Performance Measurement Paper

Performance Measurement Paper LaVonda Jones MGT/437 6/30/2010 Dr. Kemit Grafton Performance Measurement Paper Project managers use performance measurement to help plan, initiate, execute, and close projects that they work on. Using measures like evaluating, controlling, and budgeting helps project managers and team members monitor progress on the project. In this paper, one will compare and contrast the above measurements and discuss the importance of each within a project. Evaluating a Project Using the evaluating measure helps the project manager improve the performance of the team.They determine what the team needs so that the team may accomplish the goals set in the planning phase of the project. When the project manager evaluates a project, the manager makes sure that the goals for the project are clear. The strategies and objectives are coherent for the team to understand how they should complete a successful project. The project manager must work with the team and agree on a p lan for the project. The team will use all resources that are available to them when evaluating their project. Clarifying ground rules are necessary so that all team members are working together in the same direction.Negotiations are necessary by the team as a whole and documentation is necessary to keep written proof of project ordeals. For a project manager to efficiently evaluate their project, the project manager should keep track of past projects and use them to set the standard or determine if things are moving along on track for the new project. 2. To Control How can managers ensure their subordinates are doing the right thing. Today managers do not control their workforce mechanically (measurement of time-and-motion for control as during Taylor) However managers still use measures to control, while allowing some space for freedom in the workforce. Robert Kaplan & David Norton) Business has control bias. Because traditional measurement system sprung from finance function, the system has a control bias. Organisation create measurement systems that specify particular actions they want execute- for branch employess to take a particular ways to execute what they want- branch to spend money. Then they want to measure to see whether the employees have in fact taken those actions. Need to measure input by individual into organisation and process.Officials need to measure behavior of individuals then compare this performance with requirements to check who has and has not complied. Often such requirements are described only as guidelines. Do not be fooled. These guidelines are really requirements and those requirement are designed to control. The measurement of compliance with these requirements is the mechanism of control. 3. To Budget Budgets are crude tools in improving performance. Poor performance not always may change after applying budgets cuts as a disciplinary actions. Sometimes budgets increase could be the answer to improving performance.Like purchasi ng better technology because the current ones are outdated and harm operational processes. So decision highly influenced by circomstance, you need measures to better understand the situation. At the macro level, elected officials deciding which purpose of government actions are primary or secondary. Political priorities drive macro budgetory choices. Once elected officials have established macro political priorities, those responsible for micro decisions may seek to invest their limited allocation of resources in the most cost-effective units and activities.In allocating budgets, managers, in response to macro budget allocations (driven by political objectives), determin alloactions at the micro level by using measures of efficiency of various activities, which programs or organisations are more efficient at achieving the political objectives. Why spend limited funds on programs that do not guarantee exceptional performance? Efficiency is determined by observing performance- output and outcome achieved considering number of people involved in the process (productivity per person) and cost-data (capturing direct cost as well as indirect)

Discuss ‘sensibility’ in the poetry of Felicia Hemans: The Grave of a Poetess

In this essay I will define the meaning of ‘sensibility' in the poetry that I have encountered in this course. Then, I will discuss the gender writing, women's poetry and whether ‘sensibility' is a characteristic of women's poetry alone. In poetry, sensibility could be defined as a mental responsiveness and awareness, which refine sensitivity to pleasurable or painful impressions. It also, considered as a cult of feeling, which arose in the eighteenth century in response to philosophical theories. Those theories investigate the power of feeling to communicate directly between people. In the eighteenth century, sensibility celebrated the man feeling, presented with the feelings of sympathy and pity in response to the suffering of others. Sensibility takes us into an internal world of psychology. Curran argues that the link is a crucial one to understanding Romanticism when he writes that the ‘poetry of sensibility is at base a literature of psychological exploration, and it is the foundation on which Romanticism was reread' (Romantic Writing, p. 113). The images of woman on the eighteenth century, was one source of the figure of the domestic woman. Within the culture of the Romantic period, the main role for woman was taking care of children, house and husband. Literature in that era, was influenced by sensibility, and seems to celebrate feeling and femininity. Although sensibility appears among males' poems, most of them refuse sensibility and consider it as a type of feminine. Many of Wordsworth's poems return to the literature of sensibility, such as the distress suffered by a young woman and meeting an old man on the roadside. Wordsworth accepted sensibility as a male sensibility, but Blake refuse completely the sensibility, which represented in his perspective woman femininity. Sensibility meaning was different in the point of view of some women writers. Some of them take their literary identity from it, such as Williams. Whereas, others consider it as an aspect of femininity at best, and at worst, as a means to celebrate all that is most false and decadent in the contemporary emergence of male romantic poetry. No one can deny that romanticism periods' writers, such as Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, Byron and Shelley, had borrowed significantly from female authors and feminine types of literature. Hence, we have to admit that there is a shared culture between men and women throughout the period of romanticism. Wollstonecraft argues that to deny women the opportunities of education and an active role in society is to transform them into domestic slaves. What connects women and slaves, for Wollstonecraft, is that they are both seen and treated as commodities. The revolutionary period gave fresh movement to debate and concern about femininity and women's role in society. James Fordyce's Sermons to Young Women (1765) was One of the most frequently republished volumes. In that volume, writer expresses strong views on the dangers to women of too much novel reading. According to Fordyce, female intellect is limited, whereas, most of life activities which need human intelligence such as ‘war, commerce, politics, exercises of strength and dexterity, abstract philosophy, and all the abstruser sciences, are more properly the province of men. In thinking about the relation between gender and writing in the romantic period, we should note the Polwhele claims an inherited masculine perspective, locating his contemporary readers in the context of their fathers' experience. According to Polwhele, women's writing is an affront to God-given, ‘natural' gender roles. In this masculine way of seeing, women are objects of the male gaze, they are defined by their appearance and behaviour. It follows that if women engage in certain types of writing, this will involve the loss of the ‘softer charms' that are bound up with these ideals of femininity. (Romantic Writing, p. 180). Nevertheless There were influential poets in the beginning of the nineteenth century, such as Anna Barbauld, Anna Seward, Charlotte Smith and Mary Robinson. The work of those women writers were going through many editions, but they have subsequently been erased from literary history or pushed to its margins. Women writers were very popular, and women readers gained a new economic visibility through the rise of fashionable magazine.. the beginning of women entrance to literary marketplace was in significant numbers during the 18th and 19th centuries, but in the historical context in which they wrote, they could not easily claim to speak with authority. To write as a woman was to be transgressive: entering the literary marketplace and competing with male authors for readership challenged conventional gender boundaries. As a result, many women authors adopted authorial personae that fit, rather than challenged, conventional gender definitions. Since women were generally understood to be emotional rather than rational, women authors often wrote about feelings, emotions, and, especially, love. They often adopted styles that fit their subject matter: to seem more feminine, they employed highly emotional language. By so doing, they could find an audience yet not risk being perceived as excessively ambitious. But this created a double-bind: to speak as a woman was to play the part of an emotionally sensitive and irrational human being. And whereas male authors could cite an infinite number of literary ancestors to establish their authority, female authors had just a handful of literary antecedents. Male poets were increasingly forced to respond to women writers such as Joanna Baillie, a Scottish poet and successful dramatist, who published a 72 page polemic arguing for naturalness in poetic language two years before Wordsworth wrote his ‘Preface† to the second edition of Lyrical Ballads, in which he makes the same plea. Women Poets such as Baillie and other preceded Wordsworth and brought the vigour of common life and language to their writings. Many of the most popular poets, such as Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L.E.L), published their poems in annuals and ornamental giftbooks, which were directed towards a largely female readership. L.E.L. edited and wrote most of Health's Book of Beauty, and contributed to countless other. They promoted, particularly through their illustrations, an ideology of feminine beauty, providing models for women to emulate and confirming that the ideal woman was the object, not the subject, of the gaze. In this sense, we will represent Felicia Hemans: â€Å"The Grave of a Poetess†. Sensibility is appear obviously in this poem which succeed in transferring the human suffer among its verses. In such a poem which written by woman, the death seems strangely bound up with expression, and it show how might this bundling affect the poem's agenda. In the final stanza of The Grave of a Poetess, Felicia Hemans completes the turn of her poem from one of melancholy lament at the passing of fellow poet Mary Tighe to one instead celebrating the apparent freedom of expression that follows a poet's earthly death. In closing, Hemans writes to Tighe, â€Å"Where couldst thou fix on mortal ground / Thy tender thoughts and high? / Now peace the woman's heart hath found, / And joy the poet's eye†. The Grave of a Poetess, ends up carrying a fair amount of dramatic potency, as it both points to repression of the female voice, and implies the loss this creates for all of humanity. An effective tension is thus lent to Hemans poem through the direct and indirect of injection of her frustrated Romantic yearnings for the attainment of full expression for her and her fellow poetesses, the denial of which leads her to resort to the Christian-like notion of a vindicating afterlife seen in this poem. Charlotte Smith was born in London. Her mother Anne died when she was only three, and at the age of six Charlotte was sent by her Aunt to a school in Chichester and later a school in Kingston. At the age of sixteen she was the subject of an arranged marriage to Benjamin Smith, with whom she was to have twelve children. There life together was far from straightforward, and the couple had many financial difficulties which led to her husband being imprisoned in debtors prison for seven months. Despite all her problems she was however a talented translator, and prolific writer of prose, plays and poetry. Including the Elegaic Sonnets in 1784 of which the Glow Worm was sonnet 58. She died in 1806 and is buried in Stoke. In Charlotte Smith's sonnet, she showed a high power of sensibility and she used a power of nature to represent her feeling among the sonnet. â€Å"I love to listen to the hollow sighs/ Through the half-leafless wood that breathes the gale;/ for at such hours the shadowy phantom pale†: in these lines she express her sadness and feelings through the use of nature elements. She used the expression â€Å"half-leafless† to show that the leaves had fallen down. Also she use the expression â€Å"shadowy phantom† to show that it is as a shadow, and this expression is a kind of mystery. Dorothy Wordsworth: â€Å"Floating Island† is another example of woman poetry, which represent sensibility among her writing. Dorothy start her poem with a force of nature: â€Å"Harmonious Powers with Nature work/ on sky, earth, river, lake, and sea:/ Sunshine and storm, whirlwind and breeze/ All in one duteous task agree†. In this poem the poet employed the nature to express the feeling of security in the preface of the poem. Although common poets refused to accept feminine sensibility, their work was influenced by sensibility in getting to the mind of human feeling and describing suffering and emotion. Wordsworth show sensibility in his famous poems, such as â€Å"Lucy†. In that poem, Wordsworth describe a story of a woman and express her beauty and shy. Then he ended his poem by telling his audience that Lucy had dead and no one know where she had lived: â€Å"She lived unknown, and few could know/ But she is in her grave, and oh†. All these emotions considered as a type of sensibility. In contrasting with William Blake: â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper†, we find that the poet interest in showing a political and social suffering among his poem. In this poem the Blake is suggesting that it is a state of affairs which cannot be changed, and all we could do would be to accept our earthly fate and expect our reward in the afterlife: â€Å"And so Tome awoke, and we rose in the dark,/ So if all do their duty they need not fear harm†. Although men such as Wordsworth, Blake, Keats and Shelley refused to admit that they use sensibility in their poems, no one can deny that there is a considerable amount of shared culture between men and women throughout the period of romanticism. In comparing with women sensibility, Wordsworth, Blake, Keats and Shelley express their sensibility among their poems in their poetry, and mainly they concern in human existence and the political situation. Sensibility was appeared more in Blake poems, as he was more sensitive and involved in human and political suffering and he was considered as a radical member during the revolution. On the other hand women sensibility interest in domestic matters and social and family sadness and women suffering. Further more they interest in the story of love and families and they use gothic elements in their poetry. In conclusion, we defined sensibility as a matter of sensitivity and expression of emotions which arose in eighteenth century poetry. Both of men and women used sensibility in their poetry, but each of them employ it in a different way. The work of Wordsworth and Coleridge, Keats Byron and Shelley borrows significantly from female authors and ‘feminine' types of literature, such as sensibility, even though it seeks to mark its own works as masculine and to sever the association with female writers and readers. Sensibility arose in men's poetry as a matter of expressing the refusal to the political situation and the social suffering. Whereas, it arose in women sensibility among their awareness of domestic needs and women suffering. In men's perspective the woman is a poem not a poet, and that was what we notice in Wordsworth poem â€Å"Lucy† as he used Lucy as a passive character, he interest in describing her beauty, but there were no considered to her intelligence.

