Medical Ethics Case of Jane and Phyllis

The Philosophical Approach to Be Used For the Case The philosophical approach that seems to be appropriate for this case is Consequentialism/utilitarianism theory. This philosophical approach is concerned mainly with the outcomes of a particular action as the basis for judging whether the action is right or wrong. The consequentialist theory holds that the moral judgment about a given action can be determined from the consequences of the action (Consequentialism, n.d).Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Medical Ethics: Case of Jane and Phyllis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It has relation to utilitarianism, a theory that was popularized in the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries by Jeremy Bentham (Mill, 2002, p.4). It emphasized on the resulting happiness of a given course of action. In respect of utilitarianism and consequentialism, a moral action will be one that produces the maximum good for all the subjects involved. The given case involves a scenario in which different medical practitioners are in a state of dilemma on the best action to take following a medical conditions of two of their clients. An analysis of the possible consequences of the alternative actions to be taken by the practitioners can enable them make the appropriate decision. In this particular case, there are two main concerns to be considered. There is need to preserve the privacy or confidentiality of an individual by not revealing her medical condition to the relatives. On the other hand, the revelation of this medical condition may be of help to another relative who suspects to have a similar problem. If the first medical condition is not revealed, the other victim is likely to undergo an operation. The controversy here is that in the event that the operation is performed while the victim was not affected, then it would have been a waste. Besides, it is not guaranteed the operation will completely p revent the occurrences of the medical condition in the victim’s lifetime. The analysis of all these outcomes can provide the practitioners with the best approach to resolve the dilemma. The Narrator of the Case The narrator of this case is Anneke Lucassen, a clinical geneticist. The case comprises different stories that the clinical geneticist encountered in his profession while providing clinical services to different families. Anneke provides a collection of stories by different people all of which revolve around the same subject of breast cancer. There is a story by Jane, her other family members have suffered and died of breast cancer. Jane is worried that the condition could be related to the genes in their lineage and that she may as well suffer the same. Her husband suggests that she seeks a medical intervention now that such thought disturbs her emotions. There is also the story by Phyllis, an aunt to Jane who apparently is suffering the same problem.Advertising Looking for critical writing on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Phyllis is worried about the odds that she would encounter in the event that her condition is revealed to the other family members. In particular, she does not have good relation with Jane following a row with the latter’s mother before her death. Phyllis laments that she is fed up of being blamed for anything that is not in order in their family. She detaches herself completely from the family members and holds that the other family members have no business knowing her test results. The story by the general practitioner reveals Phyllis’s stance on her confidentiality. Coincidentally, Jane and Phyllis are attended to by close practitioners who can share ideas. The GP attending to Phyllis support her need for confidentiality even though this information can be of help to Jane. The oncologist’s story provides the developments that a re being registered on genetics and oncology, and illustrates how the advances will prevent future similar dilemmas. The author also gives a story by a geneticist from whom Jane sought for genetic test for breast cancer. The geneticist provides more details on such kinds of test and the information that Jane did not have concerning the test. The narrator then provides his own evaluation of the case. Anneke observes that this particular case is typical of the different scenarios encountered in medical ethics. Situations of dilemma often occur in the field whereby the confidentiality of a victim is to be considered against the benefits of disclosing this information. However, for this case, Anneke is submissive to the possible claim that the dilemma here results from lack of proper mechanisms for genetic tests. He admits that the problem arises because the technicalities of the genetic tests are still in their preliminary stages. The narrator hopes that in the event that these mechani sms are developed properly, there will be no need to seek information from the relatives of a particular an individual in order to carry out a test for breast or ovarian cancer.