Pay as Motivator Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Pay as Motivator - Essay Example Skinner's reinforcement theory (1953) is perhaps the foundation for every study on the matter. By stating that behaviour can be shaped, changed, or maintained through positive and negative reinforcement, he implied that people can be made to behave in certain ways using levers of motivation. Later studies merely attempted to find what those levers were. Maslow (1954) proposed five levers he called human needs, with the lowest being physiological, and self-actualisation the highest; in between are the safety, social, and esteem needs. He said meeting these needs is the motivational key, which leads others to ask: if pay helps meet each of these needs, why is it that even highly-paid CEOs continue to milk their corporate cow, sometimes fatally Pay does not seem to give the complete answer. Perhaps Herzberg (1959) had an answer in his hygiene and motivational factors. He argued that a worker would be satisfied if the motivation factors are met, but not if hygiene factors are unmet. However, hygiene factors do not necessarily lead to job satisfaction. And like these other content theories, MacGregor's (1960) simplistic categorisation of employees does not fully explain the behaviour of greedy managers who used to be honest. An interesting trilogy of process theories (Adams, 1963; Vroom, 1964; Porter and Lawler, 1968) goes beyond the tangible and crosses the line into the realm of the mystical. Balance (Adams's Equity Theory), values and beliefs (the expectancy and instrumentality of Vroom), and intrinsic/extrinsic motivation (Porter and Lawler) point out that money is important, but there are others of greater value that managers need to know about workers so they can trigger the right behaviour. Fifteen years (1953-1968) of research concluded that to motivate others, one has to find out why people do the things they do. And now, some four decades later, as researchers continue investigating the human psyche in search of answers, the list of motivational levers just keeps on getting longer. Pay has never been near the top of the list, superseded by more important ones like job security, the loftiness of goals, and the meaningfulness of work (Ambrose and Kulik, 1999; Gagne and Deci, 2005). Are these findings supported by empirical evidence in the real world of the workplace We find out by looking at two well-known U.K. companies: The Royal Mail Holdings plc, a government-owned firm, and J. Sainsbury plc, the publicly listed owner of the third largest supermarket chain in the U.K. Both companies, just getting out of a serious business crisis, offer us a good look at the "pay as motivator" issue by considering the behaviour of managers and workers. We may find some evidence of how our motivation beast really looks like, discover whether the theories are right and, if not, gain some practical lessons from this exercise. The Reality: Hard Facts The Royal Mail Experience The Royal Mail is a 370-year old organisation that began when King Charles I introduced the postal services in Britain (Steven-Jones, 2004, p. 8-9). It was a government monopoly until the passage of the Postal Services Act of 2000 that liberalised the U.K. postal services market. The law was the culmination of several factors, but what triggered it was an event that took place three decades earlier, when in 1971 postal workers staged a six-week strike that threatened to cripple the

The Benefits of Live Performances over Recordings Research Paper

The Benefits of Live Performances over Recordings - Research Paper Example The sounds of today are not aimed at accuracy of sound. Due to their nature and the way they are made, there could never be a live equivalent of what is being played. The artist hears the music played through earphones, and then sings along to what they hear. Most of the music is dubbed over until perfection of the sound is as close as possible. While it may be extremely enjoyable to sit in your pajamas in bed listening to your favorite music or watching a live performance online, due to the technology involved, it’s not as realistic as an actual live performance. One of the greatest concerns of the music and performing industry today is piracy. We might be the only nation who doesn’t have terrestrial performance rights for sound recordings. Every time recordings are played, royalties are paid by the one broadcasting them. New legislation aimed at guaranteeing royalties for music and films downloaded from the internet, the Performance Rights Act in 2009, made it illegal to record, download, or copy music and videos intended for sale. In some ways this puts a damper on the home experience as many people are unaware of what constitutes piracy. It is the desire to experience the live event again, without paying twice, which fuels this situation. What happens when one listens to a live performance? It’s the whole ambiance of the situation that captivates live audiences. One must mentally prepare in order to fully appreciate their experience. It’s not enough to know about the music one expects to hear.... What a deal! (Recording History) The sounds of today are not aimed at accuracy of sound. Due to their nature and the way they are made, there could never be a live equivalent of what is being played. The artist hears the music played through earphones, and then sings along to what they hear. Most of the music is dubbed over until perfection of the sound is as close as possible. While it may be extremely enjoyable to sit in your pajamas in bed listening to your favorite music or watching a live performance online, due to the technology involved, it’s not as realistic as an actual live performance. (Recording History) One of the greatest concerns of the music and performing industry today is piracy. We might be the only nation who doesn’t have terrestrial performance rights for sound recordings. Every time recordings are played, royalties are paid by the one broadcasting them. New legislation aimed at guaranteeing royalties for music and films downloaded from the internet , the Performance Rights Act in 2009, made it illegal to record, download, or copy music and videos intended for sale. In some ways this puts a damper on the home experience as many people are unaware of what constitutes piracy. It is the desire to experience the live event again, without paying twice, which fuels this situation. (Future of Music Coalition) What happens when one listens to a live performance? It’s the whole ambiance of the situation that captivates live audiences. One must mentally prepare in order to fully appreciate their experience. It’s not enough to know about the music one expects to hear; all the details of the performers, their journeys along the human path are a vital part of the show as well. The experience begins when the line forms to buy tickets. Memories of

