Social regulation in the workplace

An Examination of the Concepts and Theories Associated with an Analysis of Social Regulation in the Workplace And the Groups and Representative Institutions Associated With These Procedures Introduction †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 2 Conclusion †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 8 Bibliography.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦ . 9 Introduction Globalization as a phenomenon that has and is utilized to depict the vicissitudes of our universe today, has been attributed as a cause, status, underpinning, end and procedure that has and is polishing how and what we are as persons, companies, organisations, states and parts. Some have described globalisation as making an addition in societal interactions and connexions over infinite ( Chase/Dunn et al, 2000, pp. 77-95 ) . The preceding does apparently hold cogency given the broad spread additions in international communications that has helped to further thoughts with images of films from foreign venues, low cost telecommunications for personal calls and Internet confab suites, instant messaging every bit good as web sites and electronic mail allowing enlargement of our positions. This new environment has besides caused some states to take a closer expression at their societal constructions with regard to past events and current tendencies. One such country is the issue of feminin e equality. The Women’s Movement of the sixtiess has ne'er died, it has merely taken on a more broad spread veneer as adult females, cognizant of the varied societal inequalities, have rolled up their arms and taken the affair up on a by and big personal 1 on one footing. Evidence in support of this can be found in the addition in educational committedness. In 2005 ( UCAS, 2005 ) females represented 239,331 of all appliers for grades in establishments of higher acquisition in the United Kingdom, as compared with 214,502 for males. The entire figure of females accepted represented 170,003, males – 153,215, with the per centum rate for the predating representing 73.5 % and 71.4 % severally ( UCAS, 2005 ) . However, there is still a disproportionate relationship found in wage graduated tables, the gender wage spread for corporate director places is 27.8 % , whereby females earn 73.2 % of what their male opposite numbers do for the same degree of work ( Purcell, 2002, p. 6 ) . In an economic and matter-of-fact sense, globalisation has tended to increase the power of capital in its relationship to labour as directors cite retrenchment, increased productiveness and quality along with wage as a coefficient of merchandise and or service cost. Governmen tal response to threats associating to its corporations, intending companies housed within its boundary lines, is to cut down societal protections therefore increasing the flexibleness of the labour force ( Gummett, 1996 ) . Governmental policies on corporate societal duty are a big construct in that it encompasses the undermentioned statement ( Corporate Social Responsibility, 2004 ) â€Å"The Government sees CSR as the concern part to our sustainable development goals† . The statement goes on to add that it is seen by authorities as â€Å"†¦ how concern takes history of its economic, societal †¦ impacts in the manner it operates †¦Ã¢â‚¬  ( Corporate Social Responsibility, 2004 ) . It goes on to add that it sees â€Å"†¦ CSR as the voluntary actions that concern can take, over and above conformity with minimal legal demands to turn to †¦ its ain competitory involvements and †¦ . involvements of wider society† ( Corporate Social Responsi bility, 2004 ) . This scrutiny shall take a expression at the constructs every bit good as theories that are associated with societal ordinance in the workplace, along with the persons, groups and representative establishments that as associated with these procedures. The criterions for gender balance in working environments is put away by the authorities are defined by the transition of ordinances get downing with the seventiess. The execution of legislative policy is an historical cheque on the societal procedures and demands for alteration that preceded their debut therefore supplying hints as to the underlying societal alterations that represented issues prior to enactment. The Equal Pay Act of 1970 ( International Labour Organization, 2005 ) provided that work forces and adult females have the same equal terms with respect to the conditions and footings of employment stand foring occupations comprised of the same degree or similar degrees of work. An amendment to this Act was implemented in 1983 ( HMS, 2005 ) to bespeak that all persons executing the same work must have the same rate of wage, bespeaking frontward advancement in societal duty that was further strengthened by the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 ( Stationary Office, 2005 ) which specified that favoritism against adult females has occurred when they are treated less than favourably in comparing with work forces and that where conditions and or demands are implemented or imposed whereby it consequences in places skewed unevenly in favour of males, every bit good as demands and or conditions whereby adult females would non be in a place to follow with. It legislated that adult females and work forces are equal and included statute law to extinguish favoritism utilizing gestation and or childbearing. The authorities through legislative amendments has strengthened assorted facets of the preceding over the old ages as represented by the followers: A. Equal Wage Amendments ( HMS, 2005 )Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992Employment Rights Act 1996Employment Rights Act 1998B. Sex Discrimination Act 1975 Amendments ( HMS, 2005 )The Sex Discrimination Regulations 1999Legislation nevertheless can non do companies to speed up or increase their committednesss and or ethical patterns in the country of societal duty as wonts and the position quo tend to be engrained in corporate civilization and decelerate to alter. Rubery ( 2003 ) points out that as a consequence of the deficiency of mechanisms that are effectual in turn toing employer behaviour, the chance for extra additions in the country of societal duty will stay slow. His position has besides been adopted by Roivaset et Al ( 2004 ) . It has been argued that the concern issues with regard to adult females in the workplace is a accepted issue and that gender equality represents an of import societal duty, the consensus is that it is good policy to put to the promotion of adul t females in the workplace ( Mattis et al, 2002 ) . It has besides been put forth that speed uping equal chances with respect to adult females in the workplace can be advanced through combinations of legal attacks in the country of conformity every bit good as the concern instances and through societal ordinance ( Dickens, 1999 ) . Corporate Social duty entails three facets that are associated with the ground for the pattern and why it exists in the first topographic point:Corporate Social Responsibility entails conformity with statute law. This has been pointed out by Carol ( 1999 ) in his â€Å"Corporate societal duty – development of a definitional construct† paper.Corporate Social Responsibility has to boot emerged in footings of a concern instance that is connected to put on the line inauspicious investing, employee satisfaction, additions in corporate repute and increasing the corporation’s capacity for invention as theorized by Siegal et Al ( 2002 )And in conclusion, Corporate Social Responsibility has become an facet of the societal cloth through soft statute law by assorted authoritiess, every bit good as through alliances stand foring authoritiess and evidenced by the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Companies, and non authorities organisations ( Moon, 2004 )And while the feminin e issue has taken a back place in the procedure, corporations utilize their engagement in Corporate Social duty to advance their standing in the concern and public spheres, with companies in assorted alliances every bit good as associations and organisations such as Business in the Community, the Global Reporting Initiative and the United Nations Global Compact. Corporate Social duty is an activity that is engaged in the societal facets in their context of concern success that are external societal and internal extensions of the company. It is involved in procedures implying the allotment, coverage and measuring of societal public presentation in concurrence with political facets such as the shaping of duties every bit good as rights in the context of stakeholder engagements. Monbiot ( 2000 ) every bit good as Hertz ( 2001 ) see Corporate Social Responsibility as important in footings of society in the wide context every bit good as in the context of the societal facet of single con cerns and chiefly in transnational corporations whose public and international actions are scrutinized. It besides is understood in footings of the addition in which authorities is and has encouraged battle to do concern to see its importance as a turning context of the overall societal cloth. Despite the comparatively slow advancement in female promotion connected through Corporate Social Responsibility agendas it is an active and bing focal point which adult females have at their disposal to help in farther progresss, despite the limited tools and resources in that respect. Its arrangement in the countries of human capital direction, corporate societal duty guidelines every bit good as socially responsible investing are employee and diverseness issues that represent support mechanisms to farther hereafter progresss. The Council of Europe ( 2006 ) states that societal coherence represents the â€Å"†¦ capacity of a society to guarantee the public