Teaching Plan Essay Example for Free

Teaching Plan Essay Maria is a 23-year-old female on disability pension. She left school since she was 12 years old and currently staying with her grandmother in Dromana. She has a long history of Borderline Personality Disorder with a self-harming behaviour and been experiencing chronic suicidal thoughts which often occur spontaneously with clearly definable triggers. These thoughts can be managed effectively well by the use of distraction/relaxation techniques, however, her level of distress can quickly escalate to an acute crisis situation whereby Maria becomes overwhelmed by the desire to end her life and emotional pain. Maria will then attempt to self-lacerate to reduce her distress or overdose on over the counter or prescribed medication. One of the crisis plans that would prevent her from inflicting harm to self is by encouraging her to call a clinician or duty worker during business hours or call the Triage after business hours for phone coaching to de-escalate her current acute emotional state. As Maria is learning to move from her emotional mind to a ‘wise’ mind, we are encouraging her to try to balance these better. Maria understands that her emotional mind and wise mind are often unbalanced, which usually makes her emotions take hold which then often escalate, leading to self-harm behaviour. [Source: Out-Patient Record, Peninsula Community Health Service (2010)] Introduction Patient teaching plans are tools developed by nurses in facilitating a systematic and evaluative way used in communicating to their patients regarding a particular treatment or practice. According to Bastable (2008, p. 07), a teaching plan is a â€Å"blueprint for action to achieve the goal and the objectives that have been agreed upon by the educator and the learner. † In this context, the nurse is the educator while the patient is the learner where a teaching and learning activity will occur for a specific treatment of therapy will occur. Bastable (2008) further explained that patient teaching plans should have a â€Å"purpose, content, methods and tools, timing, and evaluation of instruction. † The purpose, content, methods and tools, timing and evaluation of instruction should be in line with the objectives nd goals of a teaching plan. In order to have a more comprehensive and effective teaching plan, there is a need to identify concisely the elements of an ideal education process (Bastable 2008). By using a case study of a patient with a Borderline Personality Disorder, this essay will explain the importance of a patient teaching plan. It will further discuss the underlying principles and practice in the development, implementation and evaluation of a teaching plan based on the case study cited. It will also discuss the underlying processes in the development of the patient teaching and learning plan. It will then discuss the issues that will occur in the implementation of the patient action plan. Finally, it will give an analysis of the impact of the teaching plan to the patient. Importance of Patient Teaching Plan to Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) patients have the tendency of â€Å"exercising aggression, self-mutilation, impulsive behavioural dyscontrol, or self-damaging behaviour† (Latalova Prasko, 2010 p. 239). Thus, there are chances that BPD patients have the behaviour to harm themselves like slashing, being violent to other people and they can also be impulsive. According to a letter written to the editor published in the Journal Academy of American Physicians Assistants (JAAP, 2000) by Roxane Head, the patients that have BPD â€Å"may experience simultaneous conflicting thoughts, images and emotions. † Hence, these conflicting thoughts, emotions and images could trigger higher level of suicidal tendencies. Incidence of BPD cases are brought about and associated to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which establishes the link that causes mood instability as a result of prior â€Å"parental abuse or neglect. (JAAPA, 2000) In this context, parental abuse can be attributed from childhood experience which can either be â€Å"physical or sexual. † (JAAPA, 2000) Based on the case study presented above, Maria has experienced sexual abuse from her step-grandfather. It has also been stated that she has the tendency to do self-harm and over-dosing herself with medications. Based on the symptoms of BPD, there is a need for an immediate treatment and intervention when a mental crisis occurs. However, some BPD patients are not confined in hospitals or treatment facilities but are in their homes and are away from the management of clinicians and therapists. The introduction of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a kind of treatment program for BPD patients that focus on the â€Å"teaching of behavioural skills in helping and facilitating individuals in replacing maladaptive behaviours with skillful behaviours. †(Neacsiu, Rizvi, Linehan, 2010) Phone coaching or therapy is one of the common DBT methods that are being used in treating BPD patients. Thus, there is a need for nurses and other medical practitioners to educate BPD patients on how to contact and communicate to clinicians and phone therapists. Hence, an effective teaching plan is needed to be designed and implemented which is tailor-made for BPD patients using some learning theories. Principles and Practices Development and Implementation of Teaching and Learning Plans Patient teaching and learning plans are aimed to assist nurses and other health educators in formulating a comprehensive of plan of teaching activities that for a certain type of patient, just like BPD (Falvo, 2010). Since BPD patients are known to have irregular emotions, DBT treatments such as phone coaching or therapies target emotion dysregulation and its after-effects by enhancing motivation and teaching skills aimed at areas of deficit (Vitaliano, Lynch Linehan 2010). Thus, in developing a teaching plan for BPD patients, it would be helpful to use specific learning theories that explains and targets the emotions and behaviours of individuals. One of the learning theories that could be applied in formulating a teaching plan is the Cognitive Learning Theory. According to Ziegler (2005, p. 60) Cognitive Learning Theory focuses on â€Å"cognitive restructuring† process of the mental state of the learner. Thus, it is beyond duplicating certain behaviour but rather it is more on storing and remembering some information in the learner’s mind. Emerson (2007, p. 19) suggested that the learning process using the cognitive learning theory would entail some cognitive steps in a progressive manner in â€Å"acquiring, processing, and structuring† information which makes the learning to be involved or â€Å"active† in the learning process. Hence, in formulating a teaching plan it is also essential to make the learner or the patient as the centre of the learning process. Nurses who are geared toward educating their patients or clients must initially focus and assess their patient’s behaviour as well as their mental and physical capacity (Sarman, Daugherty Riegel, 2000). Sarman, Daugherty Riegel (2000) further explained that it is important to consider the patient’s â€Å"physical condition, medications, culture, and psychosocial attributes but not always dependent on whether the patient perceives the need for change and is motivated to do so. Hence, the patient’s behaviour, especially with current