Differences Between the Genders in Leadership Ability or Approach? Essay

To start, when people compare various successful leaders such as Donald Trump, John Rockefeller, or Henry Ford, they always use words to describe their personalities such as being tough, diligent, competitive and ambitious. A person’s personality is a set of unseen characteristics and processes that underlie a relatively stable pattern of behavior in response to ideas, objects or people in the environment. (Daft, 2011) These personality traits define the leader and we all know people differ in many ways leading to various styles of leadership. Differences in personality, attitudes, values and beliefs will influence how people interpret an assignment or a task. Leadership effectiveness is broadly based on the leaders’ personalities and attitudes while also how effectively they interpret differences amongst employees. All of these factors affect the leader-follower interaction but will genders in leadership affect the overall leadership ability or approach? I believe that there are differences in genders in leadership abilities and approaches. If leadership is based on personalities and attitudes, I strongly believe that there are differences in leadership abilities and approaches when considering male and female roles. When considering the traits of males compared to females as leaders, men traditionally are more aggressive and assertive than women. Males tend to be subjective to competing, while in general women prefer a far less competitive environment than men. Those traits can essentially lead to various different perspectives on leadership approaches in respect to gender. Male leaders tend to be more individualistic and prefer working in vertical hierarchies relying on formal authorities and positions in their dealings with subordinates. Female leaders tend to be more collaborative, and are more concerned for relationship building, inclusiveness, participation, and caring. (Daft, 2011) So generally the differences in male traits compared to female traits will cause different approaches towards leadership styles. Gender will also affect abilities based on assumptions about the male and female traits. Research comparing leadership styles of women and men have been reviewed and there was evidence found for both presence and the absence of differences between the sexes. Stereotypical expectations that women lead in an interpersonal oriented style and men lead in a task-oriented style, was found to be false. They found results that female and male leaders do not have differences in these two styles of organizational studies. However in the research that assessed the leadership styles was consistent with the stereotypic expectations about different aspects of leadership styles. In the tendency to lead democratically or autocratically women tended to adopt a more democratic or participative approach and a less autocratic or directive approach than did men. (Eagly & Johnson, 1990) These findings can represent and can be interpreted in terms of a social role theory of sex differences. These stereotypes reveal that men are relatively dominant and controlling. There is a masculine mode of management characterized by qualities such as competitiveness, hierarchical authority, high control for the leader, and unemotional and analytic problem solving. (Loden, 1985) He also argued that women prefer and tend to behave in terms of an alternative feminine leadership model. This model is characterized by cooperativeness, collaboration of managers and subordinates, lower control for the leader, and problem solving based on intuition and empathy as well as rationality. He based his findings around the idea that women and men, including those who are managers in organizations, behave stereotypically to some extent. I would have to agree with this belief because men and women clearly act differently and the way they act will mirror the way they lead. There have been large numbers of laboratory and field studies performed by social psychologists based around female and male behav iors. Quantitative reviews of this research have established the presence rather than the absence of overall sex differences. (Hall, 1984) They also concluded that these differences, although not that large, tend to be compatible to most other findings. There have also been findings that the level of power will directly affect the type of leadership one will show. There are reasonable assumptions that suggest that male and female leaders who occupy the same organizational role should differ very little. They assume that managers of both sexes are more concerned with managing effectively rather than about representing sex-differentiated features of social gender roles. Kanter argued that there are apparent sex differences when there is a product of the differing structural positions of the sexes within the organization. (Eagly & Johnson, 1990) Because women are more often in positions of little power or opportunity, they will behave in ways that reflect their lack of power. Eagly and Johnson concluded that a mete-analysis could provide more insight on leadership styles of males and females. The overall trends showed that women were more concerned with maintenance of interpersonal relationships and task accomplishment. The main difference found was that women tended to adopt a more autocratic or participative style while men the opposite. They tried to make distinctions about the differences in that first, women who have managed to succeed as leaders might have more highly developed interpersonal skills. Another explanation is that women are not accepted as readily as men as leaders and, as a result, have to allow input into their decision-making. Eagly and Johnson’s results are corroborated by other research. Statham also found evidence of two sex-differentiated management styles. He reported that women used a more task-engrossed and person-invested style, while men use a more image-engrossed and autonomy-invested style. (Moran, 1992) In a study focused on gender differences in communication introduces a possible explanation of different approaches. Tannen, the researcher, focused on how men and women had different experiences while growing up which lead to valuing different things. He concluded that men are taught to prize status, independence, and the power of community. All of these values lead men and women to behave in different ways. The field of gender differences in leadership styles is still and area with great questions with out answers. Even with various studies devoted to the topic of gender, there will always be unanswered questions. More and more researchers continue to examine issues regarding any innate differences between leadership styles of males and females. Currently, with the evidence provided, suggests that there are differences in gender leadership abilities and approaches. Although there are minimal differences, there are differences in males and females perspectives on leadership. We can recognize that there are different leaders with different leadership styles, but we cant automatically associate one style to a particular gender. Men and women alike will be faced with challenges and will need to develop the correct leadership styles to become a successful leader. References Daft, R. (2011). The leadership experience. (5e ed., pp. 99-125, 341-344). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Eagly , Alice H. and Johnson, Blair T., â€Å"Gender and Leadership Style: A Meta-Analysis† (1990).CHIP Documents. Paper 11. http://digitalcommons.uconn.edu/chip_docs/11 Eagly, A. H., & Johndon, B. T. (1990) Gender and leadership style. Psychological Bulletin 108 (2), 233-256 Eagly, A. H., & Wood, W. (in press). Explaining sex differences in social behavior: A recta-analytic perspective. Personality and Social Psy-chology Bulletin. Hall, J. A. (1984). Nonverbal sex differences: Communication accuracy and expressive style. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Loden, M. (1985). Feminine leadership or how to succeed in business without being one of the boys. New York: Times Books. Mandell, B., & Pherwani, S. (2003). Relationship between emotional intelligence and transformational leadership style: A gender comparison . Springer, Journal of Business and Psychology, 17(3), 387-404.

David Hocking’s book The Nature of God in Plain Language Essay

It has to be said that the concept of trust has taken quite a hammering in society in the past twenty years.   During this time we have seen a host of previously considered â€Å"credible† people such as politicians, priests, childcare workers, teachers, babysitters and more exposed in the media as liars, cheats and criminals so is it any wonder that we might have trouble believing in an entity that has never actually been seen by anyone – someone like God for example.   David Hocking examines this issue of trust in relation to faith in his book The Nature of God in Plain Language.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the key factors illustrated in Hocking’s book is the fact that the Bible clearly states that God made man â€Å"in his own image†, so therefore God should be viewed as we might view other people around us, or perhaps more specifically in the way we view ourselves.  Ã‚   Hocking makes it clear that God is not some form of â€Å"force† but that instead he can be viewed to be a person like us, and therefore if we want to learn more about God then we can learn about him through looking at ourselves.   Hocking writes, â€Å"He possesses life, self-consciousness, freedom, purpose, intelligence and emotion† (65). One of the problems that stems from this viewpoint is that many people walk around with a very low opinion of themselves so it might be difficult to understand that while God is not ‘better’ than us, and therefore be considered as some paragon of perfection, he is an image of the very â€Å"best† that we could be to ourselves, for ourselves and to others. Hocking reinforces the fact about being a â€Å"friend of God† and points to the example of Abraham in the Old Testament who is cited as being a person who did look upon God, and did consider God to be his friend. We are not capable of being friends with a force, or source of higher power, which is why it is important for non-believers to understand that God does have elements of humanity, which we as humans share.   But the distance that is often perceived between God and man does help perpetuate the elements of mistrust about God as a creator of life, God as a loving father and God as the keeper of all men, especially if our own experience with trusting other human individuals has left us so cynical or jaded about the good in mankind Hocking believes that our growing cynicism is why trust is such an important concept when discussing a relationship with God. We should be able to trust our friends, our partners, and our family and this same trust needs to be found in God if he is to provide a positive influence in our own lives. Hocking illustrates the common problem we have as trusting individual’s when he explains about a woman that had been abused and let down continually by the significant people in her life including her parents that placed her in an institution, to friends and significant others she met throughout her life.   If she had been let down by so many people in her life it would be virtually impossible for her to consider that an unseen and unknown friend like God could care for a person he had never physically met, at least in her eyes, and is apparently unknown to her. Hocking believes this lack of trust can be overcome through three main factors that should be indicators of a whether or not a person might be trustworthy.   These three elements, telling the truth, doing what is right and fair, and being reliable, should provide the standards we measure the trustworthy nature of our friends and family, and Hocking explains how these same three factors can influence the level of trust we might have in God. The Bible illustrates countless examples of where God has proven himself in terms of these three measures of trustworthiness.   Hocking describes God as being â€Å"morally pure† and therefore it would be impossible for God to lie, to be unfair or be someone that could not be depended on.   Hocking refers to the Old Testament that showed how the people of Israel came to trust in God as they walked through the desert, and the New Testament that supported the fact that God could be counted on as a faithful being and one who is always with us.   If these ideas can be understood by an individual then with the passage of time it would be possible for all of us to trust in the one being that will never let us down. Hocking’s viewpoint on God being an accessible, trustworthy and righteous being, who can have influence on an individual in modern life is not a new concept, but understanding the importance of understanding ourselves so that we may understand God more clearly is not a common idea.   Many religious based Churches strive to create a distance between God and man and use concepts such as man’s inclination to sin on earth and generally be considered unworthy in God’s eyes as a way to maintain that distance. The fact that this distance between God and ourselves only serves the purpose of the Church as a governing body, rather than the individual is often overlooked by many theologians, but Hocking, despite his own religious affiliations, seeks to strip away the negative perceptions that the Church has upheld about man and God throughout the ages and instead paves the way for a life that can be had by any individual who could understand that God can be a friend in every sense of the word. The one stumbling block to this level of understanding is the level of mistrust that is perpetuated in modern society between individuals and groups.   The central premise of Hocking’s book is that to know God we have to know ourselves; to understand God we have to understand ourselves as individuals and to trust in God, we need to trust in others and ourselves.   Stripped of religious hype and forewarnings of doom and gloom that is often manifested by Church groups worldwide, Hocking’s book shows us that it is possible to have a relationship with our Lord, and that this relationship can be based on trust, regardless of the actions of others in our lives. Works Cited Hocking, David.   The Nature of God in Plain Language, Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1984

