George Orwell and the Necessity of Honesty

Vladimir Lenin, the first leader of the Soviet Union, once stated â€Å"A lie told often enough becomes the truth. † In times of inclusive deception, it is only innate for humanity to be blinded by the truth in a vast sea of lies to the point in which the act of telling the truth becomes revolutionary. In George Orwell’s 1984, society is led by the fabrication of the truth in an attempt to create a perfect world. But this attempt merely creates a society built upon lies and corruption.Through this novel, George Orwell comments on the necessity for humans to tell the truth and confront lies, deceit, and prevarication because humanity will face detrimental consequences if they do not. Orwell stresses the importance of humanity to tell the truth by addressing the consequences of dishonesty inflicted on the human race. In the novel 1984, the Party’s slogan, â€Å"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past,† reveals th e government’s pursuit to control all aspects of peoples’ lives.By altering history, the Party has absolute power of the present, limiting the psychological independence of its subjects by controlling their interpretations of the past. Individuals are forbidden to keep any account of their past, such as photographs and documents, and all recordings, great or small fade â€Å"away into a shadow-world in which, finally, even the date of the year is uncertain. † Therefore, the members of the society are willing to believe in any â€Å"truth† the Party feeds them.Due to the reliance of authority, humanity would become highly infantile and foolish. Just as infants depend on their parents’ guidance, all of human kind would act as little children, relying on authority to direct them to the truth. People would virtually have no memory of the past, so they would have no experience of emotions and would not know what emotions truly are. As a result, Orwell s uggests that people would not grow as human beings because they would be willing to believe in anything authority tells them, without doubting the fallacy of it.In turn, humans would not be able to distinguish right from wrong. Orwell comments on the necessity for humans to confront lies, deceit, and prevarication because humans will face insanity if they do not. In the novel, when Winston is confined in the Ministry of Love, O’Brien holds up four fingers and commands Winston to say he is holding up five fingers, despite the falsehood of that statement. Yet, Winston continually says â€Å"four† and is physically tortured as a result. Until he can no longer endure the pain, Winston finally clamors, â€Å"Five. Five. Five. But O’Brien accuses Winston of lying and inflicts more excruciating pain on him. Once again, O’Brien asks, â€Å"How many fingers am I holding up, Winston? † Winston then cries, â€Å"I don’t know. I don’t know. I d on’t know†¦Four, five, six—in all honesty I don’t know! † This reveals that human confrontation with lies, deceit, and prevarication leads to absolute insanity. Orwell comments on the practice of doublethink as very immoral and psychologically damaging to the human mind. This in turn will affect the happiness of humans, leaving them without hope and a reason to live.Thus, the main point of humankind would be serve the government and please authority. The search for even the simplest truth among the greatest lies can be treacherous because it easy for humans to be blinded by the truth. Through the novel 1984, Orwell voices his abhorrence on the human attempt in creating a perfect world, and he greatly accentuates the human need for humans to tell the truth and confront lies, deceit, and prevarication. Eventually, if humankind does not do exactly this, the future of society will lead to an ultimate demise.

Ideas for Young Activists

Transparency International, 2014 Philippines: A Million New Inspectors About 1 million boy and girl scouts in Philippines have counted textbooks and conducted quality inspections throughout the country. Working hand-in-hand with government and non-government agencies, the programmer discourages theft of textbooks and helps promote long-term transparency in the country schools.The Department of Education provided an open door to programmer organizers, including access to budget information, contracts, and delivery points, as well as providing inspection sites. Local organizations and volunteers that include schoolchildren also carry out the monitoring – including surprise inspections – during the textbook production process. The programmer has proved successful at reducing corruption In the textbook distribution process. India: I Paid a Bribe On www. Liberated. Com. Citizens can report their experiences of corruption.The site received almost 22,500 reports between 2010 a nd 2012, some of which were kicked up by the media and resulted in arrests and convictions. On the flipped, citizens can also report positive experiences they've had with honest officers. Solomon Islands: Comics against Corruption The Solomon Islands government, in partnership with Transparency Solomon Islands, ran a programmer that used comic-style posters and comic strips in newspapers to increase awareness of corruption in the country. It encouraged Solomon Islanders to say â€Å"Nap Ana! To corruption by reporting anyone they believe to be involved In corrupt practices. The comic was timed to coincide with International Ann-corruption Day on 9 December. Each comic told the story of average Solomon Islanders In everyday situations, and how their lives can be deeply affected by seemingly simple acts of corruption. The campaign covered the topics of bribery, favoritism, misuse of funds and what you can do to stop corruption. The series of anti-corruption comics ran in all three of Solomon Islands' major newspapers – and was even available as a pull-out poster insert in the Solomon Star.Afghanistan: Kabuki's Corruption Marathon Afghan youth Atari Equatorial uses marathons to fight corruption. He sees sport as the best way to spread awareness among Afghan youth, so he organized his first big marathon against corruption. The team was able to gather around 500 young Afghan boys and girls In one of Kabuki's many dusty streets. Their message was loud and clear: â€Å"Don't pay or accept bribes†. The participants did not run a long distance, but a large crowd noticed the group. Strider also involved local radio stations in his outreach helped them convey their message to an even larger audience.India: The â€Å"Zero Rupee† Movement The â€Å"zero rupee† note was created by an Indian physics professor who was harassed by endless extortion demands. He handed out the â€Å"zero rupee† notes as a polite way of saying â€Å"no† to officials who held out their hands. Printed on the note was â€Å"Eliminate Corruption at all levels† and â€Å"l promise to neither accept nor give a bribe†. When a corrupt official suggests to a citizen that they should pay a bribe to get something done, the citizen can hand over the â€Å"zero rupee† note and its effects have taken hold.The Indian MONGO 5th Pillar has now distributed more than 1 million bills in five languages since 2007. Solomon Islands: Clean Election Pledge A group of young volunteers established the â€Å"Clean Election Campaign† in the Solomon Islands. Their approach was to gather voter pledges, each being a promise to not take part in corrupt activities during that year's election. Their pledge states: â€Å"l pledge that I will reject all bribes. I will not accept any false promises. I will not sell my vote. I will not involve myself in any corrupt activities during, before and after the elections.And also I pledge that I wi ll use my full conscience to decide on my vote and ask God to help me to decide my vote. And I pledge that I will only vote for an honest leader. † Kenya: Mapping the Election Jacuzzi is an open-source platform designed to courseware information via SMS and online messaging and appears on an interactive map. Pioneered in Kenya after the fall-out of the deadly 2008 elections, the website had 45,000 users in Kenya reporting on both instances of electoral fraud and acts of integrity during the following presidential elections.Activists launched the platform to courseware data via Twitter, SMS, Android, e-mail and the web. More than 4,500 reports were cast – and a staggering 58 per cent of these claims have been verified. The findings were referred to by Jenny's electoral commission and international media. Venezuela: Tweeting the Election Twitter is a simple way to monitor elections with your friends and community. Use or create a credible twitter name so that fellow tweet ers know whom to contact for details on election monitoring. Design a washrag so that voters tweeting claims of election fraud are streamlined (e. #Pomegranate or #Cafeteria). In Venezuela, civil society organizations came together to cast a watchful eye on the national elections via Twitter. They received tweets – including photos – from around the country to gather data on election violations at the polling stations through several hostage. They received more than 1,000 tweets claiming electoral fraud. These strategies do you think be the most effective in dealing with corruption? Choose two and explain why. 3. What other strategies do you think local people could use to deal with corruption in their government?

Individual Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Individual - Research Proposal Example Interestingly, despite being different documents, both can be used together. The practical as well as the theoretical differences are highlighted below: - Practical Differences A formal research has large differences from a business proposal. The funding structure of formal research and a business proposal are completely different. The funds for a formal research are usually procured from a learning institution, government, or even public bodies. The findings are therefore expected to add value to the pool of knowledge. The business proposal is funded by various firms when it comes to notice that certain problems are contributing negatively towards the achievement of organizational objectives. Although, both the documents may seem to be similar, there are several critical differences between the two in terms of the overall goals, purposes, sections and uses. Identification of these discrete differences allows the researchers to come up with an effective business proposal and formal r esearch. The differences between the two factors are discussed in details in the subsequent section. The formal research is modeled in such a way that can be imitated and aimed at building on the researches carried previously about the subject of concern. The business plan is however aimed at finding the optimal solution to the problem that is being faced by the organization. In addition, business proposals do not allow experiments, but surveys and experiments are allowed by formal research. The source from which data is collected for both the research papers also has major differences. While creating business proposals, researchers usually consider industry reports or authentic electronic sources. In addition, the data used for the formulating the business plan are mostly up-to-date. Formal research usually encompasses latest scholarly articles or books (Finch, 2013). Theoretical Differences A formal research report provides fundamental information and statistics about a particular field or industry. However, it is purely dependent upon the focus of the company. For example, a company may study about the demand of a particular product by researching about the demands of similar products already existing in the market. In addition, the study can be also about the sales figures and values of similar products. Finally, these findings will reveal whether the market for the product being examined is highly saturated, moderately saturated or offers a ripe business opportunity. On the other hand, a business proposal is also a research document that is usually completed for the principal rationale of suggesting a method for completing a particular task in the near future. A business proposal usually describes about the task to be completed, a section to illustrate the approach of the task, the time frame in which the task is to be completed, and outlining the resources and fund required to complete the project. The task which is being highlighted here is usually the launch of a new business. The formal research can be used in many cases, but business plans are usually formulated when a new venture is supposed to be launched. Another striking difference between the two factors is that the formal research paper is principally developed for the purpose of evaluating whether a company should consider development of another products or service. This report is mainly used by financial

