Marketing Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Promoting Management - Essay Example Income produced by this organization is separated at a 54% from deals of food and 46% general product. Nonetheless, a portion of the exercises that create pay for the organization run from buys and conveyance, which offers clients a decent shopping experience. 1. A. Full scale ecological elements PESTLE ANALYSIS Political Factors M&S has been exposed to burden approaches, political and natural laws are involved in the UK, prompting considerable effect on with holding their items from the general population. The organization centers around picking up and keeping up great mentality towards remote organizations, which is obvious through their relationship with different organizations. Additionally, they are constantly clung to the laws on recruiting and terminating, henceforth there have been no instances of representative questions in the organization. Â Therefore, they welcome the way that political variables are identified with the degree of government intercession and economy. Â Economic Factors The pace of joblessness has been falling at a quick rate and the proportion of Gross national item is increasing at an unobtrusive rate in UK. The administration has put forth the significant attempt to bring down the financing costs so as to encourage getting of by clients, henceforth expanding their buying power. By the by, the swelling is being constrained by the administration through the significant financial approaches planned for directing cash flexibly into the UK economy. The monetary factor has impacted the tasks and dynamic procedure. There has been an expansion in the working expense because of numerous monetary variables, whereby there was an ascent in the shopper Price Index. Social Factors M&S items affect ways of life, whereby the buyers are expending items, which is exceptionally costly. Accordingly, lofty items are adding to expanded expectations for everyday comforts among the shoppers. The organization is additionally contributing age of work because of the headway in innovation that is expanding profession desires among those in the field of innovation. The organization is intrigued on purchaser activism, since they center around buying items that are ecologically cordial, however this is limited since the costs are assuming a significant job in choice of the shopper. There is a connection of the political and financial conditions and this involves the social viewpoint and the ascent in ecological awareness, accentuation and mentalities on naturally cordial. Innovative Factors The organization has contributed on escalating their Research and improvement so as to encourage the progression of innovation for delivering better items later on. In addition, the organization is concentrating on applying the new improvements in innovation so as to offer their items such that will empower them accomplish the necessary piece of the overall industry. In this way, M&S has been using innovative headway, whereby they have em powered their clients to get to their indexes on the web, and they can buy items in an opportune way. Then again, the organization has incorporated their activity with Business Intelligent BI frameworks to expanded execution later on (Mohd, Idris, and Momani, 2013, p.40-49). Ecological Factors The organization tasks are influenced by the natural elements like the developing consciousness of the climatic change, which may lessen deals for a portion of their items. There are factors influencing customers because of the expansion in familiarity with the ecological effects on

Positive Organizational Culture Free Samples -Myassignmenthelp

Question: Examine about that Organizations ought to endeavor to make a Positive Organizational Culture. Answer: Associations ought to endeavor to make a Positive Organizational Culture In the cutting edge business condition, the connection between the businesses, laborers, and client is pivotal in affecting the manageability of associations. The workers are at the core of association's exercises, and their fulfillment is basic in guaranteeing that the set objectives and goals are accomplished. This consultation suggests that the businesses must give certain working conditions to impact the presentation of the laborers. Indeed, the connection between the laborers and their bosses ought to be shared in that the two gatherings address the necessities of one another. Albeit a few methods exists of affecting an uplifting disposition at an association, making a positive hierarchical culture is best method of accomplishing a decent working connection between the business, representatives, and customers. As per Zerwas (2014), association culture is comprehended as a methodology that characterizes proper detectable antiques, qualities, and fundamental hidden suppositions and characterizes what ought to be of specific importance to the workers. With this comprehension, the way of life of an association directly affects the exhibition of the representatives as it shapes how their contribution to an association is esteemed. A positive association culture is what endeavor to adjust the requests of a firm and the prosperity of its laborers. In this sort of an authoritative set-up, the workers are viewed as accomplices to the business however not as subjects(Walters, 2010). The concentration in this way to deal with hierarchical culture is guaranteeing that the businesses include the representatives in each key advance that an association makes and allowing them opportunity to perform under negligible management. This view is rather than a progressively limited framework embraced by a great er part of associations where the laborers are exposed to close oversight, and the administration choices are total. A few investigations have demonstrated that a positive association culture is gainful to both the associations and their laborers. As indicated by Walters (2010), a positive association culture empowers poise from the representatives part and is powerful than in firmly checked situations. The exacting checking of representatives in the workplace flags a component of absence of trust in the laborers from the businesses part. This view causes the laborers to build up a negative disposition towards their activity bringing down their inspiration. The inspiration of workers is raised when they offered all out opportunity to execute their duties without exceptional management. As Walters (2010) calls attention to, associations need to delineate that they have outright trust in the capacities of their representatives to play out the appointed undertakings in a skillful way. At the point when the representatives are managed space to perform autonomously, they will endeavor to center their qu ality in achieving the association objective out of self-inspiration however not through dread of discipline. As per Stevens, Plaut, and Sanchez-Burks (2008), a positive association culture permits the laborers to develop to their fullest potential. Presently, the workplace has been influenced by the globalization impact. The globalization impact has made work environments to have differing workforce from fluctuating social foundations. At the point when an association makes a positive brain research by empowering communications and interview, cooperative effort is advanced (Stevens, et al., 2008). Cooperative effort for this situation likewise alludes to multilateral collaborations between the administration and the laborers. As per Walters (2010), when there are discretionary collaborations between the businesses and the representatives, there is a superior comprehension of the normal objectives and how to accomplish them. This comprehension permits the laborers to concentrate on improving their abilities to meet the associations desires and to arrive at their maximum capacity. Moreover, the connections between the businesses and the representatives permit associations to build up the capability of their workforce. The foundation of ability potential is pivotal in the organizing of the resulting ability the executives projects to improve the proficiency of firms staff. Without a culture that advances ideal collaboration between the laborers and the officials of an association, it is hard for the endeavor to know the regions where it needs ability and this lead to workerstask crisscross. Jobworker confound is the point at which a worker is relegated an errand that is past their capacities. As indicated by Karwowski (2006, p. 2669), a vocation laborer befuddle effectsly affects the yield of a firm as it brings down the nature of the items created or administration advertised. As Forck (2016) thinks, the main method of disposing of creation mistakes because of assignment laborer crisscross is by reliably connecting with the representatives in a well disposed m anner to build up their qualities and shortcomings. Be that as it may, this can't be accomplished in associations that utilize a coercive culture where the workers work helpless before the oversight who just consideration about errand culmination however not competency to perform assignments. A positive association culture is what rearranges that laborers are constrained in capacities and can't play out all errands at equivalent competency levels. In such a workplace, the businesses fill in as the guides in supporting the laborers to accomplish their maximum capacity. A steady association culture has additionally been related with decreased workers' mischief levels. An investigation led by Vardi (2001) found that there was there was a critical negative connection between authoritative atmosphere measurements and hierarchical mischievous activities. In this investigation, Vardi (2001) contends that there are diminished indiscipline cases in associations that have neighborly and steady societies to their representatives. These perceptions by Vardi (2001) underpins the consultations delineated by Walters (2010) that a positive culture engenders the rule of restraint in representatives. At the point when representatives feel that their workplace is steady and mindful, they control from damaging the associations implicit rules. As Vardi (2001) further expounds in his investigation, coercive associations approaches were found to build the paces of wrongdoing and low maintenance capacities of work environments. This perception suggests that laborers are normally restricted to forceful approaches and will think about relinquishing their positions than stay in severe workplaces. As per Hogan and Coote (2014), a positive association culture likewise upgrades the development limit of the workers. Development is among the key factors that influence ha benefit and maintainability of an association. At present, clients are searching for imaginative items and administration that are separated based on what is usually offered in the market. With a positive authoritative culture that permits the representatives to have a stake in the planning of items and administrations, the association profits by the laborers information in making one of a kind and new items which increment its upper hand in the market. For example, Google among the associations that have been universally perceived for giving their representatives the opportunity to rehearse their creative capacities in item and administration plan. This receptiveness has empowered Google to rank among the best innovative firm on the planet. In any case, associations with a characterized set of creation systems wh ich dispenses with the capacity of the workforce to add to item advancement are probably going to experience the ill effects of poor item improvement (Hogan Coote, 2014). Moreover, there is an immediate association between authoritative culture and workers' inspiration. As indicated by Pinder (2014, p. 9), the association culture can either have positive or negative ramifications on the inspiration of the laborers. A positive association culture organizes the mental need of the laborers like acknowledgment and vocation improvement. With the persuasive hypotheses expressing that the mental needs are the most compelling elements in molding human inspiration, a positive authoritative culture improves the inspiration of the workforce. As per Pinder (2010), the inspiration of representatives is basic in deciding the accomplishment of an association since it influences the profitability of firms and the responsibility levels of laborers in playing out their obligations. Without adequate inspiration, the representatives will offer poor administrations which hence prompts the association causing misfortunes. At the point when an association has a culture that adequately addresses the necessities of the representatives, they will respond by putting every one of their endeavors in helping the firm in accomplishing its set objectives and targets. Be that as it may, when the laborers see the way of life of an association as abusive and unappreciative of their endeavors, they will just work for the pay however not out of responsibility. As indicated by Seppala and Cameron (2015), a positive workplace provides food for the wellbeing needs of the laborers. In opposition to the normal conviction that pressure and weight cause the representatives to perform better and quicker, Seppala and Cameron cautions that it break down the soundness of the laborers. Unfortunate laborers have low yield capacities when contrasted with sound ones and furthermore builds the activity expenses of an association. As indicated by Seppala and Cameron (2015), wellbeing consumptions at high-pressure firms is practically half higher than at different associations. With undertakings targeting limiting expenses and expanding benefits, a negative hierarchical culture is an immediate manual for misfortunes. A positive association culture permits the laborers to work at their characteristic pace and this credit permits them to be resistant to work-prompted pressure. Convincingly, a positive association culture

Menopause and Depression Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Coping

