Issues in Uganda’s human rights Essay

Assignment – Research Paper Research Topic: Issues in Uganda’s human rights As a female-born Canadian, living in one of the better countries of the world, take solace in the fact that as a person, have consciously been able to exercise my â€Å"rights and freedoms† through working, schooling or voting. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Constitution Act, 1985.) safeguards our basic human rights. As Canadians, we feel protected in this way, exercising our rights without much thought, passing through our day and night without griping fear for our lives, or of the police. Imagine for a moment waking up and the army has moved in, soldiers, police, trucks, tanks control the streets. All â€Å"left-handed† people, regardless of age are being taken away, and secretly relocated for re-education?! As a society or an individual within, we would be helpless and vulnerable, should some form of organized brutality be thrust upon us. The western countries of the world place human rights, in high esteem. In stark contrast, woefully many countries, U ganda in particular, are continually in a desperate struggle for the advancement of human rights. (Ewins, 2011) The country still faces heavy criticism regarding the treatment and growth, or lack thereof in the area of human rights. In particular, the specific malfeasance shown toward women, children, homosexuals, and the disabled. Officially known as the Republic of Uganda, is a sovereign nation located in the continent of Africa, bordered by Kenya, Sudan, the Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Even though this republic is only forty-six years old, since gaining independence from Great Britain, methods of torture and child labour still exist. Continually, there are seemingly insurmountable struggles (i.e. arrests, enslavement, poor laws, etc) (Middleton & Miller, 2008). Additionally, the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) and the mentally/physically ill in Uganda have virtually no protection at all, and both male and female homosexual activity or interaction is illegal. (Ewins, 2011) The Uganda Human Rights Commission, an agency established in 1995, still continues to struggle trying to put an end to the cruelty concerning the treatment of women, children, homosexuals, and the mentally ill. This same  agency is responsible for crimes against children, which is an underlying problem that only exacerbates the situation for the advancement of human rights in Uganda. The practice of child abuse is considered exploitative, extremely unethical, and inhumane. Commonly, children are laboured for days on end, performing chores for superiors. Ugandan children are trafficked within the country, as well as to other countries as Canada, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia for forced labour and commercial sexual exploitation. (Clark-Kazak, 2010) Karamojong women and children, an ethnic group of herders living mainly in the northeast of Uganda, are sold in cattle markets or by intermediaries and forced into situations of domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, herding, and begging. Many Ugandan security and government agencies, including Uganda’s Rapid Response Unit, the police force, law-enforcement officials and the military, have been accused of torture. (Clark-Kazak, 2010) These agencies persecute opponents of the government, carry out abductions, disappearances, extrajudicial killings and torture and act both independently, as well as interdependently with each other, and in cooperation with the Ugandan Police. Some of these inhumane acts of torture include kicking and beating, which is described as â€Å"kandoya† – a tying of the victim’s hands and feet behind the body and strung from the ceiling, and even electric shock by attaching wires to the male genitalia. Because these agencies operate through the Ugandan Police, not much stance has been taken by the government. (Clark-Kazak, 2010) Over the past twenty years, the rebel group LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) has abducted more than 30,000 boys and girls as soldiers. Attacks against Uganda’s Acholi people have resulted in severe trauma to civilians from extreme violence and abduction. Girls are often forced to become sex slaves, and the UPDF (Uganda People’s Defence Force) has recruited small numbers of children into its forces, some as young as thirteen. (Mujuzi, 2011) Not only are children being treated as property with no rights protecting them, women also receive similar treatment. For many decades, the Ugandan culture has made it clear that women should treat men as higher class citizens, and respect their commands, as they are higher in value than women. Despite the substantial economic and social responsibilities of women in Uganda’s many traditional societies, women were taught to accede to the wishes of their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sometimes other men as well, and to  demonstrate their subordination to men in most areas of public life. Customary law also prevails in the event of divorce in that child custody is typically awarded to the father. (Mujuzi, 2011) The physical integrity of Ugandan women is poorly protected. Violence against women is widespread: some estimates say that more than half of the women in the country have suffered domestic violence at the hands of their partners. Domestic violence has wide social acceptance, even by women. Rape is very common in Uganda. In nearly half of sexual violence cases, the victim’s husband or partner is the perpetrator reflecting a widely held belief that spousal rape is a husband’s prerogative. (Ehiri, 2009) Many women were raped by rebel soldiers during the conflict in northern Uganda. Women of the Sabiny tribe are subjected to female genital mutilation. There are no laws prohibiting the practice, but the local authorities have issued a decree denouncing the custom. (Kafumbe, 2010) In addition, in 2006, The World Health Organization (WHO) published results of a study on countrywide domestic violence and women’s health in Uganda. In the study, they found that 22% of adult women in the country experienced sexual violence, with 76% of men transmitting the HIV virus with 82% chance of the women becoming pregnant. 70% of women and 60% of men agreed that wife beating was justifiable under certain circ umstances. Ethically speaking, this makes the situation extremely uncomfortable. (Ehiri, 2009) An example one of which can be seen as a step in the right direction is with regards towards marriage and divorce laws in Uganda. The proposed legislation, the Marriage and Divorce Bill, which was passed in March of 2011, recognizes cohabitation in terms of property rights, abolishes forced marriage, prohibits same sex marriage and allows women to divorce their husbands on grounds of cruelty. Ultimately, the Bill still condemns same sex marriage, however, gives women in marriage more freedom. While polygamy has been quite popular in Uganda, it has been decreasing every decade, with only 27% of men having more than one wife, as opposed to 43% of males with more than one wife in 1988. (Kafumbe, 2010) The situation compared to decades ago, where polygamy was on the rise, is much less in existence. Granted, the government still has a vast array of issues to fix. For example, the period following the collapse of Idi Amin’s regime (which lasted from 1979–1986), was characterized by continued turmoil, violations of human rights, including the killing of innocent people, mismanagement of  the economy, a nd guerrilla warfare, which is civilians attacking members of the military. The army, led by General Tito Okello, overthrew President Obote in 1985. This gave the rebels of Yoweri Museveni, a former guerrilla leader, an advantage to take over government from Okello on January 26th, 1986. From 1986, however, with a new government headed by Museveni, Uganda started on the path to reconstruction and rehabilitation with new promise of security, peace, and development. (Middleton & Miller, 2008) One issue that it is not showing any signs of improvement, applies to the gay citizens in Uganda. Homosexuality in all its forms is illegal. This includes sexual acts, and just being gay. The consequence for homosexuality can put a Ugandan in prison for life. Prior to 2000, only male homosexuality was criminalized, then in 2000 under the Penal Code Amendment (Gender References) Act 2000, all references to â€Å"any male† was changed to â€Å"any person† so that lesbianism was criminalized as well. A new bill has been introduced into parliament, providing for harsher penalties for homosexuals, including the death penalty for â€Å"repeat offenders.† Ugandan citizens would be required to report any homosexual activity within twenty-four hours or face a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment, and Uganda would request extradition if Ugandan citizens were having same-sex relationships outside the country. Gays and lesbians face discrimination and harassment at the hands of the media, police, teachers, and other groups. According to Jessica Stern of Human Rights Watch, â€Å"For years, President Yoweri Museveni’s government routinely threatens and vilifies lesbians and gays, and subjects sexual rights activists to harassment.† (Clark-Kazak, 2010) There appear to be two types of harassment of the Ugandan LGBT community: human rights violations against this community, as well as failure to provide governmental and non-governmental services to this community. First, in Uganda, there is a strong cultural abhorrence and complete lack of understanding of LGBT individuals. This is reflected in everyday actions throughout the country, from minor forms of harassment in clubs, restaurants, and on the streets, to more pernicious forms of discrimination in terms of jobs and service distribution. Interviews with members of the LGBT community suggest that an openly gay individual will likely be excommunicated by his or her church, will be neglected by his or her family and community, may be kicked o ut of school, will have difficulty finding and  holding a job, and will be otherwise persecuted in everyday life. Stories of people being maimed or killed because they are thought to be gay are a persistent, minute to minute reminder to the LGBT community to maintain strong secrecy, often forcing people to engage in heterosexual relationships to give the impression of being straight to the outside world. Much of this type of cultural bias and discrimination cannot be attacked using current laws; it can only be attacked through new laws creating positive rights enabling LGBT individuals to be free from this type of harassment and discrimination. (Hollander, 2009-10) Condemned by world leaders, some western governments threatened to withhold financial aid. In the United States, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon has argued that, should the legislation become law, Uganda would be ineligible for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The global backlash to this bill has been significant. President Barack Obama recently denounced it as â€Å"odious† and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton communicated her â€Å"strongest concerns† over the proposed legislation directly to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Resolutions have been introduced in the U.S. Congress condemning the proposed bill, calling on the Ugandan Parliament to reject it, and urging all governments to reject and repeal similar laws criminalizing homosexuality. Some countries have gone even further; with Sweden has threatening to cut off all aid to Uganda should the bill become law. (Ewins, 2011) As well, the U.K. partnered up with BBC to film a documentary on Uganda’s treatment of homosexuals. It was filmed in Kampala and its surrounding slums, where they interviewed leaders in the anti-homosexual movement, as well as homosexuals who are out and living in fear. Radio DJ Scott Mills travels to Kampala where the death penalty could soon be introduced for being gay. This was aired in the U.K. on February 2011 before the Bill was killed. Mills, who is openly gay, finds out that the living situation in Kampala and around Uganda is incredibly frightening and horrific. Those who are openly gay are disowned by their family and friends, and are forced to live in slums and outside the city so they can be somewhat protected. An effective way that the Ugandan people â€Å"capture† homosexuals is through their newspapers. The newspaper â€Å"The Rolling Stone† publishes photos of openly gay Ugandans living in and around Kampala, asking citizens to call them or the police if they know where they are located. (Mills, 2011) If a  person gets caught, they are persecuted and thrown in jail for adultery. In the documentary, we meet a lesbian named Stosh. When she was a teenager she was raped by a man to try and â€Å"cure† her of her lesbianism and as a result was infected with HIV. To make matters worse, Pastor Male is part of the self styled National Coalition against Homosexuality and Sexual Abuse in Uganda and claims he was the first person in the country to come out openly against gays. Male believes that no one is born gay and that through counseling they can be cured of this â€Å"affliction†. (Mills, 2011) Exercising tolerance of ignorance can be quite a bitter pill to swallow Although the focus of most research in the media on Uganda has been surrounding women, children, and the LGBT community, often overlooked is the mistreatment of the ill, specifically those with mental disorders. A survey of the existing mental health system in Uganda was conducted using the WHO Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems. (Fisher, 2010) In addition, 62 interviews and six focus groups were conducted with a broad range of mental health stakeholders at the national and district levels. Despite possessing a â€Å"draft† on mental health policy that is in line with many international human rights standards, Uganda’s mental health system inadequately promotes and protects, and frequently violates the human rights of people with mental disorders; through physical and emotional abuse. Qualitative interviews with a range of stakeholders revealed that patients had experienced various forms of direct human rights abuses within the mental health facilities and units in the country, particularly in psychiatric units in general hospitals. (Fisher, 2010) In discussions with the mental health service facilities, many stakeholders from different groups spoke about how it is fairly common for mental health professionals to infringe on the rights of patients. Numerous respondents, particularly mental health care service users themselves, spoke about the stigma and verbal abuse patients experience from mental health professionals. As one service user lamented: â€Å"Sorry to comment on psychiatrists, but when you are in hospital, instead of calling you by name, they call you ‘case’, ‘this case here’, ‘this mental case’ That is not a proper way to address people. Why do you call me case? I have a name. I am not a case and I have a right to be called my name. But because they have an attitude of labeling. You are  being turned into an object by them.