Declining Confidence in Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Declining Confidence in Government - Essay Example This essay looks into some of the texts that have focused on the issue. Balz, D. (October 13, 2013). Public confidence in GOP, government declining fast. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://bangordailynews.com/2013/10/13/politics/public confidence-in-gop-government-declining-fast/ The Washington Post is a popular form of media that addresses most of the contentious issues facing the US and other parts of the world. The article highlights the recent events involving the US government that have resulted into a decline in public trust. The article discusses the surprising results from the Gallop Polls and the NBC News-Wall Street journal following the historic government shutdown (Balz, 2013). People knew that the threats of a regime default and the shutdown would lead to a disruption of the stability of political parties in Washington. It was even more surprising to find out that so much damage could be achieved in a short time. The article also states that the mistakes of the Republican Party also contributed to the shutdown. The article is viewed as showing some of the most alarming trends in the modern times. It was clear that the citizens have lost faith in the government and its ability to steer the country towards the right direction economically. It is clear that most citizens are pessimistic and are counting on the situation to get worse (Balz, 2013). The present standoff that has resulted into a considerable decline in public trust in the government is similar to the one experienced in the discussion about the increase in the debt ceiling. It has been observed that the decline in confidence in the government has fallen to levels that have never been experienced before. Democrats did not escape the criticism as well. This is owing to the fact that they were also blamed for the shutdown. The article states that the opinion polls from various organizations revealed similar trends in

Using an extended example critically examine whether the sector matrix Essay - 4

Using an extended example critically examine whether the sector matrix framework gives a better strategic understanding of product markets than the concepts o - Essay Example The understanding of sector matrix is from a business model change management perspective to presenting a well in-depth conceptual framework. The sector matrix strategic challenges in functional organization structures can create fundamental aspect to designing problematic measures. For instance, the designed approach to implement needed change management offers a new directive matrix. The approach for forming the right measure of strategy is within the right designed matrix. The management objectives outline the required streamline processing of business model standards to producing products. In doing so, the role in establishing the correct sector matrix through pricing, brand identification, and innovation is essential to success. The business model understanding of the functional business operational processes presents the ability correctly analyze the strengths provides the sufficient sector matrix (Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, and Sutton, pp.95, 2008). In the financial industry, the business model example is in the real estate market to effectively selling deeds to the targeted demographics. The ability to section off core commodities for the appropriate level of offering loans to supply sufficient financial products. In doing so, the organization can successful increase the brand equity shiare within the industry. Furthemore, the analysis of the targeted demographics interestd in the product/service will outlined the supply linkages in the particular industry. The business model ability to presenting the framework in a business model strategy is to successfully implement the management style approach in a functional organizational. Other industries are just as strategically position within the sector matrix framework to proficiently adapt to current trends, such as, IT management, Transporation, Manufactorers, or Airliners. The identification is the ablility to critically examine the

Organisational Change Management Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Organisational Change Management - Dissertation Example However, the recent economic downturn has had a big impact on demand and the company is struggling to survive. It has formulated a new strategy that focuses on cutting costs as quickly as possible and to this end it has decided to stop producing some components and to concentrate the production of other components at fewer sites in order to benefit from economies of scale. This decision is still to be announced. It is possible that many of the B2 product development engineers may be reluctant to relocate. Employees at the other sites in Spain and France are likely to be worried that this may only be the first of many changes. Definition The primary underlying and the key issues of the case provided are discussed ahead. Before defining the problem, there is a need to have a brief look at the company holistically. D2, a car components manufacturing company has been a well renowned company for years and has been able to remain competitive over years since its establishment. The company has been able to maintain a good ROI that is return on investment and growing shareholder value by producing innovatively, investment in new technology and staff development. ... The company gets reluctant to spend on the marketing side too so cutting these costs may impact any sort of business especially big businesses like D2. There is a possibility that in such a situation the dividends may slump too or may be disappearing of completely. The shareholders may get worried. As the stock of manufacturer starts to falls and the dividends decline, the  institutional investors  that hold the stock are likely to sell it off and reinvest into stocks that are performing better. This will even more depress the stock price of the company (Cascio, 2002). Moreover the company may get bankrupted as the impact of recession can also lead to the slow, partial, late, or may be no return by the accounts receivable. This results in the company failing to pay its bills and meet its other costs and eventually there will be a reduction in the valuation of the company’s bonds and its ability to get the financing. This can have a great impact on the company’s cred it rating also that will prevent borrowing as it fails to pay the interest on the money previously borrowed (Redman and Wilkinson, 2006). The company in this situation like D2 likes to cut the cost buy cutting down the number of employees and increasing the work load of the remaining employees after the lay off. Productivity will be required to increase per employee but the morale of the employee may get lowered under such a situation. Despite of the increased work load the company fails to offer additional bonuses and compensation packages to its remaining employees leading to an even lowered morale level (Gandolfi, 2008). For companies like D2 which is a manufacturing company the company may be forced to close

Creativity and Group dynamic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Creativity and Group dynamic - Assignment Example When Danny and Rusty set out to find a team for themselves, they were looking for people who were either too smart in what they do, or they thought differently. This team was made up of people who were unique in their own way, yet when they worked together on this plan, they got successful in what no one else could do. Each of the team member was creative is his own way. They all thought of brilliant ideas and carried out the entire plan successfully. They were however different from each other. In one occasion we could see two of the men were acting like gays which annoyed their other team member. There were white men and there were black men, there were Americans and there was even a Chinese, there were 18 year old boys and 50+ year old man as well. What brought success to the team was how they gelled in with each other; how they accepted each other as they are and worked together as a team. What is remarkable about the group dynamics of this team is that how they communicated well with each other and how they knew about the strengths and weaknesses of each other. While working in a team it is very important that you know each other very well; you should know your team member’s strengths and their weaknesses as well. ... Although each member was creative in his own domain, there were obviously some limitations. Some members could not practice their creative ideas because they did not appeal to their other team members. There were also limitations from the environment. While you are working in a group, you have to take decisions that are approved by everyone, especially the leader. You simply cannot practice your creativity without the agreement of you teammates. And this leads to creative thinking in limitations. When creativity is at peak, an individual or group can also innovate new product, service or an idea. In this movie, they innovated new ways of robbery. Although the idea does not bring something new that helps the society, but it did create a new way of completing their mission. Although the movie is about robbery, we could clearly the aspect of creativity and group dynamics in their mission. From the way team was formed, to how Danny led it, to how they carried out all the tasks; it showed a great team where all members had only one focus-to steal the vault’s money. Bibliography Naiman, L. (2010). What is Creativity? Retrieved May 21, 2011, from Creativity at work:

One-child policy in china Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

One-child policy in china - Research Paper Example Therefore, no family was expected to illegally have a second child after 1979 when one-child policy was introduced, but the minority women are allowed to have a second child (Li, Yi and Zhang 1537). For the past few years in some Chinese cities, couples particularly who are both single children in their homes, that is, have no siblings, have been given a chance of having a second child. China’s national fertility reduced especially in early 1990s after women were instructed to have only one child (Cai 419). This paper provides a very thoughtful discussion on the one-child policy in China by exploring what the policy entails, and evaluating its possible effects to individuals and the government at large. The one-child policy in China today is because of the country’s historical development and also a product of the changing population policies created by the Chinese government (Sun and Zhangling 317). A report by Chinese Health Ministry revealed that about 336 million ab ortions and 222 million sterilizations had been carried out since the implementation of one child policy.  In addition, the ministry of health admits that Chinese doctors conduct over 330m abortions over the forty years since the inception of this policy (Alton 114). One-child policy has become a national policy in China and it promotes late marriage, fewer and healthier births (Su and Macer 18). More so, it drastically reduced China’s fertility rate after the major baby booms of the previous years (Zhan 53). One child policy has been strictly enforced, for instance, the couples who flout the rules possibly face heavy fines, lose their property or even their jobs, and in most cases, going against this policy would call for unaffordable fines. The main goal of this policy was to convince people to understand the advantages of adoption the one-child families but again, those who failed to abide with the new law were punished accordingly (Pascu 104). Some people suggested that , one child policy would be adjusted and modified gradually to promote long-term balanced development of the population in China, and it is obvious that China established its one child policy in order to curb rapid population growth. However, some leaders are afraid that this policy increases the growth of the ageing population that is likely to reduce labor pool and eliminate elderly care issues. As time goes by, Mao Zedong implemented a one-child policy in China to reduce the birth rate further (Von 4). China’s population control policy, one child policy, was introduced in 1979 to curb rapid population growth (BBC News) and to promote economic growth, but this policy has created economic and cultural challenges. At this time, Chinese government was convinced that controlling population would help in alleviating its social, economic as well as environmental problems. Chinese government declared its one child, one couple and this way, it managed to aid economic expansion, and curbing population growth (Nakra 134). Before the introduction of this policy, Chinese central government had introduced the government policy to manage population and was only implemented in the rural areas, but the implementation of one-child policy was extended even in urban areas. In addition, ethnic minorities, disabled people and couples who both lack siblings are also given the option of having two children. Report shows that one child policy

