Frank Parsons, the Father of Vocational Guidance Essay

Frank Parsons, the Father of Vocational Guidance - Essay Example Instead of the normal three years required to complete this degree, he did it in just one year. He passed the bar exams in the year 1881. This great effort severely damaged his health, leading to his relocation to New Mexico for renewal. Parsons got into practicing law in Boston. However, he found this not satisfying. He joined a publishing firm where he assisted in preparing textbooks of law. He formulated a philosophy that resulted to impeccable outpouring of writing works as well as other community activities. He then developed a liking for reading and making contacts with people. This had great effect on his career later. He lectured on English literature for a long time the YMCA in Boston. He later had his lectures published under the title, "The World's Best Books" in the year 1889. He became a lecturer at Boston University between the years 1892 and 1905. In his work published in the year 1894 and titled "Our Country's Need", Parsons made a formulation of his views of mutualism. He made an attempt to integrate socialism with individual liberty. He was under great influence by Herbert Spencer and Edward Bellamy from England and the United States respectively. Another notable influence on Parson was "Christian socialism." Parson's aim was to come up with ways to control essential firms like the railroad as well as the telegraph but at the same time honoring the private sector and personal initiatives. He made a good combination of conservatism and radicalism. Most of Parsons' great works confirmed him as a competent social critic. They include "Rational Money", published in the year 1899 and "Direct Legislation", published in the year 1900. Others are "Telegraphic Monopoly" and "Cities for the People" that were both published in the year 1899. Between the years 1897 and 1899, he served as a professor at Kansas Sate Agricultural College but still maintained his connections at Boston. During this period, he became extremely radical due to the Populists' Party greatly succeeding in Kansas. This administrational change led to his sacking together with his associates. This led to their founding of the Ruskins College of Social Sciences. He took up the position of a professor as well as the dean. However, the undertaking did not succeed, leading to his return to Boston. While in Boston, Parsons became seriously involved in various reform causes, traveling across the country and beyond. For instance, he persuaded the owners of Filenes Departmental Stores in Boston to add cooperative principles to their human resources policy. He also took part in the construction of the Civic Service Home. This home was to settle the immigrant groups. He assisted in organizing the Breadwinner's Institute, offering a diploma education to the less fortunate in the society. Parson's writings such as "The Trusts", "Stories of New Zealand", "Railroads", "Heart of the Railroad Problem" and "The People", together with his many articles made him a respected voice progressivism. This however played a big role towards his death on 26th September 1908. "Choosing a Vocation" was published in 1909. This was the first such writing in the career guidance. "Legal Doctrines" and "Social Progresses" followed in the year 1911. Frank Parsons is widely referred to as the "Father of Vocational Guidance." Despite being trained as an engineer, he authored many books on the social-reform movement. He also wrote on

FOOD AND BIVERAGE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

FOOD AND BIVERAGE - Essay Example In order to cut-down costs and gain significant revenue, companies in the hospitality industry prioritized research-based branding strategies, to their specific target group in order to acquire corporate identity and quality service (Morgan, Pritchard and Pride). Distinguishing their brand image and differentiation of their product became of primary importance for all hospitality firms (hotels, restaurants etc). In the recent years, many international hotel firms have turned to a major branding strategy called co-branding. In this concept an existing restaurant is incorporated within a hotel, a practice considered to have been started by Victor Bergen during the 1930’s, establishing fast food outlets in hotels on the highway which had a customer base of American families travelling away from home. The incorporation of this model to the modern hotel industry has been observed to change dramatically both consumer attitude and hotel management (Rutherford). This review plans to a nalyze the current position of strategic co-branding in the hospitality sector and how the tourism industry could be benefited. Furthermore, possible problems are discussed and recommendations to potential managers wanting to employ strategic co-branding techniques are given. 2. Co-branding definition While co-branding doesn’t have a single definition, it generally involves the strategic alliance of at least two firms (Knowles, Diamantis and El-Mourhabi). It has also been described as â€Å"a form of cooperation between two or more brands with significant customer recognition, in which all the participants’ brand names are retained† (Blackett, Boad and Interbrand). Furthermore, Hilyer (Hillyer and Tikoo) explains the definition of co-brading when a product features more than one brand name. Among all these definitions, some common characteristics can be identified. The fundamental part in co-branding is the requirement of two or more brands that are widely recog nised while the brand name is kept intact and the duration of the whole project varies between medium to long (Kippenberger). Therefore, co-branding can be interpreted into reality in two manners: either joining two brand names together in forming a new or unique product or having two recognised brands under the same space, such as T.G.I Fridays within Holiday Inn hotel (Hahm and Khan). 3. Notable examples of Co-branding Based on the model used in the early 1930’s, with Bergen’s restaurants and hotels, the hotel industry began to employ co-branding strategies when it was faced with unprofitable sales. Today a large variety of hotels and restaurants use co-branding as a means of enhancing distribution of products or services together with increasing the range of their customer base, helping them to reach maximum profitability (Boone). Marriot Hotels is considered on of the pioneers of the chain hotels to be the first to implement an internationally recognised brand such as Pizza Hut in 1989 (Boone; Kippenberger). Following their example, the co-branding of TGI Fridays within Holiday Inn hotels turned out to be a financial success. After the conversion of the Pennsylvania Holiday Inn restaurant to TGI Friday’s, the increase from $450,000 to $4 million within the first year only

Changing social and medical attitudes affect ill health

