Social Death Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social Death - Assignment Example Possessive individual traces its origins to the framing of the constitution, whereby, only the propertied white males of the new country were accorded citizenship. Not only were blacks (who were slaves at the time) were excluded, but so were women and a large section of white male population. The privileged minority of propertied white men enjoyed laws that reinforced their ownership of material wealth. But, even before they could acquire and retain material property, they had claim to their person, which is the fundamental ownership. In effect, each of the possessive individuals is extended a right of ownership of their person, which would thwart any exploitative contractual relationships with their peers. There is a limited degree of fairness to the laws pertaining to possessive individuals, insofar as they govern the internal relations of the group. However the very notion of a national constitution catered to the possessive individual is blatantly unjust for all excluded communit ies. Take, say, the case of African Americans. By virtue of not even enjoying a right toward their own personhood, their aspirations and endeavors toward ownership of material property is pre-empted. The lot of women (even whites) was none too better, for they are first the property of their father, then husband and finally her son through the span of her life. Is she is denied ownership of her own person, and thereby the possibility of ownership of material property. The concept of social death follows swiftly from that of possessive individual. By denying the right to ownership of one’s own person, the individual is reduced to a social non-entity. With respect to the idea of nationhood, he/she is not part of the society. By being excluded from the cultural epicenter of a nation, the dispossessed individual suffers a social death. They may yet serve a role in the economic system of the country, especially if it adopts the

The Role of Financial and Accounting Management Essay

The Role of Financial and Accounting Management - Essay Example The income statements are prepared to measure the net income of the organization during a specific period. It compares the revenues and expenses related to the specified period for the purpose of measuring the performance of the firm in terms of profitability, costs incurred and revenues generated. Using this statement, the managers are enabled to compare the previous periods’ results with that of the current period and measure the performance of the firm on the basis of the differences that occurred. For instance, an increase in expenses may help the managers analyze the situations that resulted in excess expenditure. The possible reasons may include increased losses due to poor working conditions, poor employee performance, change of material, increase in production and sales or so on. Hence, the statement of comprehensive income helps in measuring the performance of the business with its own past performance and provides help to the managers with the identification of risk elements that are affecting the performance of the firm. Ratio analysis is another important measure that helps in the measurement of the performance within the organization by comparing the current period’s results with the past results. The statement of changes in equity also helps in the measurement of the changes that occurred in the owner’s equity and the trends that are seen in the contributed capital and retained earnings of the firm. An increase or decrease in the equity shows the performance of the firm over a period of time.

The retail mix analysis for Zara in uk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The retail mix analysis for Zara in uk - Essay Example Competitive Advantage in Zara Zara in the United Kingdom is a successful Fashion that has been in existence for over five years and has kept a high profile as a supply chain. The administration of Zara has been reporting the contributing factors to the retailer’s achievements as the use of modern information exchange. The first element of competitive advantage of Zara is majorly proper monitoring and study of the dynamic consumer needs. Zara through the Marketing Department conducts systematic research on the specific needs of the fast fashion consumers in order to provide relevant services and design items (Tadros, 2010). This has led to sustainable business due to unique designs and fashions for customer orders. The second aspect of competitive advantage is Financial Leveraging. Zara through partnership with other fast fashion retail chain stores in the UK manages to access adequate funding for its production and operational costs. This enables Zara to triumph against its cl ose competitors such as Top-Shop and Mango. Partnership enables Zara to spread its financial obligation and deficits that may arise to the partners and eases the financial burden of entire organization (Laermer & Simmons, 2007). Thirdly, Zara has a systematic and strategic implementation of the fast fashion model, which allows flexibility of decision making by allowing members staff to get involved in decision making indirectly through contribution of ideas. As this takes place, and indeed, it really happens, it applies creativity, technicality and excellence in production among other departments through the sharing of information. Fourth, Zara exercises teamwork (Pahl & Mohring, 2009). As they work in a big team, the members of staff nurture the potential to make valid decisions and at the right speed. It also becomes easier to implement the emerging needs for changes in the manufacturing sector in a profound fast fashion system. The team building takes the decision makers through the ordinary models to construct aspects of flexibility in the lines of production. Finally, there is a perpetual accessibility of information, which makes Zara to predict the future market needs based on the changes in fashions and styles in the rapidly transforming markets and the changing trends of economic development. 2. SWOT Analysis of Zara 2.1. Strength Zara has a number of strengths that enables it to have an upper hand against its competitors. First, Zara is able to access large quantities of stock based on its leveraging and access to finances. It is a boosting factor for its production targets, by which it stands to gain through the economy scale. Majority of its competitors do not have stable cash flow, hence they do not hold as much stock as Zara (Kardes et al., 2011). An Example of such competitors is Mango. The second strength for Zara is the establishment of market and research through which it produces relevant and fast moving products and services. Zara keeps a go od track of the market products and identifies the relevant needs and specifications of customers. Zara does a proper market study through its marketing promotions and gathers the consumer opinions to enable the production sector to adopt the emerging customer requirement. Fast fashion business has thus favored Zara since it began its implementation of flexibility in production brands. 2.2. Weakness Zara, like other fast fashion chain stores in the UK has its weaknesses, which poses a risk of losses and a

