Thursday, October 31, 2019

Ready to Die Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ready to Die - Essay Example I believe it is crucial for the living to use part of their health time and energy in preparing for death. There are various ways to prepare for death as exemplified by Nicholson and Freeman in the movie ‘Bucket List’ (Knox, 2007). One of the ways to prepare for oneself death is thinking about it. We should have brief moments possibly in a day and reflect on what can happen if death occurs. I do not mean we dwell on death but to appreciate the reality about it and live fully while knowing it will happen. People can embrace life after realizing they have limited time in the world. Nicholson and Freeman opted to enjoy life after accepting that the death is a reality. They believed that it was awaiting them, and as a result, stopped staying in the hospital beds with agony. I also think we should make a ‘bucket list’ as one way of preparing for our death. ‘Bucket list’ involves having a list of things we want to do, life experiences we want to achieve, and places we want to go. Nicholson and Freeman realized this very late; they had a long ‘bucket list’ despite having much wealth and less time (Knox, 2007). As evidenced by Nicholas and Freeman, we do not carry with us material possession and hence we should utilize the resources we have in meeting our objectives. We should not allow death to scare and bar us from enjoying life, instead, we are supposed to use it as a wake-up call to maximize our limited time in the world. In addition, people should write their last statement and will instead of fearing to think about death that may result from our cultural beliefs. The last statement and will are used to designate what will happen to our properties and guardianship of our children. Many properties get lost when one dies without leaving a documented will. Lack of a documented will may also lead to occurrence of conflicts among the left relatives. For

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Medea and the Myth of Feminism Essay Example for Free

Medea and the Myth of Feminism Essay Medea the Myth of Feminism It is only males who are created directly by the gods and are given souls it is only men who are complete human beings and can hope for ultimate fulfillment; the best a woman can hope for is to become a man (Plato 90e). Euripides Medea was written in a time where even the word feminism did not exist and yet he gave Medea a role of substance and a stature of strength. It is a wonder whether or not Euripides knew Just how much power he put into the hands of this woman as well as many more in the creation of her character. Perhaps not in his time and perhaps not y intention, but since then Medea the play and Medea the woman have filled a symbolic role in the area of feminism, the debate being for or against it. In countless cultures and streams of media, the woman stands timeless. What this paper intends to explore is the levels of the performance and how they stack up to the idea of feminism by framing Euripides possible intent, understanding various audience response to various productions, and finally studying Medea herself to see whether her roots of vengeance are in feminism or rather immorality. At the beginning of our quest we find the author, alive at a time in which ancient Greece was overwhelmingly patriarchal, but where did Euripides find himself? Is it possible to suspect that he may have allied himself among other voices which held sympathy for the plight of women? Could he have been the model of a proto-feminist or was he a misogynist? In either case, Medea seems to be the place to look. While pursuing her ambition, Medea disregards many of the feminine characteristics of the patriarchal Greek society. She questions the inequality of women, contradicts Jasons chauvinist beliefs, challenges the stereotype that women are weak and passive and ltimately completely disregards the feminine role of motherhood. Euripides portrays a woman who completely subverts feminine norms, overcomes masculine bonds and, given that his depiction of Medea was highly influential and replicated to some extent by most later authors, the Medea viewed as a figure of feminine power in modernity is at least in part dependent on Euripides (Mastronarde 52). Honing in on the text, one might examine Medeas opening speech, a fine feminist harangue (Hadas 81), showing that, Medea has been treated unjustly by men, and her eloquent indictment of womens lot is never denied (Foley 265). This speech is the first introduction to Medea as a strong and independent woman, but the words are not hers alone. These lines have sometimes been seen as Euripides bitter reflections on his own isolation as an advanced and intellectual poet. There is much truth in this view, but the lines are also Medeas, the complaint of a woman of great intellectual capacity who finds herself excluded from the spheres of power and action (Knox 314). It is this exclusion that leads her to the inexcusable action of killing her children, or is it so inexcusable? When focusing on Euripides intent one might see that: Euripides made Medea herselt choose to murder ner chi Idren as the hurtful part of her revenge against Jason. It perhaps sounds at first as if this might tell in favor of the idea that Euripides was hostile to women. But in fact it turns out to have quite the opposite result, because of the way Euripides treats his material Euripides has created this new Medea who chooses to kill her own children. He condemnation the murderous deed: shows us with painful insight and utterly without mind of the woman who has the ability to do such a the torment before the final decision, the ultimate grief, and, here in he final scene, the inevitable results. Medea is now finally untouched, untouchable by human hands and by human emotions (March 35-36; 43). By this evidence it would appear that Euripides has molded a woman for women. Unfortunately, while the presentation of this piece could certainly cause a discomfort among male audience members, it equally might encourage greater suspicion and scorn by males of females. Euripides Medea questioned prevailing norms and beliefs, primarily those of the heroic masculine ethic, though perhaps at the expense of women, and not in their support. The meaning of Euripides words cannot be eciphered simply by picking and choosing sections of the play to analyze. To understand his intent there is the need to understand the totality of the narrative as well as the audience he wrote for. Playing to a primarily male audience, Euripides does not introduce Medea immediately but has the chorus and nurse tell of her first, giving the audience a misconception of Just how much power the woman holds. In fact supported by Medeas cries of anguish heard offstage she is first represented as emotional and submissive. By Euripides authorial intent, he lulls the audience into a state of pity here there should be fear. Skillfully contrived is the choral passage in which we first hear the agonized voice of Medea from offstage. If we had been prepared to see a woman of monstrous power and witchery, a being of preternatural passion and resource, we are deceived (Musurillo 54). Medea is first painted as nothing other than what you would expect of a woman, a merit of pity though not empathy, however when first seen she shifts to reasonable and calculating. Returning to analyis of her first speech, one can more deeply apply what she is saying to her situation. Her eloquent first speech on the wrongs of women deceptively applies only in part to herself. For Medea is far from the passive victim of marriage and masculine brutality that she claims to be (McDermott 259). Within the world of the play Medeas deception makes sense in winning the approval of the chorus, however to spectators the mismatch of her words to her situation carries a different meaning. It paints a new picture and a new woman who is willing to exaggerate and lie in order to achieve her goals. It becomes clearer as the play progresses that Euripides initial ortrayal of Medea serves as a baseboard for growth from helpless to dangerous, parallel to the audience reaction as it stems from pity to loathing. An ancient Athenian audience would have found little to no fault in Jasons actions, by a public standard, Jason satisfied his marital obligation toward Medea and returned favor for favor by bringing her to Greece (Walsh 295). This leaves it to Medeas character to be the cause of any unsettlement. Her ultimate action of killing her children, makes her most territying, tor sne is not a victim and not vulnerable†that is, not teminine†yet he has been identified as and with other women (Rabinowitz 132). With this information, only fear is struck by Medea in the name of women. Regardless of Euripides intent, proto-feminist, misogynist, or most likely of all neither, his audience rests at the wrathful hands of a powerful woman, but empathy is unlikely. It is important however, to take into account various audiences beyond simply that of Euripides time. A present audience interprets a performance of Medea much differently than ancient Greeks would have and there are countless Medea inspired adaptations which ancient Greeks never had the chance to experience. It is these productions and these audiences that are next to be studied on the road to feminism. To approach from another end of the spectrum, a drastically different style of performance than that of western culture may be studied. Carol Sorgenfrei provides this with her 1975 work, Medea: A Noh Cycle Based on the Greek Myth. Noh theatre, like many traditional Japanese theatre forms, prioritizes stylization above realism in performance, a practice that aligns well with a myth of murder and revenge. The stylization draws away from the brutal acts, allowing the audience a chance to accept Medea for her motives instead of unquestionably condemning her. By adhering to the structure of Noh, Sorgenfrei creates a world where time, place, and gender are transcended in favor of larger-than-life emotions and issues (Edelson 1). It is also worthy of note to state that Noh theatre is an all-male performance style (as it would have been in ancient Greece as well). One might take it upon themselves to understand by this knowledge that the theatre form is inherently sexist, yet, since the 1960 s, theater practitioners have drawn on these traditional forms to rediscover feminine and feminist messages (2). Furthermore the stylization and art that go into the intricacies of embodying a female are no Joke within the ritualistic practice. As denoted in the title, Sorgenfreis piece is a cycle play referring to the five different plays that would be performed in a traditional Noh performance. These plays are thematically based, in the order of God, Warrior, Woman, Frenzy, and Demon. Drawing inspiration from Noh style, Sorgenfreis Medea, develops the Medea myth through her plays five scenes, which progress through the different traditional categories despite the thematic linkage (2). As for the audience of this particular performance, it is no surprise that not only is it drastically different than that of Euripides and ancient Greece but also vastly different than that of Zeamis and the fifteenth century (the roots of Noh theatre). Sorgenfrei writes very consciously for a feminist audience in 1975. This retelling of the Medea myth from a female point of view in a beautifully feminine style of Japanese theatre, despite its male performance history, allocates the piece among cultural feminism, praising what is feminine while still acknowledging the differences among men and women. Feminine, however, is not the same as feminist. For that title we might analyze Medea in the fourth scene, the frenzy play, where Medea gives birth to herself as the Sun God. In one sense, the birth metaphor is emblematic of the mother/daughter bond, but its glorification of motherhood also implies that a womans self-fulfillment can best be attained by fulfilling her biological capabilities (Dolan 30). Seeing as Medea is a mother to herself though, it would appear that Sorgenfreis intent is that, birth is a metaphor tor revealing ones true selt, becoming oneselt, independent ot a partner or arents. Not only does Sorgenfreis Medea serve as the antithesis to the glorification of motherhood, but she also subverts the concept of birth as something that can be successfully and independently accomplished without the aid of man (Edelson 6). If this transformation is not convincing enough, then the transformation of Jasons character in the final demon play certainly thrusts the play into feminism. At this point in the cycle play Jason and the children reveal themselves as demons and, by displacing Medea and focusing solely on Jasons (and the childrens) transformation n Demon Play, Sorgenfrei forces the viewer to explore the cause of Medeas suffering instead of only investigating the effect of her actions (7). The audience, throughout Sorgenfreis production, due to the stylization of noh performance as well as the cycle transformations, is able to question Medeas past and her motives instead of assuming the worst from the start. Sorgenfreis as well as many other variations of Medeas tale open the doors to inquiry for viewers. As performances vary, so does the message of femininity, but it really comes down to the character herself and the motivation behind her actions. If her strength is solely for the sake of revenge then women lose merit, however if she acts in defiance to a patriarchal society she is a voice for feminism. In studying the woman we might discover hints as to whether or not she, as a character, is a feminist. The obvious first argument is that feminism is not an option for Medea as a character. The time period in which she is set in the play and in which her character was created do not allow such a term. However, for the sake of this paper and staying true to the idea that characters never die, it is now assumed that she is still alive oday and thus feminism exists. Now, to discover whether Medea is a feminist or not it seems vital to set aside any notions of her being simply a victim of patriarchy. To see her only as such is to exclude very important aspects of her character which tie her to humanity. It is her darkness that is relatable and takes her beyond a pitiable subject to be observed. It is the independence throughout her struggles that makes her more than two dimensions. Medea is a compelling character. Through plays, films, operas, paintings and novels, we have heard her story told again and again and e remain fascinated by her. Our fascination is not without reason, for Medea brings us face to face with darkness that lurks within anyone and catastrophe that can befall any marriage. We watch and listen to her because she speaks to us of ourselves (Fuller 3). Her story is not uncommon, the betrayal of a spouse and the desire for revenge. This theme can be found reinterpreted within films such as War of the Roses and The First Wives Club. Both embody the spirit of Medea, the story of a woman who gives up everything for a man only to be left for a younger woman. So it s seen that the character lives and changes as time passes. What these film adaptations lack is the darkness that individualizes Medea and the accumulation of this darkness to the point of murdering her children. However, this theme too may be found in literature such as La Llarona and even in history such as the Andrea Yates trial. Its clear that Medea, even in her darkness, is an influence to art and to life, but another question rises in this darkness. By throwing her maternal nature aside does she also discredit the female race or does the strength it takes to murder ones own hildren become commendable? Motive is the question at hand and Medea does nerselt no tavors at tirst glance . The decision to murder ner children in return tor the joy she will receive in witnessing Jasons anguish gives Medea little respectability. It is precisely at this point, where rage and pain and revenge come together, that Medea creates a problem for feminism (5). She flaunts her immorality, showing no remorse whatsoever for her actions. While it is admirable of a woman to overcome her situation, Medeas display of heartlessness after the fact of murdering her hildren leaves her alone, independent, and selfish. On the other hand it is so difficult to grasp the understanding of killing a child and the action is so inconsistent with Medeas prior feminism. Her original revenge was upon Creon, Jason, and his bride. It is reasonable to consider based off this knowledge that Medeas hand was moved by the authorial intent of Euripides rather than by her own will. Perhaps this was essential though, perhaps with a loss of darkness comes a loss of complexity and then what need would there be to discover why this troubled woman acted as she did. There would be no question of her feminist nature because there would be no care. A last note on Medea herself, she is not human, at least not fully. She is a mythical creature who by the end of the tale is taken into the sky by a chariot. So, take into account the action that takes place within other greek myths, birth from Zeus thigh, rape by Zeus in the form of a swan (among other animals). By these mythological standards is child murder something that can be Judged by mankind? By keeping in mind that Medea has a part of the divine within her, her actions become less of an atrocity and more of a symbol. Seen in this light, that Medeas are not the acts of a literal person but rather are symbolic, the child murders then become more understandable (11). Her children too then become a symbol of her marriage which is destroyed and thus the children must be destroyed. Seldom do women, let alone feminists, act out so much as to murder their children over the betrayal of their husbands, but divorces and custody battles do not stray too far from it. Medeas actions, when taken literally, may be unforgivable by a feminist society, but symbolically she hits right on target. Children become the battleground for the arents rage and disappointment and most often they are the collateral damage in the marital wars (13). Medea lives on, struggles on with a voice unafraid to speak out against the wrongs done to her. This is the voice that feminists cling to while they avoid acknowledgement of the rash action of murder. When it comes down to it though, Medea is studied because she is relatable, darkness and all. In order for a woman to know herself, she must come to terms with her own capacity for darkness, rage, and power and this is what Medea has to offer. There has yet to be an adaptation in hich she experiences the same pain and anger without the result of destruction, but maybe that is the standing lesson. Medea continues to struggle because women continue to struggle and as women evolve so shall she as she has before. In order to stand for women, it is not essential to be a model woman, only to continue on in the struggle, to continue fighting, and so she does.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Awareness And Understanding Work Life Balance

