Nurse-to-patient Ratio Staffing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Nurse-to-patient Ratio Staffing - Research Paper Example Legally mandated nurse to patient ratios is a controversial topic in healthcare. In this profession, there are state laws that require a certain level of staffing for each particular unit. Hospitals must balance their revenues with expenditures and patients and nurses are affected by these decisions. Mandating ratios is one attempt to ensure that a nurse workload does not exceed the needed level for adequate patient care (Conway, 2008). However, these essential ratios are not without consequences. Ratio advocates argue that fewer staffing levels are appropriate for patient care, better working conditions and higher rates of nurse retention. Those who oppose, claim that ratios will affect hospital budgets and reduce management flexibility in addressing patient’s needs.The paper will research the problem in both sides, having arguments opposed and in support of mandatory ratios. I will use survey data, interviews and original research to support both sides.Nurses have an integra l role in the systems of health care. State-mandated safe-staffing ratios will be important to ensure both patient and nurse safety. Adequate staffing is a way to nurse retention and patient care while lack of staffing can endanger patients and can pull the nurses away from their profession (ANA, 2011). However, staffing can also increase budgets and affect the management flexibility in dealing with patient's problems. Does the nurse to patient staffing ratios affect the hospital performance positively or negatively?

Decoding Apples Balance Sheet Apa Format Essay Example for Free

Decoding Apples Balance Sheet Apa Format Essay Decoding Apples Balance Sheet In March of 2009, Apple had its best March quarter revenue and earnings in Apple history (Apple). In order to see how this occurred, it is important to look over the financial statements of Apple. There is a lot of information available to investors who are interested in investing in a company. By looking specifically at the balance sheet of Apple I am going to determine if investing in Apple is a good idea or a bad idea. Some things I am going to consider are Apple’s assets, liabilities, and shareholder’s equity. These areas should give me insight to how the best quarter in Apple history came to be. Looking at the current assets of Apple, cash and cash equivalents went down from 11. 8 billion dollars to 4. 4 billion dollars. This may look bad at first, but all of the other assets must be added to this in order to get an overall picture of the assets. Short-term marketable securities went up from 10. 2 billion dollars to 20. 5 billion dollars. This helped Apple’s assets grow tremendously. Accounts receivable fell to 1. 9 billion dollars from 2. 4 billion dollars. With the rest of the current assets figured in, inventories, deferred tax assets, and other current assets, the total current assets rose to 33. billion dollars from 32. 3 billion dollars. That was a rise of 1. 5 billion dollars (Apple). It is important to take into account the rest of the assets. For example, long-term marketable securities rose 1. 5 billion dollars, property, plant and equipment rose 0. 91 billion dollars, goodwill stayed the same, acquired intangible assets fell 0. 017 billion dollars, and othe r assets rose 0. 56 billion dollars. Now that we know how each asset was affected during this quarter, we come to the final numbers, which are total assets rose 3. 6 billion dollars. Apple grew its assets substantially during this quarter. I would think Apple would be a good company to invest in. Before I made any decisions I would investigate the balance sheet further in order to compare liabilities and shareholder’s equity with the previous quarter. This will give me a better understanding of the financial situation of the company (Apple). Current liabilities are in the first section of liabilities and shareholder’s equity. The following accounts are current liabilities and how they fared. Accounts payable went down from 5. 5 billion dollars to 3. 9 billion dollars. Accrued expenses went down 1 billion dollars. Deferred revenue went up from 4. 8 billion dollars to 7 billion dollars. The total change in current liabilities was a decrease of 0. 4 billion dollars. The other two liabilities categories, deferred revenue (non-current) and other non-current liabilities, rose collectively 0. 7 billion dollars. This gives the total liabilities a rise of 0. 3 billion dollars. This amount compared to current assets is not as significant. So far Apple is still looking like a good investment because the assets of Apple rose 1. 5 billion dollars whereas their liabilities only rose 0. 4 billion dollars. It is now time to take a look at the final category of the balance sheet, the shareholder’s equity (Apple). The value of shareholders equity, common stock, rose from 7. 1 billion dollars to 7. 6 billion dollars. Retained earnings also rose; it rose from 13. 8 billion dollars to 16. 6 billion dollars. Accumulated other comprehensive income rose . 07 billion dollars. Total shareholder’s equity rose 3. 3 billion dollars. So adding together the rise of 0. 4 billion dollars in liabilities with the 3. 3 billion dollar rise of the shareholder’s equity, we get the same amount, 3. 7 billion dollars, as we got for the rise in total assets.

The Age of Reformation Essay -- essays research papers

The Age of Reformation The Age of Reformation - religious revolution in Western Europe in the 16th cent. Beginning as a reform movement within the Roman Catholic Church, the Reformation ultimately led to freedom of dissent. The preparation for the movement was long and there had been earlier calls for reform, e.g., by John WYCLIF and John HUSS. Desire for change within the church was increased by the RENAISSANCE, with its study of ancient texts and emphasis on the individual. Other factors that aided the movement were the invention of printing, the rise of commerce and a middle class, and political conflicts between German princes and the Holy Roman emperor. The Reformation began suddenly when Martin LUTHER posted 95 theses on the church door at Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. Open attack on the doctrines and authority of the church followed and led to Luther's breach with the church (1520), which the Diet of Worms (1521) failed to heal. His doctrine was of justification by faith alone instead of by sacram ents, good works, and meditation, and it placed a person in direct communication with God. Luther's insistence on reading the Bible placed on the individual a greater responsibility for his own salvation. The new church spread in Germany and Scandinavia, especially among princes and people who hoped for a greater degree of freedom. The conflict between the Lutherans and the Catholic Emperor CHARLES V was long and bitter. A temporary settlement was reached at the Peace of Augsburg (1555), but continued discord contributed later to the THIRTY YEARS WAR. Outside Germany, a different type of dissent developed under Huldreich ZWINGLI in Zurich, and within Protestantism differences arose, such as doctrinal arguments on the Lord's Supper. These were debated, inconclusively, at the Colloquy of Marburg (1529) by Luther and Philip MELANCHTHON on one side and Zwingli and Johannes Oecolampadius on the other. More radical ideas were spread, particularly among the lower classes, by such leaders a s CARLSTADT, Thomas MUNZER, and JOHN OF LEIDEN. In 1536 Geneva became the center for the teachings of John CALVIN, perhaps the greatest theologian of Protestantism. In France the HUGUENOTS, fired by Calvin's doctrine, resisted the Catholic majority in the Wars of RELIGION (1562-98). Calvinism superseded Lutheranism in the Netherlands, and it spread to Scotland through the eff... ...ermany and Switzerland, but his views, particularly about the TRINITY, were condemned by both Roman Catholics and Protestants. He fled to France, where he gained fame in medicine. After he had a work on theology secretly printed (1553), the INQUISITION moved against him. He escaped from prison, but he was seized in Geneva, on John Calvin’s order, and tried and burned there. Peace of Augsburg - September 1555- made the division of Christendom permanent. This agreement recognized a law that had already been well established and in practice: cuius regio, eius religio, meaning that the ruler of the land would determine the religion of the land. Mary I – ( r. 1553-1558) became Queen of England- procceded to restore Catholic doctrine and practice with a singlemindedness that rivaled that of her father. Bernini's Ecstasy of St. Theresa - Bernini (1598-1680) Italian sculptor and architect, the dominant figure of the Italian BAROQUE. His Roman works include the Churches of Santa Maria della Vittoria which houses his great sculpture the Ecstasy of St. Theresa. The "Black Legend" - (Bartolome de Las Casas) portrayed all Spanish treatment to Indians as unprincipled and inhumane.

Black Women in Sports: Sexuality and Athleticism Essay -- Expository E

Black Women in Sports: Sexuality and Athleticism Men and women who chose to engage in sports from which they would traditionally be discouraged because of their gender, particularly as professionals, redefine the sport. The social and cultural "costs" are not the result of the individual's participation, but rather the way in which sports have been socially, politically, and economically constructed. Gender is only one of the few ways in which people are categorized according to their proficiency for some athletic activities. Race and class are also factors which may prevent individuals from engaging in sports that have been traditionally excluded to them. Socially constructed notions of race, class, and sexuality compound the way in which the history of sports has developed. For example, black women athletes may be more accepted in certain sports than in others, i.e. black women in the WNBA might seem as less an anomaly for black women than for white women, and yet the success of the Williams sisters in tennis may seem more out of the ordinary for many Americans than the success of their white counterparts. Race, class, sex, and sexuality are the operative notions in which certain sports are less "traditional" for certain groups. Black women have a long history with such sports and track and field. Tuskegee Institute (later Tuskegee State University) led the nation as powerhouses for the production of Olympic competitors from the fifties to the seventies. Despite the relative lack of funding received by these schools as compared to white schools in Jim Crow Alabama, their track and field programs flourished. Perhaps this is because track and field did not require expensive equipment to train and play. While white schools... ...more free to develop their game plans rather than their outfits before the match, but hopefully their sexuality will not be completely submerged by the game either. In an article entitled, "Absent Anna Has Sexy Impact," it was noted, "Serena Williams has no problems with Kournikova's beauty bringing a tennis boost even if the subject herself cannot take a title....The majority of the credit pretty much goes to the Williams sisters and Kournikova. Those three have really made the biggest difference in the amount of publicity, the amount of popularity in the sport." Hopefully, there will come a time in women's sports when all women will be recognized for their superior athleticism, and the unique sexuality of each individual female athlete will be appreciated for how it transforms, challenges, and redefines the social, political, and intellectual dimensions of sport.

