Thursday, October 31, 2019

Artists transform what were originally oral and literary stories into Essay

Artists transform what were originally oral and literary stories into images - Essay Example example is that to consumers who were viable to be being swindled by different financial institution, the act required that they were to be given credit counseling before being asked to sign any document (American Law Institute-American Bar Association Committee on Continuing Professional Education., 2005). This prevents against such occurrences like surrendering homes because one is not capable to pay up his or her mortgage. The Act has created awareness and as such foolish decisions which were taken by the consumers in the past like loan problems and challenges in meeting credit card payments have been properly addresses as everything is now understand to consumers in a clearer language than it used to be in the past. The Act exists to ensure that there is a debt reaffirmation agreements between the debtor and creditor, limits the lien stripping and tightens the discharge rules on claims thus making the Act effective in the both the development and well being of both parties involved. American Law Institute-American Bar Association Committee on Continuing Professional Education. (2005). Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005: ALI-ABA course of study materials. Philadelphia, Pa: American Law Institute-American Bar Association Committee on Continuing Professional

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Patient Care Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Patient Care Plan - Assignment Example Bumper migration to subcutaneous tissue was found to be one of the most common complications reported after PEG placement (Marks & Dunkin, 2013). Approximately 70% of 97 patients who have percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy (PEG) placement have hospital revisits with complications (Naik, Joshipura, Patel, Haribhakti, 2008). The purpose of this study is to explore the nursing treatment and management of a patient who has been diagnosed with the buried bumper syndrome in a clinical setting (Ramdass & Mann, 2013). It discusses the role of RN in managing the different needs of human beings as a consumer of health care in a patient-centered environment. The paper will base its in-depth exploration on previous healthcare literature and evidence from previous related cases. Currently, the patient has obesity, hypoventilation syndrome as well as obstructive sleep apnea. The woman has obstructive sleep apnea which is characterized by obesity. On 14th October 2014, the patient’s condition was critical because she had a respiratory failure that was requiring endotracheal intubation. Patient’s history revealed that the PEG tube was inserted. The placement of endotracheal tube was delayed leading to a bradycardia asystolic arrest. The respiratory failure that the patient experienced on 14th October 2014 required intubation. However, the CT scan shows signs indicating that the endotracheal tube was not correctly placed. This placement may be one of the causes of hospital revisits. The CT scan revealed a bumper migration to subcutaneous tissue. CT scan also showed purulent discharge at the site of PEG. No edema was found; the patient was alert and oriented. Although hospital policies and current nursing texts do not offer adequate recommendations for care of the patient with PEG tube (Simons & Remington, 2013), it is important not to neglect this area. It is important that care providers are aware of the complications that

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Approaches To Implementing Appreciative Inquiry Cultural Studies Essay