Ielts Sample Writing Essay

The amount of sport shown on television every week has increased significantly and this is having an impact on live sports events. Do you think the benefits of having more televised sport are greater than the disadvantages? Sample answer It is now possible to watch live sport on television on any day of the week, and the current amount of coverage will undoubtedly increase in the near future. This is definitely affecting the live sports themselves at some ways, and there are both benefits and drawbacks to this. Why there has been so much sport broadcast? For one thing, with the development of digital broadcasting, there are more TV channels than there were a decade ago. For another thing, sport has become an important form of entertainment, appealing to both men and women. What are the benefits of the increasing televised sport programs? For the sport profession, it is advantageous to have the injection of capital provided by television companies. Large football clubs also benefit financially from TV revenue and the top players can ask for large salaries. Less popular sports also receive money that can be invested in training and awareness-raising. Moreover, there is a health benefit to some of the population, because through televised sport, more people have become interested in actually playing sport. However, there are certain disadvantages to having so much sport on television. Considering football again, many small clubs are suffering financial losses recently, as they cannot compete with the larger ones. There has been a general decline in ticket sales, especially among smaller clubs. Fewer people attend live matches at stadiums nowadays, preferring to watch the live broadcast at their comfort living rooms. What is more, ticket prices have risen dramatically. To sum up, while televised sport has created many opportunities and benefited certain individuals and clubs enormously, it has also been responsible for changing the nature of live events for ever.

Use of solarpanel on vehicles Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Use of solarpanel on vehicles - Research Paper Example Solar powered cars are classified as electric vehicles whose energy source is derived from solar panels. Panels produce electricity through the conversion of rays from the sun into electric energy that is later stored in batteries. The energy that is stored in the batteries runs the car. Solar energy cars are same as other everyday vehicles since they have the features of a car. They consist of wheels, a steering wheel, a motor, seats, breaks, a body and more important some form of fuel to make them operate. The only difference in solar powered cars is the kind of fuel that makes them operate. These vehicles are called solar cars because they use sunlight fuel for running. Whitwam (2014) observes that the development of solar powered cars began twenty years ago. These cars are powered by the sun. Though currently solar powered cars do not offer a practical solution to economic transportation, they are likely to play an imperative role in decreasing dependence on burning fossil fuels like diesel and petrol. Solar powered cars are expensive to make and in most cases they are designed to accommodate up to two people. They are costly to make due to the big number of delicate and expensive photovoltaic solar panels which are required to power the car. Though most solar powered vehicles have a battery backup, they can only be used effectively under the sun. Batteries store electricity when the sun is available and stored power can then be used when the sky is cloudy. Batteries used in solar cars are normally Nickel-Cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, Lithium polymer batteries or Lithium ion batteries. Cars powered by solar energy usually function in a range of between 80 and 170 volts. Wheels of solar energy cars are extremely narrow and in most cases are normally three in number. The wheels are narrow and few to minimize friction. Solar cars are usually packed in the sun when standing

History of group therapy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

History of group therapy - Research Paper Example Individuals in the group therapy have the advantage of using both the therapist as well as the other member of the group to share the problems that one has and attempts to find a solution to them. This is particularly because the members in each group are at different levels of coping with the situational difficulties and are doing so at different rates as well. When an individual observes how the others in the group cope with sufferings that they undergo, they gain hope and inspiration of enduring and overcoming the hardships. The use of group therapy emerged because of a feeling by several psychologists that many problems that individual faced in their daily undertakings were social in nature. Patients suffering from a similar disease were encouraged to group together to provide each other with mutual support. Such groups developed into social work groups at different social centers. These would later develop into the present support group by different development agencies. Managin g post-traumatic stress disorders Human beings have a unique nature when it comes to handling personal issues. One common scenario that is witnessed in any emerging therapy group is that every new member feels isolated and completely different from the others in the group. These beginners have a problem in developing good relations with the others in the group and that spirit of love is completely withdrawn from them. However, if the group therapy is effectively carried out, such emotions can be completely drained from the minds of these individuals. An effective group therapy will enable these individuals to understand that they are not very different from the others and that they are not actually desperate and lonely, as they believe. The abuses to which females are subjected during their childhood and at adult age do have along-term impact on their psychosocial development. Those who have had childhood sexual abuse and adult sexual assault often exhibit different kinds of psychia tric problems that are believed to be associated to these assaults. Posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) refer to the overall effect of both childhood and adult sexual distress that are believed to cause the psychiatric problems seen in such females. The situation results in poor regulation, attention, relations with others, as well as how one understands oneself. The condition is hard to manage owing to its complexity and the long period before a treatment is provided after the sexual abuse. It is because of the complexity in the kind of healthcare that these individuals need that use of group therapy ha been adopted. However, some clinicians propose that the group therapy be conducted only after an individual therapy. Armstrong and Rose (1997) carried out an investigation on how group psychotherapy could be effective in managing the posttraumatic disorders that affect members of a family (p1). They observed that therapy enables women to perceive their roles in the societal contex t. It was also observed that the females that were adopting the so-called feminist principles carried on well with their marital partners. It enabled them to remove the traditional perception on their roles in the society thereby promoting an unrestricted relationship (Armstrong & Rose 1997, p5). Group therapy involves the provision of

Case analysis Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Analysis - Case Study Example He speaks in a stream of words that refer to the world and how â€Å"screw up it is†, when he reflects back on the traumatic experience he underwent. Signs of PTSD can be activated by sounds, memories, and dreams linked to the past trauma (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). In addition, seeing the objects or the people who may have taken some part in the trauma may trigger the symptoms of PTSD. He desperately wants to call his sister because he feels that she could be a source of solace when he is in problems. Jack exhibits post-traumatic stress symptoms, which are classified into three DSM IV categories. First is the persistent re-experiencing of the incident, which is also referred to as the intrusive signs. In this category, the victim could be experiencing vivid recollections, nightmares and a feeling of re-living the incident. Second is the persistent evasion of any stimuli, which might remind them of the traumatic condition. Finally, is a state where the victim experiences hyperaousal condition that causes hepervigilance, sleep interruption, and startle reflexes (Yehuda et al. 2002). The consequence of all these behaviors is some level of mental distortion, which prevents the victims from taking part in their daily activities. Other signs include bad temper, emotional liability, agitation, and sometimes eruption of violent behavior. If Jack is not treated on time, he may result to substance abuse in an attempt to seek self medication. Depending on the duration that Jack has suffered from this disorder since he experienced the traumatic event, the disorder can be categorized based on the DSM IV 4 including acute stress reaction, acute PTSD, chronic PTSD and delayed onset of PTSD. A multiaxial Diagnostic System commonly denoted as DSM-IV-TR uses diagnostic system with 5 levels used in the classification of disorders and illnesses. These five levels assist whoever is providing a

Assessment of the Current Economic Condition in the USA Research Paper

Assessment of the Current Economic Condition in the USA - Research Paper Example During the last two years employment level in the country continuously declined and as such the pace of economic growth has slowed down. As such the overall role of FED becomes relatively more critical because of the monetary policy regulator of the country. A critical assessment of the overall economic situation of the country is therefore of critical importance as it will allow a better policy formulation as well as provide a broader understanding of how the different variables are acting together to create this sort of economic crisis. The basic purpose of this report is to assess the overall economic conditions of the country, an assessment of the steps undertaken by FED so far and to produce set of policy recommendations which may be considered by FOMC in its next meeting. In order to discuss and assess the current status of the economy, it is important that the background information must also be provided in order to assess the core issues faced currently faced by the US economy. During 2008, the Bureau of Economic Research publically announced that the US economy is in a deep recession. This announcement was just a mere acknowledgment of the fact that the country’s economy was already under a threat from going into the recession and probably depression also. If one attempts to trace the origins of the current economic crisis, it will emerge that the situation started to get worse when the financial sector as a whole was gradually de-regulated by the authorities. The de-regulation of the financial sector allowed banks and other financial institutions to engage in the practices which were relatively risky for the long-term survival of the firms. As such the focus was on the achievement of short-term results rather than ensuring that the long-term stability is achieved.

