Explain the Utilitarian & Deontological Aspects of Informational Privacy for Employers & Employees

Patricia Dunn, placed number 17 on FORBES list of most powerful women, landed herself four felony counts by making unethically chivalrous decisions. Patricia Dunn, once a chairwoman on the board of Hewlett-Packard, a position she held from February 2005 until September 2006. Her tenure was cut short on October 4, 2006 as she was charged with four felony counts for her role in a spying scandal. Five months later on March 14, 2007, California Supreme Court judge Ray Cunningham dropped criminal charges against her in the â€Å"interest of justice† on all four felony counts: fraudulent use of wire, radio or television transmissions; taking, copying, and using computer data without authorization. (A&E Television Networks 2011) She broke the golden rule of honor by teaming up and taking unethical measures to seek out a â€Å"leaker. She claims she had no idea â€Å"pretexting† (the practice of deceiving individuals into surrendering personal information for fraudulent purposes) could involve identity misrepresentation. In addition, she testified that she believed personal phone records could be obtained through legal methods. Showing more respect to her peers by giving them the benefit of the doubt would have been a more Utilitarianistic direction. Had she openly expressed the concern with HP’s long term strategy being public, it may have been resolved just that simply. SO, where does this leave Patty Dunns ethical reasoning? Her utilitarianism reasoning does not show happiness for the greater number. Her deontological reasoning held a lot to be desired by failing to ensure laws and regulations were standard. Ultimately, it appears that Patricia Dunn did not have a strategy or plan of attack. BODY In Patty Dunn’s case it seems she failed to implement either deontological or utilitarianism reasoning. Had she followed a more utilitarian mission she would have been more focused on appeasing the masses. Her course would have had to include a morally correct course of action that was in the best interest for the company as a whole, and it did not. Therefore, her system of ethics judged by its consequences is neither utilitarianism nor that of deontological reasoning. Patty Dunn should have approached the board from the get go. By not doing this, she followed a questionable trail of illegal activity Her utopian dreams of maintaining discretion of HP’s goals and even her â€Å"in-house† attempt at corralling the leaker are seemingly understandable. However her tact and failure to use common ethical business practices will be discussed in detail here. She had to have at least had an inkling that what she was about to embark upon was sensitive. Not only sensitive but dangerous! Dangerous in that cautions should always preface any actions involving personal information. Patricia Dunn is too smart to successfully play dumb. Utilitarianism reasoning does not care whether the benefits are produced by lies, manipulation, or coercion. (Issues in Ethics V2 N1 Winter 1989) Patricia Dunn did not use utilitarianism aspects of information privacy for the employer. Instead it appears they were used more so as her personal vendetta. Patricia Dunn’s case seems to be believable until Felony count #1, overt act #9. Which reads, â€Å"†¦Patricia Dunn on or about February 24, 2006, requested a comprehensive summary of the resources and techniques used in the investigation. (State of California, 2006) This is the crucial moment where she could have stopped the investigation and saved her career. Our ability to measure and to predict the benefits and harms resulting from a course of action or a moral rule is dubious, to say the least. Perhaps the greatest difficulty with utilitarianism is that it fails to take into account considerations of justice. (Issu es in Ethics V2 N1 Winter 1989) On the contrary, had Patricia Dunn taken a more Deontological approach she would have ensured that right decisions were being made dutifully throughout the investigation. In example, Patty Dunn could have taken several different courses of actions: a) Speaking with each board member, one by one, not only as a peer but also as a HP concerned board member b) Hire an adjudicator or a go-between to question and observe members of the board in gaining a working knowledge of recent events c) Approach/explain/question as a group with honesty at the forefront (like therapy) Had she considered a more deontological approach, her moral compass would have at least led her with legal decision making. Her obligation to duty would have referred to regulation and law guidance versus the hush hush beat around the bush technique. In fact, had she prefaced her investigation with a more strategic baseline of rules and regulations governing acts of pretexting or obtaining personal information, she may have discovered a more deontological method for discovery. A more deontological reasoning here would have verified and sought legal counsel for the information collected. It was her steadfast dedication to the mystery that took over. Yes Patricia Dunn should have been forced to resign. She failed as a professional to respect her fellow board members. Tom Perkins had been agitating to vote her out for some time. This says a lot because even prior to this act of inappropriateness she was trouble. And I don’t say this because Tom Perkins and Patty Dunn did not share business ideals. Success is not dependent on compatible personalities. One of my bosses had us complete a Merrill-Reid quiz, which categorizes his staff (including me) into their personality types: * Driver * Expressive Amiable * Analytical The results show these four personality traits on a grid, and your answers created your greater and weaker abilities as a box on the chart. Also were tips on communicating with each personality. Some employees, their box was solely in the â€Å"analytical† section, others their box would cover into two or more areas of chart and some (like mine) shared all four categories equally. The Colonel went on to explain that in the past he has chosen people from this so that he gets the many perspectives from the different personalities. He laughingly explained that it is okay to be in one category and how everyone has strengths and the point is that by placing the certain personalities into position, we can accomplish more. The moral here is the focus. In the paper, Tom Perkins noted early on with two memories of Patty Dunn’s off track focus on â€Å"little things. † This could have been just the idiosyncrasy that results from such a trait. A solution would be for companies of this size implementing a professional development program that meets periodically keeping ethics and its formalities at the forefront.