Menopause and Depression Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Coping Depression Causes Print An Overview of Menopause and Depression Menopause and Depression: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Coping By Sara Lindberg Sara Lindberg, M.Ed., is a freelance writer focusing on mental health, fitness, nutrition, and parenting.   Learn about our editorial policy Sara Lindberg Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on September 02, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on January 30, 2020 More in Depression Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Types Childhood Depression Suicide In This Article Table of Contents Expand What Is Menopause? What Is Depression? How They Are Related Symptoms Causes Diagnosis   Treatment   Coping View All Back To Top What Is Menopause? Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the menstrual period stops, most likely when the ovaries stop making estrogen. Missing a period for 12 consecutive months (in the absence of other obvious causes) is the main criteria for being menopausal?? . When this happens, a woman is no longer able to get pregnant. The average age of menopause is 51, with the transition occurring most often between the ages of 45 and 55.   Despite having an occasional period, many women believe they are menopausal when they are actually in a transition period called perimenopause. This refers to the time when your body makes the natural transition to menopause. It most often occurs sometime in your 40s, or right around the time of menopause. Many of the changes you experience during perimenopause are a result of decreasing estrogen, which along with progesterone, rises and falls as you make your way to menopause. There is some association with these hormonal changes. What Is Depression? Depression is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness or loss of interest and affects how you feel, think, and handle daily activities. The two most common forms of depressive disorders are major (clinical) depression and persistent depressive disorder (Dysthymia).?? Common symptoms of depression include sadness, lack of interest in things you once enjoyed, irritability, fatigue, and feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and pessimism accompanied by physical symptoms. Major depression is the most commonly diagnosed depressive disorder. It is characterized as having symptoms of depression most of the day, nearly every day for at least two weeks that interferes with your ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life. Factors That Could Increase Your Risk of Depression How They Are Related Many women going through perimenopause or menopause can tell you that extreme shifts in hormonal levels often lead to feelings of depression. Whether it’s a new onset of depressive symptoms or exaggerated symptoms from an existing diagnosis, managing the mood swings along with other symptoms can, at times, feel very overwhelming.   It is only recently that the medical community created guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of perimenopausal depression. ?? Some of the challenge in evaluating perimenopausal depression is due to the fact that several of the symptoms related to its hormonal changes overlap with common symptoms of depression and other menopausal symptoms that often present similarly. Symptoms including, insomnia, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and mood problems are common during perimenopause and menopause. The risk of developing symptoms related to depression is known to increase among women as they transition to menopause.?? Symptoms The signs and symptoms of depression include:?? Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, or pessimismFeelings of worthlessnessDecreased energy or fatigueIrritabilityLoss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyedDifficulty sleeping or oversleepingAppetite or weight changesDifficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisionsLack of self-careAches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems  Withdrawal from social activitiesThoughts of death or suicide The symptoms of menopause may include?? : Irregular periods or bleeding leading to a loss of a period for 12 consecutive monthsProblems with sleep due to low levels of progesterone and estrogenHot flashes and night sweatsProblems with memory or being forgetful and struggling to focusMood changes such as irritability and crying spellsFeelings of depression or anxietyChanging feelings about your sexual healthVaginal dryness Do You Know the Signs of Clinical Depression? Causes The symptoms of depression that can present during perimenopause and menopause are related to a variety of factors including hormonal changes, underlying vulnerabilities to depression, and other stressors. Hormonal shifts that happen at other times in a womans reproductive life, such as the postpartum period, are also correlated with an increase in depression and mood symptoms. Declining estrogen levels?? that happen as you move through perimenopause towards menopause can contribute to emotional changes such as sadness, irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood changes. That said, there is no evidence that menopause causes depression. If symptoms are severe or impacting your life more than occasionally, be sure to see your doctor or a mental health specialist.   Diagnosis   Your doctor can perform an evaluation to determine where you are in the transition to menopause and recommend the next steps for potentially treating menopausal symptoms. But if the symptoms related to depression are severe or you have a previous diagnosis of depression, being evaluated by a mental health professional is the next step. They will be able to determine if you have a major depressive disorder or clinical depression.??   Treatment   For perimenopausal and menopausal women diagnosed with depression, adhering to the proven therapeutic options for treating depression should be followed. These include treatment with antidepressants and/or psychotherapy (“talk therapy”). There are several forms of psychotherapy, but one in particular that has been proven successful in treating depression is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).   There is some evidence that treating women entering menopause with hormone replacement therapy may help to enhance mood, but it is not considered a form of treatment for depression. Some findings suggest estrogen, which can help reduce hot flashes and night sweats, may also help with mild to moderate symptoms related to mood swings and feelings of depression.?? There are risks associated with hormone replacement therapy. Thats why talking with your doctor about your health is always the best place to start.   Find Support With the 7 Best Online Help Resources for Depression Coping Coping with depression symptoms that accompany perimenopause or menopause often requires a systemic approach. And like many other recommendations for depression or menopause, lifestyle modifications can make a significant difference in your quality of life.   Daily exercise, socializing with friends and family, meditation, mindfulness, and participating in activities that were enjoyable before depressive episodes started are just a few ways to cope with symptoms related to depression.   Reducing or eliminating alcohol, smoking, or other substances can help with certain symptoms of menopause. Also, taking extra care to follow a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats may help with symptom management.   A Word From Verywell Mood swings and feelings of sadness and irritability are common occurrences during perimenopause and menopause. That said, it can be challenging to distinguish between clinical depression and the ups and downs related to shifting hormones. If you’re concerned about your physical or mental health, take the first step, and make an appointment with your doctor. Being open and honest about how you’re feeling can help relieve the pressure or anxiety you might be experiencing. It also allows your doctor to make a proper diagnosis and create a treatment plan that focuses on your needs. How Estrogens Can Cause Anxiety and Depression

Perception and Consciousness - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 819 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/09/13 Category Advertising Essay Did you like this example? Sweats: Perception and Consciousness Barbara Bransfield Grand Canyon University General Psychology: PSY 101 March 25, 2009 Sweats: Perception and Consciousness Helena Blavatsky (1831), founder of modern Theosophy, wrote â€Å"everything in the Universe, throughout all its kingdoms, is conscious: i. e. , endowed with a consciousness of its own kind and on its own plane of perception† (Brainy Quotes, 2009). Yet individuals since the dawn of man, have wittingly, and unwittingly, found or pioneered methods by which to alter consciousness, and thereby distorting perception. A few of these methods, such as meditation, can provide physical benefits, however other methods, such as the use of psychoactive drugs, can cause permanent damage to the brain, thus altering an individual’s perception permanently. Drugs According to Dennis Coon (2010) in his book Introduction to Psychology: Gateway to Mind and Behavior, psychoactive drugs are the most common method by which individuals seek to alter perception (pg 199). These altering drugs range from mild effecting, such as through the use of caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol, to more powerful, controlled substances, such as pain killers, uppers, downers, or hallucinogens. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Perception and Consciousness" essay for you Create order Certain psychoactive drugs serve a useful purpose, after all, where would most of us be without our daily dose of caffeine; still, all are prone to abuse and can lead to unhealthy dependency or permanent brain damage. As with any substance or action, which alters consciousness, individuals must learn moderation or seek modification of behavior to prevent damage to or to restore the mind’s balance and state of health. Any alteration to our state of consciousness is self-induced and therefore treatable or preventable. Fatigue One of the ways in which individuals abuse their mind is by pushing themselves too hard for too long, thus interrupting healthy sleep patterns and creating periods of extreme fatigue. Most everyone is guilty of staying up long past bedtime to finish a good movie, of dancing the night away, or of burning a candle at both ends to finish a project at work, and most everyone has felt the effects the following morning when even a cup of caffeinated coffee seems incapable of jolting the brain awake. According to Coon (2010), while most people understand what sleep is, many fail to comprehend that while sleep patterns may be modified, it cannot be disregarded. Even moderate sleep loss can affect the brain’s ability to focus. This can cause an individual to make minor missteps at work or even serious errors in judgment that can cost lives. However, not all conscious altering methods can prove hazardous to us, or others. Meditation Meditation is a method of relaxation in which an individual â€Å"focuses attention and interrupts the typical flow of thoughts, worries, and analysis† (Coon, 2010). During meditation, energy activity in the brain is shifted from the right frontal lobe, which is prone to stress, to the calmer left frontal cortex, giving the meditator a sense of peace and joy (Psychology Today, 2003). Studies conducted have shown that meditation over long periods of time do no harm to the meditator, providing only benefits over the long term. A more controversial form of induced conscious altering methods is hypnosis. Hypnosis Hear the word hypnosis and visions of people clucking like chickens comes to mind, but those who believe in the power of hypnotherapy view it altogether differently. While self-induced meditation can aid in reducing stress and increasing peace and joy, hypnotherapy claims abilities far greater. By altering the consciousness of a patient, a physician can purportedly reduce or eliminate pain during procedures and even restore function to organs that are not working properly, criminologists can control behavior, and individuals can lose weight or stop smoking (Life Challenges, 2009). So, if hypnosis is such a wonderful mind altering method of healing and self-improvement, why then is it not used more extensively? Possibly, because the dangers of hypnosis outweigh the supposed benefits. As with many conscious altering methods, hypnosis leaves the participant vulnerable because their own sense of self, their sense of awareness, is diminished or even eliminated. A hypnotizer can easily manipulate, control, or exploit a patient if the hypnotizer proves to be unscrupulous, in which case the hypnotizer may use the patient to do something illegal or unethical (Life Challenges, 2009). Conclusion Even day-to-day activities, such as listening to music, drinking soda, and making love, can affect our brain, stimulating it in ways that affect our perceptions, emotions, memories, time sense, thoughts, feelings of self-control, and suggestibility (Coon, 2010). The more we are aware of our mind and the affect that our habits have on it, the more acute our perceptions will remain and our life experiences balanced. References Benefits of Hypnosis. 2009). In All About Life Challenges. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from https://www. allaboutlifechallenges. org/benefits-of-hypnosis-faq. htm Blavatsky, H. P. (2009). H. P. Blavatsky Quotes. In Brainy Quote. Retrieved March 25, 2009, From https://www. brainyquote. com/quotes/quotes/h/hpblavat267749. html Coon, D. , Mitterer, J. O. (2010). Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior (12th ed. ). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

J. D. Salinger Biography Essay

J. D. Salinger Biography Essay J.D Salisinger Biography J.D. Salinger was born in 1919 by a Christian mother and a Jewish father in the city of New York. Mr. Salinger entirely dedicated himself to writing after being enrolled at New York University and also at Columbia University. By the time Mr. Salinger was 21 years old; in 1940, he had had a chance to publish wide range short stories in periodicals, and this was being considered as a huge success in his life. During World War II, the career of Mr. Salinger as a writer was greatly disrupted but he was able to return from the service and continued as a writer, principally with The New Yorker, in 1946. He wrote for The New Yorker between 1948 and 1965 and published wide range of stories. For instance, in 1948 he published A Perfect Day for Banana-fish, which gives an account on the suicide of a desolated veteran of war. He also published For EsmeWith Love and Squalor in the year 1950, a story which gives an account of an encounter of a United States soldier together with two British child ren. Therefore, by the end of 1965, Mr. Salinger had published thirty-five different short stories. The Catcher in the Rye was published in the year 1951, and it is a publication that earned Mr. Salinger major significant and trendy acclaim. It was a story of Holden Caulfield, who was a disobedient boarding-school student who tries to escape from the world of adult that he normally finds it fake. As a creative writer and finding wayward for protagonist of a child, Mr. Salingers novel is given a great deal of sympathy. Work Cited Salinger Jerome David. The Catcher in the Rye. City of Westminster, London: Penguin Books, Limited, 2010.