Answer question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Answer question - Essay Example Some of the Senators opposed it simply because of party politics which led them to believe Wilson had no leadership skills. There were several characteristics associated with the progressive era including a need for purification of the government, issues of women suffrage and their need to end as well as being prohibited. There was also a need to focus on the important values in society which included education and focusing much on the family. The progressive era also sought modernization of the country. Roosevelt wanted the federal government to take control of the corporations so that they can protect the consumers as well as conserve the corporations themselves. Taft let the others make decisions on progressive such as increasing tariffs, opening up land for private use among other things. Wilson reduced the tariffs especially the import fees, there was a new income tax, and there was introduction of new Federal Reserve notes and an introduction of central bank in 12 regional reserve districts among other reforms. Progressive era opened up colleges for women making them enter the male dominated job markets as clerics, typists, lawyers and even doctors and journalists. This followed their role in social work and especially where they were teaching the immigrants proper and decent ways to behave and earn wages without being taken advantage of by the men. After they became properly educated, they started advocated for more of their rights and freedom from male shadows and they were helped by the women in professional jobs. Freedom according to women was to be allowed to work and venture outside of their homes like the men; others defined it as being offered equal wages to the men in the same field while to others freedom constituted not being offered lower class jobs and being sexually undermined in the workplaces. Among the successes included the reunification of the unions

The positive function and negative function of the social policy in Hong Kong society Essay Example for Free

The positive function and negative function of the social policy in Hong Kong society Essay Introduction Recently, starting from May 1, 2013, Hong Kong had issued an increase of the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) from $28 to $30. Setting SMW at an appropriate level is vital to striking the balance between the objectives of forestalling excessively low wages and minimising the loss of low-paid jobs, while sustaining Hong Kong’s economic growth and competitiveness (2012 report of the minimum wage commission, 2012). To fulfil this aim, the government have decided to increase the minimum wage rate in order for the people receiving the low-paid jobs to have a more fair salary. This paper will first discuss about the stakeholders that will be affected by the increase of the wage rates namely the workers earning the SMW rates, the employees earning above the minimum wage, the firms, the government and the society as a whole. All of the effects of this social policy, both positive and negative that will be implied to these stakeholders will be discussed. Then, the effects of this social policy will be compared with R. Titmuss’ teachings in the objectives of a social policy. Finally, an evaluative comment of what the government should have done to maximise the benefits of this policy and minimising its drawbacks will be given as a conclusion. Effects on Stakeholders Workers The first stakeholder that will be most affected by this social policy is the workers living by the SMW rate. These workers are usually blue-collared workers whose jobs require minimum requirements and manual labor. The minimum wage is used to provide a wage floor for them not to be exploited by the firms, but these workers are usually still the lowest paid amongst the society. They are referred to as the working poor in which the workers are still living below the poverty line of Hong Kong even when they already have a job. As shown by Lam (2013) At the article which has been released by the Commission of Poverty, Hong Kong had just implemented the poverty line in which a one-person household is living at below HK$3,600, two-person  households living below HK$7,700, and four-person households living below HK$14,300 monthly. In Hong Kong, around 19.6 percent of the population were living with less than the poverty line at the year 2012. By the increase of the minimum wage by roughly 7%, the government wanted to tackle the problem of the working poor especially with the rising costs due to inflation and rapid increase in the price of land. According to the Trading Economics (2013), from the year 1981-2013, Hong Kong’s inflation rate have averaged at 4.6 percent while the Global Property Guide (2013) showed that the price of properties in Hong Kong had skyrocketed by 73% over the past 3 years. These rising costs had brought problems to the workers living in the SMW as they usually do not experience an increase in their salaries if the government does not intervene. Their living standards will constantly fall every year and in order to prevent that from happening, the Hong Kong government implemented the increase in the SMW at May 1, 2013. The first time Hong Kong had provided the Statutory Minimum Wage of $28 is at 2011. According to Oxfam’s report on April 17, 2012, â€Å"59.5 per cent reported no improvement with the introduction of the Ordinance†. Oxfam (2012) explained that even when 70 per cent of the low income workers experienced increased wage rates, the employers reduced the remuneration packages, paid rest days, and working hours. Overall, it leads to similar income when the Ordinance have not been introduced which does not lead to any increase in the standard of living of the working poor. This might reoccur with the increase of the SMW, as the employers would want to cut back on the costs. The increase of the minimum wage in Hong Kong might not lead to an increase in the total income of the workers, but might only lead to a shorter working hours or even a decrease in their total income. Firms Another stakeholder that would be affected by the increase of the minimum wages are the firms, especially the small to medium sized ones. Because most of their staffs are earning minimum wage, the firms will either need to either reduce the working hours of their employees or face an increase in the labour cost. If the businesses were to reduce the employees or the  working hours, the quality of the products or services provided will most likely degrade over time due to the lack of labour. On the other hand, maintaining the same amount of labour and working hours will lead to an increased cost. In order for the firms to maintain their profitability, the prices of the product or services will most likely be increased. This will lead to the reduction of the competitiveness of small and medium firms compared to the large firms. Because large firms can most likely afford the increase of the minimum wage, they might not need to push the prices up to keep their demands. This can be disadvantageous to Hong Kong as a whole if it leads to the closure of the small and medium firms which leaves huge industries as monopolies in the industry. Card (1995) mentioned that the minimum wage has a â€Å"ripple effect† in many firms, leading to pay increases for workers initially earning slightly more than the new minimum wage. Because of this, the effects previously mentioned will be amplified even to firms which pay slightly above the new SMW even before the increase. Government In the government’s perspective, the increase of the minimum wage policy can help reduce the government expenditure in a country. According to the Social Welfare Department, Hong Kong has a scheme called the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme to help those who does not have sufficient income to cover their expenses (Comprehensive social security, 2013). For example, an able-bodied adult aged under 60 will receive HK$2,070 if he does not have a family. When the government increased the SMW, the income of the working people will increase and the amount of people that would need the government subsidies to cover their living expenses can decrease. This way, the government can spend more expenditures on other aspects such as better education or housing for the poor. Society This new legislation will also bring several impacts on the Hong Kong society as a whole. Firstly, it has been mentioned that the increase of the minimum wage rate of Hong Kong will lead to the increased cost of firms and ultimately the consumers. Since most of the goods that can be found locally  is manufactured by workers working in a minimum wage, the increase of the SMW will most likely inflate most of the price for most goods. The general increase in the prices level will lead to inflation which brings negative impacts to the lower class part of Hong Kong. According to the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong, the inflation rate of Hong Kong was recorded at 4.30 percent in October of 2013 compared to October of 2012 (Monthly report on, 2013). The increase of the Statutory Minimum Wage is a mere 7.14% since it was first released at May 1, 2011 while the inflationary pressures are roughly 4% annually. This shows that the increase of the minimum wage rate is insufficient to cope with the inflationary pressures that the workers are experiencing in the society. On the other hand, the increase of the minimum wage rate had reduced the income inequality even by a very small amount. The Hong Kong government’s economic report at the year 2012 had shown that Hong Kong has a Gini coefficient of 0.537 in the year 2011 for the original household income (Half-yearly economic report 2012, 2012). This is quite a high figure as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)’s world factbook states that Hong Kong is ranked at the 11th place for the countries with the highest Gini coefficient. Singapore on the other hand, had a much lower Gini coefficient of 0.478 in the year 2012 and is ranked 26th in the world (The world factbook, ). These figures shows that Hong Kong is one of the worst countries in terms of income equality whereas the income of the rich greatly outweigh the poor. By increasing the Statutory Minimum Wage rate, the citizens with low incomes will be affected as their income will increase