Saturday, November 30, 2019

Talent Management Strategies and Measures

Introduction The modern business environment is facing enormous changes and constant challenges that result from human resource errors and production failures. Given the increasing demand for exemplary services by consumers, managers are continuously looking for new talents in the labour market to replace incompetent workforce and fill vacant positions (Kehinde, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Talent Management Strategies and Measures specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More While the increasing need for human resources is obviously pervasive, poor realisation of the impact of retaining talented workforce has placed organisations on high wage bills and low performances. Wing (2004) postulates that the technique of talent management has become one of the most incredible strategic plans of human resource management that has provided companies with the means of retaining talented workforce. Talent management has re cently proven to be effective means of empowering workforce, creating workplace motivation, and retaining workers (Kehinde, 2012). To expound on the talent management concept, this essay explores the talent management strategies and measures implemented by the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). Overview of Talent Management and INTOSAI Traditionally, organisations mostly believed in constant retrenchments and replacements as a way of managing inefficient workforce and eliminating the incompetent workers in workplaces (Gubman, 2004). Due to the increasing complexities in the labour market with workers frequently seeking for more paying professions, the need for capacity building to maintain talented workforce has heightened (Wing, 2004). Opposed to the traditional disorderly retrenchment programs, modern talent management has received an advanced technical approach and a new meaning altogether. Lewis and Heckman, define talent management as a systemat ic human resource practice of managing the supply, the demand, and the stream of talented workforce through the human capital parameters (2006). The practice of talent management comprises of a set of practices initiated through the human capital management processes, to manage efficient human resource in organisations. According to Lewis and Heckman (2006), talent management ensures that the workforce aligns with business goals and is capable of driving corporate goals to a meaningful success. Human Capital Management (HCM), as a human resource strategic plan ranges from a few motivational supports to a series of corporate strategies tailored towards ensuring effective capacity building and talent management (Romans Lardner, 2005).Advertising Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Being a succession planning technique where new and motivated workforce replaces retirees to retrenched worke rs, organisations have embraced the concept of talent management and have designed varied techniques of managing talent (Wing, 2004). The International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions is among the modern organisations that have acknowledged the growing impetus of human resource management and talent retention. The company launched a capacity building committee predominantly to ensure that Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) make the most out of the talents available in their workforces (INTOSAI, 2013). INTOSAI community as the custodian of the SAI advocates for capacity building as part of talent management techniques (INTOSAI, 2013). The organisation uses varied talent management strategies and measures to achieve capacity building through a mutual work plan. Talent Management Strategies and Measures of INTOSAI Companies have initiated various talent management strategies to nurture talents of workers and make them more useful to the corporate and individual development (Ca ppelli, 2008). The main objective of the INTOSAI organisation as a custodian of SAIs is to offer developmental support and advice on human capacity building through different measures of enhancing talent management in their human resource sectors. INTOSAI has a Capacity Building Committee (CBC) that has placed a range of practices and measures for talent management to ensure that SAI workers and their institutions benefit from the capacity building initiatives (INTOSAI, 2013). The CBC has four main committees, namely, the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI), the Professional Standards Committee (PSC), the Model International Organization (MIO), and the Knowledge Sharing Committee. INTOSAI committees engage in talent management techniques, which include holding mutual workshops towards innovative strategies, employee training and development, employee certification, working on the knowledge sharing initiatives, and development of professional working standards.Advertising We wi ll write a custom article sample on Talent Management Strategies and Measures specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) Nurturing human talents through capacity building and talent management techniques requires a series of approaches to exhaust the abilities of individuals in a workplace (Lewis Heckman, 2006). INTOSAI has a development initiative that works closely with the capacity building committee towards talent management of employees of the SAI communities across the world. â€Å"The INTOSAI Development Initiative is an INTOSAI agency, which supports Supreme Audit Institutions in developing countries, in their efforts to sustainably enhance performance, independence and professionalism† (INTOSAI, 2013, par. 2). The development initiative has a series of activities and processes aimed towards harmonizing and facilitating efficient SAI capacity development agendas. The agenda of the develop ment initiative is to disseminate global public goods, empower regional bodies, develop supportive communities and networks, and assist in formulating effective support to the SAI groups (INTOSAI, 2013). Such initiatives intend to enhance talent management and capacity development among the workers of Supreme Audit Institutions and related agencies in developing countries. As a human resource strategic plan that helps people improve their competencies, talent management and capacity development involve efforts towards enhancing the individual performance of workers (Wing, 2004). INTOSAI enhances the performance of SAI through the IDI platform, with numerous talent management initiatives and professional development agendas. In practical professional development, the IDI is responsible for training, couching, and improving the skills of SAI professionals in issues related to the use of information technology in auditing (INTOSAI, 2013). The IDI prepares the IDI Global Programme with a purpose of enhancing professionalism of workers through making them competent in the e-courses related to auditing. The IDI Global Programme conducts training on the e-courses, undertakes online course support, and assesses the growth of SAI workers in e-courses through examinations and certification (INTOSAI, 2013). To enhance work proficiency, SAI workers undertake e-courses, engage in IT programmes supported by the IDI Global Programme, and receive results and certificates when successful in the courses offered.Advertising Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The IDI platform acts as an employment network for assisting qualified employees to seek working opportunities within the Supreme Auditing Institutions. Since several accountants across developing countries are seeking opportunities to enhance their professional experience in established accounting firms, IDI platform acts as a professional breakthrough for aspiring workers (INTOSAI, 2013). The IDI has an open website for the SAI workers who have interest in understanding networks and communities of professional accounting. The website supports SAI employees to have access to capacity development programmes that are essential in the development of employee careers in the accounting and auditing fields. Proper governance is an important aspect in INTOSAI, as leadership is important in management of SAIs (INTOSAI, 2013). The IDI enhances governance in SAIs through providing professional training to SAI managers strategically to improve accountability and transparency. Public accountin g requires professional and effective leadership, and through enhancing corporate governance, IDI makes SAI managers competent to lead public accounting firms. The Professional Standards Committee (PSC) The modern workplace environment requires proper understanding of the regulations and the practice standards that govern a professional field (Cappelli, 2008). The INTOSAI organisation understands that SAI workers in developing counties need professional standards that guide their practices in the field of financial auditing. As part of their capacity building initiative, INTOSAI has an effective professional standards committee that oversees the practices of SAI agencies to ensure that professional auditing standards are efficient (INTOSAI, 2013). The main objective of the Professional Standards Committee is to initiate and maintain international auditing standards that Supreme Audit institutions should utilize. Professional standards in auditing are essential, since they improve th e credibility and competence of employees working in public accounting firms (INTOSAI, 2013). Additionally, the PSC assists members of the INTOSAI community to ensure that their audit teams develop effective communication strategies and policies. The PSC also advices and promotes efficient leadership behaviours through providing support on formulating policies towards good governance. In enhancing standards of public sector auditing, the professional standards formulated by the PSC normally assist INTOSAI members to create policies and regulations of ensuring standard performance in the audit activities and report making. INTOSAI (2013) believes that such approaches act as basis for establishing professional auditing skills to workers, which subsequently help in enhancing individual proficiency in public auditing. PSC further assists INTOSAI members to understand the need for undertaking public auditing in accordance with the ethical principles of auditing (INTOSAI, 2013). The profe ssional competence of finance auditors lies in their ability to practice auditing while observing the required business ethics governing the auditing practice. Through ensuring that SAIs work in accordance with the professional auditing standards, the PSC helps workers and managers to become efficient, competent, and independent in their public auditing practices (INTOSAI, 2013). Therefore, INTOSAI achieves talent management aims through ensuring that auditing standards support SAI workers to work professionally in the sector auditing. Talent management through capacity development in INTOSAI also entails formulation of various committees and groups to support SAI members to perform duties in accordance with the established auditing standards. The PSC has a financial audit subcommittee, a performance audit subcommittee, a compliance audit subcommittee, and an accounting and reporting subcommittee (INTOSAI, 2013). The financial audit subcommittee is very essential to the performance of SAI workers in the public sector auditing. According to INTOSAI (2013), the subcommittee helps SAI workers to develop standard financial statements that are essential in the public sector auditing and documentation of public audit concerns. The financial audit subcommittee formulates high-quality guidelines that ensure that the SAI members undertake the above audit mandates in the globally accepted audit standards (INTOSAI, 2013). As a capacity-building strategy, the performance audit subcommittee is responsible for formulating guidelines for effective performance auditing, public sector audit reforms and developments, and the relevant evaluation or auditing methods. In helping SAI workers to comply with the international auditing standards, PSC has a compliance audit subcommittee that elaborates and clarifies the terms of compliance audit (INTOSAI, 2013). The compliance audit subcommittee helps SAI audit members to understand the different mandates governing compliance audit and provides them with a practical guidance on planning, execution, and reporting of compliance audit (INTOSAI, 2013). Such efforts have been crucial in supporting SAI members to perform their public auditing duties in a standardised and professional manner. The work of auditors is never complete if the financial assessment does not end with an audit report. The accounting and reporting subcommittee is an efficient agency of PSC that helps workers to unveil audit reports in a standardised and professional manner (INTOSAI, 2013). The subcommittee helps SAI workers to prepare auditing periodic reports in the desired accounting and reporting standards. All these practices help SAI workers to grow professionally in their auditing practices. The Knowledge Sharing Committee Modern talent management involves a number of strategies that entail empowering individuals professionally through knowledge acquisition and sharing on basic issues surrounding the professional practice of a certain field of work. Likierman (2007) argues that having a high knowledge base is one of the critical aspects that contemporary human resources should have to cope with the changing dynamics of workplaces. INTOSAI organisation has understood the need to embrace knowledge sharing, cooperation, and mutual workplace growth. The capacity building initiative of INTOSAI tailored towards knowledge sharing has several practices and activities that help SAI workers to share knowledge with great openness and cooperation (INTOSAI, 2013). The strategies of knowledge sharing agenda include establishment of new working groups and maintenance of existing-working teams. Knowledge sharing also enables SAI workers to share ideas on best auditing practices, workplace diversity, and global communication strategies and policies. Such practices enable workers to share experiences and challenges in the field of public accounting. With the increased innovation and growth in technology, workers possess different level s of abilities, knowledge, ideas, proficiency, and exposure in certain professional fields (Likierman, 2007). The contemporary knowledge base on professional practices and auditing is broad and dispersed among workers in organisations. As a strategy towards capacity development among workers, the knowledge-sharing programme of INTOSAI promotes employee partnerships in undertaking academic activities and research on auditing practices (INTOSAI, 2013). The partnerships allow SAI members to share ideas and opinions on the auditing research, and the requirements necessary in compiling INTOSAI audit reports to enhance consistency in accounting research. The knowledge accumulated and shared among workers of SAI is very essential in improving the service provision in the public sector audit (INTOSAI, 2013). The knowledge-sharing initiative allows managers and workers to participate in holding mutual workshops towards innovative strategies. INTOSAI Workshops are centres of professional deve lopment and training, where audit consultants provide consultations on auditing issues. Professional consultations help SAI workers to increase knowledge base on the present and emerging accounting issues. â€Å"A consulting perspective, often influential in the design and operation of capacity-building programs, tends to focus on the practical use of information to improve current and future performance† (Wing, 2004, p.154). The knowledge-sharing initiative falls into various divisions, namely the public debt group, the IT audit group, the financial modernisation and reform group, the anti-corruption and money laundering group, and the task force that regulates and discusses issues of audit on procurement contracts (INTOSAI, 2013). These knowledge-sharing groups have different mandates and objectives tailored towards assisting members of the SAI community to undertake auditing in a professional manner. Workers engage in competency-building discussions, engage in research and discussions on IT audit practices, anti-corruption audit, the public debt audit, and in financial modernisation and reforms audit (INTOSAI, 2013). These practices are essential platforms of capacity development as they enhance employee competency in auditing. Model International Organization (MIO) Talent management is effective, when leadership, efficiency in practice, and decision-making are core values in a professional field (Romans Lardner, 2005). Talent management strategies are also successful when firms consider supporting the development programmes with appropriate finance and resources. A significant capacity-building component of the INTOSAI community is the Model International Organisation (MIO), which ensures effective governance and coordination of SAI public auditing activities (INTOSAI, 2013). The MIO initiative promotes efficient, valuable, and economical working practices of SAI in the field of the public audit sector. Such efforts are appropriate as they enable S AI workers to engage resourcefully in the INTOSAI audit training and capacity development. Talent management is part of empowering workforce, and financial stability in talent management programs is essential to encourage workers to participate in the initiatives (Frank Taylor, 2004). The MIO initiative has a Finance and Administration Committee (FAC) that supports SAI members financially, to relieve them from the training and development expenses. The most imperative contribution of the MIO initiative is its duty in enhancing effective decision-making on issues regarding empowerment, motivation, employee development, training, and other capacity-building agendas (INTOSAI, 2013). The MIO board of leaders supports individual SAI agencies in making decisions that are essential in supporting the activities of capacity development of INTOSAI. Such approaches strengthen the bond between regional SAI agencies and the international INTOSAI system towards capacity development and talent ma nagement (INTOSAI, 2013). The MIO system promotes effective auditing practices and ensures that decisions and activities of regional SAI agencies reflect actions that are essential for capacity development. As part of knowledge empowerment, the MIO system carries out assessment on professional growth of individual workers in the public audit sector and provides certification to auditors on relevant public audit management courses offered through the global INTOSAI (INTOSAI, 2013). Such initiatives make auditors competent in the public auditing field and create professional confidence to SAI workers. An efficient means of ensuring that capacity building is triumphant is through proper planning and designing of programmes that support the initiatives of capacity development (Gubman, 2004). The MIO system provides INTOSAI agency with means of enhancing their approaches through providing guidelines in strategic planning and coordination of activities and duties of the capacity building initiatives (INTOSAI, 2013). The MIO system has a strategic FAC taskforce responsible for strategic planning on the effective development, monitoring, and implementation of the designed capacity building plans (INTOSAI, 2013). The team ensures that all activities, arrangements, methods, and targets of the capacity development initiatives are running in an orderly arrangement. The INTOSAI governing body, the committee members, the director of INTOSAI strategic planning, and the regional working groups, merge together to formulate policies and strategies that ensure that preparation and implementation of the plans reflect the desired goals of capacity development (INTOSAI, 2013). Such efforts ensure that members achieve talent management efficiently. Conclusion Talent management is undoubtedly the most effective approach of attracting and retaining workforce in modern organisations where innovation seems to change in accordance with the rising business challenges. Companies have devel oped different strategies and measures of undertaking talent management in their organisations. INTOSAI is a global auditing organisation that oversees professional growth and monitors the adherence of SAIs to the global professional auditing standards. Categorised in four main groups of capacity building, the four committees and task forces on different areas of organisation initiatives are generally responsible for capacity development. The four task forces assist INTOSAI in developing professional standards of auditing that SAI workers use as guidelines in the public sector auditing. The committees also formulate policies, regulations, strategic plans, and norms that govern capacity development within the INTOSAI initiatives. The INTOSAI agency also ensures professional training and growth of the SAI workers through relevant professional assessment and appropriate audit certification. References Cappelli, P. (2008). Talent management for the twenty-first century. Harvard Business Review, 86(3), 74-81. Frank, F., Taylor, C. (2004). Talent management: Trends that will shape the future. Human Resource Planning, 27(1), 33−41. Gubman, E. (2004). HR strategy and planning: From birth to business results.  Human Resource Planning, 27(1), 113−123. INTOSAI (2013). The International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). Web. Kehinde, J. (2012). Talent Management: Effect on Organizational Performance. Journal of Management Research, 4(2), 178-186. Lewis, R., Heckman, R. (2006). Talent management: A critical review. Human Resource Management Review, 16(1), 139-154. Likierman, A. (2007). How to measure the success of talent management. People Management, 13(4), 46-47. Romans, J., Lardner, L. (2005). Integrated talent management at BD Japan. Strategic HR Review, 4(5), 16-19. Wing, K. (2004). Assessing the Effectiveness of Capacity-Building Initiatives: Seven Issues for the Field. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 33(1), 153-160. This article on Talent Management Strategies and Measures was written and submitted by user Marcus U. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The assessment and treatment of a diabetic ulcer with be discussed. The WritePass Journal

