Individual Assignment: Classic Airlines Marketing Solution Essay

Bryan Spearman July 22nd, 2010 Abstract In the case study of Classic Airline (CA), the paper use problem-solving model to solve CA’s marketing problem. After taking into account of the internal and external pressures contributing the CA’s current crisis, the new objective of implementing strategic market plan to resolve solution is clarified; furthermore, potential issues of implementation is also considered to ensure impact of the plan. The paper will also highlight that implementation of improved CRM which expected to significantly improve the profitability of the organization. Successful implementation requires effective leadership, targeting market group, realizing shared vision among stakeholders and appropriate delivery strategies. Classic Airlines Marketing Solution For every successful organization, a question is often brought forward by the management: What philosophy should guide a company’s marketing efforts? Should organization focus its strength first on the interest of stockholder, the customers or the society? Often times, these interests are in conflict with one another. Since the mid-1950s, the marketing philosophy had shift from product centered â€Å"make to sell† toward customer centered â€Å"sense and respond† philosophy. Thus the questions of marketing are finding the product that fit customer’s need instead of other way around. [ (Philip Kotler, 2006) ] Facing fierce global competition, companies had realized the importance of retaining healthy customer relationship because every companies knows it is far more cost effective to retain a loyal customer than to acquire a new one. According to Plunkett Research Online, the 2009-2010 periods for commercial airlines are expecting some rough ride ahead: consumer budget is tight while companies are cutting down business traveling expenses. To combat with economical hardship, airlines are fighting to cut routes, removing older models of air planes and reduce the fuel cost; at the same time, competing on best price and total service package to the customers. [ (Plunkett Research Ltd. , 2009) ] The Problems at Classic Airline The Classic Airline (CA) is world’s fifth largest airline that operates 375 jets serves 240 cities with over 2300 daily flights. In the last 25 years, the company had grown into an organization of 32000 employees with multi-billion sales. [ (University of Phoenix, 2005) ] Due to the difficulties with increasing global competition, overexpansion within the organization, changes in customers spending, and increased concern with airline security; CA along with its competitors in the industry are dealing with issues of growing stress and reduced financial gain. Increased uncertainty had triggered a drop in stock price; thus CA has seen a 10% decrease in share price. To make the situation worse, the company had also shown 19% decrease in number of reward members and 21% decrease in flights per remaining member. (University of Phoenix, 2005) With rising cost especially in fuel and labor, CA is tight up financially in its ability to compete effectively in the market. Furthermore, the board of director mandated 15% cut in cost or the company will face bankruptcy. A key component of the business model affecting both competiveness and profitability is the structure of the marketing portfolio within the company. In fact, Classic Airlines is struggling with a number of marketing challenges both internally within their corporate culture as well as with their external marketing portfolio. Some senior executives such as newly promoted CEO Amanda Miller believed in focusing organizational resources on operational excellence and financial stability thus gives less attention to marketing. As a result, the shift in priority had caused the firm more vulnerable in this critical time which consumers needs should be valued as most important of all others. Meanwhile, CA’s competitors are learning fast in continuing improvement in customer satisfaction to regain their market share. Opportunity Identification Targeted at the problems at home, also lies opportunity to success. Because the executives of Classic Airline believes that they can turn the things around and improve the current situation, First opportunity is to increase customer satisfaction through the company’s existing program called Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Using this information, CA can determine what it needs to focus on to bring customers back. Though the CMO, Kevin Boyle is a big supporter of this program; he might be facing disagreement with other executives down the road during the implementation process since they don’t have much faith on how marketing department can be benefited from the program Stakeholder Groups and Shared Vision Stakeholder alignment is an important part of marketing planning thus holds a key to the success of implementation of problem solution. The potential of conflict of interest is inherent in any organization. Conflicts may exist whenever a group or an individual is paid to serve and support another from a position of assumed trust and responsibility. † [ (Emlyn Neuman-Javornik, 2006) ] Before any product reaches to consumers, it must connect with all stakeholders in every levels of the organization first because CA’s employees will be affected by these changes and so will their perfo rmance in the future. Can the risk due to the conflict of interest be eliminated once for all? Unfortunately, the answer is no; but the progression of actions that cause potential risky situation escalating to the point of destruction can be and should be prevented beforehand. [ (Emlyn Neuman-Javornik, 2006) ] The key step is management awareness and proactive action taken to minimize the risk factors. An effective risk-management program based on three critical phrases: Creation, Communication and Commitment. Creation is referring the solid cross-companywide statement of policy which states a clear expectation and govern ethical standard of conduct toward the all stakeholders including employee, managers, suppliers and officers; Communication, allows all levels of stakeholder to understand the statement policy and oversee any differences before it progresses; Last and most importantly, the commitment of employees, managers, partners and suppliers to invested in the company’s policy and shared vision as same as they are equally liable for the consequence if violates the policy. (Emlyn Neuman-Javornik, 2006) ] â€Å"The creative difference between reality and the vision is a way of seeing progress and an objective that serves as a motivator for a lot of people. † [ (Senge, 1997) ] Senge also states that the vision should come from all levels within an organization instead of being applied â€Å"top down†. Despite the individual belief and differences, it is vital for Cl assic Airline to establish a shared vision among all stakeholders in order for the organization continues creating value. In addition, the importance of a shared vision is the core of the company which allows teams learning to happen throughout the stages of product cycle. In fact, company that learns faster as a team than its competitor has a clear competitive advantage thus is more flexible toward changes. [ (Senge, 1997) ] In the case of Classic Airline, management had been working hard to maintain a high level of efficiency; however the passive approach has its limitation thus incapable of continuing improving when deals with worse market response. Therefore, the core competency must shift toward customer centered business operation. Employees must be encouraged to know and listen to the consumer’s voices which allow a clear channel of communication. As a result, the info collected from bottom up will help marketing team to shape a clear picture in how to meet market demand with effective strategic solution. In addition, a cross-function communication network must be established which integrated with CRM system to close the communication gap between external and internal stakeholders. Problem Solution An Overview of Customer Relationship Management â€Å"CRM systems can be viewed as information systems aimed at enabling organizations to realize a customer focus. † [ (Bull, 2003) ] Though CRM has gained an increasing popularity in improving and meeting marketing demand; however, the studies had shown a great number of failure in CRM implementation. According to Giga surveys: companies generally underestimate the complexities of CRM, lack of clear business objective and tend to invest insufficient resources into the program; thus Giga survey have estimated 70% of companies are likely to fail. (Whittle, 2001) ] The truth is that CRM system is evolving over the years as market demand changes. Because the leaders oversees not only the internal running of operation but also monitor the external environments changes; and are best positioned to set the vision and strategic direction for CRM project. In addition, the top executive is more cost aware than middle management thus has stronger control over the expenditure of project over the long run. [ (Bull, 2003) ] Classic Airline had earned $8. 7 billion in sales; however, the ineffective CRM system had reduced yields from consumers and failed to maintain loyal customers. The firm suffers CRM integration problem due to unclear direction in dealing with customer relationship. Therefore, a set of priorities must be established to set straight forth the focus of the CRM system which is to identify consumer needs, assisting market segmentation, discover value and cost driver, improving customer retention and leveraging stakeholder feedback. Holistic Market Approach Classic Airline could apply the concept of holistic marketing which based on four components: relationship marketing, integrated marketing, internal marketing and social responsibility marketing. The goal is to have more comprehensive approach that goes beyond the traditional marketing strategies in order to deliver highest value to the customer. [ (Philip Kotler K. L. , 2006) ] In the relationship marketing, the company can update and strengthen the CRM program to collect data required based on the goal to understand the need, wants and demand of the customers; as the same time, integrated marketing enable multiple marketing activities to communicate thus deliver value and maximize each activities’ joint effect. As a result, two objectives that can be achieved: lower the cost of marketing and implement a solid customer service solution to increase sales. [ (Philip Kotler K. L. , 2006) ] Notably, internal marketing must be incorporated into the solution process which to ensure every stakeholders within the organization embrace and participate the marketing principle especially the senior management. â€Å"Holistic approaches to CRM help organization co-ordinate and effectively maintain the growth of disparate customer contact points or channels of communication. [ (Bull, 2003) ] By placing CRM system as the heart of holistic marketing approach, new solution allows company undergoing transformation needed to emphasis on customer orientated business process with higher flexibility and adaptability to market changes. Identification of Right Customer Groups According to Newell, CRM is a useful tool in terms of identifying the right customer groups; in another word, assisting with market segmenta tion in order to provide appropriate service and product to different level of market groups. (Newell, 2000) ] The basic idea of market segmentation is that a company cannot have equally profitable relationship with all customers. By targeting consumer with different product and services according to their lifestyle, individual taste and financial ability will create a win-win relationship in which both parties received maximum benefit from one another. Newell had stated that identifying customer groups is the idea of distinguishing between transaction and relationship customers; which transaction customer are highly volatile thus have less to no loyalty other than obtaining the max benefit per transaction with best price. On the contrary, the relationship customer have far more potential for loyalty as they often prepared to pay a higher price within their financial ability for a range of reliable goods and services. [ (Newell, 2000) ] Generally, relationship customer will less likely to defect once establish a relationship; however, he will expect consistent quality service as a return for his loyalty. Relationship customer is far more cost effective than new customer because they had already understood the process and requires less persuasion; as the same time, he will be able to provide useful feedback to improve quality services of the organization. Delivery of CRM System Another dimension of market problem solution is CA’s ability to deliver the strategy successfully. CRM strategy is only effective if they deliver positive outcome; therefore, customer focused CRM system may not be enough with current consumer demand. Not only CRM will be able to assist the organization to predict future market demand, but keep the organization strong as a market leader. The studies had shown that fundamental goal of CRM is to improve organizational profitability though efficient and effective customer relationship. If the CRM strategy is struggling to impact profitability of organization after the initial implementation period; clearly, the strategy is failed to accomplish its goal. [ (Bull, 2003) ] In the case of Classic Airline, to revise and establish a stronger and effective CRM system: the top executive must clarify the expectation and announce an overarching theme to CA employees. The top executive must assume a strong leadership role within the organization to lead the transformation of the business process and passed down to the bottom level. When employees are more anticipated, the transformation process will be easier to implement. Value is ultimately built on the improved relational variables cultivated between business unit as CA experience learning as a team. As a result, manages and employees’ behavior will help improving the existing organizational culture so all stakeholders are motivated to work toward the common goal. Although the risks associated with transformation is relatively high, CA must utilize CRM system with proactive models to address the challenges/trends that market demand in a timely manner because strategy nd efficiency should always exist alongside each other. Alternative Solution and Benchmarking â€Å"When organizations want to improve their performance, they benchmark. That is, they compare and measure their policies, practices, philosophies, and performance measures against those of high-performing organizations anywhere in the world. † (James Cavanagh, 2000) Southwest Airline i s one of market leader in airline industry which has a reputation of delivering consistently high quality of customer service and employee performance. Southwest airline is reported that 2009 marked as their 37th year of consecutive profitability which proven their immovable leadership within the industry. (Gary C Kelly, 2009) During the period of recession, Southwest Airline had continued to dedicate quality of customer service as their top priority and led the industry with lowest customer complaint ratio. The organization is constantly seeking new opportunity to enhance customer experience. Examples of their initiatives are early bird check-in which encourage customer online-reservation; P. A. W. S that are welcoming customer with pet aboard and last, in flight internet that installing satellite-delivered broadband to onboard passenger. [ (Gary C Kelly, 2009) ] CA should learn from Southwest Airline which is developing strategic planning based on consumer focused philosophy. With new updates and perfected CRM system, CA will be able to establish more stable customer relationship in order to regain the competitive advantage in the market. Conclusion Marketing is the life and breathes of an organization, and the organization must be reminded how its strategic marketing solution should be based on consumer satisfaction consistently. Encompass the body of the paper, it is confirmed that CRM is a complex and holistic concept that requires appropriate business process and integrated systems. After identification of existing problems, alignment the stakeholders’ value and creation shared vision; Classic Airline had come to conclusion that in order for the successful implementation of updated CRM system to impact the profitability, CA need to execute effective leadership and risk management, targeting the right marketing group and evaluation within CRM strategies. The future of CA relies upon a collaborated effort infused with productivity and team work.

