The Influx of the Illegal Immigrants to the Unite States

The influx of the illegal immigrants over the past decade has become more noticeable issue in the United States. Some consider the illegal immigrants are the real social and financial burden for the U.S. and demand strict resolute policies to be implemented for them. Others state that in case of deportation of the undocumented immigrants, such as farm workers or specialists in construction and hospitality spheres, there will appear a huge labor shortage with the following economic fall-out. The following paper examines the existing state of the illegal immigrants and their contribution and impact on the economy of the U.S. There are eleven million illegal immigrants in the U.S. today. They come from all around the world, however the majority of them are Latino, Mexican and of Latin America based in the biggest American cities. Migration of other nations to U.S. is stimulated by such factors as poverty, violence, crime, and corruption in the native lands. New dream promises wealth and prosperity for the entrants, the possibility of employment and socialization in new community. A part of the society perceives illegal workers as those who are responsible for the high crime rates. This make Americans pay more taxes for the undocumented immigrants’ detention, deportation and related crimes committed by them. On the other hand, the contribution of illegal immigrants’ into the economy of the country is huge: they pay more money in taxes than in the consumed services. AnotherShow MoreRelatedThe Legalization Of Legalizing Immigration Reform1488 Words   |  6 Pagesask, however. why the presence of illegal immigrants is still apparent within the country s boundaries if everyone on this territory is equal to one another. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, the number of illegal immigrants in the United States was estimated at 11.5 million in 2011. The population of these illegal immigrants flourished by 27% between 2000 and 2009, as stated by the Department of Homeland Security. With the growing rate of undocumented immigrants, is the government taking actionRead MoreArizona’s Immigration Law Essay988 Words   |  4 PagesIt is clear that illegal immigration has gotten out of control and constringent measures need to be taken to protect the United States borders. The local Government of Arizona recently decided to take control of the situation, by passing the â€Å"Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act† {House Bill 2162}. This bill gives law enforcement officers and agencies the authority, to lawfully stop, detain and arrest anyone who app ears to look like an illegal alien. The bill out-right condonesRead MoreMexican Immigrants And The United States1602 Words   |  7 Pagesthe first born child of her parents. The state she was born in is a small border town that connects to the California border. She was born into a lower class family that was struggling to make ends meet and at the age of five she migrated to the United States with her mother. During this period of time there was a large influx of Mexican migration to the United States that began in the early 20th century. There was a large demand for labor in the United States and the Mexican economy was strugglingRead MoreForging A New Vision Of America s Melting Pot1657 Words   |  7 PagesForging a New Vision of America s Melting Pot In Forging a New Vision of America s Melting Pot by Gregory Rodriguez the author expresses support for a heavy Mexican influence in the United States and integration of races. The author made some points about how legislatures have tried to stop Mexicans from entering the country and have repeatedly tried to keep them down as second class citizens. It seems that he wants Mexicans to have more influence in mainstream media, but I feel as ifRead MoreImmigration Policy : A Country Of Immigrants1981 Words   |  8 PagesSince the inception of the United States, it has and continues to be a country of immigrants. For a country founded on immigrants, immigration policy has long been an issue debated by politicians and political parties. United States immigration laws tended to favor Europeans in the 18th and 19th century. In high school U.S. history classes we learned about the great influx of immigrants in the late 18th century and then a following wave in the late 19th century . With each new wave of immigrationRead MoreInclusive Immigration Reform : The United States Essay1515 Words   |  7 PagesReform The United States faces serious issues surrounding current immigration policy. The situation produces debates throughout the country and a further divided congress, a scared nation, and scattered troops. Solutions have been presented in the form of very big walls, complex tracking systems, and overly simplified exportation of illegal aliens. However, no real steps of action have been agreed upon to rectify the situation. The US boast in its diversity; stemming from immigrants seeking recoveryRead MoreThe Roots Of Modern Day Discrimination1049 Words   |  5 Pagesas African Americans showed intellectual equality and superiority as their educational opportunities increased in quality and quantity, many white people looked at them as second class citizens. This phenomenon repeated itself with the influx of other immigrants coming from all nations. Their inability to communicate and sometimes uneducated backgrounds set the precedent that they were less of a person than those already residing in America. Once again, the primitive â€Å"fear of being conquered† wasRead MoreEssay about Should Illegal Immigrants Be Granted Amnesty?2118 Words   |  9 PagesCNN, 12 million illegal immigrants currently reside in the United States, which is approximately equivalent to the populations of Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, or Michigan. Removing all 12 million illegal immigrants, then, would be like removing one of the above states, a pretty incredulous task. In practical terms, it is not possible to send that many immigrants back to their respective countries efficiently and economically. This raises the issue of what to do with the immigrants that are alreadyRead MoreImmigration During The United States1662 Words   |  7 Pagesknown as â€Å"the melting pot† America has a wider diverse population. The history of immigration is what built America and created that diversity. Over the last 150 years, immigration laws have been enacted and changed to meet the demands of the influx of immigrants. Both Republicans and Democrats see immigration as a political battlefield. Each party blames the other for the lack of cooperation and lack of progress in passing legislation. Obama has used immigration as one of his main platforms in hisRead MoreImmigration Policy Of The United States1763 Words   |  8 PagesImmigration is a timely issue that took my interest, and being an immigrant it was the first topic that came to my mind for this problem-solution research paper. It is imperative that the citizens must know that there are underlying major problems that are associated with the current immigration policy of the country. Thus, the United States’ government must address this serious problem with the majority s upport of its citizens. By tackling the issue of immigration, it will not just resolve one problem

Issues Of Technology Impact On Education - 2103 Words

Issue of technology impact and improvement on Education At present technology is one of the most essential parts of our daily life. Many people of today s society are of the opinion that technology is the blessings of modern science which makes our life more comfortable and handy Professional development. Key amongst all difficulties is absence of sufficient, continuing professional growth for educators who are necessary to incorporate new methods in their classes however who are unsuspecting or powerless to appreciate latest methods.All too frequently, when institutions permission the utilization of a precise method, educators are remain without the instruments (and frequently talents) to efficiently incorporate the latest abilities into their education techniques, along with the account. The latest assets are underutilized, not utilized by any means, or utilized in a method that imitates an elderly procedure before innovating latest procedures which can be extra attractive for learners. Resistance to change. Opposition to expertise approaches in numerous ways; however one of the main opposition disputes recognized in the statement is console with the position quo. in accordance with the investigators, educators and institution heads frequently see technical testing since outer the range of their work portrayals. MOOCs and other new models for schooling. Fresh in this year s statement, latest methods for education and studying are giving unparalleled rivalry toShow MoreRelatedHow Public Education Affects All People870 Words   |  4 PagesWhen it comes to the American public education, we are faced with several difficulties that effects everyone. It all depends on how a person views the education concerns. Everyone wants to solve America’s education issues and it’s essential that we focus on the right things to move forward and offer better opportunities. It’s important that we first focus on how public education impacts all people. It can’t just be what people believe to be true but how it has actually affected their learning andRead MoreAdvantages and Disadvantages of Global Integration1476 Words   |  6 Pagesglobalization trends. This acceleration in globalization can be attributed to an increase in free-trade activities, emerging technologies, or the world wide acceptance of markets. Globalization has affected cultures and economies on matters dealing with environmental destruction and availability of the already limited resources. Globalization has had diverse implications for environmental issues such as, pollution, deforestation, water resources climate change, and biodiversity loss. The rampant environmentalRead MoreThe Internet Impact On Education1362 Words   |  6 Pagesmeans of communication. In other hands, The Internet has brought extreme impacts to the education system worldwide in schools, colleges, universities and institutions. It does leave a great impact on education thereby causing many benefits aspect most of which have become a necessity in today’s education system. The Internet has vast impact on education from primary schools to higher education and universities. The education system has more practical, digital, clear, faster and very easy to understandRead More21st Century Classrooms Essay1377 Words   |  6 PagesIn education today there is the view to link educational strategies, programs, initiatives, or technology to student achievement. There are many groups and organizations that are advocating for increased technology literacy. Generally in all aspects of our society, technology has revolutionized and in many ways simplified while enhancing our way of life. It is no surprise that the public expects that technology should have a similar effect on education. Over the past 20 years there have been so manyRead MoreResearch On The Education Field Essay1656 Words   |  7 PagesResearch in the Education Field Educators need to be consumers—it is our responsibility as teachers to take what research concludes and incorporate that into our classrooms and teaching philosophy. Educational research is extremely valuable to not only teachers but the students as well. A teacher can completely master a subject, yet a student may not learn anything in that class. Research is valuable to the education field because it is necessary for the field to improve and evolve, ultimatelyRead MoreThe Application Of Geospatial Technology1262 Words   |  6 PagesExecutive Summary Geospatial technologies comprise tools that enable surveying, mapping, remote sensing, photogrammetry and geographic information systems (GIS). It is therefore, largely an information oriented technology that specifically captures, analyzes, manages and uses various data to make geographical inferences that affect every sector of the current economy. The application of geospatial technology cuts across a wide spectrum of industries such as agriculture, security, intelligence, urbanRead MoreNegative Technology1285 Words   |  6 PagesIn this generation some of the most notable and impactful inventions have been the innovative technology that now resides as common household items. Some of these most notable pieces of technology are the computer, the cellphone, and the multitude of video game consoles. These pieces of technology have become so common and apparent that they are seen nearly everywhere. Today people show no issue using their cellphone whether they are walking to a destin ation, hanging out at home, or waiting in aRead MoreChildhood Obesity Essay976 Words   |  4 Pages2010 report by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past thirty years. As well as having an impact on health, studies have cited a relationship between obesity and poor school performance as well as a child’s readiness for learning and education. This can be correlated with studies finding â€Å"obese children have a greater risk of social and psychological problems, such as discrimination and poor self-esteem† (The CentersRead MoreEssay on The Impact of Technology on Education1230 Words   |  5 PagesThe Impact of Technology on Education Technology affects every aspect of our lives. From romance to business, it has shown its presence everywhere. But technology has had a huge impact on education that cannot be denied, and has done nothing but improve the quality and quantity of education. Today, schools are being pressured more and more to improve the technology they use and teach in the classrooms. Parents are placing this pressure on schools so that their students have the skillsRead MoreImpact of Technology on Education1146 Words   |  5 Pages------------------------------------------------- Positive Impact of Technology on Education Technology plays a very important role in the field of education, especially in this 21st century. In fact, computer technology has become easier for teachers to transfer knowledge and for students to obtain it. The use of technology has made the process of teaching and learning more convenient. Talking in a positive sense, the impact of technology on education has been extraordinary. Using Internet and computers

