Saturday, August 31, 2019

Organizational Change & Leadership from a Systems Perspective Essay

There are many aspects to running a successful organization. The dream of running a business initially starts off as a vision in the mind of the founder. That vision materializes into the mission statement, and progresses on to becoming an organization worthy of being put into a business plan. After completion of the many administrative and legal steps required, one must make sure to hire good people. A successful business will start with positive human interaction. The people of the organization must have the skillset to progressively advocate, not only for the clients, but also for that of the organization. The members of our organization must have the ability to see the vision and the willingness to work hard to make the organization successful. I will discuss the leadership that will best benefit our dream organization based on our staff input. I will also discuss from a systems perspective what organizational force will energize human services to our staff and clients. I will ad dress the six functions that are salient which work together and contribute to the efficiency of the dream organization, and last, but not least, I will discuss the leadership role in the conceptual framework for human service management. I believe our dream organization to be diverse in all aspects. A diverse model would suit the needs of the community, but I would have to say both the diverse and visionary model would best accommodate the needs of all staff involved with the growth of the organization. As stated in an article I read, people often associate qualities to the leaders that are inherent in the personality of the leader. Credible leadership reflects concerns about image, professional appearances are key to success (Chin, 2011). Leaders need to acknowledge the challenges in making decisions in diverse organizations; â€Å"become more comfortable with tension and complexity†; one must be more strategic in their thinking, considering diversity issues in the context of mission, vision, and strategy (Lewis, Packard, & Lewis,  2012). The founder will set the example of behavior by encouraging respect for all staff members. Management will promote understanding of values and traditions from the diverse population the organization will provide service to. Strong leadership has a trickle-down effect. If our management team is strong, the staff will follow. A diverse leadership that has a vision to lead will show our clients that anything they put their mind to is attainable. Goals were set by each staff member and as a team we all brainstormed those goals to make sure they were attainable and met the needs of the organization. Our organization provides a service to the females of our community and it is important that we impact their lives by the examples we set as management. We will employ a diverse population of females from all aspects of life to support our organizational desire to provide needed services to our community. We will have interns from the college on site with hopes of being financially able to hire those showing to be outstanding with their volunteer ability. Staff will have input in how the operation is run. We will also give the client a chance to provide input as they work through our program. The life skill classes we will be providing will enhance the client’s desires and expectations in life. Leadership traits ideal to our agency are the task oriented Behaviors According to Lewis, Packard, and Lewis (2012). In order to run a successful organization a leader must have these traits and they are Intelligence: be able to run the organization, Self-confidence: must be confident in the work that is being done, Determination: the desire to get the job done persistence dominance and drive, Integrity, High energy level, tolerance for stress, social intelligence, emotional stability, sociability agreeableness and lastly conscientiousness material A leader must possess knowledge and understanding of the organization (Lewis, Packard, & Lewis, 2012) . The Contingency Theory of leadership theory basically suggest that there is no one way to lead and every situation is differently and the different behaviors are appropriate for different situations (Lewis, Packard, & Lewis, 2012). The systems perspective is full of subsystems according to Lewis, Packard, and Lewis (2012), all subsystems work together first with planning, budgeting, designing, staffing, supervising, evaluating which are all important to the systems. Without one you cannot proceed to the other (Lewis, Packard, & Lewis, 2012). Leadership must look at the  subsystems, and make sure the organization is on track. Management must make sure to have the proper skillset of employee in each department. All six sub-systems must work together to assure the success of the organization. One of the images in the reading showed leadership to be the center of the organization. Leadership is surrounded by designing, budgeting, staffing, supervising, planning, monitoring and evaluating. I would hold to that order and consider it a key to success. In conclusion, our dream organization will make sure we hold to the vision of the founder while keep the mission statement in mind as we provide service to the community. After reading the many different leadership styles available to various organizations, I have come to the conclusion that is to the advantage of the organization to input a little of all the various means of leadership into the organization in order to successfully run the organization. There is no right or wrong way and you must tweak the various leaderships in order to create the one that will best suit your organization. When we look at the system and the systems perspective and evaluated how they work, it is key that the leader manage them and understand how each system operates. Management must give positive direction and clear instruction as to what the outcome should be at any given stage. When each step of the system are completed accurately, and in order, you are setting the organization up to succeed References Chin, J. L. (2011). Women and Leadership; Transforming Visions and Current Contexts. Forum On Public Policy Online, 2. Retrieved from http://www.forumonpublicpolicy.com Lewis, J. A., Packard, T. R., & Lewis, M. D. (2012). Management of Human Service Programs (5th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.