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Medical Ethics: Case of Jane and Phyllis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A moral subject in any given setting refers to an individual who is to receive ethical consideration (Peter, 2004). In such a case, the individual has his or her rights and duties. The individuals are also to be held responsible for the actions that they take in the event that the actions are conflicting with the rights of the others. In this respect, Jane, Phyllis and all the professionals involved here can be regarded as moral subjects in some sense. All the moral subjects in this case are represented fairly. There is a concern to have Jane receive proper medical attention. The health specialists do not want to her to un dergo unnecessary operation until the effectiveness of such operation is established. The right to privacy of Phyllis is also presented in the case. She narrates how she feels about her family members and that she would not want to share her test results with the family members. The practitioners are, of course, in the central position for the ethical consideration as the ultimate decision-makers. They will be held responsible for the actions that they take. The case presents the views of the different practitioners as to the course of action that would be appropriate. At the first encounter with this case, an instinct in us tells as that something needs to be done in order to help Jane in her situation. We tend to develop an assumption that life has meaning for some individuals more than it does for the others. The adverse health consequences that Phyllis may experience do not seem to appeal to our intuitions. This is contrary to the natural perception that all individuals derive e qual meaning out of life. The assumptions are supported by the emphasis put on the situation as involving a lot of dilemma. The position of the oncologist is that it is inappropriate to consider the effects that the tests will have on all the family members before performing them. The Relationships Developed In This Case Power relationship occurs where an individual has authority over the decisions that another individual can make. The latter is to be submissive to the requirements of the authority even if he were in a capacity to do otherwise. In the given case, Phyllis appears to have power over the general practitioners and subsequently to Jane. The respect that the practitioners have for her confidentiality has presented them from proceeding with any tests on Jane even though they have very relevant information. The geneticist feels that Jane should be told the medical condition of Phyllis and then Phyllis be informed of this disclosure. However, they are still barred from this and they now wish for a restructure of the guidelines.Advertising Looking for critical writing on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the other hand, caring relationship often occur between healthcare specialist (nurse) and the clients. It involves provision of care to some ailing of individual by the nurses or by other family members in the case of home-based care. Individuals who have some ill health and are in dire need of help tend to develop this relationship quite rapidly (Bevis, p.127). In this case, caring relationships are seen between Jane and Phyllis, and their respective general practitioners. Such a relationship is also seen when Phyllis cares for her mother and sister until the two die of breast cancer. In the normal setting, the members of a given family may easily share information about a genetic situation. The members of the family have the mutual understanding sharing this information can be of help to all the members, whether they have been affected in some way or not. The situation is different when the members of a family are in conflict as provided in this case. It should be noted that th e proper predictive tests for this particular medical condition is effective if information is available about the genetic changes that have been observed in that family. Thus, there is need to seek other details from family members who are willing to reveal their conditions. The medical case does not focus on the lineage of Jane’s uncle. Great Uncle Stan is still alive and he does not have bad relations with Jane. His side of the story is completely ignored and attention is focused onto Phyllis who proves to be of no help to Jane. Information from the medical condition of his daughters could be helpful in deciding whether Jane should undergo the predictive tests as well as the operation. The Counter-Arguments and Ethical Principles Applicable In the Case This case invokes a series of counter-arguments that involve ethical considerations. It would be argued that the practitioners had the ability to perform the tests and operations regardless of the effects that such move woul d have on the given subjects. To come to a better decision, the practitioners are to be guided by certain ethical principles. These include consequentialism and utilitarianism, approaches which have some relation. Consequentialism involves examining the overall outcomes of a given action and asserts that the action with highest positive outcomes is the most ethical one. However, those opposed to this theory argue that it â€Å"undermines the integrity of the agent’s life† (Mulgan, 2005, p.15). On their part, utilitarian hold that an action will be considered right if it produces more of pleasure and happiness while reducing pain