Thursday, October 31, 2019

Research proposal in the public service (public services for example Essay

Research proposal in the public service (public services for example police, fire service etc...) - Essay Example are some of the important types of public services which a government arranges for the general public. With growing population, widening areas of services, growing public expectations, constant monitoring by the public and the media besides the government appointed regulatory mechanism the public services offices have come under severe pressure to perform well. The police services for example are now under pressure to sniff the terror plots being hatched by terrorists. In addition the crimes like online identity theft, internet banking frauds etc. are further addition to the list of crimes that the local police department is supposed to investigate. The manpower and resources on the other hand has not been match up with the exponential numbers and types of crimes. It is under such circumstances that at some places, question marks are being raised about the effectiveness of the public services. Discussions are also being held to figure out the possible remedial measures that could be taken up by the government/s to make such services more effective and efficient. The main intention of the study is to develop a better understanding of the concepts of public services in general and their effectiveness in these challenging times. During the study an effort would be made to study some of the recent incidents where the role of public services has been quite constructive. In addition, some such incidents will also be analysed where the role of public services has been criticised in the media or amongst the intelligentsia. The study will try to seek answers to the following key objectives. i. To analyze the availability of some pre-identified public services with respect to the numbers of people. This will involve comparison of per capita availability of such services in different regions. ii. What types of expectations do the general populace have from the government of the day iii. Find out the impact of public private cooperation in some fields. As a part of the corporate social responsibility, a number of corporate houses have also come forward in lending a helping hand to the people and the government. An effort would be made to assess how successful such associations proved in the recent past. iv. As responsible citizens we too have a responsibility towards the state and nation, which implies that we must allow the public service offices to function in an effective manner without hampering their cause or without burdening them with our irresponsible behaviour. An effort would therefore be to assess how conscious the citizens are towards their duty as responsible citizens in making the public services more effective. v. Analyse some of the public services like Fire services, police services, health services etc. This will be an effort to point out some areas which require attention in order to make such services more effective. Approach Research approaches and methods radically influence research content and, consequently, the policies designed in response to that content. If carried out in an objective manner, research not only helps the researcher in knowing about many unknown aspects, but it often provides a benchmark for future researches as well. This thesis is more of a qualitative case study which focuses on an

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Antigone and Euthyphro Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Antigone and Euthyphro - Essay Example The nature of piety was altercated in ancient literature through the characters of Antigone and Euthyphro. Antigone and Euthyphro’s individual’s beliefs and perception of how rules must be taken were the forces that influenced them to choosing decisions that shaped their recognition about the nature of piety. The life story of Antigone indeed began with a tragedy, which had provoked her to make a decision that changed the course of her life, or perhaps, has become the instrument to ending her life through unjust means. Antigone was trapped in a situation, where she had to choose between what is right based on her conscience, and on what is right based on the legal code of Thebes. Apparently, conflicts were brought by the opposing view of Antigone and Creon on the type of law that must be sustained, referring to the divine law and the human law. Despite this conflicting belief, Antigone was certain that the human law does not surpass the divine law, when it comes to what is morally right for people. For this reason, she stood by her conviction that religious piety supersedes whatever law is created by people, who claim as rulers or kings in this world. For Antigone, even the punishment of death will not defy her devotion to the divine law. Antigone’s views adhere to the idea that there is more to life than being devoted to an earthly government, whose doctrines do not agree with the authentic nature of piety. That is, decisions in life must not dwell on human laws that dishonor the essence of the divine law -- the laws, which are there to guide people of what is morally right and wrong. By and large, Sophocles’s Antigone encapsulates the weaknesses of an earthly government, where the elected military leaders reap the benefits of them having judicial authority. Antigone is being oppressed by the tyranny of an earthy government that is ruled by a male leader, whose interpretation of justice violates the divine law. Still, in spite of th eir oppression, Antigone was willing to sacrifice her life so that Polyneices may rest in eternal peace. No earthly law hindered here to fulfilling her duty to the corpse of her brother Polyneices. In the end, Antigone may have died, but her pious devotion became the instrument to amending the flaws of the justice system in a city that is oppressed by tyrants. The story of Euthyphro, on the one hand, narrates the experiences of Euthyphro as he pushes for the prosecution of his own father, who had murdered a servant. Similar to Antigone, Euthyphro’s desire to let his father bear the consequences of his actions was a result of him believing that what he was doing was a pious thing. However, the presence of Socrates in this story made the character of Euthyphro confused over the real meaning of piety, for Euthyphro has always believed that making his father liable for killing an individual is the right thing to do, and that his father has committed a wrongdoing, which is impious . Socrates was the key to letting Euthyphro realize that his own beliefs of what is pious do not justify the act of being pious itself. Euthyphro agrees to the nature of piety but he did not fully understand how it may apply in seeking for authentic justice not in the eyes of an earthly court, but in the eyes of the gods. He was adamant to defend not his own father, but the victim, who his own father has killed, and for Euthyphro this is deemed an act of piety. It is an act of piety not because it is

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Laser And Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