Approaches To Implementing Appreciative Inquiry Cultural Studies Essay Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is an organizational development process or philosophy that engages individuals within an organizational system in its renewal, change and focused performance. Appreciative Inquiry was adopted from work done by earlier action research theorists and practitioners and further developed by David Cooperrider of Case Western Reserve University. It is now a commonly accepted practice in the evaluation of organizational development strategy and implementation of organizational effectiveness tactics. Appreciative Inquiry is a particular way of asking questions and envisioning the future that fosters positive relationships and builds on the basic goodness in a person, a situation, or an organization. In so doing, it enhances a systems capacity for collaboration and change.0#cite_note-0[1] Appreciative Inquiry utilizes a cycle of 4 processes focusing on: DISCOVER: The identification of organizational processes that work well. DREAM: The envisioning of processes that would work well in the future. DESIGN: Planning and prioritizing processes that would work well. DESTINY (or DELIVER): The implementation (execution) of the proposed design.1#cite_note-1[2] 2#cite_note-2[3] The basic idea is to build organizations around what works, rather than trying to fix what doesnt. It is the opposite of problem solving. Instead of focusing gaps and inadequacies to find blame and remediate skills or practices, AI focuses on how to create more of the occasional exceptional performance that is occurring because a core of strengths is aligned. The approach acknowledges the contribution of individuals, in order to increase trust and organizational alignment. The method aims to create meaning by drawing from stories of concrete successes and lends itself to cross-industrial social activities. It can be enjoyable and natural to many managers, who are often sociable people. There are a variety of approaches to implementing Appreciative Inquiry, including mass-mobilized interviews and a large, diverse gathering called an Appreciative Inquiry Summit (Ludema, Whitney, Mohr and Griffin, 2003). Both approaches involve bringing very large, diverse groups of people together to study and build upon the best in an organization or community. The basic philosophy of AI is also found in other positively oriented approaches to individual change as well as organizational change. As noted above, AI fosters positive relationships and builds on the basic goodness in a person, or a situation . The idea of building on strength, rather than just focusing on faults and weakness is a powerful idea in use in mentoring programs, and excellent performance evaluations. It is the basic idea behind teaching micro-affirmations as well as teaching about micro-inequities. (See Microinequity Rowe Micro-Affirmations and Micro-inequities in the Journal of the International Ombudsman Association, Volume 1, Number 1, March 2008.) AI has been used extensively to foster change in businesses (a variety of sectors), health care systems, social profit organizations, educational institutions, communities, local governments, and religious institutions. Appreciative inquiry (AI) is a major breakthrough in organization development, training and development and in problem solving, in general. AI is based on the assertion that problems are often the result of our own perspectives and perceptions of phenomena, eg, if we look at a certain priority as a problem, then we tend to constrain our ability to effectively address the priority and to continue to develop in our lives and work. AI is a philosophy so a variety of models, tools and techniques can be derived from that philosophy. For example, one AI-based approach to strategic planning includes identification of our best times during the best situations in the past in an organization, wishing and thinking about what worked best then, visioning what we want in the future, and building from what worked best in order to work toward our vision. The approach has revolutionized many practices, including strategic planning and organization development. Various Perspectives The following links are by no means a complete list of online resources about AI. Like any other topic in the Library, the following links are to resources that can help to get you started in learning more about this topic. Appreciative Inquiry Commons AI : the Quest Appreciative Inquiry Resources Appreciative Inquiry and Community Development Appreciative Inquiry 5D Spiral of Development Taos Institute on Appreciative Inquiry managementhelp.org/commskls/appr_inq/appr_inq.htm Appreciative Enquiry . . . it is through language that we create the world, because its nothing until we describe it.   And when we describe it, we create distinctions that govern our actions.   To put it another way, we do not describe the world we see, but we see the world we describe.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Joseph Jaworski As it has evolved, there are a number of ways in which to conduct an Appreciative Inquiry (AI)Team Building but the processes all tend to follow a common path of four phases: Discovery (conducting appreciative interviews and identifying the themes and life-giving forces), Dream (developing provocative propositions for the future), Design (integrating wishes for the future with plans for needed changes to structure, systems and processes) and Destiny (making it happen and making it sustainable over time Appreciative enquiry is a new way of approaching problem solving, team-building and solution development. Appreciative Inquiry works from a set of assumptions. 1. In every society, organisation or group, something works well. 2. What we focus on, becomes our reality. 3. Reality is created in the moment, and there are multiple realities. 4. The act of asking questions of a person, or group influences the group/person in some way. 5. People have more confidence to journey to the future (the unknown) when they carry forward parts of the past (the known). 6. If we carry forward parts of the past, they should be what is best about our past. 7. It is important to value differences. 8. The language we use creates our reality and experience. The Appreciativer Inquiry Way While these may seem obvious, we know from our own experience that we can look at what isnt working and start problem solving. This pulls us backwards/downwards rather than forwards.   If we focus on difficulties in the past, people become self defensive and feel that life is hopeless.   When we ask them about their successes, they become enthusiastic and start to hope again and explore possibility. Appreciative Inquiry 5-D Cycle Discovery: The Appreciative Inquiry approach to personal, or organisational, change is to begin by looking for what is working -APPRECIATING the best of our experience. Dream: This is to consider what might be ENVISIONING RESULTS Design: What should be the ideal? CO-CONSTRUCTING Destiny: How to empower, learn adjust or improvise    SUSTAINING Do-It: Action towards achievement Commitment, response, action The tangible result of the Appreciative Inquiry process is a series of statements that describe where the person or organisation wants to be, based on the best moments of where they have been. Because these statements are based in real experience and history, people know how to repeat their success. They have created before, they can create once again. The purpose is to reconnect with the life giving forces-what is working, and then go beyond that to, what could be if we expanded our paradigm of possibility. What is Appreciative Inquiry? from A Positive Revolution in Change: Appreciative Inquiry by David L. Cooperrider and Diana Whitney. Ap-preci-ate, v., 1. valuing; the act of recognizing the best in people or the world around us; affirming past and present strengths, successes, and potentials; to perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, excellence) to living systems 2. to increase in value, e.g. the economy has appreciated in value. Synonyms: VALUING, PRIZING, ESTEEMING, and HONORING. In-quire (kwir), v., 1. the act of exploration and discovery. 2. To ask questions; to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities. Synonyms: DISCOVERY, SEARCH, and SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION, STUDY. Appreciative Inquiry is about the coevolutionary search for the best in people, their organizations, and the relevant world around them. In its broadest focus, it involves systematic discovery of what gives life to a living system when it is most alive, most effective, and most constructively capable in economic, ecological, and human terms. AI involves, in a central way, the art and practice of asking questions that strengthen a systems capacity to apprehend, anticipate, and heighten positive potential. It centrally involves the mobilization of inquiry through the crafting of the unconditional positive question often-involving hundreds or sometimes thousands of people. In AI the arduous task of intervention gives way to the speed of imagination and innovation; instead of negation, criticism, and spiraling diagnosis, there is discovery, dream, and design. AI seeks, fundamentally, to build a constructive union between a whole people and the massive entirety of what people talk about a s past and present capacities: achievements, assets, unexplored potentials, innovations, strengths, elevated thoughts, opportunities, benchmarks, high point moments, lived values, traditions, strategic competencies, stories, expressions of wisdom, insights into the deeper corporate spirit or soul and visions of valued and possible futures. Taking all of these together as a gestalt, AI deliberately, in everything it does, seeks to work from accounts of this positive change core-and it assumes that every living system has many untapped and rich and inspiring accounts of the positive. Link the energy of this core directly to any change agenda and changes never thought possible are suddenly and democratically mobilized. appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/intro/whatisai.cfm What is Appreciative Inquiry? Appreciative Inquiry is the study and exploration of what gives life to human systems when they are at their best. It is an organization development methodology based on the assumption that inquiry into and dialogue about strengths, successes, values, hopes and dreams is itself transformational. It is founded on the following set of beliefs about human nature and human organizing: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ People individually and collectively have unique gifts, skills and contributions to bring to life. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Organizations are human social systems, sources of unlimited relational capacity, created and lived in language. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The images we hold of the future are socially created and, once articulated, serve to guide individual and collective actions. Through human communication (inquiry and dialogue) people can shift their attention and action away from problem analysis to lift up worthy ideals and productive possibilities for the future. In short, Appreciative Inquiry suggests that human organizing and change, at its best, is a relational process of inquiry, grounded in affirmation and appreciation. One way to understand Appreciative Inquiry is to consider the meaning of its two words. Each word alone has implications for the practice of organization change. The power of Appreciative Inquiry, however, is the by-product of the two words working together. Like hydrogen and oxygen that combine to make water the most nurturing substance on earth appreciation and inquiry combined produce a powerful, vital approach to leadership and organization change. Appreciation: Recognition and Value Added Appreciation has to do with recognition, with valuing and with gratitude. The word appreciate is a verb that carries a double meaning. It refers to both the act of recognition and the act of enhancing value. Definitions include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ to recognize the best in people and the world around us; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ to perceive those things which give life, health, vitality and excellence to living human systems; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ to affirm past and present strengths, successes, assets and potentials; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ to increase in value (e.g., the investment has appreciated in value). Indeed, organizations, businesses and communities can benefit by greater appreciation. Around the global, people hunger for recognition. They want to work from their strengths on tasks they find of value. Executives and managers long to lead from their values. They seek ways to integrate their greatest passions into their daily work. And organizations strive regularly to enhance their value to shareholders, employees and the world at large. Inquiry: Exploration and Discovery Appreciative Inquiry is about more than appreciation, recognition, and enhancement of value. Its also about inquiry. Inquiry refers to the acts of exploration and discovery. It implies a quest for new possibilities, being in a state of unknowing, wonder and a willingness to learn. It implies an openness to change. The word inquire also a verb means: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ to ask questions; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ to study; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ to search, explore, delve into or investigate Inquiry is a learning process for organizations as well as for individuals. Seldom do we search, explore or study what we already know with certainty. We ask questions about and query into areas unfamiliar to us. The act of inquiry requires sincere curiosity and openness to new possibilities, new directions and new understandings. We cannot have all the answers, know what is right, or be certain when we are engaged in inquiry. The spirit of inquiry is the spirit of learning. How Does Appreciative Inquiry Work? The process used to generate the power of Appreciative Inquiry is the 4-D Cycle. Based on the notion that human systems people, teams, organizations and communities grow and change in the direction of what they study, Appreciative Inquiry works by focusing the attention of an organization on its most positive potential its positive core. The positive core is the essential nature of the organization at its best peoples collective wisdom about the organizations tangible and intangible strengths, capabilities, resources, potentials and assets. The Appreciative Inquiry 4-D cycle unleashes the energy of the positive core for transformation and sustainable success. Affirmative Topic Choice: The 4-D Cycle begins with the thoughtful identification of what is to be studied affirmative topics. Since human systems move in the direction of what they study, the choice of what to study what to focus organizational attention on is both essential and strategic. The topics that are selected provide a framework for collecting stories, discovering and sharing best practices, and creating a knowledge-rich work environment. They become the organizations agenda for learning and innovation. Once selected, affirmative topics such as inspired leadership, optimal margins, or culture as competitive advantage guide the 4-D Cycle of Discovery, Dream, Design and Destiny. Discovery: The Discovery phase is a diligent and extensive search to understand the best of what is and what has been. It begins with the collaborative act of crafting appreciative interview questions and constructing an appreciative interview guide. Appreciative Inquiry questions are written as affirmative probes into an organizations positive core, in the topic areas selected. They are written to generate stories, to enrich the images and inner dialogue within the organization, and to bring the positive core more fully into focus. The results of Discovery include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The formation of new relationships and alliances, that bridge across traditional barriers. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ A rich description or mapping of the organization s positive core. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Organization-wide sharing and learning from stories of best practices, golden innovations and exemplary actions. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Greatly enhanced organizational knowledge and collective wisdom. These results, in turn, inspire the emergence of organic, unplanned changes well before implementation of the more planful phases of the 4-D cycle. Dream: The Dream phase is an energizing exploration of what might be: a time for people to explore their hopes and dreams for their work, their working relationships, their organization, and the world at large. It is a time for groups of people to engage in thinking big, thinking out of the box, and thinking out of the boundaries of what has been in the past. The intent of the Dream phase is to identify and spread generative, affirmative, and hopeful images of the future. Typically this is accomplished in large group forums, where unusual combinations of stakeholders explore: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Creative images of the organization s most positive potentials à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Innovative strategic visions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ An elevated sense of purpose. Design: The Design phase involves making choices about what should be within an organization or system. It is a conscious re-creation or transformation, through which such things as systems, structures, strategies, processes and images will become more fully aligned with the organizations positive past (Discovery) and highest potential (Dream). Destiny: The Destiny phase initiates a series of inspired actions that support ongoing learning and innovation or what will be. Since the entire 4-D Cycle provides an open forum for employees to contribute and step forward in the service of the organization, change occurs in all phases of an Appreciative Inquiry process. The Destiny phase, however, focuses specifically on personal and organizational commitments and paths forward. The result of destiny is generally an extensive array of changes throughout the organization in areas such as: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Management practices à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ HR processes Measurement systems à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Customer service systems à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Work processes and structures In many cases, the 4-D Cycle provides the framework for ongoing activities. Thus, the cycle begins again . . . and again . . . and again. Why Does Appreciative Inquiry Work? Appreciative Inquiry works because it treats people like people, and not like machines. People are social. We create our identities and our knowledge in relation to one another. We are curious. We like to tell stories and listen to stories. We pass on our values, beliefs and wisdom in stories. We like to learn and to use what we learn to be our best. And we delight in doing well in the eyes of those we care about and respect. Appreciative Inquiry enables leaders to create natural human organizations knowledge rich, strength based, adaptable, learning organizations. www.positivechange.org/appreciative-inquiry.html Appreciative Inquiry Consulting AI Consulting, LLC offers a collaborative, strength-based approach to strategic change and transformation. At the heart of our practice is Appreciative Inquiry (AI), an approach that draws on the strengths and values of an organization in order to implement its change agenda and achieve its highest goals. AI Consulting has the greatest concentration of AI expertise and our consultants span the globe. Among them are the thought leaders, authors, and founders of AI. Our whole-systems approach, global reach, and collaborative partnerships are reflected in our success stories. AI Consulting combines features of a large consulting firm, a knowledge web, an alliance of change agents, and a socially responsible business entity. We are a principle-driven organization, valuing integrity, learning, generosity, and the common good. Our leading-edge design makes us highly flexible and responsive to client needs. We always seek to enhance the core strengths that give life to an organization while growing its economic vitality, ecological integrity and organizational health.   www.aiconsulting.org/ Appreciative Inquiry Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a process for catalyzing positive change developed at Case Western Reserve University by David Cooperrider, a professor of Organizational Behavior at their Weatherhead School of Management. As a graduate student, Cooperrider noticed that most organizational change was driven by consultants going into an organization and looking for problems and then attempting to fix them. He decided to see what happened if he took the opposite approach. During his graduate thesis work, Cooperrider went into the Cleveland Clinic and, rather than seek out what needed fixing, he sought out what was working well. He then developed a structured process to concentrate information about these success factors in what is called the positive core and to then amplify that positive core throughout the organization. The experiment was a great success and Cooperrider went on to establish the process as Appreciative Inquiry. Appreciative Inquiry is both a specific methodology and a perspective and has been defined as the study of what gives life to human systems when they are at their best. As such it ties deeply into fields such as Positive Psychology and Flow which, like AI, stand in contrast to our cultures typical problem-based or deficit-based mindset. To understand the phrase more deeply, we need simply look at the two words that make it up. Appreciate has two meanings: to look for the best in something and to increase something in value, such as when a stock or real estate appreciates. Inquiry means to seek understanding using a process based on provocative questions. So the idea is that provocative questions are used to draw out powerful success stories and identify the factors that are already working well within a human system. We can then use this understanding to help bring about what people want more of (as opposed to the usual cultural focus on reducing what they want less of). The specific methodology of Appreciative Inquiry gives us the tools to do this, while involving both left and right brains, and exploring the past, present and future. It consists of five main phases: Affirmative Topic Choice An interview is carried out using several provocative questions and, from the clients responses, several themes are chosen as the focal points for the rest of the inquiry process. Discovery Further provocative questions are explored regarding each of the Affirmative Topics and, from the clients responses, several themes are again chosen. These themes, a virtual DNA sample of the system at its best, reflect its central success factors its best strengths, talents, assets, values and ideals and are known as its positive core. Dream Creative processes are used to verbally and/or experientially explore what the future might be like if the positive core were more thoroughly enacted throughout the system and to examine, looking back from that vantage point, what must have happened in order for it to have reached such an optimal state. Design The system is organized into an architecture, and preferences chosen for each element of that structure, that will enable further enactment of the positive core and lessons from the Dream phase throughout the system. Provocative Propositions, in which clients put in writing broad goals or ideas that will help encourage the organization to move in the direction of optimization, may also be developed. Destiny Concrete plans are made and supporting resources put in place for enacting the chosen preferences in the service of amplifying the positive core and making the clients dreams a reality. Notice how these phases, in many ways, mimic the evolutionary process. That which is working best in a system is selected for and then those successful elements of the system become the raw material for its next stages of development. Thus, I like to consider Apprecative Inquiry a process for facilitating and accelerating evolutionary processes. Appreciative Inquiry has now been used to aid optimization in many large companies such as British Airways and Verizon, in schools such as at UC Berkeley, and even in whole cities such as in the Imagine Chicago project. It has also been adapted for use with families, individuals, and in many other settings. In developing my company, Emergent Associates, we synthesized a number of other tools and methods within a framework deeply based in Appreciative Inquiry to create our unique coaching and consulting process. Though a simple and enjoyable process for clients to experience, Appreciative Inquiry ties into fields as diverse as evolution, chaos theory, Systems Thinking, and other systems sciences. A quote from 3creativeASIN=1576752267creative=373489camp=211189The Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A Practical Guide to Positive Change sums up the mindset of this field well. We are not saying to deny or ignore problems. What we are saying is that if you want to transform a situation, a relationship, an organization, or community, focusing on strengths is much more effective than focusing on problems. www.systemsthinker.com/interests/appreciativeinquiry/    APPRECIATIVE APPROACH The Challenge The underlying belief of todays paradigm is that there is one best way to do things; one perfect way for an organization to be formed; one preferred way for employees to perform; one acceptable way for people to behave. We have been trained and educated from an early age to look for things in our human organizations that are not the best, perfect or preferred so that we can to fix them. We are a world of problem solvers. Our basic assumption of problem solving seems to be that organizations are problems to be solved. The process traditionally involves: (1) identifying the key problems; (2) analyzing the causes; (3) locating logical solutions; and, (4) developing an action plan. The result, change happens through a linear process that assumes we can repair human beings and organizations much as we might repair our car or computer. If we fix the problems, the organization will succeed. While this problem solving mentality has dominated business for years and led to some success, we are starting to see the limitations of this approach. The problem-solving approach directs attention to the worst of what is, constantly examining what is wrong with the organization. This continuous focus can have some very limiting and unintended consequences: We assume that because we know the problem, we must know the solution. No innovation. The organization creates no visions/images of the future. Breakthrough changes happens slowly, if at all, because we put attention on yesterdays causes. Visionless voice leading to organizational fatigue. Not another problem to deal with! Weakened fabric of relationships, defensiveness blameà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the creation of a negative culture. However, recent advances in the sciences and other related fields of study are causing a shift in how we understand the world. This new research and experience is leading us to an entirely new way of thinking about our organizations and how we improve them. There is a BETTER way! A Positive Change Model The fact is that our organizations are not predictable machines, but rather human constructions that are molded and changed by the images that human beings have of them. If we think that our organization is dysfunctional, unhealthy, and a bad place to work, most of what we see will be the behaviors, attitudes, and values that prove us right. If, on the other hand, we look for those things in our organizations that are healthy, creative, and supportive, we will begin to see an entirely different organization. We actually have a choice on what we focus on and Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a method that can help us see the true potential or our organization. In contrast to the problem solving approach, the underlying assumption of Appreciative Inquiry is that organizations are solutions to be embraced. AI Definition To appreciate means to value to understand those things that are worth valuing. To inquire means to study, to ask questions, to search. AI is, therefore, a capacity building approach that selectively seeks to locate, highlight, and illuminate the life-giving forces within an organization or community. AI seeks out the best of what is to help ignite the collective imagination of what might be.   The aim is to generate new knowledge that expands the realm of the possible and helps people envision a collectively desired future and to carry forth that vision in ways which successfully translates images of possibility into reality, and belief into practice. AI is not a methodology. It is a philosophy, an orientation to change, and a way of seeing and being in the world!   AI 4-D Model Tirawa Consulting uses a change process, called the 4-D Model (see below), that: (1) Discovers what gives life to an organization; what is happening when the organization is at its best; (2) Dreams about what might be; what the world is calling the organization to be; (3) Designs ways to create the ideal as articulated by the whole organization; and, (4) Delivers through an on-going and iterative processes. This is not a static solution but rather a dynamic process of continuous change. The 4-D Model has been used successfully in multiple cultures, in all sizes of organizations, working in every sector of relief and development, at every level of the organization. The 4-D Model has also produced tremendous results in the governmental and business sectors as well.   Tirawa Consulting can help integrate AI into your strategic change agenda and work with you to design a solution that will involve your people, identify your strengths, and chart a course for unbelievable transformation! Here are just a few examples of how AI can be used to drive your organization to higher levels of performance: Culture transformation Vision building Team building development Feedback performance management Organization redesign Partnership creation / relationship building Strategic Many other applications