Essay Convsersion Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Convsersion - Essay Example ngers to know the exact location of the city buses they intend to board, using GPS network, and thus to avoid longer waiting periods in the cold and rain. Our project idea won the competition and our professor for the marketing subject even went to the extent of advising us to propose the idea to the London Transport Authority. Personally, I was in complete agreement with him. Initially all the four of us were fired up with enthusiasm but eventually my colleagues lost interest in pursuing the idea, overcome by heavy school work and imagined bureaucratic hurdles. I followed the herd, killed my own instinct and dropped the idea altogether. In hindsight, as I see the proliferation of GPS applications now, I realize how I have lost a golden opportunity in not pursuing my own instincts – a lesson well learnt from a mistake. Coming to the second episode, after completing undergraduate degree, most of my fellow students were scrambling for jobs and accepting offers that came their way. On the other hand, I was watching with interest the globalization process and the emergence of China on the world economic scene and felt that in this changed scenario, familiarity with the Mandarin language would be of immense help in the coming days. At that time, I had the option either to accept an offer from an investment bank where I had successfully completed internship earlier or to go to Beijing to learn Mandarin, following my inner convictions. I chose the later option and do not regret it. It proved as one of my best self-improvement investments, as I had to deal with Chinese clients both in my earlier stint with a New York investment bank and after joining my family business here in Singapore. Aptly enough, this response follows upon the previously related incidents and has continuity with them. Before joining my present job, I worked for four years in a couple of comfortable jobs in international banking. They had all the fun of high profile jobs – lot of travelling

Leaves of the Banyan Tree Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leaves of the Banyan Tree - Essay Example But soon after Tauilopepe is obsessed by the materialistic world and indulges in activities which do not go with his stature. He denies his own culture afterwards and gives preference to money and power. Tauilopepe uses his power in a corrupt way and in an incident described in the novel by the author Tauilopepe gives a sermon in the church in which he preaches about God, money and success. This preaching shows the negative side of Tauilopepe as even in the church he is not advocating about his religion only. Tauilopepe in the story tries to connect money and success to God religion and culture. Ans. The novel revolves around the cultures of Samoa and Papalagi. It shows a revolution in the society of Samoa culture as the new visions of Papalagi culture comes in the way. Many people in the society reject the old traditions and carry on with the new ones (i.e. Papalagi). One lead character which is Lalalogi (son of Taulipepe) also rejects his native Samoan values in preference to the Papalagi views. The novel shows that Somoan views are all about being honest and faithful to the god and people. While Papalagi culture is all about money power and success. This story is based on the times when Papalagi culture was newly introduced by the Europeans. This story shows how the new Papalagi culture crept in the Samoan society and gained popularity amongst the people.

Risk Management in Facilities Management Dissertation

Risk Management in Facilities Management - Dissertation Example In the end research ethics is given followed by the conclusion of the chapter. Background Facilities management is a field or profession that includes a number of disciplines in order to guarantee the proper functionality of the environment that is being built through incorporating a mix of people, process, place and technology (David, 2006). Facilities as the name suggests can include properties, buildings and other infrastructure. In the industry of facility management, facility is defined as a ‘built environment’ (Booty, 2009). As mentioned in the beginning, facility management’s main objective is to manage the effective and efficient operation of the said ‘built environment’ (David, 2006). In addition to this, facilities management also covers the areas of delivering services that add to the profitability and productivity of the personnel who are using any facility; reducing costs related to operational life cycle; and looking after the maintenanc e and security of facility for high efficiency in operation (David, 2006). Facility managers are the people responsible for the management of facilities. These managers can be working on business levels such as top management level where strategic planning and decision making takes place; or at managerial or operational level where technical issues are being handled (Booty, 2009). During the 1980s, the facilities management industry started to grow due to the expansion of business globally which during that era mainly included outsourcing of management and maintenance of the business facilities by enterprises (David, 2006). The effect of facilities management today not just on one country but on global basis is large because of the rapid growth and diversification in different industries (David, 2006). For instance, in Australia, the number of full-time employees amount up to 200,000 contributing to annual GDP turnover of more than AUD$20 billion making Australia as one of the large st business sectors (Booty, 2009). While the growth of facilities management industry is impressive, it is not without risk. This is where risk management comes in. Over the decade, a lot of emphasis has been given on risk management especially in the field of facilities management (Booty, 2009). It is based on two objectives: to identify risks associated with facilities management and to reduce or eliminate those risks (Booty, 2009). It is therefore important for any facility manager to implement a risk management program in the ‘built environment’ in order to save money on the costs, reduce obligations and insurance, operate a safe facility etc (David, 2006). This phenomenon has increased the importance of risk management in facilities management. Therefore, this research will explore this phenomenon in the topic of facilities risk management. Problem Statement Facilities management has become a vital factor for the effective operation of organizations in either publi c sector or private sector. This has put the role of facilities managers in high importance for the realization of organization objectives in terms of daily operating functions (Booty, 2009). Because facilities management involves the effective and efficient maintenance of operating facilities, it has given rise to many risks that are part of the daily work environment. To identify these risks and reducing them is a big challenge that facilities manage

Patties Food Ltd Essay Example for Free

Patties Food Ltd Essay A  leading manufacturer in Australia Industry: branded frozen food industry Major supplier and marketer of frozen savoury, dessert and fruit products. It has some iconic Australia brands in each of these product categories. the largest pie company in Australia Products: frozen savoury products: meat pies, sausage rolls, cheese and spinach rolls, pasties and quiches. Well-known frozen savoury brands: Herbert Adams, Four’N Twenty, Snowy River and Wedgewood. dessert products: fruit pies, waffles, crumbles and crepes. fruit products: frozen whole fruits (e. g. herries, strawberries, cranberries and raspberries) processed fruit products (e. g. fruit smoothies that are cubes of frozen concentrated fruit which can be added to milk by the consumer to create a drink). Well-known dessert and fruit product brands: Creative Gourmet, Nanna’s and Chef’s Pride. Growth History: a small cake shop in the Victorian country town of Lakes Entrance (origins back 50 years). then purchased in 1966 by the Rijs family extended into pies and bread rolls continued to grow (through acquisition product development) Subsequently refocused around frozen savoury, dessert fruit products Listed on the ASX in 2006. Stakeholders: 2 members of Rijs family involved as board members. Shareholders Customers: retailers (e. g. supermarkets) foodservice outlets (e. g. sporting venues or cafes). Not direct consumers. 2 main distribution: In-Home [retailers where products are bought for home consumption] Out-of-Home [foodservice outlets where products are bought ready for consumption]. lt; 1% sales coming from exports, despite moves to enter the US market with its Four’N Twenty products. Developed halal products in its Four’N Twenty range with the intention of growing sales in Asia. Its headquarters production facilities are in Bairnsdale, Victoria. A PFL’s strategic framework PhasesBuild the baseDevelop and growExpand and extend Outcomes†¢ Low costs †¢ High customer service levels †¢ Defend the core †¢ Category leadership†¢ New products †¢ Extra ranging †¢ Extra distribution †¢ More customers†¢ New channels †¢ New regions †¢ New categories †¢ New sub-business Executive leadership team focused effort on the ‘Build the Base’ phase of our strategic plan, relentless drive to build revenue reduce factory conversion costs Result: -improved trading Rebuilt market share in In-Home savoury category(important) Result: revenue increasing well over the category growth. Our strong relationships with the major supermarkets Result: enabled Patties’ brands to strengthen as market leaders. Strategic intent of increasing our mix of revenue towards foodservice other non-grocery channels [products sold through the Out-of-Home market]. Result: Out-of-Home revenue increased to another record level Sales management restructured with a new Head of Sales (Tim Peters ex Fonterra) joining the business. Investment in sales resources in all regions of Australia ensures we have a truly national representation. New products, across all channels Result: increased sales Exceptional technical expertise (due to well experienced Rijs Family) Result: enabled the new products to be launched with rapid entry to market New Four’N Twenty legendary Angus range developed and taken to commercialization stage during the year with the successful launch in June 2010. We expect this range to provide further growth in the near term. Increased marketing for the premium range of Herbert Adams savoury products. significant lift in sales in both In-Home and Out-of-Home channels achieved from the new TV commercial and consumer promotion celebrating Herbert Adams 100 years. Four’N Twenty brand increased exposure with the sponsorship of the AFL [national league] All Australian Football team. This initiative, and the successful tendering of a number of additional stadium supply rights, provided good growth in our core pie range and confirmed Four’N Twenty’s close connection with football in Australia. Patties Foods now has exclusive supply rights at most football stadia in Australia. Desserts business continues to grow with Nanna’s and Creative Gourmet brands retaining market leadership. lowered cost base and ensured the Creative Gourmet business can remain competitive in a very competitive market. (closed and relocated the frozen fruit packing operation from Silverwater NSW to Bairnsdale [in Victoria] in Feb. ) Manufacturing efficiencies are a critical driver of profitability. increased the economies of scale from the investment in production capacity during the year, further developed our team based continuous improvement projects. Thus conversion costs continued to improve A critical factor in our short and long term strategic plans: to maintain and build the high performance culture of the company. Introduced a comprehensive incentive scheme across the business this year. 340 people received monetary incentives based on specific targeted key performance indicators across the business. Balance sheet has been strengthened by the strong cash flow from both the improved trading and focused working capital management. This provides an excellent foundation for growth. Recent developments Patties Foods wins Reliance contract for BP sites won a $4. m+ contract to supply its products to the 200 BP branded sites in the Reliance Petroleum Group. The convenience stores will stock exclusively Four’N Twenty and Herbert Adams products. In announcing the contract, Reliance commented, ‘Patties have proven they are best positioned to build our Pie Sausage Roll business through strong marketing activity, excellent cost price and most importantly, a good pie! ’ Patties Foods Head of Sales, Tim Peters, says the contract win confirms Patties Foods’ market leadership in the Petrol and Convenience Channel. Creative Gourmet targets ‘Smoothie’ market Creative Gourmet’s innovative new range of Smoothie CubesTM proving a big hit with consumers. Launched in March with a national Television commercial featuring food presenter Maeve O’Meara, the new frozen Smoothie CubesTM are available at all leading supermarkets. Desserts Marketing Manager, Jane Westney, describes Smoothie CubesTM as a ‘game changer’, set to revolutionise how Australians enjoy breakfast and snack-time. ‘Smoothie CubesTM fruit-packed frozen cubes for making delicious Smoothies in a moment. a product innovation rated extremely highly in market testing. We’re confident they’re set to change the way Australians enjoy breakfast and snack-time’, Ms Westney said. The innovative Smoothie CubesTM come in 4 great flavours, Strawberry, Berry Antioxidant, Breakfast and Tropical. Look out for them in your local Supermarket. Four’N Twenty rules—Home and Away Four’N Twenty extended its national marketing push into northern States with a 5-year sponsorship agreement with the Sydney Swans [football team]. Patties Foods GM Marketing, Mark Connolly said: Four’N Twenty achieved instant popularity with Sydney fans since becoming the pie of choice served at the SCG [sports stadium] last year. ‘Sydney fans have really taken to Four’N Twenty at the footy and we’re delighted to be partnering with the Swans through this sponsorship—not only at the SCG, but by focusing on their positive community program.