Nike and Child Labour

Nike and child labour Nike is a household name when it comes to sports apparel and equipment. It has worked hard to burnish its image, especially by garnering endorsements from big names in the sports world,such as Michael Jordan. But in 1996 its silver image began to tarnish. It knew it was in trouble when an article on child labour in Pakistan appeared in Life magazine with a picture of a 12-year-old boy sewing a Nike soccer ball in a factory, and activists started showing up in front of Nike outlets holding posters with the boy's picture on it.Although child labour is illegal in Pakistan, the law is not enforced and child labour is widespread. The factory in question was not run by Nike, but by a subcontractor or supplier. Nonetheless,Nike was held responsible by many,especially in the US and Canada. One immediate result was a ,,Boycott Nike† movement, which has continued to monitor and report on Nike's actions. Nor was the report from Pakistan an isolated incident for Nike. Also in 1996, CBS's 48 Hours reported on working conditions in Vietnam, featuring Nike and the abuses of workers who made some of Nike's prosucts.Since 1996, Nike has been charged by critics with engaging in a variety of unethical employment practices in countries that exercise little or no control over the conditions of labour or whose governments are corrupt and can be bought off. For Nike had and continues to have a reputation for producing its products in less developed countries, known for the cheapest labour and the laxest law enforcement, including China, Viet Nam, Bangladesh and Indonesia.At Nike's invitation, the Viet Nam Labour Watch conducted a six-month investigation and its report details discrepancies between what Nike told American customers and what the group itself uncovered. One significant item in the report is the statement that non-Nike shoe factories the group visited in Vietnam had better working conditions and paid haigher wages. In 1998 , Nike pledged to ma ke sure its factories adhered to acceptable labour practices and agreed to let labour and human rights groups inspect its facilities.Yet its critics continued to track the company. In 2000, Victoria International Development Education Association (VIDEA) in Canada published a book of facts about Nike, which noted among other things that Nike, which paid its 80,000 Indonesian factory workers ten cents an hour,could double their wages at a cost of less than 20,000,000-the amount that Nike paid Michael Jordan for promoting its products. It paid $200 million to sponsor the Brazilian soccer team. VIDEA also claimed that the cost of making one pair of Nike running shoes was approximately $5. 0, although they retail for more than $100 and for as much as $189. The figures by themselves, of course, do not present the whole picture. However, at least on the surface they suggest exploitation of labour and a terrible disparity between manufacturing and advertising expenditures. In 2001, Nike's CEO, Philip Knight ,claimed that the company's policy with respect to the employment of child labour was ,,the highest in the world: 18 for footwear manufacturing, 16 for apparel and equipment. ‘ Nonetheless, he acknowledged that there were instances in which the company used contract factories abroad, where the policies had been violated. With respect to the company's violations in Cambodia, violations reported by the BBC, Mr. Knight cited the fact that evidence of age could buy there for as little as $5 and that, following the charge, the company re-examined all employee records there. The reply did not satisfy critics. The athletic shoe company has been the centre of a controversy over its responsibility for the mistreatment of the workers who make its shoes.Nike does not actually manufacture any of the athletic shoes it sells. Instead,Nike designs its shoes in Seattle,and then pays companies in developing countries (China, Indonesia, India, etc. ) to make the shoes accordi ng to these designs. These foreign supplier companies have directly mistreated and exploited their workers. Nike has claimed that it is not morraly responsible for this mistreatment, because the supplier companies caused the injuries of their employees. Thus, Nike itself did not cause the injuries.Critics have responded that although it is true that Nike did not directly cause the injuries, Nike could have prevented those injuries by forcing its suppliers to treat their workers humanely. If it is true that Nike had the power to prevent the injuries, and should have done so, then Nike met the first condition for moral responsibility. However, if Nike was truly powerless to prevent the injuries-if Nike had no control over the actions of its suppliers-then it did not meet the first condition.People are morally responsible for an injury when they failed to prevent it, only if they ,,should have† prevented it. People cannot hold morally responsible for all the injuries they know ab out and fail to prevent. Each of us is not morally responsible for failing to save all the members of all the starving groups in the world that we learn about by reading the newspapers, even if we could have saved some of them. If we were morally responsible for all these deaths,then we would all be murderers many times over and this seems wrong.A person is responsible for failing to prevent an injury only when, for some reason, the person had an obligation to prevent that particular injury. Such an obligation generally requires some sort of special relationship to the injury or the injured party. For example, if I know I am the only person near enough to save a drowning child, and I can do so easily, then m special physical relationship to the child creates in me an obligation to save the child and so I am morally responsible for the child's death if I fail to prevent it.Or if I am a police officer on duty and see a crime thet I can easily prevent, then, because it is my job to pre vent such crimes, I have a specific obligation to prevent this crime and I am morally responsible if I fail to do so. Employers likewise have a special oblgation to prevent work injuries on their employees and so are morally responsible for any foreseen work injuries they could hav prevented. The second requirement for moral responsibility is concerned with the agent's knowledge of the relevant aspects in a situation. The person must know what she is doing.If a person is ignorant of the fact that her actions will injure someone else, then she cannot be morally responsible for that injury. A person may be ignorant of either the relevant facts the relevant moral standards. I may be sure that bribery is wrong (a moral standard), but may not realize that in tipping a customs official I was actually bribing him into cancelling certain import fees(a fact). In contrast, I may be genuinely ignorant that bribing government officials is wrong (a moral standard), altough I know taht in tipping the customs official I am bribing him into reducing the fees I owe (a fact).Ignorance, however, does not always excuse a person. One exception occurs when a person deliberately stays ignorant of a certain matter to escape responsibility. If Nike managers told their suppliers that they did not want to know what was going on in their factories, they would still be morally responsible for whatever mistreatment went on that they could have prevented. A second exception occurs a person negligently fails to take adequate steps to get information about a matter that has its own importance.A manager is an asbestos company, who has reason to suspect that asbestos may be dangerous, but who, out of laziness, fails to gather information on the matter, cannot plead ignorance as an excuse. The third requirement for moral responsibility: The person must act of his own free will. Someone acts of his own free will when the person acts deliberately or purposefully and his actions are not the result of some uncontrollable mental impulse or external force.A person is not morally responsible if he causes injury because he lacked the power, skill, opportunity. Nor is a person morally responsible when physically forced to inflict an injury on someone else. The same when the agent is physically restraint from doing something to prevent the injury, nor when a person’s mind is psychologically impaired in a way that prevents her from controlling her actions. An employee may injure a fellow worker when a machine he thought he knew how to operate suddenly veers out of his control.A manager working under extremely stressful circumstances may be so tense that one day he is overcome by rage at a subordinate and genuinely is unable to control his actions toward the subordinate. An engineer who is part of a larger operating committee may be unable to prevent the other committee members from making a decision that the engineer feels will result in injury to other parties. An assembly-li ne worker with an un diagnosed malady may suffer muscle spasms that cause the assembly line to malfunction in a way that inflicts physical injuries on other workers.In all of these cases, the person is not morally responsible for the wrong or the injury, because the person did not choose the action deliberately or purposefully, but was forced to inflict the injury by a mental impairment or some uncontrollable external forces. We can distinguish three types of factors that can lessen a person’s moral responsibility:first, we should consider circumstances that minimize,but don’t completely remove a person’s involevement in an act that caused or brought about an injury.This kind of circumstances affects the degree to which the person actually caused or helped to cause the injury. An engineer may be aware of the unsafe features in somebody else’s design,but passively stand by without doing anything about it because ,,that’s no my job’’. I n general,the less one is morally responsible for that outcome. Certain circumstances leave a person uncertain, but not altogether unsure about a variety of matters (facts, moral standards, seriousness of the wrongdoing etc. ). This king of circumstances affects the person’s knowledge.An office worker who is asked to carry proprietary information to a competitor might fell fairly sure that doing so is wrong, yet may also have some genuine uncertainty about how serious the matter is. Finally, there are circumstances that make it difficult but not impossible for the person to avoid doing it. This kind of circumstance affects the person’s free will. Sometimes, middle managers meet intense pressure or threts or to keep certain health information secret from workers or the public, although it is clearly unethical to do so.If the pressures on managers are great enough, then their responsibility correspondingly diminishes. The extent to which these three mitigating circumstan ces can diminish a person’s responsibility for a wrongful injury depends on the seriousness of the wrong. Supposing that I have a firm and my employer threatens to fire me unless I sell a used product that I know will kill someone,it would be wrong for me to obey him,even though loss of a job will impose heavy costs on me.

Maritime Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Maritime Policy - Essay Example is the case, many nationals of these developing countries occupy a significant share of the workforce that mans the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries and open register’s fleets (Johnston, 1991). This movement of marine industry workers between flags as a result of the free working environment created by fleet managers and ship owners in assembling crews of different nationalities according to Ron, Stutchbury and Pascoe (1988) actually led to the firm establishment of the seafarers’ global labour market. This report seeks to analyze the global labour market in detail; its formation, and how it has impacted players involved in shipping companies from both developing and developed regions of the world. The report goes further to suggest ways and means of tackling problems experienced by stakeholders of the seafarers’ Global Labour Market (GLM). Initially, almost all ships were manned predominantly by people of the same nationality as the ship’s flag (Williamson, 1992). This tradition was held in part as a consequence of legal requirement with countries varying in strength in the enforcement of the law. Besides, it was also considered more practical in as much as recruiting seafarers from other countries was difficult and expensive (Tyner, 2000). Notable exceptions to these requirements, however, arose when the Liberian and Panamanian registers were created in 1949 and 1922 respectively (Tyner, 2000). Neither of the two nations involved had national seafarers’ labour markets. These anomalies however posed no significant threat to the well organised labour markets of Japan and European nations until the prolonged recession of the 70s and 80s hit world trade. The scale and pace of change in the marine workforce in the 80s was widely unprecedented. According to Alderton, in 1987 alone, there was a steady increase in the number of Filipino seafarers working in European-owned ships. The press, throughout the 80s,

The Ed Sullivan Show Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

The Ed Sullivan Show - Assignment Example : Skim – After you have previewed a text to get a general idea of the subject, it is a good idea to read through the text quickly to get a general idea of what it is about and how it is organized. This article is organized into six sections, and all but the first have titles that give you some idea of their content. Step 3: Read! – To read critically and really understand a text, you will need to read it more than one time. The first time through, you should underline or highlight anything that seems important or stands out. It is also helpful to annotate (write notes in the margin). The second time you read, focus on one section at a time. At the end of each section, think about what you have read and write down the main ideas. Summarizing can help you understand the content and organization of the text. Evaluation - Although what is considered good writing varies, there are some qualities that most well written texts share. Rate Inglis’s article on each of the following, using a scale of one to five (five being the highest, one being the lowest). Please note that you do not need to answer the questions – just place a number from one to five after each quality. Using the Text - When you evaluate a text, one thing to keep in mind is what you can take from it to support your own argument. Find one quotation from this article that could be easily incorporated into the paper you will write about censorship. Write it below (include the page number). â€Å"Although (stereo) typically associated with the actions of the state— prior restraint by the government—it is important to recognize that censorship takes many forms and springs from many sources.† Page

