Carol Gilligan: interpretation of “Feminine Ethics” Essay

To start with Carol Gilligan is considered to be one of the most famous psychologists in the United States and in the world. The author of the â€Å"feminine ethics† was born in New York in 1936. Her career as a future psychologist started with the presenting of the doctoral thesis at the Harvard University in 1964. For a decade she was working with the great theorist of moral development, Lawrence Kohlberg, but then she began criticizing his works. In her famous book â€Å"In a Different Voice: Psychological Theory and Women’s Development† (1982) Gilligan presents a revolutionary idea, she gives women rights to choose and she associates them with care and in some cases with the motherhood. Still, there were some reasons why Gilligan began to criticize Lawrence Kohlberg’s work. Firstly, she considered him to have rather a narrow approach to the problem of moral values. Secondly, Lawrence Kohlberg examined only men’s moral principles and paid no attention to women’s feeling and in such way, Kohlberg showed â€Å"biased opinion against women†. Thirdly, Gilligan felt that women should have the voice and she wanted to present a controversial approach to women’s rights and moral values. Fourthly, Kohlberg in â€Å"terms of influence on a human relationship† considered men’s rights and rules to be at the higher stage than women’s (Gilligan, 1982). Lawrence Kohlberg was not the only scientist whose works gave Gilligan ground for her future work. She laid her research on Freud’s and Erickson’s works. Thus, while discussing women’s moral senses Sigmund Freud, stressed that they are underdeveloped, because of women’s dependence upon their mothers (Lawrence, 2008). Another famous moralist and theorist, Erik Erickson believed that the process of women’s development is successful only in case of separation from the mother and the family. Thus, the board schools for girls are a good possibility for a young lady to develop moral senses. Still, Erickson thought that if a woman did not come through the process of self-development she would be lacking some major senses, which make her a real woman (Boeree, 2004). Criticizing the above-mentioned theories Gilligan understood that her goal was to present a new approach to the women’s moral senses. Her theory comprises three aspects of women’s moral development: selfish, social and principled morality. According to Gilligan (1982) â€Å"Women must learn to deal with their own interests and to the interests of others†. The above-mentioned theory has laid the basis for the Gilligan’s Ethics of Care and Feminine approach to the women’s role in the society. I look closer to the proposed three-stage theory some similarities to Freud’s one will be found. Thus, Gilligan presents the following ideas as for the first level – the level of â€Å"self†: â€Å"†¦ the self is the sole object of a woman’s concern. This self is a beleaguered self: a powerless and disappointed self, so afraid of being hurt that it prefers isolation to connectedness†¦.this is a self that wants above all to survive† (Gilligan, 1982) Still, the first level is the level of â€Å"wish†; and when the woman makes the transition from â€Å"wish† to â€Å"necessity†, from â€Å"the selfishness† to â€Å"willful decision† and to â€Å"the responsibility of moral choice† she will reach the second level – the level of moral development. The main motive which leads the woman to move from the first to the second level is a desire to establish connections with others and to participate in social life. According to Gillian â€Å"†¦the woman of the second level is the conventional, nurturing woman who equates goodness with self-sacrifice and who tries to subjugate her wants to those of other people†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gilligan, 1982). The moral development of a woman according to Gilligan can continue to the third level in the case when a woman suppresses her wants and as a result, she reaches a destructive boiling point. Thus, Gillian writes: â€Å"†¦to avoid becoming a resentful, angry, even hateful person, a woman needs to push beyond level two to level three of moral development, where she will learn how to care for herself as well as for others†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gilligan, 1982) So in case when a woman moves to the third level the process of making decisions is a two-sided procedure. From one hand woman takes into consideration her own desire and from the other hand she looks at others’ interests and tries to find a happy medium. Gilligan characterizes the move from the second level to the third level as a transition from goodness to truth. She writes: â€Å"A woman moves from pleasing others – being the conventionally good, always self-sacrificing woman – to recognizing her own needs as part of any relationship. In sum, a woman attains moral maturity when she stops opposing her needs in favor of others’, simultaneously recognizing the falseness of this polarity and the truth of her and others’ interconnectedness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gilligan, 1982). As it becomes clear Gilligan believes that women look at moral senses through the prism of caring about others and responsibilities to others. Still, Gilligan uses rather a narrow approach to the women’s moral senses. It is obvious that women are living in society and fulfill their roles according to the choice made. But Gilligan ties ethic of caring with the relationship and responsibility and here is the greatest confusion. Thus, from one hand women make choice on their own from the other hand they are to look at their family, relatives, and friends. Can there some misunderstanding be found? Nevertheless comparing the Gilligan work â€Å"In a different voice† with the feminine approach which is presented in the work, it should be stressed that everything is circling around care, which the woman is obliged to give. But is it a real feminism? It can’t be so. Still, it should be stressed that Gilligan’s work influenced a lot of works in the sphere of womenà ¢â‚¬â„¢s morality and feminism. Analyzing Gilligan’s work Omonia Vinieris, the representative of idealism, writes that proposed three-level development of moral senses cannot be applied to the modern society because of the masculine â€Å"competition and self-interest†. She stresses that â€Å"sensitivity and kindness were never equated with human goodness† and as a result presented â€Å"feminine approach cannot be applied to the rational and intellect male-world† (Vineries, 2002) Using Gilligan’s ethics of care Brenda Green proposes to apply feminist care to the nursing practice. She thinks that care can be applied to politics and can be associated with gender and power. Moreover Green advocates the idea that the ethics of care should be rooted in the moral frameworks of responsibility and relationships rather than rights and rules and that any care orientation is inseparable from contextual circumstances rather than being a formal and abstract system of thought. Additionally, care should be grounded in the daily activity of life rather than a set of universal principles. (Green, 2012) Houser, Wilczenski, and Ham (2006) using the â€Å"Ethics of care† suggest that feminism ideology includes two primary streams of â€Å"woman-centered† approaches which are relevant to care ethics: the feminine and the feminist. ‘Feminine’ refers to the exploration of women’s unique voice and advocates for an ethic of care. ‘Feminist’ refers to the resistance against male domination and advocates for equal rights. Both approaches seek to validate the importance of experience, understand the destructiveness of oppression, and eliminate gender and social inequality. Halwani (2003) in his turn suggests that while using care equal weight should be given in our moral deliberations. The main aim of the family from his point of view is responding to the needs of the loved ones. Such an approach implicates partialism or discrimination in care to others. Although partialism seems arbitrary, it does assign greater importance to the protection of one’s own interests and to the interests of those the person cares about, over the protection of the welfare of others, particularly those who are strangers. Coming to conclusion it should be stressed that Carol Gilligan has presented the new approach to the development of women’s moral senses and feministic ideas as for the women’s role in the society. Beside Gilligan’s works influenced further studies in the sphere of morality and the women’s place in the society. References Boeree C. G. (2004) Personality theories: Erik Erikson. Psychology Department Shippensburg  University.  Retrieved  from  http://www.ship.edu/%7Ecgboeree/perscontents.html Gilligan, C. (1982) In a Different Voice: Psychological Theory and Women’s Development. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. Green B (2012) Applying Feminist Ethics of Care to Nursing Practice. Journal of Nursing & Care. Retrieved from https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/applying-feminist-ethics-of-care-to-nursing-practice-2167-1168.1000111.php?aid=6557. Halwani R (2003) Care ethics and virtue ethics. Hypatia, 18, 161-192. Houser R, Wilczenski F, Ham M.A. (2006) Culturally relevant ethical decision-making in counseling. Sage Publications, California. Lawrence A. (2008) Gilligan and Kohlberg: Implications for Moral Theory. Blum Source: Ethics, 98 (3), 472-491 Vinieris O. (2002) On the feminist theory of care. QCC. Retrieved from http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/SocialSciences/ppecorino/ETHICS_TEXT/Chapter_12_Feminism/What_is_it.htm

Deborah Tannen’s Theory Essay

In contemporary society biological factors are no longer the sole components that distinguish men and women. Rather anything from clothing or hairstyles to make-up or accessories can indicate specific messages about an individual. According to Deborah Tannen, women are more frequently considered marked beings in our society while men have fewer clothing or style options and are therefore free to remain unmarked. Although Tannen argues that it is possible for men to remain purely â€Å"unmarked† her assertions do not hold up well in a changing world. Because the term â€Å"marked† is a social construction, it is not possible to remain completely unmarked, as styles and trends repeatedly change with different ages, generations, and geographic locations. In her study Tannen reveals that among four women and eight men present during a business meeting the women had several more features to observe compared to one another. However, Tannen’s conclusions seem partially invalid for her findings are based on only one particular event. In a business-like environment, it is more likely to find conservatively dressed men with less notable markings than women. Even though women may not only be identified based on their apparent style but also how they choose to present themselves. (i.e. Baggy clothes vs. tight clothes, make-up vs. no makeup). In general, Tannen’s findings appear questionable mainly because her approach when defining a â€Å"marked† individual seems limiting. For example, Tannen would call a man wearing a shirt a marked individual. However, it is quite common for men in Scotland to wear skirts. Without ever considering these geographic differences, Tannen makes bold assumptions based on her own biases. When speculating a specific sub-culture such as the generational â€Å"rave†/dance culture, Tannen’s argument holds no validity. Clearly both men and women in this culture wear similar styles of clothing and accessories that are in essence, uni-sex. While piercings and jewelry might â€Å"mark† a man in society such stylistic choices are considered quite common and acceptable among â€Å"ravers†. Similarly women who wear baggy clothes and baseball caps are not â€Å"marked† as less feminine than those who wear tighter clothes and make-up within this sub-culture are. According to Tannen, â€Å"each of the women at the conference had to make decisions about hair, clothing, make-up and accessories and each decision carried meaning†¦. men can choose style that are marked but they don’t have to, and in this group none did.† (231-2). Although Tannen makes the distinction between the style of men and women at a business conference, she fails to mention that their age and field of work influences what should be â€Å"marked vs. unmarked† and what styles appear appropriate vs. inappropriately. Clearly, Tannen states that all four women are marked yet some are considered more severely marked and judged than others are. Specifically, the women with the long, blond, hair, dressed in tight clothing and heels were more severely marked in Tannen’s eyes. However, Tannen never mentions that in another profession, such as the entertainment or fashion industry, the women style might be considerable less marked than an individual dressed more simple and conservatively. In conclusion, the assumptions that Tannen makes in her article infer that men in society can remain unmarked. Although men are objectified and sexualized less than women this does not mean that they are not in the public eye. Tannen’s view on today’s â€Å"marked† society is based truly on her opinion. She omits geographical, generational and age differences when making her conclusion.