Case Study Research Essay Example for Free

Case Study Research Essay Case One: Barsz v. Max Shapiro, Inc. Ind. Ct. App. 600 N.E.2d 151 (1992) Fact: Marjorie Barsz brought negligence action against Shapiro’s Delicatessen Cafeteria to recover for personal injuries sustained when she slipped and fell, breaking her right ankle and left knee cap. Her husband, Carl Barsz brought action against the restaurant for loss of consortium with his wife due to Mrs. Barsz’s injuries. The Circuit Court of Shelby County granted summary judgment for the restaurant, and the plaintiffs appealed. The Court of Appeals of Indiana, First District held that genuine issues of material facts existed and reversed the summary judgment. Issue: Was Shapiro’s Delicatessen Cafeteria negligent in identifying and remedying the condition of the floor in the restaurant, causing Marjorie Barsz’s accident? Rule: GOLBA v. KOHL’S DEPT. STORE, INC. Ind. Ct. App. 585 N.E.2d 14 (1992) Analysis: To avoid summary judgment, Marjorie Barsz had to show that there was a defective condition in the floor of the restaurant which caused her slip and fall, and that the restaurant unreasonably failed to discover and remedy the hazardous condition. Genuine material facts existed which precluded summary judgment for the restaurant. Summary judgment is generally inappropriate in negligence cases. Trial Procedure Rule 56(C) Conclusion: A restaurant cannot be held strictly liable for a fall that occurred before having a reasonable chance to remove a foreign substance from its floor; restaurant as not the absolute guarantor of customer safety. However, summary judgment cannot be granted when a genuine material fact exists. Case Two: Golba v. Kohl’s Dept. Store, Inc. Ind. Ct. App. 585 N.E.2d 14 (1992) Facts: Plaintiff Stella Golba brought negligence action against defendant Kohl’s Department Store stemming from a slip and fall accident. Ms. Golba stepped on a small object on a glossy floor, causing her to trip and fall. The floor had only been swept once on the morning of the accident. The Circuit Court of Starke County granted the store’s motion for summary judgment, and the plaintiff appealed. The Court of Appeals of Indiana, Third District held that material issues of fact existed and reversed the summary judgment. Issue: Was Kohl’s Department Store negligent in maintaining their floors in a safe condition for patrons? Rule: BURRELL v. MEADS Ind. 569 N.E.2d 637 (1991) Analysis: A land owner is subject to liability for physical harm caused to his invitees by a condition on the land if, but only if, he knows or exercising reasonable care would discover the condition, and should realize that it is an unreasonable risk of harm to invitees, and should expect that they will not realize the danger, or will not protect themselves against it, and fails to exercise reasonable care to protect them against the danger. Normally, determining whether the host has exercised reasonable care to make their premises safe for an invitee is a question of fact for a jury. Conclusion: Sweeping of a floor only once in the morning does not constitute exercise of reasonable care to prevent injury to customers from objects left in the floor. The issue of fact as to whether the store had notice of the object in the floor precluded a summary judgment.