The assessment and treatment of a diabetic ulcer with be discussed. Introduction The assessment and treatment of a diabetic ulcer with be discussed. IntroductionThe phases of normal wound healing   Inflammation – a reaction to tissue damage / infection   Reconstruction – granulation tissue starts to form.   Epithelialisation – the wound becomes covered with epithelial cells.   Maturation – scar tissue starts to fade and blend in with the normal tissueCase StudyREFERENCESRelated Introduction For this tissue viability assignment the assessment and treatment of a diabetic ulcer with be discussed. Wound healing and it properties will also be mentioned in regards to holistic factors affecting the chosen patient (pt).   In accordance with the Health Professional Council (HPC) a standard of conduct, performance and ethics, a pseudonym has been used to protect the identity of the pt discussed (HPC 2008).  Ã‚   I certify that confidentiality has been maintained, for the purpose of this assignment the patient will be called Mr Sim.An ulcer is a defect effecting loss of epidermis and all or part of the dermis (Lookingbill Marks 1993).   The skin comprises of three layers, and is the largest organ in the body. The average adult has 21 square feet of skin   (2 sq m)   weighing up to 3.2 Kg (Benbow 2007). The three layers of the skin are, the Epidermis   this consists of dead skin cells which shed continuously and it protects against certain bacteria.   The epidermis also acts as a barrier to prevent evaporation and absorption of water.   The Dermal Layer consists of capillaries, sebaceous (oil) glands, sensory receptors which transmit sensations such as itch, pain and temperature, and hair follicles all held together by elastin and collagen. The Subcutaneous layer contains fat and connective tissue that houses larger blood vessels and nerves. This layer is important in the regulation of temperature of the skin itself and the body. The size of this layer varies throughout the body and from person to person (Brannon 2007). The skin is a complicated structure with many functions. If any of the structures in the skin are compromised through poor blood supply, trauma, surgery etc. a wound may develop. â€Å"A wound is a loss of continuity to the skin â€Å"states Dealey Cameron (2008) The phases of normal wound healing    Inflammation – a reaction to tissue damage / infection    Reconstruction – granulation tissue starts to form.    Epithelialisation – the wound becomes covered with epithelial cells.    Maturation – scar tissue starts to fade and blend in with the normal tissue Case Study The subject of this study is a male patient aged 69 years, for the purpose of this case study the patient will be referred to as Mr Sim.   Mr Sim attended as a new patient to the podiatry department at his local clinic complaining â€Å"something has been catching on my socks†. On examination of Mr Sim’s foot a large area of callus was observed on the plantar aspect of his right fifth toe (ball of foot under little toe) there was some brown discolouration due to extravasation (leakage of blood into the skin) indicating that there could be an ulcer under the callus. It was explained to Mr Sim that further assessment and treatment would be necessary to determine what and why the problem was occurring. The podiatry assessment tool was used to provide a holistic approach to assessment of medical history and social factors that may affect the foot health of the patient.   The tool has a systematic problem based approach to undertaking clinical assessment and a detailed history; it is similar in outlay to a Patient Orientated Medical Review (POMR).   Both the POMR and the podiatry assessment tool include a description of the presenting complaint which is an important part as it determines what the patient considers to be important and can be used to establish agreed expectations.   Both models include previous and current medical history including any operations, illnesses or injuries which is of high importance in wound healing as systemic disorders or medication can have a large impact on wound healing. Both assessment tools include a detail of any known allergies, any family traits and social factors such as smoking or drug taking.   The factors assessed in the above tools are recognised as being significant factors in wound healing. Rainey (2005) lists medication, illness, smoking, alcohol consumption and mobility as factors that affect wound healing.   In addition to the POMR the podiatry assessment tool focuses on the factors that may affect the patients foot health for example previous or current occupations, an appraisal of the patient’s footwear and assessment of patients gait, vascular assessment, condition of skin, skin colour, skin temperature as well as palpating pedal pluses. A neurological assessment using a 10 gram monofilament, which is the standard neuropathy test in primary and community care in the united kingdom since National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for the management of the diabetic foot were published in 2004 (Boulton et al 2006).   However the podiatry assessment tool does not include an assessment of the nutritional status of a patient which has been regarded as a key factor affecting wound healing (Dealey 2005, Rainey 2005), and malnutrition is a very important cause in delaying the healing process (Morrison 1992). Using the podiatry assessment tool it was found that Mr Sim was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes nine years ago and had recently moved to the area from abroad after losing his wife of to whom he was married to for forty four years, he now lives in the same road as his nephew.   Mr Sims has good control of his diabetes taking metformin 500m mg twice daily, his recent HBA1C was 7.3 % this is regarded as tight glycaemic control (Lee et al 2006) His nutritional status adequate, he reports no strong family history of diabetes or heart disease, he occasionally has a glass of red wine.   Mr Sims also takes medication to control hypertension (high blood pressure), bendroflumethiazide and aspirin, a cholesterol tablet as a precautionary method, and painkillers and antiflammatory treatment for osteoarthritis. He also mentioned that the pain in his back was increasing, and was taking a course of antibiotics for an infected cut on his hand obtained whilst gardening.   For some time now he ha d been experiencing bouts of tingling in both his hands and feet.   He expressed that he takes good care of himself never smoked, eats well and keeps active, and he states he has â€Å"an awareness of the importance of good footwear as I was in the army†. All patients with diabetes should receive an annual foot check by a trained health care professional (NICE 2004), this includes the application of a 10g monofilament to five points on each foot, to assess the protective sensation in the feet and the extent of any sensory neuropathy. Peripheral sensory neuropathy is thought to affect 20 – 40% of the population (McIntosh et al 2004) and is a major factor in the development of diabetic foot ulceration. Both feet were tested using the 10g monofilament this resulted in 0/5 probes being detected on both feet indicating peripheral neuropathy, however the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibialis were palpable in both feet, skin colour, texture and temperature and capillary refill was 2 seconds indicating good blood supply (Dealey 2005). Baker, Murali and Fowler (2005) state that the palpation of foot pulses is not a good indicator for a good blood supply.   A Doppler gives a more accurate result when assessing vascular status it assists the diagnosis by determining the presence or absence of a compromised arterial flow in the lower limb (Dughil 2006) Jeng et al (2000) concluded that if a person cannot identify the pressure from a 10g monofilament on their skin approximately 98% of the sensory ability has been lost. When the 10g monofilament is applied to the foot it buckles at a given force of 10g, inability to feel this is a significant indication that neuropathy is present and protective pain sensation is lost (Edmonds and Foster 2000). Neuropathy presents itself in various ways; motor, sensory and autonomic nerves are affected and there is no conclusive proof as to what causes neuropathy.   Factors such as high glucose levels can cause chemical changes, harming blood vessels, which supply oxygen, to tissue.   Motor neuropathy, causes abnormal foot pressures, the structure of the foot can change, giving abnormal pressure areas. Sensory neuropathy can give reduced sensation, masking pain, allowing for callus build up, and leading to ulceration.   Autonomic neuropathy, which leads to dehydration of the skin, is commonly known as arteriovenous shunting (A.V).   Neuropathy is detected by using a 10g monofilament. This is used on high pressure areas to detect if the patient can feel pain or not. These results, however, may not always be reliable, as they rely on patient feedback, therefore clinical judgement, must always be upheld at all times. Diabetes affects the vascular supply to the foot, leading to reduce or absent pulses, causing poor tissue viability, decreasing healing time. Excess glucose and cholesterol deposits in the lumen of blood vessels, reducing the diameter, which in turn, increases heart activity causing hypertension.   Aspirin is used as a prevention, it is classed as an anti-platelet drug which reduces platelet aggregation.   Aspirin inhibits enzyme COX, which reduces platelet production of TXA2, which is a powerful vasoconstrictor. Mr Johnson* is currently taking Atenolol, hypertensive drug as well as Aspirin to reduce the chances of thrombosis or MI. It was explained in detail to Mr Sim about the complications of diabetes and how it may affect the feet, during the discussion Mr Sim became upset about the loss of his wife, â€Å"she always looked after my feet particularly because of the diabetes†.   It was important to establish a good rapour with Mr Sim, as the lesion was causing him no discomfort apart from catching on his socks.   The recent loss of his wife, his back pain and hand infection had put a lot of stress on Mr Sim.   Depression is twice as likely to occur in people with diabetes and this can have a link to fluctuating blood sugar levels.   Mr Sim is also experiencing pain from his back and is still grieving about the death of his wife and coming to terms with living alone.   Stress is recognised as a factor in delaying wound healing (Dealey 2005; Glasser et al 1999; Kiecolt-Glasser et al 1995).   Cole-king and Harding (2001) found a statistically significant relationship between anxiety and depres sion and delayed in chronic wounds.   Communicating with patients can reduce anxiety and promote the natural healing process, conversely lack of communication may impair healing (Collier 1994) It was then explained to Mr Sim extenslevily about the lesion of his foot in regards to his general health without adding to his stress levels.   Education has proven to be vital in the management of diabetes (NICE) .   It was suggested that on debridement of the callus that there could possibly be foot ulcer, with Mr Sim’s consent the callus was removed using sharp debridement an ulcer was revealed.   The ulcer measured 1cm x 1cm and probed to a depth of 5mm to tendon but not to bone, the base of the was ulcer was sloughy and yellow and appearance showed no sign of infection, sharp debridement was   used   very carefully to remove slough.   Slough in the base of an ulcer is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria which increases the risk of infection and delays healing (Rainey 2005).  Ã‚   If infection was noted healing will be delayed and may spread to surrounding tissue or bone. At the time of assessment Mr Sim’s ulcer showed no signs of infection, althou gh he was taking a course of antibiotics for the infection in the wound on his hand. Diabetic problems such as peripheral ischemia or neuropathy can mask signs of infection this was considered on assessment. The wound following sharp debridement was flat and pink, this was significant as rolled edges would indicate infection. The condition of the skin was dry and showed no signs of maceration. The use of tool to grade the ulcer can provide objectivity and help with communication between health professionals.   The tool used in this study was EPUAP European Pressure Ulcer Advisory System 1998, in this case the ulcer was caused by excess pressure   over an area affected by peripheral sensory neuropathy.   There are many wound classification systems including SAD, SINBAD and PEDIS, however the EPUAP grading system was protocol for this particular community trust.   The ulcer was classified as a grade four pressure ulcer which is described as extensive destruction tissue necrosi s, or damage to muscle, bone or supporting structure with or without full thickness loss. The choice of dressing being â€Å"Activon Honey Tulle† produced by Advancis medical the gauze is impregnated with pure Manuka honey, this was used firstly to complete the debridement autolyticly.   Secondly for the antimicrobial purposes and its aid to deslough and control odour in the wound.   Benbow (2008) states a mosit environment is essential for optimal wound healing.   Other dressings are considered also for their topical antimicrobial agents, such as Iodine and Silver.   Iodine was an option although none where available in Clinic.   Iodine is a popular choice for the use in Podiatry. Silver dressings are more expensive than the honey and also should only be used when there is clinical sighs of infection (British national Formulary: BNF, Nov 2009), so, as in Mr Sim’s case there was no signs.   The secondary dressing was a foam dressing designed to absorb and retain any wound exudate to stop the wound from becoming macerated and inhibiting wound heal ing. ‘Biatain’ was the dressing choice as this is one of the foam dressings used in the clinics.   This was needed as the Activion Tulle does not have any absorption properties.   These dressing were held in place with ‘Mefix’ an adherent tape.   Mr Sim was given instructions to keep the dressing clean and dry until his next appointment Holistically the treatment plan was to contact Mr Sim’s, G.P regarding his depression over the loss of his wife, and referral to the local diabetes centre.   A lengthy discussion was held on the importance of good footwear and changing shoes regularly, as although Mr Sim’s shoes where good shoes they were very old and the innersole had worn out penetrating to the outer sole (hole in bottom of shoe).   A total contact insole referral was made to relieve the pressure long term.   Temporally a pad was mad to deflect pressure away from the ulcer overlying the dressing in situ.   Effective reduction in pressure relief is essential to heal a diabetic foot ulcer and to prevent reoccurrence (Armstrong et al 2001).   A education booklet was supplied titled Diabetic foot Ulcer, if a patient has the knowledge and understanding of their treatment plan they are More likely to comply (Dowsett 2004). Mr Sim was as asked to return to clinic in five days as part of his dressing regime, he reported he had an appointment with the G.P the following day to discuss his depression. He had also received a letter from the diabetes centre with an appointment for the following week.   The NSF (National Service Framework) and NICE the National Institute for Clinical Excellence set standards and put polices in place for every health care professional to follow, all patients with diabetes present with an ulcer must be referred on to a multidisciplinary team to receive the best care possible. The multidisciplinary team consists highly trained podiatrist, diabetologist, consultant, nurses, orthotists all of which specialises in complications of the foot and lower limb (NICE 2004). The dressing was removed the wound measured a reduction in depth and circumference 7mm x 6mm depth 3mm, exudate levels where low, there were no clinical signs of infection, no maceration or further callus formation, the same dressing was applied and along with padding. A further appointment was made for seven day’s time , ideally the dressing change should be five days but due to staff sickness this was not possible. At this appointment Mr Sim had seen the G.P who had referred him to a bereavement councillor.   The diabetes Centre had furthermore made a referral to the orthopaedic department who are fitting Mr Sim for orthopaedic footwear for pressure relief in accordance with NICE guidelines (2008). On conclusion the outcome for this case study was a positive one, the patient was assessed holistically to identify and factors which may hinder the healing process, this not only includes the factors directly affecting the wound but also indirectly by affecting the patients qua lity of life including dealing with bereavement, housing issues etc.   The Department of Health (DH 2008) stated â€Å"Delivering improvements for people with long term conditions is not just about treating illness, it is about delivering personalised, responsive, holistic care in the full context of how people live their lives.   Our journey to achieve this has started, our challenge is to continue to take it forward and the evidence compels us to do this†. REFERENCES HPC Armstrong, D.G., Nguyen, H.C Lavery, L. A., (2001) offlanding the diabetic foot wounds. Diabetes care 24 (6) 1019 1022 Baker, N., Murali-Krishman, S., Folwer, D (2005) A users guide to foot screening, part 2, peripheral arterial disease, the diabetic foot 8 (2) 58-70 Benbow M (May 2007) Back to Basics – Skin and Wounds. Journal of Community Nursing Vol 21 (5) p34 Benbow M   (2010) Ageing Wound healing, Journal of community nursing. 24 (5) 36-38 Brannon, H M.D   former about.comguide Collier, M (1994) assessing a wound. Nursing standard 8 (49): 3-13 Dealey, C. (2005). The care of Wounds. A guide for Nurses. Blackwell Science, oxford. Dowssett (2004) Dughill, S., (2006) peripheral arterial disease. Why screen in primary care?   Nursing times 102 (16) 38-39 Glaser, R., Kiecolt-Glaser, J.K., Marucha, D.M.D MacCallum, R.C., Laskowski, B.F., and Malarkey, W.B (1999). Stress-related changes in pro inflammatory cytokine production in wounds.   Archives of General Psychiatry 56 (5), 450-456. Cited in Dealey, C. (2005). Marcucha, P.T., Malarkey, W.B., Mercado, A.M Glaser, R. (1995).  Ã‚   Slowing of wound healing by psychological stress. Lancet, 346 (8984) 1194-1196. Cited in Dealey (2005) Rainey, J (2005). Wound Care, A handbook for community Nurses. Whurr Publishing, London.   Lookingbill ,D,P. Marks, J, G (1993) principles of Dermatology. London; W.B Saunders company.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Belgium Overview and Geography