Bloomberg terminal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Bloomberg terminal - Essay Example The case study will include an assessment of subsequent investment preferences and expected financial status upon completion of studies at the University of East London (UEL). Table of Contents Brache, A. (2008). Nine variables affect innovation within today's Enterprise Model. Tooling & Production. The Free Library. Nelson Publishing. Retrieved from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Nine+variables+affect+innovation+within+today%27s+Enterprise+Model.-a0173644126 16 Value Click. (2013.) Book-To-Market Ratio. Investopedia US. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/booktomarketratio.asp#axzz2JE9l3c9G 17 1. Introduction Bloomberg provides the financial world with news, analytics, and financial data through several indices. After reviewing goldmines of financial data, investors must ultimately choose where to spend. Consistency during periods of recession is a string indicator of the health of most funds. Implementation of sustainability programs exist to ensure the long run succe ss of the operations. This is considered true by Fiksel in his study of the strategies employed by top international corporations to attain superior business performance (Fiksel, 1999). According to Alan Brache, 9 variables affect strategy: knowledge management, human capabilities, organizational structure, business processes, issue resolution, culture, leadership and progress (Brache, 2008). Since shareholders know only what is reported to them, concerns about how the business should operate are written. The shareholders assume the agency is operating according to the specifications of the business relationship. When this is not the case, agency costs arise. United States government regulation of stock trading by the SEC is a preventive measure in an industry plagued with fraud. Only the strong survive in the bull and bear markets. Investors must acknowledge the proper protocol of investing which consists of due diligence and research before making investments. In the context of in vesting, due diligence is defined as ‘the process by which a potential investor obtains a sufficient understanding of a business to enable him to take an informed decision on investing in that business’ (Business Week, 2012). Beyond the recession from 2007 to 2009, the saga of financial turmoil for agencies in the United Kingdom continued. On April 20, 2010, an explosion in the Gulf of Mexico released British Petroleum (BP) oil all over the Gulf of Mexico. The incident made history as the largest accidental oil spill (New York Times, 2012). Enterprise Risk Management Risk is a reality that exists in every aspect of business. Risk velocity is the rate of speed that the risk can appear and begin to develop (Steinberg, 2011). The risk appetite represents the amount of risk the company can afford to accept. Risk velocity must constantly be offset. Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) affect the speed with which risk management can control risk issues (Steinberg, 2010). The fundamenta l concepts of ERM work together to strategize against risk through objectives. Prevention is of major focus. Setting objectives and following through is the first strategy. The following lists key ERM fundamental concepts (Flaherty, 2004): An on-going process Effects every level of the organization Applied in strategy setting at every level of the organization. A portfolio view of risk Risk identification and management within risk appetite Provide assurance to management, stakeholders, and board of directors Meet

Semester assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Semester - Assignment Example In the current study, this film has been analyzed in terms of various human resource policies and practices that have been applied or showcased as several instances. The film has portrayed various events of human resource activities. The first instance is when Chris Gardener was travelling with one of the managers of the company, Dean Witter. Here the manager was impressed with Chris as he was able to solve the Rubik’s Cube within the short ride; this specifically highlights the recruitment and selection process. Another instance foregrounding employee relations was when Chris Gardener entered his office with unkempt look and in shabby clothes. Here the conversation of Chris with his managers as well as his tactical way of defending himself can be evaluated. The training and development process is stressed on during the internship process, where Chris Gardener had to face stiff competition from nineteen other interns. The internship also highlights the compensation policies followed during the late 18th century. Recruitment and selection process is one of the major components or functions of human resource department. This basically involves selecting the right person, at the right time, at the right place and for the right job. It involves identification of organizational needs and fulfilling those needs by selecting right candidates. The recruitment and selection process is vast and varies across sectors, industries, organizations as well as nations. Selection and recruitment process is an inevitable part of an organization’s HR policy. Firstly, firms need to constantly promote their employees to a higher level and simultaneously fill the vacant positions. Modern day organizations not only require ground level staffs and employees, but also management executives for decision making and strategic planning process (Kelly, et al. 162-165). In the film, the selection process was

Beijing Olympics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Beijing Olympics - Case Study Example Interesting fact is that Chinese government hired a Western public relations firm to work on the 2008 Beijing Olympics instead of local firms in order showcase the brilliance of Chinese culture, technological superiority and infrastructure to rest of the world (Foss and Walkosz, 2008 & Fram, 2008). During the Olympic, Olympic organizing committee took help of public relations firm Hill & Knowlton (WPP Group) to handle its public relationship activities (Clifford, 2008). For last many decades, Chinese government is facing problem from Tibet support groups who are protesting against the encroachment of China in their country. China had experienced bad publicity stint due to widespread publicity of the protest of Tibet support groups before the inauguration of Olympic. Pro-Tibet supporters showed their protest in various cities of western world such as Paris, London, and San Francisco and also interrupted in activities like Olympic torch relay before the Olympic. In some cases, Chinese embassies were attacked by Tibet support groups. Sensitivity of the issue forced Chinese government to think about hiring an international public-relation (PR) who can handle the situation professionally (Ballas & Kanoff, 2008). Preuss (2008) has highlighted the fact that, although China had plenty of domestic PR organizations but Chinese government was not confident enough to take help of these mediocre PR companies to represent the country in the world stage. Chinese government took Olympic game as the stage to showcase their efficiency in terms of infrastructure, technology, marketing etc to western worlds hence in such context, taking help of domestic firms might malign their reputation (Preuss, 2008). Assess the reasons why protesters and activists target events such as the Olympics Olympic is an international event where more than 100 countries participate and China was first time hosting Olympic during 2008. Hence it was the perfect timing for protester to show their protest and bring their agenda for free Tibet in front of representative of international countries. Research scholars such as Fram (2008) and Ballas & Kanoff (2008) have pointed out that Tibet support groups have strategically planned the protest program in order highlight their agenda in front of international countries and gain their support on the agenda. The leaders of protesting groups had created a communication plan and training program for fellow protesters for teaching them how to give interview or even rappel (Clifford, 2008). During the course of Olympic, protesters have changed their agenda from protesting the right of Beijing to organize Olympic to human right violation of Chinese government in different parts of China and China’s investments in Sudan (Clifford, 2008). Kalaya’

