Holding employees accountable Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Holding employees accountable - Essay Example Moreover, the company keep to an open inside communication policies and seriously addresses such issues as corruption, unethical behavior and similar cases. All these words create an idealized image of the company and it is interesting to look at how others estimate their success in leadership and ethics. According to Roth (2013), UTC is one of the best examples of how one company can make the business environment change. The company successfully keeps their internal processes in good order and achieves high performance rates as a result. The author states that the company keeps its focus on internal collaboration, learning and development in order to progress together. Obviously, this feedback about the company makes it possible to say that it selects and trains successful leaders who know what they do. Overall, UTC is a great success case and it creates a role model for other industries to follow. The company invests in its employees and keeps them committed and motivated. Special people are in charge of ethical issues; regular corporate trainings and collaborations are conducted to make sure that all employees are accountable. This example can serve as an inspiration for other smaller businesses where people struggle to keep everything clear and

Adult Mental Health And Professional Practice Social Work Essay

Adult Mental Health And Professional Practice Social Work Essay Within my assignment I will demonstrate my understanding of mental health and the direct correlation to my professional practice. I will clearly define and critically evaluate two of the dominant perspectives which are significant in mental health theory and practice, the biomedical and the social causation perspective. By explaining my practice with regards to the case scenario 1 Ahmed, I will substantiate my understanding of both perspectives, examining the advantages and disadvantages of each by considering how I might undertake and assessment and how I might address issues identified from the case scenario including the impact of discrimination and the importance of anti oppressive practice. I will evidence my knowledge and understanding of relevant issues including reflecting the perspective of the individual, by drawing up an intervention plan, including identifying clearly my understanding of the legal framework within which I would practice. Issues of mental health are approached from a variety of different perspectives and using a variety of different terminologies. Many have the greatest confidence in scientific or biological approaches, whilst others prefer more holistic or social approaches. The biomedical medical model of mental health has been dominant simply because the dominant profession is psychiatry. Psychiatrists are medically trained and therefore tend to see the main purpose behind their work as the diagnosis and treatment of illness or disorder (Rogers and Pilgrim,2005).The simplistic view of cause and effect whilst beneficial if you have broken your leg or have diabetes, is not the same for mental illness. There are organic brain diseases or illnesses such as epilepsy and huntingdons chorea which may manifest in symptoms often associated with mental illness (Rethink,2007) and therefore it is vital that the possibility of underlying physical causes are examined. The bio medical model utilises ideas of a single underlying cause and therefore treatment of the cause will lead to a return to the pre existing state(Wade and Hallingan,2004).Another assumption is of a normal existing state, and therefore an ability to measure evidence of abnormality thus concluding w ith a diagnosis. Traditional bio medical models focus on the pathology of the illness rather than understanding the illness whether it is biological, social or psychological. Criticism of the biomedical model is that it is a simplistic model in a very complex arena. Reductionist explanations of mental health reduce mental health issues to the smallest possible factors, simplistic but clearly flawed (Crossley,2006). One of the most predominant arguments is the involvement of environmental factors in shaping our behaviour. A persons environment can shape their behaviour and this is a constant process. An individual may be born with certain genes but environmental factors such as society and a persons family can shape further behaviour (Nettleton, 2006). In reducing a concept to its component parts and simplest terms many important aspects are overlooked. Individual factors are hard to explain under reductionism, because reductionist explanations generalise behaviour. Each individual is unique and responds differently. A reductionist explanation would be genetics, but the same behaviour in two people could be caused by separate environmental and biological f actors and therefore limiting the reductionist explanation (Crossley,2006). Reductionist explanations can be useful, by reducing complicated concepts to their component parts but sometimes this offers a simple solution to an otherwise more complicated problem. For example giving anti-depressants to someone who is depressed may seem like the most favourable solution, but this may overlook the real problem such as bereavement, financial or work problems. Iatrogenesis is another arena that is problematic for the bio medical model. Iatrogenisis is often associated with adverse effects resulting from medical interventions (Heller et al, 1996) but can and is viewed as the direct result of the intervention which impedes a persons recovery, and therefore could include psychiatry which is the predominant force in the bio medical model. Labelling with regards to mental health diagnosis is another criticism of the bio medical model. Scheff (1999) understands mental illness as a result of societal labelling. Simplistic put, society has views on what is socially norm and acceptable, any deviation from these norms, results in a label of mental illness. The social causation model suggests links between social disadvantage and mental health problems. These social disadvantages are prevelant in many areas education, health, employment, income and social inclusion. Poverty and social class have been determined as the two significant factors of social causation and the link to mental illness (Murali and Oyebode, 2004). Lynch et al (1997) found people living with financial difficulties on a long-term basis, were much more likely to suffer from clinical depression than those who did not. Studies into mental health suggest there are stressors associated with low status and this creates an environment for increased risk of developing mental health problems. Payne(1999) in the 1999 PSE study provides evidence that people who live with various aspects of poverty, deprivation, unemployment and social exclusion are more likely to have mental health problems, although the relationship between poor mental health and these aspects are complex. I will examine employment in more detail. Research shows that less than 40% of employers would consider employing a person with a mental health issue (Rethink, 2009).Consequently the prejudice and discrimination people face as a result of a mental health diagnosis presents problems in itself. In 2002/ 2003The Citizens Advice Bureau conducted research regarding social exclusion and mental health and their results were stark. 60% of people with mental health problems gave up work as a result of discrimination, prejudice and stigma. 61% per cent of male adults with a psychiatric disorder are in full-time or part-time employment. Whereas the figure is 75% of men with no psychiatric disorder (Mind,2010b). If an individual has maintained a job or found employment then if they are affected by relapses this again impacts financially. With these statistics in mind it is clear to see that many who experience mental health issues will also be affected by economic hardship. Living on state benefits and sometimes less, as a result of an inflexible benefit system, can also result in a vicious circle of deprivation and poverty in all aspects of their lives, not only economic but in health, social activity and participation. The social causation model defined within the social model needs to be understood by practitioners as it acknowledges the experiences of individuals, as well as being the springboard for challenging the socio political environment which contributes to social problems, which in turn impact on an individuals mental health. This is fundamental for practitioners as one of the key roles of social workers is to challenge and champion social and political change (Horner,2006).According to Rogers and Pilgrim (2006) race, gender and age are all areas of disadvantage than can be investigated via social causation. This would support the findings of several studies which highlight the relationship between some of the identified areas and poor mental health. Examples to illustrate these links are, Irish men have three times higher psychiatric admission rates than the general population (Fitzptrick, 2005); women are more likely to be treated for mental health problems than men (Mental Health Found ation, no date) and in research by Beecham et al (2008) it was identified that fewer than 10% of older people with clinical depression were referred to specialist mental health services compared with about 50% of younger adults. These stark differentials question the basis of these statistical differences and one explanation is social causation. In recent years there has been a shift in Mental Health legislation. Although the Mental Health Act 1983 remains the primary legislation, there has been the addition of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which provides a legal framework to protect individuals who lack, or may lack capacity. The Mental Health Act 2007 amended the MHA 1983 and the MCA 2005. Along with these amendments to legislation there has also been a radical shift in policy documents from central Government. These policy shifts demonstrate the need to understand mental health in a more holistic context. The emphasis is shifting from purely medical perspectives with a recognition of how the social perspective has an impact on a persons mental health well being. A plethora of policies from government such as Tackling Health Inequalities (DOH, 2001); Working Together UK Action Plan on Social Inclusion(DWP, 2008) and Child Poverty Review(H.M. Treasury,2004) have been designed to tackle social inequalities such as health, in come, work and education as well as a recognition for the need for more person centred approaches to delivering services. This does not detract from the clear message from legislation that risk and public safety are of paramount importance. The debates about care or control and rights versus risk are ever present particularly with high profile cases such as Christopher Clunis and Michael Stone were pivotal in the changes to the Mental Health Act in 2007. The Mental Health Alliance (2006) maintain that legislative reforms which enables individuals to access services within the mental health arena when they need it, as opposed to imposing treatment, would be a more viable option and address the issue of risk in a more proactive way. The Mental Health Act 1983 still remains the overarching legislation regarding mental health in the England today and is the only piece of legislation that permits the detention of an individual before they have committed an offence and purely on the basis that they might pose a threat to themselves or others(Golightly,2008).The changes in 2007 allowed for approved mental health professionals rather than the traditional approved social workers. One could argue that if this is eradication of the social worker role and the move to further medicalise mental health (as the approved mental health professional can be health background rather than social care). The Mental Capacity Act 2005 might be viewed by some as contradicting the Mental Health Act 1983. After all a person suspected of having a mental illness may fulfil the section 3 test of capacity under the Act, and under the principles of the act is able to make unwise decisions, but the Act makes no stipulation regarding these unwise decisions. Clearly committing a criminal offence is an unwise decision and a person committing the offence could clearly know and understand their action and face consequences laid down under criminal justice legislation. Under the Mental Health Act a person is not required to have committed an offence to be detained, a suspicion of possible harm to self or others is enough to warrant a section 2 assessment for involuntary admission. This arena has been addressed with and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 amendment to the Mental Health Act 1983 whereby an individual cannot refuse treatment if that treatment is deemed necessary under the conditions of the Men tal Health Act in that the MHA effectively overrides the MCA if the person is or deemed to be mentally ill. This is a contradiction regarding any other forms of medical treatment for a physical condition such as treatment for cancer or radical surgery(if a person meets the capacity assessment criteria), a person can refuse treatment for any other physical health condition but not for mental illness as a person can be detained to compulsory treat. New Horizons is a cross government programme