mental illness or disorders should not be considered as a hindrance in patient teaching, but it is also part of a nurse’s â€Å"professional responsibility† to initiate a process in â€Å"teaching, motivating, providing resources to support in maintaining and sustaining the change† (Sarman, Daugherty Riegel, 2000). In Maria’s case, it is helpful to consider the Cognitive Learning Theory in formulating a teaching technique for phone coaching. According to Binks, Fenton, McCarthy, Lee, Adams Duggan, 2009) the initial step in teaching, is to help the client establish a link between their thoughts, feelings, emotions, actions to target a patient’s symptoms. † In Maria’s case, she has the tendency to harm herself when a crisis arises. Further, it is also essential to teach the client to â€Å"monitor his or her own thoughts, feelings and behaviours and also providing alternative ways of coping with regards to the specific symptoms of her current illness,† which is BPD (Binks, et. al 2009). In this step, it is essential to help Maria identify the level of feeling or emotion that she is currently experiencing or feeling at a specific attack. As part of the cognitive learning process, the use of visual aids such as mood charts and graphs would be helpful for the learner in acquiring, processing and structuring and applying it. According to Mountain (2008, p. 105), mood charts can help in understanding the â€Å"intensity of emotions, anxiety, emotions and the patient’s symptoms. † Mountain (2008, p. 105) further explained that mood chart will help in the learner to be â€Å"more aware on the moods and how they change. Thus, in the case study being cited, it will use a mood ring chart that classifies different emotions and level of anxiety with a corresponding colour. The mood ring chart would facilitate in Maria’s learning process as it would facilitate her in communicating to the phone coach therapist the level of emotion or anxiety she currently experiencing. The mood chart would be very helpful in Maria’s case since she will be seeking treatment from a phone therapist who would help her manage the crisis attack by either distraction or relaxation techniques, which would cause a change of her emotion or mood. Another teaching style that will be used is by demonstration. This teaching technique can be implemented and used in the case study since there is a need for the nurse-educator to teach the patient how to use the phone in contacting the phone therapist or clinician. In Maria’s case, it is very important that the nurse-educator should teach the patient a step-step process by demonstrating and giving instructions on where to locate a phone, who and what number to call, how to use the phone and how she will communicate to the phone therapist or clinician. In this way, the Maria will learn to use the phone with much confidence because the inability to use the phone and other technologies could hinder the success and effectiveness of the treatment. Evaluation of Te aching and Learning Plans In the development of a teaching in a patient education process, it is essential to consider the importance of evaluation. Bastable (2008, p. 558) argued that evaluation is defined as â€Å"a systematic process by which the worth or value of something-in this case, teaching-and learning- is judged. In this context, evaluation is a process in measuring the effectiveness of the development and implementation of patient teaching plans. The significance of the evaluation process is a critical aspect in the nurse teaching process and decision making since it would create an impact in its outcome and to future development and implementation of further patient teaching plans (Bastable, 2008). Hence, it is important to measure the effectiveness of the outcome of the teaching process to determine which aspects of the teaching plan needs to be improved and corrected as well as for the benefit of future teaching plans. In evaluating the teaching plan developed for Maria, it is essential to determine of what guidelines and methods to use in its evaluation. As the teaching plan has been developed for Maria which was patterned from Bastable (2008), the purpose, goal and objectives were clearly defined as well as its methods of instruction, resources needed and the methods of how it would be evaluated. To evaluate the teaching plan for Maria, it is essential to focus on the objectives set and its content outline which could be verifiable by the methods of evaluation being set. The first objective in the teaching plan is to help er recognize if she’s depressed or needs therapy, this can be recognized by post-testing. The second and third objective is to help her locate phone numbers of clinicians as well as how to use the phone to communicate with a clinician, this can be evaluated a return-demonstration by Maria after the nurse-educator teaches her how to perform these processes. The fourth and fifth objectives is to teach Maria how to distinguish the type of mood she is experiencing and associate it with the corresponding colour based on the mood chart and these processes can be evaluated by post-testing. The last objective is to teach Maria to listen and comprehend what the phone therapist is advising while is undergoing phone coaching and this could be evaluated through question and answer with the nurse-educator. Possible Issues that Might Occur in the Implementation of the Patient Teaching Plan In the implementation of patient teaching plans, there is a tendency that there is a difficulty in motivating patients to learn what have been taught in the patient teaching plans. There is also a possibility that the patient will not follow the skills and steps being taught. In the case of Maria, there will be a tendency that she will not listen of what the nurse-educator will be teaching her, like by recognizing her level of emotions. There also might be a possibility that she will insist a certain level of emotion which in reality is not real emotion that she is experiencing which would cause a contradicting intervention or treatment from the phone therapist. Impact of Teaching Plans to the Patient The evaluation on the implementation of patient teaching plans is not the ultimate indicator that the teaching plan for a certain patient is successful. However, Falvo (2010) argued that a teaching plan can be deliberately considered successful when a patient like Maria can be able to manage her crisis attacks even without the help of phone coaching therapists. By using the case study, Maria will be able to perform the prescribed distraction or relaxation techniques when she is experiencing depression or anxiety attacks. Conclusion The development of teaching and learning plans is a very important step in the treatment of mental disorder patients. It is vital that these teaching and learning plans should be meticulously developed in a way that would suit to specific individual needs, especially to patients with serious mental disorders like Maria who is suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder. The development of patient teaching plans should be carefully planned and could be flexibly adjust depending on the circumstance that could possibly occur during its implementation. Lastly, careful monitoring and evaluation in the implementation of teaching plans is very important in the learning processes to identify positive results to be maintained and at the same time improve areas that needs to be addressed.