while the citizens with high income are barel y affected by this legislations. This will then reduce the wealth gap even just by a very small amount and Hong Kong’s Gini coefficient might drop by a slight amount in the future. Fajnzylber, Lederman, and Loayza (2002) had concluded in their paper that the increase in income inequality has a significant and robust effect of raising crime rates. According to the paper, when income inequality is high, the differences between the potential gains that could be acquired from doing a crime compared with the opportunity cost of it is high. This will  lead to an increase in the crime rates in a particular country where the Gini coefficient is high. By reducing the wealth gap, the government is also helping the society in minimising crime rates as the people in Hong Kong will be less desperate for them into being a criminal. Normally, people resolved into committing crimes when they cannot fulfil their basic needs, therefore the increase of the SMW of Hong Kong will make it more likely for the low income group of people to survive which will ultimately lead to the reduction of crimes. Objectives of a Social Policy According to R. Titmuss (1974), the objective of social policy is to meet social needs and promote social integration and discourage alienation. Because the increase of the Statutory Minimum Wage is a form of social policy, it should fulfil the three criteria mentioned by R. Titmuss. This part of the paper will talk about how well the increase in the minimum wage meet the social needs, promoting social integration, and discourage alienation in the Hong Kong society. Meeting the Social Needs The social needs of a society are the basic fundamentals that the citizens living in Hong Kong needs. One of the ways to dissect these needs is using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. At the bottom of the triangle and the very basic fundamental human needs are the physiological needs which includes basic necessities to live such as food, shelter, and air. The social policy released by the government at May 1, 2013 regarding the new Statutory Minimum Wage does affect the physiological welfare of the minimum wage workers at some aspects. By increasing the SMW, the income of a substantial amount of the workers were expected to rise. This will allow them to be able to afford more of the basic products to survive such as food, water, etc. Due to the increase in their incomes and thus their disposable income, the spending powers of these parts of the society will increase and they should have a better standard of living. However, the paper had mentioned before that inflationary pressures can reduce and dilute the effects of the minimum wage increase. The increase in  the labour costs, which is one of the factors of production, can lead to a cost push inflation in which the rising costs are passed on to the consumers. Even though the workers earning the SMW might feel richer, the general price increase may lead to a small or no improvement in the living standards. According to Trading Economics (2013), Hong Kong’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) is reaching its all time high of 116.8 Index Points in September of 2013. This might even lead to a decrease in the living standard of the working poor as most goods and services are becoming more expensive. Another aspect that is related to the physiological needs of the society is shelter, or the rent of the apartments in the case of Hong Kong. According to Global Property Guide (2013), the property prices of land of Hong Kong had surged 73% which leads to really high rent rates which takes up a huge part of a person’s salary. The introduction of the increase in the minimum wage social policy does nothing to tackle this problem, meaning that the working poor would still need to spend a substantial amount of their salary just to pay for the rent. Even though the Hong Kong Housing Authority is currently attending to this particular need, it is insufficient to fulfil everyone’s physiological need of a decent shelter. The second level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is the safety needs of every individuals. Every working men would want a job that is both secure and consistent. They would not want a job that does not ensure a regular income to cover their expenses. When the minimum wage rate is increased, the firms will try to cut their costs sometimes by making the workers redundant or reducing their working hours. Both of the actions mentioned will lead to an insecure feeling by the workers as they might lose their jobs or have a decreased income. Therefore, the social policy for this case does not improve the social needs of the society, and even bring a sense of insecurity and anxiety. The other 3 aspects of the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which are the love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation, does not apply for this social policy as they are more related with employees with higher income and mostly the white collar workers. Promoting Social Integration and Discourage Alienation Lastly, R. Titmuss (1974) mentioned about promoting social integration and discourage alienation. Social integration is a dynamic and principled process where all members participate in dialogue to achieve and maintain peaceful social relations (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs). This focused on both equal rights and secure social welfare. Even though the increase of the SMW of Hong Kong does not have anything to do with equal rights, it can promote a better social welfare in the society. As mentioned, there is a direct correlation between higher income and lower crime rates. Therefore, if the increase in the minimum wage does increase the total income of each or most individuals working at minimum wage rate, there is a high possibility that Hong Kong can promote more social integration. When social integration occurs, alienation are automatically reduced. When the wealth gap are reduced, communities can be more easily formed as the social classes will be more integrated towards each other. Conclusion and Evaluation As shown in the paper, the increase of the Statutory Minimum Wage in Hong Kong have led to both positive and negative functions in the society. Even though the aims and objectives of this social policy is favourable and positive, there are many factors which can turn them into negative results. One of the biggest factor is the difference between the inflation level compared with the increase in the wage rates. Right now, Hong Kong have a high CPI of 116.8 which can greatly reduce the effects of the improved minimum wage rates. I believe that the increase of the Statutory Minimum Wage from HK$28 to HK$30 is insufficient and should be further increased to at least HK$32 to counteract the inflation rates. On the other hand, the Hong Kong government should take actions to control the inflationary pressures which will be created from this increased labour costs. Fiscal policies such as the use of a higher progressive direct tax for the citizens with high income can be used to both control inflation and increase the government revenue for other uses. Moreover, the government should also try to tackle other social problems that are currently a big issue in Hong Kong like the housing problem. This situation is as critical as the increased amount of the working poor and the huge wealth inequality  and should be countered immediately. In order for a social policy to be beneficial to the society, R. Titmuss (1974) believed that it should cover all the three aspects, namely the social needs, social integration, and discourage alienation. Therefore, the government should take account of these features and redesign the Statutory Minimum Wage, increasing it to a more substantial amount. References: Minimum Wage Commission, (2012). 2012 report of the minimum wage commission. Retrieved from website: http://www.mwc.org.hk/en/downloadable_materials/2012MWCReport-Eng.pdf Hu , F., Yun , M. (2013, September 30). Hong kong poverty line shows wealth gap with one in five poor. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-29/hong-kong-poverty-line-shows-wealth-gap-with-one-in-five-poor.html Lam, C. (2013, September 30). Hong kongs first official poverty line purpose and value. Retrieved from http://www.povertyrelief.gov.hk/eng/pdf/20130930_article.pdf (2013, December 10). Retrieved from http://www.tradingeconomics.com/hong-kong/inflation-cpi Residential prices surging in hong kong!. (2013, February 15). Retrieved from http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Asia/Hong-Kong/Price-History Oxfam. (2012, April 17). Poverty in the hong kong workforce, despite the minimum wage oxfam survey reveals 70% of low income workers and their families have more income, but almost half live in deprivation. Retrieved from http://www.oxfam.org.hk/en/news_1818.aspx Chasanov, A. (2004, May 11). No longer getting by—an increase in the minimum wage is long overdue. Retrieved from http://www.epi.org/publication/briefingpapers_bp151/ Social Welfare Department, (2013). Comprehensive social security assistance scheme. Retrieved from website: http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_socialsecurity/ Census and Statistics Department, (2013). Monthly report on the consumer price index. Retrieved from website: http://www.statistics.gov.hk/pub/B10600012013MM10B0100.pdf Central Intelligence Agency, (n.d.). The world factbook. Retrieved from website: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2172rank.html Hong Kong Economy Government, (2012). Half-yearly economic report 2012. Retrieved from website: http://www.hkeconomy.gov.hk/en/pdf/box-12q2-5-2.pdf Hong Kong Housing Authority, (2013). Annual report 2012/13. Retrieved from website: http://www.housingauthority.gov.hk/en/about-us/publications-and-statistics/index.html UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Social Policy and Development. (n.d.). Working definition of social integration. Retrieved from website: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/sib/peacedialogue/soc_integration.htm Card, D. E. (1995). Myth and measurement: The new economics of the minimum wage. Princeton University Press. Fajnzlber, P., Lederman, D., Loayza, N. (2002). Inequality and violent crime. JL Econ., 45, 1. Titmuss, R. M., Abel-Smith, B., Titmuss, K. (1974). Social policy (pp.

