Privacy of Electronic Medical Records

A service related health care organization with staff to patient ration of 1:100 can be described as acutely understaffed. This is a scenario where nurses and doctors are allocated more patients than they can handle efficiently. It puts patients at a danger of getting worse medically or even dying.This is a situation where drug errors, diagnosis and other medical errors are likely to occur. Due to nurse attrition they may record wrong findings and measurements because of pressure to accomplish certain goals within limited time. In most cases understaffed organizations suffer lack of technological input where it is manifested by use of outdated methods of.In a case where a hospital is understaffed, communication among doctors and other staff in such a hospital is poor thus leading to problems that have a ripple effect nature in the running of the institution. Administrative functions are hampered because most of the duties have to be executed manually.The quality of health care is ver y poor because every patient is not given the proper personal attention that they require because other patients will be waiting for the physician that is attending to him or her. Lack of accuracy in writing medical records is commonplace for such an institution because writing the information manually can make someone feel worn out at some point and result in erratic writing.Another cause for errors is the fact that some of the prescriptions or diagnoses are done in illegible handwriting giving a hard time to those who are supposed to act on them.Patients’ mortality and morbidity rate is therefore high as a result. Due to the large number of patients that have to be attended to by one nurse, a problem of retrieval of medical information of the patients becomes a hectic task because files have to be searched manually.This puts patients who need urgent treatment at a risk because time may be lost in trying to allocate their personal information which normally has their medical history and forms the basis on which the physicians act. In addition to this the files may be dilapidated because of wear and tear making the information blurred and illegible, and some of the materials could also get misplaced and scattered all over. All these problems summed up, lead to poor co-ordination in the hospital as well as inefficiencies in the administration.Information technology is indispensable in any health organization because according to Jack Duncan it facilitates health care that is of high quality and is cost effective.Through Electronic Medical Records, Once a patient visits the hospital they give their personal information and on diagnosis of their ailment, findings are recorded against the information as well as other details like prescriptions and orders to other health institutions. This technology ensures accuracy, precision and completeness. It is the same development that enables the creation of reminders and alerts for practitioners to administer drugs to patients thereby saving lives.Electronic Medical records are advantageous in that with consent from patients, other health providers have access to their medical records. The advantage of having such a situation is that a patient is attended to in time since less time is used in finding out his or her medical history regardless of which health institution he or she has attended. Some patients call in hospital too sick to talk or are even subconscious but once some basic information is known about them like their identification, the physician goes right ahead with treatment without having to interview them.Electronic medical records are kept by health organizations for reference and must be kept securely. It is a statutory requirement under state and federal laws for every health organization to keep them protected from access by unauthorized people (Barrows, Randolph and Clayton, Paul. 1996).The security is for the protection of patients from victimization by employers because o f certain health conditions or by their insurers. Disclosure of patients’ confidential information is capable of jeopardizing the integrity of the organization involved on account of defamation, medical malpractice and subjection of patients to emotional distress (Bennett, Bob. 1995).A health care organization therefore has the legal obligation to provide security for any confidential medical information. Physicians are also not allowed to have access to a patient’s medical record without their consent. Electronic technology enhances efficiency in the storage of medical records as well as accessibility.

The enchantress Returns

Brave Chris Colfer's novel The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns tells the story of two 12-year-old twins, Alex and Connor Bailey, who went on an adventure to save their mother, and perhaps the world, against the will of their grandmother. The Enchantress, the witch who tried to kill Sleeping Beauty, attempted to take over The Land of Stories and the Otherworld (the land where the common people live). I admired Alex for her bravery and intelligence which she showed when she was trying o save her mother and the Fairy-Tale World.Initially, I saw Alex as very foolish and immature to run away from home, but my understanding grew when I realized that from Alex's perspective, family is the most important of all. When Alex first appeared in the story, I thought, â€Å"Really, what can a child do in a crisis? † It turns out that children can really make a difference upon further reading. We first saw that Alex was rather frustrated when her grandmother kept them hostage from go ing after their mom, who had been kidnapped.So, she pried information from their ‘hostage holder' and showed incredible bravery when she ran away from home and â€Å"hijacked Mother Goose's giant goose† ( ), which she used to fly to her grandmother's cottage. She also showed her bravery when she was captured by Trollbella (half troll, half goblin) in the Land of Stories. She showed bravery in this situation when she â€Å"kicked the troblin in the rump† (Line ). In the ending, Alex had the audacity to go up against the Enchantress and defeated her by using her bravery.In summary, I came to see that by using her bravery and intelligence, Alex was really strong and she immensely cared about family in order to do what she did. Having to face the Enchantress, who killed many, being alone, was quite frightening. However, she pushed through and won in the end. Sometimes, we care about our families more than ourselves, and we all need that extra push to do the right thi ng. Alex was brave enough to sacrifice much, which in this case, was her safety, in order to save her mother.

Research Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Research Methods - Essay Example Management must be able to lead the employees through new techniques, which are based on the current market situations. The management must use different leadership traits so that the employees are easily able to adopt different strategies, which can help in the performance of the business. Finding an innovative idea for every problem can be a difficult task for all the management but it is essential for them to implement such ideas in the operational activities so that the production level of the employees increases which directly increases the profitability of the organization. From several studies it is observed that the role of leadership can create many changes in an organization and increase the efficiency of its employees. The importance of innovative management leads to innovative ideas. Different leadership styles help to implement the innovative ideas in the organizations and can enhance the performance of the employees. At the time of economic crisis, good leadership qualities are important to increase the performance of the organization (Cristina, 2013). There are mainly four types of leadership styles that could be observed in different organizations. The choice of leadership style depends upon the nature of business or objectives of the organization. The suitability of leadership style, therefore, varies in different industries. The aim of the proposed study is to compare different leadership styles and their traits and their impact on employees’ performance. It would be an interesting study to compare different leadership styles on employee performance in different organizations as it will allow the users of the report to identify and understand traits of different leadership styles and their role in motivating and committing employees to perform better. A comprehensive study would be possible by taking case studies of four different organizations that support two types of leadership including Transactional and

English MOTIF THEME Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

English MOTIF THEME - Essay Example As a result of the shame she has brought on her family, the girl is sent off to Mexico to live with her cousins before the baby is born. The information provided in the story regarding the girl and the man she fell in love with, as well as what happens to her and what she can expect in her future, is all presented in piece-meal format, leaving more to the reader’s imagination than is actually spelled out within the text. This motif of telling the story in small pieces helps to illuminate the way in which the young girl is forced to live her life – understanding only small pieces of her own story at a time. The motif of broken pieces is applied to several elements of the story including the development of the main characters. The girl is revealed to the reader through small revelations made throughout the story. From her introduction, the reader is able to deduce that she has become pregnant out of wedlock while still under the care of her elders, but little else is known about her. That she is not too proud is demonstrated in her willing admission that she is bad and follows in a long line of bad behavior, but despite this admission, the reader is not given a very deep glimpse into the reasons why she thinks herself bad other than that she has thought about sex before. Her innocence is also illustrated rather than stated in her gullibility to the man’s statements and in her belief that love is like magic and will transport her into another, more glamorous world. It is almost halfway through the story before the reader is given a name for the girl, Ixchel, but it remains unclear whether this is her true name or a magic name she’s given herself as the consort of the Mayan king and even furth er before we gain an understanding of her age as she is pulled out of eighth grade when her uniform becomes tight. There is actually more information provided in the text about the man who seduces her than there is about the girl. The

Compare the Maxwell and Pauly articles on Moral Hazard Essay

Compare the Maxwell and Pauly articles on Moral Hazard - Essay Example People buy health insurance to protect themselves from future financial risks. This is the point of Pauly when issue concerning what motivates Americans to buy insurance is taken into consideration. From economic point of view, Pauly has the point and got it right. However, if this would be the case since he also states that â€Å"people contemplating about insurance are not poor or high risk† (2), most, if not all, Americans must be insured. From Gladwell’s article, there is a significant contradiction to Pauly’s point since Americans spend $5,267 per capita on health care every year and even a visit to their dentists seems to be a luxury (Gladwell, 2005). This only depicts the reality that to be insured in the US for health care is a bit expensive for ordinary citizens, which until now many Americans suffered financial bankruptcy due to unpaid amount of bills from received medicare. Gladwell and Pauly would both agree marginal benefits should be tantamount to marginal costs. However, what Pauly fails to consider is the capacity of every Americans to secure health insurance for each of them. The moral hazard that Pauly would want to point out cannot have full realization if in the first place the Americans do not have the capacity to secure health insurance. In other words, based on Gladwell’s article, the prevailing US health care is not even subject to moral hazard. Pauly’s article might be too presumptuous about the health care system situation in the US by not initiating prior consideration of the minor details just as what Gladwell exactly did. In the first place, consumers could not demand for more health care, as they do not even have one in the first place as what Gladwell would want to clearly state. Personally, I do not want to go the doctor when nothing was wrong with me, even though I might have a very generous policy for my health insurance. In this case, the moral

Terrorism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Terrorism - Assignment Example It surely leads to its participation in every activity in the world. The fact that the USA interfered greatly into the inner policy of Iraqi and Afghanistan before the terrorist attack 11/9 is obvious. The USA possesses enough military force and power to destroy any enemy on its way. The thing is that there is no justification of the attacks that took place on that blue day, but it is possible to seek for the real reasons that forced Muslim terrorists to act in such a way. It is important to find this reason in order to understand the acts of Muslims if it is possible and do something to stop terrorist attacks, which ruin the life of hundreds people all over the world. First, Iraqi has always been at feud with Israel. Israel in its turn is directly protected by the USA. That is why the USA found it possible to introduce its army on the territory of Iraq and Afghanistan. The main mistake of the USA that it considered itself to be invulnerable for the enemies’ blow. It must be m entioned, that it has always been true. The September attack is the most violent and impudent among all those attempts of the terrorists to take revenge.