Healthcare Training in Simulated Environments

Healthcare Training in Simulated Environments Simulation Introduction â€Å"Clinical simulation is pretending for the purpose of improving behaviors for someone elses benefit (Kyle Murray, 2008, p.xxiv).† All respiratory therapists are trained to manage the airway of an unconscious patient. Endotracheal intubation is the most effective method of securing the airway but is a complex psychomotor skill requiring much practice. Historically, endotracheal intubation had been taught on patients, cadavers or animals, but this was not ideal. Mannequin training is one of the best options for instructing large numbers of students in a variety of skills (Gaiser, 2000) therefore the Respiratory Therapy program at TRU has adopted training on mannequins as a core component of their courses. Intubation trainers have been used for over 30 years (Good, 2003) but there is little published information on the relative merits of the available airway and intubation trainers. A variety of airway trainers with differing features are now commercially available from the low fidelity, part task trainer, that TRU respiratory therapy program utilizes, to the high fidelity, whole patient simulator that is becoming increasingly popular today. Training health care practitioners in a simulated environment without actual patients is a potential method of teaching new skills and improving patient safety (Issenberg et al, 1999; Devitt et al, 2001; Lee et al, 2003). pt safety Simulations are defined as activities that mimic the reality of a clinical environment and are designed to demonstrate procedures, decision-making, and critical thinking through techniques such as role-playing and the use of devices such as interactive videos or mannequins. A simulation may be very detailed and closely simulate reality, or it can be a grouping of components that are combined to provide some resemblance of reality. (Jeffries, 2005) definition of simulation Computer based simulations and part-task training devices can provide a certain degree of real-world application. These focus on specific skills or selected areas of human anatomy. High-fidelity patient simulators can provide real physical inputs and real environmental interactivity. To recreate all elements of a clinical situation, a full-scale or high fidelity simulation would be used. Costs of simulators will vary widely depending on purchasing costs, salaries, how faculty time is accounted for, and other factors. (Jeffries, 2005) simulators, high fidelity, costs Modern technology, such as high fidelity simulation offers unique opportunities to provide the â€Å"hands-on† learning. High fidelity simulation offers the ideal venue to allow practice without risk and there are an infinite number of realistic scenarios that can be presented using this technology. As an example, life threatening cardiac arrhythmias can be simulated on a life like fully computerized mannequin. Mo nitors, identical to those used in the clinical situation can replicate the arrhythmia and corresponding changes in vital signs. The ‘patient can be fully and realistically resuscitated with technical and pharmacological interventions. Viewing of videotaped performances allows personal reflection on the effectiveness of the case management. Morgan et al, 2006 example of use of high fidelity sim. High fidelity simulation provides a venue to teach and learn in a realistic yet risk free environment. The ‘patient is represented by a computer-controlled mannequin who incorporates a variety of physiological functions (e.g. heart and breath sounds, pulse, end-tidal carbon dioxide). An instrumentation computer network can replicate situations likely to be encountered in an emergency room, critical care environment or operating room. A second person controls the mannequin and the monitors. The simulator mannequin will respond on an accurate way to induced physiologic or pharmacologic interventions. The ‘patient will respond according to pre-set physiological characteristics (e.g. a young healthy adult or a geriatric patient with severe emphysema). In addition, the ‘patient has the ability to speak, move his arm, and open and close his eyes and has pupils that can dilate and constrict. The simulation room can be set up to appropriately reflect the environment, either an emergency room, a recovery room, or a fully equipped operating room. Attached monitors respond to a medical intervention. Feedback from participants in the simulated environment has attested to the ‘realism of the environment (Morgan Cleave-Hogg, 2000). Morgan et al, 2006 set up of HPS A simulator replicates a task environment with enough realism to serve a desired purpose and the simulation of critical events has been used instructionally by pilots, astronauts, the military and nuclear power plant personnel (Gaba, 2004). The fidelity, or the â€Å"realness†, of simulations can vary in many ways, such as the use of simple case studies, utilization of human actors to present clinical scenarios, computer-based simulations, and the use of high-fidelity patient simulators that respond to real-world inputs realistically (Jeffries, 2005; Laerdal, 2008; Seropian, 2003). Recently, literature has described that using full-sized, patient simulators are a way of creating â€Å"life-like† clinical situations (Fallacaro Crosby, 2000; Hotchkiss Mendoza, 2001; Long, 2005; Parr Sweeney, 2006). While simulation has been used by the aviation industry with flight training for years (Gaba, 2004), the use of a rudimentary human patient simulator in the health care fiel d was first introduced in 1969 to assist anesthesia residents in learning the skill of endotracheal intubation (Abrahamson, Denson, Wolf, 1969; Gaba DeAnda, 1988). The more realistic human patient simulators were not created until 1988 and were used primarily to train anesthesiologists (Gaba, 2004). Defining simulation in health care education The literature on human patient simulation has tried to define several of the terms used in this study. However, there is no general consensus on many of these terms, including a debate on whether the simulator is a mannequin or a manikin (Gaba, 2006). One key term that requires specific definition for this study is high-fidelity mannequin-based patient simulator. The term â€Å"fidelity† is used to designate how true to life the teaching experience must be to accomplish its objectives (Maran Glavin, 2003). Using this definition, fidelity becomes a scale where if given the objectives, a single piece of medical simulation equipment may be able to provide a â€Å"high-fidelity† experience for one objective but be â€Å"low-fidelity† for another objective. An example would be the insertion of a radial arterial catheter. If the objective were to only teach the psychomotor skills required for inserting the catheter, a relatively simple arterial blood gas access arm, part-task simulator would be adequate and provide a high-fidelity experience. But if the objective were expanded to include communication with the patient and members of the health care team, then the same device would suddenly become low-fidelity, as there is no feedback being delivered with catheter insertion and communication with the patient is not possible. Beaubien Baker (2004) noted that the term ‘fidelity is frequently documented as a one-dimensional term that forces a static classification of simulation devices. Individuals with this view would have difficulty agreeing with the use of the terms as explained in the previous paragraph. Maran and Glavin (2003) offered this definition: â€Å"Fidelity is the extent to which the appearance and behaviors of the simulator/simulation match the appearance and behaviors of the simulated system (p.23).† Yaeger et al (2004) broke fidelity down into three general classifications: low-medium-and high-fidelity and explained that low-fidelity simulators are focused on single skills and permit learners to practice in isolation while medium fidelity simulators provide more realism but lack sufficient cues for the learner to be fully immersed in the situation. High-fidelity simulators, on the other hand, provide adequate cues to allow for full immersion and respond to treatment interventions. For the purposes of this study, the following definitions will be used: 1. High-fidelity patient simulator A full-bodied mannequin that replicates human body anatomy and physiology, is able to respond to treatment interventions, and is able to supply objective data regarding student actions through debriefing software. 2. Low-fidelity simulator A part task trainer or a full-bodied mannequin that replicates human anatomy, but does not have physiologic functions (including spontaneous breathing, palpable pulses, heart and lung sounds, and voice capabilities), does not have a physiologic response to treatment interventions, and does not have a debriefing software system. Use the next two statements at the beginning of other sections on simulation: * â€Å"Simulation is a training and feedback method in which learners practice tasks and processes in lifelike circumstances using models or virtual reality, with feedback from observers, peers, actor-patients, and video cameras to assist improvement in skills (Eder-Van Hook, 2004, p.4).† * â€Å"Simulation is a technique†¦.to replace or amplify real experiences with guided experiences that evoke or replicate substantial aspects of the real world in a fully interactive manner (Gaba, 2004, p.i2).† When we are looking at the use of high-fidelity patient simulators in health professions education, we have to be aware of and not confuse the simulator with the simulation. As Gaba (2004) described, â€Å"Simulation is a technique not a technology (i2).† The mannequins or other devices are only part of the simulation. Dutta, Gaba and Krummel (2006) noted a gap in the research literature, stating, â€Å"A fundamental problem in determining the effectiveness of surgical simulation has been an inability to frame the correct research question. Are the authors assessing simulation or simulators (p.301)?† Simulation has many applications. The teaching of psychomotor skills seems an obvious use for simulation but there are other areas that simulation can be utilized effectively. Rauen (2004) listed several areas in addition to psychomotor skill training where simulation has been used. Her list included teaching theory, use of technology, patient assessment and pharmacology. Rauen (2004) notes that the â€Å"emphasis in simulation is often on the application and integration of knowledge, skills, and critical thinking (para 3).† History and Development of Simulation in Healthcare education The history of simulation in healthcare has been well documented by several authors including Bradley (2006), Cooper and Taquito (2004), Gaba (2004) and Rosen (2004) and began with the use of models to help students learn about anatomical structures. Although the use of mannequins as the simulation model is relatively new (Bradley, 2006), simulation using animals as models dates back over 2000 years. Mannequins were utilized as models in obstetrical care as early as the 16th century (Ziv, Wolpe, Small, Glick, 2003). The more modern medical simulators originated in the 1950s with the development of a part-task trainer called ‘Resusci-Anne that revolutionized resuscitation training (Bradley, 2006; Gaba, 2004). Part-task trainers are meant to represent only a part of the human anatomy and will often consist of a limb or body part or structure. These low fidelity modesl were developed to aid in the technical, procedural, or psychomotor skills, such as venipuncture, catheterization and intubation (Kim, 2005), allowing the learner to focus on an isolated task. Some models provide feedback (visual, auditory or printed) to the learner on the quality of their performance (Bradley, 2006; Good, 2003). Another general classification of patient simulators that combines some of the elements of both three-dimensional models and task-specific simulators is partial or part task simulators (Kyle Murray, 2008). Issenberg, Gordon, Gordon Safford, and Hart (2001) used the term procedure skills simulator for this type of device. Maran and Glavin (2003) stated, â€Å"part-task trainers are designed to replicate only part of the environment (p.24).† and replicate anatomy and physiology of a single portion of the human body. As described by Beubien and Baker (2004), the skills taught with part task simulators â€Å"segment a complex task into its main components (p. i53).† Rather than creating complex scenarios commonly done with high fidelity patient simulation, part task trainers permit students to focus on individual skills instead of more comprehensive situations. Examples would be an arm with vascular structure to teach arterial blood gas procedures or a head with upper airw ay anatomy to practice advanced difficult airway procedures. The second wave of modern simulation, with the development of full-scale, computer controlled, mannequin based patient simulators started in the 1960s with the development of Sim One (Bradley, 2006; Gaba, 2004; Good, 2003). SimOne had many of the features found on the high-fidelity mannequin-based patient simulators used today. SimOne was quite lifelike, and fitted with a blood pressure cuff and intravenous port. SimOne was able to breath, it had a heartbeat, temporal and carotid pulse and a blood pressure (Abrahamson, 1997). Patient simulators have become very sophisticated over the years and now allow a wide range of invasive and non-invasive procedures to be performed on them, as well as enabling teamwork training (Davis, Buono, Ford, Paulson, Koenig and Carrison, 2006). When they are set up in a simulated and realistic environment, they are often referred to as high-fidelity simulation platforms (HFSP) or human patient simulators (HPS) (Kim, 2005). Components of the human patient simulator (HPS) include a mannequin and computer hardware and software. The HPS has characteristics expected in patients such as a pulse, heart and lung sounds, and blinking eyes with reactive pupils. The mannequin also supports invasive procedures, such as airway management, thoracentesis, pericardiocentesis and catheterization of the bladder (Laerdal, n.d.). Medical Education Technologies, Inc. (METI) introduced the Human Patient Simulator (HPS) in 1996. It has subsequently followed with PediaSim in 1999, a simulator utilizing the HPS software but scaled down to mimic a child. In 2005, BabySim was introduced. While being the first to enter the market with a full-bodied mannequin for patient simulation purposes in resuscitation with the Resusci Anne in 1960, Laerdal Medical did not introduce a high-fidelity patient simulator until 2000 with the introduction of SimMan. This device does not possess all the high-level functionality of METI HPS, but does provide adequate fidelity for many medical emergency situations. The Laerdal Medical SimMan also differs from the others in that it does not operate on mathematical models for simulator responses. Instead, it operates on instructor controls combined with script-based control logics. The Laerdal Medical SimMan patient simulator is the device to be used in this study. Details of the simulators functions are found in appendix ____. Aside from high-fidelity mannequin based patient simulators, there are many other types of simulation used in healthcare provider education and training. Collins and Harden (1998), Issenberg, Gordon, Gordon, Safford, and Hart (2001), and Ziv, Small and Wolpe (2000) discussed several other forms of simulation. The list includes animal models, human cadavers, written simulations, audio simulations, video-based simulations, three dimensional or static models, task specific simulators and virtual reality simulation. (Add VR reference?) Perhaps the next step in the evolution of health care teaching modalities is virtual reality (VR) simulation. Commercial VR simulators now exist to teach various trauma skills (Kaufman Liu, 2001). In a study of the effectiveness of using a VR bronchoscopy simulator, students quickly learned the skills needed to perform a diagnostic bronchoscopy at a level that was equal to those who had several years of experience (Colt et al, 2001). Simulation has been used for many years in the aviation and nuclear power industries and other highly complex working environments in which the consequences of error are costly (Bradley, 2006). A simulator designed to mimic the anesthesia patient was first developed in 1988, and since then, the number of hospitals and universities buying simulators for educational purposes is increasing (Henrichs, Rule, Grady and Ellis, 2002). The human patient simulator is used in health care education because it is a high-fidelity instrument that provides both educators and students with a realistic clinical environment and an interactive â€Å"patient† (Feingold, Calaluce and Kallen, 2004). The cost of simulation is related to the level of fidelity and the technology being used. For high fidelity patient simulators, purchase costs can range from $30,000 for the Laerdal Medical SimMan or the METI ECS to over $200,000 for the METI HPS. Optional equipment available for these simulators can make the purchase costs even higher. In addition to the simulator, it is important to create a learning environment that replicates real-world settings, complete with appropriate medical equipment. Halamek et al. (2000) stated, â€Å"The key to effective simulation-based training is achieving suspension of disbelief on the part of the subjects undergoing training, ie, subjects must be made to think and feel as though they are functioning within a real environment (para 15).