Teaching Competency of English Language Teachers

COMMUNICATION AS AN IMPORTANT SOFT SKILL IN LANGUAGE TEACHING Mrs. N. Mahalakshmi D. T. Ed. , M. A. , M. Ed. , NET. , PGDACE. Research Scholar Department of Education Annamalai University ————————————————- [email  protected] com Abstract ————————————————- English is being taught as a second language in our Indian schools. As it is our national language, much importance is given to this language in our education system. The language teachers are expected to be more competent to develop the basic skills of the language so as to develop the communicative competence of the learners.Now-a-days, soft skills are considered as another important aspect of the teachers for efficient teaching. Regarding the soft skills, communication skill is the most important one that is needed by the language teachers to optimize the learning experience of the students. This paper tries to reveal the need of Effective Communication Skill as one of the important soft skill for the language teachers. The concept of soft skills Soft skills can be said to incorporate all aspects of generic skills that include the cognitive elements associated with non-academic skills.Soft skills are identified to be the most critical skills in the current global education and the era of technology. The reorientation of education for sustainability also relates the importance of these soft skills. Soft skills in Education Vast research and expert opinions have been sought in the effort to determine the specific soft skills to be implemented and used in higher institutions of learning. Based on the research findings obtained, seven soft skills have been identified and chosen to be implemented in higher education as: * Communicative skills * Thinking skills and problem solving skills * T eam work force Life-long learning and information management * Entrepreneur skill * Ethics, moral and professionalism and * Leadership skill The important soft skill needed for the language teacher Communication is as important aspect of language teaching. Effective communication skills are required for effective language teaching. Teachers of English are expected to have good command over the language and possess excellent communication skills. Communication skills include – using the target language effectively, the way of speaking, body language and facial expressions, pitch and tone of voice and interpersonal skills.It is possible that they have some presuppositions about communication and communication skills which are considered to be one major factor in becoming an effective teacher. According to Dettmer, Thurston, and Dyck (1996), West and Cannon (1988), and Carl Rogers (1962) communication is among the most important skills for educators to possess. The role of commu nication is emphasized also by Lunenburg & Ornstein (1996, p. 176) as: â€Å"Communication is the lifeblood of the school; it is a process that links the individual, the group, and the organization†.A gap in meaning between the intended and the received message can cause problems in the outcome of even the best teaching decision. Poor listening skills, ambiguous use of verbal and nonverbal language, poor semantics, and differing values are all items that can distort a message. To become effective communicators, educators must be aware of these potential problems and consciously work to eliminate them from their classroom interactions. They must also become knowledgeable about the importance of language in the learning process which gives a vital role to language teachers.Body language of the teacher In the communication skill, the body language and the facial expression of the teacher is of much importance which arrests students’ participation. The ‘presence†™ that a teacher has in the classroom is crucial in determining ‘how much’ learning takes place and ‘how well’ learning takes place. A tension free atmosphere is extremely important in language learning classroom. More than what behaviour reveals, it is the non-verbal behaviour that is of significance. Self respect, confident behaviour and tone and eye contact are some positive indicators.Some of the ways in which body language can improve the desired atmosphere within the class are: * Keeping eye contact with the student you are talking to, and with every student in the class; * Standing ‘tall’ and walking in with head held high, instead of shuffling in, head bowed; * Having a calm, relaxed face – smiling and laughing easily; * Using facial expressions that show you are listening and responding to what the student is saying; * Smiling and nodding when a student is saying something; Linguistic competence versus Communicative competence Language is a tool of communication.One can communicate ideas, thoughts, feelings, opinions, attitudes, information and even misinformation through language. Different people express the same idea in different words. Language is a tool serving four main functions. These important functions are important for effective communication in the language classroom. The important functions of the language are: * Social function * Informative function * Expressive function * Directive function Keeping in mind these four important functions of language, let’s examine if our students are effective communicators in English.Most of our graduates are good at writing beautiful and very literary answers to questions on Shakespeare, Wordsworth and other great writers. However, their literary competence isn’t enough for them to be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in everyday situations. The ability to communicate requires us to use language to perform interpersonal functi ons such as starting a conversation, joining and leaving a conversation, making the hearer feel comfortable, giving options, and so on. Mere linguistic competence isn’t sufficient.Of course, there’s no denying the value of linguistic mastery, which is the basis for communicative competence. Without words and grammar patterns, one can’t think of building communicative competence. However, rules of use are more essential than rules of grammar. Many graduates don’t know how to introduce themselves and how to introduce others; they don’t know how to ask for information politely, how to disagree tactfully, how to offer suggestions, etc. This is one very significant aspect that we need to pay attention to. Secondly, their English is bookish.They don’t know that choice of syntax and vocabulary depends on the topic, the occasion, and the relationship between the speaker and the listener. It’s important to know what to say, when, to whom and h ow. Thirdly, the students need to be told that the vocabulary and syntax of spoken English are different from vocabulary and grammar of written English. They seem to be unaware of the fact that the words and grammar of spoken English are simpler than those of written English. As a result, they don’t use contracted forms and question tags while conversing and their English sounds bookish.Developing the communication skills of the learners In language teaching developing the skill of listening, speaking, reading and writing  skills should be given importance. These language skills are the foundation of communication skills. A good communicator is a keen and interested listener. Even a good listener cannot be an effective speaker. In order to be a good speaker, one has to master the accent, the rhythm and the intonation of the English language. Also one has to mind the tone of voice and make an effective use of facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, and posture.An excellen t communicator uses verbal and non-verbal language to achieve the best effect. In order to develop good communication skills of the students, the language teacher need to * develop the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills * to be able to use language to perform various functions * master the rhythm, accent and intonation of the language * understand the differences between spoken and written language * remember the difference between meanings and messages Conclusion To remedy this situation we need to connect literature teaching with life outside.In language teaching, the academic world and the real world should not stand apart as islands. From the standpoint of the learner, the great waste in the school comes from the learner’s inability to utilize the experiences he gets outside the school. To fill up this gap, the communication skill should be given importance in language teaching. Developing communication skills of the learners requires the efficiency of langua ge teachers. So, the communication skill should be given primary importance both at the pre-service and in-service level of the language teaching.REFERENCE * Applbaum, L. et. al. , 1973, Fundamental Concepts in Human Communication, Confield Press, London * Brown, H. D. 1981, Principles of Language Learning & Teaching, Prentice Hall, Enlewood Cligts. * Corner, J. et. al. , 1993, Communication Studies:An Introductory Reader, Edward Arnold, London. * Dickinsen L. and Carver D. J. 1980. Steps Towards Self-direction in Foreign Language Learning in Schools. ELT. Vol. 35:1-7. * Dickinsen L. 1987. Self-instruction in Language Learning. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

How to Avoid Miscommunication

How to avoid miss communication Think before you speak. If you think about what you say before you speak, you have the chance to organize your thoughts, rehearse your words, evaluate the situation, and not say something stupid. 1. ————————————————- Speak up. If you don't voice your needs, you won't get what you want. And say what you want clearly and loudly enough to hear. 3 ————————————————- Be clear. Keep the message as simple as possible. Don't ramble or go on to a lot of extra details. 4 ————————————————-Avoid ‘um', ‘err', and ‘you know what I'm sayin. Sure, we all stammer sometimes while looking for the right words. But if you slow down and be careful about your speech, you'll be clearer. ————————————————- Be polite. If you're interrupting other people, being rude, and disrespectful, you will not communicate effectively anything but you're a jerk. 6 ————————————————- Get his or her attention. If you don't have the other person's attention, you won't get the message across. Get eye contact, make sure the other person is listening. ———————————————— Organize. If you're trying to communicate, you need to be sure the information gets to the person effectively. If you're planning an event, you need to give important details, like place, time, and what people need to bring. —â₠¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Listen. If you don't  listen to the other person, you are likely to end up miscommunicating. Good listening is often more important than whatever you say. 9 ————————————————- Don't assume. This is  the most common  presumption people tend to make.And it is the most disastrous one as well. Unless you say something, you usually cannot be entirely sure the other person knows what you're thinking, feeling, or whatever. ————————————————- Understand body language. Much of communication is non-verbal. Pay attention; it can be very important. —————————————â₠¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Give reminders. Check in with the person that they understood you, and know what they need. Even if that party is the most important thing on your calendar, it might not be for your friend. And people can be forgetful.If you're getting upset at people because they aren't putting your priorities on top, remember you need to take some responsibility12 Learn good communication skills. If you have the opportunity to take writing, English, public speaking, theatre, computer programming, and world languages, these are all excellent means to focus on communication skills tips * Eye contact can be uncomfortable. Try looking at the bridge of the person's nose. You'll have the same effect and get the same information. * Be sure you don't use sarcasm in chat, instant messaging, or e-mails without emoticons; it can be taken completely the wrong way otherwise.

Accounting Major Essay

â€Å"Why I chose to major in accounting and what career path I plan to follow. † There are two things in my life that I feel passion for, art and numbers. When I started at Miami Dade College, I always thought that I would study Architecture because even though I loved numbers, I was more inclined to the arts. I wanted to create models and design buildings because it seemed very interesting and it was a way to develop my creative side. So I began to study architecture and I must admit it is a beautiful major. However, a part of me thought that it was not really what I wanted to do. I realized that I was not creative enough and little by little, I started to feel discouraged. At that point, I was convinced that I was going to do better if I majored in anything related to numbers. Anyway, I can develop any artistic interest as a hobby. So I chose to major in Accounting because I can work with numbers which I like. See more: Recruitment and selection process essay Also, it is a practical major because it is concise, but at the same time there is some kind of art involved. The artistic part lies in selecting the information that is relevant to the user and has faithful representation. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) defines accountancy as â€Å"†¦ the art of recording, classifying, and summarizing in a significant manner and in terms of money†¦ transactions and events that are at least partly financial in character, and interpreting the results. I found my perfect combination of numbers and art, even though accounting is more than that. Accounting is the type of major that is everywhere. Every kind of business needs an accountant; a restaurant, a hospital, a retail store. In this type of economy that we live, where everything moves around business, we need someone to take care of tracking the expenses and revenues for us. Accountants give a snapshot of the financial health of a business. At this moment, I am still not sure about the path I plan to follow. I am thinking auditing or taxes. I like auditing because I have to analyze and evaluate processes, products, services, systems, organizations and employees. Also, is a way to help society because I would contribute to ensure compliance with government regulations. I would ensure ethics in every company I give my services. My other option is To master in Taxes.