and suffering (utilitarian.org, n.d; Scarre, 1996, p.2). It is seen as a form of consequentialism as it involves maximization of utility. It does not discriminate against persons on whatever bases. Utilitarianism requires that the agents should be impartial as to whether the resulting happiness is for himself or for the others (Mill, 2006, p.28 ). In this case, utilitarianism is evidenced when the practitioners cannot deny Phyllis pleasure and happiness for Jane’s happiness, hence the dilemma. Other philosophers also believed that consequentialism is not distinct from the deontological approach that emphasized on duty. They considered duty as the actions that produced overall good (Tully, 2006, p.13). The consequentialist approach can help resolve the dilemma through a cross-sectional analysis of the possible outcomes in this case. There have been ethical codes that given the operations of medical practitioners for several centuries (Breen et al, 1997, p.3). The practitioners need to follow these codes. The general medical council (GMC) guidelines require that the practitioners break the confidentiality of their clients only in an event that it is very necessary. The GP observes that there is no enough evidence to show that the prophylactic bilateral mastectomies will reduce Jane’s chance of dying form breast cancer (Case Study). Besides, the practitioner also observes that operation involves a kind of surgery that can be very harmful to the subject. It would then be against the professional ethics to break this confidentiality. The possible outcomes would be that the medical practitioners face charges for violating the rights of their clients and breaching the provisions of the GMC. Perhaps, they would lose their jobs because of such a move. The client might also suffer the adverse consequences of unnecessary operations. In order for Jane, to undergo the operation, it is necessary that the test results of Phyllis be revealed. Even if Jane were not informed of her aunt’s condition, carrying out the operations in her would enable her to conclude that her aunt suffers the disease. She had been informed of the need to know health history of her affected relatives in order to have an effective operation. On her part, Phyllis is worried that in the event that her condition is revealed , more blames would be vested on her by her family members. This would give her more stress and negatively affect her poor health status. The only possible positive consequence of performing the operation lies in the probability that this operation will prevent Jane from suffering the disease. However, there is lack of certainty for this possibility. Besides, the general practitioner suggests regular screening as a possible means of managing Jane’s case. Perhaps this would help until her ailing aunt succumbs to the disease, after which the condition might be revealed. On the other had, the move has adverse negative effects to Phyllis and the medical practitioners. It threatens Phyllis’s life as well the professional careers of the practitioners. Thus, the possible negative results seem to overweigh the positive outcomes should the test be carried out on Jane. The utilitarian economic justification is also evident since such a move may bring pain and suffering that are more pronounced than the associated pleasure and happiness. Other Stakeholders The narrator has touched on other important individuals who will be affected in one way or the other by the actions to be taken in this case. Jane’s husband is more concerned on the emotional state of his wife. The decisions to be taken by the practitioners will also affect him due to this concern. Jane’s daughters are significant stakeholders since their mother’s condition may reflect on their condition as well in the event she might test positive for the disease. However, none of these stakeholders can be advocated for in preference to the others. The stated principles will call for an equal consideration of their needs as long as they all amount to overall positive outcomes. This final position tends to shift from an initial perception that attempted to advocate for one subject while breaching the rights of the other. This position, which is usually held by the majority at the firs t instinct, suffices to be challenged. Reference List Bevis, E., 1989. Curriculum Building in Nursing: A Process. Third edition. Sudbury: Jones Bartlett Learning. Breen, K. et al. 1997. Ethics, law, and medical practice. Australia: Allen Unwin. Consequentialism. N.d. Martinfrost.ws. Web. Mill, J., 2002. Utilitarianism. New York: SparkNotes Publishing. Web. Mill, J., 2006. Utilitarianism: Easyread Comfort Edition. ReadHowYouWant.com. Mulgan, T., 2005. The demands of consequentialism. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Peter, J., 2004. Conscious Entities: Robot Ethics. Web. Scarre, G., 1996. Utilitarianism. London: Routledge. Tully, P., 2006. Refined consequentialism: the moral theory of Richard A. McCormick. New York: Peter Lang. Utilitarianism. N.d. An introduction to utilitarianism. Web. This critical writing on Medical Ethics: Case of Jane and Phyllis was written and submitted by user Evelynn Parker to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How Does the SCS Essay Service Pack Help Students?