Is dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple Essay

Is dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personalities, real or a modern-day scam - Essay Example This is a defense method used to overcome severe emotional or physical pain or anxious anticipation of such circumstances. Through the dissociative process, feelings, memories, thoughts and perceptions of traumatic circumstance are separated from the person psychologicall, and enables the person to live as if the circumstances never occurred (Dissociative Identity Disorder 2003). Dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder is considered from a sociocognitive perspective as a socially constructed disorder. The disorder is goal oriented, context bounded and the social behavior is evolved to meet the expectation of others significant to a circumstance and the characteristics o the behavior changes according to changes in circumstances (Spanos, N. P. 1994). Though multiple personality disorder has gained acceptance in the medical perspectives, there are several reasons that point out that this is not a disorder because it does not meet specific criteria to be recognized as a disease. Piper and Merskey (2004) notes that even close relative often do not recognize multiple personalities before patients begin therapy. In certain cases, relatives of the patients are given explanations, and the changes in behavior are specifically pointed out to understand multiple personalities because it was not evident before. Experts who advocate DID have not been able to strategically point out symptoms of the disorder since there is no specific personality state, identity, behavioral changes or other criteria that qualify the existence of the disorder. There is no definition for one personality taking control of the other or the methods to differentiate the changes in personality (Piper, A. & H. Merskey 2004 p.679). It may be concluded that from a sociocognitive perspective, dissociative identity disorder seems to exist in individuals in extreme circumstances. However, considering practical symptoms and

An analysis of google ( or apple , amazone) & cloud computing Research Paper

An analysis of google ( or apple , amazone) & cloud computing technology - Research Paper Example Cloud Computing with the virtual setting of softwares and hardwares, provides a effective IT network or Information system (IS) to the business firms, thereby even making their own network slightly redundant. Because of the growing potential, many more firms including Amazon are jumping into this field by setting up their own Cloud Computing environment and then commercially renting it to other business firms and clients. So, this paper will focus on the IS of Cloud Computing, discussing how it impacts Amazon’s, and how it has various applications, although there are some challenges while implementing and running it. The world of today is being ‘run’ mainly with the aid of technology, as it having applications in various facets of human life, starting from day to day activities to key applications in organizational or business environment. Technologies have evolved in various sectors, particularly Information Technology (IT) or Information Systems (IS) have evolved optimally aiding existing business firms in running, expanding, improving and even transforming their operations. Sizable numbers of business firms in various sectors are integrating IT in every aspect of their operations. From carrying out simple operations like opening a door or even authorized entry door to aiding in the accomplishment of complex processes, IT or IS are becoming an all-pervading entity in many of the business firms. The key fact is that emerging technologies or IS has many capabilities to optimally aid the business firms in improving their data storing, sharing as well as communication, which can aid t hem in carrying out all their organizational processes effective, providing them higher productivity and profits. Among the many emerging ISs, the technological or virtual concept of Cloud Computing can provide optimum benefits to the business firms who are using that concept, or if aptly said, are part of the â€Å"Cloud†. At the same time, this Cloud Computing is also positively

Facebook - The Question of Privacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Facebook - The Question of Privacy - Essay Example Users of the Facebook website vary from individuals who post profiles with photographs and videos freely to the other end of the spectrum, those who post, but secure their profiles out of fear that their personal information is at risk (Sutherland). A contradiction exists in regards to perspectives on privacy. People want to feel safe on the Internet, going to great lengths to minimize their â€Å"cyber footprint† (Changing Ways), from removing their contact information from directories to complaining about â€Å"their houses being visible on Google Earth† (Grayling). Yet, millions of other people cannot spend a single day without Internet-access, informing the world of their every action via Twitter and updating their Facebook status with their every thought, a plethora of photographs and personal details. Perhaps the attraction is in the projection of an ideal or image rather than conveying truth (Grayling). That said, Grayling implies websites like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, chat rooms, and other blog sites, may not be extinguishing users’ privacy as much as people think.... For example, users are now prompted to accept the Facebook terms and conditions when opening an application for the first time, granting the application developer access to personal contact information from the user’s personal profile. This change is geared toward one of Facebook’s largest company initiatives for 2011—e-commerce (Townsend). Although users are prompted to accept or decline the granting of access to personal information when the permission box pops up, it is unlikely that users will read the new terms. Townsend suggests most Internet users have been trained to bypass the fine print and get to the bottom line, clicking anything necessary to get them to what they were initially trying to do. Facebook cannot be blamed for users failing to read the fine print, can they? Based on Townsend’s research on the subject of privacy and recent changes made by the company, it seems Facebook is focusing on profiting from the personal information of its use rs. The value of contact information and personal details that are provided on the website so freely serves as one of the company’s â€Å"greatest potential revenue streams for the future† (Townsend). While Facebook is protecting itself by adding new terms to the permission box that pops up when users access developer applications, it may not only be Facebook benefiting from the personal details being transmitted. Townsend describes rogue applications that are intended to farm user information by pretending to be something they are not. Facebook claims to carefully monitor scams (â€Å"Facebook†) such as faux applications that gain access to users information in this manner, but it could take several days before the application is caught and eliminated; meaning countless users at the hands

Egyptian Civilization Essay Example for Free

Egyptian Civilization Essay In the modern world, colossal structures such as the Sphinx and the pyramids serve as reminders of the existence of the Egyptian Civilization. This ancient culture flourished along the Nile River, which had influenced and sustained the development of Egyptian Civilization. Flowing towards the north from the East Central Africa to the Mediterranean Sea, the Nile River served as a principal route for trade and had a role in uniting Upper and Lower Egypt. Without the Nile River, Egypt would become nothing but a vast desert. (Crosslands, n. d) The Three Periods Although dynasties characterized the Egyptian Civilization, the land maintained its unity. There are three periods that divided the Ancient Egyptian Civilization namely the Old Kingdom or Pyramid Age, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom (Crosslands, n. d). The Old Kingdom (2700 – 2200 BC) The ancient Egyptian rulers or pharaohs worked on maintaining a stable and centralized state. To the people, pharaohs were regarded as gods hence they were given absolute power as well as ownership and rule over the lands (Crossland, n. d. ). This period is known as the Pyramid Age because at this time, colossal structures known as pyramid were constructed by the Egyptians near Giza, situated at present-day Cairo. Because of their belief in after-life, the Egyptians kept tombs of their dead pharaohs in these pyramids. The construction process was so long and tedious that once a pharaoh assumed the throne, slaves are already tasked to start building the tomb of the new pharaoh. The struggle for power, failure of crops, and the expenses incurred for constructing the pyramids, were the major factors that brought about the collapse of the Old Kingdom (Crossland, n. d. ) The Middle Kingdom (2050 BC – 1800 BC) This period was marked by turbulence and chaos. Corruption and uprising usually took place. The rise of the Nile River was not as regular as it used to be. However, some pharaohs were still able to set-up an ambitious drainage project, paving the way for a huge stretch of arable lands. Nubia, the southern land proliferating with gold, was occupied by Egyptian armies. Crete was likewise opened to trading opportunities (Crossland, n. d. ). The Hyksos conquered the delta region and brought along their military technology. The new invaders were captivated by the customs, names, and beliefs of the Egyptians. They occupied the land for over 100 years. Eventually, the conquerors were driven out by new rulers which paved the way for the New Kingdom (Crossland, n. d. ). The New Kingdom Ramses II and Queen Hatshepsut were the most notable rulers of this time. By this time, the Egyptian civilization had already extended to the region of the Euphrates River. Contact with Middle Easterners as well as other sections of the African continent. At the conclusion of the reign of Ramses II, the strength of the Egyptian civilization began to decrease. Other powers like the Greeks, Romans, Persians, and Assyrians found their way into the Nile region (Crossland, n. d). Contribution to Modern Civilization The Egyptians are credited for various contributions in different fields of interest. In the field of medicine, the Egyptians had good surgeons and doctors. Egypt had an advanced understanding of the human body (Crossland, n. d). It was the Egyptians who first utilized the 365 days a year format in the calendar. It showed more precision than the original lunar calendar using the moons revolution around the earth. The Egyptian calendar came into being in 4200 BC, and became the basis for the one being used in modern times (Crossland, n. d) Sumerian Civilization While the Nile River was the venue for the Egyptian civilization, similarly the Sumerian culture flourished in the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates River around 4000 BC. Unlike other societies, however, the Sumerians had a unique community comparable to civilizations of their time as well as future societies. If pharaohs ruled Egyptian society, the Sumerians built their settlements in temples and priests were the rulers (Watkins, n. d). The Sumerian civilization was composed of separate city-states. Sumer was strategically protected by the Persian Gulf as well as by Euphrates River. From the bodies of water, the city was protected by walls. The temples were located in a separate section of the city (Watkins, n. d). The Sumerian civilization was erased from the annals of history in 2000 BC as a result of military invasions by people from Semitic culture. The most notable empire was that of Sargon (Watkins, n. d). Contributions to Modern World The Sumerians had a technology more advanced than any other civilization of their time. In fact, they influenced other civilizations particularly the Babylonians in the north. They influenced Upper Egypt through the Persian Gulf and Lower Egypt via the eastern Mediterranean coast. Finally, the civilization lying along the Indus River Valley may have some Sumerian influence as well (Watkins, n. d). The Sumerian civilization contributed cuneiform writing as well as systematic record keeping, social and economic organizations, the plow. Their most significant contribution to modern civilization is dividing a day into 24 hours and an hour to 60 minutes (Watkins, n. d). The Babylonian Civilization The culture of the Babylonians became prominent between the fall of the third Ur Dynasty which happened in 1950 BC and the conclusion of the first Babylonian civilization in 1533 BC. The ancient Babylonian culture reached its grandeur during the time of the Amorites until it became the principal city in ancient Iraq(Iraq UN Mission, n. d). King Hammurabi is the most notable ruler of ancient Babylon. He laid the groundwork for the establishment of his dynasty. Hammurabi set his sights on building a strong political and military society. He established a legal system based on the Code of Hammurabi. It is believed that this code was the basic for future legal concepts. In fact, the saying â€Å"Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth† was established on this code (Iraq UN Mission, n. d. The Akkadian Civilization The culture of Akkadia flourished from 2350 – 2159 BC. Before settling in Mesopotamia, the Akkadians hailed from the Arab peninsula. Its founder is Sargon who established Akkas as the capital city. The Akkadian culture is located in a region which is now occupied by Baghdad (Iraq UN Mission, n. d. Although there were traces of Sumerian influences, the Akkadians established new concepts and practices in the field of politics, social living, arts, and the military (Iraq UN Mission, n. d. The Persian Civilization Alexander the Great is undoubtedly the greatest ruler of Persia. During his reign, he strived to unite Persians into a great nation. Alexanders dream, however, did not materialize after he died. His military generals fought against each other in an attempt to become ruler of the once mighty Persian Empire. One of Alexanders generals succeeded in conquering the entirely Persian region of the empire (Ellis Horne, 1913). Another of the greatest Persian king was Artexerxes who ruled Persia after the Parthinians conquered the empire in 250 BC. The Persians are strong and fierce warriors who will not simply go away in battle. This was evident in the battle for Petra, one of the most notable wars in historical annals (Ellis Horne, 1913). The Greatest Civilization in the World I believe that the greatest civilization in the world is the Egyptian civilization. Their greatness in the field or architecture is still very much evident in the pyramids and the Sphinx. I have never visited the pyramids or seen the sphinx yet but accounts by tourists who have seen the colossal structure leave the place in awe. The richness of the Egyptian culture is likewise stored underneath these structures which served as tombs of ancient pharaohs. The Egyptians have likewise stamped their expertise in mathematics and astronomy. The old lunar calendar, which is based on the rotation of the moon around the earth, is a proof of their excellence in this field. References Ellis, E. S. , Horne, C. F. ,(1913). The Story of the Greatest Nations and the Worlds Famous Events. Iraq UN Mission(n. d. ). Civilizations. Retrieved June 17 2008 from http://www. iraqunmission. org/node/27 Ms. Croft-Crosslands Standard(n. d). Ancient Egypt. Retrieved June 17 2008 from http://home. cf1. rr. com/crossland/AncientCivilizations/Ancient_Egpyt/ancient_egypt. html Watkins, T(n. d. ). Sumer. San Jose State University. Retrieved June 17, 2008 from http://www. sjsu. edu/faculty/watkins/sumer. htm