INTRODUCTION OF NEURAL NETWORK Essay

What do I expect from you? 1. Be prepared. Roughly go through the material in the textbook before the class. 2. I am going to spoon-feed you with lots of questions ! These questions are designed to arouse your interest and to help you to figure out most of the stuff by your own thinking! You will have fun by actively participating in thinking and discussing these questions. It will be a waste of your time if you just want to passively listen to the answers. 3. Do the homework assignments by yourself. You can discuss the questions with your classmates. But do not copy and paste! 4. Please Use Anonymous Feedback in IVLE! Tell me what you want from me! What is the most important technology invented in 20th century? The digital computer. †¢How does the digital computer process information? The computer performs binary operations according to a list of instructions (program) How many operations can your laptop execute in one second? CPU speed of 2 GHz –ïÆ'   2 billion (109) What is the fastest speed of the supercomputer now? China’s Tianhe-2 (2013): 33.86 Petaflops (1015) USA’s Cray Titan (2012): 17.59 Petaflops Japan’s K Computer (2011) : 10.5 Petaflops How many operations can a computer (with one CPU) execute at any given instant? †¢Only ONE! The operations are serial: one after another! The modern computers are so fast that it may appear that many programs are running at the same time even though only one is ever executing in any given instant.    EE5904/EE5404 Neural Network EE5904/ME5404 Neural Networks †¢Can computer beat the human brain now? †¢Yes and No. †¢What are the tasks that the computer can beat the human brain? †¢Playing chess—the Deep Blue defeated the world champion Garry Kasparov in 1997. †¢Solving equations! †¢But there are certain things that we can do much better than computer! Can you list some of them? Pattern recognition such as recognizing one familiar face among a crowd! Half a century ago, artificial-intelligence pioneer, Marvin Minsky of MIT predicted that computers would exceed human intelligence within a generation. Recently, he admitted: â€Å" The world’s most powerful computers lack the common sense of a toddler; they cannot even distinguish cats from dogs unless they are explicitly and painstakingly programmed to do so.† †¢ Can computer rival the human brain 1000 years from now? Is Terminator ever possible? 9 EE5904/ME5404 Neural Networks    How about the brains of other animals? Are they also good at pattern recognition? Pigeons as art experts (Watanabe. et al. 1995) Experiment: Pigeon in Skinner box

Digital Fortress Chapter 34

Susan sat alone in Node 3, waiting for her tracer. Hale had decided to step outside and get some air-a decision for which she was grateful. Oddly, however, the solitude in Node 3 provided little asylum. Susan found herself struggling with the new connection between Tankado and Hale. â€Å"Who will guard the guards?† she said to herself. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes. The words kept circling in her head. Susan forced them from her mind. Her thoughts turned to David, hoping he was all right. She still found it hard to believe he was in Spain. The sooner they found the pass-keys and ended this, the better. Susan had lost track of how long she'd been sitting there waiting for her tracer. Two hours? Three? She gazed out at the deserted Crypto floor and wished her terminal would beep. There was only silence. The late-summer sun had set. Overhead, the automatic fluorescents had kicked on. Susan sensed time was running out. She looked down at her tracer and frowned. â€Å"Come on,† she grumbled. â€Å"You've had plenty of time.† She palmed her mouse and clicked her way into her tracer's status window. â€Å"How long have you been running, anyway?† Susan opened the tracer's status window-a digital clock much like the one on TRANSLTR; it displayed the hours and minutes her tracer had been running. Susan gazed at the monitor expecting to see a readout of hours and minutes. But she saw something else entirely. What she saw stopped the blood in her veins. TRACER ABORTED â€Å"Tracer aborted!† she choked aloud. â€Å"Why?† In a sudden panic, Susan scrolled wildly through the data, searching the programming for any commands that might have told the tracer to abort. But her search went in vain. It appeared her tracer had stopped all by itself. Susan knew this could mean only one thing-her tracer had developed a bug. Susan considered â€Å"bugs† the most maddening asset of computer programming. Because computers followed a scrupulously precise order of operations, the most minuscule programming errors often had crippling effects. Simple syntactical errors-such as a programmer mistakenly inserting a comma instead of a period-could bring entire systems to their knees. Susan had always thought the term â€Å"bug† had an amusing origin: It came from the world's first computer-the Mark 1-a room-size maze of electromechanical circuits built in 1944 in a lab at Harvard University. The computer developed a glitch one day, and no one was able to locate the cause. After hours of searching, a lab assistant finally spotted the problem. It seemed a moth had landed on one of the computer's circuit boards and shorted it out. From that moment on, computer glitches were referred to as bugs. â€Å"I don't have time for this,† Susan cursed. Finding a bug in a program was a process that could take days. Thousands of lines of programming needed to be searched to find a tiny error-it was like inspecting an encyclopedia for a single typo. Susan knew she had only one choice-to send her tracer again. She also knew the tracer was almost guaranteed to hit the same bug and abort all over again. Debugging the tracer would take time, time she and the commander didn't have. But as Susan stared at her tracer, wondering what error she'd made, she realized something didn't make sense. She had used this exact same tracer last month with no problems at all. Why would it develop a glitch all of a sudden? As she puzzled, a comment Strathmore made earlier echoed in her mind. Susan, I tried to send the tracer myself, but the data it returned was nonsensical. Susan heard the words again. The data it returned†¦ She cocked her head. Was it possible? The data it returned? If Strathmore had received data back from the tracer, then it obviously was working. His data was nonsensical, Susan assumed, because he had entered the wrong search strings-but nonetheless, the tracer was working. Susan immediately realized that there was one other possible explanation for why her tracer aborted. Internal programming flaws were not the only reasons programs glitched; sometimes there were external forces-power surges, dust particles on circuit boards, faulty cabling. Because the hardware in Node 3 was so well tuned, she hadn't even considered it. Susan stood and strode quickly across Node 3 to a large bookshelf of technical manuals. She grabbed a spiral binder marked SYS-OP and thumbed through. She found what she was looking for, carried the manual back to her terminal, and typed a few commands. Then she waited while the computer raced through a list of commands executed in the past three hours. She hoped the search would turn up some sort of external interrupt-an abort command generated by a faulty power supply or defective chip. Moments later Susan's terminal beeped. Her pulse quickened. She held her breath and studied the screen. ERROR CODE 22 Susan felt a surge of hope. It was good news. The fact that the inquiry had found an error code meant her tracer was fine. The trace had apparently aborted due to an external anomaly that was unlikely to repeat itself. Error code 22. Susan racked her memory trying to remember what code 22 stood for. Hardware failures were so rare in Node 3 that she couldn't remember the numerical codings. Susan flipped through the SYS-OP manual, scanning the list of error codes. 19: CORRUPT HARD PARTITION 20: DC SPIKE 21: MEDIA FAILURE When she reached number 22, she stopped and stared a long moment. Baffled, she double-checked her monitor. ERROR CODE 22 Susan frowned and returned to the SYS-OP manual. What she saw made no sense. The explanation simply read: 22: MANUAL ABORT

Comparison Between Beowulf the Epic and Beowulf the Film Essay

Contrast and Similarities between Beowulf and â€Å"Beowulf† Beowulf, an epic written down in the year 1060 by the Beowulf Poet, is the epitome of what true writing is, defining the standard of the epic itself. The more modern film of â€Å"Beowulf†, produced in 2007, is an attempt to do justice to the Beowulf Poet’s masterpiece. The poem and film have several key similarities and differences which influence the reader/viewer. Important similarities between the two include the heroic characteristics of Beowulf and the severing of Grendel’s arm; however, the movie does have some drastic differences from the text such as Beowulf’s seduction by Grendel’s mother, and how the product of this sin is his son the dragon, while in the text this beast is regarded as a rogue monster. Similarities between the text and the movie are established to stay true to the theme of Beowulf, a theme in which a hero conquers great odds and shows what the epitome of humanity can achieve; this theme is essential to the development of any true epic. The most prominent similarity between the two is the characteristics granted to Beowulf, the key trait being arrogance. Arrogance is an important trait of any epic hero, in the film this arrogance is established in Beowulf’s tale of swimming in the ocean during which he states he slew several sea monsters, however in the background his followers can be seen stating that the original number was much smaller than Beowulf has stated. This arrogance is mirrored in the text when Beowulf is proclaimed as â€Å"†¦the strongest of the Geats – greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world† (Beowulf Poet 110-111), while in truth it is unlikely that he was the greatest warrior of the time, making this a very boastful statement. This arrogance is again mirrored when Beowulf refuses to fight Grendel with any weapons or armor, in the film he simply strips before sleeping and in the text he states that â€Å"†¦My Lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid behind some broad linden shield: my hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster.† (Beowulf Poet 169-174). This arrogance is persevered in the film to demonstrate the characteristics of a hero. At the time heroes were people who had such a boastful attitude, thus the film writers made sure to impart this narcissism onto the viewer to show Beowulf’s strength of attitude. The film establishes a second similarity to the text by  illustrating Beowulf’s fight with Grendel. Beowulf is displayed grappling around with Grendel and eventually removing his arm, claiming it as a sign of â€Å"The Victory, for the proof, hanging high from the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the monster’s Arm, claw and shoulder and all† (Beowulf Poet 356-358). This â€Å"prize† is an important object that is established in both the text and the film to display both the epic struggle between Beowulf and once more show how strong Beowulf truly was, further establishing him as an epic hero. During the course of the film, there are some artistic liberties taken which change the plot from that of the text; these changes were made to display a more unified tale between that of the younger Beowulf and the older Beowulf. These differences begin immediately following the death of Grendel, coming to head when Beowulf confronts Grendel’s mother. In the text, Beowulf is seen to fight with Grendel’s mother until â€Å"Her body fell to the floor, lifeless, the sword was wet with her blood† (Beowulf 523-524). This is a drastic difference from the film, where Grendel’s Mother is shown seducing Beowulf promising him a long life and a successful reign if he gives her a son along with the golden horn he received for killing Grendel. This change was made to make a smooth transition between the two parts of the epic, the first concerning Grendel, the second concerning the dragon. It is at the end that the second change, and the product of the transition, is sh own. This product is the dragon, who is shown to be the son of Beowulf and Grendel’s Mother. This further differs from the text where Beowulf fights a â€Å"dragon hiding in his tower† (Beowulf 610) that has been terrorizing the country side, not his own offspring. These changes are made to make a connection between the two parts of the epic tale of Beowulf. In the text, the tales of the dragon and Grendel are completely unrelated thus may be viewed with some confusion by the reader. However, when the dragon is shown to be Beowulf’s son who comes back for revenge, the death of Beowulf is that much more conclusive showing him wrapping up the mistakes of his life and fully concluding his tale. The differences and similarities between Beowulf and â€Å"Beowulf† are precisely placed in order to retain what makes Beowulf an epic tale, while the  differences help to establish a smoother transition and backstory between Beowulf and his fight with the dragon. Similarities between the two include Beowulf’s epic characteristics and his fight with Grendel; while the key differences are Beowulf’s failure to slay Grendel’s Mother and his fight with his own son, the dragon. In the end, the stories effectively conclude the tale of Beowulf and demonstrate how effective both similarities and differences can be at changing ones viewpoint.