assistance of all its members, minimising disparities†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and has added that gender quality is an country that means equal visibleness every bit good as authorization and the engagement of the sexes ( both ) in all facets of public every bit good as private life. The Council of Europe ( 2006 ) has indicated that t he betterment and development of policy procedures should be evaluated and reorganized to integrate the position of gender equality in all degrees and at all phases of public and concern activities. The Council indicates that gender equality needs to be positioned at the nucleus of societal rating and analysis from the beginning and the gender issues need to be farther identified and reviewed in the context of policies every bit good as the publicity of gender equality as a mainstream of societal duty. Walby ( 2004 ) adds that it goes beyond the thought of merely adding adult females in footings of employment Numberss it is a inquiry of policies and the affects. Rees ( 2004 ) sees the procedure of corporate societal duty as necessitating to deviate its attending in footings of persons to the systems and constructions which gave rise to the state of affairs whereby it arose in the first topographic point. He continues that there are three distinguishable attacks to the issue, which are 1. legal, 2. best pattern, and 3. gender mainstreaming Rees ( 2004 ) . Advancing adult females in the context of corporate societal duty represents the use of the political every bit good as societal procedure and that garnering information from adult females as the foundation to measure ways in which to trip the procedure represents a cardinal measure in doing it work. The procedure of supplying and giving gender equality more dentitions is non feminism but world in seting the position of enabling so ciety to deduce the most benefit from all of its participants and therefore progress itself beyond its present boundaries and restrictions with new and fresh inputs. The procedure besides includes outside groups and organisations that are engaged in the procedure whose influence at nowadays is minimum, yet active. The figure of groups and organisations stand foring societal duty in the context of females is modest. The undermentioned represents a partial list:The Association of Sustainability Practitioners located at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.new-academy.ac.uk/ is engaged in trade and gender issues.Business for Social duty provides a wealth of information every bit good as rank for persons interested in advancing all facets of this subject, including women’s issues at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.bsr.org/CSR Europe is a non-profit organisation advancing corporate societal duty and states its mission is to assist companies attain profitableness, every bit good as to prolong growing and human advancement. Its web site is at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.csreurope.org/aboutus/Centre for Corporate Accountability, which is l ocated at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.corporateaccountability.org/about.htm is devoted to societal answerability and duty issues and offers legal aid every bit good as academic and militants.The activities in the country of gender equality have developed, yet the motion is still slightly stuck in its ain inability to specify itself in more direct footings. Many companies have developed the concern instance attack and therefore the betterment of their patterns with regard to promotion of adult females in the workplace. The sphere of equal chance as put Forth in 1970 is taking a long clip to go more that an legislative Act, it is apparently taking the remotion of one coevals and portion of another to prosecute the procedure as a normal, instead than legislative fact. Organizations such as Opportunity Now in the United Kingdom, every bit good as Catalyst in the United States have demonstrated that to prosecute the effectual promotion of adult females in the workplace, organisati ons need leading that is effectual every bit good as committed. The concern every bit good as societal instance for gender equality represents a concern chance that needs more active battle in HR patterns every bit good as keeping, preparation, wage, work-life balance and publicity to supply it with life. At present, there is some grounds that there are programmes whereby the sweetening of gender equality can be advanced through the arrangement of monitoring and measuring that is conducted on a regular footing with the aid of authorities to do the procedure to go actively occupied instead than the inactive phase that authorities takes soon. The committedness on the portion of authorities represents a committedness on behalf of the people, and that is the musculus this procedure needs to acquire it out of the clay and back on the route. The slow growing policy has been developing velocity since the 1970s and still has non truly moved to any appreciable grade. The statute law has been in topographic point, now it needs to be activated as a portion of societal duty to supply impulse. Decision With all the preceding, so the inquiry is what has happened to the focal point and context of Corporate Social duty? Focus, is the primary reply. World events such as terrorist act, the war in Iraq, concern fight issues, offense, pension financess, and wellness attention issues have taken phase with societal duty and eroded the societal focal point. It no longer commands the same tableland in face of economic, wellness, public assistance and safety issues and therefore corporate focal point and social focal point has been diverted. The predating illustrations and countries represent the get downing stage of a larger docket that has merely entered is embryologic phase, therefore farther growing is expected. But, as with all things it will necessitate a consistent diet of growing and attending, maintaining it watered and fed until it is strong plenty to hold legs of its ain. The growing in the procedure will come from rules that are based in justness, equity and an apprehension of equity to broaden the context to societal inclusion. As stated by Rees ( 2004 ) the focal point is pull offing diverseness which needs to go one of enlightenment. The displacement is from the feminine position to acknowledging that the systems and constructions that have developed over decennaries has given rise to a system and processes whereby the state of affairs developed to the point that it became the normal behavior of life. Changing that facet will necessitate work as positions, and the comfort of things being the manner they are represent wonts that are engrained and hard to readapt. The full context entails traditional thoughts from a cultural and societal position which has conditioned behavior to the point where in many instances most males are non even cognizant it is an issue, and that is precisely the issue. Bibliography Carol, A. ( 1999 ) Corporate societal duty – development of a definitional concept. Vol. 38. , Issue 3. Business and Society Chase-Dunn, C. , Kawano, Y. , Brewer, B. ( 2000 )Pull offing Social Policy.Sage Publications, London, United Kingdom Corporate Social Responsibility ( 2004 )What is CSR? .hypertext transfer protocol: //www.societyandbusiness.gov.uk/whatiscsr.shtml Council of Europe ( 2005 )Social Policies.hypertext transfer protocol: //www.coe.int/T/E/Social_cohesion/Social_policies/ Devils, L. ( 1999 )Beyond the Business Case: A three pronged attack to equality action. Vol. 9, Issue 1. Human Resource Management Journal Gummett, P. ( 1996 )Globalization and Public Policy.Edward Elgar Publications, Cheltenham, United Kingdom Hertz, N. ( 2001 )The Silent Coup d'etat. Heinemann, London, United Kingdom HMS. ( 2005 ) .Equal Pay Act 1970.hypertext transfer protocol: //www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts.htm HMS. ( 2005 ) .Sex Discrimination Act 1975. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts.htm International Labor Organization ( 2005 ) 1970 Equal Pay Act. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/gems/eeo/law/uk/epa.htm Mattis, M. , Giscombe, K. ( 2002 )Leveling the Playing Field for Women of Colour in Corporate Management: Is the Business instance Enough? ?Vol. 37, Issue 1. Journal of Business Ethical motives Monbiot, G. ( 2000 )Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain.MacMillan, Basingstoke Moon, J. ( 2004 )Government as a Driver of Corporate Social duty: The UK in Comparative Perspective. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.nottingham.ac.uk/busijness/CCSR/index.htmml Network Partnership. ( 2005 ) .Equal Pay.hypertext transfer protocol: //www.nirs.demon.co.uk/eqpay.htm Purcell, K. ( 2002 )Qualifications & A ; Careers. University of Wales. Rees, T. ( 200 )Contemplations on the uneven development of gender mainstreaming.Leeds University Roivas, S. , Reinicke, K, Thorbergsdottir, B ( 2004 )The European Employment Strategy and national employment policies. In From public assistance to knowfare. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.bifrost.is/wellnow/Files/Skra0005517.pdf Rubery, J. ( 2002 )Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Equality in the EU. Vol. 33, Issue 5. Industrial Relations Journal Siegal, D. , McWilliams, A. ( 2002 )Corporate societal duty: a theory of the signifier position. Vol. 26. , Issue 1. Academy of Management Review Stationary Office ( 2005 ) .The Sex Discrimination Act 1975.hypertext transfer protocol: //www.pfc.org.uk/legal/sda.htm Universities and Colleges Admissions Service ( 2005 )Applicants and Acceptance for Degrees.hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ucas.ac.uk/ Walby, S. ( 2004 )Gender mainstreaming: productive tensenesss in theory and pattern.University of Leeds