Laser And Intense Pulsed Light Therapy The focus of this assignment is to examine the current legislations applicable to an establishment of a laser or Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) practice within England. The aim is to demonstrate an understanding of the current market and undertake a critical review and evaluation of the range of equipment for the removal of hair and skin enhancement. The equipment is to include treatment of photo rejuvenation, acne and vascular abnormalities. The discussion points will outline the key requirements of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in registering the use of IPL or laser treatments in a beauty clinic. It is vital to undertake a critical review of the latest advances in laser or IPL equipment on the market, including the types of conditions they can treat, and to ensure the equipment covers skin types 1 to 6 on the Fitzpatrick scale. When consider purchasing IPL or laser equipment for a new clinic discuss what factors need to be consider when selecting appropriate systems. Methodology The methods used to gain information regarding this assignment were secondary from books and websites. By using the search engine Google and taking information from books data was gathered to put this assignment together. Also primary research was carried out when discussing, with other managers, the registration process and equipment used within their establishment. Findings Outline the key requirements of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in registering premises for the use of IPL or laser equipment. In April 2009 the CQC took over the Healthcare Commission and is established under the Health and Social Care Act (2008). The CQC outline specific standards that are adhered to by each type of independent healthcare provider such as non surgical cosmetic procedures including IPL. By law, certain establishments and agencies providing healthcare in the independent sector must be regulated by the Care Quality Commission (Care Quality Commission, 2009) it is the duty of the CQC to ensure the equipment is properly maintained and all staff involved in the use of the machinery are fully trained to operate it. This is to maintain standards of health and safety towards members of staff and clients. This includes annual checks on the establishments and paper work that includes training certificates and records of clients undergoing treatment. Before beginning the registration process there are requirements that a manager undergoes to ensure the process is dealt with efficiently. These include the set up of the treatment room, customer complaints policy, a statement of purpose, and a medical report, all of which should be written and documented to show proof to the CQC. When setting up a treatment room for the purpose of laser or IPL the area must be suitable for the procedure which includes no reflective surfaces, a cool cabinet or fridge, a treatment bed, room for the machine to manoeuvre, equipment for performing the treatment, razors and a sharps box. The lighting must be to a high standard and a lock on the door means no one could potentially walk in during the treatment. This is to ensure all health and safety measures have been taken to provide a safe working environment. Risk assessment of the laser controlled area is vital and needs to be updated yearly or when any new equipment is acquired. The risk assessment includes PAT testing, treatment room standards, COSHH on the products used and the appropriate health and safety guidelines. When applying to register for the first time the manager must first read the guidance on applying for registration. It is compulsory to complete application forms R1 and R1SOP, along with a self-assessment form available from the CQC website. If it is required to have a registered manager, the form R1A needs to also be completed. When apply for registration, there is a non-refundable application fee. A series of other information is required to fill out the forms mentioned above, which includes a copy of the applicants birth certificate, any certificates of a change of name, a recent passport photograph, a copy of certificates relating to any relevant professional qualification obtained, a copy of each applicants up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV), a medical report, two personal references and a pre-interview self-assessment questionnaire should be filled out sent to the CQC. A statement of purpose consists of information on the intention of the equipment; this should be outlined and u p dated when necessary and a copy should be sent to the CQC. The registration process cannot start until the appropriate fee has been submitted for laser and IPL from then on annual fees are applied. The registration process can then take eight to twelve weeks to complete. Key staff involved in the process of laser and IPL include the manager and owners of the business and the staff who will be operating the machinery. Staff training can be provided by appointed Colleges that have the facilities, alternatively when buying the machinery specific companies provide training. For staff to be eligible for training the minimum qualification is NVQ level 3 or equivalent in the Beauty sector. This is to ensure the therapists using the equipment have a high standard of anatomy and physiology. It is imperative that the employees are trained to a high standard as the equipment can be dangerous. It is the managers responsibility to ensure all therapists are competent and trained in the equipment before providing treatments. The policies needed to ensure the correct standards are maintained include consultation forms, records clinical controls and client protocols. It is the responsibility of the manager and all employees to maintain current accurate records of clients medical history, skin conditions and personal information and to ensure they are signed by both the client and the member of staff performing the treatment. Undertake a critical review of the latest advances in laser and IPL equipment on the market and the types of conditions they can treat. Ensure work covers equipment for skin types 1 to 6 Laser and IPL machines are ever advancing with technology. This provides companies with up to date knowledge and expertise which can enhance the treatments given and adapt to new ones. It is important to discover clients needs and expectations to find a treatment that can help with the majority of concerns. Research is obtained to ensure the products produced will have an impact and be successful. It is vital that the equipment chose by a business appeals to the majority of clients. As there are many different skin types the machinery has a Fitzpatrick Scale (see fig 1) the equipment should cater for all 6 skin types on the chart. The equipment neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet; Nd:Y3Al5O12 (ND:Yag) and IPL are the only pieces of equipment that work on all 6 skin types of the Fitzpatrick Scale. See Appendix 5 for a table on a wide range of products that use laser and IPL. This table shows the ND:Yag and IPL equipment is versatile and adaptable to accommodate all skin types. Appendix 1 shows a comparison of the equipment which demonstrates the qualities and uses. It is shown that the IPL works on the upper layers of the skin to aid with skin rejuvenation and hair removal amongst other treatments. IPL treatments are well established and have had many studies and independent surveys performed on them. ND:Yag is the new technology so it does not have all information on long term affects and results. This equipment works on the lower layers of the skin and hair follicle to enhance the treatment. The ND:Yag provides treatments for acne treatment and works more effectively on darker skin types. Lynton are a leading recognised company in the UK providing equipment for the use of hair removal and skin rejuvenation using IPL Laser and ND:Yag technology. Lumina is a piece of equipment that is versatile and works on many skin conditions (see appendix 3) and has options to select from Intense Pulsed Light only or Intense Pulsed Light with laser. This piece of equipment is high powered for fast results and has the flexibility and adaptability to perform well in most businesses. The Lightseries is a piece of equipment that has the latest multifunctional Alexandrite technology (see appendix 4) to perform treatments similar to the Lumina. Both machines have benefits to the business and it would be down to the manager to decide which would be most suitable to the individual clientele. Consider purchasing IPL or laser equipment for a new clinic, include what factors need to consider when selecting appropriate systems When a manager decides to invest in a new piece of machinery there are many factors that need to be considered to ensure the purchase it suitable for the business. There are many points to a new piece of machinery including, latest technology, design, cost and function which need to be researched. Demonstrations from the different companys to provide presentations on the information gathered on the product can be invaluable to making a decision on where to invest. This provides an opportunity for the manager to see the machinery, packages, ask all questions and see a presentation on the results. It is important to gather all information and have written proof of offers; this provides some security with facts and figures, to refer to at a later stage. The company providing the machinery needs to be reputable and information on the companys back ground can be fundamental to evaluate whether an investment is worthy. The longer the company and product have been established can make impact on a managers decision. The company need to provide a good basis of knowledge and results of the equipment to prove its functionality. Independent studies are effective in sourcing information on a product and confirming results produced. Questions such as how likely the machine is to break down, and if it does how easily is it to call out an engineer and have the parts available for replacement should be clearly outlined by the company. It is vital to know how many engineers are close by, how often does it need servicing and how much time will this take away from clients receiving treatments. What is the contingency plan of the company, what happens when it does not go according to plan and how efficient and proactive are the company at providing r esults. What organisations are the company affiliated with and what customer support is provided will prove to a manager that the company are committed to the success of a business. The machine needs to suit a certain criteria including size, design, mobility, presentation and function. The function of the machine needs to appeal to the majority of clients skin types and conditions. From an accounts point of view cost is an important issue. How much are the start up costs, replacement parts, how much are servicing costs and how often are they performed. Profit needs to be considered as to how much could the machinery make for the business, how long before a return will be seen and how much will the marketing and advertising cost. The manager will asses staff training, what is required, how often and where the training will be carried out. The company should explain if the training is an additional cost or included in the cost of the equipment or package. With all of this information a manager can make an informed decision on the investment. Conclusion To summarise, the first task was to research the process of obtaining the permission of the CQC to provide laser and IPL treatments. The legislation process involves a lot of paperwork, time and effort. This venture takes planning and determination from a manager and thorough meticulous, attention to detail. The outcome of the assignment is to show understanding of the different companies that provide equipment and the types of equipment available. With good understanding of what is involved in the decision process a manager can make an informed choice of what is suitable for the business needs. From a managers point of view the information gathered can be the deciding factor on whether or not to invest in such a venture. From this assignment I found it interesting to look at the tasks from a managers point of view and reflect on what I may consider doing in the future to encourage expanding the treatment range available to clients. Bibliography ABC lasers (2010) Home (online) available from www.abclaser.co.uk accessed 1st April 2010 Aesthetic lasers (2010) IPL and Laser (online) available from http://www.laseroffers.com/category/risk-and-safety-issues-in-aesthetics/ipl-and-lasers/ accessed 1st April 2010 Alma Lasers (2009) Alma Lasers (online) available from www.almalasers.com accessed http://www.almalasers.com/products.jsp accessed 28th October 2009 Bickmore, R.H( 2004) Miladys Hair Removal techniques British Medical Laser Association (2010) Medical Laser Resource (online) available from http://www.bmla.co.uk/index.php/medical-laser-resources accessed 1st April 2010 Care Quality Commission (2010) Laser Lights (online) available from http://www.cqc.org.uk/_db/_documents/Lasers_Lights.pdf accessed 1st April 2010 Eden Aesthetics (2010) Products (online) available from http://www.edenaesthetics.com/products.php accessed 29 the November 2009 Ellipse (2010) Ellipse Micro light (online) available from http://www.ellipseipl.co.uk/pdfs/Ellipse-MicroLite-Brochure.pdf accessed 13th February 2010 Goldberg, D. (2000), Laser Hair Removal. Martin Dunitz, London Godfrey, S. (2002), Principles and Practice of Electrical Epilation. Butterworth Heineman Lanigan, W.S. (2000) Lasers in Dermatology. London Springer Verlag Ltd. Lucid Training (2010) Core Knowledge (online) available from http://www.lucidtraining.co.uk/coreofknowledgecourses.htm accessed 13th February 2010 Reference Aesthetic lasers (2010) IPL and Laser (online) available from http://www.laseroffers.com/category/risk-and-safety-issues-in-aesthetics/ipl-and-lasers/ accessed 1st April 2010 Care Quality Commission (2010) Laser Lights (online) available from http://www.cqc.org.uk/_db/_documents/Lasers_Lights.pdf accessed 13th February 2010 Care Quality Commission (2010) Guidance on applying for Registration (online) available from http://www.cqc.org.uk/_db/_documents/Guidance_on_applying_for_registration_Independent_private_and_voluntary_healthcare.pdf accessed 13th February 2010 Care Quality Commission (2009) Guidance for Professionals (online) available from http://www.cqc.org.uk/guidanceforprofessionals/registration/independenthealthcareservices/howtoregister.cfm accessed 28th October 2009 Laser hair removal review(2009) Fitzpatrick Scale (online) available from http://www.laserhairremovalreview.com/comparison.html accessed 29 the November 2009 Lynton (2010) Lumina (online) available from http://www.lynton.co.uk/product_details.php?id=45 accessed 1st April 2010 Appendix Appendix 1 YAG 1064 nm Lasers Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Devices Applications Hair Removal, Photo rejuvenation, Skin Tightening, Active Acne treatment, Telangiectasias (spider veins), Rosacea, Sun Age Spots, Pseudofolliculitis Barbae. Hair Removal, Photo rejuvenation, Sun Age Spots, Rosacea. Efficacy High power to dermis: more energy to follicles, vessels, collagen, sebaceous glands. High power absorption in epidermis: less energy to deep dermal structures. Comfort Less painful due to shorter pulse durations. Painful due to tendency to super heat epidermal melanin. Skin cooling gels or equipment needed. Risk of Side Effects Safe on all Skin Types. all Skin Types. Consumables Few or none. Frequent head replacements (on average after 30,000 pulses), filters and gels annual cost $5,000-$10,000. Aesthetic lasers (2010) IPL and Laser (online) available from http://www.laseroffers.com/category/risk-and-safety-issues-in-aesthetics/ipl-and-lasers/ accessed 1st April 2010 Appendix 2 Lynton New Product information company equipment description use Lynton LP YAG HANDPIECE long pulsed Nd:YAG to add to a LUMINA base system hair removal for darker skin, skin rejuvenation, and leg veins for darker skin Lynton OMNILUX ideal for small treatment rooms, or those just starting out non invasive light therapy. Multiple treatment heads for use on acne, skin rejuvenation, wrinkles, non-melanoma skin cancer and psoriasis. Lynton Q-PLUS SERIES active q-switched Nd:Yag Laser with out puts at 1064nm and 532nm for use on epidermal and dermal pigmentation lesions and multicoloured tattoo fading and removal Lynton Q-PLUS C a single system combining actively Q-Switched YAG and Ruby Lasers providing outputs of 1064nm. 532nm and 694nm. For use on fading and removing tattoos of all colours and treatment of epidermal and dermal pigmented lesions. Lynton (2010) Lumina (online) avalabie from http://www.lynton.co.uk/product_details.php?id=45 accessed 1st April 2010 Appendix 3 Lynton Lumina LUMINA The flexible dermatological tool-box with Intense Pulsed Light, Laser and Q-Switched Laser technology. This clinically proven medical system leads the aesthetic sector in application versatility and revenue capability, with combined Intense Pulsed Light and Laser treatments. LUMINA is unrivalled in its system lifetime and flexibility, treating deep and superficial vascular lesions, unwanted hair, superficial and dermal pigmentation, photo-rejuvenation, active acne and multi-coloured tattoos. LUMINA has many unique features, including integral printer for treatment record keeping, patient database for instant and accurate records and digital imaging, as well as Interchangeable Light Guide (ILG) technology, all in a platform designed to accept application upgrades. Uniquely, LUMINA can be taken as an Intense Pulsed Light only specification at first and upgraded to add further Intense Pulsed Light handpieces and Laser accessories as required onto its compact single platform, givi ng a truly lifetime service. Please note LUMINA Intense Pulsed Light and Laser options require registration with the Care QualityCommission. KEY FACTS à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Select from Intense Pulsed Light only orIntense Pulsed Lightwith laser options à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ High power for fastresults à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Lifetime flexibilityand adaptability à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The leading UKaesthetic system Lynton (2010) Lumina (online) avalabie from http://www.lynton.co.uk/product_details.php?id=45 accessed 1st April 2010 Appendix 4 LIGHT SERIES The latest multifunctional Alexandrite, KTP and Nd:YAG Laser Platforms LIGHT Series systems are characterized by the best long pulsed laser technology available today, and the ability to combine multiple wavelengths into a single unit results in an extremely cost-effective system that allows a wide range of treatment possibilities and a rapid return on investment. The LIGHT A is an alexandrite laser at 755nm, the Gold Standard in permanent laser hair reduction for skin types I-IV and pigmented lesions. The LIGHT A* combines long pulsed Nd:YAG and alexandrite, resulting in the most comprehensive hair removal system on the market. It can also operate in short pulsed Nd:YAG mode, which is specifically designed for collagen remodelling and skin rejuvenation. The LIGHT C Long/Short Pulsed Nd:YAG (1064nm) Long Pulsed KTP (532nm) is ideal for practitioners who want to offer a wide range of treatments such as port wine stains, vascular treatments, post-sclerotherapy matting, rosacea, pigmented lesions, hair removal for all skin types, skin rejuvenation and tightening, and leg veins all in one system. Lynton (2010) Lumina (online) available from http://www.lynton.co.uk/product_details.php?id=45 accessed 1st April 2010

