Painful vs. Painless Cost Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Agonizing versus Easy Cost Control - Essay Example This exploration will start with the explanation that Ã' ost control gains various disparate methodologies and blueprints, which depend on the key reason for dropping ordinary consumption, outpouring, expenses and distributions. So as to protect self just as the business, private company holders, explicitly, look for cost control measurements that encourage similarly, progress and feasible business challenges. Notwithstanding the zone of costs, exchanges ought to organize conspiring their costs, the danger towards horrifying cost control.  Painless cost control fills in as a substitute of chopping down the costs in a tough situation free, impeccable way. The uniqueness among agonizing and easy cost control is that difficult reductions destructively impact forms then again, effortless cost control involves the smallest weight on the endeavor and its possibilities. Unconstrained or indiscreet conclusiveness to cut costs are in no way, shape or form sharp, since these decisions most likely come full circle into pitiful alternatives, substandard nature of products and enterprises, such choices may bring about allotting the activity to incompetent individual who may complete the work in an amateurish way, such a disposition hampers the nature of the yield as well as results in creating negative ramifications on the picture of the association. Basically, controlling costs requires broad and critical assessments and arrangements. Easy versus difficult cost control is exceptionally testing and onsets with the improvement of suffering trick and delivering the productive steps to achieve the goals of the association. In social insurance, where direct managing is with the wellbeing and prosperity of the individuals, cost control matters for the most part envelop exhaustive making arrangements for their usage or renewal (Painful Vs Painless Cost Control). Perception Observation empowers the specialists to investigate errors related with the independent venture, as these steps can't be overlooked. Fluctuation or inconsistencies is straightforwardly identified with the assorted variety between the business wanted to use versus the solid costs of the organization (Painful Vs Painless Cost Control). Social insurance area is considered as the downturn evidence (Manchikanti, Singh and Bosewell, 2010). For instance, the prerequisite of help and nursing staff at the careful ward is 30 which may fluctuate with the discussion facility. As the human services association works halfway, regarding effortless cost control, staff could be furnished to both the divisions with least wages or the wages of the new enlistment could be diminished to keep the financial plan of the reorganization and enrollment low and furthermore to get hands on work. This remains constant in a circumstance where populace is enormous and opportunities are less. In actuality, as far as excruciating cost control, there could be no new enrollment to spare costs of additional wages. Be that as it may, under such a circumstance it gets hard for the current staff to offer their types of assistance to fulfill the need of the circumstance. At the point when the quantity of patients is less the staff will be in a situation to oversee well however in the event that the quantity of patients are more the staff will feel weakness to fulfill all the needs of the patients and this may bring about depletion of the current staff, subsequently nature of execution of the current staff is influenced. Cause For smooth running of the business associations, it gets basic to find out the reasons for difference between the assessed costs and the genuine costs. In wellbeing segment, utilization of paper, charges a weight on the association other than buying instruments which are important to furnish the human services with the overhauled innovation (Painful Vs Painless Cost Control). Patient's reports and documents are required to be kept up and hence when such wellbeing associations devel op their spending plans, they depend on the all out expense for paper. The social insurance associations put the offer by methods for mass evaluating, this outcomes in getting lower costs per unit when contrasted with the expense

Moses Essay -- essays research papers

"Born a slave and raised by rulers, he was picked to lead. His name is worshipped by millions......Moses. By confidence Moses' folks concealed him for a quarter of a year after he was conceived, on the grounds that they saw he was no conventional kid, and they were not scared of the lord's edict." Hebrews 11:23 Venerated as a prophet yet much more significantly as an instructor and a lawgiver, Moses was the pioneer of the Israelite individuals 3,300 years prior during their excursion from servitude in Egypt to opportunity as a country in the place where there is Israel. For a long time Moses drove the individuals through the desert on their approach to Israel and helped shape them into a country that could live under the laws of God. Moses directed the creation and advancement of the principal Israelite frameworks of love, the blessing of the family line of his sibling Aaron as ministers, and the making of a legitimate arrangement of administration for the network. Antiquated Israel had a long oral custom of laws and legends, and almost certainly, a few pieces of the tale of Moses were composed long after his lifetime. Present day grant perceives that while the center of the scriptural story of Moses contains genuine history, there is difference with respect to the precision of each activit y and each word ascribed to Moses by the scriptural essayists. Regardless of whether one perspectives the Bible as the uncovered expression of God or as the composition of roused individuals, the figure of Moses towers over the early history of the Jewish individuals. Jewish, Christian, and Muslim customs love Moses for his focal job in conveying the Ten Commandments and the Torah straightforwardly from God to the Jewish individuals not long after their break from Egypt. Along these lines, the Torah is otherwise called the Five Books of Moses. As indicated by Genesis, the primary book of the Bible, the Israelite individuals previously came to Egypt looking for food during a starvation that influenced the whole antiquated Near East. From the outset invited by the Egyptians, after around 400 years the Israelites, or Hebrews, were seen as a danger and were oppressed. Likewise, the Pharaoh, the leader of Egypt, proclaimed that all infant male Israelites were to be murdered. It was as of now that Moses was conceived. His more seasoned kin, Aaron and Miriam, would go along with him later in his life to help lead the Israelite individuals. Moses was spared from death when his mom, Yocheved, coasted him down the Nile River in a little crate, where he was found and spared by the girl of ... ...he Ten Commandments. Moses next arranged to lead the individuals from Mount Sinai to the guaranteed place that is known for Israel. In any case, the Israelite individuals, acclimated with subjugation and unsure of opportunity, soon defied God. They became persuaded that they couldn't overcome the new land, and they continually scrutinized Moses' initiative and their own confidence in God. As a result, the age that left Egypt was not permitted to enter the guaranteed land. The Bible portrays Moses himself as once becoming irritated with the individuals and appearing to question God: as opposed to addressing a stone to get water as God instructed, Moses hit the stone with his staff. For this, Moses was likewise foreordained not to enter the new land. Close to an incredible finish, Moses showed the laws of the Torah to the new age that had experienced childhood in the desert. He at that point moved initiative to Joshua. The Torah closes with Moses' last gift to the individuals, after which he rose Mount Nebo, which is related to Mount Pisgah, on the eastern edge of the Jordan River. Moses kicked the bucket there, ready to see, yet not to enter, the guaranteed land. Moses was consistent with himself and his convictions, despite the fact that his way was unsure and difficult.

The Role of Cortisol in Depression

The Role of Cortisol in Depression Depression Causes Print The Role of Cortisol in Depression By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on December 08, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living Martin Dimitrov / Getty Images People with depression tend to have reduced measures of serotonin in the brain and elevated levels of cortisol in their bloodstream. Since cortisol is related to stress, implementing a stress-management lifestyle may be an important aspect of coping with your depression. Understanding Cortisol Cortisol is an important hormone produced by the adrenal glands, the small endocrine glands that sit on top of our kidneys. It is secreted by the body in response to stress and is one of the hormones involved in the fight or flight response. Cortisol plays an important role in everything from how the body uses glucose (sugar), to the regulation of blood pressure, to the function of the immune system. In the short run, cortisol secretion has many benefits. It prepares you for physical and emotional challenges, generates bursts of energy in the face of trauma, and provides surges of immune activity when youre confronted with infectious diseases. Following this cortisol-induced activation state, your body goes through a necessary relaxation response. Cortisol production becomes problematic when youre exposed to continuous or prolonged stress, which results in the continuous production of cortisol. Prolonged elevated levels of cortisol can result in high blood sugar, high blood pressure, a reduced ability to fight infections, and increased fat storage in the body. In other words, in the short term, an increase in cortisol secretion may aid in survival, but long-term elevations may do the opposite. Stress, the Brain, and Depression Ongoing stress means that stress hormones are operating throughout the day for most of the day. This is exhausting to the body and may cause the neurotransmitters in your brain like serotoninâ€"the feel good chemical that appears to influence mood, appetite,  and sleep, among other thingsâ€"to stop functioning correctly, potentially leading to depression. In people who are not depressed, the level of cortisol in the bloodstream peaks in the morning then decreases as the day progresses. However, in roughly half of the people who live with depression, cortisol peaks earlier in the morning and does not level off or decrease in the afternoon or evening.?? It has been found that people with elevated cortisol levels are less responsive to psychotherapy treatments, implying that techniques that may reduce cortisol levels, such as stress management, may be an important part of a depression treatment regimen for these patients. Strategies Reducing your stress may be a useful way to temper chronically elevated cortisol levels, which may help mellow out the effects of depression. Consider these options: Relax:  Make sure you take some time every day, even if its just a few minutes, to completely relax your body and your mind.Meditation:  Using meditation  has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety, boost your mood, and even help physical ailments like headaches.??Get a massage:  Massage has proven benefits to relieve stress, anxiety, and tension.??Try art therapy:  Coloring, painting, drawing, or photographyâ€"whatever your pick to engage your inner artistâ€"can help drive away stress.Keep a journal:  Giving yourself a place to let it all out can be not only freeing, but it can also help you deal with stress you may not have even realized you had.Do something you love every day:  Even if its just for 10 minutes, being able to read the next chapter of that novel youre absorbed in or playing your guitar will help you unwind. What You Need to Know About the Stress Hormone You can also engage in some natural solutions that may help boost your mood, including: Exercise:  While it has been clearly demonstrated that physical exercise boosts mood, many studies have also shown that it increases serotonin levels in the brain.??Sleep well:  Getting enough sleep and keeping a regular sleep pattern (getting up and going to bed at the same time) also helps stave off depression and improve mood.Increase light exposure:  Sunlight is preferable, though getting light by way of a therapy light  can also help. A Word From Verywell There are many ways cortisol may contribute to the development of depression, either by affecting serotonin levels or through other endocrine pathways. Whats most important to understand is that elevated cortisol levels accompany depression and can make depression more challenging to treat. One way to lower cortisol levels is by adopting a stress-management lifestyle. We know that chronic stress can lead to elevated cortisol levels, which in turn is connected with depression as well as other serious conditions such as metabolic syndrome, heart disease, or stroke. The Best Online Help Resources for Depression