Changing social and medical attitudes affect ill health Health was defined by The World Health Organisation in 1948 as, a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Varying definitions of health can be found depending on an individuals perspective. Medics will focus on biological cause while sociologists argue that health is a product of social and environmental factors. (Naidoo Wills, 2009a: chapters 12) In the early 19th Century there was focus on the elimination of diseases such as plague, smallpox and cholera. With industrialization and rapid urbanization, as the 19th century progressed, health issues became focused on environmental issues such as clean water supplies, disposal of waste and better housing. (Naidoo Wills, 2009b:p3) Health inequalities have been recognised in the UK since William Farr first published statistics in 1837. It remains the case today that health is directly influenced by social class and the effects of poverty and associated behaviour factors. (Ewles, 2005: pp243-245) Urbanisation is the process of population concentration. The 19th century saw the massive growth of cities and the migration of the population from the country and into cities on a scale never seen before. Houses became over crowded with entire families living in one room. The process caused huge problems for public health. (Pathfinder pack on Urbanisation the move to the city in the 19th century, n.d.) (Urbanisation in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, n.d.) Urbanisation was the most profound effect of the Industrial Revolution which developed at a pace in Britain between 1800 and 1850. Cities grew rapidly and lacked sanitation, accumulated sewage, had high rates of crime and poverty and consequently high rates of disease. Heavy use of coal led to an accumulation of dirt and grime. (Urbanisation, n.d.) Larger cities were a necessity of industrial growth but the conditions they brought were in many ways regressive. (Lee, 1995:p48) The Growth of Cities 1801-1901 in thousands. City 1801 1851 1901 Birmingham 71 233 523 Bradford 13 105 280 Leeds 53 172 429 Liverpool 82 376 704 Manchester 70 303 645 Newcastle 33 88 247 Nottingham 29 57 240 Sheffield 46 135 407 (Reynoldson 1996:p10) A part of London was described by Thomas Southwood-Smith in 1838 as follows, Beckwith Row has an open drain. The houses have common, open privies (toilets) which are in the most offensive condition. In one house I found six persons living in a very small room, two in bed, ill with fever. (Reynoldson, 1996: p110) http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:HcwSJOrT5lACaM:http://www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk/stories/the_industrial_town/06.ST.02/img/IM.1064_zp.jpg Slums in 1872 London [Making the modern world, n.d.) There were no controls on the standard of housing and the Government maintained a laissez-faire attitude. That is they believed there should be no central government intervention. Local efforts were haphazard and insufficient. (Todd, 2002:p31) Smallpox was the greatest killer at the beginning of the 19th century. Jenner observed that milkmaids who caught a mild form of the disease or cowpox didnt develop smallpox. From this study, Jenner discovered a method of vaccination against smallpox. He faced much opposition to his discovery as some people simply didnt like anything new while others described his theory as bizarre. Jenner wasnt a fashionable London Doctor and he couldnt explain how or why vaccination worked so he wasnt taken seriously. Some people called it an interference with nature. (Lee 1995:p44) (Todd, 2002:p32) Success of the vaccine was put down to coincidence by some Doctors who made money through an older practice of inoculation. (Lee, 1995:p44) A smallpox epidemic, during which 40,000 people died, resulted in the government making the smallpox vaccination compulsory in 1840 even though some continued to argue that this measure was against human rights. Smallpox declined, until by 1900 it had almost disappeared. This was the first example of the government accepting responsibility for an area of public health. (Lee, 1995:p44) Cartwright in A social History of Medicine (1977) describes Jenners discovery as one of the most beneficial changes in the history of social medicine.his work is recognised as the starting point of attempts to combat infection by immunization. (adapted from Lee, 1995:p45) Jenners work and the train of events that followed affected a social revolution. Individual choice was sacrificed for the interests of the community. (Cartwright, 1977:p92) At the same time, two other diseases also presented a challenge. TB cholera were more difficult to tackle as both diseases spread as a result of poor living conditions. TB or consumption took hold as towns grew and took over from smallpox as the greatest killer disease. Cholera epidemics struck several times during the first half of the 19th century. In 1854 John Snow proved that cholera was connected with polluted water. He was able to show that a water pump in the Broadgate area of London was the origin of 500 cases. People using another pump nearby did not catch the disease. Once the Broadgate pump was put out of action, no further cases were reported in the area. (Lee, 1995:p51) http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:dkmPPVrjlaE3NM:http://historyday.coldray.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/john-snow.jpg John Snow (1813-1858) http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:fd12xpKjN8GveM:http://thedoublethink.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/450px-john_snow_memorial_and_pub.jpg Replica Broadgate pump (www.health.eku.edu/ehs/faculty/darryl_barnett.htm) A fierce debate raged about responsibility for public health with strong views about the role of the government. Several arguments for non-intervention were put forward including that government intervention would interfere with peoples basic rights or the freedom to be dirty. Some people believed that if the state acted to improve housing the moral courage of the poor would be reduced. (Lee 1953: p53) A letter to The Times in 1854 read, We prefer to take our chance with cholera than be bullied into health. Many people have died from a good washing. (Quoted in Lee, 1995:p53) But several important people put the case for action by the state including William Farr and Thomas Southwood-Smith who both recommended government intervention. Tonge in Challenging History 1700-1914 says, Of all the campaigners for improved public health, Edwin Chadwick stands monumentally above the rest. Chadwick stressed the connection between public health and disease and how such factors needed to be addressed by government intervention. Chadwicks report The sanitary conditions of the Labouring Population of Great Britain was published in 1842 and recommended that the government take steps to improve drainage, remove rubbish from the streets and improve the water supply. (Wilkes: 2007: p 92) (Reynoldson: 1996, p 113) http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:iK4kyWJkVFmbWM:http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/SirEdwinChadwick.jpg/200px-SirEdwinChadwick.jpg Edwin Chadwick (www.answers.com/topic/edwin-chadwick) The government distanced itself from Chadwicks report largely because of the influential figures he has discredited and the laissez-faire debate lasted for much of the 19th century. Loosely translated this means do not interfere. Some members of parliament were making money from rent on the slums and refused to tear them down. Eventually, however, the social effects of economic growth were so severe that gradually the state became more involved in issues of public health. The great stink in 1858 (when a heat wave caused the Thames to smell worse than ever) inspired the government into action. (Wilkes 2007). In 1861, Prince Alberts death from typhoid was attributed to contaminated water from the Thames and put further pressure on the government to do something. (Cartwright, 1977, p95) In 1867, working class men were given the right to vote. Political parties realised that by promising to improve living conditions, they could secure the working class vote. When the Conservatives won the 1874 election, they introduced many public health reforms. Aaron Wilkes (Medicine through Time) sees this as the most important reason why politicians began to make improvements. Some cities including Birmingham and Liverpool started some clearance of slums, built sewers, improved refuse collection services and opened public baths. Some private companies such as Lever, Cadbury and Rowntree saw the benefits of providing good housing for their workers. It was, however, not until after the First World War that extensive slum clearance was commenced. (Lee 