Friday, October 25, 2019

My Friend Essay -- describe a potential classmate

Question: Many students expand their view of the world during their time in college. Such growth often results from encounters between students who have lived different cultural, economic, or academic experiences. With your future growth in mind, describe a potential classmate that you believe you could learn from either within or outside a formal classroom environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is hard to think about specific qualities of someone whom I could learn from without examining my own background and surroundings. My hometown of Wayland, Massachusetts is probably much different than Austin, Texas. Wayland is a small suburban town about twenty miles west of Boston. It is not extremely crowded here, but there are probably enough people and buildings to generate at least a small sense of claustrophobia in someone who is used to an open landscape. Wayland is a very intellectual community, and virtually all of the adults are well educated and many hold a professional degree. Most of the high school students are diligent about their studies, and just about everybody lives a comfortable, safe life here. Unfortunately, there isn’t much excitement in this town, and unless one stays busy with a hobby, job, or other activity, it can be downright boring.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My friend, Bob was much different than anyone I knew in Wayland. I’d have to say some of my friends from Wayland would probably think Bob is a hick because of his rural background, but he’s smarter than just about all of them. I met... My Friend Essay -- describe a potential classmate Question: Many students expand their view of the world during their time in college. Such growth often results from encounters between students who have lived different cultural, economic, or academic experiences. With your future growth in mind, describe a potential classmate that you believe you could learn from either within or outside a formal classroom environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is hard to think about specific qualities of someone whom I could learn from without examining my own background and surroundings. My hometown of Wayland, Massachusetts is probably much different than Austin, Texas. Wayland is a small suburban town about twenty miles west of Boston. It is not extremely crowded here, but there are probably enough people and buildings to generate at least a small sense of claustrophobia in someone who is used to an open landscape. Wayland is a very intellectual community, and virtually all of the adults are well educated and many hold a professional degree. Most of the high school students are diligent about their studies, and just about everybody lives a comfortable, safe life here. Unfortunately, there isn’t much excitement in this town, and unless one stays busy with a hobby, job, or other activity, it can be downright boring.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My friend, Bob was much different than anyone I knew in Wayland. I’d have to say some of my friends from Wayland would probably think Bob is a hick because of his rural background, but he’s smarter than just about all of them. I met...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Blue Cross Blue Shield

The Changing Face of Blue Cross Blue Shield Betty Bogart Kaplan University Author Note Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Betty Bogart, Student, Kaplan University, 1801 East Kimberly Road, Davenport IA 52807. The Changing Face of Blue Cross Blue Shield Since their founding as individual companies in the early 20th century, Blue Cross Blue Shield has grown to become one of the largest insurance companies in the United States. Blue Cross coverage for hospital care and Blue Shield coverage for physician visits grew to national coverage separately before merging to form the Association we know today.In 1929 Justin Ford Kimball developed a program to cover teachers for hospital treatment. It guaranteed them 21 days of hospital care for $6 dollars per year. This program was later extended to encompass other employee groups first in Dallas then nationally. The program became Blue Cross. The first Blue Cross Baby was born in a hospital in Dunham, North Carolina. Th is was the first birth in America to be covered by a health insurance certificate that included maternity benefits. In 1939 the American Hospital Association adopted the Blue Cross symbol for plans meeting certain requirements.The ties with the AHA were severed in 1970. In the early 20th century employers in mining and lumber camps of the Pacific Northwest developed a plan to cover employees by paying monthly fees to bureaus composed of groups of physicians. Officially the first Blue Shield Plan was implemented in California in 1939. The plan grew and was adopted by the Associated Medical Care Plan, a group of nine separate plans. Later the plan was renamed the National Association of Blue Shield Plans.Both programs grew to national coverage as the need for medical insurance continued to grow with industry. The two companies merged to form Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association in 1982. At the time the company was defined as coverage under social welfare plans and was thus tax exemp t. In 1986 the tax reform act labeled the company a 501(m) organization which would be subject to federal taxation with special tax benefits under IRC 833. Following this change, BCBSA changed its policies to allow its licensees to be for-profit corporations.In 1984 the nation’s first heart transplant covered by Blue Shield Association was performed in Stanford University Hospital. This would pave the way for BCBSA to create the Blue Cross and Blue Shield National Transplant Network which would become the Blue Quality Centers for Transplant. Today it includes 60 transplant centers nationwide and covers transplants for heart, lung, kidney, pancreas, bone marrow, and stem cell. In the mid 1990’s the Balanced Budget Act added the Medicare+Choice program. This allowed beneficiaries multiple health plans to choose from.By 2000, BCBSA processed the majority of Medicare claims. These claims alone totaled over 163 billion. In 2003 over 88 million Americans were covered by BCBS A liscensees. Today 38 companies comprise the BCBSA system which provides coverage for nearly 100 million people including all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Nationwide over 95% of hospitals and over 90% of professional providers contract directly with BCBSA companies. Coverage through BCBSA now includes the largest privately underwritten health insurance contract in the world.The FEP (Federal Employment Program) covers more than 5 million federal government employees, dependants, and retirees. The world of health care is an always changing one and BCBSA is no different. From starting as two separate small programs to growing into a leader in health care and technology, this association is an excellent example of how far the industry has grown and how far we’ve advanced in this country and as humans in general. From transplant research and technology to Medicare, BCBSA continues to stay at the head of the field in all aspects.From their humble origins of trial programs, Blue Cross and Blue Shield have always been on the cutting edge of new health care and technology. As one of the largest insurance Associations in the United states, BCBSA has continued to improve the quality of health care in the United States. Advancements such as Blue Cross & Blue Shield National Transplant Network and Technologies Evaluation Center have proven the companies’ drive to continually improve health care in the United States.The biggest concern I have for the future of health care would be affordability. Some families still live paycheck to paycheck barely scraping by and the spiraling cost of health care and health insurance remains out of reach for them. Veterans and elderly benefits are cut to maintain cost while leaving some unfortunates behind. Un-insured people in America was a staggering 50 million in 2010 leading most to believe that something must be done to keep health insurance and health care affordable to everyone.No one should hav e to suffer without a physician’s care simply due to lack of insurance. References Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (http://www. bcbs. com/about-the-association) Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (http://bcbsil. com/) Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program (http://fepblue. org/) CNN Money (http://money. cnn. com/) Scott P. Serota, CEO Blue Cross and Blue Shield (http://www. bcbs. com/about-the-association/officers/scott-serota. html)

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Crisis and Opportunity Essay