Hurrican Katrina Free Essays

Proposal /Disaster Research Proposal Page 1 * My disaster paper will focus mainly on the direct and indirect effects of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans were made by the community and the state, which also affected New Orleans and surrounding areas. My initial research on this topic of Hurricane Katrina was that, although there was a slew of different aids and reliefs sent to New Orleans and other surrounding areas, there were periods where there wasn’t enough or too much time was taken so that the community and pretty much the federal government could have made a timely contribution. This makes my initial response to Hurricane Katrina and its effect on New Orleans and the things that were done to help them a negative response. We will write a custom essay sample on Hurrican Katrina or any similar topic only for you Order Now This is why I am choosing to write about this touching topic, I want to inform readers and people who may not know some approaches taken (and not taken) to help New Orleans and the surrounding areas that were affected. * The purpose of me writing this argument will be to inform readers, of the direct and indirect effect of Hurricane Katrina. The tone will be informative, this strategy will suit me best for this paper because of the type of incident Hurricane Katrina was. Thesis will definitely be in the first paragraph. Most likely in the middle of the opening paragraph. There possibly will be a refutation, although, where I am going to put one at this point has not be determined. * My research question will be: What were the direct and indirect effects of Katrina on New Orleans, and what actions were made by the communities and government to effectively help Hurricane Katrina victims. Proposal /Disaster Research Proposal Page 2 * Books * Scholarly Articles * Library Database Proposal /Disaster Research Proposal Page 3 The intended audience for my informative paper will be teens and young adults, these seem to be the people who were involved and knew the most about Hurricane Katrina and the updates. Plus it is just an easier group of people to write to. My audience is most likely between the ages of 15-30, because high school students were watching the news and getting updates by school and home, and because 30 year olds are still concerned with news. They most likely are middle class, being that most of the people effected by Hurricane Katrina were middle classed, so naturally other middle class people were tuned in. Gender probably wouldn’t matter, but education might play a big role. Being that people who were not as educated as others may not be so affected or concerned with what was going on in another state, because they themselves were not being affected. The major points that will be addressed in my analysis paper will be the indirect and direct effects of this natural disaster and the relief efforts and other helps that were made to help Katrina Victims. They will most likely find out how much Katrina victims were affected and what happened to them. Although, these will be things they have heard in the news there will also be other facts such as the economic effect this natural disaster had on New Orleans and surrounding areas. Not everything is for news, and although some people were concerned with this catastrophe, most people did not go and do their own research so they have been misinformed or left out of some things that actually did happen during this time. Some general beliefs that may be involved in his mishap, would be that when people need help, for example not being able to help themselves somebody of higher authority such as government should be able to step in and effectively take care of the situation. That is one example of personal beliefs. Proposal /Disaster Research Proposal Page 4 November 25- Type Proposal * November 26-Turn in Proposal, start research on Katrina and its effects * November 27- Research, find a thesis and begin to research on that * November 28- Research, start writing paper at least first 2 pages * November 29-Research, finish paper or continue writing * November 30-Conference and feedback on what has been written so far or finished draft * December 3-peer reviews (on ow n time) * December 4-edit and review paper, consults notes and feedback from conference and peer reviews * December 5-Turn in paper, final copy How to cite Hurrican Katrina, Essay examples

Financial Management Corporate Finance

Question: Discuss about theFinancial Management for Corporate Finance. Answer: 1. The risk aversion is the process of making the decision when an investor faces two similar expected returns and prefers the one with the lower risk. Yes, I agree that the risk aversion is process that will which is the outcome of the corporate managers to invest in a low risk project. The risk aversion process is driven by risk appetite, which comes with two variations on a particular project (Heron Lie 2016). For example, a project may look forward to invest $ 22 million and the expected return is $ 35 million over five years or the management may decide to invest in the project of $ 60 m with an expected return of 135 million over 8 years, followed by a bigger deviations in the earnings during the initial years. The management needs to decide upon the risk in each between the project failing or generating something in the initial years. The risk mitigation is the process of choosing a short-term profit during a short period. The source of the risk aversion should be further based on the weighing the two investment options and making a feasible decision to carry out a particular project (Guiso et al., 2013). 2. In order to decide whether the ordinary annuity can have the same present value as the perpetuity, the future value constraint needs to be taken into consideration. The present value is calculated using PV = FV (1/1+R) n Where, R = Discounting rate n = No. of years By taking into consideration the above formula, we can say that even if the cash flows and the discount factor in nature of the ordinary annuity cannot have the same present value. This is because even if the discount factor is same, due to the increasing power of the value of n (no. of years) the ordinary annuity of the present value will also keep increasing (Brealey et al., 2012). For example if the value of the r is 0.8 in a particular year for the first year then discounting factor is (1+0.8), the next year the discounting factor would become (1+0.8)2 which is 3.24. In this way, the free cash flow will reduce due to the increasing discounting factor, even if the cash flows and the discounting rates remains the same (Bierman Smidt 2012). Reference List Bierman Jr, H., Smidt, S. (2012). The capital budgeting decision: economic analysis of investment projects. Routledge. Brealey, R. A., Myers, S. C., Allen, F., Mohanty, P. (2012). Principles of corporate finance. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. Guiso, L., Sapienza, P., Zingales, L. (2013). Time varying risk aversion (No. w19284). National Bureau of Economic Research. Heron, R. A., Lie, E. (2016). Do Stock Options Overcome Managerial Risk Aversion? Evidence from Exercises of Executive Stock Options. Management Science.

Similarities And Differences 1 Essays - Breakfast Television, CNN

Similarities and Differences 1 Running head: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES AMONG ALL-NEWS CABLE NETWORKS: CNN, MSNBC, AND FOXNEWS CHANNEL SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES AMONG ALL-NEWS CABLE NETWORKS: CNN, MSNBC, AND FOXNEWS CHANNEL Deborah A. Neals Barry University Similarities and Differences 2 Successful programming is vital to a television property since it spells the difference between profit and loss. Unpopular programming results in fewer viewers, an insufficient number of advertisers buying airtime, and eventually economic failure. CNN, FoxNews and MSNBC are three all-news channels fighting for an ever-decreasing slice of the ratings pie. The networks have both similarities and differences, but before discussing them it is vital to look at both their history and programming. When Ted Turner created the Cable News Network in June of 1980, he probably never dreamed that it would become one of the most recognized names in cable programming (Eastman and Ferguson, 1997). CNN's first broadcast was June 1, 1980. Initially the signal was seen in 1.7 million U.S. households. Turner established news bureaus in major American cities and in other cities throughout the world and today CNN is seen in 80 million U.S. cable households (Available: CNN.com). Much of CNN's success is rooted in its early application of newsgathering technology, most notably that of communications satellites and portable uplinks such as those that gave the world video and audio during the Persian Gulf War and the aborted coup in the former Soviet Union (Eastman and Ferguson, 1997). MSNBC, which got its start on July 15, 1996, was a groundbreaking venture from Microsoft and NBC, comprising MSNBC cable and MSNBC on the internet. The network premiered to 22 million households, reaches 45 million to date, and is expected to reach 61 million households by the end of the year 2000 (B.P. Anderer, personal conversation, December 7, 1998). The network was able to reach so many households so Similarities and Differences 3 quickly because it took the distribution platform of the NBC owned, America's Talking (Eastman and Ferguson, 1997). The FoxNews Channel was the last of the three to enter the all-news cable battle, on October 7, 1996. Its first months of programming were only available to 10 million households despite the fact that owner, Rupert Murdoch paid cable operators $10 per subscriber to carry the all-news channel (Conner 1996). This is because Time Warner Cable refused to put the network on its New York City cable system. (CNN owner Ted Turner is the chairman of Time Warner.) Murdoch filed a lawsuit, but on July 23, 1997 the suit was settled, giving the FNC immediate access to the MSO's 1.1 million New York City subscriber system, plus wider distribution over time to the majority of Time Warner's customers (Higgins and Petrozzello, 1997). The network now reaches nearly 35 million households. Its programming is balanced, aimed at views slightly older than the early-20's audience courted by MSNBC (Conner, 1996). CNN Monday-Friday 6a.m. Business Day. Hosted by Deborah Marchini and John Defterios, the show offers viewers live reports on market movements and business developments. Business and finance coverage is rounded out with weather updates, sports news, a travel advisory and the latest headlines. 7a.m. Early edition. Hosted by Leon Harris and Carol Lin. A complete presentation of the latest news developments, including sports, weather and business news updates. In addition to news, the show airs a live newsmaker interview each hour. Similarities and Differences 4 9a.m. CNN Morning News. Hosted by Daryn Kagen and Bill Hemmer. This complete news show offers blocks of news reports, reviews, interviews and viewer call-ins. Many of the interviews are ?how to? in nature and cover a variety of subjects. 11:30a.m. CNN and Company. Hosted by Mary Tillotson. A half-hour news-talk program that looks at today's issues from a woman's point of view. Each day the show consists of three panelists that hold different beliefs. 12 p.m. Newsday. Hosted by Frank Sesno and Jeanne Meserve. Based in Washington D.C., this half-hour show is a presentation of the latest news of the day with plenty of live coverage. 12:30p.m. Burden of Proof. Hosted by Greta Van Susteren and Roger Cossak. This show, which was born during the O.J. Simpson trial, now investigates all facets of the judicial system. Key trial figures debate the legal ramifications of top news stories and courtroom issues. 1p.m. CNN Today.