Professional Capstone Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Professional Capstone Project - Essay Example In particular, the paper analyzes the problem or issue identified in the articles, strengths and weakness of the articles and proposed recommendations/solutions. Lastly, the paper gives a rationale to support the choice of the literature and its significance to the project. The articles propose pain prevention theories other than use of therapies. The first search strategy applied in the study is the use of well-built clinical questions. In this context, well-built research questions are those deduced from the research topic so that they respond to key issues that form the topic. 1. Ferrel, B., Levy, M. H., & Paice, J. (2008). Managing pain from advanced cancer in the palliative care setting. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 12 (4), 575-81. The author proposes a gate control theory of pain among cancer patients in palliative care. In particular, the article recommends integration of physical, physiological, social, and spiritual therapies for the well-being of patients. This app roach is of key interest to patients and caregivers/nurses. ... 2. Kumar, S. P. (2011). Reporting characteristics of cancer pain: A systematic review and quantitative analysis of research publications in palliative care journals. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 17 (1), 57-66. This article identifies cancer as a â€Å"global health burden† and has reviewed existing scientific literature on palliative to establish whether there exists â€Å"adequate scientific research base on cancer pain† (Kumar, 2011, p. 57). The article proposes that adequate scientific research would be instrumental in pain management among cancer patients. In particular, effective research practices would enable researchers to identify chief causes of pain among cancer patients. Moreover, adequate research will make recommendations concerning the problem. The article uses sociological theories of self-awareness to solve cancer pain among patients. The article complies with up-to-date research on pain management among cancer patients, and hence is significant i n the study. 3. Fayers, P. M., Hjermstad, M. J., Klepstad, P., Loge, J. H., Caraceni, A., Hanks, G. W., & Kaasa, S. (2011). The dimensionality of pain: Palliative care and chronic pain patients differ in their reports of pain intensity and pain interference. Pain, 152 (7), 1608-20. The article draws attention to the significance of accuracy in assessment of pain in palliative care. There are different levels of pain among terminally ill patients, and hence the need for different pain management practices. The article proposes the specificity theory as the best pain management theory among cancer patients. The article uses quantitative research techniques to categorize cancer pain. The article identifies intensity and

Music Appreciation of Brandenburg Concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach Essay

Music Appreciation of Brandenburg Concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach - Essay Example The prominent musicians in the Baroque period were Claudio Monteverdi, Antonio Vivaldi, Georg Frederic Handel, Arcangelo Corelli etc, of which the most important was Johann Sebastian Bach. The paper at hand is a music appreciation of J S Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto, which was composed by him for the Calvinist chapel of the court that promoted instrumental music. The Baroque period is unique in terms of its various characteristic traits including its mood, melody, rhythm, texture, articulation, dynamics, style, basso continuo, timbre etc. The Brandenburg Concertos is primarily a collection of six movements and here the focus is on movement number one. Thus, this paper tries to use these elements and show how J S Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos is representative of Baroque music. Although the exact date of composition of the Brandenburg Concertos is still a mystery, it is known that Johann Sebastian Bach presented them to the Margrave of Brandenburg in the year 1721. What ma kes this piece Baroque is mainly its composition in that period, however for modern people, it is important to know the exact features that make the concertos an apt example of Baroque music. First of all, the most distinct feature of Baroque music is probably its unity of mood, this means that the mood remains same throughout the composition. Now in case of the Brandenburg Concertos, one can see that this is true, as the first movement of the concertos has a kind of happy mood from beginning till the end. Therefore, a single expression or mood is projected and presented till the second movement, and this predominantly makes the Brandenburg Concertos characteristic of Baroque music. When one analyses the melody of the pieces composed during the Baroque area, they find that the melodic idea basically remains the same throughout the whole piece. There is a continuity that can be felt when one listens to Baroque music, and this is especially so in case of the Brandenburg concertos. The audience will find that the opening melody is followed till the end of that piece. Despite the fact that Baroque music is usually elaborate and complex, there is only a minimal use of the piano’s extreme notes and, furthermore, it is seen that there is no use of the technique of pedalling either. So in overall, the Baroque music gives off a very complicated vibe with a lot of ornamental notes, however, the listener can still recognize the distinct theme the musician is trying to reach out to him or her. In case of the rhythmic aspect of the music composed during the Baroque era, the listener will find that the rhythmic patterns are mostly repeated throughout the piece. Thus, in Brandenburg Concertos’ first movement, the audience can find that the melody has a distinct theme and at the same time the rhythm is often continuous too, that is, the â€Å"lively rhythm† patterns are reiterated in the course of the composition (GCSE Music, n.d., p.9). Therefore, it can be said that Baroque music has a continuous or constant rhythmic drive, where the beat and pulse of the song are clear as well as distinct and, furthermore, the song consists of regular rhythms, which at times are dotted. Focusing on the texture of the Baroque music, it becomes clear that such music mainly consists of polyphonic or contrapuntal texture. The piece of composition under study is reminiscent of baroque music as it is made up of different melodies that are played simultaneously. As opposed to playing one melody at a time, Baroque music is very complex in the sense that it plays polyphonic, which is two or more melodic lines played

Complete standardisation in International Marketing strategy is an Essay

Complete standardisation in International Marketing strategy is an impossible goal to achieve, and pursuing it will inevitably d - Essay Example Market conditions in one country may be very different from the conditions in another country. Policies, laws, culture, and other regulations, which determine the nature of the business environment, may cause the difference. The laws of operations from one company to another are usually different. Standards are usually derived from a certain cultural environment. They encompass some values that are necessarily designed to serve the interests of particular market situations. As such, their applications are suited to respond to certain needs and situations as dictated by the range of possibilities within a cultural milieu. Many companies regulate their operations in ways that respond to the kind of markets and situations. This regulation is aimed towards the actualization of certain conditions that apply within the specifics of the market. According to analysts, the variation of markets is shown in a range of factors that distinguish between one market and another (Parker, 2005, p. 51) . For instance, the levels of income, the nature of infrastructural development, the regulatory policies, and laws may apply differently from one region to another. This implies that the application of certain standards within the different regions would have significantly varied impacts. Therefore, the standards are usually designed in ways that provide synergies to one market while denying the same to another market situation. Advertising and marketing strategies are designed in ways that respond to certain standards and expectations. For instance, the message in the advertisement of a certain product may vary significantly in accordance with factors of culture, target clientele, levels of disposable income, and a range of other variables. These factors determine the kind of preference of one product to another. For instance, it is usually the norm that certain products deserve the application of strict standards as compared to others. Studies have shown that companies that operat e with some level of flexibility are more likely to yield positive results than those that are governed by some strict application of the standards. On this score, it becomes difficult to determine the kind of method that could apply equally across different operating environments. The field of operation in the United States may vary significantly from the one in Saudi Arabia. Products, goods, services, and processes in the two countries will ultimately be influenced by the nature of business environment between the two companies. For instance, the sale of mobile telephone services would be tailored on the specific cultural features that apply within one kind of market. The marketing strategy in Saudi Arabia would involve the appropriation of some kind of conservatism that is consistent with the nature of the market and the culture of the people. On the other hand, marketing and advertisement in the United States would entail some specific elements of the American culture of consume rism. This would entail an active search of products that fit into the scheme and preferences of the target clientele. The standards of the language used in the advertisement would necessarily involve the application of methods and strategies that suit the aspirations and preferences of the dominant population. It would be impossible for any success to attend to the specific needs of the society. It would be important to determine the

Emergency Preparedness Disaster Plan for state of California Essay

Emergency Preparedness Disaster Plan for state of California - Essay Example However, with a specific focus on the California State, several incidences of earthquakes as well as other disasters have rocked the region. Following this, a number of organizations have put forward several disaster preparedness initiatives to curb these natural calamities. American Red Cross is one of the non-profit organizations that have ensured meeting a wide range of emergency needs following disasters. This is always done in the most appropriate manner and on timely basis (Irwin, 2013). The organization runs two key initiatives in California State. These initiatives include the Disaster Preparedness Initiative as well as the Local Disaster Response Initiatives. The Disaster Preparedness Initiative provides support as well as assistance to the citizens of California following a myriad of disasters faced. For instance, the initiative offers support and assistance to the public when faced with earthquakes, home fires as well as floods (Irwin, 2013). A good example is the Napa Earthquake that occurred in September the year 2014. The earthquake injured approximately 200 people and destroyed several properties in South Napa. Following this calamity, the Disaster Preparedness Initiative provided health services to the affected individuals. In addition, the initiative provided clothing, relief food, comfort items as well as emotional support to the populations affected. In addition, the initiative plays the significant role of educating the public on several ways of disaster and emergency preparedness (Irwin, 2013). This helps to raise the level of public awareness and participation when faced with such calamities. It is important to be a member of a Disaster Preparedness Team for several reasons. From the nursing perspective, such memberships are important in shaping up one’s career. This follows that one would be able to gain more knowledge as well as experience in dealing with such

