Assignment 4 Celta

Assignment 4 – Lessons from the Classroom The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. I decided to take the CELTA because it seemed like a fairly easy way to make some money while I traveling. However, a mere month's exposure to teaching has given me the confidence to pursue teaching English as a serious career alternative, should I ever get sick of political antics and swindlers' conspiracies. All through my life, people told me I would make a decent teacher. Now, I believe it. I believe it because I have braved the utterly nerve-racking schedule of assignment submissions and lesson planning and teaching without falling apart. Though I learned a lot from our wonderful trainers (full credits to Gabbi and Maureen) and my absolutely wonderful classmates, I really have miles to go before I sleep (literally). A month is a very short time to learn something but it is admirable that all of us have had such a tremendous growth curve. Personally, I know I have become much more confident about standing in front of a classroom full of students and talking about the finer points of the English language. Not many noticed it, but I avoided writing anything on the board the first afternoon we had Teaching Practice (TP) because my hands were shaking so vigorously. I have definitely come a long way since then. I have learned a lot from the critique and feedback by classmates and tutors, observation of peers and experienced teachers, and from self-reflection. I discovered the very first day that it was important to establish a good rapport with the students and be comfortable talking with them. Observing Darin during his first lesson taught me a very valuable lesson – I learned it was important to engage students in conversation rather than assume the role of a traditional teacher. Though Maureen commented on June 23, the first day of TP, that I established a good rapport with the students, I really feel that I felt more comfortable from the second lesson onwards. Observing Porter in the first week of the class was a big bonus. He was so much at   ease in class, so much at home. He made the students feel comfortable and involved his Advanced English students in the process of teaching and learning. I worked hard on planning from the beginning and mostly produced solid plans. On June 2, Maureen mentioned that I had a very detailed lesson plan and good language analysis. I adjusted well to the different levels of students within the class. When I was teaching elementary level classes, I made it a point to explain concepts to the weakier students and help them during the tasks if they had any difficulty. After Teaching Practice on June 26, my classmates who had observed me teaching commented that I had monitored weaker students like Carlos and Jessica well throughout the class. I think I did well in class management from the beginning. I made sure I kept all students on their toes and working hard. From the first week, when Maureen commented that I managed my classes well, till the third week, when Gabi as well as my classmates commented that I taught a good lesson to one truant students – I think my class management skills have only improved. From the beginning of Teaching Practice, both Maureen and Gabi commented that I successfully established a good rapport with the students. On the first day, Maureen wrote in my Teaching Practice Evaluation, â€Å"You established a nice rapport with the students, very friendly and confident. † When we switched levels, Gabi wrote in my Evaluation, â€Å"You built a good rapport with your new SS. † Even though I have switched to the Intermediate level, some of the Elementary level students often come up to me with doubts and questions. I have to mention that observing Darin while he taught was a fantastic experience because he has always establishes such a comfortable rapport with his students. I had a problem with excessive TTT from the very beginning. I think a major reason for this is that the Indian educational system tends to have very teacher-centered classrooms. from the beginning, the tutors and my classmates have pointed out that I need to reduce TTT and make the lessons more student-centered. Though I have tried hard to do this, I still have a long way to go before I become a minimalist talker. I do earnestly believe that student-centered learning is far more effective. It was great to observe Porter because it showed how minimalist TTT can be super effective in the classroom. Porter allowed the students to lead classroom discussion and complete his sentences. He elicited a lot of information without being verbose. I analyzed language items well before presenting them in class. On June 24, Maureen commented that I had a â€Å"detailed analysis of the grammar operation of the target language. † In the beginning, I had some trouble organizing the stages of clarification of meaning and grammar form. However, I think I improved significantly in latter classes. On July 2, when I taught relative classes, Maureen said that I used effective CCQs and did a â€Å"thorough analysis of the form and meaning. † I did help students with improving their pronunciation by doing both choral and individual oral drilling. However, I think this is one area in which I have a lot to improve. I have tried to correct students' pronunciation errors, especially at the intermediate level, but I think I should do more of this. Fernanda consistenly drills the students a lot and tells me that it is very important for them to repeat the sounds again and again before they can be comfortable with them. I think I did well in giving students practice in receptive skills of reading and listening during my lessons. On June 26 Maureen commented, â€Å"I think students received some useful reading comprehension practice, and you adapted the materials creatively. † I do have a problem with linking the stages during receptive skills lessons. As Gabi commented on July 8, I need to link tasks more clearly so students know why they are doing the activities you ar giving them. I haven't done a very good job at providing productive practice to students because I don't time my lessons too well. Most often, students don't have enough time for speaking or writing at the end of the lesson. Wilson did a fantastic job at timing his lesson on July 14 – the students had more than 15 minutes of freer speaking practice at the end of his lesson. My goals for the future are to make my lesson more student centered, to reduce TTT and to improve my timing. These have been my most significant weaknesses throughout the course. I need ot hold back and let go of my control over the class. This will help me reduce TTT while at the same time making the lesson more student-centered. To achieve this aim, I will let the students discuss everything before I step in with suggestions and clarifications. This will also make the lesson more interactive and fun for the students. I will work hard to be economical with my instructions and explanations by planning my lesson to the last detail. Timing the lesson is also a matter of careful planning. I also need to be very aware of the ticking clock. With this aim in mind, I will invest in a large clock placed strategically in the classroom so I can't miss it.

Economics Paper Essay

1: Define the term ‘equilibrium price’: The price at which quantity demanded by consumers and the quantity of goods and services supplied by firms is the same. 3: With the help of an appropriate diagram and the information in extract B, explain why the world price of sugar changed in 2009: The price of sugar rose to $0.40 per kilo in 2009 – this is shown in the extract as it states that in 2009 prices in New York and London rose by 52% to its highest in almost three years. The diagram below shows how the inward shift of supply caused by poor crop harvests and India’s %40 fall in output of sugar affected the price of sugar due to its scarcity, leading to the %52 rise in price of sugar. Another factor that could have had an effect on the price of sugar would have been in 2008 there were poor crop harvests that year – this led to a low level of supply in 2008 which raised the price of sugar due to its scarcity. This poor harvest would have had something to do with the land quality –this may have affected the harvest in 2009. Supply constraints also had an effect, as due heavy rainfall the Columbian crop was damaged – the rain also washed away some of the roads used to transport the products from the field to the market. So whatever crop the farmers managed to save from the rain was then prevented from reaching market, this would have contributed to the price rise in a way similar to the diagram above. India is a main producer of sugar, so much so that its sugar output is a critical factor in determining the world price of sugar. India’s output was forecast to fall by %40 so only 15million tonnes of sugar would have been produced in the growing season – this is well below India’s sugar consumption of 23million tonnes a year. This would mean that India wouldn’t be inclined to export much of its sugar as there’s already a deficit of supply in its own country. Although, with this large fall in supply there’ll most likely be a rise in sugar price in India – the people may not be willing or able to pay the new price so whatever amount of sugar is leftover could be exported, at a price which would lead to the %52 rise in London and New York sugar prices.