Occupational Therapy

Early June 2011 my grandfather suffered a minor stroke at the age of 76. He was quickly admitted to John Muir in Walnut Creek, a few days went by and he only seemed to be getting worse; when unfortunately my family’s worst nightmare became a reality. My grandfather endured another stroke, but this time it was much more serious. This put my family in an enormous amount of emotional distress, everyone was terrified and we had no idea what was going to happen to my grandfather. It happened so fast, all we wanted were answers.But, when we got answers, they were far from what we wanted to hear. A few days after my grandfather’s second stroke my family met with his doctors who showed little hope or optimism. They told us we were lucky he was still alive, but with the condition he was in now we were never going to see him walk again, he would probably never talk again, and he was definitely never going to be able to live independently ever again. As he kept explaining to us wh at was going to happen to my grandfather’s life, the words cut like daggers.My cousins and I watched our parents bewail with sorrow as we just sat aside our grandfather’s hospital bed feeling helpless and confused. About a month went by while my grandfather was still in John Muir, and his progress was nothing to rave about. We would visit him daily, but he never seemed to be getting much better. He couldn’t eat, talk, or move, but we just reminded him to keep fighting and we knew, with hope, he would be able to make a substantial recovery. When my grandfather was dismissed from the John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek, he moved into the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Leandro.While in San Leandro, he started to receive more intense therapy, his recovery was slow but we started seeing improvements; he was able to eat solid food, without a pump, began to talk again. While visiting my grandfather in San Leandro I was introduced to occupational therapy for the first time. I had no idea what occupational therapists did or even what occupational therapy was, but as I sat in on a few of my grandfather’s sessions I became very interested. According to the World Federation of Occupational Therapy, â€Å"occupational therapy is a profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through engagement in occupation. But, when I sat down and talked with Julie Roberts, an in-home occupational therapist, she sighed, â€Å"[describing what OTs do is] really the hardest part of the job; there are so many different things we do and everyone has their own individual qualifications. † When Julie goes into a home to meet with her clients for the first time, she greets them with a smile and tells them she’s there to â€Å"help them with their job of living. † Occupational therapy is an integral part of the therapeutic aspects of a person’s recovery.Although many people may see OTs for physical disabilities, itâ₠¬â„¢s also very common for someone to go to an OT for help with their mental or emotional state. Since everyone suffers uniquely from their various disabilities, typically the therapeutic process begins with an â€Å"individualized evaluation during which the client, their family and their occupational therapist determine the individual’s goals† leading to â€Å"a customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach his/her goals† and once their therapy is over an â€Å"evaluation to monitor progression towards meeting the client’s goals† is conducted.Occupational therapists focus on â€Å"adapting the environment, modifying the task, teaching the skill, and educating the client/family in order to increase participation in and performance of daily activities. † â€Å"For instance, teaching an elderly woman with a hip replacement how to get in and out of the bath tub while minimizing her fall r isk, or helping a man recovering from a car accident use grabbers to reach things to keep his back safe. † According to Roberts the most important part of her job is helping people â€Å"adapt to living with their disability as efficiently as possible. During my visitation I went to an assisted living home in Antioch with my mentor, OT Stephanie Morano, I was able to sit in on a therapy session for a 92-year-old woman named Fern. Fern suffered from a GI bleed and although she was living somewhat independently, she had trouble moving and limited mobility. During the session I sat in on Stephanie used a balloon to help Fern feel comfortable standing and regain her balance, while strengthening her core just by making Fern stand in front of her couch while they batted the balloon back and forth.Morano is also an in-home OT, meaning her main focus is to â€Å"evaluate their [patients] level of independence, cognition, and safety. † Moreover, â€Å"occupational therapists p rovide intervention to maximize independence and function through remedial and compensatory strategies, with the ultimate goal of the client’s regaining the ability to live independently at home. † Typically in-home OTs work with the geriatric community and spend most of their days in assisted living facilities or in homes with elderly people. According to Roberts most of her elderly patients suffering from various disabilities, are retired and don’t understand why she’s there; they don’t think they need her help, until she starts showing them what she does. † Outside of home health there are a plethora of different areas to specialize in occupational therapy, a wonderful thing about this career is the ability to change your area of expertise.Roberts and Boray both adamantly told me that home health is not for beginning OTs, when doing home health you are completely isolated from any other OTs, whereas in other areas you are surrounded by othe r OTs with other specific areas of knowledge that you can ask for advice. A few of the most popular areas of specialization include pediatrics, which is working with small children in â€Å"schools, community, and child based inpatient hospitals. † Although many times children need the same type of care as adults, the specialization comes in the way that the OTs address the needs in a way to specifically benefit a child.Jennifer Boray, an OT that has worked in many areas, including pediatrics through the Mount Diablo Unified school district expressed to me that working with children is a wonderful experience to begin being an OT with because their willingness to learn and their want to succeed is fresh and enlightening. Many OTs also work in acute care hospitals, helping people stabilize their medical after a traumatic event, such as a stroke, spinal cord injury, or brain injury.Occupational therapy plays an important role in facilitating early mobilization, restoring functio n, preventing further decline, as well as coordinating the patient’s transition and discharge planning. Skilled nursing facilities also employ many OTs, in skilled nursing facilities the OTs focus on each individual’s needs and typically help with activities of daily living and self-reliance, such as dressing and eating. There are also many outpatient clinics in hospitals for patients that are in need of individual treatment, but are still able to function on their own.The many faces of occupational therapy allow Boray to â€Å"easily move through this career and learn new things every day,† she loves that if she ever â€Å"gets tired of home health care it will always be an option to find something new in this industry† but she plans on being in home health care for the rest of her life. Although occupational therapy is crucial to a person’s recovery, it is still an overlooked career in many ways. Even the OTs that I’ve talked to told me th at going into college they had no idea what occupational therapy was.Many students begin school wanting to pursue a career in physical therapy or rehabilitation when they are approached by a teacher or counselor with information about occupational therapy. Roberts explained when she went to college her career counselor suggested Julie look into occupational therapy, but she â€Å"had no idea what it was. † Like most people, she was initially confused, â€Å"so they just reteach people how to live? † But, as she investigated the career, she realized it was exactly what she was looking for.Being an OT is an extremely rewarding career, not only for the therapist, but also the patient. While my grandfather was in the hospital he began to get hopeless, he knew that he wasn’t making much of a recovery and it was hard for him to find the want to keep fighting, until he began his occupational therapy. It may not seem like a big deal, but when he isn’t able to hol d a fork or stabilize his hand to raise it to his mouth, it frustrated him, but after trying and trying with his OT he was finally able to feed himself.When he took his first bite of food by himself after his stroke, his eyes lit up and it was obvious that he was beginning to believe in himself again. As time went on, the tasks he began to strive to achieve got bigger; eventually dressing himself, showering by himself, and contrary to the doctor’s belief, walking by himself, were all things my grandfather wouldn’t have been able to do if it wasn’t for occupational therapy. Roberts professed to me her passion for helping people is what â€Å"drew [her] into occupational therapy and kept [her] there. â€Å"Seeing the joy on a sixteen year old girls face when she finally puts her hair in a ponytail for the first time is an indescribable feeling,† Julie told me, glowing, â€Å"but the thanks that comes after, the true gratitude she feels, that’s what I love. † When Boray asked me why I was interested in occupational therapy, I told her about my grandfather, and how beneficial occupational therapy was for him. After I was finished telling her about my situation she started glowing, and replied â€Å"that’s what makes it all worth it, seeing a young girl inspired by n OT makes me know that we’re doing something right. † In doing this project and researching occupational therapy, I’ve learned a lot about the career and it’s definitely something that I’m interested in pursuing in college. Since very few people are aware of what occupational therapy really is, there is a huge demand for OTs throughout the nation, and world. According to the Medical University of South Carolina, occupational therapy’s projected growth rate is over 23% from 2006 to 2016. Roberts declared that becoming an OT was â€Å"the smartest thing† she has ever done.She is a divorced single mother of t wo, who makes â€Å"more than enough† to support herself. She’s â€Å"never been out of a job† and she was easily able to take breaks for periods of time while she was having kids and traveling. Roberts affirmed that she’s never â€Å"had to fish for a job;† and in this economy, that’s impressive. I found Boray’s ability to meet with me in the early afternoon very interesting, most people working full time jobs are locked into specific hours but when I walked into her home and saw her son playing with Legos on the floor I realized how much flexibility she really had.When asking Boray how she manages working full time and having a family, she explained â€Å"that’s one of the most wonderful things about working as an OT in home health; you really create your own schedule. † Jennifer is electronically contacted by her company on a weekly basis with a list of clients for the week; she then calls all of her clients individua lly and sets up times to meet with them that work well for her.Jennifer typically meets with 5 or 6 clients a day for about 45 minutes. Boray uses many â€Å"aspects of education† in her career every day, although the majority of her classes in school focused on muscle movement, she also uses lot of her psychology classes when dealing with patients, she evaluates a person mental state and sends it back into the doctor with her evaluations of their physical progress, â€Å"it’s a really interesting part of the job, but it can get tough. She also has to use her medical knowledge to deem what is appropriate for every client, for instance â€Å"if someone’s range of motion is limited because of a car accident but [she] notices they show signs of also possibly having a blood clot† she reports that to the doctor as well. Roberts agreed that the most important personality trait to have as an OT is â€Å"without a doubt, being a problem solver. † After wi tnessing the positive effects of occupational therapy, I’ve become very passionate about the career and spreading awareness about the benefits of this specific kind of therapy.I hope that with my video I will be able to show the class, exactly what occupational therapy is and how it positively affects the people who endure it. I would love for everyone to develop the same appreciation for occupational therapy as I have and really see the benefits of them. The flexibility in this career, along with the rewarding aspects have made it something I am greatly considering to pursue. Seeing my grandfather, along with Fern, and the women that I interviewed gave me an insight to this career that wouldn’t have been possible without my extensive research and strive to learn more.I’m immensely glad that I chose this topic to pursue and I think it will have a direct impact on my life, my mentor was wonderful and helped my very much through this entire process. I was inspired to join the American Occupational Therapy Association and am now periodically given information about breaking innovations in occupational therapy, as well as connecting with OTs in our area and starting to get my name out there, hopefully leading to helpful opportunities in pursuing this career in the near future.I’ve enjoyed expanding my knowledge about occupational therapy in general, and I found it very comforting that everyone I’ve been around in this career was so kind and willing to help; last summer before I ever even though about doing this for my project I was interested in learning more about being an OT and I’m glad I was motivated to do so because this was a life-changing experience.