Belgium Overview and Geography Population: 10.5 million (July 2009 estimate)Capital: BrusselsArea: Approximately 11,780 square miles (30,528 sq km)Borders: France, Luxembourg, Germany and the NetherlandsCoastline: About 40 miles (60 km) on the North Sea Belgium is an important country to both Europe and the rest of the world as its capital, Brussels, is the headquarters the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and of the European Commission and the Council of the European Union. In addition, that city is the home of many worldwide banking and insurance firms, leading some to call Brussels the unofficial capital of Europe. History of Belgium Like many of the worlds countries, Belgium has a long history. Its name is derived from the Belgae, a Celtic tribe that lived in the area in the first century B.C.E. Also, during the first century, the Romans invaded the area and Belgium was controlled as a Roman province for nearly 300 years. Around 300 C.E., Romes power began to diminish when Germanic tribes were pushed into the area and eventually the Franks, a German group, took control of the country. After the arrival of the Germans, the northern part of Belgium became a German-speaking area, while the people in the south remained Roman and spoke Latin. Soon after, Belgium became controlled by the Dukes of Burgundy and was eventually taken over by the Hapsburgs. Belgium was then later occupied by Spain from 1519 to 1713 and Austria from 1713 to 1794. In 1795, however, Belgium was annexed by Napoleonic France after the French Revolution. Shortly thereafter, Napoleons army was beaten during the Battle of Waterloo near Brussels and Belgium became a part of the Netherlands in 1815. It was then not until 1830 that Belgium won its independence from the Dutch. In that year, there was an uprising by the Belgian people and in 1831, a constitutional monarchy was established and a monarch from the House of Saxe-Coburg Gotha in Germany was invited to run the country. Throughout the decades following its independence, Belgium was invaded several times by Germany. In 1944 though, British, Canadian and America armies formally liberated Belgium. Languages of Belgium Because Belgium was controlled by different foreign powers for centuries, the country is very diverse linguistically. Its official languages are French, Dutch and German but its population is divided into two distinct groups. The Flemings, the larger of the two, live in the north and speak Flemish- a language closely related to Dutch. The second group lives in the south and consists of the Walloons who speak French. In addition, there is a German community near the city of Lià ¨ge and Brussels is officially bilingual. These different languages are important to Belgium because concerns over losing linguistic power has caused the government to divide the country into different regions, each of which has control over its cultural, linguistic and educational matters. Belgiums Government Today, Belgiums government is run as a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch. It has two branches of government. The first is the executive branch which consists of the King, who serves as the head of state; the Prime Minister, who is the head of government; and the Council of Ministers which represents the decision-making cabinet. The second branch is the legislative branch which is a bicameral parliament made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The major political parties in Belgium are the Christian Democratic, the Liberal Party, the Socialist Party, the Green Party and Vlaams Belang. Voting age in the country is 18. Because of its focus on regions and local communities, Belgium has several political subdivisions, each of which have a varied amount of political power. These include ten different provinces, three regions, three communities and 589 municipalities. Industry and Land Use of Belgium Like many other European countries, Belgiums economy consists mainly of the service sector but industry and agriculture are also significant. The northern area is considered the most fertile and much of the land there is used for livestock, although some of the land is used for agriculture. The main crops in Belgium are sugar beets, potatoes, wheat and barley. In addition, Belgium is a heavily industrialized country and coal mining was once important in southern areas. Today, though, almost all of the industrial centers are in the north. Antwerp, one of the largest cities in the country, is the center of petroleum refining, plastics, petrochemicals and the manufacturing of heavy machinery. It is also famous for being one of the worlds largest diamond trading centers. Geography and Climate of Belgium The lowest point in Belgium is sea level at the North Sea and its highest point is Signal de Botrange at 2,277 feet (694 m). The rest of the country features a relatively flat topography consisting of coastal plains in the northwest and gently rolling hills throughout the countrys central portion. The southeast, however, does have a mountainous region in its Ardennes Forest area. The climate of Belgium is considered maritime temperate with mild winters and cool summers. The average summer temperature is 77ËšF (25ËšC) while winters average around 45ËšF (7ËšC). Belgium can also be rainy, cloudy and humid. A Few More Facts About Belgium Belgium has a literacy rate of 99%The life expectancy is 78.685% of Belgians live in towns and citiesNearly 80% of the population of Belgium is Roman Catholic but there are several other religions in the country, all of which receive government subsidies. To read more about Belgium visit The US Department of State profile and the EUs profile of the country. References Central Intelligence Agency. (2010, April 21). CIA - The World Factbook Belgium. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/be.html Infoplease.com. (n.d.) Belgium: History, Geography, Government, and Culture. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0107329.html United States Department of State. (2009, October). Belgium (10/09). Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2874.htm