World of Jugs Free Essays

In North Korea citizens protested against the country authoritarian regime because over the weekend the regime seized most of the country citizens’ money via a new currency issue. This caused much violence In North Korea. The Wall Street Journal reported that that the regimes money grab could be the single most Important event In defining North Korea. We will write a custom essay sample on World of Jugs or any similar topic only for you Order Now This event Is more defining and more Important than North Koreans whole grabbing nuclear weapons program that North Korea uses for International Influence. This Issue not only raised protests In multiple Korean cities but also caused reason for the North Korean government to raise patrols on Its border with China. An Investment analyst name Mr.. Cochran said, â€Å"The biggest risk for the North’s government is if, after taking people’s money, it can’t deliver goods and services the way the unofficial market could. † The regime would be most damaged if its people learned it could not control the real price of goods. This whole new currency issue struck many acts of violence including the death of two North Korean men by the hands of police officers. The two men attempted to get the government’s limits by dividing their money among a large group of people and urging them to exchange the money for them. Another incident occurred when multiple women working in the goods and produce markets of some towns openly cursed the government knowing they would be arrested for such actions. This issue is viewed as a defining moment for North Korea. How to cite World of Jugs, Papers

Cell Phones Gone Bad! free essay sample

Cell phones people say mankind’s best invention and others say that they are corrupting society. In the U.S more and more people are leaving the landlines for cell phones and that is affecting the 911 emergency services providers. The most common users are about young people but also there are just 2% of adults having no cell phone. So makes you think that if cell phones should be banned from when you’re driving or in a car with someone that uses their cell while driving. Studies have seen that talking on a cell phone or just talking on a Bluetooth headset are worse than drunk drives. The University of Utah psychologists ran a test show that people with a cell phone or using a headset are more likely to crash than a drunk driver. Even if the drunk driver is at the legal blood alcohol limit (.08). Both drunk driving and talking on a cell phone are very similar. We will write a custom essay sample on Cell Phones Gone Bad! or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page But besides the whole talking while driving is bad well a doctor named Dr. Ronald Herberman from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute warned the faculty and staff of the harmful electromagnetic radiation that might come from cell phones and that all of that radiation might cause cancer. There is still no evidence of cancer caused by cell phones. But the world health organization on a long investigation showed that there are some increased of risking some brain tumor if the cell phone is used for about 10 years or more. Also researchers found out that people that use cell phones have a 10% to maybe 30% greater risk than people that barley use cell phones. Not only can a cell phone cause cancer but the cell phone can set on fire from its battery. In a case a woman and living in Plymouth, North Carolina. She was awakened by a smell that was coming from her son’s room. Her son’s phone battery had overheated and had the bed catch on fire but luckily her son was not badly burn. There had been lots of reports about cell phones catching on fire because of an either defective battery or the users using the wrong charger. There were safety tips told by The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Cell phones have a battery that is called Li-Ion that is very sensitive form a stress that is physical. British researchers are giving out warnings to people with children shouldn’t have cell phones. So that’s why the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) gave out the safety tips. Here are a few safety tips from CPSC; one is not to use a different battery or charger, two is not to take the battery from the phone out just to come into contact with coins or metal, three is not to crash the battery, four is to try not to drop the phone. Now you should take some consideration on these tips and that cell phones can be evil.

Blackshop Case Study Essay Example

Blackshop Case Study Essay Blackshop is a popular casual restaurant in the area of Cambridge. It is a well run business in quite a competitive market. However, in a competitive market, proprietors of a business must do what is necessary in order to remain competitive and â€Å"maximise the number of guests† (Cerny). Blackshop must decide whether or not the Open Table system will allow them to gain a competitive advantage, and if so, what sort of operational strategy needs to be implemented for it to be successful. Issues that need to be addressed are whether Open Table systems such as the new reservation system and the table management system will, in fact, leave Blackshop with a competitive advantage. Blackshop should adopt the Open Table system. This upgrade in technology at Blackshop will allow them remain competitive via a new reservation system which utilizes benefits of the internet, adopt a targeted marketing system through emails, gather information on customers to enhance customer satisfaction and help with facility layout problems that occur through the old reservation system. Blackshop will also need to refine its operational strategy. In a competitive market, a company must structure its company in order to meet its service concept. Operational strategy will include areas such as marketing techniques, employee selection and job satisfaction. It will also outline ways in which Blackshop can improve customer satisfaction through process control. The Open Table system is able to address areas that are important to a firm in order for it to remain competitive or gain some competitive advantage. Customer satisfaction is one of the main areas that allow competitiveness. We will write a custom essay sample on Blackshop Case Study specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Blackshop Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Blackshop Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is now recognised â€Å"as a primary goal on the path to profitability†(j8) and can be defined as â€Å"a evaluative response concerning the perceived outcome of a particular consumption experience†(j1). The Open Table system allows a restaurant to enhance the customers’ satisfaction through a numbers of avenues. Firstly, the reservation system allows potential customers to not only call up the restaurant to book a table, but it also allows the customer to utilize the internet to â€Å"make reservations without any temporal or geographical constraints†(P+D). This type of reservation system can also be used to collect detailed information about their customers. Information such as birthdays, anniversaries and special requests can be readily available to employees which can be used to enhance the customer experience and create a far greater guest management system. It allows the employee to construct â€Å"interpersonal bonds† with customers, creating the perception that â€Å"the employee has personal recognition of the customers’ needs and knows specific details about his or her service needs† (j5). Open Table also contributes to customer satisfaction with its advanced table management system. Having a system that allows Blackshop to maximise seat utilisation â€Å"effects efficiency of the process as well as creating good ambience†(j6). Blackshop have noticed bottlenecks forming in the wine bar during busy operating times. This is created because many of the customers are walk-ins and have to wait for a table to clear up. Waiting a long time for a service can lower customer satisfaction, resulting in less repeat business. The new table management system allows patrons to be seated in an earlier manner, thus alleviating some of the problems created from walk-ins. It is for these two reasons that a restaurant should be able to create â€Å"one of the most powerful promotional methods used in hospitality†(p+d). Word-of-mouth promotions are satisfied customers recommending the restaurants to potential customers. An integral part of word-of-mouth is gaining a customer’s trust. It is said that â€Å"customers trust in employees is likely to form if the employee and customer are well know to each other†(j5). As alerted to previously, knowledge of customer needs and personal information forms the basis for a closeness that must exist in order for the customer to â€Å"engage in word-of-mouth behaviour†(j5). This is a very powerful as â€Å"a single recommendation, the only source of information obtained, is enough to convince a person to try a particular service provider†(j5). Many firms attribute their success to word-of mouth, with Harley Davidson saying â€Å"positive word-of-mouth communication emanating from customer employee relationships can be attributed to most their success†(j5). Open Table also has a powerful marketing tool through the use of promotional email system. This email system can be used to create avenues to repeat business by alerting customers to Blackshops regular food events. This is also a great way to generate word-of-mouth promotions and enhance customer/employee relationships. Operations Strategy Operations strategy describes â€Å"competitive priorities that internal operations will emphasize†(text). It is also how the company â€Å"should be structured in order to meet its service concept†(text). The service concept of Blackshop will detail â€Å"the reason as to why a customer will choose one service over a competitors†(text). Blackshop service concept should be superior customer service and satisfaction through quality process control. This can be undertaken by firstly implementing the Open Table system. Blackshop must make sure that all members of staff have been fully trained on how to use the Open Table system. Benefits must be explained fully so employees feel comfortable using it to enhance customer satisfaction. As I believe customer satisfaction to be the important part of success, this should be completed before any other areas of the operations strategy are implemented. It creates word-of-mouth promotions and encourages repeat business. As quality of service is a huge competitive priority, Blackshop must continue with its stringent employee selection policy. The importance of selecting the right employee to work at Blackshop cannot be understated as many â€Å"US casual restaurants learn to view their employees from a new prospective – as strategic human capital which possesses intangible assets that are valuable to the firm†(strategy risk). Restaurants that take this view have the â€Å"potential to build a human resource competitive advantage†(strategy). Employees chosen to work at Blackshop must show a certain enthusiasm towards the company’s service concept. The operations strategy must also include a tailored marketing plan towards its target market. The Open Table system offers powerful email marketing campaigns that can be tailored towards its target market. However, this is only useful as a way of targeting repeat customers as their information is the only available. The Open table website also includes important information such as; location, price, menu and operating hours. I believe this is not enough to encourage new customers to book at Blackshop. As an initial solution Balckshop must first train some of their employees to use information technology systems for marketing campaigns. Training marketers to use information technology systems and having marketing reports are the most urgent and important tool for the future of marketing in the hospitality industry†(progress and dev). This means having employees construct and maintain a dedicated Blackshop website that offers more information and flare to that of the Open table website. Employees should â€Å"not only create their own website, but to ensure that their we bsite is visible and easily found by search engines†(Progress and dev). Having a dedicated website also eans that they have a new avenue to reply to customer comments. Being able to swiftly respond to customer feedback means Blackshop can â€Å"gain the trust of customers and therefore more chance of repeat business†(progress). The marketing campaign can also include current campaigns that are being undertaken by Blackshop, however, there must be a review of current content. Major discussion regarding hospitality marketing is mainly concerned with â€Å"rational versus emotional†(j4) advertising. That is, what appeals more to the consumer? Studies have found that â€Å"for experiential services such as restaurant meals, the hedonic nature of the consumption experience may make emotional appeals more effective†(j4). Rather than advertising price information or convenient location, they should use their marketing tool to convey a message of relaxed family atmosphere with live music and great food. By employing these marketing techniques they are â€Å"creating a positive post exposure attitude†(j4) for the potential consumer, leaving them with no doubt that they should indulge in the experience that Blackshop offers. That is not to say that Blackshop should not appeal to the rational side of consumers. Price information strategy in advertising â€Å"can greatly reduce the level of pre-purchase perceived risk which tends to be high with many services†(j4). It appeals to consumers that need to â€Å"understand the service and want to know what they are receiving before making a purchase decision†(j4). Rational advertising can also be an effective way to fill table space on quieter nights. Email marketing can also be extremely valuable is reducing the bottleneck effect at wine bar by â€Å"providing information about less crowded periods or shorter waiting times, and customers encouraged to utilize them†(j2). Instilling a sense of job safety and creating a workplace where employees can thrive and grow is vital for job satisfaction. Blackshop needs to introduce strategies in its operations that allow this to happen because there is a â€Å"positive linear relationship between staff satisfaction, service quality and customer satisfaction, leading, ultimately, to profitability†(j7). Firstly, Blackshop must empower the employee in the workplace. In many hospitality workplaces â€Å"quality is centred on guest satisfaction†(strategy), because of this â€Å"managers and staff should not only be empowered, but compelled to do whatever it takes to make it right on spot†(strategy). Empowerment can also continually let your employees grow within a job, increasing job satisfaction with the company. Continuing along the path of job satisfaction, Blackshop can also introduce employee ownership programs and promote within the company. Employee ownership programs give their job a sense of meaning, and a sense of fairness. Programs like the managing partner programs can be â€Å"the cornerstone of success, allowing you to attract the best†(strategy). As referred to earlier, this can lead to a â€Å"human resource competitive advantage through superior human capital†(strategy). Blackshop must seriously consider introducing the Open Table system. The benefits of introducing it centre on a better table management system, a new and improved reservation system, and a powerful email marketing tool. It allows Blackshop to have greater customer satisfaction through a higher level of process control, utilizing information technology systems such as the internet. Open Table is also an information gathering tool, proving huge benefits for company. Employees can create â€Å"interpersonal bonds† with guests, gaining their trust, which can lead to word-of-mouth promotions. All of which can lead to more customers which fulfils the manager’s job of â€Å"maximising the number of guests†(cerny). Balckshop’s operational strategy should first introduce the Open table system. After which, all employees should be fully trained on the new system. Having employees understand the new reservations system and table management system are the key to the continued success and growth of Blackshop. Blackshop should continue to use its system of stringent employee screening programs so that they employee the person who best fits in line with the service concept and operational strategy. After completing this stage of the process, management need to address their marketing program. This should begin by entrusting one or more of the employees with the marketing manager position. This involves starting up a company website with all relevant information on it and deciding on new marketing themes for different advertising mediums. The marketing approach must consider emotional and rational appeals. It must appeal to people through rational information such as price and service excellence, but more importantly, it must appeal emotionally to the customer. The operations strategy must also involve programs or fundamental ideas that create job satisfaction. This can be done through promoting within, empowerment in decision making and employee ownership programs. Creating and operational strategy that â€Å"links together well with available resources will determine the final outcomes yielded from a rersource†(j6).