How White People Became White Essay Example for Free

How White People Became White Essay Abstract Biologically speaking, it’s just as possible for a given white person in Florida to have genetics similar to his neighbor down the street as it would be for the same white person to have genetics similar to a black person in Nigeria. We could just as easily disregard skin color and pay attention to hair and/or eye color. Sociologists make this claim because they argue that the definition of what constitutes a race is something that is arbitrarily decided by society. Additionally, what it means to classify yourself or someone else as a particular race carries social meaning. Sociologist claims that race as a biological concept does not exist. However, the consequences of classifying someone as a certain race as certainly real enough. It needs to be said, though, that not every discipline agrees that race is merely a social construct. Forensic psychology absolutely identifies at least three racial categories. Some geneticists and epidemiologists also recognize race as a legitimate biological category. Race can be biological and socially constructed at the same time. The big difference is sociologists emphasize social definitions and meanings, rather than the biological aspects of race. By the eastern European immigration the labor force has been cleft horizontally into two great divisions. The upper stratum includes what is known in mill parlance as the English-speaking men; the lower contains the â€Å"Hunkies† or â€Å"Ginnies. † Or, if you prefer, the former are the â€Å"white men,† the latter the â€Å"foreigners† (Barrett Roediger, 1995). Skin color (whiteness, blackness, yellowness, etc. ) remains a concern in the late 20th century, not because it advances the mission of multiculturalism, helps us to understand different people, or allows us, as individuals to congratulate ourselves on our â€Å"color blindness,† but because skin color has been used to rank order people for practical things like jobs, promotions, loans, and housing (Condit Lucaites, 1993). Whiteness refers to a historical systemic structural race-based superiority (Philip C. Wander). You might think that because skin color was so central to the law, that â€Å"whiteness† and â€Å"blackness† were carefully defined and easy to understand. They were defined by law, but they were not easy to understand in practice. The inferior were, by God’s will, destined to be enslaved by the superior. Slave property became totally identified with people who happened to have black skin, the color that had always horrified the West (Kovel, 1984, p. 21). Abraham Lincoln believed in the racial superiority of white people, although he felt blacks should be paid a fair day’s wage for their work. People in the South thought he was an abolitionist in disguise. The confusion and the horror surrounding these complexities emerged, after the Civil War, in Jim Crow laws designed to keep the â€Å"races† apart. The law, pressured by the leaky nature of racial categories, devised a â€Å"one drop† theory-if you had one drop of â€Å"non-white blood† in your veins, you could not qualify as white. Throughout our history, â€Å"whiteness† has legally speaking, been a form of property (Harris Wander 1971). In the twentieth century, these fears gained a great deal of social legitimacy thanks to the efforts of an influential network of aristocrats and scientists who developed theories of eugenics—breeding for a â€Å"better† humanity—and scientific racism. Key to these efforts was Madison Grant’s influential Passing of the Great Race, in which he shared his discovery that there were three or four major European races ranging from the superior Nordics of northwestern Europe to the inferior southern and eastern races of Alpines, Mediterranean’s, and, worst of all, Jews, who seemed to be everywhere in his native New York City (Brodkin). Creating a separate ethnic category within the racial category of White seemed to solve the problem of how to count Hispanics without racializing them as non-Whites, as it had done in 1930 (Neil Foley). To identify oneself today as a â€Å"Hispanic† is partially to acknowledge one’s ethnic heritage without surrendering one’s whiteness—whiteness with a twist of salsa, enough to make one ethnically flavorful and culturally exotic without, however, compromising one’s racial privilege as a White person. The majority of Mexicans in the United States were therefore recognized by the census, if not the courts, as non-Whites. Although having their whiteness restored did not lessen discrimination, the Mexican government and Mexican Americans fully understood the implications of being officially or legally recognized as a non-White group (Foley). Segregation statues consistently defined all those without African ancestry as â€Å"whites. † Chinese and Mexicans in Texas were thus White under state laws governing the segregation of the races (Foley). After World War II, a French reporter was asked, â€Å"If there are any Negro problems? † The author replied, â€Å"There isn’t any Negro problem; there is only a white problem. † By inverting the reporter’s question, Wright called attention to its hidden assumptions—that racial polarization comes from the existence of blacks rather than from the behavior of white, that black people are a â€Å"problem† for whites rather than fellow citizens entitled to justice, and that unless otherwise specified, â€Å"Americans† means â€Å"white† (Lipsitz). Whiteness is everywhere in U.S. culture, but it is very hard to see. White power secures its dominance by seeming not to be anything in particular. † Race is a cultural construct, but one with sinister structural causes and consequences. Conscious and deliberate actions have institutionalized group identity in the Unites States, not just through the dissemination of cultural stories, but also through systematic efforts from colonial times to the present to create economic advantages through a possessive investment in whiteness for European Americans (Lipsitz). References Wander, P. C. (1971). The savage child: The image of the Negro in the proslavery movement. Southern Speech Communication Journal, 57, 335-360. Condit, C. , Lucaites, J. (1993). Crafting equality: America’s Anglo-African world. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Roediger, D. (1991). The wages of whiteness: Race and the making of the American working class. New York: Verso. Lipstiz, George. (1998) The Possessive Investment in Whitness: How White People Profit from Identity Politics. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