Compare and Contrast the Chinese and Russian Revolutions

China and Russia had various similarities and differences during the early 20th century. They were different in the aspect of goals as Russia was highly concerned in making everyone literate to experience the works of Marx, Lenin and Stalin personally while neither the Chinese communist party nor the Kuomintang cared much about literacy for the masses. Another differences was the characterization of the Russian revolution by World war 1 leading to the revolt against a ruling Tsar while China, was not affected by the war was more of a civil war between the nationalists and Mao’s peasants.Even so, both nations ended up with Communist revolutions, following the proletariat ruling belief. During the early 20th century, the Russian revolutionaries wanted all its people to be literate as to experience by reading the works of Karl Marx, Lenin and Stain first hand. Overall they were very successful in increasing the literacy rate in general. This was possible because immediately after the revolution, education was greatly overhauled in the spending on popular education.Free eduction was ordered for all children from the ages of three to sixteen years old as well as the duplication of schools within the first two years. Coeducation was also imposed as to get rid of sex discrimination and for the welfare of the whole society. However in China, the revolution did not really care about teaching and education for their citizens but rather focused primarily on replacing the existing system of government and its ruler with one headed up by the leader of the revolution, Mao Ze Dong.Another difference between the Russian and Chinese revolution was that the Russian revolution was influenced a lot by the first world war, while the Chinese revolution was untouched by it and still fought for the same beliefs as the Russian revolution. The Russian revolution was highlighted by the overthrow of Nicholas II which was brought on by the end of the first world war. Differently, th e Chinese revolution was not affected by the first world war and was sparked by the Marxist ideas of the working class being able to rule.Even though the first world war was not a cause of the revolution, Mao Ze Dong’s peasant army and Chiang Kai’s nationalist army still fought until Mao’s forces defeated the nationalists in 1949. The major similarity between the Russian revolution and the Chinese revolution would be that both revolutions made the path for the nations to become Communists. They were both led by charismatic leaders Lenin and Mao Ze Dong, who were able to unite the people into the revolution.Both had similar goals and outcomes as they both aimed for the working class, Proletariats, to rule against the ruling class. Both revolutions also aimed to establishing a state ownership in their countries as well as removing any kind of inequalities within the nation. Both ending up as communist nations, the Russian revolution and the Chinese revolution were shaped by different sparks and aimed to reach its goals through different methods but strived for a similar goal inspired by the Marxist ideas of the Proletariat class to rule.

CORPORATE FINANCE MINICASE 4 Scholarship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

CORPORATE FINANCE MINICASE 4 - Scholarship Essay Example 0 1 2 3 | | | | -1 2 FV = $1(1 + i)3 = $2. $1(1 + i)3 = $2. (1 + i)3 = $2/$1 = 2. 1 + i = (2)1/3 1 + i = 1.2599 i = 25.99%. e. What is the difference between an ordinary annuity and an annuity due What type of annuity is shown below How would you change it to the other type of annuity (Ehrhardt & Brigham, 2006) 0 1 2 3 | | | | 100 100 100 An ordinary annuity has payments at the end of the period, while an annuity due date has payments in the beginning of the period. The annuity shown above is an ordinary annuity. To change it, just shift each payment to the left. This way there would be a 100 under 0 but none under 3. 0 1 2 3 | | | | 100 100 100 f. (1) What is the future value of a 3-year ordinary annuity of $100 if the appropriate interest rate is 10% (Ehrhardt & Brigham, 2006)0 1 2 3 | | | | 100 100 100 110 121 $331 FVAn = $100(1) + $100(1.10) + $100(1.10)2 =... k. Suppose on January 1 you deposit $100 in an account that pays a nominal, or quoted, interest rate of 11.33463%, with interest added (compounded) daily. How much will you have in your account on October 1, or after 9 months (Ehrhardt & Brigham, 2006) It is an annuity in the sense that there are constant payments at regular intervals, but the intervals do not correspond with their compounding periods. In situation like these, we calculate the EAR and then treat it as an annuity. (4) An important rule is that you should never show a nominal rate on a time line or use it in calculations unless what condition holds (Hint: Think of annual compounding, when INOM= EFF%= IPER.) What would be wrong with your answer to Questions l-(1) and l-(2) if you used the nominal rate (10%) rather than the periodic rate (INOM/2= 10%/2 = 5%) (Ehrhardt & Brigham, 2006) m. Suppose someone offered to sell you a note calling for the payment of $1,000 fifteen months from today. They offer to sell it to you for $850. You have $850 in a bank time deposit that pays a 6.76649% nominal rate with daily compounding, which is a 7% effective annual interest rate, and you plan to leave the money in the bank unless you buy the note.

AIG accounting scandal (2005) - Income Statement report Essay

AIG accounting scandal (2005) - Income Statement report - Essay Example hese scandals, postmortem results indicate presence of a creative accounting process, a phenomenon characterized by complex methods of funds redirecting and misuse as well as overstated revenues and improper reporting of expenses and liabilities. According to Roddy (2011, pp 34), the most significant scandal of the last decade involved Tyco, HealthSouth, Enron, WorldCom, and AIG among others. This paper aims at exploring the accounting scandal that affected American Insurance Group in 2005. American Insurance Group (AIG) is a multinational insurance corporation. It is regarded as the World’s largest insurance company with over 90,000 workers and offices in over 130 countries. The company is also involved in other forms of business including aircraft leasing and assets management in many parts of the world. During this time of the scandal, the company was led by Maurice Greenburg, the long-time serving leader, having led the company since 1968. He was named as the person involved in the scandal, and eventually pressured to step down in 2005. The company came under scrutiny first in 2001 after it was realized that a client company had been assisted to strengthen their balance sheet fraudulently. Investigations were started and in 2003, a penalty of $10 Million was passed by SEC to settle the issue. The company’s income smoothing products were investigated in 2004 and a bid rigging complaint filed. Kay (2005) wrote that the company admitted to having conducted improper accounting exercises. When the company finally released the 2004 annual earnings, it was discovered that re-insurance deals with GenRe were not accounted for in the deposits. A restatement of this resulted to a decrease in the earnings by $1.32 Billion. According to Martin and Wesley (2005), several lawsuits were filed against AIG starting with one by the Attorney General concerning misleading accounting which Greenberg dismissed as political war. Others were filed by the federal agency leading to

Major Goals to be Achieved to Satisfy Taxpayer Essay

Major Goals to be Achieved to Satisfy Taxpayer - Essay Example As the report declares the key to improving educational performance lies in a two pronged approach improving quality parameters through the use of the Quality Improvement Model as laid out by WTCS, which has created the new data system in 2004 for the quality review process and providing wider access to more students by a phased approach to learning through part time, flexible programs. More emphasis needs to be given to the online, correspondence and net meeting programs to enhance educational opportunities for those who have potential but not the opportunity due to their job commitments. This essay stresses that bearing these two objectives in mind, my plan will focus on performing more frequent self assessment as provided for by AQIP at lower costs. This will help to assess how exactly the college stands as compared to taxpayer expectations. The new WTCS associate degree reconfiguration program will be emphasized with less emphasis on international applicants and more attention diverted towards reaching the community of taxpayers in Wisconsin with the opportunity to return to college, while simultaneously strengthening the K-12 post secondary agreements to provide links to more students to avail of the facilities at the college. This could be integrated with a teacher recruitment effort by pulling in our past students as teachers, to consolidate teacher teams and put back resources into the community.

Subscription Television Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Subscription Television - Research Paper Example Other technological devices, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, TV and modern tablets are also becoming key direct competitors (Nikolinakos 67). The second level of competitors includes product category competitors which prove to be more specific. These include basic cable, on demand internet television, satellite television, which comprises of either a dish or a direct TV and finally, video on demand such as VUDU (Cohen 78). The third category of the key competitors comprises of generic competitors such as movies, theatres, online gaming, online plays, videos and concerts. The direct competitors offer clients subscriptions to a desirable number of television channels and unlimited content such as movies. This is the case with streaming video subscriptions. Theses streaming subscriptions have proven to be primary competitors to subscription television considering they offer their clients a diverse range of content which is not limited to television shows. This is likely to make them a preference over subscription television. This has been the case in the recent past as streaming video subscriptions have registered a remarkable percentage of sales. Evidently, the likes of Netflix and Hulu have proved to be primary competitors to subscription television because of the package they offer to clients. In the case of specific competitors, the potential of basic cable television and satellite television, which do not pose subscriptions to the users, offer a measurable level of competition (Grimme 64). These are highly accessible through antennae and may prove to be a preferable choice for some users depending on their television needs. With the increasing access to the internet, a remarkable percentage of the population prefers to watch their favourable television channels online as long as they have an internet connection. With the cheap packages of internet connection, these