How Does the SCS Essay Service Pack Help Students?SCS SCUL, an acronym for Secure Contextual Link Language, is an Online Essay Sample created by Microsoft that is being used for many different academic institutions across the globe. This software has been designed with a number of academic institutions such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton in mind. This is simply because of the fact that the software is made to assist in the learning process and that many of the students who take these courses want to be able to continue the learning process and improve their grades, rather than getting so frustrated that they drop out from taking these courses completely.The Essay Service Packs for SCS SCUL can be found on the Microsoft website at MSN. The application is going to come with some of the best online essay samples that you can find, including the ability to create your own lessons in the SCS format and to edit the lessons that are already being offered. All of the modules are going to be able to be edited and changed so that you can further refine your own lessons.The use of the SCS SCUL application is going to allow students to take the online Essay Service Pack Course at their own pace, as they need to, so that they do not get so far behind that they are unable to continue in their coursework. The time limit allows them to learn on their own, and in a way that is most efficient for them. They will also be able to access the Essay Service Pack at any time that they choose, as long as they have a computer.The Essay Service Packs will have two different types of lessons; the first of which is going to be the Traditional Essay. The traditional method of essay writing is going to be designed so that the student will be able to go through the coursework with very little effort on their part. The student will be able to complete the main body of the lesson within a relatively short period of time and will be able to prepare the lesson for submission. The second option t hat the Essay Service Packs has to offer will be the use of the SCS Essay Generator. This option will allow the student to build a structure for their own essays from the ground up, as if they were working on their own essay. The student will be able to use the lessons that are already available on the Essay Service Pack to structure their own coursework, and will be able to decide what is going to go into each lesson and what is going to be left out of each lesson.The SCS Essay Generator is going to help the student to learn how to organize their own lessons in a way that is convenient for them. The generator allows the student to see what works and what does not work when it comes to structure and formatting. In addition, this will allow the student to decide what should be included in each of the lessons that they have completed, rather than having to deal with having to wait for the instructor to create the necessary structure.The Essay Service Packs for SCS SCUL is going to be able to help students to gain as much experience as possible in the writing process. The tool will allow the student to go through their coursework faster than ever before, as well as having more control over the assignments that they have to complete. The generator is going to give the student the ability to save time, effort, and energy in the learning process.The SCS Essay Service Packs is being offered on the MSN website so that it is easier for students to find, while the Essay Service Packs for SCUL is only available for students at a number of different universities. The Essay Service Packs is going to allow students to learn about and be able to take advantage of the opportunities that are available in terms of a course like this. All of the Essay Service Pack modules are going to be designed to be easy to use and to allow the student to learn as quickly as possible in the manner that is going to work best for them.

Happiness Essay final draft Research Paper Example

Happiness Essay final draft Research Paper Example Happiness Essay final draft Paper Happiness Essay final draft Paper First we must understand what happiness is. Most would describe it as an emotional state of well-being distinguished by positive emotions. How do experiences vs.. Material possessions affect ones happiness? Many people tend to believe that money can buy happiness, but others believe that experiences are much more appealing and pleasing when it comes to happiness and would rather go on a vacation or to a concert than have a large house or fast car. Its true that going to a concert does cost money but not the kind of money needed to buy a house or car. Myers (2000) found that an estimate that only 10 to 15 percent of Americans think Of homeless as truly happy (56). Does this mean that America as a country is not collectively happy? Or are these self-evaluations incorrect? We need to find out why Americans do not find themselves as truly happy. Some would say that it is because we expect material possessions and money to bring us happiness. I think that when the phrase money can buy happiness is used, it is meant by the use of money when buying large material items such as a car or a house. This past summer I was able to go to the Jason Alden concert and Country Explosion, which is three days of concerts. To me, this was one of the best ways to spend my summer days. I got to spend quality time with my family and friends and on top of that, I was able to listen to some of my favorite country artists. At the Jason Alden concert I was able to go with novo of my best girlfriends and a few days before the concert some of my best guy friends decided to come as well. We bought cheap tickets not caring if we would have the best seats. We were just excited to go to the concert. : Once we got to the concert we moved to an area where there werent many people just talking and having fun in between Jake Owen and Jason Alden, when this lady came up to us and asked if we wanted floor seats. All we had to do is give her Our Old tickets and she would give us floor seats. None Of us could believe it. We were so close to the stage you could see the sweat dripping off the guitarists face. Obviously we didnt pay the money to get the best tickets but either way, we were able to have fun when we were up in the stands and also down on