Friday, August 30, 2019

PEST Analysis for a Company in the Tourism Industry Essay

The Tourism industry is one of the fastest growing industries in theworld. The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates that in 2004 Travel and tourism is expected to generate* US$ 5,490.4 billion of economic activity* 10.4% of total GDP* 214,697,000 jobs or 8.1% of total employment* 12.2% of total exports [1]My task is to conduct a PEST analysis for a company within the Tourismindustry. Within the tourism industry, I have to select one area of interestlike transportation, accommodation and transportation etc. and thenone company doing business with these sectors related with thetourism. According to Leiper ?Transportation is the only link between thetourist-generating region and destination region?[2]So, transportationwas a more interesting sector to discuss in the report but I tried tofind a company which is related with all these main sub-sectorsdiscussed above in the report. I have decided to look in the U.K market for such company because?Tourism is one of the largest industries in U.K, worth approximately75.9  £ Billion to the U.K economy in 2002 and supporting around 2.1million jobs.? [3]During my research on internet I found many companies offeringservices in the tourism of U.K but I have decided to choose ?SimplyTravel? because of its variety of services offering related with theaccommodation, transportation and attractions. 1.2 Problem FormulationIn the problem formulation part of my report I would describe theoverall situation of the U.K Tourism industry. The service concept of?Simply Travel? will give us information about the services providedby the company. I will find out about the customers, competitors ofthe company. I will find out what political, economical, social andtechnological factors affecting the company and its demand situation. 1.3 LimitationsThe biggest limitation for writing this report is time and the pagesto write. It is a broad topic and it could be better presented ifavailable more time and space to write about, but still I have triedto  highlight some main points raised during my finding. My knowledgeabout the company ?Simply Travel? is internet-based and I could notable to contact the company for further information. Due to the lackof information about the company I will only describe one component ofthe Service Management System. I will be describing only the OT partof the SWOT analysis. 1.4 MethodologyBeing inspired from the Service Management System I will describe theservice concept of the company .I will conduct a P.E.S.T analysis tofind out the political, economical, social and Technological factorsaffecting the company. From SWOT analysis, I was conducting OTanalysis to find opportunities for the ?Simply travel? in future. 1.5 DataI will use Secondary data collected from different industry reportsavailable on internet for my report. Data provided in conductingP.E.S.T analysis has been taken from www.statistics.gov.uk. Chapter 22.1 Simply Travel?s Service Concept[4]Established in 1978, Simply Travel has been providing travel solutionssince 26 years for the discerning travels who want more from theirholiday than just a decent tan. Not through the aggressive marketingtactics, but by providing an attractive alternative to mass-marketpackage holidays has lead ?Simply travel? to gain a big loyalty poolamong the holiday travellers. Mentioning about the core services provided by the, company provideshand- picked properties to meet the individual needs of its customers. Ski holidays, winter sun, Family holidays (special locations forfamily holidays with child care) helpful staff, peace of mind andsafety during the whole travel are the core services provided by thecompany. Unparalleled service, late availability, nannies for kids , pleasantexperiences for its customers are the peripheral services provided bythe company. 2.2 Service PackageService package provided by the company for different holiday travelsincludes all airport taxes, flights and transfers, accommodationincluding breakfast and meals and the service of its representatives. Chapter 33.1 CustomersHolidaymaking is the main reason that UK residents travel abroad. Asthe company deals with the both inbound and outbound tourism I willhave a brief look on the inbound and outbound market. Number ofoverseas visits by UK residents increased to 59.3 million in2002.Expenditures by these visitors, excluding international fares £27.07 billion-slightly higher than the total for the domestic market(which includes fares). Describing about the demographics of the customers, most of thecustomers are families with children and older people but latest trendhas been seen in the youth to take holidays. 3.1.1 Customers? Buying BehaviourContinued concerns over safety and security while travelling are foundin the customers for holiday travels. Tourists are increasingly buyingexperiences rather than a usual routine holiday. They try to find aparticular activity. The fuel blockades at U.K petrol stations, the events of 11thSeptember 2001, the foot and mouth outbreak, SARS and Iraqi war hashad continuous affect on the buying behaviour of UK market customers. Consumers are showing a continuing search for value for money fromtheir  holiday choices. Consumers expect more choice, individuality andvariety. 3.2 CompetitorsAggressive marketing by low cost airlines and internet bookingagencies present a big challenge for the holiday market. Airlines likeBritish Airways are offering customers to make their own travel plansthrough internet. Travel agents compete in variety of ways i.e. price,quality and the package itself. Companies offer special discountedpackages and also compete on branding. As there are hundreds oftravel agents in the U.K market so, it?s difficult to specify thecompetitors in the market. Travel select, Expedia, Travelocity, Ebookers and Thomas cook etc. are the big names in the market andoccupy the bigger part of holiday sales for the U.K customers. 3.3 MarketI can say that market is in a state of perfect competition and noindividual consumer and travel agent is in position to affect themarket. Key success factors for ?Simply Travel? are* Effectively segmented and targeted adventure travellers marketwithin the larger travel market. * Successfully positioned as travel specialists. * Personal interaction, media and marketing. * Repetition of customers, Loyalty pool3.4 PEST analysisTo assess the market for the business of ?Simply Travel? I willconduct PEST analysis to find out about the Political, Economic,Social and Technological factors in the external macro-environment. 3.4.1 Political FactorsPolitical arena has a huge influence upon the regulation of businesses.It includes government regulations and legal issues under whichbusinesses should operate. According to the findings, political environment of U.K. is quitestable. Issues like enlargement of European Union and war against terror havehad an  effect on the political stability of the government. In result of growing awareness of the environmental consequences, U.KGovernment is planning actions to ensure aviation reflects itsenvironmental impacts. Proposals are emerging for a tax on aviationfuel and VAT on air tickets. Government?s taxation policies and decision about the increasing thepetrol prices have affected the buying power of the individuals inU.K. The political decision as to whether a UK sign up to single Europeancurrency is again having an effect on the businesses. 3.4.2 Economic Factors Economic factors affect the purchasing power of potential customersand also affect the individual company’s offerings. U.K economy is benefiting form gradual low inflation rate. Inflationrate Inflation rate fell to 1.3% in February 2004. In U.K, unemployment is low. According to labour market statistics inJanuary 2004 fell down to 4.8 per cent. Job confidence is high andbecause of this confidence spending by consumer is also high. Predictions point to continuing GDP growth over the period averagingaround 2.4% a year (GDP rose by 0.9% in fourth quarter of 2003), withreal household disposable income rising at a somewhat faster rate. Household expenditures rose to 0.9 per cent with the increase indisposable income. The UK?s deficit on trade in goods and services in February 2004 stoodat  £3.2 billion ?compared with the revised deficit for January of  £4.4billion. Continued sales growth has been observed during the past few months inthe UK economy. Exchange rates are favourable for UK residents for travelling abroaddue to strong position of British Pound against the other foreigncurrencies. ?Euro? used as a single currency in many Europeancountries, is also stable against the other foreign currencies. Latest predictions for the UK economy suggest that it will remain oneof the strongest economies in the world over the next five years, withlow inflation (inflation fell to 1.3% during February 2004), lowunemployment and reasonable economic growth. The downside is that disparities between the wealthier parts of thecountry, not all in the south east of England, and pockets ofdeprivation, will get wider, with implications for travel demand. These are likely to influence the growth of the UK resident travelmarket. 3.4.3 Social FactorsA trend of getting internet access at home and buying online isdeveloping in the UK. According to statistics in September 2003, 11.9million households online were recorded. Listening to music or radio is a popular choice among the UKresidents.92% of people content to spend their evenings and weekendswatching TV or hired videos. To socialize, most people think toentertain family and friends at home rather than going out (79%). A great trend has been seen in U.K population about diet and healthissues in the recent years. This trend leads towards the need of morefitness clubs and organic food for the people from U.K Changes in thestructure of the population because of the immigrants from Europe,Asia and Africa etc. will also affect the supply and demands of goodswithin the U.K economy. Continued concerns over safety and security while travelling are foundin the U.K residents. Lifestyle changes have also been affecting the U.K travel market for anumber of years. Postponing the start of the family and an increase inthe number of households consisting of couples with two incomes arethe main trends toward the changing life style. Changing fashions,which are difficult to predict also have an affect on the market. 3.4.4 Technological FactorsThe rapid development of technology is affecting the businesses in UKand all over the world. Changes in the technology have changed the waybusinesses operate i.e. Internet booking for tickets and holidays. Faster changing development in technology creates a need to reactquickly for different businesses in order they want to maintain thecompetitive environment by providing the same innovative services,which their competitors are offering. Distribution of products by the use of technologies e.g. marketinginformation systems, customer relationship management are also commonpractices with different businesses for effective services to theircustomers. Chapter 44.1 Impacts on demand situationFindings from the PEST analysis will enable me to comment on theimpacts on the demand situation of the customers of the ?SimplyTravel?. ElasticitiesChanges in the quantity demanded due to change in price and income arevery important for the tourism industry. Rising disposable incomeamong the UK residents is the positive indication for the ?SimplyTravel? that people will have enough money to buy company?s products. However, Government?s fiscal policies for tax on aviation fuel and VATon air tickets will impact the company?s supply of services at thesame rate. Higher prices of the tour packages will lead to lesserdemand among the UK residents. Cross-Price ElasticitiesNot only a price change in the UK due to taxes is important but alsothe price of the facilities in other destinations where  company servesis also important. For example rising prices in Italy, Spain etc. fordifferent tourism related products will also make supply of productsexpensive for the tourists. TrendsLatest trends of home- entertainment and more awareness about the dietand health-issues does also have an impact on the demand of thetourist. Company will have to compile the Supplies of servicespackages with variety of facilities available according toindividual?s choice, so it can make supply of the products a bitexpensive for the customers. Purchasing methodGrowing direct purchases of holiday packages from airlines will impactthe demand situation .Buying the package direct from suppliers i.e. Hotels, air lines will decrease the demand of the tourists. Moreover, low inflation rate and high employment rate and favourableexchange rate will increase the buying power of the tourists so itwill increase the demand in British holiday travellers for the holidaytravels abroad. 4.2 OT analysisTo find opportunities and threats from the external environment forthe ?Simply Travel?, I will conduct the OT analysis. 4.2.1 OpportunitiesOpportunities exist for ?Simply Travel? in expanding the servicepackage according to the latest trends such as* Packages with individual concerned Diet and health matters* Adding particular activities for the tourists, providingexperiences* Providing more choice, individuality and variety. And providing the real value for the money of the tourists. 4.2.1 ThreatsCheap airlines adding facilities for the travellers to make their owntravel plan is the biggest threat for the company. Government?s decision to add taxes on aviation fuel and VAT for airlines are also a main threat for the company. Latest trends of home entertainment i.e. listening radio, watching TV,Inviting family and friends are also threatening the company. Terrorist attacks like 9/11 is also a big threat for the company. Chapter 5ConclusionI conclude my report by saying that the Holiday Travel market in UK isin a state of perfect competition. Though there are positive signs inthe economy for present and near future and buying power of theindividuals is increasing day by day but still ?Simply Travel ? is in need to expand its service package according to the latest trends. ———————————————————————[1] http://www.wttc.org/2004tsa/frameset2a.htm[2] Tourism, principles and practices,2nd edition,pp5[3] www.staruk.org.uk[4] The information used in describing the service concept and servicepackage of ?Simply travel? are obtained from www.simply-travel.com.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Answering Question Number One

Go Ahead Enterprises started as a company and made itself famous through its unique metal toys. The company was able to establish a national reputation for their product.   Its strength lies in having a manufacturing plant which produces the toys. However, as competition intensified, the company thinkers decided to overhaul the system and to go for more profit. This re-invention of the company was successful but only for a time. The atmosphere changed and soon the company found itself wondering where to start again.   Go Ahead Enterprises evolved from a manufacturing organization into a marketing one. This made the significant over-turn of the company, which sadly, was an unforeseen suicidal path. The company reduced its number of employees and moved to the city where it could market toys. It has stopped manufacturing its own metal toys. It sold its manufacturing plant. This decision was a critical one since the company never realized its important resource- the plant itself. Having a manufacturing plant is one key for sustainability.   Plus, the company is sure that each metal toy manufactured is at its best. Quality is assured. The demands or orders for the products can be handled easily since Go Ahead Enterprises supervises its own operation. Selling the manufacturing plant was an unwise move. Losing a great deal number of people is also critical since they are the company’s best asset. Letting go of competent and trained staff or employees is a loss to the company, too. People are one great resource that brings additional investments and profit. However, cutting knowledgeable and skilled employees off from the company may also result to downfall. The company’s big bosses’ decision to source instead of manufacturing its own metal toys became a major disappointment in the long run. Go Ahead Enterprises created a niche for itself in the market. Changing the position of that niche affects the company. What Go Ahead Enterprises did was to create another niche for itself by turning into a marketing company. It used to produce metal toys under its brand name.   But since the big bosses decided to make a complete overhaul, the company lost its niche as the manufacturer of metal toys. The company leaders’ decision was enough to ruin the company unintentionally.   On organisational level, they have induced the change. What they failed to see is the long-term effect of that decision. They saw profits coming in like never before. But an initial success is not a guarantee of future sustainability and growth. The company leaders never saw that right and noble decisions may sometime lead to a bitter path.   They should have seen the consequences first before jumping to conclusion and endanger the company’s growth, position in the market and quality of products. On the other hand, environmental factors do play a big part. Globalization floods the market with cheap products. This resulted to steeping competition and fight for consumers’ favor. Globalization made the market more diversified with more choices and alternatives. The consumers are left confused, bewildered and happy. The consumers are happy because influx of goods means affordability. They get to choose the products which suit their purse. Yet, cheap goods are sometimes made of inferior quality. Satisfaction is still an issue. There are consumers who still opt to buy branded products even if it is priced higher than the usual ones. Better to spend much than to be sorry, so they say. Go Ahead Enterprises banked on globalisation and joined the bandwagon to keep itself on top of the game. It imitated other companies which are also changing their company’s course to accommodate changes. The environmental change brought by globalization has transformed, but not necessarily improved Go Ahead Enterprises. Losing the company’s niche, its manufacturing plant and its key people brought the company lower than what it used to be. Go Ahead should have maintained its manufacturing and strengthened its niche in the market. The leaders should have come up with more strategies rather than adopting a strategic plan, which in the end, brought more harm than profit. The company must focus on its vision and keep the main thing â€Å"the main thing† (Hybels 2002). In this case, Go Ahead Enterprises' fate will be on its feet again if it will re-align its strength, assets, priorities, and focus on the main thing. It may not be money or profit but company reputation and sustainability. List of References Hybels, B. 2002, Courageous Leadership, Zondervan Publishing, Michigan.                     