Effective Communication in Advising Workgroups on Contract Essay

Effective Communication in Advising Workgroups on Contract Negotiations - Essay Example LITERATURE REVIEW †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦..10 OBSERVATION†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦11 INTERVIEW†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦..11 SURVEY†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦12 5. BIBLIOGRAPHY†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..â⠂¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.......................13 APPENDICES Verification of NIH Tutorial Completion IRB Form B Abstract This portfolio supports the most effective process of communicating when advising workgroups of contract negotiations to maintain a positive workplace environment through an observational study and a literature review. This association helps workers to negotiate their grievances in a way that will maintain their good performance in the work environment. The observational study reflects a system through which the Association of flight attendants communicates to their members on maintaining professional conduct and safe services to the airlines clients while negotiating their contracts. The literature review examines various unions and workgroups communication to particular member problem with a methodological discussion to help employee to maintain a positive workplace environment despite their grievan ces. Effective Communication in Advising Workgroups on Contract Negotiations Conflict Story Contract negotiations by the Association of flight attendants, its flight attendants members and the airlines itself has experienced an ongoing conflict for a long period of time. Workers union has the mandate of communicating effectively to the employees of a particular workgroup the means of negotiating contract agreements in a way that positive workplace environment is maintained. This is unlike the case where most unions threaten employers with strikes and go slow activities to force solutions to employee grievances. It is important for the workers to use an effective means of communication that will prevent development of unhealthy behavior among the workforce. I have observed that undesirable communications to employees have a significantly negative impact on the work environment since it may encourage negative attitudes towards work and the management. The most effective process that u nion representatives can use to communicate to its member’s the issues regarding to their grievances when advising them is face to face. The process of face to face communication is the most effective way that will achieve negotiation result while a positive workplace environment is maintained. Face to face communications involves a situation where a joint meeting that involves all parties holding a discussion of issues that relates to each party. The discussions help workers to maintain a positive work environment as they negotiate their grievances with employers. The employee grievances range from issues of job security for both continuing and new employees to compensation and work benefits package incase of termination of employment. The union acts as a mediator between the employer and the employees with regards to contract negotiation issue. Literature Review The Association of Flight Attendants has undertaken to come up with a means of communicating effectively to their members to ensure that a professional workforce is maintained

The merger between two health care systems Research Paper

The merger between two health care systems - Research Paper Example management overlooked potential distrust from local care providers, it also did not focus on the overall inefficiencies as well as the market forces that come about during a merger. Furthermore, the new entity did not have cost-saving skills needed to keep the company a float after the merger; they combined this with poor cultural knowledge and team leadership needed to deal with losers and winners in the arrangement. Pennsylvania witnessed what could potentially be their largest health system yet in the 7th month of 1997 through the creation of Penn State Geisinger Health System. At first, the new unit now had 1342 beds, 1000 physicians, 77 outpatient clinics, 3 hospitals, 1 drug treatment facility as well as patients from about 40 counties in central Pennsylvania (Sidorov, 2003). During the formation process, the two former organizations needed to decide upon executive leadership, so they came up with a methodology for creation of a new board. They took a 50-50 split between board members from both health systems; however, Geisinger got the upper hand in this regard because its representative was the chairperson. He had the power to break ties during votes and he contributed towards a higher ratio of members from his own company; this implies that executive decisions were now skewed towards the chairperson’s former organization. Not all the aspects of the two companies were dissolved as Pen State Hershey would be retaining control of the college of Medicine that was under Hershey Medical Center. Several changes took place throughout the organization; for instance, the Health Plan under Geisinger now became a joint plan whose name accommodated the new change. This had the advantage of increasing the customer base to about a million for the HMO and expanded the geographic regions from which consumers came. The merged unit still maintained the regional demarcations that had been used by Geisinger, and only added Penn state HMC as a forth region which would

DO WE NEED FEMINISM NOW THAT WOMEN ARE FREE Essay

DO WE NEED FEMINISM NOW THAT WOMEN ARE FREE - Essay Example As a means of answering such a question, the analysis will first consider what those who support a further form of feminism might say with regards to the prospect that the future holds and what extant need may still exist for feminism. Once this has been discussed with a level of depth and clarity, the analysis will then move on to some of the reasons for why such an approach necessarily guarantees that there will be perennial requirements for further feminism within the world. Some of these requirements are concentric upon the religious mores that are currently exhibited within the current system; whereas others are merely an example of history and the cultural determinism that has helped to define the United States in the way that it is. Finally, the last portion of the analysis will argue the position of the author with relation to this issue. Individuals that resist certain types of feminism put forward the understanding that the â€Å"appropriateness† of the feminist approach is predicated upon the viewpoints that it espouses. Naturally, some more radical types of feminism do not maximize the interests of women as much as they seek to minimize and demean the role of men throughout society. Within such an understanding, the more militant versions of feminism can be dispelled as illogical and not worthy of further analysis within this paper. Although this is something of a categorical approach, there are too many types of feminism and too many different approaches that do require a level of analysis to spend precious space within this brief discussion analyzing the more militant versions of this worldview (Valenti, 2012). The underlying reason for focusing upon the more mainstream branches of feminism is predicated upon the fact that it is the belief of this author, as well as the near categorical belief of a litan y of

Concept of health (dementia) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Concept of health (dementia) - Essay Example arteries in the Heart are responsible for carrying the pure oxygenated blood and when it gets narrowed down due to the building of fatty substances on its walls, enough blood is not pumped in and out of the heart. This leads to symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath and in extreme cases, it leads to Heart attack. Coronary Heart Disease is called by different names such as Coronary Artery disease, Atherosclerotic Heart Disease and causes a combination of symptoms. The most important condition caused is called Angina which blocks blood flow in heart. Limitation of blood flow in turn causes a condition called ischemia in myocardial cells. When myocardial cells starve and die of oxygen it leads to a condition called myocardial infarction and there will be numbness in the body which is called as paresthesia. This disease is of particular interest because in England alone it kills more than 110,000 people annually. The disease does not have a big history as it was discovered very late after many changes have happened to the eating and working habits of people. CHD is also the most important cause of death in the US where more than 15 million people have some form of this condition. Also, according to Guinness Book of Records, Northern Ireland is the country with the most occurrences of CHD in the world. CHD is not biased with gender affecting both males and females equally. Although men in the 40’s are more susceptible than women, it gets evened out because as women get older, their risk is equally high as that of men. From 1984, more women have died of this heart disease than men. Already one in three females die of CHD while one in twenty five females die of Breast cancer. Forty to Fifty percent of women older than 45 have high levels of Blood pressure called Hypertension and high levels of Cholesterol which are the well-documented risk factors of heart diseases while smoking is the most common and preventable reason for cardio-vascular diseases in