1) Introduction Nowadays, we have created our own world of technology. Convenience and efficiency are catered through it. Yet, the earth, the natural world, seems to rebel against such artificial world, by sending signals of natural crises to us. In this project, we are going to talk about â€Å"How people benefit from Water Crisis† surrounding the theme â€Å"Crisis and Opportunity†. The water crisis is branched out as two sections, namely water shortage and water pollution. The amount of water in the world is stable; it just changes its physical forms. Nonetheless, the problem of water shortages still exists. In fact, what we lack is clean water. With rapid advancing of human activities and technology, and unfavorable natural features like uneven distribution of rivers, the water crisis is growingly affecting our lives negatively and takes them at risk. Water is polluted by increasing human activities. Industrial wastes which include heavy metals like mercury and lead, harmful to living things, are illegally dumped into water sources; Sewage is directly deposited into rivers, which normally is a source of clean water. Ultimately, global warming, was elicited by human too, depletes clean water. With changing of climates, some countries face more floods which pollute clean water while other countries face more droughts which cause massive drying out of clean water. Now, we start worrying about the crisis because water controls our lives tightly as we could not survive without it. On the other hand, people are developing more and more solutions. By approaching the problem optimistically, this ought to turn this crisis into an opportunity so that we and the world can proceed sustainably. Scientists from all around the world have come up with ideas to solve the problem piecemeal. 2) Literature Review We used secondary research in this paper as there is simply no way for us to conduct our own research on water crisis. We mainly consulted online websites and read some online books. We also read articles from credible magazines such as National Geographic There is also a website called Global Water Intelligence which is a Market-Leading website for the analysis of International water industry. From these sources, we mainly found out that water is very limited around the world and there are people dying from consuming polluted water or simply dehydration. We also found out that the water crisis brought out some new technologies that changed the water pattern of the world. Have you ever thought of turning water from your basin into drinking water? Some people may think that it is impossible, or even a disaster. However, in Singapore, scientists have developed some methods, which can change waste water into pure water. The reused water is called the â€Å"New Water†. How to purify used water? Used water is collected from residence, companies, and schools, and then it is purified by three steps. First, it undergoes microfiltration. Large particles can be filtered away in this step. Afterwards, it undergoes reverse osmosis. Differentially-permeable membranes are used in reverse osmosis. These membranes contain tiny holes, which can only allow water molecules to pass through, so contaminated substances, such as viruses, bacteria can be removed. Lastly, ultraviolet light is used as a back-up to ensure the remaining micro-organisms were completely killed. This makes â€Å"New Water†. On the other hand, some people might worry that â€Å"New Water† was unclean, and thus may affect the health of citizens. However, research conducted, as shown in figure 1 and 2, the level of organic substance and amount of bacteria in â€Å"New Water† was much lower than the local reservoir water. Indeed, this shows that the â€Å"New Water† meets the requirement of drinking water so its safety was ensured. Compare to the other sources of water, â€Å"New Water† is even cleaner. Therefore, it was awarded many global water awards among these years, and this can surely tackle the problem of water shortage without polluting. There is another way to tackle water shortage and pollution. Do you know how sailors obtain fresh water when they are on a voyage? They obtain fresh water by changing sea water into drinking water. This method is called desalination. Sea water accounts for 97% of the world’s water resource. Only the remaining 3% is consumable for humans. In some countries like Saudi Arabia, there is water shortage. They only have a small amount of consumable fresh water. However, they have a large supply of sea water. However the salinity of sea water is four times higher than our body fluids. When we drink salt water, water molecules in our cells will move out of the cell due to osmosis. This net transfer of water may cause our cells to shrink, which may lead to dehydration, and death in serious situations. So how can this modern technology help us to turn this crisis into another opportunity? Desalination refers to the removal of salt and other minerals of saline water to make it consumable. It has become increasingly popular in recent years due to enhancement in technology. There are two methods for desalination. The most common type is work by reverse osmosis, which is based on osmosis- the movement of substances from a lower concentration to a higher concentration. It is a membrane-technology filtration and removes salt and minerals by pressurizing the sea water, forcing them to move through the selective membrane. The selective membrane has pores that allow only water particle to pass through, so that salt molecules and other pollutants are trapped behind the membrane. The by-product produced in the process is salt. It creates an economic opportunity. The process in a desalination plant Thermal distillation is another way of desalination other than reverse osmosis. It is known as the multi-stage flash distillation. It distillates water by flashing a portion of water into steam in multiple stages and then condense them into portable water. Where do we find desalination plant? In Hong Kong, the Water Supplies Department has two desalination plants which use reverse osmosis. The first one is located in Ap Lei Chau and the other one located in Tuen Mun. The government is also planning to build another desalination plant in Tseung Kwan O. There are 100 countries around the world which uses this technology. Saudi Arabia accounts for 25% of the world’s desalination output, with over 2000 desalination plants around the country. A desalination plant in Saudi Arabia. Apart from the problem of water pollution and water shortage, water crisis itself can also be an opportunity, if we look at it from another perspective. It can raise global awareness and promote international cooperation. Thus it drives globalization. Water crisis is a global issue. It cannot be solved by only the cooperation of a few countries; full cooperation from countries all around the world is required. Therefore, some international cooperation was established in order to help countries joining hands to solve water crisis. One of the examples is the World Water Council. The World Water Council organizes the World Water Forum once every three years. In the forum, representatives from different countries join together and come up with some solutions to solve the water crisis. It includes signing of protocols, reducing pollutants in order to help geographic areas that are facing an immediate water shortage. This can not only help to solve the water crisis, but also create peace among countries. 3) Discussion and Analysis What are the benefits of using â€Å"New Water† instead of local reservoir water? First, it can solve the problem of water shortage. In Singapore, there is not enough water because there are only a few rivers running through this small country, but it is densely populated. Reused water is using the same amount of water many times, so we can have unlimited water source without worrying being used up. Moreover, using â€Å"New Water† can help protecting the environment. Waste water cause water pollution, which can contaminate fresh water source; by using â€Å"New Water†, water can be reused and it will not cause any further pollution. This is beneficial to the environment. Furthermore, â€Å"New Water† can boost tourism. In Singapore, the â€Å"NEw Water† visitors centre is a new attraction. It attracts tourists to visit as it provides opportunities for them to explore Science and learn more about water. Last but not least, â€Å"New Water† can help Singapore to make money, as it can sell this technology to other countries. Some countries, such as, China and Europe has already started using â€Å"New Water† instead, as it is purer than local reservoir water. In conclusion, â€Å"New Water† is alternate solution, which can change water pollution and shortage into a profitable opportunity. Now, let us move on to desalination. Some people think that although desalination may seem to be a solution to our current water crisis, it has certain potential implications that cause harm to our environment. Fossil fuels or nuclear power are used in the majority of desalination plants. The burning of fossil fuels releases a large amount of carbon dioxide into the air. The increase in this disastrous greenhouse gas consequently makes global warming worse. Alternatively, but still, nuclear power is dangerous. The radiation leakage in Japan had spread concerns all over the world. Radiation is carcinogenic. People living near the nuclear power plant had to be relocated. It even made Japanese seafood un-consumable. Besides, the food chain is affected since water and soil is polluted by radiation. Furthermore, membrane-technology is expensive. The production cost of water per meter cube is HK$7.8- HK$8.4. However, the advantages of desalination outweights its costs because it can make water available to areas that have a scarce supply of fresh water. Why Saudi Arabia needs a lot of desalination plant? It is because it is located in a place where there is short supply of water. With desalination, they can change sea water into fresh water. It provides a reliable and sufficient supply of water to the growing communities, which reduces the crisis of water shortage. More people will have a steady supply of water and lives will be saved. People will no longer die from the lackage of water. The costs of human lives are much more important than the costs of desalination. The cost of desalination is only short-term and it can be solved by using renewable energy instead, such as solar energy and wind power. Also, the cost of desalination will be lowered once it is developed and widely used around the world. To sum up, desalination is another effective way to change water crisis into an opportunity. â€Å"A coin has two sides†. Water crisis does not only bring disadvantages, but it is also an opportunity for countries to join together and solve this global issue. This can improve international relationships and bring peace to countries. On the one hand, some people may argue that water crisis would not bring any peace to countries, but instead it brings conflicts and chaos. Some research show that as water crisis is getting more and more serious, water source becomes a weapon, and it may be a threat to other countries. Therefore, if one country is located at the upper course, while the other is located at the lower course, the one at the upper course can control the flow of water. However, the establishments of international organizations help to solve this problem together by promoting the saving of water supply and improvement of technology. This can create communication channels and may help to maintain peace in certain countries. For example, the 6th Water Forum held in Marseille, from 12 to 17 March 2012 was a great success. Participants from over 145 countries join this event. They discuss global water problems together. Through debates and in-depth dialogue, they were able to know more about water crisis and many stakeholders commit that they would try their best to conserve water in order to help the needy. This shows that water crisis can raise global awareness and promote international cooperation. (+ but piecemeal and suggestion) (favourable risk and insight) 4) Conclusion The water crisis does not have to be devastating. Flipside, there are advantages of it on bringing opportunities to communities, the world and to us. In face with the same problem, people unite and untangle the cluttered yarn of puzzle, mystery and problems. Because of the water crisis, people start organizing Water Forums so that opinions all around are synthesized, analyzed and become a grand solution. Working scientists, assisting each other and aiming at the target, invented ways like the New water and desalination of water. ‘Even the darkest night will end. And the sun will rise.’ There is always a solution to a problem. However, we could not just rely on the technology to solve this problem but we should also help conserving water and raise the global awareness. To solve the problem entirely we must start from its roots. Take a shower instead of a bath. Don’t leave the water running when you are brushing your teeth. Switch off any dripping taps. This will also decrease your electricity bill and help to build a greener environment where water is plentiful. If we still consume water at a stage like this, we are exploiting resources from our next generations, which doesn’t make the planet sustainable. With the cooperation of everybody, we strongly believe that water crisis will definitely change into an opportunity and the world would be a better place to live in. 5) Reference and Appendices Asia’s Water Crisis†¦and Opportunity (No.2 2011) Solutions http://solutions.bv.com/asias-water-crisis-and-opportunity/ Peak Water: Crisis or Opportunity? (Tuesday, December 1, 2009) Carbon Foresight http://carbonforesight.blogspot.hk/2009/12/peak-water-crisis-or-opportunity.html â€Å"Turning China’s Water Crisis into Investment Opportunity† Market Brief Water August 2009, New Ventures http://www.new-ventures.org.cn/sites/default/files/upload/turning_chinas_water_crisis_into_investment_opportunity.pdf â€Å"Who profiting from the water crisis†, Issue 452, New Internationalist Magazine http://www.newint.org/features/2012/05/01/water-crisis-profit-opportunity/ Singapore National water agency http://www.pub.gov.sg/water/newater/Pages/default.aspx Graphs: Fig1 and 2 http://www.pub.gov.sg/water/newater/quality/Pages/default.aspx How Desalination works http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/how-does-desalination-work.htm http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/desalination.htm Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desalination Fdu Magazine online 2003 http://www.fdu.edu/newspubs/magazine/03su/desalination.html The World water Council http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/ â€Å"Solving the World Water Crisis Takes International Cooperation†, Suite101 http://suite101.com/article/solving-the-world-water-crisis-takes-international-cooperation-a265088

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Business Information Systems Essays