Feasibility Study of Ibs in Sarawak

Feasibility Study of IBS in Sarawak Afdal Haziq bin Mohamad Salehe Department of Civil, Faculty of Engineering, University Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Abstract This is a feasibility study of Industrialised Building System (IBS) in Sarawak. IBS implementation in Sarawak is still slow and thus this study is carried on to identify the factors that cause the problem so that proper solution can be carried on.The aim of the study is to increase the IBS implementation in Sarawak so that productivity and quality of the construction projects in this state can be improved. In order to achieve the aim, three objectives need to be met which are: 1) To understand the concept of Industrialised Building System (IBS); 2) To identify the challenges of implementation of IBS in Sarawak; 3) To find the solutions to overcome the barriers thus, ensure that IBS implementation in Sarawak can be improved.Collection of data is done by distribution of questionnaires to important constructio ns players such as engineers, consultants, supervisors and architects from construction sites within Kota Samarahan and Kuching City. The results determined the critical factors of challenges as well as finding the solutions to improve the IBS implementation based on the level of agreements of the respondents. As a result, this study has determined the critical factor of barrier and challenges which slow down the IBS progress in Sarawak is the awareness factor especially amongst the contractors.Besides, the study also found the solutions in term of awareness, knowledge, cost, acceptance and role of the government in order to improve the IBS progress in the construction industry in Sarawak. The finding of this study hopefully will be helpful for further future research as well as reference for the authority in order to improve the IBS implementation in Sarawak. Keywords: Industrialised Building System INTRODUCTION Construction industries play important roles in the development of bui ldings as well as economical of a country.According to the report by CIDB (2000), it is highlighted that construction sector are more than just economic where as the products of construction whether directly or indirectly through provision of bigger infrastructure and buildings has contributed largely towards the production of wealth as well as increasing quality of life of the citizen [1]. With the increasing knowledge and experiences of construction technology, now, many construction can be done faster with reduce cost, but still with optimized quality.One of the construction technologies that have been developing in many countries is precast concrete or as known as Industrial Building System (IBS). IBS is basically pre-cast concrete components where it is later on installed together to become a building or structure. It also may be defined as construction which system components are manufactured in a factory, on or off site, positioned and assembled into structures with minimal a dditional site work. The construction concrete components will be produce off-site and then will be transported to the construction site and assemble [2].In Malaysia, IBS has been introduced in early 1964 by Ministry of Local Government and Housing. The Ministry aims to provide low cost houses for low income citizens group. Since then, housing programmes for low income citizens is being carried on and by 1966, the Ministry has launched two pilot project in two major cities which are Pekeliling Flats in Kuala Lumpur and Rifle Range Road Flats in Penang. However, Pekeliling Flats in Kuala Lumpur has been demolished to be replaced by new development [3].With the latest 9th Malaysia Plan 2006-2010, as government are aware of the benefits that come from the application of IBS, many encouragement of IBS usage have been conduct. Two of the latest major initiatives are the release of the Treasury Circular Letter No. 7 Year 2008 and the announcement of the Action Plan for IBS Implementation in Government Projects (Pelan Tindakan Pelaksanaan IBS dalam Projek-Projek Kerajaan)[4]. It replaces the earlier instruction released on 6th July 2005 by Treasury for the usage of 50 percent IBS content in all government projects.Released on 31st October 2008, the Treasury Circular Letter was issued to all Secretary Generals, Heads of Federal Department, State Secretaries, Heads of Federal Statutory Bodies as well as to all local authorities. The essence of the instruction is the usage of Open Building, Malaysian Control design and 70 percent IBS Score for all projects. Agencies are required to submit periodical reports of IBS project implementation to the central monitoring agency. Exemptions are offered for certain classes of projects and the IBS Centre will function as the main technical reference centre.Sarawak, which is one of the fast developing states in Malaysia, constructions are happening all over the parts of the state. However, applications of IBS in the construction ind ustries in Sarawak are still far left behind. Sarawak just implemented IBS after a few decades after the introduction of IBS in Malaysia in 1964, as several projects using IBS was started in 2006 in Kuching areas [5]. Therefore, this study was performed in order to increase the IBS implementation in Sarawak so that productivity and quality of the constructions projects in this state can be improve.The aim of this research is to improve the IBS implementation in Sarawak so that productivity and quality of the constructions projects in this state can be optimized. In order to achieve this aim, several objectives must be met which are: i. To understand the concept of Industrialised Building System (IBS) ii. To identify the challenges of implementation of IBS in Sarawak. iii. To find the solutions to overcome the barriers to ensure that IBS implementation in Sarawak can be improved. 2. research methodologySecondary data will be needed in literature review part which aims to achieve the first objective which is to increase the understanding of the IBS concept. Primary data will be a strong evidence to achieve the second objectives which is identification of challenges of implementation of IBS in Sarawak. This will also help in achieving the third objective which is finding the solution to overcome the barriers in improving the implementation of IBS in Sarawak. Three approaches have been lineout for this study to gather the relevant data. The approaches are: i. Literature review i. Questionnaires Literature Review Literature review in this study is important in term of gathering the secondary data. This is to increase the resourceful information needed for this study for better understanding. The informations is gathered from wide range of media such as books, guidelines, previous thesis, journals, and new articles related to Industrialise Building System (IBS) and company related to them in Sarawak or Malaysia such as SCIB and CIDB. This also helped in achieving th e first objectives which aim of increasing the understanding of IBS concept.Questionnaires List if question has been prepared for the purpose of collecting primary data. Questionnaire can be an efficient data collection tool when the researcher knows exactly on the information that is needed and how o measure the variables of interest. Thus, all questions should be clear, understandable and obtain no ambiguity. Data validation has been done after the questionnaires had been collected. In the process of data validation, the responses obtained from the questionnaires have been for accuracy and suitability for his research purpose.Respondents for the questionnaire in this research are site workers, site engineers, site supervisors, foremen, management staff and production manager of several sites in Sarawak. The questionnaire has been given by hand to the respondents for determining the barrier and challenges of implementation of IBS in Sarawak. This is to gather information and eviden ce which is not available from literature review. In order to achieve the second objectives, Part B of the questionnaires which is on the challenges and barrier of IBS implementation has been filled by respondent who involved in construction field.In order to achieve the third objective which is to find the solutions in improving IBS implementation in Sarawak, Part C is provided which discussed on the suggestion and solutions criteria which have been filled by the respondent based on their level of agreement. The questionnaires have been given to various experience construction player such as developer contractors, consultant and supplier in Sarawak. This is to obtain their pc involve has been based on their experience in construction industry. Data Analysis Method The data collected from the questionnaires will be analyzed by using Likert Scaling method. 3. esult and discussion Objective (i): To understand the concept of Industrialised Building System (IBS) The first objective was achieved by finding and explaining wide informations about IBS and been discussed in Chapter 2, Literature Review. Many resources from internets, journals, project papers as well as newspaper is used in gaining information on IBS. In Chapter 2, starting from definition of IBS, discussion on the history as well as the general knowledge on IBS is discussed. Then, some discussion on current construction method in Malaysian construction industry is carried on to compare the IBS methods with the conventional method.In addition, more detailed information on IBS is provided such as, IBS in Malaysia and Sarawak which elaborated on the progress of IBS implementation in Malaysia as well as Sarawak, and also the need of IBS which discussed on the reasons why should IBS be implemented. Apart from that, knowledge on feature of IBS, types of IBS, the sequence of construction for IBS method, advantages of IBS, and challenges of IBS implementation in Malaysia also been provided in Chapter 2 which i s at page 12 until 38. All of this information aims to increase the knowledge and understanding the concept of Industrial Building System (IBS) to a higher level.The knowledge of IBS need to be improves especially amongst the construction players as well as citizens in Sarawak so that IBS implementation in this state can be increase. Objective (ii): To identify the challenges of implementation of IBS in Sarawak As discussed before, Part B of the questionnaires distribution assessment is conducted as to achieve the second objective which is to identify the challenges of implementation of IBS in Sarawak. These factors are the factor that is discussed in Chapter 2 on challenges of IBS implementation in Malaysia [2]. Another factor has been add on is Green Building Index (GBI).IBS is more towards GBI as wastage on site is reduced and pollutions due to work and progress done on site can be prevented. Green Building Index(GBI) was the world first tropical green tool design and developed b y Persatuan Arkitk Malaysia (PAM) and Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM). Implementing Green Building Index will need more knowledge and experience since it is also a new tool in the construction industry. There are five main factors provided in the Part B section for construction players to rank according to their agreement on challenges of implementation of IBS in Sarawak, which are: i.Awareness ii. Knowledge iii. Cost iv. Acceptance v. Green Building Index (GBI) Summary of overall main challenges of IBS implementation in Sarawak Table 1: Scale Index of overall challenges factor by construction players Scale| Level of agreement| Index| 1| Strongly Disagree| 3. 31? Min index

Evaluation of a company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Evaluation of a company - Essay Example Our company needs a strong investment to protect its future positions. For The Growth of company has been in growing shape in Europe. However, in this document we will strive for better option of expansion such as merger viability or acquisition of an existing corporation or developing its own plant in UK to start operations in paint technology. Strategic viability has also been assessed about expansion plan. The company envisions maintaining valuable position by its customers, community they serve and committed staff and shareholders. Company aims to transform itself into innovative organization and serve with up to date infrastructure support. Working capital may be financed through short term loans which may not be a burden in terms of finance costs. It will also help to maintain liquidity positions of company. Another way out could be availability of Overdraft from bank on negotiable terms. Chamberlain, K. A. (2011). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Lawfully Made Under This Titleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ : The Implications of Costco v. Omega and the First Sale Doctrine on Library Lending. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 37(4), 291-298. Hanna, J. (2013). Real-world application of MedsCheck opportunities: The Costco pharmacists intervention trial for reduction of cardiovascular risk. Canadian Pharmacists Journal / Revue des Pharmaciens du Canada, 146(6), 325-328. Minahan, S. M., Huddleston, P., & Bianchi, C. (2012). Costco and the Aussie Shopper: a case study of the market entry of an international retailer. The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 22(5), 507-527. Hooper, C., & Gunn, R. (2013). Recognition as a framework for ethical participatory research: developing a methodology with looked after young people. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, I,

Creative Ventures and Enterprise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Creative Ventures and Enterprise - Essay Example This report is about my aims and aspiration as a product designer to understand all the areas of this industry including creativity, business and administration. My basic areas of interests are in product designing along with branding and merchandising. This will make me a part of the creative industry. The focus of this paper will be on product designing with particular reference consumer cultures in Taiwan, Russia, US and the UK. All other areas related to the creative industry will also be covered. It is my intention to work in Taiwan in a government department and initial steps in the form of a scholarship has already been applied for. Scope: The main scope of this paper is to study all aspects of the creative industry with specific focus on product design in Taiwan. After completion of this work it is hoped that I will get sufficient information to get me started on my intended career as a product designer. Creative Industry: Creative industry can be defined as "those industries that are based on individual creativity, skill and talent. They are also those that have the potential to create wealth and jobs through developing intellectual property." (Creative Industries: The Definition of the Creative Industries. 2007). From this it is clear that creativity, skill and talent that can create wealth and jobs is what differentiates it from other areas of business. Since creativity is involved, the question of intellectual property rights is also raised here. Creativity is a very broad term and hence what constitute a creative industry also varies. For example, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport of the UK Government groups creative industries under predetermined areas of business. In other words, advertising, designing, film making, performing arts, publishing, software etc are considered to be a part of creative industries. The UK was the first country in the world to recognise the e xistence of such industries and classify them as such. "The UK was the first, in 1997, to systematically promote the creative industries. Australia and New Zealand followed shortly afterwards." (Creative Industries in Hong Kong: Introduction. 2002). Growth of Creative Industries: This industry is one of the fastest growing in the world. All areas that are considered to be creative had existed long before the concept of creative industries came into existence. But the potential of each of these sectors taken separately gave rise to classify them as creative and efforts for growth as a collective entity has now begun. The United Nations is also looking at this industry seriously as a means of economic development of under developed and developing countries. Being such a vast area, exact current figures are difficult to estimate. But according to UNCTAD, total value of creative industries world wide stood at 225 billion USD in 2005 fro 234 billion USD in 1996. This is an average growth of 8.7% making it one of the fastest growing industries in the world today. "Creative industries have emerged as one of the world's most dynamic economic sectors, offering vast opportunities for cultural, social and economic development. Internationa l trade in creative goods and services surged to US$445.2 billion in 2005 from US$234.8 billion in 1996, according to preliminary UNCTAD figures." (Creative Industries Emerge as Key Driver of Economic Growth with Trade Nearly

