Leadership Process Essay

First Section Leadership is a process by which one person influences the thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors of others. Leaders set a direction for the rest of us; they help us see what lies ahead; they help us visualize what we might achieve; they encourage us and inspire us. Level 5 leadership refers to the highest level in a hierarchy of executive capabilities that we identified during our research. Leaders at the other four levels in the hierarchy can produce high degrees of success but not enough to elevate companies from mediocrity to sustained excellence. And while Level 5 leadership is not the only requirement for transforming a good company into a great one—other factors include getting the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) and creating a culture of discipline—our research shows it to be essential. Good-to-great transformations don’t happen without Level 5 leaders at the helm. They just don’t. (Traylor, 2001) The Level 5 leader sits on top of a hierarchy of capabilities and is, according to our research, a necessary requirement for transforming an organization from good to great. But what lies beneath? Four other layers, each one appropriate in its own right but none with the power of Level 5. Individuals do not need to proceed sequentially through each level of the hierarchy to reach the top, but to be a full-fledged Level 5 requires the capabilities of all the lower levels, plus the special characteristics of Level 5. (HBR, 2001) It differs from other leadership styles as the leaders come from the grass root of the organization. Meaning, it is the leader who has grown and developed from the ground level of the organization and has gradually escalated towards the top most level. This allows an employee to go through all phases and nurture to the top level of the organization i.e. CEO level. A few years ago in Strategy & Leadership, Michael Raynor debunked the premises on which the shareholder-first model rests, and a few months ago Michael Porter criticized the current belief that looking beyond the business is bad for business. In the January/February Harvard Business Review he argues that companies should be considering other stakeholders, and so generates economic value by creating societal value. These respected thinkers offer another answer to the question about the purpose of a business: the firm should see itself as an interdependent part of a community that consists of multiple stakeholders whose interests are integral to business success. In this view, an enterprise can be seen as a system of long-term cooperative relationships between affected parties. (Collins, 2001) These include the firm’s managers and employees, customers and clients, investors, suppliers, the towns, states and nations where the firm is located or sells goods and services and even future generations of stakeholders. In such a system, stakeholder influence generates pressure for the organization to behave in ethical and environmentally and socially responsible ways, and in turn, this interdependency helps the firm be sustainable and resilient. This alternative approach to leadership is variously referred to as ‘‘sustainable,’’ ‘‘Rhineland’’ or ‘‘honeybee’’ leadership. By sustainable we don’t just mean a firm is being green and socially responsible. Research and observations in over 50 firms around the world, including in many listed corporations, suggest that sustainable leadership requires taking a long-term perspective in making decisions; fostering systemic innovation aimed at increasing customer value; developing a skilled, loyal and highly engaged workforce; and offering quality products, services and solutions. (Caroselli, 2003) Second Section In 2005, Lee Scott, ex-CEO and President of Wal-Mart Stores and now Chairman of its Executive Committee, announced that the company would essentially adopt sustainable leadership principles going forward, although he did not use that term. Financial performance was solid, but the company was the target of many complainants – employees, local communities, suppliers, and environmentalists. Scott decreed that Wal-Mart, one of largest Fortune 500 corporations, would become more ethical, and more socially and environmentally responsible. The company would use its political might to benefit ordinary Americans in healthcare and energy savings, and make people’s lives better. Scott even advocated paying more for products from ethical suppliers – an extraordinary reversal by an enterprise built around a low-cost strategy. In the years since, Wal-Mart has experimented with environmentally-friendly stores and other socially-responsible measures. Interestingly, its bottom line has not suffered during this process, posting net sales increases for the past five years, according to Wal-Mart’s 2009 annual report. In recent months, in a move to improve the healthiness of its products, the firm announced plans to reduce the fat and salt in its house brand groceries and cut prices on fresh produce. (Shaw, 2005) A considerable body of evidence shows that sustainable practices are more likely to enhance business performance than the shareholder-first approach. First, various writers have examined and compared the Anglo/US system with its Rhineland counterpart, concluding that Rhineland principles are more sustainable and lead to better outcomes than the shareholder-first approach. Second, Avery and Bergsteiner have gathered extensive evidence for each of the individual practices in their pyramid model, showing how they are more likely to contribute to positive business outcomes than their counterparts under the shareholder-first model. For example, a major difference between shareholder-first and sustainable practices lies in whether they retain people or lay them off when times get difficult. Staff retention is regarded as a foundation element in the pyramid because conditions aimed at keeping staff can be initiated at any time. However, retaining staff supports various higher order outcomes in the pyramid; it allows knowledge to be retained, and supports quality, trust, and innovation, for example, and enhances financial performance, as well as staff and customer satisfaction. Similar cases can be made for the other 22 elements. (Cooke, 2008) What senior executive would reject these as legitimate goals for an enterprise seeking to both thrive and endure? To some cynics, sustainable leadership – a management approach aimed at delivering better and more sustainable returns, reducing unwanted employee turnover and accelerating innovation – sounds too good to be true. They dismiss it as just another form of humanistic management, merely good management practices, or as following old-fashioned values. There is some truth in each of these characterizations. Certainly, sustainable leadership embraces aspects of humanistic management in that it includes valuing people and considering the firm as a contributor to social well being. The individual practices of sustainable leadership are not new: B Warren Bennis advocated recruiting, training, and employing an effective top leadership team rather than just relying on the heroic CEO. He also proposed that firms become financially transparent as a step to becoming more ethical. B Peter Drucker wanted managers to promote change and allow innovations to come from all over the organization, thereby enabling ordinary people to make extraordinary things happen. B Stephen Covey urged using the knowledge and engagement of a firm’s employees. What is new is the understanding that these practices form a self-reinforcing leadership system that enhances the performance of a business and its prospects for survival. What is also significant is that sustainable leadership practices are diametrically opposed to the typical shareholder-first approach, which business schools, management journals, the media, and many practitioners continue to promote. (Branson, 2010) Sustainable leadership in practice Sustainably-led organizations have been identified across different sectors, countries, institutional contexts, and markets. Examples of successful enterprises that consistently embrace sustainable leadership principles abound, particularly among privately-held firms and SMEs. Unlisted companies displaying virtually all of the 23 characteristics of a sustainable enterprise include: in the USA, WL Gore & Associates (Goretexw and other products) and SAS (software); in Germany, Giesecke & Devrient (bank notes and securities) and Ka ¨rcher (cleaning solutions); and in Switzerland, Endress & Hauser (flow technologies) and Migros (retail conglomerate). However, it is likely to be more difficult for listed corporations or private equity groups to operate on sustainable principles because of the pressures on them to achieve short-term performance goals. Yet numerous listed enterprises manage to operate sustainably, if necessary by standing up to or managing their relationships with the financial markets. Well-known examples include Germany’s Munich Re from the finance industry; Colgate (consumer goods) based in the USA; Britain’s BT Group (telecommunications); the Thai construction corporation, Siam Cement Group, and its competitor from Switzerland, Holcim. (Streshly & Gray, 2010) Third Section There are many obstacles in changing to sustainable leadership. First, sticking with conventional wisdom is comfortable and easy – it’s business as usual. Second, change is disruptive and initially creates both financial and intangible costs, although as the Wal-Mart case shows these may not slow growth and profits. Third, most people disregard hard evidence and make their decisions on the basis of ideological beliefs. Managers are no exception to this human foible despite their training and experience in decision making. Fourth, major change involves risks, bringing with it the chance of a drop in short-term performance, so stakeholders need to be prepared to focus on the long term. Finally, radical change can take a long time to embed and then maintain. A major Australian bank converted from a shareholder-first strategy to a sustainable leadership model. The change took a decade to take hold, with outstanding results, but unraveled in only a few years to under a new CEO with a different agenda. The choice to adopt a more sustainable strategy, one that research and practice show leads to higher resilience and performance over the long term, remains in the hands of each executive team. Unfortunately, executives remunerated on a short-term basis may have no incentive for seriously pursuing long-term change, to the detriment of shareholders and other stakeholders. This is where the fundamental short-term focus of the shareholder-first or business-as-usual model begins to destroy shareholder value and endanger a firm’s very survival. (Brown, 2005) References Branson, D. M. (2010). The last male bastion: gender and the CEO suite in America’s public companies. Taylor & Francis. Brown, M. T. (2005). Corporate integrity: rethinking organizational ethics, and leadership. Cambridge University Press. Caroselli, M. (2003). The business ethics activity book: 50 exercises for promoting integrity at work. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. Collins, J. C. ( 2001). Good to great: why some companies make the leap–and others don’t. Harper Business. Cooke, P. (2008). Branding Faith: Why Some Churches and Non-Profits Make a Difference and Other’s Don’t. Gospel Light. Shaw, K. A. (2005). The intentional leader. Syracuse University Press. Streshly, W. A., & Gray, S. P. (2010). Leading Good Schools to Greatness: Mastering What Great Principals Do Well. Corwin Press. Traylor, P. S. (2001). IT Takes Two. CIO Magazine , Vol.15, No.4, November 15