which was launched in 2000 which identified not only the need of improved mental health services but the recognition the importance of maintaining good mental health and well being for everyone and covers childhood to old age (DOH,2009). It clearly recognises the impact of social factors aiming to address social inequalities identifying health, education and employment as important factors in an individuals well being and the impact on mental health. The Mental Health Act 1983 is the primary legislation which covers the assessment, detention, treatment and rights of people with a mental health condition. Following the psychiatric model the practitioner would need to make an assessment of Ahmeds functioning identify the signs and symptoms which he is exhibiting for Ahmed these would be his day to day functioning he has rent arrears, utilities have been cut off; personal care evidence suggests he lives on takeaways; social functioning he is a loner and he goes into the town centre shouting apparently aggressive; thoughts he appears to be having delusions that his mother is not his real mother, and possibly hallucinations evidenced with him shouting, but not directed at anyone. The psychiatric model uses judgements of normal which are not objective, but on agreed standards of normal within a cultural and social context (Esyenck,1994 and Giddens,1997). But the question has to be who is the predominant force in that society and how does this impact on individuals from differing cultural backgrounds in the teat of normality. Although the case study has not specified Ahmeds cultural background it is an area which needs due consideration. There are discussions regarding psychiatry as being colour blind and culture blind. Fernando(2002) examines the rationale for these concepts in relation to hearing voices, and explains perhaps cultural stereotypes which do not consider multi cultural dimensions are responsible. Fernando(2002) draws upon the studies relating to high proportions of British African Caribbean men being labelled as aggressive, perhaps due to the appearance or interpretation of symptoms leading others to define the symptoms within the mental health arena (Nazroo and King, 2002). Fernando (2002) expounds further by explaining this could also be related to society norms. The norms are dictated by the predominant forces within society. When individuals do not conform to social norms they are subject to sanctions in order to ensure conformity this is evident within the legal justice system a person commits a crime a punishment a fine or community service order or prison sentence is served. The parallels for m ental health could be seen that if a person does not conform then admission to hospital, intervention and treatment may be viewed as the sanctions to deviating from those perceived norms. Risk management is a highly politicised area with the primary objective in the political arena to manage risk, whilst improved outcomes for individuals appears to be in secondary (Holloway,1996). Holloway(1996) goes on to say in order to understand and therefore manage the risk then as a practitioner you need a very detailed understanding of the individual. Good practice regarding risk management is about a clear foundation for the decision and an expectation for the proposed outcome, as well as provision for change if the intended outcome does not occur (Petch,2001). A discussion with Ahmed regarding voluntary admission for assessment and treatment would be deemed appropriate given the assessment. The Mental Health Act 1983 clearly states in section 131 that voluntary admission should always be used if the person is willing. Should Ahmed resist treatment and admission to hospital then it would be necessary to address the need for detention under section 2 of the act. This provision is made with the agreement of 2 doctors ideally one who knows Ahmed perhaps his GP, and an approved mental health professional (AMHP). Under the Mental Health Act 1983 section 2 allows involuntary admission to hospital for assessment and treatment. Under section 2 Ahmed does not have the right to refuse treatment. Once Ahmed is admitted to hospital then assessment for a diagnosis would be paramount. The two diagnostic and classification tools used in modern psychiatry are the DSM IV codes and ICD 10 codes (Bolton, 2008). Although there are differences in these codes, the premise for these codes and outcomes are the same. These codes represent the bio medical model, the reduction of the illness to signs and symptoms to which a psychiatrist can determine a diagnosis and treatment based on that diagnosis. Whilst this may be useful for organic brain disorders for the majority of mental health problems where there is no definitive biological condition, the diagnosis simply reflects the individuals reflections on how they think and feel. The treatment plan would be developed based on the assessment outcome (diagnosis). Often treatment ranges are limited with a high emphasis on drug interventions, where the primary objective is to stabilise Ahmeds mental health condition in an effort to return him to a functional state. This medicalised response and the use of drugs could be viewed as a means of social control (Rogers and Pilgrim, 2005). By drawing on the theory of social causation this would enable me to support Ahmed to analyse the issues he is facing in a non judgemental way. Oppression and discrimination is observed in the lives of people from marginalised groups (Dalrymple and Burke,1995) and as practitioners we have an obligation to challenge discrimination and oppression. Personal experiences are clearly associated with social, cultural, political and economic divisions and therefore understanding these areas in context to the individual is vital in understanding and challenging the oppression and discrimination they may encounter (Adams et al, 2002). The stigma attached from having mental health problems cannot be underestimated. Research by the Department of Health Attitudes to Mental Illness in 2007 showed that whilst many of the negative pre conceived ideas and beliefs held by society about people with a mental health illness were diminishing, but the changes year on year were not significant. This may be due to education and understanding of mental illness and the understanding of the effects of discrimination and stigma. The Time to Change Programme (2008) is by its own admission, nationally and globally the most ambitious plan to stamp out discrimination faced by people with mental illness. Stigma poses a threat to all aspects of an individuals life if diagnosed with a mental illness, they contribute to social isolation, distress and difficulties gaining and maintaining employment. In a survey by Crisp and Gelder (2000) discovered there were consistent themes of perceptions of people who had a mental illness. Some views were common amongst the several diagnoses, namely they were difficult to talk to and they were unpredictable to assumptions of being dangerous. Completing a Community Care Assessment in accordance with the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 would be necessary in order to identify Ahmeds needs and how those needs would be best provided for. The assessment would include information from Ahmed as well as significant others where applicable and determine need on a short and / or long term basis (Sharkey, 2007). The assessment does not detract from the need of some immediate intervention, to work directly with Ahmed to address some of the immediate issues such as his rent arrears (which would immediately reduce the threat of eviction) and getting his utility services back in place. Acute and crisis services and intervention were designed to offer support in a less restrictive and stigmatising way than traditional formal of intervention such as compulsory admission (Golightly,2008). Crisis intervention is a model of intervention which ideally prevents the situation from deteriorating further and builds on existing resources and strengths in order to improve the situation (Ferguson,2008). This could assist Ahmeds mental health and well being as well as his environment and other social factors i.e. relationship with mum and neighbours. The intervention allows a recent Cochrane review found that home care crisis treatment, coupled with an ongoing home care package, was a viable alternative to hospital admission for crisis intervention for people with serious mental illnesses and probably more cost effective (Joy at al, 2006). Working directly with Ahmed using a task centred approach would be ideal as it is a very practical based approach. The work is time limited, structured and problem focused(Parker and Bradley, 2007, p.93). An example for Ahmed might be: Outcome : Pay off rent arrears so no longer in debt. Rationale: this would immediately reduce the risk of eviction as well as encouraging Ahmed to take responsibility for his situation in a supportive and empowering way. Steps: Agree a payment plan with Ahmed that is manageable within current budget ( £10 every 2 weeks) Once plan agreed Ahmed to visit housing provider to agree payment plan and request an update every month on arrears. Pick up benefits every 2 weeks, on a Tuesday, and immediately pay 2 weeks rent at paypoint in post offices along with agreed  £10 arrears and obtain receipt. For the purpose of this assignment I have listed some of the actions which could be identified in order to support Ahmed. Pay off rent arrears. Benefits assessment to ensure Ahmed is claiming his benefit entitlement. Tenancy support worker in order to support with tenancy related issues such as rent, utilities and maintaining a tenancy agreement. Support worker to assist with increasing his contact and reduce social isolation. This could be simply going out for a coffee or some other activity which Ahmed identified. To explore if Ahmed has concerns regarding psychiatry, and his reluctance to meet with the psychiatrist this is vital it may simply be he forgot about the appointment or further issues regarding his concept of psychiatry. To work with Ahmed to explore his thoughts regarding his mother and assess the foundation for his thoughts that she is not his mother. To gain understanding on any other significant relationships in the past (there is mention in the case study of children) and the possibility of re-connection with his children and wider family connections. Re-connection with community whether this would be utilising self help groups, classes which may hold a particular interest or active engagement in community/ voluntary projects to build self esteem and confidence and develop a sense of purpose and engagement. Explore training / employment options To support Ahmed to begin a life story book or consider psychology intervention. To offer support to examine Ahmeds current strategies of coping recognising his abilities through the strength model and supporting him to identify any patterns and how to deal with them. To develop a contract for future work in order to be clear of professional boundaries and expectations from both parties and how intervention might look in the future should this be required. Should the circumstances not improve or continue to deteriorate then there is a possibility of seeking hospital admission either, voluntarily or in accordance with the Mental Health Act 1983. More people than ever are being detained in hospital under compulsory orders. Admissions to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 have risen by nearly 30% in the past decade in England. According to a report from three national mental health charities, Rethink, Sane and the Zito Trust, this figure is a worrying reflection of the care for people with mental illness (Kmietowicz, 2004). A sobering thought for any professional. As a practitioner I have learnt that causes of mental health issues are often complex and can involve a combination of biological vulnerability, environmental factors, social stressors, social networks, supports and relationships, psychological orientations and learned behaviour. Coppock and Hopton (2000) state: each perspective on mental distress and therapeutic intervention has its own internal logic(p.175) and stress the importance of recognising the alternatives, otherwise, practitioners are in danger of becoming a rigid in their practice, not work in a pe rson centred way. Having a critical perspective and understanding of the variety of theoretical perspectives and approaches regarding mental health is beneficial. It is clear that these perspectives whether biomedical or social have added to our understanding of mental health. The relative merits of the various perspectives are constantly argued, most characteristically by pointing out the limitations of the differing perspectives. Such critiques can be productive but are only a step in a larger task to develop broader perspectives that can be productively incorporate the different useful insights reached from each of a variety of different points of view. A person centred approach to mental health would seem the optimum approach when examining mental health issues. It recognises the uniqueness of individuals and accounts for all the possible variables and their interactions from social causation, stress vulnerability, gender etc. which would enable practitioners to examine issues within a broader holistic context, instead of rigid simplistic processes of bio medical model (Freeth, 2007). Word Count : 4007