Awareness And Understanding Work Life Balance Chapter 1 Introduction Public awareness and understanding of the term ‘work-life balance has grown dramatically in recent years. The high level of interest among employers, consultants, and the media has generated a healthy business in conferences, websites and guides. It is a growth area in academia too, encompassing diverse disciplines including economics, social policy, feminism, sociology, industrial relations, human resource management, health and psychology. The term Work life balance can be defined as â€Å"employment based on emergent new values, which doesnt discriminate against those with caring or other non-work responsibilities, and which provides an opportunity for people to realize their full potential in work and non work domains† (Lewis, 1996). 1.1 Background of the study Todays life environment has put a great demand on employees time to deliver work and non-work responsibilities. This is a central cause of occupational stress and work-life conflict, which has become a costly problem at both the organizational and individual levels. It might take the form of absenteeism, high staff turnover, lost productive value, increased recruitment and selection costs and medical expenses (Arnold, 2005).    According to a recent study by Georgetown University, employee stress from trying to find time for their children correlates with decreased productivity and increased absenteeism. The study found that unplanned absences were costing some businesses nearly $1 million a year (Georgetown University, 2010). In addition to the financial losses associated with this conflict that are clearly documented, the indirect effects of unsympathetic working conditions can include a decrease in motivation, job satisfaction, trust, job commitment, and other important factors that decrease firm profitability (McHugh, 1997). Therefore, despite the fact that many companies neglecting employee needs, conscious HR specialists are trying in many attempts to overcome these problems by introducing new working strategies that satisfy employees and help them to attain certain balance between work and life. Such strategies give the employee greater flexibility upon the time, the place and the style of work. Thes e include part-time work, job sharing, working from home and flexible working time. This flexibility enhances employees ability to adjust the time or submit the work as completed. It can mean compressing 40 hours into four days, starting and ending workdays at different times, or doing some work at home. The reason may be as simple as wanting to better manage a long commute or choosing to arrive at work later so parents can take their children to school. Some companies may offer these options to retain female employees who might consider leaving their jobs after having children. This research emphasizes particularly on flexible working hours (Flexitime) which is one form of flexibility in the working environment. Flexitime is an arrangement where an employee is able to choose when to start and finish work within a specified period of core hours. The reason for this emphasize on flextime is that, it is the most widespread form of workplace flexibility (Erin, 2008) and most previous studies has shown apparent results upon other working strategies and their good influence on work-life balance, but this was not the case with flextime. Another reason for this spur is researcher observations on many cases of flextime where employee missed the control over work-life balance, and that what inspires the idea of this research.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   1.2 Problem statement Organizations which adopted family-friendly working arrangements, found it beneficial to their business. In a study about the efficiency of the family-friendly working arrangements, it was found that 90 percent of managers experiencing those arrangements considered they were cost effective for organizations (Dex and Smith, 2002). However, the literature on flexible working arrangements covering a wide range of policies, declared that only some of which might be deemed to support a work-life balance. Moreover, while there is a discussion about the business case for flexible polices and the potential problems it may create for employers, the assumption is often that these policies are invariably beneficial for employees. This is also reflected in the recommendations of the National Framework Committee for Work-life balance policies in Ireland (Helen et al, 2009). Some flexible working arrangements may actually exacerbate work-life conflict, for example, flexibility in the timing of work may result in employees being asked to work unsocial hours. Thus, it is very important to consider the effects of such practices as experienced by employees. Indeed there is very little research on the impact of flexible working hour on workers ability to balance work and other demands, despite this being a major rationale for such practices (Helen et al, 2009). As many Bahraini organizations nowadays are moving toward flexibility, it would be a significant effort to conduct a study that assesses the determination of such practice. Especially that International evidence on the incidence of flexible working arrangements is limited and tends to come from national surveys which, because they are not harmonized, may not be directly comparable. Another factor that boosts the need to this study is the difference in the demography, culture and peoples life style between Western countries and Bahrain. While the incidence of flexible working hours (flextime) is important information in itself, the key questions for this research is: Does it facilitate work-life reconciliation and does it help to improve employees productivity? Other sub-questions might also arise such as: Is there a difference between males and females, or those who have children among those who do not regarding work-life balance? Does employee prefer to manage his/her time or like to be committed to a specified timing because he/she may not be able to manage time? On this basis, this research brings together material from diverse sources to provide an overview of recent research, current thinking and future debates on the significance of flextime and work-life balance, especially to evaluate constructive practices for employee in Bahrain. 1.3 objectives of the study The objective of this study is to put emphasis on the importance of work-life balance for Bahraini employees, and to evaluate its effect on both individual and organizational levels. In addition, this study attempts to assess the impact of adopting flextime working option on employees work-life balance and organizations productivity.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   A careful review of research questions led to the development of the following specific research objectives: To explore the existence of a relationship between flextime and work-life balance. To examine the relationship between flextime and productivity. To explore the relationship between work-life balance and productivity. To examine the impact of some demographic variables such as gender, marital status and having children on the work-life balance. 1.4 Significance of the study This significance of this study is its potential contribution to both the theoretical and practical fields. At the theoretical level, the present study is expected to bridge a research gap as most studies focus on either work-life balance or flexible working polices in general. However there is a very little research on the impact of flexible working on work-life balance (Helen et al, 2009). Moreover, it was recommended by some researchers to examine the relationship between specific types of flexible working practices like the flextime and productivity. For the practical contribution, this study is expected to make contribution to Bahraini private and public organizations as it reveals employees preferences on the subject of flexible working time, in addition to exploring the benefits that flextime provides for employers and employees, thus aiding management decision upon adopting such working option. Another feature which grants strength to this study is that the study spots the light on both, the importance of work-life balance and its implications on the organizational and individual levels in the first place, besides exploring the existence of a relationship between flextime and the work-life balance as recommended in previous literatures. 1.5 limitations of the study The greatest limitation to this study is the non-probability sampling technique used; hence the results cannot be generalized on the whole population. Another limitation is that the study was entirely based on self-reported data. Although this is the best way to assess the work-life balance of an employee as it requires some privacy, this method has been criticized that the respondents may give socially desirable answers and bias results (Sackett, Burris, and Callahan 1989). However, anonymity and confidentiality assurance might be the key to make respondents more truthful. Finally, the questionnaire was developed for employees, thus it reflects employees point of views, while it passes over the management respective. Hence it would be a great achievement to combine other research methods such as case studies and focus groups to strength this study. 1.6 organization of study This report is organized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the introduction, significance and limitations of the study. Chapter two provides an extensive literature review and background information on the variables of the study, which are flextime, work-life balance and productivity. The third chapter identifies the research methodology, the sampling technique and the data collection procedure. Chapter four presents the results of data analysis. And the last chapter provides the discussion, a conclusion and recommendations for further studies.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Zone Diet Essay example -- Weight Loss Nutrition Papers