Short story Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Short story - Essay Example Conversely, Sarty seeks freedom from the life that the family lived. In this case, the road to Sarty’s independence from his father’s grip is a way of seeking individual fulfillment. Hence, Faulkner’s book typifies the American culture, as this expose will posit, while focusing on Barn Burning. To begin with, Faulkner indicates that, Sarty’s father had a â€Å"wolflike independence and even courage when advantage was at least neutral, which impressed strangers† (Faulkner 476). In this case, this is a clear depiction of the American culture of individual fulfillment. By depicting Snopes, Sarty’s father as independent and courageous, Faulkner underlines the importance of independence, which leads to individual fulfillment since he is able to achieve satisfaction although he ends hurting his family. In this regard, it is only through being independent and courageous that an individual acquires self-fulfillment. In the American society, being ind ependent and having courage typifies an individual who has attained self-fulfillment. Conflicts and violence surround Sarty’s life, which leads to an overwhelming fear, grief, and despair. In effect, Sarty seeks to attain peace in order to be free from these turbulent emotions (Faulkner). Therefore, this typifies the American culture of seeking individual fulfillment from turbulent emotions such as grief, fear, and despair, which engulf an individual. Throughout the story, it is evident that Sarty struggles with despair, grief, and fear due to his family’s demands on one side. On the other hand, he develops an opinion towards morality, which is contrary to the family’s views and demands. In line with this, Faulkner's book is significant in typifying the American culture of individual fulfillment whereby an individual seeks to map their own path different from that of the family depending on their ideas of right and wrong. Peace, joy, and dignity are the most imp ortant appealing aspects of a different life for Sarty, which is not available in the Snopes’ household. In effect, this is significant since it exemplifies the American culture whereby individuals work towards finding dignity, joy, and peaceful coexistence with each other in their daily lives. In addition, achieving dignity, peace, and joy is crucial towards the path of individual fulfillment. For this reason, achievement of peace, joy, and dignity signifies the American dream that people all over the world seek to experience and hence come into the country as they seek individual fulfillment. Faulkner illustrates that an individual can achieve fulfillment through different ways. One of this ways, and perhaps one of the most important way that typify the American culture, is through bringing honor and intensifying family ties. Case in point, as the Snopes’ leave the courtroom following their father’s case, a boy who accused Abner of being a barnburner hits Sart y who confronted the boy, and consequently bloodying his face. In a way, the blood that dried and caked on Sarty face represents a sense of individual fulfillment that he had defended the family’s honor regardless of the cost (Faulkner 477). In a similar way, the American culture realizes that the family is the most important thing in life, and it comes under substantial cost. Hence, to defend the family against outsiders brings forth individual fulfil

Brief a case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Brief a case - Essay Example The appellant offered to take her to where she was going. She did not accept the offer and continued walking. She then saw the victim standing next to his van. The appellant took the victim by the neck at gun point in an attempt to get her into his van against her will. However, the victim was able to free herself and ran home, where she telephoned the police. Legal Reasoning: Pursuant to Florida Statute Section 90.803(2) (2001), an excited utterance is an exception to the rule against hearsay when the statement/excited utterance relates to a â€Å"startling event or condition† and is made while the maker of the statement/excited utterance â€Å"is under duress† (Bell v State, 2003). An excited utterance is made when the event causing excitement is â€Å"startling enough to cause excitement† (Bell v State, 2003). The statement is required to have been made â€Å"before there was time to contrive or misrepresent† (Bell v State, 2003). The statement must also be made when the speaker is â€Å"under the stress of excitement caused by the event† (Bell v State, 2003). In order to be an excited utterance, it is not necessary for the statement be made in a manner contemporaneous to the event causing excitement. All that is necessary for establishing an excited utterance is that the speaker is excited when the s tatement is made. Pursuant to Section 90.803(2) an excited state of mind may persist for a while following the event. It is for the court to determine whether or not the statement was made in an excited state. In determining whether or not the speaker made the statement in an excited state of mind the court may consider the speaker’s age, mental and physical conditions, the event itself and the contents of the statement. According to the responding officer’s evidence, the victim was clearly hysterical and scared when he arrived at her home. She was too

Mental Health and Behavioural Problems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mental Health and Behavioural Problems - Essay Example 1430). Studies show that children said to be hyperactive at three years of age had cognitive problems, this usually is observed to extend into adolescence, and such children  bear  traits like being antisocial (Moffit and Harrington 34). Randal explains that among the health problems that affect children later in childhood include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, conduct disorders, attention deficit, hyperactive disorders and substance dependence disorders (128). These behavioural problems  are explained  well by  use  of conceptual models. These models aim to provide an  explanation  for the supposed behavioural problem, and it also tries to  create  a  probable  solution to the problem. The main conceptual models include biological, psycho dynamic, behavioural, cognitive, sociological, and ecological. In the grid provided below, we will look at each model, probable explanation on how it causes a particular problem and its  method  of addressing the pro blem in question.  We shall consider gambling as the main  problem  and analyze the table below. ... This emphasises on the importance of winning in reinforcing the problem in question. This also basis its explanation on the fact that behaviour is acquired. Treatment of behavioural disorders of this origin is focused on empowerment. It focuses on solving of the issue and not on its cause. Its aim may include harm reduction, self control, or avoidance. Psychodynamic Disorder arises due to the urge to satisfy ones arousal needs. For instance, not winning may act as the reinforce of behaviour such as gambling Focus is mainly in empowerment. Cognitive Cognition focuses on the ability of an individual to interpret and conclude about events that are happening in his or her environment. Cognitive therapy is suggested as the mode of treatment, coping skills are an imparted on an individual. Patient is taught change and relapse prevention. Behavioural This is based on the fact that behaviours are learned. It says that inappropriate behaviours are as a result of inappropriate learning, and vi ce versa. Treatment achieved by imparting on an individual the various consequences of their behaviour. For those consequences that strengthen behaviour are reinforced, while those that weaken are reduced. Ecological This model takes an individual as a member of a variety of social groups. For children, the groups include school, peers and family. In this model, an individual’s performance is dependent on the nature and type of interaction he has with environment Problems arising from this are solved by identifying classroom, family, peer or group, and community environmental factors that enhance the occurrence of pleasant behaviours. Models Used in Assisting Students with Behavioural Problems The behavioural model is among the most  direct  and simplest  approach  to

Marketing Approaches Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Marketing Approaches - Term Paper Example This is due to the concept of moral hazard when it comes to consuming health care products and services through insurance financing. Handling health care products and services in the health care markets must put into account all the aspects highlighted above. The spending decisions and buyer behaviors of consumers in health care markets are influenced by more variables compared to their counterparts in the consumer goods markets. Health care marketers must assess and evaluate the approaches that different consumers use to derive good health. Some opt for preventative measures, others choose curative or both. Therefore, the marketing approach chosen should critically identify the different markets segments that exist and the product or service differentiation variables employed. Marketing consumer goods and services focuses on the rationality of consumers. Consumers exhibit rationality in the sense that they prefer consumer baskets that are high in quality and cheap in terms of cost. The primary objective of a consumer in the consumer goods and services markets is to maximize utility. Consumers aim at getting more value than they actually pay for. To achieve this, the pricing policies adopted by sellers must favor consumption needs of consumers in order to maximize their welfare in buying goods and services bundles. Unlike in marketing health care products, consumer goods and services are not characterized by moral hazard due to the fact that consumers personally meet their expenditure. Consumption is purely based on the purchasing power of an individual consumer. Consumers with high purchasing power will ultimately buy more than those with lower purchasing power. On the same note, consumption of consumer... Marketing Approaches The nature of the products or services being marketed and the targeted markets are crucial to account for because they critically identify the different market segments that exist, and subsequently guide marketers in undertaking their respective duties and responsibilities. Although both health care and consumer goods markets deal with both products and services, the nature of marketing practices significantly vary due to product or service uniqueness and product or service differentiation in these markets. Marketers in both health care and consumer goods markets seek to capture a significant market share that maximizes market benefits in terms of sales, revenue generation, and profit making. Marketers in these two markets adopt different marketing approaches that work best in their respective markets. A health care marketer has to understand that health care products and services are characterized by derived demand rather than direct demand (Getzen, 2010). This implies that demand f or health care is the outcome of the need for good health. Good health can be realized from both curative and preventative measures, both of which constitute demand for health care. Service delivery is another aspect that experiences ethical violations. The firm should be morally responsible for its decisions, practices, and operations. The crafted policy should encompass programs that are designed to collect feedback at both the firm and the target markets in relation to service delivery.

Article summary Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Article summary - Research Paper Example In addition, the findings revealed that the brain contains a neuron response that arouses a person to offer empathy to another after witnessing them in pain. Although care providers offer empathy to their patients as one way of treatment, nurses regulate their empathy to patients to avoid the traumatic effects of seeing patients in pain (Campbell-Yeo et al., 2008). The article plays an important role in educating caregivers on the effects of empathy to ailing patients as they treat them. From the study, empathy is an essential component in the management of pain. The article also sensitizes nurses to the extent of emerging evidence that empathetic aspects are uncontrollable and, thus, can render them vulnerable. In addition, the article contributes to the theoretical basis of nursing through reviewing the literature that exists on this subject, inspiring others to do more studies on it. The article contributes to nursing scientific growth through advising on the ethical behavior at work when dealing with patients in pain. Non-empathetic caregivers can now learn the behavior and better their services to

Thinkertoys Week 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Thinkertoys Week 3 - Essay Example eeping in view the methodology used by Michalko, it becomes quite easy to explore the problems at individual, collective and corporate levels, and finding out the solutions for these problems as well. Michalko focuses on complete assessment of a problem by examining each and every aspect of it, rather concentrating only one part of the problem, which, according to him, may put the solution of the problem at stake. The same is applied by analyzing one’s personal problems in respect of searching out a job. I have adopted the Phoenix checklist in order to put my questions and their possible answers on the basis of Michalko’s thinking strategy. The solution of a problem is extremely necessary due to the very reality that a problem creates difficulties for a person while thinking and analyzing, so it is very important to make plan to get rid of that problem. The solution of a problem helps the individuals proceed to some goals determined for making progress in life; it is th erefore comprehensive assessment of problem and determining of its all possible solutions is most required for individuals. I have the problem in finding out job as soon as I complete my degree from the university. The declining global economy is the ugliest hurdle on the way of the fresh graduates while penetrating into the job market. In addition, all the organizations demand previous experiences from the job-seekers, which is really a hard nut to crack for the fresh graduates. The analyses of business environment view recommendations and approach a must for entering the job market. Moreover, the rising unemployment at global level has created the proportion of competitors against every vacancy to a great extent. Further, since education has got popularity everywhere in the world, the percentage of educated people has also increased, but the job opportunities are far less than the percentage of educated people, which serves as a serious threat for getting an attractive job. All these points