Leadership and Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

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The Islam and its Concept of Jihad and Jihadism Essay - 1

The Islam and its Concept of Jihad and Jihadism - Essay Example In order to understand the concepts of Jihad as outlined in the Islam and as they are being practiced now, it is really critical to understand the overall concept of Jihad and how it has been outlined by the Islam in it original principles. Further, it is also critical to explore as to how the Jihad is being conceived and practiced now and whether there is a drift from the earlier established principles or not. It has been argued that the Jihad as it is practiced now is a complete shift from the earlier traditions of Islam and is now believed to be practiced in a manner which marks a complete shift from the same. Whether this is the case or not or whether Jihad is exactly practiced the way earlier traditions outlined is the topic which this paper will attempt to explore and discuss. The literal meaning of the word Jihad in Arabic is struggle and is a noun in Arabic language. The word Jihad has appeared in the Quran for more than 40 times however, indirect references to the metaphysical meanings of the word have also been made in Quran on various occasions. Quranic interpretation of Jihad therefore indicates a struggle in the way of Allah and is considered as one of the important religious duties for the Muslims. There are various instances in Muslim history in which Prophet (PBUH) has considered doing Jihad under different conditions. The overall importance which has been attached to it is because it is not only mentioned in Quran but it was also practiced by the Prophet (PBUH) himself. (Burgat & Dowell, 1993) There are various instances in the Islamic history wherein Prophet (PBUH) has specifically mentioned that the greater Jihad is the struggle against one’s own desires. Based on this, Jihad is therefore often divided into two categories i.e. lesser Jihad and greater Jihad or Jihad e Akbar.

Texas Decision to Refuse to Expand Medicaid Essay

Texas Decision to Refuse to Expand Medicaid - Essay Example As the paper stresses texas decision of rejection has protected the private insurance and encouraged its growth. Therefore, private insurance in Texas are affordable, and the number of people with insurance is increasing. Rejection of the Medicaid has affected the country negatively in that the country spending in the country funded health care programs for the uninsured is increasing. Once the expenditure increases the government increases tax thus causing an increase in price on different commodities. According to the research findings the Medicaid program harms the people though it is intended to serve. Expanding Medicaid means that patients who are already enrolled in the program many of whom have nowhere else to go for coverage will be competing for medical services with up to 20 million more people being added to the program. Moreover, the most vulnerable patients who have the greatest needs are likely to have the hardest time getting care. Texas rejecting the expanded Medicaid has protected its people from this problem. The expanded Medicaid under the Affordable federal Act provides a strong health care system. Provision of quality health care increases the number of residents with health insurance reducing the uncompensated care cost. In addition, healthy resident is a sign of productivity in that state. Medicaid emphasis more on coverage and not to care provided to the patients.

Human Relations And Health Information Management Research Paper

Human Relations And Health Information Management - Research Paper Example Various studies have indicated that these tests are effective in making career-related decisions and are also accurate in providing correct results (Borgen & Betz, 2008; Capraro & Capraro, 2002; Garis & Niles, 1990). These tests have been taken for the purpose of this research paper and the findings are used to identify personality type and suitable career path in prospective employers. Personality Inventory The findings of SIGI3 inventory and its corroboration with MBTI test helped in understanding that my personality type is ESTJ which is an abbreviation of extroverted, sensing, thinking and judging (â€Å"Jung Test Results†, n.d). According to the output of the test, individuals with this personality type have administrative skills and they remain in touch with the external environment. Furthermore, they are very responsible and are named as the pillar of strength by the test. Findings of the SIGI3 test indicated that my personal values are the contribution to the society, high income, leadership, prestige, leisure, independence, and variety. All these values score above average in the field of health information management (SIGI3, 2013). ... findings related to personal interests, skills, and values with MBTI’s results indicated that my personality type is of figure that would assume responsibilities and is able to work in a team-based work environment effectively. In addition to that, I have strong analytical skills that are essential for health information management. My preferred job-related tasks would be the collection of information and deduce necessary trends out of it along with planning concerning numerical data. When examined with the help of SIGI3 preferred employment in the light of the test’s results and my current majors, it was found that my preferred career path would be in the health information administration.