The Zone Diet High-protein/ low-carbohydrate diets are nothing new to Americans these days; they seem overwhelmingly to be the most popular among those people trying to lose weight. Ph.D. Dr. Barry Sears’ books on his version of the high-protein diet, the Zone Diet, are among the best selling diet books on the market. The diet seems to be yielding quick and noticeable results to those who follow Dr. Sears’ plan. Many people are desperate to lose weight and have tried numerous methods that have not produced sufficient and long lasting results. This could perhaps be the reason for the recent craze for the high-protein/ low-carbohydrate diet- it really does cause weight loss. Even Hollywood movie stars such as actresses Jennifer Anniston and Sandra Bullock attribute their recent weight loss and improvement in appearance to the Zone diet. However, in the midst of all of the hype, we must examine the claims and assess the degree to which this diet is indeed effective. Further, considering that Dr. Sears’ advice contradicts what we have been told for years about dieting, we must determine if it is healthy. Could we have been misinformed when given advice to eat a diet rich in carbohydrates, or is this diet another that falls short of what it promises? THE ZONE AND IT’S PURPOSE Dr. Barry Sears, Ph.D., is responsible for the development of The Zone nutrition concept, which is based upon 15 years of his research in the field of bio-nutrition. It was guided by the same science that won the 1982 Nobel Prize for Medicine dealing with the research of eicosanoids. The term "Zone" is an expression used by athletes to describe a near-euphoric state of maximum physical, mental and psychological performance (http://www.nutrition... ...igh meat diets and cancer risk." The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 58(2):243-8, May 1999. Holm, L et.al. "Randomized trial on protein vs carbohydrate in ad libitum fat reduced diet for the treatment of obesity." International Journal of Obesity. 23(5):528-36, May 1999. Katan, MB. "High-oil compared to low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets in the prevention of ischemic heart disease." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 66:974-979, Oct. 1997 Miller, SI and Wolfe, RR. "Physical exercise as a modulator of adaptation to low and high carbohydrate and low and high fat intakes." European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 53:112-9, Apr. 1999 Panhuysen, G. et.al. "Does carbohydrate-rich, protein-poor food prevent a deterioration of mood and cognitive performance of stress-prone subjects when subjected to a stressful task?" Appetite. (1):49-65, Aug. 1998.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Admissions letter for Forensic Nursing Program masters level

Interest and influence are two main reason why I want to pursue a Forensic course. Influenced by people who are dear to me serves as my motivation in order to succeed in this field of Nursing. Personal experiences gave me learnings and responsibilities that molded me to be what I am now.My endeavors in life that I wished to happen at the right time comes with great purpose. This is for me to finish my masters degree in a Forensic Nursing program offered by Duquesne University Pittsburgh,   PA. I can say that my previous experiences in life has great impact once I mixed it with a Masteral Degree.My optimism helps me accept problems as challenges that are vital for me as an individual. I can say that I am a good student and willing to risk myself in every task assigned by my mentors. I have so many dreams and aspirations in life and I am looking forward to a brighter career in the field of Forensic Nursing.Looking back, I see my personal and academic experiences as stages of growth t hat have helped me to understand my own potential and the road that I wish to take in life. While vast opportunities are before me, I feel that my true calling lies in the fascinating and challenging world of Forensic Science and Nursing.I wish to study more about this field because I believe that choosing to undergo a program for my masters at Duquesne University aid me   to make my dream a reality and become a successful forensic scientist someday.In addition to these, I was able to convey passion for this field since my childhood. That I have been interested in forensics since I was a child. I would often watch forensic files and unsolved mysteries. As well as the HBO series with the coroner Dr. Michael Boden and how unsolved crimes were solved by means of forensic examination and investigation. I am currently a single mother of three beautiful children.They serve as my inspirations in life and my motivation to surpass all trials. I have worked as a full-time nurse and I was al so inducted into the gamma beta phi honor society back in 2002, the sigma theta tha honor nursing society back in 2005 and the alpha sigma labda honor society back in 2005. Being an exemplary student I won the freshman of the year award in 2002 and became the Recipient of

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Maasai Culture v American Culture

In the tribal villages of eastern Africa the Maasai marriages are arranged by the elders without ever first consulting the bride or the mother of the bride to be. Unlike, that of my own culture in the United States of America, where I am free as a citizen to choose whomever I may choose to marry and when and if I may marry. Polygyny is that of which is practiced in the Maasai culture, as an ideal that is achieved only by that of the elder men of the tribe. Unfortunately, as a result ofthemen being much older at the time of marriage, most women become widows, knowing that it is understood that they should never remarry again. Although, I myself practice monogamy, as it is tradition in my culture and that of what is expected by me, my community, and my family. A young girl's childhood in Maasai culture is dominated by a strict avoidance of her father and other elders. Her marriage prospects and her family's reputation hinges on her ability to develop an accurate sense of respect in her community. She is socialized from birth to accept her service to her future husband as an elder and to all other elders in the community. The father is the key figure in the patriarchal family. Theoretically, his control is absolute only to the interference by close senior elders. It is tradition in Maasai culture that as long as the father is alive, no son has final control over his cattle or over his choice in marriage. It is practiced that as the younger men of the community age, the older men begin to rely on their sons to take over the management of the family. After a husband's death, the widow is then subordinate to her sons in the management of her herd. If she has no sons; she is unprotected. As this idea is not practiced in my own community, where typicallythe roles of the head of house hold is shared among husband and wife equally. Inheritance of property and land is dispersed thru the doctrine of a will written out before death or handled in the courts of law. Although, respect is greatly admired and sought out upon in my community, it does not determine the stance of potential marriages and families in the community. A young girls childhood is shared by the love and affection of a girl’s father and elders, not that of fear and solitude. Love, high morals, and affection is that of which typical childhoods are instilled with upon their growing up in my society. Similar to that of my own culture, the marriage ceremonyis one of the longest and most celebrated ceremonies in the Maasai community. It begins by a man showing interest in a woman and giving her a chain, called an olpisiai, similar in retrospect as that of an engagement ring in American society. Likewise, as the word of this proposal circulates the family as well as the community waits for the initial proceedings to begin. The Maasai man does this by finding women of his own age who will bring a gift of alcohol to the mother of the girl. This first stage called esirit enkoshoke indicates to everyone that the girl is now engaged. After some odd time, the man has to make his intentions clear again once more. By presenting a gift of alcohol to the girl's father, the man has shown this once again, as the alcohol will be brought by the same women who brought the other gift of alcohol to the women earlier. The gift of alcohol is called enkiroret, which the father of the intended bride drinks with his brothers and then summons the man asking him to declare his initial interest and to speak of the woman he wishes to marry. If the family agrees to the man's request, both parties officially establish a relationship, and the wedding planning begins to take foot. In the Maasai community and as in mine, marriage is considered very important. However, when two people are brought together to become a husband and wife in the Maasai community, the newlyweds are expected to live with each other forever; divorce is not an option. Once the Maasai man has chosen and paid for his wife he is then allowed to bring gifts to the woman's family. By first giving the presents as he sees fit, to a final point where it will become clear to those in the community that he has taken an interest in the well-being of the girl's family and that she is not to be readily available. These gifts the Maasai man has given to the girl will create the bride-to-be’s dowry, the purpose of which is not to create wealth for the bride's family, but rather to legalize the marriage. By the man putting his mark on that family, he is making itso that if anyone else tries to approach the family and offer a bride price, it will have been made clear that the girl has already been given away to another family and is spoken for. Like that of an engagement ring or wedding band worn by both the men and women in my community, as it is displaying to everyone that they are spoken for and are not available to others in the community. As the wedding day begins in Maasai culture the groom brings the bride price, including three cows, of which two are female and one is male and all are black, and two sheep, one female and the other male. The male sheep is to be slaughtered during the wedding day to remove its rich fats and oils, which will then later be applied to the wedding dress. The remaining’s of the oil is put in a container for the bride to carry to her new home after the wedding in her husband's kraal. The morning of the wedding, the bride's head is shaved and anointed with lamb fat. She is decorated similarly to that of my own culture by beautiful beaded decorations, and her wedding dress. Although unlike wise, her dress is made by relatives in the community and her mother, making the wedding dress an expression of community, not individuality. The bride is also blessed by the elders using alcohol and milk, and she is led from her family's kraal to her new home, in the kraal of her husband. There, she will enter the house of her husband's mother, where she will stay for the next two days, during which time the groom may not sleep with her or eat food in the house she is staying in. Finally, after those two days, the wife's head is shaved once more by her husband's mother, and the wedding ceremony is finally over; the man and woman are married elders. Concluding that although both cultures differ greatly in their practices and expectations there are still similarities to be understood. Both cultures dually express and display their affection towards one another in some public manor or display. Even if our ideals and morals are different, the feelings that everyone wants to be with their true love forever is evident.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Patients and Cancer Essays