Matrices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Matrices - Essay Example It remains to determine if any of the 33 sub matrices of the augmented matrix (B) have a non – zero determinant. For example in a square sub matrix of order 33 of [B], namely, These system of equations are inconsistent, because the rank of the coefficient matrix [A] in which det(D) = 0. Moreover, a 3rd order square sub matrices of [B], namely, , and are such that their corresponding determinants are zero. In other words, all the 3rd order square sub matrices of the augmented matrix [B] have a zero determinant. Therefore, the rank of the augmented matrix [B] is less than 3. Since, there exists a 2nd order square sub matrix of matrix [B], such that det(H) = -120≠ 0, the rank of the augmented matrix [B] is 2. The rank of the coefficient matrix [A], whereis to be determined. Det(A) = 0. Hence, the rank of the coefficient matrix [A] is less than 3. is a square sub matrix of matrix [A] and det (J) = -3 ï‚ ¹ 0. Therefore, the rank of the coefficient matrix [A] is 2. Hence, rank of the coefficient matrix [A] = rank of the augmented matrix [B], accordingly the system of equations given by [A] [X] = [B] is consistent. Nevertheless, the rank of the coefficient matrix [A] = rank of the augmented matrix [B] < 3, therefore there are only 2 constraints; consequently, these equations have infinitely many

Business Write Up on Tuition Fees Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business Write Up on Tuition Fees - Essay Example The good news is that loans will be availed to cover the full cost incurred during the study with student not expected to repay these unless they secure jobs earning them at least 15,000 a year. Together with these there will be grants, bursaries and scholarships which will help them cover the cost of living. On meeting eligibility rules set for those undergraduates from the UK and EU, one can apply for a loan amounting to 3,000 which will cover fees for each academic year. However those who are financially stable are not expected to apply. Eligible UK students can also apply a non-refundable maintenance grant amounting to 2,700 a year, 300 bursary and other related forms of finance. Those studying in London and lives away are entitled to a maximum maintenance loan of up to 6,170 a year while those living with their parents will get a maximum of 3,415 a year as maintenance loan, a minimum of 4,630 a year and 2,560 a year respectively. Students with dependants will be eligible for more support which will be dictated by their disposable income, those with children can get an 85% childcare costs grant accompanied by up to 1,365 a year extra grant. An adult dependant will attract up to 2,400 a year extra grant. Lastly, the university is offering various scholarsh... Above all those students who still face financial difficulties even after receiving all the funding are encouraged to apply to the University's Access to Learning Fund for more assistance. Impacts to the students Benefits Students will acquire knowledge, skills and disposition that will enable them to participate at more or less effective members of groups and societies. Eligible students from United Kingdom and European Union will easily assess loans that will help them clear fees in each academic year For those students with dependants the university will consider them by issuing 85% childcare costs grant which will be accompanied by up to 1,365 annual extra grant. Those with adult dependants will receive a grant amounting to 2,400 a year. These will greatly assist this students hence making their learning smooth and uninterrupted by cases such as fees and dependant's upkeep Students will get modern and improved facilities from the university, this will include a well equipped library with necessary research materials They will receive well organised sporting activities that will attract regional and international competition thereby improving on their extra-curriculum activities. Disadvantages The new fee structure will lead to a reduced opportunity for students to join Westminster University This will lead to a considerable decrease on the number of students who will be applying to join the institution since most of them will shy away from the new fees. Students will experience inequality based on the admission system The total student debt will increase as a result of the fee increment Intelligent students from less well off families are exclude in the system hence denying them an opportunity to improve their situations in life as well as helping

Organ Transplants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Organ Transplants - Essay Example Several apocryphal accounts of transplants exist well prior to the scientific understanding and advancements that would be necessary for them to have actually occurred. The Chinese physician Pien Ch-iao reportedly exchanged hearts between a man of strong spirit but weak will with one of a man of weak spirit but strong will in an attempt to achieve balance in each man. Roman Catholic mythology reports the third-century saints Damian and Cosmas as replacing the gangrenous leg of the Roman deacon Justinian with the leg of a recently deceased Ethiopian. Most accounts have the saints performing the transplant in the fourth century A.D., decades after their death; some accounts have them only instructing living surgeons who performed the procedure. More likely accounts exist in the area of skin transplantation. The first reasonable account is of the Indian surgeon Sushruta in the second century B.C., who used autografted skin transplantation in nose reconstruction rhinoplasty. Success or failure of these procedures is not well documented. Centuries later, the Italian surgeon Gaspare Tagliacozzi performed successful skin autografts; he also failed consistently with allografts, offering the first suggestion of rejection centuries before that mechanism could possibly be understood. He attributed it to the "force and power of individuality" in his 1596 work De Curtorum Chirurgia per Insitionem. Transplants #3 The first successful corneal allograft transplant was performed in 1837 in a gazelle model; the first successful human corneal transplant, a keratoplastic operation, was performed by Eduard Zirm in Austria in 1905. Pioneering work in the surgical technique of transplantation was made in the early 1900s by the French surgeon Alexis Carrel, with Charles Guthrie, with the transplantation of arteries or veins. Their skillful anastomosis operations, the new suturing techniques, laid the groundwork for later transplant surgery and won Carrel the 1912 Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology. From 1902 Carrel performed transplant experiments on dogs. Surgically successful in moving kidneys, hearts and spleens, he was one of the first to identify the problem of rejection, which remained insurmountable for decades. Major steps in skin transplantation occurred during WW I, notably in the work of Harold Gillies at Aldershot. Among his advances was the tubed pedicle graft, maintaining a flesh connection from the donor site until the graft established its own blood flow. Gillies' assistant, Archibald McIndoe, carried on the work into WW II as reconstructive surgery. In 1962 the first successful replantation surgery was performed - re-attaching a severed limb and restoring (limited) functioning and feeling. The first attempted human deceased-donor transplant was performed by the Ukrainian surgeon Yu Yu Voronoy in the 1930s; rejection resulted in failure. Joseph Murray performed the first successful transplant, a kidney transplant between identical twins, in 1954, successful because no immunosuppression was necessary in genetically identical twins. In the late 1940s Peter Medawar, working for the National Institute for Medical Research, improved the understanding of rejection. Identifying the immune reactions in 1951 Medawar suggested that immunosuppressive drugs could be used. Cortisone had

Implementing Strategy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Implementing Strategy - Research Paper Example The above organizational chart would work for IKEA because it would help make its operation less complicated. The Ingka Foundation would act as the executive committee. This committee would provide direction and support to the regional structure. The committee would handle IKEA’s strategic priorities. The regional structure should compose the members of the executive committee other than the Chief Executive Officer (Ingvar Kamprad or his successor). These other members of the IKEA’s executive committee should head the regions in which the company operates. This would provide for representation of the regions in the decision-making role of the executive committee and enhance the implementation its policies while reporting regional needs and emergent circumstances to the company’s top leadership (Steers et. al., 2010). The regional structure is meant to enhance connection with local consumers through a combination of localization and centralization. This would help overcome the challenges that IKEA encountered when it launched into the US market. Consumers of different regions have varying tastes and preferences and as long as IKEA does not adopt a regional structure, it will not address the needs of the consumers of the regions in to which it might expand. IKEA should allow the regional structure to vary its management to suit their environments. This would also have the advantage of speeding up the decision-making process especially because regional leaders will sit in the executive committee meetings (Wheelen & Hunger, 2012). The lowest level in this proposed organizational chart is the strategic business unit (SUB). These units are the geographically operating segments that would have several advantages for IKEA. They would help IKEA meat the taste and lifestyle needs of the people of their different geographical regions. Different geographical regions are different stages of development and SUBs would help IKEA vary its

Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Finance - Assignment Example Sainsburys is second in terms of market share, ASDA is third and Morrisons is fourth (with 11.8), according to Reuters Finance. But when we look into market share increase over the past two years we find that Tesco’s profit margin in 2011 was 8.47% and decreased to 8.15% in 2012 perhaps reflecting the overall decline in retail profits due to the weakened economy. It is important to note though that Tesco was still operating with a profit margin of over 8%. When comparing this to Morrisons, who experienced an slightly decrease from 6.9% in 2011 to 6.89%, even though this was only a slight decrease it was still operating on a loss for both the years. The inability to change the profitability of the business has meant a decline in the share price of 13% and as a result ordinary shareholders would be put off investing the this business. ROE The Return on equity (ROE) is defined as the net income that is returned to the shareholder as a percentage of the shareholder’s fund. ROE of a company actually measures the profit that the company generates from the shareholders money (Warren, 2009). Thus, change in ROE of both the companies is compared to see which company is favourable for the investor to invest in, so that he will receive a higher ROE. From the analysis, it is seen that the ROE of Tesco Plc has decreased by 0.25% in 2012 as compared to 2011. It indicates that the shareholders have received fewer amounts as return in 2012 by losing a part of their investment. Comparing the ROE of Morrison, it is found that there has been 1.12% increase in 2012 from 2011. It indicates that if investment is made in Morrison’s share then an investor will be getting greater return in 2012. But if both the companies ROE is compared, then it can be stated that the shares of Tesco Plc are worth investing than Morrison’s, since it gives higher ROE (White, Sondhi and Fied, 2003). EPS Earnings per share are defined as the portion of profit of the company tha t is allocated to the shareholder. It actually indicates the profitability of the company. The Earning per Share (EPS) of Tesco Plc has increased in 2012 from 2011 by 0.01. The EPS of Morrison shows an increase in 2012 from 2011 by 0.20, but if EPS of both the companies are compared, then it is found that Tesco Plc is giving a higher earning than Morrison (Lucy, 2003). The EPS of both the companies can be compared because both are from the retail industry. Dividend per share Dividend per share (DPS) can be defined as the total dividends that are paid out over an entire period of time to the shareholders divided by number of the shares that are issued by the company. The dividend per share of Tesco Plc 14.7 p in 2012 is higher than that of Morrison 11.6 p. Thus it can be said that the customers of Tesco Plc. will be getting more as dividend if they invest in Tesco Plc. The change in dividend per share of Tesco Plc is negligible, 1.2 p, as compared to Morrison which is 3.3 p in 2012. The DPS of both companies can be compared since they belong to the same retail industry. Dividend payout ratio The dividend payout ratio is the percentage of the earning of the company that is paid to the shareholde

