Benchmarking: University and Target Organizations Essay

What is benchmarking? †¢ Benchmarking is an approach for departments to measure and compare themselves with higher-performing departments with the goal of identifying work processes, products, services, or strategies that will lead to improvement. Benefits of benchmarking †¢ Identify best practices that increase student satisfaction. †¢ Achieve efficiencies and increase productivity. †¢ Helpful during times of budget growth and reduction. †¢ Broaden perspectives and overcome resistance change. †¢ Demonstrate the quality and efficiency of your programs and services. Origins of benchmarking †¢ Emerged in 1980s as a survival tool for Xerox. †¢ In 1990, first university benchmark study conducted by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. †¢ In 1992, the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) conducted a national benchmark study on administrative services. †¢ Since 1992, hundreds of schools have participated in NACUBO’s benchmark studies on topics ranging from admissions to purchasing. †¢ Today many higher education associations conduct benchmark studies. Opportunities for benchmarking in higher education †¢ Admissions – process of reviewing of applications †¢ Registrar – processing transcript requests †¢. Center for Student Involvement – processing the registration of student organizations †¢ Student Health Services – scheduling doctor appointments †¢ Campus Recreation – signing students up for recreation classes †¢ Career Services – registering employers in job fairs †¢ Crafts Center – registering students in workshops †¢ Human Resources – processing timesheets and payroll †¢ Transportation Services – arranging for special event parking services †¢ Police – computer – aided dispatch services †¢ Facilities Design – project design review process Five steps to benchmarking 1. Planning 2. Identifying target organizations 3. Data collection. 4. Analysis 5. Implementation Step 1. Planning †¢ Limit the study to what is vital to the performance of your department. †¢ Consider highly – regarded practices or services that can be made even better. †¢ Look into practices or services that students and staff regard as â€Å"broken†. – labor – intensive, time – consuming processes with suspected waste – Services or processes that generate dissatisfaction with students. – Processes that affect other key processes in your department or other departments. – Processes with poorly defined objectives or frequent errors requiring corrections. Prioritizing your benchmarking projects †¢. Potential for improvement in student satisfaction or staff productivity, †¢ Extent to which the process or service is broken, Feasibility of re-engineering the service or product. Selecting benchmark study team Involve staff members who are most familiar with the processes or services. If processes or services extend to other departments, involve their staff as well. Include a staff member who can successfully recruit the target organizations to participate in the study. Step 2. Identifying target organizations Identify recognized leaders based on: –awards, conference presentations, articles in association publications, and leaders in your  field. †¢ Target organizations can be departments: –internal to the university that perform similar processes or offer similar services. –with similar processes or services at other universities. –outside of higher education with similar functions, products, or services. Step 2. Identifying target organizations To ease the recruiting the process look for institutions that affiliate with one another in some manner. –They still need to be top performers! Secure their cooperation by: –Ensuring confidentiality of the results. – Making their participation easy by minimizing their investment of time in the study. – Promising to share the results. Step 3. Data collection †¢ The objective of data collection is to: – examine processes or services, – resources devoted to processes or services, and – measure performance. Step 3. Data collection Use methods such as: telephone interviews, on – line surveys, collection of department information (e. g. , organizational charts, procedure manuals) detailed flowcharts of internal processes interviews during meetings at conference, interviews and observation during site visits Step 3. Data collection †¢ Measuring performance involves developing metrics such as: †¢ QUALITY – student satisfaction surveys,  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ EFFICIENCY – number of transactions completed per departmental FTE, or – departmental cost per transaction processed. Examples of metrics †¢ Benchmarking study of custodial services in Student Centers †¢ QUALITY †¢ Staff and student ratings of the appearance of various spaces in the facility (e. g. ,bathrooms, dining spaces, meeting spaces, lounge spaces). †¢ EFFICIENCY †¢ Number of FTE dedicated to custodial services divided by facility square footage †¢ Number of FTE dedicated to custodial services divided by the number of people who visit the facility each day †¢ Amount of supplies and expenses budgeted to  custodial services divided by the number of people who visit the facility each day. Step 4. Analysis †¢ Your analysis may focus on: †¢ Differences in quality and efficiency levels. †¢ Factors that contribute to the differences in quality and efficiency including: †¢ Organizational structure, †¢ Leadership and mission †¢ Organizational stability and staff experience, †¢ Policies, †¢ Work flows and internal processes, †¢ Use of technology such as the web, email, phone †¢ Staffing levels, †¢ Training of staff, †¢ Division of job responsibilities, †¢ Funding, †¢ Use of assessment to receive student feedback Step 5. Implementation †¢ Analysis phase culminates in a documented action plan and recommendations †¢ Identify strengths and weaknesses relative to benchmark partners, †¢ Recommendation may include changing: – processes, – job responsibilities, – staff involved, – use of technology and development of software tools. Resources †¢ American Society for Quality http://www. asq. org †¢ Student Voice http://www. studentvoice. com †¢ Educational Benchmarking Inc. http://www. webebi. com – Has national benchmark studies on first – year experience, housing, Greek life, student centers, student organization leaders. †¢ International Benchmarking Clearinghouse http://www. apqc. orgÃ'Ž

The Baby Boomers Have Squandered Their Children’s Future

THE BABY BOOMERS HAVE SQUANDERED THEIR CHILDREN'S FUTURE We should protect ourselves from the self centred attitude of the elderly. A generation that have ‘pulled the ladder they climbed up after them', intending to prevent youth from attaining the merits of their own yesteryears. I am painting the picture of intergenerational fairness – a product of blame and a constant of culture designed to justify the impeding nature of society today. This vociferous claim is stifling nations as the desire to classify a diagnosis implants the division of ages through a unjustified mood.The baby boomer generation filled the hole opened by the wounded and dead, supplied a new workforce and bolstered prosperity, developing consumerist nations. A 1958 story in Life magazine declared that â€Å"kids† were a â€Å"built-in recession cure. † Whilst the thousands of men who returned infertile are denied scrutiny, despite declining fertility rates, aiding an ageing generation an d contributing a diminutive amount to society. To destroy the idyllic past is the recollection of rationing, utility clothing, national service and events such as the Vietnam war.Can dwindling resources, debt or the enevitable issues of over population really be placed on these elders' shoulders? Especially as, since October those over 65 are allowed to remain in occupations, so state reliance beforehand is free from their influence, just poor government prediction. Opposition then utter words of stunted growth. However the labour market is dynamic, not static – mature workers continue to pay taxes, fuelling the wealth that will expand employment, providing those opportunities for the young. In the UK university attendance has increased by 40%, the literacy rate is 99%, minimum wage will increase to ? . 31, we face higher life expectancy, and greater affluence as wealth is expected to double by 2050. Is this prospectus so detrimental or terminal? Since when has spending equal led squander? It merely stimulates the monetary cycle of the economy. The end of the post war economic boom, arrived from the collapse of the Bretton Woods System in 1971,the 1973 oil crisis and The Nixon shock causing the stock market crash. It is the traditional conservative government that now promotes that each generation has a moral obligation, acting as a trustee and beneficiary, moving attention towards insubstantial social issues.But western society is not expected to evaluate through ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation as it tends to distort conceptions, this can be applied to age. It is vital to consider that one single group, circumstance or historical event has ever been solely to blame. There is always a collective of responsibilities and actions, therefore to burden the baby boomer's would be naive and childish. An ideological obsession has formed causing the propagation of every single inequality and injustice between generations. A western, educated, modern socie ty judging averages, demonising the elderly rather than adapting and extending change.

Girl with Balloons

Street art has become a popular way for artists to express their ideas about society through their public displays of art. Banksy is a well known street artists that displays controversial and political artworks. Banksy work â€Å"girl with balloons† is painted on the Israeli West Bank Barrier Wall, which is a security and separation barrier which is still under construction. Which is almost considered a modern day Berlin Wall. The placement of this image is art, not the artwork itself. If Banksy had used this exact image and placed it somewhere else it wouldn’t have the same effect. Banksy intentions where to make a statement about the relationship between the two cultures. The West Bank Barrier wall is a wall that separates the Israelis from the Palestinians who are having cultural wars with each other. With the use of the young girl flying to freedom it makes people think about their freedom, whether someone who would walk past it or someone looking at it on the internet. Banksy hasn’t used any special techniques to construct his artwork, jus t simply spray cans and a stencil. Anyone could do this. Banksy artwork â€Å"girl with balloons† is simple, but is full of symbolism and meaning. The fact that in this foreign country to him he was able to illeagally put up this artwork without permission shows a sign of the lack of security. The choice of balloons is interesting. Making it seem like if only it were so simply just to float over. But to an adult if only it was that easy. A clown will use balloons to create animals and give them to children. Although lifeless and inanimate, they become somthing real to a childs imagination. Banksy has highlighted the religious troubles that are happening at the moment along the West Bank Barrier Wall. With the use of a simply yet effective artwork, banksy has doubt got people thinking. Banksy placement is the key to this image which inevitably makes it â€Å"art†. http://www. slideshare. net/UWAStudySmarter/essay-structure-for-arts-students http://www. banksy. co. uk/outdoors/index3. html http://people. southwestern. edu/~bednarb/su_netWorks/projects/jle/balloon. html http://iris. lib. neu. edu/cgi/viewcontent. cgi? rticle=1053&context=honors_projects http://artradarjournal. com/2010/01/21/what-is-street-art-vandalism-graffiti-or-public-art-part-i/ http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Israeli_West_Bank_barrier THE PLACEMENT OF THIS IMAGE IS ART, NOT THE ARTWORK If the same picture was painted somwhere else it wouldn’t have the same meaning. Culture divide Young child escaping to freedom  · How have contemporary art ideas and issues challenged traditional understandings of artworks and their significance? So people may not consider street art to be art. How does the choice or presentation of subject matter or medium, materials and techniques reflect or challenge artistic or social traditions? Spray cans public property  · What is the impact of dynamic media applications and other emerging art forms on the viewer such as video, digital, projection, installation, interactive, street art, sound and performance art?  · How do these art forms differ from traditional ideas of viewing and experiencing object- based art in museums and galleries?  · How might artworks of the past take on new or different meanings, in the context of contemporary ideas and issues?