Business Information Systems Essays Business Information Systems Essay Business Information Systems Essay An evaluation of Apple Inc’s use of information systems through its website apple. com/ Introduction In the highly competitive world of business the ability to understand and make use of information systems can provide substantial benefits to an organization. The diversification of consumer taste and competition has put pressure on organizations to focus on customer involvement and business information systems have proven to be a versatile and useful tool in order to achieve this. Strategic information systems have the potential to allow an organization to gain a competitive advantage by accessing new markets and providing a more efficient and faster form of communication between managers. By improving communication within the organization, strategic information systems have the potential to reduce the cost of advertising, delivery, design and manufacturing. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the use of information systems in consideration of Apple Incorporated’s website. About Apple Inc. Founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, the company was incorporated on January 3, 1977, under the company name Apple Computers. Initially the multinational company predominantly dealt as a manufacturer of personal computers, however in 2001 following the successful release of the iPod, the company established itself as a credible competitor within the consumer electronics industry. By 2010 Apple Inc had surpassed Microsoft in terms of market capitalization to become the largest technology company in the world. Apple Inc now provides 13 core products, including desktop computers, laptop computers, a tablet computer, a mobile phone range, a range of portable media players and a home media player. In addition, the company also provides accessories for all of its core products, as well as server and networking solutions. Furthermore Apple Inc provides both tangible products, as listed above, and intangible digital media through its software ‘iTunes’ and more recently via the newly launched ‘App Store’. Over 10 billion songs and applications have been downloaded via Apples software based digital media outlet and within the first quarter of 2010 Apple had sold 3. 36 million Macintosh computers, 8. 7 million iPhones and 21 million iPods (Apple Inc. ). As with other consumer electronics companies Apple Inc provides a comprehensive after sale support service including hardware, software and educational services through its websites and retail outlets. Apples main manufacturing facilities are located within China along with the majority of its suppliers of electrical components such as Foxconn Technology Group. The company has in excess of 70 offices worldwide with 46,600 permanent employees (United State Securities and Exchange Comission, 2010). Apple Inc’s current business model encompasses three broad categories those being, software engineering, hardware manufacturing and retail. The company operates across a multi-channel platform of commerce selling to customers through the use of its website, software based digital media outlet, official retail stores and franchised retail stores. In terms of e-commerce Apple acts as a content provider through iTunes the App Store, an online service provider through its ‘mobile me’ subscription service, an online marketplace providing an environment in which buyers and sellers can meet to procure apple targeted accessories, e-tailing in providing official apple products and social networking services through ‘Ping’ as well as its online support discussion boards. The company is also actively involved in M-commerce through mobile software on its portable media players, tablet computers and mobile devices using the iTunes store and App Store. In order to reduce time between the point of sale and delivery, Apple has made use of a Just In Time approach, in turn reducing inventory costs. The JIT production technique is an integrated socio-technical inventory management system famously pioneered by the Toyota Motor Corporation. Website interface and usability Apples website makes use of a monochromatic colour scheme providing a white backdrop whilst displaying product images in colour. This enables Apple to draw its customers towards the products rather than distracting them with an overly complex or distracting layout, a technique mirrored in their advertising campaigns. The aesthetics of their website closely follows the design of their core products with the use of monochromatic colours and gentle gradients to give the illusion of aluminium. Apple has strived to provide simplistic and stylish design and their website is no exception. The design of the website is a conscious effort in an attempt to unify the sense of style and design across Apples product lines and points of customer contact whilst giving the user the perception that the interface is simplistic and easily accessible. Individual pages are well structured giving the user the perception that the information displayed on the page flows which in turn reduces the likelihood that the user will lose interest or have difficulties in navigating the site. Apple is extremely successful and well known for its marketing techniques, its website is used as another point of contact for customers providing a medium to display its marketing prowess. Individual pages for core products normally begin with a large image or set of images of the product with headlines, the choice to watch an advertisement or feature video directly below and directly under this, smaller images accompanied with key features or unique selling points. Apple structures each page by showing key features and images of the product drawing the customer in and providing easy to navigate links to find out more on greater detailed pages followed by the ability to purchase resulting in a flowing chain of information leading the buyer from the hard sell, to the product information, to the sale itself. Navigation on the site centres around its navigation bar which remains fixed at the top of each page on the website providing consistency to the site. [pic]. The bar consists of separate segments focused towards its main products followed by a support option and finally a search feature. The company also makes use of this fixed banner for branding purposes with the apple logo embedded on the left hand side of the bar. Once an option is chosen the user is then taken to a more detailed page containing sub sections, these secondary pages normally have their own navigation sections to explore the issue further, in the case of the online store making use of a sidebar. Apples search feature on the navigation bar compliments the websites simple and flowing design very well in that it enables users to search and skip to the information they require straight away. The search bar uses AJAX live search results providing a benefit over traditional searching as results are shown as the customer types, narrowed as he or she continues and if the results become too narrow the user is able to delete words to broaden the search horizon. The search results are grouped in a drop down window below the search bar in an easy to understand manner. The text on the website is easily readable and headings are easily ascertainable. Apples website can be optimized for user compatibility by changing language and country as well as providing clear links to an education store and business orientated store. The website also makes great use of white space to separate images and texts making product information and images stand out without distraction. In most cases the website accompanies text with images in order to maintain the customers attention to the product and its unique selling points. Use of Databases Apple successfully incorporates a variety of databases into its website design allowing customers to navigate, search and input data such as order information, tracking information and in the case of support, product information. As a result Apple is able to align inventory and sales to appropriately manage supply and demand across its supply chain. Through the use of variable field and searchable databases Apple also allows its users to make use of unique product numbers tailoring online support to customers specific needs. This type of searchable database results in a quick an efficient way in which customers are able to get the help and support they need. Apple also makes use of relational databases throughout its website design for instance in the case of its product pages and online store. By clicking on the primary key ‘Mac accessories’ a customer is then taken to another page featuring a database of information with similar links enabling the customer to successfully navigate and browse the online store until they find their preferred product. Apple also collates its products under sub categories or databases as in the case of ‘top sellers’ ‘top rated’ and ‘just added’ products options. A conscious effort by Apple to increase usability and minimize data redundancy ensuring the site is quick and easy to navigate. The majority of the primary keys on the store relate to Apples core products making them a useful tool in navigating the databases across the site. Apples website uses SQL [Structured Query Language] to manage its relational database management systems. Over the years Apples website has been tested by a string of SQL injection attacks creating hyperlinks to malicious sites from legitimate links on the website (CGIsecurity. com, 2010). The online databases must be updated in accordance with supply levels, with the addition of new products and the retraction of old. Apple’s fully integrated enterprise business information system and use of its JIT inventory approach enables a fully interactive supply chain, however with the use of the Apple online store as an e-marketplace the supply of products from other suppliers not fully integrated may distort the efficiency of current databases. Integration of business information systems Through its website Apple Inc provides its customers with the ability to personalise and configure their products prior to purchase. In addition, they are then able to their track orders, download manuals and driver support as well as receiving support via an online interactive library or alternative methods of contact such as online reservations to see certified staff in store, by email, phone or live chat. The website also provides discussion boards to resolve issues with other customers, online training and a self-service repair feature enabling customers to track and monitor product repairs as well as checking their entitlement under their personalised service and support packages. [pic] Apple has successfully integrated information systems across its business enabling the company to coordinate its e-commerce across its global operations and supply chain benefiting from real time information. Orders, reservations and requests placed on Apples fully interactive site are integrated with Apples procurement, manufacturing, management, retail and stock control systems providing information to the relevant departments automatically. This in turn allows managers to assess the demands and needs of the organization in real time. To do this successfully Apple’s website provides computer generated billing, personalised product configuration, secure document management and a secure payment system to its customers. Historically Apples information system was based on a legacy platform distributed across 16-legacy applications. In January 1999 however, Apple successfully implemented an Enterprise Resource Planning system called SAP Business One into its business model enabling them to integrate their manufacturing, finance, sales and distribution sectors together, present day Apple manages a fully integrated Enterprise Resource Planning system. Security and Privacy Apple Inc has a legal obligation to protect it customers and users privacy whilst ensuring transactions are kept secure. Apple provides an extensive privacy policy and also provides explicit terms of use for the site. In addition its online store uses industry-standard encryption to protect customers confidentiality when checking out as well as a 128-bit Extended Validation Secure Socket Layer (EV SSL) encryption technique to protect information in transit from the customer to the company following a purchase online. This can be seen in the web address during checkout as sites featuring SSL technology begin with ‘https://’ as apposed to ‘http://’. TRUSTe, one of the worlds leading online privacy companies, independently verifies Apple’s online privacy standards to ensure they meet an industry standard and protect their consumers. Customers are able to create accounts for ease of future transactions called Apple ID’s. An apple ID allows consumers to personalise their online shopping experience giving customers a unified account to be able to purchase products online including downloadable content, the ability to make reservations in store and or tailor online learning, access support and register Apple products for added security. All information held within your Apple ID is protected under Apples comprehensive privacy policy and the user information is protected through user personalised security protocols such as security questions and passwords. Apples privacy policy also extends to information stored in cookies upon visiting and revisiting the site through a web browser. Although Apple reserves the right to share information with third party affiliates any information shared as a result of its e-market business is also explicitly covered by its extensive online privacy policy and data protection technology during transit. Conclusion Apple employs consistent, coherent and unified branding across its website by mirroring the look of its hardware and software with the use of monochromatic colours and subtle shading. The website is modern, sleek, user friendly and has an emphasis on the visual experience providing rich content against a minimalistic background making great use of white space. The consistent use of varied databases, the AJAX live search system and a central navigation bar offers a user-friendly experience. The sites security is of an industry standard however it has still proven vulnerable to malicious attacks proving the website is not without its flaws. With that being said Apple’s website bears example to a successful integration of information systems across a business enabling the company to coordinate its e-commerce across its global operations and supply chain efficiently and effectively. Bibliography Apple Inc. (n. d. ). Apple Reports First Quarter Results. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from apple. com: apple. com/pr/library/2010/01/25results. html CGIsecurity. com. (2010, 08 18). Apple website hit with SQL Injection. Retrieved March 28, 2011 from cgisecurity. om: cgisecurity. com/2010/08/apple-website-hit-with-sql-injection. html Laudon, K. C. , Laudon, J. P. (2006). Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm (10th Edition ed. ). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Limited. United State Securities and Exchange Comission. (2010, September). Form 10-K, Apple Inc. Retrieved March 28, 2011 from https://www. apple. com/investor/: http://phx. corporate-ir. net/External. File? item=UGFyZW50SUQ9Njc1 MzN8Q2hpbGRJRD0tMXxUeXBlPTM=t=1 1 2

Monday, October 21, 2019

A Comparative Review of Fredrick Taylor and Frank Gilbreths essays

A Comparative Review of Fredrick Taylor and Frank Gilbreths essays Frederick Taylor and Frank Gilbreths similarities far out weigh their differences. They helped to revolutionize management theories. Using three management foundation textbooks I will lay a clear foundation of knowledge on what these two pioneers have given to the management world. Also, in taking a closer look at these two theorists one may gain a new look at how efficiency can be achieved. Reviewing these two theorists is essential in basic study management. A Comparative Review of Fredrick Taylor and Frank Gilbreths Management Theories Scientific method had its first big influence on American economy by the Ford Company. In 1916 Henry Ford was able to dramatically decrease the price of his automobiles by over $590. Using the scientific method this price decrease only took two years to implement. Although Ford would deny that the implementation of an assembly line to increase output and decrease labor had no influence by a scientific method, it could be directly argued that this is actually an absolute definition of scientific method that were practiced and perfected by Fredrick Taylor and Frank Gilbreth. In order to completely understand Fredrick Taylor and Frank Gilbreths management theories one must first recognize how they relate to each other. The contributions of Taylor and Gilbreth have changed society forever. Key attributes provided by each theorist are still in play today. Frederick Taylor (1856-1917) grew up in such a strict household the ultimately critics linked his desire for perfection to his past. As a child he searched for ways to improve his games. Taylor was not the originator of many of his ideas, but was a pragmatist with the ability to synthesize the work of others and promote them effectively to a ready and eager audience of industrial managers who were striving to find new or improved ways to increase performance. At the time of Taylor's work, a typical manager would have v...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Delayed Subject with There

The Delayed Subject with There The Delayed Subject with There The Delayed Subject with There By Maeve Maddox In conversation we’d probably find ourselves tongue-tied if we couldn’t begin sentences with the grammatical subject there: There are only three eggs left in the refrigerator. There’s a lot of traffic on the freeway this morning. In each example there begins the sentence, but the true subjects eggs and a lot of traffic are delayed until after the verb. There is nothing grammatically wrong with this construction. Did you notice that I just wrote a sentence beginning with â€Å"There is†? Simply placing the true subject first would create Yoda-speak: Nothing grammatically wrong with this construction is. Rewriting an expletive sentence (the kind that begins with a subject place-holder like â€Å"There†) requires a little more effort than simple reversal. That’s probably why we let so many of them creep into our first drafts. Compare the following: There is research that shows that phonics is the most important component of beginning reading. Research shows that phonics is the most important component of beginning reading. Not only is the delayed subject pattern wordy, but it can also lead to a lack of subject-verb agreement. Here are some examples from websites offering professional services: Theres good reasons EmCare is the industry leader Theres areas  of freezing drizzle/mist out there this afternoon. Theres schooling costs, theres health costs and theyll continue to be provided out of the centres for those who are being temporarily resettled(This was a government minister.) Informal conversation is one thing, but writing for a professional purpose is something else again. If the â€Å"There is† opener is the preferred stylistic choice, then the delayed subject should agree with the verb that precedes it: There are good reasons EmCare is the industry leader There are areas  of freezing drizzle There are schooling costs Linguistically speaking, there’s may be the equivalent of French il y a, which can mean either â€Å"there is† or â€Å"there are† and there’s no reason for this article. Practically speaking, a great many English speakers–potential customers and clients–cringe when they hear â€Å"there’s reasons,† let alone see it written in a business context. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a US Business LetterConfused Words #3: Lose, Loose, Loss13 Theatrical Terms in Popular Usage

Saturday, October 19, 2019

ART Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

ART - Essay Example One does not exist without the other. In American tradition, an author is a creator and full owner of the original artwork. In copyright law, author is the major actor. Author’s role is defined in U.S. Constitution, while copyright law is part of federal law. Article 1 Section 8 of US Constitution states: â€Å"To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries† (U.S. Constitution Online). Even after death of the author, his copyrights continue their existence. However, the modern era have brought many issues connected to originality of created works, authorship, and modern copyright law. The very first law to regulate and protect original intellectual works was Copyright act of 1790. Firstly, it was solely publisher’s privilege and only later copyright law became â€Å"author’s right in her intellection product† (Bracha 186). Only in the nineteenth century the very essence of the copyright law was fundamentally altered. Today it is Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 which regulates authorship rights and protects holders of artworks in the UK. The right of copying artwork includes reproducing, preparing derivative works, distributing, performing, and displaying The law protects original works of art. The existing law applies to such works of art as follows: Copyright law is an example of a specific kind of product. This product is a masterpiece of artistic production. This piece comes together with the other related pieces and is very popular in modern society. This piece of art is related to such important business activities as trading, conserving, exhibiting, performing, reproducing and distributing works of art or reproductions. The main issue about â€Å"dogmatics of copyright is that this dogmatics is able to elucidate the normative import of art and aesthetics.† (Chicago. John M. Olin Law &

