collection of acts of "injustice" done against him registered in his mind. The student often shows signs of depression such as lethargy, physical fatigue or lack of interest towards any activity performed. He exhibits selfishness and has self-centred thoughts with great inclination towards entertainment filled with violence. He behaves inhumane and has low tolerance levels. Spike 2 (Family Background): The student might have a damaged relationship with parents. He might have easy access to weapons at home, unlimited non-monitored access to the media and internet. Spike 3 (Academic History): The student might have a low tolerance for punishments and bullying at school. He might be with a school having fixed culture with unsupervised computer access. There might little trust with the teachers. Spike 4 (Social History): The student might have companions who have great inclination to violent activities. He might have unlimited access to internet, computer and media. The knowledge of a student and his attitude towards the use of drugs and alcohol too play a vital role. The Intervention Process An effective intervention process by the school would be to manage the threat effectively by taking the following measures: 1. Inform the students and parents of the school policies 2. Appoint a Co-Ordinator for threat assessment 3. Enforcement of law in three levels - low, medium and high - while the intervention at low level would involve interview with the student and parents; the intervention

Social Networks Essay Example for Free

Social Networks Essay Should businesses be able to use Facebook and Twitter searches to determine whether a person is eligible for employment? There are a lot of mixed feelings about this topic, but a lot more companies are doing performing searches on potential candidates for employment eligibility. I think that employers should use social media in conjunction with hiring an individual. Many jobs today are related to the service industry and I feel that some people just do not qualify for jobs in this industry. More employers today are using Facebook and Twitter searches for determination on if a person is eligible for employment, and for retention of a current employee. In 2010 nearly 22% of employers were checking Facebook profiles when hiring a person to see if they were drinking too much, doing drugs or talking bad about a former employer (Oleniczak, Pike, 2010, P13). So some people argue that it is violating privacy, which has made this questionable (Oleniczak, Pike, 2010, P14). Well the Federal Government enacted some laws that could be interpreted as a questionable action (Oleniczak, Pike, 2010, P14). One of these states â€Å"Personal information shall not be collected by a collector for the inclusion in a record or in a generally available publication unless: (a) The information is collected for a purpose the is a lawful purpose directly related to a function or activity of the collector and, (b) The collection of the information is necessary for or directly related to that purpose (Oleniczak, Pike, 2010, P14). Well under the first principle an employee could argue that Facebook is personal and considered what they do outside of work, and under reference b, a potential employee could argue that their privacy was invaded and they candidate was not informed that their Facebook profile would be investigated (Oleniczak, Pike, 2010, P14). There have been many lawsuits brought against employers that use Facebook as part of their hiring process, which is starting to be a turn off to employers, because this could hurt them financially (Olencizak, Pike, 2010, P14). Although the laws do protect us, but employers can still use some of the information in their decision (Elzwig, Peeples, 2009, P9). Employers are basically using the information to apply it towards â€Å"good business† (Elzwig, Peeples, 2009, P9). Although employers must take certain steps first before applying their search towards the candidate, which are: * Check social networking sites before making employment decisions in order to gain important information * Verify the accuracy of the information * Recognize the actual purpose of the site Consider the age of the employee or potential employee Develop clear policies in regards to the using social networking * Post what the potential use of the information that is gathered on job postings and the application * Have employees and candidates sign a consent form prior to accessing the information * Check state laws and statutes for privacy (Elzwig, Peeples, 2009, P9) There are a lot of mixed feelings on whether an employer sho uld use social networks as a hiring tool. Two professionals weighed in on an interview in 2008 about this topic, Greg Fish and Timothy Lee. Greg fish stated: â€Å"Social Networking profiles are not resumes and companies should not use them when determining if an applicant should be hired† (Castone. 2008). He further stated, â€Å"When companies use these profiles to find not only a professional but also an ideological match for a job, they’re misleading themselves and building ill will with talented prospective employees, who might decline to apply for a job for fear of a comment about China on their blog makes their persona non-grata† (Castone. 2008). Timothy Lee argues that there are plenty of reasons why employers need to look at social networks (Castone. 2008). He states, â€Å"Employees in sales public relations and customer service function as representatives for the companies they work for, so employers have a legitimate interest in ensuring potential workers won’t embarrass the company† (Castone. 2008). â€Å"People shouldn’t fear that an employer will get a hold of their profile, but instead expect it and use it to their advantage,† Lee states (Castone. 008). What I feel the Timothy Lee is trying to get at by using our social network profiles to our advantage is basically use it to market yourself in the public view so that you can land that good job, just make sure you keep it clean and neat. I agree with Timothy Lee in his statement that we should not fear that an employer will get a hold of our profiles. Furthermore, I think we should expect it, and accept that an employer is looking at our p rofiles. We should use proper etiquette when setting up our profiles and not post anything negative about previous employers, or even post provocative photos. The one thing that I hate the most about going into Wal-Mart, is when I get a rude associate helping me or cashing me out. Wal-Mart does not screen their employees before hiring, I know because I used to work for the company. In conclusion, as time goes on more companies are going to be weighing in on using social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace as a tool for their hiring process. Although companies should make that as a notable item to potential candidates in the interview giving them a heads up into the fact their company does run a background check and includes a search on social networks. More companies are going to weigh in on this concept and we should just accept the fact that an employer is going to use our profile as a reference. Especially in the service industry such as customer service, collections, sales, or anything that has to do with you being the front or face of the company, should mainly be focusing on this issue.

