Saturday, August 31, 2019
Ku Klux Klanââ¬â¢s Effect on America Essay
The first Klan had first started around the year of 1860ââ¬â¢s. The first klan had lead up to the effects of the 1920ââ¬â¢s. The KKK had a tumultious start, and it had a major effect on America in the 1920ââ¬â¢s. The first klan began in Tennessee, by six Confederate Army Officers, in the winter of 1865. Ku klux Klan rose about four million and spread from the South into the Midwest region and Northern states and even into Canada. The name of the Ku Klux Klan is ââ¬Å"derived from the Grrek word ââ¬Ëkyklos,ââ¬â¢ meaning circleâ⬠(Wikimedia Foundation). ââ¬ËKlan was added for the purpose of alliterationâ⬠(ââ¬Å"Ku Klux Klanâ⬠). The infamous burning-cross icon became a symbol of the KKK in the 1920ââ¬â¢s, which was one of many tactics used for intimidation. Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of Klan members were the white robes they wore along with cone shaped hats that covered their faces. These costumes accomplished their goal of making them look more outlandish and terrifying, and for the intimidation of their victims (Smith). The Klan was pretty selective in accepting members, only WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) could become members. These members possessed the ideology of white supremacy to all other races and ethnic divisions, similar to the concept of Neo-Nazism, however they claim to have based their beliefs on Christian values and nativism. It is often thought that the KKK only hated African-Americans, but many other groups acquired hatred from the Klan, such as Jews, Catholics , homosexuals and various immigrant groups. Anti-Defamination League). Even though the stock started to gain their stocks and shares didnââ¬â¢t stop the Great Depression from happening (Kelly). Many people wonder why any group of people would posses such a hatred Dubbs 3 for certain groups of people. While there is no legitimate justification, one factor contributing to their hate was the rapid economic progression in the North, and the stagnant economy of the South. This may have been what angered the white southerners so much that they put blame onto the black population, along with leftover racial disputes from the times of slavery (Trueman). People of today also wonder how society could permit such destruction of life, and also support it. Back then, the Klan had many sources of income including membership fees, funds acquired from various events and sales of Klan propaganda, as well as free will donations. ââ¬Å"This income made the Klanââ¬â¢s many forms of media and strategy possible, such as mass mailings, pamphlets and public events and protests. They also did community service projects such as ââ¬Ëadopt a highwayââ¬â¢ programs to make themselves look good in the eyes of their communitiesâ⬠(Anti-Defamanation League). The members of the Ku Klux Klan did everything in their power to prevent the black community from exercising their newly acquired rights, which was often done during massive events. During a typical KKK event, they dressed in robes symbolizing their rank, then went on nighttime raids, during which they would whip and murder blacks and any of their supporters (ââ¬Å"Ku Klux Klanâ⬠). These events, unfortunately, were extremely effective. This lack of a political presence is what allowed the Klan to exist for such a long period of time. KKK existed from the initial founding until around 1870, ââ¬Å"when congress passed the KKK act which allowed authorities to end such activities by force and penalize anyone who affiliated with terrorist organizationsâ⬠(ââ¬Å"Ku Klux Klanâ⬠). At this time, blacks were the only targets of the KKK, for the most part.
Friday, August 30, 2019
International Law â⬠Definition Essay
There have been many attempts at codifying the laws governing international activities. An international law essentially governs international activities, or activities that have international implications, between two sovereign nations or entities by common rules, standards and conditions. The concept of legally binding agreements with an international scope was first introduced by Jeremy Bentham in the last quarter of the 18th Century (ILC, 2009). Jeremy Bentham was an English philosopher who first coined the idea of an international law that would regulate all important activities or aspects of international activities like commerce, justice, high sea activity, illegal acts, sovereignty, self defense and crime (Britannica, 2009). International law is inherently different from other laws as it primarily addresses the concerns of nations and not private citizens. It can legally be categorized into three different legal disciplines: 1. Public international law deals with common law issues between sovereign states and international organizations. Legal areas that are covered under the ambit of Public international law include international crime, high sea issues and humanitarian laws. 2. Private international law also called as conflict of laws, addresses the issue of ââ¬Ëprivate relationsââ¬â¢ across national borders and decides on the jurisdiction of the law. It has its roots in all the conventions, model laws, sovereign laws, legal guides, and all other documents and related instruments that govern such international relationships (ASIL, 2009). 3. Supranational law also called the law of supranational organizations, governs regional agreements between two international entities and distinguishingly nullifies laws of the respective nations in a situation of conflict with their sovereign laws. Public International Law Public international law relates to the form and ââ¬Ëconductââ¬â¢ of individual states and various organizations across the globe. Over a period of time, there has been an increased international activity and globalization has further enabled internationalization of issues. These issues, whether, economic, geo-political, environmental, criminal or else, find their right place under the ambit of Public international law. Public international law mainly has two branches that that deal with international issues. ââ¬Ëjus gentiumââ¬â¢ or ââ¬ËLaw of nationsââ¬â¢ was initially used by the Roman empire when they dealt with foreigners. Law of nations is a common law among nations that deals with issues like peace and war, extraditions, national boundaries and international diplomatic exchanges (Wiki, 2009). The other branch of Public international law, known as ââ¬ËJus inter gentesââ¬â¢, also finds its roots in the Roman law system. This branch mainly deals with international treaties, conventions and other agreements between sovereign nations and international organizations. Public international law is also used to address sovereignty issues of nations, their boundary issues and jurisdictions. They also identify the legal responsibilities of a state, their jurisdiction of a territory and other territorial issues. This may lead to a situation of conflict between the international law itself and the sovereign state. Private International Law Private international law as described earlier addresses the issues between two private international entities. This branch of law regulates all the lawsuits that involve an element ââ¬Ëforeignââ¬â¢ in nature and ones that may result in different interpretations and judgments depending on the jurisdiction of the subject (Collier, 2001). Private international law, in a situation of conflict between two international entities, determines if the proposed forum has any jurisdiction at all over the conflict situation. It then analyses and decides on the ability of competing state laws in dealing with the dispute. This branch of international law is also responsible for enforcement of the law. The term ââ¬Ëconflict of Lawsââ¬â¢ generally refers to the disparities between laws and reflects this disparity irrespective of the fact whether the legal system is international or inter-state. The term ââ¬Ëconflict of lawsââ¬â¢ is used by countries with common law system whereas the term Private international law is used more appropriately in cases where civil law countries are involved. The term that was initially used by and American lawyer and Judge Joseph Story for a common gamut of international laws, was discarded later by the common law researchers but was adopted by civil law lawyers (Collier, 2009). Since Private international law deals with international territorial disputes and also decides on legal jurisdictions of nation states, it is generally not easy to enforce decisions. There are two different lines of legal thinking that that try to define this law. One called ââ¬Ëuniversalismââ¬â¢ is a stream of thinking where the researchers believe that this branch of law is a part of international law and applies in uniformity and is legally binding to all the nation states. The other group of researchers claims it to be ââ¬Ëparticularismââ¬â¢, according to which each state has its own unique norms of private international laws and pursues them in line with its policies. There are two major areas of functioning for Private international law. ââ¬ËSensu strictoââ¬â¢ or narrow sense comprises of these set of rules and guidelines that actually determine the applicability of law of a nation in relation to the dispute. ââ¬ËSensu latoââ¬â¢, also called as broader sense, comprises of a set of legal guidelines that has a direct bearing on material norms crossing the borders of a state (Collier, 2009). This branch of Private international law normally deals with global issues like international insurance, realty and financial disputes. It was in 1834 that Joseph Storyââ¬â¢s treatise on the conflict of laws introduced the contemporary field of conflicts to the system of international law. His work had a great influence on the further legal research done on English laws and thus became the heart of Private international laws for most of the commonwealth countries. Sources of International law International law has evolved over a period of time and has its roots in the Middle Eastern and European history. It was Muhammad al-shaybani who first introduced the Law of the Nations at the end of the 8th century. These were the early legal treaties that explored applications of Islamic ethical code of conduct, and Islamic economic and military jurisprudence in relation to international law. Even though these treaties were in their nascent stage as per todayââ¬â¢s complexity of issues, they still covered a number of areas under the ambit of international law, including treaties involving diplomats and diplomatic issues, issues of war, hostages and prisoners of war, and also women, children and civilian protection issues, especially during conflicts (wiki, 2009). The first ever treaties discovered in European history were written by a philosopher, theologist and jurist, Francisco de Vitoria, a staunch Roman Catholic, in late 16th century. Most of these legal opinions by the researchers were greatly influenced by the Islamic International laws that were the only legal International law treaties that took shape in the previous few centuries. Another legal scholar Hugo Grotius in the early 17th century further researched on the international treaties governing international laws and was credited for his legal endeavors (Wiki, 2009). The concept of sovereignty further evolved from the 17th century to the early 20th century in Europe. It was in Munster, in 1648, Germany that the first such instance of any treaty governing the concept of international law called ââ¬ËPeace of Westphaliaââ¬â¢ took shape. This is when nationalism took precedence and people started identifying themselves with a certain nation-state. It was in the United States that history saw for the first time a modern instrument of international law take shape. Lieber Code was passed in 1863 by the Congress of the United States to govern actions of US forces involved with the civil war (Wiki, 2009). This was the first ever written law detailing guidelines and rules of war that were adhered to by all the civilized nations. The sources of International law are various resource materials and the processes that have shaped it over a period of time. Most of these processes or the building blocks of rules were greatly influenced by the politics in general and the legal theories by the researchers or philosophers. The decisions taken by the judges and the writings by the jurists are considered the auxiliary sources for the development of the international law. The international treaties between nation states and organizations, and the customs are also considered international laws of equivalent legitimacy (Wiki, 2009). As per the International Court of Justice, Customs are considered a primary source for International law, along with general principles of law and various treaties. International law and Customs Customary law is already acknowledged by the International Court of Justice by a statute in Article 38(1) (b), and is also incorporated in United Nations charter by Article 92 (Villiger, 1985). Customary laws are applied by international agencies in addressing the issues related to international disputes where the application of customs is considered an equivalent to the general practice accepted a part of International law applicable to the dispute. As a thumb rule, as and when a practice becomes a custom, it is applicable to all the member states of the international community. These states are bound by these customary principles whether or not they have consented for it, unless they opposed it from the start. Customs have long been a primary source for International law. Even though codification of customary laws took place in 1899 and 1907 in the Hague and Geneva conventions, some customs that were codified, like the ââ¬Ëlaws of the warââ¬â¢, had long been the part of international customs. The new codification of customary civil laws developed over a period of time since the middle ages. The customary expressions of law that were repetitive and were widely accepted within a particular community were written into laws by the local jurists. An example of such law would be ââ¬Ëcustom of Parisââ¬â¢ that regulated the community within Parisian region (Villiger, 1985). The term ââ¬Ëcustomary law as a part of International law, also refers to the legal norms that were developed over a period of time and with customary exchanges between two independent states either through diplomacy or with wars. Though customary laws are not considered as superior as other laws written by statute or treaties in the International law system and are loosing their influence, they still are considered and recognized as building blocks for the ever evolving international laws and given great thought in most of the scholarly works by jurists. We may find examples of strong customary laws across the globe, like the Canadian aboriginal law, that have a constitutional backing and thus have an increasing influence over deciding factors (Villager, 1985).