The Dimensions Of Interprofesssional Practice Nursing Essay

The Dimensions Of Interprofesssional Practice Nursing Essay This reflective Commentary will focus on a patients discharge planning liaison drawn from my experience in attending a Multidisciplinary team Meeting (MDT) held at my Elective Placement (Cardiology Ward) in the context of the dimensions of Interprofesssional Working (IPW) I will preliminary define in the introduction IP working; recognize policies; introduce patient scenario, identify the Reflection Model which I will use to evaluate and analyse the Dimensions of IPW. IPW refers to professionals with different training backgrounds (medical, surgical, counselling, psychotherapy, Occupational Therapist, physiotherapist) sharing common goals an objectives but who make a difference but complimentary contribution to the given client group in order to provide holistic care (Leathard, 2003). IPW has been highlighted by the United Kingdom (UK) government in a series of policies which shaped and continue to shape the way services and professionals work interprofesssionally. In 1998 The Department of Health (DoH) (1998) encouraged joint working through integrated provision. In 1999 papers such as DoH (1999) re-enforced that the effective care is the product of interagency working, promoting NHS to move towards interagency collaborative working or IPW in a shift from institutional to community-based care. The DoH (2000) a ten year programme of redevelopment practice to design and promotes a patient centered service and promote IP and Holistic care. One of the areas the DOH (2000) considered needed improving was the older generation patient discharge. To combat this, standard two of The Single Assessment Process (SAP) and Intermediate care services (ICS) was introduced by the National Service Framework for Older People by DoH (2001a) and this required services and professiona ls to work together in a co-ordinated assessment of needs for patients. From this, House of Commons Health Committee (2002) called for a number of key changes, one of them being a named Care Manager to coordinate all stages of the patient journey through hospital, up to and beyond discharge. And this coordination liaison could take the form of an MDT discharge planning meeting (DP). New ways of working have to be found that cross professional boundaries, in order to allow a more flexible approach to care delivery (DoH, 2002). To achieve this, the Government introduced Interprofesssional Education (IPE) in pre-registered students modules and their aim was to integrate IPE into their curriculum, enabling students to develop transferable skills that will facilitate communication and collaboration in the future (Barr, et al., 2005). Rattay and Mehanna (2008) suggest that as students should make an effort to attend MDT meetings to develop IP. I have used pseudonyms throughout my reflective commentary, to protect confidentiality in accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2009). I will refer to the patient as Sam. Sam is a 74 year old lady who lives alone in a ground floor flat. Sam has no family living locally however her neighbour visits regularly. Sam suffers from Chronic Heart Failure (CHF). Prior to admission Sam was fully independent at house cooping with her Activities of Daily living (ADLs) with slight difficulty due to breathing and poor balance (which Sam reported to suffering from for years). Sam was originally brought into hospital via accident and emergency by her neighbour as her breathing became progressively worse. There are many potential models of reflection. I will use Gibbs (1988) Model of Reflection (Appendix 1) as I find it more straightforward due to being depicted as a cycle, encouraging critical evaluation and analysis of the incident. Cyclical models are suggested by Ghaye (1998) to deepen awareness and increase knowledge and skilfulness from repeated movements around them. Reflection will able me to learn from the experience and identify my learning needs in areas which solicit improvements (Allen, et al., 2008). As suggested by Price (2006) Reflection makes a connection between theory, policies and practice required to develop evidence-based practice, professional and academic growth throughout my career; important in the development of lifelong learning (NMC (2009). Description The MDT meeting was held at the sisters office. The MDT consisted of a Ward Nurse (who was there intermittently due to staff levels), a Heart Failure Nurse Specialist (HFNS). Care Manager (Social Worker), Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Doctor (Cardiologist Register) and myself. The meeting was led by the Doctor who gave an introductory overview of the Sams social situation and medical condition. The Doctor recommended that Sam was medically fit for discharge with a referral for HFNS community visits, as further health education was necessary. The physiotherapist suggested Sam was regaining confidence in her mobility but recommended further input to improve Sams balance and posture. The ward Nurse suggested Sams Nursing needs were stable and no input was required on discharged, upon this, I respectively argued that Sam discussed with myself earlier in the shift that she felt she was not coping at home and would feel more confident if she had minimal assistance with her ADLs at home. The Doctor re-directed the question to the HFNS, who re-directed the question to the Ward Nurse, both dismissing my input. At this point I respectfully assured the MDT that what I was advocating, it was also documented in Sam care plan. Subsequently, The HFNS requested Sams discharge planning to be discussed in a second meeting.. Following to this, The Occupational Therapist recommended she would liaise with Sam regarding any house equipment that would facilitate Sams ADLs. The social worker (Care manager) who would be coordinating all stages of Sams journey through hospital, up to and beyond discharge, organise possible (i) care (ii) meals on wheels. The Doctor summarised the MDT plan and rescheduled the meeting for 2 days to allow professionals to liaise with Sam in order to evaluate the discharge planning in partnership with Sam. Doctor was reluctant to reschedule and to change Sams expected day of discharge (EDD), it seemed. In the follow up MDT meeting, Sam was medical ly fit for discharge, her it seemed, had improved, as had her slightly her confidence but she could still benefit from further rehabilitation; therefore, Sam was referred to Intermediate Care Services (ICS) (Appendix 2) for further rehabilitation in the community, with out-patient medical follow up and HFNS home visits. Feelings When I asked my Mentor to attend the MDT meeting, I was excited as I was going to be able to see how the IPW provides a positive outcome for the patients. Slightly anxious but ready to be a Patient advocate. Soon it dawned on me when I was introduced to other professionals and given opportunities to work with them and I felt slightly insecure at the thought of having to expose myself to the criticisms of others. When Discussing Sams DP I commented on her behalf the feeling of slight insecurity was soon overpowered by a feeling of achievement as I was in a position to be her advocate appropriately and contribute in making a difference to her life for better. This feeling overpowered the shuttled frustration I felt when the Doctors dismissed initially my input but understandable due to my still pre-reg position, he needed reassurance as this input was going to change Sam EDD. As the meeting was lead by the Doctor I had inadvertently imposed a sense of hierarchy upon the group. I soon f elt that the hierarchy, even after the incident above, was not actually evident once a patient DP was being discussed as every professional was having a say and all professional seemed to understand each others responsibilities, roles and the documentation used involved all MDT input. I felt that through the discussions each professionals identify was gain and respect was given accordingly, although, I considered there was possibility of gaining a professional personality stereotypes and therefore ultimately a hierarchy may develop in future group meetings. By the end of it, I still felt slightly daunted to be in a MDT meeting working with professionals who knew so much (i) HFNS who developed their careers to a point of extreme knowledge, it overwhelmed me, that I am still just in the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Evaluation In accordance to Holland, et al. (2005) and Gonseth, et al. (2004) Heart Failure Nurse Specialist (HFNS) input was fundamental as HF patients as Sam require close clinical management and encouragement to manage their symptoms in order to remain in the community (James and Sarah, 2008). Furthermore, Blue, at al. (2001) randomised controlled trial suggested that HFN have the ability to focus not only on the clinical needs of the patient, but the educational and supportive needs as well as establishing effective liaison between health and social care. Although HFNS is important in the provision of Sams Good Health in the community, without front line staff (i) ward nurse to document appropriately and report to the appropriate professional and act as an advocate for patients in meeting such this, the provision of IP working and Safe Discharge Planning would be compromised (Atwal and Caldwel (2006). Record keeping was to be commended as the Discharge planning Form (DPF) (Appendix 3) was filled in from admission and updated regularly by Sams Multidisciplinary team regarding assessment, planning, and implementation and evaluation goals specific to each professional to establish safe discharge. Effective record keeping is the key factor to effective care and continuation of care of Patient; and a Code of Conduct requirement for excellence practice and care (NMC, 2009). The Community Rehabilitation/Intermediate Care Services (ICS) Appendix 3. Referral was suggested appropriately in order to meet Sams needs, in accordance with the DoH (2001a, 2001b) agrees that ICS establishes IP working and avoids duplication, enhances communication and allows each team member to view and check the patient notes at all times. Furthermore Godfrey, et al, (2005) suggests that it enhances Holistic care. According to Leathard and Cook (2009) Sams care could be considered Holistic as her physical, psychological, sociological, spiritual needs were addressed, and Sams views were considered alongside any recommendations offered by all the different multi-disciplinary teams in a mutual participation in a shared decision-making partnership. With changes in Nhs such as patient-centred care (DoH, 1998), and the establishment of sophisticated holistic approach to health and social care, one of the key features of Sams patient centred care is the development and implementation of integrated care pathways (ii) collaborative care plans such ICS, providing Sam with a continuity of care. MDT meeting structure seemed to reflect The DoH (1998) in its drive for a first class service as staff seemed to clear understands of how their own roles fit with others in both the health and social care professions. Although, Role Clarity was predominant and significant, the Status caused distress within the MDT; it made some members feel their opinions are not as important as others (Robinson, et al., 2005). Furthermore, at certain points of the discussion the blurring of the boundaries of ones discipline Ward Nurse and (HFSN) (i) Doctor redirected the question about Sam to the HFSN first instead of the ward Nurse. I agree with Molyneux (2001) is a factor that may create a competitive atmosphere rather than a collaborative one. In addition to the group dynamics, the situation of Sam needing care set up also highlighted the tension between professionals and in a sense organizational aims and resources. Analysis The DoH (2000, 2006) stressed the need for team working to helping rove the quality of care to patients and encourage role development to meet the demands of IP working. (i) Registered nurse specialists are expanding their roles and skills in numerous clinical areas (DoH 1999, 2006) due to patients diversity of needs in todays society (Furlong and Smith, 2005). According to DoH (2000, 2003) and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) (2003) Heart failure care and management is one of this areas which had an increase in nurse specialists (HFNS) in a broad evaluation by Patterden, et al., (2008) which showed that HFNS reduced (i) all-cause admissions by an average of 35 per cent an average saving of  £1,826 per patient is gained after the costs of the nurse have been deducted. Furthermore, a systematic review by Holland, et al., (2005) argues that HFNS management of HF associated with (reducing readmissions, improving patients quality of life, Like Sam and reducing finan cial costs is more efficient compared with medical management. In outcome, Hewison (2004) and Abbot, et al., (2005) agreed that although the development of roles and increased flexibility is usually a benefit to many professions, it can be seen as a threat for their own interest and power status, generating a resistance to IP collaborations. Moreover according to Molyneux (2001) a tribalism sense. This is normally the professional at the top of the hierarchy (i) as when the doctor was resistant to move the EED. Furthermore, as far back as 1998 when (DoH, 1998) was published, Stapleton (1998) suggested that Collaborative working emphasis that demarcations and hierarchical relations between professions are neither sustainable nor appropriate. Although, in Sams MDT it was apparent in agreement with Hean (2006) my preliminary feelings of hierarchy are common and traditionally hierarchies place more power to the medical profession. The tension seemed in a way to be overcome through the structured but open discussion regarding Sams needs which according to Freeth (2001) open discussion helps develop the team and recognise the benefits and the diversity and development of skills. Martin and Roger (2004) highlight that it is important to premise a clear understanding and appreciation not just for the roles but also for the pressures of other professionals (i) performance targets to meet. The Qualitative methodology questionnaire led interviews and focus group (18 cases studiers across Europe) by Coxon (2005) suggestion that IP working promotes job satisfaction, improved team working, good communication and enhance co-operation with other agencies, and identifies IP difficulties to be due to organizational boundaries and financial limits. Additionally, Hubbard and Themessi-Huber (2005) used the same method as Coxon (2005) although he identified that a main difficulty to IP is managers focusing on policies and changes of services: arranging MDT meeting whilst front line staff, as ward nurses need to adapt to practicalities of the IP. Atwal, and Caldwell (2006) argues the importance of staff ratios as a barrier to nurses developing IP practices, furthermore a study carried by both with nineteen nurses in acute health care ward, it is spotted that in MDT meetings not all the professionals involved in the care of a patient are invited and that nurses did not regularly att end the meetings due to staff ratios. Another conclusion of this study is that nurses not always express their opinion for fear of being made a scapegoat, the result from the research show as well, that consultants and medical staff usually speak first and with more confidence on all issues. In divergence, Barrett and Keeping (2005) argues that collaborative working should minimise staff pressures from a ward level to community (primary and secondary setting) but research done within this Era of IPW still shows that at a nursing level in a 2005 survey by RCN (2006) found that 49% of nurses left the NHS due to stress/workload problems. Horder (2004) and Pullon and Fry (2005) goes further to suggest to overcome the work pressure, shared decision making is the ultimate hallmark of partnership and this requires distribution of power or the empowerment of all involved within the multidisciplinary professionals in a manner that would equalize the hierarchy through (i) through IPE. It is essential that health and social care professionals realise the important of IPW as it has now been recognised that a single profession can no longer deliver the complex patient care that is demanded nowadays, a holistic approach is required (CAIPE, 2007). Rattay and Mehanna, (2008) suggest in summary that structured MDT meeting provides the discharge process with a structure that is organised professionally and timely, allowing patients to return home earlier safely, consequently reducing the NHS cost, minimising the risk of hospital acquired infections, promoting independence and enabling patients to return back to their homes and community, like Sam. Lack of co-operation between agencies has led to a failure of service (Glasby, et al., 2004). Communication within the team is also an important issue to good collaborative working, developing ways to communicate and to work together is the key for successful IP working (Abbott, et al., 2005). The NMC (2004) advises that at the point of registration students should have the necessary skills to communicate effectively with colleagues and other departments to improve patient care. Cook, et al., (2004) identify that communication and decision making are very important for teams. Larking and Callaghan (2005) argue that teams who do not regularly hold meetings for policy making and resolutions of differences, should not be considered a team, these findings are also emphasized by Molyneux (2001) who states that communication is supported with weekly MDT meetings in order to evaluate and plan patient centred care delivery. Conclusion This reflective commentary allows me to connect policies, NMC requirements, theory and practice. It provided me with the assurance that the dimensions of IPW is complex but possible in practice IPE exists. It highlighted that different professionals have to deal with their own perceptions and adapt to changes. There is no doubt that IPW promotes a better and more holistic care and the documentation in place promotes further patient-centered care. The MDT gave me the opportunity to work closely with other professionals and understanding further their roles. This will help me to effectively work together in the future. Action Plan I will allocate the Action Plans in my professional portfolio to demonstrate achievement in clinical practice linked with theoretical knowledge. All my Action Plan are made SMART Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time (Drew and Bingham, 2004) 1. Inter-Professional To develop an awareness of the roles and services provided in the inter-professional team and identify examples of how this is appropriate in delivering appropriate patient/client focused care. 2. Enhance my knowledge about decision-making processes within care management 3. Continue to reflect in and on Practice therefore to participate in further process of reflection to establish my own learning needs (Appendix 4).