Cultural Diversity in the Healthcare Field

Cultural Diversity in the Healthcare field The Many Faces of Healthcare Cultural Diversity in the Healthcare Field Carl Hooks Rasmussen College Author Note This research is being submitted on September 16, 2010, for Vicky Philips English class at Rasmussen College by Carl Hooks Cultural diversity in the medical field is, at times, greatly hindered because of religious beliefs, language barriers, and the hierarchies of diverse cultures and these have the propensity to affect the continuity of care for the patients. â€Å"Every person has different aspects that constitute their identities, according to how they see themselves†¦.This means that seeing an individual in terms of their identity can be unproductive. † (Weaver, 2009). Nursing personnel, in particular, have to take into consideration any and all cultural differences between the patient and the nursing staff. These differences vary in as many ways as there are different ethnic groups in any particular area. Religio us beliefs can hinder the nursing care of patients. There are many different religious beliefs in as many different religions. The religious belief most common in the United States, of course, is the Jehovah Witness who refuses transfusions.This religion has a strong belief in preserving the soul before the body. Other religions have other beliefs that we may not understand, but need to respect and try to work around to care for the patient. â€Å"If people believe it is God who confers both health and illness, it may be very difficult to get them to take their medication or change their behavior†¦. they would see no point worrying about high blood pressure or bacteria when moral behavior is the key to good health. † (Galanti, 2001). This kind of belief will impede the medical staff and their approach to a medical cure.Whenever possible, staff should attempt of incorporate both religious beliefs and medicine to care for the patient. For the most part (miracles do happen) , religious beliefs can delay the care and health of the patient, and leaves the health professionals with a huge dilemma about what to do, and greatly delays the healing process. To understand how religion plays a role in the care given to the patient is to give better care for our patients. Consequently, the vast majority of people do believe in some sort of religion, whether it is God or some other higher power. Cultural factors stemming from religious beliefs and practices can have an intense impact on health. † (Abdoul and Abdoul, 2010). There may come a time when the medical staff has to provide a towel (prayer matt) and a quiet place to pray to a culture that does not consider the common hospital chapel an appropriate place to pray.In some religious, â€Å"It is commonly believed that illness is sent from God as retribution for sins since God is viewed as the afflicter as well as healer. † (Abdoul and Abloul,2010). Food also plays a big part in some religions whi ch go beyond the traditional Jewish mother’s chicken soup. †¦. it is important to know that religious beliefs and practices can influence food choice, as there may be individuals within a group that observe strict dietary requirements. † (Black, 2010). All religious back grounds should be taken into consideration and, whenever possible, be provided for, and this will aid in promoting effective health care. Language barriers pose great difficulties when communicating with patients. It is imperative that both patient and nursing staff understand exactly what is being said. For this reason an appropriate trained or certified interpreter should be utilized whenever possible.Health care workers are experiencing more language difficulties than ever before. â€Å"Fully 54 million Americans†¦. roughly 20 percent of the population†¦. do not speak English at home. † (Armand and Hubbard,2010). With the exception of California, Texas, and Florida, which have o ver 43 percent of the population, that are classified LEP (limited English proficient). The interpreter should be trained to interpret on the patients behalf. Family members, at times, can be of great assistance, but then HIPPA comes into play.The patient may not want a particular family member to know about their health problems. The language barrier does inhibit sufficient care, and this should be addressed with the utmost of care and consideration for both the medical staff and patient. Insuring that the patient fully understands what is being done to them is of great importance. As patients, they have the right to understand what is being done and why. Informed consent must be given; the patient should be able to repeat what they have been informed of before the procedure is done. Currently â€Å"only 33 percent of U.S. hospitals have quality improvement efforts underway to improve the quality of their language access programs. † (Armand and Hubbard, 2010). The goal of th e interpreter is to assure that the LEP patient has no doubts or concerns and totally understands what is going to happen, why, and any options they may have. Understanding the hierarchy of the family is imperative in understanding the functions of the family unit. With some familiarity with the different cultures in a given community, a medical professional will be able to ascertain who the head of the household is.The head of the household differs from culture to culture, as such, â€Å"misunderstandings which include but are not limited to the involvement of the male in all aspects of health care for his wife and children; the assimilation of children into all aspects of life; female humility; the subordinate status of women; and the strong emphasis on traditional female role. (Abdoul and Abdoul, 2010). By defining who the head of the household is and giving them the respect they deserve will be paramount in a speedy recovery for the patient.As the head of the household is ident ified, it is very important that they are included in all of the decisions made on behalf of the patient. If and when the controlling person is not readily available, all efforts should be exercised to contact that person. In rare life threatening conditions should medical personnel proceed without that persons consent, the head of the household should be given adequate time to discuss procedures with the patient should they require this. His/her decision should be respected when they decide what is appropriate for their family member.Given the most pertinent information and options, the family can then make an informed decision and the respect of the hierarchy of the family has not been compromised. All diversities should be taken into consideration when caring for a patient. By understanding what importance the patient puts on their culture, the medical staff can better serve the patient. â€Å"Hospitals can be a source of stress and frustration for patients and their families, s ince they are most vulnerable when they are there and are placed at the mercy of values and beliefs not of their own. † (Galanti, 2001).Making a patient aware that medical staff understands and will do all that is possible to adhere to their cultural differences can only aid in providing the best health care possible. A care plan is always done for patients when they are admitted to the hospital. While formulating a care plan, the nurse should always consider and provide for the cultural differences of the individual. The care plan should be reviewed by all staff that participates in the care of the patient. The care plan should be discussed with the patient and family to assure that all aspects of their cultural practices have been addressed.If this is not done, then the patient’s outcome can be greatly hampered. Cultural diversity in the medical field, at times, can be greatly hindered because of religious beliefs, language barriers, and the hierarchy of diverse cultu res, and these have the propensity to affect the continuity of care for the patient. All aspects need to be considered to assure that the most efficient care be given on behalf of the patient.References ABOUL-ENEIN, B. , & AHOUL-ENEIN, F. (2010). THE CULTURAL GAP DELIVERING HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO ARAB AMERICAN POPULATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 17(1), 20-23. Retrieved from Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition database Armada, A. , & Hubbard, M. (2010). Diversity in Healthcare: Time to Get REAL!. Frontiers of Health Services Management, 26(3), 3-17. Retrieved from EBSCO MegaFILE database. Black, P. (2010). Cultural and religious beliefs in stoma care nursing. British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 4(4), 184-188. Retrieved from CINAHL Plus with Full Text database. Weaver, D. (2009). Respect the diversity and difference of individuals. Nursing & Residential Care, 11(12), 590-593. Retrieved from CINAHL Plus with Full Text database.

Maritime Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Maritime Economics - Essay Example h is to provide rapid customer response, location of services are convenient for access, and utilize up to date information technology to improving service operations (Osler 2012). The paper also intends to analyze longevity of technology based on competitive advantage and their importance and view of how to improve the competitiveness. 3 Maritime economics involves the integration of ocean transport and terminal management. The main goal is to provide an in-depth analysis of logistics services. A keen interest is on the way the logistics and maritime time related to economics which brings about the ocean transport business. It revolves around the focusing on the joint optimization of container terminals and liner shipping networks (Blecker & Kersten 2011). 4 Logistics in many contexts involves the delivery f goods and services with proper quality and quantity. Logistics depends on timely delivery and the destination of delivery. The most notable aspect of logistic is promptness of delivery because delay of any kind causes significant losses to the recipient of the consignment. Logistics traditionally depended on transportation only. Nowadays, it depends on reliable roads, and record keeping improved by higher technology, globalization, legislation, and integration. The logistics management comprises of material management, channel management, physical distribution, and it is pert of the whole supply chain management. Movement of goods is not the only logistics activities; it involves stock control in the warehousing systems and the movement of goods in the storage units (Martin 2009). Logistics forms a crucial area in supply chain and brings issues like planning, implementation, and effective management. 4 Many immerse growth activities realized in the logistics sector especially in the emerging economies. This shows a better future with third party providers. This growth realized in the area of logistics largely coming from third party providers such as

Homework Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Homework - Case Study Example An example of backward vertical integration is when a company producing sugar buys the can farm from which they have been acquiring their primary raw product. In the short term it will solve supply problems since it can guarantee itself a constant supply of sugarcane; should there be a cane shortage, the sugar producer is protected from having to compete with others for the limited cane. On the other hand, it takes control of the cane producing process and safeguards against substandard or poor quality products. Backward integration is a particularly beneficial strategy under the following circumstances; when the supplies serving the firm are not reliable. On the other hand, when the suppliers in the industry are few but there are many buyers, and it’s an industry that keeps rapidly expanding and is characterized with unstable prices of inputs. However, before committing to this line of business the buyer firm must ensure it has sufficient capabilities and resources to manage the new business. The oil industry presents several examples of vertical integration with firms such as BP, while it retrospectively used to outsource for exploration and focus on production, it gradually evolved its production functions and today it handles both functions and this has resulted in considerable success and profitability. Social corporate responsibility is the factor that marks the line between a caring and responsible corporate and a predatory and exploitative one (Porter & Kramer, 2006). While admitting that the primary objective of any business is to make profit, this should not be achieved at the expense of the lives and livelihoods of communities and staff members. If this were the case, then business ethics would be redundant, in the above case study, the firms is faced with a serious dilemma, on one hand there is a predator intent on capitalizing on the firms weakness which in part stem from its tendency to

Social Exclusion and the Future of Cities Essay

Social Exclusion and the Future of Cities - Essay Example Dalton et al. (2007) argues that in a society that practices social inclusion, the members have a sense of value and self-worth. Their lives are full of dignity and satisfaction, and they are incorporated in the community systems that define its membership. For example, all people are involved in the community’s social and economic activities, they have an equal right of participating in community politics among other activities. Social inclusion is a significant factor in the mental health of a community. This paper examines the relevance of the concept of â€Å"social inclusion† for social work practice with adults experiencing mental health difficulties. It presents a narrative of the background and origin of social inclusion, the theories of social inclusion as well as policies that enhance the practice. Social inclusion emerged in the background of value based interventions towards maintaining clear goals regarding improvements of public welfare. Denissen et al. (2008) argues that it is a practical human development approach to facilitate social welfare that is focused on elimination of risks and barriers to social inclusion. The foundation of the strategies for social inclusion remain inclined towards recognizing and appreciating diversity as well as recognizing the shared experiences and ambitions for different people.

A case study of Reorganisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

A case study of Reorganisation - Essay Example Since there are now a large number of companies with suitable capacity, or availability of funds due to investment interest from the general public, there is now a lot of competition and a continuous pressure to develop new drugs. As a result, some companies have come out on top with Glaxo Smith Kline, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Merial, Roche, Merck Sharp and Dohme and Novartis being the top companies. (Great Britain Parliament, House of Commons, Health Committee, 215) Do the companies look that they are in trouble? At the same time, the government requires medicines for support of some activities that it has been doing for a long time and they are curtailed for some time since a decision has been taken that there should be no loss incurred by government help to the needy. Is it justified, or is it impossible for the government to force these companies to help the needy public with a supply of essential medicines? Whereas the motor vehicle sector of the i ndustry in the UK has fallen behind other countries in Europe as technological capabilities have dropped. The plants for the manufacture of motor vehicles in Britain have been joined to the existing chains in Europe for the different multinational companies and this has reduced the amount of research that is going on in the UK. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical sector has been chosen by the multinational enterprises for improvement of research facilities and thus it now occupies an important position on the continent.... es have come out on top with Glaxo Smith Kline, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Merial, Roche, Merck Sharp and Dohme and Novertis being the top companies. (Great Britain Parliament, House of Commons, Health Committee, 215) Do the companies look that they are in trouble At the same time, the government requires medicines for support of some activities that it has been doing for a long time and they are curtailed for some time since a decision has been taken that there should be no loss incurred by government help to the needy. Is it justified, or is it impossible for the government to force these companies to help the needy public with supply of essential medicines Whereas the motor vehicle sector of the industry in UK has fallen behind other countries in Europe as technological capabilities have dropped. The plants for manufacture of motor vehicles in Britain have been joined to the existing chains in Europe for the different multinational companies and this has reduced the amount of research that is going on in UK. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical sector has been chosen by the multinational enterprises for improvement of research facilities and thus it now occupies and important position on the continent. The country is now the home to 4 of the 32 of the largest producers of medicines in the world. It is not that this arrangement is harmful for the companies which have set up facilities for research in Britain. They get the advantage of the training in science that the students here get. (Ross, 183) At the same time, it is also clear that the benefits that the companies get do not depend on the training or education that students get. (M ark, 88) Thus it is clear that industry is trying to get the full benefit that Britain has to offer