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Recommendations for Data Warehouse Concept Speech or Presentation

Recommendations for Data Warehouse Concept - Speech or Presentation Example In the process of using these technologies, these organizations will have the opportunity to increase the rate of production and quality products, hence, better services to their clients. In the process of using various techniques of information technology, organizations should make sure that they define problems on the ground by identifying some of the impacts of the situation to the organization. The organization should also make sure that they allocate funds for the development of the project in the process of system development and implementations are completed in time. In addition, organizations should make sure that they involve various members of the organization in system development and implementation in order for the organization to avoid the rejection of the system during the testing process by the users. Therefore, it is good for organizations to make use of this technological advancement in order to produce better services to their customers. Introduction Following the i ntroduction of information technology in the business market, it has resulted to various impacts in business organizations in relations to various activities of the organization. ... ses communication in various organizations because through the technology advancement, these organizations are able to coordinate by having easy communication among them. These communications are kept easy because they are in the position of having easy, faster and low cost communications, especially through the internet as compared to the manual system of communications such as postal services that were expensive and were not good for instance decision making as they took time to pass information from one location to another. Moreover, through the use of information technology, business organization information is kept safely as the information access are controlled through a database system with governs by rules and regulations that controls access to the information. Description of Data Warehouse There are various activities that take place in every organization in order for the processing of services to be completed. Therefore, there is the need for data collection, data analysis , and process and data storage in regards to the organization. Not all the available data are public, therefore, there are some of the data that are private and need to be kept safely from un-authorize users. In order for any organization to be in the position of keeping their information safely, there is a need for the introduction of the data warehouse (Haggerty & Meister, 2003). Data Warehouse is a form of database system that help various organizations in the collection of data, data analysis, data reporting and storage of data safely so that they stored data can only be available to genuine users. Therefore, this is the central position that helps users to integrate data from various sources for them to be analyzed for the accurate outputs to be generated. Data analysis involves

Miranda rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Miranda rights - Essay Example On July 15, 2003, the California Supreme Court unanimously overturned a murder conviction "based on confessions gained by the deliberate violation of a suspected killer's Miranda rights." (Law 2003). Justice Marvin Baxter was very firm in his opinion that officers have an absolute obligation to "play by the rules when questioning suspects in custody and that their deliberate failure to do so will be severely disciplined." (Law 2003). Kenneth Ray Neal was convicted of second degree murder for the 1999 strangulation murder of his friend and housemate Donald Collins. Neal was subsequently sentenced to fifteen years to life in prison. Neal was an obviously uneducated eighteen year old, and Detective Mario Martin deliberately continued to question Neal even after he asked for a lawyer nine times. After spending a night in jail the eighteen year old sought Detective Martin out and confessed to the murder. The California Supreme Court decided that Neal's decision to re-contact Martin was "involuntary" based specifically on the detective's deliberate violate of Neal's Miranda rights, his youth, inexperience and low intelligence. They further cited "promises and threats made by Martin and the fact that Neal was isolated and deprived of food and water while in jail." (Law 2003). The California Supreme Court further stated that "the consequence of the officer's misconduct-the absolute inability to introduce the confessions at trial-is severe, but is intended to deter other officers from engaging in misconduct of this sort in the future." (Law 2003). The California Attorneys for Criminal Justice made a strong argument that officers around the country are being taught to ignore Miranda with the hope of getting evidence to impeach the accused. Many times when an officer has just elicited a confession to a crime he has a sinking sensation when he realizes he inadvertently violated Miranda. If the crime was serious and the suspect's statement absolutely crucial to proving the case that sinking feeling will soon turn into panic. Many officers, when caught in this scenario will offer up the suspect's Miranda rights, and simply start over as though there had been no violation at all. (Miranda 2004). The suspect, having already confessed, rarely realizes the tactics until it is too late. In the case of Oregon v. Elstad a sheriff's deputy arrested eighteen year old Michael Elstad in his home on a burglary warrant, and without obtaining a Miranda waiver, the deputy asked Elstad if he knew the victim of the burglary. Elstad agreed that he did in fact know the victim. The deputy then stated that he believed Elstad to be a party to the break-ins and Elstad admitted "I was there." Later, once Elstad was at the sheriff's office, he waived his Miranda rights and confessed. The issue became whether the subsequent confession should have been allowed as the first statement Elstad made regarding being at the scene of the burglary was elicited without proper Miranda warning. The court pointed out that "failure to warn-which it termed a "technical" violation-differs in significant respects from constitutional violations which have traditionally mandated a broad application of the

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Agriculture Policy in Saudi Arabia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Agriculture Policy in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example The Saudi government also embarked on a water impounding projects so as to get the full use of the four inches of rain they receive annually. Water is also obtained from deep wells and desalinization projects the main goals of this is to provide sufficient water for agriculture, industrial uses and also clean water for consumption by humans, Hence wastewater is treated and used for industrial and agricultural purposes and this has greatly helped in the transformation of deserts into fertile farmland. These desalinization plants have been put up to produce fresh water from the sea for industrial and urban use hence freeing up other sources of water for agricultural purposes. Dams have also been set up to trap seasonal floods. Agricultural research stations have also been set up by the government to aid the farmers figure out ways to adopt and improve their farming methods into the harsh desert climate (Daryll E Ray 2005).Apart from the ministry of agriculture other government agencies like the Saudi Arabian Agricultural Bank (SAAB), grants interest free loans, disburses subsidies. The grain silos and flour mills organization that buys and store wheat.The private sector has also come in and partnered with the government of Saudi Arabia to play in a big role in the offering of long term interest free loans, free seeds and fertilizer, technical and support services to the farmers, low cost fuel, electricity and water and the duty free imports of raw materials and machinery.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Attend a live concert( this year) and report on it. You must include Essay

Attend a live concert( this year) and report on it. You must include proof of your attendance - Essay Example Record responses to the performances in the concert. What was good or bad and what made it so? Be specific. If it was a group concert, how did the performers work as an ensemble? ?What kinds of themes, messages or ideas came across to you in the concert? What did the experience cause you to think about or feel? ?Comment on the visual impact of the concert: setting, lights, concert dress, movement. How did these add to or detract from the mood and power of the music? What did you notice about audience behavior? (500 words) The date of the concert is on Monday, March 28th, 2011, at 8 p.m. PDT. The location of the concert is at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The performer was Lady GaGa. I loved this performance. It was dynamic, fun, engaging, and it was everything I was hoping for in a concert. The general style of the music was poppy (a la pop music similar to something that Madonna, JLo, Mariah Carey, or Britney Spears might put out). There were some cultural implicati ons that were related to the work done in class. I realized how much our society has become so highly sexualized. That is definitely apparent in the music of Lady GaGa. Her music is soaked with sexual innuendo. Her show just reeks of sultry seductiveness. She has the allure of a porn star and the stage presence of a pole dancer. No one can ignore Lady GaGa’s amazing power which draws you in, like a tide drawn to the Supermoon.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Expansion Joints Issues and Concepts PowerPoint Presentation

Expansion Joints Issues and Concepts - PowerPoint Presentation Example Some structures would not support ground movements such as earthquakes leading to destruction of buildings and bridges. This led to the idea of expansion joints that would later solve the problem (Rosignoli, 2002). Functions of expansion joints The main function of expansion joints is to safely absorb the high temperatures of various construction materials as a result of the constant expansion and contraction. As explained earlier the contraction and expansion is due to the changing weather conditions (Brown, 2001). The expansion joints therefore make structures to remain intact thereby they become safe for public use. There are many types of expansion joints and each is designed to solve a specific problem though the purpose or function still comes back to absorbing stress to avoid damage. Types of Expansion joints used in bridges in Australia Bridge expansion joints are joints that are designed to allow traffic to cross the bridge structure while at the same time permitting the mov ement of the bridge deck due to thermal effects, wind, traffic loading, seismic effects among others. The joints should provide a watertight connection for the lifetime of the bridge as the lack of it could reduce the durability of the main bridge structure that may result in the need for major remedial works. These kinds of joints are rather unique because of their relatively delicate construction and severe loading conditions and therefore need to be replaced several times during the life time of the bridge (Gottermoeller, 2004). Bridge expansion joints can be broadly classified into two types: open joints and closed joints. The open joints are not water proof. Water and debris are allowed to fall through the joints. The water erodes the soil under the structure, strains the bent cap and columns, is detrimental to adjacent steel girders, diaphragms, bearings and is a nuisance to any traffic under the structure. The closed joints on the other hand are water proof and have become an alternative to open joints due to the many advantages that they provide (Blockley, 2010). There are three most common types of open joints used in Australia. The butt joints provide an open space between adjacent edges of the deck. They are used where the movements are of a rotational nature or where the thermal movements are small. The edges are usually protected with metallic armor which is subject to corrosion (Lima, 2006). The open space frequently fills with debris making the joint less effective. Period maintenance is mandatory to clear up the joint and the debris. The second type is the plate joint which accommodate greater movements than the butt joints, usually between one and three inches. A sealant is placed in the joint that prevents some water from passing through. It also prevents the accumulation of debris that can make the joint ineffective. The third type of joint is the tooth joint or the finger joint (Gottermoeller, 2004). They are usually used on long bridges to accommodate large movements. They are usually placed in the span near the point of contra flexure. Drains are placed to prevent drainage across the joint if feasible. In some areas they are provided with a drainage system to collect the water passing through. These joints are used where water and debris passing through cannot damage anything below the bridge. The performance of these joints

Saturday, August 24, 2019

PESTLE analysis for the LUKoil company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

PESTLE analysis for the LUKoil company - Essay Example Theoretical view of LUKOIL In monitoring of the company’s macro-environmental or external marketing factors, the analysis would help in shedding light on some of the factors that have an impact on Lukoil Company. As a major market player, Lukoil Company operates through four operating segments. These are the exploration and production part, the process of refining, Marketing and Distribution, chemicals segment, and power generation segment (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 2003, p. 23). This comes through exploration of natural resources in order to produce crude oil and natural gas. The expansion of this company extends its interests in operational zones by holding properties in Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, South America, South East Asia, the Middle East, and North and western Africa (Kotok & Sciarretta 2010, p. 78). The success of Lukoil depends on its versatility to navigate the political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors surrounding its operations, since it is an international corporation cutting across the business world. PESTEL ANALYSIS Political and Economical factors The political factors stem from the extend of the government’s policies in intervening the economy by either through political stability or instability, foreign trade, tax policy, labour laws, in addition, trade restriction. Since Lukoil is an international corporation, its operation, and success cut through many political realms and may certainly influence how the company does business (International Business Publications, USA 2011, p. 23). It is therefore the mandate of the Lukoil Company to respond to the current and potential legislations in order to adjust their market policy accordingly. The profitability of Lukoil Company largely relies on its economic factors (Plunkett 2008, p. 120). There are macro-economical factors like economic growth, interest rates, inflation, and disposal income of consumers, exch ange rates, and businesses. The oil product profits and losses that this company derives from diverse contexts of its markets come with the way the management of demand goes on in the respective economies of operation. This varies, as different countries especially in the East, cannot compare their economy with countries of the West like USA. How well Lukoil adjusts itself to the governments’ mechanism such as interest rate control, taxation policy and government expenditure determines their gain or loss in the economies of investments. Social and Technological factors There are also social cultural factors in the regions with the highest Lukoil investment, which influence a lot on its operations. Many regions have different beliefs, and shared attitudes within their population. Compare the social factors of Eastern Europe and those of East and South Asia and this would culminate in the way the consumption of products do range of different contexts (Marinova & Marinov 2003, p . 104). The large influence of this will depend on the region’s population growth, health consciousness, age distribution, and career aptitude. The marketers of Lukoil have no choice other than understand their global customers and their preferences. The way Lukoil markets its products have to

