Personal Experience Of Interprofessional Working

Personal Experience Of Interprofessional Working In order for an individual to receive holistic, high quality health and social care services, effective communication and multi disciplinary working between professionals is imperative (Ashcroft et al, 2005). I will discuss my personal experience of interprofessional working, both in regards to the conference and the on line group work undertaken. I will also explore how the module relates to my own experiences in practice, drawing on literature and policy of both a political, professional and social nature. The team of which I was a member consisted of students studying adult nursing and medicine. I was the only group member studying social work which initially did create a barrier in respect of the perception held by the other group members of what a social work practitioners role is. It was clear, following initial introductions, that some group members held a stereotypical view of social workers and were very dismissive of the work carried out by practitioners. It is essential, when working interprofessionaly that practitioners are mindful of the various methods employed by associated health and social care professionals and vital, therefore, that practitioners become aware of their own possible prejudices, through reflection on their practice. This reflective process assists to ensure potential negative stereotyping does not hinder the outcome of the work carried out by the team and have a detrimental effect on the care provided to the service user ( Fook, 2002). Through discussion it transpired that much of this stereotypical view had been constructed through the influence of the medias portrayal of social workers. During the conference group members cited television documentaries in which social workers failings were highlighted. Lombard ( 2009) argues that this type of media attention is damaging not just to social work but to all allied health and social care staff, attributing it to a possible lack of comprehension of the profession. Earlier this year a national advertising campaign was introduced. This aimed to draw attention to the role social workers play in safeguarding children and adults and to achieve a more positive, public perception of the profession ( McGregor, 2010). The perceived lower professional position of social workers, held by other health professionals, however, is argued by Barbour (1985) as being a source of high anxiety for students studying on social work courses. However, it became apparent as the conference continued and discussions were held, that as a social work student I had gained experience of a wide range of practice settings and of working interprofessionally in order to achieve the best possible care provision for the service user. These practice experiences enabled me to reflect on both positive and negative factors of working with other professionals and to contribute to the group discussion with examples of interprofessional work in which I had participated. An example of which is regarding a case I care managed whilst working within a hospital social work team. In order to facilitate a safe discharge home for an older person with dementia, input was required from various disciplines. Occupational therapy support was ne cessary to ensure the home environment would still be suitable and assessment from the community psychiatric nurse was also completed in respect of service provision to maintain the emotional and mental well- being of the service user. Ongoing communication between involved professionals was therefore essential, for an effective outcome for the service user to be achieved. This illustrates the highly significant role of interprofessional education for students studying to practice in the health and social care field. Reeves et al (2009) argue that interprofessional education has impacted notably on patient care in, for example, the improved knowledge and expertise of staff providing care to individuals with mental health issues. The discussion of practice experience, I feel, added positively to the group and perhaps began to reduce the preconceptions held by other group members of lack of professional competency executed by social workers (Carpenter Hewstone,1996). Through the process of exchanging opinions, discussions and working as a group, the potential to overcome stereotypical views and facilitate change was engaged in (Mullender Ward, 1991). Being a member of a group can determine a sense of familiarity, group members may have experiences in common and this sharing of situations can act as a supportive, cathartic procedure ( Johnson Johnson, 1994). A fundamental element of effective interprofessional partnership, therefore, is trust. If facilitation and engagement in open debate and sharing of ideas between professionals is to occur, this must be apparent ( Cook et al, 2001). The example of interprofessional working in respect of facilitating a safe discharge home from hospital, also raised further discussion regarding the role of input from the service user and their carers. They should be seen as part of the group, not externally from it and involved fully in the decision making process. This was challenged by one of the group members studying medicine, who felt that the responsibility to make decisions about care provision should be held solely by the professionals involved. Payne (2000) argues, however, that a focus on the interactions between the professionals can undermine the participation of the people who use the services. Involvement of service users, family and carers and recognition of their role as being experts by experience, may begin to create equality of power between professionals and the individuals they are supporting ( Domenelli,1996). We explored this further through discussion within the group and I felt concerned by some of the group members attitudes towards the notion of making a decision as professionals, whilst excluding the service user from this process. This is an oppressive way to practice and the empowerment of individuals through maximization of control and choice, should be striven towards in all provision of health and social care services ( Banks, 2006). Respect for the individual choices and interests of the