How To Manage Conflict Essay Example for Free

How To Manage Conflict Essay Managing conflict is never easy, whether youre trying to resolve a conflict of your own or trying to help two people settle a dispute. The most important thing to know is that the longer you let the situation continue, the worse itll be when its time to resolve it. So take a deep breath, maintain your cool, and get ready to find a solution that can make everyone (reasonably) happy. 1. Make a plan for meeting. If two people are genuinely in conflict and you want to help them or they need your help then you should plan a time to meet that would make everybody happy. Of course, you may just walk into a conflict and have to solve it on the spur of the moment, but hopefully you have some time to plan in advance. If so, pick a time and place that works for both people, and make sure that they are both invested in solving the conflict. If theres real trouble, then the sooner you can get together, the better. Ad 2. Let each person state his or her side of the story. If you are in charge of managing a conflict, whether its because youre a manager or because youre helping two people figure out their issues, you have to be an active listener. Let each person express his or her position and listen with compassion and care until each person has stated his or her feelings and desires. Dont let the people interrupt each other and make it clear that each person will take turns fully explaining him or her self.[1] Make sure that both people are really listening to each other instead of just waiting until their turn to have their say. If necessary, have one person repeat some of the main points the other person made, so its clear that they both have an understanding of how each person is feeling. 3. 3 Make it clear that you are there to help resolve, not solve. The people who are in conflict must figure out how to move past their problems on their own, not look to you for a magical solution that will make all of their problems go away. You should make this clear from the start so both parties know that they have to work hard and listen actively before they can move  forward. You are there to mediate so the conflict doesnt get out of control and so that both parties can look at the situation with more objectivity and control, but that doesnt mean you will provide them with an answer. 4 Maintain your objectivity. Even if you think that Lucy is obviously in the right and Mary is 100% wrong, it is not your position to say so. If you jump in on Lucys side, then Mary will feel like youre both ganging up against her and the conflict will be even further from a resolution. Instead, keep your own personal opinions and ideas out of it and treat each persons perspective with compassion and respect. Even if one person is more right than the other, they both still have to reach a solution that can reasonably please both of them. If youre mediating a conflict, then you should pay equal attention to both people. Let each person spend about the same amount of time speaking and make points that support both people instead of just focusing on one person or the other. Maintain a neutral expression, and try not to look put off or skeptical if one person is stating something you dont agree with at all. 5. 5 Be a calming force. One of your primary tasks is to help both people keep their cool. Manage their stress levels, their anger, and their emotions to the best of your ability. If someone is getting too heated, raising his or her voice, and getting visibly angry or upset, take a five-minute break or ask that person to take a few deep breaths and wait until he or she can speak calmly. You can only find a solution if both people stay calm and can see clearly.[2] If the conversation is not going down a constructive path, and both people have resorted to name calling and cursing and just criticizing each other back and forth without getting anywhere, then you should intervene and get the conversation back on track. You can say something like, Lets focus on whats important here, or Were just not getting anywhere with this kind of talk. 6 Figure out the source of the tension. Once both people have stated their  cases, you can help them figure out what is really at stake. They may think that they are really angry at each other because of financial tension, but they may really be upset because of a lack of communication. Be as specific. Have each person discuss all of the things that are troubling him or her and see if you can really find the root of the problem. Be patient. It may take a bit of digging and some pain to get there. If you can put it in simple terms, something like, Bob feels that Mary is micromanaging his project or Sara feels like Jim doesnt spend enough quality time with her, then you can begin to tackle the problem better than if you just knew that the two people were angry with each other. 7 Work together to find a solution. Once you have all agreed on the source of the tension and the problem that is at hand, you can begin to find a solution. Remember that both people do have to agree about the nature of the real problem to be able to find an effective solution. It may not be readily apparent, and you may need some perseverance and creativity to get there, but eventually, you should be able to find a way to make both people (reasonably) happy. Here are some potential solutions you may find and ways to state them gracefully: It seems like both of you are having trouble living together. Sara may be a bit too focused on being neat, while Mary may be a bit careless when it comes to doing chores. To solve the problem, you should set out a list of guidelines for how you can both keep the house clean without running into trouble. If you both agree to do the things on the list, then you can stay happy in your living space. It seems that Bob has been managing Clark a little too closely. To avoid this in the future, Bob and Clark can discuss the objectives of a project in great detail and can decide on times when they can both check in about the status of the project; this will make Bob feel at ease about where the project is going, while giving Clark a little bit of breathing room. 8 Make a plan. Once youve found a resolution for the problem, you can set out specific guidelines for making it happen. Remember that both people have to be invested in finding this solution. You can set a timeline for achieving  these goals and have both people put it in writing so they feel that it will actually happen. Here are some ways it can happen: Mary and Sara should sit down and discuss which things in the house have to stay clean at all times, and which parts should be cleaned occasionally for an extra nice touch. Once you agree on the daily chores that really need to be done, you can make a chart of rotating tasks. Bob and Clark should meet for an hour before every new project, taking at least two detailed pages of notes so that Clark has enough direction to go off on his own. They should meet every three days for half an hour to discuss the progress of the project. 9 If both parties agree to disagree, help them part amicably. Maybe neither person, or one of the people, is unwilling to budge, and after much discussion, you havent moved past square one. If thats the case, then you should still make it so that one person understands where the other is coming from and that they can leave the situation without extra hostility or tension. Maybe Bob cant help but breathe down Clarks neck or Sara will always be messy no matter what; if thats the case, then they have to find a way to coexist or make a smart plan for parting ways. Consider the fact that maybe both people just arent ready to resolve the conflict and need more time to cool off. If you feel like the argument is getting nowhere because both people are too heated and emotional, not because they refuse to budge from their positions, then consider asking both people reschedule your meeting for a time when both parties can think more clearly. 10 End the conversation on a positive note. Whether both parties have reached a healthy conclusion or have agreed to disagree, you should end the situation on an optimistic note so neither person feels defeated. If both parties are feeling friendly, go out for a coffee or a beer; if both parties are still very angry, try to diffuse the situation with a bit of humor and see if theyll at least shake hands and stay cordial. If emotions are too heated, then its time for everyone to back off for a bit, but if the vibe is positive, make the people feel good about having the conversation. Remind both parties that, however unpleasant it may be to discuss a conflict, that  they have been mature and done the right thing by deciding to resolve the situation instead of staying angry or avoiding the tension. Method 2 of 2: Managing Your Own Conflicts 1. Face the conflict head-on. If youre dealing with a conflict of your own, then the worst thing you can do is run and hide, waiting for the conflict to get bigger and bigger until its almost impossible to resolve it. Sure, conflict is no fun, whether youre butting heads with a co-worker or your long-term boyfriend, but remind yourself that if you brush your problems under the rug, then they are guaranteed to get worse. So take a deep breath and accept that you have to deal with it.[3] That being said, pick your battles. If you feel like your boyfriend has been neglecting you, then speak up; but if you feel like you dont like the way he loads the dishwater, maybe its better to hold off. 2 Dont tell everyone about it. Its okay to seek advice from a close friend or another co-worker if you genuinely dont know what to do. But if you feel the urge to complain to every person in sight about the conflict just so you can gossip or get some anger off your chest, then youre only getting yourself worked up and possibly putting your relationship in jeopardy if the other person finds out about what youve been saying. If you do need advice, then talk to just one or two people whom you really trust so you can have some meaningful direction.[4] Think about it; how would you feel if you heard your co-worker was telling everyone in the office about your problems without talking to you about it? That kind of behavior is guaranteed to make you feel worse. 3 Use I statements. I statements are crucial for solving a conflict as objectively as possible. I statements make your feelings and motives clear and can help the other person see your side of the story without feeling accused or persecuted; You statements make the other party feel like he or  she is on the chopping block and will make him or her feel much more defensive. Here are some ways to make useful I statements: I feel like we havent been spending enough time together is more effective than You are always neglecting me. I feel like Ive been picking up the majority of the work on the project, is more effective than You have been making me do all of the work on this project. 4 Be specific. This doesnt mean you have to list the 90 things that the person has done to hurt you or to cause the conflict. In fact, this kind of behavior will only make the person feel worse, like hes being picked apart. Instead, stick to two or three concrete scenarios that can illustrate what you mean to make the person see the situation from your perspective. Here are some examples: I was really hurt when you left my birthday party early to hang out with your friends instead of spending more time with me. I spent ten hours on the Roberts report while you only worked on the cover page.