African-American Muslims in Philadelphia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

African-American Muslims in Philadelphia - Essay Example Though the roles of men and women are clearly spelt out in the Quran, the bone of contention is: How are African-American women perceived or treated in this religion? While these women put themselves on the same equal ground as their male counterparts, the media and Americans in general see them as a subjugated group. Sunni African American women believe that Muslim is the first and only religion that is centered on feminism. They recognize this religion as their source of redemption in a male dominated world. Even though their opinions and views may seem absurd to most Americans, the religion keeps growing in popularity among the Blacks. It is worth noting that men were attracted to Islam as it put a lot of emphasis on male leadership1. Elijah Muhammad used this opportunity to affirm the role of both men and women in religion, leadership being the primary role of men. In African-American churches, leadership positions were mostly taken by women with one overall male leader- the pastor. Black women were also attracted to Islam despite being reduced to housewives and child bearers by the sect. This was due to how they viewed Muslim men and the respect that the religion accorded women and children. Unlike their irreligious or Christian counterparts, Muslim men were responsible, focused, loved their women and were always smart in suits. This attracted the women to the sect. Many came from abusive and dysfunctional families; Islam offered a source of reprieve and comfort for them. Elijah called for the men to protect and provide for their black women to preserve the purity of black skin and to discourage interracial relations with the whites. It was not for the benefit of the black women. In fact, men were in control of their spouses bodies. The only time men were not allowed to copulate with their wives was during menstruation and when they were sick. Regardless of whether she was in the mood or not, a Muslim woman was mandated by her religion to meet her

Professional capstone project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Professional capstone project - Essay Example in this theory include â€Å"Carative Factors† (emotional, human and spiritual, care-giving factors), a â€Å"Caring Relationship† (the patient and nurse mutually explore for wholeness and meaning) and â€Å"Caring Moments† (constant time spent, to create a human-to-human relation, with a patient). Caring is the ethical model of nursing whereby the conclusion is enhancement, preservation and protection of human solemnity. Thus, the two individuals, i.e. a client and a nurse, partaking in a caring operation are mutually involved in a process of becoming and being (Adventist Health System, 2011). Since nursing provides a sigh of relief to the ailing patient, this theory provides an insight into the behaviors that can be utilized to apply proper care mechanism to ease the patient’s sufferings. Some of them include comforting, attentive listening, peace, honesty, responsibility, patience, rendering information to enable the patient to construct an informed conclusion, respect, sensitivity, touch as well as addressing patient by his/her name (Anonymous, 2012). Using this theory, a nurse can constitute a caring association with patients by exhibiting unconditional acceptance using a holistic intervention approach (a treatment plan that involves treating the spirit, body, soul as well as mind), spending as much as necessary time with the ailing patient and promoting health through intervention and knowledge. This theory will be applied in the project by implementing the proposed behaviors in the real world situation and reporting the outcomes generated. The factual impact of the application of simulations on scientific decision making is undetermined. Cioffi, Purcal and Arundell (2005), have developed a pilot study that employed a posttest designed to explore the impact of a simulation strategy on the decision making process within the clinic for nursing students. The findings reported suggest that the students that were provided the simulation strategy gathered more

Networking topic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Networking topic - Research Paper Example mmunication facilitates the similar communication as telephone without loss in reliability, functionality or quality; as well as in fulfillment by the ITU (or International Telecommunications Union) presented communication specifications. The term of VoIP is as well employed to denote the software and hardware utilized to perform such calls over the Internet network (BestPriceComputers). Internet Telephony is acknowledged as Voice over IP, which facilitates people to speak to other people over the Internet. Specifically, Internet telephony makes use of the Internet in place of public switch telephone to establish a connection between a calling party and one or more called parties. To do an Internet call, caller needs to install Internet telephone software. Because when the caller talks into a computer microphone, then the Internet telephone software and the computer’s sound card digitize and condense voice and then distribute the compressed voice over the Internet to the target party or listener. In the same way, a call receiver also needs to install the Internet telephone software as software at the receiving end reverse this procedure as a result call receiver can listen what caller party have said (Shelly, Cashman and Vermaat 464). In every VoIP communication system, caller’s voice is transformed into online data packets of data, similar to small fi les, as well as then distributed to the target or receiver over the web/Internet as well as decoded at the receiver end back into our voice. Also, to complete this process quickly, these online data packets are compressed prior to distribute, in the same way as we zip our files and folders for reducing their size (ProgrammerWorld) VoIP communication offers lot of advantages regarding better and effective communication. Below I have outlined some main advantages of the VoIP technology: (Garden), (BestPriceComputers), (Unuth) and (TechTarget): Facility of IVR, conference calling, automatic redial, call forwarding

IMPLEMENTING CHANGE IN HEALTH CARE (UK) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

IMPLEMENTING CHANGE IN HEALTH CARE (UK) - Essay Example How easy is it for people to give up their belief in their own competence Sometimes the need for learning new skills is recognised formally by an organisation when it builds training events into the change programme. Change affects people in different ways, but management experts tend to agree that people go through similar stages in order to come to terms with change. From this transition from resistance to acceptance of change to move into the desired future situation would depend mainly on tow factors, available resources and the willingness to change. Some theories cane be of help to assess this. Lewin's (1951) model of change is one of the most frequently used and easily understood approaches to planning and implementing change in organizations. Many people have added their own elaborations to this model, but its basic ideas remain the same. The basic elements of Lewin's change model are unfreezing, change, and refreezing. Assuming that a work situation is basically stable before change is introduced, although some changes occur naturally, people tend to stay in the "comfort zone" meaning they are generally accustomed to each other, have a routine for doing their work, and are pretty confident that they know what to expect and how to deal with whatever problems may arise in the course of a day (Lewin, 1951, 1-23). A change of any magnitude is likely to move people out of this comfort zone into discomfort. Lewin calls this movement unfreezing. People resist change for a variety of reasons, which vary from person to person and situation to situation. Some are ready to risk ch ange, and others seem to prefer maintaining the status quo. One change in routine provokes a storm of protest, whereas another change is hardly noticed. Resistance to change comes from three major sources: technical concerns, psychosocial needs, and threats to a person's position and power (Lewin, 1951, 35-41). Lewin suggested a way of looking at the overall process of making changes. He proposed that organizational changes have three steps. The first step involves unfreezing the current state of affairs. This means defining the current state, surfacing the driving and resisting forces and picturing a desired end-state. The second is about moving to a new state through participation and involvement (Lewin, 1951, 45-53). The third focuses on refreezing and stabilizing the new state of affairs by setting policy, rewarding success and establishing new standards. Lewin's three-step model uses the organism metaphor of organizations, which includes the notion of homeostasis. This is the tendency of an organization to maintain its equilibrium in response to disrupting changes. This means that any organization has a natural tendency to adjust itself back to its original steady state (Lewin, 1951, 57-78). Lewin argued that a new state of equilibrium has to be intentionally moved towards, and then st rongly established, so that a change will persist. Lewin's model was designed to enable a process consultant to take a group of people through the unfreeze, move, and refreeze stages. For example, if a team of people began to see the need to radically alter their recruitment process, the consultant would work with the team to surface the issues, move to the desired new state and reinforce that new state (Lewin, 1951, 85-99). Lewin's ideas provide a useful tool for those considering organizational ch