Friday, October 18, 2019

Understanding Economic Diversification in the UAE Research Paper

Understanding Economic Diversification in the UAE - Research Paper Example Understanding Economic Diversification in the UAE This paper will explore the economy of UAE by discussing strength and weakness in a way that facilitates the understanding of the topic in the context of Abu Dhabi. Various issues related to labor, free zone and stock market are discussed in way that depicts their contribution to growth of non-oil sectors in Abu Dhabi. In this section, the paper seeks to identify ways through which labor, free zone and stock markets are supporting the diversification from the oil sector. Therefore, this gives an illustration of the ways in which Abu Dhabi is reducing the dependence on oil. The paper concludes with a summary and recommendations of the issues that will be explored. Understanding The UAE economy The economy of United Arab Emirates has been ranked the thirty-fifth freest economy in the 2012 index with a freedom score of 6.9, and it has experienced a growth of 1.5 using last year as the base year. This growth has been attributed to improvements in the property rights, monetary freedom and labor freedom. Moreover, the economy is ranked fourth in a list of seventeen countries in Africa and Middle East due to its overall score that is higher than the averages on various regions in the world. Registration of the best twenty enhancements in 2012 index has made a substantial contribution to improving economic independence. The business environments and conditions boosting investments have contributed to restructuring of the economic systems; thereby facilitating the establishment of pulsating private sector. Furthermore, sustenance of momentum growth has been facilitated by the open trade regime with cost controls. Therefore, the UAE has been focusing on being a regi onal financial hub with a banking sector dealing with the financial problems moderately well. However, there are deficiencies in legal systems and investment framework, which are restraining the entire economic freedom of UAE. There are judicial systems that intimidate foreign investors by increasing their vulnerability to political influence. However, corruption is deteriorating compared to other economies in the region. Abu Dhabi makes significant contribution to the oil yields resulting in a principal role in political and economic decision-making (The government of Abu Dhabi, 2008). Of late, the focus of the government has shifted towards alternate and non-oil resources, a process termed as diversification. This paper purports to discuss the concept of economic diversification, growth of the oil and non-oil sectors over the last ten years, contribution of labor, free zone and stock market to the growth of the non-oil sector in the UAE. Concept of Economic Diversification The con cept of economic diversification is associated with the process of risk reduction through division of the assets among various securities or forms of investment (Fridson & Alvarez, 2002). Therefore, diversification of income sources based on different and unrelated exposures to risk increases the chances of being compensated to the incidence of potential loss. Moreover, this is used in selection of a portfolio, fields of financial economics. Understanding this concept clarifies the reason behind government expenditure in UAE along with

Reaction paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 19

Reaction paper - Essay Example This was a bunker designed for war yet Germans managed to creatively put a semblance of home. On a larger scale, this can be reflected in the products that they make which reflects utmost creativity. There is a famous saying in German that goes "Wenn schon, denn schon". It meant that if there is something that is worth doing, it is worth doing right. In short, Germans are perfectionist with work and do not do half baked and half hazard jobs and this complements their creativity that led them to produce cars that is a symbol of luxury and creativity. There is another German clichà © that goes "Ordnung muß sein!" It meant order and everything should be done by the rules. As a result, they are conscious about time that being late among Germans is unthinkable and this reflects how they put value to orderliness. In a way Americans share the same creativity, thoroughness and orderliness with Germans but not on the same level. Gleaning on the example given about cars, Americans has Ford and General Motors which is not really at par with German Mercedez Benz and

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Visual art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Visual art - Essay Example However, it is also evident that Spanish cinema has an increasingly international appeal with added creativity and dynamism than at any time in its history. Results released by the Spanish film board shows that Spanish films have grossed more than $143 million in 2013despite funding cuts that have been a result of austerity measures (Dennison 16). This is the best performance ever by the industry, which can be attributed, among other things, to the conscious attempts by the industry to appeal to a global audience base. Some of the best films I have watched in the last year include â€Å"The Impossible† that I believe is the best local Spanish film of all time, which earned an Oscar nomination. â€Å"I Want you† by Fernando Molina and â€Å"Tad, the Lost Explorer† were also local hits that gained international recognition in this period. These films also grossed $50 million, $15 million, and  million locally, while making double the amount globally, indicating a renaissance for the Spanish film industry (Dennison 34). This year has also begun brightly with â€Å"Mama† produced by Guillermo Toro and starring Jessica Chastain, which was also successful in the US, beginning its run in at the top of the box office. However, it is also important to note that these successful films began production over four years ago; mostly because of a decline in government, funding that was widely criticized in the Spanish media. The last year and half have been the most successful for the Spanish film industry according to the Spanish media, especially due to its simultaneous international and local appeal. For example, the four nominees at the GOYA awards this year for best picture, â€Å"Unit 7†, â€Å"The Artist and the Model†, â€Å"The Impossible†, and â€Å"Blancanieves†, were especially appealing to local audience as they tackled the theme of crisis, which has been emblematic of Spain in the last five years (Dennison 34). However, my interest in the Spanish

Central bank interventions and foreign exchange rate volatility 01291 Essay

Central bank interventions and foreign exchange rate volatility 01291 - Essay Example Some researchers are on the opinion that such intervention policies are ineffective and may lead to increase the degree of foreign exchange volatility whereas other academic intellectuals sighted that central bank volatility can become the potential reason behind reducing exchange rate volatility. Another consensus views central bank intervention as ineffective and a waste of taxpayers’ money. In this paper the effect of central bank intervention, exchange rate regimes and currency risk hedging decisions will be analysed in order to evaluate whether the central bank intervention impacts positively on the level of volatility of foreign exchange rate or not. Central bank intervention has always been a controversial policy among all researchers across world. According to a report from Wall Street Journal, central bank intervention is not only futile to manage exchange rate but also perilous as it may increase volatility of exchange rate. However, it is also evident that in some cases such intervention has a positive or limited effect of such volatility as well (Suranovic, 2004). During the period of Bretton Woods Exchange Rate System, central bank intervention had become necessary each time the exchange rates surpasses their parity bands. In 1973, after the dissolution of this exchange rate system, the intervention policy became country specific. In 1977, International Monetary Fund (IMF) formulated three distinct guidelines for its member countries to bring uniformity in the intervention practices. First, countries were not authorized to manipulate exchange rate for adjusting their Balance of Payment (BOP) or for gaining any discriminat ory competitive advantages. Secondly, countries were legitimated to intervene only for countering the disorderly market conditions and finally, countries were directed to always take into account the exchange rate interests of other

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Black Film History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Black Film History - Essay Example The two main directors of the film are Charles Stone and Chuck Wilson. The actors include several various individuals, all which are divided into each segment. The idea of â€Å"Afrocentricity† is to depict the several ways of life that those in the African – American community are associated with. The directors move a step beyond this in showing how the ideas, imagination and the perspectives in this community fall back into problems with stereotypes; however, when looking at the films, there is not a true representation of what this is inclusive of. The strength of this overall film comes from the ideal presented about the diversity of the African – American community. The presentation of seven short films, all which are not related to the other, provides a different level of insight about the African – American community. This breaks down boundaries and stereotypes which are often in the media and gives a fresh look about the ideals of the African Ameri can community. Each of the short films is depicted in an artistic and valuable way to ensure that this message is given. The tension is created in each film, specifically by defining the problems which are associated with society, as well as how individuals have to learn how to overcome this. The weakness of the film comes from the misleading presentations which may distract an individual from buying the film. The title of Afrocentricity is one which isn’t realistic and doesn’t provide the correct depiction of what is presented throughout the film. The concept of diversity is a hidden message that is displayed through each of the films. If one doesn’t understand that this is several short films, one which only lasts for two minutes, then more problems may arise. However, this can work in favor of the film if one is able to understand and overcome stereotypes which may have been associated with the value of each story. Overall rating: 4 Breakdown Breakdown is the first short film that is able to give insight into the African – American community. The director of the film is Jeff Byrd. The actors include the lead, Vanessa Williams. The presentation in this film begins with showing a shooting at a bus station. Vanessa Williams is the only survivor of this incident. When moving through the film, Williams tells about the experience of the shoot down and recalls the trauma which she has gone through by being in this location and seeing what has happened in the specific situation. The strength of this plot is based on the ability for Williams to show the other side of the shootings. The stereotypes which are often depicted in the media are based on the side of African – Americans as having a gangster mentality and not basing their beliefs outside of this. The approach which is taken in this film gains its strength by showing the horror and drama of the shooting as well as the responses which have occurred because of this. The acting that is followed with this is realistic in nature and is able to depict the overall understanding of the complexities which occur in a realistic situation where a shooting occurs, no matter where it happens and who witnesses it. The tension which builds from this realistic viewpoint, as well as the resolution of learning from the trauma becomes the main

Central bank interventions and foreign exchange rate volatility 01291 Essay

Central bank interventions and foreign exchange rate volatility 01291 - Essay Example Some researchers are on the opinion that such intervention policies are ineffective and may lead to increase the degree of foreign exchange volatility whereas other academic intellectuals sighted that central bank volatility can become the potential reason behind reducing exchange rate volatility. Another consensus views central bank intervention as ineffective and a waste of taxpayers’ money. In this paper the effect of central bank intervention, exchange rate regimes and currency risk hedging decisions will be analysed in order to evaluate whether the central bank intervention impacts positively on the level of volatility of foreign exchange rate or not. Central bank intervention has always been a controversial policy among all researchers across world. According to a report from Wall Street Journal, central bank intervention is not only futile to manage exchange rate but also perilous as it may increase volatility of exchange rate. However, it is also evident that in some cases such intervention has a positive or limited effect of such volatility as well (Suranovic, 2004). During the period of Bretton Woods Exchange Rate System, central bank intervention had become necessary each time the exchange rates surpasses their parity bands. In 1973, after the dissolution of this exchange rate system, the intervention policy became country specific. In 1977, International Monetary Fund (IMF) formulated three distinct guidelines for its member countries to bring uniformity in the intervention practices. First, countries were not authorized to manipulate exchange rate for adjusting their Balance of Payment (BOP) or for gaining any discriminat ory competitive advantages. Secondly, countries were legitimated to intervene only for countering the disorderly market conditions and finally, countries were directed to always take into account the exchange rate interests of other

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Approaches to Decision Making Essay Example for Free