Analysis of Robert Haydenââ¬â¢s poem ââ¬ÅThose Winter Sundaysââ¬Â Essay
In ââ¬Å"Those Winter Sundaysâ⬠by Robert Hayden the story between the speaker and the father embraces the ideas of unseen love and the speakerââ¬â¢s regret. The poem is a result of the speakerââ¬â¢s reflection on his or her past experiences with his or her father. Hayden shows all the little things the father does, and how the speaker takes it for granted that the father just kind of did those things. Looking back, the speaker has now realized and understands what the father really had gone through for him. The descriptions Hayden uses expresses to the reader both the love of the father and the regret from the speakerââ¬â¢s reflection. Hayden goes into detailed explanations of examples of the fatherââ¬â¢s devoted love. His love isnââ¬â¢t shown through hugs and kisses, but through caring little things that bring happiness to the speakerââ¬â¢s day. This happiness can be seen by the regret the speaker shows when he says things like, ââ¬Å"No one ever thanked himâ⬠(5). The fatherââ¬â¢s devotion is seen in lines 3-5, ââ¬Å"with cracked hands that ached from labor in the weekday weather made banked fires blazeâ⬠(3-5). It is evident that the father, regardless of his own cares, makes the effort on those winter Sundays to try to make things a little easier for the speaker. Unseen by the speaker, the loving father has gotten up early and brought warmth into their home, and into the speakerââ¬â¢s day. Also, in line 12, ââ¬Å"and polished my good shoes as wellâ⬠(12), the feeling once again is presented of this father doing all he can to take care of the speaker, and show his love through his a ctions. This unseen love can also be noticed in the speakerââ¬â¢s thoughts. This poem is a reflection of his or her regret for not having been more thankful towards this man who cared so much for him or her. Once again line 5 shows us just how regretful the speaker was, ââ¬Å"No one ever thanked himâ⬠(5). The use of the exaggerative word, ever, just shows how now the speaker has realized his folly and regrets not being more loving towards the father in turn. Also, in line 10 the word ââ¬Å"indifferentlyâ⬠further points out the speakerââ¬â¢s realization. In the second to last line ââ¬Å"What did I know, What did I knowâ⬠(13), it seems like the speaker is almost scolding himself for this indifference. This line also especially exemplifies the speakerââ¬â¢s regrets. It almost seems like theyââ¬â¢re are wailing over the fact that they had notà been more loving because of the repetition of the question. So, the unseen love of the speaker is not present directly in the poemââ¬â¢s text, but can be felt through further analyzation of the poem as one full of regret. Maybe the speaker had not realized this love do to the lack of communication between himself and the father. Line 9, ââ¬Å"fearing the chronic angers of that houseâ⬠(9) makes it seem like the father showed ââ¬Å"tough love.â⬠His intentions were always good, but maybe he pushed the speaker too hard and led to some lack in communication. This lack of a relationship with the father could be just another reason for the speakerââ¬â¢s regret. ââ¬Å"Those Winter Sundaysâ⬠presents both directly and indirectly the idea of unseen love. Directly when talking about the fathers actions, and indirectly through the reminiscing of the speaker. This poem in its entirety is about regret for taking for granted the love of the father, and not having returned that love, or shared a better relationship with the father.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Media and the Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
Media and the Family - Essay Example Perfection is unattainable, unrealistic, and potentially dull and sterile."1 In a dysfunctional family, however, "some parents under-function, leaving their children to fend for themselves. Other parents over-function, never allowing their children to grow up and be on their own. Others are inconsistent or violate basic boundaries of appropriate behavior."2 A number of factors may directly or indirectly affect the functioning of each member or the family as a whole. Parenting styles may be considered a direct factor. One of the factors indirectly affecting its stability and the functioning of its members, on the other hand, is the television. This is based from the fact that among the habitual activities that draw members of the family together is spending time watching the television. Such occur when the perception of the art becomes a perception of the reality. Hence, television is usually secondary to other activities, affecting other activities and vice versa. Especially, nowadays that reality shows such as the "Big Brother" has invaded the TV screens where a dramatic increase of surveillance is present. The Big Brother Show showcases individuals from different localities who are chosen to live in a big house (that of Big Brother). Everything that they do is, in effect, seen on public TV. This is what Yevgeny Zamyatin (2005)3 calls surveillance in the media. Increase in surveillance in the twentieth-century has also been matched by an increase of voyeuristic entertainment, exemplified by the Orwellian titled television game show Big Brother. The entertainment value of voyeuristic surveillance has arguably rendered individuals more accepting of regulatory surveillance in their personal lives. This trend towards increasing surveillance coupled with a citizenry inured to a constant invasion of its privacy has formed the basis for a number of twentieth-century dystopian novels and films. According to Focus on the Family, "television viewing has grown steadily since the first sets were introduced in the late 1920s. American kids aged 2-18 now spend an average of 5:29 hours using media each day, with the lion's share of that attributed to TV.4 This is primarily caused by the number of changes that occurred since the first television sets were developed in the 1920s. The wobbly 24-line picture screens produced by early technology have evolved into today's high-definition TVs with nearly flawless picture quality. And there has never been more programming options available than today, thanks to cable and satellite receivers. Advances in technology opened more avenues for life as reflected on TV be made available to a larger and more complex viewers. Studies show extensive viewing may be to blame for aggressive or violent behavior, poor academic performance, precocious sexuality, obesity and substance abuse." 5 FOCUS This paper aims to establish that though the immense detrimental effects of television is undeniable, a responsible viewers' attitude such as guiding young audience specially when signs of these undesirable effects are present in shows being viewed, may in effect enhance the mental ability of the young viewer by making him more critical of the implications of what is portrayed on TV how he should respond to such manifestations. Such action should,
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
High school sports personal to myself Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
High school sports personal to myself - Essay Example During my freshman year of high school I had just moved to a new town and did not know many people. Upon joining the high school baseball team I was able to meet and interact with a wide variety of individuals. This allowed me to become fully integrated into my high school as well as the new community. I recognize that having the opportunity to interact with a number of individuals under a common interest was a very beneficial element for my life. It greatly boosted my self-esteem and confidence. The structure of high school sports was also a highly beneficial element for my life. Everyday after school I attended practice and participated in rigorous exercise. Now that I am in college I recognize that not having this structure and regular exercise effects other aspects of my life. I have now been required to fill in these elements on my own. Having this regular structure in my life I believe was good for my general health and motivation. While it may appear counter-intuitive, the mor e active I was the more energy I generally had. This motivation affected other aspects of my life, such that I approached it with strength and vigor. Since leaving the high school baseball team I have been forced to struggle to fill these elements.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Western Civilization Class Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Western Civilization Class - Research Paper Example upon the life of the average worker, the following analysis will be concentric upon discussing these unique nuances in light of the way that they affected different groups. Furthermore, by referencing and analyzing conditions, societal structure, and life for the working class during the 19th century, the analysis will also focus upon how workers were treated within the factories, whether women and children were treated differently than men, what primary sanitation standards or conditions existed for the workers, and how these working conditions affected their overall health. Finally, a discussion and analysis of whether or not this author believes that workers were treated in this manner for a reason will be discussed. It is the hope of this particular student that the reader will be able to gain a more informed and relevant level of understanding concerning these questions as a direct result of the information and primary source documentation which will be analyzed within this brie f essay. All things considered, life for the average 19th century working class was anything but pleasant. These individuals were faced with a litany of different hardships. Among these included: long hours, poor conditions, health hazards, poor treatment at the hands of supervisory staff or managers, poor sanitation, low wages, and oftentimes horrendous living conditions. Naturally, there were seeking differentials with respect to the way in which individuals experienced 19th century later. For instance, wife in the coal mines was significantly worse as compared to my in a cotton field work wife working in a factory. Whereas it is not express intent of this particular analysis to differentiate between what types of 19th century labor could be considered as ââ¬Å"goodâ⬠and which types of 19th century labor could be considered as ââ¬Å"badâ⬠, general understanding that is one that appreciates the fact that nearly all members of the working class suffered from the hardships and
Monday, August 26, 2019
No End in Sight Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
No End in Sight - Essay Example Bodineââ¬â¢s view of the reconstruction was to reach out to the Iraqis and identify government technocrats, as well as civil leaders who can effectively run the state (Shaikh 1). For a short period of time, she achieved a lot. What fascinated me about her was that, in such a demanding atmosphere, she managed to identify the best steps to be taken and how they would go about evaluating the steps. Richard Lee Armitage was an ex-deputy secretary of State Department. According to Armitage, the Iraq reconstruction was all about promoting world peace. He considered Iraq to be a threat to world peace (Shaikh 1). Armitage was also quite congenial during the interview, and that is fascinated me about him. The film covered the Iraq occupation mainly through interviews. The interviewees were mainly significant figures who were charged with managing the restriction. It dwelled on the mistakes that the Bush Administration during its occupation of Iraq (Shaikh 1). What shocked me was that the lack of security, rise of insurgency, lack of basic services and also, at one instance, the risk of a civil war, was caused by the mistakes made by Americans. If an outside power occupied my country and allowed widespread looting to take place and did not protect my countryââ¬â¢s historical monuments, then I would consider them as taking us for granted. I would also think that their purpose for occupying our nation was for their own benefit. This will make me think of ways to remove them from my country. I will also make me despise the outside power. As depicted in the film, the daily lives of Iraqis were looting, fighting each other, killing each other and widespread demonstrations. Homes were burnt down, so people became homeless. Also, the country came to a standstill (Shaikh 1). In fact, during this period, Iraq could not be considered a country because even its leaders had exiled the nation and some killed. If I was in