† (Fisher, 2010) Many respondents also spoke about the ‘poor food supply in the mental health units’, which is ‘never enough for everyone’, and is often ‘old’ or ‘so bad you would not wish it upon anyone’. Poor dietary supplies were seen as impacting especially badly those patients who are also physically ill (i.e. as HIV-positive patients). The patients are continuously secluded, sometimes they are beaten up, or starved as punishment, and sometimes they are left alone for hours with no one attending to them. This study was done in every mental institution in the country except for Butabika, which is known as the best mental establishment and is known for its good conditions. Although that does say there can be good and bad institutions, knowing there is only one with a positive rating in the whole country is beyond troublesome. (Bernstein & Okello, 2007) Briefly, a final problem, which falls under the umbrella of human rights, is that of refugee status. In Uganda, refugee policy and programming is focused almost exclusively on providing protection and assistance to refugees residing in rural settlements. While international law allows refugees the right to freedom of movement and choice of residence, Ugandan legislation restricts refugees’ residency to rural settlements, subjecting those who wish to live outside of settlements and in urban centers to severe restrictions. This study sheds light on the reasons refugees choose to reside in Kampala as opposed to rural settlements and the challenges they endure while attempting to sustain and support themselves. Research findings indicate that at all stages of exile, refugees in Uganda are put under pressure, either implicitly or explicitly, to relocate to settlements. The lack of progressive thinking and hence over-reliance on settlements as the mainstay of refugee protection and assistance has hampered reforms of refugee policy and hindered the broader involvement of municipal authorities in responding to protection and assistance needs of refugees in urban areas. Research findings suggest that many refugees have talents, skills, and abilities, which would enable self-sufficiency in Kampala and other urban areas. However, these capabilities are currently undermined by a refugee regime which only promotes self-reliance in rural settlements. In an effort to enhance refugees’ overall human security and to support their own efforts to become independent and self-reliant, this paper asserts that refugee policy in  Uganda should be reformed to support refugees’ decisions to choose their own places of residence, instead of restricting them to rural settlements. (Bernstein & Okello, 2007) When first beginning my research on Uganda, I wanted to focus specifically on the lack of rights for the LGBT community, yet there is a glaring human rights problem all throughout the country, especially including women, children and those with mental/physical ailments. While researching through my references, it is positive to note that â€Å"human rights† is a hot button topic in Uganda, there is some progress; albeit small. (Ewins, 2011) There is focus on the topic of â€Å"human rights† in Uganda and how it effects women, children, the mentally ill, and homosexuals. As a Canadian, I recognize and exercise my rights because I have all of them as a woman and a Canadian citizen. Often times, people seem to forget how fortunate they are to live in a first world country where they do not have to be afraid everywhere they look because of who they are. Dismally, many Ugandans have to exist that way with no escape in sight., as a significant amount of the population are poor and unable to flee to a safer place. Having always been interested in human rights in all countries and how they differ from Canada’s laws, researching the human conditions in Uganda has been a huge eye opener concerning the depth of despair. Although I am not gay myself, rights for LGBT members is one of things that I am very passionate about changing around the world. My research will show what they have to go through on a daily basis as Ugandans and changes that have been made throughout the decades to improve on these rights, or make them harsher. With my research, I have developed the following research questions: Creating the Anti-Homosexual Bill has received negative attention from countries around the world including the United States and Sweden. How has the Ugandan government dealt with this image the rest of the world has about their country? In Uganda, if someone is homosexual, they will most likely be discriminated against. What acts of discrimination by the rest of the Ugandan population will put homosexuals in danger? Some forms of data that will be presented are primarily from observation and  documentaries. Ideally, it would be more advantageous to travel to Uganda and experience life there first hand, therefore many researchers document their work by recording it, so others can see exactly what they saw. Most of my references are in text form and come from either observation from the writers’ own perspective or research from other writers, which can be also known as unobtrusive research (Trochim, 2006), or more specifically, content analysis. (Chapter 10, textbook) All my research has been through the Concordia Database in the Sociology section. From that database, the oldest document used is from 2006, with an exception to the New Encyclopedia of Africa†. (Middleton & Miller, 2008) which described various significant years in Uganda’s fight for human rights in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Additionally, this specific topic is not one that I can do myself or ask people about whil e I am in Montreal. These observations are helpful for my research, as it is the easiest and most precise type of research. The work will be even more helpful if anyone can see it first hand rather than just reading text. The documentary will show you more of an in-depth, depressing look at the lack of human rights in Uganda. The ethical issues I will be facing are my own, since being aware of these issues, I feel obligated to help in some manner. I do not know anyone from Uganda that faced the brutality or human rights violations themselves, or someone who has studied human rights in Uganda. While not doing interviews myself, several of my references have taken certain documentaries when it comes to citing their research. One in particular, which I happened to find on YouTube, is a documentary done by BBC3 in the U.K titled â€Å"The World’s Worst Place to Be Gay?†. It is hosted by a British radio DJ and openly gay Scott Mills, who traveled to Uganda where the death penalty is the huge is sue for homosexuals. He finds out what it is like to live in a society which persecutes people such as himself, and meets those who are leading the hate campaign. In its favour, is that it is a recent documentary, originally aired in February of 2011 on BBC. I have also located two other documentaries under my own independent online research, one entitled â€Å"A World of Conflict† in which reporter Kevin Sites covers every major war zone in the world in one year, and another called â€Å"Hope for Uganda†, a documentary created by World Vision, a non-governmental organization. While these highlight how poorly a condition Uganda is in, there are definitely  ethical issues that occur during filming. Ethical issues include threats of violence open discrimination and hate. While I seemingly cannot do anything to prevent it, it still remains extremely horrific and unethical. One has to come into contact with this venue of research to appreciate this line of study in a proper context. I have not required any approvals, as all of the research I have is not mine. The documentaries were approved by World Vision and BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). With regards to the rights of the Ugandans shown in the documentaries, they were given approval to show themselves on camera beforehand. If they were not comfortable being on television, their faces would be blurred out. While filming â€Å"The World’s Worst Place to be Gay?† in Kampala, the city was warned beforehand that there would be camera crews around. Given that all the stories in the documents and in the films are quite painful, the risks were ever present. Some quotes remained anonymous, some were given with names. It took a great deal of courage for Ugandans to come forward with their hardships and their pain, however it sheds light on the primitive condition of human rights in their country. In conclusion, this topic was something I chose to study, due to the fact that this is a subject that greatly interests me, and that one day, might want to help to fight for this cause, or be involved with as a career. While I might not ever travel to Uganda or work in Africa, I can pursue those fights in Canada. It is certainly an area in which I desperately want to see change in the world; equal rights at every level for everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Despite having some background knowledge on this issue, I have many more things to learn, and that is also again in support of my selection. Something I know a lot about is not as challenging or interesting to research. I somehow feel consciously and morally obliged to learn more about the violated and disenfranchised of this country. Lastly, there will be an examination of the â€Å"human rights† issues in Uganda, focusing on how children, women, and homosexuals are treated. The research covered many kingdoms and cities all over the country. I am hoping that because of this paper, the readers will learn more about the situation in Uganda and are motivated to get involved in a project such as this, and possibly compel them to do something to help. At the beginning of the course, deciding which subject I would focus this research paper on, and focusing it on something I want to see change and would want to make a  difference in that situation. In the future, it is my hope that Uganda’s human rights will be improving in the years and decades to come, with the determination, aid, and influence of other countries, apolitical outside agencies, as well as Ugandans learning to help each other. By doing so, people can make the world a better place, not just for today, but rather for the future, and proactively forever. In my future, there will always be a watchful, hopeful eye on Uganda. References: 1.) Cooper, S., Ssebunnya, J., Kigozi, F., Lund, C., & Flisher, A. (2010). Viewing Uganda’s mental health system through a human rights lens. International Review Of Psychiatry, 22(6), 578-588. 2.) Kafumbe, A. (2010). Women’s Rights to Property in Marriage, Divorce, and Widowhood in Uganda: The Problematic Aspects. Human Rights Review, 11(2), 199-221. 3.) Miller C. J., John, M. Ed. (2008). â€Å"Uganda.† New Encyclopedia of Africa. Detroit: Charles Scribner’s Sons. 119-127. 4.) Bernstein, J., & Okello, M. (2007). To Be or Not To Be: Urban Refugees in Kampala. Refuge, 24(1), 46-56. 5.) Ewins, L. (2011). â€Å"Gross Violation†: Why Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act threatens its trade benefits with the United States. Boston College International & Comparative Law Review, 34(1), 147-171. 6.) Hollander, M. (2009). Gay Rights in Uganda: Seeking to Overturn Uganda’s Anti-Sodomy Laws. Virginia Journal Of International Law, 50(1), 219-266. 7.) M ujuzi, J. (2011). Protecting Children From Those Who Are Supposed To Protect Them! The Uganda Human Rights Commission And Children’s Right To Freedom From Torture. Journal Of Third World Studies, 28(1), 155-168. 8.) Clark-Kazak, C. R. (2010). The politics of protection: aid, human rights discourse, and power relations in Kyaka II settlement, Uganda. Disasters, 34(1), 55-70 9.) Emusu, D., Ivankova, N., Jolly, P., Kirby, R., Foushee, H., Wabwire-Mangen, F., & †¦ Ehiri, J. (2009). Experience of sexual violence among women in HIV discordant unions after voluntary HIV counselling and testing: a qualitative critical incident study in Uganda. AIDS Care, 21(11), 1363-1370 10.) Mills, S. (Producer) (2011). The world’s worst place to be gay? [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=168gaNmaIFo 11.) Allyson, S. (Producer) (2007). Hope for Uganda [Web] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IGKnQRPF-I 12.) Trochim, William. â€Å"Unobstrusive Measures.† Research Methods: Knowledgable Base. (2006): 1. Web. 4 Apr. 2012. . 13.) Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, section 15. (Constitution Act, April 17th 1985.)