Abstract paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Abstract - Term Paper Example This doesn’t imply that understanding a speech necessarily means understanding the context in which the speech is delivered. However the author argues that it is impossible to comprehend a speech unless its context and utterance are understood. This is true of both rhetorical and non-rhetorical discourse. The author draws various analogies with a rhetorical situation. He feels that a rhetorical is analogous to a moral action. We call an act moral because it is performed in a certain situation of a certain kind. Similarly, a work is rhetorical because it is the result of a situation of a certain kind. In an imaginary world, there will only be communication as argued world over but no rhetoric. This is because exigencies will not erupt. In our own world, however, rhetorical exigencies are bound to crop up. The video that was provided to me was John Kennedy’s speech on Martin Luther King’ speech. The speech demonstrates the rhetorical situation explained by Bitzer in his article. The speech is a well used example of rhetoric in public relations. Its purpose was to make the audience feel that Americans need not worry about being discriminated on the basis of their religion, ethnic and cultural back ground. The speech is a very well placed example of a rhetorical situation as explained by Bitzer. The context of the situation demanded this speech by John F Kennedy. As explained by Bitzer exigency is a very important constituent of any rhetorical situation. An exigency is considered to be an imperfection and is ear marked by urgency. It is more or less a defeat, an obstacle, something that is waiting to be done and a thing which is other than what is should be. The situation in which Kennedy made the speech was ear-marked by an emergency. Thus is was a fitting response given the circumstances and the background under which the speech was

Information System Development Methodologies Essay

Information System Development Methodologies - Essay Example Information System Development Methodologies The comparison of information system development methodologies is also established through either people oriented or goal oriented evaluation frameworks. The comparison of information system development strategies is effective if it helps in ensuring that developed systems are in line with the customer requirements and user needs. The contemporary organizations, departments, agencies and business environments have demonstrated increased adoption and application of information and communication technologies in various processes and activities. This is motivated to the benefits of efficiency and effectiveness which are associated with the use of technology. As a result, information systems have been developed to facilitate various processes within organizations such as communication and exchange of information and data. Hughes (2006, p. 36) says that the adoption and implementation of information and communication technology is achieved through various methodologies of system developme nt. This paper gives a critical analysis, evaluation and discussion of the existing comparison frameworks for information system development methodologies. The paper further evaluates the effectiveness of these frameworks in relation to their effectiveness. In addition, a detailed discussion of the criteria used in comparing the information system development comparison frameworks is given. Comparison frameworks for information system development are focused at drawing differences and similarities among the various methodologies for system development. ... Lindstrom and Jeffries (2004, p. 45) point out that iterative and incremental frameworks are used in comparing the various methodologies in information system development. The iterative and incremental system development frameworks are part of the agile approach to system development. The agile frameworks are based on the premise that effectiveness in information system development is achieved through a combination of two approaches. These approaches are system development in small portions in an incremental manner and through repeated cycles which is referred to as iterative approach to the system development. Rob (2006, p. 32) says that the commonly used agile methods in system development include Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), Extreme Programming (XP) and Adaptive Software Development (ASD). The organization of DSDM is presented in Appendix I. According to Sol and Stojanovic (2003, p. 20), the iterative and incremental (agile) framework focuses in interactions and indi viduals within an information system. This is opposed to focus on tools and processes of system development. In this regard, it is arguable that the interactive and incremental framework is effective in the analysis of the development process of information systems. This is due to the fact that this framework presents a development approach in relation to its ability to establish the interaction between various elements of an information system. The iterative and incremental framework therefore allows system developers to ensure that the tools and processes of an information system are coherently integrated in the execution of the functions of an information system. Through this framework a mere focus on

Legal and Professional Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Legal and Professional Issues - Essay Example The training of nurses and other health care providers is aimed at making them aware of the legal and professional framework within which their practice should be based. This paper presents four case scenarios which illustrate various aspects of legal and professional conduct of nurses and health care providers as pertains to the use of medications, research and care of patients. The case scenarios are analysed in line with the legal provisions that are stipulated by the Australian Department of Health and regulators in Victoria. The analysis of the case scenarios includes a reflection of the ethical and professional issues that are being presented and what should have been done to avoid various forms of misconduct on the part of health care providers. Case 1 Case scenario 1 presents a situation where Nurse M has violated the law that prohibits the use of controlled medications without a prescription. According to the Department of Health, Victoria (2012), drugs that are controlled must be used only with a prescription from a physician or a doctor. This means that Nurse M has violated the legal framework as provided by the Department of Health. The law requires that the nurse is reported to the relevant authorities in accordance to the legal procedures that are ascribed by the department. This is to be backed by convincing pieces of evidence which would be used to determine the legal provisions in nursing care that have been violated by the nurse. In health care education, nurses and other health care practitioners are presented with relevant information and data in addition to guidelines within which they should base their professional practice (DeWolf, Bosek & Savage, 2007). These guidelines include the use of medication and ensuring th at the safety of patient is safeguarded. In this regard therefore it is argued that Nurse M disregarded the provisions of nursing training as demonstrated by the non-professional conduct in the use of medicine. In this case, Nurse M has also violated the standards of professional practice by taking controlled medication without permission. This is provided by the legal framework which protects medication within the hospital environment from theft and possible misuse or abuse of such drugs (Forrester & Griffiths, 2010). In this sense therefore, Nurse M has violated more than one count of the legal provisions in professional practice. Therefore both professional and legal considerations have to be put in mind in deciding upon the course of action against the nurse. Nurse M is obliged to take professional responsibility for her actions. According to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2012), nurses are obliged to conduct and practice nursing with professionalism and adherence to the laws which govern the practice and profession of nursing. The actions that Nurse M engages in are compromising to the care of patients. This is against the Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in Australia. The code of conduct mandates nurses to practice in line with the standards of professionalism as defined within the broader health system (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2012). Since Nurse M denies her misconduct, taking action against her is a challenge which requires that evidence must be produced so that any form of doubt is removed before her actions can be measured in line with the provisions of the law. This case reflects a dilemma within the nursing profession where nurses are faced with hard decisions of responsibility. This is demonstrated by the fact that Nurse M is a single mother who is in need for her job.

Property law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Property law - Case Study Example The main disadvantages include sharing of profits among partners, has unlimited liabilities, long process of decision making due to disagreements ,and may have limited life and may end upon death or withdrawal of one of the partners(Miller,Ragazzo,& Hamilton,2011). Corporations If Betty opts for corporation as her form of business organization, the advantages she is likely to get are limited liability to debts and other obligations, it is easier to collect funds for capital and expenses, have continuous life, and easy transfer of corporate ownership. The main disadvantages include many legal and formalities procedures that may be costly and take long to complete, requires relatively large amount of capital to start, and long decision making process because it involves many people resulting in possibilities of disagreements (Dore?,2003). Franchise Setting a business as a franchise offers the benefit of operating it under the banner of an established entity hence enhanced security and support systems, working with a known branch hence less cost involved in brand creation, and establishing good business relationships especially with suppliers and creditors. The disadvantages of franchise include limited control of the business and how it is run because the owners of the brand set out the processes and rules regarding the operations of the franchise, tied to suppliers as one will be required to use the franchise supplier network, increased risk of damaging the reputation of the business if other franchise mess with the brand and reduced profits as one will be required to pay the owners of the franchise for using their brand(Miller,Ragazzo,& Hamilton,2011). Limited liability Company The advantages include limited liabilities to obligations and debts, flexible distribution of profit, and flexibility in management and decision making process. The disadvantages include limited life and hectic processes of legal and formality procedures (Dore?, 2003). Joint venture The advantage of Betty forming a joint venture include sharing of cost, access to relevant expertise, gain from innovative managerial skills and practices, spreading of risks and a large pool of capital. The disadvantages include extensive efforts and time to create the right relationship for partnership, imbalance in the levels of investment, expertise and assets invested by partners, and differences in business objectives that may hinder cooperation and integration (Miller,Ragazzo,& Hamilton,2011). In my opinion, sole- proprietorship is the best option that Betty should consider when establishing her business. Since she has a potential customer base of Christians in her area and a source of capital from her husband, she should set up a sole proprietorship business because it is easy to start, she will be the sole manager of her business and so she can apply her Christian values when running the business without interference from anyone, and since she is a mature Christian, she can eas ily attract her fellow Christians to be her loyal customers and enjoy all the profits alone (Jessup &Chipps, 1991). In case Betty opts for