Edward Marshall Boehm, Inc Essay

Edward Marshall Boehm, Inc. is a company that produces unique and high quality porcelain products mainly focusing on birds, flowers, and wildlife. The objective of the company is to raise awareness of Mr. Boehm’s artist talent, create appreciation and protection for threatened and vanishing species. Meanwhile, Mr. Boehm wants to build a business that could make them wealthy. There are two main problems facing by the company. First, the process of making these porcelain products is complicated and required elaborate technical skills, the company does not have enough skilled staffs and producing power to meet the demand from the market. Second, the company lacks of enough distribution channels to raise awareness of its brand and the uniqueness of its products. At the current stage, the company has three series of porcelain in its product lines, which are priced from $100 to over $20,000. Each piece of porcelain sculpture requires a 52-step process. Some of products are sold out for years in advance, and it is difficult to anticipate which pieces might achieve this distinction. In addition, the company has only one distributor, Minton China, to distribute its products to some 175 retail outlets in the United States. The company can try to reduce costs by using other materials at a lower cost, developing a faster production process, but the bottom line is since the most competitive advantage of the company is the uniqueness and high quality of the product, the company should preserve its quality instead of using cheaper materials or faster production time that may violates the value of its products. In order to continue the business in the long run, the company should adapt the following changes. First, the company should hire more staffs and train them to produce the products in order to increase production of lower priced products. Meanwhile, it should find more distributors to raise awareness of the company, and supply them only with the lower priced products. Second, the company can open its own local stores that provide medium and high price range products. In addition, as for the most valuable piece, the company should put it on auctions that mainly focus on customers like museums and private collectors. Case 2 – Edward Marshall Boehm, Inc. 1. Analyze the firms goals and objectives Goal: Make the world aware of Mr. Boehm’s artistic talent, to help world wildlife causes by creating appreciation and protection for threatened species, and to build a continuing business that could make them comfortably wealthy, perhaps millionaires. No one goal has grater precedence over the others. Strategic objective: The case does not tell a lot about strategic objectives that are specific and cover a well-defined time frame. 2. Analyze the external environment The case does not talk a lot about the external environment, but it could be very useful for Boehm to make an analyze of the general environment (demographic, sociocultural, political/legal, technological, economic and global.). Also the competitive environment is very important. That kind of information will give them a better opportunity to make a good firm strategy. 3. Analyze the internal environment What is adding value to the firm?: The company’s big knowledge about have to make porcelain that is very technical as well as artistic challenge to make. 4. Assess the firms intellectual assets Human Capital: Edward Marshall Boehm is the man behind the porcelain. He has the knowledge to make it and the love to the nature which inspires him in his work. This and the special hard paste porcelain make the company unique and give the company a big competitive advantage. The company should be aware of not only having tacit knowledge where Edward Marshall Boehm have all the knowledge but instead share the knowledge in the company. 5. Analyze the business level strategy Competitive strategy: The company follows the competitive strategy called focus (differentiation) because they sell to a particular segment only and not the whole industry. They are also selling a unique product.

School Choice essays

School Choice essays School Choice: What Choice is there? Public schools are grossly inefficient, and are not adequately educating many of America's youths. Schools that are run independent from local government bureaucracy provide better education at lower cost. School choice would allow more students to attend better schools. School choice is a potent educational reform that is far more effective than increased spending. The fears of opponents of school choice are factually unfounded. School choice is necessary to improve American education. Through allowing more parental choice in education, school choice forces education into a free market environment. As it is now, parents send children to the nearest school, assigned to them by the school district. If a family is wealthy enough and chooses to do so, parents can send children to private schools. However, this family then pays twice for one education. They still pay their taxes, and they pay the tuition for the private school. Under a school choice plan, any parent who decides to send their child to a private school will receive a scholarship from the government, redeemable for tuition at scholarship accepting private schools. The scholarship dollar amount is far below that of the average cost per student per year at public schools, but would allow millions of parents who cannot presently afford private tuition to do so. If a school performed poorly, parents would choose to remove their children, and then send to them to better schools. If a school began losing all its students, and therefore all its funding, the school would desire to improve. Under the current system, government schools get your money whether they are doing a good job or not. Milton Friedman was one of the first people to propose a school choice plan. Since he did so over a quarter century ago, support has expanded rapidly. However, few plans for school choice have actually been enacted. The city of Milwaukee enacted a progr...

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Biography

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Biography Free Online Research Papers Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the most influential leaders of the Nineteenth Century Feminist movement, was one of the most famous women of her day and a seemingly tireless force in reform. Her very beginnings as a young girl growing up in Johnstown, New York contributed to this endless sense of determination. Fortunate to be born into an affluent political family, her horizons were forever broadened by the vast amount of subjects she was able to study independently in her family’s home and at a women’s seminary. Furthermore, her encounters with fugitive slaves and the Quaker movement forever changed her life. Even after her marriage to abolitionist Henry Stanton, and raising 7 children, she was still very much involved in the fight for the rights of not only women, but of slaves and of the poor. Her meeting with fellow suffragette Susan B. Anthony sealed her fate, and the two women became the best of friends and worked together closely for the next 50 years. The history of our country has, in part, been one of struggle to achieve justice and rights for all Americans. Stanton worked along with her fellow suffragettes to obtain justice and rights for women, not only in public life, but within the home is well. Interestingly enough, Stanton not only strove for equality for her gender but for the ending of slavery as well. Upon further reading, I found that many of the sympathetic abolitionists in Stanton’s day, were strangely enough, quite ignorant of the same injustices that women faced. Stanton wrote in her autobiography, â€Å"Eighty Years and More,† â€Å"It struck me as very remarkable that abolitionists, who felt so keenly the wrongs of the slave, should be so oblivious to the equal wrongs of their own mothers, wives, and sisters, when, according to the common law, both classes occupied a similar legal status.† These ‘wrongs’ covered more than not being allowed to vote. Women were limited in many aspects of their lives, including . They were not allowed to hold property in their name, obtain a divorce, could neither buy nor sell, no right to their own earnings, make contracts or own anything, and had no right to even their own children. In her writings and speeches, she even went as far as to compare the plight of the ‘Negro’ with that of the ‘woman† in her Address to the New York State Legislature in 1860. What interested me immensely is that Stanton pointed to the Bible as the primary source of the many injustices that her gender and African Americans faced. Ms. Stanton held that suffrage for women would be pointless if religion still controlled their sex in the home and in society. She wrote, â€Å"When women understand that governments and religions are human inventions; that bibles, prayer-books, catechisms, and encyclical letters are all emanations from the brains of man, they will no longer be oppressed by the injunctions that come to them with the divine authority of ‘Thus sayeth the Lord.’† Stanton found the Bible so archaic and irrelative to her time, that she and a group of other women went to the point of writing her own Bible, â€Å"The Woman’s Bible,† which of course, had the effect of starting a great controversy of sorts among her own supporters. She stated that both Paul and Jesus Christ, two of the main figures of the New Testament were both celibate and unmarried, and â€Å"condemned marriage by both precept and example.† Another aspect of Stanton’s views that piqued my interest and was is her implication that the ‘white male’ has been overburdened or more specifically, over ‘granted’ too many rights. I agree with her in the aspect that man should not be able to determine the fates of anyone but themselves. She also held true that woman as a gender had never asked or begged of man to represent them and hold control over their lives, and that women were indeed self-supplicant and could show evidence of such if given a chance. Though Stanton worked a very ‘behind the scenes role’ she was able to still play a vital role in the women’s rights movement, and penned many of the documents and writings that Anthony delivered. Stanton, along with others, was able to bring to fruition the first woman’s rights convention in the United States, co-authored the Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States, but unfortunately, never lived to see her life’s mission fully achieved. The woman’s right to vote was instituted into this country’s constitution some 10 – 20 odd years after she passed away. However, her efforts were not in vain, and she is still seen as one of the most influential people in the long and weary road towards equal rights for women not0. only in the United States, but also all over the world. Research Papers on Elizabeth Cady Stanton Biography19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Fifth HorsemanInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHip-Hop is ArtCapital PunishmentAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe

Sociologist Max Weber essays

Sociologist Max Weber essays There were so many social historians years ago that contributed to the development of todays world. Each and everyone is still remembered today for their greatness so many years back. One of these historians was Max Weber. He not only was a social historian but also an economist. He was mostly known for his organized way of approaching world history and how he helped develop Western Civilization. He was also considered as one of the first of modern sociological thinkers. Most of his work was based around capitalism since he dealt with the economy. His most famous work was Is The Protestant Work Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Thanks to his work efforts, sociology was recognized in the early twentieth century even though his work wasnt given the full credit he deserved until he passed away. Max Weber was born on April 21, 1864 and grew up in his birth town of Erfurt, Germany. His family had a few children but two of his siblings passed away. Max himself was diagnosed with a men tal decease that he later overcame. He was the eldest son in his family. His father was a liberal politician who was also successful in the linen business. Money for his family was never a problem. Max Weber grew up around his fathers friends who were into politics mainly. He enrolled in the University of Heidelberg in Berlin in 1882 to study legal and economic history. He did however have to put his education on hold in order to complete his military service at Strasbourg for a few years, but he returned home and completed his education. He spent his early twenties working for the University of Berlin, the jobs werent his idea of a life and didnt pay enough for him to out from his familys home. He left home to live on his own in the year 1893 and married Marianne Schnitger. She was his second cousin. He passed away in 1920 in Germany at the age of fifty-six. Once he was settled down he began to achie...

Discuss the role of wisdom in true virtue according to Meno and the Essay

Discuss the role of wisdom in true virtue according to Meno and the Phaedo - Essay Example d therefore she abstains from bodily pleasures-not from a desire of having more or greater ones, but because she knows that only when calm and free from the dominion of the body can she behold the light of truth.† (Plato (b)10) A unique concept of good and evil is put forward in Phaedo. The author discounts courageous acts if they are performed to avoid bigger dangers. Similarly, author plays down temperate behavior if there is an accompanying desire to achieve sensual pleasures because of such temperance (Plato (b) 7). Phaedo propagates the idea of life beyond death by distinguishing between body and soul and how virtues applied wisely can lead to liberation of soul. In Meno, Socrates is referred pondering over the question what can be considered the goods of the soul. According to Socrates, they are ‘temperance,’ ‘justice,’ ‘courage,’ ‘quickness of apprehension,’ ‘memory,’ ‘magnanimity’, and the lik e. Interesting to note is the observation that such good qualities are not knowledge, but of ‘another sort’. They are sometimes ‘profitable’ and sometimes ‘hurtful’. Socrates says that when a man has no sense he is hurt by courage, and when man applies courage with sense, he is profited. Socrates opines that the same logic of applying sense can be stretched to other good qualities like ‘temperance’ and ‘quickness of apprehension’. Socrates remarks that activities learned or done with the application of sense are ‘profitable,’ without sense are ‘hurtful.’ (Plato (a) 37) Socrates holds forth that all efforts and endurance under the supervision of wisdom have a happy ending and under the influence of folly, the opposite. Taking forward his argument, Socrates examines that if ‘virtue’ is a characteristic of soul and is... In Phaedo, it is contended that when alive, the soul should try to control pleasures related with the sense organs and body in which it is rebuked to be animate and from which it seeks to liberate itself.Phaedo makes distinction between souls that are not liberated. Some who are used to ‘violence’ and ‘extreme sensuality’ takes the form of likes of an ‘ass’ or’ wolf.’ However, for someone seeking liberation, even such gentle forms making eligible for some earthly happiness is not acceptable.A unique concept of good and evil is put forward in Phaedo. The author discounts courageous acts if they are performed to avoid bigger dangers. Socrates in Meno contends that after deep thought, he has come to a believe there are perhaps no teachers of virtue. According to Socrates those who want to learn any skill takes course to a teacher who is expert in that field. If one wants to learn flute playing, one takes recourse to a teacher who is expert in flute playing. In Meno, it is argued that true opinion is as good a model to rectify action as knowledge. Socrates makes a distinction between knowledge and opinion by giving an example that if someone knows the location of Larisa and leads other people to Larisa, then he is a good guide.Also, if a person has a right judgment about the means, but had never been to Larisa (the destination to be reached) should also be a good guide.