Essay on Virtue Essay Example for Free

Essay on Virtue Essay For most religious people it is one of the main goals in their life to live after the guidelines of virtue and show behavior with high moral standards. Virtue means goodness, morality, integrity, dignity†¦ Everything that Randle McMurphy is not at the first instance in â€Å"One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest†. His character opposes all classic characteristics of virtue and roughly speaking he fails to survive in the end. Therefore is it important to be virtuous? I believe that although virtue is coming out of fashion in today’s culture, it is a necessary, daily element in our life. For most people virtue isn’t the â€Å"coolest kid in town†. If someone announces that they’re giving up on dating, spending money on nice clothes and to overall work on becoming a more virtuous person, one will be labeled as a â€Å"freak†; someone maybe too religious that has a screw loose somewhere. Being virtuous can be boring because you have to control and put yourself in the background in a time when most teenagers and adults live their life for the public. One will sit in a nice restaurant with a plate more like art than food in front of them, but instead of enjoying their meal and talking with their friends, people will take a picture to display on instagram or facebook showing other people how good their life is. Being wicked and a little bit crazy is a strangely attractive characteristic nowadays. Along the lines of â€Å"good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go everywhere. † In OFOTCN McMurphy is that kind of crazy, wicked person. Although he fails to fit into society, it is hard to argue that he is not polarizing, fun and strangely likeable. When Murphy is asked why people believe he might be mentally ill, he bluntly says, â€Å"Well, as near as I can figure out, its cause I, uh, fight and fuck too much. † A virtuous person would never say that. But coming from Randle, it is oddly witty and authentic. McMurphy is not the perfect example of virtue; he is the exact opposite, the how-not-to-do-it. Yet you feel yourself rooting for him, wishing that he will succeed in his life. Maybe because you see good in him even though you have to dig past a few layers, or maybe you are inspired by his pure love of life and spontaneity. In Addition his relationship with Chief shows true affection and care. For example when Randle is genuinely interested in Chief’s story and even asks him to run away with him. He builds a friendship and basis of trust where the Chief even reveals his ability to communicate. The amazing part is the fact that the Chief never spoke a word with anyone and acted dumb the entire time he was on the ward, fooling everyone. McMurphy brings a lot of joy and freshness into the sanatorium, although they’re primarily enforced with alcohol and women. He is unique and against all norms. If you’ve read The Catcher in The Rye, you know that McMurphy is someone who isn’t â€Å"phony†. But all his likeability aside, McMurphy fails to run away from the psychiatric hospital and even loses his life in the end. Therefore it shows us that it isn’t really possible to live in society without norms. Which brings us to the point that humans need virtue as an element in their life in order to survive. We need and want virtue in our life, so that we can keep things in order and live a happy life. There is an invisible book of rules that almost everybody knows of. Not everyone follows it, but it’s usually known in the name of â€Å"common sense†. For instance people know that it is hurtful to cheat on someone. Loyalty and honesty are elements of virtue and people live by their rule everyday. When you promise someone to do something, you have to do it or will be labeled as irresponsible and untrustworthy. You don’t have to say these things out loud because it’s common sense. Elements of virtue lie so deep in our culture that they’ve become everyday values and traditions that have formed a common code for society. Beside materialistic or selfish values, we need morals and principles that leave us with something more substantial than money or success. Virtue is something that is expected of everyone, yet not usually voiced. Someone who is against all norms usually doesn’t survive in society. The example is Randle McMurphy, who is a healthy and intelligent man. There is nothing stopping him from living a normal life, but his persona is so impulsive and difficult that it is very hard to find virtue in him. Therefore people are quick to judge him and label him as a danger to society. He gets send to the electroshock treatment because he acted impulsively and smashed a window in order to get Martinez’ cigarettes. Bystanders will describe this act as dangerous and violent and conclude that he is a threat. I think that McMurphy didn’t mean any harm, but failed to think twice about what he was doing. A virtuous person would’ve never smashed the window in the first place and therefore never gotten a punishment. We are imprinted with the knowledge that some things are right and others wrong, whereas those judgments are based on the concepts of virtue. But humans aren’t that easy and the way society understand this concept has its flaws. All humans are different in their personas and stories, but no one is better than the other. In OFOTCN everyone in the psychiatric hospital is very different from the other, but they each have their pluses and minuses. The nurses aren’t more virtuous than the patients, which is shown in the irresponsible behavior of Nurse Ratched that ultimately resulted in Bibbet’s death. But for society it might seem that she showed virtuous behavior in forms of honesty. It might seem unfair that those â€Å"Looneys† are locked up either in the prison or sanatorium because they don’t behave in an acceptable manner. â€Å"What do you think you are, for Chrissake, crazy or somethin? Well youre not! Youre not! Youre no crazier than the average asshole out walkin around on the streets and thats it. † McMurphy is the one to voice out that the people in the hospital are no less valuable than the â€Å"normal† people. It is ironic that especially Randle, who seems to be dangerous and aggressive, to say something that true and tolerant. We see that the patients have accepted and believe the opinion of the society. So has the hospital, that just strictly follows the daily routine, shocks patients if they’re not obedient and don’t put visible effort in genuinely helping them. Nurse Ratched says, â€Å"The best thing we can do is go on with our daily routine. † right after Bibbet’s death and McMurphy’s brain surgery. For society it is easy to say that someone is bad according to his or her moral standard and integrity. But not every person is born into a nice environment, a loving family or prosperity. There is much more to a person’s life that forms their character, way of thinking and thus value of virtue. We see that McMurphy is by no means a purely malicious character but a fun-loving guy who loves life. Yet his way of dealing with things put him in trouble and difficulty. It is very important to understand and have virtue in your life, because even though we often neglect open and excessive virtuous behavior, it is an unspoken rule in society to behave to some extent of common virtue. It is somewhat ironically contradicting and there is just simply no scientific answer to being virtuous because there are so many factors that play a role in someone’s behavior. Everyone is good and bad and the lines between villain and hero are sometimes surprisingly blurred. Humans are complex beings that can’t be simply categorized into wrong and right and many situations seem ambiguous depending on the perspective. That is why virtue is a great ideal but by no means a scale to critic.