Friday, October 25, 2019

Suicide Bombers: What makes them tick? Essay -- Psychological Traum

Has anyone ever wondered how one individual could kill thousands of individuals, and not feel bad about it? Thousands of people die each year due to suicide bombing, but not too many people know why they do it. Also, no one really wonders about the past and how suicide bombing started. Someone did not just wake up, and decide to strap bombs to themselves, then detonate them inside a building full of people. This essay will discuss the history of suicide bombing, the training of a bomber, the personality of a suicide bomber, the different motivations behind his or her action, and the way culture impacts the bombing and the bomber. In order to understand the motivations behind suicide bombing, society needs to grasp the history of it. Suicide bombing was not really thought of until the 1980’s when one boy named Hossein Fahmiden died with a grenade in his hand during a battle. This incident started to change the way society viewed what the Qur’an said about killing yourself. People of this time, thought that it was bad, but then their views started to change after Fahmiden died. They thought it would help them and their families get into their version of heaven, called paradise. In 1983 suicide bombing became part of their cultural beliefs. Society, before it supported suicide bombing, had a huge debate on whether or not it was religiously supported. The Qur’an says that Muslims cannot kill themselves because they will not go to paradise. However, fighting and dying for one’s country makes them a hero. Suicide bombers of that time, and still today justify their actions using the e xcuse that they are fighting for their country (MacEoin 15-24). One may wonder how you become a suicide bomber. Many people think that these men ... ...culture is completely unhealthy for anyone, and will only breed future problems. Suicide bombers deal with a lot. They suicide bombers in the Muslim society have a expectation to live up to, and struggle to deal with it every day. The history of suicide bombing is very real, along with the debate on whether or not the Qur’an approves of suicide bombing. Suicide bombers are smart people who society would not take a second glance at. They do have certain personality characteristics, but so do non-suicide bombers. Many people believe that they only bomb because of anger or because they are crazy. This may be the case for some, but majority of them honestly believe that they are helping society out. Their culture does not help them in this matter and actually encourages suicide bombing. A combination of all these things is what makes suicide bombers tick.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Investment and Risk Tolerance Essay