Sunday, August 25, 2019
International marketing entry strategy for Cow & Gate in China Essay
International marketing entry strategy for Cow & Gate in China - Essay Example Recognizing that China has huge potential for baby food, C&G aims to enter and market its products in China. An evaluation of the business environment and market potential would help decide international marketing for China. 2.0 PEST Analysis of China 2.1 Political Chinaââ¬â¢s political and social landscape is stable because of decades or opening up of the economy and the reforms that have been brought about. The Communist Party of China (CPC) has improved governance according to the needs of the people. Political stability has been achieved as people were invited to participate in politics (China Daily, 2011). The voices of people have been heard and their interests safeguarded. The Chinese people seek stability, improvement in the standards of living and enhancement of national strength. There are apprehensions whether under new leadership of Xi Jinping decentralization and liberalization would continue unchanged (Huang, 2013). Protests have become the natural form of expression due to lack of direct elections and a string civil society. As such, the provincial leaders take steps they consider appropriate to promote growth and maintain political stability. However, discretionary action is required as force can lead to violence and leniency can encourage protestors to extract even more from the system. The top authorities however, work in the interest of the people. Nevertheless, the nation lacks accountability at the bottom level and this, needs to be changed. 2.2 Economic Economic reforms in the country have been in place since the 1970s when the economy started moving from a centrally planned one to a more market-oriented one. It has opened up the economy to the world and its accession to World Trade Organization further accelerated the process of integration into the world economy. As a result China became the worldââ¬â¢s largest exporter in 2010. State-owned enterprises that are considered important to ââ¬Ëeconomic securityââ¬â¢ are given supp ort. The restructuring of the economy has led to ten-fold increase in GDP which currently stands at $8.26 trillion (CIA, 2013). China was the second largest economy in the world in 2012 but still per capital income is below the world average. In 2005 China revalued its currency and moved to an exchange rate system that references several currencies. Unemployment rate in China is 6.1 percent and inflation rate is 3.2 percent (Sharma, 2012). China has a labour force of 815.3 million as of 2010, of which 43 percent are in the service sector. Chinaââ¬â¢s economy has experienced a strong annual GDP growth rate of ten percent in the past five years (Bharat Book Bureau, 2012). The drivers of growth of the Chinese economy include high rate of savings, abundance of skilled labour, and urban growth. Inward FDI has been a strong driver of economic growth in China. Leading MNCs in every sector have been making inroads in China which has positively impacted the local manufacturers. It encoura ged innovation and consequently led to low-cost production. Economic reforms and simplification of tax laws and FDI procedures have made China a very attractive destination for investment and growth. 2.3 Social China has a population of over 1.3 billion of 16.6 percent are in the age group of 0-14 years. The literacy rate is 92.8 percent and the main religion followed is
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Five Skills that a Forensic Accountant Needs to Possess Research Paper
Five Skills that a Forensic Accountant Needs to Possess - Research Paper Example The countryââ¬â¢s top accredited organization of accountants, AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) made a study on what are the top skills for a forensic accountant needs to possess to become effective with his or her job. The respondents of the study were academics and practitioners. a. Analytical and detail oriented Their study revealed that a forensic accountant has to be analytical. Both the academics and practitioners that a forensic accountant must have the analytical proficiency that would provide an invaluable insight to the practitioner in its engagements than the regular auditing and problem solving skills (AICPA a, nd). Frauds are deliberately concealed and uncovering them requires analytical skills and dedication to details in addition to the usual auditing and problem solving skills of accountants. b. Interpretive skills or intuitive investigative skills The ability to interpret data and simplify them were also ranked as the second among accounta nts and academics (AICPA a, nd). They complement the analytical skill of a forensic accountant for this skill allows the practitioner to determine the usefulness of such data. Other respondents called this intuitive investigative skills or the ability to intuitively associate information for it to be useful in any forensic accounting investigation (AICPA a, nd). c. Soft skills/effective oral communicator The ability to communicate effectively was deemed important in the practice of forensic accounting. This is both oral and written communication. This skill is essential for a forensic accountant to possess because the nature of the work requires the practitioner to provide an expert opinion either orally (i.e. giving expert opinion in court of laws, providing consultancy advise to clients) or in a form of a formal written report (AICPA a, nd ). Forensic accounting is such a complex discipline and the ability to simplify information and language that can be easily understood by verif ier of facts or clients is an essential skill. d. Skepticism In the study, some respondents wrote it as ââ¬Å"skepticismâ⬠which is essential for an investigative work. This became an important skill of a forensic accountant in cases where the practitioner is tasked to uncover or investigate fraud. e. Ethical Being ethical is ranked as one of the top five skills of a forensic accountant because this skill is ââ¬Å"consistent with the mission of the forensic accountantâ⬠(AICPA a, and pg. 11). In plain language, forensic accountants are the antidote to frauds and scams and if they themselves are susceptible to unethical behaviors which they are tasked to investigate and uncover, the general public will be left with nothing to shield them from such undesirable financial practices. In addition to these five skills that a forensic accountant must profess, the practitioner must also have the ability to review large volumes of financial statements and documents. A forensic acc ountant must also be grounded on the various business models that companies use. The practitioner must also be able to prepare and dispense expert reports under a strict timetable (Owojori and Asaolu, 2009).Ã
Friday, August 23, 2019
Being a Leader Today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Being a Leader Today - Essay Example The leader builds an environment in which every member of the organization flourishes through idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration. Idealized influence is creating positive impact of the leader on the individual in terms of confidence and trust, so that the followers seek to emulate their role model (Bono & Judge, 2004, p. 901; Simic, 1998, p. 52; Stone, Russell & Patterson, 2003, p. 3). The employee is impressed by the leadership style and follows the chosen path of the leader. Leaders are ââ¬Å"admired, respected, and trustedâ⬠(Bass, Avolio, Jung & Berson, 2003, p. 208). The subordinated believe virtues of their leader so that any decision taken will be supported with minimal resistance even in the time of crisis. Charismatic leadership is one of the important attributes of this modern leadership style and is based on the expression of leaders as well as followers (Kelly, 2003). Lee Iacocca showed his charismatic leadership to revive Chrysler Corporation in the 1970s and 1980s (Kelly, 2003). Inspirational motivation is a broader view of idealized influence to make direct impact on whole organization. The leader inspires other team members to behave and perform in a certain way through speeches, conversations and other public displays (Simic, 1998, p. 52) and stimulating collaborative work approach. The formal and informal forms of his influence help in building flexible, yet successful organization with shared vision. The headman inculcates the required organizational culture and environment (Kelly, 2003; Stone, Russell & Patterson, 2003, p. 3) in each individual in such a manner that the employee would feel indispensable part of the business. Optimistic and enthusiastic attitude of the leader motivates the followers. US President John F. Kennedyââ¬â¢s dream to accomplish mission of putting a man on the moon by 1970 is a classic example of
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Sources of Funds for Businesses Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1
Sources of Funds for Businesses - Assignment Example Ownersââ¬â¢ investment: - This is funds generated from the owner's savings, they are pillars of many small businesses.à Ownerââ¬â¢s investments are used in most cases where your business doesn't have the assets to invest. Retained earnings:-This source of funds is only obtainable for a business which has been in operation for more than one year. Itââ¬â¢s an easy source of internal funding because this is when returns made are reinvested back into the business. Itââ¬â¢s a medium to a long-term source of funds. Debt Collection: - A business can increase its funding by collecting debts from their debtors, however not all business has debtors thus this form is not applicable to all businesses. Itââ¬â¢s a short-term source of funding a business. Bank Overdraft:-This is where a financial institution permits an entity to take out additional cash than it has in its savings. This means that a company may still write cheques even with no money in their accounts. Itââ¬â¢s a short-term source of funds and can be very expensive if used over longer periods (Gregoriou, Kooli & Kraussll, 2007). Hire Purchase:-This technique allows a business to get assets without the necessity to pay larger amounts. Involves paying the first deposit and even payments for a certain period; itââ¬â¢s a medium-term source of funds Mortgage:-This is a credit held on the property, payable in installments over a particular period of time usually 25 years. After the final payment, a business will officially own the property. Itââ¬â¢s a long-term source of funds. Corporations can rely on both internal and external sources of funds because both have their advantages and disadvantages. However, many corporations today rely on external funds due to the following reasons Most business needs finances to grow. Even companies with greater returns cannot rely only on reinvested earnings to finance their operations. Hence, a business is required to secure bank loans, partner with other companies or any other way to raise external funds. (Smart, Megginson & Graham, 2010).Ã
Human Resources Essay Example for Free
