Consultant view of business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Consultant view of business - Essay Example While there are advantages to directly working with employees in their training, say, to achieve better customer service, the practicality and long-term benefits of working with the leadership team could certainly outweigh them. It is helpful to remember that training and development is aimed at improving employees’ skills and abilities. According to Pride, Hughes and Kapoor, training should be a continuing process. (p. 264) The constant employee training could be delegated and localized to their immediate managers because: 1) it is part of their responsibilities; 2) the manager would understand his staff better than Emma who must consider and understand the employees of all her stores; and, 3) managers should take increased responsibility if Emma wants them to be more committed to the company. Dealing with the managers is like involving them in the decision or policy-making process, which could address several factors including the managers’ resentment and frustration of being left out; the opportunity to become a stake holder in the organization, which allows for the cultivation of deeper commitment and loyalty to the organization; and so forth. All in all, Emma had to work hard in order to facilitate and motivate the managers’ commitment and their change and adoption of her vision. She must constantly create and sustain conditions for success of the change she wants or the vision that she wants her people to imbibe. I will definitely advise against the buyout by HIW company. Clearly, Emma likes what she does and she left her previous work in order to setup the business. Emma’s problem is that her company is growing fast and she must work hard to keep pace with it. Here, it is clear that the answer is definitely not HIW – selling her company to it and returning to work for it again. There are many options available to her besides this prospect. She could, for instance, improve and add on her human

English Language Essay Example for Free

English Language Essay English has emerged as the global language of trade and commerce in the past few decades, affecting many key aspects of business in the modern world. The English language has become the standard for all important official communications in an increasingly large number of countries with a wide variety of native languages. In the modern world, English continues to spread as the major medium through which both small businesses and large corporations do business. There are about 5,000 languages in the world today. Some have gained international status; some are developing; others are used in isolation in their region, community, or village; a few have gone extinct or have died (like Latin and Sanskrit). The number of users of the English language has grown by leaps and bounds. Second language and foreign language users are seen to exceed the number of native speakers.  · Worldwide more or less two billion people live in countries where English has official status.  · One out of five of the world’s population, speaks English with some degree of fluency.  · Over one billion had been seen in the year 2000 to continue their studies in English.  · As language of science and technology, English, the universal language, claims more or less 90% of all information in the world’s electronic retrieval systems being stored in English. English is used regularly by more than 350 million people scattered over the globe. It is the native or official language of one-fifth of the world. Of the languages of colonization it has been the one most important in Africa, Asia and the islands of the central and southern Pacific. The use of English is widespread in international trade, international scholarship, and scientific research. More than half of the world’s scientific and technical journals, as well as newspapers, are printed in English. Three-fourths of the world’s mail is in English. The Soviet Union and China use English in their propaganda broadcasts to the developing countries of Africa and Asia. English is the most widely-studied language in areas where it is not native. In Japan English is widely used in the upper grade level. In India, English is the alternate official language to Hindi. In the Philippines it is the common language or medium of communication of people speaking different languages. More or less 80% of Filipinos speak/understand English. Doing Business Worldwide English is a global language for doing business. In some industries, English is the official standard language. Therefore, an excellent command of English is required for key jobs. In addition, English has emerged as a major language for finance and the stock markets around the world. People wishing to do businesses globally need to have a good command of spoken English. The ability to clearly write in English is also of key importance, as many forms of business communication, from emails to presentations and marketing to important business contracts, are written in English. A CNN Report (CNN) Hiroshi Mikitani sees nothing wrong with the word, incorporating it easily into our discussion about Japans future. The internet entrepreneur and CEO of Rakuten Inc, Japans largest e-commerce site, intends to change his country from the inside out. And Englishization is a part of it, he says bluntly. With 6,000 employees and sales topping $3 billion a year, Mikitani intends Rakuten to keep growing into a global player. The goal: be as common a household name as Google in 10 years. The path to that goal, believes Mikitani, is to speak the global language of business, English. English is the