Semiotic analysis of articles on nancy grace's coverage of the casey Essay

Semiotic analysis of articles on nancy grace's coverage of the casey anthony trial - Essay Example In considering Nancy Grace’s coverage of the Casey Anthony murder trial commentators have resorted to a number of semiotic trends. One of the major indications is the signification of Grace as sensationalistic. In these regards, nearly all commentators identified Grace’s post-trial speech where she stated, â€Å"somewhere out there the devil is dancing tonight† (Williams). Commentators have also frequently indicated the characterization Grace has given the defendants, referring to Casey Anthony as ‘tot mom’. Grace is even argued to extend the truth to achieve this sensationalism. Williams notes, â€Å"She talks about speaking the truth, yet weaves elaborate fictions of a champagne-popping defense team† (Williams). In these regards, one of the primary significations of Grace’s commentary is the sensationalism that is implemented in her characterization of trial proceedings. Another of the overriding media trends is the indication that Grace constitutes a sort of extra-jury form of commentary. Consider Bauder, who points out a lawyer who believes, â€Å"Grace has undermined respect for the jury system the way she has spoken out against the Anthony verdict. She said she’s worried that someone who disagrees with the verdict, whipped up by Grace’s disgust, will harm some of the jurors† (Bauder). In these regards, the signification of Grace as this sort meta-judicial participant imbues her with power that generally is not attributable to media commentators. In addition to these earlier significations, Grace has also been signified going outside bounds of truth. Indeed, one of the consistent significations of Grace is as this ‘truth extender’. It seems the underlining signifier is that Grace extends the truth to achieve media ends and higher ratings for her cable commentary show. One such example of this is in the interview Grace gave to FOX News commentator Bill O’Reilly. While O’Reilly seemingly asks questions without an