Critically Assess the Development Potential of the 'Green Economy' For Essay

Critically Assess the Development Potential of the 'Green Economy' For Localities and Regions - Essay Example A green economy can be defined as an economic model that improves the welfare of human beings while at the same time reducing any negative impacts on the environment. A green economy is consistent with sustainable development. In the past, countries have focused on economic growth and development as a way of eliminating poverty and raise the level of income for their citizens. Some of the strategies of economic development have resulted in environmental degradation and some of the negative effects on the environment are irreversible. The main objective of traditional economic models is increasing the level of gross domestic product. Many governments are now appreciating the fact that their economies have exceeded acceptable limits in terms of emission of greenhouse gases and exploitations of natural resources. Global recessions and financial crisis have caused many governments in both developed and developing countries to shift their focus to sustainable development (Ocampo 2010, p. 2; UNEP 2011). Sustainable development is a major concern in advanced economies. This is because these economies are responsible for the highest proportion of greenhouse gas emissions (Parker 2011). A green economy provides a channel through which many people can improve their standards of living while the planet becomes healthier. Local and regional development is a concern for many governments across the world. However, local and regional development is now more challenging, competitive, globalised and knowledge intensive. There is a shift in focus by many governments concerning local and regional development. Governments are now more concerned how sustainable their current level of development is as opposed to the magnitude of development. Concerns have been raised regarding the impact of economic development in nations on the environment following the increasing trend in global warming and sudden climatic changes (Christopherson 2011, p. 4). The long term prospects of sustainable local and regi onal development are uncertain. There are many contentions on whether a green economy is achievable or not. Those who support a green economy argue that it would result to social justice to individuals who have not benefited from globalization. The lives of such individuals will be improved if the planet is healthier. Supporters of a green economy are not concerned about how new jobs are distributed across regions but instead, they are concerned about saving the global climate. Critics of a green economy argue that it is unrealistic and unachievable with current economic structures and institutions (Pike & Tomaney 2010, p. 3). This paper critically analyses the development potential of a green economy in localities and regions. The Potential to Develop a Green Economy for Localities and Regions Gibbs (2002, p. 93) explores some of the guiding principles that would help localities and regions to shift towards sustainability. A sustainable society values unpaid work and gives its memb ers access to work without causing harm to the local, national and global environment. A sustainable society also considers the environment in its provision of goods and services as well as other facilities such as sanitation and health care. Developing a green economy involves balancing between economic development and the environment. To achieve this balance, localities and regions must focus on conserving natural resources and control the flow of commodities. The local and regional governments should invest sufficient resources in improving the state of the environment (Gibbs 2002, p. 93) Gibbs (2002, p. 94) indicates that for regions and localities to develop green economies, they should apply some of the concepts of sustainable development including emphasizing on the environment, participation, futurity, and equity. Emphasizing on the environment involves considering the full and actual environmental costs

Online Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Online Marketing - Essay Example One of the major companies that are currently practising online marketing and doing perfectly in the business is the coca cola company for soft and non-alcoholic drinks (Blum, Sandholm, & Zinkevich, 2002). Coca Cola Company is based in Atlanta, Georgia in United States under the management of Muhtar Kent. The company manufactures, retails, and markets non-alcoholic drinks all over the world. The company was launched by Griggs Candler in 1892 and has been in the business since then making tremendous steps and achieving great success (Hartogh, 2007). Coca Cola Company has been very successful in the market due to its quality drinks that differentiate its products from those produced by the competitors. The company’s great success is not only attributed to quality products but also to recent advertisement techniques such as online marketing and other forms of advertisements such as social media. The company’s high market penetration can be attributed to its ability to respond to customers taste and preferences depending on their geographic area. The company serves and distributes its drinks to over 200 countries all over the world currently. It has its headquarters in every country where bottling and distribution strategies take place (Ba, Whinston, & Zhang, 2003). Coca Cola being a giant company in the field of beverages has taken many steps in the business expansion. The best strategic decision taken by the business is online marketing. The company launched internet websites many years ago (Tian, 2006). Website plays a major role in the field of marketing by improving the relationship with the customers and better customer services. The company is currently running its website that can be accessed by using www.coca-cola.com. Apart from this website the company has several other websites depending on the country of interest. A website fulfils many purposes for an organisation. A website design serves as a

School Life Essay Example for Free

School Life Essay It’s a normal day 6:30 in the morning just as any other. Then BOOM my alarm clock goes off to wake my brother and I up to get ready for school, but this was all put to the side by our mother coming in to the room telling us that she would have to work a few extra hours. Wake your but up! Is what I yelled to my brother as I had always did he consistently showed himself to be the lazy one who would just breeze through life without a care in the world. He replied back with the bad morning breath, â€Å"Leave, me, alone its only 6:30 school doesn’t start until 7:30. † Me as usual I got up pulled him out of bed until he hit the floor then started my routine to get ready for the day’s events. Oh yeah my name is Gerard by the way. I carried myself across the dimly lit hall towards the bathroom. As I flicked on the light switch, I first noticed this hair pick still stuck in the side of my head. I immediately grabbed it and started to fix my hair. As I stand in front of the mirror looking back at my own reflection, wondering why, does school start this early in the morning, I grabbed the toothbrush and toothpaste and began to a make it happen. My brother’s name is Joel, and he could care less of his appearance, because he always thought that he was God’s gift to the ladies. Most of his attire consisted of whatever he felt like grabbing out of the closet or the first thing he could get his hands on. He didn’t care if he was all wrinkled, his excuse was that they’ll be gone throughout the day plus now one would notice them anyway because that’s how he rolled. You would have thought that he just came from summer camp playing rugby with a few of his friends before school started. As he came into the bathroom besides me to wash up and get ready, I could always here him saying thanks for getting me up too, knowing that being the older sibling I couldn’t just let him be late for school besides our mother would have killed me. As I look at the clock I notice that we are right on schedule, its 7:00 and time to wake my sister Latoya, she’s in middle school and does not experience the rush that my brother and I go thru being that the two of us share a room and sometimes wrestle to get around to what we need to be done. The time is now 7:10, and it’s time for us to leave the house headed for school since we live only a quarter of a mile away from the school we can pretty much toss a couple of rocks a few times and we’re there. The only downside is that sometimes we get too complacent living so close to the school that we end up thinking there’s more time and end up cutting it close to getting to class on time or worse being late and end up with detention. As we get to school they are still selling breakfast its usually something simple like garlic cheesy bread or the cinnamon sugar rolls that are so delicious. But we cannot stand in line and enjoy them today because the first school bell rings and that signifies things need to get closed out and you need to put your thinking caps on. As we exited the cafeteria it was 7:25 and the start of the school day and the final bell rings at 1:50. Joel and I always knew that we would see each other at our lunch period odd as it seems I was a senior and he was a sophomore, but hey, that’s how the schedules came out. We couldn’t control the outcomes of what we wanted to do we could always find some sort of time to throw a wise crack at one another.