Free Essays on Milton Friedman

Milton Friedman was born in New York City in 1912. His parents were poor immigrants, which means he did not have a family history of wealth or knowledge of economics. Friedman’s father died when Friedman was only fifteen years old. Friedman received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in 1932, a masters from the University of Chicago in 1933 (Friedmans). He also received a Ph.D. in 1946 from Columbia University. He taught at this same university from 1946 to 1976. He was also a member of the research staff of the National Bureau of Economic Research from 1937 to 1981. Friedman received the Nobel Memorial Prize for economic science in 1976 and has been a senior researcher at the Hoover Institution since 1977. He was awarded both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Science in 1988. He was an informal economic advisor to President Nixon and a member of President Ronald Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board (Milton Friedman). Friedman believes America could be much better off if we were to legalize drugs. He thinks we would have half the amount of prisons and prisoners, and that there would be about 10,000 fewer homicides a year. He states that the same kind of the things that went on with alcohol under prohibition are the same kinds of things that go on today with drugs, things like overdosing and poisoning from mixing different substances. He believes since drugs are illegal, it drives people to do harder drugs like crack, cocaine, or heroin, instead of marijuana. Since marijuana is more bulky and heavy, it is easier to intercept. Crack, cocaine, and heroin are not as heavy and bulky and make it easier to transport without being caught. Friedman believes that if drugs were to be legalized, crack addicted mothers that do not have prenatal treatment, would go to prenatal care were because they would not be afraid of incriminating themselves. He thinks this will reduce the amount ... Free Essays on Milton Friedman Free Essays on Milton Friedman Milton Friedman was born in New York City in 1912. His parents were poor immigrants, which means he did not have a family history of wealth or knowledge of economics. Friedman’s father died when Friedman was only fifteen years old. Friedman received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in 1932, a masters from the University of Chicago in 1933 (Friedmans). He also received a Ph.D. in 1946 from Columbia University. He taught at this same university from 1946 to 1976. He was also a member of the research staff of the National Bureau of Economic Research from 1937 to 1981. Friedman received the Nobel Memorial Prize for economic science in 1976 and has been a senior researcher at the Hoover Institution since 1977. He was awarded both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Science in 1988. He was an informal economic advisor to President Nixon and a member of President Ronald Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board (Milton Friedman). Friedman believes America could be much better off if we were to legalize drugs. He thinks we would have half the amount of prisons and prisoners, and that there would be about 10,000 fewer homicides a year. He states that the same kind of the things that went on with alcohol under prohibition are the same kinds of things that go on today with drugs, things like overdosing and poisoning from mixing different substances. He believes since drugs are illegal, it drives people to do harder drugs like crack, cocaine, or heroin, instead of marijuana. Since marijuana is more bulky and heavy, it is easier to intercept. Crack, cocaine, and heroin are not as heavy and bulky and make it easier to transport without being caught. Friedman believes that if drugs were to be legalized, crack addicted mothers that do not have prenatal treatment, would go to prenatal care were because they would not be afraid of incriminating themselves. He thinks this will reduce the amount ... Free Essays on Milton Friedman Milton Friedman’s Economic Thoughts One of the most distinguished and influential economist today is Milton Friedman. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 31, 1912. After attending public elementary and secondary schools he graduated from Rahway High School in 1928. Shortly after he received a scholarship to Rutgers University, which is where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1932 (â€Å"Autobiography ...†). Then Friedman received his PhD from Columbia right before becoming a professor of ecomonics at Chicago in 1946. Through all this he has written a numerous amount of books that express his economic views and has outstanding accomplishments to look back on. One of his most profound accomplishments was receiving a Nobel Prize in economics in 1776 (â€Å"Autobiography ...†). In 1962 the book Capitalism and Freedom was published, his wife, Rose reworked a series of lectures he gave at seminars throughout the 1950’s to make up this book. The publishing of this book was an extension of his liberal economic views. It shows a government that allows individual rights while maintaining order, and that the only way this can be accomplished is through capitalism and a free market economy (Capitalism and Freedom). Friedman writes that the major function of the government is to protect the people and their freedom from enemies and that he strongly believes in a limited government. With this he agreed with the seperation of powers among the three different branches and that yes we needed a government but there where many things the government had business doing (Capitalism and Freedom). A hands-off approach to government interference in the private market shows that he is a traditional laissez-faire liberalism. His belief in a limited government is supported by his desires to restrict the government from the lives’ of individuals, and are the concept of early liberalism found in the late eightee...

CORPORATE RESEARCH PAPER about US airways Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

CORPORATE about US airways - Research Paper Example The company’s maximum frequency is between New York, Boston and Washington D.C., where it provides hourly services. In order to diversify their operations internationally, the US Airlines decided to merge with American Airlines in February 2013. From the research it was found that if the merger is successful then it has the potential to create the largest airline in the world in terms of global market access. The deal is expected to close by the end of third quarter this year. The key shareholding pattern of the merger is that US Airways would hold 28% stake of merged company where as the American Airlines will hold the remaining 72%. It was also decided between the shareholders’ of both the companies that the merged entity would carry the name and brand of American Airlines and the holding company will be named American Airlines Group Inc. The airline company has reported operating income over USD 425 million for the year ending 2011, with net income over USD 71 millio n. The total asset of the company was found to be USD 8.34 billion for the year ending 2011. The subsidiaries of US Airways are Piedmont Airlines, Inc., Shuttle inc., PSA Airlines, Inc., US Airways Express, Material Service Company, Inc., Airways Assurance Limited, LLC, Mesa Air Group, and Potomac Air, Inc. The following table highlights the breakdown of sales assets and income of US Airways and their involvement in international trades: B. Foreign Exchange (FX) Risk Management Policy The company is centrally managed and the management actively participates in corporate governance. The company also has many subsidiaries that are located in the domestic market as well as the international markets. The subsidiaries of US Airways are Piedmont Airlines, Inc., Shuttle inc., PSA Airlines, Inc., US Airways Express, Material Service Company, Inc., Airways Assurance Limited, LLC, Mesa Air Group, and Potomac Air, Inc. In order to maintain accountability between various divisions, the Board of Directors is represented by the chairman of the company who is the most important individual regarding execution of strategic decisions taken by the Board. The chairman of the company is assisted by vice chairman and many professionals belong to different areas of expertise such as the Finance committee, labor committee, and so on. The parent company of US Airways is the US Airways Group which is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, United States. The company operates in Aviation sector which requires fuel consumption. The underlying of fuel is the crude oil prices that are very volatile and uncertain. This exposes the company to transactional risk. Also, the company has prominent exposure in international markets which implies that US Airways operates in different currencies. Any appreciation or depreciation of home currency with respect to foreign currency may turn out to be favorable or unfavorable, ultimately exposing the company to translational risk when the company would prepare its consolidated financial statements from collecting data from different subsidiaries (Triantis, pp.558-562). In order to manage these risks the company used currency hedge and forward contracts prior to the year 2008 and reported them in their consolidated financial reports using hedge accounting at fair value of hedged assets and liabilities. C. Use of Derivatives for Funding, Investing and Other price Risk After the third quarter of 2008, US

Consumers and the law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Consumers and the law - Essay Example He agrees to accept a price reduction of  £500 as well as the dealer being responsible for fixing the brakes. This does not bring about any other issue in the scenario so it would seem as though the dealer’s agreement to accept less as well as fix the problem would not be disputed. The amendment to initial offer would constitute as a condition, as defined in the case of Wallis v Pratt [1911] AC 394 as: "[a condition is] an obligation which goes so directly to the substance of the contract, or in other words, is so essential to it very nature that its non-performance may fairly be considered by the other party, as a substantial failure to perform the contract at all.†3 Another operating issue that is important to note is if Amir is dealing as a consumer or operating in the course of business. The facts indicate that although he intends to use it mainly for personal use, he also intended to use it for business purposes, and more importantly, the purchase money came out of his business account. If the court determines that Amir is operating within the course of business, he will not be protected under the additional consumer protection given under s.48 Sale of Goods Act1979, as well as provisions contained within the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, among others.5 This issue becomes relevant with regards to the situation involving the clutch. Amir seems to be seeking rescission. There are three problems with this is. The first issue is whether or not it can be seen that Amir is acting as a consumer. If it can be seen that Amir was acting as a consumer, he would be protected by s.48A(3) Sale of Goods Act which indicates that: â₠¬Å"...goods which do not conform to the contract of sale at any time within the period of six months starting with the date on which the goods were delivered to the buyer must be taken not to have so conformed

Analysis of Mobile Enterprise Model Frame (SB Model)