service user should always be paramount throughout provision of health and social care and the assessment process, as detailed in the National Occupational Standards for social work (2009). Ongoing communication has been actively engaged in during my personal practice experience. However, throughout the module there was very little online participation from the team via blackboard. This was disappointing, as through the proactive exchange of ideas from the varying professionals perspectives, a more cohesive and beneficial learning experience may have been achieved. Indeed, the centre for the advancement of interprofessional education (1997) has documented that there are significant benefits in students from varied fields, learning together. In contrast to the team work which took place at the conference, my experience of working alongside allied health and social care professionals in practice has been extremely positive. An example of which is in my previous employment within an adult care community team in which I attended weekly meetings with the district nursing team and local G.Ps. enabling effective sharing of information to take place. This communication enabled all involved professionals to gain knowledge of changes in service users health and care needs and provided a forum for any concerns regarding safeguarding issues, to be shared and explored further. Within the conference team, therefore, further discussion and exploration of the differing views regarding this topic was carried out. The conclusion of which was the establishment of one of the teams sentences as be open minded and willing to accommodate other professionals values, within a team working environment. The ideologies of interprofessional working are not always apparent in practice however, resulting in catastrophic failings in care. Victoria Climbie died after suffering serious abuse whilst under the care of the NHS and social services. Lord Laming (2003) reported a lack of sharing of information between professionals and argued that when practitioners did raise child protection concerns, there was a lack of feedback and little or no further communication between agencies. The death of Baby Peter Connelly also sadly highlights concerns regarding how professionals work together. The serious case review reports that at a significant case conference held regarding Baby Peter, there was poor attendance from professionals, with neither doctors, police or lawyers turning up ( Laming, 2009). This illustrates that even after the reported failings in communication between professionals in the Victoria Climbie case, interprofessional working does not always appear to be fully engaged in. (Word count 1368) Section 2 Discuss how you would take what you have learnt about Interprofessional working into practice. Attendance at the conference provided an opportunity to explore the process of working effectively with other professionals. In practice, the active joint working between health and social care professionals and the voluntary sector has become increasingly important with the introduction of the personalisation agenda, as detailed in the social policy Putting people first: a shared vision and commitment to the transformation of adult social care (2007). The personalisation of social care services enables service users to take increased control of their own support packages and provides a high level of empowerment. I will discuss this further in relation to interprofessional working and its application in practice. Service users are now provided with the option to choose from which provider their care is sourced ie, from the private, pubic or voluntary sector. In 2004 the strategic concurrence between the NHS, Department of health and the voluntary sector of making partnership work for patients, carers and service users (2004) was formed, which indicated a dedication to interprofessional working and a fully person centered approach to practice. However, the change in government this year and recent significant cuts in funding to the welfare state proposed by the coalition government may impact significantly on the initial goals set out in this policy ( Dunning, 2010).Significant changes in how funding is allocated impacts greatly on social care practice. On qualification as a social worker I will endeavor to carry out effective interprofessional practice, however with increasing reductions in front line staff and higher caseloads it raises concerns regarding how achievable this will be. My own experiences of working within an adult care management team have been of positive interprofessional working. I have attributed this to the comprehensive, ongoing sharing of information between social work practitioners and community nursing teams, which took place. The desire to strive towards a common goal and achieve the best possible care for the service users, provided an effectual construct for professionals to practice within. The recognition of individual differences regarding ethnicity, culture and relationships by all involved professionals enabled truly anti-oppressive practice to take place (Dominelli 2002). However, during the conference, team members voiced concerns regarding how engaging in interprofessional working may cause their specific professional identity to become vulnerable. This has been identified by Frost et al (2005), who postulates that the fusion of professional margins can create apprehension and resentment between practitioners. This discussion was an interesting aspect of my personal learning within the group. As a social work practitioner the opportunity to engage in joint working with other professionals is embraced and is essential to effectual, safe practice. The varied perspectives between group members however, has provided a deeper insight into how other professionals may view this method of working and I will be mindful of this in future practice. Interprofessional working was illustrated further during the conference by a presentation from the Bristol Intermediate care team. The team consists of health professionals working alongside social work practitioners, aiming to reduce hospital admissions, providing a holistic approach to practice and enabling service users to remain in the community and to be cared for at home (Drake