1995:p57) Miasma or the infectious mist given off by rotting animals, rubbish and human waste was thought to be the cause of many of the epidemics in the 19th Century. Scientists identified germs using a microscope but believed that the disease caused germs rather than the other way round. This was known as spontaneous generation. Louis Pasteur questioned this theory and was able to prove that germs caused disease but many Doctors wouldnt entertain his ideas. It took the German Doctor, Koch, to apply Pasteurs theory to human disease. Koch was able to prove that germs caused TB, cholera and anthrax. (Mantin Pulley, 1988:p49) http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:OdyqTCWJiq49tM:http://web.ukonline.co.uk/b.gardner/pasteur.jpg Louis Pasteur (web.ukonline.co.uk/b.gardner/pasteur.htm) Pasteur built on Kochs work and developed a vaccine for rabies. Soon the germs responsible for typhus, tetanus, typhoid, pneumonia, meningitis, plague, septicaemia and dysentery were identified. Once germs were discovered vaccines could be made. Scientists now had a powerful new weapon to fight disease. (Wilkes, 2007:p88) Vaccination is one of the greatest success stories of modern medicine. Smallpox has been wiped out and tuberculosis and polio have been significantly reduced. Children are now regularly vaccinated against a number if diseases. (Lee, 1995:82) The smallpox vaccine was given free in 1840 but it was another 100 years before vaccination against TB was provided. This was followed by vaccines for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus (1954), polio (1955), measles (1964) and rubella (1969). (Lee, 1995:p82) Progress continues today as a new vaccine has been introduced this year which protects girls against the virus that causes cervical cancer. The 19th Century also saw developments in surgery. The problems were pain and infection. The breakthrough came with the development of anaesthetics and antiseptics. (Lee, 1995: pp5961) William Moston experimented with ether and James Simpson tried chloroform. As with most medical discoveries, the first reaction of surgeons was criticism. Some argued that the long term effects were unknown and others objected on religious grounds. In some cases patients still died if the anaesthetic wasnt correctly administered. Some people thought that surgeons would cut off whatever they liked while the patient was unconscious and army Doctors thought the use of anaesthetic was soft. (Reynoldson, 1996:97). Others said that it was unnatural to ease a womans pain during childbirth. The breakthrough came when Queen Victoria used chloroform during the birth of her eighth baby and use of anaesthetics then became common practice. (Wikes, 1988: p101) The use of anaesthetics was a great step forward but it didnt stop deaths from infection after the operation. In the 19th Century hospitals were dirty places. Patients with disease were herded together, the same instruments were used on many patients and Doctors didnt change their blood stained coats between operations. Doctor Joseph Lister was influenced by Pasteur and believed it important to kill the bacteria in the operating theatre. He did this by spraying carbolic acid (although his theory wasnt quite accurate as the bacteria was really on the instruments not in the air, but the incidence of infection was reduced by some of the antiseptic also landing on the instruments in use). Lister encountered much opposition as nurses and doctors complained about the smell and the amount of time taken to clean the theatre. Lister didnt communicate well and surgeons who didnt work with him were not convinced. (Lee.1995: p64) Eventually antiseptics and cleanliness came together to form the modern approach to surgery or asepsis. By the beginning of the 20th century Doctors were operating in a germ free environment, using sterilised equipment and wearing gowns masks. Death rates reduced massively; at Newcastle Infirmary before 1873, 59.2% of patients died after an operation (pre antisepsis), after 1873 only 4% died (post antisepsis). (Figures from The Lancet in 1878 in Lee, 1995:p65). Use of a carbolic spray during an operation circa. 1880 and the sterile environment of a modern operating department. http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:476AON2yuy0EGM:http://www.answersingenesis.org/assets/images/articles/aid/v4/antiseptic-surgery.jpg http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:sgiACWjAMvVpNM:http://www.workingmats.com/images/Operating_Theatre_115313_08.jpg (www.history.langtreeshout.org/tag/lister/) (www.workingmats.com/images/Operating_Theatre) During the Crimean war (1854/56) Florence Nightingales influence saw death rates reduce as she was responsible for organising better water supplies and food and keeping the wards clean. Fiona Reynoldson in Medicine Through Time says the death rate of wounded soldiers in hospital reduced by 40% under Nightingales influence. In 1899 a recruitment campaign for men to fight in the Boar War highlighted the fact that around 40% of those volunteering were unfit for military duty. In 1904 a government report concluded that there needed to be more government intervention to improve the health of children. When the Liberal government was elected in 1905, a large number of reforms were introduced including free school meals for poor children, a free school medical service and women were taught about hygiene and childcare. Pensions for over 70s and basic sick and unemployment pay were also introduced. Over the next 30 years successive governments took measures to improve the health of children and mortality rates dropped. (Wilkes, 2007:p114) During the 1st World War, Prime Minister Lloyd George promised soldiers returning homes fit for heroes. The government set itself a target of building half a million decent homes by 1933. The war revolutionized society and made us move in a new and different direction. (Fenwick-Baines, 2009) When Britain was plunged into the First World War the need for a way to combat staphylococcus, a highly resistant bacteria, was urgently needed. Many soldiers died, not from the bullets, but from the infection caused by the bullets deep in the body. Conditions in the trenches were appalling and wounds quickly turned septic. Alexander Fleming worked on wounds and infections during the war and made an important discovery that the penicillin mould would attack and kill certain bacteria. Fleming is credited with its discovery but other scientists went on to develop the drug for human use. Initially, money wasnt available for its manufacture but The Second World War was vital in progressing its mass production. The American government recognised its value and agreed to pay drug companies to manufacture vast quantities to treat injured soldiers. Penicillin is still the most widely used antibiotic and is used to treat many bacterial infections, many other antibiotics followed . By the end o f the war, drug companies made it available for general use. (Wilkes, 2007: p118) (Board works, 2003) The problem of blood shortage baffled Doctors for centuries but hundreds of wounded soldiers provided the strongest possible reason for expediting the establishment of the new blood transfusion service. This is another typical example of war acting as a catalyst for change. The 2nd World War actually saw the health of the nation improve as rationing meant that fatty sugary foods were in short supply. The government urged people to dig for victory and grow their own vegetables. The government promoted healthy living including basic hygiene and immunisation against diphtheria all part of a campaign to have a healthy nation able to stand up to Hitler.