Henry Morton Stanley Explorer

Henry Morton Stanley was a classic example of a 19th-century explorer, and he is best remembered today for his brilliantly casual greeting to a man he had spent months searching for in the wilds of Africa: â€Å"Dr. Livingstone, I presume?† The reality of Stanley’s unusual life is at times startling. He was born to a very poor family in Wales, made his way to America, changed his name, and somehow managed to fight on both sides of the Civil War. He found his first calling as a newspaper reporter before becoming known for his African expeditions. Early Life Stanley was born in 1841 as John Rowlands, to an impoverished family in Wales. At the age of five he was sent to a workhouse, a notorious orphanage of the Victorian era. In his teens, Stanley emerged from his difficult childhood with a reasonably good practical education, strong religious feelings, and a fanatical desire to prove himself. To get to America, he took a job as a cabin boy on a ship bound for New Orleans. After landing in the city at the mouth of the Mississippi River, he found a job working for a cotton trader, and took the man’s last name, Stanley. Early Journalism Career When the American Civil War broke out, Stanley fought on the Confederate side before being captured and eventually joining the Union cause. He wound up serving aboard a U.S. Navy ship and wrote accounts of battles that were published, thus beginning his journalism career. After the war, Stanley got a position writing for the New York Herald, a newspaper founded by James Gordon Bennett.  He was dispatched to cover a British military expedition to Abyssinia (present day Ethiopia), and successfully sent back dispatches detailing the conflict. He Fascinated the Public The public held a fascination for a Scottish missionary and explorer named David Livingstone. For many years Livingstone had been leading expeditions into Africa, bringing back information to Britain. In 1866 Livingstone had returned to Africa, intent on finding the source of the Nile, Africa’s longest river. After several years passed with no word from Livingstone, the public began to fear that he had perished. The New York Heralds editor and publisher James Gordon Bennett realized it would be a publishing coup to find Livingstone, and gave the assignment to the intrepid Stanley. Searching for Livingstone In 1869 Henry Morton Stanley was given the assignment to find Livingstone. He eventually arrived on the east coast of Africa in early 1871 and organized an expedition to head inland. Having no practical experience, he had to rely on the advice and apparent assistance of Arab slave traders. Stanley pushed the men with him brutally, at times whipping the black porters. After enduring illnesses and harrowing conditions, Stanley finally encountered Livingstone at Ujiji, in present day Tanzania, on November 10, 1871. Dr. Livingstone, I Presume? The famous greeting Stanley gave Livingstone, â€Å"Dr. Livingstone, I presume?† may have been fabricated after the famous meeting. But it was published in New York City newspapers within a year of the event, and it has gone down in history as a famous quotation. Stanley and Livingstone remained together for a few months in Africa, exploring around the northern banks of Lake Tanganyika. Stanleys Controversial Reputation Stanley succeeded in his assignment of finding Livingstone, yet newspapers in London roundly mocked him when he arrived in England. Some observers ridiculed the idea that Livingstone had been lost and had to be found by a newspaper reporter. Livingstone, despite the criticism, was invited to have lunch with Queen Victoria. And whether or not Livingstone had been lost, Stanley became famous, and remains so to this day, as the man who found Livingstone. Stanleys reputation was tarnished by accounts of punishment and brutal treatment meted out to men on his later expeditions. Stanleys Later Explorations After Livingstones death in 1873, Stanley vowed to continue explorations of Africa. He mounted an expedition in 1874 that charted Lake Victoria, and from 1874 to 1877 he traced the course of the Congo River. In the late 1880s, he returned to Africa, embarking on a very controversial expedition to rescue the Emin Pasha, a European who had become a ruler of part of Africa. Suffering from recurring illnesses picked up in Africa, Stanley died at the age of 63 in 1904. Legacy of Henry Morton Stanley There is no doubt that Henry Morton Stanley contributed greatly to the western worlds knowledge of African geography and culture. And while he was controversial in his own time, his fame, and the books he published brought attention to Africa and made the exploration of the continent a fascinating subject to the 19th-century public.

The Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Even though dawn had now broke and the sun began to make its way through the land of the Danes, the sinister laugh from the unsightly creature remained to haunt the minds of the survivors. Thirty men the monster murdered. The creature’s attack was cold-blooded in that it took place after every man was sound asleep and undefended. A few fortunate ones fell in their slumber while the less fortunate perished from the brutish beatings of the beast. His escape painted over the grounds of the misty forests and hills and lay a direct, crimson path to the creatures retreat. Of those lucky to have not slept in Herot, the lands finest mead hall, the most thankful was one of Hrothgar’s leaders, Aeschere. His choice of sleeping in his home was greatly affected by his son’s recent coming of age. Aeschere’s time had become his sons for he needed his father s mastery to become a mighty warrior like his father. Aeschere, chief warrior Hrothgar’s kingdom, was tasked with his remaining men to restore Herot’s beauty from the previous night s attack. The blood of the thirty men that coated the interior of Herot would prove to make the jobs of the grieving difficult. Any joy or festivity from the night before could not be found anywhere in the lord’s land that morning. Hrothgar, lord of the Danes, grieved the most of the men for he knew of no solution for his newfound problem. Word of Grendel, killer of Danes, spread through the breaths of the lord’s people. The naivety of Aeschere’s son putShow MoreRelatedThe Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1607 Words   |  7 PagesThe couples were spinning in their lavish dance illuminated by the soft glow of the strung lanterns during the unknown last quiet moments of peace before everything was thrown into chaos. Thunder-like crashes and the scream of an antagonized soul filled the still moments from mere seconds before. Chaotic screams and frantic callings of loved ones names rang through the lost silence. People needing assurance that their loved ones were alright, to know that misery hadn’t come into their lives againRead MoreThe Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald895 Words   |  4 PagesZoe felt the Jetranger slow and then come into a hover position. It slowly rotated until the nose was aligned with the major axis of the island. From the right-hand side of t he helicopter, in the aftermath of the driving wave, Zoe watched a ferry and several assorted boats capsize. Passengers floundered in the water none in life jackets. The lucky ones found debris to cling to, while a few hardy souls swam strongly, divesting themselves of excess clothing in an attempt to survive. The wave overwhelmedRead MoreThe Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1693 Words   |  7 PagesThe high priestess was nowhere to be seen. The once noble and beautiful woman, someone he had denied help and compassion, consigned herself to darkness for nearly three years now; insanity and hate etched in her mind and heart. Merlin felt partly responsible for her cruel deal of fate. But still, he couldn t ignore her choice to walk this path either. Could it all have been different if he hadn t denied her? Hadn t listened so ardently to the advice of an admittedly older and wiser creature thanRead MoreThe Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1081 Words   |  5 Pages   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sybil Isabel Dorsett, a shy, twenty-two-year-old substitute teacher, became an interesting case, when the Sybil came into a mental health facility complaining of severe memory loss that resulted in unknown store bought items, â€Å"waking up,† in strange place, and severe social anxiety that again resulted in a loss of time, and memory, blackouts, and emotional breakdowns, in public places. What was first thought to be hysteria, turned into another problem, after experiencing some of the patientsRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Arthur The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1607 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Absolutely. Whatever you want.† â€Å"You said a few models backed out. Does that mean you’ll pose, too?† Merlin chuckled. â€Å"Erm, no. I’m too gangly for the calendar. They’re looking for men like you, solid and fit. Gwaine and Percival agreed to pose.† â€Å"Great,† Arthur drawled, picturing his friend Percival’s perfect body, looking like it was sculpted from pure marble, posing for the cameras, while Arthur shuffled in, not even half as toned. Then he thought of the awful word â€Å"euthanasia† again and remainedRead MoreThe Tragedy Of The Movie The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay1163 Words   |  5 PagesI sat across the booth from Luke. I looked at him with a pessimistic glare, judging him for the old, tattered sweatshirt he wore on our date to what used to be our most beloved diner. Every disinterested move he made towards me felt like a dagger to the chest; each comment or shrug he gave proved again and again that he had given up on our relationship a long time ago. The fire was gone—he felt nothing. And for some reason, there were six words that came back to mind and my mouth again and again:Read MoreThe Tragic Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1489 Words   |  6 Pa gescouch, was hardly uncommon. Consequently, movies and television grew to bear great weight in regards to their influence in my life. I recall watching reruns of Seinfeld, smothered in blankets with a box of tissues beside me, on days I was sick and had stayed home from school. And though years ago, I can still remember quite a few episodes almost perfectly, one of which being â€Å"The Lip Reader† – an episode that, in great jest, challenged the â€Å"it’s not you, it’s me† romantic trope. But sitcoms didn’tRead MoreThe Influence of Fitzgerals Personal Life on The Gerat Gastby1035 Words   |  5 PagesThe Influence of Fitzgerald’s Personal Life on The Great Gatsby Many authors find inspiration through real life experiences and transform them into works of literature to match how they want to portray them. Fitzgerald is no different, in fact, his personal life is a crucial factor in his writing style. Fitzgerald grew up with increasing numbers of difficulties, but found his way around them and incorporated those experiences into his novels. In order to achieve his goals, he began changingRead MoreThe Valley Of Ashes In The Great Gatsby Analysis1569 Words   |  7 Pages In the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald,the author uses The Valley of Ashes as a symbol of the tragedy of the middle class, death, and hell in order to show that the poor citizens of America live a tragic life. The reader is first introduced to the dirty, impoverished Valley of Ashes when Tom Buchanan brings the narrator Nick Carraway to meet his mistress, and is later used as a setting of tragedy. Nick first arrives in the Valley of Ashes when Tom forces him to meet Myrtle, his mistressRead MoreIllusion and Reality in The Great Gatsby Essay1548 Words   |  7 Pagesand Reality in The Great Gatsby  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a novel about one mans disenchantment with the American dream. In the story we get a glimpse into the life of Jay Gatsby, a man who aspired to achieve a position among the American rich to win the heart of his true love, Daisy Fay. Gatsbys downfall was in the fact that he was unable to determine that concealed boundary between reality and illusion in his life.      The Great Gatsby is a tightly structured The Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Sybil Isabel Dorsett, a shy, twenty-two-year-old substitute teacher, became an interesting case, when the Sybil came into a mental health facility complaining of severe memory loss that resulted in unknown store bought items, â€Å"waking up,† in strange place, and severe social anxiety that again resulted in a loss of time, and memory, blackouts, and emotional breakdowns, in public places. What was first thought to be hysteria, turned into another problem, after experiencing some of the patients, â€Å"hysteria.† Born, and raised in the suburbs of Dodge Center, Minnesota, to a very successful and well respected carpenter, and architect, Walter Mason, and an often described as, â€Å"bizarre,† stay-at-home mother, Martha â€Å"Mattie† Atkinson. Sybil seemed to have the all-American family, but reports sexual abuse at the hands of her well-respected mother, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia years before Sybil was born. A much respected art teacher at Col umbia university, Sybil often teaches art classes to university students. How many personalities does a single person have; one, two, three, four? Most people have only one but they have a lot of strong traits and hobbies they like to do. Don’t let that confuse you with the disorder of Multiple Personality Disorder. Many don’t know what this disorder is or how Shirley Adrell Manson is a huge part of it. A correct definition of multiple personality disorder is â€Å"a rare dissociative disorder in which two or moreShow MoreRelatedThe Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1607 Words   |  7 PagesThe couples were spinning in their lavish dance illuminated by the soft glow of the strung lanterns during the unknown last quiet moments of peace before everything was thrown into chaos. Thunder-like crashes and the scream of an antagonized soul filled the still moments from mere seconds before. Chaotic screams and frantic callings of loved ones names rang throug h the lost silence. People needing assurance that their loved ones were alright, to know that misery hadn’t come into their lives againRead MoreThe Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald895 Words   |  4 PagesZoe felt the Jetranger slow and then come into a hover position. It slowly rotated until the nose was aligned with the major axis of the island. From the right-hand side of the helicopter, in the aftermath of the driving wave, Zoe watched a ferry and several assorted boats capsize. Passengers floundered in the water none in life jackets. The lucky ones found debris to cling to, while a few hardy souls swam strongly, divesting themselves of excess clothing in an attempt to survive. The wave overwhelmedRead MoreThe Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1693 Words   |  7 PagesThe high priestess was nowhere to be seen. The once noble and beautiful woman, someone he had denied help and compassion, consigned herself to darkness for nearly three years now; insanity and hate etched in her mind and heart. Merlin felt partly responsible for her cruel deal of fate. But still, he couldn t ignore her choice to walk this path either. Could it all have been different if he hadn t denied her? Hadn t listened so ardently to the advice of an admittedly older and wiser creature thanRead MoreThe Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1086 Words   |  5 Pagesfor Grendel to attack once more. Aeschere awoke the next morning to the great news of Grendel’s defeat from the words of his men. He had chosen not to sleep in the hall with his men as he still felt great sorrow from simply thinking of the fateful hall. An appearance at the hall he did manage to make that day, but only to listen to another one of Beowulf’s speeches. In his speech he called for a huge celebration for his great feat of ridding the land of Grendel. And so like Beowulf said, a mightyRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Arthur The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1607 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Absolutely. Whatever you want.† â€Å"You said a few models backed out. Does that mean you’ll pose, too?† Merlin chuckled. â€Å"Erm, no. I’m too gangly for the calendar. They’re looking for men like you, solid and fit. Gwaine and Percival agreed to pose.† â€Å"Great,† Arthur drawled, picturing his friend Percival’s perfect body, looking like it was sculpted from pure marble, posing for the cameras, while Arthur shuffled in, not even half as toned. Then he thought of the awful word â€Å"euthanasia† again and remainedRead MoreThe Tragedy Of The Movie The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay1163 Words   |  5 PagesI sat across the booth from Luke. I looked at him with a pessimistic glare, judging him for the old, tattered sweatshirt he wore on our date to what used to be our most beloved diner. Every disinterested move he made towards me felt like a dagger to the chest; each comment or shrug he gave proved again and again that he had given up on our relationship a long time ago. The fire was gone—he felt nothing. And for some reason, there were six words that came back to mind and my mouth again and again:Read MoreThe Tragic Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1489 Words   |  6 Pa gescouch, was hardly uncommon. Consequently, movies and television grew to bear great weight in regards to their influence in my life. I recall watching reruns of Seinfeld, smothered in blankets with a box of tissues beside me, on days I was sick and had stayed home from school. And though years ago, I can still remember quite a few episodes almost perfectly, one of which being â€Å"The Lip Reader† – an episode that, in great jest, challenged the â€Å"it’s not you, it’s me† romantic trope. But sitcoms didn’tRead MoreThe Influence of Fitzgerals Personal Life on The Gerat Gastby1035 Words   |  5 PagesThe Influence of Fitzgerald’s Personal Life on The Great Gatsby Many authors find inspiration through real life experiences and transform them into works of literature to match how they want to portray them. Fitzgerald is no different, in fact, his personal life is a crucial factor in his writing style. Fitzgerald grew up with increasing numbers of difficulties, but found his way around them and incorporated those experiences into his novels. In order to achieve his goals, he began changingRead MoreThe Valley Of Ashes In The Great Gatsby Analysis1569 Words   |  7 Pages In the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald,the author uses The Valley of Ashes as a symbol of the tragedy of the middle class, death, and hell in order to show that the poor citizens of America live a tragic life. The reader is first introduced to the dirty, impoverished Valley of Ashes when Tom Buchanan brings the narrator Nick Carraway to meet his mistress, and is later used as a setting of tragedy. Nick first arrives in the Valley of Ashes when Tom forces him to meet Myrtle, his mistressRead MoreIllusion and Reality in The Great Gatsby Essay1548 Words   |  7 Pagesand Reality in The Great Gatsby  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a novel about one mans disenchantment with the American dream. In the story we get a glimpse into the life of Jay Gatsby, a man who aspired to achieve a position among the American rich to win the heart of his true love, Daisy Fay. Gatsbys downfall was in the fact that he was unable to determine that concealed boundary between reality and illusion in his life.      The Great Gatsby is a tightly structured The Tragedy Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald The high priestess was nowhere to be seen. The once noble and beautiful woman, someone he had denied help and compassion, consigned herself to darkness for nearly three years now; insanity and hate etched in her mind and heart. Merlin felt partly responsible for her cruel deal of fate. But still, he couldn t ignore her choice to walk this path either. Could it all have been different if he hadn t denied her? Hadn t listened so ardently to the advice of an admittedly older and wiser creature than he, but one with an ultimate goal that he couldn t deny had also been more selfish in the past? It was no use, such questions would have to remain unanswered. What was done was in the past and couldn t be undone. He would just have to hope he†¦show more content†¦Upon a closer look, some of the creatures appeared to be alive. Cobwebs and dust was everywhere. It was a pitiful display, a miserable decline from the comfort and glamour of the chambers within Camelot, of Uther s pampered ward. He had no cause for hope, but if there was a chance of discovering anything about the bracelet, it would be within these appalling walls. Despite knowing it might be a long shot he looked everywhere, used his magic as feelers in the places he couldn t see. The rows of books against the north wall caught his eye. Most were magical, a few were contemporary, small reminders that she was once a part of the world of mortals. He lifted a tome with aged, bony hands, scanning them with lightning speed, only stopping at spells and incantations meant to cast love enchantments on objects or people. Nothing in the first, or the second book of magic. The third he couldn t even look at so dark was the presence hovering within its creased pages. He skipped it completely, not wanting to touch it unless the others held nothing of worth. Then the pages of the fourth tome stopped when the words gà ¡stlufe onsang screamed out at him, a love enchantment of the soul, one that awakened deep and buried feelings long lost and forgotten. That would fit, perhaps far too perfectly, Gwen having once cared for Lancelot, maybe even loved, but so far from being rekindled because of her true love for Arthur that Morgana would have needed