Fingerprinting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Fingerprinting - Essay Example The use of fingerprints is primarily important in identification of criminals in forensic sciences who has to have their fingerprints saved in the criminals database, but the drawback is the crime's scene prints distortion and difficulty in retrieval. Fingerprints are also an important asset to highly secure companies and banking systems. Such identifications with many others such as eye scan and voice recognition are used to verify a person's identity and cross-reference him. Finger Identification can be used on a more sophisticated level of security as mentioned by Tom Gillespie 2005; a fingerprint reader used as a switch, a standalone lock that uses a fingerprint instead of a keypad and a security case opened by a fingerprint reader. It is also was a suggested to use those identification marks present on the finger prints to help track kids when they are lost, though some parents do not agree on the principle of using the same technology used for criminals identification. This must not be an issue when the safety of the children is the main concern of all parents. (Lisa P. White) Many scientists came across finger prints discussing their presence and describing them in different manners, and some describing the patterns of them, but it was not till 1880 that Faulds had described their importance as personal identification marks through his studies and research. On 1882 Thompson was the first U.S citizen that has printed his thumb print to ensure ethnicity of a paper. And on 1883 Mark Twain identified the first criminal using fingerprint identification. Types & methods of obtaining finger prints According to Eric Brown, 1990, there are three types of finger prints; visible (also called patent prints), impression (also called plastic prints), and latent prints. All can be obtained but in different methods. Visible can be photographed directly, impression need special lightning to make it visible, latent need special methods to become visible by physical , chemical, and instrumental techniques. Latent finger prints are composed mainly of sweat and other organic compounds like amino acids, glucose, lactic acid, peptides, ammonia, riboflavin, and isoagglutinogens as well as inorganic chemicals like potassium, sodium, carbon trioxide, and chlorine. It is those chemicals that react by one of those techniques to help make the latent finger prints visible. (Eric Brown, 1990) A person with no prints Researchers recently unraveled two diseases that can actually cause a person to be finger print-less. The two diseases are Naegeli syndrome and dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis (DPR) both caused by a defect in the keratin protein number 14. "The defect induces the body to mark cells in the upper layers of the skin for death. As a result, people with these afflictions lack fingerprints.." Those results were published in the American Journal of Human Genetics. (Scientists Unravel Mystery of People with No Fingerprints) Where does finger printing stand in the forensic sciences Finger printing left its impressions in forensic sciences over the years to be a helpful aid to humanity in many aspects. Many crime scene investigators start with this basic information collection as a start to help them have an initial starting point to their investigations. Finger printing was the first to

PHYSICAL PRIVACY Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

PHYSICAL PRIVACY - Coursework Example Even after they signed an agreement with the league not to do such a thing. When a player is suspended for almost a whole season due to illegal drug use, that athlete becomes a liability for his team. It puts all of the achievements of the team, while he was playing with them, into question. Since baseball is a sport that relies heavily on marketing the team image and highlighting the achievements of their players in order to keep the publicity going during the season, the acts of Cabrerra and Colon only served to tarnish the team's reputation. In the case of Cabrerra, because his team managed to go all the way to winning the World Series without him, (Stark, 2012) his team somehow managed to turn his suspension into a good thing for their marketing strategy. The same cannot be said for Colon however, who many fans, coaches, and sports professionals view as having come past his prime already and can actually be retired already. (Zinser & Kovaleski, 2012). A player who uses performanc e enhancing drugs does so in order to improve his game. He becomes an athletic powerhouse capable of practically anything on that field when he plays. He displays uncanny strength, speed, and stamina. All of which bystanders tend to attribute to his unique athletic ability. His performance on the field dictates how the rest of the team is expected to perform as well. The minute a drug using player becomes the center of the universe for the team, the tendency of the rest of the players is to slack off. Knowing all too well that the star player can reverse any loss in points so that their team can certainly win every game. The drug use puts the team at a certain advantage whether they know it or not. Which is why players who use drugs should be dealt with swiftly and properly. Let the punishment fit the crime. If a team gets lucky, like the San Francisco Giants did after the suspension of Cabrerra, the team will go on to win the World Series without the offending player. Thus restorin g the good name of their ball club and reiterating that one does not need to use drugs in order to win at a game. It is my opinion that the 50 game suspension each for Melky Cabrerra and Bartolo Colon is a just punishment. A lengthy suspension such as that will allow the players the much needed opportunity to seek the proper medical attention that they need in order to detox and get back into the game, clean and at the peak of their natural ability to play the games. The game suspension after all did not make any difference for their teams. In the case of Cabrerra, his suspension seems to have even helped his team to a clean, untainted World Series victory, which is truly the only thing that any team owner asks of his players. (Baggarly, 2013) Since not all athletes can be expected to toe the line when it comes to performance enhancing drugs, Lance Armstrong being the biggest disappointment of them all, the question of athletes as role models for the future generation of sports play ers becomes a question. Knowing that these athletes may discreetly be using drugs is something that can have an adverse effect on a child who is building his own dreams of athletic success upon the work of his sports idol. The influence of a superstar athlete cannot be discounted in terms of influencing a young mind. The young fans of Cabrerra and Colon may have already been misled by their statements about drug use after their suspension as being a good thing. After all, if a big name athlete does

Why the world should explore alternate sources of energy Research Paper - 1

Why the world should explore alternate sources of energy - Research Paper Example ny single source of energy, such as, petroleum products or gasoline for long, the time is not far away when we will become short of these sources of energy. In this paper, we will discuss why the world should explore alternative energy sources. â€Å"A surge in the price of crude is threatening global growth for the first time in decades and spurring a desperate surge in interest in energy alternatives† (Valdmanis). The world is really in need of alternate sources of energy to meet industrial and daily requirements of life. A single or a couple of sources of energy cannot serve us for a long time. We can take example of whale oil, which was being used in the early 19th century not only as lubricants but also as fuel for the lamps. At that time, no one thought that the whale stock would ever face shortage. However, by the mid of 19th century, whale stock became very short and the world had to shift to some other source of energy to meet different requirements. Similarly, nuclear energy is also at the door of risk. People used to think that nuclear energy is one of such forms of energy, which can serve the electricity needs of Japanese people for a very long time. However, what happened to the nuclear plants of Japan due to tsunami is not hidden to anyone. Japan had to close many of its nuclear plants because the damage to the nuclear reactors resulted in discharging harmful radiation. That was the time, when Japanese government stopped producing most of its electricity using nuclear plants and started exploring alternate sources of energy to meet the requirements of life. Today, most of the developed countries are taking steps to explore renewable energy sources to cope with the expected scarcity of oil and gas. Sterzinger states, â€Å"There is a growing recognition that achieving security and climate stability will require a massive development of renewable energy projects† (16: 81-91,198). Renewable energy refers to continuous and natural energy sources such as

Racism and Football (soccer) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Racism and Football (soccer) - Essay Example For example, FIFA was arranged with no English hold up in 1904 and England team did not take part in the World Cup Finals till 1905 at which end they were abruptly mortified by the hasty USA. Afterward, in late 1950s, the Football association ineffectively resisted the contribution of English society in European club rivalries. Fundamentals of the magnificent narrowness of British football's history is today repeated in the aristocratic racism exposed in enlightenment made by football executives and senior football officers about black players such as they have an inborn lack of regulation and constancy, a break off on their shoulder, a abhor of the bitter and many more. Such comments gives out merely to effect typecasts by functioning ahead the racial mythology about black footballers who are variously supposed to be short of bottle plus are no superior in the dirt and have no endurance. However, these comments are but daily cases of the type of crumbling, informal racism which has usually infused professional football all through the organizational, training and playing stages of the game. Simply now are such visions being effectively challenged and reassessed inside the sport, though for aspiring British Asian footballers a fresh set of typecasts have to be defeated. Though, it would be unjust to advise that the same racist outlooks and performance have been current at all football clubs at all era as there are substantial dissimilarities flanked by the society at different clubs. Such as, clubs like Bromwich Albion forged with the mark of black players in the new era and in the late 1970s the WBA meadows the brilliant black trio of Cyrille Regis, Laurie Cunningham and Brendan Batson and in doing so concerned substantial local black hold up. In numerous other clubs, attitudes towards black players seem to have been quite diverse. Even nowadays it is not odd for managers, executives and trainers to be frankly racist about black players. Game is an ordinary sp ot for racism partly because organic and hereditary suppositions about the bodily abilities of blacks are set next to the racist suppositions about their imaginary rational restrictions. It is burly in Britain because of the past relations between sports, the country and territory which themselves appear out of racist society together with slavery. (Cohen, P., 1998) Racism of the Crowd Racism on the football patios and in the position is normally quite more obvious and for most people easier to recognize than the partially institutionalized appearances which have a propensity to distinguish specialized football society. Patios and position racism characteristically absorbs individualized appearance of mistreatment plus communal hymning with a racist contented, the most ordinary of which has been a monkey hymn connecting with mumbling sounds which can or can not be escorted by monkey kind gesticulations. There is also a proof of racist songs being poised and sung to a variety of admired melodies. At a number of the football sites in British football where unconcealed admirer racism has been most apparent, black players have been bathed with