Cultural Manifestation Via A Game Of Street Basketball Essay Example for Free

Cultural Manifestation Via A Game Of Street Basketball Essay Two hoops, ten players, one basketball court and one leather ball to dribble, pass, shoot and score points with. The other aspects of basketball – the rules, the technicalities – are all fluid and bent by the whims and preferences of the existing culture, even the existing playing teams. Street basketball may not be the roots of the sport, but through the years, it has becoming both the foundation of professional basketball as well as the avenue for the exercise of the growing subculture in street basketball. Ballard (2004) elaborates: Within the caged confines amidst the bohemian community of Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan can be found the essence of street basketball: all the grit, showmanship, competition, and spectacle that make the game great (pg 35). To those who are not indoctrinated in the culture of street basketball, it is easy to say that what they see being played on the street and what they see flashing on their television monitors are both the same game of basketball; that they share so many similar attributes and that the only thing different in street basketball compared to collegiate or professional basketball is the level of popularity. But that is far from the truth – because those who know and understand street basketball, those who lived and breathed street basketball, those who bled and literally died in the cement floors of the street basketball courts know that what they do where they do it is so much different from what high salaried pro basketball players do in the NBA. They have different stages where they play; they have different rules as well as different ways of enforcing it; they have different cultures and different reasons why they play basketball. The only thing they have in common is that they all want that leather and rubber spheroid up in the air and then inside the rim, swooshing the net that makes a catcall for such a sexy swing. Professional basketball is all about winning the coveted ‘ring’, about being able to parade around town like rockstars and hoist that championship trophy alongside guys who you might be elbowing the following season. In professional basketball, there is a certain convenience for players and team owners to just move from one team to another because it is just a job for them, but on the street, one’s alliance to a basketball team is a binding oath; jumping to another team is never about the job of getting the Ws and finishing the season with the ‘ring’, and most players who see a former teammate desert them always take it personal, because street basketball is never a job. It is a brotherhood where loyalty is the most expensive and most important aspect of a player, and those who sell it cheap will always have a ‘low market value’. Street basketball and professional basketball have different set of ethos – in street basketball, they play for their team’s pride and for the wager while in professional basketball, they play for their own personal pride and for their own personal salary, especially in today’s era when even the best of players are traded to other teams in exchange for the chance of the team’s long term vision to take shape. In street basketball, it is always here and now, every game feels like the last game, and it is hard to go home with a monkey on your back because when you lost, you did not just part with some of your money, you also parted with some ounces of self respect and the respect of the people in the neighborhood about you, your team and your game. Observing and analyzing human behavior – Like every cultural vestige and like every subculture type, included in the consideration for the analysis of certain cultural practices is the assessment of human behavior. In street basketball, there are also a set of prevailing human behavior and the dictating factors on why such patterns exist, appear and persist. The manifestation of these sets and patterns of human behavior inside street basketball is two-pronged; those which the average eyes can see and those which only the trained eyes can detect happen simultaneously. It is both reflected and hidden in the way they dress, in the way they talk and in the way they play the game. The human behavior patterns in street basketball depict that of the prehistoric tribes – it requires that only the fittest with the toughest set of behaviors survive. And what are these behaviors? The behavior in fighting, in negotiating, in people management and control of power all of these behaviors are essential for a person to survive the culture of street basketball. Without some of these behaviors, the individual is forced outside the circle of street basketball. Players fight for their place to be among those who are considered as respected basketball players in the street. Outside the five-on-five, there are those who wield similar power, clout and influence – those who fix wagers, those who tap, harness and control budding talents and those who are present in the circuit for their own socio-political reasons. One needs only to sit down by the bleachers and take a good look around to see the abundance of a diverse set of human behavior present inside one confined yet open spaced rectangular domain of street basketball. African American guys play with white guys and vice versa, and so does the relationship of those who have different ethnic descent, and this reflects the behavior of the individuals inside street basketball when it comes to ethnic sensitivity. Other easily discernable behaviors found in street basketball include the penchant of most basketball players for gambling, their obvious disregard for socially accepted behavior while in public like going topless for most of the time, spitting, cursing and the prevalence of foul and derogatory terms hurled at each other, the integration of gang related separatist attitude and the resorting to physical assault as a way to settle differences of avenge any feeling of indignation. Looking at street basketball players, the universal behavior noticeable is their take on street basketball as the end all and be all of their lives – they gamble every paper bill they have on the pockets of their pants, sometimes, even money that they don’t have, on a round of street basketball without serious regard for what will happen in the future in the event that they lose their bet; most of them would rather spend their days playing ball and cementing their hold among their peers and their social cliques, which sometimes result in the creation of strong bonds of brotherhood between two persons or among members of a group or the creation of intensive animosity as well; school is never an equally important priority, and the preference for the type of work they would engage on is similar on how they battle, win and lost in street basketball – exciting, thrilling and promises the yield of a quick buck.. Street basketball is a religion, while professional basketball is a mere day job for night shift dribblers, and the rituals that are involved in the daily exercise of their faith exists in different aspects – there are rituals of battle, rituals of praise, rituals done to ask for intercession and divine intercession as well as the rituals for both the victorious and the defeated. At some point, the ‘real’ and the ‘sports-based’ religion meets in the middle, when religion is infused in the practice of a competitive sport, because there is one ultimate human behavior that is manifested greatly in street basketball – and that is the desire to win, because winning is always more than the scorebook statistics; it is about winning wagers and bets, winning the respect of the crowd as well as the opponents and winning your own sense of self respect towards yourself. A sports activity is a particular cultural event, and like any other cultural event, st reet basketball is unique in different places. But despite these differences, this cultural event shares the same characteristic – and that is this: that it is the showcasing of the most primitive instinct that is present among humans inside the society; it is a display of skill, grace, strength and the set of values to which a person will be remembered for; it is a reminder of how fiercely competitive the world is, how one should earn everything with his bare hands standing on his own two feet alone. Street basketball speaks a lot about a place’s culture; pro basketball is plain entertainment. Works Cited: Ballard, Chris. â€Å"Hoops Nation: A Guide to Americas Best Pickup Basketball. † University of Nebraska Press, October 2004.