† Creating this environment adds additional costs to setting up a simulation-based medical education program. Advantages of using simulation in health care education Patient simulation of all types, including high-fidelity patient simulation, is becoming more common in many aspects and levels of healthcare provider education (Good, 2003; Issenberg, McGaghie et al., 1999; leblond, Russell, McDonald et al, 2005). The reasons behind the increased use of patient simulation include the advancement of medical knowledge, changes in medical education, patient safety and ethics. For new healthcare providers it is also important to consider the changing student demographic, as todays students are more comfortable with technology. Issenberg, McGaghie et al. (1999) pointed out several advantages to the use of patient simulators, stating â€Å"Unlike patients, simulators do not become embarrassed or stressed; have predictable behavior; are available at any time to fit the curriculum needs; can be programmed to simulate selected findings, conditions, situations, and complications; allow standardized experience for all trainees; can be used repeatedly with fid elity and reproducibility; and can be used to train both for procedures and difficult management situations. (p. 862)†. Advancement of medical knowledge Medical knowledge is continually growing with new tests, medications, and technologies that all bring about innovative understandings and expertise. The problem with educating health care providers with this new knowledge is that their curriculum is of a finite length therefore innovation in the curriculum is needed in order to prepare future health care providers. Issenberg, Gordon, Gordon, Stafford, and Hart (2001) made the following comments: â€Å"Over the past few decades, medical educators have been quick to embrace new technologies and pedagogical approaches†¦ in an effort to help students deal with the problem of the growing information overload. Medical knowledge, however, has advanced more rapidly than medical education†¦Simulation technologies are available today that have a positive impact on the acquisition and retention of clinical skills. (p.16) Changes in medical education Healthcare provider education has typically been taught using a lecture/apprenticeship model (McMahon, Monaghan, Falchuk, Gordon, Alexander, 2005) that relies on observation and repetition (Eder-Van Hook, 2004). Halamek et al. (2000) noted the traditional model of medical education has three components: the learner performs a reading of the literature, the learner observes others with greater experience, and then the learner develops hands-on experience. This is the traditional medical model of education that has been in use for over 2,000 years (Current state report on patient simulation in Canada, 2005). In relation to the traditional model, Issenberg, Gordon, Gordon, Stafford and Hart (2001) observed, â€Å"This process is inefficient and inevitably leads to considerable anxiety on the part of the learner, the mentor, and at times the patient (p. 19).† McMahon, Monaghan, Flachuk, Gordon, and Alexander (2005) stated this model â€Å"is inefficient in promoting the highest level of learned knowledge, as reflection and metacognition analysis occur independently, often without guidance and only after extended periods of time when students are able to piece together isolated experiences (p. 84-85).† Customarily, this format is often referred to as the â€Å"See one, do one, teach one† model of medical learning (Brindley, Suen Drummond, 2007; Eder-Van Hook, 2004; Gorman, Meier, Krummel, 2000; Yaeger et al., 2004). Halamek et al. (2000) identified several problems with the current medical education model which includes; 1. Reading of the literature does not produce competency. More active rather than passive participation in the learning experience is needed; 2. Learners may have difficulty determining if their model for observation is a good or poor model. Just because the model may be senior does not mean they are competent. 3. The variability of experiences in the apprenticeship model is high, therefore learners experiences will not be equal, and 4. Many training settings do not fully represent the complexity of the real world resulting in an inability of the learners to adequately practice their decision-making skills in a â€Å"real† environment. Yaeger et al (2004) reinforced these points stating that healthcare education rely on two fatally flawed assumptions. The first assumption is that all clinical role models are effective and skilled, and all behaviors demonstrated by these role models are worthy of replication. The second assumption is that the end of the training period implies that a trainee is competent in all the skills necessary for successful clinical practice (Yaeger et al, 2004). Yaeger (2004) also noted that in the apprenticeship model, there is a need for a preceptor but this preceptor may not have the necessary skills to be an effective educator. Patient safety A predominant theme in many discussions of high-fidelity simulation is the concept of patient safety. In the education of healthcare providers, there are sometimes conflicting goals. As Friedrich (2002) commented in quoting Atul Gawande, â€Å"medicine has long faced a conflict between ‘the imperative to give patients the best possible care and the needs to provide novices with experiences (p. 2808).† When looking at the broader topic of medical simulation, the concept of patient safety is a frequently mentioned subject (Bradley, 2006; Cleave-Hogg Morgan, 2002; Ziv, Ben-David, Ziv, 2005). Much of the incentive behind the focus on patient safety relates back to the Institute of Medicine 2000 report To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health system (Kohn, Corrigan, Donaldson, 2000). This study reported over 44,000 people and possibly up to 98,000 people die each year in United States hospitals from medical errors. The total annual cost of these errors is between $17 billion and $29 billion. Even more alarming is the fact that these findings represent only the hospital sector of the healthcare system. The number of lives affected would be even higher if other parts of the healthcare system were included such as long term care facilities and Emergency Medical Services. In its summary of recommendations, the report specifically mentions simulation as a possible remedy, stating â€Å"†¦establish interdisciplinary team training programs for providers that incorporate proven methods of team training, such as simulation (p.14).† In Canada, it was estimated there were 70,000 preventable adverse events in Canadian hospitals with an estimate of deaths associated with those errors ranging from 9,000 to 24,000 (Current state report on patient simulation in Canada, 2005). The Canadian Patient Safety Institute supports the use of simulation as a means of improving patient safety in Canadian hospitals. In the conclusion of its report on patient simulation, the institute stated: Growing awareness of adverse events in Canadian hospitals, combined with increasing emphasis on patient safety, has changed the traditional â€Å"learning by doing† approach to healthcare education. Anecdotal evidence reveals the promising potential of simulation to fundamentally change the way healthcare professionals practice and further hone their skills, interact across disciplines, and manage crisis situations. (Current state report on patient simulation in Canada, 2005, p.23) Ethical perspective One of the strongest statements made regarding the ethical perspective of simulations was presented by Ziv, Wolpe, Small and Click (2003). Under the title â€Å"Simulation-Based Medical Education: An Ethical Imperative†, the authors presented an argument that not using simulation was more than just an education issue, it was an ethical issue. As they report, there is often an over reliance on vulnerable patient populations to serve as teaching models when other resources exist that would provide adequate and possibly, more superior replacements. The education of healthcare providers requires a balancing act between providing the best in patient care while also providing learning opportunities for the healthcare professions student (Friedrich, 2002). To protect patient safety, actual patient contact is often withheld in the healthcare provider learning process to a later period in their education. One of the principle reasons patient simulation is being indicated as a partial remedy for the medical errors crisis is its ability to impact on a particularly vulnerable time in the learning process. As Patow (2005) cited, the â€Å"learning curve† faced by many healthcare professions students is a source of medical errors. He continued, stating that the realism of many of the currently available simulators is quite high and allows for procedures to be practiced to mastery prior to being tested on real patients. But simulations offer much more than just practice. Since medical errors often result from ineffective processes and communication, simulation allows teams â€Å"to reflect on their own performance in detailed debriefing sessions† (Patow, 2005, p.39). This opportunity to review, discuss, and learn from the simulation is an important step in the learning process. The use of patient simulation in the training of healthcare providers is not limited to new students. There is also a need to maintain education in the health professions and simulation can be utilized effectively in this area as well (Ziv, Small Wolpe, 2000). As in other reports, Ziv, Small and Wolpe (2000) restated the shortcomings of the traditional model and explained that simulation was not just for the beginner but also for the expert who is expected to â€Å"continuously acquire new knowledge and skills while treating live patients (p.489).† These authors feel simulation, when used across the range of health professions education, can make an impact on patient safety by removing patients from the risk of being practiced upon for learning purposes. Gaba (2004) pointed out there are also many indirect impacts of patient simulation on patient safety. These areas of impact include improvements in recruitment and retention of highly qualified healthcare providers, facilitating cultural change in an organization to one that is more patient safety focused, and enhancing quality and risk management activities. A final point on patient safety is the ability to let healthcare providers make mistakes in a safe environment. In real patients, preceptors step in prior to the mistake being beyond the point of recoverability or if the mistake occurs (particularly for those healthcare providers who are not longer students), there is a very limited instructive value to the case. Ziv, Ben-David, and Ziv (2005) stated, â€Å"Total prevention of mistakes, however, is not feasible because medicine is conducted by human beings who err†¦[Simulation Based Medical Education] may offer unique ways to cope with this challenge and can be regarded as a mistake-driven educational method (p.194).† They continued stating that Simulation Based Medical Education is a powerful learning experience for students and professionals where â€Å"students are permitted to make mistakes and are provided with the opportunity to practice and receive constructive feedback which, it is hoped, will prevent repetition of such mistakes in real-life patients. (p.194)†. Ethical Use of Simulation (incorporate these paragraphs into previous on pt safety) Health care educators, whether from nursing, respiratory therapy, or medicine, find themselves in similar situations in deciding how to teach patient management to their students. Bioethicists have long condemned the use of real patients as training tools for physicians (Lynoe, Sandlung, Westberg, Duchek, 1998). Unfortunately there have been times in which the student learning has occurred to the detriment of patients (Lynoe et al, 1998). However, with the advent of high-fidelity human patient simulation approaches to learning, it may be time to adopt this method of instruction in the development of interprofessional education. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently issued a report on medical errors and recommended the use of interactive simulation for the enhancement of technical, behavioural and social skills of physicians (Kohn, Corrigan Donaldson, 1999). Numerous accounts are found in the medical literature touting the use of human patient simulation in the education of health care personnel at all levels, from student to attending physicians. Patient simulation is used for training personnel in several areas of medical care such as trauma, critical care, surgery and anaesthesiology, mainly due to the extensive skill required to perform adequately the procedures and techniques relevant to these areas. Several researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of simulation in the skill development of medical personnel (Morgan et al, 2003; Lee, Pardo, Gaba, Sowb, Dicker, Straus, et al., 2003; Hammond, Bermann, Chen Kushins, 2002). In areas with low technology, such as internal medicine and in acute care areas providing less procedural skills but greater decision making requirements, the use of simulation in the education of its clinicians has progressed (Ziv, Wolpe, Small Glick, 2003). Despite the growing support for the use of simulation in health care education, there is not yet enough evidence to support its use. Simulation Research in Medical Education In 1998, Ali, Cohen, Gana Al-Bedah studied the differences in performance of senior medical students in an Adult Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course. This course uses simulated scenarios to both teach and evaluate students performance in trauma situations. The students were divided into three groups; 32 medical students completed a standard ATLS course, 12 students audited the course (without participating in the sessions or taking the written exam) and a control group of 44 matched students who had no exposure to ATLS. Of note is that some participants from all three groups were doing clinical hours in trauma hospitals during this study while others were not. The participants were observed while managing the standardized (live) patient in simulated trauma and non-trauma scenarios. The participants management of the sessions was scored on

