College essay topics to write about Effective Communication - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2362 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Management Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? Introduction It is not unusual for employees to approach organisational change with the mentality they inherited from their social-cultural environment. The impetus for instant change is not obvious at all. Behavioural change does not happen because it is suggested, recommended, or enforced by a manager (or anyone else). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "College essay topics to write about Effective Communication" essay for you Create order Change happens because one sees value and personal benefit in making the change. As a result, it is imperative that change agents understand the power they exert in attempting to implement organisational change initiatives. Change agents are catalysts for workplace behavior modification. They devise motivational plans that trigger the inspiration for employees to follow agent directives. Hence, it is not enough for management teams to think of change in terms of organizational requirements. Managers who seek the expertise of change agents are wise in so doing. Expert change agents are knowledgeable in understanding potential road blocks that inhibit employees from making the necessary adaptations to new initiatives. Social and cultural environments contribute towards the complexity of behavior modification. This paper presents a transformation initiative whereby the change agents utilise effective communication as a tool to create a vision and the credibility necessary to inspire vol untary participation in behavioural change. Creating Vision and Credibility Through Effective Communication Effective communication is instrumental to the success of organisation change initiatives. When done intentionally well the emotional rewards are satisfactory. But, when it fails to impart the messages necessary to complete projects the results can be catastrophic (Hunt, 2014). Misunderstandings, antipathy, and a host of other negative emotions could seriously damage business relationships. Good communication contributes towards operational and process efficiencies (Hunt, 2014). Therefore, it follows that the value of using effective communication as a tool can never be over-emphasised or underrated for the impact it makes on successful outcomes. This paper presents the communication process undertaken by a primary change agent with a twenty manager team. The goal is to develop a change management plan that transitions the organisation from a traditional work-group to a team-based culture. Discussions include the channels of communication, traditional work-groups versus team bas ed organisations, the role of the primary change agent, the communication team, assumptions made, the transition process, change initiative communication, team credibility, faith creation, and answering tough questions. The paper concludes with a recapitulation of the content. Traditional Working Groups Versus Team Based Organisations This section distinguishes working groups from team-based organisations. They do not function in the same capacity, hence, the necessity to differentiate them here. Traditional working groups (WG) within organisations function independently. Examples of traditional WGs are accounting and human resource departments or new product divisions. These departments work independent of each other. Work is individualised (Zaharia, Dogaru, Boaja, 2014). In contrast, team-based organisations focus on different skills and competencies that come together to meet a common goal. Teams are not limited to functional requirements. Teams use a cross-functional composition to work in a common goal scenario. Individuals do not function independent of the group goals. Everyone working together achieve the goal (Zaharia, Dogaru, Boaja, 2014). Primary Change Agent Leadership Role Buono and Subbiah (2014) suggest that primary change agents (PCA) are effective to the extent that they understand the cultural environment, are able to identify influential key players, and possess the ability to provide mentorship, as well as, positive role modeling. Buono and Subbiah (2014) suggest further that PCAS are influencers. They motivate and inspire change in others. Additionally, PCAS have internal systems knowledge and can troubleshoot problems as they arise. Buono and Subbiah (2014) propose an example of PCA as someone who is able to identify subtle disturbances that could potentially interfere with change processes. A manager who is perceptive, tactful, and diplomatic is considered an effective PCA. Another example is a manager who understands the business and how it acquires revenue from beginning to end. Still another example is a manager who can create partnerships and alliances throughout the organisation (Tan Kaufman, 2015). The Communication Team Lira, Ripoll, PeirÃÆ' ³, and Zornoza (2013) suggest that team popularity has increased within the past decade. They assert further that teams are effective only to the extent that they can complete project related tasks on time using various modern day technologies, such as, social networks, and computerised mediums. Teams must become efficient in developing effective interpersonal relationships. Lira et al. (2013) recommend that Human Resources facilitate ongoing leadership development training to increase group efficacy and competency. The communication team serves to facilitate the interactions between management and the workforce. Their plans will include educatory processes that will help the workforce make sense of the transition process. Bolman and Deal (2008) advise on the complexity of organisation change and the ambiguities that are ever present in the communicative process. They recommend that the managers reflect upon their images to become aware of potential erro neous perspectives. They encourage managers to be intuitive and consider that failure is one component of success. Context Assumptions Presented here are the assumptions made concerning the PCA. The PCA is experienced in matters of effective organisational change. The PCA understands the communication process. The PCA is competent in leadership roles. Finally, the PCA is very well versed in team dynamics and organisation political processes. The following assumptions are made within the context of the subject matter contained herein: the Organisation Change Team (OCT; twenty managers) assigned to this project is positive and enthusiastic about this change initiative. They exude a spirit of participation with proactive attitudes. They view this project from a servant leadership perspective. They expect challenges and understand that every project has unforeseen circumstances that must be addressed ad-hoc (Kotter Cohen, 2002). Transitioning To A Team-Based Environment Transitioning the cultural environment from that of a working group to a team-based one requires the acknowledgement and acceptance that the external environment has forever changed the way organisations learn new skills (Katzenbach Smith, 2003). Empirical research on team transition from traditional work groups to teams is lacking. The general consensus is that change is necessary, but implementing a change initiative is challenging. Gardner (2009) suggests that employee resistance and lack of management support top the list of reasons for project failures. Bolman and Deal (2008) discuss the importance of providing opportunities to learn about emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence as it has been presented by Goleman (1995) indicates the importance of empathy and acknowledging the emotions of others. Goleman posits that emotional intelligence has greater significance than does intellectual abilities. Showing compassion and empathy is instrumental in employee engagement processes (Goleman, 1995). Idris, Dollard, and Tuckey (2015) propose that organisations can do much in terms of contributing towards employee well-being. They suggest that employers create environments conducive to learning opportunities. Idris et al. (2015) found a strong correlation between safe psychosocial environments and job satisfaction. Idris et al. (2015) suggest that employees who feel intellectually stimulated are more likely to exude stronger intrinsic motivation stimulus. Such stimulus becomes the driving force that creates inspiration to participate in the change initiative. Change Initiative Communication Plan Presentation Style Nawar (2012) recommends the use of symbols as a form of visual education (p. 61) with the goal to communicate a message in the absence of language. However, the visual elements (photos, videos, and symbols) cannot replace (and should not be used to replace) the verbal component of the communication process. Visuals used in conjunction with language enhance the comprehension process. Nawar (2012) proposes that audio-visual presentations increase understanding of the subject content. As a result, the leadership team will add video content to their presentations. The suggested theme for the videos will be called Excite Your Senses Go Ahead and Make the Change! using the Monarch Butterfly as a symbol of transformation. According to the USDA Forest Services, Monarch butterflies are the only butterflies to survive the challenges of migration twice per year (Migration, nd). The objective of this approach is to help set the stage for understanding the challenges that come with change ( Kotter Cohen, 2002). Channels Of Communication Berger and Iyengar (2013) suggest that communication in modern day society is multidimensional because of the multiple modalities used to transmit messages. There are social network mediums (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others). There are many email exchanges (Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, and others). There are interactive networks, such as, Tango and Skype. Finally, there is face-to-face interactions. Berger and Iyengar (2013) studied the various ways in which one message can be constructed using different platforms. They found that written messages provided greater opportunity to improve the communication process because more time is required to write than it is to talk. The studies also showed that conversations contributed to the acceptance of referrals and recommendations. Given the results of the aforementioned research, it follows that the potential of employees voluntarily engaging in behavioural changes increase when managers engage them in conversations as opposed to sen ding out memos via emails. Medlin and Green (2014) support the concept that effective management increases the prospect that employees will voluntarily commit their time and intellectual resources for the benefit of the organisation. They conducted a study to propose that positive management interaction with employees resulted in improved performance. They found that employees who felt valued and appreciated were both effective and efficient. One principle that Medlin and Green (2014) found that contributed to increased production was unity of clarity (p.27). This principle aligns with the channels of communication to ensure that effective communication between the management team and employees produce results. Team Credibility Vigliotti and Gregory (2013) propose that managers establish credibility by aspiring to become active, show competence, and demonstrate respect towards others. Managers must create safe environments by maintaining open communication processes. They should be approachable, honest, and of high integrity. They must demonstrate superior active listening skills. Clarity and simplicity are synonymous (Kotter Cohen, 2002). Additionally, creativity, authenticity, and credibility precede message crafting (Hatfield, 2012). Hatfield (2012) suggests further that messages must arouse emotional energy if they are to have any effect on the intended audience. Hence, it is imperative that managers dedicate significant time towards drafting their vision statement. The articulated vision must inspire intrinsic motivation in the employees or the risk of failure to engage the workforce becomes imminent (Kotter Cohen, 2002; Hatfield, 2012). Creating Faith in The Change Effort LaFasto and Larson (2001) assert that faith in the change effort is created when management practices demonstrate clarity, confidence, and commitment. Empowering teams to make decisions that implement changes faster also creates faith. Management shows faith when they believe that the teams are equipped to handle challenges that arise. Finally, establishing a culture of constant accountability and excellence conation sends a strong message of trust and belief throughout the organisation (LaFasto Larson, 2001; Kotter Cohen, 2002; Hatfield, 2012). Answering Tough Questions Kotter and Cohen (2003) suggest that all change efforts engender questions intended to alleviate anxiety. Management can and should prepare answers for the tough questions. However, the best practice in answering questions comes from being sincere and honest. Fusco, ORiordan and Palmer (2015) encourage leaders to remain authentic. Managers can do this by expressing a strong sense of self-awareness and confidence by way of their actions. Open communication, information sharing, and honesty in ones interpersonal relations increase the possibility that the tough questions will be perceived as inquisitive and welcomed.. Jones (2013) advises managers to refrain from distorting or manipulating the facts of impending changes if they intend to gain the trust and respect of their employees. Conclusion This paper introduced an organisation change initiative that involved the transitioning from a traditional work-group to a modern day team-based culture. Discussions involved the transition process, the role of the primary change agent, the communication team, change initiative communication plan, team credibility, creating faith in the change effort, and answering tough questions. Context assumptions were made to provide the understanding that major change initiatives cannot be undertaken by inexperienced managers. References Berger, J., Iyengar, R. (2013). Communication channels and word of mouth: How the medium shapes the message. Journal Of Consumer Research, 40(3), 567-579. doi:10.1086/671345. Bolman, L. G. Deal, T. E. (2008). Reframing organizations Fourth edition. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA. Buono, A. F., Subbiah, K. (2014). Internal Consultants as Change Agents: Roles, Responsibilities and Organizational Change Capacity. Organization Development Journal, 32(2), 35-53. Fusco, T., ORiordan, S., Palmer, S. (2015). Authentic Leaders are Conscious, Competent, Confident, and Congruent: A Grounded Theory of Group Coaching and Authentic Leadership Development. International Coaching Psychology Review, 10(2), 131-148. Gardner, P. J. (2009). Organizational change: All we want is better projectsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ why so difficult? AACE International Transactions. 3.1-3.25. Goleman, D. (2015). Emotional intelligence. Retrieved from https://www.danielgoleman.info/topics/emotional-intelli gence/ Hatfield, C. (2012). Crafting your story using personal narrative. Training Journal, 45-47. Hunt, K. (2014). Communicating with the practice team. Practice Nurse, 44(10), 36-40. Idris, M. A., Dollard, M. F., Tuckey, M. R. (2015). Psychosocial safety climate as a management tool for employee engagement and performance: A multilevel analysis. International Journal of Stress Management 22(2), 183-206. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0038986 Jones, R. (2013). Never stop learning and never stop asking tough questions. Public Relations Tactics, 20(9), 17. Katzenbach, J. R. Smith, D. K. (2003). The wisdom of teams. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers. Kotter, J. P. Cohen, D. S. (2002). The heart of change: Real-life stories of how people change their organizations. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press. LaFasto, F. Larson, C. (2001). When teams work best. Sage Publications Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA. Lira, E. M., Ripoll, P., PeirÃÆ' ³, J. M., Zornoza , A. M. (2013). The role of information and communication technologies in the relationship between group potency and group maintenance outcomes: a longitudinal study. Behaviour Information Technology, 32(2), 147-155. doi:10.1080/0144929X.2011.630421. Medlin, B. Green, K. W. (2014). Impact of management basics on employee engagement. Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 13(2), 21-35. Migration and overwintering (nd). USDA Forest Service. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly/migration/index.shtml Nawar, H. (2012). Multicultural transposition: From alphabets to pictographs, towards semantographic communication. Technoetic Arts: A Journal Of Speculative Research, 10(1), 59-68. doi:10.1386/tear.10.1.59_1. Tan, A. Kaufman, U. H. (2015). Making good change agents: Attitude, knowledge, skills. Retrieved from https://www.isixsigma.com/implementation/change-management-implementation/making-good-change-agents-attitude-knowledge-skill s/ Vigliotti, D., Gregory, J. L. (2013). Review of Credibility: How leaders gain and lose it, why people demand it (2nd ed.). Journal Of Leadership Studies, 7(2), 62-63. doi:10.1002/jls.21283. Zaharia, V., Dogaru, M., Boaja, D. (2014). Working group versus team work. Knowledge Horizons.Economics, 6(4), 146-149. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1669