Social Work Social Policy And Social Welfare Social Work Essay

Social Work Social Policy And Social Welfare Social Work Essay With reference to changes in Government policy and ideologies of welfare, debate the significance of the shift from Victorian Pauper to 21st century service user and its impact on social work practice and values. This assignment has used a historical timeline of Governmental changes to policies and laws as a background to debate the shift from Victorian Pauper to 21st century service user. The divide between the rich and poor has always been an issue that different governments have faced, dealing with it differently, for example Clement Attlees labour Government in 1945 introduced the welfare state to give every British citizen cover, regardless of income or lack of it. Those who lacked jobs and homes would be helped. The definition of a Pauper according to the Collins dictionary is someone who is relatively poor, in comparison to the general population or historically eligible for public charity. The definition of a service user is someone who at some point uses or receives health or social care services. (General Social Care Council) The term service user is criticised, as critics Adams et al (2009) believe it focuses on one element of the individual, implying dependency, without taking into account other aspects and argue that the term places the service user in a disempowered position in their relationship with a professional, with power residing with this professional. The National Network of Service Users: Shaping our lives however sees the term service user as positive, its an individual who uses the services, they confer power creating a stronger voice and having a greater ability to shape services. (Levin 2004) Modern British social policy has its foundation in the Poor Laws, dating from 1598 to 1948. The Poor Law (1601) provided a compulsory poor rate and helped set the poor to work. However as the Parish was the basic area of administration, and laws were enforced differently from parish to parish with no set standards of care causing inconsistencies between areas. The Poor Law amendment act (1834) modified the existing system. Poor Law Unions were introduced, parishes were grouped together, and those Unions would be the responsibility of a Board of Guardians. The Guardians were responsible for the administration of poor relief for their locality, rather than leaving the responsibility of administration in the hands of individual parishes and townships. Workhouses were introduced and encouraged, one workhouse in each union to give poor relief. This Act stated that no able bodied person was to receive any other help other than in the workhouse. The purpose of the workhouse was to let individuals enter and leave as they liked and they would receive free food and accommodation, how ever as time passed concern grew with regard to the seeming overuse of the workhouse. As a result the eligibility criteria for entry to the workhouse was then altered. Life in the workhouse was to be made as cruel as it was outside. The wretched existence offered, and the stigma attached to being an inmate, ensured that only the truly deprived used them. A jail style system of segregation for men and women meant that even families had to be separated, altogether different from 21st Century social work values which espouse a stronger commitment to keeping families together, with child protection services and child welfare agencies providing support to ensure family preservation. (Payne, 2005) It was in 1869 that The Charity Organisation Society (COS) was formed to unify the many smaller sources of relief and make provision more efficient and effective. The COS perceived that charitable assistance was needed and believed that their aim was to reach all families, but were unsure how the money had previously been spent. COS set out a scheme of financial help, introducing local committees, who then raised funds and distributed these to families in need. Similar to many charities today, there are still many families who dont ask for help because of religion, language, pride or because they are not aware that help may be available. (Family Action) The aim of COS was to persuade charities to converge their resources, which might then be distributed more systematically. However the individuals helped had to be deemed capable of becoming self supporting. Worthiness was considered before any charitable help was given. Those who werent considered worthy were left to destitution, the Society effectively deciding that as they deemed there to be no hope for their redemption, that to help them would be a waste of limited resources which would be better spent elsewhere with individuals or families who could subsequently lift themselves out of poverty and dependence. (Campling, 1996) The COS model was pioneering in taking into account the consequences if they helped every individual, as they thought this would lead to dependency and exaggeration in order to receive money. COS was also formed with the objective of achieving a decrease in the charitable expenditure as a result of greater efficiency and the economy of scale, and in this sense the COS reflected the wider ideology of the industrial revolution. Current Social Work objectives similarly seek to achieve value for money, with the Audit commission defining value for money as the best possible balance of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Whilst the 21st century social worker endeavours to deal fairly with the needs of everyone, nevertheless, the distribution of needs is uneven and changes constantly. To ensure quality is consistent care plan reviews are monitored and service users may be involved in quality circles, engaging them in deciding whats best. Direct payment schemes are also offered to a minority group of service users to let them decide on and customise their own social care. The main problem Social Services face is the potential impact of the dynamic and variable economic and pol itical environment in which they must function. Whilst trying to provide individualised care packages they have to ensure that its effective in respect to cost. Also there is growing recognition that a number of minority groups may be excluded from accessing services such as Social Work services and, also those services which have previously not been provided in culturally appropriate ways. (Making ends meet, 2010) Appropriate steps will therefore need to be taken to enforce anti discriminatory practice and anti oppressive practice, when considering how to provide help in accessing services for minority groups. The COS quickly found that more than financial aid was needed to help paupers. Emotional and other practical help was also required, for example help with finding employment. COS volunteers were trained to offer such additional help and, therefore, the formal training offered by COS can be seen as the forerunner of modern social work training and qualifications. They adopted an approach which attempted to analyse the problem. Working with the individual and family to help them achieve a lasting solution so all could be kept in their familiar environments. This approach was very time consuming, and the approach the worker took to investigate the individual was very objectionable. This approach is the basis of the current Social Work casework approach which is now highly criticised. Holman (1993) suggests that the casework approach only masks social and political obligations in individuals lives, therefore helping to maintain their situation. There are now other approaches that focus on reducing inequality. Which investigate the social and political reasons as well as the individuals as to why they are in poverty. A new manifesto for Social Work now highlights the need to use a collection of approaches as the need to combat poverty and discrimination is greater than ever. Many who tried to use the COS principles found it difficult to disregard individuals who needed help. Other approaches were latterly introduced to help more individuals. The Settlement House Movement (1884) was one of these. Its principles focused on university volunteers working with the poor in their spare time, offering education. Its aim was to achieve mutual respect between the classes. This approach focused on empowering the poor, helping them to help themselves. Society also benefitted from this model. It focused on a more structured analysis of poverty and its impact on human behaviour by practising interventions at a community level. This is needed now to help small communities and the individuals within it. The nature of social work practice then changed and focused on individuals. A significant element was hearing clients voices and the incomparable knowledge of the professionals working with them to help whichever way they could. (Adams et al, 2009) Using these models the Government laid the basis of the future social services. The major concern being that all areas should be given the same services. These new services were provided away from The Poor Law to evade the association. Current Social Work still has its inconsistencies, however the White Paper Tackling Health Inequalities Programme of Action (Department of Health, 2003), focuses on a number of ways to equalise access to healthcare, for example working with people who face overlapping health problems for instance older people who have ill health and are in poverty. Social Workers are focussing on secondary prevention, as this type of prevention can impact more individuals. A major report produced regarding the welfare of individuals was the Beveridge Report (Department of Health, 1942). This report focused on how Britain could be rebuilt after the war. In 1945 labour was elected and promised to introduce a welfare state. The welfare state involved introducing new services. These included the National Health Services and Housing Acts. The welfare state was produced to encourage the provision of services for the public. (Laybourn, 1995) Glasby (2005) looked at previous reforms and how the future would be in adult social care. It evaluated all important reports to see how social work could be improved. One report that impacted policy and practice during the 1960s was the Seebohm report (1968). This report highlighted the problems of poverty and was tasked to review the organisation and responsibilities of the Local Authority Social Services in England as well as to consider what changes were desirable to secure an effective family service. (Seebohm, 1968, pg11.) Prior to this report Social Work was spread across various Local Authorities and different Government sections. This caused inadequacies in the quality of provision. Access was very difficult. For example, range and quality of provision of services were inconsistent also the Seebohm Report highlighted a poor coordination of information between these services. The report recommended a new Local Authority department providing a community based and family orient ated service, which would be available for all. When this recommendation was brought into action new Social Services Departments were formed. The Seebohm Report did highlight potential problems. It stated that having separate departments for children and adults might subsequently make it difficult to treat the familys needs as a whole. The Barclay Report (1982) looked into the role of a social worker. In its opening line it stated that too much was expected of social workers. It found that it was a profession that was confused about its role and because of intense media scrutiny was struggling with work load. It found that there was an ongoing need for social workers to fulfil many functions including promoting community networks, working with other services and acting as an advocate for clients. The report did criticise social work departments for taking a reactive stance towards social problems, dealing with those needs which are forced upon their attention but failing to develop overall plans which link the voluntary, statutory and private services in an area into a coherent plan which is still a problem today. (Department of Health, 1982, pg.38) Social Services Departments find it difficult to help every need as they dont have limitless resources. They need to use other services and work with them closely, the help of Interprofessional education will ensure that other professionals have an understanding of social workers roles. The Barclay Report produced very similar recommendations to that of the Seebohm Report (1968). Although it highlighted that the community approach may have more success now, as there is a greater capacity for individuals to be more autonomous and make their own decisions. The community approach focuses on the local community and social workers would observe individuals in the context of their community. This approach uses local centres and pools resources, creating less impact on the Social Work services so their resources can be spread further. Reports such as these have highlighted how important good social work is, and how much it is needed. There are many problems involved in the profession. There is still stigma attached to the term service user just as there was to the term pauper. Whilst researching the different acts and welfare ideologies that have been introduced throughout the timeline I have used (see paragraph one, page one) I have found that individuals still have problems accessing help. There are families who still may be disinclined to ask for help because of the stigma of doing so. New approaches have introduced service user involvement by asking them what help they want and defining the quality of help they receive. A recent report by Beresford, Shamash, Forrest and Turner (2007) researched service users future vision for adult services. They found that the process of accessing social care was frequently negative for service users furthermore the assessments were very dependent on the quality of the staff carrying it out. All social workers should work to one high standard. It shouldnt be a lottery of if you get a good one or not. A universal tool could be implemented so that all service users were asked the same questions and could highlight their specific problems and needs whilst using the tool. Service users also highlighted the fact that access to their social worker was low and many of the service users questioned had gaps in their services making them feel insecure. Reports researched for this assignment have all found that service users know what they want and can easily highlight the problems they face or have had previously. One report found that while welfare bureaucracy has been condemned by governments for a long while, service users still identify problems (Shaping Our Lives, 2007). There is still social exclusion. Social Services Departments may contribute to it as they help individuals just enough, finding the quickest way to help them not necessarily the best way in the long run because of finite resources. Using different approaches, for example the community approach would help at different levels so less emphasis is on Social Services Departments resources. Vast improvements are still needed. For example child poverty is getting worst. The Report Monitoring poverty and social exclusion (2009) found that children who live in low-income households, where at least one adult works, is at the highest it has ever been. This increase has a ffected the Governments child poverty targets. The recession affected reaching the targets greatly. It is vital now to recover from the recession but also to recover from underlying problems that were there previously before the economic downturn began. Reports like Shaping Our Lives (2007) found that service users feel more responsible and confident about the help they are receiving when they have been more involved in the decision processes. A report by Beresford et al, (2007) found that service users would like a watchdog with a board of service users and professionals so they could be involved in judging the quality of care they receive. The Race Equality Act (2006) sets the context for anti- discriminatory practice within which social workers operate. However, whilst it could be critiqued that some progress has been made as a result with respect to those of different culture and religion, continuing inequalities would suggest much more progress remains to be made. To conclude social work has changed significantly and progress to help all individuals needs to continue. However as a profession it needs a larger voice to talk about the problems they face therefore getting extra help to ensure that service users and paupers have even fewer similarities. There has been a great shift from pauper to service user. Service users have much more freedom and rights now. Albeit there are still similarities which need to be focused on to improve the services available. Social Service Departments also need to refuse to let policies be imposed when they dont improve on what is already implemented. Rights are now benefitting service users but we need to ensure this continues.