Leadership in the Virgin Group

Leadership in the Virgin Group In the past 20 years Richard Branson had extended his Virgin brand from one business of a magazine called student to distinct businesses like airline, trains, mobile phone, broadband, cola, bridal wear, financial services, retail chain, jeans, cars, and books. Branson started with a magazine with name of Student when he was 16 years age in January 1968. He was successful in selling its 50,000 copies at that time. (virgin, 2011) Later he quite the study and make it a fulltime job. In 1970 he started a mail-order company with name of Virgin that was name which now grow today in a big business empire. Virgin now a day is fast expanding business in world in many sectors from airline to broadband services. It is considered as worlds most respected and leading brand. Sir Richard Branson started what started in 1970 it is now a success empire of multi-businesses. It is dealing with 300 brands, more than 50000 employees and 11.5 Billion Pounds business currently. (virgin, 2011) In this study we are going to see how things are being managed at leadership levels by Richard Branson and his team for virgin group and how it is leading towards success of business. This report focuses on finding such theories, models of leadership that can be learned from virgin to put these for success of other organizations we will also find how Sir Richard Branson is dealing his own way to this group and how he is making progress in his business. In this study we will see the progress made by Virgin and later we will make analysis of approach adopt by Virgin and other in same industry. We will also look at Sir Richard Branson leadership style and will try to find some suggestion of improvement for Virgin in future times at end of our study. Virgin Success Model Virgin under Sir Richard Branson claims that they are difference maker in the world. For that they are trying to innovation in their ways to get higher in competitive advantages and in their diversity. They introduce virgin as a brand that stands for quality, innovation, competitive challenge, fun and value for customers money. They have good research and analysis system that help them in starting anything new. They claim that they put same shoe of customers to walk on the street of purchasing and utilizing things before going into a start. (Bartholomeusz, 2011) They work as trend setter in the market rather than being just followers. They deeply focus on their competitors approach and then develop a strategy that comes with better results. They make sure they are adding some values to any brand. They focus on risk and rewards. They are very much selective and careful in appointing their staff and management team. They even for Human resources went into joint-ventures with other companies to get maximum inputs and knowledge from skilled market. They have diverse approach with diversity in their products and services with bunch of variety in it. They are very much concern about their market and ways into that market. All this is lead by Sir Richard Branson. The power of virgin is hiding with leadership style of Richard Branson who is good in his ways and style. His reputation, network, partners and management brought him to this level as it mentioned on their by company itself. They got rid of bureaucratic ways of management and replaced it with competent self motivated management that is capable of dealing with situation their selves most the times instead looking for directions upwards every time as it is in every bureaucratic structure. They work as team as family even within their businesses and within the group of this brand virgin. There are some time certain problems for that their system provides a solution based leadership and at the top is Richard himself working like a good skilled leader and manager. Everything t hey try is customer feedback based and makes right guidelines for them every time when they miss something. Here is list of business under this group (virgin, 2011) :- Virgin Atlantic Airways, hello Gorgeous Virgin Blue (airline with its name as Virgin Blue, Virgin America, V Australia) Virgin Holidays ( Virgin Holidays + Hip Hotels, Virgin Holidays Cruises, Virgin Limited Edition, Virgin Vacations, Blue Holidays) Lifestyle (Virgin Active UK) Virgin Wines (Australia) Virgin Active (Australia, Italia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain) Virgin Experience Days Virgin Racing Virgin Trophy Virgin Mobile (Australia, Canada, France, India, Qtels, South Africa, UK and USA) Virgin Media Virgin Produced Virgin Money ( UK, Australia, South Africa, Money Giving) Virgin Earth Challenge Virgin Green Fund Virgin Unite (NGO) Virgin Megastore (music and entertainment) Virgin Radio International Virgin Festivals We can see how diverse market virgin have to deal under leadership of Richard Branson. This kind of divers, spread and wide business required higher levels of leadership with commitments to deal with it effectively that Richard is doing over the years. Leadership in any Organization has some specific focal point on administrative leadership as whole in that organization and it tries to fill the gap of academic management theoretical study and its practical implication on bases of real life situations. Here we will find what kind of approaches, theories and models are in practice with in leadership concept in business world. There are numbers of models and theories in leadership study, here are some of these mentioned under (associates, 2011) :- Appreciative Inquiry Attributes of Management Excellence Attribution Theory Bases of Social Power Beyond Budgeting Centralization and Decentralization Change Approaches Change Behaviour Change Equation Change Management Change Phases Changing Organization Cultures Charismatic Leadership Coaching Competing Values Framework Contingency Theory Core Group Theory Crisis Management Cultural Dimensions Cultural Intelligence Culture Levels Dimensions of Change Dimensions of Relational Work Emotional Intelligence EPIC ADVISERS ERG Theory Expectancy Theory Five Disciplines Force Field Analysis Forget Borrow Learn Framing Functional Leadership Groupthink Growth Phases Hagberg Model of Personal Power Hierarchy of Needs Inspirational Leadership Instrumental Approach of Stakeholder Theory Intrinsic Stakeholder Commitment Leadership Continuum Leadership Pipeline Leadership Styles Leadership Styles Level 5 Leadership Leveraged