Discussion And Implications For The Eap Program Education Essay

IntroductionThe two old chapters demonstrated the importance of researching Saudi pupils ‘ demands and the academic civilization that they encounter while analyzing in British establishments which relate to their English acquisition experience in Saudi Arabia, including their positions about larning English in the UK and analyzing in a British graduate student programme and to uncover single demands and battles in larning EAP. Without analyzing Saudi pupils ‘ positions about their demands analysis from the beginning in Saudi Arabia, and the EAP class in the UK, I would non be able to do any relevant connexions between the EAP and postgraduate context and demo how their positions and behaviors vary in footings of linguistic communication demands and academic demands. It is apparent that the Saudi pupils sampled in this survey happen it hard to get by with linguistic communication demands and the academic civilization differences despite the fact that they are given the cha nce to fix themselves either in Saudi Arabia or in the UK before get downing their graduate student plans in the UK. It is, hence, imperative to analyze their current readying in footings of EAP and cultural differences and to propose possible ways to better the support that is offered to these pupils. The three major theories that underpinned this survey were Present state of affairs analysis ( PSA ) , Target state of affairs analysis ( TSA ) and civilization analysis. The PSA and TSA are based on the Huticon and Water ( 1987 ) theoretical account which suggested happening out the pupils ‘ current and future demands. The cultural demands analysis is based on different research workers e.g. as explained in the 3rd chapter which suggested look intoing the academic demands of pupils analyzing in English speech production states. Second, this research aimed to place the relationships between Saudi pupils analyzing in British graduate student plans and their version to their new academic environment and the possible struggles they encountered. Last, this survey conceptualised the nature of Saudi pupils, as a specific group through their experiences in British graduate student plans. Refering these theories, this research provided findings that reflect the current jobs Saudi pupils face and inside informations possible parts to Saudi pupils, British faculty members and policy shapers in footings of better apprehension Saudi pupils ‘ acquisition procedures in British graduate student plans, get the better ofing the cross-cultural issues viz. academic civilization and get bying with troubles in footings of the new academic context they need to accommodate to in the British context. The first issue raised in this research was related to ( PSA ) on the subject of larning English. It focused on discourses that might uncover of import facets of English linguistic communication troubles through looking at Saudi pupils ‘ experiences in larning the English linguistic communication in the two different instruction systems. Harmonizing to the research findings here, Saudi pupils sampled in this survey were accustomed to a teacher-centred acquisition environment. The development of Saudi pupils ‘ cognition about larning forms in this system seems non to fit them good to larn English for Academic Purposes. For illustration, it seems that it is slightly difficult for EAP instructors to set up what kind of troubles the pupils have in larning the English linguistic communication. Basically, the teacher-centred acquisition system is likely to forestall them from managing the jobs they face because most instructors in this environment are non regarded as feeders. I n a word, the instructors ‘ function in this system is non appropriate for Saudi pupils ‘ development in EAP unless instructors work hard to suit the pupils. To set this merely, it would be helpful if instructors guided the pupils to accommodate to the British system of learning English bit by bit, as making this would heighten Saudi pupils ‘ experiences larning EAP. Harmonizing to literature, pupils can develop their English through interacting with equals, and these synergistic discourses are really of import to make ways of developing the proficiency degree of EAP scholars. Saudi pupils sampled in this survey are mostly those who have shifted to a student-centred acquisition system and therefore encountered many jobs with their new larning environment specifically when they start their graduate student surveies. They would hence hold more opportunity of sing unexpected English linguistic communication troubles in footings of interacting with native and non-native pupils, faculty members and people in the host community. It is natural that a student-centred acquisition system should supply a better environment for Saudi pupils to make synergistic discourses which they could use for the development of their EAP abilities. With respect to the importance of a tutorial type of activity ; this is non a formal portion of the Saudi instruction system. There are similar types of Sessionss offered by the private sector in third Saudi establishments, but this is different from the British instruction system which regards tutorials as an indispensable portion of the acquisition and learning teaching method. This means that Saudi pupils are non prepared to take part in concerted acquisition activities such as tutorials and squad work. They are non good at sharing thoughts or discoursing the issues that might be raised in category. This is a major trouble that Saudi pupils have in accommodating to cross-cultural differences faced in British graduate student plans. It is a new challenge for them to get the better of this indispensable undertaking in order to set about their classs successfully. However, it is besides true that this can non be changed in the short term because Saudi pupils have non been taught with a discussion-based manner including equals and instructors in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this is a important issue for both the Saudi instruction system and British third instruction suppliers. For the Saudi instruction system, policy shapers who are involved demand to be concerned that they provide a instruction teaching method in line with the subject of a concerted group larning environment for Saudi pupils. This is because the findings of this research indicate that pupils ‘ deficiency of experience in a concerted acquisition environment to a great extent impacts on their EAP acquisition and academic success. In add-on, British third instruction suppliers, and people who are involved in this country, need to pay attending to the fact that Saudi pupils ‘ trouble in tutorial engagement is one which interferes with or prevents pupils from developing EAP acquisition and academic success while analyzing in British graduate student plans. The findings of this survey with cross-cultural version in the subject of cultural theories presented in chapter two of this survey revealed Saudi pupils ‘ experiences of larning English at place and in British graduate student plans are different. First, Saudi pupils did non hold adequate opportunity to larn about Britain, even though the UK had been regarded as one of the preferable English speech production states Saudi pupils seek for their graduate student surveies. In fact, Saudi English instruction plans do non supply adequate information about English talking states in their course of study. This besides tended to take to a deficiency of cognition and cross-cultural consciousness for Saudi pupils in respects to their targeted states. On the other manus, Saudi pupils ‘ exposure to such cognition and cross-cultural facets was likely to be recognised one time they arrived in the UK and commenced their classs in British establishments † plans. It can be argued t hat Saudi pupils ‘ well- organised readying before going their place state is important in guaranting better version to the new acquisition environment, particularly the academic environment. More significantly, the research findings in this context emphasised a deficiency of cognition of the academic context which is besides an of import issue. The fact that Saudi English instruction plans do non embrace the academic context is an excess concern. This may be the most serious job that causes current Saudi pupils ‘ English linguistic communication troubles when accommodating to the British academic context ( every bit good as other English talking states ‘ academic contexts ) . For this ground, Saudi pupils merely begin to gain the importance of the academic context as they encountered the new or existent academic environment. Refering the general tendency of Saudi pupils ‘ taking English speech production states for their instruction, it is necessary for people or administrations to originate plans of English linguistic communication for academic intents as an indispensable portion of the school course of study. These would better link with the demands o f the scholars in their new academic environment. In add-on ; consciousness about developing a better apprehension of academic cultural differences, particularly when aiming English speech production states, should be examined by both pupils themselves and policy shapers in Saudi Arabia prior to doing a concluding determination about who is traveling to analyze in English speech production states.Saudi pupils ‘ motions into British graduate student plansSaudi pupils are ‘on the move ‘ to see other states. They are go forthing Saudi Arabia as tourers, pupils, and man of affairs. In recent old ages, they have shown a penchant for sing foreign states with an increasing avidity to larn foreign linguistic communications, particularly English and deriving recognizable makings e.g. Masterss or PhDs every bit good as to hold an escapade larning about different peoples and civilizations. This quickly turning tendency has been encouraged by King Abdullah ‘s scholarship . There is no uncertainty that an of import drift for Saudis ‘ attending to the outside universe has been the high rate of growing of the Korean economic system and its economic promotion. As a consequence of this advancement, the figure of Saudi pupils using to analyze in British graduate student plans has increased steadily over the last five old ages. Recent information from the Ministry of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia ; which relates the Numberss of Saudi pupils analyzing abroad, the UK came 2nd after the US in popularity. At present, the necessity for English linguistic communication accomplishments and their importance in the present epoch is a primary influence exciting travel to the UK for academic intents. A good degree of English and its wider use are now important demands for all working and academic countries in Saudi society. The proficiency degree of English is a major demand in judging pupils ‘ eligibility to come in to third establishments, every bit good as in the enlisting of human resources in Saudi Arabia. This enthusiastically supported societal phenomenon has become a major issue nation-wide since the proclamation of King Abdullah ‘s scholarships. This accelerated the societal phenomenon and led finally to more Saudi pupils set abouting abroad surveies. It resulted in an sweetening of Britain ‘s