only global language. Were doing a global business. I think this is the only way a Japanese service organization can become a global organization. By 2012, Mikitanis pledge is to make Rakuten an English-only corporation. All communication, verbal and email, would be sent not in Japanese, but in English. Its a daunting task for a Japanese company headquartered in Tokyo. Last years Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) rankings showed Japanese test takers scored second worst in the East Asia region, below North Korea and Myanmar. Only Laos ranked lower than Japan. Hondas CEO, Takanobu Ito, said publicly, â€Å"It’s stupid for a Japanese company to only use English in Japan when the workforce is mainly Japanese. Mikitani doesnt flinch at the criticism. In fact, he seems to relish it. The nature of our business is totally different, he says, pointing out Honda manufactures a hardware item and Rakuten deals with users on the internet. If you want to become successful in other countries, you need to internationalize the headquarters. Rakuten is expanding despite Japans macro-economic struggles. They are starting a Chinese version of Rakuten and purchasing ecommerce sites in the U.S. and France. One thing I know, the definition of country is going to change. Definition of currency is going to change, says Mikitani. There is going to be less importance which country youre operating from. And theres going to be global competition, not local to local. Mikitani is everything Corporate Japan is not: young, a risk-taker, outspoken and fluent in English. He started his company with a friend in 1997, using their own money. The two friends grew the business into the public corporation and powerhouse it is today. The 45 year old, energetic CEO says he is, at the core, utterly Japanese. But he disagrees with how corporate Japan and the policy makers have run the economy and country. Look at the aging demographics and the economy of Japan, says Mikitani, and the writing is on the wall for corporate Japan. Growth, he says, can only happen if Japanese companies go outside of the country for expansion and look for opportunities outside of Japans famously produced cars and electronics. I felt (sic) those kind of ages is over. Now we need to really dramatically change the structure of economy of Japan and IT is going to be an extremely important part of it, says Mikitani. But none of the Japanese for example, politicians, truly understands from the bottom of the heart, how important that is. Mikitani feels the two decades-long economic stagnation for Japan has fundamentally affected the countrys young, which spells trouble for the countrys future. Japanese society, especially younger people, are so inward looking. They dont even want to go to other countries. They want to stay here. They want to have a good life; they dont want to be rich. They want to have a good day to day life. Thats it. And I think we need to be more sort of dynamic, outward looking, he says. The solution, hopes Mikitani, will be found in concrete economic policy from Tokyos lawmakers and strong leadership from Japans companies. Japan can produce innovative, high quality ideas and products, says Mikitani, but the talent needs a direction. He remains positive about his countrys future, despite its problems. Rakuten means optimistic, he points out. I think that in absolute terms, we [Japanese] are lagging. We are slowing down. I dont think we need to be pessimistic, but our window is not so long. An Indian Perspective English even after 36 years of independence occupies an important place in the social educational, administrative, scientific industrial and commercial life of the country. Ever since India became independent, the fortunes of English have seen many ups and downs. In accordance with the prevalent mood of hostility against everything foreign, English, considered only a foreign language, could not also escape the wrath of many people. It was decided to do away with it as early as possible. It was given a lease of fifteen years, and after that it was to be replaced by Hindi as the national and official language of the country. English was spoken and used by a micro-scopic minority of the people and they could not dominate the majority which spoke Hindi. Educationally also it was desirable to impart instruction in Hindi. Educationally also it was desirable to impart instruction in Hindi and other regional languages. Moreover, the continuance of English as the official language of the country was regarded as some sort of an affront to national honor. Did not every country have its own national and official, language, it was asked. There was much weight in all these arguments. But when the deadline, 1965, for the switch-over to Hindi came, there were unseemly controversies and riots in the country. The main opposition to Hindi came from the South. After long and tedious deliberations it was decided to continue English as an associate official language. The States were free to adopt their own languages and were to correspond with one another and the centre either in Hindi or English. Later the the three language formula was also devised. The general feeling is that Hindi as it develops and as people while learning it show, and are shown patience, will continue to gain in importance and will increasingly take over as many functions of English as possible. But along with the spread of Hindi, English will continue to be used in one way or another and it will play its due role in the nation. India is a land of many languages, cultures and religions. It is rich in variety and diversity, but there is a real danger that in the absence of a link language, its unity