Analysis of Mobile Enterprise Model Frame (SB Model) The first objective of this paper discusses the writers understanding of Scornavacca and Barnes (2008) mobile enterprise model frame (SB Model) and an illustration of its current usage and future implementation in the field of existing Patient management system. The second objective is to discuss the existing implementation of mobile usage in Learning of Life University (LLU) with respect mobile enterprise model of SB Model with regard to its virtual learning environment in the categories of General student administration, Teaching, learning and assessment and Assessment management and tracking. In this part the dimension and stages of mobile enterprise model will be discussed and also it relevance to the existing healthcare enterprise. Below is the figure suggested by SB model. Picture 1: Dimensions Stages of Mobile enterprise model (Scornavacca, Barnes 2008) First let use discuss what the terms Market, Process and Mobility mean in the above figure. Market: this describes how a particular feature makes customers of a company or product more attracted towards it which is also known as the value proposition. It may also consist of the experiences of business partners with respect to the product and services. Mobile Channel access it is at the lowest level which represents that mobility is largely being used in the enterprise for information. Mobile Service value it is at the middle level which represents that wireless network is being used at an intermediate level in specific areas to enhance mobility. Mobile Service creation it is at the highest level which represents that an organization is completely using wireless medium to create new service/products and improve it continuously. Process: it is the results after the processes and change adopted in the work configuration after moving to mobile application. Automation it refers to the improvement of efficiency in the current existing process after moving to mobile. Decision Support it is the knowledge gained from mobile solution which brings the effectiveness in any work process. Transformation it is the transformation of a process when moved to mobile. As the name suggests it is the organizational processes fundamental change when in mobile medium. Mobility: it describes the place independence for a job when moved to mobile which is enabled by wireless internet or a wireless solution which gives mobility to a job. Transient it is the first level where the employees move from one location to another and the basic support they get at the location they move to. Mobile it is the second level where the employees become more location independent for long period of time but still have to return back to a conventional fixed location to carry out certain functions. Remote it is the third and the highest level where an employee need not come to the conventional fixed location at all which provides complete mobility i.e., location independence. Let us discuss the dimensions and stages in the field of Health care related to Patient Appointment booking system (PABS). As far as now there is very less to nil usage of mobile technology in PABS. According to the writer of this report mobility in PABS can be represented in the mobile enterprise model as shown in Picture 2. Mobility: How independent are people/ patients to book an appointment with a doctor/GP through a mobile app using a wireless internet connection. Transient A system where patients can book a doctors appointment by visiting the hospital. Mobile A online system where patients can book a doctors appointment via conventional computer using an internet connection by sitting in a particular place. Remote A mobile system where a patient can book appointments irrespective of their current location and also pick a time as per their convenience based on the slot availability. Picture 2: PABS w.r.t SB model Process: How has the patient appointment booking system improved or how is the current situation. Automation If PABS is moved to mobile then patients save ample lot of time which they can invest on some other productive work. It also helps hospitals to hire staff particular for appointments or they can use the existing staff in other administration work. It saves time of both patient and hospital. Information A online PABS can be used by people to book appointments where in hospital can get information about the patient even before they arrive at the hospital. Transformation A mobile PABS is present where in people can book appointments whenever they want by being location independent and having an internet connection. The mobile system can also be transformed when the patient is able to postpone or cancel the booked appointment if needed and that gives out notification for the urgent patients who can mark themselves as urgent if they need such notifications and those newly created slots can be used on the basis of first come first serve or the notification might also be sent based on the criticality or the urgency level. Market: How patient appointment booking system increases the value of a hospital, by making it easy for patients to use a mobile system. This stage also shows how new features added to the mobile system would make patients more attracted towards using the application and getting themselves involved with their doctor/GP/hospital. Mobile channel access A mobile system which largely provides only information about the doctor/GP/Hospital without any other services. As it gives only information it is placed at the lowest level. Mobile Service value A mobile system which is present where in patients can book appointments through a mobile application. Mobile Service Creation A mobile system which can be used to book appointments and also many more operations as mentioned in the transformation stage of process dimensions. Below picture shows the transformation which can be made by the suggestions given in the illustration in PABS. Picture 3: SB Model when improved with given suggestions for PABS REFLECT ON CURRENT SITUATION Currently Learning of Life University (LLU) uses an electronic student record to keep track of all the new and continuing students and their details including their degree and modules, attendance record and academic performance i.e. results of the modules they study; which seems to be an old method when compared with the current technologies in the market. Coming to the teaching, learning and assessment part LLU provides notes and assessment online but it will still need the tutors and students to use a traditional computer which will acquire space and also people will need a particular device to use the resources. Now towards the asset management and tracking of university resources; LLU uses field staff to keep track of the device usage by seeing the usage logs of devices which is a very old method of doing when we have new softwares and sensor devices to do that such as logging software RFID sensors and many more whose data can be accessed by using a mobile device. Almost all the tasks done by university administration staff is very manual related to keeping track of student records, university assets such as computers, library books etc. So, as a consultant we can represent the current situation of LLU in SB Model as shown below for the above discussed 3 areas. Picture 4: LLUs Current situation with all three areas Why the company thinks that LLU lies in the above-mentioned area with considering all three areas of study is because all three areas do not have a mobile system where in the students, tutors, administrators or the field staff could do their work without being location independent. WHY MOVE TO MOBILE AND ITS IMPACTS As a consultant company, we would like to suggest LLU to use Cloud Computing (CC) which provides educators and learners to access resources form anywhere and at any time. The main advantage of this is that it is low cost for implementation and its infrastructure for LLU. The rapid changes in e-learning technologies are not being adopted by education institutions due to the infrastructure limitations which are being avoided due to the high cost to use multimedia content which also includes the institutions resources and a tutors skills in using a e-learning platform. So, as a consultant company we would like to tell you the advantages and future potential of moving to mobile e-learning platform which includes CC as well which is of low cost. Mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets etc. can make great benefit of the resources available on cloud. And mobile devices enable the users to access resources such as notes, presentations, assessment guidelines, lectures, tutorials, information about seminars, lab sessions etc. anytime and anyplace. A mobile application will enable the users to access the resources, download it to their mobile device, which will access the cloud when required later, and it makes it easy for students and other staff of LLU as they can use technologies like WiFi or LTE or 3G. It is also to be noted that it would be a big transformation to LLU as well; as CC is a disruptive technology and it will impact education in a very positive manner when utilized. The most important positive impacts when moved to a mobile system with cloud are as follows (Veerabhadram Conradie, 2013). An application on cloud can be used by any number of mobile devices irrespective of the mobile service provider or phone. University can avoid the hassle of maintaining the servers and it will be easy for the LLU to scale the application as well and it could concentrate only on the development of a mobile system to access the cloud resources. Mobile devices may not have the space required on the device to keep all the resources required so CC can provide good functionality and also determine what data a device can access. Mobile devices can be lost or damaged or stolen, but having a cloud infrastructure data can be preserved, as the data is stored on cloud rather than a device or server. Some of the characteristics of cloud learning are as follows (Wang W.P. Ng, 2012). Universal accessibility As long as one has internet access via a mobile, tablet, PC, or even TV, Students can study. As all the data, applications, softwares run on servers in cloud it opens to new possibilities to provide low-cost terminal access to everyone. Collaborative interactions From continuous interactions with tutors and fellow students, students can build their knowledge as they can co-operate in cloud anywhere, anytime. Sharing and Storing Documents on cloud can be edited commonly via services like Google Docs, Dropbox, office Live, sky drive and share the same on a cloud server. And cloud also allows to store unlimited data in its storage. Learner Centred -ÂÂ   Students can select the resources they need from cloud and keep track of their progress as well as cloud is learner centric and individual learner needs are met. As a consultant company, we would like to give a 4 stage Cloud based learning model for LLU based on analysing the three areas of importance (Wang W.P. Ng, 2012). Learning stage How students learn has evolved from traditional class room to e-Learning to mobile Learning. With this evolution, intelligent learning systems have been developed to support many ways of learning such as e-Books, Audio Books, Video lessons etc. So, at the end of the day it is the choice of the student to pick the mode they want. And to store all these types of resources a smart cloud would be helpful. Communication or Interaction stage for a student to learn something, interaction is very important and it also is very important in mobile learning. It would require instructor and peer collaboration and guidance to stay on track. Cloud based system will also provide a forum where students can interact with their tutors and fellow students where they can share their learning, asking some FAQs and these questions and answers will be stored in a cloud database which can be easily searchable. Assessment Stage This is one of the important stage in a learning process. It ensures that a student has learnt the module and also its outcomes. In the old traditional class room learning; assessment can be done only via a test where as a mobile environment enables various means to assess the learning objectives and outcomes of a student with methods like report-writing, producing an artefact etc., through which a student can be assessed and be helped with their learning outcomes. Analysis Stage With the usual class room it will be impossible to analyse a students performance for tutors and recommend them with an appropriate learning materials or methods. A cloud based mobile class room can be used to get statistical analysis of learning outcomes and suggest appropriate learning materials and methods. An analysis of learning methods, styles, activities and behaviours can be done by the tutor to recommend an individual student a proper learning method. The next problem to solve would be for the administrators to do their jobs, by them being connected to the cloud database of students being enrolled to LLU the administrators need not stick to one place they can move around the entire campus with their mobile device to solve the queries of every student related to their university admissions and many more. The final problem is of asset management and tracking, as said already that the cloud can store unlimited data, so it will be easy to link LLUs assets to the cloud database and keep track of all the logs and usage statistics and also keep track which use uses which device the more or moreover which asset is more in demand. Now, lets discus how the recommended idea from the consultant company underpins the SB Model with respect to its dimensions and stages of mobility. Mobility As the recommended system is cloud and can be used in any device at any point of time and from any place without location dependence the recommended system would be in Remote stage. Process With the change to cloud tutors, students and administrators can use any device, from any place and at any time to carry out their daily task and it is a big transformation for all. Market With all the changes being made by moving to mobile by creating a new service with a great value a wireless device can be used by students to study, tutors to answer questions and administrators to do their job form anywhere, anytime, anyplace. RISKS AND ISSUES Many of the big business companies such as Google and Microsoft are offering free cloud services for educational institutions which gets rid of commercial risk. So, there wouldnt be any commercial risk but LLU has to maintain the cloud which comes with a price. Legal, social and ethical issue would be related to securing personal data of the users as it is cloud and security of data is one of the big concern. Strong user authentication system would be a solution for securing user data. Picture 5: Basic Structure of the recommended Cloud based structure(Erel, 2014) Picture 4 shows the Mobile computing architecture with variety of devices which can be used by anyone related to the university to access the university resources via any device of their choice. Providing a proxy for all the mobile devices one can use as shown in Picture 4 such as a laptop, smartphone, tablet is the main goal of the architecture proposed for mobile CC for LLU. Picture 6: Mobile CC Architecture(filipdevelter, 2015) (Cloud services, cloud computing, cloud solutions Mumbai, India, 2016) Picture 5 gives an overview of the architecture of the mobile CC platform and also clouds main features. We can say that the mobile CC consists of three main parts, mobile client i.e. the device we use to access the cloud data, middleware which is responsible to provide access to cloud based on device used and it is also responsible to give instant updates of services to mobile devices and the cloud services. Minimizing the limitations of present e-Learning in LLU by utilizing the proposed mobile CC system is the main focus, which utilizes all the advantages CC can offer. LLU can use the CC for education which provides all requirements to process and store data, all data needed by students is provided by the cloud, and mobile CC allows the user to use device of their own choice as shown in the picture below. Picture 7: Mobile Cloud Computing architecture for Education(Veerabhadram Conradie, 2013) LAYERS IN CLOUD LEARNING SYSTEM Information Infrastructure and teaching resources forms the infrastructure layer and it contains internet, software, hardware as shown in Picture 6. It is the lowest layer in the cloud system, CPU is present in this layer i.e. the server. New hosts can be added to enhance the system as the system is scalable and dynamic. Picture 7 depicts it clearly (Masud Huang, 2012). Picture 8: Proposed Infrastructure layer Software(s/w) layer consists of the operating system of the cloud system and the middleware. Numerous software resources can be integrated into the middleware to provide an interface for s/w developers to develop applications and embed them in cloud for users to use. Resource layer achieves the coupling of software and hardware. On-demand and s/w for various devices can be integrated by virtualization and CC. Service layer consists of 3 layers, SaaS (Software as a service), PaaS (Platform as a service), IaaS (Infrastructure as a service). SaaS is the best as it need not be maintained or upgraded, its just pay monthly. Application layer is where the teaching resources are integrated in cloud which also includes interactive courses. BENEFITS OF CLOUD ARCHITECTURE High Storage capacity Computing power High availability security Virtualisation Managing and delivering resources from Cloud is one of the most compelling paradigm over the internet. Utility computing has been turned into reality by the rise in CC. Current economic situation and increase in Educational resources have made universities to adopt CC and also there are proofs that the expenses are decreasing due to cloud solutions. References (2016) Cloud services, cloud computing, cloud solutions Mumbai, India [online] Available from: http://www.comprompt.co.in/services/cloud-services/. [Accessed: 4 December 2016]. EREL, O. (2014) Important concepts of cloud computing Middleware architecture [online] Available from: http://saasaddict.walkme.com/important-concepts-cloud-computing-middleware-architecture/. [Accessed: 4 December 2016]. FILIPDEVELTER (2015) Back-up maken [online] Available from: http://www.neonomen.be/2015/10/26/een-back-up-is-niet-genoeg/. [Accessed: 4 December 2016]. HAOLIANG, W. et al. (2010) The Application of ID Authentication Safety System in Campus Mobile Education. International Conference on Computer Application and System Modeling. 13. pp. 519-522. MASUD, A. HOSSAIN HUANG, X. (2012) An E-learning System Architecture based on Cloud Computing. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology. 6. ÃÆ'-STLUND, S., PANCHENKO, A. ENGEL, T. (2015) A study on ethical aspects and legal issues in e-learning. International Conference on e-Learning. pp. 280-286. SCORNAVACCA, E. BARNES, S. J. (2008) The strategic value of enterprise mobility: Case study insights. Information Knowledge Systems Management. 7. pp. 227-241. VEERABHADRAM, P. CONRADIE, P. (2013) Mobile Cloud Framework Architecture for Education Institutions. Science and Information Conference. pp. 924-927. WANG, M. W.P. NG, J. (2012) Intelligent Mobile Cloud Education. IEEE Eighth International Conference on Intelligent Environments. pp. 149-156.