Final Project Essay Example for Free

Final Project Essay To turnaround an unprofitable company, Joan imposed new management ideas despite her father’s business practices and culture. With her leadership, Joan will lead and motivate Invitations Inc. employees, and the company will become more profitable. This leadership void threatens Invitation’s Inc â€Å"sustainable pattern of customer focus and profitable growth† (Millikin 9). Invitations Inc. needs to continue the momentum and motivation to accomplish growth. Replacing Joan with as the new CEO by use of a search committee represents the obvious solution to the problem. However, this assumes a replacement could and would be Joan’s equal, including leadership and management style, vision, and knowledge. Garrett could allow Joan to transition the leadership role to a replacement of her choice, with approval of Invitations Board of Directors, after a mentoring and trial period. On the other hand, Invitations Inc. could negotiate with Garrett to extend Joan’s stay as CEO to ensure the status quo. This would allow Joan to continue her successful leadership and strategies, or run the company as CEO of Invitations Inc, while decreasing redundancies and increasing operating efficiencies. Analysis of the Alternatives Search committees often replace the traditional hiring of upper management and leadership. The committee must define present conditions and develop a consensus of criteria used in evaluating candidates, including the leadership qualities needed at this stage in the company’s revival plan. Next, the committee can identify, screen, and interview candidates. Afterwards, the committee can recommend candidates to the board for consideration and their eventual decision (Poston 1). Alternatively, if one exists, Invitations Inc. should implement their succession management plan. Evaluation criteria are critical to the search committee. To build consensus, the committee should examine the past and the present to understand the future. With her recent success and credibility, Joan might become a benchmark for the search committee. An  examination of Joan would reveal her background and multicultural experiences, which have enabled her to embrace the cultur al differences between her dad and her. She fervently believes that â€Å"cultural conflict, if paced and channeled correctly, could provide opportunity for rapid innovation† . In hindsight, as the case suggests, Joan recognized the primary need to focus on corporate culture without passing judgment, recognizing its pros and cons. As an example, Joan confronted her dads method of performance evaluations and employee advancement. In US, factors like age, education level, and years of service to an organization determine career advancement. Except for those whose actions reflect poorly on the group and its members, seniority is the key factor for recognition and promotion. This paradigm often resulted in delays to the decision making process in an effort to achieve consensus,† thereby impeding the company’s decision-making (Millikin 3). To address these corporate cultural issues, Joan successfully balanced eastern collectivism and teamwork with western individualism. First, to develop a trust with employees, Joan displayed her strong interpersonal skills; she was the first manager to walk around the entire company and meet every employee in perso n (Millikin 5). Next, she developed systems for employee opinions and recommendations instead of hiring outside consultants. She also exposed managers to unfamiliar cultures, different areas of the business outside their boundaries, and more information through transparency and cross-functional teams. Nevertheless, she demanded personal commitment within the team environment by demanding accurate work, playing off the strength uncertainty avoidance (Millikin 8) Joan felt could use adjustment is the extent to which the people focus on the past, present, or future. Joan recognized that Invitations Inc. employees did not have a sense of urgency about the future, a potential bankruptcy. It makes sense for employees not to worry about such financial matters when the government bails out large employers. Thus, after careful detailed analysis, Joan recognized management did not have a vision for employees to follow. Therefore, he developed a long-term plan focusing on profit and listening to the customer. By mixing the cultural norms, Joan capitalized on the strength of the Invitations Inc. employee. As a leader, she understood cultural behaviors while appreciating their differences. Her cultural sensitivity coupled with her people skills helped turnaround the company. These skills  and decision-making ability are not mutually exclusive to Joan’s normative decision model, which assumes decision-making styles are learnable. Therefore and a possible near-identical substitute could exist. One major problem with search committees are the significant amount of time and effort necessary by the members, who are often upper management, might produce less than ideal candidates (Poston 1). Although best practices exist for search committee, Joan’s replacement might not harmonize with the company. The replacement might undue the corporate cultural changes under Joan, reverting to old habits, or tip the balance of cultures too far in the other direction. According to the case’s timeline, Joan would continue as CEO of Invitations Inc. for as long as needed. This could be time spent by Joan to mentor a successor of her choice. Joan should follow the succession management system, if one exists, to find the future leader for the company. If such a system does not exist, Joan will need to follow a similar process to that of a selection committee: identify, screen, and interview candidates, and make the recommendation of a candidate to the Board of Directors. There must be full confidence and trust in Joan’s decision by the board and the company, and in return, Joan needs to be fair and as objective as possible, using the same criteria and documenting all steps during the selection process. During her time with the company, Joan stablished relationships with other managers and leaders, some of high-quality, some of low-quality. According to the Leader-Member Exchange model, â€Å"those followers with high-quality relationships are in the in-group (Nahavandi 87). Applying this model would assume Joan’s in-group enjoyed her attention, support, confidence, respect, and more favorable job performance ratings, often leading to promotions. Remember, Joan moved away from the cultural norm of the seniority promo tional system to a pay for performance system. Moreover, Joan might know those in the in-group intimately from non-work related social networks. Since she developed employee-based programs to eliminate the hiring of consultants, using the in-group as a pool of replacement candidates seems the most logical. However, should Joan feel her option, the entire company, are not suitable, she could use this time to search outside of the company, maybe her personal in-group. As part of Joan’s selection criteria will be support for her change management principles, including establishing cross-functional teams to address silos; focusing on key basic  metrics of quality, cost, and customer satisfaction; ensuring transparency and communications that connect all levels of employees across the company. Additionally, Joan believes the CEO should align employees with company goals and strategies through the leader’s vision, which initially would be the revitalization plan established by Joan. Once Joan chooses her successor, she can personally groom and mold this individual. However, as Fiedler and his Contingency Model suggest, leadership effectiveness is a function of the match between a leader’s style and the leadership situation (Nahavandi 70). Essentially, Fielder proposes the leader cannot change his style but can change the situation. As such, unless Joan wants significant change within the company, she should not tolerate candidates lacking the core values necessary to meet leadership needs, like respect for employee buy-in. LEADERSHIP VERSUS MANAGEMENT From these definitions, it should be clear that leadership and management are related, but they are not the same. A person can be a manager, a leader, both, or neither. In the company, there are many different activities, the manager and leader would have different function in the activities. On create an agenda, the manager needs to planning and budgeting. The manager establishes detailed steps and timetables for achieving needed results. The manager needs to allocate the resources necessary to make those needed result happen. The leader needs to establish the direction. The leader develops a vision of the future, often the distant future, and strategies for producing the changes needed to achieve that vision. On develop a human network for achieving the agenda, the manager needs to organizing and staffing. The manager establishes some structure for accomplishing plan requirements, staffing that structure with individuals, delegating responsibility and authority for carrying out the plan, providing policies and procedures to help guide people, and creating methods or systems to monitor implementation. The leader needs to align the people. The leader communicates the direction by words and deeds to all those whose cooperation may be needed to influence the creation of teams and coalitions that understand the vision and strategies and accept their validity. On executing plans, the manger needs to control and solve the problem. The manager needs to monitor the results vs. plan in some detail, identifying  deviations, and then planning and organizing to solve these problems. The leader needs to motivating and inspiring. The leader needs to energize people to overcome major political, bureaucratic, and resource barriers to change by satisfying very basic, but often unfulfilled, human needs. On outcomes, the manager needs to produces a degree of predictability and order and has the potential to consistently produce major results expected by various stakeholders. The leader needs to produces change, often to a dramatic degree, and has the potential to produce extremely useful change. Joan and her father will need to establish a knowledge of the above to strengthen their relationship. Works Cited Face Value: The $10 Billion Man. The Economist World News, Politics, Economics, Business Finance. The Economist Newspaper Ltd, 24 Feb. 2005. Fonda, Daren. CARLOS GHOSN, RENAULT: He Did So Well, Lets Give Him Two CEO Jobs TIME. Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews. Time, 1 Dec. 2003. Moffett, Sebastian, and Mike Ramsey. Renault CEOs Image Takes Hit. MarketWatch. Wall Street Journal, 12 Apr. 2011. Millikin, John P. The Global Leadership of Carlos Joanat Nissan. Publication no. A07-03-0014. Thunderbird, 2003. Muller, Joann. The Impatient Mr. Joan- Forbes.com. Information for the Worlds Business Leaders. Forbes, 22 May 2006. Nahavandi, Afsaneh. The Art and Science of Leadership. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. Poston, Muriel E. AAUP: Presidential Search Committee Checklist. American Association of University Professors.