Human Resource Management Essay Example for Free

Human Resource Management Essay I. Introduction The purpose of this paper is to analyse the characteristics of the Pre-WW II Japanese corporate management from the perspective of the human resource development. The essential framework of the Japanese-style human resource management before WW II constituted differentiated employment by a few ranks; then, different duties and treatments followed accordingly. The initial ranks were determined by the level i.e. social recognition and overall academic achievement of new employees’ schools. Thus, the approach was called â€Å"an educational class system†. The graduates of either universities or polytechnics were hired as high-ranking employees with monthly payment, whilst the graduates of technical or commercial schools which were on a level with secondary education filled the posts of employee in semi-staff condition. Their wages were paid either monthly or daily. In the case of workmen with basic education at shop floors, the payment was only made daily. The gap of prestige and remuneration amongst the different ranks was distinctive 1 . This noticeable correlation between educational background and ex officio standing was developed within a group of large corporations from the beginning of the 20th century. Afterwards, during the 1920s and 30s, it became common in large-scale firms. It has been agreed that, as a key element of corporate employment, the custom of periodically employing new graduates of universities and other educational institutions characterised the growth of the Japanese internal labour market 2 . There has been a general viewpoint that this â€Å"educational class system† was abolished by the Japanese policy of democratisation after WW II; nonetheless, my study points out a new fact that a couple of misapprehension exists there. The first misconception is that it was rather exceptional for a new employee with comparatively weak educational background to be promoted to a prestigious post despite his long commitment and contribution to his firm 3 . The second is that any potential disaccord between the highly ranked and compensated group of university graduates and the lower with basic education was dealt with by the former alongside the unique Japanese code of group behaviour. Especially, the superior engineers with university education were known to take a serious view of operatives’ works at shop floor more than assignments at laboratories; and this attitude was positively appraised in the past studies and discussed as a key success factor 4 . Yet, the two standpoints seem invalid. The statements of the management and leading engineers of the period prove that the university graduates of engineering did not possess adequate knowledge for production operation. Besides, they did not show any preference to practices at shop floor and instead complained a lot about technical operations at workshops. The Japanese firms necessitated both university-educated engineers with theoretical knowledge and shop floor technicians with operational understanding, when they developed new products on the basis of imported western technologies. My research 5 has investigated the Japanese human resource management of pre-war Japanese corporations, and it presents that the technicians were mostly the graduates of technical schools which were on a level with secondary education and, even in some cases, those with only  elementary education. They were, at the beginning, hired as a junior group of workforce i.e. workmen or employee in semi-staff condition, However, got promoted later to the higher ranks in accordance with their commitment to work and internal training programmes, and consequent appraisals of their technical capability. The Japanese firms of the period required those human resources to improve technological capacity, and facilitated the development by providing them with incentives of promotion to prestigious posts. II. Higher Technical Education and Appraisal of University-graduated Engineers Throughout the historical context of adopting western industrial technologies, Japan experienced the early disintegration of apprentice system and the swift institutional development of technical educations even before the full-scale industrialisation. Henry Dyer, a graduate of Glasgow University, attempted to integrate theoretical and technical educations, and  this resulted in the establishment of a symbolic institution of engineering in 1873, Kobu Daigakko, which was the precursor of the Engineering Department of Tokyo University. Dyer’s ideology of the combined education of technology gained high reputation of â€Å"deserving international attention†, and his approach was recognised to bring forth the university-educated Japanese engineers’ common ethos of taking operations at shop floor seriously 6 . Nevertheless, it is worth noting that a considerable number of managers, engineers, technician, and workmen brought up harsh criticism about the effectuality of the university-level technical education as well as the overall capability of university graduates. Oh’uchi Ai-Sichi, managing director of Mitsubishi Electric and an ex rear admiral of technology of the Japanese Imperial Navy, advised his men in 1938 that they should ease up on the â€Å"yet unprofessional† new recruits from universities and stop despising the â€Å"rookies of practical engineering at real workshops† since the university programmes were generally concerned more with highbrow engineering theories 7 . A few causes of the university graduates’ insufficient practical knowledge and incapacity of directing workshop technicians and workmen were discussed: firstly, the drawback of university programmes was derived from the overstress upon note takings at lectures instead of development of the ability of thinking and reading; secondly, university students of engineering tended to dislike practical trainings; and furthermore, the content of the university programmes lacked technical trainings necessary for the actual operations at shop floors 9 . Concerning the sustainable technological development, Japanese corporations began to necessitate a new group of workforce that could fill the social and professional gap between â€Å"highbrow theoreticians† from universities and â€Å"practitioners† with relatively insufficient theoretical understandings. The Japanese firms then obtained the essential human resources from their own internal training programmes as well as personnel administration. The following section will introduce the author’s research on the managerial endeavour in the shipbuilding sector, which led the noticeable growth of the Japanese heavy industry. III. Internal Development of Human Resources and Professional Promotion In the case of the shipbuilding industry, this research analyses the human  resources development and personnel administration of the naval arsenal and the Nagasaki dockyard of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company. The following three points deserve our attention. Firstly, along with the development of the modern educational institution, they recruited university or polytechnic graduates for the prestigious post of administration, but this was not the only approach of employment; another method of personnel was to train talented workshop technicians and workmen internally and then promote them to the superior positions. Secondly, it is worth denoting that the technological underdevelopment facilitated the industry to build up the personnel policy. Then, lastly, due to the industrial underdevelopment, the two organisations transferred newly recruited assistant engineers from university or polytechnic to workshops for a while during the initial period of their career development: the intention of this programme was to let them experience the technical practices. The three features are well illuminated in the following historical descriptions. The naval arsenal in its early phase of 1870 benchmarked a French model of technical school to set up its own, and commenced development of two kinds of human resources: superior technical staffs with education of professional apprehension of theories (similar to the French naval technical officers) and skilled chargehands at shop floors with basic theoretical education. In tandem with the founding of modern technical schools in Japan, only university graduates were recruited for the superior posts of engineering from 1882, and the corporate training programmes for professional engineers was abolished. As presented in Table 2, the rate of university graduates and polytechnic graduates within the newly recruited junior engineers during the 1920s reached approximately 50 percent. In the first half of the same period, elementary school graduates covered 20 to 30 percent of the population; then in the second half, the ratio was replaced by the graduates of corporate technical schools. The latter group were also elementary school graduates; thus, this implies that they were employed, at the beginning, as wage earners right after their graduation. They acquired technical knowledge from workshop practices, and then learned basic theories through the corporate school: therefore, the personnel administration of hiring those internally developed labourers for the junior posts continued. In addition, and surprisingly, their path of career development was extended to the positions of superior engineers. Table 3 presents that only 60 percent of the total population of the upper-class engineers was covered by university and polytechnic graduates whereas the graduates of corporate school occupied nearly 20 percent during the 1920s. The development of the personnel system of promoting a part of talented workmen and workshop technicians to engineering staffs was realised by the fact that the skilled workmen and technicians with sufficient operational knowledge and experience at shop floors played a significant role in the ship design of the time. The blueprints described, at most, ship concepts and hull structures; no information regarding how to build them was provided. Hence, engineering staffs with conceptual understanding of the blueprints, technical capability of choosing proper materials, and managerial experience of directing dockyard workmen and technicians were demanded, and the internally trained workforce from shop floor turned out to be the most capable 11 . The unique scheme of promotion was therefore developed to increase their working incentive. In contrast, the role of superior engineers with university or polytechnic  education was limited to the managerial posts of each sector and preparation of the blueprints of basic design. It was therefore inevitable to let them have workshop experiences. The largest private industrial leader, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company’s Nagasaki dockyard, was not an exception. The employment of university or polytechnic graduates started in 1890, and the recruitment from university increased from the beginning of the 20th century. In 1911, the corporate policy of employing only university graduates for the superior posts was forged. Nonetheless, owing to the identical context of the naval arsenal, the internally educated skilled workforce with affluent shop floor experiences and technical knowledge was constantly on demand. In consequence, the company decided to promote staffs without university education to the superior posts in engineering as well 12 . Table 5 indicates that, from 1916 to 1926, nearly a half of the new superior technical staffs were the recruitment of workshop technicians without any kind of high education. Some of the new staffs were the graduates of Mitsubishi Kogyo Yobi Gakko (preparatory school of engineering), which was established in 1899 to train operatives for blueprint reading; at least 37 men were included, and their educational background was elementary school only 13 . Just like the naval arsenal’s personnel scheme, Mitsubishi also developed a programme of transferring superior engineers with university education to  the post of apprenticeship at workshops to let them obtain live knowledge and experience. In 1923, the period of apprenticeship was fixed as a half a year, then, extended to a year in 1927 14 . IV. Concluding Remarks In the advance of the Japanese heavy industry, two sorts of technical talents were required: a group of workforce for adopting the western technologies, and the other group of skilled engineers, who could direct workmen and workshop technicians in operation and understand engineering theories as well. The former was supplied by university graduates alongside the establishment of higher education in Japan; then, the latter was grown by both the corporate training programmes for talented workmenworkshop technicians (with relatively weak educational background) and the personnel scheme of promoting them to superior posts. The Japanese firms tried out a plan of fully utilising their potentials by promoting them to the most prestigious position of workman i.e. chargehand, but the attempt was unsuccessful since chargehands did know their unsatisfactory social status and even tried to leave the post of chargehand, if possible. It was thus necessary to firstly develop an incentive system of promotion, based upon corporate training programmes, and then integrate it into â€Å"the educational class system†. The personnel ways and means enabled management of any kind of potential disaccord or communicational blockade between superior staffs (with university-level education) and workmen and workshop technicians; and the personnel scheme facilitated the efficient internalisation of the imported technologies at shop floors.