Sentrong Sigla

â€Å"All the evidence that we have, indicates that it is reasonable to assume in practically every human being, and with certainly in almost every newborn baby, that there is an active will toward health, an impulse toward growth, or towards the actualization. † -Abraham Maslow Introduction Department of Health or the Kagawaran ng Kalusugan is the principal health agency here in the Philippines. The department is responsible for ensuring access to basic public health services to all Filipinos through the provision of quality health care and the regulation of providers of health goods and services.DOH has three major roles in the health sector: (1) leadership in health, (2) enabler and capacity builder, and (3) administrator or specific services. The DOH’s vision is to be the leader of health for all in the Philippines, and its mission is to guarantee equitable, sustainable and quality health for all Filipinos, especially the poor, and to lead the quest for excellence i n health. While pursuing its vision, DOH adheres to the highest value of work such as: integrity, excellence, compassion and respect for human dignity, commitment, professionalism, teamwork and stewardship of the health of the people.Because of the department’s dedication in guaranteeing equitable, accessible, sustainable and quality health services for all Filipinos, especially the vulnerable group, the department has formulated different programs to ensure quality health services and one of them is the Sentrong Sigla Program. Sentrong Sigla The Department of Health’s (DOH) Quality in Health (QIH) Program seeks to institutionalize Continuous Quality Improvement or CQI in health care in order to create health impact in terms of health promotion and disease prevention control.Sentrong Sigla Certification has been identified as one of the components and strategies of this program. The quality standards cover total systems quality for outpatient care and public services g raduated into three levels. This quality standards list (QSL) covers the basic certification level or Level 1. The next higher levels of specialty award and award for excellence, Levels 2 and 3 respectively have their own standards lists. Aside from the QSL, other tools available for use of the health facility staff are the Supervisory Forms (SF) and the Facility Certification Form (FCF).The Birth of Sentrong Sigla Quality Assurance Program (QAP) Goal: To make DOH and LGUs active partners in providing quality health services. Key Strategies: 1. Certification / Recognition Program (CRP) 2. Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) In 1999, QAP was renamed the Sentrong Sigla (â€Å"Center of Vitality†) Movement (SSM). Sentrong Sigla Movement Goal: Quality health – quality health care, services and facilities. Objectives: Better and more effective collaboration between DOH and LGUs.Where DOH: serves as a provider of technical and financial assistance package for health care. L GU: serves as prime developers of health systems and direct implementers of health programs. Specific Objectives: * Institutionalization of quality assurance * SS certification targeting 50 % of health facilities in 2003 and 60% in 2004. Pillars: * Quality assurance * Grants and technical assistance * Awards * Health promotions Phases: Phase| Period| Standards| I| 1998 – 2000| Input Quality | II| 2001 – 2004| Process Quality|III| 2005 – 2010| Outcome or Impact Quality| Guiding Principles for Sentrong Sigla Movement To ensure that Sentrong Sigla remains focused on its quality goals and objectives, the following guiding principles are hereby adopted: * Recognition for achieving good quality shall be the main incentive in SS certification. Advocacy and social mobilization activities should be used to enhance the value of prestige and recognition. Other incentives shall not be overemphasized and should only be secondary to recognition. * Quality improvement is an un ending process.SS certification should promote the continuing drive for ever – improving quality by providing multi – tiered and progressively higher quality standards. * SS certification shall focus on core public health programs that have been proven to be most cost – beneficial to the people such as child health, maternal care and family planning, prevention and control of infectious diseases and promotion of healthy lifestyle. Public health programs are best integrated, synergized and synchronized to achieve maximum health impact. Quality improvement is a partnership that empowers all stakeholders. In SS, communication between the DOH and the health facilities to be certified shall be open and shall be based on mutual trust and transparency. All quality standards and the methods by which these shall be assessed shall be openly shared and discussed to ensure clear understanding and strong commitment by all concerned. * In the same spirit, roles, responsibilit ies and contributions shall promote appropriate counterpart and reciprocity. To ensure even distribution of quality health services, DOH assistance shall be purposive, targeting to achieve quality improvement in health facilities that have been identified using carefully selected health priorities and health needs. These should include health facilities in far – flung and underserved areas, in congested urban centers or in marginalized communities. * To ensure objectivity and broad, varying perspectives, SS assessment shall involve partners in health from non – DOH units such as other government and non – government units agencies.They shall be encouraged to actively advocate for and give support to SS. Sentrong Sigla Certification Phase I Phase I of the certification component started in mid – 1999 and extended until 2002. Sentrong Sigla seals were given to health facilities that met at least 80% of the standards. By mid – 2002, 44% of health cent ers, 13 % of district and provincial hospitals, and 1 % of BHS have been certified Sentrong Sigla. Additional national awards were given to several health facilities, the prize for which included P 1 Million for health centers, P 3 Million for district hospitals and P 5 Million for provincial hospitals.More than 135 Million pesos have been awarded to these facilities. The Sentrong Sigla certification during the first phase was successful in terms of promoting interests and participation of local government units in raising the quality of health care in public health facilities and in generating additional support from local chief executives for health and channelling local resources to fund basic equipment, amenities and supplies of local health facilities.The strategy also confirmed that a mechanism that recognizes good quality health services is a powerful tool to maintain DOH leadership in health, with high potential for eventually creating health impact through more effective an d better quality public health programs. Valuable Lessons during Phase I * The realization of the need for total systems quality standards that combine simple yet basic input process and output standards. While the health facilities met input – only standards in Phase I, SSM itself had to be positioned as a total quality movement.Thus, consumers will equate SS with total quality. â€Å"Input only† certified health facilities would raise doubts on the SS seal as a certification of genuine total quality. Changing the standards over the years, as originally planned, was difficult to implement. Besides, The LGUs preferred a stable core of total system quality standards. * The importance of careful selection of incentives. While it is important that incentives be attractive, these should also be appropriate, sensible and sustainable.During SS Phase I, monetary rewards were too much focused. This generated unprecedented interest but distracted the LGUs away from the real qua lity objectives of SS. The quest for the million peso prize led them to skip the capability – building step which was really the most important step in the process. * The need for changing procedures to provide adequate time for crucial processes like the internalization of the quality standards by the Local Chief Executive and is local health staff, the provision of supportive technical assistance by the DOH and other quality improvement activities prior to formal assessment. There was also need to provide multiple, progressing quality standards to drive continuing quality improvement. Formulation of the Philippine Quality in Health Program and the Transition into SS Phase II In 2001, with the change of DOH administration, the effort to raise quality of health services was intensified, leading to the expansion of concern for quality beyond the DOH – LGU interaction level into the entire health sector.Other instruments and interventions that can drive quality higher, s uch as mandatory licensing and the accreditations and payment scheme of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) were included. Other efforts of professional societies were also acknowledged and incorporated, resulting in the more integrated Philippine Quality in Health Program AO No. 17 – B s. 2003, replacing the Sentrong Sigla Movement. The certification strategy of the â€Å"movement† – The Sentrong Sigla Certification – remained an important strategy in the accreditation approach of the broader Philippine QIH Program.To harness the full potential of the SS Certification in achieving its quality goals and objectives, basic modifications were adopted for SS Phase II (2003 – 2007) in terms of revised quality standards, procedures and incentives scheme. Goals: As one of the accreditation strategies in the QIH Program, Sentrong Sigla Certification has the same long term and intermediate goals as the Philippine QIH Program: Long – Te rm Goals:To institutionalize within the health sector the leadership processes, knowledge, attitudes, skills, and organizations that will generate Continuous Quality Improvement in health care thus creating health impact in terms of health promotion and disease prevention and control. This goal is a process and systems goal, fully recognizing that the quest for better quality health care and services is a continuing or unending process. This is also an expanded goal, aimed to cover the entire health sector, not only the public health or government sections of the sector. Intermediate (5 – year) Goal (2003 – 2007)To improve the quality of health care in outpatient health facilities, hospitals, and the public health services in the communities. In specific terms, this goal will be carried out by establishing specific quality criteria and by targeting (a) to raise the average quality of out – patient care, hospital care and community / public health care; and (b) t o reduce the variation around the average quality of care among these different categories of providers and services. Specific Goal: To improve the quality of outpatient health care (public and private) and of public health services in communities.For 2003 – 2007, SS will put emphasis on improving the quality of services in local government health facilities and of public health services in communities. Objectives for 2003 – 2007, Phase II Sentrong Sigla Certification has the following objectives for 2003 – 2007, Phase II: By 2007, 1. To establish an efficient systems of providing technical and other forms of assistance to outpatient health facilities, of assessing health services against established criteria, and of monitoring key indicators in the Ss certification process. 2.To progressively raise the average quality of public health services through recognition of successful attainment of quality standards: * At least 50% of health centers in the country succ essfully meet the revised SS Phase II Basic Certification (Level I) standards. * At least 20% of Level I certified health centers successfully meet SS Phase II Specialty Award (Level 2) standards for all four core public health programs (child care, maternal care / family planning, prevention and control of infectious diseases, and promotion of healthy lifestyle. 