Significance of Studying Homosexuals

Significance of Studying Homosexuals In today's society, many people are concerned with morality. Tradition dictates that marriage is a union between a man and a woman for the purpose of raising children. With the advancement in technology, homosexuals can undergo special operations to have their sexes changed and at the same time live a life of their choice - to become "gay" or to become a "lesbian". Many people wonder how come there is a rapid growth of homosexuals. Hence, in this study the researcher aims to provide sufficient information to help people understand the various aspects of homosexuality.This study will explain the hardships encountered by homosexuals because people cannot accept them for what they are, their difficulties in understanding themselves and the emotional pains because of rejection by families and relatives. This research is mainly conducted to clarify the misconceptions and controversies surrounding homosexuality.During the first half of the 20th century, gay men were viewed as effeminate, l esbians were portrayed as mannish, and both were seen as being obsessed with sex, with little self-control or morality.English: Barbara Gittings picketing the White Hous...

Self Magazine critic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Self Magazine critic - Essay Example The articles were usually based on elements that seemed quite fictional when considered to be applicable in real life. Needless to say, the cover page article on Keri Russell (Bried)was quite entertaining and one could not help but admit that the interview did indeed hold quite a degree of authenticity to it and a breath of fresh air when compared to a certain sense of artificialness that prevailed across the rest of the magazine (SELF Magazine). Articles such as Make good sex great (Pamela)and More Joy, Less Stress appeared to be amongst the major highlights of the issue and while one cannot feel that such article names are quite clichà © when considered in the backdrop of the modern day article names that are scattered across magazine covers, an brief overview of the articles proved that they were in fact quite unique in their narration and held a certain sense of honesty about them as if the author had not written them for mere commercial value and had not acquired the data used in the articles from a few second grade websites. Rather there was an undeniable feeling that no matter which perception the authors had kept in mind while writing the articles, one could not disagree on the fact that the knowledge of the writers regarding the subject matter of their articles was not something that one could doubt. Moving further on into the December issue of the much acclaimed magazine there was a pleasant picture that the magazine continued to present with articles such as 31 minutes to solve any shopping dilemma which was perhaps one of the few in the magazine that held a solid sense of reality and application in them. Other articles that were observed to possess a similar degree of applicable utility also included 8 One minute relaxers and 77 Easy ideas for doing good which were based upon a particular perception that was observed in not only this issue of the magazine but also in other issues of the magazine. The magazine ensured that not a single

A paper proposal on the the Rhetoric of Sugar Sweetened Beverages Assignment

A paper proposal on the the Rhetoric of Sugar Sweetened Beverages - Assignment Example In this literature review, I intend to analytically review a variety of literature on Sugar Sweetened Beverages. Thus, I will put emphasis on a wide range of SSBs. These include, but not limited to soft drinks (soda), flavoured waters, sweetened teas, ready to drink coffees, sports drinks, and juices. Babey, Wolstein & Goldstein(2013) contend that the increase in consumption if drink that have added caloric sweeteners is attributed to less healthy diets as well as health concerns such as overweight and obesity. What is the problem addressed in the literature review? The problem addressed is that there is the increased consummation of SSBs and consequently increased rates of obesity and overweight. Overwhelming research as presented in a wide range of literature has specifically cited increased consumption of SSBs as the main cause of the increased rates of obesity. Over the last four decades for instance, the rates of obesity and weight gains have tripled. Statistics of study carried out by Ogden & Carrrol (2010) between 2007 and 2008 established that one in every six children and adolescents aged between 2 and 9 is obese. These statistics are worrying. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (1998), obesity increases the risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes, various cancers, and many other chronic diseases. As such, the increased rates of consuming SSBs have the risk of escalating the already increased cases of obesity. This will consequently case a major strain to the public health care system. Currently, the U.S government spends more than $174 billion annually in treating obesity. It also spends more than $147 billion annually in treating health problems related to obesity and overweight. According to Wang et al. (2012), this accounts for more than 9.1 percent of the government’s health care expenditure. This has led to widespread concerns over the need to control the major causes of diabetes and ove rweight. What are the questions addressed in the literature review? The questions addressed in my literature review are: 1. What can be done to reduce the rate of SSBs consumption? 2. What role can the media play in reducing the rate of SSBs consumption? What gaps have you discovered in the literature? An analytical review of the literature on SSBs consumption reveals that there exists a large gap between the increasing rate of SSBs consumption and the measures that can be used to reduce these rates. There is also a large gap in regard to the role played by the media and the increased rates of SSBs consumption. There also exists a gap on the approaches to be used on reducing SSBs consumption. Generally, the approaches to reducing intake have varied. Some literature proposes a tax on sugar sweetened beverages, while other literature advocates an extreme tax on SSBs. On the other hand, some literature argues that a tax will not suffice at all. Most literature argues that there is stro ng link between the high levels of consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and obesity and adverse effects on the public health care system. Babey ,Wolstein & Goldstein H (2013) claim that soda and other SSBs, such as energy and sports drinks, are the largest source of added sugar in the diets of both children and adults in the U.S. It is argued that liquid calories do not satisfy as well as solids, and SSBs add calories instead of replacing them. It is suggested

Globalization's impact on the spread of infectious diseases Annotated Bibliography

Globalization's impact on the spread of infectious diseases - Annotated Bibliography Example ue of racism in Toronto as the people from East Asia where the virus had initiated from started being isolated and discriminated against as a result of the virus and them being different. The Asians were segregated from the Canadians and the increase in racialization spread even more and the effects are still being felt to date. The conclusion from this article is that globalization has increased the spread of infectious diseases thousands of miles away from the area of origination and this is leading to other unwarranted and unwanted effects such as racism. The race that the infectious disease originates from is discriminated against and segregated as well as blamed for the spread of the disease or infection just like the Chinese were segregated by the Canadians in Toronto even though the disease spread as a result of interaction and connectedness but leads to inequality. Brown, T. (2011). ‘Vulnerability is universal’: Considering the place of ‘security’ and ‘vulnerability’ within contemporary global health discourse. Social Sciences & Medicine, 72: 319-326. The global health standards have been and continue to be affected by the increase in the multiple threats of the infectious diseases all over the world. With global connectedness and interactions increasing, there traditional border defenses and securities are weakening and hence allowing people the movement all over the world hence continuing to spread the infectious diseases everywhere. What this does is to increase the vulnerability of the people and exposing them to more diseases, spreads the panic over the diseases and eventually becoming an epidemiological threat to the health of the people. Fighting of these diseases has become even harder for the world because of the increase in environmental degradation, intensive farming practices, rapid urbanization as well as misusing of antimicrobials. All these contribute to the humanity becoming more vulnerable to the diseases and dying in