Question 1: How do the concepts of behavioral finance create opportunities for HelloWallet? The current financial advising sites such as HelloWallet as well as its competitors, such as Mint.com and Yodlee, provide budget and virtual financial advising service based purely on user bank transactions and spending category. The HelloWallet system allows the user to create and track customized budget plan. What is more important is that the system can automatically provide financial advice and saving tips by using data mining techniques. However, HelloWallet and its competitors do not provide any financial analysis and evaluation based on user behavior and their psychographic characteristics, such as user personality, values, attitudes, interests and risk tolerance in terms of willingness. These psychographic classifications are extremely relevant with regards to individual strategy and risk tolerance. Even with the similar bank transactions data and spending category, an investor background, past experience, personality and attitudes can make investment process unique for each individual. With the help of behavior finance theory, HelloWallet can build system to fit psychographic profiles to specific behavioral investor profile. As a result, a better understanding of user behavioral tendencies of spending and investment will help to provide better financial advice. An easy and quick way is to build online questionnaire to fit each individual into different behavioral investor types. There are several models we can use, Barnewall Two-way model, Bailard, Biehl, and Kariser Five model and Pompian model. We use Pompian models as an example. The major reason for promoting Pompian is because it is less time-consuming and less complex. Therefore, it will be easy to be implemented on an online system and require less time spent on filling out the survey (as we pointed out in challenge, it is not an easy task to ask online user to fill out survey with a lot of details). Pompian model identifies four behavioral investor types based on risk tolerance and active/passive scale: passive preserver, friendly follower, independent individualist and active accumulator. It is a top down approach which is more efficient and simple by categorizing users into passive and active, then further break down into four types based on their risk tolerance. With these information, the user of HelloWallet will be categorized based on their investment/spending behavior type. Based on these different types, the system can easily provide more tailored investment tips and products to users. For example, once a user behavior type is identified, the system can provide saving and investment tips accordingly. For example, when a user is identified to be a passive preserver whose risk tolerance is low and emotional, the system provides low risk financial products (excluding high risk ones), e.g., 2-year GICs. In addition, the system can try to persuade the soundness of these financial by focusing on elaborate the goal of these investment (what the terminate value will be and what type of investors these investments for). If investor specify a long term income need, the system can provide financial products on bond index fit their spending goal (contrary to the current systems which spam non-relevant financial products to all the users without differentiate their needs and risk). With the introduce of the behavior investor/user types into the systems, HelloWallet can extend their financial advising service from purely creating budget plan and providing saving tips to a more sophisticated investment approach that fits each individual unique needs and background. For example, HelloWallet is currently able to recommend a customer to apply for a visa with $500 cash points per year because excessive spending on grocery and large cash deposit 10,000 in the checking account. With the new behavior investor model, it can recommend the same individual to invest short term money markets products if his risk tolerance is low and require short term liquidity (with a list of the products from different dealer) or it can recommend user to buy equity income mutual fund if their risk tolerance is high and has no need for the cash for the near term. Another advantage and opportunity for the HelloWallet is that behavior finance is a relatively new concept and traditional financial advisor feel uncomfortable to ask customer these psychological questions face to face. It is much easier for the user to interact with a computer to fill out the questionnaire. This will help to collect more accurate information to build solid virtual financial advisor-client relations which also benefit the HelloWallet business in the long term as clients are tend to stick to the same â€Å"advisor†(in our case a virtual financial advisor – HelloWallet) if she/he understands clients’ needs better. Question 2: How do the concepts of behavioral finance create challenges for HelloWallet? HelloWallet’s system creates customized budget plans for the users based on traditional finance and on trend analysis. This poses a challenge to HelloWallet because they do not incorporate the behavioral aspects of their clients. This will lead to creating recommendations that are not suitable to all their clients. Many models have been developed over the years to incorporate behavioral finance traits in the client’s portfolios. There are four different models that attempt to explain the behavior of individuals and their implications on portfolio construction: The Consumption and Savings Model, the Behavioral Asset Pricing Model, the Behavioral Portfolio Theory and finally the Adaptive Markets Hypothesis. Empirical studies show that some investors exhibit mental accounting where they separate their investments in different accounts in their heads and assign them to different expenses, forgetting to look at them as one portfolio. In this instance this will cause a part of HelloWallet’s target market to refrain from using their software due to this behavioral trait. Clients that have regret aversion and have been suffering from mental accounting will be too scared to adopt HelloWallet’s service out of fear of realizing that they are in financial distress. Those clients do not have a serious desire and readiness to engage in an assessment of their personal financial health; therefore it will limit HelloWallet’s penetration of this market. This intertwines with cognitive dissonance, where people avoid facing financial reality. Statistics show that a vast majority of people suffers from that. People feel discomfort from receiving information that contradicts beliefs th at are entrenched in their personalities. Therefore, not wanting to face the idea that â€Å"things may not be ok† is a huge barrier for the adoption of HelloWallet by customers. Naturally humans are prone to resistance to change. They are programmed to stay in their comfort zone and stick to what they are familiar with. Having to take advice from a computer might not be something easily accepted. Moreover, regard to HelloWallet model, clients should incorporate all of their accounts including their assets and liabilities and update them if needed. This process could be a barrier for people suffering for status quo bias. In fact, this bias is an emotional bias in which people tend to do nothing instead of making change. This will affect Hellowallet in two ways. Firstly it will prevent people from registering, as they will prefer sticking with their old traditional way of managing their finance. Secondly, it will reduce the efficiency of the company model, as people will update their data less frequently making inaccurate any outcome from model of HelloWallet. The way HelloWallet collects clients’ information is via its software online. Users input their answers to HelloWallet’s questionnaire after which they will be categorized and given a budget plan. However individual circumstances change over time, and sometimes change abruptly. As the client moves across his life stages his information should be updated and changed accordingly, but this is not the case. Therefore HelloWallet might suffer from information processing bias known as Anchoring & Adjustment Bias. This will lead to the clients’ results being anchored to assumptions and information that does not hold true anymore. In fact, the Adaptive Market Hypothesis states that adapting is actually necessary for survival; thus, changes need to be applied to the software occasionally to improve chances of meeting clients’ goals. Anchoring and adjustment bias will make it more difficult for clients to adapt. If the users have a bad experience due to this bias, HelloWallet will start losing business to its competitors. Similarly the lack of personal interaction with customers will result in uncomfortable clients that will not understand the effects of short-term deprivation in relation to the overall long-term savings outcome. The lack of personal interaction will also destroy value. The company will not be able to build and maintain a consistent approach with its clients, if they are dealing with a computer. If there is no relationship building, the client will move to the competitor or just do his budget by himself after the first negative experience. It might not be sustainable, and might prove hard to retain customer value using this approach. In addition to that, research showed that people tend to behave impatiently today but plan to act patiently in the future. This is known as self-control bias. The all point of financial planning is to be able to help client to better allocate their financial resources to meet their short-term liabilities and goals while saving for future or long terms needs. The efficiency of HelloWallet advice on personal financial planning depends on how responsive client will be to their advice. In this case, this bias could be an issue, as clients will tend to choose what they prefer (short term satisfaction) instead of what suit best to their financial situation and neglect the long term.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Sociology Investigation

The Sociological Investigation ~ These notes are taken and adapted from Macionis, John J. (2012). Sociology (14th Edition). Boston: Pearson Education Inc. There are two basic requirements for sociological investigation:Know how to apply the sociological perspective or paradigms or what C. Wright Mills termed as the â€Å"sociological imagination. †Be curious and ready to ask questions about the world around you. There are three ways to do Sociology. These three ways are considered as research orientations:A. Positivist Sociology Positivist sociology studies society by systematically observing social behaviour.Also known as scientific sociology.It includes introducing terms like independent variable, dependent variables, correlation, spurious correlation, control, replication, measurement, cause and effect, as well as operationalizing a variable1.Positivist sociology requires that researcher carefully operationalize variables and ensuring that measurement is both reliable and valid.It observes how variables are related and tries to establish cause-and-effect relationships. It sees an objective reality â€Å"out there. †Favours quantitative data (e. g. data in numbers; data from surveys).Positivist sociology is well-suited to research in a laboratory.It demands that researchers be objective2 and suspend their personal values and biases as they conduct research.There are at least FOUR limitations to scientific / positivist sociology.Positivist sociology is loosely linked to the structural-functional appr oach / paradigm / perspective.B. Critical Sociology Critical sociology uses research to bring about social change. It asks moral and political questions.It focuses on inequality.Specifying exactly what is to be measured before assigning a value to a variable (Macionis: 2012, p. 50).Personal neutrality in conducting research (Macionis: 2012, p. 50)It rejects the principle of objectivity, claiming that ALL researches are political. Critical sociology corresponds to the social-conflict approach / paradigm / perspective.C. Interpretive Sociology Interpretive sociology focuses on the meanings that people attach to their behaviour. It sees reality as constructed by people in the course of their everyday lives.It favours qualitative data (e. g. data acquired through interviews).It is well-suited to research in a natural setting.Interpretive sociology is related to the symbolic-interaction approach / paradigm / perspective. Gender and Research Gender3, involving both researcher and subjects , can affect research in five ways:Androcentricity (literally, â€Å"focus on the male†)OvergeneralisingGender blindnessDouble standardsInterference Research EthicsResearchers must consider and do the following things when conducting research:Protect the privacy of subjects / respondents.Obtain the informed consent of subjects / respondents.Indicate all sources of funding.Submit research to an institutional review board to ensure it does NOT violate ethical standards.There are global dimensions to research ethics.Before beginning research in another country, an investigator must become familiar enough with that society to understand what people there are likely to regard as a violation of privacy or a source of personal danger.Research and the Hawthorne Effect Researchers need to be aware that subjects’ or respondents’ behaviour may change simply because they are getting special attention, as one classic experiment revealed. Refer to Elton Mayo’s investig ation into worker productivity in a factory in Hawthorne, near Chicago. 3 The personal traits and social positions that members of a society attach to being female or male (Macionis: 2012, p. 50).The term Hawthorne Effect is defined as a change in a subject’s behaviour caused simply by the awareness that s/he is being studied. Methods: Strategies for Doing Sociological ResearchThere are the basic FOUR methods:A. Experiment This research method allows researchers to study cause-and-effect relationships between two or more variables in a controlled setting.Researchers conduct an experiment to test a hypothesis, a statement of a possible relationship between two (or more variables).This research method collects mostly quantitative data.Example of an experiment: Philip Zimbardo’s â€Å"Stanford County Prison. †o Advantages Provides the greatest opportunity to specify cause-and-effect relationships. Replication of research is relatively / quite easy. Limitations Labo ratory settings have an artificial quality to it. Unless the lab environment is carefully controlled, results may be biased too.B. Survey and/or Interview This research method uses questionnaires or interviews to gather subjects’ / respondents’ responses to a series of questions.Surveys usually yield or produce descriptive findings, painting a picture of people’s views on some issues.This research method collects mostly qualitative data.Example of a survey: Lois Benjamin’s research on the effects of racism on African American men and women.She chose to interview subjects / respondents rather than distribute a questionnaire. o Advantages Sampling, using questionnaires, allows researchers to conduct surveys of large populations or a large number of people. Interviews provide in-depth responses. o Limitations Questionnaires must be carefully prepared so that the questions and instructions are clear and not confusing. Questionnaires may yield low response / r eturn rate from the target respondents. Interviews are expensive and time-consuming.C. Participant observation Through participant observation, researchers join with people in a social setting for an extended period of time.Researchers also play two roles, as a participant (overt role) and as an observer (covert role).This method allows researchers an â€Å"inside look† at a social setting.This research method is also called fieldwork.Since researchers are not attempting to test a specific hypothesis, their research is exploratory and descriptive.This participant observation research method collects qualitative data.Example of participant observation: William Foote Whyte’s â€Å"Street Corner Society. o Advantages It allows for the study of â€Å"natural† behaviour. Usually inexpensive. o Limitations Time-consuming. Replication of research is difficult. Researcher must balance role of participant and observer.D. Existing or Secondary sources Researchers analyse existing sources, data which had been collected by others.This research method is also called library research or archive research.By using existing or secondary sources, especially the widely available data by government agencies, researchers can save time and money.Existing sources are the basis of historical research. Example of using existing sources:E. Digby Baltzell’s award-winning study â€Å"Puritan Boston and Quaker Philadelphia. † How could it be, Baltzell wondered, during a chance visit to Bowdein College in Maine, USA, that this small college had graduated more famous people in a single year than his own, much bigger University of Pennsylvania had graduated in its entire history? o Advantages Saves time, money and effort of data collection. Makes historical research possible. o Limitations Researcher has no control over possible biases in data. Data may only partially fit current research needs.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Which Essential Office Support Staffer Are You