(Board works, 2003) Dig For Victory http://www.5aday.nhs.uk/images/top_tips_2/pic_carrot_eyes.jpg The Dig for Victory campaign during the 2nd World War is remarkably similar to todays Try 5 message. (www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g :2009) (www.5aday.nhs.uk: ) Birth rates reduced with the availability of contraception and with fewer mouths to feed, better food was provided for children. Between the wars little changed as the economy experienced difficulties (the 1930s depression) but during and after the Second World War there was a further huge development. In 1942 The Beveridge Report recommended a welfare state and that the government should help people from the cradle to the grave. After the war people wanted change and a social revolution. The war was over and it was time to look to the future. Some people did not like the new ideas and said everyone should be independent, the rich objected to paying heavier taxes to fund the welfare state. (Cartwright 1977: p173) The suggestions made by Beveridge were not immediately put into force as the cost was questioned but when Labour took power in 1945, the NHS was born. From the introduction of the NHS in 1948, everyone was entitled to free medical treatment. The welfare state and the NHS in particular met with opposition. Churchill and the conservative party felt the cost was too much for the economy to bear. Critics suggested the health service was wasteful and that people were getting things they didnt need. The service was also free to overseas visitors and some argued that this was over-generous. The BMA objected, initially fearing Doctors would lose their independence and that their income would reduce as an employee of the NHS. Compromise was only reached when agreement was given that Doctors would still be able to take on private, fee-paying patients. (Lee 1995:95) (Reynoldson, 1996:118) (Lloyd T. 1986:289) (Wilkes, 2007:123) The dawn of the NHS was a huge change in the way people accessed healthcare. After the war New Towns were built to replace the inner city slums. The 1947 Town and Country Planning Act identified green belts where houses would not be allowed to swallow up the countryside. In 1954 the clean air act reduced smoke and smog in cities. In 1980, The Black Report stated that although health had improved since the introduction of the welfare state, huge inequalities in still existed between the rich and the poor. It concluded the reason for the disparity to be poverty. (BBC History, 2009) 1992 saw the publication of The Health of the Nation. This was the first ever strategy for healthcare improvement setting out objectives and measurable targets in four key areas: heart disease stroke, cancers, mental health, HIV/AIDS and accidents. The areas were selected because they were either a major cause of premature death or avoidable, interventions were possible and achievements could be monitored. (Childs, 1996) In 2000 health authorities became more autonomous and the establishment of a healthy competition between them. However, postcode can now determine the quality of healthcare provided and whether the hospital can afford or is willing to pay for the specific drugs and treatments, Press reports in recent months have highlighted how some patients been declined expensive cancer drugs by a particular hospital while it is provided to patients of a neighbouring authority. This contradicts the ethos of the NHS its position of equality of provision for all. Massive changes took place throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in terms of public health provision and scientific and medical discoveries. The NHS didnt stay completely free. It is rarely out of the news as waiting lists get longer because people are living longer. The main problem is funding as modern drugs and treatments are expensive.Most Infections and diseases can be prevented or cured but Doctors still struggle with heart disease and cancer. Viral infections like the common cold and AIDS cannot be cured and emphasis is now placed on educating people about how to avoid diseases like AIDS and lung cancer through lifestyle changes. (Wilkes A. 2007:p124) Two aspects of modern living which can have a detrimental effect on the health of the population are; smoking and diet. Although initially promoted as cleansing the lungs by tobacco manufacturers, the detrimental effects of smoking have been know for half a century. Naidoo Willis in Public Health and Health Promotion: developing practice highlight smoking as the single most preventable cause of ill health and premature death. A third of cancer deaths are linked to smoking and it is also linked to heart and lung disease. Smoking is estimated to cost the NHS  £1.7billion each year (Dept of Health 1998 Royal College of Physicians 1992 in Naidoo Willis 2009) Marlboros for Mummy Examples of early cigarette advertising. http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/03/uk_goodbye_tobacco_ads/img/2.jpg (news.bbc.co.uk//html/2.stm) (news.bbc.co.uk//html/2.stm, 2009) Early Cigarette advertising actually promoted the health benefits claiming relief from asthma, wheezing and hay fever. Craven called itself the Doctors Choice. Marlbroro promoted the benefits of smoking to Mothers. In 1998 the government banned tobacco advertising and targeted an anti-smoking campaign at children, pregnant women and disadvantaged adults. Demand is controlled by taxation and a ban on smoking in a public places including pubs. Obesity is a growing problem and has trebled since 1980. It is linked to social disadvantage and the way childrens lifestyles have changed over the last 50 years (more TV/computer time, less physical activity, convenience foods, working Mothers with less time). There is mounting pressure to ban the advertising of junk food. A high fat diet has been linked to heart disease and some cancers. NHS spending on sickness attributed to obesity has been estimated to exceed  £3.6billion. (Joint Health Surveys Unit, 2002 Mulvihill Quigley, 2003 Naidoo Willis 2009:p239). Last year the government launched the change4life education campaign to promote the message eat well, move more, live longer which encourages parents to make sure their children have a minimum of one hour exercise each day and reduce the amount of fat in their diet. http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:lg0Gy-_B7JmSnM:http://www.sunseaandcycling.com/Files/Images/C4L_master-logo-rgb.jpg http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:n39JMfcD3UH9DM:http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl2/1/15111/11_2009/cb3240a4f35793dc_uk-change-4-life-ad.jpg (www.nhs.uk/Change4life, 2009) Public Health interventions have evolved as the government have taken responsibility for living conditions and health service provision, mass vaccination and immunization programmes. The epidemiological transition in the 20th Century saw the main causes of death and illness shift from infections to illness such as heart disease and cancer where lifestyle is a huge factor. (Naidoo Wills 2005:4) Current public health measures include mass screening programmes for example for breast and cervical cancers, extensive vaccination programmes as well as education and advice delivered by practitioners and the media campaigns. Examples of recent/current health media campaigns. http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:vS8pq7HettyShM:http://www2.glos.ac.uk/offload/staff/news/swineflu.jpg http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:qNfrnzs-ahQTYM:http://draust.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/nhs-measles-poster.jpg http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:gslEVyv3VyG7SM:http://www.elements4health.com/images/stories/conditions/breast-cancer-ribbon-2.jpg (www.chesterfield.gov.uk/lowgraphic).. (draust.wordpress.com) (www.elements4health.com/report-highlights-ser) The political agenda is dominated by social responsibility and recognition of the links between poverty and ill health. Acheson defines health promotion as the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts of society. (Acheson 1988 in Naidoo Wills, 2005:4)