Youth Empowerment And Promoting Peace

Youth Empowerment And Promoting Peace Peace is not just absence of war but also a state of mind, individual or collective a social cultural, political and economic harmony. Peace is also a way of being and a way of living. Hence to build a true culture of peace, we need to develop justice and respect of human rights to fight against poverty. We need to favour intercultural dialogue which should be among civilizations and to empower youths. As youths it is our governments concerning at dialogue to build a culture of peace. Therefore, we must support the following concrete proposals to support youth against oppression and we have to recognize the number of existing obstacles for the realization of a true culture of peace. Now the time has come to activate the youth of the world to get the best from the atom by using it properly and bringing peace in the world. The youths of new millennium must work hard for linking and networking research with the international peace movement. To promote inter nation discussion of youths common problems we must approach UN and its related agencies on the topics of human rights and rights of the children. Let the youths make special request for providing advice, help with setting up courses and conferences on the world peace to assist in workshops on peace education for the youth. Youth must be encouraged to appeal to the world leader to create peaceful and sustainable world. Every youth has different knowledge and capabilities. International peace and security can not be achieved without the promotion of mutual understanding, cooperation and goodwill among the youth of the world. The world community must give a new dimension to task of education, producing a new kind of spirit of harmony and understanding in the art of living in the world community. UN must empower every youth with the education and resources to sustainable livelihood and provide social security and solution building concerning peace. However the United Nations has seeds of hope and peace. We should remember that in comparison to the United Nations the world is very old and it is not easy to change the world. Youth can be said to be the most innovative and uncompromising part of society. UN was setup from the ashes of the Second World War and the declaration of human rights was one of the first things that it produced. We should understand that whole universe is created for peace not for destruction. People should therefore live together in peace and do whatever they can for the wellbeing of the suffering ones. However, we have not been successful in stopping the arm race among the great power yet. The exercise of human rights and freedom is an essential element of peace. Peace is an essential requirement for the satisfaction of human basic needs such as food, shelter, health, education, labour and environment. The young general assembly is uniting young people from all over the world in responsible action to initiate practical activities through promoting youth empowerment in decision making and solution building. The children of the world are calling for a better future. They have the chance to develop their potential. They need a peaceful world. Childrens rights are being violated every day and yet the offenders continued to say Children are the future. To educate and enlighten the youths about social services and also promote community organizing as a tool to reconnect people to each other with a common goal of building supportive and good community. To create spaces for the youths of the world including people who are young of color, queer, poor and or have disabilities to invest in the power of collective action. The world community is highly concerned about the continued deterioration of the status of world wide youths who face growing levels of unemployment, poverty, epidemic diseases, functional illiteracy and other social and economic challenges. Youths continue to face serious health issues, in particular the HIV/AIDS which is the biggest challenge facing our generation. The world community is highly concerned about the prevalence of human rights violation with regard to young people such as child labour, trafficking and living in countries under occupation. We recognize that there are too many young people lacking the necessary education and training for good productive jobs, too few jobs and too many unproductive jobs with poor remuneration and security. The world community must increase an investment in relevant skills training, emphasizing training appropriate to the job market. Growing awareness of the interdependence of the world and of global problems is concern to all people of the world. The purpose of youth network is to increase the youths respect for human beings, love for humanity and develop a peace loving mind all of which should be the foundation for international understanding. Therefore moral education is very closely related to international understanding. Special activities play an important role because they help the youths develop international understanding through actual experiences. We must empower all the youths of the world and encourage them to pay need to the followings: Interests in the world surrounding and in human cultures. Understanding of world and cultures. Transformation of consciousness to include the world and other cultures. Formation of an attitude of international harmony and cooperation. Often teaching for international understanding is based on a description and analysis of different international social systems. The aim is to develop a critical idea in young people who should be able to discern the political and economical structure, which are the causes of conflict, violence and war. This is right but not enough. The young people will be encouraged to take part in activities of understanding other people and to discover the cultures of other races such as Japanese, the Africans and the Arabs. They may learn in other lands such as the famine crises, earthquake crisis in Pakistan and may decide to sponsor a child in Africa in order to help pay for his education. The venture may be successful in bringing the awareness amongst the young people about the value of understanding and peace and benefits, peaceful cooperation amongst the different people of the world. The people of the world should take keen interest in identifying and advocating for initiatives that empower young people to have greater control over their individual and collective destinies and their ability to contribute effectively to the advancement of the global community and achieve peace and international understanding. To form a youth network which could mechanism to ensure the participation of young representatives reconciliations process, negotiations and peace building. Lets develop and support the education of culture of peace in programmes of schools in all levels. It is crucial to break stereotypes in education by raising awareness the role and contribution of girls and young women in society. The United Nations system should encourage, promote and find ways to recognize the participation, facilities and technical assistance for their work. Education, training and capacity building of youth are of paramount importance to encourage youths to contribute their time and energy in the field of international understanding and peace. Especially the young people of the developing countries are facing lots of problems for example, lack of opportunities for education and training, unemployment, drug abuse, poor health facilities and services etc. the young people constitute the major human resource for development. They are in many sectors, the key agents for social change and technological innovations. Young people are frequently the last to benefit directly from general progress, living without basic resources curtails the participation of youths in the lives of their communities and nations. It also has an adverse impact on the access to education and skill development. Poverty undermines the aspiration of millions of young people globally, manifesting itself in illness, illiteracy, drug abuse, trafficking and crime. Faced with too many demands, too few resources, the needs of youth go unanswered to the long term detriment of development. It is evident from the foregoing facts and figures that youth need support if they are to play a central role in society. The international communities also have objectives, to promote youth activities as an integral part of social and economic development; to enhance the active participation of youth in society and to promote among young people, the ideals of peace and international understanding.

Managing Information Systems In Organizations Essay -- Database Manage

Managing Information Systems In Organizations INTRODUCTION In recent years, there has been an abundance of new technologies in the information systems field. These new technologies have altered the very development process itself. Information systems have gone from being a series of one level databases to three dimensional reality, virtual reality, and multimedia systems. In the early days of information systems, the demands were for data, with no real function of artificial intelligence. However, as the 21st century approaches, business has taken on an entirely different function, and the need for individual information systems has grown immensely. This demand for information technology is in all areas of business: corporations, law, medicine, science and even small business. In addition, the worldwide web and the Internet have added an additional factor of communications. Most information systems in use today require at the very least, a measure of Internet capability. In order to understand the changes in these development processes, the history of databases should be analyzed. BACKGROUND Database Management Systems actually began in the 1950s, with what is known as the first generation, also known as file systems on tape. The major task of any computer in those days was to process data under the control of a program. This primarily meant calculating, counting and simple tasks. Second generation databases, file systems on disk, allowed use of computers in dialogue mode as well as batch mode. The development of magnetic disks allowed for more sophisticated file systems, making multiple access possible. These first two generations of DBMS were characterized by the availability of file systems only; strictly speaking these were the forerunners of database systems, the foundations. An important component of these database systems were the static association of certain data sets (files) with individual programs that would concentrate on these. There were high redundancy problems between files; inconsistencies when one program made changes that are not made in all programs; inflexibility against changes in applications; low productivity by programmers since program maintenance was expensive; and the problem of adopting and maintaining standards for coding and data formats. The third generation, pre-relational databases, started in the 1960s a... ... rapid development in this area, not only in technology but also in functionality. Information Systems will rapidly emerge into a wealth of applications until it eventually becomes an extension of the person (maybe in a literal sense some day). That, I believe, is the future. Works Cited: Cattell, R.G.G., â€Å"Object Data Management: Object-oriented and Extended Relational Database Systems† Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1991. Gagnon, Gabrielle, â€Å"Data Warehousing: An Overview† PC Magazine, March 9, 1999. Hammond, Mark, â€Å"DRDA Standard Could Finally Get Rival Databases Talking†, PC Week, December 7, 1998. Mayor, Tracy, â€Å"Look Ma, No Hands† PC Week, July 1, 1996. Coskun, Samli A., â€Å"Information-Driven Marketing Decisions: Development of Strategic Information Systems† Quorum Books, 1996. Schindler, Esther, â€Å"The Computer Speech Book† Academic Press, Inc., 1996. Sichel, Daniel E., â€Å"The Computer Revolution - An Economic Perspective† The Brookings Institution, 1997. Vossen, Gottfried, â€Å"Data Models, Database languages and Database Management Systems† Wokingham, 1991. Watterson, Karen, â€Å"Blueprint For A Database† Data Based Advisor, June, 1990.

Burn Case Study

Mr. Davis is a 56-year-old man who was involved in a fire in his home. He was smoking a cigarette and fell asleep, dropping the cigarette and igniting the bed linens. He sustained full thickness burns over the upper half of his trunk and neck (anterior and posterior) and the posterior aspects of both upper arms. He also sustained superficial partial-thickness burns to his face and hands. He arrived at your burn unit 5 hours after injury. Labs were drawn. A foley catheter and NG tube were inserted in the ER. Assessment findings: Height is 72 inches, weight is 185 lbs.You auscultate wheezes in the patient’s lungs and he has a productive cough of a small amount of carbon-tinged sputum. Mr. Davis rates his pain at a â€Å"9† on a scale of 0-10. He denies pain at the chest, neck, back, and upper arms. Urine output has totaled 150 ml since the foley was inserted 2 hours ago. His foley is draining burgundy-colored urine. Mr. Davis is experiencing nausea, has faint bowel sounds , and his abdomen is distended. A nasogastric tube was inserted to low intermittent suction and is draining dark yellow-green liquid.His extremities are edematous making the pulses difficult to palpate. His blood pressure is 96/50, pulse 114 beats per minute, respirations are 24, and temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The greatest initial threat to a patient with a major burn is hypovolemic shock. Using the above assessment: 1. Do you think Mr. Davis is experiencing hypovolemic shock? If so, what data supports this? (2 points) Yes, Mr. Davis is most likely experiencing hypovolemic shock, due to low blood pressure, increased heart rate, as well as an increase in respiratory rate.

Does alcohol have as much of a focus as drug addiction in UK essays

Does alcohol have as much of a focus as drug addiction in UK essays Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in Britain with only 7 per cent of men and 13 per cent of women describing themselves as non-drinkers (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2000: 6). When considered in population terms, alcohol is a more important risk factor for antisocial behaviour than are other drugs because it is more frequently taken in excess (Rutter et al, 1998: 154). Most people consume alcohol socially and moderately; however there are some who drink heavily, with not just adverse physical and psychological effects for themselves. It has been estimated that alcohol misuse contributes to 40% of violent crime, 78% of assaults and 88% of criminal damage cases (Deehan, 1999: 1). Coupled with reports that 28% of all offenders seen by the probation service have alcohol problems compared with 12% with drug problems (Alcohol Concern, 1999: 16), it would seem that alcohol has a larger part to play in crime than the misuse of drugs. However, the Government has invested heavily in drug use prevention - 94 million per year - but has seemingly neglected the issue of alcohol misuse, spending as little as 1 million per year on promoting prevention and treatment (Dean, 2000). Add to this a lack of true alcohol-related crime figures, with only specific drink-driving offences having a recorded statistic; until recent Home Office guidance, an absence of an ade quate definition of an alcohol-related incident (Alcohol Concern, 1999: 14); and the creation of a community order specifically for drug misusing offenders and not alcohol misusers (the Drug Treatment and Testing Order, or DTTO) and it would seem that alcohol has been left to take a back seat in the Governments agenda. To try and ascertain whether alcohol is the forgotten issue in the Criminal Justice System (CJS), this essay will be examining (albeit briefly) the relationship between alcohol ...