place as one of the preferable finishs for such intents.The Main Characteristics of Saudi Students ‘ Experiences of Learning the English Language in Saudi ArabiaThe pro be into the features of Saudi pupils ‘ experiences in larning the English linguistic communication in Saudi Arabia focused on how they had been taught English as a foreign linguistic communication in the Saudi instruction system and their positions on their English acquisition in Saudi Arabia. In general, it was found that Saudi pupils sampled in this survey indicated that they had been dissatisfied with the English class that was provided by the ministry of instruction. These consequences were non surprising as old research conducted by Al-Tuwaijri ( 1982 ) , who was analyzing in the US at that clip, asked them how satisfied they were with English the course of study, and learning methods and the consequences showed the bulk of his participants were dissatisfied. The underpinning attack can be concluded as a chiefly teacher-centred larning teaching method. Furthermore, this research found that there were some extra facets of their anterior educational experience in Saudi Arabia that impacted upon their ulterior acquisition in an English speech production environment viz. the UK. First, the background of Saudi pupils sampled in this survey was that many had non had an chance to larn or pattern the English linguistic communication with native English talkers. Even though some of them had experience with those who speak English as their first or 2nd linguistic communication, the chief focal point of the learning teaching method affecting their speech production abilities did non look to assist their development of English linguistic communication proficiency. Due to the dominant environment of exam-based English linguistic communication acquisition, speech production in a communicative context is non a precedence concern for Saudi pupils prior to entry into the esteemed universities in Saudi ‘s instruction system. Therefore, Saudi p upils do non hold to show unwritten proficiency. In add-on, Saudi pupils sampled in this survey revealed a deficiency of cognition about the IELTS trial system because of the laterality of the TOFEL trial in Saudi Arabia. There are many more readying plans for the TOFEL trial in Saudi universities and private English linguistic communication establishments than there are IELTS proving Centres. The British Council in Riyadh provides IELTS trial Centres in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, from the information it seems that there are non any specific third readying plans for domestic Saudi pupils who seek to analyze in English talking states like Australia, Canada, UK, US and New Zealand. More significantly, the consequences revealed that there is small concern about the importance of English for academic intents in general in the English linguistic communication larning teaching method in Saudi. Learning English for the interest of larning a new linguistic communication was wholly absent from the participants points of position. The consequences besides, showed that English acquisition is chiefly undertaken because the high force per unit area placed upon larning English as an of import measure for entry into esteemed Saudi Arabian third establishments, or to derive a better chance to be employed by major companies such as ARAMCO and this has ever been a important facet of larning English. Refering the issue of a pre-departure readying scheme for Saudi pupils meaning to analyze in the UK, there is grounds here that Saudi pupils were non sufficiently prepared in Saudi to run into the demands of the proficiency degree of English needed for most British graduate student plans. Students needed to fix for such demands, including the by heightening their proficiency degree in English and their apprehension of the academic environment of British graduate student plans. However, the Saudi pupils sampled in this survey revealed that they did non go to any plan in Saudi Arabia in order to help them in get bying with such possible jobs while analyzing overseas. In general, even though those who wished to analyze overseas realised the importance of taking official English trials, more than half of the pupils in this survey took them in Saudi Arabia. The grounds of the study outcomes in this survey reveals that the IELTS trial is the most preferable by Saudi pupils come ining British graduate student plans. This is non surprising because most, if non all, British third establishments emphasise this trial as a important measuring of international pupils ‘ ability when finding whether or non they can set about British graduate student plans. Harmonizing to the findings from the study, the Saudi pupils sampled in this survey had begun to larn English as a foreign linguistic communication at an inappropriate age in footings of their cognitive development as 2nd linguistic communication scholars. They were between childhood and maturity when they began analyzing English linguistic communication. Harmonizing to Park ( 2006 ) larning the English linguistic communication at the age of 13 old ages is instead late in footings of sing the most effectual development of their 2nd linguistic communication larning accomplishments. It seems that Saudi pupils were non to the full confident about why they had to larn English and how far they could come on in their English proficiency degree. The consequences revealed in chapter one that Saudi pupils were taught the English linguistic communication in Saudi Arabia by unqualified English instructors who required them to larn in a inactive the top down manner. This meant that Saudi pupils needed changeless counsel from their English instructors about their errors during the learning procedure.The Main Characteristics of Saudi Students ‘ Experiences in Learning EAP in the UKThe first issue raised in larning EAP in the UK context is about the composing of the scholars group inside the schoolroom as it might impact on the development of EAP larning procedure. Harmonizing to research findings about Saudi pupils ‘ experience of EAP larning in UK establishments, the groups of scholars larning English were chiefly composed of Saudis with two or three non-Arabic pupils who speak Arabic as their precedence. This means that Saudi pupils did non hold much chance to better their speech production proficiency degree. In add-on, it is natural that they would talk in Arabic if they had something to inquire to each other in category. It is necessary for EAP instructors to inquire or even to coerce them to talk in English. EAP instructors may state them that if they do no n talk in English they will lose some Markss. From the observation there were some EAP instructors who were truly rigorous about talking in English. It would be a positive move if the EAP instructors were to go on this pattern towards better proviso of the transmutation of the pupils ‘ wonts of speech production in English all the times at least in the schoolroom. A multicultural group larning environment, whether in the UK or Saudi Arabia, would offers Saudi pupils ‘ positive experiences including more chance to interact with pupils from different states who speak English as a 2nd linguistic communication. In these fortunes pupils have to utilize English in order to pass on with each other whether or non their proficiency degree of English is sufficient to pass on. One piece of grounds to back up this statement is that the consequences of this survey showed that Saudi pupils improved their English linguistic communication accomplishments one time they started conversation with those who speak English as a first or 2nd linguistic communication. Sing this result, it can be emphasised how of import it is to set up an appropriate environment for scholars of EAP. This is a ground why policy shapers in the UK should see the figure of each nationality in the schoolroom. In add-on to that the English instruction system in Saudi Arabia needs to enroll as many native English instructors as possible, particularly if the system does non germinate a multicultural group larning environment in Saudi instruction system. It is the best option to supply a similar environment to English speech production states. The last issue raised in this context is that linguistic communication intervention might happen during the procedure of English linguistic communication acquisition in a different environment. The acquisition environment where Arabic linguistic communication is dominant ( as in Saudi Arabia itself ) does non supply specific linguistic communication intervention. However, Saudi pupils in the UK are straight influenced by the differences between their first linguistic communication, Arabic, and English. For Saudi pupils sampled in this survey, English is their chief precedence, so it is natural that the distance between the two different linguistic communications would make linguistic communication intervention whenever they use English in activities that are a portion of the British academic context. However, both faculty members and EAP instructors in the UK should be able to place this job in order to better pupils ‘ proficiency degrees in the English linguistic communication .The English Language Difficulties that Saudi Students Face in the British academic ContextThe 2nd dimension of the first research inquiry was to place the English linguistic communication troubles that Saudi pupils faced from an educational position while they were enrolled in British graduate student plans delivered in English which related to both present state of affairss analysis and mark state of affairs analysis. The research findings revealed that Saudi pupils ‘ reading and authorship jobs are the chief issues to get the better of during their classs. There are several of import factors lending to pupils ‘ troubles in these two facets in the British academic context. As discussed in the background to Saudi pupils ‘ experience in larning English in Saudi Arabia, these factors could be related to jobs with English linguistic communication teaching method and learning methodological analysis in Saudi Arabia or in the UK. It can be said that Saudi pupils Ã¢â‚¬Ë œ background experiences in larning the English linguistic communication straight reflect the jobs of Saudi pupils ‘ reading and composing troubles in the British academic context. The findings obtained from this research clearly indicate that EAP plans did non supply adequate chances for the development of pupils ‘ reading and composing abilities. This survey indicates that engagement in tutorials or group activities and giving a presentation were amongst the more hard undertakings for Saudi pupils to get by with. The analytical results obtained from the three different methodological analysiss applied to this survey, viz. the descriptive consequences of the study, observation, and in-depth interviews, indicated three contributory factors. The first is a deficiency of assurance with their proficiency degree in English as a 2nd linguistic communication, which was due to a self-fulfillment about the insufficiency of their readying and tuition, with respect to the manner they were taught English in Saudi Arabia. Acerate leaf to state as many Saudi research workers have found ( ) , Saudi pupils were taught English in an examination-based