Relating Critical Incident To Communication Theory And Knowledge Nursing Essay

Relating Critical Incident To Communication Theory And Knowledge Nursing Essay The aim of this report is to look at a critical incident that occurred in placement and relate this to the theory and knowledge regarding communication and interpersonal skills, so as to demonstrate an understanding of my views on the art and science of reflection and the issues surrounding reflective practice Reflection is part of reflective practice and a skill that is developed. It can be seen as a way of adjusting to life as a qualified healthcare professional and enhancing the development of a professional identity (Atwal Jones, 2009). Reflection is defined as a process of reviewing an experience which involves description, analysis and evaluation to enhance learning in practice (Rolfe et al 2001).  This is supported by Fleming (2006), who described it as a process of reasoned thought. It enables the practitioner to critically assess self and their approach to practice. Reflective practice is advocated in healthcare as a learning process that encourages self-evaluation with subsequent professional development planning (Zuzelo, 2010). Reflective practice has been identified as one of the key ways in which we can learn from our experiences. The incident that was chosen was so for the reasons that the situation made the student aware of inadequacies on his own part and those of the staff on the team, which made him reflect upon the situation and how this could be learned from, so as not to make the same mistake again. Before the critical incident is examined it is important to look at what a critical incident is and why it is important to nursing practice. Girot (1997), cited in Maslin-Prothero, (1997) states that critical incidents are a means of exploring a certain situation in practice and recognising what has been learned from the situation. Benner (1984, cited by Kacperek, 1997) argues that nurses cannot increase or develop their knowledge to its full potential unless they examine their own practice. Confidentiality will be maintained as required by the Nursing Midwifery Council Code (NMC, 2008).    MODELS In order to provide a framework for methods, practices and processes for building knowledge from practice, there are several models of reflection available. All can help to direct individual reflection. Reflective models, however, are not meant to be used as a rigid set of questions to be answered but to give some structure and encourage making a record of the activity. Johns (2004) model reflects on uncovering the knowledge behind the incident and the actions of others present. It is a good tool for thinking, exploring ideas, clarifying opinions and supports learning. Another model, Schon (1987), however, identifies two types of reflection that can be applied in healthcare, Reflection-in-action and Reflection-on-action. Reflection-in-action can also be described as thinking whilst doing. Reflection-on-action involves revisiting experiences and further analysing them to improve skills and enhance future practice. Terry Bortons (1970) 3 stem questions:  What?,  So What?  and  Now What?  were developed by John Driscoll in 1994, 2000 and 2007. Driscoll matched the 3 questions to the stages of an  experiential learning cycle, and added trigger questions that can be used to complete the cycle. However, Driscoll (2006) notes that reflective practice is often represented as a choice for health professionals, whether to be reflective or not to be, about their clinical practice. Finally, Gibbs (1988) reflective cycle is fairly straightforward and encourages a clear description of the situation, analysis of feelings, evaluation of the experience, analysis to make sense of the experience, conclusion where other options are considered and reflection upon experience to examine what one would do if the situation arose again. In spite of all these models advantages, there are known barriers which prevent practitioners being able to reflect effectively and time plays a huge role. Smyth (2004) questions whether there is any time to think and be reflective because of the busy work environment that practitioners are involved in. CHOSEN MODEL In this report, I have chosen to use Gibbs Reflective Cycle (1988) as a framework, because it focuses on different aspects of an experience and allows the learner to revisit the event fully. Gibbs (1988) will help me to explore the experience further, using a staged framework as guidance and I feel that this is a simple model, which is well structured and easy to use at this early stage in my course. This model comprises of a process that helps the individual look at a situation and think about their thoughts and feelings at the time of the incident; and consists of six stages to complete one cycle. Its cyclical nature starts with a description of the situation. This includes e.g. where were you; who else was there; why were you there; what were you doing; what were other people doing. Next is to analysis of the feelings that is, trying to recall and explore those things that were going on inside your head? The third stage is an evaluation of the experience; making a judgement regarding the reasons behind the event and its possible consequences. The fourth stage is an analysis to make sense of the experience. At this stage the event is broken down into its component parts so they can be explored separately. The fifth stage is a conclusion of what else could I have done; the creation of insight through the reflective process towards individual roles within the event being considered. And final stage is an action plan to prepare if the situation arose again. That is, recognitions leading towards behavioural adjustments where faced with similar events in the future (NHS, 2006). The use of this model represents a fundamental shift from the ideas of Kolb in that Gibbs model specifically refers to the key processes within reflection itself, rather than as reflection as a process within general learning. Reflective practice can mean taking our experiences as an initial point for our learning and developing practice (Jasper, 2003). Many literatures have been written in the past that suggest the use of reflective assignments and journaling as tools to improve reflection and thinking skills in healthcare (Chapman et al, 2008). Reflective journals are an ideal way to be actively involved in learning (Millinkovic Field, 2005) and can be implemented to allow practitioners to record events and document their thoughts and actions on daily situations, and how this may affect their future practice (Williams Wessel, 2004). The experience gained in this can then be used to deal with other situations in a professional manner. By contemplating it thus, I am able to appreciate it and guided to where future development work is required. Context of incident In the scenario the patients name will be given as Xst.   Ã‚  The consequences of my actions for the client will be explained and how they might have been improved, including what I learned from the experience. My feelings about the clinical skills used to manage the clients care will be established and my new understanding of the situation especially in relation to evidence based practice will be considered.   I will finally reflect on what actions I will take in order to ensure my continued professional development and learning.    Xst is 55 year old woman who has a 10 year old daughter.   She suffers from psychiatric problems, lack of motivation and has difficulties in maintaining her personal hygiene and the cleanliness of her flat. She was one of my mentors clients to whom I had been assigned to coordinate and oversee her care under supervision. Nurses owe their patients a duty of care and are expected to offer a high standard of care based on current best practise, (NMC 2008).   Ã‚   Description Xst had been prescribed Risperidone Consta 37.5mg fortnightly, which is a moderate medication. Risperidone belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotic, which are usually used to help treat people with schizophrenia and similar condition such as psychosis. Xst did not like attending depot clinic and she missed three consecutive appointments. My mentor decided after the third non-attendance to raise the issue in the handover meeting where it was decided to see Xst in the morning but when we arrived she was not there. We left a note for her to call the office. We did not hear from her and a further home visit was carried out to arrange for her next depot clinic appointment. I was asked to call a meeting of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) who, at the meeting agreed that there would be a problem if the next injections were missed. At the next clinic, we waited for about an hour but she failed to attend. At a subsequent meeting with the patient, she agreed a joint visit with the CPN, my mentor and me to re-assess her condition and consider if it was necessary to   Ã‚  refer her case to the Consultant. I was given the opportunity to participate in the assessment, which showed that her behaviour was very unpredictable and very forgetful. Her inability to take her medication and to manage her personal hygiene clearly demonstrated that she was not well and indeed, had no insight into her illness and was in denial (Barker, 2004). However, the patient had been very upset because of the lack of communication and interpersonal skills that the staff and the student had displayed. I talked to Xst about her non-concordance with her medication, whilst stroking her hand but she persisted in saying she was well.   I reminded her that continuous use of the medication would benefit her mental health and protect her against relapse.   We agreed that she could discuss this with the doctor on her next outpatient appointment, with the option of reviewing or reducing her medication. I stressed the importance of her communicating any side effects or reservations she may have about the medication to doctor. She appeared to understand this and following the discussion, she finally complied with her depot injection. Feeling During the handover, I was nervous as I felt uncomfortable about giving feedback to the whole team. I was worried about making mistakes during my handover that could lead to inappropriate care being given to Xst or could cause her readmission to hospital. As a student nurse I felt I lacked the necessary experience to be passing information to a group of qualified staff members.   However, I dealt with the situation with outward calm and in a professional manner. I was very pleased that my mentor was available during the handover to offer me support and this increased my confidence. Evaluation What was good about the experience was that I was able to carry out the initial assessment and identify what caused Xst failure to comply with the treatment regime.   From my assessment I documented the outcome and related what had happened to the MDT with minimal assistance. Accurate documentation of patients care and treatment should communicate to other members of the team in order to provide continuity of care (NMC, 2008).   The experience has improved my communication skills immensely, I felt supported throughout the handover by my mentor who was constantly involved when I missed out any information. Thomas et al, (1997) explains that supervision is an important development tool for all learners. The team were very supportive throughout the process as they took my information without doubt.   What was not good about the experience was the fact that my mentor had not informed me that I was going to handover the information; as a result I had not mentally prepared myself for it.   I also felt that I needed more time to observe other professionals in the team carrying out their handovers before I attempted to carry out mine.   During the first MDT meeting, I felt that we did not provide enough time to freely interact with Xst to identify other psychosocial needs that could impact on her health. However, in any event, she was unable to fully engage because of her mental state. Turley (2000) suggests that nursing staff should include their interaction with the patient when recording assessment details, which can be used to provide evidence for future planning and delivery of care. Dougherty and Lister (2004) have suggested that healthcare professionals should use listening as part of assessing patient problems, needs and resources.      Analysis The literature regarding communication and interpersonal skills is vast and extensive. Upon reading a small amount of the vast literature available, the author was able to analyse the incident, and look at how badly this situation was handled. I realised communication is the main key in the nursing profession as suggested by Long (1999) who states that interpersonal skills are a form of tool that is necessary for effective communication. The behaviour of the person listening to the person who is talking is important during the interpersonal process (Burnard, 1992).The author used touch to convey support, genuineness and empathy, which is essential for the helping relationship (Betts, 2002, cited in Kenworthy et al, 2002). Carl Rogers (1967, cited by Betts, 2002, in Kenworthy et al, 2002) recommended three principal conditions necessary for effective counseling: empathic understanding, congruence or genuineness and unconditional positive regard. The terms genuineness and congruence ar e used interchangeably and used to describe the helper always being real in the helping relationship (Betts, 2002, cited in Kenworthy et al, 2002). I found it difficult to communicate with the patient initially because I did not understand her condition (  Adams,2008). It was also difficult for me not to take her behaviour to heart and show emotion at the time and thought this to be a failure. Even though the NMC (2008) maintains that nurses have a responsibility to empower patient in their care and to identify and minimise risk to patient, the principle of beneficence (to do well) must be balanced against no maleficence (doing no harm) (Beauchamp and Childress, 2001).   All these transactions were recorded in Xsts care plan file and on computer. Good record keeping is an integral part of nursing and midwifery practice, and is essential to the provision of safe and effective care. It is not an optional extra to be fitted in if circumstances allow NMC (2009).   The consequences of my actions for the patient and her daughter were that she attended to her daughters needs and to her personal hygiene, and made regular fortnight ly visits to the clinic. Her mental condition was improved. She was allowed to continue on her moderate medication and she did not have to be readmitted in the hospital. However, Bulman Schutz (2008) argue that this failure is to educate and for us to learn from practice and develop thinking skills. I would agree with them, as I learn best from practical experience, and build on it to improve my skills. With this is mind, I am now going to focus on my weaknesses, in both theory and practice, and state how, when and why I plan to improve on these. Through effective communication I was able to convince Xst of the need to take her medication. I was able to pass on the information to the MDT for continuity of care.     Roger et al (2003) concluded that communication is an on-going process but can be a difficult process when dealing with mental health problems.  Whilst talking I attempted to use Egans SOLER (Egan, 1990, cited in Burnard, 1992).The SOLER acronym is an aid to identifying and remembering the behaviours that should be implemented in order to promote effective listening (Burnard, 1992). I Sat facing Xst; assumed an Open posture; Leaned towards Xst slightly (in order to express interest); maintained Eye contact and attempted to appear Relaxed, as advised by Egan. During the handover I was pleased that the MDT members were supportive and interested in what I was saying and they asked questions. My mentor explained that a patient with schizophrenia can often behave like this as they develop dementia, which Noble (2007) also confirms. Since the incident I have read about schizophrenia and I am now aware that the patients expressionless face Netdoctor (2008), also made her comments appear more confusing and aggressive. Conclusion   In conclusion, I have learnt that through effective communication, any problem can be solved regardless of the environment, circumstances or its complexity.  Therefore, nurses must ensure they are effective communicators.   I have identified the weaknesses that should be turned to strengths. I am now working on strengthening my assertiveness, confidence and communication skills. Participating in the care of Xst I have realised that a good background information and feedback about mental health problems before providing care to clients can assist in accurate diagnosis and progress monitoring.  Ã‚   A good relationship between client and staff nurse is therapeutic and help in building trust.   This can be achieved by a free communication that allows the client to express their feelings and concern without the fear of intimidation.   From the experience, I feel the knowledge I have acquired will aid me in future practice should such situation arise again. Action Plan So that I could identify my strengths and weaknesses in both theory and practice easily, I found that the use of a SWOT analysis provided a good framework to follow. I have then built on this by producing a development plan that focuses on my weaknesses and how, when and why I plan to improve on them. I will now begin to work on these, the main reason being of course, that I am determined to be a competent, professional nurse in the future. I am now more prepared for any future patients with this disease as I have researched it. I will take the time to talk to them, to make sure they are at ease with me, before providing any care. If they appear distressed I would get another member of staff to help me to reassure them. Learning Need To improve my knowledge about patients illnesses and the risks of relapse associated with not taking medication. To identify and have good background information and feedback about patients mental health problems before providing care to them. To ensure a good rapport exist between my patient and I, in order to build up a therapeutic relationship with them and to gain their trust. To have effective communication with the patients and other members of the multidisciplinary team and being prepared. Planned action to meet these learning needs I aim to read books about different illnesses and causes of relapse and to read my patients notes. I will be talking with senior members of staff and allocating time to talk to patients and their relatives and participating in the ward round. Finally, I will have regular meetings with my clients. Target time to meet the learning needs I hope by the end of third year and some will be on-going skills to develop throughout the training. CONCLUSION I have clearly demonstrated that by using a reflective model as a guide, I have been able to break down, make sense of, and learn from my experience during my placement. At the time of the incident I felt very inadequate It was also difficult for me not to take her behaviour to heart and show emotion at the time, it is clear that this is an area I need to build on for the future. Nursing requires effective preparation so that we can care competently, with knowledge and professional skills being developed over a professional lifetime. One way this can be achieved is through what some writers refers to as technical rationality, where professionals are problem solvers that select technical means best suited to particular purposes. Problems are solved by applying theory and technique. The invaluable use of non-verbal communication has now become clearer to the author. The author believes he has become more self-aware regarding his own non-verbal communication and hopes that in the future he will use his communication skills to become a better advocate for the patient in his care.