The Need of Establishing Gambling Statutes Essay Example for Free

The Need of Establishing Gambling Statutes Essay Gambling is considerably one of the most controversial yet most tolerable forms of activities that man has ever get entwined itself onto. In every race and in every culture, there exists these set of laws which are admitted to be the backbone of keeping the general welfare of its inhabitants as well as with keeping its people â€Å"traditional† and able to follow the beliefs and the laws by which their forefathers have established (Peterson). However, in the recent times, the world has become more open and liberated in the strict sense of gambling—although there are still those who are trying to pretend to be the â€Å"good guys† and hunt those who gamble—that in large cities, gambling is perhaps the backbone of the economy, that without it, the society would drool over getting crippled in the financial basis (Goss and Morse). In the light, the irony of the statutes’ presence in the laws of certain governments is as good as getting swallowed whole by those who benefit over it (Goss and Morse). To be able to thoroughly understand the definite meaning of gambling and the efficiency of the â€Å"statute† that inhibits the said form of activity, one must be able to know how it is taken and accepted in different areas. Consequently, through analyzing the effects of gambling to the society, one shall be able to assess and evaluate the pious importance that its laws bring. The Beneficence of Gambling on American Indians Due to the diverse views of human beings in the streamline of gambling, it would rather be better to focus on a certain race alone, perceivably one of the pioneers in crafting gambling statutes so as to thoroughly focus the analysis and assessment on the chosen culture. The American Indians have been known for its enthusiasm in gambling and the grasp that it holds when it comes to deliberative discussions on the effect of gambling in the society. In the context of literature and of historical schema, Americans are naturally fond of gambling (Nichols). In fact, there were about 100 million Americans who legally gambled $400 billion but lost with $39 billion to the house in 1995. According to reports and studies, Americans consumed more money on lawful amusement games than on movies, books, and recorded music combined (Johansen). The most celebrated places where well known casinos are in include New Jersey and Nevada. However, Native Americans or the American Indians are group of people in America that are so in tune with casinos and other gambling activities. In effect, the acclaimed most commercial casino in the Western Region is said to be Foxwoods High Stakes Bingo Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut is run by Pequot tribe, a group of American Indians (Nichols). Throughout the history, especially in politics and governance, the American government has consistently attempted to reform the status of gambling on American Indians (Nichols). This is for the reason that growing numbers of specified accounts involving poverty, juvenile delinquency, alcohol and drug abuse, poor educational facilities, high crime rates, and other social problems that intricate American Indians are due to the fact that they are so inclined with gambling activities. Though some tribal groups have asked the American government to alleviate those incidents, the debate is raised whether the American government has the authority to intervene with tribal affairs since tribes are long considered to have their own set of rules thus making them sovereign (Deland). Further, the American Congress had passed in 1988, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act which admitted the rights of American Indian tribes across the United States to set up gambling and gaming amenities and services on their own management provided that such facilities would be instituted in states that have some type of legal gambling (Eadington). Two of the most notable cases which appeal to this act are the Seminole Tribe of Florida vs. Butterworth and California vs. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, both happened in 1980’s. Gambling Statutes among American Indians The economic advantages that are drawn from gambling activities economic can best be appreciated by analyzing its impact on the labor market. Gambling establishments by American Indian have given hundreds and thousand of Indians and non-Indians work. Due to this fact, the unemployment rates in American Indian tribes have largely dropped. Further, according to a study conducted by the â€Å"Midwest Hospitality Advisors report on Indian gaming† in Minnesota, most of the Indian gaming establishments in Minnesota presently make use of more or less 5,700 laborers (Davis). Four among these gaming establishments have been named as the major employer for their bordering city. Another four casinos are hailed along with the top five employers within their districts while the other one is included in the top ten. The study also describes that during the years 1990 up to 1992, there was a decrease of 3. 2 percent on Indian recipients living in nations with Indian gambling establishments. Furthermore, such gambling establishments even benefited other non-casino recipients by 14. 6 percent (Davis). From the time when the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was implemented, gain of profits from Indian gambling establishments has developed exponentially. At the same time, the unemployment rate which was reported before to mark at 30 percent was dropped to almost zero with the establishment of Indian gambling houses (Davis). All over the United States, the total gain of profits from the Indian gambling establishments are estimated to reach $6 billion U. S. dollars. Finally, profits gained from these gambling establishments and operations are used by the tribes for the advancement of the reservation as well as the American Indians themselves. They use their earnings on setting up schools and colleges as well as community centers. As of now, there are over 26 tribal colleges across the entire United States (Davis). Furthermore, the profits are also used to set up education trust funds, to support alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs, establishing water and drain systems on their area, and investing in new industries and ventures—a firm and sturdy argument for this topic. Discussion The idea of gambling may be unacceptable to some tribes and culture. Hence in the larger perspective of the issue, it is evident that the legalization of gambling and the reputation that it has gained worldwide is surprisingly overwhelming that the long regarded poverty and unemployment problem of the society has been cured and been given an echelon of remedy which many consider as both a form of hobby and a profession as well. Perhaps gambling does not need laws or statutes to be enjoyed by the general public. However, if this form of perception shall be intolerable by the government, then the humanistic nature of human beings would float up in the scenario—everyone would want to be the head of the casino, or the leader of all the â€Å"expert gamblers†Ã¢â‚¬â€the noted crime rate would only double. Moreover, if gambling is not legalized, then there would be a battalion of offenders each day, given the fact that the society is already aware of the fortune that they may or might achieve in the schema of gambling, a pinch of hole blurted on the series of gambling—as introduced—shall be hailed by those who were not able to get a profession due to lack of education or inherited poverty line. They would then be coerced to steal, or kidnap the president’s daughter in exchange for money to buy his kids some food—again, crime rate is most likely to shower. The good thing cited on the issue of having gambling statutes are ought to be seen with the contribution that it brings the economy. Tackling about the increase of crime rate, it would lead to a realization that casinos and â€Å"gambling spots† are housed with physically and mentally trained men, harnessed to keep safety, peace and order in the place. Which is rather safer now? To play poker on rural suburbs hence not being coined with gambling, or having statutes where the government gets a fair share for the pursuance of established goals and objectives in developing the vicinity through the aide of gambling statutes? Conclusions and further remarks There is also the contention for the prospect of establishing a regulated gambling market which can be a profitable source of government tax. This idea illustrates the observation that the widespread activities which are in one way or another a form of gambling and its potential to be a market commodity can overcome the legal restrictions ascribed unto it (Goss and Morse). A controlled degree of the regulation of â€Å"underground gambling†Ã¢â‚¬â€if the government is able to hunt them down and impose taxes on them—for example, creates, instead, an increase in government revenues that may outweigh or, at least, come close to the actual government payments on law enforcement against the production, distribution and consumption of illegal drugs or better, to help countries who are in grave need of help. Gambling activities and establishments for some parts of the planet are part of their traditions and cultural heritage thus there should be no way that would hinder them in preserving such tribal practices. Though there are negative effects and repercussions that are drawn from the legalization of gambling which acknowledges the rights of the selected tribes to set up and employ gambling operations, the positive aspects overrides the latter in such a way that gambling activities are directed towards their personal, cultural, political, and economic development (Deland). Thus, gambling operations and establishments like casino should be remained legal and accessible to highly urbanized places hitherto making them economically stable which then raises the question why other countries choose to drive away from the idea of legalizing gambling and help their country gain much while having fun. Works Cited Davis, Sia. Indian Gaming in the United States: Dispelling And Highlighting Advantages. National Conference of State, 2005. Deland, Paul S. The Facilitation of Gambling. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 269 (1950): 21-29. Eadington, William R. Indian Gaming and the Law. University of Nevada, Reno Bureau of Business, 1998. Goss, Ernest P. , and Edward A. Morse. Governing Fortune: Casino Gambling in America. Michigan: University of Michigan Press 2007. Johansen, Bruce Elliott. The Encyclopedia of Native American Legal Tradition. Greenwood Press, 1998. Nichols, Roger L. American Indians in U. S. History. University of Oklahoma Press, 2004. Peterson, Virgil W. Gambling: Should It Be Legalized? Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (1931-1951) 40. 3 (1949): 259-329.

Fair Value Accounting Essay Example for Free

Fair Value Accounting Essay This paper attempts to answer the question: â€Å"Is it reasonable to blame fair value accounting for any of the Wall Street mess? † This paper in effect settle whether the use of fair value accounting by listed companies in the major stock exchanges in the US, particularly those found in Wall Street, which the caused fall in prices of the stocks of these companies, was required of companies without justification; hence, it should be blamed for the mess. 2. Analysis and Discussion Any mess in the Wall Street is defined for this paper as one causing the stock prices of companies list in major stock exchanges of the US to fall and that it resulted to losses to investors. To have reasonable basis to blame fair value accounting for any Wall Street mess, does not simply mean that fair value accounting was the necessary cause of fall in the prices of corporate stocks but that the requirement of fair value accounting must not be fair. The question that must be decided therefore is whether fair value accounting is fair as basis of valuing corporate assets, liabilities and equity. A situation or condition is fair if it gives what is due to a person. If the concept of fair value is used in the context of an asset purchased or liability assumed in business, fair value implies that said asset or liability must neither be overpriced nor underpriced whether perceived or otherwise. The law of economics would have fair value as one representing that market price or that equilibrium price of a product or service (Samuelson and Nordhaus, 1992) which is also the value of something from a seller that is not forced to sell or from a buyer that is not forced to buy. Investors, creditors, and other persons expect to be treated fairly as they enter into transactions in terms of value that they will give in exchange to what they will receive. To illustrate, a person or company planning to invest in stocks will appreciate what is fair if the said person or company will earn sufficient return above cost of capital in exchange for the risks being faced by such person or company (Brigham, 2002). To have what is fair, the investors must know the accurate and reliable information about of the company to guide them about their chances of gaining or losing money. These users deserve to have the opportunity to have the true or accurate value of asset, liability or equity being dealt with in a business transaction as basis for valuing the stocks that they will invest with. Financial reports prepared companies, as guided by Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) accounting standard under fair value accounting, will provide these users the opportunity. Specifically, fair value accounting was made pursuant to FAS 157 as issued by US FASB for companies to reflect the accounting information on the real values of assets, liabilities and equity in the balance sheet as contrasted with presenting the information using the historical cost accounting (Meigs and Meigs, 1995). A group of analysts and portfolio managers actually formed part of those who influenced the passage of the fair value accounting for more relevant information in decision making (Chasan, 2008). Under FAS 157 defines fair value is defined as the price that would be received â€Å"to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in a measurement date† (Sortur, 2007). If companies have restated their financial statements from historical cost accounting to fair value accounting, the purpose was laudable since in simple terms, the intention is to make the information more relevant, more accurate and more reliable for decision makers. If stockholders got affected in terms of lower price of stocks as a result of restatement of financial statements, the error was when they were made the purchase of their investments under the historical cost accounting. Since fair value accounting may also increase the value of the stocks if fair value is higher than cost, it could not be asserted that it should be blamed for the fall of prices but not praised for increased in price increase of stock prices. 3. Conclusion It can be concluded that it is not reasonable to blame fair value accounting for any of the Wall Street mess since fair value accounting is only bringing out what is fair to investors who deserved to know accurate and reliable information for making decisions. Fair value accounting is an accounting standard made by FASB that was made as a requirement from the corporation which must present truthful and reliable information for investors. As an alternative to historical value of accounting, fair value is expected to have present company more reliable information about their assets and liabilities in accordance with market prices. Its implementation may have caused companies to present their financial information and if the information presented were more truthful, the consequence of causing problems to companies should only be secondary to the purpose of providing objective and more reliable financial information. Any fall in stock prices from Wall Street may in fact have been caused by companies having to restate their financial statement pursuant to fair value accounting but the intention was to reflect to truer value of assets and liabilities of the corporations whose stocks got affected. Losers should not blame fair value accounting since the latter is just a guide to have more truthful information and they would have a change also of higher stock prices under fair value if warranted by market forces. If there was no basis for such more truthful information, then restatements of financial information using fair value would not have been made in the first place. If buyers and sellers are not being compelled to complete their transaction, fair value accounting must be held as fair and cannot be blamed for the mess. In fact, fair value accounting should have been introduced years ago for it could have saved some abuse and a lot of problems (Rees-Mogg, 2007). References: Brigham and Houston (2002), Introduction to Financial Management, Thomson-South Western, USA, 2002 Chasan, Emily (2008), Is fair value accounting really fair? {www document} URL, http://www. reuters. com/article/reutersEdge/idUSN1546484120080226, Accessed November 21, 2008 Meigs and Meigs (1995), Financial Accounting, McGraw-Hill, Inc, London, UK Rees-Mogg (2007), Why FAS 157 strikes dread into bankers, {www document} URL http://www. timesonline. co. uk/tol/comment/columnists/william_rees_mogg/article2852547. ece, Accessed November 21, 2008. Samuelson and Nordhaus (1992), Economics, McGraw-Hill, Inc, London, UK Sortur (2007) Fair Value Measurement, The Chartered Accountant {www document} URL, http://icai. org/resource_file/96471564-1574. pdf, Accessed November 21, 2008