Pasadena Foursquare Church Kitchen Renovation Project Essay

1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose of Risk Management 1.1.1 Knowing and Controlling Risks to Project Assets The process of Risk Management instituted tothe Project with knowledge and control over the risk position of the project. Not all identified risks can be removed. The likelihood of surpassing requirements can be traded off against the risk of surpassing the budget constraints. Risk Management is a process used to balance the project risk position across all project resource areas, controlling the distribution and magnitude of the identified risks against the cost constraints while obtaining the best possible confidence in achieving high project performance return. 1.2 Risk Management is a Project Team Effort 1.2.1 Integral Part of Project Implementation It is intended that Risk Management be an essential element in the Project Manager’s tool kit. This involves considering risk at the very beginning of the project conceptualization. The key features of risk management (RM) activity within the project are: 1.Managed risks are essential elements of the project management control process 2.Cognizant personnel accept the time imposed to develop and maintain the risk list 3.Project Management Team plans the effort and the Project Manager takes ownership of the plan 4.Risk status reports are integral to the project review process 5.Effective metrics are identified and delivered per the plan to all stakeholders These activities require require commitment from the project manager, and the Risk Representative. 1.2.2 A Team Effort Risk Management is a team effort. The project Risk Representative is the coordinator of the risk management activity. All members of the project team have important roles in identifying, assessing, and tracking risk, and in identifying the possible approaches to dealing with risks that are  necessary for the project to make good risk decisions. Risk decisions are supported by analyses and recommendations from the project team, but are ultimately made by the Project Manager in the same manner as all cost, schedule and performance impact decisions are made. 1.2.3 Integrated Risk View The Risk List developed and managed through the RM Process is a composite of the risks being managed by all elements of the project. It includes in one place the management view for risks from independent assessments, reviews, QA inspections, principles and policy, risk reviews, and residual risks from all project actions. Only in this way can it be managed as a comprehensive assessment of the liens on all project resource reserves, which allows optimized decisions to use these reserves to mitigate risks. 2. OBJECTIVES 2.1 Objectives of Risk Management The overall objective of Risk Management is to identify and assess the risks to achieving project success, and to balance the mitigation of these risks (and hence the additional cost) against the acceptance and control of these risks (and hence a possible higher degree of project performance objectives). To further these objectives, the Project Management process involves identifying risks to the success the project, understanding the nature of these risks, individually and in total, and acting to control their impact on the success of the project. 3. RISK MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW 3.1 Definitions 3.1.1Risk Risk is defined as: The combination of the likelihood of occurrence of an undesirable event and the consequence of the occurrence. This combination results in a risk severity, which is:  A measure of the risk magnitude. The higher risks dictate greater attention and urgency for action to mitigate. Risk severity is also influenced by the urgency of applying effective mitigations. Primary Risk is: A risk which rates high on the severity scale – generally high levels of  likelihood and consequence A specific risk to a project, identified in this process as a risk item, has four components, namely the undesirable event the likelihood of occurrence the severity of the consequences of the occurrence the timeframe in which mitigation decisions are required Residual Risk is: An accepted performance or safety risk, which remains after all possible or practical measures have been taken to reduce the severity. The term is especially used in identifying the risk remaining from all discrepancies dispositioned as â€Å"Use As Is† or â€Å"Repair† and accepted single failure points, or other decisions made which leave less than complete closure. The project risk position is defined as: The aggregate of the assessments of the individual risk items for the project, including the decisions made to mitigate, accept and control, or take additional risk. It is a goal that this risk position be measurable relative to project reserves. 3.1.2Risk Management In this context, risk management is defined as: An organized means of planning the risk management activity (Planning), identifying and measuring risks relevant to the Project (Identification and Assessment), identifying, selecting and implementing measures for controlling these risks so as to control the project risk position (Decision-Making), and tracking the decisions made and the evolving risk status (Tracking). Project reserves can be identified in different ways and are managed by a number of effective tools and methods. The Risk Management methodology looks at two aspects of the Project risk position – the risk to resource reserves and the measure of the project success criteria. The Risk Management methodology is based on the project risk position, which is the understanding of the â€Å"knowable† risk, while acknowledging that there are inherent â€Å"unknown† risk possibilities in any project, and must be acknowledged when judging adequacy of the reserves. 3.1.3 Significant Risk A significant risk is a risk considered by the Project Manager to require  focused attention by the Project Management Team on a regular basis. This group is largely but not necessarily identically the group of yellow and red risks in the 5X5 risk matrix, although some green risks may be included if their mitigation time frame is near-term. These are also generally the risks which are reported at the regular monthly status reviews. The Significant Risk List (SRL) is the subset of all the project isks which are significant risks. Not all risks in the project risk are significant risks, but all risks should be rated according to the 5X5 matrix 3.2 Consequence Categories of Risk Risk consequences are assessed against three fundamental categories – called consequence categories 1.The threat to achieving schedule 2.The threat to achieving Scope or Project Performance Success Criteria 3. The threat to the project budget These categories may be expanded or added-to – for instance, impact on facilities, or church activities ..etc. 3.3 The 5X5 Matrix This project has adapted the 5X5 Risk Matrix, which defines the criteria for assessing risk likelihood and consequence for both project and implementation risk. Primary risks are generally considered to be those in the red zone of the 5X5 matrix. 3.4 The Elements of the Risk Management Process The Activities of the Risk Management Process for this project are described as: 1.Identifying and characterizing risks 2.Prioritizing or ranking risks 3.Developing potential project responses to risks 4.Making decisions utilizing existing resources to restructure the program to reduce the potential effect of the risks 5.Tracking the evolving risk exposure and iterating the above actions as needed 6.Developing a plan for the above activities throughout the project life-cycle Each element of the Risk Management process requires interactions among the project team, and the process provides methodology and tools to enable effective communication and documentation. The Figure Below shows a process flow for the activity of risk management in the process. 3.5 Risk Management in the Project Life-Cycle The figure above shows the periods of activity, and generally the times of inputs/outputs of the Risk Management Process, within the project life-cycle. Each Risk Management element extends through the entire life-cycle, and the majority of effort shifts from planning through identification and assessment, decision making, to tracking as the project risk position changes and evolves. While the risk management process is serial, there is significant iteration and updating as the project progresses and matures and thus the identified risks change, are realized or retired, and new risks arise. As risk matures, probability of occurrence and/or impact will change. Risks can reduce to the level of insignificance, where they are retired, or can increase to point of occurrence, or realization. Also, new risks can and will be identified throughout the project life-cycle. The Risk Management process considers and responds to all of these outcomes by returning to earlier activities for reconsideration and update. The project’s Risk Management process can change significantly for operations, since more of the risk attention will be associated with human factors, and an update to the RM Plan may be needed. 4. THE RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS IN PLANNING 4.1 Understanding Risk in the Planning/ Proposal Phase The Project Management Team works to define the requirements and time frames of the project. The pre-project activity involves concept defininition and exploratation with decisions made in the Project team as to the scope and budget with which the â€Å"Plan & Design† Stage Begins. In the Plan & Design Stage Each Project Task is analyzed by the Project Team and â€Å"Make Or Buy† Decisions are Madke based on the availibillity of Qualified Volunteers in the church community. Buy Decisions are made for each outstanding activity. Rough Designs are formulated by the project team calling on Subject Matter Experts as required. Rough Order of Magnitude estimations are made on the cost of each task. RFPs are released to potential contract or volunteer candidates. Proposals are received and Reviewed by the Project Team. The Designs are finalized, Schedules and budgets made and the Work Break down sturcture and Gant Charts are updated with the project â€Å"Base Line† is  established. It is at this point that the Risk List is established by the Project Team, Pulling inforomation from contractors, Subject Matter Experts and the Experience and judgement of the Project Team. The Risk List can then be used to identify the most attractive of a number of options in contractor selection, Design Changes, Scope Schedule, Buget Needs. In addition to performance and needed resources, risk should be a major consideration in justifying the chosen options. This requires specific identification of the apparent risks in each option – mitigating them if possible in the process of maturing each option The relative weights of the risks combine with the weights of the performance and resource assessments in selecting the option to go forward. Fig 4-1 Accounting for Risk in Project Formulation 4.2 Using Risk in Establishing Reserves In establishing the budget reserves for the project to be confirmed at the â€Å"Permitting† Phase, risks are used to define the risk exposure of the budget. Rrisks that are identified in the Planning Phase can be assessed for the potential cost, should they occur. This requires quantification of the risk consequence (in $) and the risk likelihood. 4.5The Preliminary Risk Management Plan At the end if Planning Phase, Preliminary RM Plan is drafted. The plan will consist of all of the Risks associated with the poject and a specific plan for controlling Each SRL risk identified 5. RISK MANAGEMENT IN IMPLEMENTATION 5.1 Risk Management Planning The SRL will be reviewed and updated weekly by the Project Management Team. Montly Status will be reported to all of the stakeholders. New Risks will probably imerge as the project progresses. Oportunity will be made to the Project Management Team Includint the Projec QA representative to add new risks the project Risk List. 5.1.1 Risk Mitigations The following subjects are considered when documenting Risk Mitigations. a)Map the project success criteria and project objectives into an overall  approach to risk Reflecting the prioritization of performance of project objectives and constraints, and weights the emphasis on the following: avoiding risk, by minimizing risk through redesign, alternative developments, parallel developments, large margins, additional equipment to buffer constrained schedules, etc.; accepting risk, by developing contingency plans and margin management criteria for exercising those plans, and/or allowing descope/ reduction in Project Performance return to trade against cost, schedule, and other resources; or taking risk, by finding and incorporating high potential performance/cost/schedule benefits with acceptable additional risk to reserves or margins. . 