motivation of the employee

motivation of the employee Chapter Two- Literature Review 2.1 Introduction At one time, employees were considered just another input into the production of goods and services. What perhaps changed this way of thinking about employees was the research, referred to as the Hawthorne studies, conducted by Elton Mayo from 1924 to 1932 (Dickson, 1973).This study found out that employees are not motivated solely by money but also their behaviour is linked to their attitudes (Dickson, 1973).The Hawthorne studies begun the human relations approach to management, whereby the needs and motivation of employees become the primary focus of managers (Bedein, 1993). Understanding employee motivation and its relationship with corporate culture and gender is the focus of this research. This chapter is divided into seven sections; section 2.1 introduces the main subjects of this dissertation and is followed by section 2.2 which discusses employee motivation in small medium companies. The next section which is section 2.3 looks at motivation and the various theories developed by researchers, then section 2.4 considers the role of the manager when it comes to employee motivation. The last two sections; section 2.5 examines corporate culture with section 2.6 on gender and how it is perceived. Finally a summary of the whole chapter is presented in section 2.7. This section will review the most relevant studies on employee motivation and in small medium companies. 2.2 Employee Motivation in Small Medium Companies Organizational scientists and practitioners have long been interested in employee motivation and commitment. This interest derives from the belief and evidence that there are benefits to having a motivated and committed workforce. The Hawthorne Studies A major revision of ‘needs theory came from the work undertaken in the United State of America in the 1920s and 1930s of the Hawthorne Works of the Western Electric Company. This gave rise to a new school of management thinking, which suggested that employees have social needs which are as important as economic needs; these studies concluded that social relationships were significant in the satisfaction of the human need for social contact. The major contribution of this work in understanding employee motivation at work has been to focus attention on the design of jobs and tasks in an effort to make them attractive (Mullins, 2007). Employee motivation could be seen as the internal strength that drives employee performance. This strength enables employees to carry out their duties as expected of them having a particular aim in mind. And in most cases, where this strength is lacking, employees sometimes perform poorly. However, certain factors like job features, individual variation and organisational practices may influence employee motivation to work. It depends on good system that reward effectively, because it is critical as a motivated employee will achieve a great deal (Clark, 2009). According to McConnell (2002) companies have to consider the following steps in order to keep their employees in the organisation: ïÆ'Ëœ The employees perception of the work environment directly relates to the job performance. ïÆ'Ëœ What employees think of their jobs and their employer when the environment is positive ïÆ'Ëœ Improvement of the environment generally improves employee performance. McMackin (2006) states that large corporations have more money, name recognition and benefits to attract the best employees in comparison with small medium companies. Regardless of the positive aspects of larger corporations, many employees leave in order to work for small businesses, since they are able to have faster career advancement. According to Gaebler Ventures (2006) research show ten different motivational factors that are important for increasing motivation both for managers as well as employees; they include promotion potential, interesting work, personal loyalty, tactful discipline, appreciation for work done, good working conditions, help with personal problems, high wages, feeling of being in on things and job security. Gerson (2003) on the other hand states that employees in small organisations may leave for better salaries and benefits. The decision to leave can be affected by feelings of unappreciation, work condition, cultural conflicts, lack of convenience, lack of advancement and lack of support. According to Moses (2005) the basis for employee motivation is divided into two categories; anticipation of reward for work well done, and fear of discipline for mistakes or works done poorly. Motivation techniques at most companies falls into one of these two categories. The ideal for a small-business owner is to motivate employees in a positive way, since employees develop loyalty and personal commitment when they are encouraged to perform well in order to advance and receive recognition and financial benefits. The most negative aspect of this method is the fact that the less hard working employees will be fired or downgraded. The method also lacks teamwork, includes employee backbiting and has no long-term motivation. Wiley (1997) states that the relationship between people and work have fascinated scientists for many years, both psychologists and behavioural scientist, but in both field concepts such as need, motive, goal, incentive and attitude occur more frequently rather than concepts of aptitude, ability and skill. Scientist investigates how personal, task and environmental characteristics influence behaviour and job performance concerning motivation. Motivation does not remain the same over the years, it changes due to personal, social and other factors and it also affects the behaviour of a person rather than end performance. In order to create an environment that fosters employee motivation it is important to explore the attitudes that employees have towards factors that motivate them. When a company know what motivates its employees they are better prepared to stimulate them to perform well. In order to know what motivates employees, organisations must have regular communication and ask employees what sparks and sustains their desire to work (Herzberg, 2003). Most managers assume that their employees have the same motivational drivers as them, but managers must abandon this assumption and focus on the recognition of individual drivers. Findings from a forty year survey demonstrate that employees are motivated by receiving feedback and recognition and those individuals at different levels of the organisation might have different motivational values (Wiley, 1997). Managers have to understand what motivate their employees in order to receive high performance at the organisation. 2.3 Motivation Motivation is the creation of stimuli, incentives, and working environments which enable people to perform to the best of their ability in pursuit of organisational success. It is commonly viewed as the magic drives that enable managers to get others to achieve their targets. Since the dawn of the twentieth century, there has been a shift at least in theory. Many management theorists have provided insights into motivation (Strickler, 2006). Abraham Maslows hierarchy of needs provides insights into personal behaviour patterns. Other influential research has been conducted by Frederick Herzberg, who looked at job satisfaction, Douglas McGregors X and Y theory, which suggest management styles that motivate and de-motivate employees etc. Underpinning Herzbergs theory was his attempt to bring more humanity and caring into the workplace. His theory was to explain how to manage people properly, and to motivate them for the good of all people at work. Many contemporary authors have come up with several definitions for the concept of motivation. Motivation has been defined as the psychological process that gives behaviour purpose and direction (Kreitner, 1995), an internal drives to satisfy an unfulfilled need (Higgins, 1994), and the will to achieve (Bedeian, 1993).For this dissertation, motivation is defined as the inner force that derive individual to accomplish personal and organisational goals (Mullins, 2007). Motivation can have an effect on the output of any company or organisation. Organisations and companies relies heavily on the efficiency of it production staff to make sure that products are manufactured in numbers that meet demand of customers. If these employees lack the motivation to produce and perform to the best of their ability and meet the demand of customers, then an organisation may face a problem which may lead to serious consequences. 2.3.1 Internal and External Motivation Motivation according to Kehr (2004) can be either internal or external, it can be viewed as push or pull determinants. Implicit motives are factors intrinsic to the activity and explicit motives arise from factors extrinsic to the activity. Intrinsic motivation is the key motivation component of employee empowerment and individuals are responsible for achieving their own career success. It is based on positively valued experiences that a person receives directly from their work tasks such as meaningfulness, competence, choice and progress. Bymes (2006) explain that external motivators depend on outside factors to push the individual to complete a task. Kehr (2004) adds that explicit motives are influenced by social demands and normative pressures. Extrinsic rewards are based on reward and punishments controlled by the organisation. Like Bymes (2006) individuals with external motivators are motivated by salary or wage packets. Internal on the other hand is associated with employees who want to be employed in a particular position by a firm whose organisational values and work requirements are closely linked with the individuals personal values and skills. Implicit and explicit motives relate to different aspects of the person, but both are important determinants of behaviour. According to Basset-Jones Lloyd (2005) motivators associated with intrinsic drivers outweigh motives linked to financial and inducement and observing others benefiting from recognition and extrinsic rewards. Like Locke Latham (2004) internal factors that drive motivation and external factors that act as inducements to action is the concept of motivation. Motivation can affect three aspects of work; direction, intensity and duration. Peoples skill, abilities and how and to what extent they utilise them are affected by motivation. According to Katz (2005) intrinsic factors are the main reason for a persons true commitment and motivation. Extrinsic factors like salary and working conditions are also important, but do not give the commitment and excitement that the employee needs. How a person views the assignment and how tasks, information, rewards and decision-making processes are organised are strongly linked to the personal activities. People become more motivated when they identify themselves within a group and contribute to performance as a group (Van Knippenberg, 2000).This relies on the work performed by Locke and the goal setting theory he developed. This goal is team performance and the individual feeling part of the group. The focus of Locke was on the goal but in order to reach the goal one must associate oneself with the group and task. Glen (2006) contend that the most important factor to rely on is feedback since it can help an employee improve his or her performance ; communication is also vital in the world today and can be beneficial to both the manager and employee . 2.3.2 Motivation Theories The traditional form of motivation stated that people could be driven by fear and therefore managers had to be tough. This approach made the employees do the bare minimum and only work while their manager was watching. Research on motivation and it impact on individuals and employees has been undertaken from the mid-twentieth century. Prominent among such researchers include; Maslow1954, Herzberg 1959, Adams 1962, Vroom 1964, Alderfer 1972, Locke 1981 and others. There is intense competition as a result of technological advancement, demographic changes, globalisation, which puts more pressure on organisations to deliver products and services with continuous improvement. The theories on motivation identify individual needs, their expectation and reaction to both internal as well as to the external environment. The various motivation theories are discussed below. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs A ground-breaking theory on the subject of motivation and needs of the human being was advanced by Abraham Maslow in 1954.He stated that there are some fundamental needs for the human being that can be arranged in a hierarchic way. He argued that individuals and for the purpose of this study, employees are motivated to satisfy a number of diverse needs. According to Maslow until the most vital needs are fulfilled, other needs have little effect on the employees behaviour. Once a need is satisfied, and therefore less essential, other needs emerge and become motivators of their behaviour (Porter et al, 2003). At the base of the hierarchy is the physiological needs; food, clothes etc.These are considered primary needs as employees concentrate on satisfying these needs before the others. Physiological needs according to Maslow are undeniably the most pressing of all needs. Once this need is fulfilled, the next level surfaces with the employee becoming anxious with the need for safety and security both at home and at the workplace. Likewise, once the safety need too is satisfied, the employee strives for a sense of membership or an affiliation and a feeling of approval by others. Once the employee finds his/her place in a group or team, the need and longing to be held in esteem, recognised and respect crops up. Maslow asserts that with all these needs satisfied, employees are then motivated by the desire to ‘self-actualise and accomplish whatever they identify as their utmost potential. (Ramlall, 2004) Herzbergs Two-Factor theory According to Herzberg an individuals relation and attitude towards work can determine success or failure. While Maslow looked at individual needs, Herzberg tried to find out how employees felt about their work and what really motivates them. In 1959 he created his two-factor theory by looking at the causes of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction in an effort to fully know what motivate people. He divided the needs into two categories; hygiene factors which relate to the needs that involve the framework of the task they performed and if these needs are not fulfilled there will be dissatisfaction on the part of employees. In essence if you want to motivate employees, concern should be given to the work itself (Ramlall, 2004). Herzbergs hygiene factors can be linked to Maslows hierarchy of needs and primarily the vital needs at the base of the hierarchy. The hygiene needs accommodate the need that arises from the physiological, safety and social or belongingness needs that do not make the employees satisfied in their job, but simply avoid dissatisfaction if fulfilled. In contrast motivator factors are those that allow for psychological growth and progress on the job. They are very much connected to the idea of self-actualisation regarding a challenge, to savour the satisfaction of achievement, and to be acknowledged as having done something meaningful (Basset- Jones and Lloyd, 2005). Herzberg further stated that certain characteristics are related to job satisfaction and others to job dissatisfaction. Intrinsic factors, such as achievement, advancement, recognition, responsibility are related to job satisfaction. Job dissatisfaction is a result of extrinsic factors; company policies, supervision, working condition etc. He