and text-based system. These learning experiences tend sometimes to do them dying when required to take part in tutorial Sessionss and group meetings, which is the prevailing teaching method in th ird instruction. Furthermore pupils ‘ anxiousnesss arise from a deficiency of assurance with all major English linguistic communication accomplishment classs, including speech production, listening, reading and composing. These anxiousnesss as Park ( 2006 ) claimed besides lead to pupils holding psychological emphasiss. Consequently, it can be concluded that the displacement from a teacher-centred to student-centred acquisition system and being critical, non merely in composing but in all facet of larning are the chief cross-cultural factors that causes jobs. In short, Saudi pupils in this survey who spoke English as a 2nd linguistic communication and were presently enrolled in British graduate student plans were shown to hold troubles in accommodating to the usage of the English linguistic communication. With respect to version troubles, two of import findings of this survey were a deficiency of exposure to a existent English speech production environment and strangeness with the usage of English, peculiarly for academic intents. The research findings from sample responses in this survey clearly indicate that Saudi pupils chiefly face reading and composing jobs. The consequences of this survey revealed that Saudi pupils have trouble in reading rapidly through a text to acquire a general position of the content when reading. It was besides evident that they are unfamiliar with the construction of English academic authorship, have trouble in showing thoughts when composing and happen it hard to organize thoughts in a logical sequence. The research findings here indicate that Saudi pupils ‘ troubles in reading and authorship activities are affected by learning and larning methods that were adopted in the Saudi instruction system. Acerate leaf to state the teaching method in Saudi is preponderantly reliant on an examination-based model. Despite the attempts of EAP instructors in the UK Saudi pupils still find it hard to get by with academic reading and authorship. The difference between the two instruction systems in footings of learning authorship and reading are besides of import factors that were reported to impact Saudi pupils ‘ ability to get by with EAP in British graduate student plans.The Main Cross-cultural Factors that Impact on Saudi Students ‘ Troubles in the British ContextLast, this research asked about the chief cross-cultural fluctuations that impact on Saudi pupils ‘ troubles in the British graduate student acquisition environment. In general, the research findings indicated that cross-cultural discourses presented fewer jobs when compared to English linguistic communication troubles. However, the most of import determination of this research is that Saudi pupils are to a great extent influenced by changed forms in their acquisition environment, peculiarly traveling from a teacher-centred to student-centred system. This was besides shown to hold an impact on Saudi pupils ‘ troubles in take parting in some tutorials and some other in-class activities. The impact of this displacement besides influenced Saudi pupils ‘ assurance with the English linguistic communication and created anxiousnesss and emphasis in tutorial Sessionss. The research findings indicate that the Saudi pupils sampled were affected by different types of academic activities and cross-cultural differences as the research worker expected. In add-on, the undermentioned three of import facets of the new academic context influenced the Saudi pupils sampled in this survey. These were traveling from a teacher-centred to a student-centred, discussion-based and critical thinking-based acquisition system as found in British graduate student plans. Harmonizing to the consequences, pupils who had experience of go toing the EAP plan tended to hold fewer jobs in the discussion-based attacks of the instruction system. The older pupil participants in this survey, in peculiar, were likely to meet fewer jobs accommodating to a different acquisition system. Whilst younger pupils were likely to hold some trouble in accommodating to a British single ability-centred academic environment. Harmonizing to the survey ‘s findings, the pupils that undertook EA P plans still have trouble in fixing assignments. In contrast, these pupils showed a higher adaptability in all other classs with regard to the cross-cultural issues raised in this survey.The Best Preparation for Saudi Students to Succeed in British graduate student PlansThe research findings can lend to the treatment and preparation of schemes to develop more effectual ways for Saudi pupils to fix for British graduate student plans in footings of their linguistic communication and academic demands. Successful accomplishment of their ends and deriving an apprehension of their new academic context are the existent loads for Saudi pupils. Presently, these are barriers that prevent them from accommodating both academically and linguistically. The Saudi pupils sampled in this survey clearly indicated that they had shown different degrees of version harmonizing to the old plans they experienced prior to come ining British graduate student plans. The old two chapters detailed the current public presentation of Saudi pupils sampled and their responses in seting to the British academic context. More than half of the Saudi pupils who participated in this survey had experienced EAP plans before get downing their classs in British graduate student plans. In peculiar, a bulk of them attended a class offered by the university plan that was chiefly designed to fix them to come in the university and run into its demand but non for the official IELTS trial or any other trial. Saudi pupils sampled in this survey are likely to hold spent less than 12 months analyzing in such a readying plan. Typically, the Saudi pupils sampled in this survey appeared to depend on go throughing the EAP plan to derive permission to analyze in British graduate student plans one time they arrived in the UK. I would propose that the EAP plans provided by the universities should besides be concentrating on the IELTS trial because the consequences from the pupil interviews revealed that they are non confident about the university assessment process. Therefore, fixing pupils for the IELTS would forestall any misinterpretations on the pupils ‘ portion over whether they were tested based on their background. For the present sample of Saudi pupils, nevertheless, it has been revealed that as clip has gone on the IELTS trial is recognised to be merely one step of entry degree ability and non needfully the 1 that predicts success in third acquisition. In fact, this research indicates that most Saudi pupils continue to confront English linguistic communication troubles and academic cultural challenges in the academic context while set abouting their graduate student surveies. The EAP instructors who had old experience of learning Saudi pupils in this survey believed that the proficiency degree of English acquired by go throughing the IELTS trial differs from the proficiency degree of English which would be utilised in the existent life state of affairss which arise in the class of academic survey. A deficiency of cognition and accomplishments associated with English for academic intents is a major ground. Saudi pupils sampled in this survey admitted that the degree of English acquisition and instruction does non run into the degree that British graduate student plans require because the current Saudi English instruction system and its acquisition environment are non practical plenty to accomplish the high proficiency degree of English that is indispensable for Saudi pupils. The research findings clearly indicate that Saudi pupils who had experienced an EAP plan showed better public presentation in their academic surveies compared to those pupils who had non attended any EAP plans. The consequences besides showed that Saudi pupils were found to hold experienced trouble in run intoing the needed degrees of proficiency in the English for British graduate student plans. The acknowledgment of the English linguistic communication jobs that pupils encounter while set abouting their plans presently is described by sources as the deficiency of their cognition about the mark linguistic communication because of the manner it was taught in the EAP plan. Howevet, the research found that with regard to academic cultural issues, pupils who had undertaken EAP plans demonstrated more adaptability in most countries of subsequently larning. For illustration, some pupils responded that they were satisfied with proficiency degree of their English speech production and were confident and had less anxiousness when they needed to talk in a category. While others besides had trouble in organizing thoughts in a logical sequence when composing English. Furthermore, they were probably to hold fewer jobs than other nationalities when giving a spoken presentation in category.6.5 Chapter sum-upThis chapter discusses the results from the information analysis and connects them with the theories that have been discussed in chapters two and three. It was clear that pupil linguistic communication proficiency was non high plenty for Saudi pupils to get down their graduate student surveies at British establishments. It was besides revealed that pupils are confronting troubles in get bying with their new academic environment. Consequently, the research suggests that the best readying for Saudi pupils as they enter British graduate student plans and achieve successful consequences is to go to EAP plans where they can accomplish early socialization and pre-preparation by sing interaction with native English talkers in existent academic state of affairss. This suggested tract would probably offer future Saudi pupils a more realistic chance to get the better of jobs presently faced by Saudi graduate student pupils. These Saudi pupils must be regarded as grownup scholars when sing their age harmonizing to the consequences of the study. As grownup scholars, they would probably recognize the importance of EAP and the academic differences in their new academic environment. It can be said that their greater realization of this context was chiefly based on experiences of interacting with the British academic acquisition environment. As a consequence, they came to gain what kind of readying they needed and how they might better get by with unexpected jobs faced in British plans. It means that they had chances to detect, through their experiences, how to cover with EAP troubles and academic cultural differences at this degree. In add-on, these Saudi pupils revealed that their anxiousness, emphasis and deficiency of assurance with English as a 2nd linguistic communication created a psychological trouble when take parting in tutorials. Sing the issues discussed supra, a scope of possible recommendations can be offered that might supply a valuable way for Saudi pupils, the policy shapers in Saudi Arabia and British establishments, private suppliers and other people who are involved in this sector. These might be considered in order to better Saudi pupils ‘ public presentations in British graduate student plans in the hereafter.