Which Essential Office Support Staffer Are You Are you a secretary or an executive assistant? According to CEO and founder of Office Dynamics International, Joan Burge, secretaries are assistants who develop a routine and get comfortable with a set list of tasks. A secretarys role is static support- they may be crucial in the office, but their position is not as conducive to same amount of growth and opportunity as a dynamic executive assistants gig.An executive assistant may have the same responsibilities- phones, scheduling, paperwork, correspondence- but their perspective is more adaptive. Their function requires reflecting on past experience and developing strategies to improve future outcomes. Its right there in the name- you need executive  functions.If youre an executive assistant and want to up your game, check out Burges training videos! Featuring lessons on time management, adminology, and frank feedback from executive and office professionals, theyre free on her website:  http://officedynamics.com/educational-video s/A Secretary vs An Executive AssistantRead More at officedynamics.com

Monday, October 21, 2019

John Smith and William Bradford essays

John Smith and William Bradford essays John Smith's persuasive pamphlet and William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation each present a different picture of the same pre-colonial land of New England. Smith's writing painted a colorful picture of the new land, whereas Bradford's historical account shows early New England was not Heaven on Earth. Mr. Bradford and Mr. Smith are writing about one land, but they present two different accounts of the life in the land. John Smith's writing is his ideal vision of what the new land could be with the best of people colonizing the new land. John Smith's fine piece of literature may also be considered a beautifully worded, finely tuned piece of propaganda. Mr. Smith wrote this selection to influence people to leave their lives in England and cross the globe to start a new life in a strange land. John Smith described a a land where little work was needed, and riches could be easily acquired. A man with little fishing ability could catch one hundred, two hundred, or three hundred fish a day. He tells of animals perfect for hunting that give plenty of food to live on, and rich furs that could be traded for money. Mr. Smith declares the land free, so anyone could come to the New World and accumulate great wealth. John Smith envisioned a land where all men would live in peace and harmony, a vision that would not be fulfilled in New England William Bradford's history of the Pilgrims, in Of Plymouth Plantation, sheds a uniquely different light on life in colonial New England. Bradford's account depicts many hardships that had to be overcome by the Pilgrims, before their ideal land began to take shape. Bradford describes arriving in New England in the late fall as fatal for many of the Pilgrims. The first winter took its toll on the colonists. Forced to live on the boat, many people died of scurvy or starved. When they finally were able to stay on land, they found the ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

How to Hone Your Process Avoid Errors with Grammarlys Celesta Mora

How to Hone Your Process Avoid Errors with Grammarlys Celesta Mora Chances are good that you’ve made a grammar mistake at some point on your social media or blog. You might have even been trolled about it, which is embarrassing and, in some cases, can mess with your branding. Using simple processes can actually help you prevent grammar errors so you can avoid the whole ordeal. Today we are talking to Celeste Mora, the social media manager at Grammarly. Celeste has helped Grammarly grow its social media following tremendously by effectively sharing engaging content that reflects the company’s core values. Tune in today so you can learn how to avoid grammar mistakes, hone your processes, and boost your social media following. Information about Grammarly and what Celeste does there as the social media manager. Some of the most common grammar fails that tend to come up time and again, no matter who the person is or what the industry is. The social media strategy that Celeste focuses on for Grammarly, including efficiency and tone. Some of Celeste’s favorite social media mistakes that she’s seen. How Celeste puts out engaging and effective social media messages. Some of the top things that Celeste has done to influence social media growth for Grammarly. How Celeste was able to grow Grammarly’s Instagram followers at an exponential rate. The process that Celeste will be using to make the National Grammar Day celebration a success this year. The core values of Grammarly and how they are implemented. Celeste’s best advice for marketers who want to build their presence on social media. Links: Grammarly Celeste on LinkedIn If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Celeste: â€Å"Efficiency, to me, comes down to what’s the minimum viable social media effort that will get the most engagement.† â€Å"Everyone from Grammarly has Grammarly turned on at all times. It’s a branding issue for us if anything is incorrect.† â€Å"When you are first getting started on social media, you really need to do your research dont just choose a channel because Facebook owns the world or because everyone’s doing Twitter.†

Saturday, October 19, 2019

International Joint Venture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

International Joint Venture - Essay Example Problems are majorly experienced in development, organization and management; these make the IJV to fail to achieve its projected goals. These challenges are a result of diverse objectives and motivations of the partner companies, making the art of balancing their operations an issue. Further, management will have to problems in planning and when trying to balance the mutual benefits for the partners. Inefficiency in the human resource management majorly contributes to failures of IJV (Faulkner and Geringer 2000; Desai, Foley and Hinles 2004). Additionally, political systems, economic state, legal system, difference in partners and conflicting contracts have an upper hand in determining the performance of management. The human resource issues are challenges faced by management of the IJV in its day-to-day activities and solution will be attained once an efficient human resource manager with expertise on international collaboration is employed. The politics also pose some challenge as they can come up with policies that may threaten the success of the collaboration. Management should make reasonable political judgment since political appraisal that is present in some is something to avoid. The two partners may enter into a merger with a view of eliminating duplication of resources and processes thus fostering greater efficiencies in management. Culture differences pose another challenge to IJV. For instance, collaboration between Pirelli and Dunlop failed in the 1980’s due to differences in the English and Italian cultures (Barkema, Bell, Shenkar & Vermeulen 1997). Strong Charter Establishment of a strong charter to aid in securing partners with the necessary attributes required to enhance success... International Joint Venture Collaboration has had several impacts on the sustenance of businesses in the market as well as their extinction. Market volatility brought about by changes in customers’ expectations, new entry of competitors in the market, dynamics in economic climate have posed great damage to many businesses. Management should employ strategic corporate policies in managing the venture in areas of human resource, supply chain, innovation, production and customer service. The management of IJV should recognize innovation as the major drive in growth of companies and their prosperity. Together with economic dynamics and globalization, technological change has favoured the growth of IJV’s. Despite the challenges facing the success of IJV, companies should engage in efficiency management system as this will help in combating all the challenges and enhance performance and productivity of the firm. Furthermore, companies should use collaboration as stepping stones to innovation and creativity as this will aid in coming up with ideas that will make the companies to be the leader in the market and enjoy the advantages of large scale operations. For companies to be successful when they enter into collaborations, they should first have a clear understanding of the strategic objective of the relationship they intent to create before focussing on the risks and benefits to be obtained. Collaboration is geared at enhancing business growth.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Lithuania position on international security issue Assignment

Lithuania position on international security issue - Assignment Example A particular concern to the Lithuanian nation in terms of international security issues is the issue of war and terrorism. Through numerous armed conflicts and instability situations globally makes us reflect back on the main purpose of forming the United Nations (Shelton 18). The main purpose, which is to keep and maintain peace throughout the world. Lithuania, the United Nations member and a having a non-permanent seat on the Security Council, Lithuania is committed to this core objective and principle. Our common task, objective and guiding goal as a group of nations is to maintain and guarantee undivided security. We have to put our collective efforts towards stopping acts of terrorism and or war and to maintain peace be it in our country, our neighbor or any global nation (Berger 22). The following draft resolution for the issue regarding global terrorism and war and the efforts needed to be put forward, collectively as a group of nations in combating the vice and ensuring indiv idual safety and security. In January 2014, Lithuania took over the presidency of the Council’s Counterterrorism Committee and the relevant working group. This highlights the important issue of terrorism to the Lithuanian nation in promoting human security, promoting human rights and arms control and disarmament. With the danger of terrorist activities and war spreading globally, now is the right time to stop and reconsider the actions we ought to take in order to stop or put an end to the fighting. All terrorism should be stopped, be it in our homeland, neighboring nations, or in our regions. The nature of international security is dramatically altered, we are witnessing non-state actors, religious sycophants and rebellious criminal gangs terrorizing nations and threatening the safety and human rights of people. Terrorism has evolved dramatically to include the recent dangerous ISIS, which seeks a geographical annexation of