Summary of The Pianist Essay -- essays research papers

The Pianist Summary From 1939 to 1945, the world merely watched while six million Jews were viciously executed by the Nazis. Never in the history of the world had man kind experienced such evil against one class of people. The Pianist, a movie directed by Roman Polanski, is a touching, yet brutally honest film about a man living under the unforgiving conditions of the Holocaust. Adrien Brody demonstrates spectacular acting skills while playing this man, Wladyslaw Szpilman. The story starts out in Warsaw, Poland, 1939, at the house of Szpilman’s Jewish family. Szpilman helped to support his family by playing the piano at different cafes and bars, and for the Polish radio station. By 1940, the Nazi force had already impacted many of the Jewish population. The Jewish were only allowed into some shops and restaurants, they had to walk in the gutters, and bow to the Nazis. On October 13, 1940, the Nazis issued an announcement stating that all Jews had to report to a â€Å"settlement† in Warsaw by the 31st and wear one-inch armbands with the Star of David printed on them. This was to dist... Summary of The Pianist Essay -- essays research papers The Pianist Summary From 1939 to 1945, the world merely watched while six million Jews were viciously executed by the Nazis. Never in the history of the world had man kind experienced such evil against one class of people. The Pianist, a movie directed by Roman Polanski, is a touching, yet brutally honest film about a man living under the unforgiving conditions of the Holocaust. Adrien Brody demonstrates spectacular acting skills while playing this man, Wladyslaw Szpilman. The story starts out in Warsaw, Poland, 1939, at the house of Szpilman’s Jewish family. Szpilman helped to support his family by playing the piano at different cafes and bars, and for the Polish radio station. By 1940, the Nazi force had already impacted many of the Jewish population. The Jewish were only allowed into some shops and restaurants, they had to walk in the gutters, and bow to the Nazis. On October 13, 1940, the Nazis issued an announcement stating that all Jews had to report to a â€Å"settlement† in Warsaw by the 31st and wear one-inch armbands with the Star of David printed on them. This was to dist...

Stanhope from Journeys End by RC Sheriff Essay -- Journeys End Hero

Stanhope from Journey's End Stanhope provides the most obvious candidate for the accolade of â€Å"hero† in Journey’s End: R.C.Sherriff has included many themes in Journey’s End; a play portraying the reality of trench warfare. Some of these include Comradeship, The horrors of war, Heroism and Relationships. My essay will be focusing mainly on the theme of heroism. The audience relate the word â€Å"hero† with mainly one character in the play. But the word hero has many positive connotations. A hero could be a person who â€Å"saves the day† or is a hero in somebody else’s eyes or maybe even his personality and how he interacts with other characters could also give him the status of being a hero. There are many aspects of Stanhope which rightfully award him the status of being a hero. The audience is first introduced to the possibility of Stanhope being a hero when we first meet Raleigh. A keen and un-experienced officer, Raleigh forces himself into Stanhope’s battalion. Stanhope was Raleigh’s hero ever since high school, and when he joins the company he expects to some e...

The Masque of the Red Death Essay -- essays research papers

To begin I would like to state that this is the first time I have had the experience of reading Poe and as such the reading process was greatly intriguing. The short story I chose was the Masque of the Red Death, which I found to be very dark and vile. From the beginning of the story to the end I found great concentration on the issues of life and death, among other things, which made the story very dynamic for its size. Another point of interest I found in the story was Poe’s concentration on historical accuracy as he successfully attempts to illustrate the feudal system at its best. However, two aspects of Poe’s writing that I did not exactly enjoy was the use of obscure words and seemingly long sentence which can some times take away from the flow of the story but overall it was enjoyable. In this short story Poe successfully illustrates matters of life and death specifically through imagery and projection of morals through diction and mood. This is important to make note of because Poe provides very vivid and precise images pertaining to the message he is trying to convey. The concentration on colour is the most prominent element throughout the story. The use of the colored chambers was greatly effective in delivering its massage of night and day. However, while the implicit theme of the coloured chambers are in fact night and day it again relates back to the more larger theme life and death and the rooms symbolize that progression through life, starting with birth (the...

English speech Essay

Morning/Afternoon, fellow students. As all of you have had the unfortunate task to study belonging as part of the hsc, and many of you are sitting here zoning my speech out but belonging to people and place is one of the main reasons why we want to belong. In Orson Scott Card’s novel Enders Game it is a major struggle for young Ender Wiggin and he feels like he will never belong. Belonging is not welcomed but is still portrayed deeply in Sean Penn’s film Into the Wild with Chris McCandless never fully understanding the concept of belonging. These texts demonstrate belonging both differently and similarly to Steven Herrick’s free-verse novel The Simple Gift. The human kind has always looked for people to belong to as it is one the most basic instincts for us humans to look for. Sean Penn had the challenge to demonstrate the life of Chris McCandless. At the age 22 from an affluent background Chris felt like he did not belong in the life he was living and unlike most people his age he got and left his life behind him and â€Å"risked†¦ a relentlessly lonely path†. Penn uses narration to explain how Chris had the ability to belong to a father like man (Ron) but instead Chris continued to walk down the lonely path. Through the flashbacks in scenes on Chris’s life with Rainey and Jan Burres, who practically begged Chris to stay with them and have the chance to belong but still he didn’t take that chance. Sean Penn is able to illustrate that Chris’s understanding of belonging was obscure. But still Chris couldn’t find the ability to belong to other people and took his whole lifetime to understand that â€Å"Happiness is only real when shared.† In The Simple Gift Billy a similar person to Chris but unlike Chris, Billy had the ability to belong to people and was able to settle down because of his sense of belonging. Orson Scott Card’s protagonist Andrew Wiggin also known as ‘Ender’ was born into a post-modern society and he is referred to as genetically perfect and intellectually smarter and the age of 8 he was asked to leave home and go to train to become the best military leader. The men in charge have one job and it â€Å"is to produce the best soldiers in the World†. Through the uses of irony of creating a child soldier Mazor Rackham (man in charge) assumed that there  would no consequences to Ender’s life, from creating a child military leader, thus this caused Ender to never belong to anyone. Graff (the man who trained Ender) â€Å"wanted to help Ender† but would rather create a better soldier. Through the contradiction of Graff wanting to help Ender but Graff being determined to create a better soldier, which forced Ender into isolation and had no one to belong too. Orson Scott Card is able to portray the effects of lack of belonging on Ender and show how it affects people. Alike to the Simple Gift and Into the Wild both protagonists never felt belonging with their parents. Even both characters may not have faced such a harsh lack of belonging compared to Ender but both Billy and Chris still new the toll it can take on someone. Most people want to belong to a place which causes people to search for belonging and the ability to call a place home. Orson Scott Card’s novel Ender’s Game try’s to demonstrate, how Ender struggled to belong to places but believed that Battle School was â€Å"the only place in the universe where he belonged.† Card uses hyperbole to help the audience understand that the child Ender had made an attachment and belonged to place and thought it as home. When Ender got forced to move on from the only place Ender liked â€Å"He hated it. He wanted to go back home, back to the Battle School.† Through short sentencing Card is able to illustrate that when ender arrives back to his original home he did not belong. The audience is able to understand the desperation for young Ender to get back to his home and belong. Similar to Ender’s Game, The Simple Gift Billy did not now what to do when he knew that he might have to leave his newly founded home. In Sean Penn’s film Into the Wild belonging is not part of Chris’s vocabulary. Chris as a young man had lived in more places than most people can imagine. Chris’s lack of belonging to these places causes him to keep moving from place to place even though he had the chance to belong. Through compressed time of the film shows Chris constantly moving around and demonstrate to the audience that Chris does not understand belonging and missed the happiness he was looking for. At the end of Chris’s life he is able to determine what the true meaning of happiness is and that he had the chance to belong. Through the close up of Chris’s last breath facial expressions shows sadness that Chris had places to belong too but in his dyeing breath he knew that he had missed his chance . Through  this the audience is able to understand that Chris knew that he had the chance to belong to many places. Even though both Ender’s Game and The Simple Gift had places to belong both Ender at his house and Billy at Nowheres Vile, knew how it felt not to belong to a place. Fitting into a place or being able to belong to a group of people is a significant part of the normal person’s life. Sean Penn was able to direct Into the Wild and is able to portray Chris and his very different understanding of belonging. Orson Scott Card’s novel Ender’s Game was able to illustrate the effects of what little belonging can do people. Through these texts and The Simple Gift all three composers were able to demonstrate similar and differently the effects of belonging to people and place.