Japanese Music Essay

The Japanese culture was widely affected and highly related to its nearby nations like China and Korea. As such, it is a logical for us to look at the Japanese music as a collaboration of the different music from the other Asian nations. The flourishing of the Japanese music can be seen as they have adapted their personal styles to the influences that surround them. Their music has its origin in poetry and songs, although there have been misleading artifacts about the distinction of the two. The confusion started with the acknowledgement that indeed, the Japanese word â€Å"uta† can both be understood as to mean poetry or songs. The evidence and remains of the ancients’ music of Japan can be reflected on the songs in Kojiki that was recorded as traditional songs in the imperial court. The ancient Japanese music was also preserve in legends, rituals and prose specifically in an ancient story of Genji Monogatari. This story was composed of poetic dialogues about a lover in the imperial court. The presentation of this in a play was interpreted through Gagaku dances, accompanied mostly by flutes and the famous string instrument, â€Å"koto†. The Gagaku dances and music have been very famous in courts. Its music is composed of wind and string instruments that go together with drums and gongs. It also go along with sho,(a harmonica like instrument) and â€Å"nasal hichiriki† which is the reason why it posses a different sound. The Gagaku is further divided in to two categories, the To-gaku and the Rimpa-gaku. These two differs from the culture in which it belongs. In such manner those that came mainly under the influence of China was called To-gaku while those that came from Vietnam were rendered as Rimpa-gaku. Due to the advent of imported music that was a by-product of the trade industry. It is but inevitable for the native people to become awe with the new kind of music that they have been listening and so, they tend to imitate their ways of thinking. Japanese Music in the Face of Modern Influences The reproduction of this music produces an inclination to the instrumental music. However even though there had been an emerging culture of Americanization, still there are many Japanese mode of music that remained the same. Kagura, for instance, or what was commonly known to be â€Å"Mi-Kagura† which was preserved by some of the people in the imperial court. Fuzoku in relation to the folk songs that was numerous in the provinces. Also with Azuma-Asobi, this is also a type of folk song that was predominant on the eastern part of the country. Saibara was also believed to be composed of traces of folk songs as well. Since all of these music where sung in courts, it is incorporated with Gagaku music. A Brief Introduction on Jo-Ha-Kyu tradition According to the Japanese culture, the â€Å"Jo-Ha-kyo† music can be traced to have influences of the Gagaku traditions. The term was generally referred to the way the music and the dances were done in the play, â€Å"Jo† was associated with being slow and more peaceful, it is the primary or the introductory part. â€Å"Ha† was the start of the conflict , it is not slow but more of a moderate version, it is associated with the journey. While lastly, â€Å"Kyu† was regarded as the final or the ultimate. Thus, the form â€Å"Jo-Ha-Kyu is actually a way of presenting ideas and capturing the minds of the readers. Buddhist Chants and Other Influences Another trend of music came to Japan on the time of Nara and Heian periods. This was comprised of Buddhist Chants, which is performed by narrating a certain sutra with the addition of rhythmical melodies. Accordingly, there are three known styles that were used in accordance to the language used by the countries who have participated or who are the founding authors of the Chants. The style which uses the â€Å"Sankrit† language was called â€Å"Bonsan†. Chinese speakers were called â€Å"Kansan† while plain Japanese were called â€Å"Wasan†. During the late Heian period, there had been another popular music trend which is now called as â€Å"Imayo† There is also the development of Heike Biwa or Heikyuko which is according to some, is the narrative music played by the blind priest-thus they were now called as Blind Prince. Another form of dance and music was the Noh, which is a classical Japanese drama that was either a Dengaku Noh or Sarugaku Noh. Dengaku Noh are those which portrays rituals and traditions that is done in the rice-fields. Sarugaku, on the other hand was more focus on acrobatic performances.

Henry Howard Holmes, One of Americas first Serial Killers

I researched who is to be believed as the one of america’s First Serial Killers, Herman Webster Mudgett aka Dr. Henry Howard Holmes. He had confessed to 27 murders, but only 9 could actually be proven. He had several victims during his time and choose what he felt was the perfect place for these murders. Herman was born on May 16th, 1861 in Gilmanton, New Hampshire to Levi Horton Mudgett and Theodate Page Price, both of whom were descended from the first settlers in the area. His father was a very violent alcoholic and his mother was a Methodist who would often read the bible to her son. Holmes had a privileged childhood. It has been said that he appeared to be unusually intelligent at an early age. Still there were haunting signs of what was to come. He expressed an interest in medicine, which reportedly led him to practice surgery on animals. Some accounts indicate that he may have been responsible for the death of a friend. As a child Herman was scared of the local doctor and when this got out bullies at his school forced him to view and touch a human skeleton. It turns out that this fascinated Herman so much that he actually scared the bullies who forced him into very badly. During much of his life he was considered a loner and very shady. Herman would later graduate from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1884, but while he was enrolled there he began to explore a new area or hobby. He would steal bodies from the lab disfigured the bodies, and claimed that the people were killed accidentally in order to collect insurance money from policies he took out on each deceased person he had stolen. After Graduation he began to dabble in more shady work such as pharmaceuticals, real estate and promotional deals under his created alias H.  H. Holmes. On July 4th 1878, Holmes married Clara Lovering in Alton, New Hampshire; their son, Robert Lovering Mudgett, was born on February 3rd 1880 in Loudon, New Hampshire (in adult life Robert was to become a Certified Public Accountant, and served as City Manager of Orlando, Florida). On January 28th 1887, while he was still married to Clara, Holmes married Myrta Belknap in Minneapolis, Minnesota; their daughter, Lucy Theodate Holmes, was born on July 4th 1889 in Englewood, Illinois. (in adult life Lucy was to become a public schoolteacher). Holmes lived with Myrta and Lucy in Wilmette, Illinois, and spent most of his time in Chicago tending to business. He filed for divorce from Clara after marrying Myrta, but the divorce was never finalized. He married Georgiana Yoke on January 9th 1894 in Denver, Colorado while still married to Clara and Myrta. He also had a relationship with Julia Smythe, the wife of one of his former employees; Julia later became one of Holmes's victims. While in Chicago, Holmes had started to grow even more shady and criminal. Holmes took a job in a drugstore which he would buy and promise to let the current store owner live even after her husband died. When her husband died however she simply disappeared and as people began to question where she was Holmes lied and told them she went to California and liked it there so much that she decided she would stay there. These people would actually turn out to be his first victims in his long murder spree and it is unknown how and when he murdered them. Holmes purchased a lot across from the drugstore and built what would be later known as his Murder Castle (which is where it is believed that he hid the bodies of Dr.  E. S. Holton and his wife). Holmes would open it up as a hotel for the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, with part of the structure used as commercial space. The ground floor of the Castle contained Holmes's own relocated drugstore and various shops, while the upper two floors contained his personal office and a maze of over one hundred windowless rooms with doorways opening to brick walls, oddly angled hallways, stairways to nowhere, doors opened only from the outside, and a host of other strange and labyrinthine constructions. Holmes repeatedly changed builders during the construction of the Castle, so only he fully understood the design of the house, thus decreasing the chance of being reported to the police. Holmes selected mostly female victims from among his employees (many of which were required as a condition of employment to take out life insurance policies for which Holmes would pay the premiums but also be the beneficiary), as well as his lovers and hotel guests. He tortured and killed them in some of the worst possible ways you could imagine. Some were locked in soundproof bedrooms fitted with gas lines that let him asphyxiate them at any time and some were locked in a huge soundproof bank vault near his office where they were left to suffocate. He would then take the victims' bodies and drop by secret chute to the basement where some were meticulously dissected, stripped of flesh, crafted into skeleton models, and then sold to medical schools. Holmes also cremated some of the bodies or placed them in lime pits for destruction. Holmes had two giant furnaces as well as pits of acid, bottles of various poisons, and even a stretching rack which he would use to help dispose of the bodies and any evidence. Through the connections he had gained in medical school, he sold skeletons and organs with little difficulty and therefore was able to get rid of even more evidence. He had some of the best methods for disposing of all of his victims and the evidence that anything had ever even happened which is why it is so difficult to determine just how many victims he actually had and who they were. There were also trapdoors and chutes so that he could move the bodies down to the basement where he could burn his victims’ remains in a kiln there or dispose of them in other ways. All the while, Holmes continued to work insurance scams and it was one of these scams that led to his undoing. He joined forces with Benjamin Pitezel to collect $10,000 from a life insurance company. Holmes would leave Chicago due to the economy and move down to Fort Worth, Texas, to a property that he inherited from two sisters he promised to marry and later murdered. He had planned to build another castle, but would abandon that idea and move about the US as well as Canada and he was believed to have killed several more victims on his travels, but no evidence of this could be found. Holmes's murder spree finally ended when he was arrested in Boston on November 17, 1894, after being tracked there from Philadelphia by the Pinkertons(a national detective agency). He was held on an outstanding warrant for horse theft in Texas, as the police had little more than suspicions at this point and Holmes appeared ready to leave the country, with his unsuspecting third wife. After the custodian for the Castle informed police that he was never allowed to clean the upper floors, police began a thorough investigation over the course of the next month, uncovering Holmes's efficient methods of committing murders and then disposing of the corpses. While Holmes sat in prison in Philadelphia, not only did the Chicago police investigate his operations in that city, but the Philadelphia police began to try to unravel the Pitezel situation, the fate of the three missing children. Philadelphia detective Frank Geyer was given the task of finding out and his quest for the children, like the search of Holmes's Castle, received wide publicity. He would eventually discover their remains essentially sealed Holmes's fate, at least in the public mind. Holmes was put on trial for the murder of Pitezel and confessed, following his conviction, to 27 murders in Chicago, Indianapolis and Toronto, and six attempted murders. Holmes was paid $7,500 ($197,340 in today's dollars) by the Hearst Newspapers in exchange for this confession. He gave various contradictory accounts of his life, claiming initially innocence and later that he was possessed by Satan. His faculty for lying has made it difficult for researchers to ascertain any truth on the basis of his statements. On May 7, 1896, H. H. Holmes went to the hangman's noose. His last meal was boiled eggs, dry toast, and coffee. Even at the noose, he changed his story. He claimed to have killed only two people, and tried to say more but at 10:13 the trapdoor opened and he was hanged, it took him fully 15 minutes to strangle to death on the gallows. Afraid of body-snatchers who might capitalize on his corpse, Holmes had made a request: He wanted no autopsy and he instructed his attorneys to see that he was buried in a coffin filled with cement. This was taken to Holy Cross Cemetery south of Philadelphia and two Pinkerton guards stood over the grave during the night before the body was finally interred in a double grave also filled with cement. No stone was erected to mark it, Larson states, although its presence is recorded on a cemetery registry. Holmes attorneys had turned down an offer of $5,000 for his body, and even refused his brain to Philadelphias Wistar Institute, which hoped to have its experts analyze the organ for better understanding of the criminal mind. Larson recounts a series of strange events afterward that gave credence to the rumors that Holmes was satanic, including several weird deaths and a fire at the D. A. s office that destroyed everything there save a photograph of Holmes. During this case, another American phenomenon arose from society's fascination with sensational crime. Thousands of people lined up to see the Chicago murder site, so a former police officer remodeled the infamous building as â€Å"Holmes's Horror Castle,† an attraction that offered guided tours to the suffocation chambers and torture rooms. But before it opened it mysteriously burned to the ground. So many people who'd rented rooms from Holmes during the fair had actually gone missing that sensational estimates of his victims reached around 200, and some people perpetuated this unsubstantiated toll even today. Its likely that Holmes own figure from his recanted confession is low, but there is no way to know just how many he actually killed. In the end he was so worried that someone would want to do to him what he had done to so many others that he felt the only way he could rest in peace was to be encased in concrete. He was one of the first ever serial killers and one of the worst. It was horrible what he did and all of the lives lost because of this man. In my opinion his request for a protected grave was one of the things that show you how crazy this man really was and how smart he was all at the same time. In my opinion the starting point in H. H. Holmes spiral to murder would be that as a child, schoolmates forced him to view and touch a human skeleton after discovering his fear of the local doctor. The bullies initially brought him there to scare him, but instead he was utterly fascinated, and he soon became obsessed with death. He started by stealing bodies from the morgue, would disfigure them and then claim they were accidentally killed so he could collect on an insurance policy he would take out on each person. Some of his fellow students became scared of him while trying to bully him, he was a bigamist, some felt he was charming, he was manipulative, and many of those around him viewed him as suspicious and shady. H. H. Holmes seemed to have the perfect idea on how to get rich and how to get away with murder and in fact he did for a long time. He was a very smart man and that is the reason that I believe he was able to go so long without getting caught. On New Year's Eve, 1910, Marion Hedgepeth, who had been pardoned for informing on Holmes, was shot and killed by a police officer during a holdup at a Chicago saloon. Then, on March 7, 1914, the Chicago Tribune reported that, with the death of the former caretaker of the Murder Castle, Pat Quinlan, â€Å"the mysteries of Holmes' Castle† would remain unexplained. Quinlan had committed suicide by taking strychnine. Quinlan's surviving relatives claimed Quinlan had been â€Å"haunted† for several months before his death and could not sleep.