Fiscal policy of the U.S Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fiscal policy of the U.S - Essay Example This would mean that there are measures put in place that ensure federal states have their budgets scrutinized well and that the debt nationally remains quite stable and ensuring that it is continually on a declining path. The Bowles-Simpson plan was set up with ideology of ensuring that they reduce the deficit and achieve the American fiscal goals outlined above. This plan is based on certain key fundamental components that would help in meeting the financial deficit. The Bowles-Simpson plan recommends for an enactment of a comprehensive tax reform. This plan focuses in reducing tax expenditure through what Bowles and Simpson described as â€Å"zero plan† which is intended to drastically cut not only the size but also the number of expenditures (Ghilarducci, 954). The main aim for America is to generate more revenue and direct that revenue to development and growth of the economy. These changes will ensure there is improvement in the tax equation that is both on the income an d expenditure. This would be achieved by applying several measures among them establishing tax policy. Implementation of a tax policy would ensure that there is a reduction in deficit especially on the federal states by making an attempt to raise more tax while cutting down on spending. This plan also aims at identifying possible areas of additional cuts on spending and revenue generations. Bowles-Simpson plan has various ways of achieving the goal that had been set out and adopted various options. As stated by Mathews et al (167), the† Zero Plan,† would work towards cutting off all unnecessary tax expenditures and save approximately eighty billion dollars yearly to cut on the financial deficit thus the revenue gains can be used to reduce tax rates. However there would be some exemption for instances in foreign tax credit, child credit and in earnings from income tax credit. There was less common preferencing especially on mortgage interest, retirement saving and on heal th insurance that is employer-sponsored. The plan also intends to ensure that expenditures on corporate tax are eliminated and that there is a reduction on the same. There was the Alternative minimum tax that also required elimination. The six individual bracket tax rates currently would be replaced with a schedule that has only three brackets and increase the same to higher percentages. Another major change would came in the wage base especially on the social security one which was to be increased with a two percent annually resulting to more than the average wage growth making it a more effective way. Gasoline which acts as a major source of income in federal states and increasing the excise tax on the same therefore would ensure that there is increase in income. While the proponents of Bowles-Simpson says that it is a remedy to ensuring that Americans reduce their debts and that there is economic revival the opponents of the same argue that this plan will reduce on net of safety programs such as Medicare and social security. According to Matthews et al (681), the Bowles-Simpson plan’s main strategy is cutting deep into benefits in order to restore solvency to the program while causing a number of serious and adverse changes. The fact the policy failed to protect the low income earners from these drastic reductions, low income workers are unlikely to support the program because of the reduced benefits. Moreover, this policy breaks the links between the relationship between their past earnings

Thursday, October 17, 2019

History Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

History - Assignment Example The Palestinian partisans were funded and backed by the Arab neighbors. On May 1967, Nassar (Egypt's President) had the UN withdraw from Egypt. He then sent tanks and troops into the Sinai. Israel responded by moving troops as well. On June 5, 1967 Israel attacked the Egyptian air forces. With Israeli air planes protecting their troops and tanks, they easily took the Sinai. If the UN would not have stopped the war, Israel would have gone further into Egyptian territory. Israel also captured Jerusalem and Golan Heights during this war. Israel won the Six Day War. The Yom Kippur War led to Syria and Egypt to attack Israel again. This time after battles and negotiations, Israel gave back the Sinai and parts of other territory taken in the Six Day War. However this war lead to the Camp David Accords and led to Egypt recognizing Israel as a state. I.D. the following terms in paragraph format. Make sure you include ALL INFORMATION from the book: Do NOT just copy from the book. You must put these in your own words. (worth 5 points each) 1. Palestinian refugees Palestinian refugees are Arabs caught on Israeli land or in the Occupied Territories after the wars between Israel and their Arab neighbors. These individuals are waiting to be given citizenship by Israel or liberated by the country Israel took the land from.

Egypt vs Saudi Arabia Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 1

Egypt vs Saudi Arabia - Term Paper Example b. Egypt, it has a better history in political parties’ formation and practice, than Saudi Arabia. The existence of Liberation Rally, Nation Union, Arab Socialist Union and National Democratic Parties provided a better platform for the political leadership to introduce change in Egypt. a. Earlier networks of political groups and social formations that had carried traditions of resistance through the period of repression became mobilized beneath the surface of dictatorial order (Paulsen n.d.). 3. With the leadership of the country limited to one Royal family, there may lack instabilities in the governance, but active and talented leadership skills within the communities will always be left out. a. Most of the Middle East countries have large deposits of petroleum oil, and gases which attracts powerful nations, if not forcefully getting involved in the commotions of these Arab countries, in the name of providing a solution, but rather their intentions are to keep them closer for future reasons. a. The army leaders in Egypt realized that that their establishments could present a valuable role under new administration, and thus were willing to dare throwing out the old guard as they were not personal instruments of the ruler (Gause III 2011). A. The System and rule of governance between Egypt and Saudi Arabia’s leadership, international relations, countries’ security structure and role, and the law reform give the explanation for Saudi Arabia and Egypt divergence in outcomes. B. Egypt uprising was strongly supported by protestors in conjunction with political parties presence.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

SEE BELOW FOR INSTRUCTION Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SEE BELOW FOR INSTRUCTION - Research Paper Example This paper discusses the components of Betty Neuman’s theory and how they can be employed in the nursing practice Every system that deals with patients is an exceptional array instrument that responds to the environment. Ideally, the responses are covered in a structure that determines the relationship with the environment. Consequently, the theory assumes that there are stressors that have universal tendencies that have a potential of upsetting the stability of the patients. The theory also assumes that the line of defense should act as a caveat to environmental stressors (Meleis, 2011). Essentially, the assumption is that in the absence of a barrier enables the stressor to penetrate the line of defense effectively affecting the well-being of the patient. Every patient has the internal mechanisms that act as a resistance to any form of external aggression. It is essential that potential risks to patients are determined and appropriate measures taken to deal with the issues that may affect the stability of the clients. The theory also notes that clients in hospital environments constantly exchange energy with external surroundings. Moreover, the model intimates that there should be prioritization in terms of identifying the first line of action in so far as dealing with the stressors is concerned (Meleis, 2011). The treatments should be ranked as a consequence of making treatment effective. Neuman’s theory focuses on the extent to which an individual can interact and relate to the environment. Patients have a basic reaction to the environment, and the degree of response leads to the depletion of energy effectively leading to illness. The flexible line of defense is an important component that acts as a barrier to potential threats (Meleis, 2011). Stressors portend a number of negatives that may affect the stability of a patient. Prevention is critical in dealing with the stressors. The primary treatment is important and

Egypt vs Saudi Arabia Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 1

Egypt vs Saudi Arabia - Term Paper Example b. Egypt, it has a better history in political parties’ formation and practice, than Saudi Arabia. The existence of Liberation Rally, Nation Union, Arab Socialist Union and National Democratic Parties provided a better platform for the political leadership to introduce change in Egypt. a. Earlier networks of political groups and social formations that had carried traditions of resistance through the period of repression became mobilized beneath the surface of dictatorial order (Paulsen n.d.). 3. With the leadership of the country limited to one Royal family, there may lack instabilities in the governance, but active and talented leadership skills within the communities will always be left out. a. Most of the Middle East countries have large deposits of petroleum oil, and gases which attracts powerful nations, if not forcefully getting involved in the commotions of these Arab countries, in the name of providing a solution, but rather their intentions are to keep them closer for future reasons. a. The army leaders in Egypt realized that that their establishments could present a valuable role under new administration, and thus were willing to dare throwing out the old guard as they were not personal instruments of the ruler (Gause III 2011). A. The System and rule of governance between Egypt and Saudi Arabia’s leadership, international relations, countries’ security structure and role, and the law reform give the explanation for Saudi Arabia and Egypt divergence in outcomes. B. Egypt uprising was strongly supported by protestors in conjunction with political parties presence.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