The Developmental Psychology Of A Child - 983 Words

The developmental psychology of a child is one that is in many ways difficult and very special to understand. I would like to start by saying that a child’s development depends on many factors and circumstances. In finding if a child has a developmental problem or a psychological problem takes time and a delicate nature in finding the problem. The child that I am going to represent and defend on his or her actions, is a child that needs the proper representation of his or her age of developmental psychology. The biological, cognitive and emotional/social developments are what I will touch on for the child’s age range. To represent how and why they would act on certain situations and problems that occur. Let’s touch on the basics of the policy that the child was involved in. It was stated that the child that was six-years old held another child under water because she felt that the noise of another child bothered her. Left unattended by the baby sitter that was sixteen who fell asleep and did not awaken when the eighteen-month old boy began crying. Now that we have the basics we can look at the biological aspect of the six-year-old girl. Children are unbalanced in their younger years (Berger 2014) and poor impulse control shows a personality disorder not only in adulthood but also in childhood (Berger 2014). Children react in certain ways because of cultural aspects. The developmental and behavioral development are steamed from culture (Berger 2014), many children are bornShow MoreRelatedChild Psychology Developmental Scientist Paper Ximena Franco838 Words   |  4 PagesChild Psychology developmental scientist paper-Ximena Franco Some challenges that arise in child psychology are an acceptance of an authoritative position, racial stereotypes, and listener’s ignorance. In the field, psychologists’ morals are challenged constantly because of the tests they may have to perform. 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On Painting Summary and Analysis, Leon Battista Alberti Essay Example For Students

On Painting Summary and Analysis, Leon Battista Alberti Essay While referring to many examples in history, Alberta also compares painting to the other crafts and explains why it is more noble, as well as more enjoyable and self-satisfactory To begin tit, Alberta explains why painting is Worthy of all our attention and study,(60) seeing as learning it might seem a difficult and tedious task. Prom the beginning, he is very explicit and forward about his opinion on painting. To Alberta, it holds a diving that can bring back the dead and immortality them for all to be awed by the artists talent. In addition, he mentions how painting brings man closer to the gods and their holiness. He gives the examples Of Cassandra Who trembled before the portrait of Alexander the Great as if he were alive in front Of him, and Seagulls Who refused to let his ugly face be portrayed. Next, Alberta explains paintings capacity to add to everything value. He gives the example of a simple metal which, after being handled by an artist, becomes more valuable than unworried silver. And to conclude this paragraph, Alberta tell the story of Seizes who gave his paintings away because he thought them to be priceless, and believed the artist to behave as a god among mortals (61), This last comment shows how Alberta dollies painters and believes them to have godlike qualities. In the second paragraph, Rather continues to compare painters to gods when he says that painters feel themselves to be almost like the He then goes on to say that among all the arts, painting is the most elite. Accordingly, whatever beauty there is in things has been derived from 61). It seems as if the author is putting the art of painting on a pedestal above all the rest, such as architecture and masonry. Alberta makes it clear that he is not concerned with paintings origins, even though he briefly discusses them. Subsequently, the author uses old writings as reference o strengthen his point of view on how highly painting is esteemed above other crafts history. It is therefore clear that the author believes painting to be somewhat in metaphysical nature, something beyond the ordinary. Throughout history, specifically in ancient Rome and Greece, people admired painting to the point where it was taught to every son Of respectable families, yet forbidden to the slaves. This goes to show how this form of art in particular was considered fit only to those Of high social class. Although it was reserved for the educated and cultured, painting attracted everyone and pleased them equally. In particular, In]tauter herself delights in painting. (Alberta 64) Alberta persists in showing LIST how painting is of nature; he first references nature by saying that Narcissus was the inventor of painting. In the myth of Narcissus, nature plays the role of the artist vivo paints a portrait so beautiful that Narcissus cannot take his eyes off of it. To further convince the reader of the pleasures painting gives, the author recounts a personal anecdote Of how gra tifying and relaxing painting an be. In the final paragraph, Alberta discusses the motives of excelling in painting. Apart from the fact that painting fist the finest and most ancient ornament footings, (64) he is certain that if refined and mastered, it will bring great fame and riches to the artist. Hence, he advises young students to improve their talents and dedicate themselves to perfecting the art of painting. Conclude, whether it is drawn from the many detailed examples, or from his own stories, Liberties opinion on painting is clear. He sees it to be, not only the elite ND most noble of the arts, but also the foundation. .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac , .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac .postImageUrl , .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac , .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac:hover , .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac:visited , .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac:active { border:0!important; } .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac:active , .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ufc89ef32889105f3f1e14b95cec1ecac:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Stylistic Analysis Of A Cup Of Tea EssayTo him, only a divine artist can create a beautiful and worthy piece of art and that is why he portrays the painter as the creator and compares his work to the work of nature. However, the purpose of these 5 paragraphs is mainly to educate and explain to young painters that truly perfecting the art of painting is worth all the pain and effort, because not only do fame and fortune await them, but also self satisfaction and remembrance. Works Cited Alberta, Leon Battista. On Painting. Penguin Books, 1991.