Dennis Covington's 'Salvation on Sand Mountain' Essay

Dennis Covington's 'Salvation on Sand Mountain' - Essay Example The purpose was to cover the trial of Glendel Buford Summerford who was charged guilty of murdering his own wife with a snake. The scenes are powerful and spectacular. Summerford’s own wife isn’t aware of how exactly his name is spelled, if the N is single or is it double. There is an old woman referred to as Aunty Daisy by everyone, was pacing up and down the room making predictions. She was predicting that God will send Summerford out of jail. Even creepy was the presence of some women who would keep pictures of their favorite snakes in their pockets. In the trial that followed, Summerford gets convicted and imprisoned towards the end of chapter two. That was that about him after which he wasn’t seen as such. What follows is Dennis Covington’s growing obessesion and fascination with handling snakes. He slowly accepted the guarded and suspicious community of â€Å"Jesus-Onlys†. Ironically, Glenn Summerford was a part of this community as well. There are only two ways in which an alien culture can be dealt with.. Either one patronizes it and dismisses it or becomes romantic and starry eyed about it. Convington had a skill which even anthropologists don’t. He started recognizing the snake holders as entities who had their own culture and who should be respected and understood on their own terms. There is reference to drinking strynchnine only when one feels that he is living life the right way. The statement does make sense if one believes that God protects those who have a strong relation with him. Snake handlers tend to be very easy targets of ridicule and mockery. However Covington resists the mockery. He doesn’t try to make fun of their poor grammar, their strange interpretation and readings of the bible and their creepy living conditions. However this doesn’t mean that he was under the impression that they were â€Å"noble and persecuted people†. They may have been

Masculinities in the Television Series, Friends Essay

Masculinities in the Television Series, Friends - Essay Example I have looked into how Joey and Chandler mutually engage with each other, in what context this takes place, and what structures it. How does this relate to the 'real' world' Karen Walker discusses how men and women relate their behavior and conceptualize personal relations within cultural ideologies of relations (Walker: 126). Walker's argument is that most writers on friendships fail to grasp that there are differences between the (gendered) cultural ideologies and social reality. Cultural ideologies signify models and ideals that society and culture enforce upon the sexes. The depiction of Joey and Chandler may serve to counter work dominant ideologies of buddy relations representing homosociality. The concept of homosociality refers 'specifically to the non-sexual attractions held by men (or women) for members of their own sex.' (Bird: 120) Within this framework of interpretation, writers have acknowledged certain elements as vital to social interaction among men. Incapability of displaying emotions is one element, homophobia is another. Cultural norms are powerful in this sense, because they work as blueprints for how men and women perceive friendships are supposed to be (Walker: 126). She claims that few writers have noticed that we must theorize friendships (like all other gendered activity) within a cyclical framework where cultural ideologies inform gendered social interaction, as well as pay attention to how people merge and make sense of structuring elements and behavior. Far too often writers isolate the ideology of gender, and leave out the context and specific practice that people carry out. Men in their late 20s or early 30s usually defined masculinity as performance, which is, continuously reflecting upon their own personality, identity and behavior. Thus, they reflect what is referred to as by Anthony Giddens' that in 'modern society individuals are involved in an ongoing reflexive project of the self.' Giddens claims that people in the West are increasingly aware of a 'pure relation', one that enables one to know someone else fully and in to the most profound depth. Let's discuss how Joey and Chandler are clearly positioning themselves within the gendered ideologies of men's relations. They find it problematic to express emotional care and interest in each other since this opposes to what they know is socially acceptable for heterosexual men to do as partly due to heterosexual constraints on men's emotional presence (Joyrich 1996). There are significant differences between what we say and what we do, as Walker (Walker: 126) points out. She questions whether men's and women's same-sex friendships differ distinctively, disagreeing that men's friendships are motivated by activity, while women emphasise the importance of sharing feelings in friendships with other women. She reflects similar attitudes, finding a gap between the collective 'tough' masculinity, and the individual men's experiences and attitudes. Cultural ideologies were not powerful enough to disable the people she interviewed from making their own friendships in practice differ signif icantly from the norm. Walker contrasts these

Drinking and Driving Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Drinking and Driving - Essay Example As a result, we have lost many lives of people through accidents that are caused by drunk drivers (Stearn 49). It is this increased accidents caused by drivers who drink and drive that have left us with many question in regard to what we should do to stop it hence leading to this study. In order to ensure credibility of this study, researchers will use accurate and real time data that will be collected from different departments of traffic across the world (Stearn 77). Decent methods of data collection will also be used so as to enhance credibility and accuracy of the data collected. If we manage to stop people from drinking and driving, we will reduce road accidents by about 50%, and improve transport systems all over the world. Therefore, it is responsibility of everybody to come up and help address this issue (Grosshandler & Grosshandler-Smith 42). Currently, there are many orphans and children with single parents who lost their parents through road accidents that were caused by drinking and driving. Hence, these orphans have become burden to society and government (Grosshandler & Grosshandler-Smith 60). Many families have also lost their breadwinners via drinking and driving hence they live in poverty. Since drinking and driving has proved to be a global problem, all governments are supposed to come together and address it thoroughly. They should use all means possible to ensure that this problem has come to an end (Mendralla & Grosshandler 54). Strict laws and penalties will reduce significantly the problem of drinking and driving. This is because in most countries, traffic laws are not strict thus people do not fear fines which in turn encourage drinking and driving (Mendralla & Grosshandler 63). Drinking and driving is one of the major factors which cause many problems in the by societies and governments all over the world

Annotated Bibliography Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Annotated Bibliography - Assignment Example Reason for declining the version Ratterman’s account is due to the then period’s involvement of government officials into funding and strategically backing varied organized crimes. The focus of this source touches on crime, justice and its context of Kentucky’s history. This was during a time of heightened organized crime fueled by government of the day through corruption. It is a primary source outlining how the government despite through its respective authorities seemed to curb the period’s crime actually fueled. I am strongly convinced based on the content of this source it will be helpful in my paper. This is because I will use it to elaborate how the government played a significant role in enhancing crime and crime’s role towards development of Kentucky’s history led by a corrupt government. I do agree with this primary source due to its relevance information that is also evident in other similar sources more the image source, which depicts utter pretence and effort by securities in curbing organized crime. Linduff, Jim., Klein, Roy & Trapp, Larry. 2012. â€Å"When Vice Was King: A History Of Northern Kentucky Gambling 1920-1970.† Accessed 8Th April 2014. In this secondary source, authors trace the history of crime in the N. Kentucky with much emphasis on bootlegging operation. Hence, being relevance to the field of study that I have chosen whereby I believe the source will be helpful in backing varied historical arguments about justice and crime. This is because it will act as an historical source starting from 1920s up to 70s, whereby the latter encompasses the scope of the study’s focus. I do concur with the content outlined in this study, which ranges from prostitution, bootlegging operations to other vices that enhanced crime