Example Essay On Interprofessional Collaberation In Practice Nursing Essay

Example Essay On Interprofessional Collaberation In Practice Nursing Essay Section 1 According to Cullen et al (2003), in order to meet the demands of a modern National Health Service (NHS) professionals are encouraged to work collaboratively and form partnerships to ensure seamless delivery of care. Interprofessional Education (IPE) is advocated as a means to enable professionals to understand one another and break down boundaries between them. (p.427). The nature of nursing care is predicated on an idea of working within a team, and a premium is almost always placed on communication, not just as a means of caring for patients and ultimately saving lives, but also to alleviate the stresses and strains associated with frontline care. Whilst the idea of communication being important is not new, the formation of IP teams, particularly within the realm of nursing, is. Cullen et al set out in order to try and better understand what positive lessons could be learnt from such a process. This essay will seek to try and understand the thinking that went into this study, base d on the real life experiences of the author. Cullen et al conclude their study with the point that The development of IPE aided communication and collaboration between the academics and health professionals and helped to break down professional boundaries. Testing out new methods through action research has enhanced our understanding of the implications for students and teachers. (p.432). Whilst I ultimately found this to be the case, I would like to go into a bit of detail as to why exactly I came to these conclusions. Having met the group for the first time, we were all introduced and began to mingle. Given how short we had all known each other, it was difficult to establish any common points of reference. One imagines that within the workplace, where relationships are formed and cultivated over a longer period of time, always within a professional context, such relationships would be less artificial or constructed. Nonetheless, our different perspectives were in no way artificial, and it was useful to try and understand ever yones reasons for choosing to study what they do, even if few of us had had the chance to put those studies to consistent, long-term effect under the professionals rigours of frontline care. As such, many of the early discussions were very much more theoretical, idealistic even, than they might possibly be after a few years of experience within frontline care. There was however, a certain amount of agreement too. All of the students were aware of the positive benefits of IPE and felt that by virtue of being medical students, they were in some way isolated from the larger university student body as a whole. This had both positive and negative effects. Whilst some argued that it brought the students closer together, others admitted that they felt isolated at times. Either way, it is clear that stereotyping is not a positive factor in IPE. As Fraser et al (2005) acknowledge, Professional stereotyping is considered to cause barriers to effective working relationships and team approaches to care. Learning together at undergraduate level can promote different professional groups understanding and respect for one another and an appreciation of the importance of team working in the health sector. (p.271) This collaborative way of thinking helped us formulate our first group sentence, Poor communication is the lack of ability to articulate to and interpret information from other Health Care Professionals (HCPs), which then tied in closely with our second sentence: Negative attitudes towards other HCPs leads to a  breakdown in communication. As Koubel and Bungay (2010) showed, this is key for any multidisciplinary approach to have any sort of success. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to the question in hand, social work provides some useful analogues. Social workers form partnerships with people: helping them to assess and interpret the problems they face, and supporting them in finding solutions. They have to know how the law works and be fully up to speed with the social welfare system. They will liaise regularly with other professionals teachers, doctors, nurses, police, lawyers acting on behalf of the people they are working with. (http://www.socialworkandcare.co.uk) Furthe rmore, as Brayne and Carr (1999) point out,social workers are the creation of government; government is therefore accountable to the public for their work and obliged to regulate their activities. Second, social workers as caring professionals are themselves accountable to their users and to the public at large. (p.6) The same is very much true of healthcare professionals, and interprofessional relationships need to be understood in this context. There is a duty not only to provide the patient with the best care possible, but also to deliver value for money for the taxpayer. Accordingly, interprofessional relationships need to be fostered to deliver the most efficient and effective care possible. What exactly does this involve? Of course, in the professional arena, job roles are to a certain extent prescribed by job titles. However, within the stress of the workplace, roles can become muddled and confused. Accordingly, one of our major tasks involved role definition. It is not simply enough to be clear with one another: practitioners need to define their roles and act accordingly. As Skott (2001) notes, Professional nursing care is formed and carried out in a social cultural process. The discipline of nursing should study narrative communication to understand how individual and collective levels are connected in experiences of sickness and cure. (p.249) Nonetheless, Brereton (1995) has shown that there are still a great deal of holes in the critical thinking towards communication in nursing care: The theory-practice relationship and the use of communication and interpersonal skills in nursing have been recurrently identified as issues causing concernà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦there appea rs to be a reliance on mentors to assess student progress and determine whether they have knowledge underpinning practice. Classroom teaching was recognized as idealistic but the divisions in participants opinions led to difficulty in determining whether a theory-practice gap actually exists. (p.314). As a group, we all came to the conclusion that one of the key aspects of IPE is avoiding stereotypes. This was viewed as a fundamental basis for the following points: It is important to value each professions individual contribution to overall patient welfare. Varying perspectives exist, but any barriers must be overcome in order to promote holistic care. Pre conceived notions of any member of the Multi disciplinary team need to be challenged. Hierarchical states of mind have no place when a multi disciplinary team is working towards service user goals. Whilst communication and stereotyping avoidance may seem like natural bedfellows, it was interesting to be exposed to a group which arrived with preconceived notions of how the nursing profession worked. Whilst my experience of frontline care is limited, my brief experiences have shown that stereotyping is endemic. This may range from physicians making certain judgements about the role or usefulness of nurses, or even vice versa, but throughout the conference, it became clear that attitudes such as these had no place within the professional world of HCPs. Not only do they create a negative, hostile atmosphere, but they also prevent HCPs from doing their job properly, and ultimately, pose a threat to the treatment of patients. Word count 1195. Section 2: In many ways, learning about IPE has been a natural development from the direction my studies were already taking. Anyone interested in nursing is, almost by definition a communicator, as it is a profession in which discussion, listening, and mutual understanding are key. Nonetheless, the things I have learnt from IPE have helped me to understand previous experiences better. Reeves (2001) looked into the 15-month project which evaluated the effectiveness of interprofessional education (IPE) for first and second year medical, nursing and dental students on a community-based placement, using a process-based approach which tracked the education and social processes connected to IPE. Such an approach has helped overcome some of the problems of using before-and-after designs. (p. 269) He found that community-based IPE placements were deeply beneficial in aiding students development, as the on-the-job nature of the tasks they faced forced them to adapt on the spot, often needing to adapt with the help of other HCPs. In my experience this was also the case. When I was helping geriatric patients who were acutely ill, I found that IPE skills became increasingly important. Leff et al (2005) note that Acutely ill older persons often experience adverse events when cared for in the acute care hospital (p.798) Given the anxiety caused to elderly acutely ill patients, any efforts that could be made to accommodate them should be encouraged, and accordingly, the research is both worthwhile and timely. Whilst much literature exists regarding home nursing for end of life care, it is relatively sparse for elderly, acutely ill patients. Zarit (2004) in particular, using the case of disabled patients facing end of life care, note that family members provide a considerable amount of the care for people with terminal illnessesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and family caregivers must be recognized as an essential part of the treatment team. By clearly recognizing this role, physicians and other health care providers encourage caregivers to be more confident about their abilities to care for their loved ones. (p.170). Zarit goes on to argue that the role of family carer is not only beneficial to the part played by the healthcare professionals, it can also be a cost-effective way of giving patients the best palliative care that they need. He even argues that patient surviva l rates can be affected by paying close attention to family members at the front-line of care. Thus, he recommends that a psychologist or other health care professional familiar with end-of-life care included as part of the treatment team. Although time and effort are required, these strategies may help caregivers provide the care they want to and provide better home care at a reduced risk to their own health. (p.170). Furthermore, as Leff et al go on to point out, Patients, but not caregivers, had increased satisfaction with hospital-at-home care, and there was some evidence that substitutive models may be cost- effective. However, with some exceptions, most of these models would be difficult to distinguish from augmented skilled nursing services, community-based long-term care, or home-based primary care services in the United States. (p.798) As we can see, there are clearly a number of benefits associated with care at home. However, for the caregiver, such situations can also create a raft of potential problems. Whilst most academics agree that the influence of the family is generally a positive one, not much critical thinking has been devoted to what role the family play in allowing HCPs to perform their job as they should. Outside of the hospital environment, the familys role is much greater, and often, in my experience at least, they feel that this entitles them to a greater degree of say in the patients care. Whilst I would generally agree with this, I had one experience in particular which made me question this. Because of the increased role of the family in this case, they felt that they knew best about how to care for their acutely ill family member. However, there was evidence to suggest that they were not delivering the right level of care. Since returning home, the patients condition had deteriorated, and there was a strong argument to be made for readmission into hospital, something the family were completely against. Whilst the physician in charge was willing to watch and see how the situation developed, the critical care nurse was pressing for readmission, the difference in opinions shows the power dynamics between the physician and nurse and has been noted without in-depth discussion between the two, created a barrier to effective collaboration (Manias Street 2000). However, the family was a low-income family, and as such, used to receive visits from social workers. Accordingly, there was a great deal of IPE needed to deal with the situation. For example, whilst the social worker was not responsible for the health of the patient, and were visiting the family on other grounds, they were consulted on what they thought was occurring under the familys supervision. This involved the nurse in charge communicating with the social worker, an interdisciplinary approach that necessitated diffe rent public sector workers working alongside each other. The interaction between the nurse and social worker showed a co-ordinated effective collaboration between HCPs to provide a service to improve the quality and decision making process of patient care (Spry 2006). However, there were also certain problems at our end. The physician in charge of the patient seemed unwilling to get actively involved. He was well-known to be a poor communicator, and seemed more involved in other aspects of his work than dealing with the patients, particularly when they were no longer in the hospital. However, since nothing could be done without his authority, it was frustrating for myself and the nurse to get anything done with him dragging his feet. Likewise, although the social worker was very willing and able to perform their job, they felt put upon when discussing any problems that fell without their remit. As such, it was left to myself and the nurse in charge to orchestrate managing the problem. Cheek and Rudge (1994) look closely at the socio-aspects of nursing to deconstruct the power relations implicit within the socio-political context of the health care arena in which nursing operates. (p.583) They found that womens health and nursing practice were exem plars of the limiting effects of such discourses. (p.583) Seeing the reaction the female nurses inquiries, it certainly felt that her sex was a limiting factor on how she could get stuff done. The conference was very clear in that one of the major points of IPE was to avoid stereotypes. One of the largest stereotypes is that all nurses are women, and it felt like, the physician in particular, was labouring under some outdated view of nurses that was close to the era of Florence Nightingale than the present day. Of course, gender stereotyping works both ways. McDonald and Bridge (1991) found that Nurses planned significantly more ambulation, analgesic administration, and emotional support time for the male patient, despite the presence of individuating information. More accurate, effective nursing care is possible when nurses are aware of the effect of gender stereotyping on nursing care. (p.373) However, in this instant, it very much felt like the opinion of the nurse in charge was being undermined due to her sex. Although the patient was eventually readmitted, it wasnt done without much bureaucratic leg-dragging, and I was left feeling that this was a poor example of interdisciplinary care. It could have been improved by more willingness of those in charge to define roles clearly, avoid stereotypes, and place the care of the patient at the forefront of their concerns. I hope that in my future career I am able to learn from this, and apply the things I have learnt to an array of challenging real-life situations. Word count 1293.