Criteria for a good short story Essay Example for Free

Criteria for a good short story Essay Does The Adventure of the Speckled Band meet your criteria for a good short story?  A short story is a work of fiction shorter than a novel or novelette, and is one of the oldest forms of literature. Some of the most famous short stories are The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th Century. However, before the 1800s short stories did not get much respect, and were seen as a poor relation of the novel. At around 1835, Edgar Allen Poe became the first writer to make the short story a distinct literary form. After this the popularity of this form of literature grew in popularity due to short stories being published in magazines and journals, becoming widely available. The Adventure of the Speckled Band was written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1892. It was published as part of a book of twelve short stories, all in the crime genre. Conan Doyle was and still is famous for his crime stories involving the great detective, Sherlock Holmes. Before taking up professional writing, Conan Doyle was a doctor. The first of the Sherlock Holmes stories was A Study in Scarlet and was published in 1887. The crime story genre was very popular in the 19th century, and many established writers wrote stories of this type. For example, Charles Dickens last, unfinished novel was The Mystery of Edwin Drood. This was a murder mystery and so shows how popular the genre had become. For any short story to be successful, especially the crime genre, the correct authorial perspective must be chosen. In The Adventure of the Speckled Band the perspective is that of Dr Watson, looking back over a previous case. I think that this is effective because the reader is able to relate to Watson, as he is following Sherlock Holmes. Watson also learns of the clues at the same times as the reader, but doesnt get an explanation. This creates tension and excitement and so the reader will read on to find out. For example, the reader knew there was a dummy bell rope, but it wasnt until Holmes explained it that we found out its actual use. If the narrative perspective had of been from Sherlock Holmes point of view, there would be no tension as he worked out the clues very quickly. We know the when Holmes saw the bell rope was a dummy, it instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and coming to the bed. Another option Conan Doyle could have chosen would be to have an omniscient narrator, who would know everything going on and everyones feelings. This, also, would have reduced the tension and atmosphere in the story. The plot of The Adventure of the Speckled Band is that of a typical nineteenth Century crime story. A young woman, Helen Stoner, comes to see Sherlock Holmes, after the strange circumstances surrounding her sisters death start to repeat themselves. Just before she got married, therefore getting her inheritance, she dies very mysteriously. Miss Stoner is very worried, and she is also set to be married. Holmes and Watson agree to help the young lady. However, before they set off for Stoke Moran, Dr Grimesby Roylott, Miss Stoners stepfather, pays them a visit and tries to threaten them into not going. This only encourages Holmes, who goes to the house, where he finds several clues in the bedrooms. Holmes decides to come back to the house at night and stay in Miss Stoners bedroom, to witness the strange events for himself. During the night, a snake crawls through the ventilator between Dr Roylott and Miss Stoners rooms. Holmes attacks it and it flees back, where it turns upon its owner, and kills him. As this is a short story, it should only have one main storyline, and this one does. If there was more than one then there would be little time for any development of plot at all. Conan Doyle, in The Adventure of the Speckled Band gives enough information to sustain interest, but is also very selective about what is included in it. There are some events in the story that are not directly important to the plot, but create tension and suspense. The visit of Dr Roylott to Sherlock Holmes house is included for this reason. Dr Roylott describes himself as a dangerous man to fall foul of, so Holmes wants to get to the house even more quickly, as he fears for the safety of Miss Stoner. This also increases the pace of the story, and makes it more exciting. Conan Doyle uses various things throughout the story to keep the readers interest. Dr Grimesby Roylott is an unusual man, who used to live in Calcutta. He went to prison for after he beat his native butler to death. When he returned home to England he had various ferocious quarrels, due to his violence of temper approaching to mania. Dr Roylott also kept tropical animals, which also makes him an interesting character, and his violent temper is also typical of a nineteenth Century villain. Another factor that creates interest in the story is the amazing skills of deduction possessed by Sherlock Holmes. Watson notices his quick, all-comprehensive glances when he first meets Miss Stoner. Holmes then goes on to deduce her exact journey, just from what he has seen. The reader is then anxious to see what he deduces from what Miss Stoner tells him about her circumstances.