Emerging markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Emerging markets - Essay Example Countries globally are developing by encouraging foreign direct investments (FDI). They are doing this in order to increase their economic strength and move forward economically. Emerging markets have developed in various countries especially developing countries. Emerging markets attract FDI based on the mode of the economy in terms of development, political and market share. This paper explains foreign direct investment (FDI) in emerging markets and focuses in China as one of the emerging markets encouraging FDI. Justification of the Topic Foreign direct investment (FDI) in emerging markets is chosen as the topic of study in this article. FDI relates to an investment done by a firm in a foreign country. The foreign firm does the investment for creation of commodities. FDI is encouraged by the availability of factors of production, markets share and flexibility of economy. Foreign direct investment (FDI) is taken to by the big firms to the developing countries mostly the emerging ec onomies. This is seen as a change from the previous act whereby most firms in developing countries were investing in their own countries. The rise of foreign direct investments on emerging markets has been increasing since 1980. The same factors noted above increases the rate of FDI in emerging markets. ... Resmini (2000) adds that increasing FDI has been seen in the developing countries. The idea is supported by various factors including the cost of labour, political stability, stable financial institutions and stable economies in the host countries. The author explains further that investors have been able to view and analyze the above mentioned factors to conduct investments in emerging markets. Some of the emerging markets have not been exploited because of the countries’ political instability, poor financial regulations and weak development shown by workers. FDI on emerging markets has also be supported by the changes in various countries whereby the investors have are able to acquire state owned items, which has been happening in various countries especially Asian and Latin American countries. The fact is that the investors in the above mentioned countries are able to obtain the assets because of financial crises which have recently hit the countries. Furthermore, the inven tors in those markets are encouraged by cheap and available labour. Despite the search of strong financial institutions and stable economies by the investors in emerging markets, most of the emerging markets have got the above disadvantages as compared to developed countries. FDI investing in the emerging markets are not the same with the FDI in developed countries. They use different strategies to counter the difficulties in the developing countries to increase their investments. One of the strategies is the provision of lower wages to the workers since they are operating in unstable economies. Emerging markets are currently the sources to the growth of most countries’ economies. This can be evidenced from the current growth seen in countries like China, Brazil, South

Prostate Among African American Men Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Prostate Among African American Men - Essay Example The genetic coding of the cells responsible for control of multiplication is interfered with, making the cells to lose control off their multiplication activities (Thompson, 2002). In the case of prostate cancer, the cells that multiply uncontrollably are those found in the prostate gland. The danger of the cancer is that the cells might migrate to other organs of the body. This is called "metastasis" (Robbins, 2007). When they get to these other organs, they make the cells here to also multiply. This makes the organ to become cancerous also. This form of cancer has some effects on the patient. It might lead to pain and difficulty when passing urine and erectile dysfunction (Rosenberg, 2008). This paper is going to look at the issue of prostate cancer among African American men. This is because it has been noted that there are disparities between the occurrence and effects of prostate cancer between African American men and Caucasian, American men. There is a variation in reported incidences of prostate cancer around the world. Countries from the Asian continent, for example china and Japan, report fewer cases than the European or American continent (American Prostate Cancer Association [APCA], 2009). America records one of the highest rates of prostate cancer around the world. ... Another important aspect is that it rarely has symptoms (Washburn et al, 2004). It might manifest itself in form of other complications like that of erectile dysfunction, but no direct symptoms. This, coupled with the fact that majority of those inflicted are above sixty years, makes it hard to diagnose. In fact, the patient might die from other diseases (Arterburn, 2006). African American men record the highest incidences of prostate cancer around the globe (National Cancer Institute [NCI], 2008). They make up about a quarter of all prostate cancer cases (NCI, 2008). They are also more likely to die from it than other men. In fact, they are three times more likely to die from it than their white counterparts (NMA, 2008). Prevalence of Prostate Cancer amongst African American Men This cancer is very significant to the African American man. As far as non-skin cancerous conditions are concerned, it tops the list in terms of occurrence amongst this segment (Washburn et al, 2004). It the most diagnosed cancer among these men. The American Prostate Cancer Association estimates that approximately 40,000 cases will be reported this year alone (2009). This is among the African American men. It is fact that the mortality rate from prostate cancer is dropping (APCA, 2009). But still, it occupies the second position as far as cancer mortalities amongst African American men is concerned (APCA, 2009). In 2005, more than five thousand black men in America succumbed to this cancer (Robbins, 2007). This dropped to about four thousand in 2007 (Robbins, 2007). The mortality rate has been in decline though. For instance, between the years 2000 and 2003, approximately sixty men out of 100,000 died.

Global Economy Essay Example for Free

Global Economy Essay Below is a list of essay questions, the ONE question that you will be required to write on will be chosen from the list below. 1. Identify a current international political or economic issue and write on the cause(s) and impact globally. (500 word limit) 2. Select one project you have worked on in the past and write an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the execution, including an assessment of your own contribution. (500 word limit) 3. Identify a key industry leader in Nigeria today and give reasons why you admire this person and outline the person’s contributions to the economy and society. 4. What is the relevance of the MBA degree in the current business environment? Is the degree necessary for success? If you miss this examination or would like to do the GMAT instead, you have until June 28, 2013 to submit your GMAT score in order to have an interview scheduled for you. For details of the GMAT, please visit www. mba. com I wish you all the best. Regards, Nubi Achebo (Dr. ) MBA Director