assert that a job do not get satisfying by removing dissatisfying factors and therefore dissatisfaction is not the opposite of job satisfaction. In order to understand the employees motivation to work the attitudes of the particular employee has to be known (Herzberg, 2003). To Bassett-Jones Lloyd (2005) Herzberg was interested in the extremes where workers either felt good about work or bad, and this led to the development of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. The extrinsic factors are called hygiene or maintenance factors and are linked to job dissatisfaction. Intrinsic factors on the other hand lead to job satisfaction. The factors were labelled motivators to growth because they were associated with high level of job satisfaction. The two factors are of equal importance when explaining what motivates an employee. They explain Herzbergs suggestion of motivation as similar to ‘internal self-charging battery. For employees to become motivated the energy has to come from within. Herzberg however argues that motivation is based on growth needs; and is founded upon satisfaction born out of a sense of achievement, recognition for achievement, responsibility and personal growth. A review of Maslows and Herzbergs theory lead to further research and theories the first of which was developed in 1962 by Stacy Adams. Equity Theory This theory developed by Stacey Adams in 1962 suggests that since there is no absolute standard for fairness, and employees want to be treated fairly, they are likely to assess fairness by making comparison with others in similar situations. If they find out that they are not treated similarly they may lower their output, their quality of work or even leave the organisation for another where they are likely to be treated better. In essence it is not the real reward that motivate, but the perception of the reward in comparisons with others (Boxall and Purcell, 2007. While a simple theory, this theory according to Latham cannot cover every incident as some employees are far more receptive to perceptions of unfairness than others. It is therefore very important for managers to be conscious of what their employees perceive to be fair and just and also know that this will differ from one employee to the other (Latham, 2007). Vrooms Expectancy Theory Whereas Maslow and Herzberg looked at the connection between needs and the ensuing effort expanded to fulfil them, Vroom concentrated on effort, performance and outcomes. The fundamental concepts key to expectancy theory is that the anticipation of what will happen influences the employees choice of behaviour that is, expectations and valence. Vroom interpreted motivation as a process in which employees choose from a set of alternatives based upon the likely levels of expectation, and called the individuals perception of this instrumentality. Valence in his theory is the assessment of actual outcome of ones performance and together with instrumentality is very central in the expectancy theory (Ramlall, 2004; Mullins 2007). From this theorys viewpoint, an employee assigns a worth to an expectation, considers how much effort will be required, and works out the likelihood of success. If the perceived reward is sufficient for the effort required, the employee may make the effort. Expectancy in this theory is the prospect that they can carry out their duty in a way that leads to an optimistic result. For the employee the amount of effort he/she is eager to put in any performance of task is influenced by the expectation of the outcome of the effort (Mullins, 2007). If the employee works hard then he/she can expect a good work result hence a higher reward. High instrumentality for the employee comes from the notion that if he/she shows off good work result there will be adequate reward. Low instrumentality would then be that the employee feels that the result of the reward will not be independent on the particular work result. Vrooms VIE model is illustrated below. Writing in People Management Magazine, Lees (2008) believes that Vrooms theory give an insight into the research of employee motivation by shedding more lights on how individual goals sway individual performance. Vrooms expectancy theory has been criticised for attempting to envisage a choice or effort. However because no obvious pattern of the meaning of effort exist, the variable cannot be measured effectively. According to Latham (2007), the employee is assumed to deliberately weigh up the satisfaction or pain that he/she expects to attain or avoid and then a selection is made. The theory says nothing about intuitive motivation, something that Locke considered when he expanded Vrooms theory. Alderfers ERG Theory Unlike Maslows theory that refers to an individual who acts increasingly for his/her need satisfaction first, with the simplest one up to the most complex ones, Clayton Alderfers theory (1972) which extended Maslows theory asserts that this course of action is not essentially progressive. According to him, there are three significant categories of human needs: Existence (E) needs which ensures the sustainability and human endurance; food, Salary, shelter etc Relational needs (R) that is socialising need that refers to the relationship between an individual and the social setting and is satisfied by interpersonal relations. Fulfilling these needs depends on the association with others. Growth (G) needs which consists of a persons self respect through personal feature as well as the concept of self-actualisation present in Maslows hierarchy of needs.Alderfer believed that as you begin satisfying superior needs, they become powerful like the power you get, the more you want (Mullins 2007) . Although not fully tested, Ramlall (2004) and Strickler (2006) contend that the ERG theory seems to describe the dynamics of individual needs in an organisation rationally well and can help managers when it comes to motivating employees. To them it provides a less rigid account of employees needs than Maslows hierarchy. By and large, it comes closest to explaining why employees have certain needs at diverse times. Goal Setting Theory Edwin Locke extended Vrooms theory by developing his goal setting theory which takes into consideration the conscious motives that exist when organisations set goals to be met. According to Robbins (2003) Lockes goal setting theory states that specific and difficult goals lead to higher performance with the help of feedback. In addition to feedback, goal commitment, and adequate self -efficacy, task characteristics and national culture have been found to influence the goal performance relationship. Motivation comes from the goal an individual set up based on human needs, personal values, personality traits etc which are shaped through socialization and experience. The behaviour used to accomplish the goal depends on whether the goal is difficult or specific. The amount of effort an individual puts in reflects the level of satisfaction experienced which can lead to other actions (Porter et al, 2003). In order to reach the goals some conditions has to be present; such as feedback, goal commitment, ability etc. According to him, a goal is required in order to create motivation within the employees to perform better than before. He indicates that financial rewards can improve the sustainability of a persons dedication as well as behaviour. .Goal setting and management by objectives programs have grown in the past two decades and motivation has been organised in three categories; personality based view, cognitive decision and self regulation perspectives. The basic idea of Lockes goal setting theory is that employees goals are related to their motivation since their goals direct their thoughts and action. The cognitive decision predicts an individuals choices or decisions and finally the personality-based perspective emphasize personal characteristics as they affect goal choice and striving (Locke and Latham, 2004). The personality-based category does not predict motivation, but it can provide understanding of what motivates individuals. The above theories are part of the broad field of human motivation study and they all have implications for individuals different workplace behaviour. They can also be applied to a variety of management practices aimed at motivating employees. However these researches were carried out in Western Europe and in America decades ago. Can the findings of this research be applied in Ghana which is in a different setting? Will similar research in Ghana yield the same result? T o better understand employee motivation, it is important to know the role of managers who are facilitators of employee motivation. 2.4 Motivating Employees: The Role of the Manager Leadership literature states that motivation is influenced by the nature of the relationship between the leader and employees. Managers according Bymes (2006) needs to hire the right person that is most suitable for a certain job, value its employees and support them in making contributions to the organisations and always try to create a motivated workforce. Motivated employees do not only create a good working environment, they also make noteworthy contributions to the organisations. Good managers make their employees fell like business partners and use empowerment in order to make the workplace and the surrounding environment into a place where employees feel good as well as creating a work wherefrom employees feel good inside (Bassett-Jones Lloyd,2005). Motivation therefore is about cultivating your human capital. The human challenges lies not in the work itself, but in you, the person who creates and manage the work environment. As indicated by Garg Rastogi (2006) in todays competitive environment feedback is essential for organizations to give and receive from employees and the more knowledge the employee learn, the more he or she will be motivated to perform and meet the global challenges of the market place. By involving the employee at work and providing challenging tasks it might increase the intrinsic motivation which transforms potential into creative ideas and this will factor fair and constructive judgement of ideas and sharing of informations.Leaders have an important part in the organisation because they act as the force that motivates the performance of the employees (Katz,2005). Leaders are there to motivate people to follow the designed work and by doing so enhance performance. Although employees look to different elements of their organisation to satisfy different drivers, they expect their managers to do their best to address their needs and concerns. Organisations has to recognize the resources, both human and technological that are available within the organisation and conduct training programs that will contribute to the productivity and the levels of motivation at individual or group levels. Motivating employees begins that to do their best work, people must be in an environment that meet their most basic emotional drives to bond and understand. The drive to bond is best met by a culture that promotes collaboration and openness (Nohira et al, 2008). Motivating employees is vital if employers are to achieve maximum performance and productivity. Contemporary theories on motivation centres more specifically on the relation of beliefs, values, goals with action. Motivation in contrast functions as an engine for inner human growth by providing attractive and demanding task. Motivation theories developed in the western world with their orientation on self-satisfaction and instrumentalism have mainly emphasized on rewarding those individuals who succeed. These theories did not take into consideration the terrain in Africa and also individuals who are highly motivated but incapable of accomplishing. This has produced in some part of Africa and also in Ghana situations where managers are not able to answer the needs of every employee. Studies indicate that employees in the western world draw their motivation from self satisfaction but the same cannot be said of their counterparts in Africa and most especially in Ghana. What do they derive their motivation from? Does the companys corporate culture have any bearing on how they are motivated? Is there a relationship between the companys corporate culture and motivation? The next section will look at motivation and corporate culture. 2.5 Motivation and Corporate culture Corporate culture draws its roots from various sources. This include national and regional cultures, (Hofstede, 1991) the vision and management style (Schein, 1985) and the nature of the business and the environment it operates in and the organisational field where it operates (Gordon, 1991). For this study the relevant cultural roots comes from Ghana. Individuals, especially qualified ones, have more choices with regards to potential jobs offers. How companies motivate place a vital role in attracting employee and competing well todays competitive market. To create a culture that fosters individual motivation is not easy because it takes time to figure out the factors that motivate each employee. It is even more important nowadays as more individuals draw their interest from other things beside money. To understand the importance of corporate culture in this dissertation it is important to first define what culture is. Schein (2004) defines culture as consisting of rules, procedures and processes that govern how things are done, as well as the philosophy that guides the attitudes of senior management towards staff and customers. Referring in his work to the people of a nation Hofstede also defines culture as ‘the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes one group or category of people from another. This endorses the issue that corporate culture is a unique aspect of an organisation, even though it is difficult to manage. According to Schein an organisations culture develops to help cope with its environment. He characterizes culture as consisting of three levels: ïÆ'Ëœ Artefacts which are the most observable level of culture yet are hard to understand. ïÆ'Ëœ Espoused Values; which underlie and to a large extent determine behaviour, but they are not directly observable as behaviours are. There may be a difference between stated and operating values. People will attribute their behaviour to stated value. ïÆ'Ëœ Basic assumptions and Values: the core or essence of culture is represented by the basic underlying assumptions and values, which are difficult to discern because they exist at a largely unconscious level. Yet they provide the key to understand why things happen the way they do. 2.5.1 National culture National culture milieu influences the outlook of an organisations stakeholders. Hofstede proved this with work on IMB employees in 43 countries and how attitude to work and behaviour of employees towards authority differ from one location to the other. In his study he identified five dimensions of culture and demonstrated that there are national and regional cultural groupings that affect the behaviour and activities of organisations. The first dimension is power distance and refers to the degree to which people accept inequality amongst institutions and organisations. The second dimension, uncertainty avoidance measures the degree to which people are willing to accept change and work in uncertain circumstances. Therefore the higher the degree of uncertainty avoidance the more structured people likes things to be (Steers et al, 1993). Individualism which is the third dimension refers to the degree to which people see themselves as being part of a group or as individuals. His fourth culture dimension, masculinity versus femininity refers to the conventional values placed on male such as assertive