An evaluation of economical impact on educational tourism in Australia Essay

An evaluation of economical impact on educational tourism in Australia - Essay Example It is known that international students are not subsidized by the Australian government and pay full fees for all courses. This mandate is under the Education Services for Overseas Student (ESOS) Act under the Federal legislation. An examination of recent researches and data indicates that educational tourism revenue have been steadily gaining an upward strength and ultimately surpasses tourism as the top services export this year. Recent studies show that 40% of the total expenses of international students were spent on tuition fees, and the remaining 60% were spent on other goods and services such as food and accommodation (National Centre, 7). This paper will discuss the effects of educational tourism to skilled immigration and travel and tourism, and detail the business industries who greatly benefit from international education. The paper will also evaluate which five countries are the top sources for international students, and the possible reasons why these countries generate the most number of foreign students. Since the number of foreign students in Australia is considered relatively high, it is fair to hypothesize that a large part of the country’s overall revenue is generated from the expenses of these population group. It is also important to keep in mind that these foreign students may be considered as an investment in the country’s future as numerous foreign students have acquired quality education in the country before, and that allowed them to gain significant qualifications that definitely created a difference in their lives. These graduates will be highly skilled in their careers and can be influential in their own countries in the future. Their past bond with Australia at a major point in their lives will aid Australia in creating bridges on people-to-people, cultural, and business ties with these nations. Those students who will gain permanent residence

Management Info Systems Individual Work wk8 Essay

Management Info Systems Individual Work wk8 - Essay Example In reality, however, internet markets are more similar to traditional markets than they are different. Hence, successful e-marketing strategies, such as traditional ones, rely on the creation, distribution, promotion and pricing products that are required by the customers and not just developing a brand name or lowering the costs associated with online transactions (Morley & Parker, 2009). Electronic commerce is believed to have developed from three main stages: Innovation, consolidation and reinvention (Pyle, 1996). The innovation of electronic commerce is the phase that occurred in the period lasting 1995-2000. This era was typified with a great excitement in both the traders and their customers particularly due to anticipations that electronic commerce would increase the ease at which quality information on business systems as well as commercial goods and both parties (Pyle, 1996) could attain services. The phase of consolidation began in 200 and was characterized by an increased number of classical business organizations utilizing the Web for purposes of enhancing their business transactions. The last phase, reinvention, of electronic commerce had its advent in the year 2006 when there was a bolstered utilization of social networking and Web 2.0 applications in electronic commerce. This led to an increase in the number of new models of business being created. Whol e during the innovation stage the emphasis of commercial organizations was on attaining market shares and visibility, the consolidation stage was characterized by an increased desire to establish commercial ventures that were successful (Whinston, 1997). The emphasis in the present day is placed on the ability of electronic commerce to encounter a growth of audience and social network. Morley and Parker (2009) claim that this model comprises of the

Identify and critically review some key debates related to Essay

Identify and critically review some key debates related to inequalities and health - Essay Example lities in health between the most and least socially advantaged populations in the UK have been reported in every major report on public health (Black et al. 1980). Presence of huge health inequalities not only within but also between countries is the convincing evidence that socio-economic status seriously influences public health. Thus, life expectancy at birth in wealthier Japan is more than 80 years while in incomparably poorer Sierra Leone it is only 34 years – a difference which is shocking to say the least (Marmot 2005). However, growing inequalities in health in the UK and other developed and developing countries, coupled with the increasing disparities in wealth and income, have forced many researchers to rethink the traditional narrow approach to exploring the contributors to such situation. Social and economic circumstances have been associated though not as heavily as these days, with health inequalities for many decades. Socio-economic status strongly influences people’s physical and mental health, their use of health care, and mortality rates. Many recently published works on socio-economic determinants of health inequalities clearly demonstrate that these exist in the UK and elsewhere in the world, even in the richest societies (Krieger et al. 1997). However, none of the existing definitions or even groups of definitions comprehensively reflects the essence of the highly complex and multilateral concept which is health. Probably the most common and widely adopted definition of health is the one suggested by the World Health Organization: â€Å"health is positive concept that emphasises social and personal resources, as well as physical capabilities. It involves the capacity of individuals – and their perceptions of their ability – to function and to cope with their social and physical environment, as well as with specific illnesses and with life in general† (WHO, 1984). Evidently, this definition seeks to emphasize the complexity and

Consider how a currency appreciation might affect national income Essay

Consider how a currency appreciation might affect national income - Essay Example Currency Appreciation and National Income Currency appreciation may lead to an increase or a decrease in national income. According to Visser and Visser (2004, p. 58), currency appreciation improves the terms of trade in favour of the nation whose currency is appreciating. What this means is that there is likelihood of imported increasing in volume than the exported goods. This might play out negatively against the nation income considering the fact that GDP = C + I + G + EX – IM Whereby GDP = gross domestic product C = the sum of personal consumption expenditures, I = the private investment expenditures, G = the government consumption expenditures, EX = the expenditures on exports IM = the expenditures on imports To have a clear perspective on this, it should be noted that currency appreciation or depreciation has an effect on key macroeconomic variables which are â€Å"economic growth, employment and inflation† (Glanville & Glanville 2011, p. 369). Currency Appreciati on and Economic Growth An appreciation of a currency will affect the demand for export goods and supply of import goods. In both cases, the economy of the nation whose currency is appreciating is on the receiving end (Glanville & Glanville 2011. p. 369). ... ore imports without necessarily having to pay more money – the amount of money they used in the past to buy a certain volume of imports will now fetch a bigger volume of the same. Due to human nature, or more precisely according to the basic laws of economics, the local consumers will shift their demand from local goods to imported goods. This will certainly have an adverse effect on the local industries as the demand for their products falls. Incorporating this effect on the following equation - GDP = C + I + G + EX – IM - means that GDP is lowered (C, I and G are reduced while IM increases). Currency appreciation and exported goods The exports of a nation whose currency is appreciating will become more expensive in foreign markets. Because the currency has appreciated, foreign importers (those buying local good for foreign markets) will have to pay more for the same volume of goods they used to demand before the appreciation of the currency. In such a situation, the f oreign importers will either continue to buy the local goods or will seek alternatives such as getting the goods from different countries where prices are lower or stopping their import business all together. The world is so much connected and the later solution will be more attractive for any forward thinking consumer or organization. This again will see the nation with an appreciating currency lose its export market. Local industries again stand to suffer lower demands of their products. Substituting this effect in the equation GDP = C + I + G + EX – IM shows that the GDP again suffers because EX reduces. Therefore, in the two situations above, it is very clear that an appreciating currency will prompt the local consumers to shift their demand from local goods to exported goods and foreign

Copper Price Rises in UK after Chile Strike Case Study

Copper Price Rises in UK after Chile Strike - Case Study Example To further understand why BHP Hilton is considered as the main stakeholder looking into the definition of it is vital in order to establish the claim. The legal definition of it according to Lectric Law Library's Lexicon defined stakeholder as "STAKEHOLDER - A third person, chosen by two or more persons, to keep in deposit property, the right or possession of which is contested between them and to be delivered to the one who shall establish his right to it. Thus each of them is considered as depositing the whole thing. This distinguishes this contract from that which takes place when two or more tenants in common deposit a thing with a bailee. The duties of a stakeholder are to deliver the thing holden by him to the person entitled to it on demand. It is frequently questionable who is entitled to it. In case of an unlawful wager, although be may be justified for delivering the thing to the winner, by the express or implied consent of the loser yet if before the event has happened he has been required by either party to give up the thing deposited with him by such party, he is bound so to deliver it or if, after the event has happened, the losing party give notice to the stakeholder not to pay the winner, a payment made to him afterwards will be made in his own wrong, and the party who deposited the money or thing may recover it from the stakeholder (2007)." Also, if taken into consideration is the 57.5 percent share of the BHP Biliton. The aforementioned company is considered as the prime owner and is more likely considered to be associated with mining activity. In this case, we still have to track the stakeholders which are considered as the third party or person to keep the property which is being contested. In the case of the erring parties between Escondida and the worker's union, the shareholders of the said mining firm could temporarily took over the operation of the company and could be regarded as the caretakers or stakeholder of the company while the workers are on strike and could also be present in the negotiating table between Esconcondida and the workers union. As the determinants of the losses or gains of the company, then they are more than capable of being the caretaker of it while the case is being settled. Of course, one has to take into consideration that these shareholders have their parts and stocks in the company, and then they are also concerned with the welfare of the company. If they act as the stakeholder during the negotiation until the dispute has been settled, then should anything happen then they are capable of making things work for both parties by making both ends meet through their finances and bonds in which they are capable of providing the aforementioned resources. Of all the stakeholders, definitely, it is BHP Biliton has the right above the other entire stakeholders since the said company has the most number of shares in the company. Therefore, they have the right to be the caretaker of the entire mining firm because of their contribution in the company plus the fact that it owns more than half of the share of the company. Should this scenario arises, what are the responsibilities of BHP Biliton while the company is under dispute What the said company should do