Public Health Expenditure And Health

Public Health Expenditure And Health Using a utility maximization approach as developed by Grossman, the results revealed that health expenditure does not affect health outcomes in Kenya. The factors that affect health outcomes include: distance to nearest health facility (5km or more) and other household income. This implies that increasing public health expenditure does not lead to reduced maternal mortality rates. Since the other determinants (access to medical facility and other household income) significantly affect the health outcomes, the government needs to put measures in place to ensure that women can easily access health facilities and sensitize them to ensure that they deliver in health facilities and attend antenatal care. This study did not include some important variables that affect maternal mortality rates like the impact of cultural practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), preference of certain types of health care providers (including traditional and herbal medicine) and earlier marriages. Therefore we suggest that in future, studies in this field should give attention to these variables. CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background information Health is the extent to which an individual or group is able to cope with the interpersonal, social, biological, and physical environments (World Bank, 2004). Health is therefore a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. It is a positive concept embracing social and personal resources as well as physical and psychological capacities. Health financing is a key input in the provision of quality healthcare. Governments have always had a prominent role in overcoming public health risks and this is a major area of concern in less developed countries like Kenya (Scott, 2001). The provision of good health satisfies one of the basic human needs and contributes significantly to maintaining and enhancing the productivity of the people (Owino, 1997). Public expenditure on health services therefore is a key investment in human capital and plays a catalytic role in the growth of the economy by enabling people to achieve their full potential and lead productive lives. In recognition of the importance of human health, one of the Kenya governments major goals since independence has been to achieve adequate and good-quality health care for all citizens (GOK, 1965). To address health outcomes in developing countries such as Kenya, UNICEF advocates for increased public expenditure on health (UNICEF, 2006). Therefore, many countries in developing countries have increased their health expenditure over time. For example, to achieve better health outcomes, Kenya has increased its health expenditure from Kshs. 11.9 billion in 2000 to Kshs. 20 billion in 2004 representing a 30% increase as shown in Figure 1.1 (GOK, 2007). But more resources alone may not necessarily lead to better health outcomes because health care expenditure is only one of the many factors that contribute to health outcomes, considering the fact that these resources may be channeled to various projects that may not directly influence health outcomes. The link between government health expenditures and health outcomes may therefore not necessarily be present. First, an increase in public health expenditures may result in a decrease in private health expenditures; a household may dive rt its funds towards other uses once the government increases its provision of basic health care. Second, the incremental government expenditures may be employed on the intensive rather than the extensive margin. An example of intensive expenditures would be if expensive and low productivity inputs are bought with marginal funds in which case the impact of these expenditures on health outcomes may be small. Third, even if extra funds are applied extensively to health care (e.g. more staff at hospitals, adequate stocking of medications), but complementary services, both inside and outside the health sector, are not there (e.g. lack of roads or transportation to hospitals and clinics, subsidized prices for medication, etc.) the impact of extra government health expenditures may be little or none (Wagstaff, 2002a). In addition to health expenditure, Kenya also joined hands with other one hundred and eighty eight countries in a global effort to improve health outcome and reaffirmed its commitment to the united Nations Millennium Development goals (MDGs). Three of these millennium development goals are directly related to health. These are to (i) reduce child mortality, (ii) Improve maternal health and (iii) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Despite these global and local interventions in health, performance of Kenyas health sector in terms of maternal mortality has remained as high as four hundred and eighty eight maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2008/9, an increase from four hundred and fourteen per 100,000 live births in 2003, five hundred and ninety per 100,000 in 1998 (KDHS, 2008-09). Figure 1.2. Most maternal deaths are due to causes directly related to pregnancy and childbirth, unsafe abortion and obstetric complications such as severe bleeding, infection, hypertensive disorders, and obstructed labor (KDHS, 2008-09). Improving maternal health being one of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted at the 2000 Millennium Summit, and with only three years left until the 2015 deadline to achieve the MDGs, closer examination of maternal mortality levels is needed to inform planning of reproductive health programmes and to guide advocacy efforts and research at the national level. These estimates a re also needed at the international level, to inform decision-making concerning funding support for the achievement of this goal. Therefore this study focuses on the relationship between health expenditure and health outcomes in Kenya more particularly, how public health expenditure impacts on maternal mortality rates and other determinants of health outcomes. Figure 1.1 Public Health expenditure trends in Kenya Source: Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2008/09 Figure 1.2 Trends in maternal mortality: 1990-2008 Source: Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2008/09 1.1.2 Public Health expenditure in Kenya Adequate resources are critical to sustainable provision of health services. The government remains the major financier of health care, meeting nearly half of the national health recurrent expenditure. The Kenya policy framework of 1994 identified several methods of health services financing, including taxation, user fees, donor funds, and health insurance. These methods have evolved into important mechanisms for funding health services in the country. The GOK funds the health sector through budgetary allocations to the MOH. However, tax revenues are unreliable sources of health finance, because of macroeconomic conditions such as poor growth, national debt, and inflation, which often affect health allocations. The government therefore works closely with development partners to raise money for the health sector. Donor contributions to the health sector have been on the increase, rising from eight percent of the health budget in 1994-95 to sixteen percent in the fiscal 2001/2002. In some years, donor contributions accounted for over ninety percent of the development budget of the MOH (Ministry of Health, 2006). According to the 2001-2002 national health accounts (NHA), as cited by Wamai (2009) Kenya spends 5.1% of its GDP on health. He cited that