Hantavirus National Park Service and Popular Camping Site Free Essays

Hantavirus It seems that the there has been an outbreak of a rare, deadly virus called the Hantavirus in Yosemite National Park. According to the article, there has been an outbreak of hantavirus infections in Curry Village, a popular camping site in Yosemite, and that two people have already died from it. However, this isn’t the first time the hantavirus has spread. We will write a custom essay sample on Hantavirus: National Park Service and Popular Camping Site or any similar topic only for you Order Now In 1993, the virus had been first discovered when a terrifying outbreak unfolded in the Four Corners Area of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. The fatality rate was incredibly high—killing about half the people it infected. But, what exactly is the Hantavirus? The Hantavirus causes a disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which can kill an infected within just 10 days. Researchers have learned that the hantavirus is spread by the wastes and saliva of deer mice, whose population in Yosemite is bigger than usual this year. Over the 20 years since the virus has been discovered, experts have been able to learn more about the disease thus making them better at saving lives, but not that much better. Currently, there is no official cure. With that being said, I believe that this article was published to alert people about the hantavirus. It’s obvious that the hantavirus is extremely fatal and sneaky, for its symptoms are similar to those of harmless illnesses. People need to be notified to be cautious of their health. It might be in Yosemite for now, but modern technology gives us humans the ability to travel great distances. Although there has been a recent outbreak, I do not think the hantavirus is or will ever be an epidemic. This is because I think that us humans are more than capable to stop the spread of this virus. I remember reading about the SARS outbreak that originated in China a couple of years ago. The CDC and the World Health Organization were immediately put into action as soon as it was found to have hit North America. Flights were grounded, travel within borders was locked, and only around 40 people died in the entire continent. Also, I believe that this is the way we can fix this problem, almost like how they fixed the SARS outbreak. We should restrict travel to and from Yosemite so that the spread radius is minimized. Then, we should thoroughly study the virus and develop a cure. Unlike SARS, the cause of hantavirus infections is no longer a mystery. I believe that experts can cure the virus in just a few weeks if this is process is followed. How to cite Hantavirus: National Park Service and Popular Camping Site, Essay examples

Business Project Organization Management Techniques

Question: Describe about the Business Project Organization for Management Techniques. Answer: PartA Statement of Work This report is a statement of work about a business project in an organization where I am currently working. ABC Pvt. Ltd. is a business organization and I am working there as a project manager. My company is a software development company and work on various software projects. Both desktop and web based software solutions are provided. Currently we are working on software development project which is ecommerce website. Ecommerce website is an online shopping website which is used by users to purchase products online. It is a big project that I am handling with my team members. In this report, we will discuss about services, deliverables, payment schedule, sub-contractors, representatives, risks and stakeholders. Services This project is related to development of ecommerce website. In this project a website will be created that will allow users to do online shopping of different products. The main services that will be provided by this website are online purchasing of products, online payments for products and customers can get online order summary for their orders. To develop this website, some essential requirements of hardware and software components are involved. The hardware and software requirements for this project of ecommerce websites are listed as below: Web Server Web server is related to hardware or software that provides help to deliver content that is accessible to all internet users. (prezi.com, 2016) Browsers Web browser is a program and application which is used to display internet with web pages. The commonly used web browsers are Mozilla, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Opera. Server Software This is required for the server to run the software that manage connections and server. The common examples of server software are Apache, Debian and Ubuntu Server Edition. Web Authoring Tools These tools are software or cloud servers that allow you to create and put up a website. Microsoft and Dream Weaver are examples of web authoring tools that are required for ecommerce websites. Database Systems It is a system that is used by a company to connect with website. Database system consists of many important things of website that are required to make changes into this system such as passwords, names, address etc. These are some essential hardware and software requirements of ecommerce website that must be fulfilled before start implementation of this project. The nature of work is that it is a web-based project and all above discussed requirements must be fulfilled before implementation of this project. The sub-component of this project are development of each module, testing of whol project and deployment of project. Deliverables Deliverable Schedules The whole work will be performed on computer system with internet connection. For this project, all hardware and software components should be completed. A website will be hosted on a domain and every user access this website with domain name such as www.abc.com. All software and database systems will be located on server and that will be used by developers to perform various activities such as storage, modification and access of information. (McDavid, 2016) Period of Performance The overall project is a customized project. It means, it is made according to demands of customers and changes will be done periodically according to changes in demand. The development process of this website is of 3-5 months. Following is actual time period of project: Expected Start and End: 3-5 Months. This project will be started in this month October and will be finished at February. Working Hours: 8 hours Number of Hours billed per Week: 50 hours. In these number of hours, work per week must be performed. Payment Schedule The specify cost of this whole project is near about $1000. It is not fixed price of project because requirements can be changed in future and then according to extra time and materials, payment will be increased for projects. Yes it is right, if volunteers will be included in this project then no cost or travel or meal allowances will be given. Sub-Contractors Sub-contractor is that who hired by a general contractor for performing a specific task regarding overall project. But in this project, as a project manager, I did not hire any sub-contractor, because it will be better to monitor project by me as project manager. Representatives For this ecommerce project, the main representatives are project manager, technical team experts and other team members such as testers and designers. These persons are considered as representatives because these are closely connect with project and they have thorough knowledge about development, reliability and security of project. Besides this, investors and stakeholders can also be included. Stakeholders The stakeholders of this company include investors, clients and users who are investing in this project their time and money to make this project successful. Risk and Areas of Responsibility The main risk of this ecommerce website are hacking, phishing, denial of service attacks and malware attacks and other network vulnerabilities. Besides this, the main responsibility area of his project is maintenance of this security and privacy so that database system can be prevented from network attacks. Otherwise, without protection whole data can be lost due to network attack. Part-B Project Selection Methods of Project Selection For selecting a particular project before its implementation requires some essential methods that must be considered by every project manager. Those methods are listed as below: (Simplilearn.com, 2016) Benefit Measurement Methods Constrained Optimization Methods Benefit Measurement Methods This technique is based on estimated cash outflow and inflow on its present value. According to this technique cost calculation about benefits and comparison about other projects are done. (Burke, 2010) Optimization Methods of Constrained Optimization methods of constrained has another name mathematical model of project selection and these are used for handling large projects that consist of large and complex computations. (Constantinides, 2013) Impact of not having Business case for a Project Business case for a project is considered important because it is an argument which is documented to convince a decision a maker for approving some kind of action. This document is sometimes known as business case. Therefore, we can say that without a documented convincing approach or business case, it will be difficult to convince management about feasibility and success of project. ( WhatIs.com, 2016) References Burke, R. (2010). Project Management Techniques (College ed.). US: Burke Publishing. Simplilearn.com. (2016). Project Selection Methods for Project Management Professionals. Retrieved 10 October 2016, from https://www.simplilearn.com/project-selection-methods-article Constantinides, C. (2013). Project selection methods: Which should you use? - OneDesk. OneDesk. Retrieved 10 October 2016, from https://www.onedesk.com/project-selection-methods-which-should-you-use/ McDavid, B. (2016). 5 Things to Consider When Developing an eCommerce Website. Blog.wsol.com. Retrieved 10 October 2016, from https://blog.wsol.com/5-things-to-consider-when-developing-an-ecommerce-website prezi.com. (2016). Hardware and Software Required For E-Commerce. Retrieved 10 October 2016, from https://prezi.com/iv-3efjxjrkz/hardware-and-software-required-for-e-commerce/ WhatIs.com. (2016). What is business case? - Definition from WhatIs.com. Retrieved 10 October 2016, from https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/business-case