The One Day of the Year Essay -- essays research papers

How are the main characters in a play constructed to represent the text’s underlying values and attitudes? Answer with reference to at least one stage drama that you have seen or studied. The One Day Of The Year explores a family’s relationships at the time of Anzac Day. It is the story of a son questioning the validity of Anzac Day as a true commemoration of our soldiers, while his father refuses to accept the changes in his son’s attitudes, Alf’s wife tries to anchor the family and Wacka, the true Anzac, remembers his experiences in his own way. In contrast, Alf and Dot, his parents, are obviously more traditional. The rest of the house is small, the furniture is dowdy, and their kitchen is primitive. It is then that the viewer is introduced to Alf's attitudes towards life. He is sitting at the table getting progressively more drunk and whingeing about all those more fortunate than himself. His language is slang, and his vocabulary includes words such as â€Å"wotcher†. He also has a strong ‘dinkum-di aussie’ accent. He is obviously uneducated and resents those who are. The family then begin to talk about Hughie and we realise that he has modern clothes and a ‘sports suit’. These are in contrast with Alf and Dot’s old clothes- Dot has just removed a large overcoat. In the next scene, the viewer is introduced to Hughie and Jan. Jan uses upper-class language and condescendingly uses words such as ‘marvellous’. Hugie’s language is not upper-class, but in comparison to Alf’s ...

Third Industrial Revolution

Third Industrial Revolution based on Offshoring and Education It’s no doubt that our economy is changing and so is the world we live in. The major changes in our society stared off with the First Industrial Revolution. Many jobs changed from farm to factory beginning in the late 18th century. This was the largest revolution because it shaped the way we live today. The second revolution was the shift from manufacturing jobs toward service jobs. It’s believed that we are still in this shift. Now we are on the brink of a third industrial revolution which is due to the increase of technology.Often called the Information Age, the third revolution will require change as the first and second have before. However, it seems as if little changes have been made to accommodate the changing world. We are now facing the struggle of keeping jobs in the country and along with that comes the need to enhance our educational system. The two may not seem to work together, but they do. Impr ovement in education may change the way we off shoring our jobs. There has been suggested a few ways that could help improve United States and keep us on top instead of having other countries take our jobs.Alan S. Blinder is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. He is the one that presented the idea of changing the way we educate our youngster to have them better prepared for the future. Researching his ideas and theories on how to solve the problem with education, I did agree with him on most of his theories. In the past the fight for our jobs was with computers and technology. Many jobs were being taken by computers, which resulted in many people being laid-off. We can’t deny that we do need computers and the improvement of technology makes our lives easier.We can’t â€Å"dumb down† our economy to keep jobs. People eventually had to accept the increase of computers and the facts that many jobs we needed to do, can now be do ne for us. We now have another force that’s taking our jobs, offshoring. Offshoring is taking over many companies and there is nothing we can do about it. The good deal of having someone do the same job for a lot less is too good of a deal for a company to pass up. For the heads of companies they love the idea, but for the average worker we have to compete with workers in India and Asia for jobs in our own country.Offshoring is no longer only limited to service jobs. It was thought that call centers and manufacturing companies were the jobs affected for foreigners taking their jobs, but with the increase in technology that is no longer the case. With the increase of offshoring, the jobs more aimed at leaving the country are impersonal jobs. By not needing face to face contact with customers, it makes it easier to have the job completed overseas. Offshoring is an event that we can prepare for, by better preparing the workforce for a new economy of work.Training the future need s to be different than in the past because we are emerging into a whole new era. The increase of computers causes an increase of impersonal jobs, which makes it easy to complete many services by electronic means. Blinder’s suggested, â€Å"We need to think about, plan, and probably redesign our educational system with the crucial distinction between personal service jobs and impersonal service jobs in mind. † Because many impersonal are the first ones being offshoring, the more personal jobs are the one staying in the country.We do need to help the future understand the change that is progressing around us. It does make sense that we need to change our educational system from one that was implemented over 50 years ago. Getting every school and college to change their curriculum will take time and work, but with an effective plan the need for change will eventually happen. The essential need for education needs to change. Learning about a careers that will be available years down the line, will help us be more prepared. Jobs that can’t be offshored or done by a machine will be the product of a new growing economy.Suggestions of ways to improve the educational system would be to include the following. To keep jobs we need to focus on the advancement of skills that cannot be outperformed by a computer or taken away by someone overseas. The thing that makes us American and different than any other culture is what we need to put emphasis on. Creativity, ingenuity, spontaneity, culture, interpersonal relations, etc. are factors that make us an individual and if these are applied into the education system it’s possible that we will gain more jobs back.Memorization seems to be something that many schools try to help develop, but that skill is something that a computer can very well accomplish better than the average worker could. Also by bringing in more group and interactive activities we could improve our personal skills. Just a few newer approaches to increasing the way we learn and information that we learn can help put us on the right track to keeping jobs that we could do better than a foreign country and we could be better prepared for jobs that won’t be offshored.Blinder stated as his main objective, â€Å"We need to focus on preparing more college students for the high-end jobs that are unlikely to move offshore, and on developing a creative workforce that will keep America incubating and developing new processes, new products, and entirely new industries. Offshoring is, after all, mostly about following and copying. Americans need to lead and innovate instead, just as we have in the past. Summary The increase of technology has Americans sending off our jobs overseas. We can compete with foreign countries and computers to keep more jobs in the U.S. One important factor to help us is to improve the way we are educating our future. We need to change the system implementing new ways to educate. We also n eed to change focus of the lesson and focus on new concepts that in the end can make us competitor with computers and foreign countries. Many people don’t know that change is needed and are perfectly fine with the system we have set up now. The ideas that Blinder suggested for us are just ideas that could possibly have us heading in the right direction for the future.Conclusions and Recommendations By using and implementing the information that Blinder has given will help to successfully keep the economy on track and not have it handed over to another country. The educational system we have now hasn’t been changed for many years and as the world is changing we also need to change along with it. Because sometimes it can be hard to adjust to change, and many people don’t like change getting the information publicized and persuading policy holders will speed up the progress for change.

Culture and Educational Policy in Hawaii Essay

American education policy has been formulated and shaped through the three major cartels of institutions. These are social, political and economic which have led to the transitions from one system to another. Although education has profound effects in all the institution, education and politics are seen to have much great effects on each other in terms of policy formulation. Due to the distribution of the political power in the American states, more effects on education systems, requirements and policies are formulated through the political institutions. The American federal government not only checks the economy generating institutions by they are obliged to check on other institutions which includes all the learning academic institutions in ensuring their management is smooth that enhances consolidation of the right composition of the community in term of balancing economic, social and political factors. For the past several decades, the education system in the state has endeavored to have sound political order as a measure of the proliferation of education through innovation of modern knowledge and also in the transfer of the traditional original knowledge, a portrayal of the intimacy of both politics and education. Though education is considered very paramount to all residents, the population of the American comprises of wide number of persons from different races and ethnic groups. This poses very great challenge in creating a learning environment with equality in term of cultural satisfaction. However, through the learning process, the gap between the various ethnic groups with the diversity of culture has been narrowed in private, public and common schools. Despite the struggle to harmonize the education systems in the states, quality of the education has been of prime priority to meet the worlds output in information access and gain that enhance social life. The adaptation of mono-culture by globalization of culture through education systems has not only made the states impoverished but it has also led to specific ethnic groups to get impoverished. Generally, the diversity of culture was initially being abolished through the process of assimilation in United States. The success of it all lied within the choice by an individual by voluntary means; however, there was a milestone for those who were involuntarily being assimilated including the Native American and African Americans among others. The education process was thus going to ultimately be challenged and fail its goals due to the negative view from these communities. The based for education though encountered with difficulty was to trace its way forward by instituting equality with the observations of three main cultural factors for the native Americans that included, protestant ideology, savage-to-civilaztion paradigm of social evolution and final the manifest destiny ideology. The education policy in the Hawaiians was fraud and had inherent discriminatory factors within it. This was policy which was created to exploit and tortures the then native residents in the state. The political stance was eroded with the much pertinent problem more land of expanding the territories politically. Leaders and other prominent favored the oppressive application of the factors of manifest destiny that used segregating in the educational institutions. By imposing segregation policy within the learning organization, the native were barred from knowledge access making the viable for cheap labor in the grabbed agricultural sugar plantations. The segregation policy which was applied in the denied the native Hawaiians from easy educations access. When education centre were available for the whites, the native Hawaiians had to struggles to gain the knowledge which was though to transform their live socially economically and politically. This raised a lot of concern making great men like Jefferson to think of the purpose of education as tool for enslaving the society rather than a freeing them. The education policy created a gap in the society causing stratification of society into several classes whereby the native Hawaiians were forced to the lowest class in all dimension of social, economic and politic concern. This was contrary to the formation of certain schools such as those of brown decision that had the vision of abolishing the disparities in all these factors in the society. Besides the maintaining of the pervasive policy of segregation in Hawaii, this policy has sometime been sandwich to eliminate Hawaiians cultures through changes of the religious believes. Under the disguise of advancing education progressiveness in Hawaii, religious assimilation has played a major role tackily in instituting changes of cultures. The Catholicons and the Protestants tried to battle for their followers which created a better chance for more Hawaiians to have eased way of education under the common schools in the expense and lose of their culture. Though this was far most of merit in opening up learning centre, the natives felt the pinch of having to adapt to the new language that was used as the teaching language making them strained in their understanding. Education systems in Hawaii have great challenges in solving the oppressive policy which for a long time has seen few admissions of the native marginalized communities in those sponsored schools. This call for establishment of more school that are neutral in the cultural institutionalizing neither with hidden motives of praising their own cultures nor superior on traditional basis nor on religious base. It is anticipated that the impingement that have been inflicted on these marginalized population can also be remedied by ensuring that affirmative action of admission to education centers. Reference: Heck, R and Maenette, P. (1998), Culture and Educational Policy in Hawaii: The Silencing of Native Voices: Routledge .