the floor. Hint that most people would rather spend their money on this type of experience, than they would on a car. L, personally would rather drive my old truck and be able to go to concerts and have experiences like that at the Jason Alden concert. In this case, money was used and the result was a good experience and a memory that will last a lifetime. Money can increase OR decrease happiness, depending on how it is used (Myers 2000, 59). This can mean that money can improve happiness or ruin it depending on how you spend it. One thing that this is proving is that if one were to buy a new car thinking that it will bring you happiness, there will always be better cars out there that they will want. But if you spend your money on a vacation, even if at the time is not the best experience, it will always be a great memory that can be talked about and eminences by everyone who was a part of it. Previous investigation proves that money oriented objects have negatively affected happiness and psychological well-being (Van Oven 2005, 132). Van Oven proves that material items can have a negative an effect on our happiness. How can being happy create better relationships? A large part of our happiness is based on the relationships we have. But in reverse, how can being happy create a better relationship in your life? Those who have good relationships in life are usually happier. If you think about it, if one were to have a bad day or something goes wrong or if something really exciting happens to someone, one would usually go and talk to a loved one or a close friend about what happened. Creating good friendships is very important, especially for those suffering from depression. Noted in The Funds, Friends, and Faith of Happy People, Compared with those who are depressed, happy people are less self-focused, less hostile, and abusive, and less vulnerable to disease. They also are more loving, forgiving, trusting, energetic, decisive, creative, sociable, and helpful (as cited in Myers 2000, 58). For most, this would be their spouse. This is showing how much healthier and ore positive happy peoples lives are. They focus more on others rather than themselves and are quicker to forgive and trust others. While some may say this is a bad thing, would think this is very good. When it comes to trusting people that is one hard thing for me to do, but personally, I love it when meet someone and know instantly that I can trust them. There is a large amount of data that shows those who are attached are much happier than those who are unattached (Myers 2000, 62). A great deal of people say that those who are married are more happy people but why? When marked by intimacy, marriage-friendship sealed by commitment educes loneliness and offers a dependable lover and companions (as cited in Myers 2000 63). Having someone you can always trust and lean on is important in leading a happy life. If there isnt anyone one could tell their frustrations too, it is almost impossible for one to be happy. Whether one feels so or not, after telling someone about their frustrations it helps most to feel better and appreciate those who they can trust, making them a more trustworthy person. Scientists have perceived that unlike material items, we are more likely to continue to develop positive emotions after we have attained a close relationship. Relationships like these create psychological space and safety in our lives (Connection and happiness, 2011). This shows how healthy relationships are in our life. How do bad relationships influence our happiness? When we dont get along well with someone or are always disagreeing with one, we tend to keep our distance from them and avoid them. But when it comes to a spouse or a family member, it is hard to avoid. In the American Nightmare it noted, Divorce rates in the United States are still the highest in the West. And staying together is often no better. The percentage of Americans unhappy in their marriages is a full 10 points higher today than it was in the polls 30 odd years ago (Candler 2011 , 33). Some people choose to stay together instead of getting a divorce for the children, but if children are seeing their parents constantly fighting how is that supposed to be best for the kids? Personally speaking, it is not better for the children. Grew up with my parents constantly fighting, it didnt matter if we were at the dinner table or trying to go to sleep at night they had no problem fighting in front of their children. It has made it very hard for me to trust people and allow them into y life, especially men. Although they had their difficulties in the past, they have gotten past that and have gone on to have a better marriage. It has taught me and my siblings how a healthy marriage should be, and how to work through relationships even though all relationships are never perfect. In most cases people choose not to work at their relationship thinking that it will be smooth sailing when in reality no relationship is perfect. Candler (2011) stated that Social scientists have found that a poor marriage may be worse than staying single (33). It seems as if people have the image of a perfect spouse that they will array. Jean Twinge said, Now we expect our marriage partner to be our best friend, and a great lover, a great parent, and a soul mate, really good looking and have a great sense of humor. We have these expectations for marriage we cant possibly fulfill (As cited in The American Nightmare 2011, 33). Of course a marriage has to be based on a solid friendship, but all of these expectations cannot possibly be realistic. No relationship or marriage Will be perfect but all relationships take work. Most all relationships do bring us happiness in one way or another whether We realize it or not. Before this essay, I had never taken a step back and realized how truly happy and grateful I am with the relationships I have in my life. Conclusion With that, we can gain a new perspective on how we can truly be happy through experiences and relationships and the effects that each of those have on our happiness. Relationships, both good and bad will obviously have an effect on our happiness. Sometimes we take the little things in life for granted, but once we realize what we have we realize how the little things in life can make our happiness that much greater.