British Airways

Introduction British Airways was started in 1974 as a result of merger between two airlines, British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and British European Airways (BEA). BA is known to be one of the Leading Airlines in the world.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on British Airways specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More By the year 2001, the company had approximately 360 aircrafts and operates in ninety seven countries covering 270 destinations. BA owns stakes in other airline companies such as Australia’s Qantas and Iberia from Spain. Business within the global market demands a great change within the operational and management practices of international business companies. Management team should ensure maintenance of excellent working conditions within companies. They should have the ability of creating new business models for the purposes of satisfying current human needs and at the same time for profitability purposes. Implementation of up-to-date business plan and appropriate business models ensures change in image of business companies. Great level of confidence and creativity is required for the purposes of achieving the expected financial goals. SWOT analysis of British Airways Company British Airways Company Strengths Asset of 360 aircrafts Skillful and Professional workforce Strong brand name Use of modern IT, fleet and ground facilities Stable financial base Weaknesses Poor customer services Downsizing Highly hierarchical bureaucratic structure Serious communication gaps Absence of clear market orientation Opportunities Wide customer base in 97 countries Joint ventures Threats Internal politics External political instability in crucial destinations Global recession Terrorism Problem definition British Airways was faced with the threat of terrorism, since there was plan to shoot down any aircraft in space. The company was also faced with financial prob lems with the prediction of low revenue growth within successive years. This would be as a result of political instability within the Gulf and economic downturn which would affect international traveling. These shortcomings gave the management of the airline very hectic time leading to loss of working esteem amongst workers.Advertising Looking for essay on air transport? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More British Airways Company was previously known to comprise of highly motivated staff. The merger of BOAC and BEA created some administrative and operational conflict amongst the staff leading to poor service provision. The two different cultures from the two airline companies could not merge easily. This is since each of the airlines served different class of passengers jeopardizing the culture of working as a team. There was pronounced blame-game amongst workers since no one was accountable for the poor services rendered (Vedpuri swar 1). There was sign of intense internal politics caused by the presence of massive workforce. Reward system also involved lots of politics since employees were rewarded based on political affiliations instead of performance measures. Justification The management team within BA Company kept on changing CEOs due to reform issues. This signified instability on corporate culture from within the company. The CEOs barely served for five years, Bob Ayling served for four years but failed to achieve on the implementation of the reform agenda. This was especially on cutting costs and creating conducive working environment for workers. Rod Eddington on the other hand concentrated on empowering the staff and maximizing costs on premium travels. The existing war within the Middle East threatened BA operations in 2003. Politics were as a result of serious communication gaps existing across the organization and the authoritarian kind of management.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on British Airways specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At the same time the structure of the airline Industry within Europe tends to offer high priced services to consumers, ignoring the plight of the middle and low income earners. There’s need to consider consumers from all market segments through offering of affordable, cost-effective and quality services to various destinations covered by BA. Such like considerations requires thorough restructuring of the various companies within the airline industry. Customer services within viable market niches needs to go beyond consumer expectations and cover wide population segment. Critical Analysis The British Airline industry suffered a lot due to its unfairness in dealing with work force and consumer prices. Expansion and success of BA is basically based on comprehensive business plans and financial models. Part of the success also lies on BA’s ability to spend higher pe rcentage of its operations on air which automatically results into profitability based on the level of efficiency. The nature of BA’s organizational structure was of prime importance since it determined the nature of communication, delegation of duties ensuring good social and interactive environment. (Vedpuriswar 13). British Airways at some point implemented the strategy of sharing its profits amongst all the employees which provided a good incentive for motivation.Advertising Looking for essay on air transport? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, the previous strategy provided by ‘Survival plan’ on cutting down on employee salary increment and any other leisure activities could have easily led to demotivation (Vedpuriswar 7). The major challenges within the airline industry are high competition and high operation costs. The other challenge as outlined was availability of massive workforce that the company was unable to support efficiently. However, BA ensured that all employees receive quality training enabling professional execution of duties. Previously all employees including pilots were considered to operate within the same level as any other employee including managers. Such consideration at some point led to unrest situations amongst the pilots (Vedpuriswar 9). Installation of modern technology facilities enabled easier communication and also encouraged freedom of expression amongst employees. The new management structure encouraged bottom-up style of management, where junior employees executed th eir duties with minimum interference from the top management team (Vedpuriswar 10). The management team ensured existence of cooperate culture which encouraged team work and integrity within workplace. The kind of positive attitude created within the work environment focused on customer-oriented services is capable of ensuring high productivity levels. The issue of reducing the workforce occurred on several occasions during recession periods. However, this was a good initiative capable of cutting the cost on operations. The idea of giving more attention on prime class of service within the flights and inclusion of on-line services assisted BA in improving the customer base. Other measures undertaken to cut the costs included reduction in coordination activities with other airline companies. As portrayed from their management strategies British Airways prefers strengthening of good employee relationships rather than forming unions. However, recruitment should be done based on profess ional qualifications and integrity of character. This enables easier implementation of training programs and also ensures maintenance of discipline work environment. The company’s integral culture has been maintained through organization of behavioral trainings and team building outings. Employees are considered crucial part of the company, hence recruitment and promotion activities done based on credentials and not political affiliations as previously experienced. Alternative Courses of Action In order to save BA from the spiraling losses and bankruptcy, King introduced ‘survival plan’ which was stemmed with tough immediate measures. One of the actions was downsizing the workforce, freezing salary increment, reducing the number of destinations as well as closing two engineering bases within a year. The plan also aimed at causing massive cuts on administrative duties (Vedpuriswar 5). Setting of an aggressive marketing team, assisted on the issues of marketing and customer services. The change in the management structure necessitated efficiency in communication across departments and coherence between operational activities and services rendered. Profit sharing program was also introduced for the purposes of motivating employees. Besides, the staff had to undergo thorough training in order to boost corporate culture and management practices (Vedpuriswar 5). Taking employees through trainings such as Putting People First (PPF) and Managing People First helped improving the corporate culture since employees were able to work with positive attitude and treat fellow workers with respect. This action also helped in building new leadership skills and stable managerial behavior (Vedpuriswar 7). Team building workshops were organized, installation of feedback programs undertaken. BA through the leadership of Ayling worked on creation of new image brand for the airline company which replaces the traditional designs. Expansion and renovation plans inc luded renovation of terminal at JFK airport, improved of entertainment services, offering on-line services and entering into partnerships with other airlines (Vedpuriswar 9). In place of workers union within the Company, efficient channels of communication were created. This was provided by proactive communication team acting as a voice between management and subordinates. The team was endowed with the responsibility of setting salary scales and also putting personnel management into check. On the other hand diversification of skills is necessary and leadership tactics of the management team. Various means can be invented for the purposes of dealing with economic downturn; this includes forming joint ventures with discount airlines. Evaluation of Alternatives The operations of British Airline to different destinations of the world market including Middle East brought to consumers affordable alternative means of travel. Stiff competition from other established airlines requires thoro ugh review of BA’s structure for the purposes of capturing both high and low market segments. In addition to sharing of profits, the management should think of granting employees the opportunity of buying shares from BA’s stock. This would ensure high level of employee satisfaction and hence help in improving the nature of the social environment within the workplace. Such culture of rewarding employees’ inputs based on their innovative and creativity offers conducive environment for invention. Transacting business with single plane manufacturer for long periods of time and reducing fuel consumption levels assist in cutting down expenses. Solution The management should adhere to the proposals on recruiting based on individual’s professional qualifications. At the same time the art removing bureaucratic hierarchy helps in efficient management practices. The company requires installation of modern and sophisticated equipment to assist in operational practice s. The issue on cost of fuel can be tackled by hedging and sealing contracts from the various suppliers. Lots of emphasis should be placed on enriching internal culture in order to counter the wave on economic crumbles and other external pressures. Reports reveal that Airline companies stand as some of the multi-million companies providing their shareholders with reasonable returns originating from massive asset background. Airline companies especially British Airways is identified as one with strong and liquid balance sheet. Most of the achievements can be attributed to the nature of their facility expansion, increasing trend in customer base and the company’s policy and strategy concerning acquisition of properties. The aggressive nature of BA management team and acquisition policy remains a threat to the rest of the companies within the airline industry. However, environmental threat presents one of the potential operation risks the company since they have to regulate thei r level of carbon emissions based on different policies laid by companies. British Airways can as well utilize the long-term growth strategy based on its strong operational performance as well as potential acquisitions. The company’s growth profile and assets makes it outstand as one of the leaders within the industry. Conclusions and recommendations The culture within the workplace determines the level of success of the Company. Emphasis should always be placed on marketing activities and customer care services. Success of BA as a Company could be attributed to excellent management tactics derived from frequent trainings and also professional marketing principles. The growth was evident after implementation of reasonable organizational structure and reinforcing the communication channels including marketing strategies. Such programs ensured increased earnings per share on an annual basis. Maintenance of a corporate culture encouraged mutual co-operation amongst employees hen ce providing avenues to high performance levels. Airline industry despite being capital intensive venture is also considered to be highly risky. This shows that efficient operation within the industry requires higher margins for proper running and maintenance of equipment. The rising demand for airline services, calls for quality and efficiency in management and marketing strategies. Conclusively, even though there seems to be significant increase in profitability of BA Company, improved customer-oriented services is constitutes big percentage of the margins. The lucrative margins makes the stocks of Airline companies more appealing to investors, hence call for high productivity levels. Works Cited Vedpuriswar, AV. British Airways: Leadership and Change, ECCH Collection, Hydershad: ICFAI Knowledge Centre, 2003. This essay on British Airways was written and submitted by user Sebastian Berg to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. British Airways Introduction This report gives a comprehensive overview of the business organization processes of British Airways (BA). Several aspects of the organization’s structure, including the structural style, management style, leadership style, motivation style, organizational design, organizational control structures, and the organizational culture constitute this analogy.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on British Airways specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This assessment will be an interesting analogy of British Airways because the company experienced managerial and leadership changes in the recent past. For a long time, British Airways has been the national flag bearer of the United Kingdom (UK). The airline is the largest airline in the country, based on its fleet size and international presence. It operates in 160 destinations around the globe and has a market presence in more than 70 countries (Ganesh 1999, p. 269). BA’s inception occurred after four small and large airline companies (BOAC, BEA, Cambrian Airways, and Northeast airlines) merged (Meyer 2007). Before 1987, the government ran British Airways, but in the same year, it was privatized as part of the British government’s efforts to seize control of most of its national corporations (McGowan 2011, p. 3). After the privatization, British Airways was able to expand its operations to new locations and new market segments. Currently, the airline is part of the one world alliance, which is an association of several airline companies including American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Canadian airlines (Meyer 2007). British Airways also operates under the International Airlines Group (IAG) and its association with this business outfit marks its participation in the London Stock exchange. Company Structure British Airways is a public limited company with three subsidiaries: British Airways city flyer, open skies and Bri tish Airways World cargo (Plunkett 2009). The BA city flyer is a franchise of BA and operates a domestic fleet of airlines in the European market (from the London city airport) (Plunkett 2009).Advertising Looking for report on air transport? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The subsidiary carries passengers, cargo and mail. Open skies is also a fully owned subsidiary of British Airways with operations in France and America. The subsidiary started operations in 2008. Though Open skies was rumored to offer only business class services (during its inception), it also offers economy class (which later upgraded to premium economy class in 2009) (Plunkett 2009). The subsidiary is however not part of the one world alliance (which its parent company (BA) is a member of). Since the aviation market is a competitive industry, BA was motivated by internal changes in the business environment (changes in consumer tastes and preferences) and external forces (competition) to transition its ownership from a government-run corporation to a private-run corporation (Raktabutr 2007). For example, since BA was a government-run company, it was difficult to change its travel fares according to the market environment. In this regard, it was difficult for BA to compete with its rivals. This transition (from government to private ownership) marked the main legal change for BA but it also set-forth a series of other organizational changes such as organizational culture changes, corporate culture changes, mission statement changes as so on.. Model Application Lewin’s change model is widely applicable in BA’s company transition from a government-run organization to a private-run entity. As noted in previous sections of this paper, the transition from a government outfit to a private organization marked significant changes in the company’s structure. Lewins model explains that, organizations often undergo three sta ges of transition: â€Å"unfreezing, movement and refreezing† (Cummings 2008, p. 23). These stages have different effects on the organization and their employees. British Airways underwent the three stages.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on British Airways specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the unfreezing stage (as a response to market changes), BA had to unfreeze its operation patterns which were characterized by strong government control. This was a strategy formulated by the organization’s management to manage change. The second stage of Lewin’s model (movement stage) also occurred in BA’s transition because the organization’s management was determined to disseminate its ideas to lower-level employees. To support this transition, BA introduced a new set of programs such as the employee bonus system and the opening of a new airport terminal at the company’s main operat ing hub (Heathrow) to synchronize employee tasks with the management’s vision. The company also invested a lot of money in purchasing a new training facility at Chartridge house to improve the synergy between the company’s management and its employees (Raktabutr 2007). The last stage of Lewin’s model is the refreezing stage. BA transition is characteristic of this stage because it tried to cement its new organizational changes by creating a new behavioral system to support the changes. For instance, a new performance appraisal system, which was designed to recognize employee excellence (concerning customer service and marketing), was established (Raktabutr 2007, p. 12). By implementing these changes, it was expected that the company’s employees were going to be motivated to implement the new organizational changes to receive monetary rewards. To complement these changes, BA introduced new symbols that were printed on employee uniforms, company aircrafts, and other public places of display to symbolize the company’s new commitment (customer service). The motto â€Å"we fly to serve† was part of the new changes adopted by the company during this transition (Raktabutr 2007).Advertising Looking for report on air transport? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Leadership Control Styles Due to the sheer size and extent of BA’s operations, BA’s leadership has often practiced the autocratic leadership style (Northouse 2009). This autocratic leadership style is the main reason for BA’s poor performance between the year 1996 and the year 2000 (Raktabutr 2007). In fact, BA’s shares plunged by close to 40% during this period (Raktabutr 2007). Basic company values such as customer quality and service excellence eroded because of this leadership style as well. However, with the overhaul of BA’s operations, the company is now synonymous with the transformational leadership style. The company’s CEO, Willie Walsh, first introduced this leadership style because previous systems and procedures were not effective (Rivers 2010, p. 2). Some of the operational changes mentioned in previous sections of this study highlight the changes made by Willie Walsh after he took over the leadership of the company. The rigid h ierarchical leadership structure reduced to reflect the CEO’s vision of operating an efficient company. BA’s hierarchical structure is now very simple. It only has one level of distinction between the top-level management and the bottom-level management (Raktabutr 2007). This management structure supports the company’s transformational leadership style because it has made it easy to pass down the CEO’s enthusiasm of the organization to bottom-level employees. This management framework has also made it easy for the company’s CEO to have a â€Å"detail team† to help him realize the organization’s vision. After evaluating the transition from the autocratic leadership style to the transformational leadership style, we see that BA’s leadership transition is explained by the contingency theory of leadership. The contingency theory explains that prevailing environmental factors determine the type of leadership style to be adopted. Acc ording to the contingency theory, there is no leadership style, which is suitable for one organization (Rivers 2010, p. 2). Different situations demand different leadership styles. It is also from this basis that the contingency theory explains that organizational success does not only depend on the leadership qualities but also the loyalty and performance of the followers (plus the environmental support). BA was initially operating in a highly rigid environment dictated by little or no competition and a lot of government control. This situation supported the autocratic leadership style. However, when the market liberalized and the company was privatized, the company’s leadership style changed to transformational leadership (Rivers 2010, p. 2). This transition is explained by the contingency theory as described above. How Management and Leadership Styles Affect the Direction of the Business BA’s management and leadership styles are bound to affect the direction of the company because they are the main wheels behind the efficiency and productivity of the company. Furthermore, the realization of BA’s organizational goals highly depends on the leadership and management styles of the company (Management Study Guide 2008, p. 1). Considering BA operates in a highly competitive industry, there needs to be constant innovation and improvement of customer service. These elements require a constant change of operational processes but considering BA is a large organization, initiating change may be difficult. It is at this point, where management and effective leadership need exercising to ensure the company implements such changes. This analogy presents a guiding role for management and leadership styles because managers and leaders show the rest of the employees where the company is heading (Management Study Guide 2008, p. 1). Through effective management and leadership, employees are bound to get the confidence to undertake their tasks and ultimate ly realize the organization’s goals. This confidence materializes best if leaders and managers show the subordinates that their roles are crucial for the organization. Furthermore, optimum productivity occurs if management shows the lower-level employees how they can achieve such goals. Complementary to this role is the role of leadership and management to build morale among employees (Management Study Guide 2008, p. 1). A high morale materializes if a sense of cooperation develops between the employees and the management. Leadership styles and management styles create this synergy. Comprehensively, an organization’s direction is outlined by its leadership or management styles because both aspects determine the productive levels of the organization. In addition, an organization’s leadership style is likely to improve an organization’s level of competitiveness because it defines the blueprint of where the organization should be (viz-a-viz its competitors). Company Culture Types of organizational Culture Depending on the nature of organization, different companies adopt different organizational cultures. Tharp (2009) observes that there are four main types of organizational culture: collaborative, creative (adhocracy), control and competitive (market) cultures. The collaborative culture is a friendly and open type of culture. This type of organizational culture is very inclusionary and it perceives leaders as mentors or parents of one big extended family. In this type of culture, group cohesion is paramount and relationships are forged for long-term benefits (Tharp 2009, p. 7). Teamwork, participation and cohesiveness are also highly emphasized in this type of culture because there is a strong concern for people. The creative culture lays a lot of emphasis on innovation and risk taking because the philosophy of â€Å"thinking out of the box† is highly emphasized. Individualism is also encouraged and success is measured by being a leader among many (Tharp 2009, p. 7). The control culture is different from the creative and collaborative cultures because it defines a highly structured form of interaction between employees and their bosses. There is also a lot of emphasis on rules and procedures because stability is perceived to be the ultimate goal of organizations that adopt this culture (Tharp 2009, p. 7). Finally, the competitive culture focuses on job completion. There is a lot of push from leaders that run organizations that adopt this culture because the ultimate goal of such organizations is job accomplishment. The idea of winning is a major unifying factor for employees and managers (Tharp, 2009, p. 7). BA’s Organizational Culture After understanding the above leadership styles, it is important to note that, BA applies the competitive organizational culture. The competitive organizational culture was adopted after the company was privatized. BA’s emphasis now lies on being the best airl ine company in the region. For instance, after privatization, BA changed its corporate mission objective from â€Å"safety† to â€Å"competition†. This is a response to the competition in the aviation industry. Now the company focuses on being effective and high performing. Similarities between BA and Secondary Data Concerning the competitive organizational culture, BA’s organizational culture bears many similarities with secondary research information (regarding the competitive culture). In books, it is mentioned that the competitive organizational culture emphasizes a lot on success and accomplishments while British Airways also strives to show that it is succeeding. For instance, the company now focuses on posting good profits (De-Witte 2000, p. 501). This push to post good profits is part of a move to keep the company afloat, amid growing employee tensions and increased shareholder demands. Furthermore, existing literature outline that, leaders in organizati ons that adopt the competitive culture are hard-driving and demanding. BA’s leadership exudes these traits because it puts a lot of pressure on its employees to show results. Part of the pressure emanates from past periods of failure, which have seen BA suffer significant losses in revenue. Motivational Framework BA uses financial rewards to motivate its employees. This motivational framework is mentioned in earlier sections of this paper where BA’s bonus program was introduced to cement the company’s operational changes by focusing on customer service and quality. This motivational framework defines the scientific management theory, which was advanced by Frederick Taylor (Waring 1994, p. 1). The theory proposes that, people are mainly motivated by financial reward. The theory also maintains that, people are not naturally motivated to work, and they need rewards to boost their productivity. Complementarily, Maslow theory of motivation also outlines BA’s m otivational framework because it explains that workers strive to satisfy basic needs before they satisfy higher-level needs such as safety needs and self-actualization needs. Maslow’s theory categorizes worker needs on five levels as outlined below: (Waring 1994, p. 94) Incidentally, these needs are often satisfied through financial upgrades. For instance, if a worker has already satisfied basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing, they need more money to satisfy the next level of need (safety needs). This motivational dynamic therefore supports BA’s motivational framework because workers strive to improve their productivity to get more bonuses, and consequently satisfy higher-level needs. BA and the workers benefit here. Conclusion Weighing the findings of this report, we can see that BA’s organizational culture and processes are influenced by its transition from a government entity to a private entity. However, BA’s new organizational culture (bas ed on competition), is expected to increase the company’s odds of being an industry leader, as it was before. The competitive organizational culture (coupled with the company’s motivational framework) is set to increase the company’s profitability. The scientific management theory seems to affirm this success because it lays a lot of emphasis on guaranteeing company success if an employee reward scheme is employed. BA’s organizational structures therefore outline the blueprint for its future success. BA can improve its future profitability if it focuses on product innovation strategies to meet varying customer group demands. Most of BA’s competitors (such as Emirates airlines) are reaping huge profits from such strategic shifts. The product innovation strategy has also worked in other industries where a company understands its different customer groups and develops new products to meet these needs. Finally, to improve the company’s profitabi lity, BA needs to adopt more hedging practices. For instance, the unstable price of crude oil may significantly affect the company’s bottom-line. Hedging such a cost is likely to improve the company’s prospects of posting good returns. Such a strategy has worked with other airline companies such as Southwest airlines. BA’s success will be guaranteed in this manner. References Cummings, T. (2008).  Organization Development Change. London, Cengage Learning. De-Witte, K. (2000).  Organizational Culture. Michigan, Psychology Press. Ganesh, G. (1999).  Privatisation Competition And Regulation In The United Kingdom:  Case Studies. London, Mittal Publications. Management Study Guide. (2008).  Importance of Leadership. Web McGowan, R. (2011).  Privatize This?: Assessing the Opportunities and Costs of  Privatization. London, ABC-CLIO. Meyer, S. (2007).  Acquisition of EasyJet Plc. by British Airways Plc. London, GRIN Verlag. Northouse, P. (2009).  Lead ership: Theory and Practice. London, SAGE. Plunkett, J. (2009). Plunkett’s Transportation, Supply Chain and Logistics Industry. Almanac 2009 (E-Book): Transportation, Supply Chain and Logistics Industry Market Research, Statistics, Trends and Leading Companies. London, Plunkett Research, Ltd. Raktabutr, T. (2007).  Analysis of Organization: British Airways. Web. Rivers, M. (2010).  British Airways Strike Can Be Averted. Web. Tharp, B. (2009).  Four Organizational Culture Types. Web. Waring, S. (1994).  Taylorism Transformed: Scientific Management Theory Since 1945. London, UNC Press Books. This report on British Airways was written and submitted by user Aria N. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Adult Survivors Of Incest And Sexual Abuse