Writing Technology :: Writing Technology Technological Papers

Writing Technology How many times in an average day does one think about how their shoes were made, and how the invention has evolved over the years? A person could never know the full extent of it until they tried to make a pair with only the simplest of materials to use. It is so easy to say that society does not know what they have until it is gone. For this project every tool that I have ever used for writing was taken away, and it left me more than a little frustrated. It is so hard to think about going through a day without a pen, pencil, or marker to use at will. These things have become as standard as the shoes we wear on our feet. Society knows why it has them, but they do not know to what extent until they are taken away or simplified beyond recognition. There is so much thought that has to go into making something to write with. Ideas can become so complex and intricate. Most of the ideas that I came up with were just too much in the sense that I was making it harder than it needed to be. Being that I am an impatient person, I was looking for something that I could do pretty quickly. I started to look at what was available to me, and I realized that hey I live in Michigan; there are a lot of rocks around. I did not want to lug a bunch of huge, heavy things around, and so I focused on the smaller pebbles and stones instead. I found a sandy area close to where I found the rocks, and shaped small piles of them into letters. This idea was a decent one by my standards, and it was legible when it was completed. I formed the word ‘rock’ with the stones. Toward the end I did get lazy though and used twigs I found for the last letter. Upon finishing, I realized the final outcome would last for a while, but it is not transportable. This could be a problem in a more realistic setting. I can not imagine taking notes in class with stones and having to leave it there. This would make studying nearly impossible. After contemplating this for a while I came up with a plan of attack. Many ideas that have come about in the technology of writing have built on other ideas (Baron, Dennis, 36).

Save the Girl Child

In older days the birth of a girl child was considered as auspicious. As per an Indian proverb, â€Å"A home without a daughter is like a body without soul†. The birth of a daughter in the house was compared with the advent of Goddess Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth and Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Kno People generally ask this question that girl child is a curse & blessing . But I think it as a stupid question. How can a girl be a curse. A girl is always blessing. Girl is a devi. Woman are the pillars of society. How can they be a curse.Girl is a mother who take can her children in every part of l That's because there are only 927 girls for every 1,000 boys under the age of 6. And most of these 927 girls are taken out of school early so that they can help in the fields or work as child labour to support the family. Isn’t it time that we put an end to this barbaric discrimination and gave gi These days gender imbalance is becoming a grave problem especially in India. Girls are either aborted from mother’s womb or killed after birth. This gives rise to crimes like rape and killing.Nearly half of India’s children are girls. However, the girl child is considered a lesser child in our society. Irrespective of class, caste and economic conditions, she is discriminated against and neglected at all the levels. This result in the denial of basic services required for her surviv Daughter is the knot that ties the family together†. â€Å"A baby girl.. one of the most beautiful miracles in life, one of the greatest joys we can ever know,& one of the reasons why there is a extra sunshine, laughter and happiness in our life today.† In many traditional cultures, fathers and moth Tears of a girl child- How can we make a difference? This story is older than the time, a girl still die, killer still commit the crime. Why there is a smile in the face of a family when a boy is born and not when a girl is born? I don’t see a reason why everyone wants a boy and The role of women is vital to all spheres and facets of life.Thus investment on a girl child is a smarter way to the overall development of a family. Education is one of the many vital fields  where girl children remains a victim of disparity and is neglected as compared to the other sex. But it is p Girl Child in India By Rajni Seth Ads by Google UNICEF India – Donate Now DonateToUnicef. org/Donation 9,00,000 children die every year Your Rs. 750 a month can save lives Embryo Adoption -Donation www. EmbryosAlive. com Embryos in Cryostorage? Adoptors Are Waiting- Donors Choose Are You a Fresher? NIIT. com/IT-Training Join Placement Oriented 4 Month IT Course Designed for Fresh Grads A world of the girl child is full of love, warmth and concern.She is the procreator and the mother of tomorrow. She is the one who shapes the destiny of civilization and imparts values and virtues to the future. Unfortunately this beautiful world is gloomy and filled with despair. The color of innocence is ironically transforming into color of suppression. This beautiful creation of God has become the gravest concern today. Her world is filled with despair and she is left alone on a barren land searching for a warm touch, mother's love and father's lullaby.Traditions and rituals are outlining the survival of the girl child in India. Even though the country has made remarkable growth in various fields, it is tragically representing the lowest sex ratio. Patriarchal norms, low status of women and son idolism are the primary reasons that cause bias against girl child in India. The shocking decline of girl-boy ratio has alarmed future of India. The Census report indicates a highly skewed gender ratio that fell from 976 girls born every 1000 boys to 927 girls every 1000 boys in 2001.In various parts of the country like Rajasthan, Haryana and Rajasthan the ratio has even declined to 800:1000. Not only female feticide and infanticide, a series of other discrepancy like lack of girl education, lack of nutrition, early marriage and absence of basic necessities are also attached to the gravest concern of humanity. Lack of education holds the girl child to a low standard of living and provides inability to expose her skills and knowledge. Educating a girl is education a whole family†¦

Identify Legal Requirements For Dealing With Complaints

Julia B 304 Task C: Organisational requirements for dealing with complaints Company should have Concerns and Complaints Policy in place. The main aim of it is to ensure that complaints procedure is properly and effectively implemented and that service users feel confident that their complaints and worries are listened to and acted upon promptly and fairly. When dealing with complaints company are to ensure that: service users and their representatives, carers and visitors are aware of how to complain and that company provides easy to use opportunities for them to register complaints a named person is responsible for administartion of the procedure every written complaint is acknowledged within two working days investigations into written complaints are held within 28 days all complaints are responded to in writting by company omplaints are dealt with promptly, fairly and sensitively with due regard to the upset and worry that they cause to both staff and service users Company believes that complaints are best dealt with on a local level between the complainant and the home, but if either of the parties is not satisfied by a local process the case should be reffered to the Care Quality Commission. Legal requirements for dealing with complaints Legal requirement for dealing with complaints is to follow Health and Social Care Act 2010 and National Minimum Standards – complaint policy. Related article: Assignment 205 Task These standards require care home managers to have clear procedures that enable service users to make their views, concerns and worries known, and that reassure them that appropriate action will be taken. Policies and procedures for dealing with suspicion or evidence of physical, financial or material, psychological or sexual abuse, neglect, self harm or degrading behaviour should also be put in place. Standards requiers that every care home: have clear and effective complaints procedure, which includes the stage of, and ime scales, for the process and that service users know how and to whom complain staff listen and act on the views and concerns of service users and others before they develop into formal complaints complaint procedure is explained to service users in appropriate language and format all complaints are responded within 28 days servise users, if they wish, can make a complaint one-to-one with a staff member or independent advocacy/interpreters of their choice service u sers and their families are assured they will not be victimised for making a complaint a record of raised complaints is kept and checked at least three-monthly

