How Different Transitions Affect Child Development

Unit 331 5. 1&5. 2 Explain the different types of transitions can affect children’s development and evaluate the effectiveness of positive relationships during periods of transitions. Transitions are the movement or changes from one position, stage or state to another. These changes can be gradual or sudden, and last for differing periods of time. Transitions can be stressful for young people and this stress can have far reaching effects on children’s emotional wellbeing and academic achievement.Children face many different transitions in their young lives. One of the main transitions is changing schools. This may make them feel anxious and nervous, they may be apprehensive about what their new school is going to be like. They may be sad because they are leaving their friends and familiar security of their previous school. They may experience a sense of loss and even bereavement about losing their friends. The child’s behaviour may change; they may become withdra wn or display extroverted behaviour.The child may show regression academically and communicatively. They may become ill, this maybe a genuine stress related illness or a pretend illness that will delay the change that is upsetting them. Younger children may become clingy and display behaviour of a younger child because they feel vulnerable. Older children may have sleepless nights or nightmares; they may develop mood swings and become grumpy and irritable. They may experience loss of appetite or binge to find comfort. In extreme cases children may self-harm or even think about suicide.These effects of these transitions would impede development emotional, physically, socially and cognitively. Puberty is another transition that all children will experience. The way a child behaves is entirely due to hormones. Puberty is a time of great change. Physically, the body changes and begins to turn into a more adult like body. Puberty and hormones also effects things like friendship, attitude s to others (of both sexes) and to parents change quite dramatically. It can make a child moody, bad-tempered, loose their concentration and tired.The teenager can become self-conscious and worried about the changes that are happening to his body, this could affect all areas of development. There are other transitions that can affect the child such as moving house, moving schools, divorce, and an introduction of a new partner by a parent. This stress can affect the child emotionally, physically, physiologically and intellectually. The child may become physically unwell, their school work may suffer, and they may feel worried, confused and depressed. Children need to have positive relationships during these periods of transition.This could be a parent, teacher or a peer. The child will need someone that they can trust and rely on, someone who they can talk through their fears and concerns with. A positive relationship is essential to help the child cope through transition; someone wh o is there for them and provides support, both practically and emotionally. The psychoanalyst John Bowlby developed the attachment theory which he states that a child needs a supportive, dependable secure relationship with their care giver. This positive relationship helps the child develop and cope with the stresses of the many transitions that they face.Children with the back-up of strong attachments and positive relationships during transitions will be able to cope more efficiently, be more resilient and maintain their self-esteem. If they feel valued and respected their academic, social and emotional development will continue. They will have the self-esteem and self-confidence to explore and embrace the transitions. They will be able to make new relationships and cope with the new situations. If a child experiences successful transitions in early life it will make it easier to cope with subsequent transitions in the future.

Social Changes Their Influences Over The Past Century Education Essay

Merely as manner alterations in a response to alterations in society and public position, so make the positions of kids change in response to the same issues. There are Four major factors that tend to hold the most profound impact on the positions and intervention of kids in society. 1. Historical Events – World War II – Progressive instruction motion – Educational plan practice/practice examination – Social attention V Developmental attention – Sociable force per unit areas to maintain female parents at place2. Changes in Family Life – Increased figure of adult females in the work force – Rise in the figure of individual parents – Increasing mobility3. Evidence of the Benefits of Early Childhood Education – Research indicates quality attention has positive effects on development – Child at Risk Benefit: greater schooling success, decreased demand for particular instruction, lowered delinquency and apprehension rates, decreased public assistance dependance.4. Recommending on Behalf of Children – Many households face utmost poorness – Scarcity of low-cost, high-quality of attention – Child ‘s rights advocators – Has become a political concern Educational Theories and Their Influence on Early Childhood Programs Questions to See What is developmentally appropriate pattern? Why is it an recognized pattern in learning immature kids? What is an educational doctrine? How does it associate to developmentally allow pattern? There has been a distinguishable tendency to force kids to accomplish academically. Our schools are under changeless unfavorable judgment sing hapless academic readying and literacy. Possibly this is a consequence of conflicting educational doctrines and patterns.Doctrines of Education When pedagogues express their strong feelings about how kids should be taught, there are showing their doctrines. Doctrines of instruction integrate our strong beliefs about how kids grow and learn ; in bend, they help us find the activities and stuffs we consider most good. Doctrines are based on theories. Two major theoretical accounts are: 1. Psychometric Model 2. Developmental ModelPsychometric Model Psychometric Model is composed by specific mensurable abilities. It states that kids learn best by being screened, evaluated and moved through a preset sequenced of teacher-directed acquisition experiences holding predictable results that can be measured and tested. Instructional schemes: – promote the acquisition of specific academic accomplishments – pedagogues carefully and intentionally lead kids ‘s acquisition episodes – accent is placed on subskills associated with reading, composing and math – acquisition is reinforced with workbooks, worksheets ; paper and pencil seatwork focuses on memorisation of letters, word, etc. – art undertakings imitate theoretical accounts – schoolrooms find small clip for drama, originative thought, group or single job resolution, hazard or geographic expeditionDevelopmental Model The Developmental Model seeks to offer a safe and nurturing environment that promotes the ‘Whole ‘ kid, or SPLICE. Quality is determined how developmentally appropriate it is, both in footings of age and individualism. – follows Interactionist/Constructivist theories of larning – Course of study planning emphasizes larning as an synergistic procedure. Teachers prepare the environment for kids to larn through active geographic expedition and interaction with grownups, other kids and stuffs. – Learning activities and stuffs should be concrete, existent and relevant to the lives of immature kids. – Teachers provide a assortment of activities and stuffs ; instructors increase the trouble, complexness, and challenge of any activity as kids are involved with it and as kids develop understanding and accomplishments.Plans From Educational Theories Behaviorist Programs Early Childhood Program Name callings: – Direct Direction – Bereiter-Engelmann Model – Engelmann-Becker Model – DISTAR ( Direct Instructional System for Teaching Math and Reading The Educator ‘s Role is really of import because it is a instructor directed plan. it requires theoretical account or model behaviour from instructor and pupils. It uses techniques such as Prompting ( manus signals ) to derive the coveted behaviour or action.Curriculum and Program Organization: – academic accent – acquisition is hierarchal – undertaking analysis interruptions down constructs into little stairss – stairss are sequenced – usage prompts and support of behaviour – uses-fast paced lessons and bore techniques – uses small-group direction – follows a set timetable each twenty-four hours Physical Environment: – little suites available for group work – minimal ocular distraction – item awards such as star charts encouraged Appraisal: – frequent criterion-referenced testing – command of constructs allows for motion to following degreeDevelopmental Programs Early on Childhood Plans: – traditional nursery school – Early Head Start – British Infant School The Educators Role is to steer and ease acquisition. There is besides a heavy publicity of all facets of SPLICE/Development.Curriculum and Program Organization: – sees kids as adventurers – course of study is child-centered and frequently child driven – two cardinal characteristics: Integrated Curriculum and Integrated Day – integrated topics throughout the twenty-four hours – encouraged creativeness and self-expression through a strong usage of the humanistic disciplines – agendas are flexible – encourages kids ‘s involvements – considers development as a natural flowering: force per unit area is non appropriate – utilizations common environmental stuffs – considers play indispensable – considers societal and affectional development of import Physical Environment: – integrates the indoor and out-of-door environments – child-centered and child-friendly ; tonss of grounds of kids ‘s work and kids ‘s involvements – schoolrooms organized around involvement or acquisition centres Appraisal: – observation and anecdotal notes – developmental samples of work provide developmental record – periodic formal parent conferencesCognitive Interactionist Programs Early Childhood Program Name callings: – Constructivist plans – Cognitively-Orientated Course of study – High/Scope Curriculum ( extensively used in preschool plans in Eastern Canada, originated in Ypsilanti, Michigan ) Educator ‘s Role is one of facilitator and open-ended inquirer to ease thought and problem-solving. They provide open-ended stuffs for the schoolroom environment which offer the kid appropriate support and challenges. Observation and interaction with kids occurs to detect how each kid thinks and grounds. As good, there are custodies on engagement activities, along with conversations with the kids.Curriculum Program and Organization: – based on Piagetian Theory ( Jean Piaget ) – organized around cardinal experiences in the three countries of cognitive development, socio-emotional development, and movement/physical development: originative representation linguistic communication and literature enterprise and societal dealingss motion music categorization figure infinite clip – requires big blocks of clip for problem-solving and communicating, so timetable of twenty-four hours is build around ‘Plan-Do-Review ‘ – intent of ‘Plan-Do-Review ‘ is to ease kids ‘s thought and planning every bit good as to promote their brooding thought Physical Environment: – organized into involvement centres – stuffs in involvement centres are organized in logical mode that enables kids to utilize and return stuffs independently – suggestions for suited stuffs: practical, mundane objects natural and found stuffs tools messy stuffs heavy big stuffs easy-to-handle stuffs Appraisal: – High/Scope Child Observation-Record for Ages 2-6 – organized around cardinal experiences and buttockss initiative, originative representation, linguistic communication and literacy, societal dealingss, logic and math, and music and motion. – High/Scope Program Quality Assessment used for evaluation plans on larning environment, day-to-day modus operandi, adult-child interaction, course of study planning and appraisal, parent engagement and household services, and staff making s and developmentPoliticss and Early Childhood Education Canadian Governement Regulations hypertext transfer protocol: //www2.parl.gc.ca/content/lop/researchpublications/prb0420-e.htm Retrieved on 15-Nov-2010 Saskatchewan Child Care Regulations hypertext transfer protocol: //www.qp.gov.sk.ca/documents/English/Regulations/Regulations/C7-3R2.pdf Retrieved on 15-Nov-2010 First Nations Head Start -Standard Guide hypertext transfer protocol: //www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/pubs/famil/_develop/2003_ahs-papa-ref-guide/index-eng.php Retrieved on 15-Nov-2010Public Education and Advocacy Some early childhood pedagogues are loath to take an active function in public instruction and protagonism, and others feel powerless to make anything. There are three types of advocacy-personal, professional, informational. Personal Advocacy – Help your neighbours understand what you do at your occupation. – Refer yourself as an early childhood pedagogue. – Encourage friends/family to believe about why attention costs every bit much as it does. – Identify how attention helps them in their ain occupation – Read and explicate early childhood research. – Join professional organisations. Professional Advocacy – Lobbying – groups that advocate for quality early childhood plans – Group work toward greater public apprehension and support for high quality kid attention, by broadening the base of support to include other groups such as baby doctors and concern community. Informational Advocacy – Attempts to raise public consciousness about the importance of early childhood, and the capacity of high quality plans to beef up households and proven chances for optimum growing and development. – An effectual advocator requires first-hand cognition for the issues confronting kids, households and staff.Engagement | Exploration | Application | Connection | Top created 12-Oct-2009 modified 17-Nov-2010 glossary right of first publication