Bob Saget :: essays research papers

Bob Saget is best known as the star of ABC's "Full House" for eight seasons and as the host of "America's Funniest Home Videos." Unfortunately, these shows were not able to show Lord Saget for who he really is: the dirtiest and, by far, funniest man alive (as anyone who has ever seen his stand-up routine can surely vouch). It was only because of Lord Saget's Godly powers that the Olsen Twins were able to become as popular as they are today; for without the guidance of a supreme being, they would probably be working the pole at some strip club! Saget also executive produced and starred in "Father and Scout" in 1995, a presentation of "The ABC Family Movie." In 1990, he wrote, directed and starred in the one-hour special, "In the Dream State," which earned him a Cable ACE nomination for directing. Saget also directed the movie "Dirty Work," a hilarious movie starring Norm Macdonald. He has also made numerous TV appearances, including "The Tonight Show," "Late Show With David Letterman," "Saturday Night Live", "The Larry Sanders Show," "Late Night," and "Comic Relief," a cause that is very close to his heart. He has also made cameo appearances in movies such as "Dumb and Dumber" and "Half Baked," in which he played a dick sucking coke head (surely one of his better roles). Raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Norfolk, Virginia; Encino, California, and, of course, Heaven, Saget built his foundation in entertainment by performing and writing stand-up comedy, which he has pursued for almost 30 years. He supported himself during the early days of his career with stand-up gigs at The Comedy Store and The Improv, studying with acting coach Darryl Hickman for five years and spending a year with the Groundlings Workshops. He also toured with many top musical acts, playing at such venues as Carnegie Hall and the main showrooms of Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City. After moving to New York in 1987, he began a six-month stint as co-host of "The

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts :: essays research papers

Krispy Kreme Donuts, Inc. Since Krispy Kreme was founded in 1937, it has grown into a leading branded specialty retailer, producing more than 5 million doughnuts a day and over 1.8 billion a year. In addition to Krispy Kreme stores, their premium quality doughnuts are sold in supermarkets, convenience stores and other retail outlets throughout the country. Best known for their fresh, glazed, yeast-raised doughnuts, known as "Hot Original Glazed†, Krispy Kreme also make more than a dozen other varieties of yeast-raised and cake doughnuts. But the company is currently going through financial turmoil along with possible earnings management. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts recently announced that they are slashing 125-130 jobs, the vast majority in Winston-Salem. The company is eliminating one-fourth of their staff in order to cut costs. Also, they recently sold their corporate jet to a Wilmington company for $30.5 million. It is evident that the donut empire is suffering from liquidity and cash flow problems. Some investor argue that they didn’t see this coming because the once highly profitable, ever expanding company, seemed incapable of fiscal failure. The layoff shows that they have experienced a major downturn in the past year. Less than two years ago, Krispy Kreme’s shares sold for $50 and are currently selling for $7.21. The bottom line is that Krispy Kreme must revamp sales in order to increase cash flow or they will not make it. Their board of directors said that the downsizing would create an annual pretax savings of about $7.4 million; they will take a restructuring charge in their fiscal first quarter to pay for the work force reduction. The company also stated that selling the jet will result in annual pretax savings of $3 million; but it will have to take a $300,000 charge in its current fiscal first quarter because of the deal. Also in January, Krispy Kreme's long-term debt lenders contracted to extend for two months to March 25, 2005, the date on which the company would be in default on its $150 million credit agreement. This agreement restricts the company from borrowing any money until repaid. Kripsy Kreme is witnessing the results of a low-carbohydrate phase combined with expanding too fast; plunging profit, crumbling stock price, its accounting is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (because they have yet to file quarterly reports that were due February 1,2 005), and it is the subject of various