Patients and Cancer Essays Patients and Cancer Essay Patients and Cancer Essay This paper explores different peer-reviewed articles that attempts to shed some light on the phenomenon of the lived experience of patients with cancer; supporting the fact that individuality is a huge factor in the care of cancer patients. Manu types of cancers exist and patients should be treated as individuals versus as a disease or diagnosis. As oncology nurses we accumulate knowledge on a daily basis that may be revised in practice. Therefore, it becomes our innate duty to visit the literature and gain the understanding and evidence that will help us in improving our practice of nursing. The articles, however, vary in the type of cancer with different treatment modalities and the collection methods but have the commonality of all participants being diagnosed with Cancer. The findings showed that patients have many unmet psychosocial and emotional needs among others but exercise hope when family support is present. These shortcomings or gaps in knowledge can alter how care is received and administered. We as nurses, have a lot of work to do in assisting patients feel more individualized with the diagnosis of Cancer. Each day in practice we meet new patients and see old ones and we may see them smile or get sad or display other emotions but as nurses do not take enough time to find out what our patients face and how they handle their diagnoses of cancer. As nurses we get so wrapped up in our daily tasks. Cancer is an experience that can threaten not only the end of one’s life, but also touch all aspects of the person’s existence, making it significant to them and if it is significant to them then it should also be the same to us. Cancer also imposes so many burdens on patients, families and the society at large. So large that it is labeled the silent killer and will overtake disease as top killer by the end of 2010 (foxnews. com). I chose this topic because I realize the gap in knowledge and communication between what happens to patients between diagnoses, treatment and discharge, up to the time they return for follow -up cycles to the time they may hear that the cancer has either metastasis or have been cured (in remission). Just knowing that your life will change is significant enough. We, as nurses are first line in the patient care area. The Doctor walks in and tells the patient that they have cancer and then walk out and the nurse is faced with the aftermath, the questions and the emotions that follow. The nurse is also the one that administers the chemotherapy and various radiation treatments and again is faced with questions and emotions. At discharge the nurse again becomes the one that is faced with questions and emotions. It may not be possible to answer all the questions and for the ones that we are not sure of, we can refer or ask the doctor to explain but having the knowledge of what it may be like for these cancer patients can help with how we approach these questions and the treatment options. Having this knowledge can help in terms of support, teaching, prevention and alleviation of suffering, enabling us to give more culturally congruent care. Literature Review In Arber et al. s (2008) article on the lived experience of patients with pleural mesothelioma it was found that these patients had many unmet psychosocial and emotional needs and that there was a lack of information provided to patients . A feeling of isolation was also reported. All patients and care givers experienced frustration due to the physical experience (Arber et al. , 2008). It was showed that these patients wanted to tell their stories and wanted people to listen. The methodology was phenomenology which was appropriate for th e study with unstructured interview questions allowing for participants to speak their mind and their experiences. As nurses sometimes we are unsure of what to say for fear of saying the wrong thing. There was also evidence of loss of intimacy with partners. Macmillan Cancer support (2006) states that four out of ten couples where one partner has cancer report sexual problems (Arber et al. , 2008). The study was done only on patients with mesothelioma and was very small making it hard to generalize to other cancer areas. The patients and families were only from a specialist palliative community center assuming that these patients had incurable mesothelioma. Benzein et al. , (2005) studied cancer in palliative care in home care and made hope the center of the study. The findings showed that the participants used hope to live as normally as possible. The meaning of the experience of hope seemed to be a will to live for a while longer (Benzein et al. , 2005). The structural analysis revealed the hope of being cured, a hope of living as normally as possible, a presence of confirmative relationships and reconciliation with life and death. The commonality between this article and Arber et al. , 2008 is that these cancers were incurable, however in this article the study group was a mix of males and females ages 54-83 with a median age of 65. The previous article failed to reveal the ages of the participants, making it difficult to impact practice. The other difference is that the latter was done in the patient’s own homes while the study on patients with mesothelioma was done in a different setting that may influence the outcome. Being surrounded by loved ones in the home setting would allow the patient to feel more human, than being in a hospital setting where they are just another patient and loved ones may not be able to visit at lib, which in the end has a negative impact on recovery. Demir et al. , (2008) in their quest to understand the experience of breast cancer survivors that underwent biopsies used a phenomenological approach to reveal three themes that were evident among participants, namely, the need for information, fear and spiritual needs. The study also suggests that results may be different considering different emotional investments in their breasts, sociocultural factors and age. The study was a very small group of twenty with the interviews being held in an unused room outside the clinic before the patients postoperative visits. Having the interviews on postoperative days may further aggravate feelings of fear that could invalidate the study. When compared to the study done by Perreault et al. , (2005) similarities were evident as participants exhibited fear and uncertainty. This study studied women with breast cancer and examined their experiences. Both studies used the interpretative phenomenological approach to gain insights. What this study included that would help with validity that Demir et al. , (2008) did not include was the staging. The staging of the cancer can have a great impact on the emotions and fear and response to experience. This sample size was only six person who lowered the reliability and generalizability. Lacey, (2005), researched breast cancer and support aides revealed that participants were identified as being too overwhelmed and stressed to make decisions about their care. They trusted their physicians to make the appropriate choices and appreciated and welcomed the support of family members. They also expressed hope. These same sentiments were echoed somewhat in Demir et al. , (2008) and Perreault et al. , (2005). All 3 studies involved breast cancer and the study method was the same and even though the same size and ages may have varied, it may prove to offer some insight as to what these women face adding to the validity. All 3 papers also suggest that more research may be necessary to facilitate the different decision- making and emotional abilities. The definite commonality expressed and assumed mong all these articles so far is the need for information especially at different stages. Molen, (2000) study sought to identify the different information needed for people with cancer. Adequate, appropriate and timely information can be a key element for many people in managing the experience of cancer. Different themes emerged from the research. There w as a deficit in information regarding self-identity, body image, and family, social and work relationships. A cancer diagnoses impacts all areas of an individual’s life, and life management information is equally as important as medical information. Molen, 2000). Cancer was viewed as an intrusion and illness engendered feelings of vulnerability that impacted on their normal coping mechanisms. This research had six participants all with different types of cancer with ages ranging from 45 to 65. The end results showed feelings and questions received on a daily basis but the sample size was so small and the age range was so limited that may lessen the reliability. However, further research may be needed to identify the different ages when information becomes such a deciding factor or the processing of information since all the participants were older. Similarly, information needs proved to be a big part of the equation as evidenced in another research study done by Molen (2005). However the type of information, the amount and to what depth varied considerably between individuals proving that information needs are unlikely to remain static and consequently, will change throughout the cancer experience. The literature highlights the importance of information giving, however; many problems are encountered with its provision. People with cancer frequently express dissatisfaction with the information given to them and experience difficulty in retaining and processing information. The cancer experience invariably begins before the point of diagnoses and information needs clearly change over time. (Molen 2005) Jones et al. , (2006) in researching the lived experience showed similarity with the Molen, (2000) themes that emerged from the different stories including changing concepts of self, the significant of relationships, being different from the past and temporality. These patients were bone marrow transplant candidates who were experiencing a mountain of emotions that they believed were affecting them negatively. From their stories it was clear that all participants underwent many physical and emotional changes. Taking it to a different level Meenaghan et al. , (2010) researched elderly patients and their lived experience and concluded that all participants experienced fear and shock at diagnoses but also experienced hope despite their age. With good support from family and friends participants exhibited hope and revealed that they learned to cope with the diagnoses and its treatments. As expressed in Perreault et al. (2005), the same fear and uncertainty was revealed and the same method of data collection and interview was used. Walker et al. , (2009) attempted to understand the lived experience of cancer patients undergoing photodynamic therapy. Analysis of the data yielded six themes, the impact on day –to- day life, existential meaning, the physical effects of treatment, and the kaleidoscope of emotions, information gap and family burden. This article summarizes all the feelings ex pressed by all the previously reviewed articles. If not all a least one of the articles expressed the same feelings which leads nurses to believe that these are the expected emotions, fears and expressions that can be experienced and that we all should be mindful of the factors that to suffering and the nursing interventions that can be used to address these multiple dimensions of suffering. All these studies used the phenomenological approach which is appropriate and if not the interpretative design the descriptive. Sample sizes and ages vary but the information and end results remained the same or close to the same throughout this literature review.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Advertising essays

Advertising essays Imagine you are on the beach, water clear as crystal, grabbing for your beach towel to dry your salty body off, you realize?I don't smell as fresh and sexy as a women should.? You open your Cosmo Girl Magazine that was purchased to help you lounge on the sand and find the solution to your stinky problem, Davidoff's Cool Water perfume for women. You can be dirty and wet as a stray dog, and you will still smell sexy and irresistible with the scent illuminating from your skin. Davidoff's Cool Water advertisement draws potential customers in by its dripping wet exotic, flawless, picture perfect woman who can make men want her and make women want to be her alongside the crystal blue perfume bottle. The idea of the advertisement is to first get your attention and then to make you desire the product. According to Jib Fowles, author ofAdvertisings Fifteen Basic Appeals,? this simple yet attention grabbing advertisement has one goal, to appeal to all the needs of consumers. Based on Fowles? essay, this ad uses three basic appeals to meet its purpose: the need for sex, the need for affiliation, and also the need for attention. Let's talk about sex baby?,? this subject is one of the quickest ways to grab a consumer's attention. To shock a viewer or to show something unexpected and rebellious will stop anyone from turning the page to quick. And in addition any consumer who agrees of disagrees with the ad's intent will form their own opinion remember the ad, which is theresponse most advertisers seek? (Fowles 65). In Cool Water's ad, the image of the beautiful women let's men and women both use their imagination with no limits. Men may envision any women of their heart smelling as sexy as the women looks and uses the ad as a reference for the next gift he purchases his mate. Women will also turn their attention to the ad. The attractive woman appears simple and flawless and women may consider how they themselves may attempt flawle...

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Analysis of Staged of Transformational Learning and Their Roles

Analysis of Staged of Transformational Learning and Their Roles Transformational learning is a deep form of learning. Whenever there is a change or problem in your life; such as having a child or going back to school, you go through a learning phase with hard trials. The outcome has a big impact on your life and in the end you will have grown as a person. Upon reading I discovered that there are 7 phases of transformational learning: Dilemma, self-assessment, important evaluation of beliefs, realization that others have similar dilemma, exploring a process, creating a plan of action and finally, reintegration. In July 2007 I found out I was pregnant. I was 20 years old and still hadn’t graduated high school. I was shocked, nervous but mostly excited and realized had to take a long hard look at my life and the life I wanted my child to have. From the day I found out about my pregnancy I started planning and thinking of our future. I enrolled in night classes to get my High School Diploma and also started to get our house in order for a baby. I think I even read every pregnancy book ever published. I had to change everything about my life; my eating habits, my education, my home, relationships and my social habits. Some things were hard to change but in my heart I knew it would be best for my child. I got through all the obstacles standing in my way and by the time my son arrived, I had organized my life for the two of us. I graduated high school when my son was 3 months old, and it was a great feeling. Mezirow’s 7 stages of transformational learning defiantly applied to this huge transformation in my life. I believe the 2 most important stages were self-assessment and formulating a plan of action. I had to look at every aspect of my life and decide what needed changing and what didn’t. Once I decided what needed to change I had to come up with a plan on how to change it to make a better life for my child as well as myself. One huge change was obtaining my high school diploma. I had to call around to the local school districts and find one that offered adult night classes to finish up the credits I needed to graduate. Once I found the school I had to go for one semester. I had my son the last few weeks of class, but continued to go; I ended up finishing and graduating. I devised a plan and stuck to it because I knew how important it was for my family. We are defiantly in a good place now, my son is 3 years old and I am glad I stayed focused and driven to create an adeq uate environment for him to grow up in, he is my world.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Plagiarism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Plagiarism - Essay Example Such practice can never be totally prevented but there are ways individuals could minimize this (Oxford Brookes University). As students, we should aim to learn and not rely on easy solutions like copying another person’s paper rather, should think that in working on one’s paper, the student improves or even discovers his/her skills and abilities. While one may really write the paper, some practices might not be undertaken during the process that could lead to plagiarism like not referencing and others aforementioned. For students to avoid this then, they are advised to manage their time so as not to cram and copy other’s works which could be the easiest solution. While looking for references, it would be advisable to take notes using one’s own words, keeping a list of sources and documenting the references (Caroll, 2004). Probably the strongest influence would be to cling to what is right, that which is in line with the law. Institutions on the other hand can also perform their part by giving clear instructions to students regarding their works considering other students might not know what referencing means or they do not know how to go about the paper. Carol advises teachers to give different tasks for students, to prevent them from copying from each other and comparing their works and also change the writing styles so that they will have second thoughts of buying essays from the internet. In doing this and imposing punishments to those who would be caught committing the crime, students would think of keeping their dignity and learn the hard way (Oxford Brookes University). Caroll, Jude. November, 2004. Deterring, Detecting and Dealing with Plagiarism: A Brief Paper for Brookes Staff for Academic Integrity Week. Oxford Brookes University. Retrieved from:

Innovation and Managemnt of Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Innovation and Managemnt of Change - Essay Example Furthermore, structure is also a means to high-performing teams. Mindful awareness to structure and roles in teams will make the team much more successful. When it comes to leadership, structural leadership contributes a critical role in shaping organizations. It can be influential and stable, even though it is more restrained and less heroic leadership compared on other frames. Upon the entrance of Nardelli in Home Depot, there were major changes in hiring of new employees. Nardelli, wants to hire people with military background, ex militaries or even the wives of military officers (Pascual, 2001). Because for him they have a sufficient training and great leadership skills. For Nardelli, . A leader should be credible for him to lead. In addition to this characteristic, a leader should possess honesty, competence, aspiration, and a forward-looking approach. In the business point of view, good leadership proves to be quite beneficial. Good leadership aids in effectively meeting job-related demands, in creating higher-performing teams, in fostering renewed loyalty and commitment, in increasing motivational level and in reducing absenteeism and turnover of employees. Unfortunately, this so-called effective leadership is not that easy to attain; effective management is not as easy as writing down notes. Good leadership entails a lot of hard work, dedication, an d many other factors (Revelle, 2003). This is the reason why there should be proper management flow within the organization. Since an organization's culture is about how much members trust each other, about attitudes and emotions and their impact on team performance, organizations are defined best in these terms and in ideas like change, trust, cohesion, conformity and adaptability. The importance of high work life quality through good supervision, working conditions, pay and benefits as well as challenging and rewarding jobs. As such, it is apparent that the employees need to avail of the opportunities of developing their skills further and enriching their knowledge through the training programs and exercises that their company invests on (Maeir, 2003). As leaders and managers, managing the information that the company uses in its daily operations is crucial in any business organization. Information is the blood stream of every company on which every staff; employee and supervisor work on to be able to meet the demands of the clients and customers of the business. In addition, culture and environment of an organization tend to play a large role in determining structure (Scholosser, 2004). For example, more formal, bureaucratic organizations tend to have formal structures, while less formal organizations often choose flatter structures with dispersed responsibilities. Basically, social interaction is the main essence of living. People gain knowledge of themselves and those with whom they interact based on many characteristics that become salient based on their cultural framework. For example, to an American the car that one drives has symbolic significance, whereas to an Indian, schooling is an important sign of position and status. It is through various types of social interactions that all people define themselves within their social community, and this self-definition lies at the very heart of human endeavor. People struggle with a desire

The Roles of 3 Key Participants in the Property Development Process In Research Paper

The Roles of 3 Key Participants in the Property Development Process In Australia - Research Paper Example Architects, property developers, and town planners here in Australia see the true picture of international partnership developed between these three key players in property development abroad and are now trying to implement them here. Despite differences, these players are working in unison to create world-class infrastructures. "The economic and demographic opportunities arising from demand for better and competitive infrastructures have driven developers and architects to forge an alliance that has shown tremendous success in places like Amsterdam, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Montreal, New York, and Tokyo. As architects and property developers break boundaries together, they are also beginning to transcend an established pattern of notorious and longstanding ill will. Property development has to be market driven and certainly not product driven. The architect can creatively add great value to the developers' commercial objectives by design. By working in tandem, an architect can achieve his architectural agenda at the same time." (Property Development and Progressive Architecture - The New Alliance, www.elx.com.au, referred on 4.27.2006)1 3.0 Property Developer This paper sets out to differentiate and highlight the similarities of the role, objective, priorities, and attitude held by Developers, Architects, and Statutory Environmental/Town Planners with respect to Property Development Process. "Developers convert undeveloped, under-developed land, or existing buildings to satisfy market demands, using their entrepreneurial skills. Like all other entrepreneurs, developers expect, rightfully, to receive an appropriate rate of remuneration for their skill and risk involved in the particular development work. Sadly, a majority of property developers, who possess the genuine skill, expertise, a sound sense of social responsibility, and most of all, pride in their work, do not receive the publicity which they deserve. Peoples' real estate needs are met through the operation of various kinds of differing property markets in Australian society. These different types of markets can be categorized principally by way of location, size and usage criteria.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Economics - Public Utilities Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Economics - Public Utilities - Term Paper Example Then a critical evaluation of empirical studies in this regard is done and country experiences are also discussed. The main countries included in the analysis are USA, UK, South Africa, Lebanon, Latin American nations, MENA nations, India, China, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The last section concludes the essay on the basis of the discussion given. The essay shows that initial conditions existing at the time of privatization process, the nature of privatization, the regulatory practices existing in a nation all determine the impact of privatization process in a nation. In the countries however, most evidence support our thesis statement in this regard. Telecommunications has been one of the rapidly growing sectors in countries all over the world. This sector provides significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product of many nations (Li and Xu, 2002).Moreover, the sector contributes to other businesses by reducing their transaction costs and thus creating positive externalities. Thus telecommunication sector is considered to be of much economic and technological importance (Li and Xu, 2004). There had been significant changes in this sector transforming from a state owned, state operated an monopolistically behaved sector to a private owned and liberalized one since the 1980s with the privatization of British Telecom and the introduction of competition in the US long distance services (Wallsten, 2001).Based on the theoretical perspective son privatization, it has been argued that the privatization of telecommunication sector will result in increasing the sector’s efficiency and overall performance. The empirical studies show the results varying in different countries. Given this background, this essay critically evaluates the privatization process of telecommunications all over the world and its impact. This essay is

Organisational Strategy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Organisational Strategy - Case Study Example Porter (1980) explained the importance of focusing on cost leadership and product differentiation to gain competitive advantage - producing an excellent product which is a complete solution to a perceived need. It will then use system lock-in to sustain its competitive edge - locking in complementary products, maintaining a proprietary standard whilst locking out potential competitors. Between 1996 and 2006 the PC industry underwent two major revolutions. Firstly the way in which PCs were ordered changed with the commencement of e-commerce and secondly the methodology for manufacturing PCs altered radically with the introduction of lean manufacturing and supply chain management. 1996 Dell began selling on-line in 1996 recognizing the importance of having an encompassing e-commerce strategy. By 2000 its on-line sales were $50m/day. Dell became the largest manufacturer of personal computers in the world in 2001. Many have argued that the Internet renders strategy obsolete. In reality the opposite is trueit is more important than ever for companies to distinguish themselves through strategy. The winners will be those that view the internet as a complement to, not a cannibal of, traditional ways of competing. The great paradox of the Internet is that its very benefits - making information widely available; reducing the difficulty of purchasing, marketing, and distribution; allowing buyers and sellers to find and transact business with one another more easily - also make it more difficult for companies to capture those benefits as profits. (Porter, 2001) Figure 3 The Five Forces Source: Porter(2001) Being online increases competition. However there are opportunities there - particularly the removal or reduction of barriers to entry, and potentially equal access to consumers. Dell has no research and design costs thus increasing its advantage. IBM had already shown that marketing and distribution skills were more important than the latest technological innovation as the market for low cost PCs matured faster than anticipated. Dell simply adopted IBM's strategy: Advanced design Open source software Multi-channel distribution Low-cost manufacturing Aggressive pricing Supply Chain Management Strategy Taylor

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

The Roles of 3 Key Participants in the Property Development Process In Research Paper

The Roles of 3 Key Participants in the Property Development Process In Australia - Research Paper Example Architects, property developers, and town planners here in Australia see the true picture of international partnership developed between these three key players in property development abroad and are now trying to implement them here. Despite differences, these players are working in unison to create world-class infrastructures. "The economic and demographic opportunities arising from demand for better and competitive infrastructures have driven developers and architects to forge an alliance that has shown tremendous success in places like Amsterdam, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Montreal, New York, and Tokyo. As architects and property developers break boundaries together, they are also beginning to transcend an established pattern of notorious and longstanding ill will. Property development has to be market driven and certainly not product driven. The architect can creatively add great value to the developers' commercial objectives by design. By working in tandem, an architect can achieve his architectural agenda at the same time." (Property Development and Progressive Architecture - The New Alliance, www.elx.com.au, referred on 4.27.2006)1 3.0 Property Developer This paper sets out to differentiate and highlight the similarities of the role, objective, priorities, and attitude held by Developers, Architects, and Statutory Environmental/Town Planners with respect to Property Development Process. "Developers convert undeveloped, under-developed land, or existing buildings to satisfy market demands, using their entrepreneurial skills. Like all other entrepreneurs, developers expect, rightfully, to receive an appropriate rate of remuneration for their skill and risk involved in the particular development work. Sadly, a majority of property developers, who possess the genuine skill, expertise, a sound sense of social responsibility, and most of all, pride in their work, do not receive the publicity which they deserve. Peoples' real estate needs are met through the operation of various kinds of differing property markets in Australian society. These different types of markets can be categorized principally by way of location, size and usage criteria.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Organisational Strategy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Organisational Strategy - Case Study Example Porter (1980) explained the importance of focusing on cost leadership and product differentiation to gain competitive advantage - producing an excellent product which is a complete solution to a perceived need. It will then use system lock-in to sustain its competitive edge - locking in complementary products, maintaining a proprietary standard whilst locking out potential competitors. Between 1996 and 2006 the PC industry underwent two major revolutions. Firstly the way in which PCs were ordered changed with the commencement of e-commerce and secondly the methodology for manufacturing PCs altered radically with the introduction of lean manufacturing and supply chain management. 1996 Dell began selling on-line in 1996 recognizing the importance of having an encompassing e-commerce strategy. By 2000 its on-line sales were $50m/day. Dell became the largest manufacturer of personal computers in the world in 2001. Many have argued that the Internet renders strategy obsolete. In reality the opposite is trueit is more important than ever for companies to distinguish themselves through strategy. The winners will be those that view the internet as a complement to, not a cannibal of, traditional ways of competing. The great paradox of the Internet is that its very benefits - making information widely available; reducing the difficulty of purchasing, marketing, and distribution; allowing buyers and sellers to find and transact business with one another more easily - also make it more difficult for companies to capture those benefits as profits. (Porter, 2001) Figure 3 The Five Forces Source: Porter(2001) Being online increases competition. However there are opportunities there - particularly the removal or reduction of barriers to entry, and potentially equal access to consumers. Dell has no research and design costs thus increasing its advantage. IBM had already shown that marketing and distribution skills were more important than the latest technological innovation as the market for low cost PCs matured faster than anticipated. Dell simply adopted IBM's strategy: Advanced design Open source software Multi-channel distribution Low-cost manufacturing Aggressive pricing Supply Chain Management Strategy Taylor