Adult Survivors Of Incest And Sexual Abuse The purpose of this paper is to look at adult survivors of Incest and sexual abuse I will attempt to define explain and analyze the effects of incest on the adult survivors. How do you counsel a incest survivor? Definition Incest is a betrayal of trust through sexual activity between biological or marital relatives. It manifests either in the form of a "consensual" relationship, as with a brother and sister, or in the more common form of non-consensual abuse. Further, incest offenders project their sexual expression both overtly and covertly by means of inappropriate touching, verbal seduction, abuse, objectification, intercourse, sodomy, direct threats and implied threats. Perpetrators of incest are both men and women, although the majority are men. Both girls and boys are victimized, with the majority of victims being girls. Perpetrators may include: grandfathers and grandmothers, fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts, brothers and sister, friend of the family, teacher the list is endless. Incest cuts across lines of race and class. Incestuous abuse may start as early in a child's life as a few months old and may last throughout the teen years and into adulthood., Statistics ,Myths and Facts 4.5% of women report an incestuous experience with fathers or stepfathers before the age of 18. 4.9% of women report an incestuous experience with an uncle before the age of 18 (The Secret Trauma, Diana Russell, Basic Books, 1986). A random survey of 2,627 women and men conducted by the Los Angeles Times found that 27% of the women and 16% of the men had been incestuously abused as children (By Silence Betrayed, John Crewsdon, Little Brown, 1988). When incest occurs between siblings, 26% of the cases are same sex, with 16% between brothers and 10% between sisters (Healing the Incest Wound, Christine Courtois, Norton Professional Books, 1988). African Americans are victim... Free Essays on Adult Survivors Of Incest And Sexual Abuse Free Essays on Adult Survivors Of Incest And Sexual Abuse Adult Survivors Of Incest And Sexual Abuse The purpose of this paper is to look at adult survivors of Incest and sexual abuse I will attempt to define explain and analyze the effects of incest on the adult survivors. How do you counsel a incest survivor? Definition Incest is a betrayal of trust through sexual activity between biological or marital relatives. It manifests either in the form of a "consensual" relationship, as with a brother and sister, or in the more common form of non-consensual abuse. Further, incest offenders project their sexual expression both overtly and covertly by means of inappropriate touching, verbal seduction, abuse, objectification, intercourse, sodomy, direct threats and implied threats. Perpetrators of incest are both men and women, although the majority are men. Both girls and boys are victimized, with the majority of victims being girls. Perpetrators may include: grandfathers and grandmothers, fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts, brothers and sister, friend of the family, teacher the list is endless. Incest cuts across lines of race and class. Incestuous abuse may start as early in a child's life as a few months old and may last throughout the teen years and into adulthood., Statistics ,Myths and Facts 4.5% of women report an incestuous experience with fathers or stepfathers before the age of 18. 4.9% of women report an incestuous experience with an uncle before the age of 18 (The Secret Trauma, Diana Russell, Basic Books, 1986). A random survey of 2,627 women and men conducted by the Los Angeles Times found that 27% of the women and 16% of the men had been incestuously abused as children (By Silence Betrayed, John Crewsdon, Little Brown, 1988). When incest occurs between siblings, 26% of the cases are same sex, with 16% between brothers and 10% between sisters (Healing the Incest Wound, Christine Courtois, Norton Professional Books, 1988). African Americans are victim...