The Objectives Of Human Resources Development

The Objectives Of Human Resources Development The objectives of this report are to look at the Human Resource Management (HRM), Human Resource Planning and Development (HRP D), and Performance of McDonalds restaurant. Furthermore, it explains the human resource management activities, models of human resource management, effectiveness of organisational objectives, performance monitoring of McDonalds restaurant. The human resources of any organisation are the most important resource that is the direct connected between the quality of the workforce and ultimate goals. The human resource department of McDonalds is responsible for right people, right number, right jobs, right time, right cost with right knowledge, skills, experience in the right place and also responsible for training of all staff and keeping evidence on them. It also indicates us what is the usage of human resource management and how does it work in the company. McDonalds fast food restaurant began in America in 1954. It is leading food service retailer around the world with more than 30,000 restaurants in 119 countries serving 47 million customers each day. Moreover, McDonalds is one of the world most well-known and valuable brands and increasing share in the globally. Now it is recognised worldwide establishment and first restaurant in the UK. Today more than 2.6 million people of the UK trust about McDonalds and go to eat due to provide good food with a high standard, quick service and value of money. Task-1 Human Resource Management (HRM) Human resource management is the people management function where organizational function is fulfilled and focuses on the issues related to people for example compensation, performance management, organization development, safety, benefits, employee motivation, communication, administration ,training and, etc. As defined by Storey in 1995, HRM is a distinctive approach to employment management which seeks to achieve competitive advantage through the strategic development of a highly committed and capable workforce, using an integrated array of cultural, structural and personnel techniques. Human Resource Management (HRM) Activities Human Resource Management (HRM) deals with the Human feature of an organisation. There are many activities of an organisation to achieve their ultimate goals. To cite an example Recruitment and selection, training and development, human resource planning, provision of contracts, provision of fair treatment, provision of equal opportunities, assessing performance of employees, employee counseling, employee welfare, payment and reward of employees, health and safety, dismissals and redundancy, and etc. I am explaining three of them as below Recruitment and Selection In an organization, a change happens in the level of employees where HR department maintain the requirement of personnel to meet the demand. For effective recruiting, recruitment process can be costly and takes a great deal of time to set up. It includes on what jobs needs, advertising, application, identifying who best meet the criteria, interviewing candidates, finally selecting the best candidate for the post, and etc. McDonalds advertise their job vacancies on their specialized websites and use their own personnel department to recruit staff. Objectives of the Recruitment and Selection The objectives of the recruitment and selection process of human resource management are as below: To identify the most appropriate candidate to fill each post. Keep the cost of selection down Making sure that necessary skills and qualities have been specified and developing a process for identifying them in candidates Make sure that the candidate selected will want the job, and will stay with McDonalds To make the most of the effectiveness of the McDonalds recruitment and selection practices. Achievement of the Recruitment and Selection In the McDonalds, recruiting process is run throughout the year. Like other organisations, McDonalds recruit internally and externally, and they for the most part recruit their managers and Assistant managers internally rather than externally, because it is easier and less training is needed due to the candidate is well known about the job. Just about 50% of McDonalds salaried managers are promoted from within McDonalds. In addition, for preparing the job description, McDonalds describe the job title, department, location, the responsibilities, the job purpose and duties. McDonalds uses the application form with questions which are typical questions, to know what qualification the applicant has, such as knowledge, skills, experience, and etc. Application form fill-up and make the answer of question is the first step for applicant at crew member level. For the recruitment process, Interview is the most crucial part for McDonalds potential employee. From the short listed candidate, McDonalds call for interview with area manager or store manager at their flexible nearest branch. From the face to face interview, interviewers can know about applicants, such as behaves, confidence, knowledge, and basically how the applicants come across as a person. At crew member level, interview is the second step for applicant. At this step, short listed candidates involve selecting a small number of applicants for the next stage. This selecting process will be carried on until the right numbers of candidates are found with the wanted quality. As a result, the recruiting team can be able to distinguish easily the strong applicants from the weak hundreds of applicants. McDonalds inform to the successful candidate over mobile phone or by email within one week. One day, McDonalds arrange an induction for a new employee that may turn him or her into a long term, loyal member of staff. In the McDonalds, the induction process begins even before the candidate is offered the job. Training and Development From the initial training that is called skill training, Employee can know the basic job knowledge of each position and can develop. Moreover, ongoing training program provides a more advanced level of job knowledge and make an economical employee. An ongoing programme of training evaluation enables employees to keep training up to date and according to the demand of the business. McDonalds training and development programme is an important part to the 100% customer satisfaction that the company aims to achieve ultimate goal. Objectives of the Training and Development McDonalds arranges training and development programme for many reasons. For example, training and development programme may be introduced to: Increase job satisfaction and motivate employees, as a result, reducing absenteeism and labour turnover. Reduce wastage and accident rates by gaining a excellent performance across the workforce. Develop the skills of existing employees to cope with labour shortages Establish the most effective and efficient working methods in order to maximize productivity and remain competitive Use of new equipment and the application of new technology. Achievement of the Training and Development We believe that training is the foundation of any success and McDonalds think so. Immediately, training begins with a one-hour orientation in McDonalds. Each branch of McDonalds has its own video player and training room. Stepby step manuals and video tapes are played every detail of the operation. So, McDonalds is dedicated to the training and development of all their employees, providing career opportunities. So, it is an ongoing process of all McDonalds employees it is everyones job, every day. According to the employee position, all employees are to receive induction training followed by a structured development program. After completing the initial training, they are to pass one Observation Check list (OCL) in the particular area with successfully. In McDonalds has 21 days of employment probationary period. During this probationary period, employees performance is to evaluate. For example, standard of work, personal attitude, teamwork, focus of customers, hygiene and etc. After completing the probationary period, they must be achieved a competency rating of satisfactory. If they fail to meet the standards of required of performance, they can be terminated at any time during their probationary period. Human Resource Planning To achieve the McDonalds goals, human resource planning is concerned with getting the right people, using them perfectly, and training and developing them. In order to meet McDonalds aims and objectives successfully, people using are to identify perfectly and effective way and to identify any problem that are likely to occur (such as recruiting the best candidates) and then getting with proper solution. Human Resource Planning (HRP) is the process of ensuring an organisation has the correct staff at the right time, with the right skills and abilities in the right place. Objectives of the Human Resource Planning The aims of Human Resource Planning (HRP) are to create the best use of human resources look forward to the problems with surplus staff build up a well trained and flexible workers decrease organisations dependence on outside recruitment agencies Achievement of the Human Resource Planning Like all other businesses, for daily activities carry out McDonalds need the assistance of staff. All the important number of staff in McDonalds fulfils a key role in its operation. Without sophisticated technology McDonalds would not be successful, for setting up properly human being are responsible. If the manager of McDonalds do not select the potential employees in careful way and do not match against the ability of post that means who are unsuitable, it can create a number of problem, for example poor productivity levels no good feeling among staff job dissatisfaction high absenteeism levels customer complains dismissal replacement For demand of labour, McDonalds analysis its future plans and estimate the levels of activity within McDonalds. As a result, they can predict that the organisation has right number of potential employee with right quality. The external labour market is very important for any organisation because of it can make up of potential employees, locally, regionally, who have the right skills and qualification necessary at any time. For McDonalds, local unemployment figures are very important who give the indication of the general labour availability required at that time. Also, Human resource planning of McDonalds includes searching at how labour is organised within a business or an organisation. Theoretical Models of Human Resource Management Generally, human resource strategy is performance or behaviour based. In addition, employees are a main resource for any service organisation. Organisations which successfully manage change are those which have integrated their policies with their strategies and strategic change process. Johnson Scholes (1992) Exploring Corporate Strategy There are a lot of models associated within an organisation. Such as: The Fombrum, Tichy and Davanna model The Harvard model The Warwick model Guests model and etc Two models are explained among them as below: The Harvard model According to the Harvard Model, HRM polices need to derive from critical analysis of: the demands of the various stakeholders in a business and a number of situational factors Hannagan Tim, 1995 Employees are variable and valuable for any organisation. Moreover, organisations are owned and operated by various employees or people (stakeholders), the task of the management is to balance the returns to every person involved. The Harvard model emphasises on the importance of integration HR policies with business objectives. The Harvard Model is emphasised as the soft approach to HRM, employees like stakeholders of the company. In this model has discussed four areas such as, reward system, employee influences, human resource flow, and work systems, there are also included situational factors such as influence of trade unions, labour market, and laws. These are also relevant to the theory. The effectiveness of the HRM is related to the four Cs with the theory. The four Cs are Commitment, Competence, Congruence and Cost-effectiveness. According to the Harvard theory, employees are an asset rather than a cost. In McDonalds, line managers are responsible for people and store managers are responsible for the day to day running as a mixture of both the hard and soft approach. McDonalds believes that Staffs are an asset for them which are shown by training provision and should provide long term investment for the company. Guests Model Devid Guest has developed his model based on the Harvard model and included four outcomes which has developed into four policy goals Strategy integration Commitment Flexibility Quality Guests (1987) theory, is also included in McDonalds policy, Guest believes the organisation should, aim for high level of commitment from staff, obtain high quality output, continually improve standards, flexibility from staff, no fixed job definitions, working practices and conditions and seek strategic integration through HR policies. In McDonalds, improving standards continuously and flexible working times offering for staff. Line managers of McDonalds accept HRM policies and combine them into strategic plans, staff changing roles are allowing within the organisation. Acknowledged as culture, every organisation has different values, ideas and beliefs that affect the way they operate. According to Handy, there are four types of culture; Power, Role, Task and Person. McDonalds culture combines two of these. Top management of McDonalds reflects power culture that makes the overall decisions and allowing rapid response to decisions. Other one is the task culture. In McDonalds, the overall aim of the organisation is task orientated and focussing on team culture, and powerful communication between all levels of staff. McDonalds has integrated the contingency approach by considering the environment culture. Contingency approach suggests that different problems and situation require different solution, for making a sound solution, need both internal and external influences fit together. Also, this approach influences promotions of staff that comes from the company means McDonalds restaurant. It is very helpful for the staff and staffs are offered appraisals that means increasing job opportunities for staff. Task-2 Human Resource Planning and Development For a company, human resource planning is the recognition of the future labour requirements needed and how these requirements are going to be met. Human resource planning is the process by which a company ensures that it has the right number and kind of staffs, at the right time in the right place for which they are economically most useful for a company. The use of human resource planning is a big deal for any organisation. For employee develop, human resource development (HRD) is the framework. By which, employees can develop their personal and organizational skills, knowledge, and abilities. Human resource development includes many opportunities such as employee training for developing them, performance management and development, mentoring, series planning, key employee identification, organization development and etc. Human Resource Planning Model Best Practice Model Best Practice HRM is the idea that a particular bundle of HR practices has the potential to contribute to improved attitudes and behaviours, lower levels of absenteeism and labour turnover, and higher level of productivity, quality and customer service, ultimately generating higher organisational performance and profitability. Marchington Wilkinson (2002) Components of best practice include employment security and internal promotion, selective hiring and firing, extensive training, learning and development, employee involvement and voice, high compensation upon organisational performance, reduction of status differentials, etc. (Marchington Willinson, 2002; Hughes Julia M, 2002 International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management Vol.14 No.5) Effectiveness in achieving organisational objectives to Best Practice Model In McDonalds, more than 40% of senior managers have been promoted on the inside and not hired from outside directly. In the kitchen of the McDonalds restaurant, crewmembers are started their career by working at the smallest possible level of the chain of command. So, they carry out learning, training and development programs on a regular basis and lengthily which is reflected in their HR activities. McDonalds also offers high level of employment security. By implementing valuable and variable human resource activities, employee have been successful in developing dedicated and competent labour force who bring quality and customer satisfaction. By the recent market situation of McDonalds, employers can be observed easily what the condition of them is. On the other hand, according to the best practice model, employers can take long term view of strategy. In addition, from the view of personal experience, it is observed that the lowest level staffs (who work in the kitchen) generally do not have awareness of the strategy of the organisation. Also, some companys strategy is different. To cite an example, the lowest level staff of ASDA , they can give suggestion for the organisation. Their opinion senior management level can be considered or received. In additional, reward of the employee is totally appraisal based not on performance based. From the above discussion, it can be said that McDonalds is practising many components of the best practice model but do not implement full best practice model. Best-Fit (Contingency) Model There are three different models are defined under contingency as below (1) Business Life Cycle, (2) Strategy/Structure, and (3) Business Strategies (1) Business Life Cycle It includes four stages of organisational development for example, start-up, growth, maturity, and decline. This model also includes some human resource functions such as recruitment and selection, reward and benefit, staff training and improvement, employee relationships and etc with business life cycle stages. Effectiveness in achieving organisational objectives to Best Fit (Contingency) Model (Business Life Cycle) If McDonalds, want to open a new branch still today anywhere in the world, continue recruitment all around the year. (HR department, Headquarters, McDonalds) As seen earlier, Training and development has been practiced regularly and comprehensively. According to the Best fit model, during the growth stage, McDonalds recruit sufficient members and run through effective management and organisational growth. To match with HR function of an organisation, McDonalds always try to control labour costs, maintaining staff peace and getting better productivity during maturity stage. It is very difficult to say exactly that McDonalds is in which stage of Business Life Cycle but they are mature and growing at particular rate. (2) Strategy/structure Miles and Snow (1984; Cited in Bratton and Gold, 1999) identified four modes of strategic orientations: Defenders, Prospectors, Analysers, and Reactors. Defenders companies have limited product line and the management focus on getting better the efficiency of their existing operations. HR practices in defenders include extensive and long-term focus, well defined career ladders, clear grading structures, employee share ownership, well-established HR function, etc. Prospectors are companies with fairly broad product lines that focus on product innovation and market opportunities. It is right performance standards and expectations (Bratton and Gold, 1999) Effectiveness in achieving organisational objectives to Best Fit (Contingency) Model (Strategy/structure) By extensive training and development, McDonalds corporate strategy and issue want to improve their efficiency and always running to take the product into new markets. So, it can be said that McDonalds is followed the combination of Defenders and Prospectors. (3) Business Strategies (This model is based upon Porters competitive advantage model) Michael Porters (1980; cited in Bratton and Gold, 1999) formulated a framework that describes three competitive strategies: low cost leadership strategy, differentiation strategy, and focus strategy. In a differentiation strategy, managers try to distinguish their services and products-such as brand image or quality. In this way, value is added to the product and reflected in the product price. (Purcell, 1999 Human Resource management Journal Vol.9 No.3) Effectiveness in achieving organisational objectives to Best Fit (Contingency) Model (Business Strategies) By distinguishing McDonalds brand and providing quality of food and service around the world, McDonalds has achieved their present position. They have standard recruitment methods and policies, and highly focussed training and learning, reward system for staff remuneration. In McDonalds, line management function is very close with HR function, which has come from their HR strategy and activities. So, from the above discussion, it can be said that McDonalds is following differentiation strategy. Basic Human Resource Planning Model Recruit skilled workers Develop technical training programs Transfer managers from other facilities Recruiting and training programs feasible Transfers infeasible because of lack of managers with right skills Human Resource programs are made according to the organizational objectives and strategies require for achieving human resource goals. Moreover, human resource objectives are directly associated to the organizational objective and planning. To open a new branch of any company, Human Resource department need to think about production staffs, line managers, business manager, technical staffs and etc. Workforces are valuable for implementing the new product line, factory, distribution system, and achieving organizational goads. Effectiveness in achieving organizational objectives to human resource planning model HR department of McDonalds recruit skilled workers, develop technical training programs, and transfer managers from other facilities with right skills. They develop training programs regularly and broadly which are reflected in their activities. Although, employee hire is too costly from outside, sometimes, McDonalds hires the recruit managers from outside. After gaining most of things, McDonalds develop new objectives and new strategic plan for achieving ultimate goals. It involves forecasting outcome of various HR programs for employee flowing into, all the way through and out a variety of job classifications. They determine how existing program and added program or combination of program will be done and need to no capability of combining program. If HR department of McDonalds do not find practicable human resource program, they must change strategic plans. They are researched internal, external, and demand forecasting information. Such as, internal forecasting information- organizational features, productivity, promotion, demotion, transfer, turnover, and external forecasting information- external labor market aspects, controllable company factors and demand forecasting information- organizational strategic plans, size of organization, organizational design, employee support, and managerial support etc. Task-3 Performance management For the successful practices of people management, performance management is a holistic process which bringing together many elements of the organizational function. It includes particular learning and development, and gives an overview of employee status. Performance management is establishing a culture where individual and groups get responsibility for continuous development of business process and their own contributions, skill and behavior. Performance management is about interrelationships and improving the quality of relationship between manager and individual, between manager and teams, between members of teams, and etc. So, McDonalds believe that it is a joint process, not a one off-event, not just managers, apply to all employees. Therefore, McDonalds business manager can make clear what they look forward to individual and teams to do. For example, how they should be managed and what they need to do their jobs. Human Resource performance monitoring McDonalds follows the ongoing performance management for employees. For example, setting goals, monitoring the employees accomplishment of those goads, contributing feedback with the employees, evaluating the employees performance, rewarding performance or firing the employee. Performance management includes frequent activities to establish organisational aims to achieve those goad more effectively and efficiently. McDonalds believe that the best approach to accomplish value for money is to monitor the performance levels of staff and want to reduce wasteful actions. Effective Human Resource Performance By monitoring improvement, departmental managers or business managers can assess the efficiency of employees and determine which ones are meeting the terms of their agreement and contributing to McDonalds success. McDonalds monitoring is the quality of work being produced that is one of the features and the efficiency levels within departments. Employees performance helps the manager to know how they have been getting better in their business with the employees. For the future, it is an employee roadmap which increases job satisfaction. McDonalds think that it can help to develop their talent pool, support potential assessment and succession planning. Suggest ways to make improvements Sometimes, we see that poor performance lead to dismissal. If without checking, wastefulness is allowed to continue, staff will lose interest, motivation will be concentrated and no encouragement to produce good quality products or services. If the employees know that what jobs are doing, how they are doing, employees will be happier. If they know that they are doing good jobs, thats recognized, generally, they will keep on to do a good work and may make well every effort to do more. Otherwise, if they do not get people feedback, they are not doing good job, company cannot expect them to be either satisfied or productive. From the view of the company, if staffs are inefficient, customers will not return to McDonalds for repeat purchase due to many complaints and uncompleted responsibilities will push up costs to a very high figure. So, need to inform them according to responsibility.