Organizational Theory and Design

Question: Write an analysis on the strategic role of human resources in creating and then sustaining an environment in which your organization will thrive. Answer: Introduction The human resource department is a crucial department, which is responsible for the conceptualization, development and sustenance of an optimum work environment and high degree of productivity. The leaders of the organization should strive for optimum utilization of the organizational resources and striving for continuous development (Epstein Buhovac, 2014). The aim of the organizational leaders should be to push the organization to the topmost position in the global market. The organization- Coca Cola is selected for the purpose of this study. This paper would perform a detailed analysis of the strategic role of the human resources personnel in the process of creating and maintaining excellent work standards. Discussion The human resource department in Coca Cola helps the organization in the implementation of sustainable business practices (Karnani, 2013). There are several critical success factors for every organization, which drive the sustainable business dynamics of the organization. The human resource department plays a critical role in the improvement of the critical success factors (Rummler Brache, 2012). This is described below- Development of a sustainable vision and mission of the company Development of a suitable leadership pipeline Creation of an appropriate organizational structure and implementation of appropriate governance mechanisms that drive the sustainability Development of important functional HR capabilities so that there is creation of sustainable HR processes and systems. Ability of motivation and engagement of the employees. Alignment of the employees with the organizational goals Building agile workplace, which is able to adapt to changes in the internal and external environment (Rummler Brache, 2012). Coca Cola have diverse employees working in the organization for fulfilling the common goals of the organization (Ulrich, 2013). The human resource department should be aware of the individual citizenship behaviors. The individual behaviors of the employees, which influences the overall functioning of a particular organization is known as organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) (Borman Motowidlo, 2014). The individual behavior is neither explicitly mentioned in the job description nor it is specified in the employment contract. The individual behavior is a personal choice and it depends upon the individual to behave in a particular fashion. The OCB is considered to be beneficial for the organization as it enhances the efficiency, ability to attract as well as retain talented employees and the ability for organizational transformation (Arthaud-Day, Rode Turnley, 2012). The human resource managers should identify OCB and strive for the maximum utilization of the same. There are a lot of domains in which the HR plays strategic roles in Coca Cola. The various issues and domains of the organization are discussed below along with the role of HR in each of these domains- Issues of diversity, culture, retention and engagement- There is a need for decreasing the attrition rate of the organizations (Mowday, Porter Steers, 2013). The organizational culture of Coca Cola should be improved and there should be proper management of employees coming from diverse domains (Mowday, Porter Steers, 2013). The employee engagement activities should be focused upon, which increases the satisfaction level of employees (Bal, Kooij De Jong, 2013). The satisfied employees would stick to the organization for a longer time. Redesigning of the performance management- The focus should be made on the development of the skills of the workforce. There is a need to improve peer to peer relationships and focus should be done on the coaching and development (Epstein Buhovac, 2014). The numeric scales, formal evaluations, rankings and others are used to evaluate the performance of the employees (Kehoe Wright, 2013). There is a need of providing positive feedback to the employees based on their performance standards. Ensuring satisfaction of the employees- The modern day organizations are looking for the creation of open workspaces; alter their work locations, open policies like work from home and others (Brooke et al., 2013). The flexibility of the workplace practices and better work-life balance fascinates the employees and there is increased employee satisfaction. The productivity levels of the satisfied employees are more, which contributes to organizational success (Mowday, Porter Steers, 2013). The satisfaction of the employees is also increased by excellent financial and non financial benefits. More emphasis on corporate learning- There is a need for increased specialization of skills of the employees so that they can contribute more to the organizational productivity. There is a need to implement face to face learning and development opportunities (Kolb, 2014). The Coca Cola Company should strive to bring the global workforce together to promote an innovative environment for learning. The traditional methods of e-learning are not appropriate for the modern day organizations (Rummler Brache, 2012). There is a need to introduce an integrated experience of digital learning (Ulrich, 2013). Coca Cola should strive to incorporate an enriching learning culture, increasing employees collaboration and focusing on digital learning tools, like online videos, tutorials and others. The HR manager should incorporate the enhancement of capability development (Rummler Brache, 2012). Redesign of talent acquisition Coca Cola should strive for innovative methods for recruitment and selection of the human resources of the organization. The company should utilize the network recruiting, which implies that the contacts of the employees, contractors, corporate alumni and others should be utilized (Datta Roumani, 2015). The candidates should also be sourced from global networks. The HR personnel should develop a strong candidate pool, leverage external as well as internal networks, train the hiring manager and formulate a suitable strategy for talent acquisition (Ulrich, 2013). Emphasis on career management strategies and talent mobility- The attrition rate of a company poses serious threats to the organization. The organization incurs a great expenditure when hiring a new person. The different costs include cost of hiring, loss of productivity and the reduction in the learning curve of the new hire (Ulrich, 2013). Coca Cola should engage in facilitated talent mobility, which means that the employees should be allowed to move into new suitable job roles (Kehoe Wright, 2013). The employees should be constantly challenged and developed so that they can contribute more to organizational productivity. The company should invest in new recruit orientation, on boarding, offer incentives and others (Rummler Brache, 2012). The company should also develop career coaches to determine the patterns of the movement (Ulrich, 2013). The employees should be promoted as per their level of experience and not just the functional expertise. Adopt innovative tools in HR technology- The talent management process should engage in human resource management systems. The major job functions of human resource involves performance management, payroll, learning, recruiting, succession planning and others, which are best addressed by enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions (Ulrich, 2013). There is a need to hunt for the cost effective vendors who provide the best ERP solutions and human resource information system at the most cost effective way (Rummler Brache, 2012). The organization Coca Cola, should strive for quick adaptation to the changing internal and external environment. The leaders should identify the requirement for change, define the change, develop a suitable action plan, deliver the change process and sustain the change (Rummler Brache, 2012). The HR should devise monitoring mechanisms that reviews the implemented changes (Ulrich, 2013). It is also important to document the various knowledge management systems and make sure that the information is accessible to the new employees as well as existing employees. The leaders should ensure maximum workplace productivity so that the end objectives of the organization are met (Rummler Brache, 2012). The HR leaders should invest in workforce planning and talent analytics (Ulrich, 2013). The talent analytics comprises of the collaboration of the analytics and reporting teams in the compensation, recruitment, leadership and learning job roles. The leaders should engage in efficient planning of the work environment and the formulation of suitable HR strategies (Rummler Brache, 2012). HR The HR personnel of Coca Cola should engage in the process of change management in the organization (Rummler Brache, 2012). The existing processes should be revamped and remodeled so that it meets the organizational objectives. The policies should be formulated in such a way that Coca Cola remains ahead of the competition in the global market. The changes should be rapid and should satisfy the critical success factors of the organization. Conclusion The human resource job roles are not an annual process and should be done once in every year. It is one of the dynamic job roles that need to be addressed by the human resource managers. The human resource plays an important role in creating a professional environment. The rules and policies of the organization should be formulated in such a way that it satisfies the interest of both the organization and the individual employees. The organization should strive to be the most popular and should possess excellent brand image in the market. The organization should strive to be one of the global leaders and this is possible only through the betterment of the human resource policies. References Arthaud-Day, M. L., Rode, J. C., Turnley, W. H. (2012). Direct and contextual effects of individual values on organizational citizenship behavior in teams.Journal of Applied Psychology,97(4), 792. Bal, P. M., Kooij, D. T., De Jong, S. B. (2013). How do developmental and accommodative HRM enhance employee engagement and commitment? The role of psychological contract and SOC strategies.Journal of Management Studies,50(4), 545-572. Borman, W. C., Motowidlo, S. J. (2014).Organizational citizenship behavior and contextual performance: A special issue of human performance. Psychology Press. Brooke, E., Taylor, P., McLoughlin, C., Di Biase, T. (2013). Managing the working body: active ageing and limits to the flexiblefirm.Ageing and Society,33(08), 1295-1314. Datta, P., Roumani, Y. (2015). Knowledge-acquisitions and post-acquisition innovation performance: a comparative hazards model.European Journal of Information Systems,24(2), 202-226. Epstein, M. J., Buhovac, A. R. (2014).Making sustainability work: Best practices in managing and measuring corporate social, environmental, and economic impacts. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Karnani, A. G. (2013). Corporate Social Responsibility Does Not Avert the Tragedy of the Commons--Case Study: Coca-Cola India.Ross School of Business Paper, (1210). Kehoe, R. R., Wright, P. M. (2013). The impact of high-performance human resource practices on employees attitudes and behaviors.Journal of Management,39(2), 366-391. Kolb, D. A. (2014).Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. FT press. Mowday, R. T., Porter, L. W., Steers, R. M. (2013).Employeeorganization linkages: The psychology of commitment, absenteeism, and turnover. Academic Press. Rummler, G. A., Brache, A. P. (2012).Improving performance: How to manage the white space on the organization chart. John Wiley Sons. Ulrich, D. (2013).Human resource champions: The next agenda for adding value and delivering results. Harvard Business Press.