Williams, 2010). I feel the cohesive working style of this team, provides the best possible outcome for service users through application of an anti oppressive, person centered approach. This interprofessional method of practice provides for less of a risk adverse approach to practice which can be present in community care teams consisting exclusively of social work practitioners (Roe Beech, 2005). This may be due to the presence of multi disciplinary professional opinions being readily provided, enabling a more holistic view of a situation and perhaps also the fundamental ethos of the team which is to promote independence. The ethic of empowering others to achieve independence however, is a core value of social work and I endeavor to implement this within my own future practice. In order to facilitate change in my practice, I will be conscious of the importance of information sharing with other professionals and engaging in the process of reflection on my previous experiences of working interprofessionally (Payne, 2006). An example which occurred whilst working within an adult care management team is regarding an allocated case concerning a couple, living at home in the community, both of which had multivariate care needs. In this circumstance a wife was providing care for her husband who has dementia, however she has limited mobility and depends on him to support her with some physical tasks. Joint working with other health and social care professionals was imperative in order to safeguard the needs of both service users (Meads Ashcroft et al, 2005). Combined assessments were carried out by myself as a social work practitioner, the district nursing team and community psychiatric nurse, enabling all involved professionals to be aware of each others role and involvement. This method of working was also highly beneficial to the service users in respect of limiting the amount of assessment meetings which took place and avoiding repetition of the same information to several professionals, which can become exhausting and create further anxiety ( Walker Beckett, 2003). I did encounter difficulty in interprofessional working when liaising with the GP regarding a requested review of the couples medication. The GP held the opinion that both service users should be placed in residential care due to their age and health problems and was reluctant to engage in any discussion regarding alternative options. Through joint working between other professionals however, funding for a live in carer was secured to support the couple, alongside ongoin g support from the community matron to ensure both health and community care assessed needs continued to be met fully and safely, in accordance with the NHS and Community Care Act (1990). On reflection this was a challenging experience and I felt frustrated by the apparent disregard of the wishes of the service users and the discriminative attitude exhibited in respect of their age, by the GP. The reluctance to engage further with any of the involved professionals following a case conference in which the GPs opinion had been challenged by myself and others working on the case, highlighted to me the hierarchy which is still in place within health and social care professions. Monlyneux (2001) argues that professionals who are assured in their professional role, are able to explore disparities in opinions and practice outside their own professions margin without feeling vulnerable. The importance, therefore, of maintaining focus on the service users wishes rather than difficulties in communication between professionals, ensuring their needs are met fully, is paramount. However, this incident demonstrates the difficulties which can occur when working within a team and the need for respect and equality for all members, in order to ensure effective interprofessional working takes place (Conyne, 1999). The discussions held amongst the team during the conference have highlighted further to me the disparity between perspectives held by health professionals, who apply the medical model of practice and social work practitioners implementing the social model. As argued by Petch (2002), in order to respond fully and positively the uniqueness of the individuals needs should be identified. Through this process, empowerment and equality can begin to be accomplished. Both perspectives, therefore, are valuable when striving towards holistic health and social care provision. These are issues I will be mindful of in my future practice and I will endeavor to continue to practice with integrity and in an anti-oppressive way in order to implement person centered care provision. To conclude, as a result of my practice experience and learning achieved from the conference, I feel strongly that a critical part of my future role as a qualified social worker is to facilitate the sharing of information between professionals. When appropriate, to advocate the service users individual wishes and to ensure all professionals are aware of these shared common goals. I feel this will contribute significantly to achieving the highest level of care for the service user and aims to support the safeguarding of both adults and children. (Word count 1338 ) Section 3. References Ashcroft, J. Meads, G. With, Barr, H. Scott, R. Wild, A. (2005) The case for Interprofessional collaboration: In health and social care. Oxford, Blackwell Publishing. Banks, S. (2006) Ethics and values in social work. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillen. Barbour, R.S. (1985) Dealing with the transsituational demands of professional socialisation. Sociological Review 3: 495 531. Carpenter, J. Hewstone, M. (1996) Shared learning for doctors and social workers: evaluation of a programme, British Journal of Social Work 26: 239- 57. Centre for the advancement of interprofessional education (1997) Interprofessional education: A definition. London, CAIPE. Conyne, R, K. (1999) Failures in group work: How we can learn from our mistakes. London, Sage Publications Ltd. Cook, G, Gerrish. K, Clarke, C. (2001) Decision making in teams: issues arising from two evaluations. Journal of Interprofessional Care 15: 141 51. Dominelli, L. ( 1996) Deprofessionalising social work: Equal opportunities, competences and postmodernism. British Journal of Social Work 26 : 153- 75. Dominelli, L. (2002) Anti-oppressive social work theory and practice. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillen. Drake, S. Williams. V. The Intermediate care team: Interprofessional working seminar 7th October 2010. UWE Bristol, IPE Level 2 Conference. Dunning, J. (2010) Claim of extra  £2bn for social care challenged as cuts loom. Community care ( Magazine) 28 October 2010, p.5. Fook, J. (2002) Social work critical theory and practice. London, Routledge. Frost, N. Robinson, M. Anning, A.(2005) Social workers in multidisciplinary teams: issues and dilemmas for professional practice . Child and family social work 10: 187 96. Johnson, D.W. Johnson, F.P. (1994) Joining together: Group theory and group skills (5th edn), Boston, Allyn Bacon. Laming, Lord (2003) The Victoria Climbie Inquiry: report of an inquiry by Lord Laming. London, The Stationary Office. Available from: http://www.Victoria-Climbie-inquiry.org.uk/ (Accessed 29 October 2010). Laming, Lord ( 2009). Peter Connelly Serious case review. Available from: http://www.haringey/scb_org/executive_summary-peter-final.pdf (Accessed 17 November 2010). Lombard, D. (2009) Negative coverage often fails to give right of reply. Community care (Magazine) 12 May 2009, p.21. Making partnership work for patients, carers and service users: A strategic agreement between the Department of Health, the NHS and the community and voluntary sector (2004). Available from: http://www.dhgov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4089516.pdf (Accessed 28 October 2010). McGregor, K. (2010) Unison campaigns to boost appreciation of social workers. Available from: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/articles/2010/03/15/114049/unison-campaigns-to-boost-appreciation-of-social-workers.htm (Accessed 04 November 2010). Meads, G. Ashcroft, J. With, Barr, H, Scott, R. Wild, A. ( 2005) The case for interprofessional collaboration in health and social care. Oxford, Blackwell Publishing. Molyneux, J. (2001) Interprofessional teamworking: what makes teams work well? Journal of Interprofessional care 15: 29 35. Mullender, A. Ward, D. (1991) Self directed groupwork: Users take action for empowerment, London, Whiting Birch. NHS Community Care Act ( 1990). Available from: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/19/contents (Accessed 16 November 2010). Payne, M. (2000) Teamwork in multiprofessional care, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillen. Payne, M. (2006) What is professional social work? Bristol, The Policy Press. Petch, A. (2002) Intermediate care: What do we know about older peoples experiences? Available from: http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/18593513/x.pdf (Accessed 14 November 2010). Putting people first: A shared vision and commitment to the transformation of adult social care (2007). Available from: http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_081119.pdf (Accessed 01 November 2010). Reeves, S. Zwarenstein, M. Goldman, J. Barr, H. Hammick, M. Koppel, I. (2009) Interprofesisonal education: effects on professional practice and health care outcomes. The Cochrane Collaboration, Wiley Sons. Roe, B. Beech, R. (2005) Intermediate and continuing care: Policy and practice. Oxford, Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Skills for care ( 2009) National occupational standards for social work. Available from: http://www.skillsforcare.org/developing_skills/national_occupational_standards/National_occupational_standards_(NOS)_Health_and_social_care.asp (Accessed 01 November 2010). Walker, S. Beckett, C. (2003) Social work assessment and intervention, Lyme Regis, Russell House Publishing. Section 4.

Slavery In America Essay -- Slavery Essays

Slavery in America Introduction There has been much debate on the topic of slavery in the early times, although most of the countries considered slavery as a criminal activity. Some countries such as Myanmar and Sudan do not abolish it. They even expedite the slavery system. It is no doubt that slavery violent the human rights. However, it was commonly spread in the early times from 17th to 19th century. In this research, I will talk about the origin of the slavery, the reasons for people to becoming slave and the life of the slave. The Definition of slavery In 1926, the Slavery Convention defined slavery as "...the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised..." In the modern society, slave is a person who is controlled by another using violence or other methods. They do not have permission to escape, they will be returned to their master if they tried to do so. In general, the definition of slavery does not have much change between the early and the modern times, the only difference is the status of slaves would inherit from their mother and father and most of the slaves would keep their status from birth to death. The Origin of Slavery in US When we talk abut the Slavery of American, we must first know the reasons why the slave were mainly came from Africa. There are two reasons. The first reason is racialism that the black skin color of Africans becoming target of the European slave traders. Second, it was because slavery had already existed in Africa before it spread to America. Also, black people have strong body which can resist many diseases and endure the heat of the raging sun. In the16th century, Caribbean, Saint Kitts Nevis, and Virgini... ...s feeling. Conclusion I come to conclude slavery is the product of human fs avarice, conceit and selfish. Because of the benefit, we can destroy a person fs life without feeling any guilty. It is really disappointed and disgusted to look back the history of slavery. It let me see the evil part of human being. But I think it is right to do so. It is a good lesson for us, because it tells us that we should learn from the past, in order to prevent it from happening again. It also reminds us everyone should have been treated equally no matter what their race, creed, or color are. Today, freedom and equality are weakening day by day. The African American story is still replaying on every part of the world, not only between black and white people, but people of many different nationalities. Stories will never end, until equality is created in the heart of each person.