the health budget had grown significantly from Ksh15.2 billion in Fiscal 2001/02 to Ksh34.4 billion in Fiscal 2008/09. He added that the proportion of overall government expenditure that the government spent on health declined over the same period from 9% to 7.9% in Fiscal 2006/07. In 1992 a cost-sharing system was introduced to leverage more resources for health services (Collins et al, 1996). Revenue from the cost-sharing system increased exponentially from Ksh60 million in Fiscal 1992/93 to over Ksh1, 468 million in Fiscal 2005/06. However, the revenues overall share of total health expenditure for Fiscal 2005/06 was just 6.4% of the MOHs total spending (MOH, 2007). Figure 1.3: Overview of Kenyas health budget, FY2002 2008 ( US$ million) Source: Health Policy Initiative analysis of Ministry of medical services, 2008 Figure 1.4: Absolute value of Total Health Expenditure (THE) by financing source 2001-2010 Source: Kenya National Health Accounts 2009/10 Reviews of public expenditures and budgets in Kenya show that total health spending constitutes about eight percent of the total government expenditure and that recurrent expenditures have been consistently higher than the development expenditures, both in absolute terms, and as a percentage of the GDP. Government financing of health expenditure is about sixty percent of what is required to provide minimum health services, implying that healthcare delivery in Kenya is under-funded (KHDR, 1999). This is accentuated by inefficiency of the system, including lack of cost-effectiveness in service delivery. However, preliminary information from Kenyas national health accounts shows that the financial contributions of households (out of pocket expenses) exceed those of the government. (Collins et al. 1996) The per capita expenditure therefore falls short of the Government of Kenyas commitment to spend fifteen percent of its total budget on health, as agreed in the Abuja Declaration. The under-financing of the health sector has thus reduced its ability to ensure an adequate level of service provision to the population (Collins et al. 1996). The national health concern therefore is the extent to which additional health expenditure on specific care programmes like maternal health will promote /increase benefits of the patients through improved outcomes in health (decline in maternal mortality rates). 1.1.3 Maternal healthcare in Kenya Improving maternal health is one of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted at the 2000 Millennium Summit. The two targets for assessing progress in improving maternal health are reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by three quarters between 1990 and 2015, and achieving universal access to reproductive health by 2015. With only three years left until the 2015 deadline to achieve the MDGs, closer examination of maternal mortality levels is needed to inform planning of reproductive health programmes and to guide advocacy efforts and research at the national level. These estimates are also needed at the international level, to inform decision-making concerning funding support for the achievement of this goal. Good maternal health is crucial for the welfare of the whole household, especially children who are dependent on their mothers to provide food and care. Prevention of the death of a mother is the single most important intervention for the health of a child. Women are intensely vulnerable to the effects of costs incurred during childbirth. User fees can be especially high for emergency or technological procedures such as caesarean section, sometimes reaching catastrophic amounts, which push families into poverty (Graham and Newell, 1999). Many women often leave the hospital before they are well enough for discharge because they cannot pay for the care they have received. User charges add to the costs of transport and companion time, which can be substantial for those living far from facilities. The time spent looking for cash can also delay access to emergency life-saving care in facilities (Kunst and Houweling, 2001). In sub-Saharan Africa, one in sixteen women die in pregnancy or childbirth (WHO, 2001). An estimated ten to twenty million women develop physical or mental disabilities every year as a result of complications or poor management (Ashford, 2006). The long-term consequences are not only physical, but are also psychological, social, and economic. Despite the commitment expressed with the Millennium initiative, maternal health has not been given financial priority internationally. Safe motherhood programmes compete for funding with other priorities such as tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS. 1.2 Statement of the problem In Kenya, as in most Sub-Saharan African countries, health care expenditure has steadily increased over time, therefore making its containment a major issue for successive governments. The existence of a large public deficit and the need to reduce it drastically to comply with the requirements of the AU has added importance to controlling health care expenditure. Financing health care has remained a challenge to the Government of Kenya for a long time. There seems to be very low investment in health by the government, and inappropriate allocation of resources within the government health budget. In Kenya, health is a basic human right and therefore the health situation in Kenya remains a significant concern for the policy makers. The cost of health care, especially maternal health is a heavy burden on households. While health financing has undergone numerous reforms, more changes are needed to ease the burden of maternal health care costs on households in a bid to increase utilization and subsequently improve the health status of the population. In Kenya, like in most developing countries, maternal health care program encompass a medical condition that is regularly associated with death. The maternal mortality rates are very high. The major concern in this study is therefore the change in patient improvement due to additional expenditure on maternal health care (reduced maternal mortality rates). It analyzes whether increasing health care expenditure towards maternal health care program will reduce the maternal mortality rates. 1.3 Objectives of the study The broad objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between health care expenditure and maternal health outcomes in Kenya. The specific objectives of this study are: To identify the determinants of maternal health in Kenya. To investigate the relationship between government expenditure on maternal health care and maternal health outcomes To make policy recommendations based on study findings 1.4 Significance of the study A key factor that has contributed to the declining health outcomes has been the decline in annual real per capita government budget to the health sector. As noted earlier, the actual expenditures fall below budgetary allocations. With respect to this, policy makers are highly interested in the relationship between expenditure on public health and the resultant health outcomes/benefits. The issue is whether extra spending on maternal health leads to better maternal health outcomes. From a policy perspective, this study can help set priorities on resource allocations across specific program of care. For instance it can help the government to know whether additional expenditure on maternal health care will reduce maternal mortality rates in the country. The government is able to set its priorities right whether to invest more on these specific care programme or