The Life of Emmitt Smith Essay Example

The Life of Emmitt Smith Essay Example The Life of Emmitt Smith Essay The Life of Emmitt Smith Essay The life of Emmitt Smith, star running back of the two-time Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys, reads like a Horatio Alger story: Smith grew up in Florida in a poor but loving two-parent family; he stays out of trouble, respects education, and devotes much spare time to charity work. There’s nothing not to like about Emmitt Smith unless you’re charged with tackling him. So, what does Emmitt have to say about his life? He always loved football. He loves his family, and he works hard and deserves respect and pay commensurate with his performance. We knowbecause he tells us sothat he’s scored many a touchdown in his day. Is this a good sports autobiography? Yes and no. Yes, because Smith’s joie de vivre is so evident. No, because he’s so young, and his life has been a one-note song of happiness. But one can’t expect him to invent tragedy or controversy. He seems like a nice young man, and his book will be in big demand with high-school Emmit-tators. As an author, Emmitt is a fine role model. Smith offers a straightforward account of the heady world of professional football as he describes his recent seasons as the premier running back of America’s Team,’’ the Dallas Cowboys. In telling how a poor Florida boy became a multimillion-dollar star, Smith shows that modern football plays many roles in America today: It’s an art, a thing of magic, a way of lifebut most of all a gritty and competitive business (and for stars like Smith, a lucrative profession). Smith talks about his sandlot heroics, his childhood dream of becoming a star for the Cowboys, and the constant doubts his size raised about his ability to compete (in childhood he was too big, as a pro too small, said his detractors). Smith’s account of his football career is, however, a success story from the beginning: He was a standout in high school and at the University of Florida. Dismayed, he says, by the instability of the Florida program, Smith left prior to his senior year in order to participate in the NFL draft. Picking Smith in the first round, Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson signed him for $3 million for three years (throughout Smith’s account, stories of his numerous contract negotiations loom as large as his tales of on-field feats). With the Cowboys, Smith emerged as a player of big words and big deeds, making cocksure comments but placing first among rookie rushers his first season, subsequently leading the NFL in rushing, becoming the youngest player to rush for 1,500 yards, appearing in three Pro Bowls, and leading his team to consecutive Super Bowl victories. Smith’s account, written with the help of Delsohn (coauthor of John Wayne, My Father, not reviewed) culminates in his amazing 1993 season, when he won the rushing title, the season MVP award, and the MVP award for the Super Bowl. A pleasant, absorbing look at life in the NFLfrom the top.

Free Essays on The Role Of Humans

The way humans were created has always been something questioned in a person’s mind. The people who lived in the early civilizations came up with their interpretations of how life came to be. All the civilizations had a different take to the story, but they all expressed that gods created humans and their purpose was to serve the gods. The Hebrew origin story suggests that humans were the last to be created by God. Whenâ€Å" †¦the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.† (The Bible: Old Testament, 547). The story later said that God created the female from the male by taking one of his ribs when he slept (The Bible: Old Testament, 548). The Hebrew God created man in his own image (The Old Testament, 546) which meant that God thought very highly of man. The Hebrew’s God loves man; after all he did make him ruler of everything on land and in the sea in the air. If God was not pleased with his creation he would not have told man to be fruitful and multiply nor would he have called his creation good (The Bible Old Testament, 546-547). God created humans to watch over his creation. God also instructed humans to make more humans (The Bible: Old Testament, 547). In the Enuma Elish, Marduk was chosen to be king of the gods because he had the ability to make a cloth disappear and then reappear. Marduk defeated and killed Tiamat (the sea), then split her in two. He then created the world from her corpse. Then he created the hum race from the blood of Kingu the rebel god (Overview: The Enuma Elish). The Babylonian gods viewed humans as savages (The Enuma Elish, 158). Whose purpose was to serve so that the gods may be at ease. Man was also supposed to support their gods, tend to their sanctuaries without fail, improve the lands, and build the gods’ shrines. (Enuma Elish, 158) The Babylonian people were basically slaves to their gods, because they wer... Free Essays on The Role Of Humans Free Essays on The Role Of Humans The way humans were created has always been something questioned in a person’s mind. The people who lived in the early civilizations came up with their interpretations of how life came to be. All the civilizations had a different take to the story, but they all expressed that gods created humans and their purpose was to serve the gods. The Hebrew origin story suggests that humans were the last to be created by God. Whenâ€Å" †¦the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.† (The Bible: Old Testament, 547). The story later said that God created the female from the male by taking one of his ribs when he slept (The Bible: Old Testament, 548). The Hebrew God created man in his own image (The Old Testament, 546) which meant that God thought very highly of man. The Hebrew’s God loves man; after all he did make him ruler of everything on land and in the sea in the air. If God was not pleased with his creation he would not have told man to be fruitful and multiply nor would he have called his creation good (The Bible Old Testament, 546-547). God created humans to watch over his creation. God also instructed humans to make more humans (The Bible: Old Testament, 547). In the Enuma Elish, Marduk was chosen to be king of the gods because he had the ability to make a cloth disappear and then reappear. Marduk defeated and killed Tiamat (the sea), then split her in two. He then created the world from her corpse. Then he created the hum race from the blood of Kingu the rebel god (Overview: The Enuma Elish). The Babylonian gods viewed humans as savages (The Enuma Elish, 158). Whose purpose was to serve so that the gods may be at ease. Man was also supposed to support their gods, tend to their sanctuaries without fail, improve the lands, and build the gods’ shrines. (Enuma Elish, 158) The Babylonian people were basically slaves to their gods, because they wer...