Determining Validity of Research Framework

Determining Validity of Research Framework CHAPTER SEVEN FRAMEWORK VALIDATION 7.1  Introduction This chapter focuses on the evaluation and validation of the framework. The research validity and method deployed to maximise the validity will be discussed in the first part of this chapter. Also, the eternal framework validity will then be discussed.   The second part of this chapter will analyse and discuss the results obtained from the evaluation of the framework.  Ã‚   The framework evaluation has been carried out by academics and experts practitioners and has measured the suitability and effectiveness of the framework in the construction sector. 7.2 Validity The validation process started at the first stage of the research,   making sure that the research participants, measuring instruments and context were exclusively accomplishing the research aim.   A number of writers have contended that validity cannot be applied to qualitative research. At the same time, have understood the need for some qualifying check or measure for their research (Golafshani 2003). Clearly there are no direct tests validating qualitative research; however, this does not imply that there are no guidelines (Patton 1990). Through the stages of this research, the effort has been made to guarantee that: (1) the measuring instrument is measuring the concept being referred to and no other concepts; and (2) there is an accurate measurement of the concept (Bailey 1994). The measuring instruments used in the interview method were the interview questions; also the method used in analysing the data collected and building the framework. Therefore, it was important to en sure that all research propositions were clear and effectively measured. Also, the method of analysis required the provision of right inferences. Qualitative research has often been portrayed by flexibility and uncertainty, and tension between creativity and rigour. Therefore at the interview analysis and the stages of framework building,   a critical compromise was carefully considered (Pyett 2003). The analysis of interviews engaged a deductive process whereby the author was his most trenchant critic (Cook and Campbell 1976, p: 229).   This is known as internal validity.   However, in this study, an open viewpoint of validity was used whereby different techniques enhanced the analysis and understanding of the practice of knowledge capture and retrieval and prompted more reliable and valid development of the framework (Golafshani 2003). These methods included: An in-depth revision of the instruments used for data collection and the method of analysis Carrying out a peer review of interviews themes and methods of analysis Carrying out a pilot study; assessing the language of the questions; definitions and terms; clarity of the purpose of questions for interview Construct a descriptive and relational framework for the interview analysis to make sure there is the consistency of analysis criteria and accurate interpretation and inferences. 7.3 External Validity Developing a   framework for the capture and retrieval of WLC knowledge in a construction project is based on a small number of cases, and does not mean this framework can be suitable and effective to other construction organisations practising WLC in the construction sector. However, researchers are also interested in the generalisation of the findings beyond the investigated cases (Schwab 1999). The justification for carrying out an in-depth interview is that people involved in a matured practice have knowledge that would somehow or another not be accessible to the researcher. Therefore, it is the quality of the understanding that is vital, instead of the number of respondents who share it (Wainwright 1997). While researching a few cases may accomplish excellent validity by giving a significant understanding of the practice in those cases; they have been broadly criticised as lacking external validity (De Vaus 2001). The generalising of findings to or across a target population sample is known as external validity (Pedhazur and Schmelkin 1991).   There are no efficient or verifiable methods to carry out external validation based solely on a   single examination of a research relationship (Schwab 1999). However, a definitive way to assess the validity of the proposed framework is to test such principles in reality, yet within research practice, this is rarely conceivable (Pyett 2003). Framework testing by the application method,   it could take quite a while before the reasonable judgment of the framework validity could be reached. Regardless of the possibility that this was to take a short time, there would be a need to access to a huge sample (representing the industry) and the framework implementation in this sector. However, in this particular case, this was viewed difficult.   Nevertheless, a few other methods were able to amplify the framework validity in this study as outlined: Select example case studies organisations (of current and best practices) from the target population in the interview stage. The pilot study provided a solid ground for understanding the current practice of KM; and therefore it was utilised as guiding principles in using the best practice to suit the industry, which boosted the generalising or external framework validity. Looking for the evaluations of the suitability and effectiveness of the framework in the construction sector by experts practitioners and academics. 7.4 Framework evaluation Testing the general framework feasibility by applying it to a large number of organisations representing the construction sector have been difficult in this research.   The framework evaluation by experts was viewed as another alternative for evaluation.   in fact, this method was deemed as appropriate with regards to risk,   finance and value. Assuming that 100 randomly selected organisations are a representative sample and the resources required are accessible in those organisations,   it would take six months for the testing and implementation of the framework (practically it would take years). However what if the framework did not work?   This would mean lost time of 600 months (100 organisation X 6 months) and therefore significant effort.   Therefore, in this case, the evaluation method by experts could be deemed the most appropriate method even though the   generalise by implement method was deemed possible. The reason for the evaluation method accordingly was not to anticipate that the framework was suitable for the organisation of the participated experts;   to obtain the experts evaluation in regards to the frameworks suitability in the industry.   The suitability of the framework was not seen adequate however because the suitable framework did not necessary means it would add value. Therefore, effectiveness was another criterion the evaluation sought to answer. 7.4.1 Participants Justification Based on their experience,   the suitability and the effectiveness of the framework can be judged by experts by using the right tool techniques, required resources and methods. The time and effort required for the framework implementation can also be estimated and matched with the current practice. The participants involved in the framework evaluation is made up of two groups of experts:   academic and practitioners. The practitioners are involved with   WLC practice in the construction project and therefore have a better understanding of the daily work. Also, their participation in a project which requires WLC practice means they can work with other organisation who practice WLC in the construction sector and can understand the verity of work environments. Also, academics are expected to have a deep understanding of different methodological viewpoints, as they know about observation and analysis.   Further,   the academics rely greatly on the construction industry as a major source of information,   so does not imply that they will be isolated. Also, many academics are involved in the practice. Sample A total number of sixteen experts were divided equally between the academics and the practitioner who participated in the framework evaluation. The participants year of experience ranges from eight to thirty-eight years, accounting for the total of three hundred and thirteen years of experience. The eight practitioners were from the three case study organisations who participated in the pilot and main interview of the study. The focus on practitioners was on those in the field with experience in WLC practice because they had an in-depth understanding of the WLC practice. Also,   participating academics were from four universities in the UK, working in the built environment and information and knowledge management departments. Experts Job title Year of experience Practitioners Organisation A Project Manager 35 Quantity Surveyor 20 Building Surveyor 7 Organisation B Quantity Surveyor 6 Project Manager 33 Organisation C Cost   Estimator 15 Project Manager 27 Construction Manager 7 Academics Senior Lecturer 12 Senior Lecturer 30 Lecturer 6 Lecturer 7 Lecturer 25 Lecturer 25 Reader 31 Reader 21 Table 7.1: Characteristics of participating experts in the framework evaluation Because the framework evaluation required a seminar presentation,   this process was thought to be long, and it was expected a low rate of response. Therefore, it was decided to reach the target of participants by sending invites to a member of staff with the three case study organisations.   The total number invitations forwarded was 300 of which 120 were sent to academics; and 180 to the three case study organisations. 7.4.2 Method of Evaluation Emails was used a tool to invite experts and included; An overview of the research project Request to participate in the evaluation of the framework for the purpose of validity Request on the best times which suits each of the case study organisation for a 40mins seminar presentation The framework was presented to each case study organisation using   Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007.   The presentation was interactive in which participants lessened the explanation; while diagram parts were moved in each presentation slides accordingly.   The seminar presentation was arranged into ten slides which took a narrative sequence of logic since it began by clarifying the parts of the framework independently and afterwards presented the strategic framework. Figure 7.1: A screenshot of the PowerPoint presentation The questionnaire was designed and hosted using the online service provider: Survey Monkey and consisted of two parts. Firstly, details about participants including name, organisation, job title, business and size of the organisation. secondly,   the framework evaluation and this was   included in   two sections Score based questions to the rate the suitability and effectiveness of the developed framework Seeking the opinions of the participants about the advantages, limitations and ways of improving the framework. It was decided to present the framework diagrammatically showing the strategic, tactical and operational levels.  Ã‚   The presentation gave a more in-depth description; however diagrams were sent to four research students to assess their readability, and the outcomes affirmed that such diagrams could convey the concept and details of the framework if the reader had extensive experience in construction management. One of the research students who took part in the pilot study was a medical doctor, dissociated from the construction industry, who found the framework unreadable, Although he has a good understanding of the major concept. Respondents were also sent an attachment of the presentations slides via email. 7.5  Results 7.5.1  Suitability of framework Participants were being asked to show their rating for suitability for each of the components of the framework; where 1 implied unsuitable and 5 suitable. The answer from the analysis uncovered that the levels of suitability for all approaches were considered far above the ground. As shown in Table 7.2,   3.74 out of 5 is the lowest mean value for the architecture of the knowledge base. Although it is not indicated in the value that the architecture of knowledge base is a 100% suitable, rather, it shows that it is likely going to be more suitable than unsuitable. The circumstance with regards to knowledge capture, retrieval and structure approach much better as they all have a score of   4 out of 5.   The skewness measure has a negative value which shows   that the mass of distribution concentrates on the side of suitable. Knowledge Capture Knowledge retrieval Knowledge Structure Architecture of Knowledge Base N Valid 16 16 16 16 Missing 0 0 0 0 Mean   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   3.9375 4.0625 4.0000 3.7500 Std. Deviation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   .85391 .85391 .89443 1.00000 Skewness   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   -.605 -.863 -.639 -.343 Table 7.2: Suitability of the framework components Figure 7.2 shows that the majority of the participants gave a 4 or 5 rating of the suitability of all the framework components. With regards to the architecture of the knowledge base, the suitability was rated under 3 by two participants (i.e. 2). The normal curve illustrates that the approximation of the average of all components almost falls in the 4 rate of suitability. All the indications provide evidence that those components are suitable for the construction organisations. 