Friday, August 23, 2019

Immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Immigration - Essay Example In the Western Countries, the magnitude of immigration has been comparatively high, and the example of America will effectively illustrate the altitude of international immigration. â€Å"All Americans are immigrants or descendants of immigrants. We may not often think of ourselves this way, but the description is literally and absolutely true, because everyone who has ever lived in America came from someplace else.† (Purcell, xi) Therefore, immigration is a global reality, and the facts and figures of international immigration illustrate how crucial this issue is. It is essential to comprehend that the reasons and benefits of immigration are closely related in the contemporary context, because it is mainly due to the benefits of immigration that people move their place of residence from a particular country to another, permanently. The most fundamental benefits of immigration include economic gains, progress of cultural diversity, improvement in the standard of living of immi grants, a younger workforce, and skilled workers.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Maintaining Systems & Upgrades Essay Example for Free

Maintaining Systems Upgrades Essay Utility software are computer programs designed to manage and tune up the computer OS and hardware. They prevent or reduce problems by diagnosing and correcting the faults before it gets worse. Some of the main utility programs are described below: Disk De-Fragmenter A de-fragmenter scans for fragmented computer files and move them together to increase efficiency. It reduces the amount of fragmented files in a computer system. It tidies up the hard-drive reusing the space more efficiently after a disk cleanup. Defragmentation’s result will be the best if it’s carried out after a disk cleanup, as all the unwanted files will be deleted. The application can be loaded from the control panel or from All programs/Accessories/System Utilities from the Start Menu. Clicking on the Analyse button on the application window shows the estimated disk usage after defragmentation. We can then choose to defragment the disk by clicking on the Defragment button. Screen shots of the defragmentation process are displayed below: image00. png image01. png The screen shot above shows the result of the process. Antivirus Antivirus software prevents and removes Viruses, Worms and Trojans from the computer. Most of the antivirus software comes with built in spyware, adware and malware removal tools. Antivirus software uses different methods to detect viruses; Signature based detection, Malicious activity detection and Heuristic based detection. Signature based detection is the most common way of antivirus and other malware detection. The software traces the virus by spotting the signature. The software manufactures collect profiles and signature information of the virus in the form of DAT files. These files will be downloaded by the antivirus software through updates and will be used to detect new malwares. This makes it essential to keep the antivirus software up-to-date and to run virus scans periodically. Firewall Firewall is a utility designed to prevent unauthorised access to from a private network. It prevents unauthorised internet users from accessing private networks connected to the internet. All the packet data entering and leaving the computer is examined when it passes through the firewall and will be blocked if the packet data do not meet the security criteria. Firewalls build a protective environment around computers that are connected to a network. Firewall uses four different types of techniques to block unauthorised access. They are: Packet Filter : Packet filter scans each packet of data entering or leaving a network and block them if they are not based on the user-defined rules. This kind of filtering is an effective method to prevent unauthorised access. Application Gateway : Application gateway applies security measures to applications like FTP and Telnet Servers. This is another effective firewall technique, but it really affects the performance of the network. Circuit-Level Gateway: Circuit-level Gateway applies mechanisms when a TCP connection is established. Once the connection is made packets can flow between hosts without further checking. Proxy Server : This technique is used to intercept all messages entering and leaving the network. The proxy server hides the real network address. Formatting Formatting is the process of preparing a hard disk or a storage medium to store data. Formatting a disk involves two major process: High Level formatting and Low Level formatting. Physical formatting(low-level) Low-level formatting is the process of outlining the position of tracks and sector on hard-drives and other storage media. All the data in a drive will be lost permanently after a low-level formatting is done. A low-level formatting is generally done by the BIOS rather than the Operating System. Logical formatting (high-level) High-level formatting is the process of setting up an empty file system on the disk and installing a boot sector. As this process takes only a little time it is commonly known as Quick Format. In this process the disk also have the option to scan the entire disk for potential defects which may take several hours depending on the size of the medium. Below is a screen shot of a Quick Formatting.image02. png Disk Cleanup The Disk Cleanup tool helps to free up space on the hard disk by searching disk for files that can safely delete. You can choose to delete some or all of the files. Disk cleanup tool can be used to perform the following task to free up space in a hard-drive. Remove temporary Internet files. Remove downloaded program files. For example, ActiveX controls and Java applets that are downloaded from the Internet. Empty the Recycle Bin. Remove Windows temporary files. Remove optional Windows components that you are not using. Remove installed programs that you no longer use.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Small and Medium Scale Business Marketing Strategies and Ideas Essay Example for Free

Small and Medium Scale Business Marketing Strategies and Ideas Essay Also, I will like to thank my parents for their immense provision and support. I will like to appreciate Pressy Ebimobowei Waratimi the Deputy CEO and founder of Rakeone Music, Rakeone Films and Rakeone TV for his immense support. I like to thank Slimface Ebiye Romeo the CEO of Romeos Artisthood. My express deep gratitude goes to my lovely friends Midian-Dicey Biyen, Kio Mikietuoniso, Gabriel Alari Benson, Samuel Oluku, Itong Washington Uwowa, Babema Tonye Amaye with others too numerous to mention. DEDICATION This book is dedicated to God Almighty. COPYRIGHT RESERVED I would be revealing to you in this free article various strategies on how to go about marketing your business to your business area, city, state, country and the world at large. The essence of this, is to fetch you many customers inorder to boost your income. I would be revealing to you also, online business marketing (E marketing) strategies. One of the smartest things a small or medium business owner can do for their business is to take the time to develop a marketing plan that will set them apart from their competitors. MARKETING PLAN One of the smartest things a small or medium business owner can do for their usiness is to take the time to develop a marketing plan that will set them apart from their competitors. A marketing plan clearly outlines how you will reach your ideal clients by effectively implementing your marketing strategy. You can choose marketing strategies below to make up your marketing plan. 1 MARKETING STRATEGIES AND IDEAS The various strategies and ideas on how to go about marketing your small or medium scale business are therefore explained below; MARKETING MATERIALS 1. Create or update your business cards. 2. Make your business card stand out from the rest. 3. Create or update your brochure fliers and stickers. . Create your website, wordpress or a blogspot. 5. Create a digital version of your brochure for your website, wordpress or blogspot. IN-PERSON NETWORKING 1. Register and attend a business conference. 2. Introduce yourself to other local business owners. 3. Plan a local business workshop or conference to showcase your product or service. 4. Rent a booth at a trade show and showcase your product. ADVERTISING 1. Advertise on the radio: Many people think it is very expensive to advertise on the radio. I assure you it is definitely not, why not go and take a survey at various Radio Stations. 2. If you have the money you can advertise on a billboard. 3. Use stickers to advertise on your car, or you can give to people to put on their cars. 2 4. Advertise in your local news paper. You can go for a cheap rate; it’s not all that expensive. 5. Advertise on a local TV station. COUPONS AND INCENTIVES Coupon simply means a voucher or ticket entitling the holder to a discount off a particular product. According to www. businessdictionary. com Incentive simple means a monetary gift or bonus given to an employee based on his or her performance, which is thought of as one way to entice the employee to continue delivering positive results. . Start a contest. 2. Create a coupon. 3. Create a buyer reward program by using the created coupon. 4. Give out free gifts mostly towards the end of the year. RELATIONSHIP BUILDING 1. Send out a customer satisfaction survey. 2. Help promote or volunteer your time for charity event. 3. Send birthday sms or holiday sms to your clients. EMPLOYEE B EHAVIOUR 1. Train your staffs on how to welcome, approach and be of a good behaviour to your clients. This will go a long way to bring more clients. 3 OFFICE OR SHOP APPEARANCE The appearance of your office or shop should be arranged well and not in a scattered manner you know what I mean. Your office or business premises should be painted with a very nice colour and should be repainted if the painted is faded or dirtied. SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING 1. Get started with social media for business. 2. Create a facebook page. 3. Create a twitter account. 4. Create a facebook group. 5. Create a facebook ad (they do charge money). 6. Create account on different online forums, e. g. www. advertise. ng. com, www. nigerianbusinessforums. com, www. gnbo. com. ng, www. nairaland. com, www. naijagreen. com www. hopenigeria. com, www. nairaland. com, www. forumotion. com, www. nigerianbestforum. com, www. ebsitenigera. com, www. allnigeriansites. com, www. newnigerians. com, www. allnigeria. com, www. perfspot. com, www. nigerdeltaforum. com, www. nairasource. com, www. boomdizzle. com, www. veengle. com, www. zimbio. com, www. naijavoice. com, www. vanguardngr. com, www. allnaija. com, www. afroterminal. com, www. naijafinder. com, www. onlinenigeria. com, www. nigerianwebsuccess. com, www. naijaurban. com, www. naijaelites. com, www. naijacyberforum. com, www. habnaija. com, www. gistmania. com All you need do is to create an account†¦. log unto it†¦. go to business forum†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦click on it and click on start new topic†¦.. Post about your 4 business†¦.. don’t forget to include your phone number and email. INTERNET MARKETING 1. Create account with www. youtube. com 2. Upload your business video advertisement (The one you give to TV stations): Steps – After creating account with youtube†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Log unto youtube with your email and password†¦. look around the website you will see upload†¦.. click on it†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦a screen will show up asking you to choose a file, go to where you save the video file and click ok†¦.. enter a title†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. after upload is finished you will be given a link†¦.. you can copy and paste the link to your facebook wall, page and group. . Online Business Directory Listings: All you need do is to go to the various online business directories listing 5 websites that I will give to you below, you can find more yourself. Each country has their own. Online business directory listing is an online business website showing different kin ds of businesses, companies, firms (including their various info, addresses, phone numbers, etc). With these an individual can go to this websites to look for a company that can do a specific job for him or her, take the phone number and call or can take your address and locate your office. Online business directory will drive some of its visitors to your business. Note: One of the workers of the websites might contact you inorder to get some info from you before your company, business, firm can be listed in their websites. This is free of charge. The websites are; www. vconnect. com, www. nigerianyellowpages. com, www. onlinebusinessdirectorynigeria. com, www. nigeriangalleria. com, 5 www. lagosdirectoryonline. com, www. mynigeriareview. com, www. nigeriapagesonline. com, www. uknigeriabusinesses. com, www. nigerianbusinesspages. com, www. ngclassified. om, www. naijaonlinemart. com, www. finelib. com. EMAIL MARKETING 1. Have an email list of your clients 2. Start and send a free monthly email newsletter to your emails. CONCLUSION: You can make your marketing plan by choosing any of the various marketing strategies. If you can afford, you can do hire a marketing consultant, public relations professional, internet guru, etc to help you in the given marketing strategies. THE END Thanks for reading, I hope this will go a long way in helping you plan for your Business Marketing. GOD BLESSES YOU Contact me via 08136194354 6