Strategic Hrm At Nestle Business Essay

Strategic Hrm At Nestle Business Essay Human resource management (HRM) is that part of management process which makes, enhances, manages and develops the human element of the enterprise measuring their resourcefulness in terms of talents, abilities, total skills, creative, knowledge, and potentialities for effectively contributing to the organizational objectives. Human resources are precious and a source of competitive advantage. Human resources may be tapped most effective by mutually standard policies which promote promise and foster an inclination in employees to act flexibly in the interests of the adaptive organizations pursuit of excellence. Human resource policies can be joined with planned business and used to reinforce appropriate culture. Human resources play a critical role in enabling the organization to effectively deal with the external environment challenges. The human resource management has been accepted as a strategic partner in the formulation of organizations strategies and in the implementation of such strategies through human resource planning, employment, training, appraisal and rewarding the personnel. Strategic management of human resources facilitates creation of competitive advantage for the organization over its rival by building unique human resource based competence. An organizations recruitment, selection, training, performance management process and compensation practices can have a strong influence on employee competence. The workforce will be more capable if a firm can successfully identify, attract, and select the most competent applicants. Performance appraisal takes in account the past performance of the employees and focuses on their improvement for the future performance of the employees through counseling, coaching or training. The human resource strategy of a business should reflect and support the corporate strategy. An effective human resource strategy includes the way in which the organization pans to develop its employees and provide them with suitable opportunities and better working conditions so that their optional contribution is ensured. This implies selecting the best available personnel, ensuring a fit between the employee and the job and retaining, empowering and motivating employees to perform well in the direction of corporate objectives. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE Consumer packaged goods (CPG) Organization, alternatively called as FMCG industry mainly deals with the production, marketing and selling of consumer packaged goods. The FMCG or Fast Moving Consumer Goods are those goods which are generally consumed at a regular interval by the consumers. FMCG industry has some of the main activities like financing, selling, purchasing, marketing etc. The industry also contributes or also involved in general management supply chain, operations and production. FMCG industry gives a variety of consumables and consequently the amount of money is very high which is circulated against FMCG products. Day by day the competition between the FMCG producers is increases which increasing the investment in FMCG industry is also increasing, specifically in India. Estimated to grow FMCG Sector in India is a very high rate by 2010. PRIME FMCG PRODUCTS Some general FMCG product categories include dairy products and food, drinks, coffee, tea, tobacco and cigarettes, glassware, paper products, pharmaceuticals, dry cells, electronics, prepacked food products, plastic goods, watches, greeting cards, soaps, printing and stationery, household products, detergents, photography, drinks etc. In FMCG industry some of the features which made this organization as a strong distribution networks, are small operational cost, as a prospective one, presence of renowned FMCG companies. Population growth is also one of the major factors behind the success of this industry. INTRODUCTION GOOD FOOD, GOOD LIFE NESTLE is a multinational packaged food company founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. Page Brothers established the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company for milk products in Cham, Switzerland in 1866 merger in 1905 with the Farine Lactà ©e Henri Nestlà © Company set up in 1867 by Henri Nestlà © to provide an infantfood product. Trademark of Nestlà ©s is birds in a nest, derived from Henri Nestlà ©s personal coat of arms, evoke the values upon which he founded his Company. No. of Nestlà ©s brands are globally renowned, which has made the company a global market leader in different product lines, including chocolate, confectionery, milk, pet food bottled water. FAMILY OF NESTLE Family of NESTLE consists of products related to: Milk Nutrition Beverages Prepared dishes cooking aids Chocolates confectioneries NESTLE is one of the well known FMCG company. In the Every part of the world, the Nestlà © name represents a commitment or promise to the customer or consumer that the product is of high standard and safe. NESTLE support the UNGC (United Nations Global Compacts). UNGC guiding principles on human rights, their aim and labour to offer an example of better labour practices and human rights all over his business activities. Our people played a major role for our success. We give the equal ant respect and dignity to each other and we expect from the every employee to share and contribute their opinions and views to improve Company personal development and results and also promote a sense of personal responsibility. We recruit motivated and competent people, who know and respect our values, provide equal opportunities for their advancement, development, protect their privacy and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. Human resources of an organization can provide it with a reasonable advantage over its competitors in the fast changing environment. This calls for the strategic management of human resources for the accomplishment of corporate objectives. STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT is called as the linking of strategic goals with human resources. No. of objectives in order to enhance or develops an organizational culture, improve organization performance and that fosters flexibility, innovation, and sustainable competitive advantage is called. KEY FACTORS OF SHRM PROCESS The outcomes of the SHRM process which should be evaluated both qualitatively as well as quantitatively. The business strategy it alter and is altered by the SHRM process and which provide the business a good thought of direction. The external environment which is flexible and dynamic in the present global business scenario. The internal environment The general culture and the organizational context which is prevalent in the organization. VISUAL DEPICTION OF THE SHRM PROCESS STAGES OF STRATEGIC HRM PLANNING PROCESS Strategic human resource management is the process by which managers design the mechanisms of an HRM system to be reliable with each other, with the organizations plans and goals and with other essentials of organizational architecture. The main role of strategic HRM is the improvement of an HRM system that increases an organizations awareness, worth, invention, and productivity to customers. Strategic human resource planning (SHRP) involves four distinct stages: Situational analysis/environmental scanning. Estimating demand for human resources. Analyzing the supply of human resources. Developing action plans to close any gap between human resource demand and supply. The first stage of HR planning is the point at which strategic planning and HRM interact. HR planners anticipate sources of threats and identify and should drive the organizations strategic planning and opportunities with the help of Environmental scanning. The strategic ideas or plan implement to environmental circumstances, and HR planning is the mechanisms that an organization can use to accomplish this adaptation process. The second stage, forecasting demand, requires estimating not only how many but also what kinds of employees will be needed by the organization. The demand for employees should be closely tied to the strategic direction of the organization. Forecasting yields advance estimates of the organizations staffing requirements. This is a difficult task, especially for organizations in rapidly changing environments. Four forecasting techniques include expert estimates, trend projections, statistical modeling, and unit-demand forecasting. Estimate by no of expert, a group of experienced or expert provides the organization with demand estimates based on subjective assessments of available economic, intuition, prior experience, and labor force indicators. Trend projection involves forecasting which is based on a previous relationship between the employment and a factor related to employment (e.g. sales levels). Statistical modeling techniques (e.g. regression analysis or Markov analysis) are mor e quantitative forecasting and sophisticated techniques. Unit-demand forecasting requires the unit managers (e.g. department head, project team leader) to analyze the present and future job-by-job, people-by-people needs. The third phase involves studying the number and types of current employees in terms of the training and skills necessary for the future and also the supply of capable workers in the outside labor market. The skills inventory is a major tool used to assess the internal supply of employees. A skills inventory is a list of names, skills and characteristics of the people currently working for the organization. The list of skills coded into the skills inventory should be tailored to the needs for the organization, but might include such factors as level and field of education, knowledge of a foreign language, professional qualification or certification, or licenses held. The organized inventory provides a way to acquire these data and makes them available as needed in an efficient manner. Also important is the need to maintain the inventory so that information is kept current. With regard to the external labor market, the entire country (or world) may be the relevant labor market for hig hly skilled jobs. For unskilled jobs the relevant labor market is usually the local community. After the HR planning system has analyzed both the supply of and the demand for future workers, the two forecasts are compared to determine what, if any, actions are necessary. If a discrepancy exists between the two estimates, the organization needs to choose an appropriate course of action designed to eliminate the gap. The organization has a number of options available when the demand for workers is greater than the supply of workers. The organization might elect to use overtime work with current employees, increase training and promotions of current employees, or recruit new employees. In tight labor markets, the availability of labor is limited (i.e. demand exceeds supply), driving up the price of those employees who are hired, and limiting the extent to which the organization can be selective in its hiring procedures. In a loose labor market, qualified employees are abundant. When the supply of workers exceeds demand, alternative solutions include attrition, early retirements, demotions, layoffs, and terminations. STRATEGIC