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Manchester United Take Over Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Manchester United Take Over - Case Study Example Acquiring the Man United brand means more than just owning a trademark. Brand acquisition gives an opportunity for brand exploitation. And nowhere is brand exploitation more rampant and unrestrained than in the United States. As a hunting ground to further the Man United brand image, the US holds vast potential, and this is where Glazer's extensive marketing skills and resources come into play. But the US market is very competitive. Soccer has to contest with traditional American sporting pastimes like baseball, American Football and basketball. Soccer's rising popularity though, over the past ten years due in part to the 1994 World Cup held in the states could make Man United a household name as is the case in other countries around the globe. Even in Asia where Man United has a huge base of fans who neither speak English nor know where Britain is, brand image has rooted itself in the public mindset. Contrary to popular perceptions, Man United already has a fan following in the US, albeit a small one. When they played the Champion World Tour of exhibition games two years in a row the average crowd attendance was over 65,000 for each game, exceeding that of some NFL games. Americans know about the club through soccer telecasts and the products available on the streets. Merchandising had also made business there but in a small way, yet better than all the US Major Soccer Leagues put together (Chris Isidore). With more co-coordinated marketing efforts in the media (cable and DTH), wider coverage of soccer games, increased media exposure to star players and a retelling of past glories and successes, the Man United brand can further cement itself into the American collective conscience, reaching iconic status in a few short years. The mere purchase of the club puts the Glazers half way towards making Man United a household name. But there is still some way to go. There are other advantages in associating with a brand as well known as Man United. It gives Glazer's other businesses better commercial prospects. When a brand publicly joins forces with a marketing juggernaut, the value of both, in terms of market exposure and business opportunities multiplies. For Glazer whose diverse business portfolio at least in the US include food service equipment, packaging and supplies, marine protein, broadcasting, health care, real estate, banking, natural gas and oil protection, Internet publications, stocks, government securities and corporate bonds, the introduction and expansion of these businesses in Britain as a result of this acquisition gains importance (Bill Hutchison). Glazer's ventures may unhesitatingly attract investment in the hopes that the new businesses will pay rich dividends in the future. But these ventures may suffer if Man United's brand persistence is challenged by rivals. Sustaining the brand position therefore requires the footbal l team to maintain a high success rate. The business side of the club must take a back seat to allow team management to