Unemployment in the US Essay -- essays papers

Unemployment in the US Why I Chose These Indicators I chose these indicators because all are something that ordinary people deal with every day. All of us have control over our own spending and how far into debt we go. If we are not making the salary we want then we are free to look for a new job or an additional job. There is also the possibility of going back to school to raise your educational level in order to get a better job. This may, of course, put us deeper into debt. We are in debt as a country, and as individuals, but with the economy as strong as it is people have no qualms about going deeper into debt. There are increases in delinquency rates on consumer loans, record numbers of bankruptcy filings, and an increasing share of income devoted to paying interest on debt. These are signs that some households are becoming overextended. In this paper I discuss bankruptcy, consumer credit, inherited wealth and the difference in the way some generations handle debt. Executive Summary Personal income, installment debt and unemployment are coincident or lagging economic indicators or both. By many measures the US economy is very healthy, but increasing consumer debt and personal bankruptcies raise concerns about the future. Credit card debt is higher than ever, and personal bankruptcies soared in 1995 and 1996 (Silverman 1997). Over 10% of Americans are expected to declare bankruptcy during the 1990s unless the trend changes, and there is no longer public scorn for those who file bankruptcy (Darlin 1997). Consumer credit remains readily available despite rising bankruptcies. This trend is attributed to a credit-friendly social policy which requires credit to be extended without discrimination. Furthermore, easy credit is needed to allow consumers to buy goods. The lending business also remains lucrative. To manage risks, financial institutions resort to diversification and risk shifting. The cost of bankruptcy is also incorporated in the cost of credit (Lykins and Plankenhorn 1996). The post baby-boom group known as Generation X is accumulating a great deal of debt, mostly through credit cards. The average credit card balance of households headed by someone under 25 nearly doubled from 1990 to 1995. There seems to be little desire among these people to live within their means (Shenk 1997). However,... ...e News, 6 October 1997 v13 n37 p40. Lykins, Gregory B., and Robert L. Plankenhorn. AEven with personal bankruptcies at record levels, easy consumer credit is here to stay,@ Illinois Business Review, Winter 1996 v53 n4 pg32. McGinn, Daniel. ADeadbeat nation: why are so many people in bankruptcy court?,@ Newsweek, 14 April 1997 v129 n15 p50. Murphy, Robert G. AHousehold debt and consumer spending,@ Business Economics, July 1998 v33 n3 p38. Seiberg, Jaret. AFed card study finds surprisingly little pure convenience use,@ American Banker, 19 June 1997, v162 p4. Shafer, Tim. ASailing over the fence: the rewards of good credit,@ Credit World, July-August 1997 v85 n6 p38. Shrenk, Joshua Wolf. AIn debt all the way up to their nose rings,@ U.S. News & World Report, 9 June 1997 v122 n22 p38. Silverman, Dick. AConsumer debt builds a house of cards,@ Daily News Record, 1 August 1997, v27 n92 p10. Time. AWhen boomers become busted,@ Time 31 March, 1997 v149 n13 p64. Topolnicki, Denise. AYou=d be surprised what folks will do for money today,@ Money August 1994, v23 n8 p12. Ventura, Michael. AThe psychology of money,@ Psychology Today, March-April 1995, v28 n2 p50. Unemployment in the US Essay -- essays papers Unemployment in the US Why I Chose These Indicators I chose these indicators because all are something that ordinary people deal with every day. All of us have control over our own spending and how far into debt we go. If we are not making the salary we want then we are free to look for a new job or an additional job. There is also the possibility of going back to school to raise your educational level in order to get a better job. This may, of course, put us deeper into debt. We are in debt as a country, and as individuals, but with the economy as strong as it is people have no qualms about going deeper into debt. There are increases in delinquency rates on consumer loans, record numbers of bankruptcy filings, and an increasing share of income devoted to paying interest on debt. These are signs that some households are becoming overextended. In this paper I discuss bankruptcy, consumer credit, inherited wealth and the difference in the way some generations handle debt. Executive Summary Personal income, installment debt and unemployment are coincident or lagging economic indicators or both. By many measures the US economy is very healthy, but increasing consumer debt and personal bankruptcies raise concerns about the future. Credit card debt is higher than ever, and personal bankruptcies soared in 1995 and 1996 (Silverman 1997). Over 10% of Americans are expected to declare bankruptcy during the 1990s unless the trend changes, and there is no longer public scorn for those who file bankruptcy (Darlin 1997). Consumer credit remains readily available despite rising bankruptcies. This trend is attributed to a credit-friendly social policy which requires credit to be extended without discrimination. Furthermore, easy credit is needed to allow consumers to buy goods. The lending business also remains lucrative. To manage risks, financial institutions resort to diversification and risk shifting. The cost of bankruptcy is also incorporated in the cost of credit (Lykins and Plankenhorn 1996). The post baby-boom group known as Generation X is accumulating a great deal of debt, mostly through credit cards. The average credit card balance of households headed by someone under 25 nearly doubled from 1990 to 1995. There seems to be little desire among these people to live within their means (Shenk 1997). However,... ...e News, 6 October 1997 v13 n37 p40. Lykins, Gregory B., and Robert L. Plankenhorn. AEven with personal bankruptcies at record levels, easy consumer credit is here to stay,@ Illinois Business Review, Winter 1996 v53 n4 pg32. McGinn, Daniel. ADeadbeat nation: why are so many people in bankruptcy court?,@ Newsweek, 14 April 1997 v129 n15 p50. Murphy, Robert G. AHousehold debt and consumer spending,@ Business Economics, July 1998 v33 n3 p38. Seiberg, Jaret. AFed card study finds surprisingly little pure convenience use,@ American Banker, 19 June 1997, v162 p4. Shafer, Tim. ASailing over the fence: the rewards of good credit,@ Credit World, July-August 1997 v85 n6 p38. Shrenk, Joshua Wolf. AIn debt all the way up to their nose rings,@ U.S. News & World Report, 9 June 1997 v122 n22 p38. Silverman, Dick. AConsumer debt builds a house of cards,@ Daily News Record, 1 August 1997, v27 n92 p10. Time. AWhen boomers become busted,@ Time 31 March, 1997 v149 n13 p64. Topolnicki, Denise. AYou=d be surprised what folks will do for money today,@ Money August 1994, v23 n8 p12. Ventura, Michael. AThe psychology of money,@ Psychology Today, March-April 1995, v28 n2 p50.