7.5.2  Effectiveness of framework Participants were being asked to show their rating for effectiveness for each of the components of the framework; where 1 implied to be ineffective and 5 effective. The mean value of effectiveness for all components as shown is (Table 7.3) are above 3.75 and ranges between 3.87 and 4.18. The skewness measure has a negative value which shows that the mass of the distribution is concentrated on the side of effectiveness. Knowledge Capture Knowledge Retrieval Knowledge Structure Architecture of Knowledge Base N Valid 16 16 15 16 Missing 0 0 1 0 Mean 4.0625 4.18750 3.9333 3.8750 Std. Deviation .85391 .910586 .79881 1.02470 Skewness -.863 -1.019 -.842 -.571 Table 7.3: Effectiveness of the framework components As shown on the histograms shown in Figure 7.3 shows that the majority of experts participants evaluated all components to a score 4 or 5 rates of effectiveness. Knowledge retrieval thus turns out slightly more effective than the other framework components. The normal curve makes it clear the approximation of the average rate of all components which almost lies in the 4 rate of effectiveness. All the indicators together provide evidence that those components will be effective when implemented. 7.5.3  The Entire Framework Suitability Experts participants were asked to indicate their rate of suitability for the entire framework using the same criteria as mentioned above. As shown in Table 7.4, the mean value of suitability (3.93) and the negative value of the skewness measure provide an encouraging indication for the external validity. In Figure 7.5,   the pie chart shows that the majority of experts participants (62%) rate the suitability 4 out of 5; and the vast majority (81.3%) are either giving the framework a rate of 5 or 4. Furthermore, the histogram in Figure 7.4 shows that only one expert gave a rating of suitability under 3 (i.e. 2). Therefore, the indications of suitability are positive and show that this framework is considered suitable. The Entire Framework Suitability N Valid 16 Missing 0 Mean   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   3.9375 Std. Deviation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   .77190 Skewness   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   -.881 Table 7.4: The entire framework suitability 7.5.4  Effectiveness of the Entire Framework Expert participants were asked to indicate their rate of effectiveness for the entire framework using the same criteria as mentioned above. The mean value (4) and the skewness measure value (negative) which shows that the framework is evaluated to be effective as shown in Table 7.5. A third of the experts participant shows a full mark of effectiveness, and 40% scored the framework a rate of 4 for effectiveness as shown in Figure 7.7. However, as shown in Figure 7.6, three experts rate it a 3 and one a 2. Nonetheless, the normal curve is pointing to an approximation of effectiveness at the rate of 4. Indications show that the framework is effective. Effectiveness of the Entire Framework N Valid 15 Missing 1 Mean 4.0000 Std. Deviation .92582 Skewness -.623 Table 7.5: Effectiveness of the entire framework. 7.5.5  Experts Opinion about the Framework The expert participants were requested to express their opinion about the framework regarding suitability, effectiveness, advantages and limitations. This could give additional assessment not covered in the closed-ended questions. Twelve of the feedbacks were received and had been listed below: It looks good to me. The problem is getting it work in practice. Great model and l like it, particularly the knowledge forms and the categorisation. This will help save time when searching for knowledge I think the overall seminar presentation was good and it covered a lot of the things we do not consider as worth pointing out in our day to day project delivery implementation. It is very hard to make a judgment on these key issues just on the presentation. However, I am quite inspired by the approach to knowledge capture. Although the presentation is great, however, the information, it provides is insufficient. It seems very general. The framework works well in suitability and effectiveness; and in use of collaboration tools, intranet tools with knowledge management within organisations. It is essential for a large organisation that staff can find and utilise answers as well as gaining access to the subject matter, experts and sharing information on similar projects and programmes. The advantages are that knowledge is shared rather than lost or protected by individuals. The saying that knowledge is power is true of individuals; However in organisations that are able and willing to capture knowledge and share this with the wider team rather than isolating it with individual project members. The framework is suitable and effective in many areas and an insightful and logical structure. There is some duplication, but that would seem to be unavoidable. Leadership support is important, with top-bottom commitment. Co-operation/sharing is not always a natural inclination in individuals. The framework seems to be highly advanced and would require an IT   system to enhance its processes and to encourage people to use it. If all members of the organisation are contributing positively to the framework; and most of them have the ability to capture, retrieve, and then re-use the captured knowledge, then the system will be for sure highly effective. In reality, I think we share the knowledge sometimes, but even when we do so, we do not document or capture them properly. As a result, we lose whatever we have shared as we cannot capture, structure and re-use all the knowledge captured by only relying on our brain capabilities. We as practitioners need such a framework to assist us to have a better understanding of the knowledge so we can use it appropriately. From an overall point of view, I admire you for this excellent presentation, and it was informative and well structured. We have learned a lot from this insightful presentation about knowledge management. There is no doubt that this framework is needed for business success. Although the framework appears to be complicated on its operational side; I am certain that if the   KM operation depends on this model, the result will be relevant and highly efficient. The framework makes sense from a project management perspective. However, knowledge capture and retrieval are complex and resource intensive activities and can be onerous to the project team if proper incentives are not aligned with the leaderships expectation of knowledge sharing. I think if your framework is properly applied, it will be extremely effective. Also, it is highly suitable. Regarding its advantages, I think it is simple to read and understand by any person who has a basic level of knowledge management and its management. The issues mentioned in the comments can be grouped into four categories: Firstly, those which highlight the role of knowledge capture and retrieval. Secondly, those who stress the importance and need for such a framework, due to the awareness of the problem, and thus confirm the motives for this research. Thirdly, indications that the framework may require a huge effort and construction projects already involved in demanding work. This issue has been discussed in the statement of the problem (section 1.4) whereby the problem lies on the capture and not the retrieval side. To minimise the problem, the project review was adopted as the main technique for knowledge capture which already exists in projects, rather than introducing a new approach. Additionally, the daily based reviews were rejected in this research for the same reason. Furthermore, a strategy for motivation has been pinpointed in the framework to ensure the application of knowledge capture. Fourthly and most importantly, a suitable and effective framework will also require careful application and effort. This has been said by several experts, and therefore considered a critical point, because the good theory does not necessary guarantee successful application. Finally, an expert described the framework to be very general. As aIn fact the framework is considering a particular area to investigate, related to knowledge capture and retrieval of project management processes, in the context of the project. Models inside the framework have provided precise details regarding what to do in particular scenarios. Also, knowledge capture and retrieval cannot be tackled in isolation from issues such as. Leadership support and cooperative culture. It is worth mentioning that this expert selected the rating of 2 for all of the 10 rating-based questions which are considered statistically biased. However, it was thought that this academic expert provided his personal details and these matched the tracking information. Therefore it was considered a valid response, and his opinion was appreciated. Other points were also considered related to the advantages of the framework; and impressions about the presentation. 7.5.6 Framework Improvement Another question was put forward in regards to how the framework can be improved. The feedback from the expert participants are listed below: By trial and error. The framework can be improved after application l did not analyse the presentation critically to make rational input in this direction I would rather read the whole PhD thesis and make my suggestions What issues should be addressed? Profitability, time and teamwork? There is no such thing as ideal knowledge framework. Therefore the knowledge framework can also be improved. Evolvement of a framework can be made by lessons learnt from previous projects; receiving constructive criticism and using good management techniques such as benefits and stakeholder management. Furthermore being clear about the benefits of knowledge capture and retrieval, with the onward transmittal/access of results by stakeholders, communication and using the framework communication channels for optimum use. The framework is excellent for understanding the needs and requirements of this age, and that knowledge should be shared for the benefit of all within an organisation; rather than being kept and possibly lost by the few, when the project team is dissolved or re-assigned. Show an example of how it will operate in practice. Working hand in hand with the IT system which enhances its process and records all captured knowledge after structuring it. The answers can be categorised into four major groups: Firstly, improvement is a continuous process, and the most appropriate way to improve the framework is through the application. Secondly, improvement can be achieved by addressing time, profitability and teamwork which have already been addressed in this study. Profitability is a significant factor that can declare the importance of knowledge capture and retrieval of the project and is, therefore, one of the areas to be embarked upon. However, the development of a model to measure economic profit alone is enough to do a research project. Thirdly, the exertion of effort in linking the IT system with knowledge capture and retrieval approaches. The knowledge base is a component of the framework, and there is a need to train people on the use of the knowledge base which links knowledge capture and retrieval approaches. Finally, the use of labels to distinguish between compulsory and optional activities and resources. This has been presented differently in this research as the majority of the activities and resources were thought to be important if knowledge was required to be captured and retrieved successfully. It was decided only to emphasise activities or resources that were suggested but not deemed necessary. 7.6  Summary This chapter has set out to determine the validity of the framework. It has demonstrated that validity relies on of the inherent validity of the methods of data collection, analysis, and the inferences led to the construction of the framework. Critical in-depth revision, piloting, peer reviews and a fixed framework for analysis were the methods used in this research to maximise its validity. For the purpose of generalising (external validity) the framework, a number of factors were considered early on in this project. These included using a randomly selected sample in the survey; choosing a sample of best practice from the target population and comparing the results of best practice with the current practice obtained in the survey to assess the ability of and utilise the solution for the target population. Further steps were taken to test the generalisability of the framework by inviting practitioner and academic experts to evaluate its suitability and effectiveness. The results have indicated that the framework and its components are applicable and effective.   Ã‚  