Hypermiling (Saving Lots of Fuel) in a Hybrid

Hypermiling (Saving Lots of Fuel) in a Hybrid Hypermiling is an endless pursuitthe quest for improved fuel economy, ratcheted up a couple of notches to near fanaticism. Those who practice it are called hypermilers, a dedicated group of guys and gals who routinely push the limits of maximum fuel efficiency. It got its name from the likes of Wayne Gerdes, one of the original devotees of hypermiling, and often proclaimed the inventor of the term. Hypermiling more or less got its start with hybrids, but its not limited to them. Here, well focus on hypermiling with a hybrid vehicle. Some of the techniques can only be done with a hybrid, or, at least they make it much easier and saferthough some hardcore hypermilers perform ALL of these techniques in regular cars. We dont recommend that, but really, a lot of it is just plain common sense that can be applied to just about any vehicle and/or driver. So what are these techniques and tools that are employed so passionately by their devotees? Read on for an explanation of these FE (thats hypermileresque for Fuel Economy) tricks. Pulse and Glide (PG) This is the heart of effective hypermiling for full hybrid vehicles. Though it takes some getting used to, and its really only appropriate for light suburban and town traffic, large FE gains can be had using it. Our first successful PG was in a Nissan Altima Hybrid. This car is equipped with Toyotas Hybrid Synergy Drive (Nissan licensed it from Toyota), but our car was lacking an energy flow monitor, so we had to rely on the EV mode display and the Kilowatt (kW) meter to execute the task properly. To initiate a PG, accelerate to about 40 MPH with the engine running (the pulse part), then ease off the pedal until the hybrid system goes into EV (electric vehicle) mode and the kW meter shows zero (or if equipped with the energy flow monitor, no arrows are showing energy flow). This is the glide part. The engine is off, the electric motor is disengaged and the vehicle is literally coasting for free. When the car slows to about twenty-five or thirty MPH (depending on traffic conditions, of course) repeat the pulse part, then the glide and so on. If properly applied, this trick uses the engine only to accelerate, and it never has the chance to idle along, wasting fuel while providing no return. Forced Auto Stop (FAS) Forced Auto Stop is similar to PG without the objective of re-accelerating. In a hybrid, it is usually a matter of lifting the accelerator below a speed of approximately 40 MPH and letting the engine shut-off. This allows the car to coast to a slower speed, or come to a complete stop without the engine running. However, many conditions can affect FAS (adequate battery state of charge, hybrid system temperature, engagement of AC compressor, cabin heat, etc.) and are not always so simple. Depending upon the hardware and software controls of the hybrid system, there are ways to fool the system into FAS. Unfortunately, they are many and varied, and beyond the scope of this article. Draft Assisted Forced Auto Stop (D-FAS) This technique involves riding in the wake of a large trailer truck at highway speeds (in FAS). Its not safe, DONT DO IT. We only mention it here because it is part of some hypermilers arsenal of tricks. Driving Without Brakes (DWB) More hypermilers tongue-in-cheek terminology. We like to think of this as driving with minimal brakes, but it must be done with a good dose of common senseits really not a good idea to take a 25 MPH curve at 50 trying to save gas. The main idea here is to not use the brakes to scrub off speed that has been achieved with energy (gasoline) spent. Anticipation is the keyword. Look far down the road to anticipate traffic stoppages, sharp curves, and signal changes and begin to decelerate or coast beforehand. The benefit is three-fold: Not only does DWB increase brake life, it reduces the number of times the vehicle must be started from a dead-stop (overcoming the inertia of a stationary vehicle consumes an enormous amount of energy), and, with a hybrid, the coasting action (regenerative braking) helps charge the battery. Ridge Riding This is the practice of driving very close to the outside edge of the road in order to keep the vehicles tires out of the slight depressions (ruts) worn into the road surface by the constant pounding of daily traffic. For most purposes, this technique is really only effective on wet roadways. Staying out of the ruts, which are filled with a thin layer of water, reduces drag on the tires and increases efficiency. An additional benefit is improved safety by preventing the tires from hydroplaning (riding on top of the water) and loss of vehicle control. Face out Potential Parking This is just plain common sense with a little bit of exercise, to boot. Search out open spaces in parking lots to eliminate the wasteful movement of backing out of a slot. Go one better by locating a spot that is on a bit of a slope, and then use gravity to help get the vehicle moving from a standstill. Sound silly? Multiply those effects over hundreds of park jobs in a year; it really does add up. Fuel Consumption Display (FCD) This is the gauge on the instrument panel of hybrids and many non-hybrids as well. Dedicated hypermilers call this the game gauge, and in many ways, thats just what it is. This device continuously calculates a vehicles average fuel consumption expressed in MPG (or, in metric mode, kilometers/liter) and displays it to the driver who can then make a fantastic game of making the average FE go ever upwards. Instant Fuel Consumption Display (IFCD) The instant fuel consumption display is very similar to the FCD, except that it displays fuel usage, just as the name impliesinstantlyas it is used. The display changes moment by moment in response to sundry dynamic physical conditions: throttle off, light acceleration, heavy load, hard acceleration, coasting and cruising. This gauge, more than any other on a vehicle, hammers home the relationship between fuel economy and driving habits. Keeping the instant fuel consumption display relatively constant and even, with a high reading, will probably net more consistent (and easily attainable) FE than any trick or gadget outlined in this entire article.

An Epistemic Defense of the Blogosphere Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

An Epistemic Defense of the Blogosphere - Article Example Goldman is one of them. In the given paper we will evaluate the statement of Alvin Goldman and his opponent David Coady. In order to understand the position of Goldman, it is necessary to recollect his approach to knowledge and the truth. He states that the information people read in blogs lacks evidences. Goldman criticizes the post modernistic directions in epistemology. He defines an interesting approach to the notion of truth. According to Goldman, the truth should be verified by the evidences. He applies mathematics working out the basics for generic social practices. He uses the Bayes theorem, which states about the probability of the event A only if the event B took place. The application of the theorem by Goldman states about the probability of the event (A=X) if there is an evidence B, which testifies that X happened. Thus, everything should be verified, and before talking about something a person should possess the definite degree of knowledge about it. And blogging in its turn usually lacks this necessary degree of knowledge in comparison with traditional media. Thus, Goldman is afraid that journalism as a serious profession is disappearing due to blogging. His thoughts on the topic are clearly stated in his work The Social Epistemology of Blogging. â€Å"For the acquisition of knowledge to occur, it isn’t sufficient that there be a free press that publishes or broadcasts the relevant truths. It is equally critical that members of the public receive and believe those truths. If truths are published but not read, or published and read but not believed, the public won’t possess the information (or knowledge) that is important for making correct decisions† (Goldman, p. 3). David Coady is one of the critics of Goldman’s opinion about blogging. He states that there is no significant difference between conventional media and blogging. He considers blogging to be just electronic reflection of traditional media.

Discussion 6 his Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discussion 6 his - Assignment Example A traitor who tries to gain power and authority to satisfy his personal gains cannot be regarded in any way to be a hero but a villain. It is for this reason that in my opinion, Minister Arthur Zimmermann was the villain for betraying the US by giving secret support to Mexico and wanting to put the US against her allies. 2. Search the internet for images of posters from World War I. Choose one, take an 8 1/2 x 11 inch white piece of paper and draw the poster by hand with a graphite pencil onto the paper. Take a photo of your drawing, and post it to the discussion board. Describe why the poster intrigued you, and what you learned about the image by taking a long look at it. The image above was selected due to its contrasting theme to what the president of the country at the time, who was President Woodrow Wilson, stood for at the time. It will be seen that whereas the president of the land was preaching peace and wanting the issues of the day to be settled through dialogue, there were those who were fueling the issue. The fueling of the issue took place with such posters that attributed joining the war to civilization. But on the other side of the case, one cannot deny the message of the poster, especially as dialogues broke down and it was becoming clear that America needed to join, at least for the reason of protecting its smaller allies. There are therefore so many lessons in the poster as it teaches the lesson of last resort. As depicted in the poster, war or violence must always be used as a last resort and should only be employed when there is no other alternative and once that time comes, it must be the responsibility of all. 3. Does the history of World War I teach us that it is in the best interest of the United States to fight in foreign wars and to enforce international peace treaties with our military? Write a 4-6 sentence paragraph in

Business Strategies Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Business Strategies - Research Paper Example Organizational strategy therefore requires that all business units, support units and employees are aligned and linked with the business strategy. The most important management responsibility in this context is to design, create and implement organizational strategies which are best suited to the demands of the market, its customers and the business model. However, since the competitors in the market would also have access to the same or similar information and might develop the same strategies, it is crucial that it must consider its organizational design as its most important strategic weapon. Some of the factors to be kept in consideration are as follows (Heracleous, p.XIV). Firstly identifying the right organizational strategy suited for executing the business strategy of the firm is important. This must be followed by identifying its own operating capabilities and sources of competitive advantage. Organizations can only act according to its business strategies if management desi gns the right way for them to do so. The most important factor in this context is strategy and structure alignment in designing its capabilities in a completely informed and rational manner. Some of the problems that might arise in the process are the strategy changes that might have implications or poor alignment with the organizational design and structure; need for restructuring of organizational parts due to sudden changes in technologies and other competitive pressures; organizational growth demanding changes in organizational design and finally, poor execution and organizational effectiveness (Jensen, p.5). The first phase in this alignment is gathering and organizing of data which is then fed to the management in a way which supports validation and learning. The management reaches out on the many different key issues, causal factors and problems and organizational requirements. This is followed by the design process which includes scale and leverage assessment, designing vert ical alternatives and lateral structures etc. Since organizational structures work through trade-offs the various alternatives are evaluated through with regards to their fit with requirements, impact of implementation etc. Based on the evaluation the new organizational structure is created with clear roles and responsibilities; development of values and norms for the alignment of culture with strategy; designing rewards and metrics etc (Jensen, p.5). A theory of management has three main components, a set of assumptions regarding the attitudes and behaviors of humans, the managerial practices, policies and actions consistent with the assumptions, and expectations regarding the performance of employees if the policies are implemented. Research reveals that organizational structure affect the performance of a firm. There are evidences which show that a firm’s performance declines considerably when the strategies are not rightly matched with the appropriate structure and contro ls. The structure necessarily specifies the work which needs to be conducted and how to do it also. It influences the way managers perform their work activities and the decisions resulting from the same. Supporting the organizational structures, strategies are concerned with the processes used for conducting the task activities. Effective structures provide the stability and steadiness towards an organization’s needs and requirements to establish and implement its strategies. It also helps to maintain and its present