Winter Ecology Ice

Roman Dictators

Roman Dictators The behavior of the Roman dictators- or Magister populi  Praetor Maximus- changed over time, eventually turning into the ruthless, murdering heads of state we now think of (e.g., Sulla), but thats not how they started. The first of the Roman dictators may have been T. Lartius in 499 B.C. His master of the Horse was Sp. Cassius. Consulship and Limited Government After the Romans expelled their kings, they were well aware of the problems of letting a single man hold absolute power for life, so they created a split appointment with a set time period, one year. The split appointment was to the consulship. Since consuls could cancel each other out, it wasnt the most efficient type of government leadership when Rome was in a  crisis caused by war, so the Romans developed a very temporary position that held absolute power in cases of national emergency. Roman Dictators and Imperium Roman dictators- the Senate-appointed men who held this special position- served for 6 months at a time or shorter, if the emergency took less time, with no co-dictator, but instead, a subordinate Master of the Horse (magister equitum). Unlike the consuls, Roman dictators didnt have to fear retribution at the end of their terms in office, so they were free to do what they wished, which was, hopefully, in the best interests of Rome. Roman dictators had imperium, like the consuls, and their lictores carried fasces with axes on either side of the city walls, instead of the usual fasces without axes within the city of Romes pomoerium. UNRV notes that there were 12 lictors for dictators before Sulla and 24 from his day. Source H.G. Liddells A History of Rome From the Earliest Times to the Establishment of the Empire

Contributions of the Austrian School of Thought Essay

Contributions of the Austrian School of Thought - Essay Example The historical school suggested that economic science cannot generate universal principles so scientific research should study historical examination in detail. Principles of Economics reiterated the universal laws’ view of political economy using marginal analysis. Roscher’s students gave Menger and his followers the title of Austrian School for being faculty members at the University of Vienna. There have been no leading figures in economists from any Austrian university in the Austrian school of economics since the 1930s. Between 1930s and 1940s, scholars associated with the Austrian school were located at different universities in Britain and the US. Many ideas of the mid-twentieth-century Austrian economists originate in the classical economists’ ideas or ideas of economists from the early-twentieth-century. The present Austrian school economists are influenced by modern economists. There is no substantive meaning of the label â€Å"Austrian†, though a unique Austrian school of economics does exist in the economic profession. This article discusses the major propositions of economics believed by the Austrians. According to the first proposition, only individuals select which implies that man starts all economic analysis with plan and purpose. Choices are made by individuals rather than by collective entities. The second proposition suggests that the market order study is basically about exchange behavior and organizations undergoing exchange. The science exploring market order is categorized under catallactics. Catallactics discusses emerging exchange relationships in the market, bargaining in the process of exchange, and the institutions that participate in exchange. The third proposition states that the social sciences’ facts are what individuals think about and also believe. Being humans, we can understand other humans’ purposes and plans. Human action sciences vary from natural sciences. Human sciences are ruin ed with them being forced into natural sciences’ philosophical mold. The fourth proposition considers costs and utility to be subjective because the human mind filters all economic phenomena. One has to choose among the various available paths while deciding the courses of action. Focus on choice alternatives leads to opportunity costs. Any action’s cost is the value of the most valuable alternative left out while that action is selected. The fifth proposition states that economization of the price system is based on the information needed by individuals to process in decision making. Price summarizes exchange terms on the market. Market prices quickly change with the change of underlying conditions thus causing people to quickly adjust. According to the sixth proposition, private property is a compulsory condition in the means of production that is needed for rational calculation of economics. Private ownership offers strong incentives for scarce resources’ eff icient allocation. Economic planners cannot correctly calculate the alternative use of production means if money prices do not reflect the means of production’s relative scarcities. The seventh proposition considers the competitive market to be an entrepreneurial discovery process as competition is thought by many economists to be a state of affairs. The entrepreneur plays the role of change agent that pulls and prods markets in different directions since competition is an activity. Market economy and

Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Business - Essay Example The decision of the body will be rested in the hands of the owner and the government or the legislative body of the state. However, many companies fail to follow interests of the last two components of the corporate law which are the citizens and the nation as a whole, its integrity, environment and culture. The trend of globalization has further intensified the competition in the business world, where each company tries to overpower other by whatever means available. Thus, in this race for power and money, it is the local people who become the victim of lies, cruelty and cunningness of companies’ money oriented intentions and plans (McFarland, 2004). This paper is an attempt to illustrate the real essence of Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) and how and which companies have violated it for their self interests. For the paper argument, the Canadian documentary film â€Å"The Corporation† by Joel Bakan is made the prime source (Bakan, 2012). Example of Companies 1. Johnson & Johnson J&J is a renowned brand of cosmetics, shampoo and skin lotions. The company is one of the trend setters in the cosmetics world hiding which hides the danger behind their â€Å"good for skin† products due to the brand reputation (CBS NEWS, 2012). The products of the J&J Company have been found to contain a diluted amount of Carcinogen Formaldehyde in their baby shampoos. In their effort to create a brand new image of a baby shampoo, they came up with an idea of â€Å"No More Tears† to attract their customers. From a customer point, it can be regarded as a great innovation in baby shampoo, but on the cost of healthcare issues (Mercola, 2011). Carcinogen Formaldehyde is one of the materials that can risk to Cancer in the later stages of life. This chemical is also present in their adult products and raises the question of whether their products are actually made for the benefit of people or just for their own benefits (NCI, 2011). However, after been fo und guilty by the Health and Environment Group, the company announced to remove those materials from its products by 2015. These factors leaves the questions that if products of the most famous company which are launched after great research are not safe, can the other products be trusted? (CBS NEWS, 2012) 2. Hershey Hershey is the largest chocolate producing company with worldwide recognition and consumers. It is evident that sales of the company is incomparable to sales of an average company, but still the greed for money cannot be ever satisfied (Hsu, 2012). Hershey Company has been recently indicted by utilizing child labor of Africa, for their cocoa harvesting and refining. The corporate government laws and those of International Labor Organization clearly states that child labor is an act of injustice and should be practiced anywhere in the world (Huff Post Business, 2012). Practices of child labor in the underdeveloped regions show their poverty and strive to earn their livel ihood. However, if the same practice is supported by giant business personnel and organizations like Hershey then it is a clear sign of immorality and easy measure to get low cost labor (Hsu, 2012). 3. KFC KFC is another big name when talking of corporate giants. It is the world’s leading fast food chain with its specialty in fried chickens. It is suspicious that how they fulfill the growing demand of chicken food items throughout the world, with the limited number of farming

Computerized provider order entry(CPOE) Assignment

Computerized provider order entry(CPOE) - Assignment Example These systems are used for various reasons in healthcare. It is worth noting that this system makes it possible for individuals in the health care industry to insert precise and detailed analytical information relating to results from medical investigations to identify presence of disease, prescription information, as well as nursing information and guidelines. This helps individuals to keep proper electronic records. CPOE is a computerized system that helps link medical practitioners with patients medical information, links a medical practitioner with his or her colleagues in the health sector, links all computerized systems in a health institution, and also links one medical unit with other units or departments. CPOE helps reduce errors in the medical field. Some of the information entered in the CPOE system include prescribed amounts of medicines, sensitivities, and patients medical history. Availability of all this information is important as it helps healthcare providers consider all the benefits and possible effects of medications and hence minimize inaccuracies. A methodical investigation conducted in Brigham and Womens Hospital focusing on the effectiveness of CPOE, there was a decline medical mistakes or inaccuracies by fifty five percent in a period of four and half years (Doolan and Bates, 2002) To understand the benefits of CPOE, it is imperative to compare it with paper-based systems. According to Doolan and Bates (2002), "The advantages of CPOE over paper-based methods include decreased transcriptions, increased accuracy and completeness, and the ability to enter orders in multiple locations" (A4). This systems also makes it possible for health care providers to make resolutions regarding the patients health status aptly and timely as all information is readily available and computerized. The implementation of CPOE improves competence and effectiveness in health delivery systems. This is