Potential Applications Of Nanotechnology In Maritime Environment

Potential Applications Of Nanotechnology In Maritime Environment

Analysis of LAP and Modified LAP

Analysis of LAP and Modified LAP 1. Critically review a test item that you have designed for inclusion in an assessment instrument It is nearly two decades since the St Vincent Declaration (1989) called for a marked reduction in morbidity with diabetes related problems to be achieved through better patient management. The available evidence suggests that the process of care in Britain is still very variable in quality. (J. Mason, 1999) et al. conducted trial on diabetes foot care, and provided an important message that vigilant and trained health care professionals can identify the emerging risk factors for ulceration at relatively low cost. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE 2004) clinical guideline on type 2 diabetes foot care on the prevention and management of foot problems recommends that healthcare professionals and other personnel involved in the assessment of diabetic feet should receive adequate training. Hence, it is imperative that the Diabetes Specialist Registrars [SPR], the future diabetologists, who look after diabetic feet in the community and secondary care, should be trained and adequately assessed if they want to make an impact on patient outcomes. Thus, the need arises for a training CME [Continued Medical Education] day for the management of diabetes foot and assessment before they treat patients with these problems. The main aim of the assessment is to optimize the capabilities of all learners and practitioners by providing motivation and direction for future learning. The assessment has to be formative in this case guiding future learning by providing reassurance, promoting reflection and shaping values. At the end of the training day (Appendix 2) the plan is to conduct a modified, observed, long case type of assessment tool with 3-4 items and knowledge based assessment. One such item an observed modified long case is described in Appendix 1. The plan to use a real case is to illustrate the some of the day to day difficulties and uncertainties one faces during clinical judgement. The time breakdown is to prepare them for thinking about various aspects in given time. They are assessed in different generic skills as well as speciality knowledge and management of the case. Appendix 1 [page 24-26] Properties Even though it is used as an item here, the long case has traditionally been used as a summative tool by itself in the past and its properties in those situations have been studied extensively. Hence, the properties like reliability and validity have been discussed briefly with others of the items such as facility. The reliability of a long case can be improved by structuring the long case i.e. elements of discussion and questioning (Olson et al 2000, Wass and Jolly 2001). Thus observation and structuring is applied here to improve the reliability. This increases student perception of fairness. Validity This can be addressed by introduction of examiners who observe trainee performance throughout and so the trainee is observed by the team in all parts of the long case out here (Olson et al 2000). Facility It could be made low facility depending on the complexity of the case. Discrimination is not really applicable since it will be used as part of formative tool but can be made into a highly discriminatory one by following global assessment. The other properties of the assessment tool are not discussed as it is used mainly as an item. Item Response Theory This is not discussed here as it is mainly used in the context of Multiple Choice Questions. There is not much in the literature about the strengths and weaknesses of the long case when used as an item in a formative assessment tool. So here is an attempt to look at both the positive aspects and potential drawbacks of this item should this be used in the context of this formative assessment. The positive aspects of this item Observed Modified Long Case Holistic and Robust This item in the long case is real and looks at competency and some aspects of performance. Multidisciplinary Approach mimics how the clinics are conducted in most hospitals and assess candidates knowledge across specialities. Written and Verbal Constructive feedback Ende (1983) proposed that the process of feedback should be expected and well timed, based on first hand data (observable behaviour) and regulated in quantity. In a systematic review by Best Evidence in Medical Education (BEME) collaboration (Veloski, et al., 2006) the positive impact of the feedback process was confirmed, with the most marked effects if provided by an authoritative source. These principles are strictly followed in this item. The method of feedback can be either Pendleton or ALOBA- Agenda-Led Outcome Based Analysis. Some of the potential drawbacks of this item-How they can be overcome Risk of assessing the short term memory This argument stems from the fact that the assessment is done just after the CME program as suggested. Based on Bligh (2000), the above graph, demonstrates the retention power if tested early after the learning experience. Hence the argument: the item should be administered immediately after the CME to increase retention. Resources and Standardisation The number of people including specialists involved and the organisation will require resources, including money, but some of the funding could be organised by the educational fund for the SPR in the region. Some contribution can be arranged from other sources including pharmaceutical company help. Since it is a formative assessment tool, it need not be rigidly standardised in assessment and it is to promote the professional development of the SPRs. Why rigid time limits and not just global assessment? This rigid structure is to give an opportunity for each of specialists to have an opportunity to observe and feed back. In real life, the time spent on each task may be different but giving stringent time limits also gives the opportunity to observe how the candidates perform within these time constraints. The global assessment is avoided so that the feedback component needs to be broken down to each level to make sense and promote specific areas for improvement. Bias Since some of the examiners and experts would have taught these SPRs in the course there may be bias from these examiners after observing the candidates interaction over a day and might want them to do well or otherwise in the assessment. This can be avoided by formal training of the examiners. Organisational consideration The main difficulty will be getting the team of assessors together as given in the item and making sure they are trained in giving constructive feedback to the candidates. Getting a real life patient to participate in such a scenario might not be difficult as patients are often happy to share their experiences. CONCLUSIONS If used in conjunction with variety of other items, perhaps it can be used as a cog in the wheel of summative assessment for the high stake assessment e.g. as a part of portfolio in final year Rotation In Training Assessment [RITA]. It fulfils the learning objectives of the course and what the item intends to measure. This item also comes close to what is usually measured in items of work place based assessment [WPBA]. Element 2 Assessment option Using relevant theoretical and/or research literature, critically review one instrument of assessment used in clinical education. LAP and Modified LAP BACKGROUND In the traditional long case candidates spend 30-45mins with a patient from whom they take a history and examine. An examiner is not present and the candidate is not observed. The student summarises and is examined by a pair of examiners over a 20-30 minute period. The usual format of practice in long cases is to examine patients that are already known to the examiner or are in the examiners own specialty. The long case, patient based examinations have been used for decades both in undergraduate and postgraduate settings both as a formative and summative tool. They were specifically used for final certification exam for postgraduates both here and elsewhere. They had their strengths in that it evaluates performance with real patients and enables candidates to gather information and develop treatment plans under realistic circumstances (Norcini, 2002). However, this method has drawn lot of criticism. The problem lies with inter case reliability (Wass, et al., 2001) and whe n subjected to psychometric analysis, these examinations were found to be unreliable and so have fallen from favour (Turnbull, et al., 2005). Particular problems were with the reproducibility of scores generated by the long case. To improve this required large sampling which itself required a lot more resources which made the long case difficult to use as a summative assessment tool. Recent work suggests that the long case is still a highly relevant tool in that it appears to test a different clinical process to that of the structured short case examination (Wass and Jolly, 2001). A study, performed with undergraduates in London found that, by observing the process in the long case, the above problems could be overcome. This probably led to a return of long cases in the form of OSLER Objective Structured Long Examination Record introduced by Gleeson(Gleeson, 1997) and LAP the Leicester Assessment Package. The LAP was originally developed to assess the consultation competence of general practitioners in the UK. In the LAP, the patient is not known to the examiners and at least one of the examiners is not an expert in the specialty being examined. It has been designed for use in live and/or video recorded consultations with either real or simulated patients. It was subsequently adapted for use in undergraduate teaching. The LAP is designed to provide assessment by directly observed consultations with real patients/simulated patients, but to present this in a structured format closer to an OSCE, which also allows other aspects of performance to be assessed. Seven prioritized categories of consultation competence which need to be mastered are assessed with marking (Appendix 3). The modified LAP varies from the LAP in a couple of areas. Performance is assessed against predefined standards which are different compared to the LAP. The examiners attend training before they become assessors in the modified LAP. The guidelines to the examiners [how to mark and assess] and the assessment forms are appended (Appendix 4 5). Inevitably, some overlap occurs between components of differing categories. (Bhakta, et al., 2005) acknowledge that no single assessment format can adequately assess all the learning objectives within the course blueprint, a combination of assessments (including OSCE, EMQ, essays, short case, and long case) are currently used to assess the students competence. The authors main objective is to use theoretical and research literature to critically review the LAP and modified LAP used in the assessment of clinical practice. This review is based on the seven key concepts (Van der Vleuten, 1996; Schuwirth and van der Vleuten, 2006; PMETB, 2007) liste d below: Purposes Alignment Properties Standards Sampling Evidence Level 1. PURPOSES It can be used for both formative and summative assessment. (Fraser, et al., 1994) argued that the modified LAP is designed for both purposes. The focus of the examination in the intermediate clinical exam for undergraduate is to promote further improvement as they have done only one clinical year [e.g. WMS and Leicester Medical School]. Hence, the feedback is handed to the students which helps them to focus on their strengths and improve on their performance The 3rd and 4th year medical students of these Schools believed that it was likely to enhance their consultation performance (McKinley, et al., 2000). It has also been used as a formative tool in improving professional competence in different countries and different specialties (Lau, et al., 2003, Redsell, et al., 2003). When (Teoh and Bowden, 2008), arguing for the resurrection of the long case, state that the observed long case such as the Modified LAP doesnt encourage the reductionist approach as in Objective Structured Clinical Examination [OSCE ]. Thus, it can be an ideal summative assessment tool for the high stake exam but perhaps has to be used in conjunction with other tools as discussed below. Additionally, in most cases, the assessment is an end of year high-stakes assessment and, for failing students, there is generally only a short time available for remediation. The feedback provides a way to focus them on the areas of their consultation skills and prepare for their remedial exam. 2. ALIGNMENT The Education Committee of the General Medical Council (GMC) sets and monitors standards in all UK medical schools. Medical students must be able to demonstrate their competency and professionalism through a list of educational outcomes set out in the publication of Tomorrows Doctors (2003 and 2009) prior to graduation. The intended outcome envisaged by WMS is to produce a generation of doctors who have knowledge, proficient clinical skills and the appropriate attitudes and behaviours ready for work as Foundation Year one doctors. The modified LAP forms a part of the summative assessment in assessing mainly clinical skills e.g. examination techniques. As described, it has various components and proper, planned blueprinting against the learning objectives of the MBChB course and competencies of the various specialties (Wass, Van der Vleuten, Shatzer and Jones, 2001). Thus, assessment and curriculum design should be intricately interwoven and the assessment of course drives the learning (Wass, Van der Vleuten, Shatzer and Jones, 2001). Similarly, in postgraduate exams, it usually follows knowledge based assessment in the form of MCQs and careful alignment should be done considering the curriculum set by the institutions like the Royal Colleges. 