Executive Summary of Burbank Boards Essay -- Burbank Boards Business M

Executive Summary of Burbank Boards TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 PROBLEM DEFINITION 4 NEW SYSTEM OBJECTIVES 6 NEW SYSTEM CONSTRAINTS 7 NEW SYSTEM PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 8 TEXAS INSTRUMENT - COMPOSER 9 ENTITY-RELATIONSHIP DIAGRAMS 10 ACTIVITY HIERARCHY DIAGRAMS 11 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction Current System New System  · objectives  · recommendation  · advantages of new system  · how it will solve problems  · implementation  · tools used to document the new system ie.. ERD PROBLEM DEFINITION The main problem at Burbank Boards: Management has not continued to use an out-dated computer based system without realizing the importance of using efficient information systems to gain a competitive edge. Symptoms of the problem at Burbank Boards: 1. Redundacy of effort  · Telemarketing operators enter order data on sales order forms and then key much of the same data into their terminals.  · Buyers fill out Purchase Order Requisition forms and then data entry operators key in the same data.  · Manufacturing orders are placed using paper forms and this data is then keyed into the computer. 2. Poor responsiveness of the system  · Customer orders are not filled as they are received. Instead they are held until the order batches are processed by the order entry, inventory, and billing systems.  · Buyers are notified of the need of raw material replenishment the day after the computer detects that the reorder point has been reached. 3. High credit risks  · The current credit classes have resulted accepting several poor credit customers and in turn, several bad debts have been incurred. 4. Lack of production standards and controls  · Production workers often do not accurately record start and completion times for their jobs sheets.  · The production schedule prepared by production planning and control is only a close approximation to what can be expected. 5. High buyer turnover  · It is extremely difficult to train new buyers who need to be highly skilled at negotiating. Lack of sufficient information may lead to poor purchases.  · Low morale could be contributing to the high turnover. Loss of a buyer leads to loss of valuable experience and expertise that is hard to compensate for. 6. Delayed deliveries by suppliers  · Late delivery dates have caused the company to reschedule... ... will be listed in this report. This type of report is important when the structure of the entities are being developed, and later when they are being coded. Heavy documentation of those areas is necessary to ensure cohesion and consistency throughout the use of the entities. Activity Hierarchy Diagrams Activity Hierarchy Diagramming (AHD) identifies the lowest-level processes of interest to the business through decomposition. AHD shows levels of increasing detail for each function and process until activities decompose to the lowest level (elementary processes). A process is a defined business activity whose executions may be identified in terms of the input and output of entities of specific types. Analyzing business activities independently of data helps you understand:  · The activities of the business  · The nature of information required and produced by these activities, independent of the organizational structure and the existing information systems An accurate and complete activity model lays the foundation for subsequent system design and implementation efforts. More specifically, the upcoming phases require this information in one form or another.

Individual Management and Leadership Plan

Introduction This brief is aimed at investigating and reporting my own individual management and leadership plan. It covers identifying and owning my individual leadership development requirements using a range of appropriate diagnostic tools. Alongside with this is the planning of the development of these skills, supporting such plan with appropriate use of academic and leaning theories. Such plans are placed in an organisational or industry context, in which clear links to organisational strategies are created. Appropriate professional reflection at relevant intervals is incorporated. According to Gallos (2008), leadership is a complex social process that is grounded on the values, knowledge, and skills of leaders and followers. Adaptive change is always involved in the concept of leadership. Leaders are able to see new opportunities and facilitate a multifaceted interactive process that reinforces individual and collective growth. Ladkin (2010) states that understanding leadership as a lived experience requires studying it within the specific context in which it operates. It is important for leaders to relate to followers where they must work together within a specific context and work towards a clear purpose. Kezar (2009) has articulated that leadership is a property of whole systems rather than of individuals, which means that effectiveness in leadership is a result of those associations or relationships amongst parts rather than of any one part of such system (i.e. the leader). This will be illustrated in the devised plan and placing such plan in an industry context. Identifying and Owning my Individual Leadership Development Requirements This part of the paper effectively identifies my own individual leadership development requirements through the use of a range of appropriate diagnostic tools such as Belbin Test, Four Temperaments Personality Test, and Myers Briggs Assessment. These individual leadership development requirements consist of what one knows about himself, what he does not know about himself, and how to find it out. The reason why one must identify and own his/her individual leadership development requirements is because of the need to examine where his skills, behaviour, and attitudes are placed within leadership and collaborative continuum and how he/she helps in building leadership in the organisation. It is also important to link personality and character with leadership because personality and character determine how one leads a group or organisation (Adair, 2007). According to Kezar (2009), team and collaborative leadership models highlight the significance of focusing on organisational relationships, processes, and structures that foster collaboration, instead of emphasis on identifying and cultivating individual leadership skills. The Myers Briggs Assessment tends to yield accurate type results through the use of administered and scored questionnaire (Quenk, 2009). (Since this test is not available online, it is only cited here as one of the assessment tools that assesses personality/behaviour and is not utilised in actual assessment.) The Belbin Test, on the other hand, measures the behavioral contribution of an individual through Belbin team role theory, making this test a behavioural test rather than a personality test. Team role preferences are identified in Belbin reports to enable the individual to know and appreciate the extent of their strengths and the behaviour that must be developed for the benefit of the team (Riding and Rayner, 2001). From the Team Roles Test, which is part of the Belbin Test that I have taken, my strengths are identified as the ability to effectively resolve conflict with teammates and ability to plan and coordinate with teammates. The potential strengths, on the other hand, are satisfactory interpersonal skills, ability to communicate with others with relative ease, and ability to manage various tasks and other aspects of teamwork. The limitations I exhibit, which require further improvements for my team role performance, are lack of team-based problem-solving ability, setting only few goals for