Apple Inc Culture Has Both Advantages And Disadvantages Business Essay

Apple Inc Culture Has Both Advantages And Disadvantages Business Essay Introduction Apple Inc, a multinational company delivers high standard computer products, communication products, and entertainment product such as Mac Computers, Iphones, Ipads and Ipods. The American company was developed and formed in Cupertino, California in the year 1976. The company was incorporated in 1977 as Apple Computer, Inc. The company started as computer manufacturer, and over the years the company grew rapidly was soon more than a computer manufacturer. The high standard operating system Mac OS made them unique among the competitors from the same industry. At the moment Apple, Inc is one among the top rated in the fortune companies and is well established as a PC, Mobile phone, and software developers and distributors worldwide. The company was formed in the year of 1976 the incorporation took place in the year of 1977; also the first computer was introduced in the year of 1977. The founders of Apple Inc (founded as Apple Computer Inc) are Steven Paul Jobs, Stephen Gary Wozniak, and Ronald Gerald Wayne. But Wayne has left Apple before the incorporation, the real twist in its growth and development was with the entry of Mike Markkula who was the former marketing manager at Intel Corporation. Markkula offered a financial support for Apple Computer Inc. He had invested $ 250, 000 and some expertise for expanding Apples business. At first, they manufactured a computer without key boards and monitors, the computers even sold without a case. The first computer is named as Apple I. Following Apple I the company had launched Apple II which covers all the drawbacks of Apple I. Apple II had added advantages over its predecessor, including a colour display and a cassette storage drive. The introduction of Apple II was a great success and it enhanced $ 1 million annual sales. By the year 1979 Apple launched Apple II+ computers which came out with better memory and features that Apple II. During the 1980s Apple introduced their Apple III computers. The launch was a big failure. The analysts stated that the PC had launched without sufficient tests, as a result many of the units turned out to be defective. Following that Apple continued to remain innovative in product development. One of their greatest innovations was their Ipods which is able to store and play music files with the help of their own Itune software. The unique design and ultra portability made the product favorite for all kinds of customers. Following that they have introduced their first mobile phone, which was there entry in to the booming mobile phones industry. The mobile phone is top rated for their unique features, and enormous designs. It was great success in the smart phones category. With all their high standard products and innovations the company had remained top rated even in the recession. According to the second quarter report Apple Inc, the 2010 second quarter revenues raised up to $ 13.5 billion, the second quarter revenue of 2009 reported as $ 9.08 billion. Also the profit margin raised from $ 39.9 % to $ 41. 7 %, Mac PCs shows 33 % unit growth and Ipones shows 131 % unit growth compared to the previous quarter. Whereas, Ipods shows 1 % decline in unit growth, the major portion of the revenue is contributed by Iphones. Organisational behaviour According to Mullins, (2005), Organizational behavior as the study and understanding of individual and group behavior, and patterns of structure in order to help improve organizational performance and effectiveness, (Mullins, 2005, p.26) Organizational culture is complex and multi-faceted. Culture is intangible and varies from organization to organization. Many authors came up with relevant theories regarding these subjects. It can be defined in simple terms as the way things are done in an organization. Mullins, 2005 stated that according to Handy there are 4 main ways that organizational culture can be classified, they are as follows: Power Culture Role Culture Task Culture Person Culture Power Culture Organization in this category tend to have minimal rules and regulations, also it is largely dependant on a central character. The decisions are made by this central character or a central group. The focus group of Apple Inc have proved to be best at what they are doing so far. Though this type of culture is adopted by small enterprises, Apple Inc have adopted this due to the fact that they emphasise on delivering quality over anything else. Role Culture The organization in this category, tend to have a bureaucratic way of organizational culture. It very much sticks to the rules and regulations of the company. In this culture, organizations tend to work as the strong pillars, where individual values have less importance, whereas the positions play important roles. In Apple Inc, there involved a level of secracy as individual opinions were not acepted at all points and there were flaws in communication as well. While looked upon from a human resource view, this proved to have affected the product development at various stages. Where as, when looked upon from a product development prospective, this proved to be a more challenging and more demanding quality of significant importance. In most cases the pillars are controlled by the role, also roles and job descriptions are more important than individual performance. Task Culture In this culture, organizations are more concerned about the objective and tasks. It does not pay much importance to HR rules and regulations as this culture is more tasks oriented. Expertise and individual performance are more valued than the positions and roles. The communication tends to be both ways and the employees are free to express their ideas and suggestions at Apple Inc. Also decision making is not relied on information from a single source and the employees take part in expressing their opinion or the managers gathered ideas from the co-workers. But reports at Apple Inc show that this culture can be difficult to achieve economies of scales. In todays fast moving digital world, many companies including Apple Inc adopted this style of operation. In olden days this has been seen in the aeronautic engineering, but now-a-days some of the multinational IT companies are adopting this style, because they are keen about their organisational goals and tasks. Person Culture Individuals are the key factors for this concepts, this culture is normally seen in animal protection organizations. According to Mullins, (2005) Geert Hofstede also identified four dimensions to organizational culture and work place differences. They are as follows: Power Distance Uncertainty Avoidance Individualism Masculinity Power Distance In this culture there is high level of disparity. According to Hofstede this culture is totally dependent on the management; in this concept subordinates should obey the superiors. Communication tends to flow from top to down. It is seen in military operations, at the moment organisations are trying to reduce power distance and putting their maximum efforts to bring equality in organizations. Apple had this within the management and this was a factor that affected the overall performance to a certain extend. Uncertainty Avoidance As Hofstede linked the national culture and organizational culture, uncertainty avoidance refers to the unexpected situations or unusual situations that a society or the employees of an organization feels that they are going to face. Apple Inc had this problem as there was a level of secrecy maintained among the employees. They themselves were not aware of what was happening around them. Individualism Individualism refers to the individuals being capable of looking after themselves. At Apple Inc, the context of organizational behavior is applicable to some parts of the organization that the employees are self driven. They are highly committed to what they do pertaining to work and were not able to take care of themselves. Masculinity It refers to the gender difference in organizational behavior, in some society the womens value is not differed from mens but in some society it differs women has less value that the men. Automatically it affect the organizational behavior, if an organization provide the same positions for men and women, it may bring internal conflict in that particular organization. Leadership Leadership is not about the leader, it is about how he builds the confidence of everyone else. Leaders are responsible for both the big structures that sever as the cornerstone of confidence, and the human touches that shape a positive emotional climate to inspire and motivate people. Leaders delivering confidence by espousing high standards in their messages, exemplifying these standards in the conduct they model and establishing formal mechanism to provide a structure for acting on those standards. (Mullins J. L, 2007, p.362) A diagrammatic representation of leadership Subordinates-centered Leadership Boss-Centered Leadership Use Authority by Manager Area of freedom for subordinates Manager makes decisions and announce it Managers permits subordinates to function within defined limits Managers presents problems, gets suggestions and make decisions Manager presents ideas and invites questions Managers presents tentative decisions to change subject Manager sells decision Managers define limits, and asks group to make decision (Mullins J. L, 2007, p.362) What is good at Apple, Inc? Innovative and task driven culture Apple Inc is totally focused on innovation, in another word they always tries make superior and unique products to gain competitive advantages. For this purpose they are very keen to choose the best work force available. Hard work and commitment is the main quality that the company seek from it employees. There is a common saying that there is always more work to do than the employees. A relaxed and informal atmosphere is created in the working campus, many researches proved that the employees at Apple Inc is relaxed and at the same time highly committed to tasks given by the company. The company is always taking keen interest to entertain their employees after the working hours. As discussed, the company is recognized as innovator therefore it always prefers workaholic people. In one way the company is adopting Handys task oriented organizational culture, in this culture Handy described that organizations are less formal and highly task oriented. It is agreed that Apple Inc is adopting an innovative and task driven culture, but at the same time they have very strong work ethics and very strict deadlines. The best example for this there working hour, an employee is working 60 to 70 hours per week. The employees believe that apple is not just for making money. The innovations helped the company gain market reputation, at the same time it helps the employee to learn more things every day. That is one of the main things that employees are seeking for, especially in software and computer related fields. The technology is changing day by day, and Apple Inc is always trying to innovate something which can surprise the world. It helps the employees even after they left the organization, the world knows that the employees coming out from Apple will be highly committed, task driven and hard working, also they can contribute expertise in to other business in which they are selected for. Individualism According to Hofstede, in this culture employees are capable or expected look after themselves. Apple Inc is allowing their employees to work themselves. The employees must run their own shows. Because of that the company is always seeking for the best talents, also the guidance are given occasionally, as a result the employees are becoming self confident and self motivated, and they clearly focused and showing high commitment to the tasks. Also they always ready to take more responsibilities. There is common belief in the employees mind that Apple Inc is always seeing for accomplishment rather than the relationship building. Individual has the opportunities to prove their ability and get the reward. The opportunity to grow is wide open in Apple Inc. As it is highly focused on the innovation and their keen interest to launch something new and inspiring allow the employees make the days creating and challenging. It is widely accepted by the employees at Apple Inc is that every day tha t they can learn and they can experience something new. Therefore the individual opportunities to grow and learn is more compared to any other multinational firms, also the employees are capable to their own tasks without any guidance. Diversity and Cross functionality Apple Inc is a multinational which is always looking for the best talents and committed work force, therefore from all the parts of world talented people are appointed. Employees are most often used to work with multinational workforce. It is also allowing the employees to learn different culture and working styles. According many studies conducted, it has been realized that employees are often find cross functional activities to perform the accomplishment of the companys objectives or organizational goals. Apple Inc. took all the necessary steps to promote diversity among its work force and also there always make sure a non homogeneous workforce. Furthermore they have set up partnerships with various of organizations. Apple Inc has a partnership with National Black MBAs, National society of Hispanics MBAs and the society of Women Engineers. These Kind of organization promote diversity and allow the employees mix with diverse work force. Apple Inc believes that the diversity in work force is one of the important tasks to execute a successful corporate culture Managers are asked to do different tasks other than their working area. Many of the multinational firms are adopted cross functional activities in order make their employees multitask oriented and to broaden up their abilities. Many mangers in Apple Inc, stated that they have often asked to cross functional activities which are out of their working area. For instance according to case study, an input manager commented that he is involved in many of the cross functional activities, one day he may asked to involve in industrial design, another day he may asked to involve in the product design and software engineering. These kind of cross functionality will make the employees to work and enhance knowledge in different fields, also they may not be stick in position they will always be creative and active. At the same time the organization will allocate a smooth operation in regards human resource management, it may not stuck if one or more employees are off or on holidays, someone can ea sily cover up the situations. Bonus and Benefits The benefits in Apple Inc are differs from locations to locations and it is also depends on the employment status. The company has taken number of steps to make the employees feel good about the benefits offered by the company. The companies benefit programs starts with the insurance coverage schemes, also they initiated Flexible spending accounts, employees stock purchase program, 401 saving and investment plan, product discounts for the staffs, on site fitness programs also they offered the opportunities to work in big projects where extra bonu is offered. As discussed the bonus and benefits somewhat depends on the performance, in the year 1995 Apple Inc has designed and implemented a program called Apple Fellow Program. The main aim of the program is to identify the best performer and from which employee the company has received extra ordinary contribution. The Fellow program winners used to be the leader and they can guide other for companys progress activities. In return the company offered the Flexi benefit program to its staffs. Also the studies and researches shows that Apple Inc had given free Iphones to its staffs after the unique mobile phone has launched in the industry. Opportunities and Job Securities Career opportunities are very wide in Apple Inc, as it recognized as an innovator the employee are having wide range of opportunities to prove their caliber and can build their career on a performance wise. Also Apple Inc conducting many internship programs which allow the employees to gain the thorough knowledge in different fields. The employees working with Apple Inc is coming out with a great confidence. According to Maslows pyramid after basic need of human it very essential that employees feel job security. In case of Apple Inc it is not only a job security, in Apple Incs words the company is not providing employment security but it is providing employability security. The people coming out from Apple Inc is highly demanded, employers are happy offer opportunities for this candidates. Employers worldwide are well aware that these candidates have a wide range experience and they can cope up with any organizational culture. They expect a strong contribution from these candidates. Unique Corporate Culture The organizational culture at Apple is highly focused on the jobs and innovation, may CEQs came and made some changes in the culture, but over the time the ultimate corporate culture is totally focused on innovation and the jobs done. They are enjoying an informal culture at the same time they have employed very strong deadlines and making the employees to have clear focus on the objectives. The founder Jobs did contributed the best of to make this Unique culture possible for this company. Many of other multinational firms are adopting this kind of organizational culture. The difference between these companies and Apple Inc is that the other companies will be more flexible and they might lose the focus and they wont be strict on the deadline like Apple Inc. On the other hand Apple Inc is maintaining the informal culture and task oriented culture but at the same time they are very much focused on the objectives and tasks and they have very strong deadline with no compromise. The corporate culture of Apple Inc, is making the employees or it is encouraging the employees to make something Insanely Great and the CEO Jobs said to be the founder of this culture. As discussed earlier many CEOs came and altered the organizational corporate culture, but at the end of the day Jobs came and restructured the culture, after he has come back he realized that the company is lacking their original culture which was at time he was the CEO. Experts opinioned and stated the result of this change is Imac. What is bad at Apples, Inc Lack of transparency of information Apple Inc is recognized as an innovator and the products they are offering to the market is unique and high standard. There is secret behavior has maintained from the beginning of the business. In a way it is acceptable that company is mainly focused on Innovations therefore a secrecy in information is necessary, but may reports shows that the secrecy somehow making trouble for smooth operation of the company. Their tight control over the information caused many troubles; even it had led an employee to commit suicide in China. Though they have not affected by the recession, considering future growth of the company transparency of information is necessary. Transparency of information helps the investors as well as the stake holders. Many of the multinational companies showing keen interest in making the information available to the public, but at Apple Inc secrecy is there part of the corporate culture. Reports show that the many of the product launches are surprising the staffs, because it is kept secret, only the product developer and the senior management are aware of the product. But thinking globally many great ideas and suggestions can come out from the internal staffs, especially from the marketing team, because they are the have the clear picture of market needs and wants. Even the managers used to make wrong information product even during the meetings. Dysfunctional culture There are assumptions many times that Apple Incs corporate culture moved to dysfunctional. There are cases reported that many talented people they left the company because they could not adjust and adopt the unique culture of the company. According to the case study vice president is enjoying a greater power in the company. Analysts pointed out that the company has less feeling towards relationship with the employees but they strictly focused on the jobs. An incident reported that vice president hired people and assigned a pay scale twice than the senior employees working the firm. Unfair Promotions and compensations There are many cases that reports unfairness in promotion and analysts say that the employees are treated unfairly. This is mainly because of their unique corporate culture, as discussed earlier personal values have less important in Apple Inc they prefer jobs and innovations but at the same time they are creating a relaxed atmosphere for their employees. Also report says that only top executives are compensated and appreciated for jobs done. The employees claiming that even if they come out with new product, they dont get enough appreciation. Also the promotions are given depends on the interest of the managers. There are comments from employees that they are not given enough opportunities grow their career. Long Working Hours Apple Inc is always preferred hard working people in another word they prefer workaholic people who does not care about the working hours. An average working hours per week in Apple Inc is 60 to 70, which is more than the normal companies working hours. As we can see this will affect employees family life. The job is also bit stressed and the employees must be creative and enthusiastic all the time. For instance if an employee is working in the product development department for 60 to 70 hours per week continuously they might get over stressed, the particular department needs full concentration all the time he or she is working. There case that former employee sued Apple Inc for violating the labor law California, he complained that he used to work 7 days every six weeks. The company is also aware of that, there are cases after working these kinds of long hours the employees were in therapy. Highly Depending on Leadership Apple Inc is highly depending on the leadership, The CEO Jobs has very much influence on the corporate structure of Apple Inc. Analysts sees that without Job Apple will nothing other than a normal software company. Also analysts stated that the company will be struggling without Jobs. Looking into the theoretical side one can see that Job the CEO of playing both democratic and autocratic styles of leadership. In a way he is making an informal atmosphere and creative opportunities for his employees at the same time the company is very strict on the tasks and deadlines like a military camp. The information are very secret and the will not tolerate any leakage of the company information. The always kept a secret behavior. Conclusion Many of the issues have been discussed, it has been realized that Apple Inc as multinational company has a unique at the same very challenging corporate culture. Many supporters have wrote and many companies are trying to adopt this culture, also many studies shows some of the major draw backs of Apple Incs corporate culture. The study realized that the culture has both advantages and disadvantages, the capacity of innovating unique and high standard products the company attract more talented people in to their business, the younger generation will love to work with as they can learn something every day also they can expose themselves. On the other hand there are some major draw backs, they have no transparency of information also they have long working hours compared to another companies. With some changes the corporate culture of Apple Inc can be the best in the world. Recommendations There are major issues that the company can change, they are as follows: The information can be more transparent, the investor and stake holder are always seeking transparent information. Also it can help to improve product quality and can get tremendous ideas and suggestions from the co workers. Transparency of information will help the company to know better the needs and wants of the market. The long working hours can be changed, maximum of 40 hours working hours will help the employee to relax, a relaxed mind can produce greater idea than a stressed and week mind. Having multiple senior executives will allow the company to continue their activities, eve if one senior executive left the organisation. All the employee should be treated same, equality is another great fact for the success of an organization, more talented people will be attracted to organisation. Job appreciation will encourage the employees to work more committed and task oriented.