Traditional Circus vs Contemporary Circus Essay

Traditional Circus vs Contemporary Circus - Essay Example The origins of contemporary circus (or "cirque nouveau") can be found in 70s. In this circus a separate story is told to the audience in a chain of different small performances, unlike a traditional circus, where no separate story was told. This new movement has not theoretical background and there is no a clear intention to be separated from a traditional circus. The main aim was to position a contemporary circus as a kind of incarnation from a traditional circus. For example, there is no total abandonment of the use of animals during performances, because animals are poor narrative means. In the contemporary circus animals are often used with success. There are different means to amaze the audience in the contemporary circus, because acrobatics, juggling or clown acts are often not unique for the audience and are not very fascinating. In accordance with the artists from one of the contemporary circuses: "Circus in general has its own tradition; but at the Cirque, we try to regroup and or add multiple disciplinary approaches to synergize the creation process. Every time we add a new collection, we have to capture the relationship between the information sources and the usage† (Spencer 2007, p. 23). In the contemporary circus the main emphasis is made on a story told to the audience through a number of different acts of performance instead of separate successive performances of jugglers, clowns or animals. There is more about topic in the modern circus and the spirit of modern times. Thus, the artists of the contemporary circus are able to appeal for the emotions and feelings of the audience by referring to the most critical themes, such as love, friendship, children et cetera. They develop a chain of their actions on the background of one common theme. There are no circus families performing in the contemporary circus, but rather conservatory-trained artists; character-driven acts are conveyed to the audience through a chain of narratives embodied in a series of successive acts of performance. The audience has the ability to sit in front of the stage and get involved in the story told by the contemporary circus. There is no ringmaster in the contemporary circus anymore, because a number of performances are connected by a common theme. Thus, the representatives of the contemporary circus Nanjing I claim: â€Å"It seems that the 'cultural signifiers' related to training do not simply 'jump from one body to another' but are embodied through slow, repetitive ongoing application according to a set of cultural values imported from China. The project challenged the attitudes to training of the trainers, students and administrators of Nanjing I and encouraged them to question their cultural assumptions† (Farrel 2008, p. 2). Thus, there is a special atmosphere and environment in the contemporary circus, which depends on the quality and thematic connection among different acts of performance. To reach a wholeness of narration, the artists in the contemporary circus introduce different changes in their performance, music and costumes. This is an evident difference between a traditional circus and the contemporary circus. The modern artists wear simple leotard s and there are no traditional costumes for clowns. Human bodies of the modern artists are moving in such enchanting manner that it is really fascinating to watch movements of their strong bodies and not to pay attention to their weird costumes, wigs or any other

Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 8

Research Paper Example Furthermore, the paper will also provide my own viewpoint regarding a positive relationship between the people of Middle East and the USA. After reading different course books, study material, and presentations on the topic I am glad to say that I have a complete different perspective regarding the Middle East. My pool of knowledge has increased through the videos I have watched and the news I have read as a part of the course. Initially, I did not have a clear understanding regarding the entire Middle East. I was familiar with only chief countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and U.A.E. etc., however, it was because of this course that I am able to understand the inside stories of various countries in Middle East, which I did not know. Moreover, it has also allowed me to observe things from a neutral perspective. The environment of Middle East is usually hot, dry, and humid. There are vast deserts in the region encompassing hundreds of kilometers. This does not let irrigation or agricu lture in most of the Middle Eastern countries. However, it came to my knowledge that regardless of this extreme dry weather, the region produces date palms and olives in large quantities. Both these commodities are the chief intake for many within the Middle East. Moreover, the oil reservoirs in the Arab countries surpass the oil reserves of any other region in the world1. This, however, is a bit frightening as various conflicts are present over the issue of oil reserves in the Middle East. Iran, Iraq, Libya, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE, etc are all major exporters of oil to the international markets and member of OPEC2. It is through the export of oil to the rest of the world particularly the West that the countries are able to meet their economic needs. Sadly, the war, which started between America and some member countries of the Middle East, has given rise to various issues. The war led by America in the name of war against terrorism has killed as many as 1000,000 Iraqi s so far since 2003 and has also destroyed various cities and oil reserves of the region3. It is not appropriate for me at this stage to decide whether it is the war against terrorism or to conquer the extensive oil reserves. It was indeed sad for me to know that the conflict started after the issue of 9/11 in which thousands of US citizens along with others were killed. 5 Guantanamo detainees claimed the attack. They held themselves responsible for the attack saying that it was a response to the support of US for Israel4. The Middle Eastern particularly the Palestinians have suffered a lot because of the wars that are led by Israel. The Jews always had issues with the Muslims and so did the Muslims with Jews. This gave rise to various conflicts inside and outside the Middle East. Many did not appreciate the support of US for Israel. Islam is the major religion that is practiced in the Middle Eastern countries as per the guidelines given to them through the Quran. The Jews are consi dered as anti-Muslim element. They have always tried to lower the esteem of Muslims through different wars, conflicts and debates. In my perspective, this is huge cycle in which all issues are interconnected to each other in one way or another5. According to my critical thinking, the reason behind the rise of these issues is the conflict between Israel and

Leadership Capabilities Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Leadership Capabilities Assignment - Essay Example To succeed in today’s workplace and achieve a successful career goal, leadership skill is essential. This exercise has enabled me to understand my capability as a leader and see which areas I need to work on more to become a better, more effective leader. The first step of this exercise was to take a number of tests (questionnaires) that revealed my true leadership skill. Based on these skills, I created a leadership profile for myself, recognizing the styles I am most likely to use when in a leading position. Finally, I have identified key strengths and weak areas, based on which I have created a doable recommendations plan for myself. Results of Leadership Questionnaires 1. Leadership Traits Questionnaire The first questionnaire tested my leadership traits: fourteen important leadership traits have been indentified in this test and I was required to ask others (mostly friends and acquaintances) to rate me on those traits, followed by a self rating. The results compared my se lf-rating with the average rating that others gave me. Trait Raters    Self Rating 1 2 3 4 5 Average Articulate 2 3 5 4 3 3.4 5 Perceptive 4 3 5 3 4 3.8 2 Self confident 3 3 5 4 3 3.6 5 Self assured 4 3 5 4 4 4 4 Persistent 5 3 5 4 5 4.4 4 Determined 5 3 5 4 4 4.2 4 Trustworthy 5 4 4 5 3 4.2 4 Dependable 4 5 5 4 4 4.4 5 Friendly 3 5 5 5 5 4.6 5 Outgoing 4 5 5 4 5 4.6 5 Conscientious 5 5 4 5 5 4.8 5 Diligent 4 5 5 4 5 4.6 5 Sensitive 4 4 5 5 4 4.4 5 Emphatic 4 5 5 5 3 4.4 5 My self-rating and the average rating by others had a margin of  ±0.6 points on eleven of the traits, including outgoing, emphatic, sensitive and dependable. The ratings perfectly matched only once for self-assured. However, there were marked differences in three traits: for articulate and self-confident, my self-rating was 5 (highest possible), whereas the average scores given by others were 3.4 and 3.6, which fall in the average category. On the other hand, my self-rating for perceptive was 2, whereas others gave me an average score of 3.8 on this specific trait, markedly higher than my self-perception. Based on the results, I realize that most of my perceptions about my leadership traits are similar to what others think of me. 2. Skills Inventory The second test was for Skills inventory which measures three important leadership skills in a person, namely technical, human and conceptual skills. Based on my answers, my scores were: Skill Score Technical 19 Human 12 Conceptual 21 My scores for conceptual and technical skills are significantly higher than the score on my human skills. It is important to mention that in lower management, technical and human skills are most important. In middle level management all three are of equal importance. In upper level management, technical skills aren’t as important as human and conceptual skills. Based on the test results and this interpretation, I have a weakness in human skill. Human skill is one key skill that is required at every phase in one’s career as well as personal relationships. This area represents a key weakness that I need to proactively work on. 3. Style Questionnaire The style questionnaire tested which leadership style I predominantly use between task and relationship styles. Style Score Range Task 42 High Relationship 43 High My scores for both styles ranked ‘high’, displaying my tendency to use a combination of the styles with emphasis on both tasks and relationships. I prefer to

Leading Health Indicator - Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Essay

Leading Health Indicator - Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity - Essay Example The leading health indicators are meant to help people understand the importance of disease prevention through health promotion and encourage broad participation in improving health over the next decade. The development of strategies and action plans in addressing these indicators will serve a significant role in increasing the quality of life and years of healthy life and in eliminating health disparities. Healthy people 2020 outlines specific objectives that are to be used in tracking the progress of each leading health indicator. The development of these indicators provides a snapshot of the state of health in the U.S and acts as a benchmark in future challenges and achievements. Health indicators are, therefore, fundamental building blocks in community health initiatives. This paper will analyze the leading health indicators of nutrition, physical activity, and obesity and provide an intervention strategy that is best suited for addressing this health issues. Glanz, Rimer and Lewis(2002) emphasize that physical activity, good nutrition, and healthy body weight are essential in the overall health and well-being of a person. A majority of people in The United States do not engage in sufficient physical activities. Healthy People 2020 points out that 81.6% of the adults and 81.8% of the adolescents in the U.S do not get the recommended amount of physical activity. Regular exercise is important in maintaining a healthy body, preventing premature deaths, body weight control and enhancing ones psychological well-being. The risk factors in the lack of physical activity include heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and so forth. Children and adolescents require weight bearing exercises for normal skeletal development and young adults need such exercise in maintaining bone mass. Older adults can also improve their strength and agility through regular exercises. The