RR communications

Due to the division among departments, the company has been unable o meet reporting requirements for the Serbians Solely Act. It has proved obvious that a shared IT service, which is standardized among all the units, is needed to ensure everything goes well. The first problem we see at OR Communications is that there is a definite lack of centralized and concise IT governance. Currently all of the separate functions of the company have their own individual leadership with no central leadership. For this reason, each of the sections takes actions and makes decisions based only on how it affects their own particular departments.There Is no ordination to ensure that the act of one area does not negatively affect the rest of the firm. This In turn has led to a gallants lack of uniformity across the organization, which Is hurting customer relations. There are unified databases and each section maintains their own set of records; this is causing great frustration among their customers who continually have issues when dealing with more than one area. Much of the division of departments has been caused by a lack of central leadership.The CEO of the firm has failed to unify the department or assert any intro over the individual IT vice presidents. Even though they reported to him, each had acted entirely independently. This continuous failure of leadership has caused the department heads to develop a sense of isolation and self-survival. Even though a new executive UP of IT has been appointed to bring unity to the firm, there has been severe resistance as each department feels It will suffer. The lack of centralized management for so long has caused significant discord between the departments that will take considerable effort to overcome.In Dalton, this company attitude has altered down from the VSP to the middle and lower management creating an overall atmosphere that is dangerously disjointed. Even the suggestion of bringing together the database systems and manageme nt has caused a near mutinous uprising and rejection of leadership. The current managerial atmosphere has been around so long, the attitude of individualism has been deeply embedded in the corporate culture. While, individual thinking is useful to foster innovation and creativity, when the entire organization acts to satisfy only its individual requirements, the firm overall will suffer.Unless this attitude can be overcome, any attempt at bringing unity to the company will fall. From the technical standpoint, OR Communications is suffering from a severely fractured information management system. Every section of the company manuals Its own Individual customer databases, which are In Incompatible formats. If a customer manuals relationships with more then one division, they get bills from each individual area. Customer issues often fail to get causing problems with diminished customer satisfaction. In addition, without a centralized database, full customer information and statistics are impractical to elect.In addition to suffering by not being able to collect detailed records, the company is facing regulatory issues by not being able to provide complete information on the company's activities, and significant resources are being wasted to assemble simple reports. Currently management and associates at OR Communications believe that a collective solution is impossible, and any attempt to do so will cause them to suffer. While it may be true that the initial implementation of such a system will require a significant collective effort, the end result will be well worth it.It is also clear that much of the perspective of management is extremely short sided; projects are selected only based on a very narrow and limited benefit view with no regard for their long-term viability. As more and more systems have been patched together to fulfill immediate gaps, the overall collection of programs has become a cumbersome, inefficient, and unmanageable mess. A truly efficien t system would be one that is all-encompassing and communicates across all facets of the organization to deliver a unified and fully integrated information system that can add real value to the firm.One other major issue at OR Communications is the proliferation of rouge projects completed without oversight or regard for how they will affect the firm. In a large company every project should be examined to determine how it could provide value to the organization before being launched. At OR Communication projects are being launched that benefit only select areas and may in fact be causing a significant negative impact to the rest of the firm. The company currently does not have a steering or operating committee to oversee and exert control over these projects.Without any form of centralized control and provenance, these rouge projects will continue to sabotage the effectiveness of the organization. Lack of common information and enterprise IT strategy has caused several problems for the business and the IT departments of OR communications. Customer service has suffered and customer dissatisfaction has grown. Lack of common information has made it difficult for management to monitor the businesses as a whole. Business units are unable to exchange information and remain unaware of the other divisions' work.There is little sense of how the divisions work together to meet the company's overall goals. The accounting problems make it difficult to present shareholders with accurate financial information, and the system is not cost-effective in any case. Furthermore, each division working at individual level to attain its success makes them rigid and unable to adapt to changing requirements; under these circumstances even the implementation of new technology will be extremely difficult. The organization cannot operate efficiently as a whole or at division levels, and the costs are bound to keep increasing.Analysis: As many annoyed customers can probably agree, being tr ansferred from one apartment of the company to another over and over again to resolve a simple issue is one of the main reasons many companies lose customers. This is certainly an issue at OR Communications. The main cause of the problem seems to be the division of system that rewards individual performance over company profit. The fact that the four CICS refuse to work together and resort to sabotaging the efforts of the others, serves to show that they are more interested in their own selfish financial goals.While the president of the company may have been a visionary and brilliant entrepreneur, he lacked the managerial skills to recognize the need to have a unified commission system which would foster participation in a common goal, and thus a common commission which is interdependent on all four business units would be most beneficial to the company. Unifying IT Resources The most important problem for OR Communications to correct is a significant deficiency of successful inform ation management, reflected by the confused state of their customer information databases.Currently customer data is disbursed in separate databases for each section of the company, so that data from one apartment is not available to another. Thus, customers are forced to maintain relationships with multiple departments and receive billing from each. This separation means that valuable information resources are not being effectively utilized, hurting the firm's productivity and efficiency. To improve the state of information capital at OR Communications, a complete overhaul of the current systems will be necessary, from both an IT and business standpoint. Information represents a vital asset to any company.This can be in the form of customer accounts, sales records, research & development, financial statements, etc. However, in order to realize full benefits, the same information must be readily accessible by all individual units, so that the company can leverage it in the most effi cient manner. The first step to correct the issues at OR Communications is to create a unified data architecture that combines all information resources into a central database that is accessible to all sections of the firm. By providing a centralized database clients will be better served by allowing complete access to customer records throughout the company.This will also improve reporting abilities, lower administrative costs, and rattle increase the value of information resources. To achieve the greatest benefit to the company, OR Communications could consolidate its data from multiple silos into a unified enterprise data warehouse (DEW) (Smalls, 2011). This architecture provides multiple benefits including a single location for all information storage reducing the amount of duplicated efforts. This also greatly improves the integrity of data by providing a ‘single version of the truth' (Smalls, 2011).When data is spread throughout multiple databases, invariable some of it will differ. For example, a customer's address may have been changed in one department but not another. These differences can prove costly to a company. A centralized DEW means that only one record should exist for each customer and reduce data discrepancies. Having such a centralized system would also satisfy customer needs in a more efficient manner and would help to cross-sell products, which in turn would result in higher profits and more profit for the company.By allowing customers to have a single point of contact, and sharing information by standardizing software and databases across he organization, information will flow more freely and readily available thus giving the employees the ability to communicate in real time with accurate data and maximizing customer contact to increase profits. Having a decentralized IT function is business units separated, it keeps pertinent information out of reach of other business units, and thus allows missed opportunities to maximize profi t.Also, the lack of communication among the units creates chaos and disorientation in the organization and gives precedence to individual goals above company goals, which in urn will end up hurting the overall enterprise vision and may even spell the end of the enterprise altogether. Finally, having a decentralized IT function creates customer frustration such as in the case of getting several bills for different products. This frustration may cause the company lost customers and lost profits.Information Stewardship & Information Management Policy The difficulty in implementing this solution is the current state of the databases scattered about the firm; many are in incompatible formats, so that significant effort will need to be invested to bring together all of this data into a single, shared IT arrive system accessible to all. In addition, not all data is equally valuable to each unit. Efficiency necessitates allowing employees access to the information that is most pertinent wit hout inundating the various departments with extraneous details.For this reason, whatever IT solution is implemented must be able to adapt dynamically to the storage and retrieval needs of each department. Another challenge to creating a centralized system is the role of information stewardship. Information stewardship involves the ownership and control of information to reduce discrepancies and redundancies. To maintain the consistency and accuracy of data, information stewards need to be appointed. â€Å"Information stewards are businesspeople. They should be responsible for determining the meaning of information ‘chunks' and their business rules and contextual use.They should be responsible for the accuracy, timeliness, consistency, validity, completeness, and redundancy of information† (Mencken & Smith, 2009, p. 76). A serious challenge to the consolidation of data at OR Communication will be consolidating all of the disparate information from around the firm into a single enterprise data warehouse. It is very keel that there will be duplicate information, conflicting records, incompatible data formats, and other inconsistencies that will not lend themselves to easy integration.However, the reduction in duplicate and conflicting information will be vital to the success of OR Communication. Duplicate data means an increase in administrative work and overhead, and conflicting and inconsistent information means the company is not performing at optimum levels. The reduction of duplicate data, or data duplication â€Å"can improve the performance of virtual systems, reduce network traffic and cut the costs associated with data protection. In addition, duplication allows backup data to be replicated more efficiently to other sites for disaster recovery' (Symantec, 2011).Duplication increases the amount of data a corporate network must process, reducing efficiency and increasing costs. Storage costs increase as the same information may be stored and backed up across multiple databases, again wasting resources. Finally, duplication of data significantly increases the amount of labor required to utilize it in any useful manner. Clearly, OR Communication will need a significant amount of data duplication to create a useful, consolidated enterprise data warehouse.To facilitate the proper stewardship of information, an information management policy needs to be created that information management policy will dictate the rules and guidelines for how information is handled, who is responsible for maintaining and updating it, and outline the policies and practices to do so (Mencken & Smith, 2009). To begin to unravel the data mess at OR Communications they should define an encompassing information management policy that will effectively address the issues of what information is retained, who is responsible for updating it, how it is to be maintained, ND who should have access to it.Critical to the success of this policy will be the inv olvement of management from all functional areas of the company. Each should be given the opportunity to contribute to the policy, and each individual needs should be addressed. In addition, the problem with this solution will be gaining acceptance from the different functional areas of the business. There will obviously be conflicts of ideas and differences of opinion in how the policy should be created and enforced. To improve the effectiveness of the policy it needs to be thoroughly enforced from top management down.This means to gain compliance, OR Communications' CEO needs to set the example and pressure all levels of management below to do the same. Another strategy to encourage the support of the divisional presidents for the shared customer service is by creating awareness that the free information flow would be beneficial for all and would simplify business processes, thus allowing then to increase their bottom line, and thus their bonuses. Finding opportunities to demonstr ate small success would help show the support being given to the divisions.To aid in compliance, a large corporate training program would be initiated to ensure the policy is well known by all associates. Gaining compliance by all of the business areas will be the most difficult part of this solution; the ingrained attitude of self-preservation that exists at OR Communication will be difficult to overcome. However, change is not impossible, but only by dedication of management. The initial implementation period will be the most difficult, and if enforcement waivers the policy may fail.Creating Useful Information from Raw Data One characteristic of an enterprise system is ensuring seamless integration of a Meany's information among all divisions, including financial and accounting Markus, M. L. , & Tania, C. (n. D. ). Hence, to achieve a successful enterprise system, a company must have its IT systems centralized to ensure information runs smoothly and is relevant among all divisions , especially the financial and accounting information. Considering the accounting problems brought up at the final meeting, the company obviously needs to implement a centralized IT function.Moreover, it will be far more expensive to have an enterprise system with a decentralized IT function, which is contrary to the aim of achieving an enterprise system. While a centralized information management system will indeed offer benefits at OR Communication, if there is no way to utilize and interpret that data, it is useless; this is analogous to being data rich and information poor. Just because a company has loads of data does not mean that is fully informed. A company such as OR Communication collects vast quantities of data, but having the resources to convert that into useful information can be an extreme challenge.At OR Communication, they are facing a double-sided robber; they have neither a collective data warehouse, nor do they have any effective information management. Once the problem of centralization has been massive amounts of data is using a metadata repository. A metadata repository functions much like the card catalog of a library; while it does not specifically contain the information, it provides an index of what is available, including the relevant points on what it contains, as well as a pointer to locate the information (Moss & Broodier, 2002).This index provides an extremely valuable resource tool to quickly