Corporate Communication Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Corporate Communication - Research Paper Example In order to analyse its theoretical framework, many scholars have developed several corporate communication theories like critical theory, co-orientation theory, discourse theory, stakeholder communication theory etc. Critical theory is the one most popularly used to study the network of communication in an organisation. The framework of critical theory helps to examine the complications and â€Å"contradictions of marginalization and resistance† in an organisation as well as in the society (Littlejohn & Foss, 2009, p.237). Vary explained that â€Å"the adoption of critical theory provides a means of viewing again the notion of knowledge management in terms of the ethics of human communication and allows the questioning of the centrally of rational decision making as basis of managing† (Babos & Peterson, n.d.). This theory emphasises on knowledge and advocates it as the most necessary element for developing a sound communication system. ‘Communication for stakeholders’ is the latest theory that helps to develop the framework for managing an efficient communication system with the stakeholders. This theory analyses the importance of corporate communication in strategic m anagement of stakeholders. Cornelissen has divided the stakeholders into two groups. These are contractual stakeholders and community stakeholder. This theory focuses on establishing communication with each group of stakeholders (Cornelissen, 2004, p.59). Corporate identity attempts to provide an organisation with a unique brand image that differentiates the host from its close competitors. Hatch and Schultz defined corporate identity as a â€Å"symbolic construction† that must be communicated by the decision makers to its employees (Melewar, 2008, p.15). Once the management successfully delivers the objective of corporate identity, the employees must understand their responsibility of developing the organisational culture. In recent years, the urge of gaining corporate identity in business

The 60s and American Society Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The 60s and American Society - Research Paper Example As the current Vice President to outgoing President Dwight Eisenhower, Nixon would have gained some sense of what the job would entail and would wish to have the office for him, so that he would be able to enact his own vision for the American people moving forward. As the young Senator from Massachusetts and a member of one of the more prominent families in the United States at the time, John Kennedy would ultimately be guided by a desire for public service and a quest to help the average American. This would prove to be a crucial election for many reasons, some yet to be seen at this point in time. The ultimate outcome would see Kennedy overcome the opposition from Richard Nixon and be able to move on to the White House in January 1961. Each political party would profess views for the betterment of the American public and the national ideals, with each differing in points and desired execution. With regard to the Republican Party, "Through the 1960s the emergent conservative wing, first witnessed in Barry Goldwater's 1964 candidacy, began to push out liberal Republicans," ("Profile", p.1). A political group that would, in many ways, wish to define themselves as a party that sought to protect conservative values and ideals. Thus, the Republicans would ultimately find themselves becoming a political party that would wish for such things as lower taxes and higher national defense. With regard to the Democrats, "In the 1960s, President John F. Kennedy challenged an optimistic nation to build on its great history. Kennedy proclaimed a New Frontier and dared Americans to put a man on the moon, created the Peace Corps, and negotiated a treaty banning atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons," ("The Democratic", p.1). Both p olitical parties, through their public assertions and general action taken, would claim to be the party of the average citizen. With every Presidency, events transpire that can not only shape the public itself but also, influence the trajectory of the President's administration. Impact the very decisions made by the chief executive, as they wish to serve the public for whom they were elected by, in such a manner that stays within the realm of the power of their office. For John Kennedy, two of the key events that would occur during the period of his administration, would be the Bay of Pigs in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. Events that would involve the island of Cuba but despite that, would bring about differing circumstances that would force the young President to act and to act quickly, so that the world would be safe from eminent danger. With its entrance early on in Kennedy's presidency, the Bay of Pigs would be one of many attempts made by the intelligence community, as they sought to invade the island of Cuba and ideally, remove the dictator in power. Subsequent events that would transpire, would ultimately lead to the declaration of the invasion being seen as a failure and as such, something that would be seen as a humiliation for the President. In the aftermath of the invasion, Kennedy would take what he learned and utilize it in future circumstances, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 that would find the American people pitted again the Soviet Union, with the island of Cuba being in the middle of this scenario. With the missile

Senior Mentor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Senior Mentor - Essay Example To provide effective health care as a practicing caregiver, it was necessary to identify what factors are involved in senior lifestyle and understand the psychological and sociological characteristics important to this demographic, especially pertaining to death, dying, spiritualism and the potential complexities of attitude associated with these dimensions. The conversation indicated that elderly lifestyle can be quite productive and fulfilling, as well as indicating that perceptions of death and dying are quite potent after reaching advanced age. Death, Dying, Socialization and Emotion The researcher was cautious about introducing the concept of death and dying during what was a rather superfluous discussion of social engagement and thoughts regarding the importance of maintaining a strong social network after reaching advanced years. The researcher waited until the participant indicated recent losses that had occurred as a result of advanced age within their social network to begi n introducing thoughts about death and dying. However, once the participant became comfortable with the mannerism and sincerity of the researcher, the respondent was forthright about her sentiment and emotional attachment to lost friends and her own mortality. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross (1969) provided a hypothesis indicating that there are specific stages that occur during bereavement that dictate the time it takes to heal from loss and how an individual is able to assess their own feelings or fears related to mortality. The first stage is denial, in which the individual refuses to accept that a loved one has passed on. Flowers had, just in the last three months, lost a very close friend along her network that often engaged in the aforementioned lifestyle activities enjoyed by the participant and her social network. Several of her friends, after the loss, demanded that the brunch party set a serving plate in an empty chair for the individual who had passed on at the age of 78 of a sudde n heart attack. This caused Elena Flowers considerable discomfort, however she did not want to frustrate or anger the two friends who were adamant that a place should be provided for the lost acquaintance. When Flowers had suggested, on-time only, that this activity was not productive or necessarily healthy thinking, she met with considerable aggression and accusations that Flowers was heartless and unfeeling. Flowers felt that their own thoughts about mortality, since the lost friend had died so suddenly of a massive heart attack, were what was driving this denial. It was not necessarily denial that the loved one had perished, but attempts to protect themselves from the reality that their life spans were quickly reaching their end. Santrock (2007) states that this type of behavior is common and is designed to protect oneself psychologically from having to face the difficult emotions of losing a loved one. However, Elena Flowers was more of a pragmatist, a realist, who seemed to hav e come to grips with the reality that she, too, would one day meet her natural end. Though this was only a small sample of potential elderly citizens in today’s society, Flowers was keenly aware that she would one day pass on and wanted very much to get the most out of life she could

The 60s and American Society Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The 60s and American Society - Research Paper Example As the current Vice President to outgoing President Dwight Eisenhower, Nixon would have gained some sense of what the job would entail and would wish to have the office for him, so that he would be able to enact his own vision for the American people moving forward. As the young Senator from Massachusetts and a member of one of the more prominent families in the United States at the time, John Kennedy would ultimately be guided by a desire for public service and a quest to help the average American. This would prove to be a crucial election for many reasons, some yet to be seen at this point in time. The ultimate outcome would see Kennedy overcome the opposition from Richard Nixon and be able to move on to the White House in January 1961. Each political party would profess views for the betterment of the American public and the national ideals, with each differing in points and desired execution. With regard to the Republican Party, "Through the 1960s the emergent conservative wing, first witnessed in Barry Goldwater's 1964 candidacy, began to push out liberal Republicans," ("Profile", p.1). A political group that would, in many ways, wish to define themselves as a party that sought to protect conservative values and ideals. Thus, the Republicans would ultimately find themselves becoming a political party that would wish for such things as lower taxes and higher national defense. With regard to the Democrats, "In the 1960s, President John F. Kennedy challenged an optimistic nation to build on its great history. Kennedy proclaimed a New Frontier and dared Americans to put a man on the moon, created the Peace Corps, and negotiated a treaty banning atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons," ("The Democratic", p.1). Both p olitical parties, through their public assertions and general action taken, would claim to be the party of the average citizen. With every Presidency, events transpire that can not only shape the public itself but also, influence the trajectory of the President's administration. Impact the very decisions made by the chief executive, as they wish to serve the public for whom they were elected by, in such a manner that stays within the realm of the power of their office. For John Kennedy, two of the key events that would occur during the period of his administration, would be the Bay of Pigs in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. Events that would involve the island of Cuba but despite that, would bring about differing circumstances that would force the young President to act and to act quickly, so that the world would be safe from eminent danger. With its entrance early on in Kennedy's presidency, the Bay of Pigs would be one of many attempts made by the intelligence community, as they sought to invade the island of Cuba and ideally, remove the dictator in power. Subsequent events that would transpire, would ultimately lead to the declaration of the invasion being seen as a failure and as such, something that would be seen as a humiliation for the President. In the aftermath of the invasion, Kennedy would take what he learned and utilize it in future circumstances, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 that would find the American people pitted again the Soviet Union, with the island of Cuba being in the middle of this scenario. With the missile

Human Resource Management for Tourism, Sports and Creative Industries Essay

Human Resource Management for Tourism, Sports and Creative Industries - Essay Example ative sector relies on recruiting and retaining the appropriate volunteers in the workplace whereas in HRM in Tourism Industry relies on the effective HR practices. However, today human resource in tourism, sports and creative industries are facing the challenges in recruiting, retaining the committed employees and motivating the skilled workers in the workforce, which is focused on offering high quality service to the customers (Armstrong, 2009, p.4-5). Before starting the discussion on how effective human resource management could contribute to the success of event industry, Bratton and Gold (1990) have done a critical analysis on the theory and practices of HRM in the areas of performance management, recruitments and selection and training and development. In the present day globalization, the different areas of industry have undergone a sea change. The Chinese companies are facing the competitions with American companies; the American companies are facing the competitions with the Europe, India and everywhere. There is no monopoly. Hence, for the survival of any industry a high degree of professional management is required at every stage of processing. However, HRM is the vital question that is to be applied at all event management, and there are various types of event industry, which might be either Tourism or can be Sports or anything. The span of activities of HRM starts from the scope of work to the management of international human resources. The literature of Human Resource Management Journal by Bratton and Gold had presented the hard and soft skills of the HRM in different fields of HR practices. The hard skills of HRM focus on the business and the HR strategy in order to help the organization achieve its company strategic goa ls. On the contrary, the soft skill emphasizes on the training and development of the unskilled employees. However, HRM for Tourism, Sports and Creative Industry plays an essential role in the corporate, professional, social and