Alliant health system

From my point of view no strategy is perfectly sound. There are some or other lacking points in every strategy. In case of alliants strategy, although they have made quite advancements but in last 5yrs they have hit a few unexpected obstacles and drawbacks that has staggered their progress. alliants were only been able to lay the base. The working of alliants was facing the problem of in cordiality to the total quality management philosophy. For alliants to eliminate the problem the quality process still needs a jumpstart ,even the physicians show broader there view point, implementation of an IT system that fully supports total quality management by getting them the data and the important facts it need to have to in cooperate innovation in future in their organisation. Even the CEO wolford said that he cannot talk about any one area which is doing substantially well than its competitors. alliants were finding a problem to get plans into implementation. Even as per the statistics the unable to monitor rate was around 2% to 70%. How well have they implemented the quality strategy? Alliants thought of a new action plan to introduce total quality management with the help of quality management team with a 10 pointer action setup. This time they were determent that the implementation of plans takes up systematically. Mainly 4 area of TQM strategy were taken of well. 1) CARES+ this process was implemented all across the alliants. This helped in shifting from the traditional system of the planning to the improvement of the quality which was highly efficient. 2) EQUIP- this was an idea to give voice to the employees. They were allowed to share their point of view and give their ideas, innovations and communicate with the higher management of the organisation. 3) . Quality Improvement Teams- these teams brought the technicality and specific analytical tools to bring implementation in action. 4) . Critical Paths 3. Evaluate their information technology needs. Believed information technology (I/T) is a key in the future strength of TQM Need â€Å"expert systems – computers to help the mind† â€Å"Was a shift in focus: to patient-oriented systems rather than functional, â€Å"stove pipe† applications that met narrow departmental needs. Physicians, clinical support professionals, and administrators could share information and drive continuous improvement in service â€Å"HELP offered advice on possible diagnoses, cost-effective treatments, resource scheduling, and drug contraindications. † New I/T strategy offered significant advantages over Alliant’s existing patchwork of stand-alone systems: System worked concurrently – advice was available as patient was being treated Had the potential to improve coordination dramatically by collecting data from all corners of the hospital into a single patient-centered system 4. Would you proceed with HELP? From my point of view, yes we should proceed with HELP. As this improving the quality, saving time and even the paper. This system has helped the hospital in making the whole organisation a one working unit. This is basically a single patient orient system that has all the information about every patient who has been admitted in any of their hospital in any other area. This has eliminated the repeated data and has been proved to be more productive, efficient and well organised. 5. What would you do to make sure implementation is successful? The steps which i would take will involve

Introduction to Information Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Introduction to Information Systems - Essay Example However, the possibility of losing significant business information is enormous, and the likelihood of getting significant information for the right people at the right time is short. In addition, implementing a business information system that is capable to incorporate on hand information framework or business traditional working gateway is a challenging job (Dow Jones & Company., 2011), (Laudon & Laudon, 1999) and (Moga & Turner, 2011). This report presents a comprehensive analysis of the new information technology based system application at the Brass Tacks Company Limited (BTC Ltd). This report will analyze some prime aspects those are involved in the overall information based system application at this corporation. Brass Tacks Company Ltd. is presently operational through the traditional/paper-based approach. However, seeing the benefits of information systems, its top management has decided to establish a new business platform that can better handle and manage the business oper ations. BUSINESS OVERVIEW The business structure of Brass Tacks Company Limited is based on selling the door furniture like that brass plates, letter boxes, knockers and knobs to the public. The business was initiated as a small business set-up and now it has been evolved to a vast business arrangement. In this way the business is able to increase sales as well as customer market. In case of traditional business practice of the business that is being performed through the paper based procedures, business is facing a lot of problems. Thus, seeing the improvement in business setup administration needs to implement the new technology based arrangement. This report covers the analysis of aspects which take place during the implementation of this IT system. PROBLEM AREAS Currently, at Brass Tacks Company Limited, people use paper based approach to perform everyday tasks. In such business practice there is dire need for improving or replacing the traditional business practice with IT base d procedure. In this business practice the main and biggest problem is the lack of management control over business. In this scenario, the main problems those are coming out include complex management of business aspects, long searching time, data replication, and complicated business operational cycle and tough management of processing daily orders regarding customer. NEED FOR NEW INFORMATION SYSTEM AT BTC At the present, all the businesses regardless of their size and nature are relying on the information technology for their sustained survival. Obviously there are extensive effects on the traditional business practice through the new technology based business working. However, by using business information system, organizations are able to produce information subjects for the whole business to follow, in addition to the matters for particular business sectors or people working inside the business (Hutchings, 1996), (Dow Jones & Company., 2011) and (Turban et al., 2005). The imple mentation of business information system at Brass Tacks Company Limited will improve the overall business functioning and operations management. In addition, with the implementatio

STUXNET Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

STUXNET - Research Paper Example As the engineer hooked the computer to the Internet, the worm spread far and wide. How the Stuxnet Worm Spread The Stuxnet worm started to spread in March 2010, but it took its first variant about three months from then to appear. As people learnt about the existence of the worm on 15 July 2010, the servers for two mailing lists were attacked with the distributed denial-of-service on the industrial-systems security. Although at that time, the source of attack could not be worked out, yet it was suspected to be the Stuxnet worm. As a result of the attack, one of the two mailing lists got disabled, thus interrupting a very important informative source for the factories and the power plants. Two more variants of the Stuxnet worm surfaced; the first in March 2010 and the second in April 2010. In the authors’ opinion, the second and substantially improved variant showed up because of slow progression of the Stuxnet worm. The third variant that surfaced in April 2010 had only minor improvements. There is a build time-stamp in thee worm that starts from 3 February 2010. According to the report delivered by the Sky News on 25 November 2010 in the United Kingdom, an anonymous source whose IT security organization was also unidentified sent the news to Sky News that the black market had received a variation of the Stuxnet worm, but there was lack of consensus among the security experts over this matter. How the Stuxnet Worm Works Stuxnet makes use of vulnerability just like Windows uses the shortcut files to expand to new systems. The Stuxnet worm’s design was bottom-up so that it could effectively attack the systems implemented for the management of industrial networks like chemical manufacturing facilities and power plants as well as the systems of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). In the start, the Stuxnet worm was thought to progress through such removable drives as USB sticks. However, about two weeks after the Stuxnet worm was first id entified, researchers of the Kaspersky Lab working in Moscow found that an unknown security flaw in the sharing of printer resources by the Windows could also help the Stuxnet worm spread. Microsoft found a way to fix this vulnerability with MS10-061 which varies in risk from one type of windows to another. â€Å"At least one aspect of what Stuxnet does is to take control of the process and to be able to do†¦whatever the author or programmer wants it to do. This has potentially devastating consequences, and there needs to be a lot more attention focused on it† (Weiss cited in â€Å"‘Stuxnet’ Worm Far†). The Target of the Stuxnet Worm The main target of the Stuxnet worm is the Siemens software. One trait that distinguishes the Stuxnet worm from most viruses that have been identified to date is that it remains silent till the time the worm locates Siemens software in the Windows system. Once the Siemens software is found, the Stuxnet worm exploits up to four 0-day attacks. The Stuxnet worm infected the SCADA systems in 14 functional plants of Siemens, though the infections could not hold the infected plants’ productions. According to the IDG News reports, the Stuxnet worm has infected systems at the Siemens plants in North America, Korea, and the UK, while the maximum infections have so far been made in the plants operating in

Strategic Management and International Business at Starbucks Case Study - 46

Strategic Management and International Business at Starbucks - Case Study Example Starbucks should create winning strategies by coming up with a cohesive, energized and happy team, which will create a strong bond with the customers and ensure growth (Enz, 2010; Godin, 2006). It is undoubtedly that corporate success is not a guarantee and the probability of a firm having a long-term success heightens when strategic leaders continue to evaluate the appropriateness of the strategies developed as well as actions that are taken in an effort to implement them. It is obvious that the McDonald’s is a major competitive threat since its coffee drinks are meant to create value to the consumers by giving them high-quality experience at a lower price than that of Starbucks. Therefore, one of the ways in which Starbucks can ensure a competitive advantage is by developing a sound mechanism by which it can combine authority, relative value, and quality. It should have an ideal pricing strategy whereby consumers feel that they are getting a great deal for their money. It also needs to maintain strict and solid quality controls with regard to its coffee sourcing. Starbucks should also spend more time differentiating from its rivals and be up to date with the latest technology to outwit its competitors. It should also continue positioning itself as an authoritative figure, allowing premium prices where necessary. It should aim at improving on its brand and reputation by carrying out a survey on what the customers think of the corporation and ways it can improve (Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson, 2010). The decision to fire Donald was appropriate considering that Starbucks was performing poorly against the Nasdaq index for the quarterly financials that preceded his ouster. During his reign, the coffee stock plummeted by 50%; hence, needed a leader who can drive changes such as encouraging international expansion and streamlining the management of the firm.  

ECommerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

ECommerce - Essay Example It is evident that many companies now realize the importance of websites as a tool to gain market share and improve sales. Most flourishing companies like unique home decor, Paul Michael company, Bensons would not have reached the places they are without their websites (Plumley & Wyrostek, 2011). http://www.horchow.com/: The Horchow management structure consists of activities such as the allocation of tasks, supervision and coordination, which are directed towards the accomplishment of the aims of the company. The company structure mainly participates in the accomplishment of the company goals this is because the company has several dedicated employees whose main agenda is to assist the company to achieve his company's goals. Horchow has several supervisor is in each and every department, this ensures the employees work up to the required standard. This contributes to the making of designing high quality decor products because the management has catered everything governing the emplo yees work. The company uses various business models to make it distinct from other companies. The business models also help to describe the organizational architecture of capture mechanisms, delivery which are employed by the company's enterprise. The company has applied business models such as, collecting intelligence, user generated content, and improving the available systems. It also uses transport services such as airline and private courier services to ensure their products are available all over the continent. The goals of the business are primarily marketing the products on sale and making sure they increase their profits though online sale and delivery. The company also seeks to be capable of running consumer satisfaction surveys so as to assist they gauge their progress. Finally, the ultimate goal is to ensure that the company becomes a reputable and among the most respected and successful in this field of business The website will, therefore, be designed so as to make sur e the company achieves most of its goals in the most efficient way possible. The website will become a partial platform for the marketing department. This is because many people nowadays depend on the internet for many things, making it an easier place to access customers. The products will be marketed by posting them on the website and giving information on the latest home decors awaiting release and those already in the market. In order to enhance marketing, the company will have to alias with the most visited websites and have accounts in social platforms such as Facebook, linked in, twitter and MySpace among others. Secondly the company will should be able to give customers the ability to purchase items and request them to get delivered to supported locations. The products shall be priced ant the availability of a customer to purchase the items collectively using a virtual card. This will allow them to shop for many products easily. The third aspect of this website is customer s upport. This will be implemented through the creation on the FAQs section, including live customer care care support though chart or voice calls via Skype. This will help improve customer experience because they will be capable to do have choices about the products they purchase, hence improve the company’s reputation. The final part of the website will be the ability to run consumer satisfaction surveys on the website. This will be done by first examining the counter of customers who have signed up to the company’s website. The second method is through the website daily count of the number of individuals who search, or visit the website. The final method is through consumer satisfac