ASSIGNMENT 3 ANALYSING A PROBLEM AND SUGGESTING COMPLEX SOLUTIONS Essay

ASSIGNMENT 3 ANALYSING A PROBLEM AND SUGGESTING COMPLEX SOLUTIONS (CORBY PROJECT REPORT) - Essay Example Corby community consists of Lincoln way and kingwood estates. A Corby study carried out on the community aimed at identifying issues affecting the social development. These issues were identifiable using various techniques all discussed critically in the report. However, the main mode of data collection was interviewing. For example, Chelsea an MI client who lives in Lincoln way estate remained interviewed together with other members of the community. Appropriate interventions are also discussed and a justification for their implementation given. The assessment of real needs in the Lincoln way and Kingwood community in Corby remained carried out using various investigatory techniques. It is only through needs assessment that a community’s needs are addressed (Brett, 2012, p. 143). The techniques used in Corby case study aimed at identifying problems facing Lincoln way and kingwood community. They also provided facts and data to help in making of correct decisions and acquire feedback on community’s preferences and priorities. From the investigations, the study establishes interventions in response to social development situation in the community. This technique involves collecting and assessing information of interest (Israel, 2008, p. 49). It is carried out in an organized manner to enable easy answering of questions in relation to needs assessed. Research helps in testing proposition, evaluate results and establish necessary interventions towards the needs. In Corby case study, use of this technique enabled collection of data about social development issues affecting the community and its environs. From these data, the researchers of the case study made decisions on what is required as a remedy to the need in social development. Structured surveys in the Corby case study occured in three major ways including telephone, face to face and questionnaires. Through the survey, need gap in social development department in

The role of leadership in organisational change Essay

The role of leadership in organisational change - Essay Example This tendency is caused by companies’ desire to be successful and earn money hand over fist. Let us refer to appropriate sources in order to define the role of leadership in organizational change. Elving in conducted research (2005, pp. 129-138) claims that organizational change requires changes in communication. This study suggests that communication in organization creates a community and serves as an informative methodology. The researcher presents six propositions of communication factors which influence changes rejection. Nevertheless the author underlines that informative role of communication can positively influence readiness for changes in organization while it develops organizational commitment and give certainty to employees. Bovey (2001, pp. 534-548) explores resistance to organizational change. The author interestingly emphasizes that resistance to change is rooted not in individual, but in organization itself. He offers 5 mechanisms to resist organizational changes. Thus in case of following suggested mechanisms such as humor, anticipation etc employees and managers will easily adapt to newly introduced changes. Caldwell’s research (2003, pp. 285-293) explores change leaders as transformed managers. The author claims that change leaders are on the top of the company and they work out strategy of change and change managers translate their strategies into actions. We can correlate this study with the work by Smith C. (2002, pp. 448-460) on leading change which intrigues us with its correlation with Jungian interpretations of the book of Job. The story of Job from the Bible is considered to be the basis of current organizational life. The image of Job is a predecessor of modern leader. Transformation of Job in modern manager and change leaders as transformed managers has many traits in common. Modern world is anxious and modern leaders should have skills to react to all evoking

Social Networks in Work Places Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Social Networks in Work Places - Essay Example On the other hand, there are no given limitations that employees can deal with the websites that are work related without involving themselves with the recreational or personal sites that influence their level of output. The involvement of employees and employers in the online networks facilitates the publicity to malware, lack of privacy and other related factors and hence the concentration of the employees on their daily routines are affected and influenced negatively. This results to decreased production and profit levels.2 Since the discovery and introduction of technological advanced, electronics that are used to ease the communication gap between different individuals from different locations there has been complaints from many employers of the effects of these social networks on the productivity of the employees. There has been debates on the effects of these social networks on the general economical development and growth of different companies. The online social networks hav e been regarded as the most influential since their access is commonly by use of mobile phones or computers. The employees in most companies have access to these electronic gadgets and to the internet in their work places.3 This illustrates that the employees can engage themselves with the social networks online during working hours. This usually causes negative effects on the level of their productivity and the levels of realized profits from the employers. This aspect has caused most of the employers to install other gadgets to regulate and control the use of the internet in their companies. Some of the employees as a barrier or abuse can regard this to privacy and social life involvement. On the other hand, the employers see it as a way of controlling and sealing the degree of idleness and loopholes that influence productivity. The rights of both parties, employees and employers, seem to be violated but there should be an understanding between rights, privileges, work responsibil ities and abuse of work contracts. The realization and introduction of aspects that involves the concepts of the employers’ expectations from the employees with respect to their social life should be addressed in advanced and in most cases included in the employment contracts. Consequently, a closer look on the effects of employees involvement to social networks, mostly online should be critically analyzed since they are at times beneficial to the company or organization if used properly.4 The fact that the employees at times visit the websites that are not work related does not mean that they do this every time they access the internet. The social networks that are usually accessed online can assist in the beneficial part of the organization or company. From a deeper perspective, social networks can be termed as areas where people obtained all sorts of data and information.5 The interconnection of the system allows the users to assist one another, take steps to achieve goals and objectives and transmit the different information from one section to another. Social networks cannot be abolished in the work places due to their importance and improvement degree on the business world. On the other han

LPS Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

LPS - Literature review Example The LPS of this group of bacteria can be divided into 3 components, 1) lipid A, 2) a core oligosaccharide, which can be further subdivided into an inner and outer core structure, and a glycosyl polymer of repeating units, called O-polysaccharide. The hydrophobic lipid A domain of the molecule contributes to the structural stability of LPS. The core oligosaccharide, on the other hand, maintain the semi-permeable barrier of the bacterial cell‘s membrane by cross-linking with divalent cations or polyamines (Frirdich and Whitfield, 2005). Because of its biological effects, it has been used in experimental research as a prototype endotoxin as well as an adjuvant. Through the elucidation that LPS’ lipid A component is a nontoxic immunostimulatory molecule, it was established that the lipid A domain modulates LPS’ biological activity (Harsoliya et al., 2011). According to Frirdich and Whitfield (2005), this domain of LPS is the most conserved, followed by the inner core oligosaccharide moiety attached to lipid A. 2. Modifications Just like other membrane proteins, LPS undergo structural changes to accommodate environmental changes such as availability of nutrients and balance of ions. In particular, lipid A modifications were found to enable the bacteria to adapt to an environment with low divalent cations, abundant cationic peptides and low temperature (Frirdich and Whitfield, 2005). The TLR4 pathway TLR4 is a membrane protein expressed by hematopoietic-derived, immune cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, lymphocytes and dendritic cells. It is the link of LPS to the innate immune pathway, which allows a faster recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection. It is able to do so by stimulating the transfer of nuclear factor- (NF-) to the nucleus, thus initiating the expression of the genes coding for IL-6, IL-1 and TNF-? (Creely, 2007), whose importance will be discussed in detail later. Because many body surfaces and mucosa are susceptible to bacterial infection, many body parts may be exposed to LPS as well. As such, they are also expressed by non-hematopoietic cells such as epithelia and endothelia. In the respiratory tract, many studies have already recognized the role of TLR4 in inducing defensive mechanisms against pulmonary infection. Since the non-hematopoietic cells do not have immune functions, they release signals that allow the recruitment neutrophils to the site of infection. If uncontrolled, however, this response may lead to a decrease in lung function due to inflammation of the lungs, as well as exacerbation of allergic asthma. (Hollingsworth et al., 2005). However, it was determine by Hollingsworth et al. (2005) that, at least in the respiratory tract, immune response is different in magnitude when LPS is detected by hematopoietic cells than if it is by epithelial and endothelial cells of the airway. In their experiment, they used chimeric mice to limit expression of TLR4 in 1) hematopoietic cells onl y, or in 2) structural cells only. Number of neutrophils present, cytokine/chemokine production, and airway inflammation, through assessment of tracheal pressure. It was observed that even if the epithelia and endothelia of the respiratory tract do not express TLR4, neutrophil recruitment was still made possible because hematopoietic cell

Individual case Study analysis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individual analysis - Case Study Example However, within the combination of various factors that influence development, the government of Ireland embraces peace and socio-cultural integration so that the country is able to recognize business partners as part of their economic development stakeholders hence handling business partners with the diligent they require. Cut in government spending is also a factor which boosted performance of the economy of Ireland. Tax reduction was meant to reduce cost of investment and attract foreign investors in the country. That is why Microsoft was attracted to invest in information technology business in Ireland which generated a lot to economic activities and contributed positively towards the gross domestic product. Economic systems With control over the inflation, the country is able to gain from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increasing the number of business transaction between traders and intergovernmental organization to the benefit of the country. However, with peaceful transition in government, the economic state of the country has withstood the tough global economic challenges that face many countries in the global market resulting into heavy losses in business and trade as a whole (Gordon Bigelow, 2003, p. 45). The overall ability of a country to attract foreign investment also depends on membership of an economic trading block. In case of Ireland membership of European economic commission not only provided market to the country but also enabled it to diversify its export products. Initially Ireland depended on the markets of the united kingdom alone which relied mostly on agricultural products only. Through membership of the economic block Ireland was able to open up to competition for its products as well (Philip, 2000, p. 17). In accordance with the PESTEL system, it is important to highlight the role played by the legal issues to ensure that all trade processes are carried out in accordance with the Irish business laws so as to reduce suspicion on unw arranted business deals that are likely to jeopardize the economic state of the country. With the aid of available technology, Ireland was able to engage other countries into trade agreement within the global business laws so as to restrict illegal business while increasing legalized trade between countries and Ireland (Thomas A. Boylan, 2003, p. 64). Further, due to the attractiveness of the country integrated with PESTEL, Ireland was able to provide control, and benefit for foreign companies which overcame the cost and risks they uncured leading to high foreign direct investment. The tremendous economic growth is as a result of government commitment in the pledge to sustain and trusted regulations that would stabilize the political and socio-economic development to eradicate global recession for instance the 2008 recession that was felt by all the global financial controllers (Philip, 2000, p. 104). Many countries prefers trade with Ireland from the 2008 experience where Ireland s tood out as the only country that was not shaken by the 2008 economic recession, this greatly influenced the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), this would lead to long term economic performance in the country (Philip, 2000, p. 89). In the initial stage, the independence