5.2 Risk Identification and Assessment 5.2.1 Identification and Assessment Requirements The requirements in identification and assessment are to identify the risk items, to describe them sufficiently to allow assessment and decision-making, to identify practical mitigation approaches, and to develop the Significant Risk List (SRL), which is a list of the identified risks to the project and their decision-enabling data 5.2.2 Risk Description Effective risk descriptions identify the root source of the risk concern (the Risk Condition), the event that is feared (Risk Event), and the risk Consequence to the project. The format is generally: â€Å"Because of (the condition giving risk to the risk), it is possible that (such and such event) will occur, with the consequence that (describe the impact – e.g. delivery â€Å"n† weeks late, loss of â€Å"xyz† performance capability, need to build another component, etc.)† Another, less favored, descriptive format sometimes used is: â€Å"If (such and such an event) occurs due to (the condition that †¦), then (describe the impact†¦)† Sometimes there will be further words needed to describe the uncertainty, explain why the condition is present, and what other factors are need to be considered and why. 5.2.3 Inputs When the pre-formulation or early formulation phase feasibility demonstration and scope definition results have been approved, the required inputs for Risk Identification can be assembled. The information needed for identifying and assessing risk include at least preliminary versions of: Requirements and Project Success Criteria Project Management Plan Project Requirements Risk Management Plan Staffing Plan/ key personnel Schedule/ Schedule drivers Budget/ budget drivers 5.2.4 Identifying Risk Items 5.2.4.1 Risk Identification Methodology The first step in developing the risk list is generally a brain-storming activity where potential risk items are identified by the key project personnel. These risks are characterized by two parameters – the likelihood of an adverse event and the consequences of that event. Whenever a potential risk is submitted for consideration, it is accompanied by estimates of these two parameters. The risks are identified by the â€Å"experts† in the specific subject of the risk item – that is, the key personnel submit candidate risks in their project areas of expertise. Risks may be suggested in areas outside their expertise, but they should be then presented to the expert in that area for concurrence. As these risk items are characterized, other data are needed which are described below. The mechanism for obtaining these submissions will vary. The brain-storming may occur as a group, or by e-mail, or separately in one-to-one discussions. The submissions should be â€Å"standardized† to remove very disparate interpretations of the rules before the first group consideration takes place. The following characteristics should be observed in the process. The candidate risks submitted by the team should be inclusive – if the item might be a risk, input it. The Project Manager will work with the submitter to delete inappropriate risks or modify the assessment as needed. They should have a common basis for interpretations. This is accomplished by the Project Manager iterating with the specific group members The Project Manager may use team discussion to assess the risk list, and remove differences of understanding. 5.2.4.2 Resources for Identifying Potential Risks a)External Resources Risks to the project may be identified through experiences of other projects, or the Construction industry in general b)Internal Resources Sources and resources available within Church Comunity or within the project management team which are used to develop inputs to the Risk Identification and Assessment element include: Expert Judgment The RM risk identification and assessment process relies heavily on the expert judgment of the project implementers and their peers Schedule, WBS, Work Agreement Assessments One can systematically examine the planned work and identify uncertainties to which the project has high sensitivity, which can result in risk items to be assessed. Technical, and Design Organization Assessments Functional Block Diagrams, Requirements Flow-Down, Fault Trees, etc. are all systematic organizations of the planned product which can be examined comprehensively for risk items. Review Board Reports Review Board reports include recommendations and issues, as well as RFAs. Review Board can also consist of members or contracting companies. Residual Risk Residual risks, which are identified in many activities within the project as unavoidable risk remaining after all reasonable actions have been taken, should be carried in the risk data base. They should be considered for inclusions in the SRL if applicable, such that they would be reported at monthly and quarterly management reviews as accepted risk. Early in the project design activity, decisions such as allowing selected single failure points or marginal design against worst case possibilities may be made with due consideration of the risk taken. These considerations should be retained in the residual risk descriptions and rationales. 5.2.4.3 Categories of Risk Categorization can be used to allow the aggregation of subsets of risks, and so provide insight into major risk areas in the project. Risk Source Categories A useful set of risk source categories identifies areas of the project where potential risk might reside – for example performance, cost, Or schedule, constraints within which the project must work, to be considered. Other risk source categorizations which might provide insight include: The project systems or subsystem area in which the risk is manifested, The WBS element primarily involved,  Technology areas (if breaking technolgy is used with appliances etc..) Risk Source Categorization is optional. 5.2.4.4 Risk Status Risk status is the process for configuration management of the risks, and also an indicator to external reviewers of the projects plans to deal with each risk.. For Risks that have been dispositioned, there are status classifications definitions are shown in the table below. –RESEARCH – A research category is assigned when more knowledge is required about the risk or the mitigation options. The objective is to move to mitigate, watch, or accept as soon as possible –ACCEPT – A risk is accepted if there are no practical mitigations identified. Depending on the severity of the risk, it may be needed to justify acceptance to the CMC as a Primary Risk. The risk is tracked for changes as the project matures –MITIGATE – A risk is in the mitigate category if there are funded actions under way to reduce the risk. This may have future decision milestones, or milestones where the mitigation risk reductions may be claimed -WATCH – A risk in the watch category has known future points of change, and requires tracking and possible future reassessments. Candidate mitigation options may be carried, and the risk may be re-categorized as the project evolves. 5.2.5 Risk Item Descriptors The draft SRL should list each identified risk item, and for each item should  include as a minimum: Description of the adverse event (Condition, event, consequence) Context of the Risk (If warranted) Categorization in the categories chosen Implementation Risk Assessment -Consequence -Likelihood of occurrence Project Risk Assessment -Consequence -Likelihood of occurrence (If quantified assessment is used) -Level of impact on resources (technical, cost and schedule) -WBS elements primarily affected -Task/ schedule elements primarily affected Mitigation Options – Description of potential mitigation for consideration – Costs of identified mitigation options Timeframe – Urgency of decisions for mitigation effectiveness Time window of potential occurrence – if applicable Resulting reductions in risk likelihood and impact if mitigation option is implemented Project personnel who are identifying risk items will record as much of this as is available at the time a risk is input to the project. Recording the likelihood and consequence descriptors require that the thought processes of risk assessment (described below) be gone through, and in general a first cut at each can be entered with the other data. Risk Description Data Timeframe Implementation (Schedule Or Cost) Risk Project Scope Risk Mitigation Data Risk No. Title Description Impact Near-term, mid-term, or far-term ImplementationConsequence (Cost to recover) Likelihood (implementation) Risk Cost Project Consequence (loss of performance) Likelihood (Project) Mitigation Options Mit. Cost Risk Reduction Figure 5‑ Sample Risk Identification and Assessment Data Sheet Risk Number:An ID number which can be used to find data in a data base. The number can be indexed to indicate updates Title:A short reference for reports, etc.  Description:Text describing the condition or root cause, the feared event, and the consequence. (additional columns can be added here to denote classification schemes to be used. Some risk managers add a time-frame classification to highlight near-term risks from long-term risks. Impact:Text that describes the change to the project due to the event described above. For implementation impact, the description might indicate what would be necessary to recover. For a Project risk, the description might indicate the reduction in project capability to return Project results. Implementation Consequence: A measure against the 5X5 assessment criteria (qualitative) or in resources expenditures (e.g. $) as a result of the impact described to get back on track. Implementation Likelihood: A measure against the 5X5 assessment criteria (qualitative) or in percent (quantitative) of the described consequence being realized. Risk Cost:For quantitative assessment, the product of the consequence in resource measure and the probability (e.g. $) Project Consequence: A measure against the 5X5 assessment criteria of the degradation of Project return due to the event occurring. Project Likelihood: A measure against the 5X5 assessment  criteria (qualitative) or in percent (quantitative) of the described consequence being realized. Mitigation Options:A description of one (or more) possible approaches to mitigating the risk Mitigation Cost:An estimate of the cost in project resources to implement the mitigation Risk Reduction:A description of the effect of the mitigation on the original risk assessments 5.2.6 Risk Item Assessment 5.2.6.1 Qualitative Assessment Qualitative Risk Assessment is the assignment of adjective ratings to the degree of significance of either likelihood or consequence of occurrence. Criteria like â€Å"High, Medium, and Low† are generally used. Scales can have fewer gradations (i.e. high and low) or more (e.g. very high, high, significant, moderate, and low). Definition of these levels is essential, and some iteration and discussion will be needed before the team understands a common distinction between assessed levels. Consequence of Occurrence LevelProject Risk Level Definitions Very HighProject failure HighSignificant reduction in project return ModerateModerate reduction in project return LowSmall reduction in project return Very LowMinimal (or no) impact to project LevelImplementation Risk Level Definition Very HighOverrun budget and contingency, cannot meet schedule with current resources HighConsume all contingency, budget or schedule ModerateSignificant reduction in contingency or schedule slack LowSmall reduction in contingency or schedule slack Very LowMinimal reduction in contingency or schedule slack The advantage of this qualitative approach is that, while subjective, the project team can quickly get in tune with the distinction between levels by working through a number of risks together, and can then assess their own risks fairly consistently. The disadvantage is that the system does not straightforwardly allow â€Å"adding-up† or otherwise aggregating the total risk. Rather, a risk distribution is used to display the project risk position,  as will be seen below.