Depiction of Culture in the Band's Visit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Depiction of Culture in the Band's Visit - Essay Example The importance of cross cultural understanding has been impressively portrayed in the movie through the tale of Egyptian police orchestra arrived in Israel to play at the inauguration ceremony of the Arab Cultural Centre. When they arrived Israel there was no one at the airport to receive them and they seek the way to get at the spot at their own. On their way to reach the spot, the members of the group communicate and miscommunicate with each other and their interaction with each other and people in Israel shows the differences of cultures that influence the understanding of each other. The members of the band fall in to the problems due to the difference in the pronunciation of some letters in Arabic and English however, as they proceed they found that despite several cultural differences they share lots of human characteristics with the Israelis. The visit allows them exploring the similarities within the different cultures. The story of the movie tells about the situation when tw o set of people belonging to different culture interact with each other. The movie shows the strength of cross culture understanding and also explains how lives of the people are affected while moving in a culturally strange society. It gives the message that only the sense of humanity could help people in such situation because when someone could see them as human and not people of other culture they could come forward to help them, otherwise the culture biasness never allows people of different cultures to openly help each other at their best. The Egyptian band lost in Israel eventually reached a fictional town that was not their actual destination. At the town they were helped by a kind-hearted restaurant owner Dina who arranged space for the band members to spend night at her home and homes of her friends. While spending the night at the Israeli people’ homes the Egyptian bands and their Israeli hosts got the opportunity to know each other beyond the political and culture differences as they interact with each other as ordinary people regardless of their cultural identities. The movie shows that lives could become easy when people learn to put humanity first and political and cultural boundaries at second place. The band could face even tougher situation if people they met in Israel with give more importance to political and cultural boundaries and less to the humanity. However, their kind behaviour based on humanity allows them understanding each other and help each other to find out the way out from the troublesome situation the Egyptian band was facing in Israel. The night spent at the homes of the Israeli people turned out to be an interesting, funny yet challenging episode for the band members that changed their lives in little yet important ways by adding to their understanding of people from different cultures on the base of humanity. The strange and funny night spent by the band members allowed the learning a lot from the Israeli hosts and a t the same time the Israeli people also gain cross cultural understanding during their stay at their homes. The movie talks about the challenges that the people often encounter while interacting with the people of other c

Critical Thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critical Thinking - Essay Example Other rhetoric surrounding senior citizens in terms of stereotypes include such things as they are ‘forgetful’, ‘childish’, ‘bad tempered’, ‘frigid’ (women), ‘dirty old men’, ‘cantankerous’, and ‘stubborn’. Stereotypes assigned to tattooed people usually involve bad images such as ‘promiscuity’, ‘aggressiveness’, ‘drug addicts’ and ‘toughies’ or ‘louts’, and they are very much associated with ‘bikies’ (a bad element who ride motor bikes). Feminists inspire numerous stereotypes that continually change as they go in and out of fashion. The derogatory stereotypes generally relate to women who are ‘ball breaker’s and ‘lesbians’ because they strive for equality with men. Many women do not identify themselves as feminists because of fear of reprisal created by stereotypical connotations attributed to them (Weibust & Miller, 2007). Politicians are considered as ‘liars’ and ‘benders of truth’, ‘manipulative’, ‘liners of their own pockets’ and ‘full of their own conceit’. They are probably the most highly stereotyped group of all and the only group that invent stereotypes against each other using negative rhetoric against their opponents.

Personal Explorations Paper Essay Example for Free

Personal Explorations Paper Essay Over the course of 7 modules, different personality aspects of mine have been tested and evaluated and have even revealed things about myself that I was not aware of. The surveys and questions that I answered dug deep into decisions and choice I make, how I think and how I feel to reveal certain characteristics about myself, some of which I was aware of and others that I was not. Things such as my expression of sexuality, different levels and aspects of my psychology, my personal reactions to certain social situations, and the way I pursue and value my career were all evaluated by answering questionnaires. In the end a lot was revealed about the way I handle and look at things and even my overall personality. My expression of sexuality was not really a huge surprise to me. My values and my religious beliefs I believe played a huge part of expression of sexuality. I believe that sex is something that was designed by God exclusively for marriage. Although that has not always been what I valued or walked by in my life, it is now my beliefs since I am not married. My intermediate and low scores concerning sexual esteem, sexual depression, and sexual preoccupation didnt surprise me, but I do feel that because of my beliefs and how I now view sex that my responses automatically made it seemed as if I struggled with the sexual esteem, depression and preoccupation which is not the case. I view sex as a temptation that I cannot indulge into until Im married. If I were surprised by anything it would be that my scores were not lower. Positive psychology was another aspect of my personality that I was  questioned and evaluated on. The questions yielded 4 scores, my orientation to pleasure, to engagement, meaning and to victory. My highest score amongst the 4 orientations scores was orientation to meaning. This I feel was very reflective on to how I feel and how I view my life. Meaning embodies all the feelings, hopes, joys and outlooks I have on life, my life and the meaning attached to it. I believe every person is born into this world with a God given purpose. Everyones life has meaning although not everyone during his or her lifetime accept, recognize or fulfill his or her meaning. What I do with my life should be a direct reflection of the love of Jesus within me. All of those things contribute greatly to how I view my life and the meaning attached to it. My lowest score was victory and I believe that is also an accurate depiction of my personality. I am not a person who values or lives to compete with others, be better than others or outdo what others have done or gotten. Doing so, in my eyes, takes away from the meaning of ones life. I see it as the lower the victory score the more the person is in tune with the meaning of their lives. My person reactions to social situations is an area I believe that I have certain seen personal growth and development in for myself. I found myself tested by 2 different questionnaires, The Self, and Friendship and Love. I believe if I would have answered some of these questions earlier this summer my responses would have been a tad different and I would have probably scored a number that reflected how badly I handled and felt in social situations. I was surprised to see myself get a low score on the Friendship and Love assessment because I believed that is one area I have definitely seen myself grow in. I believe gaining confidence in myself allowed me to handle social situation differently then before. I believe that this year has been the year of tremendous personal growth and the development of a stronger and wiser person that I have stepped into an embraced. The way I have handled situations has definitely improved from the way I used to handle and approach things. The assessment on Careers and Work, I saw myself score an 89, which is considered low. I contribute that low score from a lack of wisdom, knowledge and experience. I have been in the Air Force since June 2009, so since then  I have yet to transition back into the civilian world and workforce. My need to job hunt and my techniques on how I do so are pretty much non-existent but this is definitely an area I am currently seeking to grow and become more knowledge in because I do not plan on making the military a career after my contract ends. Growing in this area will set me up to have a successful transition into the civilian world. I have definitely seen areas of personal growth and developments reflected in most of the scores and believe they are direct reflections of how I feel inside. A few scores I believe did not accurately paint the picture of myself that I thought it should paint and that made me reflect on my characteristics and personality traits. These past 7 seven weeks, I have evaluated my life and observed my reactions to various situations and I believe personal growth can be found in the midst of that.