team projects, and preference for individual work instead of team work (Psych Tests, 2014). The Belbin Test clearly shows the strengths, potential strengths (which can turn into real strengths in the future, given one’s increased maturity), and limitations (which can also turn into strengths, given their realisation through the test) for one’s undertaking of the team roles. On the other hand, the Four Temperaments Personality Test yields for me a 75-per cent score for each of the Sanguine, Choleric, and Melancholic aspect, whilst 58 per cent for the Phlegmatic aspect. This would mean that I am a people-person who likes socialising and exhibits optimism, enthusiasm, compassion, impulsiveness, and self-indulgence. Being choleric, the results show that I am extroverted, task-oriented, and seek competition and success at all cost, with strong leadership skills and passion for work. Being melancholic, I am respectful, compassionate, and possess intuitive traits. My phlegmatic traits, which are underplayed by the three other traits -sanguine, choleric, and melancholic- are passive aggressiveness and calmness (How Much Do I, 2014). These traits play an influential stance on how I approach leadership and teamwork. My sanguine, choleric, and melancholic traits can be used in how I undertake leadership and team roles in my work towards achieving set goals. My kno wledge of both these dominant and negligible traits based on the four temperaments supports my knowledge of my skills based on the Belbin Test. Planning the Development of Mentioned Skills This part of the paper includes planning for the development of the skills mentioned above. These skills are the potential skills and limitations identified in the Belbin Test. The Four Temperaments Personality Test shows one’s personality based on temperaments, which greatly aids in my understanding of my inclination to developing the potential skills and cited limitations. The plan includes the following: Improving my interpersonal skills from satisfactory level to above-average level Increasing my ability to communicate with others with relative ease Improving team-based problem-solving ability setting several goals for team projects instead of only a few ones Increasing my preference for team work over individual work in accomplishing goals Improving my interpersonal skills from satisfactory level to above-average level The importance of increasing my interpersonal skills from satisfactory level to above-average level is seen in the fact that effective leadership necessitates not only analytical and decision-making skills but also interpersonal skills (Grant, Rothstein, and Burke, 2010). Such importance is evidenced by leader-member exchange theory, which focuses on the low-exchange and high-exchange dyadic relationships between the leader and the followers (Rainey, 2009), and transformational leadership theory, which states that leaders must inspire followers towards more accomplishment by focusing on the value of the followers and helping them align these values with those of the organisation (Givens, 2008; Nohria and Khurana). Additionally, Robinson (2011) underlines the importance of interpersonal skills by linking them to goal setting, such that the quality of goal setting is always connected to the quality of (interpersonal) relationships. Goal setting will remain empty unless leaders are a ble to motivate the people who are required to achieve them. Grant and colleagues (2010) note the dichotomy between analytical and decision-making skills on one hand, and interpersonal skills on the other. It is important to delineate what constitutes interpersonal skills in order to place the significance of this skill to the wider leadership context. According to Grant et al. (2010), interpersonal skills development for leaders and managers refer to complex abilities of conflict management and negotiation skills, rater than just plainly focusing on engaging people in quality interactions, speaking and listening effectively, and providing positive feedback. As for improving my interpersonal skills, this will be done by attending a skills training seminar focused on interpersonal skills for effective leadership (e.g. Grant et al., 2010). Increasing my ability to communicate with others with relative ease The importance of communication to leadership is that it is the process used for setting and communicating clear goals (Robinson, 2011). Improving this skill is through constant practice; meaning, talking to people more often. This is however not a difficult stance to undertake since as my score in the Four Temperaments Personality Test shows, I have dominant extrovert behaviour shown by my sanguine and choleric tendencies, which indicate an interest to communicate with people (e.g. Ricketts and Ricketts, 2011). Management theory’s human relations movement highlights the importance of people motivation (Banhegyi, 2007), which is indirectly linked to communicating with them to foster smooth relationships. Improving team-based problem-solving ability In my plan to develop my management of various tasks and other aspects of teamwork, an important point to consider is that a leader cannot rely on teamwork to develop automatically without exerting some conscious effort on his/her part. Without the leader’s influence, it is still possible for teamwork to develop to some extent, but this setting is unlikely for the work group to develop member satisfaction and maximum task performance (Butterfield, 2011). In order to develop my team-based problem solving ability, my course of action is to read books on the subject. Applying into practice what I have learned conceptually and theoretically about it will yield positive outcomes, leading to desired improvements in my management of various tasks and other aspects of teamwork. Theodore Newcomb’s Balance Theory explains why people tend to be attracted towards group formation, and this is because of the similarity in attitudes in their pursuit for a common goal. Such similarity allows them to share ideas with one another and function as a team. Lack of similar attitudes leads to loss of balance, resulting in a team not being formed (Kandula, 2006). An important thing to consider is that team-based learning is a result of good team-based decision making and problem-solving ability (Michealsen, Sweet, and Parmelee, 2008). Setting several goals for team projects instead of only a few ones Goal-setting involves identifying the goals to be established, gaining the commitment of people who are tasked to achieve them, and communicating these goals to people who have interest in their achievement (Robinson, 2011). Having this renewed realisation that setting many goals rather than just a few ones is more preferable to effective leadership and goal attainment, the plan is focused on taking a conscious effort on enumerating several goals every time goal-setting is being undertaken, and suggesting to the group a more increased identification of goals each time the group tends to identify only a few ones. The point is consciously putting into practice this knowledge. The relevance of setting several goals instead of only a few ones is apparent; a team that identifies more goals is able to achieve more goals, compared to a team that identifies only a few goals, which becomes delimited to achieving only these few goals. The Goal Setting Theory explains the importance of goals in motivating people to work, and consequently, in making them behave with a purpose (Lussier, 2012). This would mean that not only is goal-setting beneficial for the organisation but for the people working on these goals as well. Increasing my preference for team work over individual work in accomplishing goals Since leadership is about leading people, individual work is not the paramount aspect of goal achievement, but teamwork. In a team, people