Recognizing The Changing Health Care System - 2383 Words

Introduction of Issue Recognizing the changing health care system, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), launched a two-year initiative to assess and transform the nursing profession. The report produced by the IOM RWJF, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, called out four key messages to guide the changes needed to heighten the future of nursing. One of these messages, nurses achieving higher levels of education- increasing baccalaureate prepared nurses to 80% by 2020, enforces the need for nurses to obtain higher degrees and changes the requirements for entry-level nurses. Improving education levels in the nursing workforce is beneficial to both the nurse receiving the education and the patient receiving care, however with expensive degree programs and an older workforce not willing to go back to school, turmoil has erupted within the profession. This paper uses evidence to review both sides of the argume nt and its significance to both nursing and patient care outcomes. Background In 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and the Affordable Care Act (PPACA) which aimed to increase the quality and affordability of health insurance. This act began a radical transformation of healthcare in the United States, and has created a new landscape for health professionals to navigate. The blueprint (The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health) created by the IOMShow MoreRelatedRedesign The Rn Health Coach Position1267 Words   |  6 Pagesredesign the RN Health Coach position that was discussed in the attached paper. 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In order to look toRead MoreMy Personal Nursing Philosophy726 Words   |  3 Pagesphilosophy of nursing is to provide holistic care meeting the  physical, social, economic, cognitive, and spiritual health of a person. This philosophy embraces the four elements of the nursing metaparadigm, which is person, environment, health, and nursing. While theorists have differing concepts and definitions of nursing, the American Nurses Association (ANA), defines it as follows; â€Å"Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injuryRead MoreThe Insurance Impacts Of The Affordable Care Act859 Words   |  4 Pageslarge media coverage about the insurance impacts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), there has been a smaller amount discussed of the law’s changes to provider reimbursement policy, reforms to the delivery system, and investments in programs to improve the qual ity of care and constrain long-run growth in health care costs. And yet, the elements included in the ACA directed at cost and quality is possible to affect the practice of care for nearly every provider across the country. Although cost containmentRead MoreImproving Patient Care Is A Constant, Ongoing Process Of Trail And Error1211 Words   |  5 PagesImproving patient care is a constant, ongoing process of trail and error. As nurses, providing the best of care possible for the patient should always be the number one priority. â€Å"The aims of nursing actions (also nursing interventions) are to protect, promote, and optimize health; to prevent illness and injury; to alleviate suffering; and to advocate for individuals, families, communities, and populations† (American Nurses Association, 2010). 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Despite this being a widely held idea, the reality is that marginalized groups are not experiencing the same standards of health care as other Canadian Citizens. Despite the fact that some researchers say racialization does not play a factor in the level of health care received by people (Guilfoyle 1512), Indigenous Peoples in Canada do not have equal access to the Canadian health care system due to the problems arisi ng fromRead MoreRecognizing the Need for Cultural Change1137 Words   |  5 Pages Recognizing the Need for Cultural Change Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Cultural awareness 3. Cultural sensitivity 4. Cultural competence 5. Cultural humility 6. Conclusion 7. References Introduction United States of America demographicsRead MoreA Long Time That Nurses Make Some Of The Best Advocates944 Words   |  4 Pagestime that nurses make some of the best advocates. They are known for being the ones who spend the most time with patients, so in turn they are able to better recognize their immediate needs. Advocating for patients does not have to involve major health care decisions, but rather it can be small actions that are simply for the benefit or comfort of the patient. Throughout my clinical rotations, I can say that I have advocated in small ways. An example of an act I consider to be advocacy was simply lettingRead MoreDiversity Is The Changing Demographics And Economics Of Our Growing Multicultural World1309 Words   |  6 PagesConcept paper By Masereh Jallow Topic: Diversity in Nursing Page 1 Topic: Diversity in Nursing Diversity: The changing demographics and economics of our growing multicultural world, and the long-standing disparities in the health status of people from culturally diverse backgrounds has challenged health care providers and organizations to consider cultural diversity as a priority. Culture is one of the organizing concepts upon which nursing is based and defined

The Importance Of Technology - 784 Words

In the 21st century, technology has become more advanced and has a large impact among us humans. Is this advancing of technology makes human beings become more ignorant? As technology advances it becomes a part of people’s daily lives, and they don’t have to rely on their heads. People are relying on the internet rather than the hard copy books. Most people search up the quickest, simple answers, that’s why they don’t think critically. Technology is weakening people’s ability to think critically and engage in the process of learning, because technology is advancing, making everyone lives easier. To sum up todays generation, it is always about technology, technology, technology. They devote their life to technology, while in school,†¦show more content†¦Some people have the answers, and would open up more websites and dig deeper for more information. Nicholas Carr the author of â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† says, â€Å"Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski†. Carr is stating that people look above the surface that people don’t explore and look deeper with the information. In addition, others would find the answers and slap it on their paper without digging for more information. Doing that makes people just lazy, and once they get lazy they won’t know the information as much. People could just skim through passages, just to find the answer, there’s not much of a critical process with that. Others can’t just retain the information by skimming and slapping the answ er down on the paper, they have to dig deeper, read, comprehend, and think beyond. Technology can affect humans physically and mentally. Mentally, the things that come from social media can badly affect their school work, and job. They aren’t focus on what they suppose to do, they are more concentrated on what happen on social media. Physically, teenagers, students, and even parents are taking advantage of their sleeping time. They stay up late to check their Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and text messages. Technology effects people’s daily lives because they are not getting the proper amount of sleep. Most peopleShow MoreRelatedThe Importance of Technology1118 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to Vikram (7), technology refers the application of scientific knowledge and skills for practical purposes in diverse fields such as industries, education, and agriculture among other fields. Technology is therefore an organized knowledge for practical purposes in human day to day life. The fundamental purpose of every human life is to increase standards of living, improve the quality of his life and to always have a greater satisfaction in life (Vikram 8). These fundamental purposes canRead MoreTechnology Importance1088 Words   |  5 PagesThe Importance of Technology, which was always debatable, has now become more controversial. The substantial influence of Technology on our lives has sparked the recent controversy over the potential impact of this trend. It can be agreed that Technology has a profound impact on many communities, however some people claim that it had an adverse impact on many societies. This essay will elaborate both positive and negative aspects of technology on our lives and thus lead to a logical conclusion. Read MoreThe Importance Of Technology1740 Words   |  7 PagesShmuel Dovid Baum Date: Jan. 4, 2018 Technology has had quite a significant impact on the way we live our lives and interact with the world. It is quite common to see people walking down the street and oblivious to the world around them while they are immersed in the world of their smartphones. By looking at where we are now with our days so connected to the Internet and the ubiquitous presence of smartphones andRead MoreThe Importance Of Technology And Technology1294 Words   |  6 PagesFrom the moment people wake up to the moment they go to sleep, they are surrounded by technology. Society has become dependent on technology and the recreation industry is no exception. First, recreation is any personal experience at any time that is personally chosen and self-fulfilling. It extends beyond the simple act to include a state of being and a way of life. Likewise, recreation therapy uses recreation activities to help individuals with physical and/or psychological limitations with theirRead MoreThe Importance Of Technology And Technology1043 Words   |  5 PagesTechnology has become a vital part of the insurance over the past decade in a plethora of ways, ranging from mobility to Big Data, and even social media. We are in a new era and insurance companies/agencies are being pushed to adapt, or face being pushed aside to those expanding with society. By utilizing the technology and new ways, they are maximizing customer outreach and satisfaction. The need for personal interaction is still a must, but slowly diminishing, yet there will always be a need especiallyRead MoreTechnology : The Importance Of Technology And Technology1183 Words   |  5 Pagesmy homework. Every day the school comes up with new ways to improve the students’ learning. Since the school is modernizing, this means that technology is bound to occur in some form of shape. Technology will continue to advance and will eventually (if not already) become part of everyone’s daily life. For this reason, students must learn how to use technology now. Hence, all students should have access to a laptop whether it is their own or one provided by the school because laptops allow studentsRead MoreThe Importance Of Technology1806 Words   |  8 PagesAs time progresses, our conscious mind becomes muddled into the fast-paced society where we rely frequently on the usage of technology to solve our everyday life. Although, it is important to acknowledge the development and capabilities of modernization, it is essential to be cognizant of one’s mind. Having an innate capability of free-will is a powerful tool for humans to utilize because it gives us the choice to think for ourselves rather than letting others or machines think for us. However, nowadaysRead MoreImportance Of Technology : Technology Integration1187 Words   |  5 PagesImportance of Technology Integration It is supposed that educator incorporation of technology into workrooms for high-level learning will lead to enlarged scholar learning. 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Of White Hairs and Cricket Free Essays