An Exploration into the factors Influencing Consumer Purchasing Thesis Proposal

An Exploration into the factors Influencing Consumer Purchasing Decision - A case study of Thai Fashion - Thesis Proposal Example The culture of showing preferences in luxury was not only a culture of the rich but also the middle class and the low-class members of the society. The younger generation of the female population had grown to be fashion conscious as the influence of the media and commercialization took a toll on the fashion industry. Given that, Thailand fashions were selected and purchased at face value, many luxury fashion brands established a promotion method, which included hiring celebrities and other public figures to promote their brands. (Rocha & Hawkins, 2005). Research has shown that the moods and emotions that were evoked by different fashion garments influenced the consumer purchasing decision either positively or negatively. Consumers chose brands based on reliance, personal style, brand image and celebrity influence (Bruce & Daily, 2006). They discovered that the notion of a consumer to acquire a modern look was based on emotions that drove the consumers to buy luxurious fashion brands. This kind of fashion relied on pleasure rather than one's needs and wants. Thai consumers have adopted the behavior of making purchases based on finding new stimuli, sensations, and pleasure. These aspects are personal and very subjective tilting the purchase decision to be oriented to the particular individual (Balckwell&Talarzk, 1983). The consumer personality also had a major influence on the purchase decision. One's personality factor in things like the individual’s self-esteem and body shape.

The rise of modern trade unionism in America Essay

The rise of modern trade unionism in America - Essay Example A labor union or a trade union refers to a body that represents workers. Through the leadership of the union, negotiations and bargains take place with the employer on behalf of the employees who in this case are the members of the union. The negotiations are mainly on rules that govern the employee, working conditions; bargain on wages and workplace policy on employee safety among others.In the history of America, the gilded age is a term used to refer to the exceptional polarization of wealth and wastage of the same by the upper class of people in the US after the civil war. This is precisely the period between the 1870s and the 1890s.This polarization of wealth resulted from the expansion of both the population and industries in the United States, (Arthur M. 2000).During this period, there was an extremely rapid growth in small factories mines, stores and other corporations. There was also diversity in race due to the increased immigration rates. The growth in businesses inflated immigration due to the availability of employment opportunities. The wealthy entrepreneurs established corporations, enterprises and major businesses.The gilded age was largely characterized by massive industrial growth. The productivity of American manufacturing was way beyond that of France, Germany, And the Great Britain. The mileage of Railroad grew three times more for the period between 1860 and 1880.The setting up of new areas for the purposes of business farming contributed to the creation of a marketplace that was national. It also inspired a boom in the mining of coal and production of steel. The large desire for capital made it possible for the consolidation of America's financial markets. By the year 1900, economic focus had spread to most of the other ranches of industrialization. Large corporates were dominant in the agriculture and industrial sectors of the economy. The steel industry was also up and coming. There was an increase in the mechanization of the industries and this largely marked the Gilded Age as a cheaper alternative to creating more products. At this time it was recommended that efficiency was sought through the use of machinery rather than workers in order to contribute to fewer motions in a shorter duration of time. The redesign lead to acceleration in the speed of the machinery in the various factories while at the same time increasing the output of the factories and reducing the factory requirements for labor that was skilled, (Fine, Sidney, 1996). The mechanization rendered the unskilled laborers not busy. They were commonly involved in the repetitive and simple tasks with the guidance of an engineer and a foreman who was skilled. The rates of wages increased by the day and so did the numbers of both the skilled and unskilled laborers. Colleges for engineering related courses were added I numbers to meet the demand of expertise and skilled labor force. This turn of events and the massive industrialization contributed to the setting up of a diverse working class that created the wealth that was amassed by the up coming financiers and industrialists. These wealthy industrialists more often than not influenced the business process or even carried out unethical financial manipulations. Due to their unbecoming behavior in financial manipulation, these wealthy industrialists were popularly known as the robber barons, (Smythe, Ted C.; 2003). During this time, there was a minor labor movement that was established by the name of American Federation of labor, (FLA).This movement was however politically involved and featured close associates of the democrats and republicans. Almost all the eligible people into this movement were

Useful Steps to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking Essay Example for Free

Useful Steps to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking Essay http://www.toastmasters.org/tips.asp (retrieved on 26/06/2013) This website provides some useful tips that should be followed to overcome the fear of public speaking. First, it instructs presenters to choose a topic that they are interested in, and try to know more about it than they include in their speech. Second, rehearse loudly with all the material that they plan to use and try to practice with a timer. Third, imagine themselves giving their speech with clear, loud, and confident voice, and visualize the audience applauding for them because that will enhance and boost their confidence. Then, they should arrive early to the room that they will present in and rehearse using visual aids. In addition to that, they should know the audience by greeting them when they arrive and address them because that will subside their nerves. Also, they should not apologize for any problem or nervousness, for the audience may not notice it. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fear-of-public-speaking/AN01979 (retrieved on 26/06/2013) Tips that are given in this website to handle the fear of public speaking are slightly different from the first one. First, presenters should know that the goal of their presentation is not to convey data, but it is to motivate and inspire their audience. Second, they should read a lot about their topic because the better they understand their subject, the less they will make mistakes. Then, they should practice many times and try to do it in front of people who they are comfortable with and ask for feedback. In addition to that, they should speak with conviction, for when they believe in what they are saying, they will convince their audience effectively. They should do some deep breathing before presenting because that will help them relax and mitigate their nerves. Moreover, they ought to prepare some stories because they will get their thoughts across much better than charts and numbers, and because they will make their audience engage with them. Next, they should know that the a udience is in their side, and they want them to succeed.

Specialty Hospitals Essay Example for Free

Specialty Hospitals Essay Specialty Hospitals: A Problem or a Symptom? Specialty hospitals are not a new thing. However, as the number of specialty hospitals increases there is a question about their financial influence on the community hospitals. This paper discusses the results of two congressionally mandated reports on specialty hospitals. Main Concerns about Specialty Hospitals: 1. Clinical decisions made by physician-owners might be distorted by financial incentives 2. Specialty hospitals treat less complex, more profitable cases 3. Specialty hospitals do not treat uninsured or underinsured patients 4. Patient selection by specialty hospitals hurts community hospitals Congressionally Mandated Reports: The MedPAC report: Some of the positive findings according to MedPAC analysis on specialty hospitals are: better control over hospital operations, more organized schedule time in the operating room, operation’s room effectiveness, and more successful cooperation with the staff. In addition, MedPAC could not prove that the difference in financial performance affects efficiency at specialty hospitals. One of the main concerns that MedPAC had found was that if the number of the specialty hospitals increases significantly community hospitals could lose a lot of their patients. The other problem that MedPAC reported was that specialty hospitals are more likely to treat more- profitable patients. In order to improve payment accuracy, MedPAC recommended to refine of DRG’s and to revise the way the DRG relative weights are calculated. MedPAC also recommended to extend the moratorium until 1 January 2007 and to give HHS right to permit gain-sharing arrangements between physicians and hospitals in order to protect the quality of care and decrease the financial misunderstanding. The HHS report: Results of the report showed that community hospitals had more complicated cardiac patients than in cardiac specialty hospitals. However, cardiac hospitals had as good or even better care than care at their competitor hospitals, patient satisfaction was very high, rooms were larger and more quit, food was better, and specialty hospitals had sleeping rooms for the family members. The total proportion of net income devoted to uncompensated care and taxes combines exceeded the community hospitals’ net revenue for uncompensated care. HHS recommendations were the same as MedPAC recommendations. Conclusion: The disagreement over specialty hospitals even more points out that the payment system and the health care financing system need significant improvement. One of the things that could be done is to reconsider the position and potential status of facilities that apply to be treated. Also, the various payment systems could provide consistent payments for similar services across settings which would reduce the role of financial incentives. All these proposals have been discussed earlier, however, they all have been hard to build up and apply. Questions to class discussion: 1.