work together towards achieving desired goals, have full and sufficient understanding in the importance of these goals, how these goals may be achieved successfully, and what each one and the whole team may contribute to their successful achievement. If the leader and even the team members are more focused on working individually rather than as a team, the essence of teamwork is lost. (Ricketts and Ricketts (2011) indicate that working as a team is more effective than working individually; thus, the motivation to utilise teamwork and the various literature on the importance of this concept (e.g. Dyer, Dyer, and Dyer, 2007; Morgeson, Reider, and Campion, 2005; Valle and Witt, 2001). Since the results of my Four Temperaments Personality Test indicate that I have an extraverted temperament, this temperament would help in my ability to build team wor k. The result of my Four Temperaments Personality Test on the phlegmatic aspect, specifically self-indulgence, is a good point to consider in my current preference for individual work over team work. On the other hand, since my dominant sanguine and choleric propensities show that I am inclined to being extraverted, this preference is likely to be changed with ease, given such initial knowledge for its imperative change. Heneman and Greenberger (2002) state that the facilitation of team work is through the efforts of some extraverted individuals. Placing the Plan in an Organisational or Industry Context/Strategy Having accomplished the plan, the next step would be to place this in an organisational or industry context, creating clear links to organisational strategies. First of all, leadership is an important concept in the success of an organisation, which is why organisations always gear for effective leadership or management in the workplace. Leadership is different from seniority or one’s position in the hierarchy of his or her organisation. It is an influential relationship that takes place between a leader and his/her followers as they pursue certain changes or objectives that mirror shared meanings, purposes, and strategies (Mills, Mills, Forshaw, et al., 2007). The potential skills and limitations, on which the plan has been established, will eventually add up to my series of strengths identified by the Belbin Test. After implementing the plan, the expected outcomes for me would be above-average interpersonal skills, ability to communicate with others with relative ease, improved team-based problem solving ability, setting many goals for team projects, and increased preference for team work over individual work. These skills are useful in an organisational context; specifically in managing people where the leader/manager needs to unify his/her team towards successful goal attainment. By being able to work in a team and foster good communication skills, problem solving ability, and other skills thus cited as my strengths, I and my team would together work on the necessary aspects of several tasks, which we are responsible to accomplish. The retail industry is the specific industry context on which the plan is placed. This industry is characterised by several challenges in attaining competitive advantage because of the presence of new entrants, substitute products, bargaining power of customers and suppliers, and rivalry between existing competitors (Stonehouse, Campbell, Hamill, et al., 2004). These challenges serve as a factor for my pursuit for effective leadership and team roles, on which the plan is established. My ability to effectively resolve conflict with teammates and to plan and coordinate with them plays a significant role in smooth working relationships within the team. This importance is further seen in the claim that conflict and lack of team coordination serve as a barrier to attaining desired goals (e.g. Lencion, 2012; Rout and Omiko, 2007). Moreover, my improved interpersonal skills will enable me to communicate my ideas more effectively across people and departments. It has been noted that interpe rsonal skills refer to analytical and decision-making skills (Grant et al, 2010), which means that my possession of these skills will aid my team and the organisation in addressing the competition that retail companies commonly experience. These – together with my improved ability to communicate with others with relative ease, improved team-based problem-solving ability, setting many goals, and increased preference for team work over individual work – will help the company develop strategies for competitive advantage. Incorporating Appropriate Professional Reflection at Relevant Intervals This research has enabled me to identify my own strengths, limitations, and potential skills in leadership and team roles. Apparently, I had no prior ideas of these skills and limitations on a systematic basis, but the Belbin Test and the Four Temperaments Personality Test enabled me to find out approximately what these skills are. I certainly have an initial knowledge of myself, but these tests confirmed them and even added some more which I was not very aware of, such as my satisfactory level of my interpersonal skills, a need to communicate with others with relative ease, a need to improve my team-based problem-solving ability, and my inclination to set only a few goals instead of many goals for team projects. Some of the skills that I am already aware of are effective conflict resolution and ability to plan and coordinate with teammates. Moreover, the Four Temperaments Personality Test made me understand the ease that the potential skills and limitations may be improved. This is because of my dominant combination of sanguine, choleric, and melancholic temperaments, which have positive traits for leadership abilities (e.g. extraversion, being a people-person, optimism, and enthusiasm, being task-oriented, being competition-focused, and being success-specific and strong leadership skills). A further realisation that I have derived from this exercise is the importance of knowing oneself – strengths, skills, abilities, potentials, and limitations – since such knowledge serves as a prelude to being able to manage teams and the organisation as a whole. By being able to systematically identify my strengths, I have been personally assured of my abilities. By being able to also systematically identify my potentials and limitations, I have found out the areas that need improvement. These limitations and potentials allow me to better focus on what I must take an effort to improve on, whilst seeing them as a way for constructive criticism. In addition, no effective leader can function without self-realising his own strengths, skills, and limitations since only when he/she has fully realised them can they be able to function more effectively. Conclusion This paper has provided an investigation of one’s own individual management and leadership plan, using such diagnostic tools as the Belbin test and the Four Temperaments Personality Test. These tools helped identify and own my individual leadership development requirements. Through the Belbin Test, certain strengths were thus identified along with the potential skills and limitations. The Four Temperaments Personality Test also identified the dominant temperaments that helped in the assessment of one’s leadership propensities and abilities. The plan for development of the skills is centered on improving my interpersonal skills from satisfactory level to above-average level; increasing my ability to communicate with others with relative ease; improving team-based problem-solving ability; setting several goals for team projects instead of only a few ones; and increasing my preference for team work over individual work in accomplishing goals. The retail industry is the specific industry context on which the plan is placed. A professional reflection is conducted, focused on how the entire work