Free Essays on Life Values

You should never allow anybody to tell you what your goals or passions are, you should never try to fulfill anybody else’s dreams except for your own because if you don’t give yourself a chance to do what you want to do, the only person you’re letting down is yourself. Today I am given this special opportunity to share my life values with you. Some of my life values that I will be sharing with you today are; my family, passions, and goals that motivate me to get through life one step at a time. Now let me start out by telling you about family and what it means to me. According to the dictionary the word family means â€Å"one’s own flesh and blood, kinship, and offspring.† Do you agree with the dictionary’s definition? Well I don’t, I think family is much more. To me, family is anybody who you’ve built a strong bond with, anybody who you care about, trust, love, and respect. In the first column of my collage are a few pictures of people whom I consider to be my family; my dance group, my close friends and of course my immediate family. Passions, what are passions exactly? Passions to me are things that you feel so strongly about that you feel like you need to do something about them. Passions are your desires, wishes, and aspirations and so much more. One of my enormous passions in life is to preserve and carry on the Hawaiian culture. The pre-contact native Hawaiian population has been estimated to as high as one million, and the native population after the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 was 40,000. Today, the number has dramatically decreased to 8,000 and it is predicted that be the year 2024, pure Hawaiians will no longer exist. Although pure Hawaiians may not exist in the future, my effort to preserve the Hawaiian culture will only grow stronger ad I continue to tell ancient stories of Hawaii through my hula dancing. Every dance I learn is just another step to help preserve a culture whic... Free Essays on Life Values Free Essays on Life Values You should never allow anybody to tell you what your goals or passions are, you should never try to fulfill anybody else’s dreams except for your own because if you don’t give yourself a chance to do what you want to do, the only person you’re letting down is yourself. Today I am given this special opportunity to share my life values with you. Some of my life values that I will be sharing with you today are; my family, passions, and goals that motivate me to get through life one step at a time. Now let me start out by telling you about family and what it means to me. According to the dictionary the word family means â€Å"one’s own flesh and blood, kinship, and offspring.† Do you agree with the dictionary’s definition? Well I don’t, I think family is much more. To me, family is anybody who you’ve built a strong bond with, anybody who you care about, trust, love, and respect. In the first column of my collage are a few pictures of people whom I consider to be my family; my dance group, my close friends and of course my immediate family. Passions, what are passions exactly? Passions to me are things that you feel so strongly about that you feel like you need to do something about them. Passions are your desires, wishes, and aspirations and so much more. One of my enormous passions in life is to preserve and carry on the Hawaiian culture. The pre-contact native Hawaiian population has been estimated to as high as one million, and the native population after the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 was 40,000. Today, the number has dramatically decreased to 8,000 and it is predicted that be the year 2024, pure Hawaiians will no longer exist. Although pure Hawaiians may not exist in the future, my effort to preserve the Hawaiian culture will only grow stronger ad I continue to tell ancient stories of Hawaii through my hula dancing. Every dance I learn is just another step to help preserve a culture whic...

Association of Phoenix Employees Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Association of Phoenix Employees - Assignment Example Association of Phoenix Employees The study was conducted by HREG from January to June 2011 with the permission of Phoenix Textile Co. (PTC) to enhance and improve the recording and tracking of attendance of employees, payment system and processing of salaries of employees. The study includes both software and system enhancement so that manpower time can be saved for the Human Resources, Accounting Department and the employees and workers that queue the Cashier/Disbursing Section (under the Accounting Department) to get their salaries. We are encouraging the management to act upon the recommendations submitted by HREG since implementation of the changes would bolster the morale and production of the employees and workers in the company. Modification in the system would save time both for the management and employees. Phoenix Textile Co. (PTC) has a 500 strong-workforce who work on two shifts daily, seven days a week, and twelve months a year. Production demand fluctuates depending on the orders and season of the year. But production has never dropped to the point of making a number of employees go on forced vacation due to low demand. Thus, the company remains competitive in the local and global market. With the continuous work in PTC, attendance and absences recording and tracking pose a problem to the management. Paying the salaries of employees entail time for both the Disbursing Section and the employees. The long queue just to receive one’s salary produces annoyance since at times, the employees themselves become disorderly.

Analysis of The Pharmacy Services Industry Essay

Analysis of The Pharmacy Services Industry - Essay Example These stocks now have more of a growth profile than they had in the past. There is much opportunity for expansion, with billions of dollars in the business up for grabs! Besides, there is greater competition coming from every direction, as non-traditional channels are looking to get in on the act. Below, we discuss an evolving industry and provide a guide as to what to consider before committing funds here. Traditionally, this industry has been divided into two main categories: pharmacy services, which consist of Pharmacy Benefits Managers, or ‘PBMs’, as well as Clinical Services Providers and large drug chains. Although both groups distribute prescription drugs to consumers, they differ in that ‘PBM’s are mail-order operations while ‘chains’ sell from storefronts. The numerical arrays on the Value Line pages of companies in these groups are largely similar. However, the pages of PBMs, which are somewhat more capital intensive, list capital spen ding per share and depreciation; whereas, the pages of drug chains include the number of stores and gross margin. Within the business description on the Value Line page, investors find a company's mix of pharmacy and general merchandise sales. A heavy weighting of wide-margined pharmacy business is vital to a company's wellbeing. Pharmacy business is less sensitive to economic cycles and a sales slowdown here could indicate a serious problem. The prescription growth rate is another noteworthy figure in measuring the health of a company, and it is gaining prominence. Demographics point to a rise in the number of Americans aged 65 and older, over the next two decades. Increasingly, Baby Boomers will require medical care and pharmaceuticals, auguring well for the industry's sales and earnings prospects. The largest pharmacy services providers are best positioned to reap the coming rewards of the industry (Walgreens Co., 2013 www.walgreens.com/ and CVS Pharmacy, 2013 www.cvs.com/). BACK GROUND/HISTORY CVS CVS Caremark Corporation, together with its associates, provides unified pharmacy health care services in the United States. The company’s Pharmacy Services division offers pharmacy benefit management services, including plan design and administration, formulary management, discounted drug purchase provisions, Medicare Part D services, mail order and specialty pharmacy services, retail pharmacy network management amenities, prescription management systems, quantifiable services and disease controlling services (Yahoo finance, 2013). This division sells its products through retail drugstores; the ‘online retail pharmacy website’, CVS.com; onsite pharmacy stores and retail health care clinics. As on December 31, 2012, the company operated 7,458 retail drugstores, 640 Minute Clinic locations, 31 retail specialty pharmacy stores, 12 specialty mail order pharmacies, and 5 mail order pharmacies. CVS Caremark Corporation was founded in 1892 and is bas ed in Woonsocket, Rhode Island (Yahoo Finance, 2013). Walgreens Walgreen is an innovated and intuitive organization that takes ‘the shopping experience’ to another level. The organization has devoted it’s time to being helpful to the consumers and ensures that shopping is made as convenient as possible. With its many divisions, it operates a network of drugstores in the United States. It provides consumer goods and services; it also provides pharmacy, health and wellness services through drugstores along with novel methods such as mail, telephone, and online modes.  

Reading Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Reading Reflection - Essay Example It helps bring out the element of suspicion in the story. When one is reading any literary work, it is necessary for the reader to shift from the real world to the imaginary world where he understands the story better (Guerin, 2005). The title of the book piqued my interest to know what Walter might be doing in the secret world and hiding it away from the real world. In his daydreams, Walter is portrayed as a man of high esteem. It would therefore be necessary for me as the reader to know the secret behind Walters’ high esteem. In the first instance of his daydream, the crew insinuates that the, â€Å"old man will get us through, he is not afraid of hell†. This instance creates an image of a man who is not afraid of situations. It is also interesting to know why other members hold the man in such a high esteem in his group. The scenes portrayed in the daydreams sustain my interest in the story. The first instance of a daydream Walter is a commander, the second daydream he is a famous surgeon attending to a millionaire. The last second daydream Walter is a witness in a courtroom whereas the last instance of a daydream, he is a captain of a warplane. My interest in this story was driven by the desire to know whether Walter wanted to become some of the people described in the daydreams in his real life. ... The reader should account his feelings with certain aspects in the literary work that makes him have the feelings. This approach requires the reader to connect with the story, and assess the insight that the connection with the story brought (David, 1984). It is also paramount for the reader to consider the connection with the story and other stories that he has read. He should then evaluate if the connection added anything new to what he already knew. In this story, there is a connection with the Walter’s day dreaming behavior. The daydreams in this story, which help the reader to connect with the story, enable one to understand the meaning of the story. Walter’s daydreams are all frenzied ranging from flying in the middle of a deadly storm, working with faulty machines in surgery room, as well as facing a firing squad boldly. It is evident that the daydreams may be prompted by the chaos in his life brought about by his relationship with his wife. His wife is portrayed as a person who always quarrels with Walter over one thing or another. The aspect of Walter daydreaming is a means of escaping tribulations in his real life. He wants to escape to a world where he is in control of his own situations. He escapes from the real world to an imaginary world where he is in control of his own affairs. It is however worth to note that his escapism leads him to more troubles. In one instance as he is daydreaming, he is unable to pack the car correctly only to be assisted by the packing attendant. While heading to town with his wife, he daydreams and ends up over speeding the car. His daydreaming behavior also makes him forgetful. He forgets what his wife requested him to buy before they left home. The style of telling the story helps us to

Art Making Process Essay Example for Free

Art Making Process Essay The teaching of artmaking process is one in which there appear to be no right answers as it is frequently related to the teachers own understanding of the material at hand. (Schon, 1996). As art making is an open ended process there are a number of difficulties posed in instruction. One option is to engage art students in the process in a highly conscious and reflective manner. This was the mode in which the author conducted a 10 week course on the subject designed after intimately observing how contemporary artists worked. The first step in teaching art is said to be informing and inspiring students with various methods of artistic practice by playing video taped interviews of artists. The understanding of the use of big ideas by artists is one of the most important facets. Exploration of the big idea provides clarity of concept and insight into the artmaking process which is understood only through reflective practice. Maintaining documentation is also important. This provided students new perspectives in art making as they indulged in reviewing the big idea with personal relevance over a period of many weeks. Identification of the correct big idea is also linked to problems faced by artists in artmaking. Problems can be overcome with proper identification of the big idea and pursuing it with an open mind without an early closure. The delay in closure occurs when the artist discuses the concept repeatedly with himself thereby providing him better insight and enhancing creativity. Thus it is the understanding of the big idea, main concepts, the base and boundaries of knowledge which enable an artist to communicate his ideas most effectively to his audience. While artmaking cannot be taught in the form of a formula of success, the instructions provided in a generalized manner provide for developing the students creativity as well as art practice as was seen in the ten week artmaking project detailed in the article. Reference: 1. Schon, D. A. (1996). In D. OReilly, (Ed. ), Learning through reflection on conversations. In conversation with Donald Schon, Capability, the HEC Journal, vol. 2 (2). Accessed on 10 December 2006 at http://www. lle. mdx. ac. uk/hec/journal/ 2-2/l-2. htm, l-10.