Weapons and Personal Protective Equipment

When protecting individuals from others that may wish to do them harm, kidnap them, or just be near them because they think that the person he or she is stalking is theirs in some way it is important to protect oneself first. In today’s world of popularity of movie stars and political figures it has become more increasingly important for those individuals to hire personal protective agents. For an agent to do the best job that they can they must first protect him or herself or he or she will not be able to protect his or her client. The use of personal protective equipment and weapons has become more popular then it was in the past. Personal protection agents must worry about the use of weapons, personal protection equipment, and the use of force so they can protect themselves and their client to the fullest. Weapons When protecting someone from would be attackers or those that wish to harm the client the use of weapons may be necessary. Many different types of weapons are available for agents to use. Non-lethal weapons like tasers, stun guns, pepper spray, bean bag guns, and rubber bullets. These weapons are all designed to slow down the individual and allow the agent to take control of the situation by restraining the attacker. Non-lethal weapons are designed to allow the agent to resolve a dangerous situation. The use of non-lethal weapons by personal protection agents can de-escalate a situation in which, greater force may have been used. Not all situations can be resolved by the use of non-lethal weapons. In the situations that require an agent to carry a gun or a lethal weapon the agent must first receive the proper training on the use of the weapon. Each state has different guidelines on the use of firearms and restrictions of who can possess a firearm. When the agent becomes fully trained in the use of a firearm and obtains the proper permits and licensing the agent protects his or her self from many civil liabilities. When an agent has been properly trained this will help to eliminate any unnecessary accidents. Proper training will allow the agent to assess the situation entirely before he or she discharges a weapon and injures an innocent by-stander. Weapons will allow the agent to fully protect him or herself, and give him or her capability to protect his or her principal to the fullest. When a dangerous situation arises a protection agent must be ready to do whatever it takes to keep his or her principal safe. By arming themselves with either non-lethal or lethal weapons they can ensure that the principal is well protected. Personal Protection Equipment According to a 1997 Bureau of Justice Statistics survey of 700 state and local law enforcement agencies with 100 or more officers, approximately 40% of sheriff's and municipal police departments, and 25% of state and country police departments require all field officers to wear body armor, compared to slightly less than 30% in the same survey conducted in 1993 (Body Armor, 2009). The top five threats that face police officers and protection agents are blunt trauma, hypodermic needles, knives, bullets, and homemade and pointed weapons. Along with weapons agents must also protect themselves with life-saving equipment. The use of bullet-proof vests and body armor will help the agent to prevent him or herself from being fatally shot while on duty. By requiring the principal wear a vest also this will increase the survival of the principal. The use of body armor will help to defuse a potentially fatal situation. It is important for agents to remember that the decision to choose a protective equipment item should not be because it is comfortable or it looks good on him or her. The choice of protective gear should be based on the level of threats that may be present. The higher the threat level the stronger the protective gear. If it may be a fatal situation, then the agent should choose full body armor. This decision should also apply to the person who is under protection. Not all people that are being protected will require the use of such drastic equipment but by using other equipment can decrease their vulnerability. Use of Force The use of force has always been a questionable tactic in law enforcement and security fields. Everyone always questions how much force is needed, was the force justifiable and could the officer have done something differently to deter the use of force. By teaching officers and protection agents what is the appropriate level of force and in what situations force can be stronger will help to prevent unnecessary questioning by the public and the media. Most agencies have guidelines and policies that outline the use of force. These guidelines describe the escalating continuum that is appropriate for officers and agents to use. The use of force continuum is designed into five separate levels. Level one is the simple presence of an officer or agent. The agent is non-threatening and professional, and the mere presence of the agent is to act as deterrence for an attacker. Level two is the verbalization level. This is when an agent uses verbal commands such as please step back, stop, or do not move to make the individual to stop his or her approach. This is a non-physical stage and is used to let the attacker know that there is someone present to stop him or her if he or she continues. Level three is the empty hand technique. Officers or agents use two types of empty hand techniques. The first is a soft empty hand technique and is the use of grabs, holds, and joint locks to restrain the individual. The second is hard empty hand techniques and the agent uses punches or kicks to subdue the attacker. This step is used when the attacker is noncompliant to the first two levels of the continuum. This level is also used in conjunction with level two, the use of verbal commands such as stop or I will have to restrain you. Level four is the use of less than lethal methods. This level is broke down into three sections. The first is blunt impact, the use of a baton or a projectile to immobilize the individual. The second is the use of chemicals. These can include pepper spray, mace, tear gas, or other chemical sprays that are used to immobilize the attacker. The third type of less than lethal force is the use of conducted energy devices. Officers or agents may use CEDs to immobilize an individual. CEDs discharge a high-voltage, low-amperage jolt of electricity at a distance (U. S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, 2009). The final level of the use of force continuum is lethal force. This is the final choice among agents and officers. Lethal force is only used when all the other levels have been exhausted and the agent or officer is left with no other choice then to use lethal force. It should only be used if the suspect poses a serious threat to the agent or the principal. The use of force must be justified in any case and the agent must be able to clearly state why he or she believed the level of force that was used was needed. In no circumstances should an agent use force if there is no reason for its use. When confronted by a situation, it is not uncommon for an agent of officer to move from one level to the next of the continuum within a matter of seconds. Situations can escalate from non-threatening and not serious to lethal within seconds. It is all on how the situation is dealt with and how determined the individual who is posing the threat is to escalate the situation. Summary Whenever an agent is assigned to a protective detail, it is important for them to make sure that they assess the situation for every aspect that is needed to determine the level of protection for his or her principal. When protecting individuals, it is important to remember that every aspect of the detail is assessed and that the agent communicates fully with his or her team. This will allow the agent and others involved to make sure that there will be no surprises and that he or she are ready for anything that may happen. Agents can never underestimate their potential adversaries. If they do they may not be fully prepared for what is about to happen. They must also protect themselves with weapons and personal protection equipment so that they are not harmed. This will help to increase the success of the assignment and will ensure that the principal is well guarded. Agents must also be trained and knowledgeable in the use of force continuum. This will keep them from committing a needless mistake while protecting their principal. By being fully trained and completely prepared for assignments personal protection agents can do their job better and give their principal the opportunity to relax with the knowledge that they are fully protected no matter what may arise.

National Museum of the Philippines Essay

Located at Padre Burgos Street, Manila City, sat the two branches of The National Museum of the Philippines—the National Gallery of Art and the Museum of the Filipino People, where we went first. As we enter the hallway that leads to the first floor exhibits, we were greeted by a native Nipa hut complete with things that our ancestors used in the past. That same floor also houses the San Diego wreck site though it is a restricted area. We then went up to the next floor where it features the coming of the Spaniard merchant vessels in our country, our contacts with the other countries in terms of trade and commerce, as well as the Linnaeus and the Linnaeans. At the third floor, there were three galleries: The Origin (Pinagmulan), where it presents information on the origin of the Philippines and its people. It retold the story of how the Filipinos lived during the four pre-historic period—Paleolithic; Neolithic; Metal; and Ceramic Age. The second gallery is the Filipinos Today (Kinahinatnan), which features the diversion of our culture because of the influences of different countries and how colorful and beautiful it is. The last gallery is the Archaeological Treasures (Kaban ng Lahi), that showcases the burial jar collection and the importance of burial practice. The last floor was divided into two galleries. First one is the Kisame: Visions of Earth on Heaven that exhibits tons of photographs of ceiling paintings from Bohol colonial churches. It obviously displayed the religiosity of the Filipinos. The last gallery is all about the Biodiversity Exhibit, which shows the various flora and fauna in the country. After a couple of hours in the Museum of the Filipino People, we headed to National Gallery of Art. Although it is under renovation, it still welcomed visitors for free! The first gallery is called â€Å"The Hall of Masters† as it features the works of 19th century Filipino painters, Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo. The main attraction is the very famous Spolarium by Luna and opposite to it is Hidalgo’s â€Å"The Assasination of Governor Bustamante and his son†. As we move to the second floor, there is the fantastic Bones Exhibit. It displayed the skeletal remains of different animals—from mammals (including that of a human) to reptiles, to crustaceans and birds—that can be seen in the Philippines. At the center of the gallery is the humongous bone of a juvenile sperm whale. The last gallery on the third floor features the clothing of native Filipinos, and how it was made. REACTION: It was actually my first time to visit these museums and I was really glad that I already had the chance to. Although we spent almost five hours around the museum, I personally regret nothing. Every bit is worth the time. Seeing all those exhibits renewed my nationalistic heart and I’m more proud now to be a Filipino, realizing that we have tons of artistic countrymen and that there works are worthy of admirations. I’m also more aware now of our culture and how colorful it really is. I was really happy to see how our ancestors lived and how it evolved to our current lifestyle. I realized that why patronize foreign culture if you have your own that is way fun, right?