Business Studies Customer Needs Essay Essay Example for Free

Business Studies Customer Needs Essay Essay ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd ’provide floor covering and high quality carpets all over the UK. The services that it provides are: * free estimating, * free carpet removal, * a quality fitting to your standard * a free car park adjacent to the shop. * Competition? ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ has quite a bit of competition. It is placed close to the ‘Spindles Shopping Centre’. Also there is another carpet shop quite close by to ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ called ‘Roll Ends’. But ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ is placed just off a high street and advertises around the country. Also, just about a mile away is another carpet shop, placed in the middle of a retail park. This could offer some competition for ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’. This is an image of the carpet right about a mile away from ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’.’Carpet Right’ is surrounded by other shops and is placed in a retail park. This is a bonus for customers to go to ‘Carpet Right’ because there are other furniture/carpet shops in the retail park and a there is a bigger car park. ‘Carpet Right’ is also placed around a busy motorway, so this means that many people passing will know that there is a carpet shop and probably go there in the future. * Where is it? This map shows ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ symbolised by the ‘A’ marker. This shows the regional area around the shop. As you can see, the shop is near to Manchester and has an excellent motorway link which can enable customers to travel to the shop conveniently. The satellite map above shows ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ via the green circle. It also shows ‘Spindles Shopping Centre’ by the red circle. The blue circle shows ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ competition ‘Roll End Carpets’. The map also shows the surrounding area of the shop and the local businesses of the shop. There are also a number of bus stops around the shop; this allows customers to travel to the business easily. There is also a tram link currently being made on ‘Union Street’ and this will then enable customers to travel to the shop easily and quickly. * The shop The picture above shows the front of the shop. As you can see the name of the business is clearly displayed all the way round it. This picture shows the inside of the shop. As you can see there are many rolls of carpets on display so the customers can experience the carpets before they buy it. This picture shows the rear of the shop. As you can see there is a car park for the customers. * The website This is a screen shot of the Google search I did to see how easy it was to find my business on the internet. As you can see it is the fifth business to come up on the search engine so it is very easy for the customers to find it. Here is a screenshot of the home page of ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’. You can see easily one of the types of carpets that they fit and in the bottom right hand corner their shop (the red circle). At the top of the page it shows the tabs which direct customers easily to the relevant section (the green circle). One way that ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ meets its customer need is by training its staff. They do this so that the staff know how to do their job and deal with any customers. Training them helps the staff to know how to deal with any problems in the business and what to do in different situations. Training the staff also gives them better knowledge of the product itself so that they can advise customers as to what carpet would suit their budget and requirements the best. A second way that ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ meets customer needs is by the quality of their service. They have to do this to eliminate and exceed whatever their competition is doing. A way that they do this is by giving its customers: free estimating, free carpet removal, a quality fitting to your standard and a free car park adjacent to the shop. By doing this ‘Lees Heginbotham’ can add this to and advertisement and this will increase customer satisfaction. A third way that ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ meets customer needs is by dealing with any complaints from customers. If there are any customer complaints ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ will have to deal with it immediately. ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ will have to be polite with the customer even if they are not. If ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ deal with a customer complaint quickly this might increase customer satisfaction.