3. To raise public awareness of, public support and demand for, and client participation in SS certification of their health services and facilities. Overall Certification Process The quality standards cover total systems quality for outpatient care and public health services graduated according to the following levels: Level| Category| Description| Level 1| Basic Certification| Minimum input, process and output standards for integrated public health services for 4 core programs, facility systems, regulatory functions and basic curative services. Level 2| Specialty Award| Second level quality standards for selected public h ealth programs (includes other health programs in addition to Level 1 core programs) and facility systems. | Level 3| Award for Excellence| Highest level quality standards for maintaining Level 2 standards for the 4 core public health programs and Level 2 facility systems for at least 3 consecutive years. | All the local health centers and rural health units are qualified to apply for Level I certification. Only those that passed the Level I can go to Level 2; only those that passed the Level 2 can proceed to Level 3.The certification process starts with participatory self – assessment at the local health facility level assisted by the DOH Representative to the area. Then, for a period of about 3 – 6 months, depending on the deficiencies noted, the local health facility will have to improve its systems and services to meet the quality standards for the appropriate level. DOH Representatives and other regional technical staff shall assist the LGU in this transformation process, providing appropriate technical packages and other assistance as needed.Multi – sector Regional SS Assessment Teams that have been trained and certified as assessors shall conduct formal assessments using the appropriate Facility Certification Form. These teams will then recommend the certification of health facilities that successfully meet the standards criteria. Major Steps for SS Certification Step 1: Orientation and invitation. Step 2: Self – assessment by LGU. Step 3: Provision of technical assistance. Step 4: Formal assessment for Level 1, Basic Certification.Step 5: Maintenance of Level 1; working for Level 2 certification. Step 6: Formal assessment for Level 2 certification. Step 7: maintenance of Levels 1 and 2; working for Level 3 certification. Step 8: Formal assessment for Level 3 certification. Step 9: Maintenance of Level 1, 2, and 3 | The above strategy is designed to promote the continuing progression of health facilities towards higher qualit y levels. The pace of progress towards higher levels depends on the motivation of the health facilities.However, should health facilities not actively apply for certification into the next higher levels after 2 years, renewal of their SS certification status would be validated by Regional Assessors every 2 years. The following is the recognition scheme: Level| Recognition| Level 1Basic SS Certificate | SS seal, individual recognition| Level 2Specialty Award| Specialty banner, individual recognition, others| Level 3Award for Excellence| SS trophy, individual recognition, media exposure, others| Levels 1 and 2 recognition shall be conferred by the DOH through its CHDs.Recognition for Level 3 Award of Excellence shall be given at the national level. Matching grants shall be a mechanism to provide assistance to LGUs to achieve basic SS Certification and to continue to attain higher levels of quality. Region – specific procedures to assess needs and motivation shall guide prioriti zation of such grants. Facilities that did not progress into higher level certification after 2 years, but maintained their current certification status based on Regional validation, shall be given stickers confirming the renewal of the validity of their SS status.Validation shall be done every 2 years. There shall be no other incentives for mere renewal of SS status. Grants for technical assistance towards attaining higher level quality, however, may still be granted by the respective CHDs based on thorough assessment of the needs and the commitment of the health facility. The SS Certification Flow Chart Procedures 1. 0. Technical Assistance 2. 1. Self – assessment and planning This process is participatory involving all key staff of the health facility, other units of the local government and the local executive.The DOH Representative to the area is the primary technical assistant of the DOH. He / She shall ensure that the LGU has all the necessary documents and materials n eeded for the certification and that all key LGU staff understands the standards and processes involved. The DOH Rep shall either provide actual technical inputs or tap other regional resource person and technical services to assist his / her LGU. Based on the QSL, The LGU, assisted by their DOH Rep, shall conduct a system and services analysis and shall formulate a plan, synchronized with the DOH Rep‘s assistance plan, to achieve the standards in the QSL. . 2. Designing and providing technical package Based on the improvement plan, the DOH Rep shall provide the technical inputs and packages. 2. 3. Systems improvement Improving the quality of systems, such as logistics and information systems, are better facilitated through field exposure in facilities that demonstrate model systems or by bringing in resource persons knowledgeable in systems analysis and systems improvements. These special arrangements are possible through the DOH Rep and regional TA teams. 2. 0. Assessment 3. 4.Quality Standards for SS Phase II Level 1 (Basic Certification) The 78 SS Phase II Level 1 standards are organized into 4 sections: integrated public health programs, facility systems, regulatory functions, and basic curative services. Integrated Public Health Programs. Only four â€Å"core† public health programs are currently included in Level 1 Basic Certification in order to focus the services on the most crucial public health priorities in child health, maternal health and family planning, prevention and control of infectious diseases especially tuberculosis, and the promotion of healthy lifestyle.Integration is stressed to emphasize the need to combine similar and related interventions, such as child targeted programs like EPI, CDD – ARI, nutrition and others, infection prevention and control interventions, maternal care and family planning, and healthy lifestyle approaches. Integration is achieved by ensuring that facility – based services are reinforc ed by well – planned and well – coordinated, synergistic home – and community – based activities. The synthesized protocols emphasized â€Å"proven† interventions, excluding experimental interventions not yet proven to be cost – beneficial or effective such as the syndromic approach to STD.Note that for Level 1, the program selected is maternal care and family planning, not Women’s Health. This is because there are many developmental and experimental areas in the expanded field. Women’s Health and other programs not in Level 1 Basic Certification are to be included in Level 2 SS. Facility Systems. These standards include systems and services that cut across various programs and support all health facility services. These include planning and budgeting, human resources development, management and health information systems, logistics system, referral system and community systems.Regulatory Functions. Regulatory functions include two aspects: compliance of the health staff with health laws and the performance of the responsibilities of the local health staff in the enforcement of these health laws. Basic Curative Services. The standards refer to routine history – taking, physical and laboratory examination, and systematic assessment of these signs and symptoms. 3. 5. Quality Standards for Level 2 and 3 ideas and direction These standards are still being developed.The concept for Level 2 Specialty certification is to define program – centered higher level quality standards for selected programs. The programs include the four core public health services in Level 1 and other programs that include developmental components, for instance women’s health or reproductive health. Level 2 standards would also include higher quality systems standards. Level 3 standards would be very much like Level 2 standards with emphasis on maintenance of these high quality service levels. 3. 6. Tools for Measur ing SS Quality StandardsAs in any certification process, accurate measurement of the attainment of the quality standards is difficult. The methods of measurement used in SS include direct observation, records reviewand interview of health staff and clients. Of the total 78 standards in the QSL, 53 shall be measured using the Facility Certification Form (FCF). The rest are measured by suing the Supervisory Form, which in turn is also verified through the FCF. Facility Certification Form. The measurement methods include mostly simple direct observation, short review of records and short interviews with either staff or clients.Supervisory Form. These are taught to the health facility supervisors, mainly the nurses or physicians. The methods included in the SF are the lengthy and more highly technical observations of actual patient care, the more thorough review and analysis of records, and the more detailed interview of staff or clients. The records of the supervisory activities, in tu rn, are those assessed by the SS Assessor. 3. 7. Scoring The scoring system puts more weight on the integrated public health services and facility systems. The â€Å"must have† standards are those listed in the FCF. Nice to have† standards are either in the supervisory form or in the discretionary list for SS assessors. 3. 8. Training and certification of assessors To prevent bias and too wide variation of judgement between assessors, only duly trained assessors will be certified to conduct assessments. Assessor Field Supervisors recruit, train and recommend certification / renewal of certification of assessors in the field teams under them. Advocacy, IEC, and Social Mobilization The table below is the media communication plan for SS listing the basic messages and target groups.National advocacy activities will focus on wide tri – media popularization of the SS seal and its symbol. Regional advocacy will focus on raising the commitments of local executives to SS and the awareness and demand for quality services among the communities. Target Audience| Messages| Scope: Media| General public(including politicians) | What is SS? What is the SS seal? What are the SS standards? What facilities have to meet these standards? What are the general benefits of having SS certified health facilities?What can you do to demand for SS certification or help / support the program? | Nationwide: multi – media| Health staff(LGU, DOH, private health sector)| Reinforce the value of quality in health care. What are the updates on SS? (revisions, etc. )What are the specific benefits of being an SS certified facility? Using the revised SS certification processes, how can the health facility become SS? What are the specific and relevant guidelines for LGU action? | By region & LGU: sales conferences, symposia, meetings, handouts, manuals. | Monitoring, Research and EvaluationThe quality level of each health facility, including the deficiencies of those not ye t SS certified, are monitored to detect the increasing average quality level and the needs for assistance. Research is used to develop improved quality standards program components and training packages and top evaluate the SS achievements. Organization and Functions The National Sentrong Sigla Certification Committee (National SSC Committee) sewrves as the multi – sector body that oversees policy recommendations and coordinates the various activities of SS.This committee also assesses the performance of the various subcommittees and DOH units involved in the implementation of the strategy. The subcommittees of the National SSC Committee with their respective functions are as follows: * Sub – Committee on Standards and Procedures 1. Develops and recommends standards and procedures for Sentrong Sigla certification, as well as basic messages to various stakeholders, through multi – sector consultation and pilot – testing and taking into consideration other quality initiatives and accreditation programs of other agencies in the country. 