Book review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 11

Book review - Essay Example The book gives a detailed of various stages of achieving this innovative mind. Furthermore, the book explains how various strategies can be geared towards adopting these characters and can beat nay-sayers who asphyxiate innovation. Through critical assessment, the book provides an insight into creating a culture of innovation that through analysis a process that needs fewer organizational heroes and more systematic technique or approaches. This can be attributed to the fact that many businesses today operate in a competitive and dynamic world, and proper and calculated strategies are a surest way to effective innovation. One can agree with Tom Kelley that assigning roles, as opposed to systems, is a breakthrough that no a system engineer or accountant would consider. One can also agree that the book Ten Faces of Innovation is a perfect guide for innovation like no other. What is most noteworthy and unique is the book addressing of design sector as an inherently collaborative network. The book has uniquely identified the sector as an area where multidisciplinary professionals labor together to provide a solution to a problem. Moreover, the book unique portrayal of design thinking as a key component used by other businesses is noteworthy. The book states that it is common practice for many designers who take a user-centered techniques to their work, to co-design together with their user group or combine forces with complementary fields (engineers, anthropologists, psychologists) to attain a more thorough and considered solution. The book surprisingly aims to share with the writers the key to successful, innovative strategies in various organizations. After reading the work, there are a lot that one can learn from the opinions provided by Tom Kelley. There is a lot that one may learn from the book as it offers full of encouraging practical tools and anecdotes; Tom Kelley

Telecommuting Case Study Essay Example for Free

Telecommuting Case Study Essay Telecommuting has been referred to as being the next big information technology (IT) trend. This trend aside from having financial benefits also reaps environmental benefits. The majority of people wanting or deciding to telecommute, wish to do so in order to avoid lengthy commutes by road, rail or otherwise. Telecommuting has the potential to provide significant transportation-related public benefits. (www.cnn.com) â€Å"Telecommuting is now practiced by approximately 2 million workers and could reach 7.5 to 15 million within a decade.† (http://ntl.bts.gov) These 2 million workers, now being removed form the highways, can substantially improve the congestion and air quality. Potential beneficial transportation impacts of telecommuting include reduction in highway congestion and associated lost time, reduced emission of pollutants, savings in energy and petroleum consumption, and fewer highway accidents. Computer and telecommunications advances in recent years, including computer networks and data systems, FAX machines, and electronic mail, have dramatically widened the choice of workplace for information workers and others so they can work wherever these tools are available, including at home. These technological enhancements have provided greater worker flexibility, empowerment of employees, and a reduction I of frustration from the irritation and time loss associated with commuting. â€Å"One result is that a substantial portion of the U.S. labor force, perhaps as much as 30 percent, now works at home at least part of the time.† (http://www.telecommute-now.org/telecommuting) Telecommuting does not necessarily mean that employees work at home. Satellite telework centers near or in residential areas, fully equipped with appropriate telecommunications equipment and services, can serve employees of single or multiple firms. These telework centers are usually developed based on geographical data rather than business functions. In many cases a shared facility provides a more practical and satisfactory location for telecommuting than the home, and a setting less threatening to traditional business management styles. Telecommuting is often practiced as little as one or two days each week, although it can be full-time. Telecommuters are primarily managers or professionals. However, telecommuting is highly popular to most information workers. Traffic congestion can have direct and indirect cost impacts on business activities. The direct costs of congestion that affect production costs include additional labor costs associated with longer trips made by employees during business hours, higher vehicle operating costs, and suboptimal vehicle use. â€Å"The trucking industry is both a contributor to and victim of traffic congestion. According to FHWA officials, the annual cost of truck delays on freeways is between $4.2 and $7.6 billion, based on vehicle operating costs and driver time charges. Time losses on urban streets, docking areas, etc. could range between $19.4 and $22.9 billion (excluding costs to industry such as lost sales opportunities in not having products available on time).† (U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO). 2001. Traffic Congestion: Trends, Measures, and Effects.) Indirect costs of traffic congestion include increases in accidents and insurance premiums, reduced or loss of employee productivity, and increases in delivery costs. The removal of telecommuters vehicles from the highways will reduce overall congestion. All vehicles on those now less-congested roads will operate more efficiently, cleanly and safely, and the occupants will suffer less delay.

Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service

Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service Introduction: In 2012 the Department of Health (2012) (DoH) launched its Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service. The rationale behind the release of this Framework, through the Health Service Executive (HSE) was the continued improvement of societal health and wellbeing within the State of Ireland. Four key areas were identified for reform: Health and Well Being; keeping people healthy, Service Reforms; providing healthcare that people need, Structural Reforms; delivering high quality services and Financial Reform; getting the best value for health system resources. To achieve these reforms there must be a symbiotic relationship in situ between all four key areas, providing the best provision of care and best practice to all stakeholders involved, through the continued and correlated use of Management, Leadership, Quality Management and Information Management. Examining some of the principles of Information and Quality Management this student will endeavour to critically discuss some key areas. Information Management: With the advancement in technology, reliance on and use of computer based Information Management has increased dramatically. Insuring the design, implementation and continued development of Information Management there are a number of key principles to successful Information Management including effective Management of Information and Data Knowledge. Management of Information: Effective Management of Information is a multifaceted combination of People, Process, Technology and Content and it is how these are managed that allow us to provide a high quality of care to all. It is how this information is managed that allows recognises the value of information, whilst being readily available, protected shared and is always evidence based. A good process of Management Information allows all healthcare professionals collect data and to communicate this information through various avenues to other health care professionals, not only allowing for a greater flow of information, but also an ease of access to the relevant concise information. Patient records can now be accessed and shared with far greater ease than they have historically (Wallis 2011) remotely by authorised professionals, access to imaging data and laboratory results is almost instantaneous allowing for Healthcare professionals to make informed decisions. Data can be collected and correlated to local and national policy makers regarding the provision of health care, including Care Planning, Prioritising Workloads and Resource planning (Murnane 2005) Effectual Information Management can help maintain and protect documented information. Two separated inquires exposed the purposeful practice of interfering with documented records, Leas Cross (O’Neill 2006)and the Neary Report (Harding Clark 2006), indeed Sexton et al. hypothesised that written nursing handovers could be simplified, leading to increased efficacy in time management ergo allowing more time for patient interactions through the centralised use of patient information and reducing potential for errors. Spooner et al. (2013) Data Knowledge: One of the challenges of having a good information Management system in situ is to ensure that the data correlation is relevant, true and fit for purpose. Data collection as outlined by the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) (HIQA 2012) should be, where possible collected once and then used continually, thus preventing the patient asked on numerous occasions for the same information, this is more applicable to long term service users of health care. Due to the enormity of data available it must be validated, reliable, accurate and complete where possible, however, records must be updated following all interactions between patients and caregivers insuring that the most up-to-date information is readily available. Good data may give the care giver/hospital a competitive advantage, allowing all stakeholders to make strategic, informed decisions, increase productivity leading to a possible long term increase cost efficiency, however, it must be noted that this data knowledge should be bidirectional allowing for patients to access the Data Services such as the HSE Dashboard. Data is only as good as what is imputed on to the system, therefore clinical governance needs to be policed to ensure good quality data is entered, there may be initial cost implications during data gathering. Whilst there are multifaceted benefits of implementaning, maintaining and continual development of good information management systems and Data Quality protocols in place it; must be also noted that there are a number of areas of concern, most notably patient confidentiality, insuring the safety of all patient records, implementation and upkeep costs, fail safe back up and intrusion systems and lack of end user involvement in the design process and implementation of the Information Management system (Huryk 2010). One must also examine the legality and accountability of information transcribed onto databases/patient records and examine who is going to manage and take ownership of these E documentations, as this is currently still an area growing concern, taking into account what are the consequences for those who misuse and abuse data collected and stored under The Data Protection Act 2003. (Irish Government 2003) Quality in Health Care: Over the past number of years there have been a growing number of inquiries into the quality of care delivered to the Lourdes Hospital Inquiry (Government of Ireland 2006), Leas Cross (DoH 2009) and the more recent Halappanavar case (HIQA 2013), whereby the provision and delivery of care has been called into account in a legal context. All reports make various recommendations; however, it is how these recommendations and findings are then implemented into an accountable structure regarding the delivery of healthcare. From an Irish context, Evidence based standards in collaboration with users of healthcare are pivotal to the continual improvement of our Health Service (DoHC 2001) Quality Improvement: Critical to the establishing a basis for quality improvement and reform in healthcare is the establishing and contextualising the values, mission and core competencies of the organisation. This should incorporate codes, responsibilities for performance and quality, documentation of key policies and procedures, public information on available services, relevant updated information. Procedures must be