to reduce its expenditure given the severe budgetary constraints. It also gives policy makers some guidance on appropriate cost containment measures that will help improve health system performance in Kenya. It is also very useful at the international level, to inform decision-making concerning funding support for the achievement of the fifth millennium development goal. This study also adds to the existing literature on the relationship between health care expenditure and health outcomes, determinants of health outcomes and how health outcomes can be improved. CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Healthcare is an intermediate good that has no intrinsic value in itself but has value in its contribution (along with other inputs such as environmental and social factors) towards production of health itself. Health, or in general, health status, refers to measures of the physical and emotional well-being of an individual or a defined population. The quantity of healthcare product produced by a healthcare firm is referred to as its output. The ultimate output of the health sector is health. Healthcare therefore can be viewed as any other good or service in which each individual maximizes utility subject to a budget constraint. The basic economic theory of production provides a basis on the linkage of health expenditure and health outcomes. The theory suggests that there are many ways inputs can be used in various proportions to produce outputs (Wolfe, 2002). Inputs refer to the resources needed to carry out a process or provide a service. Inputs required in healthcare are usually financial, physical structures such as buildings, supplies and equipment, personnel, and clients while output refers to the direct result of the interaction of inputs and processes in the system; the types and quantities of goods and services produced by an activity, project or program. The use of inputs in healthcare leads to outcomes. (Cremieux et al. 1999). Health production theory highlights the manner in which health care as an input is related to health as an output. In this theory, health is the output measured in terms of improved health status such as reduced mortality, morbidity or achieving health related millennium development goals while inputs consist of the number of trained health professionals, the number of school years completed, residential place, the proportion of GDP spent on health and the government health expenditure in the health sector (Desai, 1998). Health production theory utilizes the health production function which is the change in health status affected as an approximate matter by changes in the consumption of various health services effective in improving health. The production function summarizes the relationship between inputs and outputs with health status being the dependent variable (function of healthcare) dependent on populations social and environmental factors, policy variables and country specific effects inclusive of biological endowment, and lifestyle. Many studies on this subject have adopted Grossmans (1972) model of health production which views each individual as both a producer and a consumer of health. It regards health as a commodity which the individual will wish to consume and maximize, subject to his/her budget constraints, in conjunction with a number of endogenous and exogenous variables which have an impact on individuals health. Within this model, income and educational level play an important role as explanatory variables. In Grossmans model, he regards health care as both a consumption good that provides direct satisfaction and utility, and as an investment good, it provides satisfaction to individuals indirectly through reduction in sick days, increased wages and increased productivity. In this case, health can be viewed as a stock which degrades over time if there are no investments in the individual health, and that health is taken as a sort of capital. Investing in health may seem costly as individuals must trade off resources and time that may be devoted to health, unlike other goals. These factors are also used in determining the optimal level of health that is needed by an individual. The model therefore makes predictions on the likely effects of health care price changes and other goods, outcomes in labor market such as technological changes, wages and employment. In the Grossman model, at the optimal level, health investment occurs where the marginal cost of health capital is equal to the marginal benefit. Over time, health is likely to depreciate at a certain rate which may be denoted by ÃŽÂ ´. The consumer faces an interest rate which may also be denoted by r. By adding these variables, the health capital marginal cost can be calculated as under: ÃŽÂ ´ In this case the health capital marginal benefit is the rate of return from this capital in both non market and market sectors. In this model, the health stock at optimal level can be caused by factors such as education, wages and age. The theory further advocates that investing in health should be combined with other factors which are crucial in order to produce new health, which in the long run may offset the process of deterioration in the stock of health. Medical scientists could argue that only effective medical care should be universally available (OHE, 1979). The government therefore may resort to explicit rationing which is not only to set limits on total expenditure for care, but also to develop mechanisms to arrive at more rational decisions as to relative investments in different disease specific programmes, and the establishment of certain minimal uniform standards. This rationing does not guarantee mothers to equal access to appropriate maternal/medical care. Treatment is still within the postulate that the doctor will do his best with the resources available to him but there is no such constraint on those resources as government decides (OHE, 1979). This study looks at maternal health as the output of an aggregate production which utilizes variables such as public health expenditure, access to government medical services and household incomes as the inputs. The assumption is that for reasons associated with diminishing returns and the adverse effects of certain variables after an initial positive outcome, the relationship is expected to be nonlinear (Nixon and Ulman, 2006). 2.2 EMPIRICAL LITERATURE Health status are commonly measured using four major indicators, maternal mortality, mortality rate in infants, mortality rate for under five and life expectancy at birth (Akinkugbe et al. 2009); (Gupta et al. 1999); (Wang,2002); (Imam et al. 2003). Other measures of health outcomes/status used include preference of cancer or circulatory diseases, disability adjusted life years, quality adjusted life years, fertility indicators and achievement of other health related millennium development goals. Similarly, government health expenditure, GDP per capita, female literacy, number of physicians, immunization coverage, urbanization and calorie intake among others are some of the most used explanatory variables (Wolfe, 1986); (Wang, 2002); (Or, 2000b); (Caldwell, 1990) and (Filmer et al. 1999). Most studies have used cross-sectional analysis (Bokhari et al.2007); (Imam et al. 2003); (Anyanwu et al. 2008); (Gani et al. 2009); (Wang, 2002); (Nixon and Ulman, 2006) and (Martin et al. 2009). Some have used panel data (Gupta et al. 1999) and (Or, 2000b), while Akinkugbe et al. (2009) used time series analysis to estimate the relationship between the public health expenditure and health