Human Resource Management Plan Essay Example for Free

Human Resource Management Plan Essay As a startup healthcare staffing agency for per diem, temporary and travel healthcare employment, human resources are our product; as such, a Human Resource Management Plan is vital to the success of this agency. This plan has been put together with input of management/ recruitment, sales and employee representatives. This is tool to aid in the building of this company, clearly defining roles and job responsibilities of the administrative staff; stressing the laws with which this company will comply; adding clear cut job descriptions for the labor force; and includes information on staffing, employee development/training and compensation strategies. Roles and Responsibilities Manager – Is responsible for the overall success of the human resource department. The manager will implement and define job descriptions; the training program; and contracts. The manager will procure all insurance, will assure compliance with JCAHO regulations and make sure that all state and federal statues are met as well as that all relevant laws and regulations are adhered to. The manager is responsible for acquiring human resources as well as being the final decision maker as to the hiring and termination of all employees. The manager must possess the following skills: leadership/management, budgeting, compliance will all legal binds, and effective communication. Sales Manager- the SM will be responsible for: initiating all contact with clients; following up on these contacts; negotiating for a contract between this company and client; ensuring that all contractual agreements are complied with; and developing a working relationship with client’s HR departments. The SM must possess the following skills: leadership, compliance with all legal binds, effective communication, the autonomy to make decisions and the ability to project respect of client and engender the appearance of trust, integrity and a positive image of the company. Support Personnel – the SP will be responsible for: all coding and billing; answering phones; requesting all background searches (criminal as well as credit); light booking such as time sheets and payroll; keeping track of all licenses, certification, contract and insurance expiration dates; scheduling of all employees; sending and sorting all correspondence; placing advertisements; and updating the website as needed. The SP must have the following skills: organization, trustworthiness, ability to comply with all reasonable requests by management and sales, keep a consistent and reliable work schedule, have the ability to keep all information private, and have a good work ethic and personality that reflects the image this company wants to convey. Legal Requirements The sales product of our company is its human resources. As such, there is a myriad of laws and statutes that require total attention to address HR legal compliance. Adhering to these regulations is tantamount to success for this company. The Equal Employment Opportunity Act is the chief statute that this company must adhere to. Every attempt will be made to reduce/avoid violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act that protects against discrimination of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion and national origin (EEOC, 2012). Nor will there be violations of the Age Discrimination Act of 1967 and its’ amendments. There will be training in and awareness of disparate treatment of applicants including the EEOC’s new regulations on not hiring based on criminal background so that these laws are not violated (EEOC, 2012). It is our responsibility to give our clients the best candidate to fit their requirements so the job description should reflect clearly and without any ambiguity, the limitations of each position. However, records will be kept in accordance with EEOC regulations of all applicants as well as ensuring that all accommodations are made for any disabilities Punitive and compensatory damages can be levied against this company for violations of these acts. Benefits Required Until this company acquires 20+ employees it is not required to offer certain benefits (EEOC, 2012). The majority of its’ employees will be contract workers and as such, they are required to possess their own liability insurance, will not have access to company provided health insurance, disability or retirement benefits. Government required assistances such as COBRA, FMLA and ERIS plans will not be included in any benefit package until such time as this company hires salaried employees at the required minimum (EEOC, Disabilities 2012). At that time this policy will be revisited. OSHA regulations will be strictly enforced at the company’s geographical location and the appropriate information will be posted. Violations can be subject to penalties of up to $500,000. 00 and up to six months in jail (U. S. Legal, 2010-2013). Job Description of Contract Staff Attached is a sample job description for a RN with a psych component and psych experience. (See addendum 1). This description has been carefully analyzed and developed in accordance with all laws and regulations and will be give to our clients for comparison so that their HR department’s job escriptions are legally within all perimeters required and reflect essential job functions. This description was designed with help from the O*Net Online website and the Uniform Guidelines for Employee Selection Procedures. This company’s mission is to supply RNs’, LPNs’, CNAs’, NAs’, Social service, therapeutic, as well as any other healthcare related staff on temporary need basis for hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities, including home care. Our job descriptions must reflect this clearly and include the requirements given us in the contract with our clients. Any limitations are those supplied to us by our client’s HR department and do not represent limitations on hiring by this company or any employees of this company. Each individual HR department will provide NOLA Nursing Agency with their job descriptions but we reserve the right to change any portion of this design to reflect current laws in agreement with the client’s HR department (Fried and Fottler, 2012, pp. 171,173,174, 176). Staffing and Employee Development Staffing will be guided by each individual job description. Jobs will be filled with the applicants who best fit with the requirements of our clients, suitability of the position and expectations of NOLA Nursing. Our hiring motto is â€Å"Best Person, Best Fit, equals Best Care. † To ensure excellence in training of our per diem staff by NNA before additional training is undertaken after hire, we will use the COPA model by Lenburg. The COPA model of assessment of competency by Lenburg provides for a framework to ensure that teaching and learning of skills by nurses are interactive and student focused. NNA will use this framework to prepare per diem nurses/healthcare staff for employment. Below are the four major questions complied in this model: 1. What are the essential competencies and outcomes for contemporary practice? 2. What are the indicators that define those competencies? 3. What are the most effective ways to learn those competencies? And, 4. What are the most effective ways to document that learners and/or practioners have achieved the required competencies? To further prepare our healthcare staff will use Lenburg’s eight core practice competencies with sub skill to grade new staff and use the data collected to fill out each individual’s skill set. See Addendum 2) It will also be incumbent upon NOLA Nursing Agency: * To recruit the best applicants to fulfill the specified job qualifications for our clients. This will include the initial structured interview which will test job-competency and access the applicant’s suitability for the position. A realistic job preview will be given to the chosen applicant before selection to increase th e success of the person-job/organization fit. (Fried et al, 2012, pp. 209, 211-212) * An employment agreement will be drafted and signed by NNA along the candidate and will be enforced by NNA. A separation agreement will also be initiated by NNA after receiving information by client and if necessary, an exit interview will be performed by same. * Preform all background checks including: job and education histories, criminal and civil backgrounds, validation of licenses/certifications/credentials, and checks of personal and professional references. A report will be made available to clients with signed permission of the applicant and adhering to required laws. Drug screening and physical abilities confirmed if required on job description, * Current individual liability insurance validated: copies kept on file as well as expiration dates of the insurance for each contract employee. * Protected class applications will be cataloged and statistics will be submitted to the appropriate government regulation agencies * CEUs for each applicant will be kept up to date and appropriate to the job description * Each applicant will be tested in a skills inventory and given necessary instruction in weak skills. A web bank of nursing skills will be made available so contract applicants can improve on their skill base. * Compensation and any benefits will be negotiated between NOLA Nursing and the applicant * Any issues that arise in the working environment will be mediated by NOLA Nursing and our client. * NOLA Nursing will monitor their contract employee’s job performances and any deficits will be addressed. * A critical incidents analysis will be kept on each contract employee to better select quality candidates for our clients Recruitment will be through advertisements in web based Job Boards, newspapers and participation in job fairs. An active bank of all applicants will be kept updated with a surplus of personnel available for each potential position. All necessary legal regulations and statutes will be considered in job placement and all information given on a particular candidate will be considered on a need to know basis. Our focus should be on giving our client a smooth, issue-free solution to their staffing deficits. While all attempts will be made to make a right person/right fit for each job description, voluntary and involuntary terminations will occur. To this end, the employment agreement between NNA and the applicant will include a section to negotiate issues resulting in a voluntary termination in an attempt to stay the dissolution of the contract. In case of a non-voluntary termination, NNA will act as representative of the employee to mediate any solutions that could result in the fulfillment of the contractual period. With due diligence performed by our company, turnover rates of temporary staff should be above the rate of regular employees. We make all efforts to satisfy our clients and our most important resource, our employees. Evidence based research by Cummins, J. in the online article, Nurse retention strategies: A growing priority, and Perrine, J, in Recruitment and retention report: Strategies to boost RN retention, have shown that the following strategies have improved retention rates, increasing motivation, satisfaction and performance: 1. Promote an environment where RN’s actively participate in the decision making processes that occur at the unit on the institutional level 2. Improve the perception of respect 3. Improve access between RNs’ and the organizational leadership 4.  Assist staff with education and training to meet the changing market needs 5. Lead by Example Compensation Contracts between job applicants and NOLA Nursing will be finalized after compensatory benefits are agreed upon and contracted by NNA and our client. Compensation will be on an hourly and per diem basis. HR will be cognizant of the market pay scale for each job description and compensation will stay above market value to attract competent candidates. Special attention will be given to equal pay for equal opportunities (Equal Pay Act). Diversity Evidence based research by Singleton, K and Krause, E (Sept 2009) in the Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, has found a correlation between the improving health of a patient and the nurse being of the same culture as the patient. Within legal limits, considerations will be given to the population climate of the institution where the deficit of nurses is occurring. We are an equal opportunity employer so anyone who applies will have the same opportunity to be placed in a position per the job description perimeters. Selection will not be determined by race, age, gender, sexual preference, color, religion or national origin. Realities are that nationwide, 90% of U. S. nurses are Caucasian, and blacks and Hispanics are underrepresented per the US population (Aiken, 2007). All applicants will be looked at equally and attempts will be made to place any qualified applicant. Historical Perspective and Current Trends With the cycles of supply and demand on nursing labor market, the opening of the 21st century found healthcare systems trying to catch up with demand (Fried, et al, pp. 90). Many foreign nurses were brought into the States to meet the demand; nearly 15,000 passed the Nclex in 2005 according Aiken, however at the time, â€Å"American nursing schools were turning away applicants because of capacity limitations. † (Aiken, 2007) Projections are that the shortage in 2020 could reach 800,000 to 1. 1 million with a large block of nurses looking to retire from the labor force by 2020. Aiken quotes that graduation of nurses fell from over 95,000 in 1994 to below 70,000 by 2001 with a false increase from 2002-2005 being older nurses reentering the workforce and foreign educated nurses. Current trends have been to raise salaries, provide scholarships and give other incentives to retain and gain nursing staff. However with the lack of nursing teachers, and facilities, there will be again a nursing shortage of graduate nurses and on the other end of the spectrum; retiring nurses. Per Fried and Fottler (pp. 90), more than 30,000 qualified applicants were not accepted into baccalaureate nursing programs in 2007. With the increase in Magnate policies and the increase in associate nursing programs, there will be a shortage of 4 year nurses in the near future. Per Aiken, increases and shortages of nurses into the labor market is contingent upon federal subsidies. When there was a trend toward nursing layoffs in the period between 1995 to 2000 graduations fell causing the latest shortage of nurses. Wages grew 12. 8 % between 2000 -2004. This caused an upsurge in nursing school applicants and many were turned away. Aiken feels that graduations of nurses into the labor pool seem to be keeping up with demand. However the Affordable Care Act will open up primary care to an additional 40 million Americans with a rise in the market for additional nurses (Wakefield, 2010). Government subsidies have changed per the HRSA scholarship opportunities in the last two years. Where concentration was on increasing RN subsidies, now HRSA is concentrating on grants for nurse practitioners and nursing educators and has significantly reduced the monies offered to two and four year RNs. Once again the cycle of reduced enrollments in nursing school should follow the trend of reduced federal subsidies less nursing candidates. This bodes well for our job market niche and should be the basis for growth in this company

Monday, October 14, 2019

Project Development Approach And Justification

Project Development Approach And Justification To solve actual problems in an industry setting, software engineer or a team of engineers must incorporate a development strategy that encompasses the process, methods and tools layers and generic phases. This strategy is often referred to as process model or a software engineering paradigm or project development approach. A process model for software engineering is chosen based on the nature of the project and application, the methods and tools to be used, and the controls and deliverables that are required. Our software is based on Rapid Application Development (RAD) Model. This software development approach is as described as below. Rapid Application Development Model RAD model is an incremental software development process model that emphasizes an extremely short development cycle. If requirements are well understood and project scope is constrained, the RAD process enables a development team to create a fully functional system within short time periods (60-90 days). RAD approach encompasses the following phases: Business Modeling: The flow of information among business functions is modeled in such a way that answers following questions: What Information drives the business? What Information generated? Who generates it? Where does Information go? Who Process it? Data Modeling: The flow defined as part of business modeling phase is refined into a set of data object that are needed to support the business. Data Modeling answers a set of specific questions that are relevant to any data processing application. It enables software engineer to identify data objects and their relationship using a graphical notation. C:Documents and SettingshiralsMy DocumentsMy Picturesuntitled.bmp Figure 2. RAD Model (Rapid Application Development Model) Process Modeling: The data objects defined in the data modeling phase are transformed to achieve the information flow necessary to implement a business function processing description s are created for adding, modifying, deleting or retrieving a data object. Application generation: RAD process works to reuse existing program components or create reusable components. Testing and turnover: The RAD process emphasizes reuse; many of the program components have already been tested. This reduces overall testing time. However, new components must be tested and all interfaces must be fully exercised. Advantages of RAD Model: Emphasizes an extremely short development cycle Fully functional system within very short time periods Drawbacks of RAD Model: Like all process models RAD approach has drawbacks: For large but scalable projects, RAD requires human resources to create the right number of RAD teams. RAD requires developers and customers who are committed to the rapid-fire activities necessary to get a system complete in a much-abbreviated time frame. If commitment is lacking from either constituency, RAD projects will fail. Not all type of applications are appropriate for RAD. If system cannot be properly modularized, building the components necessary for RAD will be problematic. RAD is not appropriate when technical risks are high. Weeks Months Week l Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 1st Month 1)Orientation program 2)Introduction session 3)Overview of training training Program 4)Introduction to system setup 5)ISO introduction 6)Study of ACTL intranet sites 1) Seminar on ACTL coding standards 2) Database standards and practices. 3) Implementation of demo project named Inventory Management System 1) Testing of demo project named Inventory Management System 2) Lecture on quality assurance 3) Lecture on SDLC 4) Introduction to CRS 1) Study Project definition and requirement analysis of proposed system 2) Data flow analysis of proposed system 3) Decided the software process model for the proposed System. 4) Prepare required diagrams. 2nd Month 1)Learn how JQuery works 2)Study about CRS Restaurant modules 3)Database design 1) Study about amenities module 2) Implement amenities module 3)Testing of created module 1) Study about policy module 2) Implement policy module 3)Testing of created module 1) Study about promotion module 2) Implement promotion module 3)Testing of created module 3rd Month 1) Study about Servings module 2) Implement Servings module 3)Testing of created module 1) Study about Cuisine, Hall, Price List module 2) Implement module 3)Testing of created module 1) Study about booking , Cancelation , Stop Sales module 2) Implement of it 3)Testing of created module 1) Study of Event, Loyalty, User module 2) Implement Events, Loyalty module 3)Testing of created module 4rd Month 1) compliance, Roles , Themes module 2) Implement module 1)Testing created module Report Development 2)Integration of all modules 1) Integration testing 2) Add facility of multi lingual facility 1) Test system on different browsers. 2) Solve Issues. Figure 2.2 Project Planning Milestones: Every task or group of tasks should be associated with project milestone. A milestone is accomplished when one or more work products has been reviewed for quality and has been approved. Project Milestones include completion of some defines tasks in defined time limits. The milestones associated with this project are shown below: Study of ACTL Framework JQuery First milestone includes study of ACTL framework, SDLC, study of JQuery documents. JQuery documents includes JQGrid, JQuery Wizard, JQuery Validation, Menu, JQuery Date picker, etc., Database coding standards, query optimization, etc Project planning Scheduling Second milestone includes analysis of project and designing. Then we have started coding to develop first prototype which includes Servings Halls. Cuisine Items setup also includes setup of Items and based on selection of Cuisine, Finally all these modules are debugged and tested. Development of various modules Third milestone includes developing price list module, stop sell module, search booking module. Item Price List module includes setup of rates for different items hall wise. Booking search includes guest searching. Also these modules are debugged and tested. Development continued Fourth milestone includes developing reports module, business setup module, compliance module, etc. These all modules are again tested and reviewed. Testing and Documentation Fifth milestone includes the integration testing and documentation. Deliverables: Every task that is scheduled should have a defined outcome. For software projects, the outcome is normally a work product (e.g., the design of a module) or a part of a work product. Work products are often combined in deliverables. They are delivered at end of some major phase such as specification, design etc. Deliverables for this project are shown below: Project Specification It includes the requirement analysis and specification of each module to be developed. It includes description of each module containing what that module does, how it interacts with another module, what is input to that module and the outputs from that module. Project Design It includes structural design for each module. Design is used for better understanding of each modules functionality and interface. Designing consists of many diagrams which help us to view a system as a whole. Developed Product It is the working product or prototype delivered to customer. Documentation It includes some facilities to help the customer while using this project. Roles: After careful review of requirements, this project requires following different modes for interaction: programming mode, test mode, monitoring mode, and troubleshooting mode. Therefore, roles can be defined as programmer, tester, monitor, and troubleshooter. Here we are three peoples in our team. We all play these four roles as per requirements of project and as per our scheduling. Project Managers role is to review the project and suggest the improvements to be done. Responsibilities: Every task that is scheduled is assigned to a specific team member. Each members responsibility is to develop the assigned module, test it and troubleshooting for that module. Resources: The first step in building the project schedule is to identify the resources required to perform each of the tasks required to complete the project. A resource is any person, item, tool, or service that is needed by the project that is either scarce or has limited availability. The project could include computer resources (like shared computer room, mainframe, or server time), locations (training rooms, temporary office space), services (like time from contractors, trainers, or a support team), and special equipment that will be temporarily acquired for the project. One or more resources must be allocated to each task. To do this, the project manager must first assign the task to people who will perform it. For each task, the project manager must identify one or more people on the resource list capable of doing that task and assign it to them. Once a task is assigned, the team member who is performing it is not available for other tasks until the assigned task is completed. While some tasks can be assigned to any team member, most can be performed only by certain people. If those people are not available, the task must wait. In our team each and every member is assigned specific modules. Resources required by these modules are also allocated to him/her only. Dependencies: Once resources are allocated, the next step is to identify dependencies between tasks. A task has a dependency if it involves an activity, resource, or work product that is subsequently required by another task. Dependencies come in many forms: a test plan cant be executed until a build of the software is delivered; code might depend on classes or modules built in earlier stages; a user interface cant be built until the design is reviewed. It is the project managers responsibility to work with everyone on the engineering team to identify these dependencies. The project manager should start by taking the each module and adding dependency information to it: each task in the selected module is given a number, and the number of any task that it is dependent on should be listed next to it as a predecessor. Figure 2.3 shows the four ways in which one task can be dependent on another. Figure 2.3: Dependency among Modules We have also identified dependencies among the modules and sub modules in our project. Then we have divided our work as per dependencies. Schedule Representation Software project scheduling is an activity that distributes estimated efforts across the planned duration by allocating the effort to specific software engineering tasks. Time Line Chart (Weekly) 1st February To 29th February Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Work Task Introduction to CRS Study Project Definition Analysis Analysis of Amenities Module Analysis of Policy Module Milestone Implementation of Amenities Policy Module Figure 2.4: Project Schedule Representation Work Task Week 4 Week 3 Week 2 Week 11st March To 29th March Testing of developed modules Servings, Cuisine, Halls Implementation of price list, Bookings, stop sell, Testing of developed modules Loyalty, Events Analysis of multilingual Milestone Implementation of Search booking Stop sell Module Work Task Week 4 Week 3 Week 2 Week 11st April To 26th April Testing of developed modules Analysis of Compliance Module Implementation Testing of Compliance Module Integration Testing Solve Issues Creating Themes Multi lingual Milestone Implementation of CRS RISK MANAGEMENT It is the process of measuring or assessing risk and then developing strategies to manage the risk. In general, the strategies employed include transferring the risk to another party, avoiding the risk, reducing the negative effect of the risk, and accepting some or all of the consequences of a particular risk. Traditional risk management focuses on risks stemming from physical or legal causes (e.g. natural disasters or fires, accidents, death, and lawsuits). Financial risk management, on the other hand, focuses on risks that can be managed using traded financial instruments. Project Risks are risks, which affect the project schedule or resources. Product Risks are risks, which affect quality or performance of the software being developed. Business Risks are risks which affect the organization developing or procuring the software. In ideal risk management, a prioritization process is followed whereby the risks with the greatest loss and the greatest probability of occurring are handled first, and risks with lower probability of occurrence and lower loss are handled later. In practice this process can be very difficult, and balancing between risks with a high probability of occurrence but lower loss vs. a risk with high loss but lower probability of occurrence can often be mishandled. Risk Identification Risk identification is a systematic attempt to specify threats to the project plan (estimates, schedule, resource loading, etc.) By identifying known and predictable risks, the project manager takes a first step towards avoiding them when possible and controlling them when necessary. There are two distinct types of risks Generic risks and Product-specific risks. Generic risks are a potential threat to the project and Product-specific risks are those that can be identified by only those with clear understanding of the technology, the people and the environment that is specific to that project. Possible risks involved in developing Central Reservation System are technical risks and project risks. First risk Central Reservation System is totally dependent on ACTL Framework. Second risk is that our system needs to be integrated to booking engine via Dxchange middleware that uses XML format data as communication standard . Third risk is associated with authorization; if in the software the anonymous or wrong user is authorized or assign role by mistake then he may do changes that cause the system in dangerous mode. We are planning to give multilingual co-branding system. The risk is associated with time period, the degree of uncertainty that project schedule will be meet, maintained and that the product will be on time. Project Risk includes personnel (staffing and organization) risk and schedule risk. Currently our team size is 3. We can follow our schedule as per planning. If team size gets reduced then schedule and planning must be changed. Risk Analysis Risk analysis = Risk Assessment + Risk Management + Risk Communication. Risk Assessment:- It involves identifying sources of potential harm, assessing the likelihood that harm will occur and the consequences if harm does occur. Risk Management:- It evaluates which risks identified in the risk assessment process require management and selects and implements the plans or actions that are required to ensure that those risks are controlled. Risk Communication:- It involves an interactive dialogue between stakeholders and risk assessors and risk managers which actively informs the other processes. There are two points to keep in mind when analyzing risk: Where is the risk? How significant is the risk? By analyzing the identified risks we have the following conclusion. The probability that algorithm risk becomes reality is very high. We have to study and implement JQuery components. So there is possibility that some of the components cannot fit into current structure. Without these components our current system can run efficiently but either we have to change our desired component. Risk Planning Once risks have been identified and assessed, all techniques to manage the risk fall into one or more of these four major categories: Risk Avoidance It includes not performing an activity that could carry risk. An example would be not buying a property or business in order to not take on the liability that comes with it. Avoidance may seem the answer to all risks, but avoiding risks also means losing out on the potential gain that accepting the risk may have allowed. To avoid the risk also avoids the possibility of earning profits. Risk Reduction It involves methods that reduce the severity of the loss. Modern software development methodologies reduce risk by developing and delivering software incrementally. Early methodologies suffered from the fact that they only delivered software in the final phase of development; any problems encountered in earlier phases meant costly rework and often jeopardized the whole project. By developing in iterations, software projects can limit effort wasted to a single iteration. A current trend in software development, spearheaded by the Extreme Programming community, is to reduce the size of iterations to the smallest size possible, sometimes as little as one week is allocated to an iteration. Risk Retention It involves accepting the loss when it occurs. Risk retention is a viable strategy for small risks where the cost of insuring against the risk would be greater over time than the total losses sustained. All risks that are not avoided or transferred are retained by default. This includes risks that are so large or catastrophic that they either cannot be insured against or the premiums would be infeasible. This may also be acceptable if the chance of a very large loss is small or if the cost to insure for greater coverage amounts is so great it would hinder the goals of the organization too much. Risk transfer It means causing another party to accept the risk, typically by contract or by hedging. Insurance is one type of risk transfer that uses contracts. Other times it may involve contract language that transfers a risk to another party without the payment of an insurance premium. Liability among construction or other contractors is very often transferred this way. On the other hand, taking offsetting positions in derivatives is typically how firms use hedging to financially manage risk. Some ways of managing risk fall into multiple categories. Risk retention pools are technically retaining the risk for the group, but spreading it over the whole group involves transfer among individual members of the group. This is different from traditional insurance, in that no premium is exchanged between members of the group up front, but instead losses are assessed to all members of the group. The planning by which the identified risks for this project are handled is described as following: We have planned to build sample application in ACTL Framework so all team members can be familiar with framework. We planned to use OTA standard to communicate with booking engine. We have also planned to use compliance driven system so even if a user is assigned a role accidently then also users changes need to be approved by super administrator. ESTIMATION Effective software project estimation is one of the most challenging and important activities in software development. Estimation is one of the cornerstones of effective project planning: effective project planning and control is not possible without a sound and reliable estimate. Under-estimating a project leads to under-staffing it (which often results in staff burnout), under-scoping the quality assurance effort (running the risk of low quality deliverables), and setting too short a schedule (resulting in loss of credibility as deadlines are missed). This negatively impacts staff productivity, product quality, customer relationships and overall credibility. Conversely, overestimating a project can be just as detrimental. Since most projects expand to fit their estimated schedule, allocating appropriate resources to future projects can quickly become an issue, creating scheduling bottle necks and planning difficulties. Good software estimation and planning goes beyond tools, techniques and processes. Its also about the right attitude, understanding and mutual expectations not just from the software developers but also from senior management. When we understand together what can be done, what has been done, and what is being put before us, we can successfully plan projects to make them more predictable. A sound estimate starts with dividing project in some phases. Each phase is that, if completed, will produce the final product. There are many ways to decompose a project into tasks. The project can be broken down by feature, by project phase (requirements tasks, design tasks, programming tasks, etc.), or by some combination of the two. Now the team must create an estimate of the effort required to perform each task. The most accurate estimates are those that rely on prior experience. Team members should review previous project results and find how long similar tasks in previous projects took to complete. Sources of delays in the past should be taken into account when making current estimates. No estimate is guaranteed to be accurate. People get sick or leave the organization; teams run into unforeseen technical problems; the needs of the organization change. The unexpected will almost certainly happen. Therefore, the goal of estimation is not to predict the future. Instead, it is to gauge an honest, well-informed opinion of the effort required to do a task from those people in the organization who have the most applicable training and knowledge. Effort Estimation Software costs and effort estimation will never be an exact science. Too many variables human, technical, environmental, political can affect the ultimate cost of software and effort applied to develop it. However, software project estimation can be transformed from a black art to a series of systematic steps that provide estimates with acceptable risks. To achieve reliable cost and effort estimates, a number of options arise: Delay estimation until late in the project Base estimates on similar projects that have already been completed. Use relatively simple decomposition techniques to generate project cost and effort estimates. Use on or more empirical models for software cost and effort estimation. We are adapting following criteria to estimate the effort. Step 1: We are computing the count total which will be used to define the complexity of a project. You will do that by completing the Figure 2.5. Top of Form Measurement Parameter Count Simple Average Complex Total Number of user inputs X 3 4 6 = Number of user outputs X 4 5 7 = Number of user inquiries X 3 4 6 = Number of files X 7 10 15 = Number of external interfaces X 5 7 10 = Count Total Figure 2.5: Table to compute Count Total Step 2: We are finding the complexity adjustment values based on responses to the questions shown in Figure 2.6. Question 0 1 2 3 4 5 1. Does the system require reliable backup and recovery? 2. Are data communications required? 3. Are there distributed processing functions? 4. Is performance critical? 5. Will the system run in an existing, heavily utilized operational environment? 6. Does the system require on-line data entry? 7. Does the on-line data entry require the input transaction? 8. Are the master file updated on-line? 9. Are the inputs, outputs, files, or inquiries complex? 10. Is the internal processing complex? 11. In the code designed to be reusable? 12. Are conversion and installation included in the design? 13. Is the system designed for multiple installations in different organizations? 14. Is the application designed to facilitate change and ease of use by the user? Total fi Complexity Weighting Factors (0 = No influence, 1 = Incidental, 2 = Moderate, 3 = Average, 4 = Significant, 5 = Essential): Figure 2.6: Table to compute Complexity Adjustment Values The Function Points is: (FP=Count Total + {0.65+0.01*(Efi)}) Step 3: We are finding LOC (Lines of Code), and we do this by choosing a programming language that we will use when developing a project. Figure 2.7 shows LOC/FP for different programming languages. Programming Language LOC/FP (average) Select Assembly Language 320 C 128 COBOL 105 Fortran 105 Pascal 90 Ada 70 Object-Oriented Languages 30 Fourth Generation Languages (4GLs) 20 Code Generators 15 Spreadsheets 6 Graphical Languages (icons) 4 Figure 2.7: LOC/FP Values for Different Programming Languages So LOC/FP for our project is Step 4: Final Step is to select complexity of the software project. Figure 2.8 is used to calculate effort and duration of the project. Software Project ab bb cb db Select Organic 2.4 1.05 2.5 0.38 Semi-detached 3.0 1.12 2.5 0.35 Embedded 3.6 1.20 2.5 0.32 Figure 2.8: Table to compute Effort and Duration From Figure 2.8 calculated effort and duration are: Effort (E) = ab(KLOC)bb = Duration (D) = cb(E)db = Cost Analysis: A cost-benefit analysis is necessary to determine economic feasibility. The primary objective of the cost-benefit analysis is to find out whether it is economically worthwhile to invest in the project. If the return on the investments is good, then the project is considered economically worthwhile. Cost-benefit analysis is performed by first listing all the costs associated with the project. Costs consist of direct costs and indirect costs. Benefits can be broadly classified as tangible benefit and intangible benefits. Tangible benefits are directly measurable and intangible are not. The sum of all costs is compared with the sum of all the savings (tangible and intangible). It is not always easy to assign money value to intangible benefits. It is arrived at by discussion amongst users of the system. Figure 2.9 shows general cost associated with project. Procurement Cost Installation cost for installing supporting software like Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visual Studio etc. The company already has the license for this software. Project Related Cost Cost of Data Collection for System Analysis. Cost of preparing Documentation. Cost of Development Management. Cost of Organization Resources. Ongoing Cost System Maintenance cost. Depreciation cost. Figure 2.9: Cost Representation Estimation of Cost is not provided to us as it is against the policy of Avani Cimcon Technologies Ltd. and due to some security reason.