Human Resources Essay Human Resource Policies Assessing personnel needs HR must be approachable if an employee seeks advice regarding employment Recruiting personnel à à à à à à à à Recruitment must be objective and has to meet the standards of the company Screening personnel Applicants must be screened in an objective manner and test their aptitude for the job Selecting and hiring personnel à Upon selection, the hired applicants will be more than qualified for the job applied for Orienting new employees to the organization à Newly-hired employees are oriented by the company guided by its mission and vision Deciding compensation issues Compensation and other benefits should be discussed upon signing the contract. Benefits and Compensation Basic Salary à à à à à The monthly wages that an employee must received due to work rendered. Night Differential à à à à à An employee who works from 10pm until 6am will get a 30% of his basic salary Fringe Benefit à à à à à Employees should beà complemented with the following: housing, group insurance (health, dental, life etc.), income protection, retirement benefits,daycare, tuition reimbursement, sick leave, vacation (paid and non-paid), social security, profit sharing, funding of education, and other specialized benefits. à à à à Employee awards Prolific à à à à à à à à à An employee is award because he works more than is required. Efficiency à à à à à à à à à An employee is awarded because of his work ethic and objectivity Resourcefulness à à à à à à à An employee is rawwarded due to his ability to find alternatives for the betterment of the job Customer Satisfaction It is always a company standard to treat a client in a proper manner, so as to make an increase in sales. Such award given to the employee makes him a role model for other employees. Innovative An employee is given this award because he strives for progress Salesmanship An employee makes a transaction beyond his quota, sales of the company would increase and will give the company and the manufacturer a boost on their public relations. Citation: The Art of Motivation: An Incentive Industry Primer
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Notions Of Epistemic Internalism And Externalism Philosophy Essay
Notions Of Epistemic Internalism And Externalism Philosophy Essay Epistemic justification is the basis for both internalism and externalism as they relate to knowledge. Until the onset of the Gettier problems, knowledge had been commonly held as justified true belief, that is, justification added to true belief makes knowledge. However it is more commonly recognized now that there must be another element to the equation. What kind of justification? It is this question that brings forth the notions of epistemic internalism and externalism, and this question which will be critically addressed in this essay. Epistemic internalism refers to justification as an internal matter of various mental states and their relation to knowledge. Internal matter consists of memories, perceptions, reflections, etc., all of which can give rise to justification irrespective of how they relate to the external world. In other words, if you know some premise (p) then you must also know that you know (p), which is the justification of your belief. To be assessed further in this essay, internalism is supported by the related principles of evidentialism, the conclusive justification theory, virtue epistemology, and the deontological conception of epistemic justification. Inversely, epistemic externalism upholds that a decent theory of knowledge should involve a component of external justification, instead of, or in addition to internal justifications. Justification must come from some form of reliable logical process or cognitive faculty, not merely to be inferred by reflection. You can know some premise (p), if and only if your belief that (p) is i. True, and ii. justified. Again, with further investigation of the externalist foundations of reliabilism, the casual theory of knowledge, and the truth tracking condition of belief, epistemic externalism will be examined and evaluated. Internalism is primarily influenced by appealing to evidentialism as premise. Evidentialists, true to their name, require evidence to support the justification of a belief. As aforementioned, this evidence is of an internal nature, meaning, if a person S is internally justified in believing a certain thing, then this may be something he can internally know just by reflecting upon his own state of mind (Chisholm, 1989: 7) Chisholm means that something must be what he calls directly recognizable, or recognizable upon reflection, and on any occasion. When these two qualifications meet, then they, constitute grounds, or reasons, or evidence for thinking that we know [something] (Chisholm, 1977:17). He takes this theory further and separates his justification requirements into accessibility internalism in which justification is recognizable upon reflection, and in terms of the accessibility of the justification, and mental state internalism, which requires that justifiers must be internal to the mind (i.e. mental states or events). These theories extend a constraint over justification, making it necessarily directly recognizable. Matthias Steup gives the equation example, any time at which S holds a justified belief B, S is in a position to know at T that B is justified (Steup, 2001). This means that because S is able to directly recognize B, then T is the time at which direct recognition takes place. This claim, however, is refuted by external justification and will be addressed in the externalist argument to follow. Some support for internalism includes the deontological conception of epistemic justification, which is a concept of epistemic (not ethical) duties which arise in the pursuit of truth (Pappas, 2005). A equation to exemplify this, S is justified in believing P if in believing P, S does not violate any of his epistemic duties or, if in believing P, S does not fail to do what he ought to in the pursuit of truth (Steup, 2001). According to George Pappas, justification is a matter of epistemic duty fulfilment, making what determines justification identical to what determines epistemic duty. Subsequently, if what determines justification and duty is directly recognizable, then justification is directly recognizable (to ones self). Internalists argue that reliable belief formation is neither necessary nor sufficient for justification or knowledge, when added to true belief (unless supported by adequate evidence). Take the example of Descartes most sceptical theory, the Evil Demon argument, in which one cannot be sure of anything but ones own existence, due to the fact that there is no way of knowing whether or not you are being deceived. To prove that reliable belief production is not necessary for justification, internalists appeal to the possibility of deception by this demon. According to the argument, ones beliefs in the normal world would mirror that of the evil world, thus making it impossible to detect deception. However while beliefs in the normal world would be true, beliefs in the evil world would be false and, according to externalism, thus unjustified. According to internalism however, beliefs in the evil world are also supported by adequate evidence (there is no difference as far as your evidence i s concerned) and so are in fact justified. And so, according to internalists, beliefs in the evil demon world, are also usually supported by adequate evidence and are thus justified. Internalists reject the claim that being produced by reliable cognitive faculties is a necessary condition of epistemic justification (Steup, 2001). In the case of externalism it is important to understand the underpinning theories which comprise this epistemic view. Reliabilism as a theory of knowledge does not require justification, but requires truth and a reliable belief formation, for which internal reflection does not suffice. A defender of reliabilism and thus externalism as well, Frede Dretske argues that justification is not a necessary element of knowledge. By asserting that an animal is able to possess knowledge for example and that by acting on inherent beliefs enables it to know something, what additional benefits are conferred by a justification that the beliefs are being produced in some reliable way? If there are no additional benefits, what good is this justification? Why should we insist that no one can have knowledge without it? (Dretske, 1989: 95). Because of some cognitive origin of the animals belief, a reflection based internal justification becomes unnecessary and obsolete. It is however imperative that th e cognitive origin of belief is reliable. Without the reliability constraint the connection between justification and truth becomes too tenuous. Externalists as a whole believe that it is because of the link between justification and truth being so flimsy, that they demand proof of a strong likelihood of truth. This thing (x) which produces or provides reliability to a belief must, yield mostly true beliefs in sufficiently large and varied run of employments in situations of the sorts we typically encounter (Alston, 1993: 9). It is this truth factor of reliability (absent from the internalist requirements for justification) that rules out a system of beliefs perceived to be justified, but which are in fact being produced by an evil demon who creates falsity within our lives. Since the beliefs held in the evil world would not be true, and thus reliable, then they cannot be known. This proof then begs the question, of what use is internal justification if it is the sort that an evil d eceiver may possess. (Steup, 2001). Externalists refute internal justification as valid, a position that does seem to make sense practically. Simply because someone can perceive of something or reflect upon something in their mind, does not necessarily make that thing knowledge. In support of externalism is the premise of the casual belief theory, which suggests that some extra condition must be placed upon justified true belief solely comprising knowledge. This extra condition is held by externalists to be a reliable cognitive process. The truth tracking condition, developed by Robert Nozick in his 1981 work Philosophical Explorations, claims that knowledge must be true belief plus a truth tracking condition, articulated in terms of a subjunctive connection to the world. To summarize, it seems that knowledge is just a foundational concept to which we can apply various theories to provide justification in certain instances. Externalism as a theory recognizes this and instead of requiring justification by mental evidence, instead simply calls for a logical process of understanding which then leads the subject to the attainment of knowledge. Due to the convincing elements of Dretskes assertion about an animals ability to possess knowledge without the ability to reflect upon it, and the two epistemic notions of Descartes evil demon argument, it does seem that externalism is a more plausible theory of knowledge. The ability to know that you know something in your own mind remains unconvincing in terms of knowledge requirements and true belief. Externalists view justification as an evaluative term of appraisal, meaning that it is used to judge the nature of a belief, not to determine whether or not a belief can be knowledge. Internalists on the other hand require justification, but limit this justification to mental processes. It simply seems illogical to suppose that memories, beliefs, and reflection can be requirements for knowledge, when truth and a reliable external reasoning process is a much more valid and solid approach to gaining knowledge.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Malnutrition Effects on Quality Of Life