systematic, measurable and comply to local, national and in some cases, international law(s) and health policies, more importantly, for the delivery of care one must embrace the Patient/Service User/Client into the melee to create a Person Centred delivery of service orchestrated by Quality Improvements, these may encompass medical errors and empowering the patient but must have their foundations built upon evidence based practice (HSE 2012). In theory, this sounds achievable and one may question why such measures were not in place already, however in practice, there are a number of elements to consider that may impact on quality improvements. A recent report from The Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance (Department of Health, 2011) identified â€Å"cultural issues† as a major obstacle to accepting change, most notably from an organisational and professional stance. Therefore, it is essential that to have effective leadership in place to help with the development and implementation of change, however, as Fealy et al. (2010) summarised that there are a number of barriers to nurses developing as efficient interdisciplinary leaders which need to be addressed. Patient/Service User Focus: There have been a number of initiatives to establish a patient/service user focus within healthcare. From a service user perspective the HSE has established a ‘Patient Form’ allowing service users the prospect of having active participation in the design, implementation and assessment of developing ‘National Clinical Care Programmes’ (HSE 2014) National Standards Agencies such as the Mental Health Commission (MHC) and HIQA have been established to protect the service user and caregiver. The Quality Framework for Mental Health Services in Ireland (MHC 2007) delivers a structure manner for safeguarding continual improvements and monitoring of all mental health services, by setting expectations of all those who come into contact with the Mental Health Services in Ireland, aided by a modality of staff and services being proactive. There is a greater duty with the service user to have increased impetus in their own care through the knowledge of services available, focus groups and readily available Patient Information Leaflets. Conclusion: Oroviogoicoechea et al. (2008) recognise that there is a strong association between the Quality of Care offered to patients and Quality of Information, received, documented and managed, as with all systems, there is scope for improvement, however, following on from lessons learnt we have seen the introduction and implementation of Policy and procedures with the setting up of the Government Standards Body of HIQA as a state body with the power to implement changes and recommendations. Health must stop treating itself as an isolated entity and embrace modern technological developments in information management as they do within other areas in the delivery of care, such as Imaging, Surgical Interventions and so forth, however strong and systematic procedures should be in situ to insure the safe management of Patient information. Correct Clinical Governance will ensure that standards are met and that policy and procedures are stringently adhered to, however this can only be accomplished by nurses’ accepting changes, evaluating evidence based practice and performing to the best of their ability. References: Department of Health and Children (2001) Quality and Fairness, a health system for you, Health Strategy, Stationary Office: Dublin. Department of Health (2009) The Leas Cross Commission The Commission of Investigation (Leas Cross Nursing Home) Final Report June 2009. Stationary Office: Dublin. Department of Health (2011) Report of the Implementation Steering Group on the Recommendations of the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance. DoH, Dublin. Department of Health (2012) Future Health. A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Services 2012- 2016. DoH, Dublin. Gerard M Fealy, Martin S McNamara, Mary Casey, Ruth Geraghty, Michelle Butler, Phil Halligan, Margaret Treacy and Maree Johnson (2010) Barriers to clinical leadership development: Findings from a national survey. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Clinical Nursing, 20, 2023–2032 Government of Ireland. 2006. The Lourdes Hospital Inquiry: An inquiry into peripartum hysterectomy at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. (By Judge Harding Clark). Stationery Office, Dublin http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/lourdes.pdf  (Accessed 07/10/14) Harding Clarke, M. (2006). The Lourdes Hospital Enquiry; An inquiry into peripartum hysterectomy at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Stationary Office. Dublin Health Information and Quality Authority, (2012) Guidance on information governance for health and social care services in Ireland: Health Information and Quality Authority. Dublin Health Information and Quality Authority, (2013) Patient Safety Investigation report into services at University Hospital Galway (UHG) and as reflected in the care provided to Savita Halappanavar. Health Information and Quality Authority. Dublin Health Service Executive (2012). A vision for Psychiatric /Mental Health Nursing. Health Service Executive. Dublin Health Service Executive (2014) http://www.hse.ie/portal/eng/about/Who/qualityandpatientsafety/Advocacy/QPS_service_users/Service_User_Involvement_in_Clinical_Care.html  (Accessed 06/10/14) Huryk, L. (2010) Factors influencing nurses’ attitudes towards healthcare information technology. Journal of Nursing Management. 18, 5, 606-612. Irish Government (2003) Data Protection (Amendment) Act.. The Stationary Office. Dublin Mental Health Commission (2007) Quality Framework: Mental Health Services in Ireland. Mental Health Commission, Dublin Murnana, R., (2005) Empowering nurses—Improving care Nurses’ response to the new Health Services Reform Programme in Ireland. International Journal of Medical Informatics 74, 861—868 O’Neill, D. (2006) A review of the deaths at Ideas Cross Nursing Home 2002-2005, Dublin: Department of Health and Children. Oroviogoicoechea, C. Elliot, B. Watson, R. (2008) Journal of Clinical Nursing 17, 567–575. Sexton, A.C., Chan C., Elliot M. , Stuart J. , Jaysuriya R. Crookes P. (2004) Nursing handovers: do we really need them? Journal of Nursing Management 12, 37–42 Spooner, A.J., Chaboyer, W., Corley, A., Hammond N., Fraser JF. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2013; 19: 214–220 Wallis, A. (2012) Management, http://rcnpublishing.com/doi/abs/10.7748/nm2012.03.18.10.14.c8957  (Accessed 08/10/14)