3. PROPERTIES The property of an assessment or more commonly described as the utility or usefulness of an assessment, was originally described by Van der Vleuten (1996) as a product of its validity, reliability, educational impact, cost-effectiveness and acceptability. In later years, the term feasibility is explicitly acknowledged and has been described as an added component of an assessments utility in clinical education (Schuwirth and Van der Vleuten, 2006; PMETB, 2007). Validity Validity represents the extent to which a measurement actually measures what it intended to measure. In medical education, this signifies the degree of meaningfulness for any interpretation of a test score. (Downing, 2003) A recent study demonstrated that observation does measure a useful and distinctive component of history taking clinical competence over and above the contribution made by the presentation (Wass and Jolly, 2001). It would seem logical that, rather than relying on a presentation alone, observation of the candidate while eliciting the history and carrying out the examination would be a more valid assessment of the candidates competencies in LAP. There is data in the literature for the face validity and content of the seven categories and the various components of consultation competence as contained in the Leicester Assessment Package (Fraser, McKinley and Mulholland, 1994). Whether or not the test scores obtained, in any particular LAP, are an accurate representation of real world competency is subjected to a vast array of variables (Downing and Haladyna, 2004). For instance, the design of the test items, number of representative cases, experience training and leniency of examiners, co nsistency of simulated patients [ used mainly in psychiatry], completeness of marking schemes and the characteristics of the candidates, can all affect the validity of a LAP, making it a valid assessment in one education institute, but not another. However McKinley et al in their study of modified LAP in the general practise setting concluded that students will be exposed to a valid set of challenges to their consultation skills during consultations with minimum six largely unselected patients(McKinley, Fraser, Vleuten and Hastings, 2000). Concurrent validity whether the results are consistent with those tests of similar constructs? There are studies comparing OSCEs with observed long cases [which is similar to LAPs in some ways]; however, the author has not come across studies comparing different types of observed long case e.g. OSLER vs. Modified LAP. Does it predict the future performance need to be assessed by more studies by following up the generation of students where the LAP is used as an assessment tool. Also, more studies are needed to investigate the construct validity of LAP. Reliability Reliability refers to the degree of consistency within a measurement tool, the extent to which an instrument is capable of repeatedly producing the same test score even when administered at different times and locations, with different candidates (Schuwirth and van der Vleuten, 2006). An assessment approach may be considered reliable when it yields consistent results regardless of when it is used, who uses it and which item or case is assessed. The importance of a specific type of reliability depends upon what is being assessed and the method by which it is being assessed. Generally speaking, the reliability or generalisability coefficient [since there is multiple potential sources of variability in this assessment tool] of 0.8 or higher are desirable (Shea and Fortna, 2002). Since the LAP has its roots in the long case and considering that it has evolved as a modified observed long case the author will attempt to address how the deficiencies in reliability of long cases were addressed to make it a LAP. Attempts to improve the reliability of the long case and make it into an effective LAP fall into three categories. First, studies have considered how many additional long cases would be required, with Kroboth et al (1992) suggesting that 6-10 long cases (each of 1-1.5 h) would achieve a generalisability coefficient of 0.8. Thus it would take a minimum of 4 different cases with at least 2 assessors in each to be reliable and therefore, careful sampling of representative cases with the use of blueprints is of paramount importance (Cangelosi, 1990).Second, commentators have attempted to increase the number of long cases, but have done so by employing a format that draws on shorter assessments (20-45 min) and multiple cases (4-6) assessed directly after each other in a single session (McKinley et al, 2000; Wass Jolly, 2001; Hamdy et al, 2003; Norcini et al, 2003). Third, elements of the discussion and questioning aspects of the long case have been stan dardised in an attempt to improve reliability and student perceptions of fairness (Olson et al, 2000). Thus, having all relevant domains and enough numbers would increase the reliability and validity of the instrument. All these are incorporated in LAP and modified LAP to make a reliable instrument. This is further demonstrated by McKinley et al that the required levels of reliability can be achieved when the modified LAP is used by multiple markers in assessing the same consultation, that is, the package produces inter-assessor reliability. Their generalizability analysis indicates that two independent assessors assessing the performance of students across six consultations would achieve a reliability of 0ÂÂ ·94 in making pass or fail decisions. Also in this study ninety-eight percent of students perceived that their particular strengths and weaknesses were correctly identified, 99% that they were given specific advice on how to improve their performance and 98% believed that the feedback they had received would have long-term benefit(McKinley, Fraser, Vleuten and Hastings, 2000). The example of assessment criteria and guidelines of the modified LAP used in the study are incorporated as Appendix 4 and 5. Reliability of the LAP would not be severely threatened if the details of the test items have leaked out to the candidates unintentionally. However, it might if they have seen this patient before in the clinical setting. There were chances of this happening as the same banks of patients were used. This has been rectified by updating the bank and recruiting different patients. Broad sampling across cases is essential to assess clinical competence reliably (Wass and Vleuten, 2004). Feasibility The design and running of the modified LAP has significant resource implications. The crux of the issue for this kind of assessment is feasibility and cost effectiveness in terms of finance, space and manpower. Lots of time and effort are required to prepare and administer the instrument with high quality. Recruiting enough assessors, real patients, [simulated patients in case of psychiatry] and the equipment is always a huge challenge. Finding the trained assessors, who mostly tend to be busy clinicians, to take time from their heavy work schedule is also a challenge. However, lots of these issues can be overcome if this test is administered regularly i.e. sequential testing. This is further helped by having a database for the patients and assessors. Good advanced planning will also go a long way. Acceptability John B Cookson, et al. (2008), in a letter to the BMJ, say that feedback from students who have faced this examination in Leicester for the past 9 years strongly indicate that it is perceived as a fair and acceptable test of their abilities. From the organizational point of view it has been acceptable because of sequential testing. There is a healthy debate about replacing this with OSCEs or at least using OSCEs to supplement this for the assessment of clinical based practice. Educational Impact From the students point of view, the high-stakes LAP certainly exerts a great educational impact. The outcome of the examination will be used to decide the fate of the students. The LAP provides a platform for students to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours in a single direct observational setting. Among other advantages it encourages students to develop the essential links between history, physical examination, diagnosis and management in each clinical challenge as the consultation progresses, not at some remote point thereafter. This is true as they practise for these exams in this way with peer group or supervision. It definitely has a huge educational impact as the students keep the final assessment in mind and practice the required domains in a structured way from various colleagues and peers. The impact is even greater in some medical schools like WMS as the feedback is given to the students in the formative intermediate exams. This enables the students to reflect on their performance and improve upon them. 4. STANDARDS The Standards can be criterion-referenced (absolute standard) or peer-referenced (relative standard). Borderline approach , fixed percentage , Angoffs and Hofstee methods are but a few of the many methods described in the literature for standard-setting (Norcini, 2003). Livingstone and Zieky (1989) proposed that the higher the stakes of the assessment, the greater the significance in using criterion-referenced standards. Thus criterion referenced can be used for LAP in the setting of high stakes exams like final professional exams in WMS or postgraduate exit exams SAMPLING It is impractical to combine all of the learning outcomes into a single, summative assessment. On a practical note one has to be careful while allotting the students and examiners for the different station/patients/item so that they get a wide variety of sampling that gives a different case mix. Thus, it also needs to be made sure that they are observed and examined by different examiners to increase the sampling. Thus a careful and effective blueprinting should be done to make LAP a high utility instrument. Moreover, qualitative triangulation of evidence [sampling] from different sources such as satisfactory performance in each block, including other types of exams likes OSCE for practical skills will further improve the reliability (Stern, et al., 2003). 6. EVIDENCE Evidence from a single point is not sufficiently generalisable to be extrapolated to all occasions (PMETB, 2007). Studies regarding validity and reliability are costly and difficult to design. Triangulation is an excellent solution to critique the evidence collated qualitatively, where evidence from at least 3 occasions/ resources indicating the same outcome is analyzed (PMETB, 2007). Each LAP item should be treated independently, as an entity of its own, and, although literature can prove LAP do possess the potential to be highly valid and reliable, such study would need to be conducted on separate occasions to demonstrate convincing evidence. This is continuous ongoing process at most of the institutions including WMS. 7. LEVEL It is suggested that using the LAP for direct observation of the consultation would be a useful tool to assess whether the student has successfully acquired the necessary competencies expected at the end of undergraduate or postgraduate training. One of the interesting components is to attempt to judge the overall relationship with the patient. Attitudes are most likely to be conveyed to the patient through the doctors behaviour and should, therefore, be assessed by the observation of behaviours in the clinical setting (REZLER, 1976). Nevertheless, this approach relies on judgements, made by experts, of non-standardised material and is, therefore, open to question. Because professionalism is a complex construct, it is unlikely that a single assessment will adequately measure it even though this assessment makes the attempt. Systematic assessment of professionalism should also include many different assessors, more than one assessment method and assessment in different settings (Lynch , et al., 2004). Hence, these assessments are a continuous process throughout the MBChB and, indeed, afterwards. In essence the LAP, as an assessment tool, is close to competency based assessment and demonstrates shows how in the Miller triangle. CONCLUSIONS Long cases on their own have been criticised for poor reliability of examiner assessments and the lack of direct observation by the examiner of the trainee patient encounter [reducing the validity of the assessments]. There is evidence that adding an observing examiner to the history and physical examination part of the long case assessment increases reliability and helps to reconcile the complex interactions between the context and the skills/knowledge (construct) that the long case attempts to measure (Wass and Jolly, 2001). The LAP is one such tool where there is observation during history and physical examination and structured assessment and proves to be of high utility. This is supported by some studies in the formative setting(McKinley, Fraser, Vleuten and Hastings, 2000) The LAP, when analysed via its properties, is a good tool to assess observed clinical practice. It might not be so effective for practical skills and, for these, it probably needs to be supplemented by work based assessments or even OSCEs. When supplemented with other assessment tools [Triangulation] LAPs can be used effectively for summative assessment in high stake assessments such as the final examinations for medical students. The main drawbacks are feasibility, difficulty in blue-printing and cost effectiveness. It encourages students to develop the essential skills together rather than combining them afterwards. REFERENCES Bhakta, B., Tennant, A., Horton, M., Lawton, G. and Andrich, D. (2005) Using item response theory to explore the psychometric properties of extended matching questions examination in undergraduate medical education. BMC Medical Education, 5 (1): 9. Fraser, R. C., McKinley, R. K. and Mulholland, H. (1994) Consultation competence in general practice: establishing the face validity of prioritized criteria in the Leicester assessment package.[see comment]. British Journal of General Practice, 44 (380): 109-113. Gleeson, F. (1997) AMEE Medical Education Guide No. 9. Assessment of clinical competence using the objective structured long examination record (OSLER). Medical Teacher, 19 (1): 7-14. J. Mason, C. O. K. A. M. A. H. A. B. R. J. Y. (1999) A systematic review of foot ulcer in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. I: prevention. Diabetic Medicine, 16 (10): 801-812. Lau, J. K. C., Fraser, R. C. and Lam, C. L. K. (2003) Establishing the content validity in Hong Kong of the prioritised criteria of consultation competence in the Leicester Assessment Package (LAP). Hong Kong Practitioner, 25 (12): 596-602. Lynch, D. C., Surdyk, P. M. and Eiser, A. R. (2004) Assessing professionalism: a review of the literature. Medical teacher, 26 (4): 366-373. McKinley, R. K., Fraser, R. C., Vleuten, C. v. d. and Hastings, A. M. (2000) Formative assessment of the consultation performance of medical students in the setting of general practice using a modified version of the Leicester Assessment Package. Medical Education, 34 (7): 573-579. Norcini, J. J. (2002) The death of the long case? BMJ, 324 (7334): 408-409. Norcini, J. J. (2003) Setting standards on educational tests. Medical Education, 37 (5): 464-469. Redsell, S. A., Hastings, A. M., Cheater, F. M. and Fraser, R. C. (2003) Devising and establishing the face and content validity of explicit criteria of consultation competence in UK primary care nurses. Nurse Education Today, 23 (4): 299-306. REZLER, A. G. (1976) Methods of attitude assessment for medical teachers. Medical Education, 10 (1): 43-51. Shea, J. A. and Fortna, G. S. (2002) 3 Psychometric Methods. International handbook of research in medical education, 97. Stern, D. T., Wojtczak, A. and Schwarz, M. R. (2003) The assessment of global minimum essential requirements in medical education. Medical Teacher, 25 (6): 589-595. Teoh, N. C. and Bowden, F. J. (2008) The case for resurrecting the long case. BMJ, 336 (7655): 1250. Turnbull, J., Turnbull, J., Jacob, P., Brown, J., Duplessis, M. and Rivest, J. (2005) Contextual Considerations in Summative Competency Examinations: Relevance to the Long Case. Academic Medicine, 80 (12): Wass, V. and Jolly, B. (2001) Does observation add to the validity of the long case? Medical Education, 35 (8): 729-734. Wass, V., Van der Vleuten, C., Shatzer, J. and Jones, R. (2001) Assessment of clinical competence. The Lancet, 357 (9260): 945-949. Wass, V. and Vleuten, C. v. d. (2004) The long case. Medical Education, 38 (11): 1176-1180. APPENDIX 1- PROPOSED ITEM AN OBSERVED MODIFIED LONG CASE CONTEXT- Following Continued Medical Education day for Diabetes Specialist Registrars-SPRs[CME Appendix 2] Aimed at senior SPR that is year 4-5 just a year before completion of their training Formative Assessment Can be used in their portfolios for Continued Professional Development CPD Generic skills assessed- Communication, Professionalism, Clinical reasoning in uncertain environment, Teamwork and Multidisciplinary Approach Assessment involves 4 items of observed long modified long cases and MCQ-paper aiming mainly at knowledge base. One such item an observed modified long case has been described below. Expected learning outcomes for this formative assessment item- Able to assess vascular, neurological status of foot and in a patient with diabetes Diagnose pedal pathologies in the