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Environmental Protection Agency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Environmental Protection Agency - Essay Example With the wide scope and scale of EPA’s thrusts and issues spanning practically all facets of the environment, evaluation of specific policies to determine whether some identified programs promote business investment or discourages it need to focus on a specific focus. To achieve the aim of the essay, the cleanup activities promoted by the Superfund, would be used to evaluate policies that either promote or undermine business investment. Superfund Background The Superfund is specifically designed to address the cleanup activities needed for hazardous wastes. The scope of the policies and guiding procedures to govern operations and activities under the Superfund are likewise vast encompassing areas such as the cleanup process and the site activities. Under the cleanup process, there are 10 major classifications with 44 indicated enforcement policies and guidance for implementation and direction. The site activities include 10 areas such as contacts and agreements, enforcements, worker health and safety, institutional controls, among others, that each have respective regulations and policies for due evaluation and implementation. Assessment of Policies As revealed by Gale Encyclopedia of Espionage and Intelligence, â€Å"EPA provides outreach and educational activities for communities surrounding the toxic waste sites to raise awareness of risks, prevention and avoidance strategies, and to promote direct involvement in cleanup activities† (The Gale Group, Inc., 2004). The EPA, through the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), as one of the policy enforcement agencies, â€Å"aggressively goes after pollution problems that make a difference in communities through vigorous civil and criminal enforcement that targets the most serious water, air and chemical hazards. OECA also advances environmental justice by protecting vulnerable communities† (EPA: OECA 2011, par. 1). The agency’s success in policy design and in enforcemen t relies on the joint collaboration and participation of other agencies, particularly with the Office of Administration and Policy (OAP) that â€Å"recommends national policy on issues pertaining to enforcement and compliance. OAP provides a wide range of administrative support services which includes: human resources, labor relations, budget, finances, contracts, grants, records management and management of the compliance and enforcement information on the Agency’s Web site† (EPA: OECA 2011, par. 13). The govening office in charge of policy design works in coordination with other offices to ensure that their policies are appropriately implemented and other appointed agencies monitor compliance to these regulations. The other crucial agencies that participate in enforcement of policies include the Office of Civil Enforcement, Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training (OCEFT), Office of Compliance (OC), Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ), Office of Feder al Activities (OFA), Federal Facilities Enforcement Office (FFEO), and Office of Site Remediation Enforcement (OSRE). With the clarity of explicitly stated policies, regulations and governing compendium, as well as the specific regulating offices tasked with enforcement and monitoring of compliance to

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The case Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co Essay Example for Free

The case Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co Essay 1.   In light of these facts, what are the chances of successfully bringing an antitrust suit against these manufacturers? Assume that there are no conflict-of-law or other procedural problems due to the manufacturers being in another country. According to, the District Court decisions it shows that there should be considerable evidence showing that one manufacturer had signed an agreement with respect to the goods sold in a way that it injured the other firm. In Powell, J., Burger, Ch. J., and Marshall, Rehnquist, and OConnor, JJ judgment the court should have relevant justification to bring an antitrust suit, before coming up with a lasting solution. The lawyer’s edition head notes suggest that the Court of Appeals can find a way out to determine the reality of the conspiracy. For one to bring antitrust suit against these manufacturers there should be an expertise testimony to be offered by the American companies to generate realistic reasons to base their judgments and material fact for instance their opinion should be   based on a mathematical construction that depends on assumptions concerning the petitioners costs ( Brennan ,Kennedy Stevens 1999). The fact that Japanese manufacturers charge lower prices than American manufacturers in the American market and by lowering its export prices in collaboration with its government is not a guarantee that they recover antitrust compensation from them.   The claim made should make an economic sense in that the assumption of conspiracy is sensible and more persuasive with the view of competing implication 2. What if, instead of discussing the topics listed above, the manufacturers discussed the detail of individual sales, production, inventories, current price lists, and future price trends? They would have solved their disagreement by coming up with proper price range, furthermore they would have obtained the relevant data concerning their businesses and share ideas on either management of sales, how to improve production, inventories and compare their current price in order to determine a relative range. They would have improved their quality of businesses as they avoid the time and money wasted in suing one another in court. They would do an assessment of price and output effects and would have avoided the injury caused by predatory conduct in markets. The would have negotiated on the terms of the sale in response to rates set by the manufactures, thus avoid being victims of an antitrust violation ( Injury to competition 2009). 3. What if they discussed average costs, freight rates, and terms of past transactions without identifying buyers or sellers.   They would have conducted confidential analysis to determine their current freight rates and expenses and operational requirements. Also, they would have realized their average costs and improve control and access management information, project on their savings, check on time performance. 4.   Should a court considering this case conclude that there has been an antitrust violation? Why or why not? No, because there was small evidence that was of importance to the claimed predatory pricing conspiracy. , there was no established realistic material fact to determine whether the company was involved in illegal conspiracy which led to American companies to suffering injury.   It was difficult to determine the maximum-price-fixing agreements and market forces alone determined the kind of goods and services offered, their prices, and the success or fail of particular sellers. The other reasons are that the opinions they used were not based on economic factors as there was no mathematical analysis to determine whether the petitioners were involved in long-term, below-cost sales or not. (Supreme Court, 1986) Lastly the two manufacturers were competing to be the best ,so the like hood of having a winner or a looser was there, consequently making one of them to be demoralized hence rising to fight back.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