Prison Dog Training Program by Breakthrough Buddies

Prison Dog Training Program by Breakthrough Buddies Breakthrough Buddies (BB) is an organization which proposes an innovated health intervention using animal assisted therapy (ATT). Breakthrough Buddies mission is to enhance the mental, social, and physical well-being of incarcerated people; impart marketable skills in inmates for post-release job prospects; and increase shelter dog adoption rates. AAT connects people living with cognitive, emotional and/or physical issues with an appropriate animal, which becomes the fundamental element of their treatment. Selection of participating inmates is essential to the success of the program; as such we have developed strict selection guidelines. Prisoners interested in entering the program must complete an official application form and must have maintained good behavior during the six months prior to applying. This requirement creates an incentive for good behaviors, as wrong actions can cost the inmate the opportunity (1). Inmates chosen must be willing and able to participate; this criterion demonstrations the inmates motivation to want to change his behaviors. Prisoners with any severe physical or mental illness that may jeopardize the safety of staff members, dogs or other participants will not be permitted to join. Inmates must have no more than 5 years left before their earliest release date, and no less than 12 months before their earliest release date. Furthermore, selected inmates must have possession of, or be in the process of completing a GED or high school diploma; this requiremen t increases work commitment, motivation for education, and betterment of self. Finally, inmates convicted of animal abuse or violence against women will not be granted admission into the program. There is a strong correlation of animal abuse and violence against women, particularly domestic violence, and this criterion will decrease or eliminate abuse of the dogs as well as ensure that trainees who use their sills in the future are well-meaning and nonviolent (!!!!!). Criteria for the dogs entering the program are extensive as well. Dogs will be screened in an in-depth temperament test, conducted by a professional dog trainer, and must show no signs of aggression towards humans or animals. The dogs chosen must be in good health, which will be determined in health exams performed by veterinarian staff at Dixon Animal Shelter. The dogs will come exclusively from Dixon Animal Shelter and will be up to date on vaccinations, spaying and neutering. The no-kill shelter, which is located on prison grounds, opened in December 2010 after functioning in 2006 and 2008 as a temporary emergency shelter for animals abandoned by Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav. Fifty-two dogs at a time are housed in the shelters adoption center and in the event of an emergency, the shelter can hold up to 500 dogs and cats (!!!!!! ). The partnership of Dixon Animal Shelter and Breakthrough Buddies will be mutually beneficial in that the shelter will provide dogs for training and we will return well-behaved dogs that are more likely to be adopted. The intervention program consists of many different levels. The program is ongoing for the inmate but is an eight- week training program for the dogs. During the first year of operation five dogs will be chosen at a time and three inmates will be assigned to each dog. There will be a lead handler/trainer, a secondary handler and a caretaker. Once the dogs are placed with their inmate group they will undergo eight weeks of basic obedience and agility activities, as well as house and crate training. Inmates will be required to engage their dogs in at least 30 minutes of agility exercise before the onset of daily training, helping to relax and expel some of the dogs energy before training. At the end of the eight-week training, adopted dogs will be placed in new homes , arranged by Dixon Animal Shelter, or will go back to the shelter and await adoption, and the inmates will receive a new set of dogs to begin a new session. The personnel needed to implement the program are: a professional dog trainer who uses positive reinforcement methods and who has experience working with prisoners and the penal system. Both a social worker and public health nurse experienced in correctional facilities work and penal system procedures, who will work alongside prison medical staff. A program coordinator, who will be in charge of organizing and will oversee the integrity of the program will be employed. Volunteers and other health professionals familiar with record keeping and research are also included in the intervention team. The Breakthrough Buddies organization has many goals that it hopes to achieve. BB hopes to improve the psychological, social, and physical state of inmates by improving self-esteem, and by providing non-threatening and non-judgmental affection. BB also hopes to stimulate a responsible attitude within the inmate as well as catalyze communication and social interaction among inmates in and out of the program, guards, and staff. BB wants to improve the atmosphere of the prison, help provide a new focus of attraction, provide a necessary diversion and provide needed companionship. The program also, hopes to improve or build upon the physical activities of the inmates. The use of animal therapy is not a new concept in todays medical and psychological fields. It began more than a century ago when hospitalized patients relished the companionship provided from a pet (t4). It was not until the 1960s that AAT emerged as an effective tool, helping people cope and rehabilitate (grp11). AAT is useful in a variety of settings such as hospitals, schools, nursing homes and prisons. Breakthrough Buddies focuses on providing meaningful experiences and skills for incarcerated individuals at Dixon Correctional Institution by using dog training as a form of AAT. Although we will bring our unique approaches and practices into the program, we modeled our program on the current animal training programs that have already demonstrated successes. These programs allow the community to see the inmates doing good deeds and provide inmates the opportunity for introspection. We want to make sure that the inmates are giving something back to the communities that they once violated, said the CommissionerÂÂ  of the Massachusetts Department ofÂÂ  Corrections Michael Maloney. This innovative program [inmates raise future service dogs for NEADS] is the latest of our reparation efforts, and allows inmates to contribute to society without compromising public safety or security in our institutionsÂÂ  (6). One of the more powerful examples of the impact animals have on the incarcerated can be found at the Oakwood Forensic Center, a hospital for the criminally insane. A patient in a ward housing the centers most depressed and non-communicative patients found an injured sparrow and conspired with other patients to keep the bird, regardless of the rules; not even plants were allowed on the grounds. The results were remarkable. The despondent and non-communicative patients took part in gathering insects and other supplies to care for the bird. The staff noticed for the first time some of the most severely disturbed patients began working in groups and relating openly with other patients and staff. A formal animal therapy program was put into place shortly after. The success of Oakwoods program has paved the way for numerous animal training programs (1). The Prison Pup Program; a puppy training program, at Bland Correctional Center in Virginia, a minimum-security facility, had results of increased work performance and social interaction among inmates. This sense of responsibility helped inmates trust and care for others beside themselves. One inmate expressed that working with the puppies helped him develop patience and reduced stress; another said the program helped him deal with the emotions that arise in prison and helped eliminate negative thinking through laughter. Inmates remarked that other programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, anger management and drug rehabilitation programs, did not help them with their problems like Prison Pup Program had helped them it was considered a 100percent success (t4). In 1999, Downeast Correctional Facility, a medium-security prison in Maine, found success after one year of implementation. Under supervision by a full-time guard with experience in training dogs, inmates were allowed to take the dogs into town daily, exposing both dogs and inmates to the noises and crowds of the real world. After one year, two clear results were observed (6). Not only were the dogs remarkably well-trained by inmates, the atmosphere throughout the prison seemed less tense (t4). The commissioner of the Maine Department of Corrections, Martin Magnusson stated: The bonding that the prisoners have with these dogs by caring for them is visible throughout the prison environment. For some inmates this is their first encounter as a positive role model for the community (13). Project POOCH (Positive Opportunities Obvious Change With Hounds) of the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn Oregon, demonstrated that animals also have a positive influence on juvenile delinquents. Sandra Merriam-Arduini, a researcher from Pepperdine University, spent three years studying the impact of animal training on juveniles. The study found that the juveniles who participated in the program showed greater respect for authority, were more honest, had empathy, self-confidence, social growth, patience, higher self-esteem, gained a higher level of responsibility and most importantly, zero recidivism rate (13, 4). B.N., a Project POOCH participant, said: Being taught to care for and appreciate these animals, along with the interaction we have with people from the outside, taught us compassion for things other than ourselves. Project POOCH is a great idea, and I hope that ideas such as this one will be used in other correctional facilities as a way of motivating people who need to learn to show kindness, friendship, trust and compassion (7). A national survey was conducted on prison-based animal training programs; the survey respondents overwhelmingly regarded these programs as positive and they support the implementation of animal training program in correctional facilities (t6). The programs discussed above collectively demonstrated the positive effects of AAT on inmates. Animals have the ability to bring a sense of serenity to a prison and they affect even the most hardened felons. Several studies and correctional facilities staff show support in the health benefits of animal-human bonding and suggest that AAT can greatly reduce stress and anxiety (t1). Interaction with animals often helps inmates reduce their aggression, depression and reclusion. To examine the relationship animal interaction and mental health of inmates, prison officials at Joseph Harp Correctional Center in Lexington Oklahoma recorded the aggressive incidents four months before the dogs arrived and four months after the dog-training program was ini tiated. They found a 43% decrease in the aggressive incidents of inmates, which indicated that dogs have a profound impact in reducing the levels of aggression among inmates (t4). The companionship and non-judgmental affection gained from a pet helps to break the barriers that exist among inmates, leading to better communication and are less defensive, allowing them to become more relaxed (t5). Moreover, animal-training requires physical activity and its advantage is the improvement in physical health. Research shows that interacting with animals can lower blood pressure, blood sugar levels and can reduce heart rate (15). In addition to benefitting mental well-being, physical health and social skills, animal-training program have also been shown to help inmates seeking employment after their release (t6). Most animal-training programs provided basic marketable and vocational skills, equipping inmates with basic training and grooming skills. The universal impact of AAT techniques is that inmates are motivated to set and achieve goals. The discipline, dedication, respect, patience and the amount of knowledge that inmates gain by participating in the program enable them to obtain and keep a job (t5). A prison based animal-training program is a win-win approach; it benefits the animals, inmates, community, institution and the nation as a whole. Previous studies, prison officials and staff are all in favor for the implementation of animal-training programs in prisons. Even after the inmates are released, BB will continue to conduct follow ups to monitor any success or failure of inmates being in an AAT program prior to release.