Human Resource Management Essay -- Business, International Human Resou

Human resources are considered to be a potential source for competitive advantage. It is seen as the accumulation stock of knowledge; skills and abilities that individual possess which the firm has built over years through identifiable expertise (Cappelli and Singh, 1992). The success of firms can be measured from the ability to synthesise the firm’s HR with strategic objectives of the organisation. According to Klein et al. (1991:11), ‘If expertise manifestation behaviour is consistent on the formation of skills, it becomes a basis for competitive advantage’. The scholar further argues that a dedicated skill comes from employees’ continuous application of skills to a particular tasks, product and project. Through learning and strategic combinations of dedicated skills, skills are then transforms to core skills which then can promote new product and new market (). These resource capabilities are indeed helpful for MNC exploiting developing market to gain co mpetitive advantage and hereby increasing market share. However, there have been various strategic plans by MNC to successfully gain competitive advantage in developing market taking into account theoretical frameworks and issues emanating from parent company and host county-specific. The field of international human resources management has been characterised by three broad approaches which gives an insight on cross-cultural management issues (Laurent, 1986), comparative HRM research (Brewster, 1998; Hendry, 2003), and international HRM in multinational corporations. The latter is commonly recognised as international HRM which involves diverse complexities due to diversity of national contexts and different national categories of employees (Dowling and Welch, 2004). An impor... ...n et at. (1991), specifically and critically view IHR strategic relationship between the parent company and its subsidiaries. This relationship can be viewed in two ‘fits’. The first fit is the external-outside organisational fit which encompasses the level of fit between the subsidiaries IHR undertakings and the cross-national and cross-cultural environment that is operating in which includes across it boundaries. On the other hand, internal-outside fit is viewed as IHR activities of the subsidiary and the IHR activities across other MNC within its boundaries. In summary, this business strategy possess that a subsidiary needs to put into consideration its roles and standing within the MNC and well as its place amongst the local, national and global environment when developing IHR strategies. This business strategy consideration is illustrated on Figure 2.

Winston Churchill :: essays research papers

Winston S. Churchill, M.P. FIFTY years ago, the Second World War was approaching its crescendo. A million British and Commonwealth and a million American troops were preparing to hurl themselves across the English Channel to storm Hitler's Atlantic Wall and embark upon the noble task of liberating Europe from the scourge of the swastika. I am therefore especially delighted to be asked to address you on the role of my grandfather as a War Leader. Everyone has his or her favorite Churchill story, some true, others apocryphal. One of my favorites goes back to the days before we had free telephones in the House of Commons, when a rather desperate Lloyd George sticks his head out of a phone-booth and, seeing the portly figure of my grandfather approaching, calls to him: "Be a good fellow, Winston, and lend me sixpence so that I can call a friend." My grandfather, making a great demonstration of digging deep into his pocket to produce a coin, and with a mischievous grin on his face replies: "Here is a shilling - now you can call all your friends!" It is something of a paradox, but true nonetheless, that had it not been for Hitler and the Labour Party, Churchill would never have become Prime Minister of Great Britain. Despite a political career that had already spanned forty years, and his evident availability, the Conservative Party had shown no inclination to invite him to be their leader. Only in the hour of maximum peril -indeed on the very day, 10 May 1940, that Hitler launched his Blitzkrieg against France, Belgium and the Low Countries - did the British nation turn, almost too late, to Churchill. This was a decision that owed much to the refusal of the leadership of the Labour Party to serve in a Coalition Government under Chamberlain, and the unwillingness of Halifax, who was the preferred successor by both the Conservative Party and King George VI, to serve as Premier. As Churchill himself pointed out, he was, at the moment he became Prime Minister, already sixty-five years of age and qualified to draw the Old Age Pens ion. FEW politicians have come to power so well qualified to lead their nation in war. His first career had been as a soldier. He had received his baptism of fire on his twenty-first birthday in 1895, while acting as an observer o the Cuban Revolutionary War against Spain. A bullet, which missed him by inches while he munched on a chicken leg, prompted him to exclaim, "There is nothing so exhilarating as to be shot at without result!".

Australian Literary Identity

Topic #2: Discuss the ways in which issues relating to literature and national identity in Australia are examined in Australian writing. Between the 1880s and 1890s, Australia became socially inclined to define it’s nations voice. To satisfy a distinctive sense of identity and credibility across the globe. This desire for independence in Australia, both socially and politically, was a broad aspect of a greater movement towards the nations identity. Encouraged and instrumented by estimable Australian literature, the move to define a cultural independence in Australia, also inducted a change and product of literary nationalism.Literary nationalism became a dominant ascribe to characterising Australia and setting it apart from Britain. Setting, characters, theme and style were prioritised coherently with the identity of the country. Literature placed a great essence upon rural Australia and the ‘the bush‘, which promoted visions of Australian characters that based qua lities among mate ship and egalitarianism. The writing style was essentially comprehensible with Australian vernacular, with a daunting sense of humour and irony. Literature in the 20th century also saw a change in Australian perception.After 1914, changes in perception and national identity developed across the country once again. The 1940s and the 1970s, saw a greater expansion in growth, change and the revelation of the Australian short story. International influence took greater hold of writers and a sense of sophistication encompassed the essence of nationalism, identity and literature. However, it is the essence of writing in these earlier times, that prove the importance that Australia’s identity posed upon society and the esteem it captivated to presence Australian literature again in the 20th century.With the initiation of Australia’s will to be identified, writers emerged as a new generation. Dedicated to writing distinctively, as a way to suit and support th e Australian strive to independence. Writers such as Henry Lawson, A. B. Paterson, Miles Franklin and Barbara Baynton wrote only with the concern and consideration for truly Australian literary tradition and distinctiveness. In order for Australia to be uniquely identified as its own country, different from anything in Britain, the bush quickly become a focal point, and often its own character, in these writers work.This was a discovery ideal, where Australian literary nationalists depicted their view of Australia and promoted a true identity for the nation, for the first time. Pastoral landscape became an intense recollection of the make of the nation and contrasted favorably with views of city life. In 1889, Paterson wrote Clancy of the Overflow, which was featured in The Bulletin (Australian Authors, 2002). The poem illustrated a firm sense of what Australians were aiming to be identified as, hardy, living in the outback, which strongly and clearly opposed city living. As the sto cks are slowly stringing, Clancy rides behind them singing, For the drover’s life has pleasures that the townsfolk never know† (A. B Paterson, 2002) and â€Å"I am sitting in my dingy little office, where a stingy, Ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses tall† (A. B Paterson, 2002) these extracts of Clancy on the Overflow show that Paterson was a strong interpreter for the Australian ideal. The bushman became an ideal distinction of the average Australian character, which was clearly an encouragement by Paterson and Lawson.In 1958, historian Russell Ward essentially denied the ideal and deemed the typical bushman a nations myth, by which farmers in Australia were in fact a minority. Alas, it became a true figure of Australia’s identity, through the strong presence it had in Australian literature. While bush life remained the main theme in most of literature at the time, often writers possessed differing opinions. Characteristics in which b ush life was represented, would present itself in writing, basely dependent on the author.Paterson portrayed a romantic visualisation of life in the outback, condemning any consideration to city life as a positive attribute in society. On the contrary, Lawson was interested in the perception of bush life as tough life. While Lawson still mythologised bush life with character, he wrote mainly to focus on the struggles people fought to overcome, based on their lives in rural areas. Due to these differing descriptions of Australian identity, Paterson and Lawson became rivals in The Bulletin to pose who had the greater perception of rural life.Borderland by Lawson, is a better example of the authors vision of rural life, proving to focus on the struggles and the unwelcoming danger that it placed upon city dwellers. â€Å"Treacherous tracks that trap the strange, endless roads that gleam and glare, Dark and evil-looking gullies – hiding secrets here and there! † (Lawson, 20 10). Throughout the duration of these rivalries, Lawson imposed on Paterson’s authenticity and often referred to him as a ‘city bushman’. Paterson wrote In Defence of the Bush, which in reaction Lawson’s comments and in favour of his ideals where he addressed Lawson in the first line. So you’re back from up the country, Mister Lawson, where you went, And you’re cursing all the business in a bitter discontent† (Paterson, 2010). Asides from the writers rivalry, both Paterson and Lawson essentially aimed to develop literary nationalism in concentration of the Australian bush. They proved the importance that reinforced rural Australian identity and its central role in the mythology of Australia. Paterson and Lawson alone, emphasised the use of rural Australia as a literary identification of the nation.Deeming their participation through writing, they demonstrated an effort to distinguish Australia uniquely. Issues relating to Australia†™s will to possess a unique identity across the globe, was closely regarded through Australian literature and to Australian authors. Using the unique comparative relationship between both A. B. Paterson and Henry Lawson it is clear that the use of setting, character, theme and style relative to bush life and the characteristics of the bushman are operational.The dominant majority of literature examined is closely identifiable with these types of descriptions. They prove to hold great essence in the attempt to capture a unique national identity. Issues relating to literature and national identity in Australian writing are obvious and present among early Australian writing during the 1880s and the 1890s. Thus, it is clear, that literature was a key utensil in the instruction and efforts to provide Australia with its own identification and set it apart from its partnership with Britain.References 1. Patterson, A. B. (2002). Australian Authors: Clancy of the Overflow. URL: http://www. middlemiss. org/lit/authors/patersonab/poetry/clancy. html Retrieved: 20 October 2010. 2. Lawson, H. (2010). Poem Hunter: Borderland. URL: http://www. poemhunter. com/best-poems/henry-lawson/borderland/. Retrieved: 20 October 2010. 3. Paterson, A. B. (2010). Old Poetry: Defence of the Bush. URL: http://oldpoetry. com/opoem/25342-A-B–Banjo-Paterson-In-Defence-of-the-Bush. Retrieved: 20 October 2010. 4. AUST11-100 Seminar Slides.