Malnutrition Effects on Quality Of Life The focus of this assessment is quality of life and specifically this paper considers how malnutrition affects quality of life of community settings patients. According to the Scottish Governments publication Older people living in community Nutrition needs, barrier and interventions: a literature review, malnutrition is an umbrella term for undernutrition, overnutrition and imbalance diet intake (The Scottish Government, 2009). Malnutrition has previously been described in the various ways (The Scottish Government, 2009). However, for purpose of this assessment the following term will be used as defined by World Health Organisation (WHO) the cellular imbalance between the supply of nutrients and energy and the bodys demand for them to ensure growth, maintenance, and specific functions (see European Nutrition for Health Alliance, 2005). According to Saunders, Smith and Stroud (2010) 2 per cent of the UK population is underweight: Body Mass Index (BMI) is lower than 18.5 kg/m. However, they agreed that patients could be still at risk of malnutrition whatever their BMI is (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). Malnutrition, as well as other factors, has negative effect on the persons quality of life (The Scottish Government, 2009). In the UK, hospitals admission rate and mortality were greatest in patients with BMI below 20 (kg/m2) (Teo and Wynne, 2001). During nutrition screening survey in the UK various settings it was found that malnutrition doubles risk of mortality in the hospital patients and triples morality in elderly patients in hospitals following discharged (RCN and NPSA, 2009). Care Homes nutrition survey shown that 30 per cent of service users recently admitted to care homes were at risk of malnutrition (RCN and NPSA, 2009). According to Hickson (2006), malnutrition may be secondary to certain health conditions which is increasing risks for patients to become malnourished and those risk factors will be discuss later in this assessment (Hickson, 2006 and Teo and Wynne, 2001). However, European Nutrition for Health Alliance (2005) argued that malnutrition should be classified as independent disease (European Nutrition for Health Alliance, 2005), its due to undernutrition has a negative effect on all organs systems such as muscle-skeleton, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine systems and in addition, malnutrition has a psychosocial effect (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). It was found that undernutrition could cause following health conditions: in the healthy individuals and has advance exacerbation effects upon existent illnesses or injuries, reduced psychological wellbeing (increase anxiety, depression apathy, and loss of concentration and self-neglect) (Webb and Copeman, 1996 and Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). According to Morley and Kraenzle (1995), balanced diet in general, is improving cognitive and memory performance in elderly (see Vetta et al, 1999). Chandra (1993) found that undernutrition is depressing organism immune function (see Webb and Copeman, 1996). It could be due to impaired cell-mediated immunity and cytokine, complement and phagocyte function this most commonly could lead to developing bacterial and parasitic infections and poor wounds healing (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). Malnourished patients have reduced muscle function, loss of cardiac muscle and reduce cardiac output, which results in impact on the renal function (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). The same individuals have reduced respiratory response to oxygen deficit by poor diaphragmatic and respiratory muscle function (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010), increased risk of hypothermia, increase risk of falls and injuries (Webb and Copeman, 1996). In addition, redaction of fat and muscles mass are more obvious signs of malnutrition (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). According to Clayton (1991), malnourished elderly clients have a poor prognosis for recovery from following fractured femur, hypothermia, pressure ulceration and other conditions (Clayton, 1991). Fracture risk is high then calcium, magnesium and vitamin D intake is insufficient, during the weight loss bone mass is reducing as well (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). Early stage of malnutrition leads to loss of digestive enzymes that result in intolerance of lactose. The colon loses its ability to absorb liquid, electrolytes, and secretions of small and large bowels, which results in diarrhoea (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). According to Saunders, Smith and Stroud (2010), endocrine system is affected in malnourished patience. For example, chronic malnutrition will change the pancreatic exocrine function by reducing the insulin secretion (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). An author is currently working a nursing and residential care home for elderly patients as well as nursing and social recruitment agency, which is covering biggest part of the North West of England. Being allocated in hospitals and nursing homes the author noticed that patiences nutrition needs are being met well but where are still some areas for improvement. During the study carried out in the large the UK hospitals, it was found that 40 per cent patients admitted to hospitals were malnourished and two-thirds subsequently lost weight during their hospital stay (Teo and Wynne, 2001). During the service users meeting in the care home author working in, carried out in January this year, all 14 service users have stated that they are satisfied with food they are getting. However, two patients are still at risk of malnutrition. They have been referred to the GP for dietician support. The author strongly believes that nursing home is providing adequate food to the service users. Catering manager in the UK hospitals compare to chefs in nursing home have a small budge of à £11 to à £15 per patients a week (Teo and Wynne, 2001). The authors care home spends around à £30 per service user a week. However, in March 2007, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) carried out survey questioning nearly 2200 of their member relating nutrition issues. Survey has revealed that 42 per cent said the food provided for patients were below overage expectancy (RCN, 2011). In various reasons government and health profession organisations are now advising for routing screening of all patients admitted to any healthcare facilities (RCN and NPSA, 2009). In authors opinion, the main priority for addressing this issue is promoting patiences health and wellbeing and cutting financial cost. For example, annual financial cost of treatment malnutrition patience and any associated illnesses in the UK was estimated around 7.3 billion pounds. This figure includes treatment malnourished patience in the hospital setting, round 3.8 billion pounds and long-term care facility such as care home, round 2.6 billion (Elia M., et al., 2005). Causes of Malnutrition The author is currently looking after two service users who are scoring on the MUST. All two patients are elderly from 65 to 80 years old, with different background and health conditions. Patient No 1 is 87 years old female, was diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease, history of Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), high blood pressure, right wrist fracture and Dysphasia. Current BMI is 19, which was stable after referral to dietician and commencing on oral supplements, than BMI was 17 back in the October 2010. Patient No 2 is 72 years old man, diagnosed with alcohol excess, CA oesophagus, Gout, Heart Failure. Current BMI is 23, which was stably increasing over past months following admission to nursing home, than his BMI was 17. Both patients have a poor appetite at present. Nursing homes staff cannot establish reasons for anorexia and BMI reduction in one patient. There are number of risk factors, which could cause malnutrition among elderly population. However, the most important factor leading to undernutrition is reducing of oral intake (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). Inadequate dietary intake is depending on various factors (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010), which could be divided into three main categories: medical, social and psychological (Hickson, 2006). Firstly, age related changes such as changing in appetite or sensory (Teo and Wynne, 2001). Working in the care homes author noticed, an appetite is reducing with advanced age. Some people refused or preferred to omit meals, for example, one patient does not take breakfast, then the author asked her why she is not taken breakfast that patient replied that she is not a breakfast person. In addition, during the study carried out in USA it was discovered that elderly population are consumed less energy intake and follow more traditional eating pattern then younger population (Teo and Wynne, 2001). Poor appetite or anorexia is a most common factor leading to malnutrition in both young and old generation (Hickson, 2006). However, during the study commenced by Roberts et al (1994), it was found that ageing seemed to affect the ability to control food intake and weight lost will take longer to re-gains in elderly men compare to young (see Hickson, 2006). In addition, according to work of De Castro (1993), older people are less responsive to stomach contents than younger people, in term of hunger (see Hickson, 2006). Anorexia may occur as process of aging as well as during underlying illnesses (Teo and Wynne, 2001 and Hickson, 2006). Hetherington (1998) argued that changing in taste and smell could lead to loss of appetite through a perceived decline in the pleasantness of food. Loss of taste and smell could be associated with advance age and medications therapy mechanism of these changes are remains unknown (see Hickson, 2006). In authors care environment patients prefer to eat strong flavour and taste meals such as a roast meat with gravy, bacon, fish which are being served with traditional sauces or salt and vinegar to encourage patients to their food. According to Hickson (2006), a few works have been done to find out that improving the flavour of the food can improve diet intake and follow weight increase in hospitals and community healthcare patients (Hickson, 2006). A few patients do not like vegetables, intake of which have being recommended by NHS 5 a day complain based on the WHO (NHS, 2009). Patient No 1 and Patient No 2 do not have own teeth which is reducing ability to chew tender food. For both patients oral problems have not been reported. However, according to Finch et al (1998), National Diet and Nutrition survey, energy consumption was lower in edentate individuals compare to individuals with own teeth (see Hickson, 2006). Dysphasia or swallowing problem is leading concern in reducing dietary intake (Hickson 2006). The author has experienced that often care and catering staff do not understand the different between soft and liquidised diet and which diet should be given to each patients with dysphasia. Moreover, care staff that is responsible for feeding patients, needed assistant, every often do not understand the sings for swallowing problem. This concern has been addressed in the care home that the author is working in by appointed care staff for appropriate training section provided by Liverpool Primary Care Trust (PCT). According to research carried out by Mowe et al (1994), swallowing problem is showing up in 64 per cent of in-patience elderly (see Hickson, 2006). In addition, Gariballa et al (1998) argued that post Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) patients with Dysphasia had a worse nutrition status then those patients without swallowing problems (see Hickson, 2006). The author strongly believes that malnutrition caused by various factors combined together such as old age and health or mental health problem (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). In the UK, it was estimated that around 8 per cent of patients with chronic diseases living in the community are malnourished (Teo and Wynne, 