Shaking Baby Syndrome Essay -- essays research papers

Shaken Baby Syndrome Imagine yourself as a sweet, innocent, precious little baby. You are totally dependant upon adults to give you what you need and most importantly love. Your only means of communication is crying so you cry when you need to be fed, when you need your diaper changed, when you aren’t feeling so well, or when you just want some attention. You are crying and someone comes over to you. They pick you up, but instead of holding you and comforting you, talking affectionately to you, they shake you violently and vigorously. You are a baby, imagine the fear and pain that the shaking causes you. This is a form of child abuse and what is even harder to believe is that it actually happens. The correct term is Shaken Baby Syndrome and it is a form of abuse that is happening far and wide.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What exactly is Shaking Baby Syndrome? Shaken Baby Syndrome is a serious brain injury that occurs when adults, frustrated and angry with children, shake then violently, and Shaken Baby Syndrome mostly occurs when a child receives numerous rapid shakes. It can also occur when a baby is slammed against a hard object; head impact is not necessary but does frequently occur. Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs frequently in infants younger than six months old, yet can occur up to the age of 5. (Showers, 1997.) In reality, shaking a baby if only for a few seconds can injure the baby for life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Often frustrated parents or other persons responsible for a child’s care feel that shaking a baby is a harmless way to make a child stop crying. The number one reason why a baby is shaken is because of inconsolable crying. (National Exchange Club Foundation, 1998) An infant may spend two to three hours a day crying. (The Epilepsy Association of Central Florida) A caregiver momentarily gives in to the frustration of responding to a crying baby by shaking. Caregivers may be inadequately prepared for children.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Why is shaking a baby so dangerous? A baby’s head and neck are especially vulnerable to injury because the head is so large and the neck muscles are still weak. A baby’s neck is to weak to support their heavy head so when the baby is shaken the heads swings back and forth. In addition, the baby’s brain and blood vessels are very fragile and easily damaged by whiplash mo... ...n a coma, being in a vegetative state, and the worst, death. One in every four babies shaken dies. The rest have to deal with the injuries and symptoms that will affect the rest of their innocent lives. Twenty five to thirty percent of babies shaken die (National Shaken Baby Syndrome). Immediate medical attention can help reduce the impact of shaking, but many children are left with permanent damage from the shaking. The treatment of survivors falls into 3 major categories. Those categories are medical, behavioral, and educational. In addition to medical care, children may need speech and language therapy, vision therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and special education services. (Showers, 1997) Many incidents of Shaken Baby Syndrome are not reported out of fear. It is important to seek immediate and early medical attention. Serious complications and even death can be avoided. Exactly how much force is needed to cause injuries? No firm answer exists as to the exact number of shakes necessary or how long a person might typically shake a child. In most cases the period of shaking is 5-10 seconds. (National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome) To cause brain damage, severe

Pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes Essay

Gestational diabetes is a condition characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that is first recognized during pregnancy. The condition occurs in approximately 4% of all pregnancies. What Causes Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy Almost all women have some degree of impaired glucose intolerance as a result of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. That means that their blood sugar may be higher than normal, but not high enough to have diabetes. During the later part of pregnancy (the third trimester), these hormonal changes place pregnant woman at risk for gestational diabetes. During pregnancy, increased levels of certain hormones made in the placenta (the organ that connects the baby by the umbilical cord to the uterus) help shift nutrients from the mother to the developing fetus. Other hormones are produced by the placenta to help prevent the mother from developing low blood sugar. They work by resisting the actions of insulin. Over the course of the pregnancy, these hormones lead to progressive impaired glucose intolerance (higher blood sugar levels). To try to decrease blood sugar levels, the body makes more insulin to get glucose into cells to be used for energy. Usually the mother’s pancreas is able to produce more insulin (about three times the normal amount) to overcome the effect of the pregnancy hormones on blood sugar levels. If, however, the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to overcome the effect of the increased hormones during pregnancy, blood sugar levels will rise, resulting in gestational diabetes. Complications of Gestational Diabetes Diabetes can affect the developing fetus throughout the pregnancy. In early pregnancy, a mother’s diabetes can result in birth defects and an increased rate of miscarriage. Many of the birth defects that occur affect major organs such as the brain and heart. During the second and third trimester, a mother’s diabetes can lead to over-nutrition and excess growth of the baby. Having a large baby increases risks during labor and delivery. For example, large babies often require caesarean deliveries and if he or she is delivered vaginally, they are at increased risk for trauma to their shoulder. In addition, when fetal over-nutrition occurs and hyperinsulinemia  results, the baby’s blood sugar can drop very low after birth, since it won’t be receiving the high blood sugar from the mother. However, with proper treatment, you can deliver a healthy baby despite having diabetes. Risks for Gestational Diabetes: The following factors increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy Being overweight prior to becoming pregnant (if you are 20% or more over your ideal body weight) Being a member of a high risk ethnic group (Hispanic, Black, Native American, or Asian) Having sugar in your urine Impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose (blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough to be diabetes) Family history of diabetes (if your parents or siblings have diabetes Previously giving birth to a baby over 9 pounds Previously giving birth to a stillborn baby Having gestational diabetes with a previous pregnancy Having too much amniotic fluid (a condition called polyhydramnios) Many women who develop gestational diabetes have no known risk factors. Gestational Diabetes Diagnosed: High risk women should be screened for gestational diabetes as early as possible during their pregnancies. All other women will be screened between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. To screen for gestational diabetes, you will take a test called the oral glucose tolerance test. This test involves quickly drinking a sweetened liquid, which contains 50g of sugar. The body absorbs this sugar rapidly, causing blood sugar levels to rise within 30-60 minutes. A blood sample will be taken from a vein in your arm 1 hour after drinking the solution. The blood test measures how the sugar solution was metabolized (processed by the body). A blood sugar level greater than or equal to 140mg/dL is recognized as abnormal. If your results are abnormal based on the oral glucose tolerance test, another test will be given after fasting for several hours. In women at high risk of developing gestational diabetes, a normal screening test result is followed up with another screening test at 24-28 weeks f or confirmation of the diagnosis. Gestational diabetes is managed by: Monitoring blood sugar levels four times per day before breakfast and 2 hours after meals. Monitoring blood sugar before all meals may also become necessary. Monitoring urine for ketones, an acid that indicates your diabetes is not under control. Following specific dietary guidelines as instructed by your doctor. You’ll be asked to distribute your calories evenly throughout the day. Exercising after obtaining your health care provider’s permission. Monitoring weight gain. Taking insulin, if necessary. Insulin is currently the only diabetes medication used during pregnancy. Controlling high blood pressure. Monitor Sugar Levels Testing your blood sugar at certain times of the day will help determine if your exercise and eating patterns are keeping your blood sugar levels in control, or if you need extra insulin to protect your developing baby. Your health care provider will ask you to maintain a daily food record and ask you to record your home sugar levels. Testing your blood sugar involves pricking your finger with a lancet device (a small, sharp needle), putting a drop of blood on a test strip, using a blood sugar meter to display your results, recording the results in a log book, and then disposing the lancet and strips properly (in a â€Å"sharps† container or a hard plastic container, such as a laundry detergent bottle). Bring your blood sugar readings with you to your medical appointments so your health care provider can evaluate how well your blood sugar levels are controlled and determine if changes need to be made to your treatment plan. Your health care provider will show you how to use a glucose meter. He or she can also tell you where to get a meter. You may be able to borrow it from your hospital, as many hospitals have loaner meter programs for women with gestational diabetes. The goal of monitoring is to keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible. The ranges include Time of TestTarget Blood Sugar Reading Before breakfastplasma below 105; whole blood below 95 2 Hours After Mealsplasma below 130; whole blood below 120 Insulin treatment is started if above levels are not maintained. Insulin for  Gestational Diabetes Based on your blood sugar monitoring results, your health care provider will tell you if you need to take insulin in the form of injections during pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar. If insulin is prescribed for you, you may be taught how to perform the insulin injection procedure. As your pregnancy progresses, the placenta will make more pregnancy hormones and larger doses of insulin may be needed to control your blood sugar. Your health care provider will adjust your insulin dosage based on your blood sugar log. When using insulin, a â€Å"low blood glucose reaction,† or hypoglycemia can occur if you do not eat enough food, skip a meal, do not eat at the right time of day, or if you exercise more than usual. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include Confusion, Dizziness, Feeling shaky, Headaches, Sudden hunger, Sweating, Weakness Hypoglycemia is a serious problem that needs to be treated right away. If you think you are having a low blood sugar reaction, check your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is less than 60 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), eat a sugar-containing food, such as 1/2 cup of orange or apple juice; 1 cup of skim milk; 4-6 pieces of hard candy (not sugar-free); 1/2 cup regular soft drink; or 1 tablespoon of honey, brown sugar, or corn syrup. Fifteen minutes after eating one of the foods listed above, check your blood sugar. If it is still less than 60 mg/dL, eat another one of the food choices above. If it is more than 45 minutes until your next meal, eat a bread and protein source to prevent another reaction. Record all low blood sugar reactions in your log book, including the date, time of day the reaction occurred and how you treated it. Diet Change with Gestational Diabetes If you have gestational diabetes, follow these eating tips: Eat three small meals and two or three snacks at regular times every day. Do not skip meals or snacks. Carbohydrates should be 40%-45% of the total calories with breakfast and a bedtime snack containing 15-30 grams of carbohydrates. If you have morning sickness, eat 1-2 servings of crackers, cereal, or pretzels before getting out of bed. Eat small, frequent meals  throughout the day and avoid fatty, fried, and greasy foods. If you take insulin and have morning sickness, make sure you know how to treat low blood sugar. Choose foods high in fiber such as whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables. All pregnant women should eat 20-35 grams of fiber a day. Fats should be less than 40% of calories with less than 10% consumed being from saturated fats. Drink at least 8 cups (or 64 ounces) of liquids per day. Make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals in your daily diet. Ask your health care provider about taking a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement to meet the nutritional needs of your pregnancy. Regular exercise during pregnancy can improve your posture and decrease some common discomforts such as backaches and fatigue. Being fit during pregnancy means safe, mild to moderate exercise at least three times a week. But, regardless of gestational diabetes, every pregnant woman should consult with her health care provider before beginning an exercise program. He or she can give you personal exercise guidelines, based on your medical history. Since both insulin and exercise lower blood sugar, you should follow these additional exercise guidelines to avoid a low blood glucose reaction: Always carry some form of sugar with you when exercising, such as glucose tablets or hard candy. Eat one serving of fruit or the equivalent of 15 grams of carbohydrate for most activities lasting 30 minutes. If you exercise right after a meal, eat this snack after exercise. If you exercise 2 hours or more after a meal, eat the snack before exercise. Pregnancy Weight Gain The recommended amount of weight gain during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy weight, whether there is more than one fetus, and the trimester. Typically more weight gain is expected during the second and third trimester and recommended intakes of calories should increase at that time. Gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy by eating a healthy, balanced diet is a good sign that your baby is getting all the nutrients he or she needs and is growing at a healthy rate. It is not necessary to â€Å"eat for two† during pregnancy. It’s true that you need extra calories from nutrient-rich foods to help your baby grow, but you generally  need to consume only 200 to 300 more calories per day than you did before you became pregnant to meet the needs of your growing baby. Ask your health care provider how much weight you should gain during pregnancy. A woman of average weight before pregnancy can expect to gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. You may need to gain more or less weight, depending on what your doctor recommends. In general, you should gain about 2-4 pounds during your first 3 months of pregnancy and 1 pound a week for the remainder of your pregnancy. Where the weight goes Baby8 pounds Placenta2-3 pounds Amniotic fluid2-3 pounds Breast tissue2-3 pounds Blood supply4 pounds Fat stores for delivery and breastfeeding5-9 pounds Uterus increase2-5 pounds Total25 to 35 pounds Baby After Delivery Your baby’s blood sugar level will be tested immediately after birth. If the blood sugar is low, he or she will be given sugar water to drink or by an intravenous tube in the vein. Your baby may be sent to a special care nursery for observation during the first few hours after birth to make sure he or she doesn’t have a low blood glucose reaction. If you had gestational diabetes, there is an increased risk that your newborn will develop jaundice. Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin that occurs when bilirubin is present in the baby’s blood. Bilirubin is a pigment that causes jaundice and is released when extra red blood cells build up in the blood and can’t be processed fast enough. Jaundice goes away rapidly with treatment that often involves exposing your baby to special lights to get rid of the pigment. Gestational diabetes does increase the risk that your child will have diabetes in the future. Usually with gestational diabetes, blood sugar levels return to normal about 6 weeks after childbirth because the placenta, which was producing the extra hormones that caused insulin  resistance, is gone. Your doctor will check your blood sugar levels after your baby is born to make sure your blood sugar level has returned to normal. Some doctors recommend an oral glucose tolerance test 6-8 weeks after delivery to check for diabetes. You should also be screened for diabetes in the future. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 60% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later-in-life. By maintaining an ideal body weight, following a healthy diet, and exercising, you will be able to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In addition, women who have gestational diabetes during one pregnancy have a 40%-50% chance of developing diabetes in the next pregnancy. If you had gestational diabetes during one pregnancy and are planning to get pregnant again, talk to your health care provider first so you can make the necessary lifestyle changes before your next pregnancy. Get tips on eating right with Diabetes by consulting with a dietician or your primary care physician. Sources American Diabetes Association: â€Å"Gestational Diabetes.† Diabetes Care 2008 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: â€Å"Gestational Diabetes: A Guide for Pregnant Women.† August 2009 American College of Nurse Midwives: â€Å"Gestational Diabetes.† JMWH org. 135 2006