Gatekeeping Survives the Modern Age

A Master of Science in Communication Studies has finally become the heir apparent to an idea I’ve had for many years. Getting a graduate degree was always something I thought worthwhile, but the field of study was not so obvious. I did not want to put forth the time, effort and money without a clear idea of why to choose a particular subject, and then how to put it to good use. My first career as a weekly newspaper reporter was wonderful.Fresh out of college, but with a speech communication major (because that sounded like fun and could get me out of school in four years) I learned the newspaper business from a gentle man in a small town. Because writing is my first love, I was able to easily put information into a readable format. The rest of the responsibilities – interviewing, researching, proofreading, editing, layout, paste-up, photography, developing film and printing pictures, I picked up on the job. I was young and single, then young and married, and life was go od. It got better with children, so I put the newspaper business aside.As a few friends earned their Master’s Degrees, I was envious but not compelled. English and writing were options, but didn’t appear sensible unless I taught high school or contacted New York for literary work (no small feat in those pre-technology days). I was not interested in either. Life with kids was busy and they were the priority for my time. Two decades later I resumed where I had left off. I was ready to work for pay again and fell into the perfect job as a weekly newspaper reporter. It has been a growing experience as I brushed up on and fine-tuned my skills.I dove into controversial issues as well as the mundane, and for the last four years have recorded the news of a very active community. From this has grown the idea that a master’s is the next logical step. I love to learn, as I have from every story written for the newspaper. I am interested in studying the media from ‘th e big picture’ and associating with fellow mass communication enthusiasts. There are particular aspects of the degree I will pursue because it may be the only way to learn computerized techniques useful in the field.Most of my kids are no longer home to teach me that. For my final years of employment I would like to work with a company or non-profit organization, or teach at a junior college. I plan to stay with my perfect job until my last child is out of high school. Then I may be ready for a job with set hours. I’m quite sure that one year at a respectable salary will reimburse the cost of the master’s tuition, compared to a reporter’s wage. At any rate, I am always up for an adventure, and have been excited since deciding to further my education. Pat Fridgen

Relationship Between Global and Local in Globalization Essay

Globalization is the process by which different individuals, states, regions, societies and cultures have become integrated through a global network. This can be categorized as either political which includes global leadership, formation of regional bodies, Economic globalization which includes trade, communication, transportation and social globalization which includes religion, education among others. Due to the dynamic nature of globalization, states and individuals have found it necessary to adapt to the different changes in order to survive. Thus it has become evident that globalization has affected the society both at global level and at local level. This paper will focus on the relationship between the global and the local in globalization with examples in the political, economic and social areas. At global level, globalization is evident in almost all areas of life as no one state can survive without interacting with other states. It has led to the co-operation of states in many different areas. For example, in the political arena, states have to ensure that laws that govern them conform to the norms in the international community and more specifically international law. Member states have had to form regional bodies and international organizations that deal with issues that affect them for example, war, food security, environmental problem, poverty among others. Furthermore, political globalization has created a form of hierarchy in the international community where as the developed countries e. g. U. S. A and Britain dominate the less developed countries e. . African states. In terms of economic globalization, we have seen the emergence of common markets based on the ability to exchange goods and services from one country to another depending on the availability of resources and labor. For example globalization has greatly contributed to the migration of people from countries with less developed markets to those that have greater opportunities and large amounts of wealth. In terms of social globalization, we have seen the rise of interaction at global level on the basis of religion, culture, technology and education. The most significant of these areas has been technology as it has greatly facilitated the interaction of people from all parts of the world not only through social networks like facebook, yahoo and twitter but also through business and education forums. We can say technological advancement has been the greatest contributor to globalization. Globalization is also evident at local level and can been seen through the way that both individuals and even governments try to keep with the changing times. This can also be categorized as above in the global level in terms of political, social and economic areas. In the political arena, we see our local leaders changing in order to identify themselves with a specific target group, in economics, we see people moving from rural to urban areas in search of a better way of life while in the social context, this can be seen through education for example where students are encouraged to learn additional languages to make them more marketable in job market, religion for example people of different religious backgrounds working together for the better good of the country and most of all through technology that facilitates the interaction of people from all parts of the country. It is clear to see in both areas- global and local