Education and Tech School

A contemplated future Carmen Herrera’s future job outlook can take many separate directions. There are many things that will alter her future for better or worse, the one that we will look at today involves her decision on whether or not she should go to Radcliff tech, or go to mountainfeild university and what majors and what type of jobs these school’s offer out of the three categories that Robert Reich classifies jobs in his 1989 essay â€Å"u. s income inequality keeps on rising†.The three categories are broken up into symbolic analytic services, routine personal services and routine production services. Each school offers jobs in these categories and we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of both schools. Carmen Herrera’s future job outlook at Radcliff tech has many advantages, these advantages include jobs that will be easier to land and obtain than jobs she would land in a university, these jobs include many jobs in the routine personal se rvices categories and many in the routine production services categories.Tech schools tend to specialize in jobs for production and personal services because the teachers and majors available to these students are limited in terms of what they are able to teach and the education of the teachers. Some tech schools are even more specialized to a certain field. For example a school like pennco tech is mainly specified for automotive, students looking for a mechanic certification would be interested in a school like this. Another advantage of going to a tech school is that tuition and fees are much more affordable compared to a large university.This makes tech school more accessible than the majority of universities. This makes choosing a major considerably easier than a university because the student already knows what they want to do most likely before they arrive at the tech school. Ratcliff tech also has many disadvantages; the big disadvantage of going to a tech school is that thei r selection of courses is greatly diminished compared to a university. This is mainly because the school does not have the proper funding or education to offer a wide variety of majors.Teachers are often in demand at tech schools and these teachers are not as educated or as good of teachers as most university teachers. The other disadvantage of going to a tech school is they do not offer many jobs in the analytic services category because these jobs take much higher education and a lot more years of schooling. These jobs typically offer a much higher income than the jobs in the other two categories stated. Students have an option to go to tech school or a university. The advantages of going to a university in my mind greatly outweigh the advantages of going to a tech school.This is because at a university the average degree earns a student a much greater amount of money than the average tech school degree does. That is because there are more jobs in the analytic services category th an any of the other categories. Jobs in this category are typically jobs like a CEO of a big fortune 500 company or someone who created a product and now is majority owner or chairman of the company. This is because these school’s offer a higher education and give the student the necessary tools to become a ceo or chairman. A university like mountainfeild also has many disadvantages too.Like any university the student will be in a much bigger community and they will not receive the specialized attention and education that a tech school will offer Them this can make or break certain students and also can give them a better chance in learning their major and field of choice, this is why many students at big university’s tend to drop out or fail out because the course load or lack of individualized attention does not fit them well and the job categories that a tech school offers fit them a lot better than a large university does.Another disadvantage of a large university is that the school takes a lot longer to graduate from and in many fields in production and services there is no need for 4 years or even more worth of schooling when you can get it in two years or less at a tech school. The advantages and disadvantages of going to a tech school or a university make the decision very hard; this is why thousands and thousands of students have to make a tough decision every year.Tech school’s offer benefits in the short term but lack the education and degree that you would receive from a university, in the long run university’s give back much more than any tech school can offer, a students future can depend on if they made the right decision and if this decision is a viable one for your future.The three job categories are big point when deciding on whether you want to go to a tech school or university. University’s offer many more jobs in the analytic area and this is very tempting but tech school’s give you a quick way of getting certification in the production or services categories. Both schools offer many things and lack in many things so the decision will not be easy.

Associates Degree vs Bachelors Degree Essay

Nursing education has progressed throughout history from one of uneducated lay persons to the current standards we know today. As the career has progressed it has become apparent that there is a need for a skilled labor forced trained to deal with the sick and dying, â€Å"the provision of nursing care by American women†¦demonstrated the effectiveness of skilled nursing on improving outcomes for sick and injured soldiers† (Creasia & Friberg, 2011, p. 4). However, as the career progresses so does the need for more specialized training amongst nurses to help them deal with the changing atmosphere of patient care. The future of nursing is trending towards care that involves not only treating the signs and symptoms, but enhancing the patient’s health through prevention and education. In order to meet these new demands the nurse of today needs to be skilled to handle these changes. Bachelor’s degree nursing programs â€Å"encompass all of the course work taught in associate degree and diploma programs, plus a more in-depth treatment of the physical and social science, nursing research, public and community health, nursing management, and the humanities† (Baccalaureate Degree, 2001). This additional training prepares the nurse to have a better understanding of the outside influences that might affect their patient, along with providing them with a scope of practice that is typically broader than that of their associate counterparts (Baccalaureate Degree, 2001). These skills become important for the nurse, they can range the gamut from being able to make split second decisions in critical patient situations to simply designing a comprehensive plan of care for the patient. Many hospitals are currently recognizing the significance of the bachelors prepared nurse and are affording these nurses more responsibilities in providing patient care that highlight the complexity of the their skills over that of associate degree trained nurses (Baccalaureate Degree, 2001). â€Å"Throughout the last decade, policymakers and practice leaders have recognized that education makes a difference† (Impact of Education, n. d. ). Hospitals are also trending towards preferred hiring of bachelors prepared nurses for their workforce. Even national organizations are jumping on the bandwagon requiring â€Å"all nurse managers and nurse leaders to hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing by 2013† (Impact of Education, n. d. ), likewise the Institute of Medicine has also recommended that all hospitals have at least 80% of their nursing staff with a BSN or higher by the year 2020 (Impact of Education, n. d. ). Recent research has shown that hospitals and health care organizations that employ a higher number of bachelors prepared nurses see better patient outcomes as a result of the nurse having a greater capacity to practice (Impact of Education, n.d. ). Studies have shown that bachelors prepared nurses practice more confidently and as a result can react faster to patient situations resulting in better outcomes (Impact of Education, n. d. ). Also a bachelor’s prepared nurse is trained more extensively in â€Å"clinical, scientific, decision making, and humanistic skills, including preparation in community health, patient education, and nursing management and leadership† (Baccalaureate Degree, 2001) The education that patients get in how to care for themselves after leaving the hospital leads to better outcomes once they are gone and less recurrence of illness. The bachelors prepared nurse is better trained to handle this as their skills â€Å"are essential for practice in other community sites, such as health maintenance organizations, home health services, community clinics, and managed care firms† (Baccalaureate Degree, 2001). Also multiple studies form a variety of healthcare facilities have shown a link between a decrease in patient mortality at facilities that employ a higher percentage of bachelors trained nurses. In some cases the incidence of mortality has decreased by as much as 5% with an increase in bachelors prepared nurses at the bedside (Baccalaureate Degree, 2001). The definition of nursing according to the American Nurses Association is the following: â€Å"Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations† (2012). Nurses first and foremost treat patients through education. In the situation where a patient is admitted to the hospital, teaching beings at admission but the  role of the bachelors trained nurses and the associates trained nurse differs in the roles that they play. In hospitals â€Å"baccalaureate-prepared nurses are utilized in ways that recognize their different education preparation and competency from other entry-level RNs† (Baccalaureate Degree, 2001). These nurses are being afforded the ability to take on more tasks including preparing a plan that incorporates all aspects of the patients care from before they are admitted, encompassing their entire stay and ending with preparing a plan of care for the patient to follow at home. They also keep the lines of communication open between all of the different disciplines involved and coordinate care between them. This is because â€Å"studies have also found that nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level have stronger communication and problem solving skills (Johnson, 1988, as cited by Boren 2012) and a higher proficiency in their ability to make nursing diagnoses and evaluate nursing interventions (Giger & Davidhizar, 1990, as cited by Boren 2012)†, (Impact of Education, n.d. ). In the same situation an associate degree nurse would still provide education but they would participate by providing care at the bedside and teaching on less complex situations such as â€Å"how to cope with their conditions and to maintain their care upon discharge† (Baccalaureate Degree, 2001). Nursing is a constantly evolving career and as nurses the best way to be prepared for these changes is to be educated and to constantly strive to improve and continue our education. The bachelor’s degree program prepares the nurse to be better prepared to handle the workforce through several aspects. Bachelors prepared nurses have a wider knowledge base which can result in improved patient safety, lower mortality rates, and better patient education which in the end results in better patient outcomes. References American Nursing Association (2012), What is Nursing, retrieved 28 August 2012 from: http://www. nursingworld. org/EspeciallyForYou/What-is-Nursing Creasia, J. L. , & Friberg, E. (2011). Conceptual Foundations: The Bridge to professional nursing practice (5th ed. ). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders Publishing. The Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing as Minimal Preparation for Professional Practice. (2001). American Association of College of Nursing. Retrieved from http://www. aacn. nche. edu/publications/position/bacc-degree-prep The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice. (n. d. ). American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Retrieved from http://www. aacn. nche. edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/impact-of-education.