HRM AT NESTLE Nestlà © aims to increase the business, list of customers, profits and sales but, at the same time, to improve the Standard of living everywhere it is active and the quality of life for everyone. Nestlà © is also convinced that nestle employees is the strength of the Company and it is impossible to achieved without their energy and their commitment, which makes people its most important asset. Involvement of people and also showing their interest at all levels starts with the basic and appropriate information on the Companys activities and also on the specific aspects of their work. Through shared their views, ideas and communication and focused vision, everyone is invited to share and contribute there opinions and views to improvements enhancing Company personal development and results. HR PRACTICES RECRUITMENT: Recruitment is the process of developing and maintaining adequate manpower resources. Recruitment refers to the attempt of getting interested applicants and creating a pool of prospective employees so that the management can select the right person for the right job from this pool. The recruitment process at Nestle is clearly defined. People with qualities like dynamism, realism, loyalty, pragmatism, hard work, honesty and reliable. Match between candidates values companys culture. Recruitment for management levels takes place in the head office and all others at the branch level. The existing employees are promoted to higher posts as per the requirements. There are no lateral recruitments. Another source of recruitment is campus placements and human resource consultancies. People management policies, basic values principles elaborated in- Nestle management leadership principles- The Nestlà © Management and Leadership Principles describe the management style and the corporate values of the Nestlà © Group, specifically in the area of interpersonal relations. Nestle human resources policy- This policy encompasses those guidelines which constitute a sound basis for efficient and effective HR Management in the Nestlà © Group around the world. Nestle people development review- this policy throws light on Nestlà ©s culture and core values, different training programs and life of employees after work. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT: Performance management includes all standard procedures used to appraise contributions, potentials and personalities of group members in a working organization. It is a process which is important for making accurate and impartial decisions on employees for secure information. At Nestle performance appraisals of Employees are done in order to understand each employees abilities, competencies and relative merit. Formal assessment by Line Managers and HR once a year with feedback. Subordinate can question an unfair evaluation. Specific Key Performance Indicators have been enlisted by the HR department. One of the important key performance indicators is achievement following the Nestle management and leadership principles. Remuneration structure and promotion criteria take into account individual. TRAINING: Training is a major and also an important part of organized activity for increasing the skills and knowledge of people and also to understand the deep knowledge of task that what they have to perform or for a definite purpose. It involves systematic procedures for imparting technical know-how to the employees so as to increase their knowledge and skills for doing specific jobs with proficiency. From the Company floor to the upper management, training at Nestlà © is continuous. Nestlà © people provide this training and it is constantly appropriate to the professional life. Nestle provides the following- Literacy training-to upgrade essential literacy skills, especially for workers who operate new equipment (Mission-directed Work Team Approach). Employees are also sent abroad to study markets, consumer tastes etc. Nestle Apprenticeship Programmes. Local Training Programmes-on issues ranging from technical, leadership, and communication and business economics. Employees are also sent abroad to study markets, consumer tastes etc. JOB DESIGN: Job design refers to the way the tasks are combines to form a complete job. Job design is a process which integrates work content ( tasks, functions, relationships), the reward ( extrinsic and intrinsic), and the qualifications required (skills, knowledge, abilities) for each job in a way that meet the needs of employees and the organization. The job design process under NESTLE is a very detailed and strategic process. Selection-Combination of written test, GD interview (Interviews for top Management posts). The company incorporates practices like Job Enrichment and Job Enlargement, to motivate employees and to break the monotony of their job tasks. The correspondent herself works in both sales and brand management departments, which is an example of job enlargement. PAY STRUCTURE: pay structure is generally the pay ranges and levels or hierarchy of job. We can also say it as a salary structure. It set out the different level of pay for different types of employees. It may mean the structure of the total wage of a worker or group of workers is composed; Nestle strives to offer fair remuneration. Remuneration level is above the average in industry. The variable component of the salary is comparatively big to reward individual Performance. In case of higher management level, the variable part is linked to individual team target achievements. REWARDS INCENTIVES: it consists of a variety of modules that can be presented to reward employees and identify unique performance. The structure is based on consistent, delivering equitable and fair rewards to a differentiated group and consists of the following non-financial and financial rewards. Passion to Win awards- These quarterly awards have been institutionalized to reward those who over-achieve their targets. Long-service Awards- To recognize employees who have been with the company for more than 30 years. Nestle Idea Award- It was found from the correspondent that the company institutes Nestle Idea Award every quarter to recognize and award employees who come up with relevant and innovative ideas which have the potential of being implemented at Nestle. 3.3.7 BENEFITS: Nestle offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to meet the varying needs of employees. These benefits are an integral part of total compensation package and provide employees and their families valuable protection during employment with Nestle. The following benefits are provided to all employees, with no discrimination- Leave-Personal Medical (fixed no. per year) Children Education Assistance Scheme Provident fund Retirement Gratuity Scheme Group Insurance Accidental Insurance Scheme Conveyance Reimbursements Residential Accommodation Monthly health check-ups free consultation for self family etc. 3.3.8 EMPLOYEE RELATIONS: Employee Relations involves the body of work concerned with maintaining employer-employee relationships that contribute to satisfactory productivity, motivation, and morale. Essentially, Employee Relations is concerned with preventing and resolving problems which arise out of or affect work situations. Nestle provides a very healthy working environment which is one of the reasons why Nestlà ©s employees state their commitment level to be very high. Employee turnover is less than 5%., which is considered to be very low for a Multinational Corporation. Nestle has a open culture upward communication especially in case of grievance redressal is encouraged. Work/Life balance is given importance, as illustrated in the Nestle Human Resource Policy document. Nestle Family annual events are organized by their HR department whereby employees along with their families are invited. Emphasis is laid on safety of employees (Nestle Policy on Health and Safety at Work). 3.3.9 CHANGE MANAGEMENT Nestle has adjusted to the ever-changing external environment for the last 140 years since its inception 1866 without losing its fundamental views and fundamental values. It manages Change and drives sustainable profitable growth by following the policy of making gradual changes instead of making drastic and risky changes. ERP implementation- In June 2000, Nestle SA signed a contract of $200 million with SAP with additional $80 million for maintenance and consulting to install an ERP system for its global enterprise to maintain centralize a multinational that subsidiaries in 80 countries and have owns 200 operating companies. While the ERP system was likely to have long-term benefits, the project touched the corporate structure and culture. The structure was decentralized, and it tried to centralize it. This was initially opposed by employees but with subsequent measures taken by the HR like training etc., this has been successfully implemented. 3.310 SAFETY HEALTH: Every employer is required to carry out a risk assessment for the workplace which should identify any hazards present in the workplace, assess the risks arising from such hazards and identify the steps to be taken to deal with any risks. The Nestle Operational Safety, Health and Risk-Management Strategy document illustrates that: Nestle is dedicated to safe healthy work environment. Regular safety assessments audits take place by internal external bodies. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The Model employed by Nestle is one of High Performance, High involvement and high commitment. Nestle is unique in the sense that it has been able to successfully inculcate its business objective as well as its core values, consistently in its employees day-to-day activities starting from recruitment till continuous performance appraisals. Like, open and flexible culture is ensured by way of providing training programs to employees at all the levels. This kind of culture is also supported by decentralized structure of Nestle. Transparent performance appraisal systems and the freedom given to them to question their seniors benefit not only the employees but even the organization as a whole. Nestles emphasis on individual achievement is evident from the kind of pay structure HR has designed for its employees. Need to develop consultation/awareness program to assist the employees for their better understanding of the policies. More incentives should be offered to the employees who provide services to the organization for more than two years continuously. Nestlà ©, over its long historical development from a small village operation to the worlds leading food Company, has demonstrated an enviable capability to adjust to an ever changing external environment, without losing its fundamental beliefs and core values, so important for long-term success. Over the years to come, this capability of using HR as a strategic partner in implementation of companys activities will continue to be challenged even more as Nestlà © is growing in size and complexity up to a dimension which demands a continuous evolution of its organization and of the way in which it is run. Its motivation based on willingness to learn and to question what it is doing and why it is doing it, combined with its long standing respect for Nestlà © values, will assure its success.