Leadership and performance Literature review

Leadership and performance Literature review An overview of the topic of leadership styles summarizes that the existing studies on how performance is affected by leadership style is separated into important phases. Early studies on leadership (frequently categorized as trait studies on leadership) concentrated on identifying the personality traits which characterized successful leaders (Argyris, 1955; Mahoney et al., 1960). According to them successful leaders are naturally born and those they have certain native characteristics which distinguish them from non-leaders (see Stodgill, 1948). However, there was significant difficulty in validating these characteristics led to widespread criticism of this trait approach, signaling the emergence of style and behavioral approaches to leadership (Stodgill, 1948). Style and behavioral theorists shifted the emphasis away from the characteristics of the leader to the behavior and style the leader adopted (Hemphill and Coons, 1957; Likert, 1961). The primry conclusion of these studies is that adoption of democratic or participative styles by leaders are more successful (see, for example, Bowsers and Seashore, 1966). In this sense, these early studies are focused on identifying the one best way of leading. Similarly to trait theories, the major weakness of style and behavioral theories is the ignorance of how important role situational factors play in determining the effectiveness of individual leaders (Mullins, 1999). It is this limitation that gives rise to the situational and contingency theories of leadership (for example, Fiedler, 1967; House, 1971; Vroom and Yetton, 1974) which shift the emphasis away from the one best way to lead to context-sensitive leadership. Although each study emphasizes the importance of different factors, the general tenet of the situational and contingency perspectives is that leadership effectiveness is dependent on the leaders diagnosis and understanding of situational factors, followed by the adoption of the appropriate style to deal with each circumstance. However, recent studies on leadership have contrasted transactional leadership with transformational. Transactional leaders are said to be instrumental and frequently focus on exchange relationship with their subordinates (Bass and Avolio, 1993). In contrast, transformational leaders are argued to be visionary and enthusiastic, with an inherent ability to motivate subordinates (Bycio et al., 1995; Howell and Avolio, 1993). Although the brief summary above indicates that research into leadership has gone through periods of skepticism, recent interest has focused on the importance of the leadership role to the success of organizations. Fiedler (1996), one of the most respected researchers on leadership, has provided a recent treatise on the importance of leadership by arguing that the effectiveness of a leader is a major determinant of the success or failure of a group, organization or even an entire country. Indeed, it has been argued that one way in which organizations have sought to cope with the increasing volatility and turbulence of the external environment is by training and developing leaders and equipping them with the skills to cope (Darcy and Kleiner, 1991; Hennessey, 1998; Saari et al., 1988). These claims are based on the assumption of a direct link between leadership and organizational performance. This assumption requires critical review. Widely celebrated cases of a direct leadership-performance link may be found in numerous anecdotal accounts of improvements of company performance attributed to changes in leadership (see, for example, Nicholls, 1988; Quick, 1992; Simms, 1997). However, empirical studies into the links between leadership and performance have been lacking. One notable exception is the detailed study of the impact of leadership on performance in the somewhat surprising context of Icelandic fishing ships. Thorlindsson (1987) suggests that variations in the performance of different fishing ships, under identical conditions, can be accounted for by the leadership skills of captains. Over a three-year period, Thorlindsson (1987) revealed that the leadership qualities of the ship captains accounted for 35 to 49 per cent of variation in the catch of different crews. Other studies which examine the links between leadership and performance coincide with the re-emergence of the one best way to lead debate. Of particular relevance is the resurgence of interest into charismatic leadership, which is frequently referred to as transformational leadership (Bass and Avolio, 1993). A number of researchers theorize that transformational leadership is linked to organizational performance (see, for example, Bycio et al., 1995; Howell and Avolio, 1993). Conceptually, it is argued that the visionary and inspirational skills of transformational leaders motivate followers to deliver superior performance (Nicholls, 1988; Quick, 1992). In summary, much of the above evidence presented as supporting the claim of a leadership-performance link is anecdotal and frequently over-concentrates on the transformational role of leaders in corporate successes (for example, Quick, 1992; Simms, 1997; Taffinder, 1995). It would appear that few studies have responded to the observation of Porter and Mckibbin (1988) that much of the research reported as supporting this claim is either inconclusive or empirically suspect. The limited or inconclusive character of research findings in this area suggests the need to investigate further the nature of the relationship between leadership and performance. LEADERSHIP TYPOLOGIES Several different categories of leadership paradigms have been suggested by various researchers. For example, Bass (1985) stated that there are four dimensions of transformational leadership, three dimensions of transactional leadership, and a non-leadership dimension of laissez-faire leadership (Bass, 1985). Avery (2004) suggested categorizing leadership into four leadership paradigms, while Goleman (1995) prefers six leadership paradigms  [1]  . Despite Basss (1985) model being acclaimed as making a major contribution to leadership, his theory has been criticized for various reasons (Yukl, 1999). One criticism is that his model overemphasizes the importance of one or two leadership paradigms (e.g. transactional and visionary), omitting the classical and organic paradigms Bass asserts that visionary (transformational) leaders are nearly always more effective than transactional leaders, but others (e.g. Judge and Piccolo, 2004; Wallace, 1997) dispute this. While this in itself does not invalidate the concept of visionary leadership, Bass attributes more to visionary (transformational) leadership than perhaps he should. As Avery (2004) suggested, both transactional and visionary leadership are valid forms of leadership, but visionary leadership may be applicable more broadly, including in situations where there are insufficient resources for the manager to rely on supplying external rewards (Judge and Piccolo, 2004), or where t he situation is complex and ambiguous, and relies strongly on follower knowledge and commitment. Avery suggests that there are other situations in which transactional leadership is the appropriate form of leadership, such as when followers are unwilling or unable to commit to the leaders vision. In contrast with Basss (1985) model, Averys (2004) paradigms provide a broad basis allowing for different forms of leadership that have evolved at different times and in different places. The paradigms are useful for showing that there is no single best way of thinking about leadership, rather that different kinds of leadership reflect social and historical roots. Averys paradigms allow leadership to depend on the context, respond to organizational needs and preferences, and involve many interdependent factors that can be manipulated (Bryman, 1992; Shamir and Howell, 1999; Yukl, 1999). LEADERSHIP PARADIGMS AND MEASURES Avery (2004) proposes 13 indices to differentiate between her four paradigms: classical, transactional, visionary, and organic. The nine indices included in this review are decision making, range of staffs power, power distance between leader and the staff, key player of the organization, source of staffs commitment, staffs responsibility, situation of management and leadership in the organization, situation of diversity in the organization and situation of control in the organization  [2]  . These nine criteria are considered more relevant for differentiating the four leadership paradigms than the other four criteria. Each paradigm is discussed in turn, including the distinguishing characteristics using the above nine criteria. Classical leadership is probably the oldest paradigm with its origins in antiquity, and is still used in contemporary organizations (Avery, 2004). This paradigm reflected the prevailing view in the business literature until the 1970s when the human relations movement led to more of a focus on followers and their environment. According to Avery (2004), classical leadership refers to dominance by a pre-eminent person or an elite group of people. This leadership can either be coercive or benevolent or a mixture of both. This happens because the elite individual or group commands or maneuvers other members to act towards a goal, which may or may not be explicitly stated. The other members of the society or organization typically adhere to the directives of the elite leader, do not openly question their directives, and execute orders largely out of fear of the consequences of not doing so, or out of respect for the leader, or both (Avery, 2004). Classical leadership has some limitations. The first occurs where the leader cannot command and control every action, particularly as situations become more complex and beyond the capacity of one person; or when additional commitment from followers is needed to get a job done, such as in reacting to changing circumstances; or when ideas about leadership change and followers no longer accept domination, or follower commitment starts to wane for other reasons. Another limitation is that this paradigm often relies on the idea of a great person, implying that only a select few are good enough to exercise initiative, and this belief can encourage followers to deskill themselves and idealize the leaders. Followers then seek and hold little power, leave the leader accountable for organizational outcomes, and make relatively little contribution to the organization (Avery, 2004). According to the nine distinguishing indicators, under the classical leadership paradigm leaders normally use an autocratic style for making decisions, invo lving followers in the decision making process never or very little; they do not empower followers. Followers have almost no power in the organization and as classical leaders tend to be highly directive, followers can be unskilled. The source of followers commitment comes from their fear of or respect for the leaders; the technical system becomes more regulating; the operations in the organization become more routine and predictable; and the organization is highly controlled by the leaders (Avery, 2004). A transaction or exchange process is the basis of the commonly employed transactional leadership paradigm (Evans and Dermer, 1974; House and Mitchell, 1974). The transactional leader recognizes subordinates needs and desires, and then clarifies how those needs and desires will be met in exchange for subordinates work. By clarifying what is required of subordinates and the consequences of their behaviors, transactional leaders are able to build confidence in subordinates to exert the necessary effort to achieve expected levels of performance. According to Judge and Piccolo (2004), three dimensions of transactional leadership are contingent reward, management by exception-active, and management by exception-passive. Contingent reward is the degree to which the leader sets up constructive transactions or exchanges with followers. The leader clarifies expectations and establishes the rewards for meeting these expectations. In general, management by exception is the degree to which the le ader takes corrective action on the basis of results of leader-follower transactions (Judge and Piccolo, 2004). As noted by Howell and Avolio (1993), the difference between management by exception-active and management by exception-passive lies in the timing of the leaders intervention. Active leaders monitor follower behavior, anticipate problems, and take corrective actions before the behavior creates serious difficulties. Passive leaders wait until the behavior has created problems before taking action (Howell and Avolio, 1993; Judge and Piccolo, 2004). According to Avery (2004, p.34), under the transactional leadership paradigm, leaders adopt a consultative style for making decisions. They engage in different degrees of consultation with individual followers, but the leaders remain the final decision-makers. Leaders do not very often empower followers, and followers have very low power in the organization apart from being able to withdraw from or contribute more of their labor. Compared with classical leadership, under transactional leadership the source of followers commitment comes from the rewards, agreements, and expectations negotiated with the leader rather than from their fear of, or respect for, the classical leader. The technical system becomes more regulating, the operations in the organization become more routine and predictable, and the organization is mostly highly controlled by the leaders. Avery (2004) argues that under transactional leadership, the followers knowledge base can be somewhat higher than under classical leadership. Compared with classical leaders, transactional leaders require staff somewhat more skilled on specific tasks. In the last three decades, visionary (transformational, charismatic) leadership has received increasing attention (Bass, 1985, 1998; Burns, 1978; Conger and Kanungo, 1987; House, 1977). It added a new dimension to organizational studies, namely the visionary aspect of leadership and the emotional involvement of employees within an organization. The basic notion is that a visionary leader can create an impression that he or she has high competence and a vision to achieve success. Subordinates are expected to respond with enthusiasm and commitment to the leadership objectives, and may be recruited because they share the vision. Bass (1985, 1998) developed a theory of visionary or transformational leadership whereby the leader inspires and activates subordinates to perform beyond normal expectations. According to Avery (2004), visionary leadership has limitations, even with the current literatures overwhelmingly positive view of it. Nadler and Tuschman (1990) pointed out that the unreal istic expectations followers often place on visionary leaders can create disappointment if things do not work out. Followers can become dependent on visionary leaders, believing that the leader has everything under control. Also, innovation can be inhibited if people become reluctant to disagree with a visionary leader. Avery (2004, p.39) distinguishes the visionary leadership paradigm from the other three paradigms as follows. First, leaders employ a collaborative style for making decisions. They share problems with their followers and seek consensus before the leaders make the final decision. Visionary leaders empower their followers, giving followers a much higher level of power in the organization than classical and transactional leadership. This is essential because the leader needs the followers input and commitment to realize his or her goals. Followers of visionary leadership need sufficient power to work autonomously towards a shared vision. The source of followers commitme nt comes from the influence of the leaders charisma and/or the shared vision, the technical system becomes still more complex, operations become more uncertain and unpredictable, and the organization is jointly controlled by the leaders and their followers. Regarding the followers knowledge base, visionary leadership requires skilled and knowledgeable workers who are attracted to, and share the leaders vision, and can contribute to realizing the vision. The fourth paradigm, organic leadership, is relatively new to organizational studies. Recently introduced by Drath (2001) and expanded by Avery (2004), organic leadership is likely to blur the formal distinction between leaders and followers. This paradigm relies on reciprocal actions, where team members work together in whatever roles of authority and power they may have, not based on position power (Hirschhorn, 1997; Raelin, 2003; Rothschild and Whitt, 1986). Employees become interacting partners in determining what makes sense, how to adapt to change, and what is a useful direction. Rather than relying on one leader, organic organizations are likely to have many leaders. Multiple leaders are valuable because as people cope with heterogeneous and dynamic environments, the knowledge and issues become too complicated for only a few leaders to understand (Avery, 2004). Organic leadership allows for people with different degrees of expertise on current issues to emerge and be accepted by the group as leaders. In addition, under organic leadership, there may be no formal leaders and the interaction of all organizational members can act as a form of leadership, held together by a shared vision, values, and a supporting culture. Under this paradigm where an organization has no formal leadership structure, an integrator role may emerge to actively link together the many parts of the organization (Avery, 2004). The emphasis is on emerging leadership rather than on people being appointed to leadership positions. However, Kanter (1989) argued that the downside of organic leadership that advocates autonomy, freedom, discretion and authorization may result in loss of control and greatly increased uncertainty. It is important to recognize that organic leadership is about generating a form of self-control and self-organization, where people have a clear sense of purpose and autonomy within a particular context (Meindl, 1998). This idealized organic leadership paradigm requi res differentiating from classical, transactional, and visionary leadership concepts by not relying on formal leaders. Furthermore, the enterprise has to trust in the capacity of its members to solve problems and make decisions in the interests of the organization. This idea clearly relies upon self-leading organizational members (Avery, 2004). According to Averys (2004, p. 39) distinguishing characteristics, under organic leadership an organization adopts a mutual agreement style for making decisions. Decisions need not be unanimous but can be based on consensus. The members have a high degree of power as a result of this shared leadership. Accountability and responsibility are shared as well. The source of followers commitment is based on the values and visions shared by all the members in the organization; a strong, shared culture; a technical system that is highly complex; operations in the organic organization become more self-organizing and unpredictable; formal control is pro vided by peer pressure and group dynamics, and a shared culture, vision, and values. Members are self-managing. Organic leadership seems particularly appropriate for professional and knowledge workers in dynamic, chaotic situations. This leadership paradigm relies on attracting and retaining highly trained and knowledgeable staff with self-controlling capabilities