Popular Culture In Singapore

Popular Culture In Singapore Number the question: Question 3. With reference to at least two types of popular culture, discuss and evaluate the role and impact of popular culture in Singapore between the end of the Second World War and Singapores independence in 1965? Popular culture is defined as a cultural artifact or events by which large numbers of people are voluntarily attracted to through the dissemination of mass media. The study of popular culture helps us to understand the society that embraced it as it developed over time. Popular culture also tackles the everyday life and lived experiences that are often neglected. It is argued that popular culture plays a role in shaping the values and identity of a society when the general masses consumes and embraces it. In this paper, the author will look into the role and impact of popular culture in the form of Shaw Cinema films and the mass visiting of amusement parks between post war and independence of Singapore. Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945 and the British returned on the island on 5 September 1945. Britains failure in defending Singapore had undermined her credibility as a governor of the island. In addition, post-war Singapore was plagued with poverty, unemployment and economical uncertainty. These gave rise to political awakening and nationalist identity amongst the Singaporeans.  [1]  This period of uncertainty and anxiety shaped the identity and popular culture of post-war Singapore. Shortly after the return of the British to Singapore and Malaya, the Shaw cinemas started afresh and business began to boom. On the return of the British to Singapore and Malaya, we started afresh and business became prosperous because the public hungered for the opportunity to see British and American films. Theatres were crowded especially during the first few months with the main draw being war movies. With such overwhelming response, we had to plan for expansion.  [2]   Cinemas owned by the Shaw stretches from Sembawang to Balestier and prior to the Lido, Shaw had the Pavilion on Orchard Road. By 1965, the number of cinema halls owned by Shaw in Singapore totaled 19. The independent halls in Singapore which were contracted to play only Shaw distributed films numbered 30. With cinemas scattered throughout the island, the Shaws had the widest exhibition circuit in Singapore. Cinemas during the post war period were avenues where new modern technology and culture converge. In addition, cinema films also had a role in shaping political awareness and nationalist sensations just after the war amongst the community in Singapore and Malaya. These could be seen from the popular demand for war themed British and American films. On one hand, the reasons were partly due to Singaporeans losing confidence in them as an infallible ruler and on the other hand, the British government was also gradually preparing to grant self-governance to Singapore and Malaya. Secondly, the post war films by the Shaw Brothers played an important role in shaping the identity of the Chinese in Singapore. The film, The Song of Singapore, highlighted Nanyang Style and Nanyang atmosphere, the identity of being a Chinese national was still predominant in the movie. The term huaqiao denotes an overseas Chinese residing in a foreign country and will ultimately return to their homeland China.  [3]   By the mid 1950s, the Chinese films from Shaw studio in Hong Kong and Shaw Malay films began to gain popularity over the American Hollywood. The first Malay film of the Shaw Brothers, Singapore at Night (Singapura di Waktu Malam) was made after the war. The emphasis of post- war movies were local style, local flavor, and local character. At that time, the major selling points of the movies were that it conveyed a totally Nanyang style and a fully Nanyang atmosphere.  [4]   During the post-war period, films in cinemas not only had the role of evoking nationalism, the impact of the cinemas were so huge that they became the representations of mass entertainment consumption and voluntarily participation. Patronizing the cinemas had also become a new form of sensation and indulgence where patrons were eager to experience. As mentioned above, cinemas during the post-war periods were avenues where audiences could catch a glimpse of technological innovations. With increasing popularity and competition from other post-war exhibitors and other forms of mass entertainment, the Shaw cinemas imported the latest in cinematograph and theatre equipments, sound systems, furnishings, air-conditioning and chairs. Over the years, other than the improvements in colour and sound there were also other innovative methods for enhancing the cinema experience constantly being launched from Hollywood.  [5]  Although many of these special format films were shortlived, but they renewed excitement in cinema during the various periods they were launched. Cinemas were also avenues of cultural convergence where patronizing audiences could experience a new form of modern culture. One example was the dual purpose halls in which the Shaw cinemas not only screened movies; there were also held live shows and events. Some of these were meant for promoting films and others were purely for entertainment. Imported live shows and performance from Malaya and the region made its way into Shaw cinemas as early as 1951. Visiting magicians and illusionists never failed to draw crowds with their exciting performances which not only provide entertainment; it also drew a form of mysterious sensation amongst the audiences. Dances by visiting dance troupes from all over the world were also popular demands amongst patrons then.  [6]   By the 1950s, the advertising campaigns during the post war period became more sophisticated and creative. The impact of the film industry on the locals was so great that promotional and advertising materials sent from major studios abroad had to take on a local context. Furthermore, the Shaw Cinemas went on to involve public participation in order to achieve success in film promotion events. You must advertise, put up the posters, put it in the newpapers you must think what are the kind of people, what kind of advertisements to attract the people  [7]   Daily newspaper ads, cinema standees poster displays and movie trailers provided the mainstays of Shaw promotions. Posters were not only hung outside of the cinemas but also on poster boards along road junctions and overhead bridges. They were also hanged in other major locations such as shopping centres, supermarkets, fairgrounds, schools, coffeeshops and even the Singapore Turf Club. To further engage larger crowds, billboard trucks travelled all over the island to broadcast coming attractions and distribute handbills. Promotions for blockbusters were even more elaborated as it involved all forms of public transportations and even armoured trucks and airplanes. These vehicles were outfitted with advertising banners and billboards. Apart from mere screening of films and performances, Shaw cinemas went further to entice and involve their audiences and patrons in their business. For example, Movie theme marketing was another effective method at drawing attention. Within the cinema itself, the Shaw marketing team would organise theme screenings with audiences dressed up in movie themes. Another was the red head promotion at the Capitol in 1956 for the premiere of Slightly Scarlet. Girls who flaunted the loveliest red hair were given a spray of flowers and a voucher for free hairdo with a leading hairstylist. As a source of publicity, personal appearances by stars created maximum impact for their films wherever they went. Touring stars from Hollywood or Shaw Studios added glamour to movie premieres, cinema openings, festivals, charities as well as other events in Singapore and all over Malaysia. Autograph signing sessions never failed to draw crowds as well as interest from the press. These events and contests were considered new and exciting to Singaporeans during the post war periods. The Shaw cinemas at its peak during this period not only created a platform that united community from different ethnicity and languages; it further created a form of lifestyle and mass culture amongst the community that indulged in mass consumption of entertainment. The impact was far-reaching that it even introduced to the community the first time the idea of star chasing and the glamour to be a successful celebrity. Amusement parks operated by the Shaw Brothers during post-war Singapore were also familiar sights. Since 1930s, it had always been an unforgettable experience for populace of Singapore to visit these amusement parks.  [8]  These amusement parks resumed business shortly after the war; continued to offer variety and non-stop offerings which could not be found in traditional culture and entertainment venues. It was a crucible of new culture forms, as old contents transformed to meet changing popular taste, and new ones were introduced to suit the diverse crowds. Popular live stage shows featuring all forms of dances, game contests, magic shows, comedy shows, fashion parades as well as band performances before the screening of movies. Some stage shows featured local or visiting celebrities, but most of the time they were performed by amateurs or semi-professionals. Then there were the contests based on fads. In addition, depending on what was popular at the time, dance contests were held regularly. In 1956, with rock and roll sweeping the film world, a rock and roll contest was held at the Great World Caberet to promote Rock around the Clock. In 1957, the same venue was used for the cha cha cha contest to promote the film Cha Cha Cha Boom. In 1963, with twisting films increasingly popular, a twisting contest was held at Sky.  [9]   One of the highlights in the amusement parks was the bangsawan which was a travelling commercial theatre meant to generate profits. Although the main language used was Malay, the bangsawan as a cultural form was effectively multicultural.  [10]  Bangsawan was a popular culture that transcends all boundaries; ethnicity, linguistic and cultural. Not only was the profile of the audience cut across class distinction, it was also multi-ethnic and multi-cultural. In the amusement parks, there were also other forms of popular culture such as the Chinese Wayang, band performances, open air cinema, and Malay social dances. Consequently, this process of assimilating traditional performance groups, and especially travelling theatres in the amusement parks inevitably resulted in the transformation of different cultural forms.  [11]  When bangsawan was assimilated into the urban amusement parks, it featured an improbable variety of shows. To fill in time between acts, or before and after each play, there would be musical and dance interludes. Until mid 1960s, Singapore was largely socially stratified and each person was kept to exclusive clubs and clan associations. Amusement parks on the other hand were accessible to any social groups. The various cultural forms which were adapted allowed for different degrees of participation in the show, depending only on the amount of money one could spare. This loosening of boundaries of the urban amusement parks hence provided everyone a glimpse into the different cultures, practices, and leisure life of the diverse community living in Singapore.  [12]  Such opportunities during post war or prior independence were rare. The urban amusement parks were then a different world to the visitors where they could participate in leisure activities and cultural performances of the various communities, all at once, within a single community. Both Shaw Cinema and amusement parks played a major role in attracting multiethnic groups under one roof and consuming the diverse forms of entertainment, culture and technological advancements which never failed to evoke strong sensations and excitement amongst the patrons. The cinema films also played a role in evoking nationalism and shaping of the Nanyang identity during the post-war period. Perhaps, it could be argued that these avenues to a certain extent provided refuge from reality and the harshness of life during post-war Singapore. The impact of publicity and marketing was so far-reaching amongst the local community that the culture of star chasing then mirrored the image and glamour pop and movie stars enjoy in contemporary Singapore. Blibiography Barbara Leitch Lepoer, ed. Singapore: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1989. Sai-Shing Yung, Territorialization and the Entertainment Industry of the Shaw Brothers in Southeast Asia, China Forever: The Shaw Brothers and Diasporic Cinema, ed. Poshek Fu, pp. 133-153. Tan Sooi Beng, From Popular to Traditional Theater: The Dynamics of Change in Bangsawan of Malaysia, Ethnomusicology, vol.33, no.2, Spring-Summer 1989, pp.229-237 Wong Yunn Chii and Tan Kar Lin, Emergence of a cosmopolitan space for culture and consumption: the New World Amusement Park- Singapore(1923-70) in the inter-war years, Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, Volume 5, Number 2, 2004, pp. 279-304