Children and Violent Video Games

â€Å"The worst thing a kid can say about homework is that it is too hard. The worst thing a kid can say about a game is it's too easy. † This was actually quoted by Henry Jenkins. Good Morning My Fellow Students and judges, as you all would know I would be discussing the topic video games cause violence and I would be talking in favor of this topic. More and more kids today are playing video and computer games — especially ultra-violent ones that are top sellers. A recent analysis shows that a majority of video games include violence and about half of the violent incidents would result in serious injuries or death in the real world.Violent video games can increase children's aggression. The number one negative effect is they tend to inappropriately resolve anxiety by externalizing it. So when kids have anxiety, which they do, instead of soothing themselves, calming themselves, talking about it or even expressing it emotionally by crying, they tend to externalize it. Th ey can attack something, they can kick a wall, they can be mean to a dog or a pet. Additionally, there's an increased frequency of violent responses from children who play these kinds of video games. Violent video games don't teach kids moral consequences.If you shoot somebody in one of these games, you don't go to jail, you don't get penalized in some way — you get extra points! This doesn't mean that children will go out into the world and shoot someone. â€Å"But they do use more aggressive language, they do use more aggressive expressions, they have less ability to control their anger and they externalize things in these violent ways. It's absolutely not good. The American Psychological Association says playing violent games correlates to children being less caring and helpful toward their peers.And these effects happen just as much for non-aggressive children as they do for children who already have aggressive tendencies. Children spend a great deal of time with violent video games at exactly the ages that they should be learning healthy ways to relate to other people and to resolve conflicts peacefully. Thus I think that playing violent video games is the same as watching violent movies, they are all scripted in the same way and they put you through the violence training. I would say that we should Jump off the video games and get a life! Children and Violent Video Games â€Å"The worst thing a kid can say about homework is that it is too hard. The worst thing a kid can say about a game is it's too easy. † This was actually quoted by Henry Jenkins. Good Morning My Fellow Students and judges, as you all would know I would be discussing the topic video games cause violence and I would be talking in favor of this topic. More and more kids today are playing video and computer games — especially ultra-violent ones that are top sellers. A recent analysis shows that a majority of video games include violence and about half of the violent incidents would result in serious injuries or death in the real world.Violent video games can increase children's aggression. The number one negative effect is they tend to inappropriately resolve anxiety by externalizing it. So when kids have anxiety, which they do, instead of soothing themselves, calming themselves, talking about it or even expressing it emotionally by crying, they tend to externalize it. Th ey can attack something, they can kick a wall, they can be mean to a dog or a pet. Additionally, there's an increased frequency of violent responses from children who play these kinds of video games. Violent video games don't teach kids moral consequences.If you shoot somebody in one of these games, you don't go to jail, you don't get penalized in some way — you get extra points! This doesn't mean that children will go out into the world and shoot someone. â€Å"But they do use more aggressive language, they do use more aggressive expressions, they have less ability to control their anger and they externalize things in these violent ways. It's absolutely not good. The American Psychological Association says playing violent games correlates to children being less caring and helpful toward their peers.And these effects happen just as much for non-aggressive children as they do for children who already have aggressive tendencies. Children spend a great deal of time with violent video games at exactly the ages that they should be learning healthy ways to relate to other people and to resolve conflicts peacefully. Thus I think that playing violent video games is the same as watching violent movies, they are all scripted in the same way and they put you through the violence training. I would say that we should Jump off the video games and get a life!

Water Essays

Water Essays Water Essay Water Essay The commonest of all elements on earth is water, â€Å"which covers about 75% of the earth’s surface.† (Crystal, 1990). It is essential to life and living organisms. Today’s water problems are â€Å"scarcity, depletion, pollution, lack of sanitation, falling rains due to global warming, cross-border conflict, profligate use and mismanagement.† (Godrej, 2003). Overuse is exemplified by us humans by â€Å"tapping them like there is no tomorrow.† (Godrej, 2003). We are pumping out about 200 million cubic meters more than can be recharged. Approximately â€Å"three-fourths of this Earth is covered by the ocean.†( Allen, 1993). But â€Å"97.5 percent of the water is salt water, not fit for human use.† (New Internationalist, 2003). Dirty water is the cause of numerous diseases but improving â€Å"hygiene and sanitation are equally-important in order to curb water-related diseases, and by 2025, two thirds of the world’s people will be facing stress.† (New Internationalist, 2003).Water pollution affects oceans streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and ground water and can also cause natural impurities and   human activities that the nearby does. According to Patricia Barnes-Svarney in 1996,   â€Å"Human activities are also of localized water pollution as water become contaminated with heavy metals, chemicals and bacteria, or untreated sewage runoff   from homes and industries†Ã‚   (Barnes-Svarney, 1996). Some 1.2 million people around the world lack access to clean water, twice that number have no sanitation, and most of the world will not have enough water within 30 years.† (Vidal, 2002). â€Å"Some 70% of all the world’s fresh water used by man goes to grow food, and in the US, North Africa and Asia, the farmers can take up 95%.† The global consumption of water is multiplying every 20 years and new sources are becoming scarcer and more expensive to develop and treat.