2001). According to Hickson (2006), diseases-related malnutrition is usually associated with cancer, physical disabilities, endocrinology disorder and respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disorders, neurological disorders, sources of infection and other psychological factors such as depression and Dementia (Hickson, 2006 and Teo and Wynne, 2001). Medical factors increase the risk of patient to become malnourish through, for example, nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation, anorexia and malabsorption (Hickson, 2006). Cultural factors or social (Vetta et. al. 1999) and food habits are also playing an important role in developing malnutrition as independent illness (Hickson, 2006). As example, an individual who had a long-term hospital stay or had no nutrition support while in the community would not used to have full nutritional meals. Moreover, individual who has been admitted to the authors care home used to take fast food or sandwiches at all the time while at home, instead of cooked meals. According to Hickson (2006), there are lifestyles and social risk factors for malnutrition in elderly people are lack of knowledge about food, nutrition and cooking, isolation and loneliness, poverty, inability to shop or prepare food (Hickson, 2006). Dementia has a great effect on individuals relationship with food (Alzheimers Society, 2011). Dementia patients or patients with low mental status appeared to lost weight due to reducing self-feeding ability, acute sense of smell and taste that is depending on severalty and progression of disease (Teo and Wynne, 2001). Berkhout et al (1998) has confirmed that weight lost in demented patients is caused by patients ability to feed them rather than by dementia as illness (Hickson, 2006). According to Incalzi et al (1998), study carried out for in-hospitals patients found out that cognition is causing impairment to ability or desire to eat (see Hickson, 2006). Progressive dementia is usually associated with uncontrolled weight lost and changing eating habits (Claggett, 1989 see Hickson, 2006). Nutrition screening and risk assessment In 2007, RCN commenced Nutrition Now campaign, which has a wide response from members of public as well as members of multidisciplinary teams. The RCN Principles for Nutrition and Hydration were published in 2007. That principals aim to help of all health professionals grades to improve nutrition and hydration of patience. This paper is highlighting three principles of nursing care: accountability, responsibility and management to improve the patience nutrition and hydration (RCN 2011). Nutrition screening pathway, nutrition risk assessment are widely used which assist nursing staff to indentify the risk of malnutrition or/dehydration and appropriate actions to be taken. Risk of malnutrition screening should be a routine process in all healthcare settings (RCN and NPSA, 2009). In the authors care home as required all service users are being screened for malnutrition on the admission and once a month or more often if required, using Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) as recommended by government bodies and Care Quality Commission (CQC) as registration body. Part of the admission documentation is to collect and record patiences food likes and dislikes. According to Saunders, Smith and Stroud (2010), MUST is reliable and valid screening tool in diagnostic or prediction of malnutrition (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). However, nutrition assessment was only done for patients who have been referral to their GPs following scoring, weight loss of 1 to 2 per cen t per week, 5 per cent per month or 10 per cent over period of six months (Mitchell, 2003). According to RCN and NPSA (2009), purpose of nutritional assessment is details identification of nutritional status and for special dietary plan to be formulated and implicated (RCN and NPSA, 2009). In the authors care home, dietician or dieticians assistant based on the information provided by staff nurse on duty normally carries out the nutritional assessment. As far as author concerns, nutrition assessment should be done by care home nurses as they are working in close contact with patients and their families on the daily basis, know better persons food likes and dislikes. However, special nutrition trainings are not always available to the nursing home staff. This could lead to complicated nutrition issues not to be addressed as quickly as they should be due to community dieticians waiting time is usually 6 weeks. In the authors nursing home all necessary equipments are available such as weight scales and height measures. However, weight scales calibration has not been done which could lead to poor nutrition screening assessment (NPSA). After completing the MUST, the author and colleagues will formulate the personalised care plan for each patient in order to meet nutritional requirements. Nutrition care plan could be based on the information or guidance provided by dietician or other health professions. Treatment According to Hark and Morrison (2003), the nutrition needs of healthy older adults are mainly the same as for middle age adults (Hark and Morrison, 2003). The intake of food containing Calcium, Vitamin D, Folate, Vitamin B12 and B6 should be increased for the elderly population (Hark and Morrison, 2003). Protein intake recommendation is variable from 0.8 g/kg per day in the USA (Mitchell, 2003) to 0.75 g/kg in the UK (McKevith, 2009). However, according to Mitchell (2003), one established nutrition needs recommendation cannot be used for all ages population (Mitchell, 2003). In addition, patients lifestyle, height and weight should be taken in account (Mitchell, 2003). There are number of fundamental support of nutrition available at present such as enteral and parenteral nutrition support (Hark and Morrison, 2003). At this assessment only oral nutrition support (ONS) will be discussed. The aim of the nutrition support is to ensure an individual gets enough energy, proteins, macronutrients and micronutrients to meet patients nutrition requirements (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). Saunders, Smith and Stroud (2010) argued that provision of regular meals with better nutrition content, wide menu choice and assistant with feeding should be enough to meet nutrition requirement and reduce nutrition risk (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). Numerous studies show that nutrition support could reverse weight loss, only if underlying health conditions under control (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). However, not all patients react at the same way (Hickson, 2006). At what reasons care and treatment should take an account of individual needs and preferences (RCN and NPSA, 2009). In practice, knowledge of food preferences and past medical history, following personalised nutrition care plan, serving patients with small meals (Teo and Wynne, 2001) or using a small plate could encourage service user to finish all meal. Currently some of the UKs hospitals commenced to use red tray scheme for serving the meals to patients. A purpose of using red trays is to alert hospital staff that patience with red tray is at nutrition risk and need assistance or supervision with diet intake (Bradley and Rees, 2003 see Davis, 2007). Protection of mealtime scheme is also widely spread across the UK. The purpose of this scheme is to create an environment for hospital patients free from hospital activities and unnecessary disturbance during a mealtime. In addition, this scheme is to assist nursing staff with concentration on the meeting nutrition need of hospital patients (NS, 2007). People with Dementia could loss an ability to use cutlery that could lead to weight loss and malnutrition. Providing those patients with available finger food could improve nutrition status (Alzheimers society, 2011). Teo and Wynne (2001) argued that the possible benefits from using energy supplements in elderly patients have received little or no evaluation in clinical practice (Teo and Wynne, 2001). However, during the study carried out by Volkert et al (1996), it was found that patients consuming food supplement while in-patience and 6 months in community have develop positive nutritional status compare to group of patients without food supplements (see Teo and Wynne, 2001). The author has come across the situation then GP has refused to prescribe food supplement to one of the patience and recommended full fat milk instead. In addition, during controlled trial for six months in patients who have been discharged from hospital and prescribed ONS has no economic benefit. To compare, using ONS in community is costing more than using ONS in hospitals (Elia et al., 2005). However, malnourished patients using could be at risk of re-feeding syndrome, which could results in death (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). Re-feeding syndrome is associated with water retention leading to fluid overload due to decay of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and sodium in blood plasma (Mallet, 2002). Saunders, Smith and Stroud (2010) recommended that during re-feeding saviour malnourished patients potassium, phosphate and magnesium should be prescribed and thiamine (for patients with history of alcohol excess) (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). Conclusion The UK elderly population is rising, currently about 16 per cent of the population is above 65 (Hickson, 2006) and by 2050 over 30 per cent European population will be over 60 which will result in prevalence of malnutrition to rise (European Nutrition for Health Alliance, 2005). Many changing associated with aging have been documented, however, how senescence leads to the health conditions, related to aging, is still unknown (Mitchell, 2003). It was found that ageing is leading to slow reduction of weight and modification in body composition. It is due to declines in bone, muscle mass and body cell mass. Bone mass reduced due to inadequate intake of Calcium and inadequate exposure skin to the sunlight to encourage production of Vitamin D (Sahyoun, 2002). In general, people are gaining weight until they 60th birthday and after gradually reducing weight, usually 10 per cent between 70 and 80 (Mitchell, 2003). Weight loss related to aging and malnutrition should be indentified during initial nutrition assessment. In addition, community healthcare is facing many concerns. Firstly, malnutrition remains under-recognized problem facing patients, their families and health professions (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). Secondly, according to, Hark and Morrison (2003) argued that there are no single physical or biochemical screening tools could accurate predict the nutrition status in elderly (Hark and Morrison, 2003). Food prices are constantly rising and ONS are costing too much to the local PCT. In the authors opinion, providing service users with good quality food, offer choice of menu and snacks between meals are solution to fight malnutrition. The significant role in education medical students and junior doctors in nutrition has widely recommended (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). However, inadequate knowledge in nutrition of nursing and care staff could increase risk of malnutrition (Saunders, Smith and Stroud, 2010). In the authors care home nutrition in elderly is not mandatory training for the care staff. Following this assessment, the author will provide relevant care staff with information on the nutrition in elderly service users. This could be achieved through supervision sections and face-to-face talks. Moreover, there it is possible, elderly population and their families should be informed about the latest nutrition recommendations related to their age, lifestyle and health conditions and should encouraged to apply those recommendations to individuals lives (Sahyoun, 2002).