locate pertinent information. In addition, the metadata repository should be designed with the ability to hook into other systems that are developed to provide information to mother systems as necessary. Establishing this framework now will offer increased benefits as more systems are built off the central repository. Addressing Corporate Culture As seen in OR Communications, lack of common information and enterprise IM strategy can cause several problems to the business and the IT department.OR Communications has encountered serious custo mer service problems, due to lack of common information and enterprise strategy. In addition, lack of common information makes it hard for the overall management to monitor the businesses. Business units are unable to exchange information, and none is aware of the other divisions' work. The company is not in a position to strengthen its brand since no divisions work together. To remedy this, a unification of the firm needs to take place from more than Just an IT standpoint.The disjointed nature of the firm's information assets reflects a deeper separation of the personnel at OR Communications. Departments work for their own ends with naught but passing concern for their effects on the company as a whole. This lack of cohesion manifests itself in the behavior of the CICS, divisional managers, and even the employees, and has resulted in the severe fragmentation of corporate culture. The fragmented IT systems are only a symptom of a much larger problem.Before addressing the IT problems at OR Communications, the underlying culture of the business needs to be transformed. This begins at the very top, with the president of the company and the highest leaders; they need to be the first to set the example, and it is clear their current attitudes have set the company on the disastrous course it is on. Removing the CIO team which has hampered the company's efforts at unification up until now was a good step, but serious considerations now need to be taken to prevent things from getting worse.Other associates could easily see firing the Close as a usurping of departmental sovereignty; however, they need to use this as an opportunity to show that the company can be brought together without sacrificing any of their needs. To capitalize on this opportunity the president and vice president should bring together the next level of management into a council of members to set the direction and ultra of the firm in a way that promotes unity and mutual respect.This council should be responsible for creating and fostering an atmosphere that shows the benefits of the firm functioning as one. They need to prove to the management and associates that their departments will have a say in decisions, and their needs will not be overlooked. To improve the odds of acceptance, the council should be selected from leaders that have proven themselves as examples of good leadership and who are respected in the firm.Key to the success of this council will be keeping everyone n equal footing and ensuring that no one area is given preference over another, needs then others, and sometimes priority will need to be given to one area; however, if this behavior is present from the outset they will receive much resistance from the firm, as this will reinforce existing fears. Once a unity of the firm has been established, people will be more flexible to accept changes after they see the benefits. It will be up to the president and vice president as leaders to maintain these policies and be the example.As demonstrated in previous cases, the president as been lax in demonstrating himself as a leader and this could prove damaging to any such plans to unify the firm. Leadership must begin at the top, and the success or failure of a company often reflects the abilities of its leadership. Implementation Challenges The advantages of a shared IT system eliminate some of the above-mentioned problems. A single centralized and standardized IT operating system will enhance quick decisions across all the departments, since all units will be looking at the same data.Furthermore, with a shared service, customers will not have to visit different databases for the same company; rather, all their queries and purchases can be done from one site that will serve them with all that they need from the company. Another advantage will be easy monitoring of the divisional units?their individual performances as well as their contributions to the whole company. Another advantage for the company will be the ability to monitor financial operations, since all operations will be reflected on one database centrally (Maces, 2010).To implement the shared service strategy, it will be important to seek support of the divisional residents, considering they will be in charge of the units, which are the moneymaking branches. Their willingness to participate in the construction of the shared service will benefit the whole company. The first step to the implementation of this strategy will require assurances that it will benefit the whole company far more than the current system that is facing opposition from not only the customers but also other stakeholders such as the suppliers.In turn, since employees' remuneration is awarded on performance, improved performance for the whole firm will be an added advantage. Since the divisional heads are used to being in control, it is important to remind them that having a shared service will not mean the imposition of decisions from above . Rather, the shared service will make the operations of the whole organization work in harmony for the purpose of easy monitoring customer convenience. They should be included as part of the implementation team, so they can offer input on what they may not want to change.For instance, many are worried they will have to do away with specific projects. Ensuring them that these projects will continue after implementation of the shared arrive would increase their support, as would helping them understand that the new, shared system will enhance the harmony and efficiency of whole organization; eventually they will come to see that their roles will remain mostly the same. Another way to improve the odds of success to a centralized data structure is by appointing a team to oversee the maintenance of the data warehouse from an enterprise level.Ideally the members of this team should be comprised of analysts from the important functional areas of the company. This can help gain buy-in from the many due to the fact that the members of this team have already proven 2011). In addition the benefit of incorporating these individuals is that individual departments will feel that they have representation in the new system, and that their interests are protected. This will increase the potential for global acceptance in the program.Another way to increase compliance with the new systems is to implement an incentive program that would drive associates to achieve the best results. Incentive programs drive people to reach specific targets by offering them tangible rewards beyond their current compensation. At OR Communications, an incentive program could be implemented to increase compliance and adoption of a new centralized system. For example, the company could offer monetary bonuses to departments that lower their operating costs using the new system the most.Another more abstract idea would be to have a small bonus program for departments that offer ideas to enhance the pro ductivity of the system. Many of the departments have complained that a shared system would cause them to be overlooked; however, offering this type of inventive would both encourage them to aka enhancements of the system while simultaneously demonstrating that their opinions count. Positive reinforcement, such as an inventive program, help gain the compliance of the workforce in a much more efficient way then punishment or negative reinforcement.There are governance mechanisms and metrics that can be used to encourage the implementation and use of a shared enterprise data system. The governance that needs to be put in place is the alignment of divisional units with the IT department. The metrics must be aligned with transparency to ensure that IT is in congruence with business operations. The governance mechanism should involve all departments focusing on regulatory issues, risk alleviation and opportunity enhancement.The metrics used should be concerned with making divisional data fit into an enterprise system. These metrics will identify areas of weakness and avenues of improvement. To quote an analogy, â€Å"Rome wasn't built in a day;† and it will take significant time and effort to remedy all the problems at OR Communications. Close governance and metrics will aid in any improvement plan. Recommendation: It is evident that OR Communications need an intervention in its customer service enter.The lack of a centralized customer care center is making it hard to provide unified services to customers. More so, a lot of time is wasted by customers who have to be referred to different department for billing. Customers are forced to have several accounts with the company for each division since each division is held with its independent operations including billing (Smith & Mencken, 2007). This makes it hard for customer care provision. Considering consumer service is very crucial for any business, OR Communications need a centralized customer service cent er.A internalized service center will have many benefits to the whole organization such as cost reduction, time saving, good management of customers' data or information, and customer satisfaction. I recommend a centralized customer service center for OR communications for its advantages as predetermined below. The divisional IT service means having separate audits for every division. Having each division with an individual audit is expensive for the company since several auditors will be needed.Eliminating the divisions will save some costs that would otherwise be used for the services of the auditors at every division. With a single it department, data can be fed means reduced time for audits since with divisions audits have to be put together after each department has completed its audit (Smith & Mencken, 2007). Coordination among the auditors will be efficient since information is collected from one point where all information concerning company accounts is stored.Therefore, hav ing a centralized service center will enhance such operations across the whole organization. In addition, with a centralized customer service center as well as IT, it will ensure information is collected at one point making it easy to access information mongering any department from any point within the company without having to refer to the division in charge. Hence, for the auditors, complying with the set Serbians Solely act will be easy since information about customer billing and accounts of the whole firm will be centralized ensuring accuracy.Having the customer service centralized enhances business operations and processes, ensuring best practices such as timely audits are realized. With data consolidated in one central place, information can be exploited to breed new opportunities for the company. When data is at one place for all the divisions, it is easier to have a broader picture concerning how the divisions can create a new opportunities. Exploiting these opportunities Jointly among the divisions is better than going individually.Moreover, security can be more enhanced with a shared service center since monitoring will be done by one entity. This will further reduce costs associated with having each division taking responsibility of storing and maintaining its own data. Considering that OR communications is currently having several software, consolidating information together for the whole company is hard. Smooth flow of information across departments to ensure easy sharing is vital; not only for the whole company, but for divisions too, considering information consolidation is a fundamental instrument for doing business.Consolidating the IT services to one centralized structure will require removing of service center hardware from each division to one central department that will mitigate risks and have a common structural design as well as policies that are easily reviewable for updating. A common security procedure will reduce risks associated with information breech. Through the same procedures ND practices, the company can reduce file systems redundancy within the organization and enhance efficient document retention as well as reduce costs.Another reason to have one service center is to match the technical capacity of the company with its vision. At the current divisional independence, the divisions exploit their own visions that are not in congruence with the organization's vision and mission. Considering the company's vision is to have a consistent brand across all the divisions, it is necessary to have cross-shared services across all divisions to achieve this vision. The vision can be achieved through cross- sales of all the company services to its customers, as opposed to each department having its selling strategy.Having a shared sales service will serve to reduce the costs incurred when divisions do it individually hence creating a better chance for profit across all departments. Having a central service center will ensure that the overall vision of the company is followed since the central service center will be inclined towards the vision of the whole company. This way, each division can have a chance of benefiting form other divisions, hence the company as a whole (Smith & Mencken, 2007). Having a single are outsourcing majority of their operations to other professional companies for reductions of costs.With independent divisions and IT strategies for each individual division, outsourcing will be quite complicated. Having a central service center to oversee all requests will enhance efficiency as well as value. More so, through the consolidation of IT services and information at one common place will reduce security risks associated with outsourcing services. This will further ensure reliability and security of information. A consolidation of information and IT services will enhance cross-services for customers such as billing (Mencken & Smith, 2011).The company divisions at current cir cumstance hold their information secret from each other, making it a competition within the divisions that raise the problem of billing where customers have to be referred to other divisions for other services. With the consolidated information, customers will only need to visit one department from which other information concerning other divisions can be met. This will improve the perception of their whole company as a brand and the standing of the company can be improved as well as customer satisfaction.There is need for the company to realize that in the current world information is one of the drivers of businesses, which all businesses need to survive. Having each division with its own information center reduces the chances of the company improving in the future since the harmonious climate needed among the divisions for this achievement is minimal. Having stipulated the advantages bound to arise or reasons why a central service center should be achieved, it is important to cons ider how OR can be able to implement this recommendation with ease and least resistance from the divisions.This is the first most likely problem to arise during implementation. Hence, the first step should be generating support form all divisions, which has been quite hard up to now especially from the managers who are self centered and concerned with their earnings that depend on their performance. The managers also have a negative attitude towards merging of information and data among the divisions through one central service. A three-point strategy can be used to gain their support. It includes financial strategy, mitigation of risks associated and compliance to regulation.Financial point can emphasize the advantages the shared service is bound to raise, which will for the benefit of all the divisions and organization as a whole. Risk mitigation will arise from security of information through monitoring by one entity in a standardized way, while regulatory will be concerned with abiding to set accounting rules of the Serbians Solely act which the company has been having problems with (Schwartz, 2007). The next step would be to lay out the vision of the company and show why it cannot be achieved with division of operations among the divisions.This will impart some reasoning among the leaders, and support fore all divisions should be ensured. The main aim is to make everybody in the divisions aware of the role they will play and their stake to ensure thee is compliance and acceptance of the strategy to build a one services center (Mencken & Smith, 2011). One of the problems that could arise after implementation of a shared service center is ease of adoption. Some employees who have been used to the old system will require to be trained how to work harmoniously with a single service center. Many will be required to handle more information concerning not only their divisions, but