Beowulf as a representation of Anglo-Saxon Society Research Paper Example

Beowulf as a representation of Anglo Beowulf as a representation of Anglo-Saxon Society Paper Beowulf as a representation of Anglo-Saxon Society Paper Essay Topic: Beowulf Telling stories, it is something that everyone can love and enjoy. This has been true for thousands of years. People would tell stories for different reasons such as to pass down traditions, legends, and knowledge to the next generations to represent the different cultures. One famous story in particular is the Epic poem of a young hero named Beowulf that was told in the Anglo Saxon society thousands of years ago. In the Anglo-Saxon culture, the epic poem Beowulf was a staple in the society, but by analyzing contents of this poem and Anglo-Saxon cultural values, it can be explained exactly why his story is used as a representation of culture. In order to begin, the story and characters of Beowulf must be analyzed. Beowulf, he was a great man of honor and with a pure heart. Like any brave person, Beowulf wanted to be known. Beowulf wanted to become famous for a great act of valor and courage that he would be able to do. When the chance arose to become famed he took it. He heard of a great beast that had been tormenting the Danes people for years and he was asked to defeat it. (Grummet, 50) As a great monster, Beowulf knew that defeating it would bring him great fortune by saving the people that were being tormented. Cheeps, peg) As a great and valiant warrior, Beowulf also believed in fair fights. Knowing that Greened would be fighting unarmed, Beowulf wanted a give him a fair fight. He believed that nobody should have the upper hand. Beowulf showed that he wanted to be fair to everyone, including his enemies. (Cheeps, peg. ) This did not only show fairness but it represented his courage because he knew well that the same monster that he was going to fight, single handedly and without armor or weapons, had killed hundreds before him. Beowulf s courage was immense he was not scared to do anything. He ought a great monster that had been able to kill hundreds of men, but Beowulf still stood strong. Even in his last battle, all odds stacked against him , Beowulf still had the courage to fight a dragon because he had the courage to do so even when all his men had left him to stand alone. Grummet, 1493) Beowulf had the courage to put his life on the line to save others. In a way of seeing this in a Man vs. Wild situation, Beowulf is a human filled with good while his foe, Greened, was the evil nature. (Chirurgic, 3) They are complete opposites because Beowulf is a great man with only good intentions hill his enemy is the great evil and the bane of all man and all that is good. (Duane, 1) Beowulf pureness is shown in this battle by removing all forms of protection, his armor and weapons, to fight the wild evil. By defeating Greened, Beowulf shows that humans are capable of defeating all forms of evil without the need of external protection. (Chirurgic, 4) The only thing that is needed is pure intentions and man can overcome anything. Beowulf also had a great belief In pure fate. (Grummet, 1658) When Beowulf went out to fight the various enemies in his life time, he believed that he outcome was already decided and he could not change what the god wanted. (Duane, 2) In the same way, Beowulf believed that god was also protecting him and helping him. If god decided that it was Beowulf s time to die, then so be it. (Grummet,1651) A way that Beowulf shows this belief in fate is when he fought Grenades mother in her cave. Just when all seemed lost, Beowulf found a giants great sword on a wall. (Duane, 2) For Beowulf, it was a gift and a sign that god was watching over and taking care of him. Using the sword, he killed Grenades mother because fate wanted it that way. Even n his end, Beowulf knew that he could not control the outcome of fate. (Duane, 2) As he fought the dragon he knew he would die. Everything was just out of his hands. Out of all that was Beowulf, one of his greatest heroic traits was his strength. Beowulf was known as the strongest man in the world. (Grummet, 694) That is one great reason that he was able to be the hero he was. (Cheeps, 1) In no way would he have been able to take on Greened and his mother and won without his strength. As shown in the poem, Beowulf was able to take on and kill Greened without Weapons or armor when hundreds Of other men had already fallen to the beast. ( Murphy, 4) Another example is how Beowulf was capable of swimming for a full day straight to the bottom of the lake where Grenades mother lived. Murphy, 2) Inside the cave his strength saved him when he lifted the giants great sword so heavy that no normal mortal human could carry. (Murphy 2) All of the previous traits made Beowulf a great and powerful hero that lived on to become immortal. When moving on to the enemies of the poem, the first that comes up is the infamous Greened. When looking at Greened, it is sai d that he is a wild monster with no honor or wealth. Greened was evil In all aspects. The sin stained demon Was a vile creature and a decedent of Cain. (Grummet, lines 84-85) Greened was a monster who was detached from god in all ways. Since Greened is a descendant of Cain, he cannot feel the love of god or other people. It is because of this reason that Greened hates every person his eyes fall on. This hatred leads to anger and evil. Bearing Gods hatred/ Greened came hoping to kill(Grummet, 393-394) Greened is also a coward. Like a bully, Greened picked on people and murdered them. He had no love and no honor. When Beowulf stood up to the evil, Greened was scared and his mind was flooded with fear (Grummet, 435) When he knew that he had met his match, Greened tried to run away. Grenades mother was the second monster to appear and fight Beowulf. When Grenades mother heard of her sons death, she wanted to avenge his death Beowulf decided to fight and kill her since she was also a decedent of Cain. Since she was a woman, Beowulf did not think she would be as strong as Greened himself. (Chirurgic, 2) That proved to be wrong due to the fact that she almost killed Beowulf and he was forced to use a paean compared to the fight with Greened, where he used nothing at all. Despite being stronger than her son, she too fell at the hand of Beowulf. (Crutch, 3) The final monster that Beowulf faced was the dragon. This battle took place 40 years after the fight with Greened and Beowulf is now an old man. The importance of the dragon is to show that even though Beowulf was a great hero he could and was defeated in the end by the dragon. (Gunsmith, 3) Also, the battle with the dragon reveals that Beowulf is still strong and has morals and courage to stand up to the dragon even though he knows that he will die. The dragon is eventually defeated but at the cost of Beowulf life. At this point, analysis will shift to the Anglo-Saxon society, beginning with their social classes. Anglo-Saxon social classes were divided into four tiers. Blair, 1) At the very top was the king or lord. The king lived in estates with a large hall in the middle that was surrounded by other buildings. Inside the hall there would be lavish feasts that the kings followers would dine in. The lord was anticipated to be generous to his people and also be the war leader. The king was expected to bring glory and plunder to his kin gdom and followers. Lambert, 1) Overall, the king Was seen as a great man and a symbol of power. Under the king was the upper class, known as the thanes, and the lower class, known as the churls. The division in the two classes was strictly based on land ownership. (Blair 1) A man can only be a thane if he owns 5 hides of land, approximately 600 acres. ( Marino, 2) That said, a Churl can actually be wealthier than a thane in terms of money but still a lower class that him due to the lack of land. The bottom class in the Anglo-Saxon life is being a slave. (Blair,l) Long ago, the Anglo-Saxon feudal system was not organized by any means. Marino, 2) As long as a person was rich and had plenty followers, he was a king. During that time there were kings everywhere and not much of a system was put in place. Within the years to follow, the British Empire influenced the culture and a new and much more efficient system was made. (Marino,2) This system was the more popular medieval system. Land was more organized and closer communities were made. Many older kingdoms were absorbed and there came to be less and less kings. (Marino,2) Not only did the feudal system evolve but the religion did too. In the early Anglo-Saxon society, the religion was all Pagan. Ross, 1) In the pagan religion people worshiped many gods. In this religion, the goal was not too look to the gods for spiritual purposes but worshipping them was a way of ensuring success. For example some people would pray to a particular god in order to be victorious in battle or have a successful harvest. (Ross, 1) These gods are believed to be the same gods that the Vikings worshiped. (Ross,1) As time passed British influence came to pass and Christianity started to spread and take over the Anglo-Saxon religion. When it came to getting into and solving conflicts, the Anglo-Saxons nearly did not have a peaceful approach to solving them. Kings were usually war leaders which would leave historians to believing that they fought a lot and they were proud of strength and what one could achieve through war and battle. In this society the greatest achievement any warrior could dream of would have been becoming immortal throughout time. (Lambert, 2) This was achieved by doing great deeds and being the hero of battles. Law in Anglo-Saxon culture was also not so peaceful either. One big belief in the society was the law of revenge. (Marino,l ) If someone would be killed in society, it was expected that a relative or a close friend would avenge that death and that death would also be avenged and so on. This was expected to go in a cycle until there was nobody left to take out the revenge. This was perfectly legal and fair game. Besides having to kill each other in order to avenge ones death, the church introduced a system where a person could pay a fee to repay that family for the death of their family member. (Lambert, 1) This was very similar to Germanic law in that people have a price. If you kill a Churl you would have to pay less to the family compared to killing thane which was more expensive. (Lambert, 1) When comparing the Epic Poem and the life and beliefs Of Anglo-Saxons it is seen why the story is held in such a high regard and why it represents the culture. The first comparison can be seen through the religious standpoint. Beowulf had a great deal of faith that god would protect him. This goes back to the belief in Paganism where the point in worshipping the gods was to ensure a great success and victory. Throughout the story Beowulf believes in the fact that god brought him victory. Another religious point in the poem is here it is stated that Greened is the spawn of Cain. This point is from a Christian belief because the story of Cain and Able is from the bible. Greened cannot have love from god because of the evil and sin in his soul. Knowing this, it can be said that this poem was written at the time when the Anglo- Saxons were in the midpoint of converting to Christianity. (Blair, 1) Another concept that makes this story a representation of the culture is the concept of revenge. It was well known that when a person was killed, a family relative can take revenge until there is no one left to carry out the cycle. In the Poem, Beowulf successfully killed Greened and when his mother found out, she wanted to avenge her son. When she rejected the money that Beowulf offered her for the death of her son, Grenades mother rejected it. In turn, she challenged Beowulf and fought him. When she died, no one else was left to avenge Grenades mother and the revenge cycle ended. (Murphy, 2) The biggest reason the poem was held in such high regard was because of Beowulf himself. Beowulf was a hero amongst heroes in the Anglo- Saxon society. He was the perfect role model. (Marino,3) Beowulf was a handsome prince with plenty fealty. In social classes having wealth and land was everything. Beowulf was also very strong and COLI rages, both very admirable qualities that were desired by Anglo-Saxons. In Anglo-Saxon society, a warriors dream was to become immortal after their death and that was achieved through great deeds. (Ross, 1) Beowulf also had that hunger form fame. In the beginning of the poem, he decided to fight Greened and ask for nothing in return because he knew that the fame from it would be enough. Not only does he represent the desires of Anglo-Saxons, but he actually became immortal through fame because of the poem itself. Schleps, 2) An ideal hero for Anglo-Saxon culture had to be a man with excellent leadership qualities and had the ability to make other people have a great sense of security from him. That is why Anglo-Saxon heroes were usually kings or thanes because of the fact that they were capable of being distinguished from others by doing great deeds. Beowulf is this kind of hero because he did many great deeds for others and did not ask for anything in return. He excelled to greatness up to the point where he actually became a king. People felt safe around him. Beowulf knew that and he did his best to aka sure he did not let his people down. Up until the end, Beowulf stood strong full of courage, against the dragon so he can protect his people. That battle and his death marked him as a legend. Beowulf achieved immortality through greatness and his courage. (Duane,3) Anglo-Saxons admired the accomplishments that Beowulf was able to achieve and that made him the role model in that society. When the Anglo Saxons look at the story of Beowulf, they see a story about a great hero that they want to be. That hero lived in their culture and he believed in the same things that they did. The Anglo-Saxons story of Beowulf is capable of representing them because it is what they wanted to be. The story is what they believed in. This story is an accurate representation of the culture and that is why it will also remain a staple in the society for years to come.