Indian Civilization Essay

Indian Civilization Essay Introduction India civilization begins from riverbanks which is the Indus river and the Ganges river. India derives its name from the Indus river. Knowledge of Indian civilization has come from two leading cities: Mohenjo Daro and Harappa. These cities are carefully planned where they had wide, straight streets lined with brick houses. These cities had elaborate drainage and sewer systems. Achievements in science and technology of ancient India are divided into few sub parts such as mathematics, astronomy, list of Indian inventions, etc. The history of science and technology in India begins with prehistoric human activity at Mehrgarh (known as Pakistan in present-day) and continues through the Indus Valley Civilization to early states and empires. The British colonial rule introduced western education in India in its efforts to give rise to a native class of civil servants, exposed a number of Indians to foreign institutes of higher learning. Following independence, science and technology in the Republic of India has included automobile engineering, information technology, communications as well as space, polar, and nuclear sciences. The earliest evidence of technological progress in the Indian subcontinent is to be found in the remains of the Harappan civilization (4000-3000 BC). Archaeological remains point to the existence of well-planned urban centres which is orderly fashion along with roads and drainage systems complementing them. The drainage systems were particularly remarkable for the times since they were built underground and were constructed in a manner to allow for regular cleaning. Smaller drains from private homes connected to the larger public drains. Larger private dwellings (flats) were constantly multi-storied and all homes were constructed from standardized fired bricks and provided for separate cooking areas and toilets. Storage facilities for grain and goods for trade were built as were public baths and other buildings intended for various public functions. Urban centres were often planned near riverside or sea-ports. Accurate weights and measures were in use and ports such as Lothal were developed as export centres of early manufactured products from smelted copper and bronze. Kilns (oven for burning) for smelting copper blocks and casting tools were in existence as were metal tools such as curved or circular saws, pierced needles and most significantly, bronze drills with twisted grooves. The drill enabled the production of items with unparalleled precision for the times and could be regarded as an ancient precursor of the modern machine tool. There is also evidence of planned irrigation systems and it appears that fire and flood control measures to protect farms and villages were also in place. Artisans made use of the wheel and clay pottery was decorated in a variety of colours and designs. Cotton was grown and used to produce textiles. Urban centres in the Harappan region traded with each other as well as with counterparts in Babylon, the Persian Gulf, Egypt and possibly the Mediterranean. The span of the Harappan civilization was quite extensive, and included much of modern Sindh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Western UP. But prior to its disappearance, there is also evidence of considerable social decay and disintegration. Excavations from the later phases of the Harappan civilization suggest that population pressures led to greater anarchy in building construction. Urban dwellings became smaller and settlements became more unplanned indicating a breakdown of social practices and structures that promoted urban regulations and enforced construction codes. Between 1800 and 1700 BCE, civilization on the Indus Plain vanished. The degeneration of these people is unknown. One suspected cause is a shift in the Indus River. Another is that people dammed the water along the lower portion of the Indus River without realizing the consequences such as flooding up river. Another suspected cause is a decline in rainfall. Agriculture declined and people abandoned the cities in search of food. Later, a few people of a different culture settled in some of the abandoned cities, in what archaeologists call a squatter period. Then the squatters disappeared. Knowledge of the Mohenjo-daro and Harappa civilization died until archaeologists discovered the civilization in the mid-19th century. From complex Mohenjo-daro and Harappan towns to Delhis Qutub Minar, Indias indigenous technologies were very sophisticated. They included the design and planning of water supply, traffic flow, natural air conditioning, complex stone work, and construction engineering. In forthcoming sections, we are going to discuss in detail about the ancient Indias civilization and their contributions towards science and technology in the present world. Indians Contribution towards Mathematics In the period of 400 AD to 1200 AD, important contributions were made by scholars like Aryabhata, Brahmagupta and Bhaskara II. The decimal number system that we are using today was first recorded in Indian mathematics. Indian mathematicians made early contributions to the study of the concept of zero as a number, negative numbers, arithmetic, trigonometry and algebra formulae. Some of the areas of mathematics studied in ancient and medieval India includes Arithmetic (decimal system, negative numbers, zeros, floating point numbers, number theory, infinity, transfinite numbers, irrational numbers), Geometry (square roots, cube roots, Pythagorean triples, transformation, Pascals triangle), Algebra (quadratic equations, qubic equations and quartic/biquadratic equations), Mathematical logic (formal grammars, formal language theory, the Panini-Backus form, recursion), General mathematics (Fibonacci numbers, earliest forms of Morse code, logarithms, indices, algorithms, algorism) and Trigonometry (trigonometric functions, trigonometric series). There are some evidences showing the application of mathematics by ancient Indians. Excavations at Harappa, Mohenjo-daro and other sites of the Indus Valley Civilization have uncovered evidence of the use of practical mathematics. Those people manufactured bricks whose dimensions were in the proportion 4:2:1, considered favourable for the stability of a brick structure. They used a standardized system of weights based on few ratios like 1/20, 1/10, 1/5 and etc. with the unit weight equalling approximately 28 grams. They mass produced weights in regular geometrical shapes which included hexahedra, barrels, cones and cylinders, thereby demonstrating knowledge of basic geometry. The inhabitants of Indus civilization also tried to standardize measurement of length to a high degree of accuracy. They designed a ruler (the Mohenjo-daro ruler) whose unit of length (approximately 1.32 inches or 3.4 centimetres) was divided into ten equal parts. Bricks manufactured in ancient Mohenjo-daro often had dimensions that were integral multiples of this unit of length. Indians Contribution towards Constructions Field The Indus-Sarasvati (Harappan) Civilization was the worlds first to build planned towns with underground drainage, civil sanitation, hydraulic engineering, and air-cooling architecture. Weights and measurements were standardized and oven-baked bricks were invented in India using these guidelines. There are many pioneering (first to explore new ideas/method) items of civil engineering such as drainage systems for water (open and closed), irrigation (water supply) systems, river dams, water storage tanks carved out of rock, granaries with ducts and platforms, moats (wide water channel dug surrounding a place), middle-class style homes with private bathrooms and drainage and even a dockyard (place to repair ships). There is evidence of stairs for multiple-storied buildings. Many towns have separate citadels (military stronghold); strongly fortified upper and lower towns. There are separate worker quarters near copper furnaces (place to heat material at very high temperature). Indians also pioneered many engineering tools for construction, surgery, warfare, etc. This includes the hollow drill, the true saw and the needle with the hole on its pointed end. Indians Contribution through Usage of Materials Since iron can be a secondary product of copper technology, its likely to be origin from India because copper was a well-known technology in many parts of ancient India. A smelting furnace dated 800 BCE is found in Naikund (Maharashtra), India. Recent discoveries reveal that iron was known in the Ganga valley. The Indian wootz steel[1] was very popular in Persian courts for making swords. Rust-free steel was an Indian invention and remained as an Indian skill for centuries. Delhis famous iron pillar, dated 402 CE is considered a metallurgical wonder and shows a very few signs of rust. The famous Damascus steel swords were made from Indian steel imported by Europeans. The acclaimed Sheffield steel in UK was Indian crucible steel. The best brains of European science worked for decades to learn to reverse-engineer how Indians made crucible steel and in this process, modern alloy design and physical metallurgy was developed in Europe. Another important Indian contribution to metallurgy was in the isolation, distillation and use of zinc. From natural sources, zinc content in alloys such as brass can go no higher than 28 per cent. A major breakthrough in the history of metallurgy was Indias discovery of zinc distillation whereby the metal was vaporized and then condensed back into pure metal. Brass in Taxashila has been dated from third century BCE to fifth century CE. The earliest confirmed evidence of zinc smelting by distillation is Zawar. This is the earliest place for zinc smelting and production of metallic zinc by distillation process anywhere in the world. Europeans learnt it for the first time in 1743, when expertise was transferred from India. Until then, India had been exporting pure zinc for centuries on an industrial scale. At archaeological sites in Rajasthan, retorts[2] used for the distillation are found in very large numbers even today. Once zinc had become separated