An Introduction To Fiber Optics Technology Essay example -- Technology

An Introduction to Fiber Optics Technology Throughout time, speed and efficiency in the telecommunications industry has progressed at a rapid pace due to fiber optic technology. In 1979, AT&T revolutionized the telecommunications industry by producing a medium for data transmission which used light, called fiber optic cable. This medium created a bandwidth of 44.736 Mbps and could multiplex 672 trunk circuits onto one fiber (Cole, 2000). However, this invention was only the beginning of a great addition to telecommunications, one that would change the industry forever. Even though AT&T introduced fiber optic technology in 1979, they weren't the first company to think of such a creative idea. The concept of exchanging data by the use of light was thought of by Alexander Graham Bell in the late 1800's. Bell always thought of possibilities that pulses of light could transmit voice signals, but Bell never had a dependable light source to test the idea (Cheo, 1990). In 1880, Bell patented a phone using optical transmission called the Photophone. Bell's invention failed because it used air as the medium to transmit light, rather than the glass fibers that are used today. Copper wire was simply more reliable than Bell's invention at the time, leading to the failure of his Photophone (Hecht, 1999). Expanding on Bell's idea, English scientist John Logie Bard and United States scientist Clarence W. Hansell patented the idea of using hollow glass pipes to transmit television images in the 1920's. However, the tubes patented were very poor quality and experienced signal loss very easily. Bard and Hansell also ran into the same problem Bell did, not having a constant, intense light source (Hecht, 1999). Solving Bard and Hansell's p... ...singly being used in every aspect of communications. When AT&T started using fiber optics in 1979, telephony was revolutionized. Today, the fiber optics industry is growing faster and faster. Over 90 % of long distance calls are now transmitted via fiber optics (Concise, 1994). Hopefully, someday there will be no limit to speed in the telecommunications industry because of fiber optics. Works Cited Cheo, P. (1990). Fiber Optics and Optoelectronics: Second Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Cole, M. (2000). Introduction to Telecommunications: Voice, Data, and the Internet. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Concise Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. (1994). Fiber Optic Systems:OVERVIEW. Available WWW.http:// www2.hawaii.edu/~rubio/fiberoptics/overview.htm Fotec. (1996). Lennie Lightwave's Guide To Fiber Optic Jargon. [Online Web Site].

Monday, November 11, 2019

The Contribution to Economics of Each of the Following

â€Å"Many Economists have tried to establish why the economy performs as it does and want to have a basis for predicting how the economy will perform when circumstances change†. (Nagel, S pg 1 1999) Economists are just people after all, who have lived through different times and experiences in their lives, thus leading to different values and views. George Bernard Shaw once said that â€Å"If all economists were laid end to end they would not reach a conclusion†,(cited in Mankin, Taylor 2006) In this essay we will look at what contributions each of the above economists have made, keeping in mind the era in which they lived . Reputed to be the father of â€Å"The Classical School† of economics, the Scottish born Adam Smith (1772-1790) was a supply side economist. â€Å"He attributed economic expansion to expanding production and trade with expanding demand as a by-product and consequence†(Jacobs, J 1985 p12) He promoted the invisible hand of free enterprise, which showed that individuals in pursuing their own selfish interest could benefit society. In other words, if people wish to sell, they must produce what others require at a price that they are prepared to pay. (Palmer. N, 1990). He also advocated the â€Å"Laissez-faire† approach, which means that the government should only get involved in the economy in order to raise monies for the upkeep of infrastructure, to sustain the legal system and to defend the country. In Smith’s book ‘An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations’ which was published in 1776, he covered the previous two concepts as well as the division of labour and the function of markets. Division of labour was not a new idea but Smith believed it to be very important as a way of increasing wealth. According to Delaney, Smith established the 4 canons of taxation. â€Å"Firstly, the tax levied on each person should be related to the person’s ability to pay. Secondly, the amount of tax which a person must pay should be certain and clear. Thirdly, the manner and timing of payment of taxes should have regard to the convenience of the tax payer. Finally, the cost of collection should be small relative to the yield†. (2008) Another belief of Smiths was the Labour Theory of Value, which means the value of a product is equal to the value of the labour involved in its production. Delaney. N 2008). Smith believed that there was a distinction between productive and non-productive labour. Teachers, engineers and people with similar professions were considered to be non-productive as they did not produce goods for resale or create funds for reinvestment. Smith also introduced the â€Å"value in use† and the â€Å"value in exchange† of a product (the paradox of value). Twenty years after Smiths death his writings and theories were embraced by the next generation of writers and economists who established Smith as the founder of economic science. It has been said that before Adam Smith there had been much economic discussion, but with him it reached the stage of discussing economics. (Palmer, N) The classical school of thought was later developed and refined by Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834) and David Ricardo (1772-1823). Both were English born and were followers of Smith’s theories. Malthus is known for his famous â€Å"Essay on the Principles of Population as it affects the Future Improvements of Society† published in 1798. At this time in history the Industrial Revolution was taking place which meant more people were moving from rural areas into urban areas. Malthus saw many slums being created with food, water and sewage becoming a huge problem. In his essay, he laid out how the population would grow by a geometric progression, while food supply would only grow by an arithmetic progression. He identified that there should be a check on the growth of the population. These checks included positive checks which involved death through war and disease or preventative checks which meant people should have fewer children. He advocated the wages fund theory. The idea behind this theory was that payment to workers in excess of the subsistence level would lead to an increase in the size of the workers families thus causing the worker to be brought down to a subsidence level of existence. (Palmer) This idea dominated for over a century. It was very popular with employers as it allowed them to pay lower wages and to feel justified in doing so. He is linked with the theory of the â€Å"Paradox of Thrift† meaning that if people save consumption decreases, leading to over-production. To counteract this problem, he advised the government to spend monies on non-productive areas such as the building of parks in order to create the circulation of money and therefore stimulate demand. (Delaney) Malthusian theories are still relevant today in some areas of the LCD’s (lower developed countries) Like Malthus, Ricardo too accepted the wages theory and introduced the concept of â€Å"economic rent†. The idea behind this rent was â€Å"any payment to a factor of production above its supply price†(Delaney) For example during the Napoleonic wars, Europe turned to Britain for its food supply. This created huge demand and it became very profitable to produce food. In order to produce as much food as possible, landowners were now using less fertile land which had not been used before for food production. This increased the demand for land thus driving up the rent, especially the rent for the more fertile land. He thought that agriculture was very important and industry depended on it. Ricardo inspired by â€Å"Sutter’s† books developed the law of comparative advantage. This formed the basis of international trade. He believed in free international trade as it gets the maximum out of resources thus increasing income (Nagel) Karl Marx was born in Germany in 1818. He expressed his revolutionary socialist ideas in his two main publications the Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital. Marx basic economic beliefs were very alike the Classical economists, in that he supported a labour theory of value but his approach was completely different. Marx wanted things to change in such a way that would help to improve working conditions for the working classes. He did not believe in the â€Å"invisible Hand† and was more concerned with change and evolution throughout society. He believed communism would replace capitalism and that workers would have full control over all means of production leading to a more even allocation of wealth. He believed that the value of a good was the value of the amount of labour necessary to produce it. Therefore the value of goods produced by the worker was more than the wages paid to the worker, the difference being a surplus or profit to the employer. Marx argued that this was exploitation of the workers by their capitalistic employers. Believing that the capitalists were profit hungry, Marx stated that the demand for labour would amplify which would in turn cause wages to rise. The rise in wages above subsistence level would lower the capitalist’s profits therefore causing them to look for ways in which to lower their wage costs. Many employers would start introducing new labour saving machines in order to save money. As the machines would replace labourers this would lead to a rise in unemployment thus leading to lack in demand for goods produced. As more workers became deskilled and redundant their bargaining power for better wages weakened leading to a two tiered society namely â€Å"the proletariat† (working classes) and â€Å"the capitalists† classes. Marx believed that the working classes would rise up and overthrow the capitalists’ regime. The workers would then be in control of the factors of production. He predicted the emergence of oligopolies and trade cycles. Marx died in London in 1883. The introduction of maths to illustrate economic theory or as it is better known now as econometrics was introduced by the English born Alfred Marshall (1842-1924). He introduced the law of diminishing marginal utility and coined the term elasticity to describe the response of demand to the small changes in price. He put forward the well-know scissors analogy, likening the demand and supply to the two blades of a scissors interdependent on each other. He pointed out that there was a difference between the long run and the short run for production purposes. Recognising that in the short run at least one factor of production would be fixed in contrast to the long run where all factors of production were changeable. Marshall came up with the concept of quasi rent, which was economic rent earned by labour in the short run and which disappeared in the long run by the increase in the supply of that labour. He believed in a free enterprise economy with some government intervention for example the introduction of government controls and consumer education. Marshall’s theories were hugely influential; in fact his book the Principles of economics (1890) was the main textbook for students of economics up to the great depression of the 1930’s. (Delaney) John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946) was an Englishman who became one of the most influential economists of the twentieth century. â€Å"His influence on economics was so great that the boom the Western industrial countries experienced between 1945 and 1975 has been termed the â€Å"Age of Keynes†. (123HelpMe. com) Keynesian theory advocated the exact opposite to the Classical â€Å"Laissez-faire† approach. According to Delaney,R 2008, Keynes was a demand side economist, who stressed that economies could be regulated by government fiscal policy. He believed that budgetary policy should be the main economic instrument used in the control of the economy. During the Great depression, Keynes became the life saver of the American economy. His main objective was to come up with a solution for the mass unemployment during this terrible time. In his book The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money (1936), Keynes put forward that there could be equilibrium at less than full employment. He stressed that by increasing government expenditure in areas like public works, this could help increase total spending thereby helping to bring economic activity to the full employment level. (Palmer,N. 1990). Keynes also introduced the multiplier effect, which means the National Income would rise by some multiple of the initial injection of government expenditure. (Nagle, S 1999) Keynes developed the liquidity preference theory of interest rates and also explained that savings and investments were not always equal to each other. (Delaney, R 2008). Keynes theories are still relevant to this day. Milton Friedman was born in American in 1912. He tried to make economics more user friendly to the layperson. His theories were in direct opposition to Keynes. He wrote many books but his main publications were ‘Inflation, Causes and Consequences’ and ‘A Monetary History of the United States 1867-1960’. â€Å"His theories first attracted national attention in the 1970s, when the combination of inflation and stagnant economic growth — stagflation — undercut the dominant Keynesian policies of the post-war decades†. Friedman was a monetarist and he argued that monetary policy rather than fiscal policy should be the main tool used to control the economy. Monetarists believe that increases in the money supply results in an increase in prices rather than an increase in the level of output. They argue, like the classical approach, for no government intervention in the economy, that free-market forces should be relied on to bring the economy into equilibrium. He promoted privatisation of all government-owned or controlled businesses. Removal of inflation is a greater priority to the monetarists rather than the removal of unemployment. (Delaney) In 1976 Friedman won the 1976 Nobel Prize in economics. â€Å"An advocate of personal liberty, free markets, deregulation, and reduced government intervention in the economy, he has seen his ideas on issues as Social Security privatization, welfare reform, and school vouchers become part of national political debate†.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Digital Morphogenesis