Is Classical Approach to Management Obsolete? Essay

Introduction Management is one of the most important parts contributing to the success of an organization. By understanding which managerial activities are actually effective, a manager could choose the best way appropriate for his application to his company. Many studies about classical school theories have been undertaken so far to examine the effective management approach. However, a major problem with the classical approach to management is human dimension ignored will result in inefficiencies (Anthony Boland, 2012). This essay will attempt to identify the weaknesses of dismissing human motivation and explain the important of it by using other experts’ advocacies. The analyses of classical theory Classical management approach is the first theory about management based on the experience of famous experts for engineer industry. While scientific management’s purposes are in justification and control of employees in the same method with a justification and control for machines by engineers (Sheldrake, 2000), human motivation is more needed in recent years, which is considered to be a vital part contributing to an organisation’s prosperity. In the view of scientific approach, workers were considered to be as akin to machines and with favour in larger production volume at whatever human cost (Sheldrake, 2000). This leads to the decline in attendance and the organisation’s performance. Satisfaction seems to be involved with motivation. Therefore, this managerial approach can lead to negative outcomes such as a decrease in how effectively they work a decline in efficient production and a higher absenteeism rate. In this case, demotivation may discourage creativity and innovation which are significant important factors that give rise to the company’s development. Kets de Vries  suggested that more choices for workers to choose freely, physiological needs and enjoyment needs were the emphasis of higher set of motivational needs, instead of being controlled by authorities of which they are unaware (Mullins, 2007). This will resulted in becoming the best-performance company where satisfaction of employees can be created by being a part of an organisation and as a member of a group not individual. Additionally, better ideas and decision making can be gained from the employees’ contributions (Marcouse, 2011). Notwithstanding, earlier theories written by F. W. Taylor highlighted â€Å"people work for only one reason: money† (Marcouse, 2011), Saunders pointed out that if people of long time ago preferred to be judged as high as their bonuses, recently, fulfilling their psychological needs were turning out to be valuable, such as holiday arrangement, job breaks and opportunity of flexible working hours and homeworking are now on the priority list (Mullins, 2007) Coclusion Although maintaining the focus on achieving the aims and prosperity is the most important aspect of the managerial activities which is defined in classical school (Sheldrake, 2000), this may be ineffective in other particular circumstances in which there is a need for high job satisfaction in more recent years. References Marcouse, I., Surridge, M. and Gillespie, A. (2011). Business Studies for A level. (4th ed). London: Dynamic Learning. Mullins, L.J. (2010). Management & Organisational Behaviour. (9th ed.). Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Sheldrake, J. (2000). Management theory: from Taylorism to Japanization. London: Thomson Learning.

Engage in Personal Development in Health, Social Care Essay

1.2 Explain expectations about own work role as expressed in relevant standards. The expectations about my own work role as expressed in relevant standards are to; safeguard clients, to treat them with dignity and respect, to promote independence, to give them choice, and to make sure that they are in a clean and environment. 2.1 Explain the importance of reflective practice in continuously improving the quality of service provided. Working in care requires that in order to be an effective practitioner and to provide the best possible service for those you care for, you need to be able to reflect on what you do and the way you work and to also identify your strengths and weaknesses. It is important to examine the work that you have done and identify areas where you know you need to carry out additional development. 2.3 Describe how own values, beliefs systems and experiences may affect working practice. Everyone’s values and beliefs are affected to different degrees by the same range of factors. These may include: life stages, physical, social and emotional stages of development, employment, socio-economic circumstances, cultural background, religious beliefs and values, education, the effects of relationships, environment. You may believe that everyone should be treated in the same way, however there are differences in approach or attitude you may be unaware of. For example, you may not be aware that you are spending more time with someone who is asking your advice about a course of action which you think is sensible, than you are with someone who wanted to do something you thought inadvisable, there are many other ways in which your beliefs, interests and values can affect how you relate to people. It is important that you are aware of how you may behave differently towards people, because it could make a difference to the quality of your work. 3.1 Evaluate own knowledge, performance and understanding against relevant standards. My job came with a job description, but while that tells me what I need to do, it did not tell me how I needed to do it. To find that out, I needed to look at the Standards that apply to my work. Standards, as with Codes of Practice, will vary depending on the UK country in which you work. Each UK country has National Minimum Standards that are used by inspectors to ensure that services are being delivered at an acceptable level. Finally, and most importantly in terms of how I carry out my work, there are the National Occupational Standards (NOS). These apply across the whole of the UK, and explain what I need to know and be able to do in order to work effectively in social care. The National Occupational Standards form the basis for all the qualifications in the social care sector, and are divided into units of competence. Some of these are mandatory, and I am able to demonstrate competence in these areas. Other units are optional and I am able to demonstrate competence in those units relevant to my job role. In performing my job role, competence means that I have been able to provide evidence that I can demonstrate the skills and the underpinning knowledge contained in the National Occupational Standards. It is important to understand that competence is not only about doing the job; it is also about understanding why I do what I do and the theoretical basis that underpins the work.

Syrian Revolution

The Syrian Revolution is important on many levels. This importance is explored in the aspects of Syrians political government, economic and social status and the beginning of a wide spread resistance against dominating governments taking part in the Middle East. Hence, the Syrian Revolution plays a significant impact on the modern world and the future of the Syrian population. In March, 2011 an uprising took place by poor and unsatisfied citizens in the capital of Syria, Aleph, as a major part of theArab Spring (a series of revolts in triggered by citizens demanding law reforms and an improved government in the Middle East). Rebel groups then developed as a source of rebellion against the government of Basher AAA Sad, including The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood. Countries such as Tunisia, Egypt and Libya heavily influence the revolt in Syria after their protests and riots, in their own countries, to achieve Justice from their governments, have been reached but not entirely resolved. This topic has an excessive importance over me and my family.It has broadened my understanding f the world and the extent individuals will go to for power. The Syrian Revolution also impacts me culturally due to me originating from the Middle East. It has demanded the attention of the social media and people all over the world. I believe It will become an Immense icon In modern history over the years to come and that It will also lead to a colossal change In current Syrian society and for the further generations. To conclude, the Syrian Revolution of 2011 Is of great significance to modern society and the future of modern history for the world as well as Syrian citizens.

Network Risk Assestment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Network Risk Assestment - Research Paper Example The network layout of I.T soft requires an expandable and efficient network that will fulfill the requirements of the company. Advanced security features are also required in order to protect the VoIP traffic and preserve network availability. As I.T soft an automated business support network. The network is utilizing latest technology in terms of both hardware and software, however cost considerations cannot be ignored as the company is an SME. The software technology includes the new innovative network that supports the following: As seen in Fig 1.1, there is no protection on the Internet connection that is terminating on the router. The connectivity from the router to the two data switches i.e. switch connecting to the data center and the second switch connecting the access points also have no protection. However, MacAfee EPO is installed on the server and on the workstations as well. The centralized anti- virus works on defined policies and scans workstations, USB drives and downloads from the Internet. In this scenario, if any threat enters the network from the Internet and penetrates in the server hosting Mcafee EPO server, it will certainly corrupt the operating system and consequently, infect the EPO server as well. Identified risks from the Internet are virus and malicious codes. For physically securing the information systems, there are no physical controls currently. As shown in Fig 1.2, there are no physical controls on the data center and everyone can enter without verification and authentication. The sales database and customer database are connected to the switch. Every request from the users is redirected to the router, where the router checks the Access Control List (ACL). In this scenario, the accounts staff has permissions to access these servers. However, all the other users on the network are restricted to access these servers. I.T soft has configured an email server to provide email