into a pure metal, alloys could be made with the required zinc component to provide the required properties. For instance, strength and durability increase with higher zinc component. In addition, copper alloys look like gold when the zinc component is higher than 28 per cent. Most early brass objects found in other countries had less than 10 per cent zinc component, and, therefore, these were not based on zinc distillation technology. It was in Zawar, Rajasthan, where this first became industrialized on a large scale. Zinc mines have been found in Dariba (11th century BCE), Agucha (sixth century BCE) and Zawar (fifth century BCE). These mines have pots and other manufacturing tools of these dates, but the mining could be even older. Unsurprisingly, developments in metallurgy also had their impact on artillery (large guns) production. According to A. Rahman (Science in Medieval India), by the 16th century, the heaviest guns in the world were being cast in India and a variety of weapons were being manufactured in the subcontinent. The Jaigarh cannon factory was one of Indias best and before the crucial battle of 1857, the Jaipur Rajputs laid claim to owning Asias largest cannon. Yet, none of the Rajput cannons were ever used to confront the British who succeeded in conquering the sub-continent without ever having to fight against the countrys best equipped armies, thus demonstrating that technological progress is not an end in itself. Indians Contribution through Usage of Nature Resources Many interesting findings have recently come out about the way forests and trees were managed by each village and how a careful method was applied to harvest medicines, firewood and building material in accordance with natural renewal rates. Discoveries concerning the manufacture and application of natural and artificial dyes were first implemented by Indians. Block printing and dye and other textile-dyeing techniques were popularized. The use of mordants[3] in colour-fast dyeing of textiles became known as did the knowledge of lacquers that could be applied to wood or leather. Paints that could be used on different building materials were developed and elaborate techniques were employed to prevent fading and loss of colour during the heavy monsoons. Indian farmers developed non-chemical, eco-friendly pesticides and fertilizers that have modern applications. These traditional pesticides have been recently revived in India with excellent results, replacing Union Carbides[4] products in certain markets. Crop rotation and soil technology that has been passed down for thousands of years are traditional practices which India pioneered. Historically, Indias agricultural production was large and sustained a huge population compared to other parts of the world. Surpluses (excess of production/supply) were stored for use in a drought year. But the British turned this industry into a cash cow, exporting very large amounts of grain even during food shortages. This caused tens of millions of Indians to die of starvation in the 19th century. Given the importance of fresh water in India, it is no surprise that the technologies to manage water resources were highly advanced from Harappan times onwards. For example, in Gujarat, Chandragupta built the Sudarshan Lake in late 4th century BCE, and was later repaired in 150 BCE by his grandson. Bhopals Raja Bhoj Lake, built in 1014-1053, is so massive that it shows up in satellite images. The Vijayanagar Empire built such a large lake in 14th 15th century CE that it has more construction material than the Great Wall of China. Scientists estimate there were 1.3 million man-made water lakes and ponds across India, some as large as 250 square miles. These are now being rediscovered using satellite imagery. These enabled rain water to be harvested and used for irrigation, drinking, etc. till the following years rainfall. Indians Contribution towards Medical Field Genuine cures were listed with unscientific practices without clear distinction. But during the rational period in India the emphasis on the scientific method led to a much greater level of accuracy with respect to the efficacy of different medicines and medical procedures. The more accurately the Indian medical practitioner was able to observe reality, understand bodily functions and test the efficacy of popular medical techniques, the more successful were the prescribed cures. Dissection of corpses and careful monitoring of different diseases was an important component in the study and practice of medicine. With greater success in treatment came greater confidence and allowed medical practitioners to conduct surgical procedures using a variety of surgical tools though its unsophisticated in comparison to modern surgical equipment. Procedures for inducing unconsciousness or numbing body parts that were to be operated on were required and developed. Tools for excision, incision, puncturing, probing, organ or part extraction, fluid drainage, bloodletting, suturing and cauterization were developed. Various types of bandages and ointments were used as were basic procedures for ensuring cleanliness and limiting contamination. The caesarian section was known, bone-setting reached a high degree of skill, and plastic surgery developed far beyond anything known elsewhere at the time. Indian surgeons also became proficient at the repair of noses, ears and lips lost or injured in battle or by judicially mandated mutilation. Traditional cataract surgery was performed with a special tool called the Jabamukhi Salaka, a curved needle used to loosen the lens and push the cataract out of the field of vision. Brahmanic hospitals were established in what is now Sri Lanka as early as 431 BCE. Ashoka also established a chain of hospitals throughout the Mauryan empire by 230 BCE. While all ancient societies cherished and admired the skills of the medical practitioner, it was the more determined adoption of the scientific approach that enabled Indian medicine to make a quantum leap over the older medical systems of the time. Progress in medicine also led to developments in chemistry and chemical technologies. The manufacture of alkaline substances, medicinal powders, ointments and liquids was systematized, as were chemical processes relating to the manufacture of glass. Advances in food processing (such as manufacture of sugar, condiments and edible oils) took place as did the manufacture of personal hygiene products and beauty aids (such as shampoos, deodorizers, perfumes and cosmetics). Indians Contribution towards Shipping, Trading, Geography and Astronomy Shipbuilding was one of Indias major export industries until the British destroy it and officially prohibited it. Middle Age Arab sailors purchased their boats in India. The Portuguese also continued to get their boats from India and not Europe. Some of the worlds largest and most sophisticated ships were built in India and China. There is also extensive archival material on the Indian Ocean trade in Greek, Roman, and Southeast Asian sources. Indians are well known as traders of items like diamond, brass ornaments, gun powders, metal made swords, iron made indigo dye, copper, bronze, wootz steel, textiles, etc. Archaeologists have found geometric compasses which linear scales made of ivory. The compass and other navigation tools were already in use in the Indian Ocean long before Europe. Using their expertise in the science of seafaring, Indians participated in the earliest-known ocean-based trading system. Few people know that an Indian naval pilot, named Kanha, was hired by Vasco da Gama to captain his ships and take him to India. Deep-sea shipping had existed in India as Indian ships had been sailing to islands such as the Andamans, Lakshdweep and Maldives around 2,000 years ago. Kautilya (sacred scripture) which describes the times that are good and bad for seafaring was used as guidance. Astronomy is one area which has fascinated all mankind from the beginnings of history. The first textual mention of astronomical concepts comes from the Vedas (religious literature of India). In India, the first references to astronomy are to be found in the Rig Veda which is dated around 2000 B.C. Vedic Aryans in fact deified (worshipped) the Sun, Stars and Comets. Indians also prepared lunar calendars which were based on lunar cycle. This type of calendar (lunar calendar) is still in use today. According to Sarma (2008): One finds in the Rigveda, intelligent speculations about the genesis (origin) of the universe from nonexistence (non-real), the configuration of the universe, the spherical self-supporting earth, and the year of 360 days divided into 12 equal parts of 30 days each with a periodical intercalary (in leap years) month. Famous mathematician and astronomer, Aryabhata gave some great calculation regarding space that is almost correct. He presented his theory of heliostat, which means that planets revolve around the sun. This theory was presented about a millennium before than the theory presented by Galileo. In 20th century, world famous S Chandrashekhar presented his theory regarding black holes. References [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_valley_civilization [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Indian_science_and_technology [3] Aspects of Ancient Indian Technology H.C. Bhardwaj [4] An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology edited by A.Ghosh Volume I [5] http://yomi.mobi/egate/History_of_Indian_science_and_technology/73/a [6] http://dont-forget-your-passport.blogspot.com/2009/12/ancient-indias-contribution-to-science.html [7] http://members.tripod.com/~INDIA_RESOURCE/technology.htm [8] http://www.indianchild.com/harappa.htm [9] http://www.archaeolink.com/ancient_indus%20and%20indian%20civilizations_ancient_india.htm [10] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_inventions [1] an exceptional grade of iron ore steel first made in southern and south central India and Sri Lanka perhaps as early as 300 BC [2] a container used in distilling liquids [3] combines with dye and fixes it in material [4] one of the oldest chemical and polymer companies in the United States