outcomes. To solve the problem of autocorrelation in cross sectional analysis, heteroskedasticity test was done, corrected standard errors for panel data analysis while augmented Dickey Fuller tests were used to test for stationarity in all studies using time series data. All studies reviewed used health expenditure as one of the explanatory variables except Wang, (2002) who looked at it in a different perspective. According to him, demand for electricity, access to piped water and sanitation and female education increases health expenditure but it does not increase public health expenditure in improving health outcomes. Most studies indicated that public spending contributes significantly to health status improvements (Filmer et al. 1999); (Abel Smith, 1963); (Kiymaz et al. 2006); (Ester et al. 2011); (Gakunju, 2003); (Bokhari et al.2006); (Anyanwu et al. 2005); (Cremieux et al. 1999); (Nixon and Ulman, 2006) and (Blendon et al. 2006). For example, Filmer et al. (1999) used data from the early 1990s and estimated multivariate regression model of child mortality on per capita income, government health expenditure and other controls. They found that there was significant correlation between child mortality and income per capita. Some studies however indicated that public health expenditure alone as a determinant of health is inadequate (Ogbu and Gallagher, 1992); (Castrol-leal et al. 1999); (Gupta et al. 2003); (Anderson and Frogner, 2005); (Hitris and Posnet, 1992); (Caldwell, 1986); (Dor et al. 2007) and (Cochrane et al. 1978). In estimations, different methods were used by different authors. Generally two main methods were used: generalized least squares and the ordinary least squares. However, other methods have also been used. For example, Bokhari et al. (2006) and Gupta et al. (1999) used two stage least squares because of the instrumental variables used to address the problem of reverse causality and measurement errors in the variables. Anyanwu et al. (2005) used Robust Ordinary Least Squares as the baseline specification and robust two stage least squares to control for endogeneity and reverse causality. Bhalotra (2007) used the linear probability model. Particularly, Flippi et al (2006) took a broader perspective on maternal health and drew attention to the economic and social vulnerability of pregnant women. They called for action to reduce maternal mortality rates by channeling more resources towards maternal healthcare, improving on human resources and information. They used maternal mortality ratio (by cause) as the major indicator and recommended that research is needed on how to finance health services and ensure equitable access to generate more evidence. While examining the association of the socio-demographic characteristics of women and the unobserved hospital factors in Kenya, Magadi et al. (2001) used multilevel logistic regression. The results showed that the probability of maternal mortality depends on both observed factors that are associated with a particular woman and unobserved factors peculiar to the admitting hospital. The individual characteristics observed to have a significant association with maternal mortality include maternal age, antenatal clinic attendance and educational attainment. The hospital variation was observed to be stronger for women with least favorable socio-demographic characteristics. For example, the risk of maternal death at high-risk hospitals for women aged thirty five years and above, who had low levels of education, and did not attend antenatal care is about two hundred and eighty deaths per a thousand admissions. The risk for similar women at low-risk hospitals is about four deaths per a thous and admissions. In a study carried out on health care services and sources of revenue in six countries from Western Europe and North America, Abel Smith (1963) found that health care expenditure was associated with reduced life expectancy and increased mortality rates. In a similar study carried out in the year 1967 involving twenty nine countries he found that the level of national income was associated with improved health status and that the demand for healthcare increased in countries with declining mortality. Abel Smiths studies laid down foundation for the development of methodologies for tracking health expenditures in both private and public sectors. While investigating the factors that are associated with infant mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ester et al. (2011) carried out an ecological multi-group study using a bi-variate and multi-variate analysis with infant mortality rate as the dependent variable. They used a linear regression model between infant mortality rate and the correlated indicators (social security expenditure and government expenditure per-capita on health). This study revealed, in the multi-variate analysis, three factors associated with the IMR: a higher social security expenditure on health as a percentage of the general government expenditure on health, a higher per-capita government expenditure on health and a higher number of children under five years of age with diarrhea receiving oral dehydration therapy indicated a lower IMR. During the examination of the effectiveness of public social spending on education and health care in several African countries, Castro-Leal et al. (1999) reviewed the benefit incidence of government spending in Cote divoire, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, South Africa and Tanzania. Their study found that public expenditures on health were not sufficient especially on the poor to reduce mortality rates. On the other hand, Gupta et al. (2003) used cross-country data for over seventy developing countries to assess the relationship between public spending on health care and the health status of the poor. Their findings confirmed that the poor have significantly worse health status than the rich. The results however suggested that increased public spending alone will not be sufficient to significantly improve health status. Another study carried out on the health effects of per capita income and public expenditure on social services in Kenya, proved that per capita income had been very influential in determining health status. The study found that expenditures on education and health care improved health status at a great margin. It further established that per capita income was significantly linked to the levels of mortalities, and that some of the negative trends in health status could have been attributed to unfavorable growth and insufficient social spending on health (Manyala, 2000). In his findings income elasticities were all statistically significant, current income had the expected effect on life expectancy but not on infant mortality. He further found that if mothers are malnourished and are in poor state of health, their infant will inherit part of this poor health, and therefore will be at greater risk of mortality relative to infants of healthy mother. A comparative study by Wagstaff (2002a) that focused on forty two developing countries used child mortality due to malnutrition and diarrhea as the health outcomes/indicators. Wagstaff (2002b) treated government health expenditure as an exogenous variable and found that it did have a statistically significant (negative) coefficient. The study used a simple stylized theoretical model rationalizing the health-income relationship and found that public spending on health care had a larger impact on child mortality among the poor than among the non-poor population. In his study on health and schooling