may just fall to bits. Considering the situation as it is today, English is the only language to discharge this important obligation. At the official level, the importance of English is obvious. It is the associate language of the Centre and most of its employees use it in official work. Since the States have adopted their regional languages for official business and many of them are averse to the use of Hindi, a virtual linguistic chaos would result if English were not used for inter-State communication. So in this sphere also, the importance of English is obvious. Interestingly, the state of Nagaland has English as its official language. In education too, the use of English cannot be dispensed with. Hindi and the regional languages, though they are developing and enjoy official patronage, are still inadequately equipped for imparting education, particularly at the university level. There is a general lack of standard text books and it may well take several decades before there is sufficient development of these languages. Again, English still enjoys a commanding position in science, technology, engineering, law, medicine, commerce, industry and the diplomatic services. It is virtually impossible to replace English in these disciplines by Hindi or any other Indian language. Considering then for a moment the absence of English from India, exchange of professors, doctors administrators, and students will cease. Research will slacken and there will be a steep decline in the quality of education. The efforts of the country to industrialize itself rapidly and to raise the standard of the masses will be seriously undermined. There will widespread disunity and this will jeopardize our freedom. So the role of English today for us is twofold. It knits the country and maintains equality and standard at all levels. Considering this important place of English, we Indians are today learning it in larger numbers than they ever did before. It is a world language and even in Russia, China etc., it is being learnt eagerly. In India those who oppose it seem to be a little prejudiced either for political reasons or because of some absurd sentimentality. Don’t they accept foreign goods, clothes and technical know-how? They do, because it is good and useful. Why then oppose English, simply because it is a foreign language? They should not forget that it was the knowledge of English that helped India gain freedom. The overall situation then appears to be this. English even after 36 years of independence occupies an important place in the social educational, administrative, scientific industrial and commercial life of the country. Those who know and support it need not despair. English will continue though it may occupy a secondary place to Hindi.

Demonstrating Achievement of Learning Outcomes in Nursing

Demonstrating Achievement of Learning Outcomes in Nursing Analytical summary of portfolio to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes This essay is primarily aimed at analytically reviewing the portfolio that I have assimilated in the recent past. It effectively is a record of a number of key episodes in my student career. The portfolio itself documents a number of different aspects of events in my practice whereas this essay sets out to take an overview of the aims, goals and achievements that have been set and the degree to which they have been achieved. (Green J et al. 1998) The portfolio opens with a statement of intent as far as the original preparation was concerned. Although I have addressed the issues of professional requirement I have also approached the project form the viewpoint of my own personal benefit. I appreciate that this tool gives me the ability (amongst other things) to review my professional development and to document my evolution through my time as a student nurse. During its preparation I have therefore always kept in the forefront of my mind the eight learning goals enumerated in this statement. Reflections on academic and clinical experiences Continuing professional development and lifelong learning Decisions about the quality of my work Effective critical thinking Reflection on professional growth Empowerment to take responsibility for my own learning Development towards being a critical, reflective practitioner Document achievements (Pearce, R 2003). In terms of an analytical assessment of this portfolio, one should consider the work of Knowles and others in the field of adult education (Knowles, M. 1984 a ). Knowles’ theory of andragogy highlights the necessity for the adult student to appreciate the need to know something and the fact that adult students learn most effectively through experience and adaptation (Knowles, M. 1984 b ). Although not explicitly expounded by Knowles, the adaptive process is helped to a considerable degree by the process of reflection. As such my experiences have been recorded in a series of case studies and other investigations, and the process of adaptation has been illustrated through the mechanism of reflective practice. (Palmer in Bulpitt Martin 2005) The move towards evidence based practice has been one of the most noticeable aspects of the various changes in emphasis in practice in most areas of medically related work in recent years. (Berwick D 2005). I have been at pains to consider the evidence base which supports the various areas that I have either worked in or examined. To illustrate this point, let us consider the section presented on the subject of moral reasoning and health care law. This chapter examined a wide spectrum of ethical issues and associated moral dilemmas. Ethics is an area which in some respects is universal but in others is determined