globalization has had its impact on all areas of life. The relationship between the two therefore comes about when the locals or governments have no other choice than to adopt to whatever trends come up in their day to day lives. In terms of politics, due to the fact that states have formed alliances and organizations within the international community, it is inevitable that whatever actions they perform conform to the norms and rules that have been set out by the groups they belong to. For example in terms of laws, countries have to ensure that the laws that govern them go hand in hand with the treaties or agreements that they have entered to. This is to say that a country cannot pass a law at the local level that is against a law that they agree to abide to at the international level. In economic terms, we see how both local and global globalization intertwines especially with the rise of regional and international common markets. One good example is the formation of the European Union which led to all countries within the union adopting one common currency- the euro which has from that time on become the official currency of the region both within the individual countries and in the region at large. On the social front, we see how people of different countries each with different cultures have come together in one aspect of the other. For example looking at education, local schools and varsities have to get accreditation from different organizations both locally and internationally to ensure that students who got throw their system are recognized both within the country and also in the international community. In terms of religion we see the relationship through the fact that local churches, mosques, temples follow the same teaching under one leadership for example the Catholic Church elects archbishops who have to be approved by the pope-the leader of the Catholic Church who is not even necessarily a citizen of that country. From the above, it is clear to see that theirs is a very strong relation between the global and the local in globalization. This is mainly because the world is a global village and interaction between states and individuals is inevitable and people therefore have to do whatever is necessary to keep up with the changing times. This is further enforced by the fact that states (which represent the local population) have to participate in the international community. No man is an island therefore interactions between entities are inevitable.

Consulting Services in Information Technology Essay

Before discussing the role of consulting service firms in procurement of Information Technology resources and solutions, we will first describe some rules of thumb that dictate the selection process for aforesaid purpose. The basic rule is â€Å"the simpler the better†, but this often leads to oversimplification of complex tasks (Braley, 2009) and we must avoid wastage of time and resources that occurs due to unnecessary attention to detail. There is a myth that a well-written contract is of primary importance in procurement process. This assumption is not true and leads to a lack of effort in making things go right. Next rule is that one must not sacrifice effectiveness of day to day data collection and other important activities on the assumption that output is the sole primary concern of the system. Schedule of projects must be realistic, which is rarely the case, leading to a myth that projects never complete on time (Braley, 2009). Having discussed some of the myths and realities of IS procurement, we will now compare and contrast the approaches of different consultancy firms in selection process. Accenture is a worldwide corporation that provides services in the areas of outsourcing, management consulting and technology (Accenture, 2009). As their value proposition â€Å"High Performance. Delivered. † suggests, they value constant innovation to perform better and their results show that their commitment to their clients is exemplary. Extensive research is their strongest arm which lets their clients procure the best available solution to their specific problems. Accenture works together with customers, including governments, to help them perform much better (Accenture, 2009). Their 2008 revenues were in excess of $25 Billion and income was around $1. 6 Billion showing strong growth from their 2007 results (Wikipedia, 2009). In contrast, Infosys, based in India, has slightly different values but the same quest for excellence. This $4 Billion revenue generating company provides technology-enabled business solutions to help businesses win in a Flat World (Infosys, 2009). The term Flat World is of key importance here. Their philosophy of by passing structural issues and minimizing bureaucratic hassle is embedded in this term. Today, they lead worldwide in the â€Å"next generation† of IT and consulting (Infosys, 2009). Their philosophy enables them to use IT to introduce dynamism in a corporation to make it flexible to adapt to rapid changes in today’s world. We discussed two successful IT consultants with very different philosophies but one goal: to provide their clients with the specific solutions that make them leaders in their fields. Accenture believes in extensive research and harnesses its power, whereas Infosys flattens an organization for timely and helpful results. The rules of thumb, that we discussed earlier, are evidently practiced within both consultancies we discussed. For example, Accenture practices the simplicity rule when it uses research to know exactly what is required by client and the level of understanding of end users. Infosys does not let perfection of RFP hinder its flat world dream by putting least emphasis on mere documentation and more focus on tangible results. One trend in today’s IT market is for more and more IT consultancy firms to venture into solution-builder business themselves (Wikipedia, 2009). This diversifies their market portfolios and increases their customer base. We conclude our discussion by pointing out that the trend mentioned above is good for customers as it provides them complete IT solutions within one roof. Both the consultancies we discussed aim to be that one roof for governments and corporate clients.