Organizational Analysis Paper of the American Heart Association Essay

I will be discussing in detail the creation and reasons of the American Heart Association, it’s importance, the functions and responsibilities of the American Heart Association, the stakeholders’ impact towards the American Heart Association and what are the affects as a stakeholder. Keywords: American Heart Association, functions, responsibilities, stakeholders Birth of the American Heart Association The American Heart Association has evolved into a nation-wide program since its birth in the 1915. According to American Heart Association (2010) a group of social workers and doctors in New York formed the Association for Prevention and Relief of Heart Disease. Due to the minimal information regarding heart disease people with heart disease are considered doom and most were in bed rest. Many doctors research and studied to determine if people with heart disease could return to a normal life and also return to work. Soon, associations started to form along the East Coast, mainly in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago in the 1920s. In 1924, six cardiologists together form the American Heart Association. Their main goal was to share research from cities across the United States and Canada and promote further study. According to American Heart Association (2010), the six cardiologists were Drs. Lewis A. Connor and Robert H. Hasley of New York, Paul White of Boston, Joseph Sailer of Philadelphia, Robert B. Preble of Chicago, and Hugh D. McCulloch of St. Louis. Drs. James B. Herrick of Chicago and William S. Thayer of Baltimore were also instrumental with the founding of the association. See more: how to write an analysis paper There were no education or awareness of heart disease and their main goal was to inform many physicians and scientists of the seriousness of heart disease. American Heart Association, (2010) The American Heart Association thought of ways to share the research and studies to the public and in 1946, according to American Heart Association (2010) they received a donation from the American Legion of $50,000 to conduct a research and to develop a community rheumatic fever program. The AHA reorganized and a couple of years later, non-medical volunteers assisted in business management, fundraising, communication, and public education. The AHA made their public appearance on a radio contest in 1948 called â€Å"The Walking Man,† which netted $1. 75 million. The AHA started setting up divisions across the country the following year and raised $2. 7 million. Growth of the American Heart Association The growth of the AHA has been rapid, in numbers, financial resources, and influence, both national, and international. According to American Heart Association (2010), in order to better serve their affiliate and local divisions nationwide changes of the National Center from New York to Dallas was a better idea. Between 1980 and 1986, they made internal changes and wanted to make a louder and clearer voice in reaching out to the public. They developed guidelines for the national health care system. While the federal government attempt to make changes and improvements AHA supported them at the same time continuing to strengthen internal management and programs. As they made changes AHA also concentrated on their mission statement and three areas of specialty important to AHA: cardiovascular science, cardiovascular education, and community programs. The AHA supported new research projects, move scientific staff into one building and sponsor creative professional education programs. Women and minorities were part of the association’s leadership ranks and resulted in more efforts and understanding of heart and stroke disease on women and minorities. In the 1990s, scientific finding began to move more quickly from laboratories and clinics to the physician offices and American households. They outsourced through journals and publishing online. Their strategy was improving affiliate research programs and creating new divisions dealing with stroke and emergency cardiac care. In November 1998, the AHA created a division called the American Stroke Association, which developed stroke education programs, stroke-related research and supported stroke victims and their caregivers American Heart Association (2010). According to American Heart Association (2010) in 2007, a budget of $700 million was granted in support of research, community programs, advocacy, public, and professional education. AHA used the funds for research on CPR training, pacemakers, microsurgery, bypass surgery, life-extending drugs and artificial heart valves. AHA focused on sending out a message emphasizing society to quit smoking, control blood pressure, dieting, be physically active, and maintain a healthy weight. The AHA is also a provider for first aid. Functions and Responsibilities of American Heart Association According to Stover, E (n. d. ), the AHA is a nonprofit organization and is a voluntary organization funded mostly by donors. The AHA depends on more than 3. 7 million people to carry out its goals and have raised over $1 billion since 1949. They create annual goals, taking on the responsibility of reducing heart disease and stroke. For example, in 2009, the goal of the AHA was to reduce smoking, lower high blood pressure and cholesterol. They reduced it by 25% by 2010. The responsibility of the AHA is to divide the organization’s responsibilities into seven areas whereas eight main offices operate nationwide. The seven areas include the office of chief executive, the advocacy division, corporate operations, field operations, healthcare market division, science operations and customer technology strategies, Stover, E (n. . ). The mission of the AHA is â€Å"Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. † Stakeholders in the American Heart Association There are a number of stakeholders involved with the American Heart Association. They include volunteers, employees, partners, vendors, and customers. They play an important part in the function and day to day operations of the AHA. Without the volunteers and employees, the AHA would cease and the American public would not obtain the latest information on preventing heart disease and stroke disease. Without vendors and partners, the AHA would not have the funds and support to make breakthroughs in further preventing heart disease and stroke disease. Without customers, the AHA would not have information for their studies and research to find new medicines or technology to prevent these diseases. So everyone has an important part to the success and expansion of the AHA. The American Heart Association has been a major influence of the lives of the public both nationally and internationally. They have given the public a better nderstanding of what heart and stroke disease are and the seriousness of these diseases. They also have programs and educational material available on what he or she can do as a patient as well as a supporter to make a difference in his or her life and to prevent from getting these diseases. They have classes on CPR and first aid in the event that they encounter someone who is suffering from a heart disease or stroke. I think that without the AHA, there would be a high rate of people dying from these diseases and people would not know what to do if they come across this disease or prevent it.