The Buddhist Five Precepts In A Nutshell Philosophy Essay

The Buddhist Five Precepts In A Nutshell Philosophy Essay Many of us know that negative emotions and behaviour are unwholesome and lead to suffering, and that, in contrast, positive emotions and behaviour are wholesome and lead to happiness. Yet, even with this knowledge, few of us are dedicated practitioners, following the Buddhist Five Precepts faithfully and sincerely on a daily basis. In other words, there is a gap between knowledge and practice. The purpose of Dharma education is not the accumulation of knowledge, but the use and application of knowledge to bring about change within us. The teachings of Dharma help us develop a good heart and true happiness for the benefit of ourselves as well as for others. True happiness requires training and a certain degree of inner discipline. We need to train the intellect and feelings, as well as the heart and mind. In this process we undergo a transformation of our attitudes, and our entire outlook, as well as our approach to living. Buddhism provides the framework and guidance to work towards this transformation. However, such transformation does not come naturally. As human beings, we have many negative mental traits; we need to address and counteract each of these and there is no easy way out. We are unlike computers, where a simple push of a keyboard button can delete a negative trait from our mind. As humans, we need to apply a variety of approaches and methods, such as observing the precepts, meditation and so forth to deal with our varied and complex negative mental traits. Observing the Five Precepts is one of the very basic methods, a set of guiding principles with which to counteract our negative traits. The Five Precepts also help to guide our bodily actions, our speech and our mental attitudes. It is a systematic means of actualising our aim of purifying our body, speech and mind. The process of transformation requires commitment and perseverance. We need to constantly apply various techniques and take time to familiarise ourselves with the practices. Determination and inner discip line are important qualities we need to develop if we are to bring about successful transformation. The training process encompasses faith, understanding, practice, experience and realisation. First, we need to have a certain degree of faith to enter the path. We need to have faith that the Five Precepts will lead us to happiness and that we can uphold them. Next, we need to learn the value of upholding the precepts, and how this can be accomplished by understanding their contents and principles. Learning the precepts helps us to understand the importance of becoming more ethical in our behavior and increasing our mental discipline. Subsequently, we transform this knowledge into action, that is, keeping the precepts sincerely on a daily basis. Determination and inner discipline are very important in upholding the precepts. By learning, understanding and upholding the precepts, we change our perception of the world, and most importantly of ourselves. As a result, our interactions with others and the way we conduct our daily lives will become positive, fruitful and light. Such experi ence and realisation will further enhance our understanding and faith in the precepts. In the beginning, positive changes may be very minor. The negative influences that we have held for so long within our minds remain strong, leading us to continue to violate the precepts. We have to be patient with ourselves and keep working at it. Little by little, our life will come into alignment with wisdom. With growing wisdom, we will become more mindful (aware) of our thoughts and actions. Negative actions that we once committed with little or no awareness are suddenly revealed to us. As a result, it becomes easier to maintain the precepts. Just like learning to ride a bicycle, we will fall often. However, with constant practice, we will get there eventually. Observing the Five Precepts is an ethical discipline which will require constant effort from ourselves, as old negative habits are replaced with new, positive ones. We need to work with ourselves and be patient. No one saves us but ourselves, and the Buddha merely guides the way! 3.1 THE BUDDHIST FIVE PRECEPTS IN A NUTSHELL The Five Precepts were recommended by the Buddha for anyone who wishes to lead a life of peace, while also contributing to the happiness of family and society. The Five Precepts are voluntarily observed by lay Buddhists; they are not commandments that have to be strictly abided by. They form the basis of universal morality outlined in the Noble Eightfold Path, which is very important, especially when one is beginning to follow the Buddhist way. WHAT ARE THE FIVE PRECEPTS? THE FIRST PRECEPT: ABSTAIN FROM KILLING Respect Life, Not Kill and Being Compassionate I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking life, so that I will practise compassion by protecting and benefiting all life. THE SECOND PRECEPT: ABSTAIN FROM STEALING Respect Personal Property, Not Steal and Being Generous I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking what is not given, so that I will practise generosity by sharing and giving away my material and spiritual wealth. THE THIRD PRECEPT: ABSTAIN FROM SEXUAL MISCONDUCT Respect Personal Relationships, Not Indulge the Senses and To Be Content I undertake the training rule to abstain from misconduct regarding objects and subjects of sense pleasures, especially adultery, so that I will practices contentment and channel my energies towards spiritual development. THE FOURTH PRECEPT: ABSTAIN FROM UNTRUTHFUL SPEECH Respect Truth, Not Lying and Being Truthful in Speech I undertake the training rule to abstain from false speech, and other unwholesome modes of speech, so that I will communicate positively. THE FIFTH PRECEPT: ABSTAIN FROM CONSUMING INTOXICATING DRINKS AND DRUGS Respect Mental and Physical Well-being, Not Taking Intoxicants and Being Mindful I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking alcohol, and that which causes intoxication, so that I will be more healthy and not break the precepts through loss of mindfulness. 2.1.1 The First Precept: ABSTAIN FROM KILLING I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking life The pali word panna means that which breathes. A living being is one that has breath and consciousness, including human beings, animals and insects. Plants are excluded as they do not have consciousness.This precept prohibits the killing of living beings. In broader terms, it should also be understood to prohibit injuring, maiming, and torturing a living being. Conditions Under Which A Violation Is Considered to Have Occurred à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Object: The fact and presence of a living being, human or animal à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Knowledge: The knowledge that the object is a living being à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Intention: The intent or resolution to kill à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The Act: The act of killing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Consequence: A resulting death Exceptions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ By accident no intention The act of killing can take place through action of the body, or speech, such as commanding someone to kill, resulting in the death of a living being. The key factor for the violation of this precept is intention. The mental factor is the propeller while the body only functions as the channel for actualising the intent to kill. A complete act of killing constituting a full violation of the precept needs to involve the five conditions stated earlier. Let us first look at the first condition: Object. There is violation only when a living being is present and one perceives it as a living being. Here is a straightforward example to illustrate this idea. In a demonstration or riot where mobs are very angry with a political leader, they might burn the photos and/ or slash the statue of the political leader. In this case, there is no killing as the rioters only perceive the photo or statue as a living being. Intending to kill one being and killing another by mistake also does not constitute a full transgression. The second condition, Knowledge, denotes that killing occurs only when the killer is aware that the object of his action is a living being, not a photo or statue. So, if we step on an insect we do not see, the knowledge (awareness) of a living being is not there and hence full violation has not occurred. The third condition, Intention, ensures that the taking of life is intentional. There is no violation if there is no intent to kill, for example accidentally killing a fly when we try to keep it away. The fourth condition holds that the action must be directed towards killing and the fifth, that the being (human or animal) dies as a result of this action. Full violation of the precept is not deemed to have happened if there is no resulting death. Underlying Motivations for Killing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Greed à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Hatred à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Delusion An example of killing motivated primarily by greed is killing for material gain, such as hunting; or to gain enjoyment, such as fishing or eating seafood. Killing motivated by hatred is evident in cases of vicious murder out of strong aversion, cruelty, or jealousy. Killing motivated by delusion can be seen in the case of animal sacrifices in certain religious practices, or in holy wars, where one kills followers of other religious beliefs, and believing that to be a sacred act. How the Precept is Violated à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Committed by oneself à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ By commanding or instructing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Rejoicing in the act The precept could be violated by taking a life, or by commanding someone else to do so verbally or with gestures. A common example of instructing someone else to kill on our behalf is by ordering live seafood in a restaurant. Sometimes we may rejoice in the act of killing, for example, rejoicing in the murder of someone we do not like. When reading the news that an enemy has been killed, we must be careful not to rejoice in it. The Intensity / Severity of Violation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Spiritual Nobility of the victim à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Size of animal à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Type of animal There is a difference between killing a human being and an animal. Killing a human being is certainly a more serious violation than killing an animal. Within the category of humans, it is a more serious violation to kill ones parent or benefactor, than a stranger. In the case of animals, the severity of violation is said to be proportional to the size of the animal, that is, killing a larger animal is more reprehensible than killing a small animal (such as a tiny insect). It also matters if the animals are domesticated or wild, and if they have a gentle or vicious temperament. Of all killings, the most culpable is the killing of an arahant/arahantini (a fully liberated being), and of ones parents. The Purpose of the this Precept à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ To respect life à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ To have compassion The purpose of this precept is to respect all living beings. In doing so, we learn to be kind and compassionate to all living beings and live in harmony with them. By upholding the precept of not killing, we give all living creatures security and freedom from danger. Quotes from Scriptures Giving up killing, we abstain from taking the life of any living being; laying aside stick and sword, modest and merciful, he lives kind and compassionate to all living beings. (DN.1) There is the case where a disciple of the noble ones, abandoning the taking of life, abstains from taking life. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the first gift, the first great gift original, long- standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning that is not open to suspicion, will never be open to suspicion, and is unfaulted by knowledgeable contemplatives and priests. (AN8.39) The First Mindfulness Training by Thich Nhat Hanh Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life. Thich Nhat Hanh has extended the First Precept of not killing humans and animals (sentient beings) to the protection of plants and minerals, which are technically not sentient beings though they are part of nature. The essence of observing this precept is to respect life, cultivate loving kindness and to live in harmony with our ecosystem and environment. In view of the consumerist world we live in, driven often by greed, this mindfulness training can help in our reflection on how we live, and how our actions contribute to harming our environment and the planet. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE FIRST PRECEPT What is the Buddhist perspective on suicide? Chan Master Sheng Yen: According to the Buddhist teaching of cause and effect, since one has not realised the truth of all phenomena, or is not liberated from life and death, suicide is pointless. When ones karmic retribution is not exhausted, death by suicide only leads to another cycle of rebirth. This is why Buddhists do not support suicide, and instead, encourage constructive living, using this life to diligently practise good, thus changing the present and the future for the better. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama: Some people commit suicide; they seem to think that there is suffering simply because there is the human life, and that by cutting off the life there will be nothingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ But, according to the Buddhist viewpoint, thats not the case; your consciousness will continue. Even if you take your own life, this life, you will have to take another body that again will be the basis of suffering. If you really want to get rid of all your suffering, all the difficulties you experience in your life, you have to get rid of the fundamental cause (greed, hatred and delusion) that gives rise to the aggregates that are the basis of all suffering. Killing yourself isnt going to solve your problem. Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda: Taking ones own life under any circumstances is morally and spiritually wrong. Taking ones own life owing to frustration or disappointment only causes greater suffering. Suicide is a cowardly way to end ones problems of life. A person cannot commit suicide if his mind is pure and tranquil. If one leaves this world with a confused and frustrated mind, it is most unlikely that he would be born again in a better condition. Suicide is an unwholesome or unskillful act since it is encouraged by a mind filled with greed, hatred and delusion. Those who commit suicide have not learnt how to face their problems, how to face the facts of life, and how to use their mind in a proper manner. Such people have not been able to understand the nature of life and worldly conditions. Ven. S. Dhammika, Good Question Good Answer, 2008, p26: When one person murders another they might do it out of fear, anger, fury, greed or some other negative emotions. When a person kills himself or herself they might do it for very similar reasons or because of other negative emotions like despair or frustration. So whereas murder is the result of negative emotions directed towards another, suicide is the result of negative emotions directed towards oneself, and therefore would be breaking the Precept. However, someone who is contemplating suicide or has attempted suicide does not need to be told that what they are doing is wrong. They need our support and our understanding. We have to help them understand that killing themselves is perpetuating their problem, surrendering to it, not solving it. To keep the precept of not killing, must we be vegetarian? There are various opinions among the different Buddhist traditions with regards to this question. The Buddha, himself, was not a vegetarian. Traditionally, Theravadin monastics live on alms food; they receive whatever is put into their alms bowl. In other words, they have no control over their diet. However, in the Jivaka Sutta (MN 55), it is mentioned that the Buddha only allowed meat to be taken on the condition that it is pure in three aspects that the monastic: 1. did not see the animal being killed 2. did not hear the cry of the animal being killed 3. did not suspect that the animal was killed specifically for the monk/nun Although these conditions technically apply only to monastics, they are often used as a reasonable guide by devout lay people. The Mahayanists relate these three types of purified meat to the nurturing of compassion. If we see the suffering of the dying animal, we should be compassionate towards them and try to relieve their suffering. It is against the principle of compassion if we do not help them, and indeed, even go ahead to consume their meat. Exceptions have also appeared in Tibetan Buddhism. In Tibet, people traditionally lived as nomads and it was, and probably still is, difficult to grow vegetables in the high altitudes, making it difficult to be vegetarian. Hence, monastics from the Theravadin and Tibetan traditions are generally not vegetarian. When Buddhism spread to China, the idea of compassion was developed further in the Chinese Mahayanist tradition, and the Bodhisattva vow of not taking meat was strongly emphasised and made compulsory. Chinese Mahayanist monastics are therefore vegetarian, and so are many devotees who have taken the Bodhisattva precepts. Today, more and more Theravadin monastics are encouraging vegetarianism, and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama also encourages Tibetan monastics living outside Tibet, and who have control over their diet, to be vegetarian. In my opinion, vegetarianism should be encouraged, but not imposed on others. Are we not contributing to killing by eating meat? Isnt the meat in restaurants and supermarkets killed for our consumption? Let us look at the example of poultry farming. In the old days, chickens were allowed to roam freely and grow in a natural environment. They were only sent for slaughter when naturally fully grown. In other words, the production of meat was not human-controlled but based on the natural growth of the animals. Today, driven by demand in capitalist economies, poultry is produced in controlled high-tech conditions. Poultry and other animals are now raised in large-scale factory farms, deprived of natural conditions which allow them to move around and seek food freely in a natural environment. They are fed solely by humans and/or machines and kept in cages or pens, just big enough for them to stand in, day and night. Driven by human greed, some poultry farmers, for example, speed up the growth of the chickens to generate more income, causing tremendous pain and suffering to the poultry. By creating longer days and shorter nights with the use of indoor lighting, the animals are misled into eating more often than normal. Under these factory farming conditions, these animals suffer greatly. Some reports say these animals attack each other, pecking out of frustration and wounding their mates, causing each other to bleed and suffer. To prevent them from attacking each other, farmers cut their beaks off, inflicting even more pain and suffering to the poor chickens. During festive seasons, there is massive slaughter of animals to satisfy the sensual pleasures of humans. So, if we look deeply into the consumption of meat, we could be indirectly contributing to the act of killing, because the production of meat today is dependent on demand in the market. Therefore, if we can reduce our meat consumption, it will certainly reduce the demand for meat, and thereby minimising animal slaughter. If we are truly concerned for the well-being of animals and not wanting to contribute to the cruelty of modern industrial farming, we will naturally develop a kind heart and compassion towards animals. The practice of the First Precept to abstain from killing is a celebration of life. We do not support any act of killing, and we can extend it further by teaching others not to. Being mindful of what we eat and what we buy, and making an effort in our diet are ways of preventing killing. Many Buddhists find that as they develop in their spiritual path, they have a natural tendency to become vegetarian. By doing so, they live up to the Buddhas teaching on loving kindness. This energy of loving kindness brings feelings of safety, health and joy to them and all sentient beings. What did the Buddha say about vegetarianism? (Taken from Ven. Sangye Khadros article, Mandala Magazine, June 2007) There is a lot of debate within Buddhism about this issue. There are some Buddhists who are vegetarian (no meat or fish), and some who are vegans (no animal products at all, including dairy products and eggs). And there are some Buddhists who do eat meat. What did the Buddha himself say about eating meat? Well, it seems that he said different things at different times. This may sound like he contradicted himself, but the Tibetans say that the Buddha was a very skilful teacher who understood the minds and needs of his listeners and would teach them accordingly. So to some, the Buddha said it was okay to eat meat, provided that they did not kill the animal themselves, or order it to be killed. But to others, the Buddha said that if you are a follower of the bodhisattva path, and truly compassionate, you should not eat meat. To these people he spoke of the harmful consequences of doing so. In fact, there is an entire chapter in the Lankavatara Sutra (a Mahayana sutra which has been translated into English) in which the Buddha spoke very strongly against meat-eating. So as I understand it, the Buddha did not actually forbid his followers to eat meat, but left it up to each person to decide this issue for him/herself. In a way, that was compassionate of the Buddha, because some people live in places and conditions where it would be extremely difficult to abstain from meat, and if they had to be vegetarian in order to be Buddhist, they probably would not be able to do it. Also, some people are unable to be strictly vegetarian because of their physical make-up or their health. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is an example of this. He tried to be vegetarian, but his health suffered and his doctors advised him to eat meat. But I am sure he eats as little as possible, because in his teachings he often encourages people (especially the Tibetans, who are quite fond of meat) to either give up or at least cut down on the consumption of meat. His advice seems to be working, because I have noticed in the last few years an increase in the number of Tibetans who have given up meat, as well as Tibetan-run organisations promoting vegetarianism. I even heard that Sera Monastery in South India is a meat- free zone! Is abortion a form of killing? Isnt it better to end a pregnancy if the couple is not ready? Abortion is medically defined as the expulsion of a not yet viable foetus in humans as well as animals before the end of pregnancy, during which the foetus is not capable of maintaining an independent existence. Is abortion a form of killing? To answer this question, we need to understand when life begins. According to Buddhist teachings, the existence of a human being begins from the minds first arising, that is, from the first moment of the existence of consciousness in a foetus. In other words, life begins from the moment of conception, when an egg is fertilised by a sperm. Hence, abortion is indeed a form of killing. However, according to Buddhism, abortion is allowed only in situations where it is the most humane alternative; for example, in order to save the life of the mother. But let us be honest, most abortions are performed simply because the pregnancy is inconvenient, or an embarrassment (pre-marital pregnancy or the result of adultery). These are very poor reasons for the destruction of a life. Abortion is never a good solution to unwanted pregnancies. Prevention is better than cure. Education is the long term solution. Educating couples on sexual responsibility is a better option than destroying a life. Couples entering into sexual activity should think carefully beforehand. Are they ready to bring a new life into this world? Are they financially ready to bring up the child? Sexual activity should not be carried out without long term commitment; that is, if pregnancy occurs, the couple must be responsible for their act of bringing a new life into the world. What if a woman is raped? A child conceived as a result of rape is entitled to live and be loved just as any other child. The baby (foetus) is innocent. He or she should not be killed simply because their biological father committed a crime. In dealing with unwanted pregnancy, the child could be given away or adopted by others. How should I deal with an infestation of ants or cockroaches? Our intention is not to kill. We try our best to bring the least harm to all living creatures. We can avoid using harmful pesticides by using organic/natural ones that do not kill the creatures. For example, fresh pandan (pandanus) leaves are good for keeping cockroaches away without killing them. We also need to be aware of actions that may invite pests into our house. Some people have the habit of leaving dishes and cutlery in the basin after meals. Some wash the dishes only when there are no more clean plates and spoons in the cupboard. This will certainly invite ants and cockroaches into their homes. When their house is infected with ants and cockroaches, they start spraying pesticides. We need to be mindful and responsible for our actions. If we make an effort to keep our environment clean and dry, and keeping food out of reach, it will certainly reduce the incidence of pests. At other times when it is unavoidable, we just need to be patient and tolerant. With mindfulness and pe rseverance, we can do our best to minimise harm to living creatures. Refer to Appendix 1 (p87) for tips on how to keep insects away without killing them. Some detractors say, You Buddhists are too concerned about ants and bugs. (Taken from Ven. S. Dhammika, Good Question Good Answer, p25) Buddhists try to develop a compassion that is undiscriminating and all-embracing. We see the world as a unified whole where each thing and creature has its place and function. We believe that before we destroy or upset natures delicate balance, we should be very careful. Where emphasis has been on exploiting nature to the full, squeezing every last drop out of it without putting anything back, conquering and subduing it, nature has revolted. The air is becoming poisoned, the rivers polluted and dead, so many animals and plants are heading for extinction, the slopes of the mountains are barren and eroded. Even the climate is changing. If people were a little less anxious to crush, destroy and kill, this terrible situation might not have arisen. We should strive to develop a little more respect for all life. And this is what the First Precept is about. What if we are practicing non-violence and someone breaks into our house and threatens us? What should we do? It all depends on your level of cultivation. If you are an experienced practitioner who practises non-violence in your daily life, the chances are you will be more likely to react calmly and intelligently without harming anyone. The compassion one generates could influence the intruder to be less violent. But in order to be able to react in an intelligent and non-violent way, our day-to-day training is important. It may take years to develop. If you wait till a crisis happens, it will be too late. And at that crucial moment, even if you know all the teachings to embrace compassion, to be non- violent, it is only intellectual knowledge. Since it is not an intrinsic part of your being, you may not be able to act in a non-violent manner. The self-centred cherishing attitude, the fear and anger in you will likely obstruct you from acting that way. Hence, it is important to transform our knowledge into practice and to embrace loving kindness and compassion in our daily life. Here is the story of a practising Buddhist reacting in a non-violent way when confronted with a robber. Home Intrusion and the Protection by the Triple Gems (The following article is extracted from the Buddhist Society of Western Australia Newsletter, Feb/Mar issue, 2010) On that fateful night of 19 January 2010, a masked intruder armed with a knife, garden fork and a hammer walked into my house through an unlocked door around 9 p.m. I was cooking in my kitchen and happened to turn around to be confronted by this strange looking masked man standing about 4 feet away holding up his weapons. Extreme terror came over me. I let out two blood curdling screams in quick succession. In a split second, I went into denial as I stared into his face to see if it was my husband, Sunny dressed up like that to frighten me. Hearing the screams, Sunny came flying into the kitchen to investigate. The intruder ordered both of us to lie down on the kitchen floor and not to look at him. He told us to just look at his feet to know where he was. As we went down on the floor, Sunny started chanting om mani padme hum, the Buddha of Compassions mantra, and I joined him in chanting quietly under our breaths. At that point I was shaking with fear. Thoughts of being robbed, bashed senseless, raped or even killed ran amok in my mind. Minutes later a calmness came over me. I even questioned myself then as to why I was feeling so calm. The first thing I said to the intruder was We are peaceful people. Just tell us what you want and we will give it to you but please do not harm us. His reply to that was, I am also a peaceful person. If you do as I tell you, I will not harm you. That was cold comfort to us as he was the one holding the weapons and looked quite agitated and menacing. He added, I want money. My wife is pregnant and I am homeless. To that Sunny said, I have $50 in my wallet. When he opened the wallet, he only found a $20 note. So then I gave him my purse which contained $30. At that point I thought he would ask us to drive him to the nearest ATM to get more cash and then will probably finish us off, but surprisingly there were no demands from him for more cash or anything else. He was quite happy with the $50 cash, mobile phone and our car. He said he would return the car keys another day and leave them in our letter box. He later changed his mind, saying he would drive to Warwick Station and leave the keys under the car seat. During our half hour ordeal, he apologised numerous times and asked for forgiveness. Twice he sounded as though he was about to cry for putting us throug