by local issues which include environment, culture and belief systems. (Kuhse Singer 2001) The evidence base for the various views expressed is presented and documented. An analytical assessment of this piece would have to include the fact that it only covers a small area of the whole potential issue. There is no apology for this, as the whole area of ethics is vast and the literature on the subject is extensive. It was not considered appropriate to do more than present an overview of one area. But the elements of this area are covered and presented with the important guiding principles that form the evidence base being set out, such as Bolam and the professional guidelines together with specific examples such as the precedent of the Charlotte Wyatt case. The evidence base element is also demonstrated in the clinical spectrum and I can cite the case study on Mrs Y (an MRSA infection case), as an example which not only allowed me to examine the issues of evidence (citing Pennington) but also to reflect and learn from the experience. (Taylor, E. 2000). It is always possible to criticise writing as not being totally inclusive of all of the available evidence and clearly such a criticism could be levelled at my work. In defence, I would suggest that much of the private reading and research that I have done that has helped to inform me in my professional life does not appear in the portfolio on grounds of expediency. In addition one is aware that the evidence base is constantly changing as new work is published and assimilated into the pool of accepted medical knowledge. (Sackett, 1996). In the case study that I presented relating to Angela, the evidence base played a large part in both the study, the learning experience derived from it and also the actual presentation of the evidence. I suggest that it is obvious that I clearly spent a great deal of time researching the various elements of the case and presenting them in an authoritative and evidence based fashion. I believe that this gives the work a greater credibility and also a greater learning potential for myself. (Holland K et al. 2003) Reflection is a large element in this portfolio. I make no apology for this as I have found reflective practice to be an invaluable learning tool and as can be seen in the substance of the portfolio I have used it extensively. It should be noted that although I have recorded a number of instances of reflective practice using the Gibbs model, (Gibbs, G 1988) it is a technique that I frequently use in my daily practice. Stockhausen, (L. 1994) makes a differentiation between reflection on practice and reflection in practice. I think that his analysis is both valid and relevant. Reflection on practice is a retrospective process that encompasses those processes that allow reflection at a stage after the event, and allow for modification in processing and response mechanisms to be employed when a similar situation is encountered for a second time. Reflection in practice refers to a dynamic process that occurs at the time of an action or intervention and is a shorter and more truncated process than the previously cited example. It is accepted however, that such a shorter process may not have the intellectual validity of a more protracted process. I have used both mechanisms both in the portfolio and also in my daily practice the case study of Angela demonstrates my ability to reflect on practice and the case study (year 1 chapter 3) shows that I am also quite able to use reflection in practice. As such I think that the portfolio is representative of my abilities in a clinical situation. I note that I frequently return to the concept of self assertiveness in my analysis of a situation. This is an area which is difficult to promote as a student nurse as one is hampered by both inexperience and lack of seniority. As I have progressed through my training, I feel that the process of reflection has helped me to identify situations where I can usefully be more self assertive, either to put forward my own point of view based on my own knowledge and beliefs, or to act as the patient’s advocate in situations where I believe that the patient’s best interests may not have been fully considered. (Koole S. L. et al. 19990 This element of self assertiveness has another and more profound implication. There is an implied responsibility incumbent on all healthcare professionals to disseminate and knowledge or experience that they may have to their professional colleagues. The element of learning and teaching comes within this remit. (Yura H et al. 1998). I fully recognise that, as a student, I have not been in a position to consider the possibility of teaching, as my own knowledge base has been dependent, at least in part, on the benevolence and knowledge of others. I am aware however, that as my own knowledge base has increased, I have been better placed to offer opinions and to add specialist knowledge into situations that are appropriate. I believe that this aspect of my training and development has also bee clearly demonstrated in the portfolio. For example, I can cite the section on basic life support that is presented in the portfolio. Having completed this element of the course, I now feel empowered to pass this specific knowledge on in areas where I encounter people (both patients, carers or other professionals) who may not have this type of specific knowledge at their fingertips. (Fawcett J 2005) I have little doubt that, as my professional knowledge increases, I shall be able to assume this role in a greater variety of areas and help to play my part in the future education of both patients and aspiring professionals. A large proportion of the portfolio