The Warriors Honor: A Review :: essays research papers

The Warrior’s Honour   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Warrior’s Honour by Michael Ignatieff conveys the harsh realities of ethnic war to the reader. It opens a window to pictures and experiences that most cannot, and do not , think of on a daily basis. Michael Igantieff has experienced there realities as he travelled around the world in his work as a journalist, and it is in this book that he shares with us his thoughts and ideas about these war torn countries. In this paper I will review the book and discuss major themes and arguments, as well as the downfall and shortcomings of it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Very early on the in book ignatieff makes it very clear why he wanted to embark on his journeys and also what he wishes to tell us through this book. He writes of his journeys purpose on page three: â€Å"I wanted to find out what mixture of moral solidarity and hubris led Western nations to embark on this brief adventure in putting the world to rights† (Ignatieff 3). He is speaking of the sudden surge of â€Å"interventionist internationalism [that] had swelled during the gulf War†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ignatieff 3). He also states: â€Å"†¦ what, if anything, still connects the zones of safety where I and mot readers of this book are likely to live, and the zones of danger where ethnic struggle has become a way of life?† (Ignatieff 4). Ignatieff clearly maps out the direction of this book by stating: My Concern here is with moral obligation, beyond our tribe, be- yond our nation, family, intimate network. The Warrior’s Honour is about the impulse we all feel to â€Å"do something† when we see some terrible report on television from Bosnia or Afghanistan (Ignatieff 4). Ignatieff does not get to these points and arguments until late in the book but leading up to them there are a great deal of arguments and theories made.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of these such arguments is captured in the title of the first chapter: â€Å" Is Nothing Sacred? The Ethics of Television†. Does the media only display a shallow unfeeling report of the developing and warring world’s strife? Or do they open our eyes to that strife in order to make us reach out. The first chapter of The Warrior’s Honour deals with these questions. Ignatieff first presents a strong case for the side of the media, outlining the facts that it has done a â€Å"good deed† by opening the eyes of the Western world and not to mention their pockets (Ignatieff 10).

Poverty and Disease :: essays research papers

Nearly 50,000 people, including 30,000 children, die each day due to poverty-related problems and preventable disease in underdeveloped Countries. That doesn’t include the other millions of people who are infected with AIDS and other incurable diseases. Especially those living in Sub-Saharan Africa (70%), or â€Å"the Third-World,† and while we fight to finish our homework, children in Africa fight to survive without food, or clean water. During the next few paragraphs I will give proof that poverty and disease are the two greatest challenges facing under developed countries. Niger and Sierra Leone, the two poorest countries in the world only have a GDP of around 500 dollars per capita. Which, compared to Canada’s 27,000 dollars per capita, is considerably low. In the 48 poorest countries, an average of 2$ a day is made by each working person. Imagine living off 2$ a day in Canada, you couldn’t even buy a Big Mac and a drink for 2$. This is making starvation a very serious problem in 3rd-world countries, not to mention their low immune systems, used for preventing disease, not working right from the lack of nutrition. After the smallpox pandemic, science has done a lot to cure and control most other outbreaks of diseases. But with the shortage of healthcare and medication in the developing regions, what is there to stop many diseases from spreading. In Kenya, there is only 1 doctor for over 5000 people. How does 1 doctor make sure 5000 people are not in trouble with a live-threatening disease? The AIDS virus is the most common disease, and with no cure, an infected person will die. It is estimated that 90 to 95 percent of AIDS infections occur in developing countries where the world’s worst living conditions exist. After being brought up to date with the current situation in the under developed part of the world there should be good reason to believe that the two main problems are disease and poverty. Poverty and Disease :: essays research papers Nearly 50,000 people, including 30,000 children, die each day due to poverty-related problems and preventable disease in underdeveloped Countries. That doesn’t include the other millions of people who are infected with AIDS and other incurable diseases. Especially those living in Sub-Saharan Africa (70%), or â€Å"the Third-World,† and while we fight to finish our homework, children in Africa fight to survive without food, or clean water. During the next few paragraphs I will give proof that poverty and disease are the two greatest challenges facing under developed countries. Niger and Sierra Leone, the two poorest countries in the world only have a GDP of around 500 dollars per capita. Which, compared to Canada’s 27,000 dollars per capita, is considerably low. In the 48 poorest countries, an average of 2$ a day is made by each working person. Imagine living off 2$ a day in Canada, you couldn’t even buy a Big Mac and a drink for 2$. This is making starvation a very serious problem in 3rd-world countries, not to mention their low immune systems, used for preventing disease, not working right from the lack of nutrition. After the smallpox pandemic, science has done a lot to cure and control most other outbreaks of diseases. But with the shortage of healthcare and medication in the developing regions, what is there to stop many diseases from spreading. In Kenya, there is only 1 doctor for over 5000 people. How does 1 doctor make sure 5000 people are not in trouble with a live-threatening disease? The AIDS virus is the most common disease, and with no cure, an infected person will die. It is estimated that 90 to 95 percent of AIDS infections occur in developing countries where the world’s worst living conditions exist. After being brought up to date with the current situation in the under developed part of the world there should be good reason to believe that the two main problems are disease and poverty.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree and English Course Essay

What do your parents do? How much money they can earn per year? My parents are working in a coal corporation in China. They can earn 400 thousand Yuan per year. 3. Who will support your study in UK? My parents pay for part of my expenditure in UK, I also have some saving. 4. How much money have you prepared for your study? 500 thousand Yuan. 5. How much is the tuition fee for your English course and your master course? The tuition fee of my English course is That of my master course is 6. Why do you choose UK to study? Uk has colorful culture and beautiful nature senery. And its education is very good. 7. Why do you choose INTO UEA to study the English course? I think that the INTO UEA can promote my English level. 8. What are you going to do in the UK? I want to study in Newcastle University for my master degree. 9. Which university are you going to study in the UK? Newcastle university. 10. How long will you stay in the UK? 1 year / as soon as I get my degree , I will be back. 11. Where is the university? Newcastle †¦ 12. What are you going to study? International Marketing. 13. Please state the length of the course? 1 year 14. What is the start date and finish date for the course? 15. How many hours per week? 16. What will you learn for your course? What is the specific curriculum? 17. What is your purpose to study this course? 18. How do you know this university? 19. 6 9 What will you do between June to September? 20. When did you graduate from your university? 21. What did you do after you graduated from the university? After I graduated from university, I worked in Beijing university of post and telecommunication and prepared the Newcastle University application. 22. Why do you want to study English course in the UK after graduation? I think I can 23. What will you do after you finish the English course? 24. What is your master course? 25. What is the start date and finish date for the master course? 26. What will you learn for your master course? What is the specific curriculum? 27. Why did you withdraw your visa last time? 28. Why did you change your study plan? 29. What are you going to do after you graduate from the university? 30. Where would you like to work? China or UK? Why? 31. What are you planning to do in the future? 32. When/where did you get your Bachelor degree? I got my bachelor degree in century college of Beijing university of post and telecommunication. 33. What is your major? My major is computer science and technology. 34. , Please state the exam date and scores for your two IELTS exams. 4. 27 6.