Digital morphogenesis refers to the applicability of the digital media not as the conventional implement for visualization but rather as been a generative implement used in the transformation process and derivation in its form. Its aim is exploring the possibilities of the different forms that are of importance in respect to the highly emerging generative techniques in digital forms. It is the process of survey into the computational architectures brought out by digital processes.It bases its scope of study on computational architectures basing its views on isomorphic surfaces, topological space, keyshape animation, genetic algorithms, dynamics, kinematics and parametric designs. The current architectural technology has seen the establishment of many digital infrastructures in buildings and cities. The new technological architecture is been replaced by the emerging computational architectures that are modeled in form of non-Euclidean space geometries, topological designs, genetic alg orithms above other methodologies.The current nature of architecture is undergoing a metamorphosis and a recasting process on experimenting the computational techniques, topological geometries as well as the kinematics and generative spaces of architectural sculptures. Therefore, the creative and generative potentials held by digital media are bringing up new architectural dimensions. (http://faculty. arch. usyd. edu. au/kcdc/journal/vol6/papers/fischer_html/index. html)Architectural work in the digital era seeks to address the broad scope of architectural practices in correspondence to how the digital technology is radically giving a change about the conception of buildings, their building process and their designs. Digital morphogenesis has brought about changes that are digitally driven changing the traditional foundations of the architectural work. It has also led to change in the effects grounded by the current architectural process by evaluating derivative processes that bring change in the architectural process.It is a hope for even brighter future when current activities in the architectural process is developed to yet more technologically visible frontiers. Digital morphogenesis has captured the use of software and hardware in bringing evolution to design computing which is used in developing structures, shapes as well as various functions held by human habitations. It has therefore enhanced a generative process in recognizing valuable support towards designing explicit paradigms that address the finding nature towards human understanding for architecture.(http://faculty. arch. usyd. edu. au/kcdc/journal/vol6/papers/fischer_html/index. html) Digital morphogenesis comes as a wide spread phenomena which captures a varied dimension of architectural artifacts. Firstly, computational architectures imply to the process of computation that yields transformations and origination of digital morphogenesis. The forms of computational architectures are also widel y varying. The resulting implications of this technology have brought light in the search of technological advancement in the world.It has developed architectural design as a component of three forms which include the animate form, physical and the traditional forms. Animate form is that which conceives change as a result of force action. This employs the use of dynamic motions that generate architectural forms. The physical form is that whose resolution accrues at one point in time as governed by changes in the rates of motion. The physical form of architecture is that whose definition can be through static coordinates. (Branko, 2003)Digital morphogenesis has led to fundamental interaction in the traditional states of architectural perceptions to yield a framework of values that are instrument in advanced approaches, efficiencies and environmentally friendly physical artifacts of buildings. Generally, digital morphogenesis brings light into the foundations of architecture where bui lding process is monitored and engineered in a framework of process that are featured towards bringing creative and inventiveness in the world of architectural technology (Branko, 2003)

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Anthem Essays - Sin, Social Philosophy, Crime, Evil, Vices, Hero

Anthem Essays - Sin, Social Philosophy, Crime, Evil, Vices, Hero Anthem The word ?I? makes one an individual. In Ayn Rand?s Anthem the word ?I? is lost and there is no individual. Just the collective people working for a common goal. The individual cannot survive in this world because it is a sin to set yourself apart as an individual. If it is a sin to be an individual wouldn?t it be impossible to live without sinning. Equality 7-2521 lives in this world and he is beginning to think there is something more. So therefore a conflict springs forth from what he is and what he is taught to be. Equality 7-2521 lives in a world that controls all. In this world you have no decisions to make because you aren?t given any. Everything is decided for you. Our hero, Equality 7-2521, wants to make his own decision. This is a sin. You aren?t allowed preference in his world. What our hero doesn?t realize is that he is longing for freedom and individuality. In his world Equality 7-2521 is not an individual. No one is. Everyone is working for everyone else, in a group. This is our hero?s dilemma. He had such an urge to follow his free will that he strayed away from his job, that was chosen for him, and left to do his own work. He thought that if he worked for the common good that he would be given the job he wanted. This was not so because he did the work by himself. And anything done by one person must be evil. Our hero struggled to become what he was taught to be, but his own preference and free will took over. He was shunned for this and told he was evil just for believing he was different from everyone else. Once Equality 7-2521 leaves this world to be by himself, he begins to question the world he lives in. This is the first time he has dared question the world he was given. We all accept the world we live in. Equality 7-2521 is happy being by himself. He asks himself that if this is evil then what is good. He begins to realize the true nature of life. He realizes that being with other people all the time is only good if you choose to. He meets up with the woman he loves and cherishes every moment he spends alive. For the first time in his life he is happy to be alive. Before he always didn?t care either way whether he was alive or dead. When he is at last introduced to the word ?I?, he weeps. He lived his whole life with never knowing why he was alive and never believing he had a purpose. Our hero is an individual now and he knows it is not evil.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