Briefing note performance management

Two purposes of performance management and their relationship to business objectives: Performance management drives employee behaviour to align with business goals and objectives. This alignment happens because job responsibilities and expectations are clear, resulting in increased individual and group productivity; and also better information is available to use for promotion decisions. Having a Performance management system in place will serve the following purposes; †¢Employee decision-making Appraisal information is used as a basis for pay increases, promotions, transfers etc. †¢Employee development Appraisal information is used to guide training, job experiences, mentoring and other developmental activities. Three components of performance management systems: There are several components of a successful performance management system. An effective performance management system is not a one-size-fits-all approach but will generally include the following components: Plan: Setting clear objectives and goals and establish performance standards. Monitor: Identifying key performance indicators and conducting accurate and regular performance appraisals/ reviews and rewarding performance effectively. Review: Regular and honest feedback through performance planning conversations and career development initiatives. The Relationship between motivation and performance management On a basic level people are motivated towards desired outcome such as congratulations from the manager for a job well done or to avoid an undesired outcome such as an argument with the boss about targets not been hit. ?There are extrinsic and intrinsic factors to how we as individuals channel our motivational energy. ?Getting people to ‘opt in’ as oppose to ‘opt out’ is an important part of communication in business. The ideas of Abraham Maslow have had considerable influence on management thinking since the late 1940’s. Maslow has a positive view of human nature; a belief in the individual’s potential for personal growth – what he called self-actualisation which is displayed in his pyramid of Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow suggested that needs only motivate people when they are unsatisfied. When applied to his hierarchy lower-order needs (basic physical needs, comfort, safety and security) have to be satisfied before higher order needs (self-esteem and personal growth) assert themselves. To apply these theories into the workplace you should make sure your workforce is getting its basic physical and safety needs (reasonable working conditions, job security etc. ) Applying Maslow’s model will mean employees are more likely to work towards company goals only when there is harmony with their own personal goals. MaslowHerzberg Fred Herzberg’s two factor theory is based on looking at the main factors which result in either satisfying or dissatisfying experiences at work. The assumption is that if the individual is satisfied in their work, this will mean good performance, or, at the very least a willingness to stay on the job. Factors leading to dissatisfaction were found to do with conditions of work – company policy and administration, technical supervision, salary, interpersonal relations and physical working conditions. Herzberg called these the hygiene or maintenance factors. These are necessary minimum for a healthy workplace – they make people come into work and stay there but, they don’t necessarily encourage people to be productive. It is the other factors, the ‘satisfiers’ or ‘motivators’ such as achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility, advancement, that encourage people to work harder. The link between motivation and performance seems to be an obvious one. If individuals are highly motivated, they will perform better. In turn better performance may well lead to a sense of achievement and result in greater motivation. Thus relationship between motivation and performance can be a mutually reinforcing one. Factors to be considered when managing different levels of performance: Many managers mistakenly spend most of their effort on trying to improve their low performing employees, believing that their high performers are low maintenance. The low maintenance belief is prolonged because high performing  employees are self-motivated individuals that need very little daily work direction. However the fact is that high performing employees do need a lot of attention to sustain their high level of performance. They need praise, recognition and collaboration. High performing employees are very skilled at working independently and will become frustrated if their manager give s them too much direction. These employees will seek guidance form their managers when they need assistance, they take ownership and pride, seek challenges and are bored quickly with mundane tasks; they need to feel valued by their manager and the company. As a manager you must make them feel like a business partner, not just an employee. Get them involved in goal setting, seek their advice from their area of expertise, give them exposure to higher management and other executives – all these things will show you value and trust them – in turn they will give you their loyalty. Plateaued Performers have the mind set of either not preparing or wanting to progress any further, they have petered out or are ready and willing to progress but are stuck in their current role due to other factors surrounding them. They are likely to be less enthusiastic, in a sales role they are likely to rely on existing relationships to drive sales, and they will appear to be ‘going through the motions’ with a sense of disengagement. Plateaued performers are experienced, valued employees who once, often recently performed at a higher level. However due to some unseen issue or closely held mind set, they are no longer reaching their potential. The likely outcome, if the problem goes untreated is that a once solid performer will find themselves plateaued stagnated in bit performance and professional development. Managing poor performance, whether related to capability or attendance, raises a number of different issues for employers and their HR professionals. Failure to perform or attend may be related to the following factors, which may or may not be connected and which may not be readily apparent such as lack of application or misconduct on behalf of the