An Environmental Risk Assessment Environmental Sciences Essay

An Environmental Risk Assessment Environmental Sciences Essay All over the world, rapid industrial development of metropolitan cities have always resulted in a growth in population and also in the general increase of the size of municipal solid waste generated. The management of municipal solid waste, if not handled properly, will lead to various problems now and in the future. Developed countries in the world have, to a large extent succeeded in handling their waste using various principles and methods. From suitable collection methods to technologically advanced disposal methods, they have made sure that municipal solid waste has been effectively controlled in their cities. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about other developing countries of the world. Developing countries such as Nigeria are still battling with municipal solid waste management. As a direct result of the oil boom, Port Harcourt city, the capital of Rivers State, Nigeria (which is the case study of this research work) has experienced a major rural- urban migration. The population has almost tripled over the years. This has, in turn, led to a massive increase in the sheer volume of solid waste generated within the city.. Approximately 168,201 tonnes of solid waste are produced in the city of Port Harcourt every year and waste disposal has not been effectively handled. Residents resort to indiscriminate discarding of their waste at every given opportunity The most common means of waste disposal in the city by the public are mainly by dumping the refuse by the road, burning the refuse in the open air in their compounds, littering it openly on street corners and also dumping them in rivers and streams and drainage systems. These methods of waste disposal contribute greatly to the degradation of the environment in so many ways. However, very little is done to reuse and recycle the solid waste generated. Research shows that a huge percentage of the public do not recycle and reuse their wastes which indicates that the awareness level of the public about reuse and recycling of waste in Port Harcourt city is very low and offers a lot of prospect for improvement. This study therefore investigates the reasons why proper waste disposal methods are neglected by residents of Port Harcourt. It also seeks to discover why the method of Reuse and Recycle of waste is not getting the awareness and Government support it greatly deserves. Recommendations were made about strategies that will allow the government and stakeholders involved to advance on modern methods of waste Reuse and Recycling as a core aspect of municipal solid waste management in the city. Through the use of data collated via questionnaires, it was gathered that a majority of respondents agree that reuse and recycling of waste can positively impact the environment, create revenue and also employment opportunities. It reconnoitres the link between reuse and recycling of solid waste as a means to create revenue and to ultimately achieve sustainable development in the future. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF STUDY According to Shah (2000), solid waste is defined as any material that is unwanted or thrown away. The general community views waste as something worthless that should be destroyed or thrown away. As such, proper disposal of waste has constituted huge disposal problems. People commonly dump their household solid waste on the road side, unapproved dumpsites and illegal landfills. This has brought about untold environmental pollution as well as major setbacks in societal development (Mbata 2010). Waste in general is a threat to the environment, because of its negative environmental impacts that result from littering, dumping of wastes illegally, and greenhouse gas emissions (Hosetti 2006). Waste contaminates ground water and can cause serious health hazards if not handled and managed properly. In developing countries like Nigeria and indeed Africa in general, industrial development has enhanced the problems of rapid urbanization. In Nigeria today, solid waste management is one of the principal problems faced by the state and local government authorities in Nigeria. Solid waste management in Nigeria is basically pigeon-holed by ineffective collection and disposal methods (Ogwueleka 2009). As such, Ogu (2000) observed that solid waste management continues to remain a formidable challenge to most developing countries. The progression of civilization in developing nations such as Nigeria has greatly enhanced waste generation; making it even more complex to handle (Jayarama, 2011). Owing to the growing population of Nigeria, the volume of waste produced is also increasing in metropolitan cities like Port Harcourt, especially as it is an oil producing area and the exploration of oil has led to an increase in movement of people from rural to urban areas (Odiba, 2009). This rapid expansion of key cities in Nigeria, like Port Harcourt, has led to the dilapidation of the environment mostly by domestic waste (Onyinlola, 2005). According to UNEP (2009) population growth and industrialization has resulted in rapid increase in the types and volume of solid waste generated therein. Research shows that relocation of the people from rural to urban areas does not only increase the revenue of the country, but also increases the total volume of municipal solid waste generated in such areas. (Adedokun, 2009). Municipal solid waste disposal methods are an aspect that raises serious concern in a third world country such as Nigeria. The common methods of solid waste disposal in some countries especially Nigeria is by landfill, open dumping on the streets, and by burning the waste in backyards or in an open space. Unfortunately, roughly 65% of household wastes are dumped straight into rivers or streams in Nigeria (Rakshit 2009). The use of dumpsites and landfills as waste disposal systems is yet another common means of waste disposal in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This leads to very negative environmental impacts such as the emission of methane gas which contributes essentially to global warming and also reduces the amount of land available for development (Olowomeye 2010). Dumping of waste in landfills also leads to ground water contamination of the entire surrounding areas. Okosun(2011) also observed that uncontrolled dumping of wastes by roadsides results in various health hazards and reduces the aesthetic quality of the environment. Through research shows that the problems associated with waste disposal can be traced back to the 14th century when the littering of food waste and other solid wastes in the town led to the outbreak of diseases that caused the death of half of the Europeans at the time (Bortoleto 2011). Over the years, research has continually shown that the main reason for solid waste problems in urban areas of developing nations is due to high population growth rates and the prevailing poverty (Affun 2009). The economic and social growth of a country or city always results in increased production and manufacturing activities. This, in turn, leads to activities that are synonymous with human existence such as production, manufacturing, waste generation and disposal. As a direct result of the processes of manufacturing and disposal of consumables, there is a significant increase of the rate of pollution. This depletes valuable natural resources and also releases toxic energy which pollutes the environment, making sustainable development impossible to achieve. Sustainability as a word has always been used in our everyday lingo. According to Hideroni (2006) it is defined in a perspective of natural environmental protection, population growth and economic gap between developed and developing countries. Sustainable development entails an environmentally comprehensive, cost effective and socially suitable management of solid waste (Roberts, 2003). Sustainable development is a theory that has to be integrated into the everyday lives of the populace if we want to achieve a better quality of life for our unborn children (Dernbach, 2002). In the recordings of the International Council for Local Initiatives(ICLI),sustainable development is such that provides environmental, social and economic amenities to all citizens of the society without disrupting the capability of the natural built social systems upon which the delivery of these services depend on. The main aim of sustainable development is to regenerate the badly damaged environment and ensur e that generations unborn do not face the adverse effects of our neglect on the environment. Therefore, solid waste management with sustainable development in mind encourages countries to generate less waste, re-use most consumables, recycle and try their utmost best to recover and reuse all the waste produced, thereby ensuring that the future generation are not affected by the impacts of the current generation (Mbata 2010). Sustainable development is a concept that needs to be taken into attention for effective waste management. With regards to this, countries all over the world including Nigeria, are striving to achieving sustainability (Hasheela, 2009). Therefore, all necessary steps and precautions should be taken to achieve this goal PROBLEM STATEMENT Having a population of over 165million people and an annual growth rate of 5.6%, Nigeria is considered the largest country in Africa. Growth rate of urban areas in Nigeria has increased from 25% in 1975 to 46% in 1995(George,2010) Estimates by the World Bank indicate that by the year 2005, more than 65% of Nigerians would have migrated to urban areas such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, Delta, Calabar and Abuja (Alkali, 2005). The cause for this relocation is essentially due to oil exploration activities of oil companies in these areas. As a result of this, the wastes generated from these areas have been on the increase and its disposal and effective management is a huge challenge to the government and municipalities involved. It can be observed that the major problem associated with solid waste management comes about due to the large heaps of refuse dumped illegally by the road sides and market places (Odiba 2003). As horrid as it sounds, it is still common practise in Nigeria to dump wast e illegally without thinking of the impact of such practices on our environment. Waste management problems in Nigerian cities according to (Ogwueleka 2009) are typically associated with lack of concern and participation from the general public. He further stated that most of the waste policies are made without putting the public, who are the main waste generators, into thought. The manner, in which waste is controlled in Port Harcourt, Nigeria (the study area) is a big threat to the environment and can cause health hazards (Hasheela2009). A plethora of health hazards such as malaria fever, typhoid fever, diarrhoea, cholera and even skin diseases have been shown to be the effects of poor waste management in any environment (Guobadia 2011). It is needless to say that ineffective waste management is a big danger to the goal of sustainable development and if no positive advances are made in the area of managing waste, there will be catastrophic, long term environmental impacts on the people now and generations unborn. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES AIM The principal aim of this project is to examine and discover the various ways how the Reuse and Recycling of Municipal Solid Wastes can lead to sustainable development and revenue generation. To establish, through comprehensive analysis and statistical analysis that waste Reuse and recycling the most suitable method of Municipal Solid Waste Management in a developing country such as Nigeria and can ultimately lead to Sustainable development. Objectives To evaluate the various already existing techniques/methods of Municipal Solid waste collection and disposal in Port Harcourt city and Nigeria as a whole. To determine, based on an Environmental Risk Assessment, the most significant waste related risk currently in the case study area (Port Harcourt) To appraise the present level of awareness shown by the public and the current efforts of the government in creating more awareness and providing environmental education to members of the public on efficient, environmental friendly methods of waste disposal such as Reuse and recycling. To explore the barriers that prevents the reusing and recycling of the major components of Municipal solid waste such as paper waste, plastic waste. To deal with Solid waste reuse and recycling as important aspects of national economy and environmental as a means of sustainable development and revenue generation. Research Questions This study is concerned with achieving sustainable development and potential revenue generation through Reuse and Recycling as a method of Municipal Solid Waste Management. It will seek to answer the following: Why is there a need to reuse and recycle municipal solid waste? In what ways can Reuse and recycling of municipal solid waste lead to the achievement of sustainable development? Can Revenue generation be guaranteed through the continuous use of reuse and recycling as the core method of municipal solid waste management? 1.5 Significance of study Sustainable development is the ultimate goal of every society and should be pursued with all diligence. This research highlights the significance of municipal solid waste (such as paper glass and plastics) as useful resources through reuse and recycling towards Sustainable development and revenue generation for Port Harcourt city and Nigeria as a country. 1.6 Scope and limitation of study This project work was limited to only the processes of reuse and recycling of municipal solid waste as a means to sustainable development in Port Harcourt city. Only recyclable waste such as plastics, paper and glass were used as a case study because they are the major waste materials found in municipal solid waste in Port Harcourt. However, all other processes of municipal waste management such as composition, collection, transportation and disposal were also looked to during the course of this research. 1.7 Structure of Study Chapter 1 gives an introduction to the research, covers the background of the study, discusses its aims and objectives, and also proposes relevant research questions. Chapter 2 details the literature reviews of municipal waste management, views reuse and recycling as a means for sustainable development and revenue generation, and also the present-day situation of waste management in Nigeria Chapter 3 shows the methodology employed for achieving the set aims and objectives of the study. Chapter 4 discusses the results and draws conclusions from the data generated. Chapter 5 finally discusses the summary findings, shows the researchers conclusions and his suggested recommendations for the best way forward. d recommendations for the best way forward. CHAPTER TWO Literature Review 2.1 Definition of Waste Waste is a direct consequence of human existence and activity. It can be said to be totally unavoidable. Different definitions of waste abound. It is, however, important to state that the term waste is very subjective. This is because, what one person may consider as waste can be viewed as an object of high value by another person.