documents my assessment of the impact of policy on the current mechanisms of health care delivery. The entry relating to equality in the health management of minority groups could be considered typical in this regard with a review of the issues of the Care Standards Act (CSA 2000) and the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA 1995). This particular case study was a major learning experience for me as it was by doing this analysis that I became more professionally aware of the possibilities for overt and covert discrimination both in terms of sexuality and disability and the need to be fully aware of these possibilities and to take positive steps to ensure that they do not colour my professional activities. There is a great deal of literature on the subject of discrimination in its widest applications and a critical analysis of my work could reasonably conclude that such a large area is underrepresented in the overall portfolio. This particular critici sm could clearly be levelled at virtually any work in this area and I am aware that I have had to make a judgement in this (and many other areas) where the line of balance between presenting all of the arguments both in favour and against a particular topic, can be drawn in the interests of both expediency and practicality. It would have to be conceded that even it the portfolio were 100 times as long as it is, it could not reasonably be expected to cover all of the arguments in the area. A sensible overview has had to be taken and I would suggest that the finished article is the product of these two opposing considerations. Some elements of the portfolio are specific and detailed case studies. I again refer to the case study of Angela, a 58 yr old lady with anal cancer. I cite this is being particularly informative for me as it not only is a demonstration of my research into the many issues that were impinging on this case but also in my ability to follow Angela through her illness trajectory (Newell et al. 1992) and I was able to reflect at length on the issues that she faced as her diagnosis was faced and the treatment. The major learning issue here, which is probably applicable to virtually all areas of professional work, is that effective communication is one the most important skills that the professional nurse can acquire. Effective communication can help to deal with some of the elements of the sequelae that can arise in this situation such as depression as well as the more positive aspects such as empowerment and education of the patient. (Mason T et al. 2003). This particular case study also highlights the need to assess and assimilate the social (and other) elements of the patient’s case. The reductionist school would have us regard the patient as a set of symptoms and nursing problems to solve. Although reductionism can be a useful analytical tool to assess the most appropriate forms of treatment, it can be criticised for removing the human angle from the professional assessment of the patient. (Jacobs, B B 2001) I have always been a staunch advocate of the holistic approach to patient care and reductionism is diametrically opposed to this viewpoint. (Thompson C 1999) I believe this is demonstrated in my presentation of the socio-economic situation as it pertains to Angela. The consideration that her mother lives alone and has a Yorkie dog to contend with is all part of the overall spectrum of consideration for Angela, as her hospitalisation will effectively impair her mother’s ability to both survive independently and also to care for her dog. These are vital and important elements in a patient’s care and should realistically be incorporated into the decision making process that evolves from the patient management considerations. (Hewison, A. 2004). I hope that this particular essay demonstrates my ability to pursue a logical and rational approach to decision making based on a strong evidence base and a holistic care plan. In terms of my own professional development, this portfolio represents a number of â€Å"snapshots† in my trajectory through the undergraduate course. It has helped to focus my attention on a number of specific issues, some were specified by the tutors and some were self determined. It is a feature of adult education that learning in one area often opens up possibilities for research and interest in other related areas.(Merriam S B 2001) I have certainly found this to be true, as my reading on one issue will frequently be punctuated with explorations into other areas that may be related. This may not necessarily feature in the portfolio itself, but will inevitably add to the knowledge base that I have accumulated throughout my undergraduate career. This comment is not intended to be viewed as a weakness but is presented as a strength. It has to be said that the portfolio does not fully reflect the professional development that I have been able to achieve and is not intended to do so. It should be more critically seen as a record of the stages of my development and some of the areas that have been actively explored. I am aware that it is in the nature of a professional career in nursing that every interaction with patients and staff brings the possibility of new learning experiences. (Hogston, R et al. 2002). It is my hope and belief that this portfolio illustrates the fact that I have taken advantage of these possibilities as they have presented themselves to me. I believe that I have grown in professional stature and competence as a direct result of having had the experience of completing it. In viewing the work there are a number of areas in which the portfolio could be considered deficient. The very act or recording and