Monday, August 19, 2019
An Analysis of Yeatsââ¬â¢ An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Essay
An Analysis of Yeatsââ¬â¢ An Irish Airman Foresees His Death It is an unspoken assumption that when a country goes to war the men fighting are honored and also that there is a large amount of support given to the soldiers from that particular community.à What is often over-looked is the fact that many of the men, who are partaking in battle, are in fact, boys who do not even know what they are fighting for.à Also, the community is not always supportive and helpful unless they see a personal benefit that will affect them in a positive way as an outcome of the war.à In ââ¬Å"An Irish Airman Foresees His Deathâ⬠, Yeats introduces us to a man who is fighting in the war, not knowing what he is fighting for.à Yeats also shows us, from a soldierââ¬â¢s view point, how a soldier feels while defending a country he does not feel any loyalty to, and how a soldier views the community he is laying his life on the line to protect. It is apparent immediately in the beginning of the poem that this airman has a very bad attitude about the way this war is going.à ââ¬Å"I know that I shall meet my fate, Somewhere among the clouds aboveâ⬠(Yeats 154).à The airman is saying that he knows, or senses, the fact that he will not make it out alive of this war.à The reference made to ââ¬Å"the clouds aboveâ⬠is simply reinforcing the fact that he is an airman in the war.à These first two lines really set the tone for a poem that turns out to be a very somber, depressing piece of work.à These two lines are symbolic of the airmanââ¬â¢s attitude and take on life in general. The third and fourth lines of the poem, ââ¬Å"Those that I fight I do not hate, Those that I guard I do not loveâ⬠(Yeats 154), tell us how he feels about the soldiers he is fighting against, and also how he feels a... ... signs on life worth living in himself and sees no hope for a world where young men can sacrifice themselves for the good of their country, and in response, get virtually no response from the citizens at large. This poem was written in memory of Lady Gregoryââ¬â¢s son, Major Robert Gregory, who died on the Italian front in January of 1918.à Its purpose is to show how damaging war can be and how unjust much of what happens during a war actually is.à It does not make sense that a soldier may not even like the people he is fighting next to, and that he may be able to relate better to the enemy than to his own troops.à Yeats, by writing this poem, made the reader conscious of the negative aspects of war. Works Cited Yeats, William Butler.à ââ¬Å"An Irish Airman Foresees His Death.â⬠à Contained in, Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry, 2nd ed.à New York, New York:à 1988.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Wicca Essays -- essays research papers
Wicca/Witchcraft à à à à à Wicca is an Old English word that means 'The Wise Ones'; or 'Keepers of Knowledge';. Wicca is one of the most ancient followings. Wicca is a Neo-Pagan following with many traditions that date to pre-Christian times. It is based on a deep respect for nature and the knowledge that we should not exploit it for our own gain. Wicca is not recognized as a religion by anyone other than its followers. Wicca is not a cult. Many Wiccans are independent and worship on their own or with a group of Wiccans, but they do not follow any one person. There are many types of Wicca, as many as 13 different traditions have been founded. One of the oldest unchanged traditions is the Strega Witchcraft. A witch named Aradia founded this tradition about 1353 CE. Two other large traditions include Gardnerian and Celtic forms. The Gardnerian tradition is based on the works of Dr. Gerald Brosseau Gardner. He researched much of the history of witchcraft and wrote The Book of Shadows with that knowledge. The Book of Shadows is used as the basis for ritual practice in the Gardnerian tradition. The Celtic Wicca is also a very old form. It is based on Celtic/Druidic practices and uses many of the Celtic deities, elements, and nature. Wiccans believe that both animate and inanimate objects possess a spirit, which forms part of the Whole, or 'The Cosmic Web';. The term spirit does not mean ghost, it means that which links something to nature so that it is rec...
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Racism and its Inevitability as Portrayed in Crash Essay
Paul Haggisââ¬â¢ Crash was one of the biggest movie hits of 2004. Wining three Oscars at the 2005 Academy Awards, this film is undeniably written in film history as one of the greatest of this generation. Often described as a movie about how lives of different people intertwine through a twist of fate, Crash is largely about racial tensions ââ¬â perhaps not only in its location of Los Angeles, California but in the whole of America. The movie features a whole slew of characters who has different racial backgrounds and who act in accordance to the pressures they in relation to their cultural backgrounds. Although most of the characters are interesting, I found Detective Graham Waters (Don Cheadle) and Officer John Ryan (Matt Dillon) as the most noteworthy ones. Not only have the actors portraying them delivered powerful performances, they have also shown enough background and ââ¬â at times ââ¬â justification as to why they act they way they do. As such, the following paragraphs will analyze both characters. Los Angeles, California, the place by which the Crash characters move in, plays a great part in Graham Watersââ¬â¢ and John Ryanââ¬â¢s judgment, beliefs, and actions. Teeming with people from different races, Los Angeles allows for interaction among people of varying cultures. It sets up room for Graham Waters and John Ryan to ââ¬Ëpracticeââ¬â¢ their racial tendencies. Basically a melting pot if differing cultures, Los Angels is the perfect environment by which any character can feel racial superiority or inferiority. Graham Watersââ¬â¢ and John Ryanââ¬â¢s smaller environment ââ¬â that of the one set up in a police station ââ¬â is also highly-effective in influencing the charactersââ¬â¢ personal biases. In both charactersââ¬â¢ cases, it gave them a reason to feel superior, hence providing the perfect justification for oneââ¬â¢s preference of leaning (or not leaning) towards people of their own race. Graham Waters is shown as being preoccupied with a case against a white cop who shot a black cop. Even with the white cop killing three black men already, Graham Waters still finds it in himself to deliberate on whether the killings are justified or not. The work place that this particular character was given is the best setting to allow him the ââ¬Ëluxuryââ¬â¢ of suspending judgment and possibly eliminating preferences over his fellow black people. John Ryan, on the other hand, was put in a position where he thinks it is okay for him to physically abuse a half-African woman and actually get away with it. His being a police officer magnified the way he performed his racist acts nonchalantly. A closer look at the lives of both characters under scrutiny reveals how much their personal history has affected the way they make judgments. Although of African-American descent, Graham Waters found it in himself to actually try and be forgiving to people of Caucasian heritage. This is because his family is poor and he experienced first hand having a drug-addict for a mother and he witnessed how his younger brother grew up to be a criminal. Growing up in a tumultuous black environment may have afflicted Graham Waters to not revere people of his own race. It has, in part, allowed him to think of blacks and whites as somehow equal. Yet Graham Waters is not devoid of racist tendencies. He has a partner, the Latin-American Ria (Jennifer Esposito). Despite working in male-dominated world and engaging in a sexual relationship with Graham Waters, Ria is still discriminated by the very man she sleeps with. Graham Waters never pins her country of origin right. And Graham doesnââ¬â¢t seem to mind. A perfect exhibit of how Graham can be at times racist ââ¬â Professor Robin Lackoff of the University of California claims that not caring how someoneââ¬â¢s background is a display of racism (Williams, 2004). The latter part of the film also reveals why John Ryan has been very negative towards people of other races. It is rooted to his fatherââ¬â¢s businessââ¬â¢ demise. Shown as deeply concerned regarding his fatherââ¬â¢s health, one is wont to assume that John Ryan is indeed fond of his father. His actions then become a bit understandable when it is revealed that his fatherââ¬â¢s business collapsed after local policies favored businesses owned by the minority. As this had grave effect on his familyââ¬â¢s life, John Ryan ââ¬Ënaturallyââ¬â¢ harbors anger (perhaps also hate) towards those who caused him and his family discomfort. Yet both characters are thrown into events that eventually lead them to ââ¬Ëcrashââ¬â¢ ââ¬â abandon their own personal beliefs and act differently from how they normally would. Graham Waters, who was supposed to champion impartiality between blacks and whites, chose to act against the white cop by concealing an evidence that might have helped the cop in question. This was done through Jake Flanagan (William Fichtner) using Grahamââ¬â¢s brother as a bait. By reminding Graham of the possibility of Peterââ¬â¢s arrest if Graham does not withhold the evidence, Flanagan is successful in pushing the black cop in acting against her own personal belief that the white cop should be given a fair trial. One of the most dramatic moments of this Haggis film is when John Ryan once again crashed into Christine, by that time he acted a hero and not anymore a villain. Seeing how Christineââ¬â¢s life was in danger, John Ryan put his life on the line and saved Christine from a blazing car accident. In a moment of crisis, John Ryan abandoned his prejudice and actually risked his own life to become a hero for someone he used to malign. I believe that both Graham Waters and John Ryan were racists ââ¬â or at least had racist tendencies. John Ryan, most especially, had shown racial discrimination with his constant negative commentaries and actions towards people who are not of Caucasian descent. Graham Waters, on the other hand, may show his racial tendencies in more subtle ways yet it is still undeniably there. He has shown numerous times that he will choose to help someone of the same race over someone who is not black. Personally, I have not experienced any major racial discrimination but I admit to feeling that there is a racial tension hovering around society. I see it everyday and even practice it myself. Racism is seen in ways people choose their friends, in the cliques that are formed in school, and in the comments we make everyday. The media is one of the easy reference points of how racism prevails nowadays. There are times when headlines would shout a personââ¬â¢s race when talking about particular crimes. The news may say, ââ¬Å"A black guy murders a womanâ⬠or ââ¬Å"Asian men rob a bankâ⬠but never (or very, very rarely) will it brandish, ââ¬Å"White guy kills familyâ⬠or ââ¬Å"Caucasian steals moneyâ⬠. This may not be personal attacks on me but I take them as large manifestations that racism still does exist. Racism, though, has changed a lot through the years. Thankfully, because of the way the world keeps getting smaller ââ¬â thanks to the Internet and its ability to bring people from both ends of the world closer ââ¬â racism has been greatly reduced, or so I would like to believe. I say that this is the case because people are getting to know those from other races better, thus eliminating some preconceived notions about a whole race. Of course, there is also this adverse effect: because people get to interact with more people, racism is spread to more races. In America, for example, racism before was centered only on the blacks versus whites. Today, though, we see racial discrimination applied against the Chinese, the Filipinos, the Hispanics, and a lot more. Paul Haggisââ¬â¢ aim in creating Crash was to demonstrate the fact that racism is still very much prevalent in these modern times. He wanted to paint a society that is still very much hinged on their racial biases. Haggis wanted to relate that perhaps this may not be totally eliminated because everybody comes from different cultures and different backgrounds that dictate what and how they think about themselves and others. Sadly, racism is an inevitable fact of life ââ¬â but it is a fact that we can all strive to keep at a minimum by taking time to understand each otherââ¬â¢s histories. REFERENCES Haggis, Paul. (Director). (2004). Crash [Motion picture]. United States: Bullââ¬â¢s Eye Entertainment. Williams, Brandt. (2004, August 08). ââ¬Å"The ââ¬Ën-wordââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ . In Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved August 19, 2007, from http://news. minnesota. publicradio. org/features/2004/06/28_williamsb_nword/.