(Ajomo, 2010). A very strict legal definition of waste to comply with the law is therefore necessary; as such firm definitions of waste have legal, financial and social implications for the government, local authorities, businesses, and the general public (Williams 2005). In common parlance, waste can be defined as any product or material that is unwanted. Wright (1990) describes waste as anything that has lost its utility value in the sight of the original owner and everyone else in general. However, the European Council framework Directive (waste Framework Directive 75/442/EEC 1975) offers a legal definition of waste. It defines waste as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦any material where the holder has an intention to discard the material as no longer part of the normal commercial cycle of the chain of utility This is the universally recognised definition of waste. Different countries may have slightly different deviations of this definition based on their laws, culture and prevailing times, circumstances and practices. According to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), under the auspices of Provision Decree 42 of 1988, waste is said to be substances or objects which are disposed of, or are intended to be disposed of, or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Omobolaji, 2010) 2.2 Classification of waste There are different types of wastes that can be found all around us. Different nations define/classify waste according to the state in which the waste is formed i.e. solid, gas or liquid or the way the waste is generated. Based on this, waste can be classified Industrial waste, household wastes, medical waste, construction waste, commercial wastes, radioactive wastes, etc. However, in general terms, all these types of wastes can be classed into two main kinds, namely Controlled and Uncontrolled wastes: Controlled Waste Controlled wastes, according to the provisions of the Control of Pollution Act !974 (COPA) are said to be mainly Household waste commercial/ industrial wastes. It is a UK term covering waste subject to a duty of care under the Environmental Protection Act of 1990. Industrial Wastes: these are wastes that are generated as a direct result of industrial practices. They include waste thermoplastics, waste wood cuttings and trimmings etc. However, they do not include plastic medical waste, waste steel cuttings and waste paper (Environmental Law Library 2010). Commercial Wastes: They are the various waste materials gotten from trade and business buildings and activities. Household Wastes: Are those waste products generated from activities inside a residential house. Examples of this kind of wastes are garden waste, paper and cardboard, glass, food remnants, wood etc. Non-Controlled waste Non controlled wastes are classified as those waste products that are not under the direct control and jurisdiction of the appropriate local authority. These kinds of wastes include wastes that are as a direct result of mining and quarrying activities, and agricultural wastes and also, radioactive wastes (Wright, 2003) Agricultural Wastes: These wastes are primarily the types that arise from agricultural activities such as livestock litter. They also include waste pesticides asbestos roofing material and also waste oil coming from machinery, chemicals with hazardous properties etc. Radioactive Wastes: these refer to waste that contain radioactive materials. They usually originate from nuclear power plants, or industries that emit radioactive substances or compounds during the course of their operations( Barnstein,2009) http://www.eauc.org.uk/image_uploads_waste/wasteclassificationframework_large.jpg Figure 2.2.1 Classifications of Wastes (Source: EAUC, 2009) 2.3 Municipal Solid Waste Management Municipal solid waste (MSWs) refers to all the solid waste generated within a given municipality. They are primarily organic and inorganic in nature and are produced in residential homes, office complex, shops, hospitals etc. Although everybody in the society has the duty to dispose of refuse in a decent manner, municipal solid waste is usually the responsibility of the local government authorities (Okogbue, 2001). Municipal solid waste is those wastes collected by metropol5ises independent of the main source of waste (Bernstein, 2009). Such wastes include household wastes; waste produced by business buildings and small neighbourhood stores. They do not, however, include waste from industrial practices or agricultural solid waste (Filemon, 2008) In the words of Robert Klein (2002) municipal solid waste refers to the assemblage, transfer, treatment, recycling, and disposal of solid waste in urban areas. The goal of municipal solid waste management are targeted at promoting the quality of the urban environment, generate employment and income, and protecting environmental health (Ogwueleka, 2009). According to Kit Strangen (2002), municipal solid waste may comprise of some, if not all of the following items: Street garbage/litter or sweepings. Household waste (usually generated from recycling and composting waste deposited by house residents at waste disposal sites). Hazardous waste (in small quantities gotten from households) Garden/green waste and Bulky solid waste also generated from households. Municipal Solid Waste management can be said to encompass all the activities that has to do with handling all the waste generated within a municipality, from the point of source, to the final point of disposal. In the words of McGraw(1993), municipal solid waste management is the discipline attendant with the control of the generation, storage, collection, transfer, processing and control of disposal of solid waste in a manner that is in accord with the best principles of public health, economics, engineering, conservation, aesthetics and other environmental considerations and that is also responsive to public attitudes Bloomberg (1989) described solid waste management as the discipline that deals with the control of generation, storage, collection, transfer, processing, and disposal of solid wastes in a manner that is in agreement with the best principles of public health, economics, preservation, aesthetics and other environmental concerns and that is also responsive to public expe ctations and outlooks. The United Nations (1997) defines solid waste management as the entire process of control and supervision of solid wastes from its point of generation to its end point of disposal. 2.4 Principles of Waste Management Solid waste management has been said to refer to all activities relating to the control, assortment, relocation, treatment and handling of solid waste in agreement with the best values of public living and other environmental considerations (Shan, 2000). Therefore, operative principles of waste management comprises of waste prevention, reduction, recycling, treatment and disposal in the environment (Shan, 2000). Failure to effectively manage waste in the environment leads to rapid degradation and it poses long term problems to everyone. Research has shown that, in order to successfully manage waste and minimise the damaging effects it has on the environment, some strategies should be adopted and implemented: Waste Recovery (waste recycling, re-use and treatment) Prevention of waste generation Environmentally friendly Waste disposal. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Waste_hierarchy.svg/300px-Waste_hierarchy.svg.png Figure 2.4: Waste Management Hierarchy (Source: Liennmann, 2009) These strategies are aimed at reducing the overall amount of waste produced by encouraging proper management of waste. It also aims at recovering as much value as possible from all the waste generated. As shown on figure 2.4, waste prevention should ideally be the first approach to waste management before other options are considered (Klein, 2000). Effective implementation of this waste management hierarchy will lead to a reduction in the volume of the final waste disposed (Hasheela 2009). Magali and Bodart (2010) suggested that for sustainable development to be achieved, waste management activities should be dedicated towards waste reduction, which is at the top of the hierarchy, using the very practicably best environmental choices. Therefore the main aim of the waste management hierarchy is the reduction of waste at source. Waste recovery and reuse should be the secondary aim as they involve other processes such as recycling, composting, and recovery of energy. However, recent studies have shown that the waste management hierarchy strategy is not the most effective. This is because it is not based on any scientific principle.it cannot specifically choose the best system for a city or country to adopt. For example, the waste management strategy cannot equate composting and incineration; or recycling and landfilling in terms of their environmental impacts and cost (Letcher, 2004). This goes to show that the waste hierarchy should be followed flexibly as a guide rather than rigidly in order to achieve a stable environmental, economic and social solution (Raven, 2011) Aside from the above mentioned constraint, implementing this strategy in a developing country such as Nigeria will be difficult. This is because of the prevailing norms of illegal refuse disposal all across the nation. It will therefore entail adequate environmental awareness/education for the public. More so, stringent environmental laws and regulations should be implemented by all concerned. 2.4.1 Prevention of Waste Waste prevention remains the best form of waste management because it is the most effective way of reducing the amount of waste that is generated. It is also the most environmental friendly means has it has absolutely no effect on the environment. It reduces pollution, saves electricity and saves far more energy than all other means of waste prevention (Vallero, 2004). Finkbeiner (2003) stated that the number one priority in waste management should be waste prevention as it is the best way to stop the accumulation of waste and a reduction of loss of resources. This process should be started at the source of production. The primary approach of waste prevention and reduction is for the manufacturers to redesign and package their products with the lowest toxicity and least volume of material. Industrialist and households can also reduce their waste by selective buying and recycle of some products and materials (Angell, 1995). It can be said that waste reduction depends mainly on the consumers and the choices they make. As such production and manufacturing companies should adopt cleaner trends in the production process. They should also try to encouragement the consumers choice to support less wasteful products and services (CEC 2001). This can be achieved through the use of clean technology. Their ability to choose sustainable products that have the least negative effect on the environment is the key to sustainable waste management (Spoolman, 2008). 2.4.2 Recovery of Waste/Energy Recovery is a waste management method whereby the biological, physical or chemical essence of a waste product is altered in order to reduce the effect of such waste on the environment (Cheremisinoff, 2003) Energy can be recovered through various means; example chemical, thermal, physical and biological processes. Some waste management strategies for recovery of energy include: Composting: This is an environmental friendly way of decreasing the volume of waste produced and also producing fertilizer (Bertoldi, 2006). Because of the low negative impact it has on the environment, the European Union has rated this method of waste disposal very high (DEFRA, 2006). It is a microbial based aerobic method that deals with the gains of resource efficiency and creates useful products from waste material that could have otherwise been discarded (USEPA 2011). The process of composting is particularly favoured for use in the tropical and hot climate countries. This is because of the high rate of biodegradation in those regions as a result of the climate. According to Tyler and Scott (1999) almost 70% of the waste streams in developing countries are compostable. The general procedure of composting is such that the organic ratios of municipal solid wastes is isolated from the inorganic portions and then laid bare to composting, this can be done in a mechanized fashion usin g machines and tools to handle the wastes and regulate the composting conditions. Composting can also be semi mechanized in which case the composting process is allowed to occur naturally and less machinery is used. Composting also removes the organic matter in the waste stream thereby improving the recycling and incineration processes. Nevertheless, a number of greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon dioxide etc. are released into the atmosphere during this process, among other things, hence it is obvious that composting has its negative environmental impacts. Incineration: Incineration is another method of reducing municipal solid waste. It essentially entails the combustion of waste materials with the use of an incinerator under temperatures of over 1000 Degree Celsius (Environmental Protection Department, 2005). During the incineration process, solid waste is sorted out on the basis of their combustibility. Thereafter, the combustible materials among the waste are thrown into the incinerator and burnt. Incineration of waste is a highly effective method of reducing waste as studies have shown that it reduces the amount of waste dumped in landfills by up to 80% volume and weight (Roberts, 1978). However, this method is quite capital intensive and also requires high maintenance cost and technical expertise. This is why it is only popular among developed nations and countries such as Nigeria do not readily practice it (World Bank, 2002). Anaerobic absorption : Anaerobic digestion is a biochemical procedure that takes place when there is an build-up of wet organic matter, in the lack of dissolved oxygen. Through the action of anaerobic microorganisms, organic matter is converted to water, methane and new cells. These are then collected and used as gaseous fuel while the soil dregs are used as soil conditioner. Anaerobic absorption also aids processes of landfilling by eliminating sticky organic waste materials that are responsible for gaseous and liquid radiations. It is normally carried out in close tanks that allow for the collection of large portions of biogas produced (Keller, 2007) Studies indicate that this process of waste management reduces the total volume and weight of waste generated by over 25% (Jason, 2009). It is fundamental to create renewable energy from biodegradable waste, rather than contributing to climate change through the release of methane gas that occurs during landfilling and incineration (Marek, 2007) According to EA (2001), methane gas is 20mtimes more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas. The residue gathered from anaerobic absorption comes in both liquid and solid form. This residue is known as digestate and is used to condition the soil and also as a fertilizer. This by-product is used widely on farms in countries like Germany, Sweden, and Austria. (Hardtle,2007) propounds that about 0.46% of electricity needed in the UK can be generated through the anaerobic digestion of food waste. Unfortunately, the usage of anaerobic absorption in developing countries like Nigeria is very limited due to lack of expertise, technology and the relevant infrastructure. Landfilling: For landfilling, the solid waste is dumped and spread over the land and is left for its transformation to humus. This is attained by the biodegradation of the waste matter. Landfilling is the final step in the disposal of waste that cannot be treated or recycled, together with other residues from waste that cannot be collected, separated or handled in any other way (Nemerow,2007) There are three types of landfill carried out in Africa today, namely open or dump landfill, semi controlled or operated landfill and sanitary landfill. Open /dump landfill is the most crude form of landfilling and that is the one still being practiced in most developing countries