Traditional File Systems Essay

Traditional File Systems Essay The traditional filing system (TFS) is a method of storing and arranging computer files and the information in the file (data). Basically it organizes these files into a database for the storage, organization, manipulation, and retrieval by the computers operating system. (DBMS) consists of software that operates databases, providing storage, access, security, backup and other facilities. This system can be categorized according to the database model and the type of computer that they support such as a server cluster or a mobile phone, the query language(s) that access the database, such as SQL or XQuery, performance trade-offs, such as maximum scale or maximum speed or others. Some DBMS cover more than one entry in these categories, e.g., supporting multiple query languages. Meanwhile database management systems are usually accessed in a client-server manner, where the database client and the server are located on different machines (in a local area network). Both systems deal with information management. File-based System File-based systems were an early attempt to computerize the manual filing system. File-based system is a collection of application programs that perform services for the end-users, such as updating, insertion, deletion adding new files to database etc. Each program defines and manages its data. When a computer user wants to store data electronically they must do so by placing data in files. Files are stored in specific locations on the hard disk (directories). The user can create new files to place data in, delete a file that contains data, rename the file, etc which is known as file management; a function provided by the Operating System (OS). Disadvantages of traditional file based system No need of external storage Provides less security. No need of a highly technical person to handle the database. Redundancy is more. Processing speed is high as compared to DBMS Less integrity. High complexity in updating of database. Table 1.1.1 Database Management System The improvement of the File-Based System (FBS) was the Database Management System (DBMS) which came up in the 60s. The Database Management System removed the trouble of manually locating data, and having to go through it. The user could create a suitable structure for the data beforehand, to place the information in the database that the DBMS is managing. Hence, the physical organizing of files is done away with and provides the user with a logical view of the data input. A database is a collection of interrelated information stored in a database server; these data will be stored in the form of tables. The primary aim of database is to provide a way to store and retrieve database information fast and in an efficient manner. Advantages Control of data redundancy Although the database approach does not remove redundancy completely, it controls the amount of redundancy in the database. Data consistency By removing or controlling redundancy, the database approach reduces the risk of inconsistencies occurring. It ensures all copies of the idea are kept consistent. More information from the same amount of data With the amalgamation of the operated data, it is possible to derive additional information for the same data. Sharing of data Database belongs to the entire organization and can be shared by all authorized users. Improved data integrity Database integrity provides the validity and consistency of stored data. Integrity is usually expressed in terms of constraints, which are consistency rules that the database is not permitted to violate. Improved security Provides protection of data from unauthorized users. It will require user names and passwords to identify user type and their access right in the operation including retrieval, insertion, updating and deletion. Enforcement of standards The integration of the database enforces the necessary standards including data formats, naming conventions, documentation standards, update procedures and access rules. Economy of scale Cost savings can be obtained by combining all organizations operational data into one database with applications to work on one source of data. Balance of conflicting requirements By having a structural design in the database, the conflicts between users or departments can be resolved. Decisions will be based on the base use of resources for the organization as a whole rather than for an individual person. Improved data accessibility and responsiveness By having integration in the database approach, data accessing can cross departmental boundaries. This feature provides more functionality and better services to the users. Increased productivity The database approach provides all the low-level file-handling routines. The provision of these functions allow the programmer to concentrate more on the specific functionality required by the users. The fourth-generation environment provided by the database can simplify the database application development. Improved maintenance Provides data independence. As a change of data structure in the database will affect the application program, it simplifies database application maintenance. Increased concurrency Database can manage concurrent data access effectively. It ensures no interference between users that would not result any loss of information or loss of integrity. Improved backing and recovery services Modern database management system provides facilities to minimize the amount of processing that can be lost following a failure by using the transaction approach. Disadvantages Complexity A difficult software. All users must be familiar with its functionality and take full advantage of it. Therefore, training for the administrators, designers and users is required. Size Uses a substantial amount of main memory as well as large amount of disk space in order to make it run efficiently. Cost of DBMS A multi-user database management system may be very expensive. Even after the installation, there is a high regular annual maintenance cost on the software. Cost of conversion When moving from a file-base system to a database system, the company is required to have additional expenses on hardware acquisition and training cost. Performance As the database approach is to cater for many applications rather than exclusively for a particular one, some applications may not run as fast as before. Higher impact of a failure Increases the vulnerability of the system due to the centralization. As all users and applications reply on the database availability, the failure of any component can bring operations to a halt and affect the services to the customer seriously. The difference between TFS and DBMS Balajee B. (2005), There are number of characteristics that differ from traditional file management system to database management system. In file system approach, each user implements the required files for a specific application to run. (Example: in a sales department of an enterprise, one user will be maintaining the details of the number of sales personnel in that department and their grades. These details will be stored and maintained in a separate file. Another user will maintain the salary details of these sales personnel and the detailed salary report will be stored and maintained in a separate file. Although both of the users need the data of the salespersons, they will be having their details in separate files and they need different programs to operate their files.) When such data is isolated in separate files, it is difficult to access data that should be available for both users. This will lead to wastage of space and redundancy or replication of data, which may lead to c onfusion, as sharing of data among various users is not possible and data inconsistency may occur. These files will not be having any inter-relationship among the data stored in these files. Therefore in traditional file processing every user will be defining their own constraints and implement the files according to their needs. In database approach, a single store of data is maintained that is defined once and then accessed by many users, as database belongs to the entire organization and can be shared by all authorized users. The essential characteristic of database approach is that the database system not only contains data but it contains complete definition or description of the database structure and control. These definitions are stored in a system catalog, which contains the information about the structure and definitions of the database. The information stored in the catalog is called the metadata, it describes the primary database. Hence this approach will work on any type of database for example, insurance database, Airlines, banking database, Finance details, and Enterprise information database. But in traditional file processing system the application is developed for a specific purpose and they will access specific database only. But the processing speed in TFS is high compared to DBMS. The other main characteristic of the database is that it will allow multiple users to access the database at the same time and sharing of data is possible. The database must include concurrency control software to ensure that several users trying to update the same data at the same time, it should maintain in a controlled manner. In file system approach many programmers will be creating files over a long period and various files have different format, in various application languages, where duplication of data can occur. This redundancy in storing same data multiple times leads to higher costs and wastage of space. This may result in data inconsistency in the application; this is because update is done to some of the files only and not all of the files. Moreover in database approach multiple views can be created; External view User/Application view, Conceptual view Logical view, Internal view Details about the structure of data and physical storage of information. View is a tailored representation of information contained in one or more tables. View is also called as Virtual table because view does not contain physically stored records and will not occupy any space. A multi-user database whose users have variety of applications must provide facilities for defining multiple views. In traditional file system, if any changes are made to the structure of the files it will affect all the programs. Therefore, changes to the structure of a file will require to change all programs that access the file and whereby data dependence will be lost. But in the case of database approach the structure of the database is stored separately in the system catalog from the access of the application programs. This property is known as program-data independence. Database can also be used for continuous storage for program objects and data structures that resulted in object oriented database approach. Traditional systems suffered from impedance mismatch problem and difficulty in accessing the data, which is avoided in object oriented database system. Database can be used to represent complex relationships among data as well as to retrieve and update related data easily and efficiently. Hence DBMS does not automatically remove redundancies, but help to control redundancy. It is possible to define and enforce integrity constraints for the data stored in the database. The database also provides facilities for recovering hardware and software failures, as it has automatic and intelligent backup and recovery procedures. It reduces the application development time considerably when compared to the file system approach and availability of up-to-date information of all the users. It also provides security to the data stored in the database system and maintains integrity. A highly technical person will be required to handle the database, while for TFS, it is not so. File-based systems are very dependent upon the application programmer. Any required queries or reports have to be written by the application programmer. Normally, a fixed format query or report can only be entertained and no facility for ad-hoc queries if offered. DBMS has data independence. The way information is stored and the way information issued is independent of each other. File-based systems also give tremendous pressure on data processing staff, with users complaints on programs that are inadequate or inefficient in meeting their demands. Documentation may be limited and maintenance of the system is difficult. Provision for security, integrity and recovery capability is very limited. Whereas, DBMS has control over security as it provides tools such as use of User Code, Password / Privileges and Roles to ensure security of data. Data, Field, Record, and File are the main components of Database environment. Briefly explain those. Data Webopedia (Anon., n.d.), Distinct pieces of information usually formatted in a special way. All software is divided into two general categories: data and programs. Programs are collections of instructions for manipulating data. Data can exist in a variety of forms as numbers or text on pieces of paper, as bits and bytes stored in electronic memory, or as facts stored in a persons mind. Strictly speaking, data is the plural of datum, a single piece of information. In practice, however, people use data as both the singular and plural form of the word. The term data is often used to distinguish binary machine-readable information from textual human-readable information. For example, some applications make a distinction between data files (files that contain binary data) and text files (files that contain ASCII data). In database management systems, data files are the files that store the database information, whereas other files, such as index files and data dictionaries, store adminis trative information, known as metadata. Field Webopedia (Anon., n.d.), A space allocated for a particular item of information. A tax form, for example, contains a number of fields: one for your name, one for your Social Security number, one for your income, and so on. In database systems, fields are the smallest units of information you can access. In spreadsheets, fields are called cells. Most fields have certain attributes associated with them. For example, some fields are numeric whereas others are textual; some are long, while others are short. In addition, every field has a name, called the field name. In database management systems, a field can be required, optional, or calculated. A required field is one in which you must enter data, while an optional field is one you may leave blank. A calculated field is one whose value is derived from some formula involving other fields. You do not enter data into a calculated field; the system automatically determines the correct value. A collection of fields is called a record. Record Webopedia (Anon., n.d.), In database management systems, a complete set of information. Records are composed of fields, each of which contains one item of information. A set of records constitutes a file. For example, a personnel file might contain records that have three fields: a name field, an address field, and a phone number field. In relational database management systems, records are called tuples. Some programming languages allow you to define a special data structure called a record. Generally, a record is a combination of other data objects. For example, a record might contain three integers, a floating-point number, and a character string. In database management systems, a complete set of information. Records are composed of fields, each of which contains one item of information. A set of records constitutes a file. For