New England vs. Chesapeake Paper Essay
The New England and Chesapeake regions varied in many ways. They varied economically, socially, and religiously. At first there were many small colonies but then they grew into two distinct regions, the New England and Chesapeake areas. The New England region was a more superior place to live in than the Chesapeake region because the people in New England developed swifter and better. The Chesapeake region suffered because it had social, climatic, and religious problems. Even though the southern area is known for their blossoming fields and enormous plantations, the climate is scorching and the area suffered from many diseases. (Jamestown Settlement: Primary Sources New Brittannia). As a result, a large part of the population actually ended up dying due to these harmful diseases like the disease of smallpox. Yes, the southern colonies had a thriving economy due to the growing of tobacco and rice, but they lacked diversity. In this area they mainly had only one type of religion, Anglican. They absolutely had no religious tolerance. The social structure was also way off during this time period. It consisted with the majority of the population being poor indentured servants and slaves and then a small portion being wealthy plantation owners. The plantation owners were white men and they held all the power to vote in the society. That is why this region was so underdeveloped. They had a moist and blistering climate, and they had no diversity religiously or socially. However, The New England colonies developed better than the Chesapeake region because they had a better climate, and were more diverse socially along with religiously. Firstly, it was colder in this region so the people there did not have any destructive illnesses lingering around. Secondly they had more of a mixture in religion like Quakers and Catholics. The people in these colonies focused on religion and they wanted close- knit families (Document A). They did not just have one sole religion but several. The area also had more of a diverse social system with many different levels. They had poor people, middle-class working people, and than the rich. The people in this region believed that they should struggle and win together as a team. (City upon a Hill). The main reason they had a diverse social class is because they did not need to only depend on farming for their economic income. They had a fishing industry and the New England colonies were placed in an urban area so the people had more choices for jobs, although some people still farmed. They also had many technological advances in the New England Colony with Benjamin Franklin making many machines and inventions during this era. That is why the New England area was more developed and had a better chance of surviving. In Conclusion, the New England area was a much better place to live. They were not as prone to diseases because of the colder climate, they were more diverse socially and religiously, and they had economic opportunities because they were an industry. This difference in development needed to occur because without it America wouldnââ¬â¢t be as diverse as it is today because everyone would just have conformed together.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Pricing Decision Essay
Companies in their endeavor to succeed in the highly competitive and dynamic market are now considering a clear focus on their marketing strategies. This is in order that they may remain relevant in the fast changing business environment, market conditions and consumer preferences. It is important that a company considers the effects of the changes in the business environment including price variations initiated by its competitors This is best done by first analyzing the prices offered by the competitors visa vie the companyââ¬â¢s cost structure and the competitorââ¬â¢s chances to change in response to the companyââ¬â¢s new price offers (Kotler 2003. p 66). Pricing Strategies The company needs to figure out the best strategy to implement in order to achieve the optimum prices for its products. To initiate cost-cutting with a view to improve on the profitability of the company the company must have an understanding of the type of cost that it needs to manage. This will be to a large extent influenced by its style of management, sources of professional advice, the broader vision of the companyââ¬â¢s goals, communication strategy, and companyââ¬â¢s capitalization in relation to debt-equity ratio and the cost of borrowing (Sherman 2007. p 3-4). The company also needs to understand the several types of costs that it incurs. The various types of costs are research and development costs, the overheads and administrative costs, human capital costs including health care costs, salaries and employee benefits, infrastructure and system costs, advertising and promotional costs, fixed and variable costs, and debt-servicing costs. The bottom line is to thoroughly examine each of these cost categories and weigh their importance to the companyââ¬â¢s business operations, consider more efficient available alternatives, and the possible implications of the cost reduction strategy (Sherman 2007. p5 &9). A company such as Wal-Mart that has for years been ahead of its competitors by offering the lowest prices for its goods. Wal-Mart is able to manage favorable price cuts by implementing price cut strategies such as endeavoring to reduce its costs by pursuing a tax reduction strategy. This has been through its investments in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in order to exploit tax loopholes and avoid some of the taxes levied in particular states (Moore 2007. p. 2). Having accomplished the above cost reduction strategy, the company may the come up with appropriate pricing for its products. This is done by first understanding pricing methods. There are six pricing methods that would lead to an informed decision in fixing prices. These are markup pricing method, the target return pricing method, perceived value method of pricing, value based pricing, the going-rate method of pricing and the sealed-bid method of pricing (Kotler 2003. p 66). Implications of Price Cuts and Conclusion The price of the product or service is a major factor that influences customerââ¬â¢s purchase decision is the marketing mix. A combination of the cost reduction strategy and an appropriate pricing strategy is more likely to benefit the company and enable it attain a competitive advantage over its competitors. By adopting market responsive cost cutting strategies in the communication industry, companies in turn helped create a better way of life whereby customers are now able to communicate more often and at lower prices Salazar 2007. p. 1). This translates to increased profits to the service providers as they are able to sell more units than before. References Kotler, P. (2003). Marketing Management. 11th Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Moore, M. (2007). Taxing Strategies: Always Cutting Prices, Wal-Mart Attempts to Rollback Taxes. Retrieved March 8, 2009 from http://walmartwatch. com/img/blog/NIMSP_tax_strategies. pdf Salazar, L. C. Cost Cutting Strategies at the Bottom of the Pyramid. Retrieved March 8, 2009 from http://www. lirneasia. net/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/2-lcs-shoestrings-sing-28feb07. pps Sherman, A. J. (2007). Strategies for Cutting Costs and Improving Profitability. Retrieved March 8, 2009 from http://www. sbecouncil. org/uploads/PPT%20Cost%20Cutting%20for%20Growth%20and%20Profitability. ppt
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Personal Barriers to Online Learning Essay
Online learning or e-Learning refers to application of electronic technology for the delivery of instructional content or knowledge domains. Beamish et al. (2002), defines e-Learning as: ââ¬Å". . . a wide set of applications and processes allied to training and learning that includes computer-based learning, online learning, virtual classrooms and digital collaboration. These services can be delivered by a variety of electronic media, including the intranet, internet, interactive TV and satellite. â⬠In spite of the great flexibility and varied range of tools that e-Learning can provide to imparting education, implementing any e-Learning system can be a complicated and complex endeavour and online learning can be a very frustrating experience for the student as well as the teacher. A number of personal barriers affect students and teachers alike in any online learning system. Personal Barriers of Students The technology available with students determines the nature of the course content to a large extent. Students may simply not have the required bandwidth to access high-end multimedia content. The course designer has to tailor the contents to suit the technology availability of the students. This is especially true of e-Learning courses catering to international community scattered all over the world. In such cases severe constraints may have to be imposed on the utilization of technology resources available at the end of the imparting institution. The design would then have to optimized for dial-up users with at the most 800Ãâ"600 pixel monitor screen resolutions. In fact, many universities take special care to ensure prior to registration that their respective e-Learning course content is accessible to the students. ââ¬Å"Technical infrastructure deficiencies on the student side can impede course activities, especially in an online distance-learning environment. â⬠(Arabasz, 2003, pp. 42) The proficiency level of the student in using ICT tools would enhance or undermine his e-Learning experience to a great extent. In the international context it would be unwise to expect uniform familiarity with ICT usage. A student, previously not exposed to ICT, will therefore not only have to handle the course requirements, but will also have to acquire the requisite skills in ICT to pursue the course effectively. From the learner perspective, literacy and IT skills and aptitude for self-direction, being confident and motivated to participate in online learning have also been identified as potential barriers to effective online learning (Australian Institute for Social Research, 2006, pp. 15). The factor that students have to study in isolation in an e-Learning system has triggered off many debates. Many perceive this isolation as a crippling obstacle to the development of e-Learning systems for higher education. Brouner and Flowers (1997) even suggested that the lack of human interactions in the incorporation of technology into higher education would have to be effectively made up by increased human contact. The e-Learning environment lacks the discipline and time regulations imposed on students in conventional education. This requires students to be more motivated, better time managers and more attentive during e-Learning sessions. The lack of the proximity and personal touch of the instructor as in a traditional classroom can create a communication chasm that both the instructor and the student may find difficult to surmount. In a situation where eye contact and proximity are limited, students cannot be disciplined nor affirmed by eye contact and body language (McKnight, 2000). Time is another constraint that affects online learning negatively. Whilst education has now extended geographically it has limited students with time restrictions (Jones et. al. , 2004, pp. 14). Trials and Tribulations for the Faculty Time is perhaps the biggest investment that the instructor has to make. The amount of time required to develop and maintain an e-Learning course is usually not anticipated by the people involved. The instructor has to spend a lot of time on restructuring and reengineering the course for e-Learning delivery. A complete over hauling is required. Instructors also need to give time for technical and pedagogical training as instructions in e-Learning differ radically from conventional approaches. Last but not the least, the instructor has to spend considerable time corresponding or communicating with students. A very important aspect of e-Learning is the views or approach of the instructor. The instructor could be trying to make the e-Learning experience as good and fruitful as the conventional classroomââ¬â¢s. It is a case of trying to replicate the conventional classroom in e-Learning. The second approach could be the instructorââ¬â¢s effort to improve the instructions through the medium of e-Learning. The instructor will have to decide on which approach to adopt, a decision that could profoundly influence the very character and quality of the e-Learning content. Technical issues can hamper an instructorââ¬â¢s efficiency or performance. The instructor is often not familiar with the technologies that are utilized. Development in multimedia would require knowledge of Flash, Shockwave and similar tools. It is difficult to find persons skilled in both the application technology and the field of education. The problem of technology extends to the teacher who may not be proficient in the software. The dependency on technology also tends to undermine the facultyââ¬â¢s confidence at times. ââ¬Å"Are things going to work when Iââ¬â¢m in the classroom? Will the Internet be up? Do I need to bring back-up materials on a disk? Will the last instructor have left things in good shape? These [issues] may be more basic than youââ¬â¢d expect, but dependability is still a major issue. â⬠(Arabasz, 2003, pp. 41) Online Learning therefore requires very careful planning and implementation in order to achieve success.
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