Basic Hazardous Waste Management (Blackman, 2001) #2 Essay

Basic Hazardous Waste Management (Blackman, 2001) #2 Essay Basic Hazardous Waste Management (Blackman, 2001) #2 – Essay Example Infectious waste Infectious waste can also be termed as biomedical waste, which is unattended solid waste, with the power of causing transmittable diseases if uncovered pathogenic organisms of consistent virus and dosage through an open passage in the targeted host. For instance, cultures and stock of infectious agents are considered to be infectious waste with a specific hazard. This is because pathogenic organisms are at hand in great concentration in these materials. Examples of agents in this category include â€Å"specimen from medical and pathological laboratories, agents from pharmaceutical preparations and dissipates from release of biological and antibiotics† (Blackman, 2001). In â€Å"Blood and blood products† the main health hazards include â€Å"hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV† (Blackman, 2001). â€Å"Malaria, yellow fever, Colorado tick fever† are considered to be minor agents present in blood products. Blood samples used in diverse tests sh ould be handled more carefully, because they are also considered to be harmful, and can cause infectious diseases. Thus all blood and blood products considered to be waste should be treated as infectious even though test results may term them to be negative (Blackman, 2001). Pathological wastes include â€Å"tissue, organs, body parts, blood and body fluids† that are released during surgery and autopsy (Blackman, 2001). Pathological wastes from patients having infectious waste disease should be handled as harmful because of the chance that these wastes may contain harmful pathogens. Additionally, it is also important to handle pathological wastes as harmful, because they may contain unknown infection present in the patient or corpse being handled. Therefore, all pathological waste should be handled in the same manner regardless of the level of harm present. Proper measures should therefore, be undertaken when handling infectious waste. An adequate and reliable program should be developed to ensure medical staffs, and patients are protected from any form of harm generated by infectious waste. For instance all liquids infectious waste should be removed in sealed containers. Additionally, compaction infectious waste should be avoided. Prior to transportation of any infectious waste proper sterilization should be done. Proper guidelines should also be developed to ensure integrity is maintained (Blackman, 2001).ReferencesBlackman,W. (2001). Basic hazardous waste management. Arizona State University, CRC Press.

American Women in World War II

At the beginning of the Second World War, American citizens had a sense of unity. Men choose to enter the forefront off work and family, but women leave home for the first time and inherit the work left by their husbands. In 1943, many magazines chose to draw women's diligence. These articles concentrate their story on working women and make their non-traditional work better. If they make these small and hardworking jobs exciting and noble, they may think that more women will start participating in the work. Prior to World War II, Hispanic women were reluctant to work at home and were more irritated than other American women. During World War II, the widespread change in the role of women as a result of the necessity of family labor affected the role of Spanish women who served as secretary and nurse, Isabel Solis-Thomas and Elvia Solis was born in Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico. The Solis family moved to the United States and moved to Brownsville, Texas. When World War II broke out, the two sisters voluntarily became roses from women of all races across the country, welded the pipes, and repaired the cargo ship. Mrs. Thomas Solis said recruiters wanted to climb a dangerous place on the ship to short skin, short skin women. She stated that he worked 9 hours a day, 6 days a week, beating and sealing the steel bar accurately and intentionally. An American woman of Asian Americans entered the military service for the first time during the Second World War. The Women Army (WAC) recruited fifty Japanese American women and Chinese American women, sent them to the military information service language school in Snellingburg, Minnesota, and received military translation training. In 1943, the Women Army recruited a Chinese-American woman to serve as aerial WAC. Air Force WAC provides various tasks such as interpretation of aerial photography, air traffic control, weather forecast.

Vertical and horizontal integration strategy Assignment

Vertical and horizontal integration strategy - Assignment Example t the end of this integration is the factory plant at River Rouge, Michigan where all these parts are assembled to become an automobile that will be later distributed in the market and sold. For a time, this strategy became very effective and contributed to Ford’s success. This strategy of vertical integration however eventually became obsolete as supply chain became complex and competition became stiffer. The introduction of new supply chain and inventory control such as Toyota’s Just-in-Time rendered vertical integration out of fashion. The recent recessions also exposed the vulnerability of vertical integration to economic and cyclical downturns. Thus, the strategy evolved to horizontal integration which is more appropriate for its global market. Horizontal integration as a strategy involves the acquisition of the production whose products are the same – either complementary or competitive (www.theeconomist.com, 2009). The classic example of this strategy is buying competitors who sell the same product. In the case of Ford this is the acquisition of Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Jaguar, Land rover, Volvo and Aston Martin which was sold as an option of the company’s

Paradigm of black politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Paradigm of black politics - Essay Example Thus, instead of identifying the simple reasons why Blacks are unable to achieve political goals through legitimate means, the Black feminists introduced a new way of thinking not only in terms of race but also in terms of class and gender, which, according to these authors, are inseparable. As a result, it seems that the best paradigm for understanding Black culture within the United States also applies quite well to the study of Black political advancement since the struggles of the 1960s, and reflects the struggle African-American people now face. The black feminist perspective is an integrated approach that focuses not specifically on gender, or on race, or on class, but on these factors as mutually reinforcing aspects of one problem. This problem is the lack of progress in having Black representatives in government. One key aspect, or insight, from the Black feminist movement coming out the 1970s was that Black Nationalism and institutional racism (from whites) were part of the same gendered problem, both with misogynistic and masculine characteristics (Burns). Taking efforts to expose and correct this problem, the Black feminists offered a paradigm and a perspective for understanding Black politics at the time and throughout the transitory period. This perspective, which moves beyond the monolithic â€Å"Black† used in the rhetoric of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, allowed students of politics to mark gender distinctions when it comes to significant issues, like the specific social welfare policies for A frican-American women and the drug laws that disproportionately target African-American men (Collins). Patricia Hill Collins, a Black feminist, is famous for using this perspective to analyze new ideas for black liberation. However, since the influential mainstream feminist movement of the 1970s and 1980s, the Black feminist paradigm might not be so useful for looking at the political situation. Changes in

Accounting aspects of Southwestern Airlines Essay

Accounting aspects of Southwestern Airlines - Essay Example In 1966 Kelleher was practicing law in San Antonio when a customer named Rollin King wished-for starting a short-haul airline like California-based Pacific Southwest Airlines.The airline would fly the "Golden Triangle" of Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio and by staying within Texas, avoid federal regulations. Kelleher and King formed a company, raised initial capital, and filed for regulatory approval from the Texas Aeronautics Commission. Regrettably, the other Texas-based airlines, namely Braniff, Continental, and Trans Texas, opposed the idea and waged a battle to prevent Southwest from flying. Kelleher argued the company's case before the Texas Supreme Court, which ruled in Southwest's favor. The US Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal filed by the other airlines. In the late 1970s, it looked as if the company could begin flying.''Southwest then began building a management team, and the purchase of three surplus Boeing 737s was negotiated. In the meantime, Braniff and Texas In ternational continued their efforts to put off Southwest from flying. The underwriters of Southwest's initial public stock offering withdrew, and a restraining order against the company was obtained two days before its scheduled inaugural flight. Kelleher again argued his company's case before the Texas Supreme Court, which ruled in Southwest's favor a second time, lifting the restraining order. Southwest Airlines began flying the next day, June 18, 1971' (Freiberg & Freiberg, 1996). Southwest Airlines: An Introduction Southwest Airlines has always been thriving in terms of productivity, good employee and union relations, and customer satisfaction at a time when most airline carriers are besieged in all these areas. Crucial to the company's hallmarks is its culture of flexibility and family-orientation. Herb Kelleher summed up the Southwest culture and commitment to employees: 'We don't use things like TQM. It is just a lot of people taking pride in what they're doing. You have to recognize that people are important. How you treat them determines how they treat people on the outside.. I give people the license to be themselves and motivate others in that way. We give people the opportunity to be a maverick. You don't have to fit in a constraining mold at work-you can have a good time. People respond to that' (Lancaster, 1999). Despite the fact that 90% of Southwest employees are unionized, labor relations have been surprisingly positive, especially by industry standards. There are no official structures for labor or union participation in management administration; nevertheless the company led by top managers who vigorously seek out and respond to employee views has taken the lead on developing and maintaining this culture. 'One significant base of the company's achievement in a rather unsteady industry is the fact that the unions are not involved in pushing their roles beyond the conservative collective bargaining and grievance functions they perform. In this regard, Southwest differs from some other renowned cases of Human Resource-based and customer-oriented success stories' (Kochan, 1999). Southwest Airlines: Its Accounting Aspects The September 11 incident pushes the airline industry into economic turmoil, resulting in unemployment, insolvency, and the prospect of fragile prospects. Soon after the September 11, most major airlines announced sharp service reductions, grounded aircraft, and laying-off of employees. Yet 'during the first decade of deregulation, more than 150 carriers, many of them start-up airlines, collapsed into insolvency. Eight of the 11 major airlines dominating the industry in 1978 ended up filing for bankruptcy, merging with other carriers, or just disappearing from the radar screen. All together, the industry made enough money during this period to buy two Boeing 747s.' (Dempsey, 1984).

Choose an environmental topic, analyse the message about the issue Essay

Choose an environmental topic, analyse the message about the issue that is being constructed in the media source you have selected - Essay Example Such a broadened understanding in turn helps in effective policy formulation and resolve issues in an amicable manner. The depiction of environmental issues by the media has increased significantly, over the last couple of decades. Various environmental groups as well as government departments have been relying on the media heavily, for promotion of their self-interests as well as for raising awareness regarding the depletion of sources and encouraging the public to support their cause. Such an alliance of the media and the environmental groups / and or other groups endorsing environmental issues; often raises significant issues related to government policy formulation, risk to public life, etc. among others. This paper aims to study and analyze the issue of â€Å"oil sands pollution† in Canadian waterways as represented by the Canadian print media – especially the newspapers. For this purpose articles from some select newspapers such as The Globe and Mail, Edmonton Journal, The Gazette, and The Vancouver Sun are chosen for analysis. Dryzek has identified several discourses associated with environmental problems such as - Survivalism, Environmental problem solving, Sustainability, Green radicalism, Administrative rationalism, Democratic pragmatism, Economic rationalism and Sustainable development. The articles discussed below, will seek to identify and analyze some such discourses and assess their relevance and impact, generated by the print media. In this article the writer has discussed about the rising level of pollution around the Athabasca River and its tributaries on account of emissions from oil sands. In order to lend credibility to the arguments presented in the article the writer has included a research paper presenting contradictory views of the energy industry and the Alberta government regarding the underlying causes of this issue. The writer has directed