Buy-out Levers of Control Management Buy-out Management by Objectives Managerial Grid Managing for Value Mentoring Moral Purpose Normative Approach of Stakeholder Theory OODA Loop Organizational Configurations Organization Chart PAEI management roles Parenting Advantage Parenting Styles Participative Leadership Path-Goal Performance Prism Portfolio Analysis POSDCORB Positive Deviance RACI (RASCI) Result Oriented Management Results-Based Leadership SECI model Servant-Leadership Seven Habits Seven Signs Of Ethical Collapse Seven Surprises Situational Leadership SMART Social Intelligence Spiral Dynamics Stakeholder Value Perspective Strategic Intent Strategic Stakeholder Management Hence we will look some good models and theories among all above for that we select three which are more comprehensive in their approach. Part One (a) 1: Theory of Needs by David McClelland The human motivation is comprises of three main needs: 1 need for achievement 2 need for power 3 need for affiliation. This theory of needs was given by American psychologist David McClelland based on work of Henry Murray that was done in 1938. In 1961 he stated that the motivation of an individual can result from three dominant needs: the Need for Achievement, Power and Affiliation. (Pattanayak, 2005) Every person wants to achieve certain goals in his or her life that are very important to that person in the life. Some time they look for success and positive feedback from others. They look to widen themselves and to avoid risks situations. They mostly try to avoid low-risk because they want to attained success easily. While in some high-risk projects all achievers look the outcome as chance not the as a result for their efforts. They love to work their selves alone or some time with some other person with high achievements. McClelland believes about these people that those are always the best leaders with some tendency of higher demands from their staff. They are result driven in their approach. They seek higher personal relations and look for acceptance from others. They also tend look same kind of norms from their work group. They struggle to create and maintain relationships with higher level of trust and good mutual understanding. They always prefer cooperation on competition. According to McClelland they perform in customer service and dealing clients very well. McClellands this concept is also take as Acquired Needs Theory, the Learned Needs Theory, and Three Needs Theory. 2: Management by Objectives: (SMART) by Drucker In this theory main focus is on defining main objectives for organisations employees and later directing their performance according to these objectives. Peter Drucker presents it in his work The practice of Management as Management by Objectives in 1954. (Hurd, 2008) Management by objectives relies on focusing and defining the objectives for every employee and making their performance according to these objectives. The major aim is to increase performance in the organization through matching organizations goals and employees goals. Employees are given main identity and acknowledgement in this system. Purpose is to involve evry one in the organisation rather than focusing and giving importance to top managers. This way all mangers start from their levels and they later contribute on top level in planning and implementations. Principles of MBO:- 1 flow of organizations goals and objectives 2 Specific objectives for every member 3 Participation in decision making 4 Explicit time period 5 timely performance evaluations with proper feedback. Management by Objectives is having a method for development called SMART method this SAMRT is taken from * Specific * Measurable * Achievable * Realistic And * Time-related. This method of checking MOB is effective to keep organisation and staff on right direction always. 3 Centralization and Decentralization By changing the ways of decision making at authority levels and by corresponding organizations structure effectively higher goals can be achieved. All organizations have to make many strategic and many of the operational decisions. The question is who makes these decisions and at what level. In normal bureaucratic structure decision are always made by top management. Thus this system holds the time and makes slow of process and sometimes delays the required decisions. This is called centralisation and in Decentralisations thing is decided at implementations level other than any change required in policy which is changed at top management levels this makes things done in swift way. (Pride, 2009)Thus Centralization is process of transferring and passing on decision making authority at higher levels of hierarchy in organization. In a centralized organization decision are made at higher levels. Most the knowledge and information about organisation lie at top levels and are shared according o need at lower level. Decentralization, is process of transferring and passing on decision making authority at levels of hierarchy in organisation. In a decentralized organization decision are made at lower levels and they are informed to higher levels for records. Most the knowledge and information about organisation lie at lower levels and are shared according to need at top level also direction are taken when those are required. Part one (b) Implementation of models at Virgin and others Branson believed in the best communication through setting an example by the leadership. Staffs need to have a role model whom they can follow. Branson being a reel from traditional management structure and systems adopted a diverse approach that compromising all three models mentioned in our study previously. We will look into these at virgin by Branson and at other businesses in same industry like Sir Terry Leahy ways in managing of Tesco and Keith Rupert Murdoch of sky group one by one. Theory of Needs As mentioned above this theory is based on three main needs of need for achievement, need for power and need for affiliation. Richard Branson as young man was searching for all these and thus he focused on achieving these targets as soon as possible. For that purpose he started his magazine student. With early sales he generated lots of business and set virgin company. Later years he expanded it in diverse business, looking for these set targets of needs. He also made his company according to this principal of human needs and set a trusted mechanism for every employee in virgin business. As mentioned by David McClelland he creates a higher level of the