Leadership Capabilities Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Leadership Capabilities Assignment - Essay Example To succeed in today’s workplace and achieve a successful career goal, leadership skill is essential. This exercise has enabled me to understand my capability as a leader and see which areas I need to work on more to become a better, more effective leader. The first step of this exercise was to take a number of tests (questionnaires) that revealed my true leadership skill. Based on these skills, I created a leadership profile for myself, recognizing the styles I am most likely to use when in a leading position. Finally, I have identified key strengths and weak areas, based on which I have created a doable recommendations plan for myself. Results of Leadership Questionnaires 1. Leadership Traits Questionnaire The first questionnaire tested my leadership traits: fourteen important leadership traits have been indentified in this test and I was required to ask others (mostly friends and acquaintances) to rate me on those traits, followed by a self rating. The results compared my se lf-rating with the average rating that others gave me. Trait Raters    Self Rating 1 2 3 4 5 Average Articulate 2 3 5 4 3 3.4 5 Perceptive 4 3 5 3 4 3.8 2 Self confident 3 3 5 4 3 3.6 5 Self assured 4 3 5 4 4 4 4 Persistent 5 3 5 4 5 4.4 4 Determined 5 3 5 4 4 4.2 4 Trustworthy 5 4 4 5 3 4.2 4 Dependable 4 5 5 4 4 4.4 5 Friendly 3 5 5 5 5 4.6 5 Outgoing 4 5 5 4 5 4.6 5 Conscientious 5 5 4 5 5 4.8 5 Diligent 4 5 5 4 5 4.6 5 Sensitive 4 4 5 5 4 4.4 5 Emphatic 4 5 5 5 3 4.4 5 My self-rating and the average rating by others had a margin of  ±0.6 points on eleven of the traits, including outgoing, emphatic, sensitive and dependable. The ratings perfectly matched only once for self-assured. However, there were marked differences in three traits: for articulate and self-confident, my self-rating was 5 (highest possible), whereas the average scores given by others were 3.4 and 3.6, which fall in the average category. On the other hand, my self-rating for perceptive was 2, whereas others gave me an average score of 3.8 on this specific trait, markedly higher than my self-perception. Based on the results, I realize that most of my perceptions about my leadership traits are similar to what others think of me. 2. Skills Inventory The second test was for Skills inventory which measures three important leadership skills in a person, namely technical, human and conceptual skills. Based on my answers, my scores were: Skill Score Technical 19 Human 12 Conceptual 21 My scores for conceptual and technical skills are significantly higher than the score on my human skills. It is important to mention that in lower management, technical and human skills are most important. In middle level management all three are of equal importance. In upper level management, technical skills aren’t as important as human and conceptual skills. Based on the test results and this interpretation, I have a weakness in human skill. Human skill is one key skill that is required at every phase in one’s career as well as personal relationships. This area represents a key weakness that I need to proactively work on. 3. Style Questionnaire The style questionnaire tested which leadership style I predominantly use between task and relationship styles. Style Score Range Task 42 High Relationship 43 High My scores for both styles ranked ‘high’, displaying my tendency to use a combination of the styles with emphasis on both tasks and relationships. I prefer to

Literature review Walkable Streets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Literature review Walkable Streets - Essay Example Walkable streets are actually shared spaces. They are actually designed for all types of people irrespective of being on foot, cars, on wheelchairs, or even bicycles. A walkable street actually makes you have the urge to step outside. This means that there are interesting things like trees, people, apartment buildings and homes as you move along. A walkable street is the one that does not make you feel like you are risking your life when crossing it. This is because it has sidewalks, lighting, curb ramps, benches, and signals that will all aid you while crossing it. In summary, a walkable street would lead to any destination that you want to go (Urban Ecology, 2011).Many communities are actually embracing the mobility of pedestrians as a substitute to reducing dependency on automobiles. This shift is attributed to the fact that dependency on automobiles is ecologically unsustainable because of increased pollution, and also reduced walking diminishes social interaction and mixing of p opulations (Pivo, Gary, & Fisher, 2010). According to Hutarabat Lo (2009) he argues that there are several ways that can make a place walkable. Sidewalks should be erected where there are sidewalk gaps with priority being given to those areas that encourage walking like schools, stations of transit, stadiums, and around congested public areas. Moreover, certain obstructions like utility poles and posts can actually decrease the walkable width of the sidewalk. Proper lighting and maintenance of the side walk is to be sustained so as to reduce obstructions, encourage walking, and improve safety. In addition, another way of making the sidewalks safer is by implementing buffers because they absorb carbon dioxide from automobile emissions and also aiding in water drainage. Making of crosswalks is safer and a key component to walkability. Curb extensions decrease the radii of corners of the curb at various intersections. Moreover, curb extensions calm the traffic and also decrease the dis tance pedestrians have to cross. While on the streets with parking, the curb extensions allow pedestrians to see the oncoming traffic better where they would otherwise be forced to walk into the street to see past the parked cars. The zebra crossings or striped crosswalks also provide safer avenues for crossing because they provide better visibility for both the pedestrians and drivers (Zehner, 2012). Walkable streets in relationship with public transit A walkable street must contain a relatively large number of friendly pedestrians. This is because many people are of the belief that the different physical street designs features are sufficient enough to create walkability. The best designed streets are actually not walkable if we walk in them. On the other hand, streets that are poorly designed are memorably walkable if it contains a large number of people. Very little is more enjoyable and attractive to humans than an inherently vibrant, festive place filled with blissful and soci able people (Nozzi, 2011). Whether driving,

Acid Rain Essay Example for Free

Acid Rain Essay Situation: The acid rain provisions of the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act were to being in 1995. Currently, it is 1992 and The Southern Company (a electric utilities holding company operating in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida) had to decide what actions they were going to take in order to comply with the new regulations. Before the Clean Air Act, firms did not have incentives to reduce emissions below the government specification. If a firm exceeded the amount, it would just simply pay a fine. Maximum limits were put into place and allowances could be bought and sold on the open market. This means that companies that were able to reduce their emissions, could make money off the allowances they sold. That provided firms incentive to reduce emissions to more appropriate levels. In contrast, a company that could not reduce would have to spend more money to buy additional allowances. The allowances would start at $250 per contract but increase by 10% each year. One of the Southern Company’s Georgia plant, Georgia Power’s Bowen a coal fired plant, had a couple options to choose from to abide by the new laws. The options included either adding scrubbers in order to drastically reduce their emissions and sell the extra allowances or spend more money to buy additional allowances. Either way, Bowen was looking to spend more money in the near future with the Clean Air Act. Question/ Decision: What is the lowest cost option for the plant? Knowing the plant will be extinct in 2016, what estimations can we assume from 1995 to 2016? What are the unknown factors? How long will it take to implement the scrubbers? Do we have the man power to handle the maintenance for the scrubbers? What is the best option for the company that still makes us look good to the public? Will allowance prices increase by more than 10%? Will there be enough allowance contracts on the open market for Bowen to purchase in order to maintain it’s current level of emissions? Hypothesis: Bowen had two main possibilities to comply with the new law: purchase allowances or sell allowances. Purchasing contracts appears to be the easy option but has the potential to get very costly especially in phase two (2000) since emissions will be reduced by almost 50%. Also, we have no idea if it will be possible to purchase all the contracts we need. If there are not enough contracts on the market, it could turn into a bidding war for the available contracts. In order to sell allowances, Bowen would have to drastically reduce their emissions. The most logical way to do this would be to install scrubbers that would remove sulfur dioxide from the exhaust gases of the generators. Installing the scrubbers was expensive but would reduce the emission by so much making it possible for Bowen to sell the extra allowances to on the open market for a profit. If the company plans to stay in business for longer than 2016, they should purchase the scrubbers to begin working in the second phase. This would help the company look better in the public’s eyes and will pay off more in the future. Since the company does not plan to stay in business, they should continue operating the way they do now and purchase the additional contracts. Even though it is the riskier option, this is the lowest cost option for the company. Proof of Action: The least cost alternative is to purchase additional allowances and continue operating as usual. The cost to the firm, if all estimations hold true, would be 267. Installing scrubbers could run up the costs to either 408 or 294 depending on when they are installed. Graph 1, PV of Cash Flows illustrates the cash flows for all high high-sulfer coal options. Option 1 offers almost no cost to the firm at the beginning stages, but increases in 2000. By 2005, the no scrubber option will be costing the firm more than the other two options. However, installing the scrubbers is much more costly at the beginning stages of the Clean Air Act. As time goes on though, the money made from selling the contracts and the costs of maintaining the scrubbers will offset each other. Installing the scrubbers to be ready for the second phase would reduce the costs to the firm much more throughout the 2000’s. Graph 1: PV of Cash Flows Option 1, no scrubbers, does not come without a lot of risk. The two main risk factors the company faces are government policies and the purchasing/selling of the allowances on the open market. a. The change in government policy. As the government becomes more and more concerned about pollution, there are possibilities that more policies or stimulus such as ecological taxation would be carried out. Although the current effective tax rate is 37. %, the company will save a portion of tax expense by installing scrubbers to control once a tax refund policy is implemented to low level pollutants emission companies. b. The change in allowance price. The company planners assume the price of allowances would be $250 per ton of sulfur dioxide in 1995 and would rise at 10% per year through 2010 and stay at that price since after. However, since the allowances could be traded in open market, their value is volatile. If the starting price of allowance rises to a certain level or the price increases at a higher rate, the PV cost of option 1 will be higher. graph 2 and 3). Graph 2: PV cost of option V. S. starting price of allowance Graph 3: The PV of option cost v. s. Allowance inflators Conclusion: In conclusion, according to the NPV of costs we should not install the scrubbers at this time. We should continue operating at our current levels and purchase contracts on the open market. This option is the riskier option but it is the lowest cost. If we are more concerned about risk, we should install the scrubbers to be ready for the second phase. The question becomes, how accurate do we think our estima tions are?