Nupath Foods Inc Essay

James Ornath read the latest sales figures with a great deal of satisfaction. The vice president of marketing at Nupath Foods, Inc., was pleased to see that the marketing campaign to improve sagging sales of Prowess cat food was working. Sales volume of the product had increased 20 percent in the past quarter compared with the previous year and market share was up. The improved sales of Prowess could be credited to Denise Washington, the brand manager responsible for cat foods at Nupath. Washington had joined Nupath less than two years ago as an assistant brand manager after leaving a similar job at a consumer products firm. She was one of the few women in marketing management at Nupath and had a promising career with the company. Ornath was pleased with Washington’s work and tried to let her know this in the annual performance reviews. He now had an excellent opportunity to reward her by offering the recently vacated position of market research coordinator. Although technically only a lateral research was not the route to top management in most organizations, Washington thought. She had been sidelined. After a long silence, Washington managed a weak â€Å"Than you Mr. Ornath.† She was too bewildered to protest. She wanted to collect her thoughts and reflect on what she had done wrong. Also, she did not know her boss well enough to be openly critical. Ornath recognized Washington’s surprise, which he naturally assumed was her positive response to hearing of this wonderful career opportunity. He, too, had been delighted several years earlier about his temporary transfer to marketing research to round out his marketing experience. â€Å"this move will be good for both you and Nupath,† said Ornath as he escorted Washington from his office. Washington had several tasks to complete that afternoon but was able to consider the day’s events that evening. She was one of the top women in brand management at Nupath and feared that she was being sidelined because the company didn’t want women in top management. Her previous employer had made it quite transfer with a modest salary increase, the marketing research coordinator job would give Washington broader experience in some high-profile work, which would enhance her career with Nupath. Few people were aware that Ornath’s own career had been boosted by working as marketing research coordinator at Nupath several years before. Denise Washington had also seen the latest sales figures on Prowess cat food and was expecting Ornath’s call to meet with her that morning. Oranth began the conversation by briefly mentioning the favorable sales figures, and then explained that he wanted Washington to take the marketing research coordinator job. Washington was shocked by the news. She enjoyed brand management and particularly the challenge involved with controlling a product that directly affected the company’s profitability. Marketing research coordinator was a technical support position—a â€Å"backroom† job—far removed from the company’s bottom-line activities. Marketing clear that women â€Å"couldn’t take the heat† in marketing management and tended to place women in technical support position after a brief term in lower brand management jobs. Obviously, Nupath was following the same game plan. Ornath’s comments that the coordinator job would be good for her was just a nice way of saying that Washington couldn’t go any further in brand management at Nupath. Washington was now faced with the difficult decision of confronting Ornath and trying to change Nupath’s sexist practices or submitting her resignation. Discussion Question : 1. What symptom(s) exist in this case to suggest that something has gone wrong? 2. Diagnose the underlying problems that have led to these symptoms. 3. What actions should the organization take to correct these problems?

Managing the Work Environment Essay

The job of managing the work environment is a very important one. Human resources managers must consider several things when maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. There are many laws that regulate things that impact an employee’s safety, health, and happiness. But more than that, an organization should provide things concerning safety, comfort, and health for ethical reasons. An organization will likely have more productive employees if they provide a safe and comfortable work environment. It is very important to maintain a safe and healthy work environment for many reasons. One of the big reasons is, it is simply the right thing to do. An employer should always send their employer should always send their employee’s home in the same condition they come to work in every day. The practice of safety also brings finances to the table. A safe environment impacts a project’s bottom line both directly and indirectly. The cost associated with incidents, including lost costs, worker’s comp claims, insurance costs and legal fees are minimized in a safe work environment. The indirect costs of incidents include; the loss of productivity that occurs when people turn their attention to the incident and absences associated with safety incidents. On the other hand; a safe work environment boosts employee morale, which in turn, increases productivity, efficiency, and profit margins. When employees feel they have a good, safe work environment they feel like they ca n make a difference. Safety hazards are conditions in the work environment that have the potential to cause harm to an employee. Health hazards are characteristics of the work environment that more slowly and systematically, and perhaps cumulatively, result in damage to an employee’s health. An example of a safety hazard might be a poorly connected string of wiring that might result in electrical shock to an employee. An example of a health hazard could be a continuous and ongoing exposure to chemicals that may increase the risk of cancer. Occupational safety and health act. (OSHA) 1970. This law regulates organizations and may issue fines to organizations not in compliance. Hours at work, illumination, and temperature, office and work space design are all factors that impact the employee. All human being are subject to circadian rhythms, which tell our bodies when to eat and sleep. This rhythm is very difficult to establish for employees who work very long hours or rotating shifts. These types of working hours cause fatigue and increase the risk of accidents on the job. Lighting has proven to impact an employee’s attitude. Considerable evidence shows that extreme temperatures (in either direction) can affect both attitudes and decision making on the job. Another factor that has been shown to improve mood and productivity is music. Employees tend to be in much better moods when allowed access to a stereo at work. Stress is a person’s adaptive response to a stimulus that places excessive physical or psychological demands on him or her. The stimuli that cause stress are called stressors. Four general sets of organizational stressors are task demands, physical demands, role demands, and interpersonal demands. By nature some jobs are more stressful than others. For example; a surgeon’s position is more stressful than a general practitioner’s position. Stress within the work environment can impact an employee’s health. Overload is a task demand stressor. This is when there is more work to complete than can be handled. One thing that can impact the stress factors is an organization providing a wellness program. The program sometimes includes employee assistant programs which may offer psychologist for the employee to talk to. This is helpful because it is usually free of charge. A wellness program in the work environment provides many benefits to their employees. Wellness programs can help their employees deal with stress by offering gym memberships that provide physical exercise. The idea behind the wellness program is to prevent illness rather than just paying for it after it happens. A well designed wellness program can include counseling services for emotional stress. Employees report an overall widespread feeling of health when allowed to participate in a wellness program. Another benefit of the wellness program saves the company money on employee absences and lost time from other things that a wellness program catches before it causes lost time from work. Employees benefit from health assessments that catch problems with their health before it is a major concern. For example; blood pressures are regularly monitored, weight checked, and cholesterol regularly checked. Some organizations offer cheaper insurance premiums for employees that participate in a wellness program. This type of benefit is a win-win. In conclusion, there are many things to consider when providing a work environment. An employee’s safety, health, and comfort impacts finances of the organization, and the health of the employee. An organization that provides a safe and healthy work environment is likely to retain good productive employees. Health costs are usually less, and turnovers are experienced less often within a safe work environment. With OSHA having requirements that organizations must comply with, companies are likely to provide safety to avoid paying a penalty or fine. Besides being compliant, organizations will most likely want to do this because it’s the right thing to do.