Project Coast: South Africa’s Top Secret Chemical and Biological Weapon

To protect the safety of the country and people of South Africa, those who hold authority or control in the decision making process sometimes are faced with making tough decisions. When it comes to South Africa, President P. W. Botha decided that to best protect the welfare of the citizens, a defensive measure must be established that was secure and efficient. The idea of such measures brought on an evolution of a secret chemical and biological weapons program which became known as Project Coast. The personnel that knew of its existence hid the program from the world and used various measures to ensure that this program remained their little secret. However, no secret lays dormant forever. The idea of S. Africa partaking in such measures shined a distasteful light on a country that was already divided and fighting amongst each itself. Project Coast was against all the morals of what the United Nations had established and stood for peace and working together unified. The S. Af rican government knew this; the pride and protection of their well-being outweighed what was right. South Africa’s choice to begin a Chemical and Biological Weapons Program (CBW) was unsound but this was not the first time the country experimented with such lethal weapons. History reveals that during World War II, South Africa participated in the manufacturing of mustard gas when the Smuts government assisted Great Britain (Gould & Folb, 2002). There were two manufacturing plants that produced the gas, but by 1945 production ended and the plants were closed. When these plants were closed the idea of research still lingered on the minds of those who held office. Some years later, in 1960, a company called Mechem was founded and headed by Dr. J. P. ... ...asson. Project Coast is a reason why there are so many sanctions on chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. The intention to study and research may be good, but the idea of it getting in the wrong hands can be detrimental. Reference Bale, J. Monterey Institue of International Studies, (2006). South Africa’s Project Coast: â€Å"Death Squad’s,† Covert State-Sponsored poisonings, and the Dangers of CBW Proliferation (10.1080/1741916060623434). Retrieved from Taylor & Francis Group, LLC website: http://www.miis.edu/media/view/18941/orgianal/balecoastarticle.pdf Buger, M., & Gould, C. (2002). Secrets and Lies: Wouter Basson and South Africa’s Chemical and Biological Warfare Programme. Zebra Press. Folb, P., & Gould, C. (2002). Project Coast: Apartheid’s Chemical and Biological Warfare Programme. United Nations Publication. Retrieved from www.unog.ch/bwc

Should It Be Legal :: essays research papers

Should it be Legal?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1978 the state legislator of New Mexico made a law allowing physicians to prescribe marijuana to patients suffering from nausea caused by chemotherapy, much of this due to the efforts of a cancer patient by the name of Lynn Pierson. The Federal government modified the law to make it comply with IND regulations requiring a research program. The FDA also demanded many studies and required the doctors to fill out many pages of forms for every patient and documenting their progress, slowing the process to a stand still. This process of getting marijuana to the patients was taking so long that New Mexico officials considered using confiscated marijuana from the state highway patrol. In August of 1978 Lynn Pierson, who worked so hard for the legalization of marijuana, died of cancer without ever receiving legal marijuana. A few weeks later the Federal Government suspended the marijuana program. The Federal Bureau of Narcotics reasons for making marijuana illegal were that it was highly addictive and caused violent crimes. Today neither of those reasons has been backed by much data and many experts believe the opposite. According to the National Household Survey on drug abuse, more than 76 million Americans admit to trying marijuana. Along with those who value marijuana: for recreational reasons, many doctors say that it has medicinal uses as well. The government should look at these facts and consider the legalization of marijuana.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many arguments against the legalization of marijuana. One commonly held view is marijuana is â€Å"gateway drug† or a drug that opens the door for harder drug use such as cocaine or heroin. The Institute of Medicine disagrees, and in their 1999 report they explained that marijuana has been mistaken for a â€Å"gateway drug† in the past because patterns in adolescence drug use is strikingly regular. Because it is the most commonly used illicit drug, it is likely that it is the first illegal drug that people try. Most drug users begin with alcohol and nicotine, before they use marijuana (Joy 32).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another complaint about marijuana is that it is a dangerous drug that causes permanent brain damage. Dr. Iversen of Oxford University says, â€Å"Cannabis does not cause structural damage to the brains of animals as some reports had claimed, nor is there evidence of long-term damage to the human brain or other than slight residual impairments in cognitive function after drug use is stopped (Woolf 24).

Essay --

Mindy Pang Pearl Final (Analysis /Synthesis) 1. I think it is ironic that Kino is being followed by trackers because all throughout the story, Kino makes connections with animals. Kino and Juana are compared to being animals that are chased down by hunters. As Kino is supposedly an animal, it is ironic because trackers are known to follow animals. Just like animals, Kino and Juana try to escape the hunters, going to the mountains, where there is high elevation, something an animal would do. Another example of Kino’s comparison to an animal is when Kino needs to find a strategy in which the trackers won’t see him, so he takes off his clothes (what us, humans wear), as an animalistic technique, since animals don’t wear clothes. His own son also â€Å"becomes† an animal, at least to the trackers, who think the baby’s cry was a coyote cry, and this causes Coyotito’s death by a gunshot from them. This also brings us to the irony of Coyotito’s name, and as readers, we find out why he was named this at the end of the story. Steinbeck also describes the characters literally as animals; for example, â€Å"Kino hissed at her like a snake, and Juana stared at him with wide, unfrightened eyes like a sheep before the butcher.† Not only does this help us picture what is going on, but the author is also trying to make more references to animals. These are only a few of the examples of when the author creates animal imagery/ reference, but because the author compares Kino and his family to animals so often, it is ironic how they is being followed by trackers. 3. The brief introduction connects to rest of the story very well. John Steinbeck explains the book’s parable. The introduction is pretty self-explanatory. The story is not just about Kino, it i... ...d to harm Kino, mugging him, injuring him, attempting many times to steal the pearl, destroying his precious pearl. Kino could no longer protect himself, like he used to. He tried his best, but now his protection â€Å"shell† has been cracked and he is no longer as strong as he used to be, just like an oyster without a pearl. The oyster protects its precious pearl on purpose, and has a shell to help protect it, but when the pearler forces the shell open, the protection is gone. The canoe had its wood, as a layer of protection, blocking out things on the outside that could potentially harm things that are inside the boat, but the canoe was destroyed and its protection is now useless. Kino, the canoe, and the pearl all caused and meant trouble. Now they all have lost, they have all shattered, they have been destroyed. Now, they all represent and have become something else.

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay

Today doing business is no longer a matter of creating the best products or making the most profit, it has developed to a matter of how? Due to scandals including child labour, poor working conditions and neglect of safety and health regulations, companies worldwide have been forced to revaluate their moral and ethical standards. Consumers are now caring about much more than just the product, which compel companies to monitor manufactures, secure labour standards and to be aware of the environment. This new phenomenon is called Corporate Social Responsibility or by its shortening CSR. Some companies like H&M or Zara have rejected to be involved in CSR. Others have taken CSR to a whole new level. Nike Inc. has during the past years not only followed the recent development within CSR but the apparel mastodon has also evolved to be a role model. Nike has as many other companies renewed their supply chain and methods of manufacturing. Their newest motto â€Å"Innovative for a better world† describes their efforts at the most, but their new system of ranking manufactures, their Materials Sustainability Index that provides designers with information on the potential environmental impact of the products they use, recycling program of old shoes and their new manufacturing process of their recent shoe â€Å"Flyknit† with minimal waste speaks for it self. Nike has with these investments proved they are willing to â€Å"Innovate for a better world† but how does it affect Nikes marketing environment and will these investments comply with the overall concept: Making money? Nike is market leader within athletic products worldwide and is considered the 26th most powerful brand by Forbes. The athletic brand has an annual turn over on 21.8 billion dollars and spends 2.7 billion dollars on advertising every year. The importance of Nike is not to be mistaken. Therefore their latest investments in CSR are a huge boost to the issue. Many huge companies such as H&M and Zara have rejected to invest in CSR although their have been numerous scandals of poor working condition and child labour, which shows not all companies are willing to invest in sustainability and social causes. Nike has actually been involved in such  scandals, but denied all accusations. Nike has however with these new methods shut up all the critics. The company has been known for innovate shoes and closes to new standards and has used their strength in innovation to create new business methods: â€Å"Our vision is clear: to help NIKE, Inc. and our consumers thrive in a sustainable economy where people, profit and planet are in balance† . Nike is, according to this quote, trying to accomplish the almost impossible and create a win–win situation for the company it self and its marketing environment. But is this possible? I believe so! They have created better work conditions for employees of their manufactures because of the pressure Nike has put on theme. Nike rate the manufactures with gold, silver and bronze medals and have set the goal of all manufactures should have a bronze medal by 2020. And although Nike has made huge investments in innovating their products to new manufacturing and product standards with focus on low environmental damage and a lot of recycling and therefore probably raised their prices, consumers actually stand by Nikes new methods although raised prices usually do not get the approval of the average consumer. Nikes revenue has increased from 18,528 million dollar in 2009 to 25,313 million dollar in the fiscal year of 2013. This could be caused by the increased prices of their products but Nikes return on invested capital has followed the same development and has increased from 17.8 % in 2009 to 23,8 % in the fiscal year of 2013. What is more, all this is accomplished during a very difficult financial period, which only gives Nike extra credit. Furthermore Nike is increasing the competitive situation when they implement other competitive parameters than just product or price. Nike is also forcing the consumers to make a choice: Cheap products manufactured by brands, who do not have the same CSR – profile as Nike and therefore do not care about sustainability, the environment or employees of the manufactures, who often work under poor conditions and put their lives on the risk every day, just to make some close or Nike who are trying to do the right thing and change these things. I am a big fan of Nike’s new manufacturing methods! They seem to have made  the impossible and made a win – win situation. They keep innovating new clothing and shoes, which becomes popular the moment it hits the market. And they accomplish this wonder contemporary with investing in better work conditions, sustainability and low environmental damage. Additionally they keep improving their accounting figures, even in difficult financial times! Absolutely amazing in my opinion! B: Blog Then it happened again. A huge company forgot to do their research properly. We have seen it before when the Japanese car manufacturing giant Mazda named their car â€Å"MR2†, which means faeces in the French language or when Warner Brothers named their new big movie wonder â€Å"Free Willy†, which is not the nicest word in the British language. This time it was the American athletic brand Nike, which released their new shoe â€Å"Black and Tan† close to St. Patrick’s Day. It was a tribute to the huge beer brewery Guiness, which also inspires the shoe, which includes an illustration of a beer in the sole. Usually that kind of shoe would have been popular among the beer loving Irish people. But Nike’s marketing people forgot one thing: The Black and Tan was a violent British paramilitary, which ravaged the Irish independence wars and among this the atrocities of Bloody Sunday. Not a name you want to use for a shoe honoring the Irish peoples most favo rite company. And Nike has experienced the consequences of the mistake. Nike has put a lot of money into innovating and advertising the shoe, which only makes the fault bigger. Some simple research or a Googling of â€Å"Black and Tan† could have averted the problem. Nike has now made a shoe to tribute Guiness that they cannot sell in Ireland. It may have ruined Nikes reputation and brand in Ireland and it has cost Nike million of dollars in manufacturing the shoe and may even cost billions of dollars in losses of future sales in Ireland. Hopefully Nike and other companies have learned their lesson and in the future understand the importance of cultural research.