A Case Study Of People With Disabilities Social Work Essay

A Case Study Of People With Disabilities Social Work Essay This case study is in relation to a 19 year old adult, Shaku who suffers from learning disability. Shakus heritage is East African/ Punjabi and both her parents are people who work full time. Shaku lives with her parents, bothers, sister and grand mother. The family of Shaku is not a devoted Muslim family but it has been observed that they value their traditions. Regarding Shakus learning disability, her speech is impaired and she is physically disabled and requires assistance with personal care tasks. Although she is disabled, but she is like a normal girl in many ways, who loves fashionable cloths, loves to watch movies and misses her friends from school. Shaku has a speech and language therapist, Jean who is working with her with computerized assistive technology. A learning disability affects the way someone learns, communicates or does some everyday things. Someone has a learning disability all through his or her life. There are many different types of learning disability. They can be mild, moderate or severe. Some people with a mild learning disability do not need a lot of support in their lives. But other people may need support with all sorts of things, like getting dressed, going shopping, or filling out forms. Some people with a learning disability also have a physical disability. This can mean they need a lot of mental and physical support 24 hours a day. Shaku has been attending a local authority ran day centre, Hopefield Road Resource Centre for people with learning disabilities three times a week for the last 12 months. In addition to this she has a care agency, Helpful hands visiting at home three times a day, for one and a half hours at a time to help her with simple everyday tasks. Shaku is getting more and more frustrated and angry everyday. There are many reasons for her verbally abusive out bursts. After interviewing her, this is what I came to know about her family back ground and the way things are going for Shaku. Shaku feels she is a burden on her parents, as both of them are working parents; they do not have the time to look after her. This also frustrated Shaku as she needs more time from people who love her and are close to her. Shaku does get some amount of support from her grandmother but that is not enough as she can not openly communicate with her in Punjabi. Shaku feels uncomfortable being left up to others. Even though she can not perform everyday tasks by herself, she still finds this inconvenient. For example, she does not like to go to bed early. Shaku is disturbed by the thought of the centre closing because then she would not have any activities to do. Although Shaku portrays a friendly attitude towards Kerry, she is not comfortable with her presence and is somewhat feeling being abused. Another important issue in Shakus life is about what will happen to her in future. She is unsure and uncertain. Her parents plan on marrying her, to which she does not give a favourable response. Explain the likely policy and legislative framework which underpins the scenario as it is and that may assist this situation. Discuss the likely impact, usefulness and limitations of such policy and legislative framework. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ people with learning disabilities are citizens first and foremost, and public services, together with the private sector, need to respond appropriately. This means that the responsibility to ensure that all people can enter the workforce is a communitybased responsibility not one simply for health and social care; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ effective person-centred planning is critical, as it ensures services fit the needs of the individual, rather than fitting people into what is available; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ recognising the importance of employment whilst still at school is critical. Ensuring effective individualised transition planning and implementation from education to employment could have a dramatic and long lasting effect on the life experiences of this group and other services; Under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 Section 47(1) Shaku is eligible for an assessment of need for community care services. Furthermore, according to The NHS and Community Care Act 1990 Section 47(2) Shaku has additional rights that are defined in this act because she suffers from learning and physical disabilities. Under Section 4 of the Disabled Persons (Services and Consultation and Representation) Act 1986, local authorities will need to come to a decision regarding the services that are necessary to be provided to Shaku. The Carers and Disabled Childrens Act 2000 gives carers the right to ask for an assessment of their own needs to help them to continue to care, irrespective of whether the person they are caring for has had or is having their own needs assessment. The assessment is available to any carer who provides or is intending to provide regular and substantial care. The Carers and Disabled Act 2000 also allows, Social Service Departments to provide services directly to carers. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) also applied to Shaku as she has a disability of both physical and mental impairment. As this law states, Shaku will have access to reasonable adjustment to fight with her disability. Shaku is encouraged to take part in public life as this Act has changed the law and extended the rights of disabled people in relation to using transport services, joining private clubs, strengthens rights in the areas of renting premises and discriminatory job advertisements. People like Shaku will receive full support from public bodies and will feel confidence in mingling with the public. Shaku is a Vulnerable Adult, according to the definition of No Secrets A person aged 18 years or over who is or maybe in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness. The Sexual Offences Act 1956 gives Shaku the protection and rights as any other girl. She has rights to: a) To have and enjoy a fulfilling personal relationship; b) The right to express sexual need in an appropriate way if they wish to; c) To privacy; d) To be sexually active; e) To have sexual education, including counselling on personal relationships, sex and sexuality, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases; f) To contraceptive advice and support services; g) To marry or cohabit; h) To make an informed choice about whether or not to have children; i) To be free from exploitation, abuse and degrading treatment; In Shakus case, Kerry is not having a sexual relationship with her but she is being abused to the extent of calling names and touching parts of the body. Section 128 of the Mental Health Act 1959,states that it is an offence for a male member of staff or manager of a hospital or mental nursing home to have unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who is for the time being receiving treatment for mental disorder or is an out patient at the hospital or home. It is also an offence for a guardian to have unlawful sexual intercourse with a person in his custody/care (Mental Health Act 1948) or in Part 111 accommodation (National Assistance Act 1948). The Sexual Offences Act 1967 also makes it an offence for a male member of staff to commit acts of gross indecency on male patients. All prosecutions require the Director of Public Prosecutions consent. According to the Human Rights Act, rights of people with learning disabilities are the same as of their fellow citizens. In March 2008 the Joint Committee on Human Right declared that the HRA provides a legal framework for service providers to abide by, and for service users to demand that they are treated with respect for their dignity. According to the Human Rights Act, Shaku has the right to marry or refuse at her own free will. Shaku is over 18 years old and if she understands the nature of the marriage, she can get married without her parents consent. Otherwise, she would have to have permission of her parents. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (the Act) provides the legal framework for acting and making decisions on behalf of Shaku as she lacks the mental capacity to make particular decisions for herself. The person that makes the decision for Shaku will have to adhere with this Act. The five statutory principles are: 1. A person must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established that they lack capacity. 2. A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision unless all practicable steps to help him to do so have been taken without success. 3. A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision merely because he makes an unwise decision. 4. An act done, or decision made, under this Act for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be done, or made, in his best interests. 5. Before the act is done, or the decision is made, regard must be had to whether the purpose for which it is needed can be as effectively achieved in a way that is less restrictive of the persons rights and freedom of action. The deputy should keep a few things in mind when making decisions; they should only make those decisions they are authorized by the court. They should let the person make the decisions whenever they can, always put they persons best interests first. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 banned the ill treatment of disabled people. The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and the Disability Equality Duty Act promotes disability equality, takes steps to eradicate discrimination and harassment. These laws make the world an easier place to live in for Shaku. Shaku comes from a minority ethnic background which is why she is subject to discrimination and needs a high level of support. According to the Learning Disability Task Force; people belonging from minority ethnic groups experience poverty, racism, discrimination in employment, education, health and social services. There are a few services which adhere to hold sufficient skills which are needed to work with people with learning disabilities from minority ethnic communities. To prtoct people suffereing from learning disabilities Government departments and local statutory providers are expected to act in accordance with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.  [1]   As mentioned in the Department of Health document; Valuing People Now, a strategy has been set out where all the basic rights in relation to health, inclusion in all the aspects of community, housing education, work, having a family, advocacy, transport, leisure services and social activities, safety in the community and at home, access to justice rights of people with learning disabilities. According to the Governments White Paper Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century Shaku has the rights to be educated and have access to employment opportunities. Having an education and earning forherself can make Shaku more independent and confident about her self as time goes by and even diminish the disabilities she has. From these benefits she can also achieve inclusion and visibility in the community. The Working Group research shows the objectives of people with learning disabilities are not different from those of the 6.9 million disabled people of working age in Great Britain. The Working Group also possesses evidence unemployment is damaging to both mental and physical health. Under the Government policy, Shaku is eligible for higher education rights. She can access vocational educational training courses. To get Shaku ready for employment, Entry to Employment (E2E) is a flexible work-based learning programme established across England. E2E concentrates many concerns about the accessibility of work towards young people with learning disabilities. It is an entry/level 1 programme which is proposed to help young people to conquer obstacles that confine their advancement to higher levels. Each programme covers three core areas; basic and key skills, vocational development, and personal and social development. Part C Recommendations Discuss the social work interventions which would be required in this scenario: what would you need to do and how you would approach the scenario? Critically evaluate different options you could consider. First of all, Shaku and her problems need to be understood properly. Everything that is to be done should be in the best interests of Shaku. Better communication methods than speech need to be used when communicating with Shaku, such as pictures, simple text, tapes and videos. When communicating with Shaku, she should be addressed directly giving her a self of confidence in herself and being patient with her whenever needed. Shakus family will be included in her care up to the extent which is comfortable for them with their daily life routine. Shakus family would be trained to help them understand interpret and manage situations that Shaku finds challenging. Shaku should have access to a community service for people with learning disabilities. Small-scale alternative day services provide supported employment or innovative leisure or educational pursuits. A range of Occupational Therapy models will be used to gather relevant information about the individual and to help plan appropriate treatment and intervention. The model of Human Occupation The basis of this model has three elements:- o Volition o Habituation o Performance Capacity Volition refers to the process by which persons are motivated toward and choose what they do. Habituation analyses the persons habits and routines. Performance Capacity analyses the persons mental, physical sensory capabilities Volition, habituation, performance capacity and environmental conditions always resonate together, creating conditions out of which our thoughts, feelings and behaviour emerge (Kielhofner 2004). The model is very useful and can be applied to both very able and less able individuals. It guides us to ask the right clinical questions in order to build a picture with the person, of their life and what they can and want to achieve The Sensory Integration Model This model addresses problems of sensory organisation in the brain. A number of people with learning disabilities have a problem processing sensory information which impacts on their ability to do everyday tasks. By process of assessment and specially designed programmes Occupational Therapists help to adapt the persons responses to sensory information in order for them to become more adaptive in their ability to interact with their environment. The Canadian Model of Operation The theoretical basis of CMOP focuses on the dynamic relationship between the Person spirituality, cognitive, affective and physical Occupation self care, leisure and productivity Environment physical, institutional, cultural, social The person is connected to the environment, and occupation occurs as a result of the interaction between the person and their environment. Another component to the model is Spirituality which is at the core of a person, is influenced by the environment and gives meaning to occupation. There are two main areas of focus in this model: Occupational performance i.e. the result of the interaction between a person, their environment and occupation .â‚ ¬Ã‚  Client-centred practice i.e. the collaboration and partnership formed in the therapeutic process. As Shakus therapies are taking place, Shaku has the issue of marriage she is not comfortable with. As a social worker I would be thinking about what Shaku wants and what her best interests are in. Shakus parents may want the best for her in their opinion by an arrange marriage. Even before anything like this takes place, Shaku should be given knowledge about all the aspects of marriage and the relation ship. In Shakus condition, it will take a considerable amount of time for her to understand everything properly; there is a need for Shakus parents to understand what her condition is and how much she can take in when it comes to issues like marriage. It should be made sure that Shakus parents do give her a considerable amount of time everyday as this can help a great deal in her recovery, If Shaku is to be married she needs to be educated in special programs for parents with learning disabilities. These programs will help Shaku and her parents understand the issues that affect parents who have learning disabilities, what kind of help is out there for parents with learning disabilities. Learning Disability Services An in-house care plan is needed for Shaku. The care plan will feature the information about her daily living, health, medication, personal care, likes, dislikes, wishes, choices and other aspects. The plan will be updated regularly to act in accordance with her changing needs and will be reviewed at an anuual basis. person centred planning is advised to be undertaken by Shaku and her family. This will help them to choose what ever is best suited for them. A care plan will be written down what Shaku transport, social, educational, health and other community-based services can be linked up. Contacting Social Care Direct will the first step towards getting a social care service. The Care Quality Commission (CQC), takes assessments and follow-up reviews on care homes and services throughout the UK. Their website lists all the assessments which can help Shaku and her family to choose the right care home and to locate one near their residence as well. | To make sure the needs of adults with a learning disability are met in the best way, health and social worker should work together. Shakus community learning disability nurse will fulfil common and special health needs which include challenging behaviour. Shakus Occupational therapy treatment programme will be designed based according to her exclusive life style, environment and choices. Clinical psychology provides evidence based assessment and intervention to individuals with a learning disability who may have a wide range of psychological problems, which are often complex and multiple. We undertake Cognitive Assessment, for example, to support service provision in relation to capacity issues. Music therapy is another communication tool which will be used for Shaku which will help her to express herself. The Physiotherapists provide assessment, advice and treatment to people with a musculo-skeletal problem associated to their learning disability, and any training their carers/famil y need to help them with this. Specifically, we support mobility, posture, eating and drinking and health living, including walking and exercise groups. As necessary, we liaise with other health professionals and non-health professionals in a variety of settings. Shaku experiences difficulty expressing her self verbally, she can be encouraged to communicate through art therapy which uses art materials. Speech and language therapists put emphasis on developing communication, which is vital to good health and social care. In co ordination with her speech therapist Jean, Shaku can also attend regular inclusive communication training courses. The dietician can counsel on healthy eating, special diets or assist with eating and drinking problems. Mental health problems are very common in people who suffer from a learning disability. The psychiatrist is responsible for assessment and treatment of mental health problems and challenging behaviour. Person centred planning is developed by Learning Disability Partnership Boards which is done according to the White Paper, Valuing People. Partnership boards help people with learning difficulties fulfil their desire to live an ordinary life through person centred planning. The following is taken from the meeting that was arranged with Shaku and sets out what she wants to do and the things she is not happy about. Shaku seems very unhappy with her life. She misses school and her friends there. She is bored at home and bored in the day centre. She is angry that she cannot come and go as she pleases either at home or in Hopefield and school was better at this. She says that she find it depressing that the centre is now closing and is scared about what this means. Will she be at home more? More bored? Helpful Hands are rubbish and the leisure activities are watching telly together or going for a walk and they arrive too late. Shaku says that she would really like to see her friends more. She says that she hadnt thought much about marriage. As Shaku experience learning disabilitied, sometimes she can not explain what she wants so she will need support to make decisions. The Framework for person centred planning for Shaku will need be discussed with her parents, her therapists and her social worker. The person centred planning implementation group will follow the action plan on a daily basis. Shakus family, friends and comuunity services like care management, health professionals, services ( organisations that provide services for people with learning disabilities). Mental Capacity Act 2005.PDF British Institute of Learning Disabilities. PDF ADULTS WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT. PDF Occupational Therapy Models and Learning Disability. PDF Safeguarding Adults Supporting the needs of parents with learning disabilities Making life better for people with a learning disability and people with mental health problems who live in Northern Ireland our lives, our choices Learning Disability Services, Wakefield Council, viewed 10 June, 2010 http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/HealthAndSocialCare/AdultsAndOlderPeople/LearningDisabilities/default.htm Choosing the Right Care, AboutLearningDisabilities, viewed, 9 June, 2010 http://www.aboutlearningdisabilities.co.uk/AboutOurSite.html Department of Health, Valuing People Now: a new three year strategy for people with learning Disabilities 2003, viewed 7 June, 2010 http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_093374.pdf Improving work opportunities for people with a learning disability 2006, Department of Health, viewed on June 6, 2010 www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Deliveringadultsocialcare/Learningdisabilities/DH_4138204 Mansell, J (2010) Raising our sights: services for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities available at http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_114347.pdf Rights, independence, choice and inclusion Learning Disability Task Force. Available at http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4074727.pdf VALuInG PEOPLE nOw: A nEw THREE-YEAR STRATEGY FOR PEOPLE wITH LEARnInG DISAbILITIES 2009, Department of Health http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_093372.pdf 3. There are some components that are essential for a good social care service. These include designing and delivering arrangements that are adapted to the individual persons requirements and choices. As in Shakus case, she is living with her family, the service should be family-centered, and a care plan which is prepared for her should be what is most suitable for her and her family.  [2]  