Models Of Strategic Change

Models Of Strategic Change Strategic Change Management This unit is written with reference to strategic change management. It gives an understanding of the models of strategic change making the concept clear. It gives an insight into the theories to make the idea a positive concept and not a negative one. Change is not always negative. It paves way for a development too but it is often taken as something that disturbs routine. It is difficult to do something other than the normal way but we do fail to accept the fact that a change can make things work better and whatever changes are made should have been decided after quite consideration. Change has become the normal way of life but success requires an organization to optimize and coordinate across the whole business. Understanding the different types of change that are required and the options available for management is a critical step in building the capacity to manage change within your organization. Acknowledgements I dedicate this assignment to my mother who worked hard all lifelong only for the upbringing of her daughters. She stood for us like the Rock Gibraltar in times of trouble. Being a single mother, she struggled hard sometimes even to feed us. Life has been too unkind to her but she never complained rather tried her best to give us a positive image of the world and the power to struggle and a never say die attitude. I am indebted to her giving me life and the power to live it in a decent way. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE NO. Acknowledgements Introduction Task 1 Task 1.1 Discuss the models of strategic change Task 1.2 Relevance of models of strategic change to organizations in the current economy Task 1.3 Assess the value of using strategic intervention techniques Task 2 Task 2.1 Examine the need for change in an organization Task 2.2 Assess the factors that are driving the need for strategic change in an organization Task 2.3 Assess the resource implications of the organization not responding to strategic change Task 3 Task 3.1 Develop systems to involve stakeholders in the planning of change Task 3.2 Develop a change management strategy with stakeholders Task 3.3 Evaluate the systems used to involve stakeholders in the planning of change Task 3.4 Create a strategy for managing resistance to change Task 4 Task 4.1 Develop appropriate models for change Task 4.2 Plan to implement a model for change Task 4.3 Develop appropriate measures to monitor progress Introduction This unit helps would-be-managers to understand the nature of change and to cope with it. It gives an understanding about change and the ways to manage with it without disturbing the working of the organization. In this unit we have discussed the different definitions and models of change which have been given by thinkers in the past which helps in evaluating the relevance of models of strategic change to organizations in the current economy. As we proceed, we examine the need for change and assess the factors that are driving the need for it. Also, the resource implications are discussed which do not respond to strategic change. The theories given by Kotter, Prosci, Lewis and others are milestones of the research on change management. Their theories have helped in thorough understanding of change management. As the topic develops, it gives vital information on the reasons of change in markets, budget pressures, new technologies and other new programs such as TQM and re-engineering. All in all, the topic is an important resource on the factors and implications that bring change. Another unavoidable and inseparable resource of the organization is stakeholders of the company. The topic discusses about systems modelling, divergence and convergence and methods of involving them into organization. It is also quite obvious that change brings resistance; therefore this unit enables us to manage resistance giving a way to strategies such as communications, education, forums, etc. The entire work gives a clear picture of change management. All a manager needs is to understand the criteria and manage with a difference on the guidelines of the researchers. Task 1: Discuss the Models of Strategic Change There are many theories about how to manage change. Most of the theories originate with leadership and change management guru, John Kotter who is a professor at Harvard Business School and world renowned change expert. The following eight steps in the change process are his contribution. JOHN KOTTER: Eight steps to transforming an organization (Kotter.J, 1995) Establishing a sense of urgency Forming a powerful guiding coalition Creating a vision Communicating the vision Empowering others to act on the vision Planning and creating short term wins Consolidating improvements and producing still more change Institutionalising new approaches Kotters research gave a whole new way to managing change. A programme of planned change and improved performance developed by Lewin involves the management of a three-phase process of behaviour modification. H:collegeimagesCAW3ZYXL.jpg Lewins Change Management Model Source: http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-lewin.htm Unfreeze- Reducing those forces which behaviour in its present form, recognition of the need for change and improvement to occur. Movement Development of new attitudes or behaviour and the implementation of change. Refreezing Stabilising change at the new level and reinforcement (Hardy 1996) A new culture should be created within the organization such that managers look to change as an opportunity and adapt their business system to continuously emerging conditions. (Hussey 2000) Proscis ADKAR Effective change management demands five key goals to form the basic ADKAR model: Awareness of the need to change Desire to participate and support the change Knowledge of how to change (and what change looks like) Ability to implement the change on a day-to-day basis Reinforcement to keep the change in place (Hiatt 2003) http://www.change-management.com/tutorials/baseballhands.jpg Proscis ADKAR Source: http://techotoys.com/qwxDnJu0J/ Action Research Action research refers to a way to look at ones own work practically and check as he would like it to be. Because research is done by the person himself or the practitioner, it is called practitioner based research. It is also referred to as a form of self reflective practice because it involves the person himself and his own work. (Hardy 1999) http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcsVE4Cf5vBAswROm2rCiHEY7RlOeA6qasGK7xErfJZgmC-mlT5whttp://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcsVE4Cf5vBAswROm2rCiHEY7RlOeA6qasGK7xErfJZgmC-mlT5w http://www.llas.ac.uk/images/projects/action_research.gif Action research Source: http://www.llas.ac.uk/projects/2837 Task 1.2 Evaluate the relevance of models of strategic change to organizations in the current economy Teambuilding Consensus Strategic change models, as discussed above are the keys to success of any organization provided they are implemented in a sophisticated way. To achieve effective team decision making leadership, (Franzen 1994) describes Consensus Team Decision Making CTDM model which has three key pillars. Maintain high conceptual level Strive towards consensus Manage the decision making process Strategic interventions Types of interventions selected for a project although depend on variety; they are highly concentrated in a project. Strategic interventions are useful in situations like Rapid changes in the external environment Rapid or stagnant sales Increased competition Rapid expansion of markets Mergers and acquisitions (Lewin 2005) Decision Making Contingency Theory of Decision Making Decision participative contingency theory or the Normative Decision Theory is a model which says that the efficiency of a decision procedure depends on a number of aspects of the situation: the importance of decision quality and acceptance; the quantity of relevant information possessed by the leader and subordinates. (Fiedler 1999) In the autocratic style, the leader takes decisions without consulting others. (Lewin 2005) The participative style leadership, also known as participative democratic leadership style does the job of creating and maintaining healthy relationships between the employees and their leaders.(Kotter 2007) Proactive and Reactive (Whitehead 2006) PROACTIVE REACTIVE Needs to have and use own answers Understands the power of and uses team in solving problems Makes decisions by self Requests that team members make decisions Pushes for results Shares a vision so compelling the team wants to move towards it Reacts to change Foresees and influences change Teaches team to expect direction Teaches team to be self reliant Focuses on finding and fixing problems Focuses on achieving performance outcomes Quick to punish on mistakes Lets the team learn by errors Task 1.3 Assess the value of using strategic intervention techniques in the organization The most important asset of any organization is human resource and strategic intervention helps them to adjust with the changing strategies of the organization and understand it.(George 1999). At Sapphire Beauty Box, it is vital to have a peaceful mind and sound behaviour as this profession deals with direct clientele. The method of strategic intervention assists the employees of Sapphire to find meanings to their life, discover what, and why they do and how to meet their needs in positive and negative ways which helps to promote sustainable change. (Hiatt 2006) Human Process Interventions: These are helpful in particular during change project in organizations where there are some combinations of many new employees, different cultures, working together, many conflicts, etc. Activities: Coaching, counseling, delegating, group learning, virtual teams, etc. ( Hiatt and Creasey 2003) Techno-structural Interventions: These interventions are helpful in particular for rapid growth but few internal systems to sustain growth, many complaints from customers, etc. Activities: Balanced scorecard, downsizing and out placing, ISO 9000, Six sigma, etc.(Kurt 2005) Human Resource Management interventions: These interventions are helpful in situations like establishment of new organizational goals, implementation of technology for a short time, low productivity, etc. Activities: Staffing, evaluating performance, career development, employee wellness programme (George 1999) Task 2.1 Examine the need for strategic change in the chosen organization Reasons for change Change in market: The United Kingdom is going through recession and there has been recession and the CPI annual inflation has rose to 3.3%. (London Business Times 2009). There has been increase in prices, job loss, bankruptcy and what not. Every business has gone through losses and needs to cover up their expenses. (Fiedler 1999). At this point of time, Sapphire needs to change accordingly to ease customers at their purse and still keep them coming. Economic downturns: Due to price rise, the raw material needed at the store is also become expensive. It is important to cover the costs by bringing about change in the organization. (Paul 1996) Customer Expectations: There is a very hard competition in the market especially in the beauty field. Customers get attracted to offers and it is not easy to get their confidence. To invest into customers, It is important to change the strategies accordingly. (Kotter and Cohen 2002) Competitive Edge: Competition is healthy but can be fatal if the strategies become too monotonous and outdated. There is need for change to face competition. (Kotter 1995) Sapphire needs to be updated with products and material being used by competitors and try to do better than other turning the tables towards them. (Kotter 2007) Mergers: The merger of the organization with another can lead to change in strategy as the new staff can have better ideas and plans to make the company a success. (Paul 1996). If Sapphire merges with another company to make it a success, it may have to revise the ways to do things. Change in mission: If the mission of the company changes, obviously there has to be a different strategy to deal with it. The mission of Sapphire is to fight ageing and make people look beautiful but now the market demands more of stress releasing treatments. So Sapphire needs to rethink about its strategy. (Franzen and Hardaker 1999) Task 2.2 Assess the factors that are driving the need for strategic change in an organization The Shifting Economy The economy is so very changing and dynamic. Due to the unpredictability of it, the organization is in constant need of change in the strategy and economic plan. This is more prevalent since recession Environmental factors There are certain environmental changes that have an effect on the production and sales. These changes are to be monitored and the demand of change arises. Financial pressure There occur financial pressures on the organizations, in order to meet deadlines and targets. In order to handle finances, there has to be a change in finance plans. This is where the need for change management occurs. Technological advances There has been drastic change in production, marketing, outsourcing and other fields due to technology. The organization needs upgrading and has to keep in pace with the technological advances to succeed in its mission and make way for growth. Keeping in mind the factors discussed above, there is a need for change. Funding cuts With the recession in the economy, the company has cut down on costs and funds. There is need for change in financial strategy to keep the balance. Competition Competition is a healthy asset for any business. To keep up to the standards and do better than others is very important, hence it is vital to keep a watch at what others are doing and bring change in the company accordingly. Task 2.3 Assess the resource implications of the organization not responding to strategic change Restructuring of HR- If the company does not respond to the changes as discussed above, it may have to face severe consequences and lose in the process. The organization will have to restructure the HR making way for a new beginning. There have to be leaders chosen again and staff employed for the smooth working of the company. Interview and hire of new employees Interviewing and hiring of new staff will have to be done which is a time consuming and costly process for any business. Redundancies The organization will have redundancies if proper steps for the change are not taken in time. This will affect the working and time management of the strategy of work. Training Training is another costly and time taking process. It takes a lot to train the employees and bear the costs. If the need for strategic change is understood, there is no need for the organization to bear costs or losses. ire Task 3.1 Develop systems to involve stakeholders in the planning of change in the chosen organization A stakeholder is one who has something to gain or lose through the outcomes of a planning process or project. These are also called interest groups and can have a strong bearing on the outcomes of political processes. It is useful for research projects to identify and analyse the needs and concerns of different stakeholders, particularly when these projects have an effect on policy Input-output transformation model Operations management transforms inputs (labour, capital, equipment, land, buildings, materials and information) into outputs (goods and services) that provide added value to customers. Transformation System is the critical element in the model that determines how well the company produces goods and services that meet consumer needs. It does not matter whether the organization is a for-profit company, a non-profit organization (religious organizations, hospitals, etc.), or a government agency; all organizations must strive to maximize the quality of their transformation processes to meet customer needs. Steps Involved Step 1: Clarify the research or policy change objective (Problem Tree Analysis or objectives analysis might help with this.) Stap 2: Identify all the stakeholders or interest groups associated with this objective, problem or issue. Stakeholders can be organizations, groups, departments, structures, networks or individuals. Stakeholder table http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5257title=stakeholder-analysis Step 3: Using the grid organise the stakeholders in different matrices according to their interest and power. Interest measures to what degree they may to be affected by the research project. Power measures the influence they have over the project or policy, and to what degree they can help achieve, or block, the desired change. The Cultural Web CulturalWeb The Cultural Web http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_90.htm The Cultural Web identifies six interrelated elements Johnson and Scholes (2002) call it the paradigm the pattern or model of the work environment. By analyzing the factors in each, you can begin to see what is working, what isnt working, and what needs to be changed. The six elements are: The past events and people talked about inside and outside the company. Who and what the company chooses to celebrate say a great deal about what it values, and perceives as great behaviour. The daily behaviour and actions of people that indicate acceptable behaviour. This determines what is expected to happen in given situations, and what is valued by management. The visual representations of the company including logos, how exquisite the offices are, and the dress codes. Multiple Cause Diagrams http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSdVRFuXnr_B3dlTLYyaZepQmDbF-NMDoz5q0TClaUYPXfxVGPVt=1 Multiple cause diagrams http://ilearn.cto.int/login/index.php Multiple cause diagrams are a way of using interconnectedness to shape up a complex situation. They represent both adequate and casual cause without making a distinction between them. This system is pictured as an interconnected group of events or effects to cause an effect as a purpose. Sometimes, if the input cause is removed, the output cause continues to happen, may be because feedback loops are present or other causes drive the effect. Influencing skills The careless reception of authority is becoming increasingly less common in the world. To get things done, it is better to rely on commitment rather than authority. For example, gaining co-operation from other departments. Task 3.2 Develop a change management strategy with stakeholders in the chosen organization Developing a winning strategy is messier than textbooks suggest. Most insights that are important for formulating strategies rest in the heads of operating managers. (Kotter 2007) The Stakeholder Circle This is designed to put stakeholders on the project management radar. It is a proven method supported by a tough, easy to use tool that guides us through five easy steps namely: Identify your projects stakeholders and understand their needs Prioritize the stakeholders on the basis of power, proximity and urgency. Visualize the key stakeholders using the Stakeholder Circle. Engage with the stakeholders by building and implementing an effective communication plan. Monitor changes as you update and review your stakeholders at key points in the project. Public Hearings: There can be events where stakeholders are allowed to give evidence or question general public authorities about decisions. Public hearings: Regulated, formal arrangements for times and places at which members of the general public and other types of stakeholders can give evidence or question public authorities about decisions. Deliberative Polling: This collects views when people are introduced to the issue and think about it. It also includes a feedback session. Task 3.3 Evaluate the systems used to involve stakeholders in the planning of change in the chosen organization The stakeholder model is helpful in explaining the rules of the economic game and the link between stakeholder value and competitive advantage. The stakeholder strategy plan guides us on how to interact and communicate with each stakeholder during different stages of a project. It also helps to define who should participate, in what ways and on what level of the project. It gives thorough knowledge of the matter and suits best to most organizations. Other ways such as polling, seminars and workshops are also perfect ways to handle change in a proper manner. Task 3.4 Create a strategy for managing resistance to change in the chosen organization Selective Perception: Peoples self interpretation of stimuli presents a unique image of the real world and results in selective perception. This leads to biased view of the situation that fits into the perception of reality. Habit: People are used to the same way of doing things which makes a habit. It becomes serves as a source of comfort. Bringing about change brings resistance. Loss of Freedom: If the change is seen as an inconvenience, it reduces freedom of action or results in increased control, there will be resistance. Direct vs Indirect There is staff that may resist directly and others that may be indirect in resistance. Direct resistance is to oppose in a direct manner and fighting straight but indirect resistance is to show resistance by making excuses such as resigning. Task 4.1 Develop appropriate models for change in the chosen organization that will reflect their circumstances The best model for change that applies to Sapphire Beauty Box is Proscis Five Building Blocks change management model which includes the ADKAR The first thing Sapphire needs is the Awareness of the need for change. If the need for change is understood, half the job is done. Planned communication is essential for understanding. Sapphire needs change as there is a need for it. Next is the Desire to participate and help the change. The employees of Sapphire need to make a personal decision to support the change and sustain it too. The CEO announced incentives for individuals creating a desire to be a part of the change. The third building block is providing Knowledge. Sapphire held a seminar for imparting awareness for change, how to undergo change and how to implement it. Prosci (2003) suggested forums and mentoring for knowledge of change. Ability to implement required skills and behavior is another building block of the ADKAR model. It is the difference between theory and practice. Once knowledge is imparted on change, the performance of the individual needs to be supported. Sapphire can do this by practice, coaching and feedback. Lat, but not the least comes Reinforcement. It is the final and essential stage of the model where efforts to sustain the change is accentuated. It is to be ensured that changes stay in place and individuals do not revert to old ways. The ways to do it are positive feedback, recognition, rewarding, etc. Sapphire makes it a point to take feedback of the customers as well as the employees to keep both sides balanced. There is a Best Employee of the Month award scheme at Sapphire Beauty Box which inspires employees to do their best. http://www.change-management.com/tutorials/ADKAR-clip_image002.gif Proscis Change Management Model http://www.change-management.com/tutorial-adkar-overview.htm Task 4.2 Plan to implement a model for change considering the internal and external circumstances impacting on the organization Kaizen Method This is a Japanese method for continuous incremental improvement. It is a concept for gradual, continuous improvement. It assumes that every aspect of life has to be constantly improved. The main elements of Kaizen are effort, quality, and willingness to change, communication and involvement of employees. Its five founding elements are Teamwork Personal Discipline Improved Morale Quality Circles and Suggestions for Improvement. The Kaizen method is best for Sapphire Beauty Box as it is people oriented, requires long term discipline and easy to implement. Matrix Organizations This kind of organization offers the advantages of flexibility, greater security and control of project information. It establishes a grid with a two way flow of authority and responsibility. Task 4.3 Develop appropriate measures to monitor progress of the developed model Goal Based Evaluation To start with goal based evaluation, there can be two main questions we can ask for How has the programme made a difference Are the participants of the programme feeling better as a result of the programme? Outcome based evaluation is a way that determines if the project at Sapphire Beauty Box have achieved its goals. The organized process using OBE helps to establish clear outcomes, to measure benefits, clarify groups for which benefits are targeted. Other ways to monitor progress in Sapphire Beauty Box are regular reports of the activities being practiced in there. Meetings are also undertaken by higher authorities to administer the changes and keep a watch on them. Quality Circles appear simple and straightforward but have to be viewed in regard to Japanese culture and management systems. Quality circles are do work and are used successfully by British organizations. . CONCLUSION It can be concluded that strategic change is the key factor in any organization. Change is a pervasive influence. We are all subject to change in one form or the other which is continuous. The steps to change from Kotter give vital knowledge about making change Kotter is called the GURU in terms of change management. Proscis ADKAR building blocks give deep understanding and guidance for applying change and monitoring it to sustain change. Kurt Lewins change model is also an important one. The freeze, refreeze and transition stages develop new attitudes and behaviour.