Analysis of the movie Alphaville in comparison to today's society Essay

Analysis of the movie Alphaville in comparison to today's society - Essay Example In this film, Lemmy Caution invades the scientific city of Alphaville with a range of objectives, which partly includes the assassination of the professor von Braun (Godard). The professor creates a world that outlaws emotions and punishes by killing people found to have succumbed to these â€Å"illogical† qualities. Gradually, the entire world of Alphaville is withdrawn from natural human qualities by replacing emotions with scientific concepts. The result is a world that gravitates towards self-destruction, and which becomes a threat to other societies that do not subscribe to its own laws. This film is a reminder of some of the perils of scientific developments. The past decades have seen rapid developments in the world of technology as scientists seek all possible ways to increase efficiency and effectiveness in all discourses of human concern. Generally, the development of a system that relies on scientific knowledge might be assumed a positive, even laudable step. Howeve r, such developments acquire negative qualities whenever they invade into the natural discourses that are controlled by the natural qualities of humanity. Technically, the society of Alphaville as controlled by the computer program challenges the basic tenets that support human emotion and compassion. In some sense, human beings and machinery are made into a uniform continuum that must exist in perfect harmony according to the strict boundaries provided by the professor. It might be important to consider the effects of increased reliance on scientific concepts of developments on the society. Past and recent analyses of social trends have revealed a worrying increase in the cases of family disintegration and divorce in the world. The trends shows that the most developed parts of the world are more affected by the collapse of the family unit as compared to the developing parts of the world. For instance, statistics indicate that the family unit in the United States has always been und er the constant menace of collapse (Wells and McFadden 59). This reality could be explained in form of the pressure that derives from the world of logic and science. Scientific progress, as shown in Alphaville has the potential of disrupting the harmonious survival of humanity. As such, it becomes important to exercise caution when embracing systems that are significantly reliant on the laws of science. By their very nature, the laws of science are limited and narrow. They cannot comprehend the complexity of human nature. In order for these laws to govern human existence, they must fight against systems that cannot be reduced into clear theories. Matters of love, care and compassion cannot be quantified. Value judgments have metaphysical qualities in nature. They cannot lend themselves to explanations founded on the laws of logic. Due to this fact, it becomes necessary to investigate the place of science within the basic survival of humanity. Essentially, it is impossible for scienc e to destroy the governing laws of human compassion, emotions, and feelings without destroying the entire humanity. One of the issues that are discussed within the concept of science is its role in the process of human development. Some social researchers have identified a growing gap between the world of science and nature. Science dehumanizes humanity by promoting the laws of logic above those of emotions. Warfare, human abuses, and other catastrophic occurrences have been blamed on the laws of

The Disappeared Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Disappeared - Essay Example The author employs comparison when Anders tries to compare his home country (Sweden) with America. Such comparison creates suspense as the reader becomes intrigued and reads on in an attempt to figure out the origin and cause of the pungent smell. Baxter employs dialogue to amplify the suspense as the reader tries to figure out the cause of the smell. Anders and the cab driver engage in dialogue as he [Anders] attempts to understand the environment. Baxter portrays Anders as naà ¯ve and the cab driver as the resident used to the environment. The cab driver explains to Anders that the pungent smell represents Detroit. Baxter employs a metaphor by linking the smell to Detroit. In addition, it is evident that Anders is in a dilemma between understanding what the driver said and his thoughts that the smell came from a fire. The reader is forced to read on to establish why Detroit is associated with such a smell and how Anders will cope maneuvering the city with such

Data description Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Data description - Essay Example population and more than seven million are unaware of the fact that they are suffering from this disease. In the year 2010, 1.9 million of people who had ages of 20 and even older were detected to be Diabetic patients. It is projected that about 79 million adults who are aged either twenty years or older have pre-diabetes; it is a situation in which the levels of blood glucose are higher as compared to normal range but not too high to be labeled as diabetes. In order to fight against Diabetes, people will have to take precautionary measures such as living a healthy life, developing and following a well-balanced and nutritious meal plan, increasing physical activity so that weight remains under control and following the doctor’s advice appropriately. Hence, Diabetes is a curable disease that can be managed properly if self-care techniques are implemented effectively. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. â€Å"National diabetes fact sheet: National estimates and general information on diabetes and pre-diabetes in the United States, 2011.† CDC.gov. CDC, February 2011. Web. 10 January

IAS 17 Leases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

IAS 17 Leases - Essay Example This accounting standard is quite comprehensive in its nature such that it encompasses different aspects of leases in a very detailed manner. This section briefly analyzes 1) Scope of IAS 17, 2) Classification of Leases, 3) Accounting by Lessor, 4) Accounting by Lessee, 5) Disclosure Requirements for Lessor and, 6) Disclosure Requirements for Lessee. 1. Scope of IAS 17 The applicability of IAS 17 rests with all the leased assets except the following assets: †¢ Natural regenerative resources including oil, gas and other minerals †¢ Licensing agreements in respect of videos, manuscript, copyrights, brands, films, games etc. †¢ Investment property valued on fair value basis by lessee under IAS 40 †¢ Investment property considered as operating lease by the lessor under IAS40 †¢ Biological assets considered as finance lease by the lessee under IAS 41 †¢ Biological assets considered as operating lease by the lessor under IAS 41 2. Classification of Lease Lease s are generally classified into either finance lease or operating lease. The major distinguishing factor between a finance lease and an operating lease is the transfer of substantial risk and rewards even if the ownership is not transferred. It is important to note that the classification must be made before the commencement of the lease. The major criteria for the finance lease is as followed: †¢ At the expiry of the lease term, the ownership title is transferred to the lessee. At the inception of the lease the lessee has been provided the option to purchase the leased asset a price lower than the fair value of the asset, and there is likelihood that the option would probably be exercised by the lessee. Leased asset is provided to the lessee for a major part the useful life of the leased asset. The present value of the minimum lease payments (MLP) should be approximately equal to the fair value of the leased asset at the inception of the lease. The leased assets can be used by the lessee without any significant modification in the asset due to its specialized nature. 3. Accounting by the Lessor The following accounting treatment is provided under IAS 17 for the recognition of the leased assets by the lessor: There are three major recognition criteria should be used by the lessor in respect of accounting for lease. The criteria are highlighted as under: Finance lease should be recorded by the lessor in the balance as a receivable. The amount of the receivable should be approximately equal to the net investment made in the lease by the lessor. For finance lease, the income earned from the leased asset by the lessor should be presented as a constant rate of return of the outstanding amount of the lease by lessor. For the case of operating lease, those leased assets should be recognized in the balance sheet according to the nature of the leased asset. The income earned in respect of the operating lease should be recognized on straight line basis over the lea se term of the leased asset or on the basis of any other suitable and systematic criteria. 4. Accounting by the Lessee The following accounting treatment is provided under IAS 17 for the recognition of the leased assets by the lessor: In respect of the finance lease, the

Problems and recommendations for Merit Pay system at Konica Minolta Essay

Problems and recommendations for Merit Pay system at Konica Minolta Business Solutions - Essay Example The project provides examples of the compensation structures in other organisations providing the respective pros and cons of the same. Finally, it recommends a suitable compensation structure for Konica Minolta Business Solutions along with its probable impact on the organisation. Compensation structure in Wal-Mart The organisation chosen for the purpose of this research is Wal-Mart. The reason for choosing this company is that it would be a perfect example to show how a poor compensation structure could lead to serious damage for the organisations. It would also be possible to show how restructuring of the pay structure would benefit the employees and the organisation. The organisation is one of the retail giants in the world. However, the compensation structure is seen to be unfavorable for the employees. Research revealed that â€Å"Walmart CEO's hourly wage equals one year salary of new employees† (Brainz, 2010). It demonstrates a great extent of disparity among employees in the organization. It was seen that the CEO of the company earns an amount of $35 every year, which is an hourly earnings of $16,826.92. On the other hand, the newly employed worker earns only $8.75 in an hour. His gross income in a year amounts to $13,650 only. The figure is quite low for a newly recruited employee in comparison to the revenue that the company generates. It also reflects the lack of concern of the employer towards its employees. This is the cause of the high rate of attrition in the organisation. According to the reports published by the company, it was estimated that there were 74,300 workers occupying positions in Florida Wal-Mart in a quarter. The number of workers leaving the organisation in the next quarter amounted to 15,500. 2900 more number of workers was recruited. This represented that the quarterly rate of turnover was as high as 17.3%. It was estimated that if this figure remained unchanged then out of every six recruitment, one would leave the organ isation in every three months (WARN, 2005). Compensation in other organisations- Review of success and failure Proctor and Gamble was one company which was considered to be one of the most favorable companies to work for. The company demonstrates very low rate of attrition because of its favorable pay structure. The voluntary turnover rate in the company is only 2% per year. The popularity of the organisation gets depicted from the fact that it receives more than 125,432 US applicants every year (CNN Money, 2011). The company’s present human resource development structure is highly attractive which makes it one of the most employers of recent times. The average annual pay for the most common salaried job in the organisation is $87,000, while the average hourly payment for the most common hourly paid job is $48,673. For example, a person holding the managerial position in the production department gets an average annual salary of $87,000. On the other hand, a technician whose wage is calculated on an hourly basis gets an average annual payment of $48,673 (CNN Money, 2011). The figures demonstrate that the employees are adequately compensated which can be accounted for