employee; lack of the required skills; and/or illness or disability. If poor performance is due to lack of application (unconnected to an underlying medical condition) or following the falsification of qualifications and  experience for the position that the employee holds or simply by a plain refusal to obey lawful orders, then it is appropriate to deal with the matter under normal disciplinary procedures for misconduct. However, the disciplinary procedure may not be appropriate when dealing with employees who are failing through no fault of their own. Where the failure to perform is due to a lack of the required skills, following say a reorganisation or where an employee has been prematurely promoted, then the employee should be assisted, wherever practicable, with further training or coaching and given a reasonable period to reach the required standard. Some employers therefore prefer to operate a gentler capability procedure referring to cautions rather than warnings and greater flexibility with regard to timescales The main purposes of reward within a performance management system are to retain, motivate key employees and to reduce turnover. It’s a known fact that people are the most important asset in the organisation. The Forum for People Performance Management and Measurement also believes that staff rewards have a valid purpose in this process. The groups Leadership and the Performance of People in Organisations: Enriching Employees and Connecting People study pointed out that many companies are using their performance management processes to encourage employees to work towards personal goals such as training and skills development. Claiming that such an approach can result in improved financial performance as well as being beneficial to the individual, the research said: Reward systems need to be adapted to reflect a leadership approach that ultimately satisfies peoples basic needs for achievement, a feeling of control over ones life and a sense of belonging.   Identify at least 3 components of a total reward scheme: The total reward system is a multitude of tools that the employer has in its hand and may be used to attract, motivate and retain employees. From the employee point of view the total rewards represent everything that he/she perceives to be of value resulting from the employment relationship. The reward conce pt covers both financial and non-financial pay. The components of a total reward system are: Compensation – is a critical component of the reward system that includes: basic pay system (annual or monthly salary rate) and variable or incentive pay systems (sales commissions, appraisal/performance-related pay, skills-base pay, etc. ) Benefits – are used to supplement the cash compensation that the employees receive and are designed to protect the employees and the family from financial risks. These can be life insurance, medical insurance, dental, retirement plan, savings scheme, uniform, gym membership, company car, breaks, company holidays, extra annual days, personal days, etc. Work life in this category is included the followings: workplace flexibility, paid and unpaid time off, health and well-being, caring for dependents, financial support, community involvement, and management involvement/culture change intervention. Performance and recognition Performance is a key component of the organisational objectives and involves the alignment of organisational, team and individual effort towards the achievement of business goals and organisational success. The recognition acknowledges and gives special attention to employee’s action, efforts, behaviour or performance. Recognition programs acknowledge the employee contribution immediately after the task has been completed. This type of recognition award can be financial or non-financial (e. g. , verbal recognition, certificates, trophies, tickets, dinners, etc. ) Development and career opportunity – includes learning opportunities (e. g. on the job learning, tuition, seminars and conferences attendance, corporate universities, self-development tools and techniques, new technology training, etc. );coaching/mentoring(e. g.  , leadership training, formal and informal mentoring programs, association memberships, exposure to resident experts, etc. ) and advancement opportunities (e. g. , internal job openings, promotions, overseas assignments, internships, succession planning, career pathways, etc. ) 2 sources of data required by individual involved in performance and reward management processes: Gathering performance information from a variety of sources increases objectivity and ensures all f actors impacting performance are considered. This information should include objective data like sales reports, call records or deadline reports. Other valuable information includes: feedback from others, results of personal observation, documentation of on-going dialogue, records of any external or environmental factors impacting performance many reviews also include an employee self-evaluation. Other documents that help define performance objectives include: past performance appraisals, current departmental and organisational objectives and documented standards related to career goals. In order to gather feedback from other employees, organisations will often use a 360 ° feedback process. Along with the completion of a self-assessment, selected peers, assistants, and managers are asked to contribute feedback around pre-identified areas. The feedback is based upon specifically identified skills or competencies and the final results are compared against the employees self-assessment this type of feedback increases self-awareness and in some cases is used to support the performance evaluation process

An analysis on the foreign women's fashion magazines in China, and Literature review