Comment of the way Blake uses imagery in Songs of Innocence andSongs of Experience Essay

Comment of the way Blake uses imagery in Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience to give different perspectives on the human condition. Blake portrays very different views on the human condition in Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience by using imagery. He uses different sorts of imagery to build a picture in the readers mind. Blake may intend to use language to associate words to a larger picture, perhaps by using connotations. This method adds a lot of depth and meaning to the poem. An example of this can be found in ‘LONDON’. The use of the word ‘blackning’ may appear simple and straighforward, yet Blake may of intended this word to have several meanings. Black is a sinister colour which may be associated with evil, as well as suggesting Londons filth. This foreboding connotation would complement the poems tone and imply rather pessimistic views on the human condition. Blake often uses bold and striking descriptions, which appeal to the readers imaginations and often helps them relate to the poems setting, characters, or overall meaning on a more personal level. In ‘Nurse’s Song’, Blake builds an idealised setting in the readers mind. This gives a happy and postive view on life, by describing a setting typical of dreams, or fairy stories in which evil is non-existent. This is a huge contrast from the descriptive language used in poems from Songs of Experience. Here, stronger and perhaps more realistic and brutal images are portrayed. For example, in ‘The Tyger’, the first two lines set a very specific scene. ‘Forests of the night’ is a fairly simple yet strikingly threatening line. A dark forest is the place the reader would least like to be, especially accompanied by a tiger. The use of alliteration, ‘burning bright’ emphasises the harsh and strong ‘b’ sound, and helps set the scene. Perhaps this use of the word burning is supposed to put the idea of hell into the readers mind. The physical and mechanical language used later on is extremely vivid, and one cannot help associating this with the industrial revolution, which would of been occuring at the time Blake wrote his poems.

Water Pollution. Dangers and Causes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Water Pollution. Dangers and Causes - Essay Example Most of the water on the surface of the earth is sea water which is not usable for most of water’s essential purposes, including drinking. Fresh water is the most essential form of water for survival of life. The events of past years have raised the concern over the perennial availability of fresh water and are slowly converting fresh water into a commodity rather than an available for all resource. Preservation of the quality and availability of fresh water has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges in the 21st century. This concern is very high for third world countries where there is an alarmingly high dearth of drinkable water, rendering scores of people to die due to diseases emanating from poisonous water. Pressures on water resources: The increasing stress on water resources is from several sources and can take various forms. The impact of these pressures can vary and contribute to the ever increasing problem of easily available fresh water. Several fa ctors contribute to increasing the stress on water resources. The growth of urban metropolises and changing lifestyles impacts the amount and pattern of water consumption. From using fresh water solely for necessary purposes, consumption patterns have changed to lavish and unessential patterns including embellishment of hotels, malls, etc. Increased industrial activity with respect to the use of water has increased the pressure on water resources. ... The excessive industrial waste has significantly hampered the natural cleansing process, leaving previously fresh water, polluted and not useful for the purposes it was meant for. Human waste contributes significantly to the problem also. Every day, approximately 2 million tons of human waste are disposed in water courses (UN Water). The dilemma of developing countries is alarmingly bad, approximately 70 percent of all industrial waste is dumped into waters, leading to the pollution of usable water supply. Dangers of water pollution: All water pollutants are dangerous to humans as well as lesser species. Some of the key ingredients of the most prevalent pollutants, including industrial waste, include sodium, which is implicated in cardiovascular diseases; nitrates are guilty of causing blood disorders, whereas mercury and lead can cause nervous disorders. DDT, which is found in some forms of industrial waste, is toxic and can not only impact living humans but can also affect chromoso mes. Another dangerous toxic ingredient found in industrial wastes, PCBs, is known to cause liver and nerve damage, skin eruptions, vomiting, fever, diarrhea and significant fetal abnormalities (Geol). The impact of pollution from sewage and human wastes is also lethal. Dysentery, salmonellosis and hepatitis are some of the diseases transmitted by sewage in drinking and bathing water. This problem is extremely frequent in developing and less developing countries where there is no clear mechanism to separate fresh and drinkable water from polluted water (Tripathi and Pandey). Causes of water pollution: The sources of water pollution can be divided into point sources and nonpoint sources. Point sources refer to factories, wastewater treatment facilities, septic systems, and other

The importance of derived demand in B2B marketing Essay

The importance of derived demand in B2B marketing - Essay Example In terms of technology, the company has established the need of aligning the company with emerging technologies. Additionally, the company considers Loyalty of each client paramount and in doing this, looks for ways how to be loyal to customers. The report explores much on marketing strategies that helps organization to concentrate on the greatest opportunities to increase their earnings and attain a sustainable competitive advantage. Many companies adopt the need of having marketing strategies in running their businesses centered on shopper, consumer and retailer need. Due to stiff competition, the company has taken a lot of time to evaluate opportunities that would enhance success. The purpose of this has been to evaluate companies of the same nature and assemble them to offset the marketing program. The company has established that it is from consumer’s needs that their productivity is informed and achieves a notable growth. Introduction Business to Business popularly known as B2B is a commercial transaction that occurs between two businesses as in the example of a manufacturer and a wholesaler (Block & Block, 2005) . The term was coined with the main purpose being to differentiate between electronic communication that was taking place between businesses and consumers. The term has been used mostly to describe the business transactions that take place between two businesses in an online scenario. Therefore, B2B marketing mostly involves sending and receiving mails plus other activities that take place in the online environment. This report seeks to explore the concept of derived demand and B2B marketing. Objectives The main objectives of this paper are to find out how a company (SolidWorks in this case) that is involved in B2B marketing: 1. Estimates derived demands 2. Evaluates business segmentation opportunities 3. Develops a new channel strategy that is aligned to one business segment About SolidWorks SolidWorks is a software engineering (CAD softw ares) which mostly sold to mechanical engineers (Brennan, 2011). The company engages so much in marketing activities by use of links that lead people to their site where they have advertised their products. Derived Demand and B2B marketing Derived demand in marketing term can be defined as the requirement that comes up as a result of purchasing another product. This mostly occurs in cases where the consumer has bought the product with the main purpose being to use it for purposes of production (Bruhn, 2003). The main reason for this is that the purchase of these products is normally due to desire to have their final products. In the case of the software manufacturing company Solidworks, there are a number of ways in which it determines the derived demand in which it decides to respond. All the demand in B2B chain are as result demands that are made somewhere by the consumer. SolidWorks being a software development company relies on engineers who want to design either bridges, houses or other building designs that the consumer has demanded for (Christopher & Ballantyne, 2002). However, the value chain is still incomplete because the consumer sought the services of the mechanical engineer and the engineer sought the service of a software developer who in turn sought the service of the person who developed the programming language. The position that the company is in the chain of value addition determines the contact that it has with the consumer (Bernadson & Toole, 2007). The