writing is itself a trophic and dynamic process (Meleis A. 1991) and thereby records a process of evolution from my early days as a nursing student to the present. It can be therefore seen that some of the earlier entries lack the degree of maturity and knowledge that the later entries clearly have. I do not believe that this is actually a deficiency as, to a large extent, this documentation of process is one of the major functions of the portfolio. I believe that I learned a great deal relating to the processes of effective reading, efficient research and informative presentation during this process which I believe are just some of the less well publicised attributes of the modern nurse every bit as much as the clinical skills and knowledge that is perhaps more generally accepted as a core requirement. (Clarke J E et al. 1997). It would appear to me that a critical assessment of the portfolio would also have to include the realisation that some of the earlier elements are clearly not as sophisticated nor perhaps as informatively written as the later ones for this very reason. The very fact that I have been able to take a critical overview in this particular essay, to a large degree, underlines the point that I would not have been able to write an essay of this nature when I started on my undergraduate career but I feel that I have now been enabled to assimilate sufficient knowledge to reflect critically on the learning process and to comment on it. With the benefit of hindsight, I feel that if I had appreciated the importance of the evidence base in discussions at an earlier stage in my education, I believe that I would have placed a greater emphasis on it in my earlier writing. As I have observed earlier however, it is this learning evolution coloured by experience which is perhaps one of the greatest benefits that can be both seen in and derived from a portfolio such as this. It is the act of research, reading and then the committing of analytical concepts to paper, which is a fundamental learning stimulus of the adult student. Looking forward, I believe that the experiences that I have derived from compiling this portfolio will stand me in good stead for my future professional career, not only in terms of the factual knowledge that it contains but also the conceptual methodologies that it represents and that I have now been able to experience, evolve and put into practice. (Kazdin A E 1998). I now more fully appreciate the need for critical analysis and evidence based practice particularly if I wish to enhance my professional status by imparting good practice and knowledge onto other colleagues in due course. References Berwick D 2005 Broadening the view of evidence-based medicine Qual. Saf. Health Care, Oct 2005 ; 14 : 315 316. Clarke J E Copcutt L 1997  Management for nurses and Healthcare Professionals.  Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone 1997 CSA 2000  Care Standards Act. (2000).  Government White Paper  HMSO : London 2000 DDA 1995  Disability Discrimination Act. (1995).  Government White Paper HMSO : London 1995   Fawcett J 2005  Contemporary Nursing Knowledge: Analysis and Evaluation of Nursing Models and Theories, 2nd Edition  Boston: Davis Co 2005 ISBN : 0-8036-1194-3 Gibbs, G 1988  Learning by doing: A guide to Teaching and Learning methods EMU Oxford Brookes University, Oxford. 1988 Gilbert T 1995  Nursing : Empowerment and the problem of power  Journal of Advanced Nursing 21 (5) : 865-871 Green J, Britten N. 1998  Qualitative research and evidence based medicine.  BMJ 1998 ; 316 : 1230-1233 Hewison, A. 2004  Management for Nurses and Health Professionals: Theory into practice. Blackwell Science: Oxford. 2004 Hogston, R. Simpson, P. M. 2002  Foundations in nursing practice 2nd Edition,  London: Palgrave Macmillian. 2002 Holland K, Jenkins, J Solomon J, Whittam S 2003  Applying the Roper-Logan-Tierney Model in Practice Churchill Livingstone 2003 ISBN 0443071578 Jacobs, B B 2001  Respect for Human Dignity: A Central Phenomenon to Philosophically Unite Nursing Theory and Practice through Consilience of Knowledge. Nursing Models of Care  Advances in Nursing Science. 24 (1) : 17-35, September 2001 Kazdin A E 1998  History of Behaviour Modification: Experimental foundations of contemporary research.  Baltimore: University Park Press. 1998   Knowles, M. 1984 a .  The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species (3rd Ed.).  Houston, TX: Gulf Publishing.   Knowles, M. 1984 b .  Andragogy in Action.  San Francisco: Jossey-Bass 1984 Koole S. L. ; Smeets K. ; Van Knippenberg A. ; Dijksterhuis A 1999  The cessation of rumination through self-affirmation  Journal of personality and social psychology (J. pers. soc. psychol.) ISSN 0022-3514 Kuhse Singer 2001  A companion to bioethics  ISBN : 063123019X Pub Date 05 July 2001 Mason T and Whitehead E 2003  Thinking Nursing.  Open University. Maidenhead. 2003 Meleis A. 1991  Theoretical thinking: development and progress. 2nd edition.  Philadelphia : Lippincott Company, 1991. Merriam S B 2001  Andragogy and Self-Directed Learning: Pillars of Adult Learning Theory  New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education Vol 2001 Issue 89 Ppg 3-14 Newell and Simon. 1992  Human Problem Solving.  Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs: 1992. Palmer 2005  in Learning about reflection from the student Bulpitt and Martin Active Learning in  Higher Education.2005 ; 6 : 207-217. Pearce, R 2003.  Profiles and Portfolios of Evidence.  Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes 2003 Sackett, 1996.  Doing the Right Thing Right: Is Evidence-Based Medicine the Answer?  Ann Intern Med, Jul 1996 ; 127 : 91 94. Stockhausen, L. 1994  The Clinical Learning Spiral: A Model to develop Reflective Practitioners.  Nurse Education Today 14, 63371. 1994 Taylor, E. 2000.  Building upon the theoretical debate: A critical review of the empirical studies of Mezirow’s transformative learning theory.  Adult Education Quarterly, 48 (1) , 34-59. Thompson C 1999  A conceptual treadmill : the need for middle ground in clinical decision making theory in nursing  Journal of Advanced Nursing Volume 30 Page 1222 November 1999 Yura H, Walsh M. 1998  The nursing process. Assessing, planning, implementing, evaluating. 5th edition. Norwalk, CT: Appleton Lange, 1998. ############################################################### 3.7.06 PDG Word count 3,549