Integrity in Leadership Essay -- Ethical Integrity Essays

Definition of Integrity  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since this paper deals with the idea of integrity in leadership, it is useful to start this paper defining integrity. Webster's dictionary defines integrity as "uncompromising adherence to a code of moral, artistic or other values; utter sincerity, honesty and candor, avoidance of deception, expediency, or shallowness of any kind" Let us exam this definition a bit deeper. The first part of the definition talks of uncompromising adherence. This means that one would always choose the "right" path, regardless of what seems to be more appealing. Take the example of when and when not to lie. A person of integrity would always tell the truth regardless of the situation. The second part of the definition deals with what to avoid. Integrity demands complete openness always. The leader of integrity would never try to knowingly deceive his constituents at any time. The leader would always be open and honest. Theories of Integrity  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many different theories of integrity, but this draft will only discuss two. The first, Integrity of Self Interests, will deal with integrity as it pertains to a leader's best course of action for himself. The second, Integrity of Utility, will deal with integrity as it pertains to the best course for the population. Integrity of Self Interests  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is it better to lie or tell the truth. Trying to analyze this question using the theory of self-interests would depend upon which choice would give the best results for the leader. This is the underlying theme for the theory of self interests. There are two basic formulas that can be used when trying to determine what is moral, and they are: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We should choose the action(s) that we feel, with good reason, will benefit us more than any other choice 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We should choose the action(s) that are in our best interests, or that we prefer for the best perceived outcome These two formulas can be implemented when making any decision. If you feel something will benefit you, or that you prefer one choice over another, then that choice is a choice of integrity of self interest. To illustrate this better, let us go back to the earlier example of when to lie. By applying either of these two formulas, lying can be considered moral. If lying were either in our best interests or one perceives it to result in the best outcome, than it is ... ...es not have to be a good leader. Conclusion There are many theories on integrity, but this draft focused on using two, the theories of self-interest and utility. These are the two theories a leader can use when trying to make an ethical decision. The constituents prefer the theory of utility because it ensures the best result for the most people. However the leader may sometimes prefer the theory of self-interests. The only relevance integrity has to leadership, is in choice. If a leader is not felt to have integrity, he is less likely to be chosen as a leader. However once in power, integrity does not really make a difference. Effectiveness does not depend on integrity. As stated earlier, Bill Clinton has been considered one of the most effective Presidents in the history of the United States, but he is not considered moral, especially after the Lewinski scandal came to light. Using the different criteria under the theories of first self-interest, then utility, one could try to answer the question of Clinton?s best course of action. In other words, using the outlined decision making processes, was it the best decision to admit the affair with Monica Lewinski to the public?

Cosbys Ebonics :: essays research papers

Cosby on Ebonics In 1996, the Oakland School District proposed the inclusion of what is known as "Ebonics" into its curriculum. Ebonics, or Black language, has been referred to in various ways over the years: "African American Vernacular English," "Pan-African Communication Behaviors," "African Language Systems," or "West and Niger-Congo African Language Systems." By any name, Ebonics, when studied over the years, has been proven to be a real language with its own phonology, syntax, morphology, sentence patterns, and double interpretations of words. The pattern that Ebonics speakers in the United States speak is highly similar to the patterns seen in both the Caribbean Creole and the West African languages. No one would have thought that comedian Bill Cosby would have an opinion on this subject, but as I read through essay I realized the logic and validity behind his paper. In his essay Bill Cosby states that, "Ebonics be a complex issue," and it is, also he feels that it should not be taught in schools without studying the problems that could grow from teaching "an urbanized version of the English language." Cosby has a PhD in education, which increases his credibility. Cosby, being a black man, should not affect how his essay is read but it may be an issue to some. His use of humor makes the subject easier to comprehend and the entire piece more interesting. There is always a serious way and a lighter way to address any problem that affects many people and Cosby's choice to use humor makes more sense considering who he is in the public eye. Ebonics is a difficult issue to deal with, and Cosby makes a valid point that it should not be taught in school. Cosby's credibility is not weakened because of his PhD in education if nothing else it is heightened. Being that he has this degree, he is more likely to obtain all the facts before forming a strong opinion on the subject. Having to teach Ebonics to anyone and everyone would be a problem and some people may not want to learn a new version of the language that has been taught for how many years. Cosby’s education creates a feel of an educated person making an educated opinion, not just anyone with a personal opinion. A black man has just as much authority to discuss Ebonics as a white or Asian-American person. Just because Cosby is black does not affect the way Ebonics would be encountered in everyday occurrences.

The Suffering of the Proud Essay -- English Literature Essays

The Suffering of the Proud Pride is a key to self-respect; however, when it goes to far, people forget that humility is a virtue too. In the play Antigone, pride plays a major role throughout, appearing as fatal flaws in both Antigone and Kreon, the main characters of Sophocles’s tragedy. For Antigone and Kreon, as soon as the stepped past the line of humility, they were doomed to fail. For example, Kreon became so proud of himself he refused to listen to others warnings and assumes the gods are on his side. â€Å"But didn’t that girl do wrong?’ ‘The whole nation denies it.’ ‘Will the nation tell me what orders I can give?† (Kreon, Haimon, Kreon 881-3) this is a perfect example, because he refuses to listen to his son, and then, when presented with the fact that the whole nation thinks he is wrong, decides that he doesn’t care what the nation thinks. Throughout the play, his advisor, Koryphaios, repeatedly gives him gentle warnings, and Kreon claims he is getting old, ignores him, or refutes him with points that only emphasize his out-of-control pride, such as, â€Å"Men our age, learn from [Haimon] (Kreon 876). He also assumes that the gods will go along with whatever he says, â€Å"can you see the gods honoring criminals? Impossible† (Kreon 364-5). This kind of attitude is something that appears in almost ever y Greek myth, the thought that the gods will side with them no matter what, and it always ends up biting them in the rear. Furthermore, Kreon holds his subjects in contempt...