2.Develops and disseminates guidelines on SS implementation to DOH staff at all levels. 3. Coordinates training of various stakeholders on standards, procedures and basic messages. 4. Performs other functions as relevant to the development and dissemination of standards and procedures in SS. * Sub – Committee on Technical Assistance and Monitoring Assists the DOH Regional Offices / CHDs in the following functions: 1. Dissemination of SS standards, procedures, guidelines, and basic messages to the other members of the health sector such as the local government units (LGUs) and private practitioners, among others. 2.Development of training assistance packages, systems and tools that will facilitate the attainment of SS standards. 3. Coordination of various sectors involved in the SS quality assessment of health facilities. 4. Development of monitoring tools and performance indicators and analysis o f the SS results of the database for all health care facilities (certified and not yet certified). 5. Monitoring of the achievement of identified SS program indicators of performance. 6. Identification and coordination of grants and projects that will facilitate the SS certification of target health facilities and systems in the country. . Other functions necessary to assist the LGUs and other members of the health sector in attaining SS quality standards. * Sub – Committee on Advocacy and Awards 1. Designs and recommends revised, graduated incentives scheme that puts emphasis on excellence rather than monetary incentives. 2. Identifies and mobilizes funds and partners in order to deliver these incentives. 3. Develops projects to facilitate SS certification of target health facilities and systems and performs the necessary processes to get these projects approved and implemented efficiently. 4.Advocates for multi – sector participation in the SS program based on the ba sic messages developed by the Standards and Procedures Sub – Committee with emphasis on the quality improvement benefits to different sectors involved. 5. Performs other functions necessary to make the SS incentives focused on the excellence and to sustain interest and participation in the certification strategy. Functions of the DOH Regional Offices / CHDs in SS Certification In addition to the technical assistance functions mentioned under the Sub – Committee on Technical Assistance and Monitoring, the DOH Regional Offices shall: 1.Organize Regional SS Assessment Teams and SS Technical Assistance Team. 2. Advocate for SS certification within their respective regions. 3. Identify and mobilize resources and partners to help enhance the attractiveness of the SS incentives scheme without putting too much emphasis on monetary or material rewards. 4. Develop regional projects that will promote and facilitate SS certification and active partnership. 5. Perform other functio ns as necessary to implement SS certification and quality improvement activities within the health sector.National Structure for Sentrong Sigla Certification Regional Structure for SS Certification Financing SS activities are funded from multiple sources. The BLHD provides funds for SS national operations, including national advocacy and the activities of the National SSC Committee. Regional Health Offices provide the funds for regional operations including regional advocacy, matching grants and other rewards such as the SS seals, certificates and trophies. BLHD may augment the funds of regions that seek financial assistance.BLHD, in coordination with DOH financing units, monitors selected financial indicators for SS certification such as funds allocated and disbursed at all levels, including counterpart funds from LGUs. Future Directions SS Certification is expected to further develop in many directions. The quality standards are expected to reflect higher levels of quality and oth er changes through the years. Assessors and TAs will have to be retained as these changes are incorporated. New programs and new or revised protocols may be added in the â€Å"core† list. Future standards may be developed to cover other units in the LGU and the community.Within 2007, initiatives shall include preparations for expansion of the coverage of SS certification into private outpatient health facilities and the development of Level 2 and 3 standards. In the future, it is also expected that the Licensing requirements would eventually absorb the â€Å"safety† standards currently in SS. PHIC – developed standards for hospital services are expected to become the SS standards for hospitals. Definition of Terms 1. Quality – degree of excellence or desirability of a product, usually measured in relation to conformity with given standard. 2. QualityControl (QC) – set of functions designed to insure quality in manufactured products by relying on pe riodic inspection of finished products, analysis of results of inspection to determine causes of defects and systematic removal of such causes. 3. Quality Assurance (QA) – set of functions designed to insure quality in manufactured products by preventive or pre – emptive removal of potential sources of defects through constant improvement of production technology, engineering design, materials, processes, equipment and workmanship. 4. Quality Management (QM) – the organization – wide pursuit of quality. . Quality Improvement (QI) – the broad all – encompassing generic term for processes involve in the continuing pursuit to improve quality. 6. Performance Improvement – a type of QI focused on the systematic and continuing improvement of organizational performance in order to achieve total quality. 7. Total Quality Management (TQM) – the pursuit of quality that involves not just the production organization but also its clients an d customers, suppliers and sub – contractors, competitors and oversight agencies in the market, and all other stakeholders in the community. 8.Total Quality – the ultimate goal in improvement which involves doing the right thing right the first time and all the time while meeting the needs of internal and external stakeholders and customers. 9. 1998 Quality Assurance Program – refers to DOH quality program formulated in 1998 that is focused on improving the DOH – LGU partnership to provide quality health services. The QAP started the certification and recognition strategy for improving health services in health centers, rural health units and baranggay health stations. The Sentrong Sigla Movement replaced the QAP. 10.Sentrong Sigla Movement – the term used in 1999 to refer to the 1998 QAP. The SSM is essentially the same as the 1998 QAP, with some minor revisions like the inclusion of local hospitals in the certification and the listing of 4 pillar s to support the process. This term was also used to refer to other quality – related concepts such as the quality improvement philosophy, the multi – sector nature of CQI, and the value changes in CQI. The Philippine QIH Program replaced the SSM. 11. QIH Program – refers to the Philippine Quality in Health Program, the current quality improvement program (AO 17 – B s. 003) that replaced the QAP and the SSM. The QIH has expanded the scope of the quality initiatives to involve the entire health sector, not only the DOH and the LGU services, and now includes the licensing and other efforts such as accreditation by PHIC or other professional societies in its strategies. 12. Sentrong Sigla Certification – refers to the strategy of assessing health facilities against established health services criteria and recognizing those that successfully meet the criteria. The certification process is expected to lead to changes in the health facility when they str ive to meet the criteria. 13.SS Quality Standards List (QSL) – the list of basic SS criteria to be met by health facilities. In SS Phase II, the QSL for Level 1 certification includes input, process and output criteria. 14. SS Facility Certification Form (FCF) – the form that is used in the formal assessment of health facilities. The FCF contains standards that will be measured by the SS Assessor and the method by which these will be measured. It also works as the scoring sheet. 15. Supervisory Form (SF) – the form used by the health facility supervisor (the nurse or the physician) in assessing the capability of his / her health staff, usually midwives.This contains the standards that are measured mostly through direct observation of provider – client interactions and in depth review and analysis of records. 16. Inputs – the resources needed to provide care or services such as staff, equipment and supplies. 17. Processes – a series of activi ties or tasks. 18. Outcomes – the result of the processes. Conclusion In 2001, according to the World Bank, â€Å"The quality of service varies between different types of health facilities with the facilities providing better quality of service to be more heavily utilized by the individuals from the higher income groups.Public health facilities such as the rural health units and barangay health stations are generally perceived to provide low quality health services. Few have emphasized the quality of services and most systematic efforts to improve based on findings about the delivery process have been limited to health facilities with adequate resources. † Everybody deserves to receive quality health care. Whether you came from the poorest of the poor or the richest of the rich, there should be a same level of quality care. Sadly, here in the Philippines, the quality of health care services and management system has been widely deficient.With this in mind, quality impr ovement in health system needs to be organized systematically to bring about genuine health systems reform. We should change the general perception that the Philippines have fragmented planning, funding, and management of the quality initiatives. And in order to achieve this – thus achieving quality health care – there should be coordination and collaboration between the government, NGOs, and the community. And it shouldn’t stop there. In order to achieve excellence in health services, it should be remembered that the quest for quality health care is continuous.Honestly, I’m not really aware what Sentrong Sigla Movement is. I don’t know what it is for, how was it being implemented, etc. Because of the limited knowledge I have, and the lack of information and resources, I have decided to visit DOH and ask for information. I have learned that the Sentrong Sigla Movement has been stopped in the year 2007, and only reached the Level 2 where trainings h ave been conducted but there was no implementation. It is stopped because of the PHIC Bench Book, where it is just the same as the Sentrong Sigla Movement, because the DOH also included most of the inputs in the said proposal.Unfortunately, it is still not being implemented, thought it has been revised and just waiting for the sign and review of the Secretary of DOH. I guess, the lack of funds has a major impact why an important program such as Sentrong Sigla was being stopped. But I am sure that there will be always a quest for excellence in providing health care services. I wish that there will come a time that it will not matter if you’re in a public or private hospital for they are providing same quality care.Nevertheless, we should remember that the success of quality initiatives lies in producing change the way people and organization work rather than concentrating standards and measurement alone. Bibliography * Cuevas, F. P. , Reyala, J. , Borja, V. , Serafica, L. , Ma nlangit, C. , Mendoza, M. T. , Ramos, L. , Ruzol, C. , Soliman, R. , Aricheta, J. , Garfin, A. M. C. , Niola, R. , Bocobo, M. , Hipolito, H. (2007). Public Health Nursing in the Philippines 10th Edition. * http://www. doh. gov. ph/sentrong_sigla