Ghost Story of Split Rock Road :: Urban Legends Ghost Stories

Split Rock Road This tale was told by a twenty-year-old Caucasian male from Boonton, New Jersey, who was very excited to share his paranormal experiences. According to the narrator, Split Rock Road runs through a nice residential neighborhood. However, at one point the pavement stops and turns to gravel. At this point, there are no lights on the road, which is surrounded by woods. As you continue down the road, you come to a bridge on top of a dam and an abandoned guard tower. Legend has it that if you turn off your headlights and stop the car while on the bridge, everyone in the car dies. The narrator attempted this once with his friends late at night. He managed to turn off the headlights and stop the car, but all of his friends started screaming and begging him to go back, so he left very quickly. He said that it was one of the scariest experiences of his life. Additionally, there is rumored to be a ghost that wanders on Split Rock Road, a young girl in a white sundress. However, the narrator ha d never personally seen this ghost. Split Rock Road is a notoriously creepy place in New Jersey, with references on both the â€Å"Weird New Jersey† website and the â€Å"Lost Destinations† website. While neither site directly states that if you turn off your headlights and stop the car that you will die, the â€Å"Lost Destinations† site mentions the urban legend that if you try to drive across the bridge at night, gangs will block the exits on either side and trap you in. Additionally, while there is no specific mention of a girl in a white sundress, there are rumors that the bridge is haunted by drowning victims, mostly teenagers who get sucked into the underwater drain and smash into the concrete â€Å"waterfall† on the other side. Both sites also mention practices of the occult allegedly performed on Split Rock Road; the â€Å"Lost Destinations† site describes piles of bones and structures shaped like furnaces that are supposedly haunted by ghosts late at night. Similar furnaces can be found on Clinton road, another creepy spot in New Jersey. The primary scary feature of the story is the concept that doing something as innocent as stopping a car can cause death. Death is something that most people fear, or wish not to encounter until they feel that they have lived their lives to the fullest.

Aquinas’ view of kingship and the Aristotelian response Essay

St. Thomas Aquinas takes many of Aristotle’s ideas from The Politics in order to create his idea of the best regime. He revisits the good and bad forms of each type of government Aristotle introduced, and then makes his decision that the best regime is a type of monarchy that he calls kingship. This decision stems from his definition of a king as â€Å"one who rules over the people of a city or province for the common good† (17). Kingship is beneficial because it is the rule of one person. Aquinas states that the correct and most useful way to carry out an objective is â€Å"when it is lead to its appropriate end† (15). The incorrect way would be the opposite–to lead something to an inappropriate end, or not to lead it to an end at all. In light of this definition, the most effective government would lead the people to their appropriate end, which Aquinas believes is unity. In this sense, Aquinas believes that obviously something that â€Å"is itself one can promote unity better than that which is a plurality† (17). This may not seem quite so obvious to anyone else, and his analogy between unity and heat may seem a little vague, but Aquinas still makes a valid point in that creating a government promoting unity is more difficult when more people are involved. This is simply because of the number of ideas and interpretations present within a group that are not present under the rule of one. Aquinas also argues that kingship, or the good, just monarchy, is preferable because it is present in nature. He likens the king to God, because naturally God is the â€Å"Ruler over all† (17). It is therefore natural for one man to rule many, as long as he is leading the people to their appropriate end, which is unity. The king should be â€Å"a shepherd who seeks†¦not his own benefit† (16), which is an instance of government represented by nature. Aquinas believes that as â€Å"art imitates nature† (18), so should politics, and the best art is that which best imitates nature. In this sense, the best government would be that which imitates natural order. The king â€Å"has a duty to act in his kingdom like the soul in the body and God in the world† (26). This is the best way in which a government can reflect nature in its practice. Aquinas understands that monarchy is â€Å"considered by many as odious because it  is associated with the evils of tyranny† (20). He, however, believes that kingship is so important, that a slight change of the type of monarchy would not be that bad. This is interesting, because Aquinas also says that tyranny