An analysis on the foreign women's fashion magazines in China, and compare how do Chinese people appreciate Western magazines - Literature review Example Consumer Culture in China Davis (2005) conducted a qualitative study in which two groups of Chinese consumers in Shanghai were interviewed. The first group consisting of 51 men and women were interviewed in 1987 and the second group comprised of different Chinese consumers consisted for 46 men and women. The consumers were between the ages of 40 and 50. The interviews were open-ended and involved questions relative to consumption expectations in the future. The results of the study found that since the late 1980s, Chinese consumer culture, at least in relation to Shanghai has undergone a revolution of sorts (Davis, 2005). Chinese consumers have experienced significant changes in terms of increased income, improved standards of living, increased spending power, a greater variety of consumption choices and have embraced â€Å"globally branded foodstuffs, pop-music videos and fashion† (Davis, 2005, p. 692). ... Zhou, Arnold, Pereira and Yu (2010) offer some insight into Chinese consumer culture in China’s inland and coastal regions. According to Zhou, et. al.(2010), China is one of the world’s most important consumer markets although there is very little known about the different drivers of Chinese consumption trends and habits in China’s different regions. Using a cultural materialism approach, Zhou, et. al. (2010) analysed consumer decisions approaches among inland and coastal consumers in China. The study found that there were no material differences between coastal and inland consumers in terms of their style of shopping although their pleasure/hedonic shopping styles are different (Zhou, et. al., 2010). These differences are only important for marketers in determining what marketing approach to take for appealing to the pleasure of consumers in different regions in China. Xiao and Kim (2009) conducted a study to determine the extent to which the â€Å"changing val ue systems of modern China† impacted the consumption habits of Chinese consumers (p. 610). Using a multivariate analysis approach, the study found that functional, emotional and social values were linked in a positive way to foreign goods. Individualism and collectivism were identified as having positive links to foreign goods and life satisfaction. Individualists’ consumers were not as satisfied with their lives as collectivists were, but they were more amenable to foreign goods (Xiao & Kim, 2009). Dickson, Lennon, Montalto, Shen and Zhang (2004) conducted a survey of 1,628 married consumers in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai to collect data informing of

Weapons Of Mass Destruction Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Weapons Of Mass Destruction - Research Paper Example There are widespread assumptions that terrorist groups are going to use WMD and the use of NBC weapons by terrorists are highly inevitable. There is an increase in the number of terrorist groups that are both capable and interested in causing mass casualties. Their weapons have become more lethal in the age of globalization.Throughout history, chemical and biological weapons have been used by politically motivated individuals and groups, for purposes such as assassinations and generating terror. Since the successful development of the first nuclear weapons in 1945, debates about terrorism involving nuclear, biological and chemical weapons have been cyclical in nature, recurring in every decade, with varying levels of intensity.DefinitionsThe term â€Å"weapons of mass destruction† has been introduced to the world by recent horrible events like the Japanese subway attack using Sarin nerve agent, the abortive Russian hostage release at the Moscow theater using fentanyl, and thre ats from North Korea and Iran for use of nuclear weapons.Most people would consider WMD as a collective for nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons, but this is not correct. All weapons of mass destruction may not cause extensive destruction. A better definition for these weapons might be: ‘those things which kill people in more horrible ways than bullets or trauma, or which cause effects other than simply damaging or destroying buildings and objects, with the element of fear or panic included'.

AXI Case Study :: essays research papers

Income Disparities of women in the Workplace The existence of male-female income and gender discrimination in the workplace has been noted in countless countries. Over the past few decades, laws barring discrimination in education and employment have helped give workingwomen many opportunities that our mothers never had. Because of these opportunities, women began working in many different fields, each requiring different skills and experience with different pay wages. Although these opportunities has opened many doors for working women all over the world, the doors for pay discrimination still remains tightly shut for women in the workplace. While significant progress has been attained in furthering gender discrimination between men and women in the workplace, countries such as the United Stated and Japan still seems to be reluctant, to grant true income equality in towards women compared to their male counterparts. Thirty years ago women earned just over half the pay of their male counterparts. This was supposed to be resolved with the passage of the federal Equal Pay Act of 1963. Under this act, employers must pay women the same as men for work that is "substantially equal." Additionally, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which covers employers with 15 or more workers, prohibits pay differences based on gender and bars discrimination against women in hiring, promotion, training, discipline and other job aspects . Despite the existence of such laws, unfortunately workingwomen continue to earn less than men. It's extremely obvious that women have come a long way in the labor force ever since the 19th century. At present time, women account for nearly half the nation's workforce, but due to pay discrimination there has been a wage gap that does not seem to close between men and women. For instance, the typical workingwomen in Japan earns 63 percent of the average man’s pay . While in the United States, the average American woman earns about 74 cents for every dollar the average man earns . In comparing these figures, Japanese women are at even more of a disadvantage in the workplace than their peers in the United States. As stated above, laws have been in placed for years that strictly prohibit any type of discrimination in the workplace. So why does the wage disparity persist? In Japan, it is because of traditional expectations that women marry young and devote themselves to child rearing. This factor is always usually the case with Japanese women, however number of women who continue careers after marriage is growing, but companies have been slow to accommodate their needs for child care or maternity leave .