A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat Essay

Eating disorders are a world-wide problem. There are many types of eating disorders. There are programs out there to help people with eating disorders. With so many types we must understand the differences by looking at each type, how it affects teenagers, and what influence the media has on this issue. Eating disorders come in many different types. One of these is anorexia. Anorexia is a serious disease which causes a severe lack of eating. The proper name is anorexia nervosa.Anorexia nervosa causes people to lose more weight than is considered healthy for their age and height. Persons with this disorder may have an intense fear of weight gain, even when they are underweight. They may diet or exercise too much or use other ways to lose weight. Their self-esteem is usually overly related to body image. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001401/) Anorexia nervosa has many warning signs that can tell someone if they have a problem. Someone may refuse to eat certain foods/food categories and deny their hunger all together. A person may develop â€Å"food rituals† in which they arrange foods in a certain way, excessively chew, eat in a certain order, etc†¦ One may withdraw themselves from their friends, family, or society. They may frequently make a comment about being â€Å"fat† or â€Å"overweight† despite their weight loss. (http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/anorexia-nervosa) Another type of eating disorder is bulimia nervosa. Bulimia is an illness in which a person binges on food or has regular episodes of overeating and feels a loss of control. The person then uses different methods — such as vomiting or abusing laxatives — to prevent weight gain. Many (but not all) people with bulimia also have anorexia nervosa. The purging of food usually  brings a sense of relief. ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001381/) One form of an eating disorder is binge eating. Binge eating is an eating disorder in which a person eats a much larger amount of food in a shorter period of time than he or she normally would. During binge eating, the person also feels a loss of control. Some causes of binge eating include genes, such as having close relatives who also have an eating disorder. Depression or other emotions, such as feeling upset or stressed. Unhealthy dieting, such as not eating enough nutritious food or skipping meals. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0003749/) Some symptoms of binge eating are, eating large amounts of food in a short period, for example, every 2 hours. A person is not able to control overeating, for example is unable to stop eating or control the amount of food. A person may keep eating even when full (gorging) or until uncomfortably full. Sometimes a person feels guilty, disgusted, ashamed, or depressed after eating so much. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0003749/) Some treatment can be done for people with a binge eating problem. The goals are to lessen and then be able to stop the bingeing incidents. Be able to get to and stay at a healthy weight. Get treated for any emotional problems, including overcoming feelings and managing situations that trigger binge eating. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0003749/)

Diary and Character Essay

Over the course of this 3 week unit, you will have the opportunity to explore the nuances of Macbeth by putting yourself into the mindset of a character you have selected. You will write a series of diary entries as if you were this character, that means from his or her point of view and create an appropriate and creative cover. Requirements: 1. You will be assigned 6 entries, with the option of skipping one entry at any time. If you choose, you may do all 6 entries and receive up to 10 points extra credit. 2. All entries must be at least a page long, double-spaced. Know that some of the topics that you write about will require more length in order to give a full and reflective response, though. 3. Entries must be original and of your own work. Plagiarism of any type will result in an F for this assignment. If you have any doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, please ask me. 4. Entries must be relatively free of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. 5. Design a cover/title page for you diary. It must reflect some aspect of the character and should Include illustrations or graphics. 7. For each of the entries, you will pick from the following list of topics. Although you must stay within the limits of what the text says about the character, you are free to use your imagination to fill in the gaps. If you wish, you may also illustrate your entries. You may not repeat any topic. Specific Diary Topics: (Choose at least 5) 1. Pick a specific scene. How does your character feel that he/she contributes to this scene? What are his or her actions and why? Also, explain how your character is relating to other characters on stage at this time. 2. What is something surprising about your character? Discuss this from his/her point of view. 3. What happened today in the life of your character? 4. Have your character write a letter to another character. 5. Write down a quote from your character and have your character write in response to what he or she said. 6. What is your character feeling as a result of his/her actions? 7. What music or television shows might your character enjoy listening to or watching? Why? 8. Have your character talk about how he or she has changed throughout the play. 9. Choose from the following conflicting aspects that Shakespeare uses throughout the play and discuss how your character demonstrates both sides: ambition/duty, bravery/fear, stre ngth/uncertainty, good/evil, and fair/foul. Make sure your character journal matches what the teacher is grading you on in the rubric.

What is personal space?

Personal space was an idea first developed by German born Swedish psychologist David Katz in 1937. It is very often describes as an â€Å"emotionally charged bubble of space which surrounds each individual† or alternately â€Å"Personal space is the region surrounding a person which they regard as psychologically theirs. Most people value their personal space and feel discomfort, anger, or anxiety when their personal space is encroached.† On the other hand, some research suggests that the personal space bubble is not circular, but elliptical and so we can tolerate people coming closer to us at the side than front or behind.The 4 stages of a person’s Personal SpaceThis is a Proxemics Theory, which had been investigated by Edward T Hall in 1959, who describes a person’s personal space to be in 4 layers;Intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering Close phase – less than 6 inches (15 cm) Far phase – 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 cm)The clo sest distance is generally the domain of those who have an intimate relationship with each other, but also includes situations where the social rules allow contact, for example in a wrestling match (Edward Hall distinguishes between near situations requiring body contact and far distances which require being very close but not in contact (whispering)). This distinction is rather artificial since whether contact occurs will depend on a variety of things such as the social and physical setting.Personal distance for interactions among good friends or family members Close phase – 1.5 to 2.5 feet (46 to 76 cm) Far phase – 2.5 to 4 feet (76 to 120 cm) This zone generally reserved for good friends or intimate partners in a social setting; the near aspect is generally reserved for couples or very close friends, whereas, the far phase is used by acquaintances or simple friends.Social distance for interactions among acquaintances Close phase – 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 m) F ar phase – 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 m)This is the zone where those who are not acquainted interact or where business transactions occur. The near distance would be used by those being introduced or for informal business transactions whereas the far phase would be reserved for more formal business processes.Public distance used for public speaking Close phase – 12 to 25 feet (3.7 to 7.6 m) Far phase – 25 feet (7.6 m) or more.It is subdivided into near phase such as the distance between a speaker and an audience, and the far phase being the distance for example between the public and an important public figure.This is an easy concept to understand; if anybody enters our bubble, then they are invading personal space.Invading Personal SpaceWhen somebody invades another person’s personal space it can make the person feel anxious, awkward, insecure, vulnerable, annoyed and uncomfortable simply because there is another person standing too close to them and makes them question the intensions of the invader.. The term â€Å"invasion† would generally only be used if the person â€Å"invading† it has not earned their place in one of the four layers. There are actually many psychological and physical effects that are activated when a person is getting too close to another and they cause people to behave a little different than usual, for example: ââ€"  Extreme self awareness – suddenly we forget how to act ‘naturally'ââ€"  Limited movements and gestures ââ€"  Reduced eye contact ââ€"  Turning aside or away from the intruder ââ€"  We'll usually immediately take a step back. ââ€"  Adopting a defensive position – folded arms, less smiles, frowning, tense posture. ââ€"  Stopping the conversation entirely. Factors that influence personal space:Gender- Males interacting with other males require the largest interpersonal distance, Men are more territorial and aggressive by nature and will keep more dista nce from other men, but when it comes to women we will usually prefer to get a little closer. This is then followed by females interacting with other females, which requires a little less space and distance as compared to just two men, as investigated by Gifford in 1987. Women are also more sociable than men: they get social cues better, more emotionally expressive and are generally better than us men when it comes to emotional communication. It's only natural then that women will feel more comfortable being closer to each other than men. However it probably depends on the situation, or the relationship, or the age group and so on as well.Culture- This is perhaps the most important factor when it comes to investigating the difference in invasion of personal space. Hall (1959) identified the importance of cultural variation. He suggested that while all cultures use personal space to communicate, and tend to conform to the different categories, the size of the space within the categor ies varies across cultures. Hall also identified the essential issue in inter-cultural difference as the tendency to interpret invasions of personal space as an indication of aggression. Some international examples of this are: ‘Distant' cultures (northern Europe, US, and many other westerns cultures) tend to keep more personal space and use less touching than other more ‘warm' cultures.Asian cultures are characterized as more accommodating and accepting attitudes when it comes to personal space, the theory says it's due to more crowded living conditions. Other cultures including south Europe, Middle East and South American's are considered to be more ‘warm' by nature – touch and close proximity are more welcomed and socially accepted. Age- Some evidence suggests that personal space gets bigger as we grow older (Hayduk, 1983). Children tend to be quite happy to be physically close to each other, something which changes as awareness of adult sexuality develop s. In addition the gender difference does tend to also appear at this time.Status- Status has a huge effect on your personal space size and demand. First of all, like the alpha male of the pack, the higher the status the more space is considered to be one’s (no surprise that the first class seats are bigger and have more space per individual!). Status also affects the size of the territory that is required. Just Like the kings of old owned a huge palace – not because they needed 20 bedrooms and an Olympic swimming pool, but because it showed the measure of their power and influence. In modern days we have the equivalent mansions of the rich and famous to demonstrate their wealth and rich lifestyle.Personality- There is some evidence of personality difference but effects here need to be treated with caution given the situational dependence of traits. Extraverted and gregarious persons tend to require smaller personal space, while cold and quarrelsome people require a la rger interpersonal distance (Gifford, 1982).Urban vs. Rural- The amount of personal space someone needs is relative to the population density of where they live, for example, in sparsely populated areas people get more space than in densely populated areas; country people are used to live in a vast and mildly populated areas while city dwellers are more used to crowding. This means that city dwellers will usually have a smaller personal space than country people due to this habit of density. The distance someone extends his/her arm to shake hands gives us a clue whether he/she is from a rural or urban area.People from the city tend to have an 18-inch bubble which allows the hands to meet in neutral territory. People brought up in a town with a small population have a space bubble of up to a meter. People from rural areas tend to stand with their feet firmly planted on the ground and lean forward for the handshake, whereas a city dweller will step forward to greet you. People raised in remote areas might require an even greater Personal Space, which could be as wide as 6 meters. They prefer to wave rather than shake hands.Case StudiesStudy 1- Felipe & Sommer 1966Aim- To examine the effects of the invasion of personal space Method- Research was carried out in a public library amongst people of similar cultural backgrounds who were sitting alone. These people were split into two groups: 1) Those where the confederate approached them, sat in the chair next to them and moved the chair closer to them. 2) Those where the confederate approached them and sat in the next-but-one chair. Results- When someone came and sat in the chair next to them and moved the chair closer to them, 70% of the lone people left within half-an-hour. When someone came and sat in the next-but-one chair only 13% of the lone people left within half-an-hour. Conclusion- People found this invasion of their personal space disruptive. Researchers also noted that those whose personal space had been invaded moved their chair, put ‘barriers’ up such as books and changed their body position to move away.Evaluation of this study:Strength- Has high ecological validity since it was conducted in a public place. Weakness- This study used people from a similar background and hence may only be applicable to those sorts of people- this study cannot be generalised.Case Study 2- Sommer 1969Aim- To examine whether there are cultural differences in the use of personal space Method- Researchers observed groups of Arab people and groups of white English people in conversation. Results- The comfortable distance for conversation for Arab people was under 1 m, whereas for white English people the comfortable distance was between 1 m and 1.5 m. Conclusion- Different cultures are comfortable with different amounts of personal space.Evaluation of this study:Strength- Explores how culture affects somebody’s personal space and hence raises awareness of how different cultures have v arious tolerance levels (when it comes to personal space). This study also raises awareness to people of different cultures when they are visiting other, culture rich  countries. Weakness- The study was conducted a long time ago and due to the many revolutions and acceptances between cultures in today’s day, the results and findings may not be as accurate now as they were then. This poses questions about whether and how time has affected personal space within the different cultures, and would possibly need a new experiment to be conducted, to update the results.Examples of invading personal space:Inviting a teacher into a student’s personal space when their help is needed at school/in class for example to help solve a problem; this relation is always a professional relationship. When caught fighting and stopped, some kids like to tease the other party with a simple trick- they reach out with their hand and almost touch the other kid (or even worse, stuck the palm in front of their face), then they say something like â€Å"I don't touch you†. It's actually an invitation for a fight, without taking responsibility for starting it, because it's impossible not to respond to this kind of irritation. If you'll meet your favorite movie star, you will welcome his company and even his touch; even though he's almost a complete stranger to you.But it won't go the other way around- it will be highly inappropriate to get too close to that star without a clear invitation to do so. You'll probably keep a distance from your boss (probably the same one from the previous example) during work, but on fishing at trip together some of the social borders will fall down, and you'll feel more comfortable being in closer distance. However, when you'll get back to work again, you'll retain the appropriate workspace between you.