is the â€Å"worst form of government† (18) because it seeks only the good of the tyrant, and is therefore further from the appropriate end of government, which is the common good and unity. The reasons Aquinas seems to change his mind about the idea of tyranny seem to be a little cloudy. He suddenly decides that tyranny in its less excessive forms is nowhere near as bad as the better forms of government, even though he says it is the worst. Aquinas would advise the citizens to â€Å"tolerate a mild tyranny for a time† (23) instead of doing anything rash that â€Å"may bring on many dangers that are worse† (23). These dangers include democracy and oligarchy, which are supposed to be better forms of government than tyranny. In any case, the tyranny would still be the rule of one, although not for the common good. This may be what Aquinas means when he says tyranny is tolerable. Aristotle would agree with most of Aquinas’ statements, mainly because they were Aristotle’s statements first. Aristotle poses questions on the issue of kingship, and sets up arguments others have against it, while Aquinas attempts to come up with some answers as to why kingship is the best alternative. Aristotle agrees that there are some states that kingship would benefit greatly. His view is not that all states would benefit from a kingship, which is what Aquinas is trying to prove. This is the major difference, as both believe that kingship is a worthy form of government.

The Legal Background of Watered Stock

The Legal Background of Watered Stock Introduction Watered stock gets the assumption of stock with completely paid-up status. The stock remains fictitiously remunerated but centrally, the real status indicates per value as unpaid. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Legal Background of Watered Stock specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Such stock is meant to represent the company’s worth because stating of the company’s shares indicates existence of utmost good faith from the investor as he/she issues resources for investments to the company’s treasury in the intension of achieving dividends, but the fact remains that the money is never paid to treasury. In a close link to Mitchell (3), watered stock purports to represent the company’s economical worth but fails due to lack of sustentative evidence over existence of the real value. According to Mitchell (2), the stock market became the core unit of the economy through emergence of the modernized corporations and the security markets. The stock markets now are a strong driving force of the economy. The birth of gigantic modernized firms, decades ago is an indication that the control has a long lifespan. At present, business transformation studies indicates that new companies are merging at an alarming rate and thus changing the financial, legal, social and economical status of firms. The big companies are thus in a position of controlling shares or stock by engaging huge manufactory and dumping into the markets. The firms are able to make huge profits from the financial and legally acceptable manipulations as opposed to the anticipated technological, managerial, marketing and distribution advancements. The big manufactures end up as stock speculators as opposed to the economically viable bond or shares buyers/sellers. The situation causes a scenario where instead of the finance dominating the manufactory industries, the wide spread stock ownership dominat es finance. Stock markets began as a tool to assist up-coming businesses, but today the empowered managers utilizes the stock markets as a precise tool for managing tasks within firms (Mitchell, 3). It is the drive behind investments, decision making, planning and operating that causes a great effect to the overall economic development. Watered markets transform manufactory business institutions from the producers and suppliers they ought to be, to profit focused institutions. Today the drive behind creation of business stock markets is no longer the production and real supply, but rather modern stock markets are the key factors most businesses are merging and focusing upon.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Mitchell (7), the development of watered stock market came about in various distinct stages for instance; the business mergers in the aim of enhanci ng direct production caused the watered stock. Business mergers were mainly as an injection of new investors into the market segments. Effects of the stock markets The fine understanding of watered stock presented to potential investors today, is the inequitable ownership of an entity such as a company because the worth of a venture at any given time is not equitable to the real investment and for that reason, most investors understand watered stock as security fraud. The security and exchange commission as an agency often regulates the securities and thus has the responsibility of protecting the investors. With he current trends the insecurity that lead to illegal or manipulative acts and fraudulent dealings world wide, the dealings patterns have widely changed the way investors view the protection and supervision accorded by the commission. Collapse of prominent companies causes the investors to be holders of the watered stock when the company closes its dealing and forces them to pay up for its value. The investors are keen and the trends seem to indicate the need to stay safe by purchasing only low per stock. The no par or low par stock prevents one from high liability of the stockownership, in cases of a collapse. Mitchell, Lawrence. The Speculation Economy: How Finance Triumphed Over Industry. San Francisco: Berrett – Koehler, 2007