Outline Of The Constitution Of The Usa :: essays research papers

I. ARTICLE I-- CONGRESS A. Section 1. 1. Establishment B. Section 2. 1. House Membership and Qualifications a. selection and composition b. representation C. Section 3. 1. Senate Membership and Qualifications a. selection and compostion b. elections D. Section 4. 1. Congressional Elections E. Section 5. 1. Congressional Operation and Procedure a. elections b. rules c. records F. Section 6. 1. Congressional Employment, Compensation and Privileges a. the "speech and debate clause" G. Section 7. 1. Public Laws and Other Congressional Instruments a. bills for raising revenue b. the presidential "presentment clause" c. congressional voting records d. congressional orders, resolutions and votes H. Section 8. 1. Powers of Congress: a. raising revenue (tax, etc.) to pay debts and to provide for defense and general welfare b. borrowing money c. trade regulation (the "commerce clause") d. immigration and naturalization; bankruptcies e. currency; weights and measures f. counterfeiting punishment g. post offices h. intellectual property (copyrights, patents, etc.) i. the federal judiciary j. maritime and international law k. war l. military appropriations/armed forces m. naval forces n. rules for the government and military o. domestic security p. military governance and administration q. District of Columbia r. administration of the law (the "necessary and proper clause") I. Section 9. 1. Congressional Limitations includes: a. writs of habeas corpus b. population census and direct taxation c. appropriations d. accounting of public monies and expenditures J. Section 10. 1. State Limitations II. ARTICLE II-- THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH A. Section 1. 1. Establishment, Elections, Qualifications, Compensation a. the president b. the vice president c. electors B. Section 2. 1. Executive Powers a. commander in chief b. pardons and reprieves c. treaties and appointments C. Section 3. 1. Official Duties, Responsibilities and Privileges a. state of the union b. foreign relations D. Section 4. 1. Impeachment III. ARTICLE III-- THE JUDICIARY A. Section 1. 1. Establishment, Tenure and Compensation a. the Supreme Court b. inferior federal courts c. federal justices and judges B. Section 2. 1. Jurisdiction, Venue and Cases a. Supreme Court original and appellate jurisdiction; the "exceptions clause" b. criminal cases/trial by jury C. Section 3. 1. Treason IV. ARTICLE IV-- STATES A. Section 1. 1.

Comparing William Faulkners Short Stories, A Rose for Emily and Dry Se

Comparing William Faulkner's Short Stories, A Rose for Emily and Dry September Three key elements link William Faulkner's two short stories "A Rose for Emily" and "Dry September": sex, death, and women (King 203). Staging his two stories against a backdrop of stereotypical characters and a southern code of honor, Faulkner deliberately withholds important details, fragments chronological times, and fuses the past with the present to imply the character's act and motivation. The characters in Faulkner's southern society are drawn from three social levels: the aristocrats, the townspeople, and the Negroes (Volpe 15). In "A Rose for Emily," Faulkner describes Miss Emily Grierson in flowing, descriptive sentences. Once a "slender figure in white," the last descendent of a formerly affluent aristocratic family matures into a "small, fat woman in black, with a thin gold chain descending to her waist and vanishing into her belt, leaning on an ebony cane with a tarnished gold head" (Faulkner, Literature 25-27). Despite her diminished financial status, Miss Emily exhibits her aristocratic demeanor by carrying her head high "as if she demanded more than ever the recognition of her dignity as the last Grierson" (28). In an equally descriptive manner, Faulkner paints a written portrait of Miss Minnie Cooper in "Dry September." He portrays her as a spinster "of comfortable people - not the best in Jefferson, but good enough people" and "still on the slender side of ordinary looking, with a bright faintly haggard manner and dress (Faulkner, Reader 520). Cleanth Brooks sheds considerable insight on Faulkner's view of women. He notes that Faulkner's women are "the source and sustainer of virtue and also a prime source of evil. She can be ... ...uth. Works Cited Brooks, Cleanth. "William Faulkner: Visions of Good and Evil." Faulkner, New Perspectives. Ed. Richard H. Brodhead. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey : Prentice-Hall, 1983. ---. Modern Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House,1986. Faulkner, William. "Dry September." The Faulkner Reader. New York; Random House, 1954. ---. "A Rose for Emily." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 5th ed. New York: Harper Collins, 1991. ---. Selected Letters of William Faulkner. Ed. Joseph Blotner. New York: Random House, 1977. Kazin, Alfred. Bright Book of Life. Boston: Little Brown Company, 1973. King, Richard H. Modern Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House, 1986. Reed, Joseph. Modern Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House, 1986. Volpe, Edmond. A Reader's Guide to William Faulkner. New York: Octagon, 1974.

One Must Search for Beauty in All Things :: Law College Admissions Essays

One Must Search for Beauty in All Things    I never had the benefit of a spiritual guide. No one ever counseled me to â€Å"search for beauty in all things†. Perhaps it is most beneficial to learn some things through experience.    I ran away from an abusive stepfather and an alcoholic mother when I was thirteen and it was the best decision I ever made. I slept on rooftops and hallways for a year before the state took custody of me and placed me in a group home. Over the next four years I would live in several different homes ranging from a hundred children to less than ten and attend four different high schools. Ultimately though, I finished high school on time and with honors.    Group homes are a strange place to grow up in. There is a structure. Dinner is eaten at a certain time and after eleven o'clock everyone goes upstairs. There are case reviews and mandatory meetings with social workers. We would take turns doing the dishes and preparing meals. Some of the group homes I was in are locked facilities where the children only go out for specific activities. But group homes are also lawless. They are crowded. The majority of the children are on some sort of probation. Violence is rampant. Upstairs there are gang meetings, freehand tattoos, and games of dice. Liquor and hard drugs are common. While we were required to leave in the morning, we were not required to attend school, and as such, most kids did not finish high school.    In many ways, the group homes defined who I am, much the way a person's family and upbringing would define them. The core of my value system was formed during the formative years of fourteen to eighteen. In the group I learned to be discerning without being judgmental. With my friends I was able to go into the neighborhoods where they grew up, neighborhoods I would never have been able to go into otherwise. For a while I lived in a home across from the Robert Taylor Projects, the largest housing projects in the world. In these group homes I met the people who still constitute my family.    For me the group homes were a positive experience, for most they are not. I was fortunate in that I was a little more driven, and maybe a little more intelligent than the average kid in my circumstances. One Must Search for Beauty in All Things :: Law College Admissions Essays One Must Search for Beauty in All Things    I never had the benefit of a spiritual guide. No one ever counseled me to â€Å"search for beauty in all things†. Perhaps it is most beneficial to learn some things through experience.    I ran away from an abusive stepfather and an alcoholic mother when I was thirteen and it was the best decision I ever made. I slept on rooftops and hallways for a year before the state took custody of me and placed me in a group home. Over the next four years I would live in several different homes ranging from a hundred children to less than ten and attend four different high schools. Ultimately though, I finished high school on time and with honors.    Group homes are a strange place to grow up in. There is a structure. Dinner is eaten at a certain time and after eleven o'clock everyone goes upstairs. There are case reviews and mandatory meetings with social workers. We would take turns doing the dishes and preparing meals. Some of the group homes I was in are locked facilities where the children only go out for specific activities. But group homes are also lawless. They are crowded. The majority of the children are on some sort of probation. Violence is rampant. Upstairs there are gang meetings, freehand tattoos, and games of dice. Liquor and hard drugs are common. While we were required to leave in the morning, we were not required to attend school, and as such, most kids did not finish high school.    In many ways, the group homes defined who I am, much the way a person's family and upbringing would define them. The core of my value system was formed during the formative years of fourteen to eighteen. In the group I learned to be discerning without being judgmental. With my friends I was able to go into the neighborhoods where they grew up, neighborhoods I would never have been able to go into otherwise. For a while I lived in a home across from the Robert Taylor Projects, the largest housing projects in the world. In these group homes I met the people who still constitute my family.    For me the group homes were a positive experience, for most they are not. I was fortunate in that I was a little more driven, and maybe a little more intelligent than the average kid in my circumstances.

Stakeholder Analysis on Bp

Assignment # 1 Stakeholder analysis on the British Petroleum oil spill disaster Stakeholder: UK and USA Government The British Petroleum (BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico flowed unabated for three months in 2010. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. This event affected individuals and groups, know as stakeholders, in different ways according to the impact that the catastrophe meant to their situation.The stakeholders treated in this case are the U. S. and UK government, which first we would like to define their position on the disaster then to find the links with ethical traditions and finally to mention the positive aspects and limits of these two with three theoretical propositions (Stakeholder Theory, CSR & Ethics of discussion). The positions of the governments were on their own particular way to deal and manage the situation of the BP oil spill. The U. S. overnment took an offensive position against BP and made it responsible of the incurred damages as a result of the oil spill, likewise, indirectly blamed the UK government as the main regulator of the companies from their country. In response, the UK government took a defensive position about the responsibility of the damages and for the hostile side that U. S. took against. However UK government wanted to manage the situation by the side of the cocerns of their people interesr and BP involment to develop the best and fastest solution for the situation.The reason why the U. S. government took an aggressive position came from its role as representative of a nation that should give solutions to the problems and complaints of the individuals and groups (business, organizations, etc) concern of US nation. But seeing it on the other side, the same particular reason came with the UK government. Now, the question relies on: why they went on different sides? or more precisely, what made them to take a position different from each other? if their objectives wer e basically the same.The interest of both governments were mostly on the same page, but there were some differences. The U. S. government seek to be the victim of the incident with the reason of solidarity with those affected but also be the one to go forward in search of a solution and satisfaction of all involved as it? s leader role. As well, the U. S. government was responsible for establish appropriate regulations to prevent such damage. This put it on the exterior â€Å"inocent† role but indirect accomplice for the mistake done.Furthermore, the UK government seek not be involved in the incident, likewise even pretended to find a speedy solution to be the lowest impact to its stakeholders and its oil industry that implies BP mainly in the economial and relationships between nations. Its role was primarily mediator in the dispute of the guilt of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico with the intention of the most healthy solution of all. References: Urbina, I. (2010, May 24 ). Inspector general’s inquiry faults regulators.The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www. nytimes. com/2010/05/25/us/25mms. html? pagewanted=all&_r=0 Thompson, P. (2010, June 7). Stop blaming uk for bp oil spill disaster: Cable hits out at america read more. Mail online. Retrieved from http://www. dailymail. co. uk/news/article-1284125/Stop-blaming-UK-BP-oil-spill-disaster-Cable-hits-America. html White House. (2010, August 14). Deepwater bp oil spill. Retrieved from http://www. whitehouse. gov/deepwater-bp-oil-spill Alfano, S. (2010, June 5).Bp oil spill not our fault, british government official says, calls criticism extreme and unhelpful'. Daily News. Retrieved from http://articles. nydailynews. com/2010-06-05/news/27066339_1_oil-spill-bp-rig Wray, R. (2010, July 27). Bp oil spill: Uk taxpayers face gulf clean-up loss. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www. guardian. co. uk/business/2010/jul/27/bp-oil-spill-taxpayers-clean-up-costs Plante, B. (2010, May 23). Oil sp ill sparks call for aggressive gov't role. CBS News. Retrieved from http://www. cbsnews. com/8301-18563_162-6510144. html