3 D optimization Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

3 D optimization - Research Paper Example Problems in 3-D dynamics are usually tackled using a combination of different fundamental approaches. These approaches include experimental fluid dynamics, theoretical fluid dynamics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). CFD is what has opened the ‘three approach’ in the field of aerodynamics. CFD has had a big role to play in the analysis of aerodynamic configurations so as to aid the design process. The availability of high performance computing platforms have also aided in the development of aerodynamics (Reuther, Alonso & Jameson 1996). Both the mesh morpher algorithm and the direct search algorithm are gradient based optimization techniques. When using these designs in a 3D element optimization airfoil, the control function is parameterized with some set of design variables and a suitable cost function is either minimized or maximized. In order to show the dependence between the cost function and control function governing equations are introduced. The sensitivity derivatives of the cost function in retrospect to design variables are introduced in order to get a direction of improvement. The convergence to a minimum or maximum is achieved when the procedure is repeated. A fast and accurate way of calculating the necessary gradient information is imperative in developing a design that is effective and this is often the most time consuming part in the design algorithm. Therefore, this should be put into consideration when a very large number of design variables as in the case of the three dimensional wing shape desi gn are concerned. The plan of this research strategy is to produce 3D multi-element airfoil design and optimization mechanism that can adapt a model (3D airfoil) delivering enhanced aerodynamic performance in terms of maximizing lift to drag ratio under landing and takeoff flight situation (Reuther, Alonso & Jameson 1996). Processing the multi-element

Collapse of the Traditional Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Collapse of the Traditional Family - Essay Example The first thing that immediately occurs to mind, the number one culprit, is of course the exploding divroce rates, in the Western societies as well as in many developing nations. Divorce rates have been on the rise for decades now, but they seem to be shoooting up to epidemic proportions with each passing day. The very institution of marriage which lies at the root of family and home is under assault. Out-of-wedlock births too are drastically rising. Unmarried cohabitation is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon in contemoporary society. The sporadic spread of same-gender marriages are another aspect of the problem. So, one way or other, it is the fact that more and more people are losing their faith in the sanctity of marriage between man and woman which is ultimately threatening the very viability of our society. In a more immediate sense, though, this is adversely affecting the lives of millions of innocent children, causing grave irreparable damage to their delicate sensibi lities at a very tender age. No wonder then that so many of our national leaders are seriously concerned about the need for fortifying the edifice of family, in their bid to build a more coherent and sensible society. A resurgence of early and almost universal marriage, as it happened in the postwar periods of 1950s and 1960s, is bound to revitalize our society. But what is so different between our own times and just a couple of decades ago Why cannot such a thing cannot happen today One most conspicuous difference is the tremendously greater proportion of full-time working women in today's world as compared to the 50's. This is of coure a very positive change. But could not the absence of the mother from the household for the better part of the day be taking its toll on the upbringing and well-being of the children Not necessarily, since it has its own advantages. A confident and independent mother can serve as a better role model for children of both sexes, and not just the girls. Obviously, with both dad and mom working, there would be two incomes instead of one, and this translates to better financial security for children. Also, in a way, with relatively less time available to spend with children, the parents would tend to treasure this time even more than if time weren't such a constraint. It is a universal truth in any relationship, whether between lovers or between parents and children, that distance brings people closer, making them grow fonder of each other. But only to a certain extent though, a little more distance and it can alienate people, to which point we will come shortly. Now though there may be several practical advantages to argue in favor of working women, in relation to their families, the cohesive presence of a full-time mother acting as the central force in holding together the home, with her love and mystique - is simply irreplaceable. It is becoming an increasingly rare sight these days, and evokes a kind of idyllic nostalgia in many of us. But still, if certain things have to be gained, certain other things have to be

Price Elasticity of Demand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Price Elasticity of Demand - Essay Example Consequently there would be a decrease in demand for soybean, thereby a reduction in the demand for soybean. As soybean is a substitute for corns, people would prefer the corns over the soybeans because of its use as an alternative energy source. In respect of the facts at hand when the farmers would look at the fact that there is an increased demand for corn by way of the demand curve shifting to the right and the fact that there has been a market in equilibrium because of the fact that there has been an increase in demand thereby the quantity demanded is more than then the quantity supplied and therefore there is a disparity between the two. Furthermore due to the fact that the ram material being used is the same it would not take much time to switch to produce corns instead of soybeans. Therefore the incentive of the increased price would allow certain producers to switch to produce corns thereby increasing the quantity supplied meeting the level where the quantity demanded is equ al to the quantity supplied thereby reaching new market equilibrium. The price of corn oil because of the increase in demand and the fact there has been a shortage in the quantity that is being supplied thereby creating disparity between the quantity demanded and the quantity supplied.

Bilateral Loans Agreement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Bilateral Loans Agreement - Essay Example It should be noted that in loans transactions, the terms and conditions must be put in writing for it to be enforceable, including the duration of the, the securities required and the amount of interest which should be imposed on top to the principal amount of the loan. The fact that the contract is unvaried at the time it is entered into by the parties, it shall remain unvaried until otherwise amended by the parties1. The loan contract may include provisions for securities such as mortgage and negative pledges. These two types of securities differ in the sense that mortgage requires that a title to specific properties of the client be given as collateral of the loan while negative securities require no bodily pledging of properties but rather a prohibition on the part of the client not to use any property thereon as securities for other obligations. In other words, it is â€Å"a promise between the borrower and the lender that the borrower will not encumber its property, including present and future property, to secure the loan of another creditor which would give the subsequent creditor priority†.2 There are many forms of restrictions available against the properties of the clients but these should be used with caution so as not to restrict the business transactions of the client. In drafting restriction clauses, due care should be taken not to confer blanket restrictions which will have an effect of freezing the total assets of the client. For instance, a blanket restrict on the manufacturing company may have the effect of prohibiting the client for selling its assets. As the manufactured goods are part of the assets of the client, a blank restriction would in effect prohibit the client from selling its manufactured goods.

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 11

Journal - Essay Example This trend makes people unenthusiastic to volunteer for testing. The fundamental strategy in resolving this problem is closely associated with the application of strategic ways of wooing the masses to appreciate this significant service. This can be done through encouragement and provision of information on the benefits attributed to HIV counselling and testing. In addition, information should be conveyed to curb the tendency of discrimination against the HIV victims2. The home based approach (HMT), enhances visitation of people by health workers at their homes for counselling and testing. This is done regardless of the group’s perceived HIV risk. The home based approach is perceived to be the widespread tool for counselling and testing HIV. This approach has received overwhelming support from the international players in a bid to prevent and cure HIV. This study focuses on the acceptability of HBT particularly the most prevalent Sub-Saharan Africa region3. In addition, this study examines the factors associated with the uptake of HBT. The researchers searched numerous databases to identify suitable peer-reviewed studies from Africa, which where published amid January 2000 and September 2012. The research included in-depth study of materials that prescribed accepting HIV testing provided through home based HIV test. Diverse types of studies were done. They include randomized controlled trials, observational cohort studies and cross sectional surveys. The magnitude of the information collected by the various methods was attributed to the pooling together of data for easy calculation, of the overall proportion of the people who accepted HIV testing through Home based test. 524, 867 people formed the sample population. They were drawn from five African countries. This study revealed that the ratio of people who accepted HBT ranged from 58% to 99%. It is worth noting that, the

DEMONSTRATION OF A CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING & AWARENESS OF PROJECT Essay

DEMONSTRATION OF A CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING & AWARENESS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT ISSUES - Essay Example At present, it is quite difficult to find a project, in progress without Project Management, as it can be very catastrophic at the end with huge losses of time, money and reputation. Even the working environment is in complete disarray, with everyone being confused over the sequencing of the task. We all know that the road to success is not one without challenges; and there are factors of Project Management that, if not fulfilled properly, can cause hindrances and thus, failure of the project. Following are such factors along with their courses of action in a particular framework. Information is the most vital resource for the completion of a successful project. It is mainly concerned with detailed information about the required standards of the final product, the time given for its completion, and the budget available for the task. Information regarding the nature of every aspect of the project is very important for the correct choice of work force hired for that particular job, but still keeping budget constraints in mind. In the same way, you should have knowledge of places where you can extract the maximum out of the initially set budget when looking for the required equipment for the project. Lack of information can lead to a complete disaster of the project. ... For example, if you do not have information regarding the aim of the final product, it is impossible to manufacture a product that perfectly meets its purpose. Lack of information regarding the different constraints and details of the nature of the product can lead to a bad choice of human and material resources along with defective quality management. All these problems combined will create a product nowhere near the required one. Let us keep the BSI (2006): 6079-4 framework in consideration and go through it systematically with inadequate information. First, the feasibility of a project cannot be deduced correctly if you do not know the detailed nature of the product. Then, a slight change in the outline design of the project will start a chain of events disrupting the scheme and detailed designs too. This obviously causes defects in engineering and construction works and thus the desired product is not manufactured. (Structured PM and CW) Example: Figure 1: The Eden Project in Cornwall. "Building" (Rawlinson, 2006) The Eden Project is a recreational place in Cornwall now in its fourth phase of construction. It has been a success until now as it is a huge tourist attraction and an exceptional construction project being well within budget and time constraints. In fact, it was actually a milestone, as fine points from this project, were used in the development of the 'DLivering Success', a popular system that analyses the status of a project. The Eden Project is a huge success as the information fed into its framework was appropriate and complete. It had no missing feature either in its planning, sequencing or in designing. That is why it has a faultless design and is quite within the range of the available time and money. So now, we can see