What is ethis Can ethics be taught Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What is ethis Can ethics be taught - Term Paper Example For example, in some fundamental societies, killing of people who say something against the religion is accepted as a sacred act. According to newspaper reports, Indian capital New Delhi faced a severe terrorist attack in which more than 10 innocent people were killed. The terrorist who accepted responsibility for this attack was a fundamental Islamic terrorist organization. For them, what they did in Delhi is ethical. But for others, it cannot be considered as ethical. So it is not necessary that religions or the society may always teach moral activities. From the above discussion, it is clear that ethics cannot be taught; but it should be learned through logical analysis and synthesis of experiences in the past. â€Å"When most people think of ethics (or morals), they think of rules for distinguishing between right and wrong† (Resnik, 2010). My personal code of ethics is formulated in line with the above argument. In fact my personal ethics has nothing to do with my religious beliefs. I have no hesitation in accepting the good teachings of other religions. For example, according to Christian and Muslim belief, killing of animals for food is not a sin. However, Buddhism and Hinduism consider all types of killing as sin. I have no hesitation in accepting the arguments of Buddhism and Hinduism as far as killing of animals is concerned. For me, any activity which may not cause any kind of discomfort to others can be considered as ethical. When I was working in the production department of an organization, a sales executive who is working for another company approached me with a major job. Even though his organization has all the facilities to complete that job, he told me that he doesn’t want to complete that job with the help of his own organization. His intention was to make more money out of this job. Since my organization has lack of works at that time, his offer put me in a dilemma. According to my

My Laissez-Faire Leadership in the Refugee Camp Site Coursework - 7

My Laissez-Faire Leadership in the Refugee Camp Site - Coursework Example Laying down a proper leadership framework should be characterized by optimization of resources, reorganization of growth opportunities among the employees and implementation of proper plans for achieving growth. My future work environment would be an organization where employees will be given importance to the extent as they are the most valuable assets of the organization. The employees will be motivated enough to work with integrity and honesty and perform to their utmost level without being watched or controlled. In order to build such a working environment, the set of core values chosen to be inspired within the organization will include; Integrity, Commitment, and Dedication.We intend to be the nation’s most competitive organization in terms of our products.In order to attain excellence, our manpower will be completely motivated and equipped with the required skills and the prompt responsiveness to the client’s requirements is our primary goal. We consider all memb ers of the organization as an essential and most valuable asset and ensure the betterment of each member to the utmost level.Competencies and skills play a vital role in a successful manager as well as a leader. The proper implementation of leadership framework enables a leader to support the business at large and this is possible through comprehensive personal effectiveness that encompasses management change as well as the promotion of simultaneous innovation within an organization. Working in a conducive and well-organized environment will be my preferable working condition and integrity value should be encountered under my leadership to enhance good managerial facet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I would prefer to work in a refugee campsite. Most of the refugee camps have displaced people facing potential permeation dangers, especially from terrorist activities. However, the need of education is the key aspect of the people leaving in these camps, and through proper implementation of leadership framework including; Integrity, Commitment, and Dedication, will see people in these camps admire and value the importance of education to the present community.