The Ritual Of Sati In Hindu Religioun

The Ritual Of Sati In Hindu Religioun The practice of sati, the immolation of widows, is the most tenacious example of religious customs. Many people often associate the concept of sati with just India; however, the practice of self-immolation has been widespread in world history. The article written by Jorg Fisch, claims that examples of sati can be traced to incidents of headhunting in Southeast Asia (Fisch 2001: 301) and the ritual murder of a kings cook, brewer, and shepherd in Baganda (Fisch 2001: 299). In order to understand the reasoning behind the ritual one must look into every aspect of it from the angles of different religious traditions. So, as one can see sati is not unique to India. However, the cases of sati, even though, rare, have still taken place since the proclamation of Indias independence in 1947. The most recent case that has sparked a heated debate is the sati of eighteen-year old widow, Roop Kanwar. The most surprising consequence of young womans death was the fact that women from different parts of the country rallied demanding to be permitted to commit sati (Kumar 1995: 76). The pro-sati lobbyists fought for their rights to commit, worship, and propagate sati; it got to the point where the Sati Dharma Raksha Samti (the Committee for the Defense of the Religion of Sati) was formed (Hawley 1994: 9). This group was run by educated Rajput men in their twenties and thirties who claimed that sati was a fundamental part of their traditions; a refusal to legitimize sati, they said, was a deliberate attempt to marginalize the Rajputs (Kumar 1995: 81). To fully grasp the concept of sati one must look into history of the ritual and not only in India but in other countries as well; search for examples and reasoning in sacred texts; and discover the attitudes both supporting and opposing sati that exist in modern day India. The rituals of sati exist throughout the world in documented cases that were reported in various countries. Jorg Fisch reports, in his paper, that human sacrifice was practiced frequently in China. He follows the pioneering scholar of Chinese religion J.J.M. de Groot in saying that Confucius and his followers opposed it, however de Groot disagrees that it was Confucian opposition that ended the practice in China (de Groot 1976: 300-301, 310, 320). The history reports that sometimes great numbers of ordinary people were lured to the mausoleum of an emperor only to be locked up to be buried alive (Fisch 2001:313). But it is not the brutal practice of massive murders of ordinary people that makes the ritual of sati come alive in Chinese history but rather the account of childless concubines being buried with the first emperor. Later, the custom of following emperors in death which was reserved for only those from the lower class was followed by the suicide of widows. It was considered t o be a form of faithfulness and a reflection of not only on the changing nature of Confucianism but also other religious traditions emerging in China. Regardless of the religious opposition the practice remained in place for a while. Just like in India, Chinese religious opposition failed to convince people that sati is inhumane and unnecessary. Just like in India, it was due to the fact that general population held strong beliefs in life after death and that by following their husbands the widows were fulfilling their dharma therefore it could not be wrong. The reasons that drove Chinese widows to commit sati included deep sorrow at the death of a beloved spouse; the anticipated difficulties of life as a widow, including the threat of forced remarriage; and, as for Indian sati widows, the possibility of honor, enshrinement, even deification (Fisch 2001:311, 316). But within the same faiths, as daughters and daughters-in-law with seniors to care for, as beneficiaries of their parent s gift of life and body, as mothers to their husbands heirs, as officiants in the ancestral cult, as lay Buddhist devotees, or as women tough enough to honor life-long vows of chastity, they might also choose to live an honorable life. They could do so while still believing in a life after death, or in repeated, rather than final, judgment of their sins and virtues, or they might believe in honor for its own sake and the immortality of their name. Just like India, China held belief that everyone holds a choice over their own destiny and are free to either follow the dead or remain alive. There is no stigma or shame attached to either. The ritual of sati has been in the lives of Hindus for many generations. There are accounts of sati or the refusal of thereof in the sacred texts of Hinduism. Sati is mentioned in both the Rig Veda and the Atharva Veda, two sacred texts in the Hindu tradition. The reason why it was practiced for so many years was because of discussion in these texts. One of the sections of the Vedas in known as Samhitas, and it contains a section called the Rig Veda Samhita, which includes a passage defending sati as it states: Let these women, whose husbands are worthy and are living, enter the house with ghee (applied) as corrylium (to their eyes). Let these wives first step into the pyre, tearless without any affliction and well adorned. (Rig Veda 10.18.7) The verse encourages a widow to throw herself on her dead husbands pyre as a personal sacrifice to her husband. In the scripture, sati is a wife entering the funeral pyre, and the practice has started because it is a part of a sacred text. It is described with many other ritual practices prescribed to the followers of Hinduism. Another sacred text that defends the practice of sati is the Atharva Veda Samhita. It is from the same collection of Samhita as the Rig Veda and the funeral verse in the Atharva Veda in Kanda 18, Sukta 3 states: This woman, choosing her husbands world, lies down (nipad) by you that are departed, O mortal, continuing to keep [her] ancient duty (dharma); to her assign you here progeny and property. Sati is also mentioned in Mahabharata in the story of the pigeon and the hunter. Sati is described as a ritual suicide because after the passing of the husband the wife has to follow him too. Bhisma tells the story where the pigeons wife decides that no moral woman could still live if her husband was dead and so she decides to throw herself into her husbands funeral fire (Sutton 2000: 87). The result of her actions is that she is sent to svarga-loca (celestial world) alongside her husband in a celestial chariot (Sutton 2000: 87). The mention of the sati ritual on the pages of often read Mahabharata is regarded as another justification of the ritual. However, despite the fact that the ritual of sati is discussed in sacred texts for any Hindu, people started to seek another interpretation for the same verses. The understanding of the tradition is different now than it was at the beginning of the religion. The human rights activists and feminist lobbyists are fighting to liquidate the tradition completely. Those who oppose the ritual of sati claim that it is simply appalling and should be abolished forever. It seems like there shouldnt be a conflict as the practice became illegal many times. First, it was abolished by the British in 1829; and then again in late 1980s after the sati of Roop Kanwar. Indian feminists argue that the proclamation of Roop as an exemplary and chaste wife is revolting. The idea behind the ritual is the one of grave oppression of women and vivid representation of their secondary status and lack of choices. For centuries, the social status of women was closely related to the one of their fathers and later, t heir husbands. It was never an option for a female to be considered an equal in everything to her husband. After the independence of India was proclaimed women got their chance to build their lives the way they desire. But, sadly, many were clinging to the past, to something they have always known, the traditional way of life and thinking. The feminist leaders stepped up and encouraged the female population to take the reins of their destinies and think for themselves. It is unthinkable that in this day and age, anyone would consider a ritual suicide just because of the tradition that dates couple millennia back. In conclusion, the ritual of sati has rich and intriguing history. The account of sati examples were discovered in numerous documents all over the world. It can be determined to certain that India was not the only country that practiced ritual sacrifices of innocent women in order to fulfill their dharma and show off their chaste and pure nature. China had centuries of regular practice of sati, but unlike in India, the practice was long abolished. Concrete evidence that supports the ritual of sati is found in several sacred texts in Hinduism. It makes it harder to argue that sati is rather a choice a widow must make and not a predestined certainty. The evidence from the texts can be interpreted as a supporting ground for sati. It sounds noble, and pure, and chaste, to show the world the devotion the widow has for her deceased husband. In reality, it is just a tradition, a ritual like any other, that one can chose to forgo. In modern times there is no more stigma attached to being a w idow, no shame to carry with the title, no burden to lay on those who are still alive. Modern society is all about equality of rights for everyone. And Indian feminists argue just that, the tradition of sati had its place in history and lives of Hindus, but now, it is time to make wiser choices and live, instead of committing sacrificial suicide.

Philip Morris Marketing Analysis :: essays research papers

Philip Morris Marketing Analysis Definition of Industry Market Concept The tobacco industry consists of many competitors trying to satisfy a specific customer need. Companies such as Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, Brown and Williamson, and Lorillard hold almost the entire market share in the tobacco industry. While each company has different advertising and marketing techniques, they all target the same customer group. Tobacco companies try their best to generate interest in their particular brand or brands. Companies market a number of attributes that usually include, but are not limited to: taste, flavor, strength, size and image in order to distinguish themselves from competitors (Business Week 179, November 29, 1999). However, all tobacco companies are satisfying the same needs. Many long-time smokers are addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes. They smoke because the nicotine is needed to help them feel normal (Focus group). Many addicts go through withdraw without nicotine. All tobacco companies have nicotine in their cigarettes, which fulfills the ne ed of long-time smokers. Other smokers depend on cigarettes in social settings. Many smoke to look sophisticated and mature. Tobacco companies make many kinds of cigarettes that target different groups. Social smokers may perceive certain brands as more sophisticated, and therefore they shy away from other lesser-known brands. For example, a person who smoked generic cigarettes at the bar may be perceived as uncultured. On the other hand, the smoker with the Marlboro Lights may be more socially accepted because they have a brand name product (Focus group). Many types of cigarettes cater to the many markets of smokers who want to portray a certain image in social settings. Tobacco companies do not create the need to smoke, but try to generate interest in their particular brand (Hays, New York Times, November 24, 1999). Overall, the tobacco companies satisfy consumer demand for the millions of adult Americans who choose to use tobacco by providing differentiated products to different target markets of smokers. Industry Concept The tobacco industry has developed a rather large array of products. Companies such as Philip Morris, Lorillard, RJ Reynolds, and Brown and Williamson, as well as the other smaller competitors, all provide the same product- cigarettes. The tobacco industry is filled with fierce competitors. But underneath the brand names and images, the product is relatively the same. All tobacco companies produce an inhalant that is made with tobacco, tar, and nicotine. These materials are rolled in a special kind of slow-burning paper for longer smoking time.