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare Essay -- Papers

Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare The opening scenes of the play are called the EXPOSITION, where the dramatist introduces the most significant characters and themes, so that they can be developed and set up the plot. Describe the means by which Shakespeare had done this in the first act, and judge how successful (or not) he has been. The opening scenes of "Measure for Measure", introduce the most significant characters in the play and also tend to establish the relationships between each of them. The plot and the key themes are introduced giving the reader an idea of what is going to unfold in the following acts. Shakespeare has used the opening scene of the play to introduce one of the key characters. In this first scene, set in Vienna, the Duke announces to his advisor, Escalus, that he is to leave the country for reasons, which are un-disclosed to anyone. He decides to leave Angelo, a trusted friend, standing in his place. This would in effect give Angelo "absolute power" over the nation, giving him the decision to dictate who would live or die. "In our remove be thou at full ourself; Mortality and mercy in Vienna" ============================== Duke Vincento Act I Sc I Angelo is highly respected and held in high regard by both the Duke and Escalus, this is evident by the way the two both talk of him, to each other and to Angelo, himself: "If any in Vienna be of worth To undergo such ample grace and honour, It is Lord Angelo" Escalus Act I Sc I Angelo appears to be a genuine person, there appear to be no hidden sides to him, "What You See Is What You Get". Angelo appear... ... Overall, I do feel that Shakespeare has been successful in creating good first impressions and introductions of the more significant characters, Angelo, Lucio and Isabella. All though Isabella is not in this opening act much, her character ids set up for those later acts, where she will play a bigger, more significant part. Shakespeare's introduction of the themes is also done well. The first appears to be the introduction of power, where the Duke leaves and Angelo is named as the stand in. The theme of corruption is also brought across well, using the comic characters, the prostitute, Mistress Overdone and the pimp, Pompey. As an opening act to a play, I feel that all the characters and the main themes are introduced well, which helps the reader to understand the play because they are introduced from the beginning.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Ecoterrorism :: American Government, Bush, Eco-saboteurs

Unquestionably, some of the typical targets of Eco-saboteurs are companies that use pesticides, new construction sites, SUV owners, biotech labs, and fast-food restaurants (Gale, 2006). Eco-saboteurs are members of the group called Earth Liberation Front (ELF) an Eco-terrorist group which in their ideology are protectors of the environment. They may also have been influenced by the publication of several books, including The Anarchist Cookbook (1971), by William Powell; Ecotage! (1972), edited by Sam Love and David Obst; and The Monkey Wrench Gang (1976), by Edward Abbey, a novel about four "ecoteurs" who roam the Southwestern United States blowing up bridges and vandalizing bulldozers in the name of environmental protection (Gale, 2006). The ELF group was inspired by Edward Abbey's 1975 novel, "The Monkey Wrench Gang", that was influential therefore the term "monkey wrench" has come to mean. Moreover, after September 11, 2001, many Americans were in fear and demanded a change in priorities from former President Bush. Americans showed full patriotic support for former President Bush and his counter-terrorism policies (Whipple, 2002). President Bush made instant comparisons between the ELF and Al Qaeda. The term Eco-terrorism has many complications of defining Terrorism. Eco-Terrorism can be defined by the Federal Bureau of investigation as "the use or threatened use of violence of a criminal nature against people or property by an environmentally oriented, sub-national group for environmental-political reasons, or aimed at an audience beyond the target, often of a symbolic nature (Long, 1998). Pursuing this further, this needs redefinition because of the term "terrorism." Terrorism is acts of terror with no remorse for human safety. Not all Eco-protestors create collateral damage which is violent acts on facilities that affect the environment negatively. Their have been many nonviolent civil disobedience's which have had an impact on American history in a positive way. For example, the Civil Rights Movement, led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and others, included sit-ins and illegal marches which weakened segregation in the south. Another example was the Women's Suffrage Movement that lasted from 1848 until 1920, when thousands of courageous women marched in the streets, endured hunger strikes, and submitted to arrest and jail in order to gain the right to vote. Also the Anti-war movement which were actions that have included refusal to pay for war, refusal to enlist in the military, occupation of draft centers, sit-ins, blockades, peace camps, and refusal to allow military r ecruiters on high school and college campuses (Starr, 1998).