The use of Critical Reflection in Nursing Practice

The use of Critical Reflection in Nursing Practice Nursing practice is a complicated phenomenon, and usually something which has many dimensions. Nurses can develop better understanding of the ways in which they practice, the influences on their practice, and of their responses to challenging situations, through reflection on that practice, and, specifically, reflection on critical incidents. The use of reflection in nursing practice has been established as an important learning and development tool. Not only has it been described as an effective means of engaging in professional and personal development through self-assessment and self-evaluation (Gustafsson and Fagerberg, 2004 p 271), it is also known to be a way of looking at the quality of practice, and questioning how things are done (Bowden, 2003 p 28; Coutts- Jarman, 1993 p 77). Nurses usually use reflective models to guide their practice, as placing a structure on this process makes it more purposeful (Gibbs, 1988, online; Rolfe, 2005 p 78; Jones, 1995 p 783). Price (2004 p 4 6) also argues that reflection is a patient-centered activity, and one that is linked to the development of critical thinking. The NMC (2004 b), the professional body that governs nursing practice and sets the standards for nurses, states that nurses should: Act to ensure the rights of individuals and groups are not compromised; manage risk to provide care which best meet the needs and interests of patients, clients and the public; review and evaluate care with members of the health and social care team, and others; share experiences with colleagues and patients and clients in order to identify the additional knowledge and skills needed to manage unfamiliar or professionally challenging situations; contribute to the learning experiences and development of others by facilitating the mutual sharing of knowledge and experience. This assignment shows how the author has attempted to adhere to these guidelines through this process of reflection. WHAT The author witnessed a member of staff putting medication in the food of a confused and sometimes aggressive patient who regularly refuses their medication. The member of staff was crushing tablets and putting them into the patients food. This patient, an elderly and confused person, is someone dependent upon nursing staff for support with all of their activities of daily living (Farley et al, 2006 p 46). They are difficult to communicate with and it is not possible to get informed consent or true compliance from them. However, the medications were necessary to maintain their state of health, address their mental condition and prevent exacerbations of chronic conditions (such as hypertension). The author was moved to question this practice, and asked the nurse about this, but the reply was rather defensive. It seemed that they believed this was the only way to administer the medications and that it was for the patients own good. SO WHAT To begin with, the author felt that it was important to question this occurrence, because they found it ethically challenging. While the author understood the need to ensure the patient had had their medication, this occurrence challenged previously acquired understanding of informed consent and respecting the rights and dignity of the patient (NMC, 2004a, online). Acting in the best interests of the patient, however, is another requirement of nurses, and in this case, it was easy to see that they did need the medication and that it would help their subjective feelings of wellness to some extent. However, the author would also question how far this would improve their state of being, because with their cognitive impairment, they might not be able to recognize the difference between subjective measures of sense of wellbeing. The main issues in this scenario revolve around the competence of the patient and their ability to give consent (Hedgecoe 2008). The issue of consent is central to nursing practice, particularly in relation to ensuring the patient care is client-centred (DoH, 2001, online; NMC, 2004a, online). The autonomy and dignity of the client is at stake when one considers providing or enforcing care without consent (DoH, 2001, online). Veitch (2002) offers an authoritative overview of the practical issues involved in consent and advises that it is the dividing line between treatment and assault. (Veitch 2002 Pg 11). This is a very important issue to consider, because, as already discussed, the NMC (2008, online) requires nurses to only act in the best interests of their patients. That means being proactive, providing information to the patient, and communicating with them as best they can, even when there are communication difficulties. Veitch (2002) also goes on to comment that Consent is not just the signing of a document prior to undergoing a procedure, it is a hugely complex area with legal, ethical and practical components and all of these are brought into sharp focus when they are compounded by degrees of reduction in cognitive function (Veitch 2002 Pg 22). The problem here is that the patient, who is suffering from vascular dementia, cannot really be considered fully competent to make decisions about their care. They are cognitively impaired, and in need of significant care, surveillance, assistance and input in order to maintain basic levels of health and functioning. As such, this issue highlights the plight of such individuals, because they are occupying a cognitive world which is disconnected from reality, and within which they are unable to reason or understand what is being asked of them (Bowler, 2007). However, in this case, the scenario is taken to be in a residential care home. This means that one could reasonably assume therefore that the patient is not severely cognitively impaired and may suffer from fluctuating degrees of impairment (Bowler 2007). To this extent, the situation may be helped by considering whether they were happy to take the medication when they were less confused. If the patient is normally happy to take their medication when they were cognitively aware, the legal considerations become easier as Lord Donaldson has stated, in legal statute, that if a patient is judged not to be competent then the healthcare professionals who are responsible for their care are also responsible for making a decision that they believe is in the patients best interests and in line with a decision that they believe the patient would have made if they were competent to make it at the time. (Donaldson 1993). It would appear, therefore, that perhaps the actions of the nurse in placing the medication covertly in the patients food is excessive, and may be motivated by expedience and convenience rather than the best interest of the patient. It might be that, as may be the case in many circumstances, preconceptions about patients, and even stereotyping and prejudice, could be affecting actions here, because despite the egalitarian nature of the nursing profession, there appears to be ongoing ageism in clinical practice (DoH, 2001, online). According to the Department of Health in the National Service Framework for Older People (DoH, online), older people are often subject to preconceptions and prejudice because of ageism, and this ageism can be quite subtle, and pervasive in our modern society. Even those who deal extensively in the elderly may be prejudiced towards them, or have some degree of innate ageism (Gunderson et al, 2005 p 167). With the ongoing focus on patient-centeredness (DoH, 2 001, online) and on ensuring patient safety through the highest standards of care (DoH, 2004, online), this author would argue that actions which occur as a result of prejudicial preconceptions are quite likely to place patients at more risk. In this situation, the nurse may possess such preconceptions but be unaware of them, but this action could place the patient at risk. If someone else came along and asked the patient if they had had their medication (obviously in a more lucid moment), the patient would say no, because they would be unaware that this had occurred. Therefore, the patient could be overdosed because a second dose might be given. The ethical considerations that arise from this particular scenario are not the same as the legal ones, although there are large areas of both overlap and concordance of views (Lo, 2005). Hippocrates has been cited as stating that one should first do no harm. (viz Carrick 2000). This is the basis of the Hippocratic Oath which is taken by all doctors in the UK, and also the basis of fundamental principles of healthcare and professional practice. This is effectively translated into the Principle of Non-maleficence which means that the healthcare professionals must ensure that the patient is not harmed. An aggressive and confused patient may well be in danger of harming themselves and suitable treatment can be considered as justified in this context (van Uffelen, Chinapaw, van Mechelen et al. 2008), but it is questionable how much harm would occur due to this refusal to take the medication. The author would question whether it would not be more appropriate to allow the patient time to return to a more lucid state and then give consent for the medication, complying with their care themselves. This would respect their autonomy, and would also mean that the care given was not entirely bound by routines within the residential home, and would mean a patient-centred approach (DoH, 2001, online). The Principle of Beneficence can also be considered here, and it should be noted that this Principle is coloured by the circumstances of the event being considered. One could argue that the use of medication to ease the patients apparent distress is doing good under the terms of this Principle. If the overall aim of nursing practice is to act in the best interests of the patient, then it may be necessary to take such action, and to take responsibility for making such a decision, if it can be fully established that these actions are only done because it is better for the patient. This author would argue that in this situation, if the decision to put the medication in the food is just about expedience, about it being more convenient and manageable for the staff, then this would not be acting within the principle of beneficence. It is important to not just continue with standard or routine practice just because everyone does it. The balance in this situation is between beneficence and m aleficence, and is therefore relating to the motivation of the individual. Is the nurse doing this to avoid having to spend time and energy persuading the patient to take their medication? Or is this simply the best solution because otherwise the patient will not take the medication and will become ill as a result? More details about this would be required to fully understand the ethical challenge here. It would seem that the major problem with hiding medication in food is deception. Although it may be considered a practical expedient, It would not be an appropriate course of action if the patient was rational and competent, so consideration is required as to why it would be considered appropriate just because they are not competent and rational at this time (Wong, Poon, Hui 2007). Therefore, it is appropriate for the author to have questioned this practice, at this time, and to explore the parameters and dimensions of this action (Hargreaves, 2004 p 196). This area of intervention is fraught with difficulty and should not be entered into lightly. If a decision is made by the healthcare professionals to give the medication, it should be recorded in the notes together with the reasons for that decision and it should be given. If the patient will not take tablets then alternative routes of administration should be considered (Welsh and Deah 2007). It is not appropriate to overtly deceive or mislead the patient as doing so contravenes any concept of personal autonomy and dignity (NMC, 2004a, online; NMC, 2008, online). ). However, it may be that this course of action has been agreed with relatives or next of kin who have responsibility for the patient, which clouds the debate somewhat. There appears to be a fine line here between ethical and unethical practice, and therefore, it is important to clearly understand and justify why this course of action was taken. It would also help if nurses could address their own prejudices and potential bias about certain patients, through critical self examination and reflection (Daly, 1998 p 323). This would also help develop critical thinking skills (Daly, 1998 p 323). Nurses could then reflect critically on these kinds of actions to explore if there are not perhaps alternative approaches which could be used, such as providing the medication in a different form, one that is more palatable to the patient. It is not possible to easily define what the right course of action is in these circumstances, but if the nurse adheres to the principles of client centred practice (DoH, 2001, online), it should be easier to evaluate the motivations for these actions and therefore understand the ethical impact of this situation. However, it wo uld also be important to consider the theoretical basis for this, and for nurses in this particular care environment to discuss this practice and come to some consensus relating to the ethical issues and the ethical principles which arise from this kind of situation. NOW WHAT As part of this reflection the author will now try to draw together conclusions about the scenario described and discussed above, evaluating it as a whole. Having reflected on this scenario, it is apparent to the author that there is a lot to be learned from the situation. To begin with, it highlights how complex even simple nursing actions can be, particularly when they address ethical issues. The primary ethical issue in this scenario relates to the autonomy and capacity of the patient, and the motivation for the actions of the nurse involved. Autonomy is a key ethical principle, and respecting the rights and the individuality of the patient is central to professional nursing practice. Patient-centered practice is an ideal, but it should be a fundamental principle and in such a scenario, using patient-centeredness as a benchmark for evaluating care could be a useful way of analyzing whether nursing actions are ethical or not. In this scenario, the author would argue that the nurse should have taken more time with this particular patient, and should perhaps have considered how to provide the medication safely without challenging her autonomy quite so much. It is obvious that deception is a concept and practice that is incompatible with the fundamental principles of nursing and health care. This author has learned from this that covert actions are inacceptable, and if this situation were to arise again, they would feel empowered to challenge it, and to take action, to turn the focus back onto the rights of the patient. It is also important to consider the balance between the factors surrounding what constitutes the best interests of the patient. There will always be an ongoing negotiation, in situations when the patient is not fully competent, but if the nurse adheres to ethical principles, they will provide patient-centered care and this must, ultimately, meet the individual needs of the patient. This process of reflection has been a significant learning journey for the author, because it has broadened and deepened their understanding and insight into ethical challenges they face in their daily work and practice. Reflection, guided by a constructive model, has helped the author to analyze and evaluate this situation, and to explore the parameters of the ethics and philosophies which apply to it. The author has found that carrying out this reflection has not only enhanced their understanding of this situation, and of the complexities of the ethical questions raised by it, but also enhanced their critical thinking skills. Ethical decision making in nursing appears to be something that is hard to pin down, as ethical questions often leave a degree of confusion about the right and the wrong thing to do. Such is the case here, but the author has learned that there is literature to inform the nurse about the rights and wrongs of the more ambiguous ethical dilemmas, and that using such information can aid understanding and improve future practice.