Strength Based Model Case Management Social Work Essay

Strength Based Model Case Management Social Work Essay A theory of service delivery that focuses on the individual strengths instead of weaknesses. This model is based on the understanding of the individuals deep internal resources and ability. The purpose of this model is to help survivors identify this strength and build life upon them. During the treatment, the clients must participate in the process of their recovery which controls the direction and pace of healing efforts. Each client helps his or her own plan for personal wellness. The plan is based on the clients psychological, medical, or legal needs. Together, the client and case manager regularly review the progress, discuss achievements and changes, and modify goals based on the clients evolving situation and needs. When a client is granted asylum, the case manager continues to provide assistance to satisfy the clients needs. This may include helping the client find information on educational or employment opportunities. Assessment: The strength based model focus mainly on developing and finding the clients strengths and abilities and makes a plan based on this. As this model considers the wellbeing of the clients, so the participation of the client in the treatment is very important. The client must figure out their needs of any aspects and give feedbacks of the current treatment. According to this point, the model is very adaptable to individuals as the diversity of their different situations. But this kind of model just encourage the client to live life as what they want and they can so the disability part has been left over which is very important in making progress. Planning: The strength based model needs a very detail and flexible service plan at the beginning which carried out mainly depends on the clients own abilities and needs because the client will live a life based on the plan. And the plan will be change over time because during the treatment the client and the case manager have to review the changes and progress that the client has met so the goals will be modified based on the reality and the process of achievement. Coordinating: The strength based models require a high standard of the coordinating between the client and the case manager. The case manager will give the client professional suggestions and make plans according to the clients condition which maybe not very consistent with the clients imagination and needs. But the client should be considerate since the accessibility and the efficiency. And the case manager should also have a regular contact with the client and be ready to make any changes to make sure the plan is always suitable and updated. Strengths and weaknesses of the strength based model: The strength of the strength based model is that it is easy to be carried out because it is based on the clients needs and ability so the client will be very cooperative during the treatment. And the psychological needs of the client are easily to be met so the confidence will be built to the client. It is very good to the clients mental health. Besides, the clients strengths are well maintained and developed. But the weaknesses of this kind of model are also obvious. It is because this kind of model only concerns about the strength so the weakness of the client has been ignored. But at many times the weakness plays the main role of whether the treatment is successful or not so the weaknesses cant be improved. Perspectives of the disability people: The strength based model is very practical for the disabled. Client empowerment is a central theme to this approach. To empower a client, the evaluation must be made to the disabled person and thus the achievable goals will be made along with the evaluation so a well-organized plan will be carried out to achieve the goals and the possibility of the success will hopefully be very high. Critics of the strength perspective suggest this is simply reframing problems in a better light. No one will succeed while being convinced that they will fail. Summary of the expected outcomes for the disabled: For the strength based model, the expected outcomes is that the mental health of the client is strengthened and many the disabled can joint well to the society like the normal people without much mental barriers. In addition, the client may develop certain advantages to a high level and gain some achievement better than normal person. But the disabled part cant be improved. Case management Model A collaborative process of assessment, planning, facilitation and advocacy for options and services which is aim to meet an individuals holistic needs through communication and available resources to promote quality cost-effective outcomes.Case Management has been used to a wide range of issues including community care for the aged, and people with disability and mental health issues; acute health settings; injury management and insurance related areas; correctional services; court systems; in the management of chronic health conditions; child and youth welfare; at risk populations in schools; managed care and employment programs. The case management model requires the organization deliver a range of services based on the comprehensive assessment that is used to develop a case or service plan. The plan is developed in collaboration with the client and reflects their choices and preferences. Case Managers provide the coordinating and specialist activities that flow from the particular setting, program and client population. However it is usual to identify the following process as core to Case Management: screening, assessment/risk management, care planning, implementing service arrangement, monitoring/evaluation and advocacy. Assessment: However the case management model is a bit similar to the strength based models as they both respect the needs of the clients. But the case management model focus on the hobbies of the client and encourage them to attend relative activities so that the purpose of treatment is achieved during the community time. So that this model is also based on the clients abilities in some degrees and can maintain the clients past lifestyle and an active mind and body as much as they can. But there will be many potential barriers hidden behind like the decrease of the clients health condition or the bad weather. So there will be many uncertain situations so the achieving of certain goals will require a long time and patience. Planning: Comparing with the strength based model, the case management model plan is relatively fixed because the clients hobbies and preference are stable. Based on this a long term plan is worked out and the plan will be seldom changed. But the plan is not very detail because its just an optional orientation. Coordinating: The case management requires coordination between the activity coordinator and the client as well as the relationships among different clients who participate in the activities. And the coordinator also has to consider the clients physical ability and other element like the economy and the climate and so on make sure the arrangement is made in advance. Strengths and weaknesses of the case management model: Like the strength based model, the case management model is also very easy to be executed since it is based on the priority of the clients to the activities according to their interests. This model is good for both the mental and physical development of the clients. But the weakness is that it is easy to be influenced by the uncertainty elements like the natural disasters and the clients health conditions and any personal issues of each part. Also this model cant be updated with the time going on along with the aging and the decrease of the clients health. So at the end, the client does maybe have no ability to participate or the quality of the participation is going down. Perspectives of the disability people: The strength based model is very practical for the disabled. Client empowerment is a central theme to this approach. To empower a client, the evaluation must be made to the disabled person and thus the achievable goals will be made along with the evaluation so a well-organized plan will be carried out to achieve the goals and the possibility of the success will hopefully be very high. Critics of the strength perspective suggest this is simply reframing problems in a better light. No one will succeed while being convinced that they will fail. Perspectives of the disability people: The case management model is widely used in our lives and its easy to be carried out. The perspective is that this model will be continuingly development and improved during the practice in reality. It will play a main role in the recovery or dealing with the disability problems. The potential ability and interests will be found during the process of the treatment so there will be a bright future of this model. Summary of the expected outcomes for the disabled: For the case management model, the clients life is fulfilled and interesting than before. Also this is very good for the psychological development like the strength based model. And it will be a big contribution to the arrangement of the arrangements of the physical therapy. But this model is not good for finding an occupation for the client and it is easy to make the client depend on others. Comparisons of the two models The strength based model focus mainly on developing and finding the clients strengths and abilities and makes a plan based on this. However the case management model is a bit similar to the strength based models as they both respect the needs of the clients. But the case management model focus on the hobbies of the client and encourage them to attend relative activities so that the purpose of treatment is achieved during the community time. Comparing with the strength based model, the case management model plan is relatively fixed because the clients hobbies and preference are stable but the strength based model is very flexible and keep changing with the clients condition. The two models also have difference with the coordinating part. The strength based models need a high level of coordinating between the client and the case management however the case management model requires a good relationship between the activity coordinator and the client as well as the relationship among cli ents. If the clients have mental goals we suggest that they choose the strength based model but if the client has the needs of physically requirement then wed better use the case management model for her.

bay of pigs :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the administration of United States President John F. Kennedy, the Cold War reached its most dangerous state, when the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) came to the brink of nuclear war in what was known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States and Russia were already engaged in the Cold War, and both countries were now in a race to build up their armed forces. The Arms Race was a competition between both countries to scare each other by creating bigger, more powerful missiles and bombs. Usually, the United States was more advanced than the Soviet Union in technology and the Soviets tried to catch up as quickly as possible and neither stopped. The American people thought that the Russians had more, and better missiles than the United States had because of Soviet Premier Khrushchev boasting over his country’s status. Eventually, American officials show this to be false. As the Cold War continued, the fear of a nuclear holocaust grew and proposals for arms reduction began, but the fear still remained. In 1961, the United States formed the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, which dealt with the government policy concerning nuclear testing and arms control. In May of 1972, the firs t Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT 1) came to an end and a treaty had been signed by the United States and the Soviet Union to limit the production of anti-ballistic missile systems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout the Cold War people feared nuclear war, but the world was never closer to one then during the Cuban Missile Crisis. There would be no winner in a nuclear war, only destruction would remain. For fourteen days in October of 1962, American and Soviet troops were prepared to attack one another and were ready to use nuclear weapons. This was the highest peak of tensions during the Cold War.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Cuban Missile Crisis began with the growing tensions between the United States and Cuba following the Cuban Revolution of 1959. The revolution ousted Cuba’s dictator, Fulgencio Batista and brought to power a government headed by Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. Before the revolution, the United States had a significant influence in Cuba’s economic and political affairs, but the Castro government refused to be influenced by the United States. Castro caused concern in the United States when he confiscated property belonging to wealthy Cubans and foreigners in an attempt to implement policies to improve conditions for poor and working-class Cubans. bay of pigs :: essays research papers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the administration of United States President John F. Kennedy, the Cold War reached its most dangerous state, when the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) came to the brink of nuclear war in what was known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States and Russia were already engaged in the Cold War, and both countries were now in a race to build up their armed forces. The Arms Race was a competition between both countries to scare each other by creating bigger, more powerful missiles and bombs. Usually, the United States was more advanced than the Soviet Union in technology and the Soviets tried to catch up as quickly as possible and neither stopped. The American people thought that the Russians had more, and better missiles than the United States had because of Soviet Premier Khrushchev boasting over his country’s status. Eventually, American officials show this to be false. As the Cold War continued, the fear of a nuclear holocaust grew and proposals for arms reduction began, but the fear still remained. In 1961, the United States formed the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, which dealt with the government policy concerning nuclear testing and arms control. In May of 1972, the firs t Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT 1) came to an end and a treaty had been signed by the United States and the Soviet Union to limit the production of anti-ballistic missile systems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout the Cold War people feared nuclear war, but the world was never closer to one then during the Cuban Missile Crisis. There would be no winner in a nuclear war, only destruction would remain. For fourteen days in October of 1962, American and Soviet troops were prepared to attack one another and were ready to use nuclear weapons. This was the highest peak of tensions during the Cold War.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Cuban Missile Crisis began with the growing tensions between the United States and Cuba following the Cuban Revolution of 1959. The revolution ousted Cuba’s dictator, Fulgencio Batista and brought to power a government headed by Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. Before the revolution, the United States had a significant influence in Cuba’s economic and political affairs, but the Castro government refused to be influenced by the United States. Castro caused concern in the United States when he confiscated property belonging to wealthy Cubans and foreigners in an attempt to implement policies to improve conditions for poor and working-class Cubans.