Cheating in School Versus Cheating in the Real World :: Business

Cheating in School Versus Cheating in the Real World Cheating has been a major concern for institutions of higher learning. Institutions fear cheating because of the reputation dishonest people will establish for that institution. After a student has learned several successful ways to cheat and not be caught, is he or she more likely to employ the same tactics in his or her workplace? The student will use those tactics, but in the real world, such acts are not called â€Å"cheating tactics,† but â€Å"business strategy.† Several years ago, Clemson University was approached by a perspective employer. A business man visited the school and announced that the company wanted to hire some new staff members. In order to be more selective of the persons to get called in for interviews, the man announced an online exam that the students must take. Depending on the results, the company would then get in touch with the individuals. One student that is very interested considers his options. He could choose to take the exam using his real name and receive a performance grade based on his knowledge of the tough material the exam would ask. Or, his second option: use a false identity, get the questions, go out to reliable sources and ask for answers, and then post answers to the exam under his real name. The student opted for the second option. He got the test questions, went to professors, searched online, and found as many of the answers as he could. He posted his answers. Within a week, the company representative called the student in for an interview. The first statement out of the interviewer’s mouth: â€Å"No one has ever scored that high on our online test.† The next: â€Å"How did you do it?† The student’s response began with â€Å"honestly† and he unveiled his unique plan to succeed on the test. The interviewer was shocked – no one had ever admitted to cheating on the online test before. A job was offered.