The Vietnam War Essay Example for Free

The Vietnam War Essay The Vietnam War is a conflict with Vietnamese against itself, North Vietnam or the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, wherein the Americans got involved mistakenly and honorably. (see Wikipedia) It is an effort to unify Vietnam into a single state. But then it is considered as false and dishonest theory. As per John Pilger, this war is an invasion of Vietnam’s homeland and lives. (see Global Issues) It is by far the longest war in the century of America against North and South of Vietnam. The Vietnam conflict with America is included in the Second Indochina dated 1954-1975 that grew out from the long conflict between France and Vietnam. (see Wikipedia) It is widely reflected in history and media that America lost this war because of the guerilla movement in Vietnam. (see Global Issues)   It is also believed that America lost this war due to the contribution of media that is against it. (see Global Issues) Actually, Vietnam approached US for assistance in building a nation from the Second Word War and mainly from French imperialism to achieved control for South Vietnam. (see Global Issues) It is believed that US supported Vietnam’s independence and determination. But then, US turned down the assistance that is why they turned to the other superpower at that time, the Soviet Union. (see Global Issues) Ho Chi Minh, communist leader, appealed to President Truman for assistance because Vietnamese wanted to pattern their constitution with the American government. (see Global Issues) But America declined to support their freedom and instead allied with the French. Vietnam was then forced to turn to China and the Soviet Union. (see Global Issues) United States is believed to give support to South Vietnam. They deployed personnel and US military advisers in 1956 to be responsible for training the army of South Vietnam. (see Global Issues) President Nixon purpose was to strengthen South Vietnam. US declined to support North Vietnam due to their communist belief to which US is not partaking. They came to aid the regime in the South who were said to be attacked by the North Vietnamese. (see Global Issues) The opposition said that America really lost the war. It is included in the criticism of the media. There are two most influential beliefs on why America lost this war. First, media undermined the military and political effort through media coverage, especially on television, in America. (see Global Issues) Second is that most of the journalists and broadcasters were against the war. It is on the whole of American media which resulted that war is a â€Å"failed crusade.† (see Global Issues) It has been reported that South Vietnamese had taken up arms to defend their villages and homeland. The North Vietnam Government was not recognized by the United States and the reason why US declined to assist because it is believe to be â€Å"improper† to acknowledge such correspondence. (see Global Issues) During the war, it is believed that it was the time where US dispatched its greatest ever land army and even offered the French two atomic bombs to use prior to its defeat in 1954. (see Global Issues) They pursued military strategies designed for people to abandon homes like usage of chemicals. Millions of people were killed and maimed, some were Americans and the rest are Vietnamese. The agreement to end the war included $3.25 billion of grant aid for 5 years to which was never paid. (see Global Issues) It is supposed to be for the postwar reconstruction but Vietnam did not reveal all the prisoners of the war who were supposedly part of the deal to aid. (see Global Issues) This is a tragic issue for Americans who have been unaware of the fate of their loved ones. (see Global Issues) The Vietnam conflict with the intervention of America is not really a war between the two countries. It is said that America lost this war. But America did not really lose it because in the first place, America was there to become an ally and just to support South Vietnamese for their fight against aggression from the North. Ineffectiveness is a more appropriate term. The way that Americans implemented their policy is ineffective in this conflict. America’s main goal is to unite Vietnam into one state. (see Global Issues) America failed to achieve that goal. The conflict highlighted more on the Cold War ideological battle. It reported and portrayed on the killings and tragedies that happened in the War. It focused more on the bad mistake. The good intentions were rarely questioned and carried out poorly. The media made coverage of America in an extremely one-sided story. (see Global Issues) It resulted to inaccurate reporting because only fragments were told. They mainly focused on the nature of the war. The atrocity of the war were mistakenly branded and blundered. Americans are on the side of South Vietnam that opposed the aggression from the communist, the North Vietnam. What really happened in this war was â€Å"internal aggression.† (see Global Issues) Wherein they invaded and attacked their own country and people. But then there were confusion on who really were â€Å"allies† on this war. The non-communist South Vietnam was said to be invaded by the communist, North Vietnam. (see Global Issues) United States therefore came to the side of the â€Å"democratic† regime in the South. But it was reported untrue. It is because Ho Chi Minh sent regular forces to assist the American attacks. (see Global Issues) He was persuaded to send regular armies to support the South in their opposition to American invasion. (see Global Issues) America lost the war in Vietnam. But millions of acres of forest were destroyed through herbicides poisoning, millions of people were slaughtered, rice fields were left with spots of bomb craters after â€Å"winning† its freedom. It is believed that in a war, no one really win or lose. Though they achieved what they are fighting for, they lose a great deal as well. Vietnam might have the independence and freedom they wanted but it caused them a lot before they achieved it. In contrast, America is still one of the most powerful countries in the world. They still aid and support other countries. But what is the measurement of victory? Is it shown in wealth or material possessions? Or is it measured by power? Or achieving what we really wanted though nothing was left afterwards? Winning does not end or achieve from a certain period of time. Victorious winning is seen on how you live after or if you were able to cope up with life after the battle. Fighting for what you desire and achieving it is a great reward for winning. On the process of achieving for these goals, you may lose some, but gain some as well. It really doesn’t matter if Vietnam conflict is a Winnable War. What matters most is the lesson learned from this war. The experiences happened, whether good or bad. Making things better and hoping that none of this will happen again in the future. To be able to have a peaceful world that can only be attained if we will not let selfishness rule over us. Most people believed that US lost the war. But Vietnam was destroyed to its core where it could be a pool of hope for the next generation and development option in Asia. If only plans were made and done effectively, things might have been different or it could be better than what happened. REFERENCES: Shah, Anup (29 December 2002). Media Propaganda and Vietnam. Retrieved October 15, 2006, from War, Propaganda and the Media Website: http://www.globalissues.org/HumanRights/Media/Propaganda/Vietnam.asp#ThemedialostthewarforAmerica Vietnam War Retrieved October 15, 2006, from Wikipedia Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_war#Richard_Nixon_and_Vietnam_.281969.E2.80.931974.29