Diploma in leadership and management In Health Essay

Dementia is caused by damage in the brain, and is characterised by memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem solving, movement co-ordination or language. It can also cause a person to become disorientated in space and time and to experience hallucinations, a decline in communication skills and personality changes. These symptoms also make it difficult for people with  dementia to learn new things and retain newly acquired information. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which is progressive. Proteins build up in the brain, forming â€Å"plaques† or â€Å"tangles†. These cause the loss of connections between cells, and eventually nerve cells die and brain tissue is lost. People with Alzheimer’s disease also do not have enough neurotransmitters, which are chemicals used to transmit messages. Vascular dementia is caused by a range of disease of the blood supply to the brain. Atherosclerosis is when fatty deposits build up in blood vessel walls. This causes them to harden and narrow, reducing blood flow to the brain. When brain cells do not get the oxygen and nutrients they need, they start to die. Pick’s disease or frontotemporal dementia is caused by nerve cells in the frontal and/or temporal lobes dying. The connections between these cells change, and there is a loss of neurotransmitters. Over time, the frontal and/or temporal lobes shrink. Lewy bodies are tiny round protein structures in the nerve cells of the brain. The cause of these or how they cause dementia is unknown. There is also a loss of neurotransmitters, and over time, the nerve cells progressively die and brain tissue is lost. People with dementia experience different types of memory impairment. A decline in memory means that people will often struggle to recall recent events or forget messages, routes or names. They may repeat themselves or ask the same questions repeatedly. They may forget how to do things, such as how to use cutlery, tie shoelaces, get dressed or play chess. Difficulties finding the right word, or understanding the meaning of words, can affect communication. Losing the ability to read or to interpret signs, as well as the person being unable to understand what others are saying can have a big impact on communication. Losing reading and writing skills not only impacts on communicating with others, but can also lead to confusion. People with dementia may no longer understand the normal flow of conversation and might interrupt or ignore people. Changes in behaviour are common in people with dementia. They may repeat an activity over and over, pace up and down, or follow people around. Sometimes people with dementia can shout, scream, or become physically aggressive. They can become restless and may wake up during the night. A lack of  inhibition can mean that somebody with dementia might undress inappropriately, be rude or display inappropriate sexual behaviour. People with dementia may hide and lose their possessions. They might be also suspicious of others, thinking that somebody has stolen an object they have misplaced, for example. People with dementia can struggle with mental processes such as reasoning. This can lead to confusion and difficulty with many everyday tasks. Being unable to weigh up all of the facts to make a sensible decision can have a huge impact on a person’s life. Many people with dementia will lose skills which they used to have, whether this be playing a musical instrument, driving or decorating. Abilities of people with dementia can fluctuate day to day. For example, they might be able to recognise a relative some days, but not others. Sometimes they might be able to write, whereas other days they might not. Dementia can affect the areas of the brain responsible for balance and movement, causing movement difficulties. People with dementia may walk more slowly, be only able to walk for short distances, or struggle to get up from chairs. They might need support to walk, or use a cane or a wheelchair. People with dementia might find it difficult to walk outside or on uneven surfaces and may be fearful of stairs or hesitant while walking through doorways. Stimuli including touch, light, heat and sound waves are input through the sensory organs. This information is encoded into our memory system by the brain. Information can be encoded in terms of what a printed word looks like, what a word sounds like, or what the word means. This information then has to be maintained. This is thought to happen in working memory (when information is stored for a maximum of 20 seconds) by electrical signals travelling through neurons in a loop. The hippocampus and the frontal cortex filter the information and decide if it will be stored in long term memory. If so, it is thought to be stored in some proteins. The information is stored in different parts of the brain, but we do not know exactly how this works. To recall a memory, the information must be retrieved. This is  triggered by a retrieval cue. The brain reconstructs the memory, putting together what may have happened by retrieving the information that the brain stored and could recall. Memories can be reconstructed incorrectly, and this can be influenced by the retrieval cue (such as a leading question). In people with dementia, the hippocampus may be damaged. This can make it much more difficult for the person to learn new information or to form new memories. The person might not remember what they did earlier on that day, or they might forget what they have said moments before, causing them to repeat themselves. The hippocampus is used when memories are retrieved, particularly memories which were formed more recently. This is why many people with dementia still have their childhood memories but cannot remember what they have done that day. When damage spreads through the brain, such as in people with Alzheimer’s disease, more areas in the brain become affected. The brain slowly shrinks and earlier memories are lost. The left hemisphere is responsible for semantic memory (the meaning of words) and language, so when it is damaged, the person might struggle to find the right words. The temporal lobes match visual input with memories of previous experiences, so when this is damaged, the person might struggle to recognise familiar faces and objects. Sometimes, a person with Alzheimer’s disease might know who the familiar person is once they hear their voice, because hearing pathways are separate. When a person’s right parietal lobe is damaged, they may struggle to judge distances, causing problems with navigating stairs, for example. The damage can spread to the frontal lobes, causing somebody with Alzheimer’s disease to struggle with planning, organization and decision making. This might include problems with tasks such as following a new recipe. In people with Alzheimer’s disease, many abilities are not lost, especially skills learned a long time ago. Skills such as playing a musical instrument depend on procedural memories, which are stored deep within the brain. These skills are often maintained for a long time in people with Alzheimer’s disease. People with vascular dementia display a wider range of symptoms than other types of dementia. Sometimes a stroke can cause vascular dementia, if the  blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off and a large area of tissue on one side of the brain dies. The person may struggle with planning, concentrating, thinking, or with their memory. They may also have problems with speech or vision, or have weakness on one side of the body. Several mini-strokes can also lead to vascular dementia, each one causing a small patch of brain tissue in the cortex to die. The symptoms depend on where the tissue is lost. If this is in the hippocampus, the person might have problems with their episodic memory (personal memories of specific events). Damage in the frontal lobe can cause difficulties with executive function (problem solving, setting goals, making decisions, and following sequences to complete tasks). This might mean the person struggles to make cheese on toast, for example, because they cannot organise what they need to do. Vascular dementia can also follow several mini-strokes over time. Each mini-stroke creates a small patch of dead brain tissue, called an infarct, in the cortex. Early symptoms can be very specific to where the tissue is lost. For example, problems with episodic memory can be caused by an infarct in the hippocampus, and problems with executive function can be caused by an infarct in the frontal lobe. When a person has frontotemporal dementia, their temporal and/or frontal lobes shrink. Damage to specific areas causes different problems. The person might become withdrawn and lose motivation, or they might lose their inhibitions. This could cause them to take their clothes off inappropriately, or make inappropriate comments. When the frontal lobes are damaged, the person might repeat themselves constantly. People with dementia with Lewy bodies have less shrinkage of the brain than people with Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal dementia. The Lewy bodies form in the cerebral cortex, brain stem and limbic system. Common early symptoms are problems with attention and vision. Lewy bodies in the brain stem can also cause difficulties with movement. Sometimes people can have other conditions which might cause symptoms similar to those of dementia. Depression can mean the person’s mood is irritable,  sad or hopeless. They might be agitated, restless, or tired with no energy. They might lose interest or pleasure in activities that they used to enjoy. Sometimes depression can cause disturbances in sleep, like early waking, along with memory or concentration problems. It can cause a person to eat too much or too little, to have aches and pains with no physical cause, or to experience suicidal thoughts. However, depression usually develops over weeks or months, which is faster than the onset of dementia. People with dementia often experience problems with reasoning, speech and orientation in time and space, which depression would not usually cause. If a person with depression struggles to remember something, they will often remember when prompted, but people with dementia often try to cover up their forgetfulness. People with severe depression may struggle with their memory and reasoning due to poor concentration. These symptoms disappear with treatment, whereas this will not happen in people with dementia. People with depression and dementia can lack motivation, but people with depression are likely to show other symptoms of this, rather than other symptoms of dementia. People with infections, such as urinary tract infections, can also have symptoms which may appear similar to those of dementia. The pain caused by UTIs can cause people to become depressed or agitated, especially if they cannot communicate that they are in pain. Infections can also cause dizziness, confusion, hallucinations or memory problems, which could be mistaken for dementia. However, the confusion caused by infections is acute and comes on suddenly with the onset of the infection, rather than over a much longer period of time, as experienced by people with dementia. Once the infection has been treated then any agitation and confusion will disappear, which is not the case with dementia. Drugs including prescribed medications can have side effects which may mimic those of dementia. These can include confusion, dizziness, problems with movement or speech, difficulties with memory or thinking, agitation or hallucinations. People with these symptoms may appear to have dementia. This is more likely to be the case in older people, because they metabolize medication less efficiently, causing a build up of the drug. However, once  the person is on the correct type and dosage of medication, the symptoms should resolve themselves. People may become confused for reasons other than dementia, such as changes in their environment. Moving home, having different support workers or changing activities could cause a person to be confused. These changes could also cause depression, which in turn can mimic dementia. Once a person becomes more settled in their routine then the symptoms should disappear. Alcohol abuse can destroy brain cells responsible for memory, balance, thinking and decision making. People that drink heavily may also have an unhealthy diet low in thiamine. A severe deficiency in thiamine can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, which causes symptoms such as memory loss, confusion and agitation. This could mean the person appears to have dementia. However, a history of alcohol abuse might suggest that this is not the case. Treatment for Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome can reverse the symptoms, which would not happen if the person had dementia. Vision problems caused by conditions such as cataracts or age-related macular degeneration can cause people to become confused and struggle to read or to recognise faces. This can be scary and can mean the person becomes depressed or agitated. Macular degeneration can come on rapidly, furthering the possibility that the person’s symptoms could be viewed as those of dementia. Once a diagnosis is confirmed and symptoms are treated or the person is supported to manage their condition, it would become apparent that the person does not have dementia. There are many reasons why the abilities and needs of an individual with dementia might fluctuate. In people with Alzheimer’s disease, as the condition progresses, the person’s abilities decline over time. People with dementia often have lucid moments, where they may suddenly be more able to communicate or do certain things for a short period of time. People with Dementia with Lewy bodies are more likely to experience fluctuating abilities. Medication changes can cause withdrawal symptoms such as confusion, dizziness or flu-like symptoms. Side effects of the new medication, such as those mentioned above, may be more apparent until the body gets used to this medication. These can mean the person is more agitated or confused than normal and they might need extra support until the symptoms have eased. Sometimes a person may have been on a strong medication for a long period of time, and once this is changed, their abilities and needs can change. Several people that I have worked with have been more able to make and  communicate their decisions, more mobile, alert and independent after certain medications were reduced or withdrawn. Abilities can often be mood dependent – when anyone is in a good mood, they are more likely to want to do things and to communicate more effectively. Being less able to communicate or having to rely on others for support can cause frustration or agitation, particularly where support with personal care is required. Once agitated, the person might be less able to do things independently due to the way they are feeling. People with dementia are often awake at night and they may struggle with their day/night orientation. This can lead to them being tired during the day, affecting their cognitive abilities, communication skills and co-ordination. The support a person receives can impact on their abilities and needs. If there is a lack of continuity in the support provided, the person can become unhappy and more confused, causing their abilities to change. It is important for the person to build trust and familiarity with their support workers. Likewise, better support and improved continuity might mean that the person becomes more independent as they are more settled and have better routines. Developing effective communication methods can mean the person becomes more able to communicate with those around them. Different ways in which the person is supported could also result in fluctuations in abilities while they are supported by different support workers. If a person is experiencing abuse committed by anyone around them, they are likely to become depressed, confused or agitated, meaning their abilities and needs could change. Early diagnosis can help reduce the anxiety experienced by the person which is caused by not knowing what is causing their symptoms. The diagnosis can help the person to feel empowered and they can learn about their condition and what their future may hold. The person or their family might be in denial about the diagnosis, refusing to accept that they have dementia. The diagnosis can make a person feel as if their life has been turned upside down. They are likely to be scared and might feel like they have lost their identity, dignity and control over their life. They may be scared of losing  their home and their privacy and dignity. Sometimes people may be viewed or treated differently by others once they have a diagnosis, including their family and friends, or they might be worried about this happening. However, early diagnosis is important because it enables access to support groups. The person can gain advice on how to manage their condition while living as full a life as possible. The support groups introduce people who are in the same situation, so the person and their family and friends can build a support network. The support group can also provide specialist information related to the person’s condition and their symptoms, with a real understanding of how dementia impacts the life of the person and their friends and family. If the person is diagnosed with dementia early, the underlying cause can be discovered and they can access treatments for their condition. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies gradually damage the brain. Medications are available which improve symptoms by increasing the function of the remaining healthy brain cells. These medications do not slow the progression of the disease but they do improve symptoms, which improves quality of life. Other medications can also be reviewed, as they could be affecting cognitive functioning. Risk factors such as smoking, being overweight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and poorly controlled diabetes contribute to vascular dementia. The presence of these risk factors can also make Alzheimer’s disease worse. Early diagnosis might mean that more attention is given to keeping these risk factors under control, which could slow the progression of vascular dementia or Alzheimer’s. A diagnosis is essential for organising support, including day services, respite care, occupational therapists, dieticians, mental health teams and speech and language therapists. This can not only improve quality of life for the person, but give family and friends a break from supporting the person. Early diagnosis means the person will get the support sooner, possibly improving their long term outcome. A diagnosis will also make financial support accessible to the person, such as Personal Independence  Payment. It may make it easier for the person and their family to receive advice regarding their finances, as well as financial support such as Carer’s Allowance. An early diagnosis will give more time to plan for the future to ensure that everything is in order. A Lasting Power of Attorney may need to be arranged if the dementia is progressive. Safer ways of taking medication can be set up, such as blister packs, for example. This will help the person to take their medication correctly, and can make it simpler for family and friends. This can empower the person, increase independence and reduce the risk of medication errors which could cause health issues. If a person is already diagnosed with dementia, then nurses and doctors will be aware of any difficulties they may encounter and will work harder to communicate with the person effectively. It is essential to record accurately to aid early diagnosis. Recording anything that is unusual for the person or any possible symptoms of dementia, in detail, will give a good picture over time of any changes in a person’s ability or memory. It is important to have agreed methods of recording and reporting within the organisation and for all employees to follow these. These might include verbal, written and electronic communication. Information must be kept confidential and all records and reports must be timely and accurate. Reporting might include communicating with colleagues, key workers and line managers, GPs, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and specialist consultants. Records must be legible, factual, dated and signed. Recording all of these symptoms will help to see if there is a pattern and reporting them to the person’s GP can obtain a referral for diagnosis as soon as possible. When a diagnosis is made, they may use the support records, as well as looking at times where concerns have been reported to the relevant bodies. It is important that all records are detailed to ensure that an early, correct diagnosis can be made. Before and after diagnosis, detailed records will show if a person’s symptoms are improving or worsening over time. It is also essential to record accurately to highlight any risks that arise and to report these. This ensures that the risks can be addressed, reducing the likelihood of harm coming to the person and their support workers. When a support worker records and reports a risk they encounter to  the relevant person or authority, they are also protecting themselves in the event of legal action arising. The organisation would be required to prove that they have agreed methods of recording and reporting in place and that they ensure that these are followed. Having robust support plans and risk assessments in place should mean that they hold up to scrutiny in court. This would mean that employees would be liable for their own actions if they did not work in accordance with them. Part 3 Person centred care is support planned and delivered around the needs of the person. This means involving the person as much as possible, as well as any other people that they wish to be involved, such as family, friends and other professionals. Support workers will be matched to the person being supported, who might be involved in recruitment. The person should be as involved as possible in choosing where they wish to live, who they want to live with, who they want to be supported by, what they want to do each day, what and when they eat and drink, how they are supported with day to day activities, etc. The person will be supported to be as independent as possible and staff will be trained to meet the needs of the person. Support workers will always respect the dignity, privacy and rights of the person. They will work to ensure a holistic approach, meeting all of the person’s needs, including religious and cultural. They will support the person to develop and maintain meaningful relationships and will build a trusting, professional relationship with the person. Support workers will have a positive approach, focusing on what the person can do, what their strengths are, and seeing the person as an individual rather than by their condition. They will work within guidance and legislation, act in the best interests of the person and work to safeguard them from abuse. A multidisciplinary team will often be involved, to support the person in all areas of their life in the best possible way. Non person centred care is the opposite of all of this and is based on a more institutional approach – which is easiest for the staff or the organisation, what fits in best with the other people who live there, or which is  cheapest. Non person centred care is more likely to occur in large group homes, though can happen anywhere. Carers might be very limited by time or resources. Staff may subscribe to the biomedical model of health. The biomedical model focuses on the person being physically healthy, as in having an absence of physical illness. It does not consider wellbeing as a whole, ignoring social and psychological factors. This way of thinking means all of the factors outlined above could be ignored, because staff might think the person is well supported just because they are physically healthy. There are many techniques which can be used to meet the fluctuating needs of the person with dementia. The reality-orientation approach is a type of therapy which reduces confusion and helps the person to understand their surroundings. Information relating to time, place, a person, etc. is presented and repeated regularly. This might be clocks, schedules for the day or a board showing the date, which is reinforced using prompts in conversation. This is helpful because people with dementia may forget what day/time it is, where they are, or who they are with. The validation approach means seeing the world through the person with dementia’s eyes and trying to enter their reality, rather than bringing them back to our reality. This sometimes means not challenging their reality – doing this would often just lead to more stress and confusion. This approach improves the person’s self esteem and can mean they feel more settled. The validation approach subscribes to the idea that there is a reason why people with dementia do and say the things they do, and that we should validate these things and try to understand them. The behaviours are attempts to communicate. It says that we must empathise with the person and try to understand what they are trying to express. The validation approach theorises that the person is expressing things which they have suppressed for many years. Expressing these feelings reduces the intensity of them and enables the person to communicate more. It is based on the idea that when a person has severe short term memory loss, they revert to the more familiar past. This is thought to be to due to having less control over the present, to relive past experiences or to resolve unfinished conflicts. This approach reduces stress experienced by the person with dementia and encompasses the  holistic approach, focusing on the person’s dignity and happiness. This often results in the person displaying less behaviours which challenge. Using the right aids and assistive technology can help carers to meet the changing needs of a person with dementia while maintaining their dignity and independence. Assistive technology such as pressure sensors, door alarms, calendar clocks, talking photo albums, reminder messages and personal alarms can help family or support workers to meet the variety of changing needs of the person with dementia. Changing the environment to meet the needs of the person might include fitting hand rails, ramps or different flooring such as non slip flooring. Practical aids to help the person be more independent are useful, such as touch sensitive lamps, kettle tippers, adapted cutlery and non spill cups. Equipment for personal care, continence and maintaining dignity might include dressing aids, raised toilet seats, bath seats, commodes and continence pads. Some mobility and transfer aids are walking frames, wheelchairs, hoists, transfer turntables and chair raisers. Working with the person to find the best combination of aids and techniques is important as part of a person centred approach. Support workers should use reminiscence techniques such as discussing old pastimes, looking through photo albums, watching old films or listening to music can help stimulate a person’s memory and enhance their quality of life. Alternative therapies such as aromatherapy and massage can mean the person feels more relaxed in what can be a stressful, confusing world. It is important to address sensory needs, whether this is through touch, smell, activities such as swimming or use of sensory rooms, etc. Using effective communication is essential for person centred support. Support workers should be aware of their verbal and non verbal communication, using techniques such as physical prompts where appropriate. As previously discussed, needs and abilities can fluctuate on a daily basis so different techniques might be useful on different days or with differen t people. Myths and stereotypes related to dementia can have a big impact on the individual and their carers. Some of these stereotypes are that people with dementia are aggressive, that they do not have rights or that they do not  understand anything. Some people assume that people with dementia automatically lose their independence so cannot drive or be involved in decisions. This could mean that people are automatically excluded from being involved in decisions regarding their support, which is not person centred. The person’s independence might be compromised as they might not realise that their diagnosis does not prevent them from doing things, including driving. These stereotypes can lead to social isolation for both the person and their carers in attempt to avoid coming into contact with people who hold these beliefs. Negative interactions with professionals such as GPs can negatively impact the person’s self esteem and dignity, as well as that of the carer. This in turn may mean that the person struggles to access the services which they need, or avoids seeking access to these services in fear of discrimination. A lack of access to services can also affect the carer because they can be left to care for the person without any respite or support network around them. The involvement of professionals such as occupational therapists, for example, can greatly improve the lives of both the person and the carer. All of this can negatively impact on the person’s behaviour, further affecting their quality of life (and that of the carer). Individuals and carers can be supported to overcome their fears through person centred planning. Support to do this can empower the individual to be in control of their life rather than fearful about what will happen to them. This support could come from advocates, charities, support groups, friends, line managers, etc. Carers are likely to be less scared and more informed about how they can effectively meet the person’s needs to improve their quality of life. Information about accessible services can demonstrate to the person with dementia that they can still be supported to live a full and active life. They can choose which services they would like to use and can see what is on offer, which might be in contrast to views they already hold about care providers. This information can ease the fears of carers, particularly where family carers are involved, because they may feel more at ease when they know that a wide range of person centred support is available. Where an organisation is providing support, training can help the support worker to feel more informed and confident in their ability to provide person centred care. This can ease any fear which the person has,  along with supervision meetings where they can discuss their development. Team meetings are also helpful, because the team can discuss their ways of working and address any issues that they have come across. Support groups and organisations can greatly help to ease the fears of both the individual and their carers, not only by providing practical advice and support, but through moral support too.