The Dimension of Inter-Professional Practice

Introduction This aim of this assignment is to analyse the unique role and contribution of nursing practices within inter-professional jobs and consider how inter-professional practices influence the way we manage the people in our care, using evidence based commentary. Mental illnesses are complex conditions and therefore cannot be managed by one professional. Holistic treatment of mental health patients requires a cohort of clinical professionals (Barker, 2008). For this assignment I chose Gibbs Reflective framework (1988) to enable my personal reflection and to improve my future nursing practice. In accordance with the NMC Code of Practice (2008) names have been changed to comply with confidentiality regulations; Grace will be my client’s name. Inter-Professional Team Working Pollard (2005), defined inter-professional working, as the process whereby members of different professions and/or agencies work together to provide integrated health and social care. Leathard (2003) states inter-professional working implies a group of professionals from different professions engaging in interdependent collaborations with mutual respect to provide integrated health and social care for the client’s benefit., Housley (2003) argues the multidisciplinary team is a group of people of different professions who meet regularly to discuss individual clients. Successful teamwork can have direct consequences for patient care and the inter-collaboration model of healthcare delivery is one of the most important modernisations of the healthcare system in recent years (Humphris and Hean, 2004). Effective team-working produces positive patient outcomes, while ineffectual team-working contributes to negative incidents in patient care (Grumbach and Bodenheimer, 2004). Client background Grace, a 21 year old female, was formally admitted via community mental health nurse due to non-concordance of medication. Grace suffers severe mental illness and personality disorder with a high level of self-harming, poor personal hygiene and inability to perform activities of daily living ADL’s. The Roper, Logan and Tierney model (Bellman 1996) states that 12 ADL’s produce a picture of the person’s lifestyle and these can be used to highlight problems which require nursing intervention. Inter-disciplinary team working and my role in Grace’s care The multidisciplinary review meeting for Grace’s care comprised a consultant psychiatrist,; a psychologist who assessed Grace’s behaviours and gave counselling sessions; social workers who assessed social wellbeing; an occupational therapist who assessed ADL; a dietician and the care-coordinator who was the key-worker involved in Grace’s care when she was in the community. The registered mental health nurse assigned to Grace was my mentor, and I was given the task of shadowing my mentor to assess Grace’s mental state on the ward and monitor any physical changes. The inter-professional team at the review placed Grace on level 3 observation due to her self-harming. Feelings I felt challenged and nervous about shadowing and handling the nursing report during the multidisciplinary team review. However, I realised this is a key role of the nursing professional in an inter-professional team, Davies & Priestly (2006) views nursing handover as vital information about clients under the care of nurses, allowing nurses to improve both the handover process and improve patient care delivery. I felt empathy for Grace, especially her anxiety over the (in her eyes) large number of people (the care team) caring for and deciding her ‘fate’. She shared in her one-to-one sessions that she was nervous of not doing the right things in front of the team and I remember thinking ‘we are both nervous for similar reasons’,, as I was also nervous about what the team thought about me and my practice. I reassured Grace that we were here to help her, using my communication skills to listen and ally her fears. Hamilton et al. (2010) stated listening is an essential skill for a mental health nurse. I felt frustrated within the team, feeling that some members worked toward their own goals rather than collectively aiming to ensure the best holistic care for Grace, which made working within the team challenging. An example of this was the doctor’s decision to exclude Grace from participating in ward activities without assessment from the occupational therapist. This is at odds with the traditional nursing role, which seeks to include the patient both physically and psychologically. I felt that this decision was not in Grace’s best interest, and could prolong her discharge. Evaluation In evaluating my empathy with Grace and her anxiety, I felt there was an understandable connection as we were both in new situations, while too much empathy can lead to difficulties in nursing (Mercer and Reynolds 2002), empathy is an important aspect in nursing. Whitehead (2000) states that one angle of team work that is often neglected is the ‘relationship’ between client and nurse, which she argues is important to ensure positive care outcomes and therefore should not be disregarded within a collaborative framework. After talking to my peers I found that we all felt some anxiety about working within a multi-disciplinary team. In evaluating my time as an inter-disciplinary team member and my anxiety, I realised this eased when roles were defined and responsibilities shared. Ovretveit et al. (1997) asserted that understanding and clarification of roles from the onset is necessary for good team-working and failure to define roles correctly can lead to confusion. My frustrations within the team were in part due to my anxiety of performing poorly in front of my mentor, and my inexperience of working within an interdisciplinary-team. I had little understanding of how the different roles and philosophies of other professionals would need to be compromised to ensure both safety of and good care for Grace and perhaps I placed too much importance on the nursing role without understanding what other professionals brought to the team. Analysis While my empathy can be a positive aspect to my nursing, on reflection, it may have clouded my judgement and my ability to follow the right course of action, given that Grace was known to self-harm. The decisions made by the doctor complied with Local Trust Policy (2010) on self-harming. Furthermore, NICE guidelines (2004) states that staff develop preventative strategies to ensure patient safety in cases of self-harming, by reducing opportunities to self-harm. The inter-disciplinary team decided Grace should not be allowed to participate in ward activities due to risk of self-harm. Through analysis of the team-work shown within this case, I believe that the team showed effective communication, as each professional had a good knowledge of the role they were expected to play in supporting Grace’s care and effective communication is vital in team-working (Ovretveit et al. 1997). My frustrations within the team can be explained by Whitehead (2001) who identified that collaboration work, while beneficial, did have a variety of barriers that could hinder development of close collaborative relationships within the different service provider’s professions, one being that the different professions may have different ideas on patient treatments that are at odds with other professionals within the multi-disciplinary team. While at first I did not understand the challenges that inter-professional working brings and thus did not feel that every member had Grace’s care foremost, after analysing my time within the team, I feel that every member was supportive of each other’s efforts to facilitate Grace’s recovery. Many opportunities were available to discuss concerns over the care-plan such as debriefing, one to one interactions, and supervision, highlighted by Freeth (2007) as vital to ensure good inter-professional development. Barriers to good inter-professional collaborations include poor communication, lack of understanding of other team members’ roles, work priorities and professional hierarchy (Whitehead, 2000), where such issues are apparent, it can be helpful to identify shared goals and voice concerns. Inter-professionals should use clinical judgment that encompasses the best of all team members’ professions in care provision to improve client wellbeing, aid th em to cope with health problems and achieve the best quality of life with their illness (RCN 2003; DoH, 2008). Conclusion In retrospect, I feel the strength of the team was its ability to develop and manage excellent patient-focussed care, resulting from the variety of disciplines, personalities and expertises. I have gained an in-depth insight into the roles and responsibilities nurses have in the development of client-centred care and a better understanding for the other team members professions, which I feel now that I was lacking. This reflective process has helped me gain an understanding of the importance of inter-professional team collaboration in managing clients with self-harm issues using positive practice guidance as stated in the NHS guidelines. Action plan This experience has taught me that inter-professional practices involve effective communication between team members and respect for other professional’s knowledge of client needs. I will seek to gain greater understanding of other clinical roles and what they represent and bring to the inter-disciplinary team. I will undertake personal development and learning by keeping up-to-date with changes in practice, embracing and promoting interpersonal working. This reflective commentary has enhanced my knowledge of inter-professional working, the challenges involved and the importance of communication and compromise, which will contribute to my personal development as a mental health nurse. In respect to my patient centred empathy, I believe this is an important trait in nursing; however, in the future I will temper my empathy with professionalism that focuses on patient safety first. I plan to improve my knowledge and expertise of the roles of other professionals. I will begin by focussing on the respect and value I have of other professionals’ expertise. With respect to my lack of confidence, I shall endeavour to develop confidence in sharing my knowledge in group forums. The placement amplified the importance of identifying and understanding patients’ needs and sharing this understanding with the inter-professional team members in order to facilitate effective healthcare interventions. References Barker. P., (2009). Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing: The Craft of Caring. 2nd ed. London. Hodder Arnold. Bellman, LM. (1996) Changing nursing practice through reflection on the Roper, Logan and Tierney model: the enhancement approach to action research. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 24(1): 129–138. Davies S., Priestley MJ., (2006). A reflective evaluation of patient handover practices. Nurs Stand. 20(21):49-52. Day, J., (2006). Interprofessional working an essential guide for health and social care professionals. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes. Freeth, D., (2007). International learning Association for the Study of Medical Education: Edinburgh. Gibbs, G., (1998). Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods. Oxford: Further Education Unit, Oxford Brookes University. Grumbach K, Bodenheimer T. (2004) Can health care teams improve primary care practiceJAMA. Mar 10;291(10):1246-51. Hamilton S., (2010). Rethink, Research and Innovation Teams Report for Nursing and Midwifery Council on nursing skills for working with people with a mental health diagnosis, London Housley, W., (2003). Interaction in Multidisciplinary Teams. Ashgate Publishing Limited: England. Humphris D, Hean S. (2004) Educating the future workforce: building the evidence about interprofessional learning. J Health Serv Res Policy. Jan;9 Suppl 1:24-7. Kozier, B., Erb G., Berman A., Snyder S., Lake R., Harvey S. (2008). Fundamentals of nursing: concept, process and practice. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Leathard, A., (2003). Inter-professional Collaboration: from policy to practice in health and social care. Philadelphia: Brunner – Routledge. Local Trust Policy (2010b). Assessment and Management of Service Users Who Self-Harm Policy, Local Trust Mercer, SW and Reynolds, WJ (2002) Empathy and quality of care. Br J Gen Pract. 52(Suppl): S9–12. NHS Choice (2011) NICE (2004), Self-Harm, Clinical Guidelines 16, cited from:http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG16FullGuideline.pdf (Accessed 11/11 2012) NMC (2008), Code of Conduct, Nursing and Midwifery Council, London Ovretveit, J., Mathias, F., Thomoson, T. eds., (1997). Interprofessional working for health and social care. Hampshire: Macmillan Press Limited. Pollard, K., (2005). Interprofessional Working: an Essential Guide for Health and Social-Care Professionals; England, Nelson Thrones Limited. Roper, Logan and Tierney (1996), Whithead (2000) Education, behavioural change and social psychology: Nursing’s contribution to health promotion. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 34(6), 822-832 Whitehead D, (2001) Applying collaborative practice to health promotion. Nursing Standards. 15(20):33-7. Bibliography General Social Care Council, (2006). Code of Practice For Social Workers and Employers. London: GSCC. Golightley, M., (2008). Social Work and Mental Health People. Learning Matters. Barker. P., (2009). Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing: The Craft of Caring. 2nd ed. London. Hodder Arnold. Taylor. C., Lillis. C., Lemone. P., (2001). Fundamentals of Nursing: The art and Science of Nursing Care, 4th edn, Lippincott, Philadelphia. Thompson I., Melia K., & Boyd K., (2000). Nursing Ethics, London, Churchill Livingstone