investments in Africa, Schultz (1999) found that health status rose with increased public spending on health services. He also argued that the health status will tend to decline with a rise in relative prices of health inputs such as salaries of medical personnel, cost of drugs and other medical supplies, relative to prices of nutrients that help fight infections and disease. He also found that levels of education were correlated with lower mortality rates. The relationship between mothers education and mortality rate was stronger than the fathers. He recommended that an additional year of schooling to the mother especially in low-income countries was associated with a five to ten percent reduction in mortality rates. On his analysis of the factors determining health status in Kenya, Gakunju (2003) found that government expenditure on public health was noteworthy in shaping individual health status. He also found that government health expenditure influences health status with over a long time. This actually implies that the government investment and spending in the health sector have had a major effect on the health of the people. He also acknowledged a number of factors as being important in resolving the health problem Kenya such as: Per capita income, individual access to doctors, HIV/AIDs prevalence, literacy level for women, Child immunization coverage and spending/investment by the government in the health sector. His study majorly used the central government e

Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston Essay -- essays resea

Farewell To Manzanar In the true story "Farewell to Manzanar" we learn of a young girl's life as she grows up during World War II in a Japanese internment camp. Along with her family and ten thousand other Japanese we see how, as a child, these conditions forced to shape and mold her life. This book does not directly place blame or hatred onto those persons or conditions which had forced her to endure hardship, but rather shows us through her eyes how these experiences have held value she has been able to grow from. Jeanne Wakatsuki was just a seven year growing up in Ocean Park, California when her whole life was about to change. Everything seemed to be going fine, her father owning two fishing boats, and they lived in a large house with a large dining table which was located in an entirely non-Japanese neighborhood. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese was the moment Jeanne's life was critically altered. This started WWII and all Japanese were seen as possible threats to the nations safety. It is not difficult to see, but difficult to justify this view, and therefore Jeanne Wakatsuki, just a child, was now seen as a monster. Her father was immediately arrested and taken away, being accused with furnishing oil to Japanese subs off the coast. And now, Jeanne left without a father, her mother was trapped with the burden of Jeanne's rapidly aging grandmother and her nine brothers and sisters. Too young to understand, Jeanne did not know why or where her father had been taken. But she did know that one very important part of her was gone. Jeanne's father was a very strong, military-like, proud, arrogant, and dignified man. He was the one who was always in control, and made all the decisions for the family. He grew up in Japan, but left at the age of seventeen, headed for work in Hawaii, and never again went back. Leaving his own family behind and never contacting them ever again. But now it was time for Jeanne's family to do something. They found refuge at Terminal Island, a place where many Japanese families live either in some transition stage or for permanent residents. Jeanne was terrified. " It was the first time I had lived among other Japanese, or gone to school with them, and I was terrified all the time." Her father, as a way ... ...ruly come to know a place: Farewell." This says it all. She had finally been able to see that Manzanar was one giant stepping stone she had climbed, and that gave her worth, so she could feel at peace with herself. Her life had really begun at Manzanar, but she isn't about to let it end there. In conclusion, this story was well written and I could sympathize with every trial and tribulation she encountered. Some may say she didn't value her Japanese heritage enough or was pitying herself for being Japanese. But she, in my view is a hero because she took everything that was imposed on her and endured through it. She was able to accept herself through a kind of spiritual growth, which was both revelational, and inspirational. I only hope that one day I can make some sense of the things gone wrong in my life, or at least grow from them. Jeanne is a woman now, who as a child was thrown around in a racial roller coaster, and can accept herself as an important part of society and life, rather than needing others to accept it for her. Note: I really enjoyed this book and the next time I head out to Mammoth Lakes I will definitely try and find Manzanar.

Apt Pupil, Daily Show, Perfect Storm, and How to Make an American Quilt :: The Daily Show Perfect Storm

Apt Pupil, Daily Show, Perfect Storm, and How to Make an American Quilt - How Will These Help My Writing? Apt Pupil Psychological thriller Lack of a conclusion Not enough character development Plot didn't develop Daily Show Appeals to a specific audience Comedy and satire of the news and current events Sensationalism Perfect Storm Use of imagery Believable dialogue Suspenseful situations Believable reactions How to Make an American Quilt Complete characterization Plots independent of each but make an interdependent story Believable events and reactions The four works; Apt Pupil, Daily Show, Perfect Storm, and How to Make an American Quilt are all very respectable in their individual sense. Each work possesses a different style and is different in presentation. The difference in presentation is very important when analyzing a specific work. Television for example can deal with changing current events and issues. The Daily Show is the perfect example. The show thrives off of satire of everyday events and needs changing circumstances to exist. Satire is not restricted to television; it has been utilized in books, magazines, and movies for years. Jonathan Swift is a prime example of a satirist of his times. He wrote novels such as Gulliver’s Travels that criticized his era in a mocking fashion. The main differences between the television and a novel are the interaction. The fact that the dialogue is heard and not just read, seen not just imagined. The spectacle of The Daily Show is not wonderful. The set is very simple but it is functional. The Daily Show is a perfect example of how to make the scenery and set functional and not showy. The Daily Show uses it’s resources to make the best show possible, and it succeeds. A similar form of media is film. Films are dependent on good scripts, dialogue and acting. Acting is essential, even if the script is beautiful, if the acting is horrible the film suffers and vice-versa. Apt Pupil is a film that lacks in screenplay. The acting was great, the portrayl of the characters believable, but the dialogue and plot was not well developed and therefore the movie lacked a sense of completion. The spectacle was wonderful, there was great use of light, objects, angles but the work was definitely lacking essential parts. The literary lesson to learn from this work, is that a few good points of a work do not make up for the lacking parts. A film, television show, novel, or essay needs to clear and concise and complete.