motivation for an individual in his organisation to bring results from the satisfaction of these three dominant needs: the Need for Achievement, Power and Affiliation. He knows well that every person wants to achieve certain goals in his or her life that those are very important to them. That also need support from organisation to give room to everyone to show capabilities and get rewards, thats what virgin follows as a strategy in their businesses. He like McClelland believes that people have great capabilities if they are given proper training and chance to put their efforts in it. That is resin virgin have this kind of set up that supports these basics. On other hand if we see the TESCO and Sky they have different approach their business than what Richard brought to Virgin. (Telegraph, 2011) They have more tight control over things their corporate ways are not fit into need based theory but they have adopted some other ways to groom their corporate business. That reason that TESCO and Sky look more tight business in their terms and they sometime re hit by losses. When staff dont feels part of being into teams and they feel just as working brains and hands unlike the people who work at Virgin who look the Virgin as their life part due to its benefits that it is giving to them. 2: Management by Objectives At virgin this model is followed completely as organisation focuses on its objectives and makes employees get their targets set accordingly. They have to adjust things both way first company tries to accommodate employees objective and makes such corporate strategy that helps staff in achievement of their objective s and policies are supportive to employees in their growth. While employees are also expected to go with the broader objective s of company and be loyal to the company objective. It is in many studies that virgin having higher level of such loyalty from staff. Virgin ensures that there is enough support for employees identity and acknowledgement in their system. Purpose is to involve everyone in the organisation rather than focusing and giving importance to top managers. This way all mangers start from their levels and they later contribute on top level in planning and implementations. Virgin follows all principles of MBO like flow of organizations goals and objectives at all levels is ensured, there is set of specific objectives for every member, there is higher level of participation in decision making by staff, There is certain time span for targets and everything is based on time and feedbacks. Virgin also makes policies and targets based on SMART approach. Making all targets and objectives Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-related. If we compare this with TESCO and Sky they also have this approach in their business and they try to keep them on this way of management by objectives. (mandmgloba, 2011) All three companies are doing well on it but it is fact that the way Virgin is following this rule is different from others two and they are doing remrably well in their performance compare to others two. Other two have huge investments supports but still if we compare the returns over investments Virgin is making ahead. While this approach of Management by objective is adopted by all these mega businesses in their strategy of dealing things in their business. 3 Centralization and Decentralization There is beautiful balance of centralisation and decentralisation at Virgins Group this was attained through by changing their ways of decision making at authority levels and by corresponding organizations structure effectively higher goals can be achieved. All decisions are made according to need and capacities. There is more freedom at lower levels in Virgin as Virgin leadership believes in human potential. Thus they avoid unnecessary delays in decision at implementation levels. On the other hand the concept of centralisation in TESCO (Hiscott, 2010) and at Sky is more tight than Virgin. Their decentralisation approach is some time affected by the ways of decentralisation for short times. They were failing to develop such kind of trust over their managers that the staffs of Virgin enjoy. The team building and degree of freedom for performance according to your skills is very high at Virgins comparing to TESCO and Sky. Both are facing good competition in their related product and se rvices with Virgins. As three of them are into media, mobile industry and service providing in different sectors. Part Two Sir Richard Branson leadership style. If we deeply study the style of Mr Branson he is a dynamic leader that always looks higher towards major goals in life. For that he adopts couple methods like Theory of needs, MOB and balanced centralisation and decentralisation. He more focuses on brand value of his company. He has very simple ways of living, he believes in enjoying life and sharing it with others. He is man of his own choices he choose what he liked instead of looking into his background on that business and he made success. He always bucking his team on different occasions as he wants them feels that he is with them in all matters. He has developed a culture at Virgins that cannot be found in many organisations. All employees of Virgin are invited to show and perform their capabilities. He is innovative person with many qualities of leadership in business that reason his company is expanding over the years. HE has invested his own rule for all this and put all his efforts as success that way. He is able to identify many hurdles and made much better than his compotators. He has given his employees great independence in work as he also welcomed them for fast promotions ov er the time. He has idea that anyone can took over the top in his company if they show such kind of commitments. Virgins all success in days of 1970s and 1980s is result of Bransons unusual way and management style that was corner stone on all this business and his corporate norms were different form the system that was existing at that time. He stopped wearing traditional businessmen suit and tie instead he use to wear a sweater and slacks. He uses technologies effectively compare to other and enjoy his holidays and dealing everything on phone, fax and internet. He gives his subordinates more freedom to work their tasks. He believes everyone wants to deal with top person so he provides his managers to deal with him directly. He gives his staff high performance incentives and he relies on his team. He also adopted a technique through which he have