Nutsedge: Weedy Pest or Crop of the Future? :: Botany

Nutsedge: Weedy Pest or Crop of the Future? Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) is an invasive weed in the United States. It is often regarded as a useless pest to home gardeners as well as commercial growers. Along with being a useless weed it is difficult to control. Several commercial herbicides have been labeled for use exclusively on yellow nutsedge and are available at local retailers. This, of course, indicates much research has gone into the development of chemicals to eradicate it. In a country that spends much of it's time and money on programs focusing on the advancement of crop production has the yellow nutsedge been labeled unfairly? Could the U.S. find use for Cyperus esculentus L.? A look into it's past and present might reveal a profitable future. Cyperus esculentus is in the order Commelinales and the family Cyperaceae. Cyperus esculentus can be distinguished from other species of New World nutsedge by its persistent linear brown spiklets that have closely appressed overlapping scales. This perennial plant is self-incompatible. The stem of yellow nutsedge is triangularand has a light green-yellow color. Rhizomes that terminate in tubers are the main means of reproduction, although it does produce viable seed. It is interesting to note that the name Linnaeus chose for this sedge, esculentus, means edible in latin (6). The two varieties of interest to us are Cyperus esculentus var. esculentus (weedy) and Cyperus esculentus var. sativus (cultivated). Most literature uses the name Cyperus esculentus for both the weedy and the useful sedge. The weedy variety esculentus produces many seeds although the cultivated variety sativus produces few. Yellow nutsedge (weedy) has been reported to produce 605 million seeds per hectare in Massachusetts (4). Both reproduce vegetatively in great numbers. Research indicates that a single nutsedge tuber can produce about 1900 plants and 7000 tubers in one yearly (8). The weedy nutsedge was introduced to the Dutch Netherlands in the late 1970's concealed in Gladiolus and it was so invasive that in 1984 a restriction was implemented by the government. This regulation prohibits the harvest of any root crop in a field that is infested with the yellow nutsedge (3). Cyperus esculentus var. esculentus and Cyperus esculentus var. sativus are closely related according to Moshe Negbi (6). The color of the tubers appears to be one unusual character. Variety sativus has a grey-orange color and variety esculentus has a grayed brown color according to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (3).