Mans Search for Meaning in Fight Club and Siddhartha Essay -- Comparin

In 1922, Hermann Hesse set the youth of Germany free with the glorious peace of Siddhartha. Nearly a century later, Chuck Palahniuk opened the eyes of countless Americans with his nihilistic masterpiece, Fight Club. These two novels were written in different times, in different cultures, for different readers, and for different purposes. One is the poster child for love of self and nature; the other focuses on the destruction of both man and culture, yet the two hold a startling similarity in their underlying meaning, that in a darkening world of sin and distraction, letting go is the only true path to freedom, peace, and happiness. Though vastly different, Fight Club and Siddhartha both essentially tell the same story of man's search for personal meaning. Siddhartha is the story of a young man who leaves established society to find and create for himself a true doctrine for bliss. Raised and trained as a Brahman in a well-established religious family, Siddhartha feels vain and incomplete. He departs from his people and their lore, peacefully searching for his own dogma, what Hesse refers to as "The Self". "Siddhartha embarks on a journey of self-discovery that takes him through a period of asceticism and self denial followed by one of sensual indulgence ("Siddhartha" 255)." Siddhartha soon finds, however, that nirvana is not so easily attained. Hesse follows Siddhartha through his lifelong journey of mental confusion, emotional turmoil, physical pain and pleasure, and, ultimately, spiritual unity between himself and the world. In short, it is "Hesse's attempt to restore his faith in mankind, to regain his lost peace of mind, and to find again a harmonious relationship with his world ("Siddhartha" 262)." Fight Club also is... ...uary 2003. http://www.newimprovedhead.com/club.htm Freedman, Ralph. "Hermann Hesse". Contemporary Literature. 10: 3 (1969): 421-426. Rpt. In Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Carolyn Riley. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1973. 146-147. Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha. New York: Bantam, 1971. Margetts, Jayne. "Fight Club". Between the Lines. Ed. Wendy Cavenett. 27 April 1998. 19 February 2003. http://www.thei.aust.com/tssmusic1/contents.html Palahniuk, Chuck. Fight Club. New York: Henry Holt, 1997. Sahni, Chaman L. "Siddhartha". Masterplots Complete. CD-ROM. Englewood Cliffs: Salem, 2000. "Siddhartha". Novels for Students. Ed. David Galens. Vol. 6. New York: Thomson Gale, 1997. 255-275. 16 vols. Wake, Bob. "Fight Club". Culture Vulture. Ed. Arthur Lazere. 21 September 1998. 19 February 2003. http://www.culturevulture.net/Books/FightClub.htm

Discuss your opinion of the recovered memory

Psychologists believe that it is common to consciously repress unpleasant experiences although the unconscious repression of traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse or rape is a defense mechanism that usually backfires (Carroll, 2005). Loftus (1998) wrote an article on â€Å"The Price of Bad Memories† that leaves a room for doubt for people who are contemplating on seeking treatment and those who are already being treated by a psychiatrist.It is difficult for those who are emotionally and psychologically helpless to determine the best possible treatment when their main concern is to seek assistance from mental health professionals who are in the best position to help them gain a better quality of life. In many cases, patients who are subjected to hypnosis, guided imagery, influence of drugs and other methods during therapy sessions to uncover unpleasant memories of childhood sexual abuse, rape, satanic ritual abuse and cult activities are also isolated from their families, friends, and the outside world (United States v.Peterson et al. (n. d. ). Hence, implanting false memories into the minds of patients is not only alarming but also unethical and a serious criminal offense. The case of Patricia Burgus and other patients who were diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) is a wake-up call to the medical profession. The neglect on the part of the psychiatrist and Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center with regards to documenting and safeguarding the tape records of the patient’s therapy sessions may earn a questionable mark on the reputation of the professionals and health centers.Questions with regards to the safekeeping of patients’ records may arise. The mix-up of tapes is an indication that tape recordings are not properly labeled with the patient’s name, date of therapy session and the name of the mental health professional who conducted the therapy. There were also failures on the part of the mental health provi ders to keep a hard copy of patient’s therapy, treatment and progress. From the cases that were filed, it is apparent that administrators of the hospitals or medical centers do not impose strict policies in terms of securing patients’ records.The conspiracy among the psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and medical centers leads us to a thought provoking situation. As one would seek an answer to the question regarding the hidden motives of several mental health professionals who risk their professions and be subjected to malpractice suits by unjustly collecting insurance payments as a result of exaggerating diagnoses and overstating the need for expensive treatments remains doubtful. Psychiatrists maintain patients who seek their treatment and advice on a regular basis.Hence, deriving income at the risk of their profession and reputation is not a motivating factor. The question of benefiting from insurance payments is unbelievable to some extent although ther apy for the treatment of multiple personality disorders may take a long period of time. From the standpoint of a reader who is neither a health professional nor a patient, one may not discount the possibility that these mental health professionals may be subjecting their patients to an experiment in order to test the effectiveness of their technique.However, there is no evidence to prove this accusation. With the multitude of lawsuits filed against the mental health professionals and medical centers regarding claims of corroborated repressed memories, there will be more patients and families who may take advantage of the situation. False accusations regarding misdiagnosis and improper treatment may also grow in numbers as the victims gain awareness of the monetary settlement that may be derived from the litigation.The American Psychological Association (1996) claimed that most people who were sexually abused as children have memories of all or part of what happened to them although they may not fully understand or disclose it. Amidst the controversy on recovered memory, people who are victims of substance and sexual abuse, depression, personal adjustment and problems of relationship should not hesitate to consult their mental health providers. As a precautionary measure, it is important to choose competent professionals and get a referral from the state psychological association in the local community.

Foreshadowing In “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck Essay

John Steinbeck uses foreshadowing through out the story of â€Å"Of Mice and Men† to prepare the reader for the final scene. Foreshadowing is the composition of layered hints or clues about what may happen in the future of the story. Early in the story, these lines or events suggest a wide range of possibilities to the audience. But as the story progresses, the range narrows. In order for the impact of foreshadowing to be effective, the audience has to be both surprised by the climax of the story and find it logical. The logic comes from foreshadowing. Steinbeck uses foreshadowing in the course of â€Å"Of Mice and Men† by pulling together past events in the story, to build to the ending impact and overall importance and effect of the final scene. In the first chapters, it is apparent that Lennie is a simple minded man who likes to pet things that are soft and delicate. George and Lennie are traveling through to the farm for work. They had to escape from the town they were previously at because Lennie had an incident with one of the women in the town. He was a rather large, frightening fellow. He went up to a young women because the beauty of her dressed marveled him. Just as he did with mice, he insisted on touching it. That is all. Because of her frightened screams, he grabbed onto the dress and did not let go out of fear and panic. This led him into much trouble and the townspeople to go after him. George took Lennie and they escaped the town. This is foreshadowing to the ending scene because once again, Lennie just had to have a touch and once again, led him to trouble that even George could not fix. When Carlson insisted on killing Candy’s old worn dog friend, it was foreshadowing to the final scene in which all of the men insisted on searching and killing Lennie. Although Candy deep down knew that his dog was beyond his years and was suffering day to day, it was hard for him to accept it and let go. His dog was his only true friend. The same is true about Lennie and George’s relationship. Although George knows what Lennie has done is wrong, and that if he were to remain around or alive that he would just suffer more with his conscience and the other men searching for him. Candy feels that he should have been the one to take his best friend out of the world in which he played such a great part in. This is foreshadowing to the  time that George is faced with the same decision. George feels it is his job and right to have the choice to be the one to kill Lennie. George kills him quickly and painlessly, without the suffering that the other men wished to cast upon hi m. Steinbeck uses foreshadowing in the course of â€Å"Of Mice and Men† by pulling together past events in the story, to build to the ending impact and overall importance and effect of the final scene. At the beginning, Lennie gets in the middle of mass confusion when he approaches a woman and tries to stroke her soft dress. George then collected Lennie and they both escaped town. This is foreshadowing to the ending scene because once again, Lennie just had to have a touch and once again, led him to trouble that even George could not fix. Another example of foreshadowing is when Carlson kills Candy’s dog who was past his time. Candy said he should have been the one to do it. This foreshadows George’s decision with Lennie. Although he knows he needs to do it, it is just to painful.