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Behavior Changes of MDMA :: Illegal Drugs Medical Psychology Ecstasy Essays

Behavior Changes of MDMA The secondary effects on behavior are expressed in several ways that differ from one person to the next. These effects can range from memory impairment and anxiety, to depression and mood swings. They are a direct result of the chemical changes within the body that occur when someone uses ecstasy. I will discuss the range of effects in more detail, with explanations that get to the root causes for each. One of the major behavior changes, after the effects of the drug have worn off, is a symptom of the reduced levels of serotonin in the brain. As ecstasy infiltrates the brain tissues, its effects cause the brain to produce copious amounts of serotonin. Following such an extreme release of this neurotransmitter, the brain goes through of period of time in which it has a below normal level of serotonin. This reduced level creates elevated levels of anxiety in users, and can often result in panic attacks that persist for several months following the use of the drug. However, it is important to note that, according to a study from the European Journal of Pharmacology (Gurtman, et al, 2002); "whether such effects are a direct result of MDMA use†¦ is, at present, uncertain." This admission goes to show that correlation doesn't mean causation, and that until further research can be done we can only speculate about the relationship between the two. Another side effect, that is reported to be affected by the levels of serotonin in the brain, is that of memory functioning. Several different areas of memory are included in this assertion, including cognitive capacity, recall over time, and planning ability. It is suggested that heavy users, when compared to a control group, have a harder time with primary areas of brain functioning that relate to memory. In a study conducted at the University of Cologne, in Germany (Gouzoulis- Mayfrank, et. al, 2004), research indicates that, "findings of relatively low memory performance associated with heavy ecstasy use have been relatively consistent across different studies and user populations." This assertion is fairly recent in the literature, which would suggest that the findings have taken note of the broad range of studies that came before it. With that said, it's hard to ignore the idea that a drug that induces such euphoric effects on the mindset of an

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Nursing and Theory

Theories and models of nursing practice Dr. Sabah Abbas Ahmad College of Nursing university of Baghdad Sabah. [email  protected] com COMPETENCIES 1. Definitions of theory, concept, model, proposition. 2. Explain the relationships of concepts and propositions to theory 3. Discuss the purpose of theory. 4. Explain the USE OF theories from other disciplines: . .5. Explain the interdependent roles of nursing practice, nursing theory, and nursing research. .6. History and evolution of nursing theory 7. Identify m Common concept in nursing Theories. 8.Identify the three categories relating to the scope of theories. .. – Theories and models of nursing practice Introduction: Nursing theory provides a perspective from which to define the what of nursing, to describe the who of nursing (who is the client) and when nursing is needed, and to identify the boundaries and goals of nursing’s therapeutic activities. Theory is fundamental to effective nursing practice and research. Th e professionalization of nursing has been and is being brought about through the development and use of nursing theory.The basic elements that structure a nursing theory are concepts and propositions. In a theory, propositions represent how concepts affect each other. A concept is the basic building block of a theory. Definitions – A concept : Is a vehicle of thought? According to Chinn and Kramer (1995, p. 78), the refers to a â€Å"complex mental formulation of †¦ our Perceptions of an observable fact that term concept the world. † A concept labels or names a phenomenon, can be perceived through the senses and explained.A concept assists us in formulating a mental image about an object or situation. Concepts help us to name things and occurrences in the world around us and assist us in communicating with each other about the world. Independence, self-care, and caring are just a few examples of concepts frequently encountered in health care. Theories are formulat ed by linking concepts together. -A conceptual framework or Model: is a structure that links global concepts together and represents the unified whole of a larger reality.The specifics about phenomena within the global whole are better explained by theory. By its nature, a concept is a socially constructed label that may represent more than a single phenomenon. For example, when you hear the word chair, a mental image that probably comes to mind is an item of furniture used for sitting. The word chair could represent many different kinds of furniture for sitting, such as a desk chair, a high chair, or an easy chair . It is important to remember that the same concept may be used differently in various theories.For example, one nursing theory may use the concept of environment to mean all that surrounds a human being (the external environment), whereas another theory may use this concept to mean the external environment and all the biological and psychological components of the person (the internal environment). – What Is a Proposition? A proposition: (another structural element of a theory) is a statement that proposes a relationship between concepts. An example of a nonnursing proposition might be the statement â€Å"people seem to be happier in the springtime. This proposition establishes a relationship between the concept of happiness and the time of the year. A nursing propositional statement linking the concept of helplessness and the concept of loss might be stated as â€Å"multiple and rapid losses predispose one to feelings of helplessness. † Propositional statements in a theory represent the theorist’s particular view of which concepts fit together and, in most theories, establish how concepts affect one another. What Is a Theory? A theory: is a set of concepts and propositions that provide an orderly way to view phenomena.In the scientific literature, Nursing theory is developed to describe the phenomenon (process, occurrence, or event) called nursing. Nursing theory differentiates nursing from other disciplines and activities that in that the purposes of describing, explaining, predicting, and controlling desired outcome of nursing care practices. – â€Å"The purpose of a theory: in scientific disciplines is to guide research to enhance the science by supporting existing knowledge or generating new knowledge†. A theory not only helps us to organize our thoughts and ideas, but it may also help direct us in what to do and when and how to do it.The use of the term theory is not restricted to the scientific world, however. It is often used in daily life and conversation. For example, when telling a friend about a mystery novel you are reading, you may have said, â€Å"I have a theory about who committed the crime. † -USE OF theories from other disciplines: In addition to using theories specifically constructed to describe, explain, and predict the phenomena of concern to nursing, the nursi ng profession has long used theories from other disciplines. A discipline : is a field of study.Theories from biological, physical, and behavioral sciences are commonly used in the practice of nursing. For example, nonnursing theories such as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Basic Human Needs, Erikson’s Theory of Human Development, and Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome have been and continue to be useful in nursing practice. These nonnursing theories are often incorporated into nursing practice together with specific nursing theories. – – Importance of nursing theories ;in clinical practice: Nursing theories provide a framework for thought in which to examine situations.As new situations are encountered, this framework provides a structure for organization, analysis, and decision making. In addition, nursing theories provide a structure for communicating with other nurses and with other members of the health care team. Nursing theories assist the discipline of nursing in clarifying beliefs, values, and goals, and they help to define the unique contribution of nursing in the care of clients. When the focus of nursing’s contribution is clear, then greater professional autonomy and, ultimately, control of certain aspects of practice are achieved.In the broadest sense, nursing theory is necessary for the continued development and evolution of the discipline of nursing. Because the world of health care changes virtually on a daily basis, nursing needs to continue to expand its knowledge base to proactively respond to changes in societal needs. Knowledge for nursing practice is developed through nursing research that, in turn, is used to either test existing theories or generate new theories. Nursing Practice Nursing research Nursing theory Process of knowledge development. Nursing practice, theory, and research are interdependent.Nursing theory development and nursing research activities are directed toward developing nursing practi ce standards . Nurses may use a specific nursing theory to help guide their practice or may choose a more eclectic approach and adopt ideas from several theories. Both of these approaches are valid. Furthermore, nurses may find some theories more appropriate for certain situations. In that case, one theory can be used with a client in a home health care setting, whereas another theory may be more applicable to a client in an acute care environment.Regardless of the approach chosen, nurses will recognize the value and usefulness of nursing theory as a tool for effective nursing practice. Common concept in nursing Theories: Four concepts common in nursing theory that influence and determine nursing practice are: 1-The person (patient) 3- Health and 4- Nursing Each of these concepts is usually defined and described by a nursing theorist, and although these concepts are common to all nursing theories, both the definition and the relations among them may differ from one theory to another .Of the four concepts, the most important is that of the person . The focus of nursing, regardless of definition or Theory, is the person. Relationship of theory to nursing process: Professional nurses use theories from nursing and from the behavioral sciences to collect, organize, and classify patient data and to understand, analyze, and interpret patients' health situations.Theoretical concepts and theories guide all phases of the nursing process, including planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care, while also describing and explaining desired responses to and outcomes of care. The major concepts of a chosen model or theory guide each of the nursing process . The concepts serve as categories to the nurse in determining what information is relevant and should be collected to make assessments and to formulate nursing diagnoses.The concepts also suggest the appropriate types of nursing interventions and patient outcomes to be included in the care plan. Types of theories: â €Å"Although theories address relatively specific and concrete phenomena, they vary in scope. Scope refers to the relative level of substantive specificity of a theory and the concreteness of its concepts and propositions† three different categories relate to the scope of theories: grand theories, middle-range theories, and micro-range theories.This classification is applicable to both nursing and nonnursing theories. 1- A grand theory is composed of concepts representing global and extremely complex phenomena. It is the broadest in scope, represents the most abstract level of development, and addresses the broad phenomena of concern within the discipline. Typically, a grand theory is not intended to provide guidance for the formation of specific nursing interventions, but rather provides an overall framework for structuring broad, abstract ideas (Fawcett, 1993).An example of a grand theory is Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory of Nursing. 2- Middle-Range Theory : A theor y that addresses more concrete and more narrowly defined phenomena than a grand theory is known as a middle-range theory. Descriptions, explanations, and predictions put forth in a middle-range theory are intended to answer questions about nursing phenomena, yet they do not cover the full range of phenomena of concern to the discipline. A middle- ange theory provides a perspective from which to view complex situations and a direction for interventions (Fawcett, 1993). An example of a middlerange theory is Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations. 3- A micro-range theory is the most concrete and narrow in scope. A micro- range theory explains a specific phenomenon of concern to the discipline (Fawcett, 1993), such as the effect of social supports on grieving and would establish nursing care guidelines to address the problem. History and evolution of nursing theory The work of early nursing theorists in the 1950s focused on the tasks of nursing practice from a somewhat mechan istic viewpoint. Because of this emphasis, much of the art of nursing—the value of caring, the relationship aspects of nursing, and the esthetics of practice—was diminished. During the decades of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, many nursing theorists struggled with making nursing practice, theory, and research fit into the then prevailing view of science.Reflecting changes in global awareness of health care needs, several contemporary nursing theorists have projected a new perspective for nursing that truly unifies the notion of nursing as both an art and a science. Noted nursing theorists such as Leininger, Watson, Rogers, Parse, and Newman have been urging the discipline of nursing to embrace this new emerging view that is seen as more holistic, humanistic, client focused, and grounded in the notion of caring as the core of nursing.Since the early 1950s, many nursing theories have been systematically developed to help describe, explain, and predict the phenomena of conc ern to nursing. Each of these established theories provides a unique perspective and each is distinct and separate from other nursing theories in its particular view of nursing phenomena. REFERENCES Leahy,j. ,Kizilay,P. : Foundations of nursing practice; Nursing process Approach, New York, W. B. Saunders, 2005 White, L. : Foundations of Nursing: Caring the Whole Person, NewYork, Thomson Learning, 2001