Closer to a Cure for Cystic Fibrosis Essays -- Proteasomes Cystic Fibr

Overcoming Proteasomes: One Step Closer to a Cure for Cystic Fibrosis Take a deep breath and consider how easy it was to do so. Now picture struggling and gasping for air everyday; normal, easy tasks to the average person prove to be quite challenging to a patient of cystic fibrosis. Scientists have always been daunted by this fatal genetic disease that affects the body by excreting a â€Å"thick mucus† in the lungs, making breathing difficult and blocking the â€Å"ducts† leading from the pancreas, causing â€Å"poor digestion of food† (1). Until recently, there was nothing that scientists could do to provide a long-term cure, but even though scientists cannot cure patients one hundred percent, they can increase their life expectancy. Despite having discovered the cystic fibrosis gene’s location in 1989, numerous underlying obstacles prevent complete success (2). The primary obstacle that prevents scientists from making gene therapy an effective cure is the placement of the healthy genes into long-term cells, the cells that remain long enough to be replicated. The replacement of the healthy gene into long-term cells is necessary because these cells make the new cells, thereby distributing the healthy DNA throughout the body. The properly functioning gene is attached to a vector or â€Å"carrying molecule† that will transport â€Å"the therapeutic gene to the patient’s target cells† (2). Currently, the most common vector is a virus because it can easily capture the gene and deliver it into the cell; the virus infiltrates the corrupt cells and places the healthy gene into the nucleus which then transforms the corrupt cell into one which operates properly (2). The only difficulty is that the body’s natural immune system provides many b... ...t-education/tips/ccysfibr.html>. 2. Institute NHGR. Gene Therapy [Internet]. 2007 [2007 September 18]; Available from . 3. Stefano Ferrari DMG, Eric WFW Alton. Barriers to and new approaches for gene therapy and gene delivery in cystic fibrosis. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2002;64: 1373-1393. 4. J Kim C-PC, KG Rice. The proteasome metabolizes peptide-mediated nonviral gene delivery systems. Gene Therapy 2006; 12: 1681-1690. 5. Neil Campbell, and Lawrence Mitchell (1999). Biology. New York, Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. 6. Institute NHGR. Learning About Cystic Fibrosis [Internet]. 2007 [2007 September 18]; Available from: . 7. U Griesenbach DG, and EWFW alton. Gene therapy progress and prospects: cystic fibrosis. Gene Therapy 2007; 13: 1071-1077.

University Success

Grand Canyon University strives to support student learning by creating an online community. A â€Å"community† feeling inside an online course can help me as well as other students stay motivated. Online classrooms have the same characteristics as a traditional classroom; however, the class instructors direct course materials through a Grand Canyon University online portal. The course instructor presents topic-based questions to the students in the classroom forum that allow collaboration of student and instructor thoughts, debates, and experiences. The online interaction between classmates as well as instructor creates a virtual community where classmates and instructor can rely on each other while helping each other to stay motivated. The online classroom relies on collaboration between students and instructor in order to promote successful learning experiences. Collaboration in an online classroom consists of student responses to the instructor’s questions. As students post their individual thoughts, other students respond to them adding their own perspectives, experiences, and knowledge. Once the conversations volley back and forth thru ought the course’s main forum true collaboration begins. According to the text University Success E2, â€Å"The keys to avoiding isolation are communication, collaboration, and networking† (Grand Canyon University, 2012). It is evident that collaboration in both an online and a traditional classroom is dependent on instruction, participation, as well as feedback and it is most effective when students participate several times a day. It is imperative that students are aware that they are responsible for their own collaboration by participating in interactions with other classmates and the instructor through the class wall, individual forum, e-mail, or chat rooms. A major advantage that comes from effective collaboration is the skills that students gain from being actively involved in the classroom that is necessary for almost every career. My future career as a teacher depends on effective collaboration among my peers and me as it ensures professional development and school improvements. Some students use collaboration to network beyond the classroom. For instance, networking with family, friends, coworkers, Twitter, Facebook, or other discussion forums opens up portals to further collaboration with non-GCU students. Further collaboration expands the students’ minds as well as offers more information or perspectives. Furthermore, networking is beneficial to professionals in any career field because it expands professional knowledge, keeps professionals abreast of new business trends, offers career and personal opportunities, as well as provides business leads.