The Buyer is Boss

Millie and Liza have been friends for the longest time. Some months ago they decided to share an apartment, and that is how they found the two-bedroom unit they are currently renting. Asked what their first major buy was after the move, they chorused that they just both got laptops. Both of them had desktops, Millie even has a superior type which helps in her work as a graphics designer. Liza, a writer, had an old desktop which sufficed for word publishing and internet access.However, they stressed they needed the laptops because â€Å"the apartment is small, there is no room for two desktops,† justifying that they needed the gadgets and did not just want them. However, they had different ideals for a laptop they have in mind. Millie, being a graphic designer, needed a high-end mobile computer which will be superior in memory and speed—and the bigger the monitor, the better. Liza, on the other hand, was more conscious about the price. She wanted a laptop that will work just like her old desktop, and she has set a budget to stick strictly on.Friends have warned them that laptops will cost more than powerful desktops do, but the need for space was of primacy. They went on to research and window shopping. Through Yahoo Answers, a web service where people can connect to each other for questions and answers about almost anything, they found the best suggestions: computer stores in the area and eBay. While the computer stores option gave competitive prices and models, the two girls agreed they will get cheaper units from eBay. They checked the site for a couple of weeks using a single user account, and finally found the laptops.It was Liza who found hers first. It was an mid-model Compaq Presario 1400 which was â€Å"released in 2002 according to my research. † Apparently, Liza was researching each of the product she saw and took note of which will give her the best computer with what little money she has. Millie got hers, a second-hand MacBook, about a month after, and she too went through the research ordeal. They asserted that shopping in eBay will require lots of patience, research, and inquisitiveness, else one might end up â€Å"with a D-class item†.Luckily, their finds were both A classes. Both Liza and Millie were contented with their laptops, but they now agree with their friends that â€Å"it is costlier to live with a laptop†¦ we have to buy mice to avoid overusing the trackpads, and soon we might need a [laptop] cooler, and I noticed that my laptop hangs more often than my old desktop,† says Liza. But given a choice to spend their money on some other things, Millie declined. â€Å"With these space-saving gizmos, nothing else will be better. † AnalysisAllen (2003) describes the five processes in a buyer’s purchase decision making: problem recognition, information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision, and post-purchse behavior. Looking at the buying process that tr anspired between Liza and Millie, it is obvious that they both went through the whole process. They realized the need to get laptops, gathered information, selected the best offers, bought the items, and came up with the feedback. Both of them had criteria for the laptops they want—recommendations, function (save space), and usage.However, Millie focused on quality and performance because of the demands of her job, while Liza was more concerned about her budget. All these are part of their awareness, then follows the search for information. Rohan (nd) asserts that information search may be internal (based on knowledge and past experience) or external. Millie and Liza resorted to external sources. There are four types of external sources: personal (family and friends), commercial (advertisements), public (news and bulletins), and experiential (tried product). (Buying Decision Process, 2006) In the case, a mixture of personal and commercial were utilized.Because the criteria fo r the laptops are clear, the process was easy for the two. They were able to sort out the purchase decision process of where, when, and if to buy, after which they came up with the concluding feedback that they were satisfied with their purchases. In some instances, parts of the buyer decision process may be skipped or reversed. This is determined by high-involvement or low-involvement. High-involvement purchases are those that require investment as they are costlier and have serious effects to its buyers (e. g.appliances, jewelry) while the low-involvement purchases are simple things that can be bought (e. g. bread, milk, burger). (Buying Decision Process, 2006) Brooks (1999) ratifies this by saying that the buyer decision process is highly situational and involvement level-dependent. Furthermore, he states that involvement may be influenced by economic, psychological, performance risk, and decision novelty factors. This theory is highly visible in the case. Millie and Liza had hig h-involvement purchases to make, and the factors played a major role.Economically, Liza was more conscious than Millie, but it is the other way around with regard to the product’s performance risk, though psychologically and in relation to decision novelty the two were consistent. The buyer decision process happens everyday to everybody. All buying processes require a person to go through at least two or three steps in the process, which may lead to a sale or not. When applied theoretically, the buyer decision process is a good tool for consumers to choose their wares, and for merchants to know how to target their consumers. For Millie, Liza, and their sellers, it definitely worked.