Synchronizing Threads and GUI in a Delphi application

Synchronizing Threads and GUI in a Delphi application Multi-threading in Delphi lets you create applications that include several simultaneous paths of execution. A normal Delphi application is single-threaded, which means all VCL objects access their properties and execute their methods within this single thread. To speed up data processing in your application, include one or more secondary threads. Processor Threads A thread is a communication channel from an application to a processor. Single-threaded programs need communication to flow in both directions (to and from the processor) as it executes; multi-threaded apps can open several different channels, thus speeding up execution. Threads GUI When several threads are running in the application, the question arises of how you can update your graphical user interface as a result of a thread execution. The answer lies in the TThread class Synchronize method. To update your applications user interface, or main thread, from a secondary thread, you need to call the Synchronize method. This technique is a thread-safe method that avoids multi-threading conflicts that can arise from accessing object properties or methods that are not thread-safe, or using resources not in the main thread of execution. Below is an example demo that uses several buttons with progress bars, each progress bar displaying the current state of the thread execution. unit MainU;interfaceusesWindows, Messages, SysUtils, Variants, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms,Dialogs, ComCtrls, StdCtrls, ExtCtrls;type//interceptor classTButton class(StdCtrls.TButton)OwnedThread: TThread;ProgressBar: TProgressBar;end;TMyThread class(TThread)privateFCounter: Integer;FCountTo: Integer;FProgressBar: TProgressBar;FOwnerButton: TButton;procedure DoProgress;procedure SetCountTo(const Value: Integer) ;procedure SetProgressBar(const Value: TProgressBar) ;procedure SetOwnerButton(const Value: TButton) ;protectedprocedure Execute; override;publicconstructor Create(CreateSuspended: Boolean) ;property CountTo: Integer read FCountTo write SetCountTo;property ProgressBar: TProgressBar read FProgressBar write SetProgressBar;property OwnerButton: TButton read FOwnerButton write SetOwnerButton;end;TMainForm class(TForm)Button1: TButton;ProgressBar1: TProgressBar;Button2: TButton;ProgressBar2: TProgressBar;Button3: TButton;ProgressBar3: TProgressBar;Button4: TButton;Progress Bar4: TProgressBar;Button5: TButton;ProgressBar5: TProgressBar;procedure Button1Click(Sender: TObject) ;end;varMainForm: TMainForm;implementation{$R *.dfm}{ TMyThread }constructor TMyThread.Create(CreateSuspended: Boolean) ;begininherited;FCounter : 0;FCountTo : MAXINT;end;procedure TMyThread.DoProgress;varPctDone: Extended;beginPctDone : (FCounter / FCountTo) ;FProgressBar.Position : Round(FProgressBar.Step * PctDone) ;FOwnerButton.Caption : FormatFloat(0.00 %, PctDone * 100) ;end;procedure TMyThread.Execute;constInterval 1000000;beginFreeOnTerminate : True;FProgressBar.Max : FCountTo div Interval;FProgressBar.Step : FProgressBar.Max;while FCounter FCountTo dobeginif FCounter mod Interval 0 then Synchronize(DoProgress) ;Inc(FCounter) ;end;FOwnerButton.Caption : Start;FOwnerButton.OwnedThread : nil;FProgressBar.Position : FProgressBar.Max;end;procedure TMyThread.SetCountTo(const Value: Integer) ;beginFCountTo : Value;end;procedure TMyThread.SetOwnerButton(const Value: TButton) ;b eginFOwnerButton : Value;end;procedure TMyThread.SetProgressBar(const Value: TProgressBar) ;beginFProgressBar : Value;end;procedure TMainForm.Button1Click(Sender: TObject) ;varaButton: TButton;aThread: TMyThread;aProgressBar: TProgressBar;beginaButton : TButton(Sender) ;if not Assigned(aButton.OwnedThread) thenbeginaThread : TMyThread.Create(True) ;aButton.OwnedThread : aThread;aProgressBar : TProgressBar(FindComponent(StringReplace(aButton.Name, Button, ProgressBar, []))) ;aThread.ProgressBar : aProgressBar;aThread.OwnerButton : aButton;aThread.Resume;aButton.Caption : Pause;endelsebeginif aButton.OwnedThread.Suspended thenaButton.OwnedThread.ResumeelseaButton.OwnedThread.Suspend;aButton.Caption : Run;end;end;end. Thanks to Jens Borrisholt for submitting this code sample.

Origin of the Saying Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts

Origin of the Saying Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts Background The adage Beware of Greeks bearing gifts is heard often, and is normally used to refer to an act of charity that masks a hidden destructive or hostile agenda. But its not widely known that the phrase originates with a story from Greek mythologyspecifically the story of the Trojan War, in which the Greeks, led by Agamemnon, sought to rescue Helen, who had been taken to Troy after falling in love with Paris. This tale forms the core of Homers famous epic poem, The Illiad.   The Episode of the Trojan Horse We pick up the  story at a point near the  end of the  ten-year long Trojan War. Since both the Greeks and the Trojans had gods on their sides, and since the greatest warriors for both sidesAchilles, for the Greeks, and Hector for the Trojanswere now dead, the sides were very evenly matched, with no sign that the war might end soon. Despair reigned on both sides.   However, the Greeks had the cunning of Odysseus on their side. Odysseus,  King of Ithaca, devised the idea of constructing a large horse to pose as a peace offering to the Trojans. When this  Trojan Horsewas left at the gates of Troy, the Trojans believed  the  Greeks had left it as a pious surrender  gift as they sailed for home. Welcoming the gift, the Trojans opened their  gates and wheeled the horse within their walls, little knowing the belly of the beast was filled with armed soldiers who would soon destroy their city. A celebratory  victory festival ensued, and once the Trojans had fallen into a drunken slumber, the Greeks emerged from the horse and vanquished them. Greek cleverness won the day over Trojan warrior skill.   How the Phrase Came into Use The Roman Poet Virgil eventually coined the phrase Be wary of Greeks bearing gifts, putting it into the mouth of the character Laocoon in the Aeneid, an epic retelling of the legend of the  Trojan War.  The Latin phrase is  Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes , which literally translated means  I fear the Danaans [Greeks], even those  bearing gifts, but it is usually translated in English as Beware (or be wary) of Greeks bearing gifts. It is from Virgils  poetic retelling of the story that we get this well-known phrase.   The adage is now used regularly as a warning when a supposed gift or act of virtue is thought to hold a hidden threat.

Integrity and Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Integrity and Social Responsibility - Essay Example International human rights law imposes obligations and responsibilities on Governments, and thus promotes and ensures protection of the fundamental freedom of groups and individuals (Ohchr.org, n.d.).Thus, Governments play a significant role as they are responsible to comply with the international human rights law and to refrain from acts that are contradictory to this law. Human rights are based on the principle of universality, which is the cornerstone of international human rights law. This principle was first declared in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948 (Ohchr.org, n.d.). Also, human rights are interdependent, interrelated and indivisible, whereas all people have the right to life, freedom of expression, equality before the law, right to education, social security, work, to self-determination, and personal development (Ohchr.org, n.d.). Another cross-cutting principle in international human rights law is the principle of non-discrimination. This principle is integrated into all major human right treaties, and has a central theme in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Ohchr.org, n.d.). Today, human rights are identified and declared in the numerous declarations, resolutions, and conventions, including the following: United Nations Convention: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its Protocols; The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of 1998; and United Nations Convention: International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (Global Reporting Initiative, n.d.). Increased public awareness and presence of various international organizations facilitate the process