To Build a Personal Computer or Buy a Personal Computer? :: Description Compare Contrast Computers Essays

To Build a Personal Computer or Buy a Personal Computer? Abstract   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This report is going to describe the pros and cons of building a personal computer (PC) and of purchasing a prefabricated one. This will help the reader to create a budget and gain more information about the computer industry. All parts, supplies, tools, and general insight will be given on the proper procedure of building a PC The report will also give generalized information on where and how to go about purchasing a PC.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Based on all of the information that was contributed in this report, it is recommended that the reader choose either example based upon His or Her skills in computer literacy. Another thing that will have to be taken into consideration is the total cost of all parts, labor and tools vs. the total cost of purchasing a PC. 1.0 Introduction The purpose of this report is to cover all of the proprieties between building and buying a PC All major components will be considered and examples will be given where applicable. 1.1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Scope This report will show all of the necessary procedures that will be required to successfully complete the task. The outcome will provide the reader with the information to at least understand the concept of the project. 1.2 Sources Most of the information in this report was gained through means of electronic data. Some other sources were instructors, magazine articles, and catalogs that were used to provide current specifications for needed components. 1.3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Definitions All terms and components that are mentioned in this report are computer-related terms. They will be outlined in the glossary at the end of the report. Any terms that can be defined will be done in footnotes or captions. 2.0 Overview The Following sub-sections will provide all of the information that pertains to building a personal computer. 2.1 Current situation The person who is interested in staying current and having the ease and convenience of a computer must know what options there are before the initial purchase of any type of unit. 2.2 Current options There are many options to choose from when seeking out a new computer. The industry and technology moves so rapidly that it is hard to find a particular model that will stay current for any given length of time. One available option is for the user to actually assemble and burn in their own computer. The advantages of this are simple. The user will be able to choose what parts will go into the computer, have the opportunity to learn how the computer works while assembling it, and they will have the satisfaction of knowing that the computer was built with their hands.

Essay --

Antigone is a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles. Antigone finds out that her brothers Polyneices and Eteocles are dead after killing each other. Antigone decides to bury Polyneices and asks her sister Ismene to help her but she refuses. The Creon, the king of Thebes, refuses to bury Polyneices because of going against the state, while his brother is to be buried in honor because he fought for his state and did what he is supposed to do. So he orders for no one to bury Polyneices. Antigone buries her brother but is caught. Creon sentences her to death for disobeying. After a while and being convinced, he decides to let her go. But before he is able to release Antigone, he finds out that she with both his son Haimon and his wife have killed themselves. A tragic hero should be someone who causes their own downfall and disgrace. By using their greatest weakness without noticing their own errors. But until the biggest catastrophe results, they recognize their wrong judging and all they h ave caused. A sympathetic character is the character that the reader can relate to and understand what they are going through. The character that the reader feels sympathy to and concerned about because they have a sad destiny. Also someone who we later tend to admire for what they have done and dealt with it. Antigone is the most sympathetic character because she cannot do anything about her suffering and what she is going through, while Creon is the tragic hero because he uses his own pride that destroys his own power and life. Creon is the tragic hero because he uses his weakness pride to be looked as a great ruler and try to ignore his wrong judgment. But this makes it worse and causes something he does not want to expect. Creon expects that no o... ...e because even if he has much power as king can have, he is insecure when it comes to choices. He does not have a side where the audience can see he cares, but instead he has self-importance and shows no pity because he is doing his own life. Antigone shows all she has got and takes risks on what she thinks is right out of love. While Creon just care for himself and actually ignores what he is doing right. Having pride as a king leads to destroying his own power. But Antigone is the sympathetic character more than Creon because her life has a fate already planned and cannot do anything about it so instead she defends her beliefs for other people and what they deserve. Creon just has pride with what he is doing to his own family and people to be seen as the best. If there is no knowledge on something done, this could result on causing one’s own destruction of life.

My Personal Thoughts on God, Ethics and Knowledge

The three components that make up my Christian worldview are God, ethics, and knowledge because they have molded my thinking, life experiences, accompanied with a wealth of knowledge through education and life decisions. Experience God and doing the will God is one of those components. Because of my faith in God I have learned how to trust and depend on him unconditionally for everything. In addition; being grateful for the trials and tribulations where miracles had the opportunity to be birthed into manifestation. For example, when my mother was hospitalized and my pager went off twenty times God was warning me that trouble was ahead. I had cried for two weeks earlier before the incident and I thought I was mourning for my friends mother, who was hospitalized and in reality I was mourning my own mother’s death. One of the greatest decisions that I ever made was when I turned my life over to God and allowed his perfect will to come into my world. By doing that it gave me the chance to gain a Christian education and teachings throughout the bible. Because without those teachings and understanding it would be impossible to understand things that happen in life otherwise, but he equips you at all times. The word of God has given us the road map to ethics, and the consequences for doing the right and wrong things in life. Ethics plays a vital role in this because it is the principle of dealing with what is right or wrong, and the morals that one possess. When you obey God he blesses you; however if you disobey him he will allow a curse to come upon you. The obedience opens up doors that otherwise would have been closed. People tend to give you favor in life, and they don’t even recognize why they are doing what they are doing at the time. I call this walking in the Fog or walking in the favor of God. When God tells you to give a person something and you don’t even know why you are doing it. Like when I purchased a car to run around and do errands, but after I had done the repairs on the car God told me to give the car away. This was a car that I had paid for with cash, and God instructed me to just give it away and don’t look back. I did it because I am crazy for Jesus, and I don’t need any explanations, he is always there, just pay attention. The word of God is knowledge that can change your life as you get to know the word and doing the will of God. This knowledge is very important for your educational growth, and spiritual well being. God wants you to have a personal relationship with him, and wants us to open our hearts and converse with him. He knows your story and how it will end up, your job is to just trust and depend on your heavenly father. He will reveal himself, his purpose for your life, and instructions once you invite him into your thoughts. God says to have faith the size of a mustard seed, and faith without works is dead. I have learned to take him at his word and life will become a dream turned into reality. Without any knowledge it is impossible to please God, and there is not anything to base your beliefs and values on in life. Which is where you knowledge comes from, and there are different types of knowledge. For example, knowledge that you acquire in a career, or the knowledge of God from spending time with him in the word. My beliefs are based on the word of God, and the way he wants me to live. Because of me paying attention to the word of God I have made better decisions in my personal, academic and business life. The Word of God is the best teaching that anyone can receive when the mind opens up to receive the directions. By allowing God, his knowledge, and teaching me how to live an ethical lifestyle my life has become very fulfilling and broader. God’s Holy Spirit is our personal teacher to educate us on how to treat people, and live a life peacefully. You know do unto others as you would have them due unto you. He also wants us to love Him and confess our sins when we have committed one. The only way to know this for one self is to open your heart and mind and invite the Holy Spirit into your temple so that one can have a life changing experience for the good. My three components that make up this Christian worldview are God, ethics and knowledge because they have molded my thinking, life experiences accompanied with a wealth of knowledge through education and life decisions.