Biography Of Nataniel Hawthorne :: essays research papers fc

Born in Salem, Mass, Nathaniel Hawthorne was a descendant of a judge in the Salem witch trials. He spent a solitary, bookish childhood with his widowed and antisocial mother. After graduating from Bowdoin College, he returned to Salem and prepared for a writing career with 12 years of solitary study and writing interrupted by summer tours through the Northeast. After privately publishing a novel, Fanshawe in 1828, he began publishing stories in the Token and New England Magazine. These original allegories of New England Puritanism, including such classic stories as "The Minister's Black Veil," were collected in, Twice-Told Tales, published in 1837. A brief period of paid employment, including the compilation of popular children's works and a stint at the Boston Custom House from 1839-to 1841, was followed by a half-year's residence at the transcendentalist community, Brook Farm. In 1842 he married Sophia Amelia Peabody, also a transcendentalist, and they moved to Concord, Mass., where he began a friendship with Henry David Thoreau. Financial problems forced his return to Salem from 1845 to 1849, where he secured another political appointment, this time as surveyor of the port of Salem. During these years he continued to publish Puritan tales such as, "Young Goodman Brown" and "The Birthmark"; collections of his stories included Mosses from an Old Manse published in 1846 and The Snow Image published in1851. His dismissal from the surveyorship initiated the brief period of his greatest novels: The Scarlet Letter in 1850, The House of the Seven Gables in 1851, and The Blithdale Romance in 1852. He also wrote two children's classics: A Wonder-Book in 1852 and Tanglewood Tales in 1853. His campaign biography of Franklin Pierce in 1852 was rewarded with the U.S. counsulship at Liverpool 1853 to 1858. He then went to live in Italy in 1858 to 1859, where he began The Marble Faun, which he published after returning to the United States in 1860. Back in Concord, he published his last major work, Our Old Home in 1863, which drew on his experiences in England, but by then he was becoming ill and disillusioned. Nathaniel Hawthorne was an average man who saw things, not necessarily in a different way, but in a different light. He was able to use this ability and transform it onto paper. He would begin to write and slowly but almost definitely become emotionally involved by the end of the novel or short story.