Critique of the medical research Essay

Introduction (2) What is the purpose of the study?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the various factors for the prolonged pre-hospital delay in African-American with Acute myocardial infarction.   Another purpose of the study is to demonstrate the manner in which perceived racism (experience of racial discrimination) affects the pre-hospital delay. Is the purpose of the study clearly presented?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The study has demonstrated to a certain extent that several related factors such as ethnic background, medical insurance, presence of a witness (relative or a family member during the attack), marital status, general health status, presence of any systemic disease and perceived racism, do play a very important role in prolonging the time period between the onset of the symptoms and hospitalization.   However, further studies are required to provide more detailed information about these factors. Problem Statement (5) What problem was the study conducted to resolve?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The study was conducted to determine the factors associated with prolonged pre-hospital delay in African-Americans with acute myocardial infarction than Whites.   It was found that death due to cardiovascular disease claims were significantly higher in African-Americans than any other group.   Besides, the study was also conducted to demonstrate the extent to which perceived racism affects the pre-hospital delay in African-Americans with acute myocardial infarction. How is the problem important for nursing practice?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Acute myocardial infarction is one of the main causes of death in both, men and women, living in developed countries.   Fatalities due to cardiovascular disease are significantly higher in African-Americans than any other racial group.   The outcome following acute myocardial infarction varies depending on the rapidity at which with reperfusion therapy is provided.   In this treatment intervention, the blood supply to the heart is restored back to normal. Agents that chemically dissolve thrombi (clots formed within the blood vessels) or expand blood vessels (vasodilators) are administered.   Besides, surgical procedures such as angioplasty (reconstruction of the blocked artery), catheterization (insertion of an inflatable balloon-tipped tubular device) or coronary artery bypass (grafting a section of a vein), may also be performed to restore the blood supply to the cardiac tissues. Reperfusion therapy seems to be most valuable when provided within one hour following the development of symptoms and signs of myocardial infarction.   Delay in providing treatment may play an important role in increasing the morbidity and mortality rates of acute myocardial infarction.   As African-Americans take longer time in seeking treatment for the symptoms and signs of acute myocardial infarction than Whites, the outcome will definitely be less favorable in African-Americans.   Hence, measures to lower delay times can be instituted in African-Americans with acute myocardial infarction. Is the problem statement clearly stated? Describe.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The delay in seeking treatment for the symptoms and signs of acute myocardial infarction are longer in African-Americans than Whites.   As the period between the onset of the symptoms and signs of acute myocardial infarction and institution of treatment plays a very critical role on the outcome of the disorder, the specific factors associated with prolonged pre-hospital delay in African-Americans should be determined.   The problem statement is clearly mentioned. Research Question(s) What is the research question? If not stated, what would you say the research question is?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A good research question would be â€Å"To study the causes or factors associated with prolonged pre-hospital delay in African-Americans with acute myocardial infarction†. Hypotheses What is the hypothesis? If not stated, what would you say the hypothesis is?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From the study, it is clearly evident that African-Americans take longer time to seek emergency medical help for acute myocardial infarction than whites.   However, perceived racism (actual experience of racial discrimination) did not play an important role. Study Variables What are the independent and dependent variables? Or, if it is a descriptive or correlational design, what are the research variables?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this study, a descriptive design is used.  Ã‚   To determine the factors associated with prolonged pre-hospital delays independent t tests and chi square tests were used.   The independent variable includes ethnic group.   The dependent variables include experience of racial discrimination, sex (males and females), presence of a witness, insurance, marital status, etc. Review of Literature In what way(s) does the literature review support the need for this study?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The literature obtained during the study only demonstrates the various factors that may prolong the pre-hospital delay in African-Americans.   These factors are however not specific to the African-American group only.   Further studies are needed to show how similar factors could play a role in prolonging the pre-hospital delay in other racial groups. Does the review of literature guide you to the study?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The review of the literature does guide to the study.   The review demonstrates the current incidence and mortality scenario of acute myocardial infarction in the African-American race.   It also demonstrates the need for immediate reperfusion treatment.   The study also shows how individuals of the African-American race are at a greater risk of developing acute myocardial infarction than Whites.   However, more details need to be provided. Are there existing gaps in the literature identified by the author(s)?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   No, the gaps in the literature are not identified by the author.   The author could have also tried to study other factors that could play an important role in prolonging pre-hospital delays such as educational levels, socio-economic status, urban/rural divide, etc. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework Does the study have a conceptual or theoretical framework? If so, briefly describe the model or framework?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The study is based on a conceptual framework.   The framework describes several factors associated with prolonged pre-hospital delay such as ethnic group, sex, general health status, insurance status, marital status, etc.   These variables cannot be clearly defined, and only the possible role they play, can be described. Is a rationale stated for the conceptual/theoretical framework? Explain   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The various factors associated with prolonged pre-hospital delay include sex, ethnic group, general health status, insurance position, etc.   As these cannot be clearly defined and only their possible roles are defined, a conceptual framework is suggested. Ethodological aspects Research design What study design is used?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A descriptive design is being used. In what way(s) is the design used an appropriate one?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The author is justifying a phenomenon.   Certain variables are being studied which can be determined earlier and later in time. Were pilot study findings used to design the major study? No, pilot studies were not being used.   However, references were being made to previous studies. Name and describe at least two threats to the internal validity of the study design.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The two threats to the internal validity of the study design include history threat (in which some historic event has occurred which makes the individual aware) and testing threat (in which some form of pretest may make the individual aware of any similar tests in future). Name and describe at least two threats to the external validity of the study design.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Three threats to the external validity of the study design include different people (results of the study may be due to unusual people), different places (were perhaps the educational background was different) or different time (at which the incidence of acute myocardial infarction were higher than normal). What are the extraneous variables in this study? How are they being controlled for in this study?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The extraneous variables in this study are the time period between the onset of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction and provision of reperfusion therapy.   African-Americans take significantly longer than whites in seeking treatment for the symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (3.2 hours to 2 hours). Target Population, Sample, and Setting Who is the target population for the study?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The target population of the study is African-Americans who had acute myocardial infarction. What sampling method was used?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Quota sampling is being used in this study.   The stratums of the population that have the criteria are selected.   From this stratum, convenience or judgment is used to select the 64 subjects for the study. What are the sample inclusion and exclusion criteria? If not stated, what would you say they are? Inclusion criteria – African-Americans, who had acute myocardial infarction, 18 years and older, who could understand and speak English, conscious and properly oriented, living as in their communities independently, had a steady circulatory system. Exclusion (not mentioned) – Whites, individual below 18 years of age, non-English speaking, those who were not properly oriented. In what way(s) is the sample large enough?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The study was reasonably large enough as it was conducted in 5 hospitals, in 2 areas of a state. In what way(s) is the sample representative of the population?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The sample represents an important portion of the population.   This group is one that acute myocardial infarction can occur.   African-Americans are a major group of USA.   Adults are being used in the study.   Besides, English-speaking portion of the population is being studied. Is the setting appropriate for this study? Explain your answer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes, the settings are appropriate for this study.   The study s being conducted within a month after the individual had myocardial infarction.   This ensures full recovery from the attack and also fresh memories of the event. Data Collection Describe data collection instrument/measurement tools.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Data was being collected by personal interview a month after the acute myocardial infarction. In what way is the support for instrument validity and reliability adequate for use in this study?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The study was being conducted on individuals who were alert, properly oriented, above 18 years of age and who could speak and understand English.   The chance of the results being not reliable was less.   However, some individuals may not exactly remember the pre-hospital delay. In what way(s) are the instruments used appropriate for this study?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The instruments used were appropriate for the study, as most of the question being asked were based on general facts (such as marital status, insurance, general health status, etc). Describe procedures used for data collection.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Before conducting the study, approval had been sought from the appropriate institutional review board and all other participating groups.   Then the patients who met the criteria were being selected, from 5 hospitals in 2 areas of the State.   They were being studied from April, 2003 to June, 2004.   The subjects were appropriately diagnosed for acute myocardial infarction based on the history, laboratory tests, ECG and a surgical intervention.   They were interviewed within a month after the attack, to ensure that they had recovered fully, as well as not forgotten details of the event. Data Analysis Are the statistical tests used identified and the values reported?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes, statistical tests are being used in this study, namely: – independent t tests and chi square tests.   Values were also being provided from the 2 groups being compared (namely: – males V. females, insured V. non-insured, single V. married, etc). Are the statistics appropriate for the level of measurement of each variable, sample size, sampling method, and research questions/hypotheses?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes the statistics are appropriate for each variable, sample size, sampling method and research hypothesis. What is the level of statistical significance used in interpreting the study results? Was this stated or implied?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The results have been interpreted to the 0.01 level, thus showing that they are reliable.   This was implied. Ethical aspects Ethical issues What way(s) have the rights of human subjects been adequately protected during this study? The human subjects were being adequately protected during the study.   No identity of any subject has been given.   3 out of the 64 chosen from the study were being allowed to opt out.   The subjects were being adequate amount of time to fully recover from the acute myocardial infarction.   Besides, only individuals above the age of 18 and those who were conscious, alert and well-oriented were chosen. 2. was the research approved and monitored by an Institutional Review Board or similar ethics review committee?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes, only after seeking prior approval from the appropriate institutional review board and all the participative groups, was the study being conducted. Interpretive Aspects Discussion What are two major strengths of the scientific rigor of the study?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The two major strengths of the scientific rigor of this study includes:- The sampling method used was a quota sampling method, in which the stratums of the population that have the criteria are selected. From this stratum convenience or judgment is used to select the 64 subjects for the study. Independent t tests and chi square tests were being employed to study the several factors associated with prolonged pre-hospital delay.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These were most appropriate in this case.               Ã‚   Do the figures and tables illuminate the presentation of results?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The figures give us an exact idea of the role each and every factor was playing on the pre-hospital delay.   The figures suggest that the findings are more reliable.    Are study limitations identified? If so, what are the two major limitations of the scientific rigor of the study?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The two major limitations of the scientific rigor of this study:- The chances of errors in this study are high as the data collecting methods are not appropriate (subject may not remember the period of the pre-hospital delay). The factors associated with prolonged pre-hospital delays may not be specific to the African-American group. The study did not concentrate on several other associated factors such as socio-economic status, rural-urban divide, educational levels, etc. In what way(s) are the implications of the study findings appropriate?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The study shows that the pre-hospital delay was longer than one hour.   This meant that the individual was not going to benefit much from reperfusion therapy.   The study also showed that perceived racism did not affect the pre-hospital delay much. What recommendations for nursing practice and future research have been made?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Some of the recommendations that have been made include: – Educating the patients and their families. Lowering the pre-hospital time. Further research in studying the role of other associated factors. Summary and Conclusions In what way(s) are the conclusions of the study appropriate?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The study goes on to show the present state of affairs in African-Americans.   As the pre-hospital delay was significantly longer than one hour, they are not going to benefit much from reperfusion therapy (the benefits of such therapy is best when administered within an hour after the onset of symptoms and signs of acute myocardial infarction). Besides, the study has also suggested that only through adequate education and counseling of the patients and their families, could the outcome be improved (to enable shorter pre-hospital delays).   The study has not only shown, the various factors that play an important role in prolonging the pre-hospital delay, but has also suggested that such delays should be decreased in order to improve the benefits, prognosis and survival rates. Do the benefits of the study outweigh the risks?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes, the benefits of the study definitely outweigh the risks.   Many studies conducted in the past have shown that African-Americans take longer time than Whites to seek medical help for the symptoms of acute myocardial infarction.   However, it is the first study that has demonstrated the various factors associated with prolonged pre-hospital delay in African-Americans. Presentation and Stylistic Aspects Title Does the title of the article accurately describe the study? In what way does it or does it not?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The title describes the study.   It demonstrates the various factors responsible for the prolonging the pre-hospital delay in African-American with the symptoms of acute myocardial infarction.   However, such factors may not be specific only to the African-American Community.   They could even exist in other communities.   Further studies are required to assess the role of similar factors on other communities and the role of other factors on the African-American community. Is the language used in the title understandable and informative?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes, the language used in the title is simple, understandable and informative. Complicated words are seldom being used. Is the title clear and concise?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes, the title is clear and concise.   It gives us an idea briefly of the problems and the factors the study is going to assess. Researcher Qualifications Are researcher(s) qualifications presented?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes, the researches full qualifications are presented in the Abstract.   Angela D. Banks is a Registered Nurse and has completed her PhD.   Kathleen Dracup is also a Registered Nurse and has done her DNSc (Doctor of Nursing Science). Are researcher(s) qualified to conduct the research? Justify your answer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes, both researchers are qualified to conduct research in this field.   Emergency management of acute myocardial infarction requires appropriate Nursing Services.   Evidence-Based Nursing Management will help solve problems encountered by the nurses through:- Identifying the problem using current and appropriate nursing information and practices. Searching relevant research data for a suitable option Studying the option for evidence using criteria established. Choosing the most appropriate intervention. This study is conducted using scientific methods and current nursing knowledge.   The conclusion suggested is also based on current medical evidence. Abstract Does the abstract contain enough information about the study so the reader understands essence of article?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes, the abstract contains enough information so as to give the reader an idea of the article. Does the abstract state the purpose of the study, problems investigated, research question or hypothesis, study design and methods used, sample, instruments used, results or findings?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes the abstract brieflTitle of Articley states the purpose of the study, problems investigated, research question, hypothesis, study design and methods used, sample, instruments used, results.   It eve suggests ways the problem can be solved. Is the abstract 100 to 200 words in length?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The abstract is about 225 words in length and is roughly within its limits. Presentation Does the format of the article follow the research process?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes, the format follows the research process.    Is the article organized and sufficiently concise?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   No, the article is not well-organized.   The article is concise.    Is the article written using correct grammar and sentence structure?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes, the grammar is reasonably correct and the sentence structure is normal.    Do cited references appear in reference list?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yes, the references do appear in the list.    Are cited references current?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Some of the references are not current. References Allende, J.E. (2004), â€Å"Rigor – The essence of scientific work†, Electron. J. Biotechnol, vol. 7, no. 1. http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?pid=S0717-34582004000100001&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en Banks, A.D. and Dracup, K. (2006), â€Å"Factors associated with prolonged prehospital delay of African Americans with acute myocardial infarction.†, Am J Crit Care, vol. 15, no. 2, March. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16501134&dopt=Abstract http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-5363827/Factors-associated-with-prolonged-prehospital.html Emden, C. and Hancock, H. (1996), Oral presentation: Scientific rigor and qualitative research, [Online], Available: http://www.cochrane.org/colloquia/abstracts/adelaide/ADELO218.htm, [Accessed: 2006, October 31]. Gurtwiz, J.H. et al (1997), â€Å"Delayed Hospital Presentation in Patients Who Have Had Acute Myocardial Infarction†, Annals of Int Med, vol. 126, no. 8, 15th April, pp. 593-599. http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/abstract/126/8/593?ck=nck Indiana University (2001), Unit 4: Descriptive Designs, [Online], Available: http://www.indiana.edu/~educy520/topic_intro/520topic_4.html#designs, [Accessed: 2006, October 31]. JJEC (1998), Glossary, [Online], Available: http://www.jrsa.org/jjec/resources/definitions.html, [Accessed: 2006, October 31]. Stat Pac (1997), Survey Sampling Methods, [Online], Available: http://www.statpac.com/surveys/sampling.htm, [Accessed: 2006, October 31]. Trochim, WM.K. (2006), External Validity, [Online], Available: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/external.htm, [Accessed: 2006, October 31]. Trochim, WM.K. (2006), Single Group Threats, [Online], Available: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/intsing.htm, [Accessed: 2006, October 31]. University of Minnesota (2001), Evidence Based Nursing, [Online], Available: http://evidence.ahc.umn.edu/ebn.htm , [Accessed: 2006, October 31].