Practices In Of Health And Social Care Social Work Essay

Practices In Of Health And Social Care Social Work Essay This study aims to investigate the conduct of inter-professional practice in areas of social and health care, with specific regard to the involvement of service users in such practice. The case study prepared by the City and Hackney Local Safeguarding Children Board on Child A and Child B is taken up for analysis and review in this context. The case study is taken as read and is not elaborated for the purpose of this essay. Health and social care in the UK is currently being significantly influenced by a growing commitment towards greater public involvement in the design, delivery and evaluation of services, greater availability and choice of services for all categories of service users, reduction of inequality, greater emphasis on provisioning of services at the local level, (including from the independent and voluntary sectors), the commissioning process, integration of social and health care, and professional roles for delivery of care on the basis of actual needs of service users (Barrett, et al, 2005, p 74). Such reforms call for the blurring of strict boundaries between the different professionals and agencies working in health and social care (Cowley, et al, 2002, p 32). They also call for greater inter-professional and inter-agency working and for significant alterations in organisational cultures in order to enhance the power base of service users and members of the public in different aspects of social care provision (Cowley, et al, 2002, p 32). It is now widely accepted that health and social care professionals need to be more responsive to the rapidly changing needs of service users. Such changes call for the development of health and social care practitioners to improve care for clients and service users (Day, 2006, p 23). Such improvement is required to be brought about by more emphasis on person centred care for clients and service users and the greater involvement of such people in different aspects of planning, delivery and evaluation (Day, 2006, p 23). The increasing contemporary emphasis on user involvement in the policy and practice of social care is however coming in for increasing questioning from disenchanted service users and service user organisations (Branfield Beresford, 2006, p 2). Service users, whilst highlighting the benefits of their involvement in the social and health care process, are raising various questions about their actual participation in social and health care and the continuance of various barriers that prevent their genuine contribution to the process (Branfield Beresford, 2006, p 2). The case study under question details the results of an enquiry into an episode, wherein a mentally disturbed mother killed her two children after (a) being released from institutional surroundings, and (b) being integrated with her children with the full knowledge and approval of an overseeing group of social, health, nursing and mental health professionals. The enquiry raises disturbing issues about the extent of involvement of service users in social and health care processes and in the decision making of the inter-professional group overseeing the care, treatment and rehabilitation of a mentally disturbed and potentially dangerous individual. The essay investigates the involvement of service users in inter-professional practice in the UK, with specific regard to the case study and the enquiry report. Whilst doing so it takes cognizance of (a) identification of sources for evidence based social work practice, (b) the use of enquiry reports as sources of evidence, (c) the relevance of themes that emerge from such enquiries, and (d) the implications of evidenced based practice for the development of practice in social work. The essay is analysed vis-a-vis the Every Child Matters programme and makes use of legal, political and ethical frameworks. Inter-professional Practice Inter-professional practice and inter-agency collaboration aims to ensure the coming together of service providers, agencies, professionals, carers and service users in order to improve the final level of quality of planning and delivery of services (Mathias Thompson, 2001, p 39. Whilst partnership and collaboration are often considered to be interchangeable, collaboration is the actual foundation for joint working and the basis for all successful partnerships (Mathias Thompson, 2001, p 39). The UK has been enacting legislation and policies for the promotion of Inter-professional and inter-agency collaboration (IPIAC) for the last five decades in order to enhance standards and reduce costs in health and social care (SCIE, 2009, p 1 and 2). The development of IPIAC was shaped by the white paper Caring for People in 1989, followed by the enactment of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. The government has in recent years issued various policy documents for the promotion of collaboration in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness (SCIE, 2009, p 1). Greater emphasis on IPIAC is expected to improve care because different professional groups like social workers, physicians, teachers and police officers will during the course of such working bring their individual perspectives to the collaborative process (SCIE, 2009, p 1and 2). The IPIAC process will aim to ensure the best ways in which such individual and sometimes differing perspectives can be made to come together, as also the ways whereby respective contributions of different professionals and agencies can be utilised to enhance standards of service and experiences of service users and carers (Freeth, 2001, p 38). Consideration requires to be given to collaboration between organisations, as well as professionals, in the course of IPIAC working. It is also important to consider the differences in the working practices and cultures of the various organisations that are required to work together and to take appropriate action to minimise the impact of such differences in order to make inter-professional practice effective (Freeth, 2001, p 38). Policy makers and practitioners agree that adoption of IPIAC will result in greater service delivery despite the existence of various personal, individual and organisational barriers that can practically hinder its efficiency and effectiveness (Day, 2006, p 23). It is however also widely accepted that effective IPIAC working cannot take place in the absence of deliberate involvement of service users and clients in all stages of planning, delivery and evaluation processes (Day, 2006, p 23). The white paper Modernising Social Services, published in 1998 clearly states that people cannot be placed in neat service categories and users will inevitably suffer if partner agencies do not work together (SCIE, 2009, p 1).It is now mandatory that social work programmes, as well as nursing and midwifery, embrace the involvement of patients and service users. Contemporary government reforms are based on public involvement in different aspects of service delivery (SCIE, 2009, p 2). Person centred approaches in health and social care recognise the need for valuing the opinions and experiences of patients and service users and the adoption of person centred approaches by social work practitioners (SCIE, 2009, p 2). Current research however reveals that service users often feel left out of the process of social care, despite the progressive implementation of IPIAC concepts and approaches (Branfield Beresford, 2006, p 2). Service user organisations state that the knowledge of service users is by and large not taken seriously or valued by professionals and service agencies. Many service users find such attitudes from professionals and agencies to be intensely disappointing and disempowering (Branfield Beresford, 2006, p 3). Agencies and practitioners do not appear to be interested in the information provided by service users and do not accord the respect to such knowledge that they otherwise provide to professional knowledge and expertise. Service users also feel that the cultures of social and health care organisations continue to be closed to service user knowledge and reluctant to change (Branfield Beresford, 2006, p 3). The study of the case review of the episode involving the deaths of child A and child B appears to reinforce the impression of service users about their continued exclusion from the working and decisions of different agencies and professionals involved in delivery of social and health care (Henderson, p 261). The Every Child Matters Programme requires social work agencies and professionals like social workers, health care specialists, teachers, nurses, doctors and mental health professionals to constantly ensure the safety, security and protection of children wherever they can. Extant legislation and policies like The Children Act 2004 and the Every Child Matters Programme clarify that it is everyoneà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s job to ensure the safety of children (Henderson, p 261). The report clarifies that various agencies were involved in the assessment and treatment of Ms. C, the wife of Mr. D and the mother of the two children, child A and child B. The report further reveals that agencies, as well as individual practitioners, failed to consider the views, opinions, and experiences of service users, even as it also contains a number of examples of sound agency and inter-agency practice. There is limited evidence of professional contact with Mr. D, the father of the children, after the contact session in October 2006, and it appears likely that professional networks assumed the agreement of Mr. D with arrangements for Ms. C. Professionals also paid inadequate attention during their provisioning of support to Ms. C, in response to her request for re-housing, and did not communicate with Mr. D to ensure that future arrangements would serve the best interests of the children. Interviews conducted with Mr. D and his parents also revealed significant differences b etween their expectations of the roles of social workers roles and what was implied by the records kept in the agency. Mr. Dà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s family members, it appears, were clearly under the impression that they had little choice in the rehabilitation process and were furthermore required to facilitate the contact of the children with their mother. Whilst the report elaborates the role and sincerity of various agencies and professionals in assessing Ms. Cà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s condition and her rehabilitation in society, it specifically refers to (a) the under involvement of Mr. D in the process, (b) the lack of communication with him (Mr D) by social workers and agencies, (c) the differences in perceptions about the role of social workers between Mr. D and his family and the agency, (d) the poor communication of agencies with the parents, (e) the absence of school records of children, and (e) the scope for improvement of involvement of GPs and the police in the social care process. Although the report makes several recommendations, the specific references to involvement of service users calls for detailed and greater involvement of parents and carers of children in planning of discharge and assessment of risk in order to ensure that actions are based on full information. One of the agencies, the East London and the City Mental Trust has been asked to involve family members and carers of children in all processes, even as the Hackney Children and Young Peopleà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s Service has been directed to ensure that decisions are not taken on issues that can affect children without communicating carefully and appropriately with current carers. Emerging Themes and Evidenced Based Practice The revelations of the enquiry into the report reveal a number of themes in different areas of inter-professional practice, inter-agency working and the involvement of service users in planning, delivery, and evaluation of health and social care, which can be beneficially used to inform future social work practice. The report specifically refers to (a) the lack of participation of services users in social and health care processes, and (b) the involvement of different agencies in their exclusion, thereby reinforcing the need for greater emphasis by agencies and practitioners on involvement of service users in their care plans. It also becomes obvious that much of the sentiments and ideas about involvement of service users in social care processes continues to remain in the realm of rhetoric and that it will need determined and deliberate effort by practitioners to truly bring services users into the actual planning, intervention and evaluation functions of social work practice. Enquiry reports serve as important sources of evidence for development of future social work practice. The impact of the enquiry conducted by Lord Laming into the death of Victoria Climbie led to the revelation of evidence on gross inadequacies in the social care system for children and widespread organisational malaise (Roberts Yeager, 2006, p 19). The publication of the report led to radical changes in governmental policy on social care for children and to the introduction of the Every Child Matters Programme and other important policies for the physical and mental welfare of children (Roberts Yeager, 2006, p 19). The utilisation of research evidence for guidance of practice and development of policies in the area of social services and health care is becoming increasingly important for enhancing the effectiveness of social and health care interventions, especially so because of the limited available resources with the government and the pressures to achieve positive outcomes (Johnson Austin, 2005, p 5). Scholars however feel that much of research based evidence is not absorbed by practitioners and have identified five important requirements for research evidence to practically influence practice and policy, namely (a) concurrence on nature of evidence, (b) a strategic approach to the conception of evidence and the progression of an increasing knowledge base, (c) effective distribution of knowledge along with development of useful means for accessing knowledge, (d) initiatives for increasing use of evidence in policy and practice, and (5) a range of actions at organisational level to increase use of evidence (Johnson Austin, 2005, p 5). Conclusions This study investigates the conduct of inter-professional practice in areas of social and health care, with specific regard to the involvement of service users in such practice. The case study prepared by the City and Hackney Local Safeguarding Children Board on Child A and Child B is specifically taken up contextual review. Inter-professional practice aims to ensure the collaborative working of service providers, agencies, professionals, carers and service users in order to improve the planning and delivery of services. Policy makers and practitioners also agree that whilst adoption of inter-professional working is likely to lead to improved care, it cannot occur without the involvement of service users in all stages of the care process. Person centred approaches also recognise the importance of considering the opinions and experiences of service users in planning, intervention and evaluation of care. Contemporary research however reveals that service users feel that their knowledge is not valued by professionals and agencies. The results of the enquiry reinforce the possibility of service users being excluded from the working of agencies and professionals and refer to a number of instances, where the opinions of the service users were not considered for taking of practice and intervention decisions. The report reveals a number of themes in different areas of inter-professional practice that can be beneficially used to inform future social work practice. The use of research evidence for guidance of practice in social work is becoming increasingly important for improving the effectiveness of social and health care interventions. Enquiry reports serve as important sources of evidence for development of future social work practice. Scholars however feel that much of research based evidence is used by practitioners and that certain specific conditions, which have been elaborated in the last section, need to be met for the improvement and application of evidence based practice. Word Count: 2530, apart from bibliography