Producing Electricity From Wave Energy Engineering Essay

Producing Electricity From Wave Energy Engineering Essay When we hear the word, renewable energy the first things which come to mind are solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric power and some might even consider waste incineration as a way of producing energy. Albeit being an island, few of us stop and ponder on the huge energy potential that there is in the waters surrounding our island. Wave energy is slowly being made use of round Europe, particularly in countries facing the Atlantic. Malta falls in the medium range of wave heights which gives the possibility to use small wave energy generators which can generate a considerable amount of energy. Through this project our aim is to create a device which harnesses wave energy and converts it into electrical energy. The design must be cost effective, with no or limited contribution to visual pollution and most importantly efficient. Through this project we hope that we not only succeed in creating a design which works but also come up with a design that has a potential to be improved further in order to be utilized as a way of producing electrical energy in the Maltese Islands. After initially, deciding on what we aim to do, our first step was to analyse wave shape, wave patterns and wave heights round the Maltese Islands. As part of our initial steps, we looked into current models of wave energy generators in order to get a clear picture to what is already found globally. The final design which we came up with was what we codenamed Sea Saw the name itself expresses the advantage of the design. The design swings on the waves and as it swings electricity is produced. As part of our project, we also carried out a survey with the aim of analyzing the public awareness and perception on wave energy. Another part of the project was interviews with Jamie Taylor, in order to get to know more about wave energy in Europe. Being constantly reminded that traditional methods of energy production are contributing to serious environmental problems, governments round the world are seeking new ways of generating electricity. Malta is no exception. By 2020, at least 20% of Maltas energy production has to come from renewable sources. As a response to the urgent need for pollution-free power generation, the energy sector was forced through a renovating process, which sees its opening towards renewable energy. One of the new emerging industries in the renewable energy industry is the wave energy industry. Although the technology is relatively new and currently not economically competitive with older technologies such as wind energy, the interest from governments and industry is steadily increasing. An important feature of sea waves is their high energy density, which is the highest among the renewable energy sources. The idea of converting the energy of ocean surface waves into useful energy forms is not new. There are techniques that were first patented as early as 1799 by Girard Son in France. Potential Energy of a Wave Consider a typical ocean wave, wavelength 200m, wave height 1. The wave is 10 ms-1. The water particles move up and down as in a typical wave but they also move sideways. These two motions combine to give a circular motion. The water particles have both kinetic energy and gravitational energy. Both can be captured by suitable devices. A rough calculation of the wave energy can be found by assuming a square wave as shown: The square wave has wavelength 200m and amplitude 1m. The wave front is assumed to be 1m wide. The crest of the wave is above the normal level while the trough is below. The centre of gravity moved by the water as it goes from crest to trough, is 1m. The volume of water, moved is the volume of the crest. F is found using the equation c = fÃŽÂ », f = c/ÃŽÂ » = 10/200 = 0.05 hZ Power = Energy x Frequency = 106 x 0.05 = 5 x 104 Watts For a sinusoidal wave, the power is about half as much as that of a square wave. Hence, the power of a sinusoidal wave is equal 25 x 103 W. Besides, potential energy, a wave also has kinetic energy. This should be equal to the kinetic energy according to the theory of simple harmonic motion. Therefore, total power, KE + PE = 5 x 104 Watts. In practice, the actual power generated will be smaller due to energy losses and inefficiencies of the whole system. How do wave energy devices work? Wave energy occurs in the movement of water near the surface of the sea. A wave is formed when the wind, effectively drags at the water as it blows across. As the wind becomes stronger and the distance over which it blows increases, the more energy the waves have. As waves approach the coast, they begin to lose energy through friction with the seabed and eventually break on the shore. Thus the greater amount of energy is found in waves in the deeper well-exposed waters offshore. All the different types of energy devices, take energy out of the motion of the water near the surface by converting the action of the waves into movements that power generators to produce electricity. Maltas Potential to harness wave energy Being an island, we are an entirely surrounded by sea. Statistical data from WERMED Malta shows that Malta is well positioned to make use of the energy stored in waves, which are on average of medium height to produce electrical energy. Figure 1: Average Significant Wave Height and Wave Direction (Source: WERMED Malta) Design Development After initially deciding on the theme of the project, a process of designing the final wave generator was undergone. We listed the properties that the final design should have. Then we started designing designs which included the following: Figure 2: Requirements of the Wave Generator In all four different designs were taken into consideration. Each design was evaluated and its pros and cons were listed. Through this process, our aim was to come up with the best possible design which is not only viable but also efficient. Design number 1 The first design was inspired by the shake torch mechanism which incorporates a magnet passing through a coil and as it passes it generates an electric current. As the float bobs on water (when there are waves), the magnet moves through the tube, passes through the coil and generates an electric current. The tube is connected to a capacitor which stores the current. This design was ruled out, since it is not adequate for large scale energy generators. Figure 3: Design 1 Design number 2 The wave generator is flexible such that it moulds itself on the wave. At any point in time, one of the three barrel like floats is found at the trough and the other two barrel like floats are found at crest. At the same time, weights in the side arms hit piezo plates which convert mechanical stress into electrical energy and a magnet moves through the coil in order to produce electricity by electromagnetic induction. The design is anchored from only one cylinder to allow free rotation to face current wave direction. The rotation is aided by triangle shaped structures attached to the barrel like floats. The two outside barrels would be modified so they will have both weight and buoyancy. The center barrel will be modified so the total weight of the center barrel is twice that of one of the outside barrels. This design was ruled out after analyzing each aspect of the design. The energy production tube associated to piezo was deemed highly inefficient because piezo disks, only produce millivolts and thus not suitable to produce energy in large scale projects. The energy production system associated to gearbox system was deemed inefficient because there would be huge energy loss associated, to turning the gear wheels. On the other hand, we saw that there was potential in energy production using electromagnetic induction, thus we based our project on this form of energy production. Figure 4: Design Nos. 2 Design number 3 Figure 5: Design Nos. 3 This design consisted of a tube, with coil wound around and a magnet rolling inside. As the magnet rolled, through the coil, electricity is produced. Waves cause, the tube to shift to one side and the magnet consequently gains more speed as it moves towards the end of the tube. This design was ruled out because as the magnet shifts to the end of the tube and hits the other side, energy is lost as it hits the end of the tube. Thus, the design is considered inefficient due to significant energy losses. In designing, the final design a design which incorporates continuous motion was planned. Design number 4 The wave generator is a long, narrow box pivoted and anchored in the middle so that, as one end goes up, the other goes down. One end goes on the wave crest and the other goes down with the trough of the wave. When one end, goes up the fluid inside the tube goes down and turns the turbine which is connected to the coil. As soon as it reaches the end of the tube, the flap closes and forces the fluid to flow backwards and the fluid takes the path along the other side. As it flows downwards, it turns the other turbine, which is connected to the magnets. The turbine and magnets turn in the opposite direction, generating electricity by electromagnetic induction. Figure 6: Design Nos. 4 Building the model Materials and Apparatus Voltmeter Wires Plastic Casing Copper Wire Coil 2 Magnets Perspex Boxes Bushes Oscilloscope Water In practice, the Sea Saw should be half wavelength based on average values, so that one end rests on a crest and the other end rests on a trough. Its axis should be parallel to the motion of the wave, it is perpendicular to the wave front. Anchor Seabed It should be anchored from the centre, to the sea bed. The anchor should be flexible so that it can adjust itself to water height/level. Preliminary Testing Test 1 Testing Generator String was wound around the magnets shaft. It was spun by pulling the string. Voltage was checked on an AC Voltmeter. Average reading was About 2.3 Volts. The same reading was obtained on an oscilloscope. Peak was 2 cm, cycle was 8 cm long. Settings were 2 volts per cm. Time base was 10 ms per cm. These correspond to a peak voltage of 4 volts. RMS (Root Mean Square Voltage) was 2.8. Periodic Time was 80 ms. Frequency was 12.5 Hz. Theoretical voltage was calculated as follows: Emf generated by each length of the coil when cutting the field lines is given by Where B = Magnetic Flux Density = 0.04 T l = Diameter of Magnet 4.5 cm = 0.045m v = Average velocity To find Average Velocity: R = Average Radius of coil 5 cm = 0.05m F = Frequency of Rotation 12.5 Hz (obtained from oscilloscope) At any time the coil is cutting the magnets at 4 different points. The coil had 70 turns. Total Peak Voltage = 5 Volts This agrees with the value obtained from the oscilloscope. Test 2 Gates In the initial design, the gates were 20 cm high (Bottom to hinge). These started to hit the sides of the tank and did not open properly. They were lowered to 13 cm. Weights in the form of heavy nuts were attached to them using silicon sealer, in order to reduce the gates buoyancy since they are made of Perspex. The tank was filled with water. Wave movement was simulated by rocking the tank manually. Figure Gates did not open properly and there was leakage of water. Water did not flow the complete circuit but started to flow backwards. Water did not have enough space to flow to at the ends. The design was emended by extending the tank incorporating a circular pathway. Friction at the bearings tended to make the magnet disc and coil to rotate in the same direction. This was due to the common shaft on which they were turning. The common shaft was used in order to stabilize the system. On a larger model, the use of common shaft can be avoided. Backward movement was stopped by inserting a ratchet with each water turbine. Hinge moves in the direction of the pedal but not backwards. Further Testing Performance with depth of water Depth of water Speed of Pedals/ Rev min-1 Performance with different wave frequency Wave Frequency Speed of Pedals/ Rev min-1 Improvements Use turbines instead of water mill. Smaller gates so that they open more effectively. Larger and longer Perspex box. Instead of water, use a denser fluid such as mercury. Water mills must have less flaps so that they do not reduce the flow of water. Survey The aim of the survey was to study peoples perception on wave energy and their knowledge. A copy of the survey which was distributed is found in the appendix. The majority of those who answered the survey ranked wave energy as the second best way of producing electricity in Malta using renewable energy sources. This is understandable since actually when seen in context wave energy is still in its early stages to be used as the main way of producing electricity thus it should be implemented together with other forms of renewable energy. There was a considerable majority who answered that they never heard of wave energy. Given that renewable energy has been on the agenda for the last five years and wave energy seem to know of it, it seems that the government and other authorities are not giving wave energy its due importance nor are they considering its potential at least in small levels. The lack of importance given to wave energy is also shown through the results obtained for question 4. The majority understand that wave energy has a potential but at the same time accept that further research should be carried out before it is implemented on a large scale. This was the general response both for question 5 and question 3. Question was largely misunderstood and the few survey respondents who understood the question correctly accepted that wave energy can have a negative environmental impact, which can be minimised by designing a wave generator which is more environmentally friendly and has a smaller visual impact. The survey results show that people are not well informed and this point must be taken into consideration in designing the fair stand. The aim of the fair stand should not be merely to inform the public on our project but also on wave energy as a whole including its advantages and its disadvantages.

Of Mice and Men: My Ending :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Crooks and Curley’s wife both receive a paramount amount of isolation. Many people are unable to cope with this. Few people are able to cope with this type of loneliness in a healthy way. That is why there are so many problems as it is with Crooks and Curley’s wife. Many times a person does â€Å"weird† things in order to get attention, or to make the feelings of seclusion recede for a while. I plan to open your mind to some of the ideas of why our characters, Crooks and Curley’s wife, act the way they do.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Crooks is a victim of a different types of loneliness. Crooks, does not ask to be isolated from everyone. It is simply because he is a black man. That is the reason he is isolated and rarely spoken too. Back in those days people of different races did not associate as they do now. After a while, Crooks gets accustomed to the loneliness he receives on the farm but never learns to live with it. To accept loneliness is to give up. I believe that deep down inside Crooks always hopes that someone will come and talk to him, just because they want his camaraderie. He forces himself to believe that eventually someone will come, that helps him get through some of his toughest times. Not because they (that person) want him to do something. I think when Lennie comes to Crooks’ room and talks with him it heals a part of Crooks that has been scarred. Just by Lennie being there it lets Crooks knows there is still hope. When Lennie first comes Crooks says, â€Å"You got no right to come in my room. Nobody got no right but me. I ain’t wanted. Crooks says this to Lennie at first because I think he has to admit to himself that this no longer applies. That eventually he will be able to have a friendship with someone. That someone is Lennie.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Curley’s wife starts off with many problems. As Curley’s wife states earlier in the novel, â€Å"Sure I gotta husband.† Spend’s all his time sayin what he’s gonna do to guy’s he don’t like. Think I am going to stay in that 2 x 4 house! I think her husband Curley does not satisfy her needs. As a person I do not think they are compatible. They probably both jumped at the opportunity for to marry a person they thought they were in love with.