Approaches to Decision Making Essay There are two common ways to make decisions regarding changes in an organization, especially when others are involved in the end result. The two ways would be to make decisions individually, making the decision by yourself or by creating a committee, getting others involved in the process. Knowing that something needs to change, means that there has been a problem identified, evaluating alternatives and then selecting the solution. Depending on the problem and the criteria that will be evaluated in making the final decision, this will play an important factor on whether individually making the decision is better than a group decision. When making decisions and changes that are going to effect many, it typically is better to make group decisions. For larger companies, it is typical that a committee or a team would be created. Bringing together individuals of the organization that would be effected by these changes. Having a committee involved in the decision brings more views, thoughts, past experiences and suggestions to the table to be evaluated for optimal solutions. Advantages of a group decision is there are more options contributed, the better chances that decisions made would be accepted by those involved in the decision as well. â€Å"Quantities and diversity of information are greatest when group members represent different specialities†. (Robbins, DeCenzo, Coulter, 2011, p. 71). Finding a suitable solution is half of the battle, the next half would be implementation. By having a group decision enforced, will increase the success of changes since they were a part of it and will encourage change. In the example provided about budgetary concerns, it would be suggested that a committee be created with upper management from finance, human resources, and department managers to discuss how overhead such as employees, supplies and other capital costs are effecting our business. Before having the initial meeting it would be suggested for each manager to evaluate their department and be ready to give suggestion of where they would be able to make individual changes without sacrificing the well being of the patients care. Once all contributions are made from each department, hearing the options of solutions would allow the committee members to discuss the  changes and place value on which options could be most beneficial. Options like reducing employee head count or hours, re-evaluating vendors where supplies are purchased from, eliminating overtime costs by having back up staff available or changing processes by reducing paper trails and going electronic. Each of these will need to be analyzed on immediate consequences or benefits and what the longer term effects will be. The disadvantage of working with a committee is that there will prolong the process of making a decision, more meetings, more time and there could be more resistant from individuals that will need to be â€Å"talked into† this decision. In the example about making budget cuts, one could make the decision alone and not consult with any other departments. The individual making decisions to cut staff, supplies or capital costs would need to have a comprehensive understanding of all costs associated with the organization and what implications could be by reducing budgets. Even though it is just one person making the decision, it is very important to still do a thorough evaluation of what the problems are, evaluate multiple solutions and weigh the benefits or consequences of these changes. It would be very important to obtaining financial monthly statements/costs that are associated with each department. The benefit of making decisions solely is that multiple meetings would be eliminated, do not need to â€Å"sell† your idea or solution to others, and a decision could be made quicker which will save time and money for the organization. The disadvantages of making a decision like this where it effects a group, out weigh the benefits. You do not have access to others input and past experiences who have dealt with similar situations or hearing what concerns your management will have. By not including others, you have a higher chance of the decision not being welcomed by all and having resistant to the change and implementation. References: Robbins, S., DeCenzo, D., Coulter, M. (2011). Fundamentals of Management: Essential Concepts and Applications (7th ed.).

Monday, October 14, 2019

Should the NHS be Privatised?