Analysis of the Swamp in Psycho

Analysis of the Swamp in Psycho Adrian Secter Murder, Candy and Chains: An Analysis of the Swamp in Psycho â€Å"Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you.† Carl Jung Understanding a swamp is to understand what exists in shadow. Not the shadow of night or shroud, but that of the mute. The marginal. To know the scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho where Marion Crane’s corpse-filled car is disposed of, is to know the film. Bogs have always been a place in flux, the last remainder of a primordial ooze. They serve as a place where strange organisms, many of which cannot survive elsewhere, can breed and grow. The same holds true for ideas. For a man such as Norman Bates, the swamp affords him (and his mother) the luxury of anonymity. Removed from the scrutiny of dry land, the rigors of reality, Bates’ imagination does as swamp creatures do. It experiments, it mutates and most importantly, it uses its natural habitat to dispose of any outsiders who threaten it. Given that the absorptive nature of the swamp scene is both literal and metaphorical, Michael Fried’s â€Å"Absorption and Theatricality† readily lends itself to this analysis. While Fried ostensibly concerns himself with Denis Diderot and 18th century French paintings, the case he presents all but begs to be deftly applied to film. A plea heard anachronistically by Psycho. This 1960 film is replete with striking scenes, and indeed it could be argued that the movie is comprised entirely of such scenes. It is however, the alluded to â€Å"swamp scene† that is most pertinent. In this scene, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) hides the car that his most recent victim, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh). After murdering Crane in her motel room and disposing of all the evidence thereof, Crane’s body and 1957 Ford remain. Cleverly vanishing both corpse and car, Bates wraps Crane in a shower curtain, dumps her in the trunk and rolls the car into a nearby swamp. All of this exposition appears fairly straightforward, and would be, were the film not directed by Alfred Hitchcock. With Hitchcock behind the camera, the scene is elevated beyond mere plot and into a realm worthy of Fried and analysis. The crucial point of this scene is that the only remaining proof of Crane’s murder, the car, does not go quietly into the swamp. In filming this descent of woma n, Hitchcock positions the car on a controllable platform, allowing him to adjust the speed with which the car is lowered into the murky gloom. The car is swallowed up, but only piecemeal. At first it proceeds smoothly, as the muddy waters seep into the front of the car. Then it stops. Half of a bone-white car still sticks out of the darkness. The trunk, with Crane inside, stares back at a watchful Bates. He stares back, munching on candy corn. The water finds its strength again and consumes more of the car. Then it stops. The trunk lies like a Nile crocodile, its back above the water. On the shore, Bates continues watching. At last, the water covers the trunk and its morbid contents. The camera lingers on the last bubbles, expiring as they flee towards the shore. With this knowledge of the scene itself in hand, it is now possible to delve deeper into the swamp. Fried begins â€Å"Absorption and Theatrically† with an explanation of the prevailing Rococo style which he neatly summarizes as being â€Å"exquisite, sensuous and intimately decorative†. Fried contrasts the ostentatious and often dull (an artistic combination of decided difficulty) Rococo style with its artistic antithesis, the return to imbuing paintings with absorptive qualities. Fried defines absorption as an â€Å"†¦.insistence on the unity of the painting and the insistence on the irrelevance of the beholder (Fried also reminds his readers that the effort to establish the unity of the painting must itself be understood as nothing but an effort to affect the beholder). Reading Fried with Hitchcock’s film in mind results in a fascinating adaptation of Fried’s explanation of relationship between Rococo and absorption. While cognizant of the perils analogies present, a careful cinematic examination of the dynamic between Rococo and Absorptive art sees a similar dynamic in the dynamic of the studio system and Psycho. Psycho follows in the artistic footsteps of painters such as Chardin and thus stands apart from the studio system of classical Hollywood films. On a very practical level, Psycho can also been seen as at odds with the prevailing system. In 1960, Alfred Hitchcock’s Paramount contract guaranteed the studio another Hitchcock film (his previous Paramount film being Vertigo in 1958) but studio executives found Hitchcock’s latest proposal to be repugnant and refused to finance it. Undaunted, Hitchcock produced the movie in cost-cutting black white, using his own television production company and filming at Universal Studios. It is fascinating and relevant to note that reviews of Psycho were decidedly mixed, with the New York Times praising the horror movie’s depiction of â€Å"†¦the little details of ordinary life, a virtue in keeping with the lesser genres†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Or so it would have been had that quotation not pertained to a Baroque critique of Chardin in the 1730’s. Taking quote from art critics in the 18th century and applying them to the Salon of 1960 prompts an examination of the qualities of the film that are reminiscent of Chardin’s â€Å"Soap Bubbles† and thus it’s theatrical and absorptive qualities. The swamp scene is an excellent case study for this as the previously articulated manner in which it is constructed allows the beholder to become a subjective character within the scene. The technique used to achieve this are very similar to those used in â€Å"Soap Bubbles†. Fried identifies this the painters (or directors) â€Å"choice of a natural pause in the action which, we feel, will recommence a moment later†. The result of these choice is paradoxical, as Fried goes on to say that a static painting or a film’s (static in its celluloid repetition) â€Å"stability and unchangingness are endowed to an astonishing degree with the power to conjure an illusion of imminent or gr adual or even fairly abrupt change.† Within the scene currently under analysis, this paradoxical choice is further amplified by the unique way film as an artistic medium can be re-watched. Despite the fact that an aesthete can (and many do) return to a certain museum to view a particular painting as many times as they please, and the fact that viewing and watching are for all intents and purposes synonyms, it cannot and is not said that an individual who has gone to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa fifty times has â€Å"re-watched† the Mona Lisa, regardless of the pedantic truth of that statement. But film, and Psycho more pointedly, is a â€Å"re-watchable† form of art. It is not a petty quibble over semantics, but rather speaks to the manner in which knowing the inevitability of the outcome mutates the audience’s conscious viewing experience. When the swamp scene is watched for the first time, the viewer is struck with a tense and remarkable feeling. Despite just having witnessed the jarring murder of Crane in the infamously jarring shower, the audience finds itself wanting the car to go into the swamp. Hitchcock masterfully creates a situation of such deft tenseness that the audience is placed in the same mindset they have when watching a hero character disarm a bomb (always with one second left). The mastery of this scene is that it takes that expression of bomb-disarming relief and channels it for the benefit of a man who just brutally murdered a woman. A woman whose death has now been covered up, to the relief of the audience. In this crucial moment, the viewer does not want Bates to be caught. Upon re-watching the movie, and armed with knowledge of absorptive techniques, theatricality and French paintings of the mid-18th century, Hitchcock’s masterpiece offers up even more. Gazing (but never re-watching) paint ings such as Jean-Baptiste Greuze’s â€Å"La Pià ©tà © Filiale† with the Bates’ Motel’s swamp in mind, one realizes that they are lost in the scene because of the manner in which Norman absorbs himself in his task. Much like Greuze’s painting, wherein Fried says that â€Å"the primary emphasis is no on the variety and multiplicity of individual responses to a central event so much as on the merging of those response in a single collective act of heightened attention†, the audiences’ and Norman’s responses to the slow descent of a hearse into the swamp merge into an â€Å"act of heightened attention. Fried illustrates what is at the heart of the â€Å"absorptive state†. It creates and maintains a fiction, a fiction the beholder, the viewer, the audience, call it what you will does not exist at all. Both the family in Greuze’s painting and the candy-corn eating Bates are depicted in such a way that they not only forget themselves, they forget us too. Furthermore, there is a direct relationship between the degree to which the fiction of the viewer is omitted and the ability of the actual viewer to emerge themselves in the world of the art. In turn, the reality created by Greuze or Hitchcock sees more real because it seems to be, regardless of whether or not it is being beheld. But at the same time, the tension that manifests itself in aligning with Norman results from not being absorbed. This is in line with â€Å"Absorption and Theatricality† as the very same tension that absorbs the audience also results in the problems Fried makes out for Parisian salons in the 1750 and 60s’ when he says that the â€Å"illusion of negating the spectators presence creates both the absorption and the undermining of the images reality.† For the Salons, Fried makes the case that the fact that the absorption was being admired by critics made the illusion of negation increasingly difficult. However, for Psycho’s swamp scene, the latter effect serves to prod the viewer into realizing they were enthralled by the film’s antagonist, one who had dispatched the supposed protagonist not a third of the way through the film. It is fitting to being to draw this examination to a close the way that Hitchcock brings Psycho to a close. At the end of the movie, it is not the penetratingly insane stare of Norman Bates the audience is left with, but rather a shot of car being pulled out of the swamp with chains. It is only right that as the viewer was pulled into the film watching the car sink deeper into the swamp, that they should be returned to their world as the car is pulled out of the swamp. While Psycho may appear to conclude with a bland and straightforward explanation of Bates’ psychotic condition by a psychologist, appears can be, and frequently are deceptive. Receiving a medically valid reason behind the events that they have beheld is a poor balm on the confusion and terror they have absorbed. Hitchcock is fully aware of this and it is the primary reason why the film does not fade to black after the doctor’s rational explanation. The last fleeting moments of the film are reserved for the swamp. The re-introduction of the swamp, and the rising of the car, with all its macabre and money contents, raises introspective questions for the audience. While the police will undoubtedly open the trunk to find Marion and most of the stolen cash, the audience is faced with the prospect of opening their own conscious self to examination. Through the use of Michael Fried’s â€Å"Absorption and Theatrically† and a subsequent examination of the parallels between the Rococo and the studio, the absorptive and Psycho, this analysis has taken the crucial scene following Marion’s murder and used it demonstrate the manner in which the film’s audience becomes a subjective role in the film. The residual horror of the film is not merely the product of jarring murders but rather showcases the power of the absorptive technique in creating within the viewer shifting identification with the film’s characters. Ultimately, the audience is left with haunting questions regarding their own motives for things such as wishing the swamp would cover the car fully. And as the above analysis concludes, the answer can be a bit unsettling. But there is no need to upset. After all†¦ we all go a little mad sometimes.