British Enlightenment

It is the realization of major reforms in life and its beliefs occurred during the age of enlightment which was a short period in our human history when thinkers gave realistic recognition of the sad human state and condition and giving optimism to a new set of ideas. (Roy P. 35) These set of ideas question tradition the very basis of pre conceived thoughts of the past. The set of ideas also had an attitude within themselves, which did a way with beliefs and justified modernism (Roy P.  50)The British Enlightenment The British enlightenment was a movement which started about the year 1680 and it is believed to have ended in the year 1820. This was a time and age which many philosophers and thinkers thought of ways to cope with challenges faced like ignorance and superstition. (Gregory C. 114) It was characterized by much scientific and intellectual accomplishment. It was the age of great thinkers.The British enlightenment was a movement which in many ways named itself since the thi nkers and writers thought they were more enlightened than the general population at that time, since most of them were poor and lived in rural settings and thus the thinkers set out to enlighten them. (Roy P. 43) But the British enlightenment did not start from within, it was influenced by the greater Europe which had been undergoing â€Å"Enlightenment† the greatest influence on Britain was the Scottish and the French enlightenment which had started a little earlier than the British enlightenment.(Burke, P. 55) But also the British overthrowing their king earlier in the 17th century creating an opening for democracy and Protestantism started the French and the Scottish enlightenment. The British enlightenment was commonly referred to, as empiricism in Britain since the main characteristics of enlightenment namely search for knowledge and defiance of tradition were not so visible due to their social conditions. Nonetheless the things mainly targeted for change were hereditary aristocracy and religion especially Catholicism. (Gregory C.116) This period of enlightenment in Britain was characterized by rise in intellectual life, which brought improvement in Britain’s key sector of agriculture. More ways of maximizing output were realized thus reduced famine commonly experienced after every eight to nine years. The economy also advanced due to this and more people moved to urban areas in such of prosperity especially London which had close to a million people at the time. (Gregory C. 112) There were also a growing number of people who believed in science and disciplined reason.There was also a chance for common people to explore fanatism and passions, which were earlier, deprived by traditions and beliefs. Enlightenment had its benefits but had its fair share of downfalls. Due to increasing urban population, citizens drank and gambled causing a decay of morals and family values, streets were filled with prostitutes and people had lack of respect to v alues once strongly upheld. (Gregory C. 112) Thinkers like John Locke and David Hume led this revolution.They believed that humanity was deeply inclined to emotion than reason thus sparking a wave of people who believed less in magic or supernatural things but more on the power of human reasoning. Enlightenment though welcomed openly in Europe especially in England, Scotland and France had its enemies most prolific being Karl Marx the founder of maxim or better known as socialism. It also led to uprisings like the French Revolution but all these did not deter the British from being enlightened thus forming the basis of capitalism and a new era.(Gregory C. 113) Conclusion The enlightenment is mostly viewed as an anomaly in our history when people believed perfect societies would be built in a matter of reasoning, sense and tolerating each other. But these infatuations can never be realized since religion is a key mover in modern society and still has a strong following of disciples w ho believe in supernatural beings and customary beliefs. Superstition is still a major setback in the enlightening of people.But enlightenment is still alive with us with the human rights activism and belief in pursuing your passion and fanatism without fear of authority but belief in human equality and prosperity Thus nobody is left out when fighting for there rights even in minorities like the poor or disabled. Though the brief enlightening era is long gone there are still a few enlightenment pioneers in the modern age who believe in human knowledge and prosperity without fear of authority but belief in human equality and prosperity, to this day the British still concerned with the affairs of politics and morality with intensity.(Burke, P. 66) Works Cited Burke, Peter. Popular Culture in Early Modern Europe. New York: Harper and Row, 1978. 23-67 Gregory Claeys: Utopias of the British Enlightenment, Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought: Cambridge University Press, 19 94 112-118 Roy Porter: The Creation of the Modern World: The Untold Story of the British Enlightenment: New York: Norton, 2000. 34-56

New Hire Mismanagement Essay

When accepting the position of a Campus Recruiter for ABC, Inc., there were specific tasks and expectations that go along with the job title. The specific tasks were explained however, due to the improper planning and poor execution, the individual failed to deliver what was outlined in the job title. This paper will explain the failures due to improper planning, lack of experience and poor time management skills. Furthermore, areas that will be outlined from this case study will include various detailed causes as well as; different solutions to strengthen the recruiting department and prevent any further weaknesses. Background In early April, Carl Robins, was new to the human resources department of ABC, Inc. â€Å"The Corporate Human Resources Recruiter will play a critical role in ensuring we are hiring the best possible talent† (Nourse, 2013). Mr. Robbins had taken on the needed task of hiring 15 individuals, which would work for the Operations Supervisor, Monica Carrolls. This recruiting position is responsible for selecting proper candidates, collecting proper identification and various paperwork such as; a resume, application, transcripts and payroll processing information. A background check, drug screen and a new hire physical must also be performed prior to anyone starting. In addition to the proper processing of the new hires, Mr. Robbins also is responsible for scheduling the new hire orientation and providing the proper materials such as; the manuals, policy booklets and training guides. In this case, Mr. Robbins had already advised the new hires of the required orientation on June 15th. The lack of experience and follow through, along with procrastination was a large factor in completing the tasks set forth for the recruiting position. Mr. Robbins was feeling overwhelmed and began to panic, due to the realization that the needed workforce would not be ready for Monica Carroll, as he previously assured. The failures will effect several people and cause the operations department to not have the new additions to their team and be ready to move forward. Key Problems There are numerous key problems with this case. Mr. Robins’s lack of experience as well as, poor communication and planning from the beginning, caused the situation to spiral, making the end result in complete failure. An incompetent and poorly functioning human resources department reflects the overall state of affairs of an organization and its possible uncompetitive position in the marketplace (Dutta, 2013). Carl Robbins started the hiring process accurately. He successfully hired 15 individuals however, without creating a new hire protocol, several items were missed. Furthermore, Mr. Robins seemed to be completely focused on the fact that he was able to fill the needed positions and impressing the operations supervisor, he failed to follow through from the beginning. The inexperience may also be a factor however, he was hired as a recruiter and gained six months of experience therefore, Mr. Robins knew what was expected of him. Procrastination plays a large role in the end result, as well. Carl did not immediately check with the training facility, even after receiving the call from Monica Carrolls. He waited more than 10 days to look at the training facility availability. Procrastination, weather it was due to lack of experience or being overwhelmed, does not matter in this case. The consequence remained the same, failure to complete the tasks by the needed time. In most cases, time management and procrastination go hand in hand however, Carl did not look at the specific tasks nor did he allot the appropriate time to get the job done by the specified time. Failure to either create a hiring protocol or follow the steps that should have been learned during his first six months of employment, adds additional issues of concern. Being that this was Mr. Robins first recruiting effort, he failed to discuss, clarify or even have the steps that he had already taken reviewed with a fellow recruiting teammate to assure both himself and the recruiting department that the new hires will indeed be ready to start their positions in July. Many of the issues could have been avoided simply by doing research or asking for help. Developing a sufficient protocol or schedule is key however, it is imperative that the proper research on wait times for drug screens, background checks and pre-employment physicals is done so scheduling will go smoothly. It is critical to ensure that you have the proper tools and information to complete the required tasks. Just like any position or task assigned, organization is critical. Carl was moving forward without knowing exactly how the pieces of the puzzle were to be put together. The recruiter did not utilize the appropriate tools such as, database, spreadsheets or check lists to ensure proper completion of the hiring process. Moreover, the recruiter did not set completion goals for each step to aid in this completion. Therefore, Carl did not see that there were numerous critical issues in the hiring process, which will not only affect the new hires, but will also cause delays for Monica Carroll and the operations department. Alternatives There are several alternatives that may strengthen the human recourses (HR) department in the future however, will not fix the current issue at hand. Implementing a new hire protocol that clearly defines each step of the process. Utilizing tools such as, specialized software that can be directly accessed from the outsourced screening companies to deliver new hire physical information, drug screening and background check results. This will allow the recruiter to access the file and make sure that the candidate is ready to begin work or notify when there is an issue with that specific candidate. Another alternative would be to hire an assistant recruiter or administrative assistant to process paperwork as well as, scheduling training rooms and ordering new hire training manuals, etc. Other options to consider would be to outsource the entire hiring process by using an outside recruiting company or using an agency to employ all the individuals that work for ABC Inc. A recruiting company would minimize and allow the human resources department to simplify duties such as, conducting final interviews of the candidates that have been previously screened by the recruiting company. Complete outsourcing of all personnel or employee leasing is costly however, it is another way to prevent cases like Carl Robbins, who failed to represent the company’s professionalism, screen the new hires and organize a new hire schedule. Employee leasing will remove all responsibilities of the employer including, candidate screening, payroll and benefits which would replace both the HR and payro ll departments. Unfortunately, in doing this ABC, Inc. would no longer be eligible for the tax credits that are given when a company hires welfare to work or Veterans. Another downfall would be losing the ability to solve an employment issue in-house. Proposed Solutions There are several proposed solutions mentioned in this case study. The most economic and immediate realistic solution would be to implement an outlined human resources protocol which would include, step by step policies and procedures to successfully start a new hire, creating a spreadsheet or a checklist to prevent critical errors and ensure that each steps are followed as well as, having detailed contact information for each company that is outsourced such as; drug testing and pre-employment physicals and background checks. An important part of the protocol would be to have a new hire orientation packet saved on file so, when the need arises or the inventory gets low, the recruiter can order copies to be made in a timely fashion. The remaining solution that would be outlined in the protocol would be to have the recruiter notate each completed or received paperwork on the checklist to ensure all the necessary paperwork and outsourced results are received. This outlined human resourc es guide and organizational tool would guide the recruiter into making sure all procedures and requirements are met. Recommendations Implementing the protocols would be crucial to the success of the human resources department. A recruiter is just like a salesperson, this is where the first impression is made. If implemented correctly, this will assure hiring the right individuals, which in return will allow ABC, Inc., reach its fullest potential. In this case study, Carol Robbins was not organized. There were no protocols in place to prevent these errors. Furthermore, there was not any direct supervision. It is recommended that the manager of human resources, review the hiring process directly with Mr. Robbins and make clear written expectations on the job requirements. It is further recommended that a clear, step by step protocol be put into place preventing these issues from arising again. Lastly, it is critical for the Manager of Human Resources to review all files before the file is completed and the new hire is scheduled for training. This shall continue until Mr. Robbins clearly understands the policies and procedures.