Manchild in the Promised Land Essay

The majority of Negroes during the time of Douglass and Washington spent their lives in the fields, gutters, and ghettoes of America. They continue to do so today. Two recently published autobiographies clearly indicate that Negro degradation and deprivation are confined neither to the South nor to earlier times. Claude Brown provides dramatic accounts of life in urban Negro slums. Both are highly readable, although Williamson’s seems less complete and less authentic. Brown tells the story of â€Å"Sonny,† a Harlem â€Å"corner boy† who went to college. His childhood and adolescence included chronic truancy, prolonged friction with his parents, gang fighting and assorted delinquencies. Sonny was intimate with personal danger and suffered severe bodily harm. He was well known to the courts and the youth correctional houses. Although Sonny’s childhood and adolescence appear to have been those of many Harlem youth, he was spared the fate of many of his friends: violent death, permanent body injury, demoralization, and fanaticism. Claude Brown’s account of his experiences growing up in Harlem in the 1950’s indicates it may be equally prevalent in a metropolitan setting. One of Brown’s friends 1965: 425) asserts: The time I did in Woodburn, the times I did on the Rock, that was college man . . . Every time I went there, I learned a little more. When I go to jail now, Sonny, I live, man. I’m right at home. That’s the good part about it . . . Now when I go back to the joint, anywhere I go, I know some people. If I go to any of the jails in New York, or if I do a slam in Jersey even, I still run into a lot of cats I know. It’s almost like a family. (425) For Brown and many of the revolutionaries, the slogan of black power seemed to have this content: †¢ Negroes, by themselves, must assert their political and economic power through such methods as the creation of all-Negro political parties such as the Black Panther Party. Coalition with whites is either impossible or undesirable, for it would undermine Negro dignity. Integration with whites should not be a paramount goal. Rather, Negroes should strengthen their own separate culture and society: â€Å"black is beautiful. † At some future date, if a Negro so chooses, he might integrate with whites. Negroes must affirm their unique identity, learn of their African heritage, and identify with the â€Å"colored† peoples throughout the world. White society is both oppressive and decadent. Negroes should not fight â€Å"the white man’s war† in places such as Vietnam. Violence, at least in self-defense, can and should be used by Negroes to achieve their goals. While Negroes are a minority in America, they can count on the support of Asian and African peoples. American man is now an urban man and he was recently a rural man. It would be strange if the psychological shock of trying to find streets as natural as fields or woods did not provoke savage explosions in the cities. Claude Brown’s brilliant examination of Harlem, Manchild in the Promised Land, showed just how much of the black ghetto’s barbarism came from the sudden transplantation of sharecroppers from shacks to tenements. Robert Kennedy was using more than a politician’s rhetoric when he stated before his murder: ‘We confront an urban wilderness more formidable and resistant and in some ways more frightening than the wilderness faced by the Pilgrims or the pioneers. ‘ Being labeled a troublemaker is a danger of growing up in suburbia as well as in the slums, but the suburbs are more likely to provide parental intervention and psychiatrists, pastors, family counselors to help the youth abandon his undesirable identity. It is much harder for the inner-city youth to find alternatives to a rebel role. Thus it is in the slums that youth gangs are most likely to drift from minor and haphazard into serious, repeated, purposeful delinquency. It is in the slums, too, that young people are most likely to be exposed to the example of the successful career criminal as a person of prestige in the community. To a population denied access to traditional positions of status and achievement, a successful criminal may be a highly visible model of power and affluence and a center of training and recruitment for criminal enterprise. As Ward (1998) describes it: Among the social institutions which delineated black urban associational life, the one most closely related to the vocal group was the street gang. Sometimes the groups and the gangs even shared the same membership. In Baltimore, Johnny Page of the Marylanders doubled as a member of the Dungaree Boys gang, while Julius Williams had dual affiliations as a battling member of the Shakers and as a balladeer with the Royal Jokers in Detroit. â€Å"Julius Williams was the terror of the school†, recalled his classmate Woodie King. â€Å"He was sixteen. He enjoyed fighting teachers and singing in class†. When Claude Brown returned from a juvenile detention centre in upstate New York in the early 1950s, he noticed that many of the old gangs from his Harlem neighbourhood had turned to doowopping in the wake of the Orioles’ inspirational rise from a Baltimore street corner, via an appearance on Arthur Godfrey’s CBS radio show Talent Scouts, to national celebrity (Ward 59) One of the most consistent patterns of emotional concern expressed by the disadvantaged child is for potency or power. His heroes are the strong, invincible men, such as Hercules or Superman. We could speculate that the interest in Greek mythology expressed by disadvantaged pupils is also related to this concern. As a result, we would like to see the schools investigate, with the children, the power concept. This is a possible study topic for even the earliest grades. Can people be strong in ways other than physical strength? The teacher might begin by asking the youngsters who their neighborhood heroes are–who are the â€Å"top cats† on their block–and then asking why they are so. We would guess that the responses will probably be in terms of physical strength. The objective then, would be to help the class begin to explore other routes of power. Staging points for such discussions might be derived from reading excerpts from the powerful autobiography of Claude Brown, Manchild in the Promised Land, the author’s experiences growing up in Harlem. 6 The most direct method, however, to help children feel greater potency is to let them experience it. A way that combines such experience with the improvement of writing skills was demonstrated by one of our teaching interns. In a seventh-grade English class, required by the curriculum guide to study paragraph skills, the teaching intern asked the class, â€Å"How many of you can remember any of the things you had to read in school when you were in the third grade? † Some hands went up, and names of books were reported. â€Å"How did you like them? † Claude Brown’s memories of post-war Harlem churches similarly stressed their extra-religious appeal. He attended one simply because he lusted after the preacher’s daughter and fondly recalled Father Divine’s 155th Street Mission, not for its spiritual nourishment, but because he could get all the food he could eat there for 15 cents. Brown also appreciated that the black churches of Harlem were commercial, as well as religious, enterprises. At Mrs Rogers’ storefront church, he recalled, â€Å"people jumped up and down until they got knocked down by the spirit, and Mrs Rogers put bowls of money on a kitchen table and kept pointing to it and asking for more†. (27-8) Works Cited Brown, Claude. Manchild in the Promised Land. New York: Macmillan, 1965. A youthful autobiographical account of modern life in a black ghetto of New York Bukowczyk, John J. â€Å"†Who Is the Nation? â€Å"-Or, â€Å"Did Cleopatra Have Red Hair? â€Å": A Patriotic Discourse on Diversity, Nationality, and Race. † MELUS 23. 4 (1998) Corbould, Clare. â€Å"Streets, Sounds and Identity in Interwar Harlem. † Journal of Social History 40. 4 (2007) Koelling, Holly. Classic Connections: Turning Teens on to Great Literature. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2004 Nelson, Emmanuel S. African American Authors, 1745-1945 A Bio-Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2000. Nelson, Emmanuel S. , ed. African American Autobiographers: A Sourcebook. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2002. Sampson, Benjamin W. â€Å"Season Preview 2004-05: A Comprehensive Listing of Productions, Dates and Directors at TCG Theatres Nationwide. † American Theatre Oct. 2004 Shafton, Anthony. Dream-Singers: The African American Way with Dreams. New York: Wiley, 2002. Sixty Years of Great Books by African-Americans. † Ebony Nov. 2005 Ward, Brian. Just My Soul Responding: Rhythm and Blues, Black Consciousness, and Race Relations. London: UCL Press, 1998.