Life in the City Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Life in the City - Essay Example This perspective, which removes urban places from the context of their societies, may be appropriate to what these disciplines wish to learn of and from the city. Engels underlines that urban settings has a negative impact on an individual and his morals. He writes that: "the brutal indifference, the unfeeling isolation of each in his private interest, becomes the more repellant and offensive, the more these individuals are crowded together". Such an approach is less useful in anthropology, however. For cross-cultural comparisons and analyses of urban development, the city must be treated as only one of many social institutions such as kinship, religion, and subsistence activity that anthropologists always have conceptualized as parts of a socio-cultural whole. A spirit of independence and autonomy, a desire for innovation, a predilection for social status based on achievement rather than birth, and a sense of community beyond the family or kin group are characteristics often associated with the city. In this view, urban places become centers of social change, economic development, and personal freedom in contrast to conservative, ascriptive, and traditional rural settlements. Cities are thus perceived as sources of novel economic and productive arrangements and new political orders that challenge the fabric of society. The ideological approach thus studies the "rules" that compose the cultural roles of cities and their societies. It investigates the derivation of these rules outside the city or their diffusion from the urban sphere into the cultural setting (Engels). Whyte pays a special attention to increased poverty in urban settings and slums as a dominant feature of the eastern city. Whyte writes: "People appear as social work clients, as defendants in criminal cases or as undifferentiated members of the masses". It is possible to say that the ideological and interactional roles and links between cities and societies are not unchanging. Therefore the concept of "adaptation" must be added to introduce a dynamic aspect. Cities are and always have been in a continual process of adjustment to their external socio-cultural environments. "Environment" in this context does not directly involve physical circumstances affecting the city, such as water supply, soil type, and rainfall average. Following Durkheim and Tonnies, with a specifically urban population and a distinctly urban pattern of social organization, the administrative city is further from the rural countryside in ideology and life-style than the regal-ritual type is. The patterns of belief and social life, the cultural "rules" of the state society, may remain basically the same in village and city. The urban area, on the other hand, concentrates a sophistication--an elaborateness of custom and ideology--that mark it off sharply from the rural zone. Rather than a hiatus in belief, rather than an antagonism based on wholly different urban and rural patterns, the administrative city is simply so much more than its rural environs that rural areas appear culturally denuded, socially deficient, and ideologically backward by comparison. The city may still reflect the countryside, but it does so with such intensity that it appears to have its own independent luminosity. Durkheim underlines that: "solidarity in indu strial society is based not on uniformity bit on difference". The industrial city becomes a node of the power and

Accounting aspects of Southwestern Airlines Essay

Accounting aspects of Southwestern Airlines - Essay Example In 1966 Kelleher was practicing law in San Antonio when a customer named Rollin King wished-for starting a short-haul airline like California-based Pacific Southwest Airlines.The airline would fly the "Golden Triangle" of Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio and by staying within Texas, avoid federal regulations. Kelleher and King formed a company, raised initial capital, and filed for regulatory approval from the Texas Aeronautics Commission. Regrettably, the other Texas-based airlines, namely Braniff, Continental, and Trans Texas, opposed the idea and waged a battle to prevent Southwest from flying. Kelleher argued the company's case before the Texas Supreme Court, which ruled in Southwest's favor. The US Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal filed by the other airlines. In the late 1970s, it looked as if the company could begin flying.''Southwest then began building a management team, and the purchase of three surplus Boeing 737s was negotiated. In the meantime, Braniff and Texas In ternational continued their efforts to put off Southwest from flying. The underwriters of Southwest's initial public stock offering withdrew, and a restraining order against the company was obtained two days before its scheduled inaugural flight. Kelleher again argued his company's case before the Texas Supreme Court, which ruled in Southwest's favor a second time, lifting the restraining order. Southwest Airlines began flying the next day, June 18, 1971' (Freiberg & Freiberg, 1996). Southwest Airlines: An Introduction Southwest Airlines has always been thriving in terms of productivity, good employee and union relations, and customer satisfaction at a time when most airline carriers are besieged in all these areas. Crucial to the company's hallmarks is its culture of flexibility and family-orientation. Herb Kelleher summed up the Southwest culture and commitment to employees: 'We don't use things like TQM. It is just a lot of people taking pride in what they're doing. You have to recognize that people are important. How you treat them determines how they treat people on the outside.. I give people the license to be themselves and motivate others in that way. We give people the opportunity to be a maverick. You don't have to fit in a constraining mold at work-you can have a good time. People respond to that' (Lancaster, 1999). Despite the fact that 90% of Southwest employees are unionized, labor relations have been surprisingly positive, especially by industry standards. There are no official structures for labor or union participation in management administration; nevertheless the company led by top managers who vigorously seek out and respond to employee views has taken the lead on developing and maintaining this culture. 'One significant base of the company's achievement in a rather unsteady industry is the fact that the unions are not involved in pushing their roles beyond the conservative collective bargaining and grievance functions they perform. In this regard, Southwest differs from some other renowned cases of Human Resource-based and customer-oriented success stories' (Kochan, 1999). Southwest Airlines: Its Accounting Aspects The September 11 incident pushes the airline industry into economic turmoil, resulting in unemployment, insolvency, and the prospect of fragile prospects. Soon after the September 11, most major airlines announced sharp service reductions, grounded aircraft, and laying-off of employees. Yet 'during the first decade of deregulation, more than 150 carriers, many of them start-up airlines, collapsed into insolvency. Eight of the 11 major airlines dominating the industry in 1978 ended up filing for bankruptcy, merging with other carriers, or just disappearing from the radar screen. All together, the industry made enough money during this period to buy two Boeing 747s.' (Dempsey, 1984).

Life in the City Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Life in the City - Essay Example This perspective, which removes urban places from the context of their societies, may be appropriate to what these disciplines wish to learn of and from the city. Engels underlines that urban settings has a negative impact on an individual and his morals. He writes that: "the brutal indifference, the unfeeling isolation of each in his private interest, becomes the more repellant and offensive, the more these individuals are crowded together". Such an approach is less useful in anthropology, however. For cross-cultural comparisons and analyses of urban development, the city must be treated as only one of many social institutions such as kinship, religion, and subsistence activity that anthropologists always have conceptualized as parts of a socio-cultural whole. A spirit of independence and autonomy, a desire for innovation, a predilection for social status based on achievement rather than birth, and a sense of community beyond the family or kin group are characteristics often associated with the city. In this view, urban places become centers of social change, economic development, and personal freedom in contrast to conservative, ascriptive, and traditional rural settlements. Cities are thus perceived as sources of novel economic and productive arrangements and new political orders that challenge the fabric of society. The ideological approach thus studies the "rules" that compose the cultural roles of cities and their societies. It investigates the derivation of these rules outside the city or their diffusion from the urban sphere into the cultural setting (Engels). Whyte pays a special attention to increased poverty in urban settings and slums as a dominant feature of the eastern city. Whyte writes: "People appear as social work clients, as defendants in criminal cases or as undifferentiated members of the masses". It is possible to say that the ideological and interactional roles and links between cities and societies are not unchanging. Therefore the concept of "adaptation" must be added to introduce a dynamic aspect. Cities are and always have been in a continual process of adjustment to their external socio-cultural environments. "Environment" in this context does not directly involve physical circumstances affecting the city, such as water supply, soil type, and rainfall average. Following Durkheim and Tonnies, with a specifically urban population and a distinctly urban pattern of social organization, the administrative city is further from the rural countryside in ideology and life-style than the regal-ritual type is. The patterns of belief and social life, the cultural "rules" of the state society, may remain basically the same in village and city. The urban area, on the other hand, concentrates a sophistication--an elaborateness of custom and ideology--that mark it off sharply from the rural zone. Rather than a hiatus in belief, rather than an antagonism based on wholly different urban and rural patterns, the administrative city is simply so much more than its rural environs that rural areas appear culturally denuded, socially deficient, and ideologically backward by comparison. The city may still reflect the countryside, but it does so with such intensity that it appears to have its own independent luminosity. Durkheim underlines that: "solidarity in indu strial society is based not on uniformity bit on difference". The industrial city becomes a node of the power and

Withholding Information Essay Example for Free

Withholding Information Essay It is frequently advisable for those in positions of authority in government to withhold information from general public Some information the public has the right to know while other information is better to be withheld. There are plenty of reasons why it is better not revealing information. Withholding information that may put the population in danger would be better than revealing information which would bring chaos. On the flipside, transparency and honesty between the government and the public are very important. Transparency is essential in order for a democracy to function and honesty is important in cases when there is need for strong relations to be created. And although I support the idea of freedom of information, the general public will never be educated enough to maintain consensus and national problems. In these cases withholding information helps to ensure stability in terms of national security, preserving the peace and well-being. The main reason authority keeps information is the fear from criticism and disapproval. A rational society would never be satisfied with vague information and would want to take part in the decision-making process. Government has a lot of information which the people may have an interest in but still some of this information is dangerous. Things like war strategies and secret missions need to be withheld. Being kept in the dark on some things as long as its truly for the good of the nation and not for someone’s benefit is acceptable. For example if government find the cure for cancer but decide that it would ruin pharmaceutical companies and chose not to reveal this information it isn’t right. On the other hand, there is a lot of information which public doesn’t deserve access to. Like information that endangers the government. Another reason for withholding information could be to cover mistakes and not causing discontent. The government always makes big promises and eventually it will have to fulfill some of them. If government promise to reduce the crime rate in 30% within a year and don’t follow the plan it will lose it’s credibility. I think that the idea some information to be withheld is valid. However, information that would improve the living standard of people or information which is of great importance for the future of humanity, in my opinion shouldn’t be kept. There is no clear moral answer here. When there is too much that is at stake, we can’t say that information should always be free. Should it benefit the public to know how their government works, or it should benefit the government to have the full control over our lives. Im not so sure.