Source Note Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Source Note - Assignment Example This trend has raised many health concerns in the United States. Researchers have also pointed the role of marketing in this sphere. Big giants like McDonalds and Burger King are responsible for this increased trend due to their aggressive marketing which is centered to focus more on children than any other group. Unawareness is a key factor that has played a major role in creating the ‘fast food trend’ among masses. People are not aware about their calorie intake by consuming high caloric and fatty foods. They do not possess the general idea about their daily calorie requirements. Thus, every time when they consume any fast food; their calorie intake increases. It has also left its adverse effects on the health of school-going children who are the primary consumers of fast foods. These children are more prone to obesity and obesity related diseases due to negligence of their parents, unawareness and aggressively targeted by various fast food chains. The percentage of obese children has increased from 5% in mid 1970s to 16% in 2000. These rates have raised many concerns related to the physical and mental well-being of children. Due to increased number of fast food restaurants, the percentage of obese children in America is growing with a sky-rocketing speed. Due to unhealthy lifestyle, unawareness and fast foods advertisements that are aimed to target children are directly responsible for increased percentage of overweight children. It is the duty of their parents that they should evoke the thought of a healthy lifestyle in the minds of their children and they should push them to eat healthy and balanced diet in order to stay healthy and active. Changing lifestyles and behavior have greatly influenced the eating pattern of an individual. People care less about what they eat. Due to this shift in behavior and habits, the fast food industry has expanded to a greater extent. Consumption of fast food has given rise to many

Is counselling for people with a learning disabilities inclusive Literature review

Is counselling for people with a learning disabilities inclusive - Literature review Example Dawson (2003) argues that people with learning disability interact with others and may have various talents other than in the field of learning they should therefore not be ruled out to have no contribution in the community. After efficient skill sharpening and counselling, they can be involved in various events other than being guided. They therefore feel appreciated and gain courage in the process facilitating the various aspects of counselling put into practice. Identification of the type of learning disability may help in categorising the counselling group or manner to be adopted. Thus the process becomes inclusive in all dimensions. In this review analysis, the method to be applied will include research based on internet websites in order to obtain different findings and opinions of other counsellors. This includes the research on journals posted in such related websites. Another procedure will be the finding as per various government postings concerning this kind of counselling. There will be a review of findings from research carried out by other researchers in this field. According to Cresswell (2009) personal observation and analysis of various methods applied in this area of jurisdiction. Another method that will be put into use in this research will include the use of software for data analysis. This document is a research paper review that contains analysis of various documents in relation to the topic. The parameters of the initial search included the use of internet service in searching web materials in relation to the topic of study. Various books were also used including journals and newspapers. Most peer reviewed journals available in the internet databases were also put into use. Different researchers have carried out analysis of data collected in relation to counselling those with learning disabilities. From these researches, it has been evident that the process is more of inclusive than not. It will be discussed in the subsequent sections

Software Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Software Engineering - Essay Example Progress tracking measurement The domains of software engineering projects are clearly defined in the knowledge areas of software engineering. Generally, it undergoes the different software engineering processes and different software engineering cycles. These knowledge areas, processes, and cycles are described in the Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK), 2004 Version. Specifically, software engineering measurement undergoes the following process: 1. Establish and sustain measurement commitment, 2. Plan the measurement process, 3. Perform the measurement process, and 4. Evaluate measurement. (SWEBOK, 2004 p. 8-6, 8-7, 8-8) In establishing and sustaining measurement commitment you need to: 1. Accept the requirements for measurement by defining the scope of measurement and committing the management and staff to measurement; and 2. Commit resources to management. (SWEBOK, 2004 p. 8-7) In planning the measurement process you need to: 1. Identify the information needs, 2. Select measures, 3. Define data collection, analysis, and reporting procedures., 4. Define criteria for evaluating the information products, 5. Review, approve and provide resources for measurement tasks, and 6. Acquire and deploy supporting technologies. (SWEBOK, 2004 p. 8-7, 8-8) In performing the measurement process you need to: 1. Integrate measurement procedures with relevant technologies, 2. Collect data, 3. Analyze data and develop information products, and communicate the results. (SWEBOK, 2004 p. 8-8)

Relationships in Second Life and How They Can Affect Real Life Essay - 1

Relationships in Second Life and How They Can Affect Real Life - Essay Example However, for many inhabitants of Second Life, it is not just a 3D online game, but another world that â€Å"†¦has its own economy and millions of residents who own and create property, make friends and even get married† (CNN Living, 2008). These virtual worlds (VWs) have become conduits for socialization, collaboration, entertainment, social networking, and business development (Mennecke et al. 371). In VWs like Second Life, users must build virtual representations of themselves through creation of customizable avatars, which gives them a 3D body that they control and provides a â€Å"tangible embodiment of their identity† (Ducheneaut, Wen, Yee, and Wadley 1151). Through the avatars, users can discover an ever-growing assortment of virtual sites, fabricate all sorts of items, from clothing to buildings, and create businesses to sell their goods or services, forge relationships with other players through their interactions with their avatars, and buy virtual property (Hayes 154). According to Dell, as many as 13 million people have logged on to Second Life at least one time and about 450,000 subscribers are from more than 50 countries are online in any given week, ranging in age from 18 – 72, 27% of which are female (Hayes 154). Researchers have begun to conduct studies to analyze the way self-perception formed through interactions in VWs affects behaviors in the re al world (Dell). According to Ducheneaut, Wen, Yee, and Wadley, "the choices users make when creating and customizing their avatar will have repercussions on their interactions with other users† (1151), which can cause users to create online personas that are sometimes the complete opposite of who they are in real life.

Kant's Ethics (essay) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Kant's Ethics ( ) - Essay Example But Kant postulated that a person's ethics, his course of action was guided by duty. He argued that a person may misapprehend a situation if he were acting out reason alone and that if he were acting out of experience only then it would be prejudiced if not supported with a proper reason. (Sullivan, 1994) Kant devised a singular moral obligation or categorical imperative which in turn is borne out of duty to explain his postulates. An imperative is a command that forces a person to exercise his will. A hypothetical imperative is a conditional command, that is, a person might be doing something to achieve some desired end. His actions are therefore conditional. Kant argued that morality required an unconditional assertion of a man's duty and hence postulated that reason decrees an unconditional or categorical imperative. The three formulations of Categorical Imperative are What the first formulation achieves to prove is that any deed cannot be moral if it is committed keeping an end result in mind. To establish a good deed the action has to be carried out without keeping the end result in mind. So to act in any situation one must exercise his will in the way he expects others to. The second formulation says that when faced with a moral situation one must think what others would not do in a similar situation. So if naturally no one does it, one must not do the same. The third formulation summarizes the whole of the Kantian moral philosophy by explaining that an act should be conducted under rationality. A rational will can exercise his will morally simply because the person can act without attaching any conditional worth to his actions. (Teale, 1951) He treats humanity not merely as means to an end but the end only. That is he commits an act out of a sense of duty rather than trying to achieve some other hidden propaganda through this deed. Thus he was able to prove that adherence to Categorical Imperatives ensures autonomous ethical choice because rational will is always autonomous and Kant puts rational will at the core of his postulates. This was based on Kant's own arguments for autonomy of the will against heteronomy of the will. He came to the conclusion that when a person acts out of his reasoning as opposed to some external law or command his actions would be more moral. Though the arguments seem plausible one cannot discount the fact that the autonomous will of a person may inherently be negative. What if the will of a person and others around him are also corrupted What can then act as an impulse for the actions of that person Kant seems to; as did Rousseau, believe in the basic goodness of humans. What moral code guides the acts of terrorism as it manifests itself in today's world The killing of innocent lives may be immoral to the larger section of the society but for the terrorists committing these acts may well be borne out of a sense of duty. (Sullivan, 1994) Kant himself answers this question. He argues that a rational will cannot act "except under the idea" of its own freedom. He says that there is no basis for

Relationships in Second Life and How They Can Affect Real Life Essay - 1

Relationships in Second Life and How They Can Affect Real Life - Essay Example However, for many inhabitants of Second Life, it is not just a 3D online game, but another world that â€Å"†¦has its own economy and millions of residents who own and create property, make friends and even get married† (CNN Living, 2008). These virtual worlds (VWs) have become conduits for socialization, collaboration, entertainment, social networking, and business development (Mennecke et al. 371). In VWs like Second Life, users must build virtual representations of themselves through creation of customizable avatars, which gives them a 3D body that they control and provides a â€Å"tangible embodiment of their identity† (Ducheneaut, Wen, Yee, and Wadley 1151). Through the avatars, users can discover an ever-growing assortment of virtual sites, fabricate all sorts of items, from clothing to buildings, and create businesses to sell their goods or services, forge relationships with other players through their interactions with their avatars, and buy virtual property (Hayes 154). According to Dell, as many as 13 million people have logged on to Second Life at least one time and about 450,000 subscribers are from more than 50 countries are online in any given week, ranging in age from 18 – 72, 27% of which are female (Hayes 154). Researchers have begun to conduct studies to analyze the way self-perception formed through interactions in VWs affects behaviors in the re al world (Dell). According to Ducheneaut, Wen, Yee, and Wadley, "the choices users make when creating and customizing their avatar will have repercussions on their interactions with other users† (1151), which can cause users to create online personas that are sometimes the complete opposite of who they are in real life.

Secure and Architecture and Models Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Secure and Architecture and Models - Essay Example This research will begin with the definition of secure as a term used to describe a situation that is free from harm and is not exposed to any danger. In computer world secure is simply the state of the computer and other computer related devices are free from interruption risks, internal or external unauthorized entry and access and infections. Architecture is the process of defining a set of structured solutions and decisions that meet all the operational and technical requirements in an organization while optimizing common quality elements and attributes. The important part of the architecture is the structural nature. Models are clearly anything that is used as a structure to represent another thing. Models are used to represent a blueprint of an intended project or idea. Models provide an overview and a simpler way of expressing complex process or ideas. Different Components usually perform different functions in a system. A good example is the computer system components. The co mputer system component comprises of the input devices, output devices, backing stores, and the central unit. All the components have different features and perform different functions. Because of this reason, all have different security prevention measures. The system components should be compatible with each other in order to work together as a system, this means that the developers have to generate ways to get the components compatible are a middleware of networks to link the components to each other to allow communication.