The Many Faces Of A Criminal Essay -- essays research papers

A criminal is someone who violates law for the purpose of obtaining their desires, causing in the breakdown of society. This definition is both clear and complete. Criminals are known mainly for their craftiness and bent character. They use this quality to intrude on the privacy of others, thus resulting in the acts of violence or sinfulness. These unlawful individuals are what society deems as offenders, convicts, villains, thieves and much more. To study a criminal is to know that they are hot tempered, controlling and insecure. What makes a criminal unique is their inability to utilize such great potential and cleverness, quite like how man has not yet learned to harness the power of lighting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is safe to say that all criminals are disruptive by nature. With their sinister and devilish minds they are capable of shaking up even the most sound of individuals. Criminals possess dark, cold and shady personalities, which in fact, are adept to crippling even the healthiest of specimens. They make a habit of disguising their true identity through dishonesty and sneakiness. One cruel and fraudulent action follows another. This foolish and unwise trait is one of the things that distinguish law-abiding citizens from criminals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another definite indication of a criminal is that they perpetrate wrongdoings that negatively impact onto society. To put it into a clear and concise way, criminals are society's diseases. Thei... The Many Faces Of A Criminal Essay -- essays research papers A criminal is someone who violates law for the purpose of obtaining their desires, causing in the breakdown of society. This definition is both clear and complete. Criminals are known mainly for their craftiness and bent character. They use this quality to intrude on the privacy of others, thus resulting in the acts of violence or sinfulness. These unlawful individuals are what society deems as offenders, convicts, villains, thieves and much more. To study a criminal is to know that they are hot tempered, controlling and insecure. What makes a criminal unique is their inability to utilize such great potential and cleverness, quite like how man has not yet learned to harness the power of lighting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is safe to say that all criminals are disruptive by nature. With their sinister and devilish minds they are capable of shaking up even the most sound of individuals. Criminals possess dark, cold and shady personalities, which in fact, are adept to crippling even the healthiest of specimens. They make a habit of disguising their true identity through dishonesty and sneakiness. One cruel and fraudulent action follows another. This foolish and unwise trait is one of the things that distinguish law-abiding citizens from criminals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another definite indication of a criminal is that they perpetrate wrongdoings that negatively impact onto society. To put it into a clear and concise way, criminals are society's diseases. Thei...

Gary Nash Essay -- essays research papers

In the essay written by Gary Nash, he argues that the reason for the American Revolution was not caused by the defense of constitutional rights and liberties, but that of â€Å"material conditions of life in America† were not very favorable and that social and economic factors should be considered as the driving factor that pushed many colonists to revolt. The popular ideology which can be defined as resonating â€Å"most strongly within the middle and lower strata of society and went far beyond constitutional rights to a discussion of the proper distribution of wealth and power in the social system† had a dynamic role in the decisions of many people to revolt. The masses ideas were not of constitutional rights, but the equal distribution of wealth in the colonies that many felt that the wealth was concentrated in a small percentage of the population in the colonies. The Whig ideology that was long established in English society had a main appeal towards the upper clas s citizens and â€Å"had little to say about changing social and economic conditions in America or the need for change in the future.† The popular ideologies consisted of new ways of changing the distribution of wealth. Nash in his essay continued to give good evidence to prove his point that the American Revolution was not caused by the defense of constitutional rights and liberties, but by improper distribution of wealth. During the pre-American Revolutionary times, the â€Å"top five percent of Boston’s taxpayers controlled 49 ...