Since X Ray Was Discovered Health And Social Care Essay

Since X Ray Was Discovered Health And Social Care Essay Since x-ray was discovered by Roentgen in 1895, its medical application has grown to be a fast and dynamic imaging modality. Todays imaging department consists of an impressive array of diagnostic and therapeutic devices from x-ray machines, CT Scan, PET Scan, linear accelerator, which mainly use ionizing radiation for diagnosis and treatment of illnesses; and with the addition of ultrasound and MRI that use sound waves and magnets for diagnosis instead of x-rays. Thus, radiology is considered as the window of the healthcare institution and the radiologic technologists are the persons behind these state-of-the art machines. In the x-ray department, one of the divisions of radiology department, the x-ray machines are used for diagnoses of illnesses. For 100 years the film-screen system has been the imaging system of choice. This system uses radiographic film, screen and wet chemistry to generate an image just like conventional photography. Every RTs goal is to provide high quality images for accurate diagnosis; therefore each step is very critical. The RT must be equipped with knowledge and skills from anatomy, positioning and exposure techniques. One slight mistake can imperil the image and yields an unacceptable radiograph which entails repeat examination that primarily means additional radiation dose to the patient. This is one of the disadvantages of a film-screen system wherein once the film has been processed; there is no way to alter it. What you see is what you get. Fortunately, with the growing technology of imaging modalities came the introduction of digital imaging which follow the same concep t as digital cameras wherein brightness and contrast of the image can be changed and images can now be cropped. Its advantage compared to film-screen is very obvious, since images can be altered, repeat examinations, oftentimes is no longer necessary. The technology is superb and its debut has grown the curiosity of every RT whether it is efficient compared to the traditional system. And of course, it is. However, as with every other technology has its drawback. Since the new technology primarily uses computer and computer-aided equipments oftentimes do the entire job. The question lies wherein will the competence of the RT in terms of exposure technique factors be same as using the conventional way? Several international studies stated that because of the convenience of the system, the RTs using the machine oftentimes fail to consider the standard protocols in every technique selection because images can be manipulated later. Alteration of images from time to time should not be a daily scenario because manipulation sometimes interfere accurate diagnosis. As of the researchers knowledge, there are no known local related studies in the decline of RTs competence in using CR. One of the reasons may be this modality is still in the stage of introduction in the Philippines and that its implication is not yet intensively studied. But this does not stop the researchers to seek of finding out if there is indeed a decline in RTs competence with the new system. This study is a comparative-correlational research in determining the level of radiographic competence between film-screen system and CR on exposure technique factor selection. The main objectives of the researchers are to compare if there is a significant difference in terms of radiographic competence in the RT who uses film-screen from CR and to determine if the respondents profile and agency has a significant relationship in terms of radiographic competence. Base on the result of the study, the researchers will be able to assess the essential skills needed for the profession. Technolo gy indeed has helped us in many ways. However, without the competence of the professional manipulating the equipment is futile. This means that the technologist who has the sole responsibility of manning the state-of-the art equipment should not rely from technology, instead technology should rely on them. REVIEW OF LITERATURE This study primarily aims to compare the level of radiographic competence on exposure technique factor selection between film-screen system and computed radiography (CR). Exposure technique factor selection is an important foundation for these two types of image receptor (IR) or imaging system. Image receptor is a device that converts x-rays into visible light. Competence should not vary whether the radiologic technologist (RT) is using the conventional or digital system, otherwise, it will defeat the intensive study of the exposure techniques during the undergraduate years. Furthermore, providing appropriate exposure techniques is paramount in the profession since these techniques also mean radiation dosage on the part of the patient. According to Fauber Johnston (2012), the radiographers actions at the control panel directly determine the nature and the make-up of the x-ray beam. This means that the selected exposure technique factor is directly proportional to patient dose. In ad dition, it is the responsibility of the radiographer to learn the philosophy, factors and methods that minimizes ionizing radiation exposure to the patient (Callaway, 1996). This also means that an RT is providing quality patient care when he/she gives an adequate and necessary amount of radiation to the patient. Competence in Radiologic Technologist Klemp (1980) defined competence as an underlying characteristic of a person which results in effective and/or superior performance on the job. A competent person is imbued with the right knowledge, skills and attitude on a particular task. Other authors define competence as a cluster or related knowledge, skills, and attitudes that reflects a major portion of ones job, which has a relationship in the performance on the job that can be measured with well-accepted standards, and that can be improved with training and development (Parry, 1996). In radiologic technology, for example, an newly licensed RT already possess cognitive and motor skills at an entry level, however, it can only be enhanced through proper and consistent training in a chosen specialized field during the course of his/her work as an RT. Knowledge, Skills, Attitude As mentioned, competence is a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes. These components are essential as a whole because the absence of one component greatly affects ones performance. According to Dowd (1996), knowledge as part of competence includes theories and concepts which were gained as a result of the experience of performing certain tasks. Furthermore, in the field of radiologic technology he added that knowledge includes job-specific terminology, methods of organizing information and an understanding of principles and generalizations. On the other hand, Hans Reynold in 1928 defined skill as combined mental and physical qualities which make it useful to industry. Knowledge if combined with skills is important in the workplace. Furthermore, one cannot develop a skill without knowledge and at higher levels, knowledge are converted to skills (Klieme, 2004.) The last component that determines competence is the attitude. The attitude such as beliefs, values, traits, and motives is a part of competence because it indicates the persons response to a particular event or situation. Attitude refers to the predisposition or mental state of individuals/users towards a product, ideas, or attributes. It also implies on mental readiness on a particular object or his attributes toward an object or his preferences. (Hulse Dowd, 1996). In the field of radiologic technology, competence does not only mean that the RT is equipped with the knowledge and skills but RT is also imbued with the right attitude and judgment to provide each patient with quality care On Radiographic Competence In the field of radiologic technology, one aspect of the profession requires competent skills in radiographic exposure factor technique. The said competence is essential especially in the diagnostic x-ray imaging, wherein exposure factors are the key to accurate diagnosis and providing radiation dosage to minimum level. For 100 years, film-screen technique has been the method of choice in radiographic imaging (Bushong 2009). Film-screen system uses radiographic films, radiographic intensifying screens and wet chemistry to make the image visible. Furthermore, this conventional system should adhere to the standards of the darkroom requirements. Film-screen system has the same concept as a typical conventional camera. In a film-screen technique, radiologic technologist should be certain on the exposure factors to be applied in a particular exposure because improper selection of exposure factors can lead to overexposure or underexposure of the film. Overexposure or underexposure degrades image quality and therefore, it can lead to rejection of film, thus necessitates the need for repeat examination. Repeat examination provides unnecessary dose to the patient and additional costs to the department. On the other hand, as with the other innovations in technology, diagnostic imaging has shifted its course from conventional to digital. Computer applications are employed nowadays in diagnostic imaging modalities. An appropriate analogy that is easy for most people to understand is the replacement of typical film cameras with digital cameras: images can be taken, immediately examined, deleted, corrected, and cropped, and subsequently sent to a network of computers. Computed radiography system (CR) is an affordable solution to digital imaging. Instead of the film, CR employs an imaging plate to capture x-rays and makes it visible when the plate is scanned into a computer and digitized it. Once the image is converted to data, it can be recorded on a laser printed film or can be transmitted and stored digitally. It has special features like manipulation or enhancement of the image. Its specialized software is used to image viewing with enhanced functions similar to film-screen system, s uch as contrast, brightness, and zoom. (dicomsolutions.com, 2011). Computed radiography has practical technical advantages compared with conventional techniques, such as wide contrast dynamic range, post-processing functionality, multiple image viewing options, and electronic transfer and archiving possibilities. In this system, image quality can be achieved because of the post-processing techniques that are not possible with film-screen system. This system is convenient for the technologists because the RT can compensate for exposure technique inaccuracies by adjusting the technique during post-processing phase of the image rather than that time of exposure. In radiologic technology field, competence means that the RT is equipped with the knowledge, skills, attitude and judgment to provide each patient with quality care. According to Olavidez (2005), competence is essential in the field of Radiologic Technology because RT is a fast growing profession; RT deals with human lives and most of all, the RT curriculum is not enough to prepare the students to be equipped with the skills necessary for the profession especially in the special fields of radiologic technology. For an RT to become competent, he/she should have undergone formal educational background followed by specialized training in their chosen field that takes months. As an RT, he/she should have comprehensive knowledge and skills in patient care, radiologic procedures and radiation dosage. Exposure Technique Factors Exposure technique factors influence and determine the quantity and quality of x-radiation to which the patient is exposed (Bushong, 2009). Kilovolt peak (kVp), milliamperage (mA), exposure time and source-to-image distance (SID) are the principal exposure technique factors. Furthermore, the said factors also affect image quality. Milliamperage and exposure time are the exposure factors that affects the quantity of radiation. Milliampere is the measure of x-ray tube current, whereas milliampere-second (mAs) is the produce of exposure time and exposure tube current. They directly affect the optical density (OD) of the film. Optical density is the overall blackening of the film. The darker the film, the higher number of x-rays is given to the patient. The higher the number of x-rays that are the given to the patients, the greater the radiation dosage they receive. Source-to-image receptor distance also affects the quantity of the radiation. The closer the patient is to the x-ray source, the higher dosage the patient gets. For chest x-ray, the standard SID is 72 inches, while for the other x-ray examinations, the standard SID is 40 inches. Kilovoltage peak (kVp), directly affects the quality of radiation. kVp is the maximum electric potential that travels across the x-ray tube. Since kVp affects the quality of th e x-ray beam, it also affects the quality of the radiographic image. Kilovoltage directly affects contrast. Contrast is the variation of densities on the film. The advantage of using higher kVp is that the patient will receive lower dosage of radiation because it will not be absorbed. However, higher kilovoltage produces more scatter radiation, thus increases the transmission of x-rays to the image receptor and degrades image quality. The best techniques to prevent scatter radiation are using beam restrictors such as collimator to filter low energy x-rays and to cut-off low energy rays using radiographic grids. By employing beam restrictors and grid will enhance image contrast because scatter radiation will be prevented. Furthermore, scatter radiation will also provide unnecessary dose to the patient. Therefore, exposure technique factor selection is essential. To provide quality radiographs and to limit patients to radiation should be a goal for every RT. According to Bushong (2009), RTs are required to use their skills to produce the best possible image with single exposure (Bushong, 2009). Otherwise, repeat examination will provide unnecessary radiation dose to the patient. Therefore, it is necessary for the RT to be equipped with knowledge and skills to manipulate these exposure technique factors to produce desired optical density, contrast, and image detail on the finished radiograph. RT in Film-Screen System In conventional film-screen system, before each examination, the radiologic technologist must select the optimum radiographic technique factors- kVp, mA, and exposure time (Bushong 2009). There are many considerations to determine the value of each factor and they are complexly interrelated. Contrast and Density are the photographic factors of the radiograph and it functions to make the image visible. Visibility of image is important so that anatomical image will appear for proper diagnosis. After each exposure, there is no way to manipulate its contrast and density and thats what makes film-screen system difficult as inadequate contrast or density entails repeat examination. Since manipulation of the image is not possible in this system, the RT should be certain with the technique factors prior to the exposure; otherwise, miscalculations can result to underexposure or overexposure. In a film-screen system, overexposure and underexposure of the image is considered unacceptable becaus e the important structures are not visible and thus it is not a tool for proper diagnosis. In other words, image quality is dependent on exposure factors. RT in Computed Radiography In CR system, image quality is not dependent