Certification and Standardization of Mediators Essay - 1

Certification and Standardization of Mediators - Essay Example Years later, California added child custody decisions to mediator responsibilities. â€Å"In 1980, California became the first state to mandate all parents with custody or visitation disputes to participate in family mediation prior to a court hearing† (Milner et al., 2004, p.5). By 2004, most states had mandates regarding family divorce disputes, and 38 states had mediation mandates where child custody issues occurred (Tondo, Coronel, & Drucker, 2001, as cited in Milner et al., 2004, p.5). Example One. One of the frontrunners and more controversial figures in divorce mediations was O.J. Coogler, an Atlanta lawyer and author of the book, Structured Mediation in Divorce Settlement (1978). This marriage and family litigator used labor negotiations and social sciences as a guide to build a framework for third-party mediators to use when assisting divorcing couples resolve issues such as property division, alimony, child visitation, and child custody (Milner et al., 2004). Despite establishing the Family Mediation Association (FMA), the bar association harshly rebuked Coogler. â€Å"The bar association declared mediation by non-lawyers to be the unauthorized practice of law and attempted to dissuade lawyers from mediating through the threat of ethical sanctions† (Silberman, 1988, as cited in Milner et al., 2004, p. 5). Example Two. Confidentiality is crucial in court proceedings. In a civil suit involving the still photography and filming of underage girls, the judge ordered mediation in an attempt to circumvent litigation (Zimmerman, 2009). However, the defendant did not take the mediation proceedings seriously. He appeared four hours late, dressed inappropriately, shouted profanities at the court, continually placed his dirty, bare feet on the plaintiff’s table, threatened the plaintiff’s lawyer, and then proceeded to breech confidentiality by telling

Manage Employee Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Manage Employee Relations - Essay Example Employee relationship management plays a vital role in the management of concerns that could impact the satisfaction of the employees, which might have a subsequent effect on the productivity of the employees and the overall organizational culture. Hence, the goal of effective employee relationship management is to enable two-way communication between the employees as well as the employer, employee growth as well as conflict management. Employee relationship management consists of putting into practice an information structure by the employer for the administration and supervision of its employees. An efficient employee relationship management program encompasses all the issues and problems that are concerned with the association between the employer and its employees (Gennard, J. & Judge, G., â€Å"Employee Relation†). The report reviews and discusses various imperative issues pertaining to employer-employee relationship. ... Review of Various Issues in Employee Relationship Management Employee Relations Strategy Employee relations strategy relates to the approach on how to enhance the employee’s commitment to the accomplishment of the business aims and objectives of the organization in a number of diverse scenarios. Employee relations strategies also make certain that changes in the organization are accepted amongst the employees. This necessitates an amalgamated strategy towards employee management so that a jointly emphasized and unified set of employee policies as well as practices can be built by the employer. The employee management strategies of an organization control its business performance. Thus, it is imperative to have appropriate practices of employee management in order to gain organizational competitiveness (Gennard, J. & Judge, G., â€Å"Employee Relation†; Farnham, D., â€Å"Employee Relations in Context). Employee Communication Strategy The costs to a business organizatio n due to inefficient employee communication are very high. This is because inefficient communication between the management of the organization and the employees could lead to communication gap which might result in low employee morale and competence of the business. Effective employee communication has a strong positive association with employee understanding, since apt, pertinent and precise communication assist in the process of comprehension of corporate strategies as well as goals by the employees (Gennard, J. & Judge, G., â€Å"Employee Relation†). Promotion of the Business as a Potential Employer Sound employee relationship management assists in the promotion of the business, as it enhances the employee loyalty and employee morale in addition to

How do the arguments that motivate the Five Ways also help us to Essay

How do the arguments that motivate the Five Ways also help us to understand the nature of mind - Essay Example However, he succinctly lays bare the fact assumption that the universe and the world depends upon him for their imminent existence (McGrath 15). This same exposition aids us to understand the nature of the mind. Evidently, to our sense, everything in the world that moves is most probably caused to do so by another, unless it is in its potentiality to move. Motion is perceived as the alteration of something from potentiality to its reality. However, not a single thing can move from a state of potentiality to actuality unless it is excited to behave in that way by something else that is in its actuality. Therefore, it is exceedingly impossible for something to possess the ability, in the same respect, to move and be moved (Carruthers 73). Additionally, for something to move, it ought to be moved by another. The mind, though perceived to be abysmally voided induces the motion in every being. The mind has the ability to induce motion in beings and this initially ensues from the ultimate being gradually to inferior beings. This moving and being moved extends from one thing to another but cannot result into infinity, since there would not be a first mover. The succeeding movers move in as much as the first and ultimate mover, who is no one else but God move them. Aquinas derived the planetary motion ideology from Aristotle and succinctly described the force behind the motion. The seasons changed due to the planetary movement. Who moves and sustains the order of things in the world? The answer is only God, the ultimate mover, who sustains the order of occurrences in the world (McGrath 15). The second proof towards God’s existence confers from the efficient reason of being or actuality. In this world of sensible existence and the normal, there is usually a specific given order of the efficient causes. There is never an incidence where a thing is sufficiently capable of being the efficient cause of its own imminent existence (Gardiner 10). This is because it woul d undoubtedly be prior to itself and is therefore virtually impossible. It is extremely impossible to proceed to infinity, since all efficient causes follow each other progressively in a sequential order, the initial being the cause behind the efficiency of the intermediate cause. This is regardless of the number of the intermediate causes. Taking the cause is actually taking away the effect. If it were possible to move to infinity in efficient causes, there would be no primary efficient cause, any ultimate effect or any transitional efficient causes, which is false. Thus, God is the final efficient cause above all the other intermediate and subsequent causes. Therefore, this theory of efficient cause means that there cannot be an endless regression of effect and cause. Eventually, the final being that causes everything is God (McGrath 15). The mind, therefore, does not possess concrete existence. The emotions it holds of happiness and anger later subside, proving its emptiness. Thi s proof is conferred from necessity and possibility. Naturally, there are things our minds perceive to, possibly, be and others not to be. This is due to the possibly that they might be generated, corrupted and eventually, it is probable that they are imminently in a state of being and not being. However, this is virtually impossible since nothing can exist in the two different states. This depicts that everything can or cannot be. This results into the perception that if not

Plato Essay Example for Free

Plato Essay Socrates gets Laches to agree to a new definition of courage by arguing that not all cases of courage are a sort of endurance. He asks Laches if he would consider courage to be noble to which Laches replies he would. Socrates then asks him would he consider foolish endurance to be seen as hurtful,to which Laches also agrees. With this in mind Laches agrees to a new definition of courage to include only wise endurance. 2/5 2. They conclude that knowledge of a virtue such as courage isnt seen as being normal in the way hat it is,but being the kind of thing that is known consciously and spoken. Somebody who can talk about the subject of courage but dont do well in battle,would have no real insight into what most people would consider courage. 0/5 3. Socrates argues for this conclusion by saying there could be some objection to the claim that courage is both foolish and wise. Firstly,wise courage gives you the belief that you are doing the right thing,but dont have to,but by believing you have wise courage,it is the best thing to stay and fight. However,knowing you havnt the resources for battle,but are considered brave enough to stay and fight anyway,surely this can be seen as both foolish and wise courage. 2/5 4. Socrates asks Laches if he knows the nature of virtue and would they tell others of it. Laches agrees to both questions allowing Socrates to test Laches own knowledge of virtue. He asks him about the part of virtue that is relevant to the art of fighting in armour – courage. Socrates then asks Laches to take into account the actions of the Sythian cavalry who fought bravely whilst running way. These examples are of a courageous nature but do not fit Laches example of courage. Socrates then asks Laches about the nature of courage of the soldiers who man there posts,but adds also about the courage of people in general,wether in battle,politics. poverty or fear. He reinforces his argument by using the example of â€Å"quickness which may be found in running, speaking or playing the lyre. In this case Socrates states that the definition as the quality that does a lot in very little time. Laches has to come up with an idea of courage that takes into account all ideas in which a person might be courageous. One objection that might be made to one of Socrates arguments is that it may only seem like he wants to impress upon Laches that it is possible to have any sort of knowledge of courage at all because Socrates says that the only genuine piece of knowledge he can have is that he knows nothing in the first place. But,as there isnt anybody that knows enough about courage to speak f it,maybe we should take into account Laches continuing courageous behaviour as a kind of knowledge,rather than it being known concsiously and spoken,courage may be the only thing to be considered as an example. Someone who speaks for hours about courage but is cowardly during battle,would have little knowledge of courage. This example is about spoken knowledge and is amplified again by Socrates when he asks Laches to try and embody the very courage and endurance he is looking for in his quest. 18/35