Jungian Psychology Theory

Jungian Psychology Theory Carl Jung was a psychologist and scholar who pioneered the unique field of analytical psychology. The field is characterized by complex and obscure theories that cover various intricate concepts, such as spirituality and the symbolic dynamics of personality. Many of Jungs theories mirror the abstraction of the concepts that they try to explain. Despite its ambiguity, Jungian therapy nevertheless presents the field of psychology with valuable ideas about the human personality, as well as innovative implications for therapy. It is highly comprehensive, addressing and conceptualizing a great diversity of concepts, such as creativity, religion, spirituality, and personality. In addition, Jungian therapy can be successfully compared to other forms of therapy. Its psychoanalytic background gives it many connections to the theories of classical psychoanalysis and Freudian therapy, while its goals and liberal approach to therapy makes it much more similar to humanistic therapy. However, seve ral questions arise when analyzing the applicability of Jungian theory to the scientific field of psychology and psychotherapy. While his complex concepts allow his theories to explore the hidden depths of the human mind, his lack of precise operational definitions for those concepts makes it difficult for any of his theories to be empirically tested. Similarly, several of his concepts are very vague and offer more questions than answers. Nevertheless, despite an obvious absence of a scientific base for his theories, the effect Jung has had on the field of psychology and on other fields is undeniable. His ideas led therapists to look to fields such as art and music in order to incorporate new and creative methods into therapy that, while more aesthetic than scientific, proved to be very effective. Among these methods are dream interpretation, music therapy, and art therapy. It is important, however, to note that Jungian psychology is not the right approach for all therapists and clients. Only a specific group of people would find Jungs theories appealing and useful. Therefore, its lack of universality can be seen as another important issue. That being said, much more can still be done to test and evaluate the full use of Jungian theory in psychology. Individuation Overall, Jungian theory holds a positive view of people, believing in that they have the inherent potential to stand out as unique individuals. However, the process of individuation is complicated, making a person become aware of and reconcile conflicts with the unconscious parts of his personality before he can truly individualize. Individuation is the means through which people can achieve self-actualization, or self realization. If people are not able to individualize, then they can never reach self-actualization, which is the ultimate goal of Jungian therapy and, according to Jung, it is the ultimate goal of living (Harris, 1996). The process of individuation is very complex and involves individuals integrating various concepts into their lives that may be beyond their current, conscious understanding of the world. In therapy, there could be two levels, one that is shallow and one that is deeper. In the first one, the client can experience a problem, begin to understand it, and then learn how to cope with it or to solve it (Harris, 1996). However, in the second level, the clients look beyond their obvious problems and begin to explore hidden parts of their psyche so that they may not only find a solution to their problem, but so they could also go through a whole transformation process, in which they undergo dramatic changes that allow them to gain deeper meanings about what distinguishes them from other people (Harris). Analytical psychotherapy attempts to create a link between the conscious and unconscious so that concepts that seem illogical could become understandable and interpretable. Structure of the Psyche The Jungian view of personality is based on understanding the structure of the psyche. The psyche is what Jung believed to be the complete and total personality of an individual. It is the vessel of a continuous flow of energy that moves between the consciousness and the unconsciousness. This energy manifests itself in a persons thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The psyche itself consists of many subsystems that are oppositional, yet very interdependent with one another. Those interdependent systems can be grouped into the conscious, the personal unconscious, and the collective unconscious. The conscious consists of perceptions that an individual is constantly aware of, such as immediate memories, thoughts, and feelings. (Jung, 1971a). At the center of the conscious is the ego, which is the conscious main reference point and the psyches unifying element. It consists of immediate thoughts, feelings, memories, and other experiences. In addition, it creates the framework for peoples view themselves and their identity (Jung, 1971b). Covering the ego is the persona, which is the public image one allows other people to see. It is the conscious component of the self usually developed in childhood that manifests itself in everyday roles at work, school, and other social institutions. Likewise, it reconciles the conflict between personal desires and the requirements of society, thus making it a mediator (Jung, 1971a). In terms of the goal of individuation, the persona is what hinders an individuals journey towards that goal. The more one focuses and acts on the social self, the less one can have access to the inner world and thus moves further from individuation and self-actualization. Similarly, disregarding the persona by over-focusing on internal experiences leads to social conflicts and limited awareness of the outside world (Jung, 1959a). Lying deeper than the conscious is the personal unconscious, which is made up of material that is repressed or forgotten but for the most part it can be easily retrieved, usually with the help of therapy. Material in the personal unconscious is unique to the individual (Jung, 1971a). Just as the ego is the center of the conscious, the self is the center of the personal unconscious. The self regulates and stabilizes the personality, and it is also the mediator between the conscious, personal unconscious, and collective unconscious (Jung, 1959b). The self is also dependent on the other systems of personality, as it cannot until begin to develop until other systems become fully developed, which usually happen around middle age. Its development begins when individual starts to become more spiritual and philosophical, which is a sign of the blending of the conscious and the unconscious. The self is surrounded by the shadow, anima/animus, and a various complexes, the details of which will be discussed after a brief description of the collective unconscious (Jung, 1959a). The collective unconscious is the deepest part of the psyche and is perhaps Jungs most complex and most misunderstood concept. Unlike the personal unconscious, which consists of content that was once in the conscious but then forgotten, content in the collective unconscious never existed in the conscious nor did it even contain any personal, individual experiences. (Jung, 1971c). Likewise, it was never acquired by the individual; rather it was inherited from primordial generations. It consists of symbolic material, such as complexes and archetypes. Jungs basis for the idea of the collective unconscious is based in the belief that all individuals possess generic images, myths, and symbols that are biologically passed down through generations and that are partially responsible for guiding how people think, feel, and act. The collective unconscious includes concepts such as light and dark, heaven and hell, and birth and death. Though it can never be directly accessed by the conscious, t he collective unconscious nevertheless presents itself in images, visions, and/or archetypes (Jung). Archetypes and Symbols Archetypes are themes that have manifested themselves in various cultures throughout all of history. Jung (1971b) also calls them primordial images, namely because they are so ancient. Certain archetypes, such as the anima/animus and the shadow, have developed so fully that they now stand as separate systems in the personality. They are supported by common patterns or universal motifs, making up the fundamental content of tales, myths, and legends. They begin to surface usually in the form of dreams and visions (Harris, 1996). The anima/animus is the masculine and feminine archetype, a concept that is similar to the idea of the ying and the yang. Anima represents the feminine qualities in men, and animus represents the masculine qualities in women, with the qualities being those that are stereotypically associated with each sex. An example would the anima emerging as sensitivity in males and the animus emerging as aggression in females. Jung (1971b) believed that the purpose of the a nima/animus is that it allows men and women to understand and properly interact with one other. This archetype came from many centuries of males and females living together and taking on each others personalities (Jung, 1951b). The shadow, which was mentioned before, is a part of both the personal and the collective unconscious. It is the internal content that is usually repressed to its socially unacceptable and uncivil nature. The shadow represents the darker and more evil aspects of the personality that people usually deny even exist because of the strong opposition of society. The shadow occurs in the form of negative thoughts and actions that are rooted in animal instincts. These negativities could be aggression, sexual desire, selfishness, and any other traits and qualities that are considered evil by society. In essence, the shadow is the direct opponent of the persona, the public image. The shadow from the personal unconscious is usually more easily identifiable and manageable than the shadow from the collective unconscious, which is rooted much deeper (Jung, 1971b). In therapy, the acknowledgment and awareness of the shadow is an essential part of moving towards the resolution of conflicts and comi ng closer towards individuation. This acknowledgement, however, is by no means simple, as it comes into conflict with the socially acceptable and positive image one wishes to present to society. Consciously integrating the shadow into personality is usually the first stage of the therapeutic process (Harris, 1996). Conceptualization of Conflict Application to Psychotherapy I: Therapeutic Process As mentioned before, the main goal of Jungian therapy is to help the client come to a higher state of self-actualization, or self-realization. This is an ongoing process that the individual engages in throughout his entire life, from childhood to late adulthood, and it never fully comes to end. The concept of self-realization is more ideal than real and it is the actual process of moving towards self-realization, rather than achieving it, that should be the goal of every individual. In fact, Jung believed that full self-realization can never happen, precisely because self-realization is not real. (Harris, 1996). Sometimes, however, the process may be hindered if in childhood a person grew up in a harsh environment where the parents were unreasonably strict. When the self-actualization process is halted, certain personality dysfunctions, such as neurosis and psychosis, tend to form. When in such a state, a person does not have a balance between the subsystems of his personality. The p eople who come for therapy have either completely lost touch with their inner world or are overly focused on and preoccupied with it. The therapist must therefore help recreate the bridge between the inner and the outer worlds while still keeping them separated and preventing them from merging together (Dehing, 1992). The relationship between the therapist and the client is one element in Jungian therapy that distinguishes it from many other approaches. In Jungian therapy, the client is not viewed as someone who needs treatment and the therapist is not someone who is the curer. Rather Jungian therapists are people who help guide other people to delve into the unconscious and to create meanings in their lives (Dehing 1992). The therapists are experts because they have the knowledge of the structure and functions