Sociology Discussions: Immigration

Immigration both legal and illegal immigration have implications on the receiving country. However, illegal immigration usually comes with greater disadvantages that legal entry because while the latter is planned for and considered by authorities socially and economically, the former is potentially harmful on both accounts. Manifest functions in immigration can be explained as expected or intended events and its impacts on the receiving country. Latent functions are unplanned or unintended occurrences in immigration and are rather leniency approaches to immigration.Dysfunctions are associated disturbances in the anticipated (or otherwise) impacts of immigrations both legal and illegal (Kendall, 2007). In both kinds of immigration, the functions apply differently. Typical manifest functions of illegal immigration are to prevent the practice of immigrants’ influx, reduction in crime rate, and protection of jobs across the border, especially menial jobs. Latent functions would b e to try and rescue immigrants who may try to use crude means of immigration, to save their lives and even increasing humanitarian assistance to help them incase of injuries.Manifest dysfunctions are obvious and range from apprehensions and delays, deportation on flimsy accounts of breaking of rules or on spouses who have different citizenship or unfounded suspicion of being terrorists, longer detention burdens taxpayers or unfortunately still, inadequate records. Fatalities may also not be completely eradicated or worse still presence of guides who take payments from infants to let them in. Other major dysfunctions include impacts on public infrastructure and social amenities like school systems, hospitals and recreational facilities that experience increased stresses due to population surges.In effect, there are increased rates of contagious diseases due to health facilities that may not be able to cope with this population influx. The cost of providing essential government servic es usually goes up. Discussion #4 Marriage as a social institution, according to functional paradigm (Parsons, 1961) is built up of various components or parts is decamping from a stable and orderly institution that it was and is basically falling apart in its core functions. Marriage was perceived to be a way of reproduction and happier way of coexistence.When unchecked, reproduction escalated and was halted on its heels by the need for population control through family planning and late marriages. For a family to remain moral, they placed increasingly little attention to child bearing. This reduces the mature male or female individual’s commitment of wanting to engage in a binding marriage for the sake of reproduction. Again talks and reports of higher numbers of failed marriages is a setback to the high hopes of happier life the institution once elicited.Most marrying age adults are tucked away in learning institutions thus reducing these available for permanent stay. Argu ing on the social conflict point of view, marrying off to a man on the basis of wealth for an adult American is not fashionable anymore because the gender economic divide has been bridge through affirmative action and more and more women getting into similar or better paying jobs than adult males. Working class and wealthy women feel increasingly independent and thus do not have to lean any further on men for financial support previously guaranteed in marriage.In need for sexual pleasure, couples thus resort to a lesser economic form of marital commitment that is cohabitation. A contrasting argument on this account is that acute loss or unavailability of jobs means that fewer men have financial control that they would use to lure women into marital lives. Brute coercion into marriage as may have been the occasion, and as is especially in underdeveloped countries seldom exist anymore. Using symbolic interaction to describe the last scenario, it is commonplace to see children born out of wedlock these days.This is partly due to the fact that the society is awash with incidences of single parents – either from divorce or separations – that successfully raise their children. There is an increased confidence (and decreased stigma) in raising children this way. Through observation, the society has come of age to take the situation to mean well for them. The interpretation of the society’s view is that the habit has come of age and is not a stigma anymore as was in early 20th century and before. Reference: Kendall, D. (2007). Sociology in Our Time: The Essentials. 6th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co. Parsons, T. (1961). Theories of Society: Modern Sociological Theory. New York: Free Press.

Practitioner

Counseling as describe by Reform (2010) is a proactive, holistically oriented process for helping persons learn to cope with problems of living and for promoting healthy development. It is an interpersonal process Involving a professional with the requisite graduate education and experience In counseling (the counselor), using scientifically validated methods, working with an Individual, family, group, organizations or segment of a community that Is seeking assistance (the client).Reform (2010) describe Psychotherapy as an assumed a medical model, meaning the arson receiving help was sick. The goal of psychotherapy was to alleviate the sickness, with therapist as expert using Information about the clients past to provide Insight Into thoughts previously kept out of awareness. A good understanding of counseling and psychotherapy will contribute to my development as a scholar-practitioner.Walden offers courses that help their students to understand what counseling is about, the diversi ty of ways we can help clients and how to become a prepare counselor. Walden have the tools to help students to become good counselors and enable them to understand and use the psychotherapy theories as a guide in our Journey as scholar-practitioners; this will help me to help the people in my community. I believe that a good understanding of what is counseling and how to use the psychotherapy is going to help me to become agent of positive social change.I'm interested in a few fields of counseling, but at this moment the one that have my attention is mental disorders. I believe that a mental disorder is an increasing illness in our communities; this is the area that I will like to focus on. I will like to help people with mental illnesses to become a successful part of our society. Reference Reform, B. T. 2010). Orientation to the Counseling Profession: Advocacy, Ethics, and Essential Professional Foundations. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.Practitioner By gamekeepe r development. It is an interpersonal process involving a professional with the requisite graduate education and experience in counseling (the counselor), using scientifically validated methods, working with an individual, family, group, organizations or segment of a community that is seeking assistance (the client). Sickness, with therapist as expert using information about the client's past to provide insight into thoughts previously kept out of awareness.

Reificaition Case Essay

Wikipedia defines reification as â€Å"(Lat. res thing + facere to make) n. the turning of something into a thing or object; the error which consists in treating as a â€Å"thing† something which is not one. Hypostatization, treating an abstract entity as if it were concrete, is a case in point†. In Marxist terms, it is the consideration of a human being as a physical object, deprived of subjectivity. According to Marxists, this is one of the pitfalls of the capitalist system because in such a system the laborers and their work are not valued to their proper extent. Their work is treated as a commodity and is valued according to the unpredictable needs of the market. This concept is closely tied to the Marxist idea of commodity fetishism which Wikipedia describes as â€Å"an inauthentic state of social relations, said to arise in complex capitalist market systems, where social relationships are confused with their medium, the commodity.† Marxist writer, Georg Lukà ¡cs, writes thus: The transformation of the commodity relation into a thing of ‘ghostly objectivity’ cannot there ore content itself with the reduction of all objects for the gratification of human needs to commodities. It stamps its imprint upon the whole consciousness of man; his qualities an abilities are no longer an organic par of his personality, they are things which he can ‘own’ or ‘dispose of’ like the various objects of the external world. Simply put, Marxists criticize capitalist systems for stripping the human person of his social nature. He is transformed into a commodity or a product. One’s labor is transformed into money which is in turn used to purchase the products of other people’s labor. Although this may facilitate the exchange of goods, the problem of the system lies in the fact that because of this abstraction, the use-value (the actual usefulness of the object) is oftentimes totally different from its exchange-value (the value of the object in the marketplace). For example, a person who creates a hammer (which has a variety of uses) will be paid less than a person who makes jewelry (an object which has less use than a hammer). The value given to the work of the laborer is incommensurate to the work and effort that he made in order to produce the good. How can reification be avoided? Marxist measures against reification have proven themselves to be ineffective (including complete control over the market and standardization of wages). This is because these measures tend to remove the element of competition from the formula, thus, causing production to suffer instead. An alternative mode by which reification is avoided is through the respect of human rights. According to John Locke, each person has the natural right to life, liberty and estate which must be protected by the government. These rights must ensure that each person shall be given his due. By treating persons as individuals with human rights and dignity, people will be treated as an end and never as a means. The theory of human rights has been upheld and accepted by most of the world and are embodied in international instruments and conventions, most notable is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the field of labor and employment, modern societies have integrated this idea of human dignity by setting minimum standards and conditions to be strictly followed by employers under the pain of appropriate sanctions should they be defied. For example, there could be a law saying that any employee who works beyond eight hours in a single day shall be given additional overtime pay. Another instance would be a law that would lay down a minimum wage based on the living standards and conditions of the locality where the worker belongs. By recognizing the human dignity of every person, reification is completely obliteration because persons are then given the respect they deserve. They are no longer treated as cogs in the machinery of production but are considered partners in the enterprise. By holding that each person deserves to be treated with dignity, they are esteemed as subjects never objects, and will be given their due.       Bibliography Lukà ¡cs, Georg. 1967. History & Class Consciousness. Translated by Andy Blunden. Merlin Press. Smith, John, Bob Snider, and Diane Hill. 2005. A study of physics. New York: McGraw Hill. Wikipedia. 2006. Commodity fetishism. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodity_fetishism. Ashcraft, Richard. 1986. Revolutionary Politics and Locke’s â€Å"Two Treatises of Government†. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Wikipedia. 2006. Georg Lukà ¡cs. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Luk%C3%A1cs. Wikipedia. 2006. Human Rights. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights. Wikipedia. 2006. John Locke. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_locke. Wikipedia. 2006. Reification. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reification.