Immanuel Velikovsky :: biographies bio

Correspondence Before the Day Breaks, When I first ran across any of Velikovsky's ideas it was in this online book Before the Day Breaks. In this book Velikovsky writes about his correspondence and conversations with Albert Einstein. I read some of this book before ever reading anything else of Velikovsky, or having any idea of what was proposed in his book Worlds in Collision. Before the Day Breaks is a very well written book, where Velikovsky's main argument is that gravity and inertia are not the only forces acting on the solar system. After Velikovsky published his book Worlds in Collision he has had much difficulty getting anyone in the scientific community to listen to him. There were numerous accounts of unjust behavior towards him from many famous scientist. It is ironic that while many people were ignoring him, he was discussing scientific matters with Einstein. While Before the Day Breaks may not have any substantial scientific impact, it does two separate other things. Provide a good insight to som e of the prejudices of the general scientific community at that time. Give good clues as to what Einstein's personality was like. Background Info. / History 1895, June 10, Immanuel Velikovsky was born in Vitebsk, Russia 1913> studied medicine at Montpelier, France, 1921 Velikovsky received a medical degree at the University of Moscow 1921 moved to Berlin, married, edited a journal called Scripta Universitatis atque Bibliothecae Hierosolymitarum, the mathematical-physical section was prepared by Albert Einstein. This journal played a big role in developing the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, 1924-1939 "Velikovsky lived in Palestine, practicing psychoanalysis- he had studied under Freud's pupil, Wi1helm Stekel in Vienna" quoted from (Short Biography) 1950 published Words in Collision right away it was a NY Times non-fiction #1 international best seller for 7 weeks until the publisher (Macmillan) dropped the book due to opposition to it led by Harvard astronomer Dr. Shapley -This book was about Velikovsky's claims that incidences in numerous independent cultures around the world were not due to terrestrial origin (i.e. comets and planets caused massive disasters) 1960s Velikovsky was considered as quack by most everyone

Pop-ups and Spam Email Ethical Judgement Essay -- Internet Ads Adverti

Pop-ups and Spam Email Ethical Judgement Introduction: Only two things are certain in this life, death and taxes. I beg to differ. Seems to me we can throw spam and pop-up advertisements in there as well. In recent years, spam and pop-ups have become a way of life. People spend hours of their day weeding through their emails to find which ones are spam and which are the ones they really want to see. And it seems like any webpage you go to nowadays, an animated/flashing pop-up window appears, trying to get you to buy something. Most everyone hates spam and pop-up advertisements. Doing some observational research, I noticed that when people visit websites with pop-ups, they tend to become frustrated and attempt to quickly close the pop-ups window. Personally, I don’t like pop-ups because they never have pertain to anything I’m interested in, and even if they did, I wouldn’t trust an advertisement that is blaring in my face when I’m attempting to do other work that is totally unrelated. I asked others how they feel about pop-ups, and I got some interesting responses. One person said, â€Å"I don’t even consciously think of them anymore. It’s almost like second-nature; when I visit a webpage, without thinking I find the little X in the corner of the pop-up window and close it as fast as possible.† I found the same mentality toward spam messages and emails. A fellow classmate told me that he receives on the order of 200 spam emails every single day. That’s mind-blowing! I thought my 25 per day was bad enough. It got to the point where he needed to create a new email address for important emails, and just empty the old one out everyday. The problem he faces is that if one or two of those 200 emails are ac... ...ps and spam emails forever. References: Apryl Duncan, Pop-Ups: Annoying But Good , 2003, About Advertising, January 2003, http://www.advertising.about.com/library/weekly/aa012803a.htm. Carl Sullivan, E-mail, Ad Blockers Pose Problems for Publishers, 2003, Editor & Publisher, 5 May 2003, http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1894258. Thomas Ordahl, STOP THE POP (UP): The Problem with Internet Advertising, 2004, The Direct Marketing Association, 7 April 2004, http://www.the-dma.org/cgi/dispnewsstand?article=2111+++++. Jeffrey Utech, The Ethics of Pop-Ups, 2 October 2003, http://jeffrey.theutechs.com/blog/archives/000743.html. Peter Landau, Earthlink Upgrades Spam, Pop-up Blockers, 2003, Editor & Publisher, 30 May 2003, http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1898583.

How the Medical Model of Psychopathology

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION DEFINITION OF SCHIZOPHRENIA THE MEDICAL MODEL * POSSIBLE MEDICAL CAUSES FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA * SYMPTOMS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA * DISCUSSION OF THE DSM-IV-TR THE FAMILY SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE CONCLUSION INTRODUCTION In this assignment I will show how the medical model of Psychopathology and the family systems model reflect linear and circular causality respectively by referring to the causes of Schizophrenia. SCHIZOPHRENIA Schizophrenia is characterised by a broad spectrum of cognitive and emotional dysfunctions that include delusions and hallucinations, disorganized speech and behaviour and inappropriate emotions.It disrupts social, occupational and recreational functioning and almost every other aspect of daily functioning. It is usually chronic with a high relapse rate and recovery from Schizophrenia is rare. MEDICAL MODEL The DSM-IV-TR is based on the medical model. The basic assumption is that psychological disorders are diseases and are treated as such. In his definition of the medical model, Blaney (1975) stated that mental disorders are in fact organic diseases. He further explained that the visible evidences of disorders are merely manifestations of an underlying condition.According to him, the individual has no responsibility for his/her behaviour. The medical/biological model reflects a linear view of the causes of Psychopathology. Linear causality means that a particular cause (or more than one cause in combination) leads to a specific effect (e. g. a virus causes an illness). Thus, from this perspective, event A causes event B (A -> B) in a linear (unidirectional) fashion. In this linear way of thinking, our reality is considered to be separate from us. We are thus seen as reacting to our reality rather than creating it (Becvar, 2003). Possible medical causes for Schizophrenia: Genetic influences – Inherited tendency (multiple genes) are responsible for making some individuals vulnerable to Schizophrenia * Neurotransmitter imbalances – This refers to brain chemistry such as abnormalities in the dopamine and glutamate systems * Developmental disruptions such as prenatal / birth complications – A viral infection during pregnancy or a birth injury can affect a child’s brain cells. * Brain structure – Research by Eve Johnstone (Johnstone et al, 1976) showed, by using computed tomography (CT), that there is an enlargement of the lateral ventricles in some patients with chronic Schizophrenia. Psychological stressors have also been named as a possible medical cause. Symptoms of Schizophrenia Positive symptoms: Delusions are false personal beliefs that are firmly and consistently held despite disconfirming evidence or logic, for instance: delusions of grandeur or persecution. Perceptual distortions (hallucinations) e. g. hearing voices, seeing people or objects and smelling peculiar odours. It is important to remember when diagnosing a patient that hallucinations aren’t path ognomonic. Disorganized thought and speech as a symptom comes through when communicating with the Schizophrenic person.The individual may jump from topic to topic, talk illogically or reply tangentially to questions. Disorganized motor disturbances such as extreme activity levels, strange gestures and grimaces, catatonic immobility, waxy flexibility and peculiar body movements and posture. More examples of behavioural problems are bad personal hygiene, inappropriate dress and affect. Negative symptoms would be to not show emotional expression (flat affect), avolition (an inability to become goal-orientated or to take action) and alogia (a lack of meaningful speech).DSM-IV-TR DSM-IV-TR recommends that clinicians examine and evaluate the individual’s mental state with regard to five factors (axes). Axes I, II and III addresses the individual’s present mental and medical condition. Axes IV and V provide additional information about the person’s life situation and f unctioning. The DSM-IV-TR is based on a prototypical approach. Axis I – Clinical syndromes and other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention Axis II – Personality disorders and Mental retardation Axis III – General Medical conditionsAxis IV – Psychosocial and Environmental problems Axis V – Global Assessment of Functioning When using the medical model, the focus is always on the individual. If an individual has a possible psychological disorder, they need to be assessed clinically. This is done by systematically evaluating and measuring the individual’s psychological, biological and social factors. This can be done by interviewing the individual and taking an informal mental status exam of the ‘patient’. This can be followed by psychological tests, personality inventories and neuropsychological testing.Before a diagnosis can be made and before one can classify anything on Axis I, it is imperative to determine that t he above factors (psychological, biological and social factors) meet all the criteria for a specific psychological disorder. The DSM-IV-TR distinguishes 5 types of Schizophrenia – paranoid, disorganised, catatonic, undifferentiated and residual Schizophrenia. The DSM-IV-TR criteria for Schizophrenia needs to be met before one can diagnose an individual as Schizophrenic on Axis I. Taken from Sue et al (2006) the DSM-IV-TR criteria for Schizophrenia are as follows: A.At least two of the following symptoms lasting for at least one month in the active phase: delusions; hallucinations; disorganized speech; grossly disorganized or catatonic behaviour; negative symptoms (exception: only one symptom if it involves bizarre delusions or if hallucinations involve a running commentary on the person or two or more voices talking with each other). B. During the course of the disturbance, functioning in one or more areas such as work, social relations and self-care has deteriorated markedly from premorbid levels. C. Signs of the disorder must be present for at least 6 months. D.Schizoaffective and mood disorders with psychotic features must be ruled out. E. The disturbance is not substance-induced or caused by organic factors. The medical model subscribes to linear causality. It is thus based on a cause-effect relationship as mentioned previously. Schizophrenia as a disorder can be used to illustrate linear causality within the medical model. One or more of the causes of Schizophrenia (i. e. genes) causes the individual to become schizophrenic (cause) and then the individual is diagnosed as Schizophrenic because he/she displays certain symptoms (effect) such as hallucinations, voices talking etc.Thus, cause-effect (A causes B) = linear causality. Let’s say our ‘patient’ meets the DSM-IV-TR criteria to be classified on Axis I as Schizophrenic. As a Schizophrenic, the individual will probably show certain behaviour such as difficulty in maintaining s ocial relationships which could lead to social isolation, experiencing problems with his/her primary support group, education, occupation, housing, health care and economic problems. These problems will be indicated on Axis IV of the DSM-IV-TR as they are psychosocial and environmental problems.These problems will most probably affect the individual’s psychological, social and occupational functioning. The patient will be given a rating for the level of functioning at the time of the evaluation. This rating is displayed on Axis V of the DSM-IV-TR – the Global Assessment of Functioning which is used to report the clinician’s judgement of the individual’s overall level of functioning and carrying out activities of daily living. This information is useful in planning treatment and measuring its impact, and in predicting outcome.A 100-point scale is used for the rating in which 1 indicates severe impairment in functioning and 100 indicates superior functionin g with no symptoms. FAMILY SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE The family systems model is based on cybernetics (circular thinking). Circular causality places emphasis on reciprocity, recursion and shared responsibility. A and B exist in the context of a relationship in which each influences the other and both are equally cause and effect of each others’ behaviour (Becvar et al, 2003).Thus, circular causality means that two or more elements reciprocally cause each other (A causes B and B causes A). So where the medical model makes use of linear causality, the language of systems theory is based on the notion of circularity (A and B mutually influence each other). The contrast between linear and circular causality has to do with the direction of cause. Linear causality = A -> B. Circular causality = A B. Example of circular causality: A teenager (A) with Schizophrenia begins to withdraw socially as she has difficulty forming relationships.Her sister (B) starts mocking her because she has no f riends and isn’t popular. Because her sister (B) mocks her and breaks her self-confidence even more, the teenager (A) withdraws even more and becomes even more isolated (even within her own family system because her sister is ‘against’ her as well). A loop forms (circular causality) where A causes B and B causes A and so on. Thus, the one ‘feeds’ the other. There are a few systems concepts that are important to the systems theory. Boundaries are formed by a system’s rules and it is these rules that distinguish a system from other systems.These boundaries (rules) are invisible but do exist and are inferred from the repeated patterns of behaviour of a system, it is what makes each family unique. It delineates individuals and subsystems and also defines the amount and kind of contact allowable between members of a family. The ideal boundaries for a family to have are clear boundaries as they are firm yet flexible. Feedback occurs in systems theor y and also emphasis the circular causality in the theory. Feedback is the process whereby information about past behaviours is fed back into the system in a circular manner.There is positive and negative feedback, but it must be understood that both processes may refer to something that is good and/ or bad. Positive feedback acknowledges that a change has occurred and has been accepted by the system (error-activated process). Negative feedback indicates that the status quo is being maintained (stability). When working with a Schizophrenic patient, systems theorists see the Schizophrenia as symptomatic of family disturbance. Thus, the symptom of Schizophrenia is not abnormal in a dysfunctional context.Actually, the maintenance of a system is associated with complex reciprocal feedback mechanisms with and between systems (Becvar 2003). So, every symptom has a function in the system. In a Schizophrenic person’s family system, his Schizophrenia (the symptom) helps maintain the sy stem, as all the blame for the dysfunction of the family falls to the Schizophrenic family member. The other members do not look to their own dysfunctions and issues. It is clear then that the dysfunctional pattern the family is carrying out, is maintained by the Schizophrenic family member who is targeted as the only problem or reason for the problems in the system.This way of doing things gives the family a dysfunctional homeostasis, which refers to the tendency of the family to regulate its internal environment. CONCLUSION I believe that both the medical model and the family systems perspective can contribute towards an accurate and successful diagnosis and treatment process for the Schizophrenic individual. REFERENCES * Barlow, D. H. , & Durand, V. M. (2005). Abnormal Psychology: An integrated approach. (4th ed. ). Belmont: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning * Becvar, D. S. & Becvar, R. J. (2003). Family therapy: A systemic integration. (5th ed. ). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. * Blaney, P. H. (1975). Implications of the medical model and its alternatives. American Journal of Psychiatry, 132, p. 911-914. * Johnstone, E. C. , Crow, T. J. , Frith, C. D. , Hurhard, J. & Kreel, L. (1976). Cerebral ventricular size and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Lancet, ii, p. 924-926. * Sue, D. , Sue, D. , & Sue, S. (2006). Understanding abnormal behaviour. (8th ed. ). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Life-Based Leadership Principles from Jack Welch Essay