divided his company tasks into multi unit operations. His companies are connected with each other very well and some time supports each other. Most important is that he always encouraged to his employees go and do some innovation and take more risks instead of being in fear with failure risks. He is famous for his risk taking ability and habit. He normally emphasise on the importance that a service should bring for customers for the value of their money. He is skilled with troubleshooting and making new projects. His motto is to create such companies only in which he himself believes. Part Three Proposals for development Virgin group have their own ways of developing people it is the best way for them to carry things as Mr Branson himself was doing. As he can himself aware fully that every individual unlike his educational background have such capabilities that can make businesses grow remarkably. There should be a system of skill promotion based on theory of needs for the staff. It should more focus on hidden capabilities of people who are working in Virgin and those are trying to attain higher professional success though their hidden skills. There should be culture of responsibility in the company where people do feel their own responsibility instead of every time supervisors are making them to perform their duty. This thing can be brought when people feel trust by the supervisors to make decisions and do things on their own within certain limited that is secure. The group is already doing well by providing people innovative ways to show their skills while they are working with the company. There should be continue system of need based development and a balanced central and de-central approach. Things for Virgin unlike other business are very much bright as they have diversity if businesses. As Branson believed in aligning his company HR department with the values of company he is more conscious about his brand value. He also makes smart decisions when picking people for any task as if they have same bend of mind that is company value it would be easier for them to do best in their job. Virgin has a diverse approach so they dont have any set traits for any person to become employee at Virgins. However they use to select people who are ready to take responsibility in their own and can work hard. Main focus they always have is aligning with customers need and wants. Thus company has created its value in the business and market and made his brand as symbol of success and trust.

The Legalization of Drugs: Just Say No Essay -- Con-Legalization of Dr

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The idea of legalizing drugs is as bad as the drugs itself. Some drugs are though to have positive medical use, but that's a though to be untrue considering the contradicting facts. How could drugs that are so addicitve be in any way helpful, specially in a medical manner. Every part of the world that has tried it only brought corruption to their country and made addiction rates even worse.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although rumors that some drugs can help treat certain diceases have been stated they are not true, the fact is that false beliefs don't accumulate to the real facts. The repeutic treatment of heroin is said to alleviate cancer pain, this drug can also create other problems increasing the risk of diversion. In other words, it would encourage patients to sell their heroin on the black market. Another example is Glaucoma, which is a fluid pressure dicease to the eye. The THC that is found in marijuana decreases intraocular pressure. However, while marijuana may decrease intraocular pressure, it also decreases blood pressure making blood flow to the eye. Marijuana is also thought to be useful with treating pain caused by AIDS. Unfortunately, marijuana actually exacerbates the health risks associated with AIDS. Drugs wouldn't only physically be negative, it can also give you mental problems regarding the control towards drugs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Legalizing would only increase the addiction rates of the already high standards and statistics regardless. For example, cocaine locks all of th...

Dred Scott v. Sanford :: American History, Slavery, Freedom

Dred Scott, an African American man who was born into slavery, wanted what all slaves would have wanted, their freedom. They were mistreated, neglected, and treated not as humans, but as property. In 1852, Dred Scott sued his current owner, Sanford, about him, no longer being a slave, but a free man (Oyez 1). In Article four of the Constitution, it states that any slave, who set foot in a free land, makes them a free man. This controversy led to the ruling of the state courts and in the end, came to the final word of the Supreme Court. Is he a slave or a free man? Being born into slavery meant that Dred Scott had been exchanged from owners to owners (Knappman 16-17). His first owner, the Blows, died, and before their death, they sold Scott to Dr. Emerson. Dr. Emerson soon gave Scott away to his wife’s brother, Sanford (Knappman 16-17). Scott tried to buy his freedom away from Dr. Emerson’s wife but she just wouldn’t accept (Dred Scott Decision 1). Since Scott moved from place to place as a slave, he was able to go to Illinois, which was a free state (Richie 40). Because of the Constitution, Scott used his rights to sue Sanford claiming that he was a free man (Richie 40). With this in mind, it lead to arguments about both parties, the prosecuted and the defendant. With the help of the antislavery lawyers, they were able to assist the prosecution, Dred Scott, with his court case (Dred Scott Decision 1). Unfortunately, in the first trial, Scott lost due to the reason of not having enough evidence (Dred Scott Decision 1). Scott, determined to get his freedom, was given the chance for a second trial (â€Å"Dred Scott Case Collection†). Their main argument, about Sanford violating his Fifth Amendment rights, made them win their case in their second trial (Justia 1). The Fifth Amendment mentions that a person’s life, liberty, or property cannot be taken away without due process of law. They were taking away Scott’s liberty, but he deserved to be free because he was taken to a free state (Dred Scott Decision 1). Does this whole controversy end there? With Sanford losing in the second trial, it did not just end there. Sanford’s sister, Mrs. Emerson, appealed and because of that, it went to the Missouri Supreme Court (â€Å"Dred Scott Case Collection†).