example, a personnel file might contain records that have three fields: a name field, an address field, and a phone number field. Figure 1.2.1 Source Author Anon., File Webopedia (Anon., n.d.), A collection of data or information that has a name, called the filename. Almost all information stored in a computer must be in a file. There are many different types of files: data files, text files, program files, directory files, and so on. Different types of files store different types of information. For example, program files store programs, whereas text files store text. What is the Importance of DBMS in a Defense Organization and in an Education Department? Defence Organization Benjamin (n.d.), A Database Management System (DBMS) is a set of computer programs that controls the creation, maintenance, and the use of the database with computers of an organization and its end users. It allows organizations to place control of organization-wide database development in the hands of database administrators (DBAs) and other specialists. As organizations develop with time, their adoption to the latest technologies in the computer field becomes a necessity. A Defence organization is no different. In these turbulent times, when national security is more important, providing all Defence personnel with access to the latest technology and education opportunities not only directly contributes to Defence capability but also improve the defence personnels career development. Hence the importance of a DBMS in such an organization like Defence is vital. Because Database administrators could use this system to configure and operate databases as the software provides high level, privileged database access. But the management should restrict use of this software to authorized personnel. One function of the database administrator is to create particular views of information stored in the database that are unique for each type of user. For example, one officer will have a different view of information in the database than another, say Senior officer. The different user groups will also have different abilities to add, modify, or delete information. The database administrator is responsible for providing users with access to the appropriate level of information. The primary risk associated with database administration is that an administrator can alter sensitive data without those modifications being detected. A secondary risk is that an administrator can change access rights to information stored within the database as well as their own access rights. Database security is the last line of defence. So it deserves greater focus on the protection of private data from both internal and external. The sensitivity and classification of the information stored in the database form the basis for establishing controls. A database that stores confidential information may require a more significant control environment than a database that stores non-sensitive information. Management should consider the security and performance implications of the security options available with modern database management systems. Database security professionals and information security and risk management professionals could adopt a security strategy in DBMS to: 1) Align database security policies with information security policies; 2) Ensure well-defined and formalized database security procedures; 3) Enforce role separation; and 4) Apply advanced security measures such as database auditing, monitoring, database encryption, data masking, and vulnerability assessment to all critical databases that store private data. The DBMS can provide long-term benefits for the Defence organization reducing duplication of data and making it easier for HR to update personnel records. If not for DBMS, each time there was a personnel change, trainers would have to go through their entire content to make the necessary changes. Now, replacing Brigadier Xs picture in the content library with Commodore Ys picture can be automatically replicated through all relevant programs. Thereby reduce its expenditure on storage. But, initial training will be required for all programmers and users. Even though database systems are complex, difficult, and time-consuming to design, there is greater data integrity and independence from applications programs and Education Department Sue Bushell (2004), To improve teaching and learning with the help of modern information and communication technology eLearning is beneficial to education, corporations and to all types of learners. It is affordable, saves time, and produces measurable results. E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The Information and communication systems, whether networked or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process. E-learning services have evolved since computers were first used in education. There is a trend to move towards blended learning services, where computer-based activities are integrated with practical or classroom-based situations. E-learning is essentially the computer and network-enabled transfer of skills and knowledge. E-learning applications and processes include Web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual classroom opportunities and digital collaboration. Content is delivered via the Internet, intranet/extranet, audio or video tape, satellite TV, and CD-ROM. It can be self-paced or instructor-led and includes media in the form of text, image, animation, streaming video and audio The definition of e-learning varies depending on the organization and how it is used but basically it involves electronic means of communication, education, and training. Regardless of the definition you chose to use, designers, developers, and implementers make or break the instructional courses and tools. E-learning is simply a medium for delivering learning and like any other medium, it has its advantages and disadvantages. E-learning covers a wide array of activities from supported learning, to blended or hybrid learning (the combination of traditional and e-learning practices), to learning that occurs 100% online. As per wikipedia.org, the worldwide e-learning industry is estimated to be worth over $48 billion US according to conservative estimates. Developments in internet and multimedia technologies are the basic enabler of e-learning, with consulting, content, technologies, services and support being identified as the five key sectors of the e-learning industry. E-learning is naturally suited to distance learning and flexible learning, but can also be used in conjunction with face-to-face teaching, in which case the term Blended learning is commonly used. E-Learning pioneer Bernard Luskin argues that the E must be understood to have broad meaning if e-learning is to be effective. Luskin says that the e should be interpreted to mean exciting, energetic, enthusiastic, emotional, extended, excellent, and educational in addition to electronic that is a traditional national interpretation. This broader interpretation allows for 21st century applications and brings learning and media psychology into the equation. E-Learning can also refer to educational web sites such as those offering learning scenarios, worksheets and interactive exercises for children. The term is also used extensively in the business sector where it generally refers to cost-effective online training There are many advantages to online and computer-based learning when compared to traditional face-to-face courses and lectures. There are a few disadvantages as well. Advantages of eLearning (Anon., n.d) E-learning is beneficial to education, corporations and to all types of learners. It is affordable, saves time, and produces measurable results. Cost effective E-learning is more cost effective than traditional learning because less time and money is spent traveling. Since e-learning can be done in any geographic location and there are no travel expenses, this type of learning is much less costly than doing learning at a traditional institute. Flexibility Flexibility is a major benefit of e-learning. E-learning has the advantage of taking class anytime anywhere. Education is available when and where it is needed. E-learning can be done at the office, at home, on the road, 24 hours a day, and seven days a week. Learners like e-learning because it accommodates different types of learning styles. They have the advantage of learning at their own pace. Students can also learn through a variety of activities that apply to many different learning styles. Learners can fit e-learning into their busy schedule. If they hold a job, they can participate in eLearning right at their desk. If the learner needs to do the learning at night, then this option is available while in their pyjamas and do the learning if they desire. Personalized learning E-learning encourages students to peruse through information by using hyperlinks and sites on the worldwide Web. Learners are able to find information relevant to their personal situations and interest. E-learning allows selection of learning materials that meet their level of knowledge, interest and what they need to know to perform more effectively in an activity. E-learning is more focused on the learner and it is more interesting for the learner because it is information that they want to learn. E-learning is flexible and can be customized to meet the individual needs of the learners. Develops knowledge E-learning helps develop knowledge of the Internet. This knowledge will help learners throughout their careers. E-learning encourages students to take personal responsibility for their own learning. When learners succeed, it builds self-knowledge and self-confidence Disadvantages of eLearning Access One disadvantage of eLearning is that learners need to have access to a computer as well as the Internet. They also need to have computer skills with programs such as word processing, Internet browsers, and e-mail. Without these skills and software it is not possible for the learner to succeed in eLearning. E-learners need to be very comfortable using a computer. Slow Internet connections or older computers may make accessing course materials difficult. This may cause the learners to get frustrated and give up.   Software and files Another disadvantage of e-learning is managing computer files, software comfortability and learning new software, including e-learning. For learners with beginner-level computer skills it can sometimes seem complex to keep their computer files organized. The lesson points you to download a file which the learner does and later cannot find the file. The file is downloaded to the folder the computer automatically opens to rather than a folder chosen by the learner. This file may be lost or misplaced to the learner without good computer organizational skills. High motivation E-learning also requires time to complete especially those with assignments and interactive collaborations. This means that students have to be highly motivated and responsible because all the work they do is on their own. Learners with low motivation or bad study habits may not complete modules and may fall behind Isolation Another disadvantage of e-learning is that students may feel isolated and unsupported while learning. Instructions are not always available to help the learner so learners need to have discipline to work independently without assistance. E-learners may also become bored with no interaction with instructors or classmates.   Without the routine structures of a traditional class, students may get lost or confused about course activities and deadlines. Instructor may not always be available when students are studying or need help Conclusion Today many technologies can be, and are, used in e-learning, from blogs to collaborative software, E-Portfolios, and virtual classrooms. Most e-learning situations use combinations of these techniques. Even though the hardware and software start-up are costly, the advantages are; reduced data redundancy, reducing updating errors and increased consistency, greater data integrity and independence from applications programs, improved data access to users through use of host and query languages, improved data security and availability of facilitated development of new application programs and ability for intensive research are the benefits of DBMS. Task 2 Draw an Entity Relationship Data Model which describes the content and structure of the data held by the Medi Check Hospital. Produce the resulting tables of above Medi Check Hospital and clearly indicating the primary and foreign keys. Data Tables Doctor DoctorID (primary) Lname Fname Address Phone Pager Specialty Location Availability Patient PatientNo (primary) PatientFirstName PatientLastName PatientAddress PatientTelNo PatientDob PatientMaritalStatus PatientDateRegistered Appointment AppointmentNo (primary) PatientName Date/Time PatientTelNo Symptom SymptomCode (primary), SymptomName Description Treatment TreatmentTitle (primary) TreatmentType Duration Status TreatmentCost Medication MedicationNo (primary) MedicationType SideEffect Dosage Frequency Severity MedicationBrandName MedicationManufactureName MedicationManufactureAddress MedicationManufactureTel Normalize these tables to ensure that are all in BCNF. Show the steps you have taken in normalizing the tables. UNF Medication (DoctorID, Lname, Fname, Address, Phone, Pager, Specialty, Location, Availability, PatientNo, PatientFirstName, PatientLastName, PatientAddress, PatientTelNo, PatientDob, PatientMaritalStatus, PatientDateRegistered, AppoinmentNo, PatientName, Date/Time, PatientTelNo, SymptomCode, SymptomName, Description, TreatmentTitle, TreatmentType, Duration, Status, TreatmentCost, MedicationNo, MedicationType, SideEffect, Dosage, Frequency, Severity, MedicationBrandName, MedicationManufactureName, MedicationManufactureAddress, MedicationManufactureTel) 1NF Doctor Details (DoctorID, Lname, Fname, Address, Phone, Pager, Specialty, Location, Availability) Patient Details (PatientNo, PatientFirstName, PatientLastName, PatientAddress, PatientTelNo, PatientDob, PatientMaritalStatus, PatientDateRegistered, AppoinmentNo, PatientN

Anti-War Essay -- essays research papers

Anti War Do you consider the war in Iraq a victory or another Vietnam? The Iraq war is a lot like Vietnam as I have read in many articles; promises of an easy victory and short occupation, and then a reversal, but it wasn't just the length of time the US spent in Vietnam that turned public opinion, nor was it the mass peace protests. It was a growing realizations (fed up by events like the publication of the Pentagon Papers) that people were being fed lies, and the truth was systematically covered up. The public began to wonder if the war had anything to do with plans to create a democratic state in Vietnam and Iraq is a lot like Vietnam. And it is the realization of the truth, by the general public that the majority of our voting citizens’ support this President Bush once enjoyed for what has proven to be a huge and costly series of blunders, miscalculations, and mistakes. Once again, the lies and the realization that the "liberation" of the Iraqi people is not the primary agenda behind the occupation, and preventing terrorism isn't cu tting it as an excuse either. Iraq is a training camp and recruitment center for terrorists. We need to leave Iraq alone and send our soldiers home. American political leaders insisted we would wipe out those Iraqi terrorists and criminals in no time, but it didn't happen. Just like in Vietnam. The U.S. media insisted that nearly all Iraqis welcomed U.S. occupation and that Iraqis would love Americans for giving them democracy and ...