Adrenaline rush Essay Example for Free

Adrenaline rush Essay This week was so stressful. For the entire whole week, I was assigned to track the advertising history of the company’s sports drink client. I ran through hundreds of video tapes of the sport drink’s advertisement in the span of 5 years, noting each and every aspect in the ideals in their communication style. I was assessing the visual, the content and the semiotics of the whole thing. What’s worse about it is that I have to review the entire set of tapes in the office. I would have liked it watching at home but I have to be confined in the workplace. But knowing it was a job; I accepted the challenge and readied myself for hours and hours of video tapes. But I learned another valuable idea in the media industry concerning contents of the advertising. In a way, it does imply that advertisements do manipulate the consumer behavior. Watching the advertisements of the sport drink, I observed how it evolved into describing the product itself into touching the health issues of the health-conscious and athletes. Like what the sport drink company wants to advertise their latest sports drink product that addresses the more health-conscious consumer, I realized that they now are conscious of the fact that people today likes to know more of the content of their product, and that is their aim in their new advertising venture. Other things I was exposed this week: learning semiotics of the print ads of the sports drink company details on how STG Media Corp. analyzes these given semiotics establishing more communication with the sports drink company developing more personal and professional relationship with the Creative Team (they invited me to one of their deliberations and I get to witness how they brain-storm ideas for the project) Week 4 (provide date) It was a week of adrenaline rush. The Creative Team finalized their output and was presented to the sport drink company. They liked it! With this the whole team was pressed for time. Everybody seemed to be really anticipating the results. I was assigned to track the statistics of how the product is doing in the market after the release of the advertisement. The company has a great way to promote the product and was successfully able to deliver the results for the company. Other thing I learned is that the media industry has many issues to deal with. Like for example, the Creative Team was perfectionists in the sense that after releasing the output in form of the print ad, they wanted to be sure that the effects of the print ad will be evident and reflected through sales. They were still anxious and worried of the end result when in fact; they already did their job by producing a print ad. I realized that many of them really are dedicated in providing the client with their money’s worth. Another thing I realized is that companies take advertisements seriously. I thought that business management theories and ideals only entails that they give importance to advertisements, but through this experience I learned that they are really committed in selling the idea to the consumer. And this generates the influence of media to the consumers. Week 5 (provide date) This week was a mix of tasks. One of the most interesting things exposed to me was the process of reviewing the Creative Team and the advertising project in general. I thought that the evaluation of the employees was done by the executives of the company alone, but at STG Media Corp. , they provide real life processes in dealing with performance issues. The company has an interesting way to evaluate its employees. There is the concept of a performance improvement plan that is drawn between the Human Resource department of the company and from the employee’s manager, in this case the Creative Team head. These reports are then presented to the employees. This draw my attention as I realize that the method of evaluating employees in this company is a non-punitive method that demonstrates how the company recognizes the issues in the Team but are willing to work with the employee and give them opportunity to improve. It was interesting to me because of notice that one particular person was not able to contribute that much in the Creative Team and was not able to contribute much ideas in the process (I was present in almost all their meetings so this is an observation that is true). The evaluation was not very good to him and as a result, the whole Creative Team talked it through the management. The executives of the company then addressed a letter to the employee and showed his performance evaluation. After which, the whole Creative Team approached and talked to him and encouraged him to be open and present his ideas. Turns out, the team member was intimidated with the other professionals he is working with and needs to feel he is welcomed in the team along with his ideas.