Core Curriculum Is there a Need :: Teaching Education

Core Curriculum Is there a Need In high school, most students went through four years where they got a general knowledge of most basic subjects. You were forced to take three to four years of math, science, English, and some form of history. In addition, most students were required to take two years of a foreign language and Physical Education. All these things are mandatory for most high school students to do, just to pass high school. Many students don’t want to stop there. They want to go on to higher education. Most students want to go to college. All of those years of math, science, history, English, foreign language, and physical education are all required to get into college. So most students think that when they get to college, they will pick a major, and they will extensively learn about that major. The student thinks that they were done with learning general knowledge about all subjects. They believe that they will get into college and hop right into their major. But the way that most colleg es are set up, you don’t really get into your major until the second semester of your sophomore year or the first semester of your junior year. When you first get to college, you are taking many of the same classes that you took in high school. This is a very unnecessary policy. The first two years of college, you are completing your core curriculum. These are mostly the same classes that you took throughout high school. These are the same classes that you took to get into college. Yet you must spend two years and thousands of dollars to take those same classes all over again. Regardless of your major and job field that you want to go into, you must retake math, science, history, English, foreign language, and physical education. Not only must you spend your valuable time taking these classes again, you must also spend your money. Depending on your major and job field, many of these things you learn in these classes, you will not use ever again. In college, you should be learning about what you want to do for a living. Your degree should symbolize your learning and mastery of the skills that your job field requires. Instead, it says that you know a little about every subject, and know a little bit more about your major than someone without a degree in that field.

Physician And Managed Care Contracts Essay

A contract is a legal binding agreement between two parties that is aimed to execute a certain objective. It is a kind of arrangement wherein a certain action is pledged in exchange for a specific proposition or offer. In order for a contract to be valid, four essential elements must be present in a contract. Firstly, two parties should exist in the contract. One party is presenting an offer while the other party is accepting the offer as a form of return for whatever specifications are requested in the contract. Secondly, the contract should indicate that both parties give their consent or are willing to enter into such an arrangement. Such intention should show that the person giving the offer is capable of providing the offer, while the party accepting the offer should be able to clearly show his/her acceptance of the offer. In addition, both parties must be willing to enter an agreement without any other hidden conditions. Thirdly, a purpose or objective should be indicated in a contract. The purpose should be detailed enough to clearly show what is requested or expected in exchange for the specific offer. And lastly, adequate consideration or an adequate value must be indicated as offer in the contract, in the form of money or in kind. The consideration or compensation can not be given to the accepting party prior to the acceptance of the offer. The act of accepting an offer constitutes a deal. Certain offers have a limited time of availability, wherein an expiration date is indicated and the offer can not be accepted after the said date, unless the offer is renewed or stands indefinitely. In addition, the party presenting the offer has the right to withdraw its offer, but only before an acceptance is received. Once an offer is accepted, the contract may not be modified or revised. Changes in the offer may only be incorporated during the negotiation stage of the agreement, which then makes a contract some kind of a bargain. Similarly, physicians enter contracts with managed care organizations (MCOs) or health management organizations (HMOs) in order to promote their services. The four essential elements of a contract should be carefully studied before accepting any offer or signing any contract. For example, as for the element of willingness and capability to enter a contract, a physician should initially must find out the MCO/HMO’s length of operation and financial stability, because this will give the physician an idea whether the company is capable to pay him at a regular schedule. In addition, it would be good to contact some colleagues who have signed contracts with the same company, in order to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the organization and to unearth any unwritten conditions or policies. The physician should also investigate the identity of the MCO/HMO, and any other parties in the contract, should there be more than two parties indicated in the contract. The most overlooked element of a contract between a physician and an MCO/HMO is the purpose or objective of the contract, which describes a several definitions of services and people that will be covered by the health plan, both during emergency and out-patient consultation events. A comprehensive study of the contract may possibly prevent misunderstandings between the two parties and therefore provide a clear-cut description of the services that the physician is expected to deliver. Another important element of a physician-MCO/HMO contract is the obligations of each party. It is usually indicated in the contract that the physician will actively maintain his/her medical practice documents such as licenses, certifications, registrations and permits in order to provide his/her services to patients. The physician should also inform the MCO/HMO of any modifications on his/her status as a practicing physician. In turn, the MCO/HMO presents its rules and regulations to the potential physician or health care provider working under their company. All policies, guidelines, reviews and appeals should be revealed in order to have its physicians working at the standardized efficiency and competency. The physician’s compensation should be indicated in a physician-MCO/HMO contract. Details including the amount and schedule of payment should be clearly stated in the contract. Payment modes may be in form of per diem, per case, per service or a certain percentage of the premiums. The physician, in turn, should understand the protocol for filing claims and any other arrangements or coordination with the MCO/HMO, including the limited time when these documents may be filed. The MCO/HMO should also indicate in the contract that the physician will receive his/her salary on a regular basis. A physician-MCO/HMO contract may be terminated by either mutual agreement of both parties, or with sufficient cause or reason from the physician, or without cause or reason from the physician. However, a 30-day notice is usually required before any termination takes effect, to provide ample time for the physician to finalize any current patients, cases, services and/or referrals. Contracts are legally binding documents which must be carefully studied and considered before pursuing an agreement and letting the contract take full effect. Every contract has its specific details and all sections of the contract should be well understood and explained.