is done. References Adair, J. (2007) Develop Your Leadership Skills. London: Kogan Page. Banhegyi, s. (2007) Fresh Perspectives: Management. Cape Town: Pearson Education South Africa (Pty) Ltd. Butterfield, J. (2011) Illustrated Course Guides: Teamwork and Team Building. Mason, OH: Course Technology Cengage Learning. Dyer, W. G., Dyer, W, G., and Dyer, J. H. (2007) Team Building: Proven Strategies for Improving Team Performance. NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Gallos, J. (2008) Business Leadership: A Jossey-Bass Reader. NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Givens, R. J. (2008) Transformational Leadership: The Impact on Organizational and Personal Outcomes. Emerging Leadership Journeys, 1 (1), 4-24. Grant, M., Rothstein, G., and Burke, R. (2010) Self-Management and Leadership Development. Glos, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited. Heneman, R. L. and Greenberger, D. B. (2002) Human Resource Management in Virtual Organizations. US: Information Age Publishing Inc. How Much Do I (2014) What Is My Personality TypeFour Temperaments Personality Test. Retrieved on May 10, 2014 from http://www.howmuchdoi.com/personality/What-is-my-personality-type-Four-Temperaments-Personality-Test-70.html Kandula, S. R. (2006) Performance Management: Strategies, Interventions, Drivers. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India Private Limited. Kezar, A. J. (2009) Rethinking Leadership in a Complex, Multicultural, and Global Environment. Sterling Virginia: Stylus Publishing. LLC. Larkin, D. (2010) Rethinking Leadership† New Look at Old Leadership Questions. Glos, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited. Lencion, P. (2012) The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: Intact Teams Participant Workbook. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer. Lussier, R. N. (2012) Management Fundamentals: Concepts, Applications, Skill Development. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Michealsen, L. K., Sweet, M., and Parmelee, D. X. (2008) Team-Based Learning: Small Group Learning’s Next Big Step. New York: Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mills, J. C., Mills, J. B., Forshaw, C., and Bratton, J. (2007) Organizational Behaviour in a Global Context. Plymouth, UK: NBN International. Morgeson, F. P., Reider, M. H., and Campion, M. A. (2005) Selecting Individuals in Team Settings: The Importance of Social Skills, Personality Characteristics, and Teamwork Knowledge. Personnel Psychology, 58 (3), 583-611. Nohria, N. and Khurana, R. (2010) Handbook of Leadership Theory and Practice: An HBS Centennial Colloquium. US: Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. Psych Tests (2014) Team Roles Test. Retrieved on May 10, 2014 from http://testyourself.psychtests.com/bin/transfer Quenk, N. L. (2009) Essentials of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Assessment. NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Rainey, H. G. (2009) Understanding and Managing Public Organizations. NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Ricketts, C. and Ricketts, J. (2011) Leadership: Personal Development and Career Success. Mason, OH: DELMAR Cengage Learning. Riding, R. J. and Rayner, S. (2001) Self Perception. Westport: Ablex Publishing. Robinson, V. (2011) Student-Centered Leadership. NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Rout, E. and Omiko, N. (2007) Corporate Conflict Management: Concepts and Skills. New Delhi: PHI Learning Private Limited. Stonehouse, G., Campbell, D., Hamill, J., and Purdie, T. (2004) Global and Transnational Business: Strategy and Management. Second Edition. 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The importance of time management

There are many reasons to have time management and organization in your office; they both can lead to failure of you or your business, and or your team etc. If you don’t have time management then you will not have the time to ensure you complete the tasks that need to be done and when they are suppose to be done, even worse ensuring that the ones that work under you will not complete what they need to complete. Ensuring that you stick to a tight schedule and pushing through to the final completion is what you need to do to accomplish the job.Time management is important in ensuring that all missions are accomplished proficiently and in a timely manner. When you can maintain your time management you show your leadership ability to accomplish the jobs. When you use time management to accomplish your tasking, this will give you more time to ensure that you can work on your organization. Ensuring that your office stays organized and clean is to ensure that at any given time you ca n find a form or any information you may need at any time.You need to ensure that you have the space to complete paper work and to ensure you are keeping paper work separated so you don’t lose where your place of work. When you complete your task it is very important to file the completed work to ensure that you keep the work together and don’t lose the information you have already to complete. This helps to ensure that you keep your work together and complete. When you ensure the organization you are normally more proficient. This allows you to work better and faster.When you work time management and office organization you become a more proficient as a leader, employee or as a boss. They work together to ensure success of your career if you take your time and put emplace the program. It’s your career take a hold of it and do what you have to do to ensure success. The 4 components of Office Organization, Filing system- Having a great hard copy filing system is a must, since at any given time a computer could crash, get a virus or just about anything else.A lot of businesses use share drives which load all or the files, work,  pictures and meeting schedules to where everyone involved can look at them, and these can all become corrupt as well. But if you keep hard copies of all your work no matter if the computer system crashes you always can do your research. For example I load drivers packets onto the share drive for the Army so when new soldiers need to be trained they can print off their paperwork needed, but when they come to me I as well keep their file in my filing system, so if they lose their license or move to a new post they can take their entire packet with them showing their training.I also keep all of the tests and files needed on hand in my filing system so that I can copy at any time. This ensures that I will always have my past and future training for all soldiers in my company past and present. Pitch method- This is my p ersonal favorite since it lowers the amount of paper useless information leaving from my desk. This is important so that information that is needed is used and the not needed is trash.It limits what we have to act on; it leaves us with future information as needed and things that need to be acted upon at this very moment. This here ensures that we have the best information for the school, public or the students at the present time. Office flow- Ensuring the flow of the office is very important to anyone and all of us to ensure we get the best results of our time being used. Ensuring you have the best conditions for you in your office so that your comfortable while you work is important to accomplishing the best work you can.Computers- Computers can make almost everyone’s job easier. As a mechanic they have the test equipment that brings up the diagnostic readings that can limit what is wrong with the vehicle. The computer can be organized and set up however that is convenient for you or to give a presentation, or for anyone to use. It can make your job easier. You can ensure proper order while using power point for presentations if you have to give more than one at time.