PPDP provides skills level mapping tool

PPDP provides skills level mapping tool OUT Come 14; Demonstrate responsibility for ones own learning through the development of a portfolioof practice and recognise when further learning is required. Evidence Doc; P1S3R32(Reflection on placement 1) One of the important learning from my 1st placement is the development of personal and professional development portfolio (PPDP). PPDP provides skills level mapping tool and planning for further skills (Wenzel et al 1998).PPDP is developed by nurses and other health care professionals in their professional career (Oermann 2002). When I started my placement, I have no idea; Why I need to develop PPDP? What is the importance of PPDP and how PPDP helps in building up personal and professional development (Trossman 1999)? Soon, I could understand the fact that PPDP are reflection of nurses skill level and provides a tool for development of professional skills (Kelly 1995). My PPDP consists of three main components; Assessment of skills including self, peers and mentors assessments, preparation of action plans for further development and reviews of achieved skills at various intervals. In developing the first part of my PPDP, I looked at essential skill clusters recommended by NMC for nurses (Semple et al 2003) and then I evaluated my current skill levels before developing my PPDP. A nurse should evaluate personal and professional skills throughout his/her professional career (Meeks et al 1995). Actually, it is a time of competition and perfection. In the environment of constant competition and improvement, the knowledge and skills required to enter nursing practice are never sufficient (Cary et al 2005). Therefore, it is recommended for nurses to improve their essential skills through development of PPDP (Cayne 1995). In the first part of my PPDP, I took assessment of my current skills through self evaluation, assessment by my mentor and by taking views of my peers and even clients views on my essential skills to become a good professional nurse. PPDP is an assessment tool for ones skills level (Lettus et al 2001). PPDP are used for continued personal and professional development of nurses (Meister et al 2002). Similarly, I could know that I was deficient in some skills like communication, addressing client, keeping confidentiality etc. By developing PPDP, I also identified that I need to develop some new skills to reach nursing professional standard. First, I thought that only my self assessment is sufficient to evaluate my current skills level. However, there was a question in my mind; Can we rely on self assessment only? The answer comes in No in a study conducted on physician whom self assessment were different than assessment done by external agencies (Davis et al 2006). Then I thought why only self assessment is not sufficient to evaluate ones own skill level. Actually, the assessment of PPDP depends upon assessors individuality (McMullin et al 2004). The angle, way of thinking and thinking approach of myself may be different than others. Secondly other observers like my peers and mentor would be more experienced than me and can reflect more perfectly on my deficiencies and weaknesses in my skills. An external assessor looks at the competencies or the extent of learning in comparison of individuals capacity of self evaluation ( Davis et al 2006). Self assessment could be wrong or weak (Forker et al 1996). Therefore self asse ssment should be counter checked by feedback from experienced people. In performing the evaluation of my skills level, I therefore used not only my self assessment but also feedback from my mentor and peers. Development of PPDP is used to enhance learning skills and abilities by keeping records of current essential skills and planning for development of future skills (Hoban 2003). In developing my PPDP, I recorded my trainings, qualifications and achievements in one compartment. Portfolios are individualised, organised, selective, ongoing and reflective (Hall et al 1996). Similarly, my portfolio would be different from others in arrangement and collection of myself information. I have started developing my PPDP in my first placement but it will continue throughout my training and later on in my professional career. The second compartment of my PPDP consists on action plans for development of my deficient skills and need for new skills. Development of action plans seemed to be not much important to me at the beginning of my placement. But later on, I could understand the value of action plans, without those, I could not be able to look at my deficient skills and could not take necessary steps to learn new skills. PPDP are also used as past reference of learning weaknesses and thus lead to avoid further errors in future (Karlowicz 2000). Similarly, I could find out where I have made mistakes in my first placement. For example, I was using real name of client in my reflection but my mentor asked me to used fictitious names for DATA protection act. Thus I could know the importance of confidentiality and decided not to disclose clients information without his/her consent. Again the development of action plans were a difficult job and only my understanding was not sufficient. Therefore, action plans were developed and agreed with my mentor in my supervisions. The third part of my PPDP consists on assessment reviews. It is the stage where achievement of new skills and improvement of current skills are evaluated and further developmental needs are identified (Tiwari et al 2003). I took my skill assessment reviews with my mentor. My mentor looked at last action plans and identified my achieved skills since my last action plan. Assessment reviews are also focused on needs to develop further skills in a PPDP (Weinstein 2002). Assessment reviews identify issues in PPDP where student fails to achieve required skill level (Moses 2000). Similarly, my mentor found out few skills which I could not achieve due to non-opportunity at the placement site. I have decided to use assessment reviews in my PPDP to enhance my existing skills to the professional level of nursing standard recommended by NMC (UKCC 1992). SUMMARY I learnt from development of PPDP that I can make assessment of my skills not only by self assessment but with the help of feedback from other staff and experienced people like my mentor. I can use action plans for development of my further development in the light of feedback received by my peers, mentor, myself assessment and clients view. I can use assessment reviews to identify achievement of new skills, improvement of current skills and planning for further developmental needs. OUT Come 12; Demonstrate an understanding of the role of others by participating in inter-professional working practice. . Evidence Doc; P1S3R25(Reflection on community team meeting) I started my first placement at community mental health services. I had no idea about community mental health teams (CMHT) when I started my placement. How CMHT works? Who co-ordinate CMHT activities? Who take first intervention and at what level? How clients are referred to CMHT or how client find help from CMHT? These were all question in my mind at the beginning of my placement. I could not have chance to understand the working pattern of CMHT if I had not got a chance of getting an experienced and skilled mentor with central role in CMHT. My mentor works as care- coordinator in CMHT. Therefore, I have an advantage to learn inter-professional practice of my mentor among multidisciplinary team (MDT). I found that community mental health services run through MDT (Caldwell et al 2003). MDT consists on healthcare professionals, medics, social workers, care and support workers and consultants (OConnor et al 2006). A mental health nurse participates in MDT (Van 2004). In the beginning I was confused with an idea that why a single team could not be able to provide mental health services in community. Actually MDT work together to provide care to mental health clients (Clarke 2004). Diversity of knowledge, experience and skills in MDT members provide advantage to treat various mental health issues at multidisciplinary levels (Ellefsen 2002). However, there should always be an individual with central role to coordinate and collate the activities of MDT into a successful pattern to provide mental health services to client. Such a role of inter-professional working practice was my mentors job role. The MDT at my placement site consists on continuing care team, early intervention team and crisis intervention team. In addition to these teams at placement sites, other community mental health teams like transcultural team, community day services, home treatment team and various volunteer and trust organizations like MIND, RETHINK, SPACE, Fitzwilliam center participate in MDT. Each community care team consists on individuals of various behaviour, knowledge, skills and experience. My team was continuing care team consisting on three members from various professions, experience and knowledge. My team interacts with other teams and health professionals during meetings and in providing support to client. I have got chance to look at interaction of my mentor with members of other MDT members. For example, in community meetings, my mentor took feedback from other team members and provided updating on care issues of mental health clients. Each case is discussed individually and any progress or deterioration is discussed and evaluated (Elkan et al 2000). My mentor plays a vital role in co-coordinating, monitoring and supervising inter-professional activities while caring for mental health clients. For example, a clients family was much worried about the client as they were going away for two day. The client was on Methadone and has taken detox treatment from Fitzwilliam center in last few months. However he has been taking over dose of a medicine named Zopliclone tab in last few weeks. There was risk of leaving him alone at home. The family has not taken an opportunity of recreation for long time. On this weekend family decided to go on beach for two days. Family was much worried about the client. There were multiple aspects in the care of client. On one hand clients safety was issue and on the other hand family worry needs to be considered. Furthermore, methadone dosage need reviewing, clients habit to take over dosage of Zopliclone tablet need to be considered. Many members of MDT seemed to be involved in one clients needs. Therefore, my mentor organized inters professional practice. He explained in meeting that he has arranged support worker to keep close contact with client. My mentor also contacted to home treatment team to visit client every day. In addition to that my mentor will be visiting to client as well. He requested to social worker to ensure family that the client will be safe. My mentor also mentioned that he has contacted Fitzwilliam center to review methadone dosage as client seemed to be fit on less dosage. In addition to that my mentor has contacted to GP t o review clients medication under recent changes. Actually, my mentor act to inter connects various healthcare professionals activities while providing care to the client. Thus I learnt that a care-coordinator carry out inter professional practice to combine individual efforts of care in the form of a united care plan for clients care, management. SUMMARY The role of my mentor as care co-coordinator in his inters professional working practice was enough observation for me to understand his role in organizing various professional activities. Inter- Professional practice co-ordinate activities between various health professionals. Inter- Professional practice combine efforts of various healthcare professionals to result in a united and single agreed care plan. Each member of MDT receives multiple feedbacks from various members of MDT and feedback may oscillate forward and backward creating a sense of care and treatment. For example if my mentor has not organized inter professional practice, home treatment team could not care the client at home, social worker could not know about the risk involved in leaving client alone and GP would not get feedback regarding reviewing Tab Zopliclone and changing it with less adaptive sleeping tablet. OUT Come 10; Recognose situation in which agreed plans of nursing careno longer appear appropriate and refer these to an accountable practitioner. Evidence Doc; P1S3R21(Reflection onfollow up of client LD) When I started placement, it looked impossible for me to review a care plan and to feel need to review a care plan. I was not sure, why a care plan change? How a care plan change? What are the circumstances which may change clients care plan? My initial understanding was review of a care plan at regular and fixed intervals. But my understanding about review of care plan changed when I made visits to client Ld in the supervision of my mentor. Care plans are agreed plans for providing nursing care to clients (Baker 2003). Care plans are prepared after risk assessments and client involvement. (Olofsson et al 2000). Care plans are reviewed after regular intervals but may change immediately followed by some major changes in risk assessments associated to a client. This happened when Client Lds risk assessment change followed by changes in circumstance and therefore care plane was reviewed. I made visits to client Ld with my mentor. History of Ld goes back to the time when her immigration status was changed. Ld belongs to an area where army revolution has caused many sad incidences. Rape of young girls was common and Ld was one of these victims. Ld could escape to UK and applied for asylum but could not prove evidence. Resultantly her asylum was refused. As a result of stress, Ld started getting obsessions of rape and got fits as well due to fear and anxiety of going back to same environment. The changes in Lds circumstance were negative as her mental health and socio-economical status was deteriorated. I got information by looking at Client Lds history that a care plan was revised first time when Client Ld started getting fits. Ambulance services were called and Ld was hospitalized. Then Crisis team revised care plan at first time. According to care plan, Ld was treated for mental illness called schizophrenia (Lysaker et al 2010). She was also provided free legal aid to appeal for her immigration status. Lds anxiety and insomnia was also considered as risk factor for Lds mental health. At the time, Lds immigration status was refused; she was living in shared accommodation. Financial resources were not very good as she was provided very little money in addition to shared accommodation. Then she started obsession and fits. It was the first time when Lds care plan was changed in response to quick changes. As anxiety and stress was considered as a cause of fits, a supported accommodation was planned. Medication for obsession (Tab Clozapine) and insomnia and anxiety (Tab Lorazepam) was prescribed by GP and was a part of care plan. A social worker and interpreter were also allocated to Ld for assistance in living and reducing anxiety and stress. This was the first time; I observed change in Lds care plan following by an abrupt change in Lds circumstances. The cause or change in Lds circumstances was negative as Lds mental issue and vulnerability was deteriorated. Therefore, a close observation with more precise care was recommended in care plan. When I looked at Lds mental health history and crisis teams intervention, I could understand that crisis team reviewd care plan after evaluating potential risk factors. My direct observation (when Lds care plan was changed at second time followed by change in her circumstances) was the time when Lds circumstance has positively improved. It was the second occasion when Lds care plan was changed following a steep change in her circumstance. It was the time when Lds asylum has been accepted and Ld started getting improved in her mental illness. She has not got fits for a long time. She has started living in supported accommodation. She has started going out in community to make friends and having coffee at coffee evening. Ld is due to Start College in September. I observed that it was positive change in circumstance as compared to negative changes when Lds mental health deteriorated in first intervention. I could conclude that why my mentor was suggesting review of Lds care plan. Actually risk assessment has changed as risk factors for Lds mental health are reduced. Need for medication has changed. Therefore, my mentor felt a review of medication and r eferred client to consultant for medication review. The same dose of Tab Lorazepam was causing more sleep than required for calmness when clients anxiety was high. Client Lds improvement in mental health status has identified her needs for social interaction and therefore an independent accommodation was recommended in reviewed care plan. As Client Lds social interaction will increase soon, she will need more financial help. As a result of success in asylum, Ld deserves more financial aid now. Therefore it was recommended in care plan to help Ld to apply for her benefits. As Ld would be getting more financial help, it was felt that Ld should be provided help in managing her budget as she will be living independently. Therefore, social worker was requested to help Ld making her monthly budget. It was also a part of reviewed care plan. Clients participation and consultation from experts are final steps in care plan review (Hunt et al 1994). Client Ld was involved in care plan review at all stages. My mentor asked her at each step of review if she was happy with changes in care plan. A final opinion was taken from consultant before finally reviewing Lds care plan. Client Ld case has provided me understanding that a care plan goes out of date when personal, mental health, financial and social issues change. The change in circumstance may be positive in case of improvement or negative in case of deterioration of mental health issues or socio-economical issues. Lds case is a perfect example of care plan review followed by positive and negative changes in circumstances. (Word limit 2750) SUMMARY Learning from client Lds case Is practical experience of stress vulnerability model (Zubin et al 1977). Was needed to change in care plan followed by an immediate change in circumstances of a client. For example, client Lds circumstance change twice times. Once negatively when crisis team drafted first care plan and secondly as positively when my mentor reviewed her care plan. I can understand that care plans are reviewed followed by any change in clients mental health issues and other circumstances resulting in changes in risk assessment. CONCLUSION The placement has provided me clear idea and good understanding of the skills required to be a professional mental health nurse. I learnt about development of PPDP, care plans review followed by immediately changes associated to a client environment, the role of a care coordinator to work in inter-professional practice and many other essential skills to become a professional mental health nurse. In developing a PPDP, I learnt making initial assessment of skills required to reach nursing standards, preparation of action plans to identify past mistakes, future planning for skills and review of skills at the end of each action plan duration. I learnt the inter professional practice of a health care professional (my mentor at my placement) to organize and unite efforts of various healthcare professionals in creating a single united care plan for client. I also learnt to review care plan if there is change in risk assessment for client. REFERENCE Caldwell K, Atwal A, 2003,The problems of interprofessional healthcare practice in hospitals. Brf Nurs,12:1212-18. Cayne,J.V.,1995.Portfolio: a developmental influence. Journal of Advanced Nursing,21,395-405. Cary AH, Smolenski MC.2005, Overview of competency and the methods for evaluating continued competence. American Nurses Association 1-10 Clarke, J.2004.Public health nursing in Ireland. A critical overview. Public health Nursing,21(2),191-198. Davis DA, Mazmanian PE, Fordis M, Harrison RV, Thorpe KE, Perrier L.2006, Accuracy of physician self assessment compared with observed measures of competence. J Am Med Assoc; 296-9;1094-1102. Elkan, R., Blair,M., robinson, J, 2000. 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