on exposure factors. Digital image is unrelated to dose, kVp becomes less important. Since, image quality is not dependent on exposure factors, image can be manipulated. In a conventional system, the film serves as both image acquisition and display medium. With CR, the image plate serves as the acquisition medium but does not display the image. Since these functions are separate in CR, the digital signal can be altered to compensate for underexposure or overexposure and an acceptable image can be displayed on the monitor (Shephard, 2003). With CR system, post-processing is possible that helps enhance image thus allowing the RT to alter image contrast and density. Since image can be manipulated or modified, underexposure or overexposure is no longer a problem with this system, because it can usually salvage variations from the optical technique, whereas technical error with a screen-film system often requires a repeat exposure (Pizzutiello , 1993; Cesar, 1997). Therefore, with CR, technical errors are eliminated because of exposure variances that are possible with salvageable results, assuming adequate kilovoltage is used (Ballinger, 1999). On Assessment of RT Competence In order to know the competence of a professional, assessment plays a vital role. Assessment is important so as to evaluate if the RT is still competent to do the job. Since we are in the era of rapid technology, it may come to a point that we will just put our confidence on computers rather than our competence. According to Olavidez (2005), competence is an observable ability and it can be measured against set of standards. Assessment of competence is a combined knowledge, skills, and attitudes that reflect the current work practice. Furthermore, it can bridge the gap between workplace requirements and standard. Selection of exposure technique factor is of extreme importance because RT deals with exposing patients to radiation. Exposure technique factor is equivalent to the quality and the quantity of radiation that exits the patient, therefore, the RT should be precise in giving exposure technique factors. Providing appropriate radiation dose is necessary to prevent the patients from the hazards of the ionizing radiation, therefore prior to the exposure of the patient, accurate exposure techniques should be practiced. The issue of providing accurate techniques lies in a digital system, wherein images can be manipulated during post-processing. According to Fredrick Walker (medicalimagingmag, 2008), a radiologic technologist at Sharp Rees-Stealy in San Diego, CA, he pointed out if the image is too dark, we can manipulate the image using post-processing techniques like windowing or shadowing or to adjust contrast without having to repeat the examination. Furthermore, since image can be manipul ated during post-processing, it can encourage complacency rather than accuracy with exposure techniques which can result in overexposed or underexposed images (Medicalxray, 2010). In addition, according to Enfinger (2012), that it is true that the image can be adjusted, however, it is not recommended because the raw data from the initial exposure will contain information from scatter radiation that degrades image quality even if it is manipulated later. According to Shephard (2003), it is likely that digital imaging will replace conventional screen-film radiography in many modern medical imaging centers in the near future. It has already been stated that even if the image can be manipulated during post-processing, this should not be a practice because somehow it can deteriorate image quality which results in inaccurate diagnosis. One retrospective analysis of patients who had undergone lumbar spine radiographs for the diagnosis of osteoporosis compare diagnostic accuracy with screen-film versus digital radiography. The authors suspected that bone mineral loss could be more easily visible with screen-film imaging due to the fact that image contrast cannot be adjusted with this modality, whereas CR (and DR) images undergo digital post-processing techniques to maximize contrast. This could result in misleading results that confound diagnostic strength in osteoporosis. Therefore, this is a challenge now for the RT to maintain their competence amidst the aid of technology. Competence of RT is the foundation of providing quality patient care by providing appropriate radiation dose for accurate diagnosis. Synthesis The focus of the literature and studies cited was the radiographic competence of RT between film-screen system and computed radiography and it is through this study that the researchers can identify and compare whether their competence will differ based on the image receptor that is being used. In addition, competence in exposure technique factors is essential because this will also mean radiation dose to the patient. It has already been affirmed that the concept has been there for the past few years and therefore the present study is certainly not a new concept. Nevertheless, the researchers deemed it necessary to conduct a study assessing the competence of the RT for the benefit of the institution where they belong because the researcher wants to propose a professional program that could strengthen the foundation of the RTs. It is also important for the school to offer the programs since almost the RT from the different hospitals in Davao City are products of this institution. This study is similar to the other studies cited in this section because it stated on the effects of digital imaging on the radiographic competence of the RTs. Furthermore, previous studies dealt with the effects of image manipulation on image quality and it indirectly link to the competence of the RTs. Conceptual Framework In this view, the researchers attempted to assess the level of radiographic competence of the RTs in terms of knowledge, skills and attitude. Through assessing the competence of the RTs, the researchers are able to determine the level of radiographic competence; their strengths and weakness of radiographic techniques. On the other hand, the researchers identified the factors that can affect their competence, such as the respondents demographic profile in terms of age, sex, number of years in service and educational attainment and the profile of institution such as agency and its classification are also considered. To have a vivid picture of the study, Figure 1 served as the research paradigm SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM Independent Variables Dependent Variables Factors Respondents Profile Age Number of years in service Agency Private Public Image Processing Film-Screen System Computed Radiography Level of Radiographic Competence Knowledge Skills Attitude Figure 1 Schematic Diagram showing the relationship between the independent and dependent variables STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The study aims to compare the level of radiographic competence in using a film-screen system and computed radiography on exposure technique factor selection; specifically it aims to answer the following questions: What is the respondents profile in terms of: Age Number of years in service What is the agency of the healthcare institutions in terms of: Private Public What is the level of the respondents radiographic competence in using film-screen system on exposure technique factor selection in terms of: Knowledge Skills Attitude What is the level of the respondents radiographic competence in using computed radiography on exposure technique factor selection in terms of: Knowledge Skills Attitude Is there a significant relationship between the respondents profile and the level of radiographic competence in terms of: Knowledge Skills Attitude Is there a significant relationship between the agency of healthcare institution and the level of radiographic competence in terms of: Knowledge Skills Attitude Is there a significant difference in the level of radiographic competence between film-screen system and computed radiography in terms of: Knowledge Skills Attitude HYPOTHESES There is no significant relationship between the respondents profile and the level of radiographic competence in terms of: Age Number of years in service There is no significant relationship between the agency of the healthcare institution and the level of radiographic competence in terms of: Public Private There is no significant difference in the level of radiographic competence between film-screen system and computed radiography in terms of: Knowledge Skills Attitude DEFINITION OF TERMS Accuracy- refers to the degree of conformity of a measured or calculated value to its actual or specific value. Computed Radiography- is an affordable solution of digital imaging system that uses a photostimulable phosphor as the image receptor. Digital Radiography- an all-digital technique in which x-ray absorption is quantified by assignment of a number to the amount of x-rays reaching the detector; this is also called as cassetteless system. Exposure- measure of ionization produced in air by x-rays or gamma rays. Exposure Factor Selection. It is the factor set by the radiographer (kVp, and mAs) to produce visibility of structures in the radiograph. Film Screen System- is the conventional image receptor that uses radiographic film, radiographic intensifying screen and wet chemistry to visualize the image in the radiograph. Image receptor- is a device that converts x-ray beam into visible image. Level of Radiographic Competence- refers to the measure of the level of competence of the radiologic technologist in achieving goals and objectives in providing quality radiographs with minimum radiation dose to patients. Private hospital- is a hospital owned by a profit company or a non-profit organization and privately funded through payment for medical services by patients themselves. Public hospital- is a hospital which is owned by the government and receives government funding. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This study seeks to determine if there is a significant difference on the level of the respondents radiographic competence in exposure technique factor selection between film-screen system and computed radiography; and to determine if there is a significant relationship on the level of radiographic competence between respondents profile and agency. Based on the results of this study, the researchers can identify the strengths and weaknesses of the RTs and if it shows significant decline in the competence of the RT in the CR system, the researchers will propose an enhancement program for the professionals. The said program will also be a part of the Continuing Professional Education (CPE), and it will be added to the CPE units needed to renew RT licenses. This study will be most helpful to the radiology department of the hospital to enhance Health Care Delivery by limiting radiation dose to the patients. Furthermore, determining the attitude toward the imaging system will help the department to reevaluate the mental and the emotional state of the RTs. Mental and Emotional state of the RT are important since they are dealing with patients. It is the responsibility of the RT to render quality patient care by providing appropriate radiation dose. Furthermore, this study will also be of most helpful to the schools offering radiologic technology as to intensify the foundation of the students in terms of exposure technique factors. Based on the result of the study, there may be a need to revise the curriculum to further intensify the skills of the RT students. Computed Radiography is not a part of the standard RT curriculum, and it may be one factor that affects the decline of competence on the part of the professional as well as the students. Chapter 2 METHODOLOGY This portion discusses the research design used, the research locale where the study will be conducted, the description of samples and the sampling technique, the instrument used, the details of procedure and the statistical analysis to answer the research problem. Research Design The study will employ a comparative-correlational research. To determine the difference between the level of competence in film-screen system and computed radiography, comparative study will be used. Furthermore, to determine the relationship between the respondents profile and agency between the levels of the radiographic competence, correlational design will be employed. Setting The study will be conducted from the selected hospitals in Davao, Digos and Tagum City employing either film-screen system and computed radiography. The hospitals using film-screen system are the following: Alexian Brothers Health and Wellness Center, Km. 4, McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City; Davao Regional Hospital, located at Apokon, Tagum City 8112 and Davao Del Sur Provincial Hospital which is located at Lapu-lapu St. Digos, City Davao Del Sur. On the other hand, the hospitals using the computed radiography system are the following: Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH), E. Quirino Ave., Davao City; Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), J.P Laurel Ave., Bajada, Davao City and Davao Medical School Foundation and Hospital (DMSF), Medical Drive, Bajada, Davao City. Participants The respondents of the study are the Registered Radiologic Technologists and Associate X-ray Technologists coming from the selected hospitals in Davao City employing a film-screen and computed radiography system. Moreover, the qualified respondents should be at least six months in service at the time of the evaluation. Measures The research assessment is composed of four parts. The first part of the assessment consists of questions pertaining to the profile of the respondents and hospital. The second part consists of questions on the respondents level of knowledge on exposure technique factor selection. The questions are specifically structured in such a way that assesses the respondents acquired knowledge on technique selection. Based on the results, the attitude in terms of respondents response in both film-screen and CR system will be categorized as follows depending on their mean score: Points Obtained Qualitative Description 30-25 Very High 20-24 High 15-19 Moderately High 10- 14 Low 13- 0 Very Low INTERPRETATION The aforementioned assessment form that will be used as instrument of the study is constructed and designed by the researchers as to measure the basic knowledge in exposure technique factor selection regardless of the imaging system used. Its validity and reliability was attested by experts of the field. Moreover, the third part of the assessment is an actual evaluation wherein the respondents are observed during x-ray examination. They will be assessed in the actual selection of the exposure technique factor and the outcome of the image. The said assessment is a point system; the appropriate the RT performs in technique factor selection and the acceptable the image, the higher the points. Based on the results, the level of radiographic competence in terms of respondents skills will be categorized as follows depending on their mean score: Points Obtained Qualitative Description 10 Very high level of radiographic skills 7-9 High level of radiographic skills 4-6 Moderately low level of radiographic skills 1-3 Low level of radiographic skills Low level of radiographic skills means that the respondents were not able to perform the appropriate exposure techniques and came up with an unacceptable radiograph. Moderately low level of radiographic skills me