An investigation of the role of SIS in The (Especially, In A Rural Part Of Our Planet)expand Health Servicing

Introduction Strategic information systems are concerned with aligning information systems with a firm’s business strategy to achieve competitive advantage (Arvidsson, Holmstrom & Lyytinen, 2014). Strategic alignment between information systems and the business involves a timely and appropriate fit between the business strategy, processes, and infrastructure and the IT infrastructure, strategy, and processes to achieve harmony in the management of information systems and the business (Gerow, Thatcher & Grover, 2014). Through such alignment, the performance of a business is positively affected (Yayla & Hu, 2012). The overarching argument for this is that firms perform well when IT resources including knowledge assets, managerial and technical IT skills and physical IT infrastructure elements are aligned with the business strategy, and when suitable structures are employed in effectively managing the IT resources and supervising their deployment (Coltman et al., 2015). This alignment is ever important in the current environment where new information technologies continue to fundamentally alter conventional business strategies by allowing firms to function across the boundaries of function, time, and distance by leveraging these technologies (Bharadwaj et al., 2013). This report discusses the role of strategic information systems in expanding the health service in rural areas. Specifically, it focuses on the implementation of a telemedicine program for managing diabetes for patients in rural areas by a hospital in an urban centre. The investigation focuses on the planning and the implementation of this technological solution by considering the perspectives of different stakeholders. The report starts by discussing literature on telemedicine in diabetes management. Telemedicine and Diabetes Management The management of diabetes and its associated complications is quite costly. Targeted glycaemic control is necessary for minimising the complications of this chronic condition. Conversely, less than 70% of individuals with diabetes are attaining targeted glycaemic control, showing that effective management of the disease continues to be a challenge (Fatehi et al., 2014a). Patients in rural areas are unable to attain targeted glycaemic control partly because of poor access to specialised healthcare providers. Because of the increasing need for quality healthcare and the declining availability of clinicians, information and communications technologies have demonstrated the potential for improving access to healthcare services and reducing the costs of delivering healthcare (Fatehi et al., 2014a). Telemedicine involves providing health and medical services remotely using ICT. Telemedicine facilitates the expansion of healthcare by bridging the physical gap between consumers and healthcare providers thus reducing costs. Synchronous telemedicine entails consumers and healthcare providers interacting in real time by relying on communication technologies. For instance, video conferencing, where there is exchange of image and voice in real time, is increasingly becoming popular in telemedicine in the delivery of various healthcare and clinical services at a distance (Fatehi et al., 2014b). Verhoeven et al. (2010) systematically reviewed asynchronous and synchronous teleconsultations in diabetes and reported that these offer a reliable, cost-effective, and feasible solution for the delivery of diabetes care. Video conferencing is used in collaborative goal setting, nutrition counselling, self-management training, and diabetes education for patients (Siriwardena et al., 2012). According to Faruque et al. (2016), telemedicine is helpful in the provision of care t o individuals with diabetes especially those in rural areas who are unable to travel to healthcare facilities due to large distances. Therefore, telemedicine, especially teleconference, is a technological solution for managing diabetes for individuals in rural areas who are underserved by specialists. The next section explains the methodology used to obtain stakeholders’ views on the adoption and use of teleconferencing for diabetes management. Methodology This report collected data using interviews to understand the implementation of telemedicine for expanding access to healthcare services for people with diabetes in rural areas. The report included the views of various perspectives including patients, healthcare providers at the hospital, and in the rural areas to understand the adoption and implementation of this information system. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with these stakeholders in locations and time that were convenient for the stakeholders. The interview was based on the interview schedule found in Appendix 1. These interviews were digitally recorded followed by verbatim transcription. After transcription, the interviews were analysed using coding (Vaismoradi et al., 2016). The coding led to the identification of various thematic categories including the strategic intent of adoption of telemedicine, benefits of telemedicine, and challenges during implementation as explained in the section below. Findings and discussion Strategic intent of implementation of telemedicine The telemedicine intervention was adopted by the hospital after it was discovered that some of the patients from the rural areas were not coming for the follow- up appointments to get information on ongoing management of their diabetes. An endocrinologist at the hospital stated that: I noticed that some of my patients were not coming for their appointments†¦ I looked at their records and realised that they were unable to do so because they came from rural areas. Therefore, we had to find a way of ensuring they got the much-needed information and support to manage diabetes at home The hospital identified the need for providing cost-effective care for their diabetes patients in rural areas who were unable to access specialised care in their communities. The hospital considered the adoption of telemedicine as a way of providing quality care while minimising unnecessary patient admissions due to diabetes complications. Thus, this was a critical component of the hospital’s strategic intent. According to Coltman et al. (2015), having a strategic intent involves the allocation of resources and engaging in activities to assist in achieving their objectives. In line with this, the stakeholders at the hospital had to consider how the telemedicine program will improve access to healthcare for patients with diabetes in a cost-effective manner. The CEO of the hospital said that: We recognised that the telemedicine would provide us with an opportunity for providing the required care to our patients†¦ However, we had to consider the overhead costs to set-up the telemedicine infrastructure both on our side and the rural side. Additional funding was required for this initiative. The implication of this is that the hospital had to set aside funds for the telemedicine infrastructure and this entailed working with managers from the finance and IT departments. The manager from the IT department determined the costs of using telemedicine intervention in terms of initial costs and ongoing upgrades to achieve a sustainable system. The IT manager identified a cost-effective technological solution provider for the information systems that was required for the provision of diabetes care and support to patients from rural areas. The manager from the finance department and the CEO worked together in determining how to get the funding for this initiative. The initiative was funded using funds from the hospital’s contingency budget. Furthermore, the CEO of the hospital had to talk with administrators and nurses, and pharmacists in the rural areas to participate in the project as they critical to its success. This is captured in this statement â€Å"we realised th at we needed professionals on the ground to provide some aspects of the care. We approached healthcare providers to get their buy-in into this initiative’’ (hospital’s CEO). Therefore, the strategic intent of the hospital in the implementation and use of video-conferencing in reaching individuals with diabetes in rural areas and providing them with the necessary care reflects a strategic alignment between IT and business, particularly, strategy execution. Specifically, the hospital adopted a strategy execution alignment where the business strategy influenced the IT infrastructure, but this was constrained by the business infrastructure (Gerow et al., 2014). In other words, the hospital’s business strategy was to provide quality care in a cost-effective way to individuals with diabetes in rural areas. In turn, this strategy influenced the IT infrastructure in terms of the kind of technological solution required to meet the business strategy. Therefore, the hospital ended up selecting videoconferencing as the appropriate IT infrastructure. However, this was constrained by the hospital’s business infrastructure in terms of skills and processe s in the provision of diabetes care and support to individuals in rural areas. The telemedicine initiative involved using interactive video-conferencing between a multidisciplinary diabetes care team from the hospital and the patients in the rural homes. The multidisciplinary team consisted of diabetes specialists including diabetes education experts, nurses, endocrinologist, and ophthalmologist who provided personalised care to diabetes patients based on their clinical status. The patients were provided with tablets that allowed them to engage in video conferences with the multidisciplinary team on a daily basis. The patients shared with the specialists about their psychological, emotional, and physical health during the interactive video conferences. Furthermore, the patients’ health data including glucose levels, blood pressure, and weight were automatically captured by the tablets and transmitted on a daily basis to the clinicians. The outcomes of the consultation between the specialists and the patient were then communicated to the physician in the rural area to facilitate care coordination. According to a local physician, â€Å"the implementation of this initiative required a change in how care was delivered to individuals with diabetes†¦the hospital’s care team got in touch with me and communicated their daily consultations with patients to ensure that I was prepared to provide the necessary care at the local level†. This approach to the implementation of video-conferencing reflects strategic information systems planning to achieve alignment between the business and IT. In particular, this planning was characterised by the identification of the required IT applications together with the necessary change management, resources, and infrastructure for implementing the technological solution (Maharaj & Brown, 2015).Benefits of telemedicineThe diabetes specialists were positive on the potentiality of video-conferencing in enhancing and expanding access to diabetes services to individuals in rural areas to prom ote self-management of the disease. A diabetes education expert said that: This technology increased my ability to provide education on exercise and diet modifications to my patients by talking to them via the video-conference, and this has empowered our patients to manage their diabetes in their homes. Patients were enthusiastic that the telemedicine would support the clinical needs even though they had no or limited experiencing in using video-conferencing. Some of the patients stated that: I didn’t have experience when it comes to telemedicine. But, I knew that it would be benefit me by providingwith ongoing support and information for diabetes management at home (patient 1) I had never used video conference before, but it provided me a way to talk with the physician and get timely advice and guidance on managing my diabetes (patient 2) In recognition of the limited experience that patients had in video-conferencing, the hospital’s IT department together with the external technological solution provider offered the required training. According to the IT manager at the technological solution provider: We collaborated with the hospital’s IT department in sending out individuals to provide training to the patients. The patients were taught on how to use the video conference system and provided with the necessary equipment. The stakeholders highlighted the benefits of video-conferencing for diabetes management for the patients in the rural areas. The statements below capture some of the stakeholders’ perspectives. During the video-conferences, we used the daily clinical status reports of the patient, and we were able to discuss appropriate interventions