Acute Hepatitis B

Acute Hepatitis B GNUR543 St. John Fisher College Mr. Wilson is a 47 year old man being evaluated for complaints of fatigue, anorexia and abdominal distention. On examination, it is noted that the skin is jaundiced and the liver enlarged. D. W. denies significant alcohol or drug use. He denies any known exposure to hepatitis and has never been vaccinated for hepatitis. He is taking no medication. Laboratory tests reveal the following and a diagnosis of acute hepatitis B is made: 1. Review and analyze the laboratory data. What diagnosis is supported by these values? Give your rationale. Mr.Wilson’s lab work is reviewed below: * AST142 IU/L * AST (Aspartate aminotransferase) is an enzyme and blood sample results can detect if there is liver damage. AST is found in the heart and liver with much lower levels in muscles and kidneys. In a healthy person the AST is between 10-40 IU/L. If the liver is damaged, AST is released into the blood stream (Hepatitis B, 2011). * ALT120 IU/L * ALT (Alanine aminotransferase), if elevated can also be an indication of liver damage. ALT is an enzyme that is normally in the liver and kidneys. If the individual is healthy, the ALT is low, between 7-56 IU/L.Elevated ALT is an early indicator of liver damage usually elevating prior to a patient becoming jaundice (Hepatitis B, 2011). * GGT 42 IU/L * GGT (Gamma-glutamyl transferase) is an enzyme that is found in the liver but may also be in the spleen, kidneys and pancreas. As with AST/ALT, GGT is elevated when there is liver damage. The normal test range is 0 – 51 IU/L. GGT will be elevated when there is acute damage to the liver (or bile ducts) (Hepatitis B, 2011). * Alk Phos 84 IU/L * Alk Phos (Alkaline Phosphatase or ALP) is an enzyme found in the liver, bone, kidney and GI tract. Normal range for this blood test is 44 – 147 IU/L.Alk Phos, if elevated generally indicates that there is a blockage in the bile ducts. Also, if it is found to be high this means the pat ient can either have kidney disease or bone disease. To differentiate, a GGT test is also taken. If that result is high as well, a liver disease is present; if the GGT is within normal limits then the patient has bone disease (Hepatitis B, 2011). * Total Bilirubin1. 0 mg/dl * Total bilirubin is the product of damaged or broken down red blood cells in the body. The bilirubin is processed through the liver and the normal levels in the body are; 0. 3 – 1. 9 mg/dL.If this level is increased, it means that the liver is not processing the bilirubin due to liver disease (Hepatitis, 2011). * Albumin4. 3 g/dl * Albumin (ALB) measures the level of albumin in the patient’s plasma. Albumin is a protein that is made in the liver and is sensitive to any changes in liver function. Albumin mainly ensures that the cells in the body don’t leak, keep the tissues nourished and transports vitamins, calcium, hormones through the body. The normal range for Albumin is 3. 4 – 5. 4 g/dL. Albumin will be lower than normal in the case of malnutrition or liver disease (Hepatitis, 2011). HBsAgpositive * Anti-HBSnegative * Anti-HCVnegative * HIVnegative Test Name| Mr. Wilson’s Result| Normal Ranges| | AST| 142 IU/L| 10-40 IU/L| Elevated| ALT| 120 IU/L| 7-56 IU/L| Elevated| GGT | 42 IU/L| 0 – 51 IU/L| Normal| Alk Phos | 84 IU/L| 44 – 147 IU/L| Normal| Total Bilirubin| 1. 0 mg/dl| 0. 3 – 1. 9 mg/dL| Normal| Albumin| 4. 3 g/dl| 3. 4 – 5. 4 g/dL| Normal| Mr. Wilson’s labs indicate that he has chronic Hepatitis B. This is chronic because the indicators for acute liver damage are within normal limits. For example, if the patient were having an acute onset of Hepatitis B his Albumin would be low.Albumin is made in the liver and is very sensitive to any changes in the liver. If there was acute damage to the liver the Albumin value would not be in normal range. Also, Mr. Wilson’s bilirubin would be higher if he was having a cute hepatitis B. For the skin to be noticeably jaundiced the bilirubin level would usually be >2. 0 mg/dL (Hepatitis, 2011). The patients GGT would be elevated also if he was experiencing an acute episode of hepatitis B. Additional tests that might be helpful to making an accurate diagnosis would be; IgG-anti-HBc and IgM-anti-HBc.These tests show if the hepatitis is acute or chronic. The IgG-anti-HBc is positive if the patient is chronically infected. The IgM-anti-HBc would show positive if the patient is acutely infected with hepatitis B. The HBs-Ag will be positive in both acute and chronic cases. See the table below for an overview of the assessment and tests that are generally given when a new Hepatitis B diagnosis is reached. (Lok A. S. , 2011) 2. Explain the hepatocellular changes that occur with the above diagnosis. The liver has many roles in the body that associate it with many systems.For example, it acts as a digestive organ by secreting bile for the breakdown of fat (Co pstead, 2010). The liver also removes bilirubin from the blood, temporarily stores blood and synthesizes the blood clotting factors (Copstead, 2010). Other functions of the liver are; removing toxins from the blood, metabolizing both sex hormones and steroid hormones. Any damage to the liver can in turn disrupt any of these processes and functions that it performs. Some of the processes and functions can be changed in the following ways: * Liver inflammation: Inflammation in chronic hepatitis is associated with scarring.Severe inflammation can bridge together portal tracts within the liver, this is called â€Å"bridging necrosis† (Mani & Kleiner, 2009). It can also bridge to central veins, confluent necrosis (Mani & Kleiner, 2009). This leads to scarring, the creation of fibrous strands and in many cases will lead to fibrosis. Throughout the liver cells are becoming damaged therefore blocking and limiting the livers functionality. Hormone secretion, chemicals and toxins in th e blood, clotting factors and other defense fighting macrophages are interrupted (Copstead, 2010).Along with the inflammation, the patient will feel fatigued and will have a lowered immunity. * Ascites and peripheral edema: Abdominal distention, ascites, is a result of the damaged cells within the liver and more specifically the membrane of the cell has been damaged. There is an intra-abdominal buildup of sodium, water and protein. The cells in the liver are unable to maintain the appropriate osmotic gradient across the pleura (Copstead, 2010). This extra fluid is likely to accumulate in the dependant areas of a person’s body, such as ankles, legs, and arms (Kukka, 2010). Jaundice: Red blood cells have a short life span and as they die and/or are damaged the body will break them down and dispose of them. This is referred to as bilirubin metabolism and this happens in three phases; pre, intra and posthepatic. (Copstead, 2010). The red blood cells should be broken down, deliver ed to the liver and then transported through the biliary system and thus be wasted via the kidney’s or the colon. With damaged liver cells, the bilirubin is not excreted from the liver and there is a buildup of the conjugated bilirubin and the result is jaundice (Copstead, 2010).Other changes due to the liver damage are portal hypertension, gastric and esophageal varacies, vitamin mal-absorption, poor blood clotting and altered mental status (Copstead, 2010). The liver has such far reaching effect on so many organs and systems in the body that any damage to the liver will result in decreased functioning of other systems. Immediate tests to determine the cause and extend of the damage would be imperative to managing the disease going forward. 3. How should the disease be managed and monitored? Explain your rationale.If pharmacotherapeutics are used, explain your rationale and their mechanism of action. First steps would be to order additional labs including, IgM-anti-HBc, IgG- anti-HBc, HBeAg, HBV DNA, CBC with PT and electrolytes. In cases of acute hepatitis B, symptoms sometimes go unnoticed. The virus will normally go away on its own and if treatment is given, it is for the symptoms and most adults recover fully (Hepatitis B, 2011). But in the case of chronic HBV, the patient will need to be monitored to see if the virus is replicating (Lok A. S. , 2011). In patients with chronic HBV, the treatment oals are to reduce the long term effects of liver damage, prevent the transmission of the virus to others and manage any complications along the way (Lok A. S. , 2011). A clear diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B is needed. Results of blood work will determine the course of treatment. In Mr. Wilson’s case, with only the first lab results, it appears that he is in the active chronic infection stage. At this point the liver damage is still minimal. Because there does not seem to be significant liver damage a liver biopsy would not be indicated at this poin t (Lok A. S. , 2011).As the practitioner, I would recommend more blood tests, as noted above, and ongoing monitoring of the virus every few months. This will help in determining the activity of the virus. The medications used to treat chronic hepatitis B tend to have serious side effects. The patient must be willing to make a commitment to continue the therapy and adhere to close monitoring during any drug treatments (Hepatitis B, 2011). Supportive medicines are important to assist in treating side effects of the virus. For example, diuretics are prescribed if edema is not resolving on its own.Vitamins and minerals are indicated if labs show deficiency due to decreased liver function. If it is determined that Mr. Wilson’s virus is active (meaning he is able to infect others) there are new drugs available to choose from. Antiviral treatments include (Hepatitis, 2011): 1. Entecavir – a. A pill taken once a day for up to a year b. Used when DNA viral cells are actively re plicating 2. Interferon Alpha c. Injection a few times per week for up to a year d. Used when patient has compensated liver disease 3. Pegylated Interferon e. Injection once per week for up to a year f.Used when patient had compensated liver disease and evidence of viral replication and liver inflammation 4. Lamivudine g. A pill taken once a day for a year or more h. Used when patient has active liver inflammation and active viral replicating 5. Adefovir Dipivoxil i. A pill taken once a day for a year or more j. Used in patients with chronic HBV 6. Telbivudine k. A pill taken once a day for a year or more l. Used in patients with active viral replication, persistent elevations in ALT or AST or histologically active disease 7. Tenofovir m. A pill taken once a day for a year or more n. Used in patients with chronic HBVThe medicines listed above are used alone or more likely in conjunction with others. These are currently the only hepatitis B drugs that are approved by the FDA (Lok & M cMahon, 2009). According to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Practice Guidelines, the ultimate goal of therapy is to suppress the replication of the virus and put the liver disease into remission (Lok & McMahon, 2009). This is monitored by watching the patients ALT, AST and other liver, viral and blood tests. The viral tests are imperative to determine the proper adjustments in medications.For example, interferon has been shown to reduce the viral replication and inducing liver disease remission (Lok & McMahon, 2009). Also, a newer drug, tenovir has shown significant promise in reducing viral levels in patients as compared to adefovir (Lok & McMahon, 2009). Practitioners need to watch for resistance as well when using the anti-viral drugs. As noted, the drugs are used in combination as well and these have shown to be more effective than when they are used alone. The effects of combined usage are better antiviral effects and delayed resistance (Lok & M cMahon, 2009).Mr. Wilson’s ALT, HBeAg lab values and his HBV DNA will be a main determinate to the type of therapy he will receive. A liver biopsy will be indicated later on if his  HBsAg is positive for more than six months, his serum HBV DNA is greater than >20,000 IU/mL and he has persistent or intermittent elevations in his ALT/AST levels (Kukka, 2010). Summary Hepatitis B can be chronic or acute. When a person has acute hepatitis B they generally don’t even notice and never need treatment. If treatment is needed it is supportive treatment for the symptoms of the acute virus infection.Chronic hepatitis B patients are at risk for cirrhosis and HCC (hepatic cellular carcinoma) (Kukka, 2010). Patients that have chronic HBV need to be educated on the risk of infecting others and will, in some cases, need to alter their lifestyle to protect others from getting the virus. Treatment is dependent on the blood work up that is obtained. It is very important that a patient that goes on antiviral treatment remain on it to reduce drug resistant strains. Also, patients must be evaluated and treated for the side effects of the anti-virals as well as the symptoms of other affected organs and systems in the body.References Copstead, L. -E. C. (2010). Pathophysiology. St. Louis: Saunders. Hepatitis. (2011, July 6). Retrieved March 26, 2012, from Lab Tests Online: http://labtestsonline. org Hepatitis B. (2011, July 6). Retrieved March 25, 2012, from Lab Tests Online: http://labtestsonline. org Hepatitis B. (2011, September 1). Retrieved March 24, 2012, from Mayo Clinic: http://www. mayoclinic. com/health Kukka, C. M. (2010). Hepatitis B Fact Sheet. HCSP Publications. Lexicomp. (2012). Retrieved February 5, 2012, from Lexicomp: https://online-lexi. com Liver Blood Tests. (2012, March 28).Retrieved March 30, 2012, from e Medicine Health: http://www. emedicinehealth. com/ Lok, A. S. (2011, February 16). Overview of the management of hepatitis B. Retrieved March 24, 2012, from UpToDate: http://www. uptodate. com Lok, A. S. , & McMahon, B. J. (2009). Chronic Hepatitis B: Update 2009. Alexandria: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Mani, H. , & Kleiner, D. E. (2009, May 1). Liver Biopsy Findings in Chronic Hepatitis B. Retrieved April 1, 2012, from University of Pennsylvania, Department of Medicine: http://webdev. med. upenn. edu