Aids In Africa

The pandemic brought about by the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Africa has become a very popular topic among healthcare experts, and interestingly, also among U.S. policymakers. This level of attention is due to the high mortality rate of AIDS victims in the said region as well as the significantly low life-expectancy among those infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – the pathogen that causes AIDS.In order to have a broader understanding about the topic four different kinds of literature related to the topic will be used to analyze the impact of the AIDS pandemic in Africa.Infectious Diseases EpidemiologyThe first source that will be analyzed is a reference book entitled, Infectious Diseases Epidemiology: Theory and Practice. This reference books deal with the transmission and control of diseases and it has a section dealing with AIDS/HIV.The authors were able to fully explain how AIDS is transmitted and also how to control the spread of the viru s. There is also a section that describes one of the most ambitious plans to significantly reduce the impact of AIDS/HIV in Africa.This source is valid and reliable as it is consistent with other sources that will be reviewed later in this study. Aside from that, the publisher, Jones and Bartlett in Massachusetts is a reputable publishing house.This source provides an overview of the AIDS/HIV problem in general and also provides information why it is very difficult to curb the problem of HIV infection in Africa. The discussion regarding transmission of the HIV virus will greatly increase awareness as to the kind of behavior that will lead to infection.The information that can be gathered through reading this source will help government officials to create strategies and enact laws that will make it harder for the virus to spread.This source is of great value to individuals, government or non-government agencies desiring to lend support in the fight against AIDS/HIV in Africa.This is because not only is the source an excellent reference guide for the epidemiology of the disease but it also provides useful information on what is being done to stop the virus from overwhelming the whole continent (Nelson & Masters, p. 869). There is a need to combine knowledge of science and knowledge of how to understand people.Life ExpectancyThe second resource that will be used for this study was taken from an article in The New York Times, entitled, Devastated by AIDS, Africa Sees Life Expectancy Plunge. The article provides a more tangible proof that indeed AIDS/HIV is wreaking havoc in Africa.It is one thing to simply know about the epidemiology of the disease and it is quite another to learn that infants born in seven African nations – those with very high HIV infection – could not expect to live beyond 40. Due to the catastrophic figures given, some of Africa’s politicians are saying that the numbers maybe inaccurate (Dugger, par. 7).But the report see ms to be saying that irregardless of the exact life expectancy number, there is widespread agreement that people are dying young inside the continent.One of the most information that could be gleaned from this article is the fact that people living in sub-Saharan Africa are not only dying young, their premature deaths increase the level of poverty in this region.The deaths of thousands of young men and women meant that there will be few people – especially those in the prime of their lives – who can contribute in the field of education, healthcare and various industries. This will cause a chain-reaction of events.For one there will be no strong and able bodied men and women who can spearhead the drive to eradicate AIDS/HIV and the reason is simple, many of them have died. If Africa continues to suffer from the AIDS/HIV pandemic, then it will not take long before the continent will destroy itself due to people living without hope.If the children are the future of a nati on then surely the AIDS pandemic is creating a bleak future for sub-Saharan Africa.This is a valid source of information because it came from a reputable source – The New York Times.Moreover, the information that can be gathered from reading this text supports many of the findings reviewed from other sources. Aside from being accurate, this resource is a valuable source of information because it focuses on falling life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa. This will help African politicians as well as their policymakers map out strategies that will help solve the problem.PEPFARThe official website of â€Å"The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief† (PEPFAR) will be the third resource for this study. The site offers a wide array of information regarding the AIDS/HIV pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.The site talks about the reason behind the creation of PEPFAR and what it hopes to achieve in the long run. PEPFAR is US-based and appears to be one of th e most important achievements of the Bush administration. This is a reliable source because it is a website created by the U.S. Federal government.There are also other U.S. government agencies that acknowledged the significance of PEPFAR and news agencies are also well aware of its existence.One of the most interesting facts that can be gleaned from the website pertains to the plan of former president George W. Bush to position the United States to lead in the fight against global HIV/AIDS. At the center of the plan is the need to focus resources on a region with one of the highest incidence of AIDS/HIV and this is sub-Saharan Africa.Aside from the lofty goals set by PEPFAR another interesting facet of this plan is the pledge by the U.S. government, to disburse billions of dollars of taxpayer’s money to help non-Americans, thousands of miles away.This was a daring move by the former president Bush who insisted that America is ready and financially able, to take a stand agains t HIV/AIDS. The former president authorized the release of a multi-billion package that will ensure that a significant part of Sub-Saharan Africa will be able to experience outside help. The huge amounts involved will signal to the rest of the world that America is ready.This resource is valuable not only because it provides an overview of the whole PEPFAR initiative. But aside from that, the website also provides detailed information with regards to the steps required leading to the creation of PEPFAR.The site also provides links that will help people discover how the president intended to finance a project that is so massive and so expensive that it is almost impossible for this Federal funded program to succeed.Corruption in AfricaThe fourth resource that will be used for this study is a book entitled, Corruption in Africa: Causes, Consequences, and Cleanups. The authors attempted to explain the unique circumstance that created a host of problems for Africa.Corruption in this sid e of the world was linked to power-hungry officials who used their position to enrich themselves. When it comes to corruption and the AIDS/HIV pandemic the common denominator is poverty, lack of education and the absence of government services that help worsen the situation in sub-Saharan Africa.This book is an excellent resource when dealing with factors aside from epidemiology and healthcare. It is very important that policymakers and strategists take a closer look at impact of corruption and why increasing the number of health workers and saturating the region with drugs will never be enough to solve the AIDS/HIV pandemic.The socio-political aspect must be considered as well. There is indeed a clear link between corruption and poverty and when these two are present it creates a social order where the government is inefficient and could not provide the necessary services that in turn will strengthen the capability of Africans to resist the AIDS/HIV onslaught.This is a reliable res ource because it is consistent with research findings used to support the three previous sources. For instance a good education will make it easier for health workers to explain the reason why sexual intercourse and the sharing of contaminated needles are two of the most important means to transmit the virus.If the people are well-educated then it is easy for them to understand the steps required to avoid those problems. But with corruption comes the inability to have access to good education and when the people are ignorant it will be easy for the virus to spread. AIDS in Africa The number of people living with Human Immune-Deficiency Virus (HIV) in Africa especially in Sub-Saharan part is quite big. More than half of the population is infected with HIV AIDS and the number of individuals being infected increases each day.It usually causes high death rates in children and adults. According to statistics, the number of those who are infected is quite high which is about 2.3 million adults and children (UNAIDS, 2006). The number seems to be dropping drastically which portrays that there has been a change of behaviour which has made the number to reduce and also the decrease can be as a result of increased mortality rate of those who are infected.The number of people who are most affected by AIDS are prostitutes and their clients homosexuals and most of individuals who inject themselves with drugs. In Sub-Saharan region HIV transmission is mostly experienced in most of heterosexual transmission in Africa most of the women are infected at early stages which incre ases the gap between men and women who are infected with HIV.In Africa, South Africa is the country which has the highest prevalence rate of individual who are infected with AIDS.According to epidemiological survey, it shows that the number of infected individuals in this country does not decrease and the main factors which have lead to this increase includes social instability, poverty, family disruption migratory labor system which leads to increased morbidity, sexual transmitted diseases are in increased levels in these regions, women lives in low status and sexual violence.The increased incidence rate of Aids in Africa has lead to a major economical problem which has made the country’s economy in most of Sub-Saharan countries to drop drastically and people in these regions to live under a lot of poverty.According to various statistics, most of the Sub-Saharan Africa countries drop economically with around 1-2% of the total economic status of the country annually. Most of the families with individuals who are infected with HIV AIDS live in total poverty than the rest of the household.This is because the level of productivity decreases drastically since individuals infected with HIV become weak and they are unable to carry on with their daily routine work.These individuals in most cases who are young eventually die leaving young children and the aged who are not able to work for their basic need. They are therefore left to depend on well wishers, government and other non governmental organizations for their living.Due to high death rates, it has also lead to great food shortage since those who work in farms are usually the young generation which is the group which is highly infected. This has lead to lack of essential labor which is needed in farm and therefore the family can result to use of finances which were not necessary to purchase food.In some Sub-Saharan countries such as South Africa, most of productive individuals such as those who work in v arious governmental organizations are dying of AIDS at a very high rate which makes the country to lost important people who are skilled and had a high potential of bringing revenue to the government.These usually pose a major drawback of the economic status of the country. When these individuals die, vital services are not delivered to the public and this can lead to loss of revenue that government could gain from these services.The main sector which is mainly affected by the high prevalence rate of HIV is the labor sector. This is because most of the individuals who are affected by AIDS are between the age of 15-49 which is the most productive age which is mainly the working age.When the labor of the country drops, its economic status is also affected this is mostly experienced by those individuals who are directly affected or infected by AIDS.When those people who are already trained for various job die because of AIDS, it means that factories, industries, schools and hospitals h ave to incur extra cost for training more skilled individuals who can replace them and those who can work efficiently (Cohen 1990). In order to facilitate this, these sectors have to use a lot of money which could be used for other purposes to boost the economic status of these sectors.Due to strong impact that HIV sets on labor force, in various enterprises and household, HIV has acted as a quite significant factor in drop of the economic development and growth of countries and also in individuals. It has played quite a vital effect in the economic development of Africa as a whole.Due to the fact that Africa faces a major economic drawback, it has made it quite difficulty for African countries to fight the epidemic. This is because the disease prevalence rate is quite high and the economic status of he country and individuals goes down which makes most of individuals not to afford the antiretroviral drugs (ARV) therapies which can help to reduce the prevalence rate of diseases.In s ome cases the productivity of infected individuals can be boosted by proper feeding and good diet, but in these Sub-Saharan countries, its quite hard for infected individual to have proper diet which will help in boosting the immune status of the body since there is no enough money to be supplemented in buying of food.Due to high poverty levels of those who are infected and their low economic status, the prevention methods which can be used to minimize high rate of disease infection are not quite applicable due to lack of money. This has increased the disease occurrence a lot since no prevention measures are taken and therefore transmission rate is quite high.This is mostly experienced in mother child transmission, since most of expectant women who are living in extreme poverty do not have money to attend the antenatal clinic and they usually end up delivering at home where there are no measures which are taken into consideration to prevent the disease from being transmitted to the child.In some cases, individuals who are infected with HIV also have high chances of being infected with other opportunistic infections which mainly affects individuals with AIDS such as TB. Due to their inability to access medical services due to lack of money, they get weak quite quickly and can result to death. In this case the economic status of the country drop due to lack of money.Most of the countries in Sub Saharan live under extreme poverty which makes them to lack basic access to education which is a major factor which can be used to alleviate poverty levels and boost the economic status of the country (Avert org, 2008). Those individuals who do not have basic education on the effect AIDS end up contacting it carelessly which increases transmission rate due to lack of knowledge about the impact the disease has on the society.Social impact of children and women in South AfricaSouth Africa is one of the countries in the Sub-Saharan region with quite a high prevalence rate of AIDS its estimated that around 15-20% of its total adult population is infected with HIV. The number of those individuals who are infected has greatly exceeded the number which was considered to be possible initially.There is no evidence of epidemic slowing in South Africa since around 4.9-6.1 million people in the country are infected with AIDS. Statistics carried out on 2004 showed that around 1-3 expectant mother are infected with HIV and since then gradual increase has been realized.

An Assesment of the Role of the Auditor in Fighting Corruption in an Organization Essay

CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction Reliable accounting and financial reporting issued by auditors help organisations in allocating resources from the society in an efficient manner. Although the primary goal of an organisation is profit making and to allocate limited capital resources to the production of goods and services for which society’s demand is great, a highly complex phenomenon which is corruption poses a threat to those goals and services. However, most organisations spend huge sums of money adopting strategies to fight corruption (Whittington et al., 2004). 2.2 History of Auditing The word â€Å"Audit† originated from the Latin word ‘auditus’ which means, ‘a hearing’. In the earlier days, whenever there was suspected corruption in a business organization, the owner of the business would appoint a person to check the accounts and require hearing the explanations given by the person responsible for keeping the accounts and funds. In those days, the audit was done to find out whether the payments and receipts were properly accounted or not accounted for (http://www.eHow.com). During the advent of the Industrial Revolution, from 1750 to 1850, auditing evolved into a field of fraud detection and financial accountability. Until then, Auditing existed primarily as a method to maintain governmental accountancy and record-keeping. The incidence of the revolution resulted in businesses expanding thereby resulting in increased job positions between owners to customers. Resultantly, management was hired to operate businesses in the owners’ absences, and owners found an increasing need to monitor their financial activities both for accuracy and fraud prevention. (http://www.eHow.com). In the early 20th century, the reporting practice of auditors, which involved submitting reports of their duties and findings, was standardized as the â€Å"Independent Auditor’s Report.† The increase in demand for auditors led to the development of the testing process for accuracy and fraud prevention. Auditors developed a way to strategically selecting key cases as representative of the company’s performance. This was an affordable alternative to examining every case in detail, required less time and a good tool for reducing fraud (http://www.eHow.com). 2.3 Overview of Auditing â€Å"Auditing is a systematic examination of the books and records of a business or the organization in order to ascertain or verify and to report upon the facts regarding the financial operation and the result thereof† (Montgomery, 2010,p.6). Again, Loughran (2010, p.5), defines auditing as, the process of investigating information that is prepared by someone else to determine whether the information is fairly stated. On the other hand, Arens et al. (2006, p.7), defines auditing as the accumulation of evidence about information to determine and report on the degree of correspondence between the information and established criteria. â€Å"Auditing is a systematic process of objectively obtaining and evaluating evidence regarding assertions about economic actions and events to ascertain the degree of correspondence between the assertions and established criteria and communicating the results to interested users†(Robertson et al., 2002,p.7).According to Knechel (2001,p.4 2), â€Å"auditing is the process of providing assurance about the reliability of the information contained in the financial statements prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.† 2.4 Types of Audit There are various ways in which the work performed by the auditor has been classified or categorized. Each classification or type of audit is unique in that, each type of audit has its own perspective, objective and business organisation. Irrespective of the type of audit being conducted, the basic processes, guidelines and standards are basically the same. However, Hall (2005) classifies the types of audits that auditors perform into four; 2.4.1 Internal Audit The Institute of Internal Auditors defines internal audit as an independent function established within an organisation to examine and evaluate the audit activities as a service to the organisation. Internal audits are conducted by auditors who work for the organization (Ibid). 2.4.2 Information Technology Audit This is associated with auditors who use technical skills and knowledge to  audit through the computer system, or provide audit services where processes or data, or both, are embedded in technologies. Hence, IT audit involves the auditing of information technology, computer system and the like. IT audit allows auditors to audit through the database and computer (Ibid). 2.4.3 Fraud Audit This is the newest area of auditing, arising out of both rampant employee theft of assets and major financial frauds. In such audits, materiality is irrelevant, and the primary goal is an investigation of anomalies not to give assurance. Hence, fraud audit aims at gathering evidence of fraud and where sufficient evidence exist, fraud audit leads to conviction (Ibid). 2.4.4 Financial Audit Also referred to as external audits, this involves auditors who work independent of the organisation being audited. The audit objective is to give an opinion on the financial statements (Ibid). 2.5 Types of Auditors There are a number of different types of auditors; however, they can be classified under four headings: external auditors, internal auditors, government auditors, and forensic auditors. One important requirement of each type of auditor is independence, in some manner, from the entity being audited (Robertson et al., 2002). 2.5.1 External Auditors External Auditors are often referred to as independent auditors or certified public accountants (CPAs). Such auditors are called â€Å"external† because they are not employed by the entity being audited. However, external auditors audit financial statements for publicly traded and private companies, partnerships, municipalities, individuals, and other type of entities. An external auditor may practice as a sole proprietor or as a member of a CPA firm (Robertson et al., 2002). On the other hand, Boynton et al. (2001), describes external auditors as independent having education, training, and thus by virtue of their experience, external auditors are qualified to perform each of the types of activities being the operational audit activity, the audit compliance, and the financial statements audit activity. Operational audit activity has to do with obtaining and evaluating evidence  about the efficiency and effectiveness of an entity’s operating activities in relation to specified objectives. Furthermore, compliance audit activity has to do with obtaining and evaluating evidence to determine whether certain financial or operating activities of an entity conform to specified rules, or regulations (Boynton et al., 2001).Finally, the financial statements audit activity has to do with obtaining and evaluating evidence about an entity’s financial statements for the purpose of expressing an opinion on whether the financial statements are presented fairly in conformity with established criteria-usually Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Boynton et al.,2001). 2.5.2 Internal Auditors Internal auditors are auditors employed by individual companies, partnerships, government agencies, individuals, and other entities (Messier et al., 2008). Additionally, internal auditors are also employed extensively by government and nonprofit organisations with the principal goal of investigating and appraising the activities with which the various organisational units of the company are carrying out their assigned functions (Whittington et al., 2004). However, in addition to the provision of consulting services to the organisation, internal auditors pay much attention to the study of internal control. Again, internal auditors are primarily involved with compliance and operational audit activities. With the operational audit activity having to do with the obtaining and evaluating evidence about the efficiency and effectiveness of an entity’s operating activities in relation to specified objectives (Boynton et al., 2001).Furthermore, the compliance audit activity having to d o with the obtaining and evaluating evidence to determine whether certain financial or operating activities of an entity conform to specified conditions, rules, or regulations (Boynton et al., 2001). 2.5.3 Government Auditors Government auditors are employed by federal, state, and local agencies. They generally can be considered a subset of the broader category of internal auditors. At the federal level, two agencies use auditors extensively: the Government Accountability Office and the Internal Revenue Service. The Internal Revenue Agents have their responsibility of enforcing tax laws as defined by congress of parliament and interoperated by the courts. However,  the government auditors engage in a wide range of audit activities, including financial statements audit activity, the compliance audit activity and the operational audit activity (Messier et al., 2008). Financial statements audit activity has to do with the obtaining and evaluating evidence about an entity’s financial statements for the purpose of expressing an opinion on whether they are presented fairly in conformity with established criteria-usually Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The compliance audit activity having to d o with the obtaining and evaluating evidence to determine whether certain financial or operating activities of an entity conform to specified conditions, rules, or regulations. Finally, the operational audit activity having to do with the obtaining and evaluating evidence about the efficiency and effectiveness of an entity’s operating activities in relation to specified objectives (Boynton et al., 2001). 2.5.4 Forensic Auditors Forensic auditors are employed by corporations, government agencies, public accounting firms, and consulting and investigative services firms. They are trained in detecting, investigating, and deterring fraud and corruption (Boynton et al., 2001). 2.6 Roles of the Auditor The role of both the internal and external auditor in the business and economic life of the society is very important. Modern business enterprises are quite large and mostly in corporate form wherein shareholders do not necessarily engage in the running of the management team to run the business on behalf of the shareholders. As a result, management is required to prepare and submit accounts of their stewardship to reflect the true financial position of the entity’s activities (Yiadom, 2009).  ¬The Role of the Auditor in the Internal Control Internal control is broadly defined as a process, executed by an entity’s board of directors, management, and other personnel, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives in the following internal control categories: 1.Effectiveness and efficiency of operations. 2.Reliability of financial reporting. 3.Compliance with laws and regulations. Management is responsible for internal control. Managers establish policies and processes to help the organization achieve specific objectives in each of these categories. Auditors perform audits to evaluate whether the policies and processes are designed and operating effectively and provide recommendations for improvement (Messier et al., 2008).  ¬The Role of the Auditor in Corporate Governance Corporate governance is a combination of processes and organizational structures implemented by the Board of Directors to inform, direct, manage, and monitor the organization’s resources, strategies and policies towards the achievement of the organizations objectives. The internal auditor is often considered one of the â€Å"four pillars† of corporate governance, the other pillars being the Board of Directors, management, and the external auditor(Business web (online) 2006 http://www.allbusiness.com). A primary focus area of internal auditing as it relates to corporate governance is helping the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (or equivalent) perform its responsibilities effectively. This may include reporting critical internal control problems, informing the Committee privately on the capabilities of key managers, suggesting questions or topics for the Audit Committee’s meeting agendas, and coordinating with the external auditor(Business web (online) 2006 http://www.allbusiness.com).  ¬Role of the Auditor in Risk Management Auditing professional standards require the function of the auditor to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the organization’s risk management processes. Risk management relates to how an organization sets objectives, then identifies, analyzes, and responds to those risks that could potentially impact its ability to realize its objectives. Management performs risk assessment activities as part of the ordinary course of business in each of these categories. Examples include: strategic planning, marketing planning, capital planning, budgeting, hedging, incentive payout structure, and credit/lending practices. Sarbanes-Oxley regulations also  require extensive risk assessment of financial reporting processes (Business web (online) 2006 http://www.allbusiness.com). Corporate legal counsel often prepares comprehensive assessments of the current and potential litigation a company faces. Internal auditors may evaluate each of these activities, or focus on the processes used by management to report and monitor the risks identified. For example, internal auditors can advise management regarding the reporting of forward-looking operating measures to the Board, to help identify emerging risks (Business web (online) 2006 http://www.allbusiness.com). In larger organizations, major strategic initiatives are implemented to achieve objectives and drive changes. As a member of senior management, the Chief Audit Executive may participate in status updates on these major initiatives. This places the Chief Audit Executive in the position to report on many of the major risks the organization faces to the Audit Committee, or ensure management’s reporting is effective for that purpose (Business web (online) 2006 http://www.allbusiness.com). 2.7 Overview of Corruption Although there is no universal or comprehensive definition as to what constitutes corrupt behaviour, most definitions share a common emphasis upon the abuse of public power or position for personal advantage (Boadi, 2002 vol.4 no.2).The Oxford Unabridged Dictionary defines corruption as â€Å"perversion or destruction of integrity in the discharge of public duties by bribery or favour.† Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines it as â€Å"inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (as bribery).† A succinct definition of corruption used by the World Bank is â€Å"the abuse of public office for private gain.†Corruption is a complex multi-faceted social phenomenon with innumerable manifestations. It takes place as an outcome of deficiencies in the existing public administration apparatuses and systems as well as cultural, economic, political and social factors. Differences of opinion still exist as to the meaning of the term corruption. This is primarily because individuals look at corruption from their own vantage points influenced by surrounding environment (Khan, 2004). Coherently, Swain& Dininio (2000), explains corruption as the abuse of public office for private gain. It encompasses unilateral abuses by government officials such as embezzlement and nepotism, as well as abuses linking public and private  actors such as bribery extortion, influence peddling, and fraud. 2.8 Corruptive Issues in an Organisation Corruptive issues arise in an organization where both employers and employees embark on any act classified as corruption (Balkaran, 2000). 2.8.1 Causes of Corruption  Khan (2004), defines corruption as a phenomenon that takes place due to the presence of a number of factors. An understanding of such factors requires, among other things, a kind of general framework for a clearer understanding of the causes of corruption, especially from a broader perspective. However, Goudie & Strange (2000), explained that the genesis of corruption can be looked at from three levels being the international, the national and the individual institutional level. Competitiveness of international markets provides multinational companies of various sizes with an incentive to offer bribes to gain an advantage over competitors. At the national level basic development strategy of any government moulds opportunities and incentives for corruption. At the same level three relationships – between the government and the civil service, between the government and the judiciary and between the government and the civil society – also affect the nature and discussions of corruption. Three areas of government activity – customs administration, business regulation and management of foreign aid – act as sources of corruption at the level of individual institutions (Goudie & Strange, 2000). 2.8.2 Forms of Corruption Corruption takes many forms; acceptance of money and other rewards for awarding contracts, violation of procedures to advance personal interests, kickbacks from developmental programmes or multi-national corporations, pay-offs for legislative support, diversion of public resources for private use, overlooking illegal activities, intervening in the justice process, nepotism, common theft, overpricing, establishing non-existing projects and tax collection and tax assessment frauds (Khan, 2004). 2.9 The Auditor’s Role in Fighting Corruption in an Organisation â€Å"Auditors are the first set of gatekeepers in fighting corruption in an organisation† (Harding,2000,p.12). Auditors ensure that transactions are valid, at arms-length, captured, and properly recorded according to established  standards which contributes to the fight of corruption. Secondly, As professionals with a duty to protect the public interest, auditors are bound by rigorous codes of professional and personal ethics calling for the highest levels of integrity and objectivity. Again, with key strategic positions within an enterprise or organization; whether in an internal position or as an external position, mean that auditors very often have access to highly privileged and confidential information (Harding, 2000). Furthermore, as Balkaran (2000), puts it, the auditor helps in fighting corruption in an organisation through the performance of the respective functions on the bases of national and international standards of practice which have clear guidelines identifying, for instance, indicators of fraud and other irregularities, and reporting these to the highest levels of authorit y. Scaling down to the types of auditors, Balkaran (2000), outlines that, the revised response of internal auditing, places more responsibility on internal auditors in helping to fight corruption. After all, as the eyes and ears of management, they are there year-round, understand the operations of a business, and are bound by even more in-depth standards of performance and conduct. Moreover, the work of the internal auditor is often relied upon by the external (independent) auditors and therefore subject to more stringent requirements.