of the psyche, and so the therapist can teach, give support, scold, or reflect on the clients processes and experiences. However, much of Jungian therapy is dependent on an equitable relationship between client and the therapist, and in order for this relationship to exist, the therapist must abandon any feelings of superiority and authority, as well as the desire to influence the clients therapeutic process. In addition, Jung affirmed that the therapists should be just as equally involved in their own self-realization process as their clients (Dehing). The therapy process itself consists of four stages. During the confession stage, the client acknowledges his problems and limitations. He becomes aware of both his own weaknesses and the weaknesses of humankind, to which he is unavoidably tied to. This is a cathartic process during which transference occurs, and the client begins to transfer thoughts and feelings onto the therapist, thus causing many unconscious elements to come to the surface. This content that is brought to the surface is clarified by the therapist in elucidation, the second stage, during which the client learns about the origin of his problems. In the third stage, the education stage, the clients learns to integrate the new meanings and insights he gains from therapy into his personality. In the final stage, transformation happens are a result of innovative changes and dynamics in the client-therapist relationship that go beyond the environmental realm and that create an active movement towards self-realization (H arris, 1996). Application to Psychology II: Therapeutic Techniques Overall Jung was reluctant to implement specific therapy techniques, as he felt that they would restrict clients in their process of exploration and self-realization. He did recognize, however, that assessments were necessary in order to be able to learn about the clients history and understand how past conflicts lead to maladjustments (Harris, 1996). Using psychological types was the most important technique for assessment. Jung created an outline of the major attitudes that make up a ones personality. The two most fundamental attitudes are the contrasting extroverted personality and introverted personality, with the first characterized as outgoing and social and the second characterized as introspective and shy. While everyones personality consists of a combination of the two attitudes, there is always one that is dominant and is in consciousness and one that is inferior and is in the unconsciousness. In addition to the attitudes, thinking, feeling, sensing, and intuiting are four major functions that also distinguish ones personality type (Jung, 1971d). The four functions are also divided into contrasting pairs, sensing with intuiting and thinking with feeling. Sensing and intuiting characterize how one experiences and perceives the world, and intuiting and thinking characterizes how one evaluates their experiences. Sensing types perceive the world by using conscious acknowledgment of what they can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. Intuiting types perceive the world unconsciously through unexplained hunches and random moments of insight. From there, thinking allows one to understand phenomena by way of reason and logic, while feeling allows one to judge an event emotionally (Jung, 1971d). From the characteristics associated with the psychological types, later researchers created the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a 166 item inventory identifying a person as an extraverted or introverted type and as a feeling, thinking, intuitive, or sensing type (Ryckman, 2004). In addition to the using the psychological types, Jung also used word associations to assess his clients. Through the use of word associations Jung aimed to identify complexes. Clients had to give rapid responses to stimulus words by saying whatever words occurred to them. The stimulus words were chosen so as to stimulate all complexes that have been found in practice. Times were recorded between the presentation of the stimulus and the clients response. Any sort of hesitation or error that occurred was identified as the underlying conflict or complex. Upon discovering the complexes the therapist brings them into the conscious awareness of the client so they may be further explored (Ryckman, 2004). Jungian therapy also consists of various exploratory techniques. Among them the most prominent is dream interpretation. Relation to Freudian and Humanistic Psychology Because of Jungs psychoanalytic background, many comparisons can be made between his theories and the theories of his contemporary Sigmund Freud. However, when analyzing the Jungian approach to counseling and therapy, there is a much stronger parallel with the humanistic approach, especially with Gestalt therapy. Jungs theories can be compared to Freuds on concepts such as personality development, conflict, and the structure of the unconscious. In terms of personality development, both Jung and Freud stress the importance of the development of a healthy and stable self. In Freudian theory that self is the genital character and in Jungian it is the individualized character. However, unlike Freud, Jung did not believe that development could ever have a resolution. As mentioned before, the Jungian concept of personal development is characterized by a constant movement towards self-realization and the consistent balancing of the inner and the outer self. For the most part, this cannot fu lly happen until all parts of the personality become developed, which is not until adulthood. This differs greatly from Freud who believed that the larger part of an individuals personality forms in childhood. Similarly, the two differ in how they view and conceptualize conflict. For Freud, psychopathology and other dysfunctions are rooted in negative childhood and past experiences, such as abuse or neglect. In order to cope with such experiences, a person develops various defense mechanisms, the most common of which are repressions and fixations. These defense mechanisms hinder development in that they do not allow one to successfully complete all the stages of development. Jung, on the other hand, did not view the unsuccessful completion of the stages of development as the source of conflict, partially because he rejected the idea of the stages of development having completion. Conflict, in Jungian theory, comes from an internal imbalance between the subsystems of personality. Likewise, contrary to Freud, conflict is not ignited by a traumatic or painful childhood event. Rather conflict is something that is present in individuals from the very beginning and is a natural part of personali ty. The Jungian idea of conflict can be described in terms of the cosmological idea of chaos. Before the creation of the world, there was only chaos. Then in a slow process, order came to chaos and the world was able to fully form. It is the same with the individual, who starts life conflicted but then slowly is able to gain internal balance and stability. It is quite evident that the Jungian concept of the unconscious is based on Freudian theory. Both theories emphasize the immense importance of the unconscious and its affect on the individual, stating that conflicts are centered in the unconscious. In Freudian psychology the main unconscious process is the struggle between the superego and the id. In Jungian psychology, such struggles also exist, mainly in the conflict between the persona and the shadow. Likewise, both Freud and Jung divided the human mind into three levels: the conscious, preconscious (or subconscious), and unconscious in Freudian theory, and the conscious, personal unconscious, and collective unconscious in Jungian theory. Jungs personal unconscious can be equated to Freuds preconscious. Both levels are deep, but not beyond access, and both contain content that became lost to the conscious. Jungs collective unconscious is similar to Freuds unconscious in that it is beyond the reach of the conscious, but usually man ifests itself in the form of dreams and symbolic images. However, unlike the Freudian unconscious, the Jungian unconscious is not solely made up of repressed aggressions and sexual desires. It is much more complex, containing both personal repressions and archetypal ideas of the greater humanity. Jungian therapy is connected to humanistic therapy in its goals and approach to therapy, specifically the relationship between the client and the therapist. In both therapies the ideal goal is the realization and actualization of the self. In therapy, this goal is met by placing strong emphasis on awareness of experiences. Like humanistic therapy, Jungian therapy acknowledges the importance of the past, but prefers to focus on the immediate present and the impending future. Specifically, past experiences are only viewed in terms of their implications on the present and future. However, unlike the humanistic approach, Jungian therapy places more emphasis on unconscious processes and how they affect the conscious. Jungian therapy is also similar to humanistic, particularly to Gestalt, in the way it views the role of the therapist and the relationship he has with the client. Like Gestalt therapy, Jungian therapy views the therapist as being equal in position and superiority to the clien t, having expertise only in terms of having more knowledge of psychological processes. Conclusion In general, Jungian therapy and analytical psychology presents very strong and well supported ideas, even while being, at times, complex and ambiguous. The theories are solid and comprehensive, covering a wide range of psychological phenomenon. It can therefore be used alone, without the conjunction of a different form of therapy. It builds on certain pre-existing theories from classical psychoanalysis, yet offers a completely different and unique perspective to them, in addition to adding new concepts. Jungian therapy is especially unique in its strongly philosophical nature that emphasizes abstract rather concrete concepts. Such concepts include spirituality, symbolic images, and the connection between the individual, humankind, and the greater cosmos. This unique factor of Jungian therapy can be viewed as both a strength and a weakness. It is a strength in that it outlines and conceptualizes ideas that are usually limited only to philosophy, despite having such important roles in personal development. Every person at some point attempts to search for the higher and deeper meanings in life. Jungian therapy recognizes and supports this need. However, its philosophical approach is also a major weakness. One reason for this is that it lacks empirical evidence due to its abstract nature. Another reason is that the concepts are very complex and require a specific type of mentality in order to understand them. This makes it difficult for Jungian therapy to be applicable to all clients. I believe the types of clients that would probably receive the most benefit from Jungian therapy are people who can think abstractly and who are very patient. These people view the world in terms of symbols that are in constant need of interpretation. They have to be fond of constructing meanings of both their own internal experiences and the universal, macrocosmic phenomena. People with problems such as severe depression, personality disorders, and schizophrenia may be greatly helped by Jungian therapy. These are people who have lost or were not able to find greater meaning in life, thus causing them to plunge into the confusion and chaos that characterizes the mentioned disorders. Jungian therapy would be able to help find that meaning, as well as give them a strong conceptualization of their experiences. However, clients who prefer a more concrete and direct approach to therapy would most likely be very frustrated with a Jungian therapist and would probably not be aided by the pro cess. If anything, their condition may only worsen from being overly confused and frustrated. Clients with OCD, phobias, and other anxiety disorders should probably be treated with a different therapeutic approach, as Jungian therapy may not be the most appropriate technique for them. Therefore a therapist must be very careful when choosing to use the Jungian approach. The therapist should first be able to assess the clients mentality and determine whether Jungian therapy would be harmful or beneficial.