Should the NHS be Privatised? Would it be in the UKs best interest for health care to go private? Abbreviations NHS: National Health Service A&E: Accident and Emergency DOH: Department Of Health GP: General Practitioners TCF: The commonwealth fund IEA: The Institute of Economic Affairs WHO: World health organisation BUPA: British United Provident Association HSP: Hospital service plan 1.0 Abstract and Methodology Objective I firstly research and outline what the healthcare was like before the NHS was created and if it was successful in treating people. My next aim was to find out how health care changed after NHS was created and how successful it was in treating people. Thirdly, I looked to see if patients were treated better in the private sector or in the open sector and if the service it’s self is based upon how much the workers earn per year. Fourthly, I assessed the state of the current healthcare and what the governments thoughts were on it. Abstract This is dissertation is focusing on the question ‘would it be in the UK’S best interest for healthcare to go private’ and will be addressing the current state of the NHS and the health care available. I shall talk about what the NHS is and what state it is currently. Next, I will talk about the private sector, how it works and basic facts about it that willgive a better picture if healthcare did go private. Then, I will go into the main arguments where I will talk about the arguments for and against before talking about the view of the three big political parties;the conservatives, labour and democrats. 2.0 Introduction 2.1 What is the NHS? The NHS stands for the National Health service which was first launched in 1948 after World War Two as a way to give free healthcare to everyone who needs it. The services of the NHS are free to all citizens in the UK and the only expectations would be for prescriptions, dental services and optical services. The NHS offers a wide range of services that people all across the UK used constantly from A&E to end-of-life care. Every 36 hours, 1 million patients are dealt with by the NHS showing that having free non-privatized health is something that benefits every resident in the UK which need a certain service (GOV.UK, 2016) 2.2 What is the state of the NHS currently? Currently, the NHS is non- privatized. This means that it is free to anyone UK citizen. The NHS has been public now since after WW2 where the labour government brought it in after the devastation of the second world war. During the aftermath of WW2, hardly anyone had money and the UK needed to be rebuilt after the damage caused. The NHS was brought in as a way to help the going rate of lower income class. By bringing the NHS, more and more people were able to get the medical help they desperately needed whenever they wanted without having to worrying about how much they would need to pay. Since the 20th century, people have been more than happy to have a public healthcare. Figure 1 (Smith, 2017), shows a poll taken in May 17th to 18th of the year 2017 and whether the public whished for health care to go private. This figure had indicated which service believes that health care should be public, which ones say it should be private and those who don’t know or are undecided. The survey shows that most of these services have more supports that say health care should be in the public sector. There are only 3 services which have more supporters who want health care to be run by the private sector. These services are, Telephone and Internet providers (53%), Banks (53%) and Airlines (68%). Figure 2 (The Kings Fund, 2016) shows the increase in how much the department of health has spent every year and some predications on what it is expected to be spend until 2021. There is a steady increase in the amount of money used which confirmations that the NHS will be needed more money in the years to come but the problem is, there is only so much the government can give the NHS and health care which has led to there being cut backs within the NHS and has caused many arguments from the hospital staff and the UK’s citizens. The reason why the NHS is in constant need of money and extra funding is due to the fact that the population within the UK is constantly growing which means that more people are needed to go to hospitals for different reasons. The rise of the population could be due the increase in immigrates arriving in the UK who are in need of health care. This means that more money is needed on different drugs, different hospital equipment and staff, furthermore an increase in population will mean that more babies will be born, therefore making the maternity wards in constant use. Secondly, the fact that in the 21st century, people are living longer which means that they are more likely to go to a hospital more times in there lives for many different reasons. Thirdly the rising health problems that are starting to occur in people of diseases such cancer, heart problems and multiple long-term conditions means that more treatment will be needed will need to be available and most if the time, that t reatment isn’t cheap (The Kings Fund, 2017). The Telegraph Online news articles showed that the NHS in in crisis and that there had been a new record in the waiting times of A&E wards. The end 2016 to the beginning (Scott, 2017) 2.3 What would it mean for the health care to be PRIVATISED? There are already private clinics and hospitals that are also available as well as the NHS which means that there is a variety of places that people may go to. Private clinics are typically often used for the wealthier people and this is because they simply have the money to pay for such treatment. The lower and working class however, rely on the NHS to be able to get healthcare that if free as they simply cannot afford to be private and pay for treatment, whilst the middle class and the rich class are able to pay for such things. Already within the healthcare sector, there are some private sectors that people turn to as an alternative to the public sector. It is a choice that people sometimes make when they need treatment that the public sector cannot provide. In some NHS run hospitals, have brought in private wings or clinics in which people can use and this might also include in the patient getting that private care for a cheaper price, depending on the hospitals (Freedom health insurance, 2017). The private sector also, already provides services for the NHS and in turn, the NHS provides the private sectors with beds for their patients. The is a sort of collaboration at this point and to change the healthcare sector completely to private might throw the balance that the healthcare sector has already established. The services that the private sector has provides for the NHS includes: long term residential care for people who need it, care of the elderly, termination of a pregnancy psychiatric care  (US National Libary of Medicine, 2002). Privatized healthcare would mean that the criticizes on the UK would have to pay for treatment that is originally paid for by the government under the NHS. This means that hospital visits, GP visits, optician visits, dentist visits will all have to be aid for the person doing this. Already, the Guardian has stated that there is a growing trend where patients from England are now paying for surgery to avoid long waiting times and this is showing that this problem that are occurring in the NHS are having a big impact on the number of people using this service (The Guardian, 2017). 3. The Private sector  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Private healthcare is a sector that includes clinics and hospitals which are run by companies, charities organisations. Private healthcare is run usually separate from the NHS. When using the private sector, the fees must be paid since the NHS does not cover the cost of any type of private care available. When using the private sector, the patient is usually able to choose which hospital or clinic that they can treat for and depending on how much they pay, the time spent in the hospital can be longer than if the patient had undergone treatment through the NHS. The private sector is a place where many people often go to for a second opinion if they need it (Freedom health insurance, 2017). 3.1 How does it work? Until 1948, before WWII, the healthcare within the UK was private. The NHS didn’t exist which meant that healthcare was set up by private medical facilities, medical services which charged a lot of money for their services. There were also charities and voluntary hospitals for those who couldn’t pay the medical fees that came from the other companies. The health insurance sector was first developed between 1940 and 1947 based on HSP/PPP Healthcare and several schemed into BUPA (US National Libary of Medicine, 2002). In 1997, in the UK, there were 12 million people who were covered for private care and the medical expenses that came with it. This is only about 75% of the type of care that is done in the private sector. Commonly, private medical insurance occurs more among older people who start to become in need to more need to go to visit a GP or go to hospital. And of those more older people, they are usually are in a better social class as they usually are able to pay for it without too much risk of getting in dept. (US National Libary of Medicine, 2002). 3. Arguments for the Privatization of Healthcare In this section, I will be arguing why it would be in the UK’s best interest for healthcare to go private. That would mean changing it from what it is now and bellow, there are a few reasons to why it should be done: 3.1 The wait is over The having private health care in the UK, it could firstly reduce the waiting times for patients in the UK. Currently, on a daily basis, when arriving in a hospital there is a wait before a person gets seen by a doctor. This wait to a highly danger to a person who had a serious illness or injury could mean the difference between life saving treatment or serious problems (The Medic Portal, 2018). Currently, the waiting time in A&E should be 4 hours per patient. However, Holly Dorning, a resear4ch analyst and report author has stated that hospitals are finding it harder each day to keep to that 4 hours before a patient has become breeched. The our hour A&E target had declined from the national expectation since 2010. Even the top 10% hospitals had not beaten this target and breached it. (The Nuffield Trust, 2015) Co-author Holly Droning, Research analyst at the Nuffield Trust said: â€Å"The vast majority of patients are still receiving care within the target times, but our analysis shows that deteriorating access to services is starting to affect patients attending even the best-performing hospitals†¦ We’ve known that hospitals have been struggling to meet the four-hour A&E target for a while. But the fact that we are starting to see problems in other areas, like access to planned treatment, is a real concern. As this study makes clear, warning lights are now starting to flash across the wider hospital system†. This shows that this problem of waiting had been pointed out as a problem. This is worrying as the difference between even 5 minutes could mean the different between saving a patient’s life (The Nuffield Trust, 2015). However, with private care, this problem is likely to decrease as it would lessen the pressure on the NHS and it will means that patients get treatment and attention needed and this might lead to problems being discovered a lot quicker. 3.2 Comparing to other countries Reports from the IEA showed a very concerning different between the cancer treatment in the UK and other countries in the EU. It was stated that if the UK’S lung, bowel, breast and prostate cancer were treated in the Netherlands instead of being treated in the UK, more than 9,000 lives would be saved every year. This is a huge amount of people and that shows that there is clearly a flaw in the UK’s healthcare for cancer However, this is not the end, if those patients were treated in Germany, more than 12,000 lives would be saved. If those cancer patients had been treated in Belgium, more than 14,000 patients would have been saved. Theses number are too big of a difference. Theses suggesting that having public health care, whilst it might have a good idea in the respect that it means that everyone in the UK has equal opportunity and the freedom of choice in what healthcare sector they wish to choose from, this isn’t important if patients who are critically ill are dying just being there isn’t a private health care. Those lives that could have been saved could be prevented  (Coppin, 2017) According the WHO, OECD and TCF have done research other healthcare in the UK in comparison to other EU countries. It was found out that the NHS now, ranks in the bottom third of developed countries. In the heath outcome category, it is ranked as second to last. This research clearly shows the poor record that UK had in keeping people alive. This shows that the reputation the auk had of having a good healthcare system is clearly unjustified and changes are need to be made (Coppin, 2017). 3.3 People who need it get help Another positive for the privatization of healthcare is that by having obligatory private healthcare, it would reduce the amount of ‘time wasting’ patients that hospital get. This is because people are less likely to go to the doctors and hospitals for no actual reasons as they wouldn’t want to be a hospital bill if they didn’t need to visit the hospital. With there being less encouragement to just go to the doctors, it will stop there being hospital blockages and it will mean that patients in need of actual care can get it a lot faster than it used to (The Medic Portal, 2018) Also, by having less reason to just visit the hospital, it could mean that people will try and take better care of their health more so that when they do need to visit the doctors, go to GP’s they are well aware that they are need of help and aren’t spending money of something unimportant. 4. Arguments against the privatization of healthcare The argument against the privatization of health care is the argument which is staying that making healthcare in the UK private wouldn’t be un the UK’s best interest. Bellow, there are a few reasons to why that is: 4.1 The moral case An argument against the privatization of health care is the moral case. It is called the moral case as it would not be morally right for the government to send the UK back to how it used to be and hinder the development of the UK itself. It wouldn’t be morally right for the lower and working lass who struggle to pay for their daily living, to be made to pay for healthcare which they need. Being able to go to the doctors when needed is the best thing that they could be given and to have that taken away from them will only cause them to stop going it things like GP for much need annual check-ups. Missing check-up’s just to save money my cost someone’s life in the end Well know scientist Stephen Hawkins has said that the privatization of the healthcare is not the best way forwards for the UK. By following the American healthcare of the insurance systems and private companies running healthcare, we would not be able to help the nation as the working class who do not have the means for that sort of healthcare. The NHS was originally made so that everyone could be entitled to having free healthcare when they needed it and this was part of a reform to make the UK great. By privatizing healthcare, all the government would b doing is sending us back in the past where the death rate was high and the average expectance was lower than it is now (The Week Ltd, 2017). Hawkins himself wrote in the guardian, he believed that the NHS is â€Å"the fairest wat to deliver healthcare†, and by this, he meant that it is the best way for the government to look after UK citizens from afar and is a system which doesn’t judge on the wealth or status of a person, but on their health. (The Week Ltd, 2017). Figure 4 (ONS Digital, 2015) shows a table of life expectances from 1841 to 2001. This data was taken from ONS and it clearly shows an increase in life expectancy and this figure could continue to increase of the UK continues to do this. Although there are other factors which has contributed to ther life expectancy increasing, having public healthcare that people don’t need pay for means that people can go to hospital anytime instead of worrying about spending money in case there is something wrong. These hospital visits based on whims are also the ones who help find diseases, illnesses and conditions early enough to prevent any further damage. That could save a person’s life. However, if there was private care, then things life high blood pressure might exist more due to the stress of having to pay the fees just to get the medical attention needed. Furthermore, the graph on figure 4 might change if healthcare is privatized. From 1841 to 2011, the life expectancy rate had doubled for both male and female and this graph is only an average up to 2011. That figure had probably increased since due to many different ideas that can be done on people for free under the NHS. 4.2 The public health is more efficient than private care Hawking also told the Royal Society of Medicine that â€Å"International comparisons indicate that the most efficient way to provide good health care is for the service to be publicly funded and publicly run†. This suggests that other countries who run on private healthcare might not be doing as well as what we are lead to think (The Week Ltd, 2017). The evidence for this is the 2012 study which was led by a US-Bosnian team who looked at the healthcare system of different countries. America, Germany and Canada. Data from OECD in 2000 showed that America – which runs on a privatized healthcare – had spent the most money out of the three. Whilst Germany was second and Canada was last. Germany and Canada both run off public health care and the figures show that clearly despite the fact that America is running on private healthcare, meaning that the citizens pay, they end up still paying a of money. (AVICENA, 2012) 4.3 Choices for patients By having not only a public healthcare systm and a private sector, this allows for the UK’s citizens to be given a choice. The choices to go to the public healthcare is a decision that most working class must choose, some of them simply do not have the money to be able to choose where to go. The fact that they are even able to call an ambulance or walk into a hospital without having to worry about to pay is something that stops a lot of stress and is health for them. Stress is never good for people and the added stress of having to worry about how they will pay for the treatment might only cause more problems than solve it. Whilst some, prefer to stick to public health care, other do not and often choose to go to the private sector. This is due to the fact that the private sector is more likely to explore was difficult procedures and more experimental procedures than normal hospitals and patients have better choice to where they are being treated. For those who can afford to go private, it is a good alternative (The Week Ltd, 2017). To be able to have a choice in where you go is a privilege that not many people around the world get to have and with this sort of power, the best thing to do would be too keep being able to choose, keeping this privilege would help many people within the UK. 5. The governments on the privatization of health care This debate of whether health care being private is the best things for the UK all lies in the hands of the government. Whilst the public can have their say through the democratic voting system, it is the government who mostly have the power and that is dangerous Doctors claim that the government is deliberately creating health crisis to privatize the NHS (Bodkin, 2017) Dr Chaand Nagpaul – BMA chairman – said â€Å"As doctors we strive to provide safe, quality care to our patients. Yet we appear set up to fail. We trail European nations. With significantly fewer doctors and hospitals beds per head and spends  £10 billion less per year on out health service† which suggests that the government are clearly not trying to help the current crisis that is beginning to arise as a result of not enough spaces in hospitals to accommodate the need of the public (Bodkin, 2017) DOH spokeswomen said: â€Å"This motion sadly has no relationship with reality – while of course there are pressures on the frontline, the government is now spending more that aby in history on the NHS, has left themselves to decide on use of the private sector, and public satisfaction is not the highest it has been in all but three of the last 30 years†. This statement contradicts that one Dr Nagpaul has said, but this still doesn’t disprove the fact that there may be major shortages within the NHS government are purposefully not trying to solve (Bodkin, 2017). 5.1 The Conservatives Currently, it is the conservatives who are in power with Theresa May being prime minister. This argument had been occurring even before May was put in power, but now that she is in power her and the government already have ideas to what the future holds. Recent election and polls have shown that there is a large percentage of the public who wish to have public healthcare. However, the conservatives had said that the NHS and its free healthcare is too expensive to run and that it fails to work in the interest patients. May is said to have been convinced that the benefits of this change will outweigh the risks. The cutting of running costs and joining up the sectors if the best move for the UK (Vize, 2017). The conservatives and their constant rivals are at opposite ends of the argument, however, with the conservatives being current in power, this might mean that they have a slight advantage over the labour, but this of course isn’t necessarily true. But what is true, is that both parties will face many problems as their solution both have flaws that might be hard to fix (Vize, 2017). 5.2 Labour It was the labour party who created the NHS all those years ago and the have stated that it was their â€Å"proudest achievement, providing universal healthcare for all on the basis of need, free at the point of use†. In this argument over whether the healthcare would be better being private, the labour party have stuck to their old policy and say that healthcare would be better if it was public. Labour have said that they plan on investing to the NS to give the citizens of the UK a modern and well-resourced service that is available whenever it is needed. The labour party wish to make the NHS into world-class quality and for all patient to receive the best care from the staff (Labour, 2018).   Ã¢â‚¬Å"By guaranteeing access to treatment within 18 weeks, we will take one million people off NHS waiting lists by the end of the next Parliament†¦We will ensure all NHS patients get fast access to the most effective new drugs and treatments, and insist on value-for-money agreements with pharmaceutical companies† (Labour, 2018) They have made a lot of promises that the nation hopes to see be done and if they do, it would be one step into moving healthcare in the UK into the future. Currently, the NHS is seen to be in crisis ad many people, government and normal citizens wish to see the crisis end and for the NHS to move on and improve. Labour say that they will guarantee too meet the 4-hour A&E target, something that even the top hospitals have been struggling to do. 5.3 Liberal Democrates The Liberal Democrats are the 3rd biggest political party and in this debate, they don’t want healthcare to turn private, however, for that to be prevented, they have said that some sacrificed must be made. The Lib Dems leader Tim Farron had told his party that conference takes would be raised to pay for healthcare in a bid to rebrand the NHS. It will become a fully â€Å"taxpayer-funded service† (Elgot, 2016) â€Å"If the only way to fund a health service that meets the needs of everyone is to raise taxes, Liberal Democrats will raise taxes† he said, promising to campaign to transform the NHS into the National Health and Care Service. Farron believed that over the years, the government has trying to hide this problem of the NHS failing before by putting in small term solutions and not really actually solving problems, and the government haven’t really been looking at what it will take to not only keep the NHS and its free healthcare, but also to give people the best care and treatment, which they deserve. He says that the best way to go forward is by having a National Health and Care service (Elgot, 2016). 5.4 In conclusion In conclusion, the Conservatives wish to have a privatized healthcare. The labour party wish to have the NHS stay and for healthcare to continue to be public. And finally, the Liberal Democrats wish to have a National Health add care system. All three government want to different things and have different yet similar plans for the future of healthcare. 6.0 Conclusion In this dissertation, the chosen title was ‘would it in be in the UK’s best interest for healthcare to go private?’. Within the dissertation, there have been arguments for and against that campaign, what the different political parties say and what it would mean to turn the public sector into a private sector The arguments for the privatization of healthcare had shown that having private healthcare would solve many problems that the NHS currently had. The first argument was that waiting times would decrease. Secondly, people who need it will get the medical help needed and thirdly, when comparing it to other countries in general, it was shown that the UK’s pubic healthcare is clearly one of the worst healthcare’s in developed countries. This then showed that there was obvious need for change in order for lives to be saved. The arguments against the privatization of healthcare have shown that there would moral implications if it was done. The in fact, the public sector is actually more efficient than the private sector. Thirdly, the citizens of the UK will be able to get a choice to where they go for medical care. All these reasons are important as these are things that would be affected if healthcare was privatized. The NHS is a big part of the UK and the change will might cause a backlash that the government cannot deal with. In conclusion, after analyzing both sides of the argument and looking at what the people in power – the government – believe and the promised that they wish to make, the advice I would give is that, healthcare, shouldn’t be privatized. This is due to the fact that, despite there being many valid reasons for there being a privatized sector, the fact is, it would be dangerous for something so big that will cause a huge impact on a whole country. This change could cause mass chaos and that and the points outlined in the arguments against, are the reasons why I advise that health care is not privatized. Bibliography AVICENA, 2012. Empirical Evidence and International Comparisons.. 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