During the hundreds of millions of years of natural organic evolution on this planet, survival has always been a round-the-clock ch each(prenominal)enge for living creatures. It has recently to inject into light that in the past tetrad million years, in that respect defend a bun in the oven been tons of human species on the earth, besides us homo sapiens. Howalways, all of these various human-like beings including the swinish man perished in the course of evolution we humans have go forthlived all of them. We have emerged as the true survivors. We ar the withstand man standing. However, in the whole account statement of the world, survival could have never been as tough as it is in at onces world of big calling go-ahead.It is an ever-changing, dizzingly fast-paced, intensely warring and danger-saturated environment out there. at that place are many survivors and many winners in this arena, of course. Of all much(prenominal) exceptional community in the recent deca des, there is whiz man who stands out as a celebrated icon of stretchership and business success. And it is n integrity other than knave Welch of GE, arguably the finest CEO in the latter half(a) of the twentieth century. Speaking from a grand perspective, he is non just an emblematical business leader, but a hero, a survivor, a symbol of the triumph of man. rascal Welch is a man who believed that each undivided should restrainer his or her make destiny. Welch sums up his conviction thus Today, I adopt winning as people be their objectives and fulfilling them, not being a victim. You designate where you want to go, and and so you go for it (KnowledgeWharton) And from the profoundness of this belief perhaps sprang the secret of his owing(p)ness. first from the early Eighties, labourer Welch, CEO of the usual Electric Corporation, has led his follow finished one of the most revolutionary and far-reaching trans founds ever witnessed in modern business history.Hav ing interpreted GE with a market capitalization of somewhat $12 billion, Jack Welch move it into one of the largest and most admired companies in the world, with a market value of about $500 billion, when he stepped d protest as its CEO 20 years later, in 2000. Although Jack Welch was the legendary leader of a global manufacturing giant noted for its scientific might and superiority, he has utilized a very(prenominal) human process to consider modify through GEs vast organization. He honoured the individual to a higher place all, and the humanity of the individual.To him, the individual was the pivotal military group in bringing about organisational form. And for the major part of his immensely victorious career at the helm of GE he relentlessly embraced change. It was change that do GE businesses leaders in their markets, added profit up to(p), plentiful businesses to GEs family, and bumpped the brains of knowledgeable employees. Welch worked for change, and change wo rked for him. Jack Welch of course knew how difficult change could be. Nevertheless he viewed change as his only real chance to understand GE into the kind of top-notch competitive enterprise that he treasured it to be.Only through continuously under expiration massive changes, GE could win, and Jack Welch firmly believed in winning. He wanted to be a winner. And winners were not numb to make changes. However, pursuit of change, empowerment of individuals, and such principles are only part of a broder human-centric principles of happy leadership in which Jack Welch passionately believed in. Welchs original forward motion to management and leadership, which proved so successful in transforming GE could be summed up unders six heads Control your destiny, or person else will.Welchs first maxim became the epithet of a semi-autobiographic bestseller that described the revolution at GE. The basic approach that Welch followed to carry out a dramatic revolution at GE was to trust th e individual and permit him or her believe in their own desitiny. Welsh believed in delegating empowerment freely, f gloriolely and responsibly, within the company. In a general context, however, while no unstained human being can have absolute control over his or her destiny, the point is to take total private responsibility for ones own life and actions, and assume intelligent control of the course of things.2. Face frankness as it is, not as it was or as you wish it were. approach reality is tough. Facing reality means looking this instant into suffering, failure, inadequacy of ourselves, others, and the world, something which we human beings are programmed to avoid. When corporations do not face simple realities, however, such as their products costing more(prenominal) to contract and being worthless than those of their competitors, market sell and profits drop, the company and its employees suffer. Welch saw all these things happening at GE.Only when we are ready to naively examine ourselves and have intercourse our shortcomings, will we be able to do anything about them. Acceptance can lead to transformation. 3. Be candid with every(prenominal)one. Traditional scholarship says that honesty is the best policy. This home-spun truth has great relevance in todays hyper-modern corporate settings. Welch strove to create an atmosphere at GE where people could effortlessly let out up to somebody in authority, who could then do something about their problems. It is an atmosphere, it is in the air of GE. Welch himself regularly spoke with front-line employees on the plant floor.Welch was equally open to hear both the good and bad things about GE. Honesty, unassumingness and candor they have their own rewards. In a bureaucracy, people are frightened to speak out. This type of environment slows you hatful, and it doesnt improve the workplace, says Jack Welch. He and then calls for promoting a corporate culture that appreciates and rewards honest f eedback. You reinforce the behaviors that you reward. If you reward candor, youll get it. 4. wearyt manage, lead. Welch abhorred a strictly class-conscious type of management built on the concept of control.To Welch, managers should develop leaders who plant the way to other people by inpsiring and motivating them. Instead of controlling and exploiting workers, leaders should liberate and empower them. Do not push and pull your employees at every opportunity, gently guide them towards greater possibility. Welchs leadership philosophy continues to be very simple empower others, ask questions, tap into the potential of all of your associates, choose honor and candor over charts, graphs, and politics, and spend more time in action alternatively of planning and posturing budgets. 5. Change in the beginning you have to.That is to say, proactivity. One has to be able to look ahead and predict changes that time to come is going to necessitate. In the context of a business organizatio n, it is far better to change early those things in a company that need to be changed to stay competitive, when there is still plenty of time, rather than forcibly having to change them later when an adverse reality in form of failure and exit thrusts itself in the face of the organization. Welch was fond of let loose across the table at meetings, Change, before its too late 6. If you fall apartt have a competitive advantage, dont compete.Welch often quoted his business maxim that every division at GE had to be number one or number two or get out of that specific business. In the 1980s, Welch was convinced that inflation would soon become rampant thereby slowing down economic growth. The elimination of the old-line businesses was not going to be an easy job in terms of loss of jobs and lowering of morale that it implied. But Welch had to do what he had to do. The issuance 1 or number 2 philosophy as ruthless as it sounds had been critical for GE to grow and proceed in the modern world.