The Usefulness Of Swot Analysis To Organisations Business Essay

The Usefulness Of Swot Analysis To Organisations Business Essay Change is a very significant word in business. Modern business is defined as the most competitive and active. To survive in the modern competitive business environment, the organizations have to adopt their strategies to meet the changing demands and needs of the customers. SWOT analysis is one the most significant business strategies which helps the organizations to assess their current situation both internally and externally and to implement a new strategy where necessary. Moreover, modern high technology, communication system and online shopping are highly influencing the customers and thus their demands and needs are becoming volatile. They have more choices, alternative products and services to get. Also, the changing life style of human beings is also another important reason why the business organizations need to modify their strategies. To balance these changes, both technological and social, the managers should plan a SWOT analysis and implement a new business strategy. However, change in business enables an organization to compete with its rivals and win the business position. Business organizations, particularly fashion, clothing, perfumed, mobile companies, technological instruments consider change as the most vital part of business strategy. For manufacturing companies, change is important in the sense that it gives variety to the existing customers and satisfies their unexposed desires. However, to bring change in business environment, the first thing is to identify the need of change, which will be followed by a specific plan for these changes. Various business tools, process, technology and performance meters are used to incorporate these changes. There is no alternative for continuous improvement in business environment. To survive in a competitive business environment, continuous improvement is mandatory to meet the business objectives. So, SWOT analysis is very important for business organizations to implement a new business strategy in order to cope with the modern competitive business market and to meet business objectives. Modern Business Environment: Volatile Change is one of the most significant and vital elements in business market. There are lots of reasons whey business market is changing and getting affected by it. The word change has now become the part of corporate business. Change management is a modern business philosophy which is adopted almost by every renowned business organization to meet the challenges of volatile business environment. The reasons of rapid change in business can be economic instability, inflation, changing life style, extensive use of modern technology, etc. Rapid rise and death of new companies also affect business environment. What is SWOT Analysis? An internationally recognized and extensive used business tool, SWOT analysis is a powerful technique to assess the current situation of a business organization and to predict the future business life. It is the primary level for marketers to plan and focus on key issues. However, SWOT is an abbreviated term for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors, while opportunities and threats are external. History of SWOT analysis: Albert Humphrey developed the SWOT analysis technique. Team Action Model was the research project that Humphrey led a Stanford University in the 1960s and 1970s from where the term was derived. He collected the data for this research from many top companies. However, SWOT analysis is an extended form of TAM, which helps to manage change in business organization. Moreover, since 1960s organizations have been using SWOT analysis as a business concept. It has been also used in management structure and corporate marketing. Indeed, with the passage of time the concepts of SWOT have been modified to suit the needs of business setting. Significance of SWOT analysis: SWOT analysis is one of the most significant business tools, which aims to assess the current situation of an organization in order to develop business strategies to encounter competition. It is a key element of strategic development. It helps a company to predict its future prospects and the financial environment. Again, it helps an organization to develop its critical and specific decisions to plan strategic objectives. It helps organizations to predict future difficulties or problems. Notably, SWOT analysis can also be used in human life. It helps individuals to get an instant view of personality or career. In fact, SWOT analysis is a magnificent tool for appraisal both in business and individual life. Apart from these, there are numbers of other reasons whey an organization uses SWOT analysis. It can be used as a tool of problem solving, decision making, planning, brainstorm meetings, workshop sessions, product evaluation and also personal development planning. Discussion and Analysis: SWOT A tool for auditing an organization and its environment, SWOT analysis is the primary stage of planning which helps marketers to focus on key issues of business strategies. However, SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors. Opportunities and threats are external factors. SWOT ANALYSIS: INTERNAL FACTORS Strengths Strengths are the first elements of SWOT analysis which assesses the positive tangible and intangible attributes of an organization internally. These attributes are controllable and within the organizations. These strengths of a person or a company help to achieve the objectives. Strengths can also be defined as the elements which enable an organization to do well, comparing to the competitors. It focuses on the advantages of the organization over the business. For example, the strengths of an organization can be good quality of the products, brand image, attention of electronic media, customer loyalty, best location, strong communication, etc. Weaknesses Weaknesses include the elements which are harmful and stand in the way of achieving the business objectives. These are the internal factors within an organizations control that prevent to gain the desired objectives. It helps the organizations to identify the specific areas where improvements are necessary. The weaknesses of an organization, for instance, can be poor quality standards, broken reputation, past loss project, rejected by customers, old fashioned products, poor communication system, negligence of media, etc. SWOT ANALYSIS: EXERNAL FACTORS Opportunities Opportunities are the external factors over which the organization does have control. But, these factors affect the companys profitability and business processes both directly and indirectly. These are the factors why an organization exists and develops. These factors help an organization to foresee the future possibilities and opportunities that the organization may encounter. They help the organization to plan and identify the time line to achieve the objectives. Indeed, opportunities are the objectives of organization in a broad sense. For example, the opportunities of an organization can be a new business market, extending business overseas or to other outlets, launching a new product, adding new value (such as, online marketing), moving to global market, etc. Threats Threats are the external factors which cause dangers and risks for an organization to achieve the goals and objectives. As external factors, organizations do not have control over them, but are highly affected by them. These factors help an organization to have safeguard from risks and dangers. These factors also guide the organization to drive on the right road. Threats of an organization, for example, can be: Rising popularity of the competitors in local or global market Changing habits of customers Pricing competition with competitors Arrival of new alternative product in the market New taxation policy Difference between external and internal factors of SWOT: The difference between external factors and internal factors of SWOT analysis is very obvious. The basic difference between the two is that internal factors are controllable, while external factors cannot be controlled by the organization. Usually, the external factors (strengths and weaknesses) of an organization are mainly based on organization itself, corporate market or customer needs and demands. The strength of an organization can be defined as the way of meeting customer needs and satisfaction, while weaknesses are the problems or shortcomings that the company faces to fulfill the market or customer demands. However, the internal factors of an organization usually affect the following factors, such as sale and profitability, product quality and brand image, product cost and customer needs, employee potentiality and the financial ability of management, etc. On the other hand, the external factors of an organization are the issues that affect not only organization but the total business system. The common issues that affect the company externally can be business segments, customer motivations and unmet needs, business strategies, overall business structures, environmental issues (such as governmental, technological, economic, cultural, demographic, etc.), etc. How to implement SWOT Analysis? Though appeared as a simple and easy business tool, SWOT analysis is very powerful and meaningful technique. To implement SWOT analysis, the first thing an organization needs to have is time and adequate information and resources. It is not possible to implement a SWOT analysis in an organization by one person, because it requires team work and efforts. The positive traits of this technique are that it is quick, flexible and comprehensive managing tool, which make the process easy to implement. However, the process of SWOT analysis follows a sequential order. Obviously, there are four steps to follow in this analysis. Whether analyzing a product or a service, the SWOT analysis is done in the same way. First Step: Collection of information In this stage, an organization collects all the information regarding the first two internal factors, strengths and weaknesses. However, this information collection can be done through a number of different ways. One-to-one interview or a group discussion can be carried to gather information. There will be number of different views, questions and issues that related to these elements. Second Step: Listing possible Opportunities and Threats Here, the organization can make a list of all the opportunities that it may encounter in the future. It can make another list of all the future possible threats within the organization. Third Step: Planning action In this stage, the plan of action will carried out to meet these opportunities and to secure the company from the threats. In this stage, the organization makes sure that they can maintain the strengths, change or stop the weaknesses, prioritize opportunies and minimize threats. Again, there are other ways to implement SWOT analysis. The following chart shows another different technique of SWOT analysis. SWOT Analysis Framework Environmental Scan   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  / Internal Analysis  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  External Analysis /   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  / Strengths  Ã‚  Ã‚  Weaknesses  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Opportunities  Ã‚  Ã‚  Threats | SWOT Matrix According to the SWOT matrix formula, there must be a balance between these elements. The formula follows the following chart: SWOT / TOWS Matrix Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities S-O strategies W-O strategies Threats S-T strategies W-T strategies S-O strategies: strengthening positive traits or opportunities W-O strategies: stopping or conquering weaknesses to meet opportunities. S-T strategies: strengthening ways to win external threats W-T strategies: having a strong plan to avoid weaknesses and threats CASE STUDY: SWOT ANALYSIS OF TESCO There are numbers of organizations which are using SWOT analysis almost every day in this modern business environment. This analysis can be carried on a small area of the organization or on overall company. TESCO is one of the major global business installations which can be analyzed by applying SWOT analysis as a whole. Strengths in Tesco The first strength of Tesco can be found in their popularity and business achievement of World Retail Award. Again, the constant increase of overall sales is another significant strength of Tesco. Likewise, Tesco has another strength in their reserve funds for business expansion and meeting economic crisis. Weaknesses in Tesco The primary weakness of Tesco can be found in their bad debt, house insurance claims and credit card arrears. Being a price leader in the market, Tesco is losing profit. Again, Tesco business and its profitability is mainly based on the UK market. Opportunities in Tesco Being the 3rd largest global trader, Tesco has strong buying power. Tesco is a global business organization which has number of different products and services. It is still extending to the global market and gaiting global trust. Extensive use of modern technology is enabling Tesco to meet the modern challenge of marketing. Constant increase of Tesco mobile customers can also be considered as a business opportunity. Threats in Tesco Economic inflation is one of the major business threats that Tesco had encounter in the recent past. The rising cost of food and non-food raw materials is another threat for Tesco. Changing buying habits of customers also affect Tescos business strategies and thus it requires reassessment of the current market. Competition with rivals, particularly with Wal-Mart which can takeover Tesco business position anytime is another noteworthy threat that Tesco is encountering nowadays. CONCLUSION To sum up, SWOT analysis is one of the powerful business tools which can be used in almost every business situation and also in individual affairs. It helps organizations to assess their current position and to plan their future plans. It is decision making tool that provides the framework for an organization to generate business strategy, mark its position and direct its objectives. Though very simple, SWOT analysis requires close attention and experienced application. In the modern changing business market, SWOT analysis has been proved to be a very important tool to the marketers. SWOT analysis is often said to be paralleled and alternative to the PESTEL analysis. Often, organizations use both these business tools together to plan their strategies. Once again, the SWOT analysis helps organizations to get an overall picture of the company and the starting point of strategic planning. It is the primary tool of business analysis. To conclude, experienced marketers when utilizing SWOT analysis make sure that the company is based on its strengths and opportunities, able to stop and correct its weakness, and can protect itself from external threats. They consider the business environment extremely unpredictable and thus use this tool that may help organizations to predict their future through this process.