Monday, October 14, 2019

Intervention to Reduce Progression of Diabetes

Intervention to Reduce Progression of Diabetes Developing an Intervention to Reduce Progression and the Development of Complications from Diabetes Mellitus in Adults in Glasgow. Introduction Type 2 diabetes is a serious medical condition that is increasingly prevalent in developed countries (International Diabetes Federation, 2013) and the most common variants of the condition are Types I and II. Type I patients have a deficiency in their pancreatic beta cells which leaves them unable to produce insulin. Thus in these individuals, some control over the condition can be achieved using insulin therapy (Schilling, 2007). Type II diabetics, have cells that have become resistant to the effects of insulin resulting in a delayed reduction in blood glucose (Skrha et al., 2010). There are additional types of diabetes; gestational, and a variety of Type III diabetes, however, the overwhelming majority of cases are of Type II with a significant minority of type I cases (Hardt et al., 2008). Complications of Diabetes Regardless of the underlying aetiology, the long-term complications of diabetes are similar. Excess blood glucose is thought to drive increases in oxidative stress both directly and via the derangement of mitochondrial energy pathways (Cade, 2008). Long term macrovascular damage will inevitably increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), and ischaemic heart disease, with diabetics estimated as having a 3 and 5-fold increased risk of CHD mortality for men and women respectively (Loveman et al., 2008). Cerebrovascular disease is also a consequence of the chronic macrovascular damage with similar increases in stroke risk (Naci et al., 2015) Since each organ has its own microvascular supply, chronic hyperglycaemia also results in diffuse and widespread damage to a variety of body organs. As a result, diabetic complications include visual disability due to diabetic retinopathy; the leading cause of blindness in working age adults in the UK (Fowler, 2008; Kempen et al., 2004). In addition, patients suffer end stage renal disease from diabetic nephropathy (Adler et al., 2003), diffuse impairments of autonomic and somatic neural function, including pain perception, due to diabetic neuropathy (Stirban, 2014; Voulgari et al., 2013). Furthermore, the combination of microvascular damage, and reduced pain sensation, usually in the lower limb, results in many patients developing ulceration and necrosis of the inferior surface of the foot, the most common cause of non-traumatic amputations in the UK (Elraiyah et al., 2016). Costs of Diabetes In addition to the significant cost to the individual suffering with diabetes in terms of reduced personal health and quality of life, there are significant financial costs in treating the condition. In 2010-11, the total cost of diabetes to the UK was estimated at  £23.7bn (Hex et al., 2012). This was comprised of  £9.8bn in direct costs related to treating the disease, and  £13.9bn in indirect cost (e.g. lost productivity through absenteeism, early retirement or unemployment, (Hex et al., 2012)). More recently, the direct costs were estimated at  £13.7bn in 2012 (Kanavos et al., 2012). Within these direct costs, only around a quarter is directly spent on treating diabetes its self, and the remaining three quarters is spent on treating the complications following from the disease, (e.g. CHD, retinopathy, liver failure, diabetic foot, neuropathy (Kanavos et al., 2012)). Risk Factors for Diabetes There are a variety of factors that have been identified that places individuals at risk of developing type II diabetes, these include; having a family history of diabetes, obesity assessed using body-mass index, hypertension, visceral adiposity, adverse blood lipids, smoking, and impaired fasting glucose control (Lyssenko et al., 2008). Notably, several of these risk factors, including blood lipids, BMI, hypertension and visceral adiposity, are shared risk factors for CHD, which may in part explain the elevated risk of CHD in diabetics (Haffner et al., 1998). Indeed the clustering of these risk factors has been shown to be predictive of both CHD and diabetes (Haffner et al., 1998) and are collectively referred to as the metabolic syndrome. Moreover, these risk factors, appear to primarily be related to obesity in general, and excessive visceral adiposity in particular (Wozniak et al., 2009). Early work by West and colleagues (1978) demonstrated a strong positive association between rates of obesity and rates of diabetes with a variety of populations. Since then, the epidemiological link between excess body fat and risk of developing type II diabetes in particular has been repeatedly supported. For example, in the Nurses Health Study (Chan et al., 1994) females who had a BMI of greater than 35 kg.m-2 had a risk of diabetes 95 fold higher than those with a BMI of less than 21 kg.m-2 . Epidemiology of Diabetes The incidence and prevalence of diabetes have increased dramatically in the last two decades. Currently, the World Health Organisation estimates that diabetes effects around 9% of the adult global population (International Diabetes Federation, 2013) with variations in prevalence ranging from 26.4% in Kiribati to 1.54% of the population in Manin (International Diabetes Federation, 2013). Overall the UK ranks relatively favourably; in the same data from 2014, the UK had a prevalence of 3.9% (172nd out of 193 countries). Despite this relatively low ranking, the UK, in line with many developed countries, has experienced a rapid growth in the proportion of the population suffering with diabetes. Between 2007 and 2015 the number of patients diagnosed with diabetes increased by 75% from two to three and a half million cases (Diabetes UK, 2015). There are also an estimated half a million undiagnosed individuals at any one time. Indeed, the absence of overt symptoms in the early stages of the disease means that it is not uncommon for patients to have had the disease for several years prior to diagnosis, and confounds attempts to accurately calculate prevalence rates. Scotland has experienced similar increases, with the number of individuals diagnosed with diabetes increasing markedly over the last decade. The Scottish Diabetes survey (2014) demonstrated that the number of individuals with diabetes doubled from approximately 100,000 to 200,000 individuals between 2002 and 2007 despite a stable population of 5 million. Currently estimates for Scotland indicate that there are 276,500 diabetics in Scotland resulting in an overall prevalence that is a third higher than the UK average at 5.2% (NHS Scotland, 2014). Diabetes and Deprivation While the reasons that link indices of deprivation to diabetes are likely multifactorial, they undoubtedly exist. Individuals living in the most deprived areas of the UK are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from diabetes than those in the least deprived areas (Diabetes UK, 2006). Moreover the complications arising from diabetes such as CHD and stroke are more than three times higher in the lowest socio-economic groups and those with lowest educational achievement are twice as likely to have heart disease, retinopathy and poor diabetic control (Diabetes UK, 2006; International Diabetes Federation, 2006). The cause of the increased risk is not clear, however many of the risk factors such as obesity, smoking and physical inactivity, are also higher in those areas with the greatest degree of deprivation (Diabetes UK, 2006; International Diabetes Federation, 2006). From the data outlined above, the development of diabetes is a serious chronic medical condition that can result in early morbidity and mortality and is associated with significant personal and healthcare costs. Despite many of the risk factors for its development being modifiable, it remains a significant and increasing health risk that has a disproportional focus on the areas of greatest deprivation. Given that there is strong evidence that Glasgow has higher rates of both deprivation and type 2 diabetes than the rest of the UK, the aims of this paper are to discuss methods of describing the degree of the problem in Glasgow, as well as identifying, implementing and evaluating initiatives designed to reduce the burden of Type 2 diabetes within that area. Epidemiological Investigation of Diabetes in Glasgow The Centre for Disease Control defines public health research as consisting of four phases, public health tracking, public health research, health intervention programmes, and impact and evaluation (CDC, 2015). Thus before designing and implementing a diabetes focused health initiative, it is necessary to first establish that there is a public health need within Glasgow. This can be undertaken using primary or secondary data sources. Although secondary data sources are repositories of data that have been collected for some purpose other than the investigators main research question, Bailey et al. (2012) suggest that secondary sources also have several advantages. Typically, they are large data sets, and their use is highly cost efficient, as the data collection has already taken place. In terms of this investigation into Diabetes prevalence in Glasgow, there are a number of possible secondary data sources. The most directly relevant data is from the Scottish Diabetes Survey, the most recent data for which covers 2014 (NHS Scotland, 2014). In the most recent report, there is evidence that diabetes is a specific public health concern in Glasgow. For example, while it is not surprising is that Glasgow has the highest number of diabetics, around 22% of Scotlands diabetic population, since it is also the most densely populated region. However, this also translates to the region having the highest age adjusted prevalen ce of diabetes within Scotland at 5.8%. Furthermore the Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) NHS board is criticised as falling behind other NHS health boards within Scotland, in its system of managing and screening its diabetic population in order to limit the progression of the disease. In addition, the Scottish Public Health Observatory (SPHO) provide a number of secondary data sources which may be valuable in triangulating conclusions and include; mortality rates, primary care information from GP practices, the Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) detailing the performance of GP practices in dealing with key health issues, the Scottish Diet and Nutrition Survey, and the Health Education population survey (Scottish Public Health Observatory, 2015). In addition, both English and Scottish governments produce databases of indices of multiple deprivation (IMD), which can be useful when attempting to standardise the degree of a public health issue by deprivation level. This secondary data should be supported with primary evidence of the population of interest. While there are a number of research designs that could be used to collect primary data on Glasgow residents with diabetes, in this instance a cross-sectional observational design would be most useful. This method has several advantages, it is cost effective, requires only a single group, and each participant is only required to be assessed at a single time-point. This means that it becomes feasible to assess relatively large numbers of people (Bailey Handu, 2012). The limitations of this method are that it represents a single point in time and as a result, cannot be used to determine the sequence of events for a given set of exposures and outcomes. Therefore, it is not possible to infer causality from cross-sectional data. This type of research is most useful for determining prevalence rates for a specific condition (Bailey Handu, 2012).. An ecological study design might also be used, however, in this case, there are wide variations in income levels and deprivation levels within specific postcodes. Thus the possibility for the data to be affected by unknown confounding variables is significant. Similarly a case control study design has some additional control regarding possible confounders, but is again limited in being retrospective in nature and is predominantly used for rare diseases, which type 2 diabetes is not (Greenfield, 2002). Experimental designs such as prospective cohort studies or randomised control trials are the most internally valid designs to attribute causation of a condition to a specific exposure. However, they would not be appropriate in this instance, as they time consuming, expensive, and typically include far fewer individuals. Thus in order to use this type of study, the cost would be greater than the cost of any proposed intervention. In addition, while such designs are internally valid, they often lack ecological validity. That is, while the exposure and outcome can be linked in the study, at the population level, individuals may experience exposure to several predicating factors, and several protective factors. Thus, it is not always straightforward to transfer the findings from a highly controlled study to individuals (Peat et al., 2008). In order to undertake the cross-sectional survey, would require defining a series of areas (e.g. roads or school catchment areas) within specific post-codes to act as the sample frame. The survey data would be collected on these areas. The main problem with collecting this kind of data is a low response rate (Levin, 2006), and the possibility that individuals may responder or not due to the influence of some other factor introducing some systematic bias into the data. The main protection from this is to maximise the response rates. This is best done using face-to-face interviews with individuals in the sample frame (Levin, 2006). Diabetes Interventions The evidence for the type of behaviours that are useful in limiting the adverse complications of diabetes, have been the subject of several large scale epidemiological studies. In the UK the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UK Prospective Diabetes Study, 1998) and its 10 year follow up (Holman et al., 2008) evaluated the effect of managing type II diabetes through diet alone, versus aggressive management aimed at restricting blood sugar concentrations. The data from the study indicated that while both the aggressive intervention only lowered blood sugar for one year, this translated into significantly lower rates of complications at the 10-year follow up. In the US, the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT, 1993) and its 10 year follow up (the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications EDIC (Nathan et al., 2005)) also demonstrated that limiting increases in blood sugar, by maintaining concentrations within strict individualised limits, reduced the incidence of c omplications at the 10 year follow up by 57%. Similar reductions in adverse outcomes have also been found when diabetics have measures of blood lipids, blood pressure, nephropathy, retinopathy and diabetic foot complications assessed at regular intervals. It is also noteworthy that the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS region regularly performed in the lowest quartile of Scottish NHS authorities for implementing each of these evaluations (Scottish Diabetes Survey 2014). In long-term conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, the most appropriate strategies to control and manage the condition is for patients, to recognise themselves as stakeholders in their own treatment and to take ownership of the critical aspects of their care such as pharmacological treatment, dietary modifications and physical activity recommendations (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2015). There have been several interventions that have aimed to use patient education to allow for a greater degree of self-management with a resulting closer control of risk factors for diabetic complications. Most recently Minet et al. (2010) evaluated the efficacy of 47 RCT studies aimed at improving diabetic patient education, and found that there was a significant reduction in the degree of hyperglycaemia experienced by the patients at the 6 and 12 month follow up time points. Similar meta analyses have supported the role of education in reducing the incidence of nephropathy and dia betic foot (Elraiyah et al., 2016; Loveman et al., 2008). Given that the UKPDS (1998) demonstrated that even short term reductions in blood glucose can reduce the numbers of patients who progress to sever complications, and given that the majority of the financial burden in treating type 2 diabetes is related to complications rather than the disease its-self. It seems clear that patient education could significantly improve the prognosis of diabetics as well as reduce the costs of future treatment. Implementing an Intervention in Glasgow Having identified a suitable educational intervention, the next stage is to ensure its faithful and appropriate replication within patients with Diabetes in Glasgow. A limitation of much of the available research is that interventions are predominantly applied in academic settings, and the effectiveness of interventions in community and primary care settings are frequently lower than anticipated from the scientific literature. This is a continuing challenge for implementing evidence-based strategies for public health issues. Kilbourne et al. (2007) recommend the REP framework, which although originally devised for faithful implementations of HIV educational programmes has been evaluated and found to help improve the effectiveness of other public health interventions. In order to use the REP framework for educational programmes aimed at Diabetics in Glasgow, the four stages of the REP framework would be developed. Pre-condition requires the identification of a suitable educational intervention. In this phase it is important that the chosen intervention is both feasible and appropriate for the setting in which it will be used. Pre-implementation requires that all staff involved in the intervention undergo training not only in the interventional educational curriculum, but also in the underpinning theories that shaped the original intervention. Implementation requires the educational programme is rolled out to diabetics within Glasgow, and that feedback is sought from stakeholders including patients undergoing the education. In this way it is possible to modify the intervention to better fit the situation, while still remaining faithful to the initial conceptual design. Finally, maintenance and evaluation requires further feedback regarding the effe ctiveness of the intervention, as well as ongoing support for partners who are delivering or helping ensure the continuation of the intervention. Monitoring an Evaluation For the proposed educational intervention, the evaluation would use the RE-AIM framework. This is the most widely adopted model for evaluation of public health interventions originally proposed by Glasgow and Colleagues (1999). This framework proposes the evaluation of five key elements of the intervention. Reach assess the number of individuals from the target population who received the interventions. Efficacy evaluates the degree to which the education intervention improved patients ability to manage their condition (e.g. better control of blood glucose, maintained or lowered blood pressure). Adoption would focus on the number of patients receiving the educational intervention whose behaviour was altered as a result. Implementation attempts to assess the degree to which the intervention was faithful to the evidence base upon which it was designed or was there pragmatic or other issues that meant the interventions was poorly delivered, or delivered in a manner not originally envisa ged. Maintenance attempts to quantify the degree to which the intervention becomes self-sustaining. This can be at an institutional level, i.e. does the health authority feel the programme is sufficiently successful to continue its development. However, it can also be at the individual level, were patients value the intervention and it becomes part of the persons habitual processes. Conclusion The aim of this paper was to investigate an intervention aimed at reducing the complications of type 2 diabetes in individuals diagnosed with the condition, living in Glasgow. It has established that in order to implement any such strategy, it is necessary to evaluate the degree of the problem using secondary and if required primary sources of data. In addition, any intervention should be evidence based, and attempt to replicate those interventions that have been demonstrated to be successful. This should be attempted in a strategic and structured manner in order to ensure high fidelity conversion from research evidence to intervention. The intervention its-self needs robust evaluation to determine if it was effective, and if not was it because of a failure of the underpinning theories or a failure in delivery. Unless they are well managed, individuals with Type 2 diabetes are at a significant risk of serious and life threatening complications. Educational interventions may be one wa y to provide effective strategies to enable better outcomes and reduced personal and financial costs. References ADLER, A.I., et al., 2003. 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