Modus Operandi Essay

Modus Operandi is a term used in a criminal investigation to describe a way in which a defender goes about committing a crime. Usually it defines a pattern of activities driven by the offenders, thought and behavior processes, before, during, and after the crime. It is also used in criminal profiling, where it can assist with obtaining clues regarding an offender’s psychology. It consists of examining the actions used by the offender to execute the crime, prevent its detection and/or facilitate escape. (Vronsky, 2004)A criminal’s MO pertains to facts gathered from a crime scene, giving investigators insight into how, when and where the crime was committed. For example, a criminal may use a particular weapon or focus on certain type of people, time of day, or a particular neighborhood. All which support his modus operandi. The signature is the way in which a criminal leaves his mark on the crime scene. This can include, posing or branding his victim in a certain way or c arrying out his crime in a manic obsession such as torture of disfigurement, using props and/or securing souvenirs such as clothing, to relive the crime. An offender’s signature alerts profilers to the emotional and psychological aspects of the offender that are the driving forces of an offender’s crime.(Keppel,1997) Signature behaviors suggest clues regarding a criminal’s past, personality, emotions, mental state and intelligence. Criminal psychological profiling is an investigative tool utilized by experts to examine details of a crime, in the attempt to categorize, understand and predict the behavior of certain type of offenders based on behavioral clues they provide. Criminal psychological profiling is also referred to as â€Å"criminal profiling†, â€Å"criminal profiling† and â€Å"behavioral profiling.†Criminal profiling is a behavioral composite of the unknown, put together after analyzing the crime scene and other important information pertaining to the crime. This can include the autopsy report, autopsy and crime scene photos, as well as initial police reports. Also included in crimi nal profiling, is a detailed analysis of the victim. (Douglas, et al, 1992) Additional data, such as geographical areas beyond the immediate crime scene, the method of which the offender traveled to and from the crime scene and the relevant aspects of the residential location of the victim are also examined. In addition, the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim is also analyzed. Criminal profiling is not necessarily useful in every case, yet in some cases, it can assist with narrowing down the search for an offender when used in repeated crimes committed by a specific offender, such as serial rape or murder. Knowledge gained from profiling, can aide in the interrogation process of an offender and can assist with identifying and protecting potential victims before the perpetrator gains the opportunity to offend again. Although there are many opponents against utilizing the criminal profiling techniques, the goal of criminal profiling is to deduce enough behavioral, personality and physical characteristics about an offender so that she or he may be apprehended. (Berg, 2008) Several FBI special agents have written books noting their positive experiences with utilizing their skills of a criminal profiler.FBI profiler, Robert Ressler, assisted with popularizing the field of profiling. His book, Whoever Fights Monsters, has often been credited with creating much of the public’s fascination with psychological profiling. Berg, B. L. (2008). Criminal Investigation. New York: Mc Graw – Hill. Douglas, J. E.., Burgess, A.W., Burgess A.G., & Ressler, R.K.(1992).Crime classification manual: A standard system for investigating and classifying violent crimes. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Keppel, R.D., & Birnes, W. J(1997). Signature killers: Interpreting the calling cards of the serial murderer. New York: Pocket Books. Vronsky, R. (2004). Serial Killer. New York: Berkley Publishing Group I felt that way.See when uve had a life filled with trauma,ur normal response is to â€Å"panic†,get excited,go into overdrive,defensive,loud talkn etc.Side note.I realize that alot our ppl in the hood,respond that way all the time.Not understanding their responses, are trauma responses.Normal responses based on what theyve been through.Of course they dont no that, bcuz they are always in survival,†Fight or flight† mode.Two traumatized ppl wont make it bcuz, they trigger each other.Unless, they r content with the â€Å"normalcy of it all.You no,ppl who claw@each other daily?Tear each other down,then make up as if nothin is wrong.That’s trauma to one’s spirit.Ater a while, some is gonna have to pay for that(she/he jst snapped one day).No, it was building.I need a cool calm and collected, who understands that its not personal.That my barr none attitude,is the outcome. Its the normal response baby,from being on my own at 16,DV for many yrs,dispised and unloved by my first teacher.Yea, it has to go somewhere.lol But,I work on me everyday. Truth b told, I wouldnt want to b anybody else.I felt that way.See when uve had a life filled with trauma,ur normal response is to â€Å"panic†,get excited,go into overdrive,defensive,loud talkn etc.Side note.I realize that alot our ppl in the hood,respond that way all the time.Not understanding their responses, are trauma responses.Normal responses based on what theyve been through.Of course they dont no that, bcuz they are always in survival,†Fight or flight† mode.Two traumatized ppl wont make it bcuz, they trigger each other.Unless, they r content with the â€Å"normalcy of it all. You no,ppl who claw@each other daily?Tear each other down,then make up as if nothin is wrong.That’s trauma to one’s spirit.Ater a while, some is gonna have to pay for that(she/he jst snapped one day).No, it was building.I need a cool calm and collected, who understands that its not personal.That my barr none attitude,is the outcome. Its the normal response baby,from being on my own at 16,DV for many yrs,dispised and unloved by my first teacher.Yea, it has to go somewhere.lol But,I work on me everyday.Truth b told, I wouldnt want to b anybody else.

Facebook Effects on Society Essay

Nowadays, the social networking known also as social media has become a widespread subject among people, especially among teenagers. At its beginning, social media consisted of diverse dating websites. Now, most people consider that having a social media account means that you have a Facebook account. Facebook involves interactivity and the aim of it was, from the very beginning, to be able to add different people as friends and let those people know about the activities of their â€Å"new† friends. It was launched in 2004 and now is one of the most popular social media websites in the entire world. According to the last surveys in the field, Facebook changes and influences social relationships along with people’s ideas, thoughts and actions. There are several negative effects that Facebook has on the society, in general, and on the people, individually. Facebook causes addiction, which implies: less social interaction, distraction from another tasks and health issues. Since for many people searching and posting on Facebook has become one of the main daily activities, less social interaction begin to be one of the main negative effects that Facebook has on its users. Recent data shows that there are over 500 million Facebook users, which means 1 person in every 13 people on Earth uses Facebook. This social media website seems to be for people an escape from real life to a life where everything is fine and organized. In 2010, Pew Research Center created a survey on over 2,000 respondents about social networking influences and demonstrated that 92% of the social networking users have account on Facebook and 52% of them check their Facebook profile at least once a day. Overall, half of the actual Facebook users, which means 250 million people, checks their profile daily. And definitely, those who tend to check their profile many times a day are the ones who tend to get more attracted by the activities on Facebook and so, to be less interested in real life productivity. Christine Rosen, member of the Ethics and Public Policy Center from Washington, says † People who use networks like Facebook have a tendency to describe themselves like products†(BUGEJA 88). That less social interaction will begin once the Facebook users start feeling more connected with the others through Facebook. A research did by Alex Trimpe, student at Columbus College of Art& Design shows that â€Å"57% of people talk more online than they do in real life† (BATTISHILL). In addition, a report in Daily Mail confirmed that more than a third of the respondents spend less time on going out with friends than posting or chatting on Facebook. A percentage of 75 of the surveyed people have fewer friends since they started using Facebook as a way to keep friends updated and even if they realize they need more real meetings, Facebook is still the first choice for â€Å"hanging-out† and for meeting new people. This seems to be a new way of creating and maintaining friendship relations and Steven Strogatz, network science expert and PhD professor at Cornell University, confirms: † The distinction between genuine friends and acquaintances is becoming blurred. Users are spending time maintaining relationships with people they don’t really care about†. (JARVIS) Another of Facebook’s negative effects on society is the distraction from important tasks, which increases the inability to control important occupations such as working or studying. Michael Bugeja, professor and director of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Iowa, named this generation † The Facebook Generation’ who text-message during class, talk on their cellphones during labs, and listen to iPods rather than guest speakers in the wireless hall†(Bugeja 85). Due to this extended presence on Facebook, the students encounter issues on tasks’ performances or in respecting due dates. For instance, a psychologist of the Centre for Learning Sciences and Technologies at Open University, Paul Kirschnera, and Aryn Karpinskib, a professor at Ohio State University, did a survey that shows that the average GPA of students without a Facebook account is around 3.86 while the Facebook users have a GPA of 3.06 (Choney). Paul Kirschnera affirmed in a Daily Mail article: â€Å"The problem is that most people have Facebook or other social networking sites, their emails and maybe instant messaging constantly running in the background while they are carrying out other tasks†(Fleming). Facebook has a well developed entertainment value and, also, an informative value and both make people get involved in discussions or any other activities allowed on this website. Their curiosity or pleasure in what they see or read encourages them to spend more time â€Å"facebooking†. For example, checking the last posts on their friends’ walls, changing constantly their status or using Facebook chat. Any social media activity longer than a few minutes interferes with people’s main occupation, in students’ case, homework, and it makes difficult to keep them focused on what is really important. The experts advice Facebook users to take â€Å"tech breaks† and check their profiles after at least 15 minutes of working on other different tasks. Last, but definitely one of the most dangerous effects of Facebook on society is that it brings a series of health risks. According to a Daily Mail report, people who often use social media tend to be more isolated, and they find it difficult to communicate in person. Doctor Aric Sigman, member of The Institute of Biology, says in The Biologist, â€Å"This [isolated behavior] can increase the risk of health problems as serious as cancer, strokes, heart diseases, and dementia† (BBC News). These health issues are more likely to appear in someone who spends more time socializing online than he does on face-to-face contacts. In addition, Dr Sigman underlines that some hormones such as stress released or oxytocin hormones, which help people to start and maintain social relationships, are altered in the people who do not have an active social life and who share their emotions and thoughts through Internet. It explains why many people who overuse Facebook are more vulnerable to stress, nervousness and isolation. Another health risk caused by an excessive use of Facebook is the chaotic habit of eating that people have, especially teenagers. If they spend most of their time on Facebook, they tend to skip meals or eating unhealthy food. According to researchers, these habits could lead to diseases like bulimia or anorexia. A survey based on a sample of 600 Facebook users with ages between 16-40 and done by The Center for Eating Disorders, reports that 75% of the respondents do not like how their body looks and 51% of them compare their bodies with their Facebook friends’ bodies (Cowden). Doctor Harry Brandt, director of The Center for Eating Disorders mentions, â€Å"Facebook is making it easier for people to spend more time and energy criticizing their own bodies and wishing they looked like someone else [†¦] In this age of modern technology and constant access to SmartPhones and the internet, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to remove themselves from images and other triggers that promote negative body image, low self-esteem and may ultimately contribute to eating disorders† (Shaffer). Many people become obsessed with that ideal thin body and the results of the survey mentioned above underlines that people tend to pursue a weight-loss diet because they draw a negative image of their bodies when comparing with other users’ images. It is clear that, at one point, Facebook is enjoyable and its policy is not other than to bring people together faster and easier, though it still affects people’s lives in many ways. Some people are more liable to be isolated from real life, which include â€Å"in person† connections and real entertainment activities. Others end up losing their jobs or getting low grades, in students’ cases, because of the time spent on Facebook. Some could become sick because of the obsession of having that perfect body image, which Facebook promotes, and they start pursuing wrong diets plans, which lead to improper meals. A large numbers of surveys show the negative effects of Facebook to society and the doctors are also worried about the approach that society have for social media websites, especially Facebook. Generally speaking, Facebook mostly affects many people because they neglect real life and spend way too much time on chatting, posting on and checking their profile. The risks and the negative sides of social media will be reduced if the people will use a lower amount of virtual socializing. WORKS CITED BBC, News â€Å"Online networking ‘harms health’.† N.p 09.02.2009. Web. 18 Apr 2012. . Black, Nathan. â€Å"‘Facebook Depression’ Affecting Teens, Report Says.† Christian Post 29 March 2011, n. pag. Print. Bugeja, Michael. â€Å"Facing the Facebook.† Chronicle of Higher Education 27 February 2006, Daily Ed. n. pag. Print. Choney, Suzanne. â€Å"Facebook use can lower grades by 20 percent, study says.† N.p., 2010. Web.