A Study of the Speaking Ability of Second-Year Students

Speaking is one of the language skills which are important for second language learners to be developed. Capability to speak English is the priority for many scandalmonger or foreign language learners. Therefore, this research was aimed at knowing the speaking ability of the second year students of SAM N 2 Sick Hull.The students may tell their experience after preparation before performing in front of the lass. This is the important part in developing their memory to make a well-arranged story. Their speaking will be analyzed through five components: pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. This research needs three raters in order to avoid subjectivity in evaluating the test. Keyword :Descriptive Research, Speaking ability, telling experience INTRODUCTION Speaking is a productive skill with which people produce words or send a message orally. This skill is closely bound up with the listening.Harmer (2001) states that in many situations productive skill is comb ined with the practice of receptive skills. The communication between two or more people is a blend of listening and speaking where the comprehension of what has been said is necessary for what the participant says next. Productive skills include speaking and writing, two critical components of the complex process of communication. There are countless reasons for communication between individuals: they have something they wish to express, there is something they wish to learn, and the list goes on and on.Speaking requires a greater degree of fluency and thinking â€Å"on the spot†, and requires practice and exposure to the language over time. While productive skills are the skills that involve the process of language production either in oral or written forms. Speaking as one of the productive skills should be learned by the students in order to carry out a communication with other people easily. Speaking plays an important role in social communication. Perhaps, this is becau se we can deliver our ideas and information to other people with oral communication.According to Martin Begat (1987) People speak to make interactions with other people, we often need confidence to speak in order to carry out many of our basic interactions. Consequently, improving your English speaking skills will help you communicate more easily and effectively. Furthermore, speaking is good for motivating the students to learn the language in their school. Speaking is designed to enable the students to communicate and interact to other people in order to gain and enrich their knowledge. Essentially, the goal of language learning is to enable the students to communicate in the language.Therefore, the main purpose of learning is aimed at increasing the students' skills in communicating English well. Definition of immunization mentioned is to understand and express information, mind, feelings and develop science, technology, and culture by using the English language (Depending, 2003) . English achievement in the future expected by learning English can develop their knowledge to all people in the world. Harris (1969) stated that speaking ability has five components which are generally recognized in analyzing speaking.They are as follows: a. Pronunciation includes the segmental features of vowels, consonants, stress, and intonation patterns. B. Grammar correct use of language with respect to word form and word order at the sentence level . Vocabulary is one of words include in language, have many words that must mastery to make the acquisition of an adequate vocabulary as essential for successful second language use. D. Fluency is probably best achieved by allowing the air stream of speech to flow then as some of this speech spill over beyond comprehensibility. E.Comprehension in brief speaking requires that not only knowing how to produce it well but also understanding when, what, and why to produce the language. The ability to speak cannot be separated from thes e five components. A good speaker will deliver the topic to make listener understand it easily. In some cases, students get problems in speaking. It is the fact that to be a good speaker or able to speak becomes a problem for most of students. Teachers always give lessons Just with old teaching techniques without give the students' chances to speak or deliver their ideas; students might be shy to make mistakes in speaking.In fact, students are not interested in studying more about English because of lack of motivation in classroom learning, students only receives materials, write, and follow all the teachers command. According to Joanna Baker and Heather Western (2003), there are many reasons why dents may find learning and using English difficult such as cultural differences, personal differences, and lack of confidence, no time for speaking when studying for examinations, preparation for speaking, and interest in topic.This can lead to real barriers to communication, and can contr ibute to poor motivation in learning. Whereas, we know that the purpose of learning English especially in speaking is to enable the students to use English well both accurately and fluently. In a language lesson, students need to spend time on becoming more accurate. But they also need o practice using the language fluently. 2 METHODOLOGY The population of this research is the second year students of SAM N 2 SICK HULL academic year of 2012-2013.The number of the students is 315. Because the population is large enough, it is necessary to have sample. According to Gay (2004), sampling is the process of selecting number of individuals for a study that represented the larger group from which they were selected. There are several appropriate techniques for selecting a sample which is suitable in certain situations. In this research, the writer use cluster random sampling technique. Cluster random sampling is sampling in which groups, not individuals, are randomly selected.The reason for choosing this technique is less time and easier to obtain permission to use all the students in certain class than several students in many classes. So, the writer takes only one class out of 9 classes as the sample of this research. There are 35 students who took the speaking test. The process of choosing the class is by using lottery. In this case, the writer uses the research instrument of speech in telling experience (recounting events) to collect the data. Each student will speak about their experience in front of the class one by one as a performance test.In order to get the data needed for this research, the writer had administered a test. The test was conducted to know the students' ability in speaking. Three raters checked the result by listening to the students' recorded speech and checking the pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension aspects. The raters give scores for each student. Finally, the scores of the raters are totaled and then divided by th ree. In scoring the students speaking ability, the writer uses the scoring which found in Harris (1974). All the aspects of speaking is divided by 5.Analyzing the students' speaking ability can be done as follows: 5 In order to know the level of ability of the students' speaking ability can be classified as follows: Test Score Level of Ability 81-100 Excellent 61-80 41-60 Mediocre 21-40 Poor 0-20 Very Poor Harms (1986) 3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION There are 35 students who took the speaking test. The students' score has been analyzed by three raters. After calculating the real scores of the students from each rater, the writer computes the students' scores from each rater to know the regenerates of the students who get excellent, good, mediocre, poor, and very poor level in speaking.The result of it can be seen as in the following table: Table 1 . The Percentages of the Students' Ability According to the Three Raters No 2 4 Score Range 81 -100 61 -80 41 60 21 -40 Total Frequency 9 17 35 Percentage 0. 00% 25. 71% 48. 57% 100% From table 1, the result of the test is mediocre. It is calculated by combining the students' scores from each rater and it divided by three. It shows that none of the students is in excellent level, 9 (25. 71%) students are in good level, 17 (48. 57%) dents are in mediocre level, then 9 (25. 1 are in poor level, at last, there is none of the student who got very poor level. By this, the writer concluded that this speaking test is not difficult for the students. After getting the score of the students from the raters, the writer classified the students' scores based on each component of speaking as shown in the following table: Table the Students' Average Scores for Each Aspect of Speaking According to The Three Raters Rater 1 The Aspects of Speaking Pronunciation Grammar Fluency Vocabulary Comprehension Rater 2 x 89 79 102 2. 26 2. 54 2. 57 2. 91 72 78 7 107 Rater 3 2. 06 2. 3 2. 49 3. 06 85 91 101 2. 29 2. 43 2. 60 2. 89 The Average Scores of Three Raters 44. 0 48. 0 47. 4 49. 0 59. 0 49. 5 Table 2 shows that the students' average scores for each aspects of speaking according to the three raters. The average scores of Pronunciation aspect is 44. 0. It means that 4 the most difficult aspect in speaking is pronunciation. Few students can say the words correctly and some of them frequently use wrong words. It can be shown in the following table: Table 3. The Percentages of the Students' Pronunciation Score Range Level of Ability Frequency 15 42. 86% 12 34. 29%