12 Effective Ways To Expand Your Facebook Engagement - CoSchedule Blog

12 Effective Ways To Expand Your Facebook Engagement Blog In the social media world, every tiny detail matters for the overall big picture. Social media engagement is one of those things that cant be overlooked, especially on Facebook. Facebook is the highest used social media platform, so its no brainer that you want engagement there. Plus, with organic reach declining, you want to make sure every post counts. There are some commonly known tactics for  increasing Facebook engagement: Using  visuals Curating content Posting at the best times But what about the tactics we dont think about? The ones that arent so obvious? Lets take a look at some unique ways to boost your Facebook engagement. 12 Effective Ways To Expand Your Facebook EngagementThe Facebook Engagement Tactics You Need To Try 1. Share videos for 135% more reach Visuals are eye-catching when your audience is  scrolling through their news feed. It's been proven time and time again that visuals help improve engagement, but what about videos? Research shows that videos have a 135% greater organic reach compared to photos. That's a crazy high number. Not only does adding videos into your social media strategy increase engagement, but it's also SUPER easy to upload videos. No really...it's as simple as 1, 2, 3: Click  Photo/Video at the top of your News Feed or Timeline Choose a video Click Post Facebook will process your video for you and let you know when it's ready to view. While it's processing, you can click Edit  to add a title and add tags. We've  also launched our new Social Video feature. You can schedule, share, and manage all of your social media videos directly in . Let us do all the work for you! 2. Post standalone graphics to share quick tips Most of the images you're posting on Facebook have a link relating to the image. At , we do this on our own Facebook page. We post a graphic and then add a link to a blog post. But then we had to stop and ask ourselves, "Are all these links benefitting our audience?"  We tested this theory by posting standalone graphics. We wanted test whether posts without links received better reach than posts with links and to mix up the kind of content we're creating and sharing. The results were impeccable. A standalone graphic is an image that gives useful information on its own without needing a link back to something. For our standalone graphics, we give tidbits of information and quotes from well-known marketers. We found that these graphics resonated higher with our audience and had an increased engagement rate compared to our link posts. Create standalone graphic using these awesome tools: Canva  (free, paid) Photoshop (paid subscription) Piktochart  (free, paid) Visage  (free, paid) 3. Show your brand's personality Every piece of content you post on Facebook should portray your company's personality. The best way to showcase this is by sharing  team pictures of your office shenanigans. Let your audience know that you aren't a social media robot you're a real person. We've tried this on our own Facebook and the results were outstanding. Wishpond's data  showed that  photo posts get 120% more engagement than the average post, so imagine the potential of personality photos. Don't spam your audience with information about your product or service all the time. Believe it or not, your audience wants to get to know the faces behind the logo. Share photos of all the awesome things that happen in your office. Update your header photo to display your team. Ask your audience to help you settle an office debate. When responding to comments, use names and include yours. Recommended Reading: 10 Fundamental Ways To Boost Your Facebook Organic Reach 4. Use  Facebook Live for 3x longer viewing As we know now, posting videos on Facebook does in fact increase engagement. Something even more powerful than Facebook videos is *drum roll please* Facebook Live. Studies show that people spend 3x longer watching video which is live compared to video that's been pre-recorded. Use Facebook Live to share tips, give demos, or just to thank your audience. To get started with Facebook Live get out your mobile phone and: Go to your Facebook business profile and open up the status bar. Tap the Live icon, which is a red button shaped like a person. Allow  Facebook to access your camera and microphone. Describe your live video (optional) Press the blue Go Live icon. There is a way to use Facebook Live on your laptop or desktop. Although this is not for creating live videos from your computer's webcam. This will create a live video, streamed directly from your professional video equipment or encoding software. Here's a walkthrough from Mashable: If you want to shoot Facebook Live from your laptop or desktop: Click on Publishing Tools at the top of your Facebook page. Then click on Videos on the left menu. Then click on the +Live  button on the top right. Then copy the stream key from your video software into the window that appears. (Most of the time it will already be filled in.) Click the blue Go Live icon. Facebook Live videos get 3x longer views than pre-shot video.Recommended Reading: How To Do Facebook Video Marketing The Right Way 5. Create a Facebook User group for maximum engagement Does your audience have questions often? Do you have super fans? If so, creating a Facebook user group for your business might be beneficial. Let your audience know that you've created a Facebook user group. This way your most dedicated fans can join and discuss your product with other users. Make sure you are checking this group page on a regular basis. You can even treat the user group like a VIP club, where members get exclusive info on  features before they launch. Some ways you can connect with these users are: Get feedback on new features.  With Facebook groups, you can create polls directly within the group. Ask these users how they feel about a new product or what they would like to see next. Share your company's  achievements.  Remember, these are your super fans, and they care about the progress you're company has made. If your business wins an award, share a quick post in the user group. Answer questions. One of the main reasons for a Facebook user group is so these members can interact and ask questions about your product. Don't let your fans do all the talking. Jump in and share your insights. Join our user group! 6. Pin posts for higher visibility According to SumoMe, pinning content onto Twitter brings 5x more engagement. The same goes for Facebook. Wait, what? Yes, you can pin on Facebook! Pinning posts on Facebook will bring that post to the top of your page for however long you want it there. This way, that specific post will receive high visibility when viewers visit your Facebook page. To pin on Facebook, simply: Select the post you want pinned on your Facebook page. Click the drop down arrow at the top right corner of the post. Select Pin To Top. Tada! You have a pinned post. To unpin a post from your profile page, follow the same steps except this time you will select Unpin From Top. Try it out! Recommended Reading: How To Increase Visibility With Social Media Optimization 7. Create Facebook Ads for quick engagement Here are some shocking stats to take away from Zephoria. At 1.49 billion, Facebook has more monthly active users than WhatsApp (500 million), Twitter (284 million) and Instagram (200 million)- combined. That's a lot of users to keep track of. The best way to target the right audience for your business, is through Facebook ads. You have to spend money in order to make money. Facebook ads are a guaranteed way to reach more people and bring engagement to your page. To create Facebook ads: Decide which type of ad you want.  Choose from promoting your page, promoting a post, or promoting your sign up button. Choose your audience.  You can select your audience by location, age, gender, interests and more. Set your budget and schedule. Set a daily or lifetime budget and schedule how long you want it to run. Set your ad live.  Once you've narrowed down what type of ad, your target audience, and your budget. For more info, Kissmetrics has an awesome guide on Facebook ads to help get you started. Recommended Reading: Facebook Marketing Strategy: Why You Need One (And How To Build It) 8. Drive traffic from other social media sites Is your business on Twitter? How about LinkedIn? Maybe even Instagram? Chances are, your business is on more than one social channel. Use these sites as a gateway to bring your audience to your Facebook company page. For example, when your Twitter followers mention your company, you can occasionally respond back by encouraging them to check out your Facebook page. Remember not to respond to every mention this way so you don't come across as spammy. Only encourage your followers to check out your Facebook page if you truly think they would. 9. Add a CTA button to boost promotion Want to promote your website? Or a new video? Facebook provides several different Call-to-Action buttons you can add directly into your cover photo including: Book Now Contact Us Use App Play Game Shop Now Sign Up Watch Video Bring your audience a step further by promoting your business in a different way; with the click of a button.  You'll also need an an awesome Facebook cover photo  for  your Call-to-Action button to  be  successful. To add a CTA button to your Facebook page: Go to your Page's cover photo and click + Add a Button. Choose your call-to-action, and enter the URL for your website. Click Create. Customizing a CTA button is a simple method to bring more traffic to where ever you need it. It also makes your Facebook page look more professional. Consider adding one to your business page. 10.  Create graphics for your profile that are branded + clear Your Facebook profile picture and cover photo show your audience what your company is all about. In order for you audience to engage with you, your Facebook page must be inviting. This means that you need to have a SUPER, AWESOME, FANTASTIC profile and cover photo. Okay...maybe not that extreme, but you should create graphics for your profile that are clearly unique to your brand. Post Planner  noticed your profile picture appears in: The news feed of your followers. Posts on your page's Timeline. Replies in comments. Comments posts you make on other pages while using your page. It's seen in many different places! So be sure to use your logo as your profile picture that is clear and sized correctly. For your cover photo choose a photo that: Showcases your personality. Promotes a new feature or product. Describes your product, like how the Kissmetrics cover photo does. Highlight upcoming events. Above all, have fun with your profile profile picture and cover photo! Be unique and stand out. On Facebook, be unique and stand out.11.  Participate in Facebook groups within your industry We've talked about creating a Facebook user group page for your own company, but what about participating in other groups? Participating in Facebook groups allows you provide helpful and informative advice or to start relevant discussions that can help generate interest in your brand. Search for other brands within your industry and see if they have a group page, then simply join it. Your primary reason to be in a group is to participate in other people’s discussions, not to start them. So answer, chime in and let the community guide the discussion. When participating, don’t shamelessly promote your content. Don’t just  share, but participate! Join several different groups that are relevant to your company or brand that you can participate in regularly. This will help get the word out about you from other members. 12. Create  an event via your Facebook page Creating and hosting events on Facebook is something that often gets forgotten about, but is great for engagement. Rather than just updating a post about an upcoming event, create a Facebook event for it. It's like being invited to an exclusive party, except everyone gets invited. Consider creating events that are hosted by your page, such as: A sale. An ongoing promotion. A special event. A new feature launch. Then, invite people who have liked your page to the event. The great thing about Facebook events is that, whether they are attending or just interested in the event, they will continue to receive information whenever you update the event page. BONUS: Their friends will be able to see if they are attending and may also be drawn to your page. Sprout Social  found  the 13 best ways to plan and organize a Facebook event:

Saturday, November 2, 2019

World Vision Advertising Managerial Objectives Essay

World Vision Advertising Managerial Objectives - Essay Example To begin with, World Vision is among the many organizations that provide relief and support to the marginalized or underprivileged members of the society. The company has achieved these objectives bearing in mind the challenges it encounters in its endeavors. Lack of government support is the main challenge that affects the organization. Therefore, donors are the main source of support and funds for the company. It is also difficult for the company to have volunteer employees (see World Vision International 2012). Therefore, the marketing objective should target volunteers, potential donors and other sources of funds. This is only possible through creating awareness in the targets about the company. The management should use the benefit of the company being a Christian organization to influence different people for support. People always want to help but lack organizations that they can trust. Therefore, the management should use some of the children that the organization has helped to try to influence potential donors to support its activities. Children and women are the most vulnerable members of the society and the combination of religion and provision of care will attract many parties. To achieve this objective, the company can use a series of advertisement to try to lure supporters and volunteers into the company. The adverts should mainly feature children, which captures the attention of many individuals in the society. The best advert is the one that captures the attention and concern of individuals in the society. World Vision enjoys the benefits of a Christian organization. Christians share the notion that helping those in need is part of their moral obligations. The management should embark on a campaign that targets Christian societies and organizations. This is through enlightening the societies about the mission and vision of the company