to implement with the patient. This benefitted the patients because they got personalised interventions, information, and support (Hospital endocrinologist). I got e-prescriptions from the healthcare team, and when the patients picked their medications, I talked to them about complying with their medications. By collaboratively working with the healthcare team, the quality of care of patients improved in terms of medication compliance (Rural Pharmacist) The use of video conference has contributed to preventing unavoidable admissions for diabetes for these patients. The daily support and education they got from us has improved care coordination and connections between the patients and us to minimise the use of emergency departments (Hospital ophthalmologist) A few months after the implementation of this project, we had seen a reduction in the admission of patients with diabetes in our area (Rural physician) I had problems before in controlling my diabetes because I did not have access to the kind of doctors who provide the necessary care†¦ but this changed with the daily video conferences (Patient 3) I am satisfied with information and guidance I get from the consultations with the doctors each day in managing my diabetes. I no longer need to travel to the hospital to get the care I need (Patient 4) The stakeholders’ perspectives highlight the impact of teleconferencing on the delivery of healthcare services to diabetes patients in rural areas. These perspectives have received support in literature. For instance, patient satisfaction is highlighted in the study by Fatehi et al. (2015) in an assessment of patient satisfaction levels with remote consultations for diabetes via video conference in a virtual outreach clinic using a cross-sectional survey. The results revealed that the patients were generally satisfied with remote consultation as they had no problem with building rapport with the clinical specialists over video conferences (Fatehi et al., 2015). Furthermore, the positive impact of telemedicine on the management of diabetes has been shown in the literature. Specifically, Huang and colleagues (2015) carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials on the impacts of telecare intervention on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes. I t was demonstrated that patient monitoring by telecare demonstrated significant improvement in glycaemic control in comparison with patients monitored by routine follow-up (Huang et al., 2015). Weinstock et al. (2011) also found that improvement in glycaemic control related to telemedicine was sustained over a period of five years among medically underserved patients with diabetes. In their randomized controlled trial, Steventon et al. (2014) discovered that telemedicine led to modest improvements in glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes over 12 months. Self-management as a critical aspect of diabetes management in telemedicine has been investigated by Young et al.(2014) who focused on the effect of person-centred health behaviour coaching model delivered through telehealth with patients with diabetes living in underserved, rural communities was assessed. The results showed that the interventions led to significantly higher scores in self-efficacy, which supported self-management of the disease (Young et al., 2014). According to Steventon et al. (2014), the greater self-care and oversight related to telemedicine might lead to fewer unplanned hospital admissions.Challenges during implementationImplementation of the technological solution was accompanied by some challenges. One of the major challenge identified by the stakeholders was unanticipated technical issues. This is explained by the IT manager at the hospital: Sometimes the video conferences failed because of a drop in the internet connection. This meant that the encounter could not take place. When this occurred, communication occurred via cell phones to address important issues. The technical issues had a negative impact on the interactions between the patients and diabetes care team. According to the endocrinologist, Sometimes in the middle of the video-conference, the connection dropped. I could wait till past the time I had allocated for that specific consultation. Mostly, by the time the connection was up again, I would be consulting with a different patient at the hospital, and I missed my encounter with the patient in the rural area. In those cases, I worked with the rural nurses via a cell phone to communicate important information about the patient. Technical difficulties in teleconference are due to problems with accessing broadband in rural areas, which is still lagging behind urban areas. Patients’ homes might lack high-speed cable internet that has more bandwidth capabilities and a highly reliable signal, and this causes connection problems during video conferencing (Batsis, Pletcher & Stahl, 2017). Schulz et al. (2014) reported in their study that 25% of all video conferences consultations experienced a drop in internet connection. Consequently, it is suggested that unanticipated technical issues with implementing teleconferencing should be anticipated and this highlights the importance of providing strong IT support with ongoing updates in protocols for patients in rural areas (Slusser et al., 2016). Another challenge reported was issues with reimbursements. This was identified by the finance manager at the urban hospital. She said that: I had problems with suitable billing of encounters between the patients and the doctors and capturing this. Sometimes, I billed an encounter, but the insurer failed to pay or took longer to do so. I had to go through convincing them [insurers] that the consultation actually occurred by talking with the patient and pharmacists or nurses in the rural areas for confirmation. One of the patients also talked about this issue by stating that, â€Å"after talking with the doctors on the video conference they tell you to pick up the drugs at your pharmacy and when you get there, you are told there are problems with your insurer in terms of payment. I had to call my insurer to follow up and address this issue’’ (patient 5). According to Batsis et al. (2017), low reimbursement is a problem for the lasting sustainability of telemedicine systems in a fee-for-service model. This problem is due to limitations that are placed on the type of telemedicine covered by health insurers. Conclusion In conclusion, this report has focused on the strategic information systems in expanding the health service in rural areas. This has been achieved by examining the implementation of video-conferencing between individuals with diabetes and diabetes specialists in the provision of diabetes care to patients in rural areas. This report has highlighted how the hospital ensured alignment between its business strategy of providing cost-effective diabetes care to individuals with diabetes in rural areas and the use of the video-conferencing as its IT infrastructure. The hospital had to plan for its strategic information systems by identifying the appropriate IT infrastructure, processes, and changes to how care was delivered to the targeted population in rural areas. The analysis revealed how the implementation of video-conferencing addressed the interests of the different stakeholders including the hospital, diabetes specialist care team from the hospital, the patients, and healthcare pro viders at the local level. Thus, the implementation of this technological solution was beneficial to all the stakeholders. Overall, this report highlights how strategic information systems are vital in the expansion of health service in rural areas. References Arvidsson, V., Holmstrom, J., & Lyytinen, K. (2014). Information systems use as strategy practice: a multidimensional view of strategic information system implementation and use. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 23, 45-61. Batsis, J., Pletcher, S., & Stahl, J. (2017). Telemedicine and primary care obesity management in rural areas-innovative approach for older adultsBMC Geriatrics, 1-9. Bharadwaj, A., El Sawy, O., Pavlou, P., & Venkatraman, N. (2013). Digital business strategy: toward a next generation of insights. MIS Quarterly, 37(2), 471-82. Coltman, T., Talon, P., Sharma, R., & Queiroz, M. (2015) Strategic IT alignment: twenty-five years on, Journal of Information Technology, 1-10. Faruque, L., Wiebe, N., Ehteshami-Afshar, A., Liu, Y., Dianati-Maleki, N., Hemmelgarn, B., Manns, B., & Tonelli, M. (2016). Effect of telemedicine on gylcated haemoglobin in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. CMAJ, 1-25. Fatehi, F., Armfield, N., Dimitrijevic, M., & Gray, L. (2014b). Clinical applications of videoconferencing: a scoping review of the literature for the period 2002-2012. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 20(7), 377-83. Fatehi, F., Martin-Khan, M., Gray, L., & Russell, A. (2014a). Design of a randomized, non-inferiority trial to evaluate the reliability of videoconferencing for remote consultations of diabetes. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 1-7. Fatehi, F., Martin-Khan, M., Smith, A., Russell, A., & Gray, L. (2015). Patient satisfaction with video teleconsultation in a virtual diabetes outreach clinic. Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, 17(1), 1-6. Gerow, J., Thatcher, J., & Grower, V (2014). Six types of IT-business strategic alignment: an investigation of the constructs and their measurement. European Journal of Information Systems, 1-27. Huang, Z., Tao, H., Meng, Q., & Jing, L. (2015). Effects of telecare intervention on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. European Journal of Endocrinology, 172, R93-R101. Maharaj, S., & Brown, I. (2015). The impact of shared domain knowledge on strategic information systems planning and alignment. South African Journal of Information Management, 17(1), 1-12. Schulz, T., Richards, M., Gasko, H., Lohrey, J., Hibbert, M., & Biggs, B. (2014). Telehealth: experience of the first 120 consultations delivered from a new refugee telehealth clinic. Internal Medicine Journal, 44(10), 981-5. Siriwardena, L., Wickramasinghe, W., Perera, K., Marasinghe, R., Katulanda, P., & Hewpathirana, R. (2012). A review of telemedicine interventions in diabetes care. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 18(3), 164-68. Slusser, W., Whitley, M., Izadpanah, N., Kim, S., & Ponturo, D. (2016). Multidisciplinary paediatric obesity clinic via telemedicine with thin the Los Angeles metropolitan area: lessons learned. Clinical Paediatrics, 55(3), 251-9. Steventon, A., Barsley, M., Doll, H., Tuckey, E., & Newman, P. (2014). Effect of telehealth on glycaemic control: analysis of patients with type 2 diabetes in the Whole Systems Demonstrator cluster randomized trial. BMC Health Services Research, 1-12. Vaismoradi, M., Jones, J., Turunen, H., & Snelgrove, S. (2016). Theme development in qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 6(5), 100-110. Verhoeven, F., Tanja-Dijkstra, K., Nijland, N., Eysenbach, G., & Van Gemert-Pijnen, L. (2010). Asynchronous and synchronous teleconsultation for diabetes care: a systematic review. Journal of Diabetes and Science Technology, 4(3), pp.66-84. Weinstock, R., Teresi, J., Goland, R., Izquierdo, R., Palmas, W., Eimicke, J., Ebner, S., & Shea, S. (2011). Glycaemic control and health disparities in older ethnically diverse underserved adults with diabetes: five year results from the Informatics for Diabetes Education and Telemedicine (IDETel) study. Diabetes Care, 34, 274-9. Yayla, A., & Hu, Q. (2012). The impact of IT-business strategic alignment on firm performance in a developing country setting: exploring moderating roles of environmental uncertainty and strategic orientation. European Journal of Information Systems, 21(4), 373-87. Young, H., Miyamoto, S., Ward, D., Dharmar, M., Tang-Feldman, Y., & Berglund, L. (2014). Sustained effects of a nurse coaching intervention via telehealth to improve health behaviour change in diabetes. Telemedicine and E-Health, 828-34. Appendix 1: Interview Schedule Please explain why the hospital decided to implement videoconferencing in providing diabetes care to individuals in rural areas What was involved in the planning for the implementation of the technological solution Did the hospital work with external stakeholders in the implementation process How did the implementation of the technological solution affect the aims of the hospital and its specialist clinicians How has the use of videoconference affected your (patient) access to diabetes care Were there any challenges that were experienced during this processIf so, which ones To obtain answers to these questions and/or get a Custom Essay for you research, feel free to reach out to us and place an order today.