Assessment of Pressure Ulcers and Reliability of Risk Assessment Tools

Assessment of Pressure Ulcers and Reliability of Risk Assessment Tools The purpose of this assignment, is to identify a patient, under the care of the district nursing team, with a Grade 1 pressure ulcer, to their sacral area. To begin with, it will give a brief overview of the patient and their clinical history. Throughout the assignment the patient will be referred to as Mrs A, in order to protect the patients identity and maintain confidentiality, in accordance with the guidelines set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2008). A brief description of a Grade 1 pressure ulcer will be given, along with a description of the steps taken in assessing the wound, using The Waterlow Scale (1985). This assignment will discuss the literature review that was carried out, along with other methods of research used, to gather vital information on wound care , such as the different classifications of wounds and the different risk assessment tools available. This assignment, will include brief overviews, of some the other commonly used pressure ulcer risk a ssessment tools, that are put to use by practitioners and how they compare to the Waterlow Scale. This assignment will also seek to highlight the importance of using a combination of clinical judgement, by carefully monitoring the patients physical and psychological conditions, alongside the at risk score calculated from the Waterlow Scale, in order to deliver holistic care to the patient. Mrs A is a 84 year old lady who has been referred to the district nurses by her General Practitioner, as he has concerns regarding her pressure areas . Following a recent fall she lost her confidence and is now house bound. She now spends more time in her chair as she has become nervous when mobilising around the house and in her garden. She has a history of high blood pressure and occasional angina for which she currently takes Nicorandil 30mg b.d. as prescribed by her General Practitioner , Nicorandil has been recognised as an aetiological aspect of non healing ulcers and wounds (Watson, 2002), this has to be taken into consideration during the assessment and throughout the management of her wound. Mrs A has no history of previous falls or problems with her balance. She has always been a confident and independent lady, with no current issues surrounding continence or diet. She has always enjoyed a large network of friends who visit her regularly. It is recommended by National Inst itute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) that patients should receive an Initial assessment (within the first 6 hours of inpatient care) and ongoing risk assessments and so referrals of this nature are seen on the day, if it is received if not within 24 hrs. In order to establish Mrs As current risk of developing a pressure area, an assessment must take place. An initial holistic assessment, looking at all contributing factors such as mobility, continence and nutrition will provide a baseline that will identify her level of risk as well as identifying any existing pressure damage. A pressure ulcer is defined as, a localised injury to the skin and / or underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear. A number of contributing, or confounding factors, are also associated with pressure ulcers. According to the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP 2009). Mrs A is more vulnerable to pressure damage, as her skin has become more fragile and thinner with age (NICE 2005). There are risk factors associated to the integrity of the patients skin and also to the patients general health. Skin that is already damaged, has a higher incidence of developing a pressure ulcer, than that of healthy skin. Skin that becomes too dry, or is more moist due to possible incontinence, is also at higher risk of developing a pressure ulcer than healthy skin. An elderly persons skin is at increased risk, because it is more fragile and thinner than the skin of a younger person. Boore et al (1987) identified the following principles in caring for the skin to prevent pressure damage, skin should be kept clean and dry and not left to remain wet. The skin should also not be left to dry out to prevent any accidental damage . Due to Mrs A spending more time sitting in her chair, she has become at a higher risk of developing a pressure sore, as she is less mobile. The reason being It becomes difficult for the blood to circulate causing a lack of oxygen and nutrients to the tissue cells. Furthermore, the lymphatic system also begins to suffer and becomes unable, to properly remove waste products. If the pressure continues to increase and is not relieved by equipment or movement. The cells can begin to die, leaving an area of dead tissue resulting in pressure damage. Nelson et al (2009) states, pressure ulcers can cause patients functional limitations, emotional distress, and pain for persons affected. The development of pressure ulcers, in various healthcare settings, is often seen as a reflection of the quality of care which is being provided (Nakrem 2009). Pressure ulcer prevention is very important in everyday clinical practise, as pressure ulcer treatment is expensive and factors such as legal issues have become more important. EPAUP (2009) have recommended strategies, which include frequent repositioning the use of special support surfaces, o r providing nutritional support to be included in the prevention. In order to gather evidence based research, to support my assignment. I undertook a literature review of the Waterlow Scale and Classifications of Grade 1 pressure sores. The databases used were the Culmulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and OpenAthens. I used a variety of search terms including pressure sores, Grade 1 classification, Waterlow Scale, and How pressure sore risk assessment tools compare. Throughout the literature review the information was gathered from sources using a date range between the years of 2000 2011, although some references were found from sources of information that are from a much later date. This method of research ensured a plethora of articles and guidelines were collated and analysed. The trust guidelines in wound care were used, to show how we implement theory into practise in the community, using the wound care formulary. There was a vast amount of information available, as pressure area care is such a broad subject. The search criteria had to be narrowed down, in some cases to ensure the information gathered was relevant and not beyond the scope of the assignment. The evidence used throughout this assignment, is based on guidelines and recommendations given by NICE (2001), EPUAP (2001) and articles sourced from The Journal of Community Nursing (JCN). This was the most accurate information and guidance on pressure ulcer classifications and assessment although, some articles may not have been the most recent. The assessment tool used throughout my area of work, is the Waterlow Scale. The Waterlow Scale was developed by Judy Waterlow in 1985, while working as a clinical nurse teacher. It was originally designed for use by her student and is used to measure a patients risk of developing a pressure sore. It can also be used as a guide, for the ordering of effective pressure relieving equipment. All National Health Service (NHS) trusts have their own pressure ulcer prevention policy, or guidelines and practitioners are expected to use the risk assessment tool, specified in their trusts policy. NICE (2003), guidance states, that all trusts should have a pressure ulcer policy, which should include a pressure ulcer risk assessment tool. However, it reminds practitioners that the use of risk assessment tools, should be thought of as an aid to the clinical judgement of the practitioner. The use of the Waterlow tool enables, the nurse to assess each patient according to their individual risk of dev eloping pressure sores (Pancorbo-Hidalgo et al 2006). The scale illustrates a risk assessment scoring system and on the reverse side, provides information and guidance on wound assessment, dressings and preventative aids. There is information regarding pressure relieving equipment surrounding, the three levels of risk highlighted on the scale, and also provides guidance, concerning the nursing care given to patients. Although the Waterlow score is used in the community setting, when calculating the risk assessment score, it is vital that the nurse is aware of the difference in environment the tool was originally developed for. The tool uses a combination of core and external risk factors that contribute to the development of pressure ulcers. These are used to determine the risk level for an individual patient. The fundamental factors include disease, medication, malnourishment, age, dehydration / fluid status, lack of mobility, incontinence, skin condition and weight. The external factors, which refer to external influences which can cause skin distortion, include pressure, shearing forces, friction, and moisture. There is also a special risk section of the tool, which can be used if the patient is on certain medication or recently had surgery. This contributes to a holistic assessment of a patient and enables the practitioner to provide the most effective care and appropriate pressure relieving equipment. The score is calculated, by counting the scores given in each category, which apply to your patients current condition. Once these have been added up, you will have your at risk score. This will then ind icate the steps that need to be taken, in order to provide the appropriate level of care to the patient. Identification of a patients risk of developing a pressure sore is often considered the most important stage in pressure sore prevention (Davis 1994). During the assessment a skin inspection takes place of the most vulnerable areas of risk, typically these are heels, sacrum and parts of the body, where sheer or friction could take place. Elbows, shoulders, back of head and toes are also considered to be more vulnerable areas (NICE 2001). When using the Waterlow tool to assess Mrs As pressure risk, I found she had a score of 9. According to the Waterlow scoring system she is not considered as being at risk as her score is less than 10. As I had identified in my assessment, she had a score of 2, for her skin condition due to Grade 1 pressure ulcer to her sacrum. I felt it necessary, to highlight her as being at risk. A grade 1 pressure ulcer on her sacral area, maybe due to her recent loss of confidence and reduced mobility which has left Mrs A spending more time in her chair. Pressure ulcers are assessed and graded, according to the degree of damage to the tissue. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP), classifies pressure ulcers based on the depth of the wound. There are four classifications (Category/Stage I through IV) of pressure damage. In addition to these, two other categories have been defined, unstageable pressure ulcers and deep tissue injury (EPUAP, 2009) Grade 1 pressure damage is defined, as a non-blanchable erythema of intact skin. Indicators can be, discolouration of the skin, warmth, oedema, induration or hardness, particularly in people with darker pigmentation (EPUAP, 2003). It is believed by some practitioners, that blanching erythema indicates Grade 1 pressure damage (Hitch 1995) although others suggest that, Grade 1 pressure damage is present, when there is non-blanching erythema (Maklebust and Margolis, 1995; Yarkony et al, 1990). The majority of practitioners, agree that temperature and colour play an important role, in identifying grade 1 pressure ulcers (EPUAP, 1999) and erythema, is a factor in alm ost all classifications (Lyder, 1991). The pressure damage usually occurs, over boney prominences (Barton and Barton 1981). The skin in a Grade 1 pressure ulcer, is not broken, but it requires protection and monitoring. At this stage, it will not be known how deep the pressure damage is, regular monitoring and assessment is essential. The pressure ulcer may fade, but if the damage is deeper than the superficial layers of the skin, this wound could eventually develop into a much deeper pressure ulcer over, the following days or weeks. A Grade 1 pressure ulcer, is classed as a wound and so I have commenced a wound care plan and also a pressure area care plan. I will also ensure, Mrs A has regular pressure area checks in order to prevent the area breaking down. The pressure area checks will take place weekly until the pressure relieving equipment arrives, this will then be reduced to 3 monthly checks. Dressings can be applied to a Grade 1 pressure ulcer. They should be simple and offer some level of protection. Also, to prevent any further skin damage a film dressing is often used, or a hydrocolloid to protect the wound area (EPAUP, 2009) . These dressings will assist in reducing further friction, or shearing, if these factors are involved. It is considered the best way to treat a wound, is to prevent it from ever occurring. Removing the existing external pressure, reducing any moisture, which can occur if the patient is incontinent and employing pressure relief devices, may contribute to wound healing. Along with adequate nutrition, hydration and addressing any underlying medical conditions. The advice given to practitioners, on the reverse of the Waterlow tool is to provide a 100mm foam cushion, if a patients risk score is above 10. As Mrs A has an at risk score of 9, with a Grade 1 pressure sore evident, I feel it appropriate to provide the pressure relieving mattress and cushion to prevent any further pressure damage developing. All individuals, assessed as being vulnerable to pressure ulcers should, as a minimum provision, be placed on a high specification foam mattress with pressure relieving properties (NICE, 2001). As I am providing a cushion and a mattress, it is not felt necessary to apply a dressing at this point. However, the area will need regular monitoring, as at this stage it is unknown how deep the pressure damage is. If proactive care is given in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers, with the use of risk assessments and providing pressure relieving resources, the pressure area may resolve. Pressure ulcers can be costly for the NHS, debilitating and painful for the patient. With basic and effective nursing care offered to the patients, this can often be the key to success. Bliss (2000) suggests that the majority of Grade I ulcers heal, or resolve without breaking down if pressure relief is put into place immediately. However, experiences in a clinical settings supports observations, that non-blanching erythema can often result in irreversible damage (James, 1998; Dailey, 1992). McGough (1999) during a literature search, highlighted 40 pressure ulcer risk assessment tools, but not all have be considered suitable, or reliable for all clinical environments. As there are many different patient groups this often results in a wide spectrum of different patient needs. The three most commonly used tools in the United Kingdom (U.K.) are, The Norton scale, The Braden Scale and The Waterlow Scale. The first pressure ulcer risk assessment tool was the Norton scale. It was devised by Doreen Norton in 1962. The tool was used for estimating a patients risk for developing pressure ulcers by giving the patient a rating from 1 to 4 on five different factors. A patients with a score of 14 or more, was identified as being at high risk. Initially, this tool was aimed at elderly patients and there is little evidence from research gathered over the years, to support its use outside of an elderly care setting. Due to increased research over the years, concerning the identification and risk of developing pressure ulcers, a modified version of the Norton scale was created in 1987. The Braden Scale was created in the mid 1980s, in America and based on a conceptual schema of aetiological factors. Tissue tolerance and pressure where identified, as being significant factors in pressure ulcer development. However, the validity of the Braden Scale is not considered to be high in all clinical areas (Capobianco and McDonald, 1996). However, EPAUP (2003) state The Braden Risk Assessment Scale is considered by many, to be the most valid and reliable scoring system for a wide age range of patients. The Waterlow Scale, first devised in 1987, identifies more risk factors than the Braden and the Norton Scale. However, even though it is used widely across the U.K., it has still be criticised for its ability to over predict risk and ultimately result in the misuse of resources (Edwards 1995; McGough, 1999). Although there are various tools, which have been developed to identify a patients individual risk, of developing pressure sores. The majority of scales have been developed, based on ad hoc opinions, of the importance of possible risk factors, according to the Effective Healthcare Bulletins (EHCB, 1995). Franks et al, 2003; Nixon and Mc Gough, 2001, challenged the predictive validity of these tools, suggesting they may over predict the risk, cause expensive cost implications, as preventative equipment is put in place, when it may not always be necessary. Or they may under predict risk, so a patient maybe assessed as not being at high risk, develops a pressure ulcer. Although the Waterlow scoring system, now includes more objective measurements such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight loss after a recent update. It is still unknown, due to no published information, whether the reliability of the waterlow tool, has improved since the changes that took place. It has been recognised, as a fundamental flaw of these tools and due to this clinical judgement, must always be taken into consideration alongside the results that have been measure, from the use of the risk assessment. This is clearly recognised by NICE, as they advise their use as an aide-mà ©moire (2001). The aim of Pressure ulcer risk assessment tools, is to measure and quantify pressure ulcer risk. To determine the quality of these measurements the evaluation of validity and reliability would usually take place. The validity and reliability limitations, of pressure ulcer risk tools are widely acknowledged. To overcome these problems, the solution that is recommended is to combine the scores of pressure ulcer risk tools, with clinical judgment (EPAUP 2009). This recommendation, which is often seen in the literature, unfortunately is inconsistent as Papanikolaou et al (2007) states: If pressure ulcer risk assessment tools have such limitations, what contribution can they make to our confidence in clinical judgment, other than prompting us about the items, which should be considered when making such judgments?. Investigations of the validity and reliability, of pressure ulcer risk tools are important, in evaluating the quality, but they are not sufficient to judge their clinical value. In the research of pressure ulcer tools, there have been few attempts made to compare, the different pressure ulcer risk assessment strategies. Referring to literature until 2003, Pancorbo Hidalgo et al (2006) identified three studies, investigating the Norton scale compared to clinical judgment and the impact on pressure ulcer incidence. From these studies, it was concluded that there was no evidence, that the risk of pressure ulcer incidence was reduced by the use of the risk assessment tools. The Cochrane review (2008), set out to determine, whether the use of pressure ulcer risk assessment , in all health care settings , reduced the incidence of pressure ulcers. As no studies met the criteria, the authors have been unable to answer the review question. At present there is only weak evidence to support the validity, of pressure ulcer risk assessment scale tools and obtained scores contain varying amounts of measurement error. To improve our clinical practise, it is suggested that although tools such as the Waterlow Scale are used to distinguish a patients pressure ulcer risk, other investigations and tests, may need to be carried out to ensure a effective assessment is taking place. Practitioners may consider, various blood tests and more in depth history taking, including previous pressure damage and medications. Patients lifestyle and diet should also be taken into consideration and where appropriate, a nutritional assessment should be done if recent weight loss, or reduced appetite is evident. Nutritional assessment and screening tools are being used more readily and appear to be becoming more relevant in managing patients who are at risk of or have a pressure ulcer. The assessment tools should be reliable and valid, and as discussed previously with other risk assessment tools they should not replace clinical judgement. However, the use of nutritional assessment tools can help to bring the nutritional status of the patient to the attention of the practitioner, they should then consider nutrition when assessing the patients vulnerability to pressure ulcer development. The nutritional status of the patient should be updated and re-assessed at regular intervals following a assessment plan which is individual to the patient and includes an evaluation date. The condition of the individual will then allow the practitioner to decide how frequent the assessments will occur. The EPUAP (2003) recommends that as a minimum, assessment of nutritional status should include regu lar weighing of patients, skin assessment, documentation of food and fluid intake. As Mrs A currently has a balanced diet, it is not felt necessary to undertake, a nutritional assessment at this point. Her weight can be updated on each review visit, to assess any weight loss during each visit. If there is any deterioration in her condition, an assessment can be done when required. Continence should also be taken into consideration and where necessary a continence assessment should take place. Incontinence and pressure ulcers are common and often occur together. Patients who are incontinent are generally more likely to have difficulties with their mobility and elderly, both of which have a strong association with the development of pressure ulcers (Lyder, 2003).   The education of staff, surrounding pressure ulcer management and prevention, is also very important. NICE (2001) suggest, that all health care professionals, should receive relevant training and education, in pressure ulcer risk assessment and prevention. The information, skills and knowledge, gained from these training sessions, should then be cascaded down, to other members of the team. The training and education sessions, which are provided by the trust, are expected to cover a number of topics. These should include, risk factors for pressure ulcer development, skin assessment, and the selection of pressure equipment. Staff are also updated on policies, guidelines and the latest patient educational information (NICE 2001). Education of the patient, carers and family, is essential in order to achieve optimum pressure area care. Mrs A is encouraged to mobilise regularly, in order to relieve the pressure as a Grade 1 pressure sore has been identified, she is at a significant risk of developing a more severe ulcer. Interventions to prevent deterioration, are crucial at this point. It is thought, that this could prevent the pressure sore from developing into a Grade 2 or worse. NICE (2001) have suggested, that individuals vulnerable to or at elevated risk of developing pressure ulcers, who are able and willing, should be informed and educated about the risk assessment and resulting prevention strategies. NICE have devised a booklet for patients and relatives, called Pressure Ulcers Prevention and Treatment (NICE Clinical Guidance 29), which gives information and guidance on the treatment of pressure ulcers. It encourages patients to check their skin and change their position regularly. As a part of good practise, this booklet is given to Mrs A at the time of assessment, in order for her to develop some understanding of her pressure sore. This booklet is also given to the care givers or relatives so they can also gain understanding, regarding the care and prevention, of her pressure ulcer. An essential part of nursing documentation, is care planning. It demonstrates the care, that the individual patient requires and can be used to include patients and carers or relatives in the patients care. Involvement of the patient and their relative, or carer is advisable, as this could be invaluable, to the nurse planning the patients care. The National Health Service Modernisation Agency (NHSMA 2005) states clearly that person centred care is vital and that care planning involves negotiation, discussion and shared decision making, between the nurse and the patient. There were a number of improvements that I feel could have been made to the holistic care of Mrs A. I feel that one of the fundamental factors that needed to be considered , were the social needs of the patient. As I feel they are a large contributing factor, towards why the patient may have developed her pressure sore. The patient was previously known to be a very sociable lady, who gradually lost her confidence, resulting in her not leaving the house. There are various schemes and services available, which are provided by the local council or volunteer services, to enable the elderly or people unable to get around. For example, an option which could of been suggested to Mrs A are services such as Ring and Ride, or Werneth Communicare. Using these services or being involved in these types of schemes, may have empowered Mrs A to leave the house on a more regular basis. This would enable her to build up the confidence, she lost following her fall. This would have also lead to positive impact on the patients psychological care, as Mrs A would have been able to overcome her fears of leaving the house, enabling her to see friends and gain communications lost. As previously mentioned in this assignment, although Mrs A had a score of 9, which is not considered an at risk score. I still felt it necessary to act on this score, even though the wound was a not considered to be critical. If it is felt the patient is at a higher risk than that shown on the assessment tool, the practitioner should use their clinical judgement, to make crucial care decisions. It should also be considered, by the practitioner that risk assessment tools such as The Waterlow scale, may not have been developed, for their area of practise. Throughout the duration of Mrs As wound healing process, a holistic assessment of her pressure areas and general health assessment were carried and all relevant factors, were taken into consideration. The assessment tool used to assess her pressure areas, is th e most common tool used currently in practise and the tool recommended by the Trust. To conclude, there is evidence to prove that pressure ulcer risk assessment tools are useful, when used as a guide for the procurement of equipment. However, they cannot be relied upon solely to provide holistic care to a patient. It has been highlighted, that to ensure a holistic assessment of patients, it is necessary to complete a variety of assessments, to create a complete picture. Although The Waterlow scale covers a number of factors that need to be considered, throughout the assessment, it has become evident that the at risk score, can often be over or under scored depending on the practitioner. Clinical judgement has proved to be, a very important aspect of pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. The education of the patient, carer and relatives has also been highlighted, as an important aspect of care. Empowering the patient with information regarding their illness, may decrease the healing time and help prevent has further issues.