â€Å"A Horse and Two Goats† is a short story written by R. K. Narayan, from India. We will write a custom essay sample on Of White Hairs and Cricket or any similar topic only for you Order Now Basically, the story is about two individuals, an American and an Indian, trying to converse and communicate, but they can not seem to understand each other because of the lack of knowledge in the other’s language and culture. The story spans a very short time, perhaps a half an hour. As it is revealed in the very beginning of the story, it takes place in a very small village called Kiritam, which is only represented by a tiny dot on the local survey map. The narration of the story goes chronologically, in a third-person omniscient view, with the main characters being an American tourist and an old Indian man. Both of the characters seem a little bit ignorant and ethnocentric, as none of them have competent background knowledge of the other’s culture and language. The fact that they can not understand each other can be looked upon as the main conflict. However, by what is told, it seems like if the American should know more about Indian culture, than what the old man should know about the western ways. This is because the American is a wealthy person, probably a businessman, from New York, who has had a lifelong dream of visiting and seeing India. Somebody like this should probably had more cultural knowledge that what is shown. Along with this, he shows lack of respect when he sees a statue he finds to his liking, and wants it in his possession at once. He thinks he can just purchase it from the old man, without considering what the statue means for him or the native people. This way, the American is presented as a typical wealthy western person, who is quite materialistic and thinks that money solves all problems. What can be considered as odd, and perhaps just another example of western ignorance, is that the American naturally assumes that because the old man stands beside the statute, he owns it. How to cite Of White Hairs and Cricket, Papers

Strategic Planning Analysis of Westpac Corporation

Question: Discuss about theStrategic Planningfor Analysis of Westpac Corporation. Answer: Introduction The occurrence of economic extremes has negatively impacted the performance of most businesses. The banking sector is one of the major areas that have promoted entrepreneurial activities in the most parts of the globe. For instance, the initiative of offering cheap loans to encourage investors in Australia created a new generation of individuals who were motivated to acquire economic independence. However, despite the sector being the backbone of economic developments in a country, the industry faces a broad range of challenges. For instance, the industry faces fierce competition from other banks and financial institution, then, sometimes, the State formulation of unfavourable regulations regarding the interest rates the institutions are required to charge its customers (Grant, et al. 2011). In overcoming some of the challenges, Westpac Banking Corporation has established various strategies that have relatively given it a competitive edge over the rivals. For instance, the company has aligned its business objectives with customer segments by having customer facing divisions (Grundy, 2006, p.213-239). These segments include consumer banks, which handles sales and consumer customers. The second division is Business Bank, which handles small to medium enterprises, agri-business, and commercial clients. The third category is BT Financial Group Australia section deals in the business of wealth and insurance. The fourth division is Westpac New Zealand which offers a range of financial services to institutions, business and consumer customers in New Zealand. Then, finally, the Westpac Institutional Bank provides some financial services to government, institutions, corporate and commercial customers connecting Australia and New Zealand. This diversification of business portfolio s is instrumental in propelling the company towards success. The complexity in the banking industry imperatively requires companies to establish a clear strategy for them for growth. It is the method Westpac has regularly applied to achieve the status it has now. Contrary to which inefficiencies in the operations will enter the company and a culture of laxity may enter the organization (Nongo, et al. 2012). Ineffective operational strategies symbolize inadequate employees focus and the company will eventually lose direction. Consequently, the organization will lose the competitive edge. Further, understanding the vision, mission, core values and objectives acts as a roadmap for directing the organization towards the right course. In addition, the analysis of the internal and external environment is essential for coming up with a strategy that will help improve the performance of a corporation and guide it towards prosperity (Rothaermel, 2008, p. 201-225). Therefore, the paper has explored the strategic planning for Westpac Banking Corporation. The discussion has analyzed the companys vision, mission and values statements and their appropriateness to the achievement of the primary objectives. In addition, the paper has covered the goals of the bank and its appropriateness. Furthermore, the internal and external environments have been addressed to find out the companys strength and weaknesses to aid in the development of operational strategies that best suits the business (Thompson, et al. 2014). Westpac Corporation and the Industry As earlier noted the bank is among the top four financial institutions in Australia. The thirteen million customers apparently show how pretty well the bank is performing. The extended stay in the industry gives it a good reputation and image and also enhances the build of trust by customers. The justification of the postulation is based on the current performance of the company. If it could be an exploitative company, the number of customer base could be small. Also, the company could not have grown to this level. It is therefore quite clear that Westpac Corporation is a well-established organization, with a strategic focus and gives priority to customers interests (Kitchen, Burgmann, 2015, p.212-216). In Australia, the banking industry is competitive. The competitiveness emanates from the fact that Australia has so many banking and financial institutions. In the event a bank fails to offer best services to its clients, the risk of losing a significant number of the customers to the competitors is so high that may negatively impact on its performance (Hemmatfar, et al. 2010). Besides competition, the industry is faced by economic extremes. The economy of Australia varies with seasonal changes. Since banks performance depends on the steadiness of the economy. Notably, a reduction in the entrepreneurial actions automatically affects the banks. Therefore, the establishment of effective strategies and substantial support by the employees at the implementation guarantees the success of a banking institution or any other company. Vision, Mission and Core Values of Westpac Banking Corporation The vision statement for Westpac Banking Corporation is to emerge as the worlds great financial services provider, helping customers, communities and people to prosper and grow. The mission statement is to be a leading provider of financial services in the Australian and New Zealand Markets. This mission and vision statement is appropriate for the organization in that it enables the company to compete in the banking industry favourably. The system has embedded the company core values in the culture to support the customers. These values encourage teamwork, which ensures working together to deliver the best to the customers and delighting customers where they seek to put a keen eye and moderations so that they can understand their expectations. Another value is courage, where the Westpac team will be bold enough to handle change, not fearing the new way of conducting activities (Ireland, et al. 2008). Finally, they have a value to seek business, team and personal achievement. These values are well suited for Westpac Banking Corporation since they give consideration to all aspects of the organization that is necessary for the growth and again align with the vision and mission of the organization. The compatibilities of the values with organization objectives create efficiency and maintain workers focus on meeting the companys key aims. Objectives of Westpac Banking Corporation Objectives give direction and show the focus and the right way to follow. The objectives should be reviewed every year to ensure that the organization copes with the changing business environment. It helps to balance the risks and returns thus promoting growth. Westpac Banking Corporation has various objectives in line with performance. It looks forward to being the most performing bank in Australia. Also, it is determined to: achieve a management balance between returns, growth, and productivity, to maintain high capital levels to gather for stakeholders requirements, to improve funding types to fund diversity for customers and to maintain asset portfolio. These performance objectives aim at improving the performance and sustainability of the business (Hill, 2008, p. 423-440). Further, the Corporation has objectives in line with the service leadership. These objectives are to: provide the best customer experience regarding products and services offered by the organization, to work on the context-based experiences of the client, to acquire new customers. These objectives are to ensure that the organization gets a good number of clients and that get to be the best experience in the organization. The organization also has targets to consider digital transformation (Daneshvar, et al. 2010). It involves the use of technology to: simplify the operation regarding the services and process, to create a newly digitized bank and to work on the efficiency opportunities from using modern technology. This objective ensures that the company maximizes the latest technology and every chance that comes from it. Westpac Banking Corporation has goals that target the growth of the corporation. The objectives pursue the growth opportunities and focus on the growth of small and medium enterprises in the region of operation. It will ensure that the organization growth is taken into consideration. Lastly, the organization has objectives that focus on customer service and workforce revolution (Chen, et al. 2006). These targets are to focus on customer service, to strengthen the skills of the workforce that serve the customers, to help workforce to be innovative in serving customers. These objectives are suited for the Westpac Banking Corporation since they are well aligned with its visions. These objectives also are in alignment with the mission of the organization which is to be a leading provider of financial services in the Australian and New Zealand Markets. In addition, the objectives are also well aligned with the core values making them appropriate for the corporation. Environmental Analysis of the Westpac Banking Corporation SWOT analysis is an appropriate tool for the analysis of the Corporation external environment. The tool is essential in evaluating the business situation. By a smart look into Westpac Banking Corporation using the approach, one can identify the weakness and threats to its operation (Fleisher, 2003, p.59). It presents a clear opportunity to do what is necessary to the business in handling operational challenges to improve the service. Therefore, it is important for any Westpac Banking Corporation to analyze the business environment to realize an efficient way for success in the industry (Belch, 2014, p.31-34). To start with the strengths, it looks into factors that favour Westpac Banking Corporation over other competitors (Rugman, et al. 2008). Regarding this aspect, Westpac Banking Corporation is comparatively better than the closer rivals in the industry. The company applies unique input resources that enables it survive the stiff competition from banks like Commonwealth Banks, National Australian Bank, and more. Among the companies, strengths include: provision of flexible banking services, a large pool of employees, a socially responsible bank, and leading regarding ATMS in the entire Australia. On the other side, Westpac Banking Corporation also faces various types of weakness. On the edge of the weaknesses, the company faces stiff competition in from rivals in retail banking. Also, it still has a smaller number of branches with the country. These shortcomings have reduced the pace of the companys growth. The company has some opportunities that come by. Opportunities are much related to external factors that favour the performance of the business enterprise. It involves knowing the lucrative opportunities that can be sported. Some of the opportunities the company enjoys include the acquisition of a license to open branches to other businesses, high technological focus and innovation, and ability in setting up operations in developing economies (Sonia, 2012, p. 410-420). Lastly but not least, the threats facing the company includes worsening Australian economy, unfavourable regulatory changes by the state. Westpac Banking Corporation Strategy and its Importance The strategy of Westpac Banking Corporation is in alignment with the vision by seeking to provide more returns to the shareholders, creating a healthy relationship with the customers, creating a healthy working environment and to be leading and exemplary in the region. In the strategic plan, Westpac Banking Corporation should focus to offer some financial products and services to the core market which is New Zealand, Australia, and the surrounding areas (Bigler, 2013, p. 95-115). The growing number of customers should be given attention to ensure their satisfaction regarding range of service and products and their satisfaction. This will greatly help Westpac Banking Corporation to build a healthy and stronger customer relationship thus success. To achieve a range of products, the Westpac Banking Corporation should provide varieties financial services thus providing a greater variety that will attract and satisfy increasing number of customers. The diversification will help the company reach and meet the needs of individual customers. This strategy should seek to get a big number of clients and ensure that each customer can have more than one product. Consequently, this plan will enhance business continuity hence more profit to the corporation. Challenges are expected on the way when building the business to a high level. It is because as the firm grows, the environment becomes more complex becoming hard to handle. In this case, the strategy should seek to straighten the financial position and improve the business efficiency. The management should ensure that services offered are of high quality and satisfies the customers needs and at the reduced costs (Armstrong, 2006, p. 256-260). Further, the strategic plan should cover and anticipate change and emerging issues. It is crucial to expect cultural and demographic change and the effects they will have to the customers and the workplace. Therefore economic solutions should be created to the possible environmental challenges. This plan will sustain the vision of Westpac Banking Corporation in the case of the changing business environment. Finally, a strategic plan is strongly critical to Westpac Banking Corporation because it is the way to achieve the vision of the organization. A well-executed strategy will assure more revenue to customers of Westpac Banking Corporation. It will also help deliver quality services and products to the customers. The best way to achieve execution of this strategic plan is to embed it in business culture, values and business processes. The revenue will result from the determination of the employees towards achieving a common purpose. The growth objective usually surfaces in the form of profit and command of the large market (Macky, 2000, p. 123-130). Conclusion To sum up, Westpac Banking Corporation can thrive well than it performs today if the proposed strategic plans are incorporated into the existing ones. After an analysis of the appropriateness of the organizations vision, mission, core values of the organization, the right course to take becomes clear. Appropriate objectives will give direction and help the organization to move towards its set goals. In addition to this, an analysis of the external and internal business environment will help Westpac Banking Corporation to find opportunities and realize its strengths, point out weaknesses, and the potential threats to the organization. After understanding all this, Westpac Banking Corporation will take the right strategy which is appropriate to the organization. It will consequently help Westpac Banking Corporation to grow and overcome most of the challenges in the industry. References Armstrong, M. (2006). A handbook of Human Resource Management Practice: (10th edition), Kogan Page, London p. 256-260 Belch, G.E., (2014). Advertising: An integrated marketing communication perspective. McGraw Hill, P. 31-34. Bigler, J., Williams, F (2013). 'World-class strategy execution through on the job leadership development: Business Studies Journal, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 95112. Chen, H., David, G., and Michael, H. (2006). The Influence of Liability of Foreignness on Market Entry Strategies: An Illustration of Market Entry in China. International Marketing Review, 23 (6), pp.636-649 Daneshvar, P., Ramesh, H. (2010). Review of Information Technology Effect on Competitive Advantage Strategic Perspective: International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, 2(11), 62486256 Fleisher, S., and Babette, E. (2003). Strategic and Competitive Analysis: Methods and Techniques for Analyzing Business Competition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, P.59 Grant, R., Butler, B. (2011). Contemporary strategic management: An Australasian perspective, John Wiley and Son Australia, 5(21), 46-100 Grundy, T. (2006). Rethinking and reinventing Michael Porter's five forces model. Strategic Change, 15(5), 213-229. Hemmatfar, M., Salehi, M., Bayat, M. (2010). Competitive advantages and strategic information systems: International Journal of Business and Management, 5(7), P158. Hill, W., Jones, G. (2008). Strategic Management: An Integrated Approach. Cengage Learning, p. 423-440 Ireland, R. D., Hoskisson, R., Hitt, M. (2008). Understanding business strategy: Concepts and cases. Cengage Learning, P.345-380 Karagiannopoulos, G., Georgopoulos, N., Nikolopoulos, K. (2005). Fathoming Porter's five forces model in the internet era. info, 7(6), 66-76. Kitchen, P., Burgmann, I. (2015). "Integrated marketing communications: Making it work at a strategic level".Journal of Business Strategy, 7(13), p.212-216 Nongo, E. Ikyanyon, D. (2012). The influence of corporate culture on employee commitment to the organization: International Journal of Business and Management, vol. 7, no. 22, pp. 2128. Macky,K., Johnson, G. (2000). The strategic Management of Human Resources in New Zealand: Auckland, New Zealand: Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 4(6), 123-130 Rothaermel, F. T. (2008). Competitive advantage in technology intensive industries: Advances in the Study of Entrepreneurship, Innovation Economic Growth, 3(18), 201-225. Rugman, A., and Alain V. (2008). A Regional Solution to the Strategy and Structure of Multinationals: European Management Journal, 26 (5), pp.305-313 Sonia, B., David, M. (2012). Risk identification and analysis in the hospitality industry: Practitioners' perspectives from India. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 4 Issue: 5, pp.410 427 Hubbard, G. Beamish, P. (2011). Strategic management: thinking, analysis, action, Pearson Education Australia, P.77 Thompson, A., Peteraf, M, .Gamble, J., Strickland, A. (2014). Crafting and executing strategy: the quest for competitive advantage, concepts and cases. 19th edition, McGraw-Hill: New York. P. 150-200

Strategic Planning Analysis of Westpac Corporation

Question: Discuss about theStrategic Planningfor Analysis of Westpac Corporation. Answer: Introduction The occurrence of economic extremes has negatively impacted the performance of most businesses. The banking sector is one of the major areas that have promoted entrepreneurial activities in the most parts of the globe. For instance, the initiative of offering cheap loans to encourage investors in Australia created a new generation of individuals who were motivated to acquire economic independence. However, despite the sector being the backbone of economic developments in a country, the industry faces a broad range of challenges. For instance, the industry faces fierce competition from other banks and financial institution, then, sometimes, the State formulation of unfavourable regulations regarding the interest rates the institutions are required to charge its customers (Grant, et al. 2011). In overcoming some of the challenges, Westpac Banking Corporation has established various strategies that have relatively given it a competitive edge over the rivals. For instance, the company has aligned its business objectives with customer segments by having customer facing divisions (Grundy, 2006, p.213-239). These segments include consumer banks, which handles sales and consumer customers. The second division is Business Bank, which handles small to medium enterprises, agri-business, and commercial clients. The third category is BT Financial Group Australia section deals in the business of wealth and insurance. The fourth division is Westpac New Zealand which offers a range of financial services to institutions, business and consumer customers in New Zealand. Then, finally, the Westpac Institutional Bank provides some financial services to government, institutions, corporate and commercial customers connecting Australia and New Zealand. This diversification of business portfolio s is instrumental in propelling the company towards success. The complexity in the banking industry imperatively requires companies to establish a clear strategy for them for growth. It is the method Westpac has regularly applied to achieve the status it has now. Contrary to which inefficiencies in the operations will enter the company and a culture of laxity may enter the organization (Nongo, et al. 2012). Ineffective operational strategies symbolize inadequate employees focus and the company will eventually lose direction. Consequently, the organization will lose the competitive edge. Further, understanding the vision, mission, core values and objectives acts as a roadmap for directing the organization towards the right course. In addition, the analysis of the internal and external environment is essential for coming up with a strategy that will help improve the performance of a corporation and guide it towards prosperity (Rothaermel, 2008, p. 201-225). Therefore, the paper has explored the strategic planning for Westpac Banking Corporation. The discussion has analyzed the companys vision, mission and values statements and their appropriateness to the achievement of the primary objectives. In addition, the paper has covered the goals of the bank and its appropriateness. Furthermore, the internal and external environments have been addressed to find out the companys strength and weaknesses to aid in the development of operational strategies that best suits the business (Thompson, et al. 2014). Westpac Corporation and the Industry As earlier noted the bank is among the top four financial institutions in Australia. The thirteen million customers apparently show how pretty well the bank is performing. The extended stay in the industry gives it a good reputation and image and also enhances the build of trust by customers. The justification of the postulation is based on the current performance of the company. If it could be an exploitative company, the number of customer base could be small. Also, the company could not have grown to this level. It is therefore quite clear that Westpac Corporation is a well-established organization, with a strategic focus and gives priority to customers interests (Kitchen, Burgmann, 2015, p.212-216). In Australia, the banking industry is competitive. The competitiveness emanates from the fact that Australia has so many banking and financial institutions. In the event a bank fails to offer best services to its clients, the risk of losing a significant number of the customers to the competitors is so high that may negatively impact on its performance (Hemmatfar, et al. 2010). Besides competition, the industry is faced by economic extremes. The economy of Australia varies with seasonal changes. Since banks performance depends on the steadiness of the economy. Notably, a reduction in the entrepreneurial actions automatically affects the banks. Therefore, the establishment of effective strategies and substantial support by the employees at the implementation guarantees the success of a banking institution or any other company. Vision, Mission and Core Values of Westpac Banking Corporation The vision statement for Westpac Banking Corporation is to emerge as the worlds great financial services provider, helping customers, communities and people to prosper and grow. The mission statement is to be a leading provider of financial services in the Australian and New Zealand Markets. This mission and vision statement is appropriate for the organization in that it enables the company to compete in the banking industry favourably. The system has embedded the company core values in the culture to support the customers. These values encourage teamwork, which ensures working together to deliver the best to the customers and delighting customers where they seek to put a keen eye and moderations so that they can understand their expectations. Another value is courage, where the Westpac team will be bold enough to handle change, not fearing the new way of conducting activities (Ireland, et al. 2008). Finally, they have a value to seek business, team and personal achievement. These values are well suited for Westpac Banking Corporation since they give consideration to all aspects of the organization that is necessary for the growth and again align with the vision and mission of the organization. The compatibilities of the values with organization objectives create efficiency and maintain workers focus on meeting the companys key aims. Objectives of Westpac Banking Corporation Objectives give direction and show the focus and the right way to follow. The objectives should be reviewed every year to ensure that the organization copes with the changing business environment. It helps to balance the risks and returns thus promoting growth. Westpac Banking Corporation has various objectives in line with performance. It looks forward to being the most performing bank in Australia. Also, it is determined to: achieve a management balance between returns, growth, and productivity, to maintain high capital levels to gather for stakeholders requirements, to improve funding types to fund diversity for customers and to maintain asset portfolio. These performance objectives aim at improving the performance and sustainability of the business (Hill, 2008, p. 423-440). Further, the Corporation has objectives in line with the service leadership. These objectives are to: provide the best customer experience regarding products and services offered by the organization, to work on the context-based experiences of the client, to acquire new customers. These objectives are to ensure that the organization gets a good number of clients and that get to be the best experience in the organization. The organization also has targets to consider digital transformation (Daneshvar, et al. 2010). It involves the use of technology to: simplify the operation regarding the services and process, to create a newly digitized bank and to work on the efficiency opportunities from using modern technology. This objective ensures that the company maximizes the latest technology and every chance that comes from it. Westpac Banking Corporation has goals that target the growth of the corporation. The objectives pursue the growth opportunities and focus on the growth of small and medium enterprises in the region of operation. It will ensure that the organization growth is taken into consideration. Lastly, the organization has objectives that focus on customer service and workforce revolution (Chen, et al. 2006). These targets are to focus on customer service, to strengthen the skills of the workforce that serve the customers, to help workforce to be innovative in serving customers. These objectives are suited for the Westpac Banking Corporation since they are well aligned with its visions. These objectives also are in alignment with the mission of the organization which is to be a leading provider of financial services in the Australian and New Zealand Markets. In addition, the objectives are also well aligned with the core values making them appropriate for the corporation. Environmental Analysis of the Westpac Banking Corporation SWOT analysis is an appropriate tool for the analysis of the Corporation external environment. The tool is essential in evaluating the business situation. By a smart look into Westpac Banking Corporation using the approach, one can identify the weakness and threats to its operation (Fleisher, 2003, p.59). It presents a clear opportunity to do what is necessary to the business in handling operational challenges to improve the service. Therefore, it is important for any Westpac Banking Corporation to analyze the business environment to realize an efficient way for success in the industry (Belch, 2014, p.31-34). To start with the strengths, it looks into factors that favour Westpac Banking Corporation over other competitors (Rugman, et al. 2008). Regarding this aspect, Westpac Banking Corporation is comparatively better than the closer rivals in the industry. The company applies unique input resources that enables it survive the stiff competition from banks like Commonwealth Banks, National Australian Bank, and more. Among the companies, strengths include: provision of flexible banking services, a large pool of employees, a socially responsible bank, and leading regarding ATMS in the entire Australia. On the other side, Westpac Banking Corporation also faces various types of weakness. On the edge of the weaknesses, the company faces stiff competition in from rivals in retail banking. Also, it still has a smaller number of branches with the country. These shortcomings have reduced the pace of the companys growth. The company has some opportunities that come by. Opportunities are much related to external factors that favour the performance of the business enterprise. It involves knowing the lucrative opportunities that can be sported. Some of the opportunities the company enjoys include the acquisition of a license to open branches to other businesses, high technological focus and innovation, and ability in setting up operations in developing economies (Sonia, 2012, p. 410-420). Lastly but not least, the threats facing the company includes worsening Australian economy, unfavourable regulatory changes by the state. Westpac Banking Corporation Strategy and its Importance The strategy of Westpac Banking Corporation is in alignment with the vision by seeking to provide more returns to the shareholders, creating a healthy relationship with the customers, creating a healthy working environment and to be leading and exemplary in the region. In the strategic plan, Westpac Banking Corporation should focus to offer some financial products and services to the core market which is New Zealand, Australia, and the surrounding areas (Bigler, 2013, p. 95-115). The growing number of customers should be given attention to ensure their satisfaction regarding range of service and products and their satisfaction. This will greatly help Westpac Banking Corporation to build a healthy and stronger customer relationship thus success. To achieve a range of products, the Westpac Banking Corporation should provide varieties financial services thus providing a greater variety that will attract and satisfy increasing number of customers. The diversification will help the company reach and meet the needs of individual customers. This strategy should seek to get a big number of clients and ensure that each customer can have more than one product. Consequently, this plan will enhance business continuity hence more profit to the corporation. Challenges are expected on the way when building the business to a high level. It is because as the firm grows, the environment becomes more complex becoming hard to handle. In this case, the strategy should seek to straighten the financial position and improve the business efficiency. The management should ensure that services offered are of high quality and satisfies the customers needs and at the reduced costs (Armstrong, 2006, p. 256-260). Further, the strategic plan should cover and anticipate change and emerging issues. It is crucial to expect cultural and demographic change and the effects they will have to the customers and the workplace. Therefore economic solutions should be created to the possible environmental challenges. This plan will sustain the vision of Westpac Banking Corporation in the case of the changing business environment. Finally, a strategic plan is strongly critical to Westpac Banking Corporation because it is the way to achieve the vision of the organization. A well-executed strategy will assure more revenue to customers of Westpac Banking Corporation. It will also help deliver quality services and products to the customers. The best way to achieve execution of this strategic plan is to embed it in business culture, values and business processes. The revenue will result from the determination of the employees towards achieving a common purpose. The growth objective usually surfaces in the form of profit and command of the large market (Macky, 2000, p. 123-130). Conclusion To sum up, Westpac Banking Corporation can thrive well than it performs today if the proposed strategic plans are incorporated into the existing ones. After an analysis of the appropriateness of the organizations vision, mission, core values of the organization, the right course to take becomes clear. Appropriate objectives will give direction and help the organization to move towards its set goals. In addition to this, an analysis of the external and internal business environment will help Westpac Banking Corporation to find opportunities and realize its strengths, point out weaknesses, and the potential threats to the organization. After understanding all this, Westpac Banking Corporation will take the right strategy which is appropriate to the organization. It will consequently help Westpac Banking Corporation to grow and overcome most of the challenges in the industry. References Armstrong, M. (2006). A handbook of Human Resource Management Practice: (10th edition), Kogan Page, London p. 256-260 Belch, G.E., (2014). Advertising: An integrated marketing communication perspective. McGraw Hill, P. 31-34. Bigler, J., Williams, F (2013). 'World-class strategy execution through on the job leadership development: Business Studies Journal, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 95112. Chen, H., David, G., and Michael, H. (2006). The Influence of Liability of Foreignness on Market Entry Strategies: An Illustration of Market Entry in China. International Marketing Review, 23 (6), pp.636-649 Daneshvar, P., Ramesh, H. (2010). Review of Information Technology Effect on Competitive Advantage Strategic Perspective: International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, 2(11), 62486256 Fleisher, S., and Babette, E. (2003). Strategic and Competitive Analysis: Methods and Techniques for Analyzing Business Competition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, P.59 Grant, R., Butler, B. (2011). Contemporary strategic management: An Australasian perspective, John Wiley and Son Australia, 5(21), 46-100 Grundy, T. (2006). Rethinking and reinventing Michael Porter's five forces model. Strategic Change, 15(5), 213-229. Hemmatfar, M., Salehi, M., Bayat, M. (2010). Competitive advantages and strategic information systems: International Journal of Business and Management, 5(7), P158. Hill, W., Jones, G. (2008). Strategic Management: An Integrated Approach. Cengage Learning, p. 423-440 Ireland, R. D., Hoskisson, R., Hitt, M. (2008). Understanding business strategy: Concepts and cases. Cengage Learning, P.345-380 Karagiannopoulos, G., Georgopoulos, N., Nikolopoulos, K. (2005). Fathoming Porter's five forces model in the internet era. info, 7(6), 66-76. Kitchen, P., Burgmann, I. (2015). "Integrated marketing communications: Making it work at a strategic level".Journal of Business Strategy, 7(13), p.212-216 Nongo, E. Ikyanyon, D. (2012). The influence of corporate culture on employee commitment to the organization: International Journal of Business and Management, vol. 7, no. 22, pp. 2128. Macky,K., Johnson, G. (2000). The strategic Management of Human Resources in New Zealand: Auckland, New Zealand: Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 4(6), 123-130 Rothaermel, F. T. (2008). Competitive advantage in technology intensive industries: Advances in the Study of Entrepreneurship, Innovation Economic Growth, 3(18), 201-225. Rugman, A., and Alain V. (2008). A Regional Solution to the Strategy and Structure of Multinationals: European Management Journal, 26 (5), pp.305-313 Sonia, B., David, M. (2012). Risk identification and analysis in the hospitality industry: Practitioners' perspectives from India. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 4 Issue: 5, pp.410 427 Hubbard, G. Beamish, P. (2011). Strategic management: thinking, analysis, action, Pearson Education Australia, P.77 Thompson, A., Peteraf, M, .Gamble, J., Strickland, A. (2014). Crafting and executing strategy: the quest for competitive advantage, concepts and cases. 19th edition, McGraw-Hill: New York. P. 150-200

Professional Training. A Strategy for Staff Development

THE EFFECT OF ROCK AND ROLL ON THE AMERICAN ECONOMY essays

THE EFFECT OF ROCK AND ROLL ON THE AMERICAN ECONOMY essays How has Rock and Roll Effected the American Economy? Consider, if you will, the life of a teenager living in the 1940's. The Great Depression was finally coming to an end, but the memories of the rough times would scar its sufferers for a lifetime. Caused by a number of serious weaknesses in the economy, the depression saw a rapid decline in the production and sale of goods, as well as a sudden, severe rise in unemployment. Businesses and banks closed their doors, people lost their jobs, homes, and savings; many people depended on charity to survive (**encarta**). Teenagers were given a tremendous amount of responsibility. While their fathers were out doing what little work there was, it wasn't unlikely for teens to be at home with their mothers doing housework or caring for younger siblings. Life was less than easy, and the emerging world war didn't make it any easier. As the U.S. became the last great nation to join the second global conflict of the century, young men (many of them in their late teens) at their physical pea k were sent out to the battlefield where about 274,000 of them would die for their country (editors of Time-Life books 29). The 50's brought about a tremendous change for the U.S. It's no wonder that when rock and roll came to be in the mid 1950's (encyclopedia Americana need page #) teenagers wrapped their arms around it. The parents of these rock-loving teens were already fulfilling the American dream. The average worker was earning and estimated $6,500 by 1954. With paychecks fatter than ever, more and more Americans began moving to the suburbs, owning their own homes and vehicles, as well as throwing and attending cocktail parties (a popular pastime of young suburbanite couples). The young middle class family happily kicked the frugal habits of the depression and war years and went on a buying spree. Americans began filling their nests with a dazzling array of goods from power lawn mo...

Accounting Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Accounting - Thesis Example The accounting standard deals with the disclosure of important accounting rules followed in presenting and preparing financial statements. In the early years, this activity was recommendatory in nature. Throughout this period, this was recommended for utilization by business firms listed on a familiar stock exchange, and other huge industrial, commercial and business enterprises in the private and public sectors. This accounting standard is accounting for fixed assets. In various enterprises these assets are grouped into different groups, for instance buildings, land, plant and machinery, furniture and fittings, vehicles, goodwill, patents, trade marks and designs. â€Å"This Standard deals with accounting for government grants. Government grants are sometimes called by other names such as subsidies, cash incentives, duty drawbacks, etc† (Accounting Standard (AS) 12: Accounting for Government Grants 125). FASB Statements and Standards. ICAEW: Library & Information Service. 2012. Web. 08 February 2012. < http://www.icaew.com/en/library/subject-gateways/accounting-standards/us-accounting-standards/fasb-statements-and-standards

Land, identity, and colonial dispossession Aboriginal and settler Essay

Land, identity, and colonial dispossession Aboriginal and settler relations in Australia - Essay Example The government of Australia in 1991 began the process of reconciliation so as to progressively address the legacy of colonial injustice (Green, 2011: p34). However, the framing of policy to this end has been restrictive, while the lack of a political will has also hindered any progress in reconciliation and justice for indigenous aborigines. This has resulted in tensions between the national humans right regimes and internationally acknowledged standards of human rights. Short (2003: p292) argues that there were no formal settlement or treaty involved in the colonization of Australia with the colonizers arguing that the Australian Aborigines could not sign any settlement because Australia was not occupied prior to its colonization, which has meant that Australia’s indigenous people have been subjected racism and injustice. Despite the Council of Aboriginal Reconciliation Act of 1991 that was meant to kick-start the process of reconciliation between Australian society and the indigenous Aborigines of Australia after centuries of dispossession and dispersion of the latter, there was no provision for justice for the Aborigines. This had the effect of limiting the aspirations of the indigenous Aborigines. Therefore, Short (2003: p293) claims that the Act does not seek to atone for the injustice suffered by the Aborigines and, in fact, attempt to pursue an agenda of assimilation as another phase in the process of total colonization of Australia. A s such, it is the writer’s belief that any attempt at reconciliation should seek to reflect the aspirations of the indigenous Aborigines more closely, specifically by addressing the issue of internal colonization. While the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act of 1991 officially seeks to enhance the relationship between Australia’s Aborigines and the former colonialists, while also enhancing understanding of the

Care of Alzheimer Patient Issues in the Family Research Paper

A Care of Alzheimer Patient Issues in the Family - Research Paper Example I strongly hypothesize that most families and members of the society, in general, do not have the potential and ability to identify the early symptoms of the disease so that early intervention regimes can be implemented, are unable to cope with the increasing demands of caring for an Alzheimer’s patient and themselves often coped poorly under the circumstances of having an Alzheimer’s patient within the household. I also hypothesize that some families do not pay due care and attention that is demanded by these patients. If so, my question is what these clients/ families and the community in general needs most from the human service provider and organization. Alzheimer’s disease, thought to be a consequence of the increase in the production/ accumulation of a specific protein (beta-amyloidal protein) which causes nerve cell damage, is a progressive disease of the brain featuring memory retardation and disturbances in other cognitive/ mental functions such as language and perception of reality. On average, symptoms of Alzheimer’s are noticed by families three years before a conclusive diagnosis is done. While not an inevitable part of aging, Alzheimer prevalence increases significantly after the age of 65 years (Zarka, 2011). The disease develops when the toxic protein, beta amyloidal, accumulates in the brain in the form of plaques which are thought to be in turn toxic to neurons, disrupting messages within the brain by damaging connections between brain cells. The brain cells finally die and information recalling or assimilation disrupted hence.

Should The Government Censor The Internet Media Essay

Should The Government Censor The Internet Media Essay The growth of information and communication technology has significantly impacted on every facet of the world on most often noted is the internet. The advancement of Information and communication technology ICT, coupled with the rapid uptake of increasingly affordable, key technologies such as the Internet, has also helped foster an environment that promotes globalization of knowledge and information. The Internet has revolutionalized communication making information access across boundaries deemed seemingly impossible in the past a thing of general practice. People around the world are able to communicate with unprecedented ease. In the past, government has enjoyed great successes in censoring traditional communication media and this has affected information flow to the masses. The internet on the other hand with is multi-directional information flow communication nature where anyone can air their opinions on any desired issue at will has posed great challenges to governments. For countries with repressive regimes, the Internet has become a revolutionary force as it allows the free flow of information and which has been perceived as threat by the authorities in some countries. Government in some countries have responded imposing strict censorship on Internet usage by the public through monitoring, filtering and access to some site in the internet in a bid to control access to information. Internet censorship can be defined as the control or suppression of the publishing or accessing of information on the Internet. Internet censorship has been a greatly debated topic around the world with people having different opinions. In most countries governments at different level have been the in the fore front in the campaign for a regulated internet. Though there are a few arguments that support the need to have the internet censored, it has been largely rejected by organizations and individuals across the world as censorship of the internet is widely regarded by many as an attempt by government to suppress freedom of speech. This essay examines the arguments against internet censorship by government, its impact, successes and failures of government in some countries that embarked on such projects, and the challenges they have faced. It also assesses the key importance of censorship and concludes with an individual opinion evaluating the stated arguments. The case against the government Campaigners against the governments censorship of the internet have strongly opposed censorship and have stated that it prevents freedom of speech thus undermining confidence and trusts in the medium and this inhibits crucial flows of data. Also, Internet censorship and filtering leads to monitoring which is seen by many as another big brother ploy by government to invade the public privacy. It is more often argued that the government will use internet censorship as a tool to promote political agenda and the public has been quick to conclude that the true voice of the public will not be heard. In Australia, the National-Anarchists reject any parliamentary censorship of material and the reasons given has been summed up simply, any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both Benjamin Franklin.[1] Reports on internet censorship show the level of its pervasiveness recently being experienced in some countries. There are several tools and solutions instituted by the government of these countries for the purpose of internet censorship and also the content censored also vary with most blocked contents being political, pornographic, religious contents and others. [2] The common argument used by most countries in proposing censorship is that of child pornography. Most people however believe that the governments plans on internet censorship do not quite provide the solution to child pornography. It is often seen as, and in fact proven by experts that websites play only a minor role in circulation of child abuse materials and cannot be simply banned by Government [1]. It is often suggested that censoring for children by utilizing a user backed software and filtering systems instead of governmental censorship is a viable solution for keeping children away from indecent internet content. There are several software systems that allow parental control of internet materials. The OpenNet Initiative (ONI) has made a categorization of nations that is classes as internet enemy list. The ONI is joint project between some academic institutions across the world with the goal to monitor and report on internet filtering and surveillance activities by different nation. The project uses several means to determine the extent and nature of government-run internet filtering programs. It lists China, Iran Saudi Arabia etc in the forefront of internet censorship in the world. A new wave is now being generated by the Australian government as it moves to launch its own internet censorship project, [3] which has sparked up several arguments across the world. According to the ONI reports, censorship varies with countries and some countries have pervasive filtering policies, often routinely blocking access to not just pornographic and prohibited contents, but also human rights organizations, news, blogs, and Web services that challenge the status quo or are deemed threatening or undesirable. The Chinese governments The Great firewall currently uses four mechanisms DNS blocking, reset commands, URL keyword blocking and content scanning to prevent Internet users in the country from reaching blacklisted Web sites or content [16]. This technique though quite effective faces some technology challenges as private VPNs used by banks, manufacturing and other businesses often allow users within these organizations bypass this great firewall. These VPN services are now even open to the public for sign up at a fee that is quite affordable and attempts by the government to clamp down on this may impact on the economy since businesses will be affecte d. The general public thus rides on this loophole [4]. Methods of implementing censorship have also been criticized. Blocking unwanted and prohibited content using a dynamic process that would require analysis of website content in real-time would significantly slow down the internet. This is already being experience on the china network. [4]. Reports from Australia also suggests this will be the case when the Australian project kick off. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) confirmed that under trial conditions internet filtering reduced speeds between 2% and in excess of 75%, but with half the tested products falling between 20-30%. It was concluded that proper implementation of the censorship project could result in a 20% drop in internet speeds [5]. Policies have been another hugely criticize factor. Often times government policies on censorship do not make a clear distinction on materials unfit for internet content, this resulting in legal and harmless contents being blocked. Organizations have challenged and even filed lawsuits to prevent passage of censorship bills in some states citing free speech violation and the decision to embark on censorship as unconstitutional. This is the case of a Utah Internet Censorship law, intended to restrict childrens access to material on the Internet but that may in fact also restrict adults access to a wide range of lawful material [6]. Examples cited COPA internet censorship law of 1998, included whether an education web page showing young women how to perform self examinations for breast cancer be banned and being classed as sexually explicit [7]. Australian government for example intends to use a public complaints mechanism for blacklisting URLs as well as URLs provided by international agencies. Analysts have questioned the accountability and transparency of this and have stated that the same government bureaucrats who put together their initialed flawed blacklist would remain responsible as arbitrators of the system. In support of the publics claim, a recently leaked list of blacklisted website showed that about half of the sites listed were in fact not related to child porn as claimed by the government but rather other contents that were to a certain degree could be classified as legal content for the adult community. This has sparked further debate on the issue [8]. A word for the government The biggest arguments presented so far by the government in support of internet censorship have been issues relating to preventing access to illegal contents and child pornography, racism, fraud terrorism, religion etc. With the attempts so far made by several nations to impose some form of censorship meeting with similar resistance, government should realize that the key challenges faced are three fold, the people, the law and the coping with technology. One could however wonder why the topic on censoring the internet would generate so much argument when the public indeed presently abides by certain degree of censorship. From schools preventing access to certain contents and websites, warnings are displayed on university networks on the impact of downloading of file sharing, companies prevent employees from accessing chat systems, networking website and other sites at work using firewalls to ISPs blocking potential dangerous contents either because of virus or to keep their network safe and uncompromised, Why then is the public so opposed to the government censoring the internet? It could be safe to state that the public is just not ready for the extreme spectrum of Internet control which would result in a globally regulated internet by the government for the fear that the public could lose its freedom of speech and the fear unknown. Conclusion Recommendation Though internet censorship could be considered a necessity in cases where there is need to set a standard for publishing and the kind of information to publish on highly sensitive topics, by and large the foreseeable disadvantages far surpasses the benefits that may be accrued. I do not see Government succeeding in the offing in the fight to regulate content on the internet. Technology favours the public internet users rather than government and as such the government will be playing catch-up and their efforts may yet be foiled. Technology is presently enabling data encryption, user generated videos and pod casts thus complicating the tasks by the monitoring bodies. Also the laws governing internet censorship if passed will meet several barriers as they are more likely to be passed by countries independently. The internet spans boundaries and how these laws would apply to other countries a crucial aspect of consideration. The law will need to keep up with changing technology as such there will be no rest for law makers. Passing laws takes considerable time, and lapse in law would result in loopholes that could be exploited by the public. In addition, the controversies generated by government censoring the internet far outweigh the benefit. The internet is a global communication platform and the government needs to study close before imposing laws. Close attention should however the paid to the fact that the global nature of the net does present problems to censorship. To conclude, though the proposed laws by government to regulate the internet is of good intention, it is unwise for the government to censor the internet because any law infringing on the publics right to free speech or breaching individuals right to privacy and freedom on such a vast communication medium as the internet will be difficult to enforce.

Model of Leadership Essay -- Leadership, philosophy

A large amount of work has gone into studying, researching, and developing models of leadership. There have been numerous models put forth, examined, applied, and either used or discarded. However, after all this work, there is still not one 'perfect' model or method of leading. Every situation and group is different, therefore a good leader must be flexible. A good model of leadership is one that incorporates different models into one that understands that the only constant is change. Therefore, my model of leadership will be based primarily upon flexibility. I feel that a leader must first understand the basic styles of leadership and how to apply them. Then he/she can know what style is the most appropriate given the task and group composition. Second, he/she must be able to observe his/her group in order to decide when the aforementioned styles are to be applied, and when problems begin threatening the group or its task. Then, that leader must be able to effectively communicate and influence his/her followers in order to fix problems, provide feedback, and inspire a group to be more than the sum of its parts. That is what effective leadership is about. â€Å"Whatever is flexible and flowing will tend to grow. Whatever is rigid and blocked will atrophy and die.† -John Heider, The Tao of Leadership A flexible leader realizes the advantages and disadvantages inherent in each of the three styles of Authoritarian, Democratic, and Laissez-faire leadership. While it seems that most of the researchers agree that democratic style is the most effective, there are certain situations that call for different styles. Effective leadership demands that a leader be able to adjust his/her style according to the circumstances. Autho... ...th honey than with vinegar.’ It is my hope that I have developed a competent model of leadership arising out of flexibility. I hope that I can apply this model in my own practices of leadership, to help me build the confidence I need to grow out of my leadership apprehension. I feel that an understanding of the group process, and of the styles of leadership, working together, can provide one with a very powerful method of effective, flexible leadership that can be applied to multiple groups and situations. First, by learning the styles of leadership, he makes harmony between himself and the group. When understands how the group acts and reacts, he can make harmony between the members of the group. And when this leader understands how to influence and conduct his followers, they can both begin to play beautiful music that no one would have been able to play alone.

Processed Foods and Its Link to the Increasing Obesity Epidemic

Processed Foods and its Link to the Increasing Obesity Epidemic Savannah Eisert English 214-54 Melanie Wise 15 April 2013 Eisert 1 Processed Foods and its Link to the Increasing Obesity Epidemic Lunchables, Twinkies, potato chips, chocolate chip cookies, or even a trip to McDonald’s after school are just few of the memorable foods as a child that always seemed so exciting and delicious. As a child, I wondered why these scrumptious foods were always just a treat, but never an every day meal on my diet that I could enjoy. But what I did not know was the dirty truth behind these foods: what they are really made out of.Behind food corporation doors lies the truth about processed foods, what they are really made out of, and why these corporations keep producing these foods. Through the years, scientists have found different ways to transform this corn so it becomes more useful and cheaper to produce. As the corporations became more and more money hungry, the less they cared about t he health of Americans and more about how much processed foods they could sell. Ultimately, this leads to the most increasing health issue America has been facing over the years, and to this day: obesity.According to HBO’s â€Å"The Weight of the Nation: Confronting America’s Obesity Epidemic,† over one-third of American adults (roughly about 36%) are obese, and about 12. 5 million children and adolescents (ages 2-19), or 17%, are obese. Over the years, as processed food production increased, so did obesity because of money hungry food corporations increasing this productivity and government doing nothing to help stop the unhealthy lifestyles processed food has created. Background Information on Processed Food Before figuring out why processed foods are a main factor to obesity, one must know what processed foods are and why they are bad.So what exactly are processed foods made out of? Michael Pollan goes into deep research about what these processed foods are m ade out of within his nonfiction book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma. According to Michael Pollan, an average American consumes about one ton of corn per year, but not before being heavily processed by a processing plant, and then reassembled as soft drinks, breakfast cereals, or snacks (85). As Eisert 2 science progressively grew, so did the certain ingredients within processed foods. For example, high-fructose corn syrup is used in a majority of foods because it tastes exactly as sweet as sucrose.Pollan’s research states that high-fructose corn syrup today â€Å"is the most valuable food product refined from corn, accounting for 530 million bushels every year† (89). Because high-fructose corn syrup is easy to use and cheap to get, most food corporations use it to create the perfect masterpiece. For example, Pollan talks about how that the third age of processed foods â€Å"push[es] aside butter to make shelf space for margarine, replace fruit juice with juice drinks and then entirely juice-free drinks like Tang, cheese with Cheez Whiz, and whipped cream with Cool Whip† (91).With the help of high-fructose corn syrup, food alternatives can easily be made for the same satisfaction. Because of these processed foods, obesity begins to increase. But how exactly does processed food cause obesity? Michael Pollan investigates the truth behind food science and it’s ways to get people to eat more. Pollan states, â€Å"The power of food science lies in its ability to break foods down into their nutrient parts and then reassemble them in specific ways that, in effect, push our evolutionary buttons, fooling the omnivore’s inherited food selection system† (107).Since an average adult can eat only about fifteen hundred pounds of food a year, food corporations are trying to find ways to â€Å"get people to spend more money for the same three-quarters of tof a ton of food, or entice them to actually eat more than that† (Pollan 95). So if a person eats more than normal, his or her weight will increase as they are intaking more of these processed foods that entices people to eat more. But what specifically triggers a person’s body to eat more than they naturally should?Food systems in a person can â€Å"cheat by exaggerating their energy density, tricking a sensory apparatus that evolved to deal with markedly less dense whole foods† (Pollan 107). So by increasing this energy density in processed foods, obesity problems seen within America continue to rise. Eisert 3 The Increase in Processed Food and Obesity Over the Years The beginning of processed food did not recently happen, but has been around since the mid-1800’s. In Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma, he explains the journey of how corn developed to what it is today. In 1866, â€Å"corn syrup . . . ecame the first cheap domestic substitute for cane sugar† (Pollan 88). Then as corn refining started to be perfe cted, high-fructose corn syrup became quite popular. Pollan states that high-fructose corn syrup â€Å"is the most valuable food product refined from corn, accounting for 530 million bushels every year† (89). Once these different food processes were discovered, processed foods began making their way into the country. At first, the point of having processed food was to free â€Å"people from nature’s cycles of abundance and scarcity,† so to have food preserved longer (Pollan 91).But as time went on, the goal changed from â€Å"liberating food from nature† (Pollan 91) to â€Å"improve[ing] on nature† (Pollan 91). Since processed foods began to be so easy to make with the help of high-fructose corn syrup, the cost to make it was relatively cheap compared to the natural farmers. Pollans statistics show that â€Å"a dollar spent on a whole food such as eggs, $0. 40 finds its way back to the farmer . . . by comparison, George Naylor will see only $0. 04 of every dollar spent on corn sweeteners† (95). So ultimately, the increase in processed foods have to do with its easy and cheap ingredients.Based on Michael Pollan’s studies, he found out that many of the reasons why obesity has increased so much is due to the increased use of high-fructose corn syrup in the foods people eat. Pollan begins by saying that â€Å"corn accounts for most of the surplus calories we’re growing and most of the surplus calories we’re eating† (103). With today’s advanced technology, the country has gone from being able to process corn into two different things, to now creating over hundreds of things with the help of a processor and corn.Pollan’s statistics show that â€Å"since 1985, an American’s annual consumption of high-fructose corn syrup has gone from Eisert 4 forty-five pounds to sixty-six pounds† (104). On top of the high-fructose corn syrup people intake, the other sugars also must be accounted for. Therefore, this excessive amount of sugars in processed food is the main cause to the increase of obesity in America. Who is to Blame? Behind all the corn, the processing, and the food that results, is the man in charge: food corporations. Because of food corporations greed for money, processed foods have escalated out of control, causing a serious health epidemic: obesity.Michael Pollan, also author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, wrote an article for the New York Times called â€Å"Unhappy Meals. † Pollan makes a very convincing point at the beginning of the article that gives a serious blame to the people who created and have been continuing the making of processed foods: These novel products of food science often come in packages festooned with health claims, which brings me to a related rule of thumb: if you’re concerned about your health, you should probably avoid food products that make health claims. Why?Because a health claim on a food product is a good indication that it’s not really food, and food is what you want to eat (1). His claim is very much true because these food corporations try to trick the customers into thinking food products are okay to eat, when in reality, they are terrible for a person’s health in the long run. Food corporations have come to a point where they are more interested in how well their company is doing rather than the country’s health. So ultimately, the rise in obesity is because of these food productions little interest to care about the health of the country.In Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, he proves that food corporations are only interested in the money rather than the well-being of the country. He says that a â€Å"cheaper agricultural commodities [are] driving food companies to figure out new and ever more elaborate ways to add value and so induce us to buy more† (Pollan 96). So if these companies are driven by the Eisert 5 cheap f ood productions, they will make sure sales to the people of the country increase, therefore increasing the obesity epidemic. Why blame these food corporations for the obesity epidemic?Aren’t they just trying to help the economy by selling the food they produce? Yes, this is very true, but that does not mean these corporations have the right to sell the country unhealthy, life threatening foods. According to Michael Pollan’s research in The Omnivore’s Dilemma, American’s high-fructose corn syrup intake has gone up from forty-five pounds to sixty-six pounds (104). Basically, Pollan states that Americans are â€Å"eating and drinking all that high-fructose corn syrup on top of the sugars we were already consuming† (104).Just because big corporations, like Coca-Cola and Pepsi figured out high-fructose corn syrup was a few cents cheaper than sugar, they completely switched from sugar to high-fructose corn syrup because â€Å"consumers didn’t see m to notice the substitution† (104). Pollan’s research shows that soda is most of the sixty-six pounds of high-fructose corn syrup that American consume, and by using the ingredient that causes obesity into one of the most popular drink is just cruel because food corporations target that area of consumption.So it is quite obvious the corporations do not care about the rise in obesity because they keep using high-fructose corn syrup in most of the foods consumed by Americans. In another study, George A Bray from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition makes interesting connections in his article â€Å"Consumption of High-Fructose Corn Syrup in Beverages May Play a Role in the Epidemic of Obesity† between the rise in obesity and the rising intake of high-fructose corn syrup in America.His studies show that â€Å"the consumption of HFCS increased > 1000% between 1970 and 1990, far exceeding the changes in intake of any other food or food group† (Bray 537). With the rise in consumption of high-fructose corn syrup, the increase of obesity in America connects with these statistics. Bray also concludes that Eisert 6 â€Å"collective data suggest[s] that overconsumption of beverages sweetened with HFCS, [or high-fructose corn syrup,] and containing > 50% free fructose and the increased intake of total fructose may play a role in the epidemic of obesity† (542).Bray’s statistics support Pollan’s beverage assumptions because it goes to show that food corporations are willing to increase high-fructose corn syrup even if the epidemic of obesity increases with its increase in production. Resolution As more people become aware of the obesity epidemic in America, they wish to change their lifestyles in order to be healthy again. Even though these people know what is going on, they still do not change their lifestyles. But they have good reasons, according to Michael Pollan’s reasonings in The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Pollan explains how the food corporations have â€Å"push[ed] our evolutionary buttons, fooling the omnivore’s inherited food selection system â€Å" (107). Even though humans are not meant to eat these foods, the sensory apparatus in within humans have evolved to always crave these processed foods. It has even gotten to a point where â€Å"people with limited money to spend on food would spend it on the cheapest calories they can find† (Pollan 108). These are perfect examples to why the processed food lifestyle continues, and why the epidemic of obesity continues to increase. So the real question is how does America resolve the epidemic of obesity?Yes, food corporations are to blame, but they will keep producing processed foods to help their economic success. So as a country, alternatives and powerful influences must be introduced in order to decrease obesity. Michael Pollan’s article â€Å"Unhappy Meals† in The New York Times, has lots of certain advi ce to steer away from the tricks of processed foods and have America move into a healthier lifestyle. He suggests that processed foods imply they are based around important nutrients to help support human health, when in reality it gives the opposite effects to the body.Eisert 7 Pollan does in fact state that the healthy lifestyle is â€Å"harder to do in practice, given the food environment we now inhabit and the loss of sharp cultural tools to guide us through it† (11), but he gives readers simple ways to start a healthy lifestyle. Some of the most simple advice includes â€Å"eat[ing] according to the rules of a traditional food culture† (Pollan 12). By eating natural foods that are locally grown and produced, one will know how it is being made and by whom, so there are no mysteries or health questions within these foods.Lastly, â€Å"avoid food products containing ingredients that are a) unfamiliar, b) unpronounceable c) more than five in number — or that c ontain high-fructose corn syrup† (Pollan 11). Just by following these two simple steps, a person can make their health that much better by doing the little things to help themselves. Yes, there are other alternatives, but they become confusing and technical. If a person is simply aware of what is being put into their body, then a healthy lifestyle can be achieved. Even though people are personally trying to become healthier, what about the people that are not?They need influential and powerful support in order to avoid the obesity epidemic. The government would be the perfect influence to helping change the obesity epidemic. But in Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, the government does little to help even though they are aware of the issue: While the surgeon general is raising alarms over the epidemic of obesity, the president is signing farm bills designed to keep the river of cheap corn flowing, guaranteeing that the cheapest calories in the superma rket will continue to be the unhealthiest (108).So if the government won’t even help, who will? That is where the people come in. Becoming aware of the problem and knowing what a person is putting into their bodies will be the only way to end the increase in the production of processed food, and to furthermore decrease obesity. In conclusion, as processed food production increased, so did obesity because of money hungry food corporations increasing this productivity and government doing nothing to Eisert 8 help stop the unhealthy lifestyles processed food has created.Through the statistics found in the research it shows how the increases simultaneously occurred at the same time, therefore processed food is a major factor to an increase in obesity. Work Cited Bray , George A, Samara Joy Nielsen, and Barry M Popkin. â€Å"Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity. † 2004 American Society for Clinical Nutrition. 79. 4 (2003): 537-543. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.. Ebbeling, Cara, Dorota B Pawlak, and David S Ludwig. â€Å"Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure. † Lancet. 360. 331 (2002): 473–482. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. . Pollan, Michael. Omnivore's Dilemma. New York City: A Penguin Book, 2006. Print. Pollan, Michael. â€Å"Unhappy Meal. † New York Times. 28 01 2007: 1-12. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. . Research Paper Feedback In reading your research paper, I have considered the following features of the document. Any areas that need work are highlighted oIntroduction – grabs the readers’ attention; introduces the topic; contains a clear, strong thesis oContent – covers the topic fully; supports assertions with information from reliable sources; includes a reference page Organization – is logically organized; ideas are grouped and sequenced to aide the readers’ understanding oParagraph Development— ¶s contain specific examples/evidence (in the form of quotes and paraphrases) and explanations oTopic Sentences—introduce the subject of each paragraph; create idea bridges that link  ¶s to each other and/or thesis oTransitions—logical connections between ideas are clear & smooth oSentence Fluency—sentences are fluent and varied in construction and length (not choppy); quotes are smoothly incorporated oMLA Format—sources are cited; both inline citations and reference page citations conform to MLA style Proofreading—free of usage, punctuation, and grammatical errors. Here are the grades and what they mean: oAn â€Å"A† paper excels in all the areas listed above. The paper covers the topic fully and answers the readers’ questions. The paper uses evidence from multiple, credible sources to back up claims. Sources are cited according to MLA style guidelines. The writing is clearly organized, excellently developed, fluent, and nearly error free. oA â€Å"B† paper does a good job in all the areas above. The paper offers a thoughtful, complete response to the prompt. It is clearly organized and well developed.The sentences are consistently readable and fluent with few usage errors. Areas that need work are highlighted above. oA â€Å"C† paper is a competent response to the prompt, but may have weaknesses in one or more of the areas listed above. The weaknesses interfere with the successful communication of the writer’s ideas. Areas that need work are highlighted above. oA paper earns an â€Å"NP† if it does not answer the prompt and/or is seriously weak in one or more of the areas listed above. The paper’s weaknesses make it very difficult to read and/or understand. Areas that need work are highlighted above. Comments and Grade:

Computer Security essays

Computer Security essays Computer security people basically protect computers, networks, etc. from hackers, viruses, and more. Until about 2 or 3 years ago, computer security wasnt needed very much. Then things like the Melissa virus, the Microsoft break-in made people realize that they needed security. The weird thing is that hackers, like people that broke into Microsoft, are the people that are best at computer security. Most people think that hackers are just people that want to mess up your computer, but real hackers break into systems because they want to see what they can do, then they might leave a message on the victims computer, but thats it. So, the computer security people protect from those other hackers that want to mess up peoples computers. ...

Legal and Ethical Issues in IT

Legal and Ethical Issues in IT The modern world depends on technology in a major way. The dominance of technology in day-to-day activities has made it necessary for stakeholders to formulate rules that govern this technology. Advancements in information technology come with various legal and ethical issues that are relevant to the current environment.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Legal and Ethical Issues in IT specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More When these issues are adequately addressed, they can enhance the use of information technology in everyday life. The fact that technology keeps changing adds to the complexity of the ethical and legal issues surrounding information technology. There are several legal and ethical issues surrounding information technology including privacy, appropriate use, copyright laws, and consumer protection. It is important for all information technology users to be conversant with the current legal and ethical is sues that apply to information technology. One of the most significant ethical issues in information technology is that of appropriate use. Information technology has provided people with a platform in which they can accomplish almost anything. This means there are no limitations when it comes to the use of information technology tools such as the internet. Anyone can use information technology in a manner that serves his/her purposes. In the past, the ethical issues concerning appropriate use of information technology have been manifested in a number of ways. For example, it is often debated whether social media websites should disallow terrorists from using their websites. The issues of appropriate use usually degenerate into legal issues. Copyright qualifies as both a legal and ethical issue relating to Information technology. Information technology has been both a blessing and a curse for intellectual property owners. Intellectual property owners first used information technolog y as a promotional forum for their craft. However, the forum later changed into an illegal distribution point for most of their craft. Information technology makes it easy to replicate, alter, and transmit intellectual property. Choosing to buy a property that you can easily copy free of charge is largely an ethical issue. This issue is further compounded by the fact that the copied items work in the same way as the originals.Advertising Looking for assessment on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Most governments have spelt out copyright laws that are aimed at protecting intellectual properties. For instance, the â€Å"Copyright, Designs and Patent Act of 1988 makes it illegal to copy original intellectual property† (Bocij, Greasley Hickie, 2009). The privacy issue features prominently in the list of legal and ethical concerns of information technology. The issue of privacy in information technology has bee n addressed through various federal and state laws. These laws usually target all information technology users. However, some of these laws target companies and institutions that might have access to private information. Most of these institutions are websites that collect personal data from their visitors. Some of this information can be sold or redistributed without the users’ explicit permission. The purpose of these laws is to ensure that any careless handling of private information does not harm citizens. Another privacy issue arises from monitoring of private internet use in schools and workplaces. Some people feel that this ‘monitoring’ qualifies as an invasion of privacy. The same issue applies to unwarranted government monitoring of individuals’ internet usage. The use of Cookies by websites is the latest privacy concern when using information technology. Some consider use of Cookies as a privacy invasion mechanism. There are several legal and eth ical concerns that surround the use of information technology. Although information technology users are beginning to recognize these issues, a lot needs to be done in order to streamline its use. However, addressing these issues requires a combined effort by the government, information technology users, and organizations. Reference Bocij, P, Greasley, A Hickie, S 2009, Business information systems: Technology, development and management, Ft Press, New York.

Compare the Usability and Accessibility issues related to the use of Essay

Compare the Usability and Accessibility issues related to the use of multimedia in the areas of online broadcasting and museums. plus table comparisons - Essay Example For example; â€Å"people with low-bandwidth connection† and â€Å"new and infrequent web users† (Jim Thatcher, 2006, p 8). This essay will compare Usability and Accessibility issues related to the use of multimedia in the areas of museums, the ArtStart Kiosk at The National Gallery and British Museums COMPASS Database, and BBC Online Broadcasting. Multimedia guides, software applications, organization of links and information, graphics format and style, navigation systems, screen resolutions, interface, browsing facilities, interactivities, communication access and user applications are the points by which this paper will discuss. British Museum’s COMPASS (Collections Multimedia Public Access System) and National Gallery’s ArtStart Kiosk; are both database-driven multimedia guides to a selection the Museums’ paintings or objects. Both systems provide users with electronic catalogues of pictures on the application using multimedia touch screen. The technology museums’ system are user-friendly, such that visitors can use the technology even if they do not have previous experience of the collections by providing indexes as common terms and organized information. Organization comes in the form of links to collections of varied interests; virtual tours of groups of objects in familiar themes; objects of the month from the Home page and thousands of links between the objects and to background information. The textual links however could create confusion to the graphical image links at the menu page. This confusion is also brought by lack of site map facility. Instead of a full site map b rowsing facility, the user can